The definitive guide to creating the most mouthwatering hamburgers by America’s leading burger expert—expanded and updated with new and improved recipes

The Great American Burger Book was the first book to showcase a wide range of regional burger styles and cooking methods. In this new, expanded edition, author and burger expert George Motz covers traditional grilling techniques as well as how to smoke, steam, poach, smash, and deep-fry burgers based on signature recipes from around the country.

Each chapter is dedicated to a specific regional burger, and includes the history of the method and details on how to create your own piece of American food history right at home. Written by Motz, the author of Hamburger America and hailed by the New York Times as a “leading authority” on hamburgers, The Great American Burger Book is a regional tour of America’s best burgers.

Recipes feature regional burgers from California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. International locations Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Malaysia, and Turkey.

This is a book for anyone who loves a great burger, unique or classic. And who doesn’t love a great burger?

These mouthwatering recipes include Connecticut’s Steamed Cheeseburger, The Tortilla Burger of New Mexico, Iowa’s Loosemeat Sandwich, Houston’s Smoked Burger, Pennsylvania’s The Fluff Screamer, and Sheboygan’s Brat Burger.

 

 

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Review

 

I have enjoyed being a part of the Abrams Dinner Party because I get to learn about new cuisines, cooking techniques, and expand my repertoire.

This may be one of my favorite books so far. I probably say that often, but there is something about a hamburger that is good any time of the year. I also have a couple of burger-loving guys in the house, which doesn’t hurt anything.

I enjoyed looking at burgers from across the country. There were so many unique styles that were region specific. We live in the south (Texas, to be exact), and I was intrigued by several burgers. Some I will try; others, probably not. They were just a little too weird for me. Now the kid…he eats nearly anything, and I love trying new things because he will give them a whirl, whereas hubby is more picky.

I tried three different burgers this weekend, and all were delicious. I made the Guberburger (MS), Fried Onion Burger (OK), and The Green Chile Cheeseburger (NM). The Fried Onion Burger was probably the most “normal” burger of the three. The Guberburger has melted peanut butter on top, and the kid loved that one. I didn’t buy enough chiles for the Green Chile Cheeseburger, so I couldn’t enjoy any on mine. This would be great during Hatch Chile season later this summer. I did do a spin on the Bacon Avocado Toast Burger (CA). I put avocado on my bun (vs. toast) and used cheese and no bacon. I thought about cooking some bacon, but then I would have had to share it with hubby…and well, that would be too much work!

Probably the only thing I would have done differently was to use a cast iron skillet vs. one with a ceramic coating. While it was great to toast the buns, it seemed to take longer to cook the meat and get a good sear on it. But that is on me since the book does recommend using a cast iron skillet. Mine is smaller, and I wanted to be able to cook all of the burgers at the same time vs. in shifts.

There are so many more burgers I want to experiment with, so I am glad it is summer, and it is the perfect time to do that. If you enjoy a good burger, pick this one up and find some new favorites for the family to enjoy.

We give it 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

George Motz is a well-traveled Emmy Award–winning freelance filmmaker, author, and photographer. He has also been called the “foremost authority on hamburgers” by the New York Times, and “America’s biggest burger name” by Eater LA. In the spring of 2004, Motz completed Hamburger America, which was nominated in 2006 for a James Beard Award, and was recognized in 2011 by the US National Archives as an integral part of American food history. The film’s success led to a state-by-state guide to hamburgers, also titled Hamburger America: A State-by-State Guide to Great Burger Joints. And in 2016, Abrams released his first cookbook, The Great American Burger Book. Motz can be seen on his show, Burger Scholar Sessions, on Complex Media’s First We Feast, heading into its sixth season. He lives in Brooklyn.

 

 

In the 1880s Old American West, after befriending a little girl, a legendary outlaw trains to take on a band of miscreants who don’t exactly buy into his mystique, save the little girl, and become a real hero.

Hammerin’ Hank Haywood Posey is the greatest outlaw to ever live, but every great story eventually comes to an end. The year is 1885 and an old foe challenges Hank’s title and a showdown in an innocent, small-town flare-up. However, along the way, Hank befriends a young girl who admires the outlaw way of life, he falls in love with an escort, and a quaint small town, which leaves Hank fighting for more than just himself for the first time in his life.

Theme:
It doesn’t matter how good you are, you can’t do it all alone. The greatest strength in this world is the knowledge and comfort of relying on others.

Setting:
1885 in the Old West

Main Characters:
Hank Posey: The greatest, most dangerous outlaw the west has ever seen.
Clementine: a vicious young girl with a heart of gold and a fascination for the outlaw life.
Bandit: Hank’s horse. Has a lot of personality and is the only person in the world Hank truly trusts.
Johnnie Rowan: Hank’s replacement in The Wild Ones Outlaw Gang. Johnnie is always fighting to be just like Hank, despite having none of his qualities.
Angus Earle Denver: The Grandsire of the Wild Ones Outlaw Gang. Angus killed Hank’s father back in the day and Hank has been seeking revenge ever since.
Daisy: A whore turned escort, Daisy catches feelings for Hank and the feelings are mutual. After the showdown, Daisy and Hank have plans of settling down together.

