December 2021 Review Issue
Literature Mystery & Thrillers
Compass to Vinland
Dani Resh
Warren Publishing
978-1-954614-51-2
$32.95 Hardcover/$16.95 Paper
www.warrenpublishing.net
Compass to Vinland will
appeal to urban fantasy readers from young adult into adult audiences.
It
follows the adventures of loner Wren Larkin, who finds his life changed
when
Maria moves to town and befriends him.
Used to being ignored by his father and
bullied by his peers, Wren finds her support unusual and welcome—even
if it
does lead to his involvement in a magical threat.
It's not chance that leads Wren to live in a
strange house that looks like a shoe. There's a magical shoe-making
workshop
underneath it. His discovery of this leads to a brush with danger as he
and his
companions flee strange visitors to enter the world of Underfoot and
its many strange
inhabitants.
Dani Resh does an excellent job of exploring
magic in an unlikely setting. References to shoes, feet, and a mission
leads the
characters to find hope in the Eradicator, who might be able to wake up
Maria's
abuela...for a price.
As Tristen, Rusty, Maria, and Wren uncover
many new truths about the nature of their world, reality, and the
Undershoe
residents, their journey embraces revised perceptions of their lives: "People didn’t appear and disappear
because they were ghosts, they were simply Vins traveling from one port
to
another."
All ages will appreciate the blend of
paranormal and fantasy inspection in an epic adventure that melds the
individual desires and perceptions of four disparate teens.
Resh's ability to show each of these young
people try to make sense of an alien world and their place in it (and
at home)
makes for satisfying contrasts and plenty of action.
The tension is nicely developed, the magical
components are intriguing, and the adventure spirit never lets up.
The result is an enticing story of the
absurd and the impossible. Compass to
Vinland will delight readers looking for an urban
fantasy/paranormal magic
experience that builds on the evolution of teen relationships and
changing
senses of place and purpose.
Return to Index
The
Final Decree
Shami Stovall
Capital Station
Books
ASIN: B099QV8TL6
$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Final-Decree-Shami-Stovall-ebook/dp/B099QV8TL6
The Final Decree
blends fantasy and horror genres with a vivid inspection of powerful
God-King
Eliezer, who uses the power of a curse to rule his subjects. His
decrees are
written in stone and his magic allows him to instantly know when
they've been
broken.
What
hope does
the land have under such an all-powerful ruler? They have Artemisia, a
girl who
has been cursed by the king, but who is on the run, somehow having
escaped
being turned into a monster for her transgression.
If
she
transforms (which is still a real possibility), she will join the ranks
of
beasts that destroy everything they love. If she doesn't, she may be
the only
hope the kingdom has of defying the powerful rule of Eliezer.
Enter
Rylion
Nasos, a monster hunter who captures her. Rylion well knows Artemisia's
danger,
but he also comes to realize her potential. Together, they pool
resources and
strengths to organize an overthrow attempt.
One
fine
attribute of Shami Stovall's story is that it adopts a progression of
events
that are not entirely linear. Other voices add information and
interludes that
expand the perceptions and events, as in the section "Interlude-Steen
Callows," which provides the perspective of a follower whose wife has
been
injured in one of the battles led by Rylion and Artemisia: "It was only a matter of time before we met with a
casualty.
Rylion and Wulf relied on Artemis to act as their sword, but I still
didn’t
trust the woman. Sure, she wielded fire. Yet when they had faced two
monsters,
Lydia had been injured."
Dovetailing
different perspectives affects perceptions of outcomes and
possibilities as the
story moves through action-packed scenes and new revelations. It also
provides
a fine series of supporting reflections by Steen, Lydia, Thea
Yellahjar, and
others, which enhance the growing romance and confrontations between
the main
characters and their world.
Stovall
crafts a
fast pace that is richly accented by matters of the heart as Artemis
and Rylion
join forces and the Forsaken and the King Killer clash.
Readers
seeking
an epic fantasy that adeptly weaves psychology with social inspection
and
occult horror will welcome The Final
Decree's ability to create a fantasy
that rests on an evolving mission and changing perceptions about
freedom,
rulers, and decrees worth fighting for.
While
the story
provides a satisfying conclusion that makes it a stand-alone read, it
also
paves the way for more books in the series. Yes, please!
Fantasy
and
occult horror collections alike will find that The
Final Decree draws
different readers with its unique, compellingly original voice.
Return to Index
Hælend's
Ballad
Ian V. Conrey
Independently Published
Ebook: 978-1-7368806-2-3
$4.99
Website: www.haelendsballad.com
Ordering link: https://www.amazon.com/Haelends-Ballad-Ian-V-Conrey-ebook/dp/B091BSWD8D
Hælend's
Ballad
is an epic fantasy that will delight fans of Lord of the Rings
and other works more than lightly steeped in a sense of place and
purpose.
No
light read, it's a tale of dark places, dark hearts, and a quest
that joins three unlikely comrades in a world-confronting journey where
their
choices and impact do not always make them the good guys.
The
first feature to note is the exquisite sense of place that opens
the story with powerful atmosphere: "Stepping through the
open
entryway, the smell of sour milk and lantern oil filled Eilívur’s nose.
Several
Sunderian men, clothed in brown leather tunics and jerkins, sat at the
bar. As
with just about everyone else in Sunder, they looked like poor farmers.
One
man, with a leathery face, smiled, revealing his toothless gums.
Another man
chewed on something, probably tobacco."
Ian
Conrey's ability to bring alive this backdrop, injecting three very
different characters whose perspectives of the world work at cross
purposes to
not only each other, but their own best interests, is part of what
makes Hælend's
Ballad a compelling force to contend with.
Fantasy
readers who look for satisfyingly complex reads cemented by
history, cultural, and psychological examination will find each flawed
character equally compelling. This succeeds in creating subplots that
hold the
ability to stand powerfully on their own, yet interact in unexpected
ways as a
militia man, an abused teen, and a mother accused of murder each find
themselves in an unexpected dance with fate and each other.
One
defining moment describes appearances, but also equally applies to
matters of changing hearts as experience and new revelations change
these
characters: “They must feel like true Daecish lords now,”
said a young
soldier standing next to Eilívur. “I’m sure they do,” he said. “But
what you
wear does not define who you are.”
The
shadow which enters these people changes their perceptions,
intentions, and interactions: "He was different now. Ever
since the
shadow entered him, he had a new strength and saw things from a
different
perspective." As each struggles with their choice to accept
forces
beyond their ability to properly assess, readers are treated to a
compelling
saga that closely examines the results of good intentions gone awry.
The
spiritual reflections that affect these choices are also very
nicely done: “Don’t you ever get frustrated at your god for
making you go
through all of this? I mean, wouldn’t he want to stop it if he loved
you?”
As
these multifaceted stories coalesce to become a powerful inspection
of moral, ethical, and spiritual paths, readers receive a fine story
that
embraces and contrasts dark appetites, terrible memories, and beauty
alike.
Hælend's
Ballad
lingers in the mind as it explores the end of one life and the
beginning of another. Its complex saga of adversity, forgiveness and
new
possibilities will delight readers looking for more than a light
fantasy.
Return to Index
Love
in the Time of Wormholes
Jess K. Hardy
Mystic Owl/Owl City Press
978-1648981173
$12.99
www.cityowlpress.com
Love
in the
Time of Wormholes operates on the edge of sci-fi and romance, as
demonstrated by a steamy cover that's more often associated with
romance novels
than fantasy.
Sunastara
Jeka ("Sunny") is an interstellar
businesswoman whose pleasure cruise among the stars attracts a diverse
clientele of aliens. Her main charge is keeping them happy. Her
secondary
concern is not becoming romantically involved with any of them.
Both
objectives are thwarted when a former one-night stand joins her
crew with romance in mind, wooing her when he's not on duty in a manner
that
challenges her self-imposed rules and the ship's decorum.
Her
life is further complicated when a hostile species chooses her
vessel for their holiday, endangering not just everyone on board, but
the
universe.
As
many romances do, Love in the Time of Wormholes
opens with
the sordid aftermath of a night with an alien that Sunny doesn't
actually
remember: "Scratching his chest between his stunning
pectorals, he
said, “Argos makes a strong drink. Do not feel ashamed.” “Did we…? Did
I…?”
Sunny gulped. He shook his head, rueful. “We did not join. We were not
worthy
of each other.” A profound relief buckled her knees. Worthy, on
Argos—where
males tended to outweigh females by one hundred kilos or more—referred
to the
way body parts might or might not fit together between two partners.
Sunny
offered a silent prayer of thanks to the sweet gods of fermentation who
had
blessed her with complete amnesia of the evaluation of said worth.
“Apologies,
dear man.” She clicked her tongue. “Anatomy strikes again, eh?”
At
this point, it should be evident that one of the delights of Love
in the Time of Wormholes is its wry sense of humor, which
observes Sunny's
life and evolving challenges with an attention to whimsical reflection.
As
drinking, sex, and the perils of various associations intersect,
sci-fi readers who also like romances will find the story sports the
exceptional ability to weave between relationships and broader
conundrums.
Perhaps
this is because Jess K. Hardy employs a lyrical touch to her
descriptions to bring her characters and their emotional dilemmas to
life: "The
way Sunny felt, wrapped inside the senator’s embrace, sharing tears
with
another mother, it wasn’t fear or pity or despair. It was love, just
love. It
made her wonder why she’d been keeping this pain to herself for so
long. And
then, like the anchor that had been weighing down her heart gave the
rope one
final tug before it snapped free..."
Readers
will enjoy the capable yet bawdy Sunny and her milieu, the
unusual specter of a pleasure trip amongst the stars gone awry, and the
social,
sexual, and political challenges that threaten more than individual
objectives.
Sunny
and Freddie find their worlds turned upside down and their
assumptions and expectations tested. Usually, romantic choices affect
individuals alone. This time, they could change the balance of power in
the
universe.
It's
rare to see a steamy romance folded into a serious sci-fi
adventure, tempered by an escapade that draws all the characters into
world-challenging and changing scenarios. The dance between genres is
finely
done. Akin to a ballet that dances between subjects and emotions, it
opens with
the unexpected and draws readers with a sassy, zany, often
thought-provoking
story that excels in mercurial changes and unexpected developments both
emotional and political.
Readers
looking for something different in either romance or sci-fi
will find Love in the Time of Wormholes more than
fits the bill for a
romp through space and desire.
Return to Index
OldEarth
ARAM Encounter
A.K. Frailey
A.K. Frailey Books
978-1732395206
$14.95
Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/OldEarth-ARAM-Encounter/dp/1732395209
OldEarth
ARAM
Encounter
will delight readers of alien invasion sci-fi works with its story of
space visitors to OldEarth; and Aram, Ishtar, and others who lead
primitive
lives on the young planet.
Think
Clan of the Cave Bear mixed with extraterrestrial
perspectives and influences for a sense of the unique approach A.K.
Frailey
cultivates as the story unfolds to juxtapose old worlds with futuristic
alien
overseers.
When
an Ingoti trading vessel on an intercept course with Earth changes
perspectives about the planet's future, readers receive a introductory
insight
into the events destined to connect the very different races sooner
than later.
Information
always pays. But, does it? As magical abilities, powerful
desires, and portents of the future change OldEarth, humans and aliens
alike
adopt new responsibilities as their lives intersect.
From
the rigors of the guardianship role to confronting evil in its
different incarnations, OldEarth ARAM Encounter
romps through warriors'
lives, good fights, and clans that take risks to fulfill destinies.
As
Frailey moves through these various clans and their changing worlds,
quests, confrontations, and questions keep their stories and encounters
fast-paced.
There
are a host of earthly and alien characters and special interests
at play in OldEarth ARAM Encounter, which make it
more complex and
thought-provoking than your usual alien/human encounter. These
juxtapositions
of purpose and place may stymie those who anticipated a linear,
predictable
production, but will delight readers who look for originality and plots
that
are anything but staid.
From
obsessions with gods to visions of a different future, Frailey
provides a story that considers the sources of evil, good, and evolving
moral
senses.
OldEarth
ARAM
Encounter
is more than another alien invasion story. It's an inspection of
budding ideals and values that charts a course through turmoil to find
the path
that brings peace and resolution to a world, and will prove a
satisfying read
for sci-fi fans looking for more than a series of confrontations from
their
alien scenarios.
Return to Index
Rewired
Kfir Luzzatto
Pine Ten
ASIN: B09H4QWC91
$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/REWIRED-sequel-CHIPLESS-City-Book-ebook/dp/B09H4QWC91
Dystopian sci-fi readers will find Rewired
a satisfying sequel to Chipless. It
continues the story of Kal,
who is now chipless and determined to expose the forces that hold The
City's
citizens under thrall.
Amber, too, is motivated to join this quest
because she plans on rescuing her father from the High Professor's
clutches.
Her days with Kal taught her a different kind of truth—one that paints
quite a
different picture of High Professor Alvin, who perfected the chip
implanted in
every citizen’s brain on their first birthday to control them and
assure The
City runs in a predictable, orderly way.
From the moment Kal's chip first
malfunctioned and revealed the desolate truth about the physical and
psychological world, he's been on a mission to reveal the real threat
to the
dying city.
As
the story progresses, readers are treated to ongoing ethical and
moral concerns about the vision of this new society and its impact: “Understanding
the difference between us and City people is not easy,” she said,
answering the
question. “The society they live in is not based on free will but on a
distorted conception of what is good for the individual. All choices
are made
for them, even the smallest ones..."
Can
a group of ex-chipped independent thinkers change the dying course
of society?
As
the story moves through disparate groups and realms, Kfir
Luzzatto creates excellent contrasts between different worlds.
Kidnappings,
attacks, rescues, and parting gifts challenge the characters to not
just rebel,
but grow from their discoveries in new ways.
Kal's journey to become a free man brings
him full circle in an unexpected manner that will delight readers who
won't
fully fathom the impact of his decisions until the end.
Beware of what you fight...it's what you
might become.
Rewired
is a delightful companion to Chipless,
best absorbed by prior fans who will find the continuing social
inspections and
conundrum to be thoroughly engrossing.
Return to Index
The Spell of the Rose
Toni Behm
Independently Published
978-0-578-31338-2
$5.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KM8562F?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420
Fleex: Adventures
Around the
Worlds sounds like it is (or will be) a fantasy
series, but The Spell of the Rose
is
a story that stands firmly alone with no prior adventures to introduce
it. It
will prove immediately absorbing to those who enter Toni Behm's world
through
Fleex's eyes.
The choice between good and evil and the
classic influences upon making that choice are revealed as Fleex
contemplates
his immediate goals and undertakes bigger-picture spiritual and
philosophical
reflections on life's meaning and influences.
The story opens with his desire for romance.
It paints a warm picture of the little village of Fogland, located in
the
valley called Lowland; a melancholy place in eternal fall.
Behm's ability to weave atmospheric
descriptions into his story is evident from the beginning, as is a wry
voice of
social and spiritual observation: "Sometimes,
the most curious ones would climb up the slopes of the Mysterious
Mountains
which surrounded the village, but the thick fog did not allow them to
see much.
Autumn melancholy was typical for Fogland, as it was always autumn
there. Its
villagers, of course, could sow crops during the sunny days of the year
and
gather them on the cold days, but how exactly that should be done was
decided
by Fog Almighty, who made sure Foglanders did not starve and had, in
abundance,
almost everything they needed."
Fleex is in love with Fin, but she confesses
to him that she's had a hard time finding joy in life, lately. The
"thing-nobody-speaks-about," a form of amnesia that affects anyone
who enters their land, is lending to her melancholy. Those who do begin
to
recall their past and share it publicly are taken by the Fog and never
seen
again; but if that past is shared with only one person, its nature
changes and
the threat dissolves.
Fin's memory has led to the point where she
no longer feels there's a life for her in the village. Her revelation
sends
Fleex on his own journey away from Fogland, "a
land which you could enter but could not leave. Not on your own. It was
a place
with a purpose. But exactly what that purpose was, none of the locals
knew."
As Fleex makes leaps of faith and enters new
realms of possibility, readers embark on a trip that is affected by
truth,
lies, and changing judgment. His passage through Book World and other
milieus
will delight readers, pairing whimsical fantasy with a
thought-provoking
philosophical and spiritual overlay.
As he becomes a hero in the eyes of some and
is seen as a rebel and threat by others, the allusions to religious
history (inspired by ancient Thrace and
Thracians who
lived on the Balkans about two thousand years BC) will
delight those who
want to look at events and stories in a very different light: "While they were marching him to the
western crypt, where they were going to lock him up, Fleex desperately
tried to
think of a plan. For a moment, he thought it would be better if he
died. He
could at least save all the worlds in that way. His desperation turned
into
anger. He could not surrender to a lunatic with sandals on his feet and
a
wreath of twigs on his head, who had decided to become a god!"
From goddesses and road trips to influences
of darkness and light, readers embark on a bewitching mix of mythology,
Bulgarian references, loosely reconstructed ancient history, and a
struggle for
freedom and meaning that introduces Fleex to a myriad of characters and
special
interests.
Colorful drawings pepper the story, providing
an artistic visual flavor to an adventure as embedded with
technological
wonders as it is replete in social inspection.
Toni Behm's enchanting fantasy may be read
on many levels. It works as an attractive adventure story, a
philosophical
inspection, a religious commentary, a cultural exploration, and a
dynamic
myth-based mystery, all in one.
While fantasy readers will be its most
likely audience, The Spell of the Rose is
also (and especially) recommended reading for those who appreciate
bigger-picture thinking and inspections that lead to reflections about
life,
civilization, and the choices involved in changing hearts and minds.
It's rare to find a story that will appeal
beyond a single genre audience, but The
Spell of the Rose is such a creation. Perhaps that's why it
reads so
sweetly.
Return to Index
Where the Rain Cannot Reach
Adesina Brown
Atmosphere Press
9781639880812
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Where the Rain Cannot
Reach
opens with an image from "Before": "Through
the thicket lay a crying child. Stuck in time though she
was, the child was no more than three years of age. The child could no
longer
cry for her parents, who she had forgotten long ago, and still she
sobbed over
a future lost far too soon. Just a little thing, with only the missai birds to watch over her, until
a kind hand reached out and awakened her to a new world."
Tair is shown kindness and has been raised
by elves in Mirte, but her sheltered, protected life will not remain
that way
for the rest of her days. At age fourteen, she is no longer a child,
and
remains alienated from the Elven world around her, by her Human roots.
Racially and socially isolated by her
heritage, Tair embarks on a journey to Domain, the current abode of
Dwarvenkind
where past human inhabitants left a dark legacy behind.
There, she forms new connections with the
almost-alien-seeming Humans of Sossoa and is forced to reconsider not
just her
heritage and uncommon upbringing, but her loyalties and friendships.
Adesina Brown does an outstanding job of
capturing a sense of place and background, bringing to life Tair's
world and
her path through it: "They then
followed the curve of the nearby Dessoa River that stemmed out from
Doman’s
lake. The summer was heat thick as the night deepened and, later,
steadily
turned into dawn. Though they relished in the cold, refreshing water
that
lapsed at their shoes, they were careful not to lose their footing. In
the
receding darkness, the water was their only guide—along with the rising
Red Sun
and the retreating moon. Tair had been so long without them that they
now took
on a new beauty."
As Tair experiences new realms and ways of
living and interacting, her growth and reactions are captured in a
compelling,
realistic manner: "As tall and
sprawling as the city had seemed from the outside, it was even bigger
inside.
Winding streets with shops and restaurants and pubs, residential areas,
passing
wagons with patrons loaded up on the back—everything felt disorganized
but
there were clearly rules, unknown to Tair though they were. It was as
if
everyone wanted to live in
chaos. It became more overwhelming by the second..."
From the repercussions of prejudice,
perception, and love to changing political status that challenge mates
to
accept one another, Brown captures the heart and soul of characters
that
confront, break, heal, and move on in different ways.
The emotional and political components added
into the fantasy make for compelling reading.
From training and untraining to the
relentless rain and the unfolding nature of Tair's significance to this
world,
Brown crafts an involving story of a Child of Sossa whose journey
beings her
into the presence of the son of King Usnano, Rain Storm, whom she will
have to
kill in order to foster a rebellion that will set the world free.
Is there anywhere the rain in this world
does not reach?
Brown's ability to bring the sense of place
and their characters to life in a vivid, compelling story gives fantasy
readers
a multifaceted, involving tale that's hard to put down as Tair
questions her
identity, origins, and involvements.
Where the Rain Cannot
Reach
is a riveting tale that deserves a spot in any fantasy or epic
adventure
collection. Even though it holds a definitive conclusion, the 'After'
note
leaves the door open for more. This would be a welcome thought.
Return to Index
Newer Testaments
Philip Brunetti
Atmosphere Press
978-1649219022
$25.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.atmospherepress.com
Readers seeking literary blends of visionary
fiction, philosophy, and psychology will find Newer
Testaments a satisfyingly complex novel that defies easy
categorization while embracing elements of these disciplines and more.
A prologue, for example, usually sets the
stage with either present atmosphere or past experience. In this case, Newer Testaments opens with
"Disintegration" and provides the first-person reflection of a
self-proclaimed "Jesus Girl," a nameless individual who faces an
existential twist between instant love and death.
From confrontation with death and love to
slavery and "practicing the art of nothing," the narrator considers
the dissolution of self in staccato moments of exploration and
explosion: "These visions that passed through
me.
I didn’t want to be a soldier of God. I had other plans but my mind
split open.
I saw everything false for what it was—all the time. I had to fall on
my knees
and start to pray. I said, ‘I’m a creature. I’m a creature. I’m a
creature.’ I
may have said some other things. It wasn’t meant to be a chant but it
came out
like a chant. What was the point of it?"
This "short trip to nowhere" sets
the stage for a literary and philosophical inspection that offers a
kaleidoscopic dream world of archetypal images and personas
using a host
of characters both male and female, real and imagined.
From sanity, insanity, and a Facility that
seeks to eject Model Patients from its realm to dreams and realities
that move
between past, present, history, and future possibility, Philip
Brunetti's mind
romp brings with it a powerful associative investigation of self and
purpose. These
invite reader to enter a realm of tragedy and dreams.
Literary readers who appreciate historical,
psychological, and cultural cross-references will find Brunetti's story
oblique
and astute.
Newer Testaments
is a French New Wave existential inspection of life and spirituality
that
brings readers on a roller coaster ride through the phenomenology of
the Jesus
Girl and beyond.
Its special brand of allusion won't be for
everyone, but will delight literary audiences who appreciate mercurial
inspections of unfolding dreams and alternate realities.
Return to Index
Sparks and
Disperses
Cathleen Cohen
Cornerstone Press
978-1-7333086-8-7
$17.95
www.uwsp.edu/cornerstone
If ever there was an appropriate time for
the appearance of a poetry collection rooted in concepts of fracture
and
recovery, it's now, during a raging major pandemic. That's when such
approaches
and words hold their greatest power to deliver messages that
resonate—and is
one reason why Sparks and Disperses
feels so powerful.
But, perhaps this
collection would hold equal strength during more peaceful times, as
well,
because Sparks and Disperses cultivates a special
voice and brand of
inspection that is the perfect panacea and inspiration for everyday
challenges
during less dramatic times.
Shards of logic,
spiritual reflection, and philosophical insight permeate poems that
come
soldered with the glitter of possibilities and angst.
Cathleen Cohen
captures worlds from spectator as well as participant viewpoints,
embedding
these observations with powerful messages that readers will find
compelling as
they question events, responses, and results: "We didn’t
witness the
explosion./But sometimes/don’t you feel tremors?"
If there is any poetry collection which
demonstrates the power of brevity when done right, it's Cohen's work.
Every
word is important. The insights can be amazing, as in "Maybe a Hawk",
which juxtaposes a child's imagination with harsh contemporary reality
over the
social dilemma of gun control: "Last
week, a box of bullets/appeared/beneath a fourth grader’s desk./The
children
say/it fell from the sky,/or maybe a hawk dropped it."
The poems are diverse, "beautiful, and
sharp." They capture layers of life and psyche that lead to breaking
and
coming back together, with each poem presenting both a scenario and a
wider-ranging inspection of personal and social struggle.
Sparks and Disperses feels so powerful
because it is a reflection of
modern times that delves into the angst of coming apart and the process
of
putting life back together to uncover meaning in its processes, against
all
odds.
It's the perfect
poetic reflection of our pandemic times and human nature's ability to
recover,
and belongs in any contemporary poetry collection and on the radars of
readers
looking for hard-hitting poems.
Return to Index
Stay
With Me, Wisconsin
JoAnneh Nagler
Coyote Point Press
9781970151-93-0
$18.99 softcover; $11.99 ebook
www.coyotepointpress.com
The
short stories in Stay With Me, Wisconsin represent
a sense
of Midwest place and are set in small towns and communities across
Wisconsin.
Steeped in diverse experiences, they coalesce under the flags of family
and
community as each character grows and changes.
Take
Shelby, in "Doggie Stay." She's a dog trainer who was
married to a deadbeat man. Once she kicked him out, she quickly falls
for
another...a fact that distresses her mother: “You’re like a
goddamned
Labrador,” her mother said when she told her about getting married.
They were
having lunch at the Dipsy Diner, Ruff at their feet at an outside
table, the
sixties tune Don’t Let Me Down blaring on the outside speaker. The
early autumn
heat was winding down, just-turning leaves on the trees above them
wavering and
threatening to drop. “I mean, for God’s sake!” Evvy shoved French fries
into
her mouth while she spoke, ramping up her volume. “You like every man
that
smells good! What–he licked your hand and you knew it was love? Why
can’t you
just wait?”
When
another short-term relationship falls apart, Shelby is tasked with
finding a warm, enthusiastic man. Her description of her heart's desire
sounds
amazingly like a dog...
Contrast
this piece of love in the making and dog-oriented descriptions
with the powerful voice in "Atotoniclo," which opens with the bang of
observing that "You are just fine–you know you are; you’re
just
friggin’ fine, for God’s sake–managing, bearing up–you’re absolutely
handling
it. And then one day, you abruptly realize, you most certainly are not.
It is
the day your husband dies, and you are standing next to his bed–home
now,
nothing they can do, the two of you in this box of a Milwaukee
apartment (not
your real home; that was Janesville, a life before this wasting.) He is
disconnected from all of the tubes and beeping objects and screens he
has been
wired to–screens you watched for months on end, like a mesmerizing but
overdramatized
Thursday night movie-of-the-week (red, digital numbers declining or
rising;
alerts and alarms going off so often that you came to think they were
part of
the clatter of your own brain)–and then, all at once, you throw your
heavy-heeled boot through the apartment window."
As
rebellion, anger, and family come together over a death, the
"unraveling" of watching a spouse die and reassessing what remains of
value in life is brought to light in emotionally vigorous passages as
events
lead to transformation and travel beyond the Midwest, into strange
foreign
realms of the heart.
Each
story offers a succinct, diverse portrait of an individual firmly
rooted in Wisconsin, whose life events and choices create an upward
trajectory.
Brought
to light by emotionally vigorous passages that travel beyond
the Midwest into the strange, foreign realms of the heart, Stay
With
Me, Wisconsin crafts a wonderful
journey. Filled with a delicate
sense of place and purpose, its characters work their way inside the
reader's
soul, allowing access into delightfully unexpected regions of the
evocative and
the sensual.
Ultimately,
each character finds a way "back to myself" and
to the roots that cemented the foundations of their journeys. Each step
to
finding a renewed sense of self allows readers to reexamine their own
journeys,
influences, and roots.
Delightful
and unexpected in their progression, each piece in Stay With Me,
Wisconsin
embraces a sense of place and purpose that carries readers into both
the Wisconsin milieu and the lives and growth of characters who at once
embrace
and move beyond these influences.
The
journey represented in these stories is thought-provoking,
hard-hitting, and filled with bright moments of inspection and
reflection.
Return to Index
The
Store-House
of Wonder and Astonishment
Sherry Mossafer
Rind
Pleasure Boat
Studio
978-1-7364799-2-6
$16.00
www.pleasureboatstudio.com
The Store-House of Wonder and Astonishment is a unique collection of natural history
poems that capture animal life, wilderness, and journeys that reflect
both
human and animal relationships. The poem is written as a journal, in
the voice
of Antonio Pigafetta.
Sherry
Mossafer
Rind's science-based consideration of world wonders reflects natural
history
writers of the past. Thus, such names as Pliny, Aristotle, Saint
Ambrose, and
Herodotus consider the habits of animals such as magpies, llamas,
iguanas, and
toads.
Folklore
and
science blend in many of these pieces, which trace the evolution of
discoveries
about different creatures and reflect on their meaning to humanity.
Rind
writes with
a studied attention to detail and perception. One good example is 'The
Physic
of Toads', in which toad folklore is presented: "If
someone offend a toad, she gathers air into her body/and sighs
out that poisoned breath/as near the offending person as she can
get/and thus
has her revenge./If air causes blindness or dizziness, seek the toad."
The
weave of
human and natural history is nicely done. Observations of the
intersections of
these worlds, the mysteries and myths of nature, and the long-ranging
history
of these encounters are captured in the chronological journey
'Paradise', in
which explorers who initially encountered these animal mysteries found
remarkable danger reflected by them: "Declaring
himself a servant of the King of Spain,/the Sultan of Bacchian filled
our ships
with cloves./He also gave us beautiful dead birds/of a kind never
before seen.
