Bookreview: The Travel Stories Collection

These series really are fantastic!  

A must read for avid travelers and adventurers. 

Book 1: Chasing the Dream – A new life abroad

20 different stories. One shared dream – the chance to start a new life overseas.

Young lives, families, midlife movers, rash spur-of-the-moment property purchasers,
and retirement dreamers are all featured in this book. Read about their adventures
and find out what it is really like to move abroad.

Book 2: Itchy Feet – Tales of travel and adventure

From the Indonesian jungle, to an epic journey out of Africa, and rafting the
Zambezi. Find out what Egypt is like in a heatwave, and hunt down Dracula
in Transylvania. Catch a rare glimpse into the lives of the last Pech Indigenous
people of La Moskitia, Honduras. Be entertained by a teenager’s first glance of
foreign soil, and an Australian view of England. Ride a Harley through France
and Spain and find out what makes someone a perpetual nomad.

Book 3: Wish You Were Here – Holiday Memories

We all have that one holiday that stands out in our minds, that one break or
vacation we will never forget. Whether it is a childhood ‘bucket and spade’
family holiday, the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ dream destination, your first trip abroad
or the city where you first fell in love, the memories are still there today.

Also includes 17 Bonus Chapters - Exclusive to this box set collection.

A wonderful collection of short travel stories from all over the world.

My Review

Each of the books contains lovely stories, which I read with a laugh and a 
tear. I really enjoyed all of them. 

Alyson Sheldrake has collected a number of very interesting and fantastic
travel writers. It takes the reader over the whole world. I liked that armchair
traveling a lot.

These series are a must read for travelers, adventures and people who love
reading memoirs. 

I give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating to the complete series.

The author

Alyson Sheldrake is a fantastic professional artist and author living
and working in the beautiful Algarve in Portugal. 

Of course I'm a bit prejudiced because she had an author in the picture
blog post on this blog. See this link. I also was a beta reader for these 
"The Travel Storries Collection" books. 

More about Alyson Sheldrake, check her website on this link. 

We Love Memoirs

I 'met' Alyson Sheldrake via the We Love Memoirs group on Facebook.

This is a very interesting and friendly place for authors, bloggers and 
avid travel readers. 

Bookreview: LMF

What a fantastic book!

Summary

LMF is a work of historical fiction set against one of Britain’s most
controversial campaigns, the RAF night bomber offensive. Its central characters
are a pilot suffering combat fatigue and desperate to complete the last mission of his
tour so he can rest and recover, his navigator, a Quaker struggling to reconcile his
beliefs with the morality of his task, and an Australian engineer whose wife is dying
of cancer.The novel covers a 24 hour period in January 1944, exploring the events
of a mission through the eyes of a single crew of seven men.

My Review

What a fantastic book! I really enjoyed the books of Malcolm Havard due to
his writing style and the characters. I also liked the book cover. For this story,
the author did his research very well! And he had an eye for details! I wanted 
to know the end. 

I will recommend this book to all who like to read about historical stories and
especially about World War II.

I want to give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating for this fantastic book!

The author

Malcolm started writing fiction around 10 years ago, self-publishing
three novels through Amazon including a mountaineering thriller,
The Last Mountain, which has had more than 10,000 downloads.
He also has two books published by a small publisher, including a
collection of WW1 stories which topped the Amazon anthology best-sellers
list at Christmas 2014.

His short stories have done well in a number of competitions, including
runner-up placings for those run by Henshaw Press and the
Mere Literary Festival.

Having written in several genres early in his career, Malcolm has now
settled into writing historical fiction.

This includes LMF, a WW2 novel set during the RAFs controversial
night bombing campaign, Leviathan, a novella about a young, frightened
pilot hunting Zeppelins in the night during WW1, The Neutral Zone,
a collection of short stories, and Eleven Days, a novel set around the
events of 'Bloody April'. 1917.

Booktasters

I really want to thank Booktasters and the author for providing me a free
copy in return of my honest review. Thank you for this fantastic reading 

chance!

Bookreview: The Path to Freedom

 What an interesting book!

The Path to Freedom

Starting a Business for the Reluctant
Entrepreneur

Summary

Do you want to start your own business but you're too afraid or nervous to try?
Do you dread financial risk and failure? Do you fear rejection? Stop worrying
right now, because The Path to Freedom: Starting a Business for the Reluctant
Entrepreneur gives you everything you need to start a successful side business!

The Path to Freedom: Starting a Business for the Reluctant Entrepreneur
shows you how to fulfill your dream by being a practical realist

My Review

First of all: what an interesting book! It gave hints to obtain and create

business goals. It was full with practical information, which I found
usefull. I also enjoyed the writing style and the content. 

