< Back Jamie Andrea Garzot Unconventional A Memoir of Entrepreneurism Politics and Pot A unique and personal memoir by cannabis advocate and entrepreneur, Jamie Andrea Garzot Unconventional, A Memoir of Entrepreneurism, Politics, and Pot is a memoir by Jamie Andrea Garzot about her experience of setting up and running a medical cannabis store in conservative, Northern California. Garzot explains how she was not a typical cannabis user or part of ‘cannabis heritage’, but used cannabis to help her sleep during episodes of insomnia. As a user of cannabis for medicinal purposes, her experience of purchasing cannabis was not good. Typical stores were unfriendly, intimidating, dirty, and hidden away in back-alleyways. In 2009, she risked it all to leave her secure, corporate job and opened a cannabis store, seven years before full legalisation. Her goal was to create a store that was accessible and welcoming to anyone, regardless of their cannabis experience or background. Her driving force was delivering a great experience for every customer. Garzot describes how she set up the business with minimal funds, and how she went on to lead a successful, multi-million-dollar business. She discusses the many business and leadership challenges she faced, and how she navigated the complex and changing legal landscape. Garzot shares a number of stories of how cannabis played a therapeutic role for clients with Aids, Cancer, and other addictions. Garzot became an advocate for cannabis and worked tirelessly to improve the industry and further the legitimization of cannabis in society. However, whilst the business was thriving, Garzot faced many personal challenges. She discusses openly her childhood and the enduring impact of her mom’s death, her tumultuous marriage and divorce. Unconventional, A Memoir of Entrepreneurism, Politics, and Pot is a memoir by Jamie Andrea Garzot about how she made a successful and profitable business in the cannabis industry. This is an insightful and absorbing memoir by an inspirational woman who has shown, with a strong vision, hard work, commitment, and dogged determination, that anything is possible. This is a well written and fascinating book, with some heartfelt moments and lots of humor. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy memoirs, and those who are interested in enterprise, leadership, and the cannabis industry. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A riveting read about an inspirational woman who made her fortune in an unconventional business. Purchase here

< Back LeRosa Leigh FOR ALL AS FOR ONE Book blurb... Have you ever wondered if God is real? And if “He” is, does He care about what has happened or is happening to you and your loved ones? And in the world? Does He hear prayers? Does He answer them? This book speaks to those readers who are searching spiritually and in need of an “infilling,” because the messages and understandings come directly from Spirit, from divine Love. There is more to life than we are aware of. Many blessings await those of us who ask, seek, and knock. Purchase here

< Back Jennifer Ivy Walker The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven A wonderful adaptation of a medieval French fairy-tale, by Jennifer Ivy Walker Fourteen-year-old Issylte, the Emerald Princess of Ireland, is forced to flee her home, when her father, King Donnchadh of Ireland, marries Princess Morag of Scotland. Queen Morag, unable to conceive a child of her own and fearful of the heirs’ future claim to the throne, orders her death. Issylte is lured into the forest, but she is spared from death by two loyal guards. She is taken to the enchanted Hazelwood Forest, where she is sheltered by Maiwenn, a wizened witch, and the forest fairies. Issylte’s identity is hidden and she lives an idyllic life, where she learns how to wield the herbal essences of the forest and develops her powers of healing. After several years living in Hazelwood, Issylte’s true identity is discovered. Queen Morag is furious to learn the princess is alive and sends an army to find and kill her. Issylte is forced to flee again, leaving behind her dear Maiwenn, who is brutally murdered by the Queens army. Issylte finds sanctuary on the mystical island of Avalon, with Maiwenn’s friend and mother of Lancelot, Viviane. Her identity is changed once again and Issylte becomes an acolyte and gifted healer. She meets and falls in love with Ronan, an Avalonian Elf. When Queen Morag’s army savagely attacks the Kingdom of Cornwall, the Blue Knight of Cornwall and heir to the Cornish Crown, Tristan, is severely injured and sent to Avalon for treatment and recovery. Issylte heals Tristan and discovers a deep and powerful connection with the warrior. Queen Morag, now betrothed to the King of Cornwall following her murder of King Donnchadh, learns of Issylte’s and Tristen’s location on the protected Isle. She sends her army to kill both Issylte and Tristen, as the heirs to the Irish and Cornish crowns. Issylte must decide whether to leave the safety of Avalon and her beloved Ronan, or flee with Tristan to France, avenge her father’s death and become the rightful Queen of Ireland. The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is a sensational, well-crafted, medieval fantasy fiction novel by author Jennifer Ivy Walker. The novel is an adaptation of a medieval French classic, with a perfect blend of magic, mysticism, romance, tragedy, drama, and suspense. This novel will captivate and enthral readers from the outset. I was fully immersed in this wonderful story and invested in the two main characters, whose lives and journeys are seamlessly interwoven in this beautiful magical, fantasy world. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A sensational, well-crafted, fantasy fiction novel, with a perfect blend of magic, mysticism, romance, tragedy, drama, and suspense. Purchase here

