Rescue Run by John Winn Miller - ABR Book Award Winner

Rescue Run by John Winn Miller - ABR Book Award Winner

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Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis

Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis - Chick Lit Book Café

Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis

What price would you pay to reclaim the vigor and allure of youth? Four spirited Southern seniors are about to find out. Tempted by the promise of Rewind Ranch, a paradise nestled in Hawaii’s enchanting Hana hills, they embark on a journey that promises unlimited cosmetic enhancements, captivating company, and indulgent escapades. As the ladies dive into a world of luxury, laughter, and liaisons, they soon discover that the ranch offers more than just superficial pleasures. Beneath the veneer of hedonistic delights, a darker secret lurks. As doubts creep in and stakes rise, they realize their dream vacation might be a trap they need to escape to ensure their very survival. Join these fearless women on a roller-coaster of suspense and camaraderie, where beauty is more than skin deep, and friendship is the ultimate savior.

Chick Lit Book Café Review:

The promise of an exotic, pristine resort paradise offering cutting-edge beauty and wellness services, exciting mixers, and alluring luxury attracts four long-term friends who long to restore their youth and possibly find their match in the immersive thriller, Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis.

Four retirees with different lives: Margot, a successful and prominent socialite from an affluent Alabama family, Elli, a Texas native and former creative director, Lacey Ann, a distinguished ballerina and teacher at American Ballet Theatre, and Mary Grace, a dedicated civil rights lawyer, all reunite at an exquisite condominium in Birmingham, Alabama. Wanting to regain their youth and feel attractive again, they travel to Rewind Ranch, a remote luxury resort in the stunning Hana Hills in Maui, Hawaii. At first, the enchanting paradise delivers everything the friends hoped it would but, later, they discover mysterious events happening in the resort.

Driven by a rich cast of characters, this mesmerizing tale follows the lives of four remarkable women with diverse lives who share a long-lasting friendship. Davis offers an in-depth background of each character, exploring their accomplishments, hopes, and insecurities, which make all four women feel real. At the resort, the women meet other people whose intriguing backstories are also covered.

The breathtaking, tranquil setting creates a seemingly peaceful backdrop for the story. A few chapters later, the storyline takes an unexpected, suspenseful turn once the women arrive at the resort. The story culminates with a hair-raising scene as the characters discover the danger they are in. The ending is gripping and exciting.

While the story can be read as a thrilling mystery led by compelling characters, it is also a beautiful portrait of female friendships. The four friends remain in touch even after they go their separate ways and follow different career paths. Their bond in the story is evident as they meet again in Birmingham and decide to travel together. In the end, they must work together to solve the mystery.

Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis is a fascinating thriller with a page-turning storyline, splendid setting, and original, complex characters that readers will love. I am certainly looking forward to reading more fabulous novels by Peggi Davis. She has an original voice, and her expressive writing style transports the reader to paradise to fully feel, see and experience – both the pleasure and the terror that the lovely unsuspecting ladies feel.  Chick Lit Book Café highly recommends Rewind Ranch by Peggi Davis. Book reviewed by Anna Davis.

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To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi

To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi - Artisan Book Reviews

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To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi

Who am I? What is the meaning or purpose of my life? These were the questions that sparked one woman’s extraordinary odyssey to enduring peace. In her gripping debut novel “To Unshakable Bliss,” author Serene Rishi invites you to question the nature of your own identity.

Rishi introduces us to Qayum, a former star in the tech world rebuilding her career as an author of children’s tales. Despite the worldly success, there is a persistent restlessness within Qayum. She struggles to reconcile external validation from work and wealth with inner purpose. The more thrills she chases, the quicker euphoria evaporates.

On a road trip along California’s Pacific Coast, watching ethereal sunsets dissolve into darkness, she comprehends life’s transiency. She realizes the volatility of happiness while on life’s Ferris wheel of random ups and downs. Just then, the plot thickens. Befriending an old classmate in Denmark, Qayum remembers her carefree spiritual childhood self. Her friend’s unwavering faith in an eternal soul inspires Qayum to conduct her own investigations.

