June 2023 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature
Mystery & Thrillers
The Coin
Anna M. Elias
Independently
Published
ASIN: B0BY3KFDJJ
$4.99 Kindle
Website: https://www.annamelias.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Coin-Anna-M-Elias-ebook/dp/B0BY3KFDJJ
Prior fans
of the
metaphysical sci-fi saga The Vessels
will find the journey continues seamlessly in Book Two, The
Coin. It follows new Vessels Tal, Link, and Avani as they
fulfill their purposes as hosts for spirits who work through them to
correct
wrongdoings of the past.
Each holds a
coin
that gives them protection. But it also holds deadly potential to allow
dark
entities from the other side to get through, and so they face a major
challenge
from one vengeful spirit determined to wreck havoc.
The story
opens with
a rogue spirit tapping the life force of a Ugandian woman who feels it
within
her, but isn't aware of what it means. She only knows she is being
overtaken on
a deeper level than anything that's happened to her body or soul in her
life.
Whether that force is one of good or evil, remains to be seen.
The rogue's
difficulty in controlling non-vessel humans is apparent from the start.
He
needs something different.
Familiarity
with the
spirit journeys and setting of The
Vessels will allow readers to extend the foundations created
in the former
book as the struggle evolves.
The playing
field of
good and evil is not always even. These contrasts between the different
entities are nicely drawn as future scenes explore the willing vessels
that not
only acknowledge, but accept their revised missions: "Like
every other spirit Link had served, Teddy held no sense of
animosity or bitterness. No matter how badly they’d been hurt in human
life,
the spirits were like bright, flickering torches that never went out."
The
metaphysical
struggles supplement sci-fi events and interpersonal relationships in a
satisfying manner as the story assumes the countenance of a
detective-style
investigation, a thriller's embrace of nonstop action, and the
possibilities of
a paranormal environment in which humans and spirits not only interact,
but
intersect for a greater purpose than individual objectives alone.
Anna M.
Elias does an
outstanding job of melding the worlds of spirit and human affairs,
developing
personalities and purposes attuned to the magic of the coins, the
efforts of Spirit
Guards, and presence of evil powers that spill into human affairs.
The result
is a
powerfully-rendered story that extends the milieu of The
Vessels with a mystery and focus that holds the powerful
attraction of forces that struggle on both sides of the coin.
Libraries
and readers
interested in works that dovetail metaphysical and spiritual questions
with
sci-fi settings and struggles between good and evil spirits will find The Coin essential for any collection
seeing popularity with The Vessels
and interested in taking the next step into a milieu marked by
spiritual
healing, forgiveness, and symbiotic relationships.
Return to Index
Hibernaculum
Anthony Doyle
Out-of-This-World
Press/Devil's Party
978-1-957224-05-3
www.devilspartypress.com
Imagine
sleeping
through winter like a bear, emerging to new possibilities and life when
times
are better.
Hibernaculum posits a near future in
which humans make this choice,
entering into a sanctioned deep sleep that appeals to the infirm, the
tired,
and those who want to make room on the planet for the blossoming tide
of
humanity.
Like other
hibernating creatures, much of mankind has adopted the rituals of
gorging on
food and life before they enter this long sleep period:
"By late fall, the feast is over, and heavy,
heaving, jelly-fleshy
men and women move slowly, think slowly, sit and wonder, slouch and
doze, while
raising buckets of water to their swollen faces. Lethargy. Twenty hours
a day
in front of the TV: reruns, reality shows, salmon documentaries,
huntsman
horror flicks. This is wind-down; counting down the light, as the
darkness
grows."
Anthony
Doyle injects
many reflective phrases about this unique time in humanity's life: "Time is chemical...Time is hormones,
time is melatonin...Not all winters fall in winter." These
contribute
a deeper reflective atmosphere about this period in human history where
individuals experience the Hibernaculum's dreams and nightmares in
different
ways.
He injects
writings
that capture these observations, exploring disparate experiences from
Jonah's
Syndrome and the instability it brings dreamers, to those who reflect
that a
hibernation-based society may not bring the answers and solutions it
promises:
"I can’t help thinking that this is too little too
late. How many
of these domes would it take to cut a real chunk out of the human
ecological
footprint? Is it just an expensive, stubborn act of desperation? Is
hibernation, ironically, an attempt at a global wake-up call?"
The
ecological,
social, and psychological messages embedded in this world and the new
choices
offered by hibernation are thought-provoking and revealing as those
newly
awakened admit to different perceptions that were unintended results of
the
pursuit of new possibilities for humanity:
"I don’t think I came back out the same person. I’m
not sure
whether some of me is still unconscious, still down there in the
underworld. Or
perhaps a new part I didn’t know existed followed me back up, like a
shadow or
a tethered ghost. Maybe I brought it back with me, from oblivion, and I
haven't
been able to integrate it yet. The result is a glitch. It seems I am on
the
blink."
Ultimately,
readers
who enter Hibernaculum with the
characters, who come to realize that its promises may be empty and hold
consequences they never saw coming, will find the story gripping,
revealing,
and frightening.
The contrast
between
notes and experiences of those who navigate this world are
exceptionally well
done, and will lend to book club discussions and sci-fi reader delight.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a futuristic exploration which examines sleepers of the world
and the
social and political truths and realities that underlie their
motivations will
find Hibernaculum replete with a
growing horror of realization that awakens, at the end, into a
nightmare of
manipulation and truth. It will leave readers thinking long after the
story's
final startling revelations.
Return to Index
Into
The Seventeen Towers
Jareth Z. Navratil
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-835-1
$16.99 Paper/$24.99 Hardcover
www.atmospherepress.com
Can
a flawed, ordinary,
middle-aged man who holds little talent become a hero? He does in Into The Seventeen Towers, a fantasy
that opens with a prologue in which eight-year-old Nate is bored by the
weekly
forced visitations with his father. His experience is not so much
visitation as
sanctioned abandonment, as his father dutifully picks him up, leaves
him to his
own devices for six to eight hours, then brings him back home.
Nate
has learned to deal with
his life by becoming a Page-Walker who can literally step through the
pages of
books to escape the real world, living vicariously through the
adventures of
its characters. But, he's never before entered an unfinished book which
opens
with a call for help until he stumbles upon his grandfather's
unfinished
manuscript.
Jareth
Z. Navratil cultivates
an unusually vivid "you are here" feel in this fantasy, following
Nate into transformations and experiences that come to life:
"When Nathaniel was almost on top of it, the
abomination swiped the air manically, but Nathaniel evaded with a
midair pivot.
Having penetrated its defenses, Nathaniel latched to the sides of the
abomination’s hideous face with his talons. The abomination shrieked in
panic
and shook its head wildly to dislodge Nathaniel. But Nathaniel merely
dug his
talons in deeper, then leaned forward and began pecking wildly at the
abomination’s eyes. Nathaniel tasted iron through the slits of his
beak."
This
gives Into The Seventeen Towers the
unusual flavor of a real encounter
while readers navigate the fantasy world Nate is compelled to enter and
interact with.
As
he experiences controversies
and challenges with his girlfriend Melissa and her wayward son Robert,
he steps
into a milieu of princesses, magic, and powerful artifacts that hold
the
ability to transform not just individuals, but a kingdom.
Navratil
writes with a seasoned
hand that juxtaposes high adventure with equally lofty inspections of
self and
environment. The story is particularly compelling in its intersections
of
fantasy and the realities of becoming more proactive, self-aware, and
effective
in life.
A
wry sense of humor runs
through the tale as various characters encounter one other, determine
whether
they are friends or foes, and contribute to the story's evolutionary
process:
“You really do put a lot
of weight into your exclusionary
tactics, don’t you?” Melissa stifled a laugh with her palm. She
regretted that
she and Ronia had gotten off on the wrong foot… err… hoof. They seemed
to share
equally low tolerances for condescension coupled with a mastery over
the art of
sarcasm. Perhaps they would become friends yet."
The result is an unusually literary,
psychologically astute
fantasy that leads to thought-provoking insights about life objectives,
friendships and adversity, and how the roles of flawed, ordinary
individuals
change when they become heroes.
Libraries
and readers looking for fantasies that go beyond
action and adventure to tap the inner resources and the development of
ordinary
individuals who did not expect to step into the roles of heroes (or
destinies
involving princesses and magical powers that could unravel the fabric
of a
kingdom) will find Into
The Seventeen Towers
boldly ventures into unexpected worlds. The
story is evocative, engrossing, and satisfyingly complex.
Return to Index
Loy: In the
Forests
of the Mind
Todd David Gross
Sunlit Lane
Productions
978-1-7379426-0-3
$17.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/LOY-forests-Todd-David-Gross-ebook/dp/B0C17DFG4Q
It is said
that 'one
door opens when another closes.' Such could apply to the events of Loy: In the Forests of the Mind, which
opens with the scenario of a humanity of the future stripped of all its
technological wonders, with people born blind until they hit puberty.
This
situation forces the remnants of humanity to build extraordinary senses
before
they evolve into adulthood and are granted the gift of vision, which
serves as
another layer augmenting reality rather than being the main sense that
perceives and translates the world.
The story
opens with an
event that changes everything, prompting Daniel's decision to lead his
family
on an outing to a cave that winds up sheltering them from disaster. An
edible
plant feeds them, but in fact it does much more. It transforms them
into
survivors of this apocalypse.
Readers who
anticipate the usual progression of apocalyptic events, rebuilding, and
struggle will find that Loy operates
on a less predictable, more metaphysical level as it follows the growth
of a
spiritual culture and what happens when it confronts an industrial
force that
threatens to tear down the physical and spiritual forces driving this
new
world.
Descriptions
of this
process of takeover and change provide vivid observations about the
horror of change
that arrives to once again transform the world:
"A nearby meadow was invaded and tented. The
muffled sounds sent a
new sensation through the land. Garbled voices became prominent. That
night,
flickering points of firelight burned their way deep into the forest.
The
following day flat, stabbing sounds pierced the air as trees came under
attack.
Men with axes moved with unmerciful speed. An area that had stood and
sounded
together for a millennium vanished within days. In their absence lay an
open,
desolate sound. Each day this emptiness grew. Each day a dull ache
spread
further through the land."
Todd David
Gross
paints a richer story of endings and beginnings than most dystopian or
apocalyptic sci-fi, embedding these scenarios with spiritual and
metaphysical
components that capture the disparate approaches to life that each
sector of
humanity represents.
As shocking
discoveries are made about these invaders and what they truly represent
("They
kill their own kind!"), underlying
messages about ecology, Spirit, darkness and light lead readers on as
much a
philosophical and intellectual journey as one of entertainment and
discovery.
Different
experiences
drive characters that represent shifting realizations and realities,
from a
shaman driven from his home to both discover and lead his people to
truth, to a
mother struggling to protect her sensitive and extraordinarily blessed
child,
whose pain evolves into hope and strength.
As these
disparate
lives intersect, questions of connections between nature and humanity
and a
tunnel that leads to evolution and transformation come to light that
brings
readers into a milieu filled with new possibilities and discoveries.
Gross is
especially
adept at contrasting the changing natures of individuals and
communities forced
outside their comfort zones and into situations that test not just
their
perceptions of the world, but their choices in either engaging with or
altering
it.
Libraries
and readers
interested in apocalyptic sci-fi may at first think that the nature and
setting
of Loy: In the Forests of the Mind
portends the usual read about physical struggles and adaptations, but
the
greater joy of this story lies in its mental and spiritual
explorations. Sci-fi
fans seeking higher-level thinking from their futuristic reading will
find Loy: In the Forests of the Mind
not just
thought-provoking, but well suited to book club discussions. Topics
range from
the challenges of transformation and risk-taking to the bonds between
people
and paradigm-changing encounters with contemporary issues the world
faces
today, from diversity and inclusion to ecological awareness and global
exploitation's impacts.
Return to Index
Once Upon a Wonderland
DJ Stoneham
Communicado DJS
ISBN: 978-952-65064-2-5
$16.78 Paper/$4.75 ebook
Website: www.djstoneham.com
Ordering: Once
upon a Wonderland: Stoneham, DJ: 9789526506425: Amazon.com: Books
Once Upon
a Wonderland is a fantasy
foray into
the world of Alice in Wonderland
that
uses Carroll's classic as a foundation for embarking on an unexpected
journey.
As the second book in a series of Wonderland encounters, it's pleasing
to note
that this functions as a stand-alone read, making it entirely
accessible by
newcomers.
Alice has moved far beyond the
rabbit hole in this story, realizing that her mission is to mend time
itself,
if she's ever to return home.
The tale opens with a prologue that
sets Alice in a Victorian era at home. But she's not at peace with her
choices:
"Mrs Huxley had finally
deigned to take afternoon tea with
Alice’s mother. 'How is it that Alice still resides at home? Shouldn’t
she be
married at her age?' Victorian values did not preclude Mrs Huxley from
the
occasional indiscreet or snide remark. If anything they required it.
For Mrs
Huxley knew only too well that she had answered her own question. Alice
still
lived at home for the very reason that she wasn’t married. Had Mrs
Huxley asked
that same question of Alice, the answer would have surprised her. Alice
would
have said that she was right where she was supposed to be."
Three visits to Wonderland have not only left their
mark on
Alice, but Wonderland is still waiting for her return. There are many
reasons
why Alice resides at home, but only one is a portent of her future. The
lure of
Wonderland proves impossible to resist, and once again Alice finds
herself in a
strange milieu where fairy tale legends have become poltergeists,
arsonists,
and powerful controllers of her life, in line with the dark origins of
our
seemingly innocent childhood tales.
Alice needs to get all these forces out of
Wonderland if
she's to succeed in her goal and rescue the boy she loves. Hindered by
the reality
that she's growing younger (and possibly more ineffective) by the day,
Alice
notes that her days are numbered even as her strength wanes (but not
her
determination to succeed).
Readers who enter Wonderland once more will find
the same
aura of madness and impossibility as in previous Wonderland encounters,
but
here they are tinged with an overlay of danger and power plays that
force Alice
to draw on old friends and new resources to survive and change time
itself.
DJ Stoneham creates a compelling, forceful
environment,
supplementing action and impossible characters and encounters with
insights
that Alice and her cohorts develop about what is happening, and why:
“My guess is the Queen of
Hearts and her
cohorts want you out of the way, one way or another – either out of
Wonderland
or isolated. Perhaps she’s playing for Time.” Jackson looked apologetic
for
what he was about to say. “I think her hope is that you’ll grow so
young that
you won’t know what you want anymore and can be manipulated. Tyrants
have a
habit of making the most out of a crisis.”
This is a Wonderland that Lewis
Carroll never envisioned. It's also an Alice whose perspective and
adult
rationales and problem-solving abilities wane, the younger she grows.
Stoneham's contrast between adult decision
prowess and a child's-eye view of the world makes for an involving
story that
is thoroughly unexpected.
Libraries and readers looking for
fantasy stories that take classics and turn them on end for new
realizations
and action will find Once Upon a
Wonderland not just engaging, but hard to put down or
predict. Its quirky
re-envisioning of a Wonderland in which Alice's youth is pitted against
odd and
unpredictable developments creates encounters worthy of book club
discussion,
as well.
Return to Index
The Reformed Man
Dina Santorelli
eLuna Media LLC
ASIN: B0BX116XH7
$2.99
ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Reformed-Man-Dina-Santorelli-ebook/dp/B0BX116XH7
The Reformed Man
represents the dystopian sci-fi time travel story at its
best and tells of Icelander Benedikt Rafnkelsson, whose invention of a
time travel portal may prove to be humanity's only salvation from the
Great
Shift that killed millions, and the coming Great Purge which will
finish the
job.
Rafnkelsson is
assembling an A-team of young Candidates to embark on an unprecedented
effort
to assure humankind's future, and Grady Smith's brother Kenny is being
groomed
to become one of them. When Grady steps up to help his brother, his
actions
unwittingly cause them to participate in the time travel effort in ways
its
originator never envisioned.
Dina Santorelli crafts a thought-provoking,
riveting story
of a brother changed by his experiences in time. Grady's shifting views
of his
family's influence, his life goals, and his perspective about changing
that
future are revealed in the course of confrontations with self and his
altered
world.
Intrigue surrounds Benedikt Rafnkelsson's real
purposes, as Grady navigates unfamiliar possibilities and taps his own
potential for growth in unexpected ways.
Santorelli's
attention to action and family relationships as they become borderline
attractions to the Candidates' purposes creates a compelling saga in
which
Grady and others examine and experience the myths and realities
surrounding the
Candidates' real challenges.
The Reformed Man
poses intriguing questions about moral and ethical
behaviors which will attract sci-fi enthusiasts of time travel stories
and
altered senses of value. The story's insights about the past, present
and
future create a vivid exploration of good and evil in the world, and
the people
who make difficult choices to support either one.
Return to Index
Remember Us
E.T. Gunnarsson
Bragi Press
978-1-960301-01-7
$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Remember-Us-Odemark-T-Gunnarsson-ebook/dp/B0BXQ7GQH5
Remember Us
gives readers interested in dystopian and apocalyptic sci-fi a powerful
addition to the Odemark Series. It is set in 2186, long after the
destructive
wars of the 21st century. Here, revolutionary Simon and his new friend
Anna
journey through the promise and ravages of Earth until a strange
explosion
propels them into yet another unfamiliar realm.
The story opens with Simon awakening on the space
station Arcadis, which somehow
feels unfamiliar
despite his residency on one of the great Ark stations above the
polluted
Earth. His sense that something is wrong is solidified when a dead
friend from
his past emerges to instigate a casual conversation.
Alarm bells go off as Simon and his readers come to
realize
that his environment may not be real, but a specter haunting him from
the past.
Is it really a dream—or a real nightmare?
E.T. Gunnarsson creates a story that needs no prior
familiarity with the other series titles, but reaches out to grip the
reader's
attention by building a flashback into the past into a story of
present-day
challenges. This neatly sets the stage for newcomers and prior fans
alike, who
will find that Simon's memories and choices ill prepare him for the
next step
into the unknown, marking a wild ride into revolution and redemption.
As dreams, spirit animals, and contrasts between
past and
present selves evolve, Simon is led into a milieu in which he enters
the past,
becomes other people, and experiences lives that lead into realms of
horror
with added courage to face the future. These physical and mental
excursions
test Simon's resolve and ability to navigate these strange new worlds,
and as
he solidifies his role as a new revolutionary martyr, readers will
appreciate
seeing this world through Simon's eyes and newfound choices.
E.T. Gunnarsson builds his story on the foundations
of
Simon's growth and realizations, peppering fast-paced action with
accompanying
emotional revelations that keep Simon and his readers guessing about
his
ultimate mission and objectives.
Simon's pursuit of "what is fated" and his
encounters with old friends and new adversaries creates a powerful
journey
which is especially highly recommended for sci-fi readers of
post-apocalyptic
worlds, who will find in Gunnarsson's old Earth the unexpected
experiences and
opportunities of new pursuits.
Libraries and readers who look for stand-alone, yet
series-building
stories of survival, growth, and struggle will find that Remember
Us holds many thought-provoking, action-packed moments
that examine the ultimate price of survival and revolution.
Return to Index
Vertical City
Tristan Scott
Independently Published
979-8-218-02898-5
$4.99
ebook
Website: www.tristanscottauthor.com/
Ordering: www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5QJYH1N
Vertical City's
dystopian world will appeal to sci-fi readers interested
in compelling portraits of the apocalyptic future, and portrays a
milieu in
which the last humans are packed into a skyscraper on an island. Edgar
Pacey is
both never alone and completely isolated. Proximity does not always
indicate
closeness. In his case, he is largely disconnected from his fellow man,
isolated both by his psyche and by his job as a carbon miner familiar
with only
the underground portion of this vertical world.
When he unexpectedly makes a decision that gives
him
recognition and unprecedented access to the upper levels of his world,
he uses
this freedom to make new discoveries about his life, his place in the
city, and
the ultimate cost humanity has paid for the privilege of being its last
survivors.
Tristan Scott empowers his novel and characters
with a tone
of revelation from the start. Edgar has absorbed the old stories about
a life
with room and space, but lives in a setting where "...the
world he knew, the world everyone who lived in Vertical
City knew, was one without seclusion." The ambiguities of
individual
alienation and social overcrowding receive satisfying contrast as the
story
evolves to reveal the true nature of how Edgar and the skyscraper
residents
live now.
Nobody in his right mind would seek to shake the
beliefs of
the last stronghold of humanity. But, proximity and overcrowding also
lead to a
form of insanity that Edgar unwittingly embraces as he pursues answers
at all
costs.
As he considers the underground and movements that
rock
these foundations, Edgar makes choices that both connect and alienate
him from
dangerous thinking: "...he had
decided he would make himself scarce when he wasn’t protected by a
congestion
of people. That, he told himself, was the main reason. But he would be
lying if
he also wasn’t hiding from the underground with their crushing,
comforting, and
invasive questions."
The only way up is down, into an underground world
where
solitary choices can drive a man mad. As readers journey through
Vertical
City's byways through Edgar's eyes and growing realizations, they
receive a
vivid tale steeped in the mystery of peoples' disappearances and
paradigms in
which life translates to threat.
Scott is especially astute in how he follows
Edgar's deals
with the devils in his world: "I
know the price, and I know the reward.” Edgar's motivations
and actions
play out on the bigger stage of human survival and its ultimate
delusions and
costs, providing readers many thought-provoking realizations about
humanity's
connections, opportunities, and choices.
Will Edgar find himself truly alone, or will the
betrayal
of those close to him lead him to an unfamiliar place where "...the culmination of events that led
him to this point somehow felt like the actions of a different person
who made
those choices in a different life. Right now, he could ponder that
man’s
choices at length and with ease, free of judgement, free of
consequences. His
thoughts were audible and clear within the beautiful quiet of this
space. For
now, and for once, he was at peace and alone."?
Science fiction readers interested in
bigger-picture social
examinations that begin with individual questions and blossom into
considerations of hierarchies, motivations, isolation, and connection
will find
Vertical City a powerful interplay
of
emotional and social inspection.
Libraries seeking sci-fi additions to their
collections
which make perfect fodder for book clubs interested in a myriad of
subjects,
including that of a flawed isolated individual who becomes both the
destroyer
and savior of humanity, will find Vertical
City a far-reaching choice.
Return to Index
The Watchers: Home World
Trenton Hamm
Margidda Publishing
979-8-9874262-1-0
$14.99 (paperback), $4.99 (ebook)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BT6V391T
The
Watchers: Home
World is first in a three-part series about a world very
similar to Earth,
which is facing its own ecological self-destruction over a runaway
greenhouse
effect.
Narrator Uri has become an
elderly sage of his people
(the Elohim) and is in the perfect position to reflect on the dilemma
posed by
The Watchers as they attempt to repair what his people have brought
about,
because his life purpose to save the world from itself has seemingly
come to
naught.
The tale opens with Uri and
the crew on a crash course
with a gas giant planet. The action-packed opening scene turns sharply
into an
important philosophical inspection that reflects on life, death, and
choice:
"There
comes a
time at least once in the history of a people, which inspires future
generations and alters the course of their history. When this happens,
a people
have a choice to make: do they fight to survive, or do they ignore the
facts,
and, through willful ignorance, travel the same course to their doom?
It was in
one of these times when this story begins."
Thus, a dual atmosphere is
created which will attract
those who seek spirited reads with its action-packed volley of high
drama,
setting the stage for thought-provoking moments of realization.
Trenton Hamm's ongoing
juxtaposition of high-octane drama
and evolving truths that operate on a higher intellectual level give
thinking
sci-fi readers an absorbing story that rests on the foundations of not
just
transformation, but surviving and learning from disaster: "Some might argue that it was the death of the home
world that
caused the death of the people, and some might argue conversely."
Issues of poor stewardship
and the runaway greenhouse
effects that are killing the planet and its people are juxtaposed with
personal
conflicts between individuals who mirror the planet's clashes in their
lives
and choices.
As Uri comes to know The
Community, a group that
challenges the most basic actions and choices of his people, he also
begins to
realize that the heart of this struggle lies not in the outside world's
demise,
but in the souls of the planet's stewards, and their ideals.
Visionaries such as Penne
and Mikh are not always greeted
warmly. Their elite position and spirits tailor an experiment that
shake the
Elohim and cement the Community's next efforts to do better against all
odds.
In many obvious ways, The
Watchers: Home World mirrors much of the current (and likely
future) state
of the world, with its disintegrating ecosystem and struggles between
ideals on
how to address it. Thus, the story of Uri's people is a familiar one
which then
takes off into new territory as the Community decides to build a new
colony.
But, will they bring with them the baggage that contributed to their
ultimate
betrayal of the planet?
The
Watchers: Home
World ideally will be used in sci-fi, social issues, and
ecology reading
groups as a starting point for discussion and debate over the moral and
ethical
approaches involved saving or abandoning a world. The principles of
good
stewardship may be discussed and reinforced through the examples
presented in
these pages, while the search for paradise and unlimited opportunity
(both
within the psyche and in the outside world) makes for thought-provoking
insights on both.
Libraries and readers
looking for stories that juxtapose
fast-paced action with solid character development, psychological
growth, and
social issues worthy of classroom or individual contemplation will find
The Watchers: Home World a
formidable,
involving read. It tempers its moral and ethical complexity with
characters
that are rooted in privilege, challenge, and higher-level thinking.
An open ending leaves a
cliffhanger that awaits Book Two
for further enlightenment.
Return to Index
Werecats
Emergent
Mark J. Engels
Fazed Angle Media
979-8-9881902-1-9
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: https://www.mark-engels.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C56BG7BC
Werecats Emergent is
the first book in the Forest Exiles Saga series and opens "several
years
ago" in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where Pawly finds herself ditched by her
brother and friends at a restaurant the night before the big game.
Werecats Emergent is a
foundation-laying urban fantasy in which Pawly and her twin brother
search for
answers about their unusual heritage before they go feral completely.
The
werecat legacy turns out to
be a family affair. An uncle tries to help them and their blended
human/werecat
family keeps an eye on their evolving abilities while dealing with drug
cartels, scientific discoveries, and rogue werecat elements that would
adversely influence the twins.
As
Pawly learns to trust her
instincts for trouble and finds her twin connection leads her into
battles and
danger, readers receive a fast-paced coming-of-age story that nicely
builds the
werecat world and its intersection with human special interests and
affairs.
Mark
J. Engels is especially
adept at juxtaposing fast-paced action and confrontations with
revelations
about interpersonal relationships and the world. These blend military
engagements and involvements with social issues that evolve through
fantasy and
real-world encounters.
Pawly
and her twin certainly
have a nose for trouble—and Engels holds equal prowess in following the
twins
into a world neither had anticipated nor can really handle.
The
action and adventure,
nicely tempered by twists readers won't see coming, holds fine family
and
social inspections and revelations as the werecat community's members,
politics, and purposes come to light.
Engels creates a compelling
fantasy saga which opens the story of an emergent ancient clan of
werecats who
exist alongside humans. His intersection of family relationships and
outsiders
who become as close as relatives creates satisfying intrigue spiced
with
psychological draws as Pawly and her brother risk exposure when they
come into
their werecat powers.
Libraries
and readers looking for vivid, action-packed
fantasy stories that set the stage for a world-hopping collision of
cultures
and cats will find Werecats
Emergent an
excellent draw which weaves the clashes
and action of an animae landscape with the fantasy world of teens
facing new
possibilities in their lives. The special blend of paranormal fantasy
laced
with thriller components make the tale hard to predict and impossible
to put
down.
Return to Index
Break
in the Field
Ellis Elliott
Old Scratch/Devil's
Party Press
978-1-957224-12-1
www.devilspartypress.com
The poetry featured in Break
in the Field contrasts human perceptions and experience,
delving into the
forces of nature and observational efforts.
Each poem is representative slice of these
encounters. One
example is 'Sweetgrass,' which considers the ghost of one who has "died
in
the house I moved into": "In
the kitchen were her copper/cooking pots, her cracked oyster
plates,/her mint
green matchbox from Paris,/her baskets on cabinet tops, and her
three/lost
boys. I search for something sturdy/to contain their grief. And when it
can’t
be found,/I become my own flawed variation."
From laments of absence and the pain of breaking
apart to
the haunting integration of childhood and adult viewpoints and
celebrations of
things lost and found, Ellis Elliott's varied poems represent a similar
diversity of action and spirit which especially excels in contrasts of
past and
present, heart and mind, and shifting perspectives.
Libraries and readers
who choose this short collection for its evocative free verse
inspections of
life connections will find its art lies in not just the eye of the
beholder,
but its ability to connect these disparate lives with the more
universal
threads of history and chance encounters:
"She was a day past
presence, riding/the jagged breath below the
surface/of consciousness. I was running/to make the next plane to
Arkansas,/my
frantic airport pace pulled by/a thousand thinning cords to home."
Ellis Elliott's
compelling Break
in the Field creates associations between
humanity, nature, and time that deserve not only individual inspection
and appreciation,
but spirited discussions about contemporary poetry's ability to attract
and
react to life's events with bigger-picture reflections about growth,
freedom,
and life lessons.
Return to Index
Double Vision:
Stories From Home
C.T. Fitzgerald
Emerald Books
978-1954779709
$8.99
https://www.amazon.com/Double-Vision-C-T-Fitzgerald/dp/1954779704
Double Vision: Stories
From Home embraces the childhood and life of
author C.T. Fitzgerald, providing prose and poetry that capture his
world through
a series of candid truths about what he saw, experienced, and heard.
The stories unfold an
origami of life impressions that some readers may find gritty in their
language,
and perhaps even politically or racially biased or derogatory. These
images of
yesteryear are replete with such representations because Fitzgerald
maintains
that "...exposing the realities of that world is an important learning
tool because, in my opinion, much of what I have presented along
objectionable
lines still exists throughout our society in this
world."
From the five-word
opening flash fiction piece 'For Sale: American Dreams' to the more
detailed
'Bodies,' which explores an unnamed northern city on the eastern shore
of Lake
Erie which explodes with racial tension in the 1960s, the backdrop
serves as an
unusual adjunct to a story about first responders whose actions lead to
surprising revelations and end results that depart from normal life
progressions:
"No mention was made in the paper of
the “fucking idiot” Firefighter who almost wasted Officer Mike Conner."
"Locked and
loaded" assumes an entirely different prospect as the responder muses, "Would he have to face a whole family
of these sneaky cocksuckers?"
Readers might not
expect humor to intersect with social and political observation, but
Fitzgerald's candid vignettes open both cans of worms and hilarity as
events
unfold with the precise observations of a world replete with police,
shotguns,
working-class men, the mysteries of women, and jobs on the line.
More so than most
memoirs or collections about community and coming of age, Fitzgerald's
stories
in Double Vision reinforce a sense
of
time and place that will seem both alien and oddly familiar to his
readers.
His attention to
building the dialogues and interpersonal interactions that come from
assumptions about the world and minorities as well as white privilege
makes for
a collection that is as constantly hard-hitting as trench warfare, and
as
socially thought-provoking as any history of the times.
Double Vision: Stories
From Home would do especially well as a book
club selection, powering its insights with controversial subjects that
will
lend to debate and social inspection among a wide circle of readers.
Libraries that choose
Double Vision: Stories From Home for
their literary collections will find it will appeal to readers of
memoirs as
well as literature students interested in vignettes that circle around
what can
and cannot be changed in the community, world, and self.
Return to Index
Drink Wine and Be
Beautiful
Kimberly Sullivan
Independently
Published
979-8-9868844-0-0
$4.99 Kindle
www.kimberlysullivanauthor.com
The short stories in Drink
Wine and Be Beautiful are delicate
renderings of Italian people and culture that capture succinct moments
in time
and the Italian psyche.
Its travels through
the Italian countryside opens with a first-person portrait of Rome and
love in
'Amica Del Cuore,' which explores the foundations of a long-time
friendship
between girls which unexpectedly evolved from a visit and a long-held
dream to
live in Rome.
The narrator reveals
how she pursued this dream against all odds, holding it close through
the trials
of childhood and coming of age: "Rome,
I convinced myself, was where my life would begin. My Roman Holiday. I
never
swayed from that certainty. It carried me through my unhappy childhood
and my
awkward teenage years. Money from waitressing stints and babysitting
was all
squirreled away for my Roman life."
What she encounters
when she finally walks into her Italian life is beyond anything she
could have
envisioned, and carries readers into an experience of fantasy, reality,
and
love.
'Wine & Beauty,'
in contrast, captures the atmosphere of Milan and Simonetta's world as
she
serves cliquey, elite economics students at a café and contemplates her
relationship with a charismatic live-in student who appears to be her
ideal
partner, but only erodes her dreams.
Each piece captures a
piece of Italian culture and its heart, presenting emotional works of
romance
and quiet contemplation which analyze the pathways of love and
relationships.
Contrasts occur not
just culturally and emotionally, but economically as the characters
move
through their worlds considering their ideals, goals, and the forces
that have
brought them to their current positions in life. Twenty-one stories
examine a
range of women's experiences, from betrayal to missed connections and
bonding
experiences. Each provoke a thoughtful response in readers as they
introduce
new milieus of challenge and revelation.
These are astutely
captured through dialogue that pursues life events and their
consequences with
insightful reflections:
“It was kind of fun when
we were living in our little hovel here in
Navigli, taking classes at Bocconi. Meeting guys who were all wrong for
us.
Never sure if we could scrape together enough money for rent. You’re
right. I
guess we didn’t appreciate it at the time. Didn’t know how good we had
it.”
While Drink Wine and Be
Beautiful is an
attractive read for any who enjoy culturally rooted short stories in
general
and backdrops of Italy in particular, it will be especially appropriate
for
those contemplating their own journeys to Italy, who will find this the
perfect
take-along tote to absorb while on the way to their Italian holiday
destination.
Return to Index
Kafka
in Tangier
Mohammed Said Hjiouij
Agora Publishing
(Tangier, Morocco)
9789920570282
$11.00
Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: https://kafkaintangier.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9920570281
Kafka in Tangier
represents a literary reinterpretation of Kafka's classic Metamorphosis translated to a non-Western
backdrop, and will
especially attract literary audiences interested in a recreation of the
underlying themes of the original that evolves in vastly revised
conditions.
Jawad
Al-Idrisi is an ordinary overworked teacher whose
ambitions have been frustrated by life. When he awakens one morning to
find
that he has become a monster, after reading Kafka's Metamorphosis
before going to bed, he faces a distorted vision of
himself that portends a limited lifespan, alienation from his wife and
baby,
and distance from the life he thought he'd wanted and pursued.
Like
Kafka's classic, Kafka
in Tangier is a novella. Its hard-hitting message requires
succinct
language that deploys in powerful thoughts to make the most of this
short
format, creating inspections that hold new impacts while remaining
connected
(however loosely) to the original story which Mohammed Said Hjiouij
recaps at
the beginning (convenient for newcomers to Kafka's classic, or those
who read
it long ago).
The
process by which an ordinary, frustrated, would-be
critic transforms to find his life values and pursuits radically
changed paints
him a hero in some eyes (indeed, he is described as such), but also
proves to
be "the beginning of his discovery
of his true family ties."
The
story moves back and forth between past, present, and
possible future events in a manner that both creates a backdrop of
understanding and connects these perceptions and events to the special
manner
in which Jawad Al-Idrisi experiences his sea change of perspective and
persona.
Descriptors
particular to his Middle Eastern environment,
such as the agal, receive footnoted definition to help Westerners
absorb its
special language, while the narrator's perspective is revealed in the
course of
action that is solidly embedded in social, philosophical, and
psychological
transformations.
This
storyteller's voice shines in narrative choices that
serve as segues between the writer's art and the plot and characters it
addresses, including the choices of names which come steeped in irony:
"In order to
make the storytelling easier for me, and easier for you to follow, I
find
myself obliged, at this juncture, to name the characters of our story.
