In The Image of Man

 A very nice but quirky novel

Summary

Would you know if a small god paid you a visit?

Would you trust in the least of miracles or believe in the messages
that appear out of the blue on your computer screen?
What would it take to make you believe?

My Review

This book is ideal to read during winter months, while it's raining,
cold and grey. 

In The Image of Man has a very nice story, a fantastic plot and not much 
but great characters. 

The author, Mark Long had my attention from the beginning till the end,
because I wanted to know what would happen to the main character. I 
hope there will be a sequel soon!

I recommend In  The Image of Man to all who like to read quirky but
interesting novels, which keep you busy from the beginning till the end.

I give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating! 

The author

Mark Long is an English author living in the south of England. He is a long
time fan of SF and fantasy and loves reading as much as writing.

While relatively new to full length novels, Mark has long experience
writing poetry (but now feels much better) and short stories, some
of which were included in anthologies.

When not writing, Mark has a day job, teaches adults to play the Ukulele,
does sound engineering, videography and editing, and he is learning to
play the saxophone despite the requests of those with ears. He also looks
after four indolent and self-important dogs. He has heard that sleep is
pleasant and will try it if the coffee ever runs out.

The Book

In the Image of Man and Misjump are published by Orchid Imprint.

The Image of Man was published on Published November 29, 2018.

It contains 266 pages. 

Booktasters

I received this book via Booktasters. Thank you for this excellent
reading chance!

Why We Are Coming

"Very informative"

My review

I received a free copy of  'Why We Are Coming' on October 27th. via Booktasters
and the author Yasin Kakande as well, in return of my honest review.

However it took a while for me, reading this complete masterwork it was really
interesting. The author also did a fantastic research as well. The theme: mass
migration is very actual too. 

As I said before, it took a while for reading, due to the facts, the figures and it
made me thinking. 

So if you are interested in history, Africa, slavery (now and in history),
colonialism, international politics, please do certainly read this fantastic book! 

Without any doubt I give 5 stars for this wonderful work! 

The author

👉 The author has a interesting website too, check this link. I certainly
will follow his website and his publications very well. 👀

Finding purpose and meaning

Finding Purpose and Meaning:
Sally Survives Her Brief, Nasty Dance with Psychiatry

Interesting but difficult book

My review

To be honest, I haven't read the other part of the series, so it was
difficult to come into the book.

I read it twice because it was very interesting, and I wanted to 
understand the context.

I think this book could be compelling for everyone who likes to
know more about psychiatry.

It's a bit difficult to give "Finding Purpose and Meaning:

Sally Survives Her Brief, Nasty Dance with Psychiatry" a proper
rating. However due to the interesting story, I give a 4 star rating.

Booktasters

I want to thank booktasters for providing me a free copy in 
return for an honest review, which I did. 

The product launch checklist

A must read guide

My review

Marketing always have interested me a lot. That's why I read
and reviewed this book before my other reads. 

I enjoyed the book the product launch written by Dominic Frúges, 
because it offered a wide range of topics and tips about how to
launch a product. I also found the to do lists and the check lists
in the book very handy. 

It is clear that the author has lots of experience in this topic. So,
the book is an absolute must read guide for everyone who

is interesting in launching a product.

Of course I give a 5 star for the product launch.

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author, Dominic Frúges
as well for providing me a free copy, in return for my honest 
review, which I did. 

The book "The product launch" was published August 28, 2022. 

Wellness Wellplayed - The power of a playlist

It was fun to read this book.

Summary

Music is powerful. The right song at the right time can make you smile,
cry, dance, or breathe a contented “ah.” 

In Wellness, Wellplayed, music therapist Jennifer Buchanan shows us
how to develop and use music playlists with purpose, as a bridge
to something deeper within ourselves—and a way to address our
human need to feel, create, and connect.

It has 152 pages, Paperback

Wellness Wellplayed was published September 10, 2021

My review

It was fun to read this wonderful book! It's a splendid mix between
sciences and personal stories. 

The book gives new views about how to use music well. I think I'll
listen to some playlists now :-)

Anyway, I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this
to all people who love music.

I give a 5 star rating for this pleasure read.

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author Jennifer Buchanan for
providing me a free copy in return for my honest review
which I did. 

Beneath a Copper Sky

 Fantastic novel 

My Review

I read most of Valerie Poore's memoirs and I wouldn't like to
miss this novel based on the author's life in South Africa. 
I must say, "Beneath a Copper Sky" didn't let me down. 

It was a very lively novel, which took the reader on a journey to
South Africa. Through the characters, but also through the storyline,
I had the feeling of being there. Val Poore appealed to all my emotions
as well as my senses.

I highly recommend this book to all people who love reading memoirs/
novels and I give without any doubt a five star rating for
Beneath a Copper Sky.

I really hope that Val Poore continues writing such lovely stories! 

More about author Val Poore

👉 More news of Val Poore check 

https://rivergirlrotterdam.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rivergirl/

We love memoirs

I 'met' Val Poore via the We Love Memoirs group on facebook. It's 
really the most friendliest group for everyone who is interested
in writing and reading memoirs. It's worth to check the
group and become a member. 

Bits, Bytes and Barrels

 What an interesting book!

My review

The book Bits, Bytes and Barrels draws my attention immediately, 
although it sometimes is a dry business subject.

The author did his job very well, by explaining the subject in a 
clear way. It also was handy to have a summary at the end of each
chapter. 

All those things made the book a must-read for
everyone involved in the Oil & Gas industry and the digitalisation
as well!

I give with lots of pleasure a five star rating for this very interesting
book and I hope to read more books from this author.

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author Geoffrey Cann as well
for providing my a free copy in return of my honest review, which
I did. 

Reading in Winter

The winter is by far most of my favourite season for reading. When the days 
become shorter and the darkness wins it over from the light, it is very easy to
withdraw myself at home with a good book. Besides that, at work it is less
busier in winter than in summer months, especially September was very
heavy. 

