Book Review - Guardians Inc. The Cypher - Julian Rosado-Machain

Title:  Guardians Inc. TheCypher

Author:  Julian Rosado-Machain

Review:  This was a fun book, and looks like the start of really great series.  The story is built around a 15 year old boy named Thomas.  He is living with his grandfather.  His parents went on a cruise the  summer he was going into his Sophomore year and never came back.  Because of having the extra burden of Thomas to raise, his Grandfather is looking for a job  and looking for a job at the age he is, has turned out to be way harder then he ever thought it would be, so when Thomas sees an ad in the paper he shows it to his grandfather, and the adventure begins. 

This book is full of fun characters like Killjoy Khanna, the coffee toting high school principal with a back ground not to be believed, Bolswaithe, the butler that isn't all he looks to be, to Henri, who you will just have to figure out, as he is many characters in one. Other characters include Dr Franco who is way older then he lets on and Tasha with her cute pointy ears, beautiful face and deadly powers. Then there is my favorite, Tony Della Francesca, who loves to surprise Thomas with unique and different breakfast each morning from anywhere in the world, when they actually have the time to enjoy them, and has a few surprises of his own to reveal as the book progresses.

The story can be classed as fantasy-science fiction and is a very enjoyable reading.  The author builds his characters and helps the reader develop an affinity for them.   As the book progresses the reader begins to wish that they could be part of the adventure, able to walk down the halls of the mansion, open a door and be in a whole different part of the world. 

 

The book is well written and can be enjoyed by any age but is targeted for young adult fiction.  The book is clean and language is minimal, for these reasons I enjoyed it even more.  I give this book five stars out of five, very creative and will be followed by a few more to continue the story line I am sure. 

Publisher:  Published February 26th 2011 by Julian Rosado-Machain

ISBN: 1450748589 (ISBN13: 9781450748582)

Copyright:  2011

Pages:  Paperback, 238 pages

Quick Review:  5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:  GUARDIANS INC.: THE CYPHER is two stories in one. A glimpse into a multinational company that is in reality the oldest of secret societies, one that spans close to seven thousand years of existence, weaving in and out of history, guiding and protecting humanity from creatures and forces that most of us believe are only mythology and fairy tales.

The other is the story of Thomas Byrne, a young man thrust into secrets he shouldn’t be aware of and dangers he shouldn’t face but, that he ultimately will, for he is a Cypher. The only one who can steer humanity’s future.

The ultimate conspiracy theory is that Magic is real. Kept in check by technology but, every five hundred years the balance can shift and, if it does, technology will fail and those creatures we’ve driven into myth will come back with a vengeance.

To protect the present, Guardians Incorporated needs to know the future.

 

Author Bio:  Hello.

My name is Julian, and I'm the author of Guardians Incorporated. Instead of telling you bits about me, I would ask you to take a short trip here:

www.guardiansinc.com

Where you'll find everything there is to know about Guardians Inc. so far.

Illustrations, character bios, places and even my own short bio too...

There is also the Guardians Inc. Blog where one of the characters explains (and complaints) about his job at Guardians Inc. at least once a week and you'll find the link right to...well...to the right of this page.

Zombies, Dwarves, Elves, Technology, Mythology and Magic...That is the universe of Guardians inc. I hope you enjoy it!

Other Reviews:

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Now is Gone

Mrs Mommys Bookends

Monday in my Mailbox

What was in your mailbox this week?  What would you like to see in your mailbox next week?
A tale of self-discovery; an egg is afraid to hatch because the world is too noisy, but when one of these noises captures her mother, she finds out just how brave she can be!
2012 Indie Excellence Finalist in the Holiday Division. 

This beautiful story of a nostalgic look back when the "Wish Book" Sears catalog was the only way children would get their Christmas wishes. 

The specialized Sears Christmas Catalog, nicknamed the Wishbook - began in the mid 1930's. It became a holiday staple in virtually every American home. 

Not realized at the time, the Sears catalogs were recording the changing scene in America and represented the daily lives and work of thousands of Americans. 

