Tag Archives: engineers

Steel Horizons by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Spotlight)

 

The Ashlands were never meant to be conquered. Ravaged by war and poisoned by time, this vast wasteland was the last stronghold of the machines—a relentless force threatening humanity’s survival. For the Pacific Union fleet, battered and weary from countless battles, there is no choice but to fight. Failure means extinction.

Akira Tanaka, Maile Kaulani, and Kento Mori have led their crews through impossible odds, dismantling the machines’ network node by node. But with every victory comes heavier losses, and the final push tests the limits of their strength, resolve, and unity. As they venture into the heart of the machines’ fortress, where every step could be their last, the cost of survival becomes painfully clear.

Set against a backdrop of steampunk-inspired technology, relentless action, and haunting landscapes, Steel Horizons is a gripping tale of resilience, sacrifice, and the unyielding human spirit. Will the fleet endure, or will the Ashlands claim their last hope?

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Meet the Authors!

Lamar and Liana Golden are a dynamic father-daughter duo on a mission to captivate hearts, inspire minds, and leave a lasting legacy through the power of storytelling. With a shared passion for imagination and creativity, they weave tales that transport readers of all ages—from whimsical children’s stories that ignite wonder to gripping YA adventures and thought-provoking novels that linger in the soul.
 
For the Goldens, storytelling is more than a craft—it’s a family tradition. Lamar brings years of life experience, wisdom, and a knack for spinning unforgettable narratives, while Liana infuses their works with youthful energy, fresh perspectives, and a deep connection to the dreams and struggles of today’s readers. Together, they create a symphony of stories that resonate across generations.
 
Beyond their writing, Lamar and Liana share a zest for life’s simple joys. They’re adventurers at heart, often found savoring delicious food, laughing over spirited games, and seeking thrills at theme parks. These moments of connection fuel their creativity, reminding them of the importance of building a legacy of love, imagination, and goodness in the world.
 
Their dream is simple yet profound: to inspire readers everywhere, one story at a time, and to leave behind a world just a little brighter for having shared their journey. Join Lamar and Liana Golden as they open the door to extraordinary worlds and unforgettable adventures—you won’t want to miss a single tale.
 
You can contact us at lamar.golden1@gmail.com or via X (Formerly Twitter) @LNLGolden
 

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Green Horizons by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Spotlight)

What would you sacrifice to save the future?

In a world where climate disasters are engineered for profit, BioCore reigns supreme—controlling resources, governments, and lives. But when Skye Parker stumbles upon evidence of their crimes, she becomes the face of a global resistance determined to bring them down.

With a team of misfits by her side, Skye launches a bold campaign to expose BioCore’s greed and corruption. But as the stakes rise, so do the risks. Facing devastating betrayals, impossible choices, and BioCore’s final gambit to destroy everything they can’t control, Skye must rally the world to stop a company willing to sacrifice it all.

Green Horizons is a gripping dystopian thriller that blends high-stakes action, complex characters, and a powerful message about resilience and hope. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner, this heart-pounding story will leave you breathless—and ready to fight for change.

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The Price of Progress

 

The sky was dying, bleeding ash and fire across the horizon. Below, New Angeles teetered on the edge of ruin, its crumbling skyscrapers jutting like broken teeth from the rising tides. To those who could afford it, there were climate sanctuaries, domes of clean air and artificial sunlight. For everyone else, there was this—a world of unbreathable air and endless survival.

Seventeen-year-old Skye Parker adjusted her gas mask as she crouched on the edge of a dilapidated rooftop. The mask fogged slightly with each exhale, a constant reminder of how far humanity had fallen. In her hands, she held a damaged drone, its sleek frame scarred by something sharp and unforgiving. Its blinking red light cast faint, uneven pulses against her gloved fingers.

“Think it’s worth anything?”

Skye didn’t look up. She didn’t need to. That was Leo Martinez, her best friend and resident pain in the ass, leaning against a rusted railing like they weren’t perched above a city ready to devour them whole. His usual smirk was audible in his voice.

“It’s not about worth,” she muttered, her focus on prying open the drone’s casing. Wires spilled out in a tangle of frayed circuits, and her hands worked with practiced precision. “It’s about what it knows.”

Leo tilted his head, watching her like one might watch a stray cat deciding if it wanted to trust you. “You keep chasing ‘what it knows,’ and one day, it’s gonna know too much. You know BioCore doesn’t like when people get curious.”

Skye’s grip on the drone tightened, her voice sharpening. “Yeah? Well, I don’t like BioCore. So I guess we’re even.”

Leo snorted, crouching beside her. His spray can rattled faintly in his bag. “You’ve got a death wish, you know that? What’re you even looking for?”

“Answers,” she said flatly. “And maybe a way to fix this mess while I’m at it.”

Leo’s laughter was dry, bitter. “Fix it? Skye, this mess doesn’t get fixed. It gets bought and sold by guys in suits who’ll never set foot in a place like this.”

Skye finally looked up, her eyes sharp behind the mask. “That’s what they want you to think.”

Before Leo could reply, the drone in her hands crackled to life. Its embedded screen flickered, displaying a distorted image—a set of coordinates, a timestamp, and a single word.

EMBER.


I hope you enjoyed a look at the story’s prologue. It’s not all of it. Only a portion to (hopefully) peak your interest. 

 

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Authors! 

Lamar and Liana Golden are a dynamic father-daughter duo on a mission to captivate hearts, inspire minds, and leave a lasting legacy through the power of storytelling. With a shared passion for imagination and creativity, they weave tales that transport readers of all ages—from whimsical children’s stories that ignite wonder to gripping YA adventures and thought-provoking novels that linger in the soul.
 
