Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Erotic fiction, Fantacy, Fiction, supernatural

KROVS: Into Darkness by M. Lee Woe| Book review

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Title: Krovs: Into Darkness

Author: M. Lee Woe

Pages: 309

There are not so many books out there which felt to me as unputdownable while reading. Krovs: Into darkness is one of its kind. Everything about this story fascinates me when I read through. The story is set in a world that is divided into two, dark, and light sectors. The light sector has strict rules and laws made to oppress its inhabitants. Whereas the dark sector which is also known as the free sector has no rules to follow which eventually drips into a city of crime. Tristan is a beautiful charismatic businessman who is drifting into depression at the beginning of the story. He is used by a group of superhuman women known as Krovs for pleasures. In fact, he is secretly recruited and trained for solely this purpose. He didn’t have any friends from his own kind.

But one day he met Serene, a young naive girl from the light sector unexpectedly. He is quickly drawn into her mysteriously. But both are coming from two largely contradictory circumstances and the thing that attracts them to each other is their curiosity. This curiosity turns into deep mutual love in no time. But what will happen if Tristen’s ex-girlfriend Kamilla, who treats him as personal possession finds out his newly found interest in humans, that may threaten to expose their secrets?

The story is quite mind-blowing. The plot is constructed perfectly. Every small detail about this paranormal world is perfectly explained. This makes the readers get engaged in the storyline until the end. All the main characters are developed really good. Their emotions and mannerisms are accurately included. This helps the readers to judge their decisions on various circumstances. I really liked the character of Serene in the story. She has a multilayered personality. Her decisions and character changes throughout the story. It was a great experience to feel this character’s transformation from a shy innocent nature to a bold and strong personality.

I really liked the way the author has ended this first book of the trilogy. Because it was a real cliffhanger. The revelations in the epilogue are the best twist in the plot.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Memoirs, Motivational Quotes, Self-Help

The Ultimate Love by Sherine Anniruth| Book review

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Title: The Ultimate Love

Author: Sherine Anniruth

Pages: 125

Blurb

A remarkable and inspiring journey of a grieving mother, “The Ultimate Love” will make you shed a few tears. But it’ll also remind you to value every second you have with your loved ones and treasure the memories of those who passed away.
It is about the author’s loss and can serve as a cathartic release for your own grief. As you read about her experience and how she tried to deal with this insurmountable loss, you will discover ways to cope with the grief and pain of losing your child and how to find the inspiring journey to go on with your life.

Grieving is a journey that teaches us how to love in a new way. Let “The Ultimate Love” show you how.

My review

There are not many books that can touch your heart and fill it with emotions after reading. For me, pain is the greatest emotion one can ever felt. Because pain can either lead you to wisdom or destruction. After reading this book, I felt that wisdom. The pure emotions of a grieving mother are flowing through words on every page.

Grief is a very hard emotion to manage. There is almost no single solution to escape from it. But it is also a learning opportunity. It is an opportunity to analyze and understand the root cause of grief. It is a path to our own redemption. Going through this path is very hard, but in the end one will learn to live with our grief. We will learn to love more than ever in the end.

The author has gone through the bitterest days of her life because of the demise of her beloved son. This is a heartfelt essay on how she has managed to control the pain and overcame struggles eventually. I appreciate the author’s effort to pen down a harsh journey in order to help others who are going through the same situation.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Quotes, Self-Help

Mental Toughness by Nicola Jeremy Baehler| Book review

 

51m6rW0LGYLTitle: MENTAL TOUGHNESS: “How To Build Mental Strength Like A Spartan – Guide On How To Improve Your Self-Confidence, Build Unbreakable Discipline, Become Emotional Resilient And Overcome Your Fears.”

Author: Nicola Jeremy Baehler

Pages: 119

Genre: Self-help

My review

Mental toughness is everything. Almost all the competitors have the same set of skills, efficiency and knowledge. What makes one another different is their level of mastery in mental toughness. Believe it or not, it is the single most aspect, that differentiates a legend from a winner.

I have read many books on personality development until now. From my experience, I must say most of the books lack original ideas. Thay has either copied or paraphrased contents. But this book surprised me from the beginning itself. It has astonishingly original ideas and practical techniques. The major difference that I have spotted while reading was, the author has been constantly pushing the readers to take action rather than consume more information.

The presentation of the contents in the book is remarkable. It is structured as a complete package. The author explains the theoretical aspects of mental toughness in the initial chapters, then gradually proceeds to tools and habits needed to rewire our existing life and mindset. The book concludes with providing two bonus chapters. I really liked the second bonus chapter on the spartan morning routine which contains refreshing techniques.

