Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

	Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: SelectBooks; 1 edition (April 15, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: 159079141X ISBN-13: 978-1590791417	Order book here:
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Characters:

Synopsis:

Review

About the Author

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to at for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Hardcover: 96 pages Publisher: Sort of Books (October 22, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 1908745525 ISBN-13: 978-1908745521	Order book here:
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Synopsis

A collection of short stories with a supernatural twist.

Review

This was a great collection of short stories. Each one had a bit of a supernatural twist. I won’t review each individual story, because that would involve spoiling them as they are short stories. But with the long winter months coming up, this is a great book to read by the warm fire. Each one details a specific character’s story and their being thrust into the world of ghosts. The stories are well developed and kept my attention. If I had one thing negative to say it might be that at times, I wasn’t sure if it was from the viewpoint of a dead person, or a living person looking into the world of the dead. Overall though, a great set of stories and a very enjoyable book. If you like ghost stories, then be sure to pick this up.

About the Author

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Wendy at Partners in Crime Tours for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: William Morrow (May 24, 2016) Language: English ISBN-10: 0062434802 ISBN-13: 978-0062434807	Order book here:
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Synopsis:

A memoir detailing a woman’s struggle to find and put her rapist in jail.

Review

This was a very difficult book for me to read, not because it wasn’t well written, but because of the subject matter. Emily Winslow was a junior at Carnegie Mellon University. She was majoring in drama, and doing very well. Then her world changed. As she was headed into her apartment, a man grabbed her, forced her into her apartment, where he raped her. She would spend the next twenty years trying to have this man convicted.

This book while about a very dark subject matter, was a very nicely written memoir. She details every aspect of the case, going into very detailed explanations of her research, the case itself, and her life as a result of this heineous crime. There were times where I was drawn into her story, and when you think things are finally turning out, obstacles get put in her path. Still, she manages to tell a vivid story of a very painful aspect of her life. I’d not heard of her prior to this, but by the time I was through I had gained a ton of respect for her. Considering the subject matter, I’m not sure who I’d recommend it for,, maybe for those wanting to maybe understand things from an insider perspective. But if you can deal with the subject matter, than pick up a copy. Be sure to drop back by and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

Emily Winslow is an American living in Cambridge, England. She trained as an actor at Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious drama conservatory and earned a master’s degree in museum studies from Seton Hall University. For six years she wrote for Games magazine, creating increasingly elaborate and lavishly illustrated logic puzzles. She lives with her husband and two sons.

Trigger Warnings

Contains recollections of rape.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Danielle at Harper Collins for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Paperback: 266 pages Publisher: Doctor Licks Publishing (April 29, 2016) Language: English ISBN-10: 0997385103 ISBN-13: 978-0997385106	Order book here:
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Review

He was riding high on the rock & roll mountain in the 1960s. Hanging out with people like Fabian, Frankie Avalon and even Sinatra. But the ride was brief. Along with the glamour of rock and roll came a lot of womanizing, and alcohol problems. In this memoir, Bobby Rydell tells all. From his humble beginnings in South Philadelphia to the top of the music charts, and to the crashes that came afterwards. A rock and rollercoaster of a ride through life.

I found this a very interesting and very fast memoir to read. It was rather short at 148 pages, but very fact filled. I learned about him, about the music world during that time period, and some of the pitfalls these “teen idols” would find themselves falling into. For fans of the early days of Rock & Roll, of Bobby Rydell, or just music in general, I’d definitely recommend this book.

Trigger Warnings

None

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Rebecca at The Cadence Group for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Paperback: 148 pages Publisher: NSB Publishing (April 2, 2016) Language: English ISBN-10: 0692659919 ISBN-13: 978-0692659915	Order book here:
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We’ve all seen the extremes that companies will go to in keeping their secrets. But many times, keeping these secrets can cost a company. In The Culture of Open, author Nick Berg details what openness is, how companies can be more transparent, and the benefits of doing so. He also covers examples of companies who adopted transparency and who didn’t, and how each was impacted.

Overall, I found this company fascinating. As a former programmer, I’ve seen what the benefits of having things like open source software can be. The book was well written, and was very informative. The real world examples are something everyone could understand. The text is written, so even if you aren’t a business professional, you can still understand it, so the author doesn’t get too technical. I find that quite a relief in this type of book. So if you’re a CEO of a large corporation, or a small business owner, and you want to give yourself that edge, than pick up The Culture of Open, I have a feeling it might help you.

About the Author

Executive level strategist with over 20 years of innovation and global business experience, Nick Berg advises C-level peers on the impact of particular people, processes and technology solutions for the corporation as a whole. He believes true value is the fluency in both business and technology. As a business process improvement consultant, Berg advises Fortune 500 companies on cultural and business transformation.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Author for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Paperback: 260 pages Publisher: Hickey’s Books (July 13, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 0996524207 ISBN-13: 978-0996524209	Order book here:
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Synopsis:

A look into all seven books in the Harry Potter series and how you can draw parallels between them and the Christian religion.

