Beyond the Cover: Exploring Passions

Book Review: 687  My Take:  Why do some stories linger even after the last page is turned? Because they’re not just stories they’re reflections. Beyond the Milestones is one such book. With a refreshing blend of legal drama and emotional depth, this read had been finished in one sitting, and its message remained long after. This book is a thoughtful and inspiring read. The highlight I loved about this book is how seamlessly it blended ambition with emotion. The storyline was not just gripping it was layered and real. The author has done a brilliant job of crafting a world that’s professional yet deeply personal. The writing is smooth, engaging, and emotionally intelligent never overwhelming, always clear. It made the characters feel real without being overly dramatic. This book is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys workplace stories with emotional resonance. I found this book to be comforting, intelligent, and highly engaging ideal for those who love character development mo...

Book Review: 686  My Take: Can a machine love?  My Love AI by Deepali Bakshi, that’s the question that pulled me into this captivating read and I was not disappointed. This book blends futuristic tech with deep emotional warmth, creating a story that is as thought-provoking as it is heartwarming. This book is a beautifully imagined read. The highlight I loved about this book is how it gently challenges our ideas of connection and feeling. The storyline is tender, original, and surprisingly emotional. The author has done an impressive job weaving soulful emotion into a sci-fi backdrop. The theme felt fresh, yet incredibly relatable. The writing is simple and smooth, drawing readers into a future that somehow feels just like now lonely hearts searching for meaning. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys emotional sci-fi, soft romance, or stories that explore what makes us human. I found this book to be comforting and quietly powerful it made me think and feel at once. Th...

Book Review: 685 My Take: What if love didn’t need grand gestures to feel magical? That’s the question beautifully answered in Love Me Like A KDrama by Deepali Bakshi, a heartwarming and slow-burn romance that was crafted with incredible warmth and honesty.  This book is a delightful read sweet, thoughtful, and full of the quiet moments that make love feel real. The highlight I loved about this book is how love was shown through small details, not drama. The storyline was gentle but engaging, filled with relatable emotions and soft surprises.The author has done an impressive job of balancing fantasy and realism. With each page, subtle emotions were brought to life without overcomplicating the story. The writing is smooth and simple, yet packed with depth. This book is a comforting read for anyone who enjoys K-Dramas or just wants to curl up with a love story that’s real and pure. I found this book to be warm, nostalgic, and easy to fall into. The author’s writing stands out with it...

Book Review: 684 My Take: If history could be felt, not just learned? That’s exactly the kind of immersive experience offered in People of the West by David M. McGowan, told through vivid stories and interwoven poetry, this book brings 170 years of North American transformation to life in a way that feels incredibly real and emotionally layered. This book is a thoughtful and reflective read. The highlight I loved about this book is how it seamlessly blends fact-inspired fiction with lyrical interludes. The storyline is constructed with care, letting each story and poem carry the soul of its time. The author has masterfully created characters and moments that speak beyond the page. The writing is rich yet accessible, making even complex themes easy to connect with. This book is a meaningful read for anyone who enjoys literary fiction with historical depth. I found this book to be both grounding and enlightening. It didn’t just inform it left a mark. The storytelling feels layered, the p...

Book Review: 683 My Take: What if justice wasn’t always about rules but about results?  That question is at the heart of Boundaries, a gripping, smartly written story that bends traditional ideas of right and wrong in all the best ways.  This book is a bold, gritty, and incredibly absorbing read.  The highlight I loved about this book is the way it walks the edge between order and chaos, showing how complex people can still bring clarity to messy situations.  The storyline is fast-paced, unpredictable, and layered with moments that keep you thinking long after the chapter ends. The author has crafted a character-driven narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.  The writing is sharp and cinematic it reads smoothly, with just the right balance of detail and dialogue. This book is a great read for anyone who enjoys western mystery, morally grey heroes, or stories where justice takes an unconventional path.  I found this book to be one of those ra...

