Category: Book Reviews

Book review: ‘Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?’ by Bella Mahaya Carter

‘Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?’ by Bella Mahaya Carter. Photo: amazon

Bella Mahaya Carter is a creative writing teacher, empowerment coach, speaker, and author of an award-winning memoir, “Raw: My Journey from Anxiety to Joy,” and “Secrets of My Sex,” a collection of narrative poems. She has worked with hundreds of writers over the past eleven years and has degrees in literature, film production, and spiritual psychology. Her poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, articles, and interviews have appeared in Mind, Body, Green; The Sun; Lilith; Fearless Soul; Writer’s Bone; Women Writers, Women’s Books; Chic Vegan; Bad Yogi Magazine; Jane Friedman’s Blog; Pick The Brain; Spiritual Medial Blog; Literary Mama; several anthologies, and elsewhere. In her new book “Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?: Finding Peace of Mind While You Write, Publish, and Promote Your Book” she shows writers how to use their present circumstances as stepping-stones to a successful and meaningful writing life.

“Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?” begins with an Introduction where the author shares her personal experience about how a hammock she received from her husband and daughter for Mother’s Day helped her conclude that peace and happiness come from within. She thought she had placed it in the perfect spot in her backyard but when the neighbor cut down a tree that gave her shade, she was furious about it for a month. It was not until she gave in, relocated it and found another ‘perfect spot,’ that she found that the bliss was not in the hammock itself, but in the permission she “gave myself to let go and be completely present and alive there.” Her goal is that this book will “encourage readers to lean in to their work and their lives with greater freedom, curiosity, and celebration.” It is divided into five parts: Dream (Universal Doubt, Stories That Create Suffering), Nourish (Small Adjustments, Body Breaks), Write (Journal Writing Is Good For Your Writing, The Time It Takes), Publish (Why We Write, The Dream), and Promote (Author Expectations, Hiring a Publicist). Each part stands alone and some chapters end with writing prompts to help readers dig deeper into the subject as it pertains to their lives. Throughout, she also shares her seven major crossroads moments on her path to publication, known as MYHM (move your hammock moment). This must-read resource is meant to give writers inspiration and help authors overwhelmed by the publishing process.

Writing and getting published can be intimidating and there are more than enough books out there dealing with the subject. “Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?” is not only a how-to book, it is also meant to help readers be mentally prepared for the entire process by dealing with fears and feelings of inadequacies and giving them coping skills. The book is brilliantly divided into different stages so that readers can choose what to focus on depending on their needs or just read all the way through. The chapters are short and to the point, without unnecessary ramblings, and the language is easy to understand, true attributes of an educator. Highlights include chapter 38. Craft: Six Ways to Improve Your Writing where the author gives writing tips such as avoiding general terms and writing using your natural speaking voice; chapter 69. Marketing Versus Publicity (marketing is an ongoing process while publicity is a targeted media campaign), and chapter 81. How to Plan a Successful Book Tour. An interesting concept she shares is that “readers want to see their own lives reflected in what they read;” this is why we read and why we write, to connect with others, so we should not be afraid to write about our experiences. It is updated for the modern age with the inclusion of using social media, Facebook and Zoom. “Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?” by Bella Mahaya Carter is an extremely useful and inspiring guide designed to bring out an individual’s creativity. It is recommended for readers looking for ways to improve their writing and tips for how to handle what comes after a book is published.  

“Perhaps one of the greatest skills I know in service to dreams is the understanding that growth takes place at the edges of one’s comfort zone.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

 

Book review: ‘Great American Road Trips’

‘Great American Road Trips’ by Reader’s Digest. Photo: amazon

Now that summer is here, most people will be taking vacations, including road trips. Reader’s Digest has put together a new book, the first in the Great American Road Trips series, that covers Scenic Drives. Hoping to inspire readers to travel and explore the wide-opens spaces and breathtaking views of our country, “Great American Road Trips – Scenic Drives: Discover Insider Tips, Must-See Stops, Nearby Attractions and More” is a complete guide to making road trips easier.

