Review: Towers of Silence (Sal Kilkenny #5) by Cath Staincliffe

4 stars for Towers of Silence (Sal Kilkenny book 5) by Cath Staincliffe.

From a professional point of view, each mystery solved is a job well done. And Sal, as a private investigator, has succeeded in getting to the root of the towers of silence. However, the outcome has been devastating rather than satisfying. So, it comes to pass that sometimes "ignorance is bliss".

On a separate note..
I find myself keeping a lookout for the next book in line the moment I hit the halfway mark in this book 5. Sadly, I sense the series turning into a cul-de-sac as neither book 6 nor 7 can be found in the library I often frequent.

Not for lack of trying but I will have to put aside the detective in me for the time being. Because it is so not my style to miss two running books in the series and skip to the whichever one available next. So much for now.

Review: The Better Part of Darkness (Charlie Madigan #1) by Kelly Gay

2.5 stars for The Better Part of Darkness (Charlie Madigan book 1) by Kelly Gay.

It has been quite some time since I last read an urban fantasy tale. This book is supposed to be a welcome change for me as it is packed with off-worlders characters, sirens included!

The protagonist is in her thirties instead of the usual early to mid twenties age bracket written in most if not all urban fantasy novels. This alone appeals to me to continue reading beyond the first couple of pages.

The story starts out really great. But, it becomes not that great anymore after the first half of the book and I find myself skimming through the pages in a bid to get it over and done with.

Review: Stone Cold Red Hot (Sal Kilkenny #4) by Cath Staincliffe

4.5 stars for Stone Cold Red Hot (Sal Kilkenny book 4) by Cath Staincliffe.

No two cases are ever the same. I marvel at the brilliancy of the author to continue spinning cases that have me on my toes.

In this fourth instalment, the missing person case is like the Pandora's box of secrets. As the story unfolds, the skeletons in the closet take on their queue numbers and tumble out one after the other, leaving me breathless and stone cold. Needless to say, red hot is another story (case) altogether.

A well paced and definitely mind absorbing great read.

Review: My American Duchess by Eloisa James

3 stars for My American Duchess by Eloisa James.

This is author Eloisa's first American heroine. The fact that it is a stand-alone novel attracted me to read the book though I am no great fan of the historical romance genre.

Much to my surprise, I find myself enjoying the story, especially the part on the rented pineapple; totally unforgettable!

Publisher: Avon
Publication date: 26 Jan 2016

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The arrogant Duke of Trent intends to marry a well-bred Englishwoman. He wouldn’t even consider Merry Pelford, a madcap heiress who has made herself infamous by jilting two fiancés.

Besides, Merry is in love with his dissolute younger brother—and this time, the former runaway bride has vowed to make it all the way to the altar.

But as Trent and Merry discover, love has a way of complicating their perfect plans . . .

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: A Look Inside Alzheimer's by Marjorie N. Allen, Susan Dublin and Patricia J. Kimmerly

4 stars for A Look Inside Alzheimer's by Marjorie N. Allen, Susan Dublin and Patricia J. Kimmerly.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has been a topic of interest to me of late. Perhaps it is the increasing awareness of this disease through the various media or simply the inevitable process of aging that sets me thinking, I find myself drawn, like a moth to a flame, to books written on the different forms of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease and even more so, early onset Alzheimer's.

If you ask around, it will seem that almost everyone knows someone with Alzheimer's disease, but the sad reality is, only a handful of people truly understand the disease itself.

A Look Inside Alzheimer's is an excellent guide to everyone and anyone. It is written - in layman's terms - from the bottom of the hearts of those who have been diagnosed with AD and how they have to learn to overcome the day-to-day challenges of memory loss, confusion and difficulty in understanding questions. Here, the caregivers also share their pains in seeing their loved ones succumb to the disease day by day and how they learn to cope as the disease progresses.

The following statement, taken verbatim from the book, is indeed well said. "If people were demented, they were considered insane, but AD is a form of dementia and dementia is not insanity. It is a neurological disease."

I think this book should be read by all.

Publisher: Demos Health; 1 edition
Publication date: 18 Sep 2012

*** Favourite quote 1 ***

At present, it's a matter of accepting the inevitable and finding the routine that will allow appreciation of what life offers.

*** Favourite quote 2 ***

It is important to educate people that AD is not a loss of self. It is a gradual change in self that eventually affects the physical and cognitive abilities but retains the inner emotional connection.

