‘Gray: Assorted Poems’ by Conor Noll. Photo: Amazon
Conor Nollis a poet with a lifetime love of the written word and has spent most of it reading and writing. He has had his share of hardships including serving in the military, being a shut-in, and serving time in prison. “Gray” is his first published book of poems with plans for more to come. He currently lives in his Pennsylvania hometown. (Conor Noll, 2023)
“Gray”– This book is a short collection of original poems; a worthy assortment of thoughts and feelings put into words and onto paper. There are topics of love, loss, fond feelings of comfortable places, and also of sadness. Enjoy the poems within.
Poetry can have different meanings for different people. Some enjoy expressing their thoughts while for others, it can be therapeutic. In “Gray,” Conor Noll expresses all types of emotions, from hopelessness to friendship and love. The topics range from the drudgery of daily life to the majesty of the night sky, including the stars and planets. This may be a small book, but it serves as a reminder of the universality of the human condition; that if you are feeling down, you are not the only one and there is always hope right around the corner. Most, if not all the poems are relatable, like Unease, for those of us who have battled with anxiety and The Magical Brew, a humorous ode to coffee and its many benefits. Running reminds us that though it may be hard, sometimes you have to move on from what is familiar. So if you are looking for honest, heart felt poetry to remind you of your humanity, give this one a try. It is an easy read without complicated language and can be read in one sitting, which makes it the perfect book to take to the beach this summer.
“Yet it’s the bad that make, The good all the better, I will not be fake, I refused to be fettered, And I’ll give as much as I can take.” – To Be Human
‘The Purpose Of Life: To Love And To Create’ is Dave Dale’s new book about the search for the meaning of life. Photo: Amazon
Dave Dale was born the son of a minister in Dawson Creek B.C (northern Canada) and was exposed to religion, hockey, and cold weather at an early age. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, he received a business degree. He worked as an airport manager and business consultant and was the founder of a tech company, a member of the board of governors of a university, and a policy advisor to government cabinet members for science, technology, and transportation. Those experiences included successes and failures and provided him with insight into how many elements in our society actually work, including business, education, religion, government, transportation, technology, and marketing. He is grateful for his life and some of the hard lessons he has learned along the way, which have made him a better person. Those lessons are a catalyst for his desire to help people. He is a skeptical optimist who values the micro-moments of connections with others. His new book “The Purpose Of Life: To Love And To Create: The Meaning of Life Is Found By Expressing Love Through Creativity” is an exploration into the purpose and meaning of life. (Dave Dale, 2023)
“The Purpose of Life: To Love and To Create”– the author includes various quotes from religious leaders, physicists, astronomers, philosophers, artists, and everyday people who opened his eyes to possibilities and answers. This book is an attempt to connect the dots on many of the big questions of life itself with insights from accomplished thinkers. Everyone can acknowledge that love and creativity are important, but for the most part, we just skim the surface of their power and potential. This is why he challenges readers to explore love and creativity.
Throughout his life, he wanted answers to the big questions. Why are we here? What are we supposed to do here? How do we make life more meaningful? He searched for years and did not find answers that were remotely satisfying. He refused to accept the statement that life is ‘absurd’ or ‘meaningless’ and set out to get answers. Like many of us, he would wake up in the middle of the night and these questions weighed on him and made him restless. He lost sleep. He was frustrated and scared as death came closer every day.
His humble goal was to get answers regarding the purpose and meaning of life. What he found exceeded his wildest hopes and expectations. The beauty of the Universe is staggering and each of our roles can be especially important. Every time he got stuck on an issue while writing the book, synchronicity came to his rescue. He would stumble upon a quote, a YouTube video, a book, or a lecture that would unlock it. This book is the chronicle of what he found.
It is simple and even a little cliché to say life is about love. Even though most of us say ‘I love you’ to people in our daily lives, we do not fully appreciate its magnificence, its subtleties, its nuances or really how powerful it is. In one of the chapters, ‘Love Is Not An Emotion,’ he explores and explains why defining love as an emotion is wrong because it minimizes love. It is so much more than that. Looking at love in new ways is the cornerstone of the book and if you are open doing so, it will have a profound impact on your life. Love is and can be so much more than how we usually think about it.
This book is an exploration of the two most important activities we can undertake with our lives: Love and Creativity. What the world needs to solve its problems is what we need to give meaning to our lives: Love and Creativity.
