The Rose Not Taken

The Rose Not Taken by K.T. Barnett is a sensual romance that will seduce and enchant readers from beginning to end. Barnett has woven together an enjoyable read filled with passion, lust, and intimacy designed for mature audiences capable of grasping and appreciating the adult content. Our story follows Estera Hornbrook, an elite sex worker, who captivates her clients as smoothly as she enthralls readers. Across the chapters, we attend appointments and obtain insight into our main characters day-to-day. As she visits with friends and goes about her life, we gain tremendous, well-rounded insight into the complexities of our main character and her field. But when a new client captures her interest, Estera can’t help but consider leaving the industry altogether. Barnett has constructed a well-rounded, sensual narrative that captures the excitement of Estera’s industry, while accurately portraying the complex emotions surrounding this field. More than just this new client pulls Estera to consider a new field of work. The complexities of the field, such as the closeness developed with clients, cause Estera to step back and wonder if it is time to step into something new. However, this is far from an easy decision as her appointments and pleasant lifestyle illustrate. Readers’ mouths will water as they read the description of Estera’s feline performance, a true full-body presentation. Barnett’s words paint a tantalizing picture explaining, “Estera next prowled toward Richard, slowly, moving with ballet-like precision and grace, the sheerness of her suit sensuously exhibiting Estera’s musculature and femininity with each of her long-drawn-out movements.". Through the chapters, readers will travel on this journey with Estera and come to appreciate the multifaceted nature of sex work. Estera’s ultimate decision may resonate with some but not others but with that said, everyone will step back and consider what they would do in Estera’s shoes. Would you leave the industry for love? For a deeper love and appreciation of yourself? Barnett’s work captures the depth of this field and the complexities of these relationships. Estera’s decision ultimately has less to do with her new client and so much more with a deeper understanding of herself and her own personal journey. Barnett’s exceptional storyline and complexity of character earn this read five stars, as readers will return to her pages again and again. K.T. Barnett’s The Rose Not Taken will entice, charm, and captivate readers across pages, beyond chapters, and certainly over time. This is an exceptional work to add to your bookshelf and share with friends.


Stealing the Holy Grail

The reason the Arthurian myth has become such a popular tale since the fifth century is because there is so little evidence of it and that period in time. We’re pretty sure there was someone named Arthur, who may have been a king or some sort of leader or warlord. And the Saxons definitely invaded the country that would one day come to be known as England during this time, led by two brother leaders, Hengist and Horsa. There are sources centuries later that tell a little, but nothing is certain, making it prime fodder for storytelling. Stealing the Holy Grail by S. M. Perlow is a wonderful example of Arthurian work, as we see many familiar characters we have come to know over the centuries, but in a completely new and original story.

The year is 523, and in Francia Princess Cera is one of the special few tasked to protect and keep the Holy Grail from being found. There are many who have searched for this sacred relic; many valiant knights, including Sir Perceval, who has tried and failed the test, but wishes to try again, to remain honorable, true, and valiant. But the world has changed; the Knights of the Round Table are no longer. The great King Arthur has died through mysterious means, while there are rumors that Arthur’s most trusted companion, the magnificent Merlin the Magician, is no longer a trusted ally of Camelot, but is now working for Hengist and the Saxons invading Briton. Princess Cera has had enough of the old ways and of continuing to keep the Grail from everyone, so she has a plan to steal it. But she hopes to use Perceval to help, presenting a dilemma to the valiant knight: can he remain honorable to achieving the Holy Grail and help Cera, whom he has become quite smitten with. Meanwhile, there is the Saxon warrior Roan the Relentless, who has gone through his own battles and tragedies and appears unable to be killed, and now also has interests in seizing the Grail.

Stealing the Holy Grail is a fun, adventurous work of historical fiction with a cast of familiar characters in new settings, conflicts, and circumstances. Perlow does a great job of throwing in the history when necessary, but not overloading the reader with details, which keeps the momentum of the story going. We get to see the likes of Sir Perceval and Merlin cast in new and at times unusual lights. The result is a book that isn’t just another Arthurian retelling, but something new and fresh and different.


ShBeep the Unique Sheep

ShBeep is a one-of-a-kind sheep that likes to use his imagination. One day he meets a girl with a pot on her head that tells him he can’t play checkers because he’s a sheep and there are no checkers on the checkerboard. He responds that he can, and it doesn’t matter he can use his imagination. So begins the friendship of Poppy and ShBeep.

The characters are interesting. I like that ShBeep is his own kind of sheep. I love that he wears silly clothes, I love his hat and long wool. The fleas he had were a bit much for me. Poppy is so cute she has her own style. I love the different outfits she wears to school. She has a beautiful big imagination. I love that we met her wearing a pot on her head. The Ringmaster was a good antagonist to having things go wrong at the circus. Poppy’s mother was interesting because she seemed to not be worried about Poppy even though she was gone a long time.

The illustrations were cute. The style is one that I haven’t seen before. I liked the drawings of Poppy the best. The dialogue between characters was a little strange. I felt if the author was trying to sound modern, but it didn’t quite translate into how kids would talk.  It took me out of the fantasy world a little too much. The plot starts with ShBeep and Pop talking about the farmer and school. They go on adventures in their imagination at first. Then they decide to go on a real adventure to the circus. After the circus, the plot starts to unravel as they jump from one random thing to another making the storyline pretty hard to follow.

As a parent, I like the message of the book that we are all unique. I think more kids need to be reminded that it’s okay to have their own style and do what brings you joy. I think that Poppy and ShBeep showed the reader that aspect in a big way. As an educator, I liked the message of the book, but I would question if this book is something a chapter book reader could process. The plot is hard to follow and the dialogue very different might be hard for a young reader. It would be a book that a teacher would need to read aloud or read along with the child.


ShBeep the Unique Sheep

Being unique can sometimes make you an outcast but it can also draw together the best of friends such as Poppy and ShBeep. Two quirky souls find acceptance and encouragement in each other. ShBeep may be fenced in but his imagination knows no bounds allowing him to do anything that he can dream of. One day he meets a girl wearing a pot for a hat and together they go on adventures which includes finding Queen of Sheba's treasure, making a spaceship, and even joining the circus. The two friends embrace their uniqueness in this charming and humorous story.

Can sheep play checkers? You might be surprised at that answer. T.E. Antonino delivered a story about a little sheep and a girl with a pot on her head by using their adventures to teach children about embracing their own uniqueness. ShBeep and Poppy are quirky examples of not taking life too seriously, having fun, and making the most of our different qualities. The story is a creative lesson in being unique by soaring imagination to life through the wondrous outlook of a child. Their imagination will take you along on their adventures which takes place entirely within the boundaries of the field. Each amazing adventure is driven entirely by their imaginations which takes to extraordinary places such as planting magical acorns in the garden to swimming to Hawaii to joining the circus as a sheepcorn.

The characters both possess charming quirks which balance each other out with a sheep in a top hat and bandanna, and a girl wearing a pot on her head. ShBeep is completely at ease with who he is and this confidence helps Poppy embrace her own unique traits. The catalyst of the story is when Poppy meets ShBeep who teaches her about being unique by never denying his vivid imagination. The bond between them is a great example of how important friendship is through how ShBeep reinforces Poppy's creativity when the children at school try to dampen it by telling her that a pot can't a hat and make fun of her pajamas. The writing style matches the quirky and whimsical tone with words such as noggin, and phrases like worth more than gobs of fleas.

The story is aimed at all ages and is one that can be shared between parents and children by providing a way for parents to venture back into their own imaginative youth. Antonino uses laughter and a playful tone to teach a message about being yourself and embracing uniqueness. /ShBeep the Unique Sheep/ is a charming story with a quirky sense of humor and a whimsical message that's full of heart and encourages children to embrace their unique qualities and imagination.


Toaster Oven Perfection: A Smarter Way to Cook on a Smaller Scale

This book aims to use the toaster over to cook meals for primarily two people. As the recipes have been tested, readers will have fewer issues with scaling recipes or adapting them for toaster ovens.

The recipes cover a wide variety of meals including main dishes for dinner, breakfast, sides, sandwiches, and desserts. Most of the savory recipes are not purely vegan. Each recipe spans a double-page and has a color picture of the finished product. In addition, each recipe has a header titled “Why This Recipe Works” which provides insight into the recipe’s intent or methodology. This section is helpful – especially for those readers who feel the urge to modify recipes – as it holds suggestions for which modifications may (or may not) work.  A useful addendum is a section that ranks salient performance characteristics of several popular toaster ovens – something like the ranking one expects from Consumer Report.

Most of the recipes are fairly standard ones, and can be prepared easily. The utility is that America's Test Kitchen has tried these recipes giving readers a viable starting point. I recommended this book for those cooking for one or two people.


Let Me Tell You What I Mean

This  book of essays is a scan of Didion’s work over forty years of her magnificient career. Those of us who eagerly await any of her writing are very excited to read this collection. Why are we so eagerly awaiting any of her books?  Didion’s powers of observation and succinct writing style are masterful. Like many journalists turned novelists, she has learned to perfectly convey a mood, attitude, or cultural shift in a shorthand developed through painstaking craft. All of the essays in this volume are relevant and interesting. The foreword, written by Hilton Als, is a perfect summation of Didion’s relevancy and power. Als states that this power comes from her nonfiction reading like fiction: that is to say, it has metaphorical power.  I, for one, live with Watch out for the snake eyes from her novel Play It as It Lays.

For writers, her Why I Write essay is a master class.