So, I hope to catch up with reading lovely books with inter alia Booktasters
and the We love Memoirs group. 

It's so nice to see all the different styles of books and authors as well. They
make the dark months to come, more colourfull.  

Soon, you'll find here new reviews, I read inter alia Bits, Bytes, and Barrels:
The Digital Transformation of Oil and Gas via Booktasters and Beneath a 
Copper sky of Val Poore. 

Some pictures of the Balloon Festival in my hometown Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.
September 2022.

Enjoy reading!

The offering

A heavy read

Summary

Is it possible to hold onto hope when you lose everything else?

Tariq Abbassi, hospitalized and disoriented, has trouble reconciling
the life he imagined with the one that greets him upon waking in a
trauma center. Soon enough, he realizes the reason behind his current
condition: both of his beloved sons died after a horrific act of negligence.
Struggling to face the dark truth, no matter the cost, he must sift through
his confused memories to resolve how he got here.

My Review

I enjoyed reading this book, although it didn't draw my attention
immediately, due to the flashbacks.

However, the Offering had lots of plots, a very interesting main
character and an open ending. 

I liked the writing style and the story, although it was a very heavy

read.

I would recommend the Offering to all who like to read, fiction and
thrillers told in a novel.

I give a 5 star rating, because the end made me very curious.

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author, Salah El Moncef as well

for providing me a free copy in return of my honest review, which I 
did. 

The Book: Murder City - review

 a lot of suspense

My Review

I enjoyed reading the book Murder City written by Dan Martin very much.
From the book cover, the location of the story, the characters and the story
itself, everything was well thought and well written.

I'm not sure this is a young adult book due to some violent scenes. However
it's a wonderful mystery with lots of suspense.

I recommend the book to everyone who likes to read an exciting story. 

Of course, I give without any doubt a 5 star rating for this fantastic writing.

It's always nice to get to know the author of the book a bit better.

That's the short biography of Dan Martin. 

About the author

Dan Martin provides novels and short stories that feature complex
characters and archetypes that will resonate with readers from a
wide back ground of interests.

Wilderness settings are frequently featured in Dan's work. They are
places he has known and terrain he has explored. He grew up in a
family of guides and outfitters in Northern Alberta and worked several
years as a field officer with Alberta Forestry Lands and Wildlife.

Dan is a semi-retired psychotherapist. Characters in his novels are
often a projection of personalities he has known during many years
of counselling offenders, people with personality disorders, victims
of abuse and oppression, or simply those dealing with life
adjustment issues.

Novels and short stories are featured on 

https://danmartinbooks.com

Thank you very much for this excellent reading chance Booktasters and
the author as well. All they wanted is my honest review, which I did. 

 

Fearghus Academy: Chrystal Shards

 A wonderful series

My review

I already read Fearghus Academy – October jewels with lots of pleasure,
so I was very keen to read the sequel.

As always, I liked the cover and the characters were amazing. They go through
a lot in this second episode. 

I also enjoyed the story, lots of drama, adventure and even some comedy.
I immediately fell this sequel became a bit darker. Nevertheless I’m looking
forward to read the next story and book!

Of course, I would recommend this book to all who want to read a different
but fantastic kind of young adult story.

Without any doubt I give a five star rating for this fabulous story! 

Booktasters

Thank you very much Booktasters and author I.O. Scheffer for providing
me a free copy in return for my honest review, which I did. 

Recensie: Waarom zouden we bang zijn?

Op dinsdag 13 september 2022 vond in de Nicolaaskerk van Baarn de
boekvoorstelling plaats van "Waarom zouden we bang zijn?"
van auteur Marianne Visser van Klaarwater. 

Eerder las ik het boek "De doorzetster" van haar (zie deze link) en
mocht ik haar vragen stellen voor de auteur in de kijker post (zie
deze link). 

Recensie

Hoewel het boek "Waarom zouden we bang zijn?" wat verder van
mijn eigen leefwereld stond dan "De Doorzetster", vond ik het een
enorm spannend boek. Marianne schrijft heel verhalend en heel 
aangrijpend.

Naarmate ik meer in het verhaal kwam, voelde ik de dreiging toenemen.
Ook schetst de auteur heel goed de historische context van de tijdsgeest
en van de Bismarck Archipel  (Papoea-Nieuw-Guinea)
Bovendien heeft ze ontzettend grondig onderzoek gevoerd zowel in
persoonlijke brieven, als in historische documenten. 

Ik raad het boek dan ook zeker aan voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd
is in het leven van missionarissen. Ook was het zeer interessant om te
lezen over de Bismarck Archipel.

Daarom geef ik zonder enige twijfel 5 sterren op 5 voor dit schitterend
boek.

Ik had het voorrecht om dit boek te lezen, dankzij de auteur: Marianne
Visser van Klaarwater. Hartelijk dank!

Honor in Concord: Seeking Spirit in Literary Concord

 A special book

Summary

first year she lived in the historic town of Concord, Massachusetts
in an antique home she calls "Quiet House" on a street named for Henry
David Thoreau. One day she sets out to record the images of Concord's
past that are always on her mind and what results is a fictional story told
within the pages of memoir in which the writers of mid-19th century
Concord (i.e., Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau, Fuller and Alcott) are
living new lives in Concord in present day.

My Review

First of all: what a special book! I liked the different stories but it 
was from time to time a bit confusing. Nevertheless I really enjoyed
reading the book.

It is a memoir published on 17 June 2022 and it contains 270 pages. 

Without any doubt I give a 4 star rating for this special book! 

The author

Cathryn McIntyre is the author of two memoirs, Honor in Concord
and The Thoreau Whisperer, about her experience living in the historic
town of Concord, Massachusetts. She is also a natural psychic and
clairvoyant, an astrologer, a UFO experiencer, a shared death
experiencer, and an occasional ghost investigator.