 

 

Amazon

 

Review

 

If you are like me, you have probably heard the term Spaghetti Western but really didn’t know what it meant other than it was a cheesy western film. Well, I have looked it up for you and here is the official definition/meaning:

 

“Spaghetti” Westerns are a subgenre of Westerns whose name references the circumstances and location of their filming. Generally, a Spaghetti Western is a low-budget film produced by Italian directors (hence the “spaghetti” connection) and filmed in Europe, primarily in Almería and the Tabernas Desert.

 

Who knew, right? Think The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Dhjango to name a few. Surprisingly, Blazing Saddles is not a spaghetti western.

I am not sure I have laughed so much reading a book in some time. All of the characters seem to be unredeemable, but they have spunk. Even the outlaw, Hank Posey, isn’t as tough as he might seem. Maybe because he is getting a little long in the tooth and isn’t quite as fierce as he used to be. Although, he does seem to kill people at random. I think most of the time it was a mistake, but who knows what was going through Hank’s head.

One character that stole the book, at least for me, is Clementine. She is a precocious child and seems to have Hank befuddled, so much that he feels that he needs to protect her, if from herself if nothing else. Of course, there is also Bandit, Hank’s horse. I think if he could talk, oh the stories he could tell.

You would think that outlaws would have a mind of their own and do whatever they want, but there does seem to be some code of honor among thieves/outlaws.

Despite the menacing outlaws, this story has a lot of heart and is a change for Hank. Perhaps he will follow a new path? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

This was quite a fun book to read with the quick wit, zany zingers, and craziness that ensues.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Steve Hanisch is a comedy screenwriter and self-published author with several film festival and screenplay competition wins from his work.

His screenplay festival awards include being the Winner of the 22nd LA Comedy Film Festival Screenplay Competition, the 6th Northeast Film Festival, Horror-Comedy Feature Screenplay Competition from the 9th International Horror Hotel, and The Green Light Award for Comedy Excellence from Die Laughing Film Festival. He also has a slew of other honorable mentions, runner-ups, finalists, semi-finalists, etc., from various film festivals over the years, on multiple scripts.

This book is based on the original screenplay of the same name, also written by Steve.

Steve lives in New Jersey with his wife, Kerry, and his loyal canine companion, Sadie.

 

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From the famed author of Under the Tuscan Sun , the most delicious Tuscan pasta recipes that can be made in the time it takes to b oil water and for the pasta to cook

Frances Mayes is known for transporting readers to the charming Italian countryside in her bestselling books. In Pasta Veloce , Mayes and veteran food editor Susan Wyler take us there us by sharing 100 under 30-minute pasta recipes, inspired by their time in Italy. These well-loved recipes blend traditional Italian technique with magic from the Mayes and Wyler home kitchens where experiments are always in progress.

Pasta is the most versatile food on earth. And if you do it fast! Pasta Veloce offers a multitude of under 30-minute, luscious recipes, all accompanied by Mayes’s evocative text. While there are numerous pasta cookbooks, few feature a true Italophile’s passion and eye for detail that can get a dish to the table in, as Mayes describes, “the time it takes to boil water.” From a Tagliatelle with Duck Confit, Chestnuts, and Coffee Reduction to a glittering Capellini with Golden Caviar to the perfect vodka sauce, Pasta Veloce is your guide on those nights when you’re ready to skip the whole production of it but still want to eat like royalty in a rustic Italian village.

 

 

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Review

 

This is an amazing pasta cookbook! Pasta is a dish that is easy to make inexpensively. This book includes so many wonderful dishes, and I can’t wait to try them all. There aren’t many over-the-top ingredients, and most you can find at your local store. You can swap pasta depending on what it calls for and what you have on hand, but there is usually a good reason for the specific pasta they use in the recipes. There is a wonderful pasta pantry section that includes an image of what the pasta looks like and a description. You will also find multiple pesto recipes at the end to top your favorite pasta. I have a feeling this is one I will utilize quite often, especially with men in the house that eat a lot.

I have tried two dishes so far and have comments about both on what could be done better. The first recipe I made was the Spaghetti with Filet Mignon and herbed Balsalmic Onions. This recipe calls for three red onions. That is a LOT of onion! I think I used two smaller red onions. I also used angel hair pasta since that is what I had on hand. I would not add the pasta and the reserved pasta water to the onion/sauce mixture until right before serving. The pasta absorbed more of the sauce/liquid than I would have liked. Don’t get me wrong; it was still very delicious!