Review

Harry Potter, a world of Magic and dark forces. The idea of their children being exposed to it, is a big drawback to parents. Due to their religious beliefs, they object to their children reading about Wizards and witchcraft. The same argument has been used since I was a teenager playing Dungeons and Dragons. However, parents have the right to be concerned. No one wants to tell them what they can and can’t believe. But Nicole Rivera was a big Harry Potter fan and also a woman of faith. She set out to see how the two compare, and Finding Unauthorized Faith in Harry Potter is the result.

Each section of the book details one of the books in the Harry Potter series. I liked it being divided like this, because it can be used as a kind of reader’s guide. Read Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone, then read about how various bible passages parallel the lessons that can be drawn from it.

I found the book very interesting, although a bit spoiler filled as I’ve only read the first book in Harry Potter. That fact aside though, it was well written, and well researched, and was obvious to me that it was a product of Ms. Rivera’s love for both the Bible and Harry Potter. I’d recommend this for all ages, and especially those who might be intersted in Harry Potter, but a bit reluctant. It’d be a good opportunity for both parent and child to read the books together, and discuss them.

About the Author

There is a quote that says, “If you can quit, quit. If you can’t, you’re a writer.” Ever since I could write, I loved to write, especially stories. Stories are my passion which is why I wrote “The Parable of Harry Potter” series (book 1 released), to explore one of my favorite stories of all time!

My goal is to write the books I would want to read. I believe that in writing what I want to read, I will write what others want to read.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes the Author for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Paperback: 356 pages Publisher: Winifred Press; 2 edition (August 4, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: 0985451726 ISBN-13: 978-0985451721	Order book here:
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Synopsis:

Jason Gallo is the son of a father who is an avid historian. After his mother dies, things become difficult between he and his father. Then his father is found in a somewhat comatose like state. Jason is tasked with going on an adventure that can only occur through a dream state. This adventure takes Jason on a journey through the entire history of western man.

Characters:

Jason Gallo – Young explorer.
Rim-Hadad – A Barbarian
Tia – Egyptian Temple Priestess.

Review

This book while aimed at younger readers, I found very interesting. Each chapter begins with a note from Dr. Gallo, father to Jason. This note informs the reader of the historical facts behind what Jason will be witnessing in that chapter. The overall plotline is rather simple, Jason must find his father who is lost. Along the way, Jason meets many companions, which in a way is similar to Wizard of Oz and many other such stories. This historical blending into the storyline I found very fascinating, and ended up really enjoying it, and even at my age, found that I learned a bit about history, which was it’s intent.

Overall the book is good for young teens. There are some scenes of mild violence that may not be suitable for some readers. The characters are well developed and very interesting. Overall for teens and pre-teens just beginning to learn world History, I think this would be great book to expose them to. I’ve discovered from experience that a lot of people learn and retain more when the subject is made fun, and this does make the subject fun.

About the Author

David Tollen writes novels that teach history and science — as well as works of nonfiction about technology law.

David’s first novel, THE JERICHO RIVER, won first place at both the London Book Festival and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. It also won a bronze medal in the Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews and Awards Contest, among other honors. THE JERICHO RIVER is a novel that uses fantasy to teach the history of Western Civilization. It’s published by Winifred Press. (The book’s first edition was released under the author pen-name “David Carthage.” The current/second edition uses the author’s actual name.)

David’s second novel — not yet published — is SECRETS OF HOMINEA, a middle grade fantasy that teaches history and science.

David is also the author of THE TECH CONTRACTS HANDBOOK: CLOUD COMPUTING AGREEMENTS, SOFTWARE LICENSES, AND OTHER IT CONTRACTS FOR LAWYERS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE (Second Edition). It’s published by the American Bar Association, and it’s the number-one bestseller for the Intellectual Property Law Section of the ABA. THE TECH CONTRACTS HANDBOOK is a how-to guide for drafting and negotiating IT agreements, written in simple English.

David earned law degrees from Harvard Law School and Cambridge University in England, as well as a B.A. in history from U.C. Berkeley. He’s the founder of Sycamore Legal P.C., a San Francisco technology and intellectual property law firm. He also provides training and expert witness services related to negotiating and drafting IT contracts.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Rebecca at The Cadence Group for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: William Morrow (October 20, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 0062309498 ISBN-13: 978-0062309495	Order book here:
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Characters:

Synopsis:

Review

About the Author

As an MI6 field officer, Matthew Dunn recruited and ran agents, coordinated and participated in special operations, and acted in deep-cover roles throughout the world. He operated in highly hostile environments, where, if compromised and captured, he would have been executed. Dunn was trained in all aspects of intelligence collection, deep-cover deployments, small-arms, explosives, military unarmed combat, surveillance, and infiltration.