So, I
will give our hero the name Jawad, generous as he is. The sister I’ll
call
Hind, the mother, Fatima, and, since hope comes with daughters, his
little girl
I’ll call Amal. There’s no need to name the wife, since she will be
dying soon.
No, better give her the name Sara, in case I need it. As for the
father, he’ll
be Mohammed, family name al-Idrisi."
While
Kafka in
Tangier may be read and appreciated by those without prior or
recent
familiarity with Kafka's Metamorphosis;
for maximum impact, the story would best be read and discussed in
conjunction
with the original classic.
Classrooms
and literary readers who undertake this task
with a dual reading (or re-reading) of Metamorphosis
and Kafka
in Tangier will be especially intrigued by the cultural
contrasts that add
additional depth to Kafka's original existential message and the
meanings
embedded in his story.
The
deeper messages of the original, which revolve around
compassion, alienation, identity, and transformation, come to new life
and
perspective through the Moroccan backdrop that influences this
contemporary
monster's evolutionary process.
Literature
collections and students of Kafka's works need
to include Kafka in Tangier on
their
reading lists and discussion group radars. Whether it's used in
classroom discussions
or absorbed independently, Kafka in
Tangier represents a powerful consideration of family
secrets, social
oppression, and the nightmare of navigating contemporary Moroccan
society in a
new way that lends to debate and closer inspection.
Return to Index
Phoenix Saga
amalL era JesuƨɘႱ
hO
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-812-2
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Phoenix Saga's
metaphysical and literary inspection represents both a
reflective piece and a call to arms that opens with the inquiry "Where did God go?"
References to philosophy, history, and heroes ensue
in the
attempt to answer and illustrate this question, which weaves
philosophy,
spiritual reflection, and poetry in a unique way that captures the
rising of
spirit and soul like the phoenix, speculating on the improbable future
of the
human race, steeped in an original sin which may ultimately translate
into
survival.
The
free-spirited nature of
this reflection defies any pat assignment of the term "poetry,"
"free verse," or even "essay" to these writings. The
intellectual works demand much of their reader which, in turn, requires
a slow,
simmering absorption of concepts and illustrative language.
For
example:
"Enēôlnən: Oh Maleficent Iradea Artificer, Fire and Ice
– chroni-cles of enduring balance and sacrifice.
Adamantine
Aegis safe-guards OURSTORY. Within a semiotic paradigm, This Choice does not belong to US. A
beauty plainly stated;
undeniable: All love possibility. The
Age of Delta, Evolution is nearly upon them. Will they
listen, can they
see?
A pause, reflection. “Perhaps, not.” Enēôlnən winks as lips
turn, exposing teeth. Wind pulls at sky and fabric alike. Cold, vital.
Iradea Artificer: So it shall be written. A Gift
then."
In
contrast are works such as
'Motto': "An Ankh,/age-enduring core
structure./Möbius Strip,/replacing horizontal frame./Exquisite Strip
textured
in gemstone;/ruby-sapphire, emerald-diamond/Elegance."
The
measured, tempered,
reflective pieces come together in unexpected ways, much as a
1,000-piece
jigsaw puzzle that at first feels disparate, but actually holds many
interlocked possibilities.
The
revelations, testimonies,
stories, and inspections that interlace here demand much in the way of
intellectual contemplation, but reward those so inclined with a sense
of wonder
and realizations that will drive not just individual contemplation, but
book
club discussion groups interested in literary and spiritually demanding
surveys.
Phoenix Saga is
recommended for intellectual literature and philosophy
readers who will find its delve into the hopes, dreams, and
opportunities of a
species lost and found in its journeys through the universe to be
astute and
inviting.
Libraries catering to such audiences will find this
first
book in a trilogy represents a mighty, powerful hand that both
describes and
creates connections to the universe that deserve debate and discussion
in
intellectual circles.
Return to Index
Revolutions:
Night and Day
Andy Palasciano
Lymer & Hart/Garden Oak Press
979-8-9879532-0-4
www.gardenoakpress.com
Revolutions:
Night and Day: Art and Allegory
ideally will be chosen for literary
classrooms and collections interested in the fine art of descriptive
allegory.
It creates a visual and verbal contrast between night and day,
employing the
fine art of the allegory in a series of poetic contrasts that are as
stark and
personal as they are ethereal paths to higher-level thinking.
Consider the
first poem, an untitled tribute to things encouraged and lost in life,
which
opens with a twist: "Rosemary,/They told you to sing/as they
cut into
your brain/and then a wire was snipped/and you barely talked again."
The poem continues with reflections on another circumstance where
love's wings
were clipped before it returns full circle to the subject at hand—which
turns
out to exist in a fugue state of new possibility.
Each allegorical
work cultivates a hidden gift that unfolds to reveal layers of new
possibilities from life experiences. Each piece cultivates a different
perspective and layer of freestyle writing that sometimes defies any
traditional form of a poem, as in the two works on Mary Wollstonecraft
Shelley,
but rewards literary readers with powerful imagery that seethes with
emotion
and impact. In this example, "Mary stood with the thousand
female
voices and walked into the darkness."
Whether
Andy Palasciano's subject is a fool who
undertakes nighttime swims with the ducks and "had
a belligerent dream of light"
or kids walking home from a costume party who are dressed as clowns,
lightning
rods, or compost piles, reflecting their inner countenances, Palasciano
is
astute at juxtaposing inner and outer worlds of observation,
revelation, and
transformation.
The
scope and breath of these works, punctuated by black
and white line drawings that illustrate their underlying messages,
makes Revolutions:
Night and Day an artistic and
literary recommendation that flavors its works with the overcoat of
simplicity
and underlying layers of thought-provoking complexity. These will make
perfect
fodder for creative writing group and classroom discussion, as well as
fine
examples of contemporary allegory and contrasts worthy of feature in
any
library strong in modern poetry.
Return to Index
Tagore’s
Gitanjali
Prasenjit Gupta
Parabaas
978-1-946582-40-9
$24.95
Website: www.parabaas.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1946582409
Prasenjit
Gupta’s new translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s
classic Gitanjali pairs
the translated poems of Tagore’s “Song Offerings” with the Bengali
originals as
well as the translations done by Tagore himself, creating a literary
work of
Indian spiritual and cultural force that should be in any library
strong in authoritative
South Asian literature.
The
origins and effort involved in this particular
translation need to be explained to Westerners who may be unfamiliar
with the
Bengali classic; for the writer Rabindranath Tagore, beloved for his
own works
in Bengali, has already produced an authoritative translation
considered by
many Indians to be the end-all experience of the poems in Gitanjali,
whose publication and enthusiastic reception in the West led to
Tagore’s
winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. The work is considered
to be
representative of the best of modern Indian literature.
Prasenjit
Gupta’s translation captures each poem in three
ways: in the Bengali original, with Rabindranath Tagore’s translation,
and
Gupta’s own translation. In this manner, Tagore's Gitanjali receives
a closer inspection and interpretation than Rabindranath himself
achieved;
adding an extra dimension of understanding that is strengthened by
Gupta’s
consideration of what is lost and gained in the translation
process:
“...
for many of these poems the translations [by
Tagore himself] do not hew closely to
the originals; readers of Bengali will easily be able to see how they
diverge.
In many places Tagore combines lines to produce a compressed English
version,
he omits fragments and even entire lines of the Bengali, he explains
the
thought behind the Bengali by making the English version more explicit,
and so
on. Rabindranath’s English versions, in other words, are versions
polished to
make them more accessible and appealing to readers of English
poetry.”
A
hundred years after Tagore’s achievement, these poems
still hold their allure and power. They are strengthened by the dual
translations and, more importantly, by the opportunity to cross-examine
the
translators’ intentions and choices in side-by-side presentations in
two
languages.
This
in itself represents a feat not typically available
to literary readers in general and students of Indian classics in
particular.
The
translator’s preference, which is key to understanding
the foundations of his endeavor and choices, is outstanding in its
introduction
to Tagore and the original translations: “That’s the
difference between
[Tagore’s] poetic translation and a translation that
stays close to the
original. No comparison.”
The
end result is more than just a reconsideration of a
classic collection of poem songs, but a celebration of the different
approaches
and task of translating them for modern audiences.
Ideally,
Prasenjit Gupta’s new translation of the
classic Gitanjali will be
considered both a foundation work
for any authoritative library strong in Indian classical poetry and
literature,
and a powerful lesson in translation’s efforts and challenges.
Tagore's
Gitanjali should not only appear in
literary collections, but should be chosen for creative writing,
translation
studies, and Indian literature classrooms, offering much food for
thought about
the process of representing and interpreting classic literature as a
whole.
Return to Index
To Be Human
J.D. Puett
Atmosphere Press
978-1639888313
$8.99
ebook/$18.99 Paper
https://www.amazon.com
To Be Human
consists of five novellas and novelettes which are firmly rooted in a
sense of place and disparate purposes, focusing on characters that at
first
seem to hold little in common. Each of the characters makes solo
efforts to
forge ahead in their lives, driven by their own force of will and
isolated
experiences and perceptions; but each finds these motivators affected
and
changed by newfound realizations and implausible associations with
others
around them who impact their lives.
Perhaps ironically, the collection starts with
'Crossing
the Line,' which opens in Miami where first generation Cuban-American
and physician-scientist
Dr. Montesinos (who is "professionally committed to regenerative
medicine") finds his life unexpectedly linked with that of Venezuelan
drug
baron Carlos.
Dr. Montesinos is
used to manipulating stem cells and has fostered a goal of contributing
to the
Latino community through his efforts—but he's not used to similarly
impacting
drug lords (even though he's honed the fine art of locating benefactors
for his
work and soliciting generous gifts for his research).
J.D. Puett takes the time to contrast the lives,
motivations, and lofty ideals of both men in introductory chapters
before the
moral and ethical clashes begin. These contrasts and the time taken to
delve
into their characters and family roots contribute to the greater good
of a
story that arises like a Phoenix from roots of dysfunction and good and
poor
choices to formulate new opportunities for each individual.
In contrast is 'Alive?', which profiles quite a
different
physician/scientist whose objective is to not just revolutionize brain
science,
but to awaken the dead—as in dead brains.
If this objective is reached, how does it then
revise ideas
of the living and the dead? A peck of problems emerges from success as
neurologist Dr. Schneider unwittingly pushes not just the boundaries of
death,
but the ethical edge of what constitutes humanity.
Each story features a fast pace, but takes the
necessary
time to build backgrounds, motivations, and insights before the
challenges
begin. Each thus represents an especially mighty use of the short
literary
form, which may be held up as examples for creative writing and
literary
students interested in making the most of every word and concept in a
shorter
piece.
Libraries and readers looking for thought-provoking
reading
that pairs brevity with powerful impact will find that To
Be Human works on many levels, whether as a consideration of
what it means to challenge established social and ethical norms in
different
ways, or as a reflection of the best use of the novella and novelette
forms.
Return to Index
The Usefulness of the Hippopotamus
Vincent J. Tomeo
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-690-6
$15.00
www.atmospherepress.com
The Usefulness of the
Hippopotamus is a poetry chapbook of humorous advice for
trying modern
times, employing humor to invite readers to "walk
with me into a poem, laugh, and smile."
A literary anecdote for trying times, The Usefulness of the Hippopotamus
follows the irony and wit in
dealing with modern life. It starts with "Notes on a Poetry Reading at
the
Library," in which the poet is encouraged to put on a multimedia
production to attract listeners, although the librarian and poet admit
that the
free Starbucks coffee at the end of the session will likely prove a
bigger draw
than his literary prowess: "The
librarian said,/play music with your slides./If they are not interested
in your
slides,/they might enjoy the music."
Such free-spirited and wide-ranging observations
inject a
wry tone of inspection, reflection, and wit into life's moments,
creating works
that capture moments in time, such as "Happy Halloween 2019" and its
celebratory tone: "Have a boo
bobbing bash at the pumpkin patch/Carving plump party pumpkins/Oh
Jack-O-Lantern/Light up the night for Trick-Or-Treating/Hear little
feet
parading, pitter-patter,/Crushing leaves..."
Often, the poem ends with an unexpected bang, as in
"Pancakes in Heaven," which imagines an event where "It
is the first time we all felt no
fear, anxiety, tension, or stress./We were all given a choice of
pancakes for
breakfast:/Sweet angel’s delight,/amen, fluffy and Light,/out of this
world
with sinless blueberries,/Holy Immaculate raspberries,/pumpkin’s fourth
commandment is served with honey and whipped/cream."
The Usefulness of the
Hippopotamus is both a poetry lesson and an example of
finding humor,
irony, and fun in daily events and mindful excursions. Perhaps such an
endeavor
could only have evolved from the COVID-19 pandemic. If so, this
represents a
bow to adversity, drawing on the creative spirit to defy negative and
weighty
world inspection and experience.
This collection's light-hearted, free-spirited
nature will
appeal not to the reader attracted to rigid verse in iambic pentameter
or lofty
philosophical reflections, but to libraries and poetry readers already
struggling with weighty times, who just want to take a break with a
delicious
collection of delightful observations and a good cup of coffee served
up with
free verse attractions.
Return to Index
A Wyoming State of Mind
Eugene M. Gagliano
Crystal Publishing, LLC
978-1-942624-77-6
$34.95
Hardcover/$24.95 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/WYOMING-STATE-MIND-Eugene-Gagliano/dp/1942624778
Readers might associate Wyoming with cowboys and
thus come
to believe that A Wyoming State of Mind
is penned by a cowboy poet, but such could not be further from the
truth.
Wyoming holds many delights and cultural strengths, and one of these is
Wyoming
State Poet Laureate Eugene M. Gagliano, who here creates a literary
tribute to
his state that celebrates its life, people, and nature.
Gagliano crafts this celebration from the opening
title
poem, which captures Wyoming as a place of physical wonder ("...land of intricate beauty/formidable mountains
carved/etched
in pristine white peaks/embroidered in dark pine, spruce and
fir/cliffs, giant
shards of granite/powerful, playful waterfalls...") as well
as an
illustration of interpersonal connections and possibilities: "not just a place/but a state of
mind/where faith guides people/and hope rises each day/with the light
of
dawn..."
Readers need not be
familiar with Wyoming in order to appreciate Gagliano's
celebration of its land, people, and culture. All they need is
affection
for evocative, powerful poetry and the state of mind to appreciate a
poet's
moving celebrations of the land he so loves.
As if these written
words weren't powerful enough, they are then spiced with color photos
that
capture peoples and places.
Moving from a
celebratory tone to the trials, tribulations, and realizations of
interacting
with others both within and outside of Wyoming, Gagliano
incorporates life experiences with these vignettes of place to
translate
Wyoming's state of mind and influence to other milieus. The collection
thus
evolves a sense of purpose that links Wyoming's special strengths to
the
processes of interacting with and absorbing life changes.
The result represents a state of mind that carries
from
Wyoming roots to the heartland of American experience in a fine
collection that
will appeal to poetry enthusiasts and libraries seeking literary works
with the
ability to grasp and delight through inspirational pieces that resonate
with
the descriptive force of "Trees
baring their scarred souls/in shades of shadowy light/Undaunted, like
people
worn by life,/yet reaching for the sky."
A Wyoming State of Mind
does more than reach. It touches and then grabs the
reader's heart and mind.
Return to Index
All the
Memories That
Remain
E.M. Liddick
Warren Publishing
978-1-960146-09-0
$29.95 Hardcover/$16.95 Paper
www.warrenpublishing.net
All the Memories That Remain is E.M.
Liddick's memoir about
returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan to a life in shambles. The
realizations about his life that hit him when he returned were there
all along
when he left, but became unavoidable as absence and return resulted in
life
inspections he could no longer deny.
He no longer loved
his wife of eleven years. His father, who suffered from early-onset
Alzheimer's, was there only in spirit and history, but lived on. These
and
other life-changing experiences were brought home, ironically, by his
role as a
soldier:
"...my involvement in Afghanistan—my participation
in administering
death—was to be the force that overcame inertia. And when I came back
and heard
the first ominous whispers of change within me, that ability to breathe
without
noticing fell away, and I suddenly came face-to-face not only with
post-traumatic stress and moral injury but also unresolved grief over
the loss
of my father. This is a story with many threads, wrapped around a skein
of
hope. A hope found in rediscovered letters and exhumed memories."
The raw,
emotional
quality of Liddick's inspection translates to a fluid form that moves
back and
forth in time to pursue memories and experiences of grief and healing.
Memories
and interactions that cement the experiences of and relationship
between father
and son create a moving testimony to the power of transformative
thinking,
adaptation, and life changes:
"Dad is everywhere and in me: buried in the
memories, the stories,
the words—in the love that never dies. I want a return not to the
hearthstone
of a town but to the hearthstone of the heart. With this observation, I
feel
Dad close. A warmth slowly spreads through my body, and for a moment, I
feel
less hollow; the homesickness disappears. Dad can’t forget me if I
don’t forget
him. And so long as the moon continues to rise, I won’t. Maybe, just
maybe,
that some thing I’ve been
searching for out there has
been in here the entire
time."
At stake in
these
memories are the circumstances of coping with life, love, and loss
which
juxtapose a military experience and perspective with the lasting impact
of
emotional storms occurring at home.
As Liddick
traverses
the field of memories and experiences that brought him to new
realizations,
readers follow his foray in and out of service, his home life and
shifting
priorities, and the relationships that experienced tumult and
disconnection
through many different circumstances. The memoir could have been
labeled
'Metamorphosis' because the hard, gritty blend of recollections and
interpersonal encounters and clashes results in a special form of
revelation
and hard realizations that are not recommended for the faint of heart,
but
readers who can absorb and appreciate the dual lessons of trauma and
emotional
containment.
Vivid
inspections and
interactions pull no punches in capturing the milieu of military and
civilian
life and the long-term impact of observing the results of military
actions: "Sometimes the body will twitch. The
person is dead, but the body still twitches."
The result
is a
powerful tribute to veterans, families facing the hurdles and
impossible
circumstances of aging parents, and those interested in the
psychological
process and life incarnations of redemption, healing, and change.
Its powerful
family
recollections and interactions will ideally spark interest not just in
libraries strong in veteran biographies and family stories of aging,
but in
reader discussion groups interested in books and stories that guide the
heart
towards better understanding, resolution, and healing:
"I can find my dad’s essence in every moment that
brings me
happiness, peace: his singing in the birdsong; his mystery and hard
exterior
and hidden emotions in the heavy fog and icy edges and black rock; his
playfulness in the otters; his seriousness in the calm lake; his love
of rain
in the mist; his twinkle in the golden glow on the mountain’s slope—his
entire
life, his entire being, captured in the ups and downs, the mountains
and
valleys, the light and dark."
Return to Index
Chasing the Daylight
Joanna Rakowski
Independently Published
978-1-6698-6940-5
$19.95
Hardcover/$13.95 Paper/$9.95 ebook
www.chasingthedaylight.com
Chasing the Daylight: One
Woman’s Journey to Becoming a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer is
a memoir about a ballerina's
entry into the military. There, she becomes an intelligence officer and
pursues
her dream despite barriers from physical challenges, discrimination,
and ghosts
of her past.
Other
books about women
entering the military have covered some of these topics, but what makes
Joanna Rakowski's
story especially compelling is its focus not just on rigorous army
training and
life, but how trust and confidence develops between officers and
soldiers as
training develops.
As she hones the leadership skills necessary to not
just
survive, but command and excel, women who are also considering military
service
will find Rakowski's experiences to be candid, thought-provoking, and
revealing. It captures the realities of women in the military who
follow an
upward-bound career momentum in ways other women in military service
don't strive
to accomplish.
Perhaps this memoir's strength is because these
experiences
come couched in an analysis of military culture that is powered by
lessons
Rakowski learns along the way: “You know,
you are only as good as the people around you. Surround yourself with
good
people. Don’t take anything for granted.” As she receives,
absorbs, and
reflects good advice and difficult experiences, Rakowski evolves and
grows and,
thanks to her military service, in turn creates a memoir replete with
changes,
transformations, and realizations about life within and outside the
military.
Chasing the Daylight is
eye-opening and captivating. Libraries and readers
interested in accounts of women in service who hold officer positions
and
training that leads them to be all they can be both within the army and
in
civilian life will find it involving and hard to put down:
"Sometimes, you revisit a
familiar place
yet find no comfort. Like with the river, you come back to the same
spot
cherished all those years ago, but the water is now replaced by a fresh
stream.
A patch of grass turned into a pile of sand. The small tree by the edge
grew
exponentially. The big rock by the bend is now polished by the patient
water. A
little bridge had collapsed and appears abandoned in the background.
That’s how
I felt in Fort Huachuca. I had to relearn how to love it, re-engage in
it, and
to call it home again."
Return to Index
Crossing
Fifty-One: Not Quite a
Memoir
Debbie Russell
Koehler
Books
979-8-88824-003-8
$27.95 Hardcover/$19.95
Paper/$6.99 ebook
Website: http://www.debbie-russell.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Fifty-One-Not-Quite-Memoir/dp/B0C1R6LZ7R
Crossing Fifty-One: Not Quite a Memoir is
a survey of family relationships, midlife crises, and
revised perceptions of self and heritage. It comes to life through a
granddaughter's journey into her father and grandfather's worlds.
It's
"not quite a
memoir" because its focus on the mechanics of dysfunctional family
relationships and their origins examines a powerful psychological force
that
reveals not just the processes of Debbie Russell's family, but the
legacy of
choices, losses, and evolving abuse that move the timeline steadily
between the
1950s and modern times.
Readers
who imbibe of Russell's
story can anticipate an unusual and powerful contrast between "then"
and "now" as events move between family members and affect their
present-day perceptions.
Russell
is especially revealing
about the changes her probes bring to her only sibling, and how
different
members of her family make new choices in their relationships to one
another:
"I also immediately recognize that, whatever this
was,
it didn’t permanently impact Dad’s life—at least the part of his life
that
included Mum, Scott, and me. Okay. Now, what am I going to do with
this?
Logically, the first person I need to share this with is Scott. I call
him, and
wonder of wonders, he answers. I reveal what I’ve found and send him
the
screenshots and, later, the full article. Again, we debrief. Neither of
us
recalls ever hearing about this. It’s so cool! So funny! So
interesting! So . .
. I quickly shift to the realization that talking about this among
ourselves is
one thing, but bringing it up with Dad is going to be another matter
altogether."
Thus,
Crossing Fifty-One evolves a
methodology, tone, and approach that
avoids the usual self-indulgent feel of memoirs and traverses into
psychological revelations and contrasts that allow Russell's readers to
better
consider the impact of past encounters on present-day relationship
patterns.
Perhaps
the most valuable
aspect of this not-quite-a-memoir lies in Russell's ability to capture
this
atmosphere through letters, communiqués, and insights about how these
family
connections shift over time and age:
"Always the jokester, my dad. Years ago, I’d
arrived
at my own conclusions regarding death, and none of them included any
sort of
afterlife. It made everything so much simpler. This is all we have;
make the
best of it. Finally, I was able to hang up with Mum, and as if on cue,
my back
pain eased up slightly. I wondered what it was like for Dad to
participate in a
conversation about his own funeral. Once again, I wished I could be his
collaborator, just as he had so often been mine. But that role was
solely
within my mother’s purview. As the hospice social worker had informed
me almost
ten months ago, this was their journey."
Crossing Fifty-One is
a powerful saga about mid-life experience and changing family dynamics
that not
only deserves a prominent place in libraries interested in family
psychology,
but also in deep discussions among psychology and book clubs interested
in topics
of healing, recovery, and physical and mental connections between
health,
illness, and family relationships.
Return to Index
Mediterranean Mothers
Maria Orlando & Nick Pappas
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-688-3
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Mediterranean Mothers -
Masters of Guilt is a memoir steeped in Greek and Italian
cultures. It
explores teachers Maria and Nick, who are each influenced by their
mothers and
the "old school" attitudes that influence their current lives.
As much as Maria and Nick seek to set aside some of
these
cultural influences, they find that "...all the flaws and emotional
excesses of that particular ethnic group" are part of their own psyches
as
they join forces to write a book documenting the prejudices and
perceptions
that influence their lives.
The authors cultivate a candid sense of culture
that is
often politically incorrect, but psychologically devastating in its
accurate
representation:
“Did you hear that, Liz?
Greeks. Always causing
trouble. I knew it, I knew it. Just like that damn Greek that works
with my
daughter, that Pappas. Always breaking the rules, always after
some-thing!”
As mothers, daughters, and sons come together and
represent
contrasts in attitudes and perceptions, readers receive a lively series
of
interactions which are both inter-generational and cross-cultural in
nature.
The dialogues and perspectives rest on "old
country" stories, new experiences, and differences between them as the
narrators capture family gatherings, stormy debates, and travels that
lead to
ventures out of country and away from established comfort zones and
patterns.
Readers will find this account mercurial in its
definition.
It's a travelogue, a survey of Mediterranean psyches and cultures, and
a story
of friendships and family that evolve against the backdrop of an
Italian family
fueled by "Italian guilt" and a first-generation Greek/American.
As these Mediterranean mothers rise into their own
choices
and power, they carry with them an important message as their vacation
becomes
a catalyst for change: "...if you
are feeling guilty right now, maybe it’s because you have something to
feel
guilty about!"
Libraries and readers seeking memoirs steeped in
old
country connections and new world thinking will find Mediterranean
Mothers - Masters of Guilt not only a satisfying
contrast in cultures, but filled with thought-provoking insights into
the
different mechanics of guilt and family legacy.
This will lend to book club and psychology group
discussion,
as well, making Mediterranean Mothers -
Masters of Guilt an astute read that holds a bit of something
for everyone.
Return to Index
On Old 67
Steven Clark
Independently
Published
979-8353357964
$16.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Old-67-Missouri-Memoir/dp/B0BGNHF6LW
On Old 67 is a memoir of coming of age in
Missouri, and captures
the milieu of bygone eras and pathways as Steven Clark traverses the
"asphalt river" of Highway 67 and chat dumps of its geography and
life.
The first
thing to
note about On Old 67 is the rich,
revealing tone of life's progression that leads readers through
unfamiliar
territory. Steven Clark does not assume that his audience either knows
Missouri
in general or these small rural towns in particular. Thus, he lends an
explorative and explanative hand to his memoir that blends historical
and
cultural examination into the story of his life's progression.
Events are
channeled
through this funnel of first-person experience in an evocative manner
to bring
the events, the region's culture and politics, and his family to life:
"Dad was one of those urging its implementation. He
mentioned fair
to poor ambulance response from his Highway patrol days. (Once, he told
me and
Gary, two rival ambulances came to an accident, and the attendants got
into a
fistfight. Dad had to jerk the fist-swinging attendants loose...while
the
victims were still moaning and bleeding). It was fun seeing him on TV,
in his
usual white shirt and dark tie, confident and explaining the need for a
new
system, his authoritative voice deep and pleasant. I was proud seeing
him on
the news. Mother and Ebie refused to watch. 'Him trying to be a ‘big
man’ like
always,' sneered Mother. Ebie, arms folded, nodded. 'He walked out on
his
family. That’ll never change.' At times, Gary and I wondered...aloud to
ourselves, as we did, plinking off rounds ...if Dad had done the right
thing
after all."
On Old 67 represents a road trip through
bygone years, influences,
and culture. Readers who take a back seat car ride through Steven
Clark's life
and times receive vignettes about small-town life that impart a sense
of growth
and change that sweeps the author and his family into altered lives:
"We drove north on highway 67, passing Old 67 on
the west side of
the new highway; twisted, plugged up with asphalt here and there,
cracks of
black spread out that I wrote of at the beginning, recalling Rorschach
tests.
The old road’s scraps of habitation are often hidden in high, uncut
weeds and
wild bush competing with formerly inhabited houses now abandoned with
their
rotting wood, or single-room sized service stations with broken windows
and
rusting signs whose brown creep ate away at formerly cheerful or
functional
lettering."
In the end,
the
remnants of these byroads and choices of the past, captured in memoirs
like On Old 67, are all that's left
to point
out milestones of the past and methods by which it transforms into new
environments and perceptions.
Libraries
and readers
seeking memoirs steeped in stories of survival and change will find
that On Old 67 brings these times
to life. It
will attract memoir readers from all walks of life who are interested
in
dysfunctional family makeups and the process of integrating and
surviving them
as time passes and people and places change.
Return to Index
Alaska Deadly
J. L. Askew
Covenant Books
978-1685268855
$22.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
Website:
https://www.jlaskew.com
https://www.amazon.com/Alaska-Deadly-J-L-Askew/dp/1685268854
Alaska Deadly follows Memphis private eye
Race Warren out of his
comfort zone. His latest case leads him to the rugged wilderness of
Alaska on a
search for his client's estranged husband, but what he finds in the
process of
a missing persons search churns up even stormier possibilities. His
search
lands him in a remote arctic village where a scientist is studying
bizarre
ancient rites that may have led to local killings.
Mystery
readers might
anticipate the search will be over when Warren finds missing ex-cop
Billings,
but in fact this only jumpstarts further mysteries as he discovers that
what
Billings is looking for poses threats on a level he'd never imagined.
Something is
wrong,
both with Warren's initial assessment of the mission and with the fate
of a
captive woman headed to the North Slope to confront a nightmare she
hadn't foreseen.
There are no
easy
answers to the paradoxes which emerge as Warren's probe draws him ever
deeper
into Alaskan heritage, ancient cultures, tribal rituals, and an evil
awakened
into the contemporary world that threatens far more than a single man,
his
daughter, or an investigator's case.
J.L. Askew
embeds his
novel with Alaskan culture and environment to such a degree that
readers will
shiver at the cold facts that emerge from this frozen tundra of ancient
history
and contemporary conflict.
Excellent
characterization and unexpected revelations drive a story line replete
with
dangerous discoveries well rooted in tribal traditions: "Hartley
thought the ritual was animal worship, that the Ankauits
believed in a wolf deity. But with further observation, it became more
ominous."
Forced to
enter into
fraudulent situations to get at the truth, Billings find his morals,
ethics,
and investigative prowess continually challenged. He's forced to
reinvent himself
for the greater good of solving a puzzle that increasingly embraces a
wider
group of people than he ever could have imagined.
The tension
driving
his discoveries and the Alaskan native traditions and perspectives that
accompany his journey will especially delight readers seeking thrillers
that
are more than casually steeped in their environments and influences.
Libraries
and readers
looking for vivid thriller stories that evolve an unexpected set of
connections
between a singular case and broader world-changing events will find Alaska Deadly especially powerful in its
story of an investigator forced to step outside his usual paths of
inquiry and
discovery. The thought-provoking story is filled with surprises and
hard to put
down.
Return to Index
All That
Glitters
Mike Martin
Ottawa Press and
Publishing
978-1-990896-09-05
$18.99
https://www.amazon.com/All-That-Glitters-Windflower-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C3SGWMWT
All That Glitters is the thirteenth book
in the Sgt. Windflower
mystery series, but his latest tale represents a diversion for the good
Sergeant Winston, because his new role as a Community Safety Officer in
his
home town of Grand Bank, Newfoundland brings with it a case which
literally
lands on his doorstep.
A body
discovered in
the bed and breakfast he co-owns proves to harbor diamonds in its
digestive
tract—jewels that then involve his good friend Dr. Sanjay, who is given
the
gems for safekeeping, then vanishes.
Diamond
smuggling has
come to Grand Bank, and its glittery attraction brings a deadly danger
that
thwarts Windflower's ability to step neatly and effectively into his
new job
while helping his friend Eddie Tizzard track down the perps.
Local
Canadian lore,
environment, and politics collide with Windflower's new role outside
his
familiar Canadian Mountie milieu, challenging him to employ his new
position
and efforts in unusual ways.
One reason
why the
Windflower series is so compelling is that Mike Martin takes the time
to
capture the sights, atmosphere, and culture of Newfoundland:
“I remember it being busier than this when I was
here before. As
someone from a land-locked province like Saskatchewan, I loved seeing
them
all,” said Carrie.
“Yeah, the traffic comes and goes,” said Windflower. “Part of what’s
missing is the big cruise boats. They would take up half this side of
the
harbour. But it’s still pretty nice to be by the ocean. Feels peaceful.”
These scenic
interludes also cement emotional connections that build as folklore
lessons are
imparted while Wildflower is in a dream state, and clues are given that
influence
not only his investigations, but his approach to life:
“Be strong but be gentle and always show respect to
others,” said
Auntie Marie as the moose slowly walked back into the lake. Windflower
watched
as the moose disappeared into a mist that hovered over the water. He
was sad
and missed his auntie but felt filled up by her visit."
Windflower's
journey
also offers rich philosophical and life inspections that mystery
readers might
not expect. These augment the mystery in a satisfying manner that
encourages
insights and reflection beyond the usual whodunit:
“Did she tell you the moose story?” asked Uncle
Frank.
“She did,” said Windflower. “Why did she come as a moose, and why did
she tell me that story?”
“She seems to like that appearance,” said Uncle Frank, chuckling. “I
think she finds it funny to imagine the looks on our faces. As for the
story,
you must have needed to hear that message again.”
“About being strong and showing respect to others?” asked Windflower.
“And also being gentle,” said his uncle. “It’s easy to be a strong man.
It’s harder to be a gentle man.”
These gems
are every
bit as important as the clues to diamonds, smugglers, and perps that
affect
Newfoundland's culture and Windflower's newfound role, creating a
full-bodied
and multifaceted story as astute in its psychological and cultural
inspections
as it is in its intrigue.
All That Glitters is a satisfying
stand-alone mystery that also
enhances the Windflower series as a whole, following Sargeant Winston's
growth
and life progression.
Libraries
and readers
either new to the series or who hold prior affection for Windflower's
Canadian
milieu will find All That Glitters
an
involving tale that further reveals Windflower's dreams, reality, and
reflections on life's adversity and promise. Its powerful character
drives an
equally rich tension that creates a story hard to put down and
impressively touched
by surprising metaphysical and philosophical reflections.
Return to Index
Bastard Verdict
James McCrone
Independently
Published
9780999137741
$17.99
http://jamesmccrone.com
McCrone defines 'bastard
verdict' as "Scottish
law’s
third verdict in a criminal trial, Not Proven. In addition to Guilty
and Not
Guilty, Scottish law has Not Proven, which has come to mean that the
jury (or a
judge in special cases) believes that the defendant is guilty but The
Crown has
not provided sufficient evidence."
This seemingly-esoteric definition comes to life in an unusual way in a
thriller that centers on a hot American topic: voter rights and
manipulation.
FBI
Agent Imogen Trager, an investigator of voting
integrity, has taken leave from the Bureau, hoping to leave behind the
intrigue
there, and travels to Scotland, bringing a skill set that leads her
overseas to
examine charges of irregularities in the 2014
Scottish Independence referendum.
She's found that,
though voting fraud is rare, electoral fraud is a very real influencer
on
political outcomes, undermining or outright destroying one of the basic
rights
of citizens. Her expertise creates a milieu in which Imogen becomes
familiar
with not just Scottish struggles for political control, but the rights
threatened
by ballot box and political manipulation. These forces would do
anything to
retain their power ... even kill.
James McCrone weaves
a powerful story with thriller components embracing contemplative
reflections,
social and political realizations, and Imogen's special prowess at
doggedly
uncovering the truth at all costs.
The
Scottish dialect
and references which permeate discussions may stymie some readers, but
is
ultimately quite understandable with a minimum of effort; especially as
the
discussions fuel emotionally charged observations key to understanding
the
plot's progression: "...ye can see
that the wee box from the working-class bit of the ward mebee did
better than
the box from the polling station in the bougie area.”
The
shadowy group of conspirators in and outside of the
government has never come up against the determination of a woman like
Imogen,
who relentlessly pursues the truth and pries out the facts that lead
into a
rabbit warren of convoluted possibilities and threats.
