(NewsUSA) - Esperanza: The Graphic Novel by Andrew Daily

Step into the world of Esperanza, a mysterious, dystopian city struggling under the weight of its own corruption through this one-of-a-kind 76-page, premium-color, graphic novel written and designed by Andrew Daily. Follow Will, a man who has lost everything including his own memories, as he navigates through the shadows of this broken society, desperate for answers.

With stunning visual artwork and masterful storytelling, this book will immerse you in a dark and dangerous world, where every choice could mean the difference between life and death. Will you join the fight to save this city? Or will you succumb to the darkness that threatens to consume it all? The choice is yours, but be warned: Once you enter Esperanza, you may never want to leave. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3IB64vc.

Lethal Connections: The Poison ID Unit by Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis and Karen Fuller

In a sleepy little parish just outside of New Orleans, murder is no rare occurrence.

Sergeant Lance Knight has a pile of unsolved homicide cases on his desk. On the surface, none seems to be connected. The victims are all men with money or power. An investment banker, a lawyer, and a local politician. Lance can’t find a connection.

Working with coroner Gina Goodwin, Lance and Gina discover a pattern. Three unrelated things the bodies have in common—a string of lethal connections. Is it just a coincidence? Things heat up when Lance realizes he’s getting close to finding the killer, and everything spirals out of control. Can he piece it together before it’s too late? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3DeLgH7.

Storm Cloud Rising by Jason Lancour

No prophecy. No Chosen One. No greatest hero of all time. The fate of the known universe does not hang in the balance.

A group of mercenaries is hired for what is supposed to be an easy assignment. But like most things, nothing is as it seems. In a world rich with history, meticulously engineered laws of magic, unique cultures and peoples (as well as the occasional whiskey joint), the “private contractors” soon find their already varied motivations and priorities shifting.

What starts as a simple job spirals out of control into a struggle for survival in the midst of a plot bigger than any could have anticipated. Blood will be spilled, confidences broken, and a fair bit of whiskey consumed. This is only the beginning… Purchase at https://bit.ly/435RjZx.

A Boy, an Orphanage, a Cuban Refugee by Tony Dora

“I became a man when I was nine. My other option was death.”

Why would parents send their children, alone, to a foreign country with no guarantee they would ever see them again? In the early 1960s, over 14,000 unescorted children fled Cuba for the U.S. Under Castro's tyrannical regime, the state confiscated people's property and bank accounts. Food, clothing, and medicine were rationed. Houses of worship were attacked. There was no freedom.

When Tony and Norma boarded the plane, they had no idea what the future would hold. This memoir chronicles their emotional journey through Tony's eyes as he and Norma navigate life for six weeks in a refugee camp and a year in an orphanage, until they are reunited with their mother. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3VMro6i.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Within fiction lies the seeds of powerful transformation and inspiration. Some of the most inspirational guidebooks are parables, including Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson and Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. Both have inspired business visionaries, entrepreneurs and graduates for decades. Now stepping into this treasured category is THE ISLAND OF THE FOUR Ps: A Modern Fable About Preparing for Your Future (Skyhorse Publishing) by Ed Hajim.

Hajim, a seasoned Wall Street investment executive with more than 50 years of investment experience, believes you can’t find the roadmap to success on any GPS or search engine. Instead, this engaging fable drops you into the mind of a young man on a quest to find himself and his personal path to success and happiness. As he meets challenges, we gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate change while remaining true to our values and ideals. The beauty of telling this in fable format lies in its accessibility. “I don’t believe there’s only one way to deal with life transitions. And even if you accept my ideas wholly, there is no single right way to put them into action,” writes Hajim.

To create this book, Hajim used his own extraordinary life as a framework documented in his critically acclaimed memoir On the Road Less Traveled. Kidnapped by his father at the age of 3, driven across the country and told his mother had died, Hajim spent his childhood in and out of foster homes and orphanages. The intelligence, resilience and innate leadership he used to rise from deprivation to the pinnacle of personal and business success provides the insight he shares with readers.

At the heart of the book are the four Ps:

• Passions: Find your passions, find the things that excite and motivate you. Recognize that passions do change and you must monitor them throughout your lifetime.
• Principles: Find the rules that you want to follow and the lines you won’t cross. They provide an important structure and bring organization to your life.
• Partners: No individual can succeed alone. Consider the kind of friends, collaborators, and advisers you’ll need around you, recognizing that those needs will evolve.
• Plans: Find your plans, write down where you want to go and how you plan to get there. Pay attention to your environment, things that will happen during your lifetime, and try to find a wave or a cycle that you can marry with your passions and principles.