 

 

The next dish I made was the Fusilli with Sausage, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Spinach, and Pine Nuts. This was also quite yummy but needed a little something extra. Perhaps some more seasonings. I also used fresh spinach vs. frozen, and I can’t remember what pasta I used, but I don’t think it was fusilli. There isn’t really a sauce per se, and I think it needed one. This is before it was dished up, so you don’t see the grated cheese we added to the top.

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Frances Mayes is the international bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun and The Tuscan Sun Cookbook. The award-winning movie by the same title was based on her memoir. She is also the author of A Year in the World, Bella Tuscany, Every Day in Tuscany, Women in Sunlight, and Bringing Tuscany Home, among others. She and her husband divide their time between North Carolina and Tuscany.

Susan Wyler is a cookbook editor, the author of Cooking for a Crowd and Cooking from a Country Farmhouse, and a former food editor at Food & Wine magazine. She lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Steven Rothfeld is a photographer whose work appears in The Tuscan Sun Cookbook, Bringing Tuscany Home, and Simply French. He lives in Napa Valley, California.

 

 

Synopsis

 

For every pet parent who knows there’s no such thing as ‘just a dog,’ this collection of uplifting glimpses into the lives of ordinary-turned-extraordinary dogs and the people who love them is a tail-wagging good read.

Thanks to the rescue dog who saved her life after a traumatic brain injury, Carmen Leal went from saying she’d never have a dog to becoming an advocate for man’s best friend. Carmen volunteered at the local rescue shelter by writing bios and social media posts, applying for grants, and helping to save and re-home over 6,500 dogs from a high-kill shelter. This endearing anthology includes stories that celebrate the bond between canines and humans, including:

• Buddy the beagle who went from living chained under a porch to becoming the town’s only therapy dog
• Heavenly Joy, the frightened Chihuahua who changed the life of a grumpy old man
• Bogey, an abandoned mixed-breed trained by prison inmates and adopted by his forever family

I Chose You is a collection of memorable, beautifully written stories of dogs rescued by people and, ultimately, people rescued by dogs. If you like four-legged friends and happy endings, you’ll love Carmen Leal’s touching collection of heart-warming stories.

Fetch a copy of I Chose You, the feel-good book that resonates with anyone who has ever loved a dog.

 

 

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Praise

 

“I’m so thrilled to discover this beautiful collection of stories featuring these imperfectly perfect rescue pups. I Chose You has won my heart!” — Janice Thompson, author of Paws for Reflection: 50 Devotions for Dog Moms

“Great read! Nothing in life is perfect except unconditional love. I Chose You captures that choice!”  — Adrian Palmer Board of Directors Medical Advisor Australian Shepherds Furever Rescue

“The best prescription I can write for trauma survivors, veterans with PTSD, and others with mental health issues, is the healing power of dogs. I Chose You is the perfect gift for yourself or a dog lover and a wonderful reminder of the unbreakable bond between canines and their people.”  —Angela Miller, Licensed Professional Therapist

 

 

Review

 

I love reading books that are about dogs, have dogs in the story, or really anything that involves dogs.

I loved reading all of the different dog stories. They shared what they went through and how lives were transformed. It gave me an overall warm feeling.

We rescued two dogs, and they brought us so much joy. I think when you choose a dog, and they choose you back, a bond is formed that cannot be broken. Love is unconditional.

While I read this book quickly, I still took my time in savoring the different stories and what each owner and dog endured to get where they were in the end.

These stories will touch your heart, and I recommend rushing out and purchasing your own copy. You will be glad you did.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Carmen Leal is a storyteller and the author of multiple books, articles, devotionals, and human-interest stories. Carmen relocated from Hawaii to Oshkosh, yes, there is a story behind the move, and has become an awesome dog mom. Carmen and her husband have become reluctant gardeners and know a crazy amount about Wisconsin weeds. She is the mother of two sons, two incredible grandsons, and Coconut, the best imperfectly perfect rescue dog in the world.

 

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Synopsis

 

Lucia Scafetti, a Philly private eye, has tried to move out of the shadow of her infamous crime family. She has her own business, her beloved dog Rocco, and she’s starting to date the cute lawyer down the hall. Her life is upended when her notorious hitman father disappears while in search of the diamond and gold coins he stole from his last victim.

Lucia races to unravel the mystery of her father’s disappearance before a crooked and powerful cop beats her to it. Though Lucia’s allies are scanty and her enemies numerous, she tries to resist the questionable help on offer from her Mafiosi family. It looks like Lucia must finally decide on which side of the law she truly belongs, knowing the wrong choice could send her to prison – or an early grave.

