How 2 How: Design Methodology 4 Designers [Color Edition]

How 2 How: Design Methodology 4 Designers [Color Edition] by Erez Bahar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-have for anybody interested in design...

The way in which a design interacts with people is the single most significant aspect of it. "Design is the fundamental soul of a human-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service." - Steve Jobs

There are many different approaches to design processes that may be used to accomplish various goals. This key design methodology book, How 2 How: Design Methodology 4 Designers by multi-award-winning designer Erez Bahar, offers a brand-new idea of design engineering by merging design thinking with design making. The How2How approach walks readers through each step of the design process, from the abstract to a concept, and eventually to a solution that is tailored to the specific needs of a defined audience in any design sector or application for a specific purpose.

The book is the result of combining the author's 15 years of academic teaching, workshopping, and syllabus development with 25 years of expertise in the field of communication design. The approach was tested and refined at the HiT Design Faculty's Visual Communication Department, where it was proved to increase not just the level of performance achieved by students but also by industry projects and OEM workshops.

This book is a must-have for anybody interested in design. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Your Safe Retirement Roadmap: A powerful guide to planning and living a deeply-fulfilled and prosperous retirement

Your Safe Retirement Roadmap: A Powerful Guide to Planning and Living A Deeply-Fulfilled and Prosperous Retirement by Frank Gutta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Strategies for a Secure Retirement – a must-read!

The term "retirement" makes the transition into the next chapter of one's life seem like it would be a piece of cake; nevertheless, this is not the case. And to tell you the truth, not everyone finds it to be that simple. You will finally have the opportunity to accomplish everything you've ever dreamt of doing, such as traveling, visiting relatives, volunteering, remodeling your house, relocating to the country, or writing the book you've always wanted to write. However, there is a nagging sense of uncertainty as the retirement age approaches. Can I spend that much money on these things? Can I afford to take my golden years? Will I have enough money to get by?

Author Frank Gutta, CPA, PFS, has been in public practice for over 35 years as a certified public accountant and a personal finance expert. Before that, he worked for a large national CPA firm. For him, nothing is more important than ensuring that retirees don't have to worry about outliving their savings or taking excessive stock market risks. In the book, he offers a solution based on a "4-bucket system" to this problem. This methodology not only teaches you how to secure a lifetime income but also how to hedge against stock market volatility and come up with novel solutions to the cost of long-term care. This method also tackles the issue of how to minimize the tax burden of passing wealth to future generations.

When you are getting close to retirement, you begin to realize how valuable each year really is. Every year, every month, and every day flies past, and if you don't gain the clarity and the confidence to start living this way right now, another decade will slip by, just like the last decade did. Consequently, make retirement planning a priority right now. Create a plan for your life that will get you where you want to go. Think about where you want to live, the kind of people you want to be around, the kinds of things you want to do, the kinds of services you want to provide, and the kind of health you want to have. You have many years ahead of you to plan and experience something really remarkable. Your Safe Retirement Roadmap by Frank Gutta is a quick, clear, and concise read that will help you on that journey. Very highly recommended (especially for young people) and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Silent Victims (Crescent Falls Book 5)

A dead hooker, a missing minister, a skeleton unearthed in the mayor’s backyard, and an attack on the town librarian... once again Crescent Falls is besieged by murder and mayhem.

It’s July Fourth and the citizens of Crescent Falls are ready to celebrate the occasion. The public park has been transformed into festival central with food tents sponsored by local churches, music provided by the high school band, and a carnival midway with games and a dunking machine.

Amateur sleuth Adelaide McBride and her fiancé Vernon Dexter are ready to work a shift at the ice cream tent, sponsored by their church. The newly formed Crescent Falls Auxiliary Police Force, made up of volunteers, will be keeping the peace. But when a murder victim is found in the woods adjacent to the park, the celebration comes to an abrupt halt.

Chief of Police Daniel McBride already has a missing person’s case on his hands. Reverend James Preston mysteriously disappeared a week ago and all efforts to find him have failed. Now, Daniel is faced with the brutal murder of a woman he recognizes as Felitia Mason, an out-of-town escort.

To make matters worse, days later a skeleton is unearthed in the mayor’s back yard and the town librarian is attacked in the same manner as the escort.

As Daniel tries to unravel both twisted cases and find justice for the victims, he has no idea the price some of those involved will have to pay.

The Silent Victims (Crescent Falls Book 5) by Carol A. Guy #Romantic Suspense #Contemporary Romance

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Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3hY8c5F

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The Hidden Lives of Taxi Drivers by Ruth H Finnegan

The Hidden Lives of Taxi Drivers: A question of knowledge by Ruth H Finnegan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Discovering the little-known world of taxi drivers...

What seems like a normal day for a taxi driver may be a very different experience for passengers. They spend their days (and nights) working and moving throughout the city, and they can transport you just about everywhere you want to go. But we seldom stop to consider how or why they can perform so well in any given situation. Character profiles of individuals who, like the taxi driver, may seem invisible to us but whose lives are fascinating and full of difficulties, aspirations, and goals much like our own are presented in this book with the author's characteristic blend of warmth and expertise.

