< Back Lance T. Weil The Two Olive Martini The Two Olive Martini by Lance T. Weil offers an intimate and introspective journey through the eyes of Gail, an oncology nurse whose compassion for her patients is matched only by the emotional weight she carries in her own life. Her carefully ordered world begins to shift as she confronts difficult truths about love, marriage, mortality, and the choices that define happiness. Running parallel is Sean, a successful but flawed attorney whose devastating cancer diagnosis forces him to examine a lifetime of ambition, excess, and regret. Their journeys unfold with emotional sincerity, asking readers not simply what it means to survive, but what it truly means to live. The novel successfully tackles profound themes without becoming overly sombre. The author weaves humour into moments of heartbreak. The recurring question, "When did I stop laughing?" becomes a powerful emotional thread that resonates throughout the narrative, encouraging readers to reflect on their own lives. The medical setting provides authenticity, while the exploration of faith, forgiveness, friendship, and second chances gives the story universal appeal. The characters are vividly drawn and refreshingly imperfect. Gail's warmth, resilience, and emotional honesty make her an immediately engaging protagonist, while Sean's transformation from self-assured attorney to vulnerable patient is handled with empathy rather than sentimentality. Their supporting cast adds depth, humour, and humanity, creating a world populated by believable people whose relationships feel genuine. Overall, the book is an uplifting reminder that life is measured not simply by years, but by love, laughter, courage, and the willingness to embrace each new day. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A thoughtful, emotionally rewarding novel that celebrates resilience and the enduring capacity of the human spirit Purchase here

< Back Luanne Castle Doll God Book blurb... In Doll God, award-winning poet Luanne Castle invites readers into a haunting and beautifully imagined world where dolls become vessels of memory, nature speaks with quiet wisdom, and ordinary objects reveal extraordinary spiritual truths. Blending mythology, folklore, family history, dreams, wildlife, and art, these poems travel through landscapes both physical and emotional. A Japanese doll, a hummingbird, a palo verde tree, forgotten keepsakes, ghosts, lakes, birds, and the desert become companions in an exploration of identity, love, grief, healing, and transformation. With luminous imagery and remarkable emotional depth, Castle examines the delicate boundary between the natural world and the worlds we create through memory and imagination. Each poem uncovers traces of what has been lost while offering hope that restoration is always possible. Winner of the New Mexico-Arizona Book Award and expanded with a selection of new poems, Doll God is an unforgettable collection that rewards slow reading and deep reflection. Rich in symbolism and lyrical beauty, it speaks to readers who appreciate literary poetry that explores spirituality, nature, resilience, and the enduring search for meaning. Doll God is a collection that lingers long after the final page, reminding us that even what seems lost may still be waiting to be found. Purchase here

< Back Madeline Pasimio Contrary to Conception: Stories and Lessons about Successful Birth Control and Contraceptive Methods Everything you wanted to know about birth control and contraceptive methods but were afraid to ask, by Madeline Pasimio Contrary to Conception is an informative and educational reference book by Madeline Pasimio about birth control and contraception. The book describes the key terms and definitions of contraceptive methods, explores the history of birth control, and provides useful insights into different methods, such as the pill, emergency contraception, barrier methods, the shot, the implant, hormonal and copper IUDs, and sterilization. Each chapter includes detailed information about each method and how it works, its effectiveness and side effects, and other considerations and common misconceptions. Each chapter also includes fictionalised stories, based on women’s real-life experiences, such as student Gina who suffered aggravating period cramps and decided to try the pill to help alleviate her symptoms, and parents of two-Terri and David who considered permanent methods of contraception to prevent future pregnancy, such as male and female sterilization. This book is a valuable resource for anyone considering birth control for the first time, or for those who want to learn more about different contraceptive methods. It is educational and informative, but accessible and easy to read for all readers. Madeline Pasimio writes about this sensitive, and often taboo subject, respectfully and without judgement. This book will help educate women and their partners, to make informed choices about contraception and birth control options. This book should be an essential part of sex education and the school curriculum, and would make a valuable addition to any home, school, or public library. As a veteran, but very naïve, contraceptive user, I wish I had this book when I started using contraception many years ago. Now, as a mother of a teenage daughter, I will be recommending this book to her, and all of my female friends and relatives. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An informative and educational reference book about birth control and contraception, that should be an essential part of sex education and the school curriculum. Purchase here

