May 2021 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature Mystery & Thrillers
Alien
Ti and the Earthling Inventor
John
P. Boyle
Independently
Published
9798612240686
$5.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Ti-Earthling-Inventor-Science/dp/B0851MJH73
Imagine
stumbling onto the power source for an alien spacecraft. In Alien Ti and the Earthling Inventor: Where
Science and Space Collide, inventor Philip finds an amazing
alien device
that, less fortunately, places him in the crosshairs of aliens who want
to not
only retrieve it, but kill the man who would use it.
Alien
Ti is a mercenary sent to Earth to perform this dastardly deed. But
Philip is
no lowly nerd and proves himself fully capable of defending himself and
his
discovery...even against superior alien technology. Even if his aim is
a bit
off.
John
P. Boyle injects a wry sense of humor into the situation as Philip's
larger-than-life dreams and initial attempts to profit from his
discovery keeps
bombing. His frustrated schemes and remarks on their failures provide
tongue-in-cheek fun: Philip gets into his
car and begins to drive away, just as the owner shouts after him: "If
this
junk doesn't hold up, you'll be hearing from me." Philip smiles and
waves
to him...then grimaces. Now why did he have to call it junk?"
From
arduous treks up snow-covered trails to mishaps which plague the
ambitious but
often-bumbling Philip, Ti is diverted from his mission, and even comes
to
emphasize with the human as he observes this savvy inventor building
his first
UFO and somewhat successfully testing it.
Not
only the world is set to change. So is Ti's mission and loyalty to his
people.
Boyle's
ability to pack fun and high drama into a story a little over a hundred
pages
in length creates a blend of struggle and humor that is refreshing.
There's
more going on than self-realization, shifting alliances, questionable
discoveries,
or the outcomes of a clash between alien and human, here.
Sci-fi
readers who appreciate both humor and the intersection of science and
special
interests will relish the tale that unfolds, which holds many
satisfying twists
and turns as Philip and Ti embark on a journey that will change both of
their
lives.
Delightfully
entertaining and whimsical as well as filled with battles and
confrontations on
many levels, Alien Ti and the Earthling
Inventor: Where Science and Space Collide is an excellent
leisure choice
for sci-fi readers looking for something a bit out of the box and
creatively
portrayed, over the usual alien/human confrontation.
Return to Index
Archibald
Lox Volume 1: The
Missing Princess
Darren Shan
Home of the Damned Ltd.
9781910009109
$22.00 Paper/$32.00 hardcover;
$4.99 ebook
Website: www.darrenshan.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LCC2SW8/
Archibald Lox
Volume 1: The Missing Princess was
originally
released as three ebooks: Archibald
Lox and the Bridge Between Worlds;
Archibald Lox and the Empress of Suanpan; and Archibald Lox and the
Vote of
Alignment. This edition brings all three under one cover for
the first time
and will delight young adults who choose this fantasy for uninterrupted
adventure reading.
The
story opens in a "house of death" still stunned by loss where the
young London narrator, a foster child, struggles to deal with an
accident that
has resulted in a great grief. How easy it would have been for him to
save Dave
through a few simple words of warning. How easy it is to regret what is
left
unsaid, and the consequences that stem from inaction.
Archibald's
encounter with a girl who is running away from a threat changes
everything,
thrusting him into a parallel universe filled with evil characters, new
friends, and a newfound mission that takes him away from everything
he's
known...and from his sadness.
Prompted
by his experiences to reconsider what is real and visible and what is
unknown
to most people around him, Archibald moves from witnessing something
impossible
to being a part of that unlikely world and mission.
The
magic lies not just around him but within him as his innate skills for
handling
locks prove to be a saving ability that leads him to realize that only
he holds
the key to fighting repressive forces that would change and control
everything.
Darren
Shan does a masterful job of capturing young Archibald's conundrums and
choices: "I’m different. If I fled, I could
pretend it never happened, convince myself that I dreamt the whole
thing, carry
on with life as before. Except…I’d know. Deep in my heart, I’d know, and I’d always hate myself for
accepting the limits that everyone else in the world accepts, when I
now know
that there’s so much more for me to explore. Adults often tell us kids
that we
act without thinking. They say we don’t consider the consequences of
the choices
we make. That’s always made me roll my eyes, but maybe they’re right.
If I was
older, I think I’d hesitate, analyse things to death, probably decide
that the
risks are too great. But I’m not a grown-up."
Powered
by strong evolving interpersonal connections between the protagonist
and peers,
kings, and adversaries alike, Archibald Lox Volume 1: The Missing Princess is fantasy, mystery, and a coming of age story all
in one. Think The Lion, The Witch and the
Wardrobe,
but with an even stronger focus on the process by which a grieving
young boy
falls into his powers to change the world.
It's a
gripping saga that will
be appreciated not just by the young adult audiences who likely will
choose it,
but by adults who enjoy Philip Pullman and other strong YA authors who
create
fantasy worlds appealing to young and old alike.
Return to Index
The Darkness
That
Slept
Keegan and Tristen
Kozinski
Kozinski Books
978-0998244020
$18.00 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Darkness-That-Slept-Chronicles-Dawn/dp/0998244023
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-darkness-that-slept-keegan-kozinski/1124801358?ean=2940165192401
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-darkness-that-slept-1
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-darkness-that-slept/id1179895465
The Darkness That Slept is the first book
in the Chronicles of the
Far Dawn series, and tells of the reawakening of an ancient terror that
emerges
from deep within The North. The New Order has invaded The North,
bringing
demons with them. The High-Warden of Winsyria guards against the
supernatural
threats that reside in the Mortal Kingdoms. The Lord of Antiark stands
against
those who would profit from war, and the North is gathering its
strength for
the struggle ahead.
A host of
characters
interact during this epic fantasy struggle. Each region holds its
leader's special
interests, affecting the outcome of changing interactions with
neighboring
kingdoms as they cultivate schemes that support their own disparate
objectives.
As old nightmares emerge to shatter long-held pacts, alliances, and
long-trusted havens and routines, The
Darkness That Slept presents many characters who are each
challenged to
confront their own abilities, values, and ambitions.
The sweeping
epic
feel of this story is supercharged by opposing forces who exchange the
lead
throughout the story. Time is taken to explore each of these major
players.
This attention to detail may prove challenging to those who seek less
description and more action; but will delight readers who enjoy complex
stories
that make the effort to deeply explore all the overt and hidden
motivations for
choices.
Many
features of this
fantasy bring to mind The Lord of the Rings. There's a Dread Lord,
a ring, and a quest. Disparate forces clash on both physical and
supernatural
arenas. The epic fight between darkness and light is captured through
different
experiences of different sides. From imminent invasions to power plays
between
Wardens, Lords, and gladiators, this world is filled with forces that
seem to
fall more on the side of darkness than light.
Just when
the power
plays and battles are at their darkest, the character of teen genius
Slade
Lammerock enters the picture to introduce a wry sense of humor into the
mix: "Slade let his head drop backward,
grinning at his stunned audience before wrenching free and walking up
the invisible
wall to stand upon the ceiling. There he reproduced his six colored
balls and
tossed them at the ground only to watch as they fell back toward him.
Unperturbed, he started juggling upside down. Murmurs spread through
the crowd.
Questions about whether his tricks weren’t magic after all."
Descriptions
of not
just these characters but the milieu they navigate are particularly
well-detailed, creating strong atmospheric backdrops that compliment
the
action: "Despite the Dread Lord's
urgency, he progressed slowly, impeded by a morass of latent power, so
thick it
became a physical burden, and coughing fits provoked by the centuries
of
accumulated dust. Nondescript black doors looked on from either side of
the
ancient, mostly forgotten passageways, offering no solace and denying
the world
entrance. As he ventured deeper into the palace, the labyrinth grew
darker and
the magic denser until his skin vibrated with it. His blood flashed
from
chillingly cold to boiling hot ceaselessly, his clothing fluttered
despite the
lack of wind, and his braid writhed on his back. Even the stone had
grown
pliant over the years and now yielded beneath his steps."
Tristen and
Keegan
Kozinski are especially adept at capturing the energy behind commanding
positions, the interplay between characters that hold different
objectives for
power and control, and the threats of chaos which test even the most
powerful
warriors.
As the great
Northern
wall becomes poised to fail, so are those who believe in its
invulnerability
and their own abilities to thwart forces beyond their ken, which
include
soul-destroying threats: "In their
zenith, the Dragon Lords warded three evils. The first they buried in
stone,
lies, and veils; the second they imprisoned with silver, ice, and
twelve keys;
the last they broke and scattered. These represented their greatest
burden. Yet
these evils constantly stirred, and whether through happenstance or
lust, men,
children, and beasts always found them. Time and again the Dragon Lords
suppressed these evils, but never before they wrought fathomless grief
upon the
world. The Dragon Lords were mortal, forbidden the omnipresence of
gods, and
thus lost perception of the evils when they appeared, excluding only
the second
evil, which never stirred."
The Darkness That Slept sets the stage
for more stories, crafting a
firm foundation of interest with explorations of fear, hope, and a
quest
involving a door, a ring, and a renewed purpose in life.
Readers who
enjoy Lord of the Rings and similar
epic quest
adventures that embrace an emerging new land that challenges the
psyches of its
peoples will find The Darkness That Slept
a gripping read. It's filled with action, insights, and confrontations
between
disparate forces in a world gone amok—a fitting read for a new
generation of
dark fantasy and sword and sorcery followers.
Return to Index
The Last
Crucible of
Humanity
Daniel R Scott
Clipper Implants
Press
978-1734050738
$16.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Crucible-Humanity-Daniel-Scott/dp/173405073X
The Last Crucible of Humanity is the
third volume in the Humanity
Transformed series, and is highly recommended reading for prior series
fans
because this pinnacle of action concludes the events set forth in prior
books.
Flooding has
driven
the Chinese over the Russian border to invade the Morizov family's land
and
their country, in 2068. As if this wasn't danger enough, the West's
nuclear
attack has devastated other parts of Russia.
The Morizov
family
hatches a plan that could help survivors begin a new life—not in Russia
or
lands nearby, but first from Antarctica and then away from Earth. It's
a plan
that relies on high technology, the goodwill gained from other peoples
and
nations, and allies who grow in leadership skills and survival tactics
alike.
The story
opens in
2068, but moves into 2073 and beyond as the technologically savvy
Yasmeen and
Vik face prejudice, confront class systems, and move through
much-changed
countries.
The story
doesn't
remain rooted in China, Russia, or the Middle East. Characters and
special
interests embrace the world, from Couderay, Wisconsin (where a Middle
West
Confederation is home to enhancement clinics for the general
population,
performing bioengineering miracles) to Borlänge, Sweden (where the
Scandinavian
Commonwealth faces oligarchs, attacks, and reconstituted forces that
have
changed and are changing the face of Europe).
Daniel R.
Scott's
story is a sweeping sci-fi epic of humanity changed by social,
political, and
technological struggles. Without prior familiarity with the other
books, the
large cast of characters, special interests, and interactions might
initially
stymie newcomers.
Those who
have
enjoyed the evolutionary process of Scott's prior books will find a
satisfyingly complex crescendo of action and crisis in a conclusion
where
humanity faces its final search for meaning beyond the foundations of
its
physical origins.
The Russian
family
Morizov stands at the crossroads of humanity. Their choices reflect a
transformation in social and military processes and human interaction
that will
truly change the world.
Hard sci-fi
readers
of apocalyptic and dystopian worlds will find the intense focus on
these
community and political structures to be especially pleasing. Scott
juxtaposes
technological and social challenges, cementing all with a host of
strong
characters who each contribute their own vision and purpose of this
revised
humanity to the story's surprising outcome.
It's highly
recommended
reading for sci-fi fans of post-apocalyptic epic sagas, in particular.
Return to Index
Oh the
Humanity
Daniel R Scott
Clipper Implants
Press
978-1734050745
$5.50 Paper/$.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Oh-Humanity-Daniel-R-Scott/dp/1734050748
Readers who
want to
begin Daniel R. Scott's Humanity Transformed series with a fitting
introduction
will find the prequel novella Oh the
Humanity an excellent starting point, even though it's the
fourth book in
the series.
It fills in
details
about the three main characters and smoothes out any confusion over
events
sparked by the Days of Trouble and the Great Dieback,
surveying how
humanity recovered from and was influenced by events which sent them on
a
course documented in the three Humanity Transformed books in this
sci-fi
series.
This story
follows
how the genius Cameron twins featured in Scott's other books
first
fostered the bioengineering promise that transformed humanity, tracing
the birth
of Singularity and intelligent AIs that interact with key human players
to
change the course of the world.
As these
artificial
intelligences and human purposes evolve, readers are treated to a
succinct
overview of the world in the 2060s that provides a closer inspection of
this
transformative process.
As with the
other
books, a host of characters are presented, as well as changing world
locales
from Illinois to Australia. Young people such as Darby and Daiyu are
involved
in the latest cutting-edge research, and stand poised to make changes
to daily
life that humanity has never seen before.
But, is
society ready
for such a move?
This
near-future
history of survival and change should ideally be read first. It's a
fitting
stage-setting introduction to the series and its characters, which is
especially important given the worldwide scope and the wide-ranging
personalities that develop from these roots.
It should be
advised
that this is no light series read. It entertains, but involves a level
of
complexity with a wide cast of characters, changing international
settings, and
political and technological conundrums that keep readers on their toes.
Those
who enjoy well-detailed reads will be especially delighted by the level
of
inspection offered in this story and its companions.
Readers
interested in
post-apocalyptic singularity stories will find this sweeping series and
its
introductory title to be absolutely riveting.
Return to Index
Qwyrk
Tim Rayborn
Thousand Acres Press
978-1-7362988-1-7
$14.99 Paper/$9.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Qwyrk-Tim-Rayborn-ebook/dp/B08T4C3CQB
Qwyrk's blend of magical realism, urban
fantasy, and wry humor will
appeal to fantasy readers who look for more elements in their reading
than
action and adventure alone. It will prove just the ticket for fans of
British
satire and social inspection.
Qwyrk opens in Jimmy Eckleson's bedroom,
where the stuff of
nightmares has come alive, resulting in his sleepless inspection of a
room
filled with threat. An avid fan of video games, Jimmy chalks up these
visions
to too much screen time fantasy, but as the third night unfolds much
the some
despite his self-limit on video watching, Jimmy faces the fact that he
may be
observing something both otherworldly and all too real.
His initial
reaction
is to call for help. Even as he runs from his visions, the humor of a
frustrated apparition comes forth: "Throwing
the door open, he rushed into the safety of the hallway, yelling at the
top of
his lungs: “Mum! Dad! HELP!” He didn’t dare look back. If he had, he
might have
noticed one of the shadows turning to the others, flinging its spectral
arms up
in the air in… exasperation?"
The
dialogue, too, is
filled with irony and fun: “Oh, nice one,
Qwyrk!” snapped one of the other shadows. “Bring us all the way up
here, and as
soon as we arrive, we’ve got a flippin’ screamin’ kid to greet us.
That’s just
spot on, that is!” “Look, it’s not my fault he’s got insomnia, or
dyspepsia, or
Black Death, or whatever, is it? His parents’ll be back in here any
second, so
we need to hide, all right?”
As Qwyrk,
Blip, Star
Tao, and others confront murderers, gods, and each other, it becomes
evident
that, despite the youth of the initial character, Qwyrk
should not be a read confined to young adult audiences alone.
It's a
quest; it's a
lark that romps through human and magical worlds alike; and it's a
whimsical,
delightful saga set in Northern England. The story is steeped in not
just folklore,
but the connections between a rosebush, evil magic, and Jimmy's house,
which
serves as a focal point for unfolding events.
From castles
and
intersecting time periods to abductions via Croakbeak and knights who
let a
murdering psychopath get away, Qwyrk
is engaging, endearing, and unpredictable in its human and magical
relationships and conundrums.
