“Sunshine Laughing” is a book of poems that have an amazing depth and breath. I have never read poems that were so transforming and breathtaking. There are such wonderful illustrations in this poetry book. Some are by Anna-Marie Fuller and others are by her husband, Peter.

This compilation of poems is written in eloquent verses. After reading the poems, I felt so full of profound philosophical contemplations, thoughts, and raw emotion. Being a philosopher myself, these poems resonated with me to the core of my being. I was transformed by these poems in unimaginable ways.

“Sunshine Laughing” is a graceful examination of the human condition, which includes our hopes, fears, happiness, and sadness. These poems will make the reader smile one time and cry another. It is a compilation of poems that really transform that I will treasure for a long time.

Every poem serves as a gateway into the author’s soul, providing the deepest insights into her deepest longings, challenges, and successes. Fuller’s words will summon an authentic resonance, which ranges from existential contemplations on the mysteries of the cosmos through sentimental childhood recollections.

Moreover, in each verse, Fuller’s vibrant imagery depicts abstract landscapes of thought and emotion. Every individual composition is a meticulously crafted tapestry of linguistic elements, designed to elicit deep sentiments from the reader.

“Sunshine Laughing” serves as a testimony to the lasting impact and brilliance of Anna-Marie Fuller’s poems. Despite this fact, she has left our wonderful world, her poetry will have a lasting impact for many generations to come. This book does homage to the life and brilliance of Anna Marie Fuller. Fuller’s poetry has a grace and charm that you can only experience by reading and re-reading her poems. I fully admit to reading the book three times. I just couldn’t get enough of it.

An unforgettable and mesmerizing book of poetry!  The title of the book captures the essence of the book as well. Just simply a tour de force!

Irene Roth

Denizens of The Crystal by Black Fire

Black Fire’s Denizens of the Crystal transports readers into a spellbinding tapestry of power struggles, deception, and the profound power of forgiveness, all set in a masterfully crafted world of magic and mystery.

This is a story about a group of undead individuals who find themselves bound to the service of a powerful wizard. The storyline takes readers on a dark and twisted journey through a world where the lines between life and death are blurred.

Different people from all different walks of life have made a pact with a mysterious robed wizard. In exchange, they agree to give up their lives for a life of servitude under the wizard. These people have been transformed into creatures known as denizens.

One would think that they may escape hell. However, that’s not the case. They’re still being tormented.

Black Fire’s world-building skills are nothing short of captivating, offering a mesmerizing glimpse into a fantastical universe. From the moment readers step foot into this enchanting universe, they will be enveloped in a sense of wonder and intrigue that lingers long after the last page is turned and the last word read.  

The characters were also mesmerizing. I felt as though I was right there alongside the characters, breathing in the scent of magic and adventure. The book’s exploration of the undead characters’ existence is particularly interesting and intriguing. It’s like nothing that I ever read before. Instead of being mere mindless minions, the denizens are portrayed as complex individuals with feeling, emotions, grudges and much more.

Denizens of the Crystal is a captivating and thrilling horror story that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and supernatural fiction. It will transport the reader into the world of the occult. It is a story that is unique and yet so entrancing. With its compelling characters and suspenseful plot, this novel is a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and immersive supernatural adventure. I couldn’t stop reading it until the last word.

Irene Roth

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Denizens-Crystal-Black-Fire-ebook/dp/B0CTXVD43P/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W_im9Y4wp48Qt_vmY_thU6Dd5nbDXd7DiuKlQk4LO-xULAbRYySDxgqz4163AitxBIvhhXp70XQIfFwumlyWF3gBASXuxXwZzqJ4Ep25jjEM-EbtYakqHC1juoWJEx_P.S2enm-l2e6Ub2riluJP6SDehk7SCyBvK1NKLU8N3ehQ&qid=1710426074&sr=8-1

This is a suspense thriller story about how hatred and deception can turn any relationship into a dangerous web of lies and murder.

Maddy intensely dislikes her stepsister, Felicity. She schemes and is selfish. All she can think of is herself. But circumstances seemingly change Maddy’s view towards Felicity.

Surprisingly, Maddy travels from Washington, D.C. all the way down to New Orleans to attend her stepsister’s murder trial. Why does she do this? Is it because Maddy really wants to give her moral support, given that her stepmother can’t attend the trial? Or is it to gloat?

If things weren’t complicated enough, during the trial, Maddy learns that Felicity’s daughter, Danielle, was kidnapped a while back and is missing. However, Felicity seems to be indifferent to her daughter’s disappearance. This raises all kinds of questions. Could it be because Felicity is occupied with her trial? Or is it something else?

