June 2022 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature Mystery & Thrillers
Cataclysm
David Gittlin
Entelligent Entertainment, LLC
978-0-9882635-8-1
$.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Cataclysm-Worlds-Silver-Sphere-Book-ebook/dp/B09H3PZ65F
Obviously,
the
world didn't end with Book 1 of novella series, The
Silver Sphere, because the follow-up Cataclysm:
End of Worlds continues the ongoing adventures of
reluctant world-saver Jacob and the artificial intelligence Arcon that
he
discovered on a beach (which has purposely selected him).
Readers
won't
expect the mystery of a body on the beach that draws the two into more
world-changing possibilities and inquiries. Prior fans receive the same
wry wit
and irony of a writer who steps into his own novel through impossible
encounters
with death, aliens, and threats from afar.
Gittlin
is
especially masterful at creating dialogue between the two disparate
beings
which both capture and juxtapose their differences: “Before
we do anything hasty, let’s think about this.”
“What is there to
think about. We have a
dead body here. We have to notify the authorities. Maybe on your side
of the
galaxy you get to play it by ear. We don’t do that here.”
The
hero holds
the tendency to over-think situations, thanks to his writer's eye for
trouble: "The world is about to end and my
over-clocked imagination isn’t helping."
As
the story
unfolds, the clock is ticking down on humankind's destruction. And
there's too
much they can't tell the authorities: aliens are on the way, aliens are
on the
loose, there's a strange resurrection, and dangerous
assumptions that lead to the possibility of Jacob's loss of a
publisher.
Gittlin
is a
master at developing the dialogue, wit, and suspense particular to a
well-written short literary form that packs a punch with nearly every
word. Jacob disagrees with Arcon's
suggestion of
writing a true account of the mission when he says: “Aside
from the fact that I don’t write
non-fiction, I don’t want to be
searching for a new publisher under the heading of Crackpot Press."
Cataclysm:
End of Worlds
continues and expands upon the introductory
The Silver Sphere and also ends with
the cliff-hanging portent of more satisfyingly compelling action in the
next
book.
While
sci-fi
readers who like quick openings to new worlds will be the best audience
for
this book, it should also be on the reading lists of contemporary
fiction and
sci-fi students of the novella form, as an example of how to make the
most of a
very short opportunity to grab reader attention.
Return to Index
The Dragons of
Chaos and Light
Amy Wolf
Lone Wolf Press Ltd
9798449024442
$14.99
www.amy-wolf.com
The
Dragons of Chaos and
Light
is the first book in the Spinners of Time series. It introduces
seventeen-year-old Abarōz, a girl who has lived her life in the
underground
city of Dardan. In this world, even the light of a candle hurts her
eyes,
attuned to darkness that's dictated by the goodwill of the S̆āh
who rules her family's corner of the world.
Readers walk the torch-lit hallways with Abarōz guiding them through this world before
she faces leaving it for a world of light and dragons, driven to this
new
environment by the corrupt S̆āh who goes after her father.
The
Dragons of Chaos and
Light
is no light leisure read, but an epic fantasy that embraces a host of
characters, special interests, and battles involving dragons and the
greed and
depravity of men.
Abarōz
becomes
immersed in dangerous treachery that makes her a vulnerable target,
especially
as she doubts her choices and her abilities. Young adults will find her
story a
compelling saga because it equally embraces her ability to move into a
very
different world to make a difference both in her family's future and,
as a side
benefit, in the environments of everyone she loves.
Her
adjustment
to rapidly changing paradigms and realities lends to an exploration of
the
kinds of mental growth and changes young people need to absorb and
experience
in order to become authoritative, powerful people in their own right,
rather
than pawns of greater powers.
Wolf's
story
includes all the trappings of high fantasy, but wraps these in the
psychological profile and growth of a girl forced to reassess her role
during
war, consider possible romance, and embrace both factions and forces
she once
thought were not a part of her world.
The
result is an
engrossing, action-filled story that rests firmly on solid character
development and a different kind of coming-of-age scenario that young
adult
fantasy readers, especially, will appreciate.
Abarōz's astute,
dual navigation of family and her own fears creates a compelling
adventure
highly recommended for young adult fantasy readers (and many an adult)
interested in sweeping epic stories of war, growth, and legacies which
are not
as they initially seem.
Return to Index
Followed by Fire
McKenzie Austin
Independently Published
978-1-7329723-6-0
$3.99 (eBook)/$13.99 (paperback)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VG38ZWS/
What happens when a witch, a demon, and a
priest enter a war? Followed by Fire:
Book One of the Incineration Saga opens with a vivid scene in
which
witches' daughter Esven Greenbriar sees her mother burned by humans who
drag
them from their home: "Esven
Greenbriar always believed metaphors were for melodramatic poets and
drunk
philosophers, but she’d be damned if the wild horde of men charging
into her
forest cottage didn’t crash through like river rapids. Blades waved
like
banners, and she dug her fingers into the mossy walls of her childhood
home,
her heart hammering."
Esven had dreamed of leaving their isolated
forest home...but not like this. She had dreamed of a different
life...but not
the one that is thrust upon her by adversity and heartache. What
happens when
dreams die? They turn into a quest for revenge.
In this case, Esven's newfound purpose is
thwarted by her late mother's upbringing and lessons on peace and
forgiveness: “People
want to be good,” her mother would say. “They want
to do the right
thing. It’s only when terror grips them that they undergo a change.
Panic feeds
the demon that grows in all men. It is only the demon you need to fear.
Never
the man.”
In contrast, Father Deverell is a study in
intrigue and mystery ("Father
Deverell seemed like an awfully curious priest with equally curious
secrets.").
Their association could get somebody killed.
Or, a lot of somebodies.
Readers who anticipate another fairy fantasy
driven by combat and clashes will be pleasantly surprised to find that
McKenzie
Austin embeds more than a light thread of wry humor and irony
throughout the
story. This emerges in the strange company Esven keeps during the
course of her
journey, including Balvonak, a demon who eschews "human savages" and
harbors his own special interest in locating witch Amadeia Greenbrair.
Between sarcastic quips between mortals,
witches, and demons and the odd countenance of a priest who walks among
them
harboring his own special interests, Austin provides a plot that rocks
with
humor and pulls with conflicts within three characters that each harbor
secrets
and an attraction to danger.
As Esven pursues her mother's legacy and the
scorching attraction that binds her to disparate companions, the story
evolves
with many unexpected twists and turns, including a touch of romance
that begins
with an unlikely scenario that blossoms into something more.
Austin is especially adept at employing
different forms of humor to bring each character to life. They are
cunning and
well equipped to handle the world. But, can they handle each another?
Fantasy readers who look for whimsical
flavor, action-packed encounters and evolving interpersonal
relationships will
find these elements in droves in Followed
by Fire.
The relationships and quirky responses to
the world drive the plot, creating a compelling story rich in drama and
detail
and spiced with the specter of a curious relationship between relative
loners.
Fantasy collections seeking something
refreshingly unique in tone and scope will find that Followed
by Fire stands out from the crowd, blending a rare sense
of adventure and irony to keep the story inviting on many different
levels.
Yes, it's Book One. The plot ends in a
satisfying manner, but leaves the door more than ajar for more.
Like the proverbial Hotel California,
readers who enter this world won't want to leave. And library
collections will
make sure they do offer this opportunity to their fantasy readers.
Return to Index
LO:
A Novel
Bradford Tatum
Soft Moon Press
978-0-9844896-4-0
$16.99
https://www.amazon.com/Lo-Bradford-Tatum/dp/0984489649/
Sci-fi
readers
interested in Mars will find LO: A Novel the
perfect vehicle for making the journey.
The
opening
lines of the story represent the enchanting lyrical language that is
Bradford
Tatum's characteristic: "Lo meets
Harlem in the Water Builder’s yard, not far from the holding tanks,
where the
hum of the jostling H and O molecules might dim the thundering of their
hearts.
While they appear as two young people they are what is known here on
Wiloughby
as Builds. Which does not mean they are not completely human. It simply
means
they are someone else’s idea of human. They are not used to their
bodies being
their own. They are not used to acting on a passion their owners did
not pay
for. I am a cook and so I think of them as flavors. Licorice and kiwi
for her.
Something dark and ripened in a cellar for the boy. A perfect
combination of
opposite essences. They will simmer into the escape from the expected
that all
cooks aim for."
Indeed,
the
unexpected is another trademark of Tatum's style and story as Lo moves
far from any anticipated plot
and into a Martian backdrop packed with enchanting descriptions: "He
has come to free her music. He
studies the stalks of her eyelashes, the sea-creature shock of her mouth."
Lo evolves on different levels via this poetic eye to
detail. For Lo is a
murderer, an artist, and trouble. He is a Build with a mission to both
create
and destroy. The donors that formed his entity dictate his actions.
When will
he finally be free?
At
every
juncture in the story, Tatum's language grabs attention and
personalizes the
human and inhuman interactions of this futuristic world's Builds, high
technology, and human-directed influencers: "What
was the world like before ©Godmother?
What was the world like before the Feed? Driving before Google Maps?
Fucking
before Tinder? (If you will indulge some anachronistic examples.) She
brought
into the world a search engine for one’s life. At age ten you decided
you
wanted to be a day trader, or a neurosurgeon, or a ballet dancer. ©Godmother told you how. It held your
hand, your attention, the tiny but protean seed of your intractably
bright
future in its welcoming graphics and careful prompts."
Readers
who
enjoy flowery description and the specter of a scenario where Harlem's
death
portends inevitability and questions autonomy, choice, and free will
find the
many social and philosophical discourses thoroughly engaging.
As
moral,
ethical, and social issues about Builds and their reality power the
plot, Tatum
crafts a completely unpredictable tale rooted in Lo's growth and
evolutionary
process in a very strange futuristic world where humanity is a
quasi-shadow of
its modern form.
Tatum
takes the
time to capture the scenario of a Martian immigrant effort that seeks
to
replicate the home world of Earth, but fails in many ways: "The pink
glare of Mars’ two moons is beautifully
dulled by liquid
shades in the glass. But there is no comfort here. No warm heft to the
solid
simulation of a home I never had."
As
Lo moves in
new directions, the narrator considers inviting him into his life in a
different way: "His harvesting of
this garden was the most-gentle of larcenies. He didn’t know he was
stealing
from me."
Lo is at once a story of Martians and humans, Builds
and humanity, and the
intersection between values of life and liberty. It couches these
themes in a
bouquet of rich imagery and tempers this with forward movements as Lo
and the Cook narrator cultivate a new
form of life and interactions that move beyond their technological
origins.
Lo is very, very highly recommended for readers who
enjoy artistic,
social, and ethical inspections of life. Set in an era of futuristic
wonders
that bring angst and pleasure alike, Lo
is a story of rebirth, recreation, and regeneration that will not only
linger
in the mind and heart after Lo and Cook's adventure plays out, but
lends to
re-reading to capture all the nuances of Tatum's descriptive language
and
intentions.
Return to Index
Seekers: The Winds of Change
Troy Knowlton
Independently Published
ASIN: B09VDBYBK7 (ebook)
$3.99 ebook, $12.99 paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Seekers-Winds-Change-Troy-Knowlton-ebook/dp/B09VDBYBK7
Seekers: The Winds of
Change
opens with the Koterran mining camp and Serana's charge by her father
to guard
this remote corner of the kingdom, accompanied by a band of knights.
It's not
long before she and her royal entourage face a Seeker of the Argan
Empire,
Tyras, whose mission is to steal an artifact from the camp.
As events unfold, fantasy readers receive a
strong story of powerful changes sweeping over all the forces in the
world of
Tiarna. These carry each of the characters into unexpected experiences,
prompting growth and forcing them to reconsider their loyalties and
alliances.
Troy Knowlton is especially adept at
bringing these dilemmas to life as Tyras, Squall, and Oren tackle their
lifelong assumptions and lessons: "You
don't owe anything more to Arga, just like I don't owe anything to
Savar.
Empires don't make people happy, Tyras; people do. I want to see you
find peace
and comfort, my friend."
Peace and comfort are the farthest things
from Tyras's mind as he faces assassins during the hunt for the
Conduit, an
artifact which will change the balance of power in many different ways.
Knowlton brings these individual growth
processes to life as he weaves a story about betrayal and subterfuge in
a quest
that prompts its participants to revise their most engrained habits and
perspectives: "Oren's willingness to
speak up surprised Tyras. Since when
did Oren start devising plans? That has never been his strong suit."
As Knowlton furthers a saga in which the
winds of change buffet everything predictable and reliable, readers
receive an
engaging story that revolves around lasting transformation, and which
holds
familiar connections to these modern COVID years: "These winds are more than
just a
fleeting breeze..."
The result is a vivid fantasy adventure of
confrontation, revised missions, and personal challenges that provides
not just
an engrossing quest saga adventure, but a thought-provoking
consideration of
how different individuals find their life values under siege, and
respond in
different ways.
Fantasy readers will appreciate the focus on
changing social and political relationships which lead the characters
to make
different choices and move outside their comfort zones.
Libraries should consider Seekers:
The Winds of Change an
excellent choice for fantasy readers who look for nonstop action paired
with
philosophical and psychological reflection and growth.
Return to Index
The
Silver Sphere
David Gittlin
Entelligent
Entertainment, LLC
978-0-9882635-6-7
$.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Sphere-Coming-No-Time-Waste-ebook/dp/B098BK3ZW6
"I am reasonably
certain
of only three things. (1) I am not a terrorist. (2) I’m no security
expert. (3)
Although I am trying to save the planet, there is a high probability I
will be
incarcerated, and shortly afterward, the Earth will explode."
David
Gittlin's The
Silver Sphere: It's
Coming--No Time to Waste
is
a succinct alien encounter/apocalyptic story that opens a connected
series of
novellas. Sci-fi enthusiasts who love the theme of first contact, but
eschew
the typical wade through a War of the
Worlds-style scenario, will relish both the format and the
opportunity to
absorb a high-octane drama in an hour.
Protagonist
Jacob
Casell is strolling along a moonlit beach with anything but aliens or
planetary
disaster in mind when he stumbles upon a silver orb that communicates
with him
telepathically.
His
discovery
both sets the stage for an out-of-this-world adventure and embraces
karma,
opportunity, and a wry sense of humor as the orb attempts interaction
with a
truly inferior species: “Do not be
alarmed,” the thing said. “The pulsing effect was me reanimating my
systems. No
sense wasting energy while I was waiting for you to happen along. You
certainly
took your time, didn’t you? And, by the way, I’m not a ‘thing.’ I am a
highly
evolved organism. You can think of me as artificial intelligence. I am
actually
much more than an AI, but your mind is not capable of conceiving what I
truly
am.”
The
machine is
both surprised by its interaction and tasked with engaging Jacob's help
in
preventing a planetary disaster. Jacob is initially too preoccupied
with finishing
his manuscript on time to be interested in the idea of saving the
world: “Since you appear to know everything
about
me, you must realize that I’m not at liberty to help you. I’m past my
deadline
for turning in the final draft of a manuscript. My editor calls to
scream at me
daily.”
By
now, it
should be evident that Gittlin's story takes quite a different approach
than
the usual alien first encounter tale. Pair a self-absorbed
human with
artificial intelligence Arcon that finds his task doubly
complicated by
his perhaps-poor choice of an assistant for a spoof on sci-fi alien
encounters
and disaster scenarios alike.
Color
photos
pepper the story, adding a visual draw to this tale of intrigue,
extraordinary
efforts, and adventure.
"I
had to be the only person in the
world with the vaguest notion of what was going on. Thank heavens for
small
favors."
The
novella
utilizes every word to create a satisfyingly original blend of humor
and
entertainment in a small but compelling package.
And
thank
heavens there are more books to come. Those seeking the rare draw of a
literary
sci-fi novella format as well as busy readers who want to digest an
action-packed, unpredictable story in one sitting will find The Silver
Sphere a complete delight on
many levels.
Return to Index
Sons of Darkness
Gourav Mohanty
Leadstart Publishers (India)
978-93-5559-083-1
$24.00 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
www.gouravmohanty.com
Sons of Darkness
is an epic fantasy that defines the sweeping wide range of a saga and
contains
all the trappings of high adventure: pirates, princesses and kings,
warrior
women, and a prophecy that drives the action.
Even the author's note (usually such
introductions are relatively staid) is a draw, presenting the promise
of a read
that evolved after Gourav Mohanty digested the classic story Game of
Thrones: "When
I took the wonderful characters of the epic Mahabharata
and tossed them into a
parallel dimension that was pervasively bleak and nihilistic, it was
with the
intention of making you, my reader, sit up and gasp on your couch."
The similarities between George R.R.
Martin's epic series and Mohanty's fantasy are as compelling as their
cultural
origins are different, creating a saga that will attract not just
Martin's
audience, but readers interested in epic fantasy as a genre, as well as
those
with some knowledge of and appreciation for Indian literature.
Mohanty clarifies his purpose and this
difference in his introductory Author's Note, as well: "My
vision was clear. Epic Grimdark Fantasy was an unexplored
bastion of Indian literature, and I wanted Sons
of Darkness to be the first to conquer it."
Lest readers feel stymied by the author's
allusion to India's classic Mahabharata, at
this point it should be mentioned that little
prior familiarity is
required in order to appreciate Mohanty's story (though such a
background will
lend special interest in and knowledge of his approaches and the
story's
heritage). Sons of Darkness
is
not a rewrite of Mahabharatan reality,
but a powerful rework of the concept itself that places these legends
in new
perspective.
The story opens with a prologue that
presents an evocative, atmospheric description of darkness and the
hallmark
ethical inspection that marks Sons of
Darkness and makes it a true classic: "For
a Hero of Light, he reckoned he cast a rather grim shadow. Hero. The word slithered nastily in
his mind. An honour bestowed upon you when you had killed all those who
would
have called you a mass murderer."
Victory, righteousness, and a bloody win
open the saga with many thought-provoking reflections on the costs of
battle
and redemption, presenting a brother and sister's stale feeling that
comes with
having achieved all their goals.
Or, have they?
The story unfolds a myriad of characters,
special interests, struggles, and epic clashes as Muchuk, Asha, and
others
interact with complex, changing scenarios.
Mohanty grasps and presents the tastes,
smells, and world of India in the course of his adventure. This, too,
sets the
fantasy apart from many, rooting it in sense of the world with vivid
inspections: "The air smelled of
some exotic spice. Six monstrous barrels of ale were rolled in. Tables
and
benches had been raised, piled with bowls of strawberries, fresh baked
bread
and sweet-grass. An old woman played a cheerful air on the pipes.
Dancers
swayed seductively around a bonfire, swatting at the hands that groped
them as
they passed. There were sturdy broad-cheekboned, almond-eyed women from
Pragjyotisha, slight green-eyed Balkhan girls with skin the colour of
sapphires, and voluptuous women from the South, eyes rimmed with kohl."
Unlike Game
of Thrones, the story's complexity and promise of a weighty
saga is belayed
by a special attention to developing characters and a sense of culture
to draw
readers into a world at once familiar and alien.
From smugglers and ruffians to battles
between disparate groups of people who try to carve out a place in this
changing world, Mohanty provides a powerful story replete in action and
inspection that gives readers many moments of contemplation as the
fantasy
unfolds.
The result is rich, indeed. Sons
of Darkness deserves a place not
just in fantasy collections (as it will probably achieve), but in the
hands of
anyone interested in contemporary Indian literature which bases itself
on
classic works, but reinterprets the very reality they rest upon.
It's an epic fantasy that holds the rare
opportunity for multicultural inspection and revelation, and is a read
both
entertaining and enlightening, all in one.
Return to Index
Birds and Things to Ponder
Richard A. Merritts, PhD
Independently Published
979-8412279510
$25.99 Hardcover/$19.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Things-Ponder-Richard-Merritts/dp/B09VG3SG69
Ornithologists and bird lovers who enjoy
both natural history and literary poetic forms will find equal
enjoyment in Birds and Things to Ponder,
a rich
collection of philosophical and natural thinking that includes a
healthy dose
of humor to top the cake of attraction.
Take the opening poem, "The Grebe Is
Not a Duck." Here, Dr. Merritts refutes the uninformed notion that a
grebe
is not exceptional, painting a portrait of the bird's lure and manners
with a
light, interesting, rhythmic analysis: "The
grebe is not a duck./Grebes do not quack./Grebes are good luck./Water
runs off
grebe back;/You get grebe awe struck,/For beauty grebe does not lack..."
Contrast this simple observation with
"Lady Egret Gets the Chills," a whimsical consideration of a female
egret's response to mating season and new opportunities: "Amorous
egret in plumage;/Dressed in his finest frills;/Offering
to share nest roomage;/Working all of his skills;/Like assessor
calculating
doomage..."
Merritts pairs these bird-specific
observations with broader examinations of environment and atmosphere,
as in
"April is Temperamental": "April
is temperamental;/In the Chesapeake bay sense;/It starts off with a
warming
trend;/Then snaps to misty morning rain..."
The result is designed to put a smile on the
reader's face, immersing them in the natural world via printed text and
the
full-color, evocative paintings Dr. Merritt adds to accent the flavor
and
allure of his bird celebrations.
Birds and Things to
Ponder
holds the unique ability to attract a wide audience, from poetry fans
who also
love nature to bird enthusiasts and general readers who just want a
light touch
of rhyme and whimsy in their reading.
It is highly recommended for literary
collections, but will also attract discussion groups as an example of
contemporary nature observation that weaves nicely into literary forms
with
high impact and the ability to attract even non-poetry readers.
Return to Index
Dropping
Out
Danielle de Valera
Old Tiger Books
978-0-9942545-2-6
$9.96 paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Dropping-Out-change-novel-stories/dp/0994274521
Short
story
readers who look for character-linked stories that traverse decades of
experience will find Dropping Out
an
excellent literary collection. It creates a series of experiences
steeped in
Australian culture, then follows characters who each decide to drop out
of
their routines and lives, with varying results.
Many
people wind
up in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. The region holds
both
attraction and challenge, as it requires different skill sets to
navigate,
often leaving pilgrims broke and struggling to survive.
The
introductory
story, "Busting God," presents the dilemma faced by an aging
narcotics agent sent to Northern Rivers on a mission to snag a big-time
drug
dealer. Admitting that he "loves the work too well," Michael has
struggled to keep up with his younger peers on the force, fielding
injury and
confrontations with death with the same strengths that led him to
partially
recover from his post-traumatic stress from Vietnam War experiences.
As
the allure of
Northern Rivers grows on him and his partner, they enter very different
lifestyles and make revolutionary (for them) choices that lead to
revised
purposes.
Danielle de Valera grows both the region and
other
dropout experiences from the kernels of wisdom that these two narcotics
agents
experience during the course of their self-discoveries.
Each story represents a window into not just
psychological strengths and struggles, but the evolution of characters
that
have chosen this region for a reason.
Take, in contrast, "Stella by Starlight."
Set in 2002, this story revolves around ex-inmate Charles Lawson. It
begins
with an especially compelling commentary about routine and choice: "On the day he planned
to kill himself, the day he’d decided had the best
chance of success, he rose at six as usual."
As the story evolves, readers gain insights
into the tipping point that has turned Lawson's formerly satisfying
life into
one that faces a dark future, indeed.
It takes a beloved cat's disappearance to
alter The Plan, which in turn introduces him to new possibilities for
the
future.
Each story is a world in itself. Each
combines a literary inspection with the social, psychological, and
philosophical heartbeats of discovery.
Short
story readers looking for an
interconnected set of Australian lives and experiences on the fringes
of
society and life will find much to relish in Dropping
Out.
It is highly recommended not just for
literature libraries strong in short stories, but for discussion groups
interested in how place and time are woven into stories to reflect and
capture
other cultures and disparate lives.
Return to Index
EMDR Inspired Art and Poetry - A Meditation
on Hope and Pain for Troubled Times
Mark Odland - MA, LMFT, MDIV
Bilateral Innovations
9798797772392
$17.95
www.bilaterialinnovations.com
EMDR Inspired Art and
Poetry -
A Meditation on Hope and Pain for Troubled Times
is a synthesis of pain and pleasure that navigates traumas, blessings,
and the
trauma therapy EMDR, which inspired this collection.
It's a journey through the emotional surgery
of therapy and recovery that leads readers into the world of suffering
from the
unusual vantage point of the therapist: "They
say the word compassion means
to suffer with/So by
definition/To be a therapist means to bear another’s pain/But not like
this/Not
like this."
Black and white art by Mark Odland is
interwoven with these poems and serve as visual introductions to each
as
readers traverse the uncertain ground of being a leader and guide who
also
struggles with changing times and the rigors of pandemic isolation.
Most importantly, EMDR
Inspired Art and Poetry covers EMDR therapy's potentials,
processes, and promises with a personal eye to its transformative life
opportunities: "Without Francine’s
walk in the park/EMDR would never have been/And without EMDR I never
would have
been trained/And if I had never been trained/I wouldn’t have received
my own
EMDR therapy/And without receiving my own EMDR therapy/Memories of my
wife’s
difficult pregnancies/Never would have healed/And if they hadn’t
healed/We
wouldn’t have been open to more children/And if we wouldn’t have been
open to
this/I wouldn’t be here now/Holding my baby boy."
Having a review of EMDR from a therapist's
vantage point, presented as a series of free verse explorations of its
developments, paired with artistic embellishments, makes this
collection
recommendable to a wide range of collections, from poetry and literary
libraries to those interested in psychological journeys in general and EMDR therapy in particular.
Odland's ability to capture these
circumstances of daily life experience and weave them into a greater
story of
healing and change sets this book apart from many others.
In "I Almost Stopped," he
chronicles the process of capturing this milieu and facing rejection
with a
determination to move forward: "Somewhere
a poetry editor smirks with pity at my poems/As one might towards a
toddler
pretending to read/With the book held upside down...As a therapist I
can step
outside and observe/The ruminations of a somehow still insecure man/And
yet
this knowing doesn’t tame the strong impulse to/Stop writing / Stop
drawing /
Play it safe..."
And yet, he persisted.
And creative arts and therapy literature is
all the richer for the appearance of EMDR
Inspired Art and Poetry, which represents the perfect
opportunity for
readers to consider their own transformative options and influences
during
these pandemic times of being shut down and socially and spiritually
challenged.
Return to Index
Eternal
Questions: A Maybe Interesting List
Iwanna Twainbee
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-264-9 $22.99 Hardcover/$16.99
Paperback
www.atmospherepress.com
Eternal Questions: A Maybe Interesting List
presents an intriguing work of satire and is recommended reading for
literary
enthusiasts.
Playful, seemingly random questions are
accompanied by footnoted references to literature and analysis that
comes in
the form of 'extracts' of succinct ideas and interpretations.
Lest the reader think these are literary
allusions alone, it should be noted that Iwanna Twainbee's approach
embraces
social and political inspections that play out on broader fields of
interpretation and understanding. These take the form of a series of
questions
designed to encourage readers to think about their possible directions
and
answers: "When does one people’s
conquest of another people become a fait
accompli and so become no longer worth fighting about?
Does the conduct
of the new rulers affect the calculation? Does the conduct of the new
and old
populations affect the calculation? Does the level of productivity
under the
new rulers affect the calculation?"
The queries consider a broad range of social
issues, from racism and religion to homelessness and poverty: "When
does poverty result from societal
issues and when does poverty result from individual choices?"
The footnotes that stem from some of these
questions link them to major literary works as well as popular culture,
from
song lyrics to the author's own life.