McIntyre also did a candid interview with Paranormal
Underground Magazine in which she discussed a lifetime of paranormal
and supernatural experiences. It can be read on her
website: www.theconcordwriter.com

Booktasters

I really want to thank booktasters and the author as well for providing
me a free copy in return of my honest review, which I did. 

The purpose of capital

Elements of Impact, Financial Flows,
and Natural Being

Interesting book with new views 

My review

As I studied Accountancy and Fiscal law, I was keen to read this book.
The first thing I noticed was the beautiful lay out of the book and the
clear division in chapters.

It was interesting to read and the Purpose of Capital offered new view
to think about. Anyway I enjoyed reading this book.

I would recommend this book to all who like to read about economical
growth and social investing.

For asking the question why and the interesting views, I would like to 
give this book a 5 star rating.

The author

Jed Emerson is strategic advisor to family offices and wealth management
firms executing diverse approaches to investing for financial returns with
social and environmental impact. 

Co-author of the first book on impact investing, as well as six other books
on impact investing and social entrepreneurship, he has been active in both
fields for nearly thirty years. He has served as founding director and board
member of diverse social enterprises and impact investment groups. 

Emerson is a Senior Research Fellow at University of Heidelberg's Center
on Social Investing and has held faculty appointments at Harvard, Stanford
and Oxford business schools. He has taught social entrepreneurship at
Kellogg Business School and NYU-Abu Dhabi in the U.A.E. In the late 90s,
Emerson coined the concept of Blended Value to describe the reality that the
value we create in our lives and through our investing is a blend of social,
environmental and economic elements. While the value we create is whole,
we are asked to choose between doing well or doing good, making money or
engaging in philanthropy and working in nonprofit or for-profit organizations. 

This dualism prevents us from capturing the full value and returns of not
only our investments, but our lives and personal purpose. The Purpose of Capital:
Elements of Impact, Financial Flows, and Natural Being explores how we
may bridge the divide between how we think about doing well and doing good
in order to optimize the overall impact of our lives and wealth. In recent
years, Emerson's work has expanded to include consideration of not simply
how to invest for more than money, but also how we might think about the
deeper purpose of our wealth and lives-the Why. His latest offering, the
eighth book he has produced, is The Purpose of Capital: Elements of Impact,
Financial Flows and Personal Being and explores the broad and historic links
and connections between how we think about money and investing and how
we understand the total, integrated value of our lives and World. Before
becoming an internationally recognized leader in impact investing and
social entrepreneurship, Emerson spent the first part of his career in social
work, focusing on youth and community development. He was founding
director of Larkin Street Services, a San Francisco-based nonprofit serving
homeless and runaway youth.

Booktasters

Thank you so much Booktasters and the author as well for providing me a
free copy in return of my honest review, which I did. 

The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories

 Fantastic collection of short stories

It was a fantastic collection of short stories which were absolutely nice tales.
The characters were pointed out very well and I enjoyed the stories much.

If you like short stories don't hesitate to read this book!

Without a doubt I give a 5 star rating for "The Lighthouse at Montauk
Point and Other Stories".

The book contains 80 pages.

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author R. David Fulcher as well for 
providing me a free copy in return for my honest review which I did.

Fearghus Academy: October Jewels

What a fantastic summer read!

Review

Fearghus Academy: October Jewels was a very interesting book to read. I
enjoyed the characters (the family) as well as the tensions and the plots.

There are even time switches and the characters are coming from over the
world. 

It was a fantastic summer read and I recommend it to people who like to
read Fantasy adventures books (ages between 6 to 12).

The book was released on 26 May 2020 and it contains 356 pages. 

I give of course a 5* rating because I enjoyed it very much. 

The author

I.O. Scheffer (2000 -) is the proud father of a one-eyed dog named Mr. Rogers.
He is attending Miami University as a Creative Writing major, and spends
his free time making music and/or crafting worlds and writing them out
on his PC.

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author for providing me a free copy in
return of my honest review, which I did. 

The Game With no Name

 A lot of suspense!

My review

It's a very good point, I didn't realise this book is part of a series. But since I've
read "The Game With No Name", I defenitely wanted to read more books of the 
series. 

I liked the cover very much, as well as the plot and the family. There is a lot
of suspense and even a twist.

I would recommend this book for all who like to read adventurous stories.

Without a doubt I give "The Game With No Name" a 5 star rating.

The author

LG Cunningham loves to write scary, spine-chilling, monster filled, ‘
my-child-is-not-able-to-sleep’ stories. This term of endearment could
be as a result of growing up in an Irish town filled with ghosts, being
able to communicate with (and actually see) the dead or more than
likely because his family used to rent him horror movies (pre-Netflix
and pre-DVDs) when he was very little which had the affect of twisting
his brain to the extent that he was - and still is - afraid of his own shadow.

Booktasters

I thank Booktasters and the author for giving me a free copy of the ebook
in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion. 

The Game With No Name was published on August 23rd. 2020 and contains
142 pages. 

Stolid

 Third in the wheel of light series

An excellent Novel!

Summary

Stolid is a man who remembers being young and doesn't tell even his

best friends his real name because he has the ambition to be Stolid -
calm and showing little emotion.

But when he grows older and tragedy strikes the world becomes too
much. One evening he runs away, hitchhikes and is picked up by a
man who claims to know him. 

He's taken to an empty place at night. He can escape but chooses not to.
The stranger's motives are obscure but it turns out Stolid is his own
worst enemy. 

The man convinces Stolid he does know him as they exchange
memories and the evening grows mysterious.

My review

I previously read and reviewed Damon Ich, but this book fellt like a 
new excellent story. I enjoyed the thread and the characters of the book
very much, as well as the cover. I hope there will be new books of
Aaron D. Key soon.  

If you like to read wonderful literary novels, don't hesitate to take this
book about Stolid. 