“This is a must-read for anyone thinking about how to successfully navigate the inevitable twists and turns in the road ahead, leading to a fulfilling life,” says Wendi Heinzelman, Dean, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Rochester University.

Ultimately, Hajim’s dream is to help anyone fighting to make their dreams a reality. “I hope The Island of the Four Ps will prompt you to contemplate who you are and what you want in life. Ideally, it will spur you to action—helping you engage fully in life, pursue new experiences, and surf the waves of change.”

To learn more about Ed Hajim, his background and his work, visit www.edhajim.com.

(NewsUSA) - Functional Architecture of the Human Mental by Joseph J. Jean-Claude and Caroline Stamu-O’Brien

Millions of adult Americans suffer from serious psychological distress. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, hypomania, etc., or caring for a close one with psychosis, you’ve possibly tapped into numerous self-help books with theories about what you are feeling and facing, and how to cope.

Now there’s another book, referred to as “A Reference Psychophysics Treatise of Human Mentation and its Disorders.” It sits in the Health Sciences collections at Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Université de Paris, and many others.

A quintessential reference book dissecting every human mental condition – both current and comprehensive critical resource for clinical practice and beyond. This massive work exposes several decades of mathematical-physics research in human emotions, cognition, behavior, personality, and a multitude of psychiatric diagnostic entities. Purchase a hardcase 800-page copy with dust jacket at https://qgworld.gumroad.com/l/izfqf or a selected Chapter in epub at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1371469.

The Empty Kayak by Jode Millman

For Detective Ebony Jones, crime is always personal. But this time, it strikes too close to home. A pop-up thunderstorm marches its way across the Hudson River, ambushing a young couple’s kayaking trip. The woman miraculously makes it back to shore, but her fiancé remains missing. Ebony and her partner are the first responders who rush to the river to assist in rescuing the capsized boater.

The victim’s identity shocks Ebony. It’s Kyle Emory, ex-boyfriend of her estranged best friend, attorney Jessie Martin. The accident ignites a firestorm between the two friends, pitting them against each other in a race to discover whether Kyle’s death was an accident, a suicide, or murder. Along the way, they uncover lies and betrayals, and gather a list of dangerous suspects all linked to the mysterious survivor. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3HWFDiS.

After Here by Dave Wolffe

For fans of Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven, this book chronicles the journey of Joe Golden from his fatal car accident through Heaven. Joe meets people both familiar to him and those who are not, all the while on a mission to find his beloved wife who had passed away one year prior to Joe's death.

This story brings to life the afterlife experience in rich, provocative detail, offering to readers who believe in the afterlife as well as those who do not have a means to envision a place where their deceased loved ones may be enjoying a peaceful existence. This message will bring deep comfort and encouragement to adult readers who have suffered the loss of a loved one or someone special in their lives. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3O1kqIN.

I Will Take You Home  by Rebecca Cupcake Tinnes

This moving and inspiring collection of animal rescue stories begins in the late Nineties when Rebecca discovers a neighboring high-kill animal shelter. Her short, meaningful, and entertaining stories share how and why she created a nonprofit dedicated to saving cats and dogs at the Animal Adoption Center in Jackson Hole, WY.

Most importantly, her essays enlighten and invite readers to help our country become a no-kill nation. The stories fluctuate from experiencing overwhelming emotions in a high-kill shelter to the laugh-out-loud insanity of living with a houseful of animals.

These are the memorable, meaningful stories of one woman’s determination to make a difference for the cats and dogs on death row. The book is for everyone who loves animals and those looking for inspiration to do more. Purchase at https://bit.ly/42rJ49F.

(NewsUSA) - Websites focusing on sports betting and the gambling industry have been monitoring the evolution of sports wagering in the United States and around the world, yet most Americans couldn’t tell you the name of the law that was overturned by the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling back in 2018. Still, its reverberating effects have been seismic.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, more commonly referred to as PASPA, was the law of the land that gave the federal government control over where sports betting could take place. Las Vegas was the most popular exception to the rule and only a few other jurisdictions were allowed to make book.

