Dueling Fates by Stephanie M. Allen

Dueling Fates by Stephanie M. Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dueling Fates by Stephanie M. Allen is a great example of intricately detailed world-building, fully developed characters, and a strong storyline. Truly a unique book that builds on the strength of the main characters, namely Alena and Isemay who are twins but very different from each other. At the age of seventeen, they both have marriage prospects, but neither is thrilled with that idea. However, the plot moves on nicely at this point, and the story develops with plenty of tension, controversy, and unforeseen events that challenge the characters. Plenty of romance, magical fantasy, different kingdoms, and unusual creatures make this a must-read for fans of mystical fantasy. The author has done a great job in writing this novel, a deft and creative hand gives it a sense of mystery and flair. If you need a diversion from your everyday life, this is the perfect read, light, magical, and a whole lot of fun.

View all my reviews

Median Gray by Bill Mesce Jr.

Median Gray by Bill Mesce Jr.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Median Gray by Bill Mesce Jr. is as rough and gritty as it gets when detailing the streets of New York in the 1980s and a quest for revenge. The story begins however in 1963 with a rookie cop walking his beat, who comes upon a messed up situation, only to get shot himself. This incident begins the rest of the story 20 years later, and what a story it is. Gritty, realistic, fully capturing the essence of New York City in the most corrupt and dismal of times. The dialogue is perfect, rough and tumble, characters so real, you can almost touch them. With rampant corruption, it's sometimes hard to know who is the good guy or bad guy here as the author sets the stage, slowly and carefully. Nonetheless, the pace picks up, the plot gives you a few twists and turns, and the characters themselves, Ronnie, Big Sid, and more are so realistically described, so authentic. Great story, a bit grim at times, but full of intrigue and excitement. This police thriller definitely packs a punch. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews

Bay of Devils by Grahame Shannon

Bay of Devils by Grahame Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bay of Devils: A mystery letter from a doomed ship sparks an expedition to Alaska (Bay Mysteries Book 1) by Grahame Shannon is a great mystery story based on a historical event, the sinking of doomed Princess Sophia on the Alaska coast. A mysterious letter survives however from one of the crew, having thrown it into the water, only to be discovered years later. The letter is then delivered to the intended recipient Lizzie, 50 years later in 1968. From here the story truly begins as Lizzie hires Sean Gray, amateur detective, and sailor to mount a sailing adventure to find some lost treasure. This story is epic in nature, and replete with interesting, flawed, and fun characters. The author knows his sailing terminology, while the history makes for a compelling and fast-paced read that is both factual and intriguing. A fantastic escapade that even features a smart-aleck macaw named Ajax, you will love the variety of characters, each of them unique and who add so much to the story. Touches of humor here and there add to the fun, and the story pulls you along to a satisfying conclusion. Get ready for a fast-paced adventure on the high seas as the intrepid crew finds their way.

View all my reviews

More than Love: A Husband's Tale by Peter B. Forster

More Than Love, A Husband's Tale by Peter B. Forster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

More Than Love, A Husband's tale by Peter B Forster is a gut-wrenching and heartache filled memoir that recounts the author's time with his wife Kay after she is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Written in journal form the author follows his stream of consciousness during the time his wife is in the hospital and ultimately her death. It is heart-rending and beautiful, fully capturing their love for each other. You feel Peter's pain as he struggles daily to endure, how complicated his emotions are, his guilt, but most importantly his love for his wife. The inclusion of poetry within the text of the journal greatly expands on the emotional time and explores more nuance than a simple memoir might contain. Not only is Peter's journey through his wife's illness explored, but he expands on that to include familial relationships as well, never forgetting how far-reaching are the effects of cancer. This is an important book that can help families grieving during a difficult time to understand they are not alone. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews

Soft Skills for Hard People: A Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence for Rational Leaders by Helena Kim, PhD

Soft Skills for Hard People: A Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence for Rational Leaders by Helena Kim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Soft Skills for Hard People: A Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence for Rational Leaders by Helena Kim, PhD is a fast read and one that helps business leaders access concepts and practices that will up their game when it comes to managing people. The book has a great conversational tone, plenty of examples, and actionable steps you can take to improve your management style. Effective communication is key to building a successful team, and this book shows you how to radically improve your communication skills whether you are a leader, or even in your personal life. If your emotional intelligence needs a boost when it comes to managing your staff, this is the perfect book to learn from. A light tone with touches of humor here and there make this an eminently readable book and one that is easy to glean information from and put into practice. Superb mentoring and coaching book, and highly recommended.

View all my reviews

Boot: A Sorta Novel of Vietnam by Charles L Templeton

Boot: A Sorta Novel of Vietnam by Charles L. Templeton is a riveting read about the Viet Nam war that is slightly reminiscent of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. This book follows the stream of consciousness of its main character, G.O., or George Orwell Hill. We follow his life from the beginning of his military journey through his time in Viet Nam, and returning home, as he makes us laugh, ponder, and become entrenched in the absolute absurdity of war. The relationships between the soldiers are well described, intense, and at times serious. Rescue missions provide some solemnity, but overall the tone is rather light considering the subject, because if you can't see the irony of war, why participate in it at all? A great read, one that will illuminate your understanding of this important moment in history and its lingering effects.

Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind: Spatial Strategy to Success and Happiness by Alex Neumann

Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind: Spatial Strategy to Success and Happiness by Alex Neumann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind: Spatial Strategy to Success and Happiness by Alex Neumann is a well written self help book that will help you pull up your bootstraps and get on with life. The book begins with framing adversity in a new way, looking at examples of adversity throughout history that actually challenged mankind and allowed for progress. A good example is how crops were grown, yet when there was a drought, humans figured out how to work around that, when there are bugs or vermin in crops during storage, storage solutions were improved. These examples provide powerful examples of the human ability to overcome regardless of how pleasant we want our lives to be. The author fully shares his insights and perspectives teaching you the reader to re-frame your brain and your experience. The book encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, challenges your preconceived notions, and look at your life in a new way. Great book that introduces solid and concrete advice that is both usable and actionable. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews