Author: bitchnbooks

I love books. Ever since I was a kid I remember flipping the pages of anything and everything I could read. Picture books, historical tomes, encyclopaedias, novels, fiction and non-fiction books—I have read them all. I was lucky enough to have had the chance to indulge in my passion for reading, thanks to loving parents who encouraged my love for the written word. This blog is my way of sharing with you my passion for reading and my love for a newly discovered world of books, written by indie authors. As my way of thanking these wonderful authors, I will be posting my reviews of the books that I have read. It is my hope that, by sharing my thoughts, others may get to love the written word, just as much as I do. AYA

Pandemic thoughts and short reads

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.”
~ James Baldwin

Life, as we know it, has changed. For me, it was March 17, 2020, when the government declared what they called an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), otherwise known as “lockdown,” to the rest of the world.

Under ECQ, we had to stay behind closed doors to stem the growing threat of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Work, leisure, everything stopped. Going out for necessities like buying groceries, medicines, and taking care of financial obligations became a nightmare of epic proportions with the country’s economic lifeline shut down.

Today, with no signs of the pandemic running its course—it seems that everyone is left holding an empty bag of whys, what-ifs, and what-should-have-been. Worse is knowing that everyone, regardless of race and ethnicity, has been touched by this scourge. Not one of us can proudly say that we have not been affected or lost someone we know.

How do we cope?

For me, besides attending to my family and work obligations, I read. And I read a lot. As of this writing, I have read a total of 392 books. I only need to finish reading 108 books to reach my promise to read 500 for this year.

Reading is my escape, my stress-reliever. Lately, and no offense to my favorite authors, I have been concentrating on short reads. These stories are usually less than 2 hours long, with light themes, and most often, out-of-this-world storylines. Most of all, they end up with HEAs—happily-ever-after endings—that make me smile the moment I turn the last page.

Kali Hart, Hope Ford, Loni Ree, Fern Fraser, Tory Baker—they are just some of the authors whose books I have been bingeing on the past few months. Unlike the authors that I usually write reviews for, whose books are often hours long to read or listen to, these authors provide, for me, an escape from what seems like a never-ending pandemic and its Pandora’s box of unwanted surprises.

“Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real.”
~ Nora Ephron

Learning how to manage stress takes time, practice, and most of all, acceptance that we are stressed and need to do something about it. To deny that we are stressed only compounds the issues surrounding our emotional, mental, physical, and, yes, our “spiritual” selves. Plus, denying that we are stressed; often creates a domino effect affecting the people in our lives.

The pandemic has upended everyone, and as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) said, “many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children.”

“Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety,” the CDC adds. The CDC emphasizes that learning to cope with stress healthily will make us, the people we care about, and those around us, more resilient against these trying times.

Most important, the CDC said, is to understand that it is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to SkillsYouNeed, different people find different things stressful, and people can also cope with different levels of pressure before becoming stressed.

Stress can arise as the result of many factors, including life events, work, and the behavior of others. Therefore, we must learn to identify and manage our triggers for us to cope.

How can we manage stress? Simply follow WebMd’s 10 Steps to Manage Stress:

Exercise Working out regularly is one of the best ways to relax your body and mind. Plus, exercise will improve your mood. But you have to do it often for it to pay off.
Relax Your Muscles When you’re stressed, your muscles get tense.
Deep Breathing Stopping and taking a few deep breaths can take the pressure off you right away.
Eat Well Eating a regular, well-balanced diet will help you feel better in general.
Slow Down Modern life is so busy, and sometimes we just need to slow down and chill out.
Take a Break You need to plan on some real downtime to give your mind time off from stress.
Make Time for Hobbies You need to set aside time for things you enjoy.
Talk About Your Problems If things are bothering you, talking about them can help lower your stress.
Go Easy on Yourself Accept that you can’t do things perfectly no matter how hard you try.
Eliminate Your Triggers Figure out what are the biggest causes of stress in your life.

Everyone has their way of coping with stress. I read. Some watch movies; some take long walks, some pray, etc. Dealing with stress is personal, and we must always strive to find ways of coping that will strike a positive impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.

Here’s hoping the coming year will see us all in a better place, one where we can breathe freely, deeply, and safely, once again.

*WebMD provides valuable health information, health-management tools, and support to those who seek information.

