March 2024 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature
Mystery & Thrillers
The
Exiled Queen
Roxana Arama
Dhawosia Publishing
979-8989873104
$14.99
paperback/$4.99 ebook
Website: https://roxanaarama.com/books/the-exiled-queen-a-roman-era-historical-fantasy/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Exiled-Queen-Roman-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B0CSF1P4CT
The Exiled
Queen: A Roman Era Historical Fantasy opens with an impressive listing of
characters, 'main gods', and a map; all of which portend a complex read
that
proves satisfyingly engrossing, as well.
A
young princess is featured in the opening lines of the story:
"Every year
on midsummer day, Princess Andrada waited for King Cothelas to come and
wish
her a gods-blessed birthday. Every year, he was too busy ruling Kerta
to visit
his daughter. But this year was different because she was turning
ten..."
That's
not the only reason why this year will prove different, as
Princess Andrada finds. Not only has her father been too busy being
king to
celebrate her birthday, but despite their living in the same place,
she's never
met him.
So
spins a yarn that moves from a young princess's hopes and
disappointments to follow her into adult roles where she will assume
positions
of power she'd never imagined, face dangers she's both ideally and
ill-equipped
to handle, and confront the real nature of her legacy and future.
Roxana
Arama injects Andrada's story with elements of suspense,
surprise, and revelation which operate on different levels, from social
and
political revelations to developing her inner and outer beauty and
handling the
attraction her efforts receive, which are not always welcome.
Friends
swirl around her to protect her even as Andrada's legacy is
eroded not just by a replacement chain of command, but by the
perceptions,
attitudes, and interests of the common folk ruled by them.
Even
the replacement queen Una's perspective is tailored so that her
role and rule are logical and easy to relate to:
"Una wanted
to tell him not to fear, that everything would soon be as before. She
wasn’t
there to take his place in the queen’s heart. She was there only
because of her
goddess-given duty."
In
presenting characters and possible adversaries who are often
likeable in their own ways, Arama adds complexity and gray areas to the
traditional black-or-white perspective of conflicts and confrontations,
which
will immensely satisfy fantasy and historical novel readers seeking
powerful
female presences and situations which are not driven by linear thinking.
Young
Prince Dapyx of Valdavia faces his own coming-of-age challenges
and grows under the events that emerge; the Cartographer hones not just
his art
but his involvement as a potential killer of royalty; and other
characters come
to light with their own special interests and conflicting perceptions
of events
and how the kingdom should be ruled.
The Exiled Queen is a gripping
story replete with not just action, but psychological depth and
revelation as
all the characters grapple with uncertainty, revised roles, and
struggles
between religions that have different faiths and perceptions of gods
(of which
Andrada represents the crux of conflict even as she pursues a life of
safety
and enlightenment, in direct conflict with the emergence of her role
and life).
The
result is a vivid saga that doesn't scrimp on action and political
and religious interplays between characters, but does include deeper
layers of
personal and social revelation that will simply delight libraries and
readers
seeking solid blends of history, fantasy, and proactive, powerful
female
characters.
Return to Index
The K5 PROTOCOL
Independently
Published
979-8864317914
$10.95
Paperback/$4.99 eBook/$19.95 Audiobook
https://www.amazon.com/K5-PROTOCOL-Science-Fiction-Thriller/dp/B0CL5HF184
THE
K5 PROTOCOL: A
Science Fiction Techno Thriller lives up to its promise of
sci-fi intrigue,
opening with a bang of action as the introductory scene depicts a
dilemma: "Four men lay dead, and the Earther
feared he would never get off Xobos alive."
Being stalked by
not-quite-human beings on an alien world
is bad enough, but Earther
This implant
has long
waited for this moment of awakening.
For Marshal
Flint
Maddox, the internal force leads him to realize that his friend's death
was due
to aliens who have kidnapped his friend's daughter, as well. His
realizations
send him off Earth on a hunting expedition that leads him to deputize a
posse
of four androids, steal a spaceship, and realize that his new awakening
is only
the beginning of a new persona and motivation to not only get the girl,
but dig
out the roots of a dangerous plot.
Thriller
readers who
don't normally read sci-fi will find the high-octane action of the
suspense
format translates as well into space and alien affairs as it does on
Earth.
Sci-fi
readers who
typically eschew genre thriller reads will find the magic formula here
lies in
an approach which is anything but predictable formula writing,
injecting space
missions and realizations about the Vekonis race with intersections
between
would-be rescuer and captors. These takes many unexpected twists and
turns as
Sofi and Flint find their pasts intersecting with new opportunities in
this
very strange future.
From Flint's entry into the
warrior's life as he
confronts the Vek (which leads him to find that physical torture,
humiliation,
and blackmail work even with alien races to provide the "trifecta of
persuasion") to bigger-picture revelations that motivate Flint to move
beyond his role as a concerned uncle to become a world-saving superman,
readers
receive a satisfying special blend of ingredients that make this story
thoroughly compelling and hard to put down.
Libraries seeking
supercharged tales that skirt the
definition of 'sci-fi' and 'thriller' with a technological thrust of
intrigue
and the unexpected will find THE K5
PROTOCOL worthy of acquisition and recommendation; especially
to patrons
who are widely read in either genre that think they have seen
everything.
They haven't. THE
K5 PROTOCOL dashes into unexpected territory and departs with
the prize of
excellence.
Return to Index
The Sheriff
A. M. Linden
She Writes Press
9781647426286
$18.95
Website: https://druidchronicles788ad.com/index.html
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Sheriff-Druid-Chronicles-Book-Three-ebook/dp/B0C9HN87XP
The
Sheriff is Book 3 in
the Druid Chronicles series. It will best be appreciated by prior
readers of
the Chronicles, who will find this book a vivid story of Stefan, a
young Saxon
peasant in early medieval
Now appointed as
sheriff and relegated to Codswallow (a
poor shire far, far away), Stefan faces a hostile town that prior
sheriffs have
struggled with, finally to give up and leave.
When he joins in
a search for a vanished princess from the kingdom next to theirs,
Stefan
finally sees an opportunity to regain status and fame—if he can solve
the
mystery of the princess's disappearance.
While A. M.
Linden's story can stand alone for newcomers, ideally it will be chosen
by
prior series readers for its ability to embellish upon and expand the
atmosphere, purposes, and politics of the times. Its social and
political
insights come not just from Stefan's viewpoint and encounters, but from
others
around him:
"The
innkeeper had known, even as the brigands were riding off, that the
sheriff’s
intervention was a reprieve, not a rescue. Still, given enough time,
the bandit
overlord’s temper would cool, and his wounded feelings might be salved
by a
sufficient increase in the extortion he was being paid, so Jonathan had
been on
the verge of congratulating himself that he’d cheated death again when
the two
messengers arrived from the capital, looking for the sheriff."
The result is a
powerful saga of 'profane passions' and encounters that will keep
readers on
their toes as they walk through Stefan's world and realizations.
Libraries and
readers seeking a vivid story soaked in both medieval history and
fantasy,
replete with action and thought-provoking realizations, will find The Sheriff a powerful compliment to the
series.
Return to Index
Titan's Tears
Independently
Published
979-8-9896121-1-6
$18.99
Paperback/$5.99 eBook/$29.99 Hardcover
https://chadlester.ink/
Fans of
techno-fiction that look for sci-fi embedded with elements revolving
around
genetic engineering will find Titan's
Tears a powerful suspense story that will attract thriller
genre readers as
well as sci-fi audiences.
The gothic
intrigue
opens with a snowy night and a young mother with a newborn who makes
the
hardest choice of her life: leaving her baby at a hacienda where others
will
care for her.
Fast forward
to
grown-up daughter Belle, who is residing in
How did she
come to
be thirty, unemployed, and stuck in a remote Alaskan village where
nobody will
talk to her? The roots of attraction lie within a plot that thickens as
it
probes Belle and her world.
Chad Lester
creates a
powerful saga of transformation, challenge, and evolution by painting
his
picture through the eyes of not just Belle, but Seth, Sophia, and other
characters that move back and forth in time. These shifting viewpoints
and time
frames are identified in chapter headings, which make their transition
points
smooth and uninterrupted as a terrifying truth takes hold in the
reader's mind.
The
unexpected is
often delivered with a wry dose of comic relief:
"As she gazed at the painting, she heard a creaking
sound.
Something moved beneath her feet. The floor was shifting. Startled, she
stepped
back. The large fireplace twisted to the side to reveal a hidden
chamber
beyond. Mr. Dearborn motioned for her to come in. “Forgive the
theatrics, but I
always wanted one of these.”
From buried
bunkers
to an equally well-masked reality, Lester plays out his story with such
easy
transitions between action-packed events and character discovery that
readers
will remain engrossed throughout.
Libraries
and readers
seeking powerful introductions to the newly blossoming
'techno-sci-fi-thriller'
genre will find Titan's Tears a
great
example of superior writing and powerful plot development. Its
characters live
and breathe a new reality in a dangerous near-future where work,
murder, and
the rise of the machine coalesce in unexpected ways.
Return to Index
Glenn Erick Miller
Independently
Published
979-8865384595
$3.99 Paperback/$.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Florida-Poetry-Glenn-Erick-Miller/dp/B0CN3S3ZGX
From the
birdlife in
Glenn Erick
Miller
creates a vivid collection of poetry solidified by prose pieces to
bring this
ever-changing milieu to life, using language that is evocative and
dynamic.
Many are unexpectedly surreal visions, as in the poem 'Harvey Keitel
Drives':
"Harvey Keitel drives,
misses a turn,
and we end up at the wharf.
We rumble over rotting planks,
dodge lazy pelicans
and fat tourists,
clam bars
and Florida-sized margaritas.
I blink, and we’re back on the parkway."
The tastes
of
sandalwood, sun, and singular events create and serve up the unexpected
as
"I’m in the back again,
falling behind again,
searching for stairs
or a slope of sand—
some way up."
From going
out on
precipices and taking risks, outlined in 'Daredevil' ("Depth
is just/another/kind of height,/but
height/is nothing/with a net./So I am a net,/but not for catching.")
to the poem 'Sweat' which explores )"...the
zenith/where you spy the hammocks/and the herons/and the Gulf/and the
churning
storm), this sense of place is firmly rooted both in
Florida's mercurial
atmospheres and the follies and fears of human effort to change them.
The prose
portion
works to ice the cake of experience with two stories that reflect
characters
who navigate
"The beagle led the way up the side of the house,
past a row of
pineapple bushes that Iris had planted beneath the kitchen window.
Surrounding
them were several other exotic tropical plants, none of which Ed liked.
To him,
all plants in
The result
celebrates, defines, and captures slices of the
Libraries
seeking a
literary collection that reveals new layers of Florida’s environment
and human
culture will find Florida: Poetry and
Prose a welcome synthesis of all of the state's
undercurrents, whether they
lie in climate change, natural evolution, or human affairs.
Return to Index
Good
Housekeeping
Bruce E. Whitacre
Poets Wear Prada
978-1-946116-27-7
$18.00
www.poetswearprada.com
Think 'good
housekeeping' and the women's monthly magazine may spring to mind, but
Bruce E.
Whitacre's collection, Good Housekeeping,
is about much more than recipes and cleaning house. It features poems
that
arrive with the delivery of a social inspection that is unexpected, if
one
associates the title with mainstream thinking.
Whether
tackling gay
marriage, midlife crisis, privilege, or issues of housekeeping,
Whitacre's
words are powerful, intellectual, and force readers to think:
"I sing the body domestic in sonnets
Hooveric/...Housekeeping is
why/Greed is the root of evil yet it keeps us alive..."
In many
ways, these
pieces are studies in contrasts between the "dispossessed" who
"take the streets" and the inner sanctum of home, which is too often
breached by the world ("Some days it
is the only door that opens to you/or that closes on your mess./'I'll
handle
this.' Click./Words of a saint./Heavy Duty. Light
The light as
darkness
falls (as in the poem of the same name) can be cast from the household
within,
or the knock of the world outside that door; but whether forces come
from inner
turbulence or outer influences, they remain powerful portents of
change,
endurance, and transition in Good
Housekeeping.
Libraries
seeking
poetry delivered with a social thrust of inspection and life
observation will
find that Good Housekeeping pulls
no
punches in either its subjects or delivery, traversing the pinnacles
and apexes
of mainstream and alternative homes and thinking with equal dexterity
and
force.
This also
makes Good Housekeeping an
exceptional
recommendation for contemporary poetry book club discussion groups
interested
in free verse that captures the outer limits of social decorum and
artificial
and real constructs of what makes life worth living.
"Something is always coming."
Return to Index
Hackett
At Large
Jack Fitzgerald
Victura Publishing
ASIN: BOCRDXVLRW
$2.99 eBook/$9.99 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Hackett-Large-Tales-Reporters-1961-1968/dp/B0CQLXPFCT/ref=monarch_sidesheet
The
short stories of fictional reporter
Benjamin Hackett in Hackett At Large:
Tales From a Reporter's Life in
Take
Hackett's introduction, "A Duet
With Frank." Here, Benjamin J. Hackett enjoys a Parisian spring in 1961
as
he pursues his newspaper column subjects, writing about celebrities and
the
rich and famous passing through the city in his syndicated column, "An
American in
His
encounter with new Yalie wanna-be
reporter Christopher Roberts moves from mentoring to an encounter with
Frank
Sinatra, who is enjoying a winning streak at gambling while navigating
just
such paparazzi as Hackett, who would win an interview with him.
As
Hackett's life, with its rough
childhood, big dreams, and subplot of what led to a flight to Paris
(when fame
in New York City might have been more logical) makes for an engrossing
story of
two very different personalities growing through a chance encounter.
In
contrast is the dance presented in
"Ben Hackett-The Fifth Beatle" as a trio of reporters grows their
methods, fame, and success, keeping at-home publisher Sid House at bay
while
creating opportunities that are personal, political, and fulfill a
writer/reporter's dream.
Hackett's
uncommon ability to snag
interviews with a string of celebrities keeps him employed and in
Paris, but
his latest encounter during the sizzling summer of 1965 brings his
questions
into a more personal realm as the Beatles challenge him personally and
professionally, in new ways:
“So,
when did you stop
wetting your bed?”
“Who’s said I’ve stopped?”
The four howl in delight,
especially John who cries out, “That’s it lad! Dig into the rubbish.
More,
more!”
The Beatles are enjoying the
moment and want to go on and on, but Ben suddenly cuts Paul off. “Okay,
okay,
boys, now my turn. Let me ask you this: what’s the worst thing about
being a
Beatle?”
General-interest
readers will relish the
sense of 1960s-era political and social challenges and changes. These
embrace
the celebrity world that spins fine yarns about achievement and
adversity; a
feisty reporter that has risen from impossible conditions to achieve
unprecedented success; and the social insights and challenges which
evolve from
his controversial subjects and choices.
However,
it's the aspiring reporter who
will find Ben Hackett's world the most creative, realistic, and
likeable
portrait of a fellow professional who delves (with unabashed urgency
and
cheeky, fearless creativity) into worlds often hidden from reporter
eyes.
Jack
Fitzgerald specializes in
interweaving stories that keep Ben and his readers evolving and
confronting new
people and situations. Authentic, real personalities, from entertainers
to
models and politicians, come alive to represent the atmosphere and
concerns of
the 1960s through disparate eyes and experiences.
For
all these reasons, Hackett At Large: Tales
From a Reporter's
Life in Paris, 1961-1968 is highly recommended for libraries
strong in
literary short stories that embrace a sense of place, purpose, politic
and
perspective in different and revealing ways.
Book
clubs interested in the entertainment
world's past and those who choose to report on and become engaged with
its
characters, as well as literary readers seeking winning methods of
fictional
representation in this milieu, will find the wide range of subjects
will pique
vivid discussions in a collection that romps through Paris's cultural
melting
pot.
Return to Index
Spilled
Ink
& Coffee Stains
MK Standby
978-1-960810-19-9
$5.99 eBook
www.YorkshirePublishing.com
Spilled
Ink & Coffee
Stains
is a poetry
gathering that narrows the lens of life observation to a close
inspection of
the roots of pain, pleasure, and transformation that lie in everyday
experience.
Quite
simply, this translates to a
collection that begins with birth, juxtaposing pain and pleasure:
"A
tune held ‒
of summer kisses and winter
heartbreak
in the heart of the grieving
widow.
And in the founding breath
of a newborn,
a song to the air of
life."
MK
Standby's writings are often
accompanied by coffee stain images capture the intricacy and irony of
this
life/death interplay:
"The
darkest days still
linger in the shadows of my
mind.
