The author has taken a hard look at the state of affairs in Detroit. Through the voices of seven people whose lives have been changed forever by the mThe author has taken a hard look at the state of affairs in Detroit. Through the voices of seven people whose lives have been changed forever by the mismanagement of the city and its eventual bankruptcy.
I visited Detroit regularly during the late '80s and through the '90s. It was a huge, sprawling place and going downtown was heartbreaking. To see block after block of neglected and abandoned homes and businesses.
There is enough blame to go around in this look at how cities are not getting the support they need to provide the services people need to survive and thrive. Everything is broken. The real estate market, the banks, the inept leadership, the lack of state and federal support.
About 40 percent of the city lives below the poverty level. Where is the investment in creating new jobs? How do these opportunists get by with paying $1000 for a foreclosed home and turning around and charging 3 times that in rent? The entire thing is falling apart and who is going to bail them out?
Detroit isn't the only city in trouble. We just rarely hear anything about the others. The research in this book is very well done!
I appreciate the author bringing this into the light. And I hope people read this and stand up and do the right thing by their fellow human beings.
Highly Recommended Reading!
NetGalley/ November 19th, 2019 by St. Martin's Press
I enjoy listening and reading Jake Tapper, the journalist. I was excited to see this book.
I know it is set in the 1950's but Charlie is not a stupid mI enjoy listening and reading Jake Tapper, the journalist. I was excited to see this book.
I know it is set in the 1950's but Charlie is not a stupid man. He knows right from wrong, he served our country in the military. He has principles. Oops, not a good thing to have as a politician.
You don't even need to have average intelligence to know that Washington is one big game of who you know, who you owe, and who owes you. Trust no one and keep your mouth shut. I can't believe with his famous father Charlie didn't grasp that quickly. If you didn't figure out what was going on by Chapter 2, after the car crash, well keep those rosy glasses on.
Other than a lot of political name dropping and the mix of fact and fiction, there wasn't a lot of meat to this book. The characters were vague and some a bit over the top. All in all I was bored.
But I sure hope Mr. Tapper keeps up the journalistic career!
NetGalley/April 24th 2018 by Little, Brown and Company...more
As a history buff and researcher, this title appealed to me right away. I am from the Brunswick/Jekyll Island area and my family has been there since As a history buff and researcher, this title appealed to me right away. I am from the Brunswick/Jekyll Island area and my family has been there since before we were a country.
Lamar is a reckless and troubled man. Having his livelihood pretty much handed to him by his father, he proceeds to run every business he touches into the ground.
The book give the reader quite a bit of information that even I haven't seen before. These letters are a valuable piece of history not only for Georgia but for the entire country. I would hope that this information would be widely spread in our schools.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone searching for answers about our beginnings and what almost tore our country apart....more
Stone's presence is requested at the White House by President Kate Lee. A matter of urgency and secrecy.
The House Speaker's daughter has been kidnappStone's presence is requested at the White House by President Kate Lee. A matter of urgency and secrecy.
The House Speaker's daughter has been kidnapped and the people who have her are threatening to kill her if a certain bill isn't passed. Stone has the perfect guy for the job. Teddy Fay! Now working out in movie land with Stone's son, Peter. CIA background scrubbed, new identity and no one has any idea who he really is.
With all of the killing going on my head was spinning. Is it a terrorist act? A home grown conspiracy? Full of twists and turns all the way to the final page!
I am hoping we see much more of Teddy! He is one of my favorite characters....more
Operation Archangel. A multi-agency task force whose job it is to keep the bad guys away from our vital infrastructure here at home,partners Kevin SchOperation Archangel. A multi-agency task force whose job it is to keep the bad guys away from our vital infrastructure here at home,partners Kevin Schmidt, out of the OCSD, with LAPD Det. C.P. Mata. As they are sitting in a van at Dodger Stadium,waiting for one of those bad guys to meet another, with backup inside and along the stadium, the stadium and the earth beneath it begin to buckle and split.
With their suspects sitting under tons of concrete, and their back up gone as well, the two make their way to their office back at the LAPD. As they are finding out that they have just suffered an 8.8 earthquake, their Chief sends them along with Lt.Tallon and 2 others on a mission. Don't get involved with any thing else.. Their soul mission is bring back this man.
With the city in a huge mess, traveling through it is more like being in a war zone than Southern California. With rioting and looting going on everywhere and aftershocks removing bridges and roads, the task will lead them on a chase where they are not only racing against time, but against other agencies with reasons to want Shaw contained. Who can they trust? Is one life worth all of this?
The one thing they do not know is there is someone working against them in the Chief's office. Someone who is about to bring more destruction and no one suspects a thing. Because this earthquake was no natural event, it is something much more, something much deadlier.
Induced Seismicity is a real thing. With all of the fracking around Oklahoma bringing on earthquake after earthquake, sometimes up to 15 a day, we are seeing that this book of Fiction, is not far off the mark. I appreciate that Mr. Larkin kept the terminology pretty basic and it wasn't difficult to understand what was happening and why.