Geraldine and the Anti-Bullying Shield

Geraldine and the Anti-Bullying Shield is the third book about Geraldine and her inventions. In this story, Geraldine is mad and wants to help her friends. There is a bully at her school named Jimmy who is making her friends sad. Geraldine wants to help her friends and make Jimmy see the mean things he is doing at school. Jimmy teases her, too, but Geraldine goes home and comes up with an idea. She finds things to use in her garage and with help from her dad and her friends, they create an Anti-Bullying Shield and take it to school. They use it on Jimmy and then there is a happy ending for everyone.

Geraldine and the Anti-Bullying Shield is like her last story of the Space Bees that has her dealing with a problem and then coming up with an invention that will solve the problem. I like that Geraldine solved a problem on her own and with help from others. I like the story because it is easy to understand and it is helpful for kids to read who might be dealing with bullies or know of someone who is.


The Moonsteel Crown: Dominion, Book I

Street thugs Myla, Fings, and Seth don’t care about the Emperor’s death. Even though the entire empire is in chaos, they spend their days pilfering money and food for the Unrulys, a gang they belong to. Until the day a mysterious man walks in and asks for their help acquiring an even more mysterious object. Now, all three find themselves on the run and in possession of one of the world's most dangerous objects. But, they find themselves pursued by old enemies as well as the empire. Myla is being hunted by a man from her past she’d rather forget. Fings just wants to get money for his mom and sisters, and maybe even some for himself. Seth is bombarded by visions of a dark future in which he finally holds the power. Against all odds, will Seth, Fings, and Myla be able to save their own skins and maybe even the empire? I thought this was a good book. It was fast-paced, with a lot of action. I liked the unusual cast of anti-heroes and the cliffhanger promise of another good book. I really liked all the adventure and await the next book.


Island Queen: A Novel

Beach Reads to Kick Off Summer Roundup

If you’re lucky enough to be escaping lockdown and COVID-related chaos and heading to a beach this summer, then you might just be in need of a few good reads to help you while away the time and relax. Fortunately, there are eleven recent fiction releases that would all make for excellent beach reads.

The Inland Sea by Madeleine Watts

A nameless young woman who dreams of being a writer abandons her plan to study for a doctorate in the aftermath of a messy breakup. She intends to leave her native Sydney and travel, but first she decides to spend a last summer reading novels while sitting on the rocks at Gordons Bay. With her student maintenance funds dwindling, she takes a job in an emergency services call center. Despite the ennui that has been plaguing her, she finds herself becoming increasing affected by the emergency calls that she takes. More worryingly, the emergencies themselves seem to be increasing in magnitude as the summer progresses, ranging from dogs trapped in cars to women hiding from violent partners to raging wildfires. Madeleine Watts skillfully links the overarching failure of authorities to tackle the dangers associated with climate change to the plight of women who seem destined not to be believed in this impactful novel.

The Northern Reach: A Novel by W.S. Winslow

As Edith Baines stares out to sea and visibly mourns her son, it is unclear how much of what she sees is real and how much is a grief-induced hallucination. The Baines family has lived in the small town of Wellbridge, Maine, for generations, and as Edith’s memories of her son drift in and out of focus, so to do the memories and stories of her ancestors and of the other families that have called Wellbridge home for decades: the Moodys, the Martins, and the Edgecombs. Despite the town seeming like the sort of place where everyone knows everything about everyone else, all four families have tragedies, triumphs, secrets, and lies that have been transmitted down through the generations. W.S. Winslow uses a series of interconnecting stories, spanning the period 1904 to 2017, to bring the history, nature, and population of Wellbridge to life.

The Path to Sunshine Cove by RaeAnne Thayne

Jessica Clayton has spent most of her adult life ensuring that she has as little baggage as possible, whether that baggage be literal “things” or people she has met along the way. A professional declutterer by trade, Jessica focuses her energies on helping other people to shed their burdens, and she does whatever it takes to stay in the present, reluctant to even think about her past in the small town of Cape Sanctuary. However, when a new client requires her help to downsize ahead of a move to that very town, Jessica is forced to revisit her past, including her relationship with younger sister Rachel. RaeAnne Thayne is a prolific and hugely popular romance writer, and this time round, she has crafted a charming and heartwarming tale about second chances and the importance of family.

The Woman in the Sun Hat by Daniel Damiano

Despite being accustomed to being the envy of her friends and neighbors in Cold River, Long Island, Peggy Bubone is forced to recognize just how fragile her life and social position are when her husband is arrested. Almost overnight, she goes from being the rich and rather smug toast of the town to being practically a pariah. With her money and her home suddenly inaccessible, and with no one willing to step in and help, Peggy finds herself and her two children homeless and in dire need of assistance, a situation that causes her to reflect on her past and her difficult start in life. While Daniel Damiano could have turned Peggy’s tale into one of misery and desperation, he has instead crafted a humorous and uplifting story of perseverance and struggle against the odds. Peggy finds a sense of determination that she thought she’d lost, and she does her utmost to build a new and better life for her and her family.

It Happened One Summer: A Novel by Tessa Bailey

When spoiled Hollywood socialite Piper Bellinger causes yet another scandal that is recorded and transmitted far and wide by the paparazzi, her stepfather finally washes his hands of her. After cutting off their allowances, he leaves Piper and her equally spoiled sister with no option but to head to the rural town of Westport, Washington, and run the dive bar that they inherited from their late father. Despite having no head for business and having an almost pathological fear of sleeping in the bunk beds in the only apartment they can afford, Piper is determined to make a success of her exile, particularly after she encounters handsome local sailor Brendan, who makes it clear that he doesn’t think she’ll last five minutes in Westport. Tessa Bailey’s latest novel is a fabulous romcom that gently pokes fun at wannabe star Piper but also allows her to blossom in her new environment.

Island Queen: A Novel by Vanessa Riley

Having been born into slavery on her Irish father’s plantation on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, Doll vows to rise above her circumstances and secure the freedom and prosperity of her mother, her sister, and herself. A remarkably enterprising individual with grit, determination, and a clear understanding of how the world works, Doll leverages whatever potential advantage comes her way and rises up through the social ranks as an entrepreneur, a merchant, and a planter. As she progresses in terms of amassing wealth, she also amasses the attention of a series of men, which leads her to even more exotic locations and exceptional situations. Vanessa Riley has really excelled with this fictionalized account of the extraordinary life and achievements of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, a remarkable woman who forged her way from poverty and life as a slave to being one of the richest landowners in the West Indies. Not many people can be said to have truly left their mark on history, but Dorothy certainly did.

The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent

Dreaming about living someone else’s life can be a pleasant form of escapism, but not many people would go the whole hog, commit a spot of identity theft, and run away from their own life. However, that’s just what Birdy Finch does when she decides to assume her best friend Heather’s identity and take a job at a posh hotel in Scotland. To complicate things, Heather is a world-renowned wine expert, which means Birdy’s new job is going to involve a lot of bluffing about wine-related matters. And to complicate things even further, while in Scotland, Birdy might have finally met a man that she’s romantically interested in, only he thinks she’s Heather. Birdy’s plan might be bonkers, but she’s a pleasant and engaging central character. Lizzy Dent has woven a warm and relatable story around Birdy, and there are plenty of laughs to be had while following her (mis)adventures.

The Bookstore on the Beach: A Novel by Brenda Novak

After her husband disappears while on an assignment for the FBI in Ukraine, Autumn Divac spends eighteen months waiting for him to return home to Tampa, Florida. With the official investigation into his disappearance having stalled and the private detective she hired unable to find any additional information, Autumn is nearing the end of her tether when she decides to take her two teenage children and decamp to her hometown of Sable Beach, Virginia, for the summer. She starts working in the bookstore jointly owned by her mother and her aunt, and she finds herself reconnecting with her first love. A tale of friendship and love with a mystery at its heart, Brenda Novak’s novel follows three generations of women (Autumn, her mother, and her daughter) as they confront past mistakes, make their peace with the present, and look toward the future with hope and humor.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

When Shane Hall and Eva Mercy first met as teenagers, they were two damaged individuals who rapidly fell in love and then enjoyed a whirlwind one-week romance before everything they had crumbled. When they meet again, some fifteen years later, they are both successful writers; Eva is a bestselling author of erotic fiction, while Shane is an award-winning author of literary fiction. After they reconnect at a literary event in New York, where they both take great pains to pretend they don’t know each other, the sparks fly once again and they find themselves embroiled in another passionate week-long romance. Eva wants Shane to return to his home so that her life can return to normal, but before he does so, she wants answers to questions about what happened fifteen years previously. Tia Williams’ latest novel is a thrilling romcom that is darker than most. The story shifts between the past and the present as it explores Shane’s and Eva’s pasts and the reasons why their romance burned out so quickly.

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Daisy Shoemaker seems to have it all: a picture-perfect family, a gorgeous home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, a thriving business, and a fulfilling volunteering project. However, appearances can be deceptive and Daisy is far from content. Just as she’s reaching her lowest ebb, Daisy starts receiving emails intended for a woman named Diana Starling, who has an email address almost identical to her own. Diana’s life seems much more exciting than Daisy’s, and when fate throws them together, Daisy relishes the opportunity to form a friendship with Diana. But did they really become acquainted through pure chance? Diana might not really be who she seems, and if that is the case, what does she want with Daisy? This is definitely not a light and frothy read from Jennifer Weiner, but it certainly is a page-turner. Reflective of the #MeToo movement and the importance of accountability, it’s a thought-provoking and timely book.

