P.I. Diaries is a surveillance diary of the big city life and notorious cases of the New York City Private Investigator Joe Mullen. This book introduces readers to the work of Bronx-born Joseph Mullen. During his career, Joseph has helped families of four Presidents, three Prime Ministers and a king. He came across cases involving renowned personalities. I was amazed to know that Joseph possess the ability to perform a psychological autopsy on those he investigated. This book/diary consists of details of his various cases.
One of my favorite story from this collection is American Hero. I am glad to read about American hero and Joe’s friend Mario Biaggi, the most decorated police officer in America. What Mario did for others even though he himself was upset at that time is appreciated. There are very few people like this.
Language of the book is lucid. Cover photo is nice and I appreciate author’s choice of title for this book. This book gave me a sneak peek into the life of a private detective. It’s a worth reading book and I am surely looking forward to read more of Joseph’s work.
“The Fair-Weather Pug” is an interesting children’s book written by the author Roxanne Cooke.
It is a tale of Max, the fair-weather pug who doesn’t like rain and winters. He prefers warm and sunny weather. Read out the story to know how Max gonna keep himself warm and cosy during rainy and winter season and how he will enjoy the outside weather during sunny season?
Visuals used in this book are eye catchy. The story is fast paced and exciting. A good read. Delightful fable that I recommend strongly for little readers. Brilliant story, great pictures kept me hooked from start to finish. Great little book for the little ones! Kids will enjoy it as a bedtime story also.
This book is a nice addition to any children’s bookshelf.
“The Adventures of RiRi: Stars Stars” is a children’s book written by the author Darius Good. This book is the first installment in “The Adventures of RiRi” series.
It is a tale of a little girl who is curious to know where the Stars go during the day? Give a quick read to the story to know did the stars turn out their light in the night to shine brightly? It’s a perfect bedtime story that children will enjoy for sure.
The story very well captures the imagination of little ones. Visuals used in this book are eye catchy. The story is fast paced and exciting. It’s an adorable book and I like to recommend this book strongly for little readers.
Brilliant story, great pictures hooked me from start to finish. This book would be a lovely addition to any children’s bookshelf.
All That Lingers penned by the author Irene Wittig is a powerful story that moves from 1934 to 1961. Story started with three characters: Emma Huber, Greta Bruckner, and Léonie Salzmann who have been good friends since long time. As the story progresses, we get to meet many other important characters. In this story, we see Emma going through different situations involving love, loss, sadness, heartache, etc.
Emma who has lost many of her people stayed sad for a longer time. But she was kind enough to help Hannah and Sophie. Emma’s character caught all my attention in this story.
List of characters given at the beginning of the book helped me to get a better idea about the characters. Cover photo of the book looks nice. Plot of the story is amazing. Length of the novel is longer so this book is suitable for weekend binge reading. If you enjoy reading novels with vast characters, historical fiction then this one may fit your taste. Set in Vienna this story hooked me to it.
Book: The Little Handbook for Navigationally Challenged Cidiots
Author: D.C. Head, Gershan Head, Kenneth Head
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 4/5
“The Little Handbook for Navigationally Challenged Cidiots” is a hilarious read. Before reading this book, I wasn’t aware with the term Cidiot. This book opens reader’s eyes to the careless practices that many people engage in while driving.
I read about Eye Shadow Bandit – a woman who puts eye shadow while riding over the broken white lines. Clueless Do-less cidiots are the ones that drive against traffic on a one way street. Each chapter helps the readers to enrich their cidiot vocabulary. Get to know all about cidiots and their driving practices by grabbing this book right away.
The Quiz given at the end of the book is amazing to take and will help the readers to know whether they are cidiot or a potential cidiot victim. Written in 62 pages, this book could be finished in single sitting. I like to strongly recommend this book to cidiot drivers and those who are the observer of cidiot driving.
“The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola” written by the author Melissa Muldoon is a story set in sixteenth century. This is a fictional novel based on the historical data. After reading this book, I must say that Sofonisba Anguissola was a brave and determined woman who did great things inspite of the fact that women weren’t empowered during that time. Sofonisba was the first women painter who achieved fame during that time..
Sofonisba’s encounter with Michelangelo and later when she became the court painter, it was an amazing journey to read about.
I appreciate author’s love for arts and Italy. It purely reflects in her writing. This novel is a perfect escape to the sixteenth century with Sofonisba Anguissola. If you love stories that involves the concept of art, female artists, Italy then this book will be a perfect pick. I enjoyed every bit of Sofonisba’s story. Before reading this book, I haven’t heard about sofonisba. I am glad to come across something new with the help of this book.
Melissa’s story settings are mind blowing. I am looking forward to read more of her novels in future and I am much curious to know more about Italy and I wanna visit it for sure.
Book: Eternally Artemisia: Some Loves, Like Some Women, Are Timeless
Author: Melissa P Muldoon
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“The path of deep and profound love is a circuitous one. Sometimes we move forward, sometimes we move back, and other times we are on a parallel road. No matter what, you must always trust in the connection and never stop walking with me.”
“Eternally Artemisia: Some loves, like some women, are timeless” penned by the author Melissa P Muldoon is the third book by Melissa that I have read.
Maddie lives in Upper Manhattan. She was in her apartment packing stuffs when she was taken into a dream where a female painter Artemisia kissed her. Maddie’s interest in Artemisia was not limited to academic interest. It was more intimate. Maddie’s interest in Artemisia increased when she learnt that Artemisia was raped by her painting instructor.