McCrone
keeps the tension high and the psychological
depth on track as the characters evolve their own special purposes and
motivations for either pursuing or hiding the truth. Social and
political
entanglements come to life through dialogues and interactions that test
each
character's determination, while intrigue is steeped into the most
ordinary of
daily encounters.
The
stakes are high; both for Imogen, who values her
career and life and bets her expertise on her abilities to reveal
uncomfortable
truths, and for those around her who have a vested interest in
maintaining the
status quo.
The
social and political realizations that rock these
worlds are logical and thought-provoking: “Am
Ah the only one who was glaikit enough tae believe that government was
meant
tae be better than a pack of
thieves?”
As
killings and confrontations mount, delicate balances
of power and procedure are shaken, leading readers to question and
consider
Imogen's ability to navigate treachery in unfamiliar circumstances and
circles.
Libraries
and readers seeking a thriller which is heavy
in its Scottish cultural revelations and particular in its examination
of
electoral processes and ideals of freedom and control will find Bastard Verdict replete with powerful
insights and issues of trust and a journey gone terribly awry—but,
ultimately,
in a good way:
"It all looked
so safe to her, so prosperous and tidy. But it was a lie. They weren’t
safe.
They’d bought some time. But they still had no idea how to end this."
Return to Index
Bayou
Caddy
Aurion du Preez
Anaphora Literary Press
978-1-68114-550-1
$74.34 Hardcover/$25.00 Paperback/$2.99 Kindle
https://anaphoraliterary.com
Bayou Caddy's
crime thriller holds an unusual dual attraction in its coverage of
racism,
immigrant issues, and struggles in southern Mississippi, in the small
port town
of Bayou Caddy. Vietnamese boy Ronny
Pham and his white girlfriend Paige McArthur are the targets of an
attack that
kills him and leaves her in a nursing home.
Fast forward fifteen years,
when events have been forgotten and the town's new Sheriff, Warren
Boudin,
grapples with forces that defy the laws of men and nature alike.
Amongst the kudzu
vines and Cajun community's spicy culture lies a powerful knowledge
incarnated
in a descendent of slaves who fears nothing in the world, Ezra
Mayfield. His
knowledge of voodoo and forces beyond his ken affects the next
generation,
whose lives still resonate from violence and losses of the past.
Warren
is a good law
enforcement officer. His questions raise ghosts from the past and
reveal
influences on the present as he grapples with a fifteen-year-old secret
and
truth that Ezra knows and Kim An doesn't want revealed.
June
Carmichael feels it's good to be home with her
brother Mack at Cotton Manor. It's a feeling that will dovetail and
change with
Warren's probe, which draws them ever deeper into a long-held truth
about their
community and its deep-running still waters.
Readers
won't expect some of the supernatural threads
that emerge to test the boundaries of thriller and fantasy in Bayou Caddy—but these are part of its
allure. The surprise elements deeply embedded in the town's struggles
and in
individual lives and choices that have long departed from normal routes
of
logic and justice give rise to many thought-provoking moments as the
tale
unfolds.
Indeed,
Aurion du Preez crafts a story of social
inspection, psychological revelation, paranormal experience, and
small-town
prejudice and secrets that creates its own unique blend of action and
insight.
What
is the point of revenge and action? Seemingly, it's "to
defend the helpless, avenge the
wronged. Those are just empty words. No one feels vindicated and the
pain never
goes away."
What
is worth the effort of redemption and what is not,
if "It’s not about making everything
right. That’s just not possible in this world.”
As
characters and readers consider issues of the greater
good, retaliation, and a mysterious force that emerges from the
marriage
between swamp environment and human desires, the mystery and truths
that unfold
prove riveting and hard to predict.
Du
Preez brings to life this Mississippi milieu,
embedding it with cultural and social revelations that lead readers to
confront
the darkness that lives in their own presumptions and actions.
Libraries
and readers seeking thrillers firmly embedded
in Southern culture and legacies of prejudice and love will
find Bayou Caddy a
rich, evocative read worthy of book club discussion and individual
contemplation alike.
Return to Index
Big Island, L.A.
Boston Teran
High-Top Publishing
LLC
978-1567030693
$22.00
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Island-Boston-Teran/dp/1567030696
Big Island, L.A.
provides a complimentary volume to Boston Teran's
literary thriller Never Count Out the
Dead, but it's important to note that no prior familiarity is
needed in
order to appreciate this book as a powerful stand-alone crime story.
As is his style,
Teran opens this story with a bang and a contemporary twist that
doesn't just
invite, but grabs readers: "Landshark
was the first to report in his “Big Island, L.A.” podcast that a Covid
mask
arted up to mimic the Joker’s heinous grin had been left at the scene
of the
robbery at the Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club gun shop."
In just one powerful
line, the setting, place, and crime are revealed. This is just the
introductory
salvo in a series of distinctly hard-hitting revelations that send
author and
podcast creator William Worth (a.k.a. 'Landshark') on his journey past
self-imposed isolation when former combat marine Ana Ride enters his
investigation with an irresistible lure to drive him away from his
agoraphobic,
reclusive lifestyle.
In a city where
shootings occur daily, Ana's experiences stand out and portend a
greater foray
into bloodshed, murder, and deadly fighting that mimics the
battlefields of
war, but takes place on the streets of L.A.
Readers looking for
strong senses of place and purpose, cemented by the special interests
and shifting
objectives of a myriad of characters who each step out of their comfort
zones,
will find the action tense and the psychology well depicted in Big Island, L.A.
Teran's ability to
dovetail disparate lives, special interests, and "Olympic
grade liars" capable of talking themselves into
trouble and deadly situations shapes a tense crime drama packed with
twists and
turns even seasoned thriller readers won't see coming.
Between battles
between tenants' associations and different conspirators who "have more juice than us, so they have
more veracity," the story embraces a host of political
special
interests and interactions that fairly sizzle with hard gravity,
gunfire, and
actions and reactions outside the norm.
Libraries and readers
seeking crime thrillers that embrace literary and social inspections
above and
beyond the norm will find Big Island,
L.A. a powerful foray into L.A. culture and the psyche of
Landshark, who
comes to admit that "The living
world out there had become the embodiment of every paranoid fear he had
forever
been tormented by. The terror he emotionally suffered more alive in
the day to
day existence down below than he could have ever imagined. He and the
world
were about the same."
Return to Index
Broadway
Stan Charnofsky
Hawkshaw Press
978-1-957224-07-7
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.hawkshawpress.com
Cozy mystery readers
may recognize Stan Charnofsky's name from the prior Charlotte Smart
stories,
and will be delighted to find this third book in the series also
cultivates a
special flavor of discovery that brings its characters and setting to
life.
Broadway Farivar is a
devotee of Charlotte. The son of immigrant parents, he and his sister
Brooklyn
were on the road to success when their train derailed, causing
Charlotte's
investigative skills to enter the picture.
Broadway is
determined to find answers to his sister's dilemmas at all costs.
Charlotte,
used to a small-town atmosphere, finds the call to enter New York's
milieu both
alluring and challenging. Can small-town detective skills translate to
solving
a family's pressing questions in the Big Apple?
Charlotte may have
bitten off more than she can chew, because the combination of
unfamiliar
territory and a family who only knows her via a newspaper article
create a
perfect storm of challenge to her instincts and abilities as they
translate to
appearances on a bigger stage than she's ever imagined.
As Detective
Cavanaugh and Charlotte Smart turn up clues about Brooklyn's deadly
accident,
they stumble into subcultures that range from immigrant communities to
counter-culture enclaves, all operating in New York's underworld and
each
holding answers that work together to create the puzzle's bigger
picture.
Stan Charnofsky
crafts a sultry, revealing tone in his story that immerses readers in
Charlotte's sleuthing abilities and the backdrop of New York City. He
takes the
time to test the interplays between various characters, from brother
and sister
to Charlotte's intuitive intelligence, which gets "...to
the heart of an issue, tear away the cobwebs, ignore the
superfluous."
Charlotte uncovers
more than one crime, and her instincts lead her into uncharted
territory to
give the story a special atmosphere of discovery that will surprise
even avid
cozy mystery fans.
Whether or not
libraries have the prior Charlotte Smart books in their collections, Broadway both supports this savvy
investigator's professional and personal evolution and stands nicely
alone as a
solid cozy mystery attraction.
In the end, Charlotte's
realizations about her choices are powerful portents of endings and new
beginnings:
"Now it is resolved, and,
yes, there is an empty feeling, as there
is after a war is won, after a race is over, when a compelling piece of
theater
ends. Challenge gone. Something larger than yourself had a life of its
own and
now has died. Uncovering material and the intricate details of the
conundrum
are no longer required. Thank goodness for being an optimist, for
viewing
endings as opportunities. As they say, a door closes and a window
opens."
Will Charlotte use
her remarkable skills and discoveries to change her life yet again?
Cozy
mystery readers are in for a treat, both with the mystery component
developed
in Broadway and its vision of how
detective skills change lives.
Its ability to build
strong characters who step out of their familiar roles to tackle
unprecedented
issues makes for a riveting story that's hard to put down, powered by
the
attraction of a small-town investigator operating in big-city
environments of
stage productions and an older female detective who is faced with
either
retirement or developing more skills to address ongoing mysteries.
Return to Index
Dark
Traffic
R.A. Van Vleet
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-769-9
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Dark Traffic is
a thriller novel set in Southern California that
embraces the world of sex trafficking and threats to those that would
expose
it. It opens with an unexpected minor car accident to Ian's Mercedes,
which involves
him with a distracted woman whose inability to navigate her stick shift
truck
introduces Ashley Davis into his life.
The woman is separated from her billionaire
husband, and is
in need of Ian's security services. What seems like serendipity and an
ordinary
protection request evolves into something more insidious and deadly as
Ian
finds his life laced with Ashley's world. Both are drawn into
increasing
threats that come with new revelations about Ashley, her husband, and
attacks
that threaten their lives.
R.A. Van Vleet creates a social and political
inspection
that tempers its investigative tone with considerations of the
attraction
brewing between the characters. While the reason for these attacks
remains
mercurial for much of the story, what is apparent is a series of
complex
influences on Ian and Ashley's lives and health which emerges to reveal
an
underbelly to society that Ian was not previously familiar with. Events
unfold
to reveal a series of confrontations that rest on Ashley's health or
demise and
Ian's increasing inability to fully protect her.
Van Vleet builds excellent tension throughout the
story,
whether with elements of strange attraction and coincidence, or
emerging
threats that dance through the novel's probe of difficult truths.
Ian and Ashley's immersion into DEA, FBI, and other
investigative forces leads them down paths neither anticipated or was
familiar
with, giving the events a realistic overlay of surprise that will
delight even
seasoned thriller audiences.
Libraries and readers seeking a realistic, riveting
probe
into what turns out to be a national drug and human sex trafficking
organization will find the tension, cat-and-mouse games, and characters
in Dark Traffic to be satisfyingly
realistic and compelling.
Return to Index
Death in a Bygone Hue
Susan Van Kirk
Level Best Books
978-1-68512-336-9
$16.95 Paper/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Bygone-Hue-Center-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BYGSHN93
The second book in the
Art Center Mysteries, Death in a Bygone
Hue, continues the story of artist Jill Madison's return to
and new life in
her hometown, where she has established a position as executive
director of a
new art center and cemented a reputation for problem-solving by the
mystery she
solved in Death in a Pale Hue.
All has not been completely
peaceful since then, because 'Ivan the Terrible,' the president of the
art
center's board, is not just an ongoing thorn in her side, but a
professional
nemesis whose ongoing (and often petty) concerns constantly thwart her
efficiency and attempt to direct her every move.
Think the worst of
micromanagers—that would be Ivan. Now pair him with a terrible event
that
leaves behind a legacy of mystery when her good friend and mentor Judge
Ron
Spivey is killed, bringing his estranged children into her life with a
mandate
to circumvent her inheritance from his will. These developments add a
fine
tension to the plot that evolves on multiple levels as the story plays
out.
As in the previous
Jill Madison account, Susan Van Kirk creates masterful interactions
between all
kinds of disparate individuals and special interests, flavoring the
murder
mystery with evolving community quandaries that keep Jill on her toes
and often
at odds with the very people she's supposed to serve in her new job.
"Who knew I lived in such
a colorful town?"
Jill is only
beginning to scratch the surface of its underlying influences, and
readers
follow along with her discoveries, which are presented in a thoroughly
engrossing and revealing manner that touches upon these emotional and
special
interest connections to involve them in the heartbeat of a small town's
secrets.
Van Kirk's ability to
bring Jill and her conundrums to life comes from both her astute
observational
tone and the revealing events that embrace the feel of a cozy mystery
and the
revelations of interpersonal strife:
"I took several sips of
wine, sat back on the sofa, and thumbed
through the rest of the newspaper. Summer sports were over for my niece
and
nephew, Tom’s kids, so I glanced through the sports pages in a few
seconds.
Then I returned to the front section. Hmm. What might Editor
Gushman have
found to write about? I pulled open the editorial page and gasped at
the headline:
“Cover-Up is Alive and Well in Murder Investigation.” It reminded me I
despised
the woman. I folded the page back and read her editorial. Dread came
over
me."
From accusations of
cover-ups and special interests to vividly described events that often
impart a
wry undercurrent of humor, Van Kirk creates many compelling twists and
turns
cemented by a sense of person, place, and ironic inspection:
"I hit my brakes, skidded
on the wet pavement, and went careening
onto the shoulder and down into a ditch, coming to an abrupt stop.
Before I got
my wits about me, my airbag deployed, and I felt like I’d been socked
in the
face by a sumo wrestler. Fortunately, my car called 9-1-1. Gotta love
twenty-first century technology."
Death in a Bygone Hue is
a breath of fresh air in the mystery
series because its focus on evolving and shifting interpersonal
relationships
powers a whodunit that embraces a small town's prejudices, perceptions,
and
atmosphere.
Libraries and readers
seeking a stand-alone mystery that both supports the prior book and
crafts new
intrigue as Jill settles into her role and navigates the dangerous
politics of
her hometown will find Death in a Bygone
Hue a delight.
Return to Index
Deception Pass
Norm Harris
The Wild Rose
Press, Inc.
978-1-5092-4187-3
$14.99
Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Spider-Green-Mystery-Thriller-ebook/dp/B09Q1XVRNR
Deception Pass,
the third book in the Spider Green Mystery Thriller series, represents
a study
in opposites as navy lawyer Faydra
"Spider" Green finds herself on a ship headed for a particular kind
of hell. It seems unlikely that a man can return from the dead, much
less that
time itself can be altered, but Roman Justine is back. And he's thirsty
for
revenge.
Norm Harris opens his
thrillers in a similar fashion, by introducing seemingly disparate
elements
that, later on, prove to create an important backdrop of intrigue that
readers
will return to, to discover the roots of the well-developed tension
that
embraces Faydra's efforts.
In Deception Pass,
this involves a timeline
of three months prior, the setting of a Beijing Prison, and an odd form
of
escape which brings a prisoner to Moscow, his "home away from home."
The events may open the story, but they evolve in curious and
surprising ways
as, fifteen days later, Fay is once again confronting Death's clever
hand. He's
a figure she knows only far too well through too much life experience:
"Although she had
experienced Death before, including three of her
own near-death experiences, Navy Judge Advocate Commander Faydra Green
had not
gotten used to his genius. Then again, Death was not a person. Although
he was,
without a doubt, a man."
He's
also a major player in events that unfold over her
investigation of the U.S.S. Deception Pass, a spy ship that seems able
to
appear and disappear at will. Fay's vision has her on board the bridge
of a
Russian ship which encountered Deception Pass.
She's
been sidelined in her investigation—but is it to
keep her out of harm's way, or due to the remote viewing potential of
potent
dreams and abilities she has yet to acknowledge?
A
James Bond-like investigator who deftly fields a series
of extraordinary events that test her perception of reality, time and
space
evolves in a thriller that goes the extra mile to place Fay's special
interests
under the microscope of impossible situations and investigations.
Harris
excels in creating a proactive female character
that has many uncommon abilities, yet is not above examining her own
vulnerability and illusions as she absorbs seemingly impossible events
and
tests their reality and outcomes.
From
JAG conference rooms and military inspections to
Fay's own unfolding confrontation with a dangerous adversary who tests
her own
abilities as well as national security measures, Harris moves his
character and
readers through subplots steeped in fast-paced action tempered by
psychological
and parapsychological inspections.
Deception Pass
maintains the thriller elements of solid tension and fast pace, but
continually
tests and expands the powers of its main protagonist and the
perceptions of
those around her.
Miracles
happen. The fact that Fay has pulled off many
fetes of magic and recovery, both for herself and those who become
caught up in
Moscow's dangerous bonds, lends to a compelling story filled with
strong
characters who evolve at different paces and on disparate levels.
Whether Deception
Pass is chosen as a stand-alone thriller or part of the
series, libraries
and readers will find this book solid in its ability to maintain the
high-octane action of a thriller and the continuity of its character's
development in previous books, while crafting an all-new story that
departs
from typical paths of resolution in many satisfying ways.
Deception
Pass
Return
to Index
Desert Deadline
Michael Craft
Questover Press
979-8-218-13881-3
$26.99 hardcover,
$16.99 paperback, $6.99 Kindle
www.michaelcraft.com
Desert Deadline
delivers another Dante & Jazz mystery that
returns the duo of Dante O’Donnell and Jazz Friendly to Palm Springs
and the
mystery surrounding another conundrum.
Dante is a gay white
man whose position as a concierge for
Sunny Junket Vacation Rentals in Palm Springs leads him into unfamiliar
territory far outside his job description. Jazz is a
straight Black
female on the rebound from a failed marriage who is struggling to
establish her
P.I. business. Their association in Book 1, Desert
Getaway, (an Edgar Awards nominee for the Lilian Jackson
Braun Award), presented
an unabashed romp through seeming
impossibilities as the disparate investigators faced unlikely scenarios
that
tested the talents and different perspectives of each character.
Desert Deadline opens with the unexpected, as well: the specter of Swedish death cleaning and the "cleaning dervish" Agnetha Berg, who is employed by Dante to help prep a newly listed vacation rental.
As events
unfold,
Dante and Jazz discover that the latest baggage to land in their laps
(from a
big-name author's last-minute mandate for solitude and secrecy) draws
them into
another scenario that probes the underbelly of a vacation town's
seedier
residents.
From the start,
Michael Craft embeds his mystery with the quirky personalities of
investigators
who discover that their presumptions and attitudes are both useful and
a hindrance
to their latest investigation.
As Agnetha's disdain
for Dante and Jazz dovetails with inconsistencies in her story, the two
narrow
their focus on perps and possibilities, but find that their own
participation
in subterfuge leads them not just to truth, but surprising outcomes.
The flash and
flamboyance of Palm Springs is revealed, along with its darker nature,
and the
two investigators find themselves both thoroughly immersed in too many
possibilities and searching for the romance and emotional links missing
in
their own lives.
The moral and ethical
conundrums these changing relationships introduce to each are nicely
presented,
providing subplots that rest firmly on emotional connections and
conundrums as
big as the murder they're investigating:
"I was hoping he’d tell me
that something had come up, that we’d
have to postpone our rendezvous, our first
date. Please, I thought, let it be his
decision. Let him spare me the need to tussle with this,
the
need to juggle him with Isandro in my conflicting notions of loyalty
versus
desire. I wanted an easy way out. But no."
Strengthened by a
myriad of characters who each hold special interests and roles in the
community,
this mystery is as much about preserving the magic in relationships as
it is
about preserving life in a gay community when motive, means, and
opportunity
seem to point to a murderer who resides too close to home for comfort.
Library mystery
collections strong in LGBTQ+ stories, with patrons interested in
mysteries
solidly steeped in a realistic sense of place and the juxtaposition of
very
different characters, will find the intrigue, emotional connections,
and
surprising twists and turns of Desert Deadline
translate to a solid acquisition choice.
Return to Index
Fault Line
H.N. Hirsch
Pisgah Press, LLC
978-1-942016-76-2
$22.95
www.pisgahpress.com
Libraries and readers
looking for a classic gay murder mystery steeped in California culture,
political subterfuge, and characters that live on the line of lies and
danger
will find Fault Line a fine study
in
intrigue that draws from its initial words, when Bob Abramson's first
morning
in California brings him an earthquake, rain, and murder.
New lawyer Bob is no
stranger to murder. The murder of his roommate four years earlier
introduced
him to the victim’s Harvard professor, Marcus George, leading to a
relationship
which challenged them to build a new life together in California.
In this novel, the
two new transplants explore California's gay subculture and continue to
evolve
their relationship against the backdrop of a different murder that
mirrors a
"small earthquake" in their changed lives together.
H.N. Hirsch does an
excellent job of
juxtaposing a murder mystery with a gay couple's continuing evolution.
The
story is replete with satisfying twists and turns that contrast social
and
political insights with personal life challenges in unpredictable,
realistic,
satisfying ways.
As the ins and outs of
local politics,
conventional marriages, and closely held secrets come to light, both
Bob and
Marcus find their lives transformed. Bob comes to realize that many of
his
assumptions about lifestyles and age groups prove questionable in
California's
unique milieu:
"Bob
thought for a minute.
'And do you have any impression of the marriage?'
'None whatever. I’ve never
really understood straight folk.'
Bob was startled; he hadn’t
really stopped to consider whether Philip was gay or straight. He felt
a pang
of guilt; like many people his age, he hardly thought about older
people in
terms of relationships, or sex."
As relationships
between mayors, attorney
generals, and other public figures come to light, Bob comes to realize
there
are too many suspects and secrets too close to home for comfort.
Readers who embark on
this foray into
California culture with Bob and Marcus will find the story packed with
social
and political as well as psychological and relationship insights.
Hirsch brings
to life a myriad of characters that swirl around this unique murder
case and
its accompanying special interests.
This creates a
memorable, compelling read as
suitable for genre readers of murder mysteries as it is for those
seeking
explorations of gay culture in California.
Another surprising
strength of the story:
it's set in Southern California, where the gay lifestyle is less famous
and
pronounced than in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has become almost
a cliché
in gay circles.
Libraries and readers
will find Fault Line a powerfully
reflective
whodunit that adds value with its realistic inspection of gay
subculture
perceptions and experiences.
Return to Index
Fearless
Cameron K. Moore
Independently Published
978-0-646-85704-6
$14.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
Website: cameronkmooreauthor.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Trident-Force-Thriller-Book-ebook/dp/B0C43H6CGJ
Fearless is
a Trident Force thriller. It is steeped in the action-packed drama
of a treacherous journey that characters experience as they encounter
the
covert American entity Trident, whose mission is to thwart threats to
the
nation, as represented by new technological developments in the hands
of the
wrong people.
The
story opens with a wild motorcycle ride by
Molly Jones, whose special power is being fearless. Her ability has
cost her
career—but it's also especially attractive to those who would harness
this
talent for their own purposes. Even other nations such as China, which
has
developed a process to turn a human being into a bioweapon, are
pursuing Molly
for her potential contribution to their program.
Dr. Karl Shepherd is
as vested in preventing this as Molly is in defending her own life
trajectory,
and so the two join forces to defy China's program and objective
despite the
fact that Molly is the biggest prize they are after.
How can one trust a
truly fearless partner who is capable of nearly anything? That's one of
the key
questions in Fearless.
As
the story progresses, Dr. Shepherd finds
himself in the position of quashing a new reign of terror while
fighting those
who have infiltrated the Trident team itself.
Cameron
K. Moore introduces satisfying twists
and turns that constantly question the forces of good and evil in a
greater
conflict that could embroil the world in terrorism and fear. The
interactions
between Trident team members and Molly are nicely portrayed as Molly
comes to
realize that her own best interests are at stake not just with China,
but those
that oppose China's intentions.
This
introduces excellent tension as the story
focuses on Molly's fearless attributes and the nature of her
connections to
life. She may be fearless, but she's not without compassion for others.
Her
connections may save her, but they also bear a heavy cost.
The
biotech element of the threat is also well
done. China's foray into unethical territory is outlined in compelling
ways,
with changing events testing both sides with an unpredictable and
dangerous
outcome.
Moore's
dance between good and evil and the
relationships that evolve and change during the Trident team's
engagements creates
a powerful thriller that is hard to put down or easily predict.
Libraries
and readers attracted to thrillers
which thoroughly engage with moral and ethical questions spiced with
high-octane action will find Fearless
an intense story of loyalties tested by not just adversity, but
emotional
currents.
Fearless's
ability to support the series while standing nicely on its own makes
it a winner.
Return to Index
French Ghost
Corinne LaBalme
Wild Rose Press
978-1509239191
$17.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/French-Ghost-Corinne-Labalme/dp/1509239197
French Ghost
features a ghost writer whose employment becomes
literal when her movie star boss suddenly dies in a drowning that
leaves her
floundering in Paris. Re-hired for the job by a sullen son who
obviously
resents his father, Melody Layne is puzzled about his motivation and
attitude
until her biographical journey becomes a foray into crime and threats.
Is Melody's biography
the product of lies, or truth? As she makes the choice to delve deeper
into
deceased Charles-Henri Banville’s life, she uncovers hidden truths that
emerge
with powerful threats not only to her writing, but her life and those
around
her.
It doesn't help that
she's in a foreign milieu, or that she comes to realize her writing is
actually
a murder probe—something she has little experience in pursuing.
Corinne LaBalme's dialogues
are intriguing, reflecting a dash of humor as Melody chases clues to
facts she
has no business knowing about:
“Melody, Melody…perhaps,
in retrospect, I may have jumped to a
conclusion…”
“I’d say you pole vaulted to a conclusion.”
“But not without justification,” he countered. “You are definitely my
father’s type."
The romance that
evolves alongside her duty to chronicle the truth leads to moral and
ethical
conundrums as Melody comes to realize that what she loves may be
ultimately
dangerous.
LaBalme walks a fine
line between murder story and romance, but it's one nicely steeped in
the
atmospheres of both as Melody navigates situations she is both ill
equipped to
manage in terms of experience, and uniquely talented to trail, thanks
to her
writing and research background.
Other facets of the
son's anguished relationship with his father come to light over an
inheritance
he never wanted, but which lies in question and comes with ironic
twists:
"Why did this man, who
ignored me all his life, make me his heir
and executor? Thanks to him, I’m a member of the one percent that I’ve
fought
against all my life.”
French Ghost's
backdrop blends the allure of a Paris romance with
the intrigue of a mystery that draws special interests to interact on
emotional
and investigative levels as police search for a reason to finger son
Carlos
Ortega and Melody seeks the truth.
Libraries and readers
looking for mysteries steeped in first-person revelations and astute
considerations of romantic and detective pursuits alike will find French Ghost an appealing study in a
writer's quest against all odds and a romance that evolves despite her
recognition that "It was getting
harder and harder to love that man."
Return to Index
A Gilded Drowning
Pool
Cecelia Tichi
Independently
Published
979-8-9851216-6-7
$15.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Drowning-Pool-Roddy-Devere/dp/B0C118ZCX3
With its dovetailing
of murder mystery and historical fiction, A
Gilded Drowning Pool introduces a special brand of
captivating action that
will attract both types of genre readers with its compelling contrasts
between
1899 high society New York and a childhood spent in the Western mining
camps.
This backdrop of
evolution is cemented by the specter of dangerous threat when a young
woman
whose name harkens to Val’s Gaelic nickname is drowned on family
property,
embroiling Val and her husband Roddy in a series of events and
accusations that
threaten everything they've built in their lives and between one
another.
Val's first-person
contrast between her girlhood in the far West and the position she
finds
herself in as Mrs. Roderick W. DeVere of New York’s Fifth Avenue comes
to life
as the story moves through an unlikely set of circumstances and
challenges to
their social status and Val's efforts to rise above adversity.
What does a proposed
Health-to-Wealth tent camp venture have to do with murder? As Val and
her
husband begin to realize that a bogus project is entangling their
affairs in a
serious and unexpected way, readers join them in a romp through the
world of
the 1800s and its social and political currents.
Cecelia Tichi
develops an exquisite tension fostered by the first-person observations
of Val
and the interactions between her husband and various strata of society.
From
issues of financial gain and mutual cooperation to an investigation
that
exposes the fallacies of boyhood loyalties and the dangers Val and
Roddy face
in pursuing the truth, A Gilded Drowning
Pool virtually sizzles with unexpected twists. These lead
readers to
carefully examine the social and political entanglements of the times
that lead
to murderous decisions.
Val and Roddy find
themselves falling ever deeper into the quicksand of relationships they
thought
they knew well, only to discover that the veneer of geniality and
decorum
overlays a dangerous undercurrent of threat that reaches out to grasp
and pull
them into ever-deadlier situations.
From tyrants and
liars to dark truths revealed, A Gilded
Drowning Pool creates an evocative, compellingly rich story
that proves
hard to put down. It is highly recommended for historical fiction and
murder
mystery collections alike.
Return to Index
The Hero Rule
Brandon Hughes
Tension Books
979-8-9879233-1-3
$16.95
Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://amzn.to/3lCPDWS
As The Hero Rule
opens, lawyer Duncan Pheiffer has just seen his client convicted of
capital
murder. Now the client faces a death sentence, and despite all the
facts and
arguments, Duncan truly that believes Charlie Calvin Clements is
innocent. And
he's just let him down by losing the case.
Duncan's pursuit of justice above and beyond the
courtroom
leads him into an unlikely personal and professional association with
prosecutor Barclay Griffith, who embodies the Hero
Rule ("doing the right thing
for the right reason").
As lies, deceit, and dangerous truths evolve,
Barclay finds
himself on a mission that goes beyond seeking and proving the truth,
entering
into considerations of how justice is defined and enacted. And this may
not
unfold in ways Duncan has been trained to believe in.
Brandon Hughes creates a fine intersection between
thriller
and moral and ethical inspection as Barclay navigates dangerous
situations and
redefines justice, heroism, and how far he should go to pursue both.
The characters and their motivations are nicely
aligned
with the moral and ethical situations which drive the plot beyond
issues of
crime and punishment, creating not just one, but a set of solid,
action-packed
characters and special interests that draw readers on different levels.
It's rare to see a crime thriller embrace moral and
ethical
questions so thoroughly, but as unpredictable events lead to outcomes
even
seasoned readers might not see coming, the story embraces a
multifaceted feel
that gives it depth in both literary and psychological circles.
Libraries and readers seeking a compelling crime
story
that's all the stronger for its author's personal experiences within
the
criminal justice system will find The
Hero Rule not only intriguing, but thought-provoking and
worthy of debate
among book club readers interested in crime and thriller stories that
introduce
new definitions of justice and fresh realizations about its underlying
influences and costs.
Return to Index
If Only Truman Were
Dead
William F. Crandell
Hawkshaw Press
978-1-957224-16-9
$15.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.hawkshawpress.com
If Only Truman Were Dead
is the second book in the Jack Griffith
Detective series, continuing the same gritty exploration of a bygone
1940s
milieu from the eyes of a streetwise detective newly returned from war.
Jack finds that
almost everything has changed—but some things never do. The Washington,
D.C. he
knew is seedier, yet will feel familiar to modern audiences: "Washington in 1948 was a different
planet. The squalid Southern town I’d left behind to fight in Europe
had become
a squalid Southern city. Sex,
cabs, booze and life were still cheap because Congress ran D.C. as a
game
preserve."
The
trail of corpses that immerse Jack in another series
of investigative quandaries and challenges has not yet begun— but it's
on the
threshold as his month starts off with an unusual case.
What
makes If Only Truman Were
Dead stand out from the
beginning is an observational
first-person style that is candid, revealing, and sometimes startling
in its
ability to deliver punches via succinct first-person impressions of
motivations
for actions and hard choices: "Somebody
hired Harry to handle the ransom demand for a young boy who’d been
abducted.
Harry botched it, and nowadays he drank his form of pain medicine neat.
The
kidnapper got what was coming to him. Luckily for my
sanity, I was off shooting Germans at the time."
A
second wife's concern that her rich husband is falling
prey to alluring and clever young ladies introduces a series of events
that
lead far from an easy probe into a wife's worries, entering political
circles
that once again challenge Jack's ability to survive the layers of
deceit he
uncovers in high-level social and political circles.
The dialogues,
atmosphere, and quandaries are spot-on and absorbing, often pairing
astute
observations with surprising conclusions:
"Cissy Patterson held the
commanding heights of the marble
staircase in a hunter green dress cut injudiciously low. She must have
been
sixty or so. What had clearly once been engrossing breasts had turned
flabby.
You could see from her eyes and her nostrils she had too much money and
spent
some of it on cocaine. If your ears worked, you also knew Cissy drank
too much.
I liked her right away."
Between the noir
atmosphere of a sultry mystery, the satisfying questions and twists
that keep
Jack immersed in a strange new world he once knew well but now is
barely
familiar with, and the evolving events that portend more threats than
he'd
anticipated, If Only Truman Were Dead
commands the kind of riveting attention that can only come from
powerful
writing that extends the story's interest from detective readers to
general-interest
audiences.
As dames, dolls, and
the dead coalesce, If Only Truman Were
Dead comes alive with dilemmas spiced with descriptions that
are
supercharged with psychological and mystery surprises: "Maybe
part of a siren’s allure goes beyond sex appeal—a puzzle
loaned bewitchment to Aileen’s allure."
If only one mystery
were chosen by genre detective readers to try to lure
non-mystery-reading
friends into the fold, it should be If
Only Truman Were Dead. Mystery and history entwine in a
backdrop in which
politics and motivation are powerfully engaged.
Impeccable
characterization, atmosphere, and intrigue will prove draws to anyone
who
appreciates a rollicking good romp through nefarious motivations and
suspense,
making If Only Truman Were Dead
highly recommended for libraries and book clubs seeking solidly
appealing stories
that conclude with a political bombshell.
Return to Index
Livingsky
Anthony Bidulka
Stonehouse Publishing
978-1988754475
$16.95
Website: www.anthonybidulka.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Livingsky-Anthony-Bidulka/dp/198875447X
Livingsky
is the story of a woman both on the run and investigating those who are
invested in keeping their lives secret, injecting its tale with
thriller
components. It also covers the special challenge of returning home, as
Merry
Bell returns to Livingsky, Saskatchewan to open her own PI business and
start
over financially and professionally.
Her first case
involves an arson investigation that quickly grows into a series of
conundrums
to test her analytical prowess and personal boundaries.
The story opens not
with Merry, but with fellow PI Nathan Sharpe's surprise late-night
visitor—Merry's
roommate, Julia Turner. Nathan would do anything for Merry, but the
news Julia
delivers isn't something to help Merry, but implicates her in a murder
case and
tests Nathan's resolve and convictions about Merry's character.
In short order, Merry's desire to return home to
make money
and open a branch of Sharpe Investigations challenges Nathan to either
step up
and support her or contest her reasons for leaving Vancouver, a city
she loves,
for the relative backwoods of Livingsky.
His decision to support her leads Merry on a
journey
through the undercurrents of Saskatchewan, which are revealed to
readers as
Merry's case leads her through unexpected routes of discovery in both
social
issues and crime:
"Within the invisible but
very real
boundaries of Alphabet City, where Merry was soon to take up residence,
it was
widely known that the poor, the underprivileged, the disenfranchised,
were
routinely taken advantage of. Merry herself had just begun to
experience the
bitter taste of that same sour candy. Unable to afford reasonable
living
quarters, subsisting on cheap wine and day-old doughnuts, unsure where
her next
dollar was coming from, it was a tough life, all at the mercy of a
not-so-underground economy that exploited those who lived it."
Anthony Bidulka's attention to drawing out the
interplay
between perp and investigator, focusing on Merry Bell's dual roles,
makes for
an especially intriguing story that moves between the big city affairs
of
Vancouver and its small-town mirror, Livingsky.
As Merry's probes lead others to question their own
guilt
and complacency in criminal matters, so the noose around her tightens,
as well.