I see them in tangled bed
sheets and broken sleep,
a film playing on repeat
behind tired eyes –
wakefulness a welcome
reprieve."
The
free verse pieces are succinct, yet
hard-hitting. Often, the message is delivered in a few short sentences.
As
Standby navigates new relationships,
different beginnings, and observes life's anguish and ecstasies, the
collection
assumes a powerful, uniform impact of stories and notes that tell of
"summer love and winter heartbreak."
The
result is a collection perfect for
reflective readers of free verse modern poetry. It holds equal ability
to
examine matters of the heart and society with an equally close
microscopic lens
of focus wound into literary poetic structures that invite and surprise.
Libraries
seeking powerful examples of
literary life explorations will find much to recommend in Spilled Ink & Coffee Stains,
which should ideally also be
highly recommended to book clubs seeking succinct, thought-provoking
poems
especially suitable for a coffeehouse setting.
Return to Index
Finding Miracles:
Escape From a Cult
Andrew LeCompte
Connections Press
979-8-9887483-5-9
$16.95
Website: andrewlecompte.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Miracles-Escape-Andrew-LeCompte/dp/B0CQPG7Y18/
Finding Miracles: Escape
From a Cult joins other literature about
the experience of being in a cult and escaping from it, documenting
Andrew LeCompte's journey in
search of God and those who portend to transmit, reflect, or personify
spirituality and spiritual promises.
The
first important note is that LeCompte
was no casual follower, but an early devotee of A
Course in Miracles and David
Hoffmeister, who was a teacher of the course:
"I
had been a devoted
student of A Course in Miracles,
a spiritual text published in 1975. I had edited David’s first book, Awakening through A Course in Miracles,
and done it very well. It had become the central book of his ministry.
David’s
having picked me for that job was proof to me that I was chosen, chosen
to help
David shape the words of Jesus as they came from his mouth and
promulgate them
to the masses in books and videos."
His
familiarity with the work, its writer,
and the belief system structured into and represented in A
Course in Miracles provided a seamless journey into the new
Utah
community of David’s Messengers, which promoted severing all family
ties and
connections with those not members of his following.
The
foundations of LeCompte's willingness
to join and find a supportive spiritual community play out from
childhood
onward as he absorbs lessons from his parents and struggles with an
empty
feeling of longing for love and connection:
"I
interpreted
the spanking and her silence to mean not only had I done something
wrong, but
that I was not worthy, not worth speaking up for. My misdeed had
exposed and
defined who I really was. I felt a huge emptiness inside."
From
his lonely pursuit of community and
love to the initial promise his work, studies, and newfound spiritual
community
offered, LeCompte provides a compelling journey. It clarifies the
allure of
cult messages and why their promises and visions resonate with so many
who are
also lost, alienated, or longing for love and connection, chronicling
how their
messages transmit into ugly realities that many won't be able to escape.
From
Angel Walks and talks to the
components of convictions which weave cult members together and promote
ideals
and spiritual connections which ultimately can prove dysfunctional and
dangerous, LeCompte's reflections, more so than other books about cult
behaviors and indoctrination processes, strikes at the heart of what
makes such
groups both promising and dangerous:
The
Messengers made
several beautiful music videos, one of which repeated the idea from the
Course
“Decide for me.” I was continually trying to have the Holy Spirit
decide for
me."
The
result is eye-opening, intensely
personal, filled with spiritual and psychological growth and
realizations, and
ultimately will compel all kinds of readers to examine their own belief
and
support systems and the structures that promote them.
Libraries
seeking powerful memoirs that
resonate on spiritual and psychological levels that offer plenty of
material
for book clubs and meeting groups discussing religious attractions,
independent
thinking, interests in God, and miracles and messengers will discover,
in Finding Miracles, a powerful
series of
insights that deserve widespread discussion:
"The
community took
from me but never gave back. I lost my voice, actually had trouble
talking for
a while, was depressed and suicidal. They did not see me as a person."
Return to Index
The
Mystical Symphony
Judith Bowen
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-101-4
$16.99 Paperback/$25.00 Hardover/$6.99
eBook
www.atmospherepress.com
The
Mystical Symphony: A Memoir of
Healing, Vision, and Wonder
is a healing journey of growth. It follows Judith Bowen's
transformation into a
seer when her visions send her from conventional church wisdom and
thinking to
follow her own mystical path of revelation.
Her
first vision appeared when she was
fifteen. In it, Bowen discovered the promise of a new way of
incorporating
faith and sacred elements in life that drove her to grow, spiritually
and
emotionally, in new directions.
From
the start, Bowen cultivates a candid
assessment of a world and community initially anchored by the
As
her life unfolds and moves between
childhood and adult realizations, readers will appreciate the contrasts
between
different forms of growth:
"I
knew clearly by the
age of ten that I would leave as soon as I could. I knew that the place
where I
lived was not enough. I did not have the words then, but my heart knew."
From
different churches and involvements
to insights about spiritual music and its impact, Bowen creates
revelations
that will prove invitingly thought-provoking to a wide audience of
readers that
may come from different religious and life experiences:
"Hildegard
von Bingen,
especially her music, lingers in me through these many years. I
remember the
first time I heard her music, how it soared and flowed through my body
in
silver-and-gold streams. The feeling was very close to the shimmering
light and
flow of energy that I felt when I was fifteen."
The
resulting tapestry of psychological
and spiritual movement will delight libraries seeking memoirs that are
highly
recommendable to spiritual thinkers. Its powerfully compelling
revelations
prove accessible, interesting, and deeply reflective.
Return to Index
Blood
of the Father
Donald E. McInnis
J&E Publications
979-8-9865516-3-0
$18.95 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
www.donaldmcinnis.com
ew
authors are in a position to as
realistically portray the challenges of being a lawyer as lawyer/author
Donald
E. McInnis. That is why Blood of the
Father is a legal thriller filled with rare, vibrant
descriptions that will
especially resonate with readers already familiar with the legal
system. Its
protagonist, A.J. Hawke, represents many of the dilemmas McInnis also
faced as
a young lawyer, which will feel familiar and eerily realistic as the
story
unfolds.
There's
only one problem. The evidence
suggests otherwise.
As
Hawke delves more deeply into
Katherine's request and motivations for obscuring the truth, he finds
himself
facing an increasingly dire series of conundrums that leads him away
from
lawyer work and into the role of a crime investigator working against
his own
client's confession of murder.
Drew
Hawke obtains his early trial and
makes his case, but the clock is ticking down on his ability to uncover
and
present the truth to the court.
The
story adds to the A.J. Hawke, Attorney
at Law legal thriller series, but also stands alone as an outstanding
story
that blends political, legal, and crime scenarios in an atmospheric and
compelling series of twists and turns that challenge Hawke in unique
ways.
Readers
who enjoy thrillers that examine
legal proceedings such as defense-killing strategies and maneuvers will
find
the in-court and out-of-court descriptions engrossing and the
unexpected
developments satisfyingly unpredictable.
All
these elements lead Blood of the Father
to be highly
recommended to libraries; both those harboring the prior Hawke series
titles
and newcomers seeking stand-alone, strong legal thriller writing.
Return to Index
The Crooked
Queen
Daniel A. Crane
DartFrog Plus
978-1-961624-00-9
$5.99 eBook
www.dartfrogbooks.com
The Crooked Queen follows a law school
dropout who finds her
education just enough to send her into the PI business. There, she
discovers a quandary
surrounding the murder of a fourteenth century noblewoman depicted in a
work of
art that has disappeared (along with the man claiming to be its owner).
The man's
concerned
daughter draws Lacey into a search for the truth, where she learns
about
Readers will
be
surprised and delighted by the art discussions and Portuguese history
which
evolves from Daniel A. Crane's pen—but these are not the only
attractions of The Crooked Queen.
Its
characterization
is powerful and the underlying mysteries strong as events test Lacey's
investigative abilities against the backdrop of a threat that seems as
mysterious as those of a vanished painting and man.
The
atmosphere of
"Without warning, he veered off to the right
between two buildings
into a tight alleyway. Lacey ran after him and made the turn. The alley
fell
toward the Rossio square in a narrow canyon of cobblestone flights
sandwiched
between shops and apartment buildings. Brightly colored streamers and
awnings
fastened from building to building formed a fluttering ceiling unable
to
contain the greasy smoke of a thousand roasting sardines. Revelers
crowded the
alley, scrunched in outdoor chairs drinking beer at hole-in-the-wall
cafés,
dancing gaily to accordions, or flipping sardines on grills."
Portuguese
history
and culture thus come to the forefront as Lacey makes discoveries about
both
and the art community, which foster her understanding of the nation
and,
ultimately, the influences behind this missing work of art.
The Crooked Queen is thus a delightful
blend of education and
intrigue. It will attract libraries and readers seeking more depth and
lively
insights from their mysteries. Libraries will be especially compelled
to
recommend it to book clubs interested in stories steeped in historical
and
cultural revelations that operate just as powerfully as the underlying
mystery
itself.
Return to Index
A
Fishy Tale
John J. Jessop
JJJESSOP LLC
978-1735817873
$11.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
Website:
johnjjessop.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Fishy-Tale-John-J-Jessop/dp/1735817872
A
Fishy Tale
blends comedy with a murder mystery
designed to keep readers both laughing and intrigued. It opens with
this wry
humor:
"Tod
Carlson and his
brother Bill, professional fishermen known as the Carlson
Brothers, had heard from kinfolk that record-sized fish
were being pulled from
Then
it probes the murky waters of murder
as the trials of a contentious (but affectionate) marriage merge with a
move
and discovery that keep Dr. Jason Longfellow (PI and
amateur sleuth) and
nurse wife Chelsea on their toes.
Jason may be
a
problem-solver, but an adequate boatsman he is not. John J. Jessop
displays
more humor as Jason attempts to navigate treacherous new waters.
Boaters will
recognize both the terminology and effort involved in captaining a
vessel:
"Jason aimed Luscious between the two front pilons,
moving very
slowly. This was the first time he had put the boat on the lift.
Chelsea heard
him counting under his breath, a sign that he was stressed and upset
about the
near crash. The man in the other boat sat watching.
What do you
do when
you inherit a fortune? You fulfill your dreams. For
The
unexpected blend of boating and
fishing experience, murder mystery, and wry inspections of marriage and
watery
circumstances, with the humor overlay, works very well. These elements
create a
compelling story that should entertain even readers who do not normally
choose
comedy or murder mysteries.
A
Fishy Tale's
ability to cross lines of discovery
while leading with laughter makes the story engrossing, unpredictable,
and fun
as the search for a murder suspect embraces a community in turmoil.
Libraries
seeking murder mystery reads
that lure and capture readers with unpredictable, novel approaches will
find A Fishy Tale perfect for
recommendation
both to those who enjoy exceptional murder tales and others whose
interests lie
beyond the norm.
Return to Index
Lurk-Life
Balance
Carrie Ann Knox
Xotolithic Press
978-0-9990032-4-4
$14.99
www.carrieannknox.com
Lurk-Life Balance adds another book to
the Sonic Sleuths series and
opens with a mishap faced by the host of an event that almost nobody
has
attended. The narrator discovers that an announcement has been made
about its
cancellation just as confused attendees begin arriving, not sure they
are in
the right place.
They are in the right place. But, at the
wrong time.
Audiologist
Quinn
Bailey, the subject of prior cozy mysteries in the series, spearheads a
failure
and a revelation that turns into another investigative quandary as the
dual
disaster of a failed office opening and an accident involving the
attending
mayor place her in an unwelcome spotlight of attention.
And that's
just the
opening salvo to events which keep on delivering one-two punches to
Quinn as a
business event turns into a psychological and political disaster.
Carrie Ann
Knox's
propensity for humor as she explores ironic disasters, weaving in
events of
Quinn's past (such as her involvement with the mafia sting a year
earlier),
creates a seamless story. Lurk-Life
Balance will immerse newcomers just as readily as prior fans
of Quinn's
escapades and investigations.
The
disastrous event
is explained using this wry, ironic observation about life's fallacies
and
failures as the story expands to embrace much more than a new audiology
business's debut to the community.
The
introduction
brings with it murder, mystery, and mayhem which Quinn navigates with
equally
deft displays of observational skill and audiology savvy. This involves
readers
in a story that embraces murder accusations, hard sells, and a tinge of
blackmail as Quinn ventures into unfamiliar territory despite her prior
experience with problem-solving under extraordinary conditions.
Knox's
ability to
build a new story on the foundations of prior adventures that new
readers might
not have enjoyed, then making it accessible to a wide audience, is
excellent.
The allusions to past events, people, and circumstances are so well
done that
old fans will only be reminded via references; not put off by lengthy
regurgitations
of prior events.
The result
is a
thoroughly engrossing and highly recommended cozy mystery that enhances
prior
Quinn adventures in the Sonic Sleuths mysteries. It expands the talents
and
problem-solving possibilities faced by characters willing to make hard
deals to
exact their freedom, with Quinn disarming threats as quickly as they
emerge.
Libraries
will be
delighted to include it in their collections.
Return to Index
One Night
Stand
Mukul Deva
Cernunnos Books Pte.
Ltd.
978-981-18-8615-7
$13.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/One-Night-Stand-Mukul-Deva/dp/9811886156
One Night Stand is set in Singapore and
follows five disparate
characters whose lives are changed by the events of a single night
which
reveals their innermost secrets, hidden characters, and quandaries that
sent
all five to the pivot point of a bar and a night to remember.
An
especially
notable, evocative beginning draws readers from the very first lines:
"There are nightclubs, and there are nightclubs.
And then there is
me. Nostalgia."
Is life "just another one night stand"?
Ex-cop turned businessman Sayan
Iyer (who faces
struggles with an unfaithful wife), Singapore socialite and mother
Christina
Tang, who harbors a secret, and other characters are about to find out
as inner
horror dovetails with external events that test each character's
political, social,
and psychological mettle.
Mukul Deva
creates a
tense thriller packed with notable revelations and transformations as
people
who find themselves in the wrong place at the right time also find
their lives
and concerns simultaneously enriched and challenged by events they
cannot
control.
As motive
and
opportunity questions play out, the close inspections of each character
bring
to light new revelations which, when taken as a whole, contribute to a
series
of unpredictable events that expands from personal to community
concerns as
persons of interest are identified and contrasted.
Singaporean
society
and culture is the highlight at each step of the way, building both
intrigue
and understanding as the plot thickens.
Libraries
and readers
who enjoy their thrillers steeped in the logic, culture, action and
psyche of
atmosphere and place will find Singapore comes to life in a manner
which gives
the tension and intrigue a full-bodied flavor of revelation.
This is why One Night Stand comes especially highly
recommended as a thriller with stands not only on the collective and
disparate
psyches of characters, but on the sense of history, place, and purpose
that
brings readers off the streets and into the abodes and concerns of
Singapore's
world.
Return to Index
Out
of Time
Cathi Stoler
Level Best Books
978-1-68512-544-8
$16.95 Paperback/$5.95 eBook
Website: www.cathistoler.com
Ordering: https://amzn.to/3RhOwrs
Out of Time is a Nick Donahue Adventure that excels in
high-octane action as it follows Marina DiPietro and Nick Donahue
through a
deadly international espionage cat-and-mouse game with
It
opens with an
immediate, alluring bang of intrigue that proves impossible to put down:
"Just
ask
Will
Cathi
Stoler
personalizes her characters in a manner that needs no prior
introduction to
either Nick and
This
attention
to character detail, melded with atmospheric observations that provide
a
"you are here" feel to readers, enhances the action and suspense as
the tale unfolds, adding a depth missing from too many genre thriller
and
mystery reads.
Like
Dick
Francis's writings, a racehorse is involved.
The
scenario of
an evolving threat that will spark a world crisis builds
The
clues Nick
must cobble together come from contemporary references and characters
that at
first seem unlikely threats. One of the joys of this story is how these
insights come together, moving from social observation to political
revelation:
"That was the trouble with social
media. Everyone wanted to shout about what they were doing, where they
were
going, and who they were screwing, without realizing what the
consequences
could be. I couldn’t believe how easy it had been. I found this guy
within
minutes and here he was telling all. He assumed I actually had a job
offer and
had already accepted it. Not too smart on his part. But Klingons? He
was
probably a twenty-five-year- old who must have watched Star Trek reruns. How did it relate
to the project he mentioned?
I thought about the Starship
The
result is a
thriller that excels in action-packed revelations, twists and turns,
and in
depicting the tests of Nick and Marina's best abilities as the clock
ticks down
on world peace and human survival.