Altogether, this short book has very promising and helpful ideas that can surely transform one’s life. A must-read for everyone.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help, Uncategorized

The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership by Shawn Abrams|Book review

 

41g51mK8R+LTitle: The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership

Author: Shawn Abrams

Pages: 154

Blurb

Shawn Abrams is a sitting member of the Pace University – Lubin School of Business Executive Education Advisory Board.
His book, The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership is a first of its kind, as. It effectively addresses and shines a light on the two areas of your life that can cost you the most. They are Leadership and Relationships. If you are leading people without the benefit of relationship, you could be bullying them, and if you are loving people without the benefit of relationship, you could be lonely.
Most people will tell you they are a leader, but few people can define leadership. How can we maintain the integrity of it or even recognize it without being able to define it? More importantly, how can we teach it if we cannot define it? Your organization has multiple levels of people and there must be Continuity of Leadership through them. This represents an intangible ‘through line’ that your profits and productivity will follow because the people that work for you are affected by it.
I do not lead with words. I coach my team with words, I mentor them with Statement challenges, and lead with compassion. In this book, you will learn how to employ Applied Leadership to coach and mentor people to reach their next level. In turn, they will help you to reach your next level. Establishing relationships with those we lead will keep them engaged with our vision long after the meeting has ended. Your vision of tomorrow is bigger than today, and the potential of you people is greater than their problems. You must believe this because aside from an extreme shortage of resources, the only reason teams fail is because of their leader. Know this, before you get people to change the way they think you must change the way you think. I will share that in detail with you.
Finally, I cover Emotional Intelligence. Leadership skills and emotional intelligence parallel each other, but they are not the same. People are more inclined to follow relationships than a leader! If you can occupy both these spaces in someone’s life at the same time, you possess The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership.

My review

The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership covers A-Z details on the practical and moral side of leadership. Considering the structure and the range of information included in the book, I can easily call it “The Bible” on leadership. The striking feature for me while reading this book was its elaborate introduction. The well-scripted introduction itself gives a holistic view on the upcoming contents in the book. The interactive and lucid way of narration used in the book is evident from the introduction itself.

Although the book is titled “The Seven Epaulettes of Leadership”, the author does not try to explain this in the beginning. The book has 11 chapters overall. In the initial seven chapters, he tries to build a strong foundation on the topic by conveying the true purpose and moral side of leadership. Only in the eighth chapter, he introduces the seven epaulettes. The rest of the chapters is used to explain the practical side of the leadership incorporating all the ideas which were previously discussed.

I really liked the style of narration used in the book. The personal, contemporary, and historical references and stories with a pinch of humor helps the reader to easily glide through the pages. This helps to absorb the core qualities explained in the book as it is.

I must say that the ideas and wisdom poured through the pages of this book is truly unmatchable. This is surely a time worthy, must-read for personal and professional development.

Rating: 5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Erotic fiction, Fiction

Misty Young Love by Casa Nova|Book review

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Title: Misty Young Love

Author: Casa Nova

Pages: 94

Blurb

It was a brief period of training and she looked forward to isolation and boredom. But then this robust teen came into her life and it became a holiday in paradise. Suddenly she became a trainer playing a role freeing the butterfly from its cocoon.
The birds, the most beautiful creatures of nature, are so colourful and add to the beauty of the world. To see them in all their splendour they need to spread their wings and fly. But what if society clips their wings? Are you also a lovely colourful bird with clipped wings?

My review

Misty Young Love is the story of Jane and Tom who were once lost in their respective paths. Somehow their paths are intervened just like they are meant for each other. Though both are living inside the taboos of society, they found their mutual love unexpectedly. In the beginning, Jane only considered this relationship as a getaway from her boredom but it grew stronger and stronger each day. Both of them were exploring the unexpected pleasures that they can squeeze from one another. They set out a journey of experimenting with their wildest thoughts and desires for a brief course of time. Soon Jane has to assume the role of a mentor to course this young man in the right direction. Her honest efforts molded a clueless teen to a fine young man. But the sincere deeds will always payback, even after a long time. Jane finds the meaning of their connection after many years of parting their ways, which is a befitting climax for a romantic story.

This short romantic fiction is aptly penned, incorporating the pure emotions behind every human being. Though it lacked conversations in the beginning, the author has managed to craft a good drama at the end. This steamy hot romance will hook the readers till the end for sure.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, short story

Lucky the Turtle by Tylin Pratt|Book review

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Title: Lucky the Turtle

Author: Tylin Pratt

Pages: 30

Genre: Children’s fiction

Blurb

Lucky is a kind and happy turtle who lives in a small pond, on a big farm. He has many friends and many aspirations, but doubts he’ll be able to achieve them because he’s a small turtle, living in a big world. Lucky finds the courage to follow his dreams and on that journey, he discovers his inner greatness.

