Gun of God by David Cudlip: Good Concept, Poor Execution

First theorized in the early 1970s, gene therapy has been touted as the key to curing all human diseases.  It involves replacing the DNA sequence of a mutated gene with a normal one, carried into the body using a vector such as a virus.  Since its very conception, gene therapy has been an extremely controversial subject.  There are well-founded concerns that in the hands of unscrupulous persons, genetic manipulation could create a house of horrors with devastating effects on the world.

When one thinks of curing diseases, one of the first thoughts in many people’s minds is pharmaceuticals.  The pharmaceutical industry generates trillions of dollars a year in sales, leading to the question that is being asked frequently – do these companies actually want a cure for all diseases found or do they attempt to suppress such efforts to maintain their vast revenues?

The controversial nature of gene manipulation has long been rich fodder for authors.  Decades before the concept became reality, Aldous Huxley wrote of a society where humans have been engineered for perfection.  Several non-fiction books have been written about a machine, developed by a physician in the 1930s, which could cure almost every disease and was ultimately suppressed and destroyed.

Gun of God tries to intertwines all of these issues but the author does a poor job combining these ideas. The book is a compilation of very loosely connected chapters with characters suddenly appear in random places around the world.  Thomas Courmaine is a rogue among Jesuit priests – he’s also a geneticist whose scientific ideas are against religious doctrine.  He is supposedly banished to Africa, where of all places he discovers the key to gene therapy.  Not very believable place for major discovery and no real reason is given. 

When his discovery is made public, the pharmaceutical industry tries to bring him into the fold, but he refuses to play by their rules.  Funded by the only person willing to do so, his ‘gene gun’ soon fires – a shot heard round the world – but soon the intent of his discovery is adulterated.

Using his discovery, competition among people begins of who can become more – more beautiful, more intelligent, and stronger.  Courmaine watches his cure become a curse as the Law of Unintended Consequences wreaks havoc on society.  He must now attempt to undo what has been done, while being turned on by his financial backer and losing the woman he now loves.  Can he stop the madness in time and save the human race – and himself?

We will give this book two stars for a good concept but a poor execution.

Loss of Faith in Humanity and Power of Media to Lift Spirits

In today’s world it seems more and more people are losing their faith in humanity as a whole.  It is not difficult to understand why this has happened.  News channels constantly bombard with stories of crime, war, and disease.  The financial crisis that began in 2008 has touched almost every life in the United States and untold numbers of people around the world.  Many people have lost jobs, homes, and hope.  

Loss of faith in humanity is not a new phenomenon.  The great physicist Albert Einstein said in his era that “perfection of means and confusion of ends seems to characterize our age.”   One example of a loss of humanity people today are all too familiar with are those who witness an injustice and do nothing – except take a video of it with cell phone cameras to post online.  This, too, is not something limited to our age.  Einstein also commented on this issue, saying that “the world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”

Fortunately, television and movies can have a positive effect on a person’s faith in humanity as well.  Television series such as Touched by an Angel and Highway to Heaven helped depressed or troubled people and showed there is still goodness in human kind.  There are few people who have not at least heard of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, where a kind-hearted man falls into despair but has his faith renewed.

Through the years, the written word has also had a powerful influence, and often times authors can have a profound effect on the opinion of the masses.  The author of Charlotte’s Web, was a strong supporter of a writer’s duty to uplift the human spirit.  In 1973, the author received a letter that spoke of the letter writer’s loss of faith in humanity.  The author’s response is a testament to the power of the written word to uplift:

         As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate 

         woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate.  Hope is the thing 

         that has left us, in a bad time.

Now, more than ever, people need uplifting prose to remind them why humanity is not a lost cause. Lisa Boucher’s Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs is just such a manuscript.  Flo and Mo Brown, the main characters, are an elderly couple who have seen their share of adversity.  Their only son died as a teenager.  Flo has a deformed eye from a car accident.  Yet through all this, Flo has never lost her faith in Jesus or her love for Mo… and oh yeah, a love of cheese puffs.  Mo is a bit more jaded, but Flo has a way of making him see the best in most things.  When Flo wins on a scratch off lottery ticket, there are so many things they could do, but Mo has an idea.  He wants to take Flo to a TV doctor in California for plastic surgery on her eye, and the two set out from Indiana for an appointment in California.

