< Back Gifford MacShane Rainbow Man A western historical fiction novel set in the 1880s Arizona Territory. 1880s, White’s Station Arizona Territory, Adam Donovan rescues Alec Twelve Trees, a native American silversmith after he was robbed, beaten, and dragged along the ground by a horse, by the US Cavalry patrol. The racially motivated attack leaves Alec with life threatening injuries and Adam seeks the assistance of his family and little sister, Irene Donovan. Irene, an accomplished herbalist, treats his wounds and helps to nurse him back to health. Alec and Irene had been best friends since childhood, and during his convalescence Alec realises just how much he loves her. Alec is reluctant to testify against the assailants, but Irene persuades him to reconsider. The attackers are court martialled and are eventually found guilty of the unprovoked attack on Alec. Alec and the wealthy Navajo Twelve Trees family had always looked after other’s less fortunate and were well respected members of the community. Alec had inherited a fortune from his grandfather but had promised to give most of it away to good causes. As the village reel from the unprovoked racist attack on Alec, the citizens join forces to try and push the army out of White’s Station. As Irene turns nineteen, she is visited by many suitors. Alec is distraught, but unable to declare his love for her, for fear her family will not approve. Rainbow Man (Donovan Family Saga Book 3) is a western historical fiction novel by Gifford MacShane, set in the 1880s Arizona Territory. This is the third book in the series, which follows the younger members of the Donovan and Twelve Trees families. The characters are well drawn, believable and engaging. The slow-burn romance between Alec and Irene is beautifully told. Meticulously researched, and full of historical details, this novel is a fascinating insight into life in the 1800s. I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, but I could follow the story easily. However, I recommend readers start with the first book, to get the full enjoyment of this series. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An engrossing and unforgettable western romance. Purchase here

< Back S Gale Bleth A.W.A.R.E. Book blurb... Don't be a victim. Be A.W.A.R.E. You're on your own, without the safety net of family, friends, and familiar places. The world can be dangerous, but you are far from helpless. For twenty-five years, S. Gale Bleth has taught people of all ages to change their mindset and grow their awareness and confidence. Her guidance has helped thousands of people take their personal safety to another level. Now you can be A.W.A.R.E. as well. In simple, clear language, Bleth reveals how awareness is responsible for 90 percent of your safety. Learn the keys to proactively stay out of danger so you don't become a victim. Get to know your personal weapons, should you ever need to defend yourself. Powerful, engaging, and ultimately empowering, A.W.A.R.E. is your practical guide to self-defense through staying alert, watching your surroundings, assessing situations, responding appropriately, and escaping if necessary. Purchase here

< Back Ragini Shah Constructed Movements: Extraction and Resistance in Mexican Migrant Communities Constructed Movements: Extraction and Resistance in Mexican Migrant Communities is a profound exploration of migration as a system of extraction by Ragini Shah. The book examines the structural forces driving migration from Mexico to the United States, addressing each phase of migration: dislocation, displacement, entrenchment, and resistance. Shah highlights how economic policies, racial capitalism, and neoliberal reforms in Mexico dislocate individuals from their home communities by divesting from small-scale agriculture, suppressing wages, and cutting social spending. This forces individuals to migrate, often into exploitative industries in the U.S., such as agriculture, food processing, and service work, where they face harsh working conditions, racism, and limited legal protections. Shah critiques the U.S. immigration enforcement regime, which criminalizes migrants while simultaneously facilitating their entry into exploitative labor markets. She highlights the resistance efforts of migrant communities, such as organizations like FIOB in Oaxaca and CAFAMI in Tlaxcala, which advocate for the "right not to migrate" by demanding state investment in education, health care, and sustainable employment. The book calls for radical policy changes in both Mexico and the U.S. Shah advocates for dismantling exploitative systems, redistributing resources to migrant communities, and enabling self-determined migration through mechanisms like migrant self-sponsorship. She emphasizes that migration should be a choice, not a necessity, and urges both nations to address the structural harms that perpetuate migration as extraction. The book combines rigorous analysis with the voices of affected communities, making it essential reading for scholars, students, policymakers any anyone interested in migration, racial justice and labor rights. It challenges readers to rethink migration not as a solution to inequality but as a mechanism that perpetuates systemic injustice. Shah’s call for abolitionist investments and reparations is a powerful reminder that reform without recompense cannot rectify the harm caused by decades of extraction. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A bold and paradigm-shifting analysis of migration as a racialized system of extraction. Purchase here

