Energy Trading and Risk Management ~ Spotlight

Energy Trading and Risk Management
By Iris Marie Mack

Book Description:

A comprehensive overview of trading and risk management in the energy markets

Energy Trading and Risk Management provides a comprehensive overview of global energy markets from one of the foremost authorities on energy derivatives and quantitative finance. With an approachable writing style, Iris Mack breaks down the three primary applications for energy derivatives markets – Risk Management, Speculation, and Investment Portfolio Diversification – in a way that hedge fund traders, consultants, and energy market participants can apply in their day to day trading activities.

• Moving from the fundamentals of energy markets through simple and complex derivatives trading, hedging strategies, and industry-specific case studies, Dr. Mack walks readers through energy trading and risk management concepts at an instructive pace, supporting her explanations with real-world examples, illustrations, charts, and precise definitions of important and often-misunderstood terms.
• From stochastic pricing models for exotic derivatives, to modern portfolio theory (MPT), energy portfolio management (EPM), to case studies dealing specifically with risk management challenges unique to wind and hydro-electric power, the bookguides readers through the complex world of energy trading and risk management to help investors, executives, and energy professionals ensure profitability and optimal risk mitigation in every market climate.

Energy Trading and Risk Management is a great resource to help grapple with the very interesting but oftentimes complex issues that arise in energy trading and risk management.

Buy the Book:   Amazon  ~  Barnes and Noble  

Author's Bio:

Iris Marie Mack, PhD, EMBA, earned a doctorate in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. She was also awarded a Sloan Fellowship Executive MBA from the London Business School. Dr. Mack worked at various energy and financial institutions, acted as a faculty member at MIT, and worked at NASA and ATT Bell Labs – where she obtained a patent for research on optical fibers.

Dr. Mack currently lectures on Energy Trading and Risk Management for the Fitch Learning Certificate in Quantitative Finance Program on Wall Street and at Tulane University. Because of Dr. Mack's extensive knowledge of the derivatives, energy trading, and investment banking world, she has been invited to write opinion columns for the UK edition of the International Business Times.

Dr. Mack has also been named one of Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 Working Women, and she is no novice writer. This publishing will be her third financially-focused and published book – including her energy trading book published with Wiley Finance and a financial literacy book for teens and adults. With this breadth of experience and sheer intellectual prowess, Dr. Mack is more than able to help readers reach the financial stability they deserve.

In addition, Dr. Mack founded The Global Energy Post and MathQED - a homework help site for K-12 and college students. Previously known as Phat Math, this service has even been named one of the Top 50 Social Sites for Educators and Academics, 25 Savvy Social Media Sites for Grad Students and 25 Useful Networking Sites for Grad Students. Such accolades illustrate Dr. Mack’s ability to clearly inform the masses.

Connect with the Author:  Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Giveaway:​

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Andi Under the Big Top ~ Review

Andi Under the Big Top
Circle C Stepping Stones #2
By Susan K. Marlow

Andrea "Andi" Carter is all excited - the circus is coming to town and the entire Carter family is going to see it. The circus is excitement and Andi is sure living this life is as exciting as watching it.

But everything isn't as it appears as Andi soon finds out when she meets Henry Jackson. Henry ran away from home and is now trapped in a life of hard work and abuse. Can Andi find a way to help him before the circus moves on? Or will Henry's foolish decision take him even further from home?

But Andi isn't about to let someone in need stay in that situation. And she'll get her family involved if she has to.

This is the second book in the Circle C Stepping Stones series and it is geared towards younger readers who are just starting out in chapter books. Before the reader starts the story there are a couple pages of new words that the reader may be unfamiliar with along with a brief description. After the story ends a brief historical summary about circuses is given.

This book is 105 pages making it a good fit for a historical fiction book report. There are 6 illustrations throughout the book that add a little something to the reading experience. Perfect for the home or school library and a fun addition to history class.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
The summer after Andi Carter turns nine the circus comes to town. She can't wait to get in line to see the elephants, acrobats, and--most of all--the champion bareback rider. What could be more thrilling than riding your very own horse under the big top?

When the Carters see the show, Andi meets Henry Jackson, a small boy selling concessions. Andi thinks his job must be perfect, hanging out with happy clowns, exotic animals, and excited visitors. But it's not all fun and games. Henry shares a secret with Andi: he ran away from home to join the circus--and now he's trapped. Andi wants to help him get free. But helping him may mean losing something very special to her.