But, as with real life, the couple is often sidetracked along the way.  In every place they stop, they find people in need – some financially, some spiritually – and Flo being who she is cannot help but help them.  Mo is wise enough to follow Flo’s lead, sometimes leading to new outlooks on life.  Every person Flo touches is uplifted and has at least a little faith in humanity restored thanks to her kindness.  In the end, Flo learns a great lesson about herself and how often the only limitations people have are those they put on themselves.  

Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs is available in Kindle edition on Amazon - click here

The Benefits of Home Brewed Beer

Drinking beer is more than just consuming an alcoholic beverage. It’s a social activity that brings good friends together for good times and memorable moments.

Most people don’t know it, but it is possible to make your own home brewed beer. It’s a great conversation starter, with home brewed beer also having several benefits compared to the beer that you purchase from the store.

• Better Quality. Commercial beers sacrifice quality for quantity, whereas in making home brewed beer, the quality of your beer depends on what ingredients you use. If you use the best ingredients, then you’d end up with great tasting beer.
• Reduced Hangovers. Home brewed beer contains large quantities of yeast with vitamin B, which naturally reduces the effects of hangovers. Not only do you get better tasting beer, you also get to drink more of it!
• Social Aspect. The social community of home brewers, whether in real life or online, is a vibrant community of people who are passionate in what they do. You will find no shortage of people who will help you out as you start off in home brewing beer.
• Unlimited Potential. The beer that you make will only be limited by your imagination. You can come up with different mixtures and flavors once you understand the basics. With a little cash, enough time and a creative mind, who knows how far your beer can go?

If you are interested in making home brew beer, you should read “How to Make Beer Like a Pro: Complete Guide to Home Brewing - Even in Small Spaces” by Randy Frank.

This book goes over the complete history and procedures of home brewing beer, preparing you for this challenging but enjoyable hobby. The book contains anything and everything you need to know about home brewed beer – you’ll be a master home brewer in no time!

“How to Make Beer Like a Pro: Complete Guide to Home Brewing- Even in Small Spaces” is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon. 

Coincidence or Destiny?

Your alarm didn’t go off this morning, and you’re running late to work. When you stop to get your must have morning coffee 20 minutes later than usual you end up in line standing next to your soon to be romantic interest.

You find your dream job, and make it to the third round of interviews, only to be beat out by another candidate. In your frustration and disappointment you start freelancing and eventually open your business.

At the young age of 13 years old your father passes away from a rare form of cancer. Your heartache from his untimely death becomes your motivation to bring attention to his rare disease, and you grow up to become a specialist in the rare form of cancer he battled.

Sometimes when life stresses you out, or lets you down it is an opportunity in disguise that teaches you an invaluable lesson, or leads you to down a path you may not have otherwise considered. This leaves many individuals contemplating whether these experiences are sheer coincidence, or undeniable destiny.

In her latest book “The Children of Gavrilek” Author Julie Kirtón Chandler takes her readers on a journey that begs the answer—are unexpected life events coincidence or destiny? What begins as an unexpected storm on a journey from America to Cuba in the 1920s, the main characters Adrianna and Devon find themselves the sole survivors of a shipwreck along the Georgia coast. They end up being rescued by a small community who end up playing a vital role in their life’s journey. The book is a thrilling mix of history, romance, and fantasy—all born out of the unplanned and unexpected.

Dancing the Salsa: Stepping towards the Rhythm

Since the times of antiquity, dancing has been considered as a non-verbal way of communication. Often participatory, its ceremonial flavor has evolved into a more aesthetic and artistic twang. With this in mind, it bestows the dancers a duty to make the art appealing to the audience. But how can this be done? How could they seduce their viewers into a hearty round of applause?