Libraries
and
readers seeking exceptional stories that hold the possibility of
reaching well
beyond traditional genre readers with the powerful one-two punch of
superior
characterization and plot will find Out
of Time hard to resist.
Return to Index
Pirate Trap
Matt Cost
Encircle Publications
978-1-64599-508-1
$26.99
Hardcover/$16.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
http://encirclepub.com
Pirate Trap adds to the 'Trap' mysteries
involving Clay Wolfe and
Port Essex, presenting a new mystery to entice seasoned investigator
Clay Wolfe
with a promise that no serious P.I. would want to turn down.
Who wouldn't want to uncover a long-missing
pirate treasure?
More
importantly, who
would want to prevent such largess
from seeing the light of day?
Clay Wolfe
finds out
when he agrees to undertake a search-and-recovery mission somewhat
outside of
his expertise, only to find that, in fact, the assignment by an
antiques dealer
may be the only thing that shakes him from his intense depression over
his
grandfather's demise.
Of course,
other
entities (many nefarious) are also involved in the hunt, from a sex
doll
businessman to a motorcycle gang and even Clay's fellow crewmembers.
Pitted
against good
guys and bad, Clay can't help but stumble into trouble, feeling that
the
endeavor is largely an individual pursuit (even if gangs with special
interests
are involved).
As he
struggles with
visions of Grandpops, the involvement of lovely lasses from the past,
and
clients who are killed and found in his office, Clay fields blows from
near and
far, edging ever closer to a truth that will shake his trajectory and
force him
to hone new abilities to survive and thrive.
Because Matt
Cost's
story adds to a series, readers may think this would require
familiarity with
Clay's previous adventures. Not so. The characters are exquisitely
drawn, the
Port
Libraries
seeking
stand-alone titles that excel in building tension over adults involved
in a pirate
treasure hunt on grown-up turf will find Pirate
Trap a satisfying hard-boiled mystery that adds romance into
the fires of
truth and discovery to delight genre readers seeking twists and turns
they
won't see coming.
Return to Index
Running on
Broken
Bones
Will Pepper
ASIN: B0C927PNY6
$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Broken-Bones-Tanto-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0C927PNY6
As a sequel
to You Will Know Vengeance, this
new Tanto
thriller offers a compelling sequel that takes place a decade after
Tanto was
imprisoned by a secret government agency.
Not one to
take a
back seat in prison, he finally has made his escape. Many things have
changed
in ten years ... including his health. Is he actually equipped to
engage in the
kinds of subterfuge, escapes, and escapades that he fielded in his
youth?
Prior
readers of
Tanto who know him from You Will Know
Vengeance will be delighted with a story that continues the
high-octane
intrigue, but with an added blend of savvy that comes from both aging
and the
wisdom of accepting physical limitations.
Will Pepper
is
especially skilled at opening his stories with bombshells that compel
readers
to move into the action:
"While most Americans spend their Sunday mornings
watching sports
or listening to robed men tell magic resurrection stories, I schedule
my day
around an eighty-five-year-old prostitute who ensures I don't swallow
my
tongue. Sure, anyone can do this, but I am loyal to a fault. Plus, this
bag of
bones won't ask questions unless you pay her to, like I do."
One doesn't
anticipate that the hero will be diaper-clad, or subject to therapies
and
madness that challenge the mind and lead into unexpected territory; yet
Pepper
creates a protagonist whose surprising choices and course in life
forces him to
challenge his own limitations.
"How do I fix myself when I can't even communicate?"
More
importantly, Tanto escapes torturers, trackers, and his own barriers to
discovery, only to be kidnapped as he faces impossible circumstances
beyond his
control.
As Pepper
spins an
intriguing cat-and-mouse game of survival, breakthroughs, and
strategies for
useful actions that can be used against one's enemies, the story
evolves a
satisfying tension powered by an aging character who has lost none of
his
ability to hack, manipulate, and problem-solve his way out of danger.
"I’m not looking for a slow fix. I needed
something, if not
permanent, then drastic. Like the ice pick lobotomy, but hopefully with
better
side effects."
Thriller
audiences
shouldn't be looking for a slow fix to Tanto's problems, either. They
will find
that this simmering cauldron of adversity and challenge is packed with
unexpected twists and turns that keep the protagonist and his readers
on their
toes.
With a nose
for
trouble and survival, running on broken bones becomes not impossible,
but
achievable. Tanto's escape and latest trials will thoroughly engross
readers
and libraries interested in thrillers that push the boundaries of
medical
ethics, prison scenarios, and the scenarios of aging prisoners who just
won't
quit.
Return to Index
Ties That
Kill
Deven Greene
979-8-9872083-9-7
$16.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Ties-That-Kill-Thriller-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0CPMHR4W3
Ties That Kill is not your usual medical
thriller, but is billed as
a "Mid-Life Crisis Thriller." This translates to a story that takes a
stroke and genetic blood clot risk to new levels as a patient not only
discovers he has a host of half-siblings who may harbor the same
internal
killer, but has attracted the attention of an external killer bent on
murdering
them all.
DNA may
connect each
of them, but it holds no ability to thwart an assassin. That component
of
inherited risk must come from Dr. Martin Starling, a chemistry
professor, who
needs to overcome not only his own medical condition, but the threat to
his
siblings that tarnishes his reputation.
Deven Greene
evolves
an intriguing premise as the professor and patient also becomes the key
suspect
in a murder spree that targets his family.
Revelations
about his
heritage are juxtaposed with the medical and murder mystery that
emerges from
it as he navigates unfamiliar relationships and questions how to
incorporate
them into both his life and his search for answers:
"He’d never met anyone like her before, and now
there she was, his
long-lost half-sister. Should he make an excuse and get off the phone,
never to
speak to her again? Or should he try to develop a brotherly
relationship with
her? It wouldn’t be unreasonable to suspect that someone in her
profession
might require some protection, or at least guidance, now and then.
Could an
association with her lead to endangerment of his own family? At the
very least
he felt obligated to warn her about her risk of having abnormal
fibrinogen. If
she had inherited it, her daughter could have, too."
As his
mid-life
medical crisis turns into a midlife career change, Martin finds himself
in a
dangerous position, poised between life and death in a different way
that
challenges both his perceptions of family and self and his role as a
chemistry
professor.
As a
detective stalks
him even as Martin pursues the truth, readers are treated to a
satisfying
series of twists that keep them guessing about outcomes, purposes, and
evolving
relationships.
Libraries
and medical
thriller readers seeking stories that operate well outside the realm of
formula
reading or predictable plots will find Ties
That Kill a standout and a winner. It's every bit as
engrossing as Robin
Cook—but contains a personal touch that brings its characters, as well
as its
changing dilemmas and ethical challenges, to life.
Return to Index
Brothers in Service -
Through Thick & Thin
Lindy
Day Agency Publishing
978-1-7365604-4-0
$18.95
- Paperback/$ 4.99 - eBook
Website: https://lindybellwrites.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Service-Through-Thick-Beyond/dp/1736560441
Brothers in Service - Through Thick & Thin
is the second book
in the Beyond the Badge series, which tells of three best friends who
move away
from childhood to accept jobs in the fire and police departments.
Each
character
receives in-depth examination by Lindy
The "you are
here" focus evolves from the start:
"He didn’t fit. No matter how hard he tried, Riley
Sullivan just
didn’t fit. With the ambulance siren wailing overhead, he tried one
more time
to make room for his long legs in the cab’s jump seat. He never thought
riding
in an ambulance would be this uncomfortable."
Bell takes
the time
to build a sense of place, personality, and predicaments that both draw
the
friends together and threaten to move them into new areas with
obstacles that
challenge their long-term friendships.
She develops
characters and career challenges for each, creating growth experiences
and
opportunities that lend to each friend's ability to navigate not only
their
personal conundrums, but the art of maintaining long-term relationships
and
friendships through it all.
From new
career
opportunities to personal losses that test and demand camaraderie on a
different level, Brothers in Service -
Through Thick & Thin examines the fine art of effort
and recovery. It
paints a moving portrait of how adult friendships can be tested even if
they
rest on the foundations of loyalty and shared respect.
Between its
realistic, accurate portrayal of the fire service and situations which
range
from sexual harassment at work to mentors, superstitions, and how
diverse
personalities can maintain close friendships even when life
circumstances
threaten to tear them apart, Bell has crafted a winner, here.
Libraries
and readers
interested in close examinations of male bonding, service career
choices, and
life growth processes will find Brothers
in Service - Through Thick & Thin both a satisfying
sequel to the first
book in the Beyond the Badge series. It's a powerful, highly
recommended,
ongoing exploration of ability, different kinds of relationships, and
dealing
with life challenges that also reveals nuances of tackling careers in
service.
Return to Index
The Cat Tender
Martin Drapkin
Three Towers Press/HenschelHAUS Publishing
9781595989635
$16.95
Website: www.drapkinbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Tender-Martin-Drapkin/dp/1595989633
Meet Maggie
Mullen, an independent woman nearing her thirties who, in The Cat Tender, has built a comfortable career (as a
catsitter) and patterns (nightly soaks in her clawfoot tub with kitty
Lucy at
hand and Frank Sinatra wafting music into the air).
Perfection never lasts for
long, as Maggie discovers when
an invitation to her younger sister's wedding demands her attendance,
her
prowess in giving the happy new couple a toast, and requires her to
depart from
her cat-infused lifestyle to enter alien realms of social interaction.
Maggie wonders why so many
women feel incomplete without
a mate, asking thought-provoking questions that book clubs following
women's
writings will find perfect for debate:
"I
don't get
all this seeking out someone to have a relationship with...Or maybe
we're just
hard wired to seek out and have mates in order to keep the species
going...Maybe we should be more like birds. Maybe instead of all this
furious
seeking to couple up with whoever—straight, gay, other
variations—people should
just sing out to one another when they want or need a partner,
short-term or
long-term. There could be different tunes for different purposes."
As the wedding offers Maggie
new revelations and
opportunities, the threads of humor Martin Drapkin employs wind through
the
story to add a delightfully whimsical accompaniment to the wry
inspections
Maggie makes about couples, love, events, and her place in the world.
The
Cat Tender
is especially recommended for libraries seeking lively, cat-infused
examinations of independence and women's lives, and for book clubs
looking for
discussion material about couples, connections, and careers, as seen
through
the eyes of a maid of honor who considers weddings a "pain in the
ass."
Return to Index
A Change of
Location
Margaret Porter
Gallica Press
979-8-9856734-5-6
$15.99 paperback; $5.99 ebook
margaretporter.com
In A Change of Location, Hannah Ballard's
career is her life. Like a black hole, it consumes and overrides
everything—even romantic possibilities. Until now.
Margaret
Porter
surveys behind-the-scenes movie set location manager Hannah, whose
knack for
finding movie landscapes while remaining nearly anonymous in her
efforts
creates the perfect lifestyle for her.
Her personal
research
for a period drama leads her to
Even though
a
powerful relationship (perhaps predictably) develops between Martin
Latimer,
Marquess of Milverston, and Hannah, the forces that divide them are
even
greater, forcing Hannah to make yet another devastating decision about
her
future.
Little rests
on a
staid development of 'happily ever after', as a result, which makes A Change of Location especially
compelling for readers who enjoy realistic developments over idealism.
Hannah's
ability to
navigate and analyze unfamiliar surroundings and people becomes the
driving
force in a novel that explores her international sojourns, matters of
the
heart, and the people and places that motivate her to step away from
her former
successful patterns and into different relationships and milieus.
Margaret
Porter is
especially adept at crafting the intersections of these lives,
exploring how
they motivate and change not just protagonist Hannah, but those who
circle her
world.
The result
is a
revealing novel of new possibilities and life that covers unemployment,
romance, heartbreak, other cultures, and new lives.
Libraries
seeking
recommendable, realistic stories for patrons who seek enlightening
novels will
find A Change of Location the
perfect
ticket for a warm account of movie-making and a dash of personal magic.
Return to Index
The
Contraption
Barton Allen Stewart
Independently Published
0-9785817-2-5
$14.95 Print/$7.95 Ebook
www.BartStewart.com
The Contraption is a literary novel that
pays homage to life,
death, and transformation. It opens in an ordinary neighborhood, where
a
strange light leads to equally odd events in which a woman transformed
leaves
her suburban community for a different world. She is accompanied by
bizarre
folk who escort her into new possibilities.
Before
Audrey left,
she and the strangers were holed up in her room, draping it in white so
that
not a spot of color showed. Audrey was not religious, but idealistic.
Her
relationship with military man Matt is only one of the sacrifices she'd
made to
suddenly change her course in life. However, Matt is not ready to give
up on
her.
On one
extraordinary
afternoon, a set of circumstances evolves a new experience and
personality for
Audrey (now Prindibin), who becomes mired in a performance that tests
her views
of reality and the incongruity of her experiences and commitments.
From the
moment she
answers the door to find three strange women who introduce her to their
church
and the idea that she is "Ascendant" (for her work with animals and
disadvantaged children), Audrey becomes involved in ideas and
perceptions that
move beyond spirituality and into paranormal realms. These strangers
force her,
in a manner those who are a familiar part of her life have not, to
contemplate
new possibilities:
"This visible, conventional life around you is like
the outer
layer of dead skin cells coating the body. One of them said, “You can
do
without it!” They told Audrey she had a “glow of radiance” about her
which they
immediately recognized. These three were eccentric, and following their
own
drummer, but at times she found them nothing short of fascinating.
“Have you
ever contemplated your true place in the universe?” one of them asked
her."
As she
becomes mired
in the work of the Church of the Mountain of Radiance, the newly
transformed
Prindibin makes sacrifices for God, tries to help the persecuted heroes
of the
church, and carries those around her into new visions and perceptions
of
miracles:
"All of them thrilled at the thought of it being
recognized as a
miracle, which would work to the benefit of everyone at the Home Base.
Everybody associated with Prindibin could be considered at least
fractionally
blessed, which would help with advancement. That’s if the event stood
up to
investigation."
The devices
which
contribute to her reformation resonate on all sides as the church
tackles
belief systems and the norm, making Prindibin the focal point of change.
Barton Allen
Stewart
crafts a story that tackles issues of redemption, healing, and change,
injecting additional layers of philosophical and existential
questioning into
the experiences of characters who one day find their lives at a
crossroads.
As Matt
forces her to
examine her new beliefs and their relationship, threads of disparate
interests
and approaches to life evolve. These create fine introspections on the
parts of
each character, providing thought-provoking insights to readers.
Libraries
and readers
seeking stories that take spiritual revelation and revolution a step
further
into intriguing territory will find The
Contraption worthy of not just individual reading, but the
pursuit of many
different themes in book club discussion groups interested in stories
of
revelation and shifting beliefs and relationships.
Return to Index
Dreams of Drowning
Patricia Averbach
Bink Books
978-1-960373-17-5
$18.95
Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Drowning-Patricia-Averbach-ebook/dp/B0CRJ17DTD
Dreams of Drowning
is a work of magical realism
that opens in 1973 Toronto where Amy, an American expat, is hiding as
an
illegal immigrant following her twin sister’s death by drowning.
Her chance meeting with
Arcus, a Greek student, holds the
possibility of romance, but they each harbor secrets they’re hiding
from each
other.
Fast forward to 1993, where
retired archaeologist, Dr.
Jacob Kanter, is grieving the loss of his wife while trying to avoid
his son’s
plan to place him in a nursing home. Remembering his love of sailing as
a
youth, he boards a ferry boat expecting a short harbor cruise, but the
mysterious ship traverses time leading his story to merge with Amy’s in
unexpected ways.
As their relationship
evolves, Jacob and Amy become
involved in the mystery of a second Phaistos Disc, an ancient Greek
relic that
may hold the key to both their futures.
This involves readers in a mystery of historical and psychological
importance
that leads each character to reassess their experiences and intentions
in a new
light.
Different losses, different
kinds of grief, and the
remarkable legacy of Greek history entwine with both characters' lives
in
unanticipated ways. Patricia Averbach grows a story that leads Dr.
Kanter to
connect the dots of history and personal events while Amy finds
unexpected
portents of change in a whispered promise that leads her to reassess
her
sister’s death and into the water toward a reenvsioned future.
“This year you’ll go swimming, and you’ll
find her well. There’s healing in the water.”
Libraries and readers
seeking evocative novels steeped in
mystery, magical realism, and healing processes will embrace the vivid
imagery
and sense of revelation and discovery that make
Dreams of Drowning a
surreal, compelling read.
