New Book Reviews Blog Pages

Internet of things, Thugs, Truth by Patricia Brogdon

tech industry, memoir, IT, Internet, patricia brogdon
Review
"Internet of Things, Thugs, Truth," by Patricia Brogdon, is a story of an IT employee's journey.

The author is a longtime IT employee, and her memoir chronicles her entry into the tech world with her first job at an FTP software company, eventually getting into the cyber security industry. In addition to the expected information about the author's journey in the tech industry, the author documents her spiritual journey, which occurred at the same time.

The author writes in a way that allows even the computer-illiterate reader to understand the basics of the IT field. Brogdon does a good job capturing the important details of the people who played a role in her journey, adding a very "real" feel to this memoir.

If you are interested in the tech industry, personal growth, or just memoirs in general, this is a must-read.

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Cats Are Lucky! by Julia Stone

cat book, children's book, easy to read, picture book, julia stone, cats are lucky!
Review
Julia Stone's "Cats Are Lucky!" is a well-written, fresh picture book about cats.

With words that sound great read aloud, Stone writes about all the fun things cats can do, such as cling to windows. The illustrations are vivid and engaging and work well with the text. Unlike a lot of picture books, this book looks fantastic on the Kindle. This book is sure to have your young one laughing!

A great buy for anyone looking for a new bedtime story for a child!


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Return of Knecht Ruprecht by Olivia Black

knecht, reuprecht, children's book, christmas, holidays
Review
Olivia Black's "Return of Knecht Ruprecht" is a fantasy holiday book aimed at tweens, yet suitable for older readers.

The book opens by introducing the reader to Jack, Chance, Ashley, characters with very different personalities. Mr. Hecht lives on the same street. He is viewed as nice yet creepy by his neighbors; Jack however decides it's a good idea to invite him to the Christmas Eve dinner.

Mr. Hecht shows up, secrets are revealed and plot kicks into gear,. Soon, the children are in a magical land with Cinnamon Men and Krampuses. Black builds a world that completely immerses the reader in fantasy and holiday lore. She does a great job capturing the magic with her descriptive writing, and she writes dynamic, believable characters that move the story forward.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants a break from the traditional Christmas tales, wanting instead a fresh holiday fairytale with fantasy elements.

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The Boy Who Couldn't Cry Wolf by Caldric Blackwell

kindle picture book, children's picture book, free kindle children's picture books, kindle unlimited children's books, wolf picture book, boys pictures books, wolf children’s book
Review 
Caldric Blackwell’s The Boy Who Couldn’t Cry Wolf is an imaginative kindle picture book about a young werewolf who learns the value of self-confidence.
 
This fun wolf picture book follows six-year-old Byron Woodward, a werewolf who can’t howl, a secret he has kept all his life. After being chosen to howl at a full-moon ceremony, Byron goes on a mission to learn how to howl. During his journey, he speaks with people, such as the mayor of the werewolf village, he considers to be good at howling. Despite his efforts, Byron is still unprepared when the ceremony begins, and the experience teaches Byron an important lesson about believing in himself.

I read The Boy Who Couldn’t Cry Wolf to my four-year-old niece as a bedtime story, and she was engaged the whole time. She really liked the idea of having a werewolf as the main character. The plot of this picture book is simple and straightforward, but it’s not predictable, which kept my young reader from losing interest. The illustrations (by Emma Phillips) are colorful, working well in conjunction with the text to bring the reader into the story. The book’s language is simple and flows well when read aloud. My one criticism of this picture book is that the theme (self-confidence) isn’t emphasized much until the end.

Overall, a fun children's book (that's especially good for bedtime) that’d probably be best suited for ages 3 to 7. One of the best things about this book is that for Kindle Unlimited subscribers it is one of many free kindle children's picture books. For those of you looking for children's books for your Kindle, it's worth noting this picture book is free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

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Libellus de Numeros by Jim West

math, latin, novel, kids, girl power
Review
Libellus de Numeros (book 1 in the Magicae Mathematica series) is a book about a smart young girl who is transported to a mystical world.

The protagonist, Alex, is independent and determined due in part to her busy parents’ absence in her life. When she’s teleported to an unfamiliar countryside, she sees none other than Archimedes on the road. Alex soon learns she is in a world where magic, wizards, math, and Latin play an important role in her life.

One of the things I like about the world is it is approachable yet imaginative. For instance, the world's main city (The City) is protected by powerful, enigmatic Guardians, who are prepared for service by Archimedes. One of my favorite things about the book is that West does an excellent job of not letting a character be defined by a disability, such as the hearing-impaired character Maya.

I also like the many layers of the plot. For example, there is a struggle between the classes in The City that adds an extra layer to the plot.

This would be a great book for anyone (especially 8 - 15) who likes engaging stories with fantasy elements.

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A Love to Remember by Lynda Gray

romance, novel, love, sex, kiss, couple, sexy, steamy
Review
Lynda Gray’s A Love to Remember is a romance novel that follows the newly divorced Lucy as she navigates a budding romance and confronts the darkness in her past.

Lucy Pembrooke moves back to her step mom’s idyllic mansion, located at a vineyard, after parting ways with her cheating plastic surgeon husband, Thomas. Her time at the mansion is somewhat strained by the presence of her step mom, Loretta, who has been more focused on her many husbands than her children.

The arrival of the handsome bestselling author Christian Black brings joy to the situation; however, Lucy is warned to stay away from Christian because of his reputation.

One of the great things about this novel is that the plot develops organically. The reader gets to read about every step of Lucy’s transition from her marriage to her relationship with Christian.

Another strength of the novel is the eclectic cast of characters, from the warm and friendly hired helper Julian to the manipulative, selfish step mom Loretta to the alluring, enigmatic Christian.

With its engaging plot and its dynamic cast of characters, A Love to Remember is a must-read for any romance fans.

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A Chonicle of Chaos by D.M. Cain

d.m. cain, chronicle of chaos, fantasy, demon, angel, novel
Review 
D.M. Cain's A Chonicle of Chaos (part of the Light and Shadow Chronicles) is a fantasy novel with a fresh take on "good vs. evil."

A fantasy novel from start to finish, with demons, magic, battles, etc., A Chronicle of Chaos follows the cocksure Chaos, a human warrior, as he competes with the demon Anathema.

The characterization in the book gives you insight into each character, despite the complexity of the plot. A few of the characters you don't learn much about, but this is because they will be a main character in forthcoming novels in the series.
 
One of the highlights of the book is the lore. I really enjoyed reading about the Brotherhood and their attempts to take over the planet. Since there are thirteen novels in the Light and Shadow Chronicles, I can only imagine Cain will give readers an even deeper look at the lore behind her world in the future.

With a gripping plot, fascinating characters, and an intriguing world, A Chronicle of Chaos is a must-read for any fantasy fan.
 
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Unlimited Possibilities by Robert Szentes


psychology, self-limiting, beliefs, self-help, liberation, free your mind, depression, anxiety
Review

In "Unlimited Possibilities," Robert Szentes writes about how to free yourself from self-limiting beliefs.

One of the great things about this book is that Szentes gives a great background into the danger of self-limiting beliefs. Once the reader has that background, Szentes goes on to discuss the various methods of addressing the issues. He writes about multiple approaches, so the reader can decide an approach that is best for him/her.

Written in a concise, easy-to-understand manner, this is a must-read for anyone looking to eliminate destructive beliefs.

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