Eternal Questions: A Maybe Interesting List
is not a listing designed to satisfy with answers and direction. It's a
satirical interplay between social rule and psychological analysis that
leads
readers through unexpected, disparate threads of discussion akin to an
internet
search.
As the topics intersect with one another, it
becomes evident that the style of the presentation will prove
particularly
alluring to readers already well grounded in philosophy, social
inspection, and
literature.
Impossible to easily categorize or put down,
Eternal Questions: A Maybe Interesting List is a
recommendation for
thinking readers who have often been accused of asking 'why?' and
embarking on
unexpected journeys because of this question.
Not for the staid linear thinker who wants
platitudes handed over on a platter, Eternal Questions: A
Maybe Interesting
List questions the roles and influences of tradition,
expectation, and past
history on the choices and affairs of modern man, proving a delightful
romp
through all kinds of subjects and possibilities.
Return to Index
Haiku,
Schmaiku, and Headin’ Out to Sea
David Robert Bayard
Skyboy Press
978-0-9967380-8-8
$17.00
www.skyboyphotos.com/Books
Haiku, Schmaiku, and
Headin’
Out to Sea combines the author's poetry and
photography prowess in a book that contrasts the classic Japanese haiku
poetic
form with American poetry styles.
Poetry is represented here as a looking
glass, a double lens, and a mirror. These are the three section headers
David
Robert Bayard chooses to gather poems that "...came
as lost and lonely children begging for some porridge, for nourishment,
for
life, to fix their broken parts by loving them exactly as they are."
The first section involves seeing the world
with new eyes; the second is about relationships and connectivity; and
the
third section represents "the act of
reflection as consciousness watches itself watching itself: the use of
writing,
journaling, and poetry to gaze into the mirror, see ourselves as others
see us,
and find the universal truths of the mystic that are inherent in every
spirit."
Readers can thus expect to see themselves
through different lenses of life, mirrors, and examinations of "wounds
or
sorrows" and endless winters that lead both viewer and writer into new
revelations.
Lovely black and white images accompany such
treasures as the haiku "Sky," which observes that "Weather
rules day, our/Neighbors, the
night. Sky is both/Ocean and window."
The evocative nature of these connections
between psyche and landscape create poems that compel on different
levels, and
with different styles.
The short observational haiku rooted in the
land are nicely offset by personal pieces that represent forays into
life
experience, as in "Churches of My Fathers": "I
bolt in claustrophobia/from the churches/of my fathers/Run out
to the world to/find a god larger than/stale wine and wafers."
By elevating the haiku form from its
original Japanese traditional roots in nature and carrying it into the
modern
American experience, Bayard creates a diverse collection for general
audiences
that pairs engaging artwork and photography with written snapshots of
inner
realization and world influence.
Haiku, Schmaiku, and
Headin’
Out to Sea is especially highly recommended for
literary poetry readers interested in how this traditional form can
translate
to new opportunities and observations derived from modern American
wellsprings
of inspiration. It deserves to lead discussion groups of the haiku form
and its
modern-day possibilities and relevance.
Return to Index
SCHLOCK Featuring Russia Cop
David R. Low
Kharms &
Bowler Publishing
978-1736277317
$16.99 Paper/$8.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/SCHLOCK-Featuring-Russia-Cop-David/dp/1736277316
Fans of British satire and humorous
political short stories will find SCHLOCK
Featuring Russia Cop a fine blend of literary and social
inspection that
features four short stories of contemporary life.
The collection opens with Japanese
reflections in "Tsoi Lives." Here, narrator Takahiro has moved to
big-city Tokyo from a small town, where his parents expected him to
become a
fisherman like his father.
He's on a quest for noise and distraction
from the micromanaging punishments of his chosen work when the story
opens; but
soon Takahiro finds himself moving away from his regimented life as he
realizes
he's losing "hours he can never get back" by immersing himself in
Japan's demanding work culture.
When a Russia trip introduces him to Soviet
rock music and changes everything with the songs and lure of composer
Viktor
Tsoi, Takahiro finds himself a mid-lifer whose "best days have come and
gone," and whose major life event lies at the intersection of an
argument
that causes him to pass on a revised life.
Contrast this inspection with the title
piece "Russia Cop." This story reads like a play, with an overview of
the script introducing a story that examines the sense of place,
purpose, and
irony of the Russian Soul.
From Russia's identity and repressive facets
to its lure to foreigners who can never quite grasp the ideals of this
nation,
readers receive a series of interviews that explore the nature and
heart of the
Russian people.
Russia Cop is there to enforce the
conviction of Kyrlov Dennis Dmitrievich, whose crime is "disrespecting
society and insulting religious feelings." This relatively new law
from
2013 holds deadly implications. He's not just there to enforce the law,
but to
present scenes of violence and punishment that wind up on popular
Russian
media.
He, too, is changed by his chosen vocation,
its growing ability to reach around the world, and the inevitability of
a
repressive entity of law that will "one day be president of the Russian
Federation. I am Russian Soul." The ultimate objective of Russia Cop,
however, is quite a surprise.
Each story captures a succinct facet of
Russian culture and brings it to life for audiences interested in
satirical
social and political inspections.
Each adds another piece to this interlocking
puzzle of inspections to ultimately create a thought-provoking series
of
encounters that at first seem disparate, but are actually
interconnected on
many different levels.
The sum is greater than its parts. In this
case, these four short story windows into future possibilities are
intriguing
snapshots of patriotism and leadership that offer surreal inspections.
Literary library collections as well as
those strong in satire and considerations of Russian culture will find
SCHLOCK Featuring Russia Cop an
intriguing, refreshingly original addition.
Return to Index
Spirit
James Murdock
Art of Telling Publications
978-1-7348447-3-3
https://www.seagudinski.com/
Spirit
is a poetry collection that sings from the soul. Grounded in creations
replete
with compelling imagery, James Murdock writes with an eye to capturing
the
imagination in unusual ways.
Take "The Café Across the Street."
Its images contrast the isolation of a loner looking upon a world
similar to,
yet alien from his own choices: "I
walk down the Rue de la Vie/to a solitary table/set just for me./The
Café across
the street/full of noise and smells/people eating, drinking,
laughing,/kissing
the air./She comes up to me/“I’ll have a Bordeaux and today’s paper.”/I
raise
the wine to drink/and it floats back/to the Café across the street./I
raise the
paper to read/and the print floats back/to the Café across the
street..."
A more powerful observation of attraction,
possibilities, elusive connections and costs of isolation would be
difficult to
find.
In contrast is the short "Garage":
"In our garage,/Everything is in its
place/Wherever that might be."
Many of these works are rooted in nature,
from facing storms and waves to the animal/human wordplay in "With
Them."
James Murdock excels in poems that represent
inner and outer dialogues. These exhibit changing styles which belay
the usual
singular approach of free verse, lending each piece a creative form
that
embraces its subjects in different ways.
One such example is "Floating," a
dialogue between Big Jim and "irritating" Little Jim. The poem moves
a question about destroyers and physics to broader interactions between
adults
and children over impossible questions that have no answers, thus
inviting
snide fantasy to enter the discussion.
Diverse in themes and subject, yet united by
a front of powerful inspections and life experiences, Spirit
embraces the spirit within and in the outside world.
Its vigorous examination of life
interactions, from memories to experiences and reflections, makes for a
diverse
literary portrait that is inviting, evocative, and highly recommended
for
contemporary poetry library collections.
Return to Index
Still Life - Stories
David Sylvester
Troy Book Makers
9781614687153
$14.95
https://www.davidsylvester.net
Still Life - Stories
features short vignettes depicting literary glimpses of life. It opens
with
"The Start of Something" capturing the first-person narrator's
meet-up at a college town bar in the aftermath of a blizzard.
The narrator reflects a feeling of loss
early in the tale ("Earlier that
evening I had gone to a reading at the university, a well-regarded
author
promoting her new novel. These literary events are my last connection
to a
magical life I once imagined for myself. I go alone to them feeling
safe that
no one there knows my life is not magical."). She's at the
beginning
of something new after the end of something that once attracted her
("Andrew left ten months ago. I had been a
moon caught in the gravitational pull of his Saturnalian embrace of all
things
sensual. I had been having a bad time of it. Andrew knew how to have a
good
time and I loved him for that.").
COVID has also changed everything.
"Normal" is different. And so are relationships. Even if you are over
thirty.
"We never notice the
beginnings of things, do we? We only recognize beginnings when we
return after
so much time, piecing things together." As the short piece
unfolds
and relationships blossom, the real impact of the "new normal" and
old habits come to light in a compelling manner to bathe the mind with
outstanding reflections that "...even
the loveliest of beginnings require middles and endings. I never know
how to
act in the wild, unpredictable middles, and the endings…things just
end."
Consider, in contrast, "Cat
People." Here, a daughter's cat has moved in with the narrator. As the
story unfolds, readers come to realize that the cat is allowed, but the
daughter is not. She finds a place in a homeless shelter. Why would a
"...middle-aged, middle-class guy from
the suburbs let his twenty-one-year-old daughter live in a place like
this"?
"Cat People" is about more than
cats. It's about boundaries, love, loss, and family relationships in
the face
of homelessness.
"You can keep someone
safe, but you can’t make them feel safe."
The narrator's attention to detail and
surveys of feline and human lives creates a powerful juxtaposition of
worlds
that includes astute, attractive philosophical inspections: "Memories
are really points of light in
the night sky. We gaze at them and shape them and tell stories about
them and
one day those stories become us."
Each of these short stories offers
resounding lessons about life.
The result is a creative exploration of
different lives that provides readers of literature and philosophy with
much
food for thought.
"My reflection rises in
it before me, a translucent, ghostly image. I don’t know if it is the
nascent
reflection of me solidifying, me caught in the act of becoming a new
and
different me, or the remnant of who I had tried to become, now spread
too thin
because there just hadn’t been enough of me to begin with to accomplish
the
things I had believed were within my grasp."
Return to Index
The
Things We Left Sleeping
Kathryn Lund
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-298-4
$19.99
www.atmospherepress.com
The
Things We
Left Sleeping
is a literary journey through two lives connected
first by love, then by trauma and adversity.
Evie
and Stevie share everything, until Evie's mother Linda dies and
she begins suffering from seizures. The trauma that replaces the world
they'd
shared evolves slowly and immerses readers in the disparate perceptions
Evie
and Stevie experience as their lives change.
Kathryn
Lund presents these experiences in an unusual format: a layered
contrast between the two consists of a visual separation in which
Evie’s
narrative occupies the left hand pages and Stevie’s occupies the right.
The
different perceptions of each narrator also capture changing,
atmospheric ideas in a unique manner akin to a painting in words: "This
is how it always is in the beginning, stuck here in the great exhale
that is
the moment before snow. There is enough light left to see The Farmyard
but it
is a colour stored in Tupperware. The high, clear blue is dirtying
down. Soon,
there will be nothing but outlines in the dark. It’s cold. Below me, I can make out
the shapes of The
Farm. The Stables; the black, smudged Barn away to my right. The Blue
House,
far off, down the rough dirt track. My breath mists over the window and
whites
them away. The dark freezes and the night sets in."
As
notebook entries, postcard visuals, and images pepper and compliment
their story, readers receive an account that, though unusual in its
structure,
operates as a draw in several different ways.
The
mercurial dialogues, third-person inspections, and trappings of
everyday life experiences injected into the overlay of trauma and
change will
take some getting used to, but readers who eschew linear plots and
presentations for a creative taste of something different will
especially
appreciate how Kathryn Lund evolves her story on many
different levels, lending it a fuller flavor than most.
As the saga of grief, illness, and recovery
evolves on these changing playing fields, readers will appreciate the
literary
and psychological depths that this unusual format explores, which lends
to
philosophical as well as emotional inspections of transformation: "When
you find me, you look at me with
stone punch feathers. Turning something over underneath your lids. The
box
room, The Blue House, sleeping indoors; you push at me for the things
you want.
They are not the right things. Why should you get comfy here? It is
hard, it is
the first time we’ve got this far. It is hard for me to know, to judge,
what
things are right or not. Am I meant to know everything?"
The
Things We
Left Sleeping
requires of its readers an appreciation for
literature and a different narrative structure. What it demands in the
form of
flexibility is more than rewarded by a rich, multifaceted review that
is
thoroughly engrossing, especially recommended for collections where
stories of
grief and healing are of key interest.
Return to Index
Daze of Isolation
Krista Ehlers
Rough Cut Publishing
978-1737473343
$24.99 Hardcover/$14.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737473348/
Imagine motherhood wrapped in a layer of pandemic
isolation, ADHD, and uncertainty, for a sense of the COVID-laden world
captured
in Daze of Isolation, a memoir of
motherhood that's very different from the usual focus on parenting kids.
Written during a time when U.S. schools shut
down, requiring parents to become teachers and home-schoolers despite
isolation
and their own loss of support systems, Daze
of Isolation is one of the first (but, most likely, not the
last) books to
capture this unique moment in human history.
Krista Ehlers narrates these 13 months of
events with the succinct eye of a mother and writer whose world changed
almost
overnight: "One day my husband,
Jeff, read me dire predictions from China, and weeks later, the first
U.S. case
cropped up about 10 miles from our house. Less than a month after that,
Costco
ran out of toilet paper. Within
the week, our school
district became the first in the nation to close down and jump ship to
online
learning. Without warning, my 8th grade son, Damien, and 2nd grade
daughter,
Mary, came home indefinitely and I turned into a reluctant home-school
mom."
The accounts of isolation assume a daily
diary of humor and questioning which both capture the experience of
living in
isolation with new and unprecedented rules and considers the results of
navigating
new family hurdles:
"I read many tips on
how
to use masks, but they are all about hygiene. What about operating with
a piece
of fabric over your breathing holes? Such as:
• You can chew gum with
your
mask on, but do not blow bubbles. I do, but I live on the edge.
• If you wear glasses,
tuck
the top of your mask under the lenses to prevent them fogging up. In
fact, take
them off — you'll see better without.
• You do not have to
put on
make-up if you wear your mask. And best not to, or the inside of your
mask is
gonna be all Shroud of Turin.
• Do not ignore a runny
nose.
Enough said.
• On a similar note,
process
all crumbs and other food particles because your mask is not a place to
store a
snack for later."
Any parent who has attempted to home-school
a child will relate to many of these educational challenges; but the
added
value of surviving the COVID years with not just grace but humor makes
for an
especially vivid account:
"Day 226 of Isolation
School laptop screen is
broken. Details are sketchy — something about carrying it, then
tripping and
somehow stepping on it. No words."
Like humorist Erma Bombeck's propensity for
capturing American life with a laugh, Ehlers takes a serious subject
and turns
it on end to make it more accessible by going beyond a depressingly
serious
tone, as other COVID accounts have chosen.
The result is a book that even COVID
survivors will want to turn to, glimpsing the rich moments of discovery
and fun
which lay even in the most repressive and unique of conditions during
these
times.
Any library strong in humor, memoirs, and
parents struggling with children at home will find Daze
of Isolation to be significant and attractive.
Return to Index
Educator
and
Activist
Bunyan Bryant
Jr.
Rivertowns Books
978-1-953943-13-2
$39.95
www.rivertownsbooks.com
Legal
library
collections strong in social history should consider Bunyan Bryant
Jr.'s Educator and Activist: My Life and
Times in the Quest for
Environmental Justice an
essential acquisition not just because it's a memoir documenting a
particular
time and effort, but because of its wide-ranging, sweeping link between
the
social issues of poverty and prejudice and the environmental injustice
that
fosters these conditions.
Bunyan
Bryant
Jr. participated in movements fostering civil rights, students’ rights,
and
women’s rights with an eye to changing and challenging the milieu that
promoted
poverty and abuse.
From
his
Southern boyhood to developing his vision to help others challenge the
systems
that oppressed them, Bryant Jr. lends a seasoned eye to the history of
struggles to fight various systems. He cultivated activities both in
school and
off campus that helped transform communities and made their efforts
more
effective.
His
memory goes
far beyond protest alone, delving into team-building activities and
surveying
the pitfalls and promises of rallies, discussion groups, and
policy-changing
efforts that moved from community activism to global circles.
His
efforts
changed lives and worlds. His insights thus come from a unique set of
personal
experiences and a lifelong dedication to addressing environmental
injustices on
many different levels.
The
philosophical and social insights he cultivates through this
biographical
history provide much food for thought for readers also involved in or
embarking
upon their battles for justice: "When
you do the right thing for the wrong reasons, the results are never as
good as
they should be."
The
roots of
lasting social change often take place in everyday situations, such as
discussions between men and women: "We
would attend sports events or go out on the town to one of the local
bars or
restaurants for a drink, where we talked about race and race relations,
current
events, and sports. Such discussions were an important part of our
lives."
It
has been
said, in a song, that "from small things, big things someday come."
Bunyan Bryant Jr.'s exploration of the roots and methodology of lasting
change
represents more than a memoir. It's a document of the possibilities
that can be
achieved through dialogue, protest, conviction, and interactions
between all
levels of society, around the globe.
Its
far-ranging
lessons and insights make Educator and
Activist a top recommendation not just for memoir
collections or libraries
strong in civil rights history, but for any reader who would learn from
and
walk in Bunyan Bryant Jr.'s shoes to encourage positive and lasting
change in
the world.
Return to Index
Half In: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Forbidden
Love
Felice Cohen
Dividends Press
979-8-9857017-0-8
$14.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
Website: https://felicecohen.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Half-Coming-Age-Memoir-Forbidden/dp/B09XZM7FC2/
Half In: A
Coming-of-Age
Memoir of Forbidden Love is the memoir of Felice Cohen, a new
college grad in the 1990s who faced the challenges of coming out and
the
concurrent special challenge of falling in love...with her boss, a
woman over
thirty years older than she.
When she got the job, romance was the last
thing on her mind. The year-long affair that evolved challenged her
perceptions
of love, family, and relationships on many different levels, but the
reason why
Half In differs from so many stories
of lesbian love lies in the age gap that contributed further challenges
to the
relationship.
Felice was on the cusp of creating her
career and life. Sarah was well into her career and life. Their
disparate
concerns, as well as their powerful connections, are explored in a
vivid
chronicle that covers many topics, from workplace romances and age gaps
in
relationships to risky behaviors such as a 'kissing map', with the goal
being
to kiss in every building on the college campus and mark it on a map.
Cohen is candid about the ups and downs the
relationship brings to her life: “'Things
are great. Besides work, we spend Saturdays together.'
'As long as you’re
happy.'
I rocked back. 'I am.' At
least I was when I was with Sarah.
The rest of the time was
another story, but Rachel was the last person I would admit that to."
As Felice comes to realize that the age
difference between them is a bigger deal than other facets of their
relationship, she tackles issues of shame, honesty, happiness, and what
it
means to be engaged in a relationship with no holds barred.
"I’ve finally come to
accept that loving Sarah hadn’t been wrong; it was the act of loving
her in
secret."
Half In's
story of growth, evolution, and coming of age is a strong presentation
that
should attract a wide audience, from those interested in workplace
relationships and secrets to others who will find it one of the few
books to
tackle the issues surrounding love relationships between individuals
with a
wide gap in their ages.
Cohen's memoir proved cathartic to her own
life analysis: "For years I thought
my fear stemmed from what others would think if they knew I’d been in
love with
a much older woman. I’d been wrong. The real fear was examining what I had thought about myself. I’d been
judging myself harshly for loving someone society deemed an
unacceptable match
and had been anticipating that same judgement from others. Secrecy enabled me to
compartmentalize this fear, which then intensified my shame. My
heightened
shame then kept me silent and kept me fearful. It was a vicious cycle."
Its publication opens the door for
discussion groups and readers to consider the cycles of their own
choices and
the impact of secrecy on their evolution and development. It's a top
recommendation not just for LGBTQ collections, but any library strong
in either
coming-of-age stories or memoirs about age-disparate love.
Return to Index
To Where You Are
Jason Fisher
Warren Publishing, Inc.
978-1954614963
$22.37 Hardcover/$16.95 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Where-You-Are-Love-Finding/dp/1954614969
Memoir readers who look for stories of
widowhood and single parenting will find an added element in To Where
You Are. Jason Fisher not only
lost his wife suddenly, but was in sole charge of his nonverbal
daughter, who
had a rare condition that challenged his parenting skills and ability
to cope.
His years of grief and trauma and his
process of moving into an effective role not just in his daughter's
life, but
in his own cultivation of growth and achievement, creates a riveting
story that
operates on many different levels.
To Where You Are
represents a dance between different worlds as Fisher tries to balance
his
daughter's needs with his wife's sudden medical emergency ("Torn
between my two loves, I had to choose
to either stay by my wife’s side as her condition potentially worsened
or
ensure the well-being of our nonverbal daughter with special needs
until I
could make sure she would be cared for appropriately."), only
to find
himself struggling alone.
His experiences handling both his new
responsibilities and emotional trauma are candidly related in a manner
certain
to prove familiar to those who have walked similar paths: "My mom did
her best to be there for me. She knew I
was hurting
and feeling lost. But I was in no mood to hear a lecture about my
supposed
shortcomings in how I dealt with emotional trauma."
While much of the story reviews his life
with Mandy and their family challenges together, the story also
presents many
absorbing insights into the growth that emerges from loss and change.
The memoir's most powerful messages are
couched in this process of realization and evolution, making To Where
You Are a powerful illustration
of navigating grief, change, and life: "Guilt
is also a powerful obstacle to overcome. You do not have to feel guilty
for
moving forward with your life when and where you are ready to do so.
Guilt can
paralyze even the most determined people dealing with grief or trauma
and
trying to heal. It lurks unnoticed in your daily thoughts but thrives
in a
mindset where the person grieving cannot bear the thought of how their
life has
changed. However, having an attitude of moving forward means you can
acknowledge the past, remember the circumstances, and honor your loved
ones,
but you don’t have to let guilt or grief dictate your future happiness."
Libraries strong in memoirs about parenting
special needs kids, and grief, will find that To
Where You Are deserves a place not just on bookshelves, but
as a
focal point in discussion groups about any of these topics.
Return to Index
Crux
Robert Hamilton
Independently
Published
979-8411657005
$23.76 Hardcover/$12.99
Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Crux-Chilling-Political-Thriller-Cautionary/dp/B09VWK21DJ
It's unusual to find a political and supernatural thriller so intrinsically woven into current issues about the fabric of American society that its fiction bleeds into a cautionary nonfiction tale, but Robert Hamilton's Crux: A Country That Cannot Feed Its People and Its Animals Will Fall represents such an achievement.
Its saga of race, food security, violence and prejudice from religious and social circles alike, and the vulnerability of the American food supply chain provides a powerful story that holds many insights, perspectives, and warnings for modern-day readers concerned about this nation's trajectory.
Readers who choose the story for its political and supernatural thriller elements won't be disappointed.
The tale adopts a nonstop staccato, action-filled atmosphere as a series of catastrophes force veterinarian Dr. Thomas Pickett to move beyond his experience and objectives to become an active force in effecting change in America.
How (and why) does a vet become involved in political scenarios? As Dr. Pickett becomes entangled in pork issues, kill pens, and a wider battle than that against animal cruelty, readers are carried into a thought-provoking scenario in which personal and environmental disasters change his upward trajectory with his new wife and their homestead.
As Dr. Pickett is called on stage to testify about his beliefs and the Hand of God indicates his life and involvements will never be the same, readers receive a story replete in many social, spiritual, and political inquiries that lead to thought-provoking reflections and insights.
True miracles and false gods are considered as he navigates unfamiliar territory of the heart, soul, and mind, coming to understand that his unique role as a vet and a caring, evolving individual can make a difference in the role America plays both domestically and in the world.
At this point, it should be noted that Crux is replete in symbolism and discussions surrounding such diverse subjects as the ironic interlinked approaches of and connections between left and right forces in modern America; Biblical events; and the interactions between and abuses of relationships, which are akin to Shakespearian dramas whose close inspections of individuals connect to bigger-picture thinking about the nation as a whole.
One example of Biblical connections occurs when Pickett and the 21 create the “Ark” to feed America when the calamitous winter strikes. Such references, often subtle but always thought-provoking, will require close reading to identify and thoroughly understand their presence and meaning.
There are also enlightening and controversial inspections in Crux that are designed to challenge the mind with unusual associations, such as that between the social analysis behind the classic Uncle Tom's Cabin and this thriller's struggle.
These elements ultimately provide much food for thought about Christian beliefs and values and the core issues of racism which lie at the heart of so many struggles, yet are misunderstood and misrepresented on many levels today.
From the Vice President's involvement in a national security crisis to the efforts to return the country to "its true Christian foundations," Robert Hamilton examines the crux of good intentions and beliefs gone awry and the true paths of those who link their personal beliefs with a changing political scenario.
Whose side is God on, anyway?
These and other questions make Crux not just a highly recommended read for its political thriller components, but a powerful social and spiritual examination that contains messages that deserve to be inspected, debated, and absorbed by book clubs and a broad audience of concerned American citizens.
How do you reach hearts and minds? By producing a story that holds entertainment value and educational revelations alike. That's why libraries need to not only include Crux in their collections, but highlight it as a pivot point for discussions steeped in social, religious, and political examination.
There is a bad storm coming. Crux is not just a riveting story, but a possible portent of a future America operating in the hands of a dangerous, attractive demagogue.
It doesn't matter whether the reader of Crux is liberal or conservative, Christian or secular. The message and impact hold the same thought-provoking ability to hold up a mirror of social, political, and personal inspection. Beyond its entertainment value, Crux offers a powerful light of racial examination that ideally will be used as debate material within book clubs and groups interested in social inspection.
CruxReturn to Index
Deadly
Motives
Ann Girdharry
Independently Published
978-0993560255
$3.99 digital, $12.99 paperback, $17 Audible
Ordering: www.amazon.com/dp/B09BKWZ4KB
Website: www.girdharry.com
Deadly Motives provides the first murder
mystery in a multi-book
series about Detective Grant and his new recruit, crime profiler Ruby.
It
introduces their first case, which involves the brutal strangling of
hospital
nurse Mandy Jones and a perp that Grant has engaged with before.
Detective Inspector Grant has his hands full,
between
Ruby's purposeful desire to stay low-key in the investigation and a
murder that
at first seems cut-and-dried, but proves to be different on many levels.
Between his colleague's closely guarded secrets
and
the perp's ability to stay one step ahead of his investigation,
everything is
up in the air.
Ann Girdharry presents a delightfully evocative
murder
mystery that features desperate stories, desperate measures, and
secrets that
affect the investigation from different angles. She is especially adept
at
following three characters whose intersected lives and purposes
contribute
disparate personal influences to the case.
Dialogue, interpersonal reactions, and twists
and
turns are all realistically portrayed and satisfyingly involving,
keeping
readers on their toes and engaged in the lives of perp and
investigators alike.
As the special interests of each character
blend with
past and present history and challenges, readers are treated to a story
nicely
steeped in psychological revelation and inspection.
There is nothing predictable about the
different
motives that drive each individual and nothing staid about the choices
they
make, which affect not only each other, but themselves.
The result is a story line nicely focussed on
psychological revelation, keeping readers thoroughly engrossed and
guessing to
the end.
Mystery libraries that look for exceptional
psychological attention to detail will find
Deadly Motives a
winning
acquisition.
