Book Review – Don’t Drink the Punch, by Kamala Devi

Let’s face it, who is not at least mildly intrigued by the word: Tantra?

I saw the book, was intrigued by the title and that word Tantra in the subtitle, and truly did not know what to expect when I picked this book up to read it. The cover managed to capture my attention, even though it’s not a genre I would typically read.

Several pages into the book, I knew I would not be disappointed! I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it, even fighting sleep to stay up late into the night to read the rest of the story.

Don’t Drink the Punch is well written, but in a style that is rather unexpected–first person, present tense! There are very few authors who have the capacity and talent to write in present tense, first person, and draw the reader into the story. Typically, we read in third person and/or past tense, more like reading a ‘movie’ that we play out the scenes in our own minds. First person present tense requires precisely written scenes that keep the reader captivated as though they are inside the story, as it is happening, part of it.

Don’t Drink the Punch achieves this requirement and then some! I found as I read Kamala Devi does this expertly, by making the reader feel completely connected and involved in the story, and I could identify with the main character on a personal level, and he is a MAN (I’m not!)

The story begins with the lead male character, Sal, in the Bangkok International Airport, where he spots a redheaded woman who captures his attention, so much so that he had to follow her and initiate conversation. Little does he know that this innocent conversation would lead him down a path with the beautiful and free-spirited redhead, Sara, through the streets and back-alley sex commerce of Bangkok, to the ancient cemeteries of India, with several stops in between.

Readers experience first hand Sal’s experiences from body massages (where the masseuse uses their entire body to massage, not just their hands), dealing drugs, life threatening illness, participating in a sex cult and questioning every belief he’s ever held dear to him, to experiencing the emotion of painful decision to choose between true love and sanity, and eventually to experiencing and understanding loss, remorse and guilt. Readers will learn in the end whether or not Sal learns from these experiences, how they change him-for better or for worse-and the fate of his love for Sara.

With steamy, erotic and sensual scenes interspersed with romance and affection, friendship and understanding, and plenty of adventure to keep it all exciting, it’s no wonder I had trouble putting down this book.

Hidden in the pages of a fantastic fiction story readers also find historic information about specific locations and inside information to the inner workings of certain religious and spiritual beliefs in different parts of the world, without any judgment or attempts to preach or sway anyone’s opinions.

It was a real page turner and a beautifully written story about love, passion, Tantra, obsession… and ultimately about personal fulfillment and finding one’s own true path in this world, and not blindly following someone else down a path not their own. Steamy and sensual but also light and humorous, I found it both sad and uplifting at the same time, something that takes a talented writer to accomplish effectively, and Kamala Devi does not disappoint.

I have already recommended this book to several friends to read, because it is just that good. Highly recommended.

Don’t Drink the Punch

By Kamala Devi

Book Specifications:

* Paperback: 303 Pages

* Publisher: Zendow Press

* ISBN-10: 1879097990

* ISBN-13: 978-1879097995

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Top 10 Best Science Fiction Books

#1: Dune (Frank Herbert)

Science Fiction doesn’t get much better then this. Dune is every Science Fiction aficionado’s wet dream. Many people claim Dune is Science Fiction’s answer to “Lord of the Rings” and I have to agree: it sure is. There are many good science fiction books, but Dune is indeed a giant among giants. It truly is a pinnacle of Science Fiction literary achievement. If you haven’t read Dune, doesn’t waste any more time. Read it now!

# 2: Starship Troopers (Robert Heinlein)

War is beautiful according to Robert Heinlein. This is a novel about the glorification of war. The premise: space-marines wearing special armor battle vicious alien insect aliens. This is classic “old school” science fiction at it’s best. It’s a rip-roaring ride through the galaxy that you don’t want to miss.

#3 : Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)

This is one of the corner stones of science fiction and one novel that you shouldn’t miss. A critique on society, the story of a boy who refuses to give up, a battle to save the fate of mankind – this science fiction book combines them all into one addictive and compelling mix that shouldn’t be missed.