I would recommend this book to all who like to read more about setting up
a business. 

Because it is written in a nice way, I want to give The Path to Freedom, 
Starting a Business for the Reluctant Entrepreneur - a five star rating. 

The Book

The Path to Freedom - Starting a Business for the Reluctant Entrepreneur,

was published on 7 June 2021 and contained 428 pages. 
The author is Stephen Haunts.

Booktasters

I really want to thank Booktasters and the author for this excellent reading chance.

It was my 50th. Bookreview for Booktasters. 

Bookreview: Haiku + Drawings = Haiga

 Wonderful short poems and drawings

Summary

A set of selected Haiga works, made throughout the year of 2020,
where pandemics freeze us all. The time we supposed would be the end,
allow us to go deeper in thoughts and feelings.
This is the first book of haiku poems.

My Review

For me this was the first time I read a book with Haiku. This is a type 
of short poetry originally from Japan. The poems and the paintings were
all very amazing and wonderful. I really enjoyed them. I didn't read the 
book in one time but it was nice reading some Haiku's a day. Nevertheless
I was confused about the term: Haiga.  

I would recommend this book to non-active readers it will encourage them
to enjoy some more books.

I give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating to this wonderful book. I hope 
a sequel will follow soon! 

The author 

The author Horacio Magnus is a poet, writer and haiku lover

The Book

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09F1HZPXC

Uitgever ‏ : ‎ Independently Published (30 augustus 2021)

Taal ‏ : ‎ Engels

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 104 pagina's

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8464214446

Afmetingen ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 0.66 x 21.59 cm

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters for the free copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you very much for this wonderful reading chance! 

Bookreview: Four Bittersweet Romances & A Four Act Closet Drama

 A very good read!

Summary

The Ballad of Calle and Maja - a tragicomic story: Maja sends crushes to Calle.
He becomes infatuated, but the fear of failing seizes him as his affection grows.
Lonely and vulnerable for as long as he could remember, Calle suffered a string
of ‪one-night‬ stands and relentless unrequited love. He bears psychological scars
after recently venturing on an online cat-fishing site. Calle decides to pursue
Maja's love. Meanwhile, Maja is unhappily in love with someone else. Calle is
however determined to win Maja’s love.

Two Girls in a Cafe: A young man becomes the subject of a contentious
conversation between Felicity and Ruth. They have different impressions
about the man's character. The question is whether Felicity and Ruth have
the right end of the stick. "Contemporary, witty, honest and ironic".

Binky's Reverie: The story is about loneliness, friendship, misunderstandings,
frustration—between Binky, a young Caribbean man, and Linda, a young
Swedish beauty. They first met in London, where their friendship blossomed
into regular dating, kissing and cuddling—happiness and fun. Linda invites
Binky to visit Sweden for a holiday. And Binky hopes for him and her to go
beyond kissing and hugging—developing a serious love relationship.

Getting It Right, If Ever - romance novella: A tragicomic fantasy tale.
The setting is the early 70s in two imaginary countries. 40-year-old Benji is
a gardener and an aspiring poet. By coincidence, he meets 45-year-old Molly.
They become pen pals, and Molly invites Benji to visit her homeland. Benji is
overwhelmed and seizes the opportunity to visit another country—for the
first time. Then one day, Benji catches sight of a beautiful woman and
becomes mesmerised by with her beauty. He attempts to win her affection.
His manner is anything but conventional: His wooing is courageous as it is
comical. And his approach is a mixture of play-acting, hope, and preservation.
Benji is determined to succeed.

Tell Me Who My Enemy Is — a four-act closet drama: The scene is an outdoor
café near a lake. It is early autumn in the 70s in Stockholm. Berry
(an Afro-West Indian) and Gun and Kerstin (two Swedish cronies) are socialising.
Sam, the Afro-American in time, barges in on the trio. The black men air
opposing views about life in Sweden. Berry becomes belligerent towards Sam:
suspects him to have something up his sleeve. Sam, on the other hand, is calm
and collected, though contemptuous. The girls are puzzled by the bickering
between the two men which escalates into verbal abusive.

My review

I just finished reading "Four Bittersweet Romances and A Four Act Closet
Drama" and I absolutely enjoyed it!

The book was written very detailed and the stories were all great! Although
they looked in the beginning different to each other they form a good whole.

Sometimes I had to laugh, other ways I really felt sad. 

Anyway it was a very good read and I would like to give a 5 star rating! 

The author

He was born in Guyana, immigrated to England in the early 60s.
Worked and studied in London, before taking up residence in Sweden,
in the early 70s.

