Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State

 Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State, Karen J. Greenberg, Crown Publishing, 2016

After September 11, President George W. Bush turned to the Justice Department for its official OK for activities previously thought inconceivable. They included torture, indefinite detention and NSA spying on Americans. When President Obama took office, it was expected that these policies would be reduced, or eliminated. If anything, some of these policies were actually expanded.

The things and people from the early days of the "war on terror" are in this book, including FISA, the PATRIOT Act, John Walker Lindh (the American Taliban), military commissions and John Yoo. He is the Justice Department who went through mental gymnastics trying to give George W. Bush the legal justification to run the "war on terror" any way he wanted.

This is a first-rate piece of writing. For anyone who wants to know how America went from "land of the free" to torture, warrantless surveillance of Americans and waterboarding, start right here. It is very highly recommended.

Peace in the Abyss

 Peace in the Abyss, Tayo Emmanuel, Total Word Publishers, 2021

Set in present-day Lagos, Nigeria, this novel is about a woman named Preye Banigo. Raised by a single parent, Preye has built a successful PR agency. She is also part of a local running club. The only bad part is that she is approaching forty years old, and she is single. Her marriage prospects are rapidly shrinking.

Timi Coker is an only child from a rich family. He wants to marry Preye; what he doesn't want is an independent woman. After they are married, Preye is expected to give up the running club. On a romantic weekend, where she accepts his marriage proposal, Timi gets upset when Preye wants to keep her maiden/professional name, after marriage. He also gets upset when Preye takes out her laptop to do some work. After marriage, Timi also wants to move to a different part of Lagos, which, among things, will mean a longer daily commute for Preye. (The current population of Lagos is over 20 million.)

Do Preye's friends get her to see the truth, that Timi is a controlling narcissist? Does Preye go through with the wedding? Does this turn into a woman-in-peril story that should become a TV movie?

This is a very poignant and heartfelt story that could take place anywhere in the world. If it can get one woman to see the red flags that are all over "Mr. Right," it has done its job. This is very much recommended for all women, married or single. 

The Concrete Vineyard

 The Concrete Vineyard, Cam Lang, Tellwell Talent, 2020

Set in the small Canadian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, this novel is about the murder of retired history professor Edward Mitchell. Investigating the murder is Homicide Chief Detective Bryan Dee. He enlists the help of his friend, Kris Gage. Things get really interesting when the last entry in Mitchell's diary is "time to take care of K. Gage."

Gage is an urban planner who understands real estate, bureaucracy and money. He discovers a group of corrupt developers who want to destroy the area's natural charm. Does it have anything to do with Mitchell's murder? Over 200 years after the War of 1812, does widespread corruption rear its ugly head?

This book works really well as a murder mystery. It also works as a book about sustainable communities. There is lots of good writing, with good characters. Here is an entertaining story that is very much worth reading.

Outbreak

 Outbreak, Christopher Cole, Kingston Publishing Co., 2020

First of a series, society as we know it is gone. Cities are in ruins, and the wilderness has taken over. Nothing is more important than survival. As if that wasn't enough, the undead walk the earth.

Sonny Daniels is an average kid, caught, with his parents, in the zombie outbreak in upstate New York. After the first year, the base is no longer safe. Sonny's parents send him, and two orphaned friends, Ashley and Carrie, on a military plane to Fort Denver, Colorado.

After that place becomes no longer safe, the three are on their own in a zombie-filled wasteland. They have to rely on each other, and the few other survivors they meet. Finding a new place to call home would be nice, but hard decisions may to be made in the meantime,

This is a really good novel. The whole zombie genre may be overdone, but the author does a fine job with the story and characters. This is an entertaining tale that will keep the reader interested.

The YouTuber

 The YouTuber: Learn How to Start a YouTube Channel, Sverre Steensen, Upstart Garage Media, 2021

This short book is about August and Michael, two average kids who want to start their own YouTube channel. Along the way, they answer many questions that every potential YouTuber needs to answer.

