Blog Archives
FLOTSAM
Flotsam, by Tracy Grogan, is a slow-burn thriller that follows an ex-pat to the Palau Islands named Ricky. Ricky Yamamoto is a divemaster for a local dive shop who enjoys her time underwater far more than life on solid ground. That is until she comes across two bodies during a leisure dive and gets herself tied up in a crime much bigger than originally anticipated.
Readers are introduced to the major plot almost immediately in this work of fiction. This suspenseful novel is richly detailed and builds readers curiosity leading them through the hair-raising adventures of Ricky while building up to an incredibly intense final act.
The story is broken up into specific times and wherever Ricky is currently at in terms of the story. Readers will find this type of story setup helpful in keeping track of the story setting as they try to follow the events of the investigation and Ricky’s personal life. This mystery novel presents facts and information leading the readers down many possible paths, not knowing what information will be useful to solving the mystery of the murders.
Readers who enjoy the thriller or mystery genre will be kept on their toes in this intriguing novel. This is an engaging story that readers will enjoy following just as much as they enjoy solving the mystery at the heart of the novel.
Ricky remains a mystery throughout most of the novel, leaving readers to draw conclusions until the author decides to reveal key characteristics and personality traits. This style allows readers to be their own judge of character and draw their own conclusions without the author explicitly telling them how to view a character, making the mystery more entertaining.
Flotsam is incredibly well-written and readers will find Ricky intriguing and likable. Readers of mystery and thrillers will love this travel adventure mystery that is filled with international crime and murder.
Pages: 386 | ASIN : B09KPZVJ81
Dancing With Life
Dancing With Life: A Young Woman’s Quest for Art, Love, and Freedom is a travel memoir by Dhyanis Carniglia. This is a memoir that took a lot of courage to write and even more courage to publish for everyone to read considering the fact that the author shares her entire life with us. From a childhood filled with love, an abusive marriage and escaping it, raising a child, meeting new people, traveling all over the world, and many more topics this is a story about finding one’s self in the world, finding the way to the art within us and accepting one’s self as we are.
This impassioned memoir is written in a way that makes it feel like we are not reading a book, but rather having a cup of coffee with a friend and them telling us stories of their life; so simple yet extraordinary. It deals with themes of everyday life, some of which are warm and happy and others are pills that are hard to swallow; this is exactly what makes this book fascinating.
While reading this stirring book readers will be able to relate to the author on many different levels, some stories are universal while others are distinctly unique. When reading this extraordinary memoir, readers will become invested in the stories being told and the quest that Carniglia is on. Each chapter of this emotional memoir tells a different part of Carniglia’s life and is thought out so well that readers will not be able to put the book down.
Dancing With Life: A Young Woman’s Quest for Art, Love, and Freedom by Dhyanis Carniglia, is a memorable biography of her life, her fascinating travels, and her arresting life experiences. Even though it is the life story of a specific person, we can all find pieces of ourselves in it and that is the best thing a book can do for its reader.
Pages: 191 | ASIN : B08ZLB6GB3
The Apapa Six
Author John Berryman takes the reader on a trip down memory lane, in the 60s. As you read this book, you realize how different the world is today from how it was back then. In The Apapa Six: West Africa from a 60S Perspective, the reader is enlightened about West Africa in the 1960s, how African nations fought for freedom and the impact colonization has, even, today, after African countries gained independence. John Berryman writes about historical events, his encounters with different nationals, and his experience in the continent.
Readers of this book will love how the author makes you feel like you are living in the moment. When talking about family, food, leadership, policy and many other subjects, John Berryman gives a brilliant description of events. This book is an opportunity to learn about various cultures and how different societies live. One major lesson the author offers is learning how to integrate with those from different backgrounds from you. Living away from home may not be as challenging as one could imagine. Reading this book will give you the urge to travel more. By traveling, you expand your mind and become more tolerant of things that you may previously not subscribe to.
The Apapa Six: West Africa from a 60S Perspective has history, real life experiences, and the personal reflections of John Berryman. Reading this book will help you understand the African struggle. As a reader, you get exposed to a different world and understand how the African struggle is a universal struggle. This enlightening book will appeal to readers of history, autobiography’s, travel, and those that love experiencing culture from the eyes of those that have lived it.
