February 2022 Review Issue
Literature
Mystery & Thrillers
Balance of Fortune
Mel Lee Newmin
Out of This World/Devil's Party Press
978-1-957224-01-5
$16.99
https://outofthisworldpress.com/
In Balance
of Fortune, three worlds stand on the brink of war. The story
opens with a
dispatch (dated 2521) which outlines the destruction of the ship
Devil's
Festival in a terse memo informing Nick Severin that war may be
imminent.
Nick is in a special position. He's one of
the few humans who can read Gunera, so is in a position to receive
communiqués
not normally meant for human eyes. This means that he's the first to
know they
have lost a ship...and the first to understand what this implies for
the future.
Mel Lee Newmin creates a vivid story of a
man who is elevated to a position he is actually ill-equipped to
handle, on
some levels. The descriptions of Nick's emotional entanglements and how
he
chooses to address them lend psychological depth to the story which is
unexpected in what seems to begin as a tale of military engagements
between
humans and aliens: "He didn’t know
what to make of his feelings and opted not to try. Like so many other
emotions,
Nick pushed them down into the box to be reconciled later."
From implants which both give him an edge
and guarantee disaster and discovery to his resistance of the torture
process
that is the Gunera's specialty as they try to force him to sign a
document,
readers navigate the worlds of aliens and humans that are on the cusp
of change,
solely depending upon one man's abilities and choices.
There's a fortune to be made in farming
human slaves. As Nick navigates the dangers of his new position,
readers
receive the full flavor of an alien society which holds different
visions for
the future of humanity.
Newmin includes many special words for alien
names and species (eh’Nicodemus, vuh’, gy’Gravinda). These serve to
emphasize
the odd relationships and characters that revolve around Nick as spies
and
plots come to life.
The story operates on several levels: as an
action-packed saga of clashing cultures; as the story of one powerful
individual's key role in preventing interplanetary disaster; and as a
compelling tale of alien and human relationships that presents many
satisfying,
surprising twists and turns.
It can take a while to absorb all these
complex details, but the result is a potent story of survival and
cat-and-mouse
games between humans and aliens which will keep even savvy, avid sci-fi
readers
guessing to the end.
Any library collection strong in sci-fi
military works will find Balance of
Fortune a gripping, well-balanced read.
Return to Index
City of Locked Doors
Keegan and Tristen Kozinski
Crooked House Publishing
ASIN: B075329HZ8
$3.99 ebook
www.kozinskibooks.com
Readers of dark fantasy will find City
of Locked Doors adds horror into
its mix as it surveys a world that exists four hundred years after a
plague has
altered man and beast alike.
As mankind fell, so arose in its place the
Tyrants who ruled over the last vestiges of humanity. They are both a
terror
and a blessing, restoring some semblance of order to a world buffeted
by chaos.
The city Umbras, the domain of Lock-And-Key,
represents a model of survival: its residents are locked down at night,
but are
otherwise relatively free to pursue their lives. It's inevitable that
this
fragile order will crumble, and in City
of Locked Doors the adversity comes from two places: one who
aspires to
rule the world, and a stranger from outside the city's walls who seeks
revenge
for his brother's murder.
These two forces introduce new terror and
disruption
into a world already made fragile by its organization and past: "Noir's
fingers closed into a fist, nails biting into his flesh and spilling
dark
blood. Because he must suffer first. He must know fear and
despair; he must
see them give way to hope and conquest only to be torn from his grasp
as a lie.
He must be made to look into the darkness of his fate and realize the
fathomless depths of his error."
The Kozinskis do a fine job of creating a
dark atmosphere and solid sense of place as the story evolves: "He paused on its perimeter, observing
the space before venturing forward. The skyscrapers here all appeared
new, the
locks untwisted, the walls and doors bereft of dent or scar. Even the
surroundings lacked their usual displays of life either in refuse,
decorations,
or cadavers. Yet it was a sham, a gaudy repair attempt that itched at
Noir like
the wrong-colored patch on a dress. To everyone else, however, it would
appear
as an untouched and uninhabited portion of Umbras."
The realities that lie under the thin veneer
of hope and order, and the disparate challenges faced by all as this
structure
crumbles, makes for a vivid inspection of the social and psychological
choices
that motivate all characters to step outside their comfort zones.
As Lieutenant Noir becomes involved in a war
against Grim, who is labeled a traitor for his actions, the gray line
between
right and wrong begins to blur.
Readers are treated to a story that delves
into these choices and their consequences as Noir, Adrian, and others
are
buffeted by forces beyond their understanding (or, ultimately, their
control).
As uncertain friendships and new alliances emerge,
readers are led on a journey that gives thought-provoking insights into
a world
which "...gets stranger the farther
from civilization you get."
The very definition of that civilization is
examined as the story unfolds and the tenuous connections between
characters
come to light. Tension is well developed, twists and turns of plot and
character
connections keep readers on their toes, and the fine line between
living and
dead is crossed as Noir and Adrian face impossible decisions holding
unpredictable outcomes.
The result is a dark fantasy that both
entertains and offers much food for thought on psychological, social,
and
political levels.
Readers who like their stories steeped in a
different form of post-apocalyptic flavor will find City
of Locked Doors nicely developed in this compelling blend of
horror, fantasy, and survival story.
Return to Index
Dragon Emperor
Dawn Ross
Independently Published
979-8709702233
$12.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Emperor-Dawn-Ross/dp/B08WP7H476
Book 2 of the Dragon Spawn Chronicles, Dragon Emperor, provides readers of
space opera and fantasy with a sequel that also serves as a stand-alone
read
for newcomers who like plenty of battle action and adventure.
Its 23 days into year 3791. Jori Mizuki is a
soldier who employs high technology in battles against enemy soldiers.
Jori is
ten years old. He's learning new skills as he embarks on virtual
warfare
routines that train him for real world confrontations.
As he faces blackmail, threats, challenges
to loyalty and trust, and changing family connections, Jori risks his
family's
life by involving them in his growing dilemmas.
The Dragon Emperor is a leader in battles.
His son Jori may prove even greater. But what commitment is stronger:
moral
values or familial duty and loyalty?
Dawn Ross creates a thoroughly engrossing
story based on family interactions, legacies, and intergenerational
conflicts
that operate on both personal and political levels.
While familiarity with Starfire
Dragons will offer a foundation for readily understanding
the universe in which Jori comes of age, newcomers will find Dragon Emperor thoroughly accessible.
It should be cautioned that Dragon
Emperor, while compelling, is
also complex. There are many characters and settings (explained in a
glossary
at the book's end), and the ordeals of the emperor's son and the
uncertainty
surrounding his ability to lead and survive creates a multifaceted,
powerful
saga.
There will be a follow-up to Dragon
Emperor, as well, as some
conflicts resolve but the ultimate fate of the main character is left
in limbo.
Readers who enjoy space operas that focus on
more than battle engagements, probing the foundations of loyalty,
commitment,
and coming of age as the son of a conqueror, will find Dragon
Emperor thoroughly involving and hard to put down.
Return to Index
The
Land of Irgendwo
Grayson W.
Hooper
River Grove
Books
978-1-63299-468-4
$7.99 ebook
Website: www.shadebringer.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
The
first book
in the Shadebringer series opens with a military engagement that
doesn't
portend that this story will move into fantasy realms.
Clyde Robbins is a soldier in the 1960s who
confronts the feeling that his life is meaningless by joining the army,
where
he discovers that survival in and of itself lends meaning to his
efforts...but
is something that he also fails to achieve.
However, death is not the end of matters. He
awakens in the land of Irgendwo after dying in a firestorm of bullets,
and this
is where the action really begins.
The first thing to note is that The
Land of Irgendwo is not your usual
formula fantasy adventure. The first-person conundrums of Clyde hold
their
roots in real-world feelings and events from the start: “If
you’re so goddamn smart, why aren’t you going to college?”
“Because I’m poor white
trash
with no way out of here and no hope otherwise, so I figured I’d try my
hand at
killing commies rather than my stepfather. Besides, I feel like I owe
this
county for all my free books.” Of course, I didn’t give a rat’s ass
about the
books, but I didn’t feel like explaining why my life was otherwise
meaningless."
Readers
used to
the injection of typical fantasy elements will first find that the
story is
well rooted in real-world scenarios. They may initially find these
elements
confusing and too close for comfort as history and characters navigate
familiar
territory that is not spiced with fantasy.
But,
just wait.
The story captures Clyde's gritty life, choices, dilemmas, and finally
his
death, then moves into other worlds with a deft attention to detail and
surprises which defy any notion of a formula reading experience.
The
language is
up-front and in your face. This may stymie some, but is entirely in
keeping
with the characters and events, and will delight readers who seek a
more
refreshing tone of realism: "I
hadn’t even stepped off the bus before a pile of shit fell in my lap.
On our
way to the reception station, some fuckhead from New York decided to
get
froggy, so I split his upper lip."
The
military
isn't the only force that will "tear you down and rebuild you." So
are events entirely beyond Clyde's predictions or control as he enters
a realm
in which he faces dark magic, a rabid cult, and the impact of his own
decisions, inadvertently awakening a force that challenges the status
quo in
this dark world.
Battles,
military encounters, and vivid inspections of good, evil, and the
struggles
between them permeate a story that also presents solid moral and
ethical
inspections: “We have learned nothing.” I
boiled with anger. How could Keats have served such evil? Why the hell
would
Jens do business with them? What kind of god would allow that place to
exist? I shot a child dead and went to
lunch an hour
later. The reminder snuffed my righteous anger. Perhaps I
deserved to be
there with Bernie."
As
Clyde trains
for a very different kind of war and continues to face various demons,
he
participates in a chess game that includes beasts, attacks, strange
alliances
and friendships, and traitors.
Does
anyone
really have free will?
These
and other
questions mark a fantasy adventure like few others, that will captivate
on many
different levels.
While
The Land of Irgendwo
is not recommended for those who look
for clean, circumspect formula fantasy writing, it's a top
recommendation for
readers who like their stories action-packed and unpredictable and
their
characters gritty and determined. The changing scenarios are
compellingly rich
with philosophical and moral reflection that adds an extra dimension to
this
hard-driving tale of loss, love, and lifetimes of struggle.
Return to Index
Mars Adrift
Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays
Pumpjack Press
978-1-7345197-6-1
$15.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.pumpjackpress.com
If there's one thing that can be said about
the third book in the Halo trilogy (and the trio as a whole), it's that
the
story crosses genres in a manner designed to satisfy both sci-fi
readers and
those who look for hard-boiled detective investigations.
While this designation may challenge
libraries looking for pat categorizes to shelve books by subject, it
also holds
the benefit of reaching a wider audience than a more singular approach
could
have done.
Mars Adrift
concludes the trilogy, adding extra dimensions of thought-provoking
insights
into the politics and trials of life in 2188, when the AI that directs
and
controls both Earth and Mars is knocked offline by meteors.
This seemingly random event turns out to be an
insidious portent of trouble as Crucial Larsen becomes involved in
locating a
missing scientist and ex-lover who holds the key to returning Halo to
functionality against all odds.
Crucial's first-person observations about
events, and his emotional responses at being drawn back to an
environment he
actually dislikes, drive a story which is thoroughly engrossing: "What in the eternal tall-finger is
happening now? I hate this planet, I’ve always hated this planet, and
now I
hate it even more. There is no end to the depth of my hatred. As if the
terminal intrigues and Earth-crushing greed of the rich and bored
aren’t
enough, now we’ve got an interstellar invader in squiggly paramecium
ships
crapping out clouds of what are most likely weapons."
As history begins to repeat itself to offer
new challenges, readers receive many social, psychological, and
political
insights that continue to expand the Halo environment and challenge its
major
players: "Maybe history is a work in
progress and we are always creating and recreating the story of
ourselves, a
story that has no chronological boundaries, no past or future. Only
flux."
These elements, in conjunction with a
developing mystery that injects a detective's probe into the issues of
a colony
trying to survive, create a powerful a sci-fi story that is a fitting
conclusion to the Halo stories that began with The
Gates of Mars.
Prior fans will find the unpredictable
action and interrelated destinies of two worlds, spiced by a "whodunit
and
why?" story that spins many satisfying twists, make Mars
Adrift a powerful conclusion, worthy of addition to any
library's sci-fi or detective story collection.
Return to Index
One
Greg Rode
Warren Publishing
978-1-954614-37-6
$14.95
www.warrenpublishing.net
As One
opens, the first-person narrator is ready and waiting on his porch,
whiskey in
hand. For what?
This becomes evident as the story unfolds to
embrace zombies, a world brought to its knees by an apocalyptic event,
and a
road trip through hell during winter.
The search for sanctuary brings three
characters to New York City, where vestiges of horror remain alive (or
dead)
and well.
Greg Rode cultivates a gritty form of
inspection in this story that is delightfully refreshing in comparison
to other
zombie novels. The protagonist's observations and choices are often
surprising:
"I struggle some with the idea that
I have contributed to the death of one of the few remaining humans, but
it
isn’t like there had been any ambiguity about Jack’s character—he was a
conniving, selfish asshole."
As trappings of normalcy emerge from
"...the deep quiet of a world that has been shushed," readers receive
a contemplative dystopian piece that blends action with a wry overlay
of humor
and social inspection: "Frozen
zombies are heavy, as in
dead-body-filled-with-another-fifty-pounds-of-iceand-water heavy. At
least it’s
dead, but now the rules have changed. Again. We’re going to have to
raise our
awareness level, and all of us will likely need to patrol on a daily
basis.
Like potato chips, you can’t have just one."
Rode provides a delightful story that
operates on several levels, juxtaposing a survival story with one that
inspects
ghosts, memories, and struggles to reclaim an ordinary life.
Perhaps at no other time in history would
Rode's words resonate so strongly as in these COVID years: "Over the course of my entire life, I’ve reached
into the past for
comfort during difficult times, and more often than not, I’ve found
myself here
in my mind, touching these pieces of my history. Now there is little
solace to
be found as the poison of the present takes charge."
Fans of zombie stories, dystopian survival
pieces, and literature astute in psychological inspections will relish One's powerful messages, and how they
are framed by wry irony and social inspections.
Return to Index
The
Pod Tower
Pete Alexander
Independently
Published
978-1291875683
$15.48 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Pod-Tower-Pete-Alexander/dp/1291875689
The Pod Tower blends the dystopian backdrop of a cold
2057 winter with a story of intrigue as a renegade who lives outside of
his
technological world comes to realize that a family secret is
threatening his
son.
Marcus
Calvert has
rejected many social norms and made decisions that have negatively
impacted his
family life, but he can't turn his back on either his past or his son
Elliot's
future. An added motivation for his newfound involvement in both is the
threat
posed to his carefully construed lifestyle by this family secret.
Marcus
begins a
search for truth that holds frightening ramifications not just for his
own life
or his son's, but for the future of mankind.
Pete
Alexander
paints a compelling portrait of a world not that far ahead of (or
vastly
different from) some of the directions modern society is heading in.
That makes
this story all the more attractive. Marcus shapes his world with
newfound
knowledge of actions made in 2009 by a middle-aged father whose
irreversible
decision causes consequences that ripple into the future.
Marcus
lives
outside the Containment Walls and operates in a milieu replete with
nature,
despite constant threats to change it in every way imaginable. Pete
Alexander
captures the look, feel, and focus of this world: "Calvert
had always loved the wind, whether just a soft summer
breeze upon his skin or a full-on epic winter onslaught. To him, it was
one of
the last touches of reality he could relate to in a world which, day by
day,
seemed hell-bent on becoming systematically poisoned and
technologically
crippled. The very notion that it was a force too powerful to be
changed or
corrupted by the human race was one he was able to draw some
reassurance
from."
Calvert
believes
that "society has changed for the worse, rather than the better."
Many of his observations, insights, and experiences will reverberate
with
modern readers who face their own dismay over social and environmental
changes
and human impacts.
This
is one
reason why Alexander's The Pod Tower
resonates so strongly. It contains many elements of modern angst and
dilemmas,
and while it contains a futuristic dystopian backdrop, these concerns
and the
realistic portrait of a rebel drawn to solve a long-standing mystery to
change
his own life and those around him makes for particularly engrossing
reading.
Marcus
has spent
decades carefully avoiding the one thing he needs to confront. Readers
who
follow him on his adventure will find both the setting and the
psychology
impeccably depicted and thoroughly compelling.
It's hard to craft a detailed work of social inspection within the larger context of a sci-fi adventure. Alexander has achieved both of these goals, and The Pod Tower thus holds the ability to serve as not just an involving dystopian read, but a story that holds discussion material for book clubs interested in community and individual transformation from the seeds of social injustice.
The Pod TowerReturn to Index
Prince
Ewald the
Brave
Dylan
Madeley
Independently
Published
979-8741692691
$15.00 Paper/$1.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Ewald-Brave-Gift-Knight-Trilogy/dp/B0932JC73M
King
Jonnecht is
a tyrant whose temper and violence threatens not just his family, but
his
kingdom. He operates in direct opposition to the queen's kind ways, and
Ewald's
siblings have developed their own survival tactics designed to preserve
their
lives and little else.
It's
up to
Prince Ewald to find a way to confront his father and king's rule to
save not
just the kingdom, but his family. How can he defeat a ruler who holds
the power
to inject his attitude throughout his kingdom?
As
Prince Ewald
hones a plan, others also plot to bring down the tyrannical king: "The King of Osterik instead looked to
the mountains where he would soon send whole armies; from there, they
hoped to
charge down the western slopes, and like a new river not to be stopped,
push
the Kenderleys all the way back to Bayrock, and there, smash the glass
house
that Jonnecht was building to taunt his foes. He sighed. Ah, dreams."
Soldiers
amass
and battles begin as Ewald learns new tactics, both physical and
mental, to
challenge his powerful father's rule.
It
should be
noted that while Prince Ewald the Brave
is connected to a trilogy, it operates as a stand-alone prequel that
requires
no prior familiarity with events to prove accessible and interesting
even to
newcomers who may have chosen it as a singular fantasy adventure.
Another
note is
that, despite a cover that seems designed to appeal to young adults and
preteen
readers, the action and deeper messages of this story will reach into
adult
fantasy reader circles.
What
does it
take to be a nobler, truer king rather than a dictator who appears to
wield all
the power? As Ewald tests his boundaries and limitations and considers
the
choices he has in defeating a monster, the prince's changes and
considerations
prove enlighteningly thought-provoking: "If
the truth only needed itself to win, what a place Kensrik would
be," the Prince mused. "Too often it's about who's best at using
force."
The
result is a
fantasy that will appeal to a wide age range as a determined prince is
forced
to consider what makes a better ruler with an outcome that resonates
with his
values and the kind of world he wishes to influence.
Libraries
strong
in fantasy collections will find Prince
Ewald the Brave inviting.
Return to Index
The
Ventriloquist
Steven Cortinas
Independently
Published
979-8490681397
$14.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Ventriloquist-Legacy-Steven-Cortinas/dp/B09M57XGMX
Dystopian
sci-fi
readers who like alternate history stories will find The
Ventriloquist an unusual tale. It creates a different spin on
the events surrounding JFK's murder.
This
alternate
world is connected by the Hive network.
Everything is automated, and nothing is secret. When Lee
Hussein Oswald
murders JFK, the death creates an international incident and war in the
Middle
East. Oswald was just the fall guy for an insidious takeover plot
designed to
control the world's population.
This
is when the
Ventriloquist enters the picture with his dual identity as an assassin
and
comedy act. As iTech influences and presence fall onto his radar of
attention,
the "armed and extremely Muslim" Oswald fears for his daughters,
raised under the technological surveillance and prejudice of this
nation. His
role as a "dumb patsy" is apparently to confront demons, CEOs, and
the growing divide between Muslims and the world.
Steven
Cortinas
captures the moment-by-moment reality of JFK's death, but couches it in
this
futuristic scenario involving the Hive, the Ventriloquist, high
technology
control methods, and issues affecting the Muslim community.
This
creates a
diverse inspection that seamlessly pairs a futuristic setting with the
facts
surrounding JFK's murder and how it is reported to, interpreted, and
investigated by forces hidden to the public.
This
combination
of fantasy and reality is very nicely done. It introduces compelling
notes of
social and political inspection that introduces the Legacy Universe in
a way
that feels both familiar and alien. The chronicle also employs a
humorous
overtone, at times, to offer comic relief as impossible circumstances
embrace
Gateways, doors, and brick walls that keep even the clever
Ventriloquist on his
toes.
Part
sci-fi
alternate history and part investigative drama, The
Ventriloquist is an excellent study based on a
thought-provoking what-if. What if social media existed on the day JFK
was
shot? How would its pressures, interpretations, and structure have
changed the
events that followed JFK's murder?
Readers
who
enjoy strong social inspections that keep them wondering and thinking
will find
that The Ventriloquist does both as
the power of the Legacy permeates this universe and directs the actions
of
ordinary people and extraordinary quasi-heroes alike.
Sci-fi
collections strong in alternate history, social commentary, and
dystopian
settings will relish the different flavors strongly represented in The Ventriloquist. Those who tire of JFK
rehashes will be especially delighted to discover the story moves into
much
unfamiliar territory.
Return to Index
Convalesce
Enne Zale
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-179-6
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Poetry readers who look for works about
relationships, self-inspection, and recovery from trauma will find all
these
elements of wisdom and more in Convalesce, a collection that both heals and questions.
Readers who
expect a chronological order to this inspection are advised, from the
first
poem, that such is not the case. Much like life, its ebbs and flows are
meant
to mirror the contrasting back-to-back experiences the world often
presents in
no particular order: "My poetry has no chronological
order,/The bitter
moments intertwine with the sweet ones/Because like life/You do not
solely have
good periods and bad ones."
This choice lends
to both an atmosphere of the unexpected and a progression that moves
through
loss, struggle, acceptance, and longing in equal measure: "I
thought
about it/And I don’t hate you./I could never hate someone who made me
happy./I
thought about it/And we no longer click./I can’t stand by someone who makes me feel
empty."
The search for
comfort, resolution, and wisdom moves through choices and consequences
with a
resounding gathering of pain and examination that will particularly
pull at
readers in the throes of their own relationship struggles and
self-analysis: "My
soul’s engulfed in fire./My heart beats in a frenzy/Wishing to be
liberated
from the flames."
Some of these
works are free verse. Others hold rhyme, structure, and a progression
that
indicates that Enne Zale well knows when to adhere to
poetic form and when to bend (or break) the rules for the sake of
impact and
message.
Another rule-breaker: these poems have no
titles. This means that readers enter into each work without the plot
(so to
speak) being set in their minds. With no chronological guidelines,
works that
can change form mid-poem, and no clues via titles, one might think
confusion will
emerge. But, the delight of this collection is that, although it breaks
from
many conventions, the result is an unbending, high-impact series of
poetic
observations that shine more brightly than most.
Poetry readers who enjoy blended forms of
free verse and structured rhyme accompanying works of psychological
inspection
and revelation will find Convalesce
an influential package worthy of inclusion not just in poetry
collections,
but in psychology and self-help libraries where creative expression is
linked
to resolution, recovery, and healing processes.
Return to Index
Inhabitant
Charles Crittenden
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880492
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Poetry readers who choose Inhabitant
will find that it represents
a fine blend of poetry and storytelling as it surveys the thoughts and
experiences of the Inhabitant, who has been expelled from Earth for
mistreating
the planet, and who searches the universe for a new home.
When the narrator opens the story, it's with
the hopes that his new condition is but a dream, in 'The Drop': "...turns out the only thing you can
count on isn’t death or taxes./all my life i’ve taken gravity for
granted./always
held that attraction between my body and my world,/stuck together
spinning
around the sun/day by day..."
As his journey continues, poetry readers
receive a pointed story of travel, home, a changing sense of place, and
a sense
of introspection as the narrator's connection to Earth fades and the
universe
widens: "...no one to take the
wheel,/days and days through endless black./moonstops where i float
without
realizing where i am or where i’m headed./a mint collection of dust
from the
planets i’ve seen./count all the stars,/and again in case i missed
one./stuck
in perpetual motion,/the route will never end,/my proving ground/to
appreciate
a home when i finally arrive."
The
exploration proves at once frightening
and enlightening. Readers are drawn by a form of free verse that moves
from the
microcosm of past familiar territory to the macrocosm of the universe,
yet
still affords opportunity for inspecting Earthly connections and
personal
choice. An example lies in 'A Profound
Realization Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Spider Who
Lives In
My Ship,' in which the narrator saves a stowaway and learns a lesson
about
thinking about others outside his immediate world.
As hope, home, and repeated failures become
emergent themes, poetry readers will enjoy an inspection that
celebrates the
basics of human life: gravity, atmosphere, and checklists of the
physical
elements that define 'home.'
Its
special,
creative journey will prove thought-provoking for any poetry enthusiast
interested in the sense of place and purpose in the life of a
newly-created
nomad.
Return to Index
The Last Appointment
Charles Levin
Munn Avenue Press
978-1-7352108-7-2
$9.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Appointment-Collected-Short-Stories/dp/1735210870
The Last Appointment:
30
Collected Short Stories crosses genres to provide mysteries,
suspense stories, and nonfiction essays that each reveal entertaining,
thought-provoking characters and inspections. These are especially
attractive
recommendations for those short of attention or time, who appreciate
works that
contain depth, packed into a short piece.
