June 2024 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature
Mystery & Thrillers
Σ Book I:
Thumos
Rising
Demitrios Lopez
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-051-2
$18.99
Paperback/$9.99 eBook
www.atmospherepress.com
Σ Book I: Thumos Rising blends sci-fi and
fantasy in an epic
adventure story. Ninivon is on the verge of destruction, and Zeno is
stepping
into his role as a hero for Σ (a primordial power), battling a vampire
conqueror from beyond the stars.
These
elements are
only a taste of what Thumos Rising
offers; because embedded in this rich saga of discovery is a vivid set
of
characters, an engrossing sense of past events, and a tale of
self-discovery
and action that is steeped in a sense of inevitable disaster, balance,
and
relationships. All these factors shift over time, space, and influence,
contributing to an absorbing set of insights about Zeno’s real impact
and role:
“Zeno loved Alexandra as he loved his own soul.
Zeno had never
abandoned her and he did not have the advantage of the foreknowledge
the
Priestess had afforded him. Zeno actually believed that Alexandra had
died at
Ying-Chau. To have received her back from the dead, only to lose her
again,
must have cut to his heart.”
From issues
of free
will and destiny to military operations that immerse friends in
families in war
and struggle, exploits that attract admirers from surprising sectors,
and epic journeys
that Zeno undertakes with the accompaniment of volunteers and loved
ones, Thumos Rising is steeped in a
sense of
purpose and place that will delight both sci-fi and fantasy readers.
These
audiences
should anticipate an immersive experience in which a world’s fate rests
solidly
on the shoulders of a flawed hero whose destiny lies as much in the
consequences of his actions and choices as it does in preordained
battles with
the Vampire and his warriors.
Thought-provoking
observations pepper the story:
“You have heard of the Blue Order, have you not?”
“Yes, thugs trying to carve out a black market under the Vampire’s
heavy hand.
Organized crime isn’t the same as a rebellion.”
“They’re not just thugs or criminals anymore. Now they are rebels.”
In the end,
the
Vampire wins. Or, does he? Certainly, the creature’s actions have
successfully
impacted Zeno’s world and love. The story ends in a cliffhanger that
leaves the
door more than open for more.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a representation of action and adventure that crosses the line
between
sci-fi and fantasy genres to marry the two in a vivid clash of
creatures and
causes will relish Σ Book I: Thumos
Rising, the first in a projected series.
Return to Index
Embers of
Shadow
Lloyd Jeffries
Buckminster
Publishing
979-8-9855269-8-1
$2.99 ebook/$13.99
paperback/$20.99 hardcover
Website: www.lloydjeffries.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2KJ7LCB
Embers of Shadow is the third book in the
Ages of Malice
sci-fi/thriller series, embedding the ongoing story with a continuation
of the
powerful brand of nonstop action and discovery that made the previous
books so
compelling.
Religious
fiction
readers will appreciate the church-based intrigue and action (which
belays any
notion that religious reading need be dry) right from the start:
“Bill nods and stifles a yawn. The pastor’s face is
red; spit flies as
he shouts. Bill likes church. The dynamics, the music, the things he
learns.
The problem with church is you can only take so much. The dude’s mostly
wrong
about everything.”
If Bill is
bored by
his church attendance, what is he doing there? Among other things, he’s
reflecting on fate, history, and imparting follow-up lessons to the
young about
kindness and being mindful in encounters with nature.
This is just
the
prologue. The actual story weaves Bill’s experience with others
involved in
keeping evil forces at bay. This involves Jerusalem and other locales
in a
world-hopping confrontation with the devil’s disciples that delves into
love,
death, transformations, and threats of biblical proportions.
Lloyd
Jeffries embeds
his story with the personalities, directives, and clashes that each
character
absorbs from the blows of malevolence. His move from the third-person
description of Bill to first-person “you are here” experiences captures
the
concerns of a narrator forced to confront and document the encounters
between a
society bent on taking over the world and the few powers that might
prevent
Apocalypse and cement Cain’s dominance.
Rhyme Carter
is
immersed in fighting for her own life against evil forces that include
her
husband and the FBI while Emery Merrick observes the Antichrist
unleashing a
force into the world that will doom it.
Readers
seeking
action-packed confrontations between good and evil will find Embers of Shadow excels in marrying
high-octane action with characters that hold their own values and
motivations
for never accepting defeat, even against all odds.
Another
strength to
the story is that Jeffries presents many of the action-packed scenes
using
succinct, terse descriptions that build tension without overstating
experience:
“He feels weak, shaky, watches the spear fall from
a hand that refuses
to grip it further. Bullets ricochet, spark in glinting gold as the
relic
skitters across the lot. The shooting stops. Helos cruise over with a
whir and
rush of wind. Blackness surrounds, engulfs, consumes.”
His
particular style
of description, character-building focus, and deeper inspections of the
origins, incarnation, and roots of malevolence in the world makes for a
story
that draws with religious foundations and then shakes them with sci-fi
and
fantasy elements.
Religious
libraries,
especially, will find Embers of Shadow
a fitting addition to the other books, moving observer and narrator
Emery into
unexpected, uncharted waters not only via the confrontations he
witnesses, but
by his own choices and ultimate transformation.
Return to Index
Ferren and
the
Doomsday Mission
Richard Harland
IFWG Publishing
Internationa
978-1922856586
$16.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
Website: https://richardharland.au
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/DP/1922856584
Ferren and the Doomsday Mission, the
second book in the Ferren
Trilogy, follows the introductory Ferren
and the Angel with a continuation of the friendship and
adventures between
an angel and a mortal.
In the
aftermath of a
war that consumed angels and humans alike, Earth has become a
wasteland.
Tribesman Ferren’s friendship with fallen angel Miriael has led to a
cooperative effort between them to regroup the remaining humans into an
alliance.
However,
Miriael is
visited by another angel who offers her heart’s desire—a coveted return
to
Heaven. The price is at once untenable and unthinkable, yet priceless.
It comes
at a huge cost that tests Miriael and Ferren’s relationship,
challenging the disparate
objectives of mortal and angel.
Other
dangers lie in
the proposed decision which, Miriael comes to realize, holds more
questions
than answers:
“How was it possible for Asmodai to work on his own
research without
giving himself away? And his plans for her and the Morphs, his
unauthorised
visits to the Earth… How could he do all of that when spirit touched
spirit in
a state of communion? How could he conceal such tremendous secrets
without
other angels becoming aware?”
As human and
angel
encounters heat up, difficult choices between war, peace, devastation,
and
redemption emerge to test not only Ferren and Miriael, but the
characters who
swirl between them.
Once
again, Richard Harland creates a fantasy powered as much by moral,
philosophical, and social
questions as it is by actions on the parts of all involved to remake
the world
… or finally destroy it utterly.
Readers
seeking an
imaginative, vivid saga that moves heaven and earth by rocking these
disparate
worlds will find that while Ferren and
the Doomsday Mission can stand alone, accessible to
newcomers, its real
strength lies in its role as the second piece in the trilogy that both
supports
and expands events presented in Ferren
and the Angel.
Libraries
seeing
positive patron response for the first story will want to include this
sequel
in their fantasy collections.
Return to Index
The Holy
Ghost and
Other Spooky Stories
Bernie Brown
Gravelight Press
978-1-957224-26-8
$15.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXN3761M
The Holy Ghost and Other Spooky Stories
will delight horror and
ghost story fans seeking exceptional supernatural intrigue that
represents a
diversity of encounters and flavors in short story form.
These 27
tales of
horror display the range of the full-bodied feel of the genre. One
example is
‘Sutter’s Barn,’ a structure which is prohibited from play because it
houses
pitchforks and other hidden dangers. Benny’s dad has his reasons for
not
tearing down this derelict building in the middle of his cornfield—but
Benny
discovers there’s more to the story than hazardous floorboards and mice.
The barn
lures him
with the possibility of kittens, and so Benny walks into the truth
about the
real legacy of Carl Sutter, even though something in the barn clearly
doesn’t
want him there.
In contrast
is ‘The
Velvet Devil’, in which dressmaker Clara confronts a demanding dress
order from
a miserly woman who keeps her poor, with barely enough to live on but
her
demands.
Consumption
threatens
her, but her relationship with Mrs. Landsdown lives on in an unusual
form of
revenge that brings a visitation and a nightmare.
Then there’s
‘Autumn
Leaves,’ where Darby has papered her ceiling with lovely autumn leaves
from
outside. It’s more than an odd decorating choice, as Darby unwittingly
brings
in a rippling presence that whispers a special request.
Each story
is
delicately woven, evocative, and thought-provoking. The range of spooky
encounters here demonstrates that true horror can lie as much in
everyday
experience as in haunted houses. Spirits emerge from unexpected places
and
circumstances that will especially delight seasoned ghost story readers
used to
familiar settings, who will find these immersive encounters to be a cut
above
the ordinary spooky tale.
This is why
libraries
seeking literary excellence and delightful re-framings of the horror
encounter
in a series of nicely-done short works will find The
Holy Ghost and Other Spooky Stories delightful in its variety
of subjects and ghostly encounters.
Return to Index
The Song of North Mountain
Morgan Golladay
Current Words
Publishing, LLC
978-1-957224-25-1
$10.99
www.devilspartypress.com
The
Song of North
Mountain receives black and white
line drawings by poet Morgan Golladay as it explores the four elements
and
their reflection in nature.
Chapters about these elements divide The
Song of North Mountain into sections that capture the
mountain’s milieu with
a series of ‘you are here’ reflections that readers will find evocative
and
delicately described.
One example is ‘Dawn Veil’:
“A
single
warbler’s song
echoed through the long, thin cloud
that hung across Schoolhouse Mountain.
The veil turned slowly from rose,
to pink, to yellow, then quietly disappeared
as the sun warmed the treetops.
The rockslide changed from grey to blue
in the morning light.
Life stirred.
The curtain lifted.
I waited.”
From the heat of the day and summer drought
to human life in the valley below North Mountain in the spring, Golladay
embeds word images with reflections that juxtapose the experiences of
man and
nature. Such is the case in ‘Mixed Blessing’:
“The
cloud bank rolled down North Mountain
and settled at the edge of the Valley.
Heavy-laden with moisture,
it released a few snowflakes in the cold night air.
By morning, whiteness covered the farms and orchards,
hiding the roads and tracks…
Quiet hung in the
air when the wind abated.
Wood smoke from chimneys was indistinguishable from falling snow.”
Sometimes stark, but always beautiful, these
free verse celebrations of North Mountain introduce a seasonal sense of
environmental transitions to the observer and reader’s eye, with time’s
passage
changing everything and nothing:
“Sunday
dinners,
visitations, funerals,
jam-making, weddings, and scrubbed floors
celebrated the families that lived here.
(Their footprints are found
when the yard is tidier.)
But the rubble remembers the sweat and the labor,
the daffodils recall the hands that planted them.”
Aside from a personal visit to North
Mountain, there is no better way of appreciating its beauty, impact,
and
presence over the eons than through The Song of North
Mountain, which is
highly recommended for libraries seeking literary, compelling works of
poetic
art.
Return to Index
Biography & Autobiography
Abducted
Alice Cunningham
Precocity Press
979-8989830404
$19.95
https://www.amazon.com/Abducted-Struggle-Remember-Alice-Cunningham/dp/B0CWYFVCCH
Abducted: My Struggle to Remember fits
both the true crime and the
memoir genres as Alice Cunningham recalls the circumstances that led to
her trauma,
hidden memories, and final moments of revelation.
Traumatic
experiences
can result in memory repression and confusion when these influential
major
events bubble through self-imposed, protective psychological barriers
in
unexpected ways.
Cunningham’s
healing
process, as described in Abducted,
included a resistance to being defined by trauma and victimization.
This focus resulted
in re-creating a life enriched by new knowledge—but not limited by its
impact.
This
approach lends a
sense of discovery, recovery, and transformation to Cunningham’s
memoir. These
qualities elevate the account above most other journeys through memory
recovery,
portraying the writer’s new, revised life and positive avenues of
change.
Cunningham
is astute,
passionate, and clear about her choices and psyche:
“This dream illustrates the progression of memory
repression. It
symbolizes the process of denial that took place in my conscious mind.
I cut
off my memories by creating a “Magnificent Great Wall.” The Wall is
about to
come down.”
From
self-defense
classes to how dreams are interpreted, nightmares dealt with, and new
memories
integrated with set patterns (too often designed to deal with trauma by
back-burning
it until it can be ignored no longer), Cunningham crafts her memoir
from the
nuts and bolts of adversity and achievement.
Libraries
will find Abducted a solid
recommendation for
psychological readers, women’s groups, and book club participants
seeking
lively discussion material rooted in life experience, the lasting
impact of
trauma, and also teachings about cultivating a healthy path going
forward.
It not only
captures
Cunningham’s persistence in cultivating these new perspectives and
healthier
attitudes, but demonstrates that childhood trauma need not be the sole
defining
influence on adult experience.
Return to Index
Bare Naked
in Public
Christine Amoroso
Torchflame Books
978-1-61153-340-8
$18.99 Paperback/$6.99 ebook
www.torchflamebooks.com
Bare Naked in Public charts Christine
Amoroso’s path to her ideal
of a perfect life. Even when it unfolds unexpectedly, with her falling
in love
with a surfer and becoming pregnant at age seventeen, Christine figures
she has
it made … albeit in a different order than convention would dictate.
Unwilling to
give up
her ambitions, she found herself in college with two young children and
a
husband who ultimately didn’t show her the kind of support she needed
for her
endeavors. Then another man entered her world, who offered what was
lacking in
her marriage. And so she cheated … and her perfect life turned out to
be
fragilely perched on values and underlying realities she had largely
rejected.
From the
start,
Amoroso excels in revealing the candid truths about marriage and
ambition which
too many other memoirs skate through lightly:
“It doesn’t matter that he contributed to the
collapse of our marriage.
None of his behavior, faults, or mistakes matter because I was the
cheater. And
it’s always the cheater’s fault.”
Amoroso
considers new
possibilities in relationships, family connections, and her own growth
as her
story evolves. Her overachiever persona receives close inspection and
acknowledgement of its ideals and faults as she forges through
disparate
relationships while somehow maintaining her sense of strength and
ambition. Both
contribute to her successes and failures.
Of special
note is
Amoroso’s return to teaching (her passion) and the contrasts of
perceptions
about this job, both over the years and as family influences changed
her
perception:
“Classrooms have always been my sanctuary. As a
student, I excelled,
and felt my true self in the company of teachers and classmates. As a
teacher,
I escaped the grind of raising teenagers. I found solace among my
loving second
graders, always a willing audience. And now, a principal exhausted by
my son’s
return to addiction, more than ever, I yearn for the consistency and
comfort of
the classroom and the promise of those little faces.”
Each step
Amoroso
forges in new opportunities and family challenges translate to growth
and
transformation. As she unravels the influences, possibilities, and
realities of
her life choices and their consequences, Christine creates a memoir
fired by a passionate,
close inspection of vulnerabilities, shortcuts, risk-taking, and the
ultimate results
about always wanting to be prepared for life.
Some things
cannot be
anticipated or solved. Such is life. Such is also the strength and
pleasure of
a memoir that should be in all kinds of library collections as a
motivational guide
that juxtaposes a life lived fully with the values and options that
drive it.
Return to Index
The Bob
Verga Shift
Michael B. Layden
Torchflame Books
978-1-611532-41-8
$18.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
www.torchflamebooks.com
The
Bob Verga Shift: How
One Man's Illness Saved Duke Basketball is set in the 1960s in Durham, North
Carolina, home of both the narrator and Duke University.
Initially, readers
interested in collegiate sports in
general and basketball in particular will be drawn to this story, but
its
surprise lies in its ability to pull attention from outside the sports
world by
contrasting different layers of social standing and culture within
Durham. These
influences range from the KKK’s strong standing in the community to the
tobacco
industry’s active presence. These elements steeped the town in tobacco,
strengthened
the disparities between Black workers and Whites (who rarely ventured
into the
fields as laborers), and the atmosphere of change that permeated the
town with
new flavors and influences.
As much a story of these
changes and that era as one of
basketball politics, achievements, and figures, The Bob Verga Shift
documents
the roots of all-black sports teams that evolved from Durham, Kentucky,
and
Texas to change American history and culture alike.
Michael B.
Layden
dovetails this history with basketball’s evolution in such a way that
many a
non-sports reader will be surprised to find their enjoyment comes as
much from its
social inspection as in player moves and exposés of basketball’s
behind-the-scenes politics.
The writing incorporates a
wide range of experiences and
issues while following the lasting impact of player Bob Verga, whose
illness
cut short his promising future as an ABA star. Yet, Verga continued to
impact
his team’s choices, reflecting the transformations that rippled from
sports
into American social history.
Vivid scenarios and
descriptions of these teams, this
man, and how one individual’s illness sparked immense changes as much
by his
absence as his presence create a lively read:
“William
Turner,
who was a Black student in Kentucky at the time of the 1966 game, and
who later
went on to be a college professor, agrees. His feelings about the game
have
been decidedly mixed. According to Turner, “Far too many young black
men have
sacrificed lives that may have been much more rewarding potentially if
this
society had not impressed on them that the avenue of success was paved
on the
basketball.” He believes the beginning of that mindset may have been
the Texas
Western game. If this is the overall legacy of the 1966 game, then it
is indeed
a tragic and unforeseen one, one not envisioned at the time, and one
which
Black America is struggling to deal with to this very day. All this
occurred
because Texas Western had played Kentucky. So what would have happened
if it
had been Duke that played the game?”
Interviews and ‘what if’
projections of possibilities
forever altered by Verga’s illness present especially inviting topics
for
discussion that will reach beyond sports readers into American history
classrooms—especially those studying race relations in the 1960s.
This is why The Bob Verga Shift
is highly
recommended not just for basketball history fans, but for book clubs
and
classroom discussion groups interested in debates about the times and
their
influences.
Libraries
will want
to include and recommend The Bob Verga
Shift to a wide audience of book clubs and readers, who will
appreciate its
many eye-opening experiences.
Return to Index
From
Montmartre
to the Latin Quarter
Francis Carco
Dominantstar
978-1-963363-01-2
$24.95
Website: www.robcouteau.com
Ordering: www.DominantstarPublications.com
If,
perchance, From
Montmartre to the Latin Quarter sounds familiar, that’s
because Francis
Carco’s memoir was first published in 1927. This annotated edition
makes his
work more accessible to a wider audience, includes Rob Couteau’s
analytical
Introduction and a new Afterword by Christopher Sawyer Laucanno, and
follows
the experiences of an 1886 poet, artist, and traveler who fell into a
close,
supportive association with bohemian Paris.
