Aug 17 2020

Cross Winds: Adventure and Entrepreneurship in the Russian Far East by Steven Myers

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

Steven Myers, the award-winning author of this awe-inspiring book has had an unparalleled career. He graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Mathematics, is a serial entrepreneur, director of public and private company boards, CEO, coach, author, public speaker, and aviator. He has achieved astonishing success with his company SM&A, which is an international management consulting firm serving aerospace and defense, aviation, telecommunications and other high-tech industry clients, he is a two-time US Air Force veteran, and a loving husband and father.

In this incredible story which is accompanied by amazing photographs, the author pays homage to the famous Charles Lindbergh, the American aviator who made the first non-stop transatlantic aircraft flight in 1927. He does this by sharing with his readers his own incredible adventure when in 1992 he became the first American aviator to pilot an aircraft into the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula, since Charles and Anne Lindberg’s flight in 1931.

Steven Myers amazing adventure was an incredible aviation feat, and one which had to be completed adhering to the three basic rules of aviation: Don’t crash, don’t run out of gas, and don’t get lost. The latter was a challenge as in 1992 the Air Force had a few satellites in orbit, but although GPS was being created and was starting to appear for land and boat use, there was nothing available for the aviation market.

With fortitude and attention to detail, this serial entrepreneur, called upon his knowledge, meticulous planning, and determination and then on the 4th July 1992 he began this epic journey, flying out of US airspace, across the Bering Strait, into former Soviet Union airspace, through Siberia, and into the Kamchatka peninsula. He was accompanied by Tom Heinsheimer, space scientist and Vice President of SM&A, Tom’s wife, Julie, an expert in Russian cultural affairs, Ed Beall, a Torrance architect and urban planner, Mike Stoner, 31, of Palos Verdes, a photographer and documentary film producer. When they eventually touched down at Russia’s Provideniya airport, they were joined by Viktor Shlyaev who had been assigned to fly with them whilst they were in Russia. This likable man was their interpreter, navigator, companion, and, of course, the eyes of the State.

The journey for all concerned was amazing and the book has wonderful photographs. Through the author’s incredibly descriptive writing the diverse landscapes they viewed comes alive. From Icebergs in Alaska to the scenery of the Kamchatka River Valley, which runs south between the two ranges and contains twenty-nine active volcanos. He also treats us to fly-on-the-wall glimpses into the everyday lives of the people he visited, from remote villagers to mighty Heads of State.

For those interested in aviation and technology the details throughout the book will provide an in-depth insight into aviation and space technology.

With this flight Steven Myers also helped create a union between the United States and the governor of Kamchatka being pivotal in establishing one of the first successful Russian-American ventures. He helped create a refueling base for carriers with international cargo near the city of Petropavlovsk and introduced entrepreneurship into post-Soviet Russia. In doing so he pioneered expansive business enterprises with the potential to transform the lives of the people of the Russian Far East.

I have never read a book which can come anywhere near this one as a real-life adventure, an expedition into unknown territory, facing dangerous situations, and throughout told by the man himself, ‘the real deal.’ In this book the author reflects on what makes people like Lindberg go on to live exceptional lives, and where do they get the courage from? For me, he answers this question by telling his readers his own near-death experience at the bottom of a crevasse on Mt. Rainier. He reveals that during the experience he never considered he would not survive, perhaps it was his ability to face adversity with courage, and discovering his inner strength which led him to go on to live his own remarkable life and has made him the man he is today. Highly recommended!

About the Author:

Steven Myers is a successful four-time CEO and serial entrepreneur, director of public and private company boards, CEO coach, public speaker, author, and aviator. He has conducted business in a dozen countries in Europe and Asia. He is an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” for Software and Information Services. He graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Mathematics, is a two-time US Air Force veteran, a recipient of the California Governor’s Special Recognition Award and the FAA Wright Brothers Award.

Steve founded SM&A, Inc., which grew into a NASDAQ-listed $110 million annual revenue international management consulting firm serving aerospace & defense, aviation, telecommunications, and other high-tech industry clients. After a very successful IPO in 1998, he served as Chairman and CEO for ten years before the company was sold to private equity in 2008. His private equity investment company, Dolphin Capital Holdings, Inc., has interests in a broad array of enterprises.

A nationally recognized thought leader on business competitiveness, Steve is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. He served three terms on the US Department of State Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy. He also served on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council Task Force on Cyber Resources.

Steve is a highly accomplished aviator, holding an Airline Transport Pilot license with eleven jet type ratings. With more than 6,000 hours of flight time, he received the FAA’s highest civilian award in 2020, the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

Author’s Website: https://stevenmyers.com/

About the Book:

The cornerstone of courage is optimism.

In 1992, at the end of the Cold War, Steven Myers became the first American since Charles Lindbergh in 1931, to pilot an aircraft into the Russian Kamchatka peninsula. There he formed one of the first post-Soviet era joint ventures—a pioneering, expansive, business enterprise with the potential to transform the lives of the people of the Russian Far East. 
 
