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< Back Rebecca Sharpless Shackled: 92 Refugees Imprisoned on ICE Air Shackled: 92 Refugees Imprisoned on ICE Air by Rebecca Sharpless is the harrowing true story of Flight N225AX, an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) aircraft that attempted to deport 92 people from the United States to Somalia in 2017. Told through the eyes of Sa’id Abdi Janale and Abdulahi Hassan Mohumed, two of the 92 passengers on board the flight. Sa’id Abdi Janale arrived in the United States with his mother and siblings at the age of 11. The family entered the country with legal immigration status, after they endured horrific violence in war-torn Somalia. Sa’id was facing deportation due to his involvement in criminal activity. Abdulahi arrived at the United States/Mexican border seeking asylum and protection as a refugee as a young man. After his parents were killed in Somalia, Abdulahi escaped to South Africa before embarking on an arduous journey through South and Central America. After two years in detention his right to stay was declined. The 92 men and women on Flight N225AX were shackled in chains on the aircraft for two days. The aircraft was grounded in Senegal and the passengers were immobilized in their seats. Unable to complete the journey, the plane was forced to return back to the United States. The passengers were treated like slaves, abused by staff and unable to use the bathroom facilities. Based on extensive research and first-hand testimonies, the book describes the inhumane treatment the passengers experienced on board the flight, and their subsequent fight to stay in the United States. Readers are taken inside the legal battles that followed, as lawyers and advocacy groups sought to stop the deportations permanently. Rebecca Sharpless meticulously reconstructs the events leading up to, and during the flight, and exposes the brutal reality of ICE’s deportation practices. She describes the passengers experiences in detail, and gives a much needed voice to those who survived the ordeal. It is a timely and sobering reminder of the inhumanity of the immigration system, and a call to action to prevent such tragedies in the future. An essential read for anyone interested in human rights, social justice and immigration policy. It is a story that had to be told, and a story that needs to be heard. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A deeply moving and harrowing true story of 92 people, brutally confined and abused on a U.S deportation flight. https://www.amazon.com/Shackled-Refugees-Imprisoned-ICE-Air/dp/0520398653 Purchase here

< Back Andrew Daniels Tomorrow's Rain Book blurb... Prepare to be whisked away on an adventure written by the majestic writer Andrew Daniels. His poetry is a monument to what a writer can create with their quill dipped in the sacred black ink of a poet's black heart. His drawings and illustrations bring his poetry to life with a flurry of colors and unique vision. Nothing is impossible if an artist has the imagination to build bridges and skyscrapers with only their words, and Andrew Daniels proves it in Tomorrow's Rain. However, will you find the answers to your questions in the trenches of his poetry? Grab your umbrella as Andrew Daniels takes you on an adventure to the state of Washington to find out. Good luck... Purchase here

< Back K.c. LaSaga Dragum One young woman’s search for self-love and self-acceptance, by author K.c. LaSaga Kali Colombe is an ambitious young woman, desperate to leave Vancouver, Canada, in search of independence, romance, travel and adventure. As she sets out on a journey of self-discovery, and plans an epic trip to Europe, she meets and falls in love at first sight with another woman. Kali purchases a new condo and settles into life with her new love, stalling her plans to travel to Europe. But Kali’s parents are not happy about the relationship, and want her to return to the family home in Newfoundland. Torn between her lover and her family, her home and her desire to travel, Kali falls into a depression, despite the intuitive energy ‘Dragum’ gifted to her by her grandfather. Conflict and loneliness overwhelm Kali, and she falls into a deeper depression, as she loses sense of her own identity. Kali must fight to find her true self and break free from family preferences, social norms and cultural expectations. Dragum is an intimate, coming of age story about a young woman who must learn to break free from her family and find self-love and acceptance, by author K.c. LaSaga. LaSaga wrote the book based on her own experiences of depression in early adulthood. LaSaga explains ‘ I’m writing for the adults who are still treated like kids, the queer folk who have been brave enough to come out of the closet but are not accepted and the adventure seekers who are scared to take their first steps alone.’ This is a beautifully written novel in the first-person perspective, and an honest portrait of depression and its enduring aftermath. K.c. LaSaga’s prose is raw, emotional and moving, capturing Kali’s love, passion and inner turmoil. Many readers will relate to Kali’s experience, and I hope this book will provide comfort and support to those experiencing similar troubles. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy character-based novels, and romantic fiction. It will also appeal to those from the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone who has experienced, or has been impacted, by depression or mental health. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: This is a beautifully written, intimate and heart-rending novel, which shines a light on mental health and depression. Purchase here