 

 

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Praise for Felicia Watson

 

‘It easily checked all my boxes required for a successful science-fiction novel and kept me flipping the pages time and time again.
What I liked the best about this story, however, is the feeling of discovery as the Lovelace travels farther and farther into the unknown. I have a soft spot for stories that take the reader where no one has ever been before and We Have Met the Enemy delivers this feeling in droves.”-Publisher’s Weekly, for We Have Met the Enemy

“The prose is supple and accurate. It begins with action. While the reader is given time to breathe, the action thereafter never really lets up…McGuffins are skillfully crafted, aliens are both imaginative and credible, and the tech is believable and serviceable without getting in the way.”- Judy Moore, Author of ‘Is Death Really Necessary?’, for Spooky Action at a Distance

“A richly imagined and immersive starship tale. Watson’s prose is filled with vivid worldbuilding details while still managing to feel urgent and punchy…. Though the book is preceded by two others, the story is self-contained enough for those new to the series to hit the ground running. The tale is thoroughly in the tradition of Star Trek…and fans of that franchise will enjoy Watson’s Roddenberrian world. The result is pure space opera, nothing more or less.”- Kirkus Reviews, for The Risks of Dead Reckoning

“`The author delivers an enthralling mystery.. There are whiplash-inducing plot turns throughout and a wholly gratifying final act. Hopefully Watson will give this unforgettable private eye her own well-deserved series. A clever, supercool gumshoe effortlessly steals the show in this delightful caper.”-Kirkus Reviews, for Where No One Will See

 

Review

 

This book was quite a surprise. I didn’t expect to laugh and also have to try and decipher a mystery at the same time.

Lucia has a sarcastic wit, and I loved her! She may be from a mafia family, but she is working as a PI and making it a success. She has quite the brain to unscramble the clues in this book and uncover the true criminal. It doesn’t hurt that she has a dog, Rocco, that is her sidekick. He seems like my kind of dog, despite his crankiness towards people.

I enjoyed the journey to help uncover the mystery surrounding her father’s death and others. There were several surprising twists that I never saw coming. I don’t think Lucia did either until a few clues led her down that path.

I enjoyed that this was set in the 1990s before the tech boom. It tickled me to read about Usenet groups and Lucia trying to figure out if she needed a webpage or a cellphone. Sometimes it is nice to read a book that isn’t technology dependent.

There is a little bit of romance for Lucia, which is a nice bonus.

This was a book I didn’t want to put down, except when I had to for things like sleep.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

10 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Where No One Will See’

 

1. This is a much, MUCH revised version of the first novel I ever wrote. It’s set in the 90s because it was originally written in the 90s. One of the major revisions I made was to change the setting. It was originally set in New York City, but when I pulled it out, I thought, ‘Why not set it in the city I’ve lived in, love, and still visit frequently?’ Now that I’ve re-written it, it seems impossible for me to imagine Lucia living anywhere else.
2. I set Lucia’s office in West Philadelphia because it made sense but also because my husband used to live not far from the address of the fictional Overbrook Commons. That poor man had to put up with endless questions like: “Honey, where would someone go to buy legal pads in your old neighborhood?” or “What’s the best place to get water ice in your old neighborhood?” “Which trolley line runs closet to 40^th and Ludlow?”– and so on, ad nauseum.
3. Lucia’s dog, Rocco, is named after and based on my late dog Rocco, though the character is heavily mixed with my first dog (the first dog that was all mine, not a family dog), Tristan, who was, yes, also a dachshund.
4. I love Lucia, but I often disapprove of and/or disagree with her decisions. Same for Hank, the lawyer whom she dates. If you’re looking for the character I most often agree with – that would be Juli, Lucia’s best friend.
5. My late mother was Italian-American, so a lot of the Italian-American idioms, phrases, etc., come from hearing them from her or other family throughout my childhood. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to spell them and what they really meant. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of disagreement among Italian-Americans about both of those things, especially meanings, so I went with what I remembered. There is a glossary at the back of the book.
6. The diamond at the heart of the mystery, “The Kimberly Star,” is entirely fictional but is loosely based on the Krupp Diamond, which was found in South Africa and at one point was given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton. The coins mentioned in the story, the Kruger Double-Nine Ponds, are totally real, rare, and valuable coins from South Africa.
7. Two of Lucia’s strengths – sewing, and playing pool – are things I’m not very good at. I’ve worked at both of them with varying degrees of success. Meaning, I’m okay at pool but suck at sewing. That being said, I wanted Lucia to have at least one decidedly “feminine” trait that she puts to use in a surprising way. I did give her one forte we both share – swimming. Like Lucia, I love the water and swim almost every day.
8. While I was outlining this latest version of the novel, I spent hours researching guns – their different uses and capabilities, hitmen, the prison and court systems, police informants, notorious criminals, crooked cops, the particulars of break-ins and fencing stolen goods, as well as how bodies decompose. In short, I’m sure the research for this novel has landed me on several FBI watch lists.
9. Every chapter starts with a quote, and the title chapter is taken from that quote. The quote is not random – it sums up the theme or significance of the chapter. This convention is my trademark as an author and goes back to my fan-fiction days. Most of the quotes come from books I’ve read. I’m forever highlighting pithy phrases I run across while reading and saving them to a file which I pull out and peruse whenever I need a quotation.
10. All of the restaurants which are mentioned in the novel – other than the one belonging to Lucia’s family – are authentic Philadelphia restaurants that either exist now or did back in the 90s. They were all frequented by me and my husband back when we were dating. Since he’s one of my beta readers, that was kind of an Easter egg I put in just for him.

