Blog Archives
The Secrets of the Shallows
Gloria Barnett’s The Secrets of the Shallows plunges readers into a mesmerizing underwater world brimming with life, adventure, and purpose. Set on the idyllic Caribbean island of Pontus, the story revolves around Lucy, a resourceful and spirited young diver who shares her love of the sea with her close-knit group of friends. Their paradise, however, is threatened when a corporation proposes building hotels to attract tourists. As tensions rise, unscrupulous individuals destroy turtle eggs on the beach to fabricate a narrative of marine life decline, further pushing the project forward. Refusing to stand by as their home and its fragile ecosystem face destruction, Lucy and her friends embark on a mission to protect what they love.
Barnett’s evocative storytelling stands out as one of its most compelling aspects. Vivid descriptions effortlessly transport readers into the underwater realm, capturing the fluid dance of light on water and the rich biodiversity of the ocean. The narrative structure is tight and engrossing, propelling the reader through Lucy’s challenges while celebrating her bond with her friends. Humor, camaraderie, and the power of solidarity infuse the story with warmth and relatability. Barnett’s passion for marine conservation is evident in every word, fostering empathy for sea creatures and a profound respect for nature without ever feeling preachy.
Adding to the book’s charm are supplementary features, including a photo guide to the marine species featured in the story and a detailed illustration of Lucy’s diving equipment. These thoughtful additions enrich the reading experience, making the book not only a compelling narrative but also an educational resource.
The illustrations, while beautifully executed, are relatively sparse. I feel that including them within the chapters could have enhanced the reader’s ability to visualize the marine creatures as they appear. However, their placement at the end provides convenient access for quick reference. Beyond the visuals, the book’s detailed world-building and character development shine. Lucy and her friends aren’t just brave adventurers—they embody teamwork, critical thinking, and proactive problem-solving. Their efforts to engage the mayor and propose peaceful solutions underscore the importance of collaboration and dialogue in tackling real-world challenges.
Gloria Barnett weaves a tale that is both entertaining and inspiring, leaving readers with a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the ocean and the urgency of protecting it. The Secrets of the Shallows is a testament to the power of storytelling to ignite passion, educate, and empower, making it a must-read for nature lovers of all ages.
Pages: 139 | ASIN : B08JKP56TR
Oliver the Oyster and the Lost Lab
Understanding friendship is a crucial lesson for children as it aids in the development of their social skills. An exemplary illustration of this concept can be found in Oliver the Oyster and the Lost Lab, by Jared Auchter. The story opens with Oliver’s playful escapades on the seashore, where he encounters Mac, a Labrador retriever who has lost his way. Mac strayed from home earlier in the day while pursuing a rabbit and found himself disoriented. The story unfolds with Oliver and his companions deciding to assist Mac in locating his family by searching various locations in town. This endeavor leads them on an engaging and enlightening journey.
J.B. Auchter’s narrative masterfully blends entertainment with meaningful lessons for young readers. One particularly appealing aspect of the story is the diverse cast of characters. Oliver’s friends include Cathy the Crab, Miriah the Mermaid, and Clara the Clam. Their ingenuity in covertly exploring the town adds a little bit of intrigue to this children’s narrative. The scenarios they encounter are lighthearted, and their ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances with humor will appeal to young readers.
The story also delves into the lives of Mac’s owners and the townspeople, contributing depth to the storyline. Auchter expertly captures the essence of the settings and characters’ emotions through vivid descriptions. The interactions between Oliver and his friends exemplify values like unity and collaboration, serving as positive examples for young readers. Persistence in the pursuit of goals is a central theme, reinforced by the characters’ unwavering determination. The inclusion of colorful illustrations and actual photos of Wellfleet is a welcome addition, providing an alternative perspective to the narrative.
Oliver the Oyster and the Lost Lab stands as an ideal reading choice for children seeking both an enjoyable story and an exploration of the significance of friendship. J.B. Auchter’s narrative craftsmanship and the valuable life lessons embedded within the tale make it a worthwhile addition to any young reader’s collection.
Pages: 155 | ASIN : B0CG7PTSG9
Milli Mermaid’s PEARL OF WISDOM: An important Discovery
![Milli Mermaid's PEARL OF WISDOM: An important Discovery by [Amelia Gleeson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Hd4vaRtXL._SX260_.jpg)
Milli Mermaid’s Pearl of Wisdom by Amelia Gleeson, is a charming and fun filled children’s story about a young girl, named Milli, who finally gets to be a mermaid. She wakes up in the ocean to find that she is a mermaid. With her seahorse friend Sammie by her side, she is able to explore the ocean and learn a valuable lesson along the way.