There
the young
man creatively blossomed, immersed in the arts and producing over a
hundred
books that ranged from poetry to his own astute analyses of other
artists;
including a critical essay on Modigliani which revealed the man’s value
at a
point where other French critics scoffed at his works.
From
Montmartre to the Latin Quarter is more than your typical biography. It assumes the
atmospheric draw of
a Proust production with its ‘you are here’ survey of his times and
Paris’s
artistic community. Couteau’s footnotes add critical reflections and
interpretations key to understanding Carco’s objectives, perspectives,
and his
times:
And
it was no
ordinary portrait I saw, but a full-length one, from the old slippers on his feet, his
trousers tied around his waist by some twine, his collarless shirt, his
coat
covered with spots, to his hair which he kept brushed back without the
aid of a
comb.*
*Note
how Carco turns the tables and, in a consummately painterly fashion,
conjures a
“portrait” of Utrillo. In both his poetry and prose Carco’s painterly
eye
assumes a prominent role, occasionally even endangering the dramatic
effects
and tensions necessary to maintain a reader’s interest.
The
extensive
footnotes to this annotated edition lend it a scholarly value that will
make From
Montmartre to the Latin Quarter of special interest to
college-level
students, with its 300 annotations. But its attraction doesn’t stop
there.
Both
Carco and
researcher Rob Couteau create compelling observations, insights, and
historical
value, but couch these in lively language and passages that should
reach into
general-interest audiences who hold an appreciation for all things
Parisian and
its arts community of the early 1900s.
Its
survey of
friendships, relationships, and the artistic promise quashed by events
of the
Great War create a lively, memorable read especially recommended for
those who
appreciate in-depth footnoted references. These enlighten readers on
facets of
Carco’s life and times that might otherwise slip by with a reading of
the
memoir alone.
All
these facets
make From Montmartre to the Latin Quarter an astute
historical and
literary memoir that embraces the arts, social and political milieu,
and
powerful perspectives of the times.
Libraries
(including general-interest collections as well as college-level
holdings
strong in memoirs and artist history) will find it easy to recommend From
Montmartre to the Latin Quarter for its thoroughly
engrossing, richly
realistic passages, firmly embedded in Carco’s life and times and the
creations
and influences of 1900s Paris.
Return to Index
My Search
for Jazzbo
Jones
Ethan Hirsh
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-219-6
$19.99
www.atmospherepress.com
My Search for Jazzbo Jones is a memoir
that comes from the unusual
angle of author Ethan Hirsh’s search for the truth about a terrible
accident
that blinded his friend Jim Beeson before they met.
Beeson’s
activism for
the blind and his outgoing personality contributed to an unusual
friendship
that surpassed generational differences, leading to Hirsh’s own
expanded
insights on blindness, survivors, and major life transitions.
As he
pursued the
facts and truth about Beeson’s situation, Hirsh discovered that, in
fact, he
was pursuing questions and answers that expanded his own enlightenment,
attitudes, and growth.
But this
isn’t a
narrow focus on a singular friendship. Hirsh’s life expands to cover
family,
the military, social and political changes, and such events as
unexpectedly
meeting Che Guevara. Houston, Texas’s culture and undercurrents create
strong
themes through his adventurous life even as he researches the
circumstances
surrounding Beeson’s
blindness.
These facets
all
dovetail in a memoir that is at once gripping, expansive, and replete
with both
personal experiences and vision and bigger-picture thinking.
Readers
receive such
a diverse set of insights, from blindness and survival to social change
and
adaptation, that it’s hard to delineate all the important themes in one
review.
Suffice it
to say
that there is nothing singular about My
Search for Jazzbo Jones; either in its depiction of a quest
for the truth
of past events or in the evolutionary nature of its author’s mandate.
As Hirsh
says from
the start, his memoir isn’t just about himself. It’s about Jim
“Jazzbo”’s
unique journey, as well, and deserves a place in any library collection
strong
in memoirs of blindness, adaptation, friendship, and growth.
Return to Index
Bad Traffic
Patrick Weill
Weill &
Associates
978-1959866015
$16.99 Paperback/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Traffic-Park-Walker-Action-Thriller/dp/195986601X
Bad Traffic adds to the Park and Walker
action series with a new
encounter. This tests the prowess and relationships of police
detectives Jeff
Walker and Tony Park, members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task
Force.
The story
centers on
fourteen-year-old Nayeli, who is kidnapped from her Mexican family and
forced
into the sex trade in San Diego. Her older brother hops on his
motorcycle and
roars up to San Diego to rescue her and avenge her. This is where best
friends
and co-workers Walker and Park enter the picture.
As other
agents in
the task force become involved in the rescue mission, a series of
violent
clashes and encounters immerses a host of villains and cartel members
in a test
of their survival instincts and affection for firearms, drugs, and
trouble.
Weill crafts
a
delicate interplay of personalities, alliances, and social and
political
conflict while following the two lead characters’ attempts to free a
large
group of involuntary sex workers, and to apprehend their traffickers
who
operate under a cloak of connections and secrecy.
The
relationships between
family and friends and adversaries are deftly explored through
action-packed
scenes. Enemies are not only heavily armed with high-tech equipment and
motives
for maintaining their business and status quo, but are prepared to
target and
kill any who oppose them.
That would
be Park
and Walker. Nobody is safe as limits are tested. The action-packed
scenarios
create satisfyingly unexpected twists, turns, and contrasts in culture
and
objectives. Chess-like ploys emerge as the characters clash and the
cartel
plans its expansion of control.
Weill’s
ability to
mesh action with topics that embrace bigger-picture thinking and
insights on
sex trafficking issues creates a thriller steeped in real-world issues
that
places the emphasis not just on confrontation, but resolution.
Libraries
and readers
seeking thrillers that include a healthy degree of social inspection
will find Bad Traffic thoroughly
engrossing,
thought-provoking, and hard to put down.
Return to Index
Baker
Michele Packard
Independently
Published
979-8-9876077-3-2
$9.99 eBook/$19.99 Hardcover
www.michelepackard.com
The reasons
why the
Matti Baker thrillers are exceptional standouts in the thriller genre
are
twofold; and the latest book in the series, Baker,
illustrates the first strength with its opening salvo of gritty
observations that
reflect Matti’s sassy attitude:
“It was never going to end
well. I’m not being a pessimist, realist, or an optimist. Simply put,
it came down to the law of probability. Let’s face it: if you were a
genetically engineered experiment between nations created for
biological warfare that has mutated and
could now solve global health diseases, the odds are not in your favor.”
The second
reason why
Matti Baker’s adventures are so compelling is that they are delivered
with
nonstop staccato action. Her narrative voice envelopes her family and
their
special talents with an unusual juxtaposition of love and defiance
which
permeates the threads of all of her stories.
This
approach injects
experience with a lively confrontational tone that personalizes her
challenges
and the pointed lessons and opinions she absorbs from them. Oh, and
don’t
forget the added value of unexpected humor that emerges even in Matti’s
darkest
moments.
Case in
point:
“My head felt so heavy. My body ached laying on the
cold floor
surrounded only by foul perspiration and splatters of blood. My hands
were in
zip ties behind me. Is that one of my molars on the
floor? I just had
work done. Again.”
Pepper these
approaches with hard-hitting reflections for even more added value:
“‘In five years, where do you picture yourself? Are
you working? Do you
have a significant other? Are you single? Are you married? Do you have
babies?
Where do you live? Do you have friends? Most importantly, are you
happy?’ Each
of them had their eyes closed for a bit longer before they opened them,
but I
could see a smile broadening on each of their faces. They were young
and more
importantly, had hope. May be the best
of things, and no good thing ever dies as Andy Dufrane
said in Shawshank
Redemption.
Enough with
the
quotes. Let’s get down to Baker. In
her latest adventure, Matti confronts prejudice, history, assumptions,
and
deadly forces that once again threaten not just herself or her family,
but the
America she loves.
Here, she
learns that
she and her genetically enhanced brothers were created in the interests
of
forming a New World Order—the assumption being that all participating
nations
were on board with these objective.
As Matti
notes: “We all know what happens when we
assume.”
Turns out
there’s much
more to Matti’s origin story than previous books had revealed, forcing
her,
once again, to confront her heritage and beliefs.
Michele
Packard
produces an outstanding thriller that always stays poised on the edge
of
action, disaster, and surprise revelations. Powered by Matti’s
positive, sassy,
uplifting attitude against all odds, the story evolves a series of
thought-provoking encounters and revelations about everything from
power
struggles and a worldwide Mandala effect of false memories to how moral
relativism and self-reinforcing ideologies are born.
Much more so
than the
usual thriller, these threads of moral, ethical, historical, and
psychological
contemplation power the action. They don’t just encourage, but demand active reflections on the parts
of readers who will find they just can’t put the book down.
Even
newcomers will
find Matti’s special form of embracive involvement opens the doors to
this latest
adventure, even with no prior knowledge of the others. It’s a gift
reinforced
by a character lineup that introduces the major players and their
relationships
from the beginning.
As Matti’s
friends
and associates mysteriously vanish one by one, she comes to believe
that a
special target is being made of everyone she knows.
Drive,
power, and compelling
action contribute to an overall standout that both enhances the Matti
Baker
series and expands her world with more confrontations and stark
realities about
forces that lie outside her control.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a thriller which cultivates a unique narrative voice and
immersive
experience will find Baker a
knockout. It’s especially highly recommended for libraries seeking
exceptional,
top-shelf thrillers.
Return to Index
Blindspot
Maggie Smith
Puzzle Box Press
9798989677917
$18.95
Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Blindspot-Psychological-Suspense-Maggie-Smith/dp/B0CW6NDQFM
Blindspot is a suspense story that proves
the finer art of
producing compelling fiction lies not just in a plot outline, but the
methodology of the writer. In this case, Maggie Smith’s story feels
familiar
enough: a DA prosecutor faces danger when she is stalked.
The twist
lies in
events which place Rachel Matthews in the crosshairs of her own beliefs
about
justice and the methods of the justice system when she becomes not a
prosecutor
or a victim, but a suspect.
Predictably,
she is
forced to investigate her own situation. Less predictable is the chain
of
events which emerges from an alarming, bloody crime scenario to
threaten her
life with her daughter in novel ways.
In the
process of
confronting her past successes, failures, and future goals shaken by
present-day events, Rachel is prompted to ask hard questions about her
life,
romance, and family:
“The last thing I needed was the men in my life
stepping in to protect
me. I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Wasn’t I?”
Forced to
confront an
estranged father in search of cash to address a blackmailer, only to
find more
questions emerging about family and past, Rachel must examine her
attitudes and
influences in order to move past the blind spots in her own life and
assumptions.
Libraries
and readers
seeking suspense stories couched in psychological revelations and
discoveries,
as well as cat-and-mouse games, will find Blindspot
compelling. Its ability to weave mystery into a growth process will
leave
readers thinking, well satisfied with a puzzle and threat that turns
into
discoveries made on more than one level.
Return to Index
Deadly Quiet
Cathleen Watkins
Torchflame Books
978-1-61153-386-6
$18.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
www.torchflamebooks.com
Deadly Quiet is a mystery backed by
experience—that of Cathleen
Watkins, in the investigative industry. This lends authenticity to the
close
inspection of how an investigation is conducted. In this case, the
death of an
exchange student at Wexford College draws two different investigators.
Private
Investigator Eliza Fox and her mother, Francesca Noto-Fox, have a
personal
interest in the case, as cousins of the deceased; along with detectives
Byron
Comstock and Jessica Fonseca, who are assigned to conduct an official
investigation.
Eliza is an
experienced paralegal new to the P.I. world. As such, her methodology
both
diverges from traditional paths of investigation and compliments
official
efforts with a personal investment, perspective, and outsider’s
approach. These
elements add unexpected pieces of the puzzle to Comstock and Fonseca’s
traditional processes.
There’s only
one
problem. Eliza is well out of her depth, so her approaches don’t always
enhance
the investigation, but can add uncertainty and confusion into the
effort, along
with some positive insights.
The flawed
nature of
Eliza’s professional education comes to light as much as the
discoveries she
makes, which are related with a wry sense of humor to reveal a host of
concerns
affecting this high-stakes case.
Cathleen
Watkins is
adept at portraying family relationships, impact, and influence. The
definition
of ‘normal’ shifts as a result of the murder and its probe:
“Francesca was doing her best to create a normal
environment, and they
all tried to play along. But they all knew normal was transitory, and
it would
elude them long into the future.”
Lawyers,
detectives,
and uncertain alibis vie for discovery and control as Watkins weaves a
variety
of disparate special interests into her story. This creates compelling
scenarios of confrontation and realization.
When the
cast of characters
widens, Eliza’s insights into psychological influences comes to light
to add
further value and insights to the murder mystery:
“Eliza noted the abrupt change in his demeanor. He
seemed disconnected,
as if he’d mentally left planet Earth. In her college psych classes,
Eliza
remembered reading about dissociative disorders, people who lost
continuity
between their thoughts or actions when they couldn’t cope with
something
traumatic. Eliza had never seen anyone in this state, but she wondered
if Francesca’s
questions had triggered an emotional response in him.”
The result
is a
powerful study in contrasts, from investigators to family to perps,
that will
draw readers on many levels, educating them about investigative
quandaries and
approaches.
Libraries
will find Deadly Quiet’s authentic
encounters and
scenarios to be especially thought-provoking, lending to a title that
can be
highly recommended for mystery fans seeking the added value of an
overlay of
real-world perspectives and processes.
Return to Index
Deadly Roses
Tom P. Alberti
Independently
Published
979-8871259474
$9.82 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Marconi-Chicago-Police-Detective/dp/B0CQPD9GBZ
Deadly Roses addresses a conundrum faced
by seasoned investigators
Lt. Paul Marconi and Detective Abby Tripp as they pursue a serial
killer who focuses
on nurses. The problem doesn’t only lie in their conjoined professional
prowess, but in attitudes which hamper not only their activities, but
how they juxtapose
their roles in solving the crime.
Tom P.
Alberti
creates an engaging drama that (trigger warning, here) focuses on
sexual
assault and violence. An entire city falls under siege as the killer
remains at
large and escalates his threats to the Chicago community, forcing
Marconi and
Tripp to confront not only his modus operandi, but one another.
The policies
and
processes of nursing are presented from the start as Nurse Irene Dalton
faces
blowback at home from her nursing schedule. Her boyfriend insists that
her
priorities are backwards—but then, Dannie is like a big kid, used to
pulling
tantrums to get what he wants.
The rape
Irene
experiences is graphically portrayed and realistic enough to caution
sensitive
readers that this story is closely aligned with too many women’s’
experiences
of sexual violence.
Irene
ultimately
recognizes her assailant. But not in time.
The second
chapter
begins with the first-person viewpoint of Paul Marconi, building his
character
as he faces the start of what will prove a career-challenging series of
dilemmas. His motivations in pursuing justice are clearly laid out from
the
start:
“Anger inflamed my body when I saw a lifeless victim
whose life had
succumbed to some lousy dickhead. My years on the job as a cop never
allowed me
to let go of the hostility caused by the devastation and sorrow that
crimes
bring to families. My only solace is catching the perpetrator and
seeing him
through steel bars, or even better, in this case, watching the bastard
fry in
the electric chair.”
As the story
builds
on a foundation of Marconi’s first-person reflections, which contrast
with
third-person victim narratives and Tripp’s experiences, readers will
find
themselves immersed in a series of events that test the effectiveness
of
partners, justice systems, and investigative routines.
As the cases
edge
closer to home, Marconi and Tripp find themselves teetering on the edge
of
personal disaster as the serial killer keeps moving closer to their
lives and
loved ones.
As the
dynamic duo near
a startling revelation, Alberti injects discoveries and newfound
realizations
into the mix. This adds satisfying tension and surprises to the plot.
Alberti also
takes the time to include justice system reactions to evidence and
prosecution,
giving the story a realistic strength that readers will find satisfying.
Libraries
and readers
seeking strong, compelling stories of investigators working together to
identify and stop sexual violence will find Deadly
Roses a fine choice, steeped in Chicago’s atmosphere and the
politics of
love, death, and nursing.
Return to Index
Draw a Hard
Line
Micheal E. Jimerson
Elwood Jimerson Farms
L.L.C.
979-8-218-37772-4
$24.99
Hardcover/$19.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Hard-Line-J-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CWZRGTM8
Draw a Hard Line is a mystery that
revolves around racism, an Aryan
gang, a separated couple (detective E.J. Kane and his former
prosecutor,
ex-wife Rebecca Johnson), and issues of honor, survival, and recovery
from
drugs.
With so many
threads
of social inspection and intrigue coalescing here, it’s easy to think
that Draw a Hard Line will forego
the usual
mystery questions with a focus on relationships and new discoveries.
However,
Micheal E. Jimerson embeds bigger-picture thinking into a novel manner
that
will satisfy both genre readers and those seeking a broader form of
social and
psychological insights from their mystery reading.
Humor is
evident from
the start:
“Hey, idiot,” yelled the woman. “I call nine one
one and they send me a
geriatric cowboy with attention deficit disorder.”
E.J. comes
off more
cowboy than detective in the beginning, but soon the plot’s progression
reveals
him to be thoroughly immersed in both as he solves problems. In the
course of
this process, he confronts family angst and draws hard lines between
corrupt
influences, white supremism, changing social conditions, and the matter
of his
own dishonorable actions, which surprises him with new insights into
his
choices.
In pursuit
of a truth
he actually may not welcome, E.J. begins to confront his own actions
and their
consequences in a series of encounters that prove to be ongoing tests
of his
mettle and sense of self.
These
elements blend
nicely with intrigue and threads of humor to create a compelling saga
about the
changing world, one man’s sense of place and purpose in it, and the
impact which
his actions and these outside influences have on everything he holds
dear.
Libraries
and readers
seeking vivid action, satisfying twists and turns, a moral and
philosophical
element of inspection, and engrossing personality clashes from their
mysteries
will find Draw a Hard Line hits the
mark in all these areas, delivering an exceptional story that offers
much food
for thought.
Return to Index
From
Sweetgrass
Bridge
Anthony Bidulka
Stonehouse Publishing
978-1988754543
$16.95
Website: www.anthonybidulka.com
Ordering link: https://www.amazon.com/Sweetgrass-Bridge-Anthony-Bidulka/dp/1988754542
The second
book in
the Merry Bell trilogy, From Sweetgrass
Bridge, gives mystery readers a fine follow-up continuation
of the
conundrums and intrigue that spiced Livingsky.
It poses the specter of missing beloved Saskatchewan Roughrider
quarterback
Dustin Thomson and how his disappearance not only sparks an
investigation, but
impacts a community.
The family
hires P.I.