Without no doubt I want to give Stolid a 5 star rating! 

Black, White, and Gray All Over: A Black Man's Odyssey in Life and Law Enforcement

 A tough story

Summary

From shootouts and robberies to riding in cars with pimps and prostitutes,
Frederick Reynolds' early manhood experiences in Detroit, Michigan in the
1960s foretold a future on the wrong side of the prison bars. Frederick
grew up a creative and sensitive child but found himself lured down the same
path as many Black youth in that era. No one would have guessed he would
have a future as a cop in one of the most dangerous cities in America in the
1980s---Compton, California. From recruit to detective, Frederick
experienced a successful career marked by commendations and awards.
The traumatic and highly demanding nature of the work, however, took
its toll on both his family and personal life---something Frederick was
able to conquer but only after years of distress and regret.

My Review

What a tough story! It took so long because I wanted to read the complete
story to have a better idea of the book. However it grabs you and it takes you
into a journey of man. 

The book is fluently written and it has a fantastic character. I like the book
cover too. It also is very detailed, which I enjoy a lot. 

I recommend to read Black, White, and Gray All Over: A Black Man's
Odyssey in Life and Law Enforcement because it's an interesting piece of
work and very well written! 

I give the book 5 stars but if I could I would give even more!

The author

The book is written by Frederick Douglass Reynolds and is available in
Amazon. 

Booktasters

I want to thank the author and Booktasters as well for providing me a free
copy in return of my honest review, which I did. 

Auteur in de kijker: Kevin Prenger

Via Traces of War en Twitter, maakte ik kennis met Kevin Prenger.
Ik reviewde reeds Oorlogszone Zoo, Kerstmis onder Vuur en In de
Schaduw van Schindler. Stuk voor stuk geschiedenispareltjes die 
een maatschappelijk onderwerp beschrijven van de Tweede 
Wereldoorlog.

Hoog tijd dus voor een nieuwe auteur in de kijker blogpost, waarin ik 
Kevin Prenger uitnodigde om vragen te beantwoorden, over zijn boeken,
zijn interesses en veel meer.

Hier gaan we van start!

1/ Wie is Kevin Prenger?

Iemand met een grote belangstelling voor minder bekende verhalen
uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Hierover schreef ik acht boeken, waarvan
‘Ín de schaduw van Schindler’ de nieuwste is. Dit gaat over Jodenhelpers
uit nazi-Duitsland. Iedereen kent Oskar Schindler, maar er waren meer
Duitsers van wie de verhalen net zo indrukwekkend zijn. Behalve boeken
schrijf ik ook artikelen en recensies voor de websites Historiek.net
en TracesOfWar.

2/ Waar komt uw interesse in de Tweede Wereldoorlog vandaan?

In mijn jeugd vertelde mijn oma vaak over de oorlog die zij als meisje
meemaakte. Toen al vond ik deze verhalen interessant. De tanks, vliegtuigen
en vuurwapens hebben mij nooit zo geïnteresseerd, maar des te meer heb ik
het altijd boeiend gevonden welke invloed oorlog heeft op het gedrag van
mensen. Oorlog kan zowel het slechtste als het beste in mensen bovenhalen.
Ik heb veel geschreven over Holocaustdaders, maar in mijn laatste boek heb
ik me juist eens gericht op de mensen die Joden hebben helpen overleven
of dat althans hebben geprobeerd. 

3/ Heeft u nog een periode uit de geschiedenis die u interessant vindt?

Ook bijvoorbeeld de Eerste Wereldoorlog en de Koude Oorlog
hebben mijn belangstelling. Deze perioden hangen ook zo nauw samen
met de geschiedenis van de Tweede Wereldoorlog dat ik ze moeilijk kan
negeren. In mijn boeken gaat het er ook wel eens over, bijvoorbeeld als het
gaat over hoe veroordeelde nazimisdadigers na de oorlog al vroeg vrij kwamen,
omdat de Amerikanen de West-Duitsers te vriend wilden houden als bondgenoot
in de strijd tegen het communisme. 

4/ Hoe bepaalt u het onderwerp van een nieuw boek?

Doordat ik veel lees over de Tweede Wereldoorlog stuit ik geregeld
op interessante onderwerpen waarover naar verhouding weinig geschreven
is in het Nederlands. Als ik voldoende bronnen kan verkrijgen en het
onderwerp aansprekend is voor een breed publiek, staat het licht voor mij
op groen om er een boek over te schrijven. 

5/ Hoe doet u steeds die grondige research?

Zonder internet zou ik weinig tot niets kunnen beginnen. Google is
voor mij het startpunt van elk onderzoek. Ik zoek hier naar (buitenlandse)
literatuur, (kranten)artikelen, archiefmateriaal en alles dat ik verder kan
gebruiken. Vervolgens werk ik al deze bronnen door: ik vat ze samen en
noteer citaten die ik denk te kunnen gebruiken. Terwijl ik hiermee bezig
ben ontstaat geleidelijk een opzet van het boek dat ik ga schrijven.

6/ Heeft u nog andere interesses dan geschiedenis en schrijven?

Ik vind tuinieren leuk. Het is geweldig als je een klein tomatenzaadje
ziet uitgroeien tot een grote plant waaruit je in de zomer elke dag
zelfgekweekte tomaten kunt plukken. Ook ben ik graag in de natuur,
het liefste met mijn hond, een golden retriever. Verder fiets ik graag
langere afstanden, overigens altijd met een boek in mijn fietstas, zodat
ik tijdens het pauzeren wel wat te lezen heb. Het leuke van lezen is
dat je niet gebonden bent aan een vaste plek. Het is heerlijk om op een
bankje midden in de natuur een half uurtje te lezen. 

7/ Wanneer schrijft u het liefst?

