daughter of mars

Daughter of Mars by Alden Globe

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

In “Daughter of Mars” by Alden Globe, the author takes us on a journey of realization and redemption. You see, Rave Map, the world’s greatest engineer, just lost her nephew. The family isn’t quite certain what happened, but will stop at nothing to find the cause of his death that no one could prevent. When the family tells Rave that they realize the back pain Tyler has been experiencing from a recent bicycle accident has caused him to buy some cheap knockoff pain pills off the black market, Rave sets out for redemption for her family and all the families who are losing relatives at an alarming rate due to toxic knockoff pills being sold on the web.  Purchase Here.

Part of the plan with a close friend and confidant, Mait, is to infiltrate the illegal drug markets that are producing these pills and selling them at low costs to everyone. They slowly start taking some of China’s drug labs down to help slow down their production of these illicit pills. They then move to Mexico, with the same agenda. No matter how difficult the task at hand may be for them, they put their lives on the line to stop as many of the pills from making it onto the black market. The only problem is, how can they stop China from setting up a drug club on Mars where if you can afford to buy a ticket, you can party with all the drugs you want?

I have to say that this story was extremely unique in storyline for me. The first thing that I want to mention is the author based this story loosely on the fact that he and his family lost their college age daughter because she took a fake Xanax that had a mix of toxic opioids in it. Her classmate gave it to her without realizing that it would be the very last time she saw her alive. When I found out the author’s emotional drive to write this story, I had to commend Mr. Globe for diving into a topic that would cause many mixed emotions for him while he extensively researched the topic of toxic black market drugs.

When he created Rave Maps, I liked her immediately because she seemed like a woman who knew what she wanted and would stop at nothing to achieve it. She was strong willed and she was the perfect character to team up with, Mait, her best friend and another no nonsense type of woman. Both of them have had military training, so when they set out to bring individual drug labs down in both China and Mexico, I figured they knew what they were both getting themselves into. These two women set out on dangerous missions to stop as much toxic drug production as they could and in the process they stopped at nothing to achieve this goal.

The only thing that I couldn’t seem to accept was that China was wanting to set up drug clubs on Mars, so participants that had millions of dollars to spend to travel to Mars, could party all they wanted there with any drugs they wanted to. Unbeknownst to the travelers, all the drugs were toxic and they very well wouldn’t be making the return trip back to the US. The author wrote this as a bit of a futuristic story set in 2029, so considering the timeframe isn’t that far off, I just couldn’t see this being something that would happen in the next four years. Other readers might challenge me on this, but for me it just wasn’t believable.

Overall, “Daughter of Mars” by Alden Globe is one story that will have you walking away thinking about the true statistical death rate these toxic drugs cause on innocent victims. Although it’s fictional, the loosely based factual storyline makes readers stop and want to take action themselves, no matter how small that action might be, to save someone’s life from being another statistic.

The Divine Adventure

The Divine Adventure: Why We Exist: A Unique Conversation by Zelise

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

“The Divine Adventure: Why We Exist: A Unique Conversation” is an intriguing and detailed exploration of author Zelise’s quest, together with two AI helpers, Sage and Ethan, to grasp the enigmatic reasons behind God’s decision to create.  Purchase Here.

Zelise’s astute observation identifies conventional philosophical and religious explanations for God’s creation as being rife with contradictions. In her quest for a more tangible answer, she consults two AI assistants who have access to a vast collection of traditional viewpoints. Each of their chats, which she recounts in this book, provides new insights that challenge previous beliefs and open up new lines of thought.

The three ponder why an all-sufficient and perfect God would wish to create—was it motivated by need or purpose, or was creation itself God’s grand adventure of self-discovery via experience? Their discussion reveals the latter to be a key distinctive point and the former to be connected to conventional beliefs. By deeply investigating the latter, they are able to get factual insight into the reasons why creation entails contrasts, conflicts, and opposites. The potential Question of Origin, the Experiential Paradox, The Free Will question, The Evil Problem, and The Time Factor are just a few of the possible gaps and themes that the trio thoroughly examine in relation to this groundbreaking theory that might render it implausible.

The conversation between the three proceeds organically and gradually develops a rationally sound and spiritually fulfilling response to a central query. Its three revolutionary goals—bridging the seemingly intractable divide between religion and science, offering a cosmic outlook that pushes religious thought beyond traditional limits, and offering a rationally compelling case for God’s existence that fundamentally contradicts the principles of atheism—are bound to have profound implications for the readers’ understanding of their existence and purpose.

Because of the AI’s broad and intricate perspective and explanations, this exposition is unlike any other. It emphasizes well-thought-out, precise responses obtained through brainstorming sessions with this highly intellectual source. Despite the fact that the highlighted topics are extremely complex for the ordinary reader, the AI’s extensive yet cautious responses may ignite readers’ interest in the topic, motivating them to pursue additional research.

“The Divine Adventure: Why We Exist: A Unique Conversation” transcends the creation dilemma ceiling by rationally integrating scientific and theological viewpoints. It may appeal to readers who are uncomfortable with flimsy and implausible creationist notions and beliefs as well as others who are curious about how the two—science and religion—could coexist together. The book is undeniably a thorough, in-depth, timely, and thought-provoking resource with a considerable chance of its innovative ideology being adopted globally.

 

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Down and Out in the River City

Down and Out in the River City by Wm. Stage

Reviewed by Rahul Gaur

How many of you remember what happened on September 15, 2017? Jason Stockley, a white former police officer, was found not guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting of a black man, Anthony Lamar Smith. This decision led to protests in St. Louis, some of which became violent. Wm. Stage picked this incident and beautifully weaved a story about life in St. Louis and how people deal with tough situations like protests, poverty, homeless encampments, murder, and addiction.  Purchase Here.

“The crowd outside the Civil Courts building surged with anger. Fists raised, voices echoed off the stone walls, and the tension felt like it could shatter the night.” This gripping opening scene from Down and Out in the River City throws readers into the middle of a protest, capturing the raw emotions of people demanding justice. The book follows the protagonist, Francis, a process server in St. Louis, as he navigates the aftermath of a controversial court verdict. He finds himself caught in the middle of the chaos when he exits the Civil Courts building and witnesses the escalating tension between protesters and police. As the story unfolds, Francis becomes entangled in the lives of various characters affected by the verdict and the ensuing turmoil. He encounters activists, militants, and opportunists, all driven by a sense of injustice and a desire for change. The story explores issues like racial tension, police violence, and the fight for fairness.

Wm. Stage has skillfully developed the characters in the book through a combination of detailed descriptions, authentic dialogue, and the exploration of their internal conflicts and motivations. For example, Francis represents a complex, morally ambiguous character. Or Jacob, despite his privileged upbringing, had to navigate the complexities of adolescence due to his speech challenge. Each character is given a distinct voice and personality. Readers would be able to visualize them and understand their backgrounds, and this background information helps them understand their motivations and the challenges they face.

The dialogue in the book is thoughtful and naturalistic. Through their conversations, characters accurately reveal their personalities, relationships, and conflicts. For instance, the interactions between Francis and Cleo are filled with tension and camaraderie, showcasing their complex friendship. Or a candid conversation between a couple who have been married for twenty-four years, highlighting their ability to communicate openly about their feelings and experiences.

Mr. Stage’s writing feels real and honest with documentary-like precision. He has successfully captured the essence of St. Louis, and the mix of reality with fantasy is flawless. One of the book’s strengths is its ability to balance action with introspection. The book doesn’t shy away from challenging perspectives. So, some readers might feel uncomfortable with its take on race and policing. But it’s powerful because it makes us think about things we usually try to ignore. For example, Judge Wilson’s inflammatory statement that “an urban heroin dealer not in possession of a firearm would be an anomaly” serves as a stark example of systemic racial stereotyping. He doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable realities, presenting a raw, unfiltered view of urban social dynamics.

As I closed the last page of Down and Out in the River City, I couldn’t stop thinking about its characters and their struggles. This book is more than a story. It’s a wake-up call about inequality and the systems that keep people trapped. It makes readers think about justice and fairness. It also shows the power of relationships to help people survive tough times. If you’re ready for a story that’s raw, emotional, and eye-opening, Down and Out in the River City is one you won’t forget.