©Felicia Watson

 

 

About the Author

 

Felicia Watson, author of the ground-breaking romance, Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela, and the award-winning scifi novels, The Lovelace Series, started writing stories as soon as they handed her a pencil in first grade.

When not writing, Felicia spends her time chasing after her not-so-brilliant, but darling and beloved dogs, being chased by her truly brilliant, darling, and beloved husband. She is known to friends and family as an amateur pastry chef and still finds time for swimming and her day job as a scientist.

 

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Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 3 print or ebook copies.

Print is open to the U.S. only, and the ebook is open worldwide.

This giveaway ends on May 19, 2023 midnight, pacific time.

Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

After a devastating breakup, instead of drowning in her tears, Amelia Day starts a new business. For a hefty fee, she uses the methods for training foster dogs to transform men into suitable marriage material. Her track record is impeccable until she meets perpetual bachelor Phin Baxtor. From the start, she’s confused as to why this guitar-playing hunk would even want to hire her, but she needs the money, so she takes him on.

Phin is content with working in his food truck all day and playing the field at night. But his business partner, Jay, offers him a bet he can’t refuse. If Phin can complete Amelia’s program without changing his ways, he will win Jay’s rare guitar. Certain his task will be easier than playing “Hound Dog,” he agrees to enter the program.

With Phin and Amelia spending all their time together, her techniques begin to slip past his defenses. He might become her biggest success, but falling for a client isn’t supposed to be part of the deal.

 

 

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Review

 

Sometimes you just need a good fun romance to brighten your reading stack. This is that book!

Amelia has been crushed by a former fiance, so she decides to train men how to find their soulmates. I love how she incorporated dog training and phrasing into her technique. But she doesn’t expect that this client will be her last. Phin has played the field all his life but never knew what he was missing in finding the right woman for him.

This book made me laugh and even tear up a little at the end when they get their HEA. There is a great scene at the end that had me laughing out loud, so much so that my husband asked what was so funny. Of course, it is never as good trying to explain a scene if they aren’t reading the book.

I thought the food truck name was great, PB&J, which was a play on Phin and Jay’s names. There is even music trivia sprinkled throughout. I didn’t know any of the answers, but maybe you will.

There are so many great characters, and I could see this becoming a series. I’d love to know what happens with some of the other single characters, such as Layne and Axel.

If you are looking for a light-hearted book, then definitely pick this book up. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

After several decades of writing medical research documents, Cindy decided to switch gears and write stories where the chances of happy endings are 100% and the side effects include satisfied sighs, permanent smiles, and a chuckle or two.  She writes romance novels with a slice of humor that ranges from historical romance to southern fried romantic comedies. Her young adult debut novel, Tuned Into You (BookFish Books) was released in June 2016 and her adult sweet romance, Left Hanging (Red Adept Publishing) was released in March 2017. In A Jam (Red Adept Publishing) was released summer of 2018.

Cindy was born in Texas and raised in Georgia.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Kennesaw State University and her Master’s Degree from The University of Georgia.  Cindy enjoys gardening, reading, bodybuilding, and a whole bunch of movies.  She can be overheard quoting lines from her favorite movies… a lot.  But her favorite pastime is spending time with Mark, her bass playing husband, Maddie Rose, the coolest girl on the planet, and fur child Daisy Mae.  She currently resides in Nashville, TN where live music can be heard everywhere, even at the grocery store.

 

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Synopsis

 

The most dangerous lies are the ones that use the truth to sell themselves.

Medical treatment determined by artificial intelligence could do more than make Hope Kestrel’s career. It could revolutionize healthcare.

What the Seattle surgeon doesn’t know is the AI has a hidden fatal flaw, and the people covering it up will stop at nothing to dominate the world’s healthcare — and its profits. Soon, Hope is made the scapegoat for a patient’s death, and only Jacie Stone, a gifted intern with a knack for computer science, is willing to help search for the truth.

But her patient’s death is only the tip of the conspiracy’s iceberg. The Director, Marah Maddox, is plotting a use for the AI far outside the ethical bounds of her physician’s oath. A staggering plan capable of reducing human lives to their DNA code, redefining the concepts of sickness and health, and delivering the power of life and death decisions into the hands of those behind the AI.

