< Back Dr Pietro Emanuele Garbelli The Doctor's Voice - Empowering Solutions to Physicians' Frustrations, Burnout and Healthcare Inefficiencies ‘Empowered doctors are catalysts for purposeful healthcare transformation’. In The Doctor's Voice - Empowering Solutions to Physicians' Frustrations, Burnout and Healthcare Inefficiencies, Pietro Emanuele Garbelli, Doctor of Medicine and founder of Transforming Healthcare Ltd, shares his experience of working as a doctor in the National Health Service in England. Dr Pietro describes his journey to becoming a doctor, from his own experiences as a young patient in Northern Italy and his struggles to fit in in an environment full of prejudices; through to his medical training in Italy, and his move to London to further develop his skills and clinical practice. Drawing on his own personal experiences, he shares his frustrations of working in a modern, complex healthcare system, and offers potential solutions to the common problems faced by doctors. He discusses ten common sources of frustrations and their impact on the workforce, such as: constrained budgets; the imbalance of supply and demand for healthcare services; increasing bureaucracy and restrictions placed on doctors; workload pressures, retention, stress, and burnout; and management and leadership challenges. As Dr Pietro writes, ‘ A common feeling I have experienced and observed time and time again is disempowerment: perceiving that we have no control over any of the problems affecting us, believing that the solutions depend on remote higher powers we cannot control or even influence, essentially feeling stuck and powerless .’ Dr Pietro aims to empower doctors and encourages them to become changemakers. This is an inspirational and provocative book that gives a much-needed voice to all those doctors and healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. Through this book, Dr Pietro hopes to raise awareness of work-related frustrations, stress and burnout that are so common in healthcare and in many other workplace environments. Dr Pietro has written this book about/to f rustrated doctors, to help raise awareness of these issues and to drive a more positive workplace culture and environment. What I particularly liked about the book is that Dr Pietro doesn’t complain about these issues, he acknowledges the challenges and offers thoughtful and practical solutions to help doctors and improve patient care. Authentic, engaging, and accessible for all audiences, the book is a must read for anyone working in or with healthcare, including students, junior doctors, consultants, and healthcare managers. It will also appeal to those who are interested in the National Health Service and are passionate about health care reform. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An inspirational and provocative book that gives a much-needed voice to all those doctors and healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. 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 Kay Smith-Blum Tangles In 1963, Luke Hinson, a PhD student of biochemistry at Oregon State University, is investigating all possible causes for the increase in cancer in the region. Luke has a personal interest in the research, as many of his childhood friends died of cancer and his own father died from unidentified health hazards. During his research, a whale is harpooned off the Oregon coast, and Luke discovers it is contaminated with radiation. He suspects radioactive waste dumped into the Columbia River is the source of the contamination. When he plans to publish his findings in a scientific journal, the US Atomic Energy Commission pulls the funding for his doctorate and confiscates his samples and data. As a child, Luke lived in Richland, Washington State, next door to Mary and Matt Boone, a young couple who both worked at Hanford, a nuclear site established during World War II. In his teen years, Luke developed a close friendship with Mary, based on a mutual love of science. Mary worked as a secretary at Hanford, in a classified laboratory testing plutonium. Concerned about the impact of radioactive waste being pumped into the Columbia River, Mary made carbon copies of her work. Several years later, while Luke is at college, Mary mysteriously disappears, and the classified papers she smuggled out of the lab, disappeared with her. As Luke continues with his investigation, his research takes him back to Richland, his relationship with Mary, and the wartime effort to build an atomic bomb. When a thirteen year old time-capsule is unearthed, the truth about Mary’s work at Hanford and her disappearance is finally revealed. Tangles is a historical fiction novel by Kay Smith-Blum, set during World War II and the cold war period, and inspired by real people and events. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, the novel delves into the circumstances surrounding the environmental disaster at the Hanford Nuclear Power Plant. Smith-Blum does a fantastic job of weaving together real-life events with fictional characters, creating a narrative that allows readers to connect with this significant period in history. At the heart of the novel is a story of love, tragedy and loss, that both warms the heart and tugs at the heart strings. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A fascinating and thought-provoking historical fiction novel, with two memorable characters and a gripping plot inspired by real-life events. Purchase here

