Factor-7 By J.D. May

 

The life of Dr. Sam Hawkins, the head trauma surgeon at Galveston's St. Peter's Memorial Hospital, is changed forever by the cryptic words of his dying friend, Dr. Bill Roberts, and a string of murders and blatant cover-ups that follow his demise. Sam reluctantly teams up with Dr. Rainee Arienzo, an Italian infectious disease specialist, and together they uncover the terrifying truth about Factor-7, a bio-weapon with a 98% mortality rate.

Dr. Roberts's journal tips them off that a clandestine plot for using the virus is about to be unleashed by a secret society, the Keepers Collegium. The Collegium, an international group of rogue intelligence agents, ex-military, and government officials, has a demonic plan to use the pathogen to destroy anyone who threatens their twisted ideology.

Sam and Rainee can't trust anyone. Danger and deceit are around every corner as they travel the world. They soon realize that public exposure of the evil plot would be as dangerous to the world's security as the bio-weapon itself. The fallout could lead to World War III. Therefore, they must not only shut down the plans of the Collegium, but also keep the top-secret information from ever being revealed. But as they work to stop the plot, Sam and Rainee are kidnapped by the largest Mexican drug cartel. The kingpin, who financed much of the Collegium's plot, wants Dr. Roberts's journal because it lists the names of the major players in the Collegium who had double-crossed him. He plans to carry out his special revenge. And he also has his own plans for Sam and Rainee. In order to survive, Sam and Rainee have no choice...they must play with one of two devils or be burned by both.

Pick up your copy here...

Factor-7: May, J D: 9781641118651: Amazon.com: Books

J.D. May is a third generation Texan from the Lower Rio Grande Valley. She loves her band of house cats as well as the large tribe of fat, happy TNR'd feral cats that came with her rural property in a small citrus-growing community. Palm tree-lined roads, natural waterways, and roaming wild animals including alligators, deer, wild hogs, and birds of every color make Bayview a perfect place for a writer and painter. She also loves the beach, rock and roll, Tex-Mex food, cooking, Shiner Bock beer, and she believes wine is a legitimate food group. She shows her paintings at The Laguna Madre Art Gallery in Port Isabel, Texas. J.D. May attended Sam Houston State University, San Miguel de Allende Instituto, and Rice University where she studied drama, art, creative writing and Spanish. J.D. May worked in advertising for most of her career. She is married to a former award-winning surfer and has a daughter and soon to have a brand-new granddaughter.

My Thoughts...

I almost felt like I was reading a Dan Browne novel. It had the same feel. This book was full of action. And I am happy to have found another new author to spend the evenings with. I gave this book 4 stars. The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Trading Secrets By Rachael Eckles

 

BEFORE
Celeste Donovan, a high-powered finance executive, seems to have it all--the penthouse apartment, the supermodel physique with a mathematician mind, and a trail of beautiful men she has loved and left behind.

But when her boyfriend Theodore is killed in a mysterious accident, she discovers Omar, her abusive ex she had hoped would never resurface, is behind his death.

AFTER
Now she's caught in a game of cat and mouse, trying to anticipate Omar's next move, as she realizes he will stop at nothing to get to her. She sets out alone on a whirlwind journey to entrap him, determined to put an end to Omar's destruction.

Soon Celeste is thrust in the middle of the largest financial scandal in decades. This time, however, powerful government officials are in bed with some of the world's most dangerous men.

When she discovers that those she thought she knew best are involved in a secret society warring with Omar and his coconspirators, she must decide how far she will go to avenge Theodore's death and whether she is willing to risk her own life to save everyone she loves.

Pick up your copy here...

Trading Secrets: Eckles, Rachael: 9781734901818: Amazon.com: Books

Rachael Eckles grew up in the Midwest. After graduating from law school, she followed her heart and moved to the east coast. Trading Secrets is her first novel. She currently lives in Manhattan with her puppy, where she is working on book two in the Trading Secrets Trilogy.

She is a board member for The Village Cooperative (www.experiencethevillage.com) and is donating 5% of her book sales proceeds to TVC for programs to empower women, girls, and communities in Kenya, Guatemala, and India.
 
rachaeleckles.com

instagram.com/rachaeleckles

My Thoughts...

 Warning for a graphic rape scene. 

I hate to write a negative review I like to find something positive in each book I read.