“Great American Road Trips” begins with a foreword by the editors that explains the purpose of this book “These trips will take you on an odyssey in your car, van or RV.” These drives range from the ones that lead to beaches to the more adventurous, like a trip along North America’s highest paved road, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado. Each one is a firsthand experience from travelers and photographers themselves and comes with helpful added tips like length of trip, fun facts, nearby attractions, and “not to be missed” points of interest. All this is highlighted by over 140 gorgeous photos. The information is divided into five parts: West (Seward Highway in Alaska, Big Sur Coast in California), Southwest (Apache Trail in Arizona, Texas Hill Country in Texas), Midwest (Illinois River Road in Illinois, North Shore Scenic Drive in Minnesota), Southeast (Bayou Country in Louisiana, Cherokee Foothills Byway in South Carolina), and Northeast (Cape Cod’s Route 6 in Massachusetts, Vermont Route 108 in Vermont).

Whether taking a cross country trip or planning a staycation, “Great American Road Trips” is the ultimate guide to scenic drives. Even if you are not planning a road trip anytime soon, it still contains exceptional pictures and information about each scenic drive. The first person descriptions make them more realistic. Highlight: each section ends with a quote and being from Texas and having lived near Fredericksburg, I am partial to the one after ‘Southwest,’ “Where flowers bloom, so does hope” by Lady Bird Johnson because it accompanies the picture of a field of bluebonnets near Fredericksburg. Seeing all these flowers along side the road every spring is awe-inspiring.  All the pictures are colorful and they make each destination look more inviting. “Great American Road Trips” is an extremely helpful resource for anyone planning a scenic drive or two and might just inspire a bucket list altogether.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ’39 Down’ by Paul Schwartzmeyer

’39 Down’ is book one of the Joseph Schneider, Traitor-Patriot series by Paul Schwartzmeyer. Photo: amazon

Paul Schwartzmeyer is a former Marine Corp radio man. After graduating from college, he worked on oil rigs in the bayous of offshore Louisiana and in Texas. For eight years he worked as an engineer in the Saudi Desert where he was given the highest level security clearance to work with radioactivity and explosives. He also worked in Dubai as well as in the Al Rub Al Khali, one of the most desolate places on earth. His worldwide contacts include soldiers of fortune, oil industry executives, combat veterans, hostage negotiators, madams, and pub owners. He has extensive knowledge in the workings of international banks, trade cartels and the civilian military complex and his books are metaphors for a world few people ever see. He is the author of the series Joseph Schneider, Traitor-Patriot. “39 Down” is book 1 of the series and the story of Paul Trifthauser, who unknowingly inherits an espionage network from his grandfather.

“39 Down” begins with a CIA memo to the FBI director from the Intelligence Division regarding Joseph Gerhold Wendel Schneider that includes his personal information such as date of birth, occupations, and known family members: his grandson Paul Trifthauser, who is the protagonist of this series. The story starts as Arianna, Paul’s girlfriend, is grieving the death of Gregor, Paul’s best friend. He was shot coming out of Paul’s office building while wearing his jacket so Paul assumes he was the intended target, not Gregor. His death spooks them so much that when Paul’s mother calls to say she is selling the family home and that he needs to go and clean out his stuff, he and Arianna do not think twice about leaving town. Paul is newly sober and he fears that if he starts drinking again, he will lose Arianna and he has already lost too much. But Gregor’s death is only the beginning of the drama and chaos that will upend both their lives. When they find Joseph’s stack of crossword puzzles in the family home’s barn, Arianna, who is good at puzzles, goes through them. Together, they begin to unlock the mystery of Joseph’s past which leads to Paul unknowingly inheriting an espionage network so secretive and so lethal that that even the CIA was afraid to confront it. Buried in layers of code, hidden in 3,000 crossword puzzles are Joseph Schneider’s secrets. Now Paul has to figure out the code before his grandfather’s enemies, the world’s massive trading cartels, realize he does not know it. Not knowing who he can trust and armed with nothing but intuition and with the help of a twenty-nine year old Indian prostitute named Alejandra, he races against time in an attempt to stay alive.  