Many of these works have appeared on Charles
Levin's blog, with "The Last Appointment" being the one new,
unpublished piece that adds something satisfyingly different to the
mix. The
title piece centers on a writer who discovers that her works have the
power to
predict the future.
Susan Lark thinks that she may be losing her
mind over patient and writer Angela Auger. As soon as Angela enters her
practice, Susan loses her dispassionate therapist persona and becomes
aware
that Angela is posing not just a different problem than schizoaffective
disorder, but that her writings may be creating, rather than
predicting, the
future.
In contrast, "Heaven+" will
especially appeal to those familiar with Roku and streaming devices,
who will
readily relate to the dilemma of a user faced with a new choice that
can change
his world.
Supplementing these fictional inquiries into
changing lives is the section of essays which includes "Do-It-Yourself
Gene Hacking – Good, Bad, Ugly, and Scary", which reviews and considers
the question of genetic manipulation that may be accessible by ordinary
people:
"The problem with DIY gene hacking,
like recent advances in artificial intelligence, is that the
developments and
abuses are coming much faster than our ability to cope with the changes
or
threats they present."
Each story and essay offers astute, compelling
scenarios that ultimately question the possibilities and potentials of
choices
and their consequences.
Insights into Levin's thriller writing will
especially delight prior readers with pieces such as "What’s in a
Name?," which considers the author's fascination with name choices and
their underlying impact.
The result is a literary blend of fiction
and nonfiction highly recommended not just for prior fans of Charles
Levin's
works, but for newcomers, who will find each discussion
thought-provoking and
easy to digest.
Library collections strong in diverse
literary inspections will find The Last
Appointment: 30 Collected Short Stories a fine selection.
Return to Index
Three
Questions:
Stories
E. Aly
Marshwinds Press
Company
978-1-7341170-1-1
$21.95 Hardback;
$12.95 paperback; and $6.99 e-book
www.amazon.com
The
title of
this short story collection may portend only three questions, but it
consists
of twelve short works that consider how people face turning points in
life that
change their purpose and trajectories.
Each
short piece
features a twist and a learning experience that encourages readers to
reflect
on the forces of change that move people into different directions.
The
opening
piece, 'Beach Walk,' presents an incoming tide of unhappiness that
carries
readers into Anita's world, where her love of the ocean and beach
intersect
with her anguish over love, relationships, and change.
E.
Aly
intersects the natural world with human affairs, using evocative
descriptions: "In the early years, what they
called
the BC era, their code for “before children,” they would come down
before dawn
with a beach towel, make love in a swale in the sand dunes, and look at
the
stars. They had both professed their love for each other, confident of
God’s
blessing if they were fortunate to see a shooting star. As the sun
rose, they
had stood in the surf and promised anew to love each other as they did
at that
moment. What had changed? Who had stopped this love ritual? She did. He
did.
They both did. You can’t have sex in the sand dunes before dawn with
babies and
toddlers alone in the rental house. Other times, crying children and
sleep
deprivation dissipated the sunrise magic. She and Dave’s love renewal
ritual
had slipped away just like the tide went out. But at least the tide
came back
in twice a day, every day. Scanning the expanse of ocean, she wondered:
can our
love come back in?"
As
a mid-life
crisis time is tackled during the walk, readers are invited into a
world
replete with similar tales and changed lives as the tide nudges Anita
along and
moves her into new discoveries and possibilities.
"Can two miles of beach change the
course of life?"
Read this story for the answer.
Each
story
features very different characters, dialogue, reflections, and twists.
'Cinderella Dress', for example, follows small-town visitors to the big
city of
New York, a far stretch from their small town of Lumber City, Georgia.
A
drive of over
fourteen hours brings them into another world as Ryan, his fiancée
Betty Sue,
and Ryan's best friend Jody embark on a journey that leads them to the
custom-made unique Cinderella Dress, designed "...for
the most perfect female body God could create. The dress,
as you can see, is all pleats. This is the challenge. Each pleat must
envelop
its part of the body in just the right way, expanding slightly but not
too
much. Many young women are beautiful in certain spots: their legs,
their
buttocks, their breasts, their face, one place or another. What they
are not is
beautiful in every place. The dress commands total beauty. That is why
it is
the Cinderella Dress. It will fit no one except God’s perfect creation.” Is Betty Sue that bastion
of female
perfection? Only the perfect woman can wear this dress.
There's
only one
problem. Perfection comes with a price, and it's often that of revised
perceptions of life's possibilities.
Each
story holds
a delightful twist. Each contains a moral and a thought-provoking
conclusion.
Literature
readers who look for works that excel in employing the short story form
to its
hardest-hitting, best advantage will find each tale a gem that lends to
reflection and insights about pivot points in life that often emerge at
unexpected junctures.
Return to Index
Under
the Great Elm
Rich Flanders
Yondering Star Press
9781737968405
$14.95 Paper/$24.99 Hardcover/$6.99 ebook
www.richflandersmusic.com
Under
the
Great Elm, A Life of Luck & Wonder is recommended for
literary
readers looking for evocative works that capture life and enlightenment
across
America.
The
great elm is the narrator's "companion through the prairie
years" of his Western Springs, Illinois childhood. Its sweeping limbs
of
boyhood refuge and structure introduce a vivid story that moves from
Illinois
to California in a search for "a better place that would match our
expanded spirits."
The
author's reflections on the roots of his childhood returns in a
different form as his story moves away from childhood to a theatrical
career on
Broadway and adult pursuits: "The asphalt world of New York
was soul
deadening. In the bleakness of my surroundings, I summoned scenes from
the
movie Friendly Persuasion and lost myself in a book I'd spotted at an
East
Village bookstore, Pleasant Valley. Meadows of clover, clear running
springs,
lowing cows, and a writer named Louis Bromfield, turning sod and
reclaiming a
farm in the Ohio sunshine, sustained me. Whenever I lost my way in
these grey
years and forgot what mattered, scenes from Pleasant Valley and its
sequel,
Malabar Farm, returned me to the land of the "great elm."
For
all its bucolic roots, Under the Great Elm is like
an
explosion as the narrator moves his experience from rural to urban
roots,
encounters military and spiritual challenges that both stymie him and
open his
eyes to the world, and brings readers along on a ride that moves from
past
lives to present and future expectations.
The
sea changes and journey move author and readers through spiritual,
psychological, and physical changes that shake the foundations of
belief and
perception alike as the saga moves from America to India and Europe.
The
sense of wonder, enchantment, and growth that accompany these
journeys provides armchair readers with a "you are there" feel of
emotional transformations that are engrossing and, often, unexpected.
The result is a literary piece that belongs in a
range of collections,
from those that feature autobiographical explorations to others that
focus on
spiritual or psychological growth opportunities and the search for a
place to
truly call home.
Return to Index
An Impossible Life
Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden
The Gap Press, LLC
978-1-7336194-9-3
$19.99 Paper/$9.99 Kindle/$5.95 Audio
https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Life-Inspiring-Journey-Struggle/dp/1733619402
An Impossible Life
is a rare insider's chronicle of mental illness as seen from two
collaborative
perspectives: a mother and her daughter.
Sonja Wasden, a mother of three, was only
thirty-five when she was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric
hospital by
her husband and her father. A suburban housewife who appeared to have
it all,
Sonja resisted the possibility of mental illness, maintaining that the
chaos
that surrounded her life was not of her making.
Daughter Rachael Siddoway's work in making her mother's experiences and story public is to be celebrated, as is her choice in capturing her mother's life in a manner that stays true to her mother's perspective. As Rachael puts it in her introduction: "I may have put in the hours to write this story, but she put in the years and lived it. This story was written in first-person narrative as Sonja. Writing this book with my mother is my love letter to her."
And, what a tribute it is!The story's first-person perspective
captures the extent of Sonja Wasden's emotions as she falls deeper into
the
trap of mental illness: “Well, I do have
a somewhat religious question,” I admitted.
She nodded and smiled,
encouraging me to continue.
“I go to church every
week,
read my Scriptures, and pray, yet I
feel all the punishment
of a
sinner.”
“What do you mean by
punishment?”
“You know in the Bible
where
it talks about the weeping, gnashing
of teeth, and being
cast out
into outer darkness?”
“Yes.”
“That’s how I feel
inside. I
feel like I’m in outer darkness.”
Sonja's ties to her life, her family, and
her world are shaken and examined, and readers receive insights into
how it
feels to descend into a mentally challenging place with only one
compelling
reason to stay the course: "I could
disappear from the earth, but since my children needed me, I remained."
As life goes on and trials and tribulations
affect her trajectory, the manner in which Sonja finds the courage to
move on,
and the impact of her choices on her family, are brought to life: "I started burying my grief deep, deep
in the abyss of my soul, never to be found. I wrapped my arms tightly
around
myself and closed my eyes as God gave me strength. I felt pieces of my
soul
coming apart; for now, I would use these broken fragments to provide me
with
just enough strength to save my family, not knowing if I would ever be
whole
again."
Plenty of books about mental illness are on
the market today. Some are written by family members; some by those who
have
emerged from the other side to reflect on their experiences; and some
come from
therapists who document events from their side of the couch.
Few
hold the dual ability to illustrate both
a mother's anguish and struggles and the intersection of faith and
recovery
which offers a way out for mother and daughter. More
so than most books about mental illness, An
Impossible Life: The Inspiring True story of a Woman's Struggle from
Within succeeds in capturing the many facets of life that
coexist to
influence a spiraling descent and recovery process alike.
Replete
with
powerful, vivid inspections of an evolving and devolving world, An Impossible Life should be at the top
of any reading list. Mental illness needs to be better understood on a
personal
level. This story provides a key to understanding, enlightenment, and
love.
Return to Index
An
Impossible
Wife
Rachael Siddoway
The Gap Press
978-1733619448
$19.99
Paper/$5.95 Audio/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Wife-Stayed-Marriage-Illness/dp/1733619445
An Impossible Wife: Why He Stayed: A True
Story of Love, Marriage, and Mental Illness is the second book in Rachael Siddoway's
'Impossible' series about mental illness. It comes from daughter
Siddoway's
examination of her mother's mental illness and its impact on the
family,
presenting a close inspection of a marriage challenged.
The
family's
courage in sharing their individual and family insights and experiences
is to
be commended. An Impossible Wife
goes
where few books on mental illness dare investigate, closely inspecting
the
impact of illness on a marriage and the factors which influence the
relationship's preservation against all odds.
As
in the prior
book, An Impossible Life, which
presented her mother's first-person view of her world, An
Impossible Wife is again a loving tribute crafted by a
daughter
who captures these events in a manner few other mental illness books
reveal.
Her attention to an honest portrayal of events and their foundations in
love is
outlined from the beginning: "My
parents’ love story is not the kind I grew up watching in Disney
movies. Their
love is a complicated love, and at times an impossible one. Yet I think
their
story is worth sharing, despite its absence of simplicity. It’s through
great
struggle that heroes are realized, and it’s through even greater sorrow
that
two young people can age into one. And that’s exactly what happened to
my
parents. This is their love story."
And,
so it is.
Rachael
Siddoway
holds the rare ability to walk in another's shoes...in this case, a
husband and
father who juggled his family responsibilities and his wife's mental
illness.
This
piece is
narrated in the third person as it observes husband Mitch's quandaries
and
self-inspection: "How
did self-harm become a part of our life?
Mitch thought. Had he been too dismissive of her symptoms?
Could he have
prevented this if he had forced her to get individual therapy? He had
his fair
share of fights with Sonja, but he never forced her to do anything. Was
that
the problem here? Was he relying too heavily on her to make choices
that would
help her get better? He wondered if he was going crazy along with
Sonja. She
was getting sicker and sicker, and he was becoming more accustomed to
it, like
it was normal."
More
so than
most stories about mental illness, An
Impossible Wife holds the special ability to delve under the
skins of the
entire family as they observe, react to, and are buffeted by a mother's
mental
illness in different ways.
Most
of all, the
focus on husband Mitch's various coping methods at different stages of
his
wife's illness makes for gripping, personal review of the special
challenges
that mental illness brings to a life partner: "Often,
the mentally ill and their loved ones feel helpless and
hopeless. But Mitch knew he needed hope to get through this, so he
hoped for
the best and prepared himself for the worst. He took Sonja’s name off
the
house, the cars, his bank account, all his credit cards, and anything
that
would provide her a way to access money. During the week that she was
in the
hospital, he bought a safe where he would lock all checks, credit
cards, and
his wallet. Mitch wondered if Sonja would get off that runaway train,
and if
she did, what stop they would end up at next."
As
a story of
mental illness, An Impossible Wife is
hard-hitting. However, as a love story, it is especially astute in its
examination of how love is tested but remains alive against all odds.
Any family who
has ever struggled with mental illness and any reader who would better
understand how spouses cope—and remain committed and in love—needs this
story
of inspiration and survival, which should be a top priority for library
collections interested in accounts of mental illness and recovery.
Return to Index
Catastrophic
Rupture: A Memoir of Healing
K. Jane Lee
Ten16 Press
9781645382461
$15.99
https://www.ten16press.com/product-page/catastrophic-rupture-a-memoir-of-healing-paperback
Catastrophic Rupture: A
Memoir
of Healing is recommended for educators, healthcare
professionals, and parents who will appreciate these rare insights from
a
physician and parent whose daughter was brain injured at birth.
As a doctor, the author witnessed many
families struggling with a child's disease or injury. She saw families
ripped
apart by these circumstances. Little did she know that her observations
would
one day prepare her for her own struggle with her child's disability
and its
impact on their family's relationships.
Key to appreciating this memoir's special
approach is the candid assessments Dr. Lee shares from the start as she
treats
young patients and interacts with their parents: "My
years of training were full of patients and parents like this,
children whose severe neurologic disabilities allowed them only the
most basic
interaction with the world, parents so devoted that they would do
anything to
keep them going. The questions nagged me: Do those
parents really
understand what is going on with their child, that there is no hope for
improvement? Do they really believe that their child is capable of the
thoughts
and emotions that they attribute to them, or is that just a way to cope
with
spending day after day caring for a child who can’t respond? Why do
they keep
subjecting their child to medical treatments that only serve to prolong
this
tortured existence?"
As her questions become personal inquiries
in an unexpected development, readers receive a moving story of how she
overcame her fears of such trails to start her own family, only to find
herself
living the nightmare she had clinically observed in so many other
parents who
came to her hospital in desperation and fear.
Lee's unique dual status affords inspections
that could not have come from a physician or a parent alone: "When I looked at the children with
neurodevelopmental disabilities, I saw only the disabilities. Sure, I
treated
them in a kind and competent manner, but I didn’t really connect with
them.
When I looked at the parents, it was not with empathy, but with a vague
curiosity—as if they were from a foreign culture. As if their lives had
always
been this way; as if this were normal to them. I never thought about
how it was
for them at the beginning, when they had dreams of a typical healthy
child and
felt the anguish of losing that. While I recognized and
supported the rights of families to make decisions for their children,
I didn’t
understand some of those decisions."
Her distinctive position creates an
analytical and emotional blend rarely imparted in memoirs of disability
and
parental challenge. All these elements make Catastrophic
Rupture a standout in memoirs of a child's disability, and
an important
choice for parenting, healthcare, and psychology library collections
and
readers.
Return to Index
Inside The
“Mickey Mouse Factory”: My Years In The Clandestine Service Of The
Central
Intelligence Agency
Thomas E. Sawyer, Ph.D., J.D.
Living History
Publishing House
978-17327371-7-4
$18.88
https://www.amazon.com/INSIDE-MICKY-MOUSE-FACTORY-INTELLIGENCE/dp/1732737177
Inside The “Mickey Mouse Factory” comes from a veteran of twenty-seven years
of U.S. government service in various agencies such as the CIA, and
combines an
insider's life with a memoir that reveals his experiences serving as a
CIA
Operations Officer.
From
the title,
readers might anticipate a critical viewpoint; but Sawyer explains its
origin
from the start: "That reference,
instead, concerns a depiction commonly used by CIA operations officers,
at
least during the 1950’s, about the sometimes chaotic operational
situations
they encountered and also to what initially appeared to be outlandish
operational proposals that became outstanding operational successes."
What unfolds is a candid look back at
processes, decisions, encounters, and the specifics of intelligence
work which
are not revealed to anyone outside the organization...even close family
members.
Readers should thus view Inside
The “Mickey Mouse Factory”
as
much more than a memoir, as Sawyer moves behind the scenes of daily
life within
the CIA to expose its thought processes and operations.
This approach represents the story's
greatest strength. It offers readers the opportunity to go beyond
actions and
reports to understand the motivations, influences, and daily challenges
of
intelligence community operations and interactions.
Sawyer injects his own experiences into that
process: "On later reflection, I was
really disturbed by this operational effort. The “chewing out” aside, I
had
trouble comprehending why a division chief, a high ranking official,
personally, would be carrying out this operation; a “cold approach,” at
that."
From training courses designed to reflect
operational realities to various incidents that presented special
diplomatic
and political challenges as operations were carried out in other
countries,
Sawyer's ability to reveal the nuts and bolts of intelligence goals and
conundrums alike creates a fast-paced book packed with information the
general
public usually isn't privy to.
As Sawyer encounters those who change his
perspective on life as well as his concept of his duties and their
impact, the
juxtaposition of memoir, exposé, and intelligence history come life.
Readers
who want to know more about what
it's like to work in intelligence; the moral, ethical, and political
conundrums
which challenge this community; and the ongoing dangers and threats
that move
from professional to personal lives because of it will find Inside
The “Mickey Mouse Factory”
absolutely riveting reading.
It
deserves a
place in a wide variety of collections; from general-interest libraries
to
those that hold strengths in history, political issues, international
relations, and military subjects.
Return to Index
The Invisible
Girl
Yvonne Sandomir
Legacy Book
Press LLC
978-1-7375926-1-7
$14.99 Paper/$5.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Girl-Memoir-Yvonne-Sandomir/dp/1737592614
Memoir
readers will find The
Invisible Girl a
study in
exploitation, childhood trauma, and recovery, which occurs only after
self-destructive
patterns of response to childhood abuse are repeated in adulthood.
Yvonne
Sandomir's escape from a confusing, disordered environment at age
fifteen would
seem to portend a success story of survival; but in fact it was only
the
starting point for adult choices which mirrored the powerful repressive
forces
of codependency and mental abuse.
As
Sandomir
describes a family in chaos, a mother who bounces from relationship to
relationship, and the ongoing promise of a new life that is betrayed
over and
over, readers will come to understand the elusive lure of a stability
that
never seemed to happen in either the family's choices or, after Yvonne
flees
home, in her life. Yvonne's adult decisions continue to be affected
even as she
struggles for an elusive, different result: "My
entire life consisted of controlling men and their demands on me, and I
couldn’t escape."
When
she leaves
home, grasping a dubious job offer that no fifteen-year-old should have
received, her own mother supports her flight. It's only after years of
therapy
and wisdom that Sandomir comes to a better understanding of her mother:
"She went back to her life feeling like a
successful mother because her fifteen-year-old daughter could survive
on her
own. In retrospect, she wasn’t any different than she was when I was a
younger
child. I didn’t have a curfew, nor was I watched over. The harsh
reality is
that my mom was a terrible mother. She didn’t protect me from
perpetrators or
take care of my basic needs, but at the time, I didn’t see that. A new
adventure was right in front of me to steal my focus away."
Any
reader who
comes from a home fraught with childhood abuse or neglect, a parent's
mercurial
and ineffective parenting style, and mixed messages of love,
independence, and
repression will readily recognize the course of Sandomir's life through
her
memoir.
More
importantly, she outlines a path forward and shows how she overcame all
these
influences to make better choices...but only after adult experiences
led to
repeated disasters that mirrored her childhood chaos.
Readers
who look
for memoirs that outline recovery processes and relationship
complexities that
stem from damaging family experiences will relish a story that nails
the
psychology of family legacy and the process breaking the patterns of
abuse.
Sandomir's
ability to pinpoint and document the moments and influences in her
childhood
that led to dubious choices and patterns in adulthood make The Invisible Girl highly recommended not
just for memoir
collections, but any library holding or individual reading list about
families,
abuse, recovery process, self-help, and identifying destructive
patterns of
self-sabotage, distorted thinking, and repetition compulsion.
Return to Index
Sit-Ins,
Drive-Ins and Uncle Sam
Bill Slawter
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-185-7
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Want to take a
trip back in time? The memoir format offers no better way to revisit
other
eras, and Sit-Ins, Drive-Ins and Uncle Sam: Coming of Age in
the Era of
Civil Rights and the Vietnam Draft captures youthful
impressions of the
1960s through the hindsight of experience.
Unlike most
memoirs, even though this is memory-based, Bill Slawter doesn't intend Sit-Ins,
Drive-Ins and Uncle Sam to be just about his personal
growth. He writes
with an eye towards capturing the flavors and feel of a bygone era. In
this
regard, Slawter does a fine job of producing a captivating blend of
personal
memories and changing race relations as the U.S. saw a sea change in
its young
people and the world.
Black and white
photos from museums and other collections provide visual embellishment
throughout as Slawter brings these times to life.
His insights are
specific and reflective of his generation: "I never gave much
thought
to what folks in my neighborhood had in relation to folks living in
other parts
of town. I seldom went anywhere in Greensboro outside of Glenwood,
except to go
downtown from time to time, either by city bus or in our family car.
Neither
bus rides nor trips by car passed through other residential areas so as
to shed
any light on how other folks lived. Glenwood was my world."
As he moves from
childhood into college frat years, political assessments and growing
awareness
of other nations, and social interactions, dialogue between characters
is
introduced to capture the sentiments of these times and the people who
lived
them: "I rolled to a stop on the side of the highway.
Overhead, a
bright light moved slowly through the distant clouds.
'I bet that’s a Russian satellite,' Ahab
said.
'Bullshit,' said Randy. 'That’s a meteor.'
'I’m not sure what it is but it’s going from
west to east,' Carl said. 'So, I don’t think it’s
a missile headed this way from Cuba.'”
This further
pulls readers into the feel of a time travel piece, versus a singular
life, as
the 1960s come alive.
Younger readers
who wish to know 'what it was like' should turn to Sit-Ins,
Drive-Ins and
Uncle Sam. More so than most other books on the subject, it
provides
observations blended with social and political examinations to consider
these
issues with a compelling, immediate flavor.
One could ask
nothing more of a time travel journey into the past, making Sit-Ins,
Drive-Ins and Uncle Sam a strong recommendation for any
reader or library
collection looking for an evocative "you are there" journey into
America's
volatile 1960s.
Return to Index
Tailspin
John Armbruster
Ten16 Press
9781645383147
$17.99
https://www.ten16press.com/product-page/tailspin
Tailspin is a World War
II memoir that focuses on the experiences of a German POW who survives
his
ordeal and returns home still in the tailspin which began with his
capture.
Unlike
most stories of wartime capture and recovery which focus on
military and war traumas, tail gunner Gene Moran returned home to face
new
challenges between his memories, war atrocities, and life in a changed
world.
His
encounter with author and neighbor John Armbruster gave life to his
story as three years of interviews led to the stories in this book,
which
functions as both a biography and a World War II exposé.
It's
important to note (as the author does in his preface) that this
isn't the complete story of Eugene Paul Moran. Such an all-inclusive
approach
would have likely taken more than twice the pages and turned a gripping
story
of survival into a weighty tome that might have challenged many of its
readers.
It's
a collection of highlights and sights, sounds, and ordeals of a
bomber pilot who went missing mid-war after surviving a four-mile
free-fall
tailspin in his plane, was captured, and survived, only to return home
to face
further trails.
That
eighty-year-old Gene Moran was able to recall so many details of
explicit, exquisite description makes for an even more powerful
nonfiction saga
that Armbruster made all the more notable by doing the legwork and
research to
support the events. He reviewed combat records, letters, recorded
recollection,
phone interviews with relatives of the characters, and all available
sources
concerning Moran's service in the 96th Bomb Group and his time as a
prisoner of
war.
When
facts or dialogue were missing, Armbruster filled in the gaps to
create a seamless read, using vetted information and a small degree of
conjecture at the few points where mystery remained.
Readers
who
choose this saga for its World War II history may initially be
surprised that
the story is a memoir of the extent of Moran's life; not just his
wartime
engagements. Those who pursue this story for its biographical elements
will not
be disappointed, but may also be surprised; for it's a concurrent story
of
Gene's wartime experiences and Armbruster's struggles with his wife's
cancer
diagnosis and her progressive decline.
What
evolves is
anything but singular. The story of how these two men's lives dovetail
in
unexpected ways makes for a powerful story that should be on the
shelves of not
just World War II collections, but men's relationship literature and
any
library collection where stories of friendship and connection are
valued.
