< Back Shawn Callaway Hays and Stephen Callaway Hays What Light Was What Light Was is a dialogue novel by authors Shawn Hays and Stephen Hays. The book interweaves the stories of two famous authors, Mary Shelley, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The authors reconstruct their worlds, drawing connections between their personal lives, relationships, and their literary masterpieces. Mary Shelley, the nineteenth century English author of Frankenstein, whose personal life was as dramatic as her iconic novel. Her story is not just about her literary creations, but of the devastating losses she experienced throughout her life. Shelley’s writing became a form of healing, a way of finding her voice and making sense of her grief and heartache. A century later, American author F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby represents Fitzgerald’s disillusionment with the Jazz Age – a period marked by excess, wealth and prohibition. Fitzgerald drew from his own personal experiences, his relationship with his wife who initially rejected him because of his lack of wealth, and led him towards the lifestyle he loathed. What Light Was is an extraordinary novel written in dialogue by authors Shawn Hays and Stephen Hays. The stories of Shelley and Fitzgerald are beautifully retold through of blend of dialogue, poetry, and meditation. The book captures a writer’s life, their fears, anxieties, self-doubt, and inspiration. It highlights the emotional and artistic parallels between the two authors, and explores the impact of the creative process on the artists. It examines the relationship between suffering and creativity. Do you have to endure heartbreak, tragedy and turmoil to produce something extraordinary? This is a fascinating and unique novel, and nothing like I have read before. I was totally engrossed from the very first page to the last. The book offers a fresh perspective on two literary icons and will appeal to readers of literary fiction, and fans of Shelley and Fitzgerald. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A masterpiece of literary fiction by Shawn Hays and Stephen Hays. Purchase here

< Back Montoya Whitehead Going Vegan to Save the Planet Book blurb... Change your plate, change the planet Animal agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of climate change - yet it’s often left out of the conversation. From methane-belching cattle to the toxic waste of pig farms. From deforestation for feed crops to the oceans choked by fish farming, this book uncovers the hidden environmental cost of what’s on our plates. Sector by sector - poultry, fish, beef, pork, dairy and leather - the book lays out how the industry is damaging our planet. How animal agriculture fuels global warming, destroys ecosystems, and pollutes our air, water, and soil. The case is made, with hard evidence, that going vegan is the single most powerful action any one of us can take to slow - or even help stop - the climate crisis. Urgent, accessible, and unflinching, Going Vegan to Save the Planet connects the dots between diet and survival, showing how our everyday choices can reshape the future. Purchase here

< Back Benjamin Shiller AI Economics: How Technology Transforms Jobs, Markets, Life, & Our Future Book blurb... "Concise, chatty, companionable, ever-so-savvy. There may be a more useful guide to AI out there, but why incur the opportunity cost of searching for it? The first three pages should sell you on this one. I decline most blurb requests but, having covered AI from the jump, this is as good as it gets." —Paul Solman, (very) longtime Business & Economics Correspondent, PBS News Hour Purchase here

< Back Liza Gino Imelda's Secret Author Liza Gino details the horrors of the Pacific War from a woman’s perspective Cousins Imelda and Gloria witness Japanese soldiers shoot a neighbour in cold blood and take captive a young woman during the Pacific War. Imelda’s father, Don Fulgencio, fears for the girl’s safety and hides them in the basement, cutting their hair short and dressing them like boys. But when Don tragically passes away, the girls are captured and subjected to horrific abuse by Japanese soldiers. Kenji, an old friend of Imelda’s, and now a Colonel in the Japanese Imperial Army, rescues the girls and takes them to a place of safety. Forty years later, as Gloria lays in a hospital bed in San Francisco, the women reflect on their experiences during the war and the sexual violence they suffered at the hands of the Japanese. Gloria’s dying wish is to talk about their experience and expose the Japanese for their war crimes against women. But Imelda has never discussed the crimes with her family and is reluctant to share her experience. When Kenji suddenly reappears, Imelda finds the strength and courage to tell her story, and she can finally start to heal from her past trauma. Set during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II, Imelda’s Secret is a heart-breaking novel, based on the real-life experiences of women who endured horrific abuse and sexual violence by the Japanese Imperial Army. This is a powerful and thought-provoking novel, which details the horrors of war and tells the story from a woman’s perspective. The book is for all those women and girls who experienced sexual abuse and exploitation during war and conflict. Their story will not be forgotten. Thank you, Liza Gino, for sharing this story and for all the work you do for women and girls by raising awareness of rape, sexual slavery, and crimes against humanity. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘A powerful and thought-provoking novel, detailing the horrific abuse and sexual violence experienced by women during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World War II. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