Book Review: 682 My Take: What if the silence in your marriage wasn’t peaceful but painfully loud? That’s the eye-opening question at the heart of The Silent Marriage: How Passive Aggression Steals Your Happiness by Nora Femenia, a powerful, deeply insightful read that speaks straight to the heart. This book is a gentle, wise, and incredibly validating read. The highlight I loved about this book is how it explains the subtle yet harmful effects of emotional withdrawal in relationships something often ignored or misunderstood. The book is structured like a guide, helping readers move from confusion and isolation to clarity and emotional strength.The author has beautifully addressed an often hidden form of emotional pain with empathy and intelligence. The writing is clear, thoughtful, and quietly powerful no fluff, just meaningful insight and practical guidance.This book is a must-read for anyone feeling emotionally neglected or unsure about why their relationship feels so empty. I foun...

Book Review: 681 My Take: What if the real healing didn’t begin when you left the relationship but when you finally started rebuilding yourself? That’s the powerful idea explored in, Emotionally Abusive Relationships: : Your Guide to Healing from Emotional Abuse in Marriage and Divorce by Nora Femenia, a compassionate, eye-opening, and empowering read. This book is a genuine, comforting, and deeply transformational read. The highlight I loved about this book is how it turns pain into purpose not by dismissing the hurt, but by helping readers build the strength to rise from it. The storyline unfolds as a healing roadmap, guiding you from survival to complete emotional recovery and self-reclamation. The author has shared a fresh and empowering perspective that stands out in the self-help space. The writing is honest, comforting, and incredibly clear it feels like a heart-to-heart conversation with someone who truly gets it. This book is a must-read for anyone healing after emotional trau...

Book Review: 680 My Take: What will you do if emotional distance becomes the new normal in your marriage?  That’s the painful but necessary question tackled with honesty and grace in,  Escaping The Sexless Marriage: A Practical Manual to Bring Back Intimacy and Trust into a Passive Aggressive Marriage  by Nora Femenia. .  This book is a courageous, compassionate, and eye-opening read.  The highlight I loved about this book is its raw truthfulness how it validates the deep hurt of rejection and loneliness without making the reader feel ashamed or blamed.  The book is structured like a practical guide, walking readers through awareness, self-worth, and the rebuilding of trust and intimacy. The author has crafted an incredibly thoughtful resource for those facing emotional abandonment in their relationships.  The writing is simple, heartfelt, and packed with wisdom it speaks directly and gently, like a caring mentor. This book is a powerful read for anyon...

Book Review: 679 My Take: What if love and control were so closely linked, you couldn’t tell the difference anymore? That question is beautifully explored in Emotional Abuse: The Hidden War for Power and Control in Your Relationship by Nora Femenia, a book that delivers clarity, strength, and hope. This book is a powerful, eye-opening, and deeply validating read. The highlight I loved about this book is how emotional abuse has been explained in such a clear and relatable way especially how it often hides behind “care.”  The storyline is built around real-life insight, practical understanding, and emotional growth, making it both informative and healing. The author has done an incredible job of gently guiding readers through one of the most misunderstood areas of relationships.  The writing is warm, clear, and deeply compassionate it makes you feel seen and heard, even when discussing difficult truths.  This book is a must-read for anyone who feels emotionally stuck or c...

Book Review: 678 My Take: What if the problem in your relationship wasn’t you but the quiet, hidden patterns that have been ignored for too long?  Relationship Counseling: For Women Dealing with Passive-Aggressive Behavior  by Nora Femenia,  opens that door with clarity and compassion.  This book is a deeply insightful and empowering read.  The highlight I loved about this book is how it acknowledges the invisible damage caused by passive-aggressive behavior and validates the pain that often goes unseen.  The storyline serves as a guide clear, step-by-step, and grounded in emotional truth.  The author has shared this knowledge with kindness and strength, making the reader feel supported and understood.  The writing is straightforward yet gentle, making complex emotional dynamics easy to grasp without overwhelming the reader. This book is a lifesaver for anyone feeling lost or unheard in their relationship.  I found this book to be a thoughtfu...