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

Having dedicated her youth to caring for her bedridden mother and raising her two siblings, Sophie Lawson has had to give up on following her dreams, particularly her goal of opening a bookshop in the quaint town of Piper’s Cove. However, with her siblings now able to support themselves, Sophie may have the opportunity to pursue her own endeavors, starting with visiting Piper’s Cove again to attend her sister’s wedding. There’s a surprise in store for Sophie though, as the best man turns out to be Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart, who dumped her without explanation and then vanished from her life. Thrown together by circumstances, it seems that Sophie and Aiden might get the chance to rekindle their romance, but can she really trust him to stick around this time? Denise Hunter’s novel is set in the quintessential seaside town and the story is packed with endearing characters and heartwarming situations. There’s a romance to root for and the hope that things will work out better for Sophie in the future.


One Jar of Magic

One Jar of Magic is a story about a soon-to-be twelve-year-old girl named Rose whose father is the most magical man in their little town of Belling Bright. Rose’s dad expects her to catch a lot of powerful magic and follow in his footsteps. She doesn’t want to disappoint him; she has a legacy to uphold. But on a special day, her first day when she is allowed to catch magic, Rose only catches one jar of magic that isn’t even full. That is the least amount of magic anybody has ever caught! Her father stops talking to her and her best friend becomes her biggest bully. Rose starts hearing rumors about people not meant for magic. When her relationship with her father begins to crumble and she loses her best friend, Rose starts to wonder if it is possible that she is not meant for magic. Her father is the most magical man and she was born on the day he caught the most magic; shouldn’t that mean she is destined to be magical too? To find, out Rose begins to investigate her family and she uncovers many secrets. Grab a copy of One Jar of Magic and settle down to find out the secrets as the story unfolds while Rose uncovers the truth about her father and her family in this magical book.

I recommend this story to fantasy and mystery lovers. Children ages eight and older will get drawn in with Rose as they read and there is no limit on the age of adults who would enjoy this story.


Martha Stewart's Very Good Things: Clever Tips & Genius Ideas for an Easier, More Enjoyable Life

This book claims to offer clever tips and ideas for a more enjoyable life. What would a household be without the help and advice of Martha Stewart? During a time when the word "housewife" became a pejorative, Martha bravely made the management of a household and its mundane tasks into an art form. Now we know she has a sizable staff to make this all happen, but her grace and resilience in charting this territory—sometimes through hostile television segments—is deserving of admiration, if not emulation.

Martha has made "good things" into her brand, and there are over five hundred good things in this book. I look forward to making a pine cone bird feeder with my great niece, and I am happy to know that I can make button closures on cardigans that come without them. There is a helpful index at the back of the book. The photographs are beautiful and in keeping with Martha’s standards. This is a wonderful book.


No Buddy Like a Book

What is it that a book does for us? Well, we learn to speak and to think, we learn how to bake and cook, read and write, or play instruments. Yet, a book is really nothing but ink without the reader’s mind and the imagination they bring to it. Hop on the Book Express. It can take you to the greatest place in the world: your own imagination. You can learn anything from books. You can learn the names of the planets and how far away they are. You can even learn how to build a telescope so you can see them more clearly. What is it like to climb a mountain? Books can help you understand. What animals live in Africa? How many birds are there and where do they live? Books can help you learn all these things, and your imagination can take you there.

In sweet, rhyming verse, author Allan Wolf sparks the imagination of youngsters and helps them find their way to the joy of reading and books. The gorgeous, colorful illustrations by Brianne Farley are the real stars of this book, with fun details aplenty to keep youngsters engaged. This is a real winner!


Kids vs. Plastic: Ditch the Straw and Find the Pollution Solution to Bottles, Bags, and Other Single-use Plastics has an amazing wealth of information regarding the pollution problem and how it is affecting our planet. The book has lots of facts and figures that you could use in a research project or if you want to discuss the pollution problem with your friends you can have solid information at hand. In addition to having information on the plastic pollution problem options for ways to help are provided. With action steps being provided you can feel like there is something you do and you aren't left feeling helpless. I would recommend this book to all kids as we all have something to learn and we can all take action against the pollution problem.


Instant Pot Miracle Healthy Cookbook

Instant pots have become incredibly popular, and there are good reasons for that. People are so busy that the ability to make a delicious, hot meal quickly is a real gift. But if there is anyone in the family with food issues — gluten, dairy, nut problems, etc. — it may be hard to find a cookbook that will be really useful. This is the cookbook that will solve those problems. A well-written introductory section, including FAQs, will help those who are new to instant pots feel comfortable. With over one hundred recipes all made with fresh, healthy ingredients and most meeting the needs of those with food issues, this is a real winner. Each recipe begins with a descriptive paragraph, how much time it takes, which function will be used, which food issues it avoids, and how many it serves. The recipe follows along with information on calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, and protein per serving. Most recipes also have a full-color mouth-watering photo. Seven sections cover Vegetables; Poultry and Eggs; Beef, Pork, and Lamb; Seafood; Lentils, Beans, and Legumes; Rice and Grains; and Sauces and Spice Mixes. Don’t miss the Beef Daube!


Peterson Field Guide to Mushrooms of North America, Second Edition

Karl B. McKnight, Joseph R. Rohrer, Kirsten McKNight Ward & Kent H. McKnight

In Maine, a botanist laid out all the mushrooms she had collected that morning for our inspection. She had collected over fifty different mushrooms with a disparate array of colors and shapes. She cautioned us that even an expert cannot always tell which variety is edible.

That comment brings me to the fun of this guide; as I paged through the beautiful illustrations, it was so much fun to play the guessing game: edible or poisonous? Needless to say, this reader did not establish a good track record of identifying safe mushrooms. It is wonderful to be aided by cautionary names such as Deathcap, Destroying Angel, and Sickener. But there is so much more in this comprehensive field guide published by the leader and authority in such books.

A major disappointment to me, however, was that my very favorite portobello mushroom (Agaricus bipods) was only listed as a button mushroom. Portobello was not to be found in the index, and I was left puzzled as to why. Despite that omission, this is a beautiful guide and an essential to any library.


A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal

Anyone searching for a way to pray will find this book most helpful. Prayers of gratitude are included, but given the current global situation, many of the prayers are those of supplication. The book includes prayers from different denominations, although most are within the Western Christian tradition. As a result, anyone, no matter what tradition they follow, could appreciate the wisdom in each of these selections. The prayers are not exaltations, but can be as simple as gratitude for homemade chicken soup.

This reader particularly likes the breathing meditation found at the end of part one. The book is divided in three parts: Orientation, Disorientation, and Reorientation. In the last section, there is a prayer for those of us who have lost our way again, which, given the turbulent times, may be most of us. Best of all, the reader will not find judgements or calls for repentance in this book. The editor of this collection prays to the God of parking spots and prisons. With her conception of an ordinary approachable power, the prayers become relevant to a spirituality for today.


Blades of Freedom (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #10)

It’s really cool that at school we were just learning about sugar when I got this book, Blades of Freedom. Sugar was so expensive and so popular when it first came to Europe, people who participated in the sugar trade could get really rich. Sugar growers got rich, too, but they needed somebody to do the actual work of planting, growing, harvesting, and milling the sugarcane. It was horrible work. The people who did that work were African slaves, carried across the Atlantic in European slave ships.

Blades of Freedom is a really good book, even though it’s disturbing in places. The book centers on the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which is called Haiti today. President Thomas Jefferson’s dreams of expanding power to New Orleans came together with Napoleon’s thwarted attempt to subdue the revolution of Toussaint L’Overture and his need for money. Napoleon was a hero of the French Revolution. The new French government supported the rebels in the Caribbean, until Napoleon needed money from the sugar colonies to pay for his military adventures.

It is a super interesting story about people all mixed together with money and big geo-politics. And the comics are really good, too!


Explorer Academy: The Tiger's Nest  (Book 5)

The Tiger's Nest is an amazing story of adventure and excitement. It is about Cruz Coronado's quest to locate the remaining pieces of a cipher for his mother's cell regeneration formula. With help from his friends at the Explorer Academy, Cruz must find the remaining pieces before Nebula can get their hands on them. However, he isn't sure whom he can trust, because he has been told that Nebula has two spies on board the Orion, Explorer Academy's ship.

This book was awesome. It was filled with interesting locations and cool technology. I really enjoyed reading the parts about the various robots, such as Mell and EggsTend. There were a lot of nice illustrations in the book, all of which were in full color. They helped me get an understanding of exactly what places looked like. This book was also very well written. At the end of the book, there are a few pages about the real-life people that inspired parts of the book. I recommend this book to kids from eleven to fourteen, and to kids who enjoy adventure stories.


Hide in Place: A Novel

I hear that sleep is overrated, said no one ever. Nevertheless, sometimes you need to stay up late into the early morning hours, watching a young one; perhaps you have the night shift at a creepy hotel; or you’re a security officer at a new building complex where someone was murdered; or maybe you’re the hired help for a family in a safe house, and it’s up to you to stay awake no matter what. Sure, there’s coffee and other fancy heart-racing drinks to stave off the sandman, but one tried and tested method is a gripping murder mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat, and your senses on high alert for any strange sounds. Here are six murder mysteries guaranteed to help you do the job.

Girl in the Walls

Elise’s parents were taken from her in a horrific car crash and now she remains hidden in her home and knows it like the back of her hand: every nook and cranny, crawlspace, crevice and hideout. Eddie enjoys living in the house with his family, except for the girl he sees out of the corner of his eye every once in a while. Is she really there? Is she real? Is he just imagining things? But when she’s also seen by his brother, they have to do decide to what to do about the girl who might or might not exist.

