I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Amanda Spann shares the guide non-technical readers can use to help launch an app in the book “I Have An App Idea.”
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The Synopsis
I Have An App Idea is the ultimate resource for aspiring app entrepreneurs without a technical background.
This workbook offers a step-by-step road map to guide nontechnical founders from concept to launch with confidence. Designed to break down the complexities of app development, it combines Amanda Spann’s personal experiences and proven strategies with interactive activities and worksheets that provide hands-on support every step of the way.
Through relatable stories, real-life examples, and practical tools, Amanda helps founders avoid costly mistakes and build products primed for success. With each chapter, readers will uncover strategies to validate their ideas, build sustainable businesses, communicate effectively with developers, and manage the development process—ensuring founders remain empowered and in control. This book demystifies app entrepreneurship, clarifies the essentials, and offers a solid foundation for creating scalable products—without the overwhelm.
This book demystifies app entrepreneurship, clarifies the essentials, and offers a solid foundation for creating scalable products without the overwhelm.
The Review
A truly insightful and engaging read, the author does a remarkable job of crafting a guide that feels instructive and compelling. The wealth of knowledge and skill the author brings to each chapter is evident on every page, and the straightforward, educational approach to the topic feels both guided and relatable, giving readers a sense of ease as they jump into this guidebook.
What stood out from other books in the tech sphere was the lack of technical terminology and the scope of work this book was meant to encompass. Rather than focus on coding and other tech-specific language, the author approached it from an inspirational and business-level perspective, allowing the reader to get an inside look at how app development works without feeling lost in the tech language and knowledge that often escapes others.
The Verdict
Memorable, thoughtful, and engaging, author Amanda Spann’s “I Have An App Idea is a must-read nonfiction book and guide for those looking to develop their ideas for apps. The focus on developing the idea itself, as well as the app to accompany it, was great, and the author’s honest and insightful perspective came through naturally in a straightforward writing style that will keep readers returning to the book time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Amanda Spann, recognized as America’s Leading App Educator, has empowered over 30,000
entrepreneurs globally with the tools to bring their app ideas to life. A serial app entrepreneur
with a background in brand development, Amanda specializes in helping individuals and
institutions design, launch, and scale new products, incubator programs, and entrepreneurship
ecosystems.Credited with co-founding the U.S.'s first immigrant-focused accelerator, her
experience spans supporting underrepresented and underestimated entrepreneurs in
economically distressed areas across the U.S. and empowering founders domestically,
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Authors Claude Hanhart and Rachel Collins share effective tools to communicate goals in business in their book “Connecting Goals to Impacts and Outcomes.”
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The Synopsis
You’ve been in that Agile planning session.
Everyone agrees on goals like “improve customer experience” or “increase engagement.” The roadmap looks aligned. The OKRs are approved. But when the sprint ends, no one can clearly explain what success actually means—or why customers should care.
Months later, your product team ships a feature. Customers don’t use it. Stakeholders ask uncomfortable questions. Someone says, “I thought we were building something different.”
This isn’t a delivery problem. It’s a conversation problem.
Across Agile teams, product management organizations, and enterprise transformations, teams work hard, follow the process, and deliver on time—yet still struggle to create real customer and business value. The gap isn’t execution. It’s how goals, assumptions, and decisions are discussed.
Structured Conversations is a practical toolkit for closing that gap.
This book shows product leaders, Agile coaches, and delivery teams how to use clear language and visual thinking to align strategy, product decisions, and day‑to‑day work around measurable outcomes.
In this book, you’ll learn how to:
Write clear, outcome‑focused goals using VERB + NOUN syntax that eliminate ambiguity
Connect customer needs to business impact using Empathy Mapping, Customer Journey Mapping, and Impact Mapping
Align product roadmaps and delivery plans with OKRs that drive accountability and learning
Validate assumptions early using Hypothesis‑Driven Development and Example Mapping
Facilitate cross‑functional Agile conversations where disagreements become productive
Turn vague requirements into clear, executable user stories that teams interpret the same way
Drawing on experience across startups, financial services, and large‑scale Agile transformations, Structured Conversations bridges the gap between product strategy and value delivery with techniques that work in real‑world environments.
The approaches are modular. Start with the technique that addresses your biggest challenge today. Each chapter includes step‑by‑step guidance, real examples, and “Try This Right Now”exercises you can apply immediately.
Whether you work in product management, Agile delivery, or organizational change, this book helps you turn good intentions into measurable outcomes.
The Review
This was a compelling, engaging business-driven book. The authors do a wonderful job of hooking readers with a simple yet impactful solution that creates engagement and interest in companies and their products. The balance between thoughtful lessons and frameworks for driving these successes, along with the actual workbooks and guides the authors create, allows readers to put what they’ve learned into practice, making this a memorable book to get lost in.