< Back Ruthie Marlenée And Still Her Voice Book blurb... It’s Easter, 1967, when Anna LeMar, a lonely half-Mexican teen, stabs her father and runs away, but she’s not alone. Grandma Phoebe, her dead white grandmother, has colonized her brain and hitched along in a mental sidecar for the ride of their lifetime. Anna has also inherited Grandma’s musical talent and so reluctant travel companions, they navigate the world with Anna’s guitar strapped to her back and the knife she used on her father strapped to her leg. On the road, Anna encounters all sorts of characters and begins to discover her own voice as she searches for a way to cut the strings that bind her to Grandma Phoebe. Set during the Summer of Love and the tumultuous 60s, this coming-of-age speculative story chases history through Anna’s adventures and quest for love. A generational family drama, it’s also a story of mothers, daughters, granddaughters, and the ties that bind us for generations. Purchase here

< Back Ronan James Cassidy Margaret Anne: Child of the West Wind A historical fiction novel set in South Carolina during the 1800’s, by author Ronan James Cassidy Set in 1859 in South Carolina, during a significant and turbulent period in American history, the book follows Margaret Anne Basseterre, an illegitimate child, born of forbidden love. Margaret’s father, Mr Edward Christopher Calhoun, is a wealthy merchant and landowner, from one of the most respected families in South Carolina. Her mother, Miss Jeanne Jolie Basseterre-Osment, is a beautiful Haitian immigrant, and a maiden in the Calhoun household. Jeanne had a difficult labor and Margaret was born in secret in the middle of the woods. From the moment of her birth, Margaret is shrouded in a dark mystery, but she is determined to succeed against all odds. Her mother Jeanne is keen to understand why she is different and how she managed to survive her birth. Margaret grows up on the Calhoun estate where her life, and the lives of those around her, are tested by evil forces lurking in the shadows of plain sight. As Margaret attempts to find her purpose in life, she uncovers family secrets and learns of her own unique abilities to heal and inspire others. Margaret Anne: Child of the West Wind is an engrossing and thought-provoking novel by author Ronan James Cassidy about a young woman coming of age in the deep South. Set against a backdrop of civil war, social unrest, rigid class structures, slavery and gender inequality, the book explores one woman’s fight for survival and redemption. Her journey reflects the social, political, and religious changes that were happening in America during the nineteenth century. This is a beautifully written and extensively researched novel. Cassidy delivers an engrossing historical narrative, with rich characters and eloquent prose. This is quite a lengthy book (at 656 pages), but the storytelling is so consuming that I could not put it down. I finished the book within a couple of days. Set in the mid 1800’s, during a turbulent time in American history, this book will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, those who are interested in the American Civil War, and anyone who enjoys a good old mystery. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An engrossing and thought-provoking historical fiction novel about one woman’s fight for survival and redemption. Purchase here

< Back Richard Lui Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness The story of an award-winning news anchor who paused his successful career to care for his father. Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness is a guidebook, by author and former news anchor, Richard Lui. Lui shares his personal story, how he became a successful news anchor, and why he gave it all up at the height of his career. His father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Lui had a difficult decision to make, whether to continue to pursue his career, or whether to give it all up to care for his father. He decided his father was more important than what happens on camera and paused his career to take care of him. It was a difficult decision, and the care-giving lifestyle was not easy, so Lui set out to understand the psychology of selflessness. Lui discusses claims made by eminent social scientists, such as Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins, that humans are not naturally selfless, and that pure altruism does not exist. Lui questions these theories and examines other evidence to suggest that selfless communities can survive adeptly. Lui argues that selflessness has many positive benefits, and he provides evidence to suggest that people who act selflessly are more likely to be healthier, happier, live longer and have more prosperous careers. Lui discusses his own personal journey, and the stories of many people he encountered during his journalism career. Lui challenges the traditional self-help / self-care trope and calls his book an ‘anti-self-help’ book. He offers advice, tips and tricks, and practical tools to help readers live a more fulfilled life, through thinking and behaving more selflessly. He shares the lessons learned from his journey and provides examples from others who have shown remarkable selflessness when faced with tragedy and loss. Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness is an inspiring and engaging book by an award-winning news anchor who performed an act of selflessness to pause his career and care for his father. The book will inspire readers to pursue more selfless goals and will help them to live a more balanced and fulfilled life. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy self-help books and who are interested in personal development. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A thought provoking, inspiring and engaging book about the power and impact of selflessness. Purchase here