Return to Index
Unconventional
Jamie Andrea
Garzot
Girl Friday
Books
978-1-954854-29-1
$24.95 Hardcover/$7.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Unconventional-Memoir-Entrepreneurism-Politics-Pot/dp/1954854293
Unconventional: A Memoir of Entrepreneurism,
Politics, and Pot comes
from an early pioneer in cannabis retailing in California. It shares
the
concurrent stories of the legalization of cannabis and Jamie Andrea
Garzot's
business adaptations as the legal environment changed and evolved.
Garzot
holds
eleven years experience as a state-licensed cannabis retailer, an
appointed
city official, and an industry advocate.
Her
unique
position as an appointed city official, businesswoman, and personal
advocate of
legal cannabis contributes to an insider's history that reviews and
personalizes the issues involved in the legalization and sale of
cannabis
products.
Tasked
with
being a leader and advocate even though being a relative newcomer to
the
industry, Garzot evolved into her role much as the cannabis industry
moved from
being an illegal operation to a legal business. Business readers will
appreciate the gritty observations she makes about the process of
adopting
regulations for a neophyte industry that promotes business while
protecting
consumers and professionals alike.
They
learn how
she navigates the concurrent jobs of being an industry advocate and a
business
owner: "Making it a priority to be
part of the process in Sacramento, I started to put systems and
processes in
place in my store that would allow it to run semi-autonomously, like a
well-oiled machine, regardless of whether I was across the street in my
office
or across the globe."
Social
issues
and political science readers will relish her accounts of how this
outsider
became an insider, privy to regulations and details of how the medical,
political, and business communities interacted over marijuana's growth,
distribution, and use: "Prior to the
passage of Proposition 64, California law required that anyone wishing
to use
medical cannabis obtain an annual recommendation issued by a
state-licensed
medical doctor. The terms “prescription” or “script” were commonly used
interchangeably with “recommendation,” but technically, due to the
federal
status of cannabis, a doctor could not prescribe a Schedule I
controlled
substance, but they could “recommend” its use in the same way that
they might
recommend vitamins or an emotional-support animal."
Also
enlightening are personal trials and experiences that contributed to
and shaped
her ability to become an effective businesswoman in the retail cannabis
environment. From childhood influences to how she grew her business as
a solo
female operator to see $12M in annual revenue without investor money,
the
juxtaposition of personal, social, and business insights and
developments is
astute and revealing, and will appeal to a wide audience.
While
her
experiences are California-specific (and thus will prove of particular
interest
to California collections and readers), they hold lessons and insights
as the
rest of the nation considers their own cannabis regulation processes.
Unconventional: A Memoir of Entrepreneurism,
Politics, and Pot is
recommended not just for California collections (though it will be of
particular interest and importance to these), but to anyone who would
absorb a
business and social issues examination that peppers personal
observation with
political, legal, and social analysis.
Its
lively
presentation and consideration of a myriad of interests and issues does
a fine
job of exploring all sides of the pot issue and its adaptation into
mainstream
society, cemented by one plucky female entrepreneur's vision and drive
to
achieve business success in a blossoming, changing, often controversial
environment.
Return to Index
"You
What?!"
John Chase MD
Throne
Publishing
978-1949550450
Paperback: $19.95; Kindle: $7.95
Website: www.Johnchasemd.com
"You What?!": Humorous Stories,
Cautionary Tales, and Unexpected Insights About A Career in Medicine is not your usual surgeon's story of medical
experiences, but a light-hearted look at the profession that's narrated
through
anecdotes, recollections, and nostalgic stories from Dr. Chase's career.
It captures the nuances, experiences, and training of a doctor involved in orthopaedic surgery, capturing the moments that represent highlights and eye-opening experiences of over 40 years.
It's
rare to find irony and humor in such depictions. Most books written by
physicians and surgeons are staid presentations devoid of any semblance
of wit,
which often translates to dry reading. In contrast, "You
What?!" adds an entertaining, delightful flavor into
its mix of medical conundrums and educational insights.
Aspiring
surgeons and doctors will be the first audience for this book. They
will enjoy
a variety of experiences that illustrate the daily routines,
challenges, and
processes of becoming a good doctor. Dr. Chase offers plenty of advice
to young
doctors, as well: "The secret is to
“Get a guy.” (Good advice for life, as well.) Find somebody you can go
to who
understands young people don’t know everything. Go to a quiet place,
away from
everybody else, where you can ask questions. Find someone who will give
you
good advice and won’t blab to everybody."
He
also provides
cautionary advice on how to avoid common mistakes: "Want
to avoid those “YOU WHAT?” Moments? Developing your ‘people
skills’ will go a long way toward a lasting, rewarding and fulfilling
career."
From
learning
how to listen, use humor appropriately, and handle the unexpected
during and
after surgery to understanding the stated and unstated facts of
bureaucracies
and HIPPA and the pros and cons of choosing to be a physician, Dr.
Chase pulls
no punches in outlining the realities of a doctor's life.
Yes,
there is
humor. But all is not chuckles and jokes. Underlying the comic relief
is a very
serious approach to the nuts and bolts of being a physician that
reveals very
specific details about the medical community that med students often
won't
fully realize until they've been immersed in the culture for years.
That's
why "You What?!" should be on the
reading lists and in the graduation gift bag of any aspiring doctor.
More so
than most books written by physicians, it outlines routines,
strategies, coping
methods, and underlying politics and medical processes that would-be
doctors
need to know in order to make the best decisions about their careers,
their
patients, and their lives.
No
medical
library should be without it.
Return to Index
Alejandro's
Lie
Bob Van
Laerhoven
Independently
Published
979-8451056851
$14.92
Hardcover/$11.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Alejandros-Lie-Bob-Van-Laerhoven/dp/B09BY84Z73
When
is the
right time to confront corruption, and what happens when that
corruption moves
from political systems to influence individual choice?
Musician
Alejandro Juron has just been released from prison after his country's
dictatorship begins to loosen its grip. To members of the resistance,
this
signals hope that he will return to them to contribute to another
uprising, but
in Alejandro's Lie, the spark of
revolution has changed.
Alejandro's
betrayal of his fellow musician and friend, combined with years behind
bars to
reflect on his treachery, has altered his heart. The outside world he
steps
into has also changed. As
he faces this
new world with music in hand and his heart newly protected from the
passions of
inflaming revolution, Alejandro grapples both with the new political
milieu
outside and his own aching soul within.
It
was his
betrayal that led to his fellow musician Victor being tortured to
death.
Unmoved by his observation of youth who are determined to "open the
doors
to democracy" through a defiance that cost him both his friendship and
his
soul, Alejandro is no longer inspired to protest, create inspirational
music
that fans the flames of revolution, or even pursue his secret love.
As
political,
social, and personal forces break through his ennui with new
opportunities that
even Alejandro can't deny, the story enters the territory of a
thriller, which
will delight audiences who appreciate both literary and suspense
elements in their
novels.
As
Alejandro
moves back into a connected world of passion on many levels, Bob Van
Laerhoven
captures new opportunities, observations, and choices that drive not
just
Alejandro, but those he loves and hates: “You’re
standing there in the corner with Pelaron, singing and poking the
dragon,” he
said as he jumped over the ropes of the ring and hopped nimbly on the
springy
canvas. “I’m storming wildly towards you because I love Pelaron, and we
start
fighting. Shall we try that for a moment?”
Thriller
readers
will anticipate the high-octane action that permeates this story, but
they may
not expect the powerful undercurrents of guilt, love, treachery and
redemption
that influence many of Alejandro's decisions. This blend of
psychological and
moral inspection and politically charged action explores the Latin
American
milieu and culture in a manner that will keep readers thoroughly
engaged.
Those
who want
to absorb the look, feel, and challenges of living under, defying, or
bowing
down to a military dictatorship will find Alejandro's
Lie a powerful reflection on the forces that oversee average
lives. The
thriller components evolve into a heart-touching history to draw
important
connections between individuals and social conditions.
While
thriller
readers will be its main audience, Alejandro's
Lie is highly recommended as a mainstay of any literary
fiction collection
strong in Latin American political, cultural, and social affairs.
Return to Index
Back
Time
Igor Max
Independently
Published
979-8762928830
$8.99 paper/$.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Time-Igor-Max/dp/B09L9WGNT4
Back Time combines a thriller with science fiction to
produce a time travel study in danger. Temporal physicist and
researcher Peter
Waylan is only interested in science. His time-travel lab, however,
attracts
those who would use time travel to direct outcomes and change the past
and
future.
When
an attack
on his lab sets him adrift backwards through time, Peter learns more
about this
futuristic strike force and its intentions. He comes to realize that he
may be
the only one able to thwart their influence, even though his own
position as a
time traveler feels uncontrolled and tenuous, at best.
As
he traces the
origins of these killers of the future to past history and embarks on
his own
campaign to protect the timeline, a series of suspenseful cat-and-mouse
encounters emerges which will delight sci-fi and thriller readers
looking for
action-packed encounters and unpredictable twists and turns.
Igor
Max uses
compelling, unusual language to capture Peter's perspective and
emotions: "Something isn’t right about this
fall.
Something fundamental doesn’t make sense. It’s a strange thing to think
in the
last second or two of life.
More like a second
and a half. That’s his
estimate. Shouldn’t his last thought be something more profound?
Shouldn’t his
life flash before his eyes? Shouldn’t he question his big life choices?
Shouldn’t he feel something? Some final, desperate emotion? No. Peter
Waylan
focuses on the science."
His
revelations
power the nexus of a story that details pitfalls and dangers in nearly
every
choice Peter makes: "Before he pulls
out, he steels himself for what’s required: a complicated balance
between not only
the backward physics, but the event horizon. He might cause certain
driving
conditions to manifest in the future if he follows through with them in
the
past."
Max
also injects
humor and wry observation into these encounters to provide a subtle
sense of
comic relief: "They ignore Waylan,
for now. Except in one forward interval, when they call him “Spook” as
they
talk among themselves. It’s not a bad nickname. He’s little more than a
dark
specter moving through this reality, casting a deathly shadow in his
wake,
unleashing a new Nazi reign on the future that will swallow these men
and
everyone else in its maw. They must have seen him twitch when he jumped
back in
time."
Typically,
time
travel encounters focus on either returning to one's timeline or
effecting
positive changes to it. Scientist Peter initially seems ill-equipped to
thwart
an enemy of time, but as he steps into his role and the past, his
skills and
direction prove not just the ticket to save the world, but likely its
only
option.
The
result is a
science story strongly rooted in thriller components that will delight
readers
seeking something different from their time travel stories.
It's
very highly
recommended reading for any sci-fi collection where time travel
adventures are
of interest, but should also be attractive for thriller novel fans that
enjoy
science and social and political dilemmas alike.
Return to Index
The
Beyond
Ken Brosky
Timber Ghost
Press
978-1-7365867-4-7
$4.99 ebook
www.TimberGhostPress.com
The
coal mining
town of Blackrock, Pennsylvania has seen its share of problems; but
when Moon
Song's brother Hye goes missing, an investigator discovers a cover-up
of events
that involves far more than a single missing person.
Moon
suspects
that her brother's disappearance is more than just a slide back into
addiction,
so she hires P.I. Ben Sawyer to help her get to the truth.
What they
uncover is so unexpected that it defies all notions of truth, reality,
and the
politics and processes surrounding the town's key industry, the mining
operation.
At
this point,
it should be mentioned that The Beyond
is a paranormal crime thriller that goes beyond any anticipated story
of
political or business greed or shady operations. Horror and thriller
fans, too,
will relish the components of adversity and unexpected revelations that
follow
Moon and Ben's tracks as they not only reveal the truth, but struggle
with what
to do about it.
As
their
investigation leads to learning about mine deaths and an entity that
resides
underground, they come to realize that the only way they can survive is
to
thwart an impossible threat that is more powerful than any mankind has
faced
before.
Ken
Brosky does
a fine job of creating tension, injecting unexpected twists and turns,
and presenting
a story that at first seems predictable, but soon excels in
unpredictable
events.
At
first, nobody
seems to care about missing people in Blackrock. But they're about to
care in a
big way, because the secrets that lie in the mine present risks that
the entire
town has a vested interest in thwarting.
Whether
he's
describing small town interactions and relationships, the coal mining
industry,
or the efforts of a grieving sister to uncover the truth about her
brother,
Brosky does a wonderful job of detailing action and emotion in a
powerful saga
of second chances gone awry.
Readers
of
thriller, horror, and supernatural mystery will find The
Beyond an exciting, involving story that keeps them guessing
to
the end, thoroughly immersed in the dilemmas faced by Moon, Ben, and
the people
of Blackrock.
Return to Index
The Dancing Plague
Jeremy Bates
Ghillinnein Books
ASIN: B0977TB5QW
$4.99
www.jeremybatesbooks.com
The
fifth book in the World's Scariest
Legends series, The
Dancing Plague,
opens with narrator Ben Graves, who was twelve years old in 1988 when
the
Dancing Plague came to his town to change life forever.
The
introduction
acknowledges that some would deem the story that follows a form of
fiction. But,
the narrator contends that his memories are factual. As the horror
story
unfolds, readers receive a tale where the plague is not the end
experience, but
only the beginning of a strange new threat that young Ben and his
friends must
navigate if they are to reach adulthood.
A
stranger who
visits the small Cape Cod town is found violently murdered, closely
followed by
the plague that quickly takes over. Are the two events connected?
Much
in the
manner of a good Stephen King story, this tale moves from childhood
play to
trappings of horror that involve the entire town, from young adults to
adults,
in a series of threats. These include a gypsy woman, curses, violence,
and
surreal encounters from over thirty years ago that still hold impact
today.
As
the story
moves from childhood to the present and back again, the narrator
reflects on the
events that changed all their lives with outbreaks of Dancing Plague
that break
out throughout the world, over the course of human history.
Can
a gypsy's
hypnotic power have something to do with the compulsion to dance until
the
dancer drops dead? What would be the motivation for imparting such a
curse?
As
events unfold
and revelations are investigated, readers receive an engrossing
supernatural
horror tale that builds its tension from the changing viewpoint and
memory of a
young and adult narrator, who traces the plague's history and
investigates the
truth about its appearances. As much as the narrator determines to
exact
revenge based on this new knowledge, he also realizes that it's more
that
likely his ambition will be thwarted.
Readers
will
enjoy the tension that moves from childhood to adult years, and the
mystery
that follows the human race as the characters face impossible
circumstances
that test their mettle and beliefs.
Jeremy
Bates
crafts a story that incorporates many twists and turns to keep readers
guessing
and engaged.
Those
who enjoy
Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and other masters of supernatural suspense
will
relish The Dancing Plague's ability
to move through time, relationships, and intrigue to question the roots
of mass
hysteria and paranormal experiences.
Return to Index
Dead
Cereus
Kira Seamon
Independently Published
979-8-9850-9560-9
$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Cereus-Kira-Seamon-ebook/dp/B09LPJPWSL
Cozy
mystery
readers who look for more than a light dose of humor that permeates
unexpected
conundrums will relish the tone and style of Dead Cereus, which packs a punch
with puns, perplexing
situations, and plants.
The rare
night-blooming cereus plant will blossom at a gala planned to celebrate
its
opening, but audiences attracted to the spectacle include a clever
killer who
challenges Holly's life. Her scholarship at Shellesby College is on the
line,
but blows to her reputation and life goals set her adrift as her plot
to become
Professor Ogletree's intern goes awry.
She
joins forces
with William Smith, a sexy master gardener who takes care of all the
rare
plants and woos her with meals, plants, and passion, but the elusive
killer
keeps them guessing as the threats mount.
As
romance,
amazing food, and deadly struggles ensue, readers will find Kira
Seamon's sense
of humor spices events to create a spunky, determined, beautiful,
amazing
character whose close encounters are vividly depicted.
The
result is a
story that excels in the unexpected, from the twists and turns Holly
takes in
pursuit of her different goals to the plant- and food-driven plot which
embraces gardening and romance alike.
Readers
who like
passion, plants, and love stories are in for a treat with a cozy
mystery that
is both hilarious and heartwarming. Dead Cereus is also highly recommended for any library interested in a
cozy story that
operates beyond the usual small-town depictions.
Return to Index
Dying to Live
Barbara Reyelts
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-159-8
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Imagine awakening to learn you're a baby after
almost a century of life. Imagine starting all over...this time, with a
timeline to beat for the survival of humanity. Imagine becoming the
youngest
scientist in history, tasked with using the skills of her past life to
rescue
the human race in the future.
Readers who enjoy stories about
reincarnation will find Dying to Live
the powerful saga of a 92-year-old doctor, Nobel Laureate winner Dr.
Esther
Windom, who awakens, paralyzed, in a hospital. She hasn't had a stroke.
She's
died and been reborn with her skills and memories intact, albeit in an
infant's
body. And she faces another lifetime to tap these skills to find a cure
that
will change the world.
The story opens with Esther's awakening and
slow realization that she's no longer in the assisted living facility,
but is
in quite a different situation.
Many reincarnation stories cover the special
challenges of restarting life. Barbara Reyelts adds an extra dimension
of
intrigue and medical thriller components to highlight the story of Esme
Montgomery's quest to save the world.
Further elements of intrigue appear, from
the FBI's involvement in a case involving missing children to
addressing a
viral outbreak in Africa and its connections to political power
struggles for
control.
The addition of these pressures and
influences heightens the tension in a satisfying manner, making Dying to Live a special attraction for
medical thriller readers, who receive quite a different premise and
progression
than the normal reincarnation story.
Charged with research to cure and change the
abilities of humanity and a wedding which introduces conflict between
her
personal and professional priorities, Esme's story is firmly rooted in
personal
lives, military and political special interests, and medical
conundrums. All this
challenge her to think outside the box of both her present-day and past
life
experiences.
Dying to Live
is satisfyingly different from the usual reincarnation or medical
thriller
saga, incorporating elements of both in a manner that keeps the story
unpredictable,
engrossing, and vivid, on many different levels.
Return to Index
The
Hunt for the
Peggy C
John Winn Miller
Bancroft Press
978-1-61088-570-6
$25.95
Publisher: https://bancroftpress.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1610885708
The Hunt for the Peggy C combines World War II history with a
nautical thriller as it follows Captain Jake Rogers, a smuggler used to
transporting contraband who is tasked with the most challenging job of
all: to
save a Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution.
What
began as a
business arrangement with slightly unusual cargo turns into a
humanitarian endeavor
that challenges Jake's skills, perspective, and heart as he finds
himself
intrinsically woven into the fabric of this Jewish family's life.
Is
the old cargo
ship Peggy C up
to such a task? More importantly, can Jake summon enough courage and
resources
to keep his newfound charges safe from both human and natural threats
on the
high seas?
John Winn Miller
keeps his eye on the history surrounding this era, but translates it
into
action-packed scenarios that will delight readers looking for a
backdrop of
nonfiction spiced by the intrigue and psychological depth of fiction: "For
two years since the war started in 1939, the Peggy C and her ragtag
crew had
dodged the mines and torpedoes and random naval duels from Africa to
the North
Sea, managing to eke out a living while the competition dwindled.
Outside the
protection of a convoy, fewer and fewer commercial ships dared ply
these
waters. Though Germany’s focus had shifted to the Russian and
Mediterranean
fronts, too many trigger-happy U-boat captains still lurked about in
search of
trophies from sunken tonnage. The situation was truly dire and
desperate.
Rogers loved every minute of it."
As
U-boats,
chases, romance, and special interests coalesce, the story becomes
riveting on
many different levels. The interplays between disparate special
interests and
characters illustrate some of the conundrums of political and social
interactions during wartime:
"'There’s a U-boat out there that wants
its boarding party back,' Rogers said.
'You will turn them over to the British
authorities when we dock.' (rescued
RAF pilot Lt. Gaylord)
'And the refugees?' Rogers was getting
agitated.
'The Jews will have to go back where they
came from,' Gaylord said with a haughty assurance that irritated Rogers
even
more.
'One of those Jews saved your life. You’d
send her and her family back to die?'
'Rubbish,' Gaylord said. 'Truth be told, the
Nazis are more civilized than you damn Yanks.'"
From
spies and
missing crews to losing battles and unexpected love, Miller spices his
story with
intrigue, close encounters, escapes and confrontations, and historical
facts.
More
so than
most World War II tales, the intrigue and realistic backdrops create a
compelling story that operates for all readers, no matter the degree of
their
familiarity with World War II politics or events.
The Hunt for the Peggy C is a vivid inspection of moral, ethical,
social and political changes set against a thrilling backdrop of
confrontation
and revelation that will reach not only historical novel readers, but
those
typically attracted to thriller and action stories.
Library
collections on the lookout for vivid World War II accounts and lively
plots
will find The Hunt for the Peggy C
a
winning attraction.
Return to Index
King Harvest
Melvin Litton
Gordian Knot Books
978-1-63789-875-8
$22.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/King-Harvest-Melvin-Litton/dp/1637898754
King Harvest
is the first book in the Kansas Murder Trilogy, and opens the can of
worms with
a group of young men who, in 1975, decide to make their money
harvesting wild
hemp on the Kansas plains.
The blend of 'wild West' feel to the story (which
bodes the clash of rival gangs) and the mystery which evolves when
murder rears
its head makes for a vivid account that will appeal on different levels
to attract
readers with a saga that revolves around cat-and-mouse games and hemp.
During the struggle to be on top, some
characters contemplate making a devil's bargain. Others embark on a
firefight
that embraces not only controversy and mystery, but the possibility of
a
changed relationship brought about by a haunting the entire family
witnesses,
which looms more and more as the controversies in Lee and Diana's
marriage
unfold.
From songwriting to staking claims in
different ways, King Harvest
juxtaposes a number of themes, escapades, and encounters as the murder
investigation and marijuana harvest evolve.
One especially notable feature to this
multifaceted story is its shift through different motivations, lives,
and
reflections about life. These are delivered through straightforward,
thought-provoking observations:
"What does a man want in his final breath? One more chance at having
all
again? CC held up his empty hands and chuckled at the thought of all
the money
and pussy they’d grasped. He lit a fresh cigar and poured a glass of
bourbon,
sipping slow, by now relaxed, at ease. Yessir, and meaning, he
supposed…a man
wants meaning."
The added dimension of candid
self-inspection and the clash of individual and group motivations and
events
make for a spirited romp through the West, psychological changes and
challenges, and groups that hold disparate insights and perspectives on
leading
contemplative and successful lives.
Readers interested in a Western-style
atmosphere of confrontation and change that blends nicely with a
mystery will
find King Harvest packed with
intrigue and interest.
Library collections strong in mystery and
social issues will find that this multifaceted story of faith, love,
and growth
offers a something for everyone.
Return to Index
Mouse
Trap
Matthew Cost
Encircle
Publications
978-1-64599-329-2
$17.99
www.encirclepub.com
Fans
of Wolfe Trap and investigator Clay
Wolfe
(who was introduced in that mystery) will relish his reappearance in Mouse Trap, another Port Essex story
that revolves around Wolfe's probe into a missing mouse.
This
isn't just
any rodent. It's a resident of a genetics lab that has been subject to
a
well-meaning genome editing experiment gone awry. And the mouse's fate
could
determine the fate of humanity, if what it harbors also gets loose.
Matthew
Cost's
latest mystery thus moves from a whodunit to a thriller as Clay's new
task
holds implications for life far beyond Port Essex, Maine. As opposed to
Cost’s Mainely
Mystery series, the Clay Wolfe/Port Essex series is a
thriller series,
following up Wolfe Trap about heroin being smuggled
through lobster
traps and Mind Trap, where society is threatened by
a cult run amok.
Good
genes, bad
intentions, and an evil plot to unleash havoc all revolve around the
mouse's
fate and Clay's ability to pursue the truth about its importance. Is
this
genome editing being done on more than just mice?
From
Victoria's
search for a way to create an above-average baby to the intersection of
business, science, and Clay's conflicts with a new police chief who
doesn't
appreciate the fact that a P.I. has set up shop in his own
jurisdiction, right
under his nose, Cost creates a riveting story filled with subplots and
small-town characters who all have their own special interests.
Russians
may or
may not be involved in stealing or buying scientific discoveries
involving
superior mice. Clay comes to the realization that, like it or not, he’s
going to
be a father with a woman he doesn’t love. Cost creates a fast-paced,
riveting
story that moves through characters' lives and bigger-picture thinking
alike.
Clay,
his
Grandpops, and a group of his supporters edge closer to the dangerous
truth
about the missing mouse, giving readers many satisfying twists and
turns to
keep them on edge and guessing.
Mouse Trap is a vivid story that mystery and thriller
genre readers alike will find involving on many different levels.
Libraries
catering to these audiences will find that Cost has crafted another
winner.
The
truth is
stranger than fiction, in this story especially. (Wait. It is fiction. Isn't it?)
Return to Index
Pandemic:
Chaos
is Bleeding
Cynthia Fridsma
979-8773139225
$15.55
Paperback/$18.00 hardcover/$2.50 ebook
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MJXPCMY/
Website: https://www.cynthiafridsma.com
Horror
and
thriller readers who like their settings contemporary and realistic
will find Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding
embraces
modern times and horror scenarios alike.
Like
many, Sybil
Crewes hasn't left home since the pandemic began. This leaves her job
(she's an
anti-terrorism agent) in limbo. The kidnapping of her friend Harry
drives her
to do what she fears most: leave home to embark on an effort to venture
into
the dangerous world to find him.