**The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the national public health agency of the United States and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

***SkillsYouNeed is a website that provides high quality information and resources to help one learn and develop the skills needed to make the most of everyday life.

October 7, 2021 2

Storm (Special Forces: Operation Alpha): A Linear Tactical Series Novel

By Janie Crouch

I love when authors I follow put their heads together and come up with an awesome collaboration. When it is Janie Crouch, writing for Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha series, I am in awe.

Janie Crouch, like Susan Stoker, writes about the men and women who dedicate their lives to serving their country. And while some would scoff and say that the genre these two wonderful ladies write is cliché and caters only to readers who live and breathe military, alpha men (and women) romances, I would beg to disagree.

These two ladies—if you, dear reader, take a chance and read their creations (and I beg you, please do), you would see that they have one thing in common, and that is showing us, behind the written words, how to become better persons in a world filled with angst.

They teach us how to stand up to, and for, those who can’t. They teach us how to fight against those who refuse to believe that we are important.

Read between the lines of their stories, and you will realize that they are, through characters both flawed and solid, the ammunition we might just be looking for, to know that no matter what we are facing, we are strong. That we can face everything life throws at us, that we just must believe.

A case in point is Storm, another slam-dunk to Janie Crouch’s Linear Tactical series. Take the lessons behind the words to heart, for yourself, or someone else you know who may need them.

Storm is about domestic abuse and one woman’s journey out of her abuser’s hold. It is about finding the courage to fight for survival. It is about learning to accept change in order to survive. It is finding the strength to believe in oneself and standing up for what is right. To live.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Vision (NCADV) defines domestic violence as the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse.

The NCADV explains that the frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other.

The NCADV further says that domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality.

“Domestic violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior that is only a fraction of a systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and in severe cases, even death. The devastating physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.”
~~ National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Vision

A recent study conducted by Amalesh Sharma and Sourav Bikash Borah on the impact of Covid-19 on domestic violence, published in the National Library of Medicine’s National Center for Biotechnology Information, cites that although countries across the world are battling Covid-19 by enacting measures to reduce the speed of transmission, multiple reports suggest that “such measures are increasing the incidence of domestic violence and not only in number but also in severity.”

“We find that layoffs, loss of income, extended domestic stays, and exposure to habits due to stay-at-home orders are driving up the incidence of domestic violence. Moreover, these domestic violence increases are driving economic and social crises due to the form and severity of the violence, the burden placed on government, a crisis of resources, and decreases in the productivity of workforces,” the study said.

The study concludes that domestic violence increase resulting from Covid-19 is an indirect driver of economic and social crises.

Sharma is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, while Borah is a scholar who has written a vast majority of topics for the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad.

Regardless of whatever situation a victim of domestic abuse finds themselves in—be it the pandemic or other circumstances, there are, all over the world, ways to find help. Local self-help groups, toll-free hotlines, self-help books, online resources abound, including, of course, medical, spiritual, and psychiatric sources.

The best help for domestic abuse victims? In my personal opinion, we—their families, friends, colleagues—are the best people that they can run to, for as long as we understand that violence of any kind is, and should never, be acceptable, no matter what the circumstance may be. Especially now, during the pandemic.

It is for us to help empower and protect the victims of domestic violence, and lead them to the path of healing and recovery.

Learning how to defend oneself.

“It takes time to change the way we see ourselves. It takes time and conscious effort to undo years of conditioning. And that’s what has happened to you. Conditioning.”
~~Janie Crouch, Storm

In Storm, former Special Forces soldier turned rancher Noah Dempsey takes on the task of teaching Marilyn Ellis, a victim of domestic abuse, how to defend herself. He teaches her various techniques in self-defense, as well as how to get out of situations where she may find herself in the crosshairs of her abuser. With his help, Marilyn was able to take back the self-esteem that was stripped from her, allowing her to find herself worthy in all that matters, once more.

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines defense as “the capability of resisting an attack” or something used to protect yourself both physically and emotionally. Self-defense, however, is not about learning how to beat up your abuser, but rather how to become more cognizant of your environment and learn important skills that will allow you to protect yourself physically and mentally.

