< Back Juliet Rose Trigger Point Love and loss on a mountainside in Montana, by Juliet Rose. Zoey Sanders is a paramedic intern, completing her final rotation with the Mountaintop Search and Rescue, in the Beartooth Mountain Range in Montana. A new dog handler arrives at base camp, Micah Byrne, with his two dogs, Trek and Chef. Micah is deaf and communicates with his dogs via hand signals. Zoey is immediately attracted to Micah, and they become close friends. Zoey knows a little sign language and she is able to communicate with Micah using finger spelling. As Micah settles into base camp, he teaches Zoey American Sign Language. Zoey and Micah’s relationship becomes intimate, and Zoey moves into Micah’s cabin. But their relationship is put to the test when there is a huge avalanche on the mountain, triggered by a drunk man on a snowmobile. Over twenty-five people are on the mountainside, with multiple buried and many injured. As the team deal with the injured, a toboggan carrying dead bodies arrives in base camp. Zoey soon learns that one of the dead is her little brother, Charlie, who was out on the mountain snowboarding. Zoey is distraught and takes a leave of absence from Search and Rescue, moving back into her parent’s farmhouse. Overwhelmed by grief and anger, Zoey pushes Micah and her loved ones away. Zoey’s parents decide to sell the farmhouse and Zoey returns to the mountain. How will Zoey cope when she returns to the place her little brother died? And can she restore her relationship with Micah? Trigger Point is an emotional, heart-breaking and gripping romantic drama of love and loss, by author Juliet Rose. Zoey meets the love of her life on a mountainside in Montana, but everything changes when her little brother is killed in a catastrophic avalanche. Zoey’s life is shattered, as she struggles with grief and pushes away everyone around her. Rose portrays death and grief honestly, sensitively and with compassion. Her prose is heart-rending, and I was overcome with emotion on several occasions. This is a beautifully written novel, with well developed, likeable and interesting characters. I particularly liked the introduction of a strong lead character with a disability. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A heart-breaking, emotional and gripping romantic drama about love and loss. Purchase here

< Back Daniel Lawrence Abrams Aliens Venmoed Me a Trillion Dollars: The Short Story Douglas “Doug” Dawkins is a sceptical YouTuber known for debunking popular conspiracy theories. Doug’s wife, Lena, is an internationally acclaimed scientist, conducting groundbreaking astronomical research with the Belarusian State University. While Doug scoffs at the notion of alien life, Lena’s research has found undeniable proof of super-advanced, extraterrestrial communications. When Doug is contacted by aliens out of the blue, he thinks it is a scam. The aliens offer Doug huge sums of cash to conceal the truth about extraterrestrial life. They ask him to forward on a computer virus to the Belarusian State University, to destroy his wife’s research before it is made public. Believing the communication to be a prank, Doug sends the virus to the National Security Agency, to protect his own back. The virus completely destroys the NSA’s servers, and two NSA agents are sent to Doug and Lena’s home to spy on the couple, believing them to be Belarusian spies. When the aliens make contact again, Lena requests demonstrable proof that the aliens are real. But, when the aliens provide irrefutable proof of their existence, Doug and Lena find themselves in a whole heap of trouble. Aliens Venmoed Me a Trillion Dollars is a short genre-bending story by author Daniel Lawrence Abrams that fuses satire, science-fiction, conspiracy debunking, and espionage. Abrams delivers a sharp, satirical comedy about a guy who makes his living debunking conspiracy theories, only to discover indisputable proof of alien life. What starts out as a seemingly absurd message from an alien, quickly spirals into a darkly comedic series of events. Lena’s scientific integrity and Doug’s cynicism collide in high-stakes decisions that test their loyalty, love, and the very boundaries of reality. I enjoyed the clever inversion of roles: the sceptic becomes the target of the ultimate conspiracy, and the scientist must demand proof that shakes the foundation of her beliefs. The writing is sharp and laced with dry humor and biting social commentary. The result is a gripping page-turner that is both thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny. Star rating : 5 Stars Summary : Satire meets sci-fi in this fast-paced, darkly comic short story by Daniel Lawrence Abrams. Purchase here