The size of thrushes/with small heads and long beaks like crows..."
As
this work
moves through different experiences in the 1500s age of exploration and
daring,
Rind creates a beautiful (and thought-provoking) examination of the
routes of
sailors and encounters with the "birds who would bring us Paradise."
A
concluding
section of notes bows to the sources of inspiration that fueled these
works,
offering readers more opportunities to investigate source materials.
While
The Store-House of Wonder and Astonishment
will likely be considered for collections strong in contemporary
poetry, it
holds value and recommendation for natural history and travel holdings,
as
well.
Its
different
perspectives, studied and reasoned contrasts between human experience,
exploration, and encounters with animals, and its thought-provoking,
lyrical
commentary are astute, evocative considerations of human roots in the
natural
world (which, in modern times, are too often forgotten): "Nothing
then is lost; the vital heat survives in air,
wheat,/cloth, mice, the very clay on which we stand or dig for
pots./Beings
generate in every combination, and everything on earth is life."
Return to Index
Tales
From the Liminal
S.K. Kruse
Deuxmers, LLC
978-1-944521-15-8
$6.99
ebook
www.deuxmers.com
Tales
From
the Liminal
gathers fifteen short stories that are firmly
rooted in both realism and humor, and represent a diverse set of
scenarios that
excel in succinct wild rides through opportunities and conundrums alike.
Literary
readers who enjoy the unexpected will find these stories both
digestible and thought-provoking.
Take
"When They Come For Me," for one example. Here, the
first-person narrator rails against rules and those who have
unsuccessfully
"hunted me for decades" because his life's mission is to "wake
people the fuck up."
From
giving kids a sermon about subliminal advertising to launching a
diatribe on the steps of a county courthouse on a Sunday when people
hurrying
by don't pause to listen to a word, the narrator (who has been called
'crazy'
more than one time) finds that an encounter with a woman changes
everything—including the nature of his message.
S.K.
Kruse captures this individual's perspective, passion, and life: "I
fled through the streets of the town, past the ignorant, blind masses
gorging
themselves on pancakes and bacon and the endless stream of
indoctrination
pouring out of their phones and televisions, preparing them, like
calves
fattened for the slaughter, for the coming of 'they.' I could hear
their
footsteps behind me. I knew this was the day."
An
intriguing contrast is "Goodbye, Bonavento," in which an
old monkey named Bonavento and a little girl, Angela (who has taken the
place
of her "angel mother" in her father's life), faces a world in which
his organ grinding gig is fading away.
Can
Angela continue the tradition, even though the monkey Bonavento has
been taken away? Kruse excels in portraits that capture the girl's
desire to
recreate the appeal of a vanishing attraction: "The happy
tune is
halfway over now. The next one is a little sad. The very old Humans
like it but
not the kids. The rich Shamnais parents will be too impatient to stay
for it.
The novelty of the organ grinders has worn off, and, unlike the poor
Humans and
Shamnais, they can afford access to all the wonderful music ever
created by
both species, and to go to the new shows and concerts. I should take
the hand
of one of their little ones and start dancing. If
they dance, then the older children might too..."
Literary,
thought-provoking, and magical, these stories probe the roots
of changing lives and different worlds, providing proof that the power
of the
written word does not need length in order to be outstanding and
influential.
The
diversity and power of these creations results in a collection that
will delight literature readers who want consistently powerful examples
of the
short story form used to its greatest effectiveness. It delights with
hard-hitting messages that linger in the mind long after their reading.
Return to Index
Winter
Solstice
Diana Howard
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880768
$15.99
Paper/$7.99 Kindle
www.atmospherepress.com
Winter
Solstice
shares poems written over a fifteen-year period during which a
daughter observes her mother's mental demise, offering a special form
of solace
that those who struggle with a loved one's mental decline will readily
appreciate.
From
the introductory poem "Diana, I Remember the Important
Things," which brings to life Diana Howard's mother, "A woman
who
is kind, forgiving and a little forgetful./A woman who can’t quite tell
anymore/what is true and what is false./A woman who gives more than she
takes." to a series of progressive leaps in which this woman
changes,
Howard brings readers into her world and her mother's life.
Her
ability to move through time, juxtaposing past, present, and future
moments, captures experience and emotion in a fragile grasp that brings
others
into her milieu: "I am 19, home for the summer/snuggled down
under
sheets/that smell like bleach./I am drenched in a Boone’s Farm
hangover./My
mother’s voice, trilling like a lark,/seeps upward through the porous
oak
floors./There is the fragrant scent/of lilacs on my nightstand./She
remembered."
From ghosts of fathers in glasses of whiskey to the
vivid
autobiographical notes present in both poems and (occasionally) as
explanatory
notes, Howard's skill at bringing her mother's world and their family
to life
is powerful and revealing whether presented in poem or prose: "My
mother lost my dad when he was 65 and she was 63. She lived alone until
she
died at the age of 93. She would get teary if Dad was ever mentioned in
conversation. Sometimes she would talk to him. Her confusion broke my
heart.
She had lost most memories of him yet saw him in every man she met."
The result gives
voice to the passion of love and the process of letting go to find that
love
rekindled in different ways through aging and memory challenges.
While
Winter Solstice will likely appear in collections geared to
contemporary poets, it also deserves a place in any literary library
alongside
reflections of family and dementia experiences. Its powerful voice
offers a
perspective many similar attempts don't begin to match.
Return to Index
Blood Brother: A
Memoir
Susan Keller
TouchPoint Press
978-1-952816-39-0
$16.99 paperback/$5.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Brother-Memoir-Susan-Keller/dp/1952816394
Blood Brother: A Memoir details a powerful
search for a missing brother
whose bone marrow could save Susan Keller's life. It combines the
author's
efforts to locate her brother with deep reflections on family ties,
medical
conundrums, and the lengthy process of forgiveness.
While some might
think this memoir is about a genealogical pursuit alone, oncologists
and those
in the medical profession will find Blood Brother
equally eye-opening
and important as it charts a moral, ethical, and psychological journey
through
family trauma and considers the special connections of donor and
recipient
under life-threatening conditions.
Susan was fifty-five and happily married
when, overnight, she was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood cancer
that
prompted both hallucinations and questions about mortality and life.
To live, she needed a stem cell transplant
from a blood relative. At that time, her brother Johnny had been
missing for
over thirty years, having escaped the violent childhood that Susan also
experienced.
Her journey to find him and save her life
connects past and present in a tale of not only reaching out to rebuild
lost
family, but understanding how, without cancer, this never would have
happened.
Keller also explores social consideration of
life-threatening illness and expensive treatments: "Cancer
and money are not strange bedfellows. Being in the medical
education field, I’ve heard health economists say, with all due respect
and
disassociation: Death is very cost
effective. A deceased patient is no longer a drain on
health care resources.
It’s the treatment that’s expensive. And as sad as it is, even in these
wealthy
United States, cancer can have a devastating monetary effect on victims
and
their families."
Susan's family ties, recovery from
dysfunctional family scenarios, and the ethics of medical treatments
woven into
her journey provide a satisfying blend of emotional revelation,
unexpected
humor, and thought-provoking considerations of family and medical
community
alike.
While Blood Brother will be chosen by many who read about
cancer survivors and changed lives, it also is highly recommended for
medical
professionals at all levels, from doctors to nurses and therapists. It
offers a
compelling, multifaceted approach to cancer diagnosis, treatment,
making the
most of a second chance at life, and simple ideas for better medical
and
hospital experiences which patients and doctors can use to improve both
the
system and their own individual approaches to cancer diagnosis and
treatment.
Return to Index
Breaking
Barriers
DeWitt S. Williams
Independently Published
978-1-09838-457-9
$19.21
Paper/$3.99 ebook
Ordering:https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Barriers-First-Ladies-Education/dp/1098384571
And
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/breaking-barriers-the-first-ladies-of-education
A
century ago, three black women confronted racism and the white glass
ceiling at Ivy League schools, entering them against all odds to
become, in
June of 1921, the first black women to earn PhDs. Breaking
Barriers: The
First Ladies of Education chronicles and contrasts these
women's lives and
efforts in a story that has received surprisingly little publicity
despite
modern-day attention to biographies of civil rights pioneers. That's
just one
of the reasons Breaking Barriers deserves a
prominent place on the
shelves of any collection strong in civil rights issues.
The
stories of Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, Eva B. Dykes, and
Georgiana Rose Simpson are not just portraits in courage, but
illustrations of
how personal perseverance can pave the way for peers and future
generations.
DeWitt S.
Williams notes that "“Firsts”
are trailblazers. They go where no one else has been or thought
to go." One reason why these stories deserve special
attention is the trailblazing process itself. As he reviews each
woman's
background, from childhood to adulthood, and considers the
psychological,
social, and political perspectives that created their drive to succeed
in a
world that would seem impossible to penetrate, he produces an analysis
that
bridges the gap between personal experience and social change.
At
issue are more than individual obstacles, but those of educational
accreditation, standards of excellence, and many underlying admittance
routines
that kept black women, in particular, from reaching higher education
goals.
Focuses
on change agents such as church involvements in this process
provide particularly eye-opening discussions of community influences on
educational pursuits. This is especially astute because in many
communities and
religious groups, education is not only promoted, but is overseen and
fostered
by the religious organization itself.
The
history includes contrasts between White and Black Adventists and
documents anti-education for black sentiments that evolved from
plantation
management: "In this area of Virginia, Blacks and Whites
worshipped in
the same churches. The owners did not like slaves having their own
unsupervised
religious meetings. Personal servants were allowed to sit with their
owners in
the pews and in some churches in the rear. 'No guns. No schools. No
books. No
learning.' Ninety-nine percent of the slave owners used this as their
motto.
Even slaves who worked in the house shouldn’t have too much education
and book
learning."
These
reflections and studies mean that while Breaking Barriers
offers three biographical sketches and an in-depth focus on these
women's
lives, it concurrently considers the evolution of inclusive education
in the
U.S. as a whole, following how this revolutionary concept took hold in
the
course of American history.
At
times, Breaking Barriers reads with the drama of
fiction. At
other times, it injects letters and source materials into various
discussions.
If these writings had appeared in italics or with more separation, the
flow
between nonfiction story and source letter might have been more
seamless; but
they still serve to illustrate important points in the development of
events
and provide invaluable examples of sentiments and processes.
Seventeen
black and white photos of each woman are excellent adjuncts
to their stories, and bring them to life.
While
it's likely that Breaking Barriers will find its
way into
any American civil rights history or women's issues collection, its
audience
shouldn't be limited to these arenas alone. Ideally, educators
interested in
the progress of inclusive education will find it just as eye-opening
and
important, and will want to see Breaking Barriers
in their libraries, as
well.
Return to Index
My
Life in Gray: A Widow’s Journey
Rebecca Brooke
WIP Publications, LLC
978-1-7364582-3-5
$9.99
Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.wippublications.com
My
Life in
Gray: A Widow’s Journey outlines the unexpected journey of a young
widow whose questions begin in the first few paragraphs: "How
did I get
here? How is it possible that I am here helping to
pen an obituary for
my best friend? My thirty-nine-year-old husband,
who was just helping me
get ready to host our first Thanksgiving dinner for the family. What
happened
to my life?"
The
story doesn't come from an expert on grief, but one who charts her
experience knowing that this can help others newly on the same path.
She
includes observations that circles of friends to loved ones can also
absorb as
they offer support: "I am here to tell you when you lose a
close loved
one, you do not ever forget; therefore, there is no need to fear
reminding
someone. The memory of the lost loved one is never too far away from
one's
brain and hearing the name of that loved one or a happy memory can help
remind
them that that person is still alive in another person's memories,
which is a
comforting thought."
Rebecca
Brooke begins her memoir with childhood experiences and how she
came to know her best friend Darwin, whom she eventually would marry.
As
they grew and moved away from one another and into relationships
with others, the intimacy and friendship formed at an early age was
never far
from Rebecca's mind, cemented by candid letters between them that
served to
remind her of different choices and possibilities until she eventually
threw
them out, despairing that this type of relationship would ever come her
way: "During
these times after breakups, I would take out the letters that Darwin
had
written me years ago from bootcamp. Yes, I still had them. I never
could throw
them away. I just wanted a man to talk to me that way he had, to spill
all of
his feelings out in the open and not leave me wondering where I stood.
These
letters held plans two teens had for a future together. Darwin had
wanted to
give me a future all those years ago. Yet, I walked away. Maybe this
was the
reason my relationships always failed. Nobody could attain the status
Darwin
held in my mind."
As
the story moves into her marriage, Darwin's death, and its impact on
her entire family, readers learn from a set of inspections that focus
on the
newfound vulnerability of a single mother with children, the impact of
losing
an irreplaceable soul mate, and how Brooke funneled her despair into
new paths
while grieving her loss.
Anyone
who has not been through the loss of a loved one will find much
food for thought as Brooke reveals her emotions and how she slowly
rebuilt her
world. Those who have been through such a loss will find that much will
resonate about Brooke's fears, thoughts, and adaptations.
My
Life in
Gray: A Widow’s Journey emphasizes that this is not a 'process', but
a journey that holds much potential for enlightenment in various ways.
It
should be on the reading lists of everyone who loves, as well as
those who have lost.
Return to Index
Saigon
Ralph Pezzullo
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880676
$17.99
www.Atmospherepress.com
Ralph Pezzullo
lived in Saigon during the Tonkin Gulf Incident, the overthrow of Diem,
and a
number of other coup d'etats, experiencing numerous daily Vietcong
terrorist
attacks against Americans. Perhaps this is why Saigon
is so vividly portrayed.
Its strength comes to life through the eyes of not just a momentary
reporter's
short-term perspective, but a resident American's long-term experiences.
In the summer of
1962, Pezzullo had just turned 13, and was on his way to Saigon with
his family.
The saga opens with a child's eye of the journey and Vietnam's unknown
milieu: "My
father says that we’re traveling to Vietnam to fight communism like
it’s some
kind of disease. But I don’t understand how it infects peoples’ brains
and
causes them to act like zombies."
Pezzullo's
initial introduction to Vietnam involves making friends and asking
questions
about their culture, but as his story evolves, his innocence gives way
to
dangerous associations and threat: "When I tell him the rumor
some
Vietnamese generals are planning a coup, his ears perk up.
“Who told you that?” he asks,
closing the
door.
“Is it true?”
He stares at me with penetrating eyes and
asks again, stronger, “Where’d you hear that, Michael?”
“Nobody told me. It’s a feeling I have.”
“A what?” he asks.
“An intuition.”
“An intuition?” he repeats in a mocking
tone. “Do you think for one minute that any serious person would put
the
slightest bit of credence into the imagination of a thirteen-year-old
boy?”
As he comes of
age and romance and peer relationships change, so does Saigon and
Vietnamese
culture and daily living.
All these are
narrated from the point of view of a young man on the cusp of his own
changes
as a coup d’état affects his life.
More so than most
stories about Vietnam, Pezzullo holds the ability to follow a young man
who
finds himself embroiled in adult concerns that change his life while he
explores an evolving cultural milieu around him.
Saigon's world is
undergoing transformation, and as rapidly as he comes to understand it,
new
facets send it and his life in another direction.
As an American
son's involvement changes his father's perceptions of choices and their
world,
readers are drawn into the overthrow of a country in a personal way
that comes
to life under the young man's eyes and unique role as an American teen
navigating a foreign land.
Readers who would
absorb the politics, culture, and family struggles that this
environment brings
with it will find Saigon a standout because of its
ability to not just personalize
the political and cultural struggles of the Vietnamese people, but
present
these changes through the eyes of a young man just beginning to explore
his
impact on the world around him.
Return to Index
Third Time at
Bat
Leigh Davis
Warren
Publishing
978-1-954614-34-5
$14.50
www.warrenpublishing.net
Third Time at Bat comes from an actress and artist who tells
of two past abusive marriage choices. This sets the stage for a final
third
(successful) relationship, which will especially appeal to women
interested in
their own processes of interpersonal relationship assessments and
growth.
From
childhood
lessons absorbed, about the ideals of a love relationship, to affairs,
alcoholism, and abuse, Leigh Davis moves readers through the stormy
experiences
and outcomes of her relationships and the situations, choices, and
consequences
that led to two failed marriages.
These
insights
educate different readers, from those young enough to be just embarking
on
their own love lives to others who may have failed relationships behind
them,
and who look to mates to make them whole again.
Many
different
kinds of lessons are imparted in this memoir through the course of its
interactions and experiences. Readers will appreciate the inclusion of
theological as well as psychological inspections that collect and
impart candid
nuggets of wisdom.
From
how others
around her find and experience love and peace to how Davis navigates
obstacles
that lead to her own stronger life and lessons, Third
Time at Bat is just the kind of personal inspection one can
learn from.
One of the most
intriguing aspects of this story is how Davis keeps coming up against
major
differing belief systems and perceptions that contrast heavily with her
own
values: "It was apparent their
denial was the Great Wall of China that I was slamming against."
The allusions to baseball that permeate the
narrative help readers navigate its shifts and changes, cementing
themes that
ultimately lead to home runs.
The result is a study in perception,
emotion, and interpersonal dialogues between adults, children, and
friends and
lovers that will intrigue anyone who wants to more closely examine
concepts of
what makes for a strong, lasting relationship.
Going to bat for others means that, to be
most effective, you have to be willing to understand and go to bat for yourself. Davis offers these experiences
to any who would "Be brave enough to open the doors by yourself."
Third Time at Bat belongs in any memoir or psychology holding strong in interpersonal relationships, marriage, or self-help.
Third Time at BatReturn to Index
Mystery & Thrillers
Acapulco Double-Cross
Wade Stevenson
Independently Published
979-8726189505
$7.99 Paper/$1.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/ACAPULCO-DOUBLE-CROSS-Wade-Stevenson/dp/B09GD2Y4DJ
Acapulco Double-Cross
is a rollicking road trip of a thriller that tells of Nicole's journey
to
Mexico. There, she looks forward to a place where there "will be more
than
enough room for her body and spirit," away from her on/off affair with
Pierre.
She has no definite goals in mind and just
longs for a blend of adventure and respite, but what evolves is more
than a
sandy romance on the beaches of Acupulco. Nicole falls into a chance
romantic
encounter that evolves into ongoing brushes with death.
Perhaps her sojourn produces more than she'd
hoped for, on many levels? But, then, Nicole was
ready for something different. Or, so she'd thought.
Wade Stevenson does an excellent job of
portraying the mishaps and adventures of a leggy brunette who seems
ripe for
trouble even as she questions her life's dubious trajectory: "Was this to be the future pattern of
her life, always hurrying to leave as if to catch a train? Except there
wasn't
any train."
Readers might not anticipate the sense of
humor that underlies some of Nicole's encounters (such as a rubber
ducky that
harbors a Molotov cocktail), but Stevenson includes these ironic
inspections of
intrigue and tension as his story evolves, injecting a delightful
tickle of fun
into the story.
As Nicole lives a new life of "totally
unexpected adventure," she learns lessons from Bobby, a woman who
represents
(to her mind) the "new woman" who is tough, independent, and embraces
life to its fullest—a blonde, lusty buddy that Nicole has difficulty
holding
back from danger.
The result is a suspense story especially
recommended for women who like their tales of friendship and adversity
centered
on powerful characters. Their diversity and differences accent a
thriller covering
different approaches to life as well as adversity.
This audience will find Acapulco
Double-Cross a fine inspection of the different lives of
men and women who come together in a milieu that tests their
presumptions,
abilities, and futures. The blend of romance and action will delight
those who
look for both, in equally powerful doses.
Return to Index
Around
the Edges
Henry Wyatt Parr
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880096
$18.99
paper/$7.99 ebook
www.atmospherepress.com
Around
the
Edges
is the first book in a series that mingles a detective thriller with a
literary inspection of madness. It opens with the image of a wandering
writer's
reflections on death as he scribbles in his notebook and mourns what
has been
lost: the love of his life.
What
does this milieu have to do with the investigations of determined
Boston attorney Whitney Horowitz? Plenty; because she's adopting
different ways
to face her own loss while at the same time unraveling the strings of a
situation which may hold its roots in a wide-ranging conspiracy.
As
love, loss, and legal ties between disparate characters coalesce,
Henry Wyatt Parr creates an involving story packed with character
emotions,
satisfying twists and turns of plot, and unexpected moments that even
seasoned
thriller and mystery readers won't see coming.
Parr
is especially adept at capturing atmospheric details that resonate
with readers and give relief to the action components, fleshing out the
entire
story with a sense of place and interpersonal relationships that
embraces a
realistic sense of progression as the events unfold: “This is
probably gonna
sound stupid, but you ever out on a call at night and see the city
lights and
everything and think, ‘this is my city?’” he asked, looking over at
Ellory.
“Yeah, I think I’ve felt like that before. Cheesy, but yeah,” she
agreed,
looking out the passenger side window absentmindedly. She let silence
set in;
Fuller, weary as he was, didn’t mind. And he knew it was just part of
her
personality—she was self-assured and confident, indifferent to what
went on
around her to the point of seeming unaware at times. She was
comfortable in quiet
where others would be uneasy. She seemed born for silence."
There
is just the right degree of mystery, personal reflection, and
sense of place woven into the story to keep it a multifaceted
production that
feels realistic and engrossing on many different levels.
Readers
seeking a literary thriller investigation that goes beyond
nonstop action and intrigue to immerse them in a variety of characters'
lives
will find Around the Edges an excellent probe of
not only discovering a
murderer's identity, but probing matters of the heart.
Return to Index
Blood Before Dawn
Daniel V. Meier, Jr.
BQB Publishing
978-1952782350
$16.95 Paper/$7.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Before-Dawn-Beetles-Liberia/dp/195278235X
Volume 2 of the Dung Beetles of Liberia
series, Blood Before Dawn, will
best
be enjoyed by prior readers who appreciated Volume 1's political and
social
adventure. This grounding will provide immediate access to the riveting
continuation
of events that opens here with a bang: "I’d
always known that one could get into trouble just standing on a street
corner,
but never like this."
It's 1979. Ken Verrier and his wife Sam are
returning to Liberia to buy diamonds in an effort to raise some quick
and easy
cash, but become caught up in political struggles as a coup overthrows
the
Tolbert presidency and threatens their lives.
Ken becomes involved in the conflict and
taps CIA agents and past friends for the truth, uncovering subterfuge
and gun
and drug smuggling. His effort to stop them will require and test all
of his
special skills and knowledge.
As danger escalates from all sides, Ken and
Sam become embroiled in a series of confrontations that challenge their
ability
to survive, make the right choices, and come home together, in one
piece.
Once again, Daniel V. Meier, Jr. provides a
riveting, fast-paced adventure that holds its roots in real-life events
while
keeping the characters and action vivid.
Meier employs the first-person perspective
and alternates seamlessly with the third person omniscient point of
view to
bring all these elements into an immediate emotional realm, yet
maintains an
attention to historical detail. Unfolding events make the story
semi-autobiographical, semi-historical, and nicely steeped in drama.
On the cusp of completing his mission in
Liberia, diamonds in hand and the West African Air Service returned to
profitable status, betrayal and a twist keep Sam and Ken involved and
evolving.
The blend of family interactions and a
joyful confession immediately backed by new threats keeps suspense
high. Thriller
readers will be especially pleased at how Meier teases the emotional
strings of
tension with back-to-back conflicting emotions.
Every bit as riveting as The
Dung Beetles of Liberia, Blood
Before Dawn represents a
captivating exploration of African political and social processes
wrapped in a
layer of intrigue designed to delight thriller audiences looking for
reality-based
adventure.
Return to Index
The
Bronze
Scroll
Paul Donsbach
and Alia Sina
Independently
Published
978-1-7373978-1-6
$19.99
Paper/$29.99 Hardcover/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Bronze-Scroll-Paul-Donsbach/dp/1737397811
The
first book
in the Knights of the Lost Temple series, The
Bronze Scroll, will attract adventure readers who like
Indiana Jones-style
action combined with romance and crime investigation. High-profile,
successful
investigative attorney Sam Romero has resolved many corporate crime
situations, uncovering evidence in the most impossible circumstances.
Pursuing a treasure map, a rogue corporate
executive who kidnaps an Israeli journalist, and a murder in Israel all
seem
somewhat out of his comfort zone, but Sam is motivated to lend a hand
to rescue
the beautiful reporter. Her salvation depends on his uncovering clues
to a
deeper mystery that goes beyond fingering or capturing corporate perps,
delving
into hidden treasures and a Temple scroll's message.
Paul
Donsbach
and Alia Sina excel in an action-infused story that also includes
spiritual
components as Sam taps not only his investigative skills, but his
hidden
spiritual wellspring of strength.
Sam
and
Rebecca's relationship becomes deeper as events unfold, while the
historical
backdrop powers a compelling story: “Jason
and Steve took me to a traveling exhibit at the Getty about this bronze
scroll.
It’s usually referred to as the Copper Scroll because that’s what the
scientists thought it was made of when it was discovered in the 1950s.
When it
was finally tested, it turned out to be ninety-nine percent copper and
one
percent tin. So it’s a man-made alloy but with only a trivial amount of
tin.
Normally, bronze is ten or twenty percent tin, which makes this alloy
stronger
and more resilient than pure copper. But since this scroll was only one
percent
tin, that means that the tin was added only for symbolic purposes.”
“Really?
Like what?” Dawn asked. “Like giving an antiwar speech in front of the
Bronze
Gate to the Jerusalem Temple, after the Jewish revolt of the year 66
broke
out,” Sam replied. “The speaker wanted a powerful metaphor made of
bronze to
remind his audience of the spiritual meaning of the bronze that was
used at the
Jerusalem Temple at that time.”
As
spiritual
metaphors, too many surprises, and law enforcement conundrums rise,
readers are
treated to a story that exudes action on many levels, from
psychological and
spiritual entanglements to political, social, and historical intrigue.
Sam's
ability to
accept the realities of his profession while thinking outside the box
to solve
a special dilemma that proves both personal and professional makes for
a story
that injects realistic elements to keep suspense and believability
equally
high: "It may sound innocuous, but
the bar association tightly regulates attorney activities. Like most
bureaucrats, the bar officials would probably split the difference
rather than
do the work necessary to figure out what had actually happened. That
was the
easy path that public officials often followed, making these kinds of
things
inherently damaging for everyone involved."
Think
The DaVinci Code, blended with the
fast
pace and ancient mystery of an Indiana Jones production. Then add a
healthy
dose of romantic entanglement to the action, for a sense of how
compellingly
rich The Bronze Scroll feels.
Collections
strong in action and adventure fiction that toes the line between
historical
mystery, legal thriller, and political inspection will find The Bronze Scroll nearly impossible to
put down—or predict.
Return to Index
Buried Secrets
Mike Martin
Ottawa Press and Publishing
9781988437781
$19.95
www.ottawapressandpublishing.com
Buried Secrets
adds the 11th volume to the Sergeant Winston Windflower mystery series
set in
Canada. It takes place as a pandemic is ending and his small
Newfoundland town
is experiencing unprecedented murders.
It's a far cry from the marijuana safety
checks and other small-town issues Windflower is used to dealing with;
especially since the murders bring a sinister and bigger picture into
the town
which threatens its peace of mind and makes Windflower the unwitting
focal
point.
Windflower is just trying to raise his
family and do his job. The job description, however, has just expanded
to
include not just murder, but a whirlwind of controversy that threatens
the
small town environment and Windflower's own world.
As in the previous Windflower stories, Mike
Martin takes the time to inject Windflower's personal life into the
mystery.
This concurrent focus on family affairs creates a three-dimensional
character
who has more on his mind than problem-solving at work, making for a
novel that
will appeal beyond the usual murder mystery audience.
Windflower and his wife Sheila have two
kids: two-and-a-half-year-old Amelia Louise and five-year-old Stella,
who they are
in the final stages of adopting. So, Windflower has much to lose and
much to
fight for as his latest case edges into his personal life to provide
additional
conundrums.
Part of the reason why Martin's stories are
so vivid is that they give equal time to personal life's evolution and
processes.
The investigator's ability to simultaneously navigate a puzzle and his
family milieu
enhances an involving story that operates on different levels; not just
that of
a murder mystery.
Add political ramifications and small-town
living to the mix, then wrap all in an overlay of ancestral teachings
and
dreams for a spellbinding probe that represents more than a whodunit
alone: "Something about that last comment
struck Windflower like a lightning bolt. That’s it, he thought. There
are too
many parts of the job that I just don’t want in my life or in my head
anymore."
Newcomers to Windflower will find this
stand-alone story easily accessible and thoroughly absorbing, while
prior
enthusiasts receive another Windflower mystery that furthers both his
professional abilities and his personal life in a small town that's
suddenly
embracing big-city problems.
Return to Index
Four Reasons to Die
K.P. Gresham
Epiphany's Flame, L.L.C.
ASIN: B09G8JVYMB
$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Four-Reasons-Die-Pastor-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09G8JVYMB
The fourth book in the Pastor Matt
Hayden mystery series, Four Reasons
to Die, introduces the former-cop-turned-pastor to a new
threat when a
benediction request made by his governor friend results in a tangled
blend of
political and religious special interests surrounding a missing
reverend whom
nobody seems concerned about.