< 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 A.D. Matson The Wake of the Hound Dogs Book blurb... Jill Grinager is holding her life together with one hand—literally. As the one-armed owner of the only funeral home in the fading small town of Rockdale, Minnesota, Jill’s days are already grim. Add in her responsibilities as the guardian of her Elvis-obsessed nephew, Randall, and her life feels like a tragic comedy. When Jill learns that a bully from her past, Vicky Veitch, is returning to town, things take a sharp turn for the worse. Now a rising political star, Vicky has orchestrated a lavish funeral for her infamous father-in-law, a man whose ruthless mentorship helped her transform from a grade school tormentor into a powerhouse politician. For Jill, it’s just another funeral to get through. But for Vicky, it’s the perfect opportunity to cement her political image. However, what starts as a media spectacle quickly spirals into chaos. Through a series of fatal mishaps, comical criminal blunders, and bad luck, Vicky’s polished facade begins to crumble. Jill and her rhinestone nephew find themselves the unlikely obstacles standing between Vicky and her personal ambitions Purchase here

< Back S. C. Eston Deficiency Author S. C. Eston depicts a disturbing vision of society that is far too close for comfort. Set in Prominence City, on the planet Garadia, a prominent researcher at Thrium Laboratories, Detel Scherzel, suddenly disappears. Her profile is deleted from the data-sphere, and she is nowhere to be seen. Her brother, Artenz Scherzel, and sister-in-law, Keidi Rysinger, are frantic with worry. Keidi visits Detel’s laboratory but finds no trace of her existence. Meanwhile, it’s an important day for Artenz, as he launches a new project for his company, BlueTech Data. When Artenz nips out for lunch, enforcers enter his workplace and lock the building down. One of Artenz’s colleagues, Marti Zehron, contacts him and tells him not to return to the office, but to run and hide. The enforcers are searching for Detel, and when they learn that Artenz has left the building, they send out a team to capture him. Following Keidi’s unsuccessful visit to Detel’s laboratory, she visits Detel’s home and finds the place ransacked and destroyed. She decides to infiltrate the buildings security system, but her identity is discovered, and she is also pursued by the enforcers. Artenz is captured and taken back to BlueTech Data, where he is tortured by the enforcers. Keidi is hiding in Prominence City and, with nowhere else to turn, she seeks the assistance of an old acquaintance, and reporter for the Authentic Banners, Eltaya Ark. Eltaya and her team agree to help Keidi and they travel to the city to rescue Artenz. Artenz is taken to a place of safety, where he learns about Detel’s secret research and her mysterious disappearance. Keidi is lost somewhere in the depths of the underground, with the enforcers in hot pursuit. As Keidi tries to find her way to Artenz, Artenz plans to reveal the truth about his sisters’ research, and bring the aggressors to justice. Deficiency by author S.C. Eston, is a cleverly crafted science-fiction, dystopian novel, set on the planet Garadia, in the far distant future. Eston depicts a vision of society that is both disturbing and believable. On the surface, Prominence City is immaculate, and its citizens are healthy and law abiding, but the city harbours a dark and dirty secret. The citizens are merely pawns in a corporate game of greed, corruption, and control. It’s a vision of society that is far too close for comfort. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: Overall, a cleverly crafted, sharp, and chilling novel, with an intriguing and believable plot. Purchase here

