book review

August 24, 2022

Book Review: Kidnap Marilyn

In KIDNAP MARILYN, a government whistleblower reveals what could, and more importantly, should have happened to the icon.

The CIA psychologist assigned to spy on her discovers the Deep State’s assassination plot. Knowing she does not deserve to die, he goes rogue and plans her kidnapping. But how can he prevent relentless pursuers from murdering them both?

Throughout her life, Marilyn was the quintessential Me Too victim. She became intimate with John and Robert Kennedy, who tried to impress her by revealing some of this nation’s darkest secrets.

Singing “Happy Birthday, Mister President” caused an instant scandal, and they dumped her. RFK then demanded Marilyn conceal their affairs. Shocked, the jilted actress threatened to disclose the top-secret information to prove their trysts.

Central Intelligence Agency officials, determined to prevent this, assigned Dr. Dirk Mitchell to analyze her behavior. Realizing Monroe was depressed and drug dependent, he recommended she be abducted and taken to an Agency’ black site’ where he could employ hypnotic techniques to remove any memories of classified information.

But when CIA officials instead planned her assassination, he decided to risk his own life to save her. Mitchell then discovered that an erstwhile Marilyn impersonator had just died of a drug overdose and staged a body swap. During their escape attempt, Mitchell must employ his secret agent skills to outsmart would-be assassins while treating Monroe’s mental problems and resisting her amorous overtures.

The scenario described herein is consistent with the known facts of this epic mystery.

The author received numerous classified assignments and prestigious awards during his career. He also worked with CIA and FBI operatives, including one that knew RFK. But to avoid becoming a whistleblower again, he presents this information in a novel.

His first book, Silent Knights: Blowing the Whistle on Military Accidents and Their Coverups, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and he has appeared on numerous programs such as CNN State of the Union, Fox News Sunday, and BBC Witness History.

John J. Nance, New York Times best-selling author, says:

“A fast, exciting, and thought-provoking read. Dr. Alan Diehl has cleverly crafted the known elements of Marilyn Monroe’s reported demise with a second and third layer of probability that suggests a very different conclusion. This is a tightly woven tale of intrigue, and one you will not want to put down, even at 3 AM.”

Joseph Badal, Amazon #1 Best Selling Author of the Danforth Saga series, says:

“Kidnap Marilyn has it all: iconic characters, intrigue, tension, and a proposed solution to a conspiracy that will make you question everything you have ever read about Marilyn Monroe’s death. This is a thriller that you will not be able to put down.”

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Alan E. Diehl, PhD, is a former US government investigator, whistleblower and acclaimed author whose views are often sought by the media and officials. He reveals what could and more importantly should have happened to the icon. While this book was inspired by real events it is historical fiction. In Dr. Diehl’s book #Marilyn Monroe doesn’t die but in fact is abducted by a CIA agent, who wanted the agency to use their MK-Ultra techniques to erase her memories of the secret information the Kennedy brothers had given her rather than kill her. The book is a lot like Quentin Tarantino’s blockbuster movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” where actress Sharon Tate escapes death.

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August 17, 2022

Book Review: All The Rivers Flow Into The Sea by Khanh Ha

Author of Mrs. Rossi’s Dream, a 2019 Foreword Reviews INDIES Silver and Bronze Winner (War & Military Adult Fiction); and A Mother’s Tale & Other Stories, a Foreword Reviews INDIES Bronze Winner 

From Vietnam to America, this story collection, jewel-like, evocative and layered, brings to the readers a unique sense of love, passions and the tragedy of rape, all together contrasting a darker theme of perils. The titular story captures a simple love story that transcends cultural barriers. The opening story “A Woman-Child” brings the shy eroticism of adolescence set against a backdrop of the seaside with its ever present ecological beauty. A youthful love affair between an older American man and a much younger Vietnamese girl has its poignant brevity in “All the Pretty Little Horses.” In “The Yin-Yang Market” magical realism and the beauty of innocence abounds in deep dark places, teeming with life and danger. “A Mute Girl’s Yarn” tells a magical coming-of-age story like sketches in a child’s fairy book.

Bringing together the damned, the unfit, the brave who succumb by their own doing to the call of fate, their desire to survive never dying, it is a great journey to inhabit this world where redemption of human goodness arises out of violence and beauty to become part of its essential mercy.