In the early 70s, he wrote stories, a four-act closet drama,
a novella, and an unfinished (memoir) novel. He had then spent two years
nurturing the ambition to become an author of some repute.
But the going was tough, creating a feeling of insecurity for the future.

In time, he shelved the idea and got a job as a hospital porter.
He later did a BA (Eng. & Edu.). After a summer job at a psychiatric hospital,
he decided to do a 4-term course for mental-health carers, 

Following that he would complete the first of two stages of psychotherapy
education and several short courses in cognitive therapy. After retirement,
he did counseling work for several years.

Booktastes

I really want to thank Booktasters and the author as well for their free copy. It 
was a very good read! 

Bookreview: Green is good, Save Money, Make Money, and Help Your Community Profit from Clean Energy

compact but very interesting book  

Summary 

Renewable energy is good for your wallet. Those who see that opportunity
are already seizing it … all the way to the bank. Green Is Good is a no-nonsense
guide to how you, the average American, can easily incorporate clean energy
and energy efficiency into your daily life and in the process save money,
make money, and help wean your community off fossil fuels. Renewable
energy guru Brian F. Keane walks you through the cost-benefit trade-offs
that come with the exciting new technologies and introduces you to the
revolutionary clean-energy products on the horizon, making the ins and outs
of renewable energy easily accessible. He shows what you can do on every
level to seize the opportunity and profit from it. A renewable energy future
isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for the economy, and
Green Is Good will show you how—before it’s too late.

My review

Green is good is a small book, but with a lots of interesting information.

It was clear that the author knew his stuff perfectly!

I enjoyed reading Green is good, due to the compact size of the book and
due to the suggestions of the author. It also has a beautiful book cover!

I will recommend this book to all who want to read about saving money

and helping your community profit from Clean Energy.

I give a 5 star rating to this compact and interesting book! 

The author

Brian F. Keane is president of SmartPower. He appears on White
House Chronicle and contributes regularly to the Huffington Post.
Twice named Connecticut's Environmental Hero by the People's
Action for Clean Energy, Keane speaks extensively with local and
national media about clean energy and energy efficiency. He lives
with his wife and their four children in Arlington, Virginia. 

Booktasters

I want to thank Booktasters and the author as well for providing me
a free copy. 

source picture: book cover

Bookreview: Two Old Fools in Spain Again

An amazing book!

Summary

When Victoria and Joe return to their Spanish mountain village, they are still
reeling from their year in the Middle East. Sighing with relief, they prepare
to settle down to a peaceful life with the familiar characters of the village.

But life refuses to stand still, even in tiny El Hoyo. Lola Ufarte’s behaviour
surprises nobody, but when a millionaire becomes a neighbour, the
village turns into a battleground.

Can Victoria and Joe help restore peace to the village?

My Review

Books about Spain always interest me very much, especially memoirs. 

This book certainly did not let me down! I enjoyed reading about Vicky
and Joe and about the events they have experienced in Spain. With 
some of them I was shocked others made me laugh.

I also enjoyed the recipes, Victoria Twead add to each chapter. The food
brought back nice memories to Spain. 

I really liked this amazing read and I want to recommend this book to 
all who loved to read fantastic travel memoirs.

Without no doubt, I want to give a 5 star rating to "Two Old Fools in Spain
Again".

The author

Victoria Twead is a New York Times bestselling author. In 2004 she
nagged poor, long-suffering Joe into leaving Britain and relocating to a
tiny, remote mountain village in Andalucía, where they became reluctant
chicken farmers and owned the most dangerous cockerel in Spain.

Village life inspired Victoria’s first book, Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools,
which was quickly followed by more in the Old Fools series, all of which fast
became Amazon bestsellers.

We Love Memoirs Group

I received a free copy via the We Love Memoirs Group, the most friendliest 
group on Facebook. Thank you so much for this amazing reading chance! 

Bookreview: Waxing Pathetic My Two Cents, For What They're Worth

 What a special book

Summary

"Waxing Pathetic" is a sardonic, often hilarious, raging stream of consciousness
from one mad American woman. From the pathetic to the political, the lunatic
to the poetic, Clark's memoir is a masterwork of dry wit and piercing observation.

From "Been Down This Road" where she relates her high school dating history, to
"This is Real...and Surreal" where she takes down some pathetic politics,
Clark merges real events with dream-state fiction that evokes deeper truths
hidden in memories.

Organized into five themes connected by the pathetic principle, she takes on the
personal, the economic, and the political, and finally asks noisy America to
begin to untangle.

"Waxing Pathetic" will leave you breathless as you are taken down
roads not taken by most American women.

