Thursday, October 22, 2020

Book Review: "Elsewhere" By Dean Koontz



 “All I want is a home, books, and the peace to read them.”

― Dean Koontz, Elsewhere

“The mind and the heart—intellect and emotions, facts and feelings. They’re both important. But to live well, we need to make decisions based on logic and reason modified by emotion. If we’re guided only or even largely by emotion . . . Well, the heart often wants what it doesn’t really need, and sometimes it wants what it shouldn’t have, something with the potential to ruin your life. It wants something so intensely that we find it easy to do what the heart wants even if we know it’s reckless.”

― Dean Koontz, Elsewhere


Now taken in its entirety this for me was a great read. I enjoyed this father/daughter duo with Jeffy and Amity (11 yo daughter).

All's quiet till Ed arrives on the home front with the 'key to everything'.

This special device allows the holder to pass through parallel universes which leads Jeffy to wonder will he ever see his soulmate Michelle with this new found freedom.

Home may not be the safe zone any longer as more than one is interested in the performances this machine now offers up.

Hold on to your seats as this was an interesting ride from Dean Koontz.

For me it wasn't as enjoyable as, "The Silent Corner" but it did hold its own in the action and suspense.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Book Review: Disloyal By Michael Cohen



“I know where the skeletons are buried because I was the one who buried them.”

Truth be told he probably knows much more than what's written here but for the sake of being skinned alive he decided to hold back on the major issues.

As a woman discarded, devalued, smeared by a malignant narcissist I can certainly empathize with anyone who comes across one of the same.

I've spent 13 yrs with mine, loyal to a fault, blinded only by love, and ignored like the plague having lost everything in the aftermath.

Truth hurts and when you speak it the cowards run and hide to save themselves. Loyalty gets you nothing with a narc as they operate from a false sense of self, use and abuse, and take without reciprocation.

What you have here is a man who sold his soul to the devil for money, fame, prestige and in the end it cost him dearly.

Luckily he still has his wife and kids but by the Grace of God because they must have truly thick skin to ignore the fact that they told him to exit out and he continued hoping against hope he'd win.

It's that need to win, that hope for better, the snake oil and kool -aid being drank that extends the time tables to eternity.

Instead, what's received is smoke, fog, mirrors and in this case an Attorney who should've known better having dealt with similar in his legal practices.

This projection, the mirror, the deception doesn't end with one as there's a multitude of victims left in its wake. The trail of destruction far extends beyond these enablers, loyal harem, and fame seekers.

One question I'd hesitate to ask is do I believe all of what is written?

NO! I don't and for the simple reason is ...that I lived this life and I'm well aware of the Stockholm syndrome, the co-dependency, the pedestal placement.

This quote says it all," Trump is  master at getting otherwise seemingly sensible people to enter into his fantasyland because of the fear that failure to do so means banishment."

What I enjoyed moreso than I probably should've was the 'Hair force one' that played out with the three step procedure.

However, lets face it -this person-DT - is a danger to our society, our country, even our own allies.

The only way to end this nightmare is to VOTE BLUE.

We know from experience that his own family is secondary. Work is primary. Having even negative attention via the media and publicity is still attention for his grandiose ego,superiority, and god like  views of himself.

Narcissist need constant grooming, attention, adulation, and praise. They feed off of a source of supply. They target others to gain access to their most intimate and personal details as fuel to use against them.

They will project and mirror those who possess the talent they lack and they do so because they are in actuality inferior and damaged internally.

Gaslighting is nothing new, mind games, brain washing, manipulation, love bombing, pay to play schemes, hush payments, and the like it's all in here for discussion.

What I can't fathom is why Cohen's family is still by his side because if they all knew why couldn't he have known. His case involved discussion and communication openly with his family who informed him of the dangers, the bottomless pit, the black hole of nothingness and many of us who were left as prey only wish we had family to support us as he's been provided.

He's a very lucky man in many regards because unlike many of us left behind -he still has the love, affection, undying support of his family and that's worth more than any dollar amount even with his battle scars.

For the women who marry as was my case I quote: I can always get another wife, that's no problem for me, it she wants to go, so be it." 

After 11 yr marriage, three kids from one union, and 13 yrs together I was termed 'kept woman' and 'business partner' think of us when you decide to jump into bed with one....our family was left bankrupt, homeless, and I was left LT unemployed having given up career so my malignant narc could further his own as Director of OBP in DC and yes, mine too was famous.

However, the bigger they are the harder they fall...Remember that! Carry on!


Book Review: "To Tell You The Truth" By Gilly Macmillan

 Just a lil fyi: this gem was requested at Netgalley on May 14th the day before my birthday & I was so looking forward to one great read but instead even with 94% feedback, top 30 reviewer at Goodreads, having nearly 1k followers (after weeding out the bots/trolls) with 800k readers via LinkedIn blogs with all star status and another 38k followers in 228 countries worldwide on FB -so moral of the story - yes, even the best of us -get declined.



No worries as I picked it up at my local library (finally) and set it aside till I cleared my mind of cobwebs as you know I have over 140 ARCS on standbye at all times so I do get brain fog.

When I cleared the air this beauty awaited and I'm so glad she waited till I was ready.