Return to Index
Donkey
Show
Stephen Baker
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-299-1
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Donkey
Show pairs
a love story with a tale of
international intrigue. It will attract suspense readers who like their
action
firmly cemented in interpersonal relationships that respond to
adversity and
opportunity beyond singular goals.
Now
imagine
these events taking place during a 10-minute survey of a newsroom
milieu. The
social, political, and psychological dilemmas faced by a host of
characters
create a story surprising in its depth and coverage: "The
chief described Onofre Crispín and other entrepreneurs like
him as a great modernizing force along the border. They were men, he
said, who
owed nothing to the PRI. “These are the people who are bringing North
American
civilization south into Mexico. And I’m not talking only about foreign
investment. They are also introducing new political ideas in Mexico.
Many of
them, you know, are members of PAN, the Party of Acción
Nacional.”
“But it seems like
the president is leading
this revolution, and he’s with the PRI,” Harley said.
The chief nodded gravely. “But in his heart
he’s a Panista.”
From
local
shootings and journalistic wild goose chases pursuing the truth to
convoluted
relationships between Pascal, Jiménez, Harley (and an investigation
that draws
them each from their disparate lives and experiences), Donkey
Show represents a wry and witty slice of life survey that
operates on different levels. This will attract readers interested in
more than
just an action story packed with political intrigue.
As
a crime
thriller, Donkey Show holds an
instant attraction. But it would be a shame to limit its audience to
suspense
readers alone. Those who look for multifaceted stories that traverse
and
contrast different social and cultural borders will find Donkey
Show replete in inspections and opinions that are steeped in
moral and ethical dilemmas.
The
resulting
intersection of a probe of drug lords with a romance story will attract
novel
readers looking for a read that's satisfyingly unexpected, diverse, and
compelling.
Return to Index
The
Friday Night
Mystery Club
Joanna Campbell
Slan
Spot On
Publishing
Independently
Published
979-8469766247
$14.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
http://www.JoannaSlan.com
Fans of amateur sleuth mysteries know the
drill: a non-problem-solver is pulled into intrigue and, despite a lack
of
knowledge, manages to use innate abilities to both solve the mystery
and enter
the world of the neo-professional P.I.
The
Friday Night Mystery Club assumes these trappings, but adds a layer
of personal angst as new divorcee Cragan Collins is left with
overwhelming
bills, a grandmother to support, and the mandate to take a job as a
newspaper
ad salesman to eek by.
A
new friend
(business reporter Robert Smithson) seems to portend new beginnings,
but when
he's murdered, Cragan feels compelled to enter the fray of solving his
death.
But,
not alone.
Unlike
other
murder mysteries, she's backed by a disparate force of individuals who
participate in the Friday Night Mystery Club. This membership brings
with it an
effective force of fellow wannabe sleuths eager to use their disparate
abilities to tackle questions that have stymied the pros.
Another
plus to
the strong subplots in this story lies in the focus on newspaper
politics and
interactions behind the scenes as Cragan's job dovetails with her
newfound
mission in unusual ways.
From
the
unexpected new experience of being shot at to having her home shot out
from
under her (it will be sold to make way for apartments), Cragan finds
nearly
every facet in her life in flux—including her health. Only her
membership in
the Mystery Club seems rock-solid and reliable.
Joanna
Campbell
Slan creates a fascinating story that juxtaposes a murder mystery with
the
daily onslaught of personal life crises Cragan faces simultaneously.
Cragan's
first-person story captures the resilience with which she tackles life
issues
with a pragmatic approach inherited from her grandmother: "I turned the
key in the ignition. What would I do
if the test
came back positive? Who would take care of my grandmother? Who would
take care
of me? I would deal with that if and when it happened. As Granny used
to say,
'No use borrowing a cup of trouble.' In the meantime, there were more
immediate
concerns to deal with, things I had a modicum of control over."
As
different
lines of thought emerge about the murder's timing and the possible
influences
of inheritance, Cragan's ability to pivot on a dime between her
friend's
mysterious killer and the motivations behind her own life choices makes
for a
realistic standout that embraces the notion that mystery and personal
growth
can occur at the same time. Slan's added dose of humor and realistic
portrait
of the milieu and characters of 1986 Decatur, Illinois are also
well-done
pluses that make this book an evocative standout in the cozy mystery
genre.
The
P.I. is thus
tasked with living her life while summoning the energy for ongoing
questions
that often dovetail with her ambitions. The reader of The
Friday Night Mystery Club is tasked with enjoying Cragan's
ride
through too many possibilities and some unexpected answers as the story
brings
everything together in a satisfying gift of intrigue that ultimately
questions
the roots and intentions of family definitions and connections.
Libraries
strong
in murder mysteries and interpersonal relationships will love the
powerful
presence of both in The Friday Night
Mystery Club.
Return to Index
The King-Makers of Providence
John Houle
Bookpress Publishing
978-1-947305-37-3
$27.95 Hardcover
www.BookpressPublishing.com
The King-Makers of
Providence
will delight thriller audiences who appreciate political intrigue
injected into
the story line. It opens with the bang of Henry Mercucio's candid
revelation
that his political choices are "...not
burdened by personal conviction...” Confessing this at a
funeral is not his
brightest move, but Henry is driven by interests that go beyond moral
and
ethical norms.
He fits in well in a world of corruption in
Providence, where "...politics was a
blood sport. It was not uncommon for nomination papers to mysteriously
disappear from the Board of Elections or for political yard signs to be
defaced
with profanities. The destruction of political enemies by any means
necessary
was as alive in twenty-first-century Providence as it had been in
fourteenth-century Florence."
Having set the scene early in the story,
John Houle progresses to a vivid series of conundrums in which Rhode
Island's
political scene serves as a microcosm of clashes between old school
thinking
and new political processes. The
King-Makers of Providence explores the deadly outcomes of
such conflicts.
As information is leaked, damage control
instigated, and rock-solid connections (even those firmly rooted in
love, such
as his relationship with Lindsay) begin to dissolve, Henry finds
himself
navigating a storm of personal and political contention that reaches
well
beyond Rhode Island's shores to affect political decisions, upcoming
races, and
attempts to return honor to the mayor's sullied office.
As a political consultant (nee lawyer),
Henry has always cloaked his activities in the guise of operating
behind the
scenes. But, secretly, he's always wanted to be a more active political
operative, influencing others as special influences and powers direct.
It all boils down to a vote that Henry may
ultimately not be able to influence...one that challenges every aspect
of his
job, his personal life, and his political involvements.
John Houle does a fine job of integrating a
political thriller format into an exploration of the personal life of
an
influencer who finds his professional aspirations thwarted by the
processes of
this latest election.
As events unfold, the tension is well-done
on both social and personal playing fields, bringing readers who may
have
little experience (or prior interest) in New England politics or
operations
into a riveting Rhode Island world that both educates and proves as
captivating
as the action.
As politics begins to pull Henry's life to
pieces, he must decide where his loyalties lie and who his real friends
are. He
struggles to recreate his life and obtain peace in the face of
Congressman
McNally's influence and objectives.
Those who enjoy more than a light dose of
political insider detail within a thriller format that moves through
cat-and-mouse games and different layers of political special interests
will
find The King-Makers of Providence
thoroughly engrossing.
All that's required from readers is a basic
interest in political processes, morals and ethics, and an appreciation
for
thriller formats that bring all these elements and associated dilemmas
to life.
Such defines The King-Makers of
Providence.
Return to Index
The Mill
Cailyn Lloyd
Land of Oz LLC
ASIN: B09LMQSN5M
$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Mill-Cailyn-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B09LMQSN5M
Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle wrote: "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever
remains, no matter
how improbable, must be the truth."
The Mill
will attract readers who like thrillers that include supernatural
elements. It
embraces Doyle's observation, following psychic Lili's revelations as
she moves
into a renovated paper mill, only to discover that its prior residents
never
left.
These aren't your ordinary, staid ghosts.
They include human and ghostly threats, from a serial killer who prowls
the
place and is involved in a series of escalating murders to spirits who
were his
victims, and who seek revenge and resolution in order to move on.
As Lili faces increasing mysteries she
"has no hope of fathoming" and probes the facts surrounding Emma
Kiekhafer, a girl who died in an industrial accident in 1894, she
becomes
increasingly involved in convoluted connections between past and
present
circumstances of death that turns her new home into a battlefield.
Will her choices and actions lead to
resolution, or result in the killer's going underground, not to be
found until
he strikes again?
Cailyn Lloyd creates a powerful
juxtaposition of murder mystery and police procedural which moves
between
Lili's perceptions and Chase Riddell's pursuits and misogynistic
attitudes
towards women: "Another thing men
did better. They could easily pretend to be women. For women to pretend
to be
male? Ha! The voice, the stature? They couldn’t do it. No wonder they
were
determined to force equality. They’d never earn it. They were worthless
beyond
their basic biological function as brood mares."
As investigator Martin works with Lili
despite his initial skepticism, changing beliefs turn into something
different
for both of them.
Lloyd's focus on changing realities,
relationships, and revelations makes The
Mill a fresh genre read that mystery enthusiasts will relish.
Can a ghost have a mental disorder?
Lili is about to find out.
So are her readers, who embark on an
unexpected roller coaster of possibilities that is filled with
satisfying
twists and turns throughout. Mystery and supernatural fiction audiences
are in
for a thought-provoking treat.
Return to Index
Monday
Morning
Blues
Joanna Campbell
Slan
Spot On
Publishing
Independently
Published
979-8433917958
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
http://www.JoannaSlan.com
Book
2 in the
Friday Night Mystery Club series may be read independently of Book One,
but
those who imbibe its winning story will surely want to read the
introduction to
1980s divorcee Cragan Collins, who finds herself involved in a spider's
web of
friendships and lies.
Monday
Morning Blues
carries this theme a step further as Cragan
attempts to help fellow saleswoman Margo, only to find that, once
again, she
has been on the receiving side of a pack of lies about her friend's
life and
involvements.
She
also may
inadvertently know a truth that causes Margo's attacker to come after
her at
the same time as she is being pursued not by other adversaries, but by
potential love interests.
Both
at work and
in her side pursuits, Cragan is continually caught in the crossfire as
she
works to solve the mystery but finds that her efforts often operate at
cross
purposes to her intentions.
From
the
atmosphere of 1980s Decatur, Illinois to Cragan's hard work in a job
populated
by men who harbor different perceptions of what a female worker can do,
Slan
populates her mystery with the kinds of real-world social situations
and
interpersonal relationship conundrums that keep the story lively and
engrossing
beyond intrigue alone.
It
helps that
Cragan's world is presented in the first person, capturing this milieu
through
her eyes as she struggles both personally and professionally to make an
impact
and a difference.
Her
candid
assessments of her life and career are especially astute observations:
"Yakky knew the end was near. Not
surprisingly, our boss blamed his sales reps for his downfall. He took
his
wrath out on us. To hear him talk, we’d let him down. We’d
underperformed and
embarrassed him. It was our fault he was being sacrificed to the great
Gods of
newsprint. The fact that our numbers were up made no difference. What’s
the
truth when a man has invested in a lie? It’s a casualty, that’s all."
The
result is a
hard-hitting and evocative cozy mystery that, like its predecessor,
carries
readers into the 1980s and the life of a hard-working woman who
problem-solves
on many levels.
As
her
friendships evolve and her abilities grow, readers receive a moving
story of
changing relationships that operates on a satisfying faster level than
The Friday Night Mystery Club. This will
especially please those who look for faster-paced mysteries packed with
action.
Monday
Morning Blues
is a vivid story that will appeal to
working women, cozy mystery fans, and those who want a sense of place
and
people embedded in their intrigue. Filled with suspense and puzzles,
it's
highly recommended for libraries looking for superior cozy mysteries to
build
an exemplary, diverse collection.
Return to Index
One Gun
Vinnie Hansen
Misterio Press
978-1-947287-25-9
$14.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
www.vinniehansen.com
One Gun
illustrates that firearms and violence can change everything. An
attempted home
burglary goes awry when residents Vivi and Ben Russo return home to
catch the
thief in the act.
Ben pursues the fleeing robber and the thief
pulls a gun—but not the trigger. He's captured...but not before he
hides the
weapon. The weapon is important because proof of its existence can add
a decade
onto a burglary conviction, so the thief has as vested an interest in
keeping
it hidden as Ben and Vivi have in locating the gun.
Why the avid pursuit when the thief didn't
get the money or kill anybody? Vinnie Hansen evolves a compelling
cat-and-mouse
game as perp, victims, and those caught inbetween find themselves on
different
roads to either obtaining or concealing evidence and the truth.
One Gun
is especially involving because its basic premise blossoms a series of
confrontations and events that reach beyond the initial characters to
involve
the community and all ages in a growing conundrum.
Even yoga and attempts to reconcile truth
with reality encounter challenges, in this engaging scenario: "She set
her intention for class: be
present. Not so easy. They had a gun to find and she’d possibly
fingered the
wrong person to the sheriff’s deputy. Plus, whenever she became still,
her
mother’s absence visited. And had she made the right choice to retire?"
Readers won't expect the new age flavor that
steeps the mystery with an unanticipated atmosphere, but Hansen's story
excels
in the unexpected: “Satya is about
truth,” Winn said. The word satya sifted down into the room with the
dust
motes. But she didn’t feel like a vessel open to catch truth. She felt
untruthful, not having mentioned her husband to Winn, and not having
told Ben
her secret. Her heart chakra, the anahata
chakra, was full, but the vishudda chakra, the throat chakra, clamped
shut like
a floodgate. It had been that way since she could remember. A shy child
by
nature intimidated by older brothers."
The result is much more than a story about
guns, violence, or a search for justice on different levels.
"What if there’d been no gun? A
different narrative."
What if a library passes on acquiring One Gun? A
different collection, because
this story delights with its philosophical, spiritual, and
psychological twists
as much as its crime inspection, giving crime story readers a
satisfyingly
surprising read that operates on many different playing fields.
Return to Index
Platform
Shoes
Linda Watkins
Argon Press
978-1-944815-18-9
$.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Platform-Shoes-Steve-Daniels-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09WRWJ4FB
"...more
often than not, I’d be jarred
awake by the hollow sound of a pair of platform shoes echoing loudly
across the
wooden floor of an empty courtroom. And each time I had this dream, the
sound
they made became louder and closer."
When
an Army
pilot is shot down and wounded during the war in 1943, he finds himself
back in
Texas facing a very different kind of adversary: the commandant's wife,
who is
beautiful and more deadly than a bullet. Platform
Shoes combines a murder mystery with a World War II backdrop
in an unusual
move that makes for a riveting, realistic historical thriller.
The
story opens
in April of 1943, when the thirty-one-year-old Army captain is en route
to his
new assignment in the Air Corps. Linda Watkins chooses the first person
to
capture the perspective of Steve Daniels, who is on his way to a
teaching assignment
after being grounded from his flight duties.
Steve
didn't
expect himself to be on a witness stand giving testimony in the future.
Nor did
he anticipate the tangled web of deceit, intrigue, and danger that
evolves from
the relationships which seem to fall into his lap, or the murder that
draws him
into a milieu just as dangerous as the war.
Watkins
does an
outstanding job of capturing the atmosphere and backdrop of these
times,
weaving Steve's life into a journey that moves from Texas to Los
Angeles and
Hawaii.
His
investigations and efforts to clear his name lead him into
possibilities that
redefine his world and his ideas of it: "I
wondered if this island was a magnet for people who wanted to
disappear, but
wanted to do so in luxury. How many other Kathys lived here? Women
who’d killed
their husbands and framed their boyfriends for the deed?"
His
fate remains
up in the air for much of the story, yet Watkins creates an
investigative
thriller that holds many twists and turns as Steve reaches for a truth
that is
more complex than anything he (or the reader) could have initially
imagined.
The
result is a
satisfying blend of murder mystery, thriller, and hard-boiled detective
story
that traverses different milieus to bring the 1940s to life in a
different way.
Readers
who
enjoy mysteries steeped in historical backdrops will welcome the
opportunity to
enjoy both in the immersive discovery that is Platform
Shoes, which represents and captures noir
fiction at its best.
Return to Index
The
Secret Field
Susan Dennis
Atmosphere Press
978-1639882601
$15.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
www.atmospherepress.com
The
Secret Field
is a story of mystery and suspense that
sends its readers on a heart-pounding romp through rural isolation and
trauma.
It examines the choices that bring loner Kari Bell to eschew
normal
small-town connections in favor of an isolated refuge on a rundown
ranch.
Over forty years old, Kari seems unlikely to
change, until circumstances force her into the limelight of a situation
that
holds uncommon danger as a treasure hunt points to the goal as being
literally
under her feet.
"What
are you willing do to save the thing you love most, right fucking now?"
A
life-or-death
encounter between her beloved dog Dragonbear and another canine
encapsulates
the broader question that becomes her life as Kari becomes entangled in
land
rights, easements, Reggie Raintree's dogged pursuit of an elusive
treasure, and
the question of what she will do to preserve her life.
While
The Secret Field is marketed as a
mystery and thriller, to call it a genre read alone would be to do it a
grave
disservice. As much on the line as a fortune is the physical and
psychological
life of a woman who has achieved her own goal of a fragile peace that
teeters
on the brink of insolvency due to Reggie's mission.
Susan
Dennis
creates a fine contrast in life experiences, perspectives, and
motivations to
bring Kari's world to life with rich inspections and twists and turns
that mark
a mystery steeped in psychological inspections.
At
every turn,
the story asks questions of its readers about credibility,
perseverance, and
lifestyle values. A wide cast of characters are introduced who add
their own
special interests to Kari's life, embracing and expanding it in unusual
ways
she never could have predicted as outcomes in her isolated world.
"Kari’s
first thought was about
thinking outside of the box for a way to save them all." This description of events that keep Kari
both motivated and evolving may also be said of her readers, who will
find
their expectations of a whodunit satisfyingly challenged by the rich
depth of
inspection cultivated in The Secret Field.
All
the
trappings of a fine thriller are there: Russians, mail-order brides,
dog-killers, bribery, and court proceedings. The overlay of insights
into
manipulation, isolation, and the results of a determination to survive
against
all odds make The Secret Field highly
recommended not just for thriller readers, but for libraries and book
clubs
seeking discussion material about love, home, and the real values in
life
pursuits.
Return to Index
Shade
H.N. Hirsch
Pisgah Press,
LLC
978-1-942016-68-7
$22.95
www.pisgahpress.com
Blend
atmospheric academic politics at Harvard University with a murder that
rocks a
New England community and explores the gay lifestyle operating beneath
its
veneer of conservatism for a sense of the different approach that Shade
cultivates.
Shade is a murder mystery that features an
unlikely investigator in the form of Assistant Professor Marcus George,
a
young, gay faculty member who becomes involved in investigating the
murder of
one of his former students, the son of a wealthy family.
H.N.
Hirsch's
ability to capture the mercurial mystery in a way that will grab the
attention
of mystery and general-interest audiences alike is evident from the
opening
lines of the story: "At first he did
not think it would be anything, just a quick meal with a former
student. He
didn’t know a young life was about to end, or that his own life was, in
a way,
just beginning."
Marcus
is trying
to represent the serious, scholarly atmosphere of Harvard University,
despite
his youth. His vested interest in the outcome of an unusual murder
draws him
into other realms that seem to conflict with his image and desire to
project
it, as Hirsch builds the story.
The
issues
introduced by lifestyle and culture permeate this story, from
relationships
between disparate age groups to the culture of an Ivy League college
community
in New England.
All
these
elements add more depth to the story than the usual whodunit, delving
into
matters of social and political conflict as well as crime and discovery.
The
relationship
between Marcus and his partner Bob is explored as well, lending
psychological
depth to a series of encounters that test and grow the characters in
different
ways, both within and outside of academic circles.
Hirsch
is
particularly adept at taking the time to capture the atmosphere of a
changing
world in which the AIDS epidemic is ravaging the gay community even as
daily
lives are pursued: "They ordered
dinner, leg of lamb. It was tender and subtly spiced, and they devoured
it.
Marcus realized he hadn’t eaten much at the faculty club; Bob had had a
yogurt
for lunch at his desk. After dinner they walked slowly home. It was
chilly; the
cold, wet, interminable Boston winter was definitely on its way, but
there
wasn’t much wind that evening and it was still pleasant strolling
outside. They
bumped into a few of Marcus’s undergraduates, two of whom stopped to
chat.
Marcus introduced Bob as his partner, the word gay men had started to
use
instead of “lover,” which now sounded vaguely obscene as the epidemic
was
raging. Neither of them were entirely comfortable with the word
“partner,” which
made them sound like they were in business together, but they didn’t
fight the
trend."
Describing
Shade as a "murder mystery"
alone does it an injustice. Many social and psychological observations
come
hand in hand with the story of this professor's developing
relationships as
well as his pursuit of the truth. Few books would tackle the conundrum
presented by the outcome of a murder probe that reveals forces of
corruption
alongside the draw of a love destined to change everything.
These
elements
set Shade apart from most other
murder mysteries, giving it a boost that makes it highly recommended
not just
for mystery readers, but for those interested in the culture and
special
social, political, and psychological challenges of members of the gay
community
in 1980s New England.
Return to Index
White Gold
Micheal E. Jimerson
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-305-9
$15.99 Paper/$5.99 Digital
www.atmospherepress.com
Fans
of Westerns
and detective and mystery stories will find this combination
refreshingly
different and well-represented in White
Gold.
As
a Texas
Ranger with a son in Afghanistan, E.J. Kane has always opted
for being on
the side of the law. When his son is killed, E.J. finds his marriage,
his
career, and his convictions dissolving. The lure of grief is
irresistible as
subsequent bad decisions and new associations land him in territory
both
unfamiliar and frighteningly recognizable, albeit from a different
perspective.
As
his
daughter's drug addiction leads to her becoming involved in sex
trafficking and
his new lover, businesswoman Widow Welchel, represents a scheme
involving
'white gold', E.J. walks a dangerous road in attempting to get his life
(or, at
least, his morals) back on track.
Fans
of intrigue
and suspense stories will find plenty of both in a plot that pulls
heartstrings
and tests the reader's problem-solving abilities on E.J.'s behalf. E.J.
navigates a milieu in which his poor choices of the past immerse him in
situations he might not be able to escape from, himself, much less
rescuing
anyone else.
E.J.'s
probe
into what really happened reveals a dangerous force and conspiracy that
threatens more than just his life as killings continue to rock
everything
around him, testing his moral code.
Micheal E. Jimerson pays special attention
to E.J.'s emotional changes and challenges as he navigates unfamiliar
waters,
struggles with his misery and grief, and acknowledges good times of the
past
(and even a few present-day). All these revelations contribute to a
reset of
his purposes and perspectives, bringing readers along for an engrossing
story
of intrigue laced with personal growth.
White Gold
is more than a plot about problem-solving, conspiracies, or redemption.
Beneath
its fast-paced action lies a heart of personal inspection and social
and legal
conflicts that dovetail to create an involving tale, whether it takes
place in
the courtroom, on the street, or in E.J.'s conflicted heart.
Readers of suspense, detective, and social
issues stories will find these are strong threads that pull one into
the story
to provide unexpected twists as E.J. comes to new realizations about
his place
in the world and his impact on both personal and public life.
White Gold's
multifaceted draw makes it a strong recommendation for contemporary
fiction
libraries looking for genre-crossing standouts.
Return to Index
A Wrinkle in the Mind
Bruce M. Perrin
Mind Sleuth Publications
978-1-955114-04-2
$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Wrinkle-Mind-Sleuth-ebook/dp/B09W3432DZ
A Wrinkle in the Mind adds
to the Mind Sleuth series and tells how P.I. Rebecca Marte finds her
latest
case complicated by politics and a conspiracy theory that may be all
too real.
Violet Cruz is accused of shooting a U.S.
representative in the midst of a delusion. The trouble is: her
impossible
rationale for attempted murder may have its roots in an equally
unlikely
reality.
Rebecca teams up with psychologist
consultant Sam “Doc” Price, and together they prove a formidable team
as they
struggle to understand Violet's influences and their underlying
political and
criminal meaning.
The timeline for their investigation is
short and is labeled in chapters that move from April 6th to April
20th. As Rebecca
interviews Violet's family and associates and begins to piece together
a puzzle
centered upon impossible circumstances, she and Sam experience their
own break
as their methodology and belief systems clash.
Bruce M. Perrin is especially adept at exploring
the process of their dissolution and contrasting their different
responses and
options through this dilemma. As high tech answers enter the bigger
picture to
pose even more unexpected dilemmas that reach from Violet's perceptions
and
choices to taint Rebecca and Sam's world, readers will especially
appreciate
the unexpected twists and turns that keep the thriller edgy and
delightfully
unpredictable.
Will Sam's changing personality and
perceptions warp their relationship forever?
Perrin is also adept at moving the story
from an assassination attempt to how the PI and her sidekick themselves
find
the same types of influences changing their lives and approaches to
problem-solving.
This highlights a unique set of issues that
move beyond a political thriller's focus on motivation and conspiracies
into
the realm of high-tech intrigue.
Whether readers are newcomers to the Mind
Sleuth series or prior fans of Perrin's works, both audiences will find
A Wrinkle in the Mind a satisfying
blend
of political, psychological, and technological intrigue that draws
attention
and attracts on different levels.
Its strong characters and ability to move
from a mystery to an interpersonal conundrum makes for a story that is
especially powerful in its interpersonal inspections: "All
she wanted was for him to see her and not the past or a
man-made apparition."
Return to Index
Yesterday Calling
Steven W. Horn
Granite Peak Press
978-0-9991248-8-8
$29.95 Hardcover/$16.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.granitepeakpress.com
Mystery readers (especially those who have
followed the adventures of Sam Dawson in prior stories) are in for a
treat with
Yesterday Calling, which continues
to
follow Sam's personal and professional evolution as he grapples with
choices
made in youth that, in his fifties, come back to haunt him.
Valentina Thompson is dead. A phone call
brings his mind to the past, when he was sixteen and attracted to an
older,
married woman. His choices led to trouble then, and they've come back
to plague
him and his daughter Sidney now as vengeful husband Hank Thompson
devises a
series of deadly encounters designed to make Sam pay for his past
indiscretions.
As Sam and Sidney face a clever psychopath
on the rampage, their lives become entangled with Sam's professional
outlook,
his personal choices, and the present-day threat that tracks their
movements
with a deft talent for kidnapping, assault, and framing Sam in a way
that
alienates him from his daughter: "Sidney’s
cold indifference was palpable in the days that followed. She, too, was
a
victim of Thompson’s assault. Kidnapped, betrayed, and half-orphaned,
she had
seemingly lost hope. Once again she blamed her father. Sam’s grief, on
the
other hand, had turned to anger."
More so than most mysteries, Steven W.
Horn's Sam Dawson stories rest on explorations of personal culpability,
guilt,
and growth to offer just as many satisfying psychological interplays as
they do
intrigue.
Yesterday Calling's
special skill in moving between past and present events, psyches, and
interactions creates a link between various facets of Sam's life that
prove
just as inviting and compelling as the underlying murder mystery that
makes Sam
a suspect.
As readers traverse the process by which he
becomes alienated from his daughter and falls under the predatory spell
of
someone who might prove to be his greatest adversary, they will be
fascinated
not just by the intrigue, but by the psychological cat-and-mouse game
Horn
spins between all the characters.