Bidulka excels in contrasting matters of the heart
with
investigative mysteries, and this will especially intrigue mystery
genre
readers who look for stories and settings beyond a simple whodunit.
Some characters look for reasons not to go home. Others, such as Merry,
find
that their home is not all they'd thought. Undercurrents of the LGBTQ+
community enter the bigger picture to add further intrigue and
unexpected
insights to the plot.
As Merry navigates these emotional secrets, she
discovers
that "The decision to return to
Livingsky had made Merry’s life cheaper, but definitely not simpler."
Libraries and readers interested in a mystery
milieu that
goes beyond obvious patterns of problem-solving to delve into matters
of social
and cultural transformation will find Livingsky
vividly portrayed, layered with different kinds of tension, and hard to
put
down.
Return to Index
The
Mazatlan Showdown
Patrick Weill
Weill & Associates
978-1959866022
$2.99 ebook/$14.99
Paperback
Website: https://patrickweill.com/
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1959866028
The Mazatlan
Showdown gives thriller readers a run for their money as it
tells of
lifeguard Jeff Walker’s pursuit of his father's murderer, only to wind
up involved
in a deadly smuggling situation.
Fellow
lifeguard Tony Park follows him into danger, and
the two work with more seasoned law enforcement figures, but Jeff's
kidnapping
thwarts even the experts and lands him in a scenario akin to that which
took
his father's life.
Revenge
is sweet ... but not when it turns into an
explosive confrontation that ignites his friend Park's post-military
PTSD and
lands Jeff in a situation that could cost more than his life.
Patrick
Weill's thriller features nonstop action and
twists designed to challenge and intrigue even the most seasoned
thriller
reader's anticipation of what comes next. The story winds through
different
cultures, layers of crime, and the pursuit of justice with deft
descriptions of
accidents, cries for help, Walker's determination to journey to
Mazatlan to
kill a man for the first time in his life, and Park's participation in
a
dangerous cat-and-mouse scenario in which the victim becomes the
pursuer and
the good guy teeters on the edge of becoming the perp.
This
juxtaposition of identities, special interests, and
fluid intentions contributes an element of intrigue and surprise
throughout the
plot. These create a constantly shifting foundation of discovery and an
atmosphere that defies pat problem-solving or quick solutions.
Thriller
readers seeking elements of nonstop adventure
and action in their stories will find The
Mazatlan Showdown spiced with just the right degree of
character
development, social and political entanglements, and questions about
justice
and redemption that pair bigger-picture thinking with motives for
revenge and
justice.
Libraries
and book club discussion groups will find The
Mazatlan Showdown just the ticket
for a journey into other worlds that evolve from tragic memories and
investigations
that test physical and mental agility alike. Its action and psychology
are
simply superb, driving a story that proves riveting, thought-provoking,
and
hard to put down or predict.
Return to Index
Nicholas Eternal
Kim Conrey
Soul Source Press
978-1-960562-00-5
Print
$14.99 ebook $4.99
Website: www.kimconrey.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZBRMZ49?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks
Nicholas Eternal, the
first in The Wayward Saviors series, reflects one man's choice in
lifestyle and
purpose as he enjoys eternal life on Earth and hones his special gift:
locating
missing children. When homeless shelter manager Noory Abramson stumbles
on Nick grieving over a young girl's demise in an Atlanta alley, she at
first
suspects him of foul play and evil. In fact, Noory may just have fallen
into
the perfect man for the job of locating a missing fifteen-year-old.
Nick's intrinsic
willingness to help draws him into danger, however, when he discovers
that
Noory may not be all she seems. Their search for answers and the
missing Grace
proves to be an equally powerful quest for Nick's own soul and future
as an
immortal.
Kim Conrey crafts a thought-provoking draw in a
novel that
operates as a thriller, a paranormal exploration, and a spiritual and
philosophical quest. It reveals additional layers of intrigue as Nick
and Noory
come closer to shocking revelations about not just the missing, but
those who
believe themselves to be on a mission.
The technology of solving crimes through DNA winds
nicely
into the paranormal realities Nick has experienced both from his
centuries of
life and the special abilities he is either blessed or cursed with.
Conrey crafts a mystery that overlays deeper
inspections of
heart and soul. This technique draws readers on many levels as they
follow Nick
into branches of thought and reactions he's never before experienced in
all his
time of recognizing his abilities and moving through human affairs.
Romance would seem impossible in this scenario,
especially
given the agenda of an entity willing to promise utopia in exchange for
free
will. These issues will especially attract book club readers looking
for
stories that promise lively debates and discussions about good, evil,
love, and
underlying forces affecting choice.
Nick is a likeable character in whom wisdom comes
not just
from age and experience, but new relationships and revised perceptions
of the
world he thought he knew well. His resistance of yet another lure to
find the
missing involves him in lives he can't walk away from, but his higher
purpose
is apparently much loftier.
Libraries and readers drawn to paranormal mysteries
that
unfold deeper layers of philosophical and life inspection will welcome
the
intrigue, relationship developments, and bigger-picture questions Nicholas
Eternal evolves. It crafts
satisfying twists and turns, possibilities readers might not see
coming, and
confrontations that test the boundaries of good and evil intentions.
The result
is a story that is fresh, original, and thoroughly compelling in the
process of
transcending definitions of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, or
anything
in-between.
Return to Index
No Consent
Teresa Burrell and
L.J. Sellers
Silent Thunder
Publishing
978-1-938680-40-3
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/NO-CONSENT-Conner-Hitch-Thriller/dp/1938680405
Thriller genre
readers seeking a story that incorporates unusual relationships between
forces
on either side of justice will find No
Consent a satisfying study in contrasts. It unites the forces
of District
Attorney Clara Hitchens ("Hitch"), who is facing the possibility of a
corrupt boss, and newly released jail inmate Nate Conner, whose new
focus is
locating his missing sister while fending off a bully's demands for
money.
Conner taps Hitch to
help him, but when he's implicated in a murder case, she has her hands
full on
more than one front. Hitch also harbors too many doubts about what is
really
going on, suspecting she might be aiding and abetting what is possibly
the
wrong side in the pursuit for justice.
Part of the
attraction in No Consent lies in
its
constantly-shifting alliances and situations that test Conner's ability
to stay
out of trouble and Hitch's ability to identify the real perps in her
legal case.
Teresa Burrell and L.J. Sellers excel in action-packed scenarios that
begin the
moment Conner steps out of jail to confront his past and the grave
mistake he
made in getting involved with a scammer.
When he is rescued
from this confrontation by his other sister, Conner comes to learn that
his
baby sister, who has been in and out of trouble for years, has actually
been
missing for months. This sends him on a mission before he's even
stepped into
his revised role in society, immersing readers in the specter of a
newly
released inmate who once again finds himself skirting the edges of the
law and
society.
Burrell and Sellers
navigate a thin line that moves among informants, accusations, social
and legal
possibilities, and fresh issues with practiced agility. The story
excels in the
ebbs and flows of a tension that stems not just from discovery, but
from social
inspection: "She would do her best
to make Heather look … more wholesome? Meaning less slutty. Hitch hated
society’s
double standards."
As No Consent
evolves its multifaceted
plot, readers receive a tale steeped in ironic twists, circumstances
that test
ideas of political correctness, and setups which reveal to Connor
frightening
possibilities about his missing sister's life.
Trial proceedings
mire Conner deeper in legal entanglements and threats as his little
sister
tunnels into hiding and Hitch is thwarted by a successful corruption
effort
that turns her trial into a travesty.
The character
development, action, and tension are well developed, creating a
compelling
story that rests as much on the individual challenges to Conner and
Hitch as on
their conjoined purposes.
Light references to a
budding friendship that could turn into something else pepper the story
for
future development, but the foundations of intrigue and proactive
thinking that
drive each character in No Consent
lay a firm foundation of adventure that thriller readers will relish.
Libraries and readers
seeking a story that navigates political, social, and legal circles to
challenge its two main characters' perceptions and roles will find No Consent action-packed, vivid, and
hard to put down.
Return to Index
The
Philosophical
Detective's Last Case
Bruce Hartman
Swallow Tail Press
9780999756471
$13.95 paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/099975646X
The Philosophical Detective's Last Case
adds to and completes the
trilogy of detective experiences of narrator Nick Martin, demonstrating
the
ability to stand on its own strengths with no prior introduction to the
series
required for newcomers.
The tale
opens with
the confession that its narrator resides in a memory care center, where
he has
"caretakers" who are charged with maintaining him. Nick cultivates a
minor form of rebellion against his newly managed life. His keepers "...care for my memory as the gardener
cares for the lawn, by saturating it with poisons and eradicating
anything that
sprouts up unexpectedly. Their mission is to make me remember what they
think I
ought to remember." But Nick admits that "My
secret revenge is to remember only the things I want
to remember."
Thus his
final story
is also a defiant statement as he spends "my
endless days and nights sifting through lost time for fragments of what
has
made my life worth living."
Nick's
memorable
fictional associations with "great
Argentinian poet and fabulist Jorge Luis Borges" provides a
rich
treasure trove of experiences which fueled prior books and appears
early on in
this one to cement the presence of mysteries and conundrums that appear
in
literary and physical milieus alike.
“The fundamental mysteries of nature aren’t the
kind a detective tries
to solve,” Nick protests to Borges. But as he is drawn to
this literary
giant's world and finds himself on yet another philosophical mystery
adventure,
readers will discover that the underlying inquiries that power this
story are
every bit as intriguing as the detective's foray into unfamiliar
territory.
Bruce
Hartman
continues the concurrent themes of philosophical inspection that
consider the
roots of investigations and the definition of mysteries as unique to
human
reasoning: “The detective is to a mystery
what the observer was to Schrödinger’s cat,” Borges said. “Unless he’s
looking—and asking—there isn’t any mystery.”
Literary
readers,
especially, who enjoy the intersection of philosophical examination and
intrigue will find that both evolve in attractive, engrossing manners
as Borges
and Nick explore matters of fate, time, and the methods and outcomes of
arrogant fools. The threads of humor that consistently run throughout
the story
line add a fine dimension of laughter that is unexpectedly delightful
as the
story progresses.
From ironic
twists of
fate to predictions that lead the characters to consider the underlying
impact
and presence of what is likely their last case, Hartman creates a
thought-provoking series of events and character interactions with
their world
that transcends the usual approach of a detective piece to enter into
the realms
of philosophical debates and reflection:
"He liked to say that he could see through the veil
of appearances
into the essence of things. But in this, his last case as a detective,
his
perception had been spectacularly wrong. His ideal woman’s
ugliness—invisible
to his clouded eyes—was an accurate reflection of her depraved heart."
The result
is another
powerfully rendered 'Philosophical Detective' story that (perhaps
sadly, but
efficiently) concludes Borges and Nick's associations, giving the
reader much
more to think about regarding the hearts and minds of humanity than a
simple
whodunit alone. Between the story's compelling evolution, its
delightful and
whimsical character interactions and jokes, and its unexpected
connections
between philosophy and mystery, the result is quite simply a delight
and a
standout in the mystery genre's usually-staid world.
Libraries
and readers
looking for literary blends of philosophy and mystery, cemented by
thought-provoking interludes and action that embraces a wide cast of
characters
and possible outcomes, will find The
Philosophical Detective's Last Case a unique and delightful
standout.
Return to Index
Protective
Instincts
Ann Jeffries
New View Literature
978-1-941-603-12-3
$15.95 Paper/$.99 Kindle
www.newviewliterature.com
Protective Instincts is the 24th book in
the Family
Reunion---Wisdom of the Ancestors series and the fifth episode in the
Alex-Mont
Kids Saga, and opens with nineteen-year-old Professor Dena Montgomery's
involvement in the abduction of two children whom she encounters on her
way
home from work.
The violent
confrontation leaves a dead man and two traumatized young children in
her
hands, sparking her protective instincts towards the kids even as an
investigation of these circumstances reveals political complications
and an
unexpected air of romance that threaten to change her life.
Dena is
already an
extraordinary young woman in any definition of the term, but her many
abilities
are tested as the story unfolds to connect her with young, handsome
Greek
police investigator Darrius Pappas and the complicated case he has been
handed.
As he probes Dena's life and discovers that she is even more mysterious
than
initial circumstances indicate, Darrius becomes immersed in global
economic
affairs far beyond his experience and calling.
Readers and
Darrius
learn more about Dena's large family and their connections as the story
unfolds, leading into a second murder that brings new revelations into
entanglements that result in invasions of privacy and boundaries alike.
Ann Jeffries
is
skilled at carrying the microcosm of a kidnapping into bigger-picture
thinking,
powering it with an evolving relationship that doesn't go where readers
expect
it will and including the examinations and circumstances that bring
these
extraordinary characters to the stars.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a focus on mystery, relationship developments, intrigue, and a
futuristic mission will find Protective
Instincts a powerhouse of a read that specializes in
unexpected
developments which immerse readers in extraordinary family developments
and
political entanglements.
Return to Index
The Tree of
Life
Daniel G. Miller
Houndstooth Books
978-1737646334
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-Knowledge/dp/1737646331
The Tree of Life, the third book in the
Tree of Knowledge series,
opens with the specter of Eva Fix hiding in a cold, windowless
basement, a
detonator in hand. This prologue sets the stage for a story laced with
intrigue
and mystery as Princeton math professor Albert's discovery of the Tree
of
Knowledge is threatened by an insurgent movement that also knows the
secret of
changing the future, and desires to get their hands on it for their own
nefarious purposes.
One man
alone can't
stop such a force, so Albert taps the power of a secretive global
network
dedicated to toppling tyrants around the world—only to find that his
association with a different kind of devil brings with it new
challenges to his
moral and ethical position.
When did
Albert's
discovery first lead him to become a terrorist, and how can he fight
against
the forces of a new world order which defy his own integrity and lead
him to
question whether he's chosen the right side?
Daniel G.
Miller
creates a steady-paced, action-packed story that juxtaposes moments of
spiritual and social revelation with philosophical and ethical
examinations to
test readers' minds and their affinity for Albert's cause.
From Eva's
association with the Sword of Eden movement to Albert's journeys that
lead him
to feel "...he had been transported
to an alien planet that was mimicking an American suburb,"
the story's
edgy changes keep readers changing their minds and alliances during a
fast-paced technothriller embedded with Christian revelations and
examinations.
Libraries
and readers
seeking stories that operate on different levels of social, political,
and
spiritual inspection will find that while The
Tree of Life can stand nicely on its own, it works best in
conjunction with
the other books in the trilogy. It develops the characters further,
moving the story
into different directions to expand its social and political movements
with
adventurous twists and turns. These make the outcome completely
unpredictable
and the story hard to put down.
Return to Index
Accidental Journey
Richard D. Lentz
Calumet Editions
978-1959770183
$18.99
Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Journey-Richard-D-Lentz/dp/1959770187
Accidental Journey is
a novel about a traumatic brain injury that changes the lives and
relationship
of a married couple struggling to preserve a formerly successful
marriage. Jeff
and Cate have just confronted one another in hopes of forging better
paths of
connection when a terrible injury leaves Jeff altered, lacking insight,
and
unable to function effectively as a father and partner.
Plenty of nonfiction discussions of traumatic brain
injury
have reviewed its science and experience, but learning about these
issues and
challenges in a fictional story provides unique access to understanding
how a
brain injury affects everyone involved, creating especially riveting
reading.
Cate assumes many of the jobs Jeff performed in
their lives
and has to serve as the primary breadwinner while keeping a thriving
career and
her family together, and finding a way to meet her emotional needs in a
marriage she had questioned to a man she would not and could not
leave.
Richard D. Lentz explores their conjoined journey
with the
expertise of his work as a physician, well aware of the
complex effects of brain injury on family
life. Lentz builds his story on family relationships not just
between the challenged couple, but the kids and the entire family, with
interactions realistically woven into a plot in which the special
challenges of
a family world altered by a brain injury are revealed: "He
looked good
physically—normal— but that proved to be a double-edged sword. People
engaged
him and expected a normal response."
The story educates readers about not just physical
recovery, but the emotional components of facing a brain injury's
personality-
and life-altering demands.
Libraries and readers seeking fiction about healing
that
reveals the process on many levels will find Accidental
Journey revealing
and emotionally astute. It makes for a story that will ideally be
pursued in
book club reading groups, and by those interested in brain injury,
healing, and
family relationships.
Its vivid portrait of the
frustrations that come with brain
injury makes Accidental
Journey a compelling
story that's hard
to put down and easy to understand.
Return to Index
Barnaby Shea
J.E. Delehanty
Independently
Published
979-8539855741
$14.99
https://www.amazon.com/BARNABY-SHEA-Mr-John-Delehanty/dp/B09CRN5VF5
Barnaby Shea opens with an evening walk
between husband and wife
and a reflection on a peaceful time. In thirty years of marriage, the
two have
cultivated routines that embrace both. Their quiet life is shaken when
lawsuits
and accusations from the past embroil ex-priest Barnaby Shea in
controversies
he'd thought were long laid to rest.
Readers who
pursue
this novel for its social and legal conundrums or the mystery
surrounding
Barnaby Shea's actions and choices will find the story replete in
thought-provoking
insights.
As events of
the past
are reflected upon and their impact on the future considered, readers
are
prompted to experience and relish not only Barnaby's latest challenges,
but the
presence and impact of church affairs in small community relationships
and
settings.
J.E.
Delehanty paints
a vivid picture that moves from a slowly satisfying life to one beset
upon by
turbulence and adversity. The specter of self-incrimination that
affects Frank
Hobson, ex-priest Barnaby, and the legal forces that pursue the truth
and
resolution creates a story replete with revelations that emerge to both
save
and tarnish reputations and connections.
What is the
motivation for causing pain, accusing the innocent, or harboring a
secret so
dangerous that it's worth killing for?
Delehanty
surveys the
wider landscapes of social connections and issues from the perspectives
of
those motivated to lie, hide, or repress the truth. As two couples
become
embroiled in a mystery that holds well-hidden motivations and secrets,
they
also reconsider the foundations of the community which supports them.
Ultimately,
forgiveness is at stake as Barnaby tackles the roots of sin and
redemption:
“Forgiveness can often be selfish, John. Often we
forgive not to help
the offender in any way but to help ourselves. Forgiveness is the only
way we
can move forward. If we are unable to forgive, we live forever with the
hurt,
with the grief, with hatred in our hearts. The forgiveness is for us.”
The result
is a
thought-provoking consideration of church and community that opens with
set
paths and concludes with new possibilities.
Libraries
and readers
seeking novels that embrace mystery and discoveries that impart both
surprise
and bigger picture realizations will find Barnaby
Shea an attractive journey into the pulse and power of past
and present
lives.
Return to Index
The Boys and
Girls of
America
Christopher Gould
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-847-4
$20.00
www.atmospherepress.com
In The Boys and Girls of America, only
fifteen percent of applicants get into the dream college Edsen. Like so
many
before him, James Castle has similar big dreams, but fails to make the
cut. Six
years later, his perseverance pays off when he becomes the college's
writer-in-residence, producing a magnum opus that cements his prowess
as an
author while exposing family secrets and skeletons which should better
have
been left in the closet.
With
opportunity
comes adversity, because these newly released secrets which dovetail
with his literary
success ironically threaten his achievement when a too-savvy stranger
tries to
expose the real roots of his novel's themes and strength.
As James
navigates
dicey relationships with women and men, he begins to fall into the
kinds of
adult situations and realizations that are the hallmark of maturity.
Christopher
Gould
captures the moments of this evolving life with an intimacy and
attention to
detail that brings James's experiences to life:
"I guess I sort of lost myself for a bit. What I
did, without
realizing it, was start singing along to the music that was playing. It
was a
song by The Police, called “Message in a Bottle.” Anyway, I always
liked that
song, and I just sat there in the middle of traffic singing along,
forgetting
entirely that Marnie was even there. Midway through the song, Marnie
started
laughing. Really laughing—hysterically
even. I mean, it was one of those joyous laughs that are pure and
genuine; the
kinds of laughs that are a long time in coming, and make everyone
within hearing
distance break out into uncontrollable laughter too."
Part of the
allure of
The Boys and Girls of America lies
in
the moments it captures as James falls hard for Marnie, only to realize
that
her special brand of strange passion has permitted him entry into an
emotional
hellscape in which he finds his ambitions and perceptions constantly
thwarted.
From the
"torched heat of East Coast summer" to equally emotionally sizzling
encounters James never expected from school or success, Gould paints a
compelling portrait of a young man under siege in more than one way.
This time is
a
"furious balancing" of past, present, and possible futures that James
navigates with precision and growing uncertainties about his choices.
Libraries
and readers
looking for a vivid story of a new adult who teeters on the cusp of
change when
his longed-for recognition produces unexpected (and unwelcome) results
will
find The Boys and Girls of America rich
in its portrait of a dream gone awry and the transformations that
emerge from it.
Steeped in a
sense of
culture and the songs of the times, James's terrible summer brings with
it a
series of evocative, thought-provoking revelations that make The Boys and Girls of America a strong
recommendation for book clubs looking for powerful stories of
aspirations,
successes, failures, and the secrets that can blossom to unfold around
them.
Return to Index
But Do You Love Me With Locura?
Sharon Steeber
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-786-6
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
But Do You Love Me With
Locura? questions family loyalties and a sense of place as it
explores a blossoming relationship between American Rosie Logan, who is
seeking
an immersive Spanish language and culture experience in Mexico, and
Doctor Juan
Ramón Villaseñor, whose role as the cynical but caring director of an
impoverished pueblo clinic has dealt him a hand at once filled with
compassion
and doubt.
The locura ("Passionate
enthusiasm; madness") that develops between them reawakens
each
character's drive for something better than they are as they become
involved in
one another's missions and are changed by the revelations of people
around
them.
First-person narrator Rosie brings this milieu to
life as
her interests dovetail with the good doctor's underlying romantic sense
and his
influence on her research.
When the time comes to say goodbye, Rosie and Juan
Ramón
find their connections have galvanized new purposes and created new
realizations about their separate goals and conjoined attraction.
They are from two very different worlds. Will their
intersection be a temporary one of discovery, or can they merge these
disparate
interests to forge new pathways of healing and growth?
Sharon Steeber steeps her story in memorable
moments of
realization that bring Mexican culture to life. Her portraits of two
seekers
who don't realize they are on the cusp of change make for compelling
intersections of purpose and perspective as Rosie and Juan Ramón revise
their
ambitions and ideals of life.
The novel is replete with moments of stark
realization that
impart many thought-provoking gifts to readers:
“Locura
is madness. Craziness. Losing your mind. Losing control.”
“We can shape the kind of life we want. Go
where we want. What’s so crazy about that?”
Libraries and readers seeking multicultural stories
of
romance, career, and sea changes in life will appreciate the threads of
connection and realization which make But
Do You Love Me With Locura? an exceptional story of a journey
that plays
out in territory unfamiliar to Mexican visitor and resident alike.
The rich realizations that power this story will
provide
good food for thought for book clubs, as well:
"I was like a bird
pivoting on the edge
of its wing in the air current, going as high as the drafts lifted it.
I was
soaring on the edge, in control and out of control at the same time,
riding the
current. Just as suddenly I was plummeting. He was right. It was locura to think we could pluck the
life we might want right out of the sky and live it."
Return to Index
Cry of the Soul
Ruby Jean Jensen
Gayle J. Foster, Publisher
978-1-951580-91-9
$29.99 Hardcover/$11.99 Paperback/$8.99 ebook
Website: www.rubyjeanjensen.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Cry-Soul-Ruby-Jean-Jensen/dp/1951580907
Cry
of the Soul
opens with a young girl's encounter with a mysterious stranger on a
mountain,
then segues neatly into a future in which sixty-five-year-old Maggie
Winters
(a.k.a. Emily Alexander) enters the Willowbrook Care Center to
recuperate from
a broken hip.
The secrets she hides from
the world are ones she also
grapples with in her own heart as she cautiously makes friends,
contributes to
the home's atmosphere, but looks forward to resuming her quiet life,
where it's
easier to keep secrets close to the heart. What evolves, however, is a
deeper
inspection into her choices, life purpose, and past.
Ruby Jean Jensen creates a
thought-provoking story in
which the aging protagonist is forced to reconsider some of the
motivating
factors of her life, as well as the questions that drive ordinary and
extraordinary events and encounters.
"Why
did it
happen that most were chosen but a few, like herself, were not?"
As readers become privy to
Emily's reflections, her life
becomes a springboard of missed connections, opportunities, and choices
that
come home to roost in strange ways in her future: "A
flicker of doubt entered her heart. A strange feeling that she
was not meant to have that connection to life. She didn't understand.
She had
prayed for understanding, for a purpose, and received no answer. God
was
silent."
The spiritual quest and
musings which lie behind and
beyond her life's events and unpredictable twists and turns receive
satisfying
inspection and enlightenment in a story that weaves through threats,
danger,
and choices to hide in anonymity that become shaken by dependence on
others.
Ruby Jean Jensen weaves
issues of love, growth,
spirituality, and revelation into a hard-hitting review of one woman's
life
that journeys into intrigue, danger, and life purposes with equal
dexterity.
Mystery and intellectual
inspections are woven together
with a compelling story that isn't fully revealed until the end, when
the truth
about Emily/Maggie's life comes to light. The result is a compelling
saga of
life, truth, and steps that lead the protagonist to constantly miss
uncovering
the real purpose of life.
Or, does she succeed?
Libraries and readers
seeking multifaceted stories that
resonate on different levels of spiritual and psychological inspection
will
find Cry of the Soul
thought-provoking, captivating, and steeped in a life rocked by
physical threat
and metaphysical possibilities.
Return to Index
Enduv Road
Gwen Banta
Next Chapter
979-8387368073
$32.99
Hardcover/$10.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Enduv-Road-Gwen-Banta/dp/B0BYR5PVV5
Enduv
Road is a novel that
follows the Jackson family's
rich, unconventional journey through life, in which a sudden uprooting
to Utah
is sparked by eccentric Aunt Beaners' Ouija board messages.
Cimarron (Simmy) Jackson's journal begins
the story in 1960 with the young teen's account of how her aunt's
prediction of
another impending holocaust unwittingly drives her family straight to a
doomed
rural town near Park City where an irrepressible
and hilarious ranch
hand becomes their life guide.
Simmy and her younger brother, Lefty, find
the impulsive family decision intriguing without knowing the underlying
reason
for this sudden move, an act motivated not only by Beaners' capricious
predictions but also by the hidden truths behind secret lives.
As rich in Utah history as in its
characters, Enduv Road is a generational
study in contrasts that
juxtaposes perspectives, experiences, honesty and lies. As Simmy and
Lefty
reach adulthood, this heart-warming saga creates a detailed and
engrossing
portrait of colorful and disparate family members that draws readers
through
excellent character development and the surprising twists that emerge
from
these contrasts in lives and realities.
Gwen Banta holds the uncommon ability to
follow the evolution of family relationships in a manner that is at
once
eye-opening and compassionate. The revelations that rock the younger
generations, whose history of their roots proves flawed, makes for
thought-provoking introspection as the wise and lovable family members
encounter changes in life and in each other:
"My
father
just accepted the craziness because he knew that Arty and Beaners, who
was my
mom's older sister, had huge hearts, even though he would often wink
and refer
to them as the 'Hoover Twins' due to the 'big vacuum on their top
floors.'"
Underlying themes of tolerance, discovery,
and growth accompany this journey through intergenerational experiences
as Enduv
Road unfolds generous humor in its dialogues and
life examinations:
“Yeah
yeah, I've
heard all the tales,” Simmy told Lefty in private, “and you really
can't make
up that kind of stuff. But he amuses me. There are so many people in
his head
it's always a party.”
“Sure, we all get
it, Sim. But a person could have a better conversation with fungus.”
“I know, Lefty,
but every now and then, we hit on a topic on which he is surprisingly
entertaining—from historical battles to random works of art and
literature.”
“Rick can read?”
The result is a study in unforgettable
characters whose lives are touched by love, truth, and a purpose to
"squeeze the day" against all odds, shaping and maintaining the
family and life connections that bring the characters full circle to
present
day and into new realities and revised ways of living.
Libraries and readers seeking an evocative,
intergenerational story packed with whimsical personalities and
fulfilling
revelations will find Enduv Road a
glorious journey well
worth taking.
Return to Index
The Final Eight Seconds
Olivia Godat
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-805-4
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
The Final Eight Seconds
is a story of faith, luck, and new forays into belief
which opens with the specter of a rodeo cowboy: "Some
rodeo cowboys prepared for their event with a short prayer
to whatever deity they believed in. Not Joey. He’d stopped praying
years
ago."
Joey's lack of faith in God comes home to test him
in an
unexpected way when he is thrown and injured, then is visited by an
angel who
informs him that his heavenly fate will be decided by events that have
taken
place in his life.
The only trouble is that Joey is well aware that
his life
will be found lacking if it's that closely examined. As he relives his
choices
and their ultimate impact, readers receive a fine first-person journey
that
connects faith, belief, and the ultimate consequences and cost of good
and bad
decisions at life's end.
Olivia Godat's inspection will especially appeal to
Christian readers interested in the special style of self-discovery
that
propels Joey to reconsider his persona, actions, and what he really
wants:
"In my truck, I sat
slumped over the
steering wheel. Here I was, all dressed up like something that I
wasn’t. My
expensive boots didn’t make me a cowboy. My pearl-gray Stetson didn’t
make me a
cowboy. If I wanted to be a cowboy, then I had to learn the cowboy
ways. Until
that moment, I hadn’t even known that’s what I wanted."
Readers who enjoy stories about cowboy ways will
find
unusual the intersection of a cowhand's training and lifestyle with the
spiritual component that drives this cowboy's self-examination and
insights
into belief and motivation.
This cowboy has been thrown from broncs many times,
and
knows how to not get hurt. What he doesn't know is how to make his life
more
effective and in sync with others: "I
should have been man enough to forget my failings and think of Margene.
I never
asked her how she felt, only presumed. I mourned for our lost time
together due
to my selfishness."
This story of growth and realization will appeal to
a wide
range of readers, from those who enjoy stories of men who come to
realize and
admit their faults and new opportunities for change to spiritual
readers
interested in a tale of redemption.
Libraries and readers seeking a thought-provoking
Western
that goes beyond the trappings of cowboy culture to delve into the
spiritual
realms of lives well or badly lived will find The
Final Eight Seconds a powerful test of individual faith and
revised realizations about the course and importance of his "shiny cobweb, his lifeline."
Return to Index
German Days
Steven Clark
Independently Published
979-8840621165
$16.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/German-Days-Steven-Clark/dp/B0B71CCPP7
1930s
Germany and its
lasting legacy on the 1970s and GI Patrick Walden, who does his tour of
duty in
the country and discovers love and new challenges in his military
service and
the ongoing impact of the Nazi era, comes to life in German
Days.
Steven Clark
combines
a love story, a coming-of-age tale, winding the account of Germany's
history
and ongoing impact and legacy into a story that sparkles with depth and
insights as Patrick unwittingly enters into personal and political
milieus well
beyond his experience.
Clark
cements these
encounters with succinct dialogue that capture the character and nature
of this
world: “What’s it like here?” “It’s
fucked up.” He leads readers through a Germany still divided
by both its
past and the threat of Russian invasion as he follows Patrick's mission
to go
behind the Iron Curtain to retrieve a missing work of art that has
obsessed his
new lover Sieglinde with the possibilities it holds for healing Germany.
Patrick's
ultimate
mission, however, circles around matters of the heart as well as the
legacy of
a war that has never really left Germany's borders.
As the
legend and
allure of Tannhauser comes to life and leads each character to step
outside
their comfort zone to effect return, readers receive a powerful
education about
German psyche and history that moves from World War II events to
present-day angst
over unresolved issues.
The price of
returning Tannhauser to its home may ultimately cost everything Patrick
has
newly envisioned for building a life in this strange new world.
Readers
receive a
powerful blend of intrigue, historical fiction, love story, and
military
observation in German Days, which
supplements action with the psychological profiles and developments of
characters who are all influenced by the ghosts of World War II—whether
they
know it or not.
Its literary
and historical
reflections makes German Days a
strong recommendation not just for library acquisition, but for book
club and
reading group debate over modern German culture and life in the shadow
of a war
that ended over fifty years ago, but still holds influence today.
Return to Index
Ghost Runners
Robert Rubenstein
Aria
Tyger Inc.
978-0692534007
$21.95 Hardcover/$15.99 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Runners-Olympic-Dream-Betrayed/dp/B09GJMCH7G
Ghost Runners is a novel based on real
events which give the story
the ringing tone of reality as the fictional characters (including
well-known
Olympic sports figures) face not just sports ambitions, but racism and
prejudice which permeates their past, present, and future worlds.
Focusing on
the
Olympic team's American running competitors in 1936, the story winds
through
Jewish, German, and American encounters on the playing field of sports
and
prejudice as athletes, coaches, and observers find their lives and
careers
challenged by shifting social and political tides.
Robert
Rubenstein
builds a captivating story that swaggers with nationalist sentiments,
scintillates with new possibilities for achievement and identity, and
explores the
perceptions and efforts of men like Adolf Eichmann, who "...wanted
only to sweep the Jews away."
As the
Olympic Games
become the tertiary playing field of businessmen, financiers,
observers, and
major players, readers are immersed in a story of American, German, and
Jewish
encounters which represent the building blocks of a growing prejudice
and
hatred.
Some
characters seem
destined to effect changes behind the scenes. Such is Joshua, who is "...going to race invisibly. He was
going to move everyone along. He was a ghost runner now."
As the novel
provides
hard-hitting scenarios of the athletes who represent the "...glory
and the dash men who ran like gods down from
Olympus," it excels in a powerful voice that contrasts ethnic
perceptions, experiences, and the rise of power in all strata of
society and
competitive circles.
Ghost Runners should be in any library
strong in fiction that
examines Hitler's Final Solution and its compelling evolution through
all
levels of life in Europe and America. Ideally, it also will receive
discussion
and debate in book clubs devoted to stellar works that explore and
expose a
time when the circles of hate closed around the Jewish people, leaving
them
with no place to hide and too many reasons to run.
Ghost Runners offers an important lesson
for modern times, charting
the rise of an era in which "Soon,
he’d know all the names of the Jews. 'Yes, it was possible not just in
Germany.
In a little more time, you can begin cataloging all of Europe.'”
Therein
follows the world—which is why readers need the reminders and insights
featured
in Ghost Runners to keep the
darkness
at bay, now more than ever.
Return to Index
Glassman
Steve Oskie
Open Books
978-1948598651
$21.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
https://www.open-bks.com/library/moderns/glassman/order.html
Mark
Glassman is a
self-taught twenty-five-year-old whose eclectic educational pursuits
have resulted
in a generalist's education, a literary jack-of-all-reading knowledge,
and
various light addictions which mitigate the impact of his intellect.
When he
falls in love
with Teresa Devlin, he finds himself unexpectedly terrified about his
lack of
sexual savvy, and so he begins to pursue his more accessible, safer
roommate
Sarah—only to find himself in a dangerous emotional game as his
relationships
entangle and become angst-ridden and complicated.
There's only
one
thing to do. Run for it.
In too many
ways,
Glassman has never really grown up. From his adult interactions with
his
parents, which mimic the whining self-absorption of childhood, to his
insistence that life goes his way or it's the highway, Glassman
represents an
intellectual and emotional dichotomy.
His actions
reflect
not only his delayed adulthood, but patterns of approaching life and
lessons
he's absorbed from his divorced parents: "In
addition to my refusal to rent a carpet cleaner, the ingrained
frugality of my
father found its way into the schedule I devised for going to the
neighborhood
laundromat. This schedule was constructed upon the necessity of making
my four
or five hand-me-down towels last as long as my two bed sheets."
