The Ultimate Traeger Grill Cookbook 2021

 The Ultimate Traeger Grill Cookbook 2021, Steve McLean, Independently Published, 2020

This cookbook is intended for anyone who owns a wood pellet grill from a company called Traeger. The first few pages help the reader, and owner, to get familiar with their grill. Then the book jumps right into 300 recipes that can be cooked on a Traeger grill.

There are the usual beef, lamb and chicken recipes. There are also game recipes, fish and seafood, burgers, vegan and vegetarian, side dishes and desserts (including bacon chocolate chip cookies). All can be done on a Traeger grill.

For anyone who has a Traeger grill, getting this book is a very good idea. Even if you don't own such a grill, consider getting this book. The recipes can't be that different between one grill maker and another. My only criticism is that the printing of the recipes could have been a little bigger.

SSAT & ISEE Vocabulary

 SSAT & ISEE Vocabulary, J Stone, CreateSpace, 2017

This book is intended to help students pass the vocabulary portion of the SSAT/ISEE tests.

The author advocates a different way to memorize vocabulary words. Instead of just memorizing the word, the student should associate the word with a word that rhymes that the student already knows. Those words are put together into a silly picture or sentence that the student will remember.

Here are a couple of examples of such sentences. An eagle is not a Feeble creature. You can't Grate grapes. His Prominent nose is his dominant feature. Enemies Conspired to take over the empire. The vocabulary word is the one with capital first letter.

This easy to use book also includes review exercises in the back of the book, with answers included. This book is not just recommended for students preparing for the SSAT/ISEE tests. It is also recommended for any student who just wants to improve their vocabulary.

The Weight of Salt

 The Weight of Salt, Sandra Montanino, Edwards Publishing, 2021

Set in Florida of the early 1900's, this is the story of Angelina Pirrello, a teenager who is the daughter of Sicilian immigrants, and where the old traditions are very important.

She is bright and ambitious, and wants to chart her own path in life. Her mother dies in childbirth (child #7), leaving Angelina devastated. She works, for a while, in a cigar factory. She learns that the Mafia has a stranglehold on her community, women do not have the right to vote, and her strict, Sicilian father arranges a marriage to a man Angelina totally dislikes. Angelina makes a gutsy move to take back her destiny, but it comes with huge consequences.

Here is some really good writing. This story has laughter, love, tears and uncertainty. It is a very good snapshot of immigrant life a century ago. This is very much worth reading.

Dream: Destiny is Rewritten When Dreams are Shattered

 Dream: Destiny is Rewritten When Dreams are Shattered, S.Q. Orpin, Wild Hibiscus Press, 2019

Set in the Los Angeles modeling world, Casi Roberts is on top. By day, she is a swimsuit model, and, by night, she lives in the clubs. She also has a celebrity boyfriend, and documents everything on social media.

A chance encounter with (extremely handsome) master carpenter Kyle Jensen changes everything. Their relationship gets pretty passionate, until Casi pushes him away, with help from some "industrial strength" painkillers. She acquired them from another model after a hit and run accident put her in the hospital. Along with Casi's physical scars, emotional scars from her troubled past come forward. Does Casi get Kyle back? Are Casi and Kyle ready to take a chance on love?

This is a very interesting book. It's got romance, beautiful women and a little bit of sex. It's also a captivating and engaging story. This gets 4 stars (maybe 4.5 stars).

What Is To Come: The Great Reset

 What is to Come: The Great Reset, Thomas Zman, Independently Published, 2021

This novel is about Oliver Cash, who writes a controversial, politically conservative book. He is warned not to publish it, because the liberal readership will retaliate against him. He published it, and they retaliate.

After six months in a medical coma, Oliver wakes to a very different America. The "Great Secession" has split the country into Conservative and Liberal Regions. Being a staunch Conservative, Oliver and his family are trapped in a Liberal Region. Political Correctness is now the law of the land, along with Critical Race Theory. Any words denoting status, including "wife" and "husband" are banned. Oliver becomes a famous "liberal" author, but loses his family. Living as a member of the "one percent," Oliver ultimately has to deal with his hollow achievements.

The reader had better have a very open mind. Agree or disagree with this very plausible view of America, here is some very good writing that will give the reader plenty to think about.

Lectins Free Smoothie Diet

 Lectins Free Smoothie Diet, Nicole Gibbs, Independently Published, 2021

 

What are lectins, and why should a person care about them? They are a group of proteins found mostly in grains and legumes. They can help regulate your immune system, and improve your blood protein level. As with many things, having some lectins in your gut is a good thing. Having too many lectins can lead to inflammation and conditions like nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. This book shows how to reduce your lectins using smoothies.