Pages: 139 | ASIN : B091TB727Q
Unusual Endeavors
Hiding in Plain Sight shares your storied like with readers and shows them the obstacles you overcame and the lessons learned along the way. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Throughout my life, I have followed individuals that have followed their own paths, whether it is in sports, business, or unusual endeavors that most would say impossible or people were just lucky. Along my route “less traveled” time and again people told me that I couldn’t do something whether that was in my weightlifting, martial arts world, or the close protection business. I guess I was inspired to prove to these people, these naysayers I could do anything I put my mind to. My underlying message is that nothing is impossible. The setup was the fact I live in a small town and that I have traveled to 45 countries from a business I created out of nothing but the will to succeed.
I appreciated how candid you are in the book. What was the hardest memory for you to share?
My parents, their decline, and the care they needed before their passing. My decision was to do everything in my power to make them comfortable.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Be patient with your dreams, find mentors to help you achieve various steps of your process.
Nothing is impossible. Be true to yourself. Develop your own can-do attitude.
Find resources that may re-frame your mind and get you out of a negative mindset.
Create depth in all that you are and present life with the best version of yourself
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
The one thing I hope readers take away, I hope they are very inspired to create their own path and legacy.
Never give up
Author Links: Instagram | LinkedIn | GoodReads | Facebook
Thomas LeBrun has been active within the Executive Protection industry for over 3 decades. often being the advance agent in the world’s most dangerous of cities, Mexico City, Johannesburg So. Africa and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil being a few of them. His consistency in his studies both in the physical and academic world has resulted in clientele in the entertainment, corporate and HNW arenas of the highest caliber. The academic element includes subject matter in Anti-Terrorist studies through ATAB (Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board), Maritime Security as it has to do with Anti-piracy issues and Crisis Risk Management as well as various Executive Protection courses. Thomas LeBrun has received Tactical Hall of Fame accolades as the 1999 and 2005 Executive Protection Specialist of the Year.
“Hiding in Plain Sight” is the story of former champion power lifter, Martial arts Hall of Famer, and one of the worlds renowned experts in Executive Close Protection, Tom LeBrun. Learn how he used savvy and dogged persistence to achieve his dream and become a real life Superman.
Hiding in Plain Sight – Book Trailer
Multi Award Winning Book; HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT – My Life & Adventures Protecting Celebrities is the inspiring true story of how a boy with a firm purpose behind his dreams, overcame many personal obstacles, challenges, sacrifices and injuries to forge a life dedicated to ensuring the safety of others When Tom LeBrun was 5 years old he was like most kids his age, full of energy, dreams and imagination galore. But, unlike other kids, young Tom had a stated purpose. He told his Dad that, one-day, like his hero SUPERMAN, “I want to fly around the world protecting people.” This purpose and passion created his journey.
Thomas LeBrun has been active within the Executive Protection industry for over 3 decades. often being the advance agent in the world’s most dangerous of cities, Mexico City, Johannesburg So. Africa and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil being a few of them. His consistency in his studies both in the physical and academic world has resulted in clientele in the entertainment, corporate and HNW arenas of the highest caliber. The academic element includes subject matter in Anti-Terrorist studies through ATAB (Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board), Maritime Security as it has to do with Anti-piracy issues and Crisis Risk Management as well as various Executive Protection courses. Thomas LeBrun has received Tactical Hall of Fame accolades as the 1999 and 2005 Executive Protection Specialist of the Year.
For The Sake Of Your Dreams
All 48: Drive Your Dreams shares your life journey traveling and facing the various challenges that life presented. Why was this an important book for you two to write?
This book is a important as it is near and dear to our hearts. It’s our vulnerabilities, our struggles and our grind through life from our lowest point.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the best memory you had and what was the hardest memory to share?
Our hardest memory was the timeline through teen pregnancy, this is a very vulnerable and difficult time that most are not willing to talk about.
Our favorite memory would have to be the final stop discussed. We had made it, from less than nobody’s to completion of our final road trip at the geographical center of the United States while the spot itself was a whimper the accompaniment was a war cry…
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Mentally pushing forward. For the sake of your dreams, your loved ones and most importantly yourself.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
So we have been published in multiple local libraries, we have donated our books to schools and hosted on podcast all in the hopes of helping anyone and everyone to make that move towards their biggest goals in life. We want everyone to Drive Their Dreams!