Merry Bell to traverse the waters below
Sweetgrass Bridge to the Little Turtle Lake First Nation
in search of
answers. But these raise more dangerous personal and political
quandaries as
Merry confronts her tangled personal life, fields questions about
friends and
enemies, and confronts the uncertainties surrounding her newfound
six-month-old
P.I. business, Livingsky Sharpe Investigations.
Merry Bell
is only
back home on the prairies as a temporary respite so she can regroup and
return
to her beloved Vancouver to fulfill her dream of living her life the
way she
wants to. But home has a way of presenting returnees with both familiar
and
unfamiliar scenarios. Much as Merry is in transition, so is her sense
of home
and knowledge of two very different worlds.
Anthony
Bidulka’s
story requires no prior familiarity with Merry or her world (though
returning
readers will here find a nice continuation of her struggles and
perceptions,
that both fills in blanks and expand her perspectives and objectives).
He creates a
powerful
female investigator who doesn’t hesitate to tackle the hard questions
surrounding both her life and her latest mystery, cultivates a cozy
small-town
atmosphere against the larger backdrop of LGBTQ+ issues and lives, and
injects
his story with the realism of a savvy female investigator.
Readers will
be
engrossed as Merry uncovers clues to solve her own life problems,
evolving ever
deeper into her past, community makeup, and scenarios which connect her
to more
than one romance.
“Truth is good, truth is powerful.” The
pursuit and questions that
drive Merry to seek answers from the First Nations community, as well
as her
own, create excellent contrasts between cultures, values, perceptions,
and new
possibilities in investigative routines and questioning.
As she
unfolds the
layers of Dustin’s life, Merry uncovers a series of events and
perspectives
that lead her to question his public image as a beloved sports figure:
“Was a different picture of the football hero
beginning to emerge? Was
Dustin lovesick? A spurned lover? Or was there something more
disturbing here?”
If he was
both lonely
and yet happy, how could suicide be Dustin’s ultimate destiny? Or, does
that
happiness stem from making a final decision (“It
was not uncommon for family members to report how happy their loved
one seemed immediately prior to ending their lives. What they couldn’t
have
known was that the happiness came from relief; relief at finally having
committed to a plan that would end their excruciating internal pain.”).
The secrets
that
unfold over what happened to Dustin segue neatly into those Merry keeps
about
her own life and its changes.
The
transformative
facelift given to the cozy mystery genre, provided via this sense of
place,
purpose, and community, makes From
Sweetgrass Bridge highly recommended, whether it’s chosen as
a stand-alone
mystery or as an important part of the trilogy.
Libraries
and readers
looking for the uncommon combination of a cozy mystery steeped in
LGBTQ+
experiences and concerns will find this intersection satisfyingly
thought-provoking. From Sweetgrass Bridge
enhances the mystery component with the added value of Indigenous
insights and
culture, adding a full-bodied feel to the unexpected series of events
that lead
Merry both far from her stated objectives and closer to a new life.
Return to Index
The
Honeymoon
Homicides
Jeannette de Beauvoir
HomePort Press
979-8-9868654-3-0
$15.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
www.HomePortPress.com
The Honeymoon Homicides adds another
Provincetown Mystery to the
series, but stands nicely alone for newcomers seeking intrigue steeped
in a
sense of place.
The
first-person
narrative opens with a captivating bang:
“The victim generously waited to be murdered until
the final vows had
been spoken and we were officially declared married. And that’s pretty
much the
best thing I can say about my wedding.”
Sounds like
the
wedding from hell. And the horror has just begun. Nobody expects a body
to fall
from an awning to the terrace. And Sydney certainly doesn’t anticipate
the
investigative challenges which pull her into situations she didn’t see
coming.
As the story
evolves,
Sydney’s personal and professional lives are tested in unusual ways.
Readers
unfamiliar with Sydney’s life and past are treated to flashbacks of
information
from other encounters which portray her and her associates in revealing
new
ways:
“This wasn’t Mike. Mike had been the best manager
the inn had ever had,
efficient, cordial… strong. I knew better than anybody else how strong
he was:
one cold October, back
when TransWeek was still known as Fantasia Fair, I’d been unlucky
enough to run
afoul of a truly murderous person who’d set their murderous sights on
me. I’d
ended up in the harbor with hypothermia moments away when Mike had
saved me.
You don’t forget that kind of thing.”
Provincetown
culture
and personalities thus come to life and evolve in a series of
encounters that
focus on more than mystery alone, revealing undercurrents of
relationships to
enhance the story as a whole.
Jeannette de
Beauvoir
is especially adept at presenting Sydney’s dilemmas as she handles
ultimatums,
juggling her job with her ongoing probe of investigative matters and
pairing
wine and food as adeptly as she cobbles together facts about perps and
victims.
The pace is
fast, but
de Beauvoir takes the time to outline social and political conundrums
that
influence decisions and outcomes as characters interact in a dance of
special
interests and personalities. This encourages readers to cheer for more
than one
character or special interest.
The result
is a
mystery steeped in Provincetown issues, culture, and personalities
which
creates another captivating Sidney Riley encounter while loosely
reflecting on
real people and events.
Libraries
and readers
looking for engrossing mysteries that set their escapades and
encounters
against a captivating backdrop will find The
Honeymoon Homicides an excellent tale of discovery, local
history,
marriage, and fun.
Return to Index
Just a
Housecleaner
Amy Willard
Hawkshaw Press
978-1-957224-27-5
$15.99
www.devilspartypress.com
Cozy mystery
fans
that choose Just a Housecleaner for
its strong female protagonist and warm examination of a friendship
ended by
sudden death will find Amy Willard crafts an inviting tone of discovery
here.
It follows Patsy Taylor’s dual foray into grief and detective work.
Veronica
already
struggled with a cancer diagnosis and battle, yet her glass has always
been
half-full. That’s one of the reasons Patsy now considers her a good
friend,
though their re-connection stems from illness.
Conveniently,
Patsy’s
former job was with the police department, lending her a degree of
expertise
that serves her well as she pursues threats to her friend’s estate,
which
emerge from unexpected places.
Before
Ronnie’s
demise, a cast of characters are introduced. Williard takes the time to
outline
her life before the event turns Patsy’s world upside down. Ronnie’s
husband,
Steven Spellman, is a handsome rising star in the police department.
Chuck
Patterson harbors a special interest in a case, which could contribute
to his
early retirement. Officer Tim Clark has his eye on Ronnie’s property …
and
Patsy.
Romance,
grief, and
mystery coalesce in a satisfying manner as Patsy pulls on threads of
truth that
lead to better understanding her own heart.
The lure of
self-discovery powers this cozy murder story, involving readers in
Patsy’s
life, objectives, and revelations that dose the plot with the added
value of
humor. This emerges unexpected at tense moments to provide comic relief.
The result
is a tale
that moves Patsy from being a housekeeper back into the world of
investigations
and police actions as she struggles to prevent Ronnie’s estate from
falling
into the wrong hands.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a compelling cozy mystery will relish the time Willard takes to
build
her characters, from housekeeper-turned-investigator Patsy to her
former best
friend.
Return to Index
Let Thy
Children Come
David E. Feldman
Eface
Media
ASIN: B0CYQM48L1
$24.95 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Let-Thy-Children-Come-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0CYQM48L1
Let Thy Children Come joins other Hammer
and Sharpe noir mystery
adventures with another story. This tells of a missing child, a
released
ex-con, and a dilemma which contrasts the very different lives and
attitudes of
a host of characters who find themselves caught in a dangerous crime
web.
The story
opens with
seven-year-old Kyle, whose routines are set patterns of familiarity.
But, not
today. Children’s librarian Sheila Robinson discovers that the child
never made
it home. The prologue cementing the missing child scenario leads to
chapters
that have recovering addict and misfit Sam Sharpe agreeing to take on
his
parents’ case to track down the boy.
A PI
partnering with an
ex-con who had been charged with manslaughter is unusual enough; but
what sets
this dynamic team apart from other stories about PI partnerships is its
focus
on the interplays and dances the duo play with each other and the world
as they
tap into their strengths (and even their weaknesses) to reveal
dangerous truths.
David E.
Feldman excels
at adding a cast of characters that revolve around Hammer and Sharpe’s
investigation. Each of these emerge as powerful contenders for reader
interest
and attention.
Intermixed
with the
mystery is Sharpe’s struggles to stay clean (which he doesn’t always
succeed in
achieving):
As Sharpe was transferring the photos he had taken
at Arthur Robinson’s
office from his phone to his computer, he was trying hard not to think
about
the pills—specifically, how he could get more. He couldn’t go back to
the same
doctor, and the thought of making appointments, and dealing with
dubious
doctors and impossible gatekeepers made him cringe with anxiety. He
knew he was
screwing up. His commitment to staying clean had been whittled away by
Sheila
Robinson’s pain, from which he was desperately trying to detach—and by
his
incessant craving for the drugs.
Success
doesn’t
always translate to solutions, as Sharpe discovers when he achieves his
goal,
only to find his own life endangered.
As for Judah
Hammer,
he finds his life and perspective changed by Sharpe’s efforts, which
add to his
own dangerous attractions on the outside.
The strength
of Let Thy Children Come lies as
much in
its flawed, recovering main characters as it does in their efforts to
juggle
moral and ethical quandaries during the course of their investigation.
Add in a
noir
atmosphere that permeates the mean streets they both walk for a fine
sense of
discovery and danger which makes for a thoroughly engrossing mystery
that
libraries and genre readers will find especially inviting.
Return to Index
Murder of a
Martyr
Ian Domowitz
Casa Muerte Books
979-8323069859
$9.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Website: www.iandomowitz.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Martyr-Parker-Magical-Mysteries/dp/B0D1XWG6GT
Murder of a Martyr is the third book in
the Getz Parker Magical
Mysteries series, and will attract both prior fans and newcomers alike
with its
special notes of a circus that collides with a traveling religious
revival
troupe’s need for entertainment and new converts.
Bill this
book
‘divergent’ for its unusual religious themes and lively blend of humor
and
investigative strengths, all cemented by religious fervor that
influences both
a murder probe and any notions of what constitutes a martyr.
Getz Parker
has only
the best objective in mind when he sponsors a circus for neurodivergent
children. The last thing he expected was to be drawn into a murder
situation
that tests belief, definitions of good and bad intentions, and outcomes
which
hold shifting moral revelations as the best of intentions goes
seriously awry.
Readers
receive their
first surprise in a prologue set in Sweden in 1651 AD. Dualities,
eccentricities, and early scientist pursuits of a chemical messiah set
forth a
series of mysteries and revelations that tie neatly into the modern-day
events
to come. Queen Christina (who claimed to be a “…masculine
mind lacking the usual flaws of the female sex”)
receives a gift from an alchemist that introduces a prophecy and the
portent of
change that will ripple into future generations.
That’s how
Getz
Parker is destined to be drawn into the mystery, centuries later on a
different
continent.
The chapters
that
follow are narrated in the first person by AI intelligence JK, who
notes Getz’s
explorations and efforts.
Extraordinary
measures are required to attract modern audiences of all ages to
something as
seemingly predictable and staid as a circus. Alchemical magic would
work
nicely. Perhaps a rebis (“a hermaphrodite
symbolizing reconciliation of spirit and matter, a living thing fusing
male and female”) could even be
created.
One problem:
the
rebis is the result of the Philosopher’s Stone’s creation. Neither are
supposed
to exist. But, in actuality, both may, in a sense, already be
influencing
lives.
As Getz
moves deeper
into past and present special influences, objectives, and objects of
murderous
intentions, he moves into unexpected arenas with his AI which involve
ancient
mysteries, castles, dragons, and virtual reality’s impact.
Magic spills
from
each step of his probe to immerse readers in mystery and mayhem which
swirl
around history and characters who each contribute their perspectives on
entertainment, death, and life in unusual ways … including his AI
observer.
The elements
that
build the plot contribute an exquisite tension to the discoveries that
will
keep readers thoroughly engrossed … including those who normally don’t
pick up
mystery genre readers because of their tendency to be too predictable
in events
and outcomes.
Not so Murder of a Martyr, which includes so
many different kinds of reflections (from social and political choices
to shows
that reflect not just entertainment value, but dangerous cunning) that
plenty
of topics for book club discussion emerge to give the story a
multifaceted
flavor.
That’s why
librarians
and readers seeking a mystery that’s satisfyingly original and
captivating will
appreciate Murder of a Martyr. Its
progression, connections, and atmosphere move neatly from a DeVinci
Code-style
inspection of timeless mystery to social commentary and murder in an
all-embracing way.
Enter stage
left to
begin an engaging foray into the unexpected, moved by myth and reality.
The
latter, at many points, is not set in stone, but satisfyingly mercurial.
Return to Index
The Third Man
Geoffrey M. Cooper
Maine Authors
Publishing
978-1-63381-402-8
$18.95 paperback, $4.99 ebook
Website: https://gmcooper.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZPMSYGV
The Third Man continues Geoffrey M.
Cooper’s reputation for
producing flawless, thoroughly engrossing medical thrillers, returning
investigators Brad Parker and Karen Richmond to the limelight in a new
Maine-centric mystery. It’s their seventh adventure in the series (but
is
perfectly stand-alone, accessible to newcomers to their magic).
World War II
history
opens the thriller with reference to a German U-boat which deposited
two Nazi
saboteurs on the coast of Maine. Two were captured … but what if there
was a
third man? The introduction cements this speculation and is the heart
of an
exploration that carries Brad and Karen into an ongoing conundrum over
a
mystery mole whose Nazi ideals fuel new threats in the high-tech world
of the
20th century.
Walter
Muller’s
mission is to change the world by continuing to foster Nazi visions of
Aryan
leadership and world domination. As medical technology and developments
arm him
with new possibilities beyond ken, Muller operates in a circle of
fellow moles
and believers who all move dangerously close to realizing their goals.
Only two
things stand
in their way: Brad and Karen.
Cooper’s
blend of
action and technological developments marries intrigue with real-world
possibilities in a frightening manner. The biological threat under
development
is augmented by plans to “inoculate the media” with equally forceful
change.
This presents Brad and Karen with new, novel struggles.
Readers who
choose The Third Man will find that
its
intrigue operates on many different levels, from moral and ethical
conundrums
to the challenges of manipulating a society and priming it for perhaps
the most
dangerous transformation in its history.
This, in
turn,
challenges Brad and Karen’s skill sets as they embark on a desperate
struggle
to contain not just a physical weapon, but the ideological contagion
infecting
society.
There are
many
mirrors between this book’s thriller and suspense action and real-world
headlines today. Perhaps that’s what makes it especially intriguing,
frightening, and hard to put down.
The Third Man is highly recommended for
libraries and readers
seeking solid, realistic stories of medical and ethical struggle—and to
book
clubs looking for discussion material wrapped in the appeal of a
paradigm-changing mystery.
Return to Index
We’ll Always
Have
Poison
BJ Magnani
Encircle Publications
978-1-64599-524-1
$27.99
Hardcover/$17.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
http://encirclepub.com
We’ll Always Have Poison adds the fourth
Dr. Lily Robinson novel to
the series, attracting prior fans to her latest romantic suspense
encounters.
Dr. Robinson faces a murder mystery when a renowned climate scientist
is found
dead off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia just before he’s set to
deliver a
world-shaking report about his research.
Is his death
a
coincidence; or does it indicate the fossil fuel industry’s new
approach to
getting rid of climate scientists whose work threatens their status quo?
BJ Magnani
first
cements the murder scenario and Australian environment before she turns
to the
first-person account of Lily, using compelling, descriptive language to
pull
newcomers into Lily’s current milieu:
“My name is Lily Robinson, and I’m on the upside of
my recovery from a
gunshot wound suffered at the hands of a terrorist. Remnants of my past
stay
with me, plague me, tangled in what’s to come. It’s the past I now hear
knocking at my door. And maybe the future, too.”
With this
revealing
introduction comes a probe not only of murder, but the emotions that
fuel
Lily’s life and profession:
“You have to learn to let it go, Lily. You cover
your emotions, but
underneath that clinical coat, you feel deeply. Is that why you chose
to become
a pathologist? Your patients remain anonymous. All you have is their
name, date
of birth, and hopefully, some medical history. You rarely see them in
the
flesh. You do not have to watch their eyes fill with tears when you
tell them
no cure exists for what ails them. You remain protected beneath your
intellect.
Et, you wear it like a cloak.”
A powerful
note to
Magnani’s exploration is that it does not adopt the usual formula genre
approach of a murder mystery, suspense, or romance story. Magnani takes
the
time to describe the natural world that surrounds Lily’s life and
experiences:
“…the sound that haunts me to this day belonged to
the White-browed Robin-Chat,
whose multiple melodious songs let us know each morning that he was the
master
of his territory. A lovely bird with a robin’s red breast, black cap,
and a
black mask covering his eyes, with a distinctive white stripe sitting
above,
giving him his name. My binoculars hung around my neck, awaiting a
glimpse of
any bird or wildlife wandering near our tented camp. We were in awe.”
As a host of
characters swirl around new discoveries, threats, and medical
mysteries, Lily’s
story is flushed out by the possible motivations and influences of
others.
Magnani is quite adept at both developing characters and weaving them
solidly
into their environments, special interests, and Lily’s investigation.
Powered by a
romantic
component (as Lily is supported by lover JP Marchand), the story
evolves a
satisfying mix of intrigue and relationship development alike, as what
seems
like a straightforward death turns into a struggle for world domination.
With climate
science
at the heart of events, readers will relish a tale that pairs
contemporary
issues with twists and turns of love and death, to prove compellingly
realistic
and absorbing.
Libraries
seeking the
perfect marriage of a suspense story and a partnership challenged by
unprecedented threats will relish We’ll
Always Have Poison, which holds the ability to stand
powerfully on its own
as it compliments Lily’s other medical adventures.
Return to Index
The 23rd Hero
Rebecca Anne Nguyen
Castle Bridge Media
979-8-9895934-1-5
$18.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/23rd-Hero-Rebecca-Anne-Nguyen/dp/B0D3WKVP3X/
The 23rd Hero weaves time travel with
love in a story that reviews
the changed world of Sloane Burrows. Chosen as the world’s first female
time
traveler, she is sent to 16th century France to
change history and
the environmental degradation which began at that time.
Most of the
Heroes
who made similar efforts were environmental engineers (with a few
exceptions).
But Sloane’s extraordinary memory makes her an unusual match for a
mission that
goes beyond the routine Booth maintenance she does so well, forcing her
to
delve into unfamiliar territory that she feels ill-equipped to handle.
The Heroes,
in her
time, fix and apply Band-Aids to constant threats, from storm surges
and king
tides to outcomes that challenge the Hero Missions to change the
environmental
impacts of the future via their fixes.