The result is a compelling story that
attracts on many different levels, both flushing out Sam Dawson's
checkered
past and approach to conflict and providing a satisfying new mystery
accessible
to newcomers and prior fans alike. It's highly recommended as either a
stand-alone
mystery or for prior fans of Sam Dawson's life, and will find a home in
any
library strong in mysteries featuring strong psychological depth and
intrigue
alike.
Return to Index
Acts of Atonement
S.W. Leicher
Twisted Road Publications
978-1940189-30-7
$19.95
https://www.amazon.com/Acts-Atonement-S-Leicher-ebook/dp/B09TMFBVHV
Acts
of Atonement is the story
of two women, Serach
Gottesman and Paloma
Rodriguez, who sever very different family ties to build a life
together.
Freed from the repressive
Orthodox views of her family, Serach has kept her distance from all
except her
beloved brother, who has not only rejected her, but moved to Jerusalem
to start
a family far from home and become a yeshiva teacher.
In contrast, Paloma's family in
the South Bronx is not entirely unsupportive and absent. She's kept and
cultivated a relationship with her older brother Manny and his family.
When strife and loss hits them
all, religion and family unexpectedly emerge from the chaos to lend the
couple
strength and the ability to reconsider freedom and oppression and their
wellsprings in not just family, but society as a whole.
As
the story evolves, community
insights, prejudices, and connections come to light as Serach and
Paloma embark
on different journeys affected by the beliefs and language of their
changing
society: “But they frightened him, all
those Spanish people. All those goyim.”
From Jewish synagogues
and rites to the foundations of faith and love, S.W. Leicher deftly crafts a landscape in
which kindness and forgiveness too often only emerge after violence and
loss.
Embedded
with compelling character profiles that
represent changing
times, faiths, and perceptions of the world, Acts
of Atonement closely examines religious and cultural
principles and
the love that ultimately guides the couple both from within and away
from their
upbringing and basic perceptions of right and wrong.
Replete with these
transformation moments and the challenges which overlay them, Acts of
Atonement is filled with
powerful insights and revelations: "In
the week since Asher’s birth, he had discovered a baby’s near-magical
power to
bring things into perspective—to provide an ineffable sense of solace
and
fulfillment."
It's
a novel highly recommended for Jewish fiction
libraries, readers of
multicultural experience and family interactions, and LGBTQ holdings
interested
in strong stories of relationship evolution and change on a broader
scale than
most fiction explores.
Return to Index
Alondra
A.L. Hawke
Independently Published
978-1-953919-18-2
$11.99 Paper/$3.99 Ebook
www.alhawke.com
Paranormal romance readers looking for just
the right blend of intrigue and emotional draw will find Alondra
an exceptional story that follows protagonist Liam into an
unusual relationship with a Goth girl who lives up to her role in
unexpected
ways.
Liam didn't expect to be attracted to Allie.
She's very different from anything he's encountered in his world
before. But as
he becomes involved with her and comes to realize she is the real thing
(in
more ways than one), he is introduced to not just romance, but events
that defy
his set concepts of what the world is and how to navigate it.
As he moves from a "friendless
freshman" in college with a crush on a girl (which he's never acted on)
to
a participant in events that defy logic, from ghost hunters to witches
and
different forms of magic, Lee finds the compelling allure of Alondra
something he
can't resist.
Sexual scenes are graphic. The romance is
recommended for mature teens into adults, and holds attractions beyond
physical
experience as Lee and Allie tackle forces of evil with an uncertain
brand of
good intentions and bad experiences. Dating a witch is rough on other
facets of
life; especially those connected with the normal world.
A.L. Hawke creates an intriguing story that
departs from the usual formula read of a paranormal romance to enter
into
realms of coming-of-age, growth, and empowerment as a self-professed
nerd who
doesn't quite fit in finds himself unexpectedly connected to a vibrant
young
witch who awakens not just his own powers, but different perceptions of
who he
is in the world.
This focus on revised purposes, perceptions,
and psychological growth adds a dynamic element to the story that will
especially please readers interested in stories of empowerment and
growth.
Yes, paranormal romance readers will find it
holds all the trappings of love...but presented in a medley of
experiences that
question the roots of good, evil, and what lies between them.
Libraries strong in paranormal romances and
coming-of-age fiction for adults will find Alondra
more than a cut above the ordinary, filled with thought-provoking
twists and
turns that create a satisfyingly unique take on the genre.
Return to Index
Belinda
Mark Zvonkovic
Dos Perro Publishing
978-1-7352751-4-7
$16.99
https://www.markzvonkovic.com
Belinda tells
the story of Belinda Larkin. It opens in 2017 Texas, where this
workaholic
lawyer, long married to her job, begins to experience ennui and
dissatisfaction
with her life decisions. She is now sixty, and her firm is pressuring
her to
submit her retirement schedule plans for easing away from the company.
The law her been her life. What would she do
without it?
Belinda faces boredom on personal and
professional levels as the rising tide of wanting something different
begins to
overwhelm her innate desire to fight retirement and the dead-end it
portends.
Contrast her perspective with that of Jay
Jackson, who grew up on a Texas ranch and who once was a powerful
lawyer—and a
spy. Now he's a cowboy who never looks back. Jay found it easy to leave
the
profession. His life and lessons could serve as a blueprint for
Belinda's later
years—if she would listen. Jay's world is as far from her life as one
can get,
and he harbors his own sage reflections about the legal profession:
"Practicing law, he’d told his partners,
was worse than kicking shit around a pasture. His partners were
probably still
kicking shit at each other."
It's time for his next phase of life, too:
returning home to run the family ranch and retiring from the Agency,
his spy
firm/handler.
But, can one truly turn one's back on
success?
Belinda and Jay's trajectories collide in
different ways as each strives to name and tame their restlessness with
choices
that reinforce an end game that neither wishes to admit is on the
horizon.
"Good deals are often
built on compromise."
As Belinda and Jay face unpredictable
concessions over their own futures that send them on very different
paths than
they'd imagined, readers will thoroughly enjoy a story steeped in later
life
conundrums and the pull of careers which are difficult to release.
Mark Zvonkovic excels in portraying and
contrasting the profiles of these disparate individuals. The
psychological
explorations are exquisite examples of how a novel can address and
immerse
readers in life issues while spinning a fine yarn of intrigue and
change.
As a legal case and active surveillance
draws these and other characters into a conundrum that challenges their
professional skills and personal growth, Zvonkovic creates a masterful
story of
intrigue, transformation, and analysis based on a spy's rationalization
process, a woman's misgivings, and new visions and revelations.
Tests of decision-making process, visions of
strengths, and the characters' ability to rewrite history and destiny
enhance a
multifaceted novel that delves into mystery and new possibilities with
equal
assurance that neither are predictable.
Zvonkovic's ability to juxtapose the
processes of these different yet similar lives evolves a story replete
with
twists and turns that are lively and evocative.
Belinda's
study in contrasts and opportunities will delight readers with a story
that
grabs on both an emotional and action-packed basis. It keeps readers
wondering
about many options until its end, and is recommended for libraries
seeking
strong novels about older characters that have not lost their ability
to
redirect and transform their lives.
Return to Index
The College Shrink
William Haylon
Terwilliger Press
9798829322342
$7.95 ebook;
$9.95 paperbook
www.wdhaylon.com
The social, ethical, and professional
dilemmas of a school psychologist come to light in The
College Shrink, which follows Emily Metcalf's move from a
life
with a career and family she loves to needing support when her marriage
ends in
scandal and her job is sorely tested.
The disparate lives of her young clients,
who are navigating their own turbulences in life, brings home Emily's
own
situation as she makes the move from being a wise leader to someone as
reliant
on her clients as they are on her.
William Haylon's review of Emily's life
takes the form of a third-party observer who narrates these changes:
"Your views of Emily are likely to
oscillate during this story." This narrative form offers
different
opportunities to view not just Emily, but a host of students in a
different
analytical light. Haylon's approach gives the story an extra added
value of
perspective that from the savvy observations of a wise, involved
spectator.
This sense of intimate voyeuristic
observation emerges throughout the story as it moves from the more
familiar
third person perspective to nuggets of wisdom that seem to come from
elsewhere:
"With her previous clients, you
weren’t always immediately sure what had happened.
They were often drunk or high or both from
having been at some party, and they were often not speaking all that
coherently
as a result. Their
stories could be hard
to follow. Not that
being drunk is ever
an excuse for what would have happened.
It just can make the story more than a little cloudy at
the outset. But
with Mana, she readily grasped that he
was completely sober and hadn’t done anything wrong.
Which were among the many things that made
Mana special."
Other observers add their special insights
on emerging situations, from a columnist to Jelly, who has come to
therapy to
address her boyfriend issues, but begins to believe that her own
therapeutic
intuitiveness might equal or rival her counselor's experience and
insights.
Haylon captures the milieu of the college
counselor in many different ways that keep the story engaging and
unexpected.
As the definition of the psychologist's
practice and client relationships changes, readers are challenged to
consider
the mercurial nature of professional and personal relationships and the
points
where they intersect to change both leader and client.
Emily isn't superhuman. She, too, can
fail...and as she does, readers receive an astute portrait of clients
who prove
to be just as adept at recovery as they are at pinpointing the
wellsprings of
their anguish.
The College Shrink's
ability to bring to life the college environment and the new adults who
face
its special challenges makes for an engrossing read. Audiences who
enjoy
inspections of psychological approaches to life problems and
table-turning
scenarios in which wisdom comes from unexpected directions will find
The College Shrink especially evocative.
The College Shrink
is particularly recommended for therapists and clients interested in
college
scenarios, who will find the atmosphere and developments of this
culture to be
especially well presented and realistically portrayed.
Return to Index
First
Comes Baby
Alison O’Mara
Independently Published
ASIN : B09ZZS7YMQ
$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZZS7YMQ
Readers
of
romantic comedy who look for stories replete in romance and fun will
find
Alison O'Mara's First Comes Baby a
delight. It opens with a woman's preparation for a date, but injects
this wry
humor quickly as Ella dresses for the occasion: “Sweetie,
I’m heading out,” she called as she applied her lipstick and
surveyed the final effect. The burgundy shade of red complemented her
dusky
hair. The tapping of nails on the hardwood floor drew her attention,
and she
smiled as Attila the Hound ventured into the room. “How do I look?” she
asked.
In response, the German shepherd whined softly in his throat."
Ella,
however,
is not your usual woman. She wants a baby, and she's determined to have
one
whether or not a man is in the picture.
As
the story
romps through her decision, motherhood, and a disordered venture into
love with
baby already in tow, O’Mara turns the concept of romance (and
independent women who make decisions outside of it) on end.
Scott had no intention of becoming involved
with a woman sporting a baby. Having just broken up with Becca, a
relationship
is far from his mind. In fact, he's still trying to process that went
wrong in
that relationship: "Hard to pinpoint exactly where it went
wrong, he
thought. It wasn’t just one sudden realization, but more a
steady trickle of
doubts that became a surge whenever marriage came up in the
conversation."
What he does know
is that he barely dips his toe back in the dating waters before Ella
enters his
life and changes it with her baby and perspective. And Scott is not
sure he's
any more ready for this than he was with a conventional marriage.
In fact, he'd
steadily avoided this with Becca ("Every time Becca had
dropped a hint
about marriage or a baby, Scott felt like the walls were closing in. He
had
determinedly avoided these conversations and spent more and more time
retreating from her, afraid to bruise her feelings but still seeing the
hurt on
her face every time he awkwardly changed the subject."), So,
what
makes it different now? Ella.
O'Mara crafts an
intriguing story of two very different personalities who encounter one
another
with strong, preset notions of what they do and don't want. There's
enough
'give' in these ideas to allow each to take a leap of faith in this
very new
situation, and enough attraction to make it work despite all the
obstacles.
She also does a
fine job of adding supporting characters who bring their own
perspectives (both
male and female) to Ella and Scott. Scott's co-worker Carl, for
example, opens
up about his background, giving Scott further insights on motherhood,
fatherhood, and what lies in-between, bringing new appreciation for the
lives
of those who have raised children ("He couldn’t believe he’d
never
realized the unseen depths to Carl’s life.").
The
juxtaposition of humor, romance, and serious self-inspection works
wonders in a
story designed to intrigue a wide audience of males and females
interested in
the elements that make a family—and powerful relationships.
Libraries
strong
in leisure reads that incorporate both serious and light-hearted
experiences
will find much to like in First Comes
Baby, which highlights the "richer, more complex" offerings a
family environment brings.
Return to Index
Forever
Sheriff
Edward
Massey
Western, Gale
Cengage Publishing/Five Star
9781432892302
$25.95
https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Sheriff-High-Mountain/dp/1432892304
Forever
Sheriff
represents Western fiction at its best,
providing a novel in the "High Mountain Sheriff" series
about Deputy Mark
Simms. Mark is on the cusp of becoming the third Sheriff Simms of
Summit
County, in the early twentieth century. Sheriffs Luke and John Simms
have been
effective lawmakers in the region before him, so Mark faces a daunting
legacy
to uphold law and order in a world replete with threats and murder.
Coming
up on
eighteen years old, Mark will be the third deputy to make the team of a
Sheriff
Simms and a Deputy Simms, trading school for a profession which is
becoming a
family dynasty.
His
ceremony is
interrupted by a murder...and the story takes off.
Edward
Massey
takes the time to paint a full portrait of not just sheriffs and
rebels, but
the interrelationships of early pioneers, settlers, and new arrivals
which come
from disparate walks of life: “I worked
for your grandfather for one month, and he was always testing people,
just not
the way you think.” Woodside rolled his head back. Snow collected on
his face
as he smiled with his recollection. “It wasn’t that Sheriff Luke
Willford
quizzed him, but for certain a week after any newcomer arrived, if your
father
had not yet brought the new arrival to Sheriff Luke Willford’s
attention, he
would ask, ‘Can you help me with the name of that new member of our
community?’
or ‘Remind me the name of that new family. We need to ask if they need
any
help.’
“When Charlie came is important. Those
converts who came on the train clear to Great Salt Lake City
were not pioneers. That made him and his family separate.
There
might have been too much pride in that thought."
He
also embeds
astute psychological inspections into the action-packed story which
reflect how
carefully the characters walk through their world, mindful of the
impacts of
their choices in actions, words, and loyalties: "Pike
had made no threat. Something the cold did to the dirt in
their county. Nobody threatened. Keep a thought to yourself and you
still had
room. If you say it, you do it."
Readers
who
anticipate the typical Western's attention to atmosphere and vying
special
interests won't be disappointed, but may be pleasantly surprised to
find there
are more than dramatic clashes alone, in this multifaceted story.
Massey crafts
a tale driven as much by interpersonal relationships of all kinds
between all
types of frontier inhabitants as by the motives and special interests
that
influence them.
As
Sheriff Simms
faces new challenges in upholding and interpreting the law, readers are
treated
to a world as replete in differences and new opportunities as the Wild
West.
Libraries
strong
in Westerns will find much to like in Forever
Sheriff, a novel that takes an additional step into history
as it depicts
the struggles and choices of those who reside in the high mountain
desert of
Utah, and who seek to escape poverty, repression, and prejudice with
new
perspectives and opportunities to build family and community against
all odds.
Return to Index
Goldhammer
Haris Orkin
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68433-967-9
Kindle: $5.99/ Print: $20.95
www.blackrosewriting.com
Goldhammer
returns the character of James Flynn to newcomers and prior fans alike,
providing another thrilling escapade that revolves around Flynn's
latest
delusional encounter.
Flynn, a mental patient convinced he's a
secret agent for Her Majesty's Secret Service, meets a young
actress who
believes that Gary Goldhammer, the most powerful producer in Hollywood,
wants
her dead. Flynn engineers her escape and now she and Flynn are on the
run from
Goldhammer's personal army. They face a dangerous adversary who can buy
anyone
and control any situation. So begins a cross-country
adventure that takes
them from Hollywood Boulevard to the mansions of Malibu to
the casinos of Las Vegas. Along
the way, Flynn enlists the
aid of an elderly sex symbol from Hollywood's Golden age and together
they
uncover a conspiracy to control the minds of every human being
on
Earth.
Readers receive a compelling and fun story
that contains the high-octane action of a James Bond thriller paired
with a
wry sense of humor.
Haris Orkin is adept at
portraying Flynn's delusional world view as noble and
even heroic.
His ability to develop characters that
encounter and defy one another's preconceptions and objectives makes
for a
story especially strong in confrontations and dialogue:
“Trouble can’t
stay away from
me. But then that’s my job, isn’t it? Like Philip Marlowe, trouble is
my
business.”
“Who?” Sancho asked.
“A fictional character created
by Raymond Chandler. The private eye as a modern-day knight errant,
righting
wrongs and saving damsels from danger in a dark and cynical world.”
“Sounds like someone else I
know,” Sancho said.
“With one significant
difference. I’m not fictional.”
“As your face perfectly
illustrates.” Bettina reached out to touch his bruised cheek. “What
sort of
trouble did you get yourself into this time? Another super villain with
a plan
for world domination?”
“There seems to be no end to
them,” Flynn replied with a smile."
Fans of international spy stories, mystery
and intrigue, and suspense and thriller action adventures will all
relish
Flynn's latest struggles, whether they are newcomers to his world or
prior fans
from the other stories.
Haris Orkin builds a gripping series of
encounters which are satisfyingly unpredictable. Goldhammer
is highly
recommended reading for audiences who enjoy
the comedy of The Kingsman, the
pathos of One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest, and Jason Bourne-style action, all
mixed together in
a rollicking cocktail. Shaken. Not stirred.
Return to Index
Grind Slowly, Grind Small
Thomas D. Holland
Independently Published
9798413305867
$14.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Grind-Slowly-Small-Elmore-Novel/dp/B09VFTF73C
Grind Slowly, Grind
Small
returns prior character Big Ray Elmore to the scene of yet another
small-town
crime when a construction job in Split Tree, Arkansas reveals the body
of a
young girl long dead.
Not only does this discovery hold
ramifications for a present-day police case, but it dredges up small
town
skeletons that the local sheriff would be only too glad to bury. That's
when
police chief Big Ray Elmore ramps up investigative skills that prove
all too
keen, threatening the status quo and rocking the foundations of the
town's
beliefs and residents.
Grind Slowly, Grind
Small
represents a satisfying police procedural with a difference. Thomas D.
Holland
takes the time to craft a story that holds its basic intrigue in not
just a
murder mystery, but the dilemma faced by a small town with a vested
interest in
turning the other way when evidence arises that confronts and betrays
its
social status and connections.
Holland introduces his story with a
background history of Big Ray, setting the stage both for the evolving
investigation and for understanding Big Ray's influences, approaches,
and role
in this latest conundrum.
The prologue opens in Locust County,
Arkansas in 1946 with an eye-catching confession: "Donna
Jean Anderson didn’t like being called a whore. That isn’t
how she felt about herself, but even if she did, she didn’t like being
called
that. The funny thing is that the only person who said that, almost the
only
person anyhow, was her mother."
Fast forward from Donna's fate to 1960 Split
Tree, where Big Ray narrates his background and present-day occupation,
neatly
setting the stage for events that challenge him in ways he'd never
expected.
The infusion of Southern culture, characters
that clash with and support one another, and the makeup of a small town
whose
roots rest in realities and lies creates a compelling story that winds
through disparate
yet heavily interconnected lives.
A wry sense of humorous observation also
lends a hand in creating a story replete with the lives of these
small-town
residents and the culture that connects them: "'I
remember the ones you’re thinkin’ of. They were gone a long
time ago. I’m sure this will be a dead end, but I’m not flush with live
ends at
the moment.' I looked at my watch. 'Not sure how long this’ll take, so
I may
not be back before you take off. If not, enjoy your day off tomorrow,
and tell
Clement I hope his fishin’ improves.'
'Yours too,' she
replied."
As Raymond forms connections based on a pile
of bones and a peck of trouble, he walks a careful line in who he
involves in
his investigation, and how: "Donnie
Hawk and Granville Begley are two of my oldest friends, and I wasn’t up
to
lying to them. I also wasn’t up to involving them in something that
they didn’t
need to be dragged into."
Holland's inspection of interpersonal
relationships changed by past and present choices, and Raymond's
special approach
to considering the impact of his own actions on his friends and fellow
townspeople, imparts a special feel to his story that gives it an
authentic,
character-driven flavor.
Readers who choose Grind
Slowly, Grind Small for its intriguing title and promise of a
murder mystery thriller will relish its inspections of police processes
and
interactions; but the real delight (and heart) of the story lies in
social and
political inspections which evolve alongside with the mystery.
The result is a fine tale that takes many
unexpected twists and turns, and is highly recommended for mystery
readers and
fans of small-town intrigue. Big Ray concludes his case, but doesn't
fully
cover the can of worms he's opened by pursuing it.
Return to Index
Hard
Amazon Rain
Carolyn V.
Hamilton
Swift House
Press
978-0990966425
$17.95 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Amazon-Rain-Carolyn-Hamilton/dp/0990966429
Readers
of
women's fiction who look for self-confident, strong characters involved
in
romance and broader issues of ecological preservation will find both in
Hard Amazon Rain. Its ability to
draw
the eye and heart with the powerful story of a burned-out art
therapist, Dianti
Robertson, who searches for new experiences but finds herself stranded
in Peru,
creates a compelling read that is hard to put down.
From
its opening
sentences, Hard Amazon Rain creates
a
"you are here" feel for its readers, capturing the sights, sounds,
and atmosphere of the Amazon jungle: "Huddled
on a wooden packing crate, Dianti Robertson waited in the tropical rain
for a
boat that was several hours overdue. Wet wind tore the tattered blue
tarp loose
from under the corner of one of her precious crates. She reached out
from the
haphazard protection of her silver and red space blanket to secure the
edge.
The small of her back ached, and she’d sat so long on the hard surface
that her
bottom was numb."
From
different
kinds of relationships with native Peruvians to the ecological
struggles
experienced by humans and the environment they live in, Carolyn V.
Hamilton
takes the time to place Dianti's personal efforts within the broader
ecological
picture of the Amazon's people, animals, and different cultures as each
hold
disparate special interests.
Romance,
action,
and intrigue blend in an adventure story that traverses matters of the
mind and
heart. Dianti becomes politically and socially involved in schemes that
threaten the ancient Amerindian way of life as well as the well-being
of the
Amazon jungle itself.
Can
Diani's
infatuation with Christian blossom as they confront the big money
companies
that fund the garimpeiros? Can their efforts assure not just a future
for the
Yanamono tribe, but a more enlightened treatment of the Amazon's
treasures?
And, why is Christian keeping secrets?
There
is lot to
contemplate in the experiences, ecology, and management of the Amazon
jungle.
Pair these examinations with a suspense story replete with intrigue and
evolving cross-purposes for a story that is riveting in many ways,
lending
insights into the Amazon jungle's diverse peoples and creatures.
The
sense of
place that is intrinsically part of the story keeps the plot fast-paced
as
Diani moves through these different worlds: "Life
in the rainforest didn’t slow down at night, just changed participants,
she
thought. Night creatures were just as noisy as those of the day. With
Christian’s calming touch, she fell back into an exhausted and
dreamless sleep.
The day dawned with a blinding downpour of rain that left the twisting
vegetation of the undergrowth steamy. Dianti asked if the others had
heard the
cry of the jaguar, shuddering with the memory of the frightening sound.
Santago
shook his head and said, “El tigre, symbol of strong shaman. Bad sign.”
Hard
Amazon Rain is
a fast-paced adventure that profiles a
feisty, determined woman who learns many lessons about survival, love,
and
loyalty in the course of a story that embraces a broad representation
of Amazon
environment and issues.
Libraries
strong
in women's leisure stories and adventure reads will find Hard
Amazon Rain offers far more than the usual romance focus
with
its delightfully full-faceted encounter.
Return to Index
The House of Tongues
James Dashner
Riverdale Avenue Books/Afraid Imprint
9781626016071
$30.57 Hardcover/$16.99 Paper/$6.99 Kindle
www.riverdaleavebooks.com
The House of Tongues
is occult horror writing at its strongest. It portrays the vivid
dilemma of
family man David Player's return to his childhood home, the scene of
kidnapping, murder, and curses David barely escaped from in the past.
Why return to such a threatening milieu?
He's confronting his childhood demons, as well as visiting his parents.
No
sooner does he cross the threshold than old demons arise in new forms
to pose a
new series of threats.
His family home isn't the center of a cursed
life. The old gothic tower in the woods holds its own special draw, and
as
David and his children find themselves struggling to overcome fresh,
new
horrors, readers receive a compelling story of suspense and intrigue.
The plot
is powered by occult forces and a first-person narration that captures
and
compares the atmosphere and nuances of past and present experience:
"The shed of a farmer was a human
institution, coming in all shapes, sizes, and materials, but always
with that
same musty, sawdusty, tainted smell. Simultaneously sweet and rank, a
raw and
primal scent that reached through your nose and down into your gut and
stayed
there. I liked it, and I’m not sure if that’s because of my upbringing
or
because it’s actually pleasant. My guess is the former."
James Dashner is especially adept at
capturing not just psychological tension, but changing relationships as
the
characters struggle between repugnant memories of trauma and new
circumstances
that hold familiar feelings.
As the story takes some unexpected twists
and turns, readers receive exquisite tension and detail that cements
this
juxtaposition of past and present events: "While
sleeping on the couch, surrounded by my family, only hours from our
scheduled
trip back to Atlanta, I dreamed of that night from almost 30 years ago.
So much
of it had been blocked from my memory, but in the dream it was all
there, every
detail. Although separated enough from my younger self to know it was merely a dream, observing
more like a bystander than truly reliving it, I felt the fear and
terror of
that poor kid. My heart ached for him, as if he were someone else, not
me."
Readers who recognize James Dashner's name
from his acclaimed The Maze Runner
will find quite a different approach here, in a horror story replete
with
elements of psychological self-inspection and occult influences.
Violent confrontations and scenarios of
torture are mitigated by a story line that adds emotional depth into
the
choices, actions, and consequences of characters who both escape from
the House
of Tongues and, 30 years later, return to reconcile traumatic memories
with
reality.
The strong sense of place and characters
that steep the plot with emerging realizations and confrontations makes
for an
occult horror story recommended for genre readers who enjoy surprising
developments and are equipped to absorb the violence that accompanies
revelation.
Libraries catering to supernatural fiction
readers will find The House of Tongues
an excellent, well-developed story.
Return to Index
Kill the Dog
Alex Storm
Purple Pixie Books
979-8-9857530-5-9
$14.99 paper/$6.99 Kindle
Publisher: www.purplepixiepresses.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Dog-Comic-Alex-Storm-ebook/dp/B09VDY8NL3
"I never thought I
would
be a stalker. Stalking: even the word itself sounds predatory, even
depraved.
But in the last five days, I’ve discovered that real stalkers, good
stalkers,
aren’t depraved. They’re not predatory. A good stalker doesn’t allow
their
presence to be detected. They watch from a distance. They observe like
an
ornithologist."
Travis Tanner was on the management track at
Whataburger in Houston. He gave that up to become a filmmaker in LA.
Ever since
he made that sacrifice, things haven’t gone to plan. The only ray of
light in
this bleak, merciless town is Rachel. When Travis is with Rachel, the
future
feels possible. He can dream again. He matters.
But he can’t be with Rachel. She has a conniving hellhound named Mr.
Underwear,
who hates Travis and seems intent on getting rid of him. To spare her
dog,
Rachel has put the relationship on ice.
