July 2020 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi Mystery & Thrillers
e-Pocalypse
- The
Digital Dystopia is Coming
Steve Bellinger
Wordwooze Publishing
979-8640980745
Paperback, $12.99; eBook, $3.99
Publisher: https://www.wordwooze.com/
Ordering:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pocalypse-Digital-Dystopia-Coming-ebook/dp/B087NWXXDB/
Author website: www.SteveBellinger.com
e-Pocalypse - The Digital Dystopia is Coming
takes place in the
near future when retired Tech Support Supervisor Matthew Williams and
his
girlfriend Divya Agarwal begin to suspect that a global meltdown is in
progress.
The company Matty left and that still employs Divya, Roydon
Technologies, is
apparently behind the threat. This involves them in a struggle to
prevent the
new social technologies from manipulating the minds of everyone around
them.
As they face
a new
device that can change reality itself, Matty and Divya find their
family
relationships, lives, and future challenged in a way they'd never
believed
possible, even given their technological savvy and backgrounds.
Readers of
high-tech
thrillers and sci-fi alike are in for a treat. Steve Bellinger's
attention to
technological descriptions and detail, social and political conundrums,
and
changing psychological relationships between characters creates a
multifaceted,
engrossing story. He draws readers with personal touches and
first-person
experiences, cements the action with technical description and savvy,
and
creates a realistic tale that pits each character against not just a
single
adversity, but their own ideals and acceptance of their place in this
strange
new high-tech world.
When the
Augie device
changes the world to the point where it can't work without them,
whomever is at
the controls of these socially accepted new miracles is in a seat of
power,
indeed. It's a role Matty and Divya must expose if the world is ever to
become
free of their own ideals and creations.
Bellinger is
careful
to point out the allure and positive promotions of this technology,
which could
be boons to society if it was in the right hands: "These
damned things are actually pretty amazing.” I had to admit
I was impressed with some parts of the system. “This should eliminate
traffic
violations and accidents completely!” “And more efficient traffic
control,”
Divvie said. I pulled back onto the highway. With NANA watching over us
there would
be no surprises on the road. No danger to any of us. And I certainly
wasn’t
going to run over any disabled people."
Having the
characters
not be anti-tech, but already immersed in the culture of new
possibilities and
life improvements, makes their dilemma all the more compelling.
Readers who enjoy sci-fi rooted in future technology and questions
surrounding
its use and abuse will find e-Pocalypse powerfully
compelling and frighteningly familiar. It's an action thriller with a
strong
message about values, choices, and new technology's use and abuse.
e-Pocalypse is highly recommended not
just for readers of
apocalyptic or dystopian sci-fi, but for thriller readers, who will
find plenty
of action cemented by strong characterization and a plot that keeps
readers on
their toes.
Return to Index
The Faerie
Princess
Monica Williams
Independently
Published
979-8643886259
$9.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Faerie-Princess-Court/dp/B0884DXCQK
The Faerie Princess is Book 1 in The
Faerie Court series and will
appeal to readers of fantasy romance. This audience will enjoy a fine
dark
fantasy in which a girl's attraction to the woods results in her
kidnapping to
another world.
Marika never
imagined that her childhood dreams would lead to her destiny as a
princess in
another world, or having to choose between the world she grew up in and
another
life entirely.
She also
realizes
that, in order to get back home, she needs her kidnapper's help. As she
absorbs
the politics, strange environment, and her new role in the 'Fae' world,
Marika
faces a prophecy, alluring chemistry between herself and the strange
boy who
has lured her to another realm, and the responsibility of an infant who
enters
her life just as unexpectedly as her new role.
As Marika
seeks
solutions to the challenges of her new life, contemplates which world
she'll
live in, and juggles romance with new abilities and an odd inheritance,
she
begins to learn about magic and her powers, facing a malicious force
that would
change everything.
The Faerie Princess features a spirited,
determined protagonist who
approaches her world and changed circumstances with empathy and the
determination to uncover her destiny and heart's desires.
As the world
of the
Faerie court comes to life, she has some difficult decisions
to make about
not only both worlds, but her place within each.
Monica
Williams does
an excellent job of capturing Marika's process of growth and discovery.
This
dark fantasy is recommended for mature teen through adult readers,
offering a
self-exploration and adventure that is pointed, revealing, and hard to
put
down.
Return to Index
Kathleen McFall and
Clark Hays
Pumpjack Press
978-1-7345197-0-9
$15.95 Paper/$4.99
ebook
www.pumpjackpress.com
Gates of Mars is Book 1 in the Halo
Trilogy and is set in the year
2187. Crucial Larsen is making a living on a decimated Earth as a labor
cop,
satisfied enough with his lot in life, when his young sister disappears
on
Mars.
Halo is the
most
advanced AI in human history, overseeing life on two planets and
relentlessly
gathering and organizing facts to keep everything running seamlessly.
But
there's a gap in its knowledge and abilities when it comes to locating
his
missing sister, and so Crucial is compelled to conduct his own
investigation,
with dangerous and unexpected results.
As Gates of Mars evolves, its blend of
detective and sci-fi elements moves Crucial from a relatively obedient
and apathetic
life to one which becomes charged with deadly secrets and discoveries
about the
truth of his AI-controlled lifestyle.
As he
thwarts an
attack on the one person who may hold the truth about his missing
sister,
Crucial discovers that Halo's seeming omnipresent control has failed in
more
than one instance. This results in a series of crises that leads him
beyond the
subject of his sister's whereabouts and into a deeper mystery.
Kathleen
McFall and
Clark Hays cultivate just the right blend of sci-fi and investigative
elements
to keep readers on edge and involved. As the personal story becomes a
bigger
picture of truth, the foundations of this strange future society are
shaken and
examined and Gates of Mars evolves
into an adventure that is hard to put down.
The sci-fi
fundamentals are believable, the personal conundrums and confrontations
that
shake beliefs are well drawn, and the story line is replete with twists
and
turns true to some of the best noir detective pieces—but with an
otherworld
setting and futuristic society.
Can anything
that is
anti-Halo exist, much less survive? And why would a man threaten his
familiar
routines and predictable life to investigate a world-changing scenario?
Only
personal attachment could lead Crucial away from his comfort zone. And
only
these kinds of psychological insights and connections could produce
this kind
of story, which is riveting, unexpected, and filled with intrigue and
change.
Sci-fi and
detective
story readers alike will find Gates of
Mars one of a kind and worthy of avid pursuit.
Return to Index
Moonblood
T.W. Fendley
Soul Song Press LLC
978-0-9998434-3-7
$13.99
www.twfendley.com
Moonblood tells of young immortal
Ariadne, who resides in the Eves
compound, but resists the idea that she can't explore the outside world. When she sneaks out anyway
and finds herself
unable to return, stuck in a world of mortals who pursue her, she
stumbles upon
the Adams, the immortal sons of her sisters, and uncovers a dangerous
plan
among them that threatens not just her world, but her immortality.
Ari has
always been a
rebel who defies her rigid destiny: "We
were forbidden to go there alone at night, so that's where I longed to
be." This quality serves her well as she hones defiance and
survival
skills, growing to accept a very different reality about the world from
which
she's largely been sequestered.
T.W. Fendley
creates
a vivid scenario with a world of Eves controlled by Matrons, populated
by Adams
and Cains, and forces which are far more threatening than any
admonition to
remain confined at home.
Ari's
encounters with
Margie and others outside who present her with their own discoveries
about the
world ("I never believed suneaters
existed, and that's where I was
wrong. Suneaters do exist.
They're not the evil superhumans the Arm of the Lord and Con Squad
fear, but
they are different from us.”)
also change her perspective about her role in this life and the
interactions
between mutants, immortals, humans, and a host of creatures in between.
Everything Ari knows has come through 'official' channels, but her real
education lies in absorbing these unofficial, much more difficult
lessons about
the strange realities of her world.
T.W. Fendley
captures
the nuances of this life by exploring changing perspectives between
Ari, Blair,
and others. As each character lends a different viewpoint and
perception, the
story expands to embrace lessons in strategy, choice, and values.
The
characterization
is excellent, but what is truly exquisite about Moonblood
is the attention to detail in building a society loosely
based on religious figures, but steeped in dystopian scenes that young
adult
and adult readers alike will find engrossingly different and often
surprising.
Fans of
dystopian
fiction looking for something refreshingly original and truly different
in the
society-building/destruction theme will find Moonblood
a standout.
Return to Index
Recombination
Brendan Butts
Independently
Published
ASIN: B00M0DV5IQ
$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Recombination-Seven-Novel-Chronicles-Withmore-ebook/dp/B00M0DV5IQ
Recombination is a dystopian science
fiction story that sets the
scene of a future climate-challenged world rescued by a corporation
that now
controls it. It presents this scenario in a prologue narrated from the
perspective of a Yakuza underboss, who gives his impressions of this
world.
This
prologue not
only sets the scene and provides succinct background history, but
incorporates
the forthright language that is a powerful part of Recombination's
attraction: "Times
like these make me nostalgic for the old days. I mean it wasn't all
sunshine
and gravy but at least I was out there, on the street, and not
relegated to
middle management in a legal criminal enterprise that spans the globe.
I
fucking hate being a little fish in a big pond. I joined the Yaks for
all the
right reasons. Well, one reason anyway: revenge."
This
approach is a
big draw that does what prologues should ideally do best: grasp the
reader's
attention, swiftly set the scene, and create questions and
confrontations that
are gripping and thoroughly engrossing introductions to a powerful tale.
The hero of
this story
is Seven Ecks, a genetically modified human who escapes control of the
corporation who made him, and is on the run. The engrossing emotional
narrative
that embraces his perspective and life is part of what makes Recombination a standout as it not only
relates events, but carefully weaves in psychological examinations of
the
characters: "I had to be strong for
Sasha. She had grown up a lot in the past few years, but I knew inside
that she
still thought of herself as the unpopular blind girl. The perfect
target for
bullies. Before I left the lounge for the ferry to the mainland, I
promised her
that if she waited for me, I'd be back and we would be together
forever.
Standing at the stern of the boat in the midst of a crowd of tourists,
watching
the rolling tide of the ocean and the slowly receding outline of the
Dome, I
wondered if I'd be able to keep that promise."
From his
escape to
the underworld of migrant plantation workers and their involvement in
his life
to his friendship with a giant of a man (Zenigra) who leads the
eighteen-year-old
runaway into a battle with their overseers in an effort to gain
freedom, Recombination cultivates
an
adventure-packed atmosphere set in a world of controlling corporations
and
mega-plantations.
Brendan
Butts'
ability to juxtapose fast-paced action, chase scenes, and
confrontations with
the specter of a world still semi-underwater in physical and social
ways cultivates
a compelling atmosphere in a story finely interwoven between
altercations and
physical challenges: "Astonishment
slowed my pace fractionally until I got it under control and sped up
again. The
first several floors of both buildings were under water. Waves crested
and
broke against the walls of both buildings. The tidal wall that had been
erected
around this part of the state was meant to keep the water from rising
above
what had been ground level fifty years ago. Apparently, these two
buildings had
been built before that. The ocean was only yards away. The buildings
were still
at least three hundred feet distant. Damn! How the hell did we get in?
The only
reason we weren't on the ground from tranqs was because we were running
so fast
we were hard targets to hit from moving vehicles. If we had to slow
down and
swim, we'd be sitting ducks."
Readers of
dystopian
sci-fi typically receive stories either replete in action and shallow
in
psychological perspectives, or steeped in emotion with a lighter
attention to the
adventure component. Recombination
excels in its ability to create just the right blend of each. This
story will
satisfy those who want high-octane thriller-style action accompanied by
the
tempered hand of emotional savvy and revelations.
The result
is a tale
that is vigorous, lively, realistic, and driven by characters who live,
breathe, and struggle for survival on different levels.
Recombination is dystopian world-building
at its best. It's highly
recommended reading for fans of cli-fi, science fiction, dystopian
adventure,
and thriller stories alike.
Return to Index
Urgent Launch
Larry Pratt
SMP Press
9780996385565
$12.00
www.amazon.com
Urgent Launch compliments the prior
science fiction tale Urgent State,
continuing the story of a
project revolving around citizens who form a self-sustaining community
on the
Wind River Indian Reservation which includes underground accommodations
for
scientists researching solutions to mankind's biggest problems.
While the
public
understands and accepts this mission, business interests are determined
to
exploit the fruits of their findings. Urgent's growth, overseers,
discoveries,
and purpose are challenged by not only these special interest forces,
but the
underlying social, political, and psychological conflicts within the
group
itself.
Should
mankind's
possible salvation be tuned to profit? Does a change of heart hold
impossible
costs for individuals and communities alike? And can Urgent's mission
continue
when it's under attack not just from outside, but within?
Larry Pratt
crafts an
absorbing, compelling saga that needs no prior introduction to prove
accessible. Political insights into social values and business
interests are
nicely drawn from politician viewpoints and contrast with the
information the
mission develops, Descriptions of forces of revision and change that
sweep
society are well done, and both individual and broader concerns are
narrated
from different characters' viewpoints, from Harold's involvement in
adult
visions derived from childhood dreams to wider-ranging decisions and
their
impacts: "Harold Knight and Junior,
as they used to call Edward, had passed by this overlook on that
horseback ride
they took when plotting and dreaming what the village might someday
become. It
was now obvious they were not very big dreamers. He remembered the
reservoir as
it was and thought today’s deeper version was much more useful."
In following
these
visions, scientific research studies, and social and political
experiments to
fruition, Pratt provides a positive spin on impending disaster. He
challenges
his characters to not just survive, but revamp their vision of human
activity
and choices and their effects on planetary systems as a whole.
A sense of
haste
overlays these paths and choices, fostered by impending disaster. This
makes
for a fast-paced story that examines the basic dreams of humanity that
affect
survival and climate change.
These
visionaries are
tasked with not only saving mankind, but challenging its deepest
perceptions of
itself and its place in the world: "The
work we are doing with that shield has always been a race against man’s
mindset. We can’t mistakenly change the earth-friendly momentum of that
group-think back towards complacency.”
The result
is another
absorbing read about perhaps the greatest human experiment on Earth: an
attempt
to not just save humanity, but revise its deepest dreams and intentions
on a
scale embraces physical and psychological revolutions.
Readers of
cli-fi
science fiction and social change will relish the struggles each
character
makes on different sides of the equation. Urgent
Launch is both a satisfying compliment to the prior book and
a stand-alone
story that tackles a deeper threat to humanity's survival than physical
challenges alone. It's absorbing, compelling, and sometimes hits a bit
close to
reality, these days.
Urgent Launch is highly recommended for
survival and sci-fi readers
looking for deeper inspections of underlying social motivation and
change.
Return to Index
The King
& The
Quirky
Heather Siegel
Regal House
Publishing
9781947548954
Price: $15.95
www.heathersiegel.net
The King & The Quirky: A
Memoir of Love, Marriage,
Domesticity, Feminism, and Self is
a story about mice and men, to begin with, but also delves into realms
of
transformation as women build careers, leave them for marriage, then
seek to
return to some degree of self-preservation and enlightenment.
This process is documented with a
combination of anger and reflection tempered by wry humor as Heather
Siegel
notes the hallmarks of not just her experience, but the progression of
other
women: "First, you recognize you’re not alone, understanding
this
metamorphosis can happen to the best of us, to women who once lit
pathways for
themselves, who commanded their careers and listened to their dreams,
or, at
the least, those women who once operated as independent beings in the
world
before they entrapped themselves in marital bliss (or as I like to call
it on a
bad day, the identity-sucking vortex of domestic life). Second, I
suppose you
do what you do when you’ve lost anything—say, your keys. You retrace
your steps
to where you last saw them."