Behind our minds we know the rhetorical answer to this somewhat helpless question. Even though the facts often make us feel like the character played by Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun where he say “I want to fly!” and then his wife approaches him and says “First eat your eggs.” All we want is to fly, to dance! We care very little about the eggs, the basics.

Just like any other task which involves skill, practice and a firm foundation holds the key to the highest levels of learning, especially in salsa. A dancer should have a secure understanding of the basics like the arm tension, change of weight, and basic footwork. The better a dancer understands these things, the faster will his progress be in improving his dancing. Another important aspect when dancing is measuring your partner, again the basic moves are used to gauge how difficult a routine you can pull off together and adjusting your lead from there.

Never forget that salsa is all about the lady. The image that has to be seared in their minds is that the lady is the ‘picture’ and the man is the ‘frame’. The dance delights the viewers through their elegance, sexiness and lightheartedness. And this along with styling comes once the basic routines has been achieved.

On the internet you will encounter a number of books and tutorials to get you started in learning how to dance. But one that stands out is Salsa Bootcamp – Insiders Secrets to Salsa Dance. It provides you with the secrets on learning how to dance salsa while enjoying the experience at the same time. It provides a quicker learning curve which keeps your enthusiasm always up. Get the most from your lessons and social dancing as you walk through the mysteries of the salsa superstars. Remember that the most important thing is to have fun and this is where salsa begins and ends. Well what are you waiting for, put on those dancing shoes and start to feel the salsa beat! 

http://www.facebook.com/salsabootcamp

http://www.twitter.com/salsacrazy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRsBm4UTmq8

My Favorite Sci Fi (aka How eBook Daily Deals site helps me pursue my interest)

My younger days were before the popularity of Young Adult novels (and well before eBooks), so when I outgrew children’s “Chapter Books” I started reading more adult books – Stephen King and Michael Crichton in particular. These brought me into a world of sci-fi, and I was solidified as a sci-fi fan when I picked up Carl Sagan’s “Contact”. This book is a “it could happen” type sci-fi adventure. It is based on Earth (although, at this point, it’s pre-cell phones, internet, and social media, so it’s not a very realistic Earth now) with a bunch of individuals that are able to make contact with life outside of Earth. Will they be able to leave the planet to make face-to-face Contact? The story deals with life outside of Earth, but also humanity itself and what it means to believe.

The greatest thing about falling in love with a genre at a young age is the many years you spend being able to enjoy classics and new works. I have a long list of sci-fi eBooks that I intent on catching up on, but then I’m always attracted to the eBook deals that let me find a new author and a new storyline to fall in love with. They don’t all take me away like Carl Sagan did, but it’s nice to let my mind dance around in the worlds created by other authors. One thing is for sure, reading great books like Contact gives you a craving for more, and if it weren’t for eBook Deals Daily  website would never be able to afford my reading appetite! 

Law Of Attraction Secrets

The book “Law of Attraction Secrets,” by Ben Frank is an excellent read that I suggest for anyone. Whether you are at the bottom of the ladder or on the top, it will help improve your life and help you reach your goals with expedience. It will help your “stinking thinking” and help you to overcome the feeling that your life is the most unfair life out there. This book will teach you the secrets of manifesting and attracting anything that you want through positive thinking. The author gives a concise and easy to understand read that is very well organized. If you have been interested in the law of attraction, this book is a must read!

The basic principle of the law of attraction is that like follows like. If you are negative in thought, bad things will happen life. Whereas if you are positive in life, good things  will happen. Seems like a basic concept to grasp-until the bills pile up, the car breaks down and your job is so stressful you feel that you could burst. This book will help you see the light through this situations and how our thoughts  and reactions in life can help us over come and succeed.

After I read this book I was ready and rearing to overcome my negative thinking. Of course, It is a slow process and I have to keep reminding myself to think positive. It does get easier I promise! It does seem that now that I have removed the blinders to the good around me and I am thinking better, that life is improving! I hope you get as much out of this book that I have!