Lectins are in most vegetables, so getting rid of lectins means restricting your diet. Smoothies are a good way to get antioxidants into your body. This book includes recipes for: strawberry banana smoothie, dark chocolate date smoothie, apple pie smoothie and purple power smoothie, among others.

Have you ever heard of lectins? Neither have I. For anyone suffering from any type of digestive problem, this book could be the answer. It is less than 75 pages long, and it is full of information. Besides, there are few easier ways to get nutrition into your body than with a smoothie.

Shaping Public Opinion

 Shaping Public Opinion, Janice S Ellis, Authority Publishing, 2021 

These days, political discourse is all about simplistic, biased, distorted nonsense that accuses the other side of trying to destroy America. This book hopes to change that.

First of all, if you have a chance, read some Walter Lippmann, either his books or his newspaper columns. He was a very influential newspaper columnist of the mid-1900's. His brand of journalism was based on careful analysis of the facts. If the American people are asked to form an opinion on, for instance, gun violence or climate change or health care, wouldn't actual facts, instead of rhetoric, be a good thing?

This is a fascinating book. It is recommended for anyone interested in politics. It is especially recommended for anyone who wants to be a journalist.

The Chronicles of Benjamin Bright

 The Chronicles of Benjamin Bright: The Cursed Blood, J.S. Craig, Independently Published, 2020

First of a series, this novel is about Benjamin Bright, your average kid in present-day upstate New York. That is, until, one day, he sees a family of elves (with pointy ears) at the local shopping center. His parents hurriedly bring him to his grandfather, who lives alone in the woods. His fey powers have just emerged. Benjamin is told about his legendary lineage, and is introduced to a world of fairy tales, wizards, monsters and mayhem to find the truth about his destiny.

This is a gem of a book. It is a first-rate introduction to a series, with excellent world-building (a planet-wide magic spell is what prevents the fey from being seen by 'mundane' humans). It is told first-person by Ben, and there is plenty of good writing. This is recommended for fans of epic fantasy, like Lord of the Rings.

Bad Money Habits

 Bad Money Habits, Timothy Presley, Independently Published, 2021

To even begin to get control of your finances, your first step is to know where your money is going. Get a piece of paper, or start a spreadsheet, and record everything (even impulse trips to a vending machine). Next, start cutting some of those expenses.

Do you "need" that item that is on sale, or do you "want" it? The next time you go to the mall, leave your credit cards, and your ATM card, at home. This book also talks about building an emergency fund, investing in stocks and bonds, starting a side business (or two) and planning for retirement.

This is a very well done, and concise, book. For most people, this book may be nothing more than common knowledge. There will always be those for whom this book is a revelation. To help make up for the extreme lack of financial literacy in America, this short book is an excellent place to start.

Never Among Equals: A WWI Novel

 Never Among Equals: A WWI Novel, Fazle Chowdhury, iUniverse, 2021

Set in London at the beginning of World War I, this novel follows Firoze Hazari, a young man from South Asia. After getting his degree from Oxford, he is supposed to return home, marry a nice girl chosen by his parents, settle down and join the family business. Instead, Firoze stays in England, and gets a job in London's financial sector. That doesn't last long, and, after losing his job, Firoze's only option seems to be to join the British military. He finds himself in Europe, right in the middle of the war.

This is a really good historical novel. It works as a novel, and the author has certainly done his historical research. It almost, but not quite, reaches the level of 5 stars.

15 Great Ventures to Start (II)

 15 Great Ventures to Start (II), Sverre Steensen, Upstart Garage Media, 2021

Part of a series, this book presents more great ideas for budding entrepreneurs.

It starts by exploring questions that any entrepreneur has to answer before they start their business. What problem can I solve, or what need can I fulfill? What will my company be called? What is my market: my neighborhood, my town or online? What sort of competition will I have? What will my product or service cost? Will I ask for payment with each sale, or once a month? What about advertising and/or marketing?

There are many questions to answer before you start your business. This book explores ideas like fruit and berry picking, making jewelry, selling used clothes, dog walking, custom t-shirts, baking, recycling and gaming. Each idea includes a complete description of what is involved, along with the fun factor, the success probability, and, most important, the millionaire potential. Of course, running any idea past your parents, ahead of time, is a requirement.

This book is easy to read, and it says a lot. It is recommended for any teen entrepreneur, and it does not ignore the hard work that will be needed to make it work. This easily gets 5 stars.

The Isthmus Company: Part II

The Isthmus Company: Part II, Samantha Boulton, Book Vine Press, 2020 

This series is about the Isthmus Company, a shadowy organization that is somewhere an unscrupulous loan agency and a front for organized crime. When a person owes money to Isthmus, employees are sent to collect "collateral," which, in this case, means kidnapping a man's daughter to make sure he pays up.

