Rescue Run by John Winn Miller - ABR Book Award Winner

Rescue Run by John Winn Miller - ABR Book Award Winner

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Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis

Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis - Chick Lit Book Café

Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis

What price would you pay to reclaim the vigor and allure of youth? Four spirited Southern seniors are about to find out. Tempted by the promise of Rewind Ranch, a paradise nestled in Hawaii’s enchanting Hana hills, they embark on a journey that promises unlimited cosmetic enhancements, captivating company, and indulgent escapades. As the ladies dive into a world of luxury, laughter, and liaisons, they soon discover that the ranch offers more than just superficial pleasures. Beneath the veneer of hedonistic delights, a darker secret lurks. As doubts creep in and stakes rise, they realize their dream vacation might be a trap they need to escape to ensure their very survival. Join these fearless women on a roller-coaster of suspense and camaraderie, where beauty is more than skin deep, and friendship is the ultimate savior.

Chick Lit Book Café Review:

The promise of an exotic, pristine resort paradise offering cutting-edge beauty and wellness services, exciting mixers, and alluring luxury attracts four long-term friends who long to restore their youth and possibly find their match in the immersive thriller, Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis.

Four retirees with different lives: Margot, a successful and prominent socialite from an affluent Alabama family, Elli, a Texas native and former creative director, Lacey Ann, a distinguished ballerina and teacher at American Ballet Theatre, and Mary Grace, a dedicated civil rights lawyer, all reunite at an exquisite condominium in Birmingham, Alabama. Wanting to regain their youth and feel attractive again, they travel to Rewind Ranch, a remote luxury resort in the stunning Hana Hills in Maui, Hawaii. At first, the enchanting paradise delivers everything the friends hoped it would but, later, they discover mysterious events happening in the resort.

Driven by a rich cast of characters, this mesmerizing tale follows the lives of four remarkable women with diverse lives who share a long-lasting friendship. Davis offers an in-depth background of each character, exploring their accomplishments, hopes, and insecurities, which make all four women feel real. At the resort, the women meet other people whose intriguing backstories are also covered.

The breathtaking, tranquil setting creates a seemingly peaceful backdrop for the story. A few chapters later, the storyline takes an unexpected, suspenseful turn once the women arrive at the resort. The story culminates with a hair-raising scene as the characters discover the danger they are in. The ending is gripping and exciting.

While the story can be read as a thrilling mystery led by compelling characters, it is also a beautiful portrait of female friendships. The four friends remain in touch even after they go their separate ways and follow different career paths. Their bond in the story is evident as they meet again in Birmingham and decide to travel together. In the end, they must work together to solve the mystery.

Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis is a fascinating thriller with a page-turning storyline, splendid setting, and original, complex characters that readers will love. I am certainly looking forward to reading more fabulous novels by Peggi Davis. She has an original voice, and her expressive writing style transports the reader to paradise to fully feel, see and experience – both the pleasure and the terror that the lovely unsuspecting ladies feel.  Chick Lit Book Café highly recommends Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis. Book reviewed by Anna Davis.

Buy Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis

Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis
CLBC International Book Excellence Award Winner
Thrillers, Women’s Friendship Fiction, Suspense

To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi - Artisan Book Reviews

To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi - Artisan Book Reviews

To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure  by Serene Rishi
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To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi 

Who am I? What is the meaning or purpose of my life? These were the questions that sparked one woman’s extraordinary odyssey to enduring peace. In her gripping debut novel “To Unshakable Bliss,” author Serene Rishi invites you to question the nature of your own identity.

Rishi introduces us to Qayum, a former star in the tech world rebuilding her career as an author of children’s tales. Despite the worldly success, there is a persistent restlessness within Qayum. She struggles to reconcile external validation from work and wealth with inner purpose. The more thrills she chases, the quicker euphoria evaporates.

