< Back Marianne Hartley ALIGN & SHINE A step-by-step guide to brand design by author Marianne Hartley. Align & Shine is a reference book about business, marketing, and brand design. Author, brand consultant and designer, Marianne Hartley, describes how to create beautiful, inspiring, and powerful brands, by connecting the heart and mind. Hartley discusses her personal journey, from studying graphic design at l’Ecole d’Art Appliques, in Switzerland, to settting up a successful agency, Hartley & Soul. The company was created to bring together the author’s interests in energy healing and design. The book is divided into three parts: Dive, Discover and Define. Dive is the foundational stage, which involves diving deep into the business, understanding what is unique about the business, and identifying the problem it is trying to solve. Dive involves the left, logical side of the brain. Discover involves connecting with intuition and engaging with the heart to get a deeper level of understanding, and aligning the brand with both the heart and the vision. It involves working with the right hand, creative side of the brain. Define brings both sides of thinking together, connecting logic and intuition, to develop a coherent vision, mission and value, to bring the brand to life. Hartley provides many examples through real life client stories and testimonials. At the end of each chapter there are exercises and questions to help guide the reader on their own brand journey, and tips and tools to support self reflection, guided meditation an visualisation. Align & Shine is an inspiring and insightful book by a guru of brand design, Marianne Hartley. Hartley is a leading authority on brand design, and her knowledge and expertise shines throughout this book. The book’s emphasis on the emotional aspects of branding, and connecting hearts and minds, is refreshing. As a reader with little knowledge of brand design, I found the book fascinating. I would love to see more images and examples within the book, as I found myself googling many of the brands the author references. The book is aimed at anyone who has a business idea and wants to turn it into brand; those who are already running a successful business and want to refresh their brand; and serial entrepreneurs who want to create iconic brands for their businesses. It will also appeal to students, teachers, and anyone interested in branding and design. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: Connecting hearts and minds: a refreshing and fascinating insight into brand design. Purchase here

< Back A Frank Corso Mystery Divine Travel Agency A Frank Corso mystery novel, set in magical New Orleans Frank Corso, a middle-aged New Yorker, and Wall Street financial researcher, is on a field trip to the French Quarter of New Orleans, when he is contacted by his ex-girlfriend Maggie. Maggie is worried about her friend, Aureole, a young, Creole girl who disappeared after visiting her bar the previous evening. Maggie is convinced Aureole’s disappearance is related to her unique mystical powers and her role as a clairvoyant. Frank reluctantly agrees to help Maggie look for her friend, in the hope that they might rekindle their relationship. As Frank begins to investigate the girl’s disappearance, he calls on his friends and colleagues to help him solve the mystery. Intrigued, but sceptical of Aureole’s special abilities, Frank starts his investigation by examining all those who attended Aureole’s last séance. He is soon drawn into the mysterious world of the occult and supernatural, and discovers the Divine Travel Agency, which will change his life forever. The Divine Travel Agency is an intriguing, mystery novel set in New Orleans. This is a fast-paced, riveting page turner, filled with mystery and mystique, and numerous twists and turns. With vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds and colours of the New Orleans French quarter, you can really feel the energy of this amazing city. I was completely immersed in the book and for a few hours, I was right in the heart of New Orleans. This is a riveting and well-developed story, with likeable and relatable characters. Frank Corso is a wonderfully charismatic and flawed character. The perfect anti-hero. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘A fast-paced, intriguing mystery, with a charismatic investigator and a supernatural twist. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

< Back Angela White Nuclear Ashes Book blurb... Adrian will soon discover if the choices he’s made have cost him a son. Even Angela can’t be sure. Neither can any of the others like her. The power of the descendants is growing, and so is Safe Haven's awareness of having magic in their midst. Angela is no longer the only seer in Adrian’s camp of survivors…if she ever was. Now on the way to Arkansas, these battered refugees will face a more dangerous threat than the slavers. Furious at the latest bloodshed between lawless groups of humanity, Mother Nature has declared her own war, repeatedly unleashing her fury against everyone. The apocalypse has never been more lethal as the aftermath continues to take its toll on what remains of the great human herd. Purchase here