In most places, though, self-defense is still a foreign concept, especially in places where customs are dictated by a patriarchal society. Most often, the concept of self-defense is still met with skepticism and resistance for reasons such as:

Lack of knowledge and understanding on the benefits of knowing how to defend oneself.
Concern over legal issues and jail time in defending themselves.
The feeling of weakness, helplessness, and incapability of protecting themselves from what they perceive is a bigger threat.
The Guilt of defending themselves against their abuser, most often someone they love.
Believing they deserve the abuse.
Not wanting to use violence to fight violence.

Regardless, self-defense can decrease the risk of assault, especially in cases of rape. Victims who are educated, empowered, and aware of potential danger are more likely to prevent an attack or escape one.

For those who lack the understanding that they are victims of domestic violence, it is up to us to empower them into seeking the right path, and realizing that they, too, are worthy of living a life free from abuse.

“Progress isn’t always linear.” She didn’t realize she’d said the words out loud until he responded. “It’s jagged. One step forward, two dozen steps back. But it’s still progress.”
~~Janie Crouch, Storm

For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

June 22, 2021 0

Loving The Girl in the Tutu (Uncontrolled Heroes Book 3)

By K.L. Donn

When you start a book and then decide to set it aside for the meantime.

Not because you did not like the book, but because as you go deeper into it, you know that you HAVE to devote a whole afternoon to a story lovingly written by an author you admire. A story where, from the dedication written at the start, you know will be an emotional one.

That is when you know the book is the best she has written so far.

___

I have been looking forward to reading Beckett and Royal’s story ever since K.L. Donn gave her readers a head’s up. The title itself, “Loving the Girl in the Tutu,” was in itself a hint that this book will be a doozy, and it was.

Loving the Girl in the Tutu is the story of a girl who was conceived to become her sick sister’s leash on life. It is the story of a boy who saw a girl dressed in a tutu dancing heart out on the beach.

It is the story of a boy who saw his future with a girl whose eyes reflected only despair.

Loving the Girl in the Tutu may have been the last book in K.L. Donn’s Uncontrolled Heroes series, but to me, it was the one that packed the most punch with all the feels.

Loving the Girl in the Tutu is not a simple story. The ending itself, even with the happily-ever-after, is poignant and heartbreaking at the same time.

K.L. Donn crafted a story of love and loss. We are witness to difficult choices, between siblings and parents, freedom, and suffering.

We witnessed a family torn apart by parents faced with the specter of losing a child, and their desperate attempts to fight the inevitable. We witnessed a love so pure between siblings willing to sacrifice their own happiness, so that the other may see a future filled with dreams.

Most of all, we witnessed never-ending courage and determination to stand and fight for a future filled with happiness.

Royal and Beckett, and yes, Leia, will tug your heartstrings, but in the end, their story is proof that love does conquer all.

If you, dear reader, have not picked up a K.L. Donn creation before, this is your chance to do so.

May 5, 2021 0

Christmas Carol

By Jordan Marie

Growing up in foster care, baseball player Cyrus Martinez hated everything about Christmas. More so this year when his dream team sends him back to the minor leagues, in a town no one has heard of.

Christmas Carol Kringle –yes, that is her name—runs a catering business and loves the holiday season. This unlikely couple meets when Cyrus’ car is blocked by Carol’s humongous dog aptly named Abominable, in the only city in America which celebrates the Christmas season all year round, Mistletoe, Montana.

Christmas Carol by Jordan Marie is your typical feel-good Christmas story. Add in a cameo from one of Marie’s most loved characters, the indomitably loony Ida Sue, you have yourself a good hour of wanting to strangle Cyrus for being dense enough to almost botch his chance with the lovely Carol, and at the same time wanting to hug him for his ‘faults’.

What surprised me was the fact that, knowing Jordan Marie and how this pandemic has, like all of us, affected her and her loved ones, she was still able to give us, her readers, a story we could enjoy amidst a holiday season still fraught with worry and anxiety.

That she was able to pull out something that made me smile, even as I am most definitely not feeling the Christmas vibe, is a testament to how she is as an author, and for that, I am very, very, thankful.

Overall, Christmas Carol* is a book I would recommend reading, preferably with a glass of wine, dim lights, a blanket, and a cozy fire blazing bright.

*Christmas Carol is part of a 17 book series centered around the town of Mistletoe, Montana.

