Category: reviews

Ferren and the Angel (The Ferren Trilogy Book 1) by Richard Harland Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

An angel who fell in battle and a human with a natural curiosity for life must band together when the war between angels and Humen is at an all-time high and the fate of the cosmos hangs in the balance as the dark secret behind the Humen is revealed in author Richard Harland’s “Ferren and the Angel”, the first book in the Ferren Trilogy series!

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The Synopsis

An angel falls from the sky and crashes to the ground! Miriael, the Fourteenth Angel of Observance, has been shot down in the thousand-year war between Heaven and Earth. Damaged and helpless, she prays for extinction.The young tribesman Ferren finds her lying in the grass. She ought to be an enemy, since his people are on the side of the Earth. But seeing her there, unable to fly, his curiosity outweighs every rule and every warning.Ferren knows almost nothing about the terrifying world he’s grown up in. Now he’s going to learn the truth about the war, the Humen army camp and what military service really means. His unique friendship with Miriael is about to change the course of history.Richard Harland, author of the Worldshaker books, creates a whole new world of angels and apocalypse!

The Review

This was a compelling and magnificent sci-fi and fantasy dystopian read. The visceral nature of the post-apocalypse and the grueling war between the humen forces and the angels serve as a great background for the core story. The imagery in the author’s writing really captures the gritty and gnarled images that the setting conjures up in the reader’s mind.

To me, the world-building and the character development were the true stars of the book. The mythos the author is able to develop both for the “celestials” and the “Humen” was both fascinating and engaging, and the journey to uncover what happened to start this war, to begin with, was remarkable to behold. The bond and experiences that Ferren and the angel Miriael are so engaging, as it showcases the fear and mistrust that has built between both sides of this war and the misconceptions each had for one another, and the book expertly showcases both the beauty and ugliness of human nature overall.

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The Verdict

Thought-provoking, memorable, and entertaining, author Richard Harland’s “Ferren and the Angel” is a must-read sci-fi and fantasy dystopian post-apocalypse novel. The twists and turns in the narrative and the adrenaline-fueled, emotional, and moving world-building and character growth that the reader is treated to will have readers hanging onto the edges of their seats. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

I’m the author who nearly wasn’t – it took me 25 years to beat writer’s block. In those 25 years, I migrated from England to Australia, became a singer/songwriter, a poet and then a university lecturer. But all I truly wanted to do was write speculative fiction.

Finally I finished my first novel, the comic macabre, The Vicar of Morning Vyle. With its prequel, The Black Crusade, it grew into a cult. When mainstream Australian publisher Pan Macmillan contracted my next novel, I resigned my lectureship, and I’ve been a full-time author ever since.

I live south of Sydney between green escarpment and golden beaches, with partner Aileen and Yogi the labrador. Writing, writing, writing … I have 25 missing years to make up for!

My big international success has been with my YA steampunk novels, Worldshaker, Liberator and Song of the Slums. The French Le Worldshaker picked up the Prix Tam-tam du Livre Jeunesse. In the US, Worldshaker and Liberator were published by Simon & Schuster.

Next up: Ferren and the Angel!

https://ferren.com.au/

Something Known by Joseph Atman Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A former monk turned businessman returns to purchase the land near the monastery he fled as a young man, and must contend with his former brotherhood as he uses the secrets they kept hidden from the world to help a small town prosper and prove the world is ready for this powerful secret in author Joseph Atman’s “Something Known”.

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The Synopsis

When a young monk escapes his monastery with an all-powerful secret, he implements it on a town whose inhabitants reap the benefits – and hidden disasters – of its omnipotent, but dangerous knowledge.

Eli Deo is a young monk who finds himself spending less and less time at his monastery. During most of his days he walks to the forest’s edge and thinks about what the world is like beyond his simple life of prayer and aestheticism. He longs to go out and see the vast places beyond the forest and live as a regular person. But there is a problem: Deo belongs to a sacred order – a powerful, yet unknown brotherhood that protects a great secret. He cannot simply leave the monastery, or the knowledge he possesses may be compromised. Knowing that the other monks will never let him go willingly, Deo flees.

