A Life Through Books

Action Romance

Date Published: November 14, 2024

"What doesn’t kill you can shatter you—but it’s in those broken pieces where true strength is found."

Amelia’s life is forever changed after a brutal home invasion leaves her as collateral damage in a crime she doesn’t understand. Her world unravels, but when her Wall Street husband hires two private security contractors—Gabriel and Daniel—to investigate the crime and protect her, the pieces begin to shift.

As the duo digs deeper, they uncover a web of lies and betrayal that puts Amelia in greater danger than anyone could have imagined. With each revelation, she learns to fight back, to heal, and to trust again. But trust is fragile, and not everyone is who they seem.

Set against a backdrop of suspense and action, Collateral Redemption explores the depths of human resilience, the bonds of loyalty and friendship, and the transformative power of love. Featuring mature themes, vivid action, and unforgettable characters, this gripping story transcends the boundaries of good and evil to show what it means to survive—and to rebuild.

Perfect for fans of action-packed romance and bodyguard thrillers with emotional depth, this book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of redemption.

Warning: This novel contains explicit violence, mature themes, and adult content. Intended for adult readers.

About the Authors

John and Laurie Toomey are a husband-and-wife writing duo who bring their extensive professional and personal experiences to their storytelling.

Laurie is a Physician Assistant specializing in geriatric medicine, behavioral health, and medical rehabilitation. Her career spans pulmonary medicine, hospital medicine, and elderly psychiatric care, giving her a deep understanding of resilience and the human spirit.

John is a physician with a specialty in Internal Medicine and a diverse background in emergency response, tactical training, and security operations. In addition to his roles as a medical director, teaching attending, and statewide consultant, John has collaborated in the personal protection field, combining his medical expertise with tactical skills in high-stakes scenarios.

Together, John and Laurie channel their real-world insights into creating compelling fiction that explores themes of survival, resilience, trust, and redemption. Their debut novel, Collateral Redemption, is a gripping action-romance that reflects their shared belief in the power of the human spirit to heal and rebuild in the face of adversity.

When they’re not writing, John and Laurie enjoy spending time with their family, traveling, and sharing stories over a good cup of coffee.

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Climate of Monsters: Book2

Mystery, Thriller

Date Published: October 31, 2024

Saga and George against all odds must embattle the mistress of disease, Pesta, a creature of bone-chilling nightmares that resurfaces from black waters of Merrimack to the Chalrles River to bring a new plague and pestilence upon the world.

Saga Gunderson is a medical doctor that was trained in Sweden Special forces to combat terrorist groups around the world. She currently is a senior officer in Special Joint Operations Consortium (SJOC) Task Force in Sweden and Italy to track down and protect civilians from supernatural encounters. She was also tasked with protecting and serving George Fiori, the world’s last master swordsman to fight these monsters that seem to popup out of nowhere as climate change spirals out of control and the evolution and aggression of these monsters is untenable. George is a complex anti-hero who uses his deadly weaponry (armi mortali) training and neurodivergent gifts of clairvoyance and autism to unravel the mysteries and get to the source of these supernatural encounters to prevent evil from resurfacing and killing innocent victims.

About the Author

Mitchell Sanders is just another ordinary individual. As a scientist and serial entrepreneur, in his spare time he enjoys reading and writing horror books. His inspirations come from his lovely wife and best friend, Elisabeth, and three children and three grandchildren, who encouraged him to write and finish his first book. Mitch spent a good portion of his life studying biomedical sciences and advanced wound care. He has a BA in biology from Boston University with a minor in Latin language and literature, and an MS in molecular biology and a PhD in biomedical sciences, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Mitch did two postdocs at the Whitehead Institute / MIT, a world-renowned nonprofit research institution dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research. Mitch is a worldwide expert in wound repair and regeneration. Mitch was formerly founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of a diagnostic company for sixteen years and is currently the chief scientific officer (CSO) of an international health-care tech enabled services firm. His biggest achievement is having three amazing kids (Jake, Mia, and Ben), three exceptional grandchildren (Emma, Corey, and Geo), and an endearing wife, Elisabeth.

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Historical Fiction

Date Published: 10-25-2024

Publisher: Counterpoint Press

As the drumbeat of the American Revolution grows ever closer, Scotsman-turned-American-patriot Duncan McCallum must navigate treacherous cultural and political waters if he’s to secure a fighting chance for the fledgling nation in this gripping installment of the acclaimed Bone Rattler series.

About the Author

ELIOT PATTISON is the author of the Inspector Shan series, which includes The Skull Mantra, winner of an Edgar Award and finalist for the Gold Dagger. Pattison’s Bone Rattler series follows Scotsman Duncan McCallum on the road to revolution as he fights to protect the cause of freedom. Pattison resides in rural Pennsylvania.

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Growing Up Girl, Book I

Fiction

Date Published: September 10, 2024

In Growing Up Girl: Book One, a young Bernadette Aller floats through her life - job to job, lover to lover, place to place. She is an untethered spirit trying to find her way in a world that's not been too kind.

Now, as she barrels toward her seventies, she wants to tell her story, not because it's hers alone, but because it's a surprisingly common story. It's a story much of which happens behind doors that display the word unspeakable. Bernadette hires Scully Trippe to ghost write, translating Bernadette's personal experience into the third person, in what might (or might not) be a misguided attempt to extend the story's reach.

The time frame is malleable, with the storytelling moving back and forth through several stages of Bernadette's life.

In this first book of the Growing Up Girl trilogy, BernadetteWorld is populated with Patience, her housekeeper; Maddie, a former lover and now a ghost; and Lucinda, a time traveler who drops in and out.

It's a quirky group.

Cover artist is Matt Smith. The image of the five-year-old on the cover is Matt's mother whom he never met. In his own words, "Although I have no memory of her, I treasure the stories of Lynn's strength, stubbornness, and ferocious loyalty. My hope is to bring her from the muted mysterious shadows into the light with love."

About the Author

Caroline Fairless is a writer and a ceramic sculptor. She is a retreat facilitator with a focus on the interdependence and connectedness of every being, visible or not. She served several congregations as an ordained pastor for twenty-five years, publishing several books during that time. Now in her retirement, Caroline is writing fiction and learning new art forms.

Over the past twenty years, Caroline and her partner Jim have been fortunate to stitch back together three land parcels that once were one. One of them borders on one of New Hampshire’s many small ponds. The other two border a marsh that hosts otters, beaver, herons, turtles, geese, ducks, and an occasional loon passing through.

In the New Hampshire summers, Caroline gardens and walks the dogs she and Jim have rescued. New Hampshire winters will find her at her computer, still walking dogs, and camping in front of the wood stove.

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A Vital and Essential Resource to Unlock a Student's Success

Education / Nonfiction

Date Published: July 1, 2024

Publisher: Lighthouse Manuscripts, LLC

Discover the ultimate resource that every educator, teacher, parent, and child mentor should possess to promote a student's success. Based on her research and dissertation work "Reading Fadeout", the experienced and respected Dr. Jacquelyn Bobien-Blanton authors this transformational and in-depth research study that formulates a strong case and need for a child's reading proficiency; and how their learning infrastructure and living ecosystem can hinder or promote it. Based on her foundational research, Dr. Bobien-Blanton shows you why and how children must be capable and competent readers by third grade.

Unlike other individual research theory books, this collective and holistic analysis is exactly what is needed to modify reading instruction and positively change the educational trajectory and future of our children. Don't miss out on this vital and essential guide to shape young minds.

About the Author

Our LHM Author:  Dr. Jacquelyn Bobien-Blanton is a distinguished educator with nearly three decades of educational experience. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Early Learning for Orange Township Public Schools, and holds a doctorate degree from Walden University, as well as a master's degree from Montclair State University and an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University. Certified in Preschool-Third Grade, Elementary Education, Supervision, and Principalship, Dr. Blanton oversees early-learning education, professional development, curriculum programming, budgeting, and coordinates governmental mandates. Recognized as an Exemplary Elementary Educator, she contributed to early childhood education protocols and revised teaching standards for the New Jersey Department of Education; and was also recognized by the Senate and General Assembly for dedication to scholastic achievement. Actively engaged in professional organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Dr. Blanton is committed to educational advancement. Among many other efforts, her dedication extends to community service, having assisted in creating the Shiloh Rainbow Academy in Newark, NJ. Beyond her professional achievements, "Jackie", a devoted wife and mother, values family closeness and believes in the transformative power of education for a fulfilling life.

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Why Pain and Suffering Are Our Greatest Teachers

Self-Help

Date Published: ‎August 26, 2024

Publisher: ‎ Mindstir Media

Have you ever questioned the importance behind the pain, suffering, and desperation we feel in life? Often times, it's easy for us to lose ourselves in the moment and not see the big picture of things. Yes, pain is uncomfortable, suffering is horrible, and desperation makes us feel like we're losing ourselves before we've had the opportunity to find ourselves. Often times, these emotions have so much they can teach us, yet we avoid them because we don't want to experience any kind of suffering in our lives.

In Why We Fall, I take you through a journey to uncover the truth behind the importance of these emotions in our lives. I walk you through the importance of learning to understand them and how to find the best way to cope with them. It's not an easy journey, but once you grasp the concepts and ideas that we'll discuss in the pages of this book, you'll find that living a fulfilling life and one that you feel satisfied with, has never been easier.

About the Author

It’s not easy. Before we move on, remember this. It’s like going against your own nature. You’re programmed to behave in a certain way. Your genetic code tells you that it’s ok to be the victim and to believe that everything that happens to you happens because there is a certain type of secret conspiracy working against you. We enjoy and crave being the victim. It’s comfortable and we like it. Easy things are what the mind naturally cherishes the most. Well, we’re going against this. We’re going to challenge ourselves to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and instead begin to think in a “problem-solving” mentality.

A true warrior has their values so aligned with God that no matter what happens they know that everything is happening according to God’s plan. There’s no need to feel scared or uncertain because they know that God is testing them and making sure that they’re following the right path. A true warrior knows that they’re going to be tough times and that they need to find ways to solve them because only then will they be able to say that they got stronger. Only then can they actually find a sign of improvement. Only then can they feel like they’re making progress and moving on. Even when they fall, they fall forward. Falling back is not an option for them, because they know that that’s letting the victim’s mentality kick in, and they don’t do that anymore.

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Nonfiction

Date Published: June 4, 2024

Publisher: ‎ MindStir Media

"Wine Explained - The Answer to all your Wine Questions" is the ultimate guide for wine lovers who want to expand their knowledge and appreciation of wine. This book, written by Fabrizio Di Rienzo, a highly experienced professional in the field, covers in a question-and-answer format all the essential topics, from wine production to tasting techniques, interesting facts, and many other tips and tricks related to wine.

Fabrizio's impressive qualifications as an Advanced Sommelier, Italian Wine Specialist, and more, combined with his practical experience, shine through in the book. It offers easy-to-follow explanations, making wine accessible to both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to learn the basics or refresh your knowledge, "Wine Explained" provides expert insights and practical tips to navigate the world of wine like a pro

This Must-Have book equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enjoy wine confidently. Fabrizio's passion and expertise make "Wine Explained" an invaluable guide for anyone eager to delve into the fascinating world of wine."

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