< Back Morgan Hatch Gone to Ground Javier Jimenez, a first-generation Mexican immigrant living in Los Angeles, has a bright future. He is excelling at East Valley High School, and hopes to get a scholarship to attend UCLA. One condition of the scholarship is that he does not get into trouble with law enforcement. His thirteen year old younger brother, Alex, has taken a different path in life, mixing with street gangs and drug dealers. When Alex is arrested, the police contact Javier to see if he can persuade Alex to assist them in their investigations. If Alex refuses to help, he risks juvenile detention and could put Javier’s scholarship in jeopardy. As Javier attempts to steer his brother away from the criminal gangs, the two brothers come to physical blows. Javier finds a burner phone while working at his half-sisters car-recovery business. The car was involved in a hit and run, and the phone belongs to George Jones, a businessman with big plans to re-develop their run-down neighborhood. But, when Javier notices pictures and odd messages on the phone, he becomes dubious of George’s motives. He suspects George’s involvement in several local murders and a number of “natural” disasters. The phone is handed back to George, but when Javier steals the phone to find evidence of corruption and criminality, he becomes George’s next target. As Javier does everything he can to protect his little brother, he is unwittingly drawn into the murky underground world of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Javier has a target on his back and George will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Gone to Ground is a gripping, suspense novel by author Morgan Hatch. The book follows two first generation immigrant brothers, as they navigate starkly different paths in life. While one brother sees a way out of the neighbourhood through education, the other brother has other ideas. Set in a rundown neighbourhood of LA, this is a gritty, fast-paced novel, full of twists and turns. Hatch presents a vivid picture of their lives, and the difficult choices they make in an unequal society. In a parallel story, the local community is destroyed by an unscrupulous entrepreneur for financial gain. The novel reflects the struggles faced by many people in the forgotten corners of our big cities. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A gripping, suspense novel set in the streets of LA, and an unflinching exploration of poverty and structural inequality. Purchase here

< Back Leslie Kain Secrets In The Mirror A moving novel about a dysfunctional family, by author Leslie Kain Secrets in the Mirror is a psychological drama about the DiMasi family, parents Tony and Colleen, and mirror twin brothers, Devon Umberto and Gavin O’Malley. While the twins look alike, they are very different. ‘Devious Devon’, the older twin by ten minutes, is arrogant and has a rebellious streak. Whereas ‘Goodie Gavin’ is quiet, sensible and sensitive. He dreams of becoming a chef and making a better life for himself. Gavin is ridiculed and tormented by Devon, and bullied by his father, who favours the first-born twin. Tony considers Gavin weak, but still expects him to look out for his older brother. Tony has connections to the mob, and is resentful of his wife, who has a PhD. At the twins sixteenth birthday party, Devon gets drunk and steals a friend’s car. He is seriously injured in a car crash and diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. Following the accident, Devon spirals out of control and is drawn into a life of drugs and crime, causing his mother and Gavin significant distress. He takes over the family business and puts everyone’s life in danger when he gets involved with the mob. Gavin leaves the family and vows never to return, but he can't hide from his brother forever. Secrets in the Mirror is a thrilling, drama about a dysfunctional family and the habits they develop over many years. Author Leslie Kain pulls no punches, and dives into the ugly, complicated layers of domestic violence, abuse, addiction and co-dependency. The book follows the twins from their teenage years, through to adulthood, and explores the vicious cycle of abuse and the enduring impact on family relationships. This is a tense, dark, psychological drama that is as hard to take in, as it is difficult to put down. If you enjoy gritty family dramas, you will love this book. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A thrilling family psychological drama that explores the vicious cycle of abuse and the enduring impact on family relationships. Purchase here

< Back Steve Laureanti The Birth of the Messiah Book blurb... How often do we celebrate Christmas and feel like we’ve missed something? Most of us understand that it’s really about Jesus, but do we really take the time to think about the prophecy and meaning of His birth? In an explanatory and critical-thinking style, Steve Laureanti takes us on a 31-day journey to explore this from a practical and theological perspective. Using the biblical text itself, Part 1 lays the foundation of the deity of Jesus, who was not created but existed with God the Father and the Holy Spirit in eternity past, and introduces John the Baptist, as the forerunner and witness to Jesus, the Messiah. Part 2 focuses on the Old Testament prophecies about John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah that John would be the forerunner and witness to the Messiah, and Zechariah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah. Part 3 focuses on the prophecy and arrival of the promised Messiah, including Mary’s song of praise, the birth of Jesus, the multitude of angels appearing to the shepherds and the wise men to announce the Messiah’s birth. Each day of this devotional includes Bible verses to guide you through each part, including insightful analysis and additional scripture to consider in this theological journey of the prophecy and birth of the Messiah. Purchase here