Kindle Fiction Pale Criminal Inquires on Godless Morality and Human Virtue

Our protagonist is a former green beret and elite athlete who cannot quite outdistance himself from his past. With his malignant sense of hypochondria piling up alongside his cosmic doubts, Joel Gasteneau finally decides to undertake the quest he promised himself as a child: to find testimonial evidence of the omnipotent creator’s hand at work in the physical world.

But a strange turn of events impedes him in his quest, when he's involved in a car accident from which he walks away, ostensibly unscathed, but then falls ill in a motel room. Within his feverish head, he scours the details of his life that have shaped his identity -- and discovers a memory that will change his life forever.

A stunning and challenging piece of work from Ray Harvey, which stemmed from his first literary crime novel More and More unto the Perfect day, Pale Criminal was rewritten to combine the descriptive prowess of Nabokov, as well as the philosophical complexity of Dostoevsky. Be prepared to take a journey that swallows the reader up in its inquiry of godless morality and human virtue.

Respectfully recognized as a reader's book, the Pale Criminal will provide an exhilarating experience and never fail to astound people, as the author has made a unique and brilliant novel that imparts the varying shades of human condition.

Free Sprit Or Moral Dilemma?

Depending on your interpretation the term “free spirit” can translate as careless and irresponsible, or open and unconcerned of what others think. Regardless of the way you interpret it, free spirited individuals are often an envy and a wonder.

For those who find themselves fretting or anxious about what others think of what they do, wear, say, or feel—a free spirited personality is often a source of envy.

However for the many who live by a predetermined, and engrained set of values and responsibilities, often find free spirited individuals, and anything other than there predetermined expectations are a source of wonder.

Regardless of how you view the lives of a free spirit, you may be looking for a way to gain a bit more insight to the day-to-day lifestyle of a more carefree individual. While it is unrealistic to expect that you can shed your beliefs and values to experience a different lifestyle firsthand, you can live vicariously through a fictional character.

An excellent reading selection for those looking to take a walk on the other side is the latest book "Tarnished by the Incubus", by Author Kimberly Dale. This book follows the journey of an unlikely pair of new friends—freshman college roommates Erin and Rebecca. Erin is the picture of purity and innocence, while Erin is a free spirit that will present Erin with an unexpected moral dilemma.

As their friendship grows, the innocent Rebecca will be tested to keep her vows of virginity and purity that the inner demon inside Erin is tempting to bring to life. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/370277

The Effectiveness of Mobile Digital Platforms for Marketing

One roadblock in effective marketing is the platform that is used by the marketing strategy. A good message and strategy will only be wasted if the chosen platform to deliver it fails.

Today, as the demand for them continues to increase, mobile digital platforms in the form of smartphones and tablets have become one of, if not the most, sought after marketing platforms in the business.

Why, you ask?

1.       Everyone has one. “Everyone” is of course an exaggeration, but you should understand where this point is coming from. Smartphones and tablets continue to fly off the shelves, bought to be used by everyone between toddlers and senior citizens. It’s pretty hard to miss your target market if your range is that wide. Also, for most products, the target markets are the ones that can afford at least one of these mobile devices for their families, even more so those that can afford at least one for each member.

2.       Everyone is on them all the time. Double exaggeration this time, but you should still understand what this means. For every smartphone and tablet user hooked on an internet connection that has their eyes glued to the device, that’s another potential audience for your marketing strategy. There is always an opportunity to reach your target market as they use their devices, compared to other platforms such as televisions and newspapers where sometimes the most exposure you can get is a fleeting glance.

3.       Everyone loves them. Is this an exaggeration? It’s pretty hard to argue against it. Be it for the games, the applications, the music, or whatever purpose it serves its user, they got that mobile device for some reason. And the more they love their device, the more chances that they’ll buy more devices (#1) or use the device more often (#2) – which all gives digital marketing more chances to reach its target market.

On top of all these reasons, the technology being put into the development of these devices for tech companies to keep afloat in the competition adds more opportunities and applications for digital marketing. And with the aid of these devices, digital marketing has become and, for the foreseeable future, will remain a juggernaut in the field of marketing.