So I will say that this is a nice cover and if you are like me great covers are a plus.

I was very confused at the ending. So I will just say if you like dark reads then give this one a go.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Happy New year Blog Followers!

 As 2020 comes to an end, this has been an awful year. I am happy to see it in my rearview mirror. I am thankful for each and everyone of you. 2021 has so many great movies and books releasing and I am happy I am going to be sharing them with you.

2021 we will also have tons of giveaways here on the  blog so stick around. Be sure to invite your friends and family to come over and follow so they can be entered in the $500 Amazon gift card giveaway and all the books I will be sharing and giving away. 

All That We Carried By Erin Bartels

 

Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a backcountry hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. Over the years, they grew apart, each coping with the loss in her own way. Olivia plunged herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world--what you see is what you get, and that's all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life-coaching business around her cafeteria-style spirituality--a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy.

Now, at Melanie's insistence (and against Olivia's better judgment), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they'll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.

Michigan Notable Book Award winner Erin Bartels draws from personal experience hiking backcountry trails with her sister to bring you a story about the complexities of grief, faith, and sisterhood.

Pick up your copy here...

All That We Carried: A Novel: Bartels, Erin: 9780800738365: Amazon.com: Books

ERIN BARTELS is the award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things—a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, winner of the 2020 Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association in both the debut and general fiction categories, and a 2019 Christy Award finalist—The Words between Us—a 2020 Christy Award finalist—and All That We Carried (coming January 2021). Her short story “This Elegant Ruin” was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. Her poems have been published by The Lyric and The East Lansing Poetry Attack. A member of the Capital City Writers Association and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she is former features editor of WFWA’s Write On! magazine and current director of the annual WFWA Writers Retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She lives in Michigan, where she is never more than six miles away from a body of water. She grew up in the Bay City area waiting for freighters and sailboats at drawbridges and spent her college and young married years in Grand Rapids. She currently lives with her husband and son in Lansing, nestled somewhere between angry protesters on the Capitol lawn and couch-burning frat boys at Michigan State University. And yet, she claims it is really quite peaceful.

You can find her on Facebook @ErinBartelsAuthor, Twitter @ErinLBartels, and Instagram @erinbartelswrites.

My Thoughts...

I loved this story about these two sisters. It was such a touching, heartfelt read.

Bartels, writes with so much heart and her characters  are so real and easy to connect with. The forgiveness and grief and healing was so well portrayed.

I am sharing this book with so many people, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this 5 star read.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Seven Broken Souls By Bull Durham

 

This is my real life story about the parents that emotionally, verbally and physically abused me. They left me with lifelong physical and emotional scars that I would have to first recognize and then fight to overcome. I have no back up or safety net to rely on in life, its just me and always has been. When I turned 17, I started life on my own, paying my own way and making my own mistakes at my own peril. I worked extremely hard to put myself through high school, college and became a Vice President at one of the nations largest banks only to see my bosses and those above me with power retaliate against me time and time again before and after I was a whistle blower. I have tried to become better at everything I do from school, work, my health and own the mistakes I made, but I wont let anyone take my integrity away from me, I've worked too hard at it and for it. I'm healthier than I have ever been, but my family isn't and wont get the help they need. I have lost most of my family as well during this process of recovery. I had money, success, and dated some of the most beautiful women inside and out, but none of that made me happy until God started showing me I had to love myself before I could love anyone or anything else. I was in survival mode for almost 25 years and now I'm unleashing the bull that my grandfather always referred to me as. I have had multiple surgeries, hospital emergency room visits and therapists because of the damage my parents did, but I have never used these as an crutch. I haven't always done the right things in my personal life, but I have worked with the highest integrity in my professional career with my clients to ensure success for them and myself. This bank and HVAC retailer only care about money, keeping their secrets and will try to run over anyone that gets in their way. Both of these companies are about to learn if you mess with the bull you're going to get the horns!!!! Make no mistake a stagecoach and horses are no match for a BULL! He is the youngest of seven physically, emotionally and verbally abused children at the hands of his parents, but his sisters had it far worse, His father left him with a life-long seizure disorder after suffering blunt force trauma to his head, His mother let her boyfriends physically abuse him, but her cruel words left him with emotional scars that were more damaging then anything physically done to him. He started this world on his own when he was just 17 years old with a contact case and $20 to his name. He educated himself through multiple ways, battled addiction and became a Vice President at one of the nations largest Banks. He gained his sobriety when he was at the height of his career, a rising star, but lost it when he turned whistleblower. He worked in a sexist culture and with a homophobic boss that would run over you if you didn't get out of his way. His sobriety came at a price and he lost most of his family. He is healthier than he has ever been, but has lost all that he once held valuable. He built longstanding relationships for a multiple top retailers in the U.S.A. from Pella Windows and Doors, BATHFITTER and Brunswick Billiards, only to see his career shredded when multiple officers retaliated against him for doing what was right and speaking up. He has had many setbacks in his life, but he hasn't ever let that stop him and never made excuses for his challenges in life. He has told his employer many times "....if you mess with the bull you're going to get the horns...". Two companies that sought to harm him by ruining his reputation with false allegations when he was standing up for the consumer, his clients and himself by doing the right things.

