Ascendancy

 Ascendancy, AJ Brooks, 2026

This young adult novel is about an average teenager named Charlie. In Part 1, he was riding his bike through a dark forest. Coming across a mysterious stranger, at the absolute last moment, Charlie found that he could harness the power of a lightning storm to defeat his foe. The next day, Charlie receives an invitation from a paranormal school called the Halotempora Institute.

Here, in Part 2, Charlie and Melinda, a friend who discovers abilities of her own, look for a way to return to Halotempora. They were kicked out in Part 1; it is the sort of place one doesn't enter without an invitation. They are separated, and travel different paths to get stronger. Charlie is inducted into the Ascendancy. As he gets stronger, will he eventually lose himself? There is a dark plan afoot, created by Charlie's enemy, a person named Haddox. Will Charlie get to the bottom of it in time?

This novel is surprisingly good. It's got action, adventure, a bit of romance and plenty of sorcery. It is very much worth reading, for teens and adults.

Coconut Water for Health and Healing

 Coconut Water for Health and Healing, Bruce Fife, Piccadilly Books, 2008

Coconut water is a beverage that comes from coconuts, and contains all kinds of vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, minerals and antioxidants.

After strenuous exercise, or on a hot day, replacement of electrolytes is very important. Studies have shown that coconut water does a better job than water or sports drinks. That's because its electrolyte content is similar to that of human plasma. It has been used as an intravenous fluid for more than 60 years. Coconut water can help to dissolve kidney stones, relieve constipation, improve digestion, lower high blood pressure and enhance your immune system.

Buying, and drilling a hole in, a real coconut is preferred, because the coconut water is freshest and most nutritious. On the other hand, drinking a container of store-bought coconut water is very acceptable. Coconut water is a very natural liquid, with no artificial chemicals. Whatever your ailment, coconut water is very much worth trying. Start your journey to better health right here. 

The Complete Instant Pot Cookbook for Beginners

 The Complete Instant Pot Cookbook for Beginners, Sally D Walsh, 2025

This book is an introduction to the world of one-pot cooking. A person can still cook healthy and nutritious meals, while also reducing their time in the kitchen.

Don't be concerned if you are a beginner in the kitchen. These recipes include simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions. They also include complete nutritional information.

A person can cook a lot more than just stew in an instant pot. The recipes in this book include vegan and vegetarian meals, pasta, rice, poultry, seafood and guilt-free desserts.

Start small, with just one recipe. If you like it, try another recipe (and then another recipe). This cookbook is a gem of a book.

The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners

 The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners, Selmajuri Kristeukonsen, 2025

The Mediterranean Diet concentrates on the lean proteins, grains and fresh vegetables that are grown in that part of the world (southern Europe). An occasional glass of red wine also helps.

This book emphasizes the ease of preparation of each dish. All it requires is 30 minutes per day (meal prep ahead of time is a good idea). There is a 30-day meal plan along with a total of 2000 different meal ideas, so boredom will not be a problem. There are many different recipes included, for salads, seafood, proteins, desserts and pasta. 

The Mediterranean Diet is also very healthy. It has been shown to promote heart health and brain health, and has been linked to a reduced risk of chronic disease (like cancer). It is also a good idea to increase your physical activity, and increase your interaction with other people.

Here is a very good choice for anyone who simply wants to eat healthier, or is serious about improving their health.

Graduated . . . But are You Ready to Succeed?

 Graduated . . . But are You Ready to Succeed?, Ram V Iyer, 2025

You have just graduated from a top university and you have a high IQ. There should be a feeding frenzy of companies wanting to hire you, right? Wrong. In the workplace. the "rules" are totally different.

While intelligence and credentials are certainly important, what is much more important is being able to use your abilities to achieve results that the world values. The author of this book calls it Smartness.

There is an available assessment, to show where you are doing well, and where you need to work on yourself a little more. This book tells the story of Emma and Jack, two recent college grads dealing with confusion and self-doubt in the workplace. Do they eventually "get it?"

This book is very easy to read and understand. It is a gem of a book that is very much worth reading for all recent college graduates.

The Complete Dr. Now's 1200-Calorie Diet Plan for Beginners

 The Complete Dr. Now's 1200-Calorie Diet Plan for Beginners, Ian S. Garrett, 2025

Are you looking for a no-nonsense, doctor-approved diet plan to improve your metabolism and lose some weight at the same time? This book may be able to help.

A daily limit of 1200 calories may seem daunting, but these recipes are satisfying and nutritious (and very colorful). These meals are full of protein and fiber, and are easy to prepare (to fit your busy lifestyle). There are recipes here for all meals in the day, from breakfast to a midnight snack. Don't forget mindset; a positive attitude is a big help.

This book is easy to follow, and it includes a 60-day diet plan, to make things as simple as possible. It is recommended for anyone who is serious about weight loss.

2025 Ninja Slushi Cookbook for Beginners

 2025 Ninja Slushi Cookbook for Beginners, Makilunape Kokiyuope, 2025

Sometimes a person just has a craving for a delicious and icy drink. This book may be able to help.