Return to Index
Eat
Dessert First
Michelle Paris
Apprentice House Press
978-1-62720-511-5
$23.99 Paperback/$34.99 Hardcover/$6.49 eBook
Website: www.michelleparisauthor.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Dessert-First-Michelle-Paris/dp/162720511X
Eat Dessert
First
is a novel replete with insights about a big woman with a big heart
and baking skills that too often preclude finding a love who realizes
her true
value. Abbey knows she is fat. The left-handed compliments that she
fields too
often are designed not to encourage her to lose weight, but to shame
her.
Immersed
in a bakery job to supports her ailing mother, the last thing
Abbey seeks is romance. She can barely stay afloat financially and
emotionally
after giving up her architectural career to become a caregiver.
That's
why it seems too good to believe when a handsome customer asks
her out. If it's too good to believe, it usually is. This baggage comes
with an
existing marriage, so Abbey bails.
Her
next encounter with romance is also unexpected: a handsome
bachelor at a party. At least he's not married. Too bad he comes with a
vengeful ex, however.
As
Abbey navigates issues of love, weight, value, and self-esteem,
readers will be drawn into the sights and smells of the bakery world
and a life
replete with warmth and adversity.
Abbey
discovers that the bakery job that was forced by circumstance
reflects her real passion in life (more so than architecture ever was),
and as
she identifies these interests, she begins to make new moves towards
changing
her life as her self-esteem blossoms:
"What was
best for her mother needed to be a priority. If that turned out to be
Sacred
Heart, Abbey would find a way to pay for it—maybe even go back to being
an
architect. This thought saddened her, and that surprised her. She had
always
enjoyed being an architect, but not as much as she enjoyed baking. She
realized
she was passionate about baking. The cake she made for Magda was proof
of that.
As she had put on the final touches, she marveled at her creation. It
was such
a rush to feel that kind of pride. She had wanted to run out onto
What
else is she passionate about? Time and this novel will tell; but
one thing is certain: readers who imbibe of the special flavors driving
Abbey's
life in Eat Dessert First are in
for
a cozy treat that is alternately funny, revealing, ironic, and
interesting.
Libraries
seeking women's fiction that arrives with a dose of
mouth-watering descriptions and lively engagements will find Eat Dessert First features a taste of
something special.
Return to Index
Fiona's Fury
Roxy Blue
Roxy Blue Publishing
979-8-9893533-0-9
$16.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
www.authorroxyblue.com
Smart, sexy
Fiona has
no time for men. She's the CEO of a successful flower shop who has
remained on
good terms with ex-husband Quade, but is too busy to search for a
replacement.
That is, until she finally decides to move on from him, and the beast
within
him is loosened.
Roxy Blue
paints the
picture of a feisty, determined, middle-aged woman in Fiona (who also
happens
to harbor a wicked sense of observational humor about life):
"Remember to breathe...good work Fiona!” Clearly
Celeste
misinterpreted the sound of deep disgust that just escaped from my
chest
cavity. But at least, thank goodness, it was a sign that I’m
remembering to
breathe. I mean, God forbid what might happen were Celeste to forget to
remind
us to breathe! Lord...all dozen of us dying in a miserable, sticky,
rainbow-slicked heap right here in the middle of
Fiona's
passion and
her wry sense of life's twists and turns serve her well as she faces an
unexpected control freak and the possibility that he will micromanage
her life
... and maybe even her death.
Steamy
sexual scenes
alternate with new discoveries and threats as Fiona finally meets her
floral
supplier, Bo Thompson, in person, only to find that the background
threat in
her life possibly means that she can't pursue love.
Roxy Blue's
ability to
weave Fiona's confrontation with a psychopath into her concurrent
pursuit of
romance and resolution creates a compelling saga that's hard to put
down.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a superior story that juxtaposes self-discovery with navigating
two very
different kinds of challenge will find Fiona's
Fury just the ticket for a warm read with hot overtones of
pleasure and
pain.
Return to Index
A Flame Worth the Candle
Arthur Kevin Rein
Open Books
978-1948598705
$19.95
https://www.open-bks.com/library/moderns/a-flame-worth-the-candle/about-book.html
A
Flame Worth the
Candle is a novel of
growth and
confrontation that swirls around Sam and Diane, who believe a family
curse is
finally broken, only to find that nefarious circumstances are
coalescing to
once again introduce family conflict, crime connections, and new
challenges into
their world.
It's been
less than
two months since the duo confronted the crime family Manticore, and
seemingly won,
but Steve Manticore is back; as well as the ghost of a father long
imprisoned
and suddenly, mysteriously, freed, who comes looking for his daughter
Diane.
Associations
between
former convicts and friends introduce present-day dilemmas to past
experiences
as Sam and Diane struggle with family, the world, and one another in
situations
and reflections that Arthur Kevin Rein is particularly adept at
bringing to
life:
"The next day, more silence between Diane and me.
No phone calls,
not even a text. None from me to her either, so there was that as well.
The
sadness of losing her was setting in. I was sick of everything, the
resort, my
clothes, my brothers and sister, even the summer. I was to the point
that going
back to school for my senior year looked inviting, and that had never
happened
at any point of my life. I was like a worker bee without a queen. Why
collect
pollen if there was no honey to be made. Why cut the grass or collect
the
garbage? Everything seemed pointless."
As the story
evolves,
questions and riddles permeate their individual and conjoined lives as
Sam and
Diane battle their psyches, adversaries that often stem from family
connections, and each other.
Rein creates
a solid,
powerful portrait of young lives in flux, buffeted by the special
interests and
adversity of outside interests. Characters are strongly portrayed, past
events
reviewed in a seamless manner that allows for quick immersion in the
duo's
backgrounds, and escalating confrontations are realistic,
growth-inducing
scenarios that attract and hold reader interest with immersive
first-person
reflections.
The result
is a novel
that will appeal to young adult and new adult readers alike. It
represents a
gripping saga of transformation and old and new habits and patterns
that both
entertain and lead readers to think more deeply about the ramifications
of
choices that separate the main players, then bring them back together
in an
unusual way.
Libraries
will find
the swirl of action, intrigue, and conundrums to be satisfyingly
unpredictable,
creating a story filled with subplots that make A Flame Worth
the Candle hard to put
down.
Return to Index
Flight of
the Wild
Swan
Melissa Pritchard
978-1954276215
$18.99 Paperback/$18.04 eBook
www.blpress.org
Flight of the Wild Swan is the fictional
biography of
From the
start,
Melissa Pritchard cultivates a sense of realistic psychological and
social
reflection of the 1800s, cemented by her use of the first person and
vivid
language that doesn’t just draw readers into Florence’s story, but
grabs them,
shakes them, and compels them to listen:
“She wakes in stale
darkness, same nightmare, always. A common grave,
hundreds of the sweat-soaked, freezing. The dead, their arms tightening
around her, pulling her down. An indistinct murmur of voices. Some
still in uniform, most writhing,
naked. She cannot save them. Cannot
save herself. This time the waking is different. This time she is
dying. She is sure of it.
The nurse, Anna, will find her in the morning. Then what?”
This end
times
introduction then takes a turn into the past to follow Florence’s
education,
upbringing, her unusual entry into the male-dominated world of
medicine, and
the “zeal for reform” she cultivates and introduces to social circles
in her
life.
While some
might
anticipate a prerequisite to enjoying this story would be a prior
interest in
either medicine, biography, or
Markedly
suitable for
book club, women’s, and history group discussions are the passages
which
candidly present the dilemmas of women of the times who would navigate
systems
not designed to recognize or use their abilities:
“As you know, we are the first female nurses to
ever work within the
British army’s hospital system. The French military have their Sisters
of
Charity, but our British military has had no medical help from women.
We are
the experiment. As such, it is imperative we proceed with utmost
diplomacy.
Because we are women, we may not be as welcome as you might expect. We
will
have to prove ourselves. How? First by obeying the orders of the
medical
officers and doctors. Second, by our efficiency, decency, and skill. We
must
take great pains not to offend.”
The result
will
appeal to the biography enthusiast who appreciates the “you are here”
embellishments of fiction, the follower of women’s shifting roles in
the 1800s,
fans of Florence Nightingale who want to immerse themselves in a vivid
portrait
of her world and perspective, and any library or reader seeking an
especially
compelling, lyrical story of a rebel who defies the edicts of her times
to make
a difference in her life and in those surrounding her.
Return to Index
Candi Sary
Regal House
Publishing
978-1646033348
$18.95 Paperback/$6.49 eBook/$17.49
audiobook
https://www.amazon.com/Magdalena-Candi-Sary/dp/1646033345
'Heartwarmingly
creepy' is not usually a label ascribed to either a romance or a ghost
story,
but the unexpected entwining of both subjects in
Ghost story
enthusiasts are well aware that formula writing abounds in this genre.
But not
in Magdalena, where a reclusive
woman
takes a fifteen-year-old neighbor under her wing, only to discover that
the
complicated relationship forces her out of her house, into the public
eye, and
into dilemmas she never saw coming.
Dottie finds
herself
in the eye of a historic mystery and superstition, battling different
types of
ghosts—those which emerge from the past and others embedded in
present-day
affairs.
The mystery
piques
reader interest as much as the heartfelt explorations of maternal
connections,
love, and loss.
Candi Sary
opens her
story of revelation with a gripping reflection:
"In my dream, they're both still with me, the girl
and the
ghost."
Shades of
the classic
Rebecca's powerful opening ("Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley
again.") come to mind as Sary pulls readers into Dottie's
world, packing
it with literary reflection, emotional energy, and unexpected
encounters.
Sary is
adept at
moving readers through entwined scenarios as Dottie opens her story
with
reflections about how she wound up in this impossible place:
"When I wake, I don't feel changed anymore. Not
here in this sad
room where they've put me. I prefer the lights out so I don't have to
see what
I've become. I just want to fall back asleep and close my eyes and
dream again
about the girl and the ghost, and how we were before I lost them."
As Dottie
becomes involved
with not just
Do miracles
really
happen? Yes—but they can come with a terrible price, as Dottie
discovers.
Readers who
choose
With every
step that
Dottie takes, that leads her in new directions of recovery and anguish,
readers
will find a powerful narrative of psychological and social revelations
that
create deeper-level thinking about grief, recovery, and new paths
forward (some
of which actually lead backwards).
Magdalena is highly recommended for
libraries seeking literary
ghost stories that function on a deeper and different level of horror
and
revelation, while readers attracted to mysteries and intrigue will find
the story
thoroughly engrossing.
Return to Index
Moonshadow
Over Red
Moon Hill
Cynthia L. Clark
Outskirts Press
978-1977268617
$19.95
Website: https://cynthialclark.com
Ordering: Moonshadow
over Red Moon
Hill: Clark, Cynthia L: 9781977268617: Amazon.com: Books
Moonshadow Over Red Moon Hill is a novel
of romance and
unpredictability in which Brody Mars finds his staid and common life
challenged
by a letter which lures him to Red Moon Hill.
Tessa
Mackenzie had
been equally set in her ways until she, too, is drawn to Red Moon Hill
by
extraordinary circumstances that shake her world.
Sporting
familiar and
similar patterns, each character predictably encounters the other,
feels an unexpected
tie that grows as intrigue forces them together with shared reactions
and
responses, and comes to recognize new possibilities, both alone and as
a
possible couple.
Cynthia L.
This element
of
surprise works well as it dovetails with mystery and suspense. It draws
readers
into seemingly disparate lives forced to eschew patterns of
predictability in
favor of close inspections of how true love only emerges from
self-reconciliation.
Brody and
Tessa
confront and navigate forces neither has ever chosen or experienced
from life
before, their shared objective changing their separate mandates to
allow room
for conjoined efforts.
Murder,
business
partners in cahoots, and arson piques their interests and challenge
their best
intentions with further new approaches to life, death, and what lies
in-between. Thus, Brody and Tessa come to realize and accept truths
that
motivate them to pursue each other as much as the truth.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a story in which suspense takes center stage alongside evolving
romance
and characters who come to embrace new, unexpected strengths in
themselves (and
in a possible partner) will find Moonshadow
Over Red Moon Hill an astute study in grief and growth. It
provides an entertaining backdrop to adaptation processes, offering
many a
surprise along the way.
Return to Index
The
Odyssey of Mrs. Naomi Billingsley
Sally Stevens
Atmosphere Press
9798891321281
$16.99 (pb)/$8.99 (ebook)
www.atmospherepress.com
The
Odyssey of Mrs. Naomi
Billingsley
follows one
woman's solution to a staid Midwestern lifestyle—creating a vivid
fantasy world
in which action and adventure intersect with reality, to spice things
up.
What
evolves (instead of drama) is a
concurrent immersion in colorful fantasy imaginings which pique the
interest of
her psychiatrist, who envisions that Naomi's oddities will make him a
celebrity
in the psychology world. And so he explores this milieu with her with
both
healing and personal fame in mind.
Dr.
Birnteller has a wall full of degrees
and acclaim. All he needs is one big break to make him famous. Noami
represents
that break ... but only if he can tame or cure her.
As
events unfold, patient and physician
find themselves on the wrong side of sanity as Noami's world-building
method of
coping with boredom enters into reality itself to affect the good
doctor and
others around them.
Readers,
too, are carried into uncharted
waters as they enter Naomi's creations, which Sally Stevens vividly
portrays:
"In
no time at all, it
seemed, Mrs. Billingsley along with the entire congregation, the rest
of the
deacons, the handbags and Bibles, and the folding chairs were floating
in the
new sea that had suddenly relocated itself remarkably close to
Mayfield. As the
floodwaters pushed everything and everyone farther out into the waves,
Mrs.
Billingsley saw, looming on the horizon, a gigantic creature, a huge
black
whale, dramatically rising from the water, its jaws poised in a
wide-open
position. It occurred to her that perhaps she should alert someone to
the
situation, but then she remembered. It was probably all part of the
plan."
The
good doctor's life also begins to
change in extraordinary ways, and he comes to admit that the arrival of
Naomi
Billingsley as a new patient might have changed many things intrinsic
to his
own life and sense of reality:
"...my
wife said to me,
‘Armando and I are flying to
“But then…then she said,
‘There’s a meatloaf in the oven, and I made your favorite Jello mold. I
can see
you’re upset, Leonard, so Armando and I won’t stay for dinner. Perhaps
a little
“time out” would be good for you.’ And Armando picked her up…PICKED HER
UP…and
carried her out the door. He came back for the suitcases in the
hallway, and
then they were gone.”
Reality
and fantasy clash on the playing
field of mental illness or health and recovery that seems not just
dubious, but
perhaps not the best treatment option. Readers receive a lively
discourse about
relationships, panaceas for boredom and predictability, and
extraordinary
methods employed to evade uncomfortable truths.
Stevens
does an excellent job of
juxtaposing emotional responses and questions of mental acuity as
events unfold
to test both characters in a dance between fantasy and alternative
world-building. (Or, perhaps it is
reality, simply unobserved until now?)
The
strong characterization and
unpredictable adventures that rise up to enfold both characters also
will
attract readers interested in fiction that enlightens while maintaining
an
extraordinary atmosphere of discovery.
Return to Index
Passage
to Moorea
B.R. O'Hagan
Pedee Creek Press
978-1-7342263-4-8
$16.95
https://www.amazon.com/Passage-Moorea-Thomas-Scoundrel-OHagan/dp/173422634X
Fans
of the first Thomas Scoundrel book, Scoundrel
in the
Thick, will find Passage to Moorea fills
in many blanks
from the past as it takes a step 10 years back
into Thomas's life to
follow the 23-year-old as he stows away on a German
warship, becomes a
sugar plantation owner in Hawaii; and battles both
the gentlemen and
the thieves who controlled Hawaiian society in the
late 19th century.
A
letter from the famous author Jules Verne to Thomas
in
the fore piece and the prologue set in 1872 that
follows set up a
sense of anticipation for the adventure
ahead:
"Watching
you swing from the drapes and fly down from the balcony
with no less than a dozen club-wielding Polynesian warriors in pursuit
was pure
exhilaration for me, and I dare say, for every one of the stuffed shirt
aristocrats who held their breath as you and those brutes battled your
way to
the museum’s front doors. I have been unable to stop that scene from
playing
over and over in my mind, and so I
have determined (with your
kind permission, I pray) to incorporate it into my latest Voyage
Extraordinaire, to be published in the Magasin d'Éducation et de
Récréation in
September. I will send you a pre-publication draft to
review." Jules
Verne
The
opening scenario depicts anything but a gentleman manager, banker,
or art promoter in Thomas, who takes the reins of a lively and
thoroughly
engrossing read, crafting a "you are here" experience which brings
with it the tension of a thriller and the immediacy of a heart-stopping
personal foray into trouble:
"...a
sound broke the stillness. Not quite a real bark, Manatea
thought, more like the hoarse cough of someone who was dying. Then
another
cough, followed by a growl. The warriors froze in place."