The Captive

Brooke Holland has a sedentary, peaceful life with her family on a rural farm. Times are hard, and sometimes they barely scrape by, but she’s happy to be away from everything in the peace and quiet, where her past cannot come back to haunt her. But then Stephen Cawley, an escaped criminal, attacks them at the farm and Brooke does what she needs to to protect her family with her hidden talents and skills. Then she needs to bring Cawley to justice so she can get the reward to help her family and keep her dark and bloody past buried.

Run for Cover

In the second installment of the series, Michael Gannon is hiding out on a friend’s ranch deep in the heart of Utah where he hopes no one will find after his previous dealings. But when his friend’s brother is found murdered near Grand Teton, he has to decide whether to keep a low profile, or help out his friend, and see if the murder my be linked to the strange killings happening at various national parks around the country. Gannon finds himself teaming up with FBI agent Kit Hagen to get to the bottom of it all.

Hide in Place

Life seems to finally be going well for Laney Bird in the haven of Sylvan, New York. Three years ago after her cover was blown in a racketeering case that involved the Russian mafia, Bird had to flee with her son with her life in peril. Now she’s finally starting to relax, but then her son suddenly goes missing and she knows her demons have come back to haunt her. The police are dismissing it as a runaway, but she knows there’s more to it. As she digs deeper into her son’s disappearance, she discovers he and a friend were meeting with a stranger who has also gone missing. As a snowstorm sweeps through, Bird will need to keep working to find out what happened to her son if she has any hopes of getting him back alive.

If I Disappear

Sera loves podcasts, in particular true crime podcasts. She can’t get enough of them, and on some level, she feels she has been in training after listening to them for so long. Then one of her favorite podcast hosts named Rachel goes missing, and she takes this as a sign for her true calling. Sera begins to investigate, combing through the true crime episodes for clues and details and pieces of evidence that will lead her somewhere. They do eventually, to an old ranch near her hometown, but as she digs deeper she discovers that Rachel may not be the first woman to disappear.

The Mitford Trial

It is the summer of 1933 and Louisa Cannon is joining the Mitfords on a wonderful cruise, where she gets to rub elbows with the rich and famous. What more could anyone want? Except Louisa has made a deal: on her wedding day she was approached by someone incognito and told to spy on Diana Mitford and confirm her supposed illicit affair with Oswald Mosley. The cruise it brought to an abrupt halt when a man is found murdered, and the case is taken up back in London by Tom Mitford. Louisa will find her honor and emotions rent asunder as she must decide what is the right thing to do.


If I Disappear: A Novel


Oliver for Young Readers: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together is the story of a “Shorkie” (Shihtzu mixed with Yorkie) and his owner, Steven. Steven developed a love for dogs when he was young, and his bond with dogs got stronger as he grew up. As an adult, Steven became a driver in New York City. One Valentine’s Day, Steven didn’t have much time to spend with Oliver so he asked a client if he could bring Oliver on the drive. She agreed. After dropping her off, Steven went into a mall strip and left Oliver in the car. He thought he locked the door when he went into the restaurant, but when he came out, Oliver was gone! Steven was heartbroken. He asked his family to help; he posted pictures online and asked people to look for Oliver. Many people saw his post and were moved. Steven received a lot of support from people around the world. Buy a copy of this beautiful true story and find out what happened! If you're an animal lover, this book will make you shed tears. I am happy to have read this book. I think you will be too!


Friendshipping: The Art of Finding Friends, Being Friends, and Keeping Friends

When you're a kid, making friends can seem like second nature. When you're an adult, not having friends can seem like second nature. For some people, they are perfectly fine with this arrangement; for others, Friendshipping: The Art of Finding Friends, Being Friends and Keeping Friends will help. Within the pages, Jenn and Trin offer personal advice that can also be heard on their podcast, Friendshipping. The girls cover every aspect of being and making friends. The advice is modern and up-to-date with lessons on proper etiquette on making friends, being friends, and keeping the friendship, such as the importance of identifying your pronouns, social media, and being precise with every detail.

Those who can relate to the struggles involving friendships will want to check out this book. Much of the information includes communication, not reading into things on social media, and being upfront and honest about feelings and everything. The advice given is explained well for anyone to understand and implement in their own lives. The questions submitted by listeners are helpful for real-life examples of friendship dilemmas and the pictures interspersed add color to the colorful commentary.


In Case You Get Hit by a Bus: How to Organize Your Life Now for When You're Not Around Later

Abby Schneiderman, Adam Seifer and Gene Newman

In Case You Get Hit By A Bus is a book that every human being should read. This is a book for planning in case something happens to you, either now or later. Organized in easy-to-follow chapters, the book starts with the most pertinent tasks one should do and later on gives some optional “would be nice to have” suggestions. From having your passwords updated and stored in one place for easy access to creating a will to planning your own funeral and even writing your own obituary, this book covers just about everything in one fell swoop. It even suggests writing letters to your loved ones.

As I read this book, I made sure to take notes, writing down the things I need to do to make things easier on my kids. There can be so many choices to get lost in that it would be easy to throw in the towel and just do nothing. But as this book explains, you don’t want to do nothing. The ease of use of this book was what was most attractive. Readers can use it as a checklist for all of the important future planning they need to accomplish.


The Mission: A True Story

Are we alone in the universe, or is there life out there somewhere other than Earth? In The Mission, David W. Brown tells the story of a group of scientists whose work has the potential to shed light on just that question. Readers may already be familiar with scientists’ attempts to investigate whether there’s life on Mars, but Brown follows scientists with a different focus: Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Battling NASA’s preoccupation with Mars missions and numerous bureaucratic barriers, the scientists Brown follows advocate over many years for a mission to Europa—a mission with the potential to answer questions that mystify planetary scientists and laypeople alike.

The Mission is incredibly detailed and well researched, and while this level of detail is a strength of the book, it is also one of its weaknesses. With such a large cast of characters, many described in detail, it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who or form a strong connection with any one of the book’s key players. Though the book seems like it could have been streamlined, the clarity of the book’s science communication and the scope of its story are impressive, and The Mission is well worth a read.


Mars (Kosmos)

Take a trip to Mars to learn about the Red Planet then learn about birds and their behavior. These four reads include planned missions to Mars, a look at the hivemind of our society, and ways to combat climate change.

Mars (Kosmos) – Stephen James O'Meara

It's no secret that Mars has a reputation for being the mysterious planet that has fascinated mankind since it was discovered. The planet is known for volcanoes that are larger in size than Mount Everest, canyons large enough that they would engulf America and a landscape that is suspected to have contained water. /Mars/ is a detailed resource that provides a vast history on the planet which includes dating back to the first that discovered the planet and those currently obsessed with Mars from filmmakers to radio broadcasters. O'Meara also includes the most recent information from the /Curiosity/ rover, Mars mission plans, and critique on if the chances of these plans succeed.

What is a Bird? An Exploration of Anatomy, Physiology, Behavior, and Ecology – Tony D. Williams

Birds can be found all over the world with over 10,000 species that cover a wide variety which creates one of the most diverse groups in the animal kingdom. Among the species included in this book are the ostrich and the small species of bee hummingbird. This book explores every aspect of birds through an up-close look at their morphology, anatomy, behavior, and ecology. Hundreds of illustrations are provided which include common birds such as sparrows and exotic species such as birds of paradise. This is a must-have for birders and naturalists with a stunning exploration of bird history, a look at their ecology and behavior, and an insight into human connections with birds.

Hivemind: The New Science of Tribalism in Our Divided World – Sarah Rose Cavanagh

This provocative read takes a look at the way communities have shared ideas and learned their viewpoints from the groups we've selected for ourselves. As humans, we define ourselves through our social groups who are people that share our commonalities with such as shared tastes, faith, and heritage. This book takes an honest look at what happens when people only socialize with those like them which could create a point where we can't socialize with those outside our common interests and what could occur when our chosen communities define our views versus expanding it. Human beings have always been a social species and this nature has given us the benefits of us being able to ward off the emotional and physical upheavals of being alone. Topics found within /Hivemind/ include the Charlottesville riots, zombies, Facebook boardrooms, honeybees, and neuroscience. Cavanagh is a specialist in psychologist and emotion regulation who explores through /Hivemind/ how the way we socialize has been reshaped through social technology. This book explores online tribalism as well as how our panic has dimmed towards using screens and our mental health and delves into our understanding of community.

The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet – Michael E. Mann

This book tackles the elephant in the room: climate change. Fossil fuel companies have spent years shifting the blame of their actions so /The New Climate War/ tackles this topic with hard-hitting honesty while introducing ways to save the planet. Also included are examples of going against climate change by doing things such as eating less meat, flying less, and recycling. Current companies have deflected their actions and greenwashed as a way of handling their role in climate change. Mann delves into how companies have found ways to block efforts to regulate carbon emissions while discrediting PR campaigns and choosing to not accept responsibility for their role in the greater problem. A battle line has been drawn between the side of the people and the side of the various polluters which include in addition to fossil fuel companies, petrostates, and right-wing plutocrats. The plan outlined within the book shares an attainable approach to carbon pricing along with a look at renewable energy, discredited false narratives, and going up against the idea of doomism in regards to climate change.


Finding Home

When a fall wind blows a gigantic rabbit’s house away, he’s left feeling distraught and afraid. As Conejo’s hope fades, he sees his wolf friend, Lobo Lobito, in the distance. Together, they cross valleys and drive over mountains, and though they don’t find Conejo’s home, his spirits are uplifted. He continues his search and runs into Perezoso the sloth who comforts him with kindness and a gift. When he arrives in a small town, Buhita the owl offers him tea and entertains him with music and stories. Finally, Conejo allows himself to grieve. Soon, he’s able to begin afresh to create a new home filled with special memories from his voyage.

