East County Magazine
San Diego poet shares secrets and solace of a psychotherapist in The Best Sex I Never Had
Book by Susan Black Allen Reviewed by Pennell Paugh February 2, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diego resident and psychotherapist, Susan Black Allen has written…
Down to the Bone: A Missing Family’s Murder and the Elusive Quest for Justice
Printer-friendly version Book by Caitlin Rother Review by Paul Levikow December 2, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego-based New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother takes on the mysterious disappearance of the McStay family of four, who were last seen in their Fallbrook home in February, 2010. Joseph, Summer, and their two sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr. were killed and
Operation Masquerade: A Rent Beacham Mystery
Printer-friendly versionNovel by Larry M. Edwards Reviewed by Pennell Paugh November 28, 2025 (San Diego) — Larry Edwards, a San Diego resident, has written another Rent Beacham mystery. San Diego journalist Rent receives information about a cold-case homicide in Washington State. His investigation leads him to investigate links between illegal disposal of hazardous waste from a San Diego boatyard in
Oaks from Acorns Grow
Printer-friendly versionBook by Richard Opper Reviewed by Pennell Paugh November 4, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego resident Richard G. Opper is releasing the last book in his Oakheart Trilogy, Oaks from Acorns Grow. It’s written in deep point of view of each player in the story, including the criminals. Mona Oakheart goes to Guam to find her leading porn
Looking for Tank Man by Ha Jin
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh October 18, 2025 (San Diego) – National award-winning author Ha Jin, who became a U.S. citizen after the Tiananmen Square uprising. explores themes of rebellion in China and the struggles of a Chinese student in America in his novel, Looking for Tank Man. His main character, Lulu, who is a young woman from China, attends
El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City by Richard Carrico
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh October 19, 2025 (San Diego) – History buffs will love Richard Carrico’s new book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City. The book briefly covers San Diego area history before the first pioneers arrived. The author’s preview to European colonization is short but extensive. Richard Carrico’s greatest focus is upon the presidio
Local children’s book author and filmmaker named finalist in San Diego Magazine’s “Celebrating Women” Awards
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 14, 2025 (San Diego) — Anat Tour, a children’s book author, singer, documentary filmmaker, and math teacher based in East County, has been named a finalist in San Diego Magazine’s “Celebrating Women” Awards in the Education category. In addition to her writing and filmmaking, Anat is a passionate singer and host of East County
Linchpin encourages people to find their value in the workplace
Printer-friendly version Review by Heidi Hope October 15, 2025 (San Diego) — Linchpin focuses on the themes of changing the world for the better and making a difference in the workplace by embracing one’s individuality, artistry and uniqueness in visions and values, instead of simply following instructions and never getting to contribute creativity into any task. This New York Times bestselling book
Pretty Happy: healthy ways to love your body
Printer-friendly versionBook by Kate Hudson Review by Heidi Hope October 5, 2025 (San Diego) – Pretty Happy is a New York Times best-selling self-help book written by my favorite actress, Kate Hudson. She thoughtfully researched each area and provided a variety of questions to ask, as well as suggestions to reference and ideas for carrying out each lesson to take
An anthology features San Diego authors: San Diego Writers and Editors Guild releases its thirteenth anthology in October
Printer-friendly version East County News Service September 28, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego Writers and Editors Guild launches Good Luck with That—the Guilded Pen’s thirteenth annual anthology. The collection includes thirty-six stories written by twenty-nine members on the theme: “Good Luck or Is It?” Sandra Yeaman. In her twenties, Sandra traveled to Tehran, Iran, where she taught English
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
BOOK REVIEW: THE NEW JIM CROW: MASS INCARCERATION IN THE AGE OF COLORBLINDNESS, IS AN ENLIGHTENING READ
Printer-friendly version The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, By Michelle Alexander (The New Press, New York, N.Y., 2010, 290 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore October 8, 2010 (San Diego) — Michelle Alexander, former director of the Racial Justice Project of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Northern California and a former
CANCER RIP-OFF: NEW BOOK SERVES UP FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Printer-friendly version Cancer Rip-Off, We Are Victims of Mass Marketing, By Max Sturman, (Do It Naturally Foundation, 2010, 226 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore October 2, 2010 (San Diego) San Diego author Max Sturman has written a provocative new book, The Cancer Rip-Off. Sturman reveals links between nutrition and the causes of cancer—and raises probing questions
SAN DIEGO BOOKSHELF: REPORTER REVEALS POWERFUL CONSPIRACY IN TRUE-LIFE THRILLER, THE LAST CIRCLE