For the Goldens, storytelling is more than a craft—it’s a family tradition. Lamar brings years of life experience, wisdom, and a knack for spinning unforgettable narratives, while Liana infuses their works with youthful energy, fresh perspectives, and a deep connection to the dreams and struggles of today’s readers. Together, they create a symphony of stories that resonate across generations.
 
Beyond their writing, Lamar and Liana share a zest for life’s simple joys. They’re adventurers at heart, often found savoring delicious food, laughing over spirited games, and seeking thrills at theme parks. These moments of connection fuel their creativity, reminding them of the importance of building a legacy of love, imagination, and goodness in the world.
 
Their dream is simple yet profound: to inspire readers everywhere, one story at a time, and to leave behind a world just a little brighter for having shared their journey. Join Lamar and Liana Golden as they open the door to extraordinary worlds and unforgettable adventures—you won’t want to miss a single tale.
 
You can contact us at lamar.golden1@gmail.com or via X (Formerly Twitter) @LNLGolden
 

Reedsy Author Link

 

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What Bird Heard (Traveler Series, Book 2) by Tricia Gardella (Book Review)

In Book 2 of this Traveler Series, Mouse and Bird are busy at work resolving Bird’s Book 1 mistake– trying to fly an airplane to the moon. Everyone knows it takes a rocket. But are there any other things Mouse and Bird need to be aware of?

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

What Bird Heard, book two in the “Traveler” series, picks up where its predecessor left off – trying to figure out how to get Mouse to the moon. 

We all have aspirations in life and reasons behind life choices/goals. Mouse’s reasoning for wanting to visit the moon is simple; he’s looking for cheese. Oh yes, this tiny rodent hasn’t gotten the memo that the moon isn’t made of cheese. 

The farm animals band together and use their resources from the scrap heap to construct a rocket. Their design was quite good based on the materials they had. The core was a soda code, and the base was from a can of tuna. The top, a funnel.

Construction, manufacturing, engineering, and space travel involve problem-solving. In the case of Bird and Mouse’s rocket, they need fuel. What Bird Heard teaches children to work as a team to brainstorm ideas. Why? Because teamwork makes the dream work, of course. 

When a creator’s design doesn’t go as planned, it’s essential to understand that alternative solutions must be considered and utilized. Good lessons to pass on to young minds!

Through talking to his friends, Mouse realized that the location was the issue; his goal was to see the world. Earth is a vast land with countless sights to explore. A trip to a library opened Mouse’s eyes to the wondrous world around him and made him realize they were so much to see, touch, taste, and experience here on Earth. Maybe one day the rodent will make it to the moon, but for now, he’s content to explore the planet he calls home. 

What Bird Heard had a couple of pages where the text overlapped the background; most of the text was clear. The illustrations were fantastic, like in “ABSURD,” SAID BIRD (Traveler Series Book 1).”

What Bird Heard encourages creativity, problem-solving, and exploration. I recommend this book to children 3-8.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤1/2

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Meet the Author
 

Tricia’s books are influenced by ranch, animals and family life. She has tried it all, and almost mastered some: canning, cooking, knitting, fiber arts, rug-making, gardening. She has a BA in Ancient History and lots of grand children, giving her much food for thought. She lives in California.
 
 
 
 
 

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“ABSURD,” SAID BIRD by Tricia Gardella (Book Review)

Mouse promises to bring back cheese for every farm animal to help him build the plane he thinks he needs to get to the moon. He ignores Bird who all the while warns Mouse that his plan is absurd. The fun comes when we discover the reason Bird calls the plan absurd in this short and to-the-point tale.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review

 

The joke that the moon is made up of cheese has been floating for as long as I remember. Family members often ask one another, if it were made up of cheese, what kind would it be? The mouse in “ABSURD,” SAID BIRD. also believes the moon is composed of cheese ad plans to snatch a chunk. The barn animals are curious about his mission and how mouse plans to build a plane for the extraordinary trip. 

The farm animals agree to help him with his project after he promises them he’d bring back a moon souvenir, in other words, cheese! Ginger Nielson did a phenomenal job taking barnyard junk and morphing them into a recognizable plane. The windmill for the propeller was ingenious! 

This short story teaches children that not everything will go as planned when transitioning from concept to construction. Mouse faced such a predicament. But engineers never quit; they return to the drawing board and brainstorm ideas. Mouse leaned on their team for help, and his actions made him a great role model to future engineers. When in doubt or trouble, always ask for help! 

Did mouse ever make it to the moon? Did he and the farm animals get their cheese? Those questions can only be answered by reading “ABSURD,” SAID BIRD. by Tricia Gardella. 

Amazon has this children’s book listed for 3 – 8 years. Even children younger than that will love the story. Babies will love the bright illustrations. And the drawings will help teach toddlers farm animal names and then sounds. Of course, readers in the recommended age bracket will enjoy the adventure story. Let them draw their conclusion before starting the story. Let your young readers explore how the tiny mouse could reach the moon through art, Lego building, play dough, or brainstorming ideas from your family’s “scrapheap.” 

I loved this story, and I believe your family will too! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

 
 
 
Meet the Author
 

Tricia’s books are influenced by ranch, animals and family life. She has tried it all, and almost mastered some: canning, cooking, knitting, fiber arts, rug-making, gardening. She has a BA in Ancient History and lots of grand children, giving her much food for thought. She lives in California.
 
 

 

 

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