Some time later, Deo returns as a wealthy investor and purchases land near his former monastery, where he builds a town and uses his knowledge on the residents in order to demonstrate to the other monks that their secret is ready to be heard by people at large – an undertaking that does not sit well with the brotherhood from which Deo has escaped. An internal debate rages amongst the brothers as to what should be done with Deo and his town. Should he be allowed to continue his experiment to see if the implementation of the secret is successful? Or should Deo, the town, and all of its inhabitants be eliminated so as to protect their knowledge from a potentially disastrous contamination?

Filled with magic and humanity, Something Known is a story of a community that, person by person, deals with the sufferings of morality and the miraculousness of daily life.

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The Review

This was such a compelling novel. Readers easily will get lost in this rich and dynamic world, filled with magical realism, theology, and mythology all rolled into one explosive narrative. The imagery the author’s writing produced allowed the novel to take on a cinematic quality, allowing the reader to see the story play out in their mind’s eye. The themes of morality, belief, and the mysteries that life has to offer all played a big role in the story, and kept the reader invested in the novel.

For me, the character development and the world-building were the biggest draws of the narrative. The story immediately brings the reader into this isolated, religious community and monastery that houses a powerful secret, and then quickly jumps into the action as time passes and the town begins to build up all around them. The tension that builds from the former monk’s return and the way magic plays a major role in these characters’ development was remarkable to read.

The Verdict

Entertaining, thought-provoking, and thrilling, author Joseph Atman’s “Something Known” is a must-read magical realism novel. The rich characters and dynamic world-building meshed well with the themes and mythos the author built and made this a compelling novel to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Joseph Atman is a writer, musician, and theologian from Barrington, Illinois. He received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in writing and philosophy from Hofstra University where he spent nearly ten years as a student and employee of the school’s New College program before becoming a PhD fellow in the philosophy of religion and theology at Claremont Graduate University. He then went on to receive a Sacred Theological Doctorate from St. Mary’s Seminary. He is currently the Chairman and Executive Director of Middle Tree – a nonprofit supplemental education center in Claremont, California.

https://www.josephatman.com/

Becoming Flawesome: The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life by Kristina Mand-Lakhiani Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Kristina Mand-Lakhiani shares the secrets to embracing our flaws and overcoming the need for perfection in the book “Becoming Flawesome: The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life”.

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The Synopsis

Overcome perfectionism and self-doubt by unapologetically embracing your fully awesome self—flaws and all—with the co-founder of Mindvalley, a global school that delivers transformational education for all ages.

It’s odd to think that we can simultaneously be living as ourselves without ourselves. As life happens, we fall in love with the idea of who we could be instead of with who we actually are—leaving parts of ourselves behind and losing sight of what and who is truly important within ourselves.

By sharing revelatory personal anecdotes and reflection prompts, Kristina Mand-Lakhiani, co-founder of Mind Valley, helps to guide you toward:

  • Finding your own truth despite the external and internal critics
  • Transforming from the Perfect You into the Real You
  • Embodying a life where no one needs fixing

Reclaim your happiness as your gift to the world and take the first steps to living truthfully within your flawesomely beautiful reflection.

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The Review

This was a memorable and well-developed self-help and motivational guide/book. The author does a remarkable job of writing in a way that readers can relate to as if the book is an ongoing conversation between the author and the reader. The relatability and pop culture references that the author uses in the book help elevate the core themes and messages that the author attempts to convey.

The author’s attention to detail and ability to inspire with her words is a true gift. The things that stood out to me were when the author spoke of self-love versus self-care, and how happiness was a skill we all had to learn. These spoke to me personally, as oftentimes self-care can feel like a chore rather than the love we need at the time, and speaks to the need for an inner dialogue with ourselves from time to time. The trait of happiness and the skill to utilize it also talked to me, as it takes a lot of work to find joy and hold onto it, and it doesn’t always just happen. The emphasis on hard work and yet reveling in the imperfections life throws our way was truly moving.