Pick up your copy here...

Seven Broken Souls: Durham, Bull: 9798555008060: Amazon.com: Books

 I have  a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from William Penn University, I have been professionally trained on presenting, negotiations and writing. I have worked in the finance sector for almost 20 years and I'm looking for my next chapter in life.

I rescue dogs as I am broken and it fills my heart a little each time a take a broken down dog and show them love and get them to their best version of themselves for their new forever home. I have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks (Mia and Maggie) and i'm a member of R.R.U.S. (Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue of the United States). I'm on the board of my local YMCA, I try and shop locally and eat as healthy as possible. I give back to my community as I know my community has given to me.

I am a bicycle enthusiast, love live music, great food, and the IOWA HAWKEYES football, basketball and wrestling teams!!!! I attend Hope Church In West Des Moines & Celebrate Recovery at Hope Church also. Hope CR helped save my life.

My Thoughts...

I wanted to share this book with you all.  The author is trying to take his life back. 

You may enjoy this read.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

When Anxiety Strickes By Jason and Dena Hobbs

 

“Fear not.” “Do not be afraid.” “Peace be with you.” Phrases like these appear in the Bible more often than almost any other proclamation. We long to follow these commands. Yet for many, something inside us is wary, ready for anything and everything to go wrong. In fact, a quarter of Americans struggle with anxiety disorders--and Christians are not immune.

Jason and Dena Hobbs are familiar with this struggle, professionally and personally--Jason as a clinician, Dena as someone with anxiety, and both as pastors of congregations full of anxious people. They also know the shame and confusion that so often accompany these disorders, especially for people who think their faith should be strong enough to overcome these struggles. With their deep understanding, they’ve written When Anxiety Strikes, an eight-week guide to managing anxiety, grounded in both Scripture and research.

Structured for daily reading, with integrated practices for everyday life, the book addresses seven themes: breath, body, movement, mind, change, spirit, and community. Concise stories, readings, questions, and activities guide readers to tackle the realities of living with anxiety. When Anxiety Strikes offers real solutions to find a solid landing place when the storm of fear looms.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: When Anxiety Strikes: Help and Hope for Managing Your Storm (9780825446641): Hobbs LCSW M.Div, Jason, Hobbs M.Div, Dena: Books

Dena Douglas Hobbs, M.Div. served as an minister in the United Methodist Church for six years before leaving parish ministry to raise her two young children. She continues to preach, teach groups, and lead retreats and workshops in local congregations. Dena holds a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia. She blogs at denadouglashobbs.com.

My Thoughts...

This is a valuable resource in this trying time we are living in. It seems as if we are all dealing with anxiety and to have this tool is a must.

Mental heath is so important and have a guide such as this one is a real gift. 

I recommend this 4 star book. If you have a friend or loved one struggling with Anxiety or depression please gift them a copy of this very helpful guide.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Blog Followers!

 

I could not let this week go by and not let you all know just how much you all mean to me. All the support that you show me, means the world to me.

I have mailed out packages to all of you who have commented on my posts all year. You will notice that this year I did not wrap anything I just put everything in the box and shipped it to you all. Please forgive me.

I also have a box of all my favorite books from 2020 going out to you guys this week.

THANK YOU for all of your support. I love and appreciate each and everyone of you!

I can't wait for all the books for 2021. I am super excited to share some really good ones with you all!