Fans of
fantasy who
enjoy magical realism injected into the everyday milieu of British life
will
relish the nature of Qwyrk, first
in
a projected series of stories about misfits and the sometimes-hilarious
mishaps
that evolve from seemingly good intentions.
Return to Index
Shotgun Finish
Greg Rode
Warren Publishing
978-1-7350915-4-9
$14.95
Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.warrenpublishing.net
Shotgun
Finish
reaches fantasy and horror readers alike with an engrossing
post-apocalyptic
world where unexpected humorous observations give the story an
atmosphere like
few others.
Zombies are no laughing
matter...especially to a
dedicated golfer who won't forego the sport just because the world has
turned
into a mass of zombies, changing even the familiar atmosphere of the
fairway: "The constant hum of golf carts, the
clink-thwack from the driving
range,
and the mutter of men enjoying the outdoors is all gone."
It's a world in which the
narrator can suddenly afford
the finest club, because there's nobody manning the pro shop. And he
must golf
with gun at ready in case of zombies.
He's been alone for months,
golfing and shooting zombies.
A woman's arrival seems to portend that his isolation might end, though
his
caution leads him to question her arrival and bloody countenance (“ 'What are you doing out here?' she asks.
'Just playing golf, shooting zombies. You know, typical Wednesday
afternoon at
the office.' You slick devil,
whispers my brain buddy.").
It evolves that the zombies
aren't brainless, but are
actually clever, organized, and purposeful. The narrator finds himself
not just
stuck in pause on the course, but involved with a zombie leader, a
dreadful deadline,
and the possibility that only he can save the world...if he can give up
the
club and the fairway long enough to do so.
Greg Rode's special blend of
witty observation,
unexpected twists and turns, and a post-apocalyptic world filled with
irony and
surprises will especially attract readers of zombie literature looking
for a
fresh, original take on the subject.
Black and white
illustrations pepper a story that is at
once gory, engrossing, and filled with flawed heroes and threats.
This isn't your usual zombie
scenario. The narrator isn't
your typical world-saving hero. And readers will find this special
blend of
horror and dystopian bloodbath a satisfying illustration of how satire
and
irony can alter even the most predictable of genres and worlds to
change
everything.
Shotgun
Finish
presents a world not to be missed. It is a refreshingly original read
especially recommended for zombie apocalypse fans who think they've
seen
everything.
It should be warned that
this is Book 1 of the Sanctuary
Chronicles. Be prepared for more.
Return to Index
T is for
Time Travel
Stanlei Bellan
Imagilore Publishing
978-1-954109-00-1
$9.95 Paper/$19.95
Hardcover/$4.99 Kindle/$14.95 Large print
https://www.stanlei.com
T
Is for Time
Travel: A Collection of Timely Short Stories offers ten
sci-fi tales that
revolve around time travel, but move beyond the usual scenario of time
travel
journeys that involve searching for the key to either change history or
return
home.
Stanlei
Bellan
eschews these staid trappings in favor of a series of surprising
revelations
that take the time travel notion one step beyond the usual expectation,
and
this is what makes this collection an outstanding presentation, in
addition to
its literary prowess.
'Another
Time' opens
the collection with its reflection on a traveler trapped in a wall
clock lying
on a table, forced to jump every time the hand moves. How did Ollie
become
trapped inside a clock? And what is the price of freedom?
It's a
tongue-in-cheek dilemma that leads him to do more than jump through
time
(literally). First, he must break it. Then, he must face the Clockmaker.
This is just
one
example of the many time travel surprises, dashes of humor, and fun
explorations that Bellan offers.
For a
completely
different example of this collection's diversity, take 'Behind the
Timestream'.
Here, B'litk has an unorthodox plan to reach the other side of a
timestream
which holds an unknown entity. His attempts to communicate with
creatures he
has no knowledge about is intriguing: "I
am, right now, in a very precarious position in the timestream side of
the
rectangle, having a conversation with you, in whatever dimension you
inhabit,
on the other side of the rectangle. From your point of view, what is
happening
with me has actually already happened on your side, which is why you
are seeing
it already written on your side of the rectangle. Got it?”
B'litk has
broken
time. It's his duty to restore it. And he needs help.
Each story
in this
collection is unique unto itself, from the tale of a Djinn who grants
time
travel journeys to that of a spaceship ensign faced with impossible
choices.
Each holds a power and surprising twist even the most avid time travel
enthusiast won't see coming. Each is well-done, compelling, and
thoroughly
absorbing.
Time travel
sci-fi
readers are in for a real treat with T Is for Time Travel, a
literary
collection filled with delightful twists and turns.
Return to Index
The
Triskelion
Victoria Lehrer
Evolved Publishing
978-1-62253-371-8
$16.95 Paper/$4.95 Kindle
www.EvolvedPub.com
The Triskelion represents the second book
in the New Earth
Chronicles and continues a journey through a post-apocalyptic world
introduced
in The Augur's View.
The story
opens in
2037, setting the tone for events with an 'Arrivals and Departures'
chapter
that takes place on an airfield where the royal Dora d’Arc is about to
enter
married life.
Hopefully,
the world
will change. She's seen her share of controversy. But married bliss is
not to
be her lot as aliens conspire to inject the population with
docility-inducing
nanites; Caellum plots a coup and escapes from jail; and forest dweller
Adair
creates a sanctuary of replenishment and earth-based approaches to life
that
city people rarely see, as an alternative to Techno City's familiar
approaches
to life.
These
contrasts in
lifestyles and approaches run the gamut from pagan earth mothers to
aliens and
high-tech. They make
The Triskelion especially intriguing
as
Dora and her objectives and changing environment come to life: “But Mom’s not of royal descent. She’s
actually descended from countless generations of druids.” This piqued
Dora’s
interest. “Weren’t they pagans?” He shrugged. “They’re basically Celtic
nature
lovers.” The elevator reached Dora’s floor first. As the door opened,
she
sighed wistfully. “Nature. We city people enjoy only tame tidbits of
it. I miss
my little garden in Techno City.”
Relationships
are as
fluid as the world and introduce complexity beyond the usual
cut-and-dried love/hate
scenarios, as in the mercurial connection between Dora and Caellum: "The accusation mode he had switched to
and remained in since his capture bound his tongue, and his
recalcitrance wrote
anguish on Dora’s features. Her tone chided him. “I can’t believe you
doubt me
again. You think I conspired against you? Is this the knowledge I’m to
be left with
for the rest of my life? That you never, ever came to trust me?”
This brings
a
delightful complexity to the story, in which shades of gray create
ever-changing,
absorbing interplays between characters, politics, social evolution,
and the
world's uncertain progression.
Unlike many
series
titles, no prior familiarity with its predecessor is required in order
for
newcomers to neatly and quickly absorb the setting, characters, and
themes of The Triskelion.
Readers who
enjoy
series titles that operate as both strong stand-alone reads and
supportive
parts of the series as a whole will especially appreciate the engaging
blend of
sci-fi, suspense, mystery, romance, in the story of this changing
society's
reconnections to the earth.
Return to Index
Ambuscade
Brian
Ascalon Roley
Finishing
Line Press
978-1646624126
$14.99
Ordering: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/ambuscade-by-brian-ascalon-roley-winner-of-the-2020-open-chapbook-comp/
Author
website: ww.brianroley.com
Ambuscade
is a poetic journey through a
father's struggles with his son's disability. The second poem adopts a
"how could you let this happen?" lament that defines the nature of
the book's title, emerging from a 1901 setting in the jungles of Luzon
during
the violent American occupation of the Philippines to depict the
feeling of
being hunted and attacked in an unfamiliar intersection between dreams
and
reality.
As
Brian Ascalon Roley moves from the initial diagnosis of his son's
disease to
adjusting his role to become parent and caregiver, Philippine horror
mythology is injected into the lives of a California family to
create a
series of poems firmly rooted in past, present, and Asian and Western
cultures
and mythos.
Don't
expect this collection to be replete in sadness alone. There is rage
and anger,
there are transformative moments, and there are words and visions
steeped in
Filipino legends and realities: "Even
in Santa Monica/my lola would tell my sister and I/to watch out for the
aswang/and we would say “But/we are in California”/to which she replied
“That
does not/matter. They follow the Filipina wherever she/may live in
great
numbers."
The
aswang and boyhood memories brought about in nightmares and dreams
contrast
with his much-changed world and a future he'd never imagined. The poems
reflect
his interactions with the medical community, well-meaning platitudes,
the
helpful (and sometimes unhelpful) efforts of others as they enter and
leave
this family's life and struggles, and a father's ability to come to
terms with
his present and future: "They say
there is no point in asking why/god decays the bodies/he gave us, a
waste of
time to try/we need to get on with it./We are not to decide for them,
or try to
change/them, as if they need fixing."
Caregivers
will find familiar these chronicles of love and pain, the struggle of
reconciling daily care with life's challenges, and the efforts to
understand
cause and effect (which, in the case of disability, may be impossible
to
discern): "You didn’t do anything
wrong, he said./We must have done something, she said,/something I ate,
or
maybe I shouldn’t have worked/so late/or stressed out so much/I knew I
shouldn’t have taken a flu shot/(she looked into the mirror: mouthed:
you
bitch)."
Filled
with literary excellence, cultural and social reflection, philosophical
inspection, and many ghosts, Ambuscade
is a powerful poetic journey through one man's heart. Perhaps the words
in one
poem best capture the feel of this entire collection: "...she
says every word counts more in poetry/he says, every word
burns."
Return to Index
Anything
That Happens
Cheryl Wilder
Press 53
978-1-950413-33-1
$17.95
Ordering:
www.press53.com/cheryl-wilder
Author
website: www.bornwilder.com
Anything
That Happens is a memoir in verse about a
life changed forever by one bad decision made at the age of 20: to
drink and
drive. The accident that came from this action left her friend in a
coma,
landed author Cheryl Wilder in jail, and redirected her onto a path
where she
would become a wife, mother, and eventually, a caregiver.
Readers
who embark on this poetic re-examination of her life trajectory begin
their
journey with Cheryl at 20 years of age: "Until
I was twenty, I believed anything/wouldn’t happen to me."
As
readers move through the experience of jail and beyond, the poems
provide both
a sense of changing atmosphere and an inspection of concurrent changing
purpose
and perspective: "I don’t know how I
brought a child/into the world when I can’t reconcile/if crashing a car
and a
friend’s skull/is karmic debt created/or payment for a past immoral
act./I open
doors and say thank you and do not try/to behave in a way I cannot
afford."
Even
when she makes mistakes, Wilder moves through them with a revised sense
of
life: "Years later, I got pregnant
by a man/who gloried in reminding me/that I could never be
loved./Neither of us
knew/our baby would carry my heart/in his tiny clenched fist,
learning/to open
and close his fingers/to the beat of my blood."
Readers
interested in literary, personal stories of transformation and change
will find
the beat of these poems in their hearts provides inspection not into
just one
life changed by a bad choice and its lasting consequences, but newfound
connections to home, family, and a revised purpose in life.
It's
a potent collection that invites readers to walk in Cheryl's shoes.
And, it
provides traction for assessing and moving beyond these poignant and
powerful
moments of quiet desperation.
Return to Index
The Butterfly Bruises
Palmer Smith
Press Dionysus LTD
978-1-913961-42-8
https://pressdionysus.com/shop/
What does life now mean
during challenging modern times?
Palmer Smith provides 80 poem and prose pieces that consider the
transformation
of modern man in The Butterfly Bruises,
a compilation of works that blend original new pieces with those which
have
seen prior publication.
The piece 'Migraines,
Please' opens the collection with
an acknowledgment that "There were such good times and there will be
more.
I know." Although this short reflection is not entirely about Covid,
the
alienation and contrast between what was and what is provides a moving
introduction to the poetry pieces that follow.
These are general
meditations on states of mind and
connections between humans and nature, travel and experience. Palmer
Smith does
a fine job of structuring free verse and prose in a manner designed to
capture
the literary and non-poetry reader alike, crafting compelling images of
journeys of transformation and interpersonal experience. One example is
the
poem 'Asheville', a travelogue of love, alienation, and departure: "I’ll pick up the stones that resemble/your
sour lonesome lime eyes./Digging is the action of how you love me."
Each piece captures a sense
of place and interpersonal
connection and disconnection. Sections are introduced by contemplations
such as
'Shedding', which introduces the pieces on 'Pain and Relief' with a
powerful
eye on the snakeskin-shedding pain and promise of transformation: "After each session you ponder if your
doctor sheds her skin and turns into another person or perhaps the
snake she
is, likely a rattle with fake eyelashes. what if Confucius were your
therapist
instead?"
What does it mean to be
alive under such circumstances
and conditions?
The
Butterfly
Bruises sleepwalks through a world replete with pain, change,
and
opportunities for transformation.
Its reflections are at once
disturbing,
thought-provoking, and powerfully important interplays between dreams
and the
realities driving them.
Literary readers seeking
writings replete with wake-up
calls for change will find The Butterfly
Bruises to be reflective, visionary, and hard to put down.
Return to Index
Ékleipsis
Tamel Wino
Independently
Published
9781777408824
$0.99
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LR1PCJH
Website: https://ekleipsis.ca/
Ékleipsis
provides
short horror stories of inhumanity and transformation, and is a
recommended
choice for literary, sci-fi, and horror audiences alike.
These
suspense pieces
are steeped in psychological darkness, and are especially recommended
for
readers who like a Hitchcock-style element of horror injected into the
lives of
everyday characters.
Take 'The
Other Son',
the opening story, for example. First-person narrator Dougie has been
doing the
same job for nearly thirty years. He's fifty, on this day, working for
a
noxious boss in a nondescript job where he has a set routine and no
different
prospects for the future.
His gift to
himself
is Charlie. Who is Charlie? 'Shiny and new', Charlie is "A
radiant flower rising from the dirt, a new life for me to care
for." Charlie represents Dougie's ability to remain a giving
person,
but as the story unfolds, an unexpected darkness joins good intensions,
causing
them to go awry.
Another
example is
'The Has-Been' which explores the intersection and encounters between
Ben
Taylor, who is set to inherit an endowment, and those who challenge him
to
think about the roots of altruism, selflessness, and greed.
As his
protégée comes
up for recognition, Ben finds himself torn in different directions
between
different people in his life; including his father, who barely
acknowledges Ben
as his son.
Each story
examines a
dark facet of life's challenges and social issues ranging from
alcoholism to
PTSD and family relationships. Each demands from its reader a level of
contemplation and inspection of the dark elements of the psyche, and
each
delves into the minds (and, more importantly, the motivations) of
characters
who choose their particular careers and lifestyles.
The result
won't be
for the reader seeking action-packed high drama, but for the
literary-minded
horror fan who finds value in psychologically astute suspense
approaches.
This
audience will
relish the slow buildups of tension that permeate each story in Ékleipsis,
and will welcome its
ability to traverse the boundaries of bizarre reflection and daily life.
Return to Index
Glass
Souvenir
Michael Tuberdyke
Shoplifters
Publishing
978-0-578-76290-6
$10.00
www.shoplifters.store
The short
stories in Glass Souvenir center on
an unusual
focal point: a vacant store front in a changing town, where everyone
who comes
in contact with the place is changed or leaves their imprint on its
future.
There is a
wistful
certainty about the meaning and future of these disparate lives which
are
joined by a sense of place more than a sense of purpose. As the
characters'
psyches weave into the fate of the shop, their fates coalesce to bring
life to
empty spaces both physical and psychological.
Take 'The
Jacket',
the opening piece in this collection. A mother forced to take her child
along
on a date with Frank, her latest love interest, when the babysitter
cancels
turns into a struggle over a jacket from the past which brings with it
memories
of a vanished father and what has been outgrown, discarded, or perhaps
never
fit in the first place.
Each chapter
opens
with a reference to the shop and its history ("The old man
left the
keys along with the deed to the tenant next door. This tenant once
acted as the
old man’s protégé for he assisted in the daily operations of the
deceased’s
woodshop."). Each
circumstance weaves into the story that follows, both setting the scene
and
creating an unusual juxtaposition of worlds that, at times, feels at
once surreal
and yet achingly familiar.