The Joseph Schneider, Traitor-Patriot series is based on many composite characters, including Paul Schwartzmeyer’s grandfather Joseph Reeb, who was a former tanner for the Pearce Arrow company, a decorated combat veteran in World War I, and owned a furniture store in Buffalo. “39 Down” has a feeling of authenticity since the author used some of his own background to create the Paul Trifthauser universe, including spies, cartels, and Alejandra, the prostitute/assistant. It is narrated in the first person point of view so the reader has an insight into Paul’s state of mind, especially when everything is falling apart around him. Due to Paul’s extensive character development, readers come to care about what happens to him. The language is easy to understand and poetic at times: “The Rover glided over the sand as if we were floating on a cloud.” Some chapters begin with CIA memos updating the Trifthauser/Schneider case which hints that the CIA really is following Paul, that he is not just paranoid. His grandfather’s code name was Arnus, ‘39 Down’ in correspondence with foreign agents; that is where the novel’s title comes in.  It is fascinating when Paul describes what it is like living in isolation and how traumatic it can be going back to civilization: “It takes about a month to internalize it. It’s a process. At night, the silence is so encompassing that your ears ring. The ringing keeps you awake, but when that dies down, your body takes on a calmness that’s quite profound. After just five months, I returned to ‘civilization.’ It was one of the most horrid experiences in my life. I couldn’t sleep inside, choosing to sleep on the roof of my apartment in Dhahran. I drank incessantly, I thought I’d lose my mind.” With action that flows easily through the pages, it is a definite must-read. “39 Down” by Paul Schwartzmeyer is a globe-trotting spy adventure that sometimes keeps readers guessing but does not disappoint. It is recommended for fans of spy thrillers similar to The Bourne series by Robert Ludlam and the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.

The Kindle edition of “39 Down” appears to be the unedited version because it has numerous typos and grammatical/spelling errors. This does not take away from the quality of the story.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Chasing the Ghost’ by Leonard A. Cole

‘Chasing the Ghost’ by Leonard A. Cole Photo: google

Dr. Leonard A. Cole is the author of “Chasing the Ghost: Nobelist Fred Reines and the Neutrino.” An expert on bioterrorism and on terror medicine, he is an adjunct professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (Emergency Medicine) and at Rutgers University-Newark (Political Science). At the medical school, he is director of the Program on Terror Medicine and Security. He has written for the The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Foreign Policy, Scientific American, and The Sciences. He has testified before congressional committees and made invited presentations to several government agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Office of Technology Assessment. His new book “Chasing the Ghost: Nobelist Fred Reines and the Neutrino” is a unique combination of memoir and biography and a deeply human story about Fred Reines, one of the 20th century’s true scientific pioneers.

Fred Reines is the winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Physics. In “Chasing the Ghost,” Cole recounts the life of one of the great scientists of our era; from the years spent on the search for the “unseeable” neutrino, to the “Project Poltergeist” experiment, and to the discovery of the mysterious neutrino. It begins with the story of how in the summer of 1963, Fred Reines, Gus Hruschka, an engineer friend, and Friedel Sellschop, a South African physics professor, entered the East Rand South African gold mine with an experiment in mind. Precautions included water-repellent high-laced shoes, hard hats, and even gas masks, in case sensors detected carbon monoxide or methane. But before continuing that story, Cole, who happens to be Reines’ cousin, goes back to 1956 when Reines and his colleague Clyde Cowan discovered the neutrino. Fun fact: “The miniscule particle is commonly described as elusive. More than half a century after its detection, the neutrino is still referred to as a ghost particle”- hence the title of the book. The book is divided into six parts: Beginnings “Language, Science, and the Ghost Particle,” Becoming “Becoming a Physicist,” Discovery “Explosive Ideas,” Moving “Transition Years at Irvine,” Expressions “Classroom Teacher,” and Validation “The Legacy Grows.” The Epilogue sums up the vast amounts of memorabilia currently in the lobby of Frederick Reines Hall at the University of California Irvine as well as how even after he won the Nobel Prize in 1995, Reines continued to learn more about the particle and how interest in neutrino studies continues to grow.

According to Scientific American, “a neutrino is a subatomic particle that is very similar to an electron, but has no electrical charge and a very small mass, which might even be zero.” Cole expertly explains the science, but understanding physics is not a requirement to read this biography because in the Preface, the author explains that the book is a combination of memoir and biography with a focus on a human story. It is mainly about Fred Reines’ personal life and not so much the science of neutrino physics. Any science described is used to support Fred’s story and is meant to appeal to a general audience, which it does. It alternates between sections explaining physics (subatomic particles), the experiments to detect the neutrino, and Reines’ personal life and career. By using pictures, letters, diagrams, and newspaper accounts, readers are offered a glimpse of this wildly accomplished scientist and teacher who became one of the twentieth century’s true pioneers in physics, all while remaining modest. Standout chapters include Chapter 14: Classroom Teacher, which details how involved he was as a teacher and Chapter 18: The Legacy Grows where it breaks down his legacy: “Interest in the ghost particle has soared, as its centrality in the workings of the cosmos has become increasingly evident.” Despite the overall physics theme, the language is easy to understand and follow. Even if the physics sections are too complicated for some readers, they are few and far between and serve to help understand the mind of Fred Reines. “Chasing the Ghost” by Leonard A. Cole is an incredibly interesting portrait of the man and his contributions to physics and is recommended for readers who appreciate biographies with some science mixed in for fun.