< Back Michael Shandler Karma and Kismet A spiritual quest across continents, cultures and consciousness. A Memoir of Adversity and Triumph One man’s journey of struggle, self-acceptance and success. Author Michael Shandler writes about his life growing up as ‘Gary Fuchs’, in South Africa, and his journey across the ocean to North America as a young man. Part one (‘Karma’) focuses on his early life in 1950’s Cape Town, where he lived in constant fear of his violent father. At age thirteen, he was sent away to an all-boys boarding school, where he was regularly bullied by other students. After leaving school at eighteen, he was drafted into the all-White South African army but struggled to find his place: “I’m not a proud South African. The country’s history is alien to me. I love the land and the sea, but I’m a Jew. An outsider. Bullied by Afrikaners and English alike”. After he is discharged from the army due to medical reasons, he joins a training program in Johannesburg, but he remains sad, lonely, and depressed. Part two (‘Seeking’) focuses on his early twenties, as he leaves South Africa in search of new opportunities. Following the outbreak of the Arab-Israel conflict in 1967, the twenty-one-year-old volunteers to work in a kibbutzim to support the war effort. When he receives cash from his uncle's in Canada, he decides to emigrate to Vancouver. He takes several jobs, and experiments with psychedelic drugs. He soon discovers a love of yoga, which he later teaches and develops a friendship with Ram Dass, a spiritual teacher and yoga guru. He is given the spiritual name Ravi Dass, and he joins an intensive ‘Arica’ enlightenment training program. He later marries Aparna, and they have a daughter named Manju. In the late 1970’s he writes a yoga journal and publishes his first book. In Part three (‘Kismet’) he publishes several other books with his wife, under the names Michael and Nina Shandler. Aparna gives birth to their second daughter, Sara, and Michael reconciles with his estranged father. Karma and Kismet A spiritual quest across continents, cultures and consciousness: A Memoir of Adversity and Triumph is an absorbing and heartfelt memoir by author Michael Shandler. Shandler shares his personal journey from Cape Town to Canada, chronicling key personal, social and political events during his life. Shandler escapes a violent and controlling father, and builds a new life in a new country, where he finds peace and a sense of purpose through yoga and spiritual practice. This is a deeply moving, honest, authentic and courageous memoir, exploring the complexity of the human experience and the basic need for love and belonging. It offers a beacon of hope and healing for anyone recovering from childhood trauma. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A deeply moving, honest, authentic and courageous memoir, exploring the complexity of the human experience and the basic need for love and belonging. Purchase here

< Back Mary L Schmidt Her Alibi A heart-breaking story of survival, by author Mary Schmidt One of seven children, Mary tells the story of her childhood and growing up in a household where the children were neglected and abused by their mother, Marguerite. Mary describes the horrific mental and physical abuse she experienced and the trauma of living with a sociopath. Mary recalls her first memories of her mother’s rage, from around the age of two, when she was regularly beaten and force fed. She describes how she was often singled out by her mother throughout her childhood, and blamed for the misdemeanours of her siblings. Unfortunately, Marguerite’s abuse was never discovered by the authorities. From the outside, Marguerite was a warm, loving and attentive parent, but behind closed doors, she was a monster who terrorised her children, her husband, and even her own mother. While Mary describes a loving relationship with her father and grandmother, they could do little to intervene, help or protect the children, as they were subject to the same cruelty and feared the matriarch. As an adult, Mary distanced herself from her mother, as did most of her siblings. But one day, her mother unexpectedly visits her home and they spend several hours reconnecting and bonding. Mary had hoped for a reconciliation, but the next day she heard tragic news that her step father had been shot, and Mary questions the motivation for her mothers’ strange and sudden visit. Her Alibi is a heart-breaking novel and a memoir by author Mary L Schmidt. Mary describes the pain and trauma she suffered at the hands of her abusive mother, and the impact this had on her life, and the lives of her siblings. It is an open, honest and graphic account of child abuse, told through Mary’s own tragic lived experience. Whilst this is a deeply upsetting story, there is some comfort that Mary survived and was successful in her own life, despite her mother's maltreatment. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A compelling memoir about one woman’s lived experience of childhood abuse and trauma. Purchase here

< Back William Meisel The Lost History of "Talking to Computers": And What It Teaches Us About AI Exuberance Book blurb... Speech recognition ”using human language to connect with computers” is an area of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that has caught people's imagination and challenged hundreds of companies to make it a reality. This work documents 27 years of efforts by companies and the individuals driving them to connect us to computers using human language and to make a financial success of the effort. In some years, over 300 companies believed they could profitably deliver speech recognition technology or its applications. They faced the hurdle of the cost of computing power being much higher than it is today and had to compromise in early years on their objectives, finding applications that both served a need but could be delivered at an affordable price. This history provides a perspective on how difficult technologies evolve more slowly than we remember, with much of that history and its lessons lost. The Lost History of "Talking to Computers" provides insights into today's exuberance over Artificial Intelligence. Purchase here