Steve’s remarkable true story recounts the dramatic adventure, courageous entrepreneurship, and intrigue in the creation of a breakthrough business in a remote corner of the world, a wonderous place few people have been to or know anything about.

The underlying theme of the story is the clash of two vastly different cultures:   Americans, with go-for-broke, entrepreneurial “can do” attitudes, and Russians with a long, painful history of constraining rules, risk aversion, and fear. 

After years of hard work, just as the enterprise is about to achieve breakthrough success, an unexpected warning by US government agents alerts Myers that his life is in danger if he continues with his business activities in Russia. How he reacts, and what he does next, provides a gripping, dramatic climax to the story. 
 
 A timeless exploration of human conflict, determination, and power, this book will inspire adventurers, aviators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, politicians, and diplomats to push past their fears and take command of their dreams. After all, “the cornerstone of courage is optimism.”

Crosswinds is available from: https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Winds-Adventure-Entrepreneurship-Russian-ebook/dp/B08DZDHLV7/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Aug 04 2020

Soaring Through Silent Skies: Deaf and Life ~ Sport and Success by Brian Ehlers

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

A truly inspirational memoir

In this inspirational book the author, Brian Ehlers, really proves that Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote ‘life is what you make it,’ can be true. In revealing his story the readers get a glimpse into what it is like living life severely-hard-of-hearing and becoming a volleyball star.

Brian and his older sisters Debbie and Laurie were born in Minnesota, but the family moved to Southern California, and this is where he grew up. His childhood memories are happy as part of a loving and supportive family, however very early on his parents noticed him not responding to his name and it was discovered that he was severely hard-of-hearing. They decided to enroll him in the nearby John Tracy Clinic which was one of the world’s most acclaimed private providers of audiology diagnostics education and family support for pre-school to young hearing-impaired youth. Here he learned to master lip reading without a hearing aid, and this empowered the young Brian, enabling him to attend mainstream schools. As a child he embraced life, traveling with his family, enjoying adventures and this established his positive thinking attitude, allowing him to believe nothing could stop him from achieving his dreams.

He went to Chadwick private school and learned there that it takes commitment and dedication to succeed at sport. His two favorites were basketball and volleyball, however, it was volleyball which was to become his focus. After Chadwick, he went to Pepperdine and during the following years had an extremely successful sporting career.

It is through following his career the reader discovers the sacrifices and dedication required when training for the Olympics and major sporting events. Although in time, an injury forced retirement from playing professionally, his love of volleyball continued.

As husband to Gracie and father to Jake and Laney, his focus in life changed to being a good father, and a successful businessman. He discovered other ways of supporting his favorite sport and was eventually to accept an offer to come out of retirement and successfully coached volleyball at TCA. However, over time he realized his true passion was to focus on helping players at all levels get better, and achieve their own personal best, and teaching them that it was not all about winning, and as in with other avenues in life, you grow by facing adversity.

This attitude has helped the author face challenges in his own life, and as the book draws to a close we find him offering an important piece of advice to his readers, and this is, “Live your story, make a positive impact on the world, and leave a legacy that is yours.”

There is no doubt that the author has had an incredible impact on those around him throughout his life. His resilience, positive attitude, his impact on the people he has coached and the volleyball scene, and his passion for his children, make this memoir a truly unforgettable read. 

About the Book:

The author provides a firsthand insight into his life as a trailblazer who, despite being deaf, became a successful athlete, father, coach, and life mentor in a hearing world.
Lost his hearing at the age of three Dreamt of being an airline pilot Came close to racing motorcycles Became a high school basketball star Was a multiple volleyball champion Represented USA Men’s Volleyball Now a well-known volleyball legend Helped others reach for their dreams Never learned or used sign language
The book will both surprise and challenge the reader with some funny, amazing, and inspiring experiences that very well may motivate themselves to do better in certain parts of their own lives.
You, as the reader, can consider this mine and your personal life playbook. There is a decent chance you will find something to use in here.
Soaring through Silent Skies is also a modern, positive, and correct portrayal of the deaf culture in our country. This book describes the trials and tribulations, the opportunistic life, and unique success of a deaf person.
This is Brian at his wisest, bluntest, wittiest, and most relevant and humble self.


About the Author:

Brian Ehlers has long been well known in USA volleyball circles for his uncanny “court sense” and legendary vertical leap. He also achieved notable coaching and training success in junior club volleyball. He is a dual Athletic Hall of Famer at Chadwick Prep High School and at Pepperdine University-Malibu. Brian is generally recognized as the first ever deaf volleyball player to win an NCAA championship and start in the USA Men’s National Team program in international competition.

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Soaring-Through-Silent-Skies-Success/dp/B08BWD2TRR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=soaring+through+silent+skies&qid=1596544747&sr=8-1

Jul 20 2020

Why People LOVE GOD but HATE CHURCH? by Marnell W. Love Ph.D. Ed.D MDiv.