When she uncovers a lab devoted to tweaking
the COVID variant into something even more deadly, Sybil is prompted to
enter
her former job full-force in order to stop them in an effort to save
what's
left of humanity.
The
story
doesn't open with Sybil, but character Sean's descent into a dark
tunnel that
leads him into danger. It then moves to Massachusetts State Trooper
Nancy
McCann's investigation into the Deer Island incident.
These
two events
merge into Sybil's life as she wonders about her lover Harry's safety.
He's
hours late coming home, and she knows something is seriously wrong.
Cemented
by
these events and personalities, the horror and thriller components of
the story
unfold as Sybil conquers one fear, only to find it replaced by
something even
more insidious. She's made her reputation on stopping threats...until
COVID.
As
subplots
emerge involving vampires, thirsts for revenge, betrayals and gangs,
and more,
diverse elements added into the plot keep readers on their toes and
surprised
about the evolving characters and their influences.
Cynthia
Fridsma
does an outstanding job of combining the thriller and horror formats.
As
Sybil's true identity and the reason why she's become especially deadly
are
revealed, along with many surprises, readers will find the tension very
nicely
done, the unexpected twists of plot satisfyingly complex, and the story
powered
by characters who hold their own special interests beyond survival
alone.
The
medical and
social dilemmas juxtapose nicely with the horror components, drawing
from both
real-life worries and conundrums and horror genre backdrops.
The
result is a
satisfying horror story especially recommended for thriller readers who
like
quasi-real life settings and challenges that go beyond political and
social
challenges alone.
Readers
who
enjoy vampires, pandemic dramas, and stories of terrorism and
redemption
loosely based on real-world events will find a special winner in Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding.
Return to Index
Pilate's
Faith
J. Alexander
Greenwood
Caroline Street
Press
978-0-578-30102-0
$13.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Pilates-Faith-John-Pilate-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09KP79S2S
Pilate's Faith is the eighth book in the John Pilate
mystery series and will draw prior fans, especially, to its latest
investigations.
John
Pilate is
tired of problem-solving and challenges to living, but he's forced to
operate
beyond his weariness on yet another case that turns all too personal
when a
small town is terrorized in his name. Added angst comes from the fact
that his
prior support systems (family, friends, faith) are falling apart under
the
latest onslaught, leaving him virtually alone in the fight. As in many
situations where everything seems to fall apart, faith and foundations
thought
unshakeable are often the most fragile. And the most enduring.
The
story opens
with a curious kidnapping...curious because Pilate is locked in a small
container, in a strange conversation with his captor that slowly
reveals clues
to the situation as their back-and-forth banter develops.
Through
this
discussion, J. Alexander Greenwood provides a sense of mystery and
intrigue and
psychological inspections of perp and victim alike, creating a
thought-provoking atmosphere which only becomes more complex as the
story
unfolds.
Newcomers
to
Pilate will find no barriers to quick immersion in his personality and
situation, while prior series readers immediately become involved in
another
conundrum which tests his skills and the ways in which others view him
in his
world.
Under
Greenwood's hand, the chase scenes and intrigue which follow Pilate are
almost
secondary to the psychological depth of inspection he is forced to
conduct as
all his tried and true methods and life relationships crumble under
pressure.
Some
may be
initially confused by the dialogues with his inner persona, Simon. This
device
lets people into the logic and pro/con directions Pilate considers
during the
course of his confrontations, adding an extra dimension of insight to
the story
despite its initially-confusing appearance (not because the author
hasn't
described this conversation properly; but because it's unusual to see a
character inwardly divided, who explores the pros and cons of his
choices
through an alter ego who has another name and identity within him).
Simon
is the one
entity who stands beside Pilate when everything else falls apart. He
should—he's part of Pilate. It's this critical inspector persona who
may give
him the edge to not just survive and solve the mystery of a killer's
identity,
but allow him to reinvent his world.
Readers
who look
for whodunit components in their mysteries will find an added value of
deep
psychological and social inspection in Pilate's
Faith.
Designed
to be
thought-provoking, the story keeps readers on their toes to the end,
functioning as both a fine stand-alone read and an exciting addition to
the
mystery series as a whole.
Libraries
who
look for solid, well-written crime thrillers and cozy mysteries will
want to take
a hard look at this well-written story of intrigue and personal
transformation,
which should be on their acquisition lists.
Return to Index
The Sundance
Revenge
Mike Pace
Foundations Book
Publishing Company
ASIN:
B09KZH7RZH
$4.49
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KZH7RZH
In
The Sundance Revenge, ex-Marine
Belle
has returned to civilian life harboring anger issues, which she
grapples with
as she works as a guide at a snowy Utah park.
It seems a good job for both her skill level and her
desire to interact
with the public in a particular manner...until people begin dying on
her watch
in "accidents" and suicides which leave her wondering.
As
the bodies
mount, Belle comes to realize these events are part of an insidious,
deeper
plan that involves a century-old mystery and killers that have her (and
the
town) in their crosshairs.
Maybe
she should
go back to quilting. That, or become more involved than she'd planned,
to follow
the clues into an impossible scenario of revenge.
Mike
Pace builds
a thoroughly engrossing story that blends an ex-military woman's IED
affliction
with a larger picture of adversity that calls upon both her resources
and,
surprisingly, her ailment, to resolve.
From
a dangerous
shooter that places her in a serious life-threatening situation to the
"impure thoughts" that emerge with Alonzo, and the charge she faces
to confront both the unknown and her inner demons, Pace creates a
compelling
thriller that holds strong psychological depth as well as cat-and-mouse
moves
between Belle and the unknown assailants.
As
she faces a
town in deadly danger, friends who fall in the line of duty, trying to
help
her, and guilt (both past and present), Belle finds within herself the
courage
to both change and face the impossible.
Just
in time,
too.
Fans
of mystery,
intrigue, and psychological drama will find The
Sundance Revenge builds a fast-paced story firmly centered
on the psyche
and conundrums of an already-strong woman who finds the foundations of
her
strengths, beliefs, and relationships sorely tested.
With
its strong
characterization, mystery, and engaging saga quasi-based on real
people, Pace
crafts a tale that is thoroughly involving and hard to put down.
Return to Index
Throw Me to the Wolves
Lindy Ryan & Christopher Brooks
Black Spot Books
978-1-64548-117-1
$17.95
https://www.amazon.com/Throw-Me-Wolves-Cry-Wolf/dp/1645481174
Throw Me to the Wolves combines
supernatural intrigue with a murder mystery to capture reader attention
from
the start: "If I blinked I might
tear out his throat.... “I am glad that the witch is dead,” I told him,
without
letting the smile part my lips, “but I did not kill her.”
The suspect is immortal, with all the time
in the world. But that doesn't mean that this time should be spent
behind bars:
"...what fun would immortality be if
I had to waste it caged up in shitty interrogation rooms like this?
Things that
go bump in the night have little use for the niceties of the living."
Britta Orchid is a werewolf with a new
mission in the world. Prompted by Officer Aaron Labaye to help solve a
cold
case, Britta must search through her own family history, digging into
its dark
secrets in an effort to defy pack mentality and solve not one, but a
series of
murders that have their roots in one night's terrible events.
Can she find redemption for herself and her
family?
Readers are drawn into a mystery that
operates on two levels: as a supernatural story, and as a tale of
intrigue that
draws together disparate worlds and personalities.
As Britta searches through spells, new
opportunities, and threats from the past, she finds that the most
difficult one
to replicate is that which brings love.
Readers will find that the blend of
psychological tension, investigative drama, and supernatural clashes
does a
fine job of moving between each layer of influence to build an
unpredictable
story.
Neither fish nor fowl, Throw
Me to the Wolves operates on different levels to provide
mystery and thriller and supernatural story fans alike in a powerfully
immersive tale that will keep them on their toes as they follow Britta,
Selena,
and other interconnected lives.
The descriptions are especially well done
("I chomped down on my temper, but
Labaye, he dove at her leg, knocking the bucket away.") and
capture
both high-octane action and battles between disparate special
interests,
injecting a light dose of wry ironic humor into the mix.
The result is a vivid story that defies easy categorization, but is highly recommended reading for thriller, mystery, and supernatural story audiences alike.
Throw Me to the WolvesReturn to Index
Centurion Witness
Ed Mitchell
California Coast Publishing
ASIN: B09MR1H76S
$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Centurion-Witness-tale-resurrection-redemption-ebook/dp/B09MR1H76S
Centurion Witness: A
Tale of
Resurrection and Redemption represents Christian
Biblical fiction at
its best. Think the action of Ben Hur,
combined with the political quandaries of a centurion in ancient Rome
who finds
himself caught between his duty to protect Rome’s governor in Judea and
the
forces that want to kill Jesus of Galilee and quash his followers.
Ed Mitchell's background producing thriller
stories is evident in how he captures the drama and conflicts of the
times. He presents
social and political observations through the eyes of a seasoned
centurion army
officer whose charge to serve as a bodyguard brings him into direct
conflict
with forces on both sides.
Battle-worn and weighed down by poor
decisions of the past, Centurion Calix decides to make better choices: "Better
to die doing the right thing than live with what I did in the desert."
Unfortunately, these choices come with a
price.
Under Mitchell's hand (and from the
viewpoint of the centurion), the atmosphere and politics of the time of
Jesus
come to life. From bathhouses and bribes to Jewish law, questions of
crime and
punishment, simmering calls to war, and how Jesus's message reaches
beyond the
Jewish community, Mitchell provides a thought-provoking story that
captures the
appeal of this new message: “He
interpreted the ancient scriptures in a new manner. An eye for an eye
was no
longer the rule. Now we are to love our neighbors and our enemies.
Seeking God
is important. Seeking wealth is not. Rites and rituals are no longer
paramount.
Repenting one’s sins is. And if people repent, with true remorse God
will
forgive them.”
“How did the
people he spoke
to react?"
“I watched the crowd sitting
around him absorb his ideas like water falling on parched sand."
The story will resonate nicely with
Christian readers and secular audiences alike as it reviews the
principles,
history, and spiritual forces of the times.
Perhaps more so than most novels about
Jesus, the thriller elements drive a divided community and the
centurion's conflicted
heart to bring an element of action and philosophical and social
inspection into
what is ordinarily a spiritual story, with a history that brings the
times to
life.
The result is a study in miracles,
forgiveness, enlightenment, and transformation that grips with strong
psychological inspections and characters whose dilemmas will resonate
with
modern-day readers.
Centurion Witness
belongs in any library collection strong in Jewish literature,
historical
fiction, and Biblical narratives. Its powerful insights into
forgiveness and
personal choice also provide rich fodder for book club discussion.
Return to Index
Change
Happens
E. Aly
Marshwinds Press
Company
978-0-9614496-6-7
$29.95 Hardback;
$19.95 paperback; $9.9 e-book
https://www.amazon.com/CHANGE-HAPPENS-Will-They-Understand/dp/0961449640
Change Happens: But Will They Understand? is a study in moral and ethical behavior,
justice, and crime. The novel revolves around bad decisions made almost
two
decades in the past which continue to reverberate and affect individual
lives
in modern times.
E.
Aly provides
a cast of characters who each face the consequences of a day which
marks the
end of Judge Ernst “Cal” White-Callaway's life as he knew it. Two
strong women
face decisions that will also change their focuses in achieving their
goals or
making decisions that result in a legacy beyond their lifetimes. A
young couple
shares a love relationship that most can't understand. And the
innocuous-sounding Berkshire Book Club, based on Haitian spirituality,
undertakes a venture into political effectiveness that holds
ramifications for
future generations.
Readers
won't
anticipate the diversity of characters and perspectives in this story,
much
less those who seem to operate from entirely different segments of
society and
belief systems.
Aly
is adept in
crafting descriptions that capture both bigger-picture thinking and the
nuances
of small-town life and decisions that enter into social and political
circles: "'Yes, Madam Chair—and, I will add,
ladies’ club champion in tennis, golf, and bridge. It was sneaky of you
to
partner with John Emerson rather than your gorgeous judicial boy toy.
We want
to know if the relationship with John is no-trump or love.' The ladies
giggled."
Whether
it's
dialogue, describing politics and public personas, considering crime
and
redemption, or analyzing judicial systems, Aly provides a fine
multifaceted
story that ranges from individual choice to social impact: “Something isn’t right. I should have been
instructed to send the
Paschal boy’s file to Boston. The governor didn’t ask for the file. I
sent it
anyway, that same day, to the governor’s office. They should have
forwarded it
to the panel. The panel should’ve finished within a week of the
governor
calling me. I’ve heard nothing from anyone. The governor mentioned an
investigator. Inquiries don’t have investigators; criminal
investigations do.
It fits with a judicial criminal investigation. Nothing in the file
warrants
that approach.”
The
result is an
examination of hearts, values, and influences on social and political
change
that cement these considerations firmly into the disparate lives of
individuals
affected by the winds of chance and choice.
Readers
interested
in stories of justice, crime, and the pursuit of happiness will find Change Happens: But Will They Understand?
a lively, thought-provoking experience. Its consideration of a
community
changed by one man's decision is especially recommended for book club
discussion groups. There's even a reader's guide at the end for this
audience
that reinforces the themes and issues that appear throughout this story.
Return to Index
Ekstasis - The Return of the Sovereign
Heart
M.I. Dugast
Independently Published
978-1514399798
Paperback: $19.99/Kindle: $11.99
https://www.amazon.com/Ekstasis-Sovereign-Mahayana-I-Dugast/dp/1514399792
Ekstasis - The
Return of
the Sovereign Heart offers a spiritual journey with the first
book in the Ekstasis magical realism romance series. It follows the
trials and
experiences of spiritual seeker Mona Devek, who publishes a fictional
story
that changes atheist reader David Wilkins, shaking him from his grief
over the
loss of his beloved family.
Mona's publication not only transforms
David, but leads him into a new venture as he decides to make a movie
about her
story. When he discovers that Mona's journey has taken away his ability
to meet
and interact with her, he faces yet another shock...and a revised
purpose in
life.
M.I. Dugast crafts an outstanding story of
reincarnation, recovery, discovery, and spiritual survival that
operates on
many delightfully unexpected levels.
On the one hand, it's a concurrent survey of
two disparate individuals who find their destinies unexpectedly
entwined. On
another level, it's about trauma and healing from losses that provides
quite
involving descriptions which (it should be cautioned, and is
consequently
marked as trigger warnings at the start of the book) sometimes embrace
graphic
violence and horror.
Readers who expect a spiritual journey alone
may be surprised by the concurrent reflections and revised experiences
a host
of characters face as they consider the purpose and possibility of new
life
approaches and meanings: "The
visions at the millennium and, much later, her experience with Cillian,
had
been the last times she had felt something close to what she was
feeling in the
present moment, although this was very different. Not only was it more
intense,
but there seemed to be a distinct echo to it—a reciprocity. The thought
sent
her head into a vortex of activity that seemed to have a life of its
own,
contracting and expanding, like breath, like heartbeats—paving a way to
a new
life, her inner being whispered. 'Yes! I really am wholeheartedly ready
for a
new life!'"
From hyperdimensional doors to the concept
of David as a host who carries a destiny beyond his understanding,
Dugast
crafts a metaphysical tale replete in thought-provoking considerations
of what
it means to adopt a new lease on life.
Readers who enjoy uplifting metaphysical and
spiritual sagas will find Ekstasis -
The Return of the Sovereign Heart filled with characters and
choices that
enlighten, delight, and ultimately lead to love.
The unusual blend of romance and
enlightenment creates a story that blossoms with inspiration and
meaning. It's
especially recommended for spiritual readers who enjoy fictional
accounts of
journeys towards enlightenment.
Return to Index
Holcomb’s
Potato Song
Peter Obourn
Ivy Books
978-1-7363365-2-6
http://www.peterobourn.com/
The
whimsical
title and youthful appearance of this book's cover art suggest a young
audience, but Peter Obourn's story of a farm boy's adventure and coming
of age
is recommended for young adult and adult readers alike.
Holcomb
Bascomb's upbringing and experience offer few options for a
wider-ranging life.
His countenance to his small rural community is that of a quiet man who
is
solid, yet circumspect in his interactions with others. He isn't
involved in
small-town politics or drama...which is why his entanglement with Grace
Illingwood, who embarks on a search to find a father who was never part
of her
life, is so unusual.
But
Holcomb has
overheard a conversation not meant for his ears, and this sends him on
an
unexpected journey that belays his staid approach to life and poses new
challenges that go beyond an awakening sexual attraction and emotional
connections.
Peter
Obourn
paints a compelling portrait of a young man's crush on an older woman
(Grace's
mother Agnes), his struggles to understand his emotions and reconcile
them with
his urges and his place in the world, and his growing determination to
do
something about his situation: "I
just said hi and went to the reading room, which is a nice room. It has
couches
and easy chairs. It’s kind of like a living room with books in it. I
sat, and
even though it made my stomach hurt, I started to think about Agnes
Illingwood.
I had to because something had to change with Agnes."
As
Holcomb's
decisions land him in the middle of emotional, sexual, and social
conundrums
that he has no experience with and little ability to handle, he finds
that
doing what he thinks is the right thing isn't always the simplest
answer.
Between
confronting theft and envy to confronting the truth about Grace's
father's
identity, Holcomb finds his hands full and his heart heavy.
Obourn
takes the
time to paint a fine backdrop for this story. This atmosphere and the
small-town descriptions lend a vivid, realistic touch to the tale: "We sat together on a rock. We were the
only climbers at the top. We could see peaks fifty miles away and all
the lakes
and forest in between. We looked back over Forestville and out to the
farm and
up the river that disappeared into the trees and at the mountain peaks
that got
hazier and hazier until they disappeared over the horizon. Close to us
we saw
individual trees, then patches of green and red and gold that gradually
merged
into a single hue and then merged again into a soft line between earth
and
sky."
The
coming-of-age component nicely drives a plot in which Holcomb comes to
better
understand himself and his place in the world. Readers will realize
that his
intrinsic patience and quiet ability to listen may be not his greatest
detriments, but his greatest assets—and the answer to many of his
questions.
Young
adult and
adult audiences who look for quiet revelations about those evolving
into a more
effective life will find Holcomb’s Potato Song a worthy, quietly compelling read. It's the
perfect adjunct to Catcher
in the Rye and other grittier stories of emerging sexuality
and social
inspection.
Return to Index
How
to Hunt a
Bear
Revital Shiri-Horowitz
Horowitz
Publishing
ASIN:
B09MHRBGDD
$7.99
https://www.amazon.com/How-Hunt-Bear-World-Historical-ebook/dp/B09MHRBGDD
Readers
of
historical novels centered on World War II events will find How to Hunt a Bear a fine saga. It
follows a Jewish family from 1939, as Nazis enter their village, and is
revealed from three perspectives. Eighty-seven-year-old Itzhak, a
nursing home
resident in Jerusalem, seeks to document his family story; young Itzhak
(Ichu)
is seven years old at the beginning of the war; and Maya, a family
history
genealogist, finds that her research into the Hauzer family legacy
changes her
life.
As
the story
moves from 1939 Poland and first-person experiences and Jewish culture
there to
a grueling Russian winter in 1942, then to modern-day (2019) Holland,
readers
will find all the characters provide thought-provoking experiences.
Changing
places
and times are clearly labeled in chapter headings which clarify the
back-and-forth perspectives and shifting timelines that carry the
family and
readers from past to present.
Modern
characters attempt to understand their place in the family history
based on
newly emergent knowledge about the past, lending How
to Hunt a Bear an excellent sense of interconnected heritages
and Jewish cultural experiences.
These
revelations are powerful strengths of the story, nicely answering the
question
contemporary young people may have about the relevance of historical
events to
their modern lives: "I couldn’t
conceive how people had survived the war for so many years, only to be
unable
to return to their homes, forced to spend a few more years in a DP camp
and
then embarked for Israel, a country rising from the dust, where they
would
begin a new life from scratch, unwilling to let their darkest memories
and
their lost loved ones hold them back, difficult as it may be. How did
people
start over after enduring that kind of suffering?"
The
use of
first-person observations brings these disparate worlds to life,
strengthening
the connections between characters who share not just history, but
Jewish
culture.
These
elements
make How to Hunt a Bear a
purposeful,
revealing testimony to survival that is highly recommended for any
collection
strong in Holocaust history and Jewish experience.
Return to Index
JUST
ONE LIFE
Ernest Cohen
Independently
Published
979-8761916890
$12.95
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L3394PY
JUST ONE LIFE (all caps intended) introduces Geoffrey
Zukor, a walking disaster who navigates life on a tightrope of ongoing
problems.
His
story opens
with a vivid account of falling into a death pit of doom. Then the
scenario
moves from Geoffrey's feelings and observations to a more dispassionate
analysis of events that teases the mind with delightful tongue-in-check
humor: "Rather dramatic, the whole falling
into the death-smeared pit of doom bit, wasn’t it? Surprisingly though,
drama
was not the objective here. What the man behind the curtain was going
for was
memorable. That’s what you need in a situation like this; you need
m-e-m-o-r-a-b-l-e. For you see, Geoffrey’s impending high-speed head
butt with
the cold, blood-stained rocks of the canyon floor wasn’t just some
run-of-the-mill neural oscillation run amuck. No, this snippet of dream
was
something else entirely."
Ernest
Cohen
adds footnotes that are anything but staid and scholarly during the
course of
exploring Geoffrey's navigation of life: "Really
Odin, old boy, it never dawned on anyone to potty-train the Valkyrie?
Really?"
These
add
delightful embellishments to a tale replete in humorous plays on words,
family
life, and situations that keep Geoffrey on his toes and dancing through
life.
Even
his
hospitalization and release receive a special brand of attention that
readers
won't expect: "He wondered if he
could confide in him; tell him how damn strange it felt to be out of
the
hospital, to be out in the world, out on his own. Tell him how
everything on
the drive overlooked the same, the same streets and buildings, yet it
all felt
so different, so unfamiliar. It
was so weird. But should he tell him that? Tell him that maybe,
somehow, he’d
gotten used to the hospital, used to having everyone around, the
endless barrage
of smiling, familiar faces; tell him how maybe he had even come to feel
part of
something, something larger than just his own recovery."
By
now, it
should be more than evident that Geoffrey's transformations will be
extraordinary and unpredictable; both in his life and in the story.
From
how
transitions in life are achieved and how sequestered people become
free, to
disturbing, strange events that Geoffrey must address, readers receive
a romp
through life, politics, psychology, and realms of insanity that give
them a
delightful run for their money.
Ernest
Cohen
succeeds in spinning both a hilarious and a thought-provoking yarn.
JUST ONE LIFE is a captivating reflection on life's
ironies, challenges, and changing situations that both test and
transform the
characters in different ways.
Its
lively
inspections and unexpected twists will keep readers involved to the end.
Return to Index
Liberty Call
Dennis Doherty
The Mad Duck
Coalition
Big Ripple Books|
9781956389067
$20.00
www.themadduckcoalition.org
Walter Schmerz is
a petty officer on a Navy ship, in training in the Philippines at the
U.S. Navy
Base at Olongapo. What evolves during this experience turns out to be
more
challenging than preparing for a military engagement. Walter and his
crewmates
find themselves challenged in a moral and ethical arena that leads them
to
commit crimes neither the Navy nor they will ever forget.
As he experiences
a milieu in which "craziness is the plan of the day," Walter finds
his place in the shore patrol team, makes choices about his actions and
faces
their consequences, and juggles alcohol and duty, along with his peers.
From combat
theater and military tests to radioman challenges and romantic
interludes
(complete with graphic sexual descriptions and scenes), Liberty
Call
covers Walter's training on more than one level, capturing the daily
life and
challenges of the Navy environment and juxtaposing it with stories of
substance
abuse, twisted visions, and lives that teeter on the edge of control.
Dennis Doherty
does an exceptional job of portraying the different levels of trouble
and
challenge that a Navy man can experience abroad. From motives and
consequences
for actions to lessons on life, death, and love, Walter's growth and
dilemmas
are detailed in a manner that will especially appeal to military or
ex-military
readers, as well as general-interest audiences.
His descriptions
of history and events are vivid: "Things with Iran were hot
since the
hostages were taken. The volume of message traffic had bloated. Battle
lines
were being drawn. More ships into the Arabian Sea, into the Persian
Gulf
itself. The Iranians sent P3s and second-hand U.S. destroyers out to
recon the
fleet, each appearance prompting a flash report from the forward
picket. The
Russians accelerated activity and the usual cat and mouse games
intensified.
Rumors abounded among officers and crew. Everyone was caught between
the dread
of battle and the excitement of involvement, secretly longing for
action. But
not now, now that it might happen. Contingencies. Al told of the time
they were
making a simple R and R cruise from Yokosuka to Pusan and got mugged in
Sasebo,
where they loaded some spooks and a van on board and spent the next
month
chasing a Russian aircraft carrier all over the North Pacific. “Bravo
Zulu.
Keep charging.” Everyone got gedunk ribbons. Contingencies: Russians,
pirates,
Boat People, Iranians—mopping up from their nation’s previous
adventures.