< Back Josh Jensen No Easy Way Back Book blurb. .. For fans of character driven thrillers, like Orphan x, and modern westerns, Like Wind River, Graham Hayes has never fit in - not in the life he left behind, and not in the one he's trying to build. After years with the Regimental Reconnaissance Company ”an elite special operations unit” he walked away. Not because he was broken. Because he was done. But when his estranged brother, Colt, is accused of murder and disappears into the Utah wilderness, Graham is pulled back to a place that feels more like a monument to his failures than a home. The evidence against Colt is airtight. The man behind it ”Greg Langston” is powerful, protected, and untouchable. Finding Colt is just the beginning. As Graham starts pulling threads, he uncovers a web of corruption that runs deep and puts everyone he still cares about in the crosshairs. He's fought wars in the deadliest places on earth. But this time, the battlefield is home and the fight is personal. There's no easy way back. But there's a hell of a way out. Purchase here

< Back Jeffrey Hallett Labyrinths of Radiance and Shadow While working on a technology project at Crystal Bay University, Dr Tricia Carling was involved in a freak accident. Following the accident, she acquired extraordinary strength and healing powers to become the world’s only functioning parahuman. Using the alias of Beacon, and donning a superhero costume, she has become a local crusader and celebrity, using her powers as a force for good to fight criminals. But, unbeknownst to Beacon, she is not the only person living in Crystal Bay with special abilities. A woman named Umbra was involved in the same accident as Tricia, although her abilities are significantly different. A year later, Beacon has caught the attention of Sorensen, the Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Human Potential. Sorensen has a secret mission to harness her powers and replicate them in others, creating an entire legion of parahumans. He persuades Umbra to work with him to recruit an army of people and give them the superpowers that will cure all society’s ills. But few people survive Sorensen’s rigorous experiments and Sorensen hopes that Beacon will provide all the answers he needs. Umbra is given her biggest mission to date, to recruit Beacon to the program. But when Beacon refuses to cooperate, Sorensen devises an elaborate plan to capture and incarcerate her. Stripped of her freedom and her powers, Beacon must decide whether to comply and survive, or fight back and risk everything. Labyrinths of Radiance and Shadow is the sequel to Paths Into Darkness And Light, by Jeffrey Hallett. The book picks up Tricia’s story around a year after her lab accident. With some familiar characters from the first book, Hallett introduces new characters including an evil entrepreneur who sees in Beacon a new breed of enhanced humans. Beacon is a compelling protagonist – fierce, vulnerable and deeply human, despite her special abilities. The dynamic between Beacon and Sorensen is particularly well-drawn, capturing the chilling dance between heroine and villain, captor and captive, creator and destroyer. This is an electrifying (and sometimes terrifying) read that will satisfy readers of science fiction, super-hero fiction, and psychological thrillers. Overall, a fast-paced, action-packed and emotionally charged sequel, with a fierce heroine, a terrifying villain, and a gripping, otherworldly plot. I would recommend reading the Paths Into Darkness And Light by Jeffrey Hallett first. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A dark, science fiction / super-hero fiction novel, with a fierce heroine, a terrifying villain, and a gripping, otherworldly, plot. Purchase here

< Back Terry Ray King Deathly Vision Book blurb... Dean Malcolm begins to experience troubling premonitions from his brief death following a shooting at his workplace in New York City. These premonitions alert him to impending tragedies that will occur to others around him, which he struggles to understand. His journey of self-discovery leads him to confront his abilities and the impact they have on his life and the lives of others. Each vision leaves him feeling more isolated and desperate to find a way to change the fate of those he sees in danger. He moved to the Outer Banks where he meets a beautiful Hispanic woman named Amelia Lopez who has her own minor premonitions. She begins to provide emotional support for Dean and begins walking through each premonition at his side. A psychiatrist named Doctor Ascott pressures Dean to visit his Psychiatric facility to allow him to expose Dean to some unconventional and possible dangerous testing to understand what is causing Deans premonitions. Dean receives an offer from Alberto Black, who wants to recruit him and Amelia to work together in a team of individuals with special abilities to help solve crimes. This opportunity presents a chance for Dean to use his premonitions for good, but it also raises concerns about their safety and the nature of their work. Purchase here