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

An insightful look into people’s perception of the church and worship.

The author of this book, Minister Marnell Wicks Love, has drawn upon his vast experience of more than forty years in church administration, accounting, financial management, and ministry, along with thorough research to write this insightful book.

After recovering from a serious illness in 2007 he decided to launch Love-to-Help Accounting and Financial Management, providing help to struggling churches in Chicago and surrounding areas, non-profits, and helping small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at the present time Minister Love primarily dedicates his ministry to those who cannot attend church because of health reasons, such as those in hospices and safe shelters for women and children escaping abusive households, he is dedicating a portion of book sales to the latter.

His career of caring for the financial, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of people has given him a unique awareness of not only the modern-day role of the ministers in looking after their congregation, but also that of the churches. However, to ensure a complete picture when compiling this study he also carried out personal interviews, sent out questionnaires, and obtained written statements from church members and leaders.

The title of this enlightening book ‘Why People Love God and Hate Church’ was his unexpected finding. He discovered that although people were falling out of love with going to church, they still loved God, studied his words, and prayed, they just did not attend church to worship him.

So what can the church do to change this? Well, the many reasons for the change in attitudes towards the church and its ministry are revealed and explained.  There are many reasons, just a few examples being the attitudes of the ministers and their congregation to their community and newcomers, racial demographics, and the increased political role the church has. Candidly, Minister Love looks at the problems and gives examples of his, or other’s experiences with that problem, then he offers unprejudiced ideas for change. The problems he unveils and his propositions for change are thought-provoking and, indeed I suspect many of the readers who are members and leaders of the church and its congregations will have pause for thought, and may well re-examine their lives, attitudes, and behavior.

In conclusion: Bravely written, honest and frank, this extremely interesting book should be read by anyone, whether they go to church or not. Its insightful pages, and the author’s sermons, which he has included, will encourage any Christian to reassess themselves and their lifestyle.

About the Book:

This book is a summary of my dissertation research on why church attendance has declined over the last 40 years. My research included personal interviews, questionnaires using SurveyMonkey, and written statements from church members and leaders, those who stopped going to church, as well as people who never went to church and will not join a church. Various reasons were indicated as to why people did not go to church, but an unexpected finding from my research was that people still loved God, studied the Word of God, prayed often, and developed alternative methods of worship and spending time with God outside of traditional church services. The purpose of the 3-staged study was to determine if there are causes and effects that compel people to stop attending church services. In this book you will discover ways to help reverse the trend of empty seats in Christian churches on Sunday, improve perceptions about Christians among the general population, and save souls for Christ.

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Why-People-Love-Hate-Church/dp/1631296582/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1595234543&sr=1-1

Jul 17 2020

African Migrants (Novel) by Lang Fafa Dampha

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

An unparalleled insight into Africa and its people.

The author of this interesting and thought-provoking book, Lang Fafa Dampa was born in the Gambia in 1965. In Paris, he earned a B.A. in English Language and Literature, and a Ph.D. in English Studies (Society and Culture). Whilst there he also taught Legal English (Law and Politics – UK/USA) and Economic English, for two years.  In November 2009 he returned to Africa and he worked as a Senior Research and Programme Officer at the African Union office (the African Academy of Languages) in Bamako, Mali, from November 2009 to July 2015, and as Acting Executive Secretary from August 2015 to December 2018, and from then to now as Executive Secretary of the same institution.

In this book Lang Fafa Dampa, through his incredibly descriptive writing, relives the experiences of the main character/protagonist fleeing Africa, in search of a brighter future in Europe. He travelled through Dakar to Bamako, and then Niamey, crossing the cruel Sahara Desert into Libya, where he spent six months. Then along with thousands of others, he had to cross the Mediterranean, as a ‘boat migrant.’ Here he recounts shocking stories of the cruelty he observed being dealt out by the traffickers who treated the migrants terribly, with no regard for their lives, and no humanity. The horrific images of this voyage were etched into the author’s young mind, and will stay with him forever…

He managed to smuggle himself into France and lived in Metropolitan Paris, where he discovered a different world. Quickly he realised that both the African and white people lived in disdain of the ‘boat people,’ and he learned to stay very quiet about the fact that he had been one. However,  this disdain caused him great pain, because he realised that they had no comprehension of the cruelty and suffering these people had to endure and had no concept of the desperate driving force which compels the youth of Africa to risk everything, (including their lives,) to better themselves in Europe.

In this new world, he found himself becoming a quiet observer of human nature, and through listening to conversations and witnessing events, he discovered a lot about the attitudes of the African immigrants he lived with, both to their wives, families, friends, their adopted countries and Africa. Countless times he found himself witness to the Alien combative Attitude Africans have, and asked himself, “Where is African civilisation? Where are Africans wisdom and bravery? Where is the great pre-colonial African civilisation that historians talk about?”