On a road trip along California’s Pacific Coast, watching ethereal sunsets dissolve into darkness, she comprehends life’s transiency. She realizes the volatility of happiness while on life’s Ferris wheel of random ups and downs. Just then, the plot thickens. Befriending an old classmate in Denmark, Qayum remembers her carefree spiritual childhood self. Her friend’s unwavering faith in an eternal soul inspires Qayum to conduct her own investigations.

She unravels the world’s illusory nature through varied perspectives – from neuroscience, psychology, and Stoic philosophies to the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Back on that homeward-bound flight, scientific theories on consciousness are explored, exposing parallel themes from millennia-old scriptures. Profound implications set in – mystical visions across eras and cultures point to a fundamental reality underlying existence itself.

What our ambitious protagonist, and perhaps you too, have sought in relentless pursuits already dwells within. Qayum realizes this ever-present kingdom, once unveiled, holds fulfillment beyond imagination’s scope. The harder question is: how does one remain engaged in life’s theater while rooted in awakened truth?

Join Qayum’s liberating adventures across breathtaking terrains and ancient spiritual tributaries. From Zanzibar’s spice markets to Copenhagen’s quaint cafes to California’s majestic redwoods, uncover fresh joy and wisdom. Alongside vivid global backdrops, treasured contemplations from spiritual and scientific visionaries through history are instilled.

Artisan Book Reviews:

A beautiful tribute to the role of our consciousness, our ego, and our ability to create our own happiness, Serene Rishi has written a masterful guide entitled To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure. 

Written in four parts to help guide the main character, Qayum, through the quest to find meaning in her life, readers will discover the necessary tools for themselves to reach this enlightenment as well.  Qayum discovers not only what is holding her back from true happiness, but she also develops strategies to help herself overcome events or outcomes that seem negative.  Grappling with her own ego, Qayum also finds people that are there to help and support her as well as tools that meet her needs.  While no quest is easy, what Qayum discovers about herself, about the world, and about her own true desires make the journey completely worthwhile.

Pulled from ancient traditions, from renowned philosophers and thought leaders, To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure is a toolkit for anyone looking to find more fulfillment, more happiness, and even a greater sense of themselves.  I loved the mantras built into the storyline as well as the traditional readings and the ancient scriptures that assisted Qayum, but even more, I loved the actual real-world application of what Qayum was experiencing as a real person in the world.  Sometimes ancient teachings are hard to apply to one’s day-to-day life and through Qayum I found so much clarity and understanding.  I loved the tangible examples –especially as a woman myself going through similar adversities—and I thought that the different situations Qayum experiences will be applicable to anyone reading this book.  While the concepts are complex and difficult, Serene Rishi brings them down to a layperson’s understanding easily.  I found clarity especially in the way she intertwined multiple ideas together and had Qayum navigate applying them to her own life.

Written for anyone who’s searching for any kind of greater meaning in the world or in their own lives, To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi is perfect. It offers an unparalleled path to embodiment and to a deeper connection with the world, to us, and to others.  Readers of any type will not only walk away with a deeper understanding but also with a profound sense of peace after reading.  I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Book reviewed by Mary Rosenthal for Artisan Book Reviews.

Buy To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi

The Adventures of Toby Baxter: The River Elf, The Giant, And The Closet by Tim Wright - Chick Lit Book Café

The Adventures of Toby Baxter: The River Elf, The Giant, And The Closet by Tim Wright  - Chick Lit Book Café

Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole

Purchase “Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole” Today!

Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole

Cities are bombed out ruins and wilderness is humanity’s new home. The undead roam the earth, and the new world order is about the struggle to survive. Sonny Daniels begins an emotional and physical journey of personal survival and protecting those he loves.

While survival is a constant struggle, Sonny’s most desperate fight is the struggle preserve some semblance of a compassionate soul. Sonny and his parents are caught in the zombie outbreak in upstate New York. After the passage of the first year, their base is attacked by bandits and their safety has again been compromised. Fearing for their loved ones, Sonny’s parents send him and his orphaned childhood friends, Ashley and Carrie, to Fort Denver Colorado on a military plane.