The Verdict

Memorable, well-written, and engaging, author Kristina Mand-Lakhiani’s “Becoming Flawesome” is a must-read nonfiction and self-help book you won’t want to put down. The heart and passion for which the author writes, and the use of reflection points at the end of each chapter allow the reader to put in the work to make use of the points they emphasized in each chapter. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani has been engaging in the personal transformation industry for over 15 years, collaborating and playing with leading thinkers and teachers in consciousness, relationships, human performance, and life optimisation. She started her career working for the government of Estonia before joining the non-profit sector and working for organisations such as the United Nations, Oxfam, and AIESEC. In 2003, she co-founded Mindvalley, a global school that delivers transformational education for all ages. Visit her at kristinamand.com.

https://www.instagram.com/kristinamand/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-mand-lakhiani-73168414/

https://www.facebook.com/kristinamand

I Like Mud: and other poems for the young and young at heart by Margaret Grote Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I recieved a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The late author and poet Margaret Grote has her collection of poems shared and illustrated thanks to her son David and his cousin and children’s book illustrator Marcia Wheelan Coles in the book “I Like Mud: and other poems for the young and young at heart”.

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The Synopsis

In the final year of her life, award-winning poet Margaret Grote (1922-2005) handed a collection of poems to her son, David, with instructions to “do something” with them. David jumped right on it, and 17 years later approached his cousin, Marcia Wheelan Coles, a children’s book author and illustrator. Truth be told, these whimsical and sometimes poignant poems were gathering dust in David’s closet until Marcia brought them to life with her beautiful artwork. Growing up during the Depression, Margaret came to appreciate life’s simple pleasures, a theme recurrent in these poems. Mother of four, she was an artist, photographer, writer, and poet. She taught fourth grade for 35 years. Her love of children is on full display in these pages, and although the writing is meant for children, young-at-heart adults will also love this collection. Somewhere, Margaret is smiling, knowing that her son finally kept his promise and that her work lives on, bringing joy and laughter to a whole new generation of children

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The Review

This was a truly moving and engaging collection of poetry. The balance that can be found in the simple and eloquent imagery and themes the collection evokes in young readers with the nostalgia and childhood wonder that adults can find in the book. The poems tackle everything from the color pink and friendship to the bond between a child and their dog and the ways in which children consistently question the universe. 

The beautiful illustrations and the way the poems speak to a variety of different readers made this a remarkable poem collection. The warmth and thoughtful approach to the poetry and the heartwarming story behind the author’s son carrying on his mother’s legacy like this made the book such a delight to behold.

The Verdict

Memorable, emotional, and engaging, author and poet Margaret Grote’s “I Like Mud” is a must-read collection of children’s style poems and poetry. The heart behind the poet’s words and the delight and joy that the heart of each poem brought allowed parents and children alike to be drawn into the poems themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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The Cult from Beyond (Randolph Landon, P.I. Book 2) by Alan Golbourn Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

After being pulled back into the investigative world when a grieving widow asks for help finding his missing son, P.I. Randolph Landon discovers a cult dedicated to otherworldly beliefs, a mysterious girl with green hair, and an illusive preacher with glowing green eyes in author Alan Golbourn’s “The Cult from Beyond”, the second book in the author’s “Randolph Landon, P.I.” series. 

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The Synopsis

Paradise Comes at a Price …

Now settled in Lincolnshire with his family, having given up his private investigator business, Randolph Landon believes he is done with the job. That is until Norman Parker comes along. Shortly after losing his wife, Norman’s son, Oliver, goes missing. Randolph decides to take on the case to help the grieving widower and discovers a strange symbol on the back of a photograph.

Discovering that Oliver has become involved with a strange cult and a mysterious green-haired girl, Randolph finds himself getting in deep once more — and ventures down yet another dark and chilling path. With the help of a detective friend back in London, things soon lead to a terrifying confrontation with an illusive preacher — with glowing green eyes …

The Review

 This was a powerful and captivating thriller. The way the author was able to flip the script of this series from occult horror into a steely and gripping sci-fi thriller was great to see play out in the novel. The tension that builds as the protagonist makes his way further and further into the cult and the mystery that swells as the detective seeks answers to the true origins of the cult made this narrative truly shine brightly in the genre.