'The Party'
portrays
Robert Morgan, an attendee who works the room but "has nothing to say
to
anyone." It's a familiar scenario that questions what such a loner is
doing at a social event as he probes his one interaction for clues
about its
failure: "Drowning in a pool of
reflection he carefully went over the night’s only human interaction.
He felt
he said the wrong thing. That was probably it. He just could not figure
out the
correct way to act and said the wrong thing to a friend who did all the
right
things."
Dejection
and
isolation lead to anger and the one choice he had avoided making: a
scene.
Each story
seems to
head towards a particular goal, than changes with a satisfying twist,
at the
end. Each is a snapshot of life in which characters examine their
psyches and
choices, taking actions that at times seem out of character but, upon
contemplation, are actually logical outcomes to their circumstances.
From a
fifty-seven-year-old boxer who "believed he could distinguish the
difference between the ones who were for him, from the ones who were
against
him," who finds his life a study in indifference with no ultimate
meaning,
to a diner conversation that connects loners who live their lives "Heaving away when the world is getting
ready to fall asleep and sleeping when the rest of the world is going,"
Glass Souvenir offers studies of
lives of quiet desperation, thwarted and realized purposes, and the
gentrification of the soul.
Literary
readers
seeking vignettes that offer slice-of-life inspections of aging and
change will
find no striking transformations here—just a quiet interweaving of
youth and
old age which joins together worlds, changing rhythms, and emptying
storefronts
of the mind.
It's an
evocative
read that will leave readers thinking.
Return to Index
Graffiti on
the Window
Alexej Savreux
Illogical Conceits
Publishing & Multimedia
978-1521985021
$15.95
Website: www.alexejsavreux.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Graffiti-Window-Alexej-Savreux/dp/1521985022
Barnes & Noble: Barnes
and Noble - Graffiti on the Window NOOK
Graffiti
on the Window
begins with a cautionary note by the author: "This
book is a mutt. It's a whacked out amalgamation of weird,
scary and beautiful things." Perhaps this is because of
Alexej
Savreux's schizophrenia and the fact that this book was largely written
in segments,
with one section produced after a manic episode. This approach embraces
streetwise, artistic, passionate sentiments with a candid fervor over
the
emotional pursuit of art and science.
The places where these
objectives intersect with life
forms the foundations of a poetry collection that is anything but your
staid
collection of iambic pentameter verse.
As self-described, Alexej
Savreux is a "tormented
kid with a vision," and this comes to life in an artistic foray into
desperation that turns observational niceties on their sides.
He uses many literary
devices unexpected for the poetic
form. Take 'Sophocles's Unfound Friend Tragedy About Scarlet Haired
Darcy', for
example. Here is a play/poem presented in ancient lingo, but with an
emotionally charged literary angle that is unexpected, compelling, and
autobiographical as it describes interplays between police,
psychologist,
parent, and kid.
The story opens in a
therapist's office, with a chorus
laying the foundation for this tragedy: "The
Kid had spent his days in mournful solititudes./He had been rejected by
the
Worlds and the Peoples/and the Tribes/His CBT therapist consoled
him,/his woman
had left him./His life in shambles. His head,/a head case for all
psychologists./He had remembered meeting a girl named Darcy,/a
sensitive
chick./She was the only one who had said "goodbye"/upon the
afternoons of his lost days, and last days."
As the point of view of this
enlightening play poem
shifts between points of view of the chorus, the Kid, the CBT
Therapist, and
others, the classic structure of the tragedy form intersects with the
modern
dilemma being presented: "Yea, Kid,
my sovereign patient and consumer,/Thou seest how both extremes of
despair
enthrall/Your cerebral altars--falling hardly winged,/And stocking hat
bowed
with 24 years,/case managers, as am I/Of clinical training, and thus
the flower
of all advice."
As Savreux deftly employs
literary avenues to capture the
"beautiful suffering" of his life, the bittersweet possibilities of
Death, and "the confines of rhapsodic mathematics, and the
wrapping sands of rustling time," it's
evident that this work of art is no light psychological exploration.
Instead,
it's a venture into the meaning and experience of life that delves into
Savreux's desires to both explain and represent its flavors.
Much like graffiti on the
window, these pieces tantalize,
are thought-provoking, and colorfully depict the irony, pathos, and
logic and
illogic of 'feasting and foraging" through life's "unending
supper."
A background in ancient,
classical poetry and literary
devices will lend special appreciation to how deftly and creatively
Savreux
employs both in a modern interpretation and representation of an art
too often
set aside for the winding, disjointed effects of free verse structures.
Modern literature and
ancient poetry classes and
students, in particular, will find Graffiti
on the Window a wonderfully intriguing, evocative
presentation that both
redefines and breaks poetic and drama rules.
Return to Index
The Grave I
Call My
Garden
Victoria Cosmo
Barnes and Noble
Press
9781666236323
$20.00
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-grave-i-call-my-garden-victoria-cosmo/1138722076
The Grave I Call My Garden blends
autobiography with literature,
using poetry to trace the memories and changing aspects of Victoria
Cosmo's
personal life. It will appeal to readers of literature and
autobiography who
appreciate the intersection of these devices and the opportunity it
brings to
expand the boundaries of both.
Time moves
differently for writer Cosmo and her readers, in this collection. The
poems are
presented in a chronological order that begins with a section on
childhood
captioned 'The Waves of Oceans and Withdrawls', starting with 'The
Oceans'.
Here, readers receive the ebb and flow of the young mind's observation
of the
world and changing waves of "Earth calling my young body back to
rest," reflecting on how "Florida rebuilds/Here on this swamp/We make
things new from rot." It describes a place where "Preparation looks a
lot like skepticism."
From ocean
waves to
swamp to tub, the sensations of water, childhood, and the experience of
learning to swim in the deep end of life intersect with the Florida
experience
to provide not just a sense of evolving self, but place.
Each time
Cosmo
touches the world, it gives way and springs back with descriptive words
that
draw connections between past, present, and future, and the evolution
of
worldviews: "Children don’t expect
anything more than bare minimum/That maybe extraordinary could bring
about more
of you/Like love is merely a late shipment."
By now, it
should be
apparent that this book is rich in experiential descriptions and close
connections between encounters with life and the inner interpretation
that
forms personality, hopes, fears, and values.
As the
narrator ages,
so do her lessons and reflections, which move from wonder to feeling
stuck to
moving into adjusting expectations of what it means to fully live: "I think the best advice I could ever
pass on would be/Never hold onto a single afternoon/That it will not
make up
for the rest of it.../That you can't go your whole life expecting magic
can
make the same thing twice."
Punctuation
(commas,
periods, and the like) might have added an emphasis to these free verse
pieces
that would have further solidified their intentions. But by keeping the
sentence structures fluid, Cosmo allows for a freer-ranging
interpretative
poetic license on the reader's part.
As the
progression
moves from cradle to grave, the vast world opens like a flower, using
Cosmo's
perspective to chart the ebb and flow of growth in different
directions, from
grief and parting to love and hope.
More so than
most
poetry collections, this moves from each flowering impression, passion,
emotion, and lesson to another, building a progressive stage of events
that
brings readers not just into her life, but into her world.
Poetry
readers
looking for strong autobiographical development in a free verse
presentation
will find The Grave I Call My Garden
aesthetically compelling, with each poem interpreting life's delights,
challenges, and growth opportunities in a thought-provoking manner.
Return to Index
Not Your
Happy Dance
Ryan Scariano
Finishing Line Press
978-1-64662-436-2
$14.99
Publisher:https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/not-your-happy-dance-by-ryan-scariano/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Happy-Dance-Ryan-Scariano/dp/164662436X
Not Your Happy Dance offers uplifting
prose poems and poetry
designed to celebrate the small things in life, whether they be
pickling in the
kitchen; connections to nature observed through the rituals and
interactions of
man, beast, and insect; or the emergence of sugar ants "after every
time
you leave/never suspecting your blazing return."
These are
celebrations of life, adversity, and everything in between that use
nature-bound imagery and associations to illustrate love, life's
connections,
and the hope and positivity that lie within the undercurrent of angst: "She turned on the light in her heart,
then sent me back/into the dark. I drove in circles, corkscrewing into
winter."
Love, in
many of
these cases, assumes a powerful daily presence, promising changing
opportunities and experiences. These are reflected in such delicate,
whimsical
and thought-provoking pieces as 'Vernal', in which the observer's
choice of
praise influences the directions a transformative experience might take.
There are
many
unexpected delights, here, as in an ode 'To Vinegar at Summer's End'
and 'Still
the Wave', which reflect passages of "black time" and a special
appreciation of the here and now which rests firmly in descriptions of
the
moments, breath, and incarnation of people, places, and events.
Ryan
Scariano's words
capture shards of experience that are bright, sharp, and dark. These
poems
reflect an ethereal world's smallest inhabitants and seconds, bringing
them,
full-bodied, into wider-ranging life experiences and issues.
The result
is a
powerful gathering of words which, like the dust in lazy sunrays in the
heat of
summer, are suspended in the mind for an instant, as flavorful and
lingering as
a fine wine.
Return to Index
Presence, The Play
William Jefferson
Port Estillyen Productions, Inc.
978-1-7364967-0-1
$17.95
Paper; $.99 Kindle
www.estillyen.com
"To sleep, perchance to
dream." Only, in Presence, The Play,
the dream stems not
from ordinary sleep but a coma, and consists of a mission through hell
and
beyond that changes a writer on the cusp of success.
Monk and playwright Brother
Script lives on the island of
Estillyen and has finally, after six years, produced a play, Presence,
whose
production has packed the local Theatre Portesque. Plot thinks this an
exciting
local development for his friend, and both are looking forward to
opening
night—until Script falls from the balcony and enters into a coma. The
event
supersedes opening night as the main attraction: "Plot
looked at the cast standing there and thought, At
this point,
the only script at play is Script, oblivious of the scene around him."
This novel enters his
comatose state and plays out
largely in that world in which Script now resides, leaving his
real-world
friends behind. Or, is it the real world?
The first thing to note is
that all the characters have
literary names. Writer, Epic, and Story are part of Script's monastery.
His
best friend Plot "knows he's somewhere" and that "God's presence
is with him."
The literary allusions and
satire begin in The Path, where
Script has journeyed to a different level of being. Philosophical,
allegorical,
and literary references (footnoted) pepper his journey, creating a
lively
interplay and exploration. Think Dante's Divine
Comedy blended with Tolkein's Middle Earth: “Gotta
go now,” the figure said. “Go? No,” Script said, “you can’t! Miserere: ‘Save me, whatever—shadow
or truly man—you be.’ I need help, please! I’m a playwright.” “So, Miserere: ‘Save me, whatever,’—is
that line from a work of yours?” asked the tall man. “No, no, not
mine,” said
Script. “But, as a playwright, I know many lines from poets and plays.
I know
them, they know me, they speak to me, and therefore I speak of them.
What I
mean is that they are a part of me.” “I see you’re honest,” said the
man. “I,
too, know that line.” “Okay, you see, I’ve become lost somehow,” said
Script.
“I don’t know where I’m at or where I’m going."
At this point, it's clear
that Presence, The Play has a lot
more going on than a simple fantasy or
novel adventure. Literature readers who enjoy philosophical and
spiritual
reflection added into the mix will find it a revealing, fantastic tale
of
mortality, otherworldly composition, a mission filled with twists and
turns,
adding more than a dash of wry humor: “We
need to move the mission along without killing off the one we’ve been
sent to
aid. Time is of the essence. What do you think? Should we send him back
tonight, or wait till the morning? I know Melchizedek will turn up to
show
Script the Seven Valleys of Sin.” “In that case,” said Simon, “I think
it
should be bouillabaisse tonight, and off to hell in the morning."
It's the literary and
philosophical reader who will best
appreciate all the delightful plays on words, literary allusions, and
tongue-in-cheek references which permeate Script's delightful new world.
The blends of comedy and
observation are astute and
nicely done: "A fine morning mist
drifted across the Meadow of Gates and Doors, adding a mysterious
quality to
the tranquil scene. No chatter, no screams, no ripping of scripts and
pages, as
Script slept soundly in Writer’s Cottage, not knowing he had
arrived...What
Melchizedek, Mock, and Script encountered in hell, words could not
convey, no
matter how adroitly they might be assigned and assembled on the page.
Yet
without words, Script would not have had “The Raven” to recite on the
ridge
across from the Reservoirs of Bewilderment."
"To sleep, perchance to
dream." Script's
nightmares and dreams power a journey that leads to new revelations
about
life's meaning, the Devil, and his place in both worlds, which leads
him to new
forms of struggle and literary expression: “Satan
extolled the promise of platform building and the efficacy of
technopoly. He
said, ‘This is the new discarnate age, our kind of age. Today the Race
reels in
confusion, and delusion. They know not what to believe.’ “Then he said
something about the Race being like vipers; I didn’t get that. But I do
recall
him pontificating about a new narrative, the dominant narrative called
Bewilderment."
Script is on a journey. All
he needs to do is stay on the
path. But, is this possible?
William Jefferson's story is
delightful, whimsical,
thought-provoking, and philosophically and spiritually enlightening.
Its romp
through literary allusion comes with footnoted references that will
delight
readers with not only the foundation for their origins, but an
assurance that
no reference will be missed or misinterpreted.
Eventually, Script's journey
comes full circle.
The theater is packed.
There's not an empty seat in the
house. They should all be filled by readers of a story designed to
change the
relationship between observer and adventure narrator, immersing both in
a
divine comedy that pushes against the forces of darkness that would
engulf
lives on the island of Estillyen and the everyday world alike.
Return to Index
Tempest in a Teacup
D.R. Bell
Independently
Published
ASIN: B08WF79YWJ
$3.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08WF79YWJ
Tempest
in a Teacup: My Homage
to Milan Kundera and Leonard Cohen pays tribute to author Milan Kundera and musician
Leonard Cohen,
crafting a series of character vignettes and weaving in a romance theme
to
produce philosophical and psychological reflections on life.
It's a literary work that
belongs in any collection
serious about exploring the foundations of how characters are built and
contrasted. D.R. Bell uses six disparate individuals as metaphorical
examples
of differing approaches to life.
Each holds different ways of
perceiving and understanding
the world and its choices, and each has a different experience with
dating,
romance, and life goals: "The woman
was attractive, intelligent, good in bed. He was sad to lose her. By
then, he
was drained by too much dating: worrying about performance, dealing
with the
expectations afterwards. He no longer had a coherent view of how to
live and
ached for some simplicity. Morris rebelled against his previous life of
duty,
only to become a slave to this new life of excess; he was ready to
rebel against
the rebellion."
Readers of Tempest in a Teacup (especially those
already familiar with Milan Kundera's
approach to writing and literature and Cohen's substantial musical
contributions) will find these vignettes absorbing as they traverse
ordinary lives
and the mechanics of navigating them to embrace different dreams,
values, and
approaches to interpersonal relationships: “It’s
your dream.” Veda laughed. “You saw in it what you wanted to see.”
While the changing
viewpoints and lives do take some time
to absorb, the manner in which they entwine and are both similar and
different
is intriguing and creatively portrayed.
Literature
students interested in the mercurial
foundations of philosophical and psychological influences on choice and
consequence will find these to be stimulating studies of character
which don't
always come across as three-dimensional figures, but which do
successfully
represent the ebb, flow, and convergences of life.
The
disparate
explorations of how love and life purpose evolve are well done. They
will prove
especially appealing and enlightening for students considering how
characters
are created and evolve by coming together, drifting apart, and growing.
Return to Index
The Topography of
Hidden Stories
Julia MacDonnell
Fomite
978-1-953236-06-7
$14.95
Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Topography-Hidden-Stories-Julia-MacDonnell/dp/1953236065
A number of the stories in
this collection have been
published elsewhere—but that doesn't mean that even those with prior
familiarity with Julia MacDonnell's literary prowess should anticipate
nothing
but a repeat performance here.