Walter Schmerz juggling it all in the fluorescent hysteria of radio
central on
the USS Outland, frigate. Looking ahead, beyond the Philippines to
Indian Ocean
contingencies. That was a mistake. Heavy weather."
As internal
threats from Chief Parma and external forces collide, an eye-opening
story evolves
that is powerful in its unexpected developments, made all the stronger
for its
roots in a real-life story.
Highly
recommended for any military reader or collection, but surprisingly
accessible
to general-interest readers, Liberty Call is
thoroughly engrossing,
packed with action and moral dilemma, and is thought-provoking right up
to its
unexpected conclusion.
Return to Index
New Beginnings
Deborah King
Liberation Publishing
978-1733588850
$10.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/New-Beginnings-Blooms-Strangers-Friends/dp/173358885X
"Anyone can have a
change
of heart or a new dream, can’t they?"
New Beginnings
is the first romance story in the Inspiration In Misty Valley
series and introduces Sophie
Tucker, an
aspiring chef in Colorado who lives on a family homestead that's under
new
ownership—by her best friend.
The fictional town of Misty Valley on the
shore of Mika Lake in the Colorado Rockies serves as the setting to a
moving
story of Wapiti Ranch and altered visions of success.
Sophie is on the cusp of blending her
passion for cooking with a proposal that will extend these talents into
new
areas when she meets a potential romantic partner and confronts the
truth about
a heritage she once thought rock-solid.
The theme of new beginnings resonates
throughout this story as Sophie begins to understand the kinds of
changes that
translate to life-altering situations against all odds.
Deborah King creates a feisty, extroverted
character centered on her abilities, the foundations of her family and
past,
and future opportunities. She follows the unexpected trajectory of a
woman who
initially holds "no desire to uproot my life," only to find it
uprooted despite her best efforts.
The ongoing culinary descriptions will
delight readers who like to cook (or eat), whether it's a secret broth
for elk
stew or chocolate-covered cherries.
The backdrop of the Colorado Mountains is
injected into the story to provide a winning, compellingly snowy
atmosphere as
Sophie re-examines her goals, her heart, and her expectations of life
and her
abilities and heritage.
Especially compelling are the love scenes in
which Sophie follows her heart and rediscovers her connections to her
ancestors.
The steamy romance blends nicely with her revelations, capturing and
providing unexpected
moments of revelation to readers already enchanted by Sophie's humor,
determination, and world.
New Beginnings is
a sweet romance story that's highly recommended for women who like
strong
female first-person tales of discovery that go beyond falling in love
to enter
into the realms of finding new purpose in career and life trajectories.
Return to Index
The People Eaters
Neil Bockoven
Rare Bird Books
978-1644282243
$26.00
https://www.amazon.com/People-Eaters-Neil-Bockoven/dp/1644282240
When Neil Bockoven opened his Ice Age series
with Moctu and the Mammoth People,
it
presented a vivid story of ancient times that captured the psychology,
sociology, and dilemmas of people who came alive under his pen.
That story, set in Paleolithic Italy 45,000
years ago, excelled and had a realistic feel as it followed Cro-Magnon
boy
Moctu's coming of age and his tribe's confrontation with the "Pale
Ones," cannibalistic Neanderthals known as The People Eaters who take
center stage in this follow-up.
Readers who enjoyed Moctu's saga will find The People Eaters just as vigorous and
engrossing as its predecessor as it more closely examines the
confrontation and
intersection of four different tribes, including Neanderthals who are
uniformly
perceived as dangerous enemies, but who also hold their differences, as
Moctu
discovers in this story.
The first note about The
People Eaters is that much of this early history is based on
scientific findings and theories, which lends an authoritative backdrop
to the
fictional spin on Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon encounters and the
cannibalistic
label attached to Neanderthals.
Moctu's unexpected close proximity to them
after his capture by the Pale Ones allows him to realize that there are
differences between Neanderthal tribes and peoples. This opens the door
for not
only his better understanding of these differences, but creates a
dilemma when
he leaves them to return to his own tribe; there to face a tribal
leader who
has a vested interest in portraying all Pale Ones as dangerous
adversaries to
cement his own cruel leadership of Moctu's tribe.
Science often operates at a fast pace, and
thus the science that underpinned Moctu
and the Mammoth People both changed and contributed to the
differences
explored in this latest story.
From revised perceptions of friends,
enemies, and inherent differences between Ice Age peoples to Moctu's
unique
dilemmas in an awkward position standing between Pale One friends and
enemies,
Bockoven crafts an outstanding "you are here" feel to his story that
relies on both scientific facts and fictional high drama to bring
Moctu's world
and people to life.
Bockoven's two books are every bit as
involving and educational as Jean Auel's celebrated Cave
of the Clan Bear series, and deserves the same degree of
acclaim and recognition for their blend of science-based insights and
strong
characterization and drama.
These elements keep Moctu's people and world
both realistic and powerfully involving in a book especially
recommended for
prior Moctu readers and for anyone who enjoys stories of early human
history
and tribal struggle.
Return to Index
Reckoning Waves
Elliott Foster
Calumet Editions
978-1-950743-67-4
$16.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
https://www.calumeteditions.com/
Reckoning Waves
is the second book in the Panic River trilogy, and takes place four
years after
the events presented in Panic River.
Having fled from the shooting that involved
him, Corey has spent a good amount of time reinventing his life, even
changing
his last name as well as his entire life and interests. Only his mother
and his
best friend Billy bridge his past and present worlds...that, and the
nightmares
that return him to everything he fled from, despite his best efforts to
forget.
One would think that moving to California
and becoming involved in the painting community would be far enough
away from
the Midwest, but the past has a way of resurfacing. When Corey finds
himself
involved in a new love relationship with a man, he is forced to not
only
reexamine that past and the truths that brought him freedom and love,
but must
return to the Midwest to confront his demons.
Usually, a book sequel requires that readers
have familiarity with the ongoing story line; but one of the benefits
of Reckoning
Waves is that while it enhances and expands its predecessor,
prior
familiarity with the story is not a requirement in order for newcomers
to be
completely absorbed in Corey's new life and dilemmas.
Elliott Foster crafts a story that focuses
on geographic differences between West and Midwest and changing
connections and
love relationships, providing insights into how these new steps into a
revised
world can contribute to a different view of the past—and the courage to
confront it.
As a new murder involves Corey in events
that mirror what happened long ago, readers are brought into both
mother Ginny
and son Corey's lives as everything changes.
Foster is especially adept at detailing the
logic Corey employs, both in changing his identity and life and
embarking on
new relationships affected by his decisions. These psychological depth
and
involvements are solidly intriguing and thought-provoking, enhancing a
vivid
tale that moves from past choices to present-day consequences.
From sexual encounters and legal
investigations to ethical concerns ("I
think that almost everyone can harm another person under the wrong
circumstances.
Everyone.”), Reckoning Waves
juxtaposes a story of retribution, redemption, and recovery with one of
love
and revenge.
What can cause the past to melt away, and
how can everything turn from hopeful and positive to impossibly
challenging, in
an instant?
Readers won't anticipate the epilogue that
concludes this story, or the forces that work both with and against
Corey to
help him create a different life.
While it's a fine addition to its series, Reckoning Waves also stands nicely alone
as a thought-provoking story of Midwest lives, same-sex relationships,
and new
possibilities for redemption. This focus will attract a wide audience,
from
readers of Midwestern fiction and literature to those looking for
engrossing
stories of evolving relationships and the challenge of forging a new
life.
Return to Index
Scoundrel in the
Thick
B.R. O'Hagan
Pedee Creek Press
978-1-7342263-0-0
$25.95 Hardcover/$17.95 Paper/$7.99 ebook
https://us.amazon.com/Scoundrel-Thick-B-R-OHagan/dp/1734226307
Scoundrel in the Thick
is a historical novel set in 1882 Colorado, where former Civil War hero
Thomas
Scoundrel sets out on a mission to rescue his best friend's kidnapped
fiancée.
B.R. O'Hagan adds plenty of real characters
and historical events to further spice the tale as Scoundrel partners
with Bat
Masterson, encounters old friend Buffalo Bill Cody, and interacts with
famous
literary figures during the course of what can only be described as a
rollicking ride through the icons and images of America's past.
An introductory letter to Scoundrel by Walt
Whitman admonishes the protagonist that he must "...habit
yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every moment
of your life. Do anything, lad, but let it produce joy."
This leads into a prologue that takes place
in 1882 Mexico, where a bullet rips into Diego's bedroom and violence
takes
place by unknown assailants. As the confrontation evolves, he is
charged with
finding Thomas, the only man who will "know what to do."
Indeed, Thomas does know what to do. He's in
New York City, at the first electrically lit musical event ever held in
the
nation, where inventor Thomas Edison is being honored for his
revolutionary
achievement. And Thomas is busily starting a romance.
O'Hagan excels in both recreating this
period of time and its famous personalities and adding an action and
adventure
flavor to a story that captures the sentiments and people of Thomas's
world: "Theatrics aside, William F. Cody was
a
man you wanted in your corner when the big fight was on."
As Thomas and Rosalilia's journeys coalesce,
readers receive a vivid inspection of the social, political, and
cultural
intersections of a bygone era. These add a realistic flavor to the
fictional
events that unfold with drama and action.
From political plots to blame Colonel
Scoundrel and the Cheyenne for the total destruction of two border
towns, to
former Mexican Vice-President Resposo's participation in plans that
will affect
the destiny of nations, readers will enjoy a vivid romp through 1800s
personalities and a plot to steal a country.
Scoundrel in the Thick
represents historical novel writing at its best. With its blend of
fictional
and real events and attention to strong character development (which
captures
personal and political special interests), it's a story that will
captivate
even those who may have little prior knowledge of these times.
Historical fiction library collections
strong in early American representations and action-packed adventure
stories
will find Scoundrel in the Thick a
worthy addition.
Return to Index
Seduction
C. L. Bluestein
C.L. Bluestein Books
978-0-9966210-1-4
$14.99
Website: http://www.carolbluestein.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
Seduction
is the first book in a thriller series and introduces the dance between
rich (but
dangerous) Ted X. Donovan and Rachel Allen, who has already been a
victim and
unwittingly falls prey to Ted's charm and his countenance as a
philanthropist
and caring man.
All is not what it seems, as both spiral
into a situation that involves international intrigue and threats,
dangerous
propositions, and murder and blackmail.
As personal and political circles gone awry,
Ted and Rachel become caught up not only with one another, but in
circumstances
beyond their control. Each character is called upon to tap their
strengths, facing
challenges to their ability to survive physically, psychologically,
morally and
ethically.
Reluctant to embark on a journey with an
older man who nonetheless holds the charm and power that Rachel has
been
lacking in her life, she finds herself in dangerous territory indeed.
Seduction
is about the gray area between right and wrong decisions. It's also
about
characters who must look within to find the kinds of choices that
reorient
their lives towards making positive changes, both for themselves and
for their
country.
The political thriller which evolves against
a suspense backdrop brings readers into this world with a passion and
power
that makes every character choice thought-provoking and involving.
Seduction
belongs on the shelves of not just political thriller and suspense
collections,
but in the hearts and minds of women who look for moral and ethical
conundrums,
powerful women, and dangerous men who face ruthless choices and actions
for the
sake of the greater good...and themselves.
Return to Index
The
Shadow in
the Mirror
Roberto Guerra
Independently
Published
ASIN: B07ZL22QY2
$2.99 Kindle
ebook (Free with Kindle Unlimited)/$10.25 Paperback
Ordering: The
Shadow in the Mirror
From
the day he
was born, Harold's arrival portended a force that threatened humanity.
Fast
forward to 1980, where Harold is nine. The
Shadow in the Mirror really begins at the moment of his
birth, but moves
forward in time to capture Harold's growing awareness of another force
in his
reflection, a "serpent in disguise."
His
own
self-awareness of something "off" continues to grow as he realizes
that friendships and relationships never evolve in his life. Everyone
around
him senses the threat that he represents to the world, even if on a
subliminal
level.
The
problem? The
alter ego in the mirror is leading the successful life that Harold has
always
wanted. Who is evil and who is the threat, in this scenario? The
answers lie in
this mirror shadow, two lives, and a destiny that portends changes for
both
worlds.
Roberto
Guerra
does a fine job of exploring the psychic forces of darkness and light
that
permeate Harold's world. He paints these conflicts using vivid imagery
that is
delightfully evocative: "Harsh gusts
of nocturnal wind blew across central Indiana, whipping the trees into
motion,
rattling my bedroom window. It was as if I'd shaken everything up by
disrupting
whatever was suppressing me. I swore that within that howling wind was
an
encrypted message trying to reach me."
As
action and
tension mount to place Harold in a position of realizing the truth
about his
birth and heritage, readers receive a powerful supernatural horror
story that
is satisfyingly complex and hard to predict.
When
Harold's
dreams and nightmares begin to spill into reality, readers are treated
to a
tense story of parallel dimensions and haunting influences that raise
new
questions. Who is the real Harold, and what is his place in the world?
Readers
who look
for blends of supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and
turbulence from
an "internal dungeon" will find The
Shadow in the Mirror replete with discovery and insights that
keep changing
Harold's perceptions of his life.
Its
powerful
saga of mental illness, alter egos and warped realities, and destiny
will keep
readers not only entertained, but thinking about their own life
realities and
influences. It's highly recommended for readers of not just
supernatural
fiction and horror, but psychological suspense.
Return to Index
Song
of Cigale
Mark Perretta
Heaven Above,
Earth Below LLC
978-0-9971439-4-2
$24.95
Hardcover/$11.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Song-Cigale-Mark-Perretta/dp/0997143940
Song of Cigale presents the stories of people on both
sides of World War II, whose lives are changed by Nazi invasion and
calls to
battle.
These
include
two sets of siblings: one in France (brother/sister), and one in
America (two
brothers) who become entangled in circumstances that lead to a second
D-Day in
Southern France in August (an event that receives lesser mention in the
chronicles of military World War II history compared to the
much-covered June
D-Day).
Mark
Perretta's
story opens with this second D-Day and a bang of action in which the
main
character runs for her very life, fleeing German soldiers who are
arriving at
her home. These soldiers confront her parents who chose to stay behind
to buy
more time for their daughter's escape: "'Cours!' her mother cried. 'Run, Caro!
Run!' Caroline’s feet pounded the gravel path as she propelled herself
into
darkness. She was a whirlwind of limb and emotion, her short raven hair
bouncing with each hasty stride."
The
action-packed opener draws even non-history fans into a story steeped
in the
heart-stopping threat of Nazi discovery. Four years earlier, the
Germans
invaded. War entered their lives, and the family began preparing for
the
inevitable.
Somewhere
over
France, paratrooper Michael's bomber is going down, in another vivid
scene: "The gaping bomb bay door glared back
at him with an evil grin. Moments before, the mission had been as
normal as any
other nighttime jump Michael had made. But the bullets of 20mm flak
guns from a
German night fighter ambushed their plane, shredding one of Lucky Lady’s wings. Then, one final
time, the fighter blasted the coup de grâce. Gas tanks exploded, the
B-24’s
bomb bay door ripped open, and the remaining wing, upper gun turret,
and rear
fuselage blazed in flames as the plane screamed toward earth."
Each
chapter
reveals another life, another vivid circumstance, and the wartime
experiences
each character shares (albeit from very different vantage points).
Perretta
creates original, satisfying contrasts in perspective, ideals, and the
hell of
a war that forces each individual to make impossible decisions.
Readers
won't
expect romance to evolve under such circumstances of strife, but
Perretta's
attention to exploring the many different facets of life under siege
also
embraces the human mind's ability to grasp new possibilities and grow
under
even the most adverse conditions.
He
is especially
skilled at juxtaposing the effects of these dilemmas on choices and
consequences: "Frank’s mind raced
with images of Caro, sunflowers, Germans, and blood. He tried to focus,
for
soldiers’ lives depended on him.
Perhaps, if I refuse to think her name. But that was
impossible. Wave
after wave of regret washed through his tortured soul."
More
so than
most World War II stories, the convergence of these very different
lives and
the moral and ethical conundrums each character must face alone creates
a
deeper psychological probe of the war's effects on all people.
The
novel is
replete with a blend of action and psychological inspection that goes
beyond
capturing historical events to illuminate readers about these changing
and
challenging times.
The
characters
are well developed, their different perspectives and experiences are
logically
and nicely documented, and both history and interpersonal connections
come to
life.
When
will the
war really be over? It won't happen when peacetime comes, but when
injured
hearts settle down and future generations help reconcile past and
present. And
it won't happen until readers begin to understand how life can go on
after
losing so many loved ones to fellow man's violence.
As
Arthur
reflects towards the end of his story: “War
is like some swift river, and once you’re caught in its current, you
can’t
escape. It carries you downstream, and no matter how hard you fight,
escape is
impossible. When you finally do emerge, if you’re lucky enough, it’s
like
you’re still…not clean. And
definitely not the boy you were when it started.”
Readers of World War II fiction will find in
Song of Cigale a powerful, highly
recommended story of different kinds of confrontation (both internal
and
external) and healing processes which hold hope for a better future.
Return to Index
Sunflowers Beneath the Snow
Teri M. Brown
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-142-0
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Decisions hold consequences beyond those who
make them, sometimes resonating through generations. That's one of the
messages
in Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, a
historical novel which follows the interconnected lives of three
generations of
women changed by Ukraine's downfall under the Soviets and an act of
betrayal.
Simple people can be transformed by
political strife and events that reach into their homes and lives: "How had he gone from a simple man –
Lyaksandro Hadeon Rosomakha – a university employee, a son, a father,
and a
husband – to a man facing a decision at the end of a gun? What had
pulled him
into a life littered with secret meetings, men with no names, and
information
passed in the hours between darkness and dawn?"
What is worth living and dying for when
everything changes and personal survival takes precedence over moral
and
ethical foundations? Ukrainian rebel Lyaksandro's choice resonates
through the
psyches of Ivanna, Ionna, and Yevtsye.
Vivid passages capture these characters and
the conundrums they face as political influence and rebellion change
their
lives and loves forever: "He
regarded his hands, realizing they were capable of both stroking his
wife’s
cheek and effectively signing her death certificate."
While readers receive a good deal of history
about the Soviet takeover of Ukraine and events that happen
afterwards,
there is no need for prior familiarity with any of these events.
Teri M. Brown crafts a story that operates
on emotional levels. It uses history and politics as a backdrop for
closely
considering love, hate, betrayal, and redemption. This allows the story
to be
solidly cemented in interpersonal relationships and the concurrent
choices of
three women affected by circumstance, those around them, and their own
hearts.
As Yevt summons the courage to share family
secrets with her prodigy, who will carry their consequences to future
generations, readers receive a powerful story that excels in its
examination of
the long-term, wide-ranging effects of these choices: "Her
father’s death was a turning point in her life, and one that
obviously still caused her pain, but it was a pain she didn’t share. He
often
considered the silence on the matter was to protect herself from
further pain
as much as it was to protect her mother."
The result is a compelling novel of
different generations changed by events both within and beyond their
control.
Sunflowers Beneath the
Snow
represents an intersection of facts and fiction that proved challenging
for
Brown to capture ("Sunflowers Beneath the Snow...did not start with a spark, but rather a
red-hot coal...it took me three years to figure out how to stay true to
her
experiences, while at the same time, staying true to the craft of
fiction
writing. Although names have been changed and circumstances are of my
own
creation, the basic premise of the story is true. This is, without a
doubt, a
case where truth is far more powerful than fiction.").
Readers will depart with both a thoroughly
absorbing read that teaches them about Ukraine at a key,
pivotal
point in
its history just when people best need to understand these past events
in order
to absorb the present-day challenges that nation faces.
Historical fiction collections will find Sunflowers Beneath the Snow an
enlightening, compelling read.
Return to Index
Tholocco’s Wake
W.W. Van Overbeke
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-211-3
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
It's unusual to see
either a historical novel or a love story that opens with the
reflection that “I
should have divorced that son of a bitch years ago!”
Book one of the historical novel Legacy
series, Tholocco’s Wake,
is a
love story set in World War II. It tells of small town student Emma
Dickinson's
dreams of becoming a physician and the wife of handsome quarterback
star
Patrick McCarthy.
Until Pearl
Harbor, love and career were on the horizon, her life course seemingly
set to
realize her dreams. After that event, everything changes.
Fast forward to
1968, where Emma's life still isn't what she'd planned. Emma has been
separated
from Patrick for fifteen years, now. Somehow, she hasn't the heart to
finalize
their divorce, despite her traumas and the trails of angst, injury, and
separation. Twenty-eight years later, he's still an integral part of
her
life...which is set to change radically yet again.
W.W. Van Overbeke presents a compelling
story partially based on the realities of both war and peace and their
impact
on marriage and a long-term couple's lives. The events of the 1960s
come to
life from a personal perspective as Emma faces a shooting and trips
down memory
lane which juxtapose past and present emotions.
As Emma journeys towards her stricken
husband in both past and present worlds, she reassesses her connection
to
Patrick, his meaning in and influence on her life, and the events which
have
brought them both to this juncture.
The emotion- and experience-driven contrast
between World War II and the 1960s, the choices and consequences which
affected
the family, and the insights about good and bad times during war and
peace
alike create comparisons which are involving as well as educational and
often surprisingly
revealing.
The result is a
romance couched in a social history of the U.S. that draws readers with
a
family's experiences and keeps alive these connections between personal
lives
and political encounters.
Historical novel,
romance, and psychological fiction readers alike will find Tholocco’s
Wake
inviting, illuminating, and intriguing, all in one.
Return to Index
What Feeds the Heart
Daryl Glinn-Tanner
Atmosphere Press
978-1639880997
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
What Feeds the Heart
opens predawn, when an emergency call leads Jean Marie Stark to her
mother's
deathbed after another suicide attempt.
Constant adrenaline rushes have been part of
her life since childhood. As Jean Marie falls into recollecting that
childhood
and her experiences as a neglected child in a hippie commune, readers
receive a
journey of contrasts between a young girl's struggles to grow up in a
chaotic
environment without rules and an adult daughter's efforts to reconcile
love
with her mother's choices and impact.
Daryl Glinn-Tanner crafts a story vivid in
imagery, recollection, and the intersection of past and present lives: "Viktor screams up the canyon, “I’ll
hurt you for making a fool of me.” I twitch. I stay put until the
sunset casts
gold on Camelback Mountain. Thunderheads gather. The lack of sun turns
the day
dim. The clouds, The Artist paints with effortless mastery, wild
abandon—colors
speak of love: peach, lavender, freedom. Viktor yells far away in the
canyon of
my mind. “I’ll find you. Don’t worry. I’ll find you.”
The answers to recovery from her heart lie
in Jean Marie's body and mind as she reconsiders these early traumas,
the
clan's processes, and the lessons absorbed from those around her and
how they
treat her. Bodhi, from an East Indian Ashram in La Crescenta, offers
her a
different perspective: "Bodhi never
treats me like my family does; I have value in his eyes."
As she finds a way of absorbing and
reconciling the past to speak her truth and change her future, readers
embark
on a journey steeped in emotional revelations and growth.
More than the usual coming-of-age scenario, What Feeds the Heart documents the
trials and struggles of surviving an environment where a parent is not
just a
leader, but a follower struggling with their own questions about life
and their
role in the world.
Daryl Glinn-Tanner captures this world in a
story packed with realistic encounters of living in a hippie household.
Part of
the reason she's able to bring this milieu to life so vibrantly is that
it's
loosely based on her own experience growing up in such an environment.
The realistic portrait of the different
kinds of struggles this poses to a child come to life in a story that
will
appeal to a wide audience; especially parents interested in both coming
of age
sagas and stories of how adults reconcile their parents' choices with
their own
life values and experiences.
Return to Index
The Back Forty
Darrell W. Gurney
Hunter Arts
Publishing
978-0-9674229-1-6
$24.95
Book website: https://thebackforty.com/
Publisher: https://hunterarts.com
The
Back
Forty:
7 Essential Embraces to Launch Life's Radical Second Half outlines
the basic tenets of an approach to life that maintains that midlife is
a time
to revise perspectives to reach for new opportunities for growth and
fulfillment. It's a welcome antidote to the notion that midlife begins
the slow
slide into inability and retirement from life, providing readers with
an
inspirational survey of these opportunities and how they may be
realized. Consider
it a perfectly timed tool for reevaluation
brought on by “The Great Resignation” occurring in today’s world
economy.
Making
the most of and cultivating these 'back forty' years involves
re-evaluating and embracing past experience, present-day objectives,
and future
perspectives.
It
involves identifying one's gifts, values, and objectives—which means
that one of the prerequisites to using The Back Forty
effectively
involves the reader's willingness to closely examine their lives and
make
changes that lead to a new or redefined purpose in life.
This
process is clearly outlined from the beginning: "Just as
the term “commencement” is used for graduation ceremonies, which mark
the end
of a course of education and the beginning of a next stage, I was at my
own
commencement in midlife. It was time for me to begin. Not to start
over. Not to
be renewed or revitalized. Not to be re-invented. It was clear to me
that I
wasn’t to be re-anything-ed. I started to clearly see that everything
that had
come before had perfectly prepared me for this commencement and that I
was
entering my own “Back Forty” to be who I came here to be and to do what
I came
here to do. Now."