The precision and expertise with which the authors lay out their templates was incredible. The idea of using a single noun and verb to communicate products and services, and of creating a comprehensive structure that businesses can build upon, was fantastic and incredibly innovative. The author’s writing style was engaging and to the point, and they imparted a lot of knowledge in just a short amount of time.
The Verdict
Engaging, thought-provoking, and compelling, “Connecting Goals to Impacts and Outcomes” by author Claude Hanhart and Rachel Collins is a must-read nonfiction book. The structure and clarity these concepts bring to readers, and the way the authors show readers how to approach these steps rather than just talk at the reader, make this a stunning book that readers can pick up and use as a reference time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Authors
Claude Hanhart is a Product Strategist and Agile Coach with 10+ years of leadership experience in driving groundbreaking product strategies and agile transformations. His approach centers on fostering innovation rooted in business objectives, customer experience, and market leadership through tools such as Generative AI, OKRs, and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD).
Claude’s unique academic background – with an MA in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology and Languages from the University of Berne in Switzerland and an MA in Geography from the University of Minnesota – brings an interdisciplinary perspective to modern product challenges. His multilingual abilities in German, Swiss German, and French have proven invaluable in international collaborations.
Structured Conversations represents Claude’s commitment to bridging strategic thinking with practical implementation. Currently based in New Jersey with his wife, Claude finds that their three energetic dogs serve as daily reminders about the importance of clear communication and patient guidance – principles that translate beautifully into his professional coaching work.
Rachel is a seasoned business‑strategy professional whose career has been built around turning complex challenges into clear, actionable solutions. With a track record of guiding organizations toward measurable impact, she blends rigorous, data‑driven analysis with a human‑centric mindset – always asking how people, processes, and technology can work together more effectively. Her practical, results‑focused approach has helped teams align goals, streamline actions, and translate those actions into lasting outcomes.
Structured Conversations marks Rachel’s first full‑length publication, and she feels especially honored to have been invited by Claude to co‑create this work. Rachel lives in North Carolina with her husband and their four rambunctious cats. When she isn’t untangling business puzzles, you’ll find her exploring the local arts scene, hiking and mountain biking, or enjoying a quiet evening of reading with her feline companions.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Dustin Grinnell shares a powerful collection of short stories featuring characters exploring their existence in “The Healing Book.”
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The Synopsis
The Healing Book is a poignant collection of short stories that explore the intricate dance between loss, failure, and redemption, delving into the lives of characters who grapple with the paradoxes of contemporary existence.
From a neurosurgeon’s search for solace in a Peruvian ayahuasca ceremony to a middle-aged man’s rebellion against self-help literature and societal norms, each story is a journey of psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing. Imbued with wisdom and insight, the narratives offer readers a moment of reflection and a touchstone in their own search for personal growth and transformation.
Whether it’s a theoretical physicist’s existential crisis or a burned-out office worker’s search for peace, each story in The Healing Book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of narrative to heal and transform.
The Review
Each story in this collection was so compelling and emotionally driven. The characters felt so grounded and relatable, and the author’s imagery really drove home the emotional depth of each story. What stood out was how well-rounded each story was, allowing the characters to find a sense of closure without feeling open-ended.
The strong themes and emotional storytelling are what stood out the most in this collection. The range of characters and themes was astounding, from a husband who will go to impossible lengths to help heal his ailing wife, to an office worker who seeks to find a new calling in life and so much more, each story touched upon the ways in which we encounter and overcome loss, and the ways in which failure can lead to redemption in any circumstance.
The Verdict
Compelling, engaging, and memorable, “The Healing Book” by author Dustin Grinnell is a must-read collection of short stories. The heart and passion of each character in each story could be felt by the reader as the author delved into their lives, and the perfect balance of tension, emotion, and personal struggle made this a thrilling collection that felt both entertaining and healing. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Dustin Grinnell is a fiction writer and essayist based in Boston. He’s the author of the short story
collection, The Healing Book (Finishing Line Press), The Empathy Academy (Atmosphere Press), and a
collection of personal essays, Lost & Found: Reflections on Travel, Career, Love and Family (Peter Lang
Group). His creative nonfiction has appeared in many magazines and literary journals, including The LA
Review of Books, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, New Scientist, Vice, Salon, and Writer’s
Digest, among others. He’s also the host of the podcast, Curiously. See more of his work at his website.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Matthew Kaufman shares the science and tools of building communities in the book “The Campfire Effect.”
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The Synopsis
What if the secret to building stronger teams, closer families, and more connected classrooms has been hiding in plain sight for over a century?
For more than thirty years as a summer camp professional, Matt Kaufman has watched thousands of children transform from anxious strangers into lifelong friends in a matter of weeks. Along the way, he noticed something remarkable: camp wasn’t just creating memories. It was engineering belonging through a neurochemical process that most organizations stumble into by accident.