#4: Foundation (Isaac Asimov)

This is undoubtedly on of the finest works of science fiction ever written. If you a fan of science fiction with grandiose and epic storylines, get your hand on this book.

A corollary: Foundation is a series for people who love grand and complex ideas. If you are looking for a book heavy on the action but thin on concepts, this may not be the book for you. The strength of the ideas presented are the focus of this story, not the characterization. Regardless, this is one of those Science Fiction books that you just need to read. You will never think about Science Fiction the same way after reading the Foundation series.

#5: Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson)

Part-time hacker and pizza delivery boy and full time samurai swordsman, meet Hiro Protagonist. Snow Crash is breath taking novel with action and pacing thick enough to drown in. Snow Crash redefined and rejuvenated the Cyberpunk genre. If you want a novel with bucket loads of action, futuristic technologies ala The Matrix, and the gritty futuristic dystopia of the Blade Runner world, Snow Crash is the perfect recommendation.

#6: Forever War (Joe Haldeman)

The Forever War is pretty much The Vietnam War in space. It’s brutal and bloody and makes a strong case that war really is pointless. Don’t let the strong political statement of the novel deter you, however; this is Science Fiction at its finest: a complex, disturbing novel that makes you think…and feel. It’s a great science fiction story that you don’t want to miss, a true masterpiece of the genre.

#7: The Night’s Dawn (Peter Hamilton)

This is space opera science fiction done right: Massive space battles, a large cast of compelling characters, political tension between planets, and an all out grand adventure. There is a good deal of space opera in the science fiction genre already, but Peter Hamilton is one of the best character writers in the genre and his plots are just so damn interesting. He really knows how to write a rip-roaring adventure that keeps you up into the late hours of the morning. Those in the mood for something big with lots of action, both in and out of space, Night’s Dawn trilogy delivers.

#8: Gap (Steven R. Donaldson)

This disturbing series is a dark ride into hell that you don’t want to miss. It’s one of the darkest set of books I’ve read, period. But the world that Stephen Donaldson draws is superb. Stephen Donaldson is an author that cares deeply about characterization, and he excels at crafting anti-heroes. If you are looking for some dark space opera, I highly recommend the Gap series.

#9: Otherland (Tad William)

Those looking for something like the Matrix in written form need look no longer. Otherland is about as close as you’ll get. With less mumbo jumbo psycho babble and more realism, Otherland makes for a really compelling read. Otherland starts slow, but those willing give it a chance will be greatly rewarded.

#10: Altered Carbon (Richard Morgan)

This is one dystopian cyberpunk with a lot of style and some seriously punishing action. I guarantee that once you start reading this novel, you won’t be putting it down. Morgan is a man with some visionary ideas; he always has interesting characters, twisting plots, and heart-pounding action. Those that love Blade Runner, Snow Crash, and Neuromancer are in for a treat.

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Working With Major Publishing Houses

Publishing a book is one of the best ways to build credibility and gain exposure. Not only can it position you as an expert in your field but it could also open the door to entirely new opportunities just because you are now an author. Indeed, almost any author will tell you the best thing they ever did was publish their first book.

There are three primary options for getting your book published. The easiest way is to self-publish the book yourself, meaning you complete the work and send it to a printer. Done. The second option is to use an independent publisher. These are legitimate publishers but they’re smaller than the big boys and tend to specialize in one area or another. The last option is the most ambitious and it involves the industry majors like Penguin and Random House.

Any aspiring author would prefer to get their book published by a major publishing house. It gives you far more credibility and enhances your chances of selling the book once it’s on retail shelves. But getting one of the big publishers to publish your book is no easy task. There are a number of things you need to keep in mind before you even get started.

Most importantly, the big publishing houses only work with proven authors. That means it’s extremely difficult to get them to work with you on your first book. They want to know you’ve successfully sold books before. And if it’s your first book, you better have an impressive platform and an audience you can easily tap into to promote sales. Bottom line; they don’t really care what your book is about. Their top priority is your ability to sell it.

