Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro

Posted first on Blog Critics as Book Review:'Zero Alternative' by Luca Pesaro.

Power comes in many forms and seems to always follow the money. With the Banking system now so intricate and many vying for ways to find just a few more dollars through the market, there is bound to be shenanigans of the very worst kind.

In Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro, we are taken deep into the money markets, and many of the secrets they keep. Scott walker is one of those who play the market and understand the rules. He has friends in many places, and a few enemies as well. One of his friends has been building a program that can help them to know things ahead of time. There is only on problem with that. Someone else is aware of the work and is willing to do whatever it takes to be the owner.  Whoever holds the information would be able to keep their thumb on the pulse of the world.

As people around him begin to die in brutal fashion, Scott begins calling in favors. Without the access to the same types of assets, he still knows enough people that can help him. Yet suddenly it seems that he is the focus, and those he is closest to are no longer safe. Even those who feel they can take care of themselves.  With the death of his friend who built the program, can he find the bits and pieces that have been lost before it is too late?

As he races ahead of his enemies, he has no idea who to trust.  A Morass is opening that he may well disappear into unless he can find the answers.

Pesaro has done an amazing job of taking you deep into the money trenches of the markets. He is very knowledgeable, and while deep, the information is amazing. He has taken his own knowledge of how things work and twisted it all into a sinister cycle.  His characters are very interesting and pretty realistic. The crux of the story rings true and you wonder just how much is real.

If you enjoy suspense and thrillers you will enjoy this work. There is also a bit of romance and travel that seals the deal. The infrastructure he builds his story around is both exciting and pervasive.  

This would be a great book for a reading group with theories and events that will generate some very interesting dialogue.  Pesaro is an author to watch for.

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Zero Alternative GoodReads page:
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Luca Pesaro's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/biagiotraderLuca Pesaro's Facebook:
https://facebook.com/lucapesarobooksLuca Pesaro's Website:
http://lucapesaro.com/Luca Pesaro's GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443429.Luca_Pesaro

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http://zeroalternative.blogspot.com/ Zero Alternative Summary

“Sometimes you must destroy first.”

To stay alive, Scott Walker must bring down a corrupt international bank. And possibly shatter the world’s economy. Because finance is a black hole ready to chew up countries and people before spitting them out rich, or broken. Or both.

Framed. Hunted. In love with a woman he can’t trust. As he hides from hitmen across Europe, Walker has only one card to play – DeepShare. A silicon oracle that could predict a slice of the future, and that everyone wants. Governments and insane billionaires, criminals and anarchist hackers stand in his way, some even promising help – though with dangerous strings attached.

As Walker struggles to survive and digs deeper into the dark heart of the global economy, one question torments him: how much will the world have to pay?

Zero Alternative is an action-packed conspiracy thriller that plucks at the heart of human nature. When our grip on love, hope and morality starts to slide, the only future worth living is the one we choose for ourselves.

Luca Pesaro's Bio:

Luca Pesaro was born in Italy in the early seventies, but has spent most of his adult life in the US or UK. After long years gaining a degree and masters in the pseudo-science that is Economics he got bored, jumped the gun and became a derivatives trader in financial markets with several investment banks. Now reformed, he is writing full-time.

Zero Alternative is his first novel, and he is hard at work on his second thriller.

He lives in London, is married to an awesome Italian lady and has two children who always manage to annoy, surprise and delight beyond any reasonable expectation.

Formats: ebook, paperback
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Pages: 269
Release: April 25, 2014
Publisher: Three Hares Publishing

Three Hares Publishing buy link:
http://threeharespublishing.com/project/zero-alternative/#book

 

50 Children by Steven Pressman

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'50 Children' by Steven Pressman.

Those who put their lives at risk during times of war are not always soldiers, trained in the art of warfare. Often ordinary people do the extraordinary with little expectation of thanks.

In 50 Children by Steven Pressman, we follow such a couple who put their own lives on hold to help rescue 50 children from harm in Nazi Germany during the time of holocaust. Gil and Eleanor Kraus find themselves in War time Germany in an effort to use the laws of U. S. immigration and the help of untold others to find and use visas that had never been used to get children to safety.  The times were volatile and as Jews they put themselves in harms ways to do what they could in their own efforts of rescue.

This is the story of an Ordinary American couple who had the courage to face adversity to do what was necessary in a time of turmoil. Using notes, pictures and family accounts Pressman gives us a picture of the difficulties and challenges, as well as the final outcome.