The Campfire Effect reveals the five-chemical framework behind that transformation: oxytocin for trust, dopamine for motivation, cortisol for resilience, serotonin for dignity, and endorphins for joy. Together, they form a flywheel that any leader, parent, or teacher can set in motion.
Most communities are accidental. Yours should be intentional.
Inside, you’ll discover:
• Why your workplace may be functioning as what psychologists call a “wire mother,” and what to do about it
• The surprising reason your best employees are leaving (it’s not the money)
• How a single three-word check-in can transform the culture of a team, a classroom, or a family dinner
• Why stress plus support equals growth, but stress alone equals damage
• What Google’s Project Aristotle and a cabin full of eleven-year-olds have in common
Each of the seventeen chapters ends with a Monday Morning Blueprint, giving you concrete tools for parents, managers, and teachers. The appendices include ready-to-use agreement templates, fifty questions to spark connection, a troubleshooting guide, and a one-page cheat sheet you can pin to your wall.
Whether you lead a team of five or a school of five hundred, The Campfire Effect gives you the science, the stories, and the step-by-step tools to build communities where people actually belong.
The Review
This felt like such a relatable, fun, and engaging read. The reality of many books on leadership, business, and life itself can feel too technical and data driven at times, and the experiences and stories the author brings to this book changes the formula greatly. The amount of research the author put into creating this book by including well-founded research and study on human brain chemistry and the impact of social interaction overall was astounding to see on the pages of this book.
The heart of the book was not in the science itself, but in the impact that science had on highlighting the importance of community as a whole. The emotional connection people make when they find their community, and the bonds that form between individuals in that community help motivate and inspire others in their everyday life, and the way the author is able to apply that through these composite figures they create to represent the people they’ve met over the years was inspired and highly creative. Insights into how quiet leadership can accomplish a great deal of things or how even technology like Zoom calls can become the modern-day equivalent of gathering around the campfire and exchanging stories is a testament to the way forming bonds can push people forward in life.
The Verdict
Insightful, compelling, and enthralling, author Matthew Kaufman’s “The Campfire Effect” is a must-read nonfiction book on leadership development, relationships, and the science of community. The depth of knowledge is well-balanced by the personal stories and experiences the author is able to relate that knowledge to, and will keep readers eager to use this book as a great reference book long after they have finished reading it. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Matt Kaufman trained as an engineer. He has spent over thirty years applying that discipline to the most complex system imaginable: human belonging. His laboratory is summer camp.
What began as a summer job became a lifelong study of what makes groups of strangers become families. As a camp director, Matt has watched thousands of children cross the threshold from fear to courage, from isolation to belonging. He has decoded the invisible architecture that made these transformations possible.
In The Campfire Effect, Matt translates the principles of camp into practical tools for leaders, educators, and families. He shows how to bring the warmth of the campfire into the cold of the conference room and the quiet of the kitchen table.
Matt continues to believe that every organization, every classroom, and every home can become an intentional community.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Mel Blackwell shares the lessons he learned to create a culture of problem solving in successful businesses in the book “Uncommon Sense.”
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The Synopsis
Does your business look successful on the outside—but feel chaotic on the inside? Are you stuck in constant firefighting, watching the same problems repeat while people dodge responsibility and culture slowly erodes? Is your culture just dysfunctional enough that everyone’s comfortably miserable, too afraid of the change that actually removes the root obstacles?
You don’t need another trendy leadership theory. You need something that actually works. Fix your culture and all metrics improve immeasurably.
After more than 35 years leading startups, turnarounds, and large organizations, former EOS Integrator Mel Blackwell has seen what really breaks businesses—and what actually fixes them. He’s led from the shop floor to the C-suite, rebuilt broken teams, and helped leaders move from chaos to clarity when pressure was real and payroll was due.
Uncommon Sense: The Fight to Fix Your Workplace Culture in the Wild West of Business is built on battle-tested leadership—not buzzwords. Through gritty stories, plainspoken wisdom, and practical tools, Mel shows you how to build a culture that can take a hit, solve problems fast, and keep moving forward.
This book doesn’t sell theory. It gives you a roadmap.
In this book, you’ll learn:
How to build a problem-solving culture instead of a complaining one
How to build winning leverage and traction into your culture
Why structure must come before people—and how to get it right
How to lead with accountability, not excuses
The system for eliminating toxic behavior that attracts, empowers, and develops good people
Best Pledge™—How to get the absolute best from your people because people as their worst self will not deliver best practice
How to align your team around vision and stellar execution
Why every organization needs two visions—and how to use them
How to lead with courage and win when pressure hits
Plus, you’ll discover why most leaders are “worshipping problems” instead of solving them, why not everyone belongs in every role, and how real leadership shows up when things get hard.