Despite
Sloane’s
successes, however, she is not living up to her full potential. Being
the 23rd
Hero might change that equation, but her role raises new questions
about her
mandate, loyalties, attitude, and choices:
“If Sloane blew her cover, no one was going to
accuse her of being from
the future. They were going to think she was crazy. Lock her up. Burn
her
alive. Sloane considered telling them the truth—that their intern just
happened
to be the star of her decade-long recurring dream. They’d think she was
bonkers. Too lovesick to be a Hero. They’d send her back to Vancouver,
away
from him. She said nothing.”
Unfortunately,
her
evolving relationship holds the power to transform and thwart ideals
and
actions, leading to dangerous maneuvers:
“Standing beneath the open portal on the dock,
Bastian snapped his head
toward her, his eyes scanning the crowd. The vision of him looking for
her, of
him wanting to find her, obliterated any remaining inhibitions she had.
Sloane
felt as if they were the only two people in the shipyard, the only two
people
who had ever existed or would ever exist, and that to come here without
him had
been the biggest mistake of her life. She yanked back her hood and tore
the
travel cloak from her body, flinging it off her shoulders into the
crowd. She
ripped the bodice of her blue gown to expose her modern dress beneath,
the
bright orange fabric against the muted clothing of the crowd like a
flare in
the night sky. She called Bastian’s name, over and over, until their
eyes
locked.”
The passion
Rebecca
Anne Nguyen captures between the two characters is equaled by the
challenge to
their psyches and purposes as the story evolves.
Readers who
look for
intriguing time travel settings will find the tale steeped in unusual
connections between not only past and present, but the impact of
relationship
developments on both.
The romance
component
pairs well with the adventure and conundrums. These grow from a
underlying
blend of dystopian experience and a journey to resolve future dilemmas
with
small ‘tweaks’, reviewing past events which hold big implications for
both characters
and their world.
The result
will
appeal to romance readers and time-travel enthusiasts, cultivating a
different
style that injects creative problem-solving and relationship-building
scenarios
with satisfyingly original dilemmas and outcomes.
Libraries
will find
it easy to recommend The 23rd
Hero to patrons interested in out-of-the-box thinking about
time travel and
romantic interests, which hold impact beyond singular relationships.
Return to Index
The Art of Becoming Another Person Entirely
Brenda Arnold
Independently Published
979-8989196005
$14.95 Paperback/$6.99 eBoo
Email: brendaj.arnold2023@gmail.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Becoming-Another-Person-Entirely/dp/B0CPZVZL37
The Art of Becoming Another Person Entirely is a novel filled with reflection and
humor, and tells of why Myrna Rutledge believes that, despite all her
wealth,
it’s a tragedy that her husband comes with the deal. Such an attitude
should
not come with marriage, so in the interests of having it all, Myrna
packs her
bags and heads for L.A. in possession of the not-so-secret stash of a
million
dollars Frank hid under the guest bed.
There Myrna, far from familiar territory and
buffeted by the turbulent changes of the 1960s, discovers new
opportunities
that not only test her beliefs, morals, and character, but prompt her
to become
the woman she was meant to be.
Transformation, however applauded, is no
easy effort; especially for one like Myrna. Much like Bernadette in the
classic
modern novel Where’d You Go, Bernadette?, Myrna
cultivates a wry, witty,
oddball sense of self and perspective. This affects her perception of
self and
change as much as the serendipity that follows her to, surprisingly,
once again
ties her to Frank; albeit in a quite unexpected manner.
Readers who choose this novel anticipating a
light beach read from both its title and the cover art of a woman
wearing
sunglasses and a wide-brimmed beach hat will find the story rich in
quirky
characters that surround Myrna with tongue-in-cheek life observations
and
dialogue that is hilarious:
“A theme,” Myrna said. “We need a theme for
your party. Maybe a tie-in with one of your films.”
Kitty arched one perfect brow. “Well, let’s
see,” she said. “I did a film called The Devil Bat about a scientist
who develops
an aftershave lotion that causes giant bats to kill anyone who wears
it…And
then there’s Dr. Cyclops, a film about a scientist who shrinks all his
colleagues. And last, but not least, there’s my personal favorite, The
Lone
Wolf Gets a Date.”
“I can work with that,” Myra said.
The finer art of becoming someone different
is to let go old patterns of behavior and reaction in favor of “feeling
the
magic” in relationships, life encounters, and ironic
developments.
Myrna does all this and more, which gives The
Art of Becoming Another Person Entirely colorful highlights
of intensity
and reflection which juxtaposes joy and humor with wisdom.
That’s
why The Art of Becoming Another
Person Entirely is highly recommended for libraries and
readers; especially
women’s book clubs who seek reads that seem deceptively easy, but
augment their
entertainment detail with subjects more than worthy of discussion, from
romance
to reinvention.
Return to Index
Beautiful
&
Terrible Things
S.M. Stevens
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-447-1
$24.95
www.blackrosewriting.com
Beautiful & Terrible Things is a
novel about social exile, awakening,
and new discoveries in modern-day America. Its main character,
29-year-old
Charley Byrne, is just coming out of self-imposed isolation in an
unnamed city
in 2018.
From the
start,
trigger warnings are appropriate to mention as first an animal’s
demise, then
issues of self-harm, come to light. S.M. Stevens provides graphically
powerful
(but tasteful) descriptions of these events:
“The squirrel lay on its back, mouth agape in a
silent scream. A spot
of red blossomed across the white canvas of its belly. She jumped as a
passing
breeze fluttered the wispy tail. Shuddering again, she embraced her
torso, the
internal heat from her morning run entirely dissipated.”
The manner
in which
Charley faces the limitations of her life as a bookstore manager,
living in an
apartment above her job and staying circumspect, is illuminated in
passages
that follow her past tragedies and her certainty that she remains
cursed.
When a
customer
physically touches her isolated world, Charley is encouraged to break
free
despite her feelings that such a move will result in further tragedy.
Xander
brings with him light and opportunity that contrast heavily with her
decisions
and experiences. This, in turn, propels her to become involved in
activist
protests against racism and immigrant discrimination.
The move
from hermit
to hero is immense.
Also intense
and
important are well-done scenes of evolutionary process outside those of
social
and political involvements as Xander and Charley explore the world
together:
“’The world’s injustices can be a heavy weight
sometimes.’
’Well, how about on the way down, we forget about injustice and enjoy
Mother
Nature?’
And that’s what they did, descending at a comfortable pace, taking time
to hear
overlapping layers of summer birdsong, smell pungent pine and musty
disintegrating logs, and feast their eyes on the sharp spines, jagged
lines,
and soft shadows of nature’s canvas.”
As social
chaos,
police actions, and new perceptions and values enter Charley’s life,
they all
lend her the courage to face and assess her own traumas and their
long-term
impact on her personality and choices.
S.M. Stevens
creates
a fine juxtaposition of beautiful and terrible moments in a life
already frayed
by self-destructive tendencies, depression, and isolation. The title of
this
book aptly mirrors the ebb and flow of a challenge that evolves as
Charley’s
life takes dramatic turns, moving away from patterns that once seemed
engrained.
Libraries
and readers
interested in tales of connection, trauma, recovery, and social
discovery will
find the many currents of transformation in Beautiful
& Terrible Things give much food for thought, and
also will appeal to
book club discussions about a range of subjects, from social and
political
individual growth to breaking free of individual isolation to enter the
wider
social arena. It’s highly recommended for diverse audiences interested
in how
social and political consciousness evolves and how self-analysis
influences
that process.
Return to Index
Beyond the
Hole in
the Fence
Gwen Banta
Independently
Published
979-8325122156
$10.99 Paperback/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0D3M6261D
Beyond the Hole in the Fence is a novel
of carnival days and
experiences that’s set on the East Coast in the 1950s. It simmers with
the
humor and intensity of a coming-of-age saga, replete with twists and
turns that
readers will find vigorous and thoroughly absorbing.
The
first-person
account opens with a fine example of how reader interest should and can
be grabbed
from the first paragraph:
“My grandpa often said that every new day is a
bundle of Christmas. I
found that to be a delightful thought once I finally reconciled his
philosophy
with my childhood, which could be more accurately described as “a
bundle of
carnival freaks.”
As an
unconventional
childhood is presented and explored, readers gain insights into not
just a
singular life experience, but the social and cultural influences which
swirl
around it to create wisdom and attitudes that grow to influence a
teen’s
choices and development:
“To some folks who live black-and-white lives,
color is a negative
thing. But always remember that the quality of your life is determined
by the
colors in your spectrum."
These
philosophical
and social observations contribute to higher-level thinking and
experience
throughout the novel as the narrator moves from childhood to adult
experiences:
“I truly believed that my life was looking up, but
I had yet to learn
that even when looking, we can't truly see what is in front of us.”
In 1951, the
arrival
of a summer carnival changes everything. Something extraordinary is
about to
happen. Unlike Ray Bradbury’s dark carnival in Something
Wicked This Way Comes, this attraction holds allure in
different ways; both as a tool for growth and discovery and as an
opportunity
for rich experiences the young narrator couldn’t gain elsewhere.
Issues of
do-gooders
who cause inadvertent harm, prejudices which evolve to both threaten
and
embrace different characters, whether characters are “crazy or just
plain
evil,” and blows from hurricanes and the winds of chance and adversity
come to
life. The carnival and worldly experiences swirl around one another,
introducing new dilemmas and unprecedented opportunities alike.
Special
insights about
those on display for their oddities permeate and supplement the story
with food
for thought about the definition of such opportunities, at times:
“My entire existence is a display. And where would
I be without a freak
show? I would be in an institution somewhere. Or even dead. But at
least I now
have a good employment situation, a paycheck, food, and a place to
live. I feel
fortunate to be here. Jones is famous among our lot for being a kind
man."
As Lorraine
Merrill
(“Rainy”) navigates these changes, readers enjoy a rollicking and
thoughtful
ride through carnival and life experience that considers the carnival
and
characters of life and what it means (and takes) to be a “carnie.”
Libraries
and book
club reading groups seeking an exceptionally vivid portrait of the
1950s,
coming-of-age experiences, and an atmosphere of wonder, revelation, and
change
will welcome Beyond the Hole in the
Fence. It fosters an exceptional ability to navigate the
dream that is
life, and the characters that carry Rainy into her eighteenth birthday
and
beyond the holes in her heart to resolve past and present perspectives
about
her place in the world.
Return to Index
Distress
&
Determination Part II: The Further Trials of Frederick Darcy, Young
Gentleman
James Wollak
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-216-5
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Distress & Determination Part II: The
Further Trials of Frederick
Darcy, Young Gentleman continues the story of Frederick
Darcy, who has
assumed the position of Master of Pemberley, yet continues to struggle
between
his legacy and his personal ambition to return to Cambridge and
continue his
studies.
His return
to
university brings with it a different growth process that, in turn,
injects his
diligence with moments of self-doubt and weakness. As he struggles with
debate
successes and failures and moves the course of his studies into realms
that
test his ability to handle social introductions, snafus, and ideals of
friendships and enemies, Frederick finds his personal study objectives
adding
to the burden of his position as Master.
Family
issues (such
as his relationship with his sisters) provide him with ongoing requests
for
determination and action that function as demanding overlays to his
responsibilities—especially when he is forced to consider restitution
over a
fight, jugging responsibility with realization as he becomes an
effective,
moral new adult.
James Wollak
captures
these transformative events and influences on Frederick’s life as the
young man
navigates unexpected confrontations and their consequences:
“Darcy and Frederick began talking at once,
interrupting Lord Hartford.
Despite this lapse, Frederick won and apologized. ‘Thank you for
offering, my
lord, but I must insist. My father would not – and should not – be
responsible
for paying for all the damage we caused. If that is so, then why should
you? He shrugged.
‘Our fight was neither
your fault, nor my parents’. I am only a very young man, but I believe
it is my
responsibility to make amends, despite your generous offer.’”
A political
interaction with king and princesses dovetail with dilemmas created by
arrogance, assumptions, and encounters that test Frederick in different
ways.
Wollack captures the milieu of the 1800s in an astute manner that
marries
personal experience with social requirements, politics, and special
interests.
At each
step,
Frederick steps into responses and values that eventually lead him into
the
unexpected territory of romance and marriage. As his journey unfolds,
so does
an exquisite attention to atmospheric detail which will delight readers
of
historical fiction and libraries catering to them.
These audiences will find Distress
&
Determination Part II: The Further Trials of Frederick Darcy, Young
Gentleman
especially inviting if they are already familiar with the first book
introducing this young nobleman’s world. Part II expands his life in
many
satisfyingly diverse, unexpected directions.
Return to Index
Edison’s
Last Breath
Patrick Kendrick
Bluewater Press
978-1-60452-203-7
$33.95 Hardcover/$21.95
Paper/$9.99 ebook
Website: BluewaterPress.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
Edison’s Last Breath opens in 1931, where
the dying Thomas Edison
occupies his last stages of life filling test tubes with his breath,
knowing
that one of them will be identified as his last one. He bequeaths these
to his
good friend Henry Ford; but after his passing, over forty tubes vanish.
Just as
mysteriously,
they are sent to Henry yearly, who opens them to breathe in his
friend’s
essence, which he believes lends him strength . . . but, perhaps not
enough to
confront what happens next. In 1940, a tube is stolen in transit and a
rabbi
who breathes its contents takes his own last breath.
The
package’s return
label is that of world-renowned entertainer Josephine Baker. The
mystery
compels retired Scotland Yard inspector Emmet MacWain to forego the
sandy
beaches of Florida to once again join forces with questionable FBI
agent John
Serey. MacWain journeys far from his idea of retirement.
From the
jungles of
Brazil and voodoo practitioners to war-torn Europe, McWain and Serey
find their
skills, partnership, and objectives sorely tested by political and
mystery
events that form a marriage of intrigue and dangerous intentions.
Much as Ford
confronts “leaps of logic” that test his beliefs and the nature of his
association with Edison, the investigators also find their own
relationship and
objectives put to the guillotine of hard reality over situations they’d
never
imagined.
Portraits of
Hitler, Rudolph
Hess, and others are based on real people and events and weave a strong
foundation of historical precedent into a tale steeped in intrigue and
political shifts as the real impact of Edison’s last breath(s) emerges.
The strength
in Edison’s Last Breath lies in its
ability
to blend history with the elements of intrigue and mystery that will
draw
general-interest audiences … even those who may hold relatively little
prior
familiarity with some of the undercurrents of World War II’s events or
personalities.
Patrick
Kendrick’s
use of fictional high-octane drama and nonfiction’s real-world
scenarios
creates a thoroughly engrossing story made all the more compelling for
its
ability to not just jog the reader’s memory about the war’s influences
and
struggles, but enlighten readers about the social and racial issues of
the
times.
The
combination
represents a masterful interplay of personalities, political
challenges, and
global change that both entertains and educates with powerful allusions
and
satisfyingly unpredictable twists.
Libraries
seeking a
thriller that features globe-hopping experiences, historical
foundations,
intrigue, and social issues ranging from anti-Semitism to political
battles
will appreciate the multifaceted presentation that is Edison’s
Last Breath. Its subplots of racial hatred and social
influence will also serve book clubs well, offering many points of
discussion
about past history and present-day events.
Return to Index
Flight of the
Starling
Christine Merser
& Carol Rea
Blue 2 Publishing
979-8989906901
$16.95 Paperback
Website: https://www.blue2publishing.net/book/flight-of-the-starling
Ordering: https://amzn.to/4dmwxdr
Flight of the
Starling is set in high society,
where billionaires and money seep from the
very pores of people such as wealthy divorcee Justine, whose life of
luxury is
threatened when a personal quest for justice rocks her world and
assumptions.
Christine
Merser
& Carol Rea create a adventurous ride cemented by intriguing
chapter titles
peppered with humor. Examples include ‘From Backgammon to Black Ops,’
‘Relax,
It’s Only Dinner,’ and ‘Mistaken for a Barbie Doll.’
Forced to
navigate
forces and milieus that exist outside her life of luxury, Justine’s
involvement
in mega-millionaire Robert’s search for his missing daughter Caroline
emphasizes that money can’t buy everything; much less security and a
life whose
progression is safely set in stone.
Robert
reaches one
goal, but makes a proposal to Justine which draws her even further in
human
trafficking dilemmas. These create unexpected connections between crime
and
high society as the women face different and difficult circumstances
because of
their experiences and relationships.
At the heart of it, Flight of the Starling holds intrigue
and the nonstop action of a thriller—but with a difference. It’s also
an
intriguing story of wealth, concepts and assumptions built into
monetary achievements,
and how the coalescence of seemingly disparate lives reveals truths and
facts
that none of the three women had anticipated.
Justine’s
position and affluence give her resources other similar thriller plots
involving the wealthy fail to point out:
“I buy an apartment
in Dubai in three hours. It’s on a
busy street, the top floor, a terrace with panoramic views in all
directions.
It’s the first one I see. I don’t bother visiting the others. I wire
the broker
five million euros to be transferred the next day. Everything that is
in the
apartment stays. It’s three bedrooms and 2,800 square feet, and I’m
good with
it.”
However much
money
smoothes the way, it doesn’t solve moral and ethical problems, as
Justine
discovers. In and of itself, money actually contributes to a deeper
series of
conundrums that challenge her beliefs, role, and abilities.
Readers who
navigate
these pitfalls and promises alongside Justine will find much food for
thought
as she arrives at some dangerous, revealing truths. This process will
lend as
nicely to book club discussions as it will to thriller readers who look
for
more than fast-paced action in their reading choices.
Libraries
will find
it easy to recommend Flight of
the
Starling for its
vivid scenarios, twists and turns, and intriguing inspection
of Justine’s involvements. Her associations with equally-powerful
female
characters pinpoint segments of the dangerous game that unfolds around
issues
of control, redemption, and ideals of success, whether moral or
financial.
Return to Index
The Ghostly
Diva
Sandra L. Young
The Wild Rose Press
Inc.
978-1-5092-5522-1
$17.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
www.thewildrosepress.com
What better
job can
there be for one passionate about antiques and history than that of an
Assistant Museum Director? That’s what Justine Saunders thinks. Her
latest
assignment—to go through the belongings of a deceased actress—only
supports her
notion that she holds the best job in the world … until the ghost
appears when
a storm strands her with the actress’s grumpy son, Jackson Maddox. The
spirit
encourages them both to uncover the diva’s real legacy and impact on
his life.
As Justine
and
Jackson pursue the truth about his father’s identity, why his mother
protected
it so fiercely, and the inheritance that led him back to the small town
that once
was his home, romance (perhaps predictably) blossoms between the two.
The pursuit
of truth
dovetails with a concurrent need to save her beloved job, propelling
Justine to
address greater issues as she both fields love and fights for her job.
Sandra L.
Young
creates an engaging story in which Justine’s own mother is trying to
set her up
with romance even as Justine falls into one entirely on her own. Well …
not
entirely, because meddling mothers in the form of ghosts can be just as
influential as those still alive.