Well, the protagonist believes the answers lie in finding a way to establish the African people’s self-respect and confidence in themselves. He reflects that Africans are destructively jealous, to their detriment, and a brighter future can be achieved by future generations regenerating Africa and changing the current combatant attitude. He suggests they look for examples to other countries who work together in competing to achieve goals, not by fighting but uniting cohesively.   

The passion the author feels for Africa and his people shine through in this book. He gives his readers, through the eyes of the protagonist, unparalleled insights into Africa, its people, and the struggles they face. Highly recommended!

About the Author:

Born in the Gambia, Lang Fafa Dampha lived and worked in Paris between 1989 and 2009. He has obtained a B.A. in English Language and Literature at the University of Paris 7 Jussieu, and a Ph.D. in English Studies (Society and Culture) at the University of Paris IV Sorbonne. Lang Fafa taught Legal English (Law and Politics – UK/USA) at the University of Paris 2 – Panthéon Assas, and Economic English (introduction to banking and finance, and the history of economic thought) at the University of Paris 8, Saint Denis, for two and a half years. He returned to Africa in November 2009 and is now working as Executive Secretary at the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), in Bamako, Mali, which is the African Union’s specialised institution mandated to develop and promote African languages so that they could be used in all spheres of life in Africa.

Website: https://acalan-au.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/African-Academy-of-Languages-Acalan-1976775255951086/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcademyAcalan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acalan-au-441522180/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanacademyoflanguages/

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/acalan/

About the Book:

A young Gambian immigrant gives an account of the hardship he encountered through the Sahara Desert, in Libya and the Mediterranean before smuggling himself from Italy to France. In Paris, while hiding his identity as a “boat-migrant”, he lived the contrasting philosophies of his fellows with regard to African reconstruction: hard Pan-Africanism versus staunch pro-Western. The story manifests the triviality and purposelessness of the attitude of most Africans with regards to African socio-economic rehabilitation. This story presents a world of tragedy, terror and futility, tempered by the voice of reason.

Available from:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/African-Migrants-Novel-Lang-Dampha/dp/1515333833/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/african-migrants-lang-fafa-dampha/1123179003?ean=9781515333838

Jul 16 2020

SEARCHING for FAMILY and TRADITIONS at the FRENCH TABLE BOOK TWO Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Normandy, Brittany, Loire Valley, and Auvergne by Carole Bumpus

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

A French culinary extravaganza!

I have eagerly awaited this, the second part of Carole Bumpus’ culinary tour searching for family and traditions at the French table, and I was not disappointed.

Carole and her good French Californian friend and translator Josiane Selvage begin this adventure by heading to the Somme, a now beautiful area which was the site of some of the most horrendous battles in WWI and WWII, and indeed even now, dotted throughout the countryside and coastal towns are the remains of the wartime bunkers, along with the memorials to the thousands who died there.

Then they carry on through the Nord-Pas-de-Calais to Dunkirk to meet with an old friend Veronique, and her mother, and thus their culinary journey begins as they discover the delights of cuisine pauvre or peasant food of France.

For those of us who love France and also who have a deep respect and interest in the tales of the older generations, this book is a real gem. Carole and Josiane are invited into many households on their travels, and they provide wonderful snapshots of the families, their history and that of the regions. The book is overflowing with descriptions of the wonderful regional produce and tales of times gone by.

Following the coast, the pair travel west, driving through Normandy and catching up with old friends. Near Mont St. Michel they stop off at the Manoir and are lucky enough to obtain an interesting interview with M. Barreaux, its owner and head chef. It is there that they are able to savor the delicacy of pré-salé d’agneau. These lambs (agneau) graze by the bay, consuming the salt-encrusted marsh grasses, and this is what gives their meat its unique flavor. Just one of the many exceptional local products they are lucky enough to sample on this amazing journey as they travel on through picturesque Brittany, with its breath-taking coastal views, wonderful architecture, and of course the delicious cuisine, before heading down to the Pays de la Loire.

The Pays de la Loire and the Loire Valley hold a special place in my heart because it has been my home for the last 16 years. Sampling its wonders is a daily pleasure, and I have enjoyed visiting the tuffeau cave homes, and the mushroom caves, in the area, taking home their produce to cook. However, I was fascinated to read about the truffle farms, with their truffle dogs (and pig,) and discover some of the uses of this world-renowned delicacy. The majestic chateaux and beautiful landscape of woods and vineyards truly comes alive through the author’s wonderfully descriptive writing, and it is no wonder that this incredible area steeped in history is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

However France has a diverse landscape and soon the pair find themselves noticing that it has changed, first to rolling hills, and then more mountainous, as they arrive in the Auvergne region, the Massif Central. Here, as in all over France local produce is celebrated, from the scallops and oysters of the coast to the Auvergne’s Fête du Cochon where each year a pig is slaughtered and is the center of celebrations, as this is an important time of the year and a traditional part of village life.

This book captures the French people, their love of family and friends, their generosity, and their passion for sharing good quality fresh local food. The author has generously ended the book with a collection of some of the wonderful recipes for us to enjoy making in our kitchens, whilst embracing the flavors and traditions of French family life.