She unravels the world’s illusory nature through varied perspectives – from neuroscience, psychology, and Stoic philosophies to the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Back on that homeward-bound flight, scientific theories on consciousness are explored, exposing parallel themes from millennia-old scriptures. Profound implications set in – mystical visions across eras and cultures point to a fundamental reality underlying existence itself.

What our ambitious protagonist, and perhaps you too, have sought in relentless pursuits already dwells within. Qayum realizes this ever-present kingdom, once unveiled, holds fulfillment beyond imagination’s scope. The harder question is: how does one remain engaged in life’s theater while rooted in awakened truth?

Join Qayum’s liberating adventures across breathtaking terrains and ancient spiritual tributaries. From Zanzibar’s spice markets to Copenhagen’s quaint cafes to California’s majestic redwoods, uncover fresh joy and wisdom. Alongside vivid global backdrops, treasured contemplations from spiritual and scientific visionaries through history are instilled.

Artisan Book Reviews:

A beautiful tribute to the role of our consciousness, our ego, and our ability to create our own happiness, Serene Rishi has written a masterful guide entitled To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure. 

Written in four parts to help guide the main character, Qayum, through the quest to find meaning in her life, readers will discover the necessary tools for themselves to reach this enlightenment as well.  Qayum discovers not only what is holding her back from true happiness, but she also develops strategies to help herself overcome events or outcomes that seem negative.  Grappling with her own ego, Qayum also finds people that are there to help and support her as well as tools that meet her needs.  While no quest is easy, what Qayum discovers about herself, about the world, and about her own true desires make the journey completely worthwhile.

Pulled from ancient traditions, from renowned philosophers and thought leaders, To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure is a toolkit for anyone looking to find more fulfillment, more happiness, and even a greater sense of themselves.  I loved the mantras built into the storyline as well as the traditional readings and the ancient scriptures that assisted Qayum, but even more, I loved the actual real-world application of what Qayum was experiencing as a real person in the world.  Sometimes ancient teachings are hard to apply to one’s day-to-day life and through Qayum I found so much clarity and understanding.  I loved the tangible examples –especially as a woman myself going through similar adversities—and I thought that the different situations Qayum experiences will be applicable to anyone reading this book.  While the concepts are complex and difficult, Serene Rishi brings them down to a layperson’s understanding easily.  I found clarity especially in the way she intertwined multiple ideas together and had Qayum navigate applying them to her own life.

Written for anyone who’s searching for any kind of greater meaning in the world or in their own lives, To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi is perfect. It offers an unparalleled path to embodiment and to a deeper connection with the world, to us, and to others.  Readers of any type will not only walk away with a deeper understanding but also with a profound sense of peace after reading.  I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Book reviewed by Mary Rosenthal for Artisan Book Reviews.

Buy To Unshakable Bliss: A Techie’s Adventure by Serene Rishi

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id: A Novel by Kevin Spark - Book Excellence Award Winner

 id: A Novel by Kevin Spark

Dr. Shelly, a brilliant psychologist, forever haunted by her father and his murderous past, is driven by the need to find out why we do the things we do? Is the concept of free will just a concept and nothing more, a construct that blinds us to a less palatable truth, that who we are is predetermined and encoded at birth? Does anyone really choose to do the bad things we do or are we just doing what comes naturally?

Shelly constructs an experiment using a sensory deprivation tank and virtual reality, allowing the darkest part of ourselves, the id, to run free. Unencumbered by morality or remorse, Shelly finds the perfect subject in Adam. A borderline psychotic born into a world of neglect and crime. Delving into the deepest pits of his subconscious, Shelly surfaces with far more than she bargained for.

Detective Hopper, responsible for Adam’s capture, remains a broken man. After suffering a breakdown due to the escalation of his own violent behavior, he is placed under the care of Dr. Shelly. Encouraging him to go looking for his own redemption, Hopper becomes a pawn in her web of deception until the lines of reality are redrawn as Hopper and Adam come full circle to an explosive end.

Book Review:

If you are looking to get your hands on something new, thrilling, intellectual, and incredible, then you’ll want to pick up id: A Novel by debut author Kevin Spark. ASAP!

id: A Novel is a unique, brilliant, psychological thriller which questions and shines light on the depths of the human psyche, the concepts of free will, nature or nurture and what drives unacceptable, depraved and even murderous human behaviors.

