Required Reading

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Books I have authored.

Many times I receive books for FREE to give them an honest review. I do not get paid to give a good or bad review. Spotlights are promotional and should be regarded as advertising for the book spotlighted. Regardless of where or how I got a book, my review will be as honest as I can make it.

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Killer Lawyer by Mark Nolan


Jake and Cody are back.  Once again they are fighting crime and Jake is being a smartass.  Cody, the better-looking of the two, shows the common sense his human handler seems to lack.   A serial killer is the main focus of this plot with terrorists and law enforcement often working to take Jake down.

Nolan clearly shows the conflict that occurs in a relationship where exposure to danger may overflow to the non-combatants of the relationship.  Sarah, Jake’s love, not surprisingly is questioning whether she can keep seeing Jake when he is constantly putting his life on the line for others.  That is, no doubt, a fear that many couples have to face when one or both are any type of first responder.  

Nolan spotlights camaraderie, loyalty, and courage.  Honor is a big part of Jake’s world. 

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. 


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned



Monday, July 25, 2022

Easy Street by J. Gregory Smith




I am a J. Gregory Smith fan. I’ve been reading his stuff for years and like many fine wines improves with age, so does his writing.   I could not put this down.  I supposed part of it is the locale which is familiar.  The bulk of it is the constant state of tension wondering what is going to happen next.  My only criticism would be to add a brief back story at the beginning of the book for those who might not be such die-hard fans as myself.  Don’t get me wrong, this stands alone just fine, but I am aware I’ve read everything Smith has written so I had no need to catch up.

Kyle is the unlikely leader of a favor bound gang.  Kyle is a unique kind of loan shark with a heart of gold.  He is surrounded by people whose life has been altered by Kyle’s good deeds.   His loose knit band of peers finds itself in the no-man’s land between two warring gangs.  Forced to pick the lesser of two evils, Kyle’s crew fights back.

Smith has crafted a character whose personal sense of honor and justice draw him into the seedier side of Philadelphia.  Kyle and his crew mesh well and tend to the oddish side of the street. The don’t need to think outside of the box as they are blithely unaware that there is a box. 

I heartily enjoy this series and look forward to book four.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Daddy is Gone, Dealing with the death of a parent By Wililam G Bentrim

DADDY IS GONE 

DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF A PARENT

Available in paperback or Kindle versions:  Buy Here

Daddy is Gone is a reaction to the death of a close friend of mine years ago. It is merely that, a reaction, it does not in any way describe the impact of his death. It does however include feelings that accompanied that experience. Having had classes on death and dying when earning my master's degree really didn't prepare me for someone close dying. The demise of the aged is sad but expected. The blind side experience of the death of a peer is just that a blind side experience. Imagine how much worse that is for the emotionally volatile young who have no life experience to prepare them for the ultimate insult, death of a loved one. This book is certainly not a panacea for grief, it merely tries to explain to a child that life will continue, much differently, but it will continue, and it is so important to persevere.

ISBN-10: 1536945099

ISBN-13: 978-1536945096 ASIN:B01LZ0HHLB


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Shadows Reel by C.J. Box













Joe Pickett once again finds himself embroiled in far more than game warden activities.   This tale has Nazi war criminals, gruesome murders, the theft of birds, Antifa, BLM, and current events.

Box addresses the issues of the day from his personal perspective.

Nate is along for old testament justice and meets a kindred soul in Geronimo Jones.

Plenty of action and some social commentary.  I enjoyed and recommend the book.   


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Emergency Locator Device, The Locator911 Bulb


This is not a paid post and I have no financial interest in the product.  I am aware it had nothing to do with books but I feel it is a very important product which may save lives.

I live in a great community but the homes are nearly identical in appearance.  I’ve had service technicians drive by my home in the daylight and then drive by again.   If we ever need a first responder to find our home, I do NOT want to depend on faulty GPS data.  One of my neighbors found this product and I am delighted to have it.   In a very insecure world, I feel a little more secure.  