December 24, 2020 0

Storm (Special Forces: Operation Alpha): A Linear Tactical Series Novel

By Janie Crouch

Janie Crouch, like Susan Stoker, writes about the men and women who dedicate their lives to serving their country. And while some would scoff and say that the genre these two wonderful ladies write is cliché and caters only to readers who live and breathe military, alpha men (and women) romances, I would beg to disagree.

These two ladies—if you, dear reader, take a chance and read their creations (and I beg you, please do), you would see that they have one thing in common, and that is showing us, behind the written words, how to become better persons in a world filled with angst.

They teach us how to stand up to, and for, those who can’t. They teach us how to fight against those who refuse to believe that we are important.

Read between the lines of their stories, and you will realize that they are, through characters both flawed and solid, the ammunition we might just be looking for, to know that no matter what we are facing, we are strong. That we can face everything life throws at us, that we just must believe.

A case in point is Storm, another slam-dunk to Janie Crouch’s Linear Tactical series. Take the lessons behind the words to heart, for you, or someone else you know who may need them.

In Storm, Janie Crouch’s 10th book in her Linear Tactical series, we are introduced to Noah Dempsey, brother to Tanner Dempsey (from the author’s Risk Series: A Bree and Tanner Thriller) and cousin of Gavin Zimmerman (Redwood: Linear Tactical comes out January 2021).

Former Special Forces soldier Noah (Storm) is paired with Marilyn Ellis, mother of two precious kids, Sam, and Eva. Marilyn is a victim of domestic abuse of the worst kind—mentally, emotionally, and physically broken by a husband who turned out to be a sociopath.

Domestic abuse is never an easy subject, and this is true across cultures. In some patriarchal societies, women are still viewed as objects to be used and abused. Often women who are brave enough to admit that they are being abused are themselves shunned by their families, sometimes even by the society, they live in.

Like Marilyn, these women are conditioned to believe that they are less than—stupid, predictable, good for nothing but a means to vent someone else’s ire and perceived self-worth. Of course, let us acknowledge the fact that there are men out there who are also victims, but the fact remains that the number of women who suffer from domestic abuse is higher all over the world.

“It takes time to change the way we see ourselves. It takes time and conscious effort to undo years of conditioning. And that’s what has happened to you. Conditioning.”
~~ Storm, Janie Crouch

Most victims of domestic violence—often stripped of their self-worth—find it hard to accept the fact that they are victims. Years of conditioning and emotional trauma, especially when they are isolated from any form of help, reduce them to the belief that they deserve to become someone’s punching bag. Oftentimes they are conditioned to believe that they are the ones who had done wrong and must then accept the consequences of their mistakes.

Sadly, this type of thinking almost always ends in more violence, or even death.

The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) is correct in saying that “when the general public thinks about domestic violence, they usually think in terms of physical assault that results in visible injuries to the victim.”

This is only one type of abuse. There are several categories of abusive behavior, ACESDV says, each of which has its devastating consequences. Lethality involved with physical abuse may place the victim at higher risk, but the long-term destruction of personhood that accompanies the other forms of abuse is significant and cannot be minimized.

These types of abuse include control, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse & intimidation, isolation, verbal abuse such as coercion, threats, and blame, using male privilege, economic abuse, and stalking.

If you know or suspect that someone is a victim, please do not hesitate to speak up and let that person know that you are reaching out. Doing so might very well mean saving someone’s life.

How can you help?

Verywell Mind, an online resource partner of The Cleveland Clinic, gives nine tips that you can follow to help you support someone in an abusive relationship:

Make Time for Them If you decide to reach out to an abuse victim, do so during a time of calm. Getting involved when tempers are flaring can put you in danger. Also, make sure to set aside plenty of time in case the victim decides to open up. If the person decides to disclose years of pent-up fear and frustration, you will not want to end the conversation because you have another commitment.

Start a Conversation You can bring up the subject of domestic violence by saying “I’m worried about you because …..” or “I’m concerned about your safety…” or “I have noticed some changes that concern me…”

Maybe you’ve seen the person wearing clothing to cover up bruises or noticed that the person has suddenly become unusually quiet and withdrawn. Both can be signs of abuse.

Let the person know that you will be discreet about any information disclosed. Do not try to force the person to open up; let the conversation unfold at a comfortable pace.