Regardless, Maddy undertakes the task of trying to find Danielle. She starts a cross-country search for her niece through an ex-detective, Peter O’Toole. Can he find Danielle alive? Did Felicity commit murder? There are so many questions and no answers but instead presents more and more intrigue.

As the story progresses, Detective O’Toole adds even more spice to the story. He makes the reader wonder if there is an attraction growing between him and Maddie. The camaraderie between them seems quite beautiful. It certainly kept me drawn to the story even more. O’Toole seems a lot more than an objective detective. He seems to have feelings of compassion for Maddy.

The reader is taken on a plot line like no other. The characters are complicated and undermining. No one ever knows where their true allegiances lie or what they are up to until the very last page. This is the mark of a master storyteller.

I love a page turner like this. It is a story that has so much suspense that I was sitting at the edge of my seat the whole time. I started reading the book in the evening, and I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it. I can’t wait to read more stories by Caroline Taylor.

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Killers-Stepsister-Caroline-Taylor-ebook/dp/B0CCCCGQNK?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Suzanna’s Escape is a riveting story that will keep the reader reading right to the very last page and word. It is a story that will also linger with the reader. It was a quick read, but then there were the ruminations in my mind about the story afterwards.

The themes of this story are betrayal from unexpected people and loss. As I was reading this story, I couldn’t help getting emotional. I wondered why people who are supposed to care suddenly don’t, especially in this kind of drastic way.

The story revolves around Suzanna Fyfield, who is a tenacious of the catastrophic ‘Empress of Incognita’ starship wreck. Suzanna is stranded on the planet of Arcadia. But her existence takes a harrowing turn as she becomes trapped by enigmatic beings known as the Great Ones, whose motives are shrouded in malevolence.

Surprisingly, Suzanna is separated from her partner, Rob Kinfrank. In the process, she learns about a side of him she had never known about. Rob’s is a manipulator like no other she has ever known. His mastery with deceit and his potential for murder cast a real shadow on the man she thought she knew. As Rob becomes entangled in a dangerous mission which was created by the Great Ones, Suzanna finds an opportunity to break free from her captors and charts a new destiny for herself.

The unfolding story is a rollercoaster of suspense, each character grappling with their own inner demons while confronting the enigmatic enigmas of Arcadia. Williams demonstrates his excellence in creating a story where escape is just the first step on the road to a dangerous path to freedom. Each paragraph and chapter pulled me further into the suspense of the story.

The development of the characters is interwoven with a complex plot that will keep readers wondering what will happen next. Williams has created a universe where deception and survival are intertwined, delivering a stimulating and thrilling escapade.

This is another addition to the Arcadia’s Children series. Williams’ story masterfully combines science fiction, intrigue, and adventure. Every story that I have read by Williams over the years is better than the previous one.

This story is a riveting story that will make you think and wonder what’s real and what isn’t at a time when there is so much at stake. I loved the story and I can’t wait until the next one Williams writes. Andrew Williams is indeed a master storyteller!

Teaching Machines How to Cry is a thought-provoking and moving story about humanity’s search for purpose and meaning in a digital world. It is an impersonal world. Computers can do a lot. But it’s hard to envision a machine that will express emotions. Yet, it is not out of the realm of possibility, as this story poignantly shows.

This story opens up with Alba, returning to her hometown, Porto, to pursue a wonderful job opportunity. Yet during this time, she is grappling with an unexplainable void within her. Despite all her supportive friends and family, Alba continues to struggle with an inexhaustible angst that has gripped her like an elastic band that just won’t let go, but get’s tighter as time moves on.

The story takes the reader through Alba’s past life and how she struggled with illness during her childhood. She even had to have surgery when she was a child. Alba also had a friend called M, an Al-prototype. Her friendship with M as a child is the last time that she recalls feeling truly whole. As she tries to bridge the gap between her emotional life and her current life that feels so empty, she can’t help but yearn for M so that she can feel whole again.

Unexpectedly, Alba has a passionate love affair. But tragedy tests her already frayed emotional resilience. While she is trying to catch her breath, she relies on the memory of M as a way of sustaining her and giving her the strength that she needs to endure this situation.

When M miraculously surfaces in Alba’s life, the story takes an even more unexpected turn, challenging her perception of reality. The author does a splendid job of weaving the themes of identity, love, and belonging, as well as the negative impact of AI on our lives.

This story raises a lot of profound questions about what it means to be a person in a world that is increasingly dominated by technology. It can be argued that technology makes us feel empty so that we struggle to make sense of the world, much less ourselves. It’s almost as if we ellipse into the world that is increasingly taking us further away from ourselves and all that is meaningful.