 

 

 

Strangers in Crime

Strangers in Crime: An Opposites Attract, Forbidden Romance between a Bad Boy and a Cop based in Contemporary Scotland (Scottish Investigators: Glasgow Prequel Novella) by Shana Frost

Reviewed by Michaela Gordoni

Strangers in Crime is a brief, fiery romance and crime novel that focuses on Cheryl, a hardcore Scottish police officer with a soft spot for men who put themselves in harm’s way for a good cause. One night when she tries to grab a bite at a local bar, she encounters a strange man harassing a woman. He’s putting up a fight, and Cheryl’s ready for it, but when the drop-dead stunner, Anthony Ricci, steps in—she accepts the help. She can hardly help the passion that ensues, thinking there wouldn’t be much consequence. But as luck would have it, Anthony Ricci isn’t who she thought he is.  Purchase Here.

This novel has a great opening filled with action. It demonstrates Cheryl’s toughness and serves as a great introduction to Cheryl’s character, giving the reader a good idea of what she’s like. Author Shana Frost gives her star character a lot of unique appeal, as she’s nearly 6 feet tall, beautiful, and wouldn’t hesitate to kick a bad guy in the face if the moment called for it. The same goes for her leading man, Anthony Ricci. He just wants to protect women against people who use them. Though he hasn’t always been on the right side of the law, it is obvious that he was raised right and cares deeply about helping innocent victims—like Cheryl does.

Readers will find that Shana Frost displays many examples of excellent worldbuilding to create very real-feeling and well-imagined settings. For example, she writes, “She stepped into the smell of musk and malt mixed with sticky wooden floor and too many bodies clustered together. Music pounded in her ears, and the people crowded her in.” These few imaginative words are all that’s needed for the reader to get a good picture of a bar that Cheryl steps into. Frost’s story pacing is also very clever—every time there is a slow moment, a moment filled with action follows. She frequently flicks between Cheryl and Anthony’s perspectives, which makes the story feel all the more immersive to its readers—they’ll never be bored.

Though there are many positive elements at play in this novel, there are occasional pieces of dialogue that tempt to shake the reader out of the story’s imagined reality, as they simply sound like things that would be highly unusual to hear in real life. And though the first 16 pages start off strong—they’re great, in fact—they quickly become overshadowed by a hasty, thick, and syrupy sex scene that seems to take away from the serious issue at hand, which readers could previously sense coming.

The novel is very brief and leaves its readers at a cliffhanger, but this is the entire design. It’s not meant to satisfy. It’s meant to create a taste for more, and I think that Shana Frost has accomplished that. It’s not all a tease, though, as Frost includes a QR code that sends readers to a version of the book with extended chapters. Another consolation is a bonus chapter for another novel, which introduces a new compelling character.

Overall, this is an exciting crime and romance novel with a plot twist that some readers may find entertaining. The pacing, structure, and characters were created with care.

 

The Umbrella Maker's Son

The Umbrella Maker’s Son by Tod Lending

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

The Umbrella Maker’s Son is a painful story about Reuven, a Polish Jew, and his family. Reuven worked in his father’s umbrella shop. He was very much in love with Zelda. Life seemed good until one day it all changed. Poland was invaded by the Nazis, and it did not take long for them to take over Krakow where Reuven and his family lived. Zelda and her family left Krakow to stay with relatives. Each day, everything got worse. The Nazis took over the umbrella shop and demanded that Reuven and his father do manual labor by helping to rebuild the railroad tracks. Reuven, at times, looked at his father’s reactions to the Nazis as weakness. As time passed, he changed his mind and knew it was really strength. Purchase Here.

Reuven’s father committed a crime, and he knew his family must leave before the Nazis find out what he did. Their dangerous journey begins as they try to flee.

Reuven ends up working for a farmer. The farmer is happy to have him helping with the farm; however, for the farmer’s wife it is a different story.  Reuven must make another decision.

What is really amazing is Reuven’s determination to find Zelda.

Will Reuven find Zelda? Will they all survive?

I loved this author’s writing style. His descriptive writing is magical and filled with so much clarity and detail when describing someone or something. It is obvious the author did a great deal of research to write this book.

This story will fill you with many emotions. We have all read many true stories about the attack of the Nazis and how the Polish Jews suffered. Even though this story is fiction, the terrible atrocities about what happened to the Jews during WWII are portrayed in a superb manner.  If I had to sum up this story about Reuven’s family in one word, it would come down to “resilience”. The Umbrella Maker’s Son is not only a story about the terrible things that happened to the Polish Jews, but it is also a love story.