< Back D. L. Orton Jump: Madders of Time Book 2 Book blurb... The multiverse is collapsing. The time machine is broken. And humanity's last hope? Might already be dead. Seven months after the EMPs brought the world to its knees, a handful of scientists are racing against extinction—and each other. Somewhere in a flooded skyscraper lies a wormhole generator that might be able to undo the apocalypse. If they can find it. If it still works. If it doesn't kill them first. Meanwhile, Diego Nadales wakes up chained to a wall, his face bloodied and his memories fractured. He's being accused of terrorism, treason, and time travel. The last one, at least, is true. Isabel is trapped inside a biodome ruled by the man she once trusted. But her bees—microscopic drones designed to save the planet—have been hijacked and weaponized. If she doesn't find a way out soon, her creation will wipe out the last threads of life on Earth. Old friends return. New enemies rise. And somewhere in the chaos, one small spark of hope just might be enough to ignite a revolution. The clock isn't ticking. It's broken. Purchase here

< Back Scott Fleuter Behind the Badge: From Police Chief to Opioid Addict: A True Story of Ruin and Redemption Book blurb... Scott Fleuter had it all. A successful career, a perfect marriage, and great kids. Then he plummeted from a police chief at the top of his game to a hopeless addict chewing opioid meds to chase the high and stave off withdrawals. Take a shocking, and sometimes darkly funny, journey through Scott’s life of trauma, addiction, recovery, and hope. Witness his reckless childhood go from Norman Rockwell to Lord of the Flies. Enter the violent world of police work, where multiple injuries lead to his spiral into addiction and depression. Experience an unflinchingly honest roller coaster ride of shame as he wanders the freezing halls of a detox center clad only in a backless hospital gown, or lines up for the daily pee test at a 90-day drug rehab. Learn the lessons embedded in Scott’s life story as seen through the lens of a fictional psychologist. Benefit from practical tips and techniques that helped Scott endure drug withdrawals, crippling panic attacks, and severe depression. 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 Scott G.A. Metcalf Letters from the Sand Book blurb... 'Letters from the Sand' is a heartfelt memoir that provides a clear and honest look into the life of a soldier serving in Iraq. Scott G. A. Metcalf shares his experiences with sincerity and reflection, capturing the daily realities of deployment, the strong bonds formed among soldiers, and how war leaves a lasting mark on the human spirit. Through detailed descriptions and personal insights, Metcalf highlights the key moments that define service in a combat zone: the initial shock of arriving, the routines that bring order, the tension during patrols, and the quiet moments of laughter that boost morale. He introduces readers to comrades who become like family and to civilians whose lives become intertwined with theirs, showing the shared humanity even in times of conflict. As the story unfolds, Metcalf examines resilience, faith, and the search for meaning amid uncertainty. His reflections on returning home reveal the emotional challenges of reintegration and the strong bond between those who have served. 'Letters from the Sand' stands as both a tribute and a record of courage, endurance, and the strength found in companionship. It invites readers to look beyond headlines and statistics to truly understand the experiences of those who carry the weight of service long after the battle is over. Purchase here

< Back Nathalie Martin The Inspired Retirement: Purpose and Passion in Your Next Adventure Book blurb... Retirement Can Be Anything We Want, As Long as We Know What We Want. Most people plan for retirement by checking their portfolios. Yet there is so much more to a happy retirement. This book focuses not on the money but what you'll actually do in retirement, helping readers plan and live a joyful, healthy, meaningful retirement. In a fun and thoughtful way, this book helps you picture, plan and start living a purposeful and inspired next chapter. Through its exploration of your own unique values, skills, and passions, it will infuse joy and direction into your life as you navigate one of life's most complex transitions. It playfully balances planning for a bright future with making the most of the here and now. Two of my back-cover endorsers are #1 New York Times Bestselling authors. Purchase here

< Back Christopher Schildt An American Christmas Carol Christopher Schildt retells the Christmas classic by Charles Dickens. Set in Boston in 1843, the book opens in a small coastal fishing town, where Edward Marley meets his fate when he slips off the dock and drowns in the murky waters. Henry Rutherford, Marley’s so-called friend and business partner, is the only mourner at Marley’s funeral. Seven years after Marley’s death, Rutherford lives alone in an old mansion. His only living relative is his young niece, Julia. It’s Christmas Eve and Rutherford refuses to donate to the poor and declines an invitation to join his niece for dinner. He reluctantly agrees to allow his hardworking and underpaid clerk, William Cratchit, one day off on Christmas Day. That night, Rutherford is visited by a phantom of his late business partner, Marley. Marley explains to Rutherford that three ghostly spirits will haunt him, to help him escape the same bleak path that he travelled. Rutherford is first visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, where Rutherford is forced to look back on his lonely childhood, and the love he lost. The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Rutherford to the cobbled streets where he witnesses great acts of kindness in the poorest districts of Boston. He goes to the home of his clerk, Cratchit, and learns that his son, Tiny Tim, is severely ill. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come takes Rutherford to the future, where he learns what could be of his own fate, and discovers that there is still time for him to change. An American Christmas Carol by Christopher Schildt is a heart-warming tale, based on the much-loved Christmas classic by Charles Dickens. Schildt perfectly captures the essence of Dickens, while adding his own unique flair . Much like the original Scrooge character, Rutherford is known for his greed and distain for the less fortunate. The cobblestone streets of Boston replace the smoggy London backdrop, but the book has the same feeling, warmth and memorable moments as the original. Though the plot is familiar, the setting and unique touches, make the story feel fresh and exciting. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : Schildt transports the reader to the cobbled streets of 1840’s Boston, in this interesting and heart-warming retelling of a much-loved Christmas classic. Purchase here