From the Author: 
We lived in a valley called Eagle Creek, which is on the eastern side of Arizona between the Apache Indian reservation and the New Mexico State line. The mail came once a week. 

We had no electricity, no indoor bathroom and the water was pumped into the house by a windmill. I lived there with my Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Grandmother and my Uncle that lived out in the bunkhouse. 

A catalog was something that we always welcomed into the home. There were feed catalogs, seed catalogs, clothes catalogs and dry goods catalogs. 

We enjoyed every one of them. They seem to take us on a journey that we would have never went on unless the catalog arrived. 

We ordered mostly out of two catalogs, the Sears, and the Wards catalogs. We ordered our dry goods out of these two catalogs. 

When Christmas came around, we didn’t have any malls to browse through but we had something that was better. There was one special catalog that us children loved to see arrive. 

As a matter of fact the person that took it out of the mailbox was almost a hero for an hour or so. It arrived around the middle of October; it was the Sears Roebuck Christmas catalog.
In a trade-off she's lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved.For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.

Will fate once again separate them—or is the time finally right for these two star-crossed lovers.

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she's worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother's home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love. 

Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It's not the only time he's found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn't looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion...and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.

Under summer skies, New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods evokes family, friendship and heartfelt emotion With her two younger sisters heading for the altar, will Samantha Castle exchange old dreams for new ones? Lately she'd rather be on the North Carolina coast with family than in New York with agents and actors. Though she vows not to let her teenage crush on Ethan Cole influence her decision, it's hard to ignore  her feelings for the local war hero. 

Ethan lost more than his leg in Afghanistan. He lost his belief in love. Even being surrounded by couples intent on capturing happily-ever-after won't open this jaded doctor's heart. It's going to take a sexy, determined woman-one who won't take no for an answer.

The birds nest outside my bedroom window is a true account of watching eggs in a nest which was so close I could have touched it. It was written when the family was dealing with the cancer of a loved one and his dying process. Thus, these birds were gifts from God to say in the moment and enjoy something for awhile each day.

Book Feature - Age of Aura - Samuel Odunsi Jr.

Title:  Age of the Aura, Phase I: Champions of Power

Author:  Samuel Odunsi Jr

Synopsis:  There was no other name for the Blessed Galaxy. After being gifted with the Auras, five great powerhouses of celestial creation, the title was a suitable fit. While harnessing such energies, the governing bodies have ruled their respected reaches of the Galaxy for a number of millennia, but now they face the threat of an inevitable calamity that could shake the lives of everyone, caused by one of the five Auras.

After accepting a sudden promotion, a devout man of science, named Lowen Sars, decides to take on the burden of saving the Galaxy’s people after he learns of the calamity, but soon realizes that the role of a hero was a calling not meant for him. In his process of self-discovery, Lowen inadvertently begins the fateful saga of not only the Blessed Galaxy but also the kingdom in possession of the corrupt Aura, and especially its two young heirs of the throne.

Age of the Aura, Phase I: Champions of Power is the first book in a science fiction series that has yet to be seen elsewhere and it will certainly be one for the ages.

Q&A with Samuel Odunsi Jr

What is Age of the Aura?

Age of the Aura is a science fiction story that I started developing, I would say, around the time I was 12 or 13 years old, more or less. Even before I began writing notes and coming up with ideas, I have always wanted to tell a story on a large scale, but even when I was a child I knew that this would take great planning and execution. Given the countless amount of stories that are available, I set out to write a story that was as original as I could possibly make it, without it being too out of the loop.

What are your influences?

Since I am writing in the genre, I would say science fiction has been most influential on me. From literature, movies, television, and animation, I always knew that I wanted to write in the genre. The idea of the future and its possibilities has stuck with me to this day.

I have been a martial artist for a long part of my life, and the styles that I have trained in have had an influence on me. It is not just the combative aspect that I enjoy, but also the mental discipline and physical demand that martial arts training requires.

Lastly I would say that stories in general have influenced me in some way or another. I consider storytelling as the ultimate form of self-expression. The idea of organizing my imagination into a coherent narrative has always fascinated me.

Why should people read Age of the Aura?