Het liefste schrijf ik op donkere avonden in de herfst en de winter. Het lokt
dan niet om naar buiten te gaan en heel de avond tv-kijken of bingwatchen
is niets voor mij. Maar om een boek af te krijgen kan ik me natuurlijk niet
beperken tot twee seizoenen, dus ik schrijf het hele jaar door.

8/ Heeft u nieuwe schrijfplannen? 

Jazeker, ik ben al begonnen met mijn onderzoek voor een volgende boek.
Dit zal gaan over indoctrinatie van de jeugd en onderwijs in nazi-Duitsland.
Ik zal dit beschrijven vanuit het perspectief van een Amerikaanse
schooldirecteur in Berlijn en nazi-jeugdleider Baldur von Schirach. 

Ook Disney zal een rol spelen in dit boek, want in de Tweede Wereldoorlog
maakte de studio propagandafilms, waaronder Education for Death.
In deze productie wordt getoond hoe kinderen in nazi-Duitsland van jongs
af aan werden klaargestoomd om Hitler te dienen, als soldaat of als
soldatenmoeder.  

9/ Gaat u vaak naar plaatsen die te maken hebben met de
Tweede Wereldoorlog? Wat zijn uw favoriete plekken?

Ik ben geen reiziger, maar in mijn eigen omgeving bezoek ik wel
graag locaties die te maken hebben met de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Vorig jaar liep ik bijvoorbeeld een paar uur rond op de Joodse
begraafplaats aan het Toepad in Rotterdam. Het is een locatie die
weinig mensen kennen, maar ik vond het een erg indrukwekkende
plek met alle oude graven en verwijzingen naar geliefden die nooit
begraven konden worden, omdat ze slachtoffer werden van de Holocaust. 

Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught en Huis Doorn vind ik ook goed
verzorgde locaties waar je veel leert van de geschiedenis. Huis Doorn
was de verblijfplaats van de laatste Duitse Keizer na zijn vlucht uit
Duitsland na het verliezen van de Eerste Wereldoorlog. Alles staat er nog
zo bij als toen hij stierf. 

Ook bijvoorbeeld de militaire begraafplaats op de Grebbeberg vind ik een
indrukwekkende plek. Het is schokkend om te zien dat de meeste jongens
en mannen die hier begraven zijn veel jonger zijn dan ik. Oorlogsbegraaf-
plaatsen vormen een krachtige waarschuwing tegen oorlog. 

10/ Er wordt wel eens de vergelijking getrokken met de jaren ’30
en nu? Hoe denkt u daar over?

Er zijn verschillen en overeenkomsten. Het in verschillende westerse
landen aanwezige ongenoegen over democratische regeringen en de
aantrekkingskracht van nationalistische partijen met ‘sterke’ leiders
doet enigszins denken aan de periode van voor de oorlog, maar de
wereld is wel een heel andere dan toen. Zowel wereldwijd als in Europa
wordt er veel meer overlegd en samengewerkt. Oude vijanden zijn al
langer dan 75 jaar vrienden. Mensenrechten worden wereldwijd
weliswaar nog steeds geschonden, maar staan wel hoog op de
agenda van de internationale gemeenschap. Zorgwekkend is
natuurlijk wel de Russische expansiezucht en de daaruit
voorgekomen oorlog in Oekraïne. Klimaatverandering is ook een
enorme uitdaging die politieke onrust kan gaan veroorzaken,
als er bijvoorbeeld grote vluchtelingenstromen op gang komen als
gevolg van droogte. Maar nee, in de jaren dertig stond de wereld
een vernietigende oorlog en een gruwelijke genocide te wachten.
Ik zie dat zich niet herhalen, waardoor ik voorzichtig ben met
deze vergelijking. 

11/ Wat zijn uw wensen voor uzelf en de wereld voor komende jaren?

Als mijn naasten en ik gezond blijven, dan heb ik verder niets te
wensen. Ik ben maar een onbeduidende Nederlander, dus wat ik wens
voor de wereld heeft weinig betekenis. Laat ik het kleiner en bescheidener
houden en hopen dat de mensen die dit lezen verbinding blijven
zoeken met andere mensen en behulpzaamheid en vriendelijkheid hoger
blijven waarderen dan bezit en macht. Als de personen die ik in
‘In de schaduw van Schindler’ beschrijf dat konden in de vreselijke
tijd waarin ze leefden, moet dat voor ons zeker te doen zijn. 

Bedankt voor uw tijd en moeite die u genomen heeft voor dit interview.

Meer over Kevin Prenger op: http://kevinprenger.nl/

Meer over Traces of War op: https://www.tracesofwar.com/

op Twitter: @Kevin_Prenger

op Amazon

The Broken Man: The Rise of the Fisher King

 a book that impresses!

Summary

A Shadow Man is stalking the children of Ard, leaving the dead lying in
the forest with their eyes black pits. The people are in a panic, but the
investigating Ruad philosophers have no explanation. Seeking someone
to blame, the people of the ancient city of Ard demand the head of the
most dangerous person in their midst, the giant Waylaid.

Once great among the Fomor - a prince, a sorcerer, a priest - Waylaid has b
een cast out by his people. He has come to Ard with his Bolg apprentice,
Piju, to live quietly and study in Brea’s library. Can he escape the maddened
crowed and find the killer without breaking his vow to give up sorcery?

And has he failed to teach his young and impetuous apprentice the most
important lesson of them all, that the price of using sorcery is
always too high?

About the book

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09YH2JH4R

Uitgever ‏ : ‎ Independently published (10 juni 2018)

Taal ‏ : ‎ Engels

Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 312 pagina's

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8800608656

Afmetingen ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.46 x 22.86 cm

My review

The story started a bit slowly but it grabs you completely. It's a very 
nice and well written fantasy novel which is entertaining too. 

The characters are fantastic and the author deepens them out in a 
great way. 

I also liked the cover very much!

I would recommend this book to all who like to read splendid 
fantasy novels.