I find technology dangerous to all human beings, but especially unreflective ones. And this novel shows some of the real dangers of technology, when our reality and who we are as individuals gets intermingled in such a way that we start to lose a sense of who we truly are. And when we don’t know who we are, we start relying on forces that are beyond our grasp to tell us things about ourselves that are not necessarily true.

When it comes to our emotions, they are unique to each of us. They are part of our personality and who we truly are. So, I don’t believe that machines can replicate them. This is one of the reasons why I was so intrigued by the title of this book.

This book will resonate with any individual who wonders about the impact of AI on our overall emotional well-being. It is a story that will force the reader to think about how we even got to where we are now. It’s like we blinked and AI is taking over our lives.

Irene Roth

Website:https://www.paulahidalgosanchis.com

Purchase link:

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Machines-how-Paula-Hidalgo-Sanchis-ebook/dp/B0CH45Z63K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

This is an extraordinary book. It is written as a series of letters from another galaxy to earth and their interactions. The letters are as deep as they are unique. Each letter has its own texture and nuance, making this a wonderful read from start to finish.

This a riveting book that skillfully talks about an interaction between the galaxy and Earth. As chaos ensues during a full moon night in a maximum-security prison, the story takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a massive hovering ship. Abduction, panic, and a dash for survival thrust Bill into an unimaginable world.

Radich’s detailed accounts within the diary showcase the intricacies of his interactions with the alien beings, who converse in English and share Earth’s history of broadcasting into the cosmos. Jimmy Cutler also stumbles upon a surreal sight in the Australian outback. He sees a ship shimmering as if in illusion. This entire scene is puzzling yet ponderous. It propels the reader to keep on reading.

His disbelief transforms into humour as he mistakes the event for a Hollywood movie set. But when he engages with the enigmatic visitor named Frank, the situation turns chillingly real. What lies behind the shimmering ship? What motives guide these aliens? These are all questions that you will answer as you read this wonderful book. So, I don’t want to give away the answers.

This is a very detailed and well-constructed book that has a suspenseful narrative style, forcing readers to question the implications of these intergalactic encounters. Each chapter reveals another layer of mystery, drawing readers deeper into a tale where the ordinary and the extraordinary converge.

This book promises the reader a journey like no other. It is way beyond the stars, captivating readers with the allure of the unknown. With each page, the story beckons, hinting at the profound truths that await discovery. And there is so much more to discover.

I love the title of the book. But it doesn’t do any justice to the actual story, which is even more ponderous, unique, and riveting. Get ready for a read like no other.

https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Another-Galaxy-Steven-Radich-ebook/dp/B0CFRJ27KB/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1692904026&refinements=p_27%3ASteven+Radich&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Steven+Radich/

Sister Lost by Heather Hancock

This is a very captivating story by the debut writer Heather Hancock. Hancock’s style is so engaging and inspiring that I had a hard time putting the book down. And even after I finished reading the story, I kept thinking about it.

Through the story, the reader is sent on an emotional journey like no other. I love the Christian contemporary format for this type of story. It really works. It turns out to be a work of redemption.

Claire Langstrom has chosen a life of solitude. During this time, she embarks on a quest for self-discovery and healing when a surprising revelation arrives from her grandmother. It uncovers a lot of hidden secrets and unfortunately, a tragic history.

From the beginning, the story gripped me. It ignited in me an inquisitive mind and heart, wondering how the events of this story would unfold. Hancock incorporates lesser-known aspects of Canada’s history, shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. This adds complexity to the story, making it an enriching read. What evolves is a powerful theme of hope and faith, which has a lasting impact. The story also prompts the reader to contemplate the steadfastness of God’s faithfulness and the indomitable spirit of humanity.

Hancock is a masterfully skilled writer. Because of this, her book is a deeply engaging read. It will take the reader on a journey like no other. I feel changed after reading this story, filled with hope.

I can’t wait to read Hancock’s next book.  She is one of the best Canadian storytellers I have come across for a very long time. I have literally read thousands of Canadian books over the past decade. And Hancock’s story is one of the best because of the genre, topic and how she writes.

Website: 
https://heather-hancock.com/

Amazon ebooks (or Other = Paperback) Purchase Link:

https://amzn.to/3VGAVLO

This is a unique dramatic story that takes the reader through recesses of human angst and journeys to places where intrigue lie. It is a very different story, one of which I have never read before. Not only is it written in the third person, but the characters are drawn very unusually too. It makes for an interesting read.