Matt is reluctant to get involved, even
though he senses something is deeply wrong. He's still recovering from
his last
brush with death, and the last thing he needs is a new case.
When Reverand Duff's assistant is found
dead, Matt's investigation brings into question deeply held memories
that
challenge him on more than one level: "The
prayer had gone well. It was Reverend Meade’s parting words that had
set him on
the downward spiral: I know who you
are. I know what you’re trying to do."
As Matt, his beau Angie (who owns Fire and
Icehouse, across the river from his church), and personal and spiritual
struggles with sorrow move to the forefront during the course of the
investigation, the murder mystery becomes a social, political, and
spiritual
probe that adds thought-provoking elements into the story.
Injustice brings with it renewed resolve and
fury as Matt edges closer to answers that involve Shelly Duff and other
family
members, as well as his own incomplete struggles and pain.
The blends of police procedural and
religious and social inspection are especially well balanced and nicely
done,
and will delight readers interested in a mystery that moves beyond the
usual
whodunit trappings.
From the politics of a pulpit war between
mega-churches to the specter of a national power grab and families
locked in
the middle of too many battles, Four
Reasons to Die presents many clashing perspectives that will
engage readers
on more than a singular mystery level.
From Angie's renewed insights about Matt and
why she so loves him to Matt's troubling revelations, Four
Reasons to Die crafts superb characters and moral, ethical,
and religious conundrums to keep readers involved.
One might think that the fourth book in a
series would rest on the shoulders of its predecessors and require
knowledge of
prior events. Yes and no. It does support the ongoing evolution of
Matt, Angie,
and their world. But, it requires no prior familiarity to be accessible
and
thoroughly engrossing to newcomers.
This comes with a caveat, however: readers
who enjoy this latest action-packed mystery will
want to pursue Matt's past experiences for a fuller flavor of his
growth
processes and evolution.
Return to Index
Freeze Before Burning
Nikki Stern
Ruthenia Press
978-0-9995487-6-9
$14.95 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KKL34CW
Freeze Before Burning adds
another book to the Sam Tate mystery series. It opens with Ed Rizzo's
humorous confessional:
“Forgive me, Father,” he intoned, “for I
have sinned, although I’m pretty sure God will cut me some slack even
if my
wife won’t, if you take my meaning.”
When he receives no response from the other
side of the confessional, Ed investigates, only to find the red-hot
body of the
priest.
Sam, now a Maryland county lieutenant
visiting family in New York City, is pulled onto a case that is
anything but
the usual. A clever serial killer whose dramatic modus operandi rests
on both
scandal and clever tactical moves is targeting true crime fans.
Sam is operating in territory both familiar
and alienating. It's hard for her to believe that life might again be
normal
after the pandemic sparked an uptick in homicides that stretched her
investigative skills.
Added to the challenge is a flirty new love
interest that holds the hope of keeping Sam better engaged in the
non-criminal world,
even if the person of interest "doesn't know what he wants in the love
department."
As in the other Sam Tate mysteries, Nikki
Stern is especially adept at juxtaposing Sam's personal conundrums with
her
professional challenges. The added value of an evolving emotional
connection to
others and the growth experiences offered by crime problem-solving
challenges
keep the story firmly rooted in psychological transformation as well as
whodunit twists and turns. Both are wrapped in a contemporary overlay
of angst
and confusion that will make the proceedings more than recognizable to
Sam's
fans: “I guess, between COVID-related
isolation and my many unresolved issues, I’ve become a little
conflicted about
what I want."
The introduction of an antagonistic NYPD
detective named Chloe Nichols throws Sam for a loop, especially because
she
treats the older woman as a problem to be solved. Readers also gain an
intriguing perspective on interpersonal relationships that evolve on
different
levels of mystery and complexity.
Stern crafts another Sam Tate story that
serves nicely as a series addition and, for newcomers, as a stand-alone
read
steeped in intrigue and social and political inspections. All these
challenge
Sam's heart in an ongoing manner that involves Sam socially,
politically, and
psychologically, in a deadly series of events.
Mystery readers are in for a real treat!
Return to Index
Ghost Town
A. J. Thibault
Independently
Published
979-8651774159
$24.95
Hardcover/$19.99 Paper/$.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Town-Western-Paranormal-Thriller/dp/B08B325G23
It's hard to
easily peg the audience of Ghost Town because it
holds a special mix of
Western, thriller, and paranormal elements that keep it an intriguing
read for
all three genre readers as well as those who look for exceptional reads
that
defy simple categorization.
There are ghosts
and a ghost town. There are military encounters and backdrops. Combine
these
with eerie paranormal encounters, then add a heavy dose of suspense
over a
surprising move from modern to Western times. These are just a few of
the
devices that combine to create a story that is as compelling as it is
indefinable.
The story pulls
readers in from the first paragraph: "V.M. Moodbain was about
to breach
the door to the study when he heard voices shouting in a Russian
dialect inside
the oak-paneled chamber. He couldn’t make out what they were saying,
but he
could guess."
CIA operative
Richard Hart is about to meet the famous Moodbain, but something goes
awry, and
instead he is transported to a ghost town 100 years in the past, where
he
battles ghostly figures and tries to figure out a way back to his own
world and
life.
Hart is trained
to be a survivor. But he hasn't been trained to be a time traveler or a
Western
figure. What he does have going for him, ironically, is the very
perseverance
that has proved destructive in his marriage: "He and Barbara
were held
apart by the steel arm of a misplaced balance like two figurines on a
coffee
table gripped in mutual bondage that never allowed them to be together
and yet
resisted their efforts to break apart. Never having resolved his
ongoing
dilemma with women made Richard Hart feel incapable of sorting out some
other
tangled webs in his life. Yet this unsettling dynamic worked in his
favor
because it forced him to believe that anything he set his mind to, he
could
somehow achieve."
This force is why
he always challenged himself with impossible assignments in his job. It
may be
the sole reason why he survives this impossible new position.
A. J. Thibault
does an exceptional job in weaving together high-octane suspense and
the
dilemmas of a time-traveling agent who finds his flexibility and
strengths
tested by an alien milieu that strands him in time.
Hart's ability to
navigate a world that doesn't abide by the same rules he's been used to
all his
life and his involvement with Erica Burns, who also looks to escape
this life
(but in a different way), makes for a thriller that is hauntingly and
refreshingly different.
Readers who enjoy
the blend of paranormal experience and the nonstop action of an
engaging
thriller will find the perfect formula for engrossing reading in Ghost
Town.
Can Hart ever go back? His desire to turn back time proves a challenge
in more
ways than one.
Librarians could
find Ghost Town a shelving challenge. The solution
is to acquire several
copies and file them under 'thriller', 'paranormal', and 'Western'.
Audiences
from all these genres who look for original writings and vivid stories
will find
Ghost Town hard to put down.
Return to Index
Ill Intent
Geoffrey M. Cooper
Maine Authors Publishing
978-1-63381-290-1
$15.95
Website: https://geofcooper.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KP177XM
Medical thriller readers will find Ill
Intent a powerful saga that opens
with a letter confessing "a sin against science and truth." The
confession was made by Ellen Turner's dying uncle. And his admonition
to reveal
a secret forty years in the keeping will destroy lives. Including her
own.
Mentor Carolyn Gelman didn't expect death
and danger to stalk her when she accepted Ellen's plea to get together.
But
when her friend is murdered before they can meet, her secret left
untold,
Carolyn embarks on a dangerous investigation of her own not just
because of
their friendship, but because Ellen managed to convey that her uncle's
secret
would shake their research field. And the threat is only beginning.
As Carolyn, Professor Brad Parker, and FBI
Special Agent Karen Richmond probe the scientific community's inner
sanctum of
secrets, a host of complex interactions between peer reviewers,
scientific
papers, experiments, and individuals who have vested interests in
different
outcomes collide in a riveting thriller story.
As readers absorb the nature of the secret,
the threat, and its potential impact on not just science but society
itself,
they receive a gripping account that moves from Carolyn's dual desire
for
closure and information to a series of decisions about love and life
that bring
Brad and Karen closer to each other as well as danger.
Geoffrey M. Cooper is masterful at creating
a plot that simmers with changing relationships between investigators,
experimenters, and scientists. As all are challenged by the mysterious
letter
that threatens to expose everything, each character steps up to make
changes
that adjust their attitudes and ideas about their goals, jobs, and
roles.
The changing viewpoints need some chapter
heading clarification to prove seamless, but readers will appreciate
how the
different first-person inspections add contrasting dimensions to the
plot that
keep it fast-paced, personal, and involving.
The shifting landscape between Maine and
Boston and the developing issues that result from decisions to change
research
structures and individual objectives makes for an involving,
multifaceted read.
Ill Intent's
focus on moral and ethical conundrums, its dash of romance, and its
ability to
keep the action on track and varying creates a medical thriller that is
firmly
rooted in psychological interactions and unexpected developments.
Medical thriller readers can expect a treat
with the depth and many surprises in Ill
Intent.
Return to Index
Mainely Angst
Matt Cost
Encircle
Publications
978-1-64599-284-4
$16.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Mainely-Angst-Matt-Cost/dp/1645992845
Fans of Matt
Cost's prior Goff Langdon's 'Mainely' mystery series will relish the
appearance
of another standalone story of intrigue, Mainely Angst.
The pandemic has
affected both Langdon's bookstore, which is suffering from lack of
customers
and pandemic restrictions, and his PI business (because fewer people
are
getting into the kinds of trouble that require his services).
Typical of life,
a challenge emerges that simultaneously affects both endeavors when his
bookstore reopens at the same time that three major investigations drop
into
his lap.
It's all or
nothing. And Langdon discovers that 'nothing' may be preferable, after
all, to
the convoluted dilemmas faced by three people: a lobsterman who
believes his
wife has been kidnapped, a frantic family trying to save a youngster
being held
hostage by a madman who is trying to subvert the pandemic restrictions
on his
life, and a quest for proof of sexual harassment against a fellow
business
owner.
The pandemic has
caused many to pull away, become distant, or react in unusual ways. As
Langdon
and those who hire him struggle with their revised lives, Matt Cost
does an
especially good job of injecting the pandemic's affects and milieu as a
backdrop to these seemingly diverse (but somehow interconnected)
investigations: "What was wrong with her, she wondered? It
was long
before her boy had been abducted that this creeping alienation had
entered her
life. Was it the pandemic? The polarized politics that dominated the
news every
day had seemingly torn a hole in her soul and filled it with a despair
that she
was unable to escape. Nothing was right with the world. The one thing
that
she’d felt in quite some time was the abduction of Eddie. For that, she
was
almost, if not quite, grateful, to feel again, even if it was a pain
and fear
that gripped her with an icy claw and even now, made it hard for her to
breathe."
From lives
destroyed by both Covid and restrictions to confrontations that lead
Langdon to
lose his professional cool and get angry about all kinds of
circumstances, Cost
creates a moving story that is as much about the psychological impact
of
revised social conditions as it is about the terror and conundrums that
grip a
community to provide no easy answers.
Langdon is not
immune to angst or the impacts of political decisions. Neither is he
one to
back down from evil or politicians.
As readers follow
him on journeys that weave through disparate lives and special
interests, the
mysteries become more than another story of perps, leads, and threats.
They
consider resolution and motivation, make the perps not just believable,
but
human, and pair confrontation with understanding in a manner that
allows for a
touch of romantic inspection along the way.
These unexpected
twists and thought-provoking considerations keep Mainely Angst
centered
not just on mysteries, but in community interactions, responses, and
anxiety.
Mainely Angst's special relevance to
post-pandemic readers keeps
its concerns contemporary and its mystery especially vivid, which will
delight
genre readers looking for a story firmly rooted in community struggle
and
current events.
Return to Index
A Mistaken Hostage
J.F. Foran
Independently Published
978-1-61468-650-7
$8.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Mistaken-Hostage-John-Jeff-Foran-ebook/dp/B09GY8VRF5
Dr. Brooks Davidson is
back in San Francisco after having completed a deal with the
president of Egypt. He's just in time to embark on a new romance with
psychologist Sarah Pierce. But, in A
Mistaken Hostage, Egyptian special interests return to haunt
him in an
unexpected manner. Even though they are far from the Middle East, their
reach
continues to prove as powerful as Davidson's influence.
J.F. Foran tackles evolving events not just
from Davidson's perspective, but from the point of view of the
Egyptians who
view him as a threat: "What was Davidson’s next move? he
wondered.
Was he becoming a risk to my position in the government, to my
relationship with
the president?"
This provides a satisfying shift of
viewpoints that move between Davidson's political interests and his
personal
affairs to the concerns of those who reach the boiling point in Cairo
and send
some of that fire into Davidson's life.
Minister Omar Sayed's inspection of
Davidson's influence leads to an assessment and a vow that places
Davidson in
the crosshairs of danger: "He sat
with his hands linked behind his head. He knew he had to act, do
something to
disarm Davidson’s influence and undo the damage to his department. He’d
been
aware of Davidson for some time and knew of his high-level connections
in the
Arab world. What surprised him was that Davidson kept his activities
legal,
aboveboard. He did not get involved, as so many foreigners did, in
bribes,
drugs, arms, or laundered money. The man was too astute to get involved
in that
world. How to get rid of a man with such powerful connections? Sayed
rose from
his chair and decided that was his challenge."
From family and legal connections to
political cat-and-mouse games of intrigue, A
Mistaken Hostage draws connections between individuals
intrinsically tied
into the fabric of relationships between the U.S., Egypt, and their own
affairs.
As a serious international crime involves
leaders, lackeys, and independent thinkers in a clash of political and
social
ideals, readers will find the story's attention to Egyptian politics
and life
to be easily accessible even if they have no background in Middle East
affairs
or international business interests.
The kidnapping is only one piece of the
action. At play are underlying elements of psychological and political
tension
that will delight thriller readers looking for a story of suspense and
revelation.
A Mistaken Hostage
belongs in any collection strong in international intrigue. Its
wide-ranging
and involving tale of treachery, adversity, and social and economic
conundrums
will keep readers guessing to the end.
Return to Index
Murder
at the Olympiad
James Gilbert
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880232
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Murder
at the
Olympiad
brings American counsel and investigator Amanda Pennyworth to Puerto
Vallarta, where she works with local investigators to uncover a killer
involved
in the murder of a gay American tourist in a sauna.
On
the line is not only her reputation for problem-solving, but her job
with the Foreign Service; because as she refutes evidence that fingers
a young
boy as the murderer, she inadvertently opens a bigger can of worms that
revolves around the identity of the real perp, and his political powers.
The
story opens at the scene of the crime, where the cleanup crew faces
more than the usual sauna disarray. The cleanup men are not detectives,
but
they know something is seriously wrong when they discover the inert
American
reposing in the sauna after hours, and cannot awaken him.
The
Olympiad Sauna is in trouble. And the only one who may be able to
address the problem is the same person who finds herself drawn deeper
into its
issues.
As
a Consulate official, Amanda becomes involved early in the case. A
murder would be a welcome diversion from the paperwork she usually
pushes
during the course of her job. It also leads her to be cautious about
making
assumptions that hold political ramifications: "If it was
something
serious, she would have to be careful; her relations with the
authorities had
been strained at best. If only Captain Morelos of the Tourist Police
hadn’t
been transferred back to Oaxaca several months ago, everything would be
a lot
easier."
The
State Department frowns upon entanglements with locals...a rule
Amanda has already broken once, via a romance. Now she's about to run
headlong
into that rule again—this time, over a murder investigation she is both
ill-equipped and yet in the perfect, unique position to handle.
As
events unfold, James Gilbert does an excellent job of juxtaposing
the milieu of Mexican culture and the political divides and
interactions
between Americans and Mexicans with the whodunit segments of the story.
Amanda's
vow to support her country first takes on a challenging new
meaning when she confronts the aftermath of a murder that is anything
but cut
and dried. The political and cultural inspections are as engrossing as
her
focus on perps that tend to fly under the radar of authority.
Another
satisfying approach is that chapters alternate between Amanda's
processes and those of Mexican locals as they search for the killer and
confront (or overlook) suspects both Mexican and American. This adds
depth and
insights to the story that go beyond the singular approach of a savvy
female's
probe to delve into the hearts and minds of Mexican authorities and
civilians.
Gilbert
creates a concurrent consideration of gay issues and life in
Mexico as he unfolds his story, which is another facet that adds astute
social
inspection into the picture.
Murder
at the
Olympiad
is a murder mystery that embraces social, political, and psychological
tensions between two nations, creating a multifaceted read that is
enlightening
and gripping on more than one level.
Amanda
has put into motion dangerous undercurrents that lead her to
question her own motivations, principles, ethics, and whether to keep
secret
the knowledge she's uncovered. Has her perseverance unleashed a force
that she
cannot control?
Mystery
readers looking for the full flavor of an international affair
that contains the previous Puerto Vallarta background Gilbert employed
in other
books along with a second profile of Amanda Pennyworth's cleverness as
an amateur
sleuth will find Murder at the Olympiad a
satisfying mystery.
Return to Index
Perilous
Gambit
Kevin G. Chapman
Independently Published
ASIN: B09HT232BP
$4.99 (Kindle), $12.99 (paperback), $23.99
(Hardcover)
www.kevingchapman.com
Perilous Gambit
is a Mike Stoneman murder mystery/thriller that opens in 2019 in South
Dakota,
where Senator Harlan Bushfield's flat tire leads to a deadly encounter,
one
snowy night. The local cops have no clue as to who could have accosted
and
killed him. His wife can't even think of anyone who would've wanted to
kill
him.
Meanwhile, in New York, homicide detective
Mike Stoneman and his partner Jason have their hands full. Dr. Michelle
McNeill’s best friend, Rachel, set to marry Jason, has just discovered
unwelcome news. But that's about to be overshadowed by circumstances
that draw
her brother Jackie into a murder investigation that lures Mike into
unfamiliar
territory.
As perspectives about unfolding events shift
between Mike, Rachel, Michelle, and Jason, the wide-ranging story is
given
satisfying depth and unexpected twists of plot as disparate killings
evolve.
The killers are making a deadly mistake. Can
Mike and Jason convince them of this before events spiral out of
control
completely?
Kevin G. Chapman creates a mystery thriller
especially strong in its nonstop action and varying character
perspectives.
These elements work together to create a smooth presentation that is so
multifaceted, it seems to hold the potential for confusion. However, it
deftly
slips between characters, special interests, and crime so smoothly that
readers
are thoroughly engrossed and intrigued...and not at all perplexed.
It's a pleasure to see a professional woman
(Michelle) contributing her research and savvy to find answers that
even Mike
and Jason cannot discover. The Las Vegas backdrop that emerges is
realistic and
unexpected as Mike moves from territory he's familiar with into a
milieu that
baffles him.
Wedding
jitters
can't begin to describe the events that lead bride and groom down a
deadly
path. As Mike works to find answers, he gambles with lives that reach
beyond
his friendships and relationships in a manner that injects moral and
ethical
concerns into the mystery and action.
The
result is a
cat-and-mouse game about matters of the heart and detective
investigations
alike, which create a story of love, life, and death that will prove
delightful
to both prior fans of Mike Stoneman's life and newcomers who arrive at
the
wedding late.
Return to Index
Split City
Andy Straka
Clovercroft Publishing
978-1-954437-17-3
$13.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Split-City-Jesus-Spares-Mystery/dp/195443717X
Split City
is a contemporary Christian mystery set in the Catskills and tells of
an ex-pro
bowler and owner of bowling alley Split City Lanes, Billy Gills, who is
charged
with identifying his twin brother Bo at a morgue. From there, he
becomes
determined to uncover the truth about his brother's life.
The story opens with a wry observation
"In bowling, as the old joke goes,
there is never a good time to clean the gutters. Likewise, I suppose,
there is
never a good time to visit the morgue."
This leads to Billy's increasing dilemma as
he probes not only his brother's world, but his connections.
In the typical whodunit mystery environment,
investigators are supported by a cast of friends and professionals who
augment
their abilities. Here, Billy is drawn to investigate the Christian
community,
powered by the "Jesus Spares" church service environment. This
spiritual component to the investigative process will delight Christian
readers
who enjoy mysteries and social examinations that move into religious
realms—a
relatively rare combination.
The advantage of being Bo's twin opens many
doors into his life that ordinarily would be shut. The benefit of
holding a
belief system and community ties that overcome a circumspect sheriff's
own
investigations into Bo's life and legal difficulties adds intriguing
elements
to the Jesus Spares events that intersect with the evolving mystery.
As the Jesus Spares episode becomes more
deeply connected to Bo's life, Billy uncovers many revelations about
faith, community,
politics, and special interests: "Jesus
Spares had filled Split City with a cacophonous assortment of people.
They’d
come from all walks of life, from all races and backgrounds, young and
old—from
Partridgeberry, Madaga, and beyond. They’d showed up seeking free food,
free
bowling, laughter, and fun—and for some, maybe even some measure of
truth and
forgiveness. This particular Sunday, there seemed to be plenty of
forgiveness,
smiles, and laughter to go around."
Is the small-town and spiritual community
family that connected Bo and Billy and Split City to be trusted?
Split City
creates a powerful story of bowling, adversity, small-town politics,
and
Billy's search for truth and community. Its blend of mystery and social
inspection will delight readers seeking solid psychological stories of
self and
community ties, tempered by surprising twists and turns.
Return to Index
The
Tests
Robert W. Kirby
Independently
Published
979-8525672994
$12.18
Paper/$21.66 Hardcover/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/TESTS-terrible-secrets-buried-hidden/dp/B097SNB8KQ
The
Tests
will appeal to
fans of psychological thrillers. It opens with a foray into the world
of Alex
Clayton, who is living with his wife in Edinburgh in 2019, but remains
threatened by dreams of his childhood and the initiation rites he
underwent
with his group of peers, who changed his life forever.
Faced
with intense memory dreams that bring back these past events so
vividly that they threaten his marriage, Alex decides to journey back
to his
roots in Kent, reconnect with the group members, and face his demons
once and
for all.
What
evolves provides a gripping story of torment and tragedy that
reaches from the past to involve his wife Natalie, who is determined to
uncover
and dismiss the demons that are trashing her marriage.
There
is such a thing as repressed memories; even of
events that
are so stark that one would think they would be engrained in the mind
forever.
There is also the phenomenon of false memories, as Alex comes to
realize when
his rekindled relationships reveal events he has no memory of.
As
the group investigates, compares, and considers the real truth about
the tests they underwent in the past, the darkness of their initiation
trails
comes back to life in a new, deadly manner.
Robert
W. Kirby keeps readers guessing with a story that moves between
thriller, psychological inspection, and the lasting impact of one
tragic day on
all involved (and even those who love them).
Alex's
consideration of these times comes to life as his story moves
between past and present: "Alex’s heart was thudding as the
memory of
his previous encounter here came flooding back. He could almost hear
the shouts
and curses coming from the boys as they hunted him that grim day. The
terror
had been overwhelming. But he’d not succumbed to them, and he’d fought
back and
escaped, and he’d do whatever was required to repeat that scenario."
Patrick,
too, recalls the depraved course his life took. Gavin still
blames Alex for the outcome of their experiment. All face emotional
damage and
game-changing decisions now, in their future world as adults, when they
confront these past decisions.
Kirby
is especially adept at contrasting the psychological changes and
responses of his characters. Their varied choices and influences on who
they
became and their current feelings now (or, even their intrinsic ability
to
process emotions) come to life in a game-changing story that is
fast-paced and
firmly centered in a psychological inspection filled with many
surprises.
Readers
who relish stories of uncertain recovery, damaged adults who
return to their childhood milieu for answers and redemption, and
interested
outsiders who are determined not to let the past ruin their future will
find The
Tests a powerful story of recollection, depravity, and
redemption. Its
moral and ethical force will remain in the mind long after the final
pages are
read.
Return to Index
The
Thresher Ghost
Spencer Compton
Independently Published
9798742785774
$10.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LWGXW9C/
The Thresher Ghost is
a powerful historical
thriller set in 1960s America. It revolves around a cast of characters
both
real and fictional including a disgraced Los Angeles surgeon, Howard
Hughes,
the Kennedy family and relationships and events which change
everything.
From
the opening paragraphs, Spencer Compton excels at outlining
evocative scenes connecting the worlds of Jack, Bobby, Marilyn, and
other
real-life people: ""Do you hear them? They’re
cicadas. Listen. It’s so sad. The nymphs are born every
seventeen years. They sing to attract their mates.
Then they
die. Isn’t
that beautiful?” He smiled. Every moment with her was a
performance."
From
Marilyn's not-so-mysterious death (as it's explained in the
opening scenes) to doctors, actors, and personalities that move through
the
1960s with both familiar history and fictional presentations
conjured by
Compton, this is a fine examination of how an ordinary man is caught up
in
murder and danger.
Compton
creates a wide cast of characters and places them in
environments that test their perceptions,
prejudices, and objectives.
As
Dr. Wiley McCoy finds himself immersed ever deeper in an intriguing
world beyond his medical training, this milieu comes to life through
various
characters' eyes. References to music stream through many of their
encounters.
Circumstances surrounding the lost American nuclear submarine Thresher
move through these scenarios and create a focal point
of intrigue as
McCoy's antagonist Romulo, a scientific adventurer, selects American
malcontent
Lee Harvey Oswald for an extraordinary mission. Meanwhile, McCoy
embarks on
life aboard the newly retrofitted Thresher, whose journey connects
Romulo and
McCoy in unusual ways.
From
the cultural milieu of Haiti to a dangerous dictator's murderous
confrontations; intrigue, politics, and personal ambition create an
absorbing
interplay between characters in a story that moves far beyond Kennedy's
assassination into international waters and political motivations.
Spencer
Compton's novel is complex and involving. Readers of
historical thrillers will find its roots in facts and its
extrapolations of
connections and people to be engrossing, mercurial, and hard to put
down.
Return to Index
What
Seems True
James Garrison
Touchpoint Press
978-1-952816-56-7
eBook:
$4.99/Paper: $16.99
Ordering: www.touchpointpress.com
Author website: https://jamesgarrison-author.com/
What
Seems
True
is crime writing fiction at its best, mingling social and political
commentary with a murder mystery centered in Texas, where black
supervisor
Billy Graham, who works at a refinery, is found dead in an abandoned
drive-in
theater.
Refinery
attorney Dan Esperson never expected a murder investigation to
be part of his routine company consultations, but as he's drawn into a
probe
that fingers company employees as the perps, his involvement takes a
personal
turn as he becomes a target.
Perhaps
one reason why What Seems True feels so realistic
is
that it's based on a real-world event that took place in 1979. Another
reason
is because of the way James Garrison crafts his fictionalized story,
filling it
with first-person reflections that incorporate both a sense of place
and the
times: "This being the South in the waning days of Jimmy
Carter and the
Klan still holding sway in this neck of the woods, a lot of people were
interested in how and why the refinery’s first black supervisor had met
his
end. And who killed him."
An
indictment for murder leaves Dan shaking his head and wondering about
the truth as readers embark on a survey that embraces hearings, truths,
lies,
and a forbidden romance that looms to complicate matters even further.
Garrison
does an excellent job of juxtaposing all these interests in a
way that supports the rising tension of the story, adding social and
political
observations to strengthen the events that unfold.
Insights
about legal and political process are provided in the course
of an engrossing exploration that incorporates realistic scenarios and
questions: “These questions are highly improper,” I said as
calmly as I
could, but I was shaking. “They have no bearing on this tape.” I tapped
the
cassette on the table. “Or on this arbitration case. I object to Mr.
Landry
using this red herring to confuse the issues and divert attention from
what’s
really at issue here.”
Fans
of noir detective stories that embrace legal proceedings and
social issues will find that What Seems True
questions many attitudes,
moral and ethical standards, and motivations.
The
touch of philosophical inspection (which appears at various times)
cements the story and lends an introspective eye to detail that keeps
it a
winning proposition for readers who like more than a whodunit scenario
alone: "'The
Law' was just a thin patina of regulation over the instinctive hard
core of
human nature. A frail web holding together the larger society, a porous
sponge
buffering individuals and families and cliques struggling against each
other."
These vivid inspections make for a story that
should be on the shelves
of any Texas mystery collection, certainly—but also on the radars of
holdings
interested in broader portraits of social and ethical concerns.
Return to Index
The
Witch's Child
Susan Van Kirk
Prairie Lights Publishing
978-1-7376674-0-7
$19.95
https://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Child-Endurance-Mystery/dp/1737667401
The Witch's Child
blends several elements of the mystery genre (cozy, culinary, and
animal-oriented) to brew up an intriguing read that returns to the
small town
of Endurance and its treasure trove of special offerings.
In this story, retired teacher Grace Kimball
is delighted when a former student returns to town, even if it's to
oversee the
sad duty of burying her mother. The woman was a self-proclaimed witch
who died
in jail after an eye-popping murder trial that turned the small town on
end.
Detective TJ Sweeney is well aware that
Sybil Mackenzie's death holds as much potential for controversy as her
life
once did. But what he doesn't know is that the return of the witch's
child
will prove a catalyst for unleashing forces both psychic and
psychological that
will, once again, turn the town upside down and challenge his
investigative
skills.
As Susan Van Kirk moves through this story
of ill-fated lives touched by magic and mystery, even newcomers to this
milieu
gain a fine sense of the small town's special atmosphere as controversy
brews
up a storm.