< Back Paula Dail Fearless One woman’s selfless and fearless pursuit of greater equality, justice, and reproductive rights for women, by author Paula Dáil. Maggie Corrigan was born in 1932 to young Irish immigrants, and brought up in a rough, South Side neighbourhood of Chicago. Her mother, Maureen, died during childbirth when Maggie was just nine years old, leaving her to bring up her younger siblings as the oldest female in the household. Her father, Paddy, worked in the stock yards, and spent much of his spare time in drinking establishments. At the age of seventeen Maggie contemplates her future. She could marry and have children like her mother, or she could work for a pittance as a domestic, but Maggie wants more from life and wants to improve the lives of poor catholic women. She decides to enter a convent with the hope of changing the catholic church and making it more equitable for women. Maggie joins the Order of the Pax Christi Sisters of Charity and Justice (SCJ) motherhouse in Saint Xavier, Indiana, where she is assessed by her superiors for her commitment and suitability for religious life. Maggie is admitted into the novitiate, and six years after entering the Order, she becomes a fully professed member of the SCJ religious community. Maggie dedicates the rest of her life to improving the lives of women, by helping them gain the self-confidence and freedom to control their own futures and their reproductive lives. In 2017, at the age of 86, Maggie contacts Professor Gillian Spencer, a sociologist, poverty researcher and women’s rights advocate, and invites her to write the story of her life. Gillian turns down the offer at first, but is eventually persuaded by Maggie to tell her story. Gillian travels to Chicago and immerses herself into the life of Maggie, following her journey back to her birthplace, through the church, to her work leading the women’s reproductive rights movement, and as a patient advocate in an Illinois abortion clinic. Fearless, by author Paula Dáil, is a moving and inspirational story about one woman’s selfless and fearless pursuit of greater equality, justice, and reproductive rights for women. Maggie dedicated her entire life to God, and to helping poor catholic women, while overcoming her own childhood trauma, and risking her profession and reputation. This is an insightful, captivating and sometimes harrowing novel, with believable characters and authentic narrative. The book highlights the patriarchal control and authoritarianism that still exists in society and the Catholic Church today. It is a great way of engaging those who might find feminist literature inaccessible, in women’s rights issues. Whilst this novel is a work of fiction, it is inspired by the collective stories of real women. The many women that inspired this story are a true inspiration to women and girls everywhere. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A moving and inspirational story that highlights the patriarchal control and authoritarianism that still exists in society and the Catholic Church today. Purchase here

< Back Joshua Hershey Linden Falls Can a young woman free her people from darkness? Orphan, Mabel, was brought up by her grandmother, Gigi, in Linden, a nation cursed and shrouded by dark and evil forces. Mabel’s parents died of the plague when she was a young girl, but Gigi never discussed their life or death. Mabel always thought she was different from other children and had vivid dreams she was a witch. Rumors had even spread at school that Mabel was a possessed dreamer, who uses magic to enter shadows and speak with the dead. When Gigi dies, Mabel is left penniless and alone. She visits Gigi’s cabin to retrieve her belongings and feels a strange presence. When she spots a book that she had seen in her dream, she must open it. The book emits light and fire, and Mabel is spellbound. The magic book creates a cyclone and Mabel flees the cabin by stepping through a door of fire. Mabel is chased by a serpent, Lavian, and a hoard of Dark Angels. She is saved by the Light Angels and taken to Citadel; a fortress suspended above the Earth. Mabel learns from the Light Angels that the book has special powers, and she was chosen by the one who wrote the book to break the darkness over Linden. She also learns there are two worlds, the world where she lives and the unseen realm that permeates the heavens and Earth. Mable has two choices, to return to her old life in Linden and give up the book, or to harness the book’s powers and continue the path of her calling. Which path will Mabel take? Can she end the darkness that presides over Linden? And will she find out the truth about her parents, and her special powers? Linden Falls is an imaginative and thrilling dark fantasy fiction novel by author Joshua Hershey. This is a well written and tightly crafted story, with a gripping plot, and rich, memorable characters. Mabel is a strong female protagonist, who overcomes adversity to free her people. There are strong Christian messages throughout the book, which make this a unique and powerful read. Hershey has created a spellbinding world that will appeal to those who enjoy action-adventure, fantasy fiction, and Christian fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable and spellbinding read. Purchase here