Kill the Dog
is a comic novel about Hollywood's underbelly of society, and will
attract
readers interested in literary spoofs on the industry and its milieu.
It opens with a thought-provoking bang of
self-realization and discovery that carries this note through its romp
on the
wild side, as seen through the eyes of an observer with a "brief career
as
one who lurks."
What is revealed through this inspection is
unusual, as a dog (Mr. Underwear)
who "plays mind games" becomes the object of the narrator's focus: "As
soon as Rachel left, the dog gave
me a sidelong look filled with what I could only describe as disdain.
From
somewhere within, I heard the awful chilling sound of the siren one
hears in
zombie movies; the one that portends the end of civilization. Beep. Beep.
Beep. It was my internal Emergency
Alert System going
off."
As the story evolves from these opening
scenes to descriptions of life in the actor's lane, the narrator
exposes all
manner of ironies and indiscrepancies in the industry and its
participants: "You and I, Charlie says, her
voice
terse, "are in the lowest of the lowest budget films. Malloy won’t use
the
Snake Charmers because they’ve already been around the block. People
pay to
have them open clubs in the Middle East and some countries in Africa.
They’re
not going to work for two hundred a day. Those girls want more. You and
I,
Travis, we don’t have more.
We
need new blood. We need people like my uncle; people who don’t know
better."
When Rachel becomes involved with Snake Pit
films and the Pajama Party, USA
production, the narrator's world teeters between observer and
participant.
And the dog? Does it (and what it represents
to the narrator) die?
Not completely. For more, read Kill
the Dog. The devil is in the
details, and the scope and allure of this story lies in its special
blend of
big breaks and ironies that evolve from Operation Kill the Dog.
Libraries strong in novels with whimsical
inspections of Hollywood's seedier side will find this story an
appealing
acquisition. Kill the Dog provides
a
hilarious, highly entertaining read in a debut contemporary novel
replete with
action, fun, and adventure.
Return to Index
Like a Lily Among the Thorns
Karen S. Bell
KSB Press
9798426339408
$15.00 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
www.karensbell.com
Like a Lily Among the
Thorns
represents metaphysical fiction at its best. It pairs romance with
magic as it
follows Gabrielle Bernstein (a young woman born into a damaged family
and
orphaned by unexpected circumstances) and a clan dedicated to spreading
love
and joy that hopefully will ultimately save the planet.
It opens with an ordinary day with ordinary
chores in Gabrielle's life, but quickly moves to a milieu in which this
twenty-something New York resident is compelled to move beyond her
family and
comfort zone to step up into a greater cause when she unexpectedly
inherits a
B&B inn from her estranged dead father.
The inn actually is the pivot point of
Gabrielle's transformation, offering more than the promise of
employment and
new connections. It's an enchanted abode overseen by goddesses who want
to
inject healing and love into the world. And so Gabrielle falls under
its spell
as she unwittingly accepts her destiny and very different relationships
than
she'd experienced in the past.
The "positive energy of the
cosmos" both entrances and overwhelms Gabby. It also serves as a
strange
attractor to mindfulness and being present, teaching her new skills
that
further both psychological and spiritual transformation and her life
purpose.
Karen S. Bell crafts a compelling story of a
young woman challenged by a new reality and her revised place in it.
She adds
details of romance and connection, building a plot that pulls readers
through
sorrows, loss, recovery, and the transformative processes experienced
by a
myriad of characters.
As bigger issues (such as climate
destruction) are tackled, the real magic of the story is evident in a
powerful display
of action and social inspection. Readers absorb the disparities between
light
and darkness that range from atmosphere to personal and spiritual
perceptions,
as Bell employs evocative language to bring these contrasts to life:
"...the usual lightness of being at the
inn was overshadowed by a cloud of darkness and dread."
Readers who look for light fantasy, social
inspection, and spiritual and psychological depth in their novels will
find Like a Lily Among the Thorns a
fine
visionary fiction piece that draws on many levels: romance, spiritual
awakening, social consciousness, and evolving new, harsh realities.
Ideally, Like
a Lily Among the Thorns will be chosen by book discussion
groups interested
in how individuals grow into their purpose to affect the world around
them.
Return to Index
No
Pistol Tastes
the Same
Jacob Paul
Patchen
Independently
Published
978-0-578-28927-4
Print:
$15.95/Ebook: $6.95
Website: www.Jacobpaulpatchen.com
Ordering: Jacob
Paul Patchen
No
Pistol Tastes the Same
is a "PTSD novel" that includes a
new subgenre of fiction with this subtitle. This both clarifies and
defines the
subject and progression of a powerful story of war's aftermath,
covering the
lasting impact of a terrible choice that leads Sergeant JP Grimm
through death
and into the uncertain role of a traumatized survivor.
There
is quite a
bit of introductory information that sets the stage for this story: the
usual
introduction, an extensive author's note, and quotes from PTSD
survivors and
sufferers about the condition's feeling and impact, as well as science
reports
about solar flares and the seeming inevitability that human
civilization faces
radical changes from them.
This
is a lot of
front-end information to absorb before the story even begins, but much
of it is
a necessary preface to properly stage the full impact and approach of
No Pistol Tastes the Same.
The first
chapter, some ten pages into the book, opens with a hard-hitting poem
and the
powerful conclusion that "No pistol tastes the same…and
mine…is a
bourbon-muzzled truth maker."
JP has grown up an orphan of a holy war,
taken in by grandparents who have provided him with a rural farm life
in a home
they call "Paradise." Powered by these memories of the past and
fueled by Jim Beam, JP has here returned from war to a much-changed
world.
Unbeknownst to him, he faces further changes that originate from his
PTSD-based
tactics to survive as the world enters a perilous time of disaster.
Jacob
Paul
Patchen does an outstanding job of creating dual draws in No Pistol
Tastes the Same. Combining a
story of PTSD with a new
threat that calls upon survivors to think in new ways to carry their
skills
into alien territory results in a story replete with unexpected twists
and
turns (despite the indication of this progression in the book's
introductory
pages).
JP's
story
embraces his recovery process from PTSD as he struggles to get used to
his new
environment "while not having to worry about things exploding all
around
him."
His
condition
reaches out to challenge his wife and son after he returns home, and
Patchen
explores the impact of PSTD on loved ones, as well, as he evolves his
tale.
In
another hand,
the story would have been limited to this process...and holds many
insights
from this background alone. But Patchen takes the tale another step
forward in
presenting a scenario in which JP must face his nightmares and recovery
against
a growing backdrop of worldwide disaster.
The
process by
which he confronts his demons makes for an intriguing juxtaposition of
flashbacks and coping methods that keep readers engaged in JP's
perceptions and
dance between recovery or death.
The
result is a
genre-crossing story designed to reach two disparate audiences: those
who enjoy
apocalyptic stories of worlds ending, and readers who look for tales of
PTSD
and new worlds reborn.
It's
a powerful
combination that lends to the recommendation that No
Pistol Tastes the Same be included not just in the fiction
collection of libraries seeing patron interest in either subject, but
on book
discussion lists about PTSD, trauma, and survival tactics.
Return to Index
Paris in Ruins
D. Manning Richards
Aries Books
978-0-9845410-6-5
$13.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.dmanningrichards.com
Paris in Ruins is
a novel that simmers with romance, action, and history. It is the first
book in
a trilogy set in 1943 Paris, during the French Resistance.
The story opens with maps and black and
white vintage photos from the 1940s, but it assumes no prior knowledge
of
French history as it introduces Jean-Baptiste, who is awaiting his
former lover
Margot. The time is three years after the initial Nazi occupation of
France,
and Margot is living with a German officer.
He's hoping to convince her that her life is
endangered if she doesn't participate in his intelligence operation.
With her
proud and disdainful air, however, she seems more suited to her present
position, associating with the Germans. Will she love him—and her
country—enough to break with the new life she has built since the
occupation?
D. Manning Richards creates an astute,
compelling portrait of how emotional connections bubble under the
surface of
political events, surveying the lives of everyday people caught up in
the
Führer’s obsession with Paris.
As oddly honest, eccentric Margot becomes
the pivot point in a war fought in many different arenas, readers
become
immersed not just in the romantic entanglement, but in lives and
outcomes
changed by political and military choices.
Richards brings to life the backdrop of
Paris and its changing atmosphere during World War II. His attention to
battle
details as well as their impacts on everyday citizens' lives and
choices
creates a multifaceted read solidly based on true events and public
figures
that fought for the liberation of Paris.
From the decisions of military men that
would save Paris from the destructive fates of similar cities across
Europe
during the war to the complications of a love that brings new
challenges to a
host of characters, Richards creates different points of view and
perspectives
for a rich inspection of the motivations of individuals on both sides
of the
conflict.
The result is a story that will delight
World War II history readers while engaging non-history buffs with
romantic
entanglements that reflect changing times and hearts.
Paris in Ruins
brings the hopes, dreams, and times to life, and is highly recommended
reading
for history and romance enthusiasts alike. It deserves a prominent
place in any
library strong in either genre.
Return to Index
A
Place Called
The Way
Corrine Ardoin
Black Rose
Writing
978-1684339952
$19.95
https://www.blackrosewriting.com/literary/aplacecalledtheway
"Berto
Mendoza was a poet. Catching the
milk cow was not in his interest, but, if he wanted cream in his coffee
that
morning, it was a necessity."
Through
Berto's
eyes and the eyes of characters affected by a small town's growth and
spiritual
foundations, a story emerges which is anything but the usual staid tale
of
opportunity and change.
Readers
of rural
fiction stories, coming-of-age sagas, and Corrine Ardoin's prior books
about
Pine Valley will find her third book in the series, A
Place Called The Way, continues to explore the people who
populate this town and grow under its community and promise.
Here,
four-year-old Jimmy has already lost his way into a positive life
through the
abuse of an uncle ("The brown-haired
boy swept his hands together, looking on at what he could do, what his
small
fists could grasp and throw."). Angry at the world, he
cultivates his
own form of cruelty towards those he can subjugate, cultivating
destructive
habits towards self and others which are mitigated by the intervention
of a
wise grandmother and medicine woman, who brings him on a journey of
healing and
empowerment.
As
in the other
titles in the Pine Valley series, the overlay is a community that
harbors quiet
strengths and an unusual healing power that brings many of the damaged
Hart
family residents into a solution called the Way.
As
mother
Candelaria Hart and others struggle to understand why the Hart family
continually faces struggles and bad luck, from accidents to emotional
pain, Jim
grows up with angst still alive in his heart: "Jim
left the house with his shadow so close, it likely adhered
itself to his back. He could not escape it. What lived within himself
clung to
the fabric of his soul, reaching and grasping, like the paws of some
great
animal fighting to be free."
It
feels
unlikely that the Way or its opportunities will ever reach him, but the
progression of miracles is just one of the themes A
Place Called The Way cultivates, setting it apart from being
simply another story of small-town American life.
The
ties that
bind this community also reach out to embrace the hearts and minds of
both
prior fans of the Pine Valley stories and newcomers.
As
children are
born and the town comes together and grows, readers will find the
interests,
challenges, and evolution of the story's characters blend into a bigger
picture
of connection and resolution. This makes for an engrossing tale of the
Way, how
to walk it, and its lasting impact on past, present, and future
generations.
The
story brings
with it a sense of storytelling purpose that links these disparate
individuals'
lives and eventually arrives at the origins of ill luck in a family,
ultimately
leading it to the Way.
"The
Way is not a word or a place in
time, but a feeling, a knowing, a place outside of Time, where Truth
awaits,
where the life of our destined hopes invites us and brings us to our
knees. The
Way is not a town that became Pine Way or even Edenville. The Way is
what
connects us all, one heart, one soul, one life, all One.”
Readers
need
this story of promise and spiritual growth, and libraries need to not
only
include it in literary fiction collections about small-town roots, but
should
point book clubs and discussion groups to its evocative blend of
spiritual and
social inspection.
Return to Index
Poster Girls
Meredith Ritchie
Warren Publishing
978-1-954614-59-8
$16.24 Paper/$23.21 Hardcover/$4.99 Kindle
www.warrenpublishing.net
The novel Poster Girls
is based on the true events experienced by a diverse
group of American women during World War II, and represents historical
fiction
at its strongest.
The prologue opens in 1944 in Charlotte,
where a fire breaks out during the night. One man is charged with a
rescue during
the chaos that ensues.
The next chapter moves to 1943, where Maggie
Slone is dreaming of her husband Charlie, who is in the Pacific,
fighting in
the war. Her job at the Shell Assembly Plant helps her participate in
the war
effort at home, introducing her to a disparate group of women. Her
friendship
with fellow military wife Kora Bell at first seems unlikely, given the
racial
divide and differences between their lives, but connections and
similarities
between the two women grow.
The rules that strive to dictate their lives
and actions, keeping not just order but racial divides and biases, are
slowly
broken as Kora and Maggie become involved in unionization efforts and
the
effort to see their husbands safely return home.
The culture, personalities, and world of the
South come to life through changing perspectives as Maggie and Kora's
stories
evolve.
Meredith Ritchie incorporates real history
into her story of women who are drawn into relationships and choices
that lie
outside their comfort zones, personalizing facts and events with the
fictional
overlay of their lives.
This crafts a story that moves from social
to political inspection, with the fire that opened the story moving to
central
position in Maggie's life.
Faced with the choice of lying or telling
the truth about what she's seen and participated in, Maggie stands at a
crossroads. This is depicted with delicate tension and fine
description: "The report was correct and
wrongfully
ignored, or the report was
unreliable and justifiably ignored. The latter signals a rank and file
issue.
The former points to a more serious systemic issue around management,
plus a
general disregard for safety.” Owens drained her beer. “We need you to
say you
don’t trust the source of the report."
As she considers the price of her loyalty
and beliefs, readers become immersed in the domestic dilemmas and
changes
brought about by World War II, and will find the presentation
thought-provoking
and enlightening on different levels.
Poster Girls
is a vivid story of confronting many different forces during the war.
Maggie's
difficult choice assures one outcome: “They
can’t paper over everything we did.”
Libraries strong in historical novels,
especially those that revolve around military wives during World War
II, will
find Poster Girls an exceptional
story.
Return to Index
Rode
J. Adams
Damn Yankee
Press
979-8-9856972-2-3
$12.99 Print/$9.99 ebook
https://books2read.com/u/mv1q2z
Rode is about a new adult who has made the leap
from school to independent living, whose experiences reflect the
process of
learning in a different way. From the start, J. Adams provides an
engrossing
story that reflects on this transition point in the narrator's life:
"That was one benefit of being in
school. Rarely having to make up your mind about anything important.
Freedom
without consequences. And while I was still attracted to the loose
energy
scattered across campus—all that potential in no hurry to be
converted—the students
themselves seemed barely aware of it."
Jack's
about to
make a move that, like his beloved motorcycle, might leave him with the
"tank full, but the battery
disconnected." This disconnection from his former aspirations
and
expectations about life leads him on a journey to California during
which he
leaves behind his bike, his job at the fire department, his girlfriend,
and all
prior connections. It's a journey of choice, because he doesn't "want the responsibility, right
now, for anything
besides myself."
Adams
moves the
tale from Jack's first-person observations about these major changes to
a
third-person story that explores his evolving new relationships and
life. This
changing perspective allows readers to receive both an introspective
introduction
and a more analytical viewpoint about Jack's experiences, as Rode
unfolds.
Jack
enters the
world of boyfriends, clients, and jobs that demand physical and
emotional
changes, leading him to reconsider friendships, hookups, and the kinds
of
relationships that challenge his prior lifestyle and convictions.
Adams
is
especially skilled at capturing Jack's conundrums in reviewing his
options and
recognizing the early warning signs of trouble during this
decision-making
process: "The proposition had
trouble written all over it, but Jack was drawn in."
As
he comes full
circle and re-enters the fray of firefighting and the life-changing
encounters
it brings, Jack faces loss, guilt, and failure in a journey that
fosters new
sights, experiences, and options.
Readers
looking
for a coming-of-age story that centers on a new adult's venture into
unfamiliar
territory and the life and relationship lessons he receives from these
efforts
will find Rode a compelling
narrative. It deserves a place in any library strong in stories of
life-changing experiences and growth.
Return to Index
Scambait
Ryan R. Campbell
Cedarbrook Books
978-1-7363871-3-9
$15.99 (Print), $5.99 (Ebook)
Website: http://www.RyanRCampbell.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SY4P6FR
"Eric,
this is your father." It
should be easy to delete an email contention that is likely spam. But
Eric
Amundsen doesn't find this opening lure worthy of rejection. In fact,
it opens
a can of worms that leads him on a wild goose chase that holds
dangerous
consequences.
Scambait is an invitation to participate in a
dangerous game fueled by the lure of possible alternatives to
impossible
circumstances. Eric is no dummy. He's entirely cognizant of the game
likely
being played. The problem is that he hates scams, and has a personal
obsession
with thwarting them. In this case, it's a perspective that hits far too
close
to home: "...even if they never did
find my father’s body, this has to be a scammer, some twisted lowlife
out for
revenge. And if there’s one thing I hate, it’s a scammer."
Eric
is in the
perfect position to do this because his day job is in account
support/management, and this skill set
gives him an expertise that, more than an ordinary individual, allows
him to
get at the heart of such matters.
Until
now.
Ryan
R. Campbell
creates a fine fictional spoof on computers, internet society, and the
cat-and-mouse games set up by scammers and those who would engage them
at their
own level.
It
examines
abuser clichés, law-abiding citizens and those who operate on the
fringes of
society, and Eric's own fall into becoming an effective scammer
himself—the
very thing he hates the most—in reaction to the drama that draws him
and new
friend Adriana into circumstances that contain many satisfying twists
and
turns.
As
Eric begins
to uncover who his father really is and his own role in spam, scams,
and
intrigue, readers receive a wry humor in an inspection of the computer
world
and the follies of those who work in the tech world and manipulate
others.
Readers
seeking
a fast-paced, tech-based blend of intrigue and satirical inspection
will relish
Scambait's ability to interconnect
these approaches for a story that is logical, thought-provoking, and
entertaining on legal, social, and moral and ethical levels.
It's
a pleasure
to find a story so nicely presented and pragmatic in its psychological
buildup
of characters and in its progressive changes.
Scambait is highly recommended for a wide audience;
especially those with some tech background. It features an engaging
series of
conundrums that proves hard to predict or put down.
Return to Index
Skylark
Dancing
Olivia Godat
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-288-5
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Historical
romance readers are in for a treat when they choose Skylark
Dancing, because the story winds not only through disparate
lives, but
different cultures in 1800s Texas and Mexico.
Alondra
is on her way to St. Louis to find her birth family. She's also
on the run from Mexican army Captain Baca, after she stabbed him.
Felipe
Montez is running from the same man, having spurned the man's
interest in his prize stallion El Moro, and is on his way to bring the
horse to
his ranch in New Mexico.
At
first, Alondra thought Felipe was in the same league of takers as
Captain Baca, and resists his allure even though he's handsome and has
rescued
her.
It
turns out that even though they are on different journeys, they hold
more connections than they anticipated; both through their shared
adversity and
from their desire for a peaceful life.
Olivia
Godat paints a compelling portrait of two disparate lives that
find connections with one another.
She
flavors her story with the cultures and history of the times as
males and females interact, steeping these encounters and different
backgrounds
with the sights, smells, and atmosphere of the rugged country around
them: "Arms
folded across his chest, Felipe stood on the fringe and watched her
dance. He
recalled the time he saw her at the cantina and smiled at the
remembrance of
her skirt swirling above her knees and the knife strapped to her thigh.
But the
strange sensation that crawled up his spine had nothing to do with
Alondra. She
finished her dance and dropped to the ground. Ma struck a slower beat,
and the
McFarlanes sang about a woman named Barbara Allen. The song was a
gentle ballad
but did nothing to ease the tension that prickled the back of Felipe’s
neck. He
stepped back into the shadows of the cook fire and listened. The horses
were
restless, they snorted, and El Moro neighed. Horses generally enjoyed
music;
they should not be nervous."
From
pumas and spirit legends around the campfire to journeys that
follow Felipe and Alondra to Santa Fe and beyond, Godat's ability to
capture
the cross-cultural interactions between various peoples on the frontier
results
in a story that is filled with bright, compelling characters that each
hold
special interests and abilities.
It's
refreshing to find a romance in which the female is strong and
talented in her own right. Godat's story portrays a journey replete in
both
discovery and self-discovery as the characters grow and change, both
with and
without one another: “I used to think it mattered who my
parents were. But
it doesn’t. Not really. It’s me and my actions that make me who and
what I am.”
The
plot also includes a good degree of social inspection, as the main
characters come from very different economic backgrounds with
experiences that
hold their own special form of prejudice.
The
result is a satisfying blend of Texas and Mexican history,
cross-cultural interactions, and romance, all flavored with a taste of
the old
West to keep readers engaged and interested in a tale of overcoming
fears and
adversity.
Return to Index
Stolen Moments of Joy
Hamour Baika
Unrolling Script
978-1-7346337-8-8
ebook $6.99/audiobook $9.99/paperback
$13.99/hardback $24.99
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SFQ3D2L
Other Orders: https://books2read.com/smj
"My demon takes the
shape
of a desire to hide."
Stolen Moments of Joy
is a modern LGBTQ novel, highly recommended for literary collections
strong in
social inspection. It is set in 2014 Baltimore and tells of an Afghan
immigrant,
Abdul, who struggles with an abusive boyfriend who exhibits a charming
personality to others, while physically assaulting his partner.
Abdul has a long history of excelling in
survival against all odds, but his new life in America doesn't preclude
long-held habits, and he falls into both a romance and a desire to hide
despite
the social turmoil that embroils Baltimore and affects everyone around
him.
Blend the backdrop of the Soviet occupation
of his country (which forced Abdul and his family to escape) with the
present-day dilemmas he faces as a gay man attempting to move away from
self-destructive patterns and hiding, and it's evident that Stolen
Moments of Joy offers far more
social and political depth than many LGBTQ stories that focus on
romance and
sexual maturity alone.
Hamour Baika is especially skilled at
contrasting Abdul's background and cultural circumstances with the
reasons why
he considers his present-day dilemmas much less important, in many
ways: "What was wrong with me? Cliff’s little
outburst did not even compare to what I’d endured before I came to
Baltimore."
The process by which he examines and even
justifies some of Cliff's actions towards him is realistically
portrayed,
offering insights into some of the many victim rationales that support
the
choice to remain in abusive relationships: "He’d
never do anything to harm animals. Did that mean I was less than an
animal?"
Stolen Moments of Joy
unfolds its story slowly and builds the atmosphere surrounding Abdul
and
Cliff's relationship via Abdul's first-person explorations of his
world. From
gay bars and the flirting and semi-serious advances of others to
Cliff's
confidence that Abdul will not stray, despite his repressive actions,
readers
gain a powerful story about dangerous liaisons and what happens when
survival
tactics no longer work.
Abdul's epiphany that “A pretty face isn’t
everything” brings with it moments of enlightenment as he probes his
motivations, reasons for staying or leaving for better relationships,
and the
structure and content of the gay culture around him.
Readers gain solid insights into this
culture through realistic portrayals of relationships tested by it, all
wrapped
in a story that documents not just moments of joy, but transformation
and
revelation.
Political insights also evolve during the
course of Abdul's journey as the modern, familiar milieus of police
shootings,
evolving race relations, immigrant experience, and Abdul's increasing
involvement in racial struggles come to light.
The result is a multifaceted examination of
changing times, changing people, and what happens when old strategies
of hiding
from the truth no longer work.
The psychological profiles and inspections
are powerfully rendered, driving a story that will attract readers both
from
within and outside the LGBTQ community with its hard-hitting
assessments of
social and personal change against all odds.
Return to Index
Untested Waters
Bethany Fine
Ahr Publishing
979-8770400212
$21.83 Audio/$12.99 Paper/$5.00 ebook
Website: bethanyfine.com
Ordering: amazon.com/dp/B09MB3HRCV
The first book in the Santa
Vacía Chronicles, Untested
Waters, sets the stage for a
contemporary women's story of blackmail and redemption. It tells of an
ordinary
suburban housewife who finds herself in a compromising situation with
her
daughter's portrait photographer.
Before
this event, Natalie Waters seemingly
had it all: beauty, her husband's wealth, and a life that embraced the
classy
world of Santa Vacía. Her encounter
with photographer Dillon, a man who displays "the arrogant response of
a
man who expected people to wait for him" at first evokes a sense in her
of
being taken for granted...or taken for a ride by his high-priced
offerings and
attitude.
Both
insights
prove to be correct, but the main thing he poses is a threat to the
world she's
built. And she's in the dangerous position of being able to tell nobody
else
about this new problem.
New
neighbor
Courtney, being a stranger living in close proximity to the action,
thus
provides an initial lure for Natalie as a possible confidante to help
her
resolve her dilemma. But Courtney poses her own special danger, and
soon
Natalie finds herself caught in not one, but several conundrums that
have no
easy way out.
Bethany Fine's choice of the first person
captures Natalie's perceptions of world, injecting them with a
powerfully
personal approach to life that makes for a compelling read that women
will find
attractive and persuasive in its dilemmas and personalities.
She captures a strange attraction before it
even turns deadly and allows Natalie to describe her puzzling reactions
and
forays into forbidden territory in a familiar, intriguing manner: "To
say my behavior was foolish and
uncharacteristic would have been an understatement. Propriety and
decorum were
two values that should be taught in schools at every age. Behaving like
some
teenage girl experiencing her first crush was neither proper nor
decorous, and
yet my eyes refused to pull away from Dillon's and my hand behaved as
if it
were glued to his. Jenny's kick brought me back to reality and, with a
gasp and
an apology, I dropped his hand as if it were plague infested."
Fine's ability to capture Natalie's
personality and weave it into a growing series of encounters that shake
her
moral, ethical, and carefully constructed social foundations lends to a
story
that many women will find especially compelling.
Its
appropriateness as a beach read or a
discussion group topic, and its power to lead readers into this world
of staid
relationships gone awry, makes Untested
Waters an intriguing novel of transformation and power that
focuses on
reclaiming life, love, and purpose.
Another pleasure of this story? There is no
pat 'happily ever after' conclusion. Instead, the door isleft ajar for
more
experiences, while neatly concluding Natalie's dilemma with resolution
and a
question mark about the future.
Libraries strong in women's literature will
find Untested Waters an attractive
read that promises many topics for book club discussion.
Return to Index
Utopia Café
David Hejna
Cornwall Publishing
9798483917670
$18.95 Hardcover/$12.50 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/Utopia-Café-David-Hejna/dp/B09K1Z1KKN
Readers of political and social satire will
find Utopia Café a study in irony
and
observation that blends a romance story with a close examination of
underground
political influences.
College senior Izzy is involved in a
movement to upstage the move towards establishing a Marxist state, but
is
attracted to upcoming Party and Youth Brigades participant Tom, who has
apparently drunk the Kool-Aid of idealistic possibilities against all
current
reality.
How committed is Tom to this cause? If he
harbors secret doubts, he could be an invaluable underground asset to
her
group, as well as a real romantic possibility.
David
Hejna
contrasts the milieu of repression, idealistic thinking, clashing
social and
political forces, and two individuals caught in a series of scientific
and
philosophical change. He creates an inspection that is especially
potent in its
examination of socialism, capitalism, and the forces on both sides that
affect
their perception and incarnation.