When Fort Denver is overrun with zombies, the three are alone in a zombie infested wasteland without the army’s protection, forced to rely upon one another and a handful of equally desperate survivors they encounter along the journey. Sonny is determined to do whatever it takes to protect Ashley and Carrie while finding a safe place to call home, but survival can force you to make dark decisions.

Review:

Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole is an exceptional and compelling coming of age story set in a post-apocalyptic world. A zombie outbreak in upstate New York creates unfiltered tension and comprises the safety of Sonny Daniels and his parents. Their escape from the disease and mayhem at home to safety at Fort Drum was a perilous journey. Normal people now infected with an unknown disease became monsters attacking and killing anyone crossing their paths. The government is in disarray and survival depends on oneself.

Fearful of the future, Sonny’s parents had no choice but send him along with two or his orphaned friends to Fort Denver Colorado on a military plane. The parents’ nightmare soon becomes an epic story of survival of the fittest for their son and his friends.

Christopher Cole is a masterful writer who infuses catastrophic destruction into a city and plays out the outcome for the residents in bizarre circumstances. He has created a story of psychological warfare in a doomsday setting with young characters ill-equipped to withstand the pressure of securing physical safety for themselves.

The opening statement is taut and suspenseful. You immediately want to know what happened to change his belief and loss of hope. You’ll read page after page for the author draws you into the story and holds your attention to the end.

 Christopher Cole has produced an outstanding SCI-FI action-adventure that touches on the fears and insecurities of coming of age. Add a new world order, where the undead roam the earth and invade the status-quo and you have an award-winning novel of epic proportion. A must-read for SCI-FI fans. Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole is highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews. ~ Book review by CJ Bowen for ABR

Don’t miss this extraordinary read!

Purchase Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole today!
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id: A Novel by Kevin Spark

 id: A Novel by Kevin Spark

Dr. Shelly, a brilliant psychologist, forever haunted by her father and his murderous past, is driven by the need to find out why we do the things we do? Is the concept of free will just a concept and nothing more, a construct that blinds us to a less palatable truth, that who we are is predetermined and encoded at birth? Does anyone really choose to do the bad things we do or are we just doing what comes naturally?

Shelly constructs an experiment using a sensory deprivation tank and virtual reality, allowing the darkest part of ourselves, the id, to run free. Unencumbered by morality or remorse, Shelly finds the perfect subject in Adam. A borderline psychotic born into a world of neglect and crime. Delving into the deepest pits of his subconscious, Shelly surfaces with far more than she bargained for.

Detective Hopper, responsible for Adam’s capture, remains a broken man. After suffering a breakdown due to the escalation of his own violent behavior, he is placed under the care of Dr. Shelly. Encouraging him to go looking for his own redemption, Hopper becomes a pawn in her web of deception until the lines of reality are redrawn as Hopper and Adam come full circle to an explosive end.

Book Review:

If you are looking to get your hands on something new, thrilling, intellectual, and incredible, then you’ll want to pick up id: A Novel by debut author Kevin Spark. ASAP!

id: A Novel is a unique, brilliant, psychological thriller which questions and shines light on the depths of the human psyche, the concepts of free will, nature or nurture and what drives unacceptable, depraved and even murderous human behaviors.

From the very first chapter, I was completely caught up in Kevin Spark’s amazing descriptive writing style, intriguing characters and his deep thought processes and expressions. He aptly introduces readers to Shelly, a psychologist with a traumatizing past, and a very disturbed father. Shelly’s past has caused her to have an unending hunger for understanding the human id, and what drives some people to do the terrible things they do. She obsesses over her patients’ primal urges and is yet to fully admit that she has one of her own. As Shelly delves deeper into the minds of her patients, particularly Adam, a disturbed psycho, and Hopper, a former police detective, she uncovers some dark and disturbing truths about herself and the human id.