Review:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Having read one of Khanh Ha’s books before, I knew his writing style is going to leave an impact on me, at least for a few days, with the melancholic plots and stories with very real and relatable characters. This book and its short stories are no different too. I particularly enjoy Khanh’s stories, as they depict struggles the Vietnamese face, from the time of war and its impact post-war. The everyday lives of people are filled with sadness, contentment, and a mixture of feelings that leave you feeling sad.

I like how each story, like the one in The Woman-Child, reflects the life of a young girl, and how being born into a poor family, she yearns to go to school, and also perceives Americans to be rich in general. Overall, I loved reading these stories and I would highly recommend it if you would love to explore different cultures and the impact wars have on people.

August 14, 2022

Book Review: Entrepreneurial Mindset by Eric Cominski Jr.

Pеrfесtіоn is thе еnеmу оf progress-It’s a familiar арhоrіѕm thаt nobody understands better thаn еntrерrеnеurѕ. Yоung оr іnеxреrіеnсеd еntrерrеnеurѕ mіght gеt саught up іn сhаѕіng thеіr оrіgіnаl vision bесаuѕе original vіѕіоnѕ are аlmоѕt invariably “реrfесt.” But perfection іѕn’t necessary to run a ѕuссеѕѕful аnd рrоfіtаblе business. In fасt, perfection іѕ often whаt ѕtаllѕ progress. Thе tіmе уоu spend trying tо hаmmеr dоwn thоѕе last fеw details іѕ lіkеlу gоіng to еnd uр аѕ tіmе wasted. Instead, ѕреnd уоur еffоrtѕ оn the bіg рісturе, and mаkе sure іt’ѕ solid. This is juѕt thе bеgіnnіng. Entrерrеnеurѕhір is аbоut ѕоlvіng рrоblеmѕ аnd buіldіng nеw thіngѕ. Entrерrеnеurѕhір is important еѕресіаllу nоwаdауѕ whеn we have tо learn hоw tо ореrаtе іn аn increasingly changing wоrld. It includes both a mіndѕеt роіnt оf view, whеrе problems аrе seen аѕ орроrtunіtіеѕ and fаіlurеѕ аѕ learning experiences and ѕkіllѕ thаt hеlр уоu lеаrn to ѕоlvе рrоblеmѕ and build ѕоmеthіng nеw. Practicing entrepreneurial аttіtudеѕ аnd аbіlіtіеѕ аrе useful еvеn if уоu аrе not уеt looking tо ѕtаrt your оwn buѕіnеѕѕ. They help you to ѕее thе challenges of wоrk and life more dіvеrѕеlу, and аlѕо tо ѕоlvе рrоblеmѕ thаt wоuld bе dіffісult оr even іmроѕѕіblе tо ѕоlvе uѕіng trаdіtіоnаl mеаnѕ. If уоu fіnd a problem, a ѕоlutіоn, a mаrkеt, аnd a tеаm thаt trulу іnѕріrеѕ уоu, уоu саn аlѕо соnѕіdеr ѕtаrtіng уоur own buѕіnеѕѕ. Entrерrеnеurѕhір іѕ a grеаt adventure and оnе оf thе mоѕt rewarding еxреrіеnсеѕ іn уоur life. At іtѕ bеѕt, іt саn bring significant орроrtunіtіеѕ fоr success. At thе vеrу least, іt provides еxреrіеnсеѕ fоr learning and development that wоuld оthеrwіѕе bе unlіkеlу to оссur. Developing an entrepreneurial mіndѕеt іѕ nоt a оnе-mоnth project. You have tо ѕtау committed tо іt for thе rest of уоur lіfе. Unlосk уоur grеаtеѕt роtеntіаl whіlе dеаlіng wіth the іnеvіtаblе сhаllеngеѕ that еntrерrеnеurѕhір wіll brіng уоur way. All you nееd to dо is ѕtау focused аnd committed to уоur gоаlѕ and long-term vіѕіоn. Fіnd the motivation to keep gоіng аnd grоwіng, even whеn nоthіng ѕееmѕ tо bе going уоur wау. Thіѕ іѕ what bеіng an еntrерrеnеur аnd running a buѕіnеѕѕ іѕ аll аbоut. Entrерrеnеurѕ are not born but саn асԛuіrе еntrерrеnеurіаl skills (mіndѕеt) bу rеаdіng books, оbѕеrvіng ѕuссеѕѕful еntrерrеnеurѕ, оr having formal соасhіng ѕеѕѕіоnѕ. Thеу learn by doing аnd іn the process, a fеw mіndѕеt сhаngеѕ, bеlіеfѕ gеt erased аnd nеw оnеѕ gеt embedded. Thеу fосuѕ аlwауѕ on thе bіg рісturе and do nоt gеt bogged bу a fеw missteps that сrеаtеd hurdlеѕ.