Being a skeptic myself, I understand the difficulty people have in wanting to try out anything new, especially with the number of independently published stories that are out there these days. Even though I chose to publish the first book of Age of the Aura independently, it does not undermine the excellence of the story. For those that have read Phase I, they say it's original, unpredictable, contains depth, and has good pacing. For those that can find it in their hearts to take a chance on my work, I believe they will enjoy the story and will also be genuinely surprised at what I have come up with. Phase I properly sets up the massive universe of Age of the Aura and gives a taste of what is to come in the series.

Cheryl's Book Nook - "4 out of 5"

The Guide to Good Books - "5 out of 5"

Paranormal Sisters - "3.5 out of 5"

Books With Leti Del Mar - "3 out of 5"

http://ageoftheaura.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17182263-champions-of-power

Book Feature Friday - Irv's Odyssey: Lost in the Looking Glass - Irving H. Podolsky

Giveaway: Two copies of all three ebooks will be given away on this site.

Please comment with contact information.  Extra entries for following this blog

let me know how you follow in the comment.
Enter 3/8/13-4/02/13

Title:   Irv's Odyssey: Lost in a Looking Glass (Book One)

Author:  Irving H. Podolsky – read on for more information on the book.

TITLE: CROSSING THE LINE.  

‘I won’t cross the line,’ you tell yourself.

Problem is, the line keeps moving. That’s how good girls turn bad, when someone points you towards fast and easy money and you really need it. This time it’s nude modeling, but not quite like art class while sketching a model.

‘What’s wrong with nudity?’ you ask yourself. Nothing, even when everyone else is dressed. That’s what you’re thinking as he flashes a barrage of stills and your legs are still together.

But that doesn’t last long and soon you’re not only spreading your thighs, but the lips of your vagina.

‘Now this,’ you think, ‘is naughty.’ ‘But is it that naughty?’

No one who knows me will ever see these views, ten photos within the thousands that swamp the internet every day.

‘It’s just one time,’ you tell yourself. Five hundred dollars for an hour’s posing and then it’s back to class, back to that midterm you’re studying for in the dorm. 

But as you stroll out of the studio five hundred richer, you realize something has shifted. You feel older and more sexy, more alive and definitely more in control. Because now you know five more bills are waiting for you with a second session. And yes, you’ll have a partner next time, but nothing real. He’ll touch your breasts, maybe. Your hands will find his crotch. Maybe. But that’s where it’ll end.

‘I won’t cross the line,’ you promise. ‘Hardcore’s not for me.’

And that’s how it starts, one nudge at a time, rationalizing your moves from Never to Maybe to Just-a-Little. And the more you do it, the more it’s okay. After all, now that you’re “Family” everyone’s exposed. It’s no big deal anymore. It’s the way it is, and the money’s great, and so are your new friends. Sex is fun. Sex is liberating. And sure, there’s more people watching, but it’s exciting.

And soon you’ll have fans.

When a man’s eyes touch your skin, for five minutes you are the most important soul in his life. You matter. You are beautiful, and alluring, and wanted…until his climax. Thinking about this now, under hot pumping hips, you feel your gush as cameras come closer for a better look.

And that beauty behind the lights, you notice she’s watching you too. She’s in your next scene.

You’ve never had sex with another girl. Never considered it. But the director said she’ll do the work. Your part? Just close your eyes and relax. How bad can that be? Licks from a lady won’t make you less of a woman. It might make you more of a woman. At least that’s what you’re thinking.

In ten minutes you’ll find out.

*****

No, this is not an excerpt from the trilogy, Irv’s Odyssey. It’s my latest impression of how a young woman might end up in porn. None of the girls I knew explained their path to the place where we met. All they ever said was, “I’m in it for the money.”

And so was I. But I stayed behind the camera with my clothes on. And while immersed in that upside-down world I kept asking the same question to all I met along the way, “Why are you doing this?”

Fragments of psychology began to unfold, but it took me thirty years to figure it out. Then I wrote about it - the porn business, the mental hospital job, hitting bottom in food service, my journeys to Europe and to the Other Side, then finding the love of my life and a golf ball that predicted our future.