< Back Jeremy Bazley My China - Living Inside the Dragon A fascinating insight into China and Chinese culture, by author Jeremy Bazley. My China - Living inside the Dragon is a memoir by author Jeremy Bazley about his experiences and observations of living, working and travelling in China between 2002-2017. Bazley went to work in China in 2002, on behalf of a UK based entrepreneur, managing a joint venture with a state-controlled company making high quality cigarette paper for the huge Chinese market. During this fifteen-year period, Bazley visited twenty-four out of thirty-three regions, covering 73 per cent by region in all geographic areas of China. The book provides a unique western perspective on living in China, away from the more ‘isolated chattering classes, intelligencia and professional communities of the larger cities’ . Bazley built a home and life for himself in a country where he initially did not speak the language. He benefited from many privileges that came with his job, but he also made significant personal sacrifices, that impacted his marriage and children. Bazley’s work brought him in contact with all aspects of Chinese life and culture, from Beijing to the modern mega cities and the rural countryside. Bazley describes his early days in the city of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province in eastern China; his experience of China and ways of life, including Chinese drinking culture, food, leisure pursuits, business dealings, politics and education; his personal life, and his travels across the country. Bazley provides a non-judgmental commentary on China’s politics, economic growth and culture during a period of historic growth and evolution. During his time in China, Bazley was presented with various awards of recognition through the all-important ‘Friendship’, from the Jiaxing city and Zhejiang provincial governments in China. This is an enlightening, engaging and entertaining book about an English man’s life, work and travels across China. I particularly enjoyed Bazley’s extracts from detailed personal diary notes , which were heartfelt, funny and fascinating. The book will appeal to readers who are interested in China, and Chinese culture and politics, those who are considering working and living in China, and anyone interested in travel and adventure. China is an amazing country and is now firmly on my bucket list! Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An enlightening, engaging and entertaining book about an English man’s life, work and travels across China. Purchase here

< Back Shadley Grei Before Closure Book blurb... Seven months ago, Carol Parker left a note on the kitchen counter and walked out on her life, leaving behind a husband of nearly forty years and two adult children to navigate the silence she left behind. Purchase here

< Back Dr. Thomas Epperson Values Based Organizations: Aligning Culture and Strategy Book blurb... Why do Values Based Organizations matter? Organizational success today hinges on aligning values and culture—and companies that use this as a business strategy rise above the rest. InnerWill: The Five Practices of Values Based Organizations, the anticipated follow-up to InnerWill: The Five Practices of Values Based Leaders, is a transformative guide for aligning culture with strategy, ensuring all leaders and employees are united in purpose. This comprehensive framework highlights the Five Practices of Values Based Organizations, offering practical solutions for crafting strategy, strengthening culture, and uniting diverse leadership goals. Grounded in research and experience from industry leaders, this book is a catalyst for change, featuring real-world examples and in-depth stories. No matter the type or size of business, Values Based Organizations is a must-read for reinforcing your culture and revolutionizing your organization. Purchase here

