Midlife Alchemy

 Midlife Alchemy, Kate Swansea, Independently Published, 2021

Elise Clair is a married dentist, working with her husband, also a dentist, in the Upper Midwest. At the same time that she catches him fooling around with a couple of his dental assistants, she gets a strange and unsolicited job offer. A town called Black Lake Falls, Washington, needs a town dentist. Elise gets on a plane.

The first thing she notices is that the town is protected by magical wards. Elise knows her way around the worlds of witches and "real" magic, having been taught by her mother. The town is built around a portal between this world, and the world of the umbra, which are hideous, carnivorous creatures. Elise is given an amulet to wear. It is the portal's (called the paraval) early warning system, flashing whenever there is a breach. 

A major breach occurs, and the umbra pour into the town, looking for a way into the wider world. This forces all the townspeople into the well-lit town square (umbra don't like bright light). They can't stay there forever. Elise comes up with a surprisingly easy way to kill umbra. Is the "invasion" thwarted, and the paraval closed again? Do the townspeople return to "normal" life?

This is a first-rate piece of writing. It is just weird enough, without being too weird. It has lots of good storytelling, with good characters. This is an excellent start to a series.

Where Secrets Lie

 Where Secrets Lie, Ebony Kent, Independently Published, 2013

 

Kara Everitt is a newly-minted police detective. Her target is the Caswell family, a very secretive local family. They are suspected in several unsolved crimes over the years, including the murder of Kara's parents. Alyssa, her younger sister, is totally infatuated with them.

At a fancy party in her honor, Kara, impulsively, offers to serve the Caswells. Michael, the family patriarch, makes Kara his own personal pet. She quickly learns that they really are vampires. As time goes on, a bond forms between Kara and Michael. She struggles with her duties as a detective and as a sister. Can Kara save her sister from the Caswells? Can Kara save herself?

This is an interesting story. It's got vampires and romance, and some good plot twists. For vampire fans, this is worth reading.

Escape to the Stars

 Escape to the Stars, Mark Sneed, ABM Publications, Inc., 2021

 

In this story, Earth is no longer habitable, and what's left of humanity is in two small settlements orbiting Saturn and Neptune. Finding other habitable planets is very important to the Interstellar Committee.

The Galactic Space Marines (mostly teenagers) are sent to rescue stranded scientists, and their equipment, on a newly discovered planet. The animals who inhabit the planet should pose no problem. Just a quick rescue mission, right?

Drake, a mechanic, is contacted by the planet's governing intelligence. It asks for his help in a planetary war for survival. Do the humans help? Does everyone live "happily ever after?"

This turns into a really good book. It takes a while to get "going," but it turns into an enjoyable story with good characters. I hope that this is the start of a series.

The Brother's Curse

 The Brother’s Curse, Christine M Germain, Independently Published, 2020

 

A woman named Crystal moves back to her hometown of Lakeview Falls, a year after the murder of her parents. A neighbor's house is being watched by the very handsome Jason Warwick. Just before her 25th birthday, Crystal receives an antique purple amethyst necklace, left to her by her mother. It is not just any necklace. A pair of 18th century brothers, who are also shapeshifters, will stop at nothing to get the necklace, including murder. It holds two dozen shapeshifters captive, including their father. Is Jason one of the shapeshifter brothers?

This is a really interesting story. It has good characters, enough gore and horror (without going too far) and some good storytelling. It is very much worth reading.

Gastric Band Hypnosis for Women

 Gastric Band Hypnosis for Women, Sally Garner, Independently Published, 2021

 

You have tried every diet and weight-loss plan that is available, and nothing has worked. Have you considered using your mind to change your relationship to food, and help you get, and stay, healthy? That's what this book is all about.

The book explores how hypnosis can help overcome negative self-talk and bad emotions related to weight loss. You have permission to delete the words "clean your plate," in your mother's voice, from your brain. The author goes through the entire gastric band hypnosis process (there is no clucking like a chicken). The book includes recommended diets while going through the therapy, and what to do after the therapy ends. There are also affirmations, to help keep you, and your brain, on the right path.

Here is an easy to understand book that is full of information. For anyone with weight problems, this is really worth considering. It get 4 to 4.5 stars.

Dragon Rider Prophecy: A Journey Begins

 Dragon Rider Prophecy: A Journey Begins, Andrew Wichland, Independently Published, 2020

 

This fantasy novel is about Logan and Johanna, your average college co-eds. They were adopted by a good family, and want to live ordinary lives. That is, until a shared dream shows them their destiny, and that "ordinary" is no longer an option.

The pair must deal with their growing abilities, get proper training, and face incredible danger. Learning how to ride a dragon is also involved. Logan and Johanna have little choice in the matter; the fate of the whole world is at stake.

Here is a story with good characters and grand imagination. There is good world-building, and plenty of action. Who doesn't love a story with dragons? Fantasy fans will love this book.

Dr. Sebi Green Smoothie

 Dr. Sebi Green Smoothie, Howard Fuller, Independently Published, 2021

 

Everyone has heard of green smoothies. Are they really as healthy as advertised? This book attempts to answer that question.