Has fate led Grace to that restaurant where
her boyfriend Jeff Maitlin and best friend TJ are discussing political
changes
when all hell literally walks through the door? The peaceful and
cooperative
atmosphere described at the beginning of the story is a wonderful
contrast to
what evolves as Fiona Mackenzie's arrival reawakens trouble and
introduces danger
to the peaceful small town atmosphere.
Van Kirk is especially adept at portraying
Endurance's struggle to live up to its name as events unfold. Does
Fiona have
the power to be in two places at the same time? Is Sybil haunting them
all?
As
relatives, strangers, and town history
intersect, readers are treated to a blend of atmospheric small-town
concerns
and intrigue that capture its residents' love for their beautiful place
as much
as the forces that conspire to change it: "Grace
loved Endurance, and she could hardly walk around the town without
seeing
students she’d had in high school classes. Sometimes the memories were
wonderful, but other memories weren’t so happy. She couldn’t begin to
count how
many of her students she’d outlived at age fifty-seven, but she
constantly
reminded herself of the happier times she’d been able to share during
their
young lives. Teaching them had been an experience that filled her heart
even
now."
This cozy mystery unfolds on many levels,
most of them designed to support the 'cozy' designation of its
characters and
intrigue with a layer of pleasurable comfort that will delight readers
more
interested in a supernatural whodunit (or, who is it?) conundrum than a
tension-laden piece.
Any mystery collection interested in small
town settings or another story of Endurance's compelling people will
find The Witch's Child delightful.
Return to Index
Adam's Roads
Edwin Litts
Atmosphere Press
978-1637529768
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Adam's Roads
is an engaging story about Adam Bell's romance with Mary, a young woman
he sees
as a perfect potential mate. But, his story doesn't begin with love. It
begins
with a stark description of life in an apartment off the expressway, a
milieu
of noise and racing engines where residents are prompted by a Big
Brother-like
sentiment to keep their homes in perfect appearance and their lives
under the
eye of Big 7.
Adam is twenty-five, out of the military,
and ready to pursue his academic and personal dreams. Armed with a GI
bill and
new motivation, he pursues life as a freshman with a new apartment and
goals
which need to expand if Mary is to have a place in them.
Readers who expect a romance, social
inspection, or coming of age story alone will be surprised at the
philosophical
reflection which powers this story. Adam faces changes not only from
his
environment, but his psyche. These lead him to reflect on new
possibilities in
many circumstances: "As a survivor
of this English class brawl and other previous confrontations as well,
Adam had
been reminded of high and low human promise. He knew that each
individual
possessed an available set of retaliatory genes. These genetics were
ready to
be activated at will. Oneupmanship never failed to remind of the
fight-back
potential and whether or not to employ said innate option.
Understandably, some
are better than others and more comfortable when fighting back. We
admire the
ones who can do this well. Does it take guts to break the rules of
civilized
decorum? It would require less courage to retaliate when it becomes
apparent
that there is no other alternative but to fudge on the etiquette of
these
bylaws."
Adam may be a late bloomer, but he
approaches potential romance and life with a reflective eye that brings
not
just Mary, but his world to life. Edwin Litts writes with a lyrical
hand that
captures this milieu's blend of philosophical and social inspection: "This beer can hate was a potential
case of life and death; a neverending lifelong case of enjoyable living
being
gushed right down the drain. Every single day of unease. Unhealthy on
the
nerves. Unhealthy on the organs. Unhealthy on life. Unhealthy on
living.
Unshedding and forever clinging bad stuff. Definitely. It would be the
era of
forever waiting for something bad to happen."
From promise and hope to angst and travels
which demonstrate to Adam that roads and goals can be flexible and
ever-changing, Litts offers a compendium of inspections and reactions
that make
for a smooth-flowing experience punctuated with the Big 7's noise: "Grruumm!
Thank you, 7, he thought. Boom
blimpf flip. Then, Adam's conviction continued:
Continuing on with our
present and busy life, we advance. blimph
flip."
Adam's Roads
is a story highly recommended as an
alternative road trip and coming of age journey for modern readers who
live
within the confines of social expectation and emotional assumptions. It
will
lead this audience out of the box with an unexpected narrative highly
recommended for literary collections. Ideally, Adam's Roads
should appear alongside such books as (and
be read concurrently with) Catcher in the Rye and
other coming-of-age
classics.
Return to Index
Called
Marlena Fiol and Ed O’Connor
JRS Books
978-1-7375314-0-1
$16.99
Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Called-Marlena-Fiol/dp/1737531402
Called presents a
historical piece that opens during World War II and stands out from the
crowd
by weaving together three disparate lives that unfold in a non-European
milieu:
a shy Mennonite nurse, a physician whose calling is to serve the poor,
and a
female attorney who is an Argentinean activist.
It
would initially seem unlikely that these very different individuals'
lives would coalesce in any way; but World War II brought together
people who
might otherwise have never met—and that's one of the hard-hitting
messages in Called.
Another
reason why this particular story is so strong is because its
events reflect the true experiences of Dr. John and Clara Schmidt,
Kansas
Mennonites who devoted their lives as medical pioneers in Paraguay,
South
America. Marlena Fiol and Ed O’Connor researched over seven hundred
references
for this piece, from published books and diaries to conducting
interviews with
those who knew the Schmidts.
Thus,
readers receive much in-depth background information about the
Mennonite community, its activities in South America, and the special
challenges affecting its work and people over a period of decades.
From
challenging new notions about the treatment and understanding of
leprosy to clinical trials of drugs, a mission that evolves past war
times and
into the 1960s, and John and Clara's own connections to each other,
God, and
their work, the story unfolds with an attention to both medical
challenges and
social change.
Only
at the book's end are its autobiographical roots revealed. By
then, readers have become thoroughly engaged in John and Clara's
mission and
discoveries—and also thoroughly educated in their community-building
legacy,
which lives on to this day, in Paraguay.
Further
insights on missionary work and the history behind this story
may be found at www.CalledASaga.com.
Suffice it to say that the blend of high drama and real-world events
creates a
compelling draw, covering, in-depth, a mission that changes hearts,
minds, and
lives.
Called is a powerful
tale that deserves a spot in a wide variety of holdings, from
historical
fiction and memoir collections to those interested in missionary and
medical
challenges, South America in general and Paraguay in particular, and
the drive
to follow God's calling to create and support better lives for everyone.
Its
powerful message of ministry, faith, and perseverance also belongs
in libraries strong in spiritual stories of heroism against all odds.
Return to Index
Champagne Window
Rebecca Rosenberg
Lion Heart
Publishing
978-1-7329699-1-9
$16.00 Print/$9.99 ebook
www.rebecca-rosenberg.com
Historical
fiction readers who enjoy stories centered on France, wine, and women
will find
Champagne Window an attractive tale. It revolves
around 1800s
twenty-year-old Barbe-Nicole, who inherits a taste for champagne and
business
from her famous champagne maker great-grandfather.
There's only one
problem. At this time, the Napoleon Code prohibits women from pursuing
businesses. Deciding to marry a her childhood sweetheart because his
title
opens the door for her business venture despite his mental illness,
Barbe-Nicole continues to pursue her passion for champagne against all
odds—including the war and the death that surrounds her.
A coming child
also affects her abilities and passions, promising to change everything
even as
Barbe-Nichole faces the fact that her near-perfect arrangement holds
its flaws.
Rebecca Rosenberg
recreates the times with a deft hand that embraces one woman's
determination to
pursue positive courses in her life while capturing the culture and
milieu of
1800s France: “Don’t worry, Barbe-Nicole. He’ll get used to
the idea,”
Lizzette says when she brings me a chocolate croissant in the morning.
“Men are
spoiled little boys when they think they have to share your
attention.” “I
don’t want to share his attention, either.” I take a bite of croissant
while
Lizzette plaits my hair which has grown to my waist. “It was perfect,
just the
two of us.” “Qui n’avance pas, recule,” she says in her native
Occitaine tongue
from her Trobairitz heritage. “Those who don’t move forward, move
backward?” I
guess her meaning."
Her ability to
personalize business concerns, marital transactions, and political and
military
strife allows even readers who normally eschew historical novels to
easily
absorb the setting and influences of Barbe-Nichole's times.
The portraits of
international business agreements and politics, as well as the
evolution of
Napoleon's own concerns and rule, are presented through vivid scenes
that
juxtapose Barbe-Nichole's concerns with broader politics. Passages
provide
illuminating insights into how this clever woman navigates some major
obstacles
to further her champagne business during challenging times: "If
Louis
can’t sell champagne, we make no money, yet I still have to pay his
substantial
expenses. At what point must I cut our losses? Louis has no luck in the
Scandinavian countries either, with their hatred of Napoleon and
France, so I
ask him to return to Russia where his brawn and bluster are appreciated
with
open arms. I agree with the Russians. The longer he is gone, the more I
miss
the way he lights up a room with his antics and stories."
One particular
strength of Champagne Window lies in its ability
to weave complicated
social and political affairs into the perspectives and objectives of a
strong
woman who refuses to quit, back down, or completely bow to the role of
women in
her times.
As issues of
personal and political empowerment emerge against the backdrop of
change,
Barbe-Nichole (now called Veuve Clicquot)
must consider whether to cede her position in the name of love and for
the sake
of her business, or stand against Napoleon.
Vivid, lively,
and packed with psychological and social inspection, Champagne
Window
is highly recommended for women who enjoy passionate stories of
friends, fine
wine, and the delicate lines between personal and political empowerment.
Return to Index
Christmas at
Hembry Castle
Meredith Allard
Copperfield Press
9780578814896
$10.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
www.copperfieldpress.com
Christmas at Hembry Castle transports readers to
Victorian times and the
holiday season as it tells of the dilemma of a ghost, the former
Earl of Staton, who tackles both
Christmas and family problems.
Ordinarily, the
earl is a patient ghost who keeps a watchful, passive eye on his
family. But
this season brings with it new challenges, from his niece Daphne's
wedding
(which will take place without him) to being cursed not only by his
position,
but by his ghostly spectator role after his death.
This is not a
ghost who feels empowered to make changes. In fact, he holds many
regrets for
his actions when he was alive: “I should have given it more
thought,” the
ghost said aloud to the rain now splattering his bowler hat. “I should
have
considered how my actions would affect my family. Perhaps I’ve only
ever
thought of myself when there are so many who think of me.” He was
embarrassed,
the ghost. Ashamed, even."
As he becomes a
force in Daphne and her beau Edward's world, everything changes.
Daphne's heart
is broken as the ghost awaits his opportunity to change the world. He
is an
unobtrusive ghost, so can his presence affect Daphne, his family, and
the
Christmas season?
Meredith Allard's
novella creates a compelling vision of Victorian times, romance, and
Christmas
conundrums. Like a different version of A Christmas Carol,
Christmas
at Hembry Castle brings to life an atmosphere of change,
personal
transformation, and the intersection of ghostly and human endeavors in
a manner
that embraces living and dead concerns.
The blend of
holiday feel, romance, and a touch of intrigue that offers new
possibilities
brings the season and times to life, and will delight readers looking
for a
holiday read that touches the heart.
The final twist
to this tale offers an especially delightful surprise, providing a
satisfying
icing to the sweet story of holiday angst and family interactions.
Return to Index
Ciscoe's Dance
Marion Hill
Red Mango Publishing
978-1734644524
$13.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Ciscoes-Dance-Marion-Hill/dp/1734644524
It's hard to easily categorize Ciscoe's
Dance. At once a fantasy, a
dance story, and a lively reel of action, the story is set in the
fictional
world of Kammbia, where married professional dancers have made a
success of
their traditional form...until modern Piccanta music, with its very
different
dance style, takes over.
Suddenly, Ciscoe and Latisha Maldonado are
the dinosaurs of style in a world changed by a passion for Piccanta,
and their
art and traditions languish as the next generation eschews both.
As community support for their beloved
Guanamamma music fades, the couple (and those involved with their
creative
effort) begins to feel outdated and unwanted.
At this point, it would have been all too
easy for the story to fall into the moralistic avenues of aging and
transformation. Marion
Hill takes a turn
that leads it in an unexpected direction...and herein lies the magic of
Ciscoe's Dance. Its ability to
capture
hearts and minds with a story of adaptation, struggles with bitterness
and
change, and the affects of present-day choices and their past
influences
becomes a study in adaptation.
As intrigue grows surrounding this mercurial
past's impact and lessons, readers will enjoy Ciscoe's evolving sense
of
purpose and possibility, and the messages that come from their study of
the
Book of Kammbi, which maintains that “Things
in life cannot be made straight after becoming crooked.”
The spiritual discussions of choice, consequences,
and lasting impact are particularly revealing as Ciscoe and Latisha
struggle
with issues of faith, learning to dance different roles amidst their
community's changes: “A life of being a
believer and follower in Kammbi does not mean he will remove all the
bad things
from our lives. Life will become crooked and as believers and followers
of
Kammbi we must learn how to handle it. And we need to lean on the
guidance of
the Eternal Comforter, our gift as believers and followers, to get us
through
the bad things in life."
As study of the Book of Kammbi reveals new
messages that can be applied to these times, Ciscoe and Latisha tackle
family,
community, and artistic truths that "hurt, but also heal," finding
within themselves the courage to forge ahead, albeit in a revised
fashion.
Music and dance are at the center of this
story—but so is faith, growth, and healing interpersonal relationships
of all
kinds.
These multifaceted themes make the first
novel in Hill's "Dance & Listen" series an adventure worth
reading.
It which holds a passion for not just dance, but life's unexpected
movements
and the opportunities it brings to draw disparate people together.
Whether as a novel or a fantasy
recommendation, Ciscoe's Dance
holds special appeal for literary and arts readers who will find its
special
enthusiasm for art and life to be both thought-provoking and
entertaining.
Return to Index
Flower
Girl
Merida Johns
Coffee Cup Press
978-1-7332790-2-4
$16.99
www.MeridaJohnsAuthor.com
Flower
Girl
opens in 1984,
where Suzanna finds herself charged with "living her truth." Her
decision to flee her abuser and start a new life involves more than
changing
physical proximity.
Her
story then moves back in time to her Ohio roots and birth in 1958.
As Suzanna follows the patterns of her upbringing and relationship
developments, Merida Johns provides a series of revelations about
life's
progression and probes subconscious and deliberate choices in how it
unfolds:
"I view my life as an open highway
crisscrossing the countryside
of my beloved home state. Like the scenic and undulating Ohio hill
country,
there are ups and downs."
From
coming of age in an upper-middle-class suburb of Columbus to husband
Jonathan's temper and move from subliminal to overt threat, Suzanna
navigates a
life where inspection and discovery increasingly dictate that she make
sweeping
changes in order to survive.
Her
development of healthier, more conscious friendships and
relationships as a newly single woman still faces obstacles even as
possibilities expand: "As Robert would say, my life was
running on
octane. My work was fulfilling as I cut a path toward my North Star. My
strengths of love and kindness overflowed with supportive friends and
colleagues and a trusting relationship with Craig. My home and the
splendor of
western New York powered my appreciation of beauty. And new hobbies and
music,
music, music on Friday evenings nourished my soul. It was perfect until
. . ."
Merida Johns crafts an outstanding story of
mistreatment, recovery, and growth that will resonate with any woman
who finds
herself on the receiving end of abuse.
These readers will avidly follow Suzanna's pursuit of a
better life and
her realizations about what influences have blinded her, in the past.
Its attention to realistic descriptions of
this process and the changing momentum of Suzanna's world creates an
outstanding inspection of the undercurrents and influences life holds
as she
strives to keep her personal North Star firmly in mind against all odds.
Collections strong in women's literature and
fiction surrounding domestic violence and recovery processes will find Flower Girl
an evocative, compelling read that chooses no
easy paths to resolution. Suzanna's changing choices and perceptions
are
outstanding examinations of the darkness that pervades her world, and
provide
important keys to recovery that women will want to learn about.
Return to Index
From Where I Stand
Caroline Goldberg Igra
Koehler Books
978164663-5504
$27.95 Hardcover/$19.95 Paper/$7.99 ebook
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-where-i-stand-caroline-goldberg-igra/1140507296
From Where I Stand
presents Elizabeth, who is tired of trying to live up to her mother's
demanding
expectations, and is determined to parent her own daughter Belle
differently,
even though Belle wants to be left alone. An amazing opportunity for
Belle to
pursue her musical dreams early, in New York, means that Elizabeth must
hand
Belle over to the mother from who she once ran —a woman whose influence
she's
worked hard to overcome.
Belle is thrilled to get away and Grandmother
Lillian welcomes the opportunity to host her teen granddaughter and
redo her
own disappointments through her experiences. Back at home, Elizabeth
finds
solace by redirecting her mothering skills to a troubled girl who,
unlike
Belle, is desperate to stay with her mother.
Caroline Goldberg Igra juxtaposes the lives
and viewpoints of each character in alternating chapters that use the
first
person to capture the character's perceptions while clearly identifying
them in
chapter headings. Another aspect of the story's development is the
significant
role of the Jewish Community in enabling the characters to pursue their
dreams
and find a healthier path.
As Elizabeth, Belle, Lillian and Julie move
in different directions, their relationships grow and change. Igra
captures
these moments of transformation, also including the psychological
backdrops to
each individual's reaction to those around them, as in Julie's response
to
Elizabeth's purposeful support: "Spending
hours hunched together over one text or another, it was only natural
we’d
become closer, but Elizabeth made a point of extending the boundaries
of our
relationship. Just recently she’d moved from her spot across the table
to one
by my side. Now her shadow joined with mine, falling over the page as I
read,
the last remaining barrier between us quietly erased."
From different memories and pain to the
emotional damage that threatens long-held dreams, each life and
viewpoint is a
dance of realization and change that ripples into the others' lives
through a
current of transformation.
The result is a close inspection of family
ties, mother/daughter bonds, and dreams both followed and broken that
will
especially interest women who struggle to revise their own family
relationships.
Collections strong in contemporary women's
literature and mother/daughter perspectives will find From
Where I Stand a thought-provoking story firmly embraced by
Jewish culture and community.
Return to Index
Ghost Runners: An Olympic Dream Betrayed
Robert Rubenstein
Independently Published
979-8480247794
$27.95 Hardcover/$19.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Runners-Olympic-Dream-Betrayed/dp/B09GJMCH7G
Ghost Runners: An
Olympic
Dream Betrayed is a historical novel and sports examination
that also portrays anti-Semitism in the athletic world.
The story opens at the Chicago World's Fair
in 1933, where Joshua Sellers awakens on a Greyhound bus with the
memory of a
footrace against Jesse Owens and dreams of losing once again. He holds
one more
chance to beat Jesse, the champion "Brown Thunderbolt" whose ability
seems impossible to defeat.
From the start, Robert Rubenstein outlines
the real focus of his story—racism: "Blacks
paid double the price to Soldier’s Field. Not even to get to see the
midway
outside the Fair. It was an outrage worse than a racial slur. It was
racism
undisguised. The Century of Progress, the theme of the fair, only
served
corporate interests. Neither women nor Blacks were represented. Blacks
worked
as porters, latrine cleaners, or as “freaks” or pygmies in midway
spectacles."
His inspections of real-world events
surrounding the American Olympic team in Nazi Germany in Berlin in
August of
1936 (during the Holocaust) will interest and attract novel readers not
just for
its sports milieu, but for its close inspections of racism and the
forces that
contributed to oppression in various forms, against various peoples,
around the
world. Even champions.
The reader who begins this odyssey may hold
initial interest on Joshua's racing career and not racism. But as both
immediately entwine to breach boundaries both real and imagined,
readers delve
into the 1930s via a series of vivid descriptions that bring this era
to life: "Through the Balkan Peninsula and
halfway across Europe, local police scanned the highways, stopping any
would-be
troublemaker from marring the parade. Solemn choreographed ceremonies
greeted
the arrival of the carriers of the flame. While he never forgot Leni’s
allure,
Goebbels attended to the task at hand. He made tens of thousands of
youth from
every European nation line the roads at attention. They gave the
Olympic
salutation by raising the arms level with their shoulders or thrust out
and up
in the Hitler salute, much to the delight of the trailing German press
corps...Proclaiming
the Eleventh Olympiad a youth pageant and festival of the world, the
Germans
waited in the towns and villages along the Czech-German border for a
glimpse of
the last non-Aryan runner to appear."
Rubenstein does a fine job of juxtaposing
the trappings of normalcy with the rise of Nazi powers and rules that
confront
and alter that state. Even the Olympics are not immune to political
pressure
and social strife as white supremacy rises, young radicals are provoked
to
action, and friendships are tested with new rules of decency and
morality.
Under Rubenstein's hand, history is closely
inspected, melding with a fictional overlay that brings peoples,
events, and
issues to life.
While it would have been too easy to limit
discussions to racial implications alone, Rubenstein implicates and
describes
the underlying business interests that affected and directed social and
political currents both in America and abroad.
This
focus on motivation and financial
entanglements adds depth and further thought-provoking inspection to
the
evolving story of two Jewish-American
athletes who both hone their competitive abilities and
examine their
decisions during the 1936 Berlin
Olympic games.
Perhaps
the real
power of Ghost Runners
lies in its ability to meld an impressive historical backdrop with a
fictional
consideration of special interests and the political struggles that
inject
themselves into an athlete's choices and competitive drive to win
against all
odds.
In this milieu, winning against all odds
includes more than physical ability. It's about reconsidering the kinds
of
decisions and influences that dictate the rules of the game itself,
even at its
highest levels.
The audience for Ghost
Runners may begin with those who look for historical fiction
surrounding sports events, but to limit it to this readership would be
to do
the book a grave disservice. Ideally, it should be in any collection
strong in
Jewish experience, Nazi examinations, and the social and political
atmosphere of
the 1930s.
Many themes and historic events are explored
in a story that looks to connect the dots between systemic racism, from
the
rise of eugenics theories in America and its influences on Nazism to The
White Bridge, Ginger Lee's
relationship with Joshua and her trials and tribulations as a cub
reporter and
as a woman in Jazz Age Chicago, and the story of Jesse Owens.
What seem to be
disparate themes, biographical sketches, and events dovetail in a
hard-hitting, thought-provoking work that embraces a lot of researched
history.
Ghost Runners should be digested in
snippets, to assure that its astute points and powerful revelations are
entirely understood.
From one individual's secret use of
philanthropy to fund National Socialism at home and abroad to powerful
statements
of responsibility in America for events that unfold in Germany,
Rubenstein
pulls no punches and lets no country go uncriticized for what
transpires: “If America had made that
statement, of Jews
and Blacks running together against fascism, the rest of the world may
not have
moved in lock-step with the Nazi timetable. The Jew wouldn’t have been
marginalized, not that fast, not in Europe. And maybe those Jewish kids
would
start standing up for their heritage. Maybe, they’d be running. I need
to know
if that can happen again-that we can run proud in this country, and not
always
be the victim?"
All these strengths set Ghost
Runners apart from many stories of these times; making it a
top recommendation that literary collections and readers won't want to
miss.
Return to Index
Hey, White Girl
Judith Bice
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880980
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Hey, White Girl takes place in the
1960s, an era of promise and
possibility when men land on the moon and music festivals such as
Woodstock can
bring peace to the world.
Despite its
ideals and enthusiasm, it's also an era of rising racial tensions,
captured in Hey,
White Girl.
The white
Randolph children face this firsthand; especially Nell, who begins her
senior
year at a black school that offers such controversy that her concerned
mother
pulls her out to enter a private school instead. At the same time,
Nell's older
brother is facing the draft and the Vietnam War: another life-changing
event.
Between rising
civil rights issues and the war, the Randolph family is caught in a
tide of
change. All this is captured from the viewpoint of Nell, who is able to
transmit both the promise of the times and its potential for sweeping,
unprecedented changes.
Judith Bice captures
this milieu in an intriguing manner, juxtaposing white and black worlds
and
experiences with descriptions that are thought-provoking: "St.
Mary’s
was a safer school than Stonewall. No one pushed me during gym class or
“accidentally” knocked my elbows in the hall. I wasn’t nervous about
going to
the bathroom or worried about standing in line to buy milk. My presence
didn’t
provoke anger; it didn’t provoke anything."
The contrasts
between these worlds are particularly well done, standing out from any
preset
notion of prejudice on either side: "Had I never been to
Stonewall I
would have adjusted to St. Mary’s. I could have been part of the
chatting
circle of girls if they had been my friends from the beginning. I could
have
been the kind of student the nuns would have loved: engaged, pious,
submissive.
But even if I had to be on my guard in the halls and bathrooms of
Stonewall, I
missed the authenticity of Claudia, Venetia, and Fergy, even if I
couldn’t name
it at the time. The girls of St. Mary’s were tiresome and boring in
comparison
and I had to be on my guard in much harder ways than holding tight to
my
pocketbook."
From candid
conversations about the color of skin, opportunities, and prejudice to
the
dilemma of being a different kind of thinker who doesn't quite fit in
with set
notions on either side, Bice takes the time to document and reveal her
characters' feelings and reactions: “I’m tired of being the
different one. I
didn’t fit in at St. Mary’s. Most of my white friends, like Sally and
Allison,
don’t understand why I like to hang out with Venetia and Fergy. But I’m
not
black, and I know I won’t ever really fit in with them either."
The result is a
compelling story of a how a close-knit family and community fracture
and come
back together again. It's an astute reflection of the country and the
times,
and will prove involving and revealing to both those who have lived
them and
new generations coming up.
Collections
strong in civil rights fiction and social issues in 1960s America will
find Hey,
White Girl a powerful examination and a compelling work of
fiction.
Return to Index
Hitchhiking
Across America: 1963
Daniel Robinson
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880294
$18.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
www.atmospherepress.com
Hitchhiking Across America: 1963 tells of a young man's
decision to hitchhike
across the country during a pivotal time in America's evolutionary
process. It
follows nineteen-year-old Nick's journey as he experiences not just
different
regions and people, but some of the cultural and political changes that
embroiled the nation during the 1960s.
From the start,
Nick explores why the act of hitchhiking opens more doors and results
in more
candid revelations than staying put and absorbing what an environment
can offer:
"I’d hitchhiked a lot and discovered that people who pick you
up will
often say whatever might be on their mind. They talk about their wives,
girlfriends, jobs, regrets. They’ll say things they’d never tell a wife
or a
friend or even a priest. Because their relationship with you is so
temporary,
what difference does it make what you know about them."
As he assesses
people, diverse perspectives, and different environments across
America, Nick
transmits these findings to his reader in ways that give insights into
the
different towns and contrasts between them: "I walked around
Waco for a
while. The Brazos River, Baylor University, a Dr. Pepper cannery, a
couple of
big white silos, Baptist churches and cowboy hats. It didn’t seem much
different from a medium sized town in California, like Bakersfield or
Fresno."
As Nick moves
across the country and encounters Jim Crow, picks up and leaves behind
fellow
travelers and would-be companions, and absorbs the realities of the
world
around him, the 1960s comes to life in many ways: "I looked
at
President Kennedy. He wasn’t smiling. At certain moments, he looked
like he was
in pain. He held his hands clasped behind his back, or he’d put one
hand into
the pocket of his suit jacket. He looked different from when he first
took
office, like he’d aged a lot and was tired."
Hitchhiking Across America: 1963 reads with the drama
of fiction, but its
nonfiction roots provide realistic elements key to understanding how
life
evolves, and the sentiments of people across the nation during these
times.
The result is
more than a novel about a new adult's journey across America. It's a
survey of
the hearts and minds of the nation during the 1960s, and the effects of
temporary relationships and fleeting moments of understanding. It will
engross
readers of Kerouac's On the Road with a different
road trip through
bygone times in America.
Return to Index
John
Brown's Women
Susan Higginbotham
Onslow Press
978-1-7374749-0-6
$9.99
https://www.amazon.com/John-Browns-Women-Susan-Higginbotham-ebook/dp/B09GCR2C6Y
John
Brown's
Women
chronicles the foundations of early struggles for democracy and
freedom with a sweeping historical review that personalizes events that
took
place from 1833 to 1859. It opens by noting that the main character,
Mary Day,
was not originally expected to be John Brown's wife. Her sister was.
But the
widowed John Brown proposes instead to Mary, who accepts more as a
sensible
decision than for any sense of love.
The
saga unfolds as Mary experiences the tides of social and political
change that sweep the country and affect her world. She becomes privy
to her
husband's daring plot and finds herself not just a supporter, but an
active
participant when it fails.
John
Brown's
Women
doesn't just outline Mary's adventures. It concurrently weaves in the
stories of Wealthy Brown (who marries John's oldest son and moves to
Kansas,
only to find their lives embroiled in controversy and struggle over
slavery)
and daughter Annie Brown, who finds her own life changed because of the
role
she takes in the raid her father has planned.
Historical
events come to life through the experiences and perspectives
of three women who all find themselves caught up in social and
political issues
far beyond their experiences.
These
events test their beliefs and their courage as each make
decisions that originate from the actions of the men in their lives.