< Back Laura Foley Sister in a Different Movie Laura Foley’s Sister in a Different Movie is a poignant, deeply personal collection of poems that weaves together threads of family history, memory, grief, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of loss. Dedicated to her sister Claire, the book is both a tribute and an exploration of the complexities of sibling relationships, set against the broader backdrop of familial trauma and healing. Foley’s poetry is marked by its clarity and emotional honesty. The collection opens with the evocative line, “A sister is like yourself in a different movie, a movie that stars you in a different life,” setting the tone for a meditation on parallel lives and the ways in which siblings both mirror and diverge from one another. Throughout, Foley’s language is precise yet lyrical, as seen in poems like “Small Certainties,” where she reflects on her father’s wartime trauma and its lingering effects on the family: “I was lucky—born fourth of four girls, so Dad had a little more time to get over the war... I learned instead to seek joy in the smallest ways, lining up my toy cats—small, bright certainties in a world still trembling from what came before.” The collection is rich with sensory detail and vivid imagery, from the “western-facing ocean of afternoon sun” in “The River House” to the “aromas of puddings, soda bread baking” in “Sister in the Old Country.” Foley’s poems often juxtapose moments of beauty and comfort with undercurrents of pain and loss, such as in “Dust of Snow,” where the simple pleasure of snowfall is shadowed by memories of war and personal grief. The book’s structure, moving from childhood memories to the present, mirrors the process of remembrance and healing. Foley’s ability to find grace and meaning in the midst of sorrow makes this work both universal and deeply individual. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A moving, beautifully crafted collection that invites readers into the intimate spaces of family life, loss, and renewal. Purchase here

< Back Jerry Gundersheimer Reach: A Nexus of Life and Love A heart-breaking love story, by author Jerry Gundersheimer Reach: A Nexus of Life and Love by Jerry Gundersheimer is a beautiful story about Ernie Resnick, who met his childhood sweetheart, Ava Winkler, when he was just 11 years old. The young couple fell deeply in love, and believed they would grow old and spend the rest of their lives together. The couple were happy and pursuing their dreams, Ava as a professional ballerina, and Ernie as a New York Times bestselling author. But when Ava was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, their whole worlds fall apart. As Ernie watches Ava’s health decline, he feels powerless to help her. But he must also face his own frailty, and the possibility of life without his beloved sweetheart. As Ernie comes to terms with Ava’s diagnosis, it has a devastating impact on his own mental health, and he is later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Reach: A Nexus of Life and Love is a powerful, heart-breaking and deeply emotional story about a man who slowly loses his wife to Lewy Body Dementia, a type of dementia with a rapid loss of mental ability. Beautifully written, well-researched, and told with sensitivity and compassion, through the eyes of Ernie. It is a powerful story about love and loss, and a tribute to all those who have been impacted by Lewy Body Dementia, and the dedicated caregivers who provide love, care and support to those in need. One cannot fail to be moved by this book; it brought a tear to my eye on several occasions. Gundersheimer’s beautifully written prose will remain with me for a very long time. Anyone who has been impacted by Lewy Body Dementia, or other types of dementia, will relate to this story. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A powerful, heart-breaking and deeply emotional story about a man who slowly loses his wife to Lewy Body Dementia. Purchase here

< Back Todd Miller ENRICH: Create Wealth in Time, Money and Meaning Book blurb... Chances are, you’ve sacrificed for your career and fought a constant tug-of-war between personal, professional, and financial well-being. Professional success is important, but is it enough? Enrich teaches life skills to create optionality, even in the most uncertain situations. The world has changed greatly, but the principles of life success haven’t. Using a series of illuminating case studies and interviews, Todd Miller shows how he and other high achievers cracked the code to: Accelerate financial security in an era of job insecurity; Reach big, bold life goals; Avoid the default setting; Navigate change, including job loss; Connect how you spend your days to what’s most important. For most books on work/life integration, money is frequently the elephant in the room. Enrich embraces this elephant. Through a practical, proven process, you’ll learn how to get financially fit fast, savor life’s deliciousness, and achieve career satisfaction. Enrich incorporates time-honored business processes with thorough, global, best practice research. Miller presents an extensive tool kit of sometimes unconventional - but always potent - work- and life-hacking strategies. Purchase here