That process
of
retracing steps to return to a central pivot point is part of what
makes The King & The Quirky
a uniquely
endearing memoir of change. It captures these moments throughout a
marriage's
lifetime, from inception to conclusion, successfully documenting the
feelings
that power relationships, acceptance, giving up, and moving on.
The
beginning of her
story is giddy with love's possibilities ("Jon
dipped and bobbed up, and I did the same, sliding down beneath the
crystalline
surface and pushing my toes off the soft sand, back up for air. We kept
doing
it until we were giddy and breathless, our tongues salted. The sun was
high.
The sky cloudless. And suddenly I felt primordial, as if connected to
the first
man and woman on earth, as if at home in the ocean, naked, with my man.
And for
the first time in my life I understood why people wanted to have
children, to
clone themselves. It was to make more of this."), and many women will find
familiar this euphoric sense of possibility as well as the events which
cause
it to erode, over time.
From the
prejudices
and challenges of makeup school to discovering the feelings and
situations that
leave Siegel feeling not only needed, but "...to
feel above a situation—superior to the world around me.", her
exploration of self ultimately leads to a reassessment of love's place
in her
persona and development: "I knew
that my notion of love had changed, just as my definition of soulmates
had.
Where I had once fallen for the kit-and-caboodle of the fairy tale,
thinking
that this person, and our rapturous love, would complete me, I now
believed
that this love had actually been a nudge, or maybe a series of them—to
work on
completing myself. But were any of these ideas really sustainable?
Wouldn’t it
eventually be impossible for me not to want from my husband? Was it
realistic
to be so self-contained
within
a marriage? I was scared of slipping back into my old ways—especially
in light
of the mind-body connection."
The result
is a
powerful memoir of a process that will be familiar to many women: one
which
involves the remarkable task of reconsidering life's goals and
possibilities
within and beyond the traditions of marital bliss and connection.
During this
process, Siegel is "Writing to
discover and evolve."
Her memoir
represents
an important survey of both the evolution of hope and self and the end
results
of such pursuits, creating an accessible, humorous, involving account
highly
recommended for women at various stages of growth.
Return to Index
The
Accidental Spy
Tom Rattery
Patriot
Press/Lilliput Press
www.LilliputPressllc.com
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
The Accidental Spy is Christian adventure fiction
that revolves
around ordinary man Phil
Shepherd, who sets off on a fun sailboat trip in Florida, only to
find himself involved in waters far outside his sailing abilities. He's
not
suited for navigating international treachery, affairs, espionage, or
being
shipwrecked, and finds himself forced to survive not only physically
but
spiritually and morally.
Rescued
from his
boating accident, Phil finds himself encountering an odd host of
characters,
from submarine navigator Ace, who is secretly up to no good in American
waters,
preparing for an attack nobody sees coming, to his encounter with a net
that
both saves and threatens him.
Christian
sentiments mean that Phil is in constant connection with God as he
uncertainly
navigates these treacherous waters and faces a series of political
confrontations that challenge his worldview, his abilities, and his
relationship with his higher power and his country alike.
From a church prayer
chain's influence on events to how Phil chooses to use the information
he gains
from the sailor on his unexpected journey, readers are treated to a
fast-paced
story of intrigue and interpersonal connections that is always tempered
by
references and connections to God.
Christian readers
looking for a fast-paced adventure and thriller rooted in religious
examples of
God's presence in changing lives will find The Accidental Spy
a lively
and thought-provoking story.
From its nautical
references such as drift nets, subs, and sailing to its strong
spiritual
connections, Tom Rattery creates the kind of adventure that Christians
will
appreciate, punctuating the actions of an ordinary believer with
references to
his strong connections to God: "Thank
you, thank you,
thank you, Lord! You
have really
provided, as you say you will. I feel isolated again, especially
without the
satellite phone, but I know Iʼm not alone. You are with me. I have no
idea what
else is in store today,
but I trust You
to protect me.”
The result is a clean, action-packed read
filled with unexpected twists and turns connected to individual
pursuits of God
and courage. Christian adventure story enthusiasts are in for a treat
with The Accidental Spy's
unique
nautical, spiritual, and political brand of thriller.
Return to Index
All the Good Men
Craig N. Hooper
Independently
Published
Paperback: 978-1-7333755-2-8
$10.99
Ebook ASIN:
B08BCTLXQ6 $2.99
Website: www.craignhooper.com
Ordering Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BCTLXQ6
Garrison
Chase was
introduced to fans of political thrillers in The
Greatest Good, dealt with being framed and persecuted in A Thin Line, and here returns to face
more confrontations and political battles in All
the Good Men. Both newcomers to his action and prior fans
will
relish a thriller that opens with a bang, needs no prior introductions
or
discussion, and keeps suspense readers riveted throughout.
Chase is
cautious by
nature, which is why he's advising a senator to pack heat in the
aftermath of a
dangerous discovery. But even his careful nature and investment in
protecting
good men may not win over the bad guys in this story—especially since
they
involve Washington insiders just as astute and clever as he.
Politics,
suspense,
and danger coalesce in a tale that involves combat missions, plausible
deniability, homicides and military engagements, and subterfuge that
keeps even
the savvy Chase on his toes and guessing.
As the
pieces fall
into place for the senator and those involved in protecting him, Chase
faces
some unique and difficult dilemmas in the course of a cat-and-mouse
game that
plays out in the highest echelons of Washington.
The format
of a
detective mystery investigation blends with that of political suspense
in a
delightful manner. As in his previous books, Craig N. Hooper excels at
creating
an atmosphere of intrigue that toes the line between a police
procedural and
something more.
Garrison
Chase is a
savvy investigator, a street smart fighter, and an unexpectedly
vulnerable
fighter for closure and justice for Ramona, Hattie, and others who are
involved
in an increasingly complex struggle. When this vulnerability is
exposed, Chase
finds himself at the center of a conflict that could cost him his life.
Craig N.
Hooper
creates a believable, perceptive, involving protagonist whose moves and
logic
are impeccable. Powered by unexpected confrontations, twists and turns,
and
action that move from political insights to investigative challenges, All the Good Men keeps readers guessing
about the outcome. They will be immersed right up to an ending that
imparts
some international relationship lessons and neatly concludes, while
leaving the
door ajar for more possibilities.
Return to Index
Belle Vue
C.S. Alleyne
Crystal Lake Publishing
978-1646693115
$15.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1646693116/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
Belle
Vue is an epic horror thriller
spanning
centuries of adversity and angst as it documents a betrayal and
vengeance that
lives on far past its original roots.
Belle Vue was a Victorian lunatic asylum
that, in its modern new incarnation, has become a posh apartment
complex that
attracts history student Alex Palmer's girlfriend Claire Ryan.
Alex's penchant for history hadn't included
assessments of old-time asylums, but as he delves into the building's
past, he
uncovers a gold mine of facts about insane asylums and their deadly
incarnations: "The amount of material he found on the history
of
Victorian asylums had surprised him. He was amazed at the speed at
which these
institutions had sprung up in almost every town. Not only in Britain
but
America too, followed by other parts of the empire such as Canada,
Australia,
and India. Like medical mass hysteria. Nothing prepared him for the
tales of
how the mentally ill were treated in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries. Even in the
twentieth
century, when he’d supposed medicine and the treatment of the insane
had
evolved well beyond the unacceptable practices of earlier times, the
horrific
photographs and articles vividly showed this hadn’t been the case."
This real-life history permeates a ghost
story that quietly evolves a sense of horror and mystery, drawing
readers into
both history and evolving events with a strong blend of
characterization,
intrigue, and suspense.
C.S. Alleyne excels at crafting a dark and
deadly atmosphere and force that moves from past into present,
introducing
threats that the modern-day characters can barely believe, much less
cope with.
As Alex pays the ultimate price for
ignorance and investigation and finds his own moral grounds shaky as a
result,
readers embark on a journey that is filled with surprising,
satisfyingly creepy
twists as Alex faces cruelty, the truth, and underlying challenges to
his
assumptions about life and interpersonal relationships: "Alex
accepted
he would never figure out women, even if he lived to be a hundred."
Any of these facets, on their own, would be
enough to prove tantalizing and involving, but add in the historical
backdrop
and attention to detail to a solid timeline of events for a horror tale
that
moves between past and present in a centuries-old mystery that keeps
Alex and
readers guessing and involved to the end.
Belle
Vue is classic supernatural
mystery horror.
It's highly recommended for audiences who eschew the usual formula
production
in favor of a work that is more multifaceted and satisfying on
emotional,
historical, and philosophical levels alike.
Return to Index
The Detectivists: Dragon
Ripper
Melanie Bacon
Del Sol Press
978-0999842584
$6.99 Paper/$0.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Detectivists-Dragon-Ripper-Spanish/dp/0999842587
Fans of
Sherlock
Holmes-type mysteries who enjoy stories steeped in intrigue and
cat-and-mouse
investigative processes will relish Book 1 of 'The Detectivists', Dragon Ripper, which introduces the
sister of Sherlock Holmes, Astraia, who wants to impress her
crime-solving
brother with her similar abilities.
The case
involves a
dragon-like killer, and her sidekick is also a female, Madeleine
Barquist. But
her brother Sherlock suspects a more dangerous force than a human
being, fears
for her safety, and becomes involved in the case in an effort to
protect his
sister and solve the puzzle.
Having a
clash not
just between detective and perp but brother and sister, who demonstrate
their
capabilities on the arena of murder and intrigue investigations, makes
for a
fast-paced, involving story that includes the back story of Madeleine,
who also
has a secret to hide. It could change how Sherlock and Astraia feel
about her
equally-impressive problem-solving skills.
As Maddie
observes
her friend in action, comments on the crime scene and explorations that
lead
Astraia far from her comfort zone, and provides a fine perspective on
the
events and threats that build, readers will relish the atmosphere and
observations that permeate the story with a realistic 'you are here'
feel: "Upon entry, it seemed as though we’d
stepped into a painting by Hieronymus Bosch. I have not spent much time
in
taverns and had certainly never entered a place as dark, smoky, loud
and
crowded as this prototype of hell’s saloon. Upon review, I believe the
smell
was the worst part of the experience. Happily, my stomach held little
sustenance, our wretched tea being some hours past. But I struggled to
keep even
that small amount remaining where it belonged. I wondered how Astraia
managed
it, since she did not have my years of shovelling horse manure to
precondition
her to the stench."
Another very
notable
feature to this engaging story lies in the dialogue between Maddie and
Astraia,
which captures perceptions and efforts in a fine, revealing manner: "They can’t have known about this
witness for too long,” I said mildly. “Mr. Hong has only been dead for
three
days.” “I’ll bet my brother Sherlie knew all about it, even as he
pretended he
was telling me everything he knew. And I’ll bet that officer you spoke
to at
the desk yesterday knew all about it—even while you were asking him
questions
about Mr. Hong, trying to find out how the poor man died, that officer
was keeping
this little titbit of information quiet from you.”
The
exquisite blend
of dialogue, atmosphere, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, tempered
by the
relationship between all three main characters, gives this story a
solid blend
of historical backdrop and investigative depth that will keep mystery
readers
thoroughly engaged in each character's evolution, motivations, and
confrontations.
Very highly
recommended reading for Sherlock Holmes fans who will appreciate the
female
perspective and approaches to problem-solving and relationships. These
touches
keep this story vivid, accessible, and hard to put down.
Return to Index
Five-Dollar
Indian
Lu Clifton
Two Shadows Books
Paperback: 978-0-9985284-6-5 $15.95
Ebook: 978-0-9985284-7-2
$7.95
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dollar-Indian-Sam-Chitto-Mystery/dp/0998528463/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Five-Dollar
Indian
will delight mystery readers who enjoy Native American backdrops, as it
focuses
the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a dilemma surrounding a proposed
Native
Theme park. As if the joint efforts of an Apache and a Sioux promoter
aren't
strange enough, a dead boy found in the wilderness attracts the further
inspection of investigators who uncover more than just a drug overdose.
Four tribal
lawmen
(one Sioux and three Choctaw, including Lieutenant Sam Chitto, the
protagonist
in this story) join forces, but each struggles with their own
psychological
challenges as the mystery unfolds and the beliefs, values, and lives of
each
are challenged.
As the
challenges
intensify, Sam becomes concerned that a trait Carl Jung described as
the
“shadow self” will emerge: “It is a
frightening thought that man also has a shadow side to him, consisting
not just
of little weaknesses and foibles, but of a positively demonic dynamism.
The individual
seldom knows anything of this; to him, as an individual, it is
incredible that
he should ever in any circumstances go beyond himself. But let these
harmless
creatures form a mass, and there emerges a raging monster.” Sam
wonders if
his fellow investigators will survive as
“judicious leaders, or raging monsters? For that matter, would any of
them?”
The
"five-dollar
Indian" referenced in the title is a white man who poses as native to
profit at Native Americans’ expense. Sam Chitto's task is to unravel
all the
convoluted interrelationships, secrets, and profiteering influences
surrounding
not just the boy's death, but the development of a lucrative Native
American
business that could damage the Nation’s standing.
Discussions
of
beliefs, varying Native American perceptions of and approaches to life,
opportunity, and moral issues, and comparisons between Sioux, Choctaw,
and
overall tribal heritage add depth and dimension to the mystery,
educating
readers about Native issues while expanding the intrigue.
From
impasses between
opposing forces and powwows that are more than they seem to the
infiltration of
gang influences and special interests into Native American culture, Sam
and the
other investigators finds their hands full as Sam struggles to expose
some
unusual evidence.
Lu Clifton's
mystery
is powerful not just because of it fine attention to building intrigue,
but
because of its focus on exploring Native American culture, interests,
values,
and points of conflict both within and outside the community.
The time
taken to
explore these underlying themes and atmospheres lends to a tale that is
educational and compelling in a story of Sioux Nation processes, the
repercussions of decisions and opportunities, and decisions made to
survive on
different levels.
Readers of
such
Native American fiction as Tony Hillerman are in for a treat with
Five-Dollar Indian.
Return to Index
The
Heavy Side
Ben Rogers
CQ Books
978-1-7343067-0-5
$19.95
www.readrogers.com
Take
a Silicon
Valley programmer and match him with a Mexican drug cartel. Now add a
couple in
crisis, the issue of addiction in America, and international intrigue
into the
mix for a vivid thriller made all the more engrossing by its narrator,
programmer Vik Singh's girlfriend, who harbors special interests of her
own in The
Heavy Side.
The
first thing
to note about this plot and its approach is that Ben Rogers cultivates
an
enchanting voice in his female first-person narrator. This drives the
story
line and creates a compelling story: "I know now that there
was a young
Hispanic man on the hillside above the cottage, watching through
binoculars as
Vik, a young Indian man, oblivious, did pushups on his Persian rug. I
know
about the man on the hillside because Los told me when I was his
hostage. I
know about the Persian rug because Vik told me how he always tapped out
his
reps with his nose against one of the trees in the rug’s pattern. The
tree had
an extra leaf compared to the other trees, and this was an intentional
flaw: we
Persians know that weavers cannot create perfection, only God can. Vik
told me
he did not know whether there was a God, only that there was a Steve
Wozniak,
who’d designed every circuit and authored every line of code in the
original
Apple II computer, and to this day not a single bug found in any of it.
But
what if perfection isn’t divine? What if bugs are?"