Susan
Higginbotham provides a vivid inspection of the times that will
delight fiction readers seeking women's perspectives and historical
representation. These forces often test their beliefs in their men,
their
world, and their own moral and ethical foundations: "The next
morning,
the Sabbath sun had risen to reveal five dead bodies, all slashed with
swords,
and some shot as well. It was Mr. Harris who had identified Father
Brown as the
man in charge of the killing party, and the widows Doyle and Wilkinson
had
agreed that an older man had led the expedition. Wealthy thought of all
the
fuss her father-in-law had made about keeping the Sabbath holy.
Evidently, he
had been willing to make an exception."
That
John Brown's Women takes the time to portray more
than
events, but their deeper issues and ramifications, makes for a
historical work
highly recommended for readers who want their action and facts
reinforced by
attention to the impact these events hold on women's daily lives and
psyches.
Collections
strong in women's representations in historical fiction
surrounding Civil War events, in particular, will find John
Brown's Women
thought-provoking reading that brings the times to life.
Return to Index
Life Rolls Along
Linda Nielsen
TouchPoint Press
978-1-952816-90-1
$4.99 ebook
www.touchpointpress.com
Most men who discover their business partner
coveted their wife would find themselves confronting both wife and
partner in
an effort to preserve one or both relationships. Not Skye Topple.
His method of dealing with this problem is
to make it a non-issue by revising his own trajectory and expectations
of his
financial and personal world. This approach leads to far-reaching
changes as
the Covington family moves from owning a consulting firm to becoming
involved
in real estate.
In
many ways, Life Rolls Along is a
portrait of adaptation that leads a family in
unexpected directions. Readers already
familiar with its predecessor, Because I'm Worth It,
will be further enlightened on the methods employed by the Covington
family as they
chart a different course.
Skye
married into a wealthy Southern family, and their relationship set
their world on end. His reaction to these new circumstances will, once
again,
challenge the family's approach to life, finances, and legacy as he
handles his
relationship with daughter Monique, lives with hard decisions made in
the past,
and interacts with Sophie, who is in stark contrast to wife Delaney Mae
Anne
Von Campe-Covington-Topple.
Linda
Nielsen recreates the dialogue and
captures the contrasting social inspections of the South and North
alike, but
her story also embraces Paris and other milieus.
It also contrasts generational perspectives
and experiences as Skye's mother Melissa absorbs the unfamiliar world
of
Chicago, considers her son's revised life and challenges, and faces an
uncertain future.
As the Covington heritage and Skye's world
continue to expand outward with new challenges and opportunities,
readers will
find Life Rolls Along a satisfying
companion to the first story, while newcomers will become enthralled
with the
different ways the characters move through their social worlds and
adapt to
challenges.
Novel readers who enjoy interplays between
Northern and Southern perspectives and strong stories of relatives
struggling
with themselves and one another will find Life
Rolls Along fun, engaging, and thought-provoking.
Return to Index
My
Name on a Grain of Rice
Richard Voigt
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-073-7
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
My
Name on a
Grain of Rice
opens with the first-person narrator's somewhat
gruesome reflection: "When exposed to air, blood darkens and
thickens.
I knew this simple fact from childhood when I watched scabs form. But
those
scabs came from only a few drops of blood, which coagulated quickly. A
pint of
blood that runs from a man's mouth and then stiffens into a maroon
jelly is
something different."
Given
this introduction, readers might expect a murder mystery to
evolve. But Richard Voigt paints a compelling portrait of a man from a
monied
family who makes the move to enter a milieu he's completely unfamiliar
with
(and unprepared for). As his story evolves, it becomes one of romance
and
tragedy.
Harry
Travers walks away from a seemingly secure future set in stone on
many different levels. As his journey unfolds, he quits his job at the
Speed of
Light ("...or SOL as we called it – a software startup."). For better
or for worse, this move begins a new path in which nothing is on
Harry's agenda
but change and survival: two milieus he is ill-equipped to handle.
Harry
has always chosen to be a spectator of life. Driven towards a
series of choices that place him in a more active role, he reflects on
how his
family fell into better fortunes, and the effects of this on his life: "I
can't say that initially I was unhappy with these developments. My
parents were
certainly excited by their success when it first appeared. But
eventually,
everyone's attitude changed. I felt marooned on our property and my
parents
began to act as if they had lost their bearings. With so much money
coming in,
it was no longer something real to them. It could now be spent without
careful
calculation; it could be wasted without regret."
Despite
this aura of success, Harry knows that something has gone
increasingly wrong. Wealth does not necessarily bring with it freedom.
And, for
that, mistakes have to be made.
Richard
Voigt builds a story of transformation, change, redemption, and
growth. As Harry moves into a relationship with Minnie and comes to
absorb a
very different family milieu that comes with her, he enters into a bond
that
promises even more change and challenges.
Voigt
creates a powerful tale that revolves around a death, a renewal,
and choices that hold unforeseen consequences for future health,
happiness, and
success.
Readers
who navigate the special trials and opportunities of Harry's
world will especially appreciate the conundrums of a man from a
newly-monied
family who chooses blue-collar work and the unfamiliar world it
introduces.
The
unexpected results of Harry's blind trajectory and the consequences
of his actions and his ability to rise above both to create a new life
and love
make for an engrossing novel especially recommended for readers
interested in
stories of family influences and change.
Return to Index
Out of the Darkness
Jeanne Fortune
5Ms Publishing
9781735092843
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Out-Darkness-Jeanne-Fortune/dp/1735092843
Out of the Darkness is
a novel about Haitian teen Cynthia
Josaphat's move from Haiti to the United States. The immigrant
experience
depicted comes not from a single background, but is a compilation of
stories
that holds a focus different from most—an attention to the mental
health of the
immigrant, which here overshadows legal and social concerns.
The
young
narrator is set to leave her home and her mother to move to the U.S.
with her
sister, living with a distant father she barely knows to journey to a
country
she feels no connections to.
Jeanne
Fortune
chooses the first person point of view to bring Cynthia's world to life
as she
faces changes, health challenges in her new home, and a father who
proves more
demanding in his expectations of her than she can accept.
As
Cynthia moves
from Haiti to an unfamiliar milieu in which her physical and mental
resilience
is tested, readers receive an unusual focus in the course of a
dangerous
journey that leads Cynthia to sinister places and the darker
relationships to
be found within them.
How
do
immigrants navigate matters of the heart and mind while learning about
an
entirely new world? Very tentatively. In Cynthia's case, this involves
decisions which lead not to freedom, but brushes with death.
Much
more than
an immigrant's journey, Out of the
Darkness also addresses how young women fall into abusive
situations and
not only tolerate, but justify them: "I
forgave him because I thought he loved me; he would never hurt me
again, I
convinced myself. He never stopped telling me how beautiful I was and
how he
was so lucky to have me. He made me feel so special; I was the best
thing that
ever happened to him. How could I leave him for hurting me? After all,
it was
an accident. He didn’t do it on purpose, I told myself. Besides, he
didn’t leave
any scars that I would have to explain to people outside my home. No
one needed
to know. It was our secret. A dangerous one indeed."
From
the
financial struggles that come with being an independent adult to
Cynthia's ties
with the Haitian community and her family, Jeanne Fortune is especially
skilled
at exploring how Cynthia begins to confront the forces that have fed
her
darkness: "I finally had the courage
to tell my father how much he had hurt me. I told him about my
emptiness, the
depression, the sadness. I told him how his absence affected me
throughout the
years. I told him how he’d been complicit in allowing others to hurt
his
children while giving his love to another man’s children. I told him
how the
way he treated my mom had affected me as a woman. He didn’t even show
up to her
funeral. I told him we all stayed away because we couldn’t handle the
pain he
caused. Because of his absence, I had looked for love in all the wrong
places
and had gotten hurt too many times. I had dealt with homelessness, and
nearly
died in an abusive relationship. All before I was twenty-one years old."
Filled
with more
psychological inspection than the usual immigrant story, Out
of the Darkness transcends its roots to hold appeal for not
just immigrants, but any woman who has struggled to disengage from
abusive
patterns in her life.
This
audience
will find much to recognize and applaud about Out
of the Darkness as Cynthia finds a way to make a better life
and home for herself, even in a strange land which doesn't fully
address mental
illness issues.
Jeanne
Fortune
was born and raised in Haiti, and is in a special position to make that
culture
and its contrasts with the U.S. come alive.
Return to Index
The Pop Tart Insurrection
Marcus Herzberg
Oren Village, LLC
978-0-9912672-9-3
Paperback: www.marcusherzberg.com
$9.98
Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09666ZR3Q
$4.99
The Pop Tart
Insurrection
represents satirical humor at its best and poses a battle that begins
when a
new toaster destroys Magnus Haycock's pop tart, leading him to become
determined to take over the world and correct such wrongs: "I wasn’t mad at the ten-year-olds working in the
un-airconditioned factory who had assembled this contraption, or the
red-and-tan-clad cashier who scanned it and bagged it for my mother. I
understood that they were just cogs in a machine. I was mad at the
assholes who
designed it, and okayed it, and at the system that allows shit like
this to be
sold for $29.99, only to dash the hopes of high school seniors looking
for a
seminutritious late-night snack. We’re the future of the damn country,
after
all."
His decision to assume command of his world
and life, sparked by the seeming low-importance specter of a pop tart
gone
awry, provides a hilarious scenario that teen to adult readers will
find fun
and thought-provoking as Magnus struggles with graduating high school,
pursuing
his goals, and enduring dumb instructors who come with higher-level
studies and
pursuits.
All these encounters just serve to prove to
Magnus that his special abilities are needed, and that taking over the
world
may not be an impossible goal when faced with the IQs of those who
currently
run it.
As Marcus Herzberg romps through the visions
of a new adult who thinks he can do better, readers gain a vivid story
of
brewing revolution, institutional craziness, family relationships gone
awry,
and instructor Dr. Thorn's precarious position between administrator
and
student perceptions.
Another word for 'troublemaker' is
'revolutionary'. Does Magnus really hold the ability to change the
world?
The Pop Tart
Insurrection's
special brand of social inspection is sassy, funny, and
thought-provoking, all
in one. Its social, religious, and political inspections may rub some
readers
the wrong way, but that’s the delight of an edgy story designed to keep
them
thinking about sane and insane pursuits.
The satire
embedded in these inspections is as strong as the revelations that
challenge
Magnus to achieve his goals, and come from unexpected, crazy places: "...rather
than becoming immersed in this country’s ridiculous attachment to
sport, you need
to figure out how to use it, and eventually, to degrade it and replace
it with
a consciousness about your concerns. You need to wake people up,
Magnus. You
need to shake them out of their stupor and lead them into the light of
day."
How is social
change achieved? From the people who have had enough, and what they
decide to
do about the forces that direct their daily lives.
People like
Magnus, whose reeling journey through his new adult years intrigues,
delights,
and sometimes puzzles his readers with inspections of how the
foundations of
insurrection can emerge from daily life frustrations and routines.
Return to Index
PsycheDeliah
Kite Jenson
Furthest Press
978-0-9651190-7-8
$2.99 ebook
Website: psychedeliah.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/PsycheDeliah-Novel-Kite-Jenson-ebook/dp/B09GKZLHKV
PsycheDeliah is about a
purposeful suicide designed to snare a web of characters into answering
questions about Deliah's life and demise, and provides novel readers
with a
powerful story of psychological intrigue and tension.
From
the start, Deliah's tale comes from the jigsaw puzzle perceptions
of others, from a husband who relishes her sexuality and considers her
his
lusty soul mate to his regret that his actions couldn't prevent her
death.
From
the beginning, Kite Jenson paints a series of sexually explicit
scenes to make it evident that PsycheDeliah
revolves around not just
regret or redemption, but the kinds of sexual trauma that lead to
psychological
challenges.
Others
besides Deliah are involved in these stories of serial rapists,
lovers, and abuse. From predatory father Walter to a childhood boy also
raped
by him who grows up to be a trans club dancer, and a series of victims
also
devastated by Walter's clan involvements and their actions, the story
moves
between social impact and psychological trauma as victims band together
to
search for peace and recovery.
Deliah's
loss impacts different victims and those she loved. The
perspectives of each individual are presented with a fine attention to
detail
that explores and explains the lasting effects of sexual trauma on a
wide
circle of people: "That was exactly why I’d lost Deliah. All
those
years I’d cared so much about other people’s image of me. I’d thought
it was a
sign of weakness to rely on money and power to prop up oneself."
Concerns
about money, white privilege, choice and consequences, and
patterns of living and survival created by trauma also contribute to a
hard-hitting, thought-provoking account.
PsycheDeliah is not
recommended for those looking for circumspect representations of abuse.
Its
candid, graphic portrayals of different kinds of physical and
psychological
challenge will likely trigger readers who may come from circumstances
similar
to Deliah. Kite Jenson pulls no punches in pursuing the connections
between
victims and abusers alike, and as his novel progresses through
different
experiences, rapists and victims alike confront their own impulses and
survival
tactics.
Rich
in descriptions of psychological control, trauma, and unusual
routes to resolution and recovery, PsycheDeliah
will prove especially
inviting reading for fiction enthusiasts who like their stories
complex,
well-detailed, thought-provoking, and unpredictable.
Return to Index
Sisters
of the Sweetwater Fury
Kinley Bryan
Blue Mug Press
978-1-7379152-0-1
$14.99
Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: kinleybryan.com
Ordering: https://books2read.com/sweetwaterfury
Sisters
of
the Sweetwater Fury is a historical fiction piece set in 1913 and
tells of Great Lakes galley cook Sunny Colvin, whose world revolves
around
feeding a freighter crew even as her dreams center on doing something
more.
The
story opens with a succinct yet compelling note about the state of
seagoing affairs in 1913 on the Great Lakes: "Only fools and
shipping
bosses would boast of safety before the boats were in winter layup, but
the
sailors were keenly aware how few fatalities 1913 had seen: only
nine—ten—men
lost, with mere weeks to go."
Sunny's
culinary efforts are part of the reason why the crew of steel
freighter Titus Brown seems particularly lucky—and
happy. She's sailed
with Captain for ten years, now. It's time for a change.
Between
culinary references and steamer and barge descriptions, Sisters
of the Sweetwater Fury comes alive with a sense of time and
place that
immediately involves readers in Sunny's life.
As
action heats up, Kinley Bryan's portraits are mesmerizing, cementing
strong characters with challenges that evolve from their actions and
the
seafaring world around them: "Where was Herb now that they
were all
about to die? The Titus Brown hung, mid-tilt. Suspended between air and
water
long enough for Sunny to change her mind half a dozen times about
whether they
would or would not tip all the way over."
Sunny
has plans for a life ashore, but her husband Herb, the steward,
wants to sign on for yet another year on the lakes. The contrasts
between their
perceptions of danger offer an intriguing comparison between land and
sea life:
“Boats are lost every season. There are accidents.” “There’re
accidents
everywhere,” Herb said. “There are plenty of dangers on land, my love.
Illnesses, fevers.”
Sunny's
efforts to change her world as she feels herself changing
embrace not only the milieu of her times, but the dichotomy of
male/female
relationships and duties. She's got a café location all picked out. But
Herb
thinks he can't make money ashore.
Kinley
Bryan does an outstanding job of portraying the midlife crisis
of a woman who, at age thirty-three, no longer waits for a family to
cement her
life's purpose. Sunny's decision to forge ahead with her own business,
a
passion reinforced by a deadly storm, leads the couple to make
financial and
emotional decisions that move them away from their familiar lives and
routines
into something different.
Kinley
Bryan was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, and counts numerous
Great Lakes captains among her ancestors. This familiarity lends to a
solid
sense of place and culture to the scenarios she describes, cementing
both their
atmosphere and facts which are based on the real history of the U.S.
Life-Saving Service, which operated throughout the Great Lakes and
along the Atlantic
Coast from the mid-1800s until 1915.
The
events of the paradigm-changing storm are also based on real-world
meteorological events, while the husband-and-wife team reflects the Howard
M. Hanna Jr.'s real-life cook and her heroism during the
storm.
Filled
with psychological twists and physical confrontations as Sunny
and Herb move through their environment and towards the Great Storm
that will
change everything, Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury
is a riveting period
piece especially recommended for Ohio and nautical history holdings, as
well as
general interest readers, who will relish the tale of a spunky wife's
determination to survive and grow against all odds.
Return to Index
A Small Hotel
Suanne Laqueur
Cathedral Rock Press
978-1-7372649-5-8
$24.99 Hardcover/$18.99 Paper/$5.99 ebook
www.suannelaqueurwrites.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Hotel-Suanne-Laqueur-ebook/dp/B0996GCK2K
A Small Hotel
is the introductory book in the Small Hotel series and opens in the
summer of
1941, when Europe is at war, but America is still experiencing the
height of
the tourist season—a last hurrah before the nation is pulled into
conflict.
Kennet Fiskare has fallen in love with
Swedish-Brazilian hotel guest Astrid Virtanen, but it's a love destined
to be buffeted
by the winds of war and Kennet’s entry into battle in France.
As his world is transformed by previously
incomprehensible fights and struggles, Kennet finds that his
perspective,
relationships, and values in life have also changed...perhaps to the
point that
a romance with Astrid is no longer possible.
Or, is it?
Suanne Laqueur depicts a fine interplay
between family, love, and the revised family circumstances of being
part of a
military world. She takes the time to move readers between these
milieus,
capturing various sentiments between generations about the impact of
battle and
survival: "The chair creaked as Emil
leaned and kissed Kennet’s head. “You are my eldest and finest. And I’d
fight
another war for you.” Kennet closed his eyes. Three words he’d always
struggled
to say naturally with his father now spilled out without thought: “I
love you.”
“You’re the best thing that happened to your Ma and me. You’re
honorable and
decent and kind. You don’t deserve this, and I’d fix it all if I could.
But
you’ll come out a better man for it.”
Laqueur also takes the time to portray the
impact of soldiers as they move through the countryside and the lives
of those
who interact with them: "The women
took the loot outside while the squad stripped off socks and long
johns.
Assessing the disgusting pile of unmentionables on the floor of the hay
mow,
the sisters wondered what these dirty but brave soldiers might offer in
return
for the use of the hot water in the house? Hot
water was a baby gazelle thrown into the lion’s den. The
packs opened again and the squad all but pelted their hosts with
cigarettes,
condensed milk, sugar cubes, instant coffee and chocolate. Then they
nearly
came to blows over who would get first turn in the bathroom."
These close
inspections of the rituals, routines, and connections between soldiers,
families, civilians and lovers come full circle in a story that moves
from one
hotel in America to sojourn overseas to new seasons and ideas as Kennet
moves past
war to find an uncertain and different form of peace in his life and
loves.
As A Small Hotel
evolves, readers receive a vivid, emotional survey of families
challenged by
war's arrival and the kinds of decisions that change everyone.
Its powerful force brings the times and
individual struggles and perceptions to life, making A
Small Hotel highly recommended for any fiction reader
interested
in World War Two's impact on disparate lives around the world.
Return to Index
So Beware
James Hockenberry
HN Books, LLC
978-0-9915612-3-0
$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/BEWARE-World-War-One-Intrigue-ebook/dp/B075639ZK2
One would expect
that the third book in a World War I novel series would require prior
familiarity with characters and setting. But, then, that same newcomer
to James
Hockenberry's work will also be surprised at the blend of history and
intrigue
that sets this book apart from most World War I scenarios, requiring no
prior
familiarity with its predecessors in order to prove accessible.
The blend of
intrigue, suspense, and World War I events is taut and attractive. A
rather
long list of characters at the beginning helps newcomers understand
that this
novel will be wide-ranging both in its viewpoints and its international
scope.
It is followed by a section of historical background that will delight
readers
of nonfiction who want to understand both the milieu and premise of the
novel
and also serves to introduce the reader to the coming
narrative.
Chapter 1 opens
with 'The Last Day' and is set in France in 1918, where Captain Gilbert
Martin
and the Kellers (heroes of the first two books, Over Here and
Send the Word)
return to the
limelight.
A threat to the
signing of the Versailles peace treaty emerges to threaten catastrophe
unless
the military intelligence officers can thwart a dangerous plot.
A series of
cat-and-mouse encounters based on lesser-known World War I real events
and
people keeps the story fast-paced and readers on their toes. Even those
versed
in history will find many of the intelligence and historical insights
riveting
and unexpected.
From links
between chess moves and encryption puzzles to political deals and
schemes that
determine the fate of nations and their connections to one another,
Hockenberry
provides a seamless intersection between history and fiction that keeps
his
story action-packed, believable, and hard to put down.
Readers should
ideally be attracted to historical backdrops surrounding World War I,
while
also satisfied with fictional intrigue and action that bring these
situations
to life. There are many passages of historical insight that reflect not
just
the usual physical battles, but behind-the-scenes maneuvering and
special
interests that result in political alliances and agreements: "The
Allies would promise to remove their entire forces from Russia and end
the
blockade. They would also stop all financial and military aid to the
White
Russians and would guarantee the White Russians would accept the
conditions.
Lenin gave the Allies one month to accept the deal. Bullitt ended by
saying,
'These are excellent terms. Better than we could have hoped for.'"
Through the lens
of accusations, confrontations, and agreements, fragments of a puzzle
"click into place" as readers follow the intelligence leaders in a
desperate struggle to prevent calamity. The drama and complexities of
the Peace
Conference jump off the pages, culminating in the electrifying moment
when
German delegates are invited to receive the punishing terms.
James
Hockenberry's story will reach even those who enjoy thrillers but have
little
World War I interest. Its vivid blend of action, drama, and political
intrigue
will keep audiences on edge and wondering about outcomes, especially
with the
twists and turns that keep intrigue high and results unpredictable.
Any historical
fiction collection looking for more than battle stories alone will find
So
Beware a fitting, complex, appealing addition.
Return to Index
Stage Seven
Ruth F. Stevens
DartFrog Books
978-1-956019-01-8
$16.99 Paper/$5.99 ebook
Publisher: https://dartfrogbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Seven-Ruth-F-Stevens-ebook/dp/B09J5DNQ94
In Stage Seven,
Barbara is a busy caregiver and part of the "sandwich
generation" caught between family and the needs of aging parents.
Dedicated to
family and more than "taken" by her responsibilities, Barbara is in
desperate need of love and caring, herself. And when she finds it in an
unusual
way, she stands to lose more than propriety in Stage Seven.
As the story opens, Barbara struggles with
her recent decision to move her mother, Dolly, into an Alzheimer’s
facility: "I feared Ma had lost all regard
for
the rules of the game, and the age level of her play more closely
approximated
three than her actual eighty-three years...The laughter stopped, and Ma
turned
to me in confusion to ask, “Where the hell are we?” As I witnessed her
emotions
turning on a dime, my own mood pivoted from calm to apprehensive."
Driven by her sense of family and
responsibility to live up to her obligations and values, Barbara
nonetheless
finds the energy to move in a different direction for herself with
Jack, a
married older man who struggles with a wife with dementia who no longer
knows
who he is.
"Every place is a
strange
place to Ma now." It's also a strange situation, for Barbara
to consider options she never knew she had, much less believed in
pursuing. Barbara
has spent quite a long time denying her own needs. When new
possibilities blossom,
she faces a transformation that challenges not only her sense of duty
and
trajectory in life, but the values she has built about love, making
connections,
and taking risks.
While the story centers on Barbara and Jack,
it doesn't neglect the thoughts and reactions of those around them such
as
Sarah, Barbara's daughter. Ruth F. Stevens takes the time to give her a
voice
in matters, as well, as her perception of her mother evolves and
changes: "Sarah had always viewed Barbara as
a
frail, over-emotional person who cried too often, worried too
strenuously, and
balked at taking risks. But now, she understood she had always focused
on her
mother’s weaknesses without giving her enough credit for her strengths."
These realistic, intimate inspections of
lives affected by dementia, obligations, and love create a compelling
story
that will prove especially appealing to any "sandwich generation"
member struggling with similar duties and opportunities.
Its ability to juxtapose fun with serious
inspections and thought-provoking moments makes Stage Seven highly recommended for women and families
who are navigating the currents of dementia and romance concurrently,
and who
look for stories steeped in real-world emotions and interpersonal
explorations.
Return to Index
Those Brisbane Romantics
Danielle de Valera
Old Tiger Books
978-0-9942745-6-4
US$4.45 (ebook); US$20.30 (print); AU$25.99
(Australian bookstores)
https://tinyurl.com/c96pan8v
Brisbane, Australia in the 1960s is the
pastoral setting for a romantic and social inspection in Those
Brisbane Romantics. Set in an old mansion where new adults
struggle with issues of commitment and change, the story revolves
around Tara
and Joe, who each have set paths of achievement and creative
opportunity ahead
of them.
A budding romance threatens to derail these
plans; and so each resists the other for different reasons—but even
though
romance is an intrinsic part of the story line, so, also, is Australian
history.
Danielle de Valera examines the White Australia Policy's racism and the
impact
of engrained attitudes on the nation's indigenous Aboriginal population.
These facets are brought to life through the
eyes and experiences of Doug Jarratt and Tara’s best friend Cass
Clayton, who
face personal issues of romance as well as racism's impact on their
lives and
choices.
Danielle de Valera does an excellent job of
weaving the aspirations and observations of disparate individuals into
a story
that is rooted in romance, but embraces a wider range of concerns than
individual pursuits alone.
She captures interpersonal conflict and
points of difference using astute and pointed dialogue that brings each
character to life: "Joe
watched a pigeon diving for a piece of bread someone had thrown to it.
“Security means nothing to me.” “That is because already you have the
security.
You are in familiar surroundings, among friends. Later you will learn
just how
much of your security was really due to you and just how much was due
to other
things. But you do not like to talk like this, I see.” Joe decided the
best
method of defence was attack. “Why don’t you want to marry now?”
de Valera is also skilled at pointing out
the barriers to romance and deeper
connections as her characters inquire, interact, and evolve: "Tara had a flash of how her life would
be if she married Alan. It would be very lonely once the sex wore off.
“Sometimes,” she said, “when I’m up really high, I feel as if I could
step off,
that I’ve escaped from myself for just a moment. But the minute I move
or even
realise what I’m thinking, I’m back in there again, imprisoned. Have
you ever
felt that?” Alan shrugged. “Don’t think I’d want to. It sounds a bit
dangerous
to me.”
Those Brisbane Romantics is as much about changing times as shifting hearts and minds. With Australia's history and social issues blending into these romantic stories and inspections, the story that engages on more than a linear or singular level. Danielle de Valera has crafted an engaging saga of 1960s Australia and affairs of the heart alike, as her characters enter the wider world, and childhood is left behind.
Those Brisbane RomanticsReturn to Index
The Unredeemed
D. László Conhaim
Broken Arrow Press
978-0-9843175-3-0
Publisher: www.brokenarrowpress.com
Author: www.dlaszloconhaim.com
With The
Unredeemed, D. László Conhaim delivers a sequel to Comanche Captive that will appeal to
prior fans of Conhaim's work
as well as newcomers who enjoy Western historical fiction.
From intrigues involving Indian raiders and
U.S. Cavalry scouts to dialogue that fits the times, Conhaim presents a
story
that is vivid, evocative, and filled with satisfying insights about
interactions between all kinds of frontier types.
While its foundations lie in real-world
Herman Lehmann's experiences of abduction and living nine years with
the
Apaches (during which time Lehmann lived and thought as one of them and
not as
a "paleface," as he came to call white people), The
Unredeemed provides a fascinating read that depicts a form of
Stockholm Syndrome, in which the captive becomes allied with his captor
in
order to survive.
Lehmann’s story, however, is only the jumping
off point of this fiction about a captive's choice to remain an
“Indian.” The
story of the white boy turned Native American warrior is explored
against the
backdrop of the little-known Buffalo Soldier Tragedy of 1877.
Another notable approach that differentiates
The Unredeemed from the typical
Western is its attention to diversity. African Americans are
prominently
represented here in the Old West.
Black sergeant Emanuel “Tops” Chance takes
risks and makes choices every bit as critical as his white or Indian
counterparts in this story. This, too, sets The
Unredeemed apart.
Much food for thought emerges as the story
unfolds, presenting characters and readers alike with new perspectives:
"'The men that saved your brother—here.' He pounded the map with his
finger, then purposefully grasped a fistful of his horse’s mane. 'Black
men.'
Endah simply blinked. Did he understand? 'Chivatá take them there,'
said
Renald, speaking as plainly as he could. 'They will die. Ellos morirán. You can save them.'
The brave’s face flushed. His cheeks seemed to rise and withdraw while
his lips
cracked open. 'I don’t get it, sir,' Tyler remarked. 'And I suspect he
don’t,
neither. You letting him go?' 'Question is what he makes of it,' Renald
answered. He grasped Endah’s shoulder. 'Frei.
You’re frei!'"
The resulting achievement expands upon its
predecessor, Comanche Captive, and
yet
presents nicely as a stand-alone Western that excels in its sense of
place, and
whose unusual mix of characters makes it hard to put down and
satisfyingly
unpredictable.
The Unredeemed
should join Comanche Captive in any
collection strong in Western novels and Native American history.
Return to Index
Changing Children's Lives with Hypnosis
Ran D. Anbar, MD
Rowman & Littlefield
9781538153666
$35.00 Hardcover/$33.00 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Childrens-Lives-Hypnosis-Journey/dp/1538153661
Changing Children's
Lives with
Hypnosis: A Journey to the Center gathers case history examples of patient
healing processes to encourage and support the notion that children,
too, can
be healed by hypnosis. It poses a variety of applications answering
many
questions about the process and the results that can be gained through
such
treatment.