The
tempo of the events and confrontations assume the feel of a
swashbuckler, but it is tempered by the political and
psychological
confrontations Thomas fields as he navigates
the world of art
and the birth of Impressionism, and as he struggles to stay one step
ahead of
the team of Irish and Tahitian assassins who pursue him around the
globe.
As the
story unfolds, he encounters dozens of strong
characters who come to life even in the briefest of passages:
"Mcllvaney
had no special appreciation for the arts, but he did
value his job. He understood that if so much as a single strand of hair
was
mussed on the head of one of tonight’s guests by some hoodlum—or
Tahitian– who
snuck in off the street he would be transferred from the posh hotel
district he
had worked up to over the past ten years to a frozen and grimy
streetcorner in
the Bowery or Five Points."
Once
again, adventurer Thomas is a flawed hero
who manages to wiggle out of
seemingly impossible
situations with both his reputation and
his unshakeable
objectives intact. Exquisite threads of living history wind
into the story
so seamlessly that readers will absorb a wealth of social, cultural,
and
political influences without a thought that they are receiving
an education
in the guise of an action-packed wild ride as Thomas confronts
one deadly
challenge after another in his quest to help his friends and build a
future
with the woman he loves.
Libraries
and readers seeking historical novels steeped in events of
the time but laced with powerful psychological and political tones will
find Passage to Moorea both a
powerful introduction to the
prior Thomas Scoundrel novel and a stand-alone worthy of acquisition,
patron
recommendation, and discussion and debate on the parts of
history-reading book
clubs.
Return to Index
The Rise of
the
Haugenberrys
Zach Boddicker
Daisy Dog Press
978-1-08-821078-9
$16.99
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Haugenberrys-Zach-Boddicker/dp/1088210783
The Rise of the Haugenberrys represents a
romp through depravity,
counter-culture experience, and musical circles. It's delivered from
the
perspective of a spinster who, from the start, presents a wryly ironic,
candid
assessment of her ability to examine and thwart systems:
"I’m AJ Washburn: spinster, fag-hag, amateur comedy
emcee. People
like groups of three. Here’s another: Doer
of Stuff. That’s what I’ve settled on, that’s what I tell
people,
bippity boppity boo. One thing I like to do is receive a free college
education."
Through her
eyes, the
rise of the Haugenberrys band from a dive-bar impulse to unexpected
fame comes
to life in a vivid and ribald manner that rocks through the world,
bringing
AJ's schemes into reality on other than personal playing fields.
The wry
sense of
humor that permeates this story from the start continues as AJ spins
her scams
and agreeably makes her mark on the world without compromising her role
as an
encouraging sidekick in the music business:
“We sold out the Lo-Ball last weekend, but it just
isn’t large enough
for a pair of singing, wrestling giants,” I said. “They need more room.
Some
wrestling mats would be nice.”
The part about the mats wasn’t planned, just kinda flopped out. Gil
looked at the ceiling. “Where would you even find wrestling mats?
Craigslist?”
As she
traverses
environments ranging from the Purgatory Ballroom (which once catered to
musical
giants and now contemplates hosting depravity in a vastly revised form)
to
producers at NBC and bigger-name obstacles and entries to fame and
fortune,
readers will find the vivid language, feisty and fearless female
narrator, and
explorations of the ironies and inconsistencies of the music and arts
world to
be engrossing.
AJ's drive
and
personality lends the story a rollicking flavor that rides through life
intent
upon unearthing nuggets of wisdom and reward alike:
"Was I
overly
excited about it? Not really, just another stepping stone in a forever
of them.
I had a month, maybe ninety days, before wrapping up the estate sale,
and
having to re-acclimate to the doldrums of the normal economy.
“I need a job with
benefits,” I said. “Health insurance, at the very least.
I’ve got issues.”
The result
is a tale
that is vividly portrayed, engrossingly realistic, horrifyingly candid,
and
hard to put down.
Libraries
anticipating that this novel about the rise of a band will be similar
to other
musical novels will want to note that, in reality, The
Rise of the Haugenberrys is similar to nothing else. That
makes
it outstandingly unique, unexpected, and highly recommended reading.
Return to Index
Street
Corner Dreams
She Writes Press
978-1-64742-591-3
$17.95
Paperback/$8.99 eBook
Website: www.florencereisskraut.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Street-Corner-Dreams-Florence-Reiss/dp/1647425913
Street Corner
Dreams
will attract book clubs and reader groups interested in exceptionally
vivid stories of Jewish families, history, and confrontations within
immigrant
communities and between gangs.
Set
in
From deaths
before
and upon arrival and money concerns that kept families filled with
angst and
worry to the social and financial concerns that created a street
culture in
response, Florence
Reiss Kraut creates a novel steeped in historical events and
precedents. Jewish culture and traditions are revealed as life and
death are
tackled, showing how different generations interact and change within
their
families and communities as well as in mainstream American society.
As
the immigrant
The
high-flying emotions which enter when romance raises its
controversial head are as solidly depicted as the other themes of the
story,
reinforced by realistic dialogue:
“Are you crazy,
coming into my uncle’s store like that?
What were you
thinking?”
“Nothing. I just
wanted to see where you work.”
“Well, don’t do
that again. They’d kill me if they knew I was seeing a Jew.”
Morty’s chest
constricted. There was that word again. He felt like he had been
punched in the
chest. This was the second time she’d called him that. Did I tell her I hated it when she said that? He
didn’t think he
had made an issue of it. He was upset with himself. I’m
a coward, he thought. Now he said, “A Jew? It sounds like
a
curse word. Is that how you feel about me? That’s the most important
thing
about me? That I’m a Jew?”
Book
clubs seeking lively discussion material about Jewish culture,
gang activity, immigrant experience, and
This
is also why libraries will want to include Street
Corner Dreams in any collection strong in historical fiction
that brings the Jewish immigrant experience to life.
Return to Index
Sun
Eye Moon Eye
Vincent Czyz
Spuyten Duyvil
978-1959556831
$25.00
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Eye-Moon-Vincent-Czyz/dp/1959556835
Sun Eye Moon Eye enters the
world of Hopi musician
There's
only one way to go. Up. So
"In
the beginning there was no beginning. And no end. No time
and no direction. Time floated on the silence, an unawakened moment. In
perfect
silence a breath is a symphony. In perfect darkness, a candle a sun."
Having
given up his beloved music after his breakdown, Logan is now in
a vulnerable position—which also proves the perfect place to reassess
its
meaning in his revised life:
"Music,
sometimes, was the spark he used to span the gap that he was. Sometimes
was the
only way to ground himself."
Readers
who follow
Vincent
Czyz creates the perfect storm of downfall, realization,
recovery, and survival tactics as he creates a character whose
ambitions and
failures get the best of him, but also point him towards more positive
options
for his future.
Czyz
is especially adept at embedding Native traditional and spiritual
reflection into Logan's story, which teeters on the brink of
contemporary and
past anguish:
"This
will be your Ghost Shirt. You have seen some of these
shirts hung with feathers and strips of rawhide, even thin tails of
human hair.
They are painted with eagles and hawks and crows with outspread wings,
with
colorful two-headed birds and buffalo-horned beings, with five-pointed
stars
like those on the flag the Blue Coats wave or a red daybreak star.
Others are
decorated with constellations, crescent moons, circles divided into
four parts,
streaks of red lightning, feverish spots. Wovoka has said that the
bullets of the
soldiers cannot harm you when you wear your Ghost Shirt."
Readers
and libraries seeking powerful descriptive language, a stark
contrast between past and present worlds, and influences that drive a
fallen
character to envision new beginnings (even at what seems like the end)
will
relish the atmospheric, evocative words that permeate Sun
Eye Moon Eye, lending
it both a degree of thought-provoking insights and more than a dash of
hope:
"Weight
fell away from him like shed clothing until he was the lightness of his
bones,
wind singing through his ribs. Until he was a spiny feather whirling
inside a
dust devil across the hard landscape. Direction was inside him, was all
around
him. Knowing that he’d fallen in with his destiny as surely as his
destiny
existed, he ran."
Return to Index
Creativity:
Crossroads in k12 Education: Take Flight in Creative Learning
Kirk Schiebold
Apple Books
ISBN:
n/a
$39.99
https://books.apple.com/us/book/creativity-crossroads-in-k12-education/id6461866071
Creativity: Crossroads in k12 Education: Take
Flight in Creative Learning
is a book that
not only all educators should read, but anyone concerned with
educational
processes, objectives, and history. It's a lesson in alternative
teaching
approaches that parents, educators, and the general public need to
learn, if
the educational system is to move forward and up from its downward
trajectory.
Creativity
and correctness
often clash in the educational system, bringing with them "...misconceptions of discipline-based education,
that through an
emphasis on submissive imitation and forced instruction..."
Kirk
Schiebold's own
epiphany about education's failures when he "took flight and surveyed
my
opportunities" resulted in a new paradigm and (thankfully for fellow
educators) this book, which outlines an alternative pathway to
juxtaposing
educational quality with creativity in teaching and learning.
These
approaches
embrace many unusual approaches, including analyzing recurring dreams
and
offering personal and case history examples of how various teachers in
his life
and career introduced ideas that captured the attention and interest of
youth:
"We pushed our hands into the cloudy water and swished it around. It was wet, gooey and textured—like the raw hamburger and egg mixture mom used to make my favorite Italian meatballs. Mr. Welfare made learning fun and interesting, arousing our curiosity and holding the attention of a bunch of squirrelly fourth graders!"
Schiebold
doesn't
make suggestions that eschew set educational standards. Indeed, he
mentions and
embraces them by showing how creative teaching can operate within the boundaries of these systems:
"The
teacher frames a problem within
a reality-based context. The teacher sets the parameters of the
problem: we
have to be reflective and innovative, committed to diversity. Basically
any
lesson created has to fit into the national and state standards for
teaching English.
Any piece of local or universal truth discovered or created can fit
into the
national and state standards for teaching English."
By
undertaking
teaching and curriculum reform within the existing framework, but
pushing the
creative element beyond its typical borders, Schiebold creates a
mandate for
change which is practical, inspiring, and achievable for those
operating within
a traditionally rigid, non-creative environment and system.
No
educator
should be without the points raised in Creativity:
Crossroads in k12 Education: Take Flight in Creative Learning This
is why it should be considered a 'must' for
any library
strong in education references and parenting books, and also very
highly
recommended to book clubs interested in debating and discussing issues
surrounding education system reassessment and rejuvination.
Return to Index
From
Hardship to
Hope
Judith Gwinn
Adrian and Jaylin M. Stueber
HenschelHAUS
978159598-960-4
$18.95 Paper/$9.99 eBook
Website: judithadrian.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Hardship-Hope-Crossing-Divides-wealth/dp/1595989609
Fictionalized,
shared autobiographies are rare, but there is perhaps no other form
which would
prove as alluring and hard-hitting as From
Hardship To Hope: Crossing The Great Divides Of Age, Race, Wealth,
Equity, And Health. Written during the siege of COVID and
exploring the
parallel, diverse belief systems of Zoe
and Ruby Blue as they navigate individual and shared experiences, From
Hardship To Hope
creates a
lesson in connection and choice that is transmitted against the
backdrop of
some of the most challenging plague years humanity has ever experienced.
The "autofiction" blend is
connected and
enhanced by drama and fictional devices of expansive setting and
psychology as
Zoe and Ruby Blue reflect some of co-authors Judith Gwinn Adrian and
Jaylin M.
Stueber's experiences.
Through their shared
insights and collaborative efforts
comes a story fraught with insights about prejudice, social reaction,
change,
justice, and philosophy. It takes a world-transforming virus a step
further by
entering the lives of a group of people who were transformed by COVID
and the
world changes it introduced.
COVID's disruption
introduces characters (based on
reality) that might never otherwise have met—pregnant, homeless, Black
teen
Ruby Blue, who is temporarily housed with Zoe, a White, aging widow.
Zoe's
privileged heritage contrasts heavily with that of Ruby Blue, whose
incarcerated husband and life reflect a very different reality.
At first, their differences
take over as they meet and
clash.
Introductions by both
authors explore the birth of not
only shared connections spawned by ideals that didn't match at all, at
first;
but a unique collaborative process that gave them much while demanding
their
time and participation:
"Something
I
noticed throughout this project was that as our characters grew, so did
we.
Why? Because their growth allowed us to learn from each other,
particularly
through our more uncomfortable conversations. It was hard to write
together at
times because we are both passionate about our stories and sometimes it
is
difficult to hear the other person out when it is your truth."
When the story opens, Ruby
Blue feels herself completely
alone, with her man absent and the baby growing inside her. Her sense
of being
alone dovetails powerfully with Zoe's introduction, which explores the
process
of aging and becoming 'invisible':
"...wrinkled,
gnarled, and desexualized, I visualize myself liquifying, watching the
rhythmic
blue pulse when my hands are still. No question I’m invisible to most
people,
even though the pulsing in my veins infers life. A still dignified,
withering
creature, I am blandly Midwestern and genetically British. I do know
how to sit
with grace, one leg behind the other to lower myself into a seated
position,
gently as a flutter, sitting with decorum and gentility. Whether erect
posture
is useful at my age is questionable, but it is a carryover; taught as
one of my
parents’ many family-honored decrees."
Readers can't help but be
fascinated by both the
contrasts and the similarities between these seemingly disparate lives,
which
extends into new realizations and transformations that wouldn't have
been
possible without COVID's intervention in seemingly set destinies.
Book clubs seeking
autofiction that reflects values,
beliefs, and individuals who struggle with changed lives will find From Hardship To Hope an immensely
powerful discussion point that surveys social, political, and racial
issues
using a compelling duet of voices.
Libraries will want to both
include and highly recommend From Hardship To
Hope to a wide audience
(including book club discussion groups) seeking powerful, memorable
stories
that both resonate and stand out from the crowd with a literary,
social, and
philosophical prowess rarely observed in modern fiction.
Return to Index
Hidden Price
Tags V.
6: Dissertations
C.J.S. Hayward
C.J.S. Hayward
Publications
979-8376521939
$15.00
Hardcover/$12.24 Paperback/$5.00 eBook
https://cjshayward.com/hpt6
Dissertations adds to the eight-volume
opus that is C.J.S.
Hayward's masterpiece on Eastern Orthodoxy and technology, expanding
the
subject of technological allure and danger by discussing AI and dark
patterns
as they relate to Scriptural texts.
This
discourse builds
on his prior thesis subjects, which offered readers "...a
theological critique that used theology to see things that
are not seen in mainstream artificial intelligence research and for
that matter
are not seen in mainstream academic critiques of artificial
intelligence."
Readers
might not
anticipate the scholarly depths of an Orthodoxy approach to science,
but it
resides here, from theorems and hypotheses on boundaries and space to
arguments
and justifications that reveal Scriptural perceptions and analysis in a
different light.
More so than
many of
his prior writings, Dissertations
represents the scholarly, analytical brain of
From
functionality
arguments to optimality assumptions, Hayward provides readers with
complex,
enlightening insights into spiritual thinking that stem from three
masters'
thesis writings, cementing many of his prior books and insights with a
heavier
dose of analytical observation.
The result
ideally
will be read in conjunction with his past 'Hidden Price Tags' series
titles and
his introductory The
Luddite's Guide to Technology (which synthesizes the
contentions expanded
upon in the Hidden Price Tags works).
Libraries seeking scholarly contributions to
subjects of faith, modern
culture, and science's influences will find Dissertations
a powerful piece; especially when read in conjunction with its other
series
siblings.
Return to Index
Jesus:
The
Femi Martin
Independently Published
979-8223044406
$14.99
https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Egypt-Years-Femi-Martin/dp/B0CDZWB937
"We’ve
got to answer
one question, and the question is, why doesn’t the holy family settle
down in
one place in
Jesus:
The Egypt Years
opens by defining the focus of its study
with a question that will lead Christians to reconsider what they
already know
about the history of Jesus and his family's movements.
With
so many examinations of Jesus's life
already published, it's satisfying to view a new one which reads like a
novel,
adding description, tension, and insights into the holy family's life
using a
"you are here" feel that is delightfully original and unexpected:
"Joseph
is still
worried, even near to paranoia, about the new baby. Even the woman he’s
married
to worries him. If not for the warning from the angel of God, he would
have
divorced Mary.
“We might find a bed there,”
he says.
“We have no money, Joseph,”
says Mary.