Author Amelia Gleeson has written an enchanting kids picture book. The hand drawn art provides a unique touch that I enjoyed and added to the overall charm of the book, but I felt that the mixing of art style made things feel a bit inconsistent. The story follows Milli as she learns to love who she is. This is a valuable lesson to teach young kids and this book makes it easy to approach that topic in a fun and gentle way. This is a great conversation starter for parents and a good topic of discussion for teachers. The book includes simple rhymes that move the story along and keeps the text engaging.
Milli Mermaid’s Pearl of Wisdom is a fascinating kids book with an amazing message. I think children will be able to relate to the hand drawn art, and there is plenty of fish and other interesting things on the page for children to point out, giving this book an interactive element. This is a good book for parents and children to read together.
Pages: 43 | ASIN: B08P4X9Y37
Shipwreck Island
![Shipwreck Island by [McPike, James B.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ca3Aj5%2BkL.jpg)
Shipwreck Island by James B. McPike is an adventure story with mystery and intrigue. Roy Berenger, an expert in salvage operations of shipwrecks, is approached by the great-great-granddaughter of one of the survivors of the wreck of the General Grant, a ship that was carrying a group of miners and the riches they’d unearthed in Australia. But the General Grant drifted off course, crashed into the cliffs on Auckland Island, and sank. Natalie Claiborne needs Berenger’s help to locate the lost ship and it’s treasure. Natalie’s ancestor, Winston Claiborne had kept a diary that described the event and the conditions the survivors endure while stranded on a bleak island, as they waited eighteen months for rescue. The diary also included a crude map of the island with an ‘X’ mark in the middle. Most of the survivors perished, and the shipwreck had never been found. There are tales of the island being cursed. Berenger’s instincts tell him from the start that he shouldn’t get involved with this particular shipwreck, but… he can’t resist the lure of adventure. Lots of treasure hunters have tried to find the ship, and many have died in the search. Can Berenger and Natalie succeed where so many others have failed?
The story begins with a prologue set in 1866 when the ship’s crew faced imminent disaster off the coast of New Zealand, which drew me into the story. People have been searching for the treasure for one hundred and fifty years since then, and I enjoyed reading the section about previous treasure hunters looking for the wreck, starting in 1868 and followed by numerous other expeditions in the intervening years. I liked the inclusion of this history, which gave additional depth to the story.
It was interesting to read about the different technologies used in underwater salvage to locate shipwrecks, but when the equipment malfunctions and a series of other strange occurrences happen on the island the search proves dangerous and deadly. Someone doesn’t want them to find General Grant’s treasure and sabotages their efforts. I felt that some of the villain’s actions were contrary to their motives. The villain wanted to use other people to locate the treasure for their own personal gain, but then tried to kill those people before they had a chance to solve the mystery of the missing ship. I would have used a bit more clarification on the characters motives to really flesh out, what I think are, intriguing characters.
There were a few issues with awkward sentence structure and repetition in this book as the same things were expressed more than once using different phrasing. This distracted from the flow of the story. And I felt that the chapter when Roy goes to dinner upon his arrival in Auckland doesn’t really add anything to the story and could have been eliminated.
I liked that the book included a map that showed the area of the different shipwrecks and their location in relation to each other. This allowed me to better visualize the setting of the story, which I found helpful. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining story that puts compelling characters in perilous situations set in exotic locations.
Pages: 186 | ASIN: B07GRFW8LT
Caution to the Wind
On May 5th, 1994, at 9.30 am on a chilly, sunlit day, Ebony, a 36ft Roberts Spray, left the safety of Lyttelton Harbour in New Zealand, to venture into the unknown, where nothing would be predictable.
The voyage plan was to follow the famous trade wind route, sailing from New Zealand to England.
All too soon, they found themselves battling their way to Sydney, Australia. Caught in a ruthless storm with no contact with the outside world, they were truly alone. All the romantic notions of the ultimate cruising life disappeared into oblivion.
Step aboard Ebony and take an adventure, an epic 15-month voyage. Experience this day-to-day passionate tale, packed with intrigue, and at times suspense. Experience the delights of the lands visited and learn more about the world of international sailing. This was a life-changing adventure, with a dramatic, unexpected, ending.