Without any doubts I give a five star rating for the Broken Man
a fantasy Novel because it's a book that impresses!

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author as well for providing me a free
copy in return for my honest review which I did. Thank you very much! 

In de schaduw van Schindler

auteur: Kevin Prenger

verschenen: mei 2022

aantal pagina's: 300

gewicht: 450

thema: Geschiedenis - Tweede Wereldoorlog 

"Een aangrijpend boek"

Samenvatting

Wie waren de Duitsers die hun Joodse medemensen hielpen, meestal met
gevaar voor eigen leven, terwijl de meesten van hun landgenoten de andere
kant opkeken of bijdroegen aan de nazimisdaden?

Terwijl de meeste Duitsers zich juist afzijdig hielden of de Jodenvervolging
actief of passief ondersteunden, behielden sommigen wel hun menslievendheid.
Van een intellectuele schrijver tot een vrouwelijke dierenarts en van een
ingenieur tot een politiek gevangene in Auschwitz, allemaal groeiden zij
uit tot onbaatzuchtige mensenredders.

In tegenstelling tot Oskar Schindler zijn andere Jodenhelpers uit Hitlers
Derde Rijk echter relatief onbekend gebleven. 

Mijn recensie

Door de dagelijkse drukte duurde het even eer ik dit bijzonder boek kon 
lezen en reviewen. Het greep me onmiddellijk aan en ik merkte ook hier
de grondige research op. Dit kenmerkt trouwens alle boeken van Kevin
Prenger. 

Over de opbouw van het boek is goed nagedacht, de hoofdstukken
volgen elkaar logisch op. De schrijfstijl is vlot en helder. Ik leerde meer
over de Tweede Wereldoorlog. 

Kortom, dikke pluim voor de auteur en een aanrader voor iedereen die 
meer wil weten over de menselijke kant van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. 

Ik geef met heel veel plezier 5* voor dit fantastisch boek. 

Auteur

Kevin Prenger is geen onbekende auteur voor mij. Eerder las en recenseerde 
ik al Kerstmis onder vuur en Oorlogszone Zoo . Beide boeken waren
aangrijpend om te lezen. 

Wie is Kevin Prenger? 

Tweede Wereldoorlog-deskundige en publicist Kevin Prenger deed
uitgebreid onderzoek naar deze geschiedenissen en bracht ze samen in
In de schaduw van Schindler. Hij toont aan dat het kwaad niet altijd
zegeviert.

Kevin Prenger (1980) is hoofdredacteur van TracesOfWar.nl, het grootste
Nederlandstalige online naslagwerk over WO2 en schrijft voor Historiek.net.

Trauma Surviror's Guide to Coping With Panic Attacks

Book review : Trauma Surviror's Guide to Coping With Panic Attacks

Author: Nicole Dake

An interesting book!

Summary

Panic attacks that result from PTSD and cPTSD can be debilitating. Research
unfortunately falls short, telling those suffering from panic attacks to just
"wait for them to be over." Over the years I have learned to cope, first
preparing for panic attacks, and then calming down during a panic attack.
I am sharing these coping skills with others who have PTSD, so they can
go from being survivors to warriors too.

My review

It took a while to read the book completely although it wasn't a big one,
however the topic really interested me much. 

The author has used her own experiences which I found very interesting. 
It is a clear book, fluently written and understandable.

I recommend this book to all who want to know more about how to deal
with panic attacks. 

Without any doubts I give a 5 star rating for this interesting book!

The author

Nicole Dake is a blogger, author and mom of three, living in
Broomfield, CO. Nicole graduated from University of Colorado,
Boulder with a BA in Psychology in 2008. Nicole writes about health
and wellness for moms and kids, with a focus on whole person wellness.
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, yoga and playing Magic
the Gathering.

Booktasters

I want to thank booktasters and the author as well, for providing me a
free copy in return of my honest review, which I did. 

Author in the picture: D.W. Whitlock

One of the first books I ever reviewed via Booktasters was Crucible of Fear,
written by D.W. Whitlock. I was very honoured to read and review another
wonderful book from the author: Cult of Darkness . That's why I was keen
to invite this excellent writer for the author in the picture blog post. So here
are the questions.

Can you tell us a bit more about D.W. Whitlock?

 I've worked a lot of jobs over the years from lake dock worker to electrician
to animation for television and games. I've met so many amazing people
from all walks of life and those experiences have been invaluable for
shaping characters and stories. 

Could you tell us something more about the Cult of Darkness?

 I've always been fascinated by ancient cultures, specifically the Maya,
and I've always wanted to tell a story that captures their rich history with
as much respect as possible. One of the themes of Cult of Darkness is
cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation, and I have characters
in the story on opposing sides of this theme. The most important thing for
me was no aliens. The Maya culture is rich with history and incredible stories
and trying to explain their advanced stone masonry skills and writing
system by extra terrestrial intervention is insulting, I believe. They were
bloody yet brilliant. That should be enough!

 What are your other interests other than writing?

I'm a lifetime gamer and being able to play video games now with my son
is a true joy. One of my other passions is riding my Triumph Scrambler
motorcycle. For me, I've discovered the best therapy can be found on two wheels. 

What are you most afraid of?

Wouldn't you like to know! (It's tarantulas. I hate them!)

Do you have favorite book characters?

I do. My favorite book of all time is Swan Song by Robert McCammon and
I love all the characters in this book. Sister, Josh Hutchins, Swan,
Alvin Mangrim, Colonel Jimbo Macklin, Roland Croninger and the many
others in this incredible book. I love them all.

How do you choose your topics?

I retain a lot of useless information and facts about my interests: Film,
books, science, emerging technology, video games, interesting people, etc.
My mind tends to wander and mull over these subjects. That is usually
when my ideas come. This usually happens before I sleep or while I'm
not able to write ideas down. In the shower, taking a walk, driving. 

Do you have a special daily (writing) routine?