Changing Children's
Lives with
Hypnosis is particularly notable because the bulk of
medical books about hypnosis therapy apply to adults. Another important
note is
that Dr. Anbar is a physician who specialized not in hypnosis, but in
pediatric
pulmonary disorders. As he learned about and came to apply hypnosis
therapy to
his young patients, Dr. Anbar discovered that nearly every child under
his care
who suffered from a chronic physical or mental ailment seemed to
benefit from
adding hypnosis treatments into the regimen.
The
rationale
for why this treatment works so effectively and universally is
presented in the
first chapter: "The reason hypnosis
benefits children with a broad range of symptoms is in part that this
therapy
is unique in meeting them where they have the most need. In many
children with
chronic illness, for example, the burden of their medical issues leads
to
anxiety, depression, or other psychological reactions. By learning how
to use
hypnosis to better regulate themselves emotionally, these children can
handle
their illnesses with less psychological distress and more resilience.
In
children whose psychological burdens cause them to develop physical
symptoms,
those symptoms often resolve completely when the children learn to
understand
and regulate their feelings and responses. Finally, almost every child
can
benefit from learning how to control their negative reactions to
uncomfortable
medical procedures and stressful situations."
By
incorporating
hypnosis therapy into his practice, Dr. Anbar discovered its
wide-reaching
impact helped not only his young patients, but their family members.
The
results were so astonishing that Dr. Anbar established his own hypnosis
clinic:
"At the outset of this journey, I
had no idea that within a few years I’d realize I could accomplish more
healing
every day, week, month, and year with hypnosis than I could through
traditional
medicine alone."
This
book
represents a three-fold exploration. It defines and explores the
process and
theory of hypnosis in therapeutic settings; it considers how patients
and
therapists interact during sessions to build a process that holds
lasting
value; and it supports its approaches and contentions with case history
examples that capture the hypnosis experience.
General-interest
readers need not be versed in either hypnosis or medical terminology in
order
to find Changing Children's Lives with
Hypnosis accessible and enlightening; especially
since it also includes tips and insights that family members,
caregivers, and
health professionals can use to support and understand the hypnosis
treatment (even
incorporating these techniques into their own everyday lives).
While not intended to circumvent or replace
the work of a seasoned medical provider trained in hypnosis, this book
creates
a supportive system and atmosphere that allows adults to be more
proactive in
supporting all children, including those who are in hypnosis therapy.
From psychological revelations on how pain
is addressed and converted to how "hypnosis can recalibrate a child’s
fear
by putting the original incident into new focus," Changing
Children's Lives with Hypnosis is highly recommended for
those
who would like to better understand how hypnosis approaches to therapy
can both
support traditional medicine and move beyond it to address
psychological needs
in children.
It
should be on
the shelves of any medical library as well as many a general-interest
collection strong in parenting and self-help.
Return to Index
Connecting with
Ourselves and Others as We Age
Mary L. Flett,
PhD
Five Pillars of
Aging Press
978-1-7342395-6-0
$9.99
www.fivepillarsofaging.com
Book 2 in the
Aging with Finesse series, Connecting with Ourselves and
Others as We Age,
continues Dr. Flett's survey of the modern process and impact of aging.
It
discusses new opportunities posed by growing and establishing new
connections
with self and life.
Unlike many other
books on aging on the market today, the focus on how to achieve the
positive
benefits of aging uses Dr. Flett's experiences and blog as a pivot
point for
exploring the process of continuing growth and evolution.
Take
"Becoming a Pathfinder," for one example. Dr. Flett reflects that she
wishes aging continued the pride and process of striving for Girl Scout
badges
that recognize achievement. Then she explores how to duplicate this
feel of
success through life approaches that encourage adaptation and
collaboration
with others.
From the benefits
of travel and the mindfulness it can bring to solo travelers to
differences in
conversations and content between old and new friendships, acquiring
the trait
of curiosity when none is previously evident, and embarking on
brain-stimulating, life-supporting ventures ("Your brain
literally
lights up when it is faced with a problem to solve or a new experience
to
incorporate."), these offer different approaches to revising
the
perception and experience of aging into a positive venture.
Connecting with
others first requires connecting better with self. Both pursuits
involve cultivating
a more open, flexible, and mindful approach to aging and growth than
they may
have harbored before picking up this book.
As Connecting
with Ourselves and Others as We Age documents not only the
benefits of
making these diverse connections, but shows how those unfamiliar with
the
process can begin, it provides another brick in the wall of exploding
common
myths about aging, being stuck, and living in the past.
As a companion to
Valuing Ourselves as We Get Older, it continues a
program of insight and
connection recommended for any collection strong in the psychology of
aging and
self-help opportunities for changing its progress and perception.
Return to Index
Dancing
At the Gate
Carol K. Grosz
Heavenly Light Press
978-1-63183-529-2
$12.99
Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Gate-Facing-Pain-Courage/dp/1631835297
Dancing
At
the Gate: Facing Pain With Hope and Courage is a testimony
to survival. It comes from a 'Chronic Pain Warrior' who has struggled
with the
crippling effects of a neurological pain disease for decades.
Christians
who look to the Bible for inspiration on how to overcome
suffering or live with chronic conditions will find this memoir a fine
adjunct
to Scripture. It blends the perspective of a woman who faces daily
trials with
the uplifting insights of a Christian who finds in Biblical passages
her
personal salvation and inspiration, and will appeal to religious
readers,
especially, with its mix of spiritual and psychological insights.
Carol
K. Grosz speaks of faith and strengths to be gained from such
belief, and imparts her messages in an inspiring manner: "It
requires a
lot of trust in the Lord. It takes all of the trust that heaven
provides. And
if we can breathe in and jump in and live in that trust, we are
emboldened.
Let’s get bold enough to give God a great big God-size chance. After
all, He
did create the Universe!"
She
employs Bible quotes to teach readers a better approach to tackling
life's pain, doing so without diminishing the special challenges of
believing
in better things even in the throes of agony: "This is a
short course
in how to live each day. Hold on to this verse when you just can’t
concentrate
and when it seems impossible to tackle the day’s “to do” list. If
you’re
experiencing a pain flare or dealing with chronic fatigue, the number
of days
the “to do” list gets left behind can begin to stack up. At some point,
it’s
easy to begin to feel diminished."
As
chapters juxtapose Gospel analysis and quotes with Grosz's own
experiences, readers gain insights on how to more effectively turn to
faith,
reflections, and trust to alleviate physical and mental suffering.
Sometimes
the memoir takes the form of a letter to God: "I woke
up this morning believing a lie. I thought because I am in pain that
today
wouldn’t count. I told myself that because my body hurts and my mind is
restless that You must have abandoned me and taken away my hope. But
those are
lies."
At
other points, it's a letter to self and to readers who also hold
faith, yet struggle with life's slings and arrows.
At
all times, it's a reminder to step back, take a breath, and revel in
faith and the belief in a greater purpose and a better life; all of
which can
be found in Scripture, and in the experiences, reflections, and lessons
of Dancing
At the Gate.
Its
admonition encourages these introspective thoughts: "In
this journey of ever seeking healing, we should just try being a leaf.
Instead
of working so hard and trying so hard and constantly striving for
positivity,
we could just give Jesus a chance to make us new."
Collections
strong in faith-centered memoirs and self-help titles will
find Dancing At the Gate inspirational, reflective,
and motivational—a
fine choice for Christians who want to better cement their relationship
to God
against all adversity.
Return to Index
Drawn Into the
Dream
Walter Berry
Precocity Press
978-1736217498
$19.95 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
Website: www.drawnintothedream.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Drawn-into-Dream-Drawing-Dreams/dp/1736217496/
Drawn
into
the Dream: How Drawing Your Dreams Can Take You to the Land of Awes sports a deceptively simple cover art of a
drawing of a dream that introduces us to the book’s intriguing
subject—drawing
simple sketches of one's dreams to solidify their underlying meanings
and
emotions—the book is meant to attract people interested
in a very different form of dream analysis.
Unlike
the
typical dream inspection which encourages psychological analysis,
Walter Berry
uses art to support the process. The art of drawing is one way of
connecting to
the unconscious mind, and often produces results that enhance the dream
analysis process.
Examples
and
instructions are provided in a step-by-step approach that encourages
readers to
put drawing implement to paper to capture these meanings: "The idea that someone would project on their own
dream may sound
strange, but this is exactly what happens when the dreamer gives birth
to the
dream by delineating its form on a piece of paper. The dream has taken
on a
life of its own, and everyone in the room, including the dreamer, gets
to dance
with it by projecting on it. Our focus during this stage is on the
drawing, not
the dreamer, and we keep connecting
more deeply to the dream itself."
While
it may
sound like psychological analysis is part of the equation, it's not.
Berry
connects all the dots needed to understand why drawing one's dream
differs from
writing, how to do it, and how to understand its fruitful results.
The
enthusiasm
and spark of energy is also captured in this book: "In
spite of their thoughtfulness, words cannot truly capture or
encompass the experience of standing in the place of awe. These
definitions
refer to awe as an emotion, but I look at it also as an experience, not just the emotion
alone. It is a state of being
for me, a place where you can connect with something outside yourself.
The
difference between the concept (and
definitions) of awe and the experience
of awe is akin to the difference between the concept of
love and being
in love. I can feel love, but being in love is an immersive experience
that
comes with magic. The same is true of awe. I can feel awe as an
emotion, but
when I am in the experience of awe,
I have moved beyond the emotion to a state of being. When you are in
that
place—and I find it to be an actual place—other things happen that are
beyond
explaining in words only. Experiencing true awe is always magical. In
that
state, the ego diminishes, and the senses become heightened, but most
importantly, the magic connects you to an experience outside of
yourself. You
are standing in a world that is not your own and experiencing emotions
that
come from that place."
As
readers
pursue Drawn into the Dream, the choice of
its simple cover art
becomes apparent. It's a deliberate representation of all the
possibilities
this method of dream inspection promises.
All
that's
required is the memory of one's dreams...no artistic talent is needed.
Just
draw.
Return to Index
Essential Skills
for Growing Old with Grace
Mary L. Flett,
PhD
Five Pillars of
Aging Press
978-1-7342395-7-7
$9.99
www.fivepillarsofaging.com
While it might be
presumed that this title's subject has already been adequately covered
in Dr.
Flett's previous books about aging, in actuality, Essential
Skills for
Growing Old with Grace is a review of how these prior
discussions tie
together. This makes for its essential inclusion in any collection
which found Valuing
Ourselves as We Get Older and Connecting with
Ourselves and Others as We
Age to be important and popular reads.
In some ways, Essential
Skills for Growing Old with Grace is a weightier read than
its
predecessors. That's because it embarks on hard conversations that
consider
such subjects as dying, integrating old and new paradigms of belief
about aging
and living, and asking the question "What is enough?" when it comes
to life choices and achievements.
All these issues
and more require that the reader stop, take a deep breath, and
reconsider the
outcome of their life path and its motivating drive. And this is why,
even more
than the other books in the series, Essential Skills for
Growing Old with
Grace needs to be digested in segments that allow enough time
for
contemplation.
As Dr. Flett
faces her own health crisis and the decisions that this brings, readers
receive
a blend of autobiographical inspection and keys to unraveling their own
desires
and underlying tensions and influences.
These, in turn,
lend to a revised idea of aging, coping, and decision-making that
ultimately
feed the main messages of these books, on how to lead a better, more
mindful
life as one ages.
From finding
nourishment on many levels to cultivating a sense of gratitude and
attending to
building daily competency in the face of Covid and other challenges,
there is no
better formula for moving into advancing years than the strategies
outlined in Essential
Skills for Growing Old with Grace.
This is why it
and its other series companions deserve a place not only in psychology
and
self-help collections, but in any general library catering to those who
would
walk more mindfully and purposely into later life.
Return to Index
Fast Track Online
Judy Nichols
In House Publishing Australia
978-0-646-82934-0
$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Track-Online-Transition-knowledge-ebook/dp/B09GP5LNS3
Fast Track Online: Transition Your Work,
Knowledge, Purpose And Skills Online To Earn More, Live More And Be
Free focuses
on starting up an online side gig
that holds income and promises freedom from 9-5 workplace demands, and
is
highly recommended reading for those who want to tailor a plan of
action to
support this transitional opportunity.
It
synthesizes
Judy Nichols's years of research, digital learning, and trial and error
experiences into a set of ten recommended best practices for achieving
success,
conducting the leg work needed so that those who would make this change
don't
experience the same pitfalls that Nichols faced.
From
self-assessment
of expertise and strengths that could translate well to an online work
environment to what influences online business success stories, Nichols
pairs
basic business ideas about risk management, new ventures, and customer
development into a specific set of rules that apply to those making
such
transitions, no matter what the skill or job.
Specifics
range
from webinars and e-teaching to understanding affiliate relationships
and
various choices in email and social media marketing tactics, offering
advice on
developing online content, emphasizing expertise and reaching target
audiences,
and crafting LinkedIn and other profiles that sync with strategy
priorities
identified in early efforts.
From
finding the
best way to research, hire, and utilize talent to learning from the
stories and
challenges of others who successfully made the transition to online
business, Fast Track Online contrasts
processes
that held different lessons: "She
reinvented herself again with a mix of face to face and online
consultancy roles
in the health, government and not-for-profit sectors. She was able to
replace
her executive income and work only half the hours. From her first-hand
experience of doing the work she loves and helping others, Judy also
realised
the huge freedom and flexibility available to experts who choose to
transition
online. Seeing the potential for others to succeed, she decided to
share her
knowledge and story."
Fast Track Online should be a standard acquisition for any
business library seeking a blend of business advice and personal
experience.
Its focus on navigating the conundrums of transitional processes makes
it an
important guide that offers approaches and strategies proven to hold
superior
results.
Return to Index
Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic
Illness
Christopher Martin
Martin Family Bookstore
9780990826958
Hardcover: $19.95/Paper: $12.95/ebook: $8.95
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990826953
Website: www.invisibleillnessbooks.com
Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic
Illness: Proven Strategies for Discovering Happiness,
Meaning, and
Fulfillment comes from a
psychologist and father of 6 who has battled multiple invisible chronic
ailments ranging from asthma and allergies, a primary immune deficiency
disorder, sleep apnea, and more. While any of these would seem enough
to
struggle with, the combination results in a real challenge to leading a
joyful
life, injecting the specter of debilitation and illness into the most
mundane
of daily rituals.
Invisible chronic
illness is more prevalent in society than one would think. There are
all kinds
of conditions that create pain, uncertainty, and struggles with daily
routines,
yet are not observed by those outside the family. As a result, they are
less
understood by others, are often self-diagnosed outside of medical
circles, and
are challenging for everyone involved.
Chris Martin
advises that the first step in dealing with chronic illness is to gain
an
accurate medical diagnosis, but he's careful to also say that this
isn't the
last step in the process of regaining a meaningful life: "While
an
official diagnosis represents a huge step forward in the management of
your
condition, it also represents a new beginning in your journey of
further
seeking help for your condition, not the end. In dealing with a chronic
illness, the search for improved health and a better quality of life
never
ceases. Likewise, despite an official diagnosis, you will continue to
confront
challenges when accessing quality healthcare or dealing with others,
but it
will be that much easier to confront these challenges. You have cleared
a major
hurdle."
Finding Joy acknowledges both the
complexity of searching for
better treatments and health through medical circles and gaining
support from
family and friends who may come to question a process which holds no
clear
avenue to resolution, yet impacts many life choices: "When
others doubt
the validity of your illness, they may view you as faking your illness
and
encourage you to just push through it. They struggle to understand why
you
frequently need to cancel on them, why you are not up for social
gatherings or
outings, or why you do not appear productive. Although most people with
chronic
illness would prefer to stay productive than chronically ill any day,
they may
view you as lazy and over-indulging in rest or your “time off.” In
short, they often
perceive your invisible chronic illness as not severe enough to prevent
you
from engaging in daily life activities."
Martin offers concrete paths to better
health, communication, and mind-stretching/supporting routines such as
mindfulness, and tailors all these approaches to chronic illness.
While there is plenty of information here
about acceptance, self-compassion, reappraisal, encouraging self-talk,
social
support, and positive psychology concepts and stress management
techniques, the
heart of this discussion lies in putting these ethereal concepts and
ideals
into daily life and interactions with others.
All this lends an ultimate purpose of
finding joy in everyday life against all obstacles. Martin's discussion
incorporates how to create new mindsets, habits, and approaches to
living for
optimal results. These offer a revised set of actions and new solutions
for
those who have found themselves swamped with chronic ailments and daily
life
challenges.
Anyone with chronic illness needs this
blueprint of new pathways to joy. It's a survey recommended not just
for the
chronically ill patient, but also for the family and friends supporting
their
efforts.
Return to Index
Gaza
Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War
Jonathan Schanzer
FDD Press
978-1-956450-01-9
$29.95
Website: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2021/11/10/gaza-conflict-2021/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Gaza-Conflict-2021-Jonathan-Schanzer/dp/1956450017
Gaza
Conflict
2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War should be
required reading for anyone looking for a closer inspection of Gaza
politics
and events than is usually provided in the typical survey of the Middle
East's
conflicts.
It
provides a hard-hitting inspection from a personal perspective. This
adds details and insights unavailable from third-party reporting.
Jonathan
Schanzer first visited the Gaza Strip in 1998 as a graduate
student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
At
that time, he found his calling in not only researching the region,
but conducting personal research to get a better feel for its people,
history,
and controversies.
This
approach provided him with a historical and personal familiarity
that contrasted rich and poor perspectives, setting the stage for
understanding
why Gaza proved a focal point hotbed for Hamas terrorist activity.
After
his visit, the area fell under the complete control of Hamas, but
the insights he gained from that experience still led to a book
essential for
probing the roots of the war between Hamas and Israel that took place
in May of
2021.
Neither
a debate about Israel's military justification for its actions
nor a condemnation of Hamas as a terrorist organization, Schanzer's
probe seeks
to present the events of this conflict (the fourth between these
forces) as a
microcosm that employs hindsight to better explain its evolution and
why it is
important to consider and reconsider its lasting ramifications.
Chapters
identify a fundamental disconnect between reality and
reporting methods which holds important meaning for media studies
students;
especially those interested in capturing historical and military events.
This
audience receives a pointed history of events which is critical,
because it outlines important departures between reality and reporting
choices:
"...media reporting during the 2021 conflict often ignored the
clear
patterns from the previous rounds of conflict between Hamas and Israel.
There
is plenty of material from which to draw...Here in America, the
reporting and
analysis on the 2021 Gaza war also ignored the brutality of Hamas."
That
these and other inconsistencies in coverage prompted Schanzer to
produce his own inspection of the conflict is to be celebrated, because
he
brings to the table a perspective, personal experience, and
observations that
is not covered in typical reports of the war.
Lest
any wonder, Gaza Conflict 2021 is not an opinion
piece.
It's a carefully researched, highly footnoted survey that overlays the
author's
insights with the facts surrounding both sides.
More
so than most, this book identifies just why Gaza stands out in
Israel's historical record of conflicts: "Israel’s wars with
Hamas are
very distinct from the uneasy but pragmatic relations that currently
exist
between the PA and Israel. Gaza is now ground zero in a proxy conflict.
It is
part of a bigger battle between Israel and Iran, along with other
determined
foes."
Collections
strong in Middle East history might be tempted to see Gaza
Conflict 2021 as a familiar coverage that is already
reflected in other
books, but this would be a fallacy. The book is actually a standout,
identifying perspectives and falsehoods that other surveys gloss over.
It
should be considered essential reading for any library strong in
Israeli history and the Middle East region's conflicts as a whole.
Return to Index
Halloween Party
'21
David Yurkovich,
Editor
Gravelight
Press/Devil’s Party Press, LLC
978-1-7340918-4-7
$14.99 Paper/$.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Party-21-Dianne-Pearce/dp/1734091843
Halloween Party '21 is a horror anthology
that belongs in any
collection strong in frightening reads, featuring a wide range of
vampire and
ghostly scenarios that will delight genre fans.
Many of these
writers will be unfamiliar, but that doesn't mean their works within
are any
less powerful than better-known authors. Halloween Party '21
presents a
wide range of presentation forms, from poetry to prose, which also
expands the
vision of what constitutes a horror read.
Take Morgan
Golladay's "It Is Highly Illegal to Hit Someone With an Egg," for
example. This hip-hop poem captures some "hard-boiled attitude" over
Halloween egging and how the devil gets into those who celebrate the
holiday in
ways that impact their frightened neighbors.
Faye Perozich's
"Unwell," in contrast, is about a happy life changed by tragedy,
leading to the contemplation of suicide. A father and daughter find
themselves
in the same place, for different reasons: "It felt like they
were two
complete strangers who just happened to be in the same place, each
doing the
same thing by sheer coincidence, an entire world of loneliness, guilt,
and
grief separating them." But the real horror lies in the
intersection
of blame, love, murder, and a macabre twist of fate.
Each piece brings
with it a different form of horror inspection that is both delightful
and
thought-provoking.
Readers young and
old who are interested in horror accounts that go beyond the usual
spooks and
hauntings to poke at the heart of horrors that remain unseen, unspoken,
and
unacknowledged will find the diversity and literary excellence of these
writings to be captivatingly different from any other horror anthology.
While Halloween
Party '21 will likely be chosen for horror collections, it
also deserves a
place in any literary collection seeking to push the boundaries of
genre
reading to attract thinking audiences who relish unexpected twists and
turns.
Return to Index
The
Jewish Book of Horror
Josh Schlossberg, Editor
Denver Horror Collective
978-1-7341917-7-6
$15.99
Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Book-Horror-Daniel-Braum/dp/1734191775
Many
readers may be surprised at the association between 'Jewish' and
traditional horror writing, but as this collection shows, Jewish
history and
legends hold strong roots in depictions of horror. The Jewish
Book of Horror
presents both sample stories and introductory discussions of the
tradition.
Rabbi
John Carrier kicks off the survey with "An Orchard of
Terror: Scary Stories and the Jewish Tradition." This provides readers
with a historical and literary backdrop for the connection between
horror and
Jewish experience, offering a scholarly but lively inspection of the
Jewish
psyche, its dilemmas, and its incarnations in the horror genre.
He
also points out that "If you dissect the stories herein, you
may be stricken by themes, vocabulary, or a particular sense of humor
that set
them apart from horror that is not explicitly Jewish. The ingredients
speak
more to “our” demonology or eschatology. What we fear (and what we
don’t) may
be different based on our unique historical experience. Ultimately,
what makes
Jewish horror, I believe, is that a Jew made it."
And
yet, the sources of these legends and their influence have a long
tradition of being "...all carried around in our heads for
the first
thousand years or so, or at least carried in the heads of specialists
who, like
Homer, stored vast collections mnemonically to be shared at hearth, by
campfire,
and from one dungeon cell to the next."
The
experiences of the Jewish people and culture carry over into these
diverse explorations and will prove delightful reading to both horror
genre
readers and those of Jewish descent, who will find them uncanny and
satisfyingly creative.
One
example of this diversity lies in KD Casey's "The Last
Plague," which opens with a reference to a Jewish tradition: "My
mother sends me to open the back door to admit a prophet. “Be quick and
don’t
let out all the heat from the house!” she says. Pesach is early this
year."
As
the young narrator depicts a Seder dinner that, like Groundhog
Day, seems destined to repeat (albeit with different outcomes
to being sent
to welcome in a prophet), Pesach changes...and so do the lives of the
Jewish
people who celebrate it.
As
life changes for the narrator over a period of Pesachs and time,
readers receive powerful inspections of its downfall: "I
dream of our
life before, our backyard and our family, and wonder if Jerusalem
smells like chicken
fat and onions...We do not go to Jerusalem but to a farm in upstate New
York,
rented from an Amish farmer my mother pays in cash. My
father no longer writes; his last letter said
there is a paper shortage."
The
true horror lies on the impact life has on this Jewish family
through the eyes of a young observer of tradition and change.
In
contrast, Lindsay King-Miller's "How To Build A Sukkah At The
End Of The World" holds some of the same elements of faith during end
times, but with a different focus on not just survival, but preserving
traditions when the logic for having the celebration has vanished: "The
ready-made sukkah your mother put together and took apart each year was
stored
in the basement. You’ll improvise. Three walls and a roof made of
branches—there
are more rules than that, but these are the ones you remember. A sukkah
must be
beneath the open sky, so you can see stars between the branches. Well,
that’s
an old rule from when there were stars."
The
Jewish
Book of Horror excels in portraying different forms of horror.
But its real value lies in explorations of Jewish identity and changing
tradition that depict the real horror: the erosion of facets of Jewish
culture
that face vast changes and horrors that range from sorcery to
insurrection.
Each
tale comes steeped in a background of Jewish lives and traditions.
Each holds a powerful key to understanding the varied sources of horror
in
adversities that challenge heart, soul, and spiritual wellsprings alike.
While
The Jewish Book of Horror will likely be a literary
addition to Jewish collections, it should not be missed by gentiles,
either.
Its inspections, lessons, and sources of true horror make its diverse
tales
standouts.
Return to Index
Nerds
Gone Wild
Mister Victor
Independently Published
978-1-7376113-0-1
$19.99
Paper/$5.99 ebook
Ordering: Nerds
Gone Wild
Author website: TheMisterVictor.com
Nerds
Gone
Wild
offers a special blend of serious reflection and wry humor, providing
a social observation of the nerd's history and place in world events.
It is a
lively and unexpected journey into 'nerddom' that lends particularly
well to
browsing rather than linear examination, as the preface to its Table of
Contents suggests: "Chapters are arranged solely by the
author’s
sagacious insight, which generally means sheer happenstance— so feel
free to
read them in any order you choose."
Yes,
there are "big words." And that is one of the
pleasurable challenges to be found in a witty, unpredictable collection
of
humor essays that skirt the boundaries of autobiography and social
inspection.
Take
"Food," for example. Readers might expect this chapter
might be a dry historical survey; but in fact it's as lively an
inspection of
food and culture as the "Civics and Winning" essay before it linked
football games with moral and ethical ideas and strategies for winning.
The
discussion of food opens with a hilarious query: "History
Question: What is the man in the picture doing?
A. Tinkering
with the design mechanics of an early atom bomb.
B. Measuring
the electrostatic potential of a substation stepdown transformer.
C. Praying to
God that somehow he’ll manage to extract his right hand from this
man-eating
machine.
D. Putting
the finishing touches on a modern cooking device."
As
the microwave's history is revealed, its "supernerd"
creator (self-taught engineer Percy Spencer) comes to life, as does the
very
purpose and idea of saving kitchen time against too much activity in
human
lives: "The adoption of the microwave is quite indicative of
the
broader nerd experience which our society is currently experiencing.
The way a
microwave can rapidly speed up cooking, is the same way the speed of
our lives
is accelerating. Considering our lives are jam-packed with work, rent,
bills,
kids, school, texts, emails, social networks, shopping and errands, we
are
racing to get more things done all the time. However, the irony is that
there
seems to be more and more to do all the time. As a result, we always
have the
gnawing feeling that there is no time for anything,.........and forget
having time
to do nothing."
And,
that's the real beauty of these essays. Readers who expect humor
alone will be surprised at the route taken from initial comedy overlay
to
serious discussion. Where other essay collections might cut to the
chase but
lose their audience with dryness, Mister Victor's droll, wry sense of
humor
allows for examinations that link daily pursuits, experiences, and
ideals to
bigger-picture thinking.
The
result is a satisfying blend of humor and serious social reflection
that belongs on the shelves of not just humor collections, but those
interested
in representations of the angst and problems of humankind done in a
refreshingly different manner.
Return to Index
Old
Testament Readings & Devotionals, Volume 4
C.M.H. Koenig (compiler)
C.M.H. Koenig Books
978-1-7377324-0-2
Paperback:
$14.99
www.cmhkoenigbooks.net
Like
its predecessors, the fourth volume of
Old Testament Readings & Devotionals offers Bible
students a reasoned
course of study. This book explores portions of 1 & 2 Samuel,
first
Chronicles, and Psalms, providing a survey that links devotionals to
Biblical
readings that cover 1025 BC – 1010 BC.
As
C.M.H. Koenig moves through this Bible study, students receive the
opportunity
to savor and re-examine the scriptures and their underlying meaning and
messages.
This
is accomplished not just by profiled passages themselves, but through
the added
value of excerpts from the devotionals by Robert Hawker (1753–1827),
Charles H.
Spurgeon (1834-1892), and Octavius Winslow (1808-1878). The Psalms
utilized are
interspersed throughout the Old Testament volumes.
It's
easy to differentiate the key verses (from the Christian Standard
Bible) from
these associated writings—they appear in italics. It's also easy to
link these
to a daily pursuit, as each quote and piece appears in a daily format
to
encourage succinct, thought-provoking reading.
One
example is that presented on Day 38, with a reading from Psalm 54: “God,
save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might! God, hear my
prayer;
listen to the words from my mouth. For strangers rise up against me,
and
violent men intend to kill me. They do not let God guide them. Selah.
God is my
helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.” Psalm 54:1-4.