To me, the heart of the narrative rested in the author’s strong character progression. Fans of the first book will be delighted in seeing the progression and growth that the protagonist exhibits, giving him real stakes as his family’s happiness and safety motivate him to keep going in his investigation. The mythos surrounding the cult and its origins, including the small town they end up engaging with as the protagonist seeks answers, all kept the reader invested in the narrative.

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The Verdict

Thrilling, action-packed, and entertaining, author Alan Golbourn’s “The Cult From Beyond” is a must-read sci-fi thriller novel you won’t be able to put down. Capturing the enigmatic rise of sci-fi cults in that era of time and adding a twist of genre-bending mythos, the author was able to infuse the spirit of the great detective narrative with a bit of Irish folk horror and powerful sci-fi storytelling to create a book that is impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alan Golbourn was born in Essex, England. He has enjoyed writing stories since a young age, when he was recognised early for his writing abilities. Amongst several interests and hobbies, including football and computer games, he holds a love and compassion for animals.

The Indispensable Element by Micah Huggins Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Micah Huggins shares the tips and lessons that will help identify the things holding a person back from becoming their best selves in the book “The Indispensable Element”.

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The Synopsis

In The Indispensable Element, attorney, pastor and author Micah Huggins lays out the framework to be a better version of yourself. He teaches you how to identify the things that are holding you back and lays out a plan to step up and lead in your relationships, your work, and your personal life.  

If you are looking to become the leader God created you to be, great leadership starts with leading yourself.  

In The Indispensable Element, you will learn how to: 

•Naturally attract followers and supporters.  

•Strengthen your personal and professional relationships.  

•Position yourself for new and better career opportunities.  

•Break unproductive habits and develop habits that serve you.  

•Become confident enough to pursue your biggest dreams.  

Get ready to lead yourself to the life you desire today! 

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The Review

This was an intriguing and memorable read. The author found the perfect balance between personal anecdotes and teachable lessons that helped show the potential for leadership in everyone. The book was fast-paced and kept the reader invested in the personal stories of the author’s life that helped illustrate the lessons each chapter was illustrating, using a perfect blend of imagery and atmosphere to get their point across.

The two biggest talking points that will resonate with readers are faith and leadership. The author goes to great lengths to show how leadership potential resides within us all, and it is through hard work and nurturing those skills within us that we are able to become the leaders we can be. The author’s unique perspective comes from their strong belief in their faith, and this will appeal to many people in the business world who also hold a strong faith and wish to utilize their faith’s practices in how they approach business models and leadership roles both in business and in life altogether.

The Verdict

Resourceful, enlightening, and memorable, author Micah Huggins’s “The Indispensable Element” is a must-read nonfiction memoir and business/leadership book that will resonate with both religious and nonreligious readers. The straightforward lessons and the powerful experiences that drove those teachable moments in the author’s life resonate with the reader greatly and will help to drive home the lessons in the reader’s minds overall. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Micah E. Huggins is a dynamic leader, motivational speaker, and community leader with a passion for helping others discover and develop their leadership abilities. He firmly believes everyone has the innate ability to lead and anyone can step up and fulfill their potential with the right guidance and motivation.  

Micah is an accomplished attorney, holding a law degree from the prestigious University of North Carolina School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As an attorney, he has been honored with numerous awards for his outstanding work in the field. The National Academy of Criminal Defense has recognized him as one of the “Top 10 Attorneys under 40” from the state of North Carolina, and he has also been recognized as one of the top three criminal defense lawyers in Greensboro.  

Micah’s unwavering dedication to helping others unlock their full potential sets him apart as an attorney and as a pastor. He has presented or served on panels at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Winston-Salem State University, Elon University School of Law, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill, and Duke University.  

Micah lives in North Carolina with his wife and 3 children. 