< Back L. Scott Cisney Chronicles of the Gods: Book One Book blurb... In 2340 the Earth is dying. The Free Bloc creates a spaceship from an asteroid with living spaces inside it to protect 3,000 handpicked humans on their journey to an exoplanet. The “ship” is powered by ion engines utilizing fuel from xenon ions produced in a nuclear reactor. This allows the ship to continuously accelerate. The constant acceleration allows the crew to experience gravity during their journey. As they leave the asteroid belt they receive a message from aliens in the Cervantes star system who call themselves “The Mothers”. The aliens invite them to change their destination and settle a planet near them to be called Terra Nova. As they journey, an alien called “Eve of Eden”, the Mother of the Earth, appears in a dream to a ten year old girl on the ship, Terra Nova Winstead. Terra is told she possesses the “gifts of The Mothers” and will be “Mother” of the new world. The journey to the Cervantes system is full of surprises and danger. Book One ends with their arrival at Terra Nova where the crew is told they will help develop an “intelligent and virtuous species” as was done on the Earth many millennia earlier. Purchase here

< Back Jennifer Ivy Walker The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight Tristan and Issylte return in the third instalment in the Sea Raven trilogy series by author Jennifer Ivy Walker Tristan, the banished Blue Knight of Cornwall, and heir to the Kingdom of Lyonesse, and his wife Issylte, the Emerald Princess and heir to the Irish crown, have fled from Issylte’s wicked stepmother, the Black Widow Queen Morag, and taken refuge on the island of Avalon. As heirs to their respective thrones, Tristan and Issylte pose an intolerable threat to Queen Morag, and her sovereignty over those two kingdoms. The Queen poisoned her first husband, Issylte’s father, the King Donnchadh of Ireland, and also attempted to murder Issylte, to secure her position on the Irish throne. She is poisoning her second husband, the King Marke of Cornwall, Tristan’s uncle, to maintain her rule over the Cornish Kingdom. The Queen is still raging from the death of Morholt, her beloved Black Knight who was killed by Tristan during a failed Viking invasion of Cornwall. She vows to find Tristan and avenge Morholt’s death. When Queen Morag and her cronies discover that Issylte is pregnant with Tristan’s child, she is further enraged. With her ally, dwarf Bothor, she plans an elaborate plot to kill Tristan, and capture Issylte and her unborn child. The Queen plans to imprison Issylte until her baby is born, and then sacrifice the royal infant during the winter solstice, to break a curse that has plagued the Queen for many years. Issylte is captured and imprisoned in a tower on the top of a rocky cliff edge. Tristan and his army of knights must journey back to Tintagel to rescue his wife and unborn child. Will Tristan save his wife and child from the murderous queen? Will Tristan and Issylte ever regain their thrones to their kingdoms? And will Queen Morag ever be punished for her crimes? The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight is a fascinating medieval fantasy fiction novel by author Jennifer Ivy Walker. In this third instalment in the Sea Raven trilogy, Tristan and Issylte’s journey to reclaim their rightful positions on their respective thrones, comes to a breathtaking climax. With gruesome and bloody battle scenes, hot and steamy love scenes, and many unexpected twists and turns, this is an electrifying conclusion to a magnificent trilogy. The book, and the series, is a super addition to the medieval fantasy fiction genre and will captivate readers who enjoy Celtic history and folklore. I could not wait to read this final book and I am gutted the series had concluded. I am hopeful that Tristan, Issylte and their son might return for a new adventure very soon! Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An epic medieval fantasy fiction novel, comes to an electrifying conclusion. Purchase here

< Back Gaia B Amman An Italian Adventure Book blurb... Against the backdrop of rural Northern Italy in the 1980s, eight-year-old Leda’s world is upended when her nemesis—a Sicilian transplant named Nico—shares a startling discovery: an adult magazine. The revelation alienates the devout tomboy from her "sworn brothers," proving she is not one of the guys and unleashing a storm of shame on the eve of her First Confession. Leda is faced with an agonizing dilemma: how can she possibly confess her unthinkable sin to a Catholic priest? Beyond the guilt and shame, the episode triggers a cascade of questions about an identity Leda doesn't yet have a name for. The feud between Leda and Nico escalates through the years until fate reveals a kinship of darkness between the two, forcing them to stand together to uncover their own truths while navigating a cultural landscape defined by religious rigidity and hypocrisy. Based on the true story of author Gaia B. Amman, Ph.D., An Italian Adventure is a fiercely independent "coming-of-gender" journey. Blending the nostalgic charm of an analog childhood with a gritty, authentic exploration of nonbinary identity, the novel has been described as "Nonbinary Anne of Green Gables meets The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." This first volume of The Italian Saga is a moving exploration of resilience, the search for a chosen family, and the universal pursuit of happiness. Purchase here