Remi's
lyrical
voice captures atmosphere, personalities, politics, and philosophical
observations in a manner that is evocative and thought-provoking. All
this
lends to a story line that is more than just nonstop action and
confrontation,
already the hallmarks of an engrossing thriller read.
Rogers
additionally cultivates a haunting inspection of life itself. This is
one of
the factors that keeps The Heavy Side a literary
production, as well, as
Remi observes the incongruities of American life and values.
Rogers
doesn't
use quote marks for his dialogues. This standard form would have
clarified
points of discussion, and an editor would have gone through the story
and added
this punctuation. That observation aside, it's fairly easy to
understand who is
talking to whom. Technically, the absence of quote marks in dialogue is
a
snafu, but for practical purposes, paragraphs adequately delineate who
is speaking.
The
point of
view shifts between Vik's experiences (narrated in the third person)
and Remi's
first person observations. As various kinds of confrontations and
struggles
divide the two, readers receive a vivid saga of strife that changes
both
individuals and their dreams and relationship: "...implicit
in the
distance I felt from our former lives was a heartbreaking reality:
we were no longer ourselves. How could we
be?"
As
politics,
special interests, romance, and relationships change, Ben Rogers
creates a
tense thriller that is supported by interpersonal connections, creating
a read
that is hard to put down.
The Heavy Side is very, very highly recommended for thriller
readers looking for
something compellingly, refreshingly different.
Return to Index
The Missing Driscoll
Judith Fabis
Vegas Publisher, LLC
978-0996843768
$14.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Driscoll-Judith-Fabris/dp/0996843760
Penny Wells is the museum curator at The
Driscoll Museum, where her grandmother, artist Maud Driscoll, has her
art on
display. In The Missing Driscoll, Penny is invited
to Paris to curate a
Driscoll show of works from her museum, only to discover that one of
the
paintings is a forgery. But she personally supervised every step of the
painting's preparation and shipping. How could a thief have gotten
under the
radar to make the swap on her watch?
As events progress, readers are treated to a
globe-trotting art forgery case that involves Penny on a personal and
professional level alike as her reputation is tarnished and she is
forced to
investigate the truth when a suspicious insurance adjustor suspects her
of
criminal activity.
It's refreshing to see an emphasis on the
motivation for a non-sleuth to take up the reins to become an
investigator.
Penny had no inclination of developing her nose for trouble before
these events
and faces big challenges in pursuing the truth because her interests
lie not in
PI work, but in art.
She's a thirty-year-old unmarried woman
whose passion, until now, has been relatively singular, but she also
harbors
strong family ties that are equally tested by tragedy and love. These
family
connections are also wound into the story and follow her footsteps as
the
insurance adjustor has an accident and police become involved and
questioning,
as well.
Her pride in her museum role and her family
heritage follow her throughout her experiences and inquiries. As Penny
becomes
convinced that Tennent was somehow involved, she curates new exhibits
and waits
for him to slip up somehow, even as she's drawn into the bigger mystery
of Nazi
history, art forgeries, and an evolving threat to her career and
everything she
loves.
The
Missing
Driscoll excels in strong
characterization
and a mystery that avoids predictability and reaches for the bigger
picture in
the art world, following Penny's journey through singular interests
into a
wider-reaching set of concerns that involves the global art community.
Its mystery is well done, intriguing, driven
by several tragedies and personal ambition on all sides, and tinged
with the
promise of a romance Penny doesn't acknowledge or see coming. The
question of
not only whether she can find the missing Driscoll painting but what
happens when
she does fuels a family-connected story that keeps readers engaged on
more than
one level.
Mystery enthusiasts who enjoy the art world
and intrigue alike will find The Missing Driscoll
an intriguing,
well-crafted story with an international focus combined with many
elements of
the cozy mystery genre.
Return to Index
No
Feign No
Gain
Carrie Ann Knox
Xotolithic
Press
Ebook:
978-0-9990032-2-0
$ 3.99
Print:
978-0-9990032-3-7
$13.99
Ordering link: www.amazon.com/dp/B0884M5XM6
Author website: www.carrieannknox.com
The
cozy mystery
No Feign No Gain is Book 2 in the Sonic
Sleuths Series and returns
career audiologist Quinn Bailey to another situation where her
chosen
profession isn't quite in sync with the intrigue that swirls around
her. This
draws her in against her best intentions with an allure that runs
contrary to
her career goals.
Graduation
is on
the horizon, she has a good job lined up, and the last thing on her
mind is
becoming involved in another investigation. Unfortunately, the first
thing on
the mind of her best friend, PI Sloan McKenzie, is the next case. It's
a case
that draws Quinn with a little black box, a terrible realization, and a
frighteningly compelling sense of mystery that continues to pose
challenges to
her everyday lifestyle.
When
a coworker
vanishes and Quinn and Sloan become suspects, the intrigue gets
personal on a
level that demands her involvement to clear her name by solving a
mystery that
has made headlines, propelling them into unwanted fame.
Sloan's
feisty
personality gets Quinn into trouble on more than one level, but is a
refreshing
counter to Quinn's more staid inclinations. Carrie Ann Knox provides a
fun
series of observations about these interactions and different
perspectives that
lends humor and fun to the story: "My eyes widened as I
watched Sloan
scan the room, intently searching again. I had followed her to the
party,
willingly, but was quickly beginning to rethink my participation. Sloan
in a
revenge scheme sounded truly terrifying."
When
Sloan's
scheme backfires and her own weapons are used against her, it falls to
Quinn to
solve the mystery—and save Sloan's life in the process—on her own.
No Feign No Gain cultivates the fine feel of a cozy
mystery, exploring the
interplays between friends, perps, investigators, and local atmosphere
alike.
As Quinn perceives a startling truth about Sloan's motivations and
relationships,
she discovers that her responses to these revelations may affect both
her
friendship with Sloan and their pursuit of justice.
Surprises,
lies,
truths, and new revelations keep No Feign No Gain fast-paced,
revealing, and hard to put down, building on Quinn's conundrums as she
struggles between friendship, career choice, and investigative results.
All
these take her far from her comfort zone and into an exciting world
that both
attracts and repels her.
Readers
will
find the mystery absorbing, fueled by Quinn's first-person observations
and
subplots that keep the action swift and the characters realistic and
attractive
to the end. Cozy mystery readers are in for a treat—even newcomers, who
need no
prior familiarity with the first book in order to quickly absorb
Quinn's
personality, background, and perspectives.
Return to Index
On the Border
Betta Ferrendelli
Independently
Published
979-8638815073
$11.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Border-Samantha-Church-Mystery/dp/B087CQM7NP
On the Border is a new Samantha Church
mystery that revolves around
an anonymous tip that leads reporter Samantha into a dangerous world of
money
laundering and murder.
Sam is no
stranger to
trouble. She's been there and back again, struggling with a sister's
death and
a substance abuse problem that threatened the job she loved at the
Denver
Daily. Finally, she's begun to flourish, is in AA, and has received
national
acclaim for her groundbreaking stories.
Living at
the ranch
with her daughter, Nona, and Howard and feeling the support of coworker
Wilson
has allowed Sam to recover her equilibrium, but this is shaken when she
recruits cub reporter Hunter John Hollingsworth to help her in an
investigation
that threatens them both.
As Hunter
and Sam near
a complex truth, readers join them for a battle between good and evil,
with the
two reporters edging ever closer to a dangerous truth that will either
reveal
all or destroy them.
Betta
Ferrendelli
created a memorable, engrossing character in her other Samantha Church
mysteries, and this stand-alone addition to the series expands Sam's
personality and choices in life, using the backdrop of an international
encounter to explore her evolving relationships.
The
bilingual
Spanish/English encounters, flavor of Mexico, and cross-cultural
insights season
a series of encounters that teach Sam not only about danger, but
Mexican
culture. This is a satisfying atmosphere for her latest mystery, adding
depth
and insights to a story that is filled with satisfying twists and turns.
As a
compliment to
the other series titles, On the Border
further expands Sam's world. As a stand-alone read, it will attract
newcomers
to Sam's feisty personality and penchant for investigative prowess, and
deserves a place in any mystery reader's library of 'best picks'.
Return to Index
The Poe Consequence
Keith Steinbaum
Black Opal Books
9781644372685
$15.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
www.blackopalbooks.com
Think occult horror, then add more than the
usual dash of suspense and thriller components into the mix to
understand the
special attraction of The Poe Consequence, which
follows the violent
clashes between two rival gangs changed by a third force neither can
control.
As the bonds between brothers and friends
are tested by the threat of an ominous future that defies optimism and
connections, readers become immersed in an occult thriller that
unravels the
strings of social connections, conflict, and the fine line between good
and
evil.
Keith Steinbaum takes the atmosphere and
spooky intrigue of Edgar Allan Poe and ramps it up a notch, linking
supernatural events and encounters with some of the same predictive,
growing
horror devices that Poe employs in his works, connecting them with
Poe's
writings in an unusual, compelling fashion.
Gang members aren't the only ones facing
challenges from this murder spree. As investigators probe the
circumstances of
the deaths to arrive at uncommon relationships connecting them,
Steinbaum
creates a satisfying juxtaposition between the processes of the law and
those
of gang interactions.
He also captures the atmosphere of the
Latino community and members who struggle with each other and forces
beyond
their comprehension, whether they lie in social or in supernatural
realms.
The focus on gang interactions with a
supernatural thriller twist to their encounters creates an exceptional
occult
suspense story that will leave readers on pins and needles,
anticipating many
outcomes that hold a satisfying twist.
The blend of excellent characterization, a
perfect capture of community concerns and social issues, a series of
deadly
crimes that involve both sides of the law, and a supernatural mystery
makes for
a satisfyingly engrossing tale that's hard to put down and packed with
all the
elements that contribute to a superior thriller.
With its social, cultural, investigative and
occult themes, The Poe Consequence is highly
recommended reading for
supernatural thriller readers looking for a read more literary and
complex than
most in its genre.
Return to Index
Suicide
Squeeze
Steve Hagood
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68433-530-5 $17.95
https://www.blackrosewriting.com/mysterysuspense/suicidesqueeze
Suicide Squeeze revolves around baseball broadcaster Tom Helmer,
who faces an unusual
challenge when he travels to El Paso, Texas with the Albuquerque
Isotopes team,
only to discover a dead body in his luggage...a total stranger.
The local police want to jail and execute him for murder, but Tom is innocent, and he happens to know a retired police detective friend who can help him.
Forced
to set
aside his broadcasting life and turn into an amateur PI to accompany
his more
crime-savvy friend into an underworld in an effort to prove his
innocence, Tom
embarks on a mission that brings him full circle onto the Vegas Strip
to
investigate who murdered the girl and why he was framed.
Chase
was one of
Tom's best friends in high school, but now he's about to become his
salvation,
teaching his friend about a world he's only too used to navigating. As
they
embark on a journey into the dead girl's past and her connections to
the
underworld and Tom, dangerous truths emerge which turn the case into
more than
a strange murder mystery.
Steve
Hagood
excels at creating unexpected twists and turns of plot as the
characters probe
a death that leads them onto the turf of the mob and into even more
trouble.
Tom
has all the
contacts, but Chase holds the savvy to connect the dots. As readers
follow
their interactions and how they learn from one another, they will
appreciate a
story that is vivid, fast-paced, and filled with surprises.
Suicide Squeeze is especially notable in its particular blend of PI investigative processes and expanding relationships between two men who have taken very different courses in life. It probes the underlying influences of social behaviors, rape and relationships, the sex industry, and an evolving threat to Tom's lifetime career.
The
story
concludes neatly, but leaves the door open for further Chase
adventures. Suicide
Squeeze is an involving story of investigative processes and
intrigue that
will keep readers engaged and guessing to the end.
Return to Index
Those Who Hunger
Owen Banner
Independently
Published
ASIN: B083C26CWM
$5.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Those-Who-Hunger-Vampire-Thriller-ebook/dp/B083C26CWM
Those Who Hunger is presented as an
'Amish vampire novel', a
designation which attracts interest before the story even begins, as
these
facets are usually not thrown together.
In rural
Pennsylvania, a child is mauled to death. The Amish community knows the
truth
of his murder, but when a second killing attracts the attention of the
FBI,
close-held community secrets begin to unfold into frightening
discoveries.
Vampire
horror
stories and coming of age sagas usually don't include cultural and
social
inspections, but Owen Banner's story does a superb job of exploring
Amish
community traditions, perceptions, and responses to pressures both
within and
outside their circles. This injects a quiet aura of adventure into the
story
that is satisfyingly revealing beyond its underlying horror theme: "The past was past, but a conference
still was held to determine whether the Schwartzes would have a place
among
them. Longing for forgiveness and acceptance themselves, the community
agreed
to allow the Schwartzes to buy a plot of land near the Graber's farm
that would
suit the size of their family. They had settled into the home and
worked hard
to adjust to the plain life of the Amish. Mina now wore a cap, dress
and apron
she had stitched all herself. She sewed her son's pants and shirts as
well, and
her husband's. Holland, himself, had changed. He wore a beard and a hat
to go
with his suspenders. He was a less hurried man than he had been when
he'd first
arrived, and he'd found he had a knack with a hammer."
Banner takes
the time
to build a slowly-simmering story, the hallmark of good writing,
winding social
and psychological discovery into a vampire tale that takes daily life
experiences and character concerns to a different level of emotional
exploration as the characters interact and learn from one another: "How do you live without faith?”
Hadassah replied. “I have faith. I just know where I stand with God.”
“Where is
that?” “Outside the gate.” Hadassah looked into her lap. “And
Nathaniel?” “It’s
smoke and mirrors to him,” Yves said. “Not real,” he explained when he
saw her
searching for the meaning of the words. “How lonely,” Hadassah said."
As themes of
miscarriages, marked children, fear, and Amish community values come
together, Those Who Hunger becomes
a complex
page-turner containing many satisfying facets and revelations.
The result
is a tale
hard to put down, unexpected in its twists and turns, and full-bodied
in its
probe of Amish beliefs, community, and the horror that overlays and
changes
everything.
While
vampire story
readers will be the most logical audience for this compelling saga, Those Who Hunger is also highly
recommended for readers of suspense, thriller, and intrigue who like
their
supernatural horror presented on a literary plate of detail and insight
beyond
violence and threats.
Return to Index
Tokyo Traffic
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press
B087QVRXZB
$9.99
https://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Traffic-Michael-Pronko-ebook/dp/B087QVRXZB
In Tokyo Traffic, Detective Hiroshi Shimizu
is tracking a dangerous killer through the nightclubs and byways of the
city, moving
through the city as he tracks his perp through a puzzling series of
environments and motives.
Michael
Pronko excels
at capturing the atmosphere of Tokyo: "Hiroshi
leaned back to look up at the forty-four stories of luxury apartments
ensconced
in an office-condominium complex carved out of Akasaka’s high-priced
real
estate. The corners were rounded by mirrored glass and the rest of the
outside was
lined with deep-set balconies up to the penthouses on the top floors.
It was
the kind of luxury apartment building he’d only imagined from numbers
on
spreadsheets. It was hard to believe such places actually existed. “No
one this
rich would ever need to kill anyone. They could just buy them off,”
Takamatsu
said."
Thai girl
Sukanya, a
victim of sex trafficking, is eluding her former captors in Tokyo.
She's also
using the city's opportunities to plot revenge. As evidence leads
Hiroshi to join others in trying to track this clever girl,
the bodies
mount, as do the threats to studio contractor Kenta Nakamura and others
who
have a dangerous inclination to become involved with young girls and
trouble.