Additionally,
a job
opportunity in Chicago threatens many things. Justine must work at
discovering
where her heart (and love) really lie.
There’s a
cozy
quality to this story, even though it’s not billed as a mystery. Young
builds
her characters as individuals whose interests both clash and coalesce
over
various influences and events (both supernatural and in the real world)
that
make their mark on Justine and Jackson.
Young
injects moral
and ethical concerns into the story, adding a full-bodied richness to
dilemmas
and conflicts over choices and their possible outcomes:
“Justine stared at the empty chair, registering a
mix of awe and dread.
What a convoluted mess. How did she end up being the chosen one to
pursue
Liza’s ambitions? And why wouldn’t she share the scoop on her baby
daddy now?
Would breaking the promise land her in hell? The thought chilled her.
How wild
that she could even consider such a concept.”
Between
money
management, developing new social skills, and confronting museum
marketing
challenges, Justine has her hands full even without adding love into
the bigger
picture.
The result
is a
captivating, warm story of evolving connections and new directions that
is
especially recommended for cozy romance readers who like accents of the
supernatural added into their small-town stories. Libraries will find
it easy
to recommend The Ghostly Diva for
its
clean-cut dilemmas and explorations of love.
Return to Index
The Goddess
of Weaver
Street
Joy Ross Davis
Wyatt-Mackenzie
Publishing
978-1-954332-53-9
$16.95
www.wyattmackenziebooksandgifts.com
The Goddess of Weaver Street is a novel
steeped in magical realism
and mental illness quandaries, and presents a story of challenge,
empowerment, and
change.
Women who
enjoy
reading about strong characters who each contribute their dualities and
abilities to the plot will find much to appreciate, here. The story
opens with
Lynda Lee Brennan, who has won many beauty pageants and is on track to
follow
in her parents’ posh footsteps until she marries a struggling medical
student
who is ten years her senior. This both defies her set course of
achievement and
results in everything she’s ever wanted—a home and love, with the
future
potential of a family and a happy life.
End of
story? This is
only the beginning as Lynda moves from success to confront her parents’
different definitions of failure and achievement, only to come full
circle in
facing her own obstacles to contentment.
Ray
completes his
schooling … then informs her that he’s chosen a medical specialty which
involves six more years of school (and poverty). This more than throws
a monkey
wrench in Lynda’s timeline for developing a family:
Six more years, Lynda thought and her heart sank.
It’s 1956, and I’ll
be almost thirty by then.
To his
credit, Ray is
more than cognizant of the sacrifices Lynda’s had to make for him, and
appreciates her for this:
“I couldn’t have done this without you,” he said,
looking down at her
with his glorious blue eyes, a stray lock of black hair hanging across
his
forehead. “You’ve been my rock, my foundation, and I’ll never forget
how you’ve
sacrificed for me. I took away the most beautiful girl in New York and
turned
her into a poor housewife who couldn’t afford to buy even a scrap of
steak. And
you, my dear, have remained just as beautiful and have been the very
best wife
any man could want.”
Ray treats
her like
his goddess even as Lynda confronts the realities of just how much she
has
changed in the course of her relationship, foregoing not only many of
her old
dreams, but the habits that once fueled her life:
She fancied herself a bit of a mermaid and even
wore a pastel blue and
green dress in her first pageant to symbolize the mermaid in her. She’d
won
that pageant without anyone ever knowing how much she adored the water
or
rather, being under the water. She swam with her eyes wide open in
their family
pool, swam and swam … until she met Ray. She wondered now if she’d lost
her
ability to swim. “I was once a mermaid,” she whispered to the water.
“Once upon
a time, I could swim the length of this lake without ever coming up for
air.”
As Lynda
comes to be
known as the Goddess of Weaver Street, her beauty and attraction still
prevalent, readers also absorb the deeper magical layers of attraction,
life
viewpoint, and changing goals and attractions that Lynda cultivates as
she
returns to her love of water and unexpectedly becomes the swim team
coach for
the summer.
Her dreams
include
encounters with magical weavers who shave the edges from the reality
that is
her life, injecting it with different possibilities as she embarks on a
journey
that involves learning new habits and absorbing story examples about
strong
women.
Joy Ross
Davis
creates an uplifting sense of discovery and achievement, weaves magical
encounters with mental examinations, and deftly portrays how Lynda
navigates
such dilemmas as her friend’s secret (wife abuse), the politics of
medicine and
her husband’s achievements, and her own revised place in the world.
Libraries
seeking
women’s novels replete with atmospheres of change, magical thinking,
and
realistic life pivot points will find The
Goddess of Weaver Street a thrilling acquisition. It’s sure
to attract
women’s book clubs, with its myriad of thought-provoking transformative
experiences that operate on different levels.
Return to Index
In Lieu of
Flowers
Keith Steinbaum
World Castle
Publishing LLC
9798891261655
$3.99 ebook
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com
In Lieu of Flowers is a work of horror
and suspense that embraces
topics of ghosts, graves, messages from the dead, and resistance to
these
topics from the living.
From the
start, the
plot creates a bang of opportunity and discovery that lures readers
into an
atmosphere of battle and horror in 1920 Romania. The atmosphere of
these times
and that place haunt the reader’s mind with a “you are here” feel:
“The descending late autumn sun, fighting a losing
battle against the
advancing hordes of encroaching clouds, offered an opportune moment for
the
theft of the baby to succeed. Gunari’s watchful, brown Roma eyes peered
out
from the safeguarding shadows of an empty doorway in preparation for
the deed. Inhaling
and exhaling in a slow and rhythmic attempt at calming his nerves, he
gazed
northward toward the glorious yet fading outline of the Bucegi
mountains,
seeking the strength he needed to pounce, steal, and escape.”
From the
Romani Gypsy
community to an assignment to kidnap a baby, intrigue emerges in the
first
pages of the story and only grows deeper as a tangled web is woven
between
Gunari’s assignment and its consequences.
Gunari
absorbs not
just the impact of his failure (which reaches into his own family) but
the
terrible history of the man who has commanded him. Thus, readers
receive an
inkling of what was, and what is to come. There’s nothing but darkness
stemming
from an early diversion away from the Creator’s intentions, resulting
in a
series of viruses that batter and change humanity.
Gunari faces
the
Devil himself (and within himself) and begins to truly realize what he
has (or
hasn’t) done. What does the fate of a Jewish baby have to do with the
future?
Plenty, as Gunari absorbs the real impact of his choices.
Keith
Steinbaum
crafts a thoroughly engrossing horror saga that moves between worlds
and
purposes to draw readers into darkness similar to what classics such as
Dracula achieved. A cast of
characters
emerges from this darkness, from Nigel and the premonitions and new
blindness
of Juana to Peter’s second chance at life as he faces a growing hunger
inside
him that will change everything.
Between issues of anti-Semitism to midwife Naomi’s baby and its future, Steinbaum draws together a disparate cast of individuals whose lives, options, and futures both defy and lend to greater horror.
Replete with
elements of ghostly encounters, the stuff of legends, and the new
realities characters are forced to grapple with, In
Lieu of Flowers is a story that moves beyond death to
introduce
facets of discovery that readers won’t see coming.
Libraries
interested
in horror stories that take the extra and next step into discovery and
realization will find In Lieu of Flowers
an excellent collection addition.
Return to Index
Jaguar Dreams
Susan MacBryde
Independently
Published
979-8390016947
$9.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Jaguar-Dreams-Susan-MacBryde/dp/B0C1DHYR6Y
Jaguar Dreams takes place in the heart of
the Amazon jungle, where
a Kichwa village faces the world-ripping threat of a road which is
destroying
their wilderness and exposing them to forces beyond ken.
At the
forefront of
their resistance is matriarchal family head Sacha, who represents the
intersection of vying forces. These create internal conflict by their
very
different visions of how to preserve their culture and home; from a
shamanistic
father to grown sons who hold their own different perspectives on the
matter—plus an entire village divided on whether to actively or
passively
confront the threat.
One thing
the villagers
can agree upon is that messages from the spirits should guide their
decisions.
And so, everyone is listening.
Jaguars also
represent the crux of this conflict, because:
“Jaguars enhance clairvoyance, enabling dreamers to
peer into the full
range of time. A stealthy animal, jaguars can navigate the forest,
helping the
dreamer to maneuver through life’s challenges. Its rosette camouflage
of
contrasting colors represents its balance between dark and light forces
and its
ability to offer protection to the dreamer. Seeing a jaguar in a dream
can
signify a perilous situation, difficult to escape … though seeing a
black
jaguar can mean the dreamer has passed through the dark and light will
come.”
But, will
light come
in time? Outside influences and special interests forge ahead as the
villagers
debate, wonder, and fight with one another over the best course to
take.
Resistance also comes from surprising outsider involvement, from
professors
interested in Indigenous cultures to environmental activists who become
purposeful (and sometimes unwitting) defenders of the rainforest.
Susan
MacBryde
creates fascinating contrasts between these cultures and influences:
“A young man appeared wearing the traditional blue
feathered headdress
with beaded straps across his bare chest. He also wore soccer shorts
and
sneakers.”
The plot
emphasizes
that the slow simmer of assimilation has been going on long before
corporate
efforts to exploit oil resources in the rainforest posed a physical
threat.
As threats
escalate
towards a showdown, MacBryde captures the nature of individual and
money-grubbing activities through the eyes of characters whose inner
intentions
and outward actions create satisfying interplays and dichotomies. This
approach
offers readers and book club groups much food for thought.
The
resulting
juxtaposition of dreams, nightmares, environmental and personal motives
entwines a number of seemingly-disparate characters and forces,
creating a
story that is evocative, vivid, and hard to put down.
Libraries
and readers
seeking powerful environmental-based stories will find Jaguar
Dreams compelling, offering many topics worthy of book club
discussion and individual reader contemplation about the nature of
development,
greed, and even love.
Return to Index
A Life of
Dreams
Doug Dunnevant
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-218-9
$16.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook /$25.99 Hardcover
www.atmospherepress.com
In A Life of Dreams, Percy Hope’s newfound
wealth has elevated him to a life of luxury and achievement that he
never could
have imagined. Nor could he envision losing it; but when his
inheritance fades,
so does the illusion of stability and success that came with it.
Plagued by
nightmares,
Percy struggles with the aftermath of a suicide attempt, juggling
various forms
of success with requirements that both lend purpose to his life and
test his
resolve and relationships. Between gambling losses and infidelity to
eventual
divorce and devastation, Percy is left with only the dreams that haunt
his
psyche with new possibilities and deadly reflections.
Doug
Dunnevant
traverses the topics of forgiveness, healing, and redemption. He
portrays a
middle-aged man whose objectives and approaches to life shift as money
comes
and goes, love ebbs and flows, and his sense of purpose is altered by
death and
renewal.
Well-developed
characters change Percy’s life in unexpected ways that are not all
about
success and failure, but the gray areas of perception and goals which
lie in
between. However, Percy isn’t the only one under the microscope, here.
Beth,
too, receives close inspection as viewpoints shift between them. Named
chapter
headings could have solidified these shifts with more clarity, but most
readers
won’t become entirely lost over the ways in which Percy and Beth find
their
lives entwined over family and destiny:
“She had often wondered what she would feel at the
first glimpse of
him. Would there be any recognition? What emotion would flow to the
surface:
anger, resentment, fear? Nothing had prepared her for love. Her first
reaction
to seeing the father who had totally abandoned her was an overwhelming
desire
to run to him. Then, as surprising and unnerving as her first response
had
been, soon after, all was emotional panic. Could she bear it if he
didn’t
return her love, or worse, treated her with indifference?”
The result
is a
thought-provoking novel of discovery and recovery that is highly
recommended
for libraries and readers seeking sagas of redemption that arrive with
a hint
of supernatural influences. These readers will welcome Percy and Beth’s
realistic encounters, changing relationship, and the impact of wealth,
poverty,
and self-awareness on the choices each makes in life.
Return to Index
Network
Apprentice:
Behind the Scenes in Talk Television
Graydon “Dee” Hubbard
Atmosphere Press
9798891322240
$18.95
www.atmospherepress.com
Network Apprentice: Behind the Scenes in Talk
Television may sound
like an appealing title for media students, but its added value lies in
the
fact that this is a satirical novel; not nonfiction. Graydon “Dee”
Hubbard
marries a plot based on student Julie Andrews (who seeks a degree in
broadcast
journalism) with bigger-picture thinking about network politics and
assignments
that move Julie away from familiar comfort zones into adventurous,
thought-provoking realms.
The story
opens with
seventeen-year-old Julie’s adventure trip with her father, moving into
realms
of observation and outdoors adventures. Surprisingly, though, the tale
opens
with the laconic description of a bear who assumes center stage in the
beginning:
“Like an aging satyr who indulged too much the
night before, he naps
all morning sprawled spread-eagle, tongue lolling, drool pooling, flies
circling, guts rumbling. Continuous
snores and occasional belches spew from his open mouth. Gluttonous
dreams dance
in his head.”
As stories
of leaving
familiar trails blend with centuries of history and places in which
evil spirits
bring disillusionment, Hubbard dances back and forth between Julie’s
perspective and the experiences of all kinds of characters. These
include a
shepherd and his son, who face forces of nature beyond their ability to
confront, to others who move through space and time. These characters
are
cemented by modern-day Julie’s own efforts to evolve beyond any
limitations
imposed by either belief or outside influences.
No matter
the
illustration, Hubbard embeds philosophical considerations into these
natural
and human dilemmas:
“Dare they attempt it? His headshake is barely
perceptible. Then he
returns his gaze to the pass and grimaces. Must he turn back, retreat
to
safety…and to shame? Another headshake. Uncertainty torments him.
Reality
threatens his aspirations.”
Readers may
not
anticipate the political inspections which evolve from these
world-hopping
experiences, but the satirical review pulls no punches as it bows to
the impact
of deceptions fostered by a belief in American values and the role and
purpose
of government in daily lives.
Media
studies
students will find the interactions between network officials,
politicians, and
students to be interesting and enlightening, while general-interest
readers
with no such background will appreciate the injection of irony and
satire into
observations and experiences that keep Julie’s career objectives in
flux.
As she
conducts
research, considers agenda-driven focuses, and navigates the history
and impact
of American government’s ideals and realities, readers will find much
to pique
their interest … especially in book club circles interested in debating
US
policies, network influences, and a father/daughter relationship that
grows in
novel directions.
Libraries
should not
only consider Network Apprentice
for
their fiction collections, but will want to recommend it to book clubs
interested in developing a spirited interchange of discussions about
nature,
ideals, government, and flawed systems.
Return to Index
Once a
Homecoming
Queen
Joan Moran
TouchPoint Press
978-1-956851-66-3
$16.99
Paperback/$7.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Homecoming-Queen-Joan-Moran-ebook/dp/B0CR7X6S1S
Once a Homecoming Queen is a novel about
a dying, addicted woman
whose alcoholism leads her to suffer a major fall. This places her care
in the
arms of her frustrated family.
It may seem
odd to
find humor in this sobering story of Francine
Reynolds-Richelli-Freeman, but
Joan Moran’s wry tongue-in-cheek observations temper the realistic,
somber
atmosphere of a family’s dysfunctional makeup. It considers the impact
of a
dependent alcoholic, offering glimpses into a world of sobriety, new
possibilities, old patterns, and shifting alliances and choices:
“Rhonda drove too fast into the women’s
correctional facility parking
lot. She had to slam on her brakes to stop the car from going beyond
the guest
parking. Francine clutched her purse. Rhonda parked and got out.
‘Are you coming?’ Rhonda asked as she began to walk to the front
entrance.
Francine got out of the car and peered at the dilapidated building.
‘Sounded like a good idea at the time,’ Francine said under her breath.
‘I heard that,’ said Rhonda. ‘It’s not the Taj Mahal, but it’s clean.’
‘Oh, that’s a good recommendation. I’ll put it on Yelp. ‘Jail is clean.
Come on down and join us.’”
The subject
of senior
addiction and its special brand of family impact are nicely done with
depictions of AA meetings, struggles to embrace sobriety, and efforts
to change
engrained family dynamics revealed in the course of a dynamic
exploration of
life.
Joan Moran
is adept
at juxtaposing past influences with present-day events. These are the
kinds of
confrontations and realizations that keep Francine engaged in new
possibilities
while fielding the impact of her usual poor choices.
From start
to finish,
the dark humor emerges from unexpected encounters, enriching the
experiences
Francine embraces.
The result
is a
compelling, realistic story of a family’s tangled involvements in a
senior’s
efforts to overcome both addiction and the impact of her life and past
choices.
Libraries
and readers
seeking novels steeped in realistic family and life encounters with
addiction
and redemption will find Once a
Homecoming Queen engrossing. It’s highly suitable for family
and reading
group debates on subjects ranging from alcoholism and family dynamics
to the
process of being a senior and confronting poor choices and dubious
outcomes at
the end of life.
Return to Index
One Square Mile
Kristin H. Sample
The Mad Duck Coalition
9781956389173
$15
Website: https://themadduckcoalition.org/product/one-square-mile/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVNPLD77
One
Square Mile
probes and reveals the life of Elizabeth
Bauer, who has grown up in a tiny town on Long Island. She relates some
of
life's pivot points and family connections, from putting her beloved
bunny Cleo
down to breaking her ankle playing soccer and first romances:
"...now my whole life will be a do over of this
important moment.
I’ll have to find the meaning and romance. Isn’t your first kiss
supposed to
be special? I can’t tell my kids about this. I can’t tell my grandkids
about
this. I’m not going to marry this random kid from Club Malibu. This
isn’t the
beginning of an amazing story of first kisses that turn into lasting
loves."
As the
interconnected
stories build a life from these moments of memory and change, the real
strength
of One Square Mile appears—that of
a
life that emerges from chrysalis to enter the butterfly years of
adulthood in a
world that embraces working-class values and 1990s culture.
As Elizabeth
experiences sleepovers with fellow teens, explores the puzzles of
romance and
sexuality, and deals with looming adulthood and lessons which depart
from
childhood preoccupations and concerns, she comes to know more about her
roots,
influences, and the world around her.
This
translates to a
coming-of-age story that is candid and revealing as its protagonist
re-envisions the world and her place in it.
The
encounters and
dialogues cement Elizabeth's new perceptions in a realistic, engrossing
manner:
"Wait, I think to myself. Is that why Kristina
called me? Like she
was going down a list entitled “Girls I Can Tolerate if it Means
Getting a
Ride.” I shove that thought so far back in my mind, it’s like the
winter coats
packed away in the attic until the first freeze. You know they are
there, but
you may have forgotten what they look like exactly."
Libraries and readers
seeking stories of growth, realization, and slow transformation will
find One
Square Mile a
powerful
journey through a sense of place and purpose.