As readers
review
Glassman's life through his first-person experiences and reflections,
they will
realize that they, too, have known many an adult like him. But, here,
the
psychology explaining his actions, logic, and disparities in dealing
with life
provides succinct, hard-hitting insights that make Glassman both a
character to
like and one that also exists on the edge of condemnation.
From tangled
family
relationships that lead him to procrastinate over important decisions
(like
finding work) to his naivety in dealing with women and life, Glassman represents a self-inspection
form
of flawed logic that works to sometimes support and sometimes
circumvent
Glassman's desires and ambitions.
His tendency
to
embrace both unemployment and flight lend a realistic feel to the story
of a
character continually confused about the world around him, the psyches
of women
and men, and the love and hate that swirls around a divorce he never
really
accepted.
Steve
Oskie's ability
to view life through the eyes of a character both eminently likeable
and deeply
flawed leads readers into a whirlwind of a life that always teeters on
the
brink of breakdown and disaster, yet represents a resiliency that comes
from
the same disruptive forces of childhood experience.
Glassman is a coming-of-age story (even
though the character is
well into his twenties) that follows a new adult's journey into
full-fledged
adulthood, in whatever form that might assume for a damaged soul.
Oskie's
character
comes to life through his inquiries, fears, and realistic methods of
both
embracing and rejecting set courses in life based on his past. This
makes for
thought-provoking insights into the maturity process as, now an adult,
he
reconsiders his motivations and fears.
Libraries
and readers
seeking stories of evolution and growth will find Glassman
a classic in its approach to revealing transition points
and influences, whether they reside in family history and current
relationships
or new, frightening, and ultimately uplifting opportunities for change.
Return to Index
Golddigger
Kathleen Morris
Dunraven Press
978-1737986683
$25.99 Hardcover/$14.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook
https://kathleenmorrisauthor.com/
Golddigger: The Legendary Nellie Cashman is
a historical novel about a literal golddigger of the
past, Nellie Cashman, whose exploits were driven by a lust for gold in
an era
when gold fever and the specter of Alaskan riches had struck the nation.
Cashman's
first-person story
opens with the ring of revelation and the convincing reality of a
character
whose life in 1924 was filled with action and achievement: "I am a woman with a reputation. I’m an angel,
maybe even a saint.
That’s what the newspapers say, and don’t we always believe what those
self-proclaimed savants tell us?"
As
Cashman reflects on the
nature of this journey at the end of her life, readers receive a vivid
story
that blends the history of the times with the ambitions, perspective,
and
driving desires of a woman who stepped out of her predictable role to
make a name
for herself as an extraordinary individual.
From the gold fever which sent
her journeying to her unexpected task of caring for her dead sister's
children,
which threatens to tamp any sense of adventure and wanderlust, Golddigger not only brings these times
to life, but reflects a vibrant sense of the times and the motivations
that
drove people to perform extraordinary feats.
Kathleen Morris is especially adept at juxtaposing
personal
insights and history, presenting scenes, events, and options through
Nellie's
eyes in a way that brings these times and places to life:
"I stayed on board and
still could
clearly see the town itself was three times the size I’d remembered.
Many more
buildings, many more houses and many more people. Such was the cost of
prosperity
and civilization, I supposed, but it was here I realized again that I
desired
less of it, and felt assured for the first time that I was going in the
right
direction, gold or not. You’re a
restless, solitary soul, Nellie Cashman, I
thought. You must make careful choices on how you
achieve your
wishes."
The result is a compelling saga that captures the
reality
of the times and the options women faced in general, which Nellie
struggled
with in particular.
Libraries
and readers seeking vivid reenactments of
historical events and times will find Golddigger powered
by gold fever, adventure, and a taste for success that brings the
real riches of this world to life.
Return to Index
Guards
Steven Clark
Independently
Published
979-8843073480
$12.99 Paper/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Guards-Boston-Novel-Steven-Clark/dp/B0B835922W
Guards: A Boston Novel represents a study
in humorous fiction and
revolves around Karl Augustus Poppel and other Boston personalities at
odds
with their environment, culture, and life trajectory:
"It was morning in America, and as the Amtrak
limped into South
Station, Karl August Poppel fought the Cro-Magnons. 'It’s two dollars.'
The
surly bartender stared back. 'Two-fifty for the muffin and juice.'
Poppel’s
square jaw firmed. 'As Hooker Academy graduates, we receive a discount.
This is
the documentation.'”
Much has
changed
about Boston since he was locked up: "...different
words slid under the door. New ones had sprouted since he’d last been
in the
city. He hated them; swaggering towers of Cro-Magnon pride, a tribe of
glass
and steel bullies pushing their weight around older, smaller brick and
stone
buildings that squat like trolls."
The
dialogues, confrontations,
realizations, and culture which swirls around Poppel brings Boston to
life with
a wry "back East" sense of humor and observation that those familiar
with Bostonian attitudes will find all too familiar—and fun: "'This place is falling apart. It’s an
abortion is what it is.' Howie Leakey was the head maintenance man, and
he
looked like the eighth dwarf: Bitchy."
Poppel and
other
characters navigate these mean streets with an eye to moving through
familiar
and unfamiliar terrain, whether they are skyscrapers, relationships, or
shifting life objectives.
From men in
uniform
and inquests to the odd trio of illegal alien bike messenger Fiona,
security
guard Poppel, and alcoholic security director Mike Gilhooley, the story
presents
an odd set of relationships that all come steeped in the dark wit and
observational style of a true Bostonian.
Will Poppel
save
himself and stop being a joker? Will Gilhooley get the girl?
All three
characters
find their lives intersected, their special purposes challenged, and
the
courses of their careers and relationships challenged as the story
evolves.
Libraries
and readers
seeking humorous contemporary fiction that juxtaposes disparate lives
with the
deft rhythms of a dance into irony and shifting objectives will find Guards rich in laughter,
thought-provoking inspections, and Bostonian ironic and sardonic life
observations.
Return to Index
In Case of Deceit
Fiona Kolodzy
Plum Drive Media
979-8-9871990-2-2
$7.95
Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Case-DECEIT-Love-take-Plumdelicious-ebook/dp/B0BYKZ2ZSP
Sarah and Nathan Wood
need to add some excitement to their committed marriage, so they return
to
swinging as a way of maintaining this feeling. But, things go awry as
emotions
clash, and In
Case of Deceit, this leads the two lovers
to make some hard decisions about what they really want from their
relationships.
While it should be noted that this story represents
Book
2 in the Plumdelicious Series, expanding events in the first book (In Case of Desire), newcomers need have
no prior familiarity with the setting and characters in order to
appreciate
this stand-alone novel's plot.
The specter of flings
organized around family life and kids may sound impossible to many
parents, but
Sarah and Nathan think they can have it all—and, until things begin to
go awry,
they do.
Fiona Kolodzy takes the time to build the depth of
family
interactions and relationships, from cuddling time with young kids to
steamy
sexual encounters which are described both graphically and tastefully.
As parties and dates permeate their lives and are
accompanied by special challenges and time-juggling requirements,
readers get a
full-bodied taste of the swinging world and its emotional and physical
undercurrents.
Nathan finds himself pulled into new possibilities,
and he
has some difficult choices to make.
Readers who want a lurid and realistic exploration
of a
couple whose sexual explorations create new emotional ties and threats
alike
will find In Case of Deceit is as
powerful in its psychological development as it is in its exploration
of how a
swinger's milieu fits into married life (or not).
As new relationships form and new possibilities for
home
life are created, Kolodzy crafts a story of women's friendships, men's
pursuits, and a redefinition of marriage that tests the foundations of
love,
kids, and commitment.
Libraries and readers looking for sultry blends of
romance,
realization, and challenges to traditional marriage values and
paradigms will
find In Case of Deceit packed with
thought-provoking encounters and material well suited to book club
discussions
on topics of marriage, monogamy, friendship, and the boundaries of
affection
and love.
Return to Index
Karma Two
Colleen Hollis
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-838-2
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Karma Two is a story of ideals,
addiction, and a childhood that
leads to poverty and struggle as Arizona Sunshine Jacksyn (AJ) finds
ways to
survive his abuse and neglect and strives to create a better future for
himself.
The
first-person
story opens with a violent confrontation between Ember Elizabeth and
her pimp
Leroy, moving between the first person experience and third-person
reflections on
Ember's own troubled childhood and struggles.
Scenarios of
torture
and violence are graphically portrayed (in keeping with the story, but
which
may serve as trigger points for readers who keep their own demons of
the past
at bay).
The preface
and introductory
chapters set the stage for a better understanding of the family legacy
of
foster care cruelty and street influences that impact son AJ as he
tries to
form a different life.
Colleen
Hollis takes
a candid look at the possibilities of past legacies and changing one's
world no
matter their influences, crafting the story of a young man who is drawn
to
kindness and opportunity even as he struggles with studies and new
experiences
that typically rely on foundations of education and support:
"Every day he feels more and more frustrated and
ashamed at his
slow progress. Isabella tries to offer positive reinforcement, but AJ
can’t
hear it; he’s so frustrated with himself. He finds it hard to fit in
with the
wholesome, loving environment that the Franklin’s have cultivated in
their
home. He just doesn’t understand it. He thought for sure he could make
the
transition from living on the streets to living with the Franklin’s
with no
problem."
The slow
simmer of a
life in transition which finds no easy answers and much difficulty
creates a
story that is exceptionally realistic and compelling as AJ cements a
relationship with Isabella and new purposes by confronting his past and
shaping
a different future.
His
determination to
create new opportunities and avenues of success for his family, and his
gratitude for having succeeded where most fail, makes for an especially
thought-provoking story that holds much book club reading book debate
material
as AJ defies his legacy and creates different pathways and patterns
against all
odds.
Libraries
and readers
seeking novels graphic in their descriptions of past adversity and
uplifting
new courses of action will find Karma Two
an exceptionally realistic novel of love, adversity, and transformation.
Return to Index
The Lost
Books
Mo Conlan
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-800-9
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Historical
novel readers
attracted to tales set in Tudor times will find the characters,
background
history, and events that play out in The
Lost Books – Romance and Adventure in Tudor Times a draw, but
the real
surprise of this story lies in its attraction and accessibility to
those not
well versed in this era.
From its
opening
descriptive paragraph, Mo Conlan sets an atmosphere and history that
seamlessly
winds into surprises to draw readers gently into the times and the
challenges
one woman faces in navigating the romantic and political threads of her
world:
"When the large parcel arrived, Morwenna Goodwin
was busy in the
barn helping Da repair the sheep pen. She heard a commotion and ran to
the
front of their cottage, adjusting her kirtle and cap as she ran. This
was a
fine winter day in north Cornwall, a blessing amidst so many killing
freezes
that battered England in this reign of the Tudors."
The
unexpected humor
that immediately follows is just one fine example of a story in which
romance
does not evolve on expected paths, but fully embraces the devices of
irony,
wit, and a foray into different choices than is usually portrayed by
historical
novels depicting this era:
"On
the doorstep, Morwenna found a pear tree. In its branches sat
a fat partridge, giving her a rather cheeky look. A scroll at the base
of the
tree read. “I would wed ye, dear heart. H. Truelove.”
Well, isn’t that just
like him? she thought. Henry
Truelove
must think I am going to cook up this partridge into a pie for him and
make him
a pear posset. Hah!"
Delightfully
evocative from the start, it's immediately evident that this is no
ordinary
historical novel or romance, but a romp through Tudor times, culture,
and
expectations that involves men and women in a dance of discovery and
transformation.
Religious
figures and
nefarious objectives towards wealth-building opportunities are not
immune to
Conlan's descriptive touches, which lay hands on the special interests
that
swirl through these times:
"As he wound down his thunderous tirade, the Abbot
made a small,
dismissive gesture of his hand and in a less wrathful tone said, 'We
ought, in
Christian charity, give a tithe to holy folk turned out and beggared. I
will
attend to it.' He was thinking in terms of pence, not pounds."
From the
special
trails of navigating "an upturned world in which popes and queens and
holy
houses did come and go" to Mistress Morwenna's foray into danger and a
search for holy books that could change this world, Conlan creates a
vivid saga
of tumultuous times, political moves, social conundrums, and Henry
Tudor's treatment
of illuminated manuscripts, which are destroyed when he takes over
England's
rich monasteries and convents.
Conlan's
intersection
of personal and political special interests creates a vivid account of
the
times which is unexpectedly witty, historically enlightening, and a
pleasure to
read as Tom, Morwenna, Daniel, and others become immersed in the fate
of holy
books and their own souls.
Libraries
interested
in choosing historical novels for genre readers that hold the rare
potential to
reach into a wider audience will find The
Lost Books – Romance and Adventure in Tudor Times especially
attractive for
its lively characters and a sense of purpose and humor that makes the
times
come to life in unexpected ways. Simply delightful!
Return to Index
My Goodbye
Girl
Anna Gomez
Rosewind Books
978-1645482086
$16.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://vesuvianmedia.com/my-goodbye-girl/
Practical
scientist
meets romantic. What could possibly go wrong, and what connects them? My Goodbye Girl probes a love that
evolves against all odds, despite the fact that Tessa Talman and Simon
Fremont
are worlds apart, both physically and mentally.
Long-distance
love
doesn't tend to work. It is said that proximity lends to deeper
relationships,
but in Tessa and Simon's case, perseverance and strange attraction play
a part
in keeping them linked even though they reside distantly and think very
differently.
Perhaps
appropriately, these disparate individuals first meet in an airport.
Coming and
going becomes the routine of their lives, with goodbyes just as common
as
hellos.
Anna Gomez
explores a
romantic encounter in which the characters are each successful, in
pursuit of
their own ideals of life, and have cause to resist the attraction that
keeps
pulling them away from their previously-set goals.
Just as
Tessa begins
to think seriously about setting aside her freedom in favor of the kind
of
commitment that would eliminate the constant farewells, changes again
test the
couple's resolve, ideals, and individual strengths.
Many "cease to be strangers and turn into
friends." Rare are those connections which become deeper when
distance
is involved.
As readers
follow
Tessa and Simon's odd journey, they will enjoy the changing
perspectives that
reinforce each individual's viewpoints and passions. Simon follows
Tessa around
the world, but comes to resent her globe-trotting ways: "Simon
had so much going through his head. He was happy to see
her. He wanted her. He couldn’t go on like this. She kept her distance.
He was
an idiot for showing up on impulse. Another one for the books. The Year
That
Simon Lost Himself."
Gomez's
special brand
of inspection draws important and compelling connections between
independence
and love. The jealousies and misunderstandings which arise from the
clash
between a jet-setting lifestyle and one which values settling down are
particularly well depicted through dialogues that pinpoint the chasms
between
them:
“Can you blame me? Can you blame me for always
feeling left out? I’m
the one who keeps on having to find you!”
She really didn’t understand what she had done wrong. She traveled
around the world for a living. He should know that. And be okay with it.
“You knew this was my life. You knew this is who I
am. I like to
disappear. I like to be free to come and go. It has nothing to do with
the way
I feel about you!”
Key
questions about
disparate lifestyles, commitment, and love drive a plot that eventually
embraces
a tragedy that further tests Simon and Tessa's values and what they
truly want
for themselves and in a relationship.
Libraries
and readers
interested in stories that hold lessons about growth within and outside
of
passionate relationships will find My
Goodbye Girl thought-provoking, while book clubs looking for
fiction about
creating and anchoring past, present, and future possibilities will
find plenty
to discuss as Tessa and Simon confront seemingly impossible differences
and a
love that grows against all odds.
Return to Index
New Normal
Michelle Paris
Apprentice House
Press
978-1-62720-452-1
$18.99 Paper/$6.49
Kindle/$28.99 Hardcover
Website: www.ApprenticeHouse.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/New-Normal-Michelle-Paris/dp/1627204520
When Emilie is widowed suddenly, the last thing on
her mind
is a replacement husband. But, it's the first thing on her friend Viv's
mind.
She plays matchmaker by setting up Emilie with the handsome bachelor
next door.
There's only one problem with that notion: Colin is gay. He may not be
husband
material for a woman—but that doesn't mean he can't become a good
friend.
Being married to Rob was fun—but Emilie finds that
somehow
time has passed her by while she was in love with him, and now she's
woefully
ignorant of everything from online opportunities to the etiquette and
process
of resuming dating in midlife.
Colin is the perfect guide to this unfamiliar
territory,
and so the two embark on a journey that pairs a midlife emergence with
a
resolution of the past and portent of future possibilities, all of
which engage
readers on different levels.
On its surface, New
Normal represents a struggle through waves of grief that
emerge at
unexpected times and moments. Look deeper to find the undercurrent of
hope,
possibilities, and growth that come from new friendships and learning
different
ways of approaching not just love, but the world.
Even though Emilie makes mistakes, she acknowledges
the
parts of being married that gave her comfort by their routines and the
trust
she and Rob built, which remains elusive in her current circumstances: “It felt so nice to be with someone—a man.
It was good to have someone to spend time with and go on dates with
dinner,
movies, and stuff. It was nice to have someone to talk about life with.
I think
I miss that the most about being married.”
Between her therapy sessions with Dr. Jeffries and
her
foray into a new life with different perceptions of who she is and what
she
wants both within and outside of a relationship, Emilie's growth will
interest
and attract women on their own journeys towards recovery, independence,
and new
normals.
Emilie's journey out of widowhood and into novel
realizations is realistic, compelling, and as joyful as it is
thought-provoking.
Women's book clubs, as well as readers interested
in the
process of moving ahead from grief to living and re-envisioning life,
will find
New Normal packed with angst and
hope
which often coexist side by side as Emilie moves forward, sometimes
taking steps
back during the process.
Libraries seeking fiction replete in women's
experiences
and growth will find New Normal an
appealing study in healing, romance, and humor that builds its strength
from
new relationships and difficult realizations.
Return to Index
Paper Dolls
Robert Tucker
Tell-Tale Publishing
Group, LLC
Wise Words Publishing
978-1-952020-25-4
$6.95 ebook/$35.00 Hardcover
Robert Tucker,
Author - Home
The second
book in
Robert Tucker's Paper Dolls trilogy
focuses on the high society lives and loneliness of Gwen and Tess Vanderveer, sisters
who live in a Beacon
Hill mansion in Boston in the 1930s and 40s, and whose distance from
their
family is as great as that of friends whose companionship doesn't
withstand the
test of time.
As with the
opening
book, The Discontent of Mary Wenger,
Tucker creates this story with an eye to capturing and exposing both
societal
pressures and the trials and tribulations of women who rebel against
their
seemingly set life courses, only to find them again changed by World
War II.
Paper Dolls unfolds the drama behind Gwen
and Tess's lives and the
unexpected directions they take, but it's equally adept at exposing the
undercurrents of rebellion and defiance which lie at the heart of each
young
woman's decisions and flight.
The
first-person
revelations trace how these acts of defiance grow from small choices to
bigger
decisions, bucking societal and family pressures:
"I was never sure how they became friends in the
first place,
because Tess and I weren’t supposed to associate with “the riff raff”
down the
hill, as our mother called them. But since she almost never paid
attention to
us, we mingled anyway. Tess said 'Mother didn’t tell us we couldn’t
mingle. So
we’re not associating. We’re mingling.' Although I didn’t understand
the
difference, Tess explained that associating meant going to parties,
like Mother
did. Mingling meant doing things with friends of our own choosing."
Issues of
privilege
build the story early on to form the foundation for events which
solidify the
then-radical nature of each sister's changing choices and progression.
The contrast
between
how women acted and were perceived post-war versus its aftermath is
particularly
thought-provoking here. This compliments insights into the aristocracy
in
America, the interactions and motivations of characters who find
themselves
resisting expectations, and the circumstances which lead the sisters to
both
admire one another and struggle with envy, dominance, and independence.
As these
young women
break free of the expectations surrounding them and enter into new and
unfamiliar territory of personal and social achievement, Tucker's
compelling
story brings the times and their world to life.
Libraries
looking for
powerful historical fiction that captures the lives, motivations, and
psyches
of young women on the cusp of blossoming and transforming against their
culture's expectations will find Paper
Dolls both an excellent addition to the trilogy and a fine
stand-alone
story. The questions and issues it raises will attract book clubs
interested in
historical portraits of women changed by shifting society and personal
ambition
alike.
Return to Index
Pedaling West
E. A. Coe
Evolved Publishing
978-1-62253-360-2
$18.95
(print) $5.95 (Kindle)
Website: www.eacoe.online
Ordering: evolvedpub.com/PW-AMA
Pedaling
West
may sound like a biking travelogue, but it's a work of fiction and
intrigue
that will delight readers looking for stories of growth and problem
solving in
which bicycling is the backdrop, not the focus.
The novel opens with a
prologue that reviews the
catastrophe of COVID-19 and the life changes it introduced to the world
and
young Carrie, who lost her job and her boyfriend at the start of the
pandemic.
Rootless and jobless, Carrie
undertakes a two-month,
cross-country bicycle trip from
Virginia Beach to Mendocino, California. It seems to be perfect timing,
because
she has nothing tying her down. In reality, it's the perfect disaster
as well
as an excellent opportunity for growth, because the people Carrie
encounters
during her solo ride lead her straight into human and natural hazards
that test
her positive viewpoint, problem-solving abilities, and desire for
change.
A cast of
supporting
characters enter her widening worldview, from detectives investigating
murder
to ordinary and extraordinary people Carrie encounters during the
course of her
journey.
E.A. Coe
takes the
time to center Carrie's journey both emotionally and physically,
exploring the
feelings of evolution and observation that lead Carrie to maintain a
sense of
wonder about the world despite its COVID-ridden angst:
"Carrie looked up, breathing deeply, and tried to
identify the
deep emotion she sensed. The arresting views were not unfamiliar to
her, as
she’d seen them in books, magazines, and movies many times, but being
inside
the picture brought them vividly to life. Not just three dimensional
and not
only because of the appearance—the sensation generated something
visceral,
powerful, and mysterious, impossible to describe using only the five
senses."
In many
ways, Pedaling West is neither fish
nor fowl.
More than a travelogue or a coming-of-age story, it also profiles
intrigue and
mystery along the routes Carrie takes into the wider world. Special
Agent
Douglas Hill pursues attempted murderer Norman Sloan through the story
as
Carrie unwittingly rides into danger and becomes part of a bigger
situation
than she ever could have imagined.
Thriller
readers will
appreciate the intrigue and suspense that follows Carrie into these
milieus;
travel or bicyclist enthusiasts who anticipate an encounter with
ordinary
Americans will appreciate the extraordinary circumstances that force
Carrie to
adopt surprising positions of strength; and fans of novels that pair
disparate
elements of intrigue and growth will find her story compelling,
riveting, and
hard to put down.
Libraries
seeking
contemporary novels that explore American identity, society, and the
violence
that often accompanies birth and growth will find much to relish during
the
course of Carrie's bicycle adventure and accompanying emotional roller
coaster
of emotions in Pedaling West.
Return to Index
The Quarry
DM Gritzmacher
Piqued
Publishing
979-8-9866387-3-7
$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Quarry-Skulldiggery-Book-2-ebook/dp/B0BYBBXLZK
Occult
horror tension
comes to life in a satisfyingly unpredictable manner in The
Quarry, the second book in the Skulldiggery series. The story
opens in 14th century France, where a fledgling longbow soldier dreams
of
returning to his family, but struggles with his actions and choices in
times of
war.
Fast forward
to 1944,
where child Jeanne Butte and her family are fleeing war, taking refuge
in an
old Roman quarry that lies outside of their village. Their experience
there
will return to haunt her forty years later, when Jeannie finds herself
back
home looking for answers to a myriad of questions—all of which seem to
stem
from the quarry experience and its present-day promise and threat.
Can history
repeat
itself? Sure it can ... especially if supernatural forces influence
events past
and present.
DM
Gritzmacher's
special brand of horror needs no prior introduction to the previous Skulldiggery in order to prove
immediately accessible and compelling to newcomers.
Jeanne's
search for
answers from her childhood experiences and adult dilemmas carries
readers into a
frightening milieu in which she encounters the deceptive, nefarious Dr.
Criqui,
whose lie separated her family and contributed to disparities between
her new life
in America and her old one in France.
Gritzmacher
builds a
special brand of tension that rests on historical precedent, unanswered
questions and surprising revelations, and truths that move from dreams
and
nightmares of the past to affect present-day events.
Jeanne's
character is
realistic and moving as she examines the foundations of her beliefs
about her
family, her past, and the world, discovering new truths that enlighten
her
about hidden history and long-held secrets.
The intrigue
and
horror components are nicely developed against this historical
backdrop,
contributing to a story filled with unexpected moments, surprising
revelations,
and haunting dreams and nightmares that connect seemingly disparate
lives.
Libraries
and readers
seeking occult mysteries that stand well alone, yet contribute to other
books,
will find this sequel to The Relict
a
powerful tale that exposes war-time truths, hard decisions, and
terrible
consequences.
The Quarry's well-developed
historical and psychological tension will have readers guessing to the
end,
which creates satisfying connections between generations of family
members exposed
to skullduggery of the present and shocking truths about the past.
Return to Index
The River
Remembers
Linda Ulleseit
She Writes Press
978-1647424503
$17.95
Website: https://ulleseit.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/River-Remembers-Novel-Linda-Ulleseit/dp/164742450X
The River Remembers is a work of
historical fiction set in 1835,
contrasting three very different women who represent different cultural
backgrounds and experiences in the early Midwest.
Samantha
Lockwood is
a rebel. At least, she constantly refuses the suitors her father
chooses for
her, and so he finally banishes her to live with her brother in the
wilder
Wisconsin Territory, where he assumes the responsibility of handling
his
wayward sister.
Day Sets is
a Native
American woman married to a white man who fights for her daughter's
right to an
education to learn his ways while preserving her tribe's influences for
the
future.
Black woman
Harriet
Robinson has come to love the Territory for its feeling of freedom,
even though
she's still a slave, but when she falls in love with Dred Scott and
dreams of a
life with him, she rediscovers that her life is not in her own hands.
Each woman,
indeed,
faces this feeling in different ways as events unfold to tie their
seemingly-disparate
lives together.
Linda
Ulleseit's
contrast between the perceptions, experiences, and social and cultural
expectations that bind and limit strong women creates a moving story in
which
each woman is forced to reconsider her abilities, dreams, and the
reality of
her world and how much she can actually change it.
The
realizations
experienced by each woman as her deepest dreams and desires are
challenged by
unfolding events makes for vivid contrasts between worlds, such as when
Day
Sets bitterly comes to acknowledge that all her efforts to influence
her
daughter's future may be in vain:
"She wondered exactly how his iyeska granddaughters
could benefit
the tribe in a world where the wasichu blundered through sacred land
and
thought it theirs. Anger flooded her. She’d supported her father as
she’d been
trained to do, wasting her life raising a daughter whose future was
disappearing as fast as the tribe’s."
Intriguing
contrasts
between these ideals and the realities of their worlds give much cause
for
thought as readers absorb the shifting influences and forces that drive
each
woman's effort towards a greater goal than her destiny seems to ordain.
The women
make
sacrifices and plans which are adeptly portrayed in moving passages:
"Ellie could never take her son downriver, even if
their master
allowed it. Downriver meant slave territory. No enslaved mother would
take her
son, even mixed-race as Jarvis was, from free territory into slave
territory.
They continued as they had been...Ellie dried her tears and rolled out
the
biscuits for dinner."
Linda
Ulleseit
creates a powerhouse of a story that utilizes these contrasts in
women's lives
to build a tale of interlinked destinies and strengths that profiles
the
real-world unique confluence of cultures at Fort Snelling in the 1830s.
The
historical notes
at the story's conclusion reinforce the reality of its foundations and
lives.
The River Remembers is a powerful work of
women's literature that
ideally should be included in book club discussion groups, women's
history
holdings, and libraries interested in fiction. It brings the past's
underlying
motivations and realities to vivid life.
Return to Index
The Rogue
and the
Jade
Steven Clark
Independently
Published
979-8375041155
$10.99 Paper/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Jade-Part-One/dp/B0BVDF6VT3
The Rogue and the Jade Part 1: A Buried Home
opens with Amanda
anticipating a rescue from the island she's stranded on, only to
realize that the
two-masted sloop is there to toss bodies overboard—not exactly the
rescue opportunity
she'd envisioned.
Likewise,
readers
won't anticipate that a Regency romance could incorporate swashbuckling
pirates, a woman survivor who is "an Eve, but one who quickly primed
and
loaded pistols," or the meeting of two spirited souls who
harbor different
ideals of their future, both separately and together.
Amanda's
encounter
with cocky, ambitious sailor Jack Hobb evolves into their alternate
personas of
"The Rogue and The Jade" as they join forces to forge new pathways of
opportunity in their lives, only to find their ambitions thwarted by an
opportunistic young lady and her mother, who see Amanda as a threat to
their
own visions of Jack's role in their lives.
Killing
another means
nothing to Amanda. But can she thwart the dangerous influences of Lady
Brayhope
and her daughter Lucy, whose plots involve a way of eliminating Amanda
for
good?
Steven Clark
does
more than follow a relationship between two headstrong,
ambition-seeking
individuals. He charts the course of special interests and nautical
lives whose
disparate paths dovetail in unexpected ways, creating a novel that
sings with
action and confrontations both physical and mental.
The clashes
between
personalities are compellingly described as these characters find they
are
often motivated by forces beyond their control:
“I see now that Amanda must know why she is hated.
To tell her,”
Claudia steepled her hands, “will complete our enmity. I will tell her
when she
is helpless and condemned, when all she strove for dashed and
obliterated.”
It should be
noted
that this story concludes with a cliffhanger (part of the word is
literal).
Readers can anticipate further action from a story which is set to end,
but likely
will live on in future books as Amanda faces the certainty of death and
the end
of her relationship with Jack.
Steven
Clark's vivid
story of family ties, adversity in love and aspiration, and
swashbuckling
pirate and social encounters will delight Regency readers seeking
novels
steeped in the times and women who are powerful characters and
adversaries.
Libraries
and readers
interested in action-packed encounters, emotionally charged romantic
relationships, and historical backdrops will find The
Rogue and the Jade Part 1: A Buried Home thoroughly
involving,
marked by satisfying twists and turns Regency novel readers won't see
coming.
Return to Index
The Rosey View of the World
Andrew Scott Bassett
Luminare Press
979-8886791037
$29.79 Hardcover/$15.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Rosey-View-World-Journey-Through/dp/B0BVNVLVB6
The Rosey View of the World: One Woman's Journey
Through
the 20th Century is a work of historical
fiction that brings to life the husbands, wives, soldiers, and
civilians of
World War II.
Rosey's
real-world influence on
political and social events of the times leads her author son to create
the
story of her world and actions, bringing the drama and sense of these
times to
life.
As
it moves from the opening of
World War II to the Cold War, the activism forces pushing for women's
rights,
and Rosey's involvement in personal and political empowerment, readers
gain a
front-row seat of observational and emotional undercurrents of these
changing
times. These experiences shine in one woman's determination to
contribute to a
proactive world for herself and her son, Danny, who will grow up to
write a
best-selling book, followed by his account of her life. His mum may no
longer
be part of his life, but her legacy lives on as his writing captures
her world
and tells why her efforts and their impact weigh so heavily on his own
future.
Danny's
mother's story opens
when she is nine years old and facing Hitler's threat to her world,
which
brings with it the recognition that "...some
people are never satisfied. If they have a lot, they want more. If
these same
people have most of everything, they want it all. Hitler is one of
these types,
never satisfied until he has it all."
Rosey
successfully navigates
this threat, but develops new realizations as she observes the English
turning
against one another. Her son Danny comes to realize, while reading her
papers,
that his own failures have come home to roost in spectacular ways that
have
limited his ability to fully understand his mother's life.
As
the novelist considers his
obsession with writing, comes to acknowledge new connections between
past
experience and present life, and continues to absorb his mother's story
in bits
and pieces, he finds his own literary and psychological outlook revised
in
unexpected ways.
Through
the fine juxtaposition
of Rosey's life and her son's literary aspirations, Andrew Scott
Bassett creates an evocative contrast in experience that brings history
and its
patterns and impact to life.
Rosey's growing reputation as a "spitfire" and
her determination to live on as her soldier husband Albert becomes
immersed in
the Vietnam War and unpredictable changes makes for a vivid story that
moves between
past and present generations to bring both worlds to life.
Whether covering World War II, the Vietnam War, or
the rise
of social consciousness, Bassett uses Rosey's viewpoint and experiences
to
chart the course of a rising social awareness that fuels Rosey's
reality,
illusions, and disillusionments, ultimately impacting and influencing
her son.
Political campaigns, ideals of hope and peace, and
blossoming civil rights issues all come to life, along with Rosey's
struggles
as a military wife. Readers experience a vivid road trip through the
60s
through Danny's reading of his mother's words, and will find his
journey
replete with many thought-provoking insights about the status of women
and
Rosey's battles on the home front.
Libraries
and readers seeking an engrossing novel that
juxtaposes a son and mother's perspectives on their worlds and life
purposes
will find The
Rosey View of the World
an evocative survey of self-worth, love, perseverance, and
transformation whose currents of discovery carry readers through
decades of
powerful change around the world.
Return to Index
The Snake
That Did
Not Bite: Nuriye's World
Louis Mitler
Canoe Tree Press
978-1-951490-13-3
$12.99 Paper/$4.19 Kindle
www.canoetreepress.com
The Snake That Did Not Bite: Nuriye's World
offers fictional
reflections on about seventy years of Turkish history and change from
the
perspective of Ottoman aristocrat Nuriye, who speaks into a recording
device to
capture her memories.
Any
anticipation that
her voice or this history will be staid is immediately put to rest by
the
lively opening lines of Louis Mitler's story as the narrator reflects
on her
motivations for remembering, and the forces that try to thwart her
efforts:
"It is little closer to daylight than the three
o’clock that, I
believe Napoleon said, was the hour that frightened even his bravest
generals
when they awoke. The ghosts in the old house are silent tonight and not
likely
to contradict me when I talk into this machine. Rats scuttle through
the walls
while the clap-slap; slap-clap of the boots of the armed patrols has
almost
died away in the lane. We had another minor military pronouncement
about two
years ago and were forbidden to go out at night. I know that
prohibition is not
in force with all this rejouissance over
the Bridge but no danger of me gadding about tonight."
From the
start, the
narrator's deeply personal experiences, her observations of living
history in
the making, and her reflections on the impact of social and political
change on
her life and position make for compelling reading—even for those who
may know
little about Turkish affairs or who lack an intrinsic attraction to the
historical fiction genre.
Mitler's
ability to
capture a wise great aunt's recitations to her great niece introduces
the work
with the reason why she takes this time to document this point in her
life: "Aylin, in far way America, you asked
me to tell you about our family. Remember this rule in life: never ask
a
question if you are not prepared to hear the answer."
Readers
won't expect
that this aristocrat will have encountered, interacted with, and
influenced
different cultures in the course of her life, from the religious ideas
and
influences of the Bambara African slave who helped rear her to the
contrasting
rigidity of her British governess and the restrictions on her role
which are
dictated by her Ottoman Empire heritage as Turkey enters the modern age.
From
questions about
how an orderly society is to be regulated to the influences that
separated the
Turkish family and carried her nephew to America to study under a
scholarship,
these lively reflections are embedded with observation and emotion to
attract
and educate readers with rich descriptions and richer realizations
about this
bygone world and the cultural forces that separated families from
ideals and
status.
The Snake That Did Not Bite is one of the
more attractive
historical fiction works about this time and place. Steeped in Turkish
history
and affairs, yet requiring no prior familiarity of the times or region
from
those who might know little about either, The
Snake That Did Not Bite crafts a compelling voice that builds
a tale filled
with thought-provoking events and fast action. All this is powered by a
character able to step outside her status and role to see the end
results of
extraordinary events.