This is the type of fiction that has a basis in reality. It is the type of book that makes you think. It could be a conspiracy theorist's dream book! All in all it was a really good book and I would definitely recommend it to a friend. Actually I already did.
Thank you to Mr. Larkin for this one! I honestly loved it!...more
Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades.
ThInspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades.
The story of three women, and their own experiences with WWII.
One, a wealthy young woman living in New York and doing the best she can for the orphans and other displaced persons in France. Caroline Ferriday, finds herself in a relationship with an actor, who is also married and has a wife in France.
In Poland, we find Kasia Kuzmerick, a teenager whose youth is about to be ended when Poland is invaded. Kasia has a strength unlike I have ever seen. No matter what horrors she endures, she still puts one foot in front of the other and survives. But along with the physical scars, the emotional scars are heartbreaking.
In Germany, Herta Oberheuser, a young idealistic German doctor, is looking for a place she can use and practice what she has learned. When she answers an ad, her life and the lives of many others will be impacted.
Based on real people this story is one we all need to read. No matter how many articles or books I read on the Holocaust, it never gets easier and yet it must be told. This story of hope, courage, love, and selflessness is one I will recommend to one and all....more
Rebellion has always been in the O’Reilly family’s blood. So when faced with the tragic death of her brother duringThe Book Blurb for Bury the Living:
Rebellion has always been in the O’Reilly family’s blood. So when faced with the tragic death of her brother during Northern Ireland’s infamous Troubles, a teenage Nora joined the IRA to fight for her country’s freedom. Now, more than a decade later, Nora is haunted by both her past and vivid dreams of a man she has never met.
When she is given a relic belonging to Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of Ireland, the mystical artifact transports her back eighty years—to the height of Ireland’s brutal civil war. Here she meets the alluring stranger from her dreams, who has his own secrets—and agenda. Taken out of her own time, Nora has the chance to alter the fortunes of Ireland and maybe even save the ones she loves. In this captivating and adventurous novel from Jodi McIsaac, history belongs to those with the courage to change it.
Our story begins in 1990 Belfast with a 15 year old Nora O’Reilly. The British may have pulled out but the war continues. A Civil War that has turned countryman against countryman. Trying to help her mother and brother, Nora agrees to do some shady things and gets in trouble with the wrong people. The same people who soon get her brother killed.
14 years later, we find Nora in Darfur,Sudan, working in a Refugee Camp. Planning a much needed bit of R & R. But she ends up back in Ireland. Having dreams of a man and an urgent need to find him. To do that she will have to suspend reality for a while. Will she find him? Can she really travel back in time and try to find this man and end the wars in her home country?
As a History buff, I enjoyed this book very much. The Irish Wars have always been a complicated subject, and difficult to understand what exactly happened and who is now fighting who.
One of my favorite types of stories are those that combine fact and fiction. There are plenty of facts and obviously some fiction, and it works wonderfully well.
Coming from an Irish family, I loved this book. Parts of it broke my heart. War is never easy to read about. But Nora is a girl after my own heart. Standing her ground and fighting for her country as well as any man.
Since this is book one in this series we know there will be more, which is a good thing.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jodi McIsaac is the author of the Irish contemporary fantasy series The Thin Veil (47North) the thriller A Cure for Madness (Thomas & Mercer) and the forthcoming historical Revolutionary series, starting with Bury the Living (47North).
She grew up in New Brunswick, on Canada’s east coast. After abandoning her Olympic speed skating dream, she wrote speeches for a politician, volunteered in a refugee camp, waited tables in Belfast, earned a couple of university degrees, and started a boutique copywriting agency. She loves geek culture, running, and whiskey.
Expected publication: September 6th 2016 by 47North...more
Jake Wolfe, former Marine ( and probably a lot more than that), is living and working in San Francisco as a photo-journalist.
One day as he is at the g Jake Wolfe, former Marine ( and probably a lot more than that), is living and working in San Francisco as a photo-journalist.
One day as he is at the golf course scoping out an attorney for a story, Jake watches as the man is shot and killed right there on the course. Looking up through his telephoto lens, he snaps a perfect picture of the killer and the killer gets a perfect view of Jake. Jake's marine buddy, best friend and SFPD investigator, Terrell shows up at the scene, Jake gives him all he has and then goes out on his own to try and find this guy who he is pretty sure plans on making sure Jake doesn't live long.
As the point of view shifts between the characters in the story, we learn that the killer goes by the name of The Artist and is working for a Chairman Banks who is working with a lot of influential and wealthy people who are equally corrupt.
Jake is charming, smart and has a lot of secrets. And so do the other characters. It was hard not to feel for them even though they were being not very good versions of themselves. Terrell and Jake work great as a duo. Throw in a dog, a beautiful Vet and a crazy ex-girlfriend and someone killing lawyers? I'm in!
Looking forward to much more of Jake Wolfe!
About the Author:
Mark Nolan began his writing career as a successful entrepreneur who created news stories for businesses that were featured in The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, Parade, Readers Digest and Associated Press. Nolan was born in San Francisco, grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has also lived in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.