Story gets more interesting as Maddie moved to Italy. Grab a copy of this book to know what happens next. This book has many characters that we get to meet as we read the story.
Cast of Historical Players given at the beginning of the book helped me to understand the story cast better. Cover photo is nice with a suitable title. Plot of the story is interesting. My favorite character is of Maddie. If you love stories that are set in Italy, you couldn’t afford to miss to read this book. Go ahead with it without thinking twice.
Book: 365 Days of Affirmations for the Mind, Heart, & Spirit
Author: Phoenix Gibbs
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“365 Days of Affirmations for the Mind, Heart, & Spirit” penned by an Oracle/Healer, Ancestral Advocate, & Spiritual Mentor Phoenix Gibbs is a powerful book. This book reminds the readers that they are valuable and they shouldn’t consider themselves as unworthy or small. It will inspire readers to have a positive mindset so they will be confident, happy, lively, etc.
Below affirmation is one of my favorite from the book: “I honor my weaknesses and strengths. I work on them daily, as I am a perfectly imperfect human being.”
Through this book, author aims to inspire others to live their life fully by stepping out of their comfort zone. This book is full of inspiration. Language of the book is lucid so everyone would be able to understand it easily. One would be able to relate themselves with the affirmations mentioned in the book as we all need such kind of positivity. Cover photo is amazing.
I am glad to get my hands on this brilliant book. I like to recommend it to everyone. Even if you aren’t into reading, pick this book and go through the positive affirmations mentioned in this book, I am sure you will be inspired.
Q1. Can you please introduce yourself to the readers?
I am a former HR professional and Marriage and Family Therapist. I was married in 1980 and inherited three children I had never met six weeks after my wedding; we survived! I am retired, creating and living in Palm Springs. Stitches is my first book, and the first in a series of six based on Historic Park in San Diego, where I grew up.
Q2. From where did you have the idea to write your debut book Stitches?
There is a village of old, important houses that have been put together in Heritage Park in Old Town. The houses have been boarded up for years after being used as historical sites, then Bed and Breakfasts, then just abandoned. There are six houses, beautiful old Victorians, that are just sitting there. I went to see them about six years ago and when I sat under the old coral tree I wondered what I would do if I were in charge – I’d turn the village into an art colony! Each house would be dedicated to one form of art. Stitches is the first house dedicated to needle arts; I’ve identified which house I think would fit on the back cover. Canvas will be the name of the second house, and Pages, the third. I have three more to write to fill out the village of six houses.
Q3. Please tell us something about STITCHES which is not in the blurb/book summary.
Stitches revolves around a young bride; she wants her aunt (Jen Conrad, the owner of the shop Stitches) to make her wedding dress – not sewn, but hand-knitted, to fit a sketch someone made of her in the imagined dress. Jen’s pursuit of perfection is affected in the making of not one but two dresses; perfection turns out to be not quite so important. It also turns out (spoiler) the artist who drew the sketch is the bride’s true love, not the man she’s marrying. He shows up later and in fact is the manager of the art store that is centered in Canvas, the next book (coming July 13).
Q4. What does literary success look like to you?
I know that writers don’t do it to get rich, but it would be nice to have my books known and appreciated for the social issues that are featured in each of them. In Stitches, it’s about grief and self-identity; having to reinvent yourself after living a life “as expected.”
Q5. You currently live in Palm Springs. Please tell us what makes it special?
The desert air, the almost-seasons, the resort atmosphere. Plus, there’s no traffic like in L.A. or San Diego!
Q6. How do you select the names of your characters?
They really just come…they drive the action as well.
Q7. Could you please tell us something about your experience as a Marriage and Family Therapist?
I specialized in grief and bereavement counseling; the stories in Stitches came from my experience in talking to women who really had no idea how to go on after being married for so long. I learned a lot from these women.
Q8. What are your hobbies apart from reading and writing?
Knitting, of course, and recently I’ve gotten into paper crafting, art journaling, and watercolor. It is physically impossible for me to sit in front of the tv without something in my hands to create.
Q9. How long does it took you to write your debut book?
About a year; it was published first by a vanity publisher, but I didn’t like the end product; cheap paper and the cover art wasn’t right. It took six years to get moving on revisions and hiring someone to do the cover and formatting professionally. I am pleased with the revised edition. (The first one only went to friends and family.)
Q10. Lastly, who inspires you the most in life and why?
Women in the past who have blazed the trail for the rest of us like suffragettes and women like Eleanor Roosevelt, Ruth Gruber, RBG, and Heddy Lamarr, who went against all odds and made a real impact on the world. I grew up with the feminists in the 60’s making noise; that had an impact on me as well, and I now understand how much of a risk they took in getting us where we are, which is not quite far enough, but we’re getting there. I’m beginning to talk about them in my YouTube channel.
Kachina is a beautiful story written by the author Alexandra López. Story features a star named Kachina that gazed down in wonder at Earth’s beauty. Kachina was fascinated to see that humans are all different and together they create so many wonderful things. Kachina wanted to experience all these beautiful things that humans do. Will she ever get a chance to experience it?
This is a mind blowing story with rich content. I am highly impressed by the storyline that author has presented in this book. Illustrations are pretty and has the power to attract readers in the first look. This is a great bedtime story that kids will cherish with their parents. I enjoyed every bit of this story. It’s a worth reading book.
Sassy Reviews 