Paranoia by G.R. Wilson

Review
"Paranoia," by G.R. Wilson, is a collection of horror stories that will put any horror fan on the edge of his/her seat until they finish reading!

One of the things I love about this collection is that it is so eclectic. The stories vary in location, characters, even perspective (some in first person, some in third). The writing is suited for the genre, keeping you at the edge of your seat, waiting for what's next.

For me, the standout story is "Final Rest Stop." A young couple makes a stop on the desert highway at night and things get ugly. What more could you want from a horror story? Really, though, all the stories are well-written and scary. This would be a great book to bring along to a campfire and read aloud!

This is a must-read for any horror fan who likes short stories!

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Skin in the Game by Tomas Byrne

Review
Tomas Byrne's Skin in the Game is a political thriller that follows two protangoists as they investigate the link between a finance firm and a terrorist organization. The plot is set into motion when the brother of the protagonist, Professor Joe Hawkins, disappears. The deeper Hawkins looks into the situation, the more convoluted it seems, and eventually Hawkins finds himself in a sticky web of money laundering, terrorism, and conspiracy. The other protagonist is Dr. Kate Farrow, a psychiatrist tasked with getting information from an amnestic terrorism suspect. To complicate matters, she must obey her superiors, although she often disagrees with their methods.

The various subplots of Skin in the Game ultimately weave together to form a riveting story that'll delight anyone who likes an intellectual thriller. One of the things I like about Byrne's writing is that he adeptly uses perspective changes to progress the plot. I've read a number of thrillers where the author seems so bent on giving the reader a ton of different perspectives that he/she ends up getting the pace of the plot off-step -- not the case with Skin in the Game. The plot does get fairly complex as the novel continues, but the amount of details were manageable.

Byrne spends a fair amount of time developing the characters, my favorite being Kate. She's in an interesting situation because, although she is clearly more intelligent than her superiors, she's bound by the nature of the hierarchy.

Overall, I'd recommend Skin in the Game to anyone who wants to read a political thriller with a complex plot and a financial theme.

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STUPID FLIES by Marshall Street

Review
“STUPID FLIES” is a novel that follows a cast of dynamic, often-gritty characters in rural Australia.

The novel is set against the backdrop of a feud between farmers, exploring its characters with heavy use of internal monologue and stream-of-consciousness writing style. The writing style is truly no-holds-barred. You get an unfiltered look at each characters’ thoughts as raw and course as they may be.

As I read each character's stream of thoughts, with a variety of course descriptions and sometimes strong language,  I was reminded a bit of James Joyce’s “Ulysses” -- which is one of my favorite books.

Through a mosaic of character experiences, you get the plot – a gripping tale of allegiance, conflict, and growth. I'd recommend this book to you if you want to read a character-driven novel that employs descriptive writing to create a patchwork narrative, woven from the lives of realistic characters.

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Life with Jesse Daniels by Chrissy Fanslau

 Review
“Life with Jesse Daniels,” by Chrissy Fanslau, is a contemporary romance novel that follows Anna Devlin during the end of her school year up until the end of summer. Anna is dating the handsome Derek Daniels, but secretly, she is crazy for her Derek’s brother, Jesse.

In the midst of the end-of-year events, from prom to parties at the beach, Anna must make major decisions about her future. When tragedy strikes, Anna’s world is completely turned upside down. At its heart, I’d say this is a coming-of-age love story.

The reader reads about Anna facing difficult decisions during an extremely emotional part of her life. The plot is unpredictable, making for an interesting engaging story. One of the highlights of the book is the strong cast of characters. Fanslau develops them thoroughly, and I felt invested in them as I read about their triumphs, shortcomings, and growth. There are also some humorous parts; my favorite being when Jesse fakes a lake monster with a scuba suit and elaborate prop, scaring Anna to death.

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a contemporary romance set during/immediately after high school.

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101+ Secrets from Nutrition School by Lynne M. Dorner

 Review
"101+ Secrets from Nutrition School," by Lynne Dorner, teaches you how to take control of nutrition and use it to improve your life.