First, what will your channel be about? Find a subject that no one else is doing. Yet another teen gaming channel will face a lot of competition. Do you have a smartphone or video camera to do the filming? Look online for open source editing software, and get familiar with it.

Find ways to publicize your channel, online. Write to other YouTubers, and ask if you can appear on their show. How will people know you exist if you don't tell them? You can plan on getting negative feedback; take a deep breath, and don't get angry. Be Patient. If you are doing it the right way, the followers will come. Last, but not least, don't quit if you don't quickly reach thousands of followers. Treat this as a full-time job.

This is an excellent book for all soon-to-be influencers. It is intended for kids, and is very easy to read and understand. Adults who want to start their own YouTube channel will learn a lot. This is well worth reading.

The Waffle Maker

 The Waffle Maker, Sverre Steensen, Upstart Garage Media, 2021

Intended for children/teens, this is the story of June, a 13-year-old who wants to start her own waffle business. Her father is very supportive; eventually, her mother and brother get on board. Her uncle, who successfully started his own business, helps a lot. June learns, the hard way, about things like startup costs, operating costs, marketing and dealing with competition. There are many obstacles and false starts along the way, but June, and the reader, learns a lot about being an entrepreneur.

This is a first-rate piece of writing. It is presented as a story, not as a bunch of dry facts. Some may think that the text is too "young" for teens, or too "old" for a seven-year-old. If it just inspires a person to begin thinking about starting their own business, it will have succeeded. It is also recommended for parents.

Intermittent Fasting for Women Over 50

 Intermittent Fasting for Women Over 50, Lucy Blair, Independently Published, 2021

What is intermittent fasting? The short answer is that it is fasting for a specific period of time each day, or each week. A possibility is to eat between 12PM and 8PM each day, and fast for the rest of the day. Another possibility is to fast for two entire days each week. Don't make them consecutive; fasting for 48 hours can cause big health problems. Whatever time you choose, this will give your stomach a chance to empty, and your body a chance to burn some of that extra fat you're carrying.

This does not authorize filling up on junk food during your eating time. Eating healthy, or, at least, eating healthier, is part of the expectation. As with any health/diet plan, a visit to your local doctor, ahead of time, is a very good idea. There will be days when you fall "off the wagon," when you need to inhale a fast food meal. Don't worry about it; just be sure to get back "on the wagon."

The book also includes several recipes for smoothies, and looks at juice cleanses and water fasts. It may be intended for women over 50, but this book is recommended for people of any age. Instead of going on a new diet, with their rules and regulations, maybe all that is necessary is changing your eating habits a little bit.

The Determined Duchess

 The Determined Duchess, Antoinette George, Brangwyn Press, 2020

In part 2 of this series, set in 1790s England, Cat is being courted by an anonymous man in British high society. She agrees to marry him, to get her mind off Francis, the man she loved, and who walked away from her, after helping her and her family to escape Revolutionary France.

Here, in part 3, Cat learns that Francis is the man who has been courting her. Feeling abandoned, and then deceived, by him, to say that Cat sets a new record for being irate, is a huge understatement. When they return to his estate, there is lots of yelling. There is no chance of them sleeping in the same room, let alone in the same bed. Cat keeps a stiletto under her pillow, and is not afraid to use it, even on her husband. During the day, they communicate by notes passed back and forth by messengers. Cat wants a divorce; his answer is "Never." Francis tells her that, as a duchess, attendance at high society balls and parties is Expected. She agrees, wearing gowns that are more and more revealing. Francis gets just as upset at Cat as she is at him.

Francis gets word that his uncle has been taken prisoner, in France, by Bernheim and Dupont. They are two men for who torturing innocent people to death is another day at the office. He knows it's a trap, but he has no choice. Cat meets up with him in a small inn in France. She wants to help, she knows how to take care of herself, and she knows her way around a rapier, but Francis says No Way. Women are too delicate, they should make babies and take care of the house, this is "man's work." Another large argument ensues. Does Cat follow Francis, or does she stay at the inn, like a good wife "should?"