< Back Nicolas Chaillan Replacement: The AI Revolution Isn't Coming for Your Job. It Already Took It. Book blurb... What happens when artificial intelligence doesn't just change work but eliminates it? Not someday. Now. Nicolas Chaillan served as the first Chief Software Officer of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. He watched the shift happen inside the Pentagon-then built it himself, running thirteen AI agents for roughly $200 a day to replace work that once required a full team. Replacement is a firsthand account from someone who built the systems, saw the disruption coming, and is now sounding the alarm. This is not a warning about the future. It's a dispatch from the present. And a survival plan for your family. Purchase here

< Back Bryan Murphy Pandemic Hacker 2 Book blurb... Sam is dead. Now, as Martha, she has vanished into the shadows. Empowered by her new identity, she sets her sights on the leaders of the extortion and trafficking group. Together with her AI, Zoe, they delve deeper into the group's dark secrets. These individuals make war criminals appear virtuous in comparison. The group leaders operate with impunity. Their security and IT teams are formidable. But Martha is determined to dismantle their empire, stealing their ill-gotten money and learning their secrets. With each strike, the group's IT experts get closer to knowing her and Zoe's identities. The engagements are not just on the internet. Every physical disruption puts everyone in danger. Rejoining with Claire, the chase has become a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Both sides believe they're the top predator. Innocent lives can be destroyed. Is the best option to expose the leaders to the authorities or work to remove the hydra heads of the organization? Martha must navigate the physical world, while Zoe works to dominate the virtual one. Purchase here

< Back Carter Fielding Murder at the Summit: A Blake Sisters Travel Mystery The fifth instalment in this captivating murder-mystery series. Whitt Blake and her husband David Quinn are in Manila with Whitt’s sister, Finley, and her life partner Max Davies. Whitt won four days for two at a luxury spa in a benefit gala, and Finley, a travel writer, is working on an assignment about the best spas in Asia. While David and Max spend the weekend on a diving expedition, Whitt and Finley explore the luxury spa, named the Summit. The Summit is an exclusive resort spa in the hills of Manila, and a remote retreat for the rich and famous. With guests including a former Miss International and an a-list Bollywood Star, the Summit is the place to see and be seen. But on their first day at the resort, Whitt and Finley find the body of a young woman face-down in a pool at the foot of a waterfall. A murder investigation is launched when it is found the woman died in suspicious circumstances. This isn’t the first time Whitt and Finley have found themselves in a precarious situation, as they have unwittingly become entangled in several murder investigations during previous travel escapades. When a second dead body is found the next day, Whitt and Finley suspect the deaths are linked. But when a third dead body is found, the sisters worry there is a serial killer on the loose. When they meet an old friend at the resort, an undercover British detective, the sisters soon realise there is more to the story than meets the eye. Whitt and Finley are once again thrown into the depths of the investigation and the murky world of the super-rich and powerful. Murder at the Summit: A Blake Sisters Travel Mystery is the fifth instalment of this gripping murder-mystery series, by author Carter Fielding. The series follows two sisters as they travel the world and unwittingly find themselves entangled in several murder investigations. I have read several books in the series, and thoroughly enjoyed each one. The Blake sisters are likeable and relatable characters, and I have enjoyed following their travel adventures and the development of their personal relationships. I particularly enjoyed reading about the diverse and exotic places the sisters visit, this time readers are transported to a luxury spa in the lush and picturesque hills in Manila. Carter Fielding masterfully blends the charm of a cosy mystery, with the allure of a luxury spa setting, and the dangerous, murky world of the super-rich. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A cosy murder mystery set in a luxury resort in the picturesque hills of Manila, with two charming amateur sleuths. Purchase here

< Back Marnie Ross Fig Trees - A Childhood Lived in the Shadow of Murder Book blurb... When she was just ten years old, Marnie Ross’s childhood was shattered by a single act of senseless violence: the murder of her mother. Told through the eyes of the child she once was, this memoir traces a girl growing up in the long shadow of loss, the author’s voice maturing on the page as she matures in life. This is not a crime story. But about how a young mind survives grief, fear and responsibility far too early. Some memories are sharp, preserved like photographs. Others are softened by time yet still carry meaning. What follows is not the exact truth of how events happened, but the truer story of how they were lived. Interwoven with ender recollections of a mother lovingly remembered, Fig Trees is a portrait of a childhood shaped by love and absence, and of a woman returning to the story that formed her. Raw, poetic and quietly powerful, this is a memoir about loss, memory and the resilience of a child who learned too soon that the world is not always safe, but life must still be lived. Purchase here