This is a unique story inspired by the devastating events of Hurricane Maria and a 2017 hurricane in Mexico City. Similar to the survivors of these tragedies, Conejo’s resiliency and determination enable him to persevere, along with the consolation and assistance of others. Children will be touched by the thoughtfulness of his loved ones. Their curiosity will be stimulated by the authentic illustrations sprinkled through the text. Additionally, they’ll be enriched by the cultural content and influences within it. The target audience is youth ages five to nine, and the reading level is approximately second grade.


Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good

The rock ’n roll legend turns philosophical in her third book. It is an introduction to Buddhist chanting. She attributes all of her success and much-storied escape from domestic abuse to the enlightenment she received through chanting. A cynic may change up her famous song and ask “What’s chanting got to do with it?” If one is as talented and charismatic as Tina Turner, arguably, one would need no divine intervention to have a successful life.  As the author, Tina may rebut: she has faced her share of challenges in life. Recently, she has had several life-threatening conditions. And still, she remains, in this book and in her appearances, a force of happiness and joy. So much so, that she is a source of inspiration for many of us. She relates how she began chanting occasionally and saw it working and creating miracles in her life. Her argument might be: what have we got to lose?  Tina Turner is legendary. Her energy in performance ignites a response in all of us. If the cause of that eternal happiness is chanting, then we all could use more of it.


In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire

What does it take to build an empire? Money, power, and the willingness to undertake risks. In the 16th Century, England was in transition. Queen Elizabeth, Daughter of Henry VIII had a precarious grip on power. The imposing empire commanded by Spain had its eye on England. Elizabeth was intent on England making its mark in the New World. Enter Francis Drake. In 1577, Drake began a circumnavigation of the globe with silent assent from Elizabeth. Elizabeth desired not to incur the ire of Spain, as Drake sailed across the world, stopping to plunder every now and then.

 Elizabeth was unaware of Drake’s almost pathological hatred of Spain, which stemmed from their homicidal inquisitions of religious persecution. The two countries' differences were stark as Drake sailed off on his journey. England was Protestant and cash strapped, Spain was staunchly Catholic and obscenely wealthy. Drake’s raids on his voyage would forever alter both countries' paths.

In Search of a Kingdom engages the reader with the meteoric rise of the British Empire in the late 1500s. The David & Goliath struggle between Spain and England is written with breathtaking prose by Author Laurence Bergreen. The daring of Drake is contrasted with the wily leadership of Elizabeth, a duo forging a fortuitous future.


The Simushir Island Incident

The Simushir Island Incidentis the new book by author Marc Liebman. It is a military thriller rich in technical detail and compelling drama. The book is the latest in the Josh Haman Book Series and it can serve as an engaging introduction to the overall narrative, while also rewarding returning fans.

In The Simushir Island Incident, Admiral Kim Sun Pak and General Chun Lee Jang, both in the service of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, operate a massive production of high-grade heroin that they sell to the United States.

The main goal is to weaken the United States by feeding this powerful addiction. Yet, all those around Kim Jong-II are rightly paranoid about their own futures. This will only further the stakes and the high-flying drama as the narrative unravels.

After basing their operations in an old Soviet sub-base along the island of Simushir, they use assassins to begin eliminating potential competitors. Eventually, the United States Government catches on and they send into the fray, the dangerous and courageous Josh Haman.

Josh Haman the book's protagonist has done it all,  combat search and rescue and special operations missions during the Vietnam War; hunted terrorists in Germany; rescued POWs. He has even chased a spy in the Pentagon; he is now thrown in the middle of the complex web of foreign schemes and none stop thrills.

The technical details which bogged down many Clancy books of a similar nature are here transformed into rich background detail. Liebman maintains a strong sense of both pace and the various physical surroundings. Despite a complex plot, nothing ever feels confusing or overly busy.

Unlike other books, the villains are never portrayed as Sunday morning cartoon characters. These Communists are a threat to national security within the U.S., yet they are not written as primitive, sneaky, or subversive. They are human, with real fears that ultimately make them feel more dangerous. Likewise, there is a theme in this series that the U.S. is flawed, but ultimately a force for good and hope in the world.

This book is an experience-a rich, colorful, charming, and elegantly crafted experience. It is one that any reader would be pleased to take part in and which many similar books strive to duplicate.


Flight of the Pawnee

As Mohammed Haag surveys the rubble that was once his apartment building, he understands why the Israeli’s retaliated. The recent rocket attacks from the Lebanese PLO and Hezbollah inflamed them. Regardless, the loss of his family and home devastates him, leaving him deeply unsettled and vulnerable. When he’s introduced to Hanifa, the niece of an Al-Qaeda leader, he falls in love. He becomes the perfect prey - just what Al-Qaeda has been searching for - a chemical engineer known for his successes in the field to help in carrying out the mission to kill 10,000 Americans. Under a new identity, Harun Al-Rashid, he’s sent to the United States to begin 'fighting for the cause.’

Upon returning home from Iraq, Derek Almer, a Naval Aviator, and CIA contract pilot, discovers his wife has left him. He’s dispirited and determined to pour his energy into his work. As time passes and his wounds heal, he meets Eileen, someone for whom he cares deeply. She and her mother are involved in a car hijacking, and their lives are put at risk. Enraged, Almer vows to find the perpetrators. What he learns is alarming; members of the Mexican Brotherhood and the Sinaloa Cartel were involved, and there’s a confounding connection between them and Al-Qaeda. They’ve been harboring Al-Rashid in their safe houses. Against the wishes of the CIA and other top government officials, Almer plans for their demise, and in the end, they come face-to-face with him in a shoot out of significant proportion, and only one side wins.

This is an intriguing book about right and wrong, crime and punishment, love and deceit. The storylines are parallel, though they merge together and become intricately woven. The characters are as complex as they are diverse. Al-Rashid chooses corruption and violence in the aftermath of loss. Almer perseveres in his fight for justice, despite the risk of putting himself and his career in peril.

Enthusiasts of psychological thrillers, especially those involving terrorism, the military, and special services will enjoy /Flight of the Pawnee/. Marc Liebman is technical in his descriptions of military and aviation-related matters, but his clarity and style make comprehension untroubled. The text is sprinkled with romance and humanity in general. Relationships and family matters are given the spotlight nearly as often as crime and combat are. Liebman is gifted in his ability to combine these elements in a way that maximizes his audience of readers. It’s evident by his depiction of characters and references to historical matters, he devoted noteworthy time to research. With more concentrated effort on editing, the overall quality would increase. However, that aside, it’s certainly a worthy read.


Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving

Your Next Big Idea is the perfect book for anyone who wants to tap into their creative mind. The author does a wonderful job of breaking down how ideas are formed and giving the reader exercises and activities throughout the book to spark new ideas and encourage them to step out of their comfort zone.

The book is divided into six sections, each building one on top of the other. The first section is about identifying problems that our ideas can solve. The section on stigma may be my favorite chapter of all because many times people do things or think a certain way because of the stigmas that are ingrained in their lives. They may not even know why they do something a certain way, because it's just the way they've always done it and the way their mother or father before them has done it as well. Being able to identify the stigmas in our lives and get past them can open up new doors for creative ideas. The author teaches the reader how to identify stigmas and how to erase them.

The activities the author includes in the book are fun and creative. One of the activities that I will be going back and doing is the one in which the author says to invent "The Worst Company Idea." His examples include "smelly, used underwear outlet" or "mattresses made of bee nests." This is such a great way to get the reader to really think outside the box. In the next part of the activity, the reader is to exchange their favorite "worst company" idea with a partner and present it to an investor for a new company. This activity could easily turn very silly and I can even imagine it turning into a board game one day.

Your Next Big Idea is not just for people who are looking for ideas on how to start a business, although the author does include a section on that. Many of us do the same thing day in and day out. This book is a breath of fresh air in letting people let their creative minds run wild. Your Next Big Idea has fabulous suggestions for both adults and children. I would recommend this book to people of all ages who want to feel that spark of an idea again, no matter how unrealistic or silly it may seem. You never know what your mind will come up with!


As Samuel Sanders notes in his introduction to Your Next Big Idea, everything starts with an idea. Indeed, in every facet of life, every successful endeavor originated as an idea in the mind of a person who, for example, spotted a problem that needed to be overcome or an opportunity that was waiting to be seized. But where do ideas come from? And, perhaps more importantly, is it possible to train yourself to come up with more and better ideas? Fortunately, Sanders is able to provide the answers to these and other questions, in addition to offering practical examples to back up his theory.

Since his college days, when he took a class that focused on generating feasible business and startup ideas, Sanders has dedicated himself to understanding the process of ideation and identifying ways of developing increasing numbers of innovative and meaningful ideas. This practice has led to him achieving great success as an entrepreneur and as a curious individual, and he has also been able to share his insights with various business leaders, celebrities, and sportspeople. Sanders believes that enhancing your idea-generation and problem-solving skills represents the key to high attainment in both your personal and your professional life, and he is keen to stress that everyone has the potential for improvement in these areas.

Written in a friendly and conversational fashion, Your Next Big Idea is intended to help everyone, wherever they happen to be on their journey toward enhanced ideation, creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. The book is divided into six sections, which walk the reader through the process of questioning and identifying problems, needs, and wants; erasing stigmas; solving problems; checking the feasibility of ideas; sharing ideas as volubly and broadly as possible; and turning ideas into reality. Taken together, the information presented in these sections, as well as the practical tasks and activities that they prompt you to engage in, serve to brain your brain in such a way as to foster creativity and deduction.