Although Tokyo Traffic is
the third in
the Tokyo-based Detective Hiroshi series, no prior familiarity is
needed in
order for newcomers to enjoy this latest adventure. Michael Pronko
crafts a
fast-paced atmosphere that covers Kenta's involvement in a plot and a
dangerous
game, tracing the astute detective's attempts to halt the murders that
are
changing even the underworld.
As Tokyo's
streets
and a diverse set of characters come to life, readers will find the
underlying
social inspection and intrigue revolving around the adult film industry
and
Jack and Jill Studios to be involving, unpredictable, and a test of
even the
seasoned Hiroshi's skills.
Pronko's
familiarity
with Japanese culture in general and Tokyo atmosphere in particular
enhances a
story that once again excels in exploring both while presenting a
murder
mystery and romance that holds reader attention to the end.
The result
is a story
that winds through Tokyo's streets and Hiroshi's heart alike, drawing
readers
through a dangerous game that culminates in an unexpected, satisfying
conclusion that further expands Hiroshi's world.
Mystery
readers who
enjoy their detective pieces firmly rooted in reality will find Tokyo Traffic an
excellent
read, highly recommended for those who enjoy tense thrillers that take
place in
other cultures and affording opportunity for education and involvement
in more
than one outcome.
Return to Index
Truth Kills
Nanci Rathbun
Independently
Published
978-1986762625
$14.99 Paper/$0.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Kills-Angelina-Bonaparte-Mysteries/dp/1986762629
Truth Kills is the first book in a new
Angelina Bonaparte series
about an investigator with a penchant for trouble. She's a
'professional snoop'
who is good at what she does. Perhaps this is because, in a former
life, she
was a middle-aged librarian used to research, who finds problem-solving
and
troubleshooting a skill that lends to being a private investigator in
her new
life.
Angelina is
pulled
into a case she instinctively resists: investigating the innocence of a
mob
boss accused of murdering his mistress. If it weren't for his pregnant
wife's
pleas, she'd never become involved in helping a man she considers basic
scum.
The other
challenge
in this case is the requirement that she interact with homicide
detective Ted
Wukowski, who believes that women have no place or talent investigating
crimes.
As an older woman, Angelina can choose to be either 'invisible' or
stand out.
That skill serves her well as she embarks on a journey into a world
that
challenges both her research skills and her perspective of her
abilities and
life.
Nanci
Rathbun injects
a wry sense of humor into the story that plays on Angelina's life and
perceptions. Readers will find themselves laughing at the feisty
observations
of this protagonist as she traverses dangerous ground, continues her
probe, and
faces the truth that "Secrets take on a life of their own. They fester
and
grow."
As she hones
her own
sharp-edged scruples against the dubious ones of those she meets,
Angelina
immerses herself both in her real dilemmas and, for escape, reading
crime
stories by such notable authors as Sue Grafton, reflecting on her
techniques in
comparison to theirs.
From
Angelina's
unconventional relationship with Detective Wukowski to encounters that
increasingly threaten her life, Rathbun crafts a story powered by
Angelina's
first-person observations, struggles, and feisty attitude towards life.
The
attention to
psychological depth and detail meld well with the investigative
intrigue and
moments of comic relief to pepper a story with different twists and
turns. This
will delight readers who enjoy female investigators with an attitude
about life
and their work.
Add a touch
of
romance for a fine tale that weaves an older woman's life and
perspectives into
bigger pictures about crime, love, family connections, and life
purposes.
Mystery readers are in for a treat when they delve into the deceptions
and
realities of Truth Kills.
Return to Index
The Vessels
Anna M. Elias
Vesuvian Books
978-1-944109-09-7
$18.95
Paper/$8.99 ebook
www.vesuvianbooks.com
The Vessels follows four broken strangers
who volunteer to become
human 'vessels' to receive and carry a spiritual host to Earth in a
last-ditch
effort to save the planet from humankind.
Mumbai
orphan Sanjay's receipt of the Spirit is narrated both from his
viewpoint and that of the new entity inhabiting his body. This creates
an
intriguing juxtaposition of souls that contrasts living ambition with
the newfound
body and emotions of the dead, who are called back to perform one last
duty
before facing eternity.
But
what happens when a spirit comes back that doesn't deserve a second
chance? When a former serial killer returns for a spree, this threatens
an already-dubious
mission that needs to complete in seven days to avert disaster, adding
a
nearly-impossible timeline to events.
As
the spirits return to their homes to encounter those who are
grieving loss and suffering from guilt and hatred, their mission
becomes even
more complicated, blending the wider issue of humanity's survival with
questions of personal redemption. All but one, who feels no such
compunction to
effect positive change.
The Vessels is an engrossing, compelling
saga about a special brand
of death. It's about time travel in an unusual sense, opportunities for
transition, and what people are willing to sacrifice for enlightenment.
Most of all,
it's
about renewed connections and threats. These elements keep the story
fast-paced, emotionally compelling, and hard to put down.
Think of a
blend of
murder mystery, spiritual travelogue, and thought-provoking thriller
packed
with intense moments paired with personal revelations.
The
juxtaposition of
bigger-picture thinking and the personal entanglements of Spirit and
host are
beautifully portrayed and, despite a complex-sounding scenario, easy to
absorb.
Perhaps this is because the swift action is both physical and
emotional,
connecting disparate peoples, past and present experience, and
objectives by
both human host and spirit.
The result
is an
outstanding, gripping story that keeps readers guessing and involved up
to a
decisive ending which rewards with an added dash of spiritual
inspiration.
Return to Index
Black Hearts
and
Hungry Bears
Steve Shear
Catalina Sun Press
979-8641124568
$12.00 Paper/$3.00 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Confronting-Religious-Fanaticism-Hearts-Hungry/dp/B088LD662W
Black Hearts and Hungry Bears is
Book
Two in the novel series Confronting
Religious Fanaticism, and will best be enjoyed by readers of
the first
book, An Eye for an Eye,
introducing
the problems of Western religious forces.
This
continuation of
the tale is an epic journey that requires uninterrupted reading between
books,
but rewards its readers with a compelling, thought-provoking assessment
of
family relationships, historical religious precedent, and the evolving
tale of
Ira Neebest (now sixty and living in San Francisco), who reflects on
the true
story of three generations of family history.
Readers are
swept
into a three-act story narrated through the different viewpoints of
would-be
writer Ira's parents, wife, and those who affect his world.
These
changing perspectives
are clearly delineated in chapters that include each character's name,
building
the individual's perspective on life experiences.
The story
opens with
Natalie's observations and demonstrates Steve Shear's talent in
capturing the
nuances of relationships and moods: "At
the time I was convinced I all the female students in the studio and
possibly
even the model were in love with him. I wanted to stay there amongst
the
paints, the people, and the model and wait for Ira knowing in my
comatose state
he would eventually appear at the top of the stairs long after I became
one of
the students who never fell in love with Charles."
Shear is
skilled at
moving the story line quickly from past to present, injecting elements
of
social, political, and religious inspection as each character's moves
builds
background and personality: "Tom
Marino and the other FBI agents, our jailers, were just doing their
jobs,
protecting Ira. He had a ten-million-dollar bounty on his head, a FATWA
issued
by ISIS and the Ayatollah demanding his presence, all because he wrote
a book
that was not particularly flattering to their cause."
When Ira
goes missing
despite the best security, Natalie finds herself involved in a
dangerous game
beyond her experience in a vivid story that alternates between personal
ambition and choice and political ramifications that set the world
afire: "The flames of anti-America burn
bright
tonight all because of a single book, The
First Coming, a novel no less, that was awarded the Nobel
Prize. And in
the cross-hairs of this full blown hatred is one individual, the
novel’s
author, Ira Neebest, an American of Jewish ethnicity, and a
self-proclaimed
atheist.”
In a
comatose state,
Natalie relives and revisits the terrible episodes of her life, from
social and
legal confrontations and childhood rape by a priest to her part in a
religious
revolution that seems bent on changing the world.
Ira's mother
Rebecca,
who was prominently featured in the prior An
Eye for an Eye, also returns to reflect on her contribution
to life events,
struggles with her Hasidic roots, and the underlying guilt which
dictates her
choices and worldview.
Black Hearts and Hungry Bears is
ultimately about survival and
religious inspection. It juxtaposes both elements in a chronicle that
weaves
through adversity and survival tactics in a manner designed to involve
and
engross readers in bigger-picture questions and answers about the state
of the
world and the individuals who affect it.
Literary,
philosophical, and introspective all in one, Black
Hearts and Hungry Bears injects elements of revelation and
hope while expanding the milieu of An Eye
for an Eye in a complex, studied manner that prior fans will
find
engrossing. It's highly recommended reading for literature readers
looking for
cultural and religious inspection in a sweeping, epic novel of family
and
social connections.
Return to Index
Dark Descent
Into
Desire
J. J. Sorel
Independently
Published
979-8638851774
$14.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Descent-into-Desire-Sorel/dp/B087FJ9H15
Dark Descent Into Desire follows Penelope
Green's sojourn into the
dark side as her affair with the suave and usually cynical, often
selfish Blake
Sinclair causes her to lose her virginity and her freedom. On Blake's
part,
Penelope represents a lure that syncs with his need to both control
others and
keep his past a secret.
Both clash
in the
arena of obsession and danger in a story that probes danger, secrets,
passion,
and moral and ethical challenges on both sides.
The first
note is
that J. J. Sorel pulls no punches in her steamy romance. Readers
looking for
casual descriptions and light romance should look elsewhere, because Dark Descent Into Desire is graphic in
its language, sexuality, and descriptions of psychological obsessions
on both
sides, and is definitely not 'politically correct'. This is a powerful
story
firmly rooted in the decadent mindsets of characters who have
particular
perspectives on life, love, and the world, and its dialogue and
encounters
capture this perfectly: "What about
that happily-ever-after scenario? Don’t you want one of those?” “I
don’t
believe in those. I’ve yet to witness a happy marriage. It’s a life
sentence
where two individuals trap each other out of fear of loneliness only
they end
up lonely anyway.” He grimaced. “You make it sound so fucking grim.
Don’t you
think it’s nice, the idea of a baby bouncing on one’s knee and a hot
little
wife baking a cake in a skimpy maid’s outfit?” I laughed. “How
inappropriate
and nineteenth century.”
Typically,
stories
focus on one person's addiction and a couple's involvement in recovery,
but in
this story, both Penelope and Blake are addicted in different,
complimentary
ways. This makes their evolving connections even more dangerous as they
feed
upon one another and head in an even darker direction.
From a
mother's death
from an overdose of heroin to growing threats, to Penelope's safety
both from
Blake's choices and within his own circles, the story becomes one of
survival
on many levels. Both characters join, separate, and reconnect in a
dangerous
dance. J. J. Sorel
excels at charting
this progression, both of the influences on Blake and Penny and the
psychological
traumas and tendencies that lead them to repeat familiar patterns even
when
these no longer serve their original purpose.
Sometimes,
nothing
changes. Sometimes everything changes. Sorel's ability to dip in and
out of the
perspectives of each and the "bad habits worn like a badge of honor"
between them creates a steamy and thought-provoking blend unusual in an
action
romance environment.
Sorel's
story of two
characters who seem to be unlikely candidates for "happily ever
after" is unexpected, compelling, and traces the quiet evolution of
each
individual as well as their relationship.
Readers
seeking
steamy adventures that are ribald, rowdy, and raw with passion and
purpose will
find Dark Descent Into Desire takes
the rudiments of cynical introspection and turns it on end into
something
different. The satisfying evolution of the story into a true romance
adds a
fine twist to the outcome of these disparate personalities.
Sorel's
ability to
portray these two strong individuals' changing perspectives and
insights
represents a passionate exploration that will linger in the mind not
just for
its sexy passages and focus, but for the unexpected journey that swirls
around
Blake and Penelope. Its recommended reading for those looking for
erotic tales
finely tuned with unexpected elements of suspense and intrigue.
Return to Index
The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone
Michael Brown
Penmore Press
9781950586219
$19.50
www.penmorepress.com
The
Girl Who Was
Me Is Gone is set in 1649
Ireland,
when Cromwell's army decimated the country. In Dublin, heiress Nora's
vision of
an adventurous future is changed by both the army and plague, which
forces her
to flee for her life.
When Nora dreamed of adventure, she didn't
realize that it might involve leaving everything familiar, with little
hope of
return. On board a frigate headed for America, Nora and her friend
experience
revelations and battles that challenge their concepts of life and her
heritage
before they even touch American soil.
As Nora and Anne become captives, enslaved
and then separated in the new world, she is introduced to Jamestown in
the
English colony of Virginia, encounters Indians who seem friendly but
come with
their own warning, and struggles to regain something she'd taken for
granted
all her life—her freedom.
Aided by Billy and a few others, Nora
fulfills her dreams in an unexpected manner, regaining not only the
freedoms
she once took for granted, but a new place in this strange land.
The
Girl Who Was
Me Is Gone excels in a blend of
historical narrative and adventure that probes not just the life, but
the
culture and perceptions of a feisty young Irish girl determined to
survive
against all odds.
The confrontations are often unexpected, and
the story blends suspense and romance in a balanced, appealing manner
as the
world is reassessed through Nora's newly-opened eyes.
The contrasts between 1600s Ireland and
America are nicely done, while strong characterization keeps the plot
fast-paced and involving. Readers who choose The Girl Who Was
Me Is Gone
for its transformative title's promise won't be disappointed. This is
an
involving, solid historical novel that is filled with adventure and
realistic
scenarios, and proves hard to put down.
Return to Index
Kiss
at
Midnight: A Town Called Forgotten
Rachel Branton
White Star Press
978-1-948982-18-4
$15.95 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Midnight-Romance-Called-Forgotten-ebook/dp/B0872NK2GM
Kiss at Midnight is the first book in the series 'A
Town Called
Forgotten' and opens with a journey Hailey Waters makes to
this small town
in Kansas where she recalls feeling at home. It's a place where she can
remake
her life, heal from wounds, and both maintain control of her world and
hide.
It's also a place where she seeks to live up to the town's name by
forgetting
her past, which unexpectedly occurs before she even hits the town's
city
limits.
She
didn't
anticipate that this new life would involve not just new connections,
but people
such as kindly vet Dylan Morgan, who wants to know about that past.
Dylan,
also, has returned to this small town to heal from the pain of women
who always
break his heart with their secrets and ultimate rejection. Hailey, with
her
amnesia, represents the biggest possibility of heartbreak of all.
Can
the two
overcome their experiences, and painful perceptions of life to form a
lasting
bond in a town aptly named for their different notions of setting aside
and
forgetting their pasts?
Kiss at Midnight is a romance that is as much about finding one's
place in the world as
it is about an evolving connection between two lonely individuals who
each heal
from similar kinds of pain.
Rachel
Branton
takes the time to build each character's background, experiences, and
psychological profile. This lends to a story whose strength lies as
much in
their separate progressions towards healing as in their evolving
interpersonal
relationship.
She
also takes
the time to build the small town's atmosphere, building descriptions
into the
story. This gives life to the tale, moving it beyond any singular focus
on the
relationship alone: "They sat in silence for a while, feet in
the
water, enjoying the quiet that was broken only by the occasional call
of a bird
or the plop of a turtle sliding into the lake. Hailey hadn’t realized
how very
far they’d come on the path. The way the lake was shaped, she couldn’t
even see
the park. One lone boat was out on the water. Nothing more. The
beautiful
turquoise of the water called to her deceptively. Before
I leave here, I’ll have to swim just once, she
promised herself. That is, if she ever left."