New Jersey Fights Back

However, a legal fight to overturn PASPA was mounted by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and followed by his successor, Phil Murphy, which ultimately proved to be successful. The SCOTUS voted 6-3 that all parts of PASPA were illegal and that opened the floodgates for states to decide for themselves whether they would allow sports betting within their boundaries.

Although the initial response was tepid, a steady stream of states began to pass sports betting legislation once they caught wind of the enormous revenue that was being generated by taxing the online and retail sportsbooks. That steady stream turned into a deluge, as more and more states hopped aboard the sports betting gravy train.

How Do American Books Compare?

Betting sports online is nothing new to millions of Americans who have been using offshore sports betting sites for decades. Many of those seasoned bettors, who have explored American digital sportsbooks, believe they offer less than they can find in online shops around the globe.

One veteran of the gaming industry explained, “There really is no advantage to using American sportsbooks over the offshores. The offshore books I use are licensed and regulated too; it’s just that those regulations are from overseas countries but they’re every bit as strict. The biggest advantage to using offshores is they give much better bonuses, usually have better lines, they take crypto like Bitcoin, there’s anonymity, and most importantly, I don't have to give the government a slice of my winnings. I don’t really want Uncle Sam knowing my business.”

Sportsbooks like BetUS are often considered better alternatives to American sportsbooks by veteran bettors, but, either way, sports betting has hit the mainstream in the USA and there is no turning back!

Did You Know?

At this juncture, sports betting has been regulated in 34 states; find the breakdown below:

• Only in-person sportsbooks (10)
• Full mobile betting with multiple options (21)
• Limited mobile betting options (4)

-          Studies show mobile betting towers over in-person -aka retail- sports betting, generating over 90 percent of the handle.

-          Although the NFL is the most bet-on sports league, we should note that college football ranks second, NBA is third, and college basketball ranks fourth. Thus, it’s not surprising that college sports contribute at least 50 percent of the sports betting handle compared to the professional leagues.

Money Changes Everything

It didn’t take long for sports betting to catch fire with the American public, but perhaps the biggest 180-degree turn occurred when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced his league would partner up with the same entities the NFL had been castigating for decades as a clear and present danger to the integrity of their hallowed National Football League.

The sanctimonious finger-pointing by Goodell, and by those who had come before him, was akin to a WWE story arc. Except this one lived on and on and on without any reprieve. It was a wholly transparent attempt at feigning animosity towards the sports betting industry while its very existence contributed mightily to the NFL’s enormous television ratings.

No one is watching two last-place teams on Monday night except when it’s the NFL’s Monday Night Football. Point spreads and totals create plenty of excitement because a financial interest attracts more eyeballs to the TV set than an emotional investment ever could.

But the NFL could have its cake and eat it too. They could decry sports betting all they wanted because it wouldn’t stop the masses from betting. Meanwhile, they could continue to state that their game was free of any sports betting chicanery because they went to such great pains to ensure there is no place for betting in the NFL.

Yet the latter is true; neither the NFL nor any professional league wants even a hint of impropriety nor cheating. Pro sports can weather virtually any storm – domestic abuse, steroids, rape, and even murder, but the death knell of any league will come if the fans believe the fix is in. Then it’s no longer worth watching, and that’s a wrap.

However, when sports betting became regulated in the U.S., the NFL smelled money - lots of money - and realized those sports betting platforms would pay beaucoup bucks to partner with Roger and his 31 billionaires (the Packers are community-owned.)

It wasn’t at all surprising that the NFL dropped the charade against the evils of sports betting. That was inevitable, as there were hundreds of millions on the table. But the alacrity with which they did it, without any soft pivot, was stunning in its brazen shamelessness.

It was as though Goodell knew everyone else knew he was just playing a part and those that were too stupid not to pick up on the act weren’t worth his contrition. It’s almost like meeting The Undertaker at a bar. He’s not going to be the Undertaker, he’s going to be Mark Calaway, just a big dude quaffing a beer. No need to keep up the pretense.

And that’s how it was with Goodell. He went from preaching fire-and-brimstone on all things sports betting to Mr. Vegas slinking into a lounge with his new best friends, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars.

Back in the 80s Cyndi Lauper had a hit song, “Money Changes Everything.” If you ever doubted the wisdom of those words, just ask Roger. 

Offshore vs Regulated - Pros and Cons

REGULATED PROS

• Credit & Cash Deposit/Withdraw Options
• Abide by local regulations. Funds are fully protected.
• All transactions are reported to Gov. entities (IRS).