My Review

First of all: What a special book! I never read such one as this. The author

takes the readers to a mix of thoughts and ideas. Besides that he tells an

amazing beautiful story. 

I liked the writing style very much but I got a bit confused. Yet this book

made me think.

I would recommend this book to all people who like to read quirky novels.

I give a 5 star rating for "Waxing Pathetic". 

The author

Ms. Merry Clark is an author, comedian, and photographer. She earned a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan in 1989
and went on to independently produce and direct her own theater productions
in Ann Arbor and Boulder, Colorado. She then commenced an acting career
in Hollywood, appearing in theater productions as well as commercials.
She has been an ovarian cancer survivor for over 20 years, and is the
primary caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's
disease in 2013. She currently lives with her mother and her
cat in Michigan. "Waxing Pathetic" is her second book.

The book

Waxing Pathetic was published on 15 January 2021 by Bookbaby.

Booktasters

I want to give a special thank you for Booktasters for providing me a free
copy. It always are very special books! 

Bookreview: A Santa Fe Christmas

 A surprising book

Summary

Evie Hernandez gave up her dream job to help with Mama Irene’s,
the family business. Balancing her modernization plans while respecting
generations of traditions isn’t easy, especially with her nosy, loving family
offering unsolicited advice. That’s never more true than when she meets
Alex—Mr. Tall, Dark and Far Too Handsome. He makes her wonder if
she’s given up on her dreams too quickly, and soon she imagines a much
different future for herself.

Alejandro “Alex” Ortiz is in Santa Fe to do business with Mama Irene’s,
but when he meets the beautiful Evie, he realizes he’ll need a different approach.
Soon he’s playing bartender, serving up horchatas, and sampling tamales,
reminding him of his childhood and beloved Abuelita. Charmed by Evie and
her family, Alex drops his guard and lets himself enjoy Santa Fe’s Christmas
traditions. But he has a deadline to keep and a business to get back to—plus,
Evie will hate him when she learns why he’s really there.

Can the magic of a Santa Fe Christmas help these two find their way?

My Review

First I thought "A Santa Fe Christmas" only was a romantic/feelgood story.

Surprisingly I found the word recipe in the table of content. That made me
curious. It's a fantastic mix of a romantic and feel good story and a cookbook
as well. I liked it a lot!

I'm intrigued by the maels and I'm sure I'll try out some at home. I also liked
the Spanish words in the book very much. Muy bien!

I will recommend this book to people who like to read Christmas stories and
who want to collect recipes too. It's really a wonderful combination!

I give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating for A Santa Fe Christmas. 

The author

Cecelia Guzman is the writing team of best-selling author Candace Havens
and her daughter-in-law, Crystal Havens, a recovering publishing executive
and mom of five. They live in Texas with their families and pets. They love
all-things holiday, reading, and when they aren’t writing, they can often be
found in the kitchen preparing huge meals. Oh, and they might share an
addiction for all things pink and shiny.

(info on the website of Tule publishing)

The Book

A Santa Fe Christmas is published on 8 November 2021 by Tule Publishing.

Pages: 176

Booktasters

Thank you very much Booktasters for providing me a free copy to read and
review this wonderful book! 

Bookreview: Win Your Life with a Permanent Fix

A splendid and clear book! 

The Book

177 pages, ebook

Published April 4, 2018

Summary

Born in a small village in India, the author was expected to work
and live in that town. However, interest in self-development supported
by formal education in India, Australia, and Canada, led him to Canada
and also helped him live a successful life in North America. However,
there was a feeling of a missing link – a feeling that there was something
missing in life. Having been born into a mystical tradition helped him

understand mysticism from the right sources. Over a two decade

long practice in Dhyan and experimenting with more than a
hundred different types of Eastern meditations helped him improve his
mental balance. But that still did not help to resolve what this missing
link was and how to complete this link.

Research in philosophy, clinical psychology with a primary emphasis

on logotherapy, helped him resolve the missing link. The author found
that it does not matter what your belief regarding God or your religious
affiliation is, what matters is whether your practices help you to control
your seeds of aggression, addiction, and depression. It does not matter
what philosophy you follow, what matters is whether that philosophy is
leading you to a meaningful life. This book is intended to help you to

win your life through your unique contributions and make permanent

changes, one person – you – at a time.

My Review

Besides (royal) history I'm always very interested in psychology, 
especially Industrial and Organizational psychology. 

Although this book is more about individual changes and chances.
It is a good reminder for us all. Even, I noted some interesting
advices.

For me the book was very clear, not floaty and the author knew his
stuff! He gave lots of interesting examples. 