The
evolving
conundrums of both characters, their different reasons for rejecting
their
pasts and attempting to embrace a future without it, and the clash of
their
personalities and needs as they face unexpected obstacles in their new
lives
makes for a wholesome, involving romance. This will especially delight
women
who look for emotionally-driven stories solidified by a solid
small-town
atmosphere.
Kiss at Midnight is evocative, revealing, and hard to put down. Its
realistic dilemmas
and character growth powers a story that is compelling and involving.
Return to Index
The Road to
Gesualdo
Erika Rummel
D. X. Varos, Ltd.
Paperback:
978-1-941072-70-7 $18.95
Ebook:
978-1-941072-71-4
$ 6.99
www.dxvaros.com
The Road to Gesualdo tells of the dilemma
1500s noblewoman Leonora
d'Este faces in being betrothed to a widowed prince she
doesn't know. It's
only after she dutifully but reluctantly marries him that she discovers
he
murdered his former wife and her lover for adultery, and that his
mental state
seems precarious, placing her in a similar danger.
Is Prince
Carlo
really a monster? How can Leonora protect herself and her
lady-in-waiting and
friend Livia? Leonora has been raised to take seriously her vows to
love and
obey her spouse, but if he turns out to be a threat, how far do
obedience and
promises extend? Leonora is determined to preserve her faithfulness and
her
life. This mixed ambition, combined with the Prince's unstable
reactions to
life, makes for a delicate dance with danger indeed.
As Livia
finds that
forces in town hold their own grudges against the Prince, and that her
own
romantic interests are thwarted by vows and dangerous attractions, the
two
women find themselves in a whirlwind of dangerous forces that extend
beyond
home life and into the politics and social influences of 16th century
Italy.
The Road to Gesualdo is a vivid
historical novel blending romance
and intrigue in a female-centered story of strong women who rise above
their
upbringings and duty to become more effective forces in charge of some
aspects
of their lives.
While much
is out of
their control, Erika Rummel does a fine job of portraying how they face
their
different challenges, from romance to politics, and how each woman
develops a
unique perspective on how to navigate impossible circumstances.
Leonora is
expecting
a child, but her husband's actions only draw pity from others who also
come to
believe he may be mad. For his part, the Prince's struggle between God
and his
conscience is tearing him apart, bringing him into the influence of
Livia's
admirer Pietro Paci in a pivotal moment that changes everything. Pietro
has
been present from the start, from the marriage negotiations through the
Prince's evolution. His evolving relationship with Livia and his own
romantic
quest and conflicts also influences Leonora and her Prince's destinies.
Rummel's
attention to
strong characterization and capturing the sights, smells, and
atmosphere of 16th century
Italy contributes to a vivid story that intersects different lives and
perspectives. Her characterization is psychologically astute, and the
story
winds through the complexity of Italian culture and politics with an
intriguing
approach that keeps readers guessing about both relationships and their
outcomes.
The result
is a
historical novel that is vivid in its sense of place, compelling in its
many
social and political conundrums, and cemented by powerful women who may
be
driven by social mores, but who still wield a sense of identity and
purpose
that helps each overcome adversity.
Historical
novel
readers who enjoy romance and political inspection will welcome the
complex
encounters in The Road to Gesualdo,
which concludes with a satisfying twist to bring the story full circle.
Return to Index
ADD and Zombies
Wes Crenshaw, PhD
ABPP and Kelsey Daugherty, DNP PMHNP-BC
Family Psychological
Press
Hardcover:
9780985283384
$25.99
Paperback: 9781733462372
$16.99
Kindle eBook: $10.99
Audible: TBA
Ordering Link: https://www.amazon.com/
Website: Familypsychpress.com
A
licensed psychologist and board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in
psychiatric medication management create ADD and Zombies: Fearless Medication Management for
ADD and ADHD.
The subject
addresses one of the biggest issues in ADD and ADHD management:
juggling meds
so that they are more effective when paired with therapy.
The
authors of this approach have two advantages over others who have
tried to address the many issues of ADD and ADHD drug management. They
are
clinicians who work daily in this area and so are in a better
professional and
personal position to make specific recommendations rather than
generalities,
and they have experienced firsthand exactly how the medical profession
commonly
fails to treat ADD.
ADD and Zombies thus holds two goals: to help consumers become better educated about medical options and effects, and to encourage better doctor-patient relationships by delineating the medical community's response to a diagnosis.
As
chapters discuss ADD testing and evaluation methods, case histories
illustrate what can go wrong in the process of diagnosis and treatment,
clinical effects on patients in psychological programs, and
step-by-step
explorations of better paths to better lives, as in this example of a
teen's
treatment: "...rather than try and help Tressa feel better,
we changed
our focus to helping her do better, accepting the uncomfortable and
painful
feelings and thoughts her symptoms brought, “defusing” them from her
behavior
and helping her to choose how she wanted to respond."
From
conditions that
can easily be mistaken for ADD to specific steps caregivers and
families can
take to assure better interactions between themselves and busy
professionals, ADD and Zombies is
especially strong on
self-help admonitions that guide family and friends through the
quagmire of determining
how to make a difference: "The
answer to just about any ADD treatment problem is found in this, our
most
cherished clinical value: the person writing the scripts must talk
regularly to
your therapist who must talk regularly to you. Unfortunately, the lack
of
trained prescribers in integrative outpatient settings is the problem
to that
solution, because few psychiatrists, PMHNP, and PCPs practice with
therapists
or even have a working relationship with one. Below, we’ve listed the
five most
common business models in order of most to least integrative."
The
practical advice
ranges from dealing with insurance snafus and requirements and finding
ways
around coverage obstacles to the side effects of specific drugs and
common
problems of over-usage: "ADD clients
who misuse their meds will eventually need more supply than one
prescriber can
provide, particularly if they’re out chasing tolerance. Even if they
overstate
their need, that tolerance only grows, eventually eating up the
overage. This
leads some people to seek a second prescriber, repeating the same
intake
they’ve already done at the first office, and ending up with a second
prescription for a drug they often claim to have “been on in the past”
without
mentioning that “the past” was nine o’clock that morning. Such folks
will go to
great lengths and take great risks to acquire a bunch of stimulants."
Advice is
specific,
clinically based on experience and best practices, incorporates
real-world
dilemmas, and offers many solutions.
ADD and Zombies is the one book that
should be at the top of the
reading list for any caregiver of (or those diagnosed with) ADD and
ADHD. Its
blend of clinical observations, case histories, and candid assessments
of what
goes wrong and right in the medical and psychiatric communities creates
a very
specific, practical, essential guide that will make all the difference
between
frustration and successful, informed treatment.
Very, very highly
recommended.
Return to Index
Back
on Bonaire:
Rediscovering Diver's Paradise as a Father
Andrew Jalbert
Independently Published
979-8633748215
$15.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Bonaire-Rediscovering-Divers-Paradise/dp/B0875XB1QY
Back on Bonaire:
Rediscovering Diver's Paradise as a
Father will appeal to readers interested in
Caribbean island travel and ecology as it explores the island of
Bonaire,
identified as 'Diver's Paradise' on license plates.
Author Andrew Jalbert first visited the
island in the early 1990s and kept returning to the region over the
next
twenty-five years. When he became a father in his 40s, his new role
added a
duty that challenged some of his prior experiences of the island and
his place
in it.
Back on Bonaire is about more than rediscovering paradise. It's
about accepting a
revised place in life as a parent, bringing the island's attractions to
new
life apart from the carefree adventure travel focus of a married couple
with no
children.
It
follows other
changing worlds, as well, as it surveys the scuba diving environment,
the
ecology and culture of the islands, natural history affected by human
endeavors, and changing perceptions of the Bonaire that Andrew Jalbert
had
become accustomed to.
Descriptions
include
dives, ecological threats and changes, the efforts and contributions of
pioneering conservationists, and experiences unique to Bonaire: "Bonaire
is an island of contrasts, of abrupt boundaries and sharp transitions.
It's a
place where you come upon things suddenly."
As
Jalbert
traverses his world, contrasts past and present environments, and
considers its
changes and revised opportunities and threats, readers are introduced
to an
island where various forces operate. Jalbert is changed by his
experiences
there as much as this island paradise is changed by those who visit it.
Whether
it's a diver's paradise, changing
social values, lessons applicable to parenting and training divers, or
facing
fears and becoming fearless, Back
on
Bonaire documents a
journey
of personal, ecological, and cultural change. It is a highly
recommended,
thoroughly engrossing piece for a range of readers, from prospective
parents
concerned about their formerly carefree lives and how to integrate a
child's
needs into this world to divers and tourists interested in the unique
experience that is Bonaire.
Return to Index
Desert Dust
Paul W. Papa and R.
J. “Gill” Gillilan
HPD Publishing
Ebook:
978-1-7344057-0-5
$ 9.99
Paperback:
978-1-7344057-2-9
$18.95
https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Dust-Passion-American-Photograph/dp/1734405724
Desert
Dust: One Man's Passion
to Uncover the True Story Behind an Iconic American Photograph is a riveting, true work of American
investigative history that begins in 1945, when a Wyoming newspaper
published
an article about a wrangler who had a photographer capture the roundup
of wild
horses via airplane, and a rare wild palomino in particular.
Fast forward forty years,
when a daughter's question to
her father about that now-iconic photo sent co-author Gill Gillilan on
a
journey to chart the ramifications of its publication, from the bitter
battle
that emerged between photographer Verne Wood and wrangler Frank “Wild
Horse” Robbins
over copyright, which struggled through the courts, to the lasting
impact of
that image on wild animal and horse management choices and systems.
Over 150 photos (besides the
primary shot that sparked
this conflict) accompany a description steeped in images of Wyoming
frontier
experiences, from oilfield camps and auctions to stock shows, journeys
across
Wyoming in search of history and the truth, and details about justice
and
struggle.
One appeal of Desert
Dust is that it takes the proper time to describe these
frontier
environments, reading with the description and drama of fiction to draw
readers
in, even if they have little prior familiarity with Wyoming: "Nestled in the heart of the Rocky
Mountains, Laramie had seen snow in both June and July and more than
once had
to cancel Fourth of July celebrations because of it. If it wasn’t
snowing, it
was windy. Not breezy, windy. The kind that blows young children and
animals
off doorsteps. If there was one place in the world where Mother Nature
took out
all her fury, it was Wyoming, and Laramie in particular. But today was
not one
of those days. Today the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the
wind was a
mild twenty miles per hour. It would probably change by noon."
From interviews with those
who captured wild mustangs in
the Red Desert and other locales to the author's own musings about
various
report perspectives, the story is vividly narrated and filled with
personal,
legal, and social insights as the investigation evolves: "It
seemed the reporter was either unaware that Frank Robbins had
started using wild mustangs in his rodeos long before Roy, or chose to
leave
that information out of his article. Either way, Roy was claiming
credit for
ideas, at least some of which were not his own. Of course, there was
the chance
that Roy credited Frank for those ideas, but the reporter simply chose
to leave
it out of the article, since Roy, not Frank, was the subject of the
piece."
Black and white photos and
vintage images abound, from
rodeo photos from the Frank Robbins Collection and others to reports,
publications, and images of horses and corrals. These, combined with
vivid
written description, do an outstanding job of capturing the milieu of
past and
present Wyoming.
Using his investigative
skills, Gill compiled an
impressive array of materials from diverse archives and resources to
put
together a fine piece of Wyoming experience that otherwise would have
been
lost.
Readers interested in
Wyoming history, conservation,
legal issues surrounding land and wildlife management, and a thoroughly
engrossing exploration of a forgotten horse and the conflict
surrounding him
will find Desert
Dust an investigative journey into American history that
lingers in the mind long after the story's conclusion.
Return to Index
How
to Talk to
the “Other Side”
Kevin Wilhelm
and Natalie Hoffman
Independently
Published
Print:
978-0-578-67132-1
$19.95
Ebook:
B087ZQ1FPT
$ 9.95
Ordering link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578671328
Company website:
https://sustainablebizconsulting.com/
Kevin’s website:
https://www.kevin-wilhelm.com/
How to Talk to the “Other Side”: Finding Common
Ground in the Time of
Coronavirus, Recession and Climate Change is a call for open
communication
and common-sense action that arrives at a particularly turbulent period
in
American history. It offers a much-needed toolkit full of communication
strategies that can lead to understanding, unifying a divided country.
How to Talk to the “Other Side” focuses
on the process of coming
together over some of the greatest challenges facing the world today,
including
the pandemic, recession, allyship, and climate change. Many books and
essays
speak of the need for candid conversations, but this book is the first
to
pinpoint the essence of how to hold such conversations.
For example,
the
chapter 'The Importance of Allyship' covers a different approach to
bridging
the communication gap by defending those who are the butt of
discriminatory
statements and attitudes. Finding a common ground involves identifying
common
barriers in marginalized communities, developing types of conversations
that
support empowerment, and acknowledging the power of being an ally for
others,
assuring that everyone starts the conversation from a position of
equity.
Chapters
consider not
only the underlying issues in bipartisan perspectives, but examine and
aim to
unite traditionally divergent viewpoints between opposing sides,
including
Republicans and Democrats, rural and urban dwellers, business versus
environmental interests, and more.
More than
just a
cross-comparison of viewpoints, as one might anticipate, How
to Talk to the “Other Side" is about finding common paths
and points for discussion while fostering solutions amenable to both
sides,
which makes sense both socially and economically.
Take, for
example,
the chapter on 'Big Business versus Environmentalists'. The discussion
opens
with a historic review of why these interests commonly clash, considers
win-win
solutions, and even more importantly, surveys underlying issues in
critical
thinking that need to be amended on both sides: "How
can we better collaborate for a better future? How can
business leaders begin to see environmentalists as insightful
stakeholders who
identify future opportunities and grow revenue even during uncertain
times?
What would it take for environmentalists to see big businesses as
important partners
for funding conservation/clean energy initiatives and as valuable
assets to
stabilize our economy, rather than as greedy and power-hungry
adversaries?"
The answers
to many
of these challenges lie in how businesses make adjustments to their
products,
deliveries, and audiences, from making Zoom sessions free to K-12
schools to
how, during the pandemic, "Luxury
goods giant LVMH repurposed its French facilities to make hand
sanitizer for
the government, for free."
The answers
to these
weighty problems cannot come from one perspective, but from a shared
interest
in a better future.
In a
nutshell, this
is the kernel of wisdom contained in How
to Talk to the “Other Side" which is too often lacking in
the public’s
natural inclination to seek understanding from a singular approach.
Given the
depth and
extent of division in America, How to
Talk to the “Other Side" and its messages on how to achieve
unity
could not have appeared at a better time. This book is a top pick for
any
citizen concerned about the country's momentum offers hope to find
common
ground and a way forward.
Return to Index
Launch
It!
Rick Benzel
& Susan Shankin
New Insights Press
978-1-7338411-6-0
$15.99 Paper/$5.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Stages-FINALLY-Writing-Publishing-ebook/dp/B086GKBQTY
Launch It! The 7
Stages to FINALLY
Writing and Publishing Your Book is
an excellent, informative guide for authors looking to follow through
on their
dreams of writing and publishing their first book. It explores the
entire gamut
of 7 fundamental steps of the publishing process in great detail,
explained by two
highly experienced publishing professionals whose background includes
working
at major publishing houses and then starting two self-publishing
enterprises.
Each of these seven
stages of publishing
that they explain requires a different skill set, which is why new
authors
often bog down either at the beginning, midway, or even just after
their book
is published. There are many decisions authors must make as
they go
through the progression of the 7 steps, from deciding what they want to
write about
and why, to whether to hire an editor or ghostwriter, to choosing and
working
with a book designer, to assessing the pros and cons of using a book
distributor or KDP's print on demand option.