While all of the sections are insightful from a theoretical perspective, the section on erasing stigmas is particularly interesting and useful from a practical perspective, and Sanders notes that it is also the most difficult section of the book. In this context, stigmas are “rules or guidelines that we feel the need to follow, even though they may not apply to our present situation or may not be true at all.” It’s commonly the belief in stigmas that holds people back from pursuing innovation and experimentation. Among the practical exercises suggested to help readers overcome the influence of stigma is a logic puzzle (the fox, chicken, and grain that need transporting across a river), a set of problem statements, and a picture to color in – Sanders’ approach is varied and engaging.

Whether you’re interested in developing your business, enhancing your artistic inventiveness, improving your communication skills, or some other important endeavor, reading Your Next Big Idea is a great way to get your creative juice flowing (even if you don’t quite make it to one hundred meaningful ideas per week!).


Would you like to learn how to come up with new ideas? Do you struggle with figuring out how to do things better for your business or creative endeavors? Then Your Next Big Idea is the book for you. Learning this method, with practice, will help you get up to having over one hundred new ideas a week.

This book takes you on a journey to teaching you how you get from an idea to the best ideas. It includes a variety of methods, tons of ready-to-go exercises, and wonderful information on how to get started on your journey or creating new ideas. Each exercise was immensely helpful and well worth the time.

The author seemed to have done the research and used the methods that he discussed in the book. I loved that he used kids as a good example of their brains being wide open to not stigmas. I think the idea of using play as adults to help free their minds is brilliant.

An example of one exercise is to identify your problems. This began with just what is going wrong with you today. Then the author moved to things that we hate. Lastly, things that we find annoying.

 Later in the book, there were some great exercises about stigmas and exercises to help you see past the walls they built for certain situations. The first was finishing pictures that looked like they were scribbles and make them into anything. The next one what are some stigmas that are causing you problems. What are the solutions in your life?

I found this book not only helpful in my pursues of becoming an author, but also in other parts of my personal life. It helped me figure out some ideas for time management. Solutions for some things that I have been wanting to do better like communicating with others, spending more quality time with my kids, and husband. I enjoyed the chapter about finding problems that need a solution and the circle exercise where you just draw in and around the circles and let your mind wander.

The materials in this book could be put to use anywhere from a business to a non-profit organization to a single person trying to decide what they want to pursue next. The formatting is very professional. It was one of the best practical books that I have read. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is trying to get better at anything from business practices to make your personal life better.


Flight of the Pawnee

How do you find your way back from a war without an end? How can a slowly crumbling and divided America successfully defeat a faceless foe? The short answer is that you look towards those that are struggling to come to terms with their past to defend you and give their lives a purpose. Flight of the Pawnee is the first of a proposed four-book novel series based on a new character named Derek Almer.

In the book terrorist group, Al Qaeda has grown frustrated at the west's ability to kill off their leadership structure and the continued conflicts in the region. They ambitiously form a new goal - to kill three times as many Americans in one attack as died on 9/11. The main villain in the story devises a plan to kill upwards of 20,000 people. With or without the help of the CIA and the FBI, Almer undertakes to investigate the group's actions and it quickly leads them along with our protagonists Almer and his partner former cop Jack Bertram down a harrowing path across two continents. Society in the book is slowly being overrun with darkness and a single solitary man and a "Pawnee". This is the consuming chess match of our times and he finds himself at the forefront of the book's events. His attempts at uncovering the truth, force his own government to view him as a threat, and they seek to silence him.

The main characters of the book are indeed figures of heroic gallantry and complex natures. But they are largely people caught up in the affairs of their betters. The game of cat and mouse between the cultural impulses of the times and the terrorists are the 21st-century equivalence of the sport of kings. The kind of mind games that important figures play on one another that carries low risk and high reward. However, for people like Almer, their tasks are a matter of life and death. It is effortless for the reader to be transported in this richly created literary world. We can see as the curtain slowly falls even more and spins a complex web of secrets and revelations that keep the audience engaged throughout. The book has some of the most creative and fully flushed out characters in modern fiction. The book's narrative is both nuanced and breezy. The book’s visuals are compelling and revealing. The defining conflict is presented with haunting clarity.

Author Marc Liebman, himself a veteran, is commanding with his writing, and this book will continue to prove engrossing and enchanting for years to come. This is a great triumphant book! A spectacular literary experience and a refreshing, suspenseful thriller.


Les Miserables: An Engaging Visual Journey

This is the great classic of human redemption by Victor Hugo. A reader may be more familiar with the movie, The Fugitive which liberally borrows the plot lines from this novel. Of course, there was also a movie musical, but reader, do not be deterred from picking up this book; the original is much better than any other retelling. Jean Valjean, the protagonist is of the criminal class who is trusted and redeemed by the goodness of a village priest. As he repents for his crimes, he is hounded by the obsessed inspector who wants to see justice done at any price. Can a good man escape his past misdeeds and devote himself to others — and at what cost?

The illustrations in this book are alone worth picking this book up to peruse. It is illustrated by incredible artists who bring the story to life. The back of the book collects all the illustrations so that one can better appreciate their artistry. Victor Hugo as a writer had a unique sympathy for the poor and oppressed. This volume is published by a religious ministry because of the redemptive nature of the story. The reader should not be deterred by the religiosity therein. The story is universal.


Stranger Than Kindness

An internationally celebrated rock star, Australian-born Nick Cave examines his transitions as he ages through this collection of memorabilia starting from childhood and leading to the present. Coming from a sheltered loving home, this precocious youth displays his rebellious nature during school years, goes on to form bands, indulges in a drug habit, and continues to write songs, books, and movie scripts that garner awards. Darcy Steinke pens an essay that catches glimpses of this talented performer and his anguished search for identity and meaning. Most of the pages are filled with photos of notebook pages, drawings, icons that he has saved over the years and will be meaningful to his trove of idolatrous fans. Almost a compulsive writer, the replicas of the writings from his copious notebooks are filled with scribbled lyrics, corrected scripts, self-designed dictionaries with difficult words to be used in his stories, and his chronic habit to doodle naked women. He has a fondness for Elvis and Johnny Cash and wrestles with religion and the messages he extracts from biblical readings. This book captures the display mementos used for a recent Danish exhibition of his work, these keepsakes will be recognized and revered by his devotees; unfortunately for the casual reader, this book does not reveal the inner workings of the actual superstar.


Herbarium: The Quest to Preserve and Classify the World's Plants

Plants have a history and their stories can be recorded and preserved within a herbarium which contains a systematically arranged collection of dried plants. This may sound dull, but in this impressive book, author Barbara Their (director of the Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Gardens) superbly and radiantly recounts the history of plant collecting through fascinating historical data, interesting anecdotes, collection references, relevant details of scientific practices, and illustrates these chronicled features with stunning images of pressed plants along with engrossing photos of botanists and study sites. Opening with an introduction to the Italian physician named Luca Ghini who is credited with founding the first Herbarium in 1500AD, the riveting narrative continues with the physicians and naturalists who followed his methods. Her stories are engrossing as familiar names such as Linnaeus, Banks, Darwin, James Cook, Humboldt, and so many others crop up in this chronicle of Herbaria establishments across the world. The importance of herbaria which records the occurrence of plants and fungi is stressed, while the information they contain is important for maintaining ecosystems, detecting pollution, examining stresses to biodiversity. This magnificent tale of plant preservation should engross the attention of all readers interested in history, adventure, science, and the world we live in.


The World's Most Magnificent Machines

Have you ever wondered what machines are considered the greatest on Earth? If so, The World’s Most Magnificent Machines is the perfect book for you. From early cars, airplanes, and ships to more modern construction equipment and aircraft, this book has it all.

The illustrations are amazing. Each machine has a larger than double page spread showing what it looked like. Smaller illustrations surround the text as well as pages of schematics showing length, height, weight, speed, etc.

The text is fantastic. It gives the reader just enough information to be knowledgeable, but not so much that it’s overwhelming. I appreciated the fun stories about how the inventors tried and failed to achieve success or, sometimes, how the invention just didn’t work in the world we live in.

My seven-year-old son had this to say, “I liked the pictures a lot and the text was good too.”

As a mom, teacher, and librarian, my opinion is that this is a "must have" book if you have a child who likes any type of machinery. I think a child could spend hours soaking it all in and then read it over and over again. It's a fantastic book!


People We Meet On Vacation

Poppy and Alex, best friends since college, are a living example of the adage “opposites attract.” Alex is a creature of habit, with dreams for the most normal of futures. Volatile Poppy is happiest when she’s traveling, surrounded by strangers and facing one unpredictable situation after another. The friends have a tradition: every summer, they take a vacation together. Poppy knows she can always count on Alex--until a disastrous vacation in Croatia results in two years of them not speaking. When we meet Poppy, she’s floundering and unhappy, and she knows that her rift with Alex is at the root of her sadness. She plans a vacation, and Alex agrees to go with her. Poppy has one last chance to save their friendship--and take the wildest romantic risk of her life.

Like Henry’s novel Beach Read, People We Meet is a delicious, big-hearted examination of two people who maddeningly overlook the perfect partner who’s been right in front of them all along. This is a contemporary romance, light by design, but Henry doesn’t make it easy for her characters; she gives them real flaws and allows them to cause harm and make mistakes. The happy ending, always assumed, is wholly earned. This is a perfect beach read.