REGULATED CONS

• Fewer wager offers per games.
• Fewer leagues and events offered.
• Odds (payouts) are less attractive.
• Registration processes are more invasive.
• Cryptocurrencies are not an option.
• Fewer shops.
• In-person wagering required on some states.
• Tax variables depending on which state you wager on.
• Bonuses and promotions are limited/minimum.

OFFSHORE PROS

• Deposit/withdraw options with cryptocurrencies. 
• Bitcoin and other alternative currencies often available.
• Deposits/withdrawals with crypto are often immediate and fees don't apply.
• No tax withholding.
• More wagering options per league/games
• More leagues and events are offered.
• More casino games are offered.
• Higher privacy standards.
• More bonuses and promotions are offered
• More shop options are available. Some reliable sportsbooks include:
  • BetUS
  • BetOnline
  • Heritage Sports

OFFSHORE CONS

• Cash and credit deposits can be more difficult.
• Regulations are determined by the country the shop is licensed in.
• No wager limits placed by government to protect customers.

(NewsUSA) - The Shadow of Death: From My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul by Fernando Arroyo

The powerful memoir of a suicidal veteran who surrendered to Jesus Christ, pleading for help…

Jesus answered.

At the young age of 19, Arroyo learned, “In combat, you have to put your emotions aside, because the next mission is just around the corner.” Arroyo honorably served in the Airborne Infantry for five years in positions ranging from scout observer to squad leader, then served three deployments after graduating from U.S. Army Ranger School, working in combat conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. And yet, while serving our nation, his work as a soldier was hardening his heart, pulling him farther away from God. This is the candid, poignant story of Arroyo’s descent into unimaginable despair—and his glorious redemption in God.

The Shadow of Death | Fidelis Publishing (faithfultext.com)

Use special discount code SHADOW30 for 30% off

Heather: Tuu Maia Lou Lima Give Me Your Hand by Steven A. Yagyagan

A firsthand look into the often-hidden world of child abuse. A heart-wrenching and heartwarming story of a young Sāmoan-Scottish girl and how she endured and survived 60 years of abuse. She shares her story and hopes more women and children will be spared from mental and physical abuse. It’s a personal and powerful story of survival and resilience toward child and adult abuse, highlighting the courage and strength of a child who faced adversity and ultimately triumphed over it.

There are various layers of cultures and languages in the book, including Ilocano, Sāmoan, Hawaiian Pidgin English, and Spanish (Puerto Rican culture). There are peaks and valleys from heart-wrenching to heartwarming moments in the story. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Lt6AgC.

Emerging From the Dark by Terence Ang

Having a stroke is one of our worst fears. But the truth is a stroke is a common medical issue. Most of us have no idea what a stroke feels like or what it takes to recover from one. Our fear often has us pull away from people who most need our help and support.

In his first book, A Cry in the Dark, the author shared his moving story of stroke recovery. In this second book, Ang has assembled a collection of moving stories from people in all stages of stroke recovery, tales of unimaginable courage and determination. These people reject the idea of being a victim and fight with everything they have to return to a normal life. These are positive people with positive stories. Five stars from USA Today. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3TnDphn.

The Second Coming by E.L. Smith

Has society turned its back on God? Are we drifting further away from the truth?

In The Second Coming, private investigator Shawn Abernathy struggles with his beliefs in God, good, and evil, and with revelations he cannot escape. After facing a surprise visitor from Heaven, his life changes dramatically. Soon he finds himself hiding from the Antichrist as he comes to terms with his ultimate purpose: aiding in the salvation of all humanity.

Derived from the book of Revelation, The Second Coming follows the travails of individuals across the globe as they face what lies within their own hearts and souls at the end of the world. We all have only two choices before life after death. What side will you choose? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3HVHtRg.

(NewsUSA) - It’s a tricky business, being human!

Most of us, according to Susan Drury, have lingering feelings – whether consciously realized or not – of ambivalence around something in our childhood. Regardless of how caring and diligent (or not) our parents/caregivers may have been, experiencing a certain amount of pain, misinterpretation and limitation are guaranteed aspects of childhood within this human adventure. 

Now, Drury has come out with a new book to address and transform the lingering effects we may still carry around those experiences: ELEVATING YOUR ORIGINS TO LOVE: A Guided Journey of Transformation, Healing & Power.