We begin with a thriller that is both equally dark and terrifyingly disturbing.

I mean who wants a dependent or shall we say a spouse on their tail.

Lucy is a writer by trade and she's now missing her husband Dan.

Who knows where he might be, if he's alive or dead, and quite frankly who really even cares?...

Oh, wait one sec...I just learned that there's been a set of past actions involving a young boy whose the brother of Lucy that may shed some light on this case.

Teddy was a huge game changer but his body has never been located and we don't know if he ever might be found.

What I do know from years of gaslighting, manipulation, brainwashing, and intimidation is to be careful out there because the world is fool of whacko's and often it's those closest to us that are the most disturbed.

This is gaslighting 101 at its finest but those doing the puppet mastering are characters that you won't even have on radar.

Thanks to my local libraries for this curbside pickup marathon read!

Book Review: "Final Cut" By SJ Watson




Suicides, Murders, Jealous Rages...

Well, lets just get this on tape with Alex at the helm because certainly much has changed since she's been at Blackwood Bay -a blighted hole in the wall location.

In fact, it's so dark and disturbing that many locals won't discuss the past in which two women went missing or what happened to them.

This quaint village didn't want that type of notoriety and the villagers aren't in the mood to assist in this documentary.

However, some are talking like Sadie Davies aka Daisy and it's not pretty what she has to tell.

You know that old saying boys will be boys yes?! 

Well, lets finish it off as this is one heck of a wild ride with SJ Watson running this thriller out of town.

Thanks to my local libraries for these awesome hard cover copies during this pandemic.

Remember curbside pickup is a fun way to enjoy a great read.


Book Review: "The Heatwave" By Kate Riordan



“The place feels like an old lover I shouldn't trust, trying to win me over again.”

― Kate Riordan, The Heatwave

Well now, this was one heck of a thrill, chills, and spills type of read beginning with Sylvie and her 1st born Elodie then followed up with more current action with her youngest daughter Emma.

It's like a game of 'keep away' as we try to keep secrets buried, the past silent, and voices ignored.

Elodie may very well be a psychopath but who am I to judge? ...

As for those arson's they were crazy back in the 90's but there's still fires all around in more ways than one here.

I can't imagine losing a child at the young age of 14 years so something occurred that Sylvie may wish to keep on lock down literally and figuratively.

Oh, and by the way that pool looks so inviting but be careful...

YIKES!

Thank you to my local libraries for keeping this gal entertained with plenty of reading material during this pandemic.

Please visit or utilize curbside and support them during these trying times.

Book Review: "To Wake The Giant" By Jeff Shaara

 


A date that will live in infamy is exactly Americans thoughts at the loss of so many young, innocent, and nieve young men who had no idea what was to come.

So many joined the Navy for a future, for success, but for others it was the enticement of a few bucks that made a 'make or break' for their families as they were in poverty.

The recruiters may have worked overtime to keep them coming in by the droves but it was the ultimate act of sacrifice with their own lives that these men (boys in many cases) because some lied on their paperwork to defend their country -will forever be remembered.

While they were 'sucker punched' while enjoying themselves, singing, dancing, meeting women off the ships harbors, it was the 'fame gone bad' that was such a hard thing to accept.

Many might proclaim they were to cocky, too egotistical, too grand to be taken down and thinking they were ahead in all regards with the Japanese.

However, the Japanese proved us wrong and these men had horrific deaths many jumping into shark infested/gasoline spilled waters to avoid fires on board. Their skin became burned off so badly they became unrecognizable. The smell was something I'm sure nobody shall forget.

The women who came to their aid and assisted and the countless loss of life and navy equipment took a huge toll against 'the Giant'.

In a little over 2 hrs over 2k US servicemen were killed, over 1k were injured, with 68 civilians killed, and 35 more wounded on December 7th 1941 7:55 am.

Jeff Shaara has put together a novel that speaks to the heart of the matter. The research was extensive, the emotional appeal was heart wrenching, the memories forever etched in history.

I'm so grateful to all those who played a roll in getting these voices on paper because this two wave raid is something I shall never forget.

Having a father in the Cold War -Navy Vet- who just received his National Defense Service medal and Navy Good Conduct Medal in 2012 ( https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nepa-veterans-receive-long-overdue-medals/article_6bf5ab66-b458-5e9a-9e45-a2fb0486bbc3.html ) was bitter sweet because one of the first places my pop took our family was to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Visitor Center and as a kid I was fascinated but as an adult looking back I know the terrible aftermath and I can only pray history never repeats itself.

Book Review: "Hard Cash Valley" By Brian Panowich



True Grit, steel heart, determination, and tenacity!

This has it all with Brian Panowich leading us on a chase to find the killer or killers in a place simply known as 'Hard Cash Valley.'

Dane Kirby is our main go-to-guy and he's not a push-over by any stretch but while investigating the murder of one individual we encounter an additional bloody trail and his own younger bro William (asperger's syndrome) missing in action.

The setting on this is superb with that dark, mysterious, and cowboy feel in the heart of Georgia with plenty of suspects, high stakes action, and deadly consequences for those who choose money.

Of course, all I can say that hasn't been said is this: Love is all you need.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I have and a shout out to my local libraries during this pandemic for supplying this curbside pickup marathon read.