Dorner, a certified health coach, shares secrets she learned from her nutrition education in a way that is easy for the average person to grasp. The book is formatted so that each secret is a page long and accompanied by a page-length illustration. I feel this is the perfect size for the info, not overwhelming yet at the same time complete.

One of the main principles of the book is that every person is different, and you need to take bio-individuality into account when addressing your health. The book's content really runs the gamut, from information about what organic foods you should buy to meal prep advice to info on caffeine.

This would be a great book to mark your favorite pages with post-it notes so you could keep your favorite info handy when preparing a meal or going shopping.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a practical book on nutrition!

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Second Memories by Takatsu

Review
Takatsu's "Secondhand Memories" is a beautifully written novel novel about two young lovers, Seiji and Aoi. As a cell phone novel, Takatsu employs sparse prose and short, poetic chapters to tell the story of love and growing up. "Secondhand Memories" made history when it was first released, revolutionizing cell phone novels.

Although I wasn't introduced to the book back when it first came out, I can see why it was so influential, and I'm glad to have found it during is re-release. The minimalist language really draws you into the emotions of the characters. I found myself rooting for Seiji and Aoi through their challenges, as well as reminiscing about my own experience growing up.

If you want to read a touching love story that is inspiringly written with a unique style, then look no further than "Secondhand Memories."

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Fitmeals: Eat Healthy & Stay Fit by Sébastien Leria

Review
Sébastien Leria's "Fitmeals: Eat Healthy & Stay Fit" teaches the science and methodology behind eating for weight loss and health. This is not a book telling you to follow a trendy diet.

Leria gives you the science behind nutrition (macronutrients, micronutrients, minerals, etc.) He also includes a bunch of healthy recipes as well as nutrition facts for a bunch of veggies and fruits. A few of the other topics covered are how to avoid cravings, what gluten-free means, and how to portion size. For me, the highlight of the book is the way the information is presented. A layout that is easy on the eyes, and the perfect amount of info to give you practical knowledge for eating healthy.

"Fitmeals" advocates looking at the nutritional needs for the specifics of your body, rather than creating a one-size-fits-all diet for everyone. A helpful read for anyone looking to improve their nutrition.

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Curing Cancer Using Cannabis ... by King Cajun

Review

With medical cannabis being legalized in more and more states, many people want unbiased information as to the efficacy of it. "Curing Cancer Using Cannabis..." investigates the potential of cannabis to treat cancer as well as other diseases. 

King Cajun begins his personal look into cannabis for curing cancer due to family members' battles with cancer. The book opens with a history of cannabis use and the details of the plant. It goes onto look at the science behind cannabis (what neuro-receptors it affects, etc) before evaluating the evidence for and against medical cannabis. One of the most interesting sections, for me, covers Israel's use of cannabis to treat cancer and alleviate side effects of chemotherapy. I'd never heard of that study.

 There's also a fascinating section about the difference between THC and CBD that taught me a lot. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants an unbiased look at the potential of cannabis as medicine. 

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Seducing Manhattan by Kristina Shook

Review
"Seducing Manhattan" is a sexy romance that follows the protagonist, Decca, as she is introduced to a world of sexual passion with a Manhattan billionaire.

Decca, at a wild birthday party, is invited to join a secretive club by her friends in an attempt to help her get over her ex, Matthew. She soon finds herself in a sexual world that is completely foreign to her -- yet beyond thrilling.

The plot is fun, and the romance/sexy scenes are well-done. A good read if you want a fast-paced romance with a fair amount of "kinky" scenes.

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The Gift of the Quoxxel by Richard Titus

 Review
"The Gift of the Quoxxel" is teen/young adult book with a humorous, whimsical story that is sure to delight anyone wanting a light-hearted read. The plot follows two main characters, King Norr and Captain Gadd.

The author, Richard Titus, has filled each scene with humor and quirkiness. The book is riddled with neologism, and the new words are defined in a glossary.

Although the plot is interesting, the whimsical world and funny characters are the strengths of this book. King Norr is the character I liked most.

While reading the book, I was reminded a bit of Alice and Wonderland.

The book is expertly laid out, with bright colorful images at the beginning of each chapter.

If you want a light-spirited, quirky book with funny characters that'll take you a few steps away from your day-to-day life for awhile, then this is the book for you.

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