The book is written for people who face any one or several of these issues:

• Negative feelings around any aspect of your family, caregivers or early circumstances that continue to overshadow your ability to “move on;”
• Significant challenges or traumas faced by you and/or your parents or grandparents - even if they occurred before you were born or that you retain no conscious memory of;
• Being a parent raising children, and wanting to parent more consciously, free from limiting patterns stemming from your own childhood.
• Looking to improve or resolve any current or repetitive unsatisfying situations and/or relationships that keep cropping up in your life (and you don’t understand why);
• Wanting a clearer understanding of the potential for love and joy that your life inherently offers, and how to bring this out, moment by moment, into all aspects of your experience.

Drury approaches these matters with years of extensive training and professional certification in transformational methodologies that include shamanic healing, cranial sacral therapy, homeopathy, the Present Child Method, and Transference Healing, all shaped within the crucible of deep psychological and spiritual discipline.  No matter how privileged or terrible our early environment was, says Drury, within any difficult moment lies the possibility of discovering a new sense of love and power – today.

Readers will become aware of the different aspects of the human “hardware,” including an accessible explanation of our mind/body connection and neuropsychological wiring. They will gain clarity around how their original environment deeply affected the beliefs they came to have about so many aspects of themselves, others, and life. Although one’s perceptions seem to be concrete reality, by weaving the early years of the human experience through different dimensions -- often through the author’s own very personal stories and personal processes –-readers will discover that many of their more limited perceptions are transformations-in-waiting.

Writes one certified Amazon reader, “Drury's writing is clear, practical, and beautiful. Her approach is in-depth and genuine, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking the path to personal transformation. Each piece of wisdom will inspire readers to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and how they can move forward in their lives.”

Adds another Amazon reader,  “It is impossible to just read through this book – it is lived through!  And for me, lived through with great benefit.”

Within a loving, non-judgmental perspective, readers are taken through different states of consciousness in order to discover their own abilities of transformation, healing and personal empowerment.  As readers connect their deepest dots, both the past and present become transformed. Long-held limitations and pain, even those passed down through earlier generations, dissolve into joy and a renewal of love. Not just a process of personal elevation, this book offers the potential of transformation for humanity itself.

Learn more at www.susandrury.com.

(NewsUSA) - Writers of the Future Volume 39 by L. Ron Hubbard

Discover the new voices in science fiction and fantasy accompanied by three masters of the genre. These captivating stories are selected by Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson, Jody Lynn Nye, and others.

Be amazed. Be amused. Be transported further and deeper into new worlds and ideas than you’ve ever gone before.

From dark fantasy to space opera and time travel, you will love these sci-fi and fantasy stories because, as Locus magazine puts it, “Not only is the writing excellent...it is also extremely varied. Hot new talent.” Purchase at https://bit.ly/3l97Kna.

The First Counterspy by Kay Haas and Walter W. Pickut

The pulse-quickening and traumatic story of spy, counterspy, and an American family unwittingly caught in its web. Until this case, the FBI had never recruited civilian counterspies to catch a Soviet agent. The first two were Larry Haas, a leading aviation engineer at Bell Aviation, and Leona Franey, head librarian at Bell’s technical library.

The FBI pitted them against a Soviet agent, Andrei Ivanovich Schevchenko, operating legally as one of the highest Soviet officials in the United States during WWII, and illegally as the secret head of a wide-ranging spy network hidden within the American aviation industry. The book lays out this exciting story and the consequences of Schevchenko’s deadly threat of vengeance against Haas, the counterspy who betrayed him.  Purchase at https://bit.ly/40uak69.

Grays of Novart by J.A. Collie

On the technologically advanced planet Novart, Warrior cadet Trinity Knight suddenly loses her invincibility. The indestructible dakkie cladding her gray skin is rendered useless, and the supercomputer implanted in her head becomes dysfunctional. At the same time, things go awry for the prized Esra10 mission, and she has 48 hours to save it.

Separated from Central Command and forced to go dark, Trinity plunges into high-stakes battles with androids, drones, and hackers controlled by rich and powerful enemies fixated on her termination and stopping Esra10. Reconnecting with her base increases the danger, as some commanders are spies selling information to the highest bidder, and her capture is worth a fortune.

Her ultimate survival hinges on leaving Novart. Help comes from allies and incredible new abilities, giving Trinity and her broken supercomputer a fighting chance. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3KAgY5N.