One of the standout features of id: A Novel is Kevin Spark’s masterful writing style, which flawlessly alternates between different character perspectives, drawing readers into the minds of each intriguing character with vivid interesting detail. Spark’s unique ideas and unexpected twists takes readers on a journey to the darkest recesses of the human mind, challenging their perceptions of reality and morality. The novel’s seamless blend of psychological thrills, eerie atmosphere and elements of horror creates an unforgettable reading experience that will haunt readers long after the last page is turned. It is one of those rare thought-provoking reads that caused me to ponder on the author’s thought processes and how he came up with so many astonishing thoughts and ideas and then brilliantly wrote them into the story. 

id: A Novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers who crave a new, fascinating and intelligent reading experience. Spark’s intricate exploration of the human psyche, combined with his skillful storytelling and innovative ideas, make this novel a true gem that will leave readers questioning the depths of human nature. id: A Novel is a must-read, stimulating and engrossing story and comes highly recommended. 

You don’t want to miss out on this electrifying and smart psychological thriller!
Buy id: A Novel by Kevin Spark today!

Boulevard Dreams by E Ryan Janz - 5 Star Book Review

Boulevard Dreams by E Ryan Janz

Synopsis:

Down and out private eye, Joe Nails, has a problem.
He endures a brief series of surrealistic dreams, in which his long-lost friend pleads for his help before turning a gun to his head and firing. Joe discovers the suicide did occur, a month before his dreams began, so he deepens his probe beneath the mystifying and smoky noir underbelly of 1958 San Francisco, and encounters rising walls of lies and heartbreak from amorous and anguished women alike, and stumbles across incomprehensible goons and vicious killers longing for further bliss, and where his long slow descent painfully binds him to a ruthless yet respectable kingpin bent on reigning over him.
Joe Nails has a problem all right, an entire shopping list of them, but as he speeds down an unrelenting road of murder and mystery with no off-ramps, he just may solve a few…providing the approaching.357 yearning for another victim allows it.

Review:

Boulevard Dreams by E Ryan Janz is an exceptional one-of-a-kind story filled with intrigue, mystery, mayhem, and suspense, in which readers will love and revel in.

It is 1958 in San Francisco’s smoky noir world, and private detective, Joe Nails is having reoccurring lucid dreams about his friend crying out to him for help, and then he puts a gun to his head and kills himself. Joe finally becomes concerned, and goes out to find his friend, but discovers that he has gone missing, and it has been a month since he has been seen. Joe begins to investigate and finds many shock-worthy things about his friend’s life, and some peculiar people that try to convince him of his friend’s supposed death. As Joe digs deeper in his investigation, the plot thickens. Soon, Joe finds himself deep in a world of deceit, murder, lust, suicide and suffering. Joe must face the truth of his friend’s horrific choices and actions, and in the end, the torment of his own.

E Ryan Janz has created a dramatic dark world of mystery, deception and death set in the nostalgic time of 1958, in a city that is known for its intrigue and worldliness. Boulevard Dreams is a fabulous read and one that readers won’t soon forget. Skillfully written, it has all the right elements of a smart crime and mystery novel. Then, goes beyond that and gives readers a chilling, thrilling and suspenseful ride with a fast paced, well developed and deep storyline and plot. The suspense is unsettling and very enticing. The characters are fully developed with quirky, curious and interesting personalities. Their clever, and sometimes humorous, dialogue is written in such a way that only an intelligent writer with a creative, original voice could think up. I connected with the characters and felt that author E Ryan Janz put his heart into them.