This book doesn’t read like a consultant talking at you. It’s written by a mentor walking beside you—telling the truth, sharing the scars, and showing you what works in the trenches.
When you apply what’s inside this book, leadership gets clearer. Problems get smaller. People are at their best. Teams get stronger. You gain leverage. And your business becomes something that can survive storms instead of being wrecked by them.
If you’re tired of drifting, guessing, and putting out fires—and ready to lead with clarity, courage, and confidence—this is your moment.
Buy Uncommon Sense: The Fight to Fix Your Workplace Culture in the Wild West of Business today and start building a culture that actually works.
The Review
This was a powerful and insightful read that really does a remarkable job of cutting through the technical jargon and power words that so many other business books like to focus on for leadership and instead focuses on getting to the root of many company’s problems. The honest and engaging way the author engaged with the reader and wrote in a way that felt conversational in tone allowed the reader to hone in on the author’s core messages and experiences and apply those lessons throughout the book to their own life.
The author touches upon a lot of useful and tried and true practices and engaging tools that management, leadership, and aspiring entrepreneurs can use on a daily basis. The idea of leaders needing not only an initial vision for the company, but a subvision of how the company will get to that end goal was fascinating, as was the square wheeled wagon theory the author presents that reflects the misdiagnosis of company problems that often lead to more issues than results. The imagery and creative ways in which the author relates these problems are not only fun but help illustrate the problems perfectly.
The Verdict
Engaging, thoroughly-presented, and compelling, author Mel Blackwell’s “Uncommon Sense” is a must-read business and leadership nonfiction book that will both inspire and educate readers who are looking to establish a solid, functioning culture of cohesiveness for their businesses. The even pacing of the book and detailed practices the author puts out there for readers to utilize will keep them not only engaged in the book, but utilizing it as a point of reference time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Mel Blackwell has been fixing broken businesses for over 35 years. He started in a smoke-filled trailer park collection office right out of high school and worked his way up to leading teams at billion-dollar companies. He’s run startups, turned around failing businesses, and spent more than 20 years in VP-level C-suite roles.
He’s learned what works and what doesn’t, usually by screwing things up first, then figuring out how to fix them. He’s walked into businesses that looked like shot-up saloons and helped turn them into places where good people actually want to work.
Mel doesn’t sell complicated frameworks or flavor-of-the-month programs. He shoots straight about what it takes to build a culture that can actually handle the Wild West of business. No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just what works.
When he speaks or coaches, people tell him he makes complicated things simple. That’s because he’s lived it. He knows what it’s like to be in the middle of the fire with no perfect answer and a team looking to you for direction. He is featured in International Business Times, USA Today, CEO Weekly, and MSN.
Mel holds a BS in Marketing from Auburn University and an MA in Management from The University of Alabama, but most of what he knows came from doing the work, not from a textbook.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman returns to the small island she spent childhood summers at with her late godmother and must discover if her godmother died naturally or by nefarious means in author Jennifer K. Breedlove’s “Murder Will Out.”
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The Synopsis
Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that’s as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.
Come for the memories. Stay for the murder…
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue… even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn’t seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
The Review
Atmospheric is immediately what comes to mind with this book. The author does a remarkable job of balancing mystery with a haunting, almost gothic atmosphere that draws the reader in instantly. The powerful imagery brings this New England island to life in vivid detail, and readers are left breathlessly gasping with each shocking loss that turns the list of suspects in the case into a killer’s playpen of victims, and the protagonist caught in the maelstrom the killer leaves behind.
The character development was top notch in this narrative. The alternating perspectives gave the mystery more depth and nuance, while the protagonist WIllow had a well-rounded journey. To see the shy, quiet young woman step up and find not only her voice but a community as she delved deeper into the secrets of this island was fantastic, and the ghostly presences that made their way into her life not only gave these island secrets life but dove into the sordid history of her own past as well.
The Verdict
Chilling, heartfelt, and enthralling, author Jennifer K. Breedlove’s “Murder Will Out” is a must-read gothic mystery novel that perfectly brings to mind classics like Stephen King’s Bag of Bones and any great Agatha Christie novel. The emotional depth of Willow’s journey and the shocking revelations the closing chapters bring to life, as well as the tension underlining the inciting incident of this novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats as this story progresses. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
JENNIFER K. BREEDLOVE is a Chicago area composer, conductor, author, editor, and educator. A frequent visitor to Downeast Maine since childhood, she has an enduring affection for the wild beauty of the coastal islands and the warmth of the people who make their homes there. Her debut novel, Murder Will Out, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award.
I received a free copy of this book and exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author K.A. Pierce shares the reason why more people should choose trade work as their first choice of a career in the book “The Hands That Built This.”
The Synopsis
America is running out of people who know how to build what it needs.