As with the other books in this series, this is an excellent piece of storytelling. It's got swashbuckling action and adventure, some really good writing, and a bit of rather extreme sex. This is very much worth reading.

The Dangerous Harlot

 The Dangerous Harlot, Antoinette George, Brangwyn Press, 2020

Set in 1790s England and France, part 3 of this series has Marie-Catherine  (nicknamed Cat) and Francis (a rich English duke) married. Their wedding night is a disaster, and things go downhill from there. Francis takes off to France, to look after his smuggling business, after Cat threatens to leave him. He is caught by Dupont, the sort of person who thinks nothing of torturing innocent people, to get them to give up their gold and jewels. Then he kills them.

Here, in part 4, Cat, and a few friends, put together a daring plan to rescue Francis, who is nearly tortured to death. They barely make it out of France. Back on his English estate, Francis spends several weeks in a coma. Cat is beside herself with worry. Francis wakes up, and eventually recovers. After sufficient time has passed, Cat wants to pick up where they left off, and consummate their marriage. During the day, Francis is totally proper and polite to her. When it comes to bedroom matters, he is totally uninterested. As a last resort, Cat gets help from a couple of women who are familiar with the world of sexual perversion. Cat gets Francis alone, and turns the "seduction dial" up as high as it will go. Does Francis get over whatever is bothering him? Does he turn back into the Ladies Man Cat knows and loves?

This whole series is surprisingly good. It's got action, adventure, fencing, good writing, and this novel has plenty of seduction. This volume, and the whole series, easily gets 5 stars.

The Elusive Smuggler

 The Elusive Smuggler, Antoinette George, Brangwyn Press, 2020

First of a series, this book is set in 1790 France. Marie-Catherine de Mornay, and Edouard, her brother, are desperately searching for a shadowy individual about which they have only heard rumors. Their parents have been thrown into prison; it has nothing to do with the approaching Revolution. If "The Shadow" can't get their parents out of prison, and all of them out of France, then no one can. As an extra complication, Edgar Bernheim, the regional Governor, wants The Shadow out of the way, permanently. His corrupt plans have been disrupted too often.

The two meet in a gypsy camp. Marie-Catherine challenges The Shadow (whose "day job" is as an English duke) to a duel with rapiers. The sexual tension between is immediate, and overflowing. Marie-Catherine is the winner. Can she convince The Shadow to help them? Can two strong-willed people give in to each other?

This is a really good story. It has action, romance and adventure. It also has a female protagonist who knows what she wants, and will do whatever it takes to get it. This will certainly keep the reader entertained. 

Bible Verses to Remember and Meditate on for Inner Peace, Strength and Growing in Faith, Love and Hope

 Bible Verses to Remember and Meditate on for Inner Peace, Strength and Growing in Faith, Love and Hope, Lawrence Keller, Independently Published, 2021

This short book (less than 50 pages) contains over 100 readings from the Bible, and is intended for reflection and meditation. The readings are clustered around subjects like the mercy, the love and the promises of God.

For anyone who wants a closer relationship with God, start here. For anyone who is experiencing an emotional hard time, or otherwise needs a "spiritual jumpstart," start here. It is very easy to read, and very much worth reading.

Haunted Past

 Haunted Past, Lisa Lahti, Independently Published, 2021

This novel is the fourth in the series of Jessie and Michael. More than a year after being told that Michael committed suicide, Jessie is on the porch of his family's farm. It is not a very friendly visit. Jessie finds herself having to deal with a web of secrets, and major decisions. She marries someone else, but her heart is not in it. Nor is her heart in his baby that she is carrying.

To paraphrase the famous saying: Reports of Michael's death are greatly exaggerated. After more than two years in hiding, Michael returns to reclaim his family. He has a hard time dealing with Jessie having moved on with her life. On top of trying to get her back, a visitor at the front door says that he is Michael's son. Can Jessie and Michael find happiness, and live "happily ever after?"

Their relationship has had more than its share of ups and downs. Romance fans will love this book. It has lots of good writing, and its retelling of Romeo and Juliet will keep the reader interested.