By all accounts, Ruth H. Finnegan's The Hidden Lives of Taxi Drivers is an intriguing look into the lives of cabbies. This in-depth analysis covers the whole spectrum of transportation, from the first cabs to the advent of Uber. This amusing look into the life and customs of taxi drivers provides an insider's perspective via the use of photographs, anecdotes, and illustrations. This intriguing book is a must-read and won't disappoint. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Out of the Shadows (Nick Seven Book 8)

Out of the Shadows by Tim Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A plot seasoned with a healthy helping of both mystery and intrigue...

Out of the Shadows, the eighth installment in the Nick Seven series by award-winning and best-selling author Tim Smith is another well-crafted murder mystery with intriguing twists and turns. The author spins a whodunit that is riveting, moves at a fast pace, and is very vivid and convincing in its narrative. Furthermore, the characters are portrayed with a high level of believability and conviction. It's a page-turning mystery thriller that had me hooked from the very beginning to the very last page.

In summarizing the synopsis we discover Nick Seven who has built for himself a life far apart from the intrigue that once characterized his time in the CIA amid the relaxed calm of the Florida Keys. He maintains a low profile while managing his trendy club on the Gulf Coast and spending time with Felicia his Barbadian lover and former co-worker… However, he’s now thrown into an investigation after seeing a woman being murdered at a resort, but there is no body and no proof of a crime. He must conduct an investigation himself since the police are preoccupied with a spate of high-profile house burglaries and lack the time to search for his imaginary victim… Entwined in this murder mystery is Marco St. Julian, a French con artist, who abruptly reappears from Nick's past, a convicted financial scammer's affluent young trophy wife, an ambitious FBI agent, a shadowy Cuban thief, and an ex-pat Irish gunrunner… ‘How can a couple of former spies enjoy life in their personal corner of paradise, when things from the past keep coming back to haunt them?’

"Out of the Shadows" offered stunningly realistic descriptions of the settings, the scenarios, and the characters, and it was seasoned with a healthy helping of both mystery and intrigue. The author's use of natural dialogue contributed much more genuineness to the story's mood and overall atmosphere. Thoroughly enjoyed this installment and highly recommend it. It gets a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Future Warning: Magic’s awakening - A story of family, mystery and magic (CrystalVerse Book 1)

Future Warning: Magic’s awakening - A story of family, mystery and magic by D.M. Emrys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An entertaining action and adventure sci-fi mystery...

Science fiction is a genre that has been embraced by young fans for many years. The best sci-fi books for young people can feature intergalactic adventures or more earthbound stories that teach valuable life lessons.

D.M. Emrys, a talented new author, makes a stunning debut with the first volume of his CrystalVerse series, FUTURE WARNING: MAGIC'S AWAKENING, a tale that is both superbly written and age-appropriate for its target audience.

In summarizing the synopsis we discover that the lives of three people will be irrevocably altered as a direct result of the discovery of a shattered piece of crystal by two researchers. Will the group be successful in completing the tasks given to them by the unknown figure? What kinds of things will they find as they travel? When you can't even trust yourself, who can you trust to be your ally or your adversary? A tale of magic, family, and the unknown that unfolds as the impending conflict that was foretold draws closer…

Future Warning: Magic’s awakening - A story of family, mystery, and magic (CrystalVerse Book 1) had every element a good story should have. An interesting and captivating plot, with attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. Because the writing style makes extensive use of imagery, younger readers will have the impression that they are immersed in the action of the novel. This is something I’m sure readers can look forward to experiencing throughout the course of the series. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A masterclass in storytelling...

Cruel Summer by award-winning Croatian born author Bernard Jan is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this Y/A dystopian tale that will guarantee the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed, this gripping and emotional drama had me turning the pages from beginning to end.

The plot is intricately sculpted as the synopsis suggests: ‘All he wants to do is skate. But they have other plans for him. Michael Daniels is seventeen and dreams to enter professional skateboarding contests. But beneath New Manhattan, a city under the oppressive shadow of climate change, exists another world altogether—secret laboratories which threaten society as he knows it… Those with power will get what they want. No price is too high, even if it means making someone special or robbing them of their dignity, freedom . . . or life. The price is too high for Michael, though. He has endured his stepfather’s abuse and mind games for almost as long as he remembers. Until one day he takes matters into his own hands, ruining the lives of those he loves most. And his skateboarding friends, Alien and Victor, are his only hope for freedom… When there is no hope left, friendship is what remains.’

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 multi-layered dystopian fiction with perfect pacing.

The beauty of this book is in the potency of the characters and the author’s command of the language. The originality of the story lies in the effectiveness of the characters and the author’s microscopic viewpoint of the human condition. The most outstanding features of the book are the impressively realistic characters in the story and the author’s eloquence and mastery with the use of the English language. The story is layered enough that there’s no one marketing umbrella formula that can lump it together other than original, creative and thought provoking. It entertains but grabs you and doesn’t let go until it threads into your mind and makes you think.

Cruel Summer 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 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 was impressed with the insight and empathy of the writer into the spirits of his characters. Any aspiring fiction writer will learn a lot about character development by reading Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan. Highly recommended.

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