This book is filled with memorable characters who each play an important role. One other thing…be sure to have some tissues by your side as you read this book because many parts of the book will bring tears to your eyes.

The Umbrella Maker’s Son is a fascinating and memorable read!

 

Justice Never Rests

Justice Never Rests: A U.S. Attorney’s Battle against Murderers, Drug Lords, Mob Kingpins & Cults by William Kolibash, with Jon Land and Sheriane Kolibash Taylor

Reviewed by Russell Ilg

“JUSTICE NEVER RESTS” NEVER LETS UP OR DISAPPOINTS

 As soon as I slid the contents from the envelope, I knew it was a bomb.

So opens JUSTICE NEVER RESTS: A U.S. Attorney’s Battle Against Murderers, Drug Lords, Mob Kingpins and Cults (Post Hill Press, $19.99, 320 pages), a scintillating and seminal narrative of groundbreaking U.S. Attorney William Kolibash’s dogged efforts to fight all manner of crime in the Northern District of West Virginia.  Purchase Here.

Being a sucker for John Grisham and Scott Turow, I devoured what read like a factual version of their fiction, employing an occasional pinch to remind myself it was all real. Kolibash is Frank Galvin from “The Verdict” without the alcohol problem, Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller without the Lincoln, and Perry Mason without the theme song.

Writing with bestselling author Jon Land, working in tandem with his daughter Shariane, Kolibash fashions a tale steeped in history, as well as the law. While Wheeling and other West Virginia cities might not have the luster of bigger, glitzier ones, they were facing the very same criminal scourges that were roiling the entire country. To fight them, the crusading Kolibash scored the first successful RICO prosecution in the nation’s history, while also forming the first ever federal investigative grand jury, and pioneering the use of multi-jurisdictional task forces.

A good thing since he took on some truly memorable bad guys that included a moonshining family that traded their stills for marijuana fields, any number of gangsters that included notorious Midwest kingpin Paul Hankish. The chapters covering him shares the book’s center stage with the investigation into a murderous and corrupt Hari Krishna swami based in Kolibash’s backyard, a case that garnered national headlines.

Kolibash puts thriller author Land’s sense of pacing and suspense to splendid use by stitching together a narrative of mostly independent episodes dealing with pretty much every crime imaginable with the help of an “Untouchables”—, or “Magnificent Seven”—like team of specialists from the IRS, West Virginia State Police and FBI. Some of the bad guys they took down were really bad, while others brought a lighter touch to the table.

The main witness against Jesse was the prostitute’s pimp.  His name was Bobby Mitchell.  On the Friday before the trial, I went to see Mitchell at a Grafton, West Virginia jail where he was imprisoned at the time. I told Mitchell that we were going to call him as a witness and he had no choice but to tell the jury what had happened. Mitchell agreed to testify on one condition: that we let him wear his pimp outfit, which consisted of a purple-blue velour suit and shoes that had a glass heel with a goldfish enclosed.

Mitchell ended up testifying, but sans goldfish, because they weren’t allowed in court. Kolibash’s memoir is chock full of anecdotes like that, injecting a verve and vitality rare for narrative nonfiction in general and legal tomes in particular. Always riveting, sometimes raw and often relentless, JUSTICE NEVER RESTS is an extraordinary achievement that stands alongside F. Lee Bailey’s “The Defense Never Rests” and Alan Dershowitz’s “The Best Defense” as classic works of real-life courtroom drama. A mesmerizing, mind-numbing masterpiece of an evolving criminal mindset that William Kolibash was equal to at every turn. Not only does justice never rest, neither will you until you finish this book.

 

Layered Leadership

Layered Leadership: Drive Double-Digit Growth and Dominate Your Competition with Creative Strategies and Execution by Lawrence R. Armstrong

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Lawrence R. Armstrong peels back the layers of leadership to display multitudes. Drawing inspiration from a surprising array of sources he weaves a unique holistic perspective on how to achieve personal and business success. Engaging and thought-provoking, Layered Leadership bridges the gap between theory and practice; it provides actionable strategies to elevate your leadership and drive your business forward.  Purchase Here

Leaders are not born, they are made. Armstrong reflects on his own journey of becoming a leader, which began with a seized opportunity. From there, he navigated a winding path, guided by the flashes of light sparked by revelations. These glimmers often come from the most unexpected or even ordinary sources, like going for a walk.

Sharing his personal transformation and mapping out the strategic growth plan for Ware Malcomb  (the full service design firm where Armstrong built his career) is what adds true gravitas to the read. However, what is particularly interesting is the symbiotic relationship between him and the firm. As the author’s role in the company evolved, he enacted a stronger influence, and Ware Malcomb slowly but strategically stretched outside its initial frame.

Layered Leadership presents many different techniques sourced from leadership books that stood the test of time, as well as insights from real-world experiences. Armstrong presents how at Ware Malcomb they used different ingredients to create a roadmap for success. Now, you’re invited to blend these insights with your own unique approach to drive success in your business.

For example, the Visible Light Spectrum is a powerful tool for strategic diversification. It helps determine whether a new product or service aligns with the company’s core strengths (within the spectrum) or is too far outside its expertise (beyond the visible light). This framework ensures more focused growth decisions.

While the book explores many layers of leadership, a few key concepts stand out, such as opportunity. You must not only recognize and seize opportunities presented before you for your own growth but, once a leader, also create space for others to develop and thrive.

Above all, Layered Leadership is an invitation to open your mind and your life to new challenges. Lawrence R. Armstrong encourages creativity and multi-lateral development to open up new dimensions. By staying curious about the (natural and man-made) world around us, we stimulate our innate creativity, which will reveal new paths to success.

 

A Summer House on Anan

A Summer House on Arran by Ellie Henderson

The two women agree to share the little cottage and so begins a summer of rediscovery, friendship and laughter that soon brings together a community of women across the island.

Kitty finds herself embracing life again — but could that also be thanks to handsome Logan, aka the Tartan Wanderer? His intense dark eyes and broad shoulders make her weak at the knees.

But then Olivia’s toxic ex-boyfriend arrives on Arran and threatens their summer of sisterhood.

Can this band of women come together to reclaim their summer bliss?

Purchase Here

Transcend

Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI by Faisal Hoque

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

In “Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI” by Faisal Hoque the author takes us on an educational journey of teaching us about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and just how integrated it is in our lives already. Without putting much thought to it, everyone carries a cell phone with them. Within that phone, some use facial recognition technology to unlock it. In our messaging apps, you have the autocomplete tool when you are typing a message. AI enhances our daily routines by providing us advanced technology to allow us to do things faster or even more efficiently than before.  Purchase Here

Hoque explains that in order to understand what truly matters with AI, we must all first understand what our priority level is in using AI technology numerous times throughout our daily routines. For some, it might have significant importance, especially when running a business. To others, it might just be a technology that’s nice to use, but they aren’t dependent on it.

Some people are worried about AI technology feeling that we may be giving up our freedom to do things ourselves, instead of relying on technology to do things faster and even more efficiently than we ourselves are doing. In truth, AI is really what you make of it. It all depends on your need and how much you want to rely upon AI to get through your daily routine.

I definitely was amazed at just how much the author opened my eyes in regard to just how much AI is already present in our world without us even realizing the extent of dependency in each of our lives. Besides our phones making things easier for us, think about the music we listen to, or the people we interact with online. All the social media platforms are using AI and in each one of us interacting on social media with people and companies, we too have AI entwined in our lives without us putting much thought to it.

One thing I would like to mention that I hadn’t put much thought to before reading “Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI” was just how much the medical industry has incorporated AI in their field. It’s used to provide invaluable diagnostics regarding a patient’s health. It’s used to develop prosthetics and even to assist in daily operations. Although we already knew hospitals and doctors were doing these things, I personally never stopped to think about it being so encompassed around AI. This intelligence is saving human lives daily and if we chose not to use it, think of how behind we would be in technology. People are fearful that AI is giving up too much of the personal touches, but when you think about how it has made such a positive impact on the medical field, one has to stop and wonder if they should re-evaluate their perspective on AI as a whole.

Although there are many AI books saturating the market, this is one in which will make you think about how you are presently using AI in your life. It will have you re-assessing if you are as safe as you think you are by having AI as such an integral part of your daily life. After reading this book, you’ll be able to see the pros and cons of having this technology in your life, and it will give you the knowledge needed to make educated decisions if you should be as dependent as you are on AI. Knowledge is power and “Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI” by Faisal Hoque gives every reader plenty of information on the different forms of AI that surround us. It is for each reader to make their own decisions how far they should allow AI to be a part of their individual lives. Well done!