I certainly would recommend this splendid "Win Your Life with a Permanent Fix"
to all who are looking for a change in their lives. 

Therefore I give without no doubt a 5 star rating for this very open minded book. 

The author

Chetan Prabhu Desai speaks on topics such as ‘How to find meaning at any
workplace’, and ‘How to make your business environment where every employee
wins’. He worked in managerial positions in aerospace and electronics
organizations, including in Berkshire Hathaway Group. His education includes
an MBA from the Schulich School of Business of York University in Canada,
and Master of Engineering in Systems engineering at RMIT in Australia.

As an expert, He appeared on 100+ channels including Fox News,
iHeart, BizTalkRadio, Salem Media, CKLW.

Booktasters

I really want to thank Booktasters and the author for giving me this splendid
reading and review chance!! 

Bookreview: The nourished brain

 A very interesting book! 

Summary

Worldwide, up to 50 million people and their families are living with some
form of the degenerative and irreversible disease of Alzheimer's. By 2030,
this number is expected to rise to a staggering 76 million people globally
who will be living with this condition. At this time, there is no cure. Many
families have asked, "Is there something that could have been done to
prevent or slow down Alzheimer's disease?" Written by a Registered Dietitian
who witnessed the gradual decline and loss of both her parents to this disease,
this book takes a look at the evolving and promising power of food and diet
to thwart off the clutches of Alzheimer's. The author also includes brief
anecdotes of other families whose lives have been forever affected by loved
ones with Alzheimer's disease.

-Takes a look at the inner workings of the human brain and numerous studies
showing a strong correlation between food choices that either nourish or
hinder brain health

-Provides guidance on meal planning to maximize brain health

-Includes a listing of the top brain-healthy foods to be consuming daily
and brain-draining foods to avoid

-Offers an in-depth look at specific nutrients and their role in promoting
better brain health

-Reveals the top 10 lifestyle factors for protecting brain health

-Provides simple, delicious recipes with ingredients containing
nutrients known to be beneficial for brain health

My review

Alzheimer can affect all of us. An aunt of my husband suffered Alzheimer
and it was really sad to see her deteriorate. 

Unfortunately there is still no medicine to solve this tragic illness. But how
is Alzheimer related with food?

While reading the book: "The Nourished Brain" it was clear that the author
knows something about the brains and about food. She knew her stuff! The
book was scientifically underbuilt. At the end there were some lovely 
recipes which I liked.

I would recommend "The Nourished Brain" to all who are interested in the
combination: food versus illness.

Of course I give this a 5 star rating due to the huge work, the author made for
this book.

The author

CHERYL MUSSATTO, MS, RD, LD, is a registered dietitian, teacher,
and blogger at Eat Well to Be Well (EatWellToBeWellRD.com). She has
helped thousands of people change their lives by changing their diet,
and her work has appeared in various media outlets including U.S. News
and World Report and Reader's Digest.

Booktasters

I received a free copy from "The nourished brain" via the author and Booktasters.
Thank you very much for this excellent reading and reviewing chance! 

Crucible of Fear

 What a fantastic thriller!

Summary

A man's life in chaos. His young daughter at risk. What is a pound of a flesh worth?

Dante Ellis is a successful advertising executive on the rise. His world is plunged
into a huge nightmare after he's targeted by ruthless hackers known only as
dark Messiah.

Dante soon discovered no part of his life too scared to be used against him, no 
secret buried too deep. What began as a veiled threat soon descends into a
desperate conflict against the will of an unseen enemy.

My Review

Nothing scares more than a hacker who wants to take over your computer systems.
It brought the suspense in this fantastic thriller.

I really was keen to know what would happen next and I read the story to the end.
The characters were well developed and the story kept me busy.

So I want to recommend this book to lovers of suspense and thrillers. I give this
splendid fantastic thriller a 5 star rating on 5.

The Author

D.W. Withlock, 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 French bulldog Nikki. 

Booktasters

I received a free copy of the author and Booktasters in return of my honest review.

Bookreview: Little Bit & Big Byte, Go Green

 A very happy colourful children's book with a fantastic lesson

Summary

Little Bit & Big Byte are back for another fun adventure in the sequel of the
popular Day at the beach. It's " Save the Environment" Week at school and
the adorable "Chips off the old block" are excited to do their part to help
conserve energy and recycle.

Little Bit shares how we all can save water by brushing efficiently. Joy the
sister, sleeps more soundly with a night light. Big Byte has a tendency to use
all of his electronics at the same time and realizes how effective unplugging
can be.