Although the
stories
here have been published elsewhere, sometimes with slightly different
titles or
forms, The Topography of Hidden Stories
holds many hidden gems for prior fans; not the least of which is the
opportunity to have all the works under one cover. This lends a
uniformity and
theme to the various characters who each struggle and search for
emotional
connections in their lives.
When placed
side by
side, these stories move beyond individual creations to represent a
collaborative impact that is far greater than their original, singular
presentations.
Take the
introductory
piece 'River of Grace', for example. Under the guise of an unexpected
road
trip, a mother and child leave in the middle of the night. The mother
hadn't
intended on bringing her daughter, who stumbled upon her secret exit in
the
darkness. But the journey embraces them both, even as the child
observes: "My mother did not like me with
wind in
my sails. Now, by accident, I’d taken the wind out of hers, and right
away I
knew that I did not like her without it. Ma wasn’t Ma without wind in
her
sails. We looked at one another in the dark, the space between us
deeper than a
river, but neither of us sailing."
As the child
reviews
her experiences with her mother, cousins, and her short life, the story
keeps
winding between past and present: "I
was trapped now in the Pontiac, speeding forward, moving, moving,
moving and it
didn’t matter one bit how scared I was. It was going to keep on going,
my
mother with her foot on the pedal, her hands around the steering wheel,
her
eyes on the black snake of road ahead."
Bound for
the River
of Grace locale that her mother covets, her reflections of her short
life come
full circle with new beginnings and endings, as well.
Contrast
this with
'Witness' (which actually is a theme that pops up in numerous places
and ways
throughout the stories in this collection). Here, a New York mother's
preparations for Thanksgiving with her baby leads to quite a different
scenario
as she becomes an unwitting witness to a shooting. Other 'watchers'
from
windows safer distances away also bear witness in a way that they (but
not she)
can deny.
In a flash,
the
mother understands her danger: "The
shooter stood in plain sight, a few steps beyond my arm’s reach, not
yet
knowing we were there. He was about to turn around; he would have to
turn toward
us. I knew this as I stood there. Knew exactly what the shooter would
do next.
He’d turn around and see us. He’d realize we were there, that we’d
borne
witness. A queer aura, shimmering but transparent, surrounded him, and
I
watched him transfixed, as though all of us had fallen out of time."
The only
route that
can possibly save her and her daughter is a determined pretending that
she did
not witness anything at all—against all moral and ethical feelings.
The
flashbulb 'aha'
moment and decision reverberates as her friends try to console her and
she goes
to the police, only to realize that she's the only one willing to stand
and
bear witness to what she saw.
The fear and
scars
that she carries from this inadvertent and unexpected connection to
strangers
and their actions and demise create in her a newfound knowledge about
the
fleeting threats of the world around her: "Somebody
got away with murder. Some people’s lives don’t matter. Evil exists. In
the
aftermath of the killing, those thoughts made their way through my
life, my
heart and mind, leaving an unhealed contusion."
And yet, at
the end
of innocence, there is her daughter to think of. And life goes on.
Dissimilar,
evocative, and compelling, these snapshots freeze pivotal moments in
time. They
will captivate readers looking for literary examples of women trapped
by
circumstance and fate, their choices, their commitments to family, and
their
illusions and realities about the world and their place in it.
Readers
seeking
stories of growth and change and women's evolving lives will find The Topography of Hidden Stories hard-hitting
and thought-provokingly unexpected in its diversity and impact.
Return to Index
A Twilight
Reel:
Stories
Michael Amos Cody
Pisgah Press, LLC
978-1-942-01-666-3
www.pisgahpress.com
A Twilight Reel: Stories provides a
collection of literary works
that take place in the small North Carolina town of Runion. These
capture the
surreal intersection of night and day and periods of time and life in
which the
characters experience sea changes both in their Appalachian mountain
seasons
and in themselves.
While the
community
portrayed is imaginary, it's not too big a leap of faith to presume
that one
knows or has known some of the character types that inhabit its
environs. These
stories are diverse not only in their character dilemmas, but in their
sense of
time, place, and shifting relationships.
For example,
'The
Loves of Misty Sprinkle' presents the dilemma faced by a hairdresser
and mother
of two who faces February's seasonal vengeance and the reappearance of
a man
who "kept charging into and retreating from their lives." Is Jimmy
back for romance, or something more? And what kind of a love brings
beer, over
chocolates, for Valentine's Day?
Jimmy's
return brings
to mind other lovers she's had, other opportunities and options that
went awry,
and leads her, at her preacher's suggestion in his oration at church
that week,
to rethink love, loss, and what makes her life feel rich.
Quite
different is
the equally quiet dilemma in 'A Poster of Marilyn Monroe', in which
Troy Pate
has arranged to go to Greenville, where nobody has a chance of knowing
him, to
get a coveted Marilyn Monroe poster.
Unfortunately,
Marilyn manages to make her escape on the ride home, leaving him once
again
home alone with his obsession, old fantasies, and unrealized ambitions.
As the old
man finds
his heart's desire mirrored in an unexpected place and legacy, readers
receive
a fine story of love, family, and change.
These
literary works
each hold a punch, are firmly rooted in the sights, smells, and sounds
of Runion
life. They explore a wide range of characters' diverse lives and pivot
points
that lead them to validate, re-examine, or achieve long-held goals and
perceptions about what enriches them.
Its survey
of
twilight times operates on more than one level and will engross and
delight
literature readers seeking small-town backdrops and stories of quiet
desperation and change.
Return to Index
Writ in
Water: A Novel of John
Keats
James Sulzer
Fuze Publishing
978-1-7330344-2-5
$17.99
print/$5.99 ebook
www.fuzepublishing.com
Fans of poet
John Keats who like
literary fiction works will relish Writ
in Water: A Novel of John Keats. Keats died at just 25 years
old, but here,
his soul lives on as he communicates with spirits, observes the world
and his
place in it, and considers the impact of his writing.
The story
opens from the
perspective of a simple bird who observes the "wingless creatures"
known as humans and, in particular, the woebegone figure of poet Keats,
who
"is in peril." Somehow, the bird knows that his mission is to stay
close to this suffering young poet who, after listening to his special
song,
"began to fill up some white squares
with long trails of those things they call words."
As the
bird's spirit blends with
the poet's reflection on his unrealized life goals, a poetic series of
descriptions and fictional and biographic insights emerges, using
literary
devices to bind together the spirit of Keats and the worlds he
encounters. His
angst is nicely captured: "Nothing
ever becomes real till it is experienced. All my life and death remain
a
mystery but for one certainty. In every dream that I cherished, I
failed."
So are his
encounters with the
bird spirit, and the opportunity to review the world from a different
perspective: "The little spirit
flutters out of my hands and hovers at a distance from me. We are
almost as
close to the earth now as we were at our first meeting—I can espy the
grey
procession of the Spanish Steps and the distant dark hollow of the
Colosseum—and we resume our slow, upward drift while, below us, my life
continues to unfold in excruciating detail."
Literary
readers with prior
affection for and familiarity with Keats, his works, and his life will
especially appreciate the allusions and connections James Sulzer
cultivates in
this fictional fantasy review.
From the
promise of his love for
Fanny Brawne and his secret engagement to an illness which takes a turn
for the
worse, dashing his dreams and future, the life of Keats assumes the
form of a
quiet three-dimensional drama that gives a compellingly realistic feel
to his
world and art.
Readers who
enjoy literary works
with a spiritual overlay that rests as firmly on biographical
representation as
fictional magical realism will find Writ
in Water: A Novel of John Keats a thought-provoking
celebration of Keats'
world. It liberally paraphrases from and quotes his works, including
his
letters, throughout; and is strongly backed by Sulzer's extensive
research into
the critical biographical literature surrounding Keats.
Return to Index
Both Sides of the
Glass Ceiling
Stephanie Battaglino
L'Oste Vineyard Press
978-1-7353896-2-2
$16.99
Paper/$7.99 Kindle
www.lostevineyardpress.com
Both
Sides of the Glass Ceiling: Finding My
True Self in Corporate America
is a businesswoman's memoir about how she
transitioned while working as a senior executive at New York Life. Her
experience provides a unique perspective on the glass ceiling in
business from
the viewpoint of a male who became female and unexpectedly confronted
the
disparity in not just income, but respect between the genders.
Many books are now on the
market covering the social
impact of transitioning. However, more so than most, Stephanie
Battaglino's
candid discussion of the business world is striking from the start, and
will
open many eyes to the issues: "I
have lived a life on both sides of the glass ceiling. On one side, I
came into
the world identified by an anatomy that said to society I was male,
even though
inside I knew I was really female. On the other side of the glass, I
lived with
the privilege afforded to most white males, and did not understand what
that
privilege really meant until I lost it. When I stepped into my office
as
Stephanie, a trans woman and a person that most of my colleagues saw as
female,
I suddenly found myself looking at the glass ceiling from a very
uncomfortable
perspective—with my nose firmly pressed up against it, thinking, “How
far I
have fallen!” But that’s not even the half of it. What happened at that
moment
was just the first of many challenges I faced in finding my true self
in
corporate America."
Stephanie's candid honesty
in charting these revelations
is part of what sets this memoir apart from others, creating a solid
inspection
of status quo, class, and gender issues that traces experiences from
both sides
of the table she sat at.
Readers uncomfortable with
issues of gender equality and
underlying attitudes and prejudices might find Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling a
difficult read because it forces the viewer to confront these in their
own
approaches to life and business. Battaglino's focus on creating human
connections that lead to understanding over confrontation, her contrast
between
the trans and non-binary community and the traditional business world,
and her
stance on cultivating honesty and a complete life pulls no punches; yet
delivers its hard-hitting message with a gentle insistence on
understanding.
Her words
are
passionate, clear, and inviting even as they acknowledge the inherent
privilege
of being white: "...in the grand
scheme of things, I have it easy—really I do. To many who see me, I’m
just
another white woman of privilege, and with that comes a free pass, a
“Get Out
of Jail Free” card of sorts that society allows me to carry with me
every day.
The daily reality for many of my trans brothers and sisters, especially
those
of color, is nothing at all like mine. But I have a responsibility to
raise up
into your consciousness a different daily reality. The one that the
vast
majority of trans people
live with; the
one that involves pain, hardship, and for some, violence."
Between her divorce,
handling her son, and her business
pursuits, Battaglino's memoir embraces the building blocks of
constructing a
completely different life.
Few memoirs embrace the
mission of fostering ideals of transgender
workplace inclusion. Few juxtapose the personal and business impact of
these
actions in such a candid, revealing manner.
This book's discussions of
power, attitude, prejudice,
and redemption makes for a powerful read highly recommended not just
for trans
people navigating a new glass ceiling in the workplace, but for
business and
workplace readers seeking a better understanding of what inclusion
really
means.
Its hard-hitting discussions
will leave everyone thinking
long after the story is finished.
Return to Index
Braving the
World
Pam Saylor
Independently Published
978-1-7360731-0-0
$15.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Ordering: Braving
the World:
Adventures in Travel and Retirement
Braving the World: Adventures in Travel and
Retirement offers a
familiar dream to adventure-oriented retirees that perhaps now belongs
to a
bygone world: traveling the world slowly, living amongst the locals
long enough
to experience changing seasons and the full flavors of each locale
visited.
This is quite a different
kind of travel than those
conducted during one's work years, when schedules and due dates dictate
the
destinations viewed and the allotted time spent in them, often
precluding any
depth of experience.
2017 began this retirement
dream for Pam Saylor and her
husband with a one-way ticket to Italy and a plan to spend quality time
in
Europe after an early retirement.
But life holds surprises;
not the least of which is the
fact of the opportunity to sit back and reflect. Travel is not all
about
relaxation and contemplation. It brings with it challenges, obstacles,
revised
plans and worldviews, and the need for flexibility and cooperative
thinking
that can add to the problems if a couple traveling together are not in
sync
with many things.
And so Braving the World represents
an inner
journey of growth as much as a travelogue of places visited and
discoveries
made in the world at large. It considers the nuts and bolts of how
Saylor and
Dave made decisions, budgeted for the trip, and acknowledged the
possibilities,
limitations, and demands of their planned travel: "Dave
and I lived like most working couples—alongside each other,
but busy in our separate ways. Of course, we were together evenings and
weekends, but we spent our work-days with co-workers. At home, there
was room
to spread out and we each had our own way of doing things. We had our
separate
routines, schedules, and hobbies. Spending every day, all day crammed
on top of
each other in a small studio apartment did not sound appealing. Even
though we
could have saved money with a studio apartment, it wasn’t going to
happen."
Saylor not
only
charts their journeys, but advises armchair and destination-oriented
travelers
on the best ways to make the most of whatever time they have allotted
for their
trip: "Just seeing the everyday
sights in the city of London would be a month’s long job, and what do
you do if
you, like most people, don’t have months? I’ve listed dozens of things
to do,
and I’m sure there were many more I missed, wonderful places I walked
right by
and didn’t notice. What to do with only a week in London? I say, go
with the
things you love and care about, your passions, and skip the rest."
From dealing
with
diabetes and insulin laws in different countries while on the road to
navigating puzzling foreign systems and falling in love with places
that might
never be visited again, Saylor brings readers into a 'you are there'
journey of
a lifetime: "How can I hang onto
this trip? If only I could somehow dig my fingers into time itself and
hold it
still. I wish I could snap my fingers and be standing in Greenwich
Market
eating oysters, or click my heels and be in Rome walking on Palatine
Hill and
looking down at the Colosseum. Finally, the tears came, and I rubbed
them
away—feeling angry, lost, sad, tired. It was ending. We had lived our
crazy
dream—from country to country, city to city, to Europe and Africa and
back
again. There wasn’t one thing I would change. When will we ever come
back?"
They
returned
different people, earmarking 2020 for a return to France. Then
everything
changed. While it would be enlightening to have an addendum about the
post-Covid world of non-travel, this is a story still in the making.
Revel,
instead, in this adventure through bygone times in advancing years. If
you
can't hit the road yourself, Braving the
World is the next best
thing, and
offers a vivid blend of travel advice and adventure that teaches much
about how
to live differently.
Return to Index
Dangle Him Purposely
T.B. O'Neill
Independently Published
978-1-500-33413-0
http://tboneill.com/books/
Dangle
Him
Purposely continues the story of author Tim O'Neill's family
and his coming
of the age in the 1960s, a time when things change for the better, but
bring
new challenges. Ideally, readers will have already absorbed this
story's
prequel, Timmy, which will make
these
changes and insights even more notable and important.
Events swirl around a boy
who comes of age in a turbulent
era—ironically, one in which his family is finally settling down. His
alcoholic
father has gained sobriety, his mother and stepfather have found work,
and he's
finally growing up in small-town America in the manner so many of his
peers in
more stable family settings have enjoyed.
His new home holds all the
ingredients for a fresh
beginning, but different challenges emerge from the social whirl of
confusion
around him. Thus, life assumes the feeling of a vortex of
misinformation,
danger, violence, introducing a war which consumes the hearts and minds
of
Timmy and everyone around him.
The child is not a child
anymore, as this book says in
the beginning—but neither is he yet a man. The pathos of his growth
process is
captured in accounts that excel in recreating these haunting moments of
uncertainty in a young man's life: "Mary
and a group of friends were coming Tim’s way down the outside junior
high
corridor, their shoulders bumping as they all laughed at some secret
joke. Tim
turned the collar up on his jacket, leaned against the iron support
post,
crossed his ankles, and dipped a shoulder in a casual don’t
give a damn fashion. She’d be passing by soon. He hadn’t
quite mastered James Dean’s smirk—his head tilted down and to the side
with
that rebellious curl of the lip, looking up over his brows. But he came
close.
It was, after all, who he was. He needed no one, was afraid of no one,
and had
the answers. That’s how he felt . . . at least among his friends."
There are two notable facets
about this memoir: it reads
with the third-person description and embellishments of fiction; and it
presents vignettes which assume no linear, logical progression, but
move
through time in a fluid manner, immersing readers in the moment.
