Unallocated Space (Sam Flatt, #1) - Jerry Hatchett

Unallocated Space (Sam Flatt, #1) - Jerry Hatchett

Amazon Top 100 Free book, 4 stars.

Really liked the level of detail in this story. The protagonist is well developed and you learn a lot of his past but not enough at the same time so he remains an enigma that you cannot wait to follow through the plotline. This story dives into the darkness that makes up some of the worst of humanity, sex trade and wealth/power dominating in the cruelest ways. While you learn to love the protagonist you hate his initial enemy in the FBI. Whenever an author can invoke such a strong reaction, positively or negatively, I automatically love the book. What is even better is the way the FBI agent’s development through the story that makes you forgive her and like her character, again a trait I love in authors.

Dialogues of a Crime - John K. Manos

Dialogues of a Crime - John K. Manos

Top 100 Amazon Free book, 3 stars.

This book was interesting and kept me hooked. Two young boys become friends and one of these boys happens to be the son of a Chicago mob boss. The boss takes the boy under his wing and treats him like a son/nephew his entire life. When the young kid is arrested in college for a drug related crime (showing an undercover cop where he could buy drugs) he is led to plead guilty by his lawyer and ends up in prison with hardened criminals. While in prison he is brutally attacked and molested before the mob boss is able to buy protection for the kid. Just before his release the boy makes a promise to the ones that hurt him on how they were going to die. He tells the mob boss this promise and 20 years later the cold cases surface. This book brings into question who is innocent and who is guilty. Does one crime leading to another make the follow up a crime? Is putting a man’s life in danger with the mob worth hunting down a killer from 20 years ago for men that committed multiple crimes and brutalities against innocent people? This book has the essence of “playing God” and the cold thrill of a mob mentality of loyalty and the hunt for power. Only three stars because some of the story line is too farfetched which makes it hard to totally fall into and believe the events but overall a great quick read!

The Thriver's Edge: Seven Keys to Transform the Way You Live, Love, and Lead - Donna Stoneham

The Thriver's Edge: Seven Keys to Transform the Way You Live, Love, and Lead - Donna Stoneham

GoodReads First Read winner and a 5 star rating! I have had this book for a while and so glad I was motivated to read it recently. This book followed the motivational thread of “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and “Think and Grow Rich”. While those other books focused on learning how to build relationships with other people this book focused on building a relationship with yourself (maybe start with this book before you hope to the others??? Just a thought…).

This book really gets into the psychology of why we are afraid of our own success and how to overcome the fear in order to chase success. In order to thrive and be successful we need to trust ourselves and the people around us, be humble and suffer humility (good and bad) with our weaknesses and strengths, be resilient, have direction, have vision, be expansive and last but not least be responsible for our success. No one is going to care more about you and your personal success then yourself. Being a victim and having an alibi (if I had more money, if I had more time, maybe before my kids, maybe if I had kids, etc) will not get you on the road to thriving.

This book helps point out the “alibis” and walls we build around ourselves and then provides a workbook like guide at the end of the chapters to help overcome them. Another book to buy, read, markup and read again and again.

Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill

Another book my husband bought me this book when I took the leap and became a distributor for It Works! And again, this one was AMAZING to read, another 5 Star rating on this one. Just like “How to Win Friends and Influence People” this book was full of common sense items that need to be seen/read/heard in order to bring meaning to them. Again it focuses on the relationships we hold with others as a way to gain things for ourselves. It also points out that your mental state of mind is a huge driving force behind the success you gain or do not gain. I loved the pointers given on mindful mindset and motivational/positive mindset. Another book to buy, read, markup and read again and again over the years.

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

My husband bought me this book when I took the leap and became a distributor for It Works! And it was AMAZING to read so no surprise for my 5 Star rating on this one. A lot of the things written in this book are “Duh” and common sense thoughts but for me sometimes when it is written out and I read it, it hits me harder and makes more sense. It is easy to know something and take advantage of it as a fact without fully comprehending the meaning behind it. Example, people love to talk about themselves because they are the most important person in the world, to themselves. Duh right? Necessary to read, hear and see though when you are attempting to build relationships and get further in life though. Always remember that the other person’s priorities are higher in their mind than yours will ever be. Everyone should buy this book, read it, mark it up and read it again and again throughout the years.

Amazon Free Titles - catching up

Finding My Prince Charming - JS Cooper
Didn't really care too much for this book. The main character and her best friend are abroad for a study program and she decides to have a crazy night and break out of her shell. She ends up in a romance with a prince and unattainable bachelor that all the sudden is attainable... I tired story line :(

The Marketmaker - Michael Ridpath
Liked it. This was an interesting thriller based in a rather dull profession (in my opinion). A young man cannot make enough money as a Russian literature teacher (big surprise) so he joins an investment firm that is looking to branch into the Russian markets. On his way to learning the business though he is sent to Latin America where he sees first hand the dark underbelly of the company he works for. Was a good free read!

The Advocate - Teresa Burrell
Really enjoyed this one. Would recommend it even if its not on the free list anymore. Sabre is a child's advocate lawyer in California and partners with the Atlanta PD to solve this case. There are so many plot twists and little details to keep  up with I didn't want to put this book down.

Preparing for Marriage: What To Do Before (and after) The Wedding - Jim and Teresa Adams
This book made a good point, couples spend so much on weddings but not a lot on their marriages. It has some good points to review and think about even if you have been married for years.

Beautiful Ruin - Alison Foster
It was ok. I really like the male character Nate in the start of the story. I wish their was more character development at the start before it rushed right into the meat of the story but I am a sucker for a broken man.

Forgotten - Maggie Shayne
It was ok. Slight supernatural thriller/mystery story. The main character has psychic tendency's and has a connection to a serial killer dubbed "the slasher". It was interesting seeing all the links develop and you wont guess the ending. Not my favorite though.

The Good Lawyer - Thomas Benigno
Liked it. Loosely the story is based on true events which seems super intense. When the war on drugs began and young mostly innocent kids were getting tossed into the prison system things happened. In this case a young man ended up in prison for showing an undercover agent where to buy drugs. In prison he unfortunately is abused before his best friends father, and mafia leader, is able to buy protection. A few strong words from this young men leads to the death of his abusers. No one researches too much initially and 20 years later it opens up again. The young mans life and loyalty to the aging and dying mafia family is thrown into question leading to police wondering what is justice.

Follow the Crow - BB Griffith
Liked it. This story revolves around the Navajo culture and is supernatural. I really liked the glimpse into the Navajo culture. It was a different thought process that was unique to see. Of course supernatural things that happened brought away from the reality of the culture but the basic gist was there. I wanted to reach into the book and hug Ben the main Navajo character.

Taste for Trouble (Blake Brothers Trilogy, #1) - Susan Sey

Amazon Top 100 Free

Naughty boy next door strikes again!

I liked this one, it was very well written. Even though you start the book thinking, oh yeah another typical romance it was surprising at the end. It was more then just the obvious love interest. There were multiple layers to the story which I really enjoyed.

The main character is from a dysfunctional family and she is looking to control her life and build a "perfect" one. She then runs into a huge messy obstacle of the boy next door and his band of brothers. Her soon to be husband leaves her hours before they say I do for her assistant/maid of honor which also leads to her losing her job. Her only hope to get her job back is to whip the bad boys into shape in order to save her new love interest his promising soccer career.