Libraries
and readers
seeking an evocative, moving work of historical inspection will find The Snake That Did Not Bite suitable for
individual reading and group discussions about Turkish affairs and
contrasting
cultural influences.
Return to Index
A Stillness
in the
Pines
Neil MacNeill
Independently
Published
9798392235841
Price: $12.99
https://www.amazon.com/Stillness-Pines-What-world-stopped/dp/B0C47YFZTM
An ordinary
stonemason from New Jersey knows nothing about black holes, scientific
experiments, and deadly forces. Joe
Scarapone experiences all these things
and more during an
unexpected encounter in the heart of the Pine Barrens, when he and a
group of
strangers find themselves alone, isolated, and possibly the only
survivors of a
world-changing catastrophe.
A Stillness in the Pines opens with the
confession that this story
is only reluctantly being revealed, as the protagonist is encouraged by
his
daughter to relive these events for her oral history project.
This unusual
way of
opening a portal to the past involves readers in deepening questions
from the
very start as the narrator's first-person confessional voice reveals
that he's
managed to survive an extraordinary event.
The intrigue
stems as
much from the process of this disparate group of strangers interacting
on new
levels for the shared cause of survival as it does from the
circumstances themselves:
"Stranded in the Pines, our little group of six
souls was like
some kind of sociology experiment...about what people will do when the
shit
hits the fan. We all started the day with our prejudices – some kept in
check,
some not – our own points of view about what’s right and wrong with the
world.
By the time we got out of the Pines, those of us that did, we were
changed. I
won’t say traumatized, but that fits, too."
This
approach
diverges from the usual apocalyptic survival story, giving A Stillness in the Pines a special sense
of social revelation that
comes as much from the characters' interactions with one another as
from their
growing perceptions about what has happened in the outside world and
how they
can make the most of their unexpected isolation.
Neil
MacNeill delves
into the stillness that comes from an inhaled breath held through
disaster. As
the story progresses from being lost to making new discoveries, each
character's detour into the wilderness imparts new insights and truths
about
trust, humanity, and revised possibilities, both within their group and
in the
wider outside world's unknown situation.
The changing
relationships between men and women, the power plays over who holds the
gun and
who navigates survival, and questions about opportunity and ability
that emerge
from group dynamics all create an exquisite tension cemented by Joe's
first-person observations:
"Jimmy and Eve had planted the seeds of paranoia,
and they were
starting to grow. What if the guy in the woods really did
have it in for us? What if the Piney was an evil
son-of-a-bitch, and not the benign hermit I’d imagined? Here we were,
like
cavemen huddled around a fire, trying to keep the monsters at bay. All
I could
do was stare into the glowing embers, watching a meager flame appear
and then
just as quickly disappear."
MacNeill's
incorporation of shifting ideas of what is right and wrong behavior and
choices
in these extraordinary circumstances goes beyond survival tactics to
probe
influences of the past and adaptations each character must make in
order to
remain strong. Joe's engrossing voice powers these displays of
inspection and
interpersonal confrontations:
"I heard Momma’s voice in my head. 'One nail drives
out the other,
Joey.' Merda! I guess the
women
had a point. I had almost forgotten about the knife, and Lila could
sure use
those painkillers. So, give Jimmy what he wants. But it still didn’t
sit right
with me."
Readers well
versed
in apocalyptic end-of-world scenarios and stories will find A Stillness in the Pines a standout in
the literature. This is because its strength lies as much in its
characters'
individual and group dynamics as it does on the reality of what changed
in the
outside world they've become isolated from. From issues of belief and
moral and
ethical conundrums to the group's evolving survival tactics that test
faith,
attraction, and prejudices alike, the multifaceted themes that emerge
are far
from predictable—which makes for delightfully thought-provoking reading.
Delivered in
a voice
steeped in South Jersey culture, A
Stillness in the Pines captures an atmosphere of Piney
culture that holds
its roots in reality and the author's own experiences.
Libraries
and readers
looking for powerful stories of unexpected endings, new beginnings, and
ordinary
individuals thrust into extraordinary circumstances will find A Stillness in the Pines builds intrigue
and creates satisfyingly unexpected twists in the story that even
seasoned
readers of apocalyptic and survival fiction won't see coming.
Return to Index
Summer People
Corinne Labalme
Wild
Rose Press
978-1509243273
$11.28 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-People-Corinne-Labalme/dp/1509243275
The Cape
Cod-based
romance and atmosphere of Summer People
will appeal to a wide range of readers, whether or not they are
familiar with
Cape Cod's iconic atmosphere.
As the story
opens,
Rick has his eyes set on married woman Jessica, who has opened an art
gallery
on Cape Cod and has suddenly set her wedding ring aside, creating an
unexpected
question in his mind.
Jessica has
just set
aside the negative force that husband Max represents in her life. His
rigidity
comes from a privileged Boston childhood that no longer works well for
Jessica's ambitions and vision of a life on Cape Cod, and she's honing
her own
powers in the course of forging a new life for herself. However, old
habits are
hard to break, and as she falls into relationships that test her
determination
and ability to maintain her independence and focus on her heart's
desires,
Jessica discovers that Cape Cod may just be the perfect place for
either a
fulfilling romance or a disaster that repeats patterns of the past.
Rick is
adept at
casting spells on even the most powerful of women—so, does Jessica have
a
chance at the kind of romance that can support rather than overwhelm
her
ambitions?
Intrigue
enters the
picture when an art piece in her collection invites dangerous attention
that
also portends disaster. Can Jessica navigate matters of love and
larceny at the
same time?
Not entirely
a
romance, more than a story of an adult woman's growth, and flavored
with the
suspense of mystery, Summer People
will please readers who come to it from many genres. It may thwart
those who
seek steamy sex scenes, step-by-step detective whodunits, and readers
who
anticipate the story will be entirely about love in the art world; but
that's
the attraction of its multifaceted presence, which defies pat
categorization.
A warm, rich
story
replete in growth opportunities and romantic realizations, spiced by
the
atmosphere, estate sales, and motivations of competing art sellers, Summer People makes for an engrossing
story especially recommended as a beach read or for a dark night with a
glass
of hot chocolate by the fire.
Libraries
seeking
contemporary romance stories that excel in historical and art world
explorations will find Summer People
an excellent attraction.
Return to Index
Tranquility
Maggie Durst
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-785-9
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Tranquility is the story of an ordinary
woman, Taylor, whose
predictable and peaceful life trajectory is altered by co-worker Greg,
who is
charismatic, successful, and on the fast track to success in his career.
Tasked with
joining
forces to create a luxury resort, Taylor and Greg find their personal
attraction nearly impossible to set aside in favor of their jobs as
proximity
and adversity throws them together to test their dreams.
Maggie Durst
creates
a romantic story that contrasts the different lives and perceptions of
characters that are as driven by their work as they are drawn to one
another.
Taylor's
"impending feeling of doom" lends an anticipatory tension to the
evolution of these coworkers as each tests the boundaries of propriety
in an
impossible relationship that should never have come to pass.
The
chemistry between
the two is "exquisite"—but is it enough to change everything in their
lives?
Durst's
story walks a
fine line between a crushing romance and a tale of co-workers who both
utilize
their attraction to strengthen their business objectives and realize
that their
fantasies may be creating a new reality that risks their current
relationships
on many different levels.
The
psychology of
these choices and their impact on existing life trajectories is well
done,
drawing readers into the scenario of an evolving couple that enters
into
dangerous territory fully cognizant of both their emotions and what
they should
and should not be doing with one another.
Libraries
and readers
seeking romantic interludes in stories that evolve on complex levels of
entanglements and business relationships will find Tranquility
an absorbing study in revised possibilities and
behaviors and choices that evolve from dreams to interrupt reality: "Taylor is wondering why this is
happening now, and how this happened in the first place."
Return to Index
The Three Sisters
Owen Garratt
Runding Pelham
978-1-7777810-8-8
$16.99
https://OwenGarratt.com
Jack
Broderick is a fighter.
This quality lends to his survival after a solar flare destroys the
world's
electrical grid, crashes his plane, and cements his separation from a
family
already estranged by his alcoholism.
One doesn't expect an alcoholic
to exhibit powerful survival traits, but in Jack's case, his ability to
persevere against all odds creates a surprising scenario in which he
successfully navigates the days following The Pulse through an
environment
which has been transformed virtually overnight.
Readers
of The Pulse
who have been looking for the second book in the postapocalyptic
thriller
series now have The
Three Sisters to
enjoy, the next phase in a survival story marked by strong language and
visceral situations not for the queasy reader.
Powerful observations introduce his awakening to
readers
also new to this world: "Florida.
The Gulf Coast. 70 miles north of Clearwater. Tucked away in a clearing
in some
brush off Highway 98. Dawn? Dusk? On my back on a folding chaise lounge
from a
backyard set. And it was the end of the world."
Owen Garratt excels in the ability to inject a "you
are here" feel into the moments that mark Jack's new life:
"I hid the silhouette of
my head in the
rocks onshore. The boardwalk creaked. Not definitive enough. Things
expand in
the heat of the day and contract in the cool of night. Expansion and
contraction cause creaks. Wait. Listen. A breath of wind rustled leaves
in the
canopy, and slight gurgling as water eddied around rocks. Then, like a
gunshot,
came the unmistakable crunch of someone stepping on an empty water
bottle."
This approach crafts and encourages a seamless bond
between
reader and protagonist, which is why the more visceral elements of
violence and
revelation that permeate this particular end-of-the-world scenario
feels so
immediate and impactful to Jack's readers.
As the story unfolds, a vivid set of revelations,
life-or-death encounters, and events that happen almost too fast for
Jack to
absorb or survive makes for an action-packed thriller that rests firmly
on the
shoulders and choices of an ordinary flawed character whose perspective
and
determination shifts through extraordinary encounters.
The days after all electrical devices stop prove
the most
critical ones for survival as Jack's ability to adapt is tested. It's a
good
thing Jack was in ‘Health and Safety’ and trained in medical
procedures. It's a
bad thing that his newfound family focus places him on a journey that
holds
serious challenges to his health and safety training.
It's a great thing that Garratt incorporates the
very
realistic, human aspects of Jack's special challenges into an ongoing
saga that
forges new connections to his grandfather's lessons and his new roles
in this
vastly changed world.
Libraries and readers interested in apocalyptic
fiction
that simmers with action, takes the time to create a flawed but
likeable
characters whose ability to adapt is continually tested, and includes
inspections of shifting world paradigms that convey new revelations
about
family and alliances will find The Three
Sisters compellingly absorbing, driven by Jack's powerful
personality and
growth in a world where "...the
fires released people from the constraints of civilization."
Return to Index
Uncontrollable
Sara Staggs
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-201-9
$22.00 (paperback); $6.99
(e-book)
Website: www.sarastaggswrites.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Uncontrollable-Sara-Staggs/dp/1685132014
Uncontrollable tells of the impact of
epilepsy on a middle-aged
woman approaching her forties with all the trappings of success. She
has a
high-profile career, a loving husband, and children. Everything in her
life
seems to be under control—except her health, because her seizures are
evolving
to threaten everything she's worked for.
Casey Scott
is
brilliantly acing a court case in her first appearance, then is equally
adept
at navigating interactions with children, in the next scene.
Glimmers of
angst
emerge as it becomes apparent that she takes meds to control her
epilepsy. But
all seems well managed in these opening scenes, despite their
undercurrents of
disaster—until it's not.
Sara Staggs
crafts a
compelling story that evolves from the varying viewpoints of Jonah and
Casey,
which add depth and alternate nuances of observation to Casey's life.
Jonah's
role in the team that is their marriage undertakes a sea change, as
well, as he
reconsiders his own ambitions and how they need to change in response
to
Casey's health crisis.
As she
struggles to
regain the control she thought she'd mastered years ago, Casey
considers the
promise of new options and their message of freedom that will change
her life
in more than one way. Insights on epilepsy challenges and its shifting
nature
will educate those who know little about it, while others who have
intimate
knowledge of the condition will well relate to Casey's discoveries
about
herself and her future:
"Seizure freedom. That term was surprisingly apt.
Epilepsy kept
you in an invisible cage: the more frequent the seizures, the smaller
the cage.
Seizures took away your ability to exercise, the desire to socialize,
to
advance in your career. Seizure
freedom. The words made me hopeful and depressed at the
same time. It
was as if Dr. Alem stood outside my invisible cage and told me he
might, just might, have the
keys to open the
door."
Casey's
healing
process isn't linear. It introduces all kinds of changes that
continually
challenge her hold on life and ability to micromanage it. As she
journeys
through the process of reconsidering her health and values, readers
receive a
thoroughly engrossing inspection of epilepsy and alternatives which
dare her,
husband Jonah, and all of her friends to view life differently.
Uncontrollable evolves a winning story on
many levels as it
considers a life under control and what happens when its underpinnings
shift,
showing that solid foundations are, in fact, fluid.
Libraries
and readers
seeking novels about that shifting experience and its lasting impact on
talents, ideals, and ambition will find Uncontrollable
a powerful lesson in adaptation and love: "But, a
little voice
within me said, "This is what you wanted, isn’t it?"
Return to Index
50 States of Mind
Ryan Bernsten
Bite-Sized Books Ltd, UK
978-1-7393107-4-5
$25.99 Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$8.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/50-States-Mind-Rediscover-Democracy/dp/1739310748
Ask almost any American in 2023 whether the nation
is
divided and you'll find the one topic most agree on readily: yes, it
is. But
Ryan Bernsten maintains otherwise in 50
States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy,
which follows
his travels through the country interviewing ordinary Americans about
the state
of democracy and the major issues affecting their lives.
Any politician, whether aspiring or actively in
office,
would do well to heed the words of 50
States of Mind, because Ryan Bernsten's journey and
discoveries reflect, in
a nutshell, the trends and influences that are buffeting this nation.
Does American democracy still work? Read the
headlines and
you'd likely say not. Read 50 States of
Mind and you might think differently, because at its best,
democracy is a
fluid work-in-progress, and its capability for optimism is as strong as
its
capacity for pessimism.
Bernsten didn't expect this powerful thread of
positivity
to emerge from his journey. Nor did he anticipate a re-envisioning of
what it
means to participate in the American democratic republic in different
ways.
He found rich veins of validation and discovery in
the
course of his travels, and readers who pursue his book will find it
infused
with candid self-assessments as well as new possibilities for both the
author
and the nation:
"As I drove south to
Georgia, I knew
that besides looking for a place to live, I was looking for something
more.
Long a disciple of Joseph Campbell, I believed that everyone who
ventured
outside their homes and undertook some kind of travel underwent a
version of
the hero’s journey. I had hoped that this trip would similarly become a
transformational experience that would provide me with much-needed
clarity, not
just about our democracy, but where I fit into it."
The book's much-needed prescription for angst and
depression provides hope and a sense of purpose to modern America's
struggles
which is largely missing from newspaper headlines, but encouragingly
present in
this book. It considers the influences that polarize America, the
nation's
hopeful possibilities, and the pulse of a people living, breathing, and
interacting to create a new American story.
The nation does
stand at a crossroads, as it has so many times in the past.
Libraries and readers seeking to feel the pulse of
democracy in action through the eyes, hopes, and experiences of a
traveler
across the modern U.S. will find much to reflect on, discuss, and take
to heart
in 50 States of Mind.
Ultimately, the book cements its promise with
experiences
that represent the American dream of new potential:
"I tried to suss out the
best things we
can do for democracy with our limited time, how we can take action
instead of
screaming into the void. This little move, this jump into the dark is
my hope
that perhaps with a new mindset, we can set the country on the right
course
again. We can be a cohesive whole and allow our better angels to win
out in a
community where we can actually make an impact."
Return to Index
Back to the
Body
Jean-Louis Rodrigue
and Scott Weintraub
Alexander Techworks
979-8-218-05895-1
$22.00 Paper/$12.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Body-Infusing-Physical-Characters/dp/B0C39MCM44
Back to the Body: Infusing Physical Life Into
Characters in Theatre and
Film explores the Alexander Technique as it relates to
performing arts
bodywork, drawing spirited, exciting connections between the Alexander
approach
and the fine art of producing a play that uses movement transitions and
transformations to transcend the usual performance effort.
The story of
how one
play evolved to represent the success of applied Alexander requires no
prior
familiarity from the reader in order to prove inviting and
enlightening. From
the start, the authors reveal a draw to learning it that is supported
by a
vivid representation of its strengths:
"It was never about success, for we had no idea
that would happen.
It was the exquisite experience of creating, working through the play,
as each
character changed, sometimes in mid-sentence, into someone else. This
was
accomplished as Pam’s weight shifted, as did her arms, torso, head, and
posture, along with her voice and accents. This was a class in and of
itself,
exploring each of the 23 human beings’ personal behavior. This
experience was
the perfect example of the wonder of the Alexander Technique, for
without it
this play would not have been possible."
Drama
students,
followers of the Alexander Technique, and newcomers to both will find
these
instructions and directions compelling as the connections between
movement and
creative results are fostered.
From breath
work
explorations and exercises that encourage mind/body connections and
personal
observation of changes to mental, physical, and philosophical
reflections on
how these techniques can not only lend to creativity, but change lives,
Back to the Body comes infused with
hope
and opportunity for thinking readers who would move both into and
beyond the
stage of performance and life:
"A relationship between two human beings is
experienced in space,
in time, and in their bodies, through movement. Relationships depend on
the
exchange of energy between two people, demanding a give-and-take of
ideas,
thoughts, and, ultimately, emotions. Intimacy can be reached only
through
personal connection. The chemical synergy between two human beings is
what
thrills and engages us as an audience because this is what fuels our
own lives.
We need each other to successfully exist in our world."
These kinds
of
reflections are rarely seen in either drama or psychology books which
don't use
Alexander Technique principles, and therefore tend to produce
disconnections
between mind, body, and interpersonal spatial and mental awareness.
Chapters
cover
working with props, sets, and costumes or stepping into alternative
roles and
choices in the course of depicting scenes and characters. Each movement
description also translates to life encounters and choices in a manner
that
constantly invites the reader to absorb both the Alexander Technique
and its
possibilities for new life and art interactions. Exercises motivate
readers to hone
their own awareness of movement and form.
Jean-Louis
Rodrigue
and Scott Weintraub have created a winner in Back
to the Body that ideally will become a mainstay in performing
arts libraries, as well as a book club discussion choice for those
interested
in acting, movement, or the psychology and physiology of action-based
movement
choices.
Return to Index
Crossing the
Swamp
John Shen
Precocity Press
979-8-9877766-1-2
$19.95 Print/9.95 ebook
Website: www.precocitypress.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Swamp-Innovating-Parallel-Entrepreneur-ebook/dp/B0C4RTBCRC/
"Why miracles happen to some but not others, I
cannot explain. I
was one of the fortunate. I had been mired in the proverbial swamp of
failure
when a lifeline was thrown my way."
Crossing
the
Swamp: My Path to Innovating as a Parallel Entrepreneur is a business memoir about
success and failure, and relates
John Shen's rapid personal and business transformation back to success
after
the 2008 financial crisis when his profitable real estate business
collapsed. What sets Crossing the Swamp apart
from other books on entrepreneurship are its clear strategies for
adapting to
challenges and change, based on Shen's real-life business experience.
Shen's story
shows
that drive and resilience and six other talents are critical to
entrepreneurial
success, as he shares his lessons with business owners and innovators
facing
their own pivot points in launching a new company.
As a
first-generation
immigrant to the U.S. Shen has come to start and operate four companies
successfully, two of them ranking among the
"fastest growing companies in America." Inspired
by a
last-minute reading of an email that contained a parable called "The
Glass
of Water," Shen stepped away from an attempted suicide after his real
estate business failure and dove back into innovating new startup
ventures. His
memoir provides readers with clear advice about how they, too, can
confront
negativity, depression, and challenging circumstances as they seek to
achieve
the American Dream in a startup business.
Shen
explains the
specific steps he took to create, realize, and grow new opportunities
in a
variety of business ventures. Throughout the book, readers receive
inspiring
and practical insights into the process of successful
entrepreneurship.
The
specificity Shen
provides in each chapter makes his book practical and
useful to understanding
the nuts and bolts of business operations. He provides detailed
information on
such topics as how to find new ideas, why revenues matter more than
profits,
how long-term risk-taking is better than short-term risk-taking, and
what are
the most effective strategies for hiring, dealing with employee
mistakes, and
firing.
A key theme
of the
book is Shen's recommendation that today's smart entrepreneurs consider
running
several businesses simultaneously, which he refers to as "parallel
entrepreneuring." He notes:
"I believe
parallel entrepreneurship will become the most popular trend among
young
entrepreneurs. In my view, once you start one company and bring it to a
certain
level of success, you are ideally positioned to leverage your
knowledge, your
staff, your customers, or your market dominance to start yet another
company.
Frankly, if you have the intelligence and stamina to be a solo
entrepreneur,
you might as well aim to be a parallel one. The benefits of
“going
parallel” are enormous..."
Crossing
the Swamp is not
just positive and
supportive, but it imparts many keys to creating a successful
entrepreneurial
vision. Shen's ultimate message? The sky's the limit for a
hard-working,
ambitious entrepreneur.
Businesses,
libraries
and entrepreneurs seeking concrete advice on common obstacles to
entrepreneuring and how to overcome them must have Crossing
the Swamp in
their collections, as
should business book clubs and entrepreneurial
discussion groups. Its
candid, revealing assessment of the risks and opportunities in the
business
world is that important.
Return to Index
Faith Arising
T.I. Frazier
Independently
Published
9798985903898
$12.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook
Audiobook-
Narrator Larry Wayne
https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Arising-T-I-Frazier/dp/B0B4TWNXY3
Faith
Arising: Finding the
Warrior within and the Willingness to
Explore, Grow, and Arise explores the process of T.I.
Frazier's own faith
and its evolution, illustrating this endeavor with a memoir and a
blueprint for
following one's own path into faith.
The close examination
identifying limiting beliefs that
held the author back from stepping fully into faith provide insights
and
cautions for others on the spiritual path to self-realization. Those
interested
in how faith is defined and incarnated in daily life will find Faith
Arising an impetus for reflecting on the Christian teachings
and principles
which guide both the author and many readers.
"The questioning of faith is where faith begins."
It is also
where this book opens, for those unafraid of reconsidering or probing
their
rock-solid foundations of belief.
As Frazier's
journey
unfolds, questions pepper the account that prompt readers to reflect on
their
own faith and the history that supports their beliefs. From lessons on
taking
responsibility during and for "rock-bottom moments" to reading
objectively about other religions and their beliefs, Frazier charts the
course
of not just building faith, but testing its foundations through an open
mind to
other ideas.
This
process, of
necessity, involves a high degree of self-inspection and uncomfortable
reflections. It won't be for everyone; particularly those resistant to
probing
faith's foundations to assess their strength and resiliency.
Readers
interested in
solidifying these roots by remaining open to other methods of analysis
will
find Faith Arising's real purpose
isn't to shake the foundations of faith, but to chart the process of
hardening
it so that it is both set and embracing of a wider degree of
understanding than
rigid belief systems allow.
The positive
embrace
of the abundance of life's lessons keeps faith an upward-growing
experience in
both this book and in the concepts it promotes for readers of all
faiths,
making Faith Arising highly
recommended for both individual and group spiritual reflection.
Libraries
seeking
books about faith that encourage discussion, debate, and interest in
both
reading and spiritual circles will find Faith
Arising an inspirational, intellectual journey that links
faith development
stages with growth.
Return to Index
Fifty
Shades of Gray Matter
Teresella Gondolo, MD
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-779-8
$50.00
www.atmospherepress.com
Think
"neurology" and
complex scientific matters come to mind, but in Fifty
Shades of Gray Matter, the medical mysteries surrounding the
brain and its health and illness come to life in a way both medical
students
and general-interest health readers can readily understand.
Dr.
Teresella Gondolo offers a
neurological examination steeped in physical and psychological health
considerations that intersect psychiatry and neurology, discussing how
these
disciplines interpret and consider brain health and disease.
The
collection of medical case
histories opens with the mystery of a patient who has lost the ability
to
recognize faces. Imagine waking up to find a familiar world, but not
recognizing anybody despite their outward appearances feeling familiar.
Such
was the neurological presentation of patient Steve B, who could "see
clearly but not distinguish a face."
This
opening mystery is just
one example of a case study that embraces bigger-picture reflections on
how
facial recognition works and how its absence threatens social
structures and
the ability to navigate life.
From
the puzzle of a patient
who gains weight the more she exercises to considerations of whether
prayers
are just as or more effective than chemotherapy, Dr. Gondolo presents
not only
incredible cases, but wider-ranging questions about what makes people
human,
allows them to lead their lives and interact with others, and what
happens when
neurological symptoms present mysteries that challenge conventional
medical
thinking.
Readers
interested in case
history-driven examples of extraordinary circumstances that test
medical logic
will find Fifty Shades of Gray Matter
absolutely compelling. The diverse stories are not only
fine examples of adaptation and medical approaches to the brain's
mysteries,
but offer bigger-picture ideas that encourage debate and inspection
among
medical students, professionals, and the general public.
Libraries
and readers
interested in medical stories and mysteries that lead to revelations
about
science, psychology, and the intersection between personal lives and
social
challenges will find plenty of book club material and food for thought
for
psychological and medical readers in Fifty
Shades of Gray Matter. It's highly
recommended for its lively ability to juxtapose medical conundrums with
thought-provoking
considerations of just what makes us human.
Return to Index
Financially Capable
Matt Paradise
Vernon Street Publishing
9798987943700
$17.95
Paper/$7.99 ebook
www.mattparadise.com
Financially Capable: A
Friendly Guide to Building Whole-Health
Wealth offers a key to understanding financial
access and
attitudes that influence not only money-making abilities, but personal
and
financial value in the world.
Matt
Paradise departs from the usual treatise on how to gain wealth by
expanding the
concept of what that wealth involves and what makes it valuable. Thus,
his book
both explores and explains financial literacy and links financial to
life
objectives in a way that few other guides to money can achieve, making
it more
accessible to group discussion and non-financial readers than the
typical
business or financial guide.
Chapters
open with an introduction that surveys financial stress, providing case
history
examples of individuals who experience it in different ways. From
student debt
and living paycheck-to-paycheck to the gaps between rich and poor, the
economic
survey links individual experience and choice to bigger-picture
thinking—one
essential key to appreciating the different directions taken in Financially Capable.
Its foundation idea of how mindsets, values, and
behavior
affect financial decision-making and capability is explored in chapters
that
provide concurrent strategies for building both financial security and
a rich
life.
As Paradise discusses budgeting, money management
systems,
and common sources of stress, readers receive the opportunity to more
strongly
relate their financial health to the emotional factors that influence
decisions
and perceptions alike.
Another rare feature of this financial guide is
that it
doesn't promote a "one size fits all" approach, but acknowledges that
disparate interests and ideas of life and wealth affect the nature and
efforts
of personal financial planning and health:
"If your ideal life is one
where you
don’t need financial products, services, or modern amenities, go for
it. In
fact, many people do. It’s quite possible to live a happy, healthy life
doing
so. Personally, that’s not the life my family chooses. If it’s not the
life you
choose, I’d suggest that you keep an open mind and educate yourself
about
living in a credit-based economy."
As a result, Financially
Capable promotes flexibility alongside knowledge of how
money, credit, and
financial institutions work. This will, ideally, encourage dialogues
and
discoveries in book club and group settings where financial issues are
of
interest.
Libraries should recommend Financially
Capable not only to adult patrons, but young adults on
the cusp of entering the world of new adulthood, with the changing
financial
perceptions it requires.
Return to Index
The
Frankfurt Kitchen
Heidi Laird
Fulton Books, Inc.
978-1-64952-974-9
$19.55 Paper/$8.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Frankfurt-Kitchen-Forty-One-Stories-Post-World/dp/1649529740
The Frankfurt Kitchen: Forty-One
Stories of Growing Up in Post-World War II West Germany is both a memoir and a history lesson. Its
stories come from the perspective of the daughter of a Jewish
father and
a Christian mother who grew up in postwar West Germany with the legacy
of
Nazism and the prospect of America's ideals changing the world.
From the
opening
story 'The Jeep Driver,' it's apparent that these vignettes will be
more than a
focus on self, but a wide embrace of atmosphere and culture that pairs
a
"you are here" feel with the broader impact of politics and social
change on daily lives in Germany:
"If I wanted to make a movie of my life, the first
scene would
show my mother, youthful and resolute, with soft hands and vestiges of
former
elegance, and me, almost eight years old and unafraid, standing in the
driving
rain of a cold April downpour by the side of the on-ramp to the
Autobahn
between Heidelberg and Frankfurt, hitchhiking. For a population of war
survivors
challenged daily by the extreme scarcity of basic resources,
hitchhiking had
become as normal as standing on a platform, waiting for an unreliable
train.
Eventually it would come, and you could get on."
Laird's approach allows
readers to move from the
microcosm of her personal experiences to the macrocosm of social
analysis and
inspection. This, in turn, creates a satisfying (and rare) connection
between
political events and social change. This is especially powerful when
considering the ideals of America and their translation into action in
other
nations.
The impact of this interplay
is not always depicted nor
understood by the general reader, but comes to life under Laird's hand.
Consider, for another example, the title story 'The Frankfurt Kitchen,'
which
captures the irony and emotions of one's home and life being
unexpectedly
thrust into the public eye and held up as an example of history:
"It
would have
never occurred to me as a child that the cramped and cluttered kitchen
in which
Vera cooked dinner every day, and was clearly overwhelmed by the task
of
cleaning up afterward, would one day become a famous museum exhibit.
But half a
lifetime and six kitchens later, I found the kitchen of my childhood
depicted
in a newspaper article extolling the revolutionary design elements of
this
kitchen as it was exhibited in an architecture museum in England. I was
speechless and felt a mixture of uncomfortable exposure and hilarious
disbelief
that the site of my family’s deeply personal and intensely painful
struggles
had become a public space studied by museum visitors and architecture
students."
This process of
interpretation and revelation comes to
life in each piece, bringing German culture and history alive in a
deeply
personal, yet accessible manner that is especially powerful when
considering
the physical and emotional ravages of war on everyday lives and
environments:
"The
vast
American military forces, which had chosen Frankfurt and nearby
Wiesbaden as
their headquarters, issued summary evictions for the entire Römerstadt.
Thousands of single-family dwellings were converted into barracks for
the
troops, the tidy hedges between the miniature gardens in the rear of
the row
houses were torn out to create open space for improvised baseball
games, and
tanks were driven through the massive walls around the bastions down to
the
lower-lying terrain ..."
The Frankfurt Kitchen proves unexpectedly
powerful in its personal
observations and rendition of life after World War II and the events
preceding
it that altered German lives. Unexpected, because this contrast and
history
rarely receives such intimate and close examination, nor an attention
to detail
that draws all readers into the milieu of the changing times and the
forced
transformations that reconsidered ideals, experience, and future
objectives.
If only one
book were
to be chosen to represent this era and its challenges, The
Frankfurt Kitchen should be that book. Literary, historical,
and social inspections combine in a lively personal survey that brings
Germany's events and people to life in a manner seldom seen in most
other
coverages of the country and its people.
Return to Index
Hollow Gods
Davidson Loehr
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-822-1
$25.99 Hardcover/$17.95 Paper
www.atmospherepress.com
Hollow Gods: Why Liberalism Became a Destructive
Religion is
especially appropriate reading for modern times because it embraces the
ideas
and sentiments connecting religion to political choices—and also
because it
comes from a liberal forced to reconsider his faith and political
connections.
This is not
a
condemnation of liberals or religion, but operates in the milieu
intersecting
belief systems that considers the long-time presence of two cultures
whose
clashes have resulted in a form of arrogance. This has unwittingly
created the
very monsters and messages liberals accuse others of fostering.
Every reader
who
considers himself liberal should digest these contentions, which are
presented
with footnoted references reinforcing statistics and contentions
throughout.
The treatise closely analyzes the liberal platform "...that
I and millions of others have had, and the serious,
devastating, possibly permanent harm they have done and are doing to
individuals, two generations of college students, our country, its
politics,
liberal religion, racism, sexism..."
Extensive
footnotes
aside, this survey is not written like an academic paper, but is lively
enough
that general-interest audiences can easily access its contentions and,
hopefully,
debate and consider them in group and book club reading circles.
From how
views are
represented by the media, distorted, and manipulated to the left-wing
bias of
the media as a whole and its impact on divisions and freedom, chapters
offer
thought-provoking blends of historical, philosophical, and political
reflection
that should particularly interest media studies and social issues
students.
Hollow Gods will make readers
uncomfortable—especially liberal
readers who have long held their contentions close to their hearts
(often, so
close that they have remained immune to deep inspection).
Libraries
and readers
that choose Hollow Gods for its
hard-hitting examination of belief systems, social activism, media
involvements, and clashing cultures will find its words embrace
difficult
subjects and truths, thus broadening the opportunity for revision and
revelation:
"Affirmative action doesn’t address or solve any of
these
problems. It is done to treat black people like our token victims,
letting
liberals feel virtuous for speaking up for them—while doing virtually
nothing
to help them. These liberal ideas aren’t just stupid. They’re also
destructive
and ungrounded. They’re good examples of why these un-realistic Second
Culture
misunderstandings, like the Scare-crow’s Delusion, do so much harm, and
why the
gatekeepers must come from people in the First Culture who, like
Antaeus, have
their feet on the ground in the real world. The problem isn’t limited
to
liberals. The problem is that, for the reasons already shown, we have
mostly
lost the ability to center ourselves or our culture around healthy
ontological
values and have degraded ourselves and our world into merely
ideological
squawkers."
Return to Index
How to
Create a
Contemporary Circus Show
Eric Bates
Modern Vaudeville
Press
978-1-958604-03-8
$25.00
https://modernvaudevillepress.com/
Students and
professional performers interested in the basics of assembling a modern
circus
show will find no better guide than the new book How
to Create a Contemporary Circus Show. It's written by an
award-winning contemporary circus artist named Eric Bates who started as a Vermont circus juggler with early
roots in Circus Smirkus before going on to study at Montreal’s
prestigious
National Circus School. Throughout each chapter Bates explores the
linear
process from conception to creation, and presents his company Cirque
Barcode’s
methods for making a circus production.
From budgeting to overseeing
team efforts, Bates covers
all aspects of organizing a circus, using the experiences of his team
and their
successes and pitfalls to identify common areas of challenge involved
in
crafting a successful show.
His book gathers all the
advice he wished he'd had
earlier in the effort, featuring 20 plus interviews that were conducted
by
Bates of industry professionals sharing their advice, and will save
aspiring
circus producers a lot of headaches by streamlining the hard work of
creating a
multifaceted production from scratch.
From using exercises to
identify core concepts in a
circus show and making the leap between acting and circus performances
to
honing a perspective and vision that allows the circus ideal to
translate
easily into promotional efforts, Bates provides industry examples that
are
compelling and hard-earned lessons from experience:
"What
you do
serves as the proof of what you believe. Rather than telling everyone
how great
your show or company is, it might even be a better strategy not to, but
instead
to talk about why you decided to make that show in the first place.
What were
you trying to accomplish? What is so important to you that drove you to
put all
this effort in? Then tell them why your show or your company reflects
that."
Circus performers and
producers receive an extensive nuts
and bolts list of what works, what doesn't, and how best to tailor a
tour-proof
contemporary show for maximum success and ease. Bates takes the whole
experience and breaks it down into accessible, manageable chapters in a
way
that allows a performer/creator, regardless of what stage of their
studies or
career, access to new information every creator needs to see their
project
through to fruition.
How to Create a Contemporary Circus Show
may focus on the circus's
unique environment and requirements, but its wide-ranging production
experiences, illustrations, exercises, and formulas for success makes
it a top
recommendation not just for circus reference libraries, but any
performing arts
collection, and for those who would put together a winning production.