Moonlight Beach by Yurie Kiri

In this award-winning book, what is shattering the idyllic, seaside community of Rancho, California? Grisly death. Bodies washing up on nearby Moonlight Beach. It’s downright disconcerting to the privileged one percent living in one of SoCal’s ritziest enclaves. Worse, they have no idea who is behind the slaughter.

Is it sharks? Something supernatural? Greedy venture capitalists? Maneaters are known to inhabit the waters off Moonlight Beach, but shark attacks are rare. What about black magic, satanic rituals? A coven of witches lives nearby. Or could it be the venture capitalists, whose latest company harvests human organs for transplant, exploiting the vulnerable to save the wealthy elite?

The violence shows no signs of ending. Two more people are killed on a cliff overlooking the beach – and all their organs are missing. What the heck is going on? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3oudV6A.

(NewsUSA) - The Sava Steps by Lee Lindauer

Twenty-five years after the Srebrenica Massacre, the worst genocide in Europe since World War II, survivor Melika Žbanić encounters two vicious men from her past. Intent on revenge, her plans are derailed by disgraced FBI agent Thorne Hightower, who has personal reasons to involve himself in her affairs.

Melika escapes Hightower’s pursuit only to be kidnapped and taken somewhere in the Balkans where a grim fate looms. With the clock ticking, a persistent Hightower follows clues to her whereabouts—and by chance meets Melika’s daughter Valery, a physically impaired but gifted young woman determined to confront her own existence—and soft-spoken Victor Alvarez, whose sole purpose is to keep his wife alive. Amid the splendor of a desolate mountaintop nouveau riche hotel, they find themselves locked on an emotional collision course. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3RXL4Ce.

The Hunt for the Peggy C by John Winn Miller

Laced with nail-biting tension and heartwarming moments, this semifinalist in the Clive Cussler Adventure Writers Competition captures the breathless suspense of early World War II in the North Atlantic. Captain Jake Rogers, who runs his tramp steamer through U-boat-infested waters, takes on his most dangerous cargo: a Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution.

Drawn to the family's warmth and faith, Rogers can't let his guard down when Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, a brutal U-boat captain, sets his sights on the Peggy C. Rogers must evade Brauer's stalking, face a mutiny among his crew, and grapple with feelings for young Miriam of the Jewish family. When Rogers is wounded, Miriam must prove she is as tough as her rhetoric to save everyone as the U-boat closes in for the kill. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3IfDPRC.

Man Eating Plants: How a Vegan Diet Can Save the World by Jonathan Spitz

Over the past two million years, humans evolved from an obscure herbivorous species living in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa to become the world’s most populous carnivorous apex predator species. In the 21st century, this fateful change in the human diet from plant- to animal-sourced foods is the leading cause of chronic degenerative disease, runaway climate change, and mass species extinction.

“Man Eating Plants: How a Vegan Diet Can Save the World” weaves together published works by the world’s leading scientists and historians to narrate how we arrived at these three interrelated crises and how we can save the world by transitioning back to our natural plant-based diet. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3ljHAxz.

Blood on the Badge by John Good

It’s 2016 and decorated Navy Seal Matt O’Neil has moved on as a police officer in Greenfield, IL. For Matt and his wife Kelly, life has never been better. With only a few months left in Matt’s probation period, his entire world is turned upside down when his best friend on the force is killed while conducting a routine traffic stop.

Soon after, a second rookie is found dead in Door County, WI. Matt takes these deaths personally and all evidence points to the possibility of a serial killer. This information comes with a price. The closer Matt gets to help solving these deaths, the more his life is unraveling. He must make a choice between saving his marriage, his career, or his freedom. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3EepgMR.

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(PointSpreads.com) - You may have heard of the Triple Crown, but do you know what it is and why it garners so much attention? Here is everything you need to know to prepare for the three most prestigious horse racing events in the world, brought to you by PointSpreads.com.

What is the Triple Crown?

Throughout the year, numerous races take place worldwide, but not all thoroughbred horses are created equal. The best among them are invited to Grade 1 Stakes races, which boast the largest purses and the most prestige.

The Triple Crown comprises three Grade 1 Stakes events exclusively for the top three-year-old thoroughbreds: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Since the Triple Crown's inception in 1875, when the Kentucky Derby joined the Belmont and Preakness Stakes, only 13 horses have won all three races.

