Coin for a Dream: And Other Korean Tales

Coin for a Dream: And Other Korean Tales by Mae Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful Korean folktale collection...

Mae Adams' latest novel, "Coin for a Dream: And Other Korean Tales," is filled with monks, shamans, kings, queens, ginseng boys, grateful ghosts, magpies, and many more colorful characters that will thrill readers and provide insight into the old rites and traditions of Korea. While reading it, one can do everything from hear lepers singing for their food to touching the hand of a Taoist immortal god.

Adams, writing as a young girl who has heard stories and folktales from her grandparents and from her own experiences, captivates the reader with conversational tales full of surprising twists and turns, drawing lessons from myths and legends that are as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

This book goes well with "Precious Silver Chopsticks" and "The Letters," both of which were written by Mae Adams. People who are interested in family, Korean culture, and history will enjoy reading this book. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Sky Curse: The Chosen Five

Sky Curse: The Chosen Five by Janet Kravetz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A glimpse into a terrifying future society...

Sky Curse: The Chosen Five by Janet Kravetz combines the sorrow of a deteriorating world while making the reader consider a future that may be theirs if they do not take care of our home – planet earth. She writes on compelling issues and weaves a story that will make the reader consider how their activities influence the environment.

In summarizing the synopsis we follow an artificial dream programmer named Cecilia Miller (who lives in the year 2045) as our protagonist. Humanity's mental health has reached crisis levels as climate disasters have become the new normal. The staggering number of twenty-five billion people now inhabiting Earth is straining the planet's resources to the breaking point. The vast majority have plans to colonize a new planet and abandon Earth to its doom. In spite of this, there are many people who hold on to hope for the future of Earth and humanity. Humanity is fighting for its own survival, and it looks that only technology can help, and Cecilia is determined to be the one to bring about this change. When faced with catastrophic circumstances, she must muster all her might and determination if she is to have any hope of saving the world…

Sky Curse: The Chosen Five is an excellent example of the dystopian subgenre of science fiction. It provides the reader with a glimpse into a terrifying future society that has neglected the earth we live on and is now suffering the adverse effects of its actions. An exceptional work that will provoke profound reflection among readers of all ages, particularly young adults and older individuals. Highly recommended, and a well-deserved five stars from me. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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Man Na: A Daily Guide to Becoming the Salt God Intended by John J. Murray Jr

Man Na: A Daily Guide to Becoming the Salt God Intended by John J. Murray Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Helping you get more out of your daily Christian devotional...

The practice of daily Christian devotions with God is necessary for the development of one's spiritual life and the preservation of a personal relationship with Christ. "Man Na: A Daily Guide to Becoming the Salt God Intended" by John J. Murray Jr. provides some tips for cultivating a meaningful quiet time with God, which can help you get more out of your daily Christian devotional time spent with him. The reader is given food for thought via the inclusion of a verse from the Bible once every week, together with daily comments on how the scripture should be interpreted and put into practice, and questions that are thought-provoking and based on the story. Recommended.


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Taming Fear in the Age of Covid

Taming Fear in the Age of Covid by Winfried Sedhoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Practical advice for dealing with stress and finding inner calm...

Fear is a common emotion in today's world, and it's not hard to understand why. The beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic led levels of fear to skyrocket, which in turn sent levels of worldwide anxiety and stress to all-time highs.

Dr. Winfried Sedhoff’s “Taming Fear in the Age of Covid” demonstrates how you can conquer your anxiety and regain control of your life. Dr. Sedhoff has himself overcome significant personal obstacles, and now he wants to pass on his knowledge in the hopes that it may aid others in overcoming adversity.

How to prevent anxieties from taking root, how to tap into the hidden fear-taming properties of nature, and much more are just some of the topics covered in this in-depth guide to conquering your worst fears once and for all. Practical advice for dealing with stress and finding inner calm is the common thread throughout this excellent book.

I would strongly suggest this book to anybody who is interested in having an experience that is really uplifting, inspiring, and influential on them individually. The insights you get from reading this book are both very personal and have the potential to have a significant influence on both your way of thinking and your daily life.

Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Luminary Leadership: How Top Entrepreneurs Lead in Business and in Life

Luminary Leadership: How Top Entrepreneurs Lead in Business and in Life by Alinka Rutkowska
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How the best entrepreneurs run their businesses and their lives...

"Luminary Leadership" is a practical step-by-step guide to identifying and perfecting your own distinctive leadership qualities. It does this by combining the knowledge of a group of authors who have spent decades either providing such leadership or studying it and teaching others how they can use it to improve their ability to lead. Luminary Leadership was written by people who have spent decades either providing such leadership or studying it. They achieve this by contributing to this anthology, which creates a rich tapestry of personal narratives, business acumen, and wisdom that has been earned through arduous experience. A recommended resource for both aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs.


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Fluffy's Christmas Gift

Fluffy's Christmas Gift by Charles W. Page
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A unique and inspirational Christmas story!

Fluffy's Christmas Gift by Charles W. Page MD is a cleverly crafted story that’s masterfully told through the eyes of a tree decoration! It plugs right into the Christmas season but also looks at issues like seeing opportunities in life's obstacles, how setbacks can work out for a higher purpose, putting criticism, conflict, and bullies in perspective, and having courage when facing difficulties. I’ve no doubt that Fluffy's Christmas Gift will vault itself into full Christmas Classic status. An inspirational read that comes highly recommended and gets a well-deserved five stars from me. Special mention also to Kara Bazley for the excellent illustrations.


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The Chameleon: A Jake Palmer Novel

The Chameleon: A Jake Palmer Novel by Ron McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had me turning the pages from beginning to end...

The Chameleon by Ron McManus is a superbly written terrorist thriller with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are so expertly woven in this action-packed and suspenseful novel that it had me hooked from the opening chapter.

In summarizing the synopsis we find Jake Palmer, investigative consultant, and former US Navy SEAL has signed on as a contractor with a top-secret US Joint Special Operations Command team in Islamabad, Pakistan. Palmer and his JSOC partner work to uncover a suspected mole and gather intelligence regarding the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapon arsenal. Fears regarding the security of the weapons escalate when Pakistan decides to deploy its arsenal and rumors surface that a shadowy figure, the Chameleon, will divert a nuclear warhead during the deployment…

The plot, the way the characters were developed, and the dialogue all entertained me. The fact that there were several twists and turns in the plot that I did not see coming contributed to the air of suspenseful mystery that surrounded the novel. The Chameleon is a rich tapestry of suspense, action, and drama that held my attention from the beginning to the very last page. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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