The story is about Rupert and Lucille. The two characters come from diverse backgrounds. The story showcases their loves, families, achievements, and failures. The two couldn’t come from more diverse backgrounds. While Lucille was born into a poor farm family, Rupert comes from multi-billionaire parents. One would wonder what the two saw in each other.

Sometimes friendships happen because opposites attract. However, this isn’t the case for Rupert and Lucille. One reason why Lucille likes Rupert is that he is unlike any rich billionaire you could know. He’s humble and down to earth. He likes to help people and sees the need to do so.

Rupert also had no inclination to become richer. He didn’t want to control others or be in power. He strived to be the best in everything he tried, from being an exceptional piano player to a pro football player. He wanted to help other people thrive.

When Rupert and Lucille become business partners, their friendship grows. They have a lot in common and they can respect each other. The Box tells the story of how a simple invention can transform so many lives.

The story has a simple yet enticing plot. It followed the characters along wonderfully. We can make a real difference in the world if we stick to the most important things in life. This story shows the reader how to do that.

A unique yet mesmerizing story. I was captivated right from the beginning. I will be looking for more stories by Peter Skeels in the future.

Peter Skeels author/writer

peter@skeels.org

http://skeels.org

Amazon:

The Hidden Lives of Taxi Drivers

By Ruth Finnegan

We all take cabs from time to time and yet we assume they will be there, and all will be well. And most of the time, that’s the case. I usually try to treat myself with a cab ride once a year. It gives me a chance to sit in the passenger side and enjoy the view. When I’m driving myself, its hard to do that.

Ruth Finnegan believes that people may think that the lives of tax drivers are boring and inauthentic. But Finnegan shows that this isn’t the case at all. There is so much behind the scenes of a taxi driver that makes the job interesting. There are so many interesting people that a cab driver may meet. But there is also so much more as well.

Every taxi driver has a unique individuality. Therefore, he or she brings unique gifts to the job. The most interesting taxi drivers make the ride extra special for the passenger. I’ve had many interesting conversations with taxi drivers. Little did I know that some of them are so educated and well worth having a cup of coffee with.

Finnegan’s book covers the history of the taxi while considering the urban settings of England by using case studies. While taxi drivers are invisible to us, they are also authentic human beings, one with an active mind and intellect. Too many look down on taxi drivers. This book will give all readers an in-depth view of the taxi driver and will encourage all of us to be kinder to taxi drivers the next time we are passengers in a cab.

Finnegan’s style is engaging and authentic. She introduces the history in an interesting and captivating way to display the diversity of the personal lives of the drivers. They are truly a unique bunch of individuals. Though thought of as ordinary, if thought of at all, the author proves that the lives of taxi drivers are anything but mundane. Most surprisingly, the author proves these drives are intelligent and knowledgeable.

I loved this book and will be rereading it in time. I purchased it for further reading and pursual. The book is deep and insightful. I will be looking out for books by Ruth Finnegan in the future.

For More information on Ruth Finnegan, here is her website: www.ruthhfinnegan.com.

Your Safe Retirement Roadmap By Frank Gutta, CPA, PFS

The whole idea of retirement scares many of us. And that’s because we haven’t planned financially for that time in our lives. There seems to be so much going on in our lives and we are overspending and not saving. Adding to the issue are the rising interest rates and cost of living, making it almost impossible for even the most dedicated people to save money.

In this book, Frank Gutta, CPA, PFS, has over 35 years of experience as an accountant and personal finance expert. Prior to that, he worked for a large national CPA firm.  Nothing is more important for him than ensuring that we don’t outlive our savings.  In this book, Gutta offers a “4-bucket system” solution to the problem of saving for retirement. His methodology not only teaches us how to secure an income so that we don’t have to rely on the volatility of the stock market, but also how to derive new solutions to the cost of long-term care. It also tackles the issue of how to minimize the tax burden of those passing wealth to future generations.

As we get close to retirement, we begin to realize how valuable each year is. Time goes by so fast. If we don’t attain the clarity and confidence that we need to start saving and being mindful of our spending habits right away, another decade will slip by, and we won’t have enough saved for our retirement.

Therefore, it’s important to make retirement planning a priority in our lives. The earlier we start, the better. We need to create a savings plan as early as possible in our lives so that when we retire, we won’t have the financial burden of not knowing if we have enough for the rest of our lives so that we could live a good quality of life.

This book is a must-read for all people, especially those in their 20s and 30s. It can be hard to save for retirement. However, Gutta gives us a clear and concise roadmap that we can rely on to embark on that journey. I wish I had this book when I was in my twenties. It is an invaluable resource.

Website:  Yoursaferetirementroadmap.com

Amazon Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NN2385F