“Digital Marketing (Knowledge Pills Series: UnderstandingTechnological Trends)” by Kendall Allen provides an in-depth look of digital marketing, including its history and methodologies. Mobile digital platforms isn’t the only segment of digital marketing that has developed through the years – this book is a great chronicle of the different aspects of digital marketing.

“Digital Marketing (Knowledge Pills Series:Understanding Technological Trends)” is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

HIDDEN DOORS, SECRET ROOMS

On the run with her five year old daughter, Jillian Braedon possesses a secret so explosive that she must be silenced. She is being pursued by relentless covert agents, intent on getting her out of the picture. While on the run, she runs into a terrible blizzard. She has a crash and is seriously injured. The only way possible for her and her daughter to come out alive is send the child out into the blizzard in hopes that she can find help. They find help in the form of a retired musician who has turned himself into a recluse. Unwilling; but driven to do so he takes the small family in. In the process, he drags himself into their horrible situation.

The review from the Kirkus review states that this book is:

“Superbly crafted and flawlessly executed, Eubanks doles out both plot and back-story in small doses, expertly keeping readers turning page after page...This is a phenomenal first novel; an excellent read for anyone who loves mystery, and would-be writers who want to learn exactly how it's done."

I must say that I certainly agree with this review! I could not put the book down; I just had to know what happened next! There was no double talk and no repeat or excess information to help the word count. The characters are real people that you want to get to know. This is something I really like to see in a book, I actually hope to see more of these characters from the author in the future.

I definitely recommend this book to any one that likes the paranormal genre and any one that would like to delve into it. This is a definite must read! 

Because Vampire Hunting is All the Rage These Days...

Remember when creatures such as vampires, zombies and aliens invaded your nightmares as grotesque and horrifying creatures? Well, today we have sparkling vampires, zombie boyfriends and protective aliens.

Yes, we do.

"Bob Ross, Vampire Hunter" by Rob Marsh is a satire on this vampire/zombie/alien craze that modern media is currently milking for all its worth. And yes, it features a character that resembles The Joy of Painting host Bob Ross as a vampire hunter - if an ex-president can do it, then so can he.

The main character of the book is Myles Kieffer, a television program director who is pulled into this world of inhuman creatures through an adventure that takes him and a team of public television stars around the country.

"Bob Ross, Vampire Hunter" is an entertaining and creative book that doesn’t make mistakes – just happy accidents. And it would be pretty hard to avoid “accidents” when you’ve got creatures to hunt and weapons to try out.

"Bob Ross, Vampire Hunter" is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Love Triangles

Love triangles are very complicated, and they rarely end without at least one of the people involved being hurt really bad. However, they are inescapable as human emotions can rarely be kept in check when it comes to love.

When you find yourself in the middle of a love triangle, having to choose between two others who are pursuing you, what do you do? How do you deal with this love triangle? Here are some questions that you need to answer by yourself so that you can make a decision.

1. Who do you like better? It is a very simple question, but you really have to think it through. Between your two options, who puts a bigger smile on your face when you think about him/her? Who do you find yourself thinking about more throughout each day? Who do you find yourself attracted to more?
2. Whose personality is a better fit with yours? This is important as you don’t want your interests to clash with one another. Between your two options, who could you take to the events that you love, watch movies that you like with, and generally do things that you love to do with?
3. Who takes care of you more? This is probably the most important question that you need to answer. Between your two options, you need to see who spends more effort in making you feel special. You need to find out who’s in it for the relationship and who’s in it just for the game.

“Burn’s World – A Love Triangle” by Eve Rabi is a four-part series of a story that deals with probably one of the most complicated love triangles that you could imagine. Burn, the main character of the story, is caught in a love triangle between Brody McGraw, a school star athlete, and Trojan Catrell, a thug and an enemy of Brody McGraw. Burns wants Brody and has no interest with Trojan, but Trojan wants what Brody has. Read the books and see how Burn deals with this love triangle.

