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.)