I couldn’t put Boulevard Dreams down, and turned the pages rapidly, fully engaged, to find out what would happen next and how Joe would solve this mystery without becoming a desperate man himself.   E Ryan Janz seems to have great detective skills himself, as it is clear in this story filled with twists and turns. The brilliant mystery plot had me guessing all the way through. My mind really became engulfed in this one, and I didn’t want it to end. I absolutely loved the setting and descriptive writing. Boulevard Dreams is an exciting page turner that readers won’t be able to put down until they have devoured the very last page. Boulevard Dreams is one of the best books in its genre that I have read in a long time. When I saw the cover, I had a feeling I would love the book – and I wholeheartedly did! Well done! Artisan Book Reviews highly recommends Boulevard Dreams by E Ryan Janz to all mystery and suspense lovers – and those who want to escape into the passion of the past, and a smoky noir world filled with intrigue, and crime in San Francisco!

Purchase Boulevard Dreams by E Ryan Janz today!

The Veil (The Redemption Series) by Torstein Beck

The Veil (The Redemption Series) by Torstein Beck

Synopsis:

We thought we’d be at the top of the food chain forever. We were wrong.

Aaro Emmerson knows what lies beyond the walls.

It’s why he vowed never to go out there again.

But his city is dying, and the chance at a better life is hanging in the balance.

He must journey a thousand kilometers into the wild unknown, into their territory, and retrieve a nuclear core that has the power to save one of the last refuges of man.

The plan is suicidal. But it’s better to die on your feet than on your knees.

For fourteen years, he’s been seeking a chance for redemption. And now he has one.

They’ve got protection, they’ve got guns, but what they don’t realize, is that just maybe the worst monster of all is already inside…

The Veil is the first book in the Redemption Series.

Praise for The Veil:
“Terrifying. Brutal. Powerful. This really is a new breed of Dystopia.”

“The Veil is a book that’s about as bloody as it is good.”

“Horrifically great….I’ve never read anything quite like this.”

 Review:

In Torstein Beck’s dystopian science-fiction novel, The Veil, a young man struggles to survive after losing everything to the creation of the vicious attempt of a science project. This is an amazing, chilling and suspense filled story that readers will love and revel in.

Set one hundred years from now, The Veil features leading scientist Florian Gertlinger who spearheads an ambitious project that goes horribly wrong. The Varas, which are powerful savage predators, become the result of the team’s vision. Meanwhile, after having their beautiful baby Lila, Emilie and Aaro Emmerson are more than happy and content. What Aaro would never have foreseen, however, is a break-in by a murderous monster that kills and devours his wife and child. Aaro is left with nothing to live for. Years pass and Oslo’s streets become even more dilapidated and its residents more desperate to survive. When Aaro is presented with an opportunity to change his life and save his people, he takes it even though he knows he is about to come face to face with death.

The novel focuses on the main characters Aaro and Gertlinger, showing the creation and the result of the project. Aaro struggles to survive through everything. During his mission to Murmansk, Russia to collect a nuclear reactor that could possibly save the people, he faces imminent danger at every turn. Several aspects of the novel make it stand out. First, it does not aim to create a grandiose end, rather, death in the story becomes a form of escape from an undefeatable predator. It also focuses on ethical and policy issues in science. Government and political systems do not play a central role in the plot. Descriptions are graphic and shocking, painting a vivid image of the monsters while the characters are few and each plays an important role throughout the story. The plot does not follow a chronological order but shifts from the future to current times which creates penetrating suspense in the novel.

Horrifying yet thrilling, The Veil, is concisely written. It is driven by the incidents of each scene rather than a culmination of events at the end. Fast paced, excellent characters and a plot to die for, Torstein Beck has written a surprising and believable story that will have readers on the edge of their seats, filled with various intense emotions from start to finish. Highly recommended by Chick Lit Café. – Reviewed by Edith Emunah for Chick Lit Café.

Don’t miss this amazing 5 star dystopian science-fiction novel!
Purchase The Veil by Torstein Beck today!