T.B. O'Neill's cautionary
introduction about the fluid
story structure correctly identifies its mercurial process, but almost
does it
an injustice by forewarning its readers. Those who seek novels with
plots may
find these vignettes less structured than fiction, but will still find
their
emotional punch effective and nicely construed.
As this story follows Tim
into the Army and encounters
with more bullies, leaders, and ideological angst, readers view his
life
through the lens of an outsider who becomes intimately acquainted with
the
nuances of Tim's thoughts, memories, emotions, and experiences.
Deployed to Europe and
slated only see combat during the
last year of his enlistment, Tim finds a new world opening up to him
beyond the
boundaries of his family and small-town America. His experiences
provide a
study in contrasts about the cultures and peoples he encounters.
From developing trust in a
different system to survival
tactics that operate on many levels, Tim turns twenty-three in Nam and
moves
from small-town American thoughts to embrace bigger ideas about the
world at
large.
Readers
seeking a memoir of coming of age in the 1960s,
the Vietnam War experience from the eyes of a young man, and a
continuation to
the prior memoir Timmy will find
this
exploration engrossing, revealing, and worthy of the read.
Return to Index
A Different
Kind of
War
J. Malcolm Garcia
Fomite
978-1-953236-18-0
$15.00
https://www.fomitepress.com/
A Different Kind of War: Uneasy Encounters in
Mexico and Central
America comes from the unusual vantage point of a social
worker turned
journalist who worked in Afghanistan and reported on South American
countries,
as well. His unique perspective and background combines a
people-focused social
worker's approach with a reporter's eye for detail. His title documents
peoples' lives, interactions, disappearances and threats, and the
changing
atmospheres of their worlds.
More than a
dispassionate listing of political influence (as one might expect from
the title),
this hard-hitting social exposé delineates the worlds of different
peoples in Mexico and Central America who operate and intersect at
different
levels of their societies: "She felt
bad for the women living as they did. Some of them, she saw, were
indigenous
Mayas like herself. Sister Magdalena grew up in the province of Santa
Cruz
Chinautla. Her family identified as Mam, one of many Maya nations that
make up
rural Guatemala. The people of Santa Cruz Chinautla molded clay pots
and
farmed. It was a town almost insignificant in size. A river ran through
it, and
the black water carried waste from Guatemala City. Still, Sister
Magdalena
recalls a happy, cheerful childhood, the dirty river just part of
life’s
struggle."
These
stories often
read with the quiet drama of fiction, as in the story of a Sister
operating an
orphanage: "Kissing her niece on her
forehead, Sister Sandau sighs. Hours from now, the sun will rise, and
with it
the possibility of new orphans. She receives very little notice. The
police or
a family just show up with a child."
Contrast
this scene
with that of a reporter's newsroom shortly before an execution in 2009
and an
interview which captures the violent effects of active drug trade on
the
streets of Mexico: "...the
two-year-long drug war raging in this desert city of 1.5 million kills
an
average of nine people a day. The Mexican government sent in the army
to help
quell the violence. For two months, the number of violent deaths
dropped
dramatically. But in June, it spiked back up. “Before, there were
gunfights in
the street with automatic weapons,” said Juárez Mayor Jose Reyes
Ferriz. “Now
they kill with 9-millimeter handguns. Before, they drove around the
city with
AK-47s. They can’t now. But they are still fighting. They fight all the
way
down to small-time distributors killing one another.”
It's
evident, through
this contrast of social ills, that the war being fought isn't a
singular event
or experience. J. Malcolm Garcia's 'uneasy encounters' capture and
contrast a
revised state of 'normal' throughout the region. This approach will
prove
eye-opening for Americans who envision beaches and tourist destinations
when
they think of Mexico and its neighbors.
A Different Kind of War holds the rare
ability to make its readers
feel uneasy. It should. It's not an easy world, but one which is too
rarely
portrayed in all its contrasts and nuances, making this book essential
reading
for anyone who would truly understand the region's social, economic,
and
political struggles.
Return to Index
The Necktie
and the
Jaguar
Carl Greer, PhD, PsyD
Chiron Publications
9781630519032
$19.95
www.ChironPublications.com
The Necktie and the Jaguar is a spiritual
memoir for readers who
would better understand the intersection between spiritual practice and
perception and everyday living, and takes some unusual routes in the
course of
its discoveries.
Greer holds
a
background in shamanistic training as well as traditional Jungian
analysis and
martial arts. His memoir about his self-exploration and transformation
from a
traditional style of success (as president of an independent oil and
gas
company that built him wealth) to that of a spiritual pilgrim is
gripping.
Some readers
might
experience discomfort if the book hits too close to home with its close
examination of finding value beyond monetary wealth and career. This is
because
The Necktie and the Jaguar embraces
redefining ideas of success and achievement, moving into realms beyond
that of
the status quo or monetary gain.
This is
where Greer's
background in psychology stands out, reaching ordinary readers with a
story of
how despite being a husband, homeowner, and successful businessman, he
still
lacked satisfaction. His restlessness eventually shook him out of his
comfort
zone and traditional definitions of value and wealth.
Ironically,
these
psychological and business lessons also permeate this exploration of
inner
worlds and spiritual paths, giving them a concrete foundation that is
lacking
in too many other memoirs of spiritual enlightenment.
This is the
very
factor that makes The Necktie and the
Jaguar so accessible to audiences that might not ordinarily
pick up a
memoir about fulfillment and enlightenment. Greer began his life in
familiar
circles, but expanded his goals and perceptions in ways that produced
riches
beyond his imagination.
These riches
could
not have been perceived without a redefinition of value. Readers of The Necktie and the Jaguar will find
positive encouragement in many of his words: "At
last, I was consciously making different choices and beginning
to establish new habits that were making me
feel happier, freer, and more authentic."
Writing
about how his
engrained competitiveness has begun to fade, Greer is quite honest
about his
struggles with patterns and traits which remain to this day. He's also
honest
about his newfound abilities and satisfaction. The
Necktie and the Jaguar will reach New Age, spirituality, and
traditional business book readers alike with a story that holds a
blueprint for
achieving a different, ultimately more satisfying, life.
Return to Index
Six Car Lengths Behind an Elephant
Lillian McCloy
Bordertown
Publishing
978-0997596304
$13.95 Paper; $6.99 ebook
Website: https://www.bordertownpublishing.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997596309/
Six
Car Lengths
Behind an Elephant: Undercover & Overwhelmed as a CIA Wife and
Mother is an espionage
memoir that comes from
quite a different perspective than the usual CIA behind-the-scenes
probe.
Lillian McCloy is a wife and mother, and writes of her family life as
the
spouse of an undercover CIA officer.
Descriptions of how job and life intersect
on a daily basis are revealing, providing many details about how
political and
employment requirements change the family's choices: "Despite
my
protests, Frank insisted that we take this opportunity, because she was
an
invaluable contact. After a year at Berlitz and daily tutoring, Frank
could get
along well in Spanish and was looking forward to meeting more rich
people. I
should have said, “Take the children and go. I’ll stay home.” The
contacts for
Frank’s career had taken top billing in his life...I again realized
that I was
not number one on his priority list."
As a travelogue about living in different
countries, the stories are diverse and intriguing, offering insights on
health
and social challenges. As a memoir by a CIA wife who built her own
resiliency
and adaptation techniques, it often contains humorous observations
about the
inconsistencies in even official information: "This is really
incidental stuff, but it becomes horrendously important when this seems
to be
your constant business. Moving, buying, packing. It was very hard, no
matter
where we were going, and I was always astonished at how wrong the
information
was when I asked for it. Particularly when the U.S. Embassy grandly
offered to
send me a printout from their State Department catalog, or whatever it
was
called. One fact that enriched my life was that the average temperature
in New
Delhi, India, was 74 degrees. After that gem of information, I did not
ask for
their advice again."
Where other espionage stories take the form
of an exposé of the
politics and processes of the job,
McCloy's focus on her nomadic life, her husband Frank's assignments,
and the
impact this had on her family provides a riveting alternative to
male-centric
views of CIA lifestyles and adventures.
It's hard to imagine a memoir that is at once
candid, fun, and troubling; but McCloy captures all these facets and
more as
she supports her husband's undercover job and her family's disparate
interests
at the same time.
The blend of humor, practical information,
and country-hopping adventure maintains a fast pace, bringing many
thought-provoking moments. Six Car Lengths Behind an Elephant
should be
welcomed by readers interested in overseas adventures, the realities of
a spy's
family, and how families adapt to living in foreign countries.
Return to Index
Special
Needs
Children
Jody Sharpe
Independently
Published
9780988562011
$12.00 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Special-Needs-Children-Angels-Shoulder/dp/0988562014
Special Needs Children: The Angels On My Shoulder
is a memoir about
Jody Sharpe's twenty-five years teaching special needs kids. It
provides an
unexpected focus on not just special needs circumstances, but the
bullying
which evolved from them, by other children.
Sharpe's
spiritual
reflections on God and angels is a constant referral in this book,
which speaks
of 'angel teachers', the 'hearts of angels' which reside in many of
these
children, and their fleeting and long-term influences as they move
through her
life and classroom.
Sharpe's
ability to
see the good in circumstances and people identifies the 'special' in
'special
needs' as she delineates her journey through the education system and
those
teaching and social encounters which changed her perspective and life.
Teachers
(especially
those working with special needs kids) will find this spiritual and
social
reflection easily accessible. It's presented in vignettes which offer
small,
digestible bites of insight into a world where angels and kindness are
present
in more than one form.
Education
and
spirituality collections alike will find Special
Needs Children details a
unique
viewpoint and is an uplifting read.
Return to Index
Walking
Away
from Hate
Jeanette and
Lauren Manning
Tidewater Press
978-1-990160-00-4
$23.95
www.tidewaterpress.com
Walking Away from
Hate: Our Journey through Extremism
tells of how, as a teen, author Lauren
Manning was recruited through the internet by a white
extremist group.
They were adept at feeding into her middle-class family's values and
her
simmering teen anger to foster within her a hatred and prejudice that
led her
to denounce her family and enter into a violent life on the streets of
Toronto.
The
process of
Lauren's recruitment into extremist beliefs, her rejection of her
family's
upbringing and values, and her participation in this dangerous world is
documented in her personal story of changing beliefs and visions of
justice and
truth. Her account also closely considers how her family fought to
forge a new
relationship with their daughter.
Walking Away from
Hate's contrasts
between mainstream belief systems and extremist
thinking processes, the methods by which young adults are convinced to
embark
on life-changing paths of destruction and hate, and an insider's
thoughts about
the experience are told from both sides to create an especially
evocative read:
"My life was already fucked up so who cared if I didn’t show
up? It was
just one more thing—in addition to living on the streets, having no
place to
call home and no family to belong to—that I couldn’t bring myself to
care
about. My thought process had always been more or less “ignore it and
it’ll go
away."
Of
particular
note are the feelings of the participant as she examines the
differences
between what she has been taught, her newfound friends' beliefs, and
what she
observes in the world around her: “White kids aren’t going to
be safe if we
allow these Blacks to walk all over us. We’re defending our people.”
His answer
was the one I’d heard many times before but this time it got me
thinking about
parenting a child of hate. If a child saw evidence of their parent’s
fight,
what impact would that have? Was it fair to raise a child in this
culture? What
about parents who forced their opinions on their kids?"
While
the
juxtaposition of two worlds is a central theme of this mother/daughter
story,
equally powerful are the insights into how white extremist thinking is
fostered
in the young.
Walking Away from
Hate serves as a contrast between
ideals of justice, truth, and social
issues. It ideally will be used for classroom study and parent/child
discussions of ideology gone awry, and its powerful lure and message
for those
who grow into adulthood angry about society's failures and parental
teachings.
Return to Index
The
Cornmarket
Conspiracy
Sharon Hoisager
Moonshine Cove
Publishing, LLC
9781952439087
$15.00 Paper/$6.00 Kindle
www.SharonHoisager.com
The Cornmarket Conspiracy is a novel that
opens in the French
countryside, where farmers in the small town of Coquelles are started
by an
explosion that lights up the sky at 10PM.
In the UK,
Jeffrey
Hunter, Chief of Staff to Britain’s Prime Minister Trevor Wellington,
is
awakened at midnight by the world-changing phone call he's long been
dreading—the news of an explosion and fire in the English Channel
Tunnel which
has trapped and killed hundreds on the train.
The shocking
news
portends a conspiracy that involves British Intelligence, the CIA, and
those
who aim to profit from global tragedy for their own special interests.
As the story
takes
off, thriller readers receive an engrossing probe of motivations and
everyday
people. Annie Craig, a staffer in the P.M.’s office has been carrying
on an
affair with colleague Andrew Bolling, whom she is shocked to find out
has died
in the attack. She journeys to France to find answers. Surprisingly,
one of her
questions was whether or not Andrew was involved in the heinous
disaster; for
her discovery of some notes indicates he was somehow connected to other
world-changing scenarios: "She
couldn’t help but wonder, was he involved in this somehow, even
unintentionally? She knew Andrew. There was simply no way he was
overtly
involved in anything immoral, unethical, and certainly not anything
criminal.
But how did his private notes, outlining the terrorist strikes of the
past few
years, seemingly predict a train bombing? Had he somehow been working
to thwart
the attack?" Is he a hero or a villain?
As low-grade
Muslim
criminal Akeem trails Annie in his role as a part-time errand boy to
one of the
largest criminal networks in France, sharing a taxi with her to get in
her good
graces, Annie and Jeffrey Hunter find themselves not only attempting to
solve
many questions, but in the crosshairs of danger themselves.
Rasul also
operates
on the fringes of society: "He is
not fully Yemeni, nor is he fully French. Raised by Yemeni parents in
the
French Capital, and educated at the finest University in England, Rasul
can
never shake the feeling that he is a man with no real home and no real
nationality."
As Annie
becomes
Jeffrey's reason for pursuing the truth about Rasul and Jorge, three
old
college friends begin to realize that their past knowledge of one
another is
contrary to their present-day passions and personas.
Sharon Hoisager creates an
outstanding interplay between
Western interests, political and social strife between immigrants and
mainstream society, and a plot that thickens as the story progresses.
Readers interested in a
thriller's fast-paced progression
also receive the added benefit of social inspection in an equally
quick-changing world that changes individuals and leads determined
ordinary
people to become heroes as they continue to fight for the good of their
friends
and communities.
The result is a powerful
saga that provides more than a
conspiracy story, but a social examination that will keep readers
engaged and
thinking long past the tale's conclusion.
Return to Index
Dead Tree
Tales
Rush Leaming
Bridgewood
978-0-9997456-5-6
$19.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://leamingrush.wixsite.com/nightfall
Dead Tree Tales opens with the poisoning
of a 1,000-year-old tree
and efforts to uncover the perp, but soon becomes a crime thriller as a
dead
body is uncovered and detectives find that much more is involved than
an
ancient tree's demise.
Set on Johns
Island,
South Carolina, the story assumes a twisted path of intrigue over a
threat that
evolves, literally piece by piece, beyond arborcide.
Widowed
Mayor Jim is
looking forward to retirement. Mired in grief, his second son, Len
Rawlings,
manages to nonetheless shake up his world. The revolution continues as
a myriad
of challenges, special interests, and world-changing events ripple from
the
ancient tree's imminent demise to threats that portend the community
will never
be the same.
From the
painful,
violent death of a young woman found in the water to explosions which
also
literally shake the town to its roots, Dead
Tree Tales charts the opening up of a sheltered world to a
myriad of
social, political, and cultural threats. These immerse the mayor,
detectives,
and potential perps in a struggle that leads to unspeakable tragedy and
rebirth
as a world-changing virus dawns.
Dead Tree Tales represents a slow, steady
evolution from a singular
puzzle to a paradigm-altering series of events that rocks both
individual lives
and an entire community. Its powerful characters, multifaceted special
interests, and blend of murder mystery, intrigue, and social inspection
will
particularly delight thriller readers looking for something different.
