Never, Ever Get Married

Never, Ever Get Married by Tony Moraffah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read for those who are thinking about tying the knot...

Every person who is in a relationship has the ultimate goal of one day having a happy marriage. The moment the couple decides to get married and continues down the path of preparing for their wedding, they can't help but develop their own idealized version of what a successful marriage will be like in their heads. Regrettably, for some people it will never be more than a fantasy. They frequently find that the reality is far different from what they had envisioned would be their "happily ever after." Even if they put in their absolute best effort, they could still end up in a relationship that is doomed to fail. Then there are the couples that manage to make their romance work and go on to have a life together that is filled with nothing but joy throughout its entirety. Never, Ever Get Married by Tony Moraffah is a witty, insightful, and practical handbook for those who are thinking about tying the knot or are currently married but want to improve their relationship. Highly recommended.


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Inheriting Silence - A Holocaust Memoir

Inheriting Silence - A Holocaust Memoir by Zahava Kornberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An emotional, and utterly compelling read...

The Holocaust is always a difficult subject to read about, especially in a way that is meaningful beyond the subjects' inherent weight, insomuch that it doesn't rely solely on the tragic nature of the Holocaust to bring it resonance. “Inheriting Silence” by Zahava Kornberg manages to bring a fascinating story, in its own merits, and interweaves it with skill.

The story revolves around Zahava, born in a German displaced person camp (DP camp) after World War II. She had very little knowledge of her parents' lives before she was born, including her father's upbringing in Chortkiv, Poland. Her father had left her with a lot of unanswered questions after he died… Then, as her phone rang one day, a seemingly innocuous question at first turns out to be the catalyst for a significant turning point in her life. Years after her father's death, Zahava sets out on a journey to retrace his pre-Holocaust diaries and finds out more about her father's past than she ever imagined possible; enough to change the way she thinks about his life, the war, and the relationship he had with his family, both the one he started with her mother and the one he left behind…

It's impossible to read this utterly compelling memoir and not absorb the powerful drama and emotion that unfolds within its pages. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Playing Dirty: Operation Trouser Snake

Playing Dirty: Operation Trouser Snake by Andrew R. Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A political thriller not afraid of politics...

In summarizing the synopsis, we find the main protagonist, Michael Ventiquatro, the flamboyant leader of the S & B Progressive Party, who wants to take over the UK Parliament. He is affluent and funded by his own multinational company Slash & Byrne Enterprises. Power-hungry, he distributes the Superdrug Ambronootrop which was banned in the US due to its negative side effects. He persuades his followers to take the drug and support the political party to achieve ‘fulfillment.’ Party followers who become ‘Superiors’ are fulfilled - as opposed to being just Homo Sapiens…

With the Media and police avoiding conflict, party thugs terrorize the UK. One of Ventiquatro’s top lieutenants is ordered to plan a series of covert strikes on democracy itself to win the next general election. Along with a nerve gas attack killing numerous members of parliament, "honey traps" set to damage surviving MPs and blackmail to undermine what’s left of his challengers… Who will prevail in the end?

Taut, gripping, and intelligent, Playing Dirty works very well as intended - a political thriller. Looking at the premise and plot, the story moved well. The book is very effective at both a macro and micro level; the national politics and personal emotional drama carry the same amount of narrative weight. The book works best at pulling the reader along for the ride and spinning a yarn so involving that it makes you want to read it from start to finish in one sitting.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.


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Storms: The way of the mariner

Storms: The way of the mariner by Tom Schofield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An educational and inspiring nautical adventure...

Storms: The way of the mariner by Tom Schofield and Ruth Finnegan is an educational and inspiring sea adventure. It’s a captivating and absorbing read about Tom’s experiences as a sea captain and Ruth’s experiences onboard a cruise ship in a storm.

Set sail on a thrilling journey and discover a treasure trove of sailing stories from powerful storms to beautiful islands. With illustrations and photographs throughout, armchair adventurers, experienced sailors, and anyone with a zest for life will enjoy this trip. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Lost in Time by John Taylor

Lost in Time by John M. Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted historical fantasy mystery thriller...