‘Leaving; How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage’ is the uplifting story of hope and resilience. It will be released April 11, 2023. Photo: Amazon
Kanchan Bhaskar was born and brought up in New Delhi, India. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Delhi University and a postgraduate certificate in personnel management and industrial relations. She moved to the US in 2000. She works in the corporate world, mentoring, counselling, and coaching employees at all levels in the industry. She is also now a certified advocate for domestic violence victims in the state of Illinois and is a volunteer speaker, mentor, and coach for victims and survivors. Her new book “Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage” is an inspiring memoir of a woman who reclaims her power and finds the strength to leave an abusive relationship. It will be released April 11, 2023 and is available for pre-order. (Kanchan Bhaskar, 2023)
“Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage” – Raised by two loving parents in New Delhi, India, Kanchan Bhaskar has always been taught that marriage means companionship, tenderness, and mutual respect—so when she enters into an arranged marriage, this is the kind of partnership she anticipates with her new, seemingly wonderful, husband. But after they marry, she quickly discovers that his warmth is deceptive—that the man beneath the bright, charming façade is actually a narcissistic, alcoholic, and violent man. Trapped in a nightmare, Kanchan pleads with her husband to seek help for his issues, but he refuses. Meanwhile, Indian law is not on her side, and as the years pass, she finds herself with three children to protect—three children she fears she will lose custody of if she leaves. Almost overnight, she finds herself transformed into a tigress who will do whatever it takes to protect her cubs, and she becomes determined to free them from their toxic father. But it’s not until many years later, when the family of five moves from India to the United States, that Kanchan is presented with a real opportunity to leave him—and she takes it. It is the empowering story of how—buoyed by her deep faith in a higher power and single-minded in her determination to protect her children best—she fought relentlessly to build a ramp toward freedom from her abuser.
The following is an excerpt from“Leaving: How I Set Myself Free froman Abusive Marriage”by Kanchan Bhaskar.
Preface I grew up in New Delhi, India, and my dreams were built on the romance and jubilation in which I was brought up. I imagined my married life to be as blissful and tender as that of my parents, who truly cherished and treasured each other and nurtured their four offspring with love and warmth. They lived more as partners than as a traditional Indian husband and wife.
Having been raised in this progressive environment, I acquired a unique perception of life—a woman was an equal partner in a marriage, one to be honored and valued. Marriage meant love, companionship, and caring. I couldn’t fathom it being any other way. Violence of any kind in marriage was unthinkable. A woman was to be respected—period.
My future husband would not share these perceptions. I found myself in an arranged marriage to a bright and deceptively charming man, who revealed his true nature only after our wedding. The first time he hit me, my world spun upside down. When it righted, I had gotten myself stuck in a tumultuous, abusive relationship with a narcissistic alcoholic, in whose captivity I was trapped for more than twenty years.
The desperate mother of three innocent children who were casualties of these circumstances, I had to get away, but my escape had to be carefully planned with no room for error. If I divorced, I’d lose one or all of my children to the man I needed to escape from, which was not an option.
There had to be a way out.
I searched until I found it.
This story narrates how I built a ramp to climb out of the abyss, little by little, using a myriad of tools to bring me closer to freedom. Although I was alone in my fight for survival, I had deep faith in the higher power which presented me with collaborators in the form of angels and mentors to light my way.
My work was slow but steady. The ramp collapsed a few times and had to be rebuilt stronger. I shaped myself into a resilient woman, a tigress who could fend for her cubs. It wasn’t easy, and each day was a struggle, yet I remained determined in my single mission to protect my children and provide them with the best, as I had been provided with. This focus gave me the courage and spirit to keep forging ahead relentlessly.
Belief in self and belief in the Universe became my weapons of ultimate escape, the foundation for my liberation and re-earned dignity.
The story doesn’t stop with gaining my freedom but describes my continuing journey on the path of spirituality. In this book, I share my dawning realizations and the period of self-resurgence, which resulted in a triumphant, purpose-driven life.
Belief in spirituality provided the foundation and a new beginning on the path toward the emancipation of mind and soul.
Today a free woman, I’m happily settled in Chicago, living life on my own terms. I walk with my head high and chin up. The first flowers of spring in their divine colors make me smile. I can laugh again at a joke, find stillness in trees, and plan without fear, making up for the lost time.