Throughout it, however, the devastating effect the World Wars have reeked on families, and communities is heart-breaking. Yet despite this these people have survived and carried on with fortitude. The tragedies have given strength to this nation, emboldened them with incredible comradeship, and inspired the bravery of the resistance.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this excellent book, and I am sure it will be enjoyed by anyone loving, France, cooking, traditions, and history.

About the Author:

A retired family therapist, Carole Bumpus began writing a culinary travel series when she stumbled upon the amazing stories of women, recipes and war in France. Her historical novel, A Cup of Redemption, was based on the poignant story of a French woman she had met and interviewed. It was published October 2014. Her unique companion cookbook, Recipes for Redemption: A Companion Cookbook to A Cup of Redemption was released August 2015 with the recipes from all the foods savored in the novel.

In addition to the cookbook, she is completing her original series of culinary travel books, Savoring the Olde Ways. The first of this series, Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, Book One, is to be published August 27, 2019. The second of the series will follow in one year completing the original French tour. The third book, Searching for Family and Traditions at the Italian Table is scheduled for April 2021.

She has also had three short stories published in the California Writers Club – Fault Zone anthologies: Words from the Edge; Stepping up to the Edge and Over the Edge. She has received numerous writing awards including: Honorable Mention in fiction and also Runner-Up in cookbooks in the London Book Festival – 2015; Honorable Mention in fiction for A Cup of Redemption – Paris Book Festival – 2016; Bronze Medal – IPPY Award – Cover Design of A Cup of Redemption – 2016; Finalist – International Book Awards – A Cup of Redemption – Historical Fiction – 2016; Finalist – International Cookbook Awards – Recipe for Redemption – 2016 – www.carolebumpus.com

About the Book:

Join Carole Bumpus as she continues the culinary journey of Book One in Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, with her incomparable guide, Josiane, as they head north from Paris to Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Normandy, and Brittany, then drop into the Loire Valley before ending in the Auvergne.

Sample family favorites and regional delights such as Flemish Potjevlesh, Algerian-influenced chicken tagine, moules (mussels) in cider and cream, salt-encrusted Lamb Grevin, Far Brêton, and Pâté de Pomme de Terre. Enjoy the music and antics of local festivals like La Bande de Pecheur (Gang of Fisherman), Feast of St. John, and the Blessing of the Fleet. Discover the wonder of troglodyte caves, wineries, and truffle farms in the Loire Valley. Then travel to Josiane’s family home, where you, too, can discover why food and family time are considered sacred in the Auvergne. And, all along the route, witness the impact WWI and WWII on the families profiled. Even seventy-five years later, the legacy of war remains―and yet, incredibly, the gift that each generation has handed down has been gratitude and a deep understanding of the importance of family.

A compilation of personal stories, memorable moments, family secrets, and mouth-watering recipes, this French culinary travelogue is sure to find a prized place on the bookshelf of readers who love France―its food, its people, and its history.

Release Date: 20th August – available to pre-order on amazon now https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Family-Traditions-Nord-Pas-Calais/dp/1631528963/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1594906704&sr=1-2


Jul 10 2020

Kelly and the Pirates (Kelly Winchester) by Alex J Alex

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

James Bond move over Kelly Winchester has arrived!

If you’re looking for a hot sexy adventure which gives Clive Cussler a run for his money, well this is the book for you! Lieutenant Commander Kelly Winchester is an incredibly sexy vixen of a woman who makes Ian Fleming’s cool suave James Bond look like a kitten. As she warns an adversary, “I’m your worst nightmare. I’m a homicidal maniac, and my government keeps me around just so I can take care of little problems like this. I’m meaner and tougher than any man you’ve ever known. You’re just a bunch of lazy pansies compared to some of the characters I’ve run into.” Trust me she’s not exaggerating, this is one formidable woman!

This is the third book in the series, however, it easily stands alone. Kelly is beautiful and strong, and together with her adoring husband Jim they make a force to be reckoned with. In this thrilling adventure they are sent with another couple, Moretti and Kozlowski on a mission to Mogadishu in Somalia, their target the criminal Jalili, (which means Almighty in Swahili.) This shadowy character is a disgraced religious figure, with a reputation as a torturer, who leads a gang of thugs who hijack ships for ransom.

However, this time, the mission doesn’t go as planned. Kelly and Jim find themselves held for ransom by Jalili, who is incensed at the loss of so many of his men, even if it was at the hands of the notorious Winchester woman. Criminal to some, a savior to others, Kelly’s past deeds have made her a legend, and as news of her capture spreads and the jackals draw in for the kill. Each one hoping they will have her at their mercy. However, fate intervenes…

So, the adventure continues for Kelly and Jim, and what an adventure it is, as it isn’t long before they discover their enemies are catching up with them and their safety is compromised. To return they must flee across the perilous Tibetan landscape. However separated from her husband, Kelly has only the companionship of a wise Buddhist monk to see her through, and she must summon all her strength and courage to overcome adversity and survive!

