Books Reviews

Book Reviews – 3 Young Adult Books for Fall

Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What to Do About It

Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What to Do About It

In this book, written by Daniel Knowles, the Author combines history, economics, and reportage as he traces the forces and decisions that normalized cars and cemented our reliance on them. From smog, accidents and all the bad things a car brings despite its best intentions, we look at communities around the world who thrive despite few people owning cars. Some chapter titles in this book are – Detroit Breakdown, Why You Can’t Beat Traffic, Gas Guzzler Nation, Go East: Lessons from Japan and more!

Available on Amazon – publish date March 28, 2023

Drawing the Vote: A Graphic Novel History for Future Voters

Drawing the Vote: A Graphic Novel History for Future Voters

In Drawing the Vote, written by Tommy Jenkins, we look at the history of voting rights in the United States and how it affects the way we vote today. It looks at our last results of the 2020 presidential election and the factors that shaped it, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6 insurrection. It is a comic style book for middle school and up.

Available on Amazon – publish revised date August 30, 2022

War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line

War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line

In this book, written by David Nott, A frontline trauma surgeon tells his “riveting” true story of operating in the world’s most dangerous war zones (The Times). From Sarajevo under siege in 1993 to clandestine hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, he has carried out lifesaving operations in the most challenging conditions, and with none of the resources of a major metropolitan hospital. Some Chapter titles of this book include – The Bomb Factory, Damage Control, Trauma School, Sniper City and more.

Available on Amazon – publish date March 3, 2020

Books Reviews, Giveaways

Devotional Review – Clear Mind,Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & Giveaway

Devotional Review - Clear Mind,Peaceful Heart

If you are like me, your thoughts are the loudest at night as you settle into bed and try hard to fall asleep. I am an over thinker, I feel things most at night and it can make settling down real hard. New York Times best-selling author Lysa TerKeurst and her friends at Proverbs 31 Ministries wrote this devotional, Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart, to help those like us find relief from the stress of daily obligations and pressures through 50 encouraging devotions and guided prayers. It is a simple read we can do at night to close our day.

Book Synopsis

What lies heaviest on your heart as you lay your head on your pillow? Are paralyzing fear and anxiety stealing tomorrow’s peace? Listen to this invitation from Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Experiencing this kind of rest won’t come from escapism, more vacation days, or stuffing our feelings. Jesus Himself provides rest to our weary souls. While He may not always fix everything right away, we can fix our thoughts on His Word. In doing this, we can sleep at night with ease knowing that God has it all under control.

What is better than some devotionals than a way to quiet fearful and anxious thoughts that always seem to be the loudest before bedtime by incorporating the Bible into your nightly routine? A cup of coffee in the morning! I have teamed up with Harper Collins Christian Publishing to giveaway a $5 Starbucks gift card after learning about this new book release!

Buy the Book – Amazon

Lear more about the Book & Author – Clear Mind Peaceful Heart

Enter the $5 Starbucks Giveaway BELOW!

Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Books Reviews

Book Review – NAPLES 1343: The Unexpected Origins of the Mafia

NAPLES 1343: The Unexpected Origins of the Mafia

NAPLES 1343: The Unexpected Origins of the Mafia by Professor of Medieval History Amedeo Feniello

Available November 12, 2024 at AmazonBarnes & NobleWalmart

Details: 1343: there is famine in Naples. After nightfall, a Genoese ship loaded with wheat is attacked by members of two local clans who brutally kill several sailors and their captain. The attackers returned to the city, greeted by the cheers of their countrymen, and the blind eye of the authorities. The Republic of Genoa presented the Kingdom of Naples with a formal protest against the incident. But, in a historical document of great importance today, King Charles I of Anjou admitted he did not control his own city, that the true rulers of Naples were the “family.”

When you think of the Mafia, you mat not go back to the 1300’s or think of Italy as a land of invasions at that time. This book looks at the history of Italy in the way that introduces family alliance as far back as ever known before in a time where resistance was a way of life in that country. These families were participating in the business of the royal family and serving as a new class of directors, officers, and bureaucrats. Whether you are intrigued by the history of the mafia or Italy’s history, the Author does a great job in his balance of both. It could otherwise be titles: The Forgotten History or Italy.

You can pre-order a copy today for its November release.

Books Reviews

YA Book Review – Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up

YA Book Review - Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up

New with Chronicle Books Publishing is Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up by Jenn Bishop. This is a great book for young athletes or all tween/teen readers. Young readers will get real emotions, family struggles, and insecurities driven by the tension of middle school sports in this book

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Synopsis

Cincinnati, Ohio, lives and dies by college basketball, with two elite Division I rivals separated by a mere three miles. Rory’s dad just secured a new coaching gig at the University of Cincinnati, so it means yet another school and move for her, only this time to her dad’s hometown. Rory’s life revolves around basketball; she’s never had a close friend outside of it. Could this be a chance for a fresh start?

Abby has always lived in Cincinnati, where her dad grew up playing ball and now coaches at Xavier University. But Abby has recently retreated from basketball after a frustrating season that left her confidence in shambles. This year, she finds herself on the outside looking in when it comes to her former teammates, and she could seriously use a new friend.    

The coaches’ daughters connect over their shared love of the game when Abby chaperones Rory on her first day of school. But when Abby’s dad practically forbids their friendship because of something that happened between him and Rory’s dad when they were younger, Abby and Rory have no choice but to move their budding friendship underground.

Can the two of them get to the bottom of what went down between their dads in the 1990s before history repeats itself?

Available for pre-order today on Amazon! Release date is October 24, 2023.