Box of Birds by Stephen Stowers M.D. Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author and Dr. Stephen Stowers M.D. shares a lifetime of lessons and insights into the medical profession, and how changes to the American Medical Care System led him to find a new practice in another country in the book “Box of Birds”.

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The Synopsis

In this fascinating memoir, cardiologist Stephen Stowers eloquently captures the various changes that he has lived through over a lifetime spent as a caring and ethical medical professional. With sadness, he watched as a profession he loved became more and more focused on the bottom line, while working as a doctor in the United States. He unpacks for the reader exactly what has gone awry in American medicine, showing us how the misguided shift toward a more corporate mindset was ushered in by hospital administrators, leading even well-intentioned doctors astray, as they are encouraged to place costly interventions above equally effective less invasive therapies. He also shows how he found refuge in another country, where he was able to practice medicine in a more ethical fashion once again and explains to us the surprising truth that he discovered there: New Zealand has better patient outcomes yet spends less money on healthcare, compared with a country such as the US. How can this be true? Read this book to discover the astonishing answer, that doing more with less is actually often a better path for doctors, hospitals, and the patients they want to assist. Stowers writes highly readable memoir that explains in terms any reader can follow exactly why he wanted to pursue medicine in the first place, how he grew disillusioned with American hospitals, and the joy he found in New Zealand after relocating there. Doctors, nurses, medical professionals of all kinds, and anybody who has been a patient and wondered what has gone wrong in American medicine and how to help put things right again should read this book.

The Review

This was a well-written and captivating nonfiction read. The author found the perfect balance between personal memoir writing and education regarding the different medical systems in the United States versus that of New Zealand. The detail and personal nature of the author’s writing really gave readers a sense of the experiences that informed the author’s opinions on the medical establishment as a whole.

The intriguing nature of how corporate the United States medical field became over the years was something that really resonated with me as a reader. As someone who has numerous medical ailments and who has a family with similar situations, the frustrations that have been felt over the prioritization of money and insurance versus actual health care have been something that has frustrated me as well, and to have a medical professional confirm these suspicions is profound. The author’s contribution to the discovery of a new protocol regarding coronary calcification was also quite remarkable and added to both the author’s viewpoints regarding holistic healthcare and his medical knowledge as a whole. 

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The Verdict

Captivating, engaging, and thoughtfully written, author Stephen Stowers’s “Box of Birds” is a must-read nonfiction memoir that meets medical guide that readers won’t be able to put down. The personable writing style and strong imagery mixed with the valuable medical knowledge and skill the author demonstrated through their experiences made this a breathtaking read you won’t be able to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating 10/10

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About the Author

Stephen Stowers is a skilled clinician who practiced cardiology for twenty-nine years in Florida and six and a half years on the North Island of New Zealand as a member of the

Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Dr. Stowers graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. 

He completed his cardiology fellowship at the George Washington University Hospital. As a pioneering cardiologist, he was a leader in the development of acute imaging of chest pain patients in the emergency room. Dr. Stowers has published widely in medical literature and recently published an international study on coronary calcium and its potential contribution to the early detection and treatment of coronary artery disease. He has also written a popular blog about his life in New Zealand, kiwicardiology.com.

The Co-Regulation Revolution by Beth Dennison Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Beth Dennison shares some practices and a guide to help rewrite the nervous system to help deal with the pain of trauma, shame, and so much more in the book “The Co-Regulation Revolution”.

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The Synopsis

The Co-Regulation Revolution, from master somatic psychotherapist and author Beth Dennison, is both co-regulation theory and applied psychology (simple practices to use right away). It is the latest work in her life-long study of shame, healthy relationships, embodiment, and clinical trauma work. 

In therapy and in life, we can rewire our nervous systems for mutual regulation (co-regulation). This is essential for authentic, embodied relating, healing PTSD, effective collaboration, and building our capacity for social justice. 