From the very first chapter, I was completely caught up in Kevin Spark’s amazing descriptive writing style, intriguing characters and his deep thought processes and expressions. He aptly introduces readers to Shelly, a psychologist with a traumatizing past, and a very disturbed father. Shelly’s past has caused her to have an unending hunger for understanding the human id, and what drives some people to do the terrible things they do. She obsesses over her patients’ primal urges and is yet to fully admit that she has one of her own. As Shelly delves deeper into the minds of her patients, particularly Adam, a disturbed psycho, and Hopper, a former police detective, she uncovers some dark and disturbing truths about herself and the human id.

One of the standout features of id: A Novel is Kevin Spark’s masterful writing style, which flawlessly alternates between different character perspectives, drawing readers into the minds of each intriguing character with vivid interesting detail. Spark’s unique ideas and unexpected twists takes readers on a journey to the darkest recesses of the human mind, challenging their perceptions of reality and morality. The novel’s seamless blend of psychological thrills, eerie atmosphere and elements of horror creates an unforgettable reading experience that will haunt readers long after the last page is turned. It is one of those rare thought-provoking reads that caused me to ponder on the author’s thought processes and how he came up with so many astonishing thoughts and ideas and then brilliantly wrote them into the story. 

id: A Novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers who crave a new, fascinating and intelligent reading experience. Spark’s intricate exploration of the human psyche, combined with his skillful storytelling and innovative ideas, make this novel a true gem that will leave readers questioning the depths of human nature. id: A Novel is a must-read, stimulating and engrossing story and comes highly recommended. 

You don’t want to miss out on this electrifying and smart psychological thriller!
Buy id: A Novel by Kevin Spark today!

They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark

They Called Him Marvin: A History of Love, War and Family by Roger Stark

"They were the fathers we never knew, the uncles we never met, the friends who never returned, the heroes we can never repay. They gave us our world. And those simple sounds of freedom we hear today are their voices speaking to us across the years." Bill Clinton.

Such a man was 1st Lt Dean Harold Sherman, B-29 Airplane Commander.

“They Called Him Marvin” is a history. A history of war and of family. A history of the collision of the raging politics of a global war, young love, patriotism, sacred family commitments, duty and the horrors and tragedies, the catastrophe that war is.

A 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.

They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark is a merger between American and Japanese events during WWII, and the very human reality of one American pilot and his love letters to his wife.  The candor in their loving correspondence, and the stark reality of war, clash against each other within the pages of this book.  Like the major and minor notes being pulled from an orchestra by a master conductor, history is brought to life and the full impact of war is felt.

Packed with historical content, and portrayed with a vibrant pen, They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark comes very highly recommended!!.

Grab your copy of "They Called Him Marvin: A History of Love, War and Family by Roger Stark today!

Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole

Purchase “Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole” Today!

Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole

Cities are bombed out ruins and wilderness is humanity’s new home. The undead roam the earth, and the new world order is about the struggle to survive. Sonny Daniels begins an emotional and physical journey of personal survival and protecting those he loves.

While survival is a constant struggle, Sonny’s most desperate fight is the struggle preserve some semblance of a compassionate soul. Sonny and his parents are caught in the zombie outbreak in upstate New York. After the passage of the first year, their base is attacked by bandits and their safety has again been compromised. Fearing for their loved ones, Sonny’s parents send him and his orphaned childhood friends, Ashley and Carrie, to Fort Denver Colorado on a military plane.

When Fort Denver is overrun with zombies, the three are alone in a zombie infested wasteland without the army’s protection, forced to rely upon one another and a handful of equally desperate survivors they encounter along the journey. Sonny is determined to do whatever it takes to protect Ashley and Carrie while finding a safe place to call home, but survival can force you to make dark decisions.

Review:

Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole is an exceptional and compelling coming of age story set in a post-apocalyptic world. A zombie outbreak in upstate New York creates unfiltered tension and comprises the safety of Sonny Daniels and his parents. Their escape from the disease and mayhem at home to safety at Fort Drum was a perilous journey. Normal people now infected with an unknown disease became monsters attacking and killing anyone crossing their paths. The government is in disarray and survival depends on oneself.