The Hands That Built This is a compact, urgent memoir-manifesto by K.A. Pierce—14 years as a carpenter and ironworker and nearly two decades as a construction-safety professional—that argues trades must be first-choice careers, not Plan B.
Through vivid job site scenes, program case studies, and practical policy steps, Pierce demonstrates how apprenticeships, earn-while-you-learn models, mentorship for women, and safety-first training can address labor shortages, mitigate costly failures, and provide stable, debt-free lives.
Concise, actionable, and voice-driven, this book provides parents, educators, contractors, and policymakers with a clear roadmap to rebuild the skilled trades and the communities they sustain.
The Review
This was such an insightful and engaging read from the get-go. The author writes with passion in an insight into trade work that is inspiring, and will resonate with readers greatly. The fast pacing of the book will allow readers to not only connect with the message of the book, but we’ll give it that re–readability factor that is perfect for books like this that are a constant source of both inspiration and resourcefulness.
The author balances a personal writing style that feels very conversational to the reader with both expertise and familial experience that will allow readers to feel the importance of trade work in our world. The author does a great job highlighting the shame aspect a trade work that has for too long, taken young people away from this line of work and instead of showcases, the heart, the nobility and the honor that could be found in this line of work. The book is also a great source of alternate learning for those who never felt called to higher education, but have a passion for creative yet stable work and also highlights the historical accomplishments trade work has been responsible for.
The Verdict
Well balanced, engaging, and heartfelt, Author K.A. Pierce’s “The Hands That Built This” is a must read non-fiction memoir meets inspirational guide for any young person who seek a direction in life involving trade work. The amount of knowledge and insight the author is able to fit into such a short read is astounding and readers will feel connected to the author’s story while also allowing them to see themselves in a position to pursue a career and trade work. If you haven’t yet, please grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
I have several books published under various pen names across diverse genres: self-help for personal growth, historical fiction weaving tales of the past, fantasy worlds of imagination, and practical guides to growing orchids.
Each project reflects my curiosity and commitment to sharing knowledge that empowers and inspires.
However, construction is a passion of mine and has treated me well over the years. With over 34 years in the construction trade, with 14 years as a carpenter and ironworker, I transitioned into Safety in 2008. I led zero-incident sites and coached more construction workers than I can count in order to protect the crews and foster leadership. My book “The Hands That Built This: Restoring Respect and Rebuilding the Future of the Trades”reflects that passion.
Born and raised in rural Minnesota, where hardworking values shaped my early years, I’ve always been drawn to hands-on pursuits. My Dad was a carpenter, and he could build or fix anything. Life took me on a journey through Texas and then Indiana before landing in sunny Florida, each place adding layers to my story. I have worked all over the US – including Alaska and Puerto Rico- and in some interesting places as well, like Antarctica’s South Pole Station. That’s another story!
Whether building structures or stories, I believe in restoring respect for skilled hands—those that craft our world. This site is a hub for my work, insights, and connections. Explore, connect, and let’s build something meaningful together.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Bob McCauley shares a brand new collection of short stories in the book “A Stranger In Foreign Lands.”
The Synopsis
Screenshot
There is a debate as to how many types of fiction there are. Some say there are over 144 genres and subgenres of fiction, romance fiction being the world’s most popular and widely sold. I’m not exactly sure which is the least popular, but I would certainly place among them literary fiction. Some have concluded that the difference between literary fiction and all its other genres is meaning over entertainment. Literary fiction has meaning, and as Ernest Hemingway once said, it is like an iceberg in that 10% of the work’s meaning is above the surface of the water, while the remaining 90% is below the surface. I write literary fiction because of my love for it. I want it to be discussed in university classrooms and literary circles. And because it is by far the most difficult type of fiction to write.
The Review
This was a compelling and gripping collection of short stories in the literary fiction genre. The thoughtful presentation of each story really allowed readers to be able to feel immersed in each setting as these stories took place in the Middle East. The fast pacing of a story gave the reader plenty of time to really connect with these characters while also feeling the emotional pacing of their journey.
The book also journeys to the near and far east. The stories range from personal to cultural and beyond and allow the reader to feel immersed in each areas, specific culture and history. The tone of the collection speaks to the authors experiences in life and passion for telling intimate and compelling personal stories that are reflected in rich and dynamic characters.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, compelling, and enthralling author, Bob McCauley’s “A Stranger in Foreign Lands” is a must read collection of literary short fiction. Each story felt direct into the point and yet also personal and profound at the same time. Readers will feel completely immersed, and the specific cultures found in this collection and will feel an emotional pull to travel and experience the world for themselves. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!