Usually just fire up the laptop and go over my outline to remind me where
I'm at in the story. My dog, Nikki, loves to snuggle up when I write so that helps :)

Can you recommend some places close to your hometown or country
for (thriller) authors?

Nothing particular comes to mind, but I do use Google Earth to virtually
visit locations that I research for my books. 

Have you any other writing plans?

Someday I'd like to branch out and possibly write horror novels, as well
as another action thriller series.

What is your wish for 2022 and for the near future?

I'd love to sell as many copies of Cult of Darkness and Crucible of Fear of
course and reach as many readers as I can. A book isn't truly complete until
it is read and enjoyed by someone. Or hated. As long as I invoke an emotional
response, I'm happy. 

Where do you find D.W. Whitlock on Social Media?

website: https://www.dwwhitlock.com/
Twitter: @ddubwhitlock
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/D-W-Whitlock/e/B08T1T6LNH?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1653321138&sr=8-1

Thank you very much for this 'interview' and I really hope all your wishes 
come true. Keep up the good writing work! 

Desire of Whimsy

 A different book 

Summary

Serenity is a young woman living alone in Edinburgh, Scotland, and
working as a nurse in the coma ward of a hospital. She has been dreaming
of a mysterious man—and since she can interpret and control her dreams,
her gifts make her dreams that much more intense. During her day job,
 she focuses on her favorite patient, Mr. Thomas, who has been in a coma
for five years. Trance lives in a world that allows him to control the emotions
and thoughts of others while they are sleeping, a task he accomplishes under
the watchful eye on his recruiter, Impedes. Unaware that he is actually in a coma,
he is stuck between two worlds, unable to determine which is real. But when
he meets Serenity in her dreams, those worlds collide, sending both of
them on a path of loss and love. In this novella, a young nurse and a man in
a coma meet in their dreams and soon discover there is more to the world
than they ever imagined.

My review

I never read such a book before, it was different but I enjoyed reading it.
Desire of Whimsy was a well written novella. All the characters were 
very interesting too. The story was a bit strange but it took my attention.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes to read beautiful
stories with a slice of mystery. 

I give a 5 star rating because I really enjoyed this book. 

Booktasters

I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation
has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to
Charletta Barksdale and BookTasters!

Cult of Darkness

An exciting thriller!

Summary

The cartels in Mexico have splintered, triggering violent conflict over control
of the illicit drug trade. One has risen to power above all others with its brutal
methods: The Riviera. Led by a shadowy figure known only as Kukulkan,
this powerful cartel has become the main source of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid
fifty times more potent than heroin. As mutilated bodies appear on the pristine
white sands of local beach communities, investors fear for the worst…their time
of peaceful prosperity has come to an end.

When the only son of a wealthy family goes missing in the heart of Mexico’s
Yucatan Peninsula, Alex Schofield is sent in to find him. A highly trained
ex-Delta soldier, he’s the best man for the job. There’s only one catch:
he has sworn to never kill again.

Amid the escalating conflict, a darkness grows among the dense forests and
Maya ruins. As the search brings Schofield closer, he must confront his own
violent past and decide if bloodshed is once again, the only way.

My Review

I already read and reviewed the Crucible of Fear  and now the Cult of Darkness.

I really enjoyed the Cult of Darkness due to the plot lines, the characters and the
historical Maya things. It was very detailed and fluently written. I also liked the
characters as well. And what a fantastic book cover!

Who should read this book? Well anyone who likes thrillers with slices
of history.

With lots of pleasure, I give this book a 5 star rating, due to the the exciting
and well written story

The author

D.W. Whitlock, author of Crucible of Fear, has been a storyteller for most
of his life. Starting with short stories scribbled in crayon, animation flip-books,
stop-motion and later CG animation for television and video games. 

While pursuing a career in animation, writing has always been the first
step, from short descriptions to detailed backstories. As a life-long reader
and book lover, crafting thriller novels felt like the natural evolution of those
first forays into writing.

When not writing, D.W. enjoys gaming, spending time with his family
and Triumph Motorcycles.

D.W. lives in California with his wife, son and dog, Nikki.

Kat the Dog: The remarkable tale of a rescued Spanish water dog

There only are a few books, which really touched me, 
Kat the dog is one of them.

Kat the Dog: The remarkable tale of a
rescued Spanish water dog

written by Alyson Sheldrake

Summary

A captivating and emotional story of survival and second chances.

Escaping from a wretched existence on a rundown farm, a young Spanish
water dog goes on the quest of a lifetime, in search of a family to love
her and a place to call home.

Follow Kat the Dog as she tells her heart-warming and uplifting story.
The little dog with a big heart who journeyed through fear and starvation
to find her forever home.

My review

What a wonderful tale!

I read it in one time from the beginning till the end (never happened
before with a book).

It's a very emotional story, excellent fluently written and the author
captured the character of Kat the Dog very well. I really enjoyed it much!

Without any doubt I recommend this to all animal lovers and I hope
Kat the Dog will receive many stars, likes and hugs!

I give this amazing tale a 5 star rating!

The author

In 2021 author, Alyson Sheldrake was a guest on this blog. It was an 
honour to "get to know" her a bit more.

See this link. 

We Love Memoirs

I was introduced to Alyson Sheldrake via The We Love Memoirs group
on Facebook. This really is the most wonderful and friendliest group on
Facebook. They're on Twitter too.

Source pictures: Alyson Sheldrake 

The Communications Consultant's Foundation

 a pr must read

Summary

For all professionals and students who want to improve their prospects 

in business, this book prepares and positions them to build dream careers,
giving them the education and guidance required to develop vital soft
skills, and work remotely and independently.