Reading this gripping story, I found myself compulsively turning the pages, desperate to know what happens yet, yet dreading getting to the end. If you love a fast-paced exciting adventure with danger at every turn, wonderfully vibrant characters, and sexy scenes, then this is the book for you!

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Pirates-Winchester-Alex-J/dp/1487421109/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=kelly+and+the+pirates&qid=1594388859&sr=8-1

Jul 04 2020

Arcadia’s Children 3: Pushley’s Escape by Andrew R. Williams

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

Enter the world of Arcadia and read a spell-binding sci-fi adventure.

The author of this exciting science-fiction story, Andrew R. Williams’  ‘day job’ is a Chartered surveyor, however, by night this mild-mannered English author can be seen with his wife Geraldine staring up at the sky, watching the stars, and plotting his exciting space adventures.

Pushley’s Escape is the third book in the Arcadia’s Children series and from the very first page, the reader is hooked. As in the previous two books, the main characters are Mick Tarmy, Claire Hyndman, and Nonie Tomio. We learn that Ed Pushley is an archaeologist whose mind has been taken over by a spettro Mick Tarmy nicknamed Irrelevant. However Irrelevant has died and their minds have fused giving Ed Pushley incredible psychic powers.

Pushley has been taken captive by Alton Mygael and desperately wants to escape, and with determination, he manages to free himself from the isolation helmet. However, once free a high priest appears and announces that the Great Ones want to speak to him. These are the same beings who had condemned Irrelevant to death in the past and understandably Irrelevant’s soul is indignant. He gets Pushley to ask, why a slave now free would want to go back into bondage.  The cleric’s response is to explain that the Great Ones want to offer a genuine partnership, and he then goes on to remind him of a past event, and show him images. What will Pushley do, and what will his future hold? To tell you more would spoil the story…

This author’s imagination is beyond belief, he weaves a clever story and takes his readers on an exciting adventure as they find themselves in another world. A world which comes alive for them through his amazing penmanship which paints vivid scenes, exciting scenarios, and wonderful settings.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of science-fiction. As a fan, I couldn’t wait to read this story and I was not disappointed! This author has written a real page turner, with excitement galore, a storyline full of twists and turns and incredible characters. It is sci-fi heaven, beaming you into another world with mind control, aliens, transporters, and everything you could wish for! Oh, and if Steven Spielberg reads this, yes, it would make a wonderful movie!

About the Author:

By day mild mannered Andrew R. Williams is a chartered surveyor…. but after twilight falls, he snatches up his pen and the writing takes control. Jim’s Revenge has now been published. The Arcadia’s Children series will very shortly have a third installment. When he isn’t writing, or surveying , Andrew spends time with his wife Geraldine, staring up at the stars, and plotting eventual world domination. Don’t let that calm demeanour and easy smile fool you, oh no.

Author’s Website: https://www.arcadiaschildren.com/

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Arcadias-Children-3-Pushleys-Escape/dp/B08C8YKDPS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Jun 29 2020

Healthcare From The Trenches: An Insider Account of the Complex Barriers of U.S. Healthcare from the Providers and Patients’ Perspective by Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS, FRCSI

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

A comprehensive look at the healthcare system by a trusted professional.

Alejandro Badia, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Cuba and came to the United States with his parents in 1962. His passion for medicine is in his genes, and at a very early age, he realized it was the career for him. He studied physiology at Cornell and attained his medical degree at New York University, where he also trained in orthopedics. He is co-founder of the world-renowned Miami Anatomical Research Center (M.A.R.C) the world’s largest surgical cadaveric training lab. He then went on to completed the Badia Hand to Shoulder Center, a fully integrated clinical facility for the upper limb also encompassing the Surgery Center at Doral, rehabilitation, and an MRI imaging facility, and then he inaugurated OrthoNOW®, the first walk-in orthopedic care center in South Florida, which later became an officially licensed system. As well as incredible achievements in medical care he has studied, lectured, and taught in many countries, and has also written multiple scientific articles and book chapters in the field of small joint arthroscopy.

The author wrote this book because he passionately believes that the key participants in every healthcare transaction deserve a voice, and this is just what this book does. With such a vast experience, not only in his chosen field but also of others linked to it, the author provides his reader with in-depth information on every aspect of the healthcare system. In giving voice to so many medical professionals, and patients who share their stories on its pages, he hopes to educate others and hopefully encourage discussions to take place so that solutions can be found to restore the health system and go forward positively in the future.

As a layperson, I found the whole book fascinating. Like most people I look up to doctors and specialists with respect and admiration for the wonderful things, they achieve on a day to day basis. However, the author has done a wonderful job of allowing his reader to glimpse fly-on-the-wall like behind the scenes into the Doctor’s Lounge, the offices, committees, and careers of health professionals and the challenges they face. Through it, I learned so much and realized that the general public, on the whole, has no concept of how long hours medical professionals work, and how much paperwork and collaboration with other professionals goes on behind the scenes.

