Learn all about the five men who the Roma Series centres around in Five Before Rome.
About Five Before Rome
These five novellas precede Roma, Underground, the first novel in the Roma Series. Meet the five men, who form the team around Bianca, and learn about their personal history, their respective parts of Italy, and why they each have a stake in the fight against organized crime.
My Thoughts
I loved the Roma series and the way that Gabriel writes his stories. The stories keep you on your toes, always guessing what would happen next and the characters are well developed and realistic. I couldn’t wait to pop open this book to see how these five men began their careers fighting organized crime. I love to learn about that turning point in a persons life that sets them down their current path and this novel does not disappoint.
Gabriel packs a lot of background and history into each of the five novellas, which is no easy feat. Sometimes I worry when I read a novella that it would feel rushed and have gaps but these ones were perfect. The novellas introduce us to slightly younger versions of our favourite characters and their exposure to organized crime. We follow along in these novellas as they solve the crimes in each of their regions. We learn more about their personal history and how they came to their current region, their family life and more.
Five Before Rome is an excellent read that is not overwhelming but weaves a great story around organized crime, murder, lies and more. The novellas are well written and engaging, and are a great prelude to the Roma series.
Gabriel Valjan lives in Boston’s South End where he enjoys the local restaurants. When he isn’t appeasing Munchkin, his cat, with tuna, he documents the #dogsofsouthendboston on Instagram. His short stories have appeared online, in journals, and in several anthologies. Gabriel is the author of two series, Roma and Company Files, with Winter Goose Publishing. He was nominated for the Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery for Company Files: 2. The Naming Game in 2020. Gabriel has been a finalist for the Fish Prize, shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, and received an Honorable Mention for the Nero Wolfe Black Orchid Novella Contest in 2018. Dirty Old Town, the first in the Shane Cleary series, was published in 2020 by Level Best Books. Gabriel attends crime fiction conferences, such as Bouchercon, Malice Domestic, and New England Crime Bake. He is a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Connect with him on his website,Twitter and Facebook.
See the U.S.A Constitution in a new light with this bold, modern and accessible illustrated guide to the document that helped define democracy.
About We The People: The United States Constitution Explored and Explained
With the 2020 Presidential election around the corner, there has never been a better time to take a closer look at the Constitution, the bedrock of U.S. politics. Inquisitive minds will have their questions vividly answered (and new ones raised) by a mix of illustrations and clear, engaging text, including passages from the Constitution given in plain English.
As well as a detailed history covering the original Constitution, the Bill of Rights and all Amendments, discover how this milestone in American democracy shapes and is shaped by the world at large. We The People shows that the U.S. Constitution is a living, evolving rulebook that is as relevant today as it has ever been.
Our Thoughts
As a Canadian, I was not familiar with the U.S. Constitution. I have heard several parts in the news but did not really understand the amendments and how the government worked.
I loved the foreword of this book, as it truly sets the tone for what is to come. It encourages you to challenges your beliefs, the Constitution wording and to take action about the things you belief in. It encourages you to understand and appreciate that any person has the ability to make a change and difference, in order to make the country they live in a great place to do so.
From here the book jumps into the basics of the Constitution, the three branches of government, the Preamble, articles and then Amendments. I enjoyed learning about the Preamble (basically an introduction) as it helps to explain why the Constitution exists, what it is supposed to accomplish and who it is for. The book then jumps into an explanation of seven articles and the Bill of Rights.
What I enjoyed the most of this book is that it did not just explain the history of the articles and Amendments and what this means but it also gives you how people championed for equal rights for all people under each of these rights, key individuals in this fight, and encourages you to challenge what you know by asking questions. “What do you think?” questions are asked quite frequently throughout the book, these questions encourage the reader to think about how society is now, why this topic is important and at times how could we do better. This book also includes several, ‘Did you know facts’ under each topic along with fun facts – many that I did not know (for me, I learned the District of Columbia is a territory and does not have any members of Congress, and this was done so that the capital of the United States of America would belong to everyone!). I enjoyed learning about key political characters that helped create the country we all know now.
This book is geared towards older children but can still be enjoyed by younger children when read with an adult. It challenges your thinking, beliefs and encourages you to understand the rights and freedoms for all people. It is a celebration of the rights and freedoms that the citizens of the U.S. enjoy and how they interact with their daily lives. The illustrations are bright and engaging which is great for young readers. This is a book for all readers and you can see this through the title and through the way the book is written.
Evan Sargent is an intuitive creative director, strategist and designer with a knack for seeing the big picture. Her background includes over a decade as an art director and creative director in advertising – more recently, she has become a political activist and community organizer. We The People is her first children’s book.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Working undercover for London’s first official police force, the Bow Street Bachelors have an obligation to serve the city’s best interests—even while they’re falling for the city’s most alluring women.