“Burn’s World – A Love Triangle” is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Phantom Dreams: a Paranormal Thriller with a Special Appeal to Female Readers

“Phantom Dreams” a recently published paranormal thriller by an up and coming author by T. K. Harris is paranormal mystery novel with a special twist - in addition to the usual serial killer, FBI agents and unsolved murders, we get a glimpse into the life of a woman trying to balance her work with her role as care giver for her ailing father while dealing with her paranormal "gift" or curse, since she can witness murders in her dreams. the central character of the book is Kathy Gilliam, a 28 year old woman who sees excruciating details of murders in her dreams, or rather, her nightmares, since the dreams are filled with pain and death. Kathy, the woman who gets these vivid and frightening nightmares, seeks psychiatric treatment. Then, based on the suggestions of her health provider, she writes down the details of her dreams. After she confides in her close friend, she realizes that the murders she sees in her dreams were real-life murders. Somehow, her paranormal abilities allowed her to see those gruesome killings as dreams. In the book, when Kathy approached the authorities, she was at first written off as an eccentric person seeking attention. But later, when the FBI realized that Kathy knows intimate details which were not disclosed to the public, they started suspecting her. However, they also realized that Kathy matches the height, age, and features of the women who were killed – and they wonder if she was to be the next victim. The story ends with a surprise twist, a satisfying dramatic ending. Like some of the other successful paranormal media productions (such as the hit TV series “Medium”), “Phantom Dreams” spends as much energy on describing Kathy’s exhaustion about her dual role as a caregiver of her ailing father and her work as it does over describing the gory details of the murders and mayhem. I believe most women readers can relate to the stress resulting from trying to find the balance between their work and their role as caregivers, whether they see it in Kathy, the single 29-year-old in “Phantom Dreams” who takes care of her father while also dealing with tons of issues at work, or in Alison Dubois, a married woman who attempts to balance family life with helping the police in solving mysteries using her special gift in the hit TV series “Medium.”

Futuristic Erotic Sci-Fi Romance Novel “Perfect Heat” Takes Readers On An Erotic Adventure—Leaving You Wanting More

What would you do if you only had three days to spend with the love or your life?

NATIONWIDE, July 16, 2013—Husband and wife writing team Lisa and Daniel Nash take their readers on an erotic adventure with their latest book “Perfect Heat.” While most erotic novels take readers on a journey in the present time, this futuristic novel takes place in a world where bio-synthetic humanoids are custom made as your perfect lover—there is only one catch their “lifecycle” is only a short 72 hours.

The book focuses on main character Thomas Miller who accepts a position as a Decommission Agent for the fictional Grant Bio-Synthetic Industries. This revolutionary company holds over 22,000 manufacturing patents, many of which are related to their biosynthetic humanoids that they supply to the mental health industry. Their humanoids look, feel, and sound exactly like a human being, but they have a bio-engineered immune system that only allows them 3 days of life.

While at first Thomas doesn’t really buy they hype, everything changes when he meets Cora—the humanoid that changes everything. Cora is all Thomas has ever wished and dreamed for, and much more. She is perfect for him in every way and their sexual compatibility is beyond his wildest dreams. Within only a few days Thomas realizes he has fallen in deep, illogical, unexplainable, yet undeniable love.

This exhilarating erotic novel is filled with steamy love scenes, yet presents readers with a solid plot as it tackles the moral dilemma that arise with the creation of short lifecycle humanoids designed explicitly for sexual exploitation. Readers will be taken on both and erotic adventure, as well as an adventure that uncovers corruption, secrets, lies, and cover-ups.

“This book challenges readers to question the difference between want and need, love and lust. It explores the lengths ones will go to when time is limited, and the heart is not ready to let go.”

For readers who enjoy erotic novels with a complex and intellectually stimulating plot line “Perfect Heat” is the complete package. Readers will enjoy a fun filled erotic adventure, and will ban together with Thomas as he races against the clock to save the love of his life before her bio-engineered immune system fails and he loses the one woman he was meant for.


“Perfect Heat” can be purchased and downloaded to your Kindle immediately on Amazon.