Return to Index
Mastering
Resilience
Lorry Leigh
Belhumeur, Ph.D.
Muse Literary
978-1-958714-84-3
$24.99
Hardcover/$14.99 Paperback/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Resilience-Transforming-into-purpose/dp/1958714844
Mastering
Resilience: Transforming Into Your Purpose features an
8-step formula for
tapping into the underlying strengths of adversity to unfold the growth
and
resilience that it offers. It is highly recommended for self-help
readers
interested in building new strengths against all odds.
Contrary to popular belief,
adversity can prove the
impetus to positive change that drives individuals to recognize and
utilize
their resilience for best benefit—but only if it's used appropriately.
That's where Mastering
Resilience comes into play, defining and encouraging a
recognition of
intrinsic values that can create new, positive directions in life
choices.
Chapters contrast the
author's background and her work
with others as they chart a path through this process, revealing how
these
mindset shifts can ultimately contribute not just to better individual
life and
relationships, but a better world:
"When
we
respond with compassion, we’re driven to make the world a better place.
That’s
why so many resilient individuals who have experienced childhood
adversity are
often driven toward helping professions and positions: teaching,
counseling,
youth ministry, coaching, and mentoring. Our ability to be resilient in
the
face of adversity has a purpose."
Psychological studies,
statistics, and revelations about
challenges and choices in life come into play as Dr. Leigh Belhumeur crafts a thought-provoking series
of insights based on real-world examples and hard data.
Powered by discussions that
encourage the reassessment of
life and one's achievements, Mastering
Resilience contains the kinds of admonitions and
encouragement that lead to
a better understanding of one's place in the world and the potential
for
improving it:
"It’s
important to note that these small steps may already be well within
your
comfort zone. To reach your full potential, remember that it’s
imperative to
step out of your comfort zone to reach your true purpose, and to live
your life
according to your intrinsic values."
Readers need only be already
interested in
self-realization and change in order to benefit from Mastering
Resilience. Whether it's used for individual growth or in
group settings to reach participants interested in life values and
world
improvement, Mastering Resilience
represents an opportunity for transformation. This makes it highly
recommended
for self-help libraries, book club and psychology reading groups, and
individuals
who would take the next step into versatility and more effective living.
Return to Index
Neutering
the CIA
John A. Gentry
Armin Lear Press Inc.
978-1-956450-69-9
$35.95
Hardcover/$24.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.arminlear.com
Neutering
the CIA: Why
US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences is a
scholarly
analysis that holds the rare ability to attract general-interest
readers
concerned about intelligence history and America's CIA in particular.
It probes the political
bias that both dictates operations and too often undermines the agency,
considering how this bias affects intelligence operations and
efficiency as a
whole. While the key example presented in this study is the impact of
such bias
on the interaction between the CIA and the Trump Administration, to
consider Neutering
the CIA a history of
Trump's
involvement alone would be to do the book an injustice.
It holds far wider-ranging
realizations and information
that affect the overall operations, driving force, and perceptions of
CIA and
intelligence operations as a whole. Neutering
the CIA ideally should be consulted not just by political
science students,
but anyone actively involved in U.S. intelligence operations and ideals.
John A.
Gentry opens
his treatise with a preface that explains his background in the CIA as
an
intelligence analyst and his personal experience of its
"politicization" by fellow professionals who overlaid the operations
of the agency with an agenda that represented their personal and
political
sentiments.
From the
start, his
revelations are eye-opening and controversial:
"After following the German Democratic Republic for
several years,
I was under no illusions about the many negative and few good aspects
of the
country’s communist regime ... Yet in 1986 my division chief, Steve K.,
began
to insist that his analysts make the countries we followed look worse
than they
were, mainly by adding pejorative adjectives in our analytic papers."
This
misdirection of
information, framed by simple choices in presentation and
representation, was
mild; but in hindsight it began a dangerous trend that continues to
this day.
Thankfully,
this
experience also led to Gentry's newfound awareness of and ongoing
interest in
the intersection of politics and intelligence work—and he was in the
perfect
place and position to observe these changes in action.
Scholarly
readers
will appreciate Gentry's attention to detail as he delves into such
varied
topics as diversity politics, other presidential campaigns that
reflected the
growth of special influences and interests, and the changing approaches
of the
intelligence community as politicization became a new norm rather than
the
exception.
His
attention to
exploring moral and ethical dilemmas, his exposé of facts (such as the
leaking of intelligence information by intelligence officers
themselves), and
his heavily footnoted references that support many of his contentions
with
articles, interviews, and research create an authority that goes beyond
personal familiarity to reflect the information-based work Gentry was
trained
to produce.
Having Neutering
the CIA at this
point in
time is key to understanding the influences upon and progress of
democracy
itself. Far more than an analysis of the inner sanctum of the American
intelligence community, Neutering the CIA
draws both damning and thought-provoking connections between special
interests,
personal ambition, and political influence that dictates the focus and
direction of intelligence operations in this nation.
Gentry's discussions of
anti- and pro-Trump elements
within the organization and his notes on the CIA's evolving culture and
strengths invite classroom dialogue and discussion that also should
spill into
general interest circles despite the scholarly nature of this book,
which
should not be limited to classroom study alone. General-interest as
well as
scholarly or college-level library collections should see widespread
attraction
to Neutering the CIA because its
history, analysis, and insider information hold great impact for
revising
perceptions of the democratic process in America as well as its
evolving
intelligence community.
Suitable for
book club discussion, political and social
issues debates, and classroom reading alike, Neutering
the CIA is an important examination of linguistics,
ideology, and purpose of intelligence operations. It holds the ability
to reach
a wide audience with its insights on how modern America really works,
both up
front and behind the scenes, and is very highly recommended for its
special
in-depth examination.
Return to Index
Opulence and
Ostentation: Building the Circus
Steve Ward, Ph.D.
Modern Vaudeville
Press
978-1-958604-02-1
$25.00
www.modernvaudevillepress.com
Opulence and Ostentation: Building the Circus
is a history of the
circus buildings which helped house and perpetuate the popularity of
the
circus, particularly during the nineteenth century. Readers with only a
casual
familiarity with architectural history and the circus may not realize
the
long-standing nature of this subject:
"During the latter half of the nineteenth century
and into the
twentieth century many circus owners, and indeed civic authorities,
commissioned buildings specifically for circus. Why, you may ask, for
such an
ephemeral entertainment? I consider that this growth in circus building
reflects the popularity
of the art form
at that time. Some of these buildings were vast cathedrals of circus
which
could accommodate thousands of people, regularly reaching capacity."
Audiences of
architectural students and circus historians will find that Opulence and Ostentation holds many
powerful examinations, but it also will attract general-interest
audiences who
may relish the circus, but are unaware of the structures that
contributed to
its popularity and mythos.
Dr. Ward
doesn't
intend this book to be a definitive history of either the circus or its
buildings. It celebrates the opulence and wealth of this approach to
promoting
the circus, examining how these structures contributed to the mystique
and
allure of the circus over the centuries.
Vintage
black and
white photos, footnoted references, and quotes from publications that
described
early circus buildings and atmosphere make for a scholarly yet
accessible
survey designed to educate and attract.
Students of
architectural history, in particular, will find the notes and
illustrations on
design choices and the mechanics of translating a building's use to
both
theater and circus applications to be specific and intriguing.
Circus
history is
incorporated into these building descriptions, bringing a satisfyingly
lively
tone to the fine art of capturing opulence and the moveable art of the
circus
both within and between nations:
"The (then) modern building was very tall, 36
metres in height,
with a cupola 46.5 metres in diameter. The standard 13.5 metre circus
ring had
the facility to be lowered and flooded with water for water
spectaculars. The
arena was complete with a fully equipped stage and orchestra pit, and
could seat
almost 4000 spectators. The building included a restaurant and an
‘American
Bar’; an American Bar being a ‘long bar’ arrangement as opposed to the
more
intimate tavern style bar. Behind the circus was stabling for up to 130
horses
and space to accommodate a menagerie. The building survived
successfully until
the bombing of Dresden in 1945, when it was completely destroyed. The
circus
survived but Sarrasani, having problems with Hitler’s regime, decided
to move
to South America in 1934. Hans Stolsch-Sarrasani died there shortly
afterwards
and the circus was continued by his son. The Sarrasani Circus became
popular in
Argentina and in the 1940s was proclaimed the ‘Argentine National
Circus’ by
Eva Peron."
The detailed
nature
of such passages and references will require that readers already have
a basic
interest in the circus environment in order to appreciate the depths of
research and the social, historical, and cultural connections Dr. Ward
makes in
his survey.
Libraries
strong in
circus topics or architectural explorations will find Opulence
and Ostentation: Building the Circus is an opulent and
potent examination indeed, juxtaposing complexity with a freestyle
survey of
the circus world that is not commonly accessible to general-interest
audiences.
Return to Index
“Porn?” is a Question of
Cosmological Significance
CJS Hayward
CJS Hayward
Publications
979-8377937807
$6.99 Paper/$.99 Kindle
Website: www.cjshayward.com
Ordering: https://cjshayward.com/pqcs
“Porn?”
is a
Question of Cosmological Significance is a spiritual focus on
pornography
that takes a hard-hitting look at what St. John Chrysostom perennially
warned "about the obscene theaters in which
'the shared nature of women is insulted.'"
The intention of CJS
Hayward's book is to encourage
thinking readers to "...never look
the same way at porn ever again." He
achieves his goal by covering the concept
of 'sexual sin' and what is actually at stake by viewing and accepting
porn.
From the initial trajectory
of the world's creation and
the evolution of science and technology to the perception of Christ as "...head of the whole Creation, not
just the Church. Christ isn't just concerned with his people, but the
whole
created world," the spiritual discussion mixes history,
religious
inspection, and routes to lead a more engaged, meaningful life beyond
the
forces that lead to passive life participation and YouTube inspections.
Hard-hitting discussions of
the reality of porn addiction
differentiate this pursuit and sin from others: "The
reality of porn addiction may be different. It is, with other
evils, a pursuit of something that does not exist and cannot create
lasting
satisfaction. Not that porn is the only evil by any stretch of the
imagination.
But it is one way of reaching the misery for which the final
destination is a
Hell that has many, many entrances but not one exit."
In the beginning, Hayward's
wide-ranging associations
between religious and human history may seem not only broad, but
relatively
distant from the book's promised focus on porn. Readers who persist
through its
cosmological and spiritual history will find that salient points
connect to
other articles to form a unified examination of porn that is solidly
intellectual and thought-provoking.
Yes, porn holds issues of
cosmological import. It also
represents the opportunity to hold dialogues in and reconsider life
choices,
their connection to and impact on religious pursuits, and the meaning
underlying seemingly simple options and perceptions that weigh heavily
on the
soul.
Discussions of porn here are
unlike any other book,
embracing existential and spiritual matters that are presented in a
variety of
forms to cement the reader's inner dialogue, as in the section where
Porn
assumes a countenance of awareness:
"We
live in
interesting times. There is a singularity, or rather has been but keeps
growing
exponentially, and this singularity may turn in to the end of the
world: a strange
Ragnarok where the forces of Good resound with apocalyptic triumph. And
I,
Porn, am part of the singularity, an important part. Did you know that
I, Porn,
am not the only thing in life? Remember: “Every
man who visits a Porn site is looking for God.”
Any discussion of
porn and its spiritual and social impact would not be complete without
the
religious inspection and enlightenment it receives in “Porn?” is a Question of
Cosmological Significance,
which is at once intriguing, challenging, and worthy of discussion in
spiritual
circles, as well as inclusion in any library interested in applications
of
religious thought to social conundrums.
Return to Index
The Prism
Aneta Torchia
The Luminary Press
978-1-7387687-3-8
https://www.amazon.com/Prism-Fantasy-Thriller-Aneta-Torchia/dp/1738768732
The Prism
intersects fantasy, thriller, and paranormal themes so seamlessly that
readers
who choose it for its coming-of-age component will find far more depth
and
attraction in the story's multifaceted character and action than they
may have
anticipated from its title.
College-bound orphan Everest Clearly's discovery of
her paranormal abilities are only the first revelation she experiences,
which
sends her off-course from a largely unpleasant life into a parallel
universe,
The Prism, which holds a much nicer environment.
Her second life there
is apparently boundless, and its attraction is unshakeable, even when
she finds
herself on an unexpected journey confronting not only new
possibilities, but
new threats. The allure of the Prism world lies in apparently limitless
possibilities. It also holds secrets and danger which Everest
encounters as she
penetrates this world's attractions to realize its underlying dangers.
Readers who follow Everest into the Prism will find
her
first-person descriptions of her experiences evocative and rich: "This room is my blank canvass. I
recall what Erik said about creating anything within it. Anything! But where to even start? Baby steps. I need to process the
world outside first before attempting to create a brand new one in
here."
As she explores her changed role, power, and
abilities to
navigate and craft new possibilities for her future both within and
outside the
Prism, readers are treated to a vivid tale that sparkles with
unexpected angles
and encounters that mirror Everest's experiences in a world that "steals her breath away."
From the challenges of fighting for others when
they refuse
to fight for themselves to the complicated lives of Erik, Lise, and
others who
interact on this new playing field of possibilities, Aneta Torchia
creates a
powerful story of a game-changing world gone awry, and a girl's
difficult
options. The story captures not just the Prism and its special
characters, but
the dilemma faced by one who finds both heaven and hell in her choices.
Libraries and readers seeking fantasies that
intersect
nicely with thriller components, interpersonal relationships that
teeter on the
edge of disaster, and explorations of spiritual and metaphysical
influences on
the world will find The Prism a
compelling adventure and a thought-provoking journey.
As the first in a three-part series, The
Prism sets the stage for what looks to be an extraordinary
trilogy steeped in life-changing decisions and glimpses of life's
meaning and
purpose.
Return to Index
Root, Rise, Roar
Dawn King
Muse Literary
978-1-958714-53-9
$4.99
Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Root-Rise-Roar-Transforming-Beautiful-ebook/dp/B0BXYY9FTG
Root,
Rise, Roar:
Transforming Trauma into Your Brave and Beautiful Life is a
study that
rests on Dawn King's career in behavioral
psychology, offering an approach to life and recovery that promotes
mindfulness, emotional healing, and resilience.
Rather than promoting
King's own approaches, Root,
Rise, Roar
represents a collaborative mix of her
insights and those of her clients, documenting the varied processes by
which
survival becomes revival.
King's mother chose alcohol
as a salve to hide her pain.
She was "was injured by a partner
who betrayed and pulverized her emotionally and mentally,"
and her
reaction to life created a distance from her family that led to
profound emotional
wounds on all sides before alcohol was finally set aside.
King acknowledges both the
legacy of family patterns and
the power available to everyone to break them:
"Looking
back
on my life, I see how my parents’ traumas, thoughts, beliefs, and
behaviours
were transferred to me on very unconscious and seductively subtle
levels. While
genetics are undeniably inherited, I believe the learned behaviours of
our
parents or caregivers and environments as children have a constructive
and
destructive effect on us. We can also change them."
Root,
Rise, Roar
does more than document this path of destruction and rebuilding. It
provides a
diverse set of keys to better understanding these chains and how best
to break
them, drawing important connections through seemingly simple approaches
to
revising life. These evolve on as basic a level as learning how to slow
down
and what to do with this added time, as well as how best to place a
value on
it:
"Slowing
down
allows more intentional awareness of making decisions. Impulse control
is a
problem in our culture, yet slowing down expands creative thinking and
provides
a space and place within us of making and planning for possibilities.
Doing
more doesn’t always equal doing our best."
As new possibilities evolve
from addressing and
challenging familiar patterns of behavior and responses to life, the
real
potential of learning to live not faster, but better, are explored in a
self-help inspirational guide especially recommended for high achievers
who often
approach their goals too measuredly or hastily.
Libraries and readers
seeking a guide that introduces the
paths to better living will find the clear advice in Root,
Rise, Roar an inspirational key to building alternative
choices in life.
"So
many of us
have not grown up with any emotional fluency." Here is where
the
envisioning lessons begin, in a lesson plan that deconstructs the
inherent
rigidity of family patterns and negative impulses:
"As
we
understand the difference between constructive and destructive
behaviors, avoiding
leaves our roots rotting in denial. We cannot grow from there. We
destructively
ROOT and rigidly do not change, causing anxiety, depression, addiction,
and
other destructive behaviours we have the power to change."
Root,
Rise, Roar's
ability to illustrate the process of embracing this power makes it a
top
recommendation for readers and book groups interested in discussing and
enacting new rules for living life in a different way.
Return to Index
Shadow Runner
KJ Fieler
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-204-0
Paperback: $21.95/Kindle:
$5.99
Website: https://linktr.ee/katfieler
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Runner-K-J-Fieler-ebook/dp/B0BXQ7337M
Shadow
Runner's unique blend of
historical fiction
tempered by a dash of fantasy makes it a winning read for those who
like to
cross genre boundaries in the pursuit of vivid stories that don't fall
neatly
into formula definitions.
Aristocrat Ada has no illusions about
her predictible future. Either she will marry into comfort and money
that
requires set boundaries of behavior and lifestyle, or her inheritance
will be
usurped by a male heir.
Neil
Gaiman’s Coraline
partially inspired Ada and this story, but KJ Fieler embarks on
journeys
foreign to Gaiman's book as Ada leaves childhood behind and considers
the
choices and challenges that light the way to a very different legacy
than she'd
ever envisioned for her future.
Fieler adds
thought-provoking reflections that come from Ada's physical and
emotional
growth, injecting these into dialogues and situations that accompany
Ada's new
strengths and tests of her abilities: “If
you don’t hit me, you’ll be in more trouble. You won’t be punished for
fighting
back. That’s the whole point of these exercises. And you really need to
drop
your ethic. It’s making you weak.”
As maid and
teacher
Mistress Nadine leads Ada into realms she'd never imagined, readers
follow her
growth and revelations, which are flavored with action and insight.
A touch of
wry humor
marks many of Ada's encounters, which will feel unexpectedly delightful
as she
is forced into alien territory both physically and mentally: "Ada was sorry she ate the beans. She
wished she was still hungry and had hair. She didn’t want to do
pushups, or any
other thing Mistress demanded."
Nadine's
suffering
becomes Ada's responsibility because of the choices she makes, and
readers
receive thought-provoking insights into mercurial relationships that
bring with
them terrible responsibility and the impact of bad decisions. How Ada
is honed
into a predator, attacking the circles she once knew intimately, and
how she
handles the impossible dilemma of a freedom that can cost the lives of
those
closest to her makes for a story as riveting for its moral and ethical
dilemmas
as for its action-packed scenes of transformation and confrontation.
Shadow
Runner's ability to move between
fantasy and
historical fiction makes it an especially thought-provoking read for
teens, as
well as adult audiences.
Libraries and readers seeking vivid fantasy
stories that embrace a coming-of-age theme with an environment that
tests its
young protagonist, and which comes with many topics ripe for book club
debate
and classroom discussion, will find Shadow Runner a
winning acquisition.
Return to Index
Spirituality
for
Badasses Book Two
J. Stewart Dixon
PIE Publishing
978-0985857974
$16.99 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Spirituality-Badasses-Book-Two-without/dp/0985857978
Spirituality for Badasses Book Two: How to Find
Your Heart and Soul
Without Losing Your Cool posits a mind-altering romp through
the countryside
and spirituality alike. It opens with a chatty tone of confrontation
and
realization that immediately informs readers that this book represents
something more than a lesson in road trips, spirituality or
self-realization:
"So, you think you’re gonna double your spiritual
badass just by
reading Book Two? Think
again.
There is no doubling your badass. There is only one
amount of spiritual badass and you already
(sorta-kinda-you’ll see) have it. You’ve always had it. You never lost
it. You
can’t lose it. But I presume, since you’re back for more, something is
still
nagging you."
If Book One
was
"just a slow dance at a rural county fair" then "This
book—well, it’s a stage dive into a slam-dancing mosh pit at
a punk concert."
The
metaphysical
journey which evolves represents a romp of mindful and spiritual
proportions as
first-person admonitions move through new realizations, realities, and
acknowledgements of the ironies and inconsistencies of beliefs and
spiritual
revelation, all cemented by a flavor of humor: "You’d
think a guy who writes books with the word “spirituality”
in them wouldn’t have waited until page 95 of his fourth book to
address a
pretty damn fundamental—ahem— spiritual topic: Death."
What first
appears to
be a lesson in spirituality turns out to be a fictional foray into a
quest
through other worlds as the narrator moves through Kansas City, Vegas,
and
other milieus to confront Death the Destroyer of Dreams and further
challenges
to spiritual and life perception.
"The New Age thinkers and doers…chant and hope and
wish and
dream…a neverending dream of finally…one day…arriving."
In Spirituality for Badasses Book Two, the
journey towards revised realizations about life, death, and everything
in
between is as important as the ultimate destination.
The
rollicking nature
of this expedition into consciousness creates a powerful story that
operates in
the realm of metaphysical fiction and philosophy, but holds so many
fiery
topics for debates and fun that book clubs and spiritual new age groups
will
find much fodder for discussion as the tale unfolds.
Libraries
and readers
looking for a road trip through irony and life inspection will relish
the
originally creative tone and hard-hitting accusations and realizations
of Spirituality for Badasses Book Two.
Return to Index
Splendors of
Quanzhou, Past and Present
William N. Brown
Springer
9789811980350
$58.50 Hardcover/$49.99 Paper
www.springer.com
Quanzhou
(Zayton) was
Marco Polo's departure port and Columbus' goal in China. It fostered
the
Maritime Silk Road and, perhaps more importantly, was centuries ahead
of its
time in fostering tolerance and diversity among its populace, housing
Muslims
alongside Christian, Hindu, Taoist, and Jewish spiritual centers. Splendors of Quanzhou, Past and Present
surveys
this city (now a World Heritage site) and its culture, from early to
contemporary times.
Why should
modern
readers care about this place? Because it's not just a singular piece
of
Chinese history or a world wonder, but a representation of
architectural,
cultural, and social ideals that can serve as a mirror of achievement
and
possibility for developing nations around the world.
William N.
Brown
spent three decades in China, traveling the country and speaking with
citizens
and exploring every aspect of the city's history and culture. His
visits there,
which began in 1989, documented the city's balanced approach to
preserving its
heritage while becoming a forceful example of success for the 21st
century and
beyond.
Readers who
anticipate the tone of this survey will limit its audience to scholars
alone
will be delighted to discover these travels lend to a lively
observational
style which juxtaposes Chinese historical and cultural insights with
personal
experiences, from shopping to Quanzhou's world-famous puppets.
Color photos
of
travel experiences, personal reflections, and sidebars of additional
information create a rare combination of travelogue and study which
will prove
accessible to a large audience, from readers interested in studying
China's
culture in general and Quanzhou in particular to travelers who will
find these
encounters perfect armchair reading.
Splendors of Quanzhou, Past and Present's
multifaceted approach and
depth lends to its consideration by a variety of library collections,
from
college-level holdings seeking in-depth explorations of China's history
and
cities to general-interest libraries that will discover the
scholarly-looking
cover masks an appealing survey filled with not just information, but
lively
personal encounters. These will educate and attract general-interest
readers—especially
those attracted to cities that practice diversity and tolerance.
Quanzou's
special
attraction is that it has done so for centuries, long before the
concept of
inclusion become contemporary and widely supported.
Return to Index
Tea Attitudes
Pamela G Kennedy
Independently Published
9798385972241
$13.99 Hardcover/$7.99 Paperback/$2.99 ebook
Website: teaattitudesbook.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Tea-Attitudes-Blend-Life-Faith/dp/B0BYBHQC7Q
Tea Attitudes: A Blend of
Tea, Life &
Faith blends tea-themed anecdotes
with Scripture verses, providing readers of faith with an experience of
afternoon teas drawn from the author's own tearoom traditions and
encounters
with family and friends.
The thoughtfulness
with which the stories are steeped will appeal to Bible readers who
look for
testimonies of faith in life encounters that translate easily to daily
inspirational lessons.
Tearoom stories
permeate these spiritual connections with a sense of place, purpose,
and
perspective to link social and cultural encounters with the deeper
overlay of
spiritual purpose:
"Raised in the Southern
US, I am accustomed to hearing the
occasional “ma’am.” But milady made
me feel special. This French term was appropriated by the English for
addressing noblewomen. I am neither French nor English, and not of
noble birth.
Instead of protesting my lack of aristocracy, I appreciated the moment
and
thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. I reflected later how
this
undeserved respect was similar to the undeserved grace God has extended
to us
through Christ. Would I relish being termed a “child of God” as much as
I
perked up at being referred to as milady?
On a less superficial level, that answer is yes."
Pamela G Kennedy adopts a confiding tone of
revelation and
discovery in many of these reflections, which lends a warm feel to the
spiritual descriptions:
"Because each of us is
created for a
unique ministry, there is no cause to compare or compete with others’
work. In
fact, it would be impossible. God alone sees our true motivations and
efforts."
This cultivates a personal touch that links God's
word to
daily actions, encounters, and cross-connections in life that move from
tearoom
to social encounters, awkwardness, and awakening.
From experiences of self-consciousness in social
situations
to the process of making choices and taking chances, the juxtaposition
of
spiritual with psychological and social inspection creates a dialogue
of
examination and revelation that warms the heart as much as the teatime
descriptions.
Readers seeking an inspirational connection between
life
events and spiritual concerns will find the quotes and reflections of Tea Attitudes the perfect blend, highly
recommended for Christian readers and spiritual libraries serving them.
Return to Index
Time
Served
T.L. Cromwell
KP Publishing
978-1-9600012-0-7
$24.95 hardcover/$19.95 paperback/$9.99 ebook
www.kp-pub.com
Time Served is a
memoir written by a retired Correctional Captain who worked in the
California
prison system for over twenty years, and is highly recommended reading
for
anyone interested in the daily activities and nuts and bolts of the
modern American
prison system.
The
memoir is particularly notable in two ways: T.L.
Cromwell is a Black female in a system dominated by male correctional
officers,
and she covers the process of overseeing inmates in contrast to the
many prison
stories written by those who have done time behind bars. Having an
exploration from
the other side of the bars provides many eye-opening insights that will
prove
especially valuable to students of law, justice, and those aiming for
jobs in
the correctional system.
Another
important note is that Cromwell worked in some of
the toughest prisons in the nation. This background lends further
interest to
her story, which navigates the social and political issues of
maintaining a
prison and dealing with inmates as a female in a decidedly
male-dominated
environment.
The
story opens with Cromwell's childhood and the candid
note that she never saw herself being in the position she wound up in
as an
adult: "Nobody says they want to
work in prison when they grow up. Who would want to be a prison guard?
I
certainly didn’t. I wanted to be what all kids say they want to be when
they
grow up: a doctor, a lawyer, a social worker, or maybe even a teacher."
Growing up in the 'concrete jungles' of Los Angeles,
however, Cromwell knew many who were incarcerated. When, as an adult,
she
divorced and was faced with raising a daughter alone, Cromwell was
determined
to obtain a job that paid well, keeping them out of poverty and the
cycles
she'd seen too many fellow women fall into as single mothers.
Her
search for a stable career kept leading her back to
corrections work. It was a job she would excel in, grow and learn from,
and
ultimately would share with the world in this memoir of her
experiences, which
dovetails the routines and requirements of the prison system with
insights on
inmate/correctional officer relationships and the dangerous
psychological
undercurrents that often affect and direct them.
Through
Cromwell's eyes, readers learn of these threats and the
reactions that saved her career and life. The psychological insights
are not
only impeccably described, but offer rare insights into the dangers of
the
prison system that go well beyond physical violence and into the
territory of
psychological danger:
"Inmates had 365
days to focus on us; to find any little thing they think they can use
to
manipulate us. It is insidious and before you know it you have fallen
into
their trap. When they target you, they usually start small by being
friendly,
jovial, and very complimentary. If they work for you, they make sure
they do
the best job they can while putting you at ease in their presence. They
want
you to think they are different from any other inmate you have ever
met.
Lulling you into a false sense of security and pushing you to lower
your guard.
They attempt to get you to do something small, something seemingly
innocuous
that you know you’re not supposed to do, just this one time, just for
him.
Nobody will ever know. It will be just between you and him."
More
so than almost any other prison system title, Cromwell
provides an invaluable and rare look at inmate relationships and how
they are
affected by imprisonment.
Students
of prison systems and justice issues, as well as
anyone thinking of entering this milieu who wonders what these daily
encounters
translate to in terms of motivation and experiences, will find that Time Served pulls no punches in
revealing all the underlying emotional challenges of the job. It
humanizes the
correctional officer's job and relationships in many different ways.
Time Served should ideally be included in general-interest collections, inner city libraries, and any library strong in books about social issues. It should also be used as debate material in classes and book clubs examining prison system operations and experiences.
Time ServedReturn to Index
Truth
Matters Love
Wins
Alexandra J. Kuisis
Muse Literary
978-1-958714-78-2
$23.56 Hardcover/$14.99
Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://a.co/d/9Ovzjpj
Truth Matters Love Wins: A Memoir of Choosing Faith
over Fear in the
Face of False Accusations tells of a happily married woman
who seems to
have everything until she is accused, out of the blue, of committing
numerous
felony crimes and comes to realize the depth of betrayal and falsehoods
created
by someone close to her.
Her
unwitting foray
into a pursuit for justice opens with a doorbell ring in 2016, an
accusation
which is especially impossible considering her commitment to children
and
education, and the realization that other seemingly innocent
accusations and
mistakes have actually been purposeful attempts to sully her name and
ruin her
life.
Her
immediate
reaction is in keeping with her innate response to any trouble or
challenge: "This is so me, to be immediately
searching for a deeper meaning or bigger purpose mere nanoseconds into
a
confusing or troubling situation." In this case, she quickly
comes to
realize that the accusation is more than a mistake. It's a set-up that
challenges her life ambitions and convictions in the cruelest way
possible,
miring Alexandra J. Kuisis in a legal and psychological struggle that
tests her
ability to both survive and regain control over her life.
Why would a
child
with an "overflowing heart," whom she loves, entrap her with a lie
that could commit her to prison for life?
As the
author
challenges the accusation and navigates unfamiliar legal territory, she
struggles to maintain an attitude and perspective that will not only
free her,
but reveal the truth. “There is no force more powerful than a
woman
determined to rise.”
As she
pursues
justice and contemplates various avenues for achieving it, family and
personal
relationships fall under the eye of assumptions and suspicion as she
arrives at
difficult realizations that "...it
turns out not everyone is interested in hearing what I have to say
before
making me the villain, and that’s confusing for a justice-driven person
like
myself. If only they understood,
if only they’d listen, if
only
they knew… Alas, I remind
myself I can only walk my line, tell my truth, and rest assured that
karma is
keeping very close tabs on what’s going on around here. What doesn’t
align with
the truth has no choice but to fall away eventually."
Anyone who
has been
falsely accused, any who harbor a love of children and family, and
readers
interested in how the wheels of justice come off and are thwarted by
psychological
conflicts will find Truth Matters Love
Wins a powerful lesson in perseverance, faith, and
ultimately, forgiveness.
Truth Matters Love Wins is a riveting
memoir that deserves a
prominent place in libraries interested in issues of family, justice
system
processes, and psychological entanglements that pose unprecedented
challenges
to ordinary individuals living their lives and reflecting their values.
"Sometimes karmic return takes lifetimes. Sometimes
it is
instant." The gratification of the lessons presented in this
candid
memoir is immediate, raw, and thoroughly compelling.
Return to Index
Wild Monogamy
A Higher Possibility
Mali Apple and Joe Dunn
978-0-9845622-8-2
$16.00 print/$9.99 ebook/Audiobook TBA
Website: www.wildmonogamy.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com/dp/0984562281/
Wild
Monogamy:
Cultivating Erotic Intimacy to Keep Passion and Desire Alive is testimony to the notion that monogamy
translates to eventual boredom in the bedroom and other rooms of the
relationship house, as well.
It provides keys to mitigating the impact of
a long-term commitment by reintroducing the spicy elements of surprise
that are
often the hallmarks of a new sexual relationship, tailoring these to
the
long-haulers who are committed not only to each other exclusively, but
the
notion that passion can be maintained, extended, and ignited in any
relationship no matter how long its duration.
Readers might anticipate some of these
exercises and their focus, but the real surprise lies in a close
inspection of
underlying barriers to sexuality and relationships. These range from
jealousy
to negative self-perceptions. Mali Apple and Joe Dunn promote a method
of not
just transcending these emotions, but taking control of their power and
using
them to foster new erotic connections in a relationship.
Wild
Monogamy directs readers to the
process of identifying
and working with their responses and emotions to encourage a greater
sense of
psychological and sexual connection with their partner, rather than
looking
elsewhere to fill the gaps.
With its focus on conditioning, thought
patterns, and physical and mental impacts on relationships, Wild
Monogamy
provides not just ideals, but solutions to common problems.
Stories of others in similar situations who
harnessed the power and promise of new relationship approaches form the
foundations of an example-driven approach:
"In
the
stories that follow, you’ll see examples of how couples have decided
together
what kinds of encounters might be right for them. In particular, notice
how
they support each other through any insecurity or jealousy, as well as
how
their awareness and intentions help to ensure their experiences are
enjoyable
for all. And unlike options that are often designed to keep emotional
connection to a minimum, such as swinging, sex clubs, or sex parties,
notice
that these stories involve intimacy on all levels: physical,
intellectual/creative, emotional, and even spiritual.
Wild
Monogamy's promise to monogamous
couples rests on
the premise that both participants are interested in considering
positive
changes designed to promote the longevity and passion of their
relationship.
Couples
willing to do this kind of work, and
libraries supporting them with materials that encourage it, will find Wild
Monogamy a lesson in better living. It takes the latest
research on sex and
love and translates it into ideas and experiences any couple can learn
from,
tapping the healing power of eroticism to transform individuals
and couples
alike.
Return to Index
Children Who
Dance in
the Rain
Susan Justice
Compassion Project
Press
978-1-7386778-4-9
$18.99 Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Children-Dance-Rain-Susan-Justice/dp/1738677834
Children Who Dance in the Rain is based
on true events and presents
the picture book story of Sophie, who wakes up reluctant to go to
school. Why
does she need to learn about the world, anyway?
But get up
she
does—and proceeds to reject the usual healthy trappings of her morning
breakfast (fruit and vitamins—but the chocolate chip pancakes are
accepted)
before setting out to school. A rainy sky leads her to request her
mother drive
her, and at lunch she scarfs her grilled cheese sandwich, but leaves
the side
of carrots.
Any lessons
she
receives about privilege and gratitude don't seem to apply to her at
all, until
a family trip to visit a grandmother in India reveals many surprises
that force
Sophie to think about both concepts as they relate to her life.
As she
learns about
poverty, cleanliness, and health (which contrast heavily between India
and her
own life), Sophie begins to understand the different ways of not just
living,
but seeing beauty in the world and making the most of life
circumstances.
How do
children play
without toys? How can they be happy in a third world setting mired in
mud and
offering so few opportunities?
The lessons
imparted
in Children Who Dance in the Rain
are
invaluable not just because of their intrinsic importance, but because
so few
picture books tackle this expansive subject.
Susan
Justice does an
especially good job of transitioning young readers from Sophie's
privileged
world and her rejection of its benefits to her realization that India
and other
places hold very different kinds of opportunities and lessons that lead
children to exhibit kindness and generosity even under adverse
conditions.
Illustrator Lena Bardy adds colorful and thought-provoking images to
bring
Sophie's story to life.
The
importance of
discussing and profiling these values to young people cannot be
overstressed.
By choosing
a young
character who is selfish and unaware and introducing her to a foreign
environment where children with less opportunities still cultivate
kindness and
joy, Justice presents the kinds of life lessons essential for not just
understanding, but encouraging valuable dialogue in family and
classroom
settings.