Listen Without Judgment If the person does decide to talk, listen to the story without being judgmental, offering advice, or suggesting solutions. Chances are if you actively listen, the person will tell you exactly what they need. Just give the person the full opportunity to talk.

You can ask clarifying questions, but mainly just let the person vent their feelings and fears. You may be the first person in which the victim has confided.

Learn the Warning Signs Many people try to cover up the abuse for a variety of reasons, and learning the warning signs of domestic abuse can help you help them:

Physical Signs:

Black eyes
Busted lips
Red or purple marks on the neck
Sprained wrists
Bruises on the arms

Emotional Signs:

Low self-esteem
Overly apologetic or meek
Fearful
Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
Anxious or on edge
Substance abuse
Symptoms of depression
Loss of interest in once enjoyed activities and hobbies
Talking about suicide

Behavioral Signs:

Becoming withdrawn or distant
Canceling appointments or meetings at the last minute
Being late often
Excessive privacy concerning their personal life
Isolating themselves from friends and family

Believe the Victim Because domestic violence is more about control than anger, often the victim is the only one who sees the dark side of the perpetrator. Many times, others are shocked to learn that a person they know could commit violence.

Victims often feel that no one would believe them if they told people about the violence. Believe the victim’s story and say so. For a victim, finally having someone who knows the truth about their struggles can bring a sense of hope and relief.

Validate the Victim’s Feelings It’s not unusual for victims to express conflicting feelings about their partner and their situation. These feelings can range from guilt and anger, hope and despair, love, and fear.

If you want to help, you must validate their feelings by letting them know that having these conflicting thoughts is normal. But it is also important that you confirm that violence is not okay, and it isn’t normal to live in fear of being physically attacked.

Reasons Why Victims Stay It can be hard to understand why someone you care about would seemingly choose to stay in an abusive or unhealthy relationship. A few reasons why victims believe it’s not easy to part ways with their abuser include:

Fear of harm if they leave
They still love their partner and believe they will change
Their partner promised to change
A strong belief that marriage is “for better or worse”
Thinking the abuse is their fault
Staying for the children
Lack of self-confidence
Fear of isolation or loneliness
Pressure from family, community, or church
Lack of means (job, money, transportation) to survive on their own

Offer Specific Support Help the victim find support and resources. Look up telephone numbers for shelters, social services, attorneys, counselors, or support groups. If available, offer brochures or pamphlets about domestic violence. Let the person know they are not alone and help is available. Call your local suicide hotline for immediate assistance and a referral to nearby counseling services or support groups.

Help Form a Safety Plan

Help the victim create a safety plan that can be put into action if violence occurs again or if they decide to leave the situation. Just the exercise of making a plan can help them visualize which steps are needed and to prepare psychologically to do so.

“Progress isn’t always linear.” She didn’t realize she’d said the words out loud until he responded. “It’s jagged. One step forward, two dozen steps back. But it’s still progress.”
~~Janie Crouch, Storm

October 11, 2020 0

Cowboy Bodyguard: Brotherhood Protectors World

By K.L. Donn

K.L. Donn gives us another five-star read with Cowboy Bodyguard, her contribution to the Brotherhood Protectors World of Elle James.

We are introduced to Marilyn Monroe Kingsley, who grew up being groomed by her mom to be a beauty queen, winning pageant after pageant. Controlled by her mom, Monroe longed for a life she could only see on television and the books she loved to read.

Monroe meets Shaw when she is sent to Montana to hide from a stalker, and there, with the help of the former Delta Force soldier, Monroe learns what it means to live a normal life.

All of us want to if not excel, be better in life. All of us want the same for our children, but what lengths should we take to be able to achieve our dreams for ourselves, our children?

Though I do not have a child to call my own, I am a doting aunt to a highly intelligent, sweet, and sometimes headstrong teen, the only child of my brother. While I believe that my niece is on the right path to becoming a woman who can stand on her own merits and become a positive influence on others, I have come across kids who struggle. Instead of enjoying their childhood, I see them strive to “become” their parents.

We see kids who take up medicine because their parents wanted them to do so. We see kids who become actors and actresses, beauty contestants, singers, with their parents, mostly their moms, who become what society calls “stage mothers” controlling their children’s lives. These kids can’t play—they might mar their skins; they might damage their vocal cords. For the kids whose parents once dreamed of becoming highly paid surgeons, lawyers, or engineers, turning in a grade less than an A+ means being grounded, their “privileges” revoked.