From
inside
moles and Stalinsky's plans to occupy the White House to a revised
vision of
the Constitutional framework, the individual's role in society, and
hopes for
the future of the Republic, Hejna creates a thought-provoking series of
encounters that immerse both characters and readers in a milieu of
talking
heads that contrast past roles with future opportunities.
As
Izzy rebels
in many different ways, down to her personal preferences and choices in
music,
readers receive a delightful inspection that is as detailed in its
ideology and
logic as it is in character rationales of choice and change: "Izzy set
her music device to play Nat
King Cole singing “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” followed by the “Charlie
Brown
Christmas” album. She knew it was a bizarre segue, but playing tunes
she liked,
in any order she wanted, had been part of her way of protesting a
system in
which so many millions had been ruled and controlled by so few, the
leftist
ideologue mastermind politicians and academics, the allied news media
and tech
companies that had suppressed conservative views and real history."
From
the
macrocosm of political affairs to the microcosm of personal
interactions and
changing relationships, Hejna's story is filled with extensive
dialogue,
arguments, and satirical reflections. These will especially appeal to
political
science readers looking for a novel steeped in suspenseful contrasts
between
liberals and conservatives.
The
result will
delight those who look for stories about changing traditions and moral
revitalism that ask serious questions about the idealistic visions of
both
sides.
What
constitutes
a political, social, and personal vision of utopia? Utopia
Café
offers the foundations of satirical examination that will also lend to
debate
in book clubs and among political science students.
Return to Index
Walks With Spirits
Edale Lane
Past and Prologue Press
ASIN: B09VBGQF27
$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Walks-Spirits-Edale-Lane-ebook/dp/B09VBGQF27
It's unusual to see a novel of Native
American experience blended with a lesbian romance theme, much less to
have
such a story arrive steeped in real-world history and mythology to lend
it a
solid grounding in reality.
Edale Lane perfects the finer art of
cultural and community inspection, employing the drama and allure of
fiction to
captivate readers with a moving story. Laughing Brook is training to be
a
healer for her tribe while cultivating an attraction to Walks With
Spirits, a
woman who hears voices, has the gift of calling animals, and who wants
to build
a life with Laughing Brook.
Under different circumstances it would be
possible to identify this book as 'historical fiction'; but much like
the
multifaceted relationship between Laughing Brook and Walks With
Spirits, the
novel not only defies pat categorization, but evolves into the fantasy
realm to
inject metaphysical and spiritual elements into its love story.
Of particular strength and note are the
descriptions of the interactions between Laughing Brook and Walks With
Spirits
and Laughing Brooks' parents, who misunderstood the nature of their
relationship
and why she was so happy. They set up the marriage for Laughing Brook
and
Thunder Warrior because of their mistaken perception.
Lane creates a series of encounters between
them where love is not enough to overcome the potential for alienation
and pain,
including dialogues that are thought-provokingly realistic and
heartfelt: "Spirits had amassed understanding
and
continually pressed for more. She was aware of how the worlds worked,
both the
seen and the unseen. The lessons of Black Bear were more than theory to
her
ears and she practiced what she had been taught. As she reached for one
morsel
of inner peace, a single instant of hope, a thread of belief that
somehow
everything would work out for good in her life, she perceived a wisdom
to
impart upon Brook."
It's also notable that, not being of
Indigenous origins herself, Lane worked with an Indigenous Sensitivity
Reader
who helped her create a story that, albeit fictional in nature,
remained true
to First Nations cultural depictions that honored rather than
stereotyped their
lives.
The result is a moving, passionate saga of
love, change, strength and growth that features two already-strong
women who
tackle issues of honor and duty as they consider their relationship and
the
intrusion of the world outside their tribe.
While it's easy to recommend Walks
With Spirits to libraries strong
in lesbian literature, it's also a top pick for women's literature,
Native
American, and fantasy readers.
The embrace of these diverse genres in an
overall story that honors all of these elements makes for an
exceptional read
that is a strong attraction on many different levels.
Return to Index
Australians
Speak Out: Persuasive Language
Styles
Rodney G. Miller
Parula Press
9781737489504
$21.99 Paperback/$32.99 Hardcover
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1737489503
Website: https://communicator.rodney-miller.com/2022/04/to-speak-out.html
Although
it may
seem like Australians
Speak Out: Persuasive Language Styles will be a
country-specific
analysis of Australia's linguistic idiosyncrasies, this is a book
designed to
appeal to a broad audience interested in communication, rhetoric, and
persuasive speaking.
Rodney
G. Miller
uses the example and linguistic history of Australia as a point of
reference,
discussing how Australians employ language in extraordinary ways.
The
book's
examples are as wide-ranging as its contents, which move from the late
1800s to
modern times. Miller quotes from speeches as he explores the fine art
of
language and communication through the decades.
No
prior
background in Australian history, communication styles, or in the
purposes and
approaches of the orators profiled within is required, in order to
appreciate
the evolving examples and their impacts. Miller provides all the
information
needed to place these speeches in proper context, but it's the works
themselves
which deliver the power of persuasion.
Why
choose the
history route? Because, for one example: "As
each year passes, fewer people remain with us who listened to the
impassioned
address in 1942 of prime minister John Curtin, as he appealed directly
on the
radio to the people of the United States, for a stronger alliance to
fight a
joint enemy in the Pacific. This further advanced a change to
Australia’s
foreign policy forever, away from a subordinate dependence on the
motherland of
Great Britain."
Words
change
lives. The fine tuning lies in the art of choosing them wisely.
Miller's
orators
resonate with power. Lest Americans think this won't apply to their
history and
concerns, consider the radio broadcast of John Curtin in his 1942 radio
speech
to America about the progression of World War II and why Australia was
a pivot
point of events: "I give you this
warning: Australia is the last bastion between the West Coast of
America and
the Japanese. If Australia goes, the Americas are wide open. It is said
that
the Japanese will by-pass Australia and that they can be met and routed
in
India. I say to you that the saving of Australia is the saving of
America’s
west coast. If you believe anything to the contrary then you delude
yourselves."
The
rest, as
they say is history...captured from the horse's mouth of passionate
people who
wielded their words as firmly and effectively as battlefield swords and
guns.
Students
of
media studies, communication, and history, from high school into
college levels
(as well as many general interest readers learning about leadership,
oration,
or political power) will find Australians
Speak Out: Persuasive Language Styles a treasure trove of
examples
like no other linguistics coverage.
It captures the changing language, history,
and impact of the nation, reaching out into worldwide circles with key
lessons
about using everyday language to reach people.
Australians Speak Out:
Persuasive Language Styles is a highly
recommended, top-notch
selection that belongs in the collections of a diverse set of
libraries, but it
shouldn't just be dutifully fled under 'media studies'. Ideally, it
will be
used in classrooms and discussion groups as a solid example of language
styles
and effective speech.
Return to Index
Chambers
of the
Heart
B. Morris Allen
Plant Based
Press/Metaphorosis Publishing
978-1-64076-519-1
$25.00
Hardcover/$12.00 Paper/$5.49 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Chambers-Heart-speculative-Morris-Allen/dp/1640765204
Chambers
of the Heart: Speculative Stories is a collection equally recommended for
fans of horror, philosophical inspection, and poetic, metaphorical
description.
All this and more is captured in the opening short story "Chambers of
the
Heart": "Despair and Ecstasy
are the simplest. Ecstasy is the small and cozy room of a cottage that
looks
out on a broad meadow in the forest...Despair is a vast, dark hall of
low
ceilings and small windows. In winter, snowdrifts sometimes cover the
windows
so that they are only squares of gray against black stone. In the
summer,
shafts of hot, bright light do nothing to warm the room, and only blind
us to
the room's darkness, so that we must carry candles to the Master's hard
throne.
It is always winter or summer."
Most
readers
have spent time in both these milieus, as well as in the "hall of
Longing" that lies between them. Perhaps this is why the story grips so
convincingly and realistically as it portrays the special challenges
faced by a
lifelong devoted servant who tries to redirect his Master to another
choice.
As
the
interludes between Despair and Ecstasy run close and swiftly, readers
receive a
thought-provoking examination of devotion, positivity, negativity, and
everything that lies between and within these rooms of choice.
Contrast
this
with "When Dooryards First in the Lilac Bloomed," in which a hermit
thrush leads the narrator through a world of loss into a strange milieu
in
which world peace may lead to ennui because "when
we stopped our struggles, we lost our drive."
The
narrator's
slow dance between the equation for peace over war and the surreal
message and
influence of the thrush's alluring song makes for a speculative work
steeped in
love and loss, revealing portals of memory and choice through which a
"glimpse of heaven" may be revealed.
These
short,
speculative pieces aren't crafted for entertainment value. They ideally
will be
read and enjoyed by literary audiences who will relish their
metaphorical
descriptions, portals to other places and realizations, and the
opportunity to
juxtapose an eclectic series of themes and experiences into evocative,
lovely
prose.
Literary
libraries strong in short fiction and speculative works will find
Chambers of the Heart a powerful
collection especially highly recommended for discussion groups focused
on
quick, hard-hitting short stories.
Return to Index
Country Puzzlers
Kyle Branche
Independently Published
979-8543912461
$11.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WHJ65J9?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860
Country music dates
back to 1927 and
includes a host of subgroups and formats that developed throughout its
long
history. Fans of country music of all styles who also harbor affection
for
puzzles will find Country Puzzlers
of particular and
specific interest because it tests the diverse musical knowledge of
this genre.
Kyle Branche has done a fine job
of both selecting top representations of country music and synthesizing
his
effort to make Country Puzzlers a
wide-ranging, broad gathering of puzzles. They cross eras, blending
facts about
bands, vocal groups, male solo artists, female solo artists, and
singer-songwriters that reflect Country, Country Rock, Americana,
Cowboy
Western, Folk, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Honky-tonk, Gospel and some
Country Pop
crossovers.
Because the overall genre of
country music embraces all these and holds such a long history, the
effort to
condense puzzles into a logical and comprehensive arrangement must have
been
immense.
Numerous books of puzzles on
this one subject alone could be written, but Branche's survey embraces
nearly
two thousand works and invites puzzle solvers and trivia pursuers to
test their
knowledge of the past and country music content.
The puzzle book's chapters are ordered by
album type, including special collections, artists, and more.
The biggest names in country and their songs
are featured in puzzles organized by group and artist that wind through
a
hundred years of country music in close to eighty word search puzzles.
Branche used to work in the music business.
His extensive knowledge is evidenced by the selections chosen to
capture the
extent of country music in Country
Puzzlers, which will attract and interest anyone with a
background in both
country music and word search challenges.
Return to Index
The Emergent Approach to Strategy
Peter Compo
Business Expert Press
978-1637422618
$28.99
Hardcover/$17.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Emergent-Approach-Strategy-Adaptive-Execution/dp/163742261X
The
Emergent Approach to Strategy: Adaptive
Design & Execution focuses on business strategy practice in action,
eschewing the usual
theoretical focus of such titles to match the processes of strategy
practices
to business best practices and real-world implementation.
This
allows
business leaders and problem-solvers to consider strategy in a
different light
than most books on the subject, placing it in the realm of agile
management and
adaptive frameworks to consider its applications and challenges in a
dynamic business
environment.
Dr.
Peter Compo
lived his subject. He spent a quarter century at DuPont in working
leadership
positions in product manufacturing, market, supply chain,
and business management and planning. These roles allowed him to match
theory
to practical business pursuits, creating the revised emergent approach
he
presents in this book.
There are differences between theory and
execution, both in matching aspirations and change to business
environments
that may not hold the framework for adaptation, and in fostering an
agile environment
that requires different design principles for successful execution.
Compo employs diagrams, charts, references,
and hard-hitting, exact definitions that identify the core reasons why
strategic theory often fails in business applications: "Execution
is doing what you say you will do, including following
the strategy rule, and changing what you say you will do when you
realize it no
longer makes sense. Therefore, execution is a quality
of implementing a design, not another word for
implementing. It is how well individuals and organizations stress
themselves to
stick to the framework and its strategy, destroying decisions and
actions
counter to it. It is how well they stress themselves to maintain
awareness of
the diagnosis that led to the framework design and destroy the unfit
aspects
that appear. This is adapting."
His
attention to
detail in clarifying and redefining business frameworks and avoiding
many
common pitfalls (such as normal probability distribution thinking,
where
"such distributions are not good representations of the future")
makes for a scholarly bridge between theory and applied business design
principles.
From
analytical
metrics to conflicting truths that are half-successful under different
circumstances but not fully effective, Compo does an exceptional job of
drawing
together math, philosophy, business theory, and real-world scenarios in
a way
business leaders can readily understand: "On
one hand, Winston Churchill said, “However beautiful the strategy, you
should
occasionally look at the results.” And on the other hand, an adage
says, “you
can’t keep pulling the sapling out of the ground to see if the roots
are
growing.” These two truths need reconciliation."
As
a result, The Emergent Approach to Strategy:
Adaptive
Design & Execution should top the reading lists of
any business thinker
and leader who wants to better understand (and more successfully
employ)
emergent approaches to businesses of all size and shape.
It's recommended
for business and leadership library collections as being a key
discussion point
that rewards its readers with execution-centered philosophy that
addresses and
defines chronic strategy problems, creating a new paradigm for
understanding
and success. Additional material on strategy principles and
instructional
content can be found on Compo's web site at www.emergentapproach.com.
Return to Index
Food As A
Prescription
Anthony and Staci Lo Cascio
Notebook Publishing
9781913206451
$19.99 Paper
www.notebookpublishing.com
Food
As A Prescription: A Handbook for Those
Currently On or Prescribed a Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Corn-Free and/or
Dairy-Free
Diet
addresses a
common problem in health circles: the challenge of revising a diet to
eliminate
many trigger foods.
On
the surface,
embarking on a gluten-free or dairy-free diet might seem easy, but
anyone who
has done so well knows that gluten, corn, soy, and dairy is often an
intrinsic
part of the usual daily diet, and can be a challenge to eliminate. Or,
it would
be without the advice of this book.
Food
As A Prescription holds
more than recipes. It provides an
assessment of dietary changes and their links to health and lifestyle
changes,
including many tricks and tips to streamline the process and make it
easy to
follow.
Anthony and Staci Lo Cascio are professional
dancers whose health and careers were jeopardized by their diets. Their
shifts
in mentality and lifestyle which led to their perception of food as a
prescription for improvement and change are traced in a book that
offers myriad
techniques for adopting new, more healthful dietary habits.
It considers dietary supplements, food
choices, and even eating out challenges, providing a healing journey
that
promotes many different strategies to making changes and eating more
mindfully.
From keeping a food diary to developing
questions for different food establishments to gain the kinds of
specific
answers that translate to a better knowledge of ingredients, the
authors offer
many techniques that foster understanding, from food apps to planning
ahead to
eat at friends' houses.
The result is a wide-ranging key to dietary
knowledge and the relationships between food choices and health,
offering myriad
tools that can be used by any reader.
All that's required as a prerequisite is a
willingness to change and adapt.
Libraries
strong in food and health books
must add Food As
A Prescription. It
goes where few others attempt, making important connections between
food knowledge and better health.
Return to Index
Forget
This Good
Thing I Just Said
Colin Dodds
Dodds
Amalgamated
978-0-578-95150-8
$24.24
https://www.amazon.com/Forget-This-Good-Thing-Just/dp/0578951509
Forget
This Good Thing I Just Said presents 900 aphorisms by Colin Dodds,
providing evocative, pointed literary and philosophical reflections
that
encapsulate moments of wisdom.
This
gathering
of simple inspections lends to browsing rather than linear pursuit,
which will
delight readers who look for daily admonitions or simple passages that
linger
in the mind throughout the day: "Solutions
metastasize to disasters faster than they did last year."
Dodds
incorporates psychological insights into many of his reflections.
Readers will
find them important mirrors of life experience: "Anyone
can lash out, but who’s damaged enough to sustain an
assault?"
The
length of
these aphorisms may be short or longer, but all lend to easy reading
and
long-term, thought-provoking digestion.
There
are
truisms, road maps for contemplating life, and insights that compel
thinkers to
examine their own beliefs and approaches to living: "You
never know where the last straw will find you."
The
result
excels in injecting power into a succinct form that will prove
especially
attractive and accessible to today's busy reader, whose attention span
and
internet experience may lend to just this type of browsing.
Libraries
that
chose Forget This Good Thing I Just Said
will find it attractive to a diverse audience.
Return to Index
Know
Your Man: Playful Relationship Advice for Understanding Your Man
(Pig)
Michael Coogan
and William Burton
Cresting Wave
Publishing, LLC
978-1-956048-13-1
$14.95 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
www.gocwpub.com
Is
the title Know Your Man, or Know
Your Pig? The book's subject may
be
interchangeable, and is also synonymous with a sense of humor that runs
through
it like a river as Know Your Man: Playful
Relationship Advice for Understanding Your Man (Pig)
embarks on a
relationship-defining journey that redefines men, pigs, and the
communications
between them.
The
tongue-in-cheek wit does not detract from the serious nature of this
survey of
male/female differences, but it does add a light-hearted (yet loving)
tone to
the inspection.
Michael
Coogan
and William Burton's survey is for the female who would better
understand the
common pitfalls and misconceptions that evolve between men and women,
and
presents examples of specific dialogues and scenarios that result in
either
more effective or more frustrating communications.
They
subdivide
men into types and link these different communication adjustments to
them, as in
the typically Hurried Pig who fails to understand his wife's needs.
Examples
are quite specific about what works and what doesn't: "Imagine
playing a game where the fewest number of well-considered
words delivered as quickly as possible wins. This is that game but in
real
life. So, for a Hurried Pig communication, do yourself a huge favor and
skip
any of the following:
•
A ‘preamble’ such as, “I talked to Mary
about the party next week….”
•
Any unnecessary information (“…her sister
will be in town; you know the one that had the gall bladder surgery
last
year…”)
•
Any reference to emotional conflict (“…I’m
not sure how I feel about those new drapes she bought since I’m not
that fond
of sea-foam green….”
Get
to the facts. Just the facts.
For
example, just say something like this:
“I need you to bring the charcoal grill to Mary’s party next Saturday
afternoon
and have it there at 3:00 PM.”
That’s
it, twenty-five words or less.
Result: you will likely get a positive response from your Hurried Pig."
These
specific
courses of action, based upon dividing men into different kinds of Pig
Personalities, drive a book that tackles the all-too-serious subject of
common
miscommunications between men and women and what to do about them.
The
result is an
accessible, lively, fun read that imparts important lessons on behavior
modification and better communication on both sides.
It's
highly
recommended for any female who would better and more lovingly
understand and
relate to their particular "pig" and his unique approach to
communication.
Return to Index
New
Testament Readings & Devotionals,
Volume 1
C.M.H. Koenig (compiler)
C.M.H. Koenig Books
978-1-956475-24-1
$14.99
Website: www.cmhkoenigbooks.net
Ordering: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-testament-readings-devotionals-koenig/1140516122?ean=9781956475241
Having whetted the Biblical scholar's
appetite for better understanding the Bible by pairing readings and
interpretations that pique the mind, C.M.H. Koenig moves his
compilation skills
to the New Testament with the first book in this series, New
Testament Readings & Devotionals.
Here, the four gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John are reviewed, analyzing their powerful messages from the
life,
death, and resurrection of Jesus.
As in the previous Old Testament volumes,
selected passages from these books are accompanied by insights and
reflections
by Biblical scholars Robert Hawker, Charles H. Spurgeon, and Octavius
Winslow.
The readings combine devotionals with much
food for thought, but unlike the Old Testament books, points from
Psalms are
not included.
The intent is to profile the intentions and
good works of God.
Most of the selected Biblical passages are
one-liners, such as Matthew 11:28's "Come to me." Spurgeon, the
commentator for this promise, delves into the "cry of the Christian
religion, 'come'" and explores the promise of the call to lead a
spiritual
life.
Footnotes to each devotional cross-reference
other books of the Bible, which lends to further discussion among
Christian
Bible students.
The result is a methodical blend of history
and analysis. It creates the perfect format for daily devotionals which
are
succinct in presentation and full-flavored in analytical prowess,
accessible to
scholars and lay readers alike.
Return to Index
Nurturing Our Self
Lily E. Espinoza
Advanced Publishing LLC
978-1631321641
$21.95
Website: www.lilyeespinoza.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Nurturing-Our-Self-college-everyday/dp/1631321641
Whether
it's through college, everyday life,
or careers, the importance of taking care of oneself is paramount.
That's the message
in Nurturing Our Self: During
College, Everyday Life And The Job
Search, a treatise
on how to
care for one's psyche when life changes demand new directions.
The
pandemic has
forced many to deviate (sometimes widely) from set careers, objectives,
and
views of life. Thus, there's perhaps no better time to consult Nurturing
Our Self, which
focuses on how to self-nurture through a variety of stressful
experiences.
Positivity starts inside self and spreads
outward. This requires a basic change in mindset, from career
aspirations to
revised game plans during changing times.
For example, Espinoza notes: "Everyone
talks about pursuing your
passion. Following your heart. Taking the right steps to land your
“dream job”.
But what happens if your dream job NEVER shows up?" From
there, she
talks about the types of strategies that involve adopting a lifelong
learning
goal, learning to live with and grow in a 'sidetrack job', and
re-envisioning a
new 'dream job' goal.
The trap lies in old paradigms of happiness
and achievement. As chapters probe old scenarios and new responses to
adversity, readers learn some fundamental skills for leading revised
lives no
matter what the misfortunes and new conditions dictate.
Nurturing yourself isn't about taking a
bubble bath and forgetting conflict. Nor is it about getting a massage
or
reading a good book. It involves the kinds of self-care that comes
through
flexibility, adaptation, and the ability to field setbacks and use them
to
formulate new visions of a productive, happier life.
All these elements and more are surveyed in
a practical guide that's highly recommended for libraries strong in
education
and career subjects, positive psychology, and new age thinking alike.
Return to Index
Old
Testament Readings & Devotionals,
Volume 11
C.M.H. Koenig (compiler)
C.M.H. Koenig Books
978-1-956475-21-0
$8.99
www.cmhkoenigbooks.net
Old Testament Readings
&
Devotionals, Volume 11 features the books of Ezra, Esther,
Nehemiah, and Malachi, and follows the building of Jerusalem and the
historical
and spiritual events that affected the Jewish people and the evolution
of the
Middle East.
God's love for his people is explored
through Old Testament quotes from these books and accompanying analysis
and
interpretation by Robert Hawker, Charles H. Spurgeon, and Octavius
Winslow, who
accompany readings from these books with reflections on God's word.
As a daily devotional that adds to the other
analytical revelations compiled by C.M.H. Koenig, this 11th volume
continues to
represent a fine inspection of both history and scripture.
The passages and their accompanying
considerations link Biblical events with the intention and word of God,
offering both interpretations that pique the mind and inspections
designed to
prompt reader reflection and self-analysis.
Koenig is particularly adept at adding the
kinds of commentary that turn Biblical puzzles into understandable
representations of God's purpose and will. This makes for an accessible
study
that will attract scholars of the Bible, reaching beyond this specialty
audience to engage and educate ordinary thinking Christians, as well.
The selected readings are enhanced by the
in-depth commentaries, which offer far more connection than the
passages alone
would create.
The result is a study in Biblical history
and interpretation that should be required reading for any Christian
student,
whether they be Biblical scholars or thinking followers.
Return to Index
The Power of Wellbeing
Clive Elliott
Cogent Publishing NY
(Imprint of The Whitson Group, Inc.)
978-0-925776-50-1
$18.00 Paper/.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Wellbeing-blueprint-rebuilding-reimagining/dp/0925776505
Self-help libraries seeking collection
additions might at first consider this book another how-to guide for
individual
growth; but The Power of Wellbeing: A
Blueprint For Rebuilding The Social Fabric
And Reimagining An Inclusive Society
is a powerful pick for social issues holdings,
addressing the concept
and applications of wellbeing on a society-wide and global level
designed to
encourage change in not just individuals, but entire cultures.
Global wellbeing may sound like an elusive
goal. At least, it's been this way for a very long time. Given
COVID-19's
"wake-up call to action," there may be revised opportunities to make
the sweeping changes considered in this book; especially if it becomes
assigned
reading for social issues and political science courses and in
professional
circles alike.
Clive Elliott tackles an elusive goal and
brings its issues and possibilities into the arena of "achievable."
His blueprint involves everything from defining quality of life and its
improvement to encouraging positive participation over partisanship and
making
the basic tenants of the U.S. Declaration of Independence ("...all Men
are created equal, that they are
endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That
to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men...")
part
of a global quest for wellbeing.
Idealistic? Sure. Impossible to achieve?
Absolutely not. With The Power of
Wellbeing, the rebuild process became not just imaginable,
but possible. In
fact, it's being achieved, in different ways, in countries around the
world.
Elliot outlines this in endeavors that range from sports competitions
and a
"win-win Kiwi way" of dealing with opposing parties in dispute to a
chart of problems and proposed actions and solutions that tackles some
of the
basic conundrums faced by societies around the world.
Much more than just a survey of goals to
attain, Elliot focuses on the 'how' of such matters, providing concrete
strategies that have their foundations in proven avenues of success.
The result is a powerful study filled with
real-world examples, suggestions based on proven techniques, and
wellbeing
concepts that reach out to embrace different cultures around the world.
It's
self-help, but on a global scale.
The Power of Wellbeing
should be in any library interested in global change and social issues,
and
ideally will be on the discussion lists of book clubs, debated in
political
science circles, and considered by organizations looking to encourage
positive
change on a global scale.
Return to Index
Reading Matters
Janet Levine
Armin Lear Press, Inc.
978-1-956450-14-9
$24.95 Hardcover;
$19.95 Paper
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reading-matters-janet-levine/1141445846?ean=9781956450200
It's a well-known adage that "Reading
great literature can unlock your mind." But, how exactly does this
process
work, and how do the results resonate in modern times?
Janet Levine creates an opportunity for
literature readers to better understand the importance of literary
creations: "Maybe the books we explore open
our
awareness to ideas we’ve never thought of—or to an experience we
remember in
some way. When the books jolt us into recalling those moments, usually
subconsciously, a switch clicks on, and we see perceptions and
assumptions that
we’ve looked at before in a new light. This may occur in an
instantaneous
epiphany. Or it might be an epiphany that forms incrementally over
time."
Reading Matters: How
Literature Influences Life draws important
connections between reading
choices and decision-making processes, using a range of literary
examples, from
Herman Hesse's spiritual journey in Siddhartha
to the passage of time and its impact on memory in Virginia Wolfe's To
the Lighthouse.
More so than most literary analyses, Reading
Matters explores a sense of
self, place, and society that are represented in these major works. It
considers the impact of these works around the world and links them in
chapters
which move between analyses to cross-compare the literature and its
impacts on
other countries and individual lives.
Ideally, readers of this survey will be
either widely read, or will choose to read (or reread) the selected
major works
featured herein, in conjunction with this book. This approach will lend
familiarity and immediacy to Janet Levine's comments and
reinterpretations of
the characters and their deeper impact and meaning.
Epiphanies tend to come from life
experiences, but they also can stem from literary influences. In
exploring the
presence, nature, and incarnations of these realizations in major
writings,
Levine provides important food for thought and guidelines for
literature
classes and readers interested in all kinds of works, from fiction to
poetry
and plays.
The broad inspections and applications of Reading
Matters deserves recognition and
discussion in a variety of ways; from book clubs interested in pursuing
literary reinterpretations to high school to college teachers seeking a
modern
discussion of why classic literature remains relevant and important to
today's
readers.