< Back Alison Jean Lester The Sound of It Two families come together to build their dream home. Just four months into a relationship, serial entrepreneur Jeremy Markwick-Low and sound engineer, Su Watkins, decide to sell their houses and move in together. Su, a divorcee has one teenage daughter, Caoimhe. Caoimhe uses Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos to help her relax. Jeremy is a widow and has two sons, Ned and Tom. The two families move into a large rental property, while their dream house on farmland outside the city of Worcester is being built. The new house is a beautiful, modern, energy-efficient home, large enough for their blended family. It’s a fresh start for both families, as Su seeks stability and security following her divorce, and Jeremy sees an opportunity to impress his father. The family move into their lavish new home, and as the children adapt to their new family life, Jeremy proposes to Su. Meanwhile, Jeremy’s father buys Tom a gun for hunting. But as costs of the house build spiral out of control, Jeremy gets further and further into debt, and considers alternative ways to make some quick cash. With just under a week to their wedding, Su checks Jeremy’s laptop to get an update on the family finances and makes a surprising discovery. Su makes the difficult decision to leave the house and takes Caoimhe with her. But as she has no legal responsibility for Ned and Tom, she makes the heart-breaking decision to leave them behind. Will Su ever see the boys she loves so dearly again? Can Su ever forgive her fiancé? And what will happen to the beautiful dream home they built together? The Sound of It by author Alison Jean Lester is a compelling, modern-day family saga, which examines the unique challenges and complexities faced by blended families. This is a heartrending, and at times disturbing novel, told by Alison Jean Lester with authenticity and compassion. Many readers will relate to the families experiences and will empathise with Su as she discovers the truth about her fiancé. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A compelling and heartrending family saga, about the complexities of modern families, told with authenticity and compassion. Purchase here

< Back Gail Grant Park We Are Shadows An Irish Ghost Story Three sisters use unconventional methods to solve mysteries of the past. We Are Shadows: An Irish Ghost Story, follows three siblings, twins Moira and Deirdre Gallagher , and their younger sister Nuala. Moira has had a special connection with the Otherworld ever since her best friend died in a tragic car accident when she was just five years old. A month after her friend’s death, Moira was visited by her spirit. Soon, she was visited by the spirits of other dearly departed loved ones, including her own grandmother, Brigid. Brigid watches over her grandchildren closely and guides them through life. To capitalise on this extraordinary gift, Moira and Deidre set up Gallagher Investigations, a detective agency to investigate paranormal activity and solve mysteries of the past. Soon, the twins are joined by their younger sister Nuala, and together the sisters investigate cold cases utilising unconventional methods. Each sister has a unique gift. As well as Moira’s ability to talk with the dead, Deirdre has many connections in the world of law and herbal medicine, and Nuala has a passion and knack for dreamwork. When they are contacted by a man named Séan Kennedy to help him solve the mystery of his family’s past, the sisters agree to take on the case. The case opens up a whole new world of dark spirits and haunted homes, and exposes the sisters to evil forces from the Otherworld. We Are Shadows: An Irish Ghost Story by author Gail Grant Park is a thrilling and captivating mystery novel, with a paranormal twist and a cast of strong female characters. The book is divided into four connecting parts with each part written as a short story, making this an accessible and easy to read collection for adults and younger audiences too. The main characters are beautifully developed. Each sibling has her own unique gift, and distinct personality and character. I particularly liked the strong bond between the sisters. I also enjoyed the Irish dialogue and the addition of the Irish proverbs, which capture the beautiful Irish language, lilt, and lore. Overall, a wonderful read, full of suspense with many unexpected twists and turns. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, drama, suspense, and paranormal stories. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: The past and present collide, in this absorbing paranormal cosy mystery. Purchase here

< Back Gifford MacShane Rainbow Man A western historical fiction novel set in the 1880s Arizona Territory. 1880s, White’s Station Arizona Territory, Adam Donovan rescues Alec Twelve Trees, a native American silversmith after he was robbed, beaten, and dragged along the ground by a horse, by the US Cavalry patrol. The racially motivated attack leaves Alec with life threatening injuries and Adam seeks the assistance of his family and little sister, Irene Donovan. Irene, an accomplished herbalist, treats his wounds and helps to nurse him back to health. Alec and Irene had been best friends since childhood, and during his convalescence Alec realises just how much he loves her. Alec is reluctant to testify against the assailants, but Irene persuades him to reconsider. The attackers are court martialled and are eventually found guilty of the unprovoked attack on Alec. Alec and the wealthy Navajo Twelve Trees family had always looked after other’s less fortunate and were well respected members of the community. Alec had inherited a fortune from his grandfather but had promised to give most of it away to good causes. As the village reel from the unprovoked racist attack on Alec, the citizens join forces to try and push the army out of White’s Station. As Irene turns nineteen, she is visited by many suitors. Alec is distraught, but unable to declare his love for her, for fear her family will not approve. Rainbow Man (Donovan Family Saga Book 3) is a western historical fiction novel by Gifford MacShane, set in the 1880s Arizona Territory. This is the third book in the series, which follows the younger members of the Donovan and Twelve Trees families. The characters are well drawn, believable and engaging. The slow-burn romance between Alec and Irene is beautifully told. Meticulously researched, and full of historical details, this novel is a fascinating insight into life in the 1800s. I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, but I could follow the story easily. However, I recommend readers start with the first book, to get the full enjoyment of this series. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An engrossing and unforgettable western romance. Purchase here