That report, I titled Irv’s Odyssey, which I wrote as a series of three novels; a fictitious memoir told by the fictitious character, Irving Podolsky. I have since taken that name as my writing and blogging persona.

I’d love to share my thoughts with you. Please join me at IrvingsJourney.com and within the pages of Irv’s Odyssey.

And thank you, Lisa and David, for inviting me to your blog. 

Synopsis:   Irving Podolsky is a nice Jewish boy looking for a nice Jewish girl and a job out of college which would, Irv hopes, make the world a better place. But when our hero's food supply dwindles down to a slab of Velveeta and a jar of pickles, our lad takes his only job offer: directing pornographic movies. This leads to a night shift gig in a mental hospital, only to have that be replaced by the lowest rung in food service, which drives Irv so bonkers his mind ejects out of his body to the Other Side. Irv's Odyssey is a humorous quest for love, truth and the meaning of life while lost in alternate life styles, a psychedelic drug culture and the free-love of the seventies. "Lost in a Looking Glass" starts the journey.Irving Podolsky resides in the mind of this writer and within the trilogy, "Irv's Odyssey." As your storyteller, I'd like to share the adventure with your younger YOU, that which seeks fun, romance and a wild ride into the Unknown.

"My plan was to take Lost in a Looking Glass with me so I could read it on our cruise. But I finished it before we even left. What a page turner "

Gregor Wossilus - film critic, content producer and story analyst for the Bavarian Broadcasting Network.

 

Information on the books and author:

Irving Podolsky resides in the mind of this writer and within the trilogy, Irv's Odyssey. As your storyteller, I’d like to share the adventure with your younger YOU, that which seeks fun, romance and a wild ride into the Unknown.

“The book is self-published, and I noticed a very small handful of spelling/grammar errors while I was reading. Don’t let that discourage you; I only mention it because it’s one of my pet peeves, and I notice equally as many errors in traditionally published e-books. What I noticed here was incredibly minor, and Irv’s personality makes it easy to forgive.”

http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2012/08/interview-with-irving-h-podolsky-author.html

http://www.moonlightgleam.com/2012/10/author-guest-post-with-irving-podolsky.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoonlightGleamsBookshelf+%28Moonlight+Gleam%27s+Bookshelf%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

http://www.junipergrove.net/featured-author-irving-podolsky-giveaway/

http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/irvs-odyssey-lost-in-a-looking-glass-by-irving-podolsky/

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/399680053

http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/2012/11/author-irving-h-podolsky-writing-trilogy.html

http://abitofdash.blogspot.com/2012/12/guest-post-by-irving-podolsky-and.html

http://tweedling.com/2013/01/guest-post-chop-wood-and-carry-water-irving-h-podolsky/

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/2013/01/interview-and-review-of-irvs-odyssey.html

Win a copy of each of these ebook....enter now with a comment with contact info and let me know if and how you follow this bolg for extra entries.  Thanks

From I AM Indeed:

Book one Feb 8 http://wp.me/p2wTNo-tG

Book two  Feb 13 http://wp.me/p2wTNo-tP

Book Three Feb 20 http://wp.me/p2wTNo-tS

http://cynthiashepp.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/guest-post-and-giveaway-from-irving-podolsky/

REVIEW SITE LINKS

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11799088-irv-s-odyssey

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Irv-s-Odyssey?store=book&keyword=Irv%27s+Odyssey

Book Review - Ready for Pretirement: 3 Secrets for Safe Money and a Fabulous Future

Title:  Ready for Pretirement: 3 Secrets for SafeMoney and a Fabulous Future.

Author: Kris Miller

Review:   This book is filled with needed information for anyone every planning to stop working.  Retirement seems like eons away and yet it will be here before most of us notice.  DO you have a will, trust, 401K, IRA, savings accounts or any other accounts that you earn money in or put money in, you need this book, or maybe a Dave Ramsey book, to help you decide what to do.  Unless you are an expert on money and money management you need help…I need help and I read and read about money matters.