< Back Gina S. Scheff Presidential Spirit: The True Story of an Airman Who Soared Above His Circumstances and the Woman Who Was the Wind Beneath His Wings Book blurb... Gina has no intention of marrying again following a disastrous divorce. She wants to focus on raising her son and building a career, not falling in love. But then she meets a spirited airman named David Scheff and everything changes. It doesn’t take long for him to convince her that marrying her soul mate might be a good idea after all. A member of the Air Force, David eventually becomes the flight chief for Air Force One, giving Gina the opportunity to shake hands with presidents William Jefferson Clinton and George W. Bush. It’s a great adventure! Still, once David retires from the military, they’re ready to enjoy a quieter life on a small farm in Ohio. Life has a way of throwing you off-course, though, and when David is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, Gina learns the true meaning of standing by her husband not only in health but in sickness too. As Gina struggles to not fall apart as they face one devastating let-down after another, David shows her how to have grace under pressure and that you don’t need actual wings or even a plane to fly above your circumstances. David always knew he had the spirit of an eagle. This story tells how Gina discovered just how right he was. Purchase here

< Back K. S. Lynn A Thousand More - A gripping love story of separated twins, hidden secrets, and second chances. Book blurb... Deceit separated them. Fate had another plan. When identical twins are born early, one faces complications requiring life-saving surgery. Months later, a heart-wrenching decision separates the infant girls, forcing them to grow up worlds apart, unaware that the other exists. For thirty years, Michelle Carrington and Shelby Jones build separate lives, overcome loss, fall in love, and raise families. But when both marriages reach breaking points, fate intervenes. A chance encounter sets off a chain of events that will shatter their worlds forever. While one family navigates life with amnesia and discovers a love stronger and deeper than before, the other searches desperately to find answers. As memories resurface and hidden secrets unravel, one sister will learn the truth about her identity, only to face an impossible choice. A romantic drama perfect for fans of Danielle Steel, Nicholas Sparks, and Diane Chamberlain, A Thousand More explores the unbreakable bonds of family, the devastating ripple effects of long-held secrets, and the resilience of the human heart. Purchase here

< Back Raejean Kanter Who Held the Door Open?: Mentoring Through Life's Challenges Author, Raejean Kanter, discusses the positive impact of mentoring. Raejean Kanter has mentored over fifty people in her lifetime. She shares her own personal experience of going through a troubling time. She explains how she hit rock bottom, and the only thing that kept her going, was to focus on the positive things that happened to her that day. As a mentor, she questioned how she could mentor others when her own life was falling apart. She recalls that she became involved in mentoring as a result of people that mentored her, and ‘held the door open’, believing in her, encouraging her. One of those mentors was her father, and another, the owner of a weight loss business who gave her a job following breast cancer. Kanter presents the true stories of three women she mentored. Each story is written by the mentee in her own words. The first story is from Stacey Kent. Stacey met Raejean whilst at university, at a time when she was having lots of fun, but her grades were slipping. Raejean helped Stacy define her aims and establish some life goals. Stacey remains friends with RaeJean to this day. The second story is from Rhonda Ronsman who describes Raejean as a mentor and number one friend. RaeJean supported Rhonda through one of her most difficult times, including following a period of heavy drinking. In the third story, Vân Thanh Nguyễn, a student from Vietnam discusses her relationship with Raejean and other mentors during her studies in the United States. Raejean even visited her home in Vietnam when she struggled to adapt to life back home. In the final story, Theresa Nemetz, describes how Raejean became her first professional mentor, and she uses her experience of working with many mentors to encourage readers to take action and challenge themselves. Raejean shares four beautiful stories of four incredible women. In each story, each woman shares their personal life journey, and how mentors supported them through challenges and helped them to achieve their goals. They describe their friendship with Raejean and other mentors, and how they made a positive difference to their lives. Each story is unique, powerful, and inspiring. The book demonstrates that we all need a friend and mentor, and we are all capable of opening the door to others. As Theresa Nemetz says, ‘I wish everyone could have a Raejean in their life’. I do too! Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An inspirational woman shares four beautiful stories of women she has mentored. Each story is unique, powerful and inspiring. Purchase here