He is not shy in saying what he feels is necessary whatever the topic. The influences politics have in healthcare, hidden agendas, the workings of the health insurance companies, all are examined frankly and he offers solutions backed with solid reasoning.

Nearing the completion of this book the COVID pandemic hit the world, and its effects on the United States healthcare system and its impact on the patients and workers are discussed, and of course, this is an ongoing problem. He also examines the roles of regenerative medicine, and the anti-aging industry and with these, as other branches of the industry, he stresses the importance of comprehensive research when looking for a healthcare professional, and indicates factors which should be a priority. 

This book makes fascinating and extremely interesting reading. It contains volumes of information and solid reasoning backed up by facts and examples. Highly recommended!

About the Author:

Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS, FRCSI is a hand and upper extremity surgeon at Badia Hand to Shoulder Center in Doral, Florida. Badia studied physiology at Cornell University and obtained his medical degree at NYU, where he also trained in orthopedics. A hand fellowship at Alleghany General Hospital in Pittsburgh was followed by an AO trauma fellowship in Freiburg, Germany. He runs an international hand fellowship, serves on the board of THUES techniques journal, and previously organized a yearly Miami meeting for surgeons /therapists devoted to upper limb arthroscopy and arthroplasty. This international meeting was held at the renowned Miami Anatomical Research Center ( M.A.R.C. ) which Badia co-founded in 2005.

In 2008 he created the Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and Surgery Center at Doral while in 2010, he launched OrthoNOW, the first immediate orthopedic care center in south Florida, later franchising the concept.He is past president of the International Society for Sport Traumatology of the Hand (ISSPORTH) is a member of several orthopedic societies (AAOS, ASSH, AAHS, EWAS), honorary member of more than 10 international hand surgery and arthroscopy associations, and served as honored professor at the prestigious Philadelphia Hand Course in 2012.

Having lectured in all seven continents he is currently focused on improving healthcare delivery in the orthopedics and sports medicine realm.
Dr Badia and his team are currently focused on providing safe access to orthopedic care via their specialized telemedicine program at www.orthonowlive.com

Author’s Website https://www.drbadia.com/healthcare-from-the-trenches/

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088PSH2RL/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Jun 20 2020

Bad Love Tigers (The Bad Love Series Book 2) by Kevin L. Schewe MD

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

An incredible time travel adventure based on historical events and conspiracy.

This book, like it’s prequel Bad Love Strikes, takes the phrase “getting into a book” to a whole new dimension as the author provides his readers with an excellent playlist to listen to, linked to the events in the book, wonderfully enhancing this exciting time travel adventure.

During the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the “White Hole Project” was conceived and built.  This project is a time machine and it is housed in a top-secret deep underground bunker. Its location is adjacent to the K-25 project building, more commonly known as the Manhattan Project, the place where the world’s first nuclear bomb was built.

In Bad Love Strikes a teenage gang of the same name, discover the project and undergo a time travel mission to rescue Holocaust victims in 1944 Poland This story begins just after they have returned from their first adventure, and the gang is assembled at the White Hole Project to celebrate New Year’s Eve 1975. The music is playing, and none of them suspect that at the stroke of midnight the room would be plunged into darkness and they would be attacked by a Russian KGB agent intent on discovering the project’s secrets.

However, the agent is no match for the gang. But worryingly they realize that the incident raises the issue of possible infiltration into governmental secrets possibly going back as much as 30 years. So, they decide to go back in time to talk to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who conceived the White Hole Project, and they knew from their previous mission. When they arrive on April 12th, 1945 they receive a warm welcome from the president, at his cottage, the Little White House, adjacent to Warm Springs, Georgia.

At the meeting the gang give the president a little insight into future world events, but also discover that Russian, Chinese and Indian spies have infiltrated the project and he worries that the secrets are being stolen. President Roosevelt charges them with the task of defending the integrity and the future of not only the White Hole Project, but also top-secret Area 51 against all enemies both foreign and domestic, and gives them a new mission, code naming the undertaking the “Denver Project.”

To accomplish their mission, they must go back in time to June 1942, and deliver a note directly from the president to the trusted General Claire Chennault who commands the Flying Tigers in China. The president informs them that all the resources they need will be available to them, however, the venture entails a dangerous road trip across 1945 WWII America to Area 51, and incredibly the opportunity for the four members of the newly formed Panda Bear Flying Tigers to pilot P-40 Warhawks and take part in a truly out of this world assignment.

In conclusion:  This new adventure of the Bad Love Gang is mind-blowing, the talented author takes his readers on an incredible rollercoaster of an adventure which intermingles true historical facts and incredible moments in the past, with conspiracy theories and science fiction. Not forgetting of course that throughout there’s a sprinkling of romance, heaps of comradeship, and that all- important patriotic duty, all carried out whilst maintaining the gang’s motto “Live dangerously, have fun, don’t die!”

