Life may be a carnival, but many people are still stuck at the ticket booth, waiting for a chance to enter. Kait Melendy’s debut book “Wanderlust Healing: A Journey Back to Self” illustrates her own journey – why wait in line for a carnival when the whole world awaits her? … More “Wanderlust Healing” by Kait Melendy
“Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain” is a heartfelt journey through the highs and lows of life, written by Helene Sula, a travel writer who has dared to follow her heart. Set against the backdrop of a middle-class life in America and chronicling the journey of a woman who knew in her heart she didn’t want to settle for what she saw as an ‘ordinary’ life; this book relates the author’s transformation from a place of constant setbacks to one of happiness and fulfillment. … More “Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain” by Helene Sula
For the last while, I’ve all but given up reading thrillers, even—or maybe especially—the long-running series by popular authors. What used to be excellent adventure with engaging characters has turned into little more than subtle propaganda exercises, where the underlying message shows the author hasn’t bothered to research beyond the New York Times. … More “The War Machine” by Barry W. Levy
Have you ever wondered about your family? Or what they’ve been through that brought you to this point? It’s one thing to send off a DNA sample, but it’s another to live vicariously through their stories. In “A China Farewell,” author May Hsu pays homage to her ancestors by chronicling a fictionalized version of their experiences. Spanning the years between 1936 and 1976, the book tracks significant events that shaped the political and cultural landscape in China, and how these impacted the Tsai family on a personal level. It narrates how the family struggled to maintain some semblance of normalcy – raising their children during the years preceding and succeeding the Second World War, as well as the Chinese Civil War that occurred almost immediately afterward. Through the book, we witness the family’s struggles and how living through these times indelibly affected their psyche. … More “A China Farewell” by May Hsu
Chris Hilton’s salacious travel memoir “The Attraction of Cuba” is an unapologetic exploration into the author’s travels, experiences, and backdoor dealings in this island nation. Hilton, like many white, Western expats, found an escape from the monotony of his daily life in England within the confines of the Caribbean Island. With the help of some unique characters such as an English inmate, some Cuban gangsters, and one enigmatic woman, Hilton embarks on a wild money-making scheme that leads him across Cuba, into lots of trouble, and several unforgettable experiences. … More “The Attraction of Cuba” by Chris Hilton
Fans of military fiction, alphabet agency thrillers, suspense, and historical fiction- this one’s for you! “The War Machine” by Barry Levy is a take-no-prisoners, leave-no-witnesses novel that ticks all the right boxes. Set in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1988, this absolute tour de force flashes back frequently to Vietnam, 1968 as we get into the head of the main character, Kick. He seems like an anomaly- a Canadian fighting with US soldiers in the special forces unit then known as MACV-SOG. They were ghosts in the night. Terrors by day. Dropping into the jungles of Cambodia and Laos where no combat troops were officially allowed … More “The War Machine” by Barry W. Levy
Rami, a Muslim boy growing up in Pakistan in the 1980s, knows there is something that makes him different from other boys. He likes singing, dancing, and other things his brother and the bullies at school use to pick on him. But it isn’t until he meets Danyaal, a Christian, that he realizes what it is that sets him apart. The two embark on a deep friendship that brings them closer and closer until it draws the attention of people who are in a position to hurt them. A single night of passion turns into a day of terror and despair, and Rami thinks he has lost Danyaal forever. … More “Finding Danyaal” by Zia Ahmad
Ivy Lutz, a former Buddhist nun in Sri Lanka, is summoned home to California after the mysterious sudden death and possible murder of her mother. As her sister Jan insists that the murder happened at the hands of their stepfather, Ivy trades peaceful, content living for fast-paced and unsure footing. The murder of their stepfather next brings the suspicion of a correlation between the two deaths. Meeting sweet and savory characters, Ivy and her family delve into the mysterious deaths, discovering international espionage and violence while uncovering lies and deceit within the unlikely. Distrust, confusion, suspicion, and mental health issues are among the struggles Ivy, her sister, nieces, and the police must work through to discover the truth. … More “The Not Quite Enlightened Sleuth” by Verlin Darrow
“French Kiss: How the Americans and French Fell In and Out of Love During The Cold War” is a very interesting book that I would recommend to all out there who enjoy reading about history. Mr. Bassett has put together a very comprehensive look at a particular Air Force base that the United States had in France during the Cold War, and he did it in a creative and unique way that really holds the attention of the reader. … More “French Kiss” by Steve Bassett
French Kiss Steve BassettIndependently Published (2023)ISBN: 979-8218099350Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views (02/2024) “French Kiss: How the Americans and French Fell In and Out of Love During the Cold War” by the award-winning Steve Bassett, is a comprehensive study, possibly even a love letter, that explains the impact and influence of a massive U.S. … More “French Kiss” by Steve Bassett
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