Most major diseases, like autoimmune disease and diabetes, result from the body's pH level being too acidic. A plant-based diet will bring the pH level back to normal (about 7.3), along with helping to lose weight and rejuvenate the body. More than just drinking smoothies is needed to lose weight. The book also suggests drinking LOTS of water, staying away from the microwave, re-stocking your pantry with healthier foods, and, occasionally, rewarding yourself. When going on an outing, don't be afraid to bring a supply of smoothies with you. The book explores foods to avoid, including processed foods, dairy, alcohol, fried foods and soy products.

This is a useful guide with lots of information. Most people may consider this book to be common knowledge, but it is still good to have. If the reader can only start to move in the direction of Healthy Eating, this book will have been successful. It is very much worth reading.

An Unusual Courtship

 An Unusual Courtship, Antoinette George, Brangwyn Press, 2020

 

Second in a series, this book is set in the 1790s. Marie-Catherine and her family are safely In England, having barely escaped from France. Their rescuer, a shadowy figure called The Shadow, must say his goodbyes. Marie-Catherine is heartbroken, and angry. She picks herself up, and sets about the task of finding a husband who is willing to take care of her refugee family.

Meantime, The Shadow (his real name is Francis) is never far away. He wants to tell Marie-Catherine who he really is, but it is never the right time. He can't just walk up to her and say "Hi, remember me?" She will probably try to kill him (literally). Francis must court her properly, which involves attending many masked balls, and many boorish and suggestive statements from him. Does he get her back? Does Marie-Catherine try to kill him?

Normally, I am not a reader of historical, swashbuckling romances, but this one is different. It is very easy to get totally involved in the story. The book has lots of good writing, along with many twists & turns. This is very much recommended.

Protocols of Money: A Primer on the History and Evolution of Money

 Protocols of Money: A Primer on the History and Evolution of Money, Shiv Mehta, ChapterOne.ai, 2021

 

This book is all about money (everyone's favorite subject). It does not discuss how to make money, but it talks about the history and concept of money. It looks at how money has changed, from the barter system, to gold, to coins, and then to paper money. After that, there was plastic money, and now, there is cryptocurrency.

The author attempts to answer many common financial questions. What is a financial market? How do banks trade currencies? What are bonds? The author also looks at some recent financial history, including the causes of the Great Depression and the Great Recession. The spends a lot of time explaining cryptocurrency.

This book doesn't get into investing, but, for anyone considering it, reading this book is a very good idea. It may take some patience on the part of the reader, but it is full of information, and does a good job explaining the world of money.

The Art of Mindlessness

 The Art of Mindlessness, Levi Ouwendijk, Depaix Library, 2021

 

This book is a series of short meditations on the subjects of zen and meditation. It includes titles like The Medium of Thought, The Empty Mind, The Meditative State and The Great Attainment of Nothing.

It attempts to show that it is wrong that there is just one "proper" way to do meditation. Thinking of the world in absolutes of right and wrong limits the full experience of existence. The world seems to be full of breathing exercises and other ways to reach enlightenment.

Meditation will not, by itself, lead a person to enlightenment. If a person happens to attain it, then they had the right qualities already inside them. Meditation is about an awareness in the very feature of being.

This book is best for those who already know their way around the worlds of zen and meditation; it is not a beginner's book. It will take some patience on the part of the reader. If it opens the mind of the reader, even a little bit, to other ways of thinking, it will have done its job. It gets at least 4 stars.

Dark Town

 Dark Town, K de Leo, Zameret Ltd., 2021

 

This teen fantasy is about Jessica Sullivan, who moves, with her parents, to a small town in the middle of nowhere. She makes several friends at school, and falls for the most gorgeous guy in town. Life is good.

Jessica learns that the town also has some dark secrets, that threaten the lives of everyone in town, including her parents. The secrets involve the Black Plague of the 1300's. Things get spooky when Jessica starts hearing screams at night, that no one else can hear. She is attacked by an anonymous person with an axe. Her parents are skeptical, to say the least. The town's annual Harvest Fair is coming up. Jessica learns, to her horror, that a different kind of "harvest" is planned (a human "harvest").

This is a very good teen chiller/horror story. It may take a while to get "going," but it is the sort of tale that could take place almost anywhere. This will certainly keep the interest of the reader.

The Ecstatic Stock Market

 The Ecstatic Stock Market, David Rasmussen, Spinning Penny Media, 2021

 

Everyone wants to understand why the present-day stock market acts the way it does, The author uses his many years of investing experience, and his study of subjects like game theory, physics and chaos theory, to attempts an explanation.

Throughout history, there have been many financial bubbles, going back to the Tulip Bubble of the 1600's. Over time, the life of these bubbles has gotten shorter and shorter. The author asserts that we are currently in the biggest bubble of our lifetime. The 2007 Real Estate Bubble and the current Bitcoin Bubble are part of a much bigger bubble. No bubble lasts forever. When will this bubble pop? Read the book.

This is a very specialized book; it is not a Beginner's book. It is different in that it explores fractals, evolution, and the writings of Terence McKenna, Ray Kurzweil and James Joyce. For experienced investors who want an idea as to what is coming, here is a very good place to start.