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.

Waking Up Rich: The Secret CIA Bitcoin Project That Became a Trillion-Dollar Trojan Horse

 Waking Up Rich: The Secret CIA Bitcoin Project That Became a Trillion-Dollar Trojan Horse, James Robb, Independently Published, 2021

This novel is all about bitcoin, which was created by the CIA. It was discovered to provide incredible insight into the finances of the world's terrorists and rogue nations.

Another North Korean missile test has failed. Those of the scientists who are still alive know that another failure Will Not Be Tolerated. They alert North Korean agents all over the world, looking for very specific components. The CIA subtly guides them toward specific suppliers. One of the components just happens to be in the basement of MI5 Headquarters in London. There is also a man who has been in a coma for the past year. He created an algorithm to make bitcoin mining much easier, and faster, than at present. Lots of people want what is in his head; it could be worth billions of dollars.

This is a gripping, and very up-to-the-minute story. It moves very quickly, and is easy to read. This tale will keep the reader up very late at night.

Buenos Aires Triad

 Buenos Aires Triad, F E Beyer, National Library of New Zealand, 2021

 

Set in present-day Argentina, Lucas is an ordinary watch-seller. He moonlights for one of the Chinese criminal gangs operating in the capital. This particular gang is responsible for a brazen daylight robbery that left a British tourist dead. Such an attack can be bad for "business." The Argentine President orders the police to find those responsible, at all costs.

Lucas wants out of the gang; easier said than done. His "job" is to collect extortion money from Chinese-owned supermarkets, and throw Molotov cocktails at those who refuse to pay. Then the police arrest Boss Ping, the overall leader of the Chinese triads, at home. Can Lucas stay out of prison? Can Lucas stay away from an anonymous bullet in the back of the head, because someone thinks he may "talk?"

This is a very entertaining story. The author does a fine job of putting the reader right in the middle of Buenos Aires. I hope there is a Part 2 coming soon.

Jane Digby's Diary: To Begin, Begin

 Jane Digby's Diary: To Begin, Begin, C.R. Hurst, Independently Published, 2018

 

First of a series, this book is based on the life of a real person. In the early 1800's, Jane seemed destined for the life of a high class, well bred Englishwoman. Her marriage, while still a teenager, to Lord Ellenborough, eventually fell apart. She felt abandoned, whether in London, or at their country estate, while he spent his days dealing with business, or being a Member of Parliament.

Jane had a child with her lover, but they never married. She traveled to different European cities, staying with friends, while she considered her future. Does she return to England, and attempt some "damage control" on her reputation? Does she continue to travel, not caring what other people think?

This book is in diary form, so it may not be for everyone. It is still an interesting tale of someone who broke away from the rock solid social "rules" of Regency England, to find her own way in life. It is very much worth reading.

Critical Asset

 Critical Asset, Ian Tonnessen, Hardshot Publishing, 2021

In the year 2065, the Second Cold War is in full swing. The world is divided into military alliances with names like the Democratic Alliance and the United Caliphate. Dirac Station is a very secretive space station at one of Earth's Lagrange Points (look it up). It makes Earth's entire supply of antimatter, which has made colony ships to other stars much more possible. Antimatter is also extremely unstable, which is why the station has to be a long way away from Earth.

The country of Turkey is involved in an attack on Dirac Station. Does the Turkish government intend to weaponize some of that antimatter? Do ant-government rebels want to blame Turkey for the attack, and push America to take out Turkey's fascist government, permanently? Can the ensuing war be kept quick and local, or is Earth looking at World War III?

The USS Lincoln, with its Captain Jaana Pierce, is the only vessel in a position to fight the attackers. Many pitched battles are fought on the station. As the world edges closer to all-out war, Pierce risks her life, and pushed the limits of her duty, to end the rapidly approaching crisis.

This is an excellent novel. It has Blockbuster Movie written all over it. The author is a former intelligence analyst, so it feels very plausible. It has everything a reader could want: a combination of politics and near-future science fiction, violence, action and approaching nuclear war. Here is a story that is very much recommended.

Forbidden Choices

 Forbidden Choices, Samantha Jenson, Independently Published, 2021

Do you remember those Choose Your Adventure books from when you were younger? Here is a new one, but, this one is not for children.

It's about a young woman named Lilith, raised by her aunt in a small village. Things like magic and elves are just stories. Depending on the path through the book, Lilith meets her mother, for the first time, in a very unexpected place. There is a rebellion going on, with humans, dwarves and orcs together, against elves. Lilith makes contact with the rebels. Because she is half-elf, she is not exactly welcome. The leaders of the rebellion cannot conclusively determine that she is an elf spy. They also can't conclusively determine that is she is not an elf spy, either. What do they do?

This book is very entertaining, and easy to read. It also has a lot of detailed sexual encounters. On several different levels, this book will very much keep the interest of the reader.

Social Skills for Teens

 Social Skills for Teens, Discover Press, 2021

Growing up can be the most difficult years of a person's life, even under the best of circumstances. This book aims to make the process a little easier.