George’s Pursuit Across the Perilous Ocean
Follow George after he makes the decision to become his own boss running a small boat. Follow him through the tumultuous journey that leads him to eventually hand over reigns of a successful fleet of liners. We get to see the change in his mindset from worker to supervisor and finally, owner. It took strength, wisdom, knowledge and lots of other things. This is the story of a small business growing into a conglomerate, from a toddler to a fully legal human being.
According to research, only about half of the business started will still stand strong in five years time. This is quite sad for a world where entrepreneurship is highly encouraged. This book is meant to decrease this percentage. One will learn to grow their business from a period of feast and famine to a period where the business comfortably stands on its own, where the welfare and life of the business are not threatened by regular/normal business occurrences. Like a windfall of clients for example.
According to Ray Moore, one should not wait until the growth occurs. They should anticipate it. To successfully go through these growth moments, one requires a vision. They must also keep the business in balance. That is time, team, delivery and money. They must all be applied in appropriate proportions. One must set out the stall for growth. Managing the mindset is the final condition.
This is a short book, that means that the information is presented in a compact package. The whole book is presented as a metaphor. This makes the book highly appealing. It is useful even for those who do not like or have the time to read. It is sober advice from an experienced person. It is advice that actually makes a lot of sense. The steps and tips are easy to follow and understand. One thing that readers will definitely appreciate is that the author does not use complicated business words. He shows the reader how to manage a business without confusing them with difficult economic jargon.
The author outlines the common mistakes entrepreneurs make. He shows what happens to the business after the mistakes are made. He then turns around and outlines the proper way to handle such turning points so that fatal mistakes are not made.
This is a fantastic business guide that provides an easy to understand road-map for getting from a small flailing venture to a successful business. Regardless of the goal, it can be achieved by following these simple directions. Five stars out of five for this crash course in entrepreneurship.
Pages: 52 | ISBN: 1721213287
Consumed by the Very Ocean that I Love.
Linda K. Ford Author Interview
Caution to the Wind recounts your thrilling and sometimes perilous journey out on the ocean. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I kept a journal throughout the entire voyage and soon discovered that I had a real love for writing. My cruising life took me on an incredible journey, which strengthened my desire to share this adventure. My passion is to inspire those who are contemplating a similar voyage, and to encourage people to follow their dreams!
You had been through so much while sailing, both physically and emotionally, was there ever a moment that you were not prepared for and made you rethink things?
Being caught in a major storm with no ability to make contact with the outside world, was an intense experience. There was nothing that could have prepared us emotionally or mentally. What was crucial at the time was how to stay alive, in such extreme conditions. There were moments where I questioned my life and the decision that I made to make this voyage. What was paramount for me was the possibility of never seeing my family again. What really stuck in my mind is that if we didn’t survive, no one would know what had happened to us. We could disappear without a trace, consumed by the very ocean that I love.
Looking back on that time, what do you miss the most?
I miss the freedom and the simplicity of life, that cruising offers, which I found to be incredible. It is hard to replace the excitement of navigating to foreign shores, and the diversity of cultures and people, that I met along the way. I have strong memories of amazing sunsets & sunrises, brilliant starlit skies, and an interesting array of sea and bird life.
If you were to take another trip, without limitations, where would you go?
Without limitations, I would buy a yacht in Europe, to cruise around the Mediterranean without a time limit. Venture up through the beautiful canals of France once again, cross the English channel to explore the UK, and eventually head back to Australia. Which route, I am not sure at this point.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter | Website
On May 5th, 1994, at 9.30 am on a chilly, sunlit day, Ebony, a 36ft Roberts Spray, left the safety of Lyttelton Harbour in New Zealand, to venture into the unknown, where nothing would be predictable.
The voyage plan was to follow the famous trade wind route, sailing from New Zealand to England.
All too soon, they found themselves battling their way to Sydney, Australia. Caught in a ruthless storm with no contact with the outside world, they were truly alone. All the romantic notions of the ultimate cruising life disappeared into oblivion.
Step aboard Ebony and take an adventure, an epic 15-month voyage. Experience this day-to-day passionate tale, packed with intrigue, and at times suspense. Experience the delights of the lands visited and learn more about the world of international sailing. This was a life-changing adventure, with a dramatic, unexpected, ending.
LITERARY TITAN 