Readers
should be prepared to write in a Back Forty Freedom Fliers
Journal, as this engagement is part of the process of re-examination
and
reconsideration. At each point in the step-by-step instructional,
Darrell W.
Gurney adds his own life's processes to reinforce direction and new
applications: "I’ll share my own abbreviated sequence of life
events
compiled from my exploration several years ago and then show you how I
plotted
those onto my own Back Forty Initiation Timeline" (from
“Embrace 5:
Your Initiation”).
These
personal reveals serve as reinforcing examples to the exercises,
which are designed to guide readers through their own self-examination
process.
Whether
readers are on the cusp of or well into midlife, The Back
Forty: 7 Essential Embraces to Launch Life's
Radical Second Half offers
many opportunities for not just re-envisioning the second half of life,
but
creating a solid game plan to make leading up to it in prior years.
Self-help readers seeking an inspirational program
to guide them
through negative times and positive possibilities will find that
embarking on
the Back Forty program offers many new perspectives to help guide all
ages into
a better future.
Return to Index
Bars for Days
Mic Nickels
Independently Published
979-8756328882
$17.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Bars-Days-Mic-Nickels/dp/B09MDDLV6C
Bars for Days
could have been featured in our memoir section...but to limit its
audience to
the usual reader of autobiography would be to do it a disservice.
The mercurial, interactive format offers many
more opportunities for engagement, making Bars
for Days a Reviewer's Choice that defies pat categorization
and a
recommendation that offers an unusual opportunity for social, familial,
and
interpersonal inspections.
An associated album with a scanable code
precedes Mic Nickels's story and emphasizes the fact that this book
ideally
won't be pursued in a singular media style. The music features songs by
Nickels
and is produced and augmented by various rappers and musicians,
providing a
full-bodied auditory experience to those who listen along with the
story.
A friend of his actually sparked this
creation: “I want to make an app where
people can tell stories, make music playlists, and upload photos
periodically
throughout their lives. So, it’s like a time capsule for their loved
ones when
they are gone. Not like regular social media, which is fleeting, or
anything
geared towards celebrities, just something for regular people to
document their
own stories. You know? I just think every single person has a story
that’s
special…”
Nickels notes that this piece was done not
because he thinks he is particularly extraordinary; but because the
effort to capture
life's journey, unique to us all, is worthy of chronicling: "It is while dancing within these walls
constructed out of risk and hope that I have stumbled into some of my
most
amazing life experiences. And that’s what it's all about isn’t it?
Experience?"
Thus evolves a vivid chronicle of the hip
hop world, a life that blossoms in the Information Age, the friends,
music
managers, and homies that interact with him, and the heart of his
musical and
family commitments.
Unlike many memoirs, dialogue and
personalities are vividly captured, as well as the confrontations, raw
emotions, and influences on changes that direct the author's upward
momentum in
the hip hop music milieu.
As promised, not just the events of Nickels'
life, but the momentum and atmosphere of the world he moves in provides
a
vibrant interactive experience; especially when backed by the music
from the
link he provided. His language and descriptions more than equal the
power of his
music: "From downbeat on, the entire
band locked in and poured their hearts out, executing with the
precision of a
well-seasoned veteran ensemble. The reciprocal result was an abundance
of love
and electric energy in the room, as I convinced hip hop heads and jazz
enthusiasts to wave their hands from side to side in synchrony. “This
is hip
hop one oh one!” I announced jokingly."
The result is very, very highly recommended.
It will especially appeal to and surprise normally-reluctant younger
generations who usually eschew the written word and descriptions any
longer
than a Tweet.
Bars for Days
stands out in a class of its own. Whether you peg it as a memoir, a
musical
expose, a social inspection, or a family saga, it resonates in mind and
heart
with refreshingly original, upbeat language that pulls no punches, and
delivers
quite a few.
Readers from young adult to new adult and
adult audiences will find it beautifully rendered and packed with
passion.
Return to Index
Box
Lunch Lifestyle
Cheryl K.
Johnson
Traction Books
978-1-7350857-5-3
$16.00
www.boxlunchlifestyle.com
Box Lunch Lifestyle: Using Your Lunch Break
to Win Back the Life You Deserve is recommended for self-help readers who find
themselves at a
crossroads in their journey towards personal transformation and
becoming a more
effective, positive force in the world. It comes from a successful
professional
who found herself 'stuck': "I could
barely get a grip on my workday, let alone feel like I had any
influence over
the world."
How
can a
literal-minded, practical problem-solver address the bigger questions
of
purposeful living and effective choices that go beyond checklists of
achievements? What moves lead to visions of a less flawed lifestyle?
Cheryl
K.
Johnson tackles these questions and more in Box
Lunch Lifestyle, which is especially recommended reading for
self-help
readers involved in business pursuits, who struggle with personal
lifestyle
values and changes. More importantly, she considers the definitions of
what
this revised future would look like, helping readers refine their
individual
notions such a goal before following a path to its achievement.
Making
better
choices in a non-pressured manner is part of what makes the Box Lunch
Lifestyle
work. The notion of 'lunch' is uncomplicated: it's a meal that can be
easily
put together, shared, justifiable, and personal. The image serves as a
snapshot
for better life possibilities, and is represented in constant,
digestible
approaches that remove the overwhelming feeling that stems from larger,
seemingly unachievable self-help efforts. This is part of what
differentiates
the Box Lunch Lifestyle concept and book from other goal-oriented
discussions
of personal transformation.
"By making better choices about the food
you eat at lunch and how you spend your time, you prove to yourself
that for
thirty minutes today—not at some point in the future—your life can look
more
like the one you really want."
Can
change
really be this easy? It can—with the program shared in this book, the
concept
of bite-sized approaches to change, and discussions of how to get out
of the
pressure cooker and into better routines and interactions in all facets
of
life.
Self-help
and
business collections alike will find Box
Lunch Lifestyle: Using Your Lunch Break to Win Back the Life You Deserve
a
winner because it presents all its bigger-picture thinking through
smaller-picture windows. This gives readers a clear and unobstructed
chance of
effecting the kind of change they value in both their lives and the
wider world
at large.
Nobody
is too
busy for lunch. And nobody is too busy for Box
Lunch Lifestyle: Using Your Lunch Break to Win Back the Life You Deserve.
Return to Index
The
Bus Driver's
Mother
Beverly Pridgen
Izzard Ink
Publishing
9781642280746
$29.95
Hardcover/$23.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.izzardink.com
The Bus Driver's Mother weaves two lives into one story, following
the evolving relationship of a mother and her son. This would seem to
make for
an ordinary story, but it's not. The juxtaposition of emotions and
observations
between a special needs son and a mother whose life is complicated
because of
his needs creates a dynamic not typical in stories of either mother and
son
relationships or special needs children, adding a compelling twist to
the tale.
Andrew
grows up
to be a simple man: a bus driver who genuinely cares for his passengers
and
job, who perceives the world in relatively simple terms.
The
story opens
with baby Andrew posing a few challenges to his mother while presenting
a
"bewitching charm" that prompts the invention of a song that belays
any difficulties that may come in raising him: “There’s
sunshine in my boy, there’s sunshine in my boy …. There’s
sunshine in his big blue eyes, he is my greatest joy ….”
Andrew's
simple,
plump countenance and obvious pleasure in life is in stark contrast to
his
worrying mother Ella's struggles to raise him.
The
first
chapters of the story revolve around Ella's childhood, coming of age,
and
family structure. Money was enough of a concern that "My
siblings and I, if we learned anything, was that you were
never, ever late to the table and you always took as ample a portion
first time
around as you could get away with. You couldn’t always eat what you
took or get
away with what you wanted, but you’d have a go at it, knowing that
whatever you
got, you got, and that leftovers were nonexistent."
These
lessons
translate into adult habits as Ella builds her own family and comes to
understand her mother's conundrums and complexities during childrearing.
This
sets the
stage for Andrew's evolving health crisis and Ella's discovery that she
really
has few others to rely on but herself...and her father. A too-busy
working
husband doesn't step in to provide the kind of support she needs. And
so she
navigates doctor visits and Andrew's health with worry and concern
while baby
Andrew continues to develop his happy perspective of life, unconscious
of the
challenges his condition presents to those around him ("He
hasn't a worry in the world.").
As
Andrew
becomes a special needs child with unusual abilities and reactions to
life,
Ella and Sam navigate the years during which he evolves in ways they
could
never have predicted ("Andrew’s path
was not remotely clear.").
Andrew
has proven
adept at falling through any cracks in social systems, whether they be
healthcare or education. Where will he land as an adult? In their laps?
Most
of the
chapters revolve around mother Ella's personal journey as she holds her
family
together and creates the best world possible for Andy.
Andy's
chapters,
in contrast, are simpler expressions of delight as he is eventually
given his
own bus to drive and takes pride in making his passengers comfortable,
happy,
and safe during long-distance bus trips. His earliest dream was to
become a
police officer for much the same reason (helping others), but life
doesn't
always go as planned, and he has a special flexibility that allows him
to
absorb this and enjoy other opportunities that feel just as important.
Beverly
Pridgen
outlines Ella and Andy's perspectives in chapter headings that clearly
identify
the point of view being explored. While Ella's perspective receives
nearly
twice the feature of son Andy's, they work together to provide a
powerful
perspective on different ways of perceiving and navigating life.
The
result is
especially recommended reading for those who would understand both the
challenges of raising a special needs child to become an independent
adult, and
the perplexities mother and son each face during this process.
While
fiction
collections will find it attractive to mothers and women who enjoy
family
chronicles, The Bus Driver's Mother
should also be included on the reading lists of parents and
professionals
involved with special needs families. From navigating health care to
education
and legal systems, it offers many insights into a process that shapes
and
directs mothers, sons, and their independent and connected lives alike.
Return to Index
Dismantling Global White Privilege
Chandran Nair
Berrett–Koehler Publishers, Inc.
978-1523000005
$24.95 Paper/$11.99 ebook
www.bkconnection.com
Plenty of books identify the problem,
structure, and social impact of white privilege in Western society.
Histories
and social analyses abound in this subject area.
Few,
however, tackle the process of what to
do about it. Dismantling
Global White Privilege: Equity for a Post-Western World fills this gap in literature by providing a
dedicated survey of uneven playing fields around the world in business,
social,
cultural, educational, and financial circles.
Even
more
importantly, it accompanies each analysis with solutions and
suggestions for
revised attitudes, systems, and approaches.
The
book is
based on Chandran Nair's global travels and the
resulting insights which stemmed from these encounters. He pinpoints
many
specific issues from these personal vantage points of experience: "My experiences in living and working
across the world made me aware of yet another interesting
phenomenon—White
people invariably have a free pass to the world and expect it. This
pass is out
of reach for the Nigerian, Chinese, Egyptian, or Indonesian. From
businessmen
to journalists, lawyers, bankers, and academics, they demand a special
status."
Another
satisfying note is that Nair is
candid about what this book does and does not represent: "It
is also critically important to remind the reader that this
book is not in any way arguing that all race-based injustices in the
world are
perpetrated by Western powers, White people, and the associated
phenomena of
White privilege. Neither is it suggesting that equity in a post-Western
world
is wholly dependent on dismantling global White privilege. That would
be absurd
and factually incorrect."
Nair's focus is on both perceived Western
superiority and White privilege's incarnation and effects and what can
be done
about it today, although the problem has its origins over five hundred
years
ago.
As readers journey through history, society,
and changing attitudes, they receive a study that will especially
interest concerned
citizens, activists, scholars, those involved in business and
government
sectors, and organizations.
Nair pinpoints the underlying motivation and
purpose of his study: "...a key
objective of this book is to address some very inconvenient truths and
suggest
practical ways forward. New narratives have to be the starting point
for
raising awareness."
From the processes of indoctrination and
accepted forms of education and teachings about wealth, poverty,
society, and
business pursuits to observations about why Western white societies are
more
supported and promoted than others ("...selective
programming of White Western literary and scientific brilliance
perpetuates
White privilege by explicitly valuing these achievements above the
contributions of non-Western writers and scientists. This legitimizes
Western
people and nations as contemporary leaders in these spheres."),
Nair
provides much food for thought and details on how these established,
accepted
patterns of repression could be changed.
Dismantling Global White Privilege is
a powerful discussion that needs to be a foundation title in any
library collection
strong in political and social theory and revised ideas of empowerment
and
transformation. It's very highly recommended as a standout blend of
history and
a call to action that will require much change on social, economic, and
intellectual levels in order to fully address the issues of the
privileged
status quo that currently drives the world.
Return to Index
Even the Monsters
Daryl Potter
Paper Stone Press
9781777557867
$17.95
www.paperstonepress.com
Even the Monsters: Living with Grief, Loss,
and Depression: A Journey Through the Book of Job offers a powerful spiritual journey through
loss, and searches for understanding in the face of tragedy.
The
memoir opens
with a particularly captivating introduction: "In
the rugged and beautiful land of British Columbia, in the year
2000, I began a journey through the book of Job. It is a journey that
has
lasted for over two decades now. I did not sign up for it. Not
explicitly.
I volunteered for a
simple, short
assignment. That was all. I did not intend to change the rest of my
life."
At
the time, the
author was religious; but he was also the manager of a securities
brokerage
office. Called upon to deliver a three-part sermon series based on a
book of
the Bible, Daryl
Potter began a journey that changed
everything, despite his initial feeling that "I
did not volunteer to study Job for twenty years and counting. I
did not sign up to have my life turned upside down and my comfortable
happiness
torn apart."
What
was
introduced as a short-term challenge became a lifelong transformative
experience as Potter came to realize that God had chosen him to play a
unique
role above and beyond his everyday life, presenting both adversity and
the
opportunity to more deeply connect with Biblical studies and His
presence.
While
this may
initially sound like a familiar story, Even
the Monsters is anything but ordinary. Potter observes that "...too often I find that, when it
comes to books about the Bible and personal spiritual growth, the
scholarly and
the practical are separated by an unacceptable divide." His
story is
meant to both bridge that gap and provide extended, different examples
of the
presence of and acts of God in daily living.
As
quotes from
the Book of Job inspire and direct Potter, they illustrate redemption,
how to
face darkness, and how to understand the messages of and voice of God.
The
story of health challenges and terrible struggles blends with Potter's
search
for answers.
Scholarly
attention to interpretation and detail is translated for the average
reader in
a way that makes the Biblical passages and their analysis easier to
comprehend:
"In verse sixteen, the NIV describes
God as speaking in a manner intended to “terrify them with warnings.”
The word
in Hebrew does not mean “to terrify.” The Hebrew word means “to seal.”
God
sends these dreams to “seal” people with warnings. The
idea is that through dreams, God leaves a seal, or a mark, noting
the warning that God has provided.”
Even the Monsters belongs in any Christian book collection
where Biblical study is of key interest. It adds personal revelations
to encourage
understanding and deeper inspection of God's word and intentions, and
is also
highly recommended for discussion groups about grief, Job, or Biblical
studies
in general. These audiences will find plenty of specific links and
revelations
that are perfect for encouraging further inspection, discussion, and
enlightenment.
Return to Index
The
Fate of Lenn
Dylan Madeley
Independently
Published
979-8476324775
$13.00 Paper/$1.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Lenn-Gift-Knight-Trilogy/dp/B09H9472ZM
The Fate of Lenn follows the trials and tests of Duke Lenn
Wancyek, and opens with his childhood and fragments of memories that
influence
his growth to adulthood.
A
prologue
offers his early questions, his growth and introduction to cousins, the
loss of
his beloved father, and the issues which continue to influence his
evolution.
Lenn's
search
for a peaceful life despite his duties and position in the kingdom are
evident
from the start: "Lenn remained
troubled. None of this changed his responsibilities. If Lenn kept his
kingly
uncle happy, this Dukedom would continue to benefit from trade and
protection.
And Lenn could safely read in his personal library without so much as
needing a
guard to watch the manor, so peaceful was his countryside. He supposed
that
some inconvenient task was necessary in exchange for such luxury. His
family
had made many deeper sacrifices than this."
As
he comes of
age and comes to feel increasingly detached from the responsibilities
his
position brings, Lenn confronts both opportunities and conflicts of
interest
that dare him to reconsider his role in the kingdom even as invaders
arrive.
As
Duke Lenn
engages in a war that carries him beyond his inclination to live a
quiet life,
readers are treated to a story of good, evil, and the ultimate impact
of a
legacy that influences "....a people
who survived and would one day thrive again."
It's
difficult
to peg the audience for this story. Dylan Madeley crafts a memorable
story of
inner and outer conflict as he follows a young man who takes on the
political
and social conflicts of his kingdom. The story works on psychological
and
fantasy levels to reach a wide age range. Other characters facing their
own
life-changing issues and influences intersect with Lenn's life to
provide a
full-faceted story of a kingdom under siege in different ways.
The
cover
illustration and some of the story would seem to appeal to middle grade
readers
and older; but many of the fantasy elements will reach into adult
circles with
their thought-provoking insights into survival and transformed lives.
The Fate of Lenn is a tale of good men and legends that
create hope for the future with stories that live on in the hearts and
minds of
survivors.
The
story of a
quiet Duke who steps up to become a hero figure despite his reclusive
inclinations will appeal to readers who like powerful stories of
courage,
battle, and political and social strife that lead to thought-provoking,
life-changing situations.
Return to Index
Fitlosophy
Sophie Thomas
DartFrog Books
978-1-956019-25-4
$15.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Fitlosophy-Sophie-Thomas/dp/1956019251
The concept of Fitlosophy
evolved from the intersection of philosophy and despair
and originated with the psychologist author's struggle with fitness and
basic
life questions. As she surveys her life challenges, drawing new
connections
between revised purposes and an overall philosophical inspection, she
presents
these lessons to readers.
In essence, Fitlosophy is applied
philosophy: "From the processing of
how I felt by taking charge of my lifestyle and making small,
beneficial
differences to the way I live and how I wanted to improve myself, I saw
a
correlation with philosophy and the way many great thinkers, past and
present,
saw the need to cultivate one’s own inner garden as a way to pursue a
fortuitous, fruitful life."
Discourses link the basics of daily living
to different philosophical inquiries to create a vivid set of
connections
readers can use to apply philosophical wisdom to everyday living: "The Aristotelian Fitlosopher,
therefore, has a good grasp on what habit change entails and tends to
comprehend the underpinning benefits of moderation. It’s not so much
that
they’re “naturally disciplined,” but much like Aristotle, they believe
that in
order to succeed in achieving their goals, they must continually
practice
certain habits in order to obtain a specific outcome."
Different approaches to life intersect as Thomas
links the basic premises of diverse philosopher minds to moral,
ethical, social
and psychological choices in viewing and living modern life: "Kierkegaardian Fitlosophers appreciate
the need for this life period in order for them to understand and
appreciate
structure and purpose. This is where the ethical life stage comes in."
It's unusual to find a book that covers so
many seemingly disparate subjects (mental health, physical fitness, and
a range
of philosophical thoughts).
That Fitlosophy
can do so adeptly and with a flair that will appeal to philosophy
students,
fitness and self-help readers, and anyone interested in inquiry
conducted on a
deeper level makes it highly recommended not just for a singular
audience, but
for a wider group of all ages. Basically, anyone interested in the
pursuit of
happiness and the moral and ethical quandaries that are often part of
this
effort.
Library collections strong in self-help,
philosophy, fitness, and mental improvement will find enthusiastic
patrons for Fitlosophy.
Return to Index
Ghosted: Dating
& Other Paramoural Experiences
Jana Eisenstein
Atmosphere Press
978-1639881529
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Ghosted: Dating & Other Paramoural
Experiences blends a memoir
with a guidebook on dating and matters of the heart. It explores Jana
Eisenstein's forays into meeting men and searching for a meaningful
relationship in her thirties, adding references to ghosts and humor to
create a
story that is refreshingly, compellingly different from other dating
books.
For example: the
chapter headings pertain to dating experiences, from 'Equal Opportunity
to
Exploiter' to 'Hardball' and 'Wishful Thinking'. Any woman who has
played the
dating game with losers will readily relate to many of Eisenstein's
objectives,
perceptions, and experiences.
Her sense of
humor brings these stories to life with hard-hitting, succinct
descriptions: "Dating
is exhausting. I had just ended things with The Face Licker and was in
desperate need of a vacation."
Family and
friends circle around, both supportive and curious about her trials: "That
summer, after making a clean break from The Face Licker, I joined my
parents at
the Plaza Hotel. I was looking forward to a week of relaxation, but
mentally
prepared myself for several days of intrusive questions about my dating
life.
My brother, sister, and their spouses were joining us later that week,
which
would then hopefully distract my parents from my dating
disappointments."
As her
relationships unfold and often explode, readers will find her
revelations
familiar and thought-provoking as friends and family serve as sounding
boards
of experience and advice themselves.
Is it possible to
learn from dating mistakes made in one's twenties to find a lasting
relationship in one's thirties?
Readers also
navigating the treacherous waters of dating will find much to laugh at,
cry
over, and understand in Ghosted: Dating & Other
Paramoural Experiences.
It takes a hard look at expectations, experiences, and the uncertain
psychological impacts of dating men who may or may not prove a good fit.
Any library
collection strong in women's issues or self-help, as well as those
attracted to
humorous memoirs, will find Ghosted: Dating & Other
Paramoural
Experiences a fun and thought-provoking read, all in one.
Return to Index
Happiness
in an Age of Crisis
CJS Hayward
CJS Hayward Publications
979-8502272698
$19.99 Hardcover/$12.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
Website: www.CJSHayward.com/books
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Age-Crisis-Ancient-Orthodox/dp/B094L74PND
Happiness in an Age of Crisis: Ancient
Wisdom from the Eastern Orthodox Church joins others in the Orthodox
'Best Works' series to provide theology readers with keys to better
living in
modern times. It is particularly accessible and applicable to the
rigors of
these COVID years.
Happiness in an Age of Crisis opens
with a series of life admonitions, old and new, that conclude that "Our social program is the Trinity. The
Orthodox martial art is living the Sermon on the Mount." Then
it
reviews some core principles of Scripture, drawing important
connections between
Orthodox thinkers and the interpretations of God's word that lead to
better
living choices.
CJS Hayward's enlightening inspections
address everything from worry ("...Do
not worry for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor
yet for
your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and
the body
than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do
they
reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are
ye not
much better than they? Do you think you can add one single hour to your
life by
worrying? You might as well try to worry your way into being a foot
taller!")
to finding joy during hard times (this quote is from the Classic
Orthodox
Bible). Happiness
in an Age of Crisis, as his other books,
reflects
Hayward's trademark lucid and profound depth.
Insights from the lives and choices of
St.Philaret and others, examples from the Sermon on the Mount and other
spiritual guidelines, and Christian reflections that encourage
self-help and
understanding all lend to insights and uplifting reflections that
spiritual
thinkers need to reflect upon.
Among the potentially large readership
likely to find Happiness
in an Age of Crisis an
attraction, there are
three major audiences for this work. First (and primary) is Eastern
Orthodox in
particular; the second is Christians as a whole, and third is
non-Christian
spirituality readers interested in what the Eastern Orthodox Church has
to
offer, including many types of the “not religious but spiritual” camps.
It's
intended to be lucid to inquirers and people interested in Eastern
Orthodoxy
and those wishing to better understand it, but all the more from
someone who
understands the tradition deeply and well.
Suitable
for theology discussion groups as
well as individual contemplation, Happiness in an Age of Crisis applies many principles of Christian
thinking to modern controversies in a manner readily accessible to lay
readers
as well as scholarly audiences involved in Bible or Orthodox study.
Its
words of
wisdom and insight on how to handle crisis and find happiness in every
circumstance of life offers important contemporary reflections that
should be a
part of any thinking Christian reader's collection. Its deep knowledge
of a
topic many people are very interested in makes it accessible to both a
specific
spiritual and a wider audience of lay readers across spiritual
disciplines.
Return to Index
Life
After
Anna Mitchell Hall
Cane Mill Press
978-1-7375604-3-2
$6.99 ebook/$9.99
paperback
Publisher: https://www.canemillpress.com/home/life-after
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Finding-strength-unexpected-ebook/dp/B09LQRZXQH
Life After: Finding
Strength
And Spirit In Unexpected Change is a testimony to facing challenging changes with
courage and hope.
Typically, such books center on loss. Anna Mitchell Hall's focus is on
all
types of transformative change (whether they stem from loss or vastly
altered
directions in life) which bring with them new opportunities for
reconsidering
faith and life's meaning.
As
chapters
explore the skills for surviving and thriving life, Christian readers
receive
keys to adaptation and how to tap into the kinds of religious support
systems,
concepts, and actions that keep them moving onward and upward.