Return to Index
Real
Events of
Narcissistic Abuse
Michelle Dickey
Independently
Published
979-8434137324
$14.99 Paper/$11.00 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Real-Events-Narcissistic-Abuse-Someones/dp/B09VGGZMB1
Real
Events of Narcissistic Abuse: Someone's
Survival Guide
charts both the author's own experiences identifying and surviving
narcissistic
abuse and the tips and lives of others in similar positions.
Many
memoirs and
mental health guides have been written about narcissism, but having a
survey
rooted in a relationship analysis replete with religious
self-inspection and
spiritual awakening adds an extra dimension to the discussion that
informs
readers about this form of abuse and its lasting impact.
Michelle
Dickey's book is not a singular presentation. Various scenarios of
narcissistic
behavior patterns are covered in chapters that include workplace abuse
as well
as interpersonal relationships, painting a picture of the common
phrases,
scenarios, and methods narcissists employ as they act out "inner demon
issues."
More
than an
account of the actions and impact of narcissism, however, Real Events
of Narcissistic Abuse focuses
on the kinds of healing
and recovery approaches that represent empowerment on spiritual and
psychological levels alike. This gives readers keys to addressing their
own
interactions with narcissists as it reveals the narcissist's typical
and
special patterns of abuse and repression.
Dickey's
candid
analysis of her own repeated patterns and the red flags she missed
provides
ample warning to others who may find themselves in similar situations:
"Although we had a few couple spats
along the way, we managed to work through them, which is another reason
I was
willing to marry him. What I failed to see as the red flag was the
extreme
verbal abuse that he would dish out during some of those spats. Yes, I
was
being trauma bonded in a very covert way. So, the cognitive dissonance
let me
move forward with planning the wedding."
With
so much
modern focuses on the circumstances and impact of narcissistic
personalities in
the world, Real Events of Narcissistic
Abuse: Someone's Survival Guide needs to be in a wide range
of library
collections. It should be part of faith-based self-help and mental
health
libraries, as well as on the reading lists of discussion groups
interested in
women's issues, marriage, and social concerns.
Its
profiles and
messages should not be missed. Competing books seldom are covered with
the
detail and depth of this important survival guide.
Return to Index
The
Secret to Everyday Communication (Without Argument)
Mark Ortman, MA
Wise Owl Books
and Music
978-0-9634699-2-2
$15.95
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Everyday-Communication-Without-Argument/dp/0963469924
The
Secret to
Everyday Communication (Without Argument) explores how
language, meaning, interpretation, and underlying assumptions affect
daily
communications, fostering either understanding or conflict as choices
are made.
It
presents insights on ways in which communication breaks down,
emphasizing how the overt and underlying emotions behind words often
change or
supercharge their meaning.
Mark
Ortman offers astute analysis of the entire communication and
engagement process as he basically teaches knowing "when to hold them
and
when to fold them" (meaning, words), and how to gain better perspective
in
the process of learning how to acknowledge self and others.
Perhaps
the most important theme to this book, setting it apart from
other surveys on better communication, is that of the process of
clarifying
intention and emotion while choosing better approaches to presenting
and
absorbing words.
From
developing tact and choosing words more wisely to tips on knowing
when to stop engaging, Ortman teaches a different series of approaches
to more
effective overall communication and psychological inspection: "If
their
answers still make little sense, test their openness to
listen with an
acknowledgment,“I hear this view is important to you.” Follow with the
question, “What would it take to be open to a different view?” If they
say,
“Nothing will!” Take them at their word and stop engaging. The emotions
are too
entrenched for a meaningful conversation. Any attempt to force our
views can
quickly deteriorate into a test of wills trying to prove each other
wrong."
The
result is
more than another book about language. It's a survey of the underlying
emotional choices and purposes of communication that reflects on how a
better
understanding of both will lead to improved interpersonal
relationships...especially when the routes for self-examination and
interpersonal dialogues are considered.
The
Secret to
Everyday Communication (Without Argument), should be in
the library collections of general-interest and psychological holdings
alike.
Return to Index
The
Star Chamber
of Stanford
Rony Guldmann
None Spared
Press
978-1-7352472-0-5
$24.95 hardcover/$19.95
Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Chamber-Stanford-Invisible-Persecution/dp/1735247219
Readers
of
academic memoirs who enjoy insights and philosophical reflections about
teaching and education will find just the ticket for both in The Star
Chamber of Stanford: On the Secret
Trial and Invisible Persecution of a Stanford Law Fellow, a
survey of Rony
Guldmann's encounters with legal, social, and political university
circles.
Intriguingly,
it's actually a book-within-a-book that chronicles the making of
Conservative Claims of Cultural Oppression,
written during Guldmann's time at Stanford Law School between 2006 and
2011.
The memoir portion of the story dovetails with an author's study in
ideology,
academia, and firsthand experiences with cultural oppression, offering
readers
far more depth than the usual educator's memoir contains.
Guldmann
inadvertently became a target of Stanford's political community and
"highbrow liberalism" himself, experiencing many of the conflicts
that turned his research into a study written not for his Stanford
circle, but
about it.
From
when it is
appropriate to defy collective beliefs and organizational structures to
the
survey's cautionary role as a case study for formulating an academic
career,
Guldmann provides a scholarly tone and attention to detail as he makes
his case
and documents his experiences.
This
atmosphere
permeates his recollections and insights about his colleagues,
interactions
with them, and the college structure itself: "Despite
her own insight that I operated one level up, Barbara had
rather sloppily underestimated me in September when she fancied that I
wouldn’t
see past the four corners of the knockout email. Caught unaware by the
epistemic advantages I had accrued upon exiting the elite culture and
decolonizing my mind, she presumed she was manipulating me throughout
our
subsequent phone conversation, when all along I was manipulating her
into
acquiring precisely that misapprehension—a source of considerable
embarrassment. But as this renewed bid to operate one level up now
confirmed,
Barbara had learned some lessons from her earlier missteps. The home
page was
truly inspired, psychological warfare of the first order. The advanced
studies
in the behavioral sciences being pursued at CASBS had evidently borne
fruit."
The
result is an
exposé, memoir, and study in academic philosophy, all in one.
The
Star Chamber of Stanford will especially intrigue Stanford students
and those on their own upward trajectories who wish to better
understand the
underlying philosophy, motivations, and politics of the college
environment. It
is recommended as a key acquisition for libraries strong in legal and
education
issues, and should be used as a discussion point for students of higher
education.
Return to Index
Straight Talk from the Heartland
John Torinus Jr.
HenschelHAUS Publishing, Inc.
978159598–791-4
$24.30 Hardcover/$9.98 Kindle
www.henschelHAUSbooks.com
Straight Talk from the
Heartland: An Entrepreneur's Memoir is an account of fixing broken
organizations, failing businesses, and teams that just don't work. It's
a story
that deserves a place not just in memoir collections, but in business
libraries
interested in candid inspections of what makes a business work and what
leads
to its failure.
The
first part
of John Torinus Jr.'s memoir surveys his childhood, early influences,
and
coming of age in the 1940s and 50s.
From
family
interactions to early career moves, Torinus paints a picture of a
budding
entrepreneur who dabbles in different ventures early on, learning
important
life lessons from each.
His
50-plus
years as a reporter provides candid information on how his writing lead
to
wider-ranging inspections of leadership and entrepreneurial approaches
to life,
business, and relationships.
Choosing
to
engage with his subjects rather than reporting from an outsider's
viewpoint led
Torinus to different endeavors and new realizations about business
organization
and relationships. These are candidly assessed in the course of his
autobiographical journey: "Ben, who
had the title of president, turned out to be a good engineer, but a
blockhead
when it came to business. He and Jim started fighting, mainly over
Ben’s
insistence on long runs. We were building to stock the warehouse with
finished
goods instead of building for order and quick cash return. We had eight
million
blades in inventory. As a result, the company was going down. I had to
step in
as general manager. My first decision was to separate the two men,
telling them
not to talk to each other, to communicate only through me."
Straight Talk from the
Heartland accents the story with vintage photos and
illustrations that bring family members and various people to life.
Torinus is not shy about exploring the
impact of his decisions on others, as well as himself: "After
50 years of being grossly undercompensated as a journalist
and author, I finally figured out where the gold was hidden...I like to
think I
threw some gasoline and matches on the prairie fire of grassroots
health-care
reform."
Readers who want to make the leap from an
outsider position to a more engaged business approach will find Torinus
surveys
experiences that connect the dots to making many important transitions
into not
just more effective business relationships, but more financially
rewarding
sources of revenue.
From start-up infrastructure to assuming the
position of "lone business voice on the board of the staff-driven
organization," Torinus analyzes the influences, actions, and
perceptions
that changed not just his life, but the businesses he worked with.
The
result will appeal to two audiences:
those interested in the memoirs of journalists-turned-entrepreneurs,
and
readers who want to make their own leaps into businesses, but need
examples of
successful routes in order to become thriving survivors in the
entrepreneurial
world.
Return to Index
Strong Ties
Katharine Ogden
Michaels with Judith K. Adamson
Rare Bird Books
978-1644282175
$25.00
https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Ties-Business-Philanthropy-Leadership/dp/1644282178
Strong
Ties: Barclay Simpson and the Pursuit
of the Common Good in Business and Philanthropy belongs in memoir, business, and social
issues libraries alike. It presents a powerful survey of California
leader
Barclay Simpson, whose ideals and drive embraced and changed the lives
of many
in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Main
author
Katharine Ogden Michaels, a family friend and insider,
captures the
complexities and contradictions of Simpson with great subtlety and
aplomb. Judith K. Adamson also contributed to this compelling
biography.
Simpson
was an
unlikely candidate for such wide-ranging changes, and is proof that
individuals
can come from ordinary circumstances to become extraordinary
influencers.
His
drive to
save the family business, teetering on bankruptcy, would have been
deserving of
a story alone, but Simpson didn't stop with the family's wellbeing.
He
went on to
pursue a vision of cooperative and mutual business activities which
empowered
his employees, then translated this microcosm of business success to
the
broader world, offering lessons and insights that changed the
perspectives and
nature of many other businesses in the Bay Area.
Many
books provide
discussions of how to give back to or involve communities in business
pursuits.
Few adopt the practical, real-world applications that Barclay Simpson
fostered
in his life and world, making Strong Ties
an exceptionally powerful portrait of success.
From
concepts of
transformational philanthropy to the projects Simpson successfully
grew,
readers gain insights not just into his life and philosophy, but on how
these
ideals translated to the real world.
Simpson
tried
many things, and never quit.
The
book points
out that "It is not just Barc and
Sharon’s generosity, but their motives for and methods of giving, that
moves..."
Readers interested
in business links to community growth and the process of developing
transformational philanthropic pursuits will find no better starting
place than
Strong Ties, which should be in
every
library strong in business or philanthropical topics, and an intrinsic
part of
business and book discussion groups about how to improve the world.
Return to Index
There Are No
Small Parts
John DiLeo
Glitterati Incorporated
978-1-943876-90-7
$35.00
www.glitteratiincorporated.com
Libraries strong in media studies and film
criticism need to be sure There Are No
Small Parts: 100 Outstanding Film
Performances with Screen Time of 10 Minutes or Less plays a major role in such
collections. It represents film historian John DiLeo's seventh book on
cinema, narrowing
its focus to screen artists who have made strong impacts with scenes
that were
ten minutes or less in duration.
There are numerous film criticism books on
the market, but this emphasis on how to capture succinct moments that
make a
lasting impact on viewers is outstanding in its focus, representation,
analysis, and contentions.
Film students receive a chronological survey
that begins in 1935 with selected features that progress to modern
times. Each
film includes screen time, a profile of the actor who made the moment
sparkle,
and an analytical eye to revealing behind-the-scenes biographical
details that
contribute an understanding of the actor's background up to their
memorable movie
moment: "Upon seeing Jean Dixon in an
old movie, you might think, 'Oh, I love her, but why don’t I know her
better?'
After all, she was an established wisecracker before
audiences became familiar with the likes of Eve Arden,
Mary Wickes, or Thelma Ritter. The problem was that Dixon simply wasn’t
in
Hollywood long enough, appearing in only a dozen films there between
1933 and
1938. Moviegoers
never got to spend
enough time with her to make her a beloved character actress."
This history proves essential in setting the
stage not only for better understanding that stellar moment, but its
importance
in the actor's evolution and the industry's milieu.
The entire survey takes the form of a blend
of biographical and critical inspection that places each actor's roles
and key moments
in the broader perspective of their other achievements.
These aren't succinct and short inspections,
but examine the extent of influences that led to the actor's memorable
moment,
even if the other contributions were less than stellar or
unextraordinary (some
roles were unforgettable and some were not).
The result turns out to be more than
biographical applause, but is a critical consideration of what makes
and breaks
an actor, their role, or a movie's plot.
Film students, in particular, will find
these engaging and engrossing discussions offer many insights about the
film
industry (and their actors) and how it evolved and grew.
Return to Index
Vintage
Babes of
Broadway
Clyde Adams and Maureen McCabe
The One Big Name Publishing
978-1-7347455-4-2
$25.00
Website: www.vintagebabesofbroadway.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Babes-Broadway-Through-Century/dp/1734745541
Vintage
Babes of Broadway: Through the 20th
Century Lens of Murray Korman deserves a place in the collections of both
performing arts and
photographic arts libraries. It gathers the black and white works of
Murray
Korman, who captured Broadway stars from the 1930s to the 1960s,
selecting
images from some 600 film negatives residing in storage.
That
this
treasure trove of rare and unpublished images has reached the public
eye is no
light achievement. The negatives needed rescue and restoration and
their
creator, Murray Korman, needed equal attention, as many readers will
not
already be familiar with his name.
Clyde Adams and Maureen McCabe use this
historical memorabilia to capture a bygone era of history that might
otherwise
have been lost. Out of all the many women and men photographed, there
are only
two of the performers who are still alive in 2022: Julie Newmar and
Jaye P
Morgan.
Their achievement ranges from organizing
Korman's finest works to adding the social, historical, and cultural
notes
about each woman that brings not just her achievements, but her era to
life: "In 1945, after what could best be
described as a mildly successful career, (Katharine “Kay”) Aldridge
retired and
married her first husband, Arthur Cameron. When interviewed earlier in
her
career, she is quoted as saying, 'One of these days I want to return to
Virginia and become the lady of the manor. That has been my dream for
years.'
So, it’s safe to say that she never fully bought into the Hollywood
lifestyle."
From Anne Bancroft to Loretta Young, the
profiles and Korman's photographs capture the history and milieu of
Broadway,
adding quotes from the performers as well as contemporary photos, where
appropriate.
Vintage
Babes of Broadway
was some ten years in the making. Its blend
of artistic Murray Korman images, biographies of the stars that give
historical
flavor and background to their lives, and attention to Korman's rare
opportunities to capture this milieu makes for a key acquisition that's
highly
recommended for any serious performing arts or photographic history
library:
Like a fine wine, the food for thought on
the subjects and Korman's photographic record of their achievements is
a
perfect pairing.
Return to Index
Warding Off Evildoers
Joan Arehart-Treichel
Armin Lear Press Inc
978-1-956450-25-5
$18.95
www.arminlear.com
Warding Off Evildoers
is an exposé of those who commit evil and represents a vivid piece of
forensic
psychology that explores the creation, intent, and operations of the
criminal
mind.
It comes from a senior staff writer for Psychiatric
News and synthesizes decades
of Joan Arehart-Treichel's interviews with psychiatrists on the
subject, as
well as her research into studies of criminal minds.
This is not the first book to tackle the
subject of evildoers in society and how their criminal minds operate.
But it
differs from most in its inclusion of forensic experts and its focus on
studies
that reveal "...who evildoers are,
how they got that way, and most crucially, how we can protect ourselves
and our
loved ones from them."
This approach makes the survey not just
accessible to lay readers, but of prime importance in establishing
boundaries,
inspections, and savvy that will help protect citizens and their
families from
evildoers in society.
Discussions range from the definition and
moves of evildoers to the influences of genes and environment on their
development, covering how to identify an evildoer, different levels of
evildoing, and (perhaps most important of all) how to safeguard self
and family
from predators in society.
This sets Warding Off
Evildoers apart from the majority of studies on the
subject, bringing it to the attention of ordinary, everyday citizens
seeking
information that will help keep them safe. Each chapter concludes with
references for further reading that both support the author's
contentions and
reinforce the scientific foundations of her statements.
Warding Off Evildoers
initially sounds like an occult title; but its message is anything but
supernatural. It considers the threats to health that walk among us,
acknowledging that the potential for evildoing exists in us all and
analyzing the
steps that can be taken to either avoid and mitigate its impact, or
guide loved
ones in a different direction.
Many of the findings may be eye-opening to
readers who harbor prior opinions on the subject. They certainly were
to the
author: "In the process of compiling
this book, I have learned a lot about evildoing—things I hadn’t known
before.
For example, some people show signs of depravity already in early
childhood;
women as well as men can be stalkers, and that stalkers, regardless of
gender,
can be dangerous; and while some of the most ghastly acts are committed
by
individuals with a severe mental illness, most vile acts are
perpetrated by
individuals who are sane."
The result is a powerful lesson in personal
safety, moral and ethical choices, and better understanding the
incarnation and
presence of evildoers at all levels of society.
While Warding
Off Evildoers is highly recommended for any general-interest
library, its
message will ideally be profiled in mental health, safety, and
awareness groups
and book clubs dedicated to psychological understanding and improving
members'
lives with better information.
Return to Index
Why We Fight
L. Douglas Keeney
Independently Published
978-0578362519
$24.95
https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Fight-Soldiers-Sailors/dp/0578362511
Why
We Fight: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and
Marines Talk About America, Service, Family and Freedom juxtaposes interviews with black and white
images that bring to life the purposes, experiences, and motivations of
American
service people, and should be included in any collection strong in
patriotic or
military subjects.
Accessible
to
all ages, Why We Fight is a
representation of motivations, ideals, and quotes from various authors
that
capture various goals of and approaches to military service in this
nation.
More
so than
most books about American military experience, Why
We Fight provides not a focus on 'how', but on 'why'. This
perspective gathers thoughts and insights from those who fight not to
participate in war, but to end it, promoting the notion of freedom and
democracy around the world.
Quotes
from a
diverse array of domestic and international sources, from a
Revolutionary War
poet to a female Russian émigré and army sergeant who volunteered to
help
Afghan nationals transition to a life in the U.S., create a diverse
dialogue of
reflections that lend particularly well to classroom discussion.
From
Nelson
Mandela to authors and generals, the contrasts in ideas, perspectives,
and
language brings military service to life in a title highly recommended
for
military readers and civilian audiences alike.
Military
life is
demanding not just of time, but of hearts and minds. Why
We Fight goes where few others dare in capturing the nature
and
extent of these requirements.
Its
pairing of
succinct quotes, photos, and detailed biographical experience creates
an
interplay that is evocative and thought-provoking, lending to debate
and
inspection on many different levels: political, social, militarily, and
psychological.
Return to Index
At
Trail's End:
Homecoming
John Strother
Independently
Published
ASIN: B09YZ3ZSW9
$3.99
Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YZ3ZSW9
Trails End, Texas holds close its sacred
traditions, small-town prejudices, and the sassy culture of the Texan
who
considers football its religion and school tradition based on
consistency its
penultimate goal.
Outsiders
aren't welcome in this milieu.
Particularly new students Smoke, Ink, Cowboy, and Dusty, who enter
Trails End
High with attitudes that introduce new ideas nobody wants to consider.
At
Trail's End: Homecoming's
special brand of satire contributes to a
novel that will especially be appreciated by fans of this literary
style of
social and psychological observation. It contrasts perceptions of the
foundations the town was built on (small-town criminals versus "good
German stock"), attitudes about new ventures ("It’s
hardly a warm, southern type welcome. Saying these people don’t
belong here.”), and issues of trust, popularity, and growth
that emerge
from interpersonal conflicts that shake the town.
It's
tough to
live down reputations in a small town. It's especially challenging to
accept
transformative ideas outside the status quo.
As
the students
of Trails End High clash, readers receive a combination of
thought-provoking
inspections and engrossing insights that are at once hilarious and
semi-serious: “I’ve kept quiet because
it’s damn funny. Cowboy an outlaw. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Don’t
get me wrong, I wouldn’t trust that the little weasel dick if my life
depended
on it. Not because he’s dangerous. He’s annoying...And
as for that dance,” she said. “I’d rather shave our dog Cooper, dunk
his mangy
hide in the same stinky cologne you bath
in, and shove him into a tux. Wouldn’t be nearly as
embarrassing as
having you around.”
John
Strother
cultivates an exquisite attention to details both social and
psychological as he
surveys the changing milieu of this small town.
As
a storm brews
over various high school issues, it's reflected in the changing nature
of the
entire town. From popularity traps to the damages teachers and leaders
can
inflict, Strother's story contains many unusual, thought-provoking
encounters
and reflective moments.
The
result is a
coming-of-age romp highly recommended for libraries and students of
satire and
cultural observation. It embraces the evolution of not just teens, but
an
entire small town on the cusp of change sparked by a whodunit, a talent
show,
and a spicy attitude of discovery:
Return to Index
Dance Stance:
Beginning
Ballet
for Young Dancers
Once Upon a Dance
Once Upon a Dance, Publisher
978-1-955555-22-7
$4.99 ebook/$12.99 paper/$24.99 hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1955555222
Dance Stance: Beginning
Ballet
for Young Dancers with Ballerina Konora covers the basic steps
of
ballet in a visual discussion for young dancers that features ballerina
Konora's insights into not just the movements, but the attractions and
pleasures of dancing.
This education is accented by Stella Maris
Mongodi's appealing drawings of young ballerinas who absorb these
basics.
Readers might anticipate a dry approach to
the methodical movements of ballet, but Konora's intention is to also
transmit
the joy of dance to youngsters who may have little familiarity with
ballet.
The heart of this introduction is "how
to stand" (called the "dance stance"). Displaying the wit of
Konora and illustrator Mongodi, the first step in learning the dance
stance is
to employ a great deal of imagination.
Whimsical artwork accompanies the equally
appealing written description: "...perhaps
imagine you have wide duck feet and long frog toes. Try to feel you are
attached
to the earth. You are grounded and secure, like a magnet attached to
metal."
Adults working with the very young to absorb
the basics of ballet movements will especially appreciate the
opportunity to
place these efforts in an appealing perspective, using Dance
Stance to both illustrate these basics and engage young
picture book readers in the process.
The clear explanations will especially
benefit from adult read-aloud discussions as young dancers absorb many
new
concepts of standing, posture, pose, and being still: "While
there’s occasionally a standing-only role, you probably
already know that most ballet is accomplished with one leg in the air,
sometimes even two legs in the air as we jump and leap across the
stage. Before
we lift a leg in the air, let’s experiment a bit more with weight
shift. This
will help us stand on one foot without falling over."
Outstanding in its child-oriented
instructions and attention-grabbing illustrations and comparisons
between dance
and fun, Once Upon a Dance's motion- and joy-filled approach in Dance
Stance is highly recommended for
any adult seeking to instill early lessons and a love of ballet in the
young.
Return to Index
Dwarf Story
Professor W.W. Marplot
Waxing Gibbous Books
978-1-7347583-0-6
$17.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734758309
Dwarf Story
will appeal to middle grade readers who appreciate fantasy stories
packed with
action. It opens with Arty's first-person reflection on the oddity of
finding
an ax-wielding dwarf in his yard. As he flees the aggressive dwarf,
Arty makes
a confession to readers: he's not the type to fantasize about
mysterious
creatures or other worlds: "As we
ran, I grasped for breaths and for reasons why: why I found a Dwarf
this
Wednesday, why he followed me, and why I followed him. And what: what
should I
do with him? And whether: was I still asleep? And another why: why were
my
dreams now about fantasy characters? I hate that stuff and am more of a
scientist who likes math and logic and making lists of things to do
before
doing them—and keeping them on color-coded sticky notes like the ones
flying
from my bag and leaving a pretty trail behind us."
This opening and the adventure that follows
Arty, his friend Emma, and other characters will especially delight
young
readers who look for more than the usual fantasy trappings. What
evolves from an
"unscientific Wednesday" not only changes characters' lives, but
places them in unusual situations where their beliefs, approaches to
problem-solving, and relationships are all tested.
W.W. Marplot creates a satisfying mystery
that involves this fourteen-year-old young professor in situations
beyond the
logic or science he embraces. The different images of mythological
creatures
that begin to permeate and populate Arty's world against all odds makes
for a
satisfying story filled with unexpected encounters and moments.
Another strength that sets Dwarf
Story apart from the usual
mythological tale is its ability to embed humor into the clues that
Arty
follows to solve these mysteries.
Marplot juxtaposes Emma and Arty's
first-person experiences, and this added value of psychological insight
makes
for an especially compelling personal contrast between characters
challenged to
overcome their own fears and expectations, as Emma represents: "I was
afraid but surrounded by
friends—afraid that what happened to Ted would happen to me, hoping
that
Sprugly would protect me since I almost qualified as a kidnapped fairy
now. I
was also fighting some inner feelings I didn’t want to share yet, with
anyone.
You know: There was something growing in my heart, but I didn’t want to
talk
about that yet."
As other characters' perspectives (such as
Cry and Mary) enter the fray, middle grade readers receive an adventure
filled
with insights, growth, and battle scenarios that compel its young
heroes to
fight on different levels.
The result is a dwarf story that delivers on
its promise of fantasy and adventure, but embeds interpersonal
relationships,
growth, and revised views of reality into the story to give it extra
depth and
attraction.
Libraries with young patrons interested in
exceptional fantasy approaches will find Dwarf
Story a standout.
Return to Index
From Brick & Darkness
J. L. Sullivan
The Wild Rose Press
978-1-5092-4008-1
$18.99
Paper/$5.99 ebook
Website: http://www.jlsullivan.net
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Brick-Darkness-J-L-Sullivan-ebook/dp/B09THQ24TC
From Brick &
Darkness will
attract young adult fantasy readers who enjoy stories about magical
opportunities gone awry, and impossible dreams that turn into
nightmares.
Bax is given not just a magical ring, but
the new opportunities that come with it. Also arriving with these lures
is a
powerful and terrible djinn who seems to fulfill dreams, but in fact
introduces
a murderous force into his life that places Bax in the center of a
series of
deadly events.
Now he must not just clear his name, but
clear his life of the evil force he has introduced into the world.
J. L. Sullivan creates a story replete with
startling descriptions from the start as the ring is gifted to Bax by
an
unexpected stranger: "Neck bones
popped as his head rotated toward me, his face eclipsing the rays of
the
streetlight. His irises were dull purple, glazed over with a foggy
film, and
deep-set wrinkles radiated from the corners of his eyes like arrows
drawing
attention to them."
Notes of ethical and moral dilemmas
accompany Bax's decision to employ the force on his own, which both
strengthens
the character and his dilemma and responsibility for what transpires
and
involves teens in thought-provoking reflections about choices and their
outcome: "I pulled out the ring. It
rested on my palm, the jewel catching the late afternoon sun and
throwing a
purple spot on my gray wall. I’d never summoned Janni alone, but Jason
wouldn’t
approve of what I intended to ask my djinn to do."
While puzzles and problem-solving are an
intrinsic draw to the story, equally compelling is Bax's increasing
difficulty
with his parents and his evolving new persona in response to problems
he can't
discuss with anyone.