Even if the algorithm accidentally discards some who are treatable in order to make that happen…

 

 

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Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Praise

 

“I’ve been waiting for a book like this: a full-frontal assault on the dangers of artificial intelligence and the failures of our mangled health care system, all wrapped up in a clever, ripping thriller. Jennifer Lycette is an author to watch.” — Rob Hart, author of The Paradox Hotel

“In her debut, Lycette explores the darkest realities about the healthcare system and what generations of the near future could potentially face if power shifts to the wrong hands. Perhaps even more gripping is how she delves into the ways grief can shape someone, causing them to make questionable decisions in the name of redemption. With nuanced characters and a truly terrifying premise, The Algorithm Will See You Now is an ambitious debut that delivers.”— Heather Levy, author of Anthony nominated Walking Through Needles

“Both tense and topical, The Algorithm Will See You Now is a meticulously researched and deeply informed novel about the perils of where healthcare is likely heading, and the agonizing human costs involved. There are no easy decisions here, and Lycette paints a wonderfully complex portrait in an exciting debut.” — E.A. Aymar, author of No Home For Killers

“Full of intrigue and smart thrills, The Algorithm Will See You Now is a incisive vision of a tech-driven future, amping up the contemporary horrors of our healthcare system to the extreme. Lycette’s mastery of the medical field shines through, and her empathetic storytelling invites us to examine where we are headed and how we treat each other as human beings.” — Victor Manibo, author of The Sleepless

“An AI is putting profit over life. And patients are dying. The Algorithm Will See You Now is a tense, terrifying ride that dives into prescient themes of power, control, and the corruption of Big Medicine. Here’s your wake up call. This disturbing future is closer than you think.” — L.P. Styles, author of The Molecule Thief

 

 

Review

 

If you are into conspiracy theories regarding the government, this might be a book of interest to you. It delves into the world where AI makes the medical decisions on whether a person will receive treatment for a deadly disease, like cancer, based on DNA and whether AI thinks that it can be cured.

This type of book is one of my favorites; it takes real-world scenarios and gives it a twist. While reading this book, I felt like this could potentially be happening already in our world. Maybe not AI making decisions regarding our healthcare, but how insurance companies do make decisions on whether to approve treatments or procedures based on their own criteria. This takes it a step further. This story also reflected the greed that is seen by healthcare and others with no regard for those that use their services. This may be futuristic, but I felt like this is what we might see today.

But beyond this aspect of the book, there is one woman’s quest to improve the situation. Hope is brilliant and offers a lot to the healthcare system that she works for. However, certain secrets come out, and it destroys her beliefs. She must make a decision on how to handle this turn and what it will mean for her professionally should she buck the system.

There will be characters that you dislike right off the bat and others that you will empathize with. One character, Jacie, took some time to like. I felt like her character was all over the highway in the beginning, and I didn’t understand her role until later.

This story played to my distrust of some entities in deciding what was best for me. It also encouraged me to continue to stand up for what is right and to now be swayed.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer / JL Lycette is a novelist, award-winning essayist, rural physician, wife, and mother. She has a degree in biochemistry from the University of San Francisco and attained her medical degree at the University of Washington. Mid-career, she discovered narrative medicine in her path back from physician burnout and has been writing ever since. Her essays can be found in Intima, NEJM, JAMA and other journals; at Doximity and Medscape; and her website. She is an alumna of the 2019 Pitch Wars Mentoring program. Her other published speculative fiction can be found in the anthology And If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing: Parenting Stories Gone Speculative (Alternating Current Press). The Algorithm Will See You Now (Black Rose Writing Press) is her first novel.

 

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Synopsis

 

Twenty-nine-year-old Nina Abrahams is not in a good place. She’s been fired from her restaurant manager job after she stands up to her bully of a boss, her motivational speaker mother is helping other people get their lives on track and ignoring the derailing of her daughter’s, and her best friend, Lucas Wilson, the guy she’s loved since she was eighteen, can’t seem to look beyond the girl in braces to the woman she is now.

When a new opportunity comes up, Nina decides it’s the perfect time to start over. The restaurant needs a reinvention and so does she. Unfortunately for Nina, the restaurant comes with hostile servers, a belligerent chef, and an owner averse to change.

But if Nina’s brave enough to take on the restaurant and tackle the people out to sabotage her, perhaps she can find the courage to tell Lucas how she really feels, even if it means risking the most important relationship in her life.

 

 

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Review

 

This story was a surprise. It is well crafted. I felt like the characters had depth, there were issues to resolve, and love to find.

Nina has a lot going for her – a supportive brother, good friends, and a love for the hospitality industry. Her mother is supportive but in her own way. I suppose that comes from being a motivational or inspirational speaker. But even they resolve their issues that have kept them apart and do not truly know one another. There is even her good friend Lucas whom she loves but doesn’t say anything for fear of messing up the friendship. But we all know how that goes…unrequited love is hard to dismiss.