Andi Saddles Up ~ Review

Andi Saddles Up
Circle C Stepping Stones #1
By Susan K. Marlow

Andrea "Andi" Carter is turning 9 years old and her filly Taffy is turning 3! Andi is beside herself anticipating the riding she'll finally get to do with Taffy. And her number 1 hoped for birthday gift is her very own saddle.  And Andi has big plans - including trick riding on Taffy.

Unfortunately, (as anyone who has read any of the other series featuring Andi Carter knows) her brother Chad forbids her attempting any such tricks on Taffy or any horse. But meeting a new girl just about her age takes Andi's mind off her disappointment. Sadie is the perfect new friend and she's willing to share her secret to catching fish with Andi.

But just when everything seems perfect it all starts to fall apart because of a land dispute between Chad and Sadie's pa - Vince Hollister. Will a fight between grown-ups destroy Andi's friendship?

This is the first book in the Circle C Stepping Stones series and it is geared towards younger readers who are just starting out in chapter books. Before the reader starts the story there are a couple pages of new words that the reader may be unfamiliar with along with a brief description. After the story ends a brief historical summary about sheep and cattle wars is given.

This book is 104 pages and would be a good fit for a historical fiction book report. There are 6 illustrations throughout the book that add a little something to the reading experience. Perfect for the home or school library and a fun addition to history class.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Andi Carter has just turned nine. She and her palomino, Taffy, are old enough to be a real horse-and-rider pair at last! With a beautiful new saddle, Andi's sure she is ready to learn to trick ride like her friend Riley used to do before he left the ranch.

Sadly, big brother Chad knocks down any trick-riding plans, but Andi cheers up when she discovers a new friend at her special spot. Her fun with Sadie is soon threatened, though. They are caught in the middle of a boundary quarrel between the two families. Both Sadie's pa and Chad are stubborn as mules and neither will back down.

Can Andi and Sadie hang on to their friendship while the adults are fighting?

Deep Extraction ~ Review with Trailer

Deep Extraction
An FBI Task Force Novel #2
By DiAnn Mills

When Special Agent Tori Templeton and her partner Max Dublin are called in when Nathan Moore dies the case is personal because her best friend Sally finds herself a widow. Nathan had heart issues but for some reason, his pacemaker didn't do its job. And now Tori having to determine if Nathan's death was foul play and whether or not Sally was involved. And do the recent threats against Nathan's life and his oil company have any bearing on his death? And then there is Cole Jeffers, a man who has as unique a connection to this case as Tori does.

The deeper Tori, Max, and Cole dig into this case the more questions they uncover. Who was Nathan Moore and who had the greatest motivation to target him? And how many more secrets will they discover before they find the killer they seek?

Deep Extraction definitely doesn't give away the perpetrator as the secrets and deceptions are pulled back in this case.  With evidence pointing to multiple suspects is there a way to find out who is behind everything or is there more than one crime in play mudding up the investigation? Get ready for a tangled web that will keep this investigation on its toes. And when the investigators are targeted one has to wonder who will live to see the killer brought to justice.

I have to admit this is book definitely kept me guessing as each new piece of evidence pointed at a different suspect. The lies we keep are the ones that will eventually cost us the most and there are some real doozies in this newest book from DiAnn Mills. If you are looking for suspense you've found it here. If you don't want to stay up late into the night reading I recommend an early morning to start this book because this is definitely a "one more chapter before bed" type book.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers with no expectation of a positive review - all expressed opinions are my own.

About the Book:
A pacemaker should have saved oil and gas magnate Nathan Moore’s life. Instead, it provided his killer with a seemingly perfect means of execution.

A bombing at one of Nathan’s oil rigs days earlier indicates his death could be part of a bigger conspiracy, a web Special Agent Tori Templeton must untangle. But her first order of business is separating the personal from the professional—the victim’s wife, her best friend, is one of the FBI’s prime suspects.

Clearing Sally’s name may be the biggest challenge of her career, but Tori finds an unexpected ally in the newest member of the task force, recently reinstated Deputy US Marshal Cole Jeffers. As Tori and Cole dig deeper into Nathan’s personal and business affairs, they uncover more than they bargained for. And the closer they get to finding the real killer—and to each other—the more intent someone is on silencing them for good.