After establishing a foundation for solid professional communications
on a personal level, it quickly opens doors to business insights and
opportunities that are exciting, inspiring, and highly sustainable.
Immersing readers into the key realms of business success and
exploring the full spectrum of essential communications practices,
they gain knowledge and trade skills of immense value, including:

- The basics of positive, proactive, strategic communications for
individuals and organizations

- What it means to be a PR expert in the creative industry and
to do great work

- An introduction to essential business imperatives, with high-level
instruction on creativity, strategy, leadership, management, marketing,
and much more

- Customer service and all it entails

- Extensive exploration of the PR toolset and its application in
real-world marketing scenarios

This book brings home all instruction with sophisticated questions
and challenges, ensuring readers have every opportunity to comprehend
and grow, step by step.

My review

I'm always very interested in public relations (pr) and communication
due to work and for my hobby (blogging) as well.
So I was keen to read the  book of Roger Darnell. 

I liked the clear chapters, the way the book was written and the interesting
topics as well. I actually learned a lot by reading this book.

This is a pr must read for anyone who is interested in business
communication. 

I give a 5 star rating for this interesting book and I hope to read more
books of him about communication. 

The author

Roger Darnell is an author, publisher, PR consultant, producer,
and career guide collaborating with illustrious luminaries every day.
Proud  @UCF alum. 

The book

This book is published in 2022 by Routledge. 

Booktasters

I received a free copy via Booktasters and the author. Thank you very much
for this splendid reading chance. 

Gugulu the Little Bear dares

 An Amazing Children's story

Summary

Go on a wild adventure with Gugulu, the sloth bear, as he takes on a
journey deep inside the western ghats of India.

Gugulu's parents won't allow him to go to school alone. But he can't
wait to explore the forest on his own. So one day, he runs ahead of
his parents. And before he knows it, he ends up in a river filled with
danger - first a roaring leopard, then a gang of gaurs, but soon he
shrinks in fear. 

Will naughty Gugulu be able to reunite with his parents?

Gugulu, The Little Bear Dares, is a quirky, funny, beautifully
illustrated story about new experiences and courageously facing
challenges when encountered

My Review

What an amazing beautiful children's story. And again I really liked
the layout and the way the author deepened out the characters.

I enjoyed it very much.

At the end there is a summary of all the characters Gugulu the bear
met during his trip.

I recommend this book to all parents who want to read for their children
or to children, who start reading.

Of course, I give a 5 star rating to Gugulu the little bear dares. 

The Author

Srividhya is an entrepreneur and writer. She always had a passion for
storytelling and started to write when she was eleven.

​Her early success came when one of her dramas got selected by the
‘All India Radio’. 

She spent years reading and writing stories, giving her characters
a bright sparkle!

​She is a chartered accountant and spent 15 years in corporate jobs.
Later, she founded and managed a fashion e-commerce company.

More about this splendid author, check last author in the picture
blog post on this link. 

Author in the picture post : Srividhya Lakshmanan

Welcome on the “Mycrazylifewithbooks” blog Srividhya Lakshmanan !
I read several books of you and I always was pleasantly surprised by the
atmosphere and the lesson that each story contained. So, these were
the main reasons, I invited you to take part of the Author in the picture
blogpost. Off we go with these questions: 

1/ Can you tell the readers more about you?

I am an indie author. I have published picture books and short stories
for children. Before venturing into the book space, I used to run a fashion
e-commerce company. I spent several years in the corporate world.

2/ How did you start writing children's and young adults' books?

I started to write as early as eleven. The local radio selected one of the
stories during my high school days. Still, the idea of publishing books
came only two years ago at my daughter's insistence. I published a few
short stories that received excellent reviews in the early days. The
feedback encouraged me to publish more books.

3/ How were you as a kid?

I spent the best part of my childhood in smaller towns and the
countryside, so I was always with friends, exploring nature and playing
in the outdoors. Loads of free time and zero screen time! I believe
that a lot of my creative side was nurtured predominantly in those times. 

4/ Which book/series inspired you?

I have many books, but I will keep the list short considering the time -
Roald Dahl's BFG, the Indian mythology series by Anant Pai,
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne, Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer.
My most preferred genre is children's picture books. I never a miss a
chance to read one.

5/ How do you chose your stories/ topics?

The ideas for my stories come from everyday conversations with people.
For instance, the idea for my newest picture book, 'Gugulu, The Little
Bear Dares', came from a family trip to the Western Ghats of India.
The previous book, 'Do they all Sleep?' came from a bedtime
conversation with my child. She is my first soundboard. She is a
voracious reader, so I start to develop an idea only after she approves.

6/ Can you tell us a bit more about your writing routine? 

I don't follow a strict routine, but I always carry a small notebook
for my story ideas. I try to write at least three days a week. In addition,
I try to keep up with my writing habit by participating in time-bound
story writing competitions. I believe these competitions also
help me improve my skill.

7/Are you proud receiving a good review or an award?

A good review obviously makes me super happy. I love to read it again
and again. 

And, of course, awards are significant too. It reassures my efforts and
belief in the books. I was elated when my first book got shortlisted
for the Wishing Shelf Awards.

8/ Are you nervous before the release of a new book? 

I am super nervous before a book release. As an indie author, you
must wear multiple hats and spend several months preparing for the
release. If the readers don't accept the book, all the effort goes wasted.

I have a new release scheduled for the 29th of April 2022,
and I am already sweating!

9/ Do you have plans to write other children / young adults' books,
or books in another genre?

Yes, I am working on my next book that will release mostly next year mid.
The book will be again a picture book.

10/ What are your wishes for the (nearby) future? 

While I am happy in the indie space, I would also like to try out the
traditional publishing side. I am working on a few picture book
manuscripts. I hope something clicks soon.

Thank you

Thank you very much for answering these questions. If you want to know
more about Srividhya Lakshmanan, please check her social media.

Social Media

Website: www.andbooks.in

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19581544.Srividhya_Lakshmanan

Instagram: https://instagram.com/andbooksin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andbooks3

Amazon: http://author.to/srividhyalakshmanan