About the Author:

KEVIN L. SCHEWE, MD, FACRO, a resident of Denver, Colorado, is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for 32+ years. He is an entrepreneur, having founded Elite Therapeutics and Bad Love Cosmetics Company, LLC. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of a small, publicly-traded, renewable, green energy and animal feed company called VIASPACE, Inc. Bad Love Strikes is his debut novel. Bad Love Tigers, Book 2 of the Bad Love Series, released in July, 2020.

About the Book:

Fresh off their mission to rescue Holocaust victims in 1944 Poland, the Bad Love Gang assemble at the White Hole Project to celebrate New Year’s Eve 1975. At the stroke of midnight, they are ambushed by a Russian KGB agent bent on stealing the secrets of the White Hole Project. Faced with telling the authorities or going it alone, the Bad Love Gang travels back in time to meet with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) for his advice and direction. FDR appoints the Bad Love Gang to protect the future integrity and security of not only the White Hole Project, but also America’s top-secret Area 51. To accomplish FDR’s directives, the Gang must undertake a dangerous road trip across 1945 WWII America from Warm Springs, Georgia to Area 51 in Nevada. Russian, Chinese, and Indian espionage forces stand in their path. Their mission ends in June, 1942 WWII China, where at FDR’s mandate, the Bad Love Gang volunteer for the famous AVG Flying Tigers under General Claire Chennault. In the forests of southern China, they must protect the secrets of Area 51 and keep those secrets in America’s hands. Can they do it?

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Love-Tigers-Book-ebook/dp/B08B4TF5WR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=bad+love+tigers&qid=1592653041&sr=8-1

Jun 02 2020

My Kind of Guy by Paddy Bostock

Author: susan • Discussion: No Comments

An entertaining, witty political story, you just won’t want to put down!

An entertaining, witty political story, you just won’t want to put down!

I love Paddy Bostock’s witty writing style and this new book is a classic example of a clever political novel with a great plot, excellent characters, and plenty of twists and turns. The author’s brilliantly descriptive writing enables him to treat his readers to wonderful scenes, and stage incredibly funny incidents, making this another unforgettable winning story.

Retired MI6 agent Mervyn Iain Vincent, has a lot on his mind, so much indeed that mundane household maintenance just doesn’t get done, after all as a fervent greenie his days are preoccupied with global politics, the extinction of the human race and the deceitful and misleading buffoons in critical power positions throughout the world.

However, in amongst the scamming and threatening telephone calls he receives, despite being ex-directory, an intriguing call from a Lizzie Leah. Not only does she call him by his (alias) name Doctor Vincent, a name he uses at the moment because of an old Oxford doctorate in forensic anthropology, but she has lost her ‘husband’ Leo Mc Guire, and wants him to use his ‘private eye’ skills in locating him.

Well, as it turns out, Mervyn actually remembers Leo or Leon Devin as he was known to MI6, as a rookie agent drummed out of the service for bad behaviour and endangering national security. Now he begins to understand how Leo could have really ‘poof’ disappeared from sight. Indeed the son of Svetlana, an ex-secretary in Gorbachev’s Kremlin, and Sir Montmorency Devine who fled to the UK and now lives a life of privilege is actually in America, on Fifth Avenue enjoying the hospitality of Hal Schornstein, a key player in the loony incumbent’s 2020 presidential re-election campaign and a linchpin for the continuance and growth of populist unrest throughout Europe. There Leon’s heavy involvement in these right-wing activities affords this gigolo with a dangerous and busy, if complicated life.

However, when his young sister Taya requests a meeting it soon becomes evident that this misguided young man needs to be reformed, but how will they do that? Well, you will have to read the book to discover the answer to that question.

Paddy Bostock who was born in Liverpool and now lives in London. He holds a BA in Modern Languages and History, a PGDip TESL, and a PhD in English Literature. His books embrace his own unique and totally irreverent take on life and the modern political scene. This entertaining work of political fiction is an excellent example of the wonderful penmanship of this talented author.

About the Author:

Paddy Bostock was born in Liverpool and holds a B.A. in Modern Languages and History, a PGDip TESL, and a PhD in English Literature. Down the years he has been a barman, a road worker, a songwriter, an educational researcher, a translator, a book reviewer, a university lecturer and Chair of Department, and a high school mentor. He lives in London with his wife, writer Dani Cavallaro, and likes animals and bicycles.

About the Book:

Appointed by Lizzie Leah to locate her lost lover, whom she knows by the name of Leo McGuire, PI (and ex-spy) Mervyn Vincent discovers that the object of his quest is not only a gigolo with a harem of “Mrs McGuires” across the continents, but also a valuable player (real name Leon Devine) in an international right-wing cartel. Realizing that there’s more to Leon than meets the eye, Mervyn joins forces with his sister Taya, and Lizzie to reform the young man and channel his abilities into worthier causes, thereby impacting, albeit modestly, the global power machinery.

Available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Kind-Guy-Paddy-Bostock/dp/1613095783/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=