The Cosmetics Entrepreneur Manual: The first complete book about starting a cosmetics business by Davor Pavlic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book will give you the edge you need to launch and grow your own business...

We all know that cosmetics are substances or products used to enhance or alter the appearance or fragrance of the body. We use them every day, and it’s an industry that was estimated to be worth about $265 billion worldwide in 2017.

This book was written for the cosmetics entrepreneur who is only starting out. The author gives all the necessary details of the process, from the initial idea to the end product. Everything is covered from dealing with laboratories, to creating a business plan, marketing and even funding your project. The author gives excellent insights into the things you need to do and also covers some of the hidden costs of doing business in this industry.

The author states that he sometimes refers to the book as a ‘business cookbook’ because he believes that it is more to the point than some of the others as it gives specific instructions and steps to take. While other books are sometimes written with a lot of technical jargon, this book is easy-to-read, down-to-earth and very hands-on.

The Cosmetics Entrepreneur Manual is a practical guide that will help harness your natural gifts and entrepreneurial spirit. Filled with fresh insights and actionable advice, this essential guide will support anyone who’s striving to make a difference in a loud and chaotic business world. It’s a book designed for those new (or early stage) to entrepreneurship or those who have watched from afar and have always wished to join in, but the fear of the unknown has kept them confused and unsure.

If you're tired of depending on others for your success and well-being, The Cosmetics Entrepreneur Manual will give you the edge you need to launch and grow your own business and create your own long-term financial freedom and security.



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Jayden's New Adventures by Ilene Goff Kaufmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“I waited my whole life to go to preschool, and it’s finally here!”

This is a charming and delightful book for the young reader. I read it with my grandkids and they loved not only the story, but also the illustrations. I thought the text and illustrations worked very well together. Jayden's story will take you and your child through the everyday real-life experiences of a four-year-old child.

Author and poet Ilene Goff Kaufmann writes in a wonderful soothing style that guarantees the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely read to share with them.

This endearing but significant story communicates important life lessons and teaches children good behaviors and attitudes. It will encourage children to believe in themselves and inspire them to be responsible, compassionate and respectful.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s obvious that the author really enjoys creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved (three) five stars from us!


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It's Not Easy Being A Little Fart by Ben Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little Fart introduces us to his family!

Authors Ben Jackson and Sam Lawrence write in a wonderful style that guarantees the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a fun read to share with them. I read it with my grandkids and we loved it. I also thought the text and illustrations (by Danko Herrera) worked very well together.

Here are some wise words from Little Fart: “We may all be different, but together we are just one big happy family! It’s important that you love your family equally. Just because someone may be a little noisier or smellier, doesn’t make them a bad person, just different. We don’t always get along together, but in the end we’re family.”

It seems to me that this book has been created with a lot of love and joy and it’s apparent that the authors really enjoy creating such wonderful fun stories. Even though this is book 7 of 7 in the My Little Fart series, we’ll still be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next from Ben and Sam. Five stars from us. Another fun read and well done again!


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Talamk an Eisc: Book One of the Celtic Rings Series by K.D. Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted action-packed adventure...

Author K.D. Carter weaves a well-crafted historical fantasy. The story had every element a good story should have. A solid and captivating plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘One thousand years ago, Norsemen sailed across the Atlantic from the Emerald Isle in search of new lands. They found Talemk an Eisc, rich in timber and farmland. But war with the native population raged for thirty years. Now a fragile truce has been put in place, but forces are seeking to reignite the conflict, and a killer stalks the land. Now four very different people - a Farmer, a Merchant, a Warrior and a Thief - must work together the preserve the peace. But how can they, when no one trusts the other?’

Now, if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. This is my second time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed yet again.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.

Talamk an Eisc: Nordic Landing had me engaged from the first page to the last. It’s a suspenseful and adventurous fantasy based on a historical account of Vikings traveling to Newfoundland. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a spellbinding journey.

It’s one of those books that comes along occasionally that will make you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. For those looking for an interesting, three-dimensional and stimulating read, this would be a great find. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader.

I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from K.D. Carter in the future. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in fantasy, adventure, suspense, and plenty of action with a Nordic flair. It would also make a great selection for book clubs. A well-deserved five stars from me.


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The Invisible Heiress by Kathleen O'Donnell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Author Kathleen O'Donnell weaves a gripping psychological thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of intrigue and suspense in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Preston Blair, a blogger with a dark sense of humor, is committed to a private psychiatric hospital, accused of a shocking crime. Her father Todd’s influence as a D.A. has kept her from prison, but her sanity remains on a knife-edge.

Preston’s therapist, Isabel, is too preoccupied working her latest con on a rich, married, sadomasochistic secret lover, to care about Preston’s problems, even when Preston tells her that her socialite mother, Harrison Blair, had committed an unthinkable crime herself years before—one that might help explain Preston’s own misdeeds.

When Preston’s absent husband, Brendan, suddenly turns up and tries to prove her innocence, tragedy strikes. Preston’s convinced her parents were involved, but it turns out to be much more complicated. As Preston delves deeper into the mystery, her head clears and a devastating event that she had long erased from her muddled mind comes rushing back.

Stumbling onto video evidence, which exposes a killer’s greed and lust for power, Preston finds her own life is in danger from a surprising and once trusted source. She discovers that the truth hurts. It just might be the death of her…’

Now, if that’s not enough to get your curiosity juices flowing, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class psychological thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it!

The Invisible Heiress had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.

It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Kathleen O'Donnell in the future. I would absolutely recommend this book to all fans of the mystery, thriller and suspense genre. Five stars from me.

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Incursion by Lauren L. Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catalyst Moon: Incursion (The Catalyst Moon Saga Book 1) is a well crafted Science Fiction & Fantasy novel. And I would imagine that fans of this genre will love sinking their teeth into this one! This is my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.

The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well illustrated scenes that really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that's something I really look for in a good book.

This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are twists and turns in this page turner that will take the reader on a gripping journey!

It’s one of those stories that come along once in awhile that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!

I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Lauren L. Garcia in the future! I would definitely recommend this book! Five stars from me.


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The 231 Club: My Ten Year Journey From Therapist to CIA Courier and Sanctioned Kills - A True Story by J. Bartell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The 231 Club is well written and I certainly appreciated the author’s voice and the casual style. It also made me think what I would have done if I were in his shoes. Take the safe road and stay in my day job of therapist or take the one going left to the big unknown with plenty of risks along the way?

Fortunately I was in my armchair enjoying the dilemma. All in all, the book is very interesting, both in the author’s background as well as in the various stories he tells of life in the fast lane. The author’s adventures make for very good reading especially when you know they are true tales of CIA exploits. What may have started as high level thinking about the jobs that needed to be done in South America or Latin America during this time period was soon relegated to the people who actually had to carry them out and they often did so with very little resources or help from the upper level “suits”.

This was a very interesting read and I would highly recommend it.


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