I was the lucky winner of last months book giveaway. And honestly I've never won anything random in my life, so when I woke up and finally checked my messages to see @Rachael Bermingham tagging me all of the place, and other comments mentioning me, I was like "What? What have I missed..... So I don't see the drawer live, but watched the recording and was so beside myself. I had actually seen Claudia's book highlighted a few weeks prior and so knew it was one I wanted to read. I’m just about to dive into Chapter 6. I wanted to share a few thoughts so far—especially for those of you sitting on the fence about picking this one up! The "Age-Friendly" Perk: I turn 54 tomorrow (yay!), and honestly, the first thing I fell in love with was the large print. It sounds like a small thing, but at this stage of life, having a book that’s easy on the eyes makes the reading experience so much more relaxing. I’m the kind of reader who needs to be captured early, or I’ll wander off. The prologue did exactly that—it set such a vivid scene that by the time I hit Chapter 1, I was already fully invested. I have a goal this year to try and be more consistent with reading, so this one is next on my list. It was so easy to read I ended up at Chapter 6 the first night I decided to start it in bed. Albeit I had not finished a book I started last June. LOL. I know, I have about 10 pages to go. I am already so drawn to Abby. You just know that she wants to do the right thing by her family, but she also has a rebellious streak in her. I can only guess there is room for the other characters to slowly come to life. Will the families stay close ? Who will discover her secret first ? So many questions and plot twists. 📢 I believe the next giveaway is happening tomorrow (April 30th)! (Maybe a surprise gift for my birthday 🥳) Honestly, the thrill of winning such a beautiful gift, and having it come directly from the author was something so special. Waiting for it's arrival in the mail and not electronically makes it extra special.

I read Transformation: A Journey of Creating One’s Life Anew, by Michael Teferi. It is a collection of acrostic poems, where the first letter of each line spells out a word; in this collection the title of the poem. This book would work well for people looking to start an affirmation ritual, or to share with someone.

Very thankful to Sam, who bought my book at my book launch, for this great review. 🙏 "As a trauma-informed neuroscience and human behaviour specialist, I deeply resonate with the mission behind We Got Wi-Fi, But No Connection. Dr Leon Stensholm offers more than a guide - he delivers a grounded, emotionally intelligent blueprint for raising resilient, connected young people in a world that often overwhelms them. His work is rooted in lived experience, backed by science, and infused with the kind of practical wisdom our families and communities urgently need. Leon's unwavering dedication to youth empowerment doesn’t just support young people; it strengthens the relational fabric of entire communities." Dr. Samantha Worthington (PhD. MBA. BA.) Consumer Psychology, Neuroscience & Human Behaviour Specialist $25 👉🏻 Click to buy a signed copy here.

Congratulations on being in the author spotlight! Well deserved mate! it was a wonderful time watching you both. I loved learning more about Scotty… and it definitely made me want to take his picture. Just so he knows, I’m doing remote sessions… saying that with a smile on my face and love. A few things that really stayed with me: Live your life from the inside out, not from the outside in. Keep your peripheral vision on… pay attention to the quiet signals before they turn into alarm bells. Pay attention to what you’re feeling, not just what you’re thinking. Your body usually knows first. Depression, fear, and anxiety pull you into the past or push you into the future… but in the present moment, they lose their grip. Let the lies go. If you’re uncomfortable but telling everyone you’re okay, that disconnect builds. Be honest with yourself first. Try to find out who you were before the personas started… before the roles and expectations. And if you need a place to start, look into Buteyko breathing… it’s a simple way to come back to yourself.

Since I'm allowed to link to a little review, I've hunted up one for the second entry in my 13-book Maldene series, "Maldene II: Mysteries Of Olde". On this one you get to see the old cover at mthe top and the new cover at the bottom of the review. Here's a quick excerpt from the review: "Mark Anthony Tierno is a phenomenal writer who knows how to grasp his reader’s attention from the first page. Tierno instead of writing long, drawn-out builds up which are commonly found in fantasy novels, decides to ditch this approach and thrust his reader into the heart of the story straight away so that the reader is instantly captivated and immersed. " You can find the rest of it at https://redheadedbooklover.com/maldene-ii-mysteries-of-olde-mark-anthony-tierno/ More info about my little series can be found at www.maldene.com