< Back Stephanie Woodward The Big Scale Back: Success and Balance By Your Own Design Author Stephanie Woodward describes how she ‘scaled back’ her life in business to find fun, happiness and love. Author Stephanie Woodward excelled in business, and climbed the ladder to the very top. But, her drive and dedication to work eventually took its toll on her mind and body. Woodward describes how she sacrificed herself and her relationships to achieve success. But the success she was striving for was based on other people’s standards of productivity, long hours, loyalty, dedication and self-sacrifice. Woodward describes how she was conditioned at a very young age to enter the world of business, suppressing her inner desires and love of reading, writing and creativity. When her father sadly passed away from a terminal brain tumour, Woodward reflects on her father’s life as a businessman, and her own life as a self-described ‘loyal workhorse’. Exhausted, burnt out, and grief stricken, Woodward receives support from a coach and therapist. She begins to question her role in the workplace, and seeks to make changes in her life, to restore balance and find happiness. The Big Scale Back: Success and Balance by Your Own Design is an engaging and insightful memoir and self-help book by author Stephanie Woodward, a life and leadership coach. Woodward shares her own personal journey, from her school days, through university, and into the corporate world. She describes how her work was all encompassing, impacting all areas of her life, and how she managed to step ‘off the ramp’ to find fun, happiness and love. She explains the many obstacles and challenges she faced, and how she eventually identified four measures of success: having fun, paying bills, moving her body and love. She provides a useful framework for others who might want to embark on personal change, based on the concept of ‘conscious productivity’, which defines success on understanding the self. This is a real and honest book about how one woman found fulfilment, personally and professionally. With resources, worksheets and reflective questions, this book may encourage readers to start their own journey to find work-life fulfilment. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An engaging and insightful non-fiction book, which will appeal to readers looking for a real and honest book about leadership, management, and personal development. Purchase here

< Back J.K Albers Baelor: The Cornelius Duet: Part One Book blurb... Father Roman-Cornelius Baelor is a chain-smoking, black magic-wielding priest who has spent years exorcising demons from the innocent—at the cost of their lives. Now he is back in Sweetness after the priest who replaced him is accused of murdering his wife and found hanging in his prison cell with the word, Lilitu, scratched into the wall behind him. Did the priest summon one of the Inferno's most powerful demons before his death? As Father Baelor unravels the mystery, he’s pulled into a web of diabolic forces, each thread tightening as a tragedy slowly unfolds, where the line between familial devotion and indulgent obsession blurs. What begins as a hunt for the truth quickly becomes something else entirely—because once you let the devil in, he locks the door behind him. Purchase here

< Back Randy Susan Meyers The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone A young woman is torn between saving the world and saving her family. Summer 1964, eighteen-year old Annabel Cooper, a self-declared, free-thinking Unitarian, volunteers with the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project. She is assigned to work as a teacher in a Baptist church, and decides she wants to devote her life to serving God. Everything changes when she meets and falls in love with Clay, a young African American volunteer. The couple try to keep their blossoming relationship a secret, but when Clay mysteriously disappears, the involvement of the Klu Klux Klan cannot be ruled out. Annabel returns home and starts a new relationship with Guthrie. Annabel and Guthrie attend college in Boston together, and move into an intentional community, Puddingstone, with other civil rights activists. The Puddingstone families devote their time to fighting for human rights and social justice, but Annabel is forced to give up college when she falls pregnant and has a daughter named Ivy. In the mid 1970’s, the Puddingstone families decide to move their children to a commune in Vermont - the Roundhouse. The children are cared for permanently by one adult, while the other parents continue to fight for their cause in Boston. Life in the commune is challenging, and Ivy struggles to adapt to the new environment and regime. But when the children discover an old, locked trunk in a barn, there are tragic consequences that change their whole lives forever. The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone is a poignant and thought-provoking novel by Randy Susan Meyers. Set predominantly in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the story centres on Annabel Cooper who makes the heart-wrenching decision to send her children away to live in a commune. Interweaved throughout Annabel’s story is the story of her daughter, Ivy, who reflects on her own experience. Meyers has crafted a story that is both intimate and expansive. Told from the perspective of the two women, the book captures the unique bond between mothers and daughters, and it also captures key events of this turbulent period of American history. There are beautiful moments of joy, love and tenderness, and there are harrowing scenes of loss and grief. I laughed and cried in equal measure. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A beautifully written, witty and heart-warming novel of love and loss, set against the backdrop of the American civil rights movement. Purchase here