This Life or the Next by Demian Vitanza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t think I’ve ever read a story written in this format before. Heck, I don’t even think I’ve read a book fiction or non, related to this subject matter, either. But I’m so thrilled that I did.

This story follows a Norwegian Muslim, Tariq, as he recounts his journey as an “average” guy, who ends up feeling out of place by society, and ends up leaving to go fight in Syria as a jihadist, & this is told to an invisible and silent journalist that is interviewing him while he is in prison.

The book is based on an actual jihadist inmate, held in a Norwegian Prison, with details and names fictionalized, thereby placing this novel in the fictional realm. That’s really here nor there. What makes “This Life or the Next” such an impressive work is the beauty in how it was told.

So, a little about the ‘invisible/silent” journalist- as Tariq is telling his story, in the present day, where he’s remembering his friends with fondness & remorse, to his childhood/ growing up a minority (Pakistani & Muslim, in Norway), and the resulting spiritual journey he undertook, leading up to the point where he finally left the war, the whole time he is speaking to a person who is obviously interviewing him and asking him questions. Only thing is- the questions are NOT written down in the book, just his answers. And it’s up to the reader to divine what was asked. I don’t know why I liked this aspect so much, but it really put me into an intimate setting with the prisoner, and I could feel him and all of his human emotions, deeply; the feelings of rejection, of love, of rage & anger, of wanting to help & do what’s right…

I don’t want to get political here, so I’ll refrain from letting this review go that way. But what I will say is that while the story was by no means pleasant, due to the subject matter (really ugly war depictions & situations), nor was it enjoyable in a “feel good” kind of way… the novel was STILL an excellent read. It gave a very clear account of what drives a seemingly ordinary person to become a passionate and driven, potential killer for a righteous cause. (It) showcases the dichotomy that exists between right & wrong by exhibiting the many different factions that branch off from a singular root “cause”, with their own interpretations of what qualifies as either… illustrating beautifully just how difficult it is to determine who is more in line with your own values; and how un-unique we all, really are.

This is a novel I would NOT recommend to just anyone, although to some, I recommend it ENTHUSIASTICALLY… to anyone with an open mind, who can appreciate a unique writing style/format, and who can love without prejudices and connect with a character who has been broken down, bit by bit, and has journeyed into Hell, with the best of intentions.


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Tales of a Shaman in the Making: The Awakening of the Self by Katie McLaughlin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve been watching Katie’s YouTube videos for a while now, and I was excited to finally download her book that, according to her, while a fictional tale, is based on her own Shamanic Journey. Knowing how beautiful her spirit shines through her videos, I knew this book would be just as good.

But, as I started reading, I got nervous… By feeling like I KNOW Katie (after interacting with her through simple comments on YT & Instagram, and how her Manifestation & Tarot readings have had a direct effect on my life and having her messages RESONATE with me to my core), I felt like I was reading my friend’s manuscript; which then made me feel guilty when I had a hard time ‘getting’ into the story, at first.

So, let me get that part out of the way, now. Why I had a hard time connecting: the Dialogue. That’s it. That was and is my ONLY “issue”. The imagery was beautiful; I could see myself wherever the story was taking place, and the actual Spiritual/Shamanic experiences throughout the whole novel were deeply satisfying and mirrored my own life path. My one & only true dislike was the dialogue.

And, it’s not that it was bad… actually, quite the opposite. It was perfect. As in, each person spoke absolutely perfect sentences; grammatically correct, well-thought-out & fully articulated, complete sentences… each person, every time. That’s the culmination of my ‘problem’ with the dialogue. Because for me, this resulted in each character have the same voice, and it felt off because (especially in moments of high stress or excitement) people don’t speak like that, at least not any that I’ve met. Maybe that says something about me, instead? Although, again, for me, it just wasn’t natural for people from different backgrounds to all have the same way of expressing their feelings and thoughts, vocally.

Okay… but I want to make this clear… once I got used to the ‘speaking style’, I was able to get fully immersed in a story that shows truthfully, so much of what it is like to go through a complete Soul Acceptance of your greatness. Katie illustrated the darkest and brightest moments of this journey with a loving and honest clarity, that for those who haven’t been through a similar awakening in their lives, it will sound beyond far-fetched. But for those of us who have- this tale will feel like you’ve just remembered all that you’ve gone through and it will fill you will gratitude & love.

This was an excellent read, told in 3rd person POV. I found it easy to feel the experiences and emotions; from happiness, pure love & joy, to rage, confusion & depression. I recommend this tale to those who are enlightened, or are ready to be or are already on their own path.

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Accidents Happen by Sharon Karaa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my gosh, I enjoyed this book, so much! Maybe because the MC’s love interest is named Cooper? No, there’s more to it than that. 5 stars for this well-written and super cute novel… and just FYI, I don’t do cute, but this one might’ve changed my mind…

So, Tabitha, the MC, dies early on in the story, and then the next 90% of the plot takes place in the Afterlife- mostly. And what a well-imagined Afterlife this author has created. Tabitha might be able to return to her life… if she gets the O.K. from the powers that be. But the chance to do so is days away, and she’s supposed to be getting married roughly at the same time!

*I could probably tell you like a super great synopsis in probably 6 sentences or less, but I don’t want to spoil it.

What I will say is that Tabitha is such a laughable character; she is vain and selfish, but sweet and charming… somewhere, maybe deep down inside? Lol. She’s stubborn and I just LOVE her. Her “flaws” are NOT annoying as are the many characters out there, written with those same qualities.

The story is told from her POV and so we get to hear her take on her predicament and it’s HILARIOUS! Genuinely, I laughed so many times and I really did connect with her, despite me being NOTHING like her (thank you, very much). She just needed some direction in her life, and hey… don’t we all?

And, BTW, Cooper was a hunk and I just kept envisioning my hubby- extra points for that! Read this book; it’s an easy, delicious read, with a great setting, and a lovely plot. You won’t be disappointed.

*I received a FREE copy of this story, in exchange for my honest review.


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Lakes of Mars by Merritt Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A super long book, longer than I expected… worth every minute, even though the story was left on a cliff hanger. 4.5 stars.

Plot: In a distant future, out in space, there’s something going on at the borders, called The Rim… a war with some terrifying creatures. But, is it real?

Characters: Aaron, the M.C., is sent to Corinth, a brutal, jail-like training center for teens. It’s not where he wanted to be, but he ends up finding a calling within the conspiracies. The government is training these youths for the war, using questionable tactics and oversights where you just can’t help but feel sorry for these kids. There’s a lot of different characters in here, boys & girls, some more (character) developed than others, but each one has a purpose and their own different struggles with the life they’ve found themselves in.

The Writing: The writing is rich and detailed, written from Aaron’s 1st person POV. There is plenty of imaginative and technical jargon mixed in, as well as flowing dialogue that moves the story quickly. 500+ pages and I STILL read it in a single day.

In Case You Wanted to Know: There is SOooo MUCH FOUL language in here. Could it have been avoided? Sure, but I think it was almost necessary, because (hear me out) have you heard YA/ teenage boys when they’re playing a heated video game? Or when they’re about to fight? Testosterone definitely plays its role in this one, for sure.

Overall: My ONLY disappointment was that the story ended with a cliff hanger. I DO want to know what happens next, and I’m sure I’ll gladly get Book #2. There was an element of conspiracy throughout, and that alone kept me HOOKED. Something was off, right from the start, but full of understanding (or actually, a clearer picture) didn’t come until near the end. Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was delightfully surprised. 4.5 stars.

*I received a FREE copy of this story, in exchange for my honest review.


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