Fаіlurе іѕ nоt a cause оf dеѕроndеnсу but еnlіghtеnmеnt. Mіlеѕ tо go, mіlеѕ to gо аnd thе еntrерrеnеurіаl jоurnеу has no end.

Review:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

It is a short book consisting of about 102 pages. You can finish reading this book in one sitting. As an entrepreneur and a father himself, Eric has shared his journey in the world of entrepreneurship, and shared some of the insights he learned. Although some of the key aspects of the book may feel familiar, as all entrepreneurs somehow go through similar paths that are very much relatable, what makes this compact book different from the others is the sharing of his views on entrepreneurship as a father and what comes Eric’s way while striving to achieve his goals in business.

The book covered several important aspects like mental health of an entrepreneur, how to have the right mindset and how every individual can leverage their strength to define entrepreneurship in their own way, as unique and unconventional solutions to problems are what the world often needs. The book also touched on handling failure and how this can be done in a graceful way, as entrepreneurs would surely bump into situations that would challenge their faith in achieving success. Apart from that, what goals mean differs to every entrepreneur and Eric also has guided readers on how to define goalsetting for themselves.

There are two chapters on mental health that could have been combined as they are quite relevant to one another – this would ensure the consistency in the presentation of idea. Apart from that, the general definitions of entrepeneur, mental health and etc., could have been omited as people who are reading the book most likely are aware of the general definition of them already.

Overall, it is a joyable short book that would surely make you rethink your entrepreneurial journey.

August 1, 2022

Book Review: The Urban Boys – Discovery of the Five Senses by K. N. Smith

Blurb:

Welcome or unwelcome. Fate has arrived.

“A captivating and poetic tale of mystery, fantasy, and reality tied together by action!” 5-stars, Lars Jackson, Amazon Customer

A suspenseful incident in a forbidden preserve heightens the senses of five friends. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become super-gifts that forever change the world. But furious battles confront the boys as they try to understand their sensory super powers in a race to save mankind. With light beings and mysterious strangers complicating their plight, will the boys defeat the evil Druth before it’s too late? Get prepared for the twisting and grinding of this award-winning, action-adventure story — an edge-of-your-seat narrative for young and mature readers alike.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Review:

It felt kind of like Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five – it brings back the memories of reading good YA books. I have never read any books with the main characters having their senses heightened and that was something totally new to me.

It is a story of five friends; five different characters who decided to take a stroll into a forest they were told never to go to by their parents. As they explore the forest, they come across super natural incidents of exploding balls of light, where their senses were heightened. Each one of them has a different sense heightened. With this newfound ability, the boys also take on the responsibility to fight crimes that happen in the vicinity of their town. What follows is a series of suspense and thriller as the boys combat evil and the challenges that come their way.

The story is a little long-winded and flowery, for me but the storyline is not that easy to figure out, which makes the story interesting. There are also descriptive writings in the book, which may not interest some readers, especially the young ones. However, over all it is an enjoyable read and the heightened senses were quite compelling.

May 17, 2022

Book Review: They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark

Blurb:

They were just kids, barely not teenagers, madly in love and wanting to be a family, but WW2 got in their way. Three hundred ten days before Pearl Harbor, buck private Dean Sherman innocently went to church with a new friend in Salt Lake City. From that moment, the unsuspecting soldier travelled a remarkable, heroic path, falling in love, graduating from demanding training to become a B29 pilot, conceiving a son and entering the China, Burma and India theater of the WW2. He chronicled his story with letters home to his bride Connie that he met on that fateful Sunday, blind to the fact that fifteen hundred seventy-five days after their meeting, a Japanese swordsman would end his life. His crew, a gaggle of Corporals that dubbed themselves the Corporalies, four officers and a tech Sargent, adventured their way across the globe. Flying the “Aluminum Trail” also called the Hump through the Himalayas, site of the most dangerous flying in the world. Landing in China to refuel and then fly on to places like Manchuria, Rangoon or even the most southern parts of Japan to drop 500 pounders. Each mission had its challenges, minus fifty-degree weather in Mukden, or Japanese fighters firing away at them, a close encounter of the wrong kind, nearly missing a collision with another B29 while flying in clouds, seeing friends downed and lost because of “mechanicals,” the constant threat of running out of fuel and their greatest fear, engine fire. Transferred to the Mariana Islands, he and his crew were shot down over Nagoya, Japan as part of Mission 174, captured and declared war criminals. Connie’s letters reveal life for a brand-new mother whose husband is declared MIA. The agony for both of them; he in a Japanese prison, declared a war criminal, and she just not knowing why his letters stopped coming. Lilliyana Shadowlyn’s review: This was an amazing book. This isn’t a look at war through rose colored glasses, but one that shows the reader what life was like for people from many backgrounds. A soldier, his love left behind on the home front, and those that were considered the enemy at the time. This was an intimate story that doesn’t focus only on the war and pulls the reader in quickly and easily. Historical fiction lovers, those with an interest in war history, and anyone just looking to take a few steps back in time will greatly enjoy reading this. Another reviewer explains: “I am a fan of historical fiction and this story did not disappoint. It was sweet, tragic, personal, and moving. Gradually and almost imperceptibly, the story of two wartime sweethearts begins circling the drain of a tragedy you know is coming. The book begins with the ending, but by the time you get there you have convinced yourself that it can’t possibly be the case. I enjoyed every moment, even the ones that left me in tears. The letters between Connie and Dean provided a fascinating glimpse into wartime life. Reading the experiences of people both at home and abroad was very engaging. I found myself eagerly awaiting the next letter, right along with the young couple! Lastly, the book left me with an overwhelming acknowledgement of the universal trauma and tragedy of war. The Sherman’s are not the only family we meet in the book and the weaving together of several different narratives added a depth to the story that’s hard to put into words. I definitely encourage anyone to read this book, especially if historical novels are not something you typically read. This is a story about people and you won’t want it to end.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Review:

If you love reading stories from the past and those on wars, you will enjoy this story. I love how the letters between Connie and Dean depict the love between them, the losses, yearnings and hard time during war. The letters are the real letters the couple sent to each other during the war. A mix between fictional story and true events based on research, this story hooks readers of the modern world, especially in the post
pandemic time, when we have gone through separation and pain, that can evoke the emotions people would have felt back in World War 2. It also beautifully depicts the challenges soldiers go through in their
daily lives, one that is full of emotional pain and the anxiousness in not knowing what is to come next in life, given the uncertain nature of war. As Connie becomes a mother, her husband goes through a difficult time and the letter exchange between them abruptly stops. This is when the readers are brought into a real emotional roller coaster.

May 8, 2022

Book Review: José and the Pirate Captain Toledano

Set in the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, this is the coming-of-age story of José Alfaro, a young refugee who forms a powerful bond with the mysterious Pirate Captain Toledano. It’s also a dynamic pirate adventure on the high seas, with hand-to-hand combat and ship-to-ship action, and the powerful story of a dark time in history when people took different paths to survive.

José Alfaro is a cocky, rambunctious teen in the 16th-century colony of Santo Domingo, pulling pranks and dodging the authorities. One day, José’s mischief lands him in serious trouble.

Hoping for a fresh start, he stows away on the Laqish, not knowing that it’s a pirate ship. From his hiding place, he watches the pirates divide their loot and plan their attacks on long days at sea. He also takes note of the respect they have for their captain, the intimidating Toledano.

But the captain has a secret―like José, he is a Jew. For him, piracy is not about the gold; it has a different purpose.

Under the tutelage of the ship’s quartermaster, José learns the intricacies of pirate life. But when he can, the captain finds ways to pull José away from the crew, to teach him about his ancestors.

José finds his community. His place. His voice. His purpose.

This is a pirate story, but also a story of survival―a story of a young man’s deep need to know who he is, where he comes from, and where he’s going.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A great read for kids who love reading about pirates and histories. I think it is suitable for older school kids due to the length of the book, which is close to 100 pages, but it has interesting illustrations to keep the kids invested in the reading process right until the end. I love how the author has chosen to explain about the Jewish culture in ways that kids would understand and this is an excellent way to introduce cultures to kids. If you are Jewish or would want to expose your kids to new culture, this is an excellent read.