Printer-friendly version The Last Circle, By Cheri Seymour (TrineDay LLC, Walterville, Oregon, 2010, 584 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore October 1, 2010 (San Diego) Former investigative reporter Cheri Seymour, a San Diego County resident, has written a non-fiction thriller to end all thrillers. The Last Circle is ripped from the headlines of one of our era’s most controversial
BOOK REVIEW: I WAS…I AM–AN INMATE’S STORY OF REDEMPTION
Printer-friendly version I Was … I Am, How to Move Beyond Your Past to Create an Extraordinary Life, by Allison ‘Tammy’ Moore, (Wilmington, Delaware, 2010, 338 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore September 12, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) — Allison ‘Tammy’ Moore has written what at times seems like a tragicomedy: I Was … I Am. In reality,
BOOK REVIEW: BEYOND JUSTICE IS A MASTERFUL LEGAL THRILLER SET IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version Beyond Justice, By Joshua Graham (Dawn Treader Press, 2010, 430 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore September 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) — San Diego author Joshua Graham has written a riveting and supernatural legal thriller, Beyond Justice, that at times has spiritual overtones. Beyond Justice is the story of Sam Hudson, a reputable San Diego attorney
BOOK REVIEW: SHADOW MASTERS SHINES LIGHT ON DARK DEALINGS
Printer-friendly version Shadow Masters, By Daniel Estulin (Trine Day, LLC, Walterville, Oregon, 2010, 357 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore August 26, 2010 (San Diego) — Award-winning investigative journalist and best-selling author of The True Story of the Bilderberg Group, Daniel Estulin, has followed up with another powerful expose in a similar vein, Shadow Masters. To carry the Bilderberg
BOOK REVIEW: SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS
Printer-friendly version Shadows & Reflections, By Lori Brookes, (Blurb Creative Publishing Service, 2010, 31 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore August 15, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) — If ever a picture was worth a thousand words, San Diego author and photographer Lori Brookes’ book, Shadows & Reflections, says it all. Her compilation of pictures taken along the River
BOOK REVIEW: BAREFOOT IN BAGHDAD
Printer-friendly version Barefoot in Baghdad, By Manal M. Omar (Sourcebooks, Naperville, Illinois, 2010, 242 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore Barefoot in Baghdad is a Muslim American Woman’s Story of Struggle, Sisterhood, and Love in the Chaos of Iraq July 29, 2010 (San Diego) — Manal M. Omar, author of Barefoot in Baghdad, an international aid worker from
SAN DIEGO BOOKSHELF: A TERRIBLE MISTAKE
Printer-friendly version A Terrible Mistake, The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA’s Secret Cold War Experiments, By H.P. Albarelli, Jr. (Trine Day, LLC, Walterville, Oregon, 2009, 826 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore Who Was George Hunter White? The author of this best-selling true-life thriller implicates former southern California Border Patrol agent, journalist and intelligence operative in the
WATER-WISE PLANTS FOR THE SOUTHWEST: A WISE ADDITION FOR YOUR BOOKSHELF
Printer-friendly version Review by Miriam Raftery July 17, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Thirsty for ideas to use less water yet still have attractive landscaping? Water-Wise Plants for the Southwest (Cool Springs Press, 2010) offers a wealth of practical solutions ideal for homeowners in San Diego County, where drought, cutbacks in water supplies and rising water
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
East County Magazine
Pretty Happy: healthy ways to love your body
Printer-friendly versionBook by Kate Hudson Review by Heidi Hope October 5, 2025 (San Diego) – Pretty Happy is a New York Times best-selling self-help book written by my favorite actress, Kate Hudson. She thoughtfully researched each area and provided a variety of questions to ask, as well as suggestions to reference and ideas for carrying out each lesson to take
Lucas and Emily’s Food Bank Adventure by Dave Grunenwald
Printer-friendly versionReviewed by Pennell Paugh September 28, 2025 (San Diego) – Lucas and Emily’s Food Bank Adventure is a children’s book for 5- to 10-year-olds. It is designed to inspire children and their families to volunteer in community programs that help those in need. In the book, two friends and a grandparent visit a group that make and deliver sandwiches. Next,
Author Tanya Harris hosts book signing Sept. 21 at Grossmont Center to benefit domestic violence survivors
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 5, 2025 (La Mesa) — Local author, domestic violence survivor and advocate Tanya Harris will host a powerful community book signing and awareness event on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the gazebo at Grossmont Center mall (5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa). The community-focused event is designed to
Blood in the Water: an A.J. Hawke legal thriller
Printer-friendly versionNovel by Donald McInnis Reviewed by Pennell Paugh September 4, 2025 (San Diego) —Blood in the Water, though fictional, exposes a flaw in the United States’ tripartite federal government structure as established in the Constitution. The third branch of government, the Judiciary, cannot enforce its rulings, even when those rulings are necessary for protecting an individual citizen’s rights or the constitutional powers of