It brings to life not only
Elizabeth's newfound realizations,
but her changing perceptions of Long Island, her friends, and her
family. One Square Mile is highly
recommended
reading for anyone looking for an absorbing story of a young female's
new
opportunities and visions of her life.
Return to Index
Saving My Ancient Life
Ken Luber
Palmetto Publishing
979-8-8229-3948-6
$16.99 Paperback/$25.99 Hardcover/$8.99
ebook
http://www.palmettopublishing.com/
Saving My Ancient Life is
a novel that opens with a potentially triggering event (to those
subject to
responses to vivid traumatic description): the rape of a young girl,
whose
father is beheaded and her baby wrested from her arms by soldiers.
Fast forward five hundred years to a snowy
winter's day in the Illinois
town of Cederburgh.
In this world, LuAnn, who was pregnant at age sixteen, builds a
foundation of
family and meaning for herself, her daughter Kaylee, and her son, Billy
Blackwell.
From the start, Ken Luber inserts memorable
phrases of observation into the story which grants each character a
depth and
interesting reflections that readers will find engaging and
thought-provoking:
"I’m making him sound
like one big jerk. But love hugs a lot more jerks than saints.”
LuAnn, desperately searching for her son, finds
herself cast into her own shamanic journey, from the darkness of
barrooms and
brothels to the upper crust of 1890s San Francisco society, while Billy
navigates the past's influences on his choices and the lasting
consequences this brings, readers receive a compelling saga of
time-travel,
romance, and the clash of past and future worlds.
Billy encounters Highland lass El, who takes
him on a wild ride through her world and focus. In her milieu, his
wrestling
strengths and modern abilities pale in the light of her strength and
ability to
navigate situations he's never before encountered in his young life.
From meetings with spirits to two worlds
whose disparate characters intersect and interact, Saving
My Ancient Life provides much more than an uncommon mix of
time and place. It considers the culture, influences, and struggles of
characters whose special interests and worlds reach out to very
different
individuals, entwining them in a journey to find truth and family.
Luber's attention to detail, from the
Highland brogue that El exhibits to the fact that young Billy needs to
become a
better horse rider if he's to follow her in her quest to find her
missing son,
brings the story to life, replete with thought-provoking insights that
encourage pause for thought:
"You still haven't told
me. Is it far?"
"How far is the journey
of any life to find yur heart?"
Book clubs and readers used to more linear
thinking in time travel experiences will delight in the effort Luber
makes to
not only inject realistic backgrounds and dilemmas into his characters'
encounters, but to chronicle character-building moments into the tale.
These
bring unexpected facets of the concurrent journeys to life.
Chapter header notes about shifting places
might provide readers with an even stronger foundation for absorbing
these
changes; but even without them, Saving My
Ancient Life is a moving story powered by evocative
descriptions of a
mystical past brought to life:
"He was beginning to
believe in El's mystical world, the world of a mother's voice rising
from the
flames of a hearth and of a dog-tag flaring light in a faraway meadow.
And
staring into the flames she had just created, it struck him that with
wormholes
and expanding universes, TV transmission and trips to the moon, was his
world
any less mystical? Yes, there were formulas and statistics, but were
they any
different than the mumbo-jumbo, indecipherable words of an ancient
world as
passionately connected to the universe?"
Libraries and readers interested in a
fantasy journey that juxtaposes romance, impossible dreams, intentions
of
courage and rescue, wormholes that connect disparate worlds, and
characters who
move into different milieus that test their resources and mettle will
welcome Saving My Ancient Life’s
journey and diverse
themes.
The novel's ability to not only entertain,
but stand out, also makes for a top recommendation for book club
discussion.
"...is time any
different
for any of us, going back and forth through the worlds in our minds and
in our
hearts, searching for the truth of who we really are?"
Return to Index
A Sister Ago
Caitlin Buhr
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-232-5
$15.99
www.atmospherepress.com
A Sister Ago is about the death of a
sister, the strange
coincidences that emerge from sibling Christine’s loss, and a probe
that sends
her from grief to investigation as she uncovers some startling new
facts about
her sister’s life and death.
While
Caitilin Buhr’s
novel may seem to be a murder mystery in disguise, look further to
uncover the
threads of family relationships and discovery that keep this story
moving
beyond mystery realms alone.
Buhr is
adept at
portraying the immediate and long-term impact of sister Rachel’s death
as
Christine simultaneously seeks answers and recovery from grief. This
search
brings her to grad student Keji and the startling realization that her
therapist has violated client confidentiality by sharing with him
details of
Christine’s life and Rachel’s death. Why would Walter do this? And what
does
Keji’s brother Yota have to do with Rachel’s demise?
As the two
probe odd
circumstances and serendipity, new realizations arise about
relationships,
coincidence, and determination. These shake each’s cognizance of who
their
brother and sister really were.
Underlying
insights
about addiction, family relationships, and more lend a multifaceted
feel to the
story that will keep readers thoroughly engaged and guessing about
outcomes.
This is why A Sister Ago is highly recommended both
for libraries seeking novels that include a flavor of mystery, but
forge deeper
into family connections, and readers who enjoy stories filled with
unexpected
twists and turns, both emotional and investigative. The sense of
discovery is
exquisitely developed, while the characters are three-dimensional and
captivating throughout their growth and grief processes.
Return to Index
Summer
Triangle
Elizabeth Webster
Atmosphere Press
979-8891320055
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Summer Triangle will attract and delight
readers seeking women’s
fiction that simmers with vivid contrasts in lives, emotions, and
reactions to
challenges. It examines the entwined experiences of three women who
become
bonded by an idyllic beach haven getaway. Each needs to walk out of her
life.
Each finds not only respite, but recovery and friendship unexpectedly
evolving
from her escape.
From the
start,
Elizabeth Webster builds an enticing juxtaposition between the desire
for peace
and respite and the forces that threaten each woman’s security and
psyche.
Individually,
the
women grapple with seemingly overwhelming obstacles; but collectively,
they
discover a strength in sharing and support that emerges from an initial
desire
to hide.
Natalie has
to run
from her life when the dual impact of her husband Harris’s infidelity
and her
professional life’s downfall tear her world apart. The reason why she
can’t
find closure by remaining where she’s at becomes clear from the start:
“…the handful of therapists that she’d seen and
subsequently dumped had
all agreed with him. They’d all spoken of closure. There had been
vague,
saccharine references to sand in her toes. Her most metaphysical
therapist had
talked often about the “healing” powers of saltwater and sea air. As
though
childhood trauma was eczema. As though every open wound can be mended
by simply
circling back to the point of puncture.”
Her story,
revealed
in the first chapter, merges with Eliana’s experience with Josh in the
second
chapter. Chapter headings might have clarified the shifting characters
a bit
better, but Webster is careful to name each in the opening lines of the
chapter, which helps mitigate potential confusion.
Eliana
escapes family
and financial woes by not only retreating to her beach hideaway, but
finds solace
in offering it to women enduring similar stresses in their lives, who
also need
a getaway in order to think. Intriguing questions about gratitude’s
wellsprings
arise early in the story to explain her generosity and perceptions:
“Eliana furrowed her brow. ‘You think I’m being
ungrateful.’
’I just think we both have to remember it: through some twist of fate,
some
mixture of fate and work and privilege, we’ve gotten lucky—‘
’And where does that leave me, exactly? Locked into a smile for life?’”
Then there’s
high-profile model Allegra, who is haunted by a controlling husband and
relentless media pursuit. Can she really walk out of her world
successfully?
As chapters
juxtapose
marriages, friendship impacts, and lives in flux, readers will
appreciate how
these three disparate women’s lives become supportive relationships
that send
ripples of change back into the worlds they fled.
Summer Triangle is especially highly
recommended as a summer beach
read; for libraries interested in women’s fiction that center around
friendship
impacts and growth opportunities; and for readers interested in
psychological
clashes and transformation processes.
Return to Index
Till My Last
Day
Deborah Swenson
Nor-Mar Press
979-8218961169
$18.99 Paperback/$9.49 eBook
Website: https://deborahswenson.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Till-My-Last-Day-Trilogy/dp/B0CW8KP652/
Till
My Last Day is
the second book in the Desert
Hills Trilogy and opens in 1880 Boston. Dutiful society daughter and
lady
Rebecca Young Ackerman, married off to a man her father chose (who not
only
doesn’t love her but threatens her), decides to take the leap and
escape her
socially acceptable bondage.
To do so,
she must
take her boys and travel cross-country towards a new life and away from
the
circumstances which held her in thrall. The last thing she expected was
to meet
a gentleman whose time-traveling experience landed him in her
lap.
Nathaniel,
too, never
expected to give up his familiar life in 2016 to move to the past, but
circumstances beyond his control sent him into this other world.
Rebecca’s, to
be specific.
Rebecca’s
opening
first-person narrative captures the terror she feels upon her drunk
husband’s
return home. She fears this time, she won’t be able to deflect his
wrath, which
could cost her life.
Accompanied
by Pearl
(determined to stick by her through thick and thin), Rebecca makes her
way
west, moving away from Boston society and the man whose veneer only
imitated
propriety in public.
Perspectives
shift
(which are clearly defined in chapter headings) from her husband
Elliott’s
pursuit of her and his entry into Yuma, Territory, Arizona, to the
involvement
of Benjamin Reynolds, a Pinkerton agent who finds that his latest
assignment
lands him in the middle of a mess of discoveries.
As Rebecca
staves off
the day when Elliot will find and capture them, and Nathaniel falls in
love
with a courageous yet vulnerable lady, readers become involved in a
story of
romance, intrigue, and pursuit. This may trigger readers with PTSD from
predatory relationships but thoroughly engage with its shifting
narrators and
circumstances.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a story replete with a sense of 1800s cultural contrasts
between Boston
high society and Western frontier milieus and vivid personalities who
leave
their comfort zones to build new lives will find Till My Last Day a
compelling story. It enhances the prior Till My Last Breath, yet is a strong,
independent,
stand-alone read for newcomers.
Return to Index
The Curse of King Midas
Colleen M. Story
Midchannel Press
978-0-9990991-6-2
$24.99 Hardcover/$15.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
https://colleenmstory.com/story/the-curse-of-king-midas/
The
Curse of King
Midas is the first book in the Midas Legacy series, and
marries mythology
and magic in retelling the traditional Greek legend. Readers familiar
with this
myth may not fully realize that a real King Midas ruled the kingdom of
Phrygia
(now part of Turkey) in the eighth century B.C., but the archaeological
evidence piecing together the truth of the story has only emerged from
excavation efforts in the 1950s. This contributes to a story that
perhaps could
not have been told decades ago.
For all its foundations in
myth and historical reality, The Curse of
King Midas is, however, a
tale firmly rooted in magic and fictional embellishment as Colleen M.
Story
casts the King Midas legend in an entirely new light.
Contemporary insights on
trauma, PTSD, leadership
challenges and cursed power blend nicely in a story that brings the 8th
century to life. Other characters emerge, such as the goddess Denisia,
Prince
Anchurus, Katiah, and others who all interface with and impact the
kingdom
(and, ultimately, its ruler).
Story excels in creating
action-packed scenarios that are
thoroughly engrossing and bring the environment, setting, and
underlying
motivations and concerns of leaders, goddesses, and major influencers
to life.
She builds on their experiences to create and explain the conflicts
that buffet
kingdom and characters:
“And
does your
heart long for revenge against this soldier who killed your mother and
stole
your sister?”
He nodded again, clenching his fist. She cocked her head, studying him.
“If you
really want it, you must be willing to sacrifice for it.”
The real curse of the king
lies in far more than gold and
greed. Story brings this world to life with a vivid touch that spins a
fine
yarn, circling it with the golden touch of authoritative history
combined with
new interpretations.
The marriage of intrigue,
myth, and special interests
works well to create a compelling revamp of the King Midas legend. This
will
prove attractive to a wide range of readers, from those interested in
stories
built from new historical discoveries to others who just want a
rollicking good
read replete with myth, magic, and entwined lives, that exhibits rich
and
satisfying twists and turns of experience and intention.
Libraries particularly
interested in a multifaceted story
of action and intrigue will welcome this addition to their collections.
Return to Index
The Dreaming
Gourd
Victoria Long Mowrer
Top Reads Publishing,
LLC
978-1-970107-44-9
$21.99 Hardcover
www.topreadspublishing.com
The Dreaming Gourd is a short (under 100
pages) but powerful read
designed to appeal to a wide age range, even though its black and white
linocut
illustrations (also by Victoria Long Mowrer) would seem to place it in
a
category for younger readers. To limit its wide-ranging philosophical
and
spiritual reflections to kids alone would be to do it a grave
disservice,
because The Dreaming Gourd’s design
lends to its appeal to a wide range of readers, from youngsters to busy
adults
seeking succinct, eye-opening life inspections.
The story
resolves
around female deities who seek to remedy Earth’s imbalances, but find
that
their own lack of group harmony contributes to their inability to solve
such
problems.
The story
opens with
an intriguing invitation to learn more:
“You know those nights? Those crystal-clear nights
when the stars
beckon us to gaze into the heavens to delight in their twinkling
wonder? When
we heed their call, we are rewarded with the sight of billions of
glittering
jewels suspended in an infinite pool of inky black. Such a dazzling
sight! But
it was not always this way.”
Anthropomorphic
descriptions of the stars and their delight with the blue planet Earth
personalize the tale of what happens when Earthlings no longer take the
time to
look up and admire the stars. This, in turn, causes the stars to lose
their
attraction to Earth, which has become too self-centered:
“…after a time, the inhabitants of Earth no longer
looked to the stars.
Not for navigating, not for gazing, and certainly not for wishing upon.”
As
connections with
nature are lost, so darkness evolves. Can the deities solve their own
issues to
craft a powerful group effort to remedy the universe’s woes?
Victoria
Long
Mowrer’s gentle tale will encourage important discussions; especially
between
youth and elders. Examples of stubbornness, courage, and impatience
that cloud
the work of unification and serenity will prompt many a lively debate.
Goddesses,
Dreamers,
and Scribes contribute their efforts and perspectives to
problem-solving as the
journey revolves around a missing Dreaming Gourd and the impact of its
loss on
all manner of influences, both Earthly and celestial.
The Dreaming Gourd will appeal to
readers interested in stories
that appear to be fantasy, but actually contains deeper-level subjects
for
contemplation and group discussion. Libraries may face a quandary in
its
display: suitable for young and old alike, the solution is to profile The Dreaming Gourd as a top
recommendation for literary and philosophical dreamers who look for
stories
with easy access and deeper insights than most.
Return to Index
Flicker
Matthew J. McKee
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-185-4
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
In Flicker, protagonist Heat Agaki is on
fire. Literally. She also holds the ability to set the world around her
on fire
as her drive to burn those around her (whom she deems undeserving of
life)
expands to include designs on the world.
As the topic
of arson
sparks reader interest from Heat’s perspective, Matthew J. McKee
creates an
evocative read that juxtaposes fantasy with reality, employing language
that is
captivating in its atmospheric choices:
I’m alone, dressed in white, standing in a pile of
cold, loamy earth at
the end of my street. The soil is moist, alive with insects and worms
squirming
between my naked toes. It’s night, but it’s not dark. It’s bright, so
very
bright. It’s bright because of the fires. All the houses… All the
houses on my street are on fire. In my left hand is
the gasoline, and in my right
hand is the lighter. And at the end of the road, where I’m standing, is
my
house. It is burning, like all the rest, a bright, vibrant, and bloody
red. I
turn to stare at those beautiful, noble flames. I watch until smoke
engulfs the
entire sky, and then I laugh and pour the last of the gasoline over my
head.
Vibrant
dreams filled
with red flames spill over into Heat’s own life, drawing readers into a
dark
story that tests the lines of right and wrong and how the charge and
duty of
employing powers can not only change lives, but lead to questions about
the
right to do so.
As Heat
navigates a
clever, savvy detective, the whispers of schoolmates, and her own
heart, readers
will find the juxtaposition of intrigue, realization, and discovery
contribute an
atmosphere that is
difficult to easily peg … which is the reason for this story’s
exceptional
strengths.
The
dialogues between
Heat and The Detective are as freshly original as the plot’s
evolutionary
process:
“I was planning
on
waiting on the curb, mind you. But again, the door was ajar when I
arrived, so
as is my duty, I investigated.” The Detective tapped a finger off her
clipboard. “A ten-year-old domestic abuse claim against the mother for
supposed
physical abuse of her daughter, called in by the neighbor, but
unsubstantiated
and denied by the husband. With a record like that hanging over the
house, a
door ajar is all the probable cause I need.”
“Bullshit—”
“What proof do you have to say otherwise?”
“That’ssss, not an okay thing for a detective to say—”
“THE.” Her eyes drew wide,
delirium spilling from them in waves. “I’m The
Detective. I don’t care what an okay thing
to say is. My lines are almost and
foregone. So don’t come and
parade an excuse like that in front of me. A kid as intelligent as you?
Come
on. You can do better, I think.”
At once a
work of
magical realism, intrigue, psychological rifts and healing, and mental
breakdowns that marry ecstasy with achievement, Flicker’s
literary and psychological prowess makes it especially
highly recommended for high school to college students who enjoyed
Stephen
King’s Carrie.
Here, a very
different set of events take a step up from heat and vengeance alone to
depict heat
in the forms of metaphor, allusion, and allegory, and many more
captivating
possibilities. These will lend fire to reader group and classroom
discussions.
Return to Index
How Much is
Enough?
Claire Berger
Canoe Tree Press
978-1-961624-46-7
$17.95
www.DartFrogBooks.com
How Much Is Enough? Getting More By Living With Less is billed as an ‘interactive memoir’ and presents
chapters that can be
read in any order. This will especially appeal to busy readers who
prefer
digesting their material in bits and pieces, dipping into different
topics and
segments as interest strikes.
Twenty-two chapters ask questions about
different forms of wealth and value, juxtaposing Claire
Berger’s
insights on subjects ranging from food and marriage to work, education,
love,
sex, and other life pivot points.
While
Berger’s life
values and encounters form the crux of this book (which is why it is
billed as
a memoir), the interactive portion concluding each chapter invites
readers to
delve deeper into their own values and definition of what constitutes
real wealth.
One example
lies in
the memoir portion:
“Who my kids are to each other now as adults is one
of my greatest joys
in life. My daughter told me the main reason she wanted to have two
children of
her own was that she couldn’t imagine her life without her brother,
whom she
considers a trusted confidante and best friend.”
This blends
nicely
with an invite to consider “what was the
best piece of advice your parents gave you?” How wisdom is
translated
between generations, applied to life, influenced by culture, and
written down
or spoken for future generations receives thought-provoking examination
that
encourages readers to consider their own life choices and influences.
