Svetlana's Reads and Views

Diverse Reads on my Blog #17 Well things have been either bad or good in this soap opera of real life coming from the White House. Both bad and good news have made appearances, yet we are still okay as well as alive. I have also started to prepare for my USA Literary Trip, which means I'll be visiting all 50 states through books by reading Don't know Much About History as well as a A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki which will give me a different view of history. Anyways, enjoy the summer! Blast from the Past My German soldier by Bette Greene The summer that Patty Bergen turns twelve is a summer that will haunt her forever. When her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners during World War II, Patty learns what it means to open her heart. Even though she's Jewish, she begins to see a prison escapee, Anton, not as a Nazi- but as a lonely, frightened young man with feelings not unlike her own, who understands and appreciates h...

Name of Book: The Dan Diaries Author: D.D. Marx ISBN: 978-0-9972481-7-3 Publisher: self published Part of a Series: The Beyond Series Type of book: Afterlife, modern times, relationship, friendship, coming together, destiny, fate, death, guardian angels, belief Year it was published: 2018 Summary: Dan Sullivan was the best friend of Olivia Henry when his life was taken in a tragic car accident. Shocked to be on the other side, Dan navigates his way by learning his new role in eternal life. His first assignment is as Olivia’s guardian angel. He has the crucial role of guiding her to her pre-defined destiny. Dan’s death throws Olivia into a tail-spin which causes her to veer way off course. He understands the enormity of the challenge when he hears the mechanism by which he can communicate. He’s only allowed to use signs and symbols to get her attention and cannot interfere with her free-will. Every time he thinks he’s close, something throws her off track. He’s ...

Name of Book: The Sugarhouse Blues Author: Mariah Stewart ISBN: 978-1-5011-4492-9 Publisher: Gallery Books Part of a Series: Hudson Sisters Series Type of book: Pennsylvania Hidden Falls, renovation, roles, sisterhood, healing, secrets, abuse, appearances, art, plans, relationships between women, slow romance, dogs, mayor, popularity, small town summer celebrations Year it was published: 2018 Summary: Mariah Stewart's second novel in the Hudson Sisters series... Allie, Des, and Cara, each having her own reasons for wanting a share of their father's estate, meet in the grand Victorian home in which he grew up, only to be greeted by another secret he purposely hid from them: his sister Bonnie. The women reluctantly band together to take on Fritz's challenge, working with a local contractor to begin the renovations financed by an account Fritz had set up for the task. While the restoration appears to go smoothly at first, it soon becomes apparent that ...

Title of the book:  belief; what it means to believe and why our convictions are so compelling Author:  James e Alcock Publisher: Prometheus Books Publishing Date: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-63388-403-8 Summary: An expert on the psychology of belief examines how our thoughts and feelings, actions and reactions, respond not to the world as it actually is but to the world as we believe it to be. This book explores the psychology of belief - how beliefs are formed, how they are influenced both by internal factors, such as perception, memory, reason, emotion, and prior beliefs, as well as external factors, such as experience, identification with a group, social pressure, and manipulation. It also reveals how vulnerable beliefs are to error, and how they can be held with great confidence even when factually false. The author, a social psychologist who specializes in the psychology of belief, elucidates how the brain and nervous system function to create the perceptions, ...

Book Details: Book Title: Eyes Don't Lie: You Can't Hide by Crystal Dawn Mason Category: Adult Fiction, 142 pages Genre: Suspense / Thriller Publisher: self-published Release date: Oct 11, 2017 Tour dates: April 30 to May 18, 2018 Content Rating: PG Book Description: Curly-haired brunettes with blue eyes are the only women that seem to capture Keith’s attention. But is it really their appearance that attracts him or something sinister? Keith, a broken soul, who’s battling between good and evil, goes about his days trying to fight his evil urges. But because of a demonic stronghold, in most instances good loses the battle to evil. Affected by the pain and hurt of his childhood, he now seeks out the love he didn’t receive as a child. But when he doesn’t get it, there’s retribution to pay…and what a sad day it is for those curly-haired brunettes with blue eyes who fail to make the mark. But things take a turn when he meets a grocery store cashier...

Book Details: Book Title: Degrees of Love: A Novel by Lisa Slabach Category: Adult Fiction, 344 pages Genre: Women's Fiction Publisher: Bookbaby Release date: Dec 1, 2017 Tour dates: May 1 to 18, 2018 Content Rating: PG-13 + M (Adult themes including infidelity, occasional F-word, non-explicit sex scenes) ​Book Description: At thirty-six, Susan Sinclair has it all. She's just been promoted to Senior Vice President of Mobile Banking at her firm, a prestigious position bringing fresh creative challenges and a hefty salary increase. Like the shiny new BMW in the driveway of the Silicon Valley home she shares with her husband, Matt, and their two beautiful boys, Susan exudes confidence and style. Yet despite her success in juggling the roles of wife, mother, and businesswoman, Susan struggles with a secret dissatisfaction. Matt's work in cutting-edge computer research pays less than her job, and with each advance in her career, he has gr...

Name of Book:  The samurai of Seville Author:  John J Healey ISBN:   9781628727845 Publisher:  Arcade Year it was published: 2017 Summary: A sumptuous novel inspired by one of history’s most intriguing forgotten chapters—the arrival of Japanese Samurai on the shores of Europe. In 1614, twenty-two Samurai warriors and a group of tradesmen from Japan sailed to Spain, where they initiated one of the most intriguing cultural exchanges in history. They were received with pomp and circumstance, first by King Philip III and later by Pope Paul V. They were the first Japanese to visit Europe and they caused a sensation. They remained for two years and then most of the party returned to Japan; however, six of the Samurai stayed behind, settling in a small fishing village close to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where their descendants live to this day. Healey imbues this tale of the meeting of East and West with uncommon emotional and intellectual intensity and ...

Name of Book: Ecstasy Author: Mary Sharratt ISBN: 978-0-544-80089-2 Publisher: HMH Books Type of book: Gustav Mahler, Alma Schindler-Mahler, affairs, passion, ecstasy, music, composing, motherhood, marriage, older male/younger female pairing, 1899-1900s, denying talent and gifts, travel, genius husband, survival Year it was published: 2018 Summary: In the glittering hotbed of turn-of-the-twentieth-century Vienna, one woman’s life would define and defy an era Gustav Klimt gave Alma her first kiss. Gustav Mahler fell in love with her at first sight and proposed only a few weeks later. Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius abandoned all reason to pursue her. Poet and novelist Franz Werfel described her as “one of the very few magical women that exist.” But who was this woman who brought these most eminent of men to their knees? In Ecstasy, Mary Sharratt finally gives one of the most controversial and complex women of her time the center stage. Coming of age in the midst...

Title of the book:  Sass, Smarts and Stilettos; how Italian women make the ordinary, extraordinary Author:  Gabriella Contestabile Publisher: Sumisura Publications Publishing Date: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-9960585-2-0 Summary: How do Italian women turn the ordinary into extraordinary? Why do their lives seem less complicated, but more complete and alluring? Discover what's behind this seductive ethos of effortless chic, and how to live an extraordinary and stylish life, 'all' italiana'. Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos is not just a celebration of Italian women, but of all women; of their innate ability to think outside the box, to make magic from mayhem, and to have a wild good time doing it. Author Info: (From Italy Book Tours) Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Chapters Indigo ~ Kobo Add to Goodreads Meet the Author: Gabriella Contestabile is the author of the novel, The Artisan’s Star, and owner of Su Misura (Made to Measure) Journeys; a bo...