You can check out his website at marknolan.com...more
An act of terrorism. A Presidential election. A Constitutional crisis. And a terrorist who may get away scott free! ANow anyone can kill you anywhere!
An act of terrorism. A Presidential election. A Constitutional crisis. And a terrorist who may get away scott free! And it could happen again. Perpetrated by anyone, anywhere . . . at a financial cost of next to nothing.
This short story shows us the secret rise of Christopher Wall's rise to the Presidency. As part of the Reason series, it explains quite a lot and is a great story in and of itself.
Especially frightening in this time of elections and shady dealings of candidates and the media. When big money and cutting edge technology come together, there is always the possibility for corruption and greed.
A few years ago I would have read this book and thought, " Well that's an interesting theory". But not today. Everything in Mr. Maxwell's story could happen today and some of it has probably already happened.
If you haven't read the Reason series, you should! Mr. Maxwell is one of my favorite storytellers and I greedily look for the Book 3 of the Reason series to get here! ...more
Former NSA agent, Lana Elkins, is back! Still cyber sleuthing trying to keep track of the jihadists, homegrown terrorists and the white supremacists e Former NSA agent, Lana Elkins, is back! Still cyber sleuthing trying to keep track of the jihadists, homegrown terrorists and the white supremacists especially the one they call "Steel Fist", the head of a radical supremacist organization with millions of dedicated crazies following his every word and Anti-Islamic rantings on the internet.
His popularity only increases when a group of terrorists are apprehended along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. Apprehended a bit too easily in Lana's eyes, something seems a bit off, and it is for among those apprehended is not a suicide bomber, but something worse.
The story is fast paced, thrilling and the scary thing is it is all possible. While our government is hacking and spying on possible terrorists at home and abroad, those cyber skills aren't limited to the government. Everything and Everyone can be hacked, spied on and not everyone is using this technology to do nice things.
This book has everything, cyber-crimes, ISIS, Al Quaeda, the White Supremacists and no one has a clue who is really behind it all or why it is happening.
Lana will have to be smarter and fight harder than ever before. Will she make it out of this one alive?
Mr. Waite never disappoints, his books always leave me on the edge of my seat and not wanting to get up!
I highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what is next.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. ...more
Sebastian Junger, New York Times Bestseller, author of The Perfect Storm, and A Death in Belmont, as well as a contributing editor to Vanity Fair is Sebastian Junger, New York Times Bestseller, author of The Perfect Storm, and A Death in Belmont, as well as a contributing editor to Vanity Fair is not only the author of WAR, but also along with photojournalist Tim Hetherington, directed Restrepo, a Documentary which was nominated for an Oscar.
Over the course of 15 months, Junger, writing for Vanity Fair, was embedded with a single platoon at a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan. His objective was to convey what soldiers experience. What war really feels like.
This book is the result of 5 trips to The Korengal Valley in eastern Afghanistan ( also known as The Valley of Death) between June of 2007 and June of 2008. He worked with photojournalist Tim Hetherington sometimes and other times each went on their own. Entirely dependent on our military for everything. Their hours of videotape became the basis of the feature length documentary called Restrepo.
This book was as hard to read as it was rewarding. At some point, I was so emotional I didn't think I could continue, but I did. The book focuses on one platoon, Battle Company and is a real and honest look at what these men go through in one of the worst places to be in Afghanistan. These are real people making life and death decisions and doing their best to just do their jobs and not get killed. The total trust they have in each other, the pain when one of their own is lost or injured. The feeling of never being able to let your guard down for an instant. Understanding the difference between Human terrain and Physical terrain. This was but one of the things I had never considered. Also that the moral basis of the war doesn't seem to interest soldiers so much, and its long-term success or failure has a relevance of almost zero. The U.S. pulled out of The Konegal Valley in 2010.
I also watched the documentary and got to see the guys who I had only pictured in my head. As they talked about their experiences and their lost friends and there was a look in all of their eyes that made you feel like they had seen things that even they couldn't quite face. It was a superb film.
We had a discussion on the book at our local library, as Mr. Junger is in Oklahoma this week doing several talks and signings, and I would like to thank Susan at the Del City branch for her insights into the book and the film. This is a book that needs to be shared and needs to be talked about. I encourage you all to watch the film as well as read the book. ...more
Toward Democracy takes us on a ride through history not only in America but through Europe as well. With the thoughts and experiences of our forefatheToward Democracy takes us on a ride through history not only in America but through Europe as well. With the thoughts and experiences of our forefathers as well as the views of Tocqueville, Rousseau, and many more including Montesquieu and Robespierre, the author gives us many different views and definitions of democracy. It is a fact that democracy came out of violence and that violence is still happening, things are ever evolving where democracy is concerned.
As a lover of all things History, this was a wonderful look into the opinions and facts of how we got where we are today and maybe even a bit of a warning for us. I don't think this book could have come at a better time in our history. How will it all turn out? What will our democracy cost us? This should be mandatory reading in our schools!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Oxford University Press in exchange for an honest review....more
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