< Back Rose Mary Boehm Life Stuff Book blurb... This brilliant collection speaks candidly about living in the final stretch of one’s time. Rose writes about aging, the pending inevitable, the changing world, friendship and family, the meaning of home. She meanders down memory lane, from Peru to Paris to Spain to Germany. She recalls childhood and harrowing experiences of tyranny and war, in the same scrapbook as motherhood and love and the wonders of people and nature. These gorgeous poems speak about regrets and losses with rare honesty. In a way, this collection from a prolific and gifted writer is her love letter to us, something for us to keep, to keep her close. This is a writer who knows that the darkness and most painful parts of life hold as much wealth as the sweetest. And this is her magnum opus. Lorette C. Luzajic, editor, The Ekphrastic Review, author, The Rope Artist, Winter in June Purchase here

< Back Lorene Whitman At Home on the River: Diary of a Floating Home Book blurb... Discover the quiet magic of life afloat in At Home on the River, a memoir that invites you into a world shaped by shifting seasons, wildlife encounters, and the charm of a floating home community. Set along the scenic Columbia River near Troutdale, Oregon, Lorene Whitman shares intimate journal entries and whimsical sketches that capture both the challenges and the deep serenity of river living. From trading solid ground for logs beneath her feet to meeting unforgettable characters, she reveals what it truly means to step away from the ordinary. Immerse yourself in a journey of courage, curiosity, and breathtaking simplicity. Purchase here

< Back Trevor B. Hanson Unsplode: The Bold New Approach to Reconstruct Your Wealthspan and Healthspan Book blurb... Plan with purpose. Reclaim your time. Live life for today and tomorrow. Everyone is susceptible to gaps in their finances and health, creating an imbalance between the two that, one way or another, limits your potential in the present and the future. Instead, implement purposeful planning to smooth over these gaps, sustain a meaningful daily life, and create the ideal retirement you imagined. In Unsplode, Trevor Hanson and Caleb Pinegar introduce the concepts of HealthSpan and WealthSpan, frameworks for maximizing the longevity of your health and finances while bringing both back into balance. A wealth manager, Trevor takes a holistic look at financial planning that goes beyond the industry-wide, cookie-cutter approach. Caleb, an orthopedic surgeon, offers a comprehensive examination for peak physical and emotional health. Together, their ideas help cultivate fulfillment through intentional and individualized strategizing. For those who want an optimized life, Unsplode is a must-read guide. Purchase here

< Back Leon Conrad Story and Structure: A complete guide An essential read for anyone interested in writing and storytelling, by Leon Conrad ‘Story and Structure: A complete guide’ is a handbook for anyone interested in writing and storytell ing. It tells the untold story of what makes a story, a ‘story’. Conrad describes his approach, which is based on six primary symbols (inspired by Professor George Spencer-Brown’s book ‘Laws of Form’), as a simple, visual way to analyse and compare different story structures. The six sy mbols approach is a useful way to understand how story works, how and why structures differ, and why story is a much wider phenomena than most people underst and. It has the potential to help us not only understand stories better, but also to underst and ourselves better. He provides examples of 18 distinct story structures, some well-known and some less well known , from across different cultures and eras (from the earliest written records to the present day). Conrad describes the methodology of the approach and applies it to different story structures, as well as describing the implications for the approach, and how the methodology can be applied in the practice of writing, from poetry to creative writing, teaching and anthropology. ‘Story and Structure: A complete guide’ by Leon Conrad is a comprehensive, well-researched and insightful handbook. The book is well structured, and easy to read and understand. This book will help readers appreciate the importance of story structure, and will help anyone to write better stories. It is an essential read for anyone interested in writing and storytelling, includ ing writers, storytellers, teachers, poets, and readers. I really wi sh I had read this book ten years ago, when I started my own writing journey. Star rating: 5 St ars Summary: A fascin ating insight into how story works, which will help readers appreciate the import ance of story structure. Purchase here

< Back F.L. Jumper Audacious Seminole: From Ashes to Oaks Book blurb... F.L. Jumper, born on the Hollywood reservation of the Seminole Tribe, found herself living with her grandparents at six months old, after her mom divorced her dad. It was there that she learned what forgiveness looked like, sounded like, and felt like, which was helpful when she met her dad and her sister for the first time at age thirteen. Over the course of her adulthood, she grew closer to her dad and learned what it meant to be a member of the Seminole Tribe. With her parents being remarried, she navigated a new reality with their new spouses. After her parents died, she found herself at a fork in the road, asking questions such as: How could she forgive the spouses of her parents after they betrayed her? What lessons from the history of her Seminole Tribe could help her move forward? How could she move beyond an overwhelming feeling of grief and pain? Throughout this memoir, the author also celebrates her faith, which she discovered at an early age. The lessons she learned in church and from the Bible gave her the strength she needed to overcome obstacles in childhood and as an adult. Purchase here