Joseph stops the donkey and
looks into the bag containing the presents the three wise men gave to
baby
Jesus. He takes out the frankincense.
“This should pay for our
stay.”
When the innkeeper sees that
they have a baby with them, he takes compassion on them, especially
when Joseph
says they’ve been travelling all day with the baby. He looks at the
frankincense and sees that it’s of superior quality. He’s instantly
amazed.
“Where did you get this?” he
asks as suspicion grows..."
Femi
Martin builds an account of the
family's movements that follows the birth of a baby and its impact on
the
family. It reviews the reasons why they moved so much and the early
experiences
which impacted Jesus and his entire family, building the foundations of
faith
and influence that influenced Jesus as a youngster as much as the
family that
surrounded, protected, and nurtured him.
From
their attempts to hide from Herod's
spies and live on what God provided to the first three and a half years
in
which Jesus and his family followed a nomadic lifestyle, Martin brings
the
times and politics to life as the swings of misfortune and danger lead
to
continual reassessments of safety, belief, and human failings and
feelings.
The
emotion-laden story recreates Jesus's
early influences as the child struggles to understand why they are
always
running and the forces that overlay his parents' relationship and
actions.
This,
in turn, will prompt Christian
readers to view the holy family in a new, more reflective and
understanding
light that incorporates a deeper spiritual, psychology, and social
understanding of the times than most accounts of Jesus can achieve.
The
roots of Jesus's thinking and
influences are thus revealed in a manner especially accessible to a
wide
audience of readers, who will find these reflections perfect for church
and
group discussion as well as individual pursuit.
Christian
libraries seeking accessible,
lively, thought-provoking focuses on Jesus which walk the extra mile in
delineating the social, political, and cultural influences on his
family and
life will find Jesus: The Egypt Years
especially inviting, well worthy of acquisition and recommendation.
Return to Index
The Little
Black Book
of Tax Wisdom
Mike Kowis, Esq.
Lecture PRO
Publishing
978-1-7328630-9-5
$9.99 Paper/$4.99
eBook/$6.95 Audiobook
Website: www.mikekowis.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Black-Book-Tax-Wisdom/dp/1732863091
Readers who expect that The Little Black Book of Tax Wisdom: Quotes, Quips,
& Quiddities
Every Tax Advisor Should Know will contain staid tax subjects
and wisdom
should be advised that the serious subjects of taxes are offset by
quotes and
quips designed to lighten the tax preparer's load in unexpected ways.
When arranged into logical
categories, from tax liars and
cheaters to Uncle Sam's oddities, they become even funnier—and more
pointed:
"If Justice
Holmes was correct that “[t]axes are what we pay for civilized
society,” then
the question in this case is how much civilization the taxpayers will
be
required to purchase.”
–
Quotes come
from a
wide field of experts and intellectuals, from politicians and founding
fathers
to economists, media, and even the mob ("A
good lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than ten men with machine
guns." – Al Capone).
If anyone maintains
that law and tax professionals are a dry and stale subject (and group),
The
Little Black Book of Tax Wisdom: Quotes, Quips, & Quiddities
Every Tax
Advisor Should Know
defies
that notion.
It will make the perfect
gift for one's tax advisor, and
deserves a place on the bookshelf of any library appealing to
humorists,
taxpayers, or general-interest readers looking for reflective fun in
their reading
choices.
Return to Index
Not
On My Watch
Bob & Joan Hatrak
Villa Magna Publishing
978-1-940178-68-4
$34.99 Hardcover/$24.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://villamagnapublishing.com/
Not On My Watch:
A Beloved Prison Warden's 30-Year Fight for Justice in the Prison System is an important
library acquisition for anyone interested in justice system issues,
operations,
and conundrums. It documents the experiences of Bob Hatrack, the
youngest
warden to oversee
From
its opening lines, this memoir delivers on it's title's promise
to create a vivid, engrossing story replete in a story not only about
the world
behind prison bars, but Hatrak's many experiences outside of his chosen
work
and career.
This
gives a full-bodied experiential feel to the memoir, broadening
its horizons beyond the usual singular focus on the prison system to
expand and
reflect upon diverse elements that influenced Hatrack's approach and
often-revolutionary prison reforms.
How
did he achieve all this? One word provides the foundation: boxing.
In
the 1970s, the
"Often, the
most powerful stories are of redemption, but not everyone is willing to
give
someone the opportunity to redeem themselves. Bob Hatrak earned respect
by
doing that. He is a man of second chances, of giving the benefit of the
doubt,
and he is a man of principle."
Through
work release programs and combining an innovative management
perspective gleaned from experiences with Trenton's prison system to
his early
instigation of fourteen new rules, from 'hands-off' approaches to
prisoners
that advocated a touchless respect on both sides to instigating
violence
control routines tacked unresolved inmate riot demands of the past,
Hatrack
addressed some of the most deadly and persistent prison processes,
transforming
them and the watchers and inmates that had become stuck in their rules
and
routines.
So
much is provided, here, on prison issues, reform processes, and
approaches to management that any library with an iota of interest in
justice
system issues will find the approach lively, eye-opening, and worthy of
discussion on many different levels, whether the group be students
involved in
prison system issues or book clubs interested in bigger-picture
discussion
about individual impact in decision-making roles.
This
is why Not On My Watch
is very highly recommended for libraries ranging from specialty
collections in
justice systems to general-interest institutions seeking thoroughly
inspiring,
engrossing reading that documents one man's progressive thinking and
determination to make a difference.
Wide-ranging,
indeed, because Hatrack's programs and innovations
reached well into the greater world:
"It didn’t
take long for our work to reach the local and national newspapers and
appear on
local and national television. It amazed us to learn that our idea had
“crossed
the pond” and adapted into a Juvenile Awareness Program, in full swing,
in
Return to Index
Paris
for Life
Barry Frangipane
Savory Adventures
Publishing
978-0-9836141-3-5
$28.95 Hardcover/$17.95
Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Life-Notes-Lifetime-out/dp/098361413X
Do you want to go to
The year
Frangipane
spent in
From the
start, a wry
sense of humor permeates his explorations, understanding of, and growth
in
"Over a thousand people took my picture during my
first hour in
The first
thing that
strikes readers is the openness with which the young Frangipane
approached
"When the meal was ready, she said, 'Tonight, we’ve
made a typical
I navigated the cauliflower with no problem, but the avocado was new to
me. At twenty years old, I had never eaten an avocado. It wasn’t in my
mother’s
repertoire. But it looked a lot like a crab-stuffed baked potato, so I
wasn’t
really concerned until Jean poked Anne while pointing at me and
laughing. Odile
could see the confused look on my face as she said, 'In
New
friendships were
honed over multiple courses of French food. New love evolved from the
spirited
absorption of French culture and byways.
Stroll long
the
beaches of
Many other
books
speak of
Libraries and readers seeking not a
historical recap of the city but a personal foray replete with passion
and
experiential moments should place Paris for Life at
the top of their
lists. Its ability to translate the moments of wonder and culture that
is
intrinsic to understanding and appreciating
Return to Index
Productivity
is Power II
Hillary Rettig
Infinite Art Press
978-0-9899440-9-0
$24.95
Paperback/$4.95 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Productivity-Power-Creative-Business-Professionals/dp/0989944093
Productivity is
Power II
tackles a subject usually skirted in business books: disempowerment
processes and how they affect business structures, individuals, and
corporations at the highest levels.
Disempowerment's
symptoms may mask as laziness or complicity, but it
holds its roots in far deeper, more troubling corporate culture and is
often
the insidious result of trauma, perfectionist demands, improper
management
processes, and outright power and prejudice displays.
Where
do the tendencies to transmit disempowerment and repression come
from? Begin with family, move into society as a whole, then translate
it to
professional pursuits and you have the root causes of a dysfunctional
power
structure many struggle against.
Now
re-envision that scenario with empowerment in mind, for a hint of
how Hillary Rettig translates the situation to actions and choices
which
deliver not only better productivity, but healthier relationships.
Chapters
review the philosophy, psychology, and sociology of
unproductive behavior patterns, linking them to examples of
disenfranchisement
which can permeate a pursuit without its participants even noticing the
deeper
ramifications of their actions.
Readers
receive a survey that goes beyond stating ideals or problems,
teaching new thought processes in the perception of work, success,
relationships, and everything related to honing more productive efforts:
"You’ll
need to learn to tolerate all this weirdness, at least for a while.
You’ll
especially need to make sure that it doesn’t send you spiraling back
into
perfectionism and procrastination. Persevere gently—always gently—and
the weird
feelings, which are kind of like “perfectionism’s last stand,” should
eventually go away. Meanwhile, time management (Part V) will help you
to deal
with the “problem” (not really) of “too much time.” Hopefully, you’ll
eventually decide, at some not-so-distant point, that, “Dammit, I am not going to treat myself badly
anymore, no matter how badly I think I’ve
screwed up! It’s not worth it, it feels terrible, and it doesn’t help a
thing.”
That’s when you’ll know you’ve turned the corner away from
perfectionism, and
toward a happier, brighter, kinder, more abundant, and more productive
future."
We’ve
all known or lived with perfectionists; including ourselves.
What makes Productivity is Power II
particularly enlightening is its can-do approach to revising habits and
objectives
to season them with more mindful actions, reactions, and thoughts.
The
coping strategies for deflecting the impact of "...harsh
people, exploiters, and other problematic types" translate to effective
life approaches that will reach beyond business settings and into the
nuts and
bolts of living a more effective, peaceful life.
Libraries
and readers seeking important keys to personal, political,
and corporate transformation processes will find all the basics and
growth-encouraging routines here. Productivity
is Power II's ability to present scenarios of destructive
interactions and
teach how to convert them to productive, positive options and
soul-building
life experiences makes this book a 'must' not just for business and
self-help
collections, but especially for discussion groups interested in
absorbing the
processes of better living and working.
Return to Index
Reimagining
Success
Maureen Fallon-Cyr,
LCSW
DartFrog Plus
978-1-961624-28-3
$16.99
www.dartfrogbooks.com
Reimagining
Success:
Manifesting Happiness and Fulfillment reinterprets the meaning of success, delving into
the physical,
cognitive, and spiritual aspects of that definition in order to guide
readers
into a deeper examination of the incarnations and cost of success.
From
the start, Maureen
Fallon-Cyr presents some surprising
interpretations and insights on the subject:
"In today’s world you can’t escape the trappings of
success. Media
feeds, television, and self-help books continuously entice us to boost
our
success in finance, parenting, weight loss, exercise, fashion, aging,
and even
meal preparation. So why would I write a book that speaks to success?
Because I
was tired. Over the years, I
worked hard to be successful in many arenas, only to feel unsuccessful
and
unfulfilled. No matter which success program I ventured into, I quickly
slipped
back into old habits, disheartened and let down—I wasn’t “changing for
the
better,” I wasn’t manifesting the “me” I wanted to be, and when I did
achieve a
goal, I often suffered from imposter syndrome—I could barely own my
achievements or was unable to savor the joy that came with the
accolades. I was
living a generally good life, but I wasn’t feeling successful."
Her self-analysis
also reflects on why a reader already motivated in self-help and
self-examination areas would want to choose Reimagining Success over similar-sounding titles. One reason
would include prior failures to achieve a feeling of success and an
interest in
finding new pathways, interpretations, and aspects of success that are
more
achievable and ultimately more (shall we say) successful.
In order to achieve this
level of satisfaction, Fallon-Cyr
creates and promotes a
reinterpretation process that closely considers elements of different
aspects
of success, showing how to view and choose new visions for more
effective
results.
Chapters
delve into
building support systems, releasing prior practices and formulations of
success, and better understanding the foundations of achievement and
their wellsprings
of inspiration.
At every
step,
Fallon-Cyr provides supportive research evidence, case histories, and
data that
reinforces her reinterpretation of what constitutes success and its
motivating
influences.
The result
is a
deeper inspection than many would anticipate, which eschews
surface-level
psychology in favor of alternative views of success, motivation,
achievement,
and satisfaction.
This will encourage
discussion groups from a wide range of sources, from psychology and
business to
self-help readers, making Reimagining
Success a highly
recommended, invaluable tool for
change at personal, social, and political levels that libraries can
encourage
and recommend.
Return to Index
Rethinking
Money and Finance
Richard G. Patterson
Independently Published
979-8824051612
$10.00
Paperback/$3.00 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Money-Finance-Economics-Morality/dp/B0CKBBLT9Z
Rethinking Money
and Finance: Economics, Common Sense and Morality makes a powerful
case for how economics and the drive for money are destroying both the
planet
and human relationships, threatening the world and humanity with
eventual
extinction.
Others
have made this argument before, placing the blame on economic
systems and financial pursuits; but what sets Rethinking
Money and Finance apart from others is not just its
contentions, but the time Richard G. Patterson takes to explore the
underlying
foundations of value and economic theory that affect how systems and
people
make choices.
Chapters
use the 2007-08 financial crisis as a focal point for
creating insights and understanding, reviewing past financial history
in a
thought-provokingly different light. This will lead readers to better
understand
these and other economic impasses and crises, and their roots in
misguided
strategies and thinking.
No
punches are pulled in this process:
"...liquidity
is a double-edged sword. It may encourage “investment” but it also
encourages
“trading” and “speculation.” Financial markets theoretically designed
to spread
the risk and keep the wheels of industry turning end up making it
possible for
George Soros to make a billion dollars in 1992 by “shorting” the pound
sterling
and forcing the British government to alter its monetary policy. While
an
expert might be able to point out that Soros was simply seeing an
opportunity
created by a mistaken monetary policy and insist that regulations and
enlightened government policy can prevent financial crises, it may also
be that
there is something fundamentally wrong with the way investment in
business is
generated."
The
candid nature of Patterson's observations create dialogues and
inspections especially recommended for high school to college-level
classes in
economics and financial history. His ability to juxtapose historical
events
with examinations of influences and opportunities for change will spark
students to discuss and debate many of these points.
An
extensive bibliography and footnotes enhances the scholarly
applications of this work, supporting its contentions; but the overall
style of
delivery is such that even lay readers not well versed in economic
theory will
find the discourses quite appealing and accessible.
The
problems are clearly presented:
"Mainstream
economics conflates the creation of surplus goods through technology
with the
accrual of "profits" to individuals or corporations. It fails to see
that money should not be a commodity with a price determined by supply
and
demand and that the only thing achieved by financial markets is the
concentration of money and power in the hands of a few along with an
unending
series of "crises" that destroy lives. It justifies all this with a
simplistic model of human interaction and the pretense of being a
science based
on mathematical models."
The
solutions lie in deeper examinations that Patterson provides,
which lean into arenas of philosophical, moral, and ethical concerns.
Libraries
and teachers seeking a primer on economic impact that rests
on the foundations of the 2007-08 financial meltdown, but then builds
positive
reflections and possibilities for change (and even transformation),
will find Rethinking Money and Finance
an
intriguing, powerful survey.
Return to Index
The
Science of Energy
Payman Sattari
Pragda Press
979-8989627516
$29.99 Hardcover/$16.99 Paperback/$14.99
eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Energy-Language-Truth/dp/B0CPC9CBJ2
The
Science of Energy
blends scientific with metaphysical and
philosophical inspection as Payman Sattari examines the nature of
reality, the
impact of the observer, and the results of applied metaphysics on
worldviews.
If
this sounds like New Age
quasi-scientific thinking, be advised that The
Science of Energy is not just theoretical. Within its
examinations of DNA,
atoms and cells, and the concurrent development of science and
philosophy lies
a grounded approach to inquiry that will please readers that normally
eschew
metaphysical thinking:
"It
is intuitive that
mind has something to do with the dance of matter that surrounds
us—that it is
involved somehow. But what it is and how exactly it fits in is not so
clear. To
deepen our understanding of the mind’s place within the overall order,
we must
begin by identifying it."
As
Sattari moves through elements and
themes in scientific and philosophical discovery, readers receive a
reasoned
and methodical discourse that will especially lend to group discussions
among
science and new age circles alike:
"We
must be absolutely
clear in that, despite the fact that this branch of science studies
“life” and
not the inanimate objects of physics, it still does not deal with the
reality
of the subjective observer. Biology is still concerned with life at the
physical
level and studies the behavior and composition of living cells in much
the same
way that physics studies atoms. Mostly, it is concerned with function,
composition, and behavior. Even still, certain aspects of living
organisms
fundamentally set them apart from the universe of the inanimate. One of
the
most visible of these is the will."
By
linking science to metaphysical and
philosophical approaches to life, Sattari forges new ground in
examining how
memory and identity dovetail with scientific and metaphysical pathways
to
realization.