“The story of the neutrino is one of scarcely imaginable extremes. The particle is omnipresent yet proof of its existence had long eluded confirmation. Other than photons – particles of light – neutrinos are the most abundant particle in the universe.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘Strange Love’ by Fred Waitzkin

‘Strange Love’ by Fred Waitzkin. Photo: amazon

Fred Waitzkin is an American novelist and writer. His work has appeared in Esquire, New York magazine, the New York Times Sunday Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, Outside, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, the Huffington Post, and the Daily Beast, among other publications. His memoir, “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” about his son Josh Waitzkin, a chess prodigy, was made into a major motion picture released in 1993. His other books are “Mortal Games,” “The Last Marlin,” “The Dream Merchant,” and “Deep Water Blues.” His new book “Strange Love” is about an American tourist who finds himself obsessed with a young Costa Rican woman and tells a story of disappointments, unusual desires, and the things people will do when their dreams do not materialized in the ways they had hoped. It is illustrated by Sofia Ruiz, a Latin American artist.

“Strange Love” is narrated by a man vacationing in a remote village on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The story opens as he is sitting at a picnic table with Rachel, a local woman he recently met, as well as her aunt María José, a few cousins, and some other people. Rachel wanted him to meet her family and they are exchanging stories. She proceeds to tell him about how the women of Fragata are the most beautiful in the world and when men hear about the place, they arrive in their fancy cars, only to take them away. Most girls leave when they are seventeen and return when they are in their thirties. At 36, Rachel is one of the few who never left. The man is a writer who at one time imagined himself to be a novelist the likes of his heroes Philip Roth and John Updike but instead has spent thirty years working as an exterminator in filthy basements and elevator shafts after writing only one novel. Rachel grew up surrounded by poverty, loss, and trauma and has the gift of storytelling, something he lacks. She runs the Fragata Lounge, a dilapidated beach bar and tries to make a decent living, while constantly being reminded that her youth and any chance she had of escaping, are slipping away. As Rachel continues to tell her story, he becomes more involved with her, and while she thinks he will turn her story into a book, he hesitates because it might mean the end of their relationship.

Captivating works of literature do not have to be hundreds of pages long and Fred Waitzkin’s new book “Strange Love” is proof of this. This beautifully written novel is perfect for a weekend beach read and despite its small size, the bittersweet story of two similar souls lives on past the final pages. The author combines a beautiful yet melancholy seaside setting with flawed and relatable characters to create a memorable romance. Deep character development creates unforgettable characters, especially the lead couple. He is a failed novelist and when he meets Rachel, she is like a breath of fresh air, so he uses the excuse of research for a new book to keep her in his life so he can feel alive again. Rachel, who feels like her best years, like her beauty, are behind her, feels useful when she is telling him about herself and life in Fragata. Their similar stories of loss and broken dreams bind them but their fate is left uncertain. The story flows easily throughout the pages and the language is easy to understand. The illustrations brilliantly accentuate the story and make it come alive. As with most of his books, the author’s affinity for coastal living shines through and anyone who lives in such settings will attest to the beach’s allure. “Strange Love” by Fred Waitzkin is an unusual love story set by the Costa Rican shore. It is recommended for readers who appreciate complex characters and stories of embattled men and women who live in beautiful yet haunting settings.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

New book release: ‘The Plot’ by Jean Hanff Korelitz

‘The Plot’ is Jean Hanff Korelitz’ exciting new novel. Photo: amazon

Jean Hanff Korelitz is the author of the novels “You Should Have Known Better” (adapted for HBO as “The Undoing” by David E. Kelley, and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland), “Admission” (adapted as the 2013 film starring Tina Fey), “The Devil and Webster,” “The White Rose,” “The Sabbath River,” and “A Jury of Her Peers.” Korelitz is the founder of BOOKTHEWRITER, a New York City based service that “Pop-Up Book Groups” where readers can discuss books with their authors. Her new novel, “The Plot” is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it and was just released this week. (amazon, 2021)

In “The Plot,” Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he is teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what is left of his self-respect; he has not written―let alone published―anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he does not need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then he hears the plot.