After a successful business career that took him all over the world, English-born author John Taylor, now calls Perth, Australia home. His early writing career consisted of writing technical and training manuals, but he eventually found that more creative writing gave him greater satisfaction. He was also a frequent guest on the radio and wrote a column for a local newspaper every week. His first book, "Raising Fen Tigers," takes a humorous look at his experience growing up in a Fenland village. His first novel, "I Will Find You," of which I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing, is being adapted for the Silver Screen! "Lost in Time," is his latest novel.

"Lost in Time," is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are so expertly woven in this historical mystery thriller that it guarantees the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed and set against the backdrop of the Fenlands, in eastern England at the beginning of the Great War, this mystery thriller will have you turning the pages from beginning to end.

In summarizing the synopsis we find the main protagonist, Tom, a well-known horseman working Clydesdales horses on a farm near Ely, in the Fens of East Anglia at the beginning of World War I. During the process of draining the marshes to uncover rich farmland, relics from the area's long-ago history began to surface. From the edge of Tom's plow emerges a curious vessel from the middle ages. Not long after the discovery, children start going missing, and the villagers quickly become fearful. What is the relationship between the missing children, the Knights Templar, and the treasure that was lost during the reign of King John? This unconventional, and at times humorous, suspenseful thriller takes place in a Fenland town in the early 1900s and recounts an unanticipated chain of events…

"Lost in Time" had every element a good story should have. An interesting plot, with 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.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Auschwitz Prisoner 31119: The Shocking True Story of a World War II Holocaust Survivor

Auschwitz Prisoner 31119: The Shocking True Story of a World War II Holocaust Survivor by Yitzchak Borowsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A heartrending and powerful read...

Yitzchak Borowsky is an attorney and a litigator who has worked in the private sector for over 46 years. Prior to that, he was a senior assistant to the district attorney in Tel Aviv. Because he was the son of a Holocaust survivor, he was obligated to take care of his mother's post-traumatic stress, which had worsened significantly since the death of her husband in 1978. Together with his brother Emmanuel, he devoted every ounce of his energy to the battle for justice on behalf of all Holocaust survivors, pitting themselves against the bureaucratic hurdles and intolerance of both German and Israeli authorities.

His book, "Auschwitz Prisoner 31119," was written in honor of his mother Bluma Plaskovsky (1925-2016). In it, he discusses the legal hurdles he faced as well as his mother's mental struggles during her time in Auschwitz. It is a moving account of their mother's life both during and after the Holocaust, as well as the repercussions and effects that the Holocaust had on the rest of the family.

A shocking story of survival together with a quest for justice not only for his mother, but for all survivors and their families who were, and still are, touched by the trauma of the holocaust makes this book a heartrending and powerful read. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Sharing the Promised Land: In Pursuit of Equality Between Jewish and Arab Citizens in Israel

Sharing the Promised Land: In Pursuit of Equality Between Jewish and Arab Citizens in Israel by Shuli Dichter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An essential book for advancing Jewish-Arab equality in Israel...

Shalom (Shuli) Dichter is an Israeli educator and social entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and co-director of the "NISAN" center for research on shared society at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. He was a consultant to the Israeli Minister of Minority Affairs during 2009-2010. His articles and professional commentaries on Jewish-Arab relations in Israel have been published by leading Israeli papers, including Haaretz, Maariv, as well as The Jewish Week.

Sharing the Promised Land is skillfully crafted as a travelogue that seamlessly merges the autobiographical, the social, and the political. It makes crystal clear how a disquieting number of Israeli Arabs are disaffected and alienated in their own country. With justifiable concerns and grievances, this book may bridge the gap and ultimately enable them to take their rightful place in Israeli society.

Shalom (Shuli) Dichter is a fascinating and interesting man. Whether or not the Israeli/Arab conflict interests you, his work for peace and equality will serve as an inspiration to all those who read this bio. Essential reading that comes highly recommended and gets a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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