About To Catch an Earl
Alex Harland, Earl of Melton and dedicated rake, never pictured himself as an agent of inquiry. But the thrill of investigation is a challenge he now embraces. When he’s asked to pursue the Nightjar, a notorious thief who is reclaiming France’s crown jewels, the case throws him into the path of the beautiful and equally elusive Emmy Danvers, reminding him of the only puzzle he’s never solved: the identity of the mysterious woman who once stole a kiss from him—and left him wanting so much more.
The daughter of a thief, Emmy learned long ago how to keep her secrets safeguarded—and, as the notorious Nightjar, her love for Alex Harland is one of them. With the determined earl hot on her trail—and making her hot under the collar—Emmy has no choice but to keep her distance. But when a moment’s danger threatens Emmy’s life as well as her name, will Alex finally discover that he’s followed every clue…to true love?
My Thoughts
I love the first book in this series as the plot was so different from the typical historical romance and this novel in this series does not disappoint.
Emmy is the daughter of a thief and has learned well from her Father, including learning all of the tricks of the trade. She is determined, strong but reserved in society because of her family history. The one man she does fall in love with (Alex) at a ball during a dance, is someone she knows she can never be with especially given her family history. She never does forget the special moment they shared at the ball and carries it with her for four years.
While her Father was a thief (the Nightjar), he did so for a noble cause – returning the French jewels to the French (not at a price but to ensure the jewels return to their real home) and his calling card? A black feather. With four years of no thefts, the sudden return of the black feather has many people wondering has the thief returned? What does the thief now have their eye on? How will they stop the thefts from happening?
Alex is determined to catch the Nightjar and he prides himself on his skills to solve cases that no one else can. He does not hesitate to take on this case and begins to plan to capture the Nightjar in the act. Alex is a hard man, he does not open easily but there was something special about a woman that he met at a ball four years ago. He never learns her name and his only memory of that moment is a special scent that she wore. Alex’s beliefs are sent spinning as he begins to investigate the Nightjar case and he has to question everything that he has believed his whole life. Can he look past her history in order to accept love? Can he even keep her alive as the plot begins to thicken?
This was an excellent, exciting novel with great twists that I did not see coming. I loved our characters that were full of personality and humour even as they face great obstacles (including bribery and murder!). The novel develops well and at a great pace, where you do not feel as though you are missing anything but not too slow either. This novel is a great summer read.
Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Leave the guilty, overwhelmed, and bitter you behind. It’s time to find the peace and happiness that shattered when you heard your parent’s diagnosis: Alzheimer’s. Learn more in A Warrior of Light: A Guide of Inner Wisdom for Challenging Times.
About A Warrior of Light: A Guide of Inner Wisdom for Challenging Times
Leave the guilty, overwhelmed, and bitter you behind. It’s time to find the peace and happiness that shattered when you heard your parent’s diagnosis: Alzheimer’s. It’s time to release your inner Warrior of Light.A Warrior of Light tells the transformative journey of Eileen Silverberg, a Warrior who destroyed the feelings of guilt, bitterness, and overwhelm by reinventing herself and acquiring various tools, her shields and weapons. With an emphasis on self-care through meditation and Hawaiian-based practices, this book, with all of its tools, will help you release your Inner Warrior, just as Eileen did. By following the practices outlined in this book, she not only found peace and happiness but also formed a stronger bond with her mom. Through A Warrior of Light, Eileen guides all types of caregivers as they face challenges, helping them to relinquish self-sabotage, forgive themselves, deepen their spiritual practice, engage in self-care, and ultimately, find their own Inner Warrior. As you read her journey, you will repair your connection with yourself and become the best you.So choose today to get rid of those judgments and limiting beliefs surrounding Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers that are passed down from generation to generation, and instead connect deep within to find your own truths.
My Thoughts
“Smile. It is good for you.” – A Warrior of Light
This is by far one of my favourite lessons in this book. I constantly remind my children (and myself) that attitude and how we approach life and events is half the battle. Even when things are going wrong and you feel overwhelmed, it is so important to stop, take a deep breath and smile. It may take a few moments but this always helps me feel better.
Eileen shares her very real and honest story as a caregiver for her Mother with Alzheimer’s. As women (and definitely in certain cultures) we are taught that we need to care for our family (whether it is our children or our parents), regardless of the affect that this may have on our health and mental well being. I have seen others struggle through this and the emotions that they have (resentment, guilt, anger) and my heart has always gone out to them. They are doing a beautiful thing but they need support from others and to be able to make decisions that are good for not only their parent but themselves too (without the judgement from clinicians and society). As a parent myself, I have done this too – cared so much for others in my home that I did not focus on myself and this had negative consequences on both my mental and physical health. Eileen teaches you how to deal with your own expectations, others expectations head on with grace, honesty and love.
