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Book Picks and Pics is your expert source for book reviews, photography tips, travel scenes, and creative inspiration.
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Name of the Devil by Andrew Mayne
★★★☆☆ The second book in Andrew Mayne’s Jessica Blackwood series, Name of the Devil has Jessica investigating the explosion of a small town West Virginia church where the congregation appears to have vanished into thin air.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
★★★☆☆ In Madeline Miller’s retelling of the Iliad, we see the story of the great Greek warrior, Achilles through the eyes of his friend Patroclus. After being exiled from his homeland, a young Patroclus meets Achilles.
We follow Patroclus and Achilles as they grow up, train together, and ultimately, join the quest to capture Troy in honor of the kidnapped Helen of Sparta.
Angel Killer by Andrew Mayne
★★★★☆ Angel Killer has a highly original premise, which is hard to find these days in the crime thriller genre. Just when it seemed like everything has been done and overdone in fiction books about the FBI investigating a serial killer, Andrew Mayne pulls a rabbit out of his hat with this fantastic read.
Photo Tips
Finding Inspiration in the Sameness
Have you found yourself looking around for new ideas and coming up empty? It can be hard as an artist, creative, or business person to find creative ideas, especially when
Shoot More, Show Less
Over the years, I have found a winning formula for quickly getting a stellar shot from every photo shoot, regardless of the conditions or your experience level. My successful photo
Indie Reviews
Name of the Devil by Andrew Mayne
★★★☆☆ The second book in Andrew Mayne’s Jessica Blackwood series, Name of the Devil has Jessica investigating the explosion of a small town West Virginia church where the congregation appears to have vanished into thin air.
Angel Killer by Andrew Mayne
★★★★☆ Angel Killer has a highly original premise, which is hard to find these days in the crime thriller genre. Just when it seemed like everything has been done and overdone in fiction books about the FBI investigating a serial killer, Andrew Mayne pulls a rabbit out of his hat with this fantastic read.
The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne
★★★☆☆ Theo Cray, a socially awkward computational biologist, is a suspect in the murder of a former student found dead in the Montana woods. Cray is released once local authorities find evidence that she was mauled by a bear, but he keeps inserting himself into the case and starts making connections to other disappearances.
Dystopian Reviews
Embryo Zero by Trevor Wynyard
★★★★☆ The second book in the dystopian fiction Streetlighters Trilogy, Embryo Zero again features brothers Matthew and Kevin Turner, along with a few new characters and familiar faces from the first book.
The brothers are estranged as Matt takes Kevin’s place at university, and finds himself propelled into national hero status. Meanwhile, his younger brother makes a risky move in an attempt to have a different future for himself and his family.
Heir of Blood and Secrets by Linda Xia
★★★☆☆
This dystopian YA murder mystery is told from the perspective of Scylla Delevan, a 16-year-old daughter of a magistrate in Devovea. Despite their difficult relationship, when Scylla’s father is accused of murder, she goes on a quest to prove his innocence. Her loyalties are challenged and she uncovers a number of secrets along the way.
Branches by Adam Peter Johnson
★★★★☆
I was drawn to this book because the description compared it to Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, which is one of my all-time favorite books. There are definitely some similarities between the two multiverse novels, but Branches is different enough that it still felt fresh and interesting.
Travel Scene
Rocky Mount Mills
In a tradition that harkens back to our dating days, my husband and I have enjoyed many spontaneous day trips over the years. Our most recent trip was to Rocky
The Hermitage of Montecasale
Since my visit to Tuscany, Italy, I am often asked about the most memorable place I experienced there. While the trip was filled with many unforgettable views and moments, visiting
Science Fiction Reviews
The Day After Never by Nathan Van Coops
★★★☆☆ The Day After Never is book three in Nathan Van Coops’ time-traveling series. I loved In Times Like These, the first book in the series and, while I didn’t like The Chronothon (Book 2) quite as much, its Amazing Race-style plot and pacing held my attention.
Embryo Zero by Trevor Wynyard
★★★★☆ The second book in the dystopian fiction Streetlighters Trilogy, Embryo Zero again features brothers Matthew and Kevin Turner, along with a few new characters and familiar faces from the first book.
The brothers are estranged as Matt takes Kevin’s place at university, and finds himself propelled into national hero status. Meanwhile, his younger brother makes a risky move in an attempt to have a different future for himself and his family.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
★★★★☆
Since I reading and loving Dark Matter, I have been a Blake Crouch fan. I love how his sci-fi stories stretch my mind with their scientific theories while pulling on my emotions with an enduring love story.
Upgrade has elements of this winning formula, which is present in both Dark Matter and Recursion. However, Upgrade is much more technical, especially at the beginning than I remember either of his two previous hits being.
Mental Health Reviews
Not Nice by Aziz Gazipura
★★★★☆ There is such a thing as being too nice. And, according to the author of Not Nice, if you’re someone who is plagued with
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
★★★★☆ After listening to me talk about feeling like I was settling for less than I deserved, my brother sent me a copy of Never Split the Difference. He had taken a masterclass based on the principles outlined in Never Split the Difference and thought it would give me some new tools to negotiate my way to more fulfillment.
Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer
★★★★☆ Unwinding Anxiety was one of the more insightful resources I’ve come across on the subject of anxiety. I can sometimes get bogged down by listening to scientific explanations, but Brewer’s explanations of how our brains function were clear, easy to follow, and gave me a better understanding of how anxiety works.