Launch It! explains
everything you need.
It helps new authors bolster their confidence to put pen to paper,
finish their
manuscript, and then understand their publishing options. It also
provides
post-publication publicity tips such as organizing a launch
party.
Rick Benzel &
Susan Shankin's Launch
It! not only provides a clear step-by-step game
plan, but addresses
common obstacles and provides keys to overcoming them with the goal of
getting
one's great book idea into print successfully, then promoting it to the
public
through basic marketing strategies.
Many competing titles
address the new
writer's concern of how to produce a book, but few others incorporate
the
additional steps needed to understand not just the writing and creative
development process, but the work of publishing and promoting one's
words. Benzel and Shankin explain that the ultimate goal goes
beyond
publishing and explores what makes one's book unique and how to
transform
publishing a book into greater results such as becoming a speaker,
workshop
leader, or highly sought-after consultant.
Launch It! is
about launching more than one's
dreams, seeing them come to fruition in a logical, organized manner
that
acknowledges common barriers and provides the tools to overcome
them.
Those interested in self-publishing models for success who have something important for readers and, in these days of often working from home, more time to pass on their wisdom to others will find Launch It! an encouraging and comprehensive blueprint that takes the complex world of book publishing and synthesizes its process into seven key segments that would-be authors can easily understand and employ. Highly recommended.
Return to Index
The
Luddite's Guide to Technology
C.J.S. Hayward
CJS Hayward
Publications
978-1478184911
www.amazon.com
The Luddite's Guide
to Technology: The Past Writes
Back to Humane Tech! comes from
the "Major Works" series by C.J.S. Hayward and blends philosophical
inspection with science, Luddite orthodoxy, and a curious blend of life
inspection. It romps through the world of new devices with a clever eye
towards
considering the guideposts of technology choices.
In
the
discipline of ethics, the Golden Rule represents a feat in formulating
ethics:
a single, short criterion that sheds light on many situations, and
Hayward
takes a cue, opening with a formulation of a “Silicon Rule” of “What do
Silicon
Valley technology executives choose for their children?” with a
surprising
answer: Steve Jobs did not give his children iPhones and iPads but
walls of
paper books and animated discussions with them. This single criterion
unfolds
at length in variations on the theme of right use of technology.
C.J.S.
Hayward
(abbreviated “CSH” for “C.S. Hayward” on Facebook) adopts a revealing,
chatty
tone that winds intellectual debate, spiritual reflection, and cultural
and
social analysis in a curious, compelling manner. While this tone might
not be
for all readers, it will prove exceptionally fun and thought-provoking
for
those who relish both humor and a spiritual/philosophical style of
inspection: "I
remember, on environmental issues, someone talking softly about how
“subdue the
earth” in Genesis 1 originally meant a very gentle mastery. That was
everything
I wanted to believe, and I’d still like it to be true, but it has been
said
that the Hebrew has the force of, “trample it under foot!” Should we
lord it
over the earth? That’s one thing I think we have done
disproportionately well.
However, I bring this up for a reason. I believe we can, should, and
perhaps
need to lord it over technology, and the basis for our interactions,
above the
assumed life in the Church and frequent reception of sacraments, is the
bedrock
to how we should relate to technology. We should reject most use of
technology
along marketing propositions."
Indeed,
it is
the Orthodox reader versed in this discipline and Biblical references
and
inspections who will most likely be fascinated by the technological
probe
Hayward undertakes here. This audience will also appreciate the
scholarly yet
accessible inspections that consider such elements as 'porn mode' in a
browser,
Newtonian physics, the pros and cons of assistive technologies, and how
technology shifts the mindsets of children and adults alike, as in the
Lego
scenario: "Charles Baudelaire, in his "la Morale du
Joujou" ("the moral of the toy") talks about toys and the fact
that the best toys leave something to the imagination. Children at play
will
imagine that a bar of soap is a car; girls playing with dolls will play
the
same imagined drama with rag dolls as they will with dolls worth
hundreds of
dollars. There has been a shift, where Lego sets have shifted from
providing
raw material to being a specific model, made of specialized pieces,
that the
child is not supposed to imagine, only to assemble."
While
some could
say that this treatise is disjointed and too wide-ranging, The
Luddite's Guide to Technology always stays true to
its foundation
subjects—religion, technology, and social impact—even as it traverses
historical and social settings with seemingly disparate
topics.
Much
like an
internet browsing session, Hayward leaps from topic to topic, making
logical
connections that move readers from Biblical analysis to social and
technological changes and back again.
The
result is a
literary blend of spiritual, social, and technological reflection wound
in an
overlay of tongue-in-cheek wry humor. Besides Eastern Orthodox and
those
interested in Eastern Orthodoxy, the work commends itself to those
interested
in the social dimensions of technology, including those drawn to the
Lead
Pencil Society and the Humane Tech movement, and the Nature Connection
movement. The Luddite's Guide to Technology will
especially appeal
to intellectual thinkers interested in the intersection between
orthodox
beliefs and technology's allure.
Return to Index
Pandemic Capitalism:
From Broken Systems to Basic Incomes
Chris Oestereich
Wicked Problems
Collaborative
ASIN: B0889FJG5J
$3.99 ebook
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Pandemic-Capitalism-Broken-Systems-Incomes-ebook/dp/B0889FJG5J
Publisher: www.wickedproblemscollaborative.com
Pandemic
Capitalism: From Broken Systems to Basic Incomes will
reach readers who have a special interest in social,
political, and economic issues. The book gathers a series of essays
that
discuss ongoing challenges that have been highlighted by the pandemic,
as well
as the possibility offered by Universal Basic Incomes. It addresses how
such
programs might work, and suggests possibilities for social and economic
systems
that would take better care of the planet and those living on it.
These essays
begin
with the author conveying the idea of pandemic capitalism – our
inescapable
economic system – via a personal story that helps the reader view the
circumstances from his perspective. They go on to examine our economic
systems
and interplays, move to discussions of the many systems that already
existed on
the brink, and concludes with a review of coronavirus-related
developments to
help contextualize the challenges.
The heart of
the
story lies in discussions of positive economic paths that acknowledge
obstacles
to change while analyzing logical courses of action and the pros and
cons of
various approaches: "Universal
basic incomes appear to have
a lot to offer in improving the way that society functions, but it’s
possible
that they might do more harm than good. Our social and economic systems
are
massively complex, emergent phenomena. We need to try lots of
experiments and
see what we learn. Plenty of potential pitfalls may lie waiting in the
road
ahead. Thinking through them is essential to crafting the soundest
possible
plan. Among such pitfalls are (1) the likelihood of rentseeking, (2)
the
curtailment of welfare programs, and (3) the financialization of basic
incomes."
Chris
Oestereich does
an excellent job of contrasting different economic and social responses
to not
just pandemic conditions, but modified social environments and goals
for
prosperity.
Chapters
remind
readers that the power to effect such changes lies not just in
government
institutions and decisions, but individual approaches to wealth,
health, and
life itself: "Most
of us don’t see ourselves as having a voice in the
construction and maintenance of our economic systems. We probably don’t
even
recognize their creation. But the economy is not some sort of natural
phenomenon. We continually invent it. Humans make the rules via the
laws and
regulations, and we further influence it via a multitude of forces,
like
advocacy, donations, and extortion. Once we recognize that people
create our
economic systems, we can begin to think about how we might have a hand
in
them."
It should be
cautioned that Pandemic Capitalism is not to be considered a
game plan for easy transition.
It is a call to action that challenges traditional thinking not just
about politics
and economics, but viable social systems and those which are
detrimental to the
planet. Its basic contention is that "...humanity isn’t destined to be a
laboratory for wickedness.” Its core question, “What would the world
look like
if we enabled people to choose a collaborative orientation, rather than
being
forced into a competitive one?"
There is
nothing
simple or singular about this approach, and Pandemic Capitalism thus
is,
of necessity, a straightforward but demanding contrast between the
ideals and
practical applications of economic and social change.
The result
is a study
that questions who will save the economy and society, how, and what
revised
goals for social, economic and planetary health might look
like.
Anyone
interested in
the social, political, and economic long-term effects of the current
pandemic,
and the broader challenges it highlighted, needs to take a serious look
at Pandemic
Capitalism for a thought-provoking
discussion of future
possibilities. It concludes with an invitation unusual in the face of
worldwide
disaster: "While the
coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc, it is affording
us something precious—a moment to think. This is something the systems
we live
in have long robbed us of. We should not waste the opportunity."
Return to Index
Sacred Landscapes of the Soul
Karen Brailsford
Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
Hardcover: 978-1-948018-81-4
$37.00
Softcover: 978-1-948018-84-5
www.wyattmackenzie.com
Things feel as though they are falling apart
for people around the world, which is why Sacred Landscapes
of the Soul
deserves a spot on any inspirational reading list. It offers a breath
of
spiritual fresh air to anyone looking for uplifting, soulful
connections to the
Divine no matter what religion they are coming from, focusing on a
journey
towards healing, peace, and resolution that provides many
thought-provoking
reflections in a time of exceptional turmoil.
Take 'Landscape of Immobility' under
'Terrain of Confinement', for example. Karen Brailsford's words are
lyrical,
compelling, uplifting reminders of daily life's joys as well as its
challenges:
"TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, and a rhyme and a reason.
The quiet
storms are as valuable as the tempestuous cyclones, and there are
hallelujahs
in the hurricanes. Yes, praise the sun but in the same breath, welcome
the dark
nights of the soul with amens. There is grace and beauty and healing in
all of
it."
Even as this section speaks about
confronting fears and overcoming obstacles, it also draws connections
between
love, spirituality, and interpersonal connections, encouraging readers
to
gently move forward from adversity with an underlying faith that "God
is
everywhere."
Never are these words so heartfelt or needed
as today. Much as things are changing, Brailsford reminds her readers
that it's
a new season in life, and as much a time for spiritual enlightenment
and
opportunity as for transformation: "It is time to exit the
lion’s den.
There are no more creatures to wrestle. All that needs to be slain is
you—in
the spirit. It is time to synthesize the music inside of you. Let the
grace
notes float into the atmosphere, resound like the music of the spheres.
Yes, it
is time to walk on water for you are the Christ. Your very life
beckons."
Because these messages are embedded in an
overall spiritual coating of trust, faith, and revitalized purpose,
they will
appeal across religions and beyond Christian faith.
The result is a rare set of admonitions
linked to modern living which offers an inspirational, heartfelt path
for
reconnecting to God and love by expanding one's boundaries even though
life may
feel newly limiting and difficult.
The timing is perfect for this uplifting set
of instructions on how to align and realign with the Divine no matter
the
circumstances of the world. Sacred Landscapes of the Soul
is highly
recommended for spiritual readers who would use these words of wisdom
to change
and redirect their lives.
Return to Index
Situation Normal A.F.U.
Oscar R. Nordstrom
North Stream Publishing
978-0-9983109-5-4
$19.95 Softcover
www.northstreampublishing.com
Situation Normal A.F.U.: A Flatfooted Soldier Tells All is
a Vietnam era
army experience that appears long after most such memoirs have been
published.
Readers might initially wonder at the need for yet another military
memoir
about these times, but Oscar R. Nordstrom wasn't drafted. He enlisted.
This
difference in attitude and perspective is one of the strong points in Situation
Normal A.F.U, which represents situations from an enlisted
man's viewpoint.
Another difference lies in a sense of irony
and humor as stories trace situations within the military while
training for
the battlefield, lending an unexpected flavor to the events.
Nordstrom's humor
often translates military challenges and experiences into a wry,
satirical look
at the Army's impact on its soldiers: "There was another
interesting
thing I discovered about standing all the time. I heard somewhere that
the
horse and giraffe are the only animals that can sleep standing up. If
that’s
true, I should be in the Guinness Book of Records, as I’m living proof
that,
given enough incentive, humans can do the same. Moreover, given the
damage
basic training did to my already flat feet, I believe the Army should
recognize
that the pain and suffering, and resultant damage to the psyche, as a
service-related disability."
Nordstrom
completes his thoughts on the subject by opining: “My aversion
to standing
for any length of time had another unintended, but positive,
consequence; I
found an occupation doing paperwork that also required an ability to
dictate
business letters, which doesn’t hurt if you want to be a writer . . .
Thus, in
a world searching for answers, I can recommend that everyone cultivate
the arts
of standing in line and sleep deprivation. Doing so will prepare them
for any
eventuality, from writing a novel to repelling an invasion.”
As Nordstrom navigates fate, changing
duties, and Academy training regimens, readers receive a review of
daily
routines, military politics, his own choices and decisions that are
made for
survival and prosperity, and original methods of either beating or
working with
the system: "Wanting to get ahead of the curve, I spent our
meager
savings from the month prior to the start of the four‐week
course on a spare set of boots,
new fatigues, skivvies, and other articles that went into our wall and
footlockers. Once I assembled all these
mirror‐reflecting
boots and shoes and carefully pressed and folded articles, I never
disturbed
them the entire time I was at the (NCO) Academy. Instead, I lived out
of
laundry bags which contained my clean clothes. Rather than gaming the
system, I
looked upon it as the strategic planning necessary for a future leader
of men,
like taking advantage of the terrain, or exploiting your enemy’s
weaknesses.
So, while other less prepared soldiers were busy spit shinning the
shoes they
scuffed up during the day, I spent my time studying things like how to
harass
the troops (just kidding), fundamentals of leadership, radio
communications,
reading maps and using compasses (called orienting)." And despite nearly
being kicked out of the Academy for fighting (a recurrent problem),
Nordstrom
managed to graduate with honors.
Contrasts between changing technology and
Army approaches past and present are injected into discussions which
will prove
particularly revealing and thought-provoking to modern military
participants, as well as those who have
never served. For
example, while explaining why GPS has virtually replaced the need for
the
survey training Nordstrom received, he manages to keep the reader’s
attention
by explaining how it is possible to be in two places at the same time!
Competing military memoirs provide
action-packed battle scenarios and perspectives from a draftee's
viewpoint, but
Situation Normal A.F.U.'s focus on military
processes within the service
and the approaches Nordstrom took to be successful both personally and
professionally make for engrossing reading even for civilians who may
have
never seen an Army base or served in any branch of the military. While
some may
criticize the lack of social commentary on the horrors of war, this
approach is
quite refreshing.
Nordstrom's ability to appeal to such a wide
audience is part of what places Situation Normal A.F.U
above most other
military memoirs. Combined with an astute attention to detail about
these
changing processes and his methods of adapting to his role and
responsibilities, and while Situation Normal A.F.U
will appeal primarily
to military participants and their families, it holds the rare ability
to move
outside the ranks to educate and even entertain civilian populations.
This audience, who may be relatively
unfamiliar with military protocols and experience, will welcome the
opportunity
learn from one who relates incidents, accidents, ironies and
interpersonal
relationships, with his tongue planted
firmly in his cheek.