To find such a compelling story and the antidotes that go with it is an important part of history. This was a time when so many things went wrong, yet there were those who did what they could to make things right. As history unfolds the atrocities of war become clear, yet the United States finds itself in turmoil as well. The news is not good and many rumors abound.

The story is told from the beginning and you find yourself in the shoes of the Kraus’s as they set on this dangerous task to go into Germany and rescue as many children as they can. There is heartbreak and tears as well as horror and terror. At any time the narrow path they walk can begin breaking up, thrusting them even deeper into the maelstrom of Hitler Germany.

The very laws of the land in the United States created its own dilemma, when immigration is already at a high level and visa are at their low, how can anyone proceed. And yet many do, for this is only one of the many stories of rescue and courage in a time where help was needed the most.

If you enjoy history along with stories of courage you will enjoy this work. If you are interested in the politics of the day, and stories of courage this work takes you into the stages of all. This couple and others remain unsung heroes in a time where ordinary people did extraordinary things.

This would be a great book for a book club or reading group. The history and the undertakings will fill the quest of finding dialogue to discuss for many reasons. History is what it is and the discussion of what occurred or could have occurred is left to those who try to find the reason behind the actualities.

Rating 5\5

This book was received free through the authors publisher. All opninions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Stealing the Moon and Stars by Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Stealing the Moon and Stars by Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens.

While charities abound around the world in an effort to ease suffering, they are often the target of those whose scruples make them feel that anything is up for grabs. Embezzlement is often the crime of chance and circumstance, where those most in need become the final victims once again.

In Stealing the Moon and Stars by Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens, we are introduced to a pair of Private eyes based in Scottsdale Arizona. Jordan Welsh and Eddie Marino have teamed up and are beginning to make a name for themselves.  As business improves, the cases are becoming for dangerous but the importance of the business also becomes more evident. When they are hired to find out what has happened to the money for the Moon and Stars Children’s foundation they feel as though they have finally hit mainstream.

Everyone is a suspect including those working the charity, and as Jordan begins to dig in deeper, she finds she is suddenly in the sights of a crime lord, and bodies around her begin to pile up. Her partner is somehow in the middle with a secret of his own.  As the danger of her situation comes clear she no longer knows who to trust. Can she ferret out the secrets before it is too late?

Jordan and Eddie are great characters with an interplay that is just short of scandalous.  The heat of passion that evolves as they chase the danger seems palpable.  Jordan is a strong woman with a wickedly funny sense of humor, and Eddie is a fun and deeply secretive and good looking man. With such chemistry, Jordan finds herself constantly reminding herself of the danger of becoming involved.

That attraction which seems to flare up can also create more danger and as their investigation heats up, danger is more prevalent then they know.

If you enjoy a fast paced romance, this will fill the bill. Add suspense and spice and you have a romantic suspense with a bit of a twist.  If you are in the market for a great beach or escape reading experience then this is the work for you.  It seems that we may have a new dynamic duo in private investigations. This first book in a new series is interesting and holds enough challenge to keep you entertained.  

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Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens' Goodreads:
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Stealing the Moon & Stars Book Summary:

Jordan Welsh and Eddie Marino, Scottsdale private eyes, are hired to find out who’s stealing from the Moon & Stars Children’s Foundation. Foundation employees are suspected, but just as the pieces start falling into place, Jordan discovers a hidden agenda that puts her in the crosshairs of a crime lord. Who can she trust?

Everyone has a dangerous secret, and the bodies are piling up. Even her partner, Eddie Marino, has a dark and mysterious past. Does she dare act on their attraction? Will it destroy their partnership?

The two have landed in a hornets’ nest. Nothing to do now but stir it up.

Book One in a new series featuring Jordan Welsh and Eddie Marino.

Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens' Bios:

Arizona native Sally J. Smith lives in Scottsdale with her husband. The rarest of breeds, an adult who was born in Arizona, she has been a writer since she could spell. These days she stays busy at her chosen professions of writing (novels, short stories, and articles) and freelance editing. When a free moment appears on the horizon, she’s out the door to a attend a play, a movie, a concert, or just take a long walk in the desert—if the temperature’s under a hundred. Other works include The Ghost Wore Polyester.

Jean Steffens also lives in Scottsdale with her family. She’s a mother, reader, movie fan, and the Steffens’ family chauffeur. She’s also active in church activities. Like Jordan Welsh, PI, Jean grew up in Chicago near Lake Forest. Jean’s mother, however, was nurturing—baking cookies, carpooling kids to school, kissing boo-boos—unlike Jordan’s mother, who’s allergic to the kitchen and thinks a carpool is a hot tub in a limo. Jean’s published work includes “The Night Before Christmas” in the Desert Sleuths Sisters in Crime Anthology, How Not to Survive the Holidays.