Especially strong are the reflections on
change and consequences that lead Bax to view the bigger picture
involved in
successfully wielding magic: "People
never used djinn for the greater good. If a genuinely selfless human
had
discovered a djinn, the world would be free of disease, war, and
poverty. But
those things existed. That meant humans have always used djinn to
selfishly
serve themselves. I was no better. Disappointment settled on me like a
ton of
steel. Like the hundreds of selfish humans before me with an
opportunity to
make a positive change, I didn’t."
Combine these moral and ethical dilemmas
with an action-packed plot that keeps readers on edge and guessing for
a
superior young adult fantasy. It is very highly recommended not just
for
libraries strong in stories of magic and growth, but book club and
discussion
groups who will want to include From
Brick & Darkness on reading lists that focus
on the struggles
young people face over empowerment.
Return to Index
Geo
Topher Allen
Outside Voice
Publishing
978-0-578-33330-4
$2.99 (ebook); $9.95 (paperback)
Website: https://www.topherallenbooks.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NJBCYJF
Middle
grade
fantasy readers with an interest in whimsical, science-based stories
will find Geo offers a different
flavor than most
fantasy tales for this age group. It revolves around a little crystal
who lives
in a lovely city of amazing structures, but who seeks more experiences
beyond
its boundaries.
Geo
longs for
adventure despite his underlying fear of judgment. His anticipation of
what
that adventure involves and how to incorporate new ideas into his
worldview
mirrors dilemmas faced by rock creatures Adrian and Robert, who
encounter many
unknowns in an expedition known as New Frontier.
Geology
and
fantasy intersect in unexpectedly original, surprising ways when Geo,
Adrian,
and others confront new ideas and each other as they dig for the truth
about
this strange new environment and the natural forces that dictate its
appearance
and movements.
Topher
Allen
displays a sense of humor throughout the character interactions and
discoveries, and this gives the story the fine value of a bantering wit
also
unusual in middle-grade reads.
The
adventure
component is nicely woven into the science facts, and will engage kids
by
leading them to think about the environment and the forces of nature
that
influence all life within it.
As
ecosystems,
animals, and different species interact, kids receive both an
entertaining, lively
fantasy and an inspection of worlds beyond city limits which
incorporates
alluring differences and educational opportunities alike.
Libraries
strong
in middle grade fantasy stories that seek to interest kids in
real-world
science will find a fine interplay between the two in Geo,
a delightfully original adventure that holds an underlying
message about ecology and life choices.
Return to Index
A
Grand Slam Birthday
Chrysa Smith
Independently Published
9798806857775
https://wellbredbook.net/product/a-grand-slam-birthday/
In
A Grand Slam
Birthday, Cousin Izzy's birthday party demands that attendee
Dory wear a proper
dress rather than her favored baseball pants. Still, Dory looks forward
to
celebrating, and has a cool gift that will enhance the party atmosphere.
The
surprise comes when she meets a fellow baseball player
who also eschews the dance party Izzy's arranged. In fact, nobody wants
to
dance.
Dory's
gift may provide the solution to the birthday party's
stalled enthusiasm, but it's not a board game or puzzle. It offers an
unusual
activity none of the kids have seen, and it ultimately encourages all
the participants
to try their hands at something Dory has loved all her young life.
Chrysa
Smith offers a different birthday celebration theme
that revolves around translating one's passion into achievable,
enjoyable fun
everyone can pursue. Her depiction of how two unfamiliar pursuits
eventually
engage the entire party in trying something new makes for an appealing
story
that goes beyond the usual birthday themes to encourage kids to
problem-solve
in more cooperative ways.
While A Grand Slam Birthday holds a baseball theme, its story is about much more than baseball. It will engage a wide range of picture book readers, whether they know or care about the sport or not.
The
message about trying new things is really a lesson on
positivity and creative pursuits. This approach will delight both
picture book
readers and their read-aloud parents with a taste of something
different.
Return to Index
Happy Laces
Sylvia Autornio Galombik
Independently Published
9780578344
$9.99
https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Laces-Silvia-Autorino-Galombik/dp/0578344335
Young picture book readers who struggle with
tying shoelaces will find much to love in Happy
Laces, the rhyming story of a child who learns to tie his own
shoelaces.
Protagonist Happy knows many things, from
the alphabet to how to write his name. What he doesn't know is how to
tie his
shoes.
His desire to learn goes beyond putting on
his own shoes: knots and tying can be used to put on other clothes,
make a bow,
or even fly kites.
A loving older sister, Bianca, offers Happy
a unique solution that allows him to more easily absorb the
complexities of the
lace-tying routine. This is an engaging story for ages four to seven
and the
read-aloud adults interested in encouraging and teaching kids how to
successfully perform this difficulty in dexterity.
The fun tale concludes with a practice
sidebar on how readers and their guides can make and employ their own
two-tone
'learning laces' with great success, making Happy
Laces a fun and practical recommendation that adults will
want to choose
for any young person struggling with shoelaces.
Return to Index
Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone
J.T. Michaels
Independently Published
978-1-7780352-0-3
$18.00 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Jimmy-Chartron-Lost-Keystone-Michaels/dp/1778035205
Jimmy Chartron and the
Lost
Keystone is a young adult fantasy about magic,
quests, and self-discovery. Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Chartron dreams of
entering
the academy and becoming an electrician, but life has a way of changing
goals...especially if magic is involved.
Tessa Marlise was a healer on the
battlefield during the Great War. When her soul becomes bound to
Jimmy's in
another lifetime and era, both are challenged to address their revised
situations, life perspectives, and a situation which involves murder
and
mayhem, in modern times.
From rituals conducted by those who can live
for centuries to the quest for a keystone that lures disparate
individuals a
century later, J.T. Michaels crafts a tale of risk-taking, adventure,
and
adversity. This attracts readers with intrigue and self-inspection that
brings
revised purposes and newfound growth to the main characters.
As Jimmy endangers his recruitment and
reconsiders his life goals, he finds himself both pursuing the truth
and being
pursued by forces from the past and present.
The interactions between Tessa and Jimmy are
clearly presented as each walk in the others' shoes and develop a
shared
objective despite their many differences.
Michaels is particularly adept at
constructing scenarios that continue to challenge and change both
characters.
This keeps the young adult reader on their toes and thoroughly involved
as the
magic and mystery unfold.
Jimmy Chartron and the
Lost
Keystone is a fantasy with a difference: it
specializes in a changing plot and characters that test their abilities
and
perceptions of the world as it builds a fast-paced adventure spiced
with humor
and strong dialogue.
The result is a story young adults will find
compelling and hard to put down. On the surface, it's the tale of a boy
challenged to review his life trajectory; but in actuality, it's a
story of
re-envisioning the nature of reality and life purpose, offering an
action-packed story that embraces both as Jimmy and Tessa search for an
elusive
truth and battle a first war to assure that a second conflict won't
evolve.
Return to Index
Justice
Makes a
Difference
Dr. Artika Tyner
and Jacklyn Milton
Planting People
Growing Justice Press
978-0-9985553-0-0
$9.95 Paper/$5.99
Kindle
Website: www.ppgjli.org
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Justice-Makes-Difference-Freedom-Fighter/dp/0998555304
Justice
Makes a Difference: The Story of
Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire will attract libraries and picture book readers
strong in children's
multicultural biographies. It surveys the education of young Justice,
who wants
to make a difference in the world despite her age.
Her
lessons
begin with reviewing the biographies of other women and men throughout
history,
who served their communities and changed the world.
As
Justice
absorbs their stories and the concept her grandma imparts ("Your name
is your destiny"),
picture book readers receive large-size, engaging, colorful
illustrations by Jeremy
Norton as they absorb the messages of
how even young people can make a difference.
Justice
understands that she was "meant to serve and lead in her community."
Just how she does so forms the crux of a tale that encourages kids to
think
about their own contributions to the fight for justice, using whatever
resources they have.
Much
more than a
series of biographical sketches alone, Justice
Makes a Difference provides both encouragement and food for
thought to
these young people, inviting discussions between them and adults who
want to
introduce children to advocacy concepts.
With
its roots
in real-world experiences and its insights on various ways one can
contribute
to society and foster positive change, Justice
Makes a Difference is a highly recommended picture book for
any library
looking to profile change-makers and encourage community contributions
in the
very young.
Return to Index
The Lonely Jacaranda
Russell Irving
Independently Published
9780645238228
$14.99
Hardcover/$9.99
Paper
www.russell-irving.net
The Lonely Jacaranda
provides a lovely picture book story of a lonely tree whose seed is
carried
overseas to be planted among other types of trees.
Jaca is the first of her kind in this new
world, and the local trees consider her odd. So do the native birds,
who each
choose a different tree because of their different qualities.
Jaca has no inviting leaves in winter, and
thus she presents a "cold and windy" countenance to the world around
her.
The little birds aren't uncaring, however.
And this may prove to be Jaca's salvation as they come up with a unique
plan
for easing her loneliness, with unexpected ramifications not just for
Jaca's
problem, but the human and natural world around her.
Russell Irving employs simple drawings to
accompany his moving story. He also reviews the birds and trees of his
native
Australia in the course of a delightful story about compassion that
young
picture book readers will find appealing and fun.
Adults looking for a gentle tale of
friendship and problem-solving that incorporates insights about the
Australian
environment will find The Lonely
Jacaranda a simple, enjoyable read.
Return to Index
Maxwell
Jeremy C.
Gredone
Mascot Books
978-1-68401-701-0
$19.95
www.mascotbooks.com
A
legend was
born at an unlikely time and in an unlikely place...on the first day of
school.
Jeremy
C.
Gredone's inviting picture book story Maxwell
receives engaging, colorful illustrations by D. Sherene Offutt as it
tells the
story of a spider the size of a nickel who has taken the family car
outside
mirror for home. He is red hot mad about the family's assumption that a
car
ride is just the ticket for the day.
They
expect the
spider will drop away in the wind and the freeway ride to school, but
the brave
little spinner remains with them, sparking admiration from the family
and a
school legend that grows.
As
the little
spider's web keeps returning against all odds from its moving home, the
legend
grows. Even the family father admits that "this is no ordinary
spider."
Kids
and
read-aloud adults will relish the picture book story's twists and
turns, which
offer no predictable avenue of resolution or adventure, and therefore
prove
satisfyingly lively and original.
Any
allusion to
the more famous Charlotte's Web is
dispelled during the course of Maxwell's journey, which grows until one
day
everything changes.
It
was their dreams that made Maxwell
“amazing.”
The
strength of
imagination, the sources of wonder over everyday events, and the bonus
pages
which appear after the story concludes, providing readers with
instructions for
drawing Maxwell and a more adult review of the picture book's origins
and
beliefs, will delight adults who enjoy read-aloud engagements and
stories that
blossom during the process.
Return to Index
Maxwell
Cooper and the Legend of Inini-Makwa
Simon Hargreaves
Ahr Publishing
979-8-9851213-0-8
$29.99 Hardcover/$16.99 Paper/$5.99
ebook/Audio TBA
Website: simonhargreavesauthor.com
Ordering: https://books2read.com/u/bPyGar
Maxwell Cooper and the
Legend
of Inini-Makwa is a compelling story that will reach young
adults interested in art, growth, and adventure stories.
At fourteen, Maxwell Cooper is an art
prodigy attending the prestigious boarding school Apogee Art Academy.
His
father has given him only one rule of conduct—to only draw what is real
in the world—but
in a fit of youthful rebellion, Maxwell chooses to draw a fantasy
figure
instead. This unwittingly unleashes a force into the world that becomes
his
responsibility to tackle.
As the fantasy evolves, Simon Hargreaves
creates a vivid story of responsibility, choice, stepping up into an
adult role
and mindset, and confronting the impossible reality of magic as the
Inini-Makwa he's depicted begins to attack everything he holds
dear in his
life.
As the threat moves from childish games in
the woods to real life, Hargreaves crafts a vivid portrait of Maxwell's
struggles to find a solution to the problem he's created, as well as to
grasp
the impossible likelihood of a force that defies his upbringing and
perception
of reality.
It's not just Max who grapples with revised
roles. His younger brother provides some of the keys that could draw
Max into a
position of power: “'In the other
drawings, the thing that wasn’t real was surrounded by things that
were. Like
it was real, too.'
'So?'
'So, there’s nowhere for the
coin to go. It could be anywhere. You need to draw something around
it. Put it
in the real world somewhere.
Max clenched his jaw. What Ben
was saying was true, but Max didn’t want it to be true. He wanted to
prove that
the notion of his drawings somehow magically coming to life was a dumb,
stupid
idea made up by his kid brother."
What choices would an artist face if
everything they drew became real?
This story's ability to embrace both
evolving talents and a young artist's revised place in his world makes
for a
moving account which entertains on different levels, injecting
thought-provoking moments of reflection and revelation into its saga of
confrontation, realization, and redemption.
Many young adult reads may sound similar in
subject (a young man is charged with confronting forces beyond his ken
and
abilities), but Maxwell Cooper and the
Legend of Inini-Makwa differs, with its intriguing inspection
of the power
of art and creation to affect lives and effect change through
transformative moments
of creativity and realization.
Middle grade to high school readers of
fantasy and coming-of-age stories are in for a real treat in Maxwell
Cooper and the Legend of
Inini-Makwa, as it considers Maxwell's changing position in
the world and
his efforts to control his creative but dangerous power.
Return to Index
River
of Ashes
Alexandrea Weis
and Lucas Astor
Vesuvian Books
978-1-64548-098-3
$17.95
www.VesuvianBooks.com
As
a
psychological study in how women become victims and how victims become
easy
prey to evil manipulators who operate under the guise of something
different, River of Ashes represents
a standout in
the literature, and is the first book in the St. Benedict series. It
probes not
just events, but how they transpire, cultivating an acuity and insight
that is
vivid, realistic, and engrossing.
River
of Ashes
reveals the making of a psychopath as it
follows the frustrations and evolving predatory perspective of wealthy
teen
Beau Devereaux, who has everything, but wants more.
As
the story
delves into this teenage mind's downward spiral into depravity and
death,
readers receive a combination of eerie mystery surrounding the
abandoned
(possibly haunted) St. Francis Seminary and the teens who have claimed
the
river and the surrounding area as their own hang-out place.
Alexandrea
Weis
and Lucas Astor craft a compelling story that at first seems as though
it will
focus on supernatural elements. As mature teens and adults pursue this
story,
it becomes evident that more is happening than ghosts and haunting
alone;
because Beau's evolutionary process and the perceptions of his present
and
future victims are the plot's main driving force.
The
horror is
steeped in the process of teens as they evolve alongside this
home-grown
horror, and in the mind of Beau as he pursues the one thing he can't
have or
buy.
More
so than
most stories of psychological horror, River
of Ashes provides a compelling focus not just on the actions of a
psychopath, but the making of one.
From
family
influences to forbidden relationships, Beau's trajectory assumes a
deadly
certainty that readers will see coming, but still can't completely
predict.
And
that's the
glory of River of Ashes. With its
special blend of supernatural and human threat and its steady
exploration of
depravity and resolution, it provides compelling psychological insights
to
readers interested in the roots of abusive killers.
While
readers
might choose the book for its supernatural overtones, ideally River of
Ashes will also be included on
the reading lists of discussion groups dedicated to better
understanding
personal safety and psychological influences and developments.
Mature
teen to
adult readers will find this story mesmerizing. It's a mystery, it's a
suspense
novel, and it's a psychological portrait akin to Lord
of the Flies.
From crazy parties and growing terror on the river to individuals who
try to
escape the web of intrigue and horror, River
of Ashes is especially powerful in its portrait of not just
how a
psychopath grows, but how he operates within and outside of normal
social
circles. Why do victims keep quiet? What power is wielded by those who
would
abuse and kill?
The result will draw mature readers interested in this evolutionary
process
with a story that is centered on developing relationships, good and
evil, and a
group of teens who teeter on an uncertain adulthood. Some will survive.
Some
will not. Their choices, values, and thoughts drive a story that is
thoroughly
engrossing even as it's emotionally gripping in its journey through
sexual
assault, harassment, and challenges to justice.
Young
women,
especially, need this cautionary tale of a charming personality gone
awry.
Return to Index
Rocket Red: A Little Ant with a Big
Dream
Cheryl DaVeiga & Dave Gibson
Waterhole Productions LTD
978-1736395141
$15.11 Hardcover/$12.99 Paperback/$3.99
ebook
Website: www.BiffBamBooza.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rocket+red+a+little+ant+with+a+big+dream&crid=3Q1YLJTT4DRS4&sprefix=rocket+red+a+li%2Caps%2C138&ref=nb_sb_ss_ab-sx-deeppl
Rocket Red: A
Little Ant
with a Big Dream is a joyful, whimsical picture book
exploration of an ant that becomes a rock star against all odds.
His good friend, Beebop Bea the honeybee,
believes in his talents and enthusiastically supports them.
Artist Remesh Ram interprets Cheryl DaVeiga
& Dave Gibson's story with a series of images that read-aloud
parents and
kids will find delightful, colored with the adventure and personalities
of the
story.
Not everyone appreciates Rocket's drive to
achieve a different kind of life. As he eschews ordinary tasks that
divert him
from his love of music and his real objectives, youngsters receive
enlightening
passages about goal-setting and creativity: "His
plans did not include scouting around for someone’s leftover lunch and
dragging
it up a hill. Red had fantasies of making it big, like his heroes, the
Beetles."
As he faces new adversity in the form of Mr.
Big and Mean and new opportunities that come from his music and sharing
its
messages, young readers receive a delightful adventure that centers on
friendship and interactive fun.
Kids who enjoy looking for hidden clues will
find the invitation to count the red ants and search for the hidden
Beebop Bea
in each scene to be an added, fun value to the lessons on creative
problem-solving and how music can bring even the most diverse
populations
together.
Adults looking for a vivid read-aloud story filled with action, adventure, and insights will consider Rocket Red: A Little Ant with a Big Dream an outstanding representation of positivity and community-building efforts which move from a little ant's big dreams to the bigger process of embracing diversity in the world.
Rocket Red: A Little Ant with a Big DreamReturn to Index
Sid
Johnson and the Phantom Slave
Stealer
Frances
Schoonmaker
Auctus
Publishers
978-1-7368278-9-5
Price: TBA
https://fschoonmaker.com
Sid
Johnson
and the Phantom Slave Stealer will reach middle graders ages 12-15 with a
vivid story that incorporates the lure of a Western with the intrigue
of an
action story, and literally opens with a bang: "Was that a
gunshot? Sid
Johnson sat upright in bed. Maybe he’d been dreaming. Jimmy lay on the
other
side of the bed tangled up in the covers. It was no use asking if he
heard the
shot. His little brother would sleep with the house falling around
them. Maybe
it was men huntin’ down by the creek.
He's
been
awakened in the middle of the night by strange sounds before, but his
mother
always dismisses the idea that the old house contains anything more
than the
usual creeks and groans. Are his parents hiding something from him?
As
Sid's
eavesdropping uncovers much more to the noises than the usual sources,
he
becomes involved in a series of events that come alive, along with
their 1800s milieu.
From
trespassers
and bounty hunters to slave stealers and runaways, Sid becomes immersed
in
social and political conflicts beyond his years as he confronts a
phantom slave
stealer that's been terrorizing three states and considers his family's
role.
Sid
has always
believed slave stealers were in the right. But this particular
notorious figure
"...steals slaves and disappears
with ’em into thin air. Ain’t nobody been able to catch ’em or the
slaves he
steals.”
As
Sid becomes
more and more entangled in the situation, he comes to revise his
opinions about
many things, stepping into a position of decision-making that belays
his youth
and experience.
Frances
Schoonmaker does a fine job of merging intrigue, history, and social
inspection. The story draws with compelling action, builds realistic
characters
with logical lingo and concerns, and adds historical facts throughout
to both
educate and attract attention.
As
illegal
operations blend with moral and ethical questions about what is truly
legal and
what is not, the characters grow through a series of encounters that
challenges
their beliefs and values.
Historical
fiction comes to life under Schoonmaker's hand.
Another
plus is
that protagonist Sid doesn't get to neatly realize all his dreams. He's
still
growing, changing, and on the road to discovery about himself and the
world and
his place in it, and this provides a nice draw that doesn't belittle
young
audience with a pat conclusion.
As
Sid's choices
lead him to a crossroads on a longer journey, readers will relish the
atmospheric descriptions and realistic events that shape his
opportunities and
change his life.
Libraries
looking for vivid historical backdrops and action-packed adventures
that pose
no easy solutions for their characters will find Sid Johnson
and the Phantom
Slave Stealer an engrossing story
that deserves not just acquisition, but assignment for discussion
groups
tackling the history and issues of slavery and those involved with it
on all
sides.
Titan Titan is a young adult dystopian sci-fi story
about superhuman siblings who become separated in a world where
genetically
altered soldiers have become the enemy of the new world government. It's
been five
years since their separation, but Alex has not given up hope that he
can find
his brother Levi. Unbeknownst to him, they are both at the center of a
dangerous experiment gone awry, and may pose a threat to the
established order
that dictates their removal. The
End-War
Ceasefire has brought with it a mandate to wage a very different kind
of war on
the stage of a world-united democracy. Alex knows he is different from
those around
him and thus represents a danger to this new order: "Unlike
him, many of those people were old enough to remember and,
despite the lingering hardships that still plagued the world, they
seemed
content—even happy. Maybe it was all relative. Maybe it was just the
booze.
What he knew for sure was he didn’t feel the same way." Alex
falls into
a group of outcasts who harbor their own reasons for rebellion. He is
just
beginning to feel like he's found his family of choice when he is
kidnapped and
faces new challenges that affect both his life and the world's fragile
alliances. Tom
Stein crafts
a fluid sci-fi story in which the line of demarcation between heroes
and
villains is mercurial. The elusive, genetically created Titans loose in
the
world are wild cards in the plays between social forces that would
control
them. Whether they can do good or have been built to do harm is yet to
be
determined. Young
adult to
adult readers will find that Titan
embraces many messages about family, social and political connections,
the
ethics of power manipulation and application, and survival tactics. The
juxtaposition of social and political worlds, in particular, is nicely
done as
Alex matures to recognize not only his special abilities, but his
unique place
in two very different milieus. From
Jack Reid
(the Juggernaut rebels' special brand of freedom fighter) to opposing
forces
with the same goal (to locate and use the Titans to quell opposition),
Stein
crafts a vivid story that evolves into a cat-and-mouse game of intrigue
and
confrontation not only between factions, but within hearts and minds. Alex
embarks on
this journey to avoid being alone. It's not one that is completely
concluded in
Titan, but promises more adventure
as
Alex comes to realize a revised purpose to his life and efforts to
reunite with
his brother. He's not out to change the world. But, his decisions will. This
vivid
portrait of power in the hands of a young adult is particularly
compelling
because the characterization is nicely and intrinsically wound into the
moral
and ethical dilemmas Alex faces, all of which are new revelations. Young
adult and
adult readers who enjoy stories of social and political struggle and
personal
transformation will find Titan a
powerful story that pulls on many levels to produce a vivid inspection
of
special interests, purposes, and lives. Trick-or-Treat, Alistair Gray Trick-or-Treat,
Alistair Gray
is a picture book that sounds like a Halloween special, but should
receive
year-around attention as a spooky modern folk story that kids will find
compellingly attractive. Lindy Ryan creates a rollicking rhyme that
describes young Alistair's Halloween costume and adventure: "He stalked
through the leaves spun
up/in old rags,/A homemade mummy, with/a trick-or-treat bag." Upon entry into the Halloween ball, Alistair
views not just the predictible ghosts and goblins, but more modern
representations of cowboys, aliens, and even princesses and ice skaters. Where's the horror in that? Alistair feels he's made a grave error in
his antiquated choice of costume and perception of Halloween horror.
"It's
a time to be scary," he grumps. As brave Ali Gray leaves the
not-so-frightening party and ventures into the dark night alone, he
receives an
important lesson on Halloween, horror, and a clarification of what
Halloween is
becoming in modern times. Picture book readers who don't mind the
presence of frightening creatures in their stories will find Ali's
lesson in
what the holiday really is about to be thought-provoking; especially
when
accented by a read-aloud parent's discussion of Ali's revelations. Readers seeking a different kind of
Halloween exposé will find a delightful blend of fantasy, revelation,
and
spooky encounters with a message in this delightful study about
changing
interpretations of Halloween and horror. “All Hallow’s Eve/“is
not just
for the dark./It is something more sacred in which fun is a part.” The You I See LGBTQ
fiction for teens is a growing genre that is here added to and
enhanced by the publication of The You I See, the story of two boys who meet at a
fundamentalist church in Houston in the 1990s and develop a growing,
forbidden
affection for one another that defies their upbringing and culture. A wise grandmother's admonition sets the
stage for the unexpected, which is presented and experienced by
first-person
narrator Alex: "My Grandmother Allen
once told me that life was like the lottery. “You can go far on talent,
hard
work, and persistence, but I’ve lived long enough to know that chance
and blind
luck play an oversized part in everyone’s life, Alex." Alex's friendship with Brandon reveals a
very different family milieu than his own loving one: "My
dad was good at making it seem like he himself was winded and
tired, when all along he had an eagle eye on Brandon so he could judge
when to
slow us all down. Brandon seemed not to notice. I got the sense he was
just
happy to be with us and relieved to be around a father who never blew
up in
unexpected rages." Danny Freeman creates a powerful contrast in
lives as he follows Alex's navigation through the realization that he
may be
gay, his family encounters, and the very different reactions and
challenges
that Brandon faces. He presents especially powerful scenes in
which different characters around them either support or reject the
teens,
capturing the fear and angst that surrounds coming out in a community
replete
with prejudices that vie with ideals of love and acceptance: "Suddenly
it dawned on me, an insight
full of comfort and peace: unexplainably, reassuringly, and without a
doubt,
Joel already knew. He already knew my secret. He had known for a long
time, and
it had not mattered one bit. I sensed some-how, in the space between
two
heartbeats, that I was safe with Joel." Most LGBTQ novels for teens focus on the
evolving relationship, but Freeman takes an extra, much-needed step in
revealing how the process of coming out elicits different reactions
from
friends, family, and community. There are unexpected developments as well as
anticipated angst. These weave into a story especially powerful for its
contention that not all gay youth experiences are predictable,
cut-and-dried, or
completely negative or positive. This multifaceted approach creates a more
realistic story than most genre reads, offering teens the milieu of
lives
changed by boys who experience the normal surges of confusion, sexual
desire,
and the angst of being teens, in addition to their discoveries about
themselves, each other, and their place in their community. The You I See's powerful ability to
refute stereotypes on all
sides makes for an especially authentic, realistic story of growth. It
is
highly recommended as a key acquisition for young adult libraries;
especially
those looking for non-traditional explorations of the subject for LGBTQ
collections and discussion groups.
Sid
Johnson and the Phantom Slave
Stealer
Return
to Index
Tom Stein
Tom Stein Books
979-8-9855017-1-1
eBook:
$9.99/Paperback: $14.99/Hardcover: $30
www.tomsteinbooks.com
Return
to Index
Lindy Ryan
BlackSpot Books
978-1-64548-115-7
$14.99 Paper/$5.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Trick-or-Treat-Alistair-Gray-ebook/dp/B09F22HB1L
Return
to Index
Danny Freeman
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-311-0
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Return
to Index