Its firm
roots in all
these elements which connect a tree's demise to wider-ranging issues
makes for
a riveting story that's hard to put down and highly recommended for
readers who
enjoy thought-provoking surprises throughout.
Return to Index
Decoy 17
Robert Vallier
www.robertvallier.com
Decoy 17 is a sequel to the thriller Spider 2-3 and returns hero Jim
(JP) Peregrine to the
spotlight of the spy story community with another adventure.
Here, JP
faces the
prospect of a month's respite on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia in a
mansion
provided by his uncle. Stephanie Raughton and Anna Kepling join him in
this
idyllic journey, which is a far cry from the tense events that
challenged his
heart and soul during the events of Spider
2-3.
Predictably,
JP's
long-overdue respite is not to be. Satisfyingly unpredictable is a
sequence of
events that involve a murder, a plot, and a new brand of terrorism that
makes
the Spider 2-3 scenario look like a
walk in the park.
Ironically, Spider 2-3 has prepared him for Decoy
17's undercover efforts; for having fostered the persona of the
mysterious hero
The Falcon (who operated surprisingly efficiently in thwarting a
worldwide
disaster in the previous confrontation) he is armed, efficient, and
just
waiting for what evolves next.
Readers who
enjoy
international intrigue, espionage, and a catchy blend of James
Bond-like action
and confrontation will find these devices appear in droves in Decoy 17 as JP foregoes his vacation for
a new task and challenge.
With
operative Dave
Tilson's murder comes JP's realization that Spider
2-3 is not the only game in town. It served as a preface for
what is about
to transpire during this second scheme, a sequel to the first.
Readers who
liked Spider 2-3 (and, there
should be many)
will find the saga continues in much the same spirit. Same approach,
but different
characters, purposes, and challenges that continue to expand JP's
identity both
as The Falcon and in his own staid world as an ordinary citizen.
JP needs to
come back
to work, and as a target, he might prove even more invaluable to his
superiors for
drawing out the plot and perps involved in Decoy 17. As he heads a team
and
tries to assume control of a virtually uncontrollable scenario, JP
moves from
the Caribbean to Europe to South America, seemingly a step behind, too
much of
the time. He tries to catch up fast.
Readers who
know
aviation or technical engineering details will relish the real facts
built into
this story of disasters, as well as the interplay of romance between JP
and
Stephanie, the future Mrs. Peregrine.
Newcomers
will find Decoy 17 surprisingly
easy to access,
requiring no prior familiarity with JP's character, motivations, or
abilities
in order to prove immediately understandable. Prior fans receive a
puzzler just
as adept at surprising twists and turns as its predecessor. Both
audiences will
find the action concludes neatly, but in a manner that more than leaves
the
door open for more books to follow in The Falcon series.
With its
powerful
central character, a host of special interests which swirl around him,
and JP's
struggle to maintain his grasp on his personal life while immersed in a
political and international spy conundrum, Decoy
17 proves a powerful story. It's highly recommended for
thriller readers
who enjoy stories of espionage, terrorism, disaster, and one man who
stands
between the life and death of millions.
Decoy 17 is a riveting read that is hard
to put down, packed with
satisfying twists and turns that keep readers engaged and wondering to
the end.
Return to Index
Faux Friends
A.J. McCarthy
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68433-725-5
$19.95
www.blackrosewriting.com
Make one mistake and you can
pay for it for a very long
time. That's what Quebec policewoman Chantal Pouliot discovers when her
investigation goes awry, relegating her to desk duty. In Faux
Friends, she is just beginning to probe a cyber-crime case
that might restore her reputation and ability to work as an undercover
cop;
especially when the case becomes a murder investigation.
The problem? Within this
assignment lies a too-knowing
set of circumstances that draw her into someone else's dangerous game,
with her
as the target.
A.J. McCarthy creates a
mystery thriller that
engrossingly moves between Chantal's moves and efforts and the thoughts
and
motivations of dangerous adversaries: "The
man smiled. Sometimes life took an unexpected turn, and it worked out
for the
best. Was it possible a higher power had decided it wasn’t their time
and
stepped in to change his plan? He laughed out loud at the thought. Call
it a
higher power, fate, or plain luck. He took it as a sign that the game
wasn’t
over. Like hockey, they were in the second of three periods. With any
luck, it
would play out in overtime."
Chantel re-enters an all too
familiar (and coveted)
investigative world with Jeff Lafond, but the moves she is forced to
make once
again send her on a road that is frustrating, portending disaster: "Chantal squared her shoulders. She
needed to pull herself together. It wasn’t the first time she was
disillusioned, and it wouldn’t be the last. She was a cop with a job to
do. If
she repeated that statement often enough, it might take away the pain."
As she and Jeff face a host
of challenges in their latest
case, Chantel is forced to face her fears.
A.J. McCarthy crafts a fine
interplay between thriller
and murder mystery story, intersecting Chantal's evolution as a
policewoman and
a potential victim with a case which seems to hold no ready solutions
for
anyone.
As fear, doubt, and even
love enter into the picture,
McCarthy creates a fast-paced story that rests as much upon Chantal's
ability
to change her focus and sense of duty as it does on the undertones of a
treachery and tragedy that changes her relationships.
This psychological-based
story of intrigue will delight
readers who like murder mysteries, strong female protagonists, and a
puzzle
which offers many satisfying twists and turns. Most of all, Faux Friends excels in a juxtaposition
of professional and emotional growth that leads Chantal to reconsider
friends,
enemies, and all that lies in-between as police force relationships are
pulled
apart.
Readers who like their
thrillers embedded with emotional
growth will find Chantal a memorable and strong protagonist who
questions the
roots of her decisions, assumptions, and their ultimate impact on her
life.
Return to Index
Foulshot
Susan Fleet
Music and Mayhem
Press
ASIN: B08XKJY5ZQ
$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XKJY5ZQ
Foulshot provides prior fans with another
Frank Renzi crime
thriller that introduces a special puzzler to the NOPD homicide
detective.
This comes
in the
form of three different murders, a jailed suspect who is not talking,
and leads
that indicate that an intricate web of lies may lie at the heart of a
threat
that is not cut-and-dried, defying his problem-solving prowess.
As Frank and
equally
talented detective and lover Kelly share theories and investigate, a
host of
characters and potential perps come to light that all intersect on the
larger
playing field of NBA gamblers involved in a big-stakes game.
From enemy
ambushes
to a dangerous game which threatens children and adults alike, Foulshot takes many intriguing twists
and turns as Frank and Kelly embark on their most challenging
investigation
yet.
Kidnappings,
vanished
bodies, journeys between New Orleans, Chicago, and Memphis, and a
personal
threat to Frank, who finds the tables turned as the investigator
threatens to
become another victim, create a fast-paced story. It's accessible to
newcomers
to Frank Renzi's special brand of intriguing cases, but will especially
delight
prior fans more than familiar with his approaches to solving crime.
Book 10 in
the series
proves every bit as complex and compelling as its predecessors. It
achieves the
goal of expanding Frank's world as he encounters Russian interests,
powerful
men, and the complex underworld of sports betting and its connections
to
violence and criminal special interests.
Return to Index
From the
Mind of a
Witch
Bruce M. Perrin
Mind Sleuth
Publications
ASIN: B08YZB8N65
$.99
https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Witch-Sleuth-Book-ebook/dp/B08YZB8N65
Once an FBI
agent,
Rebecca Marte has now become a PI. Her first job is the unusual case of
a witch
charged with killing a man during a coven ritual...seemingly
cut-and-dried,
because a group of people witnessed the murder. Or, did they?
In From the Mind of a Witch, Rebecca's
client wants her to clear the name of the High Priestess, Della
Bergeron. It
sounds like an impossible task, given the circumstances. But as Rebecca
delves
deeper into the coven, its politics, and special interests, she comes
to
realize that her client's unusual defense of being possessed may be
only one
piece of an evolving puzzle. Rebecca finds herself increasingly drawn
into a
deadly supernatural game.
Is Della an
untouchable pagan leader, a shrewd businesswoman, or something more? As
Mateo Sanchez,
a company CFO, becomes involved in the probe, facts emerge that pit
Rebecca
against many forces; not the least of which is the power of
psychological
suggestion and spiritual possibilities that may contribute to
supporting her
client's wild contention. But, will it hold up in court against a
murder
charge?
Bruce M.
Perrin weaves
a murder investigation into a story replete with supernatural forces,
special
business interests, and the progressive foray into danger as a savvy PI
finds
herself operating in a milieu where she is over her head. These devices
contribute to a thoroughly engrossing story.
To add to
the already
considerable suspense, Perrin adds a life-and-death struggle as an
extended
side-story. Faced with her nearly impossible task, Rebecca turns to an
old
friend, psychologist Sam “Doc” Price to help her bridge the gap between
the
supernatural and a reality she can embrace. He, however, has become
fixated,
perhaps dangerously so, with the hunt for his kidnapped fiancée as she
fights
for her life. Can he break free of his obsession even for a moment to
help?
Should he?
The blend of
PI
investigation, supernatural influences, and psychological probe is
especially
inviting because the characters are so solidly represented and nicely
drawn, with
the mystery ever-changing. Perrin's probe into memory's fallacies and
possibilities is particularly intriguing as the story evolves.
As lies and
murderous
hatred escalate into confrontations, Rebecca walks a fine line between
psychological understanding and supernatural revelations. Her story is
filled
with satisfying twists and turns, and is certain to delight those who
like
supernatural influences cemented with murder mystery intrigue.
Return to Index
Invasion of
the
Undead
Dan Coglan
L’Oste Vineyard Press
978-1-7353896-7-7
$14.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
www.LosteVineyardPress.com
Horror fans
and
thriller readers alike will find Invasion
of the Undead cultivates a special brand of tension designed
to raise the
hackles and intrigue the mind. It centers on the domestic dilemma faced
by
ex-Marine commander Chase Brooks when he returns home from a stint in
Afghanistan only to find that the enemy (the undead) is unalive and
well,
operating on American soil.
The
difference between
this scenario and other zombie novels is that nobody else is
acknowledging
their existence in America. It's difficult to effectively fight a war
that
nobody will admit to.
Chase has
experienced
enough traumas overseas, from fighting enemies who will not die. Now he
has to
take his work to the streets. And not every living person will
appreciate
either his efforts or his unusual contentions.
Invasion of the Undead employs Chase's
gritty first-person
observations to bring to life (pardon the pun) the confrontations and
dilemmas
that surround his missions.
His initial
choice (to
blow up himself and the zombies he faces in a stone temple in
Afghanistan)
would seem to end the story before it begins. Actually, it introduces a
scenario in which Chase is an unlikely sole survivor, returned to his
home
injured, but in one piece—which is more than can be said about his
entire unit.
His brain
injury
would seem to explain the fantasy surrounding the zombie apocalypse
which is
his last memory. The trouble is that events keep happening which
indicate not
just a zombie issue, but a supernatural cover-up.
And so the
mystery
portion solidifies as Chase struggles to recover and reconcile his
memories and
the certainty of his experience with the altered reality unfolding
around him.
Dan Coglan
is adept
at tracing the roots of these convictions and their effect on Chase and
those
who believe in him: “Brooks,” the Colonel
started, shaking his head. “You do realize how this sounds, right?
There’s a
priest that died overseas, here in Chesapeake, raising the dead and
sending
them after you, and then someone is covering it up afterwards. Does
that sound
rational to you, son?” he asked me, finally looking me in the face. “I
didn’t
say it was rational, sir. I said it was true,” I said quietly."
As he delves
ever
deeper into a scenario that moves beyond the battlefield and PTSD and
into a
very real threats, the thriller elements simmer with puzzles and
dilemmas to
draw readers in like quicksand.
Once
immersed, it's
hard to stop reading. It's equally difficult for Chase to reconcile his
experience and reality with a probe into who (or what) lies at the
heart of
this uprising and his involvement in it.
Readers
looking for a
very different blend of military confrontation, thriller, and
supernatural intrigue
will relish the original, sometimes quirky perspective of a story that
is as
grippingly unrelenting as a zombie's grasp.
Return to Index
The Last of
the
Swindlers
Peter Loewer
Pisgah Press, LLC
978-1-942016557
$17.95
www.pisgahpress.com
The Last of the Swindlers sets its murder
mystery scene in the Blue
Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina in Fernglade in 1978, where
politics
and a double murder rock a small town unused to threat and the specter
of
big-stakes struggles.
Here, The
Leader is
on a mission that has arrived at a success-or-fail pivot point.
Portents and
signs may signal success, but there are small-town forces at work to
thwart The
Leader's path to growth. A crisis brings with it slaughter, and tragic
circumstances bring disparate individuals together in a struggle that
reflects
the underlying transformation of this once-bucolic (on the surface,
anyway)
town as its course clashes with modern times and special interests.
“There’s a sense of responsibility that’s part of
living in a small
town." As a host of characters absorb their revised roles and
edge
away from comfort and familiarity into new territory, the story
reflects the
intersection of small-town perspectives with the forces that emerge
when
big-city interests seek to find a place within it.
Rich folk
are seeking
refuge, but bring the ills of their world with them. Ordinary folk just
want a
familiar place that stays the same. Fernglade native Oliver
Swindler, unhappy with life in the big city, just wants a quiet place
to call
home and a garden to cultivate, but is charged with solving a mystery
in a
process that will change all the things he's come to value in his
community.
Peter Loewer
excels
at bringing this small town to life. Yes, this is a murder mystery; but
beyond
that, it's an excellent inspection of the social and political currents
that
affect the town's citizen's lives and Oliver's choices, placing the
backdrop of
the murder in as important a position as the social conflict itself.
Readers who
enjoy
full-bodied reads about small town characters, big city interests in
rural
environments and opportunities, and lives out of control will relish
Peter
Loewer's ability to produce a story that rests on the choices of many
memorable
characters.
The Last of the Swindlers is a vivid
story of not just
investigations, but shifting interpersonal relationships. It will prove
thoroughly absorbing and satisfyingly complex to the end.
Return to Index
The Last
Review
Lucas
Pogrzebny
Azure
Midnight Press
978-987-47543-3-2
$3.99
Author
Website: www.lucaspogrzebny.com
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HH4P3RN
Detective
story enthusiasts are in for a treat with The
Last Review, because it takes the P.I. approach beyond
traditional routes
while including all the trappings of a solid investigative piece.
Meet Polo
Levington, a film critic genius who finds himself in the role of an
unwitting
investigator when he witnesses a murder. The story opens with a bang ("The camera was still rolling when she
was shot."), but the real story takes place twenty years
later, when
the bodies begin piling up, leading a strange actress and a tired
detective to
become involved in Levin's production and its deadly backdrop.
Interactions between
director and actors, investigators
and novices with no investigative savvy, and those who find themselves
out of
their comfort zones whether on shoots or probing criminal activities
make for a
fine juxtaposition of backgrounds, differing approaches to events, and
changing
perspectives.
Drawn back to a country he'd
resisted entering, Polo
Levington finds his approaches to life and even his genius challenged
on many
different levels: "Now I understand
why I didn't want to come back here. This is one of those places where
truth
cannot be reached. I hate Buenos Aires..."
There
are many places where truth remains elusive; not the least of which is
Levin's
own barriers to getting to the truth of many different matters.
As
events unfold, he finds his past, his fears, and his focus on an
amazing
production all working against him in the search for answers, leading
different
characters into worlds they are ill-equipped to handle.
The
blend of stage backdrop and intrigue is very well presented. Lucas
Pogrzebny
excels in precise descriptions of the theater milieu that draws readers
in: "To understand this, you have to think
about the lighting of the set. When the studio lights are turned off
and only
the scene ones are left on, the contrast is absolute. Inside the circle
of the
Fresnel lights and the camera, everything can be seen; on the contrary,
outside
that area, everything else is darkness."
Much
like a stage production, this mystery develops slowly, weaving
intrigue,
motivation, and the blinders of background experience into a murder
story that
is hard to put down and difficult to predict.
Readers
who enjoy stories of savants drawn into worlds beyond their comfort
zones will
find The Last Review exceptionally
well done and hard to put down.
Return to Index
Meadowlarks
Thomas Holladay
Cinema Enterprises
9781736914007 $12.99 Paper/$.99 ebook
Website:
http://www.thomasholladay.com
Ordering: https://books2read.com/u/bPXY0R
"The white man never listens to the Indian."
even when he
is trying to warn them, and even when his message is meant to save
their lives
and their world. This is the opening warning of Meadowlarks,
which introduces a savvy old Native American, a dark
spirit which protects a sacred valley, and a simmering legacy that
explores
events that took place ten years prior and its threat to a new
generation.
Supernatural
forces
menace a family, which has fled the city for a more peaceful rural
lifestyle,
when a long-standing blood sacrifice designed to keep a beast at bay is
set
aside, resulting in a rash of murders that make the family's urban
challenges
look tame in comparison.
Carolyn and
her
eight-year-old son Jason seek a safe haven and a new life. Instead,
they
unwittingly step into a maelstrom of horror partially brought about by
their
unwillingness to allow a long-standing ritual to continue. As family
relationships, heritage, neighbors, and deadly forces intersect, evil
becomes
apparent in not only an unleashed supernatural beast, but in the hearts
of men.
Christmas is coming as events from the past
threaten to spill into the present. Readers drawn by stories
with rural
roots, supernatural horror, Native rituals, and family relationships
will find
each of these facets well explored. These multiple components
blend
seamlessly to build a nicely-paced drama that comes full circle for
elderly
Native John Crow, whose new neighbors have now become part of this
sacred
valley and its long-standing ritual practices, changing their lives
forever.
Meadowlarks is especially recommended for
fans of Tony
Hillerman-style intrigue who seek a vigorous dose of the supernatural
added
into a mix of mystery and interpersonal struggle.
Return to Index
Nerve Attack
S. Lee Manning
Independently
Published
978-1-64599-195-3
$18.99 Paper/$28.99
Hardcover/$4.99 epub and Kindle
www.sleemanning.com
In Trojan Horse, S. Lee Manning outlined
the efforts of American operative Kolya Petrov to track a deadly
terrorist
involved in planning nuclear plant meltdowns around the globe. A key to
playing
this game involved planting a 'Trojan horse' virus in a computer. But a
necessary sacrifice in the plan was Kolya Petrov, a loner and Russian
Jewish
immigrant.
Nerve Attack outlines Kolya Petrov's
revised life of intrigue and
deception, which continues here with reverberations from an undercover
project
in Moscow. Petrov has long believed the Russian message about being
prepared
for anything, and has absorbed its motto: "Moscow
rules. Trust no
one. Trust
nothing."
This doesn't
help him
in his new life. In fact, it combines with PTSD to create different
dilemmas
that affect his role as a former undercover intelligence operative
facing a
different challenge.
As his fate
becomes
entwined with the actions of former Mossad agent Tehila Melaku, Petrov
gambles
on his fiancée Alex's life in a new confrontation with high-stakes
forces.
Readers receive an engrossing story of intrigue filled not just with
suspense,
but psychological insights into how a loner ex-agent is drawn back into
past
habits. His inability to adjust to his new life is very nicely
presented: "There were lines he tried not to
cross, in drinking and in his relationship. But he didn’t fit in – and
the
family party in Aaron’s upscale home underscored that fact. They were
nice
people, who talked about their jobs and their families and Judaism. He
had no
living family except for Alex; he disliked his new job but couldn’t
talk about
his former job; and he was agnostic. Politics was risky."
Petrov finds
himself
meeting with a smuggler, and embarks on another clandestine operation
that pits
his personal life against his professional abilities. Readers receive
moving
moments not just from his changing perspective, but those of people
whose lives
intersect with his: "Russians. Jews.
He didn’t trust either of them. Russians were indoctrinated at an early
age.
And Jews – well, Jews were loyal to each other and to Israel, not to
America.
And Petrov was both a Russian and a Jew. Who the fuck knew what his
real
loyalties might be?"
As Alex,
Tehila, and CIA
operative Stephen Kowolsky barrel towards a confrontation, nightmares
and love
coalesce with violence and threats. These forces change and challenge
all that
Petrov has built from the ruins of his career.
The result
is a heady
rush of intrigue and psychological inspection that weaves a
cat-and-mouse game
into an evolving new life. It's a story designed to attract prior
readers and
newcomers alike, placing Petrov, once again, in a position far from his
familiar routines or the coping mechanisms that worked for him in the
past.
Readers of Trojan Horse, in particular, will find
this sequel thoroughly engrossing.
Return to Index
Project
Renaissance: White Wings
Brian Gates
Independently Published
978-0578845111
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Project-Renaissance-White-Brian-Gates/dp/0578845113
One day, Detective Booker
Vaux arrives home from
work to find his entire family has vanished without a trace. It turns
out that
a large corporation set on altering reality has something to do with
matters,
and so Booker and his partner Sam head out to do what they do best:
investigate.
Project
Renaissance: White Wings
follows
that investigation into realms dangerous even in
a futuristic world where androids abound and humanity is
increasingly threatened by its own technological advancements.
In a world
where
"the hustle of police work is never tamed," Booker has carved a
unique place for himself that can never be replaced or augmented by
artificial
means. Or, can it?
As he and
Sam venture
into unknown territory, they become increasingly ensnared in a plot
that ranges
from hacking into police feeds to making the Solis Corporation a
powerful
entity impossible to control or harness.
The goal is
to
artificially induce the next phase of Mankind, injecting him into a
utopian world...for
a price. It's a price Booker and Sam deem too expensive to pay as their
probe
results in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in a thriller setting that
blends AI
functions, dystopian themes, and intrigue.
Brian Gates does an outstanding job of
making this milieu come to life through the eyes of a policeman who
just wants
to live his life with purpose and family support, but finds his ideals
and role
at odds with this new reality.
The story progresses with a form of Robin
Cook-style intrigue that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with
satisfyingly unpredictable twists and turns throughout.
As the real personas, intentions, and
challenges of both Booker and Solis emerge, readers are treated to a
gripping
series of clues and keys that Booker must unlock if he ever has hopes
of seeing
his family again. These keys lead him straight into a dangerously
altered
world.
How inconsiderate the world is, to go on in
the face of such a threat! And how savvy Booker must be, to thwart a
force he'd
never imagined as being a part of his present life and possible future.
Gripping, involving, and powered by fierce
characters who don't quit, Project Renaissance: White Wings will
simply delight readers of dystopian worlds and intrigue who will find
the
thriller and sci-fi components to be powerfully compelling.
Return to Index
A Restaurant
in Jaffa
Mark E Sorenson
DartFrog Books
978-1-953910-04-2
$16.99
Paper/$8.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Restaurant-Jaffa-Mark-Sorenson-ebook/dp/B08XY65N96
Readers of
cyberthrillers and international espionage will relish the fast-paced
tension
and action in A Restaurant in Jaffa.
The story
opens with
Ryan Thompson's attendance at a BlackHat Convention of computer hackers
and
geeks, whose hobbies are locating and exploiting computer system
vulnerabilities. Ryan may be a computer prodigy, but he's not a hacker.
He's
founded a computer company, and is there to meet with a potential
reseller to
save his failing business.
A group of
Palestinian revolutionaries have hacked into and are using his
brilliant system
for their nefarious purposes, leaving Ryan's reputation sullied, and so
he embarks
on an effort to clear his name.
Arab and
Israeli
forces and interactions are represented in the quirky little restaurant
of Al
Hadyag, where disparate groups of individuals gather to blow off steam
and
socialize. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict comes to life in both a
personal
and a political manner through the restaurant, which also sets this
story apart
from general thrillers that too often don't take the time to focus on
social
and cultural interactions.
The
descriptions that
emerge from the kitchen and surrounding environment of Al Hadyag are
particularly well done: "The cool
sea breeze was a welcome respite from the steaming hot kitchen of Al
Hadyag. Hanging on the slopes
of old Jaffa,
the HaPisgah Gardens faced the Mediterranean, its surface interrupted
only by
waves crashing over Andromeda’s rock, a singular stone edifice just
offshore.
Other than the occasional call of a seagull and the sounds of the
waves, it was
quiet. Hassan waited for Fariq in their usual spot, the very same spot
Hassan’s
father used to bring him to when he was young." These bring
to life the
atmosphere of the Middle East, adding personal touches that imbibe the
story's suspense
components with a solid sense of place and peoples: "The
large round table in the corner of Al Hadyag was strewn with
the remains of the meal Hassan had served his friends and Jamal and
Ahmad’s
Uncle Kasim. The restaurant’s mountainous dishes of couscous, lamb,
fish and
potatoes were far superior than anything Kasim could find in his home
in
Gaza."
The notes on
how this
restaurant fields local political struggles and discretely offers
special
dishes to special guests helps solidify its role in the community and
its
appeal to a diverse clientele.
Mark E
Sorenson does
an excellent job of crafting a creative, globe-trotting yarn that
sweeps the
main characters and readers off their feet. Its political interactions,
terrorist threats, technological challenges, and interactions are
intriguing
and unpredictable.
Fans of
cyberthrillers won't be disappointed in the world-changing arena of A Restaurant in Jaffa, which is gripping
and hard to put down.
Return to Index
Ruby Falls
Deborah Goodrich Royce
Post Hill Press
978-1642937091
$27.00
Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Falls-Deborah-Goodrich-Royce/dp/1642937096
Ruby Falls is
a psychological thriller that revolves around a young actress. Much
like in the classic Rebecca, Eleanor finds that
her
new husband isn't the man she had thought, and the clues that begin to
add
horror into her life form the foundation of a story that is
compellingly
intriguing as two individuals with hidden aspects to their pasts come
to terms
with an uncertain result from their union.
In addition
to the building mystery, Ruby
Falls is adept at
chronicling the dysfunctional relationship between a husband and
wife: Eleanor. “Orlando
cuts me off
sharply and then laughs a little as he continues, ’I said I have it
covered.
You might try listening.’ I study his face, trying to connect
the look in
his eyes with his laughter. ‘I’m sorry, darling,’ he
says. ‘You were
just prattling on and not really paying attention. I told you I have it
covered. You don’t need to worry.’ I suppose he means to
telegraph to me
that the conversation is over.”
As Eleanor begins
to uncover the foundations
of Orlando’s attitude, approach to life, and the effect of
his presence and absence alike, she draws ever
closer to a life that
assumes a spooky similarity to that of Rebecca’s. She is cast in a
Hollywood
production of the classic story and finds her life becoming an eerie
mirror to
the protagonist's discoveries and trials...albeit in a storybook
cottage
setting in the Hollywood Hills.
Los Angeles's atmosphere is
drawn as realistically and
engrossingly as that of Rebecca's Manderley as
Eleanor finds herself
not only in legal trouble, but investigating what happened
to her cat-crazy neighbor Dottie Robinson, who was
born in the house
in 1907, and whose presence is both a compelling and a threatening
force in her
life.
Orlando's personality is
changing. So is Eleanor's. And
the juxtaposition of the two forces is on a trajectory for a clash that
will
expose long-held secrets and threaten a discovery like none
other.
Deborah Goodrich Royce does
an outstanding job of
creating a contemporary parallel story that connects Rebecca and Ruby
Falls. Fans of DuMaurier's classic will find in
Royce's story an
intriguing blend of mystery and revelation as
strongly steeped in
psychological undertones as the original
classic.
This contemporary
literary thriller is highly
recommended reading for those who like gothic stories infused with
psychological tension and introspection. It is
especially recommended for classes
studying Rebecca, who
will find its contemporary contrast
and current-day doppelganger
in Ruby Falls.
The tale exposes the fine
paradox between magic, family
ties, and the boundaries of what is real and what is not: "Once I started
filming—you don’t know what is real or fake right now, but the movie
was real,
I assure you." So is the outstanding
tension and surprise
conclusion.
Return to Index
Shades
of
Silence
Liz Lazarus
Mitchell Cove
Publishing LLC
978-0990937456
$14.95 Paper/$5.95 ebook
Author website: www.lizlazarus.com
Paperback:
www.bit.ly/sosbyliz
Kindle: www.bit.ly/sosbylizkindle
Nook: www.bit.ly/sosbyliznook
Readers
will
find Shades of Silence a sober, involving story
that grips the heart and
mind with its tense tale.
The
story opens
with a news report about a missing Ormond Beach pilot and
restaurateur's plane.
This segues into the first-person observation of Julianna Sandoval, who
has
just closed her restaurant for the night, only to receive a mysterious
visitor
who is killed before her eyes...and before she can transmit a message
of warning.
In
the homicide
investigation that ensues, Julianna finds herself drawn into a world
she'd
previously been unaware of. Detective Grant, too, finds his latest
homicide
case much more complex than he'd realized, one that leads him in
unexpected
directions.
As
the story
unfolds between their two perspectives and moves from the missing
Michael,
Julianna's husband, to a murder investigation that turns up secrets
about the
restaurant's chef, bartender, and others on the periphery of the case
and
business, an engrossing set of circumstances keeps readers guessing and
involved.
As
Julianna
learns about conversations between Michael and his son that challenge
everything she thinks she knows, Detective Grant becomes even more
involved in
the unfolding secrets that lead them all into a world of danger.
Another
strong
point to this story are the graphic descriptions of victim experiences
and how
sex trafficking changes their lives: "I shut my eyes and
resigned
myself to the fact that this was my life now. In some way, I felt that
I
deserved it because I’d run away. I became complacent, and my will to
fight
back was gone. I believed the only value I had as a human being was the
use of
my body for sex."
Readers
who have
prior familiarity with such scenarios may find these candid discussions
difficult, but their realistic contents add elements of truth to the
tale that
makes it all the more absorbing for its roots in real circumstances
that often
affect different members in a community.
The
result is a
murder mystery with a social message that will keep readers engaged,
engrossed,
and involved to the end. It's a story of one woman's dangerous
involvement in
the consequences of a homicide investigation. The plot grows to embrace
questions of how grief and loss are absorbed and reflected into daily
life, and
how communities and individuals can draw together to identify and
change evil
forces in their lives.
All
these
subplots and facets make Shades of Silence a
hard-hitting tale, indeed.
Return to Index
Stand Up for Bastards
Caleb Mason
Amika Press
978-1-937484-98-9
$17.95
www.amikapress.com
Stand Up for
Bastards is a new novel
by Caleb Mason, a Los Angeles defense attorney and
former prosecutor. The
narrator is a
private investigator and former police officer named Marcus Heaton. The story opens with
Marcus playing the
clarinet in Central Park, while remembering
a fight from his days as a cop.
Marcus’s own history of violence and corruption are
mirrored in the
complicated case he gets drawn into.
Marcus finds himself moving from New York to L.A. in
search of elusive
answers and witnesses as he draws the attention of both state and
federal
prosecutors.
Marcus is a savvy
investigator, and tells the story with
a gritty sense of realism about law firms, clients, and street-level
detective
work. The story is
steeped in astute
observations seen through Marcus's eyes: "The ex-cops get the legwork. Walking a
neighborhood canvassing for witnesses. Surveillance on workers’ comp
scams.
Domestic stuff, regular snooping. And security. There’s always work
standing
around looking tough. Lord knows I had done enough of it. We all did.
It was
just free, beautiful money. My theory of private security is that it’s
mostly
just another version of the suit or car or Rolex. Just another way to
shout
that you can pay for something shiny and expensive and useless. And
there were
plenty of celebrities who picked their security staff for sex. Which
was fine,
too, if you were into that sort of stuff."
Caleb Mason captures the
milieu of a complicated case and
an investigator who is tested not just by the perps, but also by the
political
intrigues of his employer and client.
Readers will find the tense
action and cat-and-mouse
games to be thoroughly engrossing and unpredictable to the end, as the
intersection of crime and politics pushes the investigator to his
limits.
Stand
Up For
Bastards is a detective novel that embraces the atmosphere
and streets of
West and East coasts alike and tells a powerful story about the
“informal side
of law enforcement" with a compelling swagger.
Highly recommended for fans of detective
fiction.
Return to Index
Whispers: An American
Legend
Bonné Bartron
Independently
Published
979-8693420434
$24.99 Hardcover;
$12.99 Paper; $7.99 Kindle
Website: www.whispersbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-American-Legend-Bonne%60-Bartron/dp/B08KH2KDGR
Whispers: An American Legend opens with
five-year-old Lucy Ann
Talbet, a "fairy of a human being" who is playing hide and seek in
the old Talbot colonial mansion with her brother Jeffrey when disaster
strikes.
Mister Tasty Treats has lured her into the woods beyond the family
home. The
disaster reverberates until it comes to rest in another time, when
three
sisters find their dream vacation turned into a nightmare.
Whispers is a unique story of social and
family danger that reaches
into disparate lives with a powerful threat by Mister Tasty Treats. The
kidnapper has struck again, taking Stacey's eight-year-old niece. Only
this
time, he has to contend with Stacey's prowess and determination, as
well as her
savvy about modern approaches to problem-solving and devices such as
the
internet.
Stacey
encounters a
group that has been hunting this perp for four years, but she's not
impressed
by the kind of help it offers her: "I
just blurted out, “Hunting an abductor of children long after the
missing kid
is grown-up and still not solving the thing? That doesn’t inspire much
confidence. You ever find anyone?” I couldn’t believe how direct I was
being.
It wasn’t like me to provoke instead of coax. I think I was just over
the
bullshit at that point."
Does it help
if the
victims are found alive, many years later? Does it help if women's'
experiences
aren't believed or publicized? As Stacey delves deeper into the
mystery, a
strange truth emerges that challenges her ideals of justice and the
reality and
myth of Mister Tasty Treats, who turns out to have long roots reaching
back to
1910.
Readers who
like
stories of investigation, horror, and a family challenged by history
and
present-day events and attitudes will find Whispers
a surprising blend of not just horror, but satirical social inspection
and
political commentary.
Those who
choose Whispers expecting the usual
staid
supernatural thriller will find that it evolves from a typical
kidnapping
scenario into a brand of special inspection that may stymie those who
expected
a one-dimensional entertainment piece. It's not.
It's a
treatise on
women's changing roles and strengths in the world, it cultivates an
uncanny
ability to pose uncomfortable truths in the guise of a thriller, and
its
engaging examination of different social truths and realities, both
political
and personal, create a dynamic story that is anything but a ghost tale
or
thriller alone.
The mystery
powers
the explorations of women in distress who are strong and savvy enough
to take
charge of their own destinies in unexpectedly astute, original ways.
Whispers is highly recommended reading
for women (and men) who like
unexpected twists and turns, sometimes-uncomfortable social insights,
and a
mystery that creates the backdrop for social inspection at an
unexpected level.
Whispers won't be for everyone;
especially those who anticipated a
thriller or supernatural tale alone. Those who enjoy plots that begin
with
seemingly predictable genre elements, only to evolve into inspections
of
corruption, racial inequality, and social issues, will find this story
wide-ranging, unexpected, and delightfully thought-provoking.
Return to Index
The Apple
King
Barbara Anne King
Cypress Point Press
978-1733536950
$16.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Apple-King-Barbara-Anne/dp/1733536957
Readers of
historical
fiction centered around World War I will find The
Apple King a powerful story that winds 1881
immigrant Nikola Markovich’s secret and a
journey to a new life in America with events that bring him full circle
back to
Croatia, where he confronts the past and his future.
From
Nikola's
poverty-stricken European heritage and his success in the apple
industry in the
new country to a legacy that draws him back into a world stuck in a
bygone era,
there to confront his failures, successes, and opportunities for
redemption,
Barbara Anne King paints a gripping portrait of Europe, America, and
one man's
pivot points.
As
generations of
patriotic pride in the Croatian city of Ragusa influence Nikola's
choices and
lend to his decisions to reclaim his heritage, the milieu of a world
teetering
on the edge of war comes alive through his perceptions and experiences.
What Nikola
finds
when he returns is an uneducated country that has made little headway
out of
poverty under the Austrian Regime. The next generation who would have
fought
for it has left for bigger promises. Nikola's return portends many big
changes
not just for him, but for the countries he loves, which share the
common value
of freedom.
To many in
his new
home, Nikola is "...just another Croat seeking his fortune in
California." As readers move through Nikola's experiences with fellow
immigrants from different countries, his connections to his homeland
and his
newfound successes in America, and the ties which draw him back to his
roots,
they receive a powerful saga steeped in European and American history
and
culture at the turn of the century.
Barbara Anne
King's
ability to intersect the personal ideals, secrets, dreams, and
struggles of
Nikola's life with bigger-picture thinking about liberty and the
choices of
individuals and nations alike provides historical novel readers with
the
opportunity to understand many influences on World War I's prewar
milieu.
Those who
seek
insights on Croatian culture, in particular, will relish all the
details of a
world which too rarely receives much in-depth exploration.
From
Serbia's dream
of a Slav empire (shared by other Slav countries, including Croatia)
and the end
result of its victory in the Balkan Wars to the struggle to "seize the
moment before it flees," King crafts a satisfying juxtaposition between
political events and personal struggle as the story evolves.
There are no
singular
or simple perspectives here. From the complicated relationships between
immigrants from different countries to the evolution of California's
lucrative
apple industry, King gives examples of all kinds of growth on many
different
levels.
The Apple King is a compelling saga of
struggle between
generations, countries, political objectives, and social
transformation. It
brings readers into a compelling situation and the life of a young man
challenged economically, morally, and ethically by many hard decisions
in a
fast-changing world.
Return to Index
Bedside
Matters
Richard Alther
Rare Bird Books
9781644281635
$26.00 Hardcover/$11.49 Kindle
www.rarebirdlit.com
In the novel
Bedside Matters, Walter is literally
at
the end of the line. He's not only reviewing his life's trajectory up
to this
concluding act, but he's considering his family ties, his ambitions,
and the
process of letting go. This forms the heart of a story that is firmly
based in
how a man used to being in charge lets loose of the things he cannot
control...death being at the top of his current list.
Readers
interested in
stories of family intrigue, connections, and literary influences and
lessons on
how to take the next steps beyond life itself will find Bedside
Matters a special blend of ethereal and spiritual
reflection. It reviews the conundrums of a man who finds his life
cinching ever
tighter as it draws to a close.
It asks a
powerful
question ("...what else is there, with no future?") and probes how
his relationships change as his body deteriorates—even that with his
ex, Polly,
who is by his side even now: "Their
boundary lines from each other have been well established and long
respected.
But she is absorbing this like surrendering one’s aching body to a hot
bath."
Readers may
not
expect the humor, or the additional of LBGTQ, sexuality, and gender
issues,
that are present in the story of a gruff curmudgeon in his last days of
life;
but Richard Alther considers family ties and bonds in more than one
way. This
approach creates a delightful interplay between various pieces of the
end-of-life puzzle that increasingly lead Walter to turn over the reins
of his
life to those who attend him.
Part of
getting ready
to move on involves an attitude change about his life and his role in
it: "...he is becoming increasingly alone
even with faithful Rufe plus various people poking about, Irma
included. This
is good, he is thinking. I’m getting ready. It’s getting close. Soon
I’ll have
had all the rehearsal one could hope for. And then the show must go on.
You say
you are about ready; he addresses himself, but meanwhile you manage to
concoct
one amusement after another."
Fiction
readers
interested in an ethereal story that includes increasing disability,
the loss
of independence and self-reliance, and the challenge of saying goodbye
in a
meaningful way will find Bedside Matters an
unexpected journey merging mind, body and soul towards a new
perspective on
life and those left behind.
It's an
evocative
tale that takes one man's evolution a step further into the unknown,
and will
delight readers with its story of the legacy of a man who moves from
participant to observer in his life.
Return to Index
The
Bethlehem Boy
Linda
Long Radosevich
Independently Published
979-8607920456
$19.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Bethlehem-Boy-Linda-Long-Radosevich/dp/B084DG7LN6
The
Bethlehem Boy is a historical fiction
piece
about Jesus, but Linda Long Radosevich provides a cautionary note at
the start:
it "...intentionally expresses my
personal faith in who and what Jesus of Nazareth was." As
such, this
tale involves personal interpretation and poetic license not designed
to be
authoritative, but embracing, warm, and revealing.
Readers
of Christian fiction will relish a fictional focus on the young Jesus
and how
he grew up, what his influences in the world were, and how he stepped
into his
role as a spiritual leader in a world fraught with political and social
unrest.
Even
before Jesus appears on the scene, Radosevich demonstrates a prowess in
bringing the times and its peoples to life through strong dialogue that
weaves
social and political observations into daily lives operating at
different
levels of society: "Simon changed
the subject and asked the two Pharisees, “What do you know about the
brilliant
star?” “Ah, the star.” Nicodemus cleared his throat. “I’ve searched the
Scriptures as you asked. The Prophet Daniel spoke of leaders of justice
being
like the stars forever. Therefore, so new and so bright a star may well
indicate the birth of a future leader of justice or perhaps a great
prophet.”
Nicodemus hesitated. “Or perhaps a king.” A loud groan issued from
Simon’s
chest. “For everyone’s sake, don’t tell Herod about any future king.
He’ll
assume a challenger to his dynasty is being born. Thank you, though,
for that
information. God be with you.”
Also
astute are the representations of a young boy's life as he survives
terrible
onslaughts and is accused by peers of being a teacher's pet, among
other
things: “What did you call him?” an older
classmate asked. “Bethlehem Boy,” shot out Baruch with disdain,
“because he
thinks God let him alone escape Herod’s slaughter.” Jesus looked
confused. “I
never said or even thought that,” he told the small group gathering
around.
Moshe immediately looked to Sam and realized the secret he’d shared
hadn’t been
kept. Sam’s guilty expression confirmed so. “I heard otherwise,” Baruch
contradicted. “You think you’re so special, and you act special, too.
That’s
why you’re the rabbi’s favorite.”
The general
sentiment among the boys is
that nothing good has ever come from Bethlehem. Though Jesus represents
something different, being different isn't necessarily embraced;
especially in
hard times where ritual and familiarity supersede new ideas, people,
and
events.
As Radosevich
unfolds Jesus's life,
readers are treated to a
powerful story that also embraces the changing lives of his parents,
who never
thought they'd be part of a Son of God's upbringing and world, and who
face
losing him in more than one way: She
wondered, though, what such a powerful influence might portend, and if
it might
take Jesus away from her again. “He did say it was his Father’s
business,”
Joseph reminded her. “Perhaps he senses—” “No, he couldn’t possibly,”
responded
Mary, knowing perfectly well what Joseph had been about to say. “So
let’s not
speak of this again, please. Not to my parents either. It’ll encourage
them to
promote Jesus as a rabbi, and he may not want to become one.” Or maybe you don’t want him to become one,
thought Joseph. Maybe you prefer a
carpenter son who’ll always stay near you in Nazareth.
Joseph turned
over and closed his eyes. He wasn’t about to disagree with Mary, who,
he
realized, had probably been traumatized over losing Jesus a second
time. To his
thinking, any mother would panic over a missing son, but no mother but
Mary
would have to panic about losing God’s
son. Therefore, he easily forgave her for wanting Jesus
close."
Christian
readers interested in a different,
more personal take on Jesus's childhood, upbringing, and evolution
(both
spiritually and politically) will find The
Bethlehem Boy rich in interpretative details
that probe the perceptions and evolution not just of Jesus, but his
family and
friends.
The
discussions possible from this approach and warm review should be
welcomed by
any Christian looking for a broader inspection of Jesus's life than
most
fictional works adopt.
Return to Index
Bright
Christine Melchior
Christine Melchior, Publisher
978-0578863832
$12.99 paperback; $4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Christine-Melchior/dp/0578863839/
Readers of women's fiction
will receive a treat with
Christine Melchior's Bright, a
story
that opens in 1983 in Massachusetts, where twelve-year-old Leeann
Bright
observes a fire and her father running from it.
Fast forward to 1998. Leeann
works in a Boston high-rise
and faces the lingering aftereffects of her father's involvement in the
blaze
when new information breaks open the arson case.
As the timeline fluctuates
between the 80s and Leeann's
coming of age and new adult challenges, readers receive an engrossing
story of
the impact of adult decisions on a child's psyche and its reemergence
in
adulthood.
Christine Melchior is at her
best when describing the
aftereffects of this choice: "Leeann
woke in the middle of the night on a sweat-soaked sheet. Panic tightened her chest. She sat up, trying to
catch her breath. She
had lied to the police and that was a
crime. She broke
the law. People get
arrested for lying to the
police. They get
prosecuted. She
could end up in jail or juvenile hall for
a long time. She
took deep breaths
trying to relax and clear her mind.
Her
eye caught a patch of blue and yellow paisley patterned wallpaper,
dimly lit by
her night-light. When
she squinted, she
saw sea urchins with monster heads floating across the wall."
She also excels at crafting
a long-ranging story that
follows Leeann's confrontation with her mother, her father's journey,
and the
long-term consequences of a choice that changes a family's trajectory
and life.
From an anonymous note years
later that reopens old
wounds to the progression of years from age 12 and upwards which
contrast with
the now-adult Leeann's struggles, Melchior's
story is poignant, realistic,
engrossing, and follows the newly challenged connections between a
child and
her parents through the years as everything changes: "Under
normal circumstances the day would have left Leeann feeling
pumped. She was
heading to Boston
University with a four-year scholarship a few days before Labor Day to
live in
a high-rise dorm with its view of the Boston skyline.
She walked onto the stage to the cheers of
her softball teammates. She
should have
had a glow on her face. The
principal
handed her a diploma, that piece of parchment releasing her from
childhood,
launching her into adulthood, but all she thought of was her mother,
who had
wanted to live long enough to witness this day."
Can Leeann rebuild her own
life against the forces that
moved her from childhood too early? Bright
is a compelling study of this process. It is highly recommended as a
coming-of-age
story of moral and ethical struggle and growth, and is a riveting
inspection of
intention and consequences.
Women's
fiction readers will find Bright
thoroughly engrossing.
Return to Index
Decanted
Linda Sheehan
Black Rose Publishing
9781684337033
$19.95 paper/$6.95 ebook
Decanted:
Sheehan, Linda: 9781684337033: Amazon.com: Books
Decanted's story opens in Paris in 1936,
where middle-aged artist
Marciel struggles to capture the woman's form in a modeling session,
but lacks
inspiration. The story then moves to modern-day New York. Here,
discussion
during a wine tasting at Spence’s Fines Wines & Spirits turns
to first-person
protagonist Samantha Goodyear's great-aunt, who was a model, rebel, and
wine
appreciator in Paris right before the war, eventually moving to the
U.S. to
continue exploring her passion for fine wine and culture.
Samantha has
inherited much from her spunky aunt's attitude towards life, working
long hours
as an accountant in the online sales world of Weatherhouse towards
goals that
suddenly feel elusive.
Admonished
to
"enjoy her ride" though life as her aunt did, Samantha embarks on a
sea change when Paris reaches out to her in a different way, fueled by
the dual
lure of wine and romance.
As Samantha
embarks
on a journey that reveals her aunt's hidden history and her own
connections to
wine and modeling, she learns much about aging beautifully. Her journey
from
Manhattan to Paris and then to a job working with a winery in
California leads
to a new role and discoveries that change everything.
Fans of
romance and
wine will find plenty of both steeped in Samantha's evolutionary
process as she
moves from past to present and rubs elbows with major players in
California's
wine industry. The lap of luxury and culture is explored as she makes a
new
life for herself and realizes new ambitions and goals far from the type
of
success she'd already built in New York.
Fans of
women's
fiction will find the flavor of this read more full-bodied than a
romance,
embracing career and growth as much as it embraces the wine industry
and
Samantha's mercurial explorations of life.
Decanted is highly recommended reading
for those interested in the
intersection of traditional women's roles and newfound passion that
lies beyond
marriage, presenting