Children Who Dance in the Rain's
importance in connecting ideas of
first-world privilege with third-world realities makes for a powerful
story
that should be on the shelves of any library seeking picture books that
encourage insights about economics, kindness, privilege, and sharing.
Return to Index
Disgusting Justin
Justin Frank
Independently Published
978-1-922890-81-8
$13.49
https://www.amazon.com/Disgusting-Justin-Frank/dp/1922890812
Disgusting
Justin
tells the story of a boy who has a special talent—being disgusting.
This effort
takes many forms, from farts and obnoxious noises to never washing his
body or
clothes, stinky sock fights, blowing snot bubbles, and eating with
noisy slurps
and burps.
His special talent, which
receives vividly fun
illustrations by Lesley Vamos, never ceases to amuse his friends, and
he revels
in their laughter. However, this admiration leads to increasingly gross
antics
in order to gain more attention and laughter, until one day Justin's
clever,
disgusting pranks backfire on him, spectacularly.
Justin Frank creates a
picture book filled with action,
memorable moments, and insights about attention-seeking children and
what they
really want.
Parents who choose this fun
book for read-aloud will find
plenty of opportunity to reinforce lessons on friendship, respect, and
personal
transformation as Justin undergoes a sea change and makes discoveries
about
friendships, humor and values.
Libraries seeking picture
books which are both hilarious
and thought-provoking will find Disgusting
Justin an original and fun acquisition; especially since most
kids' circles
include a child who acts out much like Justin.
Return to Index
A Dispelling of Darkness
Joyce L. Miller
IWS Publishing
978-0-9886440-8-3
$11.99
Paper/$3.99 ebook
http://JoyceLMiller.com
Teens who choose A
Dispelling of Darkness for its promise of time-travel
experience and
mystery will find the novel holds so much as it crafts the story of
twelve-and-a-half-year-old Pearline Jayne Profitt ("PJ") and her
journey.
Layered into the story of time travel and a classic
battle
between good and evil are real-life encounters with class bullies, a
stormy
relationship with a contentious younger brother, a father who has
distanced
himself from their lives, and a powerful invading force that threatens
everything she knows.
PJ is forced to confront "The thing that wasn't
right" to gain clues to possible avenues of resolution that force her,
time and again, to face a powerful evil that seems beyond her abilities
to
confront.
Aided by a Peruvian shaman and an eccentric
neighbor, PJ
confronts tribal experiences, the devastation of the land, and issues
of
environmental degradation and conservation as she struggles to win an
impossible war that takes place on multifaceted playing fields.
Libraries and teen readers looking for stories that
go
beyond time travel adventure alone to embrace underlying concerns of
environmental activism, friendship and family relationships, and
struggles with
empowerment will find all these features come to life in A
Dispelling of Darkness.
The darkness, in this case, isn't just in
individuals
around her, but in the history and processes of a world PJ feels ill
equipped
to confront at her age—but which, in reality, she is ultimately
well-suited to
tackle.
A Dispelling of Darkness
ideally will join library collections looking for a blend
of adventure with bigger-picture thinking on teen activism, and will
become
central to book club discussions about teen involvement, choices, and
empowerment.
Return to Index
Dumpster
Dogs: Rescue
and Delivery Mission
Ann Colberson
Schiebert
Andrew Benzie Books
978-1-950562-41-1
$9.95 Paper/$4.95 ebook
Website: www.dumpsterdogs.dog
Ordering: https://amzn.to/3jQX77Q
Dumpster Dogs: Rescue and Delivery Mission
continues the story of
rescue animals, illustrating how their efforts to "pay it forward"
result in new missions, dilemmas, and satisfactions in life. It will
appeal to
chapter book readers who enjoy stories of canines that combine
adventure with
life lessons about love and friendship connections.
This
installment
leads the Dumpster Dogs from the first book into new territory as they
consider
what happens to abandoned animals and covers their perceptions of human
involvement in events that create 'dumpster dogs' in the first place.
Black and
white line
drawings by Jack Varonin bring simple, fun illustration to the story.
Dog Riley
still has nightmares
about his hard life in Dumpster City, even though he now enjoys a warm
home
after years of cold and hunger. These memories lead him into a new
mission as
he and his fellow rescued Dumpster Dogs wonder what happens to the less
fortunate dogs that don't have humans to love.
As he
reviews his
past adversities, the fortune he and his friends enjoy in their new
home, and
the possibilities of other lost dogs, Riley, friend Gus, and the group
tackle
the hard problem of helping other Dumpster Dogs who have a hard life
and home
on the streets.
As events
become
convoluted, the dogs get their day in court (literally) as a host of
characters
become involved in either solving or perpetuating the issues
surrounding the
dumpsters that have proved life-saving opportunities for street animals
trying
to survive.
Children who
pursue Dumpster Dogs: Rescue and Delivery
Mission
will find it embedded with important messages about caring, giving,
sharing
fortune in the face of misfortune, and helping others. Adults who
embark on the
read with their young ones will find Dumpster
Dogs the perfect encouragement for discussions about
homelessness, giving,
and paying it forward.
Social
issues
examinations blend with a survey about helping abandoned animals and
understanding the circumstances that led them into this kind of life,
creating
many powerful themes and discussion points for group or parent/child
reading.
All ages
will find Dumpster Dogs: Rescue and Delivery
Mission
a fine survey of not only animal issues, but the broader message of
finding and
following through on purpose and happiness in healing life endeavors.
Return to Index
Facing the Beast Within
Mark Cheverton
Gameknight Publishing
978-1-7358781-6-4
$9.99 Print/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Beast-Within-Anxiety-Cameron-ebook/dp/B0BY3BLBR5
Middle grade fantasy readers who select Facing the Beast Within: The Anxiety of
Cameron Poole will find this first book in the Order of the
Stones series a
compelling adventure filled with monsters, bullies, and a summer to
remember.
Cameron Poole has enough problems between his
anxiety and
somehow being a draw for bullying, but when he discovers that mythical
monsters
are invading his camp, forcing him to try to stop them, even more
trouble
emerges.
Cameron and a ragged band of resisters find
themselves
resisting Malphas, a demon who is bringing his monster army to the camp
to open
an invasion route, despite the fact that Cameron has his own inner
monsters to
battle.
Mark Cheverton builds a fascinating story that
rests on
fantasy monsters as well as struggles with inner anxieties. He flavors
the
gripping external fantasy scenario with insights into internal
nightmares in a
story of magical realism which contains many recognizable emotional
ties that
young readers can relate to from the start:
"Fear nibbled with sharp
teeth on the
edges of my soul as I scanned Camp Pontchartrain's dining room hall,
looking
for the bully who would surely notice me."
The lessons Cameron receives on taking control of
fear,
refusing to yield, and employing strengths that come from knowledge,
certainty,
and conviction are compelling. These come from a high school physics
and math
teacher author who consulted with a large team of psychologists, social
workers, and licensed mental health counselors to learn about anxiety
and how
it is treated.
This expertise, combined with his son's own
struggles,
tailor the experiences and insights that make Facing
the Beast Within an exceptional read.
Middle graders and libraries catering to them who
choose Facing the Beast Within for
its magical
realism and fantasy adventure premise will thus find plenty of fodder
for group
and book club discussion about the roots of anxiety and how it can be
addressed, making Facing the Beast Within
a top recommendation both for its entertainment value and for its
educational
prowess.
Return to Index
I
Am
the Tree
Kelly Bauer and Stella Maris
Seize the Moon
979-8-9882106-0-3
$18.95
Website: www.seizethemoon.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
I
Am the Tree's lovely
picture book message stems from author Kelly Bauer's personal
experiences during a retreat in nature, and sports an especially
provocative
opening about an ordinary girl who longs to lead a different
life:
"Once
there was
a girl. She
felt like an ordinary girl even though people often told her she was an
extra-ordinary girl. She longed for adventure, freedom, and love. She
wanted to
dance and create and invent things. But instead, she lived an ordinary
life."
The
young
protagonist feels stuck in
her world, which has become a scary place to her.
As
Kelly Bauer
and Stella Maris
explore this young girl's perceptions, reactions, and attempts to rise
above
adversity, there are plenty of vivid opportunities for parents to teach
the
very young about the process of adaptation and perseverance on a
different
level than most picture book stories provide.
The
girl flees
into nature, where she
bathes in its rejuvenating countenance: "She looked up to the
sky,
opened her mouth, and stuck out her tongue to taste the rain drops…
they were
like little drops of magic."
Her
experiences
and ability to tap
natural wonders to return a sense of possibility into her own stuck
life
translates to a simple but powerful message all adults should place at
the top
of their interactive reading lists with the very young.
I
Am the Tree may be one of
the best picture book reads of 2023 to date. Its
extraordinary power reaches adult and child minds on many levels and
its
reflections promise new interactive experiences, discussions, and life
lessons.
Any
library
interested in
provocative, wide-ranging messages for all ages will find I
Am the Tree
absolutely compelling, while parents and individuals will consider it
worthy of
personal collection keepsake status, to pass down between
generations:
"When she got to it, she hugged the tree. She pressed her face into it. It felt like a hug from all that she knew love should be. The tree asked her to sit and stay for a while. To rest. To forget about all that she was running from. She needed that. And she couldn’t explain it, but this felt more real than anything she had ever known before."
I Am the TreeReturn to Index
In One Life and Out Another
J. Mercer
Bare Ink
979-8-9872567-3-2
$5.99 Kindle/13.99 Paper/$24.99 Hardcover/Audio forthcoming
https://www.amazon.com/One-Life-Out-Another-ebook/dp/B0BVNN93HV
In One Life and Out Another
is a coming-of-age story that is unusual in its
'either/or' contrasts of action and reaction experienced by teen Marin,
whose
parents are divorcing. The day her life split, her parents were doing
something
rare—actively fighting instead of building a wall of silence and
avoidance.
Marin's story opens with an unusual twist on Robert
Frost's
poem of possibilities, which is interlaced with a Russian legend: "There is a story that lays a course of
two roads diverged in a yellow wood. If you ride to the left, you'll
lose your
horse, but to the right it will be your head."
In this case, Marin's very different movements
between her
joint-custody parents split not just her time, but her life's
experiences.
The story is narrated in the first-person, but
takes a
curious approach in juxtaposing different possibilities with the same
events as
a backdrop, from dinner at her mother's house and the kind of
relationship they
have to friends, romantic possibilities, and growing older.
The back-and-forth nature of these alternate worlds
and
Marin's split life and decisions takes a few chapters to get used to,
but the
reward from pursuing this story lies in its rich contrast between
different
attitudes, developments, and possibilities that develop from the same
events.
Marin's pursuit of dance school, handling her
overbearing
mother, and moments that serve as forks in the road of possibility are
all
presented in delightful chapters that capture Marin's split objectives,
quandaries, and choices.
Tired of being her best friend's "doormat" and of
the forces that pull at her life and heart, Marin learns to navigate
new
alternatives in the course of contrasting the disparate options created
by
romance and adulthood.
J. Mercer's intriguing story of a teen's growth and
realizations about herself, her parents, and her choices holds special
appeal
for teens interested in examining their relationships and possibilities
for
crafting different responses with changed outcomes.
It's a warm story of a girl who stands at more than
one
crossroads in her life and uses the daily encounters of school,
friends, boys,
and parents as foundations in flux to consider revised perceptions of
self and
purpose.
Libraries and readers seeking coming-of-age stories
that
probe the effect outer forces as well as personal intention have on
one's life
will find In One Life and Out Another
rich in thought-provoking moments that are ripe for teen and new adult
book
club discussion and debate.
Return to Index
Jamie
Sharpe & the Pirates
of Barbary
Gary R. Bush
Three Ocean Press
9781988915463
$24.95
www.threeoceanpress.com
Young
adults and adult readers who look for high adventure
and an 1800s setting involving pirates will find Jamie Sharpe & the Pirates
of Barbary a
captivating
story that tells of former shipmates taken captive by brutal pirates.
Readers
of the prior Jamie
Sharpe story, Seas of Treachery,
will
find that old enemies emerge to challenge the friends, albeit with new
strengths and weaknesses: "Jamie
walked off. Horace seems to have grown a bit, he mused. Geoff is still
the same
small tyrant he's always been."
From
kidnappings and slavery to
the politics of a world affected by seafarers, pirates, and struggles
for
wealth and control, Gary R. Bush brings to life the 1800s, in which
sailors in
the Mediterranean and around the world struggled with pirates that
harbored
their own nefarious agendas.
From
daily life on the high
seas to Jamie's increasing realization that he needs to do something
drastic to
influence the American Navy's projected attack on Tripoli, history
comes to
life in a series of adventures and encounters that pit Jamie against
forces
beyond his control.
As
he evolves a relationship
with Claire that involves redemption and money, he also cultivates a
changing
sense of the world and his place in it.
Libraries
and readers looking
for historical fiction infused with pirate action and political and
social
insights will find Jamie Sharpe & the
Pirates of Barbary replete with a fast pace and satisfying
action that does
not require prior familiarity with either the prior book or the times.
Jamie's
search for a way out of
the dilemmas that ensnare him in issues of slavery, freedom, and
financial
struggles makes for an involving, action-packed adventure that educates
readers
almost subliminally.
Jamie Sharpe & the Pirates of Barbary
is a vivid story that will resonate with the clash of
swords and ideas, ideally sparking lively discussion and debate in
historical
fiction book club circles, as well as young adult readers.
Return to Index
Julian
Blooms
Phoebe Fox
Mamafox Books
978-9967445-9
$18.99
Website: www.mamafoxbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/julian-blooms-phoebe-fox/1143358528?ean=9780996744591
In
Julian Blooms, Julian is a tiny
peacock who tries to play games
with his larger brothers, but finds his small size constantly thwarts
his
ambitions, leading him to regularly hide in the banyan tree.
His
wise mother consoles him
that he will grow into special abilities, but Julian is doubtful. Her
constant
message to him (“Julian, you are
wonderful. You’ll bloom when you’re ready.”) falls on deaf
ears as the
seasons pass. Eventually, Julian's older brothers fly away, leaving him
alone
with his mother.
One
day, trouble comes for
them. With a strong desire to save his mother from danger, Julian
experiences
his bloom at last—just in the nick of time.
Phoebe
Fox has created a simple
yet captivating picture book that adults can easily use to help address
a
child's insecurities about their abilities and potential for growth.
Melissa
Bailey provides lovely
illustrations that bring Julian's personality to life in appealing ways.
Libraries
and readers seeking
picture book stories that provide a message of encouragement will find Julian Blooms a delightful story of
growth.
Return to Index
Maybe There Are Witches
Jude Atwood
Fitzroy Books/Regal House Publishing
9781646033645
$14.95
Paper/$9.99 ebook
Website: https://judeatwood.tv/
Ordering: https://regal-house-publishing.mybigcommerce.com/maybe-there-are-witches/
Maybe There Are Witches
will appeal to middle grade readers interested in haunting
stories of the supernatural and in an ordinary girl's extraordinary
effort to
thwart a destructive prediction made by a 19th century witch.
Clara Hutchins discovers that her ancestor was
hanged as a
witch when she moves to a tiny village and absorbs its history,
reflected by
her family heritage. The mysteries in a house that holds creepy dolls,
the
diary of a long-dead relative, and portents of Clara's future that keep
coming
true drive her to search for answers. As a newcomer in Biskopskulla,
Illinois,
the scenarios feel far from her California upbringing as well as her
anticipation of what it will be like to move to a tiny town of 140
people—but
Clara is determined to make the best of things.
Her positive attitude against all odds is part of
the
attraction of a story that follows her into mysteries, supernatural
encounters,
and unexpected friendships with two of the strangest boys in school.
Middle grade readers receive a compelling story of
a girl
who persists in finding answers and thus begins to realize her hidden
heritage
and powers. As Jude Atwood reveals the possibilities of Clara's future
and the
impact of her present-day choices, history and psychology come into
play to
flavor a realistic, gripping story that's hard to put down.
Woven into these supernatural possibilities is the
very
real impact of attitude and perception which helps Clara and her
cohorts expand
their horizons and choose actions to mitigate what feels like
inevitability.
Atwood is especially skilled at connecting the dots
between
the kinds of choices that keep Clara's latest move on track with a
better life:
"The last time she started
at a new
school, she didn’t even talk to anyone for the first two months, and
once she
felt ready to (barely) acknowledge her new classmates, they already had
plenty
of practice ignoring her. For the entire year, her mom kept encouraging
her to make a fresh start,
but Clara just withdrew—and
grew more miserable. She was determined not to let that happen again in
Biskopskulla! This was a new home…even if it didn’t feel like it yet."
Clara's integration into her past, present and
future
incorporates many keys to adaptation and proactive thinking and action
which
middle grade readers will absorb in the course of enjoying a
satisfyingly
spooky mystery.
Libraries and readers will find Maybe
There Are Witches
hauntingly provocative. It’s a story whose strengths lie as much on
interpersonal
developments and emotional growth as they do on vivid action,
unexpected
twists, and passages that contrast bigger-picture thinking with the
microcosm
of daily life experience. It's perfect for individual reading and book
club
discussions alike:
"The enormity of what they
were doing
hit her like a wave of cold water. The stakes were high: “Untold
numbers” might
die. But what they were doing, and what they were attempting to do…?
This was magic. People died
for this stuff.
People killed for this stuff. Her great-great-great-grandmother had
learned
that the hard way. On top of all that, she’d lied to her mom."
Return to Index
The Megavan
Mark Therrien
Beaver’s Pond Press
978-1643436876
$18.95
Website: www.MarkTherrien.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Megavan-Mark-Therrien/dp/1643436872
The Megavan
explores family dynamics for picture book readers through the unusual
perspective of a family minivan charged with carrying his passengers
through
changes and life, and will be appreciated by any child attracted to
books about
vehicles and family journeys.
The minivan narrator thinks his name is "Let's,"
because references to his activities always involve "Let's go." The
minivan's relationship with the family begins with them acquiring him
and moves
forward to accommodate their growth. New roles must be adopted, from
race car
(to the hospital for a birth) to security truck (as the parents bring
home their
precious cargo).
Think the animated fun of the movie Cars,
but with deeper messages about changing needs and purposes as
the minivan narrator moves his family around and assumes different
roles in
their lives, as needed.
Kevin Cannon's colorful illustrations are
action-packed,
whimsical, and attractive as Mark Therrien explores the world of a
growing
family's vehicle.
Read-aloud adults and elementary-level libraries
seeking
picture books that hold underlying messages about flexibility,
adaptation, and
purpose will find The Megavan a fun
read that moves through a family's growth and support systems with an
exciting
tone and vivid illustration of family connections.
Return to Index
The Noble Adventures of
Beryl & Carol
Jeremy Sherr
Dynamis Books
979-8366662574
$17.13 Hardcover/$9.79 Paper/$3.67 Kindle
Website: https://berylandcarol.org/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Noble-Adventures-Beryl-Carol/dp/B0BNTWF6Q3
The
Noble
Adventures of Beryl & Carol is a coming-of-age story
about
twelve-year-old best friends who live in England in 1997. The story
opens with
the duo running from bullies, a common occurrence in their lives which
cements
their friendship.
The only way to elude the
bullies is by entering the
Forbidden Forest, where Beryl and Carol “jump off the edge of the
universe”
into the biggest adventure of their lives.
Jeremy Sherr creates a
compelling, action-packed story
that draws readers deeply into the forest's secrets as the girls burrow
away
from their tormenters and into another world entirely. He captures the
atmosphere of an area avoided by adults and children alike, fueling the
girls'
imaginations with descriptive allure: "Every
crackle became a smuggler; every snap became a murderer, every crunch
was a
werewolf."
Fifteen years earlier, a
disaster in the woods reinforced
its reputation in the community as a dangerous place. As the girls
learn to
navigate unfamiliar territory and even discover unexpected beauty in a
region
which harbors a bad reputation, the secrets unfold to embrace readers
with a
special form of compelling magic.
Beryl and Carol have broken
every rule they've grown up
with by entering the forest and becoming lost. Even when they return
home, they
find their new discoveries imparts a rare courage into their lives
which both
reinforces their friendship and gives them the creative impetus to
change their
situation, as each challenge and decision they face leads to further
discoveries and adventure.
Between the mystery of a boy
who entered the forest and
never returned to how the girls build a new strategy for handling the
bullies
that have overshadowed their lives for years, Sherr's story resonates
on
different levels of intrigue, action, integrity, and psychological
growth.
The likeable characters of
Beryl and Carol, their
motivations for taking risks and absorbing the surprises this brings,
and their
revised realizations about life from tackling puzzles and problems
makes for a
story that lures with fantasy, but tackles real-world situations kids
will find
familiar.
The
Noble
Adventures of Beryl & Carol holds the ability to
attract a wide
audience of advanced elementary to middle grade readers who will find
the
characters nicely done, the adventures operating on more than one
level, and
the realizations and courage that evolve from a touch of magic and
risk-taking
to be thought-provoking and fun. The book is a fun read for adults as
well, and
parents will appreciate the good values it promotes.
As Carol’s father writes:
"Every
act of strength leads to another act of strength
Every act of weakness leads to another act of weakness
Courage begets courage
Fear breeds fear."
Libraries will find The
Noble Adventures of Beryl & Carol fulfills its
promise of adventure,
injecting a learning experience into the story that will stay with
young
readers and fuel discussions about friendship and transformation.
"The
magic of
today is the science of tomorrow.”
Return to Index
Piki Goes Flying
Joan M. Hellquist
Artistic Endeavors
979-8985761702
$19.95 Hardcover/$12.95 Paper/$5.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Piki-Goes-Flying-Joan-Hellquist/dp/B0BQSYZNLK
The second book in the
series about Piki the Service Dog
will appeal to picture book animal lovers and those who enjoy stories
about
aviation. The story is narrated from Piki's perspective as she is
trained by
Joan to lie quietly under a chair in preparation for their upcoming
plane
flight.
Piki, of course, does not
know the meaning behind these
instructions, but she follows directions well. She is a Service Dog
whose
efforts are reinforced by Joan's training and by routines that assure
she will
be part of the magic of journeys, and not left behind.
Joan M. Hellquist creates a
fine story filled with
details about Piki's training and exposure to unfamiliar sights and
sounds.
Piki is not just obedient—she has questions about what she observes and
how
she's being trained to act. Through her eyes, young readers receive
important
keys to the training process and how Service Dogs operate.
The step-by-step process of
getting a dog through the airport,
including security, is told with a winning eye to capturing all the
experiences
from the dog's viewpoint:
"The
man on
the other side of the doorway wanted me to go through the doorway to
him,
without Joan. I didn’t know this man, why should I go to him? Joan
seemed to
want me to go through so she handed the end of the plastic loop to the
man, who
looked like he wasn’t sure what to do. Then he stepped back and I went
through
the doorway with no door."
Libraries and adults looking
for stories that educate all
ages about Service Dog training, activities, and methods of support
will find Piki Goes Flying an
attractive
illustration of all these subjects. It includes practical
recommendations for
embarking on air travel with a Service Dog, offers insights on what
distinguishes a Service Animal from a pet, and reviews airline rules
about
Service Animals.
Readers and libraries will
find Piki Goes Flying educational
as well as entertaining, filled with
illustrations and examples that personalize the experience of flying
with a
Service Dog.
Return to Index
Rain Falling
on
Embers
Liana Gardner
Vesuvian Books
978-1645480891
$16.95 Hardcover/$5.99 ebook
https://vesuvianmedia.com/rain-falling-on-embers/
Rain Falling on Embers follows the
struggles of thirteen-year-old
Katie McCabe, whose life changes when her father falls ill and she's
sent away
to live with an uncle she doesn't know. When her father then dies,
Katie
becomes part of a whirlwind of alienation and grief that is complicated
by her
revised living situation and the challenges it brings.
Katie was a
troublemaker when her dad was the town's sheriff. Her penchant for
mischief
hasn't abated, but without her role in the town and her family
foundation, she
is lost, with only her obstinate ways contributing to her survival on
various
levels.
Katie's
story is
narrated in the first person, which allows young readers entry into her
thought
processes as her initial rebellions (designed to earn her a ticket
home) turn
into facing a bigger picture than she'd ever imagined. Eventually she
has only
her rebellion to call on as a source of inner strength in deeper times
of
trouble: “I decided on my own not to do
things the McCabe way anymore."
As Katie
resists the
reality of her father's death and Uncle Charlie struggles with his new
role as
the guardian of a girl who apparently cheats and lies, the definition
of family
and survival come into play to further test Katie's actions and
perspective.
Kids ages
9-12 will
find in Katie a rebellious spirit that masks an underlay of grief and
growth,
and will relish her ability to survive new circumstances and demands
for
different reactions to life.
As Rain Falling on Embers follows Katie's
adaptation and spunky response to adversity, it proves a solid
attraction not
only for elementary-level libraries and readers seeking a blend of
adventure
and psychological insight, but for preteen book discussion circles,
which will
find much to actively debate from Katie's choices and experiences.
Return to Index
Sky, the Deaf Home
Run Hero
Mickey Carolan
Third Culture Books
9798987992319
$19.99 Hardcover/$9.99 Paperback/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Sky-Deaf-Home-Run-Hero/dp/B0BYLZ9CQG
Picture book
readers who
choose Sky, the Deaf Home Run Hero will
find it a fine story of baseball,
bullies, and problem-solving. Deaf boy Sky loves to play baseball, and
discovers that his superpower is hitting home runs. Not hearing enables
him to
focus on the ball in a way hearing children cannot.
The presence of the
bullies
and their impact on his life
arrives, like his superpower, without warning as Sky realizes his
extraordinary
skill and immediately decides to deploy it for the greater good,
stating the
goal that "With every home run a
bully becomes a friend." Since he is not experiencing
bullying
himself, this declaration of power seems to arrive out of the blue.
But Sky is aware of
the
presence and impact of bullies on
others around him, and, like a superhero, is determined to use his
special
talent to thwart them.
Adisa Fazlovic
provides the
winning illustrations that
capture Sky's growth as he steps into a new role beyond merely winning
a game.
Being deaf doesn't
stop him;
nor does his lack of verbal
prowess. He must develop additional skills to win these bullies over
and stop
their harmful activities, and the meat of the book revolves around the
problem-solving, courage, and message that being deaf does not limit
one's
powers or perspectives.
Parents who seek to
instill
in deaf children the
realization that a lack of hearing won't limit their choices in the
world will
find Sky, the Deaf Home Run Hero invites
important discussions about courage, achievement, and translating one's
personal ambitions and success into strategies for supporting others.
Its important
lessons on
values and making the world a
better place supports individual effort and responses to bullying,
making Sky, the Deaf Home Run Hero
a top choice
for all young readers as they navigate life and face adversity with
courage and
strength.
Return to Index
Stephenie Wilson Peterson
Independently Published
979-8-9860737-4-3
$9.99
Paper/$3.99 ebook
Website: www.stepheniepeterson.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Fry-Stephenie-Wilson-Peterson-ebook/dp/B0BY795X51
Small Fry
provides advanced elementary to early middle grade readers with the
story of an
eleven-year-old who looks much younger due to his stunted growth
condition.
Silas is a "small fry" whose attitude earns him
respect from some of his classmates, but whose stature attracts bullies
and
disparaging words.
His entry into middle school, at only 52 pounds and
48
inches tall, brings him into a milieu which holds much potential, both
for more
teasing and for building a personality which is bigger than the body
that
contains it. This determination comes to life when he and his new
friends in
band are bullied by a group determined to enter into school politics.
Somebody
needs to represent the browbeaten and little guys! And that someone
might as well
be Silas.
School encounters aren't the only driving force in Small Fry. Also at odds is his believed
grandfather's diminishing mental acuity, which challenges Silas in new
ways and
leads him to realize that his grandfather won't always be there to
support him.
When tragedy strikes, Silas is forced to tap his
increasing
independence and problem-solving abilities to step up to adult
situations: "Something was wrong. Something
was
very wrong, and I couldn’t get in touch with any of the adults in my
life."
This concurrent story of handling bullies, aging
loved
ones, and life challenges will attract young readers who find their own
struggles evolving on different playing fields at home and in school.
Stephenie Wilson Peterson's first-person story is
especially
evocative because Silas both acknowledges his limitations and embarks
on
strategies to rise above them. Despite the lemons life hands him, he
discovers
within himself an ability to act and react creativity and effectively,
and so
his story will resonate with middle graders encountering their own
stresses.
The result is an engrossing story of a small fry, a
big
personality, and a growth process that leads Silas to unexpected
realizations
about life and his place in it. Middle-grade readers and libraries
catering to
them will find Small Fry a big
winner.
Return to Index
The
Sparkles
Within
Aditi Wardhan Singh
Raising World
Children LLC
978-1-956870-02-2
$19.99
Hardcover/$9.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
www.raisingworldchildren.com
The
story
evolves
through the experiences of Indian girl Tanvi, who faces the challenge
of a
talent show with the conviction that she doesn't have a talent that can
display
well, in comparison to others.
Her
wise
mother
advises her to "use part of your culture" in exploring her options,
but Tanvi still struggles with a presentation idea that will sparkle
and shine.
Her
supportive
friends find good things in even her flawed attempts, leading Tanvi to
realize
that "Everyone sees sparkles in
different things."
Aditi
Wardhan Singh
explores important messages that parents can use to inject positivity
and
wisdom into a young child's life and experiences. Colorful
illustrations by
Noor Alshalabi capture the Indian culture as helpful parents both teach
and
assist Tanvi in her efforts.
Teamwork
is
promoted
as a disparate group joins in to help Tanvi learn and succeed, which is
another
important theme in a story that sparkles in and of itself.
Libraries
and
read-aloud adults looking for culturally inclusive picture books that
cover
Indian celebrations, art, and bigger-picture insights about working
together to
achieve goals and recognizing each individual's "inner sparkle" will
find the vivid messages and celebratory feel of
The Sparkles Within powerful. It promotes
connections and
understanding, empowering youngsters to not only recognize their inner
abilities, but tap into support systems around them for mutual
encouragement
and success.
Return to Index
Tzia:
The Book of Galatéa
Mister Sanamon
Hilverloo Publishing House
979-8-9876999-0-4
$19.99 Hardcover/$6.99 ebook
Website: www.mistersanamon.com
Ordering:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tzia-mister-sanamon/1143476333;jsessionid=266883FE22391A7F2580A3CABEF0EE35.prodny_store02-atgap13?ean=9798987699904
Middle grade fantasy readers ages 9-12 will
appreciate Tzia:
The Book of Galatéa for its compelling and original story
of a girl called
upon to step into her destiny as a witch—especially since illustrator
Zsófia
Ötvös has added an extra touch of visual draw with black and white
drawings
that bring Sanamon's characters to life.
Fourteen-year-old Galatéa lives on the Greek island
of
Tzia, home not just to herself and her three sisters, but a legacy of
family
involvement spanning nearly four hundred years. One sister in each
generation
of this family is tasked with a quest that leads her to absorb her
family's
well-kept secrets and real identity.
The story is actually told from the perspective of
Galatéa’s future daughter Theo, on her own fourteenth birthday, and so
embraces
the adventures of not just a single person, but a family of powerful
women.
Sanamon's unusual device in moving from observer to
participant creates compelling scenes as the story unfolds:
"... she heard an
unexpected but welcome
sound—a laugh so loud and carefree that it made her smile. She turned
to the
wagon and saw four baby girls, two by two, side by side. She could
smell their
familiar scents. All four looked up at her as if they could see her.
Galatéa
saw her sisters. She saw herself! She was looking straight into her own
eyes
and felt goose bumps up and down her spine."
As the story progresses, young readers come to
realize that
the threats not only come from the evil ancestors, the Vicious, but
others
whose identities are more hidden (and thus their powers more dangerous)
than
anything Galatéa could have imagined from her future.
The island she thought she knew well embraces
wonders and
delights, but holds a dangerous undercurrent she discovers during the
course of
her journey, which brings a powerful lion into her world much like
Aslan in the
classic The Lion, the Witch, and the
Wardrobe.
The result is a study in wonder, adventure, and
growth that
will delight middle grade fantasy readers looking for something akin to
C.S.
Lewis's classic, but far more layered in a form of magical realism that
juxtaposes elements of fantasy with reality.
Libraries and readers seeking a compelling
adventure will
find this first introduction to the Land of the Lion to be magically
compelling.
Return to Index
The
Widow's
War
Patrick Harris
Independently
Published
978-1-0880-2749-3
$29.99
www.AuthorPatrickHarris.com
The Widow's War is the third book in the
Defenders of Dembroch
series, and is highly recommended for prior teen fans of this fantasy
adventure
who have enjoyed the previous characters' encounters and exploits,
steeped in
Arthurian legend surrounding the cursed kingdom of Dembroch.
Legend
has
it that
only a child can break this curse. Robby and Lucy fit this requirement,
and
make it their mission to enter the forbidden land and confront its
darkness. But
as brother and sister enter The Timeless Kingdom of Dembroch, they come
to
realize that legend and courage are only part of the myths they'll face
as they
confront a devastation that is not part of the legends surrounding this
strange
land.
A
grandfather's
sacrifice to reach his grandkids and the legacy he gives them
introduces the
mission to bring timelessness back to the realm and break the poison
coursing
through his veins. They need to do so at a young age, before adulthood
slams
the door shut on their ability to save Dembroch. Also at stake is Lucy
and
Robby's ability to see their parents again (they are also lost).
The
history
of how
Nick and his friends saved Dembroch while unwittingly delivering evil
to its
door powers a prologue which nicely recaps past events while cementing
the lure
of action and adventure that lead grandkids Robby and Lucy, into
similar
challenges beyond their familiar world.
Grandpapa
may be
immune to the curse, but he can't break it. Only a long night of blood
and
horror experienced by a young person will work. It looks like only
Robby and
Lucy can enter this fray and possibly win.
The
third-person
prologue that sets past and present scenes evolves nicely into a
first-person
dialogue about The King's Killer and a confrontation that places Sir
Nicholas
in the position of being the final sacrifice in a festival of bloodshed
celebrated by murderers. Wry humor permeates his observations: "As the future third king of Dembroch,
I was one of them. Yea."
A
cast of
disparate
characters, from Lady Katya to Mudryy of Kitezh, Page Trey, and Meghan
evolve
with a mission to destroy Necrosis and harvest the trapped souls, and
the
Arthurian world of Merlin and his contemporaries receives fascinating
twists. These
both build on the prior books and add further enlightenment and
adventure into
the bigger picture of Dembroch's future and the forces pulling it apart.
As
the Seers
who are
instrumental in the fate of this war struggle with the forces both
within them
and outside, chapters that shift the viewpoints between first and third
person
create an interplay of action and observation that come from different
people
and purposes.
This
succeeds in
creating a spectacle of action and explanation that enlightens readers
about
the political power struggles on all sides.
Patrick
Harris keeps
the action swift and the inspections thought-provoking through vivid
description and a "you are here" feel: "Necrosis
in my gut, Merlin on my mind, I arrived at the castle.
It no longer stood regally over the kingdom, but stuck out of the
rubble like
the last teeth of a timeworn skull."
Monsters,
men, and
special purposes intersect, absorbing one another and evolving into
something
different, with the flavors of psychological and physical
transformation that permeate
this adventure bringing the story to life in unpredictable ways.
It
should be
cautioned that newcomers expecting a fantasy tale steeped in Arthurian
tradition may be challenged by the epic nature of The
Widow's War. While Harris does a fine job of reminding past
readers about its history and setting, The
Widow's War is especially recommended for prior series fans
that have the
grounding of past events and characters to appreciate their
resurrection and
revised purposes in this conclusion to the story of friendships, magic,
and
evolution.
Libraries
and young
adult to adult readers seeking an epic fantasy world that is powerfully
rendered and which expands the Arthurian environment in unexpected ways
will
relish the depth and attraction of The
Widow's War.
Return to Index