In this book, Tig and Tryp, Isthmus employees, are on a long-overdue vacation. Their real intention is to leave Isthmus, permanently. It is not like simply handing in a resignation letter. Isthmus has world-wide influence, and the only way to leave is in a coffin.

This book works really well, with plenty of suspense and twists and turns. It's got good characters and a good story. My only semi-negative comment is that reading Part I before reading Part II is a very good idea. In Part II, the reader is dropped in the middle of the story, with no explanation of what happened previously.

Confessions of an Addict in Asia

 Confessions of an Addict in Asia, Chad Vegas, 2021, Nathaniel Mansfield

Last in the series, this novel is the story of Chad, a young man from California who has spent the last several years as part of the California marijuana trade.

Shuttling between California and Peru, Chad quits the weed trade after a disastrous harvest back home. Living in Peru, Chad tries his luck as a male stripper. While working as a bartender in Cusco, he meets Frank and Jill, an American couple who are "working" as digital nomads, while partying all night, every night. Chad watches as they consume jaw-dropping amounts of liquor, then do it again the next night.

Chad starts to learn the digital nomad world from his mentors. He makes enough money to not be destitute, but he is far from "making a living" at it. They invite Chad to join them at their next destination, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It takes several different planes, and stops, but he makes it to Cambodia. 

The trio get introduced to the world of Asian ladyboys (look it up), and Frank and Jill continue to consume huge amounts of liquor every night. After a few weeks in Cambodia, where Chad meets a Cambodian "working girl," the trio head to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Do Frank and Jill teach Chad advanced digital nomad-ism? Does Chad progress to the point of making a living at it?

As with the other books in this series, get past the huge amount sex, drugs and alcohol in this book, and here is some really good writing. The author has justifiably been called a Latin American Hunter S. Thompson. The story does not drag at all, and is very much worth reading.

Arizona Skies: The Vow

 Arizona Skies: The Vow, S.L. Cruz, CreateSpace, 2019

This trilogy is about Jesse, a rock star whose band, Arizona Skies, is losing popularity. His record label sends him on a Caribbean cruise, to get him away from the destructive rock and roll lifestyle. There he meets Bailey, a young woman who becomes his muse. The attraction between them is immediate. Jesse is able to write some new songs, and the band is back on top. At the end of part two, Bailey is attacked by a fan, and falls to the ground, bleeding and unconscious.

At the start of this book (the last in the trilogy), Bailey is rushed to the hospital; her condition is very serious. Jesse refuses to leave her side, singing to her until she wakes up. After a few days, she is released, and the tour continues.

Being on top in the music business may not be such a wonderful thing. The band members find it very hard to have personal lives. Jesse's record producer signs him to sing a duet with a famous female singer who tries to destroy his relationship with Bailey. Do Bailey and Jesse ever live happily ever after?

This is a very good piece of writing. It's got plenty of romance, good characters, and shows that fame is not all that it's cracked up to be. This is very much worth reading (coming from a non-romance reader).

Such Unfortunates

 Such Unfortunates, Andrew Mann, Independently Published, 2019

In light of the present-day opioid epidemic, this is one person's story of beating addiction in the face of a huge amount of odds stacked against him.

Growing up in an upper-class family in New Jersey, from the outside, everything was fine. Behind closed doors, however, the amount of emotional and sexual abuse the author suffered (at the hands of his own family) was mind-boggling. Andrew quickly became addicted to any drug that would take away his depression, anxiety and panic attacks. There were multiple stints in rehab, jail, being homeless and even being considered dead. When things were at their worst, people came into his life to help him find the real reasons for his addiction.

Wow (and not in a good way)! The amount of abuse the author suffered at the hands of his own family was insane. For anyone who knows someone who is addicted to opioids, read this book. For anyone who is addicted to opioids, and wants to break the habit, read this book. It is highly recommended.

Honor Bound

 Honor Bound, R. C. Butler, Bulldog Press, 2017

Second in a series, this novel is about Lieutenant Ellison Frost. Her latest dead body was recently kicked out of the Marines, which gets the military involved. He was hung from the ceiling, upside down, and tied up in a very specific way. Bondage and domination is a subject with which Lt. Frost is, shall we say, intimately familiar.

The body count starts rising, and the evidence points in a very unpleasant direction. Frost must enlist the help of a reluctant Marine Colonel to uncover some classified information. The Colonel has his own things to think about, weighing his loyalty to the Corps against the lives of the fallen.

Get past the graphic sex, and this is a really good novel. It is gritty and bloody enough for any lover of police mysteries. This book loses one rating star because it really needs a trip, or another trip, to a proofreader.