What’s worse is, most of the time, these kids hear that they are, or will never be, good enough.

“I have to win. I want to quit.”
~ K.L. Donn, Cowboy Bodyguard

Monroe was broken. Her self-esteem, her self-worth, and yes, her identity, obliterated by a mom who only saw her as a means to an end.

Monroe’s reaction of attempting to harm herself, a direct result of years of parental abuse, is just one of the consequences of her mom’s selfish needs. Other kids would become bullies—lashing out at others, punishing others for becoming, what they could not, which is to lead their own lives.

“And what is your story, Monroe?” My eyes lift rapidly to meet his imploring stare. “I have no idea.”
~ K.L. Donn, Cowboy Bodyguard

As parents, or in my case, as an aunt, I say yes, it is up to us to mold our children into the best that they can be when they reach adulthood, but our jobs as role models to our children should not go beyond dictating how they should live and breathe their very lives.

Our stories may be reaching the end, but we must let our children, our future, tell their own, for humanity to survive.

September 12, 2020 0

Protecting Kiera (SEAL of Protection Book 9)

By Susan Stoker

Previously published in Kindle Worlds, Protecting Kiera, the ninth book in Susan Stoker’s SEAL of Protection series, is the story of former Navy SEAL Cooper Nelson and Kiera Hamilton, who teaches hearing-impaired children.

Cooper’s career as a Navy SEAL was cut short when he was left almost completely deaf after an explosion. His hearing loss, and consequently losing the profession he has ever known, Cooper’s pride and self-esteem take a beating until his commander forces him to volunteer at a school for the deaf, where he meets Kiera.

This story is another of Susan Stoker’s worth reading, even if it was a bit cheesy. Yes, cheesy. That is not why I love Kiera and Cooper’s story, though: it is because, once again, Susan Stoker teaches us, her readers, how to be empathetic to those with disabilities. This time, those who are hearing-impaired.

‘You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have; you are able by the abilities you have.’
–Oscar Pistorius

Kiera and Cooper’s story got my attention at the very same time that I am having difficulty hearing in my left ear. Three weeks ago, as I was taking a shower, my hearing suddenly became muffled, followed by a piercing, itchy sensation. At first, I thought it was just water getting into my ear—but as the days passed and the discomfort continued, I finally decided to go see an ear specialist.

The doctor did the routine check, said that I had an ear infection, and sent me home with an ear drop prescription which I had to religiously apply for two weeks.

Two weeks later, the itchiness has lessened, but the muffled sensation—and a constant, high-pitched ringing sound, remained.

In an article entitled Emotional Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss written by Debbie Clason for Healthy Hearing, “the psychological effects of untreated hearing loss for both children and adults can include increased outbursts of anger, low self-confidence, frustration, embarrassment, and depression. Adults may experience periods of sadness and grieving as their ability to hear diminishes. They also may feel more fatigued, as the struggle to hear and understand can be physically exhausting.

In Protecting Kiera, Cooper’s hearing loss caused him to feel all the emotions listed by Clason. He felt isolated at times, and only Kiera was determined to help him overcome the disability that gave him the strength and confidence to cope with his “new normal,” so to speak.

As I write this, I cannot help but think that it was fate that led me to Susan Stoker’s book, as I have been feeling anxious thinking of what-ifs: what if I lose hearing not just in my left ear, but both ears? What if I will not able to do the work that I do, transcribing the speeches and interviews of my boss?

The other day when I was doing a transcript, I felt as if cotton was stuffed deep inside my ear, making me feel dizzy as I did my best to finish what I was doing. It was hard, but I finished because I had to.

Gandhi once said, ‘Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.’

Like Cooper, I know that I must find ways to cope if I do lose the ability to hear. Besides, if famous people like Ludwig van Beethoven, Thomas Edison, Hellen Keller were able to overcome their hearing disability, why can’t I, right? Not to mention countless others whose lives we may have come across in our journey through life.

It is not easy. Blind, deaf, from birth or circumstance— being differently-abled impacts a person’s perception and psyche one way or the other. What is sad is that, although the world today has largely come to realize that having such disabilities does not mean that one will never be productive in society, there are still stigma especially for the deaf community.