Long-term care, Medicare, Social Security…what do these actually cover and what do they mean?  Will it be enough or will you go broke paying bills you thought were covered by one program or another?  Well read something about the future and where to put your money…read this book and find out something you may not have known or at least not known much about.

I need to study the last chapter more fully, I depend on my money guy to take care of all that stuff…you know the stuff I don’t understand and he swears he does…well I guess it’s time I learned and started knowing where my money is and what it's doing for me.

Published:  Published August 1st 2012 by Morgan JamesPublishing

ISBN: 9781614481256

Copyright: 2012

Pages: 200

Quick Review: 5 stars (out of 5)

Where I Obtained the Book:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  “Ready For PREtirement: Everything You Need To Know NOW So Your Money Is There When You Need It” is a comprehensive guide designed to help you plan for retirement NOW.  Retirement planning can be scary, confusing and overwhelming, especially if you wait until you’re faced with a family medical emergency. It is during these unexpected situations that people often make foolish decisions because of the stress and pressure to make a quick choice.

But a little planning goes a long way.  The worksheets and tools included in “Ready For PREtirement” make it easy to get started.  Learn how to create a Living Will and a Living Trust.  Designate Guardians for your young children and make sure that your family is cared for, even if you can’t be here to take care of them yourself.

While older people have pressing financial planning issues related to age and health, retirement planning isn’t just for Seniors.  Author Kris Miller taps into her vast Estate Planning experience and explains why you should get started now – even in your 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.

“Ready For PREtirement” is designed to offer – in easy-to-understand terms – an overview of all the financial decisions that everyone will need to make at some point in their lives.  From writing a will to creating a trust, from the proper way to hold property to selecting low-risk investments, this book provides necessary financial guidance for everyone. For those who haven’t even started their PREtirement planning yet, “Ready For PREtirement,” will serve as the first step.

So get started and get “Ready For PREtirement.”

 

Author Biography: Kris Miller, a retirement and living trust expert, has advised over 5,000 families in the past 20 years on retirement and estate planning issues. She coined the phrase, "pretirement" to emphasize how we need to prepare for our Golden Years way before we retire. Her new book, Ready For PREtirement, 3 Secrets for Safe Money and a Fabulous Future (Morgan James, September 2012) is a comprehensive guide to help anyone at any age to plan for retirement. In addition to her estate planning practice, Miller owns Trust Unlimited and the Living Trust Institute, a document preparation service for creating revocable living trusts. Miller has conducted numerous workshops to educate people and organizations about wise money management for their senior years, how to provide income for retirees, how to avoid probate, reduce taxes, secure the proper insurances, avoid asset-seizure to pay medical debts, and how to create a Living Trust. She holds many designations including:

* Certified Senior Advisor (a professional with knowledge about aging and the important health, financial and social issues that impact the majority of pretirees)

* Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant (a financial professional who remains up-to-date on the ever-changing Federal Government Benefits Program) * Legal Document Assistant (licensed by the State of California).

She is also licensed by California to sell life insurance and long-term care insurance. A member of the Society of Senior Advisors, she is also an active member of the National Speakers Association. In 2010, she was nominated Woman of the Year and Best Customer Service by Chamber of Commerce in Hemet, CA.

Miller is also an accomplished music professional. The talented singer and songwriter has won several prestigious songwriting awards, including Songwriter of the Year in three categories by the North American Country Music Awards in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012. She was also nominated in 2010-2012 as Songwriter of the Year by the Inspirational Country Music Awards. She had the No. 1 song in Country Gospel (June 2009) and No. 1 song in New Christian Music Country (September 2010).

The author of over 900 spiritual songs and garnered worldwide radio-play on gospel and country stations. Her music has also topped the charts in Europe.

Miller, a regular guest on "Money 101 with Bob McCormick" for CBS Los Angeles, KFWB News Talk 980, earned the moniker "Money Maestro" because the songstress harmonizes people's finances and keeps them singing "in tune" financially

with security and growth.

Kris resides in Hemet, CA. For more information, please consult www.ReadyforPREtirement.com or read her blog at

www.KrisMillerMoneyMaestro.com.

Other Reviews:
Dad of Divas Reviews
My Book Addiction Reviews