Your best friend goes to the movies without asking if you want to go, too. At school, a group of your friends are looking at you, while whispering to themselves. Instead of assuming that it is because you are fat, ugly and a total waste of oxygen, Ask Them. The explanation may not involve you at all.

This book includes ways to boost your self-confidence, and exercises that will reduce, or eliminate, anxiety. It is possible to build real relationships by being your best self; it's better than having lots of "friends" online.

Here is a really good book on navigating the teen years. If this book can nudge the average teen into thinking differently, or actually start changing their life, by only a few percent, it will have done its job. This is well worth checking out.

The Writing on the Wall: We Are the Guests

 The Writing on the Wall: We Are the Guests, Aharon Gonik, Independently Published, 2021

Looking at all of human history, the author asserts that mankind's future disasters may be because of nature "fighting back" against humanity.

Homo sapiens, that arrived in Africa about 200,000 years ago, is a cancerous mutation, with its much larger brain. Other creatures have had to adapt to nature, in order to survive. Homo sapiens was the first to bend nature to its will, and then spread all over the world.

In the past three centuries, there has been a huge improvement in man's standard of living, based on fossil fuels. Someday, maybe in 50 years, maybe in 100 years, those supplies will run out. Mankind will then revert to a horse and buggy world. Perhaps, COVID is nature's way of getting revenge on mankind for the things it has done to the planet.

How can humanity achieve a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions over the next two centuries? Get out of oil and coal, immediately. Many nuclear power plants must be built (evidently, fast breeder reactors are safe). Plant-based, or other artificial meat substitutes must be found. All that land, and water, used for livestock can be used for something else. All vehicles on the roads will run on electricity, or hydrogen or batteries. Only inter-continental airplane flights will be allowed. Travel within America, for example, will be by bullet train.

Does anyone remember the early days of the pandemic? Because the world was shut down, the air actually got cleaner, and dolphins were sighted swimming in the canals of Venice (for the first time in many years).

This is a very informative book, that is highly recommended for everyone. 

The Shadowverse

 The Shadowverse, J.C. Gallo, Independently Published, 2018

This book is about average college student Johnny Sparks, and his friends. An encounter with a mysterious stranger has given them all superhero-level powers.

Things get serious when Rose, one of the group, is taken by an alien warlord named Titan. He is the sort of being who aims to bring his brand of peace and tranquility to the galaxy, one planet at a time. Killing millions of innocent people to get control of a planet doesn't bother him. Earth is next on his list. The rest of the group travels many light years to get help from a legendary ex-samurai named Lung, who has been missing for centuries. Lung is the only person to have killed Titan in the past. Can this informal group of friends, and new superheroes, defeat the most powerful being in the galaxy? Can they get Rose back, body and soul?

This teen novel is very well done. The characters are very relatable, and there is enough action for anyone. There is lots of good writing in this story that would make a really good movie. 

A Morsel of Happiness

 A Morsel of Happiness, Javad Saffarzadeh, Independently Published

In the past, a number of people have asked the author "Why are you so happy all the time?" This book is his attempt at an answer.

He starts by looking at the less-pleasant parts of daily life. On the subject of complaining, it won't change the negative event that has happened. Accept it; let the anger come (and let it go), and focus on solutions. Don't focus too much on the negative; go for a long walk or listen to your favorite music. Temperamental, or negative, people seem to be everywhere. Avoid them when possible; when not possible, come up with your own bad mood prevention system, or they might turn you into them.

On the positive side, the author talks about gratitude. Think of life like cable TV. If a person always watches channels like CNN or Fox News, they can become depressed, angry or paranoid. Everyone needs an occasional Hallmark Movie in their life (figuratively, if not literally) to remind them that the world is not all doom and gloom. Physical activity is a good way to keep depression away. It is important to keep physically and mentally busy (energy begets energy). If you attempt to keep a positive attitude, positive things will happen to you. If you keep a negative attitude, then negative things will happen to you.

This book also summarizes actual scientific studies on these subjects; this is more than just the author's opinion. This is an excellent book, bordering on being an amazing book. Everyone needs some hope or optimism in their life, at one time or another. Here is a wonderful place to start. 

WTF Do I Know?

 WTF Do I Know?, Lawrence Goodman, Independently Published, 2019

This is a compendium of newspaper columns published in a daily newspaper in York County, Pennsylvania. It is a very pro-Trump area; the local congressman is a member of the "Freedom Caucus." The author is not a Trump supporter.

The columns cover many contemporary political issues. The titles include: A 2-Path Plan for Illegal Immigrants; Address the Root Cause of the Abortion Issue; The Homeless Are In Control of Their Own Destiny; Maga Hat is the New Confederate Flag; Real Hunters Don't Need Semi-Automatic Weapons; Wearing a Mask Should Not Be Political; The "Dumbing Down" of America is Now Complete. There are a number of columns on issues local to York County. They are the kind of issues with which everyone in America can identify.

Here is an excellent and very thought-provoking book (that was the author's intention). It is highly recommended for all Americans, regardless of their political beliefs. This gets more than 5 stars.