Medals are never awarded to modern MI6 officers, but Dunn was the recipient of a very rare personal commendation from the secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs for work he did on one mission, which was deemed so significant that it directly influenced the successful conclusion of a major international incident.

During his time in MI6, Dunn conducted approximately seventy missions. All of them were successful. He lives in England.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Pamela at Harper Collins for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: LucasBooks (January 5, 2016) Language: English ISBN-10: 1101965495 ISBN-13: 978-1101965498	Order book here:
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Synopsis:

Characters:

Rey – Desert Scavenger who is emarking on an adventure that will change her life.
Finn – First Order Stormtrooper who is taking charge of his own fate and living according to his conscience.

Review

Sometime in the late 80s, I stumble across a book in our county library. This book amazed me, it turns out that it was a novel featuring the characters from Star Wars. Until that time, all I’d seen were the novelizations. The book was Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, and I was amazed. Finally there were more stories to be told. The author of that book was Alan Dean Foster, and now almost 30 years later, I’m looking at another book from Mr. Foster again featuring some of those same characters, but this time new characters. This book is the novelization for The Force Awakens, and I absolutely loved it.

From the first chapter, this book begins expanding on the story a lot more than the movie did. You see more of characters motivations, thoughts, feelings. Certain scenes began to make more sense to me, even though I’d seen the movie twice already. There were also some scenes that were either cut or written for the novel and never filmed, that I thought were very interesting, and should have been in the movie.

Some of the battle scenes came out a little flat, and not as exciting as in some of the older “Legends” novels, but part of that may be that the characters are still growing on us, and finding their own way in the Star Wars Universe.

Overall thought, I thought it was a great book, a great companion piece to the movie, and just a lot of fun. So check it out, and as always be sure to drop back in and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

Alan Dean Foster’s work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as “Star Wars”, the first three “Alien” films, “Alien Nation”, and “The Chronicles of Riddick”. Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first “Star Trek” movie. His novel “Shadowkeep” was the first ever book adapation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel “Cyber Way” won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so.

Foster’s sometimes humorous, occasionally poignant, but always entertaining short fiction has appeared in all the major SF magazines as well as in original anthologies and several “Best of the Year” compendiums. His published oeuvre includes more than 100 books.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press (December 18, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 148472822X ISBN-13: 978-1484728222	Order book here:
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Synopsis:

Young adult novel that follows three of the new characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and shows events leading up to their storylines in the movie.

Characters:

Rey – A Young desert scavenger.
Finn – An Imperial Stormtrooper in Training.
Poe Dameron – A Pilot for the New Republic.

Review

While this novel was geared towards younger readers, I found it enjoyable. I learned a lot more about the characters and their backgrounds, then I had learned from The Force Awakens. As each story is told as a standalone short story, I’ll look at each one.

Rey – In her story, readers learn a lot more about how she developed her flying skills. We also get to see much more of her like on Jakku, her thoughts, and her goals. Then we get to see how determined she is, when she finds a crashed ship in the desert and proceeds to begin rebuilding it.

Finn – Finn is loyal to the First Order. So much so that he’s considered one of the best stormtroopers they have. But then Finn begins little by little to doubt things he’s been told. He begins to develop a conscience which goes against his very training. This one was interesting because you get to see a bit more detail behind his actions in The Force Awakens, and it makes him a much better character.

Poe Dameron – In this story, Poe Dameron is one of the best pilots the New Republic has. He’s leading his own squadron, but he’s beginning to believe that the First Order is becoming a threat to everything the Republic has worked for. However, no one in command will believe Poe. That is when he takes it upon himself to find evidence. This lands him in hot water with his superiors, but also changes his entire future.

If you’re a Star Wars Fan, or a fan of The Force Awakens, then you’ll want to read this. Even though it’s aimed at the 7th grade level, I still found it to be an enjoyable set of stories, and it added to my love of all things Star Wars. So check it out, drop back in and let us know what you thought.

About the Author

The author of four novels about professional bodyguard Atticus Kodiak — Keeper (nominated for a Shamus Award by the Private Eye Writers of America), Finder, Smoker, and Shooting at Midnight, Greg Rucka has been writing since he was eight years old, and hopefully is improving with age. A longtime comics fan, his first graphic novel series was the suspense thriller Whiteout, published by Oni Press and nominated for three Eisner Awards in 1999. Since that time he has been a contributing writer for DC Comics and an active participant in the Batman series of titles.

Born and raised in California, he earned his undergraduate degree at Vassar College and his MFA at the University of Southern California. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Rucka has two tattoos, and rides a motorcycle.

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