With The Co-Regulation Revolution and Body Up Co-Regulation, Beth gives practitioners clear maps and concrete tools to:    

  • Heal from shame and developmental trauma with safe, appropriate, embodied connection. 
  • Build greater capacity for co-regulation and resilience at the nervous system level.   
  • Replace compulsive competition for status on the ladder of white supremacy culture with healthy, peer relationships.   
  • Prevent burnout – because co-regulation is only co-regulation when it is good for both people.  

The Review

This was a powerful and engaging read. The author does a great job of writing the book in a way that allows the reader to feel seen and heard as they recognize themselves in the author’s work, while also giving the reader a well-documented guide to helping to take the steps to a better mindset and workflow. The author’s educational value and inspiration give readers a unique atmosphere that lends itself to the reader’s need to learn and grow using the author’s work.

To me, the heart or biggest lesson that the author passes to the reader is the need to utilize this internal change to make an impact on a much grander, larger scale. The way the author connects the negative impact of things like wealth, privilege, and much more prominent today, white supremacy, and showcases how that negative impact hits not only the less wealthy or people of color but how those with wealth or white privilege (or faux superiority) are impacted as well, as it leaves them closed off and walled off from the actual impact on the world around them their negative actions have made this a powerful message and theme to weave into the guide that helps improve people to the point they can make great changes on a more social level.

The Verdict

Memorable, educational, and thought-provoking, author Beth Dennison’s “The Co-Regulation Revolution” is a must-read nonfiction and self-help guidebook that will keep readers invested in the author’s work. The evenly-paced read will have readers engaged with the author’s work, discovering the process the author has developed to help improve their lives internally so that they may help make great changes externally as well. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Beth Dennison is a master somatic psychotherapist, author, teacher, and the founder of Body Up Co-Regulation. She is a pioneer whose professional and personal life has positioned her to make a much-needed contribution to remedy the loneliness, isolation, dysregulation, compulsive competition, and failure to cooperate that plague modern Western culture.  

Beth brings 50 years of teaching, psychotherapy, and study of neuroscience to teaching and trauma therapy that rewire our brains for connection and co-regulation. Her background and education include Somatic Experiencing, Marriage and Family Therapy, Bodywork, and Peer Counseling. 

Beth earned master’s degrees in Educational Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy at Antioch New England. She trained in Somatic Experiencing with Peter Levine and serves as an advanced training assistant. She champions embodiment in relational space as the foundation of effective therapeutic relationships and healthy human interaction. 

Currently, Beth writes and leads the Center for Body Up Co-Regulation where she trains therapists, social workers, and mental health professionals.  She maintains a small private practice and provides professional supervision for practitioners.    

https://wecoregulate.com

Tides of Acadia (The Origins of Acadia Series Book 1) by Phillip Daigle Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Three people living in early 17th century North America find their lives intertwined by the strings of fate as tensions between France and Britain rise, and the fate of a growing nation and continent hangs in the balance in author Phillip Daigle’s “Tides of Acadia”, the first book in the author’s historical fiction series. 

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The Synopsis

In the early 17th century, the wild, untamed lands of Acadia, now Eastern Canada, were a contested territory between the French and the English and the indigenous people who inhabited the region. Amidst this turbulent time, three individuals stand out: Charles La Tour, Francoise Jacquelin, and Menou Daulnay. Their stories intertwine in a complex web of loyalty, love, and betrayal in the historical drama Tides of Acadia.

The story begins with Charles La Tour, a resourceful French adventurer, and seaborne trader, who navigates the treacherous waters of politics and alliances to establish a fur-trade fortress in Acadia. As a clever strategist and skilled negotiator, he gains the respect of both European settlers and the indigenous leaders, even as tensions escalate between the French and the English.

Enter Francoise Jacquelin, a strong-willed, intelligent, and fiercely independent woman who defies societal expectations to make her mark as a Parisian actress. Francoise’s journey leads her to a powerful connection with Charles La Tour. Together, they must overcome personal and political obstacles to build a life and secure a future.