My review

We all have many dreams and goals. But often we are discouraged by the people around us. We lose focus due to this unwanted influence. People who can rise beyond these hurdles can only achieve their dreams. “Lucky the Turtle” illustrates this meaningful concept very well. This is a beautiful story of overcoming challenges and believing in oneself. These beliefs can work magic on your way. The beautiful illustrations certainly add brightness to the story.

Stories like this help our children to not only dream big but also to believe that every dream is achievable, no matter how big it is. But we can only achieve it through the right guidance, meticulous practice, and laser-sharp focus. No matter, how small you are, how slow you are, if you are perseverant enough, nothing can stop you from reaching your goals.

The story also conveys another message about good and bad friendships. How people around you can pull you down and how good friends can turn your mindest quickly. It is important to circle yourself with meaningful and supportive relationships to achieve every goal.

Through this small story, the author has imparted timeless wisdom to budding minds. A must-read for children and adults alike.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Quotes, Self-Help

The Self-Esteem Workbook: Become your Amazing Ideal Self, build your Real Self-Esteem and get Healthy Confidence|Book review

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Title: The Self-Esteem Workbook: Become your Amazing Ideal Self, build your Real Self-Esteem and get Healthy Confidence 

Author:  Lya Swan

Pages: 112

Why we read self-help books? The answer is simple! We all want to change our personality for better results and eventually to attract success in life. To change our personality, we apply many techniques and hacks in our life in the hope to yield better results. But most of these techniques never give the results we need. Primarily because these techniques never concentrate on the root cause. They all are superficial, so the results. The bottom line of every personality development hack is self-esteem. This is the best takeaway from this book. Self- esteem builds strong self-confidence. Self-confidence will lead to success.

The author has divided the whole book into two parts. The first part concentrates on defining the meaning of Self-esteem. After a clear explanation, she moves to evaluate our own self-esteem. From this evaluation, we will realize where we stand and how far we have to go. The next chapter is about laying a solid foundation for the upcoming exercises. In the second part, the author gives a holistic approach to building self-esteem. This approach includes mindfulness to goal setting.

What I really liked about this book is the author never tries to rush into the action plan. She starts from the basics and then proceeds further. This step by step approach makes this book special in the genre. The overall structure of the book is unique and truly meant to help people. Personal development books depend a lot on human psychology. How well you know that will reflect on your writings. The understanding of author in this area makes this book exceptional. I would love to see a continuation of this book or more work from the author.

Rating: 5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help, supernatural

Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr.| Book review

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Title: Deceptive Gods: Confronting the Divine and Demonic: Exploring a Revolutionary New Approach to Angels, Demons, and The Unseen Spiritual World That Guides Us 

Author: Lorne J. Therrien Sr.

Pages:347

Blurb

Lorne J. Therrien’s Deceptive Gods is among the best books on spiritual warfare. On his path to win God’s heart, Lorne J. Therrien experienced angels that appeared as bright as the sun, the comforting embrace of the Holy Spirit that would come and go leaving him in a euphoric state, and darker-than-night hooded shadows that lingered on the sidelines, watching. It is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God’. But when his empathic ability recognizes a similarity in the energy of the angels, demonic hooded shadows, and the Holy Spirit, a red flag is raised. Does he accept what has been written, or trust his intuition and test the God he loves? Making no assumptions, Therrien lets empathy, intuition, and thorough research guide the way, arriving at a clear understanding of both human and non-human nature. The opportunity presents itself with an unexpected visitation at a former monastery, and the game begins. Therrien invites a student curious about spiritual communication to join him as he confronts and converses with the divine and demonic to learn the true identity of the invisible presence. Deceptive Gods is one of the best books on angels and demons and will be of great value to readers interested in Christian mysticism practices and spiritual communication.

My review

The world that we live in is deluded with misinformation that inadvertently leads us to misery. Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr. is an attempt to defog and demystify these beliefs. Faith and supernaturalism are connected together to obtain monetary advantages. We can’t find many books which talk about truth like this. Because creating deception about supernaturals is a part of the selfishness in humans. I was always skeptical about the books written in this genre. Because either they are misleading or filled with unrealistic explanations. But I found an entirely new approach in this book. The author never tries to hide anything. He immersed himself in this. He narrated clearly of his experience. This is a close to real-life experience ever you came across in these genres.

Due to this unreserved nature in the narration, all of my doubts are cleared as I read through. The author starts with basics and he takes time to explain and clear all misbeliefs. This helps me to approach the content through an open mind. The author used a conversation style between him and one of his students throughout the book. This way he teaches and answers every doubt we may encounter on the way. The world of paranormal and supernatural are tempting for certain people to delve right in. But the author clearly explains what we may face if we made that decision.