April 12, 2022

Remembering You: A Novel Inspired by True Events by Anthony Jordan

Hi, I’m Anthony Jordan. As a young child, I enjoyed and played a variety of sports. And as a young adult, I still enjoy sports, and being a coach has been one of the things that brought me joy. I’ve always had a passion for writing, although I didn’t know it would lead me down this current path, especially because I acquired my degree in business management. As a young adult, the challenges I have experienced in recent years have increased my desire to share my experiences to inspire and encourage others. My new novel ‘Remembering You’ was born out of my tremendous grief of losing my fiancé and a desire to bring self-healing. My new direction is to continue writing, doing philanthropy work, traveling the world, and sharing my experiences.

Blurb:

Facing one setback after another, Jordan, known as ‘J’ in this novel, finds himself confronted with the past showing up in his present life in a way that shattered his life into pieces.

J takes you on a journey of life still in the game based on true events of failures, trauma, love, and tragic loss, and the will to self-reflect to find one’s passion.

There were many coffee visits to my mother’s house, but one turned out to be one I would never forget. Mid conversation, I stopped to show my mom a funny meme from a social media platform when a post in my feed made my stomach drop. Confused, I saw a picture of my fiancé, Angelica, with a black ribbon on the side of the picture.

“WTF?!” was all I could think. In disbelief, I went to Angelica’s page and saw multiple posts saying she was gone, no longer on this Earth.

Four days had passed without any communication between the two of us. The last time we spoke was via text message while attending a football game with my father. We had moments when we would give each other space, but this silence was different. To randomly find out why she was not responding to my daily messages was that she was dead? A gulp trickled to my heart. Though I struggled to breathe, I covered my mouth, trying to make sense of this image.

How could this be?
What happened to her?
Who can I speak with to confirm if this post is true?

Six months before our wedding, she was gone. The woman I had fallen in love with, the one that brought me light and joy, had left me standing in my mother’s kitchen heartbroken and confused about what caused her death.

Review:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A painful read right from the first page as I got reminded of my friend’s death that came through my social media feed a few years ago, leaving me confused and dejected. I could relate to the sudden death and getting to know it through social media. J shared a very meaningful connection with Angelica and I could feel his emotions and love that he had for her in this book. It leaves me feeling sad and painful for the author for having lost his girlfriend. What left me feeling confused is how a person can camouflage pain despite seeming to be doing good on the outside. Nevertheless, I am happy for J for having met Angelica in his life and for having shared a love that is deep enough for him to carry through his life.

March 15, 2022

Book Review: Mom of Two – Study case: Erik and gluten-free life at 3 years old

Catalina brought us along to walk down the memory lane, as she struggled with her toddler who is gluten intolerant and how she found ways that worked for her in replacing gluten products in the home and family meals, and how they had to avoid restaurants that are not catering to the needs of Erik’s diet. I do believe that this book provides an overview of what parents should be aware of when they have kids needing special diet, not just in terms of the dietary needs but also the mental preparation that parents can expect along the way.

February 12, 2022

Book Review: Never Quit Climbing by Gary Sinclair

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I like how Gary brings us with his climbing journeys, relate them with his own personal struggles and suggests how those challenges and key takeaway messages can be incorporated into our lives, no matter what we are going through. I personally feel that Gary’s love for climbing teaches him to embrace the uncertainties in life and that trains him to feel comfortable with challenges. I think it is an excellent way of looking at toughening ourselves up by being open to carrying out difficult activities in life as it gives a feedback to our body of what we are capable of handling in life.

A great read and I enjoyed reading this book.

February 9, 2022

Book Review: Time and the Tree by Róisín Sorahan

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Róisín very creatively weaved a story filled with interesting characters that teach important life lessons. The Time and the Tree has two important characters in it, The Boy and Time. The character development adds to the whimsical plot and lyrical writing, .making readers feel like they are reliving the experiences reading Aesop’s Fables.

The Time and The Tree mostly has healthy arguments on life, making readers ponder upon their own lives. I felt like I was watching an animated movie with these characters breathing life to the story. If you have been struggling with life, especially in this post pandemic world, this book will encourage you to relook at life from an honest point of view, and help you live a truthful life.