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that―a story that absolutely needs to be told.

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first barrage in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says. As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?

Book review: ‘From Ashes to Song’ by Hilary Hauck

‘From Ashes to Song’ by Hilary Hauck. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Hilary Hauck is a writer and translator whose work has appeared in the Mindful Writers Retreat Series anthologies, the Ekphrastic Review, Balloons Lit. Journal, and the Telepoem Booth. She moved to Italy from her native UK as a young adult, where she mastered the language, learned how to cook food she can no longer eat, and won a karate championship. After meeting her husband, Hilary came to the US and drew inspiration from Pennsylvania coal history, which soon became the setting for her debut novel, “From Ashes to Song.” Inspired by true events, “From Ashes to Song” is a story of unconventional love, hope, and the extraordinary gifts brought to America by ordinary people in the great wave of immigration.

“From Ashes to Song” begins in the family vineyard in Piedmont, Italy in 1911. Pietro’s idyllic life revolves around music and vineyards. He plays the clarinet and he is practicing his first composition that he wants to play at the end of harvest celebration. His grandfather, who he calls Nonno, has taught him everything he knows about music and Pietro is nervous about playing it for him first. His perfect life starts to unravel when news of a deadly disease spreading through the countryside reaches their vineyard. The family has no choice but to burn it and brokenhearted, Pietro’s grandfather passes away. Now that he has lost the two most important things in his life, Pietro leaves for America to start a new life. Faced with the grueling life of a miner in Pennsylvania, Pietro puts music on the backburner but when he meets Assunta, a friend’s wife, she becomes his musical muse. Admiring her from a distance, he begins writing music again but the harsh realities of everyday life threaten to end his musical aspirations for good. The story ends in 1952 as the years have taken their toll on Pietro but not before he experiences music’s amazing power to heal the soul. He develops miner’s lung, which affects his ability to play his clarinet: “whistling and wheezing filled his ears, drowning out the music.” He passes away peacefully surrounded by family, which by this point includes Assunta as his wife.

“From Ashes to Song” is a beautifully written novel that perfectly captures the hardships of turn of the century immigrant life in Pennsylvania. Using charming and lyrical prose which includes music metaphors: “From the vantage point of the courtyard, the hills rolled like the rise and fall of a tempo…,” the reader is immersed in Pietro and Assunta’s daily struggles to create a better life. The story is written in third person point of view and alternates between Pietro and Assunta; two separate stories until they collide in Pennsylvania. Helped along by exquisite poetic language, the story flows effortlessly through the pages until its heartbreaking yet happily ever after ending. The in-depth character development creates characters that are relatable and by the end, it is hard not to get emotionally invested in their turbulent lives. Throughout the years, Pietro is distant and patient with Assunta but after going through so much loss in their lives, when he finally plays his clarinet for Assunta, their relationship begins to heal: “Doubts and sorrow erased like a message drawn in the sand on an incoming tide.” Since it is inspired by true events, this story of heart break, survival, and triumph of the human experience might resonate with anyone with Italian ancestors. “From Ashes to Song” by Hilary Hauck is a captivating novel that combines the beauty of the Italian countryside and the determination of immigrants to build a better life in a foreign land. It is recommended for fans of historical fiction who appreciate the importance that music can play in someone’s life.

“He just played, eyes closed, his heart aching yet healing at the same time. Him, his clarinet, love. If his music had ever had the power to heal, now was the time to wield it for this woman he loved, who tolerated him by her side.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘Fatal Intent’ by Tammy Euliano

‘Fatal Intent’ is Tammy Euliano’s debut novel. Photo: amazon

Tammy Euliano, MD is a practicing anesthesiologist and tenured professor at the University of Florida. In addition to a prolific list of academic publications, YouTube teaching videos, and numerous teaching awards, she has also written award-winning short fiction. In her debut novel “Fatal Intent,” anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey must confront difficult situations when her elderly patients start dying at home days after minor surgery; is it end of life care, or assisted death.