The Elite Way: Faces of Prophecy

 The Elite Way: Faces of Prophecy, Vincent Bowe, The Vault Publishing, 2020

First of a series, this novel is about Jake, Richard, Kao and Rijo, competitors in a world-class fighting tournament in New York City. An apocalyptic earthquake sends them to a planet somewhere in the universe. The four must learn to fight as a team for something called The Way. If they fail, the sentence "Failure Is Not An Option" comes to mind. If they succeed, they will become one of the greatest defenses in the entire universe.

This is a very good story and a very good start to a series. It's well written with plenty of action. It's got good characters (not the usual upstanding superhero types)and is worth checking out. It gets 4 to 4.5 stars.

Dr, Sebi Alkaline Diet

 Dr. Sebi Alkaline Diet, Nicole Gibbs, 2021, Independently Published

This cookbook/diet plan is all about preventing illnesses like diabetes and inflammation and removing toxic waste from the blood by a strict, vegan diet. Another cause of health problems could be your body's pH level. An optimum number is approximately 7.3, or slightly alkaline. The lower that number is, the more acidic it is (not a good thing). A blood test will give that number.

The book also explores pluses and minuses of the diet, how it helps with weight loss, examples of acidic and alkaline foods, and foods that are allowed and not allowed. It also includes 48 recipes that can help start your journey back to health.

Among its recommendations: Drink Lots of Water - up to one gallon per day (!). Greatly increase consumption of fruits and vegetables (organic if possible). Eliminate consumption of processed food, red meat and junk food, which is most of the typical American diet. For most people, this book may be common knowledge. For everyone else, this book is worth reading. Maybe this will help the reader get over their gastrointestinal or inflammation problems. (This book loses one ratings star because it needs a trip, or another trip, to a proofreader.)

Beowulf: A Verse Translation from the Anglo-Saxon

 Beowulf: A Verse Translation from the Anglo-Saxon, Andrew B.F. Carnabuci, Independently Published, 2021

Here is a new translation of the classic Old English poem. Set in Denmark, it follows his arrival as a young man. A large, carnivorous beast named Grendel has been terrorizing a local kingdom for years. Beowulf, and some of his warriors, do battle with the beast (spoiler alert: they are victorious). As an old man, the now King of Geatland faces off against a dragon.

The book has a translator's introduction, pedigree diagrams of the major royal houses, and a bibliography. For those who have never read (or understood) it, here is a very accessible translation. It is very much worth the time.

525 Essential Words for SSAT/ISEE

 525 Essential Words for SSAT/ISEE (Middle/Upper), J. Jonathan, Independently Published, 2021

Intended for students in grades 6-10, this book attempts to help with the vocabulary portion of the (Middle/Upper) part of the SSAT/ISEE test.

Split into groups of 10-12 words each, this book explores words from "abet" to "wreath." Each word includes phonetic pronunciation, a short definition, use of the word in a sentence, synonyms and antonyms of the word and further information about the word. There is a review exercise after each group, to consolidate the student's knowledge.

This book is not just for students preparing for the SSAT/ISEE test, though it is certainly recommended for them. It is also recommended for any student who just wants to improve their vocabulary.

SSAT/ISEE Core Vocabulary

 SSAT/ISEE Core Vocabulary, James Jones, Independently Published, 2021

Intended for students in grades 4-7, this book aims to help with learning and memorizing vocabulary words. It includes words that have appeared on the Lower/Middle portion of the SSAT/ISEE test.

The author has tried very hard to not present all the words in the same way. On one page. the student learns synonyms, while, on another page, the student learns antonyms. On one page, the student is given a group of words, with instructions to choose the odd one out. On another page, the student is given a word bank, and instructed to choose synonyms for words like intense and shallow, or dark and light, or rude and polite. Having all the answers in the back of the book certainly helps. 

This book is recommended for any student who wants to improve their vocabulary. It is not just for students preparing for the SSAT/ISEE test, though it is certainly recommended for them, too.

Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals our Way to Healing

 Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing, Jay Stringer, NavPress, 2018

In the past, the response of the Catholic Church to any sort of sexual problem (online pornography, prostitutes, adultery, etc.) on the part of a parishioner has usually been some version of "Pray harder" or "Just say no." This book looks at the reasons behind such behavior.

God made us, including the sexual parts, so it is wrong for anyone to say that He is disgusted with anyone who goes down this path. The book explores several possible causes for this behavior. Among them are: parents who are overly rigid or totally disengaged; being emotionally abandoned by your parents; triangulation (a parent tells their marital or sexual problems to their child instead of to their spouse); along with emotional trauma and sexual abuse.

This book also explores how to get out of your sex addiction. It includes things like learning to love yourself, repairing your relationship when things go wrong, pursuing strength and vulnerability in your relationships, and discovering a purpose in your life through community.

You may think that your online porn "habit" is totally under control. If your spouse and your children don't agree with you, try listening to them and take a step back. Start by reading this book. It is very much worth the time.