~ A Look Inside Alzheimer's
Marjorie N. Allen, Susan Dublin and Patricia J. Kimmerly

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A Look Inside Alzheimer’s is a captivating read for friends, families and loved ones affected by this mind-robbing disease. Individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease will take comfort in the voice of a fellow traveler experiencing similar challenges, frustrations, and triumphs. Family and professional caregivers will be enlightened by this book and gain a better understanding of this unfathomable world and how best to care for someone living in it.

Susan and Patricia share their accounts of their own transformation and deterioration with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease and Marjorie shares her perspective as the wife of a person living with Alzheimer’s Disease. The book addresses the complexity and emotions surrounding issues such as the loss of independence, unwanted personality shifts, struggle to communicate, and more. The three life-stories intertwined along with boxed quotes from professionals in the field make this book special.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: Essential Oils Natural Remedies: The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing by Althea Press

4 stars for Essential Oils Natural Remedies: The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing by Althea Press.

A friend introduces me into the world of Young Living (YL) 100% pure essential oil somewhere last October. Though I attended their talk and tried out one of their oils, my interest isn't fully piqued until beginning of this year when I purchase more of their oils and find myself loving them more and more. Five months later, I decide to take the plunge and join as a YL member.

Though a YL member and equipped with an Essential Oils pocket reference book by Life Science Publishing (compliments of my friend), I find myself hungry for more information from other guidebooks written or research done with no reference whatsoever to YL. The thing is, I want a clear and unbiased view on the uses, applications and powers of nature's remedies without the influence of any one particular brand.

With the above in mind, I proceed to do my share of research and readings online. It is then that I realise that the more I read, the more confused I get. A good example is on the topic of ingesting essential oils. While some are strong advocates when it comes to ingesting the so-called therapeutic grade essential oils, others clearly warn against doing so. In the end, I find myself researching on books to buy instead and that is how I land up with not one but two essential oil reference books; this being one of them.

Having read this A-Z reference on essential oils, below is my take on this guidebook:-

Pros
(1) Pleasing layout with coloured chapters.
(2) Easy to use and navigate.
(3) Clear and concise explanations on uses and application methods, blending and precautions.
(4) Covers 168 common ailments with suggested homemade remedies.
(5) Includes profiles of 75 essential oils.
(6)Provides reviews on 10 most popular essential oils brands and their products.
(7) While the book does not recommend ingestion of essential oils, it does not condemn doing so; instead it encourages readers to do proper research prior to using essential oils internally.

Cons
(1) Non-exhaustive coverage on the profiles of essential oils. To name a few, Cistus, Wintergreen and Palo Santo are not mentioned in the book.

(2) No information on ingestion of essential oils. Taken verbatim from the book "While this book does not recommend ingesting essential oils, after proper research, you may decide it is right for you."

In my opinion, the book is plainly taking the easy way out by putting this huge disclaimer out there. To that end, it defeats my purpose of buying this guidebook because the very act of purchasing this book is the result of having conducted this so-called proper research.

(3) Not much information is provided on the 10 popular essential oils brands and their products except awareness of the brand name itself.

All in all, I am pleased with the wide coverage of ailments and recipes offered for natural remedies. However, this book can have done better by providing more information with regard to ingesting essential oils.

Review: Dead Wrong (Sal Kilkenny #3) by Cath Staincliffe

3.5 stars for Dead Wrong (Sal Kilkenny book 3) by Cath Staincliffe.

Sometimes there is no compelling reason for wanting to read on about a certain character or its running series...

Sal Kilkenny is your run-of-the-mill private investigator. There is nothing spectacularly exciting about the work she does nor is her private life particularly interesting. But I enjoy reading about Sal and the cases she works on. Somehow, it makes me feel real; her lack of social life, her love for her job, her reason for wanting a flexible working schedule and the pangs of being a single parent.

Review: Go Not Gently (Sal Kilkenny #2) by Cath Staincliffe

4 stars for Go Not Gently (Sal Kilkenny book 2) by Cath Staincliffe.

I have a good time reading this book 2 of the Sal Kilkenny series; the writing and story build-up is definitely two notches higher than the first one. For some reason, the topic in question is close to my heart and keeps me going to venture down the dark halls of sinister medical care.

Go Not Gently is a well-thought-out story. I cannot help but keep thinking about the ripple effect which so often happen in real life as it does in the story. Does the act of hiring Sal, a private investigator, set in motion the chain of events that leads to subsequent happenings?

Though I am a little put off by the helpless way things turn out towards the later part of the story, the twist inherent in the last two paragraphs of the book more than make up for the shortfall. I cannot stress how much I love the way the story wraps up.