Murder, She Wrote: Manuscript for Murder by Jon Land

Murder, She Wrote: Manuscript for Murder by Jon Land

Synopsis:

Jessica Fletcher investigates a mysterious manuscript with deadly consequences in the latest entry in this USA Today bestselling series…

Jessica Fletcher has had plenty to worry about over her storied career, both as a bestselling novelist and amateur sleuth. But she never had any reason to worry about her longtime publisher, Lane Barfield, who also happens to be a trusted friend. When mounting evidence of financial malfeasance leads to an FBI investigation of Lane, Jessica can’t believe what she’s reading.

So when Barfield turns up dead, Jessica takes on the task of proving Barfield’s innocence–she can’t fathom someone she’s known and trusted for so long cheating her. Sure enough, Jessica’s lone wolf investigation turns up several oddities and inconsistencies in Barfield’s murder. Jessica knows something is being covered up, but what exactly? The trail she takes to answer that question reveals something far more nefarious afoot, involving shadowy characters from the heights of power in Washington. At the heart of Jessica’s investigation lies a manuscript Barfield had intended to bring out after all other publishers had turned it down. The problem is that manuscript has disappeared, all traces of its submission and very existence having been wiped off the books.

With her own life now in jeopardy, Jessica refuses to back off and sets her sights on learning the contents of that manuscript and what about it may have led to several murders. Every step she takes brings her closer to the truth of what lies in the pages, as well as the person who penned them.

Review:

In Jon Land’s second installment in the famed Murder She Wrote series, Jessica Fletcher is about to solve, yet, another murder. The story starts with Jessica being told by fellow writer Thomas Rudd that their mutual editor friend and publisher, Lane Barfield, may be stealing money from their accounts.

The next day, Barfield asks for Jessica’s opinion on a manuscript entitled, The Affair. Barfield states that it will be the next big political thriller. It is a confidential manuscript that Barfield is hoping will save his company from bankruptcy. Jessica is supposed to have the only copy, but Rudd has stolen a copy that was on a flash drive after he challenged Barfield about the thieving. Soon, both of the men turn up dead, from what appears to be suicides. Jessica is left to sort out the conundrum of whether the volatile manuscript could be the reason for their deaths.

Jon Land does it again with his new volume in the Jessica Fletchermystery writer series. In Manuscript for Murder, Jessica is given a modern and more up to date persona as she gets more into technology and goes from Cabot Cove, Maine to New York City and, later, to Washington DC. The President is in danger and Jessica is at her very best as she manages the twists and turns that solving this mystery takes her on.

Fans will love Manuscript for Murder, as it is a compelling and engaging whodunit. If you love cozy mysteries, this will be right up your alley. Readers will be guessing at every turn of the page. This book is unputdownable and will keep all mystery fans up late at night turning the pages quickly to find out what happens next. Filled with action, excitement and intrigue, Jessica, once again, stumbles upon another mystery to be solved. In her capable hands, this murder mystery is puzzling, up to date, irresistible and complete. With plenty of well thought out clues, Jon Land gives readers a run for their money and a challenge for their minds.

Manuscript for Murder hits the ground running and gives readers an entertaining and enjoyable good time. I am a diehard Murder She Wrotefan and Manuscript for Murder has to be at the very top of my list for best sellers. I was drawn in and immersed from the very first chapter right to the eye opening and satisfying finale. Jon Land has been given the privilege and challenge of writing the Murder She Wrote series and he is doing a highly remarkable job. He is an excellent bestselling author and they couldn’t have chosen anyone more worthy of the assignment to carry on this popular magnificent mystery series.

Jessica Fletcher is better than ever. Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Manuscript for Murder by Jon Land to all mystery and Jessica Fletcher fans and beyond.
Reviewed by Jewel Hart for Chick Lit Cafe

Purchase Murder, She Wrote: Manuscript for Murder by Best Selling Author Jon Land @Amazon Here

They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark

They Called Him Marvin: A History of Love, War and Family by Roger Stark

“They were the fathers we never knew, the uncles we never met, the friends who never returned, the heroes we can never repay. They gave us our world. And those simple sounds of freedom we hear today are their voices speaking to us across the years.” Bill Clinton

Such a man was 1st Lt Dean Harold Sherman, B-29 Airplane Commander.