< Back Lachlan Pirie The Resolution A dark, psychological thriller by debut author Lachlan Pirie Daniel Rodrigues is serving time in the Wolston Correctional Centre in Wacol for causing grievous bodily harm to his wife, Janet. It is his third prison sentence, and he has been incarcerated for thirty years in total, for numerous assaults on his wife. Janet visits Daniel in prison and he attacks her again, and threatens to kill her. His desire to kill his wife, has morphed into a chronic, cyclic obsession. Another prison inmate, Jonathon (Jon) Little, is an ex-lawyer, who was convicted of defrauding his wife of five million dollars. When his wife, Kay, serves Jon his divorce papers in prison, he is enraged. Daniel first meets Jon when he is transferred to his prison cell in Wolston, and the pair concoct an elaborate plan to kill their wives. Jon’s experience as a criminal lawyer, leads him to believe he has the perfect ‘murder exchange’ strategy. The plan involves each prisoner killing the others wife, while the husband is out of the country and has a solid alibi. There is no money involved, just a pact between two fellow inmates and disgruntled husbands. Their only ‘reward is purely their own satisfaction’ . When both inmates are released on parole, they set out to complete the task. But can each prisoner really trust their fellow inmate? And will each man fulfil their murderous pact? The Resolution by Lachlan Pirie is a dark, psychological thriller about a couple of disturbed prison inmates who plan to murder each other’s wives when they are released from prison. Written in the third-person point of view, alongside a collection of excerpts taken from the personal journal written by Daniel Rodriguez’s alternate personality Tinkler Rodriguez. The journal provides a narrative on the events the happen following Daniel’s/Tinkler’s release from prison. This is such a unique concept, and I was hooked from the first chapter. The characters are very well developed – vile, but at the same time, intriguing. The plot is clever, intricate and fast moving. The writing is excellent, and I particularly enjoyed the alternating perspectives of the main characters . There is a big unexpected twist at the end, which will make you question every little detail in book. Totally unexpected. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A clever and complex psychological thriller. I couldn't put this compelling debut down. Purchase here

< Back Lem Moye Catching Cold Vol 2 - Redemption Can a small scientific company survive a hostile take-over from a giant pharma company? A small scientific company, CiliCold, has developed the ‘ immunology breakthrough of the century ’ , a partial antibody that can defeat many of the viruses that cause the common cold. A big-pharma company, Tripel S Pharmaceuticals, is desperate for their intellectual property and will stop at nothing to take over the company. But Tripel S has a sinister motive for acquiring CiliCold. They want to prevent the product reaching the open market, to protect their own work. A cure for the common cold would affect multi-million-dollar sales of their over-the-counter cold remedies and treatments. The CEO of CiliCold decides to relocate the team over 3,000 miles away to a secret research laboratory, to escape the clutches of Triple S. Meanwhile, the V ice P resident L egal of Triple S is forced to resign following an incident where she witnessed a colleague take her own life. She has no option but to defect to CiliCold. Triple S develop a new medicine that is successful in preventing autism, but they soon discover the medicine has catastrophic side effects. Board members disagree on how to manage the situation. Several board members want to continue with its development, arguing they would be withholding a new critical therapy from children who are going to be very sick. The CiliCold team, on the other hand, is on the verge of a breakthrough, and are in desperate need of financial assistance. Just when CiliCold receive the investment they require, they soon discover they have been duped by their biggest rival. Catching Cold Vol 2 – Redemption, by author Lem Moyé, is a tense and gritty pharmaceutical drama, about a disreputable big-pharma company that tries to take over a small scientific company, by any means possible. This is a well written, thoroughly researched and believable story about money and power, versus ethics and morality. The author clearly has excellent knowledge about science and medical research. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from Lem Moyé. This is the second instalment in a three-part series. I had not read the first book in the series, and while there were a few moments where I struggled to understand the back-story, the story was easy to follow. I would recommend readers begin with the first book in the series, to get the full enjoyment of this trilogy. Star rating : 5 Stars Summary: A tense and gritty pharmaceutical drama about money and power, versus ethics and morality. Purchase here