This product is simply a lightbulb.  It will strobe red, white, and blue when you call 911.  This makes it easy for first responders to find your home.   At $39.00 it is the least expensive peace of mind I’ve found. 

This link takes you to the company’s website to purchase.   I reiterate I have no financial incentive to recommend this product.

Here are a few tips on the bulb installation.
If you have an Android phone you may have issues connecting.
My phone would not connect but my wife's phone did. After connecting the software on my phone saw the bulb. Their website has a menu bar at the top with support, contacts, etc. On three out of four of my computers, there was no menu bar. If you need help and don't see the menu bar, try another computer.

Finally, if it sounds too complex for your taste, the company president told me in three weeks to a month they will be releasing a new bulb called the Freedom Bulb which will not use phones or wifi. It will come with a remote and installation will have no software.

I've got the bulb installed and I hope to never need it.

Friday, July 15, 2022

The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child



This is a Pendergast novel.  I would recommend reading The Dance of Death prior to reading this book.  It read okay as a stand alone but I would prefer to know how things led to the strange circumstances in this book.

Constance, the geriatric but not really ward, is drawn into Pedergast’s brothers plans of revenge.   Diogenes, Pendergast’s brother, is continuing to plague his brother.  We finally learn why Diogenes hates his brother.  

There is a wealth of weird doings and crazy action in this book.  I enjoyed it. 


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Daddy Goes On A Trip by William G. Bentrim

Buy at Amazon  also available on Kindle
“Daddy Goes On A Trip” addresses pre-school children and their concerns about parents who travel or are militarily deployed.  Children today are often exposed to things that their parents never had to face.   Military deployment was practically unknown for a generation.  Two income families have become the norm.  Kids are often confused and even frightened as to why Daddy or Mommy has to travel.   Taking the time to clearly explain can make a world of difference for the child’s emotional and mental stability.  Addressing fear and helping children realize they are not the only ones experiencing the disruption of travel and deployment is the goals of the book.  

Once again a book was motivated by things I saw around me.   A 3 year old climbing into the suitcase her traveling father was packing and telling him she was ready to go, literally brought tears to my eyes.  She just couldn’t understand why Daddy wasn’t home all of the time.    You have to be made of stone if you don’t well up watching military parents being welcomed home from deployment by their children.   Many of those kids have difficulty understanding where or why their parents are gone.   I don’t expect this book to be any kind of panacea; I only hope that it provides some of these children some understanding of the world around them.  

You can order this book from 
Amazon or practically any book store.
ISBN-10: 1449539734
ISBN-13: 978-1449539733

ASIN: B00GPUXVOQ

Reviews:5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a book to help children with military deployment!, December 18, 2009  By Heather R. Thomas "Elementary Counselor" (Burton, MI United States)


I have looked high and low for a book to use with my students that discusses military deployment. Unfortunately, many children are being put in a situation which they have no control. Daddy Goes On a Trip provides empathy for the children along with practical advice on how they can deal with their feelings.

 The book is written in a concise way that provides what I term "talking points." That is, either the book can be read straight through or just a few pages at a time and then encourage the child to respond to what was read. I am glad that I now have this resource on my shelf!

5.0 out of 5 stars An important topic and an important read, October 28, 2009 By drpret "Preetham" (White Plains, NY United States)

Rebecca is a young bear who misses her father and has to cope with his absence. It is very hard for her to understand why it is so. As a child psychiatrist, I often see how difficult it can be for any young child to separate from a parent for any amount of time, be it a few days to a few months. Given that there are so many troops out of their homes in service who are also parents I think that this book is a must read for them and their children. It gently touches upon this sensitive issue using soothing and comforting illustrations. This book can help ease the idea of being away for a long time to a child with the idea that there are others who will be present until the parent comes back. This is a great book for reading groups or therapy groups that deal with parents being away in the school setting or any other setting. He also has included resources and tips at the end of the book which is a great plus point.   Preetham Grandhi MD Author of "A Circle of Souls"

