15 Great Ventures to Start (1)

 15 Great Ventures to Start (1), Sverre Steensen, Upstart Garage Media, 2021

Part of a series, this book looks at opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

First, find a problem that needs to be solved. It can be a yearly problem, like something to do with Christmas, or a more frequent problem. How will your product or service solve that problem? Gather family or friends together to brainstorm ideas. At this stage, no idea is too weird or too stupid. Come up with a cool name for your company. Later, when it becomes successful, you might have to officially register it. Define your market: your neighborhood, your town or online. How much will you charge for your product or service? Do you want to get paid after each sale, or once a month? If you get paid once a month, liquidity problems could crop up before the end of the month.

There is a lot to consider before starting your business. This book includes specific business ideas, like starting a used toy store, a homework service, a birthday service, an import business, a babysitting business or a tech help business. For each idea, the author includes the difficulty, the success probability, the fun factor and the millionaire potential. Needless to say, running any business idea past your parents, ahead of time, is a very good idea.

This is an excellent book. It presents business ideas for any teen, and it does not ignore the hard work needed to make it a success. This book could easily inspire the next Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. Highly recommended.

Recovery from Complex PTSD

 Recovery from Complex PTSD, Don Barlow, Independently Published, 2021

All over the world, millions of people experience feelings of hopeless ness and chronic anxiety. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is not just limited to war veterans and survivors of child abuse.

Whether "it" was a one-time event, or a frequent event, it is possible, according to this book, to re-write your life's script. A place to start is by understanding the causes of your trauma.

Having occasional stress in your life is normal, and can be good for you. Constant stress is caused by your brain re-running the video of "it," over and over again. That will lead to constant production of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which is bad for you. Your "fight or flight" response will be stuck in the On position, which will lead to inflammation and fibromyalgia, along with many other health problems. This is very bad for you, physically.

For anyone suffering from PTSD, if this book can help just a little bit, it is worth it. Much of this book may be common knowledge, but it is still good to have it in one place. This is well worth reading.

Paging Dr. Turov

 Paging Dr. Turov, Gibby Campbell, Black Velvet Seductions Publishing Co., 2019

Dr. Victor Turov is a world-renowned heart surgeon. He is also handsome and wealthy. He is looking for the right kind of woman; you can never find a good submissive when you need one.

Abby Shea is a young and beautiful widow who volunteers at the hospital where Turov works. The sparks between them are immediate, but Abby does not just fall into his arms. He has to actively pursue her, then convince her that his lifestyle is not so bad. There are many obstacles along the way. Through it all, Abby has to ask herself how much freedom she is willing to give up for love.

This book has obvious parallels with 50 Shades of Gray. It has good characters, and a good balance between romance and sex. Yes, it is worth reading.

12 Powerful Principles of Prosperous Law Practices

 12 Powerful Principles of Prosperous Law Practices, Richard Jacobs, Speakeasy Marketing Inc., 2020

Excellent job, Mr. Jacobs! For anyone who recently started their own law practice, these principles are practical, and easy to understand and follow. Maybe something as simple as sending e-newsletters will separate you from all the other lawyers that are out there. This is very much worth reading for any attorney (beginner or veteran).

Seeking the Light of Justice

 Seeking the Light of Justice: The Hoshiyan Chronicles I, Barry Nadel, Agrosearch, 2020

First of a series, this novel is about Yoshua Rosenberg, archaeology professor in present-day Israel, and former member of the Israeli military. In his travels, in an ancient book, he finds a title page for the Hoshiyan Chronicles. It specifically mentions something called the Light of Justice. Rosenberg is beyond shocked. This is not family folklore; it is more like a sacred duty to be constantly on the lookout for any such evidence.

The focus shifts to a 500-year-old nothing of a church in southern Spain. The Israelis set up a full-fledged archaeological expedition. Interesting things are found, including high-quality, colored marble tiles in strange shapes and patterns. It was hidden under several layers of paint, sand and other lesser-quality tiles. In a sealed room, inside the church, they make a horrifying discovery (it involves the Spanish Inquisition). The Vatican pressures the Spanish government to immediately shut down the site. The Israelis get evidence of "it" out to the public, creating a worldwide political and media firestorm. Most of the group gets back to Israel safely. But, three members are arrested, including Rosenberg, and tossed into prison, in solitary confinement. The Spanish Government won't be too upset if they should suffer an "untimely demise" while in prison.

This is a gem of a book. It's got a bit of science fiction, long-ago history, centuries-old religious coverups and some very good writing. I don't say this very often, but, I am very much looking forward to Part 2. 

Pegan Diet Cookbook

 Pegan Diet Cookbook, Nicole Gibbs, Independently Published, 2021

What the heck is the pegan diet?

It combines the paleo diet, which tries to replicate the diet from the Paleolithic Era, over 2 million years ago, with veganism. The paleo diet emphasizes fruits, fish, vegetables, meat and nuts. It forbids dairy, wheat, sugar, oils, salt, alcohol and coffee. Veganism allows only plant-based foods to be eaten, and forbids animal-based foods. The pegan diet requires adherents to consume 25 percent of their calories from animal sources, while the other 75 percent comes from plants.

A diet that forbids sugar, starch, refined carbohydrates, genetically modified organisms, dairy, gluten and beans (most of the time) will do wonderful things to your overall health. It can help you lose weight, prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and prevent diabetes. This book also has many recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The author admits that this is not an easy diet to follow. Even if all that a person can do, for now, is replace fast food with healthy smoothies, that can only help. For anyone with chronic health problems, it's not like there is anything to lose. Try the recipes in this book; it is worth your time.

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.