Writ In Water: A Novel of John Keats

My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:
'T is not through envy of thy happy lot,
But being too happy in thine happiness,—
That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees,
In some melodious plot
Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,
Singest of summer in full-throated ease.

The book Writ in Water: A Novel of John Keats by James Sulzer begins with his perhaps most well-known poem, “Ode to a Nightingale,” which is important to the book for a number of reasons. Poetry is at the heart of this novel and breathes life into it throughout; the nightingale plays an important role in this story; and the reader gets an idea and a sense for the writer behind the poem, with his word choice, his rhyme scheme, and his sense of imagery, which again all play a very intentional part in the book that was carefully crafted by Sulzer to reflect this.

Writ in Water is a fictional story of John Keats's life told in a most unique and wonderful way that makes perfect and perhaps even obvious sense once the reader understands what’s going on here. While the book is divided into chapters, we also have sections within those chapters subtitled either “N” or “J.” It is not a hard code to crack: “N” stands for nightingale and “J” for John. We have parts of the story told from the viewpoint of, yes, the nightingale, a bird; told through unique and colorful prose, giving it a very different sense to prose from a human character. We see it in the careful word choice and in the poetical nature of the writing:

“A young woman, clothed in the color of leaves, flickered up to the dripping young man and perched near him. Her face was long and smooth, and her mouth was the red of berries.”

Or:

“Summer. A fat, round word like a juicy beetle, full of warmth and goodness. Fever. A skinny and troubled word, as worrisome as a hawk circling overhead.”

There is a little getting used to the language and point-of-view at first, but once understood, the reader gets fully pulled into the story with this unusual and unique character, as well as getting an ongoing story from John Keats’s point of view, the emotions he was feeling at the time, and the life he chose to lead, with those he cared for deeply, and those not so much.

While the book is prose, it really feels like an extensive work of poetry. Sulzer has worked hard at choosing certain words and phrasings, researching the life and works of Keats, and making the whole book a very special journey, as we live through the highs and lows of Keats’s life and ultimately his sad death, with the words etched upon his gravestone at the poet’s request: “Here lies one whose name is writ in water.”


Outsider Rules

In 1996, Nick Taft is a lobbyist for American Communications Coalition (ACC) in Washington, DC. His job, spun as positively as possible, is to be an intermediary between his client organization and the lawmakers in Congress: to explain to legislators what his organization wants and explain to his client what obstacles elected officials face in doing their bidding.

The life of our protagonist is one of breakfast meetings, power lunches, drinks at trendy bars culminating in full-blown functions later in the evening. The trick is to pretend to know more than anyone else while sharing very little of what you actually do know, in hopes of learning something of value. Your access and invite are dependent on your ability to bolster the coffers of the host’s campaign fund.

It's little wonder Nick is becoming disillusioned and thinking he “…should have stayed to help his party where he could have fought for what was best for his country rather than what was profitable for a few corporations.”

While in Montana advocating on behalf of a client, he has a crisis of conscience and in a discussion with his best friend declares that “… this process has become so ridiculous. We deliver money as an industry in order to persuade or pressure Members of Congress to introduce, co-sponsor or vote on legislation that will help our clients. Our opponents don’t have one-tenth the political money or manpower we do. We outraise and outspend them ten-to-one and run over them like roadkill.”

His answer to this moral dilemma is to is get involved with the re-election campaign of the local congressman.

As far as I can make out, that’s the central plot of Outsider Rules as presented in endless cell phone conversations and countless meetings and social gatherings with dozens and dozens of forgettable characters. Also included in this overkill of verbiage are several drunken heart-to-hearts among earnest colleagues.

Author Roger Fleming introduces several interesting plot threads including illegal fundraising, Mexican drug cartels, the mafia, corruption, infidelity, romance, even murder but fails to follow through on any of them. They just dissipate like the rumor and innuendo that permeate the political atmosphere.

The story is presented in two different time periods and places: Washington, DC, 1996-97 and Montana, 2006. One would expect the storyline to converge but like the plot threads, it never happens. The protagonist has no real goal, thus no motivation, and accordingly the story has no climax.

Fleming has written an insider’s novel and though it may be immensely interesting to an elite group it is dense, plodding, and boring to the rest of us. Inevitably, Outsider Rules ends the same way a politician does, defeated and forgotten.


To Be Enlightened

Professor Abe Levy has been looking for enlightenment since he first discovered Transcendental Meditation. As he contemplates his life and relationships, he feels the need to attend a meditation retreat in Iowa to further his goal of achieving enlightenment but his wife Sarah is not keen on the idea. She needs him around so that she can overcome her panic attacks. Luckily, before Abe makes his decision to travel, he experiences the enlightenment and cosmic consciousness he's been seeking. But the unique feelings and sensations he's having make him aware that his college students may notice he's different. What would happen if they report this back to the college administration? Then unexpectedly, his sense of enlightenment disappears, and he wants to do whatever he can to experience re-enlightenment. But what happens if his wife is able to do so before he does?

It was a pleasure to read To Be Enlightened which was both clever and appealing. I love how the book's character mentions he wants to write a novel about Vedic teachings that will be both entertaining and informative, just as the author did. The descriptions of Abe's cosmic consciousness were terrific, as was the way the author took the Vedic principles and incorporated them into the story. The most memorable one is where Abe discovers his Self and is able to describe his multi-dimensional world, where he is watching himself and looking out at the world at the same time. The story of his relationship with Sarah and his college students was also well written. The tension he created between these different characters, mainly his unpredictable student Tom, and their difficulties made this story very engaging. The ups and downs Abe had in his relationship with Sarah were fascinating, and I loved how she was transformed within the story as well. Especially, since she was a character, I didn't like or somehow couldn't manage to feel a lot of empathy for, at the beginning of the story.

To my mind, this is the best kind of book. On the one hand, it's a novel with a fun and delightful story. But it also covers the fascinating topic of Vedic thought and Transcendental Meditation that provides one with a lot to think about both during the story and afterward. I particularly appreciated how he was able to make Vedic thoughts and ideas applicable to the lives in the story but explain them in a way that all readers can understand. It was one of those books that I didn't want to end.


Iron Butterfly

Tomorrow Edward Bennett leaves to enroll in the London School of Economics but he has one more thing to do before he goes. He wants to have sex with his high school sweetheart, Celeste Del Nero. Celeste is only too willing to accommodate his desires, but even before they get their clothes off a butterfly flutters in the open window, lands on the dashboard clock revealing it's past curfew, and Ed wilts at the thought of Mama Marie’s fury.

Back home, Marie is waiting inside the garage door. Sobbing, she heads to her room accompanied by an aria from Madame Butterfly. Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Ed and his father, Guy, share a glass of homemade vino while the latter scoffs down a prosciutto, mozzarella, and pepper sandwich while suggesting Marie’s eccentric personality stems from an episode that happened back in the old country in the little town of Lavenna where she was born.

Ed decides that would be a great adventure to undertake during spring break, to hop over to Europe and check out his mother’s hometown. After a series of insignificant interruptions and mishaps, Edwards arrives in Lavenna, where after another series of insignificant interruptions and mishaps he finds his family history, which is insignificant. Once he gets back home, his mother is less than enthusiastic about his visit to Lavenna and the relatives he has connected with. One revelation leads to another until Marie divulges the tragic history that has made her shut down her past unwilling to share the circumstances about her childhood, her relatives, and hometown.

Iron Butterfly is a passionate, intense, and tragic love story, encased in a cocoon of pretentious dialogue, abandoned story threads, unsympathetic characters, and symbolism so blatant you trip over it on every other page. Momentary glimpses of story clarity emerge, flutter briefly then are swept away to make room for travelogue, opera as a clumsy metaphor, and philosophical tangents that neither serve the plot nor enhance the characters. The frequent use of passages of dialogue in Italian, sometimes translated, sometimes left for the reader to guess at, serves no purpose other than to let the reader know that author Andrew Eustace Anselmi can indeed read and write in this language.

In the commentary at end of the book, Anselmi divulges that Iron Butterly was the result of “a college prompt to use psychoanalysis to interpret a piece of art”. One has to wonder why the author chose to reveal this since it makes no difference to the merits of the story. However, it would have better served the reader if he would have been forthcoming with this at the beginning before time was invested.


Iron Butterfly

Iron Butterfly follows the rise of the Bennetts, an Italian-American family. The family patriarch, Guy Bennett, has built a successful construction company and has given his wife and three children a privileged life in the suburbs. While the family has heard all about Guy's side of the family, they've never heard much from their mother about her Italian relatives or why she doesn't talk about her family's village back in Italy. In an attempt to learn more, her son Edward decides to take a trip to the small town while he is studying abroad. He finds the original village has been destroyed by an earthquake but he manages to meet some of his cousins. It is only later back at home that he discovers the horror and terrors of his mother's childhood and why she has never been able to return.

I like this story about searching for the past even though it might lead to discovering unexpected events and emotions. I think it's something all families can relate to on some level, even if their stories aren't defined by war or secret histories. I knew right away that there would be something interesting to discover about Marie's past. Although I have to admit, after Edward's first visit to Lavenna, I was perhaps a tad bit disappointed because I had expected Edward to discover some scandal. Instead, he assumed the fact that Marie's mother had been deported back to Italy from the United States due to her illness was the reason she avoided the topic of her past. As I read on, I discovered a much more layered and intricate story of a traumatic and horrifying history of war and destruction and how it shaped not only Marie's life but also a whole village.