A paper written by Victoria L. Mousley and Stephenie R. Chaudoir for the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education dated May 31, 2018, states that “deaf individuals experience worse psychological and physical health relative to their hearing counterparts. For example, higher rates of impulse control disorders, depressive symptoms, and developmental disorders have been recorded in deaf populations. Similarly, deaf individuals report worse rates of physical well-being and are less likely to utilize health care systems than hearing individuals.”

In a meta-analysis of almost 400 studies, Mousley and Chaudoir’s paper states that “experiences of discrimination were significantly related to poorer psychological well-being (e.g., depression, anxiety) among a wide array of stigmas such as mental illness, physical disability, HIV-positive status, and race. Similarly, meta-analytic findings also suggest that experiences of discrimination are linked to poorer physical health and greater health-compromising behaviors such as alcohol and drug use.”

How then can we help destigmatize deafness?

Clason encourages everyone to be an advocate for the deaf, saying that “one thing you can do to show your support is to be an advocate for your loved one with hearing loss.” Visit and get insights from organizations like Healthy Hearing whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with hearing loss. Join local help groups, mingle with the deaf community, etc.

One thing I would suggest is, never, ever, make them feel less, because sometimes, those who are deaf see, hear, and understand more about life than we do.

August 9, 2020 0

Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries #7)

by Susan Stoker

“He’s here, Mags. And unlike my own relatives, he hasn’t ever stopped trying to find you.”

“Ten years,” he said softly. “Ten years, twenty-two days, four hours, and thirty-six minutes. That’s how long you’ve been missing. And I’ve been searching for you for every single second of that time. I’ve prayed to hear your voice again . . . and the reality is so much better than my dreams.”

“I love you, Raven.”

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to prove you’re now safe. That my love for you hasn’t stopped simply because you’ve been gone.”

“People change,” she said softly. “I’m not the woman you once knew.”

“You’re my wife. The woman I promised to love through good times and bad. And if you think I’m just going to turn around and leave, you’re deluding yourself.”

“You have no idea what I’ve been through,” she said bitterly. “Unfortunately, I do,” Dave said sadly.

And there ends the telling of the lives of the Mountain Mercenaries, a group of ex-soldiers brought together by one man’s relentless search for his one true love.

I bawled my eyes out with this one. I cried, knowing that this is the final installment to a series that I have fallen in love with. I cried, knowing that Rex would finally find his Raven.

Susan Stoker has never shied from difficult storylines, and the Mountain Mercenaries, I believe, is one of her heaviest to date.

I have come across fellow readers who have said that they had a hard time starting the first book, Allye and Gray’s story, where Allye, a dancer, was targeted by a human trafficker with a penchant for “acquiring” people with unique abilities.

The author’s descriptions of violence were jarring, yes, but to tone it down would have been a disservice to the light that she wanted to shine on the world of human trafficking. Sex slavery, after all, is still rampant in every corner of the globe. More so now, when people are resorting to any means they can, rightly or wrongly, to cope with a pandemic.

According to the preliminary findings of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons, “there are fears that COVID-19 is making the task of identifying victims of human trafficking even more difficult.”

“They are also more exposed to contracting the virus, less equipped to prevent it, and have less access to healthcare to ensure their recovery. Essential and practical operations to support them have become a challenge, due to countries adjusting their priorities during the pandemic,” the document said, adding that “dramatic increases in unemployment and reductions in income, especially for low wage and informal sector workers, mean that significant numbers of people who were already vulnerable find themselves in even more precarious circumstances.”

Defending Raven, for me, was bittersweet, evoking a lot of emotions that Susan Stoker seems to have snatched from my very soul. The author, bless her heart, has outdone herself this time, giving justice to the Mountain Mercenaries’ fight against human trafficking.

The story can be read as a standalone, but I would implore you to start with Defending Allye so that you may see and understand why Rex—Dave Justice—decided to set his sights against one of the world’s vilest problems, the trafficking of women, children, and yes, sometimes even men.

I hope that, as you turn the last page of the series, your eyes will have been opened to the plight of those victimized by sex traffickers. Maybe, just maybe, you will be encouraged to do your part in eradicating this scourge.