I really liked his explanation about why these supernatural beings are trying to connect with us. This reasonable explanation is enough to demystify popular beliefs. How he has approached this subject from a reader’s point of view is absolutely great. This is the most believable explanation on this subject you can ever have.

Rating:5/5

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Science Fiction

The Quarter Percent by Lily Nicole|Book Review

 

54803781._SX318_Title:The Quarter Percent

Author: Lily Nicole

Pages: 285

Blurb

It is summer 2030. Truth is the weapon and profit is the territory. Over thirteen intense days, combatants wage war, wielding influence and prestige. Behind the screens, wealthy recluse Marvin Stone has unimaginable power and rewrites the rules of the game. As the rules change, a former fashionista struggles to adjust. On the continent, the popular and charismatic King Cordial of Vale works covertly to undermine his rivals. His youngest daughter, Costmary, is in the cross-hairs. Rue, his older daughter, takes on an exciting new challenge and Gala, Cordial’s first-born, when she is named Princess Regent, forges new ties and unveils her master plan.

My Review

The Quarter Percent by Lily Nicole is a unique dystopian science fiction blending politics and technology together. The plot has many parallel storylines which are woven together through mutual connections.

Set in the near future, the book begins giving a glimpse of the technical takeover on our day-to-day lives. Every information ever put out on the internet is now archived into a ten cubic meters of nanocellulose and silicon called Pai. Every user can point your device to this jelly block to access their data and modify them according to their taste. Access to this unique technology is only given to an extremely rich quarter percent of the population. This manipulative illegal technology which is controlled by a group of eight companies called The Conglomerate plan to market their product in the near future. This will cause a phase-out of the internet and the rise of Aeterna, the replacement. The source code of Aeterna is owned by Marvin Stones’ technology firm, Stone Technology Partners, LLC.

The plot thickens when Marvin Stone decides to rewrite the rules of the technology over the course of thirteen days. This will disrupt many lives depending on social media and the internet. The equations of marketing and advertising are going to take a toll due to this. This storyline is blended with the life of King Cordial of Vale, whose family problems have started spilling into the media. The King and his daughters are trying to squeeze the last drop of profit and power through covert plans.

This is not a simple story that can be expressed through a few lines. The story is getting complicated with the introduction of new characters. This complexity adds suspense and thriller elements in the story. The satirical account of family politics to gain more power and profit is portrayed very accurately. When people lose their ethics and only concentrate on profits, their grounds also change. This leads then to unquenchable greed to impair their opponents and rise above them. The human nature to wage war for their selfish goals is the soul-cause of the fall of humanity. This story explains them all. With accurate turns and twists, the plot never loses its charm.

The creative mind behind the story demands a huge applause. It is not easy to weave many storylines together and combine them to a single concept. The author has done this job very well. This book is absolutely a great treat for readers.

Rating: 5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in  https://amzn.to/3iquCr7

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Quotes, Self-Help

The Leader’s Book of Inspiration: Quotes and Insights for Today’s Leaders by Michael Elliott|Book review

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Title: The Leader’s Book of Inspiration: Quotes and Insights for Today’s Leaders
Author: Michael Elliott
Pages: 170
Blurb
The Leader’s Book of Inspiration is a work of extraordinary insights for self-driven go-getters. Whether you are an entrepreneur, illustrator, writer, executive, or pastor, a leader needs a book s/he can lean on for inspiration. This is that book. Drawing from the greatest kings, authors, artists, poets, philosophers, and religious minds of all time, and amassing over 300 lessons for the 21st-century leader, this refreshing collection of quotes delivers a wealth of eternal knowledge, that is sure to stand the test of time. The Leader’s Book of Inspiration is an essential addition to any personal library. There is everything to gain by igniting the imagination through profound words of inspiration. This book will be your spark.
My review
Life is all about goals and dreams. It is a quest for our own purpose. We have the freedom to uses our limited years of life for our own good or for doing good to others. Not all can manifest their own destiny. When we fail, we seek guidance. Those who have walked the same path before are the best mentors to choose from. This is why we rely on motivation to supplement our endeavors. But extrinsic motivation is always something short-lived. Intrinsic motivation only emerges from our own inner self. What we can do for this is to fall back to the knowledge from great visionaries and leaders to build strong morale.

This book is a great collection of quotes from almost all the visionaries who have ever walked on the earth. The insights range from poets to Kings, authors to philosophers. I must say it is a great addition to my personal book collection because it serves as a constant source of motivation. The author has divided this book into nine parts, each one discusses the insights from a particular group of leaders. This composition helps to read and accept things that best suits each one of us.

Rating:5/5