Black and
white photos also capture the military experience. Situation
Normal A.F.U. is
thus highly recommended for a much wider audience than those who
commonly
pursue military memoirs. Snatch 2&20 Snatch
2&20 opens with a
bang, juxtaposing the
narrator's earliest memory of getting his diaper changed with the
present-day
fact that this memory is coming to light after a deadly crash as he
awakens
from a coma, paralyzed. This
introduction
needs no additional lure to prove compelling as Giles Goodenough, a
successful
Wall Street analyst (thanks to his father's intervention), comes to
realize the
fraud and evil surrounding him in the world. As he juggles hedge funds,
fraud,
waste, and greed, Giles faces challenges to his business-oriented views
of
life's values: "The worst thing that
could happen would be for me to lose conviction in any company whose
stock was
going up, or worse still, to gain conviction in a company whose stock
was going
down...They say that price is all that matters, and I made that my
mantra." As his
"flair
for melodramatic self-pity" and uncertain relationship and fear of his
successful father, Andrew Roman Goodenough IV, permeates his life and
work
environment, readers are drawn into the drama, psychology, and business
challenges of Wall Street. These are made all the more powerful because
author
Luke E. Fellows is himself a "recovering hedge fund manager," and
injects the realities of the job and its milieu into Giles's story. One could
almost say
this is autobiography fictionalized, as many of the protagonist's
obstacles,
challenges, and life perceptions are mirrored in the author's world. As intrigue
and
danger enter the picture, readers interested in business fiction,
satire, and
dark comedy will find both a fun and pointed read that crosses genres
in
juxtaposing mystery, moral inspection, psychological growth, and danger
into
its story. Luke E.
Fellows
excels at carefully crafting these elements into a tale that follows
risk
assessments, choices, models for success and disaster, and the
disparate
encounters of a businessman who embarks on a journey that promises
miracles and
a revolutionary approach for the human race. Complex,
witty, dramatic,
thought-provoking, and filled with business and social inspection, Snatch
2&20 will appeal to readers who like
stories rooted in a
business environment, but with wider-reaching inspections and subplots
that
move from the logical to the unexpected, commenting on materialistic
goals and
the promises and dangers surrounding The Peach and a hedge fund manager
who
faces its allure and dangers. Snatch
2&20 is
engrossing, unexpected, and hard to put
down, even as it's difficult to easily categorize. The 12 Labors of Nick The
12 Labors of
Nick is Book I of the Mýthos
Trilogy and provides young adult readers with the engaging story of
Nikólaos
Chironopolous, a Greek boy who faces bullying, prejudice, and the
juxtaposition
of a strange world which intersects with his own in unexpected ways. Aside from the
bullying, Nick harbors a fond
affection for other elements of his life, from horses to Downs syndrome
children. Even though these other passions are cause for further
bullying, Nick
sets aside angst and pursues his passions anyway: "He had
come to love
the musty smell of horses; their sweet, hay-scented breath; the way
they put
their head on his shoulder like a comforting friend. Though they each
weighed
more than a ton, Nick wasn’t afraid, even when squeezed, as he was,
into a
stall with two of them. To him, they seemed more human than people,
without the
power of speech to insult and hurt him. Of course, Nick thought, he’d
even been
bullied over his love of horses: since this was “for girls,” he’d been
called
“fag” and “gay” more times than he could remember." But his life, Greek
heritage, and real
connections to the world aren't as they appear, even though an early
key lies in
a strange singing woman who suddenly appears, rescues him from more
bullying,
then vanishes. This leads to further clues that even his parents know
that he
is truly different from the norm, connected to a world very different
from the
one he operates in. When the truth comes
out, Nick discovers his
own parents are involved in something far stranger than he could ever
have
imagined. The fantasy elements in
The 12 Labors of
Nick appear early and grow along with Nick's perceptions of
and reactions
to the world of Mýthos. When he encounters Medusa, renames her Helen,
and
embarks on a journey with her, teens will welcome the combination of
fantasy
elements, mythology, and the pragmatic personality of Nick who, used to
being
bullied and maligned, is surprisingly able to take charge of new
realities and
find his place in them. From encounters with
gods and mermen and
many of the legends of Greek mythology to the different realities of a
world
where such beings exist, fantasy readers interested in stories with
mythological
connections will welcome the juxtaposition of modern and ancient that
follows
Nick through revised worlds and new challenges. The action is nicely
paced, characterization
well done, and his personal discoveries about his father, heritage, and
visions
are injected into a story that holds a satisfying gallop to its pace
without
being overly action-packed. This allows young adults to easily absorb
the
mythological references and Nick's reactions to his changing world. The
12 Labors of
Nick concludes by tying up many
loose ends, but ends his quest with an open door portending new books
in the
series. Young adults seeking an adventure story that is nicely tempered
with
personal challenge, new worlds, and newfound achievements will relish
this story's
evolution, unexpected twists, and outstanding reinterpretations of
Greek
culture and mythology. Jesse's Hope Book
2 in Jesse's 'Searching
for Family' series presents
a new story that dovetails nicely with the introductory book, but adds
even
more elements of intrigue and suspense to its tale. This approach will
satisfy
middle grade readers who want an expanded vision of Jesse's pursuits,
life, and
growing interactions with the world around him. The book picks up at
the point
where Jesse's future changed in Jesse Sings. Jesse
has only lived in
Sabina for a year and has just
begun to put his life together when upheaval threatens again. His
mother is
determined to become less dependent upon his unpredictable father's
child
support payments, and has made decisions to move on. But Jesse is not
sure he
really wants to let go, especially since he's built the beginnings of a
new
life after much initial struggle. As
marriage, disappointment,
broken and revised family
connections, and small life challenges emerge, such as finding an
appropriate
Father's Day card for one who is less than predictable, Jesse finds new
ways of
accepting changes and redefining his life and expectations of family
ties. At
the heart of both these
Jesse books is this process of
revision, contrasting ideals with reality not just in Jesse's life, but
the
family structures of his peers. The
past can't be changed,
but as his mother brings a
disparate group of broken siblings together for the first time and
embarks on
her own journey to change everything, Jesse and his reader receive
invaluable
lessons on change and confronting myths and realities both within his
community
and on a broader perspective. The
contrast between Jesse
and Lynn's perceptions of
family ties and their meaning is particularly well done, as is the
threat of
polio's life-changing effects on both community and individual lives. Jesse's
involvement in the
mystery of a hidden treasure
and the clues he unearths in a courthouse clock tower and Biblical
verses are
nicely juxtaposed with the adjustments and achievements he experiences
in his
own life. How
he handles both results
in an engrossing story that
builds upon Jesse Sings, yet moves
in
a different direction as Jesse absorbs the lessons of history and
heritage
during a treasure hunt that promises even more options for positive
change. The
stalwart, determined
character of Jesse and his
struggles that range from economic to spiritual and social crafts a
full-faceted story offering more realistic elements and depth than most
sagas
about family developments and changing times. Middle grade
readers will be thoroughly immersed in
Jesse's objectives, perceptions, and changes. They will find this
second book
in the series even more compelling than the first, as Jesse makes the
most of
what is handed to him and continues his growth momentum. Dylan's
Birthday
Present Dylan's
Birthday
Present, Book 1 in the series Little
Polyglot Adventures, receives
colorful drawings by Eszter Miklós and
tells of an American boy whose parents come from other countries
and speak different languages. It's Dylan's birthday, and he receives
an unusual
invitation from his family to have any present he wishes. And Dylan
wants a
pet. His
Ukrainian
mother is shocked. Might he want a crocodile or something exotic? Young
readers
with good reading skills are introduced to a concept rarely presented
in a picture
book: the use of footnotes, which define the phrases and responses in
the
Ukrainian and Portuguese languages his parents speak. This
added value
teaches youngsters about first generation immigrant families and their
interactions, creating a colorful series of dialogues centered on a
child's
unusual pet request and why it incorporates his interest in family
unity and
understanding. In
the course of
enjoying his new pet with his neighbor friend, Dylan has an opportunity
to
explain the concept of a polyglot such as himself, who can speak
several
languages, and the value of communicating with all kinds of
people...even the
grumpy ones. The
adventure
introduces a pet, a quest, and the interactions which surround it, but
the
action centers upon friendship and the superpower of communication
skills and
openness to accepting other cultures. With
its
multifaceted educational opportunities couched in the sweet story of a
boy's
unusual pet and its possibilities for bringing disparate peoples
together, Dylan's
Birthday Present provides more than just a good leisure read.
It's an
opportunity adults can employ to teach children the value of languages,
understanding, multiculturalism, and the positive aspects of being
multilingual. It's available in English as well as in a large
number of
other languages, including in bilingual editions. Jesse Sings:
Searching for Family Jesse
Sings:
Searching for Family is the first book in the 'Searching for
Family' series
focusing on eight-year-old Jesse and his mother, who move to a small
Ohio town
to flee an abusive situation. Instead of finding relief from a
dangerous
father, Jesse is bullied by a popular boy in school and threatened with
foster
care by a social worker who means well, but isn't actually syncing with
Jesse's
own desires for his family. When
everyone around him
feels dysfunctional and
dangerous, how can Jesse feel safe, much less cultivate the supportive
family
atmosphere he longs for? Jesse
narrates his own story
as he moves through changing
worlds and confrontations in 1950s Midwest America. This imparts a
personal
touch to his saga that draws readers in with observations that are
innocent,
astute, and calculatingly compelling: "I
wanted to tell him that it wasn't her fault, that that he'd gambled
away his
pay, but then I'd just be making him mad. It was at this moment that I
was
suddenly aware of how fractured my family was, with brothers living one
place,
a sister living on Grandpa Hall's farm, Mom in the hospital and Dad and
me
about to become homeless." These
realizations of life's
realities, troubles, and
approaches to handling them permeate Jesse's story and observations.
His
struggles with the legacy of a fractured family lends realistic
elements to his
choices in this story, which moves from a coming-of-age tale to one
that
assesses the fundamental values of family connections. Readers
are treated to a
tale that moves between Jesse's
relationships with an astute eye to dialogue that reveals his
conundrums as he
faces the complicated interactions of adults and peers around him: "What would I do if you were gone? Dad
can't take care of me. Where do you think I'd go? Here, with a mean
grandma?" When
he finds a friend in a
fatherless peer, he embarks
on a different kind of journey that promises revelations, realizations,
and new
options. Victor Hess excels in
capturing both the
small-town atmosphere of Sabina, Ohio's daily life and the evolving
emotions of
a young man who attempts to revise his world and influence adults
around him,
who don't always make decisions in his best interests. Jesse's character is
nicely developed and
there's even a touch of intrigue added into the mix to bring his varied
circumstances and challenges to life. Elementary to
middle-grade readers will come
to care about relish Jesse's resilience and determination, and will
find this
first story a moving introduction that sets the stage for more
journeys, neatly
posing another dilemma in which Jesse gets what he wants, but at a
price. Our
Bodies Stay
Home, Our Imaginations Run Free Adults
seeking a
COVID explanatory book for kids ages 6-12 now have an outstanding
presentation
that outlines the positive potentials of this new world in Our
Bodies Stay
Home, Our Imaginations Run Free. The
story opens
with 2nd-grader Maya realizing that today is a different day: "As
she wiped
the sleep from her eyes, she knew deep down something was different. It
wasn’t
a school day. She wouldn’t see her lunch lady. She wouldn’t get to
bring her
favorite art creation for Show and Tell. And worst of all, she would
miss
seeing all her friends and her favorite teacher. She wanted to get back
to
second grade." As
the story
documents the changes brought about by COVID-19 from a child's
viewpoint,
adults and young readers receive not just a survey of newfound
limitations and
quarantine challenges, but answers on how to live a meaningful revised
life
under vastly different conditions. These
are
universal questions all ages now ask. Having them tailored to younger
readers
in Our Bodies Stay Home, Our Imaginations Run Free
in no way precludes
its relevant message for older readers and read-aloud parents working
with
younger audiences, as well. As
the story
evolves, Lora L. Hyler is careful to document the realities of the new
situation and the emotional turmoil it evokes: "As her mom
rounded the
corner into the kitchen, Maya burst into tears. “Why can’t things be
like they
were before the coronavirus? No school. No play dates. No building
legos with
friends. No pizza parties or bowling. No visiting grandma and grandpa
at their
house. Everything is different!” Hyler
weaves
virus facts, safety measures, and psychological and social issues into
Maya's
story, which promotes family and community togetherness and adaptation
under
revised circumstances. Black
and white
drawings by Ian Wade illustrate these changes and capture the
underlying
possibility of happiness as Maya takes walks, practices safety
measures, and
learns how to cultivate a resilient feel of positive approaches to
much-changed
situations. The
result is a
combination of fictional exploration and nonfiction discussions of
virus safety
measures, health, and social concern. It's a delightful, important
acquisition
for any adult working with the young, who seeks a clear, uplifting book
that
accepts the dangers and emotional challenges of the current COVID
situation
while presenting alternatives for living in this revised world. Very
highly
recommended for its blend of realistic assessments and uplifting
viewpoints. The
Unexpected
Adventures of Remi The
Unexpected
Adventures of Remi will appeal to
elementary-grade readers in
grades 4-6 who will appreciate this blend of lovely color drawings and
in-depth
details about Remi, a little fox terrier who tires of humans' obsession
with
technology and who leads an animal revolution to rescue her humans from
its
allure. When
she leaves
the pet store which has been her home, she revels in the thought that
she'll
have a family to love, at last. The family relationship isn't quite
what she'd
envisioned, however, as she's been purchased as a gift for young Mia,
who still
mourns the loss of a prior dog and resents the fact that Remi is a
look-alike
replacement. Besides, Mia claims that technology has changed her needs: "Pets don’t interest me
anymore. I have
a ton of Snapchat friends to attend to." But
is it really
technology, or is Mia hiding her grief and resisting the urge to move
on with a
new relationship? It's clearly up to Remi to solve this problem, and so
she
embarks on a mission, involves other pets in her newfound goals, and
faces this
technology beast with a tenacity that creates an unusual, fun pet story
kids
will relish. Shweta
Roy's
ability to intersect a dog's viewpoint with the experiences of humans
and other
animals creates a sense of community, understanding, and insight that
elevates
this story beyond the usual pet and child adventure. There are many
serious
considerations couched within Remi's drive to find love and a family,
and these
are part of what makes this story feel so compellingly different. Whether
they are
obsessed with technology or dogs, kids will find this tale revealing,
compelling, and thought-provoking. The Unexpected Adventures
of Remi is
the perfect item of choice for a leisure read, juxtaposing a strong
personality
with a lesson about choice, life, and love. The Aspen Grove The
Aspen Grove centers on an Irish
immigrant family in
1883 Colorado, and provides a Western theme with a cultural twist as it
inspects the lives of Daniel O'Neal, his wife and daughter, and their
hired
hands who live on a cattle ranch. Their world and habits
seem set until
catastrophe strikes and changes both the family and everything around
it. Readers with a prior
affection for Western
themes will find this story more multifaceted than most, offering a
satisfyingly complex series of events that draw together opposing
forces in
Civil War history, an effort to bring justice to a grieving family, and
the
lingering effects of the war's political and social changes on the
nation. This flavor alone sets The
Aspen Grove
apart from more singular Western productions, but Jane Fulkerson also
adds
other elements, such as extensive family history, cultural references
to
immigrant Irish experiences, and discussions of community ties into a
classic
story of confronting adversity. Under another hand, so
many subplots under
one cover might have proved challenging for readers of Westerns to
absorb. Too
many Western genre reads are both predictable and light on background
history. Fulkerson's
incorporation of all these
themes into a story that is fueled by a range of issues, from
jurisdictions
that limit the pursuit of justice to a love of family, sense of
responsibility,
and characters' ability to creatively confront danger, makes for a
gripping
story that holds a number of surprises as it evolves. The result is a
literary and historical
Western that holds more elements of realistic background than most. The
Aspen Grove is a tale that is gripping, educational, and
replete in
psychological, social, and political inspection. It will delight
literary
Western genre readers seeking something different. Faith
in the Unknown Faith in the Unknown
gathers thirty
inspirational and spiritual
poems that focus on connections between nature, love, and spirituality.