Reading: 10/10
About the Author
I grew up on a junk-food diet in the 1960s. I never considered then that what went into my body was of any importance until I started running cross country and track in high school. By my early 20s, I was a vegetarian but had only given up meat since I still ate eggs and dairy products. I went into the bottled water business 25 years ago. What I knew from the very beginning was that I had a health product. Shortly after that, I discovered alkaline ionized water, spirulina, and chlorella, the raw food diet, and how to be truly healthy. I decided I wanted a more formal education about natural health, so I became a Certified Nutritional Consultant. A few years later, I became a Certified Master Herbalist and eventually a Naturopathic Doctor. However, the vast majority of what I know about health is what I have experienced personally. The water I drink, the foods that I consume, my exercise regimen, and how it all makes me feel. My health protocol is my lifestyle, and my lifestyle is my health protocol. I am a Roman Catholic.
I am honored to share my recap of this unique and creative take on the classic werewolf story with author Mark Leslie’s “A Canadian Werewolf Series.” This eight book (soon to be nine) series follows a Canadian transplant and author living in New York as he struggles with lycanthropy and his desire to help others in the process. Below you will find the synopsis for each book, as well as my review of the book and links to the full reviews and the books purchase links. I hope you will take the time to read each one carefully and take the plunge yourself to read this series and enjoy it as much as I did. Please enjoy.
A Canadian Werewolf in New York
The Synopsis
ALPHA WOLF. BETA HUMAN. BIG APPLE.
Michael Andrews seems to have it all. He’s a successful author and a minor celebrity living in Manhattan. It’s a pretty big step up from his humble Canadian upbringing.
Of course, his lycanthropy poses a bit of a challenge.
After waking up from his latest night of howling at the moon, he’s naked, he’s got a bullet hole in his leg, and he has a sneaking suspicion he ran into another wolf last night. A wolf that was stomping all over his home turf.
If he’s going to make an evening talk show appearance to promote his latest book, he’ll need to figure out what happened the previous night without letting his occasional heroics sidetrack him. Standing in his way are an agent, an ex-girlfriend, a variety of goons, and a fellow wolf encroaching on his territory.
It’s just another day in the life of a polite, small-town Canadian trying to stay alive in the Big Apple.
A Canadian Werewolf in New York is a humorous thriller about an ordinary man dealing with extraordinary circumstances. If you like seeing an every-man try to “do right” no matter the odds, then you’ll love this suspenseful and comedic tale of a Canadian bumpkin who happens to be part wolf.
My Review
This was a compelling and gripping take on the werewolf genre as a whole. The balance of twist and turns within the narrative, and the humor found in the dialogue, will keep readers on the edge of their seat seats as the story progresses. Michael is a complex and captivating protagonist that readers will not be able to get enough of.
HOW DO YOU KEEP AN INNOCENT CHILD SAFE FROM A PREDATOR WHEN YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE BEAST THAT ASSUMES CONTROL OF YOU?
A train bound for Vermont leaves Manhattan at 11:35 AM. It takes approximately 9 hours to arrive. Sunset at the arrival destination occurs at 8:20 PM. How does Michael Andrews, a man on that train who is afflicted with a werewolf curse, resolve the fact that the math just doesn’t work out in his favor? Or in favor of the young girl who is trapped, and cornered?
Michael’s unequivocal desire to help usually thrusts him into the middle of tight spots. And though he has never been good at math, he is consistently good at compounding the peril in his day. On an urgent and last minute trip to help a dear friend in need, he finds someone else to help along the way.
Can Michael figure out how he’ll be able to protect his young, innocent traveling companion as she tries to make her own cross-country escape from the predator who relentlessly stalks her? And does this curious child hold her own answers that can, in turn, help Michael?
In a tale that has been described as Logan meets Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Mark Leslie has crafted a thrill-ride that explores Michael Andrews, Alpha Wolf and Beta Human as he embarks on a life-altering road trip that sends him hurtling towards his own psyche as it brings him miles away from his familiar home territory.
My Review
This is such a thrilling and exciting urban fantasy meets horror story that is very character driven. The tension that builds as the protagonist strives to protect this young woman and the constant barrage of obstacles in their path reminds me of the narrative beats of Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series, while also becoming a deep dive into who Michael is as a protagonist and hero and what drives him to take on the task of saving this girl.
If New York is the city that never sleeps, then L.A. is the city where you have to sleep with one eye open.
Michael Andrews learns quickly that it’s not just the cut-throat world of Hollywood you need to fear. There’s something deeper, darker, and far more disturbing lurking just beneath the shadows of the city, waiting for any moment of vulnerability to grab you by the throat.
An extended trip to Los Angeles to be on set for the movie adaptation of his latest novel leads Michael into a twisted and macabre underworld where he becomes entangled with an intriguing, sexy, and mysterious woman. At times she seems just what he needs in order to finally get over the unrequited love of his ex-girlfriend; but at other times, she appears to be the gateway to a Pandora’s box of B-movie nightmares.
Can he trust her? Can he trust himself with her?
Michael’s supernatural wolf-enhanced powers and special abilities might not be enough to survive this particular harsh and gritty jungle and the unique and deadly predators that crawl out of the shadows.
My Review
This was a truly engaging and entertaining read. The author has crafted a unique world full of paranormal creatures and relatable characters. Although I am a newcomer to this series, the author writes in a way that allows each book to stand on its own while creating a new layer to the mythos the author has crafted for this series.
The protagonist is the heart of this story. While many of the side characters add depth to the narrative, the beating heart is Michael’s journey. Balancing his supernatural powers and gifts with the more emotional core of his story, from the heartbreak of his relationship with Gail to meeting the mysterious and alluring Lex as he navigates the dark underbelly of Los Angeles makes his story really shine brightly. Pair this with the underscoring of political themes as a group of hateful domestic terrorists begins attacking the citizens of LA, and you have a fantastic new horror and action thriller.
Not when the Big Apple comes under attack from an infectious worm threatening to rot it, and the entire nation, to the core.
Michael Andrews thought he’d found the perfect woman. A companion whose own powers neutralize his werewolf curse and bring the balance he has always wanted. But his plans on settling down and giving up the vigilante lifestyle are fleeting.
The hatred, the fear, and the monstrous attacks on innocent civilians grow and spread as supernatural monsters roam the city streets at night. The neo-Nazi Proud Fighters for America have already seeped their way across the continent and have nefarious plans for the city that never sleeps.
With Michael’s powers nullified in Lex’s presence, the couple is forced to divide in their attempt to conquer, and Michael turns to his ex-girlfriend’s knowledge of the occult and an ally he thought was his enemy to fight this rising evil.
But will three supernatural humans and one paranormal scholar be enough to vanquish the growing legion of evil?
My Review
This series just keeps getting more and more engaging. The balance of character development with grounded storytelling and rich mythology never ceases to amaze me. The evolution of new and existing paranormal creatures and individuals was great to see here, as was the dive into what it means to be the wolf for Michael, as his love Lex’s gifts keep the wolf from coming out, but at what cost? The exploration of that cost early on was so fascinating to see and shows the duality that comes from werewolf transformations in literature.
I also loved seeing the developing relationships between Michael, Lex, and Gail, as the sparks between Lex and Michael were so prominent but the author didn’t shy away from the complex relationship Michael has with Gail still, and the shared love that still exists there. The exploration of these characters and how they mesh together was so well done, and the author’s emphasis on character growth really elevated the overall narrative of this novel. The dive into the racism and violence our world has seen in recent years and how it impacts the paranormal community as well was such an inspired choice and was the perfect mirror of real-world problems in a paranormal setting.
Michael Andrews, a Canadian living in New York, is learning to live with the side effects of lycanthropy. Other than waking up naked and bloody in Central Park once a month, he’s managing just fine. If only he could finish the book he’s supposed to be writing. If only he could find someone he trusted enough to tell the truth to.
Gail Sommers may not have her love life in order, but at least she’s smart about things that really matter. She runs the coolest occult shop in the city, and is a pre-eminent scholar of the occult. She’s made a vow of celibacy so that she can spend this year focusing on her work and her self-care. She’s even been hired to help out a very famous and very sexy horror author.
As a new era in the Canadian Werewolf saga begins, Lover’s Moon flashes back to the romantic and comedic story of how Michael and Gail met and fell in love back in the summer of 2011. Told through both Michael and Gail’s unique perspectives, it also explores Gail’s past, introduces new characters, and reveals some of the deeper secrets of both of their lives.
A special Canadian Werewolf tale co-authored by Mark Leslie and contemporary romance author Julie Strauss.
My Review
This was such a fun surprise in a very heavily paranormal thriller and romance series. The authors did an amazing job taking readers deeper into the romance aspect of this narrative than ever before, with the story serving both as a prequel to the main story and evolution of these two characters in the modern day of the main series narrative. The passion and humor that is infused into this narrative is both a great tribute to the character development of novels in the series that came before and a great departure from the more action and paranormal-driven narratives fans have gotten used to over the years.
What really made this story unique was the character development between these two characters. The raw emotions and the way the authors gave each of the protagonists their own unique perspective on their relationships both past and present felt both relatable and heartfelt to the reader. The mixture of desire, passion, and heat with the secret lives that initially drives a wedge between them and the hurdles they have to overcome individually to finally find their way back to one another made this story such a compelling read.
Michael Andrews and Gail Sommers have finally found the love that had eluded them for so long.
But their romance has uncovered an ancient evil curse neither of them could have anticipated. It does more than bring down a plague on their houses – it unleashes something far more sinister that can destroy humanity.
Now they must choose: battle the evil forces out to destroy them, or continue to meet in secret while the rest of the world burns.
If you like thrilling action, paranormal adventure, and quirky humor, you’ll love Hex and the City. Read it today!