“They Called Him Marvin” is a history. A history of war and of family. A history of the collision of the raging politics of a global war, young love, patriotism, sacred family commitments, duty and the horrors and tragedies, the catastrophe that war is.

Review:

They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark is a merger between American and Japanese events during WWII, and the very human reality of one American pilot and his love letters to his wife.  The candor in their loving correspondence, and the stark reality of war, clash against each other within the pages of this book.  Like the major and minor notes being pulled from an orchestra by a master conductor, history is brought to life and the full impact of war is felt.

I remember watching Tenco many years ago and weeping over the atrocities inflicted on prisoners in Japanese prison of war camps.  The horrors of it stayed with me and I often steer clear of anything to do with war in books or films these days.  However, I am so glad I came across this super book.  The author has met Marv – the son of Dean, whose love letters fill this book, and this brings everything to life, injecting real substance and making this book stand out from a lot of other war stories.  What I loved the most in this ‘almost-a-memoir’ is the view of the pilots from the Japanese perspective.  The story of Riku and his family is very moving, and I appreciate the accounting of history from both countries, it is thoroughly moving as well as educational.  Bringing the readers focus constantly back to Dean and Connie was an ingenious way to remind us that war involves real people, not just figures on a page.  This story is a beautiful account of a horrific time in history and should be read by everyone… lest we forget.

Roger Stark presents us with a very human experience of WWII.  This is the kind of book that should be on every high school curriculum.  It is awash with facts, but expressed in such a way as to grip the reader and hold their attention.  Packed with historical content, and portrayed with a vibrant pen, They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark comes very highly recommended by Chick Lit Café.

Buy They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark today!!

Strong As Steel (Caitlin Strong Novels) by Jon Land

Strong As Steel (Caitlin Strong Novels) by Jon Land

Synopsis:

Tough-as-nails Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong returns in this electrifying tenth installment of the series, by USA Today bestselling author Jon Land

1994: Texas Ranger Jim Strong investigates a mass murder on a dusty freight train linked to a mysterious, missing cargo for which no record exists.

The Present: His daughter, fifth generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong, finds herself on the trail of that same cargo when skeletal remains are found near an excavation site in the Texas desert. She’s also dealing with the aftermath of a massacre that claimed the lives of all the workers at a private intelligence company on her watch.

These two cases are connected by a long buried secret, one that men have killed and died to protect. Caitlin and her outlaw lover Cort Wesley Masters must prove themselves to be as strong as steel to overcome a bloody tide that has been rising for centuries.

Review:

Strong As Steel (Caitlin Strong Novels) by Jon Land tells a story that begins with Texas Ranger Jim Strong, who is consumed by a mystery that has dumbfounded the elite lawmakers from the start. In 1994 a freight train is found abandoned, with dead bodies in abundance and no cargo. The mystery begins as there appears to be no logical explanation for the deaths, there being no outward signs of injury and no evidence to point to the cause of death. Add to that the strange disappearance of a cargo that has no record of its existence, and Jim Strong begins his quest to find the answers.

Twenty-five years later, and Jim Strong’s daughter, Caitlin, finds herself asking the same questions as her father when more mysterious deaths occur that are suspiciously similar. Caitlin has followed in her father’s footsteps and is a Texas Ranger, and she has inherited her father’s determination and dedication to the job. She sets out to unravel the mystery of the elusive containers and to discover their curious contents, whatever they may be. But there are others at work with a similar goal but a different purpose. Enter Molinari, a religious zealot determined to protect the secret of the past using whatever means necessary to accomplish his task.

Then we have a little girl as the ring-bearer at her father’s wedding who witnesses a massacre that molds her life’s journey as she becomes the deadly yet revered Luna Diaz Delgado, determined to rule by fear. Such is the roller coaster of this novel, a reader’s journey of mystery, hatred, deceit and murder, yet interspersed with family loyalty, an enigma from the past, hints of the supernatural, and a man who talks to ghosts.