While I am not a caregiver for a parent, this book really touched my heart. So many areas of this book can and should be applied to that way we live our lives. I even shared this part of the book with my children as I think this lesson is so important to learn, “Wayne Dyer was so wise in saying..with everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” (Warrior of Light). Life is made up of many choices – we get to choose how we react to the events and people in our lives, we can either choose to accept, learn the lesson and move forward or to let it consume us and become angry and sad.
This is a beautiful book for all ages (highly recommend for younger readers as there are so many real life applications in this book for them – lessons that are hard to learn) and told in an open, non-judgmental and honest manner. It felt like a conversation with Eileen versus a lecture, which I loved. This is so important for readers who are already struggling, they want and need to hear someone who has gone through the same and that their feelings are valid and okay to feel. A Warrior of Light is a beautiful read from start to finish.
Eileen Silverberg have been taking care of her mother with Alzheimer’s for over seven years and has taught and presented lectures for the Alzheimer’s Association on self -care and meditation practices. She has successfully conducted on-going sessions for staff in the most highly ranked nursing and rehabilitation nursing centers. With a desire to lift the veil on the judgment and expectations caregivers face, she wrote this book to help caregivers find themselves, free them from judgment, and embrace their new life with grace and happiness. As a self-love advocate, Eileen encourages all caregivers to practice mindful meditation with a base Ho’oponopono. She felt inspired to teach others after experiencing deep physical and mental benefits, so she became a skillful meditation leader for professional caregivers. Since she enjoys dancing, especially ballroom dance, she founded and directs E.S. Being Aloha Soul, which mixes movement with meditation. When she isn’t inspiring other caregivers, she works in the two luxury wine boutiques that she and her husband own in Florida and enjoys going to the beach, hiking, traveling, and playing with her two Chihuahuas. She hopes that her readers will learn to release the guilt, forgive themselves, and act with love and kindness towards themselves and the one they care for. (From the back cover of A Warrior of Light).
Eileen Silverberg is the creator and founder of E.S. Being Aloha Souls® Meditation, and the author of “A Warrior of Light: A guide of inner wisdom for challenging times”. She has also translated the book in Spanish, “Una Guerrera de Luz; Una guía de sabiduría interna para tiempos difíciles”. She has spoken for ADI (Alzheimers Disease International) in Key Largo Conference and for ADI Miami, Florida, The Palace skilled nursing homes facility, and for the Alzheimer’s Association support group. Apart from writing, Eileen is a meditation and wellness coach, as well as a business entrepreneur.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Last Sword Maker is a globe-trotting thriller with unforgettable characters that depicts a haunting vision of the future of warfare.
About The Last Sword Maker
In the high mountains of Tibet, rumors are spreading. People whisper of an outbreak, of thousands of dead, of bodies pushed into mass graves. It is some strange new disease that can kill in minutes.
The Chinese government says the rumors aren’t true, but no one is allowed in or out of Tibet.
At the Pentagon, Admiral Curtiss is called to an emergency meeting. Satellite images prove that a massive genocide is underway, and an American spy has made a startling discovery. This is no disease. It is a weapons test. Chinese scientists have developed a way to kill based on a person’s genetic traits. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The success of their new weapon proves that the Chinese are nearing “Replication”—a revolutionary breakthrough that will tip the global balance of power and change the way wars are waged.
Now the US must scramble to catch up before it is too late. Admiral Curtiss gathers the nation’s top scientists, including a promising young graduate student named Eric Hill who just might hold the missing piece to the replication puzzle. Soon Hill and his colleague Jane Hunter are caught up in a deadly game of sabotage as the two nations strive to be the first to reach the coveted goal. But in their headlong race, they create something unexpected, something the world has never seen and something more powerful than they had ever imagined.
My Thoughts
This novel was exciting and terrifying from start to finish. The technology that is explored in this novel doesn’t seem real because you really don’t want it to be but in the back of your mind, you can keep thinking could this be real.
The novel starts with a mysterious disease that is killing thousands of individuals living in Tibet but no one really knows what it is, why it seems to only target these individuals and how the disease came to be. When it becomes clear that this is just not your regular illness, the US military steps in.
What begins to unfold is mind blowing, as the characters enter a high risk race to be the first to develop this new weapon but at what cost? The race to be the first to uncover the secrets to replication is full of betrayal, death and lies, and puts two super giants fighting against each other. Who will discover the technology first? Who can you trust? How do you decide who lives and who dies?
This novel was both terrifying and incredible at the same time – I loved it and could not put it down. The plot is nothing that I could have expected and is well developed, leaving you on the edge of your seat and needing to know what happens next. I was not sure what to expect when I read the book description, but this novel did not disappoint. A definite must read thriller!
Brian Nelson is a former Fulbright Scholar who holds degrees in international relations, economics, and creative writing (fiction). His first book, The Silence and the Scorpion: The Coup against Chávez and the Making of Modern Venezuela, was named one of the Best Books of 2009 by the Economist. His work has appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Christian Science Monitor,and the Southern Humanities Review, among others. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two children.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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