Work sessions between these two ladies generally result in a lot of laughter, noshing, and Internet surfing. Both authors are members of Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

Price: $13.95
Format: paperback
Pages: 242
Release: May 15, 2014
Publisher: Camel Press
ISBN: 9781603819831

Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603819835?tag=tributebooks-20

The Art and Ethics of Being a Good Colleague by Michael J. Kuhar Ph. D.

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'The Art and Ethics of Being a Good Colleague' by Michael J. Kuhar Ph. D.

When you are in the business of people, it is important to understand how to get the best out of them. Developing a team of talented individuals can determine the success or failure of your place of business and make your life much easier in all phases.

With so many books offering suggestion and ideas the marketplace becomes confusing as to which guide carries the best advice.  The Art and Ethics of being a Good Colleague by Michael J. Kuhar Ph. D. is another take on the age old issue of getting the best out of others. When reading the chapters you are brought to mind of the golden rule. There is a great deal of common sense in the pages and the insights are interesting.

With the author’s background in ethics it is with little surprise that much of how we should interact with others includes lessons on ethics and how they are a part and parcel of our own experiences. Realizing the importance of both friends and colleagues is the bottom line of defense, a building block of life both inside of work and out. With an endorsement from His Holiness, the XIVth Dalai Lama, it is difficult to refute the nature of building our intentions.

If you are looking for a good guideline just a bit different from the rest of the pack you will find this work to fit the bill. Written more in a text book style you will find the ideas encouraging and the lessons engaging. You will also find that this work is for more than just those you work with but with anyone you interact with. Not only can you improve you own relationships both personal and at work but the impact of how you utilize the information can also go a long way to helping improve the lives of others.

This would be a great book for a discussion group. While some of the contents we have heard before, there is more of the precision and tools that help to kindle the types of relationships you desire. This can create a very diverse discussion keeping  the meeting lively and entertaining .

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Counterstrike by John Groh

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'Counterstrike' by John Groh.

Family has such a strong impact in our lives. Yet there are times that rivalry among the members creates distrust and discord. Add money to the mix and occasionally that discord becomes a solid burning feeling of anger. Situations that can usually be worked through suddenly become the fuel to build an inferno.

In Counter Strike by John Groh, we meet two brothers working to build a solid life in Phoenix, neither of them in harm’s way,  yet not as close as they once were prior to their father’s death.  Boyce suffers a tragedy when his wife dies in a horrible accident, and he immediately suspects his brother, Spencer’s, involvement.  Suddenly the tables turn and both personal and professional rivalry turns into a deep and deadly game of betrayal and treachery.  They each turn to a close family friend named Boots, who for his own reason plays both sides, further feathering the flames of hurt and discord.

As dangerous  and deadly accidents began to occur, each feels the other is the reason for disaster. Neither of them realizes the true danger of what is happening beneath the shifting terror as suddenly allegiances shift, work prospects dim, and money becomes the winning factor in place of family and home.  Boots seems to have an uncanny hold and a tenuous existence, with a finger on the pulse of both lives. What does he gain when the lives of his friends are undone? Murder no long seems farfetched, but who will outwit the other?

Groh has giving us an uncomfortable mystery and sparked it with deadly intensity.  Hi brothers are much like most families and yet there is a deep distrust that seems impossible to dislodge. Spencer seems to be the calmer of the two brothers, but even he seems to lose touch as Boyce seems unable to let go of his feeling that Spencer is not only responsible for his wife’s death, but in taking her affections as well. Yet he finds such strange and tragic connections, almost as though they are fed to him, coming at times when his mind is at its darkest moments. 

Boots is a Vietnam Vet with his own agenda as he plays the two brothers against each other. He too has a darkness that covers his soul, and an interest in where the family money should reside. His reasons are his own and yet as the twists and turns bring a horrifying ending his motives began to come through.

If you enjoy mystery and thrillers you may enjoy this work. It is quick and deep, with twists and turns that make you cringe. The possibility of the brothers finding a solution to their deepening suspicion of the other holds you enthralled. Can they truly figure out the treachery beneath the strange attempts? The shocking and often dangerous scenes keep you riveted with dawning horror. 