Unexpected Love ~ Review

Unexpected Love
A Marriage of Convenience Anthology
By Heather Chapman
        Paula Kremser
          Mandi Ellsworth
            Ashtyn Newbold

A delightful assortment of four short stories that take the reader back in time where love isn't a guarantee before or after the "I do" is said.

First up is Ashbrook Abbey by Heather Chapman. Loftus Notley has determined how to name his heir - his two nephews James and Ambrose must prove responsible and worthy of Ashbrook Abbey. But the how is entirely up to them.

Ambrose feels that marriage to his uncle's beloved ward may be the advantage he needs. But Kate Mowbray, though not without means, desires a simple life. Can one who has enjoyed a life of ease be content with the life that Kate knows and loves? And if Ambrose's plan to win his uncle's good opinion and Ashbrook Abbey fails could he find love in a marriage with Kate and could he ever embrace her life?  Only time will tell...

Second is First Comes Marriage by Paula Kremser. Letty Cipriani's sister and brother-in-law have died, leaving behind two young children - Mae and George.  Unfortunately, Eva and John Forrester never had a will drawn up naming a guardian. And with John's uncle Hugh Morton demanding immediate custody of the children, Letty is worried. The arrival of John's brother Daniel adds an interesting and unexpected twist when he devises a plan to thwart his uncle's scheming - marriage. Can a marriage conceived solely to gain custody of their niece and nephew ever hope to become something more? Or will Daniel and Letty find themselves forever bound to someone they could never love? Or will first impressions give way to a happily ever after neither ever expected...

The third offering is The Price of Her Heart by Mandi Ellsworth. Faye McKinney is one of those McKinneys who is blessed with the curse of good intentions and bad timing. Unfortunately for Faye, her bad timing brought her to the attention of some people who now want her silenced for what she's seen. Worse they are willing to track her across the country - placing everyone she knows in danger. In an attempt to thwart the danger, a marriage to Deputy Sheriff Geoffrey Fattore is arranged.  Can marriage to a small town lawman keep her safe? Or will Faye just lead one more person into danger?

The final story is Beauty and the Beholder by Ashtyn Newbold. Fanny Clarke only wanted to be married to the man she loved but life had a different path - one that cost her everything. Percy Wellington's future was dark and without hope. When an arrangement was made to unite the two in marriage both were less than pleased. But Percy needed someone to help him in his new unfortunate position and Fanny was in need of a home and protection. But their personalities clash in such a way that a future of love, happiness or even friendship seems impossible. Misunderstandings seem inevitable between strangers but can they work past it and their past pain?

Sit back in your favorite chair with a cup of tea or coffee and prepare to read through the afternoon. These stories will brighten your day with their satisfying conclusions. If you've read any of these authors in the past you won't be disappointed. If these authors are new to you you'll want to pick up their previous works. Fans of clean historical romance fiction be sure to get a copy as soon as possible and be prepared to share when your friends hear you exclaiming over the fantabulous reading you experienced in Unexpected Love.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review - all expressed opinions are my own.

About the authors:

Heather Chapman: Being the youngest of four sisters (and one very tolerant older brother), Heather grew up on a steady diet of chocolate, Jane Austen, Anne of Green Gables, Audrey Hepburn, and the other staples of female literature and moviedom. These stories inspired Heather, and she began writing at a young age. After meeting and marrying her husband Mark, Heather graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University and settled down in a small farming community with her husband and four children. In her spare time, Heather enjoys volleyball, piano, the outdoors, and just about anything creative.

Mandi Ellsworth: Mandi is an avid reader, a slow jogger, and disinterested in board games of any kind. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and no pets.

Paula Kremser: Paula Kremser focused on a career in science for a few years after graduating from Brigham Young University. Several years later when she moved with her young family to England, Paula seized the opportunity to focus on her love of the Regency Era. The enchantment of the aristocracy and the fascinating stories from every stately home she visits have been both research and inspiration for her first novel, “Sophia,” and second, “To Suit a Suitor.”

Ashtyn Newbold: Ashtyn Newbold discovered a love of writing early in high school. Inspired by regency period romance, she wrote her first novel at the age of sixteen. Because she can’t vacation in her favorite historical time periods, she writes about them instead. When not crafting handsome historical heroes, she enjoys baking, sewing, music, and spoiling her dog. She dreams of traveling to England and Ireland. Ashtyn is currently studying English and creative writing at Utah Valley University. She lives in Lehi, Utah with her family and is the author of “Mischief and Manors.”