< Back Jocelyn Jane Cox Motion Dazzle: A Memoir of Motherhood, Loss, and Skating on Thin Ice Book blurb... Former competitive figure skater and coach Jocelyn Jane Cox is desperate to care for her toddler and her ailing mother, all while preparing to host a fabulous zebra-themed first birthday party at her house. As a new parent whose supportive mom is slipping away with dementia, she finds herself spinning in the middle of the so-called "sandwich generation". Cox draws on the strengths she learned while competing with her older brother as her partner. On the ice, she battled injuries and uncertainties while trying to dazzle audiences, discovering along the way that we can love and hate an activity in equal measure, and that "faking it 'til you make it" can be a viable way forward. As an adult, Jocelyn leans into performance and distraction as coping strategies while demonstrating a capability we all have: to find moments of celebration alongside pain. Splicing her own early motherhood with memories of her single mother's TLC, Cox's choreography takes readers around the rink of a high stakes sport and into the stands...where her mother, a bit of a mystery, sits quietly amid the ovation. Motion Dazzle shines a spotlight on the life cycle and how we pass love from one generation to the next. 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 Faith MacGregor Children of Angels Book blurb... Children of Angels is an epic fantasy that follows King Tiras and his family of Nephilim (human-angel hybrids) as they defend their island kingdom against invaders from Ra who seek to destroy them, culminating in a massive battle where mercy and understanding ultimately triumph over vengeance and hatred. 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 JR Rice Broken Pencils A novella by J.R. Rice about one momentous night in a young man’s life. Jonah Tarver from a wealthy suburb of Oakland California is celebrating his eighteenth birthday on the same night of his high school prom. It is also the anniversary of his best friend’s death, who was tragically killed in a car accident four years previously. Still grieving the loss of his best friend, Jonah has received several years of therapy, but has recently stopped taking his medication. Struggling to cope, he has been caught shoplifting and truanting from school. His father, a Superior Court Judge, is a harsh disciplinarian and believes his son is dishonouring the family. While Jonah has led a relatively privileged life, he does not get the love or support he needs from his father. Jonah’s parents are on the brink of divorce, as Jonah strives to protect his little brother , Steven. His father agrees to loan him the use of his beloved Mercedes to drive his girlfriend, Taniesha, to the prom. But following a heated argument with his parents, his father withdraws the offer and Jonah takes the car without consent. During the prom, Taniesha dumps Jonah because he is unable to commit to their relationship. Fuelled by a cocktail of alcohol and illegal drugs, Jonah is involved in a serious, violent incident at the prom and flees the scene. He drives to San Francisco, where he visits an adult club, and his night goes from bad to worse. When he wakes up on a park bench the morning after, Jonah must face his father and the consequences of his actions. Broken Pencils is a short, literary work of fiction, by J.R. Rice. This is a dark, gripping and thought-provoking tale, which explores how a single moment of recklessness can have far reaching consequences. Rice delves into the complex life and psyche of Jonah, a young Black man suffering from mental health issues and trauma following the death of his best friend. On the night of his eighteenth birthday and prom, the night takes a dramatic turn, following a violent incident in the school bathroom. Jonah finds himself in a precarious situation, as he attempts to navigate the San Francisco underworld. Readers will both empathise with, and loathe, this relatable, complex teenager. S tar rating: 5 Stars Summary : A gripping coming of age story and a skilful exploration of grief, the human psyche and broken relationships. Purchase here

< Back David Cairns The Case of the Emigrant Niece Unlikely duo, Findo and Errol, join forces to investigate the mystery of the lost inheritance. A historical fiction novel set in the 1800’s in Australia, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Scottish Highlands. Major Findo Gask sustains a serious leg injury at the start of the Indian mutiny in 1858, and is dispatched back to England to convalesce in a nursing home. On discharge he contemplates the next phase of his life and travels to Edinburgh to see his brother. He starts work as a consulting engineer with a local construction firm and is offered a position as a consultant to support the booming mining industry in Melbourne. He meets Errol Rait during a cricket match and rents a room from him on 21/2 Bourke Street. He learns that Errol is a criminal investigator, testing new finger marks to identify suspects. They meet a pretty young heiress, Mary Mitchell, and discover she has been swindled out of her inheritance. Errol decides to take on the case and Findo, keen to develop his investigative skills, decides to accompany him. With a link back to Scotland, the pair travel to Edinburgh to find the will of Mitchell’s late uncle. The investigation takes them from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands where they discover multiple murders and a sinister plot. Will Findo and Errol solve the mystery of the lost inheritance before it is too late? Will Mary receive the fortune that she rightly deserves? The Case of the Emigrant Niece is a captivating historical fiction novel by David Cairns, set in the 1800’s and spanning Australia, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Scottish Highlands. Written in the first-person point of view, from the perspective of Findo, the book follows his journey as he builds a new life for himself in Melbourne, and partners with his friend, Errol, in a fraud investigation. The novel is a work of fiction, inspired by real people, places and events. Extensively researched, and historically accurate, this book will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction. The novel has a definite Sherlock Holmes vibe, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, suspense and intrigue. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery, with two memorable and eccentric criminal investigators. Purchase here