Even the Dad can do his part to ease traffic congestion by taking public
transportation to work. While taking their recycling to the curb, their long-time
enemies kick over the recycling bins and spew garbage all over the street. In 
addition their pesky pointer jumps into the Recycle Truck and gets whisked
away to the Recycling Centre. Little Bit & Big Byte rush to save the day for
their beloved canine. They also learn the complexities and necessity of 
recycling our paper, plastic and aluminum cans. 

Enjoy the colourful illustrations and be amused by finding the "hidden object"
in each picture. Smile at the "story within a story" as the lovable caterpillar
steals each scene with his youthful antics. Learn a valuable life lesson
as Author Craig Feigh, perfectly illustrates the need for all of us "Go Green". 

My review

What a very happy colourful children's book with a fantastic lesson
(even for me)!

When I started reading Little Bit & Big Byte, Go Green, the colourful cover 
intrigued me very much.

There was a lot of interesting text for a children's book and it transferred
me to the world of the main character(s). They were deepened
out very well! 

I liked the wonderful explanation of the "Go Green" topic. The search
inside Little Bit & Big Byte also was amazing. The last page was a
colour plate which  children would love!

I recommend this happy, colourful book with a great fantastic
lesson to children and their parents as well. It's excellent lecture to
start reading and to read to your little ones. 

Of course, I give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating. 

The Author

Craig T. Feigh is a talented Author of several different genres of books. He
is most noted for his Children's Picture Books, most notably his
Little Bit & Big Byte series.

Little Bit & Big Byte are the first "technology-related" characters in 
Children's Picture Books and are popular for any child who loves to use the
computer, phone or ipad.

Graig also writes Humour and Christian Living Books.

Booktasters

I received the book: Little Bit & Big Byte, Go Green via Booktasters. Thank you
so much for this excellent reading chance! 

Little Bit & Big Byte, Go Green

The book was published in April 2019 by Bookbaby. It was written by Craig Feigh
and illustrated by Patrick Carlson. It contained 34 pages. 

Source picture: Book Cover

Bookreview: Qwerty, the Forgotten Typewriter

What an amazing children's book! 

Summary

In this day and age, being "different" often means being ostracized from society.
This not only happens to people, but to Typewriters as well!

Qwerty used to be the most popular typewriter at the television station until she
was replaced by a computer. No longer did fingers dance across her keys. This 

made Qwerty sad as she was ridiculed and mocked for being different from the
newer equipment. That is until a power outage knocked out the computer batteries
and Qwerty was summoned to "save the day". 

Children love old typewriters and are intrigued by how they work and the sound 
they make. They also were very cognizant of the realities of prejudice caused by 
someone being different from themselves.

Qwerty, The Forgotten Typewriter is a fun, energetic story of a once popular
machine being tossed aside, only to be brought back because of her usefulness.

We can all learn a lesson on how each of us is unique and valuable. 

From the Author and Illustrator of the popular series: Little Bit & Big Byte 
comes a wonderful story about perseverance and self-esteem.

My Review

From time to time I enjoy reading children's books, they always are so nice and
relaxing! Most of them contain a lesson such as Qwerty, The Forgotten
Typewriter did. For me this story was a bit special, because I learned typing on
such an old (AZERTY) type machine.

Qwerty, The Forgotten Typewriter had a lovely story. I really enjoyed reading 
and the researching in the pictures as well.

I absolutely want to say something about the layout as well. The pictures are
amazing and bright. They just made me happy and it started already with the
book cover. 

I certainly would recommend Qwerty, The Forgotten Typewriter to all lovers
of children's books. It also is the perfect literature for parents who read for 
their children. 

Without any doubts, I want to give a 5 star rating for this amazing children's 

book!

The author

Craig T. Feigh is a talented Author of several different genres of books. He
is most noted for his Children's Picture Books, most notably his
Little Bit & Big Byte series.

Little Bit & Big Byte are the first "technology-related" characters in 
Children's Picture Books and are popular for any child who loves to use the
computer, phone or ipad.

Graig also writes Humor and Christian Living Books.

Booktasters

I want to thank the author and Booktasters for giving me a free copy in 
return of my honest review. Thank you very much for this amazing 
reading chance! 

Qwerty, The forgotten Typewriter

This book was published on 6 November 2020 by BookBaby.
It contains 28 pages.

Bookreview: Damon Ich

 What a fantastic fantasy story!

Summary

Damon Ich, an introverted and lonely workaholic, lives in a paradise with
power to do anything and to go anywhere at any time. He uses his gift to
help people in need. 