Though this is book six in a series, it can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. A “the story so far” summary is available for readers.
My Review
This was a captivating and emotional read. The authors did an incredible job of creating a novel that stands on its own two feet while also paying homage to the wild entries in the series that came before. The action and magical suspense that the narrative delves into with the curse and the impact it begins having on the world around them brought the reader into the fantasy and paranormal thriller elements that this series has become known for.
For me, the heart of this narrative rested in the balance of mythos, romance, and world-building. The shock and awe that comes with this prophecy revelation hit the main characters immediately, and the shocking way it connects the events of the rest of the series made this story really flow. The heartbreaking reality of their circumstances made both Michael and Gail’s journey so emotional and kept the reader invested as the stakes got higher and higher. Getting to learn more about Gail’s family and connection to the paranormal world was fantastic to watch come to fruition.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG WHEN A WEREWOLF NEEDS THERAPY?
Michael Andrews has suffered the slings and arrows of his outrageous fortune while living with lycanthropy. But the blackouts from when he transforms into a wolf and the latest loss of his one true love have finally pushed him over the edge.
In desperation, he checks into a secret and remote retreat in upstate New York to undergo group therapy with a motley crew of other Paranormals.
When their therapist is found dead—apparently the victim of a brutal murder—Michael and the other supernatural misfits (a studious fairy, a vegan vampire, a shy mermaid, a clingy werecat, and an extroverted troll) look at one other as suspects.
Will his years of writing mystery novels be enough to help him through a case where he may be the one who is responsible for Dr. Laurier’s condition?
Only Monsters in the Building is a humorous and mysterious adventure that will keep you laughing on the edge of your seat.
This book can be enjoyed as a stand alone but is the seventh book in the continuing Canadian Werewolf series.
My Review
I loved this masterful approach to the murder mystery narrative. The supernatural retreat is a fun setting, delving into the humor found often in creative retreats for those who become stuck in their lives. The balance of mystery and action is a great juxtaposition to the self reflection that the protagonist undergoes to reflect on the heartache and doubt they are experiencing in this point of their journey.
He came to New York as a writer with a dream. What he became was something out of a nightmare.
It’s the summer of 2003, and twenty-two-year-old Michael Andrews has finally escaped his small Ontario mining town for the city of his Spider-Man daydreams. But a wolf attack on a lonely highway changes everything. Now he’s navigating Manhattan with powerfully sharp senses well beyond normal human limits, a transformation he can’t control, and a beautiful woman he’s terrified to let close.
By day, Michael shelves books in a Greenwich Village shop, using his uncanny ability to read emotions to connect with customers. Those same abilities have given this previously undateable book nerd an unexpected confidence—enough to win the attention of Rachel, an aspiring actress whose kindness draws him in.
But when the full moon rises, he loses himself to his alter-ego: a six-foot grey wolf. Haunted by guilt and longing for connection, Michael must decide whether his curse will define him—or if he can transform it into something more.
Some curses can’t be outrun. The only question is what you do when they catch up.
This origin story of the Canadian Werewolf series is told through “current day” 2017 bookends of a prologue and epilogue timeline that follow immediately after Only Monsters in the Building.
My Review
After so many amazing adventures with Michael it was a great read to see how this protagonist became the hero and success he became. The self discovery and newness that comes with discovering his abilities and the haunting nature of his transformations are greatly felt in this novel. Getting to explore his relationships with the supporting cast of characters and how their bonds formed was a great service to fans of this incredible series.
Now enjoy this preview of this year’s upcoming release, A Canadian Werewolf in London, Ontario, the ninth book in the series.
The Synopsis
BABY, YOU WERE BORN THIS WAY!
What if everything you believed about yourself was a lie?
Michael Andrews has spent fourteen years believing a roadside attack made him a werewolf. He was wrong.
Armed with the truth that he was born a lycanthrope, Michael must journey back to his Canadian roots. Accompanied by Ellie, the faerie whose soul is inexplicably bound to his, the quest takes them from the nickel mines of Sudbury, to the steel city of Hamilton, and to the university town of London, Ontario.
Along the way, Michael uncovers a trail of secrets, long-buried family connections, and an unexpected reunion with Bridget Wells, now thriving at Western University. But the deeper he digs, the closer he gets to a childhood memory so horrifying that his young mind buried it along with his wolf nature.
The answers he seeks may be more monstrous than anything he’s faced in the concrete canyons of New York or the jungle of Los Angeles. Because the one monster Michael has never been able to face is himself.
This is a fun, exhilarating, humorous and entertaining supernatural urban fantasy series that readers will be enthralled with. The dynamic and relatable characters and the twists on the genre, as well as the powerful mythos and compelling world that this story inhabits is a thrill ride that readers will be eager to return to time and time again. If you haven’t yet, check out the series for yourself today!