These
pieces follow not only the evolution of a relationship, but topics
associated
with relationship development and spiritual perception that rarely see
explanation in modern poetic form. Take, for
example,
'The Loss of My Power'. This poem comments on the writer's connections
between
the forces of love and those of God: "There
aren’t enough words that can describe/how the love of a woman brought
me to
life./A force that rivals only God,/ripping the power from my
fingertips./Filled with infinite wisdom of her Queen’s past/a
philosopher, with
a gentle understanding of life./Calming my mind, with her two
hands/reminding
me of the things I can’t control." This and
other rhyming
and free verse works are heartfelt, analytical, passionate, and
compelling.
Each focuses on relationship evolution, aging, and other universal
themes, but
often brings these reflections into a spiritual realm, whether in a
history of
the lifelong relationship depicted in 'Quirky Girl' or the spoilage
experienced
in untrue love in 'Pure Substance.' Anthony
Sciarratta presents his poems with a handy heavy
in allegory, description, and emotional and spiritual presence. This
gives his
works a vivid immediacy that explores the links and chains of love and
its
lasting incarnation in life. Poetry
readers who
enjoy literary pieces firmly rooted in emotional explorations yet
centered in
spiritual lessons and reflections will find Faith
in the Unknown a compelling collection that is heartfelt,
literary,
descriptive, and thought-provoking. It goes above and beyond examining
a man's
relationship with his beloved and the concept of love. This
collection is a
recommended pick for poets who enjoy precise, emotional overlays with
spiritual
reflections. Freefall:
A Divine Comedy When
four female
old friends join together on a four-day reunion to celebrate their
long-time
friendship, they didn't expect long-held secrets to emerge, nor a new
mystery
that engrosses and challenges them. But that's what they get when a
hike and
meeting in Whistler, British Columbia juxtaposes the threat of death
and new
intimacy with the long-held perceptions that forces each 60-year-old to
re-examine her life, choices, and friendships. Powered
by the
ambitious dreams of installation artist Tillie Bloom, the women find
themselves
undertaking a journey of self-discovery normally relegated to teens
entering
adulthood. At this stage in their lives, they didn't expect to continue
experiencing the world in new ways. Nor did they anticipate making
choices that
would change themselves and their perceptions of one another. Lily
Iona
MacKenzie flushes out her characters by moving between past and
present,
allowing readers to contrast their lives, changing personalities, and
reactions
to life. Her attention to details both within each character and
between them
helps define their motivations, influences, and interrelationships both
with
each other and with life. It's
unusual to
receive an 'adventure' focus in a story about older women, but Lily
Iona
MacKenzie does a fine job of embedding the feel of a coming-of-age
novel with
characters who are old enough to know more about life, but not too
staid to
accept that further changes may be in order for them. Descriptions
are
often thought-provoking and give pause for thought with their edgy,
adroit
observations: "Tillie watches a snail chomp away at a flower.
It
reminds her of how priests transform bread and wine into body and
blood. She
almost gags at the cannibalistic quality of the Eucharist, the
communicant’s
symbolic swallowing of Christ’s body. Yet it isn’t much different from
the
cannibalistic nature of art, the artist devouring everything in her
path that
helps express her vision—and art devouring the artist. Consuming each
other." From
a touch of
romance to changing perspectives on mortality, Freefall: A Divine Comedy
is a refreshing breath of fresh air in the genre of women's literature.
It's a
read that is especially recommended for older women who will be able to
fully
appreciate and relate to the sense of transformation, adventure, and
interpersonal connections that these four women represent. Inferno of
Silence Poet Tolu'
A.
Akinyemi's previous writings captured the intimacy of interpersonal
relationships, pairing them with life-affirming admonitions and
observations,
but Inferno of Silence departs from
his usual approach by providing a literary short story collection that
examines
social issues ranging from racism to love in the face of political
upheaval. Each short
work is
powered by this social observation, taking individual lives and linking
them to
broader perspectives and concerns to provide astute insights on mental
health,
personal struggle, and connections between individual choice and social
impact. Take the
title story
'Inferno of Silence', for example. Here, Kunle is a married man often
puzzled
by his situation, women in general, and his wife in particular. His
helpful
father tells him he just needs to learn how to 'manage' women in true
Nigerian
style, but Kunle finds his attitude and occasional violence against his
mother
to be distasteful. And so he is stuck in a limbo between different
approaches
to the women in his adult life. He finds
marriage
principles "almost impossible to abide by" and an antithesis to the
initial attraction he felt towards this woman who became his wife. When
Adaeze
moves in, she changes his life. But, she controls everything from the
start.
Does his voice deserve to be heard? If so, how? The marriage
changes
everything and challenges him to find his voice apart from cultural
traditions
and the lack of information from either the pastor or his father. 'Return
Journey' is
also a story about men, women, relationships, and social expectations.
Ade's
argument with his father about settling down is an ongoing one, as he's
immersed with pleasing 'Capitalist Investors' over building a life that
satisfied his parents and cultural expectations. As he faces
an
unusual woman, situation, and the notion that "...a woman could stand
in
the place of a diety," he finds not only his life changed, but his
attitudes and values, as well. Inferno of Silence
is a wide-ranging
collection that tackles
different themes of love, life, interpersonal relationships, and social
and
political challenges. It's a hard-hitting, revealing collection that
keeps
readers engaged and thinking with each short exploration of characters
who
confront their prejudices, realities, and the winds of change in their
lives. Readers of
literary
explorations that include African cultural influence and modern-day
dilemmas
will find this collection engrossing. Marion's 25,
Volume
II Under
another hand,
these classics might be presented on lists that contain older books,
but Marion
Hill's extensive reading and reviewing differs from most in a key way.
He's a
generalist, and so his tastes run from the classics to Stephen King,
Katherine
Kurtz, and a host of lesser-known writers that readers should place on
their
lists. One facet of
these
reviews that should attract a diverse audience of literary and leisure
readers
is that each cross-references other works, draws connections between
authors and
their subjects and approaches. This provides background history that
give
readers an expanded perception of each book's unique opportunities: "I came to reading The
Cuckoo’s Calling as someone who
had never read the Harry Potter books or her first adult novel, Casual Vacancy. I had read one of the
reasons Rowling wanted to write under a pseudonym was so that her work
could be
judged on the basis of if it was good or not. Also, she did not want to
be
judged through the lens as a celebrity novelist. If this were
a first novel by Robert Galbraith it would be an
outstanding first novel. But it was Rowling’s second adult novel and
deserved
to be judged on its own merits as a crime fiction novel." This
collection, as
with its predecessor, is particularly notable for its ability to bridge
reading
gaps, introducing genre-specific readers to notable works outside their
usual
comfort zones. This is the role librarians used to assume for their
readers as
they identified superior works, noting their connections between genres
to known
productions a reader likes, encouraging a broadening of literary
horizons with
superior works. Hill's
ability to inject
personal notes into each of his reviews creates an accessible, inviting
style
that is lively and encourages such literary connections: "It
is interesting how a certain genre presents itself to you as a
reader. I have not been a historical fiction reader throughout my
reading
life. However, I read several historical fiction novels over the past
couple of
years. Beginning with the novels of Guy Gavriel Kay like Children of Earth and Sky, A Brightness Long Ago, and
the Sarantine Mosaic Series (Sailing to Sarantium & Lord of Emperors) and I recently
finished The Gondola Maker by
Laura Morelli. I love reading novels about art, music, food, books and
how
those things helped shape a society in the story. Well, I add The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King as
my latest addition to this neighborhood of books." Too many
reviewers
simply recap plots or approaches, then lend their yea or nay vote to
the
author's effort. Marion Hill's studied analysis uses the kind of
literary
references necessary to encourage readers to try different works based
not just
on plot or premise, but the unique, compelling draw that these selected
superior pieces offer to all readers. Use Marion's 25, Volume II
as a guide to
finding new authors and rereading old ones with new understanding. Its
format,
tone, and analytical references lend to this style of discovery as few
others
can achieve, placing its detail far above anything a book list could
produce. Marion's 25, Volume II
is very highly
recommended for its ability
to connect the dots between seemingly diverse writings with the goal of
exploring solid, good literature. The Rocky
Orchard The Rocky Orchard
tells of Mazie,
who has returned home to the family farm to make peace with her life.
Driven by
Barbara Monier's lyrical language, Mazie's first-person story of her
foray into
past, present, and future is compelling from the start: "I
want to capture the expression on your face and put it in a
jar. I want to carry the jar around with me like precious fireflies
from a
summer night. I have never seen you so relaxed, so contented. As if you
know
what I’m thinking, you reach for my hand and you kiss it. I am staring
at you
and you know that I am staring at you, and I tear up and you laugh. You
kiss my
hand again. You have that shy-but-formidable look, the one you had on
our first
date, our real first date. The look that makes your one dimple sing
out." The timeline
shifts between
these worlds, with each chapter heading giving readers proper
perspective.
Mazie befriends the elderly woman Lula and, through her, begins to both
share
and assess her life. These
reflections of
her past move from crises and parent/child interactions where she
wished time
would stop ("I said nothing. I
couldn’t think of what to say. I felt as if there was nothing inside of
me.
Nothing at all. Not a thought, not a feeling, not a word. And I wanted
to keep
it that way. And keeping it that way depended on me staying right where
I was,
right on the porch, on the swing. Maybe forever.") to the
fate
involved in contemporary connections forged by chance and need: "I may not be able to see the elderly
woman when she comes walking through the orchard today. Or, the woman
may well
decide to bypass the orchard altogether, as she would not be able to
see the
treacherous rocks endangering her path. In this kind of fog, people and
things
appear out of nowhere, without hint or warning, when they come close
enough to
emerge from the fog’s grip. They disappear just as fast. It’s strange.
I just
met the old woman—if you can even call that a “meeting”—and I feel like
I don’t
want to miss her if she takes her walk today." While on its
surface The Rocky Orchard is about
an evolving
friendship and connection, it's also about navigating the ethereal
changes of
life and accepting randomness, impermanence, and obstacles and
decisions that
have lasting impact on the future. Mazie's
ability to
recall this past and consider this future make for quiet revelations
that
center around her quest for healing from her past and the mystery of
what Mazie
seeks from this farm of yesteryear, as well as her relationship with
Lulu. Her home
feels both
safe, and strange and foreign. As Mazie considers birth, evolution,
death, and
rebirth in a different way, readers are drawn to her story and its
quiet power.
Those interested in introspective pieces that follow a 'magnificent
life'
filled with love, danger and darkness, and a terrifying truth that must
be
faced by one who "notices everything" and, on some level, never
forgets, will find The Rocky Orchard
a powerful literary work. With its
compelling
language, quiet secrets, and evolutionary process, Mazie's story will
draw and
haunt her audience up to its surprising conclusion, which leaves
readers
thinking long after the final lines are read. Resolutions:
A
Family in Stories Resolutions:
A
Family in Stories is a collection
of separate yet interlinked
short stories about different family members who largely share the same
narrator/observer (Molly May) and revolves around protagonist and
mother of
four Jasmine and her connections in a small Ohio community. Resolutions
opens with Jasmine's fairly unique ailment and connects this with her
evolving
quest to change her life's trajectory and her relationships. At
first glance,
Resolutions would seem to be about her process of
transformation and family
interactions alone, but it's actually much more. Under the guise of a
literary
production that involves a quest for freedom as observed and narrated
by
participants and observers in this life, Resolutions
assumes an astute
blend of self-analysis and outside inspection that is compellingly
revealing
and psychologically intense: "Today, I am a single mother of
four, and
I am full of rage. I imagine the faceless monster in front of me
represents
everything holding me back. I am standing wide-legged and steady, my
arms
straight and strong. The manageable world awaits; I know it does. I
focus on
it, this manageable world, and position my finger above the center of
the
trigger. Humming the theme music from Jeopardy, I press rapidly and
with all
the strength I can manage, cursing my delicate hands. Weak hands from
repetitive motion. They ache with the vibrations that follow each shot,
the
squeeze and release. The world buckles beneath me, and I exhale." As
Jasmine
confronts her inner demons and her ability to change her life and
reactions,
readers are treated to a series of stories that contrast her focus with
those
of her children Myron, Joey, Molly May, and Allie. Each cultivates
their own
unique vision of their mother. Each perspective is given an evocative,
descriptive voice that captures relationships and reactions to them: "I
shrug, tracing the roof of my mouth with my tongue where tiny scratches
remain
from the tough bread. I get hot chills when I’m uncomfortable, and
right now I
am shaking from the contradictions in my body." As
the stories
build upon one another, they expand the perceptions and thoughts about
Jasmine's world. This approach opens up the discussion to incorporate
Midwest
community perspectives, refuting stereotypes about their relationships
and
viewpoints of life and providing astute, literary observations that
linger in
the mind long after their presentation. Any
reader
looking for discussions of family life, Midwestern values, and evolving
parental roles will relish the interlaced delicacy of Resolutions,
which
blends psychological and social analysis with equal talent.
Situation
Normal A.F.U.
Return
to Index
Luke E. Fellows
Independently
Published
979-8639785795
$11.99 Paper/$4.19 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Snatch-2-20-Luke-Fellows/dp/B087KYDPPY
Return
to Index
Amy Wolf
Return
to Index
Victor Hess
Independently Published
978-1732215580
$15.99
Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Jesses-Hope-Searching-Family-Book-ebook/dp/B0BBRV37W7
Return
to Index
Victor Dias de
Oliveria Santos
Linguacious
9781952451607
$23.99
Hardcover/$9.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
www.linguacious.net
Return
to Index
Victor Hess
Independently Published
978-0999564011
$10.95 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Jesse-Sings-Searching-Family-Jesses/dp/0999564013
Return
to Index
Lora L. Hyler
HenschelHAUS
Publishing, Inc.
978-1595987747
$8.99
https://www.amazon.com/Bodies-Stay-Home-Imaginations-Free/dp/1595987746
Return
to Index
Shweta Roy
APK Publishers
ASIN: B07XDSD49J
$1.99
www.apkpublishers.com
Return
to Index
Literature
Jane Fulkerson
Independently Published
9781734330519
$14.95 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Aspen-Grove-Jane-Fulkerson/dp/1734330511
Return
to Index
Anthony Sciarratta
Post Hill Press
Paperback: 978-1-64293-443-4
$12.99
Ebook: 978-1-64293-444-1
$ 7.99
www.posthillpress.com
Return
to Index
Lily Iona
MacKenzie
Pen-L Publishing
978-1683131960
$14.97
Ordering:: https://www.amazon.com/Freefall-Divine-Lily-Iona-MacKenzie/dp/1683131967
Website: https://lilyionamackenzie.com/freefall-a-divine-comedy/
Return
to Index
Tolu' A. Akinyemi
The Roaring Lion
Newcastle
9781913636029
www.tolutoludo.com
Return
to Index
Marion Hill
Red Mango Publishing
978-1734644500
$10.00
https://www.amazon.com/Marions-25-II-Marion-Hill/dp/1734644508
Marion's 25, Volume II gathers more
of book reviewer Marion Hill's collected writings and is recommended
for
readers who want to locate memorable new authors and books to read, or
who want
to reread classics such as Bradbury's Fahrenheit
451 or David Copperfield
by
Charles Dickens.
Return
to Index
Barbara Monier
Amika Press
978-1-937484-82-8
$5.95 Kindle
www.amikapress.com
Return
to Index
Jen Knox
AUXmedia
978-1-7330898-7-6
$16.99
www.jenknox.com
Return
to Index