Author Links: Amazon | Website
In this uplifting account of life well lived, readers will follow the journey of a couple who grew from terrified teen parents to established travelers. Along the way they discover the hottest and most hidden stops and even more importantly, themselves.
All 48
All 48 : Drive Your Dreams by William and Jessica Hollingworth is a refreshing true story that follows two kids that make an uneasy transition into parenthood and adulthood. This is an inspiring memoir detailing the journey these two people take starting in high school. From college, to work, to traveling throughout the United States, including both the dark times and happy times, what readers will find in the end is exactly what William and Jessica found; a passion for life.
While this is a story of both William and Jessica, the book is narrated from William’s perspective and shows readers how both made their way through the obstacles of life. Considering how massive the U.S. is it is quite an accomplishment to travel as extensively as they did. I live in the U.S. and can’t imagine accomplishing that much travel. They start as two middle class teens with a kid, travelling, achieving their dreams and overcoming obstacles. It is all uplifting and stirring.
The authors have done their research and included so many lists and routes that another traveler can take! It is so exciting! And honestly, I am saving those lists for myself because as someone who has always dreamt of traveling, I would love to just spend two months on the roads William, Jessica and Colt experienced; even the ditch that William jumped into, not knowing that he could have walked, crossing from one state to another. I strive for such a thrill, and it was wonderful to follow their journey. All 48 is not only a guide to first time travelers, it is also a push for those scared to take that first step. This book is so much more than a travelogue, it also shows the how and the why of it all, making this an engaging memoir about a lifelong road-trip.
“If we were haunted by second thoughts the night prior, this sense of appreciation and wonder is what thirds are made of.”
This was my favorite line. For William and Jessica, it was their journey into the unknown of the traveler’s life, but it can easily be applied to anything in life. I really loved this because it certainly reminded me of my own goals that I wanted to achieve.
All 48 : Drive Your Dreams will motivate readers to live their dreams. This is an exceptional memoir that I would highly recommend to readers looking for a well-crafted, charismatic, and insightful journey.
Pages: 130 | ASIN: 1667800159
A New Day Dawns
![A New Day Dawns: My Solo Journey Into West Africa (Travels With Terry Book 2) by [Terry Lister]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JWddJILQL.jpg)
In A New Day Dawns Terry Lister takes readers through his day-to-day adventure on his excursion to West Africa. Terry visits Sierra Leon, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana over several weeks’ time. While visiting these countries in West Africa we learn about some of their history, challenges the people have there, and get a good look into the daily life of living in this part of the world. Terry talks a lot about how areas were settled by former slaves that made their way back to Africa. He visits many of the first settlements and churches. Readers learn the history of the buildings and how they compare to other structures in the area. This book is like reading a walking tour of the region.
This interesting travel memoir is relatively short, only 182 pages. In it Lister includes photos he took and maps of the region. There is a heavy focus on traveling from one place to another. Lister compares the experience to that of Bermuda, which is his home, a few times. Parts of the book read like a Yelp review, other parts read like a cautionary tail of what to avoid at all costs. The photos of the churches and other landmarks were nice. Although they were not professional photographs, some were blurry and hard to figure out what they were, but this added to the feel that you are reading a personal diary of the trip, not a book intended to give in depth information on the area. This casual style is engaging and leaves you wanting to know more about what the experience would be for the average traveler, not someone on a paid tour, or someone looking to write for a travel magazine. It was all very real and down to earth.
I found myself laughing at times over the travel arrangements he endured while also being horrified. His experience with the health officer to enter Libera was one such situation. You hear of corruption but having someone document it so bluntly is different than the word-of-mouth stories you come across. I believe there were times that Lister feared for his life on some of the roads, or in his dealings with some of the tour guides that he ended up with. This is not a trip for people accustomed to fun and easy travel. This is however a great description for those looking to travel through history, to see how the slaves that made it back to Africa turned their freedom into a new life. Terry Lister also gives readers a clear image of what to expect when haggling with locals on prices for rooms, goods, and travel. There are some good tips provided and a lot of lessons learned. This is a good book for those that just want to see things from an unpolished viewpoint, there is no sales pitch, just raw real life experience.
Pages: 202 | ASIN: B09K5V2L27
LITERARY TITAN 