The
result is an accessible, enlightening,
thought-provoking series of insights that libraries strong in either
scientific
or metaphysical thinking will find not only highly recommendable to
patrons,
but to book clubs interested in creating discussions about connections
between
the material world and inner being.
Return to Index
The Secret
World of
Children
Meri Wallace, LCSW
Precocity Press
979-8989204328
$19.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.precocitypress.com
The
Secret World of Children: Understand Why Your Kids Behave the Way They
Do reviews nine
developmental reasons why kids behave and misbehave, explaining to
parents the
rudiments of belief systems, perceptions, and lessons that adults may
have
never thought of (or intended to pass on to their kids).
The purpose of this treatise
is to not just explain, but
explore the dimensions of such systems and teachings, helping parents
understand the messages and impact of how they teach kids to handle
common life
issues from bullying to separation anxiety and daily routines.
Each behavior receives a
translation to real-world events
that adults will readily understand, showing how to provide the type of
encouragement
and support that builds character and strong children.
Examples can be found in as
simple an effort as showing a
child how to iron a shirt:
"Avoid
perfectionism. When your child is ironing for the first time and is
upset
because there are many wrinkles left in the shirt, it’s best to say,
“Ironing
is hard and you’re just learning how to do it. We’ll keep working on it
together.” If you expect perfection from your children and readily
criticize
their attempts telling them, “You didn’t do it right. I’ll do it
myself,” they
feel inadequate and defeated, and may not try again. Your words and
attitude
can be internalized by your children, and they might become their own
worst
critics."
While the intended result is
to encourage better
parenting through example, Meri
Wallace perhaps won't have intended the side benefit of outlining
strategies
and common reactions that resonate not only between adults and kids,
but adults
and their own peers.
Her
delineation of
attitudes and examples inherent in life encounters will help adults
better
understand the roots of their own responses to life and others around
them. This
makes The Secret World of Children
not only an invaluable exposé
of children's behaviors and how
they learn, but an exploration of adult patterns of action, reaction,
and
interaction with all ages.
For these
reasons and
more, The Secret World of Children
is
highly recommended for new parents, those who want to learn more about
how and
why kids learn and react to life in certain ways, and their own roles
and engrained
lessons towards others.
Libraries
seeking
parenting titles that go the extra mile in linking common reactions to
life-long lessons, as well as book clubs interested in the psychology
of
relationships and modifying perceptions and attitudes for more
positive,
growth-oriented results, will find The
Secret World of Children a winner.
Return to Index
The Secrets of the Hidden
Workforce
Lisa Toth
978-1-960810-40-3
$20.00
www.YorkshirePublishing.com
Lisa Toth's life work
revolves around helping individuals
with disabilities find meaningful jobs that contribute to the workforce
in
effective, positive ways. The Secrets of
the Hidden Workforce follows her other writings and radio
show, revealing
how to find purpose and meaning in work. It offers a program and
insights that
any worker can utilize to further identify their own goals for work and
leisure.
The
Secrets of the
Hidden Workforce provides a blueprint to understanding the
secrets of work
satisfaction and contributions. It is also a memoir of how Lisa Toth
created an
agency to inspire people, then moved into a job coaching people with
developmental and other disabilities. She successfully juxtaposed her
personal
ideals, philosophy, and approaches to life and work with the concrete
results
discovered and promoted in her company and workforce counseling.
Toth's insights about how
her desire to help others
created a new career path will particularly engross readers who look
for ways
of giving to others while making a living.
Her insights on caregiving,
creating positive scenarios,
and contributing in different ways acknowledge the obstacles and
successes of
her efforts:
"My
experience
in caring for Violet led me to think about the importance of positive
caregivers in my own life—for example, when I
was ill and needed some personal care for myself. I found
that
it makes a difference when someone who is doing something for me has a
truly
caring attitude. If they do not, I hate what they are doing; if they
do, I
appreciate that they truly want to care for me. This personal
reflection on
caregiving helped me realize that I always want to make the people in
my care
feel they are truly being cared for."
This is how a book that
purports to be about career,
work, and meaningful contributions evolves into bigger-picture thinking
that
proves essential for all these efforts and more. This is also why The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce
offers
a wide-ranging series of insights that ideally will form the
foundations for
many a lively book club, business, or psychology discussion group.
Libraries who choose The
Secrets of the Hidden Workforce expecting another business
book about jobs
will be pleasantly surprised at the broad reach of Toth's subjects.
They range
from not just accepting but supporting diversity and the disabled to
how to
tailor, create, and tap a workforce that may need extra support, but
returns
the effort in uplifting ways that change the entire business internal
culture.
The
Secrets of the
Hidden Workforce is very highly recommended for all these
reasons,
presenting a standout approach and philosophy that's easy to absorb and
engrossingly supported by case history examples and personal insights.
Return to Index
Spheres of Influence: How to Create and
Nurture Authentic Business Relationships
Brad Englert
Fast Company Press
978-1639080748
$23.95
www.fastcompanypress.com
Spheres
of Influence:
How to Create and Nurture Authentic Business Relationships represents
a
step above the usual business guide on networking to tackle the deeper
issues
and promise of a business relationship: creating a genuine bond that
rests as
much on mutual learning and support as it does on the personal
connections that
normally bring friends together.
By identifying,
acknowledging, and understanding the
properties of a business relationship fueled not just by goals and
objectives,
but genuine connections, business leaders and entrepreneurs have much
to
consider and grow from as they craft their influence and broaden its
reach.
From understanding a new
supervisor’s challenges and
responding to them in a supportive manner that accepts revised goals
and
expectations (and understanding that the bigger picture to this
relationship
involves promoting organizational health as well as profit) to the
notion that “You don’t always win, but you
have to try,”
Brad Englert uses his own
experiences and examples from the real world of business pursuits to
illustrate
the nature and changes of authenticity.
Much of
Englert’s
experience drives this discussion, from how he implemented consistent
incidence
reporting procedures to identify and mitigate the causes and effects of
power outages
to “building customers into advocates” who work hand-in-hand to
troubleshoot
issues. These real-world examples offer concrete advice and insights
that
promote being curious, learning from people, keeping them in the
communication
loop, and more.
Where many
business
books promote the general concept of networking, Englert moves beyond
to
discuss the specific concept of forming deep, lasting, and motivational
business relationships at all levels, from supervisors to customers. Englert deftly and effortlessly delivers
these insights, often with a dose of humor - a true professional who
deeply
understands what he's talking about.
The result
is a guide
that leads business readers through various types of relationships,
whether
they be with bosses, leaders, reporting routines, or staff, discussing
typical
pitfalls and promises in each circumstance.
Emerging and established
business leaders seeking
leadership books that cut to the chase with powerful, real-life
examples of how
to psychologically master the "critical hard skill"
of building
lasting business relationships will welcome this book.
Return to Index
Switching
Tracks: Out of the Trash
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-364-1
$24.95 Paper/$6.99 ebook/Audiobook TBA
Website: https://lenagibsonauthor.wpcomstaging.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Switching-Tracks-Trash-Train-Hoppers/dp/1685133649
Switching
Tracks: Out of the
Trash
spins romance and
action from a futuristic dystopian setting in a manner that defies any
sense of
pat categorization as sci-fi, romance, or adventure story. Its ability
to break
from traditional formula approaches to writing in any of these genres
lends its
appeal to a wider audience as Lena Gibson follows trash scavenger Elsa,
who is
barely surviving on garbage in 2195
The maps
promising
six Doomsday bunkers laden with food and survival supplies seem too
good to be
true. It is. Elsa discovers that, along with the maps, there is a
dangerous
host of competing special interests that all share the objective of
locating
these bunkers for the same reasons.
As she hops
a train
to encounter individuals that each operate outside the predatory belief
system
of the almost-all-controlling corporation GreenCorps, new possibilities
arise
that, in turn, demand new response and growth from those who would
truly reap
the benefits of a discovery that leads to not just survival, but real
change.
Can a life
of misery,
slavery, death, and confrontation be changed by a new pursuit? Lena
Gibson reveals more than the physical
mechanics of switching tracks into a new life as the ragtag group
meets,
coalesces, shares interests, and develops new paradigms for survival
and its
ultimate costs and meaning.
The
story is rich in hope and a newfound
opportunity represented by the promise of a different world and life,
which
intrigues the characters in different ways. This motivates them to set
aside
old habits and differences in a rare conjoined effort to do, see, and
distribute something new into their worlds.
It's
a sense of adventure and interpersonal
connection that has long been missing from a milieu in which greed and
self-satisfaction have taken over, fueled by corporate control:
“Sounds
like fun to explore,
like a hunt for treasure.”
Excitement built, along with
the fluttery sensation inside. “That’s how I see it. That’s why I
couldn’t sell
the tube, even when we were hungry. It meant opportunity.”
While
Switching
Tracks: Out of the Trash may be chosen for its entertainment
value or
enjoyed by sci-fi or adventure-seeking audiences, its real value lies
in its
promise (and delivery) of change and renovation as the characters move
beyond
shared interests to consider the opportunities both within and outside
themselves, to change their worlds and those around them.
Libraries
and readers seeking a
wide-ranging story of survival and transformation that also holds many
topics
to pique book club reader interest will find Switching
Tracks: Out of the Trash a voracious story of hope,
struggle, and challenge that ends with the door wide open for another
adventure.
Return to Index
Traveling
in Wonder
Autumn Carolynn
Autumn Carolynn Photography
979-8-218-30855-1
$39.99 Hardcover/$31.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
www.autumncarolynn.com
Many
travelogues assume a similar pattern: the narrator embarks on a
world journey replete with tactile and mental experiences and
revelations.
Traveling in
Wonder
takes a different approach. It comes from a former flight attendant
who traveled to 30 countries over a thirty-year period. She didn't just
touch
down and leave: she stepped off the plane to immerse herself in each of
these
worlds, moving through different personal and career objectives as she
made
discoveries about herself and diverse cultures around the world.
Choosing
the memoir format gives these experiences a "you are
here immediacy" that doesn't end with a quick assessment or dip into
the
country, but involves in-depth surveys as Carolynn moves from studying
abroad
in Germany, Ireland, Hungary and more European countries to becoming a
flight
attendant, visiting more countries such as Iceland. She describes many
forays
into
Each
new phase of life and career brings with it more than a taste of
the nations Carolynn experiences:
"I was
taken back by the intricate beauty of
Carolynn's
gorgeous color and black and white photos liberally pepper
her experiences, adding to the feeling of journeying alongside her as
readers
venture into each country. At the start of each experience is a
checklist she
created for herself to remind her of goals and cement the events that
transpired, from making new friends to lessons learned from that
experience.
Her
self-examination is every bit as important as her experiences:
"As I
watched the reflection in the water, I reflected on my trip in
The
result blends photographic visual and psychological excellence
into a journey that libraries will find inviting, gently
thought-provoking, and
packed with excitement and insight alike. Wanna-be travelers will find
the
variety of travels and the life-changing career transformations to be
equally
vivid and attractive, whether they plan on riding along with Carolynn
in an
armchair with Traveling in Wonder,
or
embarking on a similar journey themselves, keeping wonder at the
forefront of
anticipations about immersion into unfamiliar territory.
Libraries
will find it a fine addition that expands the usual
travelogue approach, highly recommended to a wide range of armchair or
destination travelers.
Return to Index
The Truth
Too:
Lamentations and Woes
Mikah, Co-Authored
with the Holy Spirit
Red Letter Edition
979-8-9892428-2-5
$35.99
www.KingdomManagementTeam.faith
Readers of
Mikah’s
prior work already know that this spiritual leader works in conjunction
and
through the Holy Spirit. The opening chapter explains how Mikah was
appointed,
during a spiritual cleansing of her mother’s home, by Father to assume
a
ministry to the world:
“Not only are you a sweet fragrance, but you are
the aroma that goes
before My throne constantly. I am
calling you to a ministry to teach and evangelize. I am
quickening your
heart for one reason. I am going to make your heart strong and hard so
when I
talk with you, you will be able to teach with understanding and
authority. I am
taking the mantle off this family and putting it on your shoulders.”
From how
Mikah was
moved to write to reach a wider audience, to reflections on the Word of
God
which too often are misinterpreted or fall on deaf ears, this treatise
navigates
the common pitfalls of belief, interpretation, and representation in
religious
circles to preach methods of deliverance, address spiritual
defilements, and
understand obedience, curses, and the trials of testing which require
believers
to step up to better understand the Word of God and the incarnations of
God’s
presence in everyday life.
Photos
capturing
circumstances of this physical presence in Mikah’s life reinforce the
vision
and focus of the narrative, presenting physical examples of God’s
incarnations
in the world that support contentions made in the text.
Specific
examples of
spiritual challenges are accompanied by Scripture quotes that reinforce
messages from God and perspectives of how they can be supported and
applied to daily
thinking. That only makes them more vibrant and accessible to spiritual
thinkers and leaders interested in delving more deeply into the Word of
God and
how it appears in the world.
Christian
libraries
and discussion groups seeking controversial and enlightening material
for
discussion and better understanding will find The
Truth Too: Lamentations and Woes a powerful study in
possibilities
and perspective that delves into Scripture, applies it to historical
precedent
and human habits, and guides readers on a journey of discovery and
consideration that could only come from a close relationship between
Mikah and
God.
Return to Index
The Woman
Who Forgot Who She Was
Vivian Probst
Lifemark Press
979-8370392856
$12.99 Paper/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Who-Forgot-She-Was/dp/B0BXNBHN2Q
Readers of literary
women's fiction, romance, and psychology will find The Woman Who Forgot Who She
Was a powerful
story. It
centers on successful bank president Avery Victoria Spencer, who finds
that her
success isn't enough to stave off the aftermath of a trauma that has
left her with
dissociative amnesia, leading her to forget her husband and prior life.
His appearance marks the
unwelcome return of reminders of
the past, which he can recall (with hurt) and she cannot (with healing).
This shakes the foundations
of who she thinks she is,
arriving simultaneous to a financial conundrum that threatens
everything she's
tried to build in her new life, despite her glaring lack of memories
about the
past.
The result is a reemergence
as Avery is forced to connect
the dots between past and present to find out who she truly is (which
lies
somewhere in-between two worlds).
Vivian
Probst creates
a powerful saga of self-discovery which mirrors many a woman's attempts
to
connect to a deeper authenticity to better focus and fuel their careers
and
personal connections in the world.
Avery serves
as a
mirror of ambition and effort, moving from an initial accident that
leaves her
not knowing who she is (yet wanting to die) to the façade of success in
a new
life which still harbors too many ghosts from the past to prove either
viable
or sustainable.
Readers
introduced to
Avery's dilemmas and husband George's own anguish about the events
which drove
her from his arms will find much bigger-picture thinking a plus in the
story.
Each character evolves and slowly comes to accept one other, the past,
and the
answers and treasures which come from confronting guilt, self, and the
future.
Probst
follows
Avery's journey with a thoughtful hand to exploring the dynamics which
prompt
old pain and debts to re-emerge in unexpected ways and places, there to
fester
and encourage both new pain and revised opportunities.
Many of
Avery's
experiences will lend perfectly to discussion groups interested in how
women
survive trauma, grow, reinvent themselves, and create purposeful new
pathways
in the world.
As the first book in
a four-part series, The
Woman Who Forgot Who She Was is
an immensely powerful introduction to all
kinds of growth-oriented themes which will surprise and delight readers
with
its depth and drive towards financial and mental prosperity.
Libraries seeking literary
works of women's fiction which
do more than scratch the surface of self-empowerment will find The Woman Who Forgot Who She Was highly
recommendable to patrons and book reading groups that seek examinations
of
growth and change, powered by relationship currents that take unusual
turns.
Return to Index
The Woman Who Fell Out of Fear
Vivian Probst
LifeMark Press
979-8489223126
$12.99 Paper/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Who-Fell-Out-Fear/dp/B09HQ5K6BL
The second book
in the Avery Victoria Spenser Fables series moves from the despair and
anguish
portrayed in the first tale to a more celebratory sense of the outcome
of discovery
and transformation. It represents a perfect dovetailing of time, place,
and
personality as protagonist Avery continues to address, make discoveries
about,
and repair the emotional traumas of her past, observing how they
reincarnate in
present-day events and experiences.
Avery is, in
many ways, triumphant about her vast discoveries and healing process,
depicted
in the first book (which covered her transformational realizations).
However,
discovery often comes with the price of a bone-cutting weariness as
manic
energy wanes and a quieter despair and recovery process sets in.