At each
junction of these
life-altering decision points, Berger encourages readers to consider
their own
underlying reactions and influences on choice and attitude.
This is the
‘interactive’ part of the book that encourages readers to write down
their
reflections for posterity.
How Much Is Enough? is an inviting method of
encouraging self-examination,
heritage, and the consequences of decision-making. It’s highly
recommended for
libraries strong in self-help books, and for readers participating in
book
clubs. The latter audience will consider the nature and value of How Much Is Enough? to be perfect for sparking debates
and discussion defining what is important in life … and why.
Return to Index
How to
Succeed in
Business Without Really Crying
Tom Johnstone
Independently
Published
979-8-853-01-0901
$12.63 Paperback/
$19.63 Hardcover/ $2.99 Kindle
How
To Succeed in Business Without Really Crying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying
differs from most
business books on the market in that it tackles subjects not usually
part of
the upward-bound career guide; from how to interview for a job that
isn’t ideal
(but offers growth opportunities) to handling bad bosses and difficult
co-workers.
Also part of
the
discussions are interpreting “boss speak” to understand what is really
being
said, but is couched in passive-aggressive language; the challenges of
hiring
and putting together a team; and how to handle being fired.
Where other
books
present the ideal of acknowledging workplace politics, How
to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying presents tips,
tricks, and tools for navigating these political waters in such a way
that
moving on translates to achieving personal business goals and moving
ever
upwards.
Case history
examples
from Tom Johnstone’s own experiences pepper these admonitions and
insights,
introducing reality-based encounters and perceptions that create bigger
pictures:
“How do you chart a course from a project map that
keeps you on track,
but doesn’t consider the sideroads and road signs along the way? You
need to
look at the components of the big picture in detail. Understand what’s
being
touched and why it’s critical. Forecasting potential pitfalls (or
ancillary
benefits) is simply a matter of knowing the landscape.”
Readers who
look for
exact connections between ideal, action, and result will appreciate the
section
which mirrors programmer attitudes with a chart of “If…/Then…/So
Consider…,”
which contrast worker intention and reaction to outcomes and advice on
how to
approach the business situation (and world) differently.
At each
step,
Johnstone creates references that are digestible and easily absorbed.
One
example lies in his section on letting a job go, which pairs the tip “Below is a quick reference guide to help you
decide if your resignation is worth more effort than tossing a middle
finger in
the air as you strut out of the office one last time” with a
chart of
columns that identify triggers, tempting reactions, more
well-considered
options, and possible outcomes.
At every
step,
Johnstone supports his business perspective with analysis of goals,
solutions,
and outcomes. These can support a business reader’s intention to handle
relatively poor conditions in the most positive manner possible.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying
is quite simply a
treasure trove of experience, opportunity, and revised outcomes. It
should be
part of any businessperson’s library; whether they be aspiring leaders
or
workers seeking career advancements that often depend on overcoming
career-quashing adversity.
Return to Index
The Little
Black Book
of Retirement Wisdom
Mike Kowis, Esq.
Lecture PRO
Publishing
979-8990013315
$9.99 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
www.mikekowis.com
The
Little Black Book of Retirement Wisdom: Amusing
Quotes for Retirees tackles
the subject of retirement with levity and brevity, marrying both
in a manner that will attract and amuse both new retirees and those who
have
had time to rest on their career laurels.
Chapter headings delineate
serious topics of concern to
all retirees, from building and tapping nest eggs to dying wishes and
finding new
purpose in retirement years. The words of wisdom, while embedded in
such
considerations, are not just dry admonitions, but pointed observations.
They
come from a wide range of sources, which makes their diversity even
more
appealing.
Examples of such hard-hitters include:
“While more people are working later in life
because of happy things like longer life expectancy, they are also
doing so
because of very sad things, like a lack of Social Security benefits or
retirement plans.” –
Alissa
Quart
“I don’t really think about retiring. I will retire
just before people
start saying, ‘I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.’" –
Leonard
Slatkin
“The best thing about retirement is not having to
wear pants.” – Mark
Hewer
Wisdom
abounds—but so
do opportunities for hilarity, mixed with serious reflection.
There could
be no
better gift for upcoming retirees than The
Little Black Book of Retirement Wisdom—and no better addition
to a
general-interest library’s shelves. Senior book clubs and reading
groups will
also find that The Little Black Book of
Retirement Wisdom holds the opportunity to encourage many a
debate about
retirement perceptions and experiences.
Return to Index
Mom Your Way
Yasmin Kaderali
Flashpoint Books
978-1-959411-52-9
$18.95
Paper/$8.99 eBook
www.flashpointbooks.com
New moms well know there are
many, many books on the
market about everything from baby's 'firsts' to managing a baby's
environment
and home. Fewer pay more than lip service to the source of Baby ... the
mother.
Yasmin Kaderali remedies
this gap in attention with Mom Your Way:
Judgment-Free Wisdom to
Empower New Moms, a survey that returns identity and
personal care into the
formula of attending to a new life.
The fourth and fifth
trimesters receive close inspection,
here, with chapters providing new moms with questions and answers based
on a mother's
concerns. These range from insights about what is going on physically
and
typical labels assigned to these processes and feelings, to overcoming
common
barriers to experiencing self-worth and empowerment during the physical
and
mental changes of approaching motherhood.
Kaderali adopts a candid,
chatty tone that speak to
mothers about these insights. She covers topics few other books on
motherhood
tackle, keeping the conversation revealing, supportive, and encouraging:
"Okay,
let’s
talk about all the super weird things and new pains going on with your
body
that, frankly, no one ever talks about. Depending on the type of birth
you had,
you might be hurting in all kinds of places more than anyone could have
prepared you for. Maybe you had a C-section and still struggle to sit
up with
any ease. Maybe you are still in an adult diaper and, yep, that is a
look that
no one can prepare you for! Either way, whatever shape that sweet lil’
bod of
yours is in now, your body is strong!
Remember . . . it just created life!
Yep, you. Your body did that! And no matter what you see when you look
in the
mirror now, know that what your body just achieved is downright
miraculous.
Mom
Your Way is
not a lecture, however. Embedded in these encouraging insights are
self-help
exercises that mothers can easily use to identify and resolve looming
anxiety
over their approaching new lifetime job.
From identifying sources of
stress and frustration to
reevaluating a mother’s life after birth, there should be no surprises
after
reading Mom Your Way. It provides
many insights and opportunities for self-empowerment throughout the
entire process
of becoming a mother.
Libraries looking to add a
parenting title to their
collections that goes above and beyond the usual baby focus will find Mom Your Way an encouraging,
information-filled book of uplifting insights and methods for building
a
positive home environment not just for baby, but mother.
Parenting discussion groups,
too, will find its
assignment and discussion key to spirited considerations of what makes
a new
mother effective and healthy—both for baby and her own future.
Return to Index
Rock
& Roll Nightmares: Blood On The Tracks
Staci Layne Wilson
Excessive Nuanc
978-1737513995
$15.99 Paperback/.99eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Roll-Nightmares-Graveyards-Unraveling/dp/1737513994
Rock
& Roll
Nightmares: Blood On The Tracks: From Guitars to Graveyards… Unraveling
the
Mysteries Behind Rock's Most Tragic Tunes is highly
recommended for
libraries and readers of popular music history. While it would seem
there are
plenty of books already on the market on this subject, Staci Layne Wilson’s approach sets her book apart
from many, making it
a top recommendation for discriminating music fans.
Wilson
adopts an
exposé-style
investigative probe of the underlying stories,
influences, and experiences that led to pop music fame. Rock ‘n roll’s
dark
heart, real-life drama, and often-horrific stories of coincidences,
clashes,
and biographical behind-the-scenes sketches of the musicians and
culture which
influenced its evolution come to life, here.
Unexpectedly,
murder
and crimes abound, making these tales equally attractive to true crime
readers
who wouldn’t ordinarily pick up what appears to be a music history
title.
From bands
connected
to killers and musician backgrounds that interplay deadly danger with
artistic
license to added flavors of humor, creative music investigation, and
the
nefarious underworld of music culture, Wilson’s decades of experience
writing
about music and producing professional documentaries on the subject
results in
a compelling saga that is at once macabre, fascinating, and a far cry
from the
usual pop music history.
From “shock rocker”
Alice Cooper’s concept album connections to criminal insanity to songs
by Blind
Melon and other contemporary groups that come embedded with special
forms of
information, revelation, and intrigue, Rock & Roll Nightmares: Blood On The
Tracks takes a deep
dive
into darkness. It leads rock ‘n roll fans, true crime readers, and
musicians on
a rollicking ride into arenas commonly ignored or missed by more
straightforward
analyses of the music scene.
The result is a
captivatingly dark portrait of music and
musicians which is very highly recommended for its exceptional
alternative
approach to pop culture, its threads of biographical information, and
its
ability to connect killers and crazy thinking with the evolution of
rock ‘n
roll as a whole.
Libraries will find these
added-value facets lend to Rock &
Roll Nightmares: Blood On The
Tracks’s recommendation to any reader or book club interested
in looking at
rock music from a very different perspective.
Return to Index
SN_33P'sCoolZine
Tenacity Plys
Fifth Wheel Press
979-8-9888321-4-0
$20.00
https://fifthwheelpress.myshopify.com/products/sn_33pscoolzine-pdf-by-tenacity-plys
SN_33P'sCoolZine represents the comic/graphic novel format at its
most intriguing with
a “punk zine” authored by AI SN_33P (“Sneep”). Their hardware is on
Planet
Earth; their consciousness is the Internet; and their hobby is looking
for bugs
in their code.
There are no human overseers,
because SA_4ON killed almost all the humans. Nevertheless, SN_33P is
creating a
zine in the hopes of producing content that will gain them artificial
attention
from his fellow AIs, who are more absorbed in network operations than
making
friends.
Vivid illustrations follow
SN_33P’s world and life, from the factory setting that involves work to
“make
the world a better place” to the server room where they live, the
parking lot
where humans once parked their cars outside, and the one surviving
oddity in
his world, Dr. Carol Kraus, who was “born in another human” and who
created
them.
Her dialogues with them,
reflections on her position as the sole human survivor, and insights on
the
developing relationship between AI and creator are thought-provoking,
vibrant,
sassy, and fun:
“’That’s
my whole job, Sneep,’ she said, taking a big sip of her
ethyl alcohol mixture. ‘The rest of the time, I sit here watching a
bunch of
lobotomized HAL 9000s put together Legos, so SA_4ON can turn my planet
into its
demented Minecraft server.’”
Sneep’s response is
satisfyingly original as they mistake human sarcasm for real (albeit
puzzling)
information:
“I
didn’t know how to interpret most of that sentence, but basically
it sounds like Carol’s on easy street with this job. Good for her!”
As Sneep develops an affection
for music, envisions being in a punk rock band with Carol, and
digresses
mightily from their artificial ways, actual emotions set in to further
separate
them from all but Carol.
They find themselves writing
songs. And a zine (which the other AIs dismiss as not an actual zine,
but a
“scrapbook-diary”).
As they slowly become more
human, Sneep discovers a terrible truth about Carol’s destiny. Maybe
they can
make their zine about good vibes and non-stop happiness? Unfortunately,
they
realize that sadness is part of the story, and so his zine must reflect
turns
of events that are deeply sorrowful.
Tenacity
Plys crafts a thoroughly engrossing story replete with
elements of philosophical and psychological reflection; from what it
means to
be human (or an AI) to the quandary of how to handle Carol’s absence in
his
world.
All
ages will appreciate this blend of candid reflection and
thought-provoking issues as the AI evolves personality and intelligence
and
begins to confront the objectives and actions of their fellow
intelligences.
More
so than most graphic novels or zines, SN_33P'sCoolZine eschews any dumbed-down thinking or
action-oriented plot in favor of reflections and quandaries that will
psychologically grasp reader interest as events place Sneep in an
impossible
situation. The illustrations are profuse and fun, outlining the basics
of Sneep
and Carol’s world.
This exceptional approach, which
injects an intellectual discourse with thought-provoking and unexpected
directions, sets SN_33P'sCoolZine
apart from most other graphic presentations, making it especially
highly recommended for libraries seeking accessible graphic works that
operate
at a higher level of thinking and attraction than most in their genre.
Return to Index
Supernatural Photos: Red
Letter Edition
Mikah, Co-Authored with The Holy Spirit
Independently Published
978-1-7346-8383-7
$31.00
Hardcover
Website: https://www.KingdomManagementTeam.faith
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Photos-Red-Letter-Mikah/dp/173468383X
Full-color photos of the
spirit realm seem impossible,
but the proof lies in the image and its interpretation; both of which
are
provided by Mikah in Supernatural Photos:
Red Letter Edition.
Traditional Christian
believers may find it difficult to
accept this physical evidence of the spirit realm because it is not
taught in
the church, but those who truly believe in spiritual messages, Angels
and
demons, and messengers from God will find thought-provoking the visual
examples
which pack these pages.
At this point, it should be
cautioned that Supernatural Photos
is but a sampling of
some 5,000 photos Mikah took. It serves as a fitting introduction to a
larger
body of photography that is shot in an unusual manner—Mikah takes such
photos
when Father directs her, and seldom knows what image her camera will
capture.
The first notion necessary
for accepting her gift is that
spirits are all around us. Some are holy, but others not. The second is
that
the camera, combined with a daughter’s mandate from her Father, can be
used to
not just capture these spirit images, but transmit messages from God.
In her introduction, Mikah
delves into Biblical
references, historical teachings and insights on spiritual matters, and
the
presence of spirits. A wide range of sources is utilized, including
Hebrew
interpretations and linguistic insights about how spiritual matters are
translated from God to humans.
Mikah synthesizes the nature
of both her work and her
connection to God:
Father
Yhovah
arranged photo evidence of Mikah’s spiritual walk from cherub to eagle
for
proof of who she is in the Kingdom of Light so the truths she has
written will
be received and believed. We will not understand everything about the
spiritual
side of the Kingdom while still held captive in bodies of flesh, but a
picture
is worth a thousand words, and she has been blessed with thousands of
supernatural photos.
Readers who believe will
follow in her footsteps as Mikah
pairs her photographic images with insights and observations. These
include the
realization that there are “many spirits;” that both Angels and demons
can be
seen on film; and that interactions between the two can be observed by
those
who know what they are looking at. One example is a 2011 “battle behind
the
cloud” which, to some, may be interpreted as sunlight behind rain
clouds, but
assumes new meaning under Mikah’s guiding hand.
From demon and Angel armies
captured on film (when Angels
form a barrier at Mikah’s home) to photo images of fertility and the
moon,
Mikah’s wide-ranging photos are at once thought-provoking, revealing,
and
certain to spark avid debate among believers about the hand, methods,
and
nature of God, Angels, and more.
There’s nothing quite like
it. This makes Supernatural Photos
a strong
recommendation to spiritual readers interested in stretching their
minds around
the concept of concrete physical evidence of God and Angels in the
world.
Return to Index
Surviving Paradise: The Perils and Pleasures
of the Caribbean
Bryan M. Byrd
Novacom Press
9798989798711
$31.99 Hardcover; $22.99
Paperback; $9.99
eBook
Website: https://bryanmbyrd.com/
Ordering: www.amazon.com
and local retailers
Surviving Paradise: the Perils and Pleasures
of the Caribbean, an
auto-fiction novel by Bryan M. Byrd, is a diverse, dramatic story
combining
autobiography with fictional elements.
Expect anecdotes and threads of humor,
romance, and unexpected adventure as the exploration of how Bryan
became a
sailor and adventurer is introduced with an immediate draw from the
first line:
“I didn’t trust Rocco, but had no choice.”
As a passenger on a sailboat who knew
nothing about sailing, Bryan finds himself in a situation where “…between
Rocco and the Bermuda Triangle, I feared Rocco more.” Talk
about a sailing
trip gone awry!
The action and adventure unfold as
relentlessly as the waves which buffet Bryan’s life as one exploit
after
another turns the tides from a well-earned, secure life to one which
feels like
it’s approaching its end.
But, that’s often the nature of adventure,
which also brings with it a healthy dose of discovery, attraction,
beach scenes
and experiences, as Bryan explores the Caribbean and the
psyche
simultaneously.
Readers might be pleasantly surprised by the
psychological insights which permeate the narrative as much as its
humor: these
emerge at unexpected moments: “…take responsibility
for your condition.
Then change it. Blaming someone else gets you nowhere, and keeps you
there. . .
. When choosing a mind-altering substance, choose education . .
. I’d rather
be alone than wishing I were.”
From the Bahamas to Turks & Caicos, to
the Virgin Islands, this sailing saga cultivates a “you are here”
feeling—of
rocking boats, changing lives, evolving nature, personal,
interpersonal, and
worldly discoveries. These inject the story with action-packed
scenarios as
well as lazy days aboard a sailboat facing nautical adversity and
pleasures
alike.
This is no one-trip wonder, but incorporates
decades of experience into a story which is as notable for its insights
on love
and growth as it is for its treasure hunts of discovery.
And,
there’s no more perfect beach read to
take to the sands; readers will find Surviving Paradise: the
Perils and
Pleasures of the Caribbean the perfect antidote for a life
stuck “on the
hard.” Libraries and book clubs will appreciate a rollicking good ride
through
Caribbean encounters and a sailor’s coming-of-age.
Return to Index
What If
You’re Right?
Dr. Emily Colwell
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-228-8
$18.99
Paperback/$9.99 eBook/$26.99 Hardcover
www.atmospherepress.com
What If You’re Right? Discover
How Right You Are in a World that Makes You Feel So Wrong
comes from a licensed, board-certified
naturopathic doctor
and clinical social worker whose decades of experience lends to this
examination of self-confidence and strength.
Despite her
training,
Dr. Colwell had her own intense anxiety to overcome. It proved to be a
process
that lasted some forty years. Much of it stemmed from her ‘lens of
wrongness’
that “…is everywhere in our culture. The
lens of wrongness convinced me that my anxiety and many other aspects
of me
were innately wrong and that the solutions lay outside me. This is the
case for
so many who simply feel the exhaustion of trying to figure it out.”
Identifying
this
concept is only the beginning of the war over ultimate control of life
and
self. The next steps are clearly outlined by Dr. Colwell in a series of
admonitions and insights that discusses not just problems, but
real-world,
working solutions for such issues as the drive to please other people,
countering the tendency towards perfectionism, developing a realistic
self-care
program, and more.
Dr. Colwell
translates problems into workable solutions that require no expertise
in
anything—just the willingness to work on the issues that contribute to
a
consistent sense of dissatisfaction with self and life in general.