Fearful of the future, Sonny’s parents had no choice but send him along with two or his orphaned friends to Fort Denver Colorado on a military plane. The parents’ nightmare soon becomes an epic story of survival of the fittest for their son and his friends.

Christopher Cole is a masterful writer who infuses catastrophic destruction into a city and plays out the outcome for the residents in bizarre circumstances. He has created a story of psychological warfare in a doomsday setting with young characters ill-equipped to withstand the pressure of securing physical safety for themselves.

The opening statement is taut and suspenseful. You immediately want to know what happened to change his belief and loss of hope. You’ll read page after page for the author draws you into the story and holds your attention to the end.

 Christopher Cole has produced an outstanding SCI-FI action-adventure that touches on the fears and insecurities of coming of age. Add a new world order, where the undead roam the earth and invade the status-quo and you have an award-winning novel of epic proportion. A must-read for SCI-FI fans. Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole is highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews. ~ Book review by CJ Bowen for ABR

Don’t miss this extraordinary read!

Purchase Outbreak (The Dark Days Series) by Christopher Cole today!
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The Veil (The Redemption Series) by Torstein Beck

The Veil (The Redemption Series) by Torstein Beck

Synopsis:

We thought we’d be at the top of the food chain forever. We were wrong.

Aaro Emmerson knows what lies beyond the walls.

It’s why he vowed never to go out there again.

But his city is dying, and the chance at a better life is hanging in the balance.

He must journey a thousand kilometers into the wild unknown, into their territory, and retrieve a nuclear core that has the power to save one of the last refuges of man.

The plan is suicidal. But it’s better to die on your feet than on your knees.

For fourteen years, he’s been seeking a chance for redemption. And now he has one.

They’ve got protection, they’ve got guns, but what they don’t realize, is that just maybe the worst monster of all is already inside…

The Veil is the first book in the Redemption Series.

Praise for The Veil:
“Terrifying. Brutal. Powerful. This really is a new breed of Dystopia.”

“The Veil is a book that’s about as bloody as it is good.”

“Horrifically great….I’ve never read anything quite like this.”

 Review:

In Torstein Beck’s dystopian science-fiction novel, The Veil, a young man struggles to survive after losing everything to the creation of the vicious attempt of a science project. This is an amazing, chilling and suspense filled story that readers will love and revel in.

Set one hundred years from now, The Veil features leading scientist Florian Gertlinger who spearheads an ambitious project that goes horribly wrong. The Varas, which are powerful savage predators, become the result of the team’s vision. Meanwhile, after having their beautiful baby Lila, Emilie and Aaro Emmerson are more than happy and content. What Aaro would never have foreseen, however, is a break-in by a murderous monster that kills and devours his wife and child. Aaro is left with nothing to live for. Years pass and Oslo’s streets become even more dilapidated and its residents more desperate to survive. When Aaro is presented with an opportunity to change his life and save his people, he takes it even though he knows he is about to come face to face with death.

The novel focuses on the main characters Aaro and Gertlinger, showing the creation and the result of the project. Aaro struggles to survive through everything. During his mission to Murmansk, Russia to collect a nuclear reactor that could possibly save the people, he faces imminent danger at every turn. Several aspects of the novel make it stand out. First, it does not aim to create a grandiose end, rather, death in the story becomes a form of escape from an undefeatable predator. It also focuses on ethical and policy issues in science. Government and political systems do not play a central role in the plot. Descriptions are graphic and shocking, painting a vivid image of the monsters while the characters are few and each plays an important role throughout the story. The plot does not follow a chronological order but shifts from the future to current times which creates penetrating suspense in the novel.

Horrifying yet thrilling, The Veil, is concisely written. It is driven by the incidents of each scene rather than a culmination of events at the end. Fast paced, excellent characters and a plot to die for, Torstein Beck has written a surprising and believable story that will have readers on the edge of their seats, filled with various intense emotions from start to finish. Highly recommended by Chick Lit Café. – Reviewed by Edith Emunah for Chick Lit Café.

Don’t miss this amazing 5 star dystopian science-fiction novel!
Purchase The Veil by Torstein Beck today!