Suddenly, the
emotional reserves which seemed limitless and relatively untapped prove
that
they have their limitations, after all. Avery may have preserved her
place as a
much-improved bank president—but at the cost of emotional pleasures in
life
that lead her to view the world in a bleaker light.
Vivian
Probst
mentions, in her introduction, that putting together Avery's story was
like
piecing together a jigsaw puzzle. Readers will enjoy the exploration of
emotional and social puzzle pieces that lead Avery in more unexpected
directions as she puts together past and present to evolve different
options
and interests for her future.
The strength
of the
story lies in this process and in the insights that come with finding a
new
place she can call home—even if she doesn't quite know where that space
resides, and cultivates new interests and habits in response.
As she
ponders what
will happen if she doesn't host her promised and much-anticipated
charitable
events, Avery takes the next steps into a new life, which involves "...casting off falseness and
self-loathing, which are masks that you wore because you did not know"
as she enters into the tough proposition of becoming a Ruler of Your
Own Life.
The life
lessons,
connections, and challenges she experiences are an intrinsic part of
growth.
Avery confronts the fear and limitations which have held her back, so
readers
will find much to think about and book clubs receive many subjects
suitable for
debate on a range of topics, from women's empowerment to the dual
challenges of
romance and growth.
Libraries
seeking a
multifaceted novel that both stands well alone and furthers and
compliments the
first book in the Avery Victoria
Spencer Fables (The Woman Who Forgot Who
She Was) will find The Woman Who
Fell Out of Fear powerful and a compelling acquisition.
Return to Index
The
Woman Who Found Her Fire
Vivian Probst
LifeMark Press
978-0975342299
$12.99
Paperback/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Found-Victoria-Spencer-Fables/dp/0975342290
The
third book in the Avery Victoria Spencer Fables series, The
Woman Who Found Her Fire, further
investigates the impact of unresolved past trauma on present-day
romance as
star-crossed lovers Avery and George face the aftermath of a breakup
and
continue to struggle against trauma's lasting impact on their
perceptions and
choices.
Once
again, Vivian Probst has created a masterful interplay of
characters and juxtapositions of traumas, recovery processes, and roads
to
realization and empowerment which do not come easy. Indeed, the cost in
relationship impact may be more than both Avery and George can navigate
as they
aspire to successful outcomes, both individually and as a couple.
Probst's
passionate voice resonates through the story as Avery finds
herself in unpredictable circumstances, from demonstrating kindness to
a
complete stranger to testing her ongoing love for George against all
odds.
As
with the previous series titles, a host of related issues about
women's empowerment (both internally and externally) come to light:
"Avery knows how hard it
was for her to become a bank president. All a guy had to do was be in
the right
pecking order. She had to run circles around these guys; it had taken
pressure
from her friend Evelyn and some media promotion to make it. Avery
resents that
inequality."
The
themes that drive Avery's self-image, achievements, ability to
love and give, and drive to survive and thrive her past, come to light
in
different ways that ultimately propel her into new directions.
The
result is another compelling addition to and expansion of Avery's
life and transformations. The Woman Who
Found Her Fire is highly recommended to a wide audience,
from libraries
seeking hard-hitting insights into women's lives and issues to
psychology
discussion groups about trauma's effect on life and love, and book club
and
reading groups interested in a powerful psychological profile of growth.
Return to Index
The
Woman Who Forgave Herself
Vivian Probst
LifeMark Press
978-1735513416
$12.99
Paperback/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Forgave-Herself-Victoria-Spencer-Fables/dp/1735513415
The
fourth book in the Avery Victoria Spencer Fables series, The
Woman Who Forgave Herself, is a
powerful, logical conclusion to a series steeped in discovery. It
continues to
follow Avery through past and present life changes as an old photo
forces her
to confront the damage from a past trauma that has impacted her future.
Believing
these crushing events were all her fault, Avery heads out in
a rainstorm and, distracted, is hit by a car. She winds up on life
support,
where the choice between life or death is presented by the Angel of
Life, who
argues that she still has much opportunity and work in remaining in
this life,
even as Avery makes a case for leaving it and starting over with a
clean slate.
As
in her prior books, Probst leads readers through a series of tough
questions, difficult answers, and unexpected realizations as Avery
faces
perhaps her biggest challenge of all: acknowledging her part in causing
pain,
while forgiving herself for her errors and omissions.
When
Avery confronts George about who he really is and faces her own
much-revised life, readers learn about giving and forgiveness. Avery
absorbs
new knowledge that forces her to consider George's past and the part
she played
in impacting his life.
Regrets
and transformation work hand in hand as Avery grows physically
and mentally, continuing her work on herself by acknowledging her
impact in the
world and on important choices.
As
Life confronts Death and makes a case for Avery to continue her
journey, readers receive a powerful study in contrasts and
possibilities that
will fuel their own self-examinations about choice and change.
Meanwhile, as
George finally faces his own unresolved agonies, he, too, must decide
his fate.
Now that both remember, each must choose what ‘for better or worse’
means. Be
prepared for an unforgettable conclusion.
Libraries
and book clubs will find that each book in this series can
operate alone, but is best absorbed as a unit of growth and discovery.
Each
fuels and furthers discussions and reflections about love, survival,
and
interpersonal impacts and choices.
The Woman Who
Forgave Herself, as with the entire series, is highly
recommended reading for those interested in literary fiction about
women's
psychological, spiritual, and life empowerment processes.
Return to Index
Breksta's
Academy
Natasha Quay
Ensisheim
Partners LLC
979-8-218-22946-7
$14.99
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNNJMKQJ/
Breksta's
Academy is a teen
coming-of-age fantasy centered on Breksta Vilkas, who has enjoyed an
idyllic
childhood in a small village where friendships and support systems
abound. That
is, until soldiers arrive and cause her mother to flee with her from
the only
home Breksta has known.
When she is
taken from her mother and forced to become a cadet in an academy,
Breksta faces
a completely alien environment alone, without the support systems she
has
enjoyed all her young years.
Natasha Quay
spins an intriguing story that follows Breksta's evolution as she
hatches a
plot to make a bid for freedom with her roommate Hestia when a new
blanket of
terror not only thwarts their dreams, but portends a deadly outcome
fueled as
much by the secrets Breksta's mother has kept as by the vastly revised
circumstances she now faces alone.
Quay's ability
to craft a compelling character and dilemmas grows a vivid story as
Hestia is
subjected to a process to remove any memories of her friendship with
Breksta,
leaving her with an "unquestioning loyalty to her mother and the
Academy." How can Breksta confront this situation?
The questions of
self-esteem and growth juxtapose with Breksta's growing realization
about her
life and the secrets behind her upbringing, giving young adults a
vividly
dramatic story that brings the protagonist and her world to life.
Libraries
seeking fantasy recommendations for young adults which embrace themes
of growth
and self-empowerment will find Breksta's character strong and her
dilemmas
unpredictably action-packed.
Return to Index
Charlie
Chaloosy is
Often Quite Choosy
Brad Mason, Ed.D.
978-1-960810-36-6
$20.00
www.YorkshirePublishing.com
Charlie Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy
incorporates a rollicking
rhyme in the picture book story of Charlie, who has a problem:
"Charlie always seemed to pick,
things he liked the most.
For instance, all he ever ate
was peanut butter toast."
It's not
only food
that falls into the "everything matters" perception young Charlie
holds about life. From clothing to activities, Charlie picks and
chooses his
desires so narrowly that almost nothing suits him.
Young
picture book
readers (and parents who choose Charlie's story for read-aloud) receive
a
gentle lesson in choices and consequences which reveals how Charlie
discovers
and expands his world.
More so than
most
picture book stories about choosy children, Charlie
Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy is about the process of growth
and its
unexpected, welcome results.
Adults
seeking to
explain the wider options in a life lived not in fear and limited
enjoyments,
but a broader acceptance of new things, will find Charlie
Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy colorful, revealing, fun,
and appealing to all ages. It's highly recommended for both individual
and
family reading, as well as elementary-level school libraries who will
find its
colorful character appealing and enlightening.
Return to Index
Closet of
Dreams
Mark Ukra & Tara Mesalik MacMahon
BookLogix
9781665301657
$12.99
www.booklogix.com
Closet of Dreams
introduces nine-year-old Child,
who has a lot of big dreams (as well as many big fears).
These fears
are sparked by real encounters in life, such
as clashes with class bully Eddie which almost prompt Child to forego
the
bigger dreams in his closet of opportunities.
Young
readers follow Child's adventures as he explores
the contents of his Closet of Dreams and interacts with animal friends,
and
will enjoy a vivid tale illustrated with black and white art by Donna
Dyer,
which brings the story to life.
As Hilda the
hound dog points the way to possible
fantastic adventures, Child finds that what he doesn't choose to do
makes
almost as great an impact as what he does.
From finding
the best way to share a secret to seeking
help when he gets stuck, Child learns many lessons during the course of
pursuing these dreams which will give young readers thought-provoking
reflection; especially if this story is encouraged and supported by
adult
read-aloud efforts.
Libraries and adults looking
for gentle stories of
adventure, courage, and magic will find all these elements and more in Closet
of Dreams, a story of team-building and friendship that
engages young
readers on various issues and understanding opposing forces in
life.
Return to Index
Ephraim's
Garden
Loralee Evans
Independently
Published
978-1-7923-9021-0
$11.95
www.loraleeevans.com
Ephraim's Garden will appeal widely as
both a read-aloud book that adults
can enjoy for the very young, and as an attractive fable story for kids
up to
age ten.
The green
Ephraim
gathers his
young followers and gives each of them a plot to tend in preparation
for
planting. He warns them that "...
the work is not easy, and you will not see the results of your hard
work right
away."
Jared is a
young
person who believes in hard work, the garden, and Ephraim's promise.
His
dedication (and that of fellow avid young plot-tenders) attracts the
interest
and derision of bullies who aren't interested in putting out that kind
of
effort.
Their scorn
brings
tears to his tenderhearted friend Lissa, who is always easily affected
by what
others think. She tells him the root of her sorrow:
“They said that we’re fools to work this hard, and
that if Ephraim
really cared about us, he would give us gardens that are already
beautiful, not
plain patches of dirt.”
By now, it's
plain to
see that Loralee Evans has crafted a story about much more than
gardening. She
surveys matters of the heart, reasons behind emotions and reactions to
them,
and teaches young readers survival strategies that embrace
understanding and
better responses, as the story unfolds.
Lovely,
large-size,
colorful images from Shutterstock.com pepper the tale and enhance it
with
beautiful accent points of children and gardens as Lissa's dilemma
unfolds and
Jared is called upon to tap unfamiliar resources in order to support
her.
The notes
about
real-life conundrums go far beyond a simple portrait of bullies and
victims,
creating an in-depth inspection of such related topics as self-doubt,
courage,
kindness, and supporting others' choices as they navigate obstacles in
their lives.
The result
is a
picture book story that is packed with wisdom, insight, and discussion
material
suitable for parents and kids and any adult working with children to
build
greater understanding about how to be a friend and how to address
life's
challenges.
Libraries
will also
want to recommend Ephraim's Garden
to
discussion groups for young readers, as it holds many insights perfect
for kids
learning hard lessons about perseverance, friendship, and choice.
Return to Index
Mirror
Tree
AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-151-9 (Hardcover)
$17.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook /$35.99 Hardcover
www.atmospherepress.com
Middle
grade fantasy readers who enjoyed
Book 1 in the Drifters Realm series will find Mirror
Tree a captivating adventure story. It's centered around
twelve-year-old triplets and an older brother who embark on a journey,
armed
with magical backpacks, to stop the supernatural Guardians who are
ruled by
their uncle.
More
than an action story of magic and
confrontation, however, Mirror Tree
includes insights into growth, issues of right and wrong, and tests of
not just
courage, but mettle, as the siblings confront rising evil forces,
themselves,
and each other.
Young
readers who think that AnneMarie
Mazotti Gouveia's second series title requires familiarity with the
first book
would be mistaken. A list of characters and their relationships and
abilities
opens this story, allowing kids to browse the impressive list of people
and
powers before delving into battle presented in the book's opening lines:
"A
teenage boy screamed
desperately in the dark, “Help Me!” as Roe ran through Drifters Square,
her
pale green eyes blinking wildly while tears streamed down her face from
the
smoke-filled air."
Sacred
rings, trapped lions, and legendary
lost libraries come into play, challenging each of the characters not
only by
outward circumstance, but through inner mandates to address changes and
new
opportunities.
Roe
well knows that "There was no room for
secrets in this quest they were on."
And, yet, each harbor secrets that might kill them all.
Gouveia
creates a powerful story of truths
and big secrets that need to be uncovered and dealt with. Mirror Tree is an absorbing quest
tempered by a series of
discoveries that tip the young adventurers into new opportunities
portending
peace and hope.
At
the end of the story, the path forward
is clear and the door more than ajar for the next confrontation.
Libraries
seeking compelling leisure reads
for middle grades will find Mirror Tree
a fine accompaniment to the first book in the series, offering the kind
of
high-octane action, paired with psychological, moral, and ethical
inspection,
that will give young readers plenty to discuss and consider.
Return to Index
The
SMVL Trudeau
Ant and
978-1738020201
$10.99 Paper/$3.67 eBook
Website: www.smvltrudeau.ca
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Ant-SMVL-Trudeau/dp/1738020207
The Phoenix and the Ant will reach young
readers in grades 6-8 with
an action-packed fantasy story revolving around a young girl's
discovery of
forbidden magical abilities and her protective father's efforts to keep
her
secret from endangering her life.
Wizardry and
magic
nearly ended the kingdom. This is why Ti-Seta's unexpected development
is so
dangerous (the popular opinion is that all magic is black). A girl who
can
transform into a phoenix would be the most threatening specter of all
to a wounded
kingdom barely recovered from its battles with magic and still focused
on
seeking out and eliminating its last vestiges and impact from their
lives.
Ti's father
(a
general) is both in the perfect position to save and redirect her and
in a
terrible bind when his own daughter falls onto the list of bad
influences which
should be exterminated. And so he does the only thing he can: he sends
her away
to a prestigious school.
The road to
Ti's
redemption is fraught with danger because, in order to get there, she
must
traverse a broken, dangerous land in the company of a dubious crew of
individuals. Each harbor their own reasons to confront or support each
other
and the status quo.
SMVL Trudeau
laces
his story with thought-provoking insights about individual and group
relationships and the choices of a young girl who could theoretically
transform
and save herself—but chooses not to:
"Slayer had the thought that Ti could just turn
into a phoenix and
fly out of there with Priot. If they were careful, they could fly all
the way
to Yaudi on their own. He knew she wouldn’t. They were all doing this
for
her."
These
deeper-level
inspections of motivation, purpose, ethical behavior and evolving odd
friendships may feel unusual for a middle-grade story, but nothing
about The Phoenix and the Ant is
typical. Its
focus on shifting relationships, new realizations, and a physical
phoenix
challenged with also transforming mentally creates an action-packed
tale with
an underlay of thoughtful dilemmas that readers will find thoroughly
engrossing.
The result
is a
leisure read adventure that will grip young imaginations, layered with
bigger-picture thinking introduced within the action and drama of Ti's
struggle
to not just survive, but find a place in the changing world where her
abilities
are accepted.
Libraries
seeking
attractive leisure reads that can translate well to young reader book
club
discussion groups about all manner of behaviors and struggles will find
The Phoenix and the Ant a powerful
story
of growth, acceptance, and revitalization that embraces both individual
and
social change.
Return to Index
Squirrels
in
Sari
Karplus
Independently
Published
979-8-9860297-4-0
$21.95
Hardcover/$13.99 Paperback
www.squirrelsbook.com
Squirrels
in Antarctica is
a delightful picture book based on a brand-new
word game. The zany drawings by illustrator Todd Wilkerson bring a
variety of
animals and places to life, like the relatively rare (but not
impossible)
specter of squirrels in Antarctica, hippos cleaning dishes at the
kitchen sink,
a porcupine riding a bike in Paris (wearing pink), and more.
Young
readers and read-aloud adults are invited to enjoy and participate in
ideas of
the absurd as animals appear well outside their environments and
comfort zones
to repose, dance, and fly through impossible scenarios.
Kids
who enjoy humor, whimsical scenarios, and delightful prompts to imagine
all
kinds of impossibilities within the world (and beyond) will appreciate
the
story's vibrant, revealing dance through unlikely scenarios.
Squirrels in Antarctica is highly recommended for its creative perspective, its originality, and its delightful, colorful romp through life. It should find a place on library shelves and in the hands of adults seeking creative, lively, imaginative picture books.
Squirrels in AntarcticaReturn to Index