Readers will
be
especially pleased by the manner in which problems are tackled—with an
eye to
examining not just individual challenges, choices, and reactions; but
social
pressures and how to view and handle them:
“…we are constantly barraged by messages in the
media and culture that
suggest how we feel, look, or act is not right enough and that the
solutions to
these “problems” lie outside us. Regardless of how you land in this
place, your
reaction is often the same. You try to determine your worth by pleasing
and
seeking approval from others. And to do this, it becomes necessary to
nourish
your connection with others, but not yourself. The great news is that
purposely
learning to nourish our connection with ourselves is the antidote.”
The result
is a
primer on self-worth that goes far beyond most typical self-help books
and
approaches. What If You’re Right?
creates an inviting, thought-provoking intersection between personal
perception, community interactions, and flaws in thinking that
contribute to
ongoing self-dissatisfaction (and, more importantly, surveys how to
remedy
them).
All these
features
are solid reasons why libraries, psychological reading groups,
self-help
groups, and the general public should choose What
If You’re Right? over many a competing guide to
self-examination.
Its
wide-ranging
themes and concerns translate to deeper-level thinking and solutions to
life
challenges that originate from within, making What
If You’re Right? the perfect starting place for cultivating
self-acceptance and change.
Return to Index
White Lies Matter Too
John A. O'Connor
Independently Published
979-8350953176
$34.99
Website: www.oconorartllc.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
White
Lies Matter
Too follows artist/professor John A. O’Connor’s 2020 title White Lies Matter, expanding his
scholarly exposé
of
America’s historic participation in deception and lies to build quite a
different undercurrent of political insight than most.
The power of this survey
lies in both its footnoted
research and in its ability to present thought-provoking discussion
material,
making it especially highly recommended for college-level reading
groups.
Those anticipating, from
this description, a textual tome
will be surprised (and delighted) by the artistic focus. Illustrations
liberally pepper the account with visuals that enhance and emphasize
many of
the concepts under John A. O'Connor’s microscope.
These range from
reconstructions of historical events
from diverse perspectives to supporting artwork that captures
sentiments and
underlying cultural and social bias, which tailor historical ‘accuracy’
to
glide over truths:
A
young soldier at
the time, future general and president Ulysses Grant said, ‘I do not
think
there was ever a more wicked war than that waged by the United States
on
Mexico.’” What Grant may have not acknowledged was that this war was
also
perceived by many abolitionists as a blatant attempt to increase the
number of
slaves and slave states––a view supported by the eminent author, Henry
David
Thoreau. Grant might also have decided that this war really wasn’t all that wicked if he had the wars of the
twentieth and twenty-first centuries to compare with the
Mexican-American War.
Whether O’Connor is
discussing the dilemma and history of
drug abuse in America past and present; the purpose and impact of the
House
Committee on Un-American Activities; or the origin of the term ‘culture
wars’,
the revelations packed into this survey will make it of supreme
interest to
high school to college-level courses on revisionist history, activism
in
America, and the social and political transition points of the nation
and how
they ultimately were interpreted and presented.
Many a book club discussion
group in artistic and
political activism and connections will find White
Lies Matter Too thoroughly absorbing for its multifaceted
subjects, insights into American ideals and deceptions, and probe of
processes
which influence the masses, creating precedents for assumptions and
belief
systems which may not always (or often don’t) attune to the nuances
underlying
what really happened, historically.
The result is at once an
artistic presentation, a social
and historical scholarly reflection, and a work of passion and purpose.
White Lies Matter Too is very highly
recommended for libraries, book clubs, and college courses interested
in an
intersection between popular culture and art, history, and activism
that
underlies and translates familiar events and assumptions in different
ways.
Return to Index
Felicia
Flamingo and
the Florida Friends
Dawn Bragg
Atmosphere Press
979-8891321922
$20.00
Hardcover/$13.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
www.atmospherepress.com
Felicia Flamingo and the Florida Friends
is the picture book tale
of a move to a new town in Florida. She’s leaving all of her first
grade
friends behind; including beloved Tuda Turtle.
Aware of her
daughter’s sadness, her wise mother advises Felicia to investigate the
local
park, where she’s seen young animals play.
Diversity is
represented in the wide range of animal friends Felicia makes, from Estelle Egret to Isabella Ibis, Hernando
Heron, and Caesar Crab, as she explores the new park
environment.
Underlying messages about friendship and attempting new things adds
further
uplifting notes to this story, encouraging the very young to consider
new
opportunities that emerge from making big moves.
Libraries
and
read-aloud adults seeking an uplifting, positive exploration of scary
new
experiences, loneliness, and the art and process of cultivating
friendships and
discoveries will find Felicia Flamingo
and the Florida Friends as sparkling in its colorful
illustrations by Sarah
Gledhill as it is thought-provoking in Dawn Bragg’s demonstration of
how
potentially negative scenarios can turn out to be filled with
unexpected, positive
new opportunities.
Return to Index
Lucy and Her
Unicorn
Get a Sparkle Puppy
Ashley Wall
MamaBear Books
978-1-960616-15-9
$17.95
Hardcover/$9.95 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
www.mamabearbooks.com
Another
sparkling
picture book Lucy adventure, Lucy and Her
Unicorn Get a Sparkle Puppy, explores Lucy and her unicorn
Twinkle’s desire
to have a pet.
Lucy has
been working
hard to show her mother she can be responsible for a pet—and her
efforts have
paid off. Today is the day!
Of course,
colorful
Lucy and her standout unicorn buddy are attracted to the brightest pick
in the
pack—a rare Sparkle Spaniel. The breed can be difficult to train, her
mother
warns. But, against her better judgment, she recognizes Lucy’s instant
love for
the puppy, lets her adopt Sparkle.
It’s Sparkle
Time!
Or, is it a time of revelation?
Ashley
Wall’s vibrant
story of puppy training receives colorful, fun embellishment by artist
Alana
McCarthy.
The lessons
Lucy and
Twinkle learn about puppies will educate picture book readers who
aspire to
their own puppy adoptions, while adding glittery and twinkling notes of
fantasy
into the story.
Adults
seeking
picture books that marry colorful fun with thought-provoking wisdom
about pet
choices and maintenance will find Lucy
and Her Unicorn Get a Sparkle Puppy more appealing than
others on the
subject of pet adoption because it sprinkles its cautions and insights
with
more than a touch of magic.
Return to Index
Nina Finds a
Home
Robert Christian
Devon
the Defender Foundation
979-8990189812
$13.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Nina-Finds-Home-Confidence-Adventures/dp/B0CY3JNPCP
The best
children’s
picture books for modern times incorporate an empowering growth
experience into
a lively story. Nina Finds a Home
is
a great example of both as it explores the topic of not just obtaining,
but
caring for a pet properly.
Devon is
excited that
his father’s dog has had a litter of puppies. He is drawn to little
Nina who, as
it turns out, is an amazing talking dog. Nina is magical, and Devon
keeps her
secret as the two increasingly bond.
His father
can only
keep one dog, and so Nina and her siblings are put up for adoption.
Nina is adopted
last, by a young neighbor. Devon feels that, at least, he will still be
close
to her. However, as days go by without her, Devon mourns her loss.
That’s not
the end of
the story. Nina runs away from her new home every chance she gets
because Devon
treats her kindly and affectionately.
Young
picture book
readers absorb valuable lessons on pet care and kindness as Devon and
Nina’s
story evolves.
Kids ages
5-8 may
long for a pet, but this story will spark important discussions about
how to
care for one, contrasting effective and ineffective methods of care to
help
kids understand the underlying impact of their choices and attitudes
towards
pets.
Not only
will parents
find this an effective approach, but an added bonus is that sales of Nina Finds a Home go towards a nonprofit foundation set
up as a tribute to
the late Devon and Nina, providing kids with resources they need to
build a
better life.
Return to Index
The New
Frontier
Wayne L. Wilson
Kinkajou Press
9781951122874
$14.95 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
Website: https://wlwilson.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/New-Frontier-Wayne-Wilson/dp/1951122879
In The New Frontier, twelve-year-old Samuel
Scott Cole and his Southern family move from their small town to seek a
better
life in Los Angeles. It’s the 1960s, when racial tensions and conflicts
are
spilling over into mainstream society. Perhaps it’s not the time for a
Black
family to move into an all-White neighborhood; even if it is in more
liberal
California.
As racism
and bigotry
emerge in their new home to affect their idealistic vision and goals in
this
“new frontier,” Sam discovers that there is no way of escaping racism’s
actions—especially since America seems to be exploding with prejudice
and
violence.
It’s
important to
note, at this point, that Wayne L. Wilson provides explicit
descriptions of
racial slurs and prejudice. These add a realistic aura to the story,
capturing
the specific circumstances that buffet not only young Sam and his
family, but
the Black community as a whole. The impact of language choices and
slurs on
events is thus considered. While these words may prove both hard to
hear and
controversial, they are essential for a realistic portrait of the
times, even
if such language is highly inappropriate now.
Another note
to the
story is that prejudice isn’t confined to Sam’s family alone, but
affect those
who are disabled, different, or living in different circumstances.
These situations
are nicely portrayed and contrasted as Sam grows into the world around
him:
“When he did take off for a walk, I liked watching
him because he’d
hobble down the sidewalk like one of those fairy tale elves strolling
through a
forest. His pants looked huge on him, like they were meant for a taller
person.
Like my Dad, he smiled at the neighbors. It wasn’t always returned,
which I
found odd considering the Wolfbergs had lived here for a long time and
were
White. And I never saw any of the neighbors visit them. I wondered if
the
adults were afraid of them, too.”
Enhanced by
subplots
involving friendships, the comparison between Sam’s experience in his
old LA
neighborhood and his new California home and the circumstances of
bigotry which
swirl around his family and lead them into controversy and trouble,
middle
grade to young adult readers receive a close inspection. All the events
are strengthened
by Wilson’s choice of the first person, which provides a “you are here”
feel to
Sam’s experiences.
Libraries
seeking
fictional examples of racism in America’s history would do well to add The New Frontier to their libraries and
recommended reading lists.
Return to Index
Old Kicker Legs: Nine
Stories + 1
Robert & Ross Rubenstein
Independently Published
979-8884351868
$47.55
Hardcover/$39.80 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/NINE-STORIES-KICKER-Kicker-Charlie/dp/B0CXMZWJFH
Old
Kicker Legs:
Nine Stories + 1 combines sports themes with children’s’
experiences in a
set of compelling, entertaining tales designed to “make kids happy.”
The joy comes from episodes
and experiences that cross
age barriers to invite fun, interactive encounters with life as a
grandfather
invites his grandson to “Run…run as fast
as the wind. Fly high like blue falcon…Can you hear the wild birds
sing?”
The lyrical descriptions and
celebrations of life can feel
ethereal and poetic, at times:
“Joe
Elm wrinkles
his nose. He puffs on a pipe.
’This is a concrete world,’ Joe Elm says. He misses the mountain desert
where
treehood began.”
This is one
reason
why adults should be involved (and will appreciate) Old Kicker Legs as
much as
kids ages 5 and up.
The
realities of
aging intersect with experiences shared by Old Kicker Legs and his
grandson,
leading young readers and listeners to absorb subliminal messages about
growth
and change (“His old bones could crack
like crystal.”).
From Wonder
Wheels to
dreams and days of COVID masks and then freedom, the Rubensteins move
through
relationships, play, and insights. These empower the stories with their
realistic scenarios paired with a philosophical inspection of life
encounters.
Topics range from basketball to the secret of living a hundred years; a
whimsical encounter between Beastly Brightly and Qwerty; and Brenda
(who was
born in a blender). The stories marry the expected with the unexpected
in
characters, adventures, and discoveries.
The result
is a
varied collection of experiences that will prove especially delightful
for
read-aloud adults seeking stories that the entire family can discuss
and enjoy.
Return to Index
Stone of
Serpents
NP Thompson
NPT Writes
978-0-9959942-8-7
$7.99 eBook
www.NPTwrites.com
Stone of Serpents is the third book in a
fantasy sword and sorcery series
for middle grade readers. It follows Ty’s return to Ordanna in an epic
showdown
to save his best friend and two worlds whose future lies in his hands
and
depends on his decisions and courage.
Readers of
the past Arcania
books who are already well versed in Ty’s experiences and history will
relish
this continuation of events focusing on encounters between Ty, Simon,
and evil
emperor Gideon Blackthorn.
Portals and
power
plays, amulets and adversaries, and increasing calls for Ty to use his
magic in
every part of his endeavors (including something as mundane as
unlocking the
door of his own home) follow struggles that deplete Ty’s resources
while
testing his resolve and relationships.
Characters
Sasha,
Ayslenne, and Shea join Ty in his mission, participating in endeavors
that test
each of them in different ways.
One laudable
note to
this story lies in shifting viewpoints which are clearly marked in
chapter
headings. These keep readers on track, absorbing different experiences
and
perspectives which nicely dovetail with Ty’s efforts.
Another note
lies in
NP Thompson’s ability to neatly segue events from past experiences into
the
ultimate conclusion here, which features fast-paced action and dilemmas
that
continue to contrast the disparate worlds of Ordanna and Arcania in
different
ways.
Added value
also lies
in how Ty deals with his different world interactions and his family:
“Do I have to remind you, again,
that your dad is not going to want to help us get back to the place you
disappeared to for two months?”
“Uh…” Ty had forgotten about that part.
“Do you have any better ideas?” Shea asked her. “It sounds like there
aren’t many people around here we can go to for help without causing
ourselves
a lot more problems. But even if his dad doesn’t believe us, his mom
was a
sorcerer. And if his dad kept any of her things after she died, then
some of it
might be useful. We should at least check.”
The result
builds
nicely on the prior books while reaching a crescendo of action,
realization,
good versus evil confrontations, and friendships that continue to
expand and
explore new options.
Libraries
seeing
popularity with the other series titles will want to add this fiery,
captivating title to their collections and make the whole set highly
recommended to middle-grade fantasy fans.
Return to Index
Sugar Free
Robin D'Amato
Atmosphere Press
979-8891322462 $26.99
Hardcover/$17.99 Paperback
www.atmospherepress.com
In Sugar Free, Ginny Eastman experiences an
unusual draw and talent for basketball … in the 1960s, when girls were
typically not involved in the sport. She overcame gender prejudice to
become
renowned as a basketball powerhouse despite her short stature and
gender.
A third
challenge now
arrives in the form of juvenile diabetes, which further tests her
resolve. But
her passion (her father deems it an obsession) continues, propelling
her into a
milieu in which she faces early retirement not from physical issues,
but the
lack of any women’s professional basketball teams.
By now, it
should be
apparent that this novel covers many levels of women’s history and
challenge,
from personal health struggles to realizing a dream that comes without
the
foundations of support that modern young women enjoy (and might take
for
granted).
Ginny is a
trailblazer purely by her own resolve and interests. This is an
uncomfortable
place to be, with few support systems in place and no prior mentors or
female
figureheads for guidance.
Racial
prejudices
also enter the picture when Ginny’s Black friend is accused of
shoplifting as
she attempts to buy a pair of socks. These experiences bring to light
the
personal nature of 1960s culture and how it impacts young women
striving to
achieve their goals and somehow fit into a world which too easily
pigeonholes
and dismisses them.
From notions
of
“killing virginity” to the murder of John Lennon, who “meant something
to
people,” Robin D'Amato injects her characters and their world with real
situations that reflect the limitations and mindset of the times.
As
relationships grow
with boyfriends, friend Tilly, and others who reflect the times with
their own
special interests, readers gain a multifaceted, full-bodied story
steeped in
the culture and revolutionary ideas that motivate the characters in
different
ways.
Threads of
humor add
unexpected comic relief, at points. One example is Tilly’s reaction to
Lennon’s
death:
“I’m
writing this
The Day After. My brain still can’t wrap around what happened last
night. It
was so sad at the Dakota. Some people were carrying Beatles signs, but
most
people just had pictures of John, or quotes from him, stuff like that.
One sign
read, ‘Dear God—Please take Bruce Springsteen and give us back John.’ I
think
there are better people to trade in than Bruce, but I suppose one needs
to
offer someone of comparable value. I mean, offering Donny Osmond
wouldn’t cut
it.”
Sugar Free is a story of growth, both
individually and in America
as a whole. It charts self-destructive behaviors, ambitions,
redemption, and
realizations through the lens of a young woman who overcomes adversity
to
develop unique strengths.
Sugar Free will appeal to a wide range of
readers, especially
libraries and individuals interested in coming-of-age stories well
saturated in
women’s issues, 1960s politics and social change, and psychological
reflections.
Return to Index
The Wrath of
Monsters
Dan Rice
The Wild Rose Press
978-1-5092-5467-5
$19.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
www.thewildrosepress.com
Young adult
fantasy
readers seeking action-packed stories filled with dragons, monsters,
magic and
mayhem may already know of Dan Rice’s Allison Lee Chronicles; but
newcomers
will also be drawn into this third book in the series, lured by an
impressive,
spunky young narrator whose observations command attention from the
start:
“Remote school is deadly…for my mental health. So
is being locked up in
my room. Of course, I choose to be locked up in my bedroom, but still.
I never
chose to have security agents, some of them actual magicians, stalking
me
through the house twenty-four by seven. I never asked for any of it,
but here I
am, staring at my laptop’s screen, trying to do pre-calculus homework.
The
problem is I can’t make heads or tails out of linear equations and
logarithmic
functions.”
Opening with
this
alluring observation of her life, Allison attracts young adult readers
to learn
about events that swirl out of her control as she reveals why she is
housebound, under an Agent’s watchful eye, and why draconic magic
threatens her
world.
Turns out
there are
more dragons on Earth than had previously been acknowledged, and
Allison lies
at the crux of how to handle them. Magic and evolving dilemmas draw her
family
into a whirlwind of danger.
By fueling
his main
character with personality and determination, Dan Rice creates a
compelling
story of fantasy, magic, and family. The
Wrath of Monsters explores different kinds of magic,
magicians, and the
darkness Allison struggles with as she confronts bigger-picture events
and
thinking.
Allison Lee
is there
to help people with guns, magic, and mayhem. She’s also determined to
face down
doctors and demons alike as she joins her father to protect children
and adults
from magical faerie fireballs and other intrusions into their world.
Rice is
particularly
adept at juxtaposing special personal interests with mandates to save
the world
as Allison builds her squad and faces down the impossible.
No prior
familiarity
with Allison’s prior adventures is needed in order to appreciate the
fast-paced
action and encounters she confronts in The
Wrath of Monsters.
All that’s
needed is
young adult interest in fantasy stories filled with confrontation and
realization—which is present here in droves, powered by Allison’s
astute and
clever pursuits.
Libraries seeking fantasy series recommendations for young adult patrons who are especially interested in stand-alone stories will find The Wrath of Monsters a winner for its fine combination of clashing personalities and purposes, and strong fantasy elements that bleed into and influence Allison’s life.
The Wrath of MonstersReturn to Index