“Fatal Intent” begins as anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey begrudgingly begins her Sunday by going to church with her great-aunt Irm. While there, Kate finds out that the VIP patient she was taking care of at the hospital has died days after being discharged, just like one of her neighbors who was also one of Kate’s patients. When she brings this information up to the surgeon who performed the surgeries, Dr. Charles Ricken, he ends up blaming her. Since she is currently on probation, her career is in jeopardy but she is determined to find out why patients are dying after they are sent home from the hospital. To make matters worse, her husband Greg is in a prolonged coma and his brother Adam is constantly urging her to pull the plug. Together with her Great Aunt Irm, a precocious medical student named Jenn, and Christian, the lawyer son of a victim, Kate launches her own unorthodox investigation of these unexpected deaths. As she comes closer to exposing the killer’s identity, she faces professional intimidation, threats to her life, a home invasion, and the suspicious death of someone close to her. The stakes escalate to the breaking point when Kate, under violent duress, is forced to choose which of her loved ones to save—and which must be sacrificed.

Some of the most authentic novels come from authors who write about what they know. Since the author is an anesthesiologist, this gives her outstanding debut novel the authenticity it needs to deliver an exciting medical mystery drama. It gives readers an intriguing look at the inner workings of hospitals, namely, after a patient dies, the staff holds a “root cause analysis” meeting where they analyze what happened. By using descriptive language “I ran down the hall, holding onto my bouncing lanyard,” readers can picture the drama unfolding in hospital hallways. When Kate gets overwhelmed and anxiety rolls in, “There was no air. I was suffocating. My heart pounded, faster and faster,” anyone who has been in such situations can relate. Written in the first person point of view, it contains likeable and relatable characters and the story flows easily from page to page. The action intensifies during Chapter Fifty when Kate is lured to the hospital basement and is forced to choose between saving her Aunt Irm, her friend Christopher, or her husband Greg. In the end, the killer turns out to be someone who was hired by relatives of ailing patients to “euthanize” them.  Aside from being a medical suspense novel, “Fatal Intent” deals with difficult end-of-life issues. In the Author’s Note at the end, Tammy Euliano stresses that her hope is that it will start an open dialogue about such issues and prompt families to consider Living Wills and Health Care Surrogates and directs readers to where they can find more information.  “Fatal Intent” is a must-read thrilling medical mystery novel and is recommended for fans of Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen who appreciate medical thrillers. Hopefully, there will be more in the future.

“I broke down in his arms, overwhelmed by utter exhaustion and crippling guilt. But Aunt Irm and Christian had suffered too. Would my grief over Greg be construed as regret over the decision?”

 *The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘I Can See Clearly’ by James A. Cusumano

‘I Can See Clearly’ by James A. Cusumano is Book One in the Luc Ponti Series. Photo: google

James A. Cusumano is an accomplished leader with successful careers as an entertainer, scientist, corporate executive, and entrepreneur. An inspiring speaker and entertainer, he is the author of “Cosmic Consciousness: A Journey to Well-being, Happiness and Success,” “Balance: The Business-Life Connection,” “Life is Beautiful: 12 Universal Rules,” and co-author of “Freedom from Mid-East Oil.” His new book, “I Can See Clearly: Rise of a Supernatural Hero (Luc Ponti Series)” combines the journey of a metaphysical superhero with the excitement of a fast-paced spy thriller.

“I Can See Clearly” begins with an Author’s Note where James A. Cusumano explains his goal in writing this book: to provide “useful knowledge and a valuable perspective in addition to entertainment.” The Prologue takes place on December 24, 2017 in Lhasa, Tibet where a teenager named Ananda has a conversation with a wise spiritual guide name Dawa in the hopes of gaining insight to help him decide if he should proceed with his path to becoming a Buddhist Monk. Dawa assures him that the world is changing and inching towards Unity consciousness and that he, as a monk, will have an opportunity to contribute to this change. He also tells Ananda of an upcoming third Avatar, a spiritual-human entity, who will help in the evolution of the Unity Consciousness of the universe; that the first two have been Buddha and Jesus of Nazareth and that the third is about to rise in Palo Alto, California.

The Prologue sets up the story of Luc Ponti, a 16-year-od basketball player at Silicon Valley’s Palo Alto High School, whose future goal is to play for a top university and maybe even go pro. His plans are put on hold when he survives a near-death experience (NDE) which gives him the ability to travel through space and time, read minds, and retain enormous amounts of information. At first he is excited about his new abilities, but eventually they become too much to handle and they make him a target of those who want to exploit him. When he attracts the attention of the government, the CIA blackmails him into using his remote viewing ability to spy on the Chinese. Together with his friends Isabella and Eric, who also develop supernatural abilities after suffering medical emergencies; and Thay, a Buddhist monk who is also his spiritual adviser, Luc uses his abilities to guide him to an enlightened path that will change his life forever. Luc speaks Italian, especially when he curses, and there is a Glossary in the back that explains what each terms and phrases mean. The Supplements section provides more information about the concepts discussed throughout the novel and further explains the meaning and implications of each.