I liked that Nina has some issues to work through, from her job to friends and family. It is a time for her to grow and stretch herself, become the best person she can be, and follow her dreams.

There is romance in the story too, but it is very clean, and I appreciated that aspect. The crux of the story doesn’t get lost in scenes between the characters. It is very much a G-rated book.

This was a fun book to read, and I will look for more books by this author. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lara Martin writes books about imperfect people living messy lives, falling in love and getting their perfect happily-ever-after. She’s lived in South Africa and Australia and now calls a cozy village in England her home. She’s tried a variety of amazing and awful jobs: video game reviewer, graphic designer, insurance claims agent (she has no idea how she landed this one), proof reader, feature writer, and magazine editor. She lives with her husband (always the first reader of her novels), two slightly terrifying teenagers, and the requisite psychotic cat. When she’s not writing, she can be found haunting local coffee shops.

 

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Synopsis

 

Set among the rolling green Irish hills, Kelkerry Castle is something out of a dreamy fairy tale. For hotelier Bridget Marshall, however, it’s a dream come true…once she’s sorted out the mold, lead paint, and ancient plumbing. And she’ll prove to everyone in the nearby village of Shansally (pop. 119) that she’s not just another silly, dreamy-eyed American—including her curt (if utterly gorgeous) new neighbor, Liam O’Flannagain.

Only, this breathtaking castle has far more secrets than expensive repairs. While someone—or something—here desperately wants Bridget to give up and walk away, there’s another force tugging Bridget to stay. Because whenever she’s with Liam, the ancient past seems to come to life again, sweeping them along in a story they’re apparently destined to relive.

Now, Liam and Bridget are caught up in a long-ago tale filled with love, danger, and betrayal. The past seems to be working its magic on both of them, pulling them into a love story they’re helpless to resist. And they’ll have to uncover the truth of what happened all those centuries ago before history—and tragedy—repeats itself.

 

 

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Review

 

This was such a fun read! It had many of the elements I enjoy in a book – mystery, suspense, romance, and time travel. The time travel wasn’t like most I have read; rather, it was more of the two main characters experiencing what those from the past endured. I do wonder why these two were chosen, and an answer isn’t provided. Were they descendants of the people whose body they were in?

The mystery was who was sabotaging the castle and Bridget’s work to open a hotel. I had my suspicions about one character, and I was glad to see I was correct. There was a twist with that plot line that I didn’t expect, so that added another dimension to the story.

The romance between Bridget and Liam took some time. He is very broody and does not like Bridget. There isn’t anything concrete as to why other than she is an American that came over and purchased a castle to convert into a hotel. Perhaps he didn’t want tourism in that small town? Or maybe he didn’t want to be there and would have rebelled against anything or anyone. However, when she breaks through his defenses, it still takes some time for him to come around and admit his feelings.

While I have never been to Ireland, I felt like I was there from the descriptions of the towns and the people. I could imagine the lush green meadows and more. I liked how there were bits of Gaelic sprinkled in, and I had to chuckle as Bridget learned what words meant or what words she should use in certain situations.

This was an enjoyable read, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jessica Dall is the author of such novels as Forever Bound, A Dangerous Beauty, and The Stars of Heaven. She has written across an array of genres, though her love of history and romance always seems to find a way into her work. Born and raised in southern California, she now resides in Maryland with her husband and daughter. When not living vicariously through her characters, she enjoys travel, crafting, and helping others with their own writing journeys.

 

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Synopsis

 

Find out how I, a nobody from the state of Rhode Island, was invited to travel Europe with the son of the richest man in the world at the time. We drove 19,965 miles through 12 different European countries in 10 weeks. We dined with Kings and Queens in Denmark, we gambled with the Shah of Iran in Monte Carlo, we had high tea with her Imperial Highness of Iran Princess Farah in Paris, we were rescued out of handcuffs by Shirley Temple Black during the Russian Invasion of Czechoslovakia, and Brigitte Bardot – The sexiest women in the world at the time – “Would you please dance with me? And that does not even scratch the surface of this mind-blowing adventure of 10 lifetimes that took me an additional ten years just to process.

How did my companion turn a ship around in the middle of the ocean just because we missed its departure? Within 8 hours of sending his dad to Iran, how did 30-$100 bills get hand-delivered to our hotel room in Switzerland even though no banks or wiring offices were open? After being told by the telephone company in Nice, France, to put my call through to the USA, how did my companion from the first payphone have me talking to my dad in the USA in 30 seconds flat?

How did Israel in 1948 get the oil needed to survive when no country in the world could or would sell the oil? Is it true that his father had permission from the Israeli government to build an entire city in Israel to move the total Jewish population from Tehran, Iran, to Israel at his own expense?