As the rivalry between the French and the British intensifies, Menou Daulnay, an ambitious and ruthless French naval officer, emerges as a powerful adversary. His need to claim Acadia for himself puts him at odds with La Tour and drives a wedge between the allies, leading to a bitter struggle for power and control. Through guile, treachery, and manipulation, Daulnay threatens to unravel the fragile balance that La Tour and Francoise have built, forcing them to make difficult choices that will shape the course of history.

Tides of Acadia brings to life the rich tapestry of culture, politics, and personal drama that defined this pivotal era in North American history. The central characters, Charles La Tour, Francoise Jacquelin, and Menou Daulnay, are portrayed with depth and complexity, offering a nuanced exploration of their motivations, desires, and sacrifices in the name of love, loyalty, and ambition. Sweeping scope and rich detail make this vibrant historical drama an unforgettable journey through the heart of Acadia and the lives of the extraordinary people who fought for its future.

The Review

This was a fascinating and engaging historical fiction read. The detail and historically accurate dialogue the author was able to capture in this book was remarkable and really helped put the reader into the setting of this novel with ease. So much of historical fiction surrounding the North American continent typically focuses on the American Revolution or the Civil War, and so getting to explore the Northern part of the continent in the 17th century was such a unique treat and really made me feel immersed into the world.

Yet the heart of this novel rested in the rich character dynamics of the story. The relationships between Charles and Francoise and the rivalry between Charles and Menou were so heated as the story progressed, and perfectly showcased the tensions and dangers of the brewing conflict the Europeans brought to the continent. Yet the story expertly showcased the influence the Europeans had on the continent and the Indigenous people there as well, as their conflict ignored the dangers and harm they caused to the land and the people they drove out of their homes. Charles and his struggle to help the Indigenous people and the settlers who made the land their home, as well as the balance of action, romance, and politics the story covered made this a truly gripping historical fiction novel.

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The Verdict

Richly developed, engaging, and harrowing, author Phillip Daigle’s “Tides of Acadia” is a wonderful and must-read historical fiction novel and a great first entry into the Origins of Acadia Series. The twists and shocking turns that some of the characters experience as time goes on, and the powerful imagery that helps bring this rarely explored piece of history to life made this a compelling novel that readers won’t be able to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Phillip Daigle is an American author from the state of Maine. He is best known for his profound exploration of the region’s history and culture in his captivating books, “Tides of Acadia” and “The Acadian: Olivier.” His work reflects a deep connection with his roots and an ability to engage readers with stories that resonate with authenticity and emotional depth.

Born and raised in the rugged beauty of Maine, Daigle’s childhood was steeped in his homeland’s rich history and timeless folklore. His favorite story was Longfellow’s “Evangeline,” a narrative that deeply moved him and influenced his literary journey. This poignant tale of Acadian lovers separated on their wedding day during the Great Expulsion (1755-1764) sowed the seeds of his fascination with Acadia. This region once encompassed parts of Maine and Canada’s Maritime Provinces.

Daigle’s first book, “Tides of Acadia,” is a meticulously researched and beautifully narrated journey into the past, delving into this region’s historical, cultural, and natural landscapes. The book received critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling and insightful perspectives, positioning Daigle as a leading historical and regional literature voice.

His second book, “The Acadian: Olivier,” further explores the Acadian legacy through the life of the eponymous Olivier. It’s a testament to Daigle’s narrative prowess, weaving together personal and historical narratives to paint a vivid picture of life in Acadia.

Phillip Daigle’s work goes beyond the realm of traditional historical literature. He infuses his storytelling with a profound understanding of human nature and a palpable love for his homeland. His works serve as a bridge between the past and the present, illuminating the enduring spirit of the Acadian people and their enduring connection to the land they call home. As such, Daigle’s books have become essential reading for those looking to understand the depths of Acadia’s cultural heritage.

With an unwavering commitment to bringing the past to life through his evocative writing, Phillip Daigle stands as a pivotal figure in contemporary American literature. His books not only tell the story of Acadia but also of a writer deeply connected to his roots, crafting narratives that resonate with readers far and wide. His contributions to literature continue to inspire a new generation of readers and writers who find beauty and meaning in the stories of our past.

https://www.phillipdaigle.com/