This is the first in the exciting new series about Luc Ponti, who has supernatural abilities, and contains fascinating insights from the fields of quantum and spiritual physics. It can be considered a follow-up to “Life is Beautiful: 12 Universal Rules” because not only does he expand on the subjects he covers on that book but he combines them with a story to reach a wider audience and it works perfectly.  The language is easy to understand and he keeps the science to a minimum in the story but if readers want more information, it is available in the Supplement section.  The character development makes them likeable and relatable but the only far out concept is that everyone who has a near death experience develops their own supernatural abilities. This does not take away from the genius of this series because there is something for everyone; the story of a young man trying to make his own way in this world appeals to young readers and the science/spiritual teachings appeal to a wider general audience. “I Can See Clearly” by James A Cusumano is an exciting must-read novel full of positive and encouraging messages that readers of all ages can enjoy. It is recommended for readers who appreciate science, Eastern philosophy, and coming of age stories. Hopefully, there will be more in the series.

“The Meaning of Life is to look inside and find those special gifts you came into this world. The Purpose of Life is to find a way to share those gifts with others in ways that makes this a better world….”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: Reader’s Digest’s ‘The Essential Guide to CBD’

Reader’s Digest and Project CBD bring readers ‘The Essential Guide to CBD.’ Photo: amazon

Founded in 1922 by DeWitt and Lila Wallace, Reader’s Digest is recognized worldwide and today  reaches an audience of more than 25 million in the United States. Serving up a mix of moving stories and trusted information, often told with a good dash of fun, Reader’s Digest aims to inspire the good in people and families everywhere. The new book “Reader’s Digest The Essential Guide to CBD: Everything You Need to Know About What it Helps, Where to Buy, and How to Take It” is an authoritative but user-friendly briefing on CBD.

Since 2018, the marketplace has exploded with the sale of CBD products due to the passage of Farm Bills that changed the way hemp could be grown.  Basically, they determined that cannabis can be labeled as hemp and not marijuana if it contains no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC ), the chemical that produces the high in marijuana. Nowadays, people can buy CBD in coffee, deodorant, chocolate bars, and many other products. Reader’s Digest has partnered with Project CBD, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting and publicizing research into the medical uses of cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabis plant components. The result is this extensive guide into CBD that is divided into three parts: Part I contains the basics of what it is and how it works, Part II contains details about how it may help alleviate more than 30 common health conditions and Part III contains information about how to pick the type of product that works best for everyone. It also tackles common misconceptions about CBD, how to find high-quality products and even includes special sections on CBD for pets and recipes for making CBD products at home.

Due to CBD becoming so mainstream in the last few years, there exists the potential for misinformation and unsafe products. Thankfully, Reader’s Digest has stepped in and as a reliable and trusted source, together with Project CBD, have done an outstanding job of educating the public about CBD. Before getting into how it helps with specific ailments; Part I describes what CBD is with Chapter 2: How CBD Works in Your Body and gets into the science behind it including the inner workings of the endocannabinoid system, so it is science-heavy. Chapter 5 dispels commonly held myths about CBD by presenting the facts. One of the most important parts is Part II: CBD For Your Health because it has sections dedicated to specific conditions including Dementia and Alzheimer’s, Heart Disease, and Anxiety and not only does it explain how CBD helps, but also has an “I Tried It” testimonial part where real people tell their story about how it helped them. In the case of anxiety, “CBD directly activates a serotonin receptor known as 5-HTIA, which causes an antianxiety effect.” The recipes are for conditions such as inflammation and pain, sleep aids, and stress relievers and contain visual aids. There is plenty of science involved in the explanation of how CBD works, but besides that, the information is presented in easy to understand language, typical of any Reader’s Digest material. Hopefully, this will help readers who have chronic conditions but are hesitant about using CBD because of the stigma attached to it. “The Essential Guide to CBD” is a thorough guide about CBD, how it works, and its benefits and is recommended for anyone who is genuinely interested in learning more about the subject or just needs more information about how to relieve a specific illness. It is a definite must-read.

“….CBD isn’t just a “supplement” like a vitamin C or calcium pill. It is a molecule that actually mimics and helps support the innate health and wellness regulating system within your body: the endocannabinoid system (ECS).”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.