This
pairs with an inspection by Winslow from his Evening
Thoughts work: "Where
was David now? "In the wilderness of Ziph, in a wood." With not a
follower or companion, this favorite of the nation was a homeless
wanderer,
hunted like a partridge upon the mountain by the bloodthirsty king. But
oh, the
deep teaching of which he would now be the subject! The nothingness of
earthly
glory – the emptiness of human applause – the poverty of the creature –
the
treachery of his own heart – in a word, the vapid nature and utter
insufficiency of all earthly good, would be among the many holy and
costly
lessons he would now learn. Nor this alone. Driven from man, he would
now be
more exclusively and entirely shut in with God. In his happy
experience, that
wilderness would be as a peopled world, and that wood as a blooming
paradise."
These
linked passages offer newfound opportunities for reflection,
interpretation,
and debate.
Koenig
does readers a great service in making these pairings relevant to
contemporary
times and philosophical and spiritual reflection alike, creating bonds
and
methods of inquiry that support belief and Biblical relevance alike.
Another
note to this collection is that its links are easy to digest in length;
yet
designed for a contemplation that lends to day-long consideration. An
example
of this is Day 63's reading of Psalm 73: "It is good for me
to draw
near to God." Psalm 73:28 (AKJV). This seemingly clear
one-liner
assumes new meaning when paired with Winslow's Morning
Thoughts: "Reader,
are you a professing child of God? Content not yourself to live thus;
it is a
poor, lifeless existence, unworthy of your profession, unworthy of Him
whose
name you do bear, and unworthy of the glorious destiny towards which
you are
looking. Thus, may a believer test the character of his love. He in
whose heart
divine affection deepens, increases, and expands, finds God an object
of
increasing delight and desire..."
More
than a study of Biblical passages alone, Old
Testament Readings & Devotionals offers key
connections between
Biblical words and modern living. As its predecessors do, this fourth
volume
allows readers the opportunity to slow down and take a reasoned look at
the
underlying meaning and impact of the Old Testament.
Students
can use this volume for either self-study or/and (ideally) discussion.
Its
powerful associations offer much food for thought, making Old Testament Readings & Devotionals,
Volume 4 an ideal choice for all
kinds of Christian collections and
readers.
Return to Index
Satisfy
Mona Dolgov
You Live Right
Publishers
978-1-7366756-0-1
$29.95
www.youliveright.com
Satisfy:
Delicious, Healthy, and Full-Filling Meals for 500 Calories or Less! combines
gluten-free recipes with calorie consciousness in a presentation
designed to
emphasize that healthy food can meet both objectives without being
flavorless. Mona Dolgov emphasizes fiber-rich content, from
vegetables to whole grains and legumes, and tailors her recipes for
busy cooks
who have limited time (30 minutes max) to produce family-friendly fare.
The recipes are
all based on the Mediterranean diet. This will delight health-conscious
readers
who look for innovative fare based on this proven system of healthy
eating.
Satisfy
includes tips for streamlining prep and making
cooking easier, as well as insights for using the latest time-saving
kitchen
devices more effectively, but the recipes that are the mainstay of Satisfy
shine, between their at-a-glance format, appealing color photos of
finished
dishes, and ease of prep.
Pasta with
Chicken Sausage and Spinach, for example, is flagged as a "skillet and
one-pan meal," while the simple introduction mentions the gluten-free
chickpea or lentil pasta ingredients and the taste appeal of marrying
chicken
sausage, mushrooms, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese in
a
one-pot production that minimizes cleanup, as well.
In contrast,
Chicken Parm Burgers with Grilled Italian Veggies advocates creating an
entire
summer meal using the outdoor grill, showing how streamlined timing can
produce
an entire meal in 10 minutes. An 'Ingredient Insider' sidebar of
additional
information provides flavor-enhancing notes ("I prefer the
flavor of
the ground chicken breast for these but ground turkey breast can also
be used.").
With
its winning
formula for quick meal success, gluten-free tips and foundations,
calorie-conscious approach, and eye-catching, flavor-filled choices, Satisfy
is a standout cookbook for all levels of home cooks seeking
family-friendly recipes that embrace both gluten- and trouble-free
cooking.
Satisfy should be in any
cook's collection not just because it's healthy, but because its flavor
blends
and appealing attention make healthy fare not just palatable, but
desirable.
Return to Index
Shadow Atlas
Hex
Hex Publishers,
LLC
978-1-7365964-1-8
$4.99 ebook
www.HexPublishers.com
Shadow Atlas
is virtually impossible to peg as a genre read. Quite simply,
it's a blend
of horror, speculative fiction, and alternative history told through
short
stories contributed by 38 authors and poets, including Josh Malerman
and Jane
Yolen. This production by the "Scribes of the Umbra Arca" opens with
the intriguing form of dossiers and memos attempting to explore the
roots of
the Umbra Arca Society and its works.
As
the
"Western Scriptorium" secret society's writings draw readers into a
world layered atop the familiar one, shades of The Twilight Zone and
paranormal
influences blend with an alternate history and social inspection to
provide a
powerful series of interconnected stories designed to capture high
interest.
An
'FBI
Directive' to investigate this world opens the story with a concluding
memo
that adds mystery, questioning the Society and its revelations.
A
letter from
Dane Essa introduces the concept of the Shadow Atlas further,
explaining how
this secret came to be imparted on the threshold of death, was
identified as a
possible prank by a mischievousness professor who wanted to leave
behind a
legacy of fiction and mystery, and gives a possible motive for
deception: "...if one cannot participate in
history, then one must reinvent it, with one’s own life rough-hewn into
the
preferred narrative."
The
story
unfolds in a satisfying manner that reflects the diverse approaches of
the
authors. From Dark Watchers to poetry and prose that captures evolving
events, Shadow Atlas represents a
vivid intersection
between literary formats and perspectives, creating a vivid story that
rewrites
the definition of fantasy, horror, and fiction as well as historical
representation.
Each
story is
very different in its characters and events. Each also contributes a
new
adventure to the exploration of the truth about a mysterious book.
Think
The DaVinci Code or Indiana Jones,
but
with more literary force, as it comments on mortals, immortals, and the
intersection of worlds which holds them.
Mercedes
M.
Yardley's story of Moira, banshees, and a sense of home and purpose in
"Sand and Salt" is one example of a compelling piece of the puzzle.
Its focus on Moira's relationship with Imogene, a "relentless town,"
and the past is exquisitely wrought: "She
missed the storms from home. The black skies, the voices of her sisters
as they
whirled together in the night. This place was lonely and harsh in a
completely
different way than the high cliffs. After her shift ended, Imogen
punched her
card, gathered her things, and rode her bicycle home. The air was hot
and fetid
even in the dark. Her house was still full of her parents’ old things.
Why give
them away? Why keep them? Why do anything but curl up in the rooms at
night and
watch the stars from the window? Why even do that, or really, anything
at
all?"
Moira
followed
Imogen's family to this desert world from Ireland. Imogen is the last
of her
tribe. What will happen to Moira when she dies? Does she return home,
or will
she pass this legacy to another generation by having a child?
The
lovely
descriptions permeate Moira's decision and provide a powerful impact on
the
reader: “Cut my wrists and I would bleed
sand. It’s in me like the sea is in you. I can’t leave here. I belong
to the
earth, and it belongs to me. The stars fill me up. I’m full of mud and
dirt and
tumbleweeds. I’m a golem of this land. I want to leave here so you can
go back
home, but I’ll die."
Contrast
this
with Jeanne C. Stein's "Diablo Ballena," which depicts two seniors in
the last phase of their lives who met as anthropology majors in college
and
headed for adventure in Columbia.
Investigations
into mythology and religion changed their lives. The narrator
resurrected a
legendary monster. He also uncovered a lust for revenge that ties into
his next
decisions.
Each
story
contributes a powerful stand-alone piece that dovetails nicely with the
premise
and promise of the Shadow Atlas's
world.
Each
will
delight readers who look for diversity, powerful literary voices, and
stories
that grab hold with mystery and supernatural intrigue to rewrite not
just
history, but concepts of reality, fantasy, and lives that exist in
between.
Peppered
with
black and white drawings that add further visual dimensions to the
tales, Shadow Atlas is a top
recommendation for
horror, fantasy, and literary short story readers seeking diversity in
voices
and visions.
Its
collaborative intersection of different worlds thoroughly delights.
Return to Index
Soulwork
Elizabeth Radcliffe
Bublish, Incorporated
978-1-647044-07-7
$12.00 paper/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Soulwork-Connecting-Universe-Spiritual-Purpose/dp/1647044073
Soulwork: Connecting with the Universe and
your Spiritual Path to Find your True Purpose in Life points out that self-awareness is a goal to
be earned, not inherited. The path to purpose often begins with a
rendering of
reality—a rip in the cloth of expectation or a challenge to one's
lifelong
preset notions of the journey and what it should entail.
Whether
sparked
by a breakup, death, or psychic devastation, the road to defining and
achieving
one's uniquely true purpose isn't a singular path, but often seems to
include
many diverse byways and experiences.
Soulwork offers to connect these dots in a different
way, blending autobiographical stories about the process with a close
inspection
of the Universe and various ways of relating to it.
Spirituality,
science, and psychology intersect through Elizabeth Radcliffe's
specific
considerations of such challenges as how to quiet the mind to achieve
superior
inspection, how to seek and follow guidance that leads in better
directions,
and how to adopt an intentional path towards healing, redemption, and a
better
life.
With each piece of advice, Radcliffe cements
her life's experiences and changing perceptions with tips on how
readers can acknowledge
and follow their own paths by employing more astute rationale and
intuitive
understanding.
It should be noted that soulwork is no easy
venture. Radcliffe readily admits its pitfalls and special challenges: "With my years of experience navigating
Soulwork, I knew immediately that seeking out ways to feel wanted
wouldn’t help
me heal. That was the subconscious strategy I had been employing for
years. It
had only brought me unhappiness and disruption. But if generating a
feeling of
being wanted wasn’t the cure for feeling unwanted,
what was?"
As she moves from personal inspection and
transformation to bigger-picture thinking about world processes and
impacts,
Radcliffe draws important connections that readers need to know about
the
ultimate impact and purpose of attempting soulwork in the first place.
How
does a person evolve to embrace their
life destiny in a different way?
Soulwork is a highly recommended road map for those
who have predetermined that this process and the work it involves are
worthy of
pursuit. It provides cautions, directions, and insights that help
streamline
processes and promote better understanding of soulwork's promises and
potential, and is highly recommended for new age, self-help, and
spirituality
collections alike.
Return to Index
Spirituality
for
Badasses
J. Stewart Dixon
PIE Publishing
978-0-9858579-0-5
$15.00
Paper/$7.95 Audiobook/$5.99 ebook
www.spiritualityforbadasses.com
Spirituality for Badasses may sound sassy, but its message is
seriously intentional and revealing: that achieving a spiritual
foundation
takes work and a brand of self-examination that can't come from easy
paths to
enlightenment.
J.
Stewart
Dixon's chapter headings alone portend a greater revelation than most
self-help
or spirituality approaches embrace, with such admonitions as "How
to
pay attention without being a suck-up," "How to put your cell phone
down for one goddamn minute," and "How to evolve from a suffering
badass-hole to a spiritual badass."
There's
swearing. In a spirituality guide? Oh, yes. This isn't your
usual staid encouraging voice, but a brash, contemporary series of
admonitions
that works especially well to reach younger audiences who largely
eschew the
ennui and dispassionate approaches of similar books about building
spiritual
foundations.
From
handling being an emotional wreck to moving into emotional bliss
and being mindful during a crisis, Dixon tackles situations that are
part of
daily living and that, too often, are not part of the typical self-help
guide
on finding spiritual lessons from everyday life.
The
prerequisites for thoroughly appreciating this discourse (and, there's
much to
like about its honest dialogue) are an affinity for mindful practice,
spiritual
investigation, and candid language that pulls no punches as it
addresses the
common snafus of choices and approaches to life: "Sometimes
it requires an ass whipping to wake you up from a
bypass. Sometimes life keeps handing you lemons until, one day, you
finally
decide to make lemonade. A few lemons here and there are okay. Just
don’t make
a career out of that lemonade stand. I mean—shit, do the math. There is
just no
way you are going to pay your rent or mortgage with a fifty-cent paper cup of squeezed fruit, water and
sugar."
Spirituality for Badasses should be part of any self-help,
spirituality, or mindfulness collection. It goes where no other books
in these
genres dare travel, doing so in such a manner that older readers may be
offended...but younger audiences will find it enlightening food for
thought
that speaks their language in a way no other book matches.
Highly
recommended for discussion, contemplation, and action-oriented
response, Spirituality for Badasses
is sassy,
brash, forthright...and just the cup of tea needed for modern
generations.
(Heck, make that a cup of vodka. It really packs a punch.)
Return to Index
Splitting Pennies
Joseph Gelet
Elite E
Services, Inc.
9781533331090
$24.99
www.splittingpennies.com
Splitting Pennies: Understanding Money makes a lot of sense,
in many ways. It will
especially appeal to financial professionals and would-be pros
interested in
issues of debt, the global financial system, and building a better
investment
portfolio.
Joseph Gelet has
worked for some 15 years in Forex, whom some view as the driver of the
world
economy despite the fact that many outside the financial world may not
have
heard of Forex. (Surprise! Just because you may not have heard of Forex
doesn't
mean you aren't already trading in it!)
Speaking of
having prior familiarity, Joseph Gelet first published Splitting
Pennies
years ago. It's a testimony to this subject's importance that, despite
the
passage of time, the book remains as relevant to modern investors and
financial
circles as it was upon its first appearance.
Gelet assumes no
reader knowledge of the financial world. In fact, in the first few
pages, he
defines what a "market" is and how it works. This will especially
please novices who might think such a book will be beyond their
comprehension
from the start. It isn't. Splitting Pennies leaves
no reader behind and
makes no assumptions about education or financial savvy. This is one of
its
strengths.
Another strength
(especially for more seasoned financial audiences) lies in its
historical
overview of changing regulations and regulatory perspectives,
discussions of
Forex operations at the Fed and highest levels of economic activity,
and
(later) in-depth discussions of its financial algorithms.
From adopting
flexible winning strategies as markets and regulations change to
understanding
the future of various currencies and why the ordinary person who
ventures into
Forex tends to lose money, Splitting Pennies
juxtaposes financial
inspection with broader social and economic issues to provide a
well-rounded
discussion of pros, cons, history, and financial approaches.
Who benefits from
this? Why is the American Forex system basically anti-competitive,
solidifying
the USA's monopoly on money? Why is the history of law and Forex in the
U.S. so
ironic?
From opening a
bank account overseas to understanding the various social, political,
and
economic forces at work in the Forex environment, a wide audience will
find Splitting
Pennies essential, accessible reading.
The combination
of financial savvy, history, and social and political questions and
inspections
create a powerful, insightful read that will, of course, appeal to
financial
readers. But, ideally, it should also reach the general public with its
hard-hitting analysis, as well as into legal, accounting, trader and
broker,
and financial manager circles.
Serious business
holdings (and many a general-interest library) should add Splitting
Pennies
to the ranks of powerful, insightful foundation financial writings.
Return to Index
Stoves
& Suitcases
Cynthia D.
Bertelsen
Turquoise Moon
Press
978-1-7345579-2-3
$19.95 Paper/$11.95 Kindle
www.turquoisemoonpress.com
Stoves
&
Suitcases: Searching for Home in the World's Kitchens should be in the
holdings of any collection strong in culinary biography and history.
What
began as a search for home and roots evolved into a culinary
exploration, as Cynthia
D. Bertelsen documents in chapters that move from Florida and
Washington food
discoveries to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Europe, and Africa.
Being
born
prematurely and placed in an oxygen-rich environment damaged
Bertelsen's
hearing and sight. She developed a passion for reading books in
response to her
disability and abilities, which then morphed into a passion for cooking
and
food. An early discovery of the Time-Life Foods of the World book
series
allowed her to journey far from her home and roots and led to her next
obsession: travel.
Stoves
&
Suitcases is
a memoir about how all these experiences coalesced into a passion
for new experiences, new flavors, and world travels that introduced her
to
ordinary cooks producing extraordinary new results from their home
kitchens.
Whether
the reader is interested in stories of disability recovery, world
travel, or cooking, all these subjects and more receive lively
inspection and
attractive insights, here.
Bertelsen
writes with an evocative hand that brings these worlds and
their cooks to life: "The sight of an old-fashioned iron
stove. The
smell of wood smoke. The aroma of beefsteak milanesa. Or the crackling
sound of
empanadas, stuffed with ground beef and hard cooked eggs, perfumed with
a hint
of cumin, frying in smoking-hot grease. That’s all it takes to
reconstruct Doña
Olga’s magical touch in the kitchen, in my mind anyway."
Her
ability to
capture and contrast such different milieus, incorporating them into
her own
learning experiences and solidifying their value for the reader with
recipes,
provide the opportunity to duplicate these culinary encounters at home.
From
a Fish Fry
batter to the staple African Cornmeal Mush and a Balinese Sambal
Rica-Rica, Bertelsen's encounters with
chefs, ordinary
home cooks, and foodies examines more than the culinary roots of each
place.
She
faces social unrest and conflict, struggles with bureaucracies (as
in Honduras), and eye-opening experiences ("I was alive.
Thanks to a
stranger.") that bring not only cooking, but other cultures
to life.
Black
and white photos and postcards add visual embellishments to an
appealing
format that contrasts recipes with experiences.
It's
hard to compare Stoves & Suitcases to
other books of
its ilk. Perhaps Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour
comes closest. But,
the blend of insights on different countries, cooking, and an evolving
sense of
self is hard to find elsewhere. All these elements make Stoves
&
Suitcases highly recommended for a diverse audience and
collections whose
subjects range from memoirs to travel and culinary explorations.
Return to Index
Valuing Ourselves
as We Get Older
Mary L. Flett,
PhD
Five Pillars of
Aging Press
978-1-7342359-5-3
$9.99
https://fivepillarsofaging.com
Valuing Ourselves as We Get Older:
Explorations of Meaning and Purpose: Aging with Finesse belongs in any
collection strong in the psychology
of aging, and is the first book in a series.
Unlike many books
about aging already on the shelves of psychology holdings, Valuing
Ourselves
as We Get Older cultivates a comparative sense of how the
aging experience
and its perception has changed for different generations, thanks to
medical
advancements and psychological insights.
This book comes
from a series of blogs Dr. Flett wrote. It is centered on the topics of
values,
life purpose, and how these change over a lifespan to become something
different, as the years go by.
Many coping
mechanisms for improving life are juxtaposed with Dr. Flett's
experiences,
which are presented in a personal manner that makes them accessible to
a wide
audience: "With each loss I have also learned how to keep my
heart
open, even though it hurts and I may doubt that the hurt can ever go
away. I
try to stay aware of my feelings, especially when I am feeling lonely,
afraid,
or invisible. While I am not always successful in doing so, I get
better with
practice...Extending compassion to self, and being patient with a
process that
is anything but linear and predictable, are sound techniques to help
patch over
the gaping wound that loss creates."
These personal
blog posts are punctuated by daily life events and news that sparked
their
creative spirit, as in a story of the trauma caused by observing
California's
fire season in 2018, and the coping mechanism chosen to handle its
ravages: "I
RAN AWAY THIS WEEK. Fled. Gave up the ghost. Abandoned my post. It all
finally
became too much, and so I fled to a place that wasn’t in the pathway of
raging
fires, appeared to have taken appropriate precautions for COVID-19, and
held
happy memories of better times for me. I have returned home, somewhat
chastened,
definitely improved in mental state and capacity to face what is a
continuing
challenge, but also keenly aware of how much I need sanctuary."
As metaphors for
survival and transformation are injected into the process of aging,
growing,
and accepting change and challenge, readers receive an inspirational
series of
reflections that are grounded in the author's experiences, everyday
events, and
her changing reactions and learning process.
Aging with
finesse often translates to making those inner leaps of faith that lead
to new
ideas and opportunities. Dr. Flett considers the special approach of
learning
and growing that comes with aging in modern times.
Collections
strong in psychology, self-help, and social inspection will find these
reflections powerful ideas for continuing the upward trajectory of
wisdom that
often comes with aging.
Return to Index
The Whisper of a
Distant God
David L. Gersh
Open Books
978-1948598491
$17.95
http://www.open-bks.com/library/moderns/the-whisper-of-a-distant-god/order.html
The Whisper of a Distant God is recommended for
military history readers who
may enter the story knowing little about the War of New Mexico, but
will depart
its pages with a much more thorough grounding in the war's events.
The realistic
representations are captured in a blend of letters, diaries, newspaper
articles, and both first and third person dialogue that focuses on the
lives,
thoughts, and experiences of three main characters involved in the
fray: Henry
Sibley, commander of the Texas Mounted Volunteers; Edward R. S. Canby,
the
Union commander; and his wife Louisa, deemed the Angel of Santa Fe.
From Louisa Hawkins' diary of her
forthcoming marriage to Edward and her visions of a perfect life as his
wife to
Henry's letters to his wife in which he expresses his convictions and
uncertainties ("I will fulfill the
honor done to me by President Jefferson Davis and achieve historic
things, in
spite of the obstacles placed before me. Yes, my dear, even in our
Confederacy,
there are obstacles. Alas, it reflects a basic defect that exists in
some men
everywhere, I fear."), the
story excels in contrasting first-person inspections of the social and
political forces affecting each character's life.
David L. Gersh crafts a story that is filled
with psychological insights as much as politics and struggle. Readers
who
anticipate a story of military strategy alone will be surprised (and
delighted)
that Gersh takes the time to candidly reveal the contrasting
experiences and
perceptions of those who fought on both sides: "That
Bob’s a funny one. Today, during the battle, he don’t go and
hide like the other slaves. He found hisself a spot near where we was,
where he
could watch the fightin’. I seen the look on his face. Maybe more hate
there
for the Yankees than I have. Don’t rightly know why, since them Yankees
is
supposed to be fightin’ fer him. Can have him, far as I’m concerned.
Can have
all of them for the good they are."
These approaches raise the story beyond a
war novel alone to represent the depth Gersh has captured in exploring
the
roots of the war.
From moral and ethical issues of brutal
struggle to the changing lives of all involved, The Whisper
of a Distant God will attract
military fiction readers with
its battle coverage—but then delivers something much more.
Filled with the
unexpected depth and detail that comes from a well-researched
production, The
Whisper of a Distant God deserves a prominent place not only
in collections
about New Mexico history and North/South struggles, but in discussion
groups
about ethical issues. These will find its reflections on prejudice and
vivid
descriptions of the horrors of war to be more than thought-provoking,
encouraging considerations of loyalty, traitors, and the costs of
fighting for
one's convictions.
Return to Index
Young Adult/Children
The Adventure of
Sockboy
Karl Cottle
Precocity Press
978-1-7373539-8-0
$24.95 Hardcover $14.95 Paperback
www.precocitypress.com
How can a child
better handle early traumas to avoid obstacles to emotional growth in
later
life? Healing and self-love are the central themes in a book that
promotes both
for young children who experience adversity and trauma in their lives.
The Adventure of Sockboy
sports hand-painted
illustrations by Karl "Ultrakarl" Cottle
as it pursues the story of a little boy with "popsicle feet" who
loves the comfort and support of warm socks. He decides to knit a sock
that covers his entire body like a superhero suit, which help him
confront
the world.
The lilting rhyme
describes his dilemma, then illustrates his problem-solving solution,
which
involves a cozy-sounding idea carried to extremes.
As the boy plays
and discovers new abilities from his sock-building endeavor, young
readers will
delight in the unusual opportunities and dilemmas the boy's solution
introduces
to his life.
His experiments
show that "some things worked well/but most things did not." It also
reveals an unexpected ultimate lesson about love, self-sufficiency, and
family
that kids and their read-aloud parents will find inviting.
The Adventure of Sockboy introduces this young
hero's world. Book 2 in the
series, Sockboy: The Halloween Special, was not
seen by this reviewer;
but if its lessons are as simply and compellingly presented as in this
introduction, both books will prove winners for parents looking to
impart
messages about creative problem-solving, vulnerability and conflict resolution.
Return to Index
Bobos Babes
Adventures: The Lovey That Came to Life
Karen M. Bobos
Independently
Published
978-1-7374375-9-8
$17.99
Hardcover/$12.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
www.bobosbabes.com
The Bobos Babes
kids are at it again in another picture book adventure that enjoys
colorful
illustrations by Emily Hercock.
Newcomers to the
charming fantasy series need no prior introduction in order to
appreciate the
stand-alone story of Angel Scarlett, who has a precious lovey toy,
Polar Bear
Pete, that brings her comfort and joy.
Because each of
the Bobos Babes has a magical power, Angel is able to bring her lovey
to life
for an even better experience. When he then vanishes, the three sisters
embark
on a magical journey to find him.
Young picture
book readers who like adventures that include magic, castles, and
foreign lands
will especially appreciate these elements (and more) which permeate the
sisters' experiences in The Lovey That Came to Life.
It's presented in
a four-stanza rhyme which lends to parental read aloud, and includes
many
action details of adventure, combined with experiential descriptions of
emotional responses.
Her lovey has
never left Scarlett before. He's the reason she "starts her day with a
laugh." What could have happened to the "sweet arctic guy"?
The answer holds
a satisfying surprise that will delight and entertain.
As in her other
Bobos Babes books, Karen M. Bobos creates a gentle story of both magic
and
sibling connections. Each of the Babes holds a special strength and
power. Each
of them fosters connections with the world and her siblings that lends
them
positive perspectives and strength.
Read-aloud
parents will find The Lovey That Came to Life an
excellent series
addition and stand-alone story about problem-solving, love, and
unexpected
treats that reinforce ideas of friendship and solidarity with bright
illustrations, whimsical fantasy, and fun.
Return to Index
Claws
Michael Tougias
DartFrog Books
978-1-953910-55-4
$3.99 ebook/$13.99 print
Publisher: www.dartfrogbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Claws-Michael-Tougias-ebook/dp/B09H3M7NY6
Shipwreck Island
might as well live up to its name, with the isolation and ennui that
comes with
being stranded, as twelve-year-old Easterly Wind and her younger
friends chafe
at its life in Claws. Life changes, however, when a
lobsterman
mysteriously vanishes on the waters, leading the trio to undertake an
investigation that moves in mysterious ways.
The story differs
from most mysteries in that readers are let in on the secret from the
start:
the lobsterman has been dragged to his doom by giant claws...the claws
of a
seven-foot lobster. Seems like a fitting end.
But as rumors
begin to overtake the island and threaten its treasured tourism,
Easterly is
blamed for trying to start a panic over an impossible monster. And
here's where
Michael Tougias really crafts a winner, because the intrigue and
elements of a
sea monster become closely entwined with the island's politics and
various
individual motives for keeping the death under wraps.
Facing character
attacks and adult ire, Easterly, Kristin, and Brian find themselves
going beyond identifying a perp to trying to salvage their reputations
while
pointing out a threat many would prefer to ignore.
There is some scientific basis for the
lobster premise in Claws, which is
neatly presented during the course of a controversial briefing: "Francis told me she doesn’t think
there are lobsters bigger than three feet long. But, she also said
lobsters
never stop growing, and that scientists think lobsters can live well
over a
hundred years. So technically, if one were never caught in a lobster
trap and
it lived for a long time, it’s possible they could grow beyond three
feet.”
Another
intriguing approach is that Tougias contrasts the human efforts and
motivations
with the perceptions of Claws herself: "Claws is furious that
her
effort to crush the fisherman’s head has been thwarted. But the boat is
now
backing away, and there is nothing she can do except glide back down to
the
depths."
As the
perspectives of Mayor Ruth Snackle (an arrogant woman who, in this
case,
doesn't know the truth), a rude, frightened lobsterman (Bacon, who has
been
hired to perform an impossible investigation that leads him to move
from
wanting fame to wanting out), and others dovetail, the story becomes a
winning
exploration of special interests, fear, and survival tactics that
assume many
different forms.
Claws
will attract middle grade readers looking for mysteries and involving
extraordinary
creatures. This group also receives an important environmental message
that is
woven into the drama to bring the story to life.
The real winning
value of Claws lies not just in its depiction of a
sea monster and
looming disaster, but the depictions of determined, proactive pre-teens
who
receive important lessons about politics, environment, and following
the truth
against all odds.
Libraries that
cater to leisure readers with high-interest stories that hold important
growth
messages will find Claws a winner.
Return to Index
The
Dogs Who Play Baseball
Thomas Louis Carroll
Almanor & Loraque Press
9781736633939
$3.99
ebook/$10.99 Paper
Website: https://dogswhoplaybaseball.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Who-Play-Baseball/dp/1736633937
The
Dogs Who
Play Baseball
is a whimsical story of how a group of Bronx
children teach their dogs to play baseball. It's especially recommended
reading
for middle graders who love both the sport and dogs, and provides a fun
exploration that outlines an inviting cast of characters.
While,
on the surface, The Dogs Who Play Baseball is a
tale
about animals and people, it's also a story about facing adversity,
creative
problem-solving, and cooperative ventures and thinking.
Under
the trappings of a sports/dog feature, therefore, lies the
beating heart of a positive experience that shows how ordinary children
create
an extraordinary atmosphere to defy the odds.
Thomas
Louis Carroll's tale delves into not just playing games, but
managing teams. He also includes girls and boys as effective,
proactive, strong
players and team members, which is another satisfying feature of the
story.