Being
Christian
or even religious does not automatically translate to flexibility. The
effort
needs to be made to adapt to, grow from, and embrace life expereinces: "As Christians, we are called to set
our hearts and minds in such a way as to be receptive to the inbreaking
spirit
of God. This can be one of the biggest challenges of our faith. Loving
our
neighbor is no picnic but being open to changing our preferences and
routines
is a whole other ball game. We all have opportunities to be transformed
by the
changes that come into our lives. Yet many of us, and many of the
organizations
we are a part of, remain stubbornly static, unchanged, and even raging
against
the change that comes to our doors."
As
Hall delves
deeper into the riches and wisdom of transformation, readers begin to
draw
important inspirational connections between Christian belief, life's
progression and challenges, and the choices involved in adopting
attitudes that
contribute to the world in a positive way.
Each
step is
clearly delineated and analyzed. These lessons also present room for
journaling
and daily admonitions ("What might
you need to let go of to make room for change?") as they
teach in
various ways—by example, author experiences and insights, those of
others she's
heard of or encountered on her journey, and the intersection of
spiritual and
psychological thinking.
Readers
who want
a specific, inspirational blueprint to improving their own journeys
after
catastrophic loss or change will find Life
After even more pertinent and necessary in a world challenged
by COVID and
other paradigm-altering events.
Life After should be in Christian and self-help
collections alike as a solid inspection of the routes that may be taken
to
mitigate depression and fatalistic thinking.
Return to Index
Old Testament Readings & Devotionals,
Volume 7
C.M.H. Koenig (compiler)
C.M.H. Koenig Books
978-1-956475-08-1
$14.99
www.cmhkoenigbooks.net
Old Testament Readings
&
Devotionals, Volume 7 continues C.M.H. Koenig's multi-volume
focus on the Bible, providing discussions centered on the books of
Kings,
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, 2 Chronicles, Joel, Jonah, Amos, and Hosea.
Portions of
Psalms are peppered into these readings, as well. Followers of the
prior
volumes will want to pursue this addition to the series as it continues
a
methodical analysis of selected passages.
As in the prior books, the enlightening
discussions come from the writings of Robert Hawker, Charles H.
Spurgeon, and
Octavius Winslow.
Footnoted references refer back to the Bible
for those who would embark on further reading, while the accompanying
insights
from Hawker, Spurgeon and Winslow more closely examine Bible
characters, their
intentions and interpretations of their lives, and the actions and
responses of
God to these disparate lives.
Each
reading and
analytical passage provides food for thought. This will delight readers
seeking
a reasoned analysis that links to their own daily lives, conflicts, and
ideas
of salvation, sin, and spiritual strength.
This
volume, in
particular, outlines the successive history of Biblical figures, the
presence
of God in the hearts and minds of his people, and the daily events that
affect
them. The close inspection linking Biblical events and verses to
considerations
of how God operates within the soul and in the world allows readers to
approach
Biblical interpretation from three distinct viewpoints.
The result may all have been written
centuries ago, but is here synthesized and presented in a form designed
to
appeal to busy readers interested in spirituality, Bible
interpretation, and
inspections that consider the foundations of faith and inspiration.
Herein lay
rich keys to making these associations between God's word and its
enactment in
daily living.
Volume 7 joins a formidable and inviting,
scholarly discourse that is highly recommended for Christian readers
and
discussion groups alike.
Return to Index
Old Testament Readings & Devotionals,
Volume 8
C.M.H. Koenig (compiler)
C.M.H. Koenig Books
978-1-956475-11-1
$14.99
www.cmhkoenigbooks.net
The 8th volume of Old Testament Readings &
Devotionals continues C.M.H. Koenig's survey of the Bible and includes
2 Kings,
2 Chronicles, Micah, Isaiah, and Psalms. The invasion of Israel by
Assyria
provides the historical backdrop, while prophecies by Micah and Isaiah
drive
the spiritual component of this segment of time.
As in his other devotionals and readings,
besides quotes from Biblical passages, the commentary and reflections
of Robert
Hawker, Charles H. Spurgeon, and Octavius Winslow reflect on God's
words,
linking them to modern trials of faith and daily living to help
Christian
readers savor the Bible's meaning in a revised manner.
The key verses selected for each day are
from the Christian Standard Bible, and are italicized for quick
reference and differentiation
from the accompanying commentary. This makes it easy on the eyes of
students
who want to quickly move between the Bible and insights on its passages.
Some scripture references are cited in the
original works and others are not. Those passages quoted within the
devotionals
come from the King James Version of the Bible.
The historical review and spiritual
commentary is very nicely juxtaposed. This is especially useful for
Bible
students who, when consulting these volumes back-to-back in an
organized study,
will find much food for thought as well as group discussion.
Footnotes clearly credit the specific Bible
references as needed, while the devotionals range from short commentary
to
lengthy passages of analysis.
Like its predecessors, Volume 8 expands the
knowledge of the times and the Word of God that directed, influenced,
and
enlightened the people of that era. It also holds important reflections
for
modern man, making this contribution to the series another highly
recommended
addition to a foundation of knowledge that expands understanding of
Biblical
times and God's directions.
No Christian collection, especially those
where group readings are a mainstay, should be without this and its
predecessors.
Return to Index
Ötzi's
Odyssey
Neil Perry
Gordon
Independently
Published
978-1-7326677-3-0
$16.99
Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: https://www.neilperrygordon.com/
Ordering: www.amazon.com
Ötzi's Odyssey - The Troubled Soul of a
Neolithic Iceman is
a metaphysical fantasy thriller. It embraces these genres in a manner
that will
intrigue and delight readers looking for something refreshingly
action-packed,
employing a different flavor in timelines that move from modern to
prehistoric
eras and back again.
Ötzi the
caveman's mummified body is found trapped in ice, in 1991. What isn't
trapped
is his soul, which awakens from its long sleep to find itself in a
strange new
world.
In
an effort to
uncover answers to many questions about his life and reincarnation,
Ötzi journeys from present to past. This brings readers into
his
perception of caveman conflicts and daily life and the conundrums his
journey
poses not only to that world, but present-day events.
Imagine
waking
up to see your frozen body. Neil Perry Gordon paints a vivid picture of
Ötzi's
awakening: "While I observed a body,
half-buried in the glacial ice, I could not reach out and touch it.
While I
heard the shrieking winds, I could not feel the frigid snow being
pushed up
into towering drifts. While I shouted my anguish aloud, my words fell
silent on
the mountainside. If it is true that I existed, then it must be also
true that
I am not of body."
As
he struggles
to answer haunting questions of how his soul remains connected to his
body, and
what the purpose of his reincarnation serves, readers follow him a
journey that
brings him to Jolly Jane, who joins him and others in this strange
state of
being half-alive.
Jane
was known
as a murderess, committing others to death because it "helped her
cope." Ötzi sold his soul to the devil in a bargain which has
apparently landed him in this position. Both find themselves
undertaking a
journey through tortured souls, guided by a Voice that seems to inject
a higher
purpose to their conditions and present-day dilemmas.
Gordon's
story
is thought-provoking, action-packed, and thoroughly unpredictable.
Spiritual
wisdom and guidance juxtapose nicely with the adventure component to
keep
readers both entertained and enlightened.
As
memories of
past life and loved ones are channeled in unexpected ways,
Ötzi must find
the courage to follow his calling through past lives and into a future
where he
makes better choices.
Readers
who
enjoy more than casual metaphysical inspection, spiced with the
thriller
components of an adventure through past and present realms, will relish
Ötzi's Odyssey. The story is highly
recommended for fantasy, spirituality, and thriller collections alike.
Return to Index
Paradox:
The
Attack on the Ladies Room
Timothy Perper
and Martha Cornog
Independently
Published
979-8729693818
$18.95
https://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Attack-Ladies-Timothy-Perper/dp/B09M5KZSZQ
Paradox: The Attack on the Ladies Room blends mystery with a time travel story and
humor. Agents John and Krylla Smith are experienced in tracking down
puzzles
for a group operating within a semi-covert government agency.
This
particular
endeavor, however, involves an investigation of matters far from the
usual
staid approaches to world realities and threats: "And
what is DivEs? It stands for the Division of Esoterica. But
while operating quietly within OIO, it’s not a division of anything,
not
really, just a loose collection of folks interested in everything from
the Land
of Oz to water sprites to little blue men from Mars. Doesn’t matter if
such
beings are real or not—they might be
real, and that starts to get some high-powered people involved, like
the
Executive Branch of the government..."
The
problems it
solves embrace everything from lost tricycles to possibilities such as
'paratime.' The descriptions of these paradoxes might challenge readers
who
harbor less affection for physics explanations: "...wars
in paratime are not so simple as they might be in mere
three-dimensional space. Assume, for argument’s sake, that your target
is place
X at time T, in some tau dimension tau-sub-one. Pop up there, you say,
make a
quick strike, and—whammo. All is said and done, and
you’ve won. Ha. Not
so, not if the enemy also has tau-time capabilities, as they say in the
military. When they find out about your victory at X,T, tau-sub-one,
they sneak
up in a parallel universe to X,T, tau-sub-one minus 2 minutes and
clobber you
the instant you show up. You see, we must remember that for any given
event in
a given paraverse, there is an infinity of similar or like events
elsewhen.
Only in one of them did you
perhaps achieve the victory you wanted."
However,
readers
who enjoy science and speculative works injected with thriller and
mystery
components, who relish challenging scientific observations and
possibilities
set against an action-packed backdrop, will find Paradox:
The Attack on the Ladies Room just the ticket.
And,
don't
forget the humor. It laces through the adventure, spices the missing
person
situation involving Krylla, and draws readers with a sassy,
observational tone
that is wry and revealing all in one.
Many of the descriptions seem like weighty run-on sentences, but incorporate vivid descriptions that are detailed, yet accessible: "In those emerging Innoryas where Krylla herself was listening to Yvor, she was indeed impressed by his scenario. She readily envisioned herself dashing down darkened alleys, woboes at her heels, breathless, hurrying through the gloom amidst sullen beggars and drunken revelers who grabbed at her while making leering remarks— (Krylla, too, had her kaleidoscopic moments, and she visualized herself simultaneously kicking one of the leering revelers and slitting a random brigand’s throat with a Malayan kris that had materialized out of nowhere)—and then, leaping over the sodden body of a gshthwk addict (a terrible drug, invented by Krylla solely for the purposes of the scenario, that degrades the soul while destroying the body: O woe!) and seeing ahead the lights of the local Paratime Troop headquarters, suddenly—snaffle!—there opens up a Wessel time trap—"
Yes,
there is complex language, intriguing paradoxes, and a story that is
both
science-laden and weighty. But these elements are tempered by a
rollicking romp
through time and space that is satisfyingly unpredictable, filled with
twists
and turns to keep readers guessing about the outcome.
Paradox: The Attack on the Ladies Room is highly recommended for readers who like
sci-fi and time travel mysteries laced with a side order of jokes that
temper
the story's complexity. The result is a fun atmosphere overlying a
serious
dilemma.
Sci-fi,
humor,
and time travel fiction readers will find that Paradox:
The Attack on the Ladies Room steps out of the boundaries
and comfort zones of these genres to represent a unique blend of
mystery
surrounding, for example, the Origin of the Capsillon transmitter, and
who
invented what, somewhen.
Return to Index
Surviving Workplace Bullying…Strategies for
Victims
Bruce Sherman
Independently Published
979-8782115852
$12.95 Paper/$9.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/SURVIVING-WORKPLACE-BULLYING-STRATEGIES-VICTIMS/dp/B09MYYXLFG
Many books cover bullying, but typically are
focused on school experiences; so it's refreshing to see an
adult-oriented
coverage that exposes one of the more common experiences adults face:
workplace
bullying. It's even more refreshing to see an approach that goes beyond
providing examples of this experience to delve into what victims can do
about
it.
Articles, reports, and studies form the
basis of this analysis of workplace pressures. From definitions of
workplace
bullying to especially vulnerable workers (such as the elderly), these
links to
supporting articles drive and provide extensive references for
defining,
understanding, and alleviating bullying issues.
From financial impacts of workplace bullying
to how workplace dysfunction often begins from the top and how workers
and CEOs
alike can instigate changes to eliminate it, Sherman has done all the
legwork, providing
powerful online references that cover all aspects of the issue.
He organizes them into subject categories
that make it easy for users to receive specific insights into
everything from
suicide and the psychology of bullies to legal approaches for handling
workplace bullying.
Most of these references will not become
dated over time, but will remain relevant, important keys to addressing
workplace bullying on many different levels.
Library collections strong in business and
legal references will find this analysis of the presence and forms of
workplace
bullying and how to effectively neutralize them provides essential
information
that managers and workers alike will want to review.
Return to Index
The
Winged Child
Henry Mitchell
Creative James
Media
978-1-7353926-3-9
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Publisher: www.creativejamesmedia.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Winged-Child-Henry-Mitchell-ebook/dp/B09MQZQSNY
Many
have
dreamed of flying, in childhood: a memory that rarely surfaces in
dreams in
adulthood. But, in The Winged Child,
Appalachian girl Millicent McTeer does more than dream. She realizes
those
dreams when she is forced to create a new life and identity as politics
changes
her world.
Flying
isn't the
only topic in The Winged Child, a
tale of magical realism that embraces humans who can be dragons,
machines, and
demons.
The
story opens
not with Millicent's changing world, but with Wendl's dream of walking
alone
into danger. From the start, descriptions weave between fantasy and
reality as
Wendl faces his fear and finds it's actually a device from the real
world: "The vibration swelled and gathered
into an audible rumble. The darkness ahead paled into a gray fog,
swallowing up
the railbed where Wendl stood. The rails either side of him gleamed in
the
rising light, and the rumble gathered and grew into a deafening roar
like the
voice of a dragon. Wendl turned to behold the blinding and terrible eye
bearing
down upon him. He might have taken it for a dragon, but there were no
dragons
yet among the Fallen. It was only a train, and Wendl was standing in
its
way."
From
this
introductory encounter, it should be apparent that readers are in for a
treat.
Henry Mitchell's vivid visionary descriptions and his characters both
come to
life as characters face the boundaries between reality, fantasy, and
threats
that demand they transform on many different levels, both personally
and
politically.
While
fantasy
elements embedded within the tale make it attractive to fantasy
audiences, it
would be a shame to limit The Winged
Child to these readers by pegging it as a fantasy alone.
The
story features
thought-provoking social, political, and psychological insights to draw
and
delight readers across genres, posing questions that even tread lightly
into
spiritual realms as Millicent finds other travelers on her path and
begins to
wonder if her choices, life, and actions are being influenced and
directed in
some manner.
Lessons
come
from all kinds of unexpected places: "...the
plants had become his prevailing preoccupation, to the extent that Eric
Lee had
become, to all who knew him in Laurel, Eric Treetalker. When he was not
tending
his garden, he was thinking about it. When he was asleep, he dreamed
it.
“There’s a deeper language in them,” he tried to explain to Millicent.
“Something more subtle than the few words we catch. They want to teach
us, but
we don’t have the tools to learn.”
From
an abiding
presence that Millicent taps to the process by which others uncover
their own
special gifts, the Appalachian world and that of fantasy blossom and
entwine in
a compelling saga of journeys, changes, and layers of worlds that
coexist with
our own. Peel them away for a profoundly thought-provoking story that
holds its
roots in both reality and other dimensions.
“The past is ever within touch, Dry McTeer,”
he said. “That was your first lesson. The past is as near as the future
and the
future is only the becoming of our present unfolding. As there are
roads
leading us from place to place, so there are ways between times, that
are plain
to see if we pay attention to our journey.”
"I’ve paid attention,” Millicent said
quietly, making a statement rather than an argument. “The times, on
closer
inspection all turned out to look the same.”
Return to Index
Are
You Okay,
Elliot Hart?
Kate S. Martin
Creative James
Media
978-1-956183-90-0
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Publisher: www.creativejamesmedia.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Are-You-Okay-Elliot-Hart-ebook/dp/B09MQ383ZN
It's
rare that a
book title is catchy enough to mention in a review, but Are
You Okay, Elliot Hart? grabs the young adult reader,
promising
something different, and finishes the job by juxtaposing two disparate
lives
that embark on a journey together: a bully and a victim.
Elliot
("Matchstick") has spent the last years of his life "making
himself invisible." He's fine-tuned the art of vanishing into the
woodwork, caring for his mother at home and hiding from school bully
Josh, who
harbors his own secrets and reasons for acting out.
It
seems
impossible that these two could set off on a shared experience, given
the dance
they perform in public, but their hidden pain and secrets create an
unexpected
situation when both independently decide to leave for the big city, and
wind up
together.
Kate
S. Martin
explores these disparate experiences and viewpoints in alternating
chapters
clearly marked with each young narrator's name, making it easy to move
between
their experiences and perspectives.
She
also creates
some intriguing twists, as Josh finds himself the victim much in the
way he's
treated Elliot: "I prepare myself
for the worst, tell myself I deserve this. For all the crap I’ve given
Matchstick over the years, I deserve this."
Each
character
taps their hidden powers, reassesses his choices and options, and finds
renewed
and surprising insights from the changed relationship with one another.
Martin
creates an interplay of emotions and experience that provides young
readers
with both action and thought-provoking moments as she considers
bullies,
victims, and their dreams.
Between
blossoming romantic interests with girls to Elliot's transformation
from a
victim to someone with purpose and courage, teens will find much to
relish in Are You Okay, Elliot Hart?
All
this gives
Elliot the courage to speak out: “Please,
next time you look over at the fat kid, the quiet kid, the smelly kid,
or even
the mean kid. Please, stop for a moment and ask why?"
Are You Okay, Elliot Hart? features the rare ability to impart
understanding that empowers the shy, the victim, and the bully alike.
It is
highly recommended reading for young adults who would better understand
what
lies behind the emotional responses of those around them.
Return to Index
Crossing
the
Pressure Line
Laura Anne Bird
Orange Hat
Publishing
9781645382836
$18.95 Hardcover/$12.95 Paper
Website: www.laurabirdbooks.com
Ordering: https://bookshop.org/books/crossing-the-pressure-line/9781645382836
Crossing the Pressure Line tells of twelve-year-old Clare Burch's loss
of her beloved grandfather and how this changes her world, following
her from
her Chicago home to rural Wisconsin as she seeks to honor her
grandfather's
last wishes.
A
special
component of Clare's loss is that she feels that she should have been
able to
save Grandfather Anthony. And, history threatens to repeat itself as
Clare
confronts her strengths and weaknesses and the possibility that she
can't
really rescue much of anything.
As
she interacts
with Grandma Lulu and faces the fact that her friends are far away,
unable to
help her, Clare tests her courage and abilities. She embarks on a
journey into
unfamiliar territory powered by her grandfather's last wishes and his
memory.
Laura
Anne Bird
gives middle grade readers a multifaceted story that examines a feisty
young
girl's upward momentum as she works through her grief and faces new
tests and
opportunities during a summer that changes everything.
As
time passes,
Clare begins to set forth goals and solutions to her problems in a
methodical
manner. This allows her to process her grief and loss when her
grandmother
contemplates further changes that will take even more away from their
lives.
This
realistic
account of loss and adjustments stands head and shoulders above most
middle
grade stories of family grief. It recounts not just Clare's adaptations
and
challenges, but those of her family, as everyone makes different, new
decisions
for their futures.
Middle
grades
receive a richer examination of the ripples caused by a death in the
family
than most similar reads offer. They will find Crossing
the Pressure Line a compelling story that embraces not
one, but the many facets of loss and change. Its consideration of
support
systems and how all ages may both offer and use them lends to a story
that is
thoroughly absorbing and thought-provoking as it reveals Clare's
journey.
Return to Index
Eli and the
Mystery of the Hallowshine Dragon
Eve Cabanel
Twenty Two House
Publishing
978-1-7779088-1-2
$14.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GV7LHCC/
Website: https://elipicturebooks.com/
Eli and the Mystery of the Hallowshine
Dragon is the whimsical
fantasy story of Eli, a "strange yet adventurous creature who deeply
cares
for all the animals of the enchanted forest."
From Eli's
feathered ears and purple eyes to a beautiful night forest where a
mystery
evolves ("Strange sugar crystals had begun coating the forest
at night,
turning anyone who touched them into hard rock candy."), Eve
Cabanel
crafts a gorgeous picture book story packed with magic, from shooting
stars and
legends to a wise grandfather who may hold the key to a rock candy
conundrum.
Parents who
choose Eli and the Mystery of the Hallowshine Dragon
for read-aloud will
find plenty of detail accompanying the lovely illustrations, an
adventure that
includes sound effects and dialogue between characters, and a dragon
whose
sadness may be contributing to the dilemma Eli and her bunny friend
Luna face
as their friends turn into rock candy.
Fairies,
unicorns, and magic...what's not to love? All these trappings of a fine
fantasy
adventure include plenty of detail to bring this world to life,
cementing it
with a mystery that sends Eli and her friends on a journey through
different
worlds.
Success is not a
given and not set in stone, and that is is one of the more delightful
elements
to this story. Added attraction lies in its depth and descriptions,
which lends
not to one night's read-aloud adventure, but many.
Kids who choose
this book's paragraphs of action and description for individual pursuit
and
adults who pick it for read-aloud will find the saga evocative, warm,
and
thought-provoking beyond its adventure component.
Eli and the Mystery of the Hallowshine
Dragon is highly
recommended for libraries and adults seeking more depth and detail from
their
picture book choices than is usually presented for younger audiences.
This approach,
and its exceptionally lovely drawings, make for a standout book that's
easy to
love.
Return to Index
A Fairy on My Sleeve
Mari Sherkin
Mascot Books
978-1-64543-435-1
$14.95
www.mascotbooks.com
Picture book readers who enjoy stories about
fairies will find A Fairy on My Sleeve
an attractive tale of magic, with illustrations by David Gnass bringing
the
story to life.
Mari Sherkin's gentle rhyme introduces the
possibilities of finding magic in the everyday world with an invitation
to kids
to observe the world closely: "If
you look closely through the green/there are wonders to be seen:/that
little
glimmer in the sky/caught from the corner of your eye."
The story is narrated by an adult, who
reflects on her childhood belief in magic and her adult decision not to
believe
in or read fairy tales any longer...until something happens to change
her
too-adult perspective.
As she explores a delightful, strange world
right under her nose, kids and read-aloud adults receive a charming
story of
magic, observation, and an adult's determination to prove something
that is
considered to be impossible.
A Fairy on My Sleeve
is a compelling story that takes a different approach to not just
fairies, but
the contrasts between magic, reality, and believing in something
different.
The gorgeous drawings highlight the
examination of adult pragmatism and the conversion to believing in new
things,
bringing a delightful blend of whimsy and thought-provoking wonder to
kids and
their adult readers alike.
A Fairy on My Sleeve
is recommended for all ages (whether they believe in magic or not), and
for
young reader library collections seeking a different mix of adult and
child
perspectives about the world.
Return to Index
Flippity Floppity Wing
Hayden K. Billingy
Sugar Apple Books
9781735124445
$17.95
Website: https://sugarapplebooks.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Flippity-Floppity-Wing-Hayden-Billingy/dp/1735124443
When Butterfly loses her wing in the picture
book tale Flippity Floppity Wing,
suddenly everything changes.
She's used to dancing and singing joyously
as she flies over the flowers, until one wing becomes stuck on a branch
and
pulls away, leaving her crippled.
Hayden K. Billingy explores Butterfly's loss
and suddenly-changed life through appealing rhymes: “Oh,
my wing! My wing! My flippity-floppity wing! Where can I go
without my wing? Oh, what an awful, awful thing to happen to my
flippity-floppity wing!”
A wise owl offers advice, and other forest
creatures try to help her mend her wing and return her to the life she
knew,
but all seems lost. Without her wing, she is land-bound and cannot fly
or experience
freedom.
As the story progresses, young picture book
readers receive an astute examination of loss, grief, and growth that
helps
them understand both choices in reacting to adversity and different
possibilities inherent in changed conditions.
Julia Sarapata de Carvalho's lovely
illustrations capture the little butterfly girl's world in vibrant
colors,
injecting a multicultural, visual perspective into the story of loss
and
adaptation.
Parents will find the book's uplifting
message, lilting rhyme, and portrait of maintaining positivity and
adjusting
well to even the devastating circumstances in life is especially
relevant as
COVID changes the world.
This unusual opportunity to teach important
lessons to young picture book readers should be on the shelves of any
library
looking for picture book portraits of positivity and courage.
Return to Index
Fourth Earth
Cami Murdock Jensen
Primedia eLaunch LLC
978-1-68564-233-4
$26.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Earth-Adventure-Mythical-Creatures-ebook/dp/B09J1RTTL4
Fourth Earth
is the fourth addition to the Arch Mage series for young adults and
continues
the fantasy adventures that place Agnes Anne Cavanaugh, who is in the
center of
a whirlwind of controversy and trials.
Despite her prior achievements, all is not
peaceful nor well in the Fourth Earth environment. Magic is fading, a
masterful
dragon is rising from initial defeat, and rival factions are
contributing to the
demise of magic in the world.
Sharir is well on the way to taking over and
enslaving the universe. Only Agnes stands in the way. But, how can she
fight
alone?