One night, he rescues a man who is revealed to be the founder of his way

of life - and suggests a rescue mission he can't refuse. The meeting and the 
rescue set off a train of events that shatter everything. Damon Ich realises that
he isn't alone in being able to do anything. Two invincible forces collide in a
torrent of bewildering, revealing and eventually catastrophic events, dramatically
changing Damon Ich's life forever. Will the roll of humanity's gardian angel be
preserved? Find it out by reading Damon Ich today! 

My review

I could follow Damon Ich easily although this was the second book of the
Wheel of Eight Book series.

The storytelling and the use of language was really brilliant! The characters 
were deepened out very well as they introduced theirselves to the readers. 

The quality of writing even let me forget the time traveling. It felt comfortable
to follow the adventures of the characters.

This is a fantastic fantasy story recommended for people who love fantasy and
drama. Although this book certainly is for adults (more than 18 years).

I give with lots of pleasure a 5 star rating for this excellent book! 

The author

Damon Ich is written by Aaron David Key. It is a part of the fantasy series called:
The Wheel of Eight about a group of people who have power to do anything. 

Booktasters

Thank you very much for the free copy, which I received from Booktasters and
the author. 

Book

The publication date of Damon Ich was 16 December 2020. The book contains
256 pages. 

Bookreview: Arroyo

 Very special read!

Summary

Set into two distinct epochs in the history of Pasadena, California, Arroyo tells the

parallel stories of a young inventor and his clairvoyant dog in 1913 and 1993.

In both lives, they are drawn to the landmark Colorado Street Bridge, which
suffered a lethal collapse during construction but still opened to fanfare in the
early 20th. century automobile age. 

When the refurbished structure commemorates its 80th B-Day, one of the
planet's best known small towns is virtually unrecognizable from its past.

Wrought with warmth and wit, Jacobs' debut novel digs into Pasadena's most
mysterious structure and the city itself. In their exploits around what was then
at America's highest, longest roadway, Nick Chance and his impish mutt interact
with some of the big personalities from that time inter alia: Teddy Roosevelt,
Charles Fletcher and others. 

While undergoing the truth about the Colorado Street Bridge, in all its eye-catching

grandeur and unavoidable darkness, the characters of Arroyo paint a vivid picture
of how the home of the Rose Bowl got its dramatic start. 

My Review

First of all I want to say I liked the cover a lot! It's beautiful and to the point!

The book surprised me very much due to the story, the timelines and many
historical facts. 

It was lovely to meet the dog and Nick too. I enjoyed following their
adventures. It also was nice to see how the city has changed (or not).  

Sometimes I was confused due to the mix of fiction (characters) and non-
fiction (historical facts). Overall a splendid mix and story! 

I saw in Arroyo lots of different genres: historical fiction, fantasy and even
tales. If you like to read a mix of genres you'll certainly won't regret this
book. 

I want to give a 5 star for this very special read!

The author

Chip Jacobs is a bestselling author and journalist. His most recent book is
"The Darkest Glare": A True Story of Murder, Blackmail, and Real Estate
Greed in 1979 Los Angeles. He is currently partnering with WarnerMedia
to develop "Smogtown" into an entertainment project and is also at work
on a follow-up novel and a non-fiction project. 

Jacobs won lots of Awards with his works inter alia:

- Independent Publishers' Book Awards (IPPY);

- the Indies Book of the Year Contest;

- Foreword and Booklist magazines;

- The Green Prize for Sustainable Literature;

- the Southern California Book Festival;

- the Los Angeles Press Club;

- the Shanghai Book Awards;

- Chinese Most Influential and Outstanding Popular Science book.

His subjects and reporting have appeared in The New York Times, 
the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Daily News, CNN, 

The Wall Street Journal and many more.

Chip Jacobs lives in Southern California. 

Booktasters

I received a free copy via Booktasters in exchange of my honest review.

Thank you very much for this excellent reading chance!! 

The Book

Arroyo was published in March 2021. 

Language: English

Publisher: Rare Bird Books 

Pages: 376

Bookreview: Fat Dogs and French Estates Part 3

What a brilliant series!

Summary

When Beth and her grumpy husband, Jack, buy their dream country estate,
it fast becomes obvious that they've taken on a renovation nightmare.

Managing a team of eccentric French builders, getting lost in their own
forest, dogging stampeding wild boar, battling stinking bugs and
outwitting athletic dormice are just a few of the challenges they must face.

Will they succeed?

This is the third instalment of the Haslam's French adventures.

My Review

I started reading with the third book of the series, but I could follow easily,
although now I wanted to read them all, because it's a brilliant series!

It is written so funny and so clear. The author is a fantastic story teller and
I can imagine she speaks the way she write. 

I experienced a lot of feelings in this book: sadness, happiness and laughter.
I enjoyed reading about the author's daily life and adventures in France.