< Back W.A. Pepper You Will Know Vengeance: A Tanto Thriller Author WA Pepper writes a new techno-charged version of the Shawshank Redemption for the 21st century A young hacker, known by his handle name, Tanto, is captured and found guilty of cyber terrorism. Imprisoned under a new US law, he has lost of all his rights as a human being. He is implanted with a tracking and torture devise and is subjected to forced labour. To secure his freedom, Tanto must capture other hackers and defend government systems from cyber-attacks. Failure to do so would result in death, or worse, a transfer to Guantanamo Bay. For eight years, Tanto follows the rules and meets the minimum capture requirements, while at the same time he protects the other inmates (his tribe). But everything changes when a new inmate, the notorious hacker Barca, enters the prison and the safety of the whole tribe is put under threat. Tanto hatches a desperate plan to protect his tribe, destroy the enemy, and escape the prison. You will Know Vengeance, is the first part of a fresh, new techno-thriller trilogy by author WA Pepper. Set within the confines of a prison, and the wilderness of cyber space, the two disparate worlds collide in a tense, gripping drama. It is a fast-paced, high-energy novel, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Whilst this book will certainly appeal to techno-thriller junkies, it is an easy-to-read novel for neophytes, providing a fascinating insight into the hidden world of hackers, cyber criminals, and the dark web. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘A fast-paced, high-energy, techno-thriller novel, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

< Back Chris Feistl and Dave Mitchell After Escobar: Taking Down the Notorious Cali Godfathers and the Biggest Drug Cartel in History Book blurb. .. By the early 1990s, Colombia's Cali cartel had become what the former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Thomas Constantine referred to as the 'biggest and most powerful crime syndicate in history.' Responsible for nearly 85 percent of the cocaine that reached US soil and 90 percent worldwide, they were untouchable, earning billions of dollars all while maintaining their reputation as 'The Godfathers of Cali.' They brazenly corrupted thousands of Colombian authorities and government officials, even 'buying' the outcome of the 1994 presidential election. That same year, the DEA sent young operatives Chris Feistl and Dave Mitchell to Colombia with one formidable task: help Colombian authorities take down the ruthless leaders of the brutal Cali cartel. Not an easy job for two men who looked more like California surfers than DEA agents. Standing well over six feet tall and only six years removed from the DEA Academy, they were the epitome of conspicuous in a city where most residents rarely, if ever, saw an American in person. Many of their colleagues feared for their safety, openly questioning their ability to blend in. Their almost three-year journey would lead them from the bureaucratic halls of the US Embassy to the violent streets of Cali and deep into its rural sugar cane fields, on high alert day and night as they dodged deadly cartel assassins and battled the unprecedented corruption within Colombia's security forces. Throughout their quest they formed loyal, long-term alliances, experienced shocking and devastating betrayals, participated in numerous dramatic arrests, and suffered constant setbacks. Over time, their relentless efforts began to slowly degrade the godfathers' defenses and weaken their infrastructure. After Escobar: Taking Down the Notorious Cali Godfathers and the Biggest Drug Cartel in History offers a unique, on-the-ground perspective that will be praised by true crime enthusiasts, history buffs, and Narcos fans alike. Part of Chris and Dave' s story was told in Season 3 of the acclaimed Netflix series Narcos: Rise of a New Empire. Now, they tell it for themselves. Purchase here

< Back Dr. Jan Seward Cracking Happiness: A Practical Guide To Good Feelings That Last Book blurb... Happiness isn't a fixed trait you're born with or without. It's a skill, and like any skill it can be learned. That conviction sits at the heart of Cracking Happiness, and it comes from someone who has spent a career testing it. Dr. Jan Seward, Psy.D., a licensed clinical and transpersonal psychologist with more than thirty-five years in mind-body medicine, has watched people build lasting well-being the same way they'd build strength or fluency: through small, repeatable daily practices that stack into a scaffold sturdy enough to stand on. Her method rests on four pillars, mind, body, connection, and purpose, and on the Healthy Selfish Principle, the idea that caring for yourself isn't indulgence but the ground everything else grows from. You'll begin with a Happiness Audit to see where you actually stand, translate it into a personalized Happiness Blueprint, and set it in motion with a 90-day plan that turns intention into habit. No forced positivity, no overnight reinvention. Just a clear, practical path, laid out by someone who has helped people walk it for decades, so happiness stops being something you wait for and becomes something you build. Purchase here