The big publishers generally don’t deal directly with the author anyway. They prefer to deal through Literary Agents. These are basically screeners who receive hundreds of book proposals each month and sift through them looking for those with real potential. Getting a Literary Agent is step one if you hope to get your book published by one of the big publishing houses.

A great way to find Literary Agents is to go to a book store and find books similar to the one you’d like to write. Then look at the acknowledgements. In most cases, the authors will thank their agents in that section and you can simply make note of their names and then look them up on Google. Then contact them and see if they’re accepting new proposals.

Book proposals for the big publishing houses are generally quite large. It’s not unusual for the proposal to be 100 pages long. In fact, you’re almost better off writing the entire book ahead of time and then putting the proposal together afterwards. You’ll end up including a sample chapter in the proposal anyway and there are plenty of other things it should include. You can find more information about what needs to be included by doing a Google search for book proposal.

Getting your first book published by one of the industry majors is difficult but it’s not impossible. Do your research on the front end and learn how the system works. That will be your greatest asset when starting the process. You can find a lot more tips and tricks for getting books published on my website and I hope you take advantage of the free information available there.

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Soft IVF – Cheaper and More Natural

A new form of cheaper, more natural IVF that could beat infertility and make you a mum? Where do I sign up? Oh, that’s right, I no longer have a uterus but if I did I’d be looking into this.

I’ll take the Soft IVF please. It’s about half the price of the conventional IVF we know and dislike and it uses far less drugs.

Dr Geeta Nargund, Head of Reproductive Medicine at St George’s Hospital, London, and Medical Director of Create Health Clinic, is one of a handful of UK doctors offering the new treatment.

Her theory is that it is safer for the mother’s health, eggs and any embryos that are created if there are no drugs or they are minimized. And the good news is that any woman recommended for IVF can use it, including those with blocked fallopian tubes – it’s not discriminatory.

Whereas with IVF there is four weeks of drug-taking, first to down-regulate hormones then to stimulate egg production, with the new technique there is only up to a week of ‘gentle drug-taking’ in small quantities and not by injection, before egg pick up. And in this way the most common side-effect, ovarian hyperstimulation, is avoided.

How about success rates? While early days, compared to a success rate in the UK of 27% using conventional IVF, the success rate in the Netherlands where Professor Bart Fauser, head of Reproductive Medicine in Utrecht, The Netherlands, has been recommending it over conventional IVF for the past three years, is 43%.

It is particularly promising for older women, whose ovaries don’t respond well to high levels of drug stimulation. In addition Spanish scientists believe that stimulatory drugs affect the quality of the lining of the womb and even increase the risk of miscarriage.

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How to Become an Empowered Woman

Have you harnessed the power of your womanhood? Are you walking and living in strength and control? If you have been searching for something more in your life, perhaps it is time to become an empowered woman.

LIVE LARGE EVERY DAY

Do you live your life with passion and conviction? Do you wake every day, seeking new possibilities along the horizon?

Make every single day of your life better than the one before. How, you ask? By making the most of each moment, you will experience life in a much greater way than you ever imagined you could.

STOP CRITICISING YOURSELF

Do you condemn yourself at every turn? It is so easy to be cruel to yourself but self condemnation is nothing but harmful to you and your self-esteem.

An empowered woman builds herself up by loving herself and being kind to herself. Harness your inner power by praising yourself for all your hard work. Recognize your strengths and accentuate them, instead of focusing on all the things that you don’t like about yourself.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE

Why waste any time doing something that makes you miserable? That is total wasted time and energy that you could expend on doing what you love. Living a miserable existence can never compare to a life full of happiness and joy. Doing what you love opens that door to peace and contentment.

BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

At the heart of every self-empowered woman, you will find solid, healthy relationships. Without this, you will feel unsteady and anxious. Healthy relationships are built upon a foundation of trust, honor, peace, moral values, and communication.

Can you become an empowered woman? Absolutely! The choice is yours though. Now that you have some of the keys, start living your empowered life today.

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Book Review – Female Traits by Lurea C McFadden For Bruce Publishing

“Oh! What a tangled web we weave

When first we practice to deceive!”

Sir Walter Scott

from Marmion, Verse 6, Stanza 17

This famous quote is played out in Lurea McFadden’s debut novel, FeMALE TRAITS. Grace Trufant is married to the man most women dream of. Edwin is tall, dark and handsome. He worships the ground Grace walks on and is willing to provide for her every whim and need. Unfortunately for Edwin, he is gullible and Grace has an itch that he can’t scratch…alone.

The cheating-spouse-getting-caught-in-an-extra-marital-affair saga has been told many times before, but FeMALE TRAITS puts an interesting spin on that theme.

Grace is a formidable combination: a seasoned player, a sex addict, a forward-thinking liar…and a female. Grace’s lust for sexual encounters with other men outweighs her conscience, so she stays on the prowl and fabricates lies to stay one step ahead of both her husband and her lover. The once smooth road of infidelity gets bumpy, and Grace finds herself struggling to keep her secret lifestyle from getting the best of her.

Brian Lawson starts pressuring Grace to commit to him and end her six-year marriage to Edwin. Brian is young, handsome and attractive. He even considers himself to be a player and has his pick of women. But he meets his match in Grace and does the one thing all players think will never happen – fall in love. Will he move up in status or move on?

Edwin’s best friend is Sonia James, a Latina sister that truly has Edwin’s best interests at heart. She’s been down since they were in elementary school. To Grace’s dismay, Edwin and Sonia as close as a man and a woman can get without being intimate or married.

Women’s intuition keeps Grace in Sonia’s thoughts. Although she secretly fell in love with Edwin, she remains true to their friendship. Plus, she’s dealing with her inability to commit to Phil, a man who truly loves her but can’t keep her interest.

When mutual friends of Brian and Sonia unknowingly brings everyone together at a birthday/holiday party, everything comes to a head.

Lies are exposed…

Truths come to light…

And relationships are put to the test…

The rest of the story (and there is much, much more!) is yours to read. Enjoy.

This book review can also be viewed here: http://joeypinkney.com/sexier/book-review-female-traits-by-lurea-c-mcfadden-for-bruce-publishing.php

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Book Review – The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner

When fashion plate and former math major Melanie Prescott receives a coded note from a mysterious stranger on the same day she gets a pair of to-die-for Givenchy pumps from her ex-boyfriend, the most excitement she’s expecting from the day is a little ex drama and some shopping. She has no idea she’s about to be plunged into a race for her life.

USA Today bestselling author Julie Kenner wastes no time in kicking off the action in the premier book in Downtown Press’ new Naughty Girls series, though self-proclaimed “math geek” and Givenchy heroine Melanie isn’t exactly what I’d call a naughty girl. If anything, she’s actually on the tame side.

But that doesn’t stop Melanie from hooking up with her ex, dodging an assassin through the streets of Manhattan, and seducing (or being seduced by) her protector, a muscular ex-Marine who’s played this game before, and is determined to keep Melanie from being picked off like his last assignment was — and not just because he’s going to receive a million dollars if he keeps her alive.

Don’t be fooled by the chick-lit themed Da Vinci code rip-off of a cover. It may look like a beach read, but Givenchy is fast paced and fun, and working with Melanie against the clock to interpret the clues she receives from her would-be murderer is, dare I say, delightful.

And with a tagline like “Cryptography is the new black,” how can you go wrong?

The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner

Downtown Press, 2005

Paperback, 351 pages, $12.00

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Bernard Cornwell – The Arthurian Trilogy

Bernard Cornwell is a master of storytelling in an age when content and plotting seems to have largely given way to style and feel.

For those unfamiliar with his work then there is no finer place to start than the warlord trilogy. It tells of the life of King Arthur through a narrator, Derfel Cadarn, who was with him throughout his life.

This is, of course, a subject that has been covered ad nauseum, Cornwell however manages such a different take on the legend that he rises above the rest.

Firstly, the books are simply a great read and to be enjoyed on a ‘page turner’ level. I personally believe a major factor in their success is that the sword and sorcery element, which runs throughout the Arthurian legends, is addressed fully but dealt with realistically. So called magical acts and amazing feats are explained in terms which we today understand as being perfectly rational but allowing us to understand how people of the time would be amazed. This gives a feeling of reality to the tale and coupled with the authors ever present eye for accurate historical detail, gives one the feeling of reading a true account rather than the usual fantasy tale.

It was a great disappointment when the recent King Arthur film was made that they did not base it on the Warlord Trilogy. Whilst a Lord of the Rings type trilogy of films would have been superb it was perhaps a little too much to hope for. The books could have been used to create a far superior film, an opportunity missed in fact.

The books are available on the secondhand market for next to nothing, start with The Winter King, you’ll not be disappointed.

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Oregano is More Than a Pizza Topping

Oregano Can Help Reduce Phlegm and Relieve Coughing.

Many herbals have centuries of proven therapeutic benefits, oregano is one. More than just a topping for pizza, oregano has a long history of use for relieving coughs and cutting excess phlegm.

A long time friend and herbalist suggested that my wife try oregano essential oil in a vaporizer. We didn’t have any oregano essential oil but found that oregano leaf worked just as well. You can make your own vaporizer, all you need is pan of boiling water, a small handful of oregano and a dishtowel. We grow basil, oregano, rosemary and other herbs as house plants and in our solarium for use in cooking and medicinally, and had lots stashed away in our herb cabinet.

My wife also commented that after using the vaporizer, her facial skin felt more hydrated, soft and pliable. We live in the desert and it takes a toll on any skin that’s exposed to the elements.

Oregano’s medicinal uses include respiratory infections, bronchitis, arthritis, rheumatism, colds, flu, general infections, sinusitis, asthma, emphysema, glaucoma, amenorrhea and hypertension.

Oregano is high in antioxidants and has antibiotic, anti-viral and anti-infection properties and can boost the immune response helping to ward of the flu and colds.

Oregano is a member of the mint family and may grow as tall as two feet tall under ideal conditions. The plant has oval leaves and lots of pink flowers clustered at the tops of the branches. Oregano grows well in most temperate climates and in window boxes during the winter. Bees love oregano and it’s a nice plant to have in the garden to help promote pollination.

An extra sprinkling of oregano on your next pizza will not just spice up the tasted, it may also spice up your health and life in general.

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IVF & Older Women – How Successful is IVF After 40?

Forty may be the new thirty and fifty may be the new forty but nobody told our reproductive systems. And never has society provided more assistance in convincing us of our new younger status, via the mega industries of cosmetic enhancement and reproductive assistance.

Botox is to the face what IVF is to the ovaries – they both involve needles, both hurt like hell but one has a far greater success rate. No prizes for guessing which one. It’s far easier in your forties to look like Nicollette Sheridan than to reproduce like Cherie Blair. And the success rates with IVF, the most assisted of assisted reproductive techniques, is negligibly more than natural rates.

For instance at 45, there is a one percent chance of getting pregnant at all and then at least a fifty percent chance of miscarrying. The chances of IVF success between 40 and 45 is averaged out at ten percent but really starts at this and diminishes dramatically each year which is why many clinics will not perform a cycle for women over 42 using their own eggs.

They say it’s due to not wanting to take large sums of money in return for little or no hope but possibly they don’t want to deflate their own success rates as it isn’t good for business and this is understandable – they need business in order to improve their services.

By the time I was ready to embark on fresh rounds of IVF at the age of 41, having succeeded at 38*, my potential success rate had practically halved and the potential miscarriage rate had risen by fifty percent – hardly encouraging. Yet had I not been lucky enough to conceive a child already, no doubt I’d be in California now, having mortgaged my house and busy organizing an egg donor.

We can turn back the clock in so many ways but our eggs remain the same. I can only assume that in future more women will freeze their eggs when young, having learnt from a generation of women who found themselves, via modern circumstance, able to rid themselves of frown lines but unable to conceive a child.

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