I’m reminded of my favorite lines, my motto, from Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
‘The four lives of Robinson Appleson’ is the debut novel by Véronique Iswery Pasquet. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Véronique Iswery Pasquet is a French author of Indian descent. A voracious reader, she prefers horror, thriller, romance, and biographies of actors and writers. Her fascination for plot twists in scary books and movies are her go-to entertainment choices. Twisted plots and bizarre endings pique her curiosity. That is exactly what she offers her readers in her new book “The four lives of Robinson Appleson.” It plunges into cannibalism and weaves a love story around it. She has taken the challenge of making the readers fall in love with the cruel protagonist. (Amazon, 2023)
“The four lives of Robinson Appleson” – Can a killer turn a new leaf? Robinson Appleson is one lucky bastard. We get only one life. He has had four so far and it is not like he deserved them, either. The story begins in the Prologue where the protagonist, Norman Appleson, a self described “suave and charming millionaire,” addresses readers and encourages them to read his life story and guarantees an unforgettable one. Each of his lives has been different from the last, except that it looks as if he is doomed to make the same mistakes. Gwendolyn, the woman he loves, dies in his arms in all of his lives because of a curse placed on his family. Having been selfish and cruel in his previous lives, he attempts to change this forever. Using a range of tricks learned from Oscar, his mentor, he hopes to suppress and destroy the evil lurking inside him.
The story is divided into four parts:
I Norman Appleson, The First Reincarnation Reborn as a rich kid in Beverly Hills, California, he has no recollection of his past life and thinks of himself as a blessing to mankind. He holds no respect or feelings for women and treats them like objects. It leads to everyone avoiding him like the plague.
II Robinson Appleson, The First Life In his first life, he was a Porcian prince who was known to devour humans. His obsession with eternal youth and beauty has made him addicted to the taste of human flesh, much to the dismay and terror of his kingdom’s subjects.
III Inson, The Second Reincarnation His third life is different, as he is born as a jaguar in the African savannah. Filled with new wisdom, he fights against his instinct to hunt while the smell of prey drives him mad with hunger.
IV Deeva, The Third Reincarnation His last life lands him in the body of a beautiful but poverty-stricken Black woman who was also unfaithful.
Reincarnation is the rebirth of the soul in a new body. Though it is a familiar concept, how often have we wondered what it would be like to be reborn several times. Add a romantic theme of ill fated lovers who meet in each life but are doomed to never be happy together and you have a brilliant debut novel by Véronique Iswery Pasquet. She not only combines these themes but the narrative includes highly descriptive fantasy worlds like The Village of Sweet People where everything and everyone is sweet and scented. It is told in the first person point of view and the protagonist is an extremely smart and good looking antihero. In the beginning you are disgusted by the fact that he is a cannibal but you slowly come to sympathize with him because of everything he has been through and keep reading to find out what happens to him, whether good or bad. The language is down to earth and expressive: “There were warts filled with hair around her eyes, curved nose, and big mouth.” Since the story takes place during several lifetimes, the characters are well developed.
Even though he becomes a better person towards the end, he still has attitude “I hope you have had a great time reading the story of someone who does not give a damn about yours.” Though uncomfortable to read, the cannibal scenes are short and not overly graphic. Instead, they serve a purpose because when he is reborn as an animal, a jaguar, he is starting to change and refuses to eat Gwendolyn, who is now a zebra, and would rather starve to death. “The Four Lives of Robinson Appleson” is a must read unconventional and redemptive love story that spans several lifetimes and explores the many facets of the human experience. My take: love is love, even if you are human, animal, or same gender; a love story that transcends genders, vices, and physical forms. It is recommended for readers who enjoy romance novels, ghost stories, paranormal novels, and urban fantasy novels and appreciate original, though eccentric story lines.
“Do you want a piece of friendly advice? Disconnect yourself from reality to discover and enjoy my surreal but fabulous world. I can assure you it’s worth it.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘Unnatural History’ is the new novel in the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman. Photo: Amazon
In the Alex Delaware novels, Alex Delaware is a child psychologist who consults with the Los Angeles Police Department. He works alongside Detective Milo Sturgis to solve crimes. I have read most of Jonathan Kellerman’s novels in this series and I am so excited a new one is out.
Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, “The Butcher’s Theater,” “Billy Straight,” “The Conspiracy Club,” “Twisted,” “True Detectives,” and “The Murderer’s Daughter.” With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored “Double Homicide” and “Capital Crimes.” With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored “The Burning,” “Half Moon Bay,” “A Measure of Darkness,” “Crime Scene,” “The Golem of Hollywood,” and “The Golem of Paris.” He is the author of two children’s books and numerous nonfiction works, including “Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children” and “With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars.” In his new book “Unnatural History: An Alex Delaware Novel,” the most enduring detectives in American crime fiction are back in an electrifying thriller of art and brutality. (Amazon, 2023)
“Unnatural History” – Los Angeles is a city of stark contrast, the palaces of the affluent coexisting uneasily with the hellholes of the mad and the needy. That shadow world and the violence it breeds draw brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis into an unsettling case of altruism gone wrong.
On a superficially lovely morning, a woman shows up for work with her usual enthusiasm. She is the newly hired personal assistant to a handsome, wealthy photographer and is ready to greet her boss with coffee and good cheer. Instead, she finds him slumped in bed, shot to death. The victim had recently received rave media attention for his latest project: images of homeless people in their personal “dream” situations, elaborately costumed and enacting unfulfilled fantasies. There are some, however, who view the whole thing as nothing more than crass exploitation, citing token payments and the victim’s avoidance of any long-term relationships with his subjects. Has disgruntlement blossomed into homicidal rage? Or do the roots of violence reach down to the victim’s family—a clan, sired by an elusive billionaire, that is bizarre in its own right? Then new murders arise, and Alex and Milo begin peeling back layer after layer of intrigue and complexity, culminating in one of the deadliest threats they have ever faced.
‘The King’s Mistress’ is the new historical romance novel by Clyve Rose. Photo: Amazon
Clyve Rose has been writing historical romance fiction for the best part of two decades and also works in the fantasy and speculative fiction genres. She also writes literary novels under an alternative pen name. One of her novels was longlisted for a 2010 Hachette Award for Fiction while her paranormal short story, The One Below, is a Sexy Scribbles award-winning piece. Her novel “Always a Princess” is a winner in the Spring 2022 BookFest Awards. She is a sought-after expert on historical romance writing, and is a speaker on the topic. Her writing is carefully researched and delivers imaginative historical settings along with happily-ever-after endings that keep readers begging for more. The highly anticipated sequel, “The King’s Mistress,” is her latest novel; it was released January 24 and is available from Boroughs Publishing Group. (Clyve Rose, 2023)
In “The King’s Mistress,”– readers follow Lady Lydia Clifton as she flees England, disguised as the mistress to the Romany King. She is escaping a forced marriage and the brutality of her father. Will she make it to France and into the care of her oldest brother? Or will fate get in the way when she meets up with the real Romany King? King Valkin Brishen is fully aware that lies can bring harm to his people, yet when his men find a lovely English maid on the run who claims to be his mistress, he is more than curious over exactly why this English rose is fleeing with such haste.
“Fans can look forward to a twisting tale filled with subterfuge and passion. I hope they enjoy reading The King’s Mistress as much as I enjoyed writing it.”- Clyve Rose
‘The Journey Within’ is the new book by Daniel Shaba. Photo: Daniel Shaba
Daniel Shaba is a poet and self-help author passionate about personal growth and self-discovery. His debut self-help book, “A Way to Find Self-Belief and Unlock Your Potential,” offered tools for building self-confidence and achieving goals. In “The Journey Within,” his latest poetry book, he invites readers on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace, encouraging them to explore their values and embrace life’s challenges and triumphs. His poetry, with a background in psychology and personal development, offers insights and inspiration for living a fulfilling and meaningful life, speaking to the heart and soul of its readers and offering hope and guidance on the path to personal growth and inner peace. (Daniel Shaba, 2023)
“The Journey Within” is a poetic masterpiece that takes you on a journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and inner peace. This book explores the challenges and triumphs of overcoming adversity, achieving your goals, and finding your place in the world. With chapters on positive thinking, emotional intelligence, self-confidence, and self-expression, this book offers tools and strategies for living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Through the power of words and self-expression, this book encourages you to stand up for what you believe in and inspire change in your community. With a focus on gratitude, positivity, forgiveness, and mindfulness, this book encourages you to embrace life’s journey and find joy in the present moment.
From discovering your inner strength and finding your purpose, to building healthy relationships and exploring new possibilities, The Journey Within is a guide for personal growth and self-discovery. Through self-care, self-compassion, and self-love, this book offers tools and strategies for living a life of inner peace and contentment.
SA Examiner 