< Back Julia Brewer Daily ;The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch A Modern Ranch with an Ancient Secret A modern Texas ranch has an ancient secret. Twenty-two-year-old Emma Rosales has trained all of her life to take over ‘The Thorn’, a million-acre ranch in Texas. As sole heir to the property, Emma is ready to take over the property after recently graduating from college with a degree in veterinary medicine. Emma is fierce and headstrong, and follows in a long line of strong, female matriarchs. However, she is disheartened to learn that her boyfriend is more in love with the ranch than he is with her. While her parents, Josie and John, are out of the country on a trip to Europe, Emma decides to explore the vast ranch on her horse, Honey-Boy. But, when Honey-Boy falls and breaks a leg, she is forced to put him down. She takes shelter in a cave and discovers a group of people living there. The ‘People’ have been completely isolated from the modern world, and they live a primitive but peaceful life. Afraid that Emma might reveal their secret, they hold her captive in the secret cave. While her distraught parents search frantically for their missing daughter, Emma has an important decision to make. Will she try to escape and return to her beloved parents? Or will she live with the ‘People’ and remain hidden in the cave forever? The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch: A Modern Ranch with an Ancient Secret, by author Julia Brewer Daily, is a gripping adventure and romance novel set in the Texas wilderness. This is a unique and imaginative novel, with many twists and turns. Beautifully written, with a fascinating plot and well developed, believable and relatable characters, the book will appeal to readers who enjoy women’s fiction, adventure stories and romance. I particularly enjoyed reading the different perspectives of the two primary characters, Emma, and her mother Josie. With vivid descriptions of Texas, the book captures the breath-taking beauty and the vastness of the Lone Star State. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A gripping adventure, with a fascinating plot and well developed, believable and relatable characters. Purchase here

< Back Trisha T Pritikin Then Came the Summer Snow: An Atomic Age Hero's Journey Then Came the Summer Snow by Trisha T. Pritikin is a compelling work of historical fiction set in Richland, Washington, during the 1950s. The novel intricately weaves the personal struggles of a family with the broader implications of living in the shadow of the Hanford nuclear site, a key facility in the U.S. atomic weapons program. Through the lens of Edith Higgenbothum, a determined homemaker, the story explores the devastating effects of radioactive fallout on communities downwind of Hanford. The novel delves into the secrecy surrounding Hanford’s operations, highlighting the government’s efforts to suppress information about the health risks posed by radioactive fallout. It also examines the societal dynamics of Richland, a government-owned atomic city where loyalty to the Hanford site often overrides concerns about public health. Edith’s journey is marked by her growing awareness of the dangers posed by radiation and her determination to protect her family and community, even at great personal cost. The story is rich with historical context, referencing real events such as the Windscale reactor accident in the UK and the Nevada atomic bomb tests. It also touches on broader themes, including the role of women in 1950s America, the impact of government secrecy, and the ethical dilemmas faced by scientists and engineers working in the atomic industry. Pritikin’s writing is vivid and evocative, capturing the tension and emotional turmoil of living in a community affected by nuclear fallout. The novel’s detailed descriptions of 1950s culture add authenticity and depth to the story. Then Came the Summer Snow is also a powerful commentary on the intersection of science, ethics, and public health. It raises important questions about the responsibilities of scientists and government officials in protecting the public from harm, and the role of ordinary citizens in holding them accountable. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that sheds light on a dark chapter in American history Purchase here

< Back James Richard Hansen Within and Without: Poems Book blurb... In Within and Without — as in his previous collections of poems, Progression and JAD — James Richard Hansenexplores the themes of nature, philosophy, and romance but more deeply and more passionately. In the first part of the book, he blends philosophical insights with his love of nature and raises thought-provoking questions connecting the two. In the second part, he expresses his love for his soul mate, Kristen, in poems that are passionate and picturesque. In both parts, he uses his natural surroundings to gain insight into his inner landscape and vice versa. “The focus is on harmony, unity, beauty. These poems are lyrical dewdrops, distillations of Whitmanesque enthusiasms minus the excess.” –Pacific Book Review Purchase here