Kentucky Derby

Also known as the Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby premiered in 1875 and is the first and most popular of the three events. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, it spans one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Preakness Stakes

The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May. The race covers 1 3/16 miles. Introduced in 1873, the Preakness winner is traditionally draped with a blanket of Maryland's state flower, the black-eyed Susan, earning the race the nickname "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans."

Belmont Stakes

The final and longest leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, covers 1 ½ miles and is held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Debuting in 1867, it is the oldest of the three events and is known as The Test of Champions due to the race's length, which demands speed, strength, and, most importantly, stamina.

Win, Place, and Show

Betting on any Triple Crown race is the same as betting on an ordinary horse race. It involves parimutuel wagering, meaning the odds depend on the percentage of money bet on each horse. A favorite has the lowest odds, while a long shot has very high odds.

A win bet requires the horse to cross the finish line first and be declared the winner. This bet offers the highest payout, but a place bet allows the horse to finish first or second, with the bettor receiving a payout either way.

A show bet permits the horse to finish in first, second, or third position, but the payout is the lowest among the three. Bettors can also participate in exacta (or perfecta) wagering, which requires predicting the precise order of the top two finishers, or a trifecta bet, which demands correctly predicting the order of the top three finishers.

The 2023 Triple Crown Schedule

Kentucky Derby

Date: Saturday, May 6

Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Preakness Stakes

Date: Saturday, May 20

Where: Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Belmont Stakes

Date: Saturday, June 10

Where: Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Get ready for the most exciting horse racing events of the year! Don't miss your chance to watch and bet on the Triple Crown, featuring the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

With the help of sports betting news and information sites like Point Spreads, you can prepare yourself to enjoy the thrill of these Grade 1 Stakes races and potentially win big. Whether you're a seasoned bettor or a newcomer to horse racing, there's something for everyone. So, mark your calendars and tune in to NBC or stream on Peacock, NBCSports.com, or the NBC Sports app.  

Image Credit: Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.  Editorial, used under license for PointSpreads.com.

(NewsUSA) - Angels and Bandits by Brodie Curtis

The battle of Britain rages, and two young RAF pilots from very different stations in life must somehow find common ground -- and stay alive.

On the eve of World War II, working-class Eddy Beane is a flight instructor in London. He successfully completes dangerous espionage missions for Air Commodore Keith Park and takes on society-girl June Stephenson as a student. Her ex-fiancé, Dudley Thane, is also a flyer, but upper-class and Cambridge-educated.

When the German Luftwaffe attacks England in 1940, Eddy and Dudley end up serving in the same Spitfire squadron. Aerial combat is intense, and both men show their skills and courage, but can they set aside jealousy and class differences to become fighting brothers for the defense of Britain? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3FWH5AT.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

A defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match? A twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. Returning to her family’s failing criminal defense law firm is the best shot she has.

Keera’s chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who’s eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense. Keera and her team uncover a complicated and deadly game that’s more than Keera bargained for. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3n7Aptd.

Stalked by Revenge by Lynn Lipinski

In Zane Clearwater Mystery Book 3, Clyde Doom wants his half-brother, Zane Clearwater, and Zane’s sister Lettie dead. It was their testimony that landed him behind bars after Zane killed his father in self-defense. Clyde’s violent fantasies may finally become reality when the court overturns his conviction. Lettie is pregnant. Zane is almost finished with his police academy training. Neither is prepared for the storm cloud of darkness roiling in.

Running isn’t an option, but standing their ground has never seemed more terrifying. While Zane’s friends at the police academy offer to help, they are limited by the boundaries of what is legal and just -- until Zane meets Loris Trapper, a former cop who has no problem toeing the gray areas outside the law. Will Clyde’s brutal vengeance be carried out? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3XYC4hF.

Gut Driven by Ellen Postolowski

Embrace the idea that self-care goes beyond food, water, and exercise, and take a moment to think about what healthy means to you. You are only as healthy as the food you can digest. What you put into your body is essential—but unless your digestive system can effectively process the fuel you give it, even the most nutritious foods can go to waste or cause digestive issues. Our resilient gut microbiome is fundamental to the harmony and balance of cognitive and physical functions.

Jump-start optimal well-being with integrative health coach and nutritional food chef Ellen Postolowski, working from the inside out. With a focus on improving gut health—a vital component of whole-body wellness—Gut Driven helps you heal your body, achieve balance, and reset your relationship with what you eat. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3IrMfWg.