Undoctored by Dr William Davis

My Rating: 4.8

A comprehensive program to reduce, reverse, and cure hundreds of common health conditions and break your dependence on prescription drugs. By applying simple strategies while harnessing the collective wisdom of new online technologies, you can break free of a healthcare industry that puts profits over health. Undoctored is the spark of a new movement in health that places the individual, not the doctor, at the center. His plan contains features like: • A step-by-step guide to eliminating prescription medications • Tips on how to distinguish good medical advice from bad • 42 recipes to guide you through the revolutionary 6-week program

This is everything I believe - that if you eat healthy you don't need a doctor. Doctor's are trained to treat the symptoms, not fix the root cause. A healthy person doesn't need a doctor. I have read a few other books by Dr Davis and love them all. This book is reassuring to know that a doctor recommends the exact same path that I am on.

All You Need Is Love by Peter Brown

My Rating: 4.2

This is comprised of intimate interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, their families, friends and business associates that were conducted by Beatles intimate Peter Brown and author Steven Gaines.

All the interviews, except for Yoko's, were done prior to John's death. This means they were very raw, honest and probably said things that wouldn't have been said if it had been after John's death. It was sad how, despite their love of Brian Epstein as a manager, they were so mismanaged. So many people who took advantage of them. That being said, it was interesting to hear of all of their exploits as well as the inner dynamics of all involved.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

My Rating: 4.9

1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams for a friend to alleviate her isolation. Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions of becoming “lion women.” But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.

This was a wonderful book covering not only the girls' friendship but the Shah's reign and the politics and impact to the Iranians but particularly women. This was very reminiscent of The Kite Runner which is one of my all-time favorite books.

Assassin's Quest (The Farseer Trilogy Book 3) by Robin Hobb

  My Rating: 4.7

King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest—perhaps to death. Only Verity’s return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies. But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was.

Hobb is a masterful writer. She makes her books feel light and easy to read but they actually pull you in where you care deeply for the characters as well as the world she creates. She does all of this effortlessly, or least it feels that way to the writer. Gifted! This is the last of the Fitz Trilogy until he reappears later in the series. I will miss Fitz. Next is the Mad Ship Trilogy I will definitely continue on in this series.

What Happened to Nina?: A Novel by Dervla McTiernan

My Rating: 4.4

Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home. Simon’s explanation about what happened in their last hours together doesn’t add up. Nina’s parents push the police for answers, and Simon’s parents rush to protect him. They hire expensive lawyers and a PR firm that quickly ramps up a vicious, nothing-is-off-limits media campaign...  

This was the equivalent of watching an unsolved mystery on 20/20 or 48 hours. It kept me engrossed from the beginning despite knowing who did it. The media campaign was excrutiating, as were the press. I loved the ending.

Thanks to my book twin on Instagram #shoegaljeana for this recommendation ♥

Pines: Wayward Pines #1 by Blake Couch

 My Rating: 1.0

Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a mission: locate two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase. He can't place any phone calls to the outside world, no one believes who he is and he discovers he not only can't leave the town but there is an electrified fence around the town.

This was akin to a very bad episode of The Twilight Zone. Oh the drama! It is hard to care when you don't connect with any of the characters, to go along with a VERY far fetched plot. It was one far fetched scene after another - all of which were supposed to be nail biters but failed since the plot dragged and the characters weren't likable. It was annoying, not scary. Ethan makes poor decisions and expects everyone to listen to him, give him free meals and hotels, etc. because he is a Federal Agent, despite having no I.D. This book was very poorly written. I loved Dark Matters by this author so was very disappointed with how much this book dragged. I will definitely NOT be reading the other books in this series and wish I could get my time back from this one.