This would be a good find for a reading group, the distrust created would give the dialogue plenty of fodder, and most people have known one of two family members that act in such fashion, although in a more passive way.  It is always so disturbing to see families dissolve after the death of a loved one, and such a shocking rendering of grief will create robust dialogue.  

Rating 3/5

This book was received from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

The Disease Delusion by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland

Posted First on Blog Critics as Book Review: 'The Disease Delusion' by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland.

With incidents of diseases escalating and chronic illnesses careening out of control, it is time we took back the charge of our own health and lives. Yet with so much at stake and numerous information overloads where can we look for answers?

The Disease Delusion by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland, is a treasure trove of information in looking for the root cause of so many plaguing issues.  With precise information on the most common of illnesses he takes you on a journey of possible recovery. Unlocking the secrets and myths behind many of the illnesses that plague us today, we find many directions in which to improve both our health and life. Lessons and suggestions, as well as examples of incredible transformations give you hope and understanding of the dilemmas we face.  Can we stave off many of the common issues as suggested? 

This is a comprehensive look at many of the issues that continue to grow by leaps and bounds, and yet it is also a work of answers to questions you may not have even realized. From the root causes and onward, the solutions and suggestions help you to take charge of many things that were once in our own control. The work and insight is amazingly intricate and interesting, from case studies and fact-finding to zeroing in on the real culprits sabotaging your health.  While there are medications for everything from A-Z, here we find that we can do so many things to correct the things that impede our health long before the illnesses begin.  Our body is an amazing thing, telling us time after time that something is wrong, yet for some reason we often miss the message.  

Dr. Bland gives us insight into those messages and how to decipher their meaning and drill down to the very essence in order to get to the real truth. With so much of our health depending on our environment, it is important to listen to the message our bodies are sending, they often know before we do of the toxicity of the surroundings, helping us to move and avoid those thing harmful to us.  Dr. Bland also offers insight to using supplements and natural remedies to strengthen our defenses.

This was an extremely interesting book, and while you may look at the title and be daunted, you will not be sorry when you chose to read on. The data is amazing and you can relate to so much of the content.  As an average citizen this is informative and gives you back some control of your health and as a health professional the cutting edge research and the furthering of integrative medicine is exciting and resourceful.  

Not necessarily one of those works that would make a reading list, I would still recommend it. The information included would also be great for a discussion group, I know everyone is always interested in bettering their health, and this work is extraordinary. This is a powerful look at taking charge of our own lives.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the Authors publisher. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Recovering from LIfe by Debra McKenna

Posted first on Blog Critics as Book Review:'Recovering from Life' by Debra McKenna.

‘Life happens.’ The ups and downs can drown you or you can learn from the experiences to move at a smoother pace. Yet often we are left with feelings of inadequacy and fear. Those who choose to cast again into the fray gain courage to move on.

Debra McKenna has given us a fun and hopeful look into the life of one such character in her book, Recovering from Life.  There is no doubt that her character, Stephanie McCarthy, is just that––a character. Red headed and bold she finds herself in a rough patch when her husband seems to fall back into a drug habit, one she thought he had overcome. As he disappears, she begins to take stock of the things happening around her. In her considered bliss, she realizes that she has allowed him too much power in their life and business, as well as their home. Her name is on nothing, he owes everyone, and her only saving grace is that the creditors can’t come after her. Yet she is now financially doomed, she has lost her job and she finds herself in the roller coaster of life.

The problem begins with the legalities. She is not responsible for moneys owed, but her husband’s deals are not all above board, or with respectable business. He owes money for drugs as well, and the collectors do not care as much about the laws protecting her from legal collections.

This fun filled and yet at times stressful story is enchanting and just a bit different.  The characters are very life sized and an amazing mix of clever, brutal, fun, and even at times whimsical. The experiences are adventurous and easy to relate to, although in some cases a bit unbelievable. Yet the story is also deep and brings hope, something that is often lacking when times are tough. McKenna has secured an anchor to hold the twist of lightness and courage.  

The goal is to heal from whatever bumps life throws at you, and to overcome that inability to move forward. While in no way moralistic, the moral of the story is there hidden behind and between the fabric. There is humor and promise, wishes and potential all there like a brass ring, if we all just look beyond the here and now and reach for it.

If you like fun and feel good stories you will find this immensely interesting.  Contemporary with a twist, filled with courage, boldness and a zany cast of characters, you will find yourself reading from start to finish, wanting to know more.

This would be a great book for a reading group, engendering a great deal of conversation on depression, hope, romance and moving forward.

Rating 4/5

This book was reveived from the Cadence group. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.