"Are
you
going to play by the rule book or not?"
As
the kids learn how and when to challenge rules and how to create a
winning environment, young readers will relish the approaches to
playing and
winning which keep the story lively and engaging.
Middle
graders with a special interest in baseball and dogs will be
lured into reading a positive, action-filled story of cooperation and
success.
The lessons The Dogs Who Play Baseball provides go
beyond the baseball
field to address life challenges and how to creatively solve problems
in a
manner that creates positive results for all.
These
focuses make for a winning story that will delight young readers
and adults seeking more than a tale about winning and losing, but a
social
inspection that works on different levels.
Return to Index
Elijah Goes to
Cleveland
Mark Darden
Buckeye Muscle
Media, LLC
9781736703007
$17.99
www.buckeyemuscle.com
Elijah Goes to Cleveland presents a boy's
discovery of Cleveland, Ohio, and
is the first in a series that will involve him visiting different
cities across
the U.S.
Elijah is
visiting his grandparents when he decides to attend a concert. In order
to
obtain a free ticket, he has to embark on a scavenger hunt to find
members of
the band at Cleveland's various landmarks.
Mark Darden
presents a scenario in which the entire family participates in the
hunt, adding
fun insights into family connections and shared experiences which
receive
delightful illustration by Anh Bui.
As Elijah and his
grandparents trek around the city using their smart phone to locate
places and
solve clues, young readers will appreciate both the geography lesson
and the
image of a family working together to achieve a goal.
An engaged
grandparent who is depicted as being active and intelligent rather than
old and
infirm is another refreshing difference that sets Elijah Goes
to Cleveland
apart from typical picture book stories of family interactions.
Whether Elijah
Goes to Cleveland is chosen as a read-aloud by parents
looking for stories
of families of color, as a geography lesson about Cleveland's history,
or as an
example of multi-generational experiences, it is certain to reach a
diverse
audience of picture book readers who will appreciate its adventure and
lively
characters.
Return to Index
Gotham
Kitty
Ann Greyson
Independently
Published
978-0578705064
$13.99
Website: https://annsgreyson.com/GothamKitty.html
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Gotham-Kitty-Ann-Greyson/dp/0578705060/
Gotham Kitty opens with an interspecies confrontation on
an alien planet as a Catusapien captured by the insect alien Brozians
escapes
before the ship sets down on Earth for refueling and supplies.
Human Allison
Banes is in East Africa, working on her doctorate degree in zoology,
when she
comes upon what looks like a sleeping kitty, brings the little alien
into her
home, and unwittingly unleashes a force that involves an ancient curse
and a
threat to the Bantu tribe.
As
earthling and
alien each struggle with unfamiliar conditions and threats, 11-year-old
African
girl Cassidy Mkama finds herself involved in a fine blend of horror and
sci-fi
that will especially appeal to middle grades who like unexpected action
and
cats.
Can
a little
alien stranded on earth prove the catalyst for defeating an ancient
threat?
Fans of paranormal fiction will relish the growth of Kitty as she
perceives her
new world, finds a place in it, and uncovers a strength unusual for the
females
of her species.
Gotham Kitty also excels in a sense of family and community
as Kitty is introduced to the Chagga people, whose prophecy helps
events and
mysteries become more understandable.
As
Cassidy,
Laila, and others confront the Evil Shadowy Figure, Allison's rescue and
protection of Gotham Kitty is perhaps the only thing keeping complete
disaster
at bay.
The
blend of
sci-fi and paranormal elements raise the book's appeal to a wider
audience.
Despite its youthful characters, the story should reach into adult
circles with
its satisfying twists and turns and unusual premises.
Whimsical,
involving, and filled with
action, Gotham
Kitty is
recommended for a wide age range, who will find the mix of sci-fi and
paranormal action inviting and original.
Return to Index
Grandma
Lou's Wonderfully Weird Christmas Dinner
Linda LaRocque
Bowker
978-1736833711
$9.85
Paper/.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Grandma-Wonderfully-Weird-Christmas-Dinner/dp/1736833715
Grandma
Lou's
Wonderfully Weird Christmas Dinner is a holiday story with a difference. It
tells of a determined grandmother who decides that, rather than being
alone on
Christmas Day, she'll invite some friends to join her. Even if they are
a
little odd.
Beginning
with the first-person vantage point of nine-year-old
Earnestine, who lies abed with chicken pox the week before Christmas
and sees
her holiday fun vanishing, Grandma Lou's Wonderfully Weird
Christmas Dinner
evolves over a father's intention to entertain his grieving child with
an extraordinary
true story.
Her
father always spent Christmas with his mother, at her house. One
year, after he's married, he decides to spend the holiday with his
wife's
family instead.
What's
a Grandma to do about spoiled holiday traditions?
She
decides to call an old friend who likely will also be alone, and
invites him over. One thing leads to another, and Gil's caregiver Tom
is also
invited. The celebration keeps expanding as wide as hearts and the
Christmas
spirit can go.
Readers
receive an important message about celebrations, invitations,
traditions, and widening one's circle to include others as Earnestine
absorbs
her father's lovely story of a grandmother who is proactive about
making
certain that her holiday is the best ever.
From
helping the homeless to solving holiday dilemmas in a way that
brings the real Christmas spirit home for a home-cooked meal for all,
Linda
LaRocque creates a moving story that invites all ages to imbibe.
Its
many messages about giving, creative problem-solving, changing
traditions, and turning disappointment into a positive experience will
be ones
adults will especially welcome introducing to a young listener's world,
while
independent readers will appreciate the detail of one zany Christmas
dinner
that comes to unexpected life.
No
collection strong in children's family and holiday stories should be
without this unusual portrait of a Christmas conundrum that turns into
a
celebration to remember.
Return to Index
Hale: The Rise of
the Griffins
J.K. Noble
Morgan James
Publishing
978-1-63195-555-6
$18.95 Paper/$.99 ebook
www.MorganJamesPublishing.com
Hale: The Rise of the Griffins is the perfect fantasy
of choice for readers with
short attention spans. Why? It's not because J.K. Noble chooses a
diminutive
format, but because the adventure is presented as four interconnected
short
works, each excellent adventures packed with both metaphor and action.
Noble is
particularly adept at placing readers in the center of Hale's magical
experiences:
"At that moment, Hale notices a cool wave of air slowly
floating down
from above. It feels as though tiny particles of dust are pouring over
his
head. And yet, he sees there is nothing there at all. His feet feel an
odd
magnetic pull, connecting him to the earth. But once this wave rushes
over him,
his body lifts off the ground completely. A celestial and invigorating
feeling
courses through him. Under this inexplicable light, he feels a
connection with
the universe, and he can see everything—as if everything unexplainable
suddenly
makes perfect sense."
The structure and
fine descriptions aren't all that set Hale apart
from most fantasies for
young adults. Equally notable is an attention to destiny, dysfunctional
family
relationships, the epic struggle of good and bad choices conducted on
the field
of personal realizations, and characters who struggle with their
Griffin
identities, immortality, and other choices.
Noble also
injects different dialogues into the piece. This may stymie some
readers, but
succeeds in a degree of authenticity that bows to character diversity: "Garet
curses. The stranger turns. But Garet is too drunk to care and leaves,
rambling, “What does a person ’ave to do fahr a ’alf-decent dose o’
potion so
dey won’t ’ave to see death ’anging around?” He storms back toward
Kala’s
apartment, zigzagging along the sidewalk. “All the souls she’s
collected, danks
to me. All of ’em, and I’m still seeing dese wretched things!” He
continues,
“And where the ’ell is dat green man? Whatever da ’ell ’is name was!”
As Hale moves between
Griffin and human forms, an invitation for him to enter a place where
"Hale and I will be the family we once were" threatens his life.
Mature themes of
manipulation, choices and consequences, and loss and redemption are
woven into
the action, providing satisfying food for thought while supporting an
overall
fantasy adventure that is vividly portrayed.
Readers seeking
more than a formula fantasy story who look for stories of
transformation,
courage, conflict, and survival will find all these elements and more
in Hale:
The Rise of the Griffins. It's a story which will appeal to
all YA fantasy
fans, especially those who will find these interconnected adventures
thoroughly
engrossing.
Return to Index
It's Time to Say Goodnight
Dr. S. Amna Husain, MD.
Mascot Books
9781645437833
$14.95
www.mascotbooks.com
With so many picture books on the market
that provide bedtime stories for read-aloud parents, one might wonder
at the
perspective and need for yet another in It's
Time to Say Goodnight.
But, between the gentle rhyme which presents
a cadence and reflections that are slow-moving and relaxing and Ana
Sebastián's
lovely, colorful drawings that capture a range of animals preparing for
bedtime, this sleep-encouraging story deserves a spot in any bedtime
collection
for the very young.
As the day draws to a close, each animal
prepares for bedtime in a different manner.
Young puppies, bears, owls, and others all
receive different kinds of directions from their parents on how to
enter sleep,
and kids will appreciate the warm observations of how different parents
encourage this process.
With its varied and warm depictions of
"feeling loved, warm, and tight," kids and parents will appreciate
the calming atmosphere of love that weaves into these stories and the
experience of telling them. Sleep becomes an accessible goal under the
calming
influence of a story that embraces all kinds of parent/child support
imagery.
Return to Index
The Lion in Your
Heart
R.C. Chizhov
Blissful Conch
LLC
978-1-7379526-0-2
Paperback: $11.99; ebook: $4.99; Hardcover:
$19.99
Website: www.rcchizhov.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737952602/
Picture book
readers and adults looking to teach the very young about fears and how
to
conquer them will find The Lion in Your Heart a
winning story about
tapping into inner strengths.
Dennis has moved
to a new house and is afraid to sleep alone. His mother tries to
explain that
there's a fierce lion of survival and courage who lives in his heart,
but
Dennis doesn't see matters this way, and questions that concept.
Anil Yap's lovely
drawings illustrate the conundrums young Dennis faces with an
overactive
nighttime imagination, a new environment, and a loving mother who
responds to
her young child's fear with wisdom and lessons on how to confront the
unknown.
Especially
thought-provoking is the focus on the fear of new experiences and how
to
overcome them while accepting that it's okay to feel afraid.
Beautiful drawings, a bedtime story with an
important message for approaching life's changes, and a lesson in what
courage
really means makes for a picture book story that appeals on many
different
levels; but especially to read-aloud parents seeking to prepare a child
for a
new situation.
Return to Index
Maxwell
Jeremy C. Gredone
Mascot Books
978-1-68401-701-0
$19.95
www.mascotbooks.com
Maxwell's
picture book story opens on the first day of school, when a perfect
spider web
appears on the side mirror of the family car. When the car gains speed,
an
angry spider appears, only to find further challenge with a freeway
ride under
the watchful eyes of the humans who both move along in their daily
routine and
observe Maxwell's reactions to the road.
As colorful drawings by D. Sherene Offutt
capture the spider's dilemmas and the family's reactions, the spider
tale comes
to life.
The family comes to believe that Maxwell's
perseverance makes him no ordinary spider...a fact proven by
extraordinary
circumstances the next day.
Maxwell presents a whimsical fantasy story
that imparts lessons about adaptation, courage, and determination.
Kids will enjoy the fantasy superhero
visions the young characters develop over Maxwell's abilities and the
spread of
a legend that just keeps getting more fantastic.
Nothing lasts forever...but, can Maxwell
live on in the minds of those around him? He can, and does...albeit in
an
unusual manner that concludes with a surprise twist over exactly what
made
Maxwell so amazing to the humans who became part of his life.
Jeremy C. Gredone excels in creating a fun
and thought-provoking book that addresses all kinds of themes, from
building
legends and courage to handling the impermanence of life. Its warm,
whimsical
story invites picture book readers and read-aloud parents to thoroughly
enjoy.
Return to Index
Ms. Goshsquash
Lola Coleman
DartFrog Books
9781953910837
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Publisher: www.dartfrogbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Ms-Goshsquash-Lola-Coleman-ebook/dp/B09HCX6HPN
Ms. Goshsquash is
a little farmer lady who owns a yak and has the uncanny ability to know
"just what to do" with bad children.
Three mischievous
children who skip home from school one day face the "Goshsquash rule"
when they pass by her farm and listen to her off-pitch song about bad
children
before each is dealt with in a magical manner.
Billy Bush,
however is the "baddest of all." Unshaken by Ms. Goshsquash's powers
and what happened to his peers, Billy maintains his courage as he views
what
really is going on with his friends as a result of Ms. Goshsquash's
smart
lessons.
Tilda and Roscoe
have been forced to see the consequences of their actions. Will Billy
be able
to learn from their experiences? And, what will happen when they return
to the
real world?
Lola Coleman
presents an intriguing story in which a bad witch also assumes the role
of a
good teacher.
Read-aloud
parents of this picture book story will appreciate both the lilting
rhyme and
the opportunity to transmit to young listeners important lessons about
the
effects of their behaviors on those around them.
With its dash of
magic and astute hand to describing recognition and recovery processes,
Ms.
Goshsquash blends a hard lesson with a fun read that adults
can use to both
entertain and educate the very young.
Return to Index
Munchimonster Zero-Waste Sustainable Eco-Fun
C. Purin
Independently Published
979-8623256430
$7.75 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Munchimonster-Zero-Waste-Sustainable-Eco-Fun-Charlotte/dp/B085RQN73H
Munchimonster
Zero-Waste
Sustainable Eco-Fun is a delightful picture book exploration of
the concepts of zero waste and environmental responsibility. It
provides the
very young with a basic primer that adults can use to introduce
concepts of
green living and recycling at an earlier age than most children's books.
The appeal comes through the character of
Munchimonster, who defines the concept of zero waste, explores why
everyone
should be interested in creating a healthy environment, and draws
important
connections between nature and human affairs.
These connections are reinforced by facts
and pages that invite kids to actively participate through coloring.
This is
the perfect format for parents looking to teach kids through
interactive
processes.
All this is presented in full-color pages
that are packed with attention-getting drawings that move from fantasy
creatures to realities such as compost. The action-oriented, brightly
colored
panels will attract and maintain young reader attention with a fun
focus.
Other art projects promote the idea of
sustainability, such as a bag that can hold a water canteen for
multiple uses
(rather than the usual one-use plastic bottle), providing practical
tools that
reinforce the notion that even the youngest child is capable of making
informed, sustainable choices.
From cloth bags that can be used many times
to watering a home garden at day's end to save water or making organic
gardening a hobby, kids receive a book that goes beyond outlining facts
about
recycling and ecology.
Its blend of "can do" choices,
revised approaches to living, and knowledge educates picture book
readers about
options they can choose to help change the world for the better.
This emphasis on individual empowerment and
better choices, presented in a fun format that will appeal to the very
young,
goes beyond picture books that explore the issues in a less interactive
manner.
The result is a title that should be on the bookshelves and in the
hands of any
adult seeking to involve a young child in assuming early responsibility
for the
stewardship of the planet.
Munchimonster, who fosters understanding, is
also featured in other titles in the series which tackle different
subjects.
Adults and kids who find Zero Waste an
attractive, positive package will want to look for the other series
titles.
Return to Index
Pretty
Deadly
Kelsey Josund
Dark Stroke Books
979-8483552086
$7.99
Paper/$3.99 ebook
www.darkstroke.com
Thrillers
written for YA audiences are few and far between, but it's
impossible to categorize the nonstop action of Pretty Deadly
as anything
but a genre read for teens. Its depiction of petty crime, society
events, and
revenge will reach mature teen to adult audiences with a vivid story
that tells
of parallel plots and nefarious schemes that involve Cinna and con
man/best
friend Johann in a competition to quash the social event of the year.
Kelsey
Josund creates atmospheric descriptions throughout to bring the
backdrop to life: "Fog rolled down over the hill that housed
the
graveyard, not thick yet but promising to become denser as the night
deepened.
Perfect for sneaking, if that had been what he wanted to do, but not
necessary
for his purposes."
Johann
finds himself unnerved by Cinna's astute abilities and
perceptions. He even harbors a bit of terror over her intentions
towards him,
as well. Cinna is the "girl of his dreams and nightmares" who knows
his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and is in a position to exploit
them.
Mature
teens receive a story that is as vivid in its interpersonal
inspections as it is in its action and social and political commentary.
The
story evolves into a plot that embraces a dead duchess and a burned
mansion, and the elements of intrigue meld nicely with the tale of
princes,
soldiers, an assumed identity, and a plot that has Cinna wondering what
her
alter ego Elena would do.
When
a prince rescues Cinna, Cinderella comes to
mind...but with
a distinct criminal backdrop that keeps readers thinking about
unexpected
developments and emotional connections.
The
result blends romance, intrigue, and action in a delightful story
that will build thriller enthusiasts from YA audiences unused to the
experience, while attracting adult readers with a special blend of
action that
revolves around royalty, heists, and a relationship doomed to explode.
Return to Index
Rocky's Christmas
Journey
Kim Dwyer, Ph.D.
Independently
Published
978-1-7373253-3-8
$12.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.drkimdwyer.com
When Baby Owl
outgrows his nest in Rocky's Christmas Journey, his
dilemma prompts him
to take flight away from his comfort zone and parents to find a new
home.
He appears to
discover the perfect nap spot, but when a strange forest noise awakens
him in
the daylight, he finds a dangerous threat to his forest home. What can
a young
owl do to save the day, even if he has moved from Baby Owl to Brave Owl?
Brave Owl's new
nest is very warm and the world is very cold. So he goes back to sleep.
And when
he awakens, his world has changed.
What's a
Baby/Brave Owl to do?
Kim Dwyer's story
is simply delightful, spiced with exquisite, colorful drawings by Moran
Reudor.
It's based on a true story of a little owl who was found in the
Rockefeller
Christmas tree, which makes it an even more compelling.
The holiday
season and decorations come alive under Dwyer's hand in a story based
on a real
discovery. A concluding section of owl facts and a guide for caregivers
on how
to interpret this story and discuss it with young picture book readers
and
listeners completes its value not just for the Christmas season, but
for
year-round lessons.
The blend of
Christmas experience, the gift of giving and care, and the little owl's
observation of his changing world is a warm story that both captures
the
holiday spirit and provides important lessons about conservation and
moving
away from safe, familiar environments.
Return to Index
Rosco Run. Rosco
Fun.
Steven C.
Thedford
New World Press
Inc.
9780975973035
$14.99 Hardcover/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Rosco-Run-Fun-Steven-Thedford/dp/0975973037
Rosco Run. Rosco Fun. is a simple story that
young dog lovers and their
read-aloud parents will relish. It's filled with action-packed words
and simple
lines of detail and describes dog Rosco's skips, flips, sips, and dips
as Rosco
traverses his neighborhood and becomes involved with its delights and
people.
As he lounges by
(and in) the pool, eats hot dogs, roller skates, and generally enjoys a
good
life of mixed activity and rest, picture book readers will enjoy the
bright,
large-size color illustrations by Patrick Carlson that bring Rosco's
world to
life.
It's nice to see
a story that juxtaposes leisure and fun activity, teaching the very
young about
the value of both approaches to daily living.
Parents will
welcome the positive, uplifting world of Rosco and his happy form of
interacting with life in a balanced way, and can use Rosco
Run. Rosco Fun.
as a read-aloud introduction on how to live life to its fullest,
whether
playing or relaxing.
Return to Index
Somewhere Different Now
Donna Peizer
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880775
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Somewhere Different Now
is Annie Cahill's three-part story,
opening four years after the end of World War II.
Her family has moved out of the city to a
new suburb and teenager Annie feels isolated, alienated, and out of
sorts with
her parents.
Her astute examinations of the social and
historical influences that affect her world are provided from the
vantage point
of hindsight and blossoming maturity: "I
don't mean to sound all Pollyannish or suggest that trouble did not
visit me
from time to time, because it did. I'm only saying that the environment
created
by the circumstances of that unique historical period was a perfect fit
for me
and allowed me to blossom in ways I did not experience at school or
behind the
closed doors of my often-chaotic family life."
Resisting her mother's attempts to turn her
into a young lady despite her tomboyish, outdoorsy personality, Annie
chooses a
different path. It's easy to flee privilege and angst when you're
young, and so
she takes off, prompted by a fight and a dream that portend a different
kind of
future.
An abandoned cave seems the perfect isolated
place to heal, but it's not long before Annie finds herself facing an
unusual
visitor: black girl Clydeen Hollifield, who is fleeing the authorities.
Her voice and experiences dovetail nicely
with Annie's trauma, offering a contrast of their lives and the racial
milieu
of their times.
Clydeen's complex story of family and
authorities is narrated in a voice that brings her experiences to life:
"My mama, she called Beth Hollifield. Her
real name Bethany, but everybody call her Beth. My daddy, he was James
Hollifield. My mama call me Baby, and she tol' me the story of my birth
'bout a
million times. How she lift me up naked to the full moon and whispered
my name
to me, not Baby, mind you, but my real name, Clydeen. Is it a true
story or
jus' her imaginins? I don't know, but I like the story anyhow. It makes
me feel
like there was a time she loved me best."
As the two disparate girls uncover secrets,
consider their next moves, and find themselves locked in an odd
relationship
and struggle against those who would control them, an uncertain
friendship
develops. This is further tested by the arrival of another stranger: a
former
WWII resistance fighter.
Donna Peizer brings many elements and
scenarios to life in her story. Some might say that the complexity of
evolving
social issues against the post-war recovery injects almost too many
subjects
into one story; but Somewhere Different
Now represents a dance of social and
political developments that is well done and perfectly orchestrated.
The juxtaposition of evolving racial issues
of the times; the two girls' different voices, backgrounds, and
experiences of
opportunity and angst; and the added value of a different political
perspective
imparted by artistic dreamer Ulie (who disappeared during the war) and
his
mother Eva (who longs for his return) makes for an enlightening tale.
With so many character stories involved,
Peizer identifies the different, changing perspectives in chapter
headings to
eliminate any possibility of confusion.
The result is a thought-provoking contrast
between dreams, disparate realities, and the experiences of characters
who all
grow beyond their foundations, thanks to their interactions with one
another.
Teens will find Somewhere
Different Now
quite a different exploration of the post-World War II milieu, and an
intriguing probe into the social and racial issues of a recovering
country and
the individuals within it who struggle with their own destinies.
Return to Index
Taint
Janet Kelley
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880065
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
In
Taint, Rebecca's day has come. She
is
ready to write her love story—a "necessary fiction" that returns to
the days of high school, when her senior year coincided with the
explosion of
terrorism during 9/11 and the rape of her best friend in a small town
in Kansas
(which only Rebecca witnessed).
It
was also a
time when Rebecca loved Luke.
This
is his
story.
From
the start, Taint presents the
scenario of impending
doom and powerful response. As the sole witness to an atrocity which
didn't
happen to her, Rebecca is charged with both keeping a secret for the
sake of
her friend and navigating the milieu of high school in which the rapist
plays a
prominent public role.
Rebecca
is a
savvy teen who approaches her world with a solid sense of survival
tactics: "By twelfth grade, however, idealism
goes underground as one of “unspeakables.” I am smart enough to know
that I
want to look dumb. I know that I know just enough about politics, art,
religious ecstasy, et cetera to look dumb. So I say nothing at all
about any of
these things that could trick me up into looking like a “stupid
teenager.”
She
also is
determined to seek justice on a level that taps into a personal well of
courage, while remaining circumspect for the sake of her friend.
This
dual
challenge leads her to find a chilling way to exact revenge, and
prompts teen
readers to consider the moral, ethical, and social conundrums of rape
and
terrorism's effects on not just victims, but everyone who loves them.
From
her
friend's evolving feelings about the experience to Rebecca's
determination to
"keep her mouth sealed. For good" against all odds and pressures, Taint provides a thoroughly
thought-provoking read for teens that questions the foundations of
sexual
abuse, friendship, loyalty, and justice.
The
adult themes
of this story make it recommended for mature teens who will find in Taint a powerful narrative that will
lead them to reflect on issues, both social and sexual, that injects
terrorism
into daily life.
Its
hard-hitting
story should be in any collection seeking to address these topics for
mature
audiences.
Return to Index
The
Undiscovered Descendants
Jo Visuri
Pohjola Press
978-1-7377639-0-1
$13.99
Author website: https://www.jovisuri.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
Once
upon a time, long ago, four clans located in remote regions of the
planet joined forces to defeat a threat to humanity. They were gifted
special
abilities to win their fight...traits that set them apart from normal
humans,
and which were passed along to their descendants, who kept apart from
humans.
Fast
forward in time to Auor Island. Here, seemingly ordinary girl Elin
Bodil becomes simultaneously involved with a new neighbor and a
motorcycle-riding stranger.
A
powerful prologue draws readers into the story to reveal the
aftermath of what is to come: "My family was safe. How I
longed to be
enjoying myself with the rest of them, but I knew I was different...I
hoped I’d
see them again soon, but for now, it would have to be silence. I had no
choice.
It was my fault after all—I had to go. Some would argue that where I
was now
going was impossible or imagined—a fantasy—and until a few months ago,
I
would’ve agreed with them. To be found and invited to join was
unexpected.
Learning their secrets was beyond my wildest imaginings. Landing in the
middle
of a brewing conflict was never part of the plan."
This
both sets the stage and opens Elin's first-person narration of
events as the first chapter explores the new neighbor's arrival and the
changes
he introduces to her life.
As
readers pursue her story, supernatural elements emerge to add
intrigue and danger. Elin and her new friends attempt to juggle regular
lives
(school dances, other friendships, and family life) with an emerging
truth
about the Clan and its latest threat.
Jo
Visuri does an outstanding job of juxtaposing fantasy and real-world
concerns as the tension and action escalate.
Her
ability to portray both worlds creates a read which is involving as
Elin faces school life without formerly trusted friends (they are
attending a
new school on the mainland) and finds herself forced to rely on new,
untested
relationships with Tristan and those whose psyches and intentions
remain
obtuse.
Another
solid device for depicting the concerns of all sides lies in
shifting viewpoints which change from Elin to Aedan and Tristan.
Teen
fantasy readers who want a story about new and evolving
relationships, changing life purposes and perspectives, and threats to
family
and community connections will find The Undiscovered
Descendants an
excellent, satisfying story.
It
takes the time to depict home and small town/island life, creating a
firm foundation for exploring the events that threaten change. This, in
turn,
crafts the perfect scenario for considering just how and why these
young people
become so invested in outcomes that challenge their worlds and
individual
lives.
The
Undiscovered Descendants is highly recommended for teen fantasy
readers who look for more than action and adventure in their stories.
The
community, family life, and growth opportunities presented to this
disparate
circle of new friends reflects a bond that makes for a compelling,
solid read.
Return to Index
Where Dragonwoofs
Sleep and the Fading Creeps
A.J. Massey
Independently
Published
978-1980944393
$9.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
www.dragonwoofs.com
Where Dragonwoofs Sleep and the Fading
Creeps reaches advanced
elementary through middle school readers with a fantasy in which an
ordinary
boy awakens to find himself in an extraordinary world.
Thirteen-year-old
Ben had no inkling that he was destined for something more than an
regular
life. When he awakens, one night, into a land that seems to be another
dream,
he is introduced to the fading magical world of Meridia and is charged
with a
mission: to undertake a journey to save this magical realm.
Why should an
average Earth boy be conscripted into service or eager to save a
different world?
Because his successful confrontation with The Fading that threatens
them will
also change his life.
A.J. Massey opens
the story with a series of confrontations highly reminiscent of Alice
in
Wonderland, where Ben's puzzled questions are met with
elusive responses
injected with whimsical humor: “This weed refuses to ask the
right questions
in order to receive the right answers.” Ben sighed. “What is the right
question
to receive the right answer?”
“Pertaining to what?”
Ben growled before speaking slowly and
deliberately. “What is the right question to receive the right answer
to find
the shelter?”
The faerie spun in the air. “Ah, of course,
the right question to receive the right answer to find the shelter
would be for
this weed to ask if it can follow us to the shelter.”
“Can I follow you to the shelter?”
The faerie flew away from Ben and deeper
into the forest. “Yes, why did this weed not ask us this before?”
As Ben joins
forces with Queen Regent Avery, Marcus, and elf Tam, they undertake an
arduous
foray pursued by Sovereign and his generals, who have a vested interest
in
seeing that the Fading continues to consume the land.
Fantasy readers
will appreciate the whimsical interplays between characters, the sense
of humor
Massey injects into the story for comic relief, and the interactions
between
friends who also explore their changing relationships with one another.
Marcus, for
example, can't understand why his best friend Anna would prefer to
pursue a
relationship with a boy who is abusive, rather than moving from
friendship to
something more, with him.
From goblin
drinking contests to getting the right answers in one world that allows
them to
change another, the story moves between sleep realm adventures and
real-world
conundrums in a satisfyingly smooth manner.
Unexpected twists
and turns keep teens engaged and wondering about the outcome of an epic
journey
that keeps both friends and readers on their toes.
While Where Dragonwoofs Sleep and the Fading Creeps is an excellent choice for fantasy leisure readers, it also holds enough literary humor and wordplay to ideally attract educators interested in exploring themes of language and humor, and who look for contemporary reads beyond Alice in Wonderland for such examples.
Where Dragonwoofs Sleep and the Fading CreepsReturn to Index