I loved the way the author created lively dialogues between family members in this tale. It sometimes felt like I was sitting at a kitchen table with people I knew. The description of Marie's ordeal as a child was also well depicted. There was only one area in the story where I wondered what the author wanted to convey. That was when Edward started hallucinating at the cemetery in Lavenna. The commentary at the end shed some light on the meaning of this event. I did, however, have mixed feelings about the commentary. I would have preferred it to be part of an introduction. As a reader, I would rather be prepared for the story than told afterward how I was supposed to interpret it. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the Bennett family's journey into the past, and this book did more than enough to make me interested in the books that are to follow in this trilogy.


The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine

Today, while women doctors are not quite two a penny, they are far from a rarity. Back in the earlier decades of the nineteenth century, in both America and Europe, women seeking medical degrees found ambition and training were unendingly challenging. In The Doctors Blackwell, two sisters, Elizabeth and Emily, were dissimilar except in their determination.

Author Janice Nimura’s primary research material was personal letters, a treasure trove indeed. The letters were obviously unintended for public scrutiny so perhaps it is not quite fair to judge Elizabeth as unpleasant, disparaging of other women, and someone you wouldn’t want to deal with professionally or socially. Emily, when ‘met’ through the letters and additional sources, was more human, even endearing. Both sisters were motivated by recognizing that many women died prematurely through unwillingness or embarrassment to reveal their illnesses to male doctors.

Where much energy is expended now on finding an appropriate medical school, the options were far more limited and necessitated exhausting travel from one country to another seeking the wherewithal to set up a practice.

The book is exhilarating, full of medical descriptions, some quite harrowing, as well as photographs and details showing medical advances over almost two centuries.


The Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs: Trail-Tested Tips and Expert Advice for Canine Adventures

My family hikes with our dogs all the time, so I wanted to see this book. The photos are the best part. About half of the pages are beautiful photos of dogs in wild places. That’s the greatest advertisement for hiking with your dog! The book’s organization is a little weird. Instead of diving into the hiking part (which is why you got the book!), the first chapters are about where to get a dog. It discusses the pros and cons of adopting from shelters and buying from breeders. And then the author reminds you that puppies won’t be ready for long hikes until their bones’ growth plates have fused!

Overall, this book seems really long. It’s repetitive and a little boring. At the back, there are different kinds of packing lists for people and dogs - day hikes, backpacking, and car camping. There are dog-friendly hikes organized by region of the US, but there’s only one listed in Texas, where I live. Lucky that we can find dog-friendly trails on our own. I wish the author had told more stories about the hikes and connected stories to pictures, to inspire my future trips to wild places!


5 Ingredient Semi-Homemade Meals: 50 Easy & Tasty Recipes Using the Best Ingredients from the Grocery Store (Heart Healthy Budget Cooking) (FlavCity)

On the search for delicious vegan dishes? Wishing to create a weekend inspired by farmhouse favorites? These delicious recipe books will introduce you to a variety of dishes from country treats to vegan delights to five-ingredient dinners. You'll go from learning about food webs to the history of veganism to thought-provoking essays about food in these great reads that will be sure to spice up every night in the kitchen.

Building Community Food Webs – Ken Meter

Farm production in America continues to increase while the net farm income is now considered lower than when the Great Depression began. Statistics say that one out of eight Americans struggles with hunger which is why /Building Community Food Webs/ focuses on the civic networks that are made up of grassroots food and farming leaders. These leaders band together to activate a plan that will engage farmers, organizations, and residents with low incomes. The aim of these networks is to create communities that are stronger and a food web that will inspire the community to empower themselves. Ken Meter will show how these food webs will provide opportunities to build connections between each other, better farming practices, achieve better health, start a new path for the future, and how to strengthen economic trade. This book will address the challenges the leaders and activists striving to create these food webs face.

California Vegan – Sharon Palmer

/California Vegan/ is a delicious book that consists of vegan recipes from Sharon Palmer with each one focusing on local produce. This unique recipe book will showcase the culture and history of California while also delving into what Palmer calls plant-based pioneers. /California Vegan/ delves into the origins of veganism which started within the state of California and will explore the innovations that have been discovered. This stunning history that Palmer explores delves into the beginnings of veganism in the 1970s to modern startups in the Silicon Valley with all the fun of veggie trends that are savory, delicious, and healthy. Palmer delivers a dream book for vegans seeking new recipes while also serving as an introduction for those new to veganism. The book consists of 100 recipes that are all plant-based and even consists of original photography as well as including nutritional information.

5 Ingredient Semi-Homemade Meals – Bobby Parrish

The goal of the recipe book is to allow you to keep meals simple as Bobby Parrish delivers easy and quick recipes for any kind of cook in the kitchen. The recipes you'll find in the book include only five ingredients and options that range from snacks to dinner dishes. Not only are these recipes said to be delicious but they're also healthy for you and your family. A perfect quick solution for those that don't have much time to spare in the kitchen after and can cook up something easy in no time. The prep work for the recipes takes place right in the grocery store with the book telling you how to go about smarter grocery shopping. You will learn how to pick the best ingredients for your meals with 50 delicious recipes that make/5 Ingredient Meals/ the best book to turn to for advice on cooking and insight into smarter grocery shopping.

Farmhouse Weekends – Melissa Bahen

This recipe book is for everyone that loves country life and wants to invoke that feel-good lifestyle in the kitchen. These recipes create what Melissa Bahen calls the perfect farmhouse weekend with each recipe coming straight from Bahen's own experiences. These country experiences influenced the delicious meals and tasty treats within the recipe book from apple picking in the fall to picking berries in the summer with treats that range from apple cider doughnuts to a buttery cobbler. The recipes found within the pages of the delicious recipe book include white bean chili, biscuits, and homemade strawberry freezer jam. You'll find these recipes and more in /Farmhouse Weekends/ which consists of 65 recipes that are perfect for every season.

Cook, Eat, Repeat – Nigella Lawson

/Cook, Eat, Repeat/ is a combination of delicious recipes and thought-provoking essays about food from Nigella Lawson. The writing style is engaging and insightful with wisdom that comes straight from Lawson's experiences with food and life. The recipes are perfect for every season and for every taste with dishes that include Burnt Onion and Eggplant Dip, Cherry and Almond Crumble, Beetroot Yogurt Sauce, Chicken with Garlic Cream Sauce, Rhubarb and Custard Trifle, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. The recipes range from solo suppers to family meals to vegan dishes with Lawson weaving in personal favorites. Whether you're looking for a savory snack, a healthy meal, or a delicious dessert, /Cook, Eat, Repeat/ is perfect for the cook looking to try something new in the kitchen.


Cosmic Queries: StarTalk's Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going

The beauty of a good science book is that you can feel after reading it that you’ve just got a PhD in a whole new subject you barely knew anything about when you started reading. That is the whole point of this behind the science list, giving you a deeper insight on subjects you maybe just had some vague ideas or knowledge about, and after any or all of these books, you’ll have plenty of science facts and details to share at you’re next party now that we’re starting to hang out again.

Cosmic Queries:

We all like to think we know a lot about the universe and our galaxy and how everything got started, but do we really know the specifics? Do we have them in the right order? Also are we up to date on them? Because science is constantly changing and advancing as we learn knew things, and this is no more true than with astronomy. Thankfully, there’s a great book to provide answers to all your questions and more. //Cosmic Queries// from renowned astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson covering topics like how the universe got started, how we got here, and what the future holds for us.

Einstein’s Fridge:

The subtitle for //Einstein’s Fridge// gives you just a taste of what to expect: how the difference between hot and cold explains the universe. We’ve all heard about the laws of thermodynamics and how they basically allows the universe, our galaxy, Earth, us to keep on existing at a constant rate and keep on doing the things we love to do, and now we get to find how these incredible scientists spent over two centuries learning about and eventually understanding the powers and complexities of fire and ice to come up with and develop these laws of thermodynamics that help us understand everything from individual cell biology to distant black holes.

Strange Bedfellows:

Dr. Ina Park has spent decades educating everyone she can on sexual health and trying her best to push the boundaries on what we know about STDs, and in Strange Bedfellows she brings it all together covering everything from AIDS to Zika and giving readers a complete picture on sexually transmitted diseases so that we can know the facts and feel more confidant in our sexual escapades. Park brings a mixture of great storytelling with fact-based science, along with interviews, historical tales, and amusing real life STD stories.

Fighting Chance:

After the year we’ve had, in 2021 it is more important than ever that we help each other and try our best to help those who are having mental health problems. Depression is suffered by many people throughout the world, but it is still shrouded in mystery. Fighting Chance seeks to change that, providing many stories from people who suffer from depression, as well as the science and the medical knowledge behind it. It is still not clear always what causes depression or how it can go away for some. Fighting Chance gives you both the research from scientists and the personal stories.


Astronauts Zoom!: An Astronaut Alphabet

Astronauts Zoom!: An Astronaut Alphabet is an ABC book about things that astronauts do when they're in space. With each of the letters, there are pictures of them doing things up in space like people do here on Earth, like brush their teeth, exercise, kick soccer balls, sing, and play music. Astronauts also do things that we can't do here on Earth, like float, go on space walks, and hang upside down! Each of the things they do is explained more at the end of the book. I found out that it would be easier to play some sports up in space than down here on Earth. Also, at the end of the book is information about the International Space Station and how the astronauts practice being there.

I like the bright colors in the pictures in this book. I like that I can read this book by myself and understand what it all means. I like books about space because it is different than how we live on Earth. I like that the book isn't too long; it is just the right length to enjoy it and also learn something, too. Astronauts Zoom! is a good book for kids of any age.