I was one of only eight people in the world who knew about this history-changing plan as I saw the actual blueprint of the city, which cost more than I would earn in my lifetime. Wait till you hear of the story of the 100 suitcases or the one about the prisoner who returned voluntarily to Dachau, a German concentration camp after escaping and being free.

If “Nothing Boggles the Mind of Simple Men like The Truth, ” I promise that you will be glad that you read it because as you do, you will come to realize it must be true because nobody could make this story up.”

 

 

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Excerpt

 

I got the call at work. I recognized Moritz’s voice immediately from his German accent. His voice was thick with grief. He could barely get the words out.

“It’s Maurice,” he said. “He’s gone.”

Gone? As in dead? I couldn’t seem to process the information. I stared blankly at the wall of my shop, specifically at a poster for Goodyear Tires. “How?” I managed to ask.

“Massive heart attack.”

A heart attack? It seemed such an unglamorous way to go, so incongruous with the enchanting no-holds-barred way Maurice had lived his life. I did the math in my head: he was only fifty-two.

I kept the call brief, thanked Moritz, one of Maurice’s other close friends from Munich, Germany, clearly in a similar state of shock, and hung up the phone.

I sat down in a chair and let the first wave of emotion wash over me. True, I hadn’t seen him in years, but I still thought of him as my best friend, and now that cherished friend was dead—the man who had opened the world up for me in ways I never imagined possible. Now, nearly 26 years after the fact, I had to remind myself that the time we spent traveling around Europe just after college was not a dream, that I did not imagine Maurice. But in truth I knew I had not. In the deepest depths of my mind, I could not have conjured up the times we had together.

 

 

Review

 

Wow is the first word that comes to mind. This stroll down memory lane for a trip taken by Gary and Maurice was terrific. While I would like to say it is hard to believe all of this happened and the details that Gary remembered, I don’t doubt a word that was written.

This is also a story of an unlikely friendship. Maurice is from a wealthy Iranian family, and Gary is from a small New England family. But this is what made it work. They each brought experiences to the table that the other may not have ever experienced had it not been for this friendship. Maurice’s experiences were ones that many of us might only dream of – meeting royalty, staying in nice hotels, and gambling with other people’s money. But Gary brought humble beginnings and family to the table. Despite all that Maurice’s money could buy, it can’t purchase home-cooked meals and close-knit family ties.

Their jaunt around Europe was one that most of us would not experience, or at least parts of it. I believe that most of us touring Europe would see other parts of the countries. However, this was 1968, and the times were different. I loved how you could send mail to a hotel, and they would hold it for you, whether you checked in or not. I’m unsure what sort of mail you would need to have sent this way, but it was intriguing.

This friendship and adventure across Europe was a joy to read. I imagined what taking this journey must have been like and that relieving these memories brought back some happy times.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

In 1965, Gary Orleck graduated from Babson College—a small but outstanding business college with students from around the world—in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and set out along Route 66, working his way around the US for four months. Most helpful was an agreement he had with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company that he could work in any store during his travels, but he could not be paid locally. Instead, his pay was sent to his home later. Gary was well-versed in the tire business because his father owned the largest Goodyear Tire and Service store in New England.

For a young boy from Rhode Island, this was a life-changing experience. Gary was present for the Watts Riots and the world premiere of Fantastic Voyage with Raquel Welch and Fernando Lamas at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. He arrived in San Francisco the day topless was approved. The four-month trip wet Gary’s appetite for more traveling. While driving home from California, he made a promise to himself: to drive around all of Europe the next year.

Gary bumped into a college student who graduated with him. The student was from Iran, a country most Americans had never heard of. Gary didn’t know it at the time, but his friend was from the wealthiest family in the world. His friend had lived in Switzerland for four years of boarding school, four years of college in London, and seven summers in the South of France for summer school. He asked Gary to join him that following summer to drive through Europe—his friend offering to be his tour guide since he knew Europe like the back of his hand.

At first, Gary was hesitant because of his friend’s perceived reputation, but he was very persuasive, promising to be the best tour guide ever. Reluctantly, Gary agreed, which led to the most mind-blowing experience—a ten-week trip through 12 countries and 19,920 miles of earth-shattering adventures that included turning a ship around in the middle of an ocean, dining with the King and Queen of Denmark, and the King and Queen of Belgium, meeting The Who backstage, being entertained by the Empress of Iran Empress Farah in Paris, gambling with the Shah of Iran in Monte Carlo, and even being rescued by Shirley Temple Black after being arrested during the Czechoslovakian Revolution in the summer of 1968.

Gary says, “It took ten years for me to process that trip—five years of research plus five years of writing—because I wished to share the greatest adventure a young naïve boy from Rhode Island could ever imagine happening. So, fasten your seat belts for a ride inside the elite world of the rich and famous, and join me on the trip of my lifetime. A trip you will never forget. I promise you that!”

 

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