< Back Andrew Houlston The Pagalan Chronicles: Book 2 Finding Denesthear Book blurb... In this second volume of The Pagalan Chronicles, readers follow Morganuke as he faces the challenging task of finding his birthplace. Exhausted from his experiences and the knowledge of his association with the strange and secretive Patronese, he is forced to come to terms with his origins. His continuing journey will uncover the terrifying secrets of Denesthear; a place where no-one dare go. As Morganuke and his friends continue their quest, Denesthear's dark history unfolds, explaining how the current world of Pagalan has been shaped and how the ancient civilization within holds sway on its outcome. Purchase here

< Back Jamie Anderson Drive All Day (Because I'm Too Old to Drive All Night) Author Jamie Anderson is on the road again… Jamie Anderson, author, singer-songwriter, and Youtuber, writes about her life on the road as a working musician, travelling to gigs across the country. It’s been several years since Jamie wrote her first memoir, ‘Drive all Night’, and now a little older, no longer has the energy or desire to drive for eight hours during the night. But, her passion for music remains, and she seizes new opportunities to make a living through music with new audiences. Jamie discusses her early childhood, how she was born to perform, and how she later built a successful career as a recording artist, guitar teacher and social media influencer. She shares her real-life experiences as a touring musician, the highs of performing, and the lows of shady producers and greasy spoon cafes. She also shares her love of teaching, and some of the many wonderful and colourful students she has taught over many years. Drive All Day (Because I'm Too Old to Drive All Night) by Jamie Anderson is an intimate, ‘warts and all’ memoir about the reality of life on the road as a touring musician. Jamie is an inspirational woman and a talented artist, and has a wonderful gift for storytelling. Her stories are funny, entertaining, and occasionally outrageous! This is a well written and entertaining memoir, and a fascinating insight into the not so glamorous life as a musician. The book will appeal to Jamie’s many fans, and anyone interested in the real life of a jobbing musician. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A funny, intimate, ‘warts and all’ memoir about the reality of life on the road as a touring musician Purchase here

< Back Hannah Sward STRIP: A MEMOIR Author Hannah Sward tells the story of her life and work in the sex industry. Hannah Sward was abandoned by her mother at the age of two, and brought up by her father, poet Robert Sward. Hannah lived on a houseboat near Victoria, Lasqueti Island, with no cars, stores, and few people. Hannah describes a simple life, living off the land and sea, with fun filled summers spent in Florida with her mother and her half-sister, Rilke. Hannah dreamed of becoming an actress or dancer, and made a pledge with her sister to move to California when they were older. When her father leaves for a trip to India, Hannah is left with his girlfriend, Alina, but spends much of her time alone. One day, while playing at a park alone, Hannah is abducted by a man in a brown car and sexually assaulted. The police are called, and Hannah is examined, but no-one mentions the incident again. Her father and Alina marry, and Alina has a baby boy named Alex. When Hannah and Alex are left alone with a young male babysitter, Hannah is repeatedly sexually abused in the family home. At the age of twenty-two, after studying in Montreal, working as an escort in Chicago, and living with an older man in Miami, Hannah moved to Los Angeles with her sister. But their dreams of becoming successful actresses did not work out as planned, as Rilke worked as a burlesque dancer, while Hannah found more work as an escort. As Hannah struggles to make ends meet, she turns to crystal meth to help cope with her reality. She finds a respectable office job and starts to see a therapist, but jeopardises both when she replaces her drug of choice with alcohol. As Hannah spirals further into addiction, she must confront her past to move forward with her life. Strip: A Memoir, is a deeply moving and personal memoir by Hannah Sward about her childhood growing up in the 1970’s, and her adult life working as a stripper and escort in Los Angeles. Sward’s writing is raw, honest, and at times difficult to read. She describes the pain of being abandoned by her mother, the enduring trauma of abuse, the reality of sex work, and the impact of drug addiction. But she does not dwell on any of these incidents, she does not criticise, and she does not blame. She describes her experience in her own words, with no judgment of others. Sward’s story is heart-breaking. Her journey is inspiring. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A deeply moving and personal memoir about one woman’s life working as a stripper and escort in Los Angeles. Purchase here