The Intrigue (Daughters of Mannerling, Book 2) by Marion Chesney

Mannerling, the splendid family estate gambled away by Sir Beverly, remained the passionate desire of his daughters. Beverly himself had died; the eldest daughter, Isabella--having failed in her bid to reclaim their home--was blissfully wed. The mantle of savior then fell to the next eldest daughter, Jessica. How fortunate that the new owner of Mannerling had a marriageable son. In truth, Harry was a brutal lecher, a drunkard, and a wastrel, but Jessica, blinded by determination, vowed to secure a betrothal. She was barely aware of the attentions of handsome, charming Professor Robert Sommerville, whose affection for Jessica was equaled only by the fear that her obsession to secure Mannerling would lead to disaster for all concerned. As scandal and intrigue swirl around her, Jessica must discover where the heart finds true happiness. . . .

I'm giving a lecture in December on communication skills for caregivers of those with Azheimer's so this should come in handy in brushing up my own public speaking skills.

Speaking with Power and Persuasion by Rebecca Shafir

We all love the convenience of a short and precise text message, but it comes at a cost. More and more people are ill equipped to pick-up a phone or arrange an in-person meeting, and often even the idea of speaking causes actual anxiety. In Speaking with Power and Persuasion, licensed speech and language pathologist Rebecca Shafir gives you the tools to engage in meaningful communication with easy to learn steps.

Whether you are a self-promoter, salesperson, educator, political candidate, business leader, or student learning English as a second language, Speaking with Power and Persuasion, explains how the body and voice work together to produce strong vocal tips for taking the stress out of speaking situations.

Unlike most advice that you might receive from a sales trainer or debate coach, Speaking with Power and Persuasion comes from a professional with a solid scientific understanding of the workings of the voice. The techniques Rebecca Shafir teaches are precise, practical, and sustainable. You learn what to do, how often to practice, and exactly why the exercises will improve the impression you make on others.

Book for review:

The Riddle of Prague by Laura DeBruce

When 18-year-old Hana Silna travels to Prague to reclaim her family's ancestral home, she finds herself on an unexpected adventure in a city brimming with ancient secrets. She discovers a riddle by the infamous alchemist Edward Kelley that claims to lead to a long-last flask. The contents of that flask could change the fate of the world.

When a ruthless enemy kidnaps her family, Hana has to find the flask to rescue them. On her quest she meets a mysterious man with a penchant for poetry, a Gypsy girl with a haunting past, and Alex, the motorcycle-riding son of a U.S. diplomat. Alex -- who's trying to save his sister from a crippling disease -- joins Hana on her race across Bohemia to find the hidden flask. It's hard to trust anyone when the stakes are this high -- especially when surrounded by experts at deception.

There's only one flask and Hana desperately needs to find it.

The Riddle of Prague is the first of the Quicksilver Legacy Series.