< Back Les C. Moonshine & Sweet Tarts: A Reflection for Christians Living in Trauma-Recovery and the People Who Love Them Book blurb... When trauma strikes, what does the Church say—and more importantly, what does it do? Moonshine & Sweet Tarts is a raw, unfiltered look at how the Christian Church responds to acute trauma. Through the candid recovery story of Les and Eli C., this powerful book confronts the well-meaning but damaging clichés often offered in moments of crisis. Abuse. Devastating illness. Childhood trauma. Sudden loss. Too often, theology is used to explain pain instead of entering it. With honesty, humor, and solid Scriptural grounding, Les and Eli challenge believers to rethink how we receive suffering within our faith communities. This isn’t an attack on the Church—it’s a call to become better. If you’ve ever felt dismissed in your pain, or want to help others heal with compassion and truth, this book is for you. Purchase here

< Back Bryan Murphy Pandemic Hacker 2 Book blurb... Sam is dead. Now, as Martha, she has vanished into the shadows. Empowered by her new identity, she sets her sights on the leaders of the extortion and trafficking group. Together with her AI, Zoe, they delve deeper into the group's dark secrets. These individuals make war criminals appear virtuous in comparison. The group leaders operate with impunity. Their security and IT teams are formidable. But Martha is determined to dismantle their empire, stealing their ill-gotten money and learning their secrets. With each strike, the group's IT experts get closer to knowing her and Zoe's identities. The engagements are not just on the internet. Every physical disruption puts everyone in danger. Rejoining with Claire, the chase has become a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Both sides believe they're the top predator. Innocent lives can be destroyed. Is the best option to expose the leaders to the authorities or work to remove the hydra heads of the organization? Martha must navigate the physical world, while Zoe works to dominate the virtual one. Purchase here

< Back Pastor John Rumble The Psalms and Proverbs: Let's discover together the Treasures of the Psalms and Proverbs Book blurb... As you read the blessed book of Psalms, you’ll witness the hand of God upon King David and how he discovers the riches of the Lord through trials and blessings — and so much more. Purchase here

< Back Marlene M. Bell Lies to Forever Book blurb... First they stole her trust. Now they want her life. April Manning’s generous nature has always been a gift, and her greatest weakness. After being scammed out of her life savings by a trusted friend, April is left with an eviction notice and one last hope: reclaiming her position as an interior designer at her old architectural firm, even if it means a showdown with head architect Hunter Ellis, her cheating ex. But that’s not the only hitch. When the owner of the firm turns up dead, the last thing April expects to find is the bloody murder weapon on her doorstep. Now the killer sets a plan for April and suspicion flares at every turn…from the mysterious new handyman, to an estranged family member she’s tried to forget. Chased from her dream home and cornered like prey, April is hemmed by the wintry forests of Tennessee with few options. As chilling memories of childhood abandonment haunt her, it seems everyone has a hidden agenda to take April down. Only one thing is certain. A monster is stalking Smoky Creek, and April must unmask them before they land the fatal blow. Purchase here

< Back Sheldon Katz Portrait of the Author as a Young Atomist: Reminiscences Of A Developmental Ontology Book blurb... What if your earliest memories were filled not just with wonder, but with questions that shook the foundations of belief? In Portrait of the Author as a Young Atomist, Dr. Sheldon Katz invites readers into the raw, thoughtful terrain of a young mind awakening to the complexities of faith, free will, morality, and the very nature of existence. Blending memoir with philosophical reflection, Katz chronicles his journey from a tradition-bound childhood to an adulthood marked by intellectual emancipation. Through candid recollections - from battling guilt as a boy over breaking Sabbath rules to questioning the justice of God in the face of the Holocaust - the author explores the evolution of consciousness with clarity, wit, and emotional depth. Each chapter unfolds a layer of his internal transformation, leading to a powerful conclusion: that the meaning of life is not found in divine answers but in the courage to think, love, and live freely. This book is for seekers, skeptics, and thinkers - anyone who has dared to ask, 'What do I believe, and why?' Purchase here