Remember, Raven could be your Mom, your daughter, sister, cousin, or friend. Or Raven could just as easily … be you.

July 7, 2020 0

Baby: A Linear Tactical Romantic Suspense Standalone

By Janie Crouch

I have been waiting for Blake “Baby” Bollinger’s story for what felt literally like nine months, so when I saw that my Kindle finally seemed fit to alert me that Janie Crouch’s newest Linear Tactical Series offering finally came, I dropped everything and binge-read all 35 chapters in one sitting!

We get to meet Baby early in the series. Younger brother to Finn “Eagle” Bollinger, Baby was the easy-going brother, always there to diffuse a situation with a laugh. He comes across Quinn Harrison-Pritchard, Riley “Phoenix” Harrison’s sister, and falls for her, even though they are years apart—Quinn is 12 years his senior.

After having lost her job as a professor in Cambridge—her life upended by an unseen threat—Quinn leaves her life in Boston and decides to live near her brother, Phoenix. Her finances ruined, she applies as a waitress in Oak Creek, where she meets Baby, and realizes that she has a chance at happiness.

I won’t get into too many details. From here on out, I would encourage you to one-click Baby’s story. If you have been following Janie Crouch and haven’t picked this one up, please do so, as this is one good read you wouldn’t want to miss. If this is your first time to read a Linear Tactical novel, I would say go ahead and meet Baby, you won’t regret it!

Now. While Janie Crouch gave us a happy-go-lucky character in Baby, she also introduced us to the world of dyslexia and how, often, this reading disability can create havoc in one’s psyche.

The Mayo Clinic describes dyslexia as a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability, dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.

People with dyslexia have normal intelligence and usually have normal vision. Most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional support also plays an important role.

Though there’s no cure for dyslexia, early assessment and intervention result in the best outcome. Sometimes dyslexia goes undiagnosed for years and isn’t recognized until adulthood, but it’s never too late to seek help.

Although there is still no known cure for dyslexia, there are a variety of ways to help those who suffer from this learning disorder. It is important, also, to be aware of a child’s developmental age, so that if he or she does have dyslexia, it can be addressed at the soonest possible time.

It is also worth saying that we, as adults, must teach our kids to be mindful of their peers who suffer from dyslexia. Kids nowadays are very impressionable, and often repeat – and believe – what they see adults do, never minding if it is right or wrong.

In an era where, sadly, belief in social media reigns above facts and humanity, we must strive hard to educate our children to become empathetic towards those who struggle, especially those who struggle with learning disabilities.

For those of us who know someone with dyslexia, let us help them by encouraging them to find their hidden strengths. Instead of making them feel inadequate—for they do, deep inside—let us build them up, by understanding their need for our patience whenever they falter with tasks that are otherwise easy for us to do.

Besides, we may not know it, but that kid who is having difficulty concentrating on words? He or she may be the next Albert Einstein, Leonardo Sa Vinci, Whoopi Goldberg or Richard Branson, or any of the countless number of people who have risen above their learning disabilities.

Before we lose our patience with someone who is struggling to read or write, let us pause and find out why, and instead of ridiculing them, let us be their ally in coping with an uncertain world.

June 30, 2020 0

Binge on Rochelle Paige

Rochelle Paige is an Amazon bestselling author who has written more than forty books. She also co-writes with a friend under the Fiona Davenport pen name. She loves stories with alpha males, sassy heroines, hot sex, and happily ever afters. She is a bit of a genre hopper in both her reading and her writing. She has written books in several romance sub-genres including new adult, contemporary, paranormal, and romantic suspense.

I first learned about Rochelle Paige as the other half of the duo writing under the pen name Fiona Davenport. Reading their stories gave me the chance to relax and enjoy precious “me time,” which is a commodity in my line of work.

It was not until she co-authored Infatuation (Underground Kings Book 4) with Aurora Rose Reynolds that I started to follow her work, and to this day, I have not regretted one-clicking each book that Rochelle Paige has ever published in Amazon. The past few weeks I have been entertaining myself with her shifter stories—the McMahon Clan, and the Black River Pack Series.

If your guilty pleasure is reading about military romance, you can also catch Rochelle Paige in Susa Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha World, where she has written two books, Protection Crisis and Protecting Charlotte.

June 15, 2020 0