A Stolen Heart ~ Review

A Stolen Heart
Cimarron Creek Trilogy #1
By Amanda Cabot

Lydia Crawford is heading to Cimarron Creek, Texas, and heading to a new life with her fiancé. But something has gone terrible wrong - Edgar Ellis has disappeared and left behind a wife who is in the family way. Having cut all ties to her former life Lydia is a Northern in a sea of Texans for whom the resentments of the war that divided a nation have not yet been forgotten.

Fortunately for Lydia, she was met by the newly appointed sheriff, Travis Whitfield, who directed Lydia to the perfect place to regroup. With her plans for her life completely undone, Lydia needs to decide what her next move will be. But asking Edgar why is pretty high up on her list.

For Travis determining why Edgar abandoned his wife is of utmost importance ~ was it voluntary because of the imminent arrival of Miss Crawford? Fear of his responsibilities?  Or was something more sinister involved? And is Miss Crawford indeed who she claims? And what was her purpose in settling so far removed from her old life?

As Lydia settles into her new life she finds a unique need that her skills can fill and she becomes an accepted member of the community. But when a series of crimes begin occurring in Cimarron Creek suspicion natural turns to Lydia. Could she truly be guilty of these crimes? And how could she have fooled some many people? Perhaps Cimarron Creek chose the wrong man to be sheriff and needed someone who could look deeper and could protect them from Northern opportunists.

This is the first book in the Cimarron Creek Trilogy and there is a definite mystery that runs through this book though the book itself is identified as a historical romance.  Set in 1880, Texas is still recovering from the wounds it received during the Civil War so it is interesting to see how the people all react to Lydia and her Northern ties.  The family ties that bind this town have a powerful influence throughout this story. And if you've read and enjoyed Amanda Cabot in the past you don't miss this delightful read!

I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell with no expectation of a positive review - all expressed opinions are my own.


About the Book:

The future she dreamed of is gone. 

But perhaps a better one awaits . . . 

From afar, Cimarron Creek seems like an idyllic town tucked in the Texas Hill Country. But when former schoolteacher Lydia Crawford steps onto its dusty streets in 1880, she finds a town with a deep-seated resentment of Northerners--like her. Lydia won't let that get her down, though. All will be well when she's reunited with her fiancé. 

But when she discovers he has disappeared--and that he left behind a pregnant wife--Lydia is at a loss about what to do next. The handsome sheriff urges her to trust him, but can she trust anyone in this town where secrets are as prevalent as bluebonnets in spring?
Bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you into Texas's storied past to experience adventure, mystery--and love. 

How to Become a Pirate Hunter ~ Review

How to Become a Pirate Hunter
By Marty Reeder

Eric Francis just isn't good at anything and he has no idea what he wants to do with his life. And as a sophomore, he should have some inkling, at least his high school counselor seems to think he should. But when he meets Charlotte Reeves the newest student in his high school he's about discover who he was meant to be. There's just one problem he's in the wrong time and the wrong place.

According to Charlotte, Eric was born to be a pirate hunter and she's about to give him the chance of a lifetime to prove it. All it takes is a little trip back through time, which could be problematic as time travel has yet to be discovered. Luckily for Eric, he knows Charlotte - let the pirate hunting commence!

Eric's natural skills on the water seemingly prove Charlotte's assertions about him true. But can Eric's natural abilities as a pirate hunter be enough to stop the dreaded Willard Pirate Twins who are terrorizing the shipping lanes into and out of Port Raleigh?  And how can a teenage boy who doesn't even have a driver's license out think and outmaneuver pirates who have years of experience pillaging and plundering?

If your looking for some adventure that will thrill your tween and teen readers look no further. This is an exciting read that adds a touch of fantasy to give the story an added touch of something special. This would also make for a fun family read-together book and at 199 pages not too long. Sit back and let the adventure begin with the first page.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review ~ all expressed opinions are my own.


About the Book:

Eric has always felt useless. That is, until he meets Charlotte, the new girl who he is asked to show around school. Charlotte tells him she has the power to see other people’s natural born abilities—what they are born to do. Charlotte shows Eric that not only is he not useless, but he has a natural born talent with the potential to make him a hero. When the two teenagers leave their monotonous high school lives for a thrilling adventure on the high seas, Eric will put his natural abilities to the ultimate test to help his friends, and he’ll learn a lot about himself in the process.