It provides hundreds of recipes for fruit slushies to dessert blends of all kinds. These slushies (not smoothies) are recommended for a summer party, or just as an indulgent treat. There are recipes for soda-based slushies, fruit slushies, spiked slushies, frozen juice slushies, frappes, tea-based slushies, milkshakes and sugar-free slushies.

These recipes are totally customizable, and can be made healthier. This book is very easy to follow. The bright colors of the drinks certainly helps. This is worth reading for everyone.

How Smart People Can Become More Successful

 How Smart People Can Become More Successful, Ram V Iyer, 2025

It's normal to think that a degree from a top university (like an Ivy League school) is an absolute guarantee of career success. It's also normal to think that success in one area is an absolute guarantee of success in an unrelated area. Everyone has heard of the Law of Attraction; wish for something hard enough, and the Universe will give it to you. According to this book, life doesn't work like that.

While those things are very important, what is much more important is to actually do it. It doesn't matter if you are networking with the ultimate goal of getting a better job, or you are an entrepreneur bringing a product to market. Don't wait for success to come to you, go out and get it. If you fail, don't worry about it. Say to yourself "What can I learn from this non-success?" instead of "I'm a failure. I give up."

The author talks about Smartness - the ability to leverage your advantages for personal or business success. Intelligence does not equal smartness. It is the ability to see things as they are, know what needs to be done, and then do it.

Many obstacles will appear in your journey to success. There is no Perfect time to do it, there is only Now. Do you need to analyze every detail before you do anything? In the meantime, a competitor will have dominated the market. Are you a control freak who is unable to delegate anything?

This book is recommended for people at all stages of their working life. It is eye-opening and easy to understand. It is also a gem of a book.

I am Eva

 I Am Eva, Elena Zhuravleva, 2024

Eva is your average resident of Kyiv, Ukraine before the Russian invasion. Several days of constant shelling convinces her to flee. Her ex-husband is no help; he has already paid a fortune to leave Ukraine, dressed as a woman. His attitude is "get out on your own."

There is a harrowing train ride to Poland, along with other refugees. The train is forced to stop, and shut off all lights, every time a plane goes overhead. After time in a Polish refugee camp, Eva takes a bus to an, unnamed, town on the Mediterranean. It is quiet, and peaceful, and she lives with an older couple who treat her like family. She can't stay forever, so she moves to the nearby city to live her own life. There she meets John, an American volunteer. Their time together is quite passionate. Do they stay together, away from the Russian invasion, and live "happily ever after"? Do either, or both, of them get on a train heading east, back to Ukraine?

The author of this story packs a lot into 20 pages. It has current events, it has romance, and it has lots of good writing. This story is very much worth reading.

The New Foraging Bible for Beginners

The New Foraging Bible for Beginners, Andrew Kennest, 2024

There are several rules to follow when foraging for herbs and berries. Always go with an experienced person, someone who knows the difference, by sight, between a healthy plant, and one which can kill you. If you find a plant near a main road, or a plowed field, don't touch it. The plant is probably full of pesticides, or pollution from car exhaust. If you find a lavender plant, for instance, take just part of it, don't take all of it. Leave some of the plant, so it can keep growing, and leave some of it for the next person.

This book describes how to dry or freeze your plant, to have it during the winter, or to preserve your berries. It is also very acceptable to cut up the leaves of certain plants, and boil them for tea, or sprinkle them on top of a salad. This book contains pictures and descriptions of many different plants, including the poisonous ones.

Here is a book that feels very complete, and is very easy to understand. It belongs in the backpack, or on the Kindle, of everyone who forages in the woods for herbs and berries.

CPC Exam Study Guide 2024-2025

 

CPC Exam Study Guide 2024-2025, Rory George, 2023

Accurate medical coding is a very important part of the healthcare field. It can help medical personnel give the right medical treatment. It is also vital when looking for reimbursement from the insurance company.

Knowing your way around the human body should be self-evident. A coder also has to be able to read and interpret medical records. For example, a person comes to the hospital complaining of shortness of breath. After the emergency is over, is it coded as a breathing problem, like asthma, or an allergic reaction? Could it actually be some sort of heart problem, with a pre-existing condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure?

This test-prep book includes a practice test, with many real-life examples. There are a lot of questions and answers, along with several downloadable extras. This book will make studying for the Certified Professional Coder exam much less painful. It is very much worth it. 

CNA Study Guide 2024-2025

 

CNA Study Guide 2024-2025, Blair Theo Ritter, 2023

This test prep book explores the many possible duties involved in being a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

A CNA can work in a hospital, nursing home or as a home health care aide. Their duties can include assisting patients with daily activities, like bathing, feeding and helping with exercises. Seeing the patient every day, they are best able to notice any change in their condition. The sooner the nursing staff is told of such changes, the better.

More advanced CNA duties include care for chronic conditions like diabetes or COPD, dementia support and hospice care. Excellent communication skills are very important, because the CNA will have to communicate with patients, their families and other medical staff.

This book gives many tips for taking the CNA exam. It also includes many questions and answers, along with a practice test (with answers and explanations).

For anyone wanting to take the CNA exam, this book feels very complete and easy to understand. It is a good place to start your journey to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant.