Rainy Days With Amanda

    FRANTIC  By Brent Bradley Techno Thriller/ Conspiracy Thriller Publisher: BCS Publishing Publication Date: March 7, 2025 A delusional prison patient warns Dr. Brian Heiser, Marriage and Family Therapist, of enormous impending disaster. Dr. Heiser and his best friend, a lauded Forensic Psychologist, find themselves entangled in a 72-hour deadly race to stop an AI bill being fast-tracked through the Texas state legislature. Patricia Reigns, an elite developer of artificial intelligence, teams with them, thus cementing the trio as a viable threat. Unbeknownst to Fred, however, Brian and Patricia had a secret past. That past soon rekindled feelings in Patricia towards Brian, and vice versa. And this woman was not one to play coy. The more they uncover, the more the deadly power of Artificial Intelligence is unleashed on them at every turn from unseen top tech billionaires all vying for the same AI state contract. What follows is a three-day frantic spri...

 Is it hot in here, or is it just me? JK. But seriously, it’s already unnecessarily hot here in south Texas. Anyway, yes, I did jump on the wagon that is called Heated Rivalry . I admittedly didn’t watch it during its original run and wasn’t really planning on it. Hockey is cool, but sports related stories just aren’t my thing (although maybe they are, shout out to Yuri on Ice and Skate the Infinity ). However, my FYPages were telling me otherwise. What actually were the final two nails that hit the coffin for me were when people were talking about the Kip and Scott scene and I kept hearing about the cottage, so I guess I wanted to sneak a peak. And then I just wanted to be the lamp in the room. After I finished the show, I went to a new independent book store, grabbed the second to last copy, and savored the story all over again. Here is my book talk on Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. About the Author Rachel Reid is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Game Changers hoc...

    ZIVA THE GREAT By Cindy J. Vanous Children’s Fiction: Ages 6-12 Publication Date: 21 October, 2025 32 Pages Ziva the Great  is a heartfelt picture book for older children about a Maine Coon cat learning to trust again and a quiet girl named Elsie who understands gentle things. Ziva is loving with her family but startles easily around new people-until Elsie arrives. The girl moves softly, speaks softly, and never frightens her. Their friendship grows through small moments of closeness and calm. Together, they show young readers that healing takes time, trust can return, and even quiet hearts can find comfort again. Perfect for ages 8-12, this emotional animal story supports social-emotional learning (SEL) and is ideal for parents, teachers, counselors, and classrooms. Themes include emotional healing, resilience, friendship, overcoming fear, and the bond between children and animals. First off, this is a beautifully illustrated book. The detailing on each painted page...