Because Fourth Earth is a series addition,
newcomers might believe they need to absorb the prior adventures in
order to
successfully enjoy this latest title. While such a foundation adds
depth and
understanding to these events, it's not a requirement. Cami Murdock
Jensen
draws readers with compelling imagery and deftly sets the stage for a
fine read
that stands as strongly on its own as it does as part of the series: "I always imagined battlefields as
gloomy, barren shores stripped of joy and life. The dark images I
conjured
while doing online history lessons were probably inspired by tragically
artistic movies. In truth, nature didn’t change its patterns for
something as
trivial as a battle. Oceans rolled sparkling waves into white sands
with
perfect regularity. The sun still shone, and the breeze still blew—even
on the
days giant sea serpents slithered out of emerald waves with the
singular
purpose of killing you. Which resulted in the sad fact that I had no
time to
enjoy the spectacular scenery of Fourth Earth. No designer sunglasses
or cute
bikinis for me. Only flexible, mesh armor and magical weaponry. No
soaking in
some rays and pretending to be a normal teenager. I fought for my life
and the
lives of the whole universe."
As Tenmon, Bean, and others interact, Agnes
Ann Cavanaugh, Angel of the Jent Paths, confronts demon invasions,
royal pig
sties, and kelpie warriors in magical battles that will delight young
adult
fantasy readers seeking a blend of action and coming of age story.
The vivid images of magic called forth in
battle and friendships, and strengths tested by them, creates a
chronicle
replete with swift action, satisfying twists of plot, a range of
characters who
each support or defy their destinies, and a magical battlefield where
lines
drawn in the past are overcome by present-day, changing circumstances.
Jensen is particularly adept at reviewing
the special challenges Agnes and her friends face as the world
transforms
around them, challenging their responses to it and the strengths they
had come
to rely on.
Her special brand of action and high drama,
laced with a storm of tainted magic and individual courage, will
enthrall
newcomers and prior fans alike, and is especially recommended for
lending
libraries that have seen popularity with the previous stories.
Young patrons will find the story continues
its story of an uncertain future, concluding with a cliffhanger that
leaves
Agnes poised for a different kind of world in the final series title to
come, False Earth and creating
another
gripping fantasy that proves hard to put down...or predict.
Return to Index
Ghosts of the Hindu Kush
Joe O'Neill
Black Ship Publishing
978-0-9914484-2-5
$23.20 Hardcover/$9.95 Paper/$6.99 ebook
www.redhandadventures.com
Ghosts of the Hindu Kush
provides kids ages 9-12 with a historical adventure that is best read
in
sequence with the others in the Red Hand Adventures series, because
young
people will find that each book in this ongoing saga builds from and
adds to
its foundation from its predecessors.
Readers
who have relished Thieves
of the Black Sea and
the
others in this series will find Ghosts of
the Hindu Kush continues the saga of young mariner
adventurers Tariq,
Aseem, and Fez as they finish their Black Sea crossing and
enter Russia on
a quest.
It's
unusual to
see a young reader saga that traverses international waters and
politics, but
this story provides many refreshingly original facets that set it apart
from
the usual middle grade story, blending real-world scenarios with action
that
crosses seas and involves its characters in many challenges.
While
various
events are historically accurate, the characters are fictional, their
compelling lives vividly depicted to attract and maintain attention in
young
readers attracted to vibrant, dramatic stories.
The
story opens
with a detailed recap of recent adventures: "Barely
escaping death after being pulled from the sea by the jovial Greek
gypsy
sailor, Captain Scopas, all three boys—Tariq, Fez, and Aseem—are
rescued and
nursed back to health. On a mission to help Scopas, they navigate the
bustling
maze of streets in ancient Constantinople with the help of local
urchin,
Pakize, determined to settle an old score with Abdullah Ozek, the evil
animal
trader and ruthless gangster terrorizing the city and acting as muscle
for the
corrupt sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Inez’s capture by German spies,
and
Margaret’s effort to save her, results in hot pursuit on a long trek
through
Germany trying to get home to St. Catherine’s in France."
This
is not
meant to replace a reading of the earlier books, but to remind readers
of these
events. This sets the stage for a smooth introduction to this latest
story,
which focuses on international politics, a mission that affects them
all, the
ravaged European landscape of World War I, and more adventures.
Spies,
assassins, and special interests permeate a tale that is all the more
gripping
because much of it is based on real-world events.
Readers
gain an
education in political and social challenges as they absorb this
action-packed tale:
"And what kind of life will you
lead? He’ll be a fugitive, and they’re constantly on the lookout for
deserters. You’ll be aiding an enemy, and the army doesn’t look kindly
on
that, even if you are a nurse.” Inez stopped what she was doing and
stared at
Alice. “Technically, I’m a civilian and can leave as I choose. Reinhold
is
dead, at least according to the military. He died by firing squad in a
muddy
field, then was buried in an anonymous grave with a hundred others.”
“Still,
he’ll draw suspicion. Every boy his age is expected to enlist in the
army.”
As
events
progress, a touch of the supernatural added to the plot keeps readers
on their
toes and engaged via unpredictable twists.
Spying,
magic,
battles, calls for courage, and exotic lands...all the elements are in
place
for a rollicking good read that defies the usual staid approach of the
historical novel, spicing action with unexpected intrigue and fantasy
elements.
The
result is
both entertaining and educational, providing a thought-provoking
adventure that
incorporates moral and ethical conundrums over choices and consequences
in a
story that calls upon the young adventurers to step up to adulthood in
many
different ways.
The
end leaves
the door well open for a new beginning in another book.
Choosing
this
series also holds a social benefit: a portion of proceeds from the sale
of all
the Red Hand Adventures books will be donated to
help the many
impoverished and enslaved children in the world.
Return to Index
Imani's
Undersea
Adventure
Tess M Jackson
Onyx Prose
Publishing
978-1736128282
$16.99
Hardcover/$12.99 Paper/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Imanis-Undersea-Adventure-T-Jackson/dp/1736128280
Picture
book
readers who enjoy stories of undersea encounters will relish Imani's Undersea Adventure. The story
opens with a young girl's visit to an aquarium with her grandfather,
where she
views scary sharks.
As
her wise
grandfather teaches her that the shark is more amazing than scary,
Iamni views
a marine biologist feeding them inside the tank. She and young readers
learn
more about shark biology, studies, and history, which dovetails with
her
grandfather's review of their heritage and those who were forced onto
slave
ships in Africa to be brought to America.
Imani
learns
much more than natural history in a story that embraces human and
natural
affairs. It teaches kids about science, research methods, historical
examination, and modern dilemmas (such as the fact that many African
Americans
don't know how to swim).
What
does this
have to do with sharks? As Imani comes to realize truths about more
than just
sharks, she fosters a deeper appreciation of her heritage and
modern-day
opportunities, and develops a new goal, as a result of this information.
Young
readers
may anticipate the adventure that revolves around confrontation and
problem-solving from the book's title, but Imani's
Undersea Adventure offers so much more. It's an adventure
that explores
fear, heritage, opportunity, and revised experiences.
Imani's Undersea Adventure is highly recommended for picture book
libraries seeking inclusive fiction about strong young Black girls who
learn
about new opportunities via lessons from the past.
Its
positive
note about engagement and understanding links past and present to help
youngsters understand how the past influences present-day choices and
opportunities, with the possibility of changing the world.
Return to Index
James Bone: The Awesome Allosaurus Adventure
Carole Marsh
Gallopade Graphics
978-0-635-13577-3
$4.99
www.gallopade.com
"The name is Bone—James
Bone. 007-year-old and licensed to dig."
With this opening admonition, a rollicking
adventure evolves involving dinosaurs, young investigator
paleontologists, and readers
who love stories about finding fossils, in James
Bone: The Awesome Allosaurus Adventure. This
is the first in an 8-book Series, all to be available by Spring of
2022. Each features different U.S., Canada, or other country locations,
a new
and amazing dinosaur, and more educational, rambunctious adventures for
James,
Pick, Shovel, and Diggy the dog!
A team of young investigators and their pets
awaken to the morning, jazzed about their new dig. The paleontologist
mother
assigns them to their "big dig gig" in the Dinosaur Badlands and
charges them with finding an allosaurus fossil.
Carole Marsh injects fun puns, wordplay,
action words and dialogue, and drama into this picture book story ("Hey! Dr. Archie Ologist is here to meet us!").
The Jurassic Badlands Boneyard the kids
enter sports a sign that declares: "Population: 0 people, 15 million
fossils."
As the dig team searches the biggest pile of
dinosaur remains ever found for one special fossil, readers receive a
host of
dinosaur and palentological facts couched in vivid, action-packed
adventure
scenes.
James Bone: The Awesome
Allosaurus Adventure looks like a graphic novel, which makes it
especially inviting to reluctant young readers, but it employs the
drama and
action of adventure wound into real-life facts about dinosaur digs and
achieving goals via teamwork.
There's even an evil villain.
All these elements create an engaging read
that introduces youngsters to the world of dinosaur digs through an
adventure
that is vividly narrated, compellingly illustrated by Lee Barrow, and
hard to
put down.
Even youngsters who normally eschew
nonfiction facts and most picture book stories will find the format and
drama-laced James Bone: The Awesome
Allosaurus Adventure especially appealing.
Return to Index
Just Like Magic
Victor D.O. Santos
Linguacious
978-1-64962-118-4 (PB, $12.99)
978-1-64962-127-6 (HC,
$23.99)
https://linguacious-2005.myshopify.com/collections/shop-english-esl/products/just-like-magic
Just Like Magic
works picture book magic on young readers as it pairs the story of a
courageous
platypus with bright, whimsical illustrations by Iryna Kazakova.
Nino isn't afraid of anything...in his
dreams. But reality is somewhat different, and as he is rejected by
those who
spurn his invitation to be friends, he encounters a magic genie who can
give
him anything he desires. Or, can he?
The clever genie's solutions come with an
admonition that Nino just can't seem to follow. Can magic abilities
really give
him confidence and strength?
Parents who choose this engaging story as a
read-aloud will welcome and relish its lesson for the very young
listener.
The understandable dilemmas Nino faces as he
confronts the world translates to information youngsters need to absorb
to
muster their own courage to deal with threats, bullying, and adversity.
Adults looking for a strong message within
an engaging story will find that Just
Like Magic works wonders for enlightening the young about
courage and self-confidence.
Maybe even magic.
Return to Index
Mishka
Mike Maroney
Talisman
978-1916118119
$8.99 paper/.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/MISHKA-Mike-Maroney/dp/1916118119
It's
unusual to
see adventures for ages 7-12 set in Russia, but Mishka
holds special appeal for dog lovers as well as sporting an
unusual setting. Kids receive an education about the geography and
culture of
Russia ("June in the Russian north was as warm as December was
cold.") as they read about dog Mishka's crime-busting exploits.
Think
Lassie,
but on a bigger scale. Mishka becomes involved in bank robberies,
scares thugs
and thieves, and saves children.
But,
a dog story
isn't all that is happening in Mishka.
Mike Maroney takes the time to explore the emotions and growth of those
around
Mishka, as well: "Max was sorry for
being cross at Natasha. If there's one thing that makes you feel big,
it's
someone being scared when you're not."
This
injection
of psychological inspection and keys to understanding interpersonal
communications makes Mishka much
more
than the story of a superhero dog. It's a study in bullying,
friendships,
relationship-building, and best friends and family that brings all
these
elements into a vivid tale.
Kids
may
initially choose Mishka because of
their love for dogs, but ultimately they will pursue the story because
of its
descriptions of love between people and animals alike.
Adults
who
direct kids to Mishka will find its
warmth and Russian backdrop simply delightful.
Return to Index
My Dad, My Rock
Victor D.O. Santos
Linguacious
978-1-64962-122-1 (PB, $12.99)
978-1-64962-131-3 (HC, $23.99)
https://linguacious-2005.myshopify.com/collections/shop-english-esl/products/my-dad-my-rock
In My
Dad, My Rock, Oliver has never met his grandfather. What
would he do, if he
did? Oliver would tell him about his own father and how amazing an
influence his
dad has been in his young life. And so the nuts and bolts of a
different
approach to celebrating fathers emerges, with a refreshingly different
perspective than most father/son/grandparent stories.
In this story, young Oliver not only has
never met his grandfather, but the man disappeared from his own
father's life.
So, what could a grandchild envision as a conversation with a blood
relative
who's a personal stranger?
There's no greater gift than sharing. Oliver
begins reflecting on his father's many strengths: "My
dad has two eyes, two arms and two legs, like most other dads.
But sometimes I think he has at least five of each. Even when I am
behind him,
he always knows what I am doing. If I let go of his hand, he always
catches me.
Sometimes I call him Octopus Dad. If I hurt myself, he runs to me
faster than a
monkey when it sees a banana."
As he reviews the kinds of experiences his
own dad has brought to enrich his world, Oliver also reveals essential
lessons
passed to him from his "rock solid" father: "He
says some people say real men don’t cry. I think men who don’t
cry aren’t real."
The result is a beautiful and compellingly
different approach to celebrating fathers and their ability to be
present in
and contribute to a child's life.
Many, many books have been written about
father/son relationships. Few hold the ability to grasp and present the
essential features of a relationship built on not just love, but being
silly,
being a teacher, and being a supportive "rock" that imparts important
basics on what it means to lovingly guide a child.
Even though Oliver's dad did not have such a
figure in his own life, he grew up to provide all the missing links to
his son,
who here both recognizes and celebrates these opportunities to learn,
grow, and
interact with his father in positive ways.
Yes, many picture books for kids explore
love between fathers and sons. But few are so specific, engaging, and
realistically reflective as My Dad, My
Rock.
The story reinforces how and why a father's
presence in a child's life is so critical to his development, making
for an
exceptional read that is highly recommended. It should be critical,
essential
reading for any age who would better understand the important role of a
father
in the family.
Return to Index
Penny the Horse...Of Course!
Tatiana Christie
DartFrog Books
978-1-951490-46-1
Paperback: $11.99; Hardcover: $21.99; Ebook:
$4.99
www.DartFrogBooks.com
"A pig is a pig and a horse is a
horse." This introduction to the picture book story seems obvious,
until
young readers and their parents come to realize that this concept of
reality is
challenged by the only pig on a horse form.
Penny well realizes that she's not a horse.
But, being the only one of her kind makes her lonely. It's just not fun
being
different in a crowd of creatures that obviously share many interests
and
abilities.
And so Penny hatches a plan. All she needs
is a little hay, a little glue, and a lot of determination.
Parents who choose Tatiana Christie's Penny
the Horse...Of Course! will find, within its whimsical title
and premise, a
colorful exploration of loneliness, differences, and determination.
Illustrations by Alexandra Rusu complement this
lovely story of loneliness and making adjustments in order to invite
new
relationships that account for, adjust to, and celebrate differences.
Parents will relish its message of
problem-solving, diversity, and companionship.
Return to Index
The
Seekers:
Soul Ties
Anton Anderson
Independently
Published
979-8504782874
$5.28 ebook; $14.73 paperback
Website: https://anton-anderson.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095YZSZYS
The Seekers: Soul Ties will appeal to fantasy readers who like
their adventure stories fast-paced and action-packed, but it also
presents an
unusual format. It takes the form of two stories of couples who face
different
challenges as they tackle changing threats from the natural world they
thought
they knew well.
Sabiri
and Iskrila are forced to go to war to
protect their village when a new force hits. They are igni: a fast,
agile
creature on this world which sports "two
legs ending with hooves, two arms, but also a tail. Unlike animals who
walk on
all fours, the igni, as any sapient species of the Lands, preferred to
walk
upright, meaning on two legs. Each igni was two meters tall, wide and
muscular,
making them the second strongest and biggest sapient species." They
are unique, creative makers whose curiosity can either pose trouble or
offer a
solution to the challenging new threats that plague the world.
Maria
and
Bacara's lives (they are also igni) revolve around a different village
world.
They, too, face mysterious attackers who seem to have no specific
reason for
decimating their village. The only solution involves a quest to gain
control of
magical artifacts that may hold power to protect their village from the
attack
or some other useful ability.
With
various
clans, good allies, dangerous enemies, unique species, close
friendships,
different goals, desires, and perspectives, Anton Anderson crafts a
complex,
appealing world. He peppers his story with black and white
illustrations that
add visual context to its characters and setting.
There
are
ancient, mysterious temples with magical doorways that lead you where
you
command them, magical fountains that become full of running water at
your
single wish, and books that are crafted unnaturally well. There are
encounters
with diverse species and a variety of colorful and dangerous flora and
fauna.
Most
of all,
their quest involves satisfying their curiosity about the world and
testing
their courage and responses to it as all four move outside their
familiar
comfort zones and into realms where the rules no longer apply.
Anderson's
story
seems a simple quest tale on one hand, but draws readers with a complex
fantasy
setting and evolving relationships that often give pause for thought.
Uncertain
new alliances test everyone and bring with them new dilemmas as the
power of
the artifacts becomes evident.
Will
they tap
this new force to save the world, or will they transform it?
The
struggles
these igni face within themselves and between one another makes for an
involving fantasy that paints an involving picture of creatures
connected to
the land, but somewhat disconnected from one another.
The
adventure
that drives them into unfamiliar territory is recommended reading for
fantasy
fans from advanced middle school grades well into adult circles.
Return to Index
Sockboy: The Halloween Special
Karl "Ultrakarl" Cottle
Precocity Press
9781737723516
$14.95
Publisher: www.precocitypress.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Sockboy-Halloween-Special-Karl-Cottle/dp/1737723514
Sockboy: The Halloween
Special
provides the second Sockboy picture book adventure for children who
like action
stories and superheroes, providing some surprising insights into
finding
purpose in life and compassion towards others. It's surprising because
these
elements are typically not found in a Halloween story.
While some might believe that familiarity
with the first Sockboy book is a requirement for enjoying this
follow-up, this
is not the case. It stands nicely on its own, packed with appealing
color
illustrations by Karl "Ultrakarl" Cottle.
Sockboy loves Halloween, and has an
action-packed evening planned. From watching scary movies usually
forbidden to
him to selecting just the right costume to reflect his persona,
Sockboy's
insights on Halloween fun inject thought-provoking inspections into the
event: "I'll look in the mirror and
ask,/"Who are you?"/A costume's important;/it's a uniform too."
In fact, the costume selection assumes
special importance, because Sockboy realizes that it will reflect to
the world
his inner self, whether it be monster, hero, or something
different...his real
alter-ego, Sockboy.
During the process of amassing more candy on
Halloween night than other children, Sockboy witnesses a crime. What
can he do?
Cottle again couches some important lessons
in being proactive, compassionate, and solving problems. While these
are
tackled in the guise of a young superhero's persona, they are presented
in a
way that informs youngsters that they, too, can be superheroes who make
a difference
in the world.
As he observes victim and bully, Sockboy's
compassion grows: "Now they're
getting shoved/like those kids before./All bullies got pushed,/so they
keep
harming more."
Picture book readers and read-aloud adults
may choose this story for its Halloween theme, but will be delighted to
find it
offers so much more. Its education about the roots of bullying and
anger and
what to do about it provides an invaluable lesson on understanding,
making for
a compelling tale that, once again, follows a boy's exploration of how
he can
truly be a superhero in the world not by crushing evil, but
understanding and
tackling its roots.
Return to Index
Tails
From Down
Under
Tara Lala
Mascot Books
9781645437857
$16.95
www.mascotbooks.com
Tails From Down Under is a lively story about Paradise Royale, a
girl who lives in Ophelia's Orphanage in Paris. Not the Paris of coffee
and
cafes, but the underside of town, where the forgotten reside.
One
day, a
family comes to the orphanage to adopt her, specifically. And
everything
changes.
The
opening
chapter sets the stage for her adoption and move to America, but the
heart of
this tale actually begins nine years later.
Young
readers
will not anticipate the results of Paradise's transformation. She's
moved to
Los Angeles, barely recalls her French language and heritage, and
dreams of
becoming a model with her best friend, eschewing school and failing
classes, as
a result.
Her
adoptive
parents don't support her goals, and favor their birth son: "Mom and Dad had always been against my
dreams. Even though I was so appreciative that they adopted me, they
seemed not
to care about me; they only doted on Sam. Although Sam was spoiled and
got
whatever he wanted, he’d grown to be a humble and nice guy. Sam was now
a
senior and wanted to become a movie director. Mom and Dad fully
supported him,
but whenever I brought up modeling, they immediately criticized my
dream."
Despite
her
mother's efforts to dissuade her from her goal, Paradise meets a model
on the
airplane and solidifies her dreams. Then she discovers the truth about
her
adoption, and why her adoptive parents seem to resent her. And
everything
changes once again.
Tara
Lala
creates an engaging story that evolves into directions that pre-teen
readers
won't see coming.
As
Paradise
finds herself in a milieu where all the rules have changed and magic
becomes
part of her world, readers will appreciate the juxtaposition of
real-world
dilemmas, problem-solving on many levels, and Paradise's search for a
place and
feeling she really can call home.
Pre-teens
will
identify with her changes and adventures, and will appreciate how the
story
comes full circle in an unexpected way. Tails
From Down Under is an extraordinary work that pairs
real-world with magical
dilemmas so seamlessly that the reader's mind and heart are delighted
by
Paradise's spunky charm.
Advanced
elementary to middle grade readers will find Tails
From Down Under captivating.
Return to Index
War
Train
Donald Willerton
Terra Nova Books
978-1-948749-77-0
$14.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.terranovabooks.com
War Train is set in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and
revolves around teen Mogi Franklin, who becomes involved in his
architect sister's refurbishing of an old hotel, only to find himself
investigating its mysterious past.
An attic filled with treasures that needs to
be emptied introduces Mogi to World War II history and mysteries, from
the
Harvey Girls and bank robbers who pulled off a heist that has never
been solved
to family experiences during the war that created changes, secrets, and
extraordinary events.
Teen readers who choose War
Train will find the history nicely embedded within this
historical backdrop, all powered by Mogi's present-day dilemmas as he
uncovers
more and more facts and mysteries that dovetail with his family's past.
Donald
Willerton
doses the story with a heavy hand of World War II facts, but assumes no
prior
reader knowledge of this backdrop as he spins a yarn that keeps Mogi
investigating
and on his toes.
Chapters
alternate between past events and present day, adding more characters
into each
era to bring both worlds to life. These are clearly identified in
chapter
headings, so the flow between eras proves seamless, with each offering
captivating insights that keep readers engaged and moving forward.
The
past
decisions and events that lend to the future mystery makes for a story
that
juxtaposes adventure and discovery with new revelations about the
Castañeda
Hotel, the famous Harvey House restaurant, and a mother's love for
twins which
creates both a dilemma and a solution that resonates through the years.
Teens
who choose
War Train for its action and mystery
will find themselves intrigued, entertained, and educated, all in one.
War Train is especially recommended for collections
seeking a way of imparting World War II history to today's youth in a
manner
that embraces both facts and entertaining adventure leading to new
discoveries
and revelations about the present.
Return to Index
What is Coronavirus?
Sabbithry Persad, MBA
Firewater Media Group
9780981243931
$19.95/$9.99 eBook
www.firewatermediagroup.com
What is Coronavirus?
How it
Infects, How it Spreads, and How to Stay Safe
is an illustrated book of choice for educators and parents who want not
a light
and simple cursory review, but an in-depth introduction to viruses in
general
and the special properties of the novel coronavirus in particular.
Many an adult who has difficulty
understanding COVID-19, or who wants to review the basics, will find What is Coronavirus? well-detailed, well
referenced, and filled with insights about why this virus differs from
all
others that have affected the human race in the past.
The book begins with the bare-bones basics
of what a virus is and how it typically spreads, before moving to the
novel
coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and its disease and peculiarities. It compares
COVID-19 to typical colds and flu, outlines differences in its spread
and
impact, and moves to specifics of how COVID-19 affects various organs
in the
body, and how the body fights back.
Although there's a lot of physiology
involved in this discussion, What is
Coronavirus? always maintains an accessible tone, adding
plenty of visuals
to reinforce its pragmatic consideration of all the physiological,
psychological, and social ramifications of the disease in a way that
all
readers can easily understand.
As What
is Coronavirus? addresses these topics, no stone is left
unturned, from
historic to social investigations. Visuals reinforce information such
as how
various-sized droplets of coronavirus spread differently and require
less
distance to prove infectious.
The result is a visually appealing book with
its diagrams, illustrations, and pages of detail. It's the perfect
introduction
for all ages that pinpoints both the science and the overall affects of
the
virus on human lives.
It helps that the editors of this book
seasoned virologists with decades of experience, and are well versed in
scientific process and technical accuracy. Persad covers a lot of
territory
about the world of viruses in only eight chapters. While it doesn’t shy
away
from naming the dangers of viruses, in particular COVID-19, this work
focuses
on reassuring young readers that progress is being made in the efforts
to
combat the virus. A useful addition for middle school libraries.
While What is Coronavirus? will be chosen for young readers ages 12 and older, its value as a basic, fact-filled introduction should be considered as an important source for adults, as well. This is a recommendation that needs to move beyond the children's section in a library to reach out to the general public with much-needed facts presented in an easily digestible, eye-catching fashion.
What is Coronavirus?Return to Index