Book Review: 677 My Take: What will you do if love begins to hurt more than it heals? That powerful question sits at the core of When Love Hurts: Repairing The Pain of Loving an Emotionally Abusive Person  by Nora Femenia , and it’s handled with honesty, depth, and purpose. This book is a gentle, insightful, and empowering read. The highlight I loved about this book is how pain has been reframed not to dismiss it, but to show how strength can quietly grow within it.  The storyline is more of a guide than a narrative, but each page feels personal and deeply healing. The author has created a space where pain is acknowledged and gently redirected into personal growth.  The writing is warm, clear, and full of compassion it feels like a wise friend talking, not preaching. This book is a must-read for anyone who has experienced emotional pain in a relationship and wants to turn it into something meaningful.  I found this book to be incredibly validating and quietly transfo...

Book Review: 676 My Take: What if everything you wished for came true but at a cost you never saw coming? That’s the intriguing premise at the heart of Closet, The Edge of Reality series by John Landrine, a bold, fascinating read that blends fantasy with personal reckoning. This book is a gripping, thought-provoking, and surprising read. The highlight I loved about this book is how it takes a relatable theme wanting control over life and flips it with an unexpected twist. The storyline is fast-paced and layered, with just enough tension to keep the pages turning while delivering a deeper message. The author has crafted a unique concept with imagination and insight, creating a world that feels just slightly off-reality yet believable. The writing is clear, compelling, and never loses its grip on the reader. This book is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys mind-bending fiction with strong moral undertones.  I found this book to be engaging and meaningful, with moments that made me s...

Book Review: 675 My Take: Why do we often learn the hard way when someone could’ve just handed us a manual? Survive and Thrive: The Contractor's Manual by Fizza Khan, is that manual smart, sassy, and spot-on for anyone navigating the unpredictable world of IT contracting. This book is a sharp, real, and hilariously helpful read. The highlight I loved about this book is how it simplifies complex contractor struggles from awkward recruiter calls to client chaos while keeping it light and relatable. The storyline is built around real-world experience, offering insights that feel like they came from a seasoned friend, not a textbook.  The author has delivered practical wisdom with refreshing honesty and punchy humor. No fluff, just the kind of advice you wish you’d had earlier. The writing is crisp, conversational, and absolutely binge-worthy.  This book is a must-have read for anyone in the IT world, especially if you’re starting out or feeling stuck. I found this book to be smar...

Book Review: 674 My Take What if healing came not from forgetting your past, but by walking straight through it somewhere far from home? Things That Go Dark in the Light by Stan G. Duncan,  explores this in the most unexpected, beautiful way.  This book is a thoughtful, moving, and unforgettable read. The highlight I loved about this book is how grief, history, and hope have been brought together without ever feeling forced. The storyline is layered with emotional depth, a sense of place, and quiet revelations that keep building till the end.  The author has created a narrative that feels human and grounded, while still carrying emotional weight. The writing is smooth, honest, and wonderfully paced never rushed, never flat.  This book is a great read for anyone who enjoys stories of personal transformation, cultural immersion, and emotional depth. I found this book to be soul-stirring, with just the right mix of pain and promise. The journey it offers is quiet but pr...

1. Could you please introduce yourself to us?  Hi, my name is Stan Duncan, and I'm a retired economic development advisor, social worker, church pastor, van driver, ghost writer, restaurant owner, short-order cook, and a few other things I can't remember.  2. Congratulations on your book! What inspired you to write it? I lived in El Salvador for several years bck in the 80s, during their civil war and for years since I thought novel set in that painful era would be important and engaging to a good many readers. While writing I realized that El Salvador was attempting to become a democracy and we in the US are attempting to keep ours, and many of the similarities seemed very strong.  3. What is your book about? David, the protagonist has suddenly and tragically lost his wife and in his dispair and depression a colleague in the states, but from El Salvador, offers him a job working with nonprofits in El Salvador. On a desperate whim, he takes it and then finds himself in a ...