I would recommend this book to all people who like to read personal 
memoirs. 

Without any doubt, I want to give this book a 5 star rating! Sad I couldn't
give even more stars! 

About the author

Beth Haslam was brought up on a country estate in Wales. Deep in the
countryside her childhood was spent either on horseback, helping the
gamekeepers raise pheasants or out sailing.

After a serious car crash in 1991, she set up her own consultancy business. 

Beth and her husband, Jack decided to buy a second home in France.

This became a life-changing event where computers and mobile phones
swapped places with understanding the foibles of the French and tackling
the language. 

We Love Memoirs 

I received a free copy of Fat Dogs and French Estates Part 3 via the
We Love Memoirs group which is really the most friendliest group
on Facebook! 

Bookreview: Incremental Courage

 "What a fantastic memoir"

Summary

In this work, the author shares a number of challenging situations and experiences 
that almost broke him at an early age. To move forward, he had to lean on his faith,
unlearn some stuff, consider a new perspective, be vulnerable and develop the
courage to confront and slay his demons. 

My review

I'm very sorry the reading and reviewing process took a while but what an amazing
book. I absolutely liked it, although it sometimes was shocking. 

It's more than a memoir and it brought a lots of mixed feelings in me. However I
really want to thank the author for sharing his experiences with us -the readers.

I would recommend this book to all readers who love a fantastic memoir!

Without any doubt I want to gave a 5 star rating to this wonderful book! 

The author

Christopher Warren was a combat veteran of nearly 25 years in the US Army. 
He had served in high-profile assignments including commander, speechwriter,
aide-de-camp, congressional liaison, Pentagon staff officer and human resources
officer. After retiring he served as a chief of staff and a senior policy advisor
for federal executive branch agencies.

The Book

Incremental Courage was published on 24 February 2021 and it contains 205 pages.

Bookreview: Volume 1 , Mona Lisa on the Moon

 Very interesting read!!

Summary

Thirty-two thousand years ago, a gifted child is born into a world most
would consider paradise. There has not been a war or hunger for some
eight thousand years. As she matures Mona Lisa just one of a highly
advanced civilization on Earth prepares to fulfil her destiny. 

After she becomes the youngest captain of the planet's fleet of 
spaceships, her career blossoms as she faces challenges and threats to her
civilization. 

Mona and others must jump into action as the health and the well-being of 
all sentient life precariously hangs in the balance. 

My Review

I enjoyed the book very much although due to the details it took a while
to read it all.

It's a very well written science fiction book with a great storytelling and
fantastic characters. However the book has lots of details.

The title named after the protagonist is well chosen. 

I certainly would recommend this interesting book too all people who
love a good science fiction story. 

Due to the details I give it a 4 star rating. I'm looking forward to the
sequel of this book. 

The Author

Author George B. is a retired scientist and senior Air Force Officer and
born in 1950. His parents met in North Africa where both were serving 
in the Third Army under General George Patton. 

George B. is now retired but worked for years in several areas of
science research and application. He started out in the biological 
sciences, moved to law, was drafted out of law school during the 
Vietnam War, and later migrated into industrial psychology,
computer-assisted analysis, programming and much more. 
Throughout he was known as a trouble-shooter and investigator. 

The book

Total pages: 242

published: 4 January 2019 by Archway Publishing. 

Booktasters

First of all my big thank you to Booktasters and author George B for
a copy in return of my honest review. 

Bookreview: Circumstances

"Interesting Science Fiction Story"

Get onboard Chimeric to trace a series of episodes and unique characters 
under intricate circumstances in the hope of taking the dream from 
anywhere to any destination without limits. 

My Review

Before I start reading a brand new book, I always take a look to the cover,
which is great to attack the readers. 

The title circumstances is chosen very carefully - it could trigger some new
readers. 

I liked the storytelling a lot just as the main character. Circumstances is written
well and I hope to read more books from the author.

I would recommend this book to all lovers of Science Fiction. 
I give a 5 star rating for Circumstances. 

The Author

Solomon Sackitey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at
Iowa State University and a Master of Science degree in Regulatory Affairs
for Drugs, Biologics and Medical Devices at Northeastern University in the
United States. 

Solomon also is the author of A Sea of Plight and Pure Joy of the Gold Coast
Boy (written under the pen name Bwana Awetse), and Roadmap. 

As a contributing author, he wrote for the PRESEC-Legon 
Senior High School Magazine, Iowa Agriculturist and the Iowa State Daily.

Booktasters

I received a review copy via Booktasters. Thank you very much! 

Book details

The book has 184 pages and was published on 9 December 2020 by
GCB Books.