There is so much in Strong As Steel, the tenth book (no less) in the Caitlin Strong series that it leaves the reader breathless in anticipation and turning the pages with expectation that all will be revealed and then being thwarted as the mystery deepens. Caitlin is all that her name suggests; strong in character and mind, unafraid of the consequences of her actions, still desirous of making her father proud, and yet at times there are glimpses of someone compassionate and controlled.

If the synopsis for Strong As Steel does not capture your imagination, then just open the book and you will be drawn in from the first page. The fact that this is the tenth book in the series is testament to the standard and quality of the writing, the vivid mind of the writer, the strong and well-developed characters, the Individuality of the protagonists, and that’s before even starting on the suspense that is created within the pages, culminating in a satisfying yet surprising ending. This is one of those books that the reader becomes so engrossed in, the end comes reluctantly. Author Jon Land, writes with confidence and credibility and brings these incredible characters to life with ease. Chick Lit Café is proud to recommend Strong As Steel by USA Today best selling author Jon Land, an excellent 5 star read for lovers of mystery, action, suspense and adventure.

Purchase Strong As Steel by Jon Land @Amazon today!

Upscaling Life by Bert Bakker

 

Upscaling Life: A Pragmatist’s Guide to Setting and Achieving Personal Goals by Bert Bakker

In Upscaling Life you will learn how to create a life plan and set personal goals the right way. The author developed a model for personal development based on highly successful growth models and strategies for the business world.

And every reader receives these downloadable growth models for FREE with every copy purchased.

The book explains the model for personal development in a clear, structured and practical way. Everyone at any point in their life can use these models, strategies and tips for self-growth.

Scientific studies are described to explain why setting personal goals work. And positive psychology concepts are used to tie it all together. This combined with tips & tricks on how to improve your journey towards goal success guarantees that you will find some elements to help you reach the life you envision.

By setting goals, we create a roadmap of toward where we want to go, and we discover the right way to get there. French philosophical giant Michel Foucault once said:

“I don’t feel that it is necessary to know exactly what I am. The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning.”

Book review:

Upscaling Life by Bert Bakker is a pragmatic guide to setting and achieving personal goals, and is a definite ‘must have’ self-help guide.  It is contagiously enthusiastic, motivating, encouraging and inspiring!  I can’t wait to recommend it to my family and friends.

I’ve always appreciated that saying… he who fails to plan, plans to fail, even so the amount of times I’ve actually sat down and drafted out a plan has been few and far between.  This is about to change, thanks to all the inspirational and methodical advice offered in this great book.

As a self-help guide it is both thorough and easy-to-read.  The steps to helping you achieve your planned goals are straight-forward and easy to follow, and come complete with spreadsheets to help you on your way.  I appreciate very much the first third of the book that gets the reader to look at themselves and discover/acknowledge their core values and life missions.  Without doing this first it is pretty impossible to set down life goals which should be aligned with our values.  To be clear, this is about putting you on the right path to recognizing what both your values and goals are, no one can actually help you accomplish your goals, only point you in the right direction so that you can recognize, record, and then set out to achieve them.  This book will focus you with easy-to-understand language, motivate, and inspire you.  But lastly, once you’re on course (if you’re like me) you will receive an element of peace of mind – which is priceless.  The appendix at the end of the book is a super resource.

Bert Bakker has poured years of practical application, and his personal drive to encourage others, into this wonderful self-help guide.  I have been completely inspired and invigorated with the desire to make plans and to change my life 1% at a time.  Upscaling Life by Bert Bakker is both educational and inspirational, and comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews. Book Review written by T N Traynor for Artisan Book Reviews & Promotion.

Purchase Upscaling Life: A Pragmatist’s Guide to Setting and Achieving Personal Goals by Bert Bakker today!!