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and Helpful Children's Book, October 25, 2009 By tmtrvlr (US)
Daddy Goes on a Trip is a wonderful new book by William G. Bentrim that deals with parent/child separation. I am so impressed with Mr. Bentrim's books because he writes children's books of genuine value to help both the parent and child deal with difficult situations. This one helps young children whose parents must travel, including travel for military deployment. The book is beautifully illustrated with kind bear characters. Included in the book is a section for parents with other resources to help children deal with separation. This book would be perfect for preschools, a gift book, or for our own children and grandchildren. William G Bentrim is a former teacher and guidance counselor, but he is also a grandpa, and that is what shines through in his books.

5.0 out of 5 stars A heart warming story!, January 4, 2010
By lisa roman (Florida)
I read this book to my daughter and it instantly became one of her favorite books.

The story "Daddy goes on a trip" was so simple and pure that a child can easily follow along.

This is a must have book! A+++++++++

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

A BIG SCARE TURNS OUT TINY by William G. Bentrim


A BIG SCARE TURNS OUT TINY 

Volume One of The Adventures of Hardy Belch Paperback Version. 

ALSO AVAILABLE IN KINDLE VERSION Only $8.99 at Amazon

A Big Scare Turns Out Tiny Tiny, the 240 pound telepathic dog, is Hardy Belch’s best friend. Tiny did actually start out as a tiny puppy sired by a heroic guard dog. This story explains how Tiny was born and what made him so unusual. This is Volume 1 in the paperback series the revised Adventures of Hardy Belch and Tiny.

· ISBN-10: 1494476355

· ISBN-13: 978-1494476359

· ASIN: B009NU3JCO

REVIEWS: A Big Scare Turns Out Tiny 

 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it, November 10, 2012 By Booklover I loved this story about a dog saving a human life. Anyone who loves dogs will enjoy this story, which is intended for children, but parents and adults will also most likely have a good time reading it. 

4.0 out of 5 stars Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns Grow, October 24, 2012 By Jeffery Edwards (San Diego, CA United States) Gracie is a 170 pound Tibetan Mastiff, assigned to guard a nuclear power plant. She's good at her job, and she enjoys being a guard dog, particularly on those special days when she gets canned dog food, instead of dry. After a coolant pipe explosion leaves a man trapped in a contaminated zone, it's up to Gracie to get in there and drag him to safety. Gracie comes out a hero, but exposure to radiation has a startling effect on one of her puppies. The runt of the litter, Tiny, starts out so small and sickly that Gracie doesn't know if he will live. But live he does, and he won't be tiny for very long... 

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Prequel to a Great Series, October 17, 2012 By John R. Monteith "Author of Rogue Defender, l... (Farmington Hills, MI United States)

Okay, I'm an adult screening this for my stepson, but I admit I got hooked on the series. I started with the first Hardy-Tiny story, but I was curious enough about the origins of Tiny, the future 240-pound dog, to read the 'prequel' about Tiny's origins. The prequel delivered and was an entertaining story about Tiny's mom, Gracie, who is a selfless, professional guard dog at a nuclear power plant. She carries the plot forward by looking after the plant, enjoying a company picnic, and then showing her courage and ingenuity in a crisis. Also, she is likable. How can anyone dislike a pregnant guard dog who is so dedicated to her work that she is concerned about maternity leave? This book is an imaginative, fun story that sets up an interesting series. 

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's Get Boys Reading, October 17, 2012 By Ian Walkley "author of NO REMORSE." (Brisbane, Australia) Anything that gets boys reading is worthwhile, and William Bentrim's stories are worthy additions to the stable. This story is a yarn about a brave dog that saves its owner from a radiation leak and has several puppies including Tiny, a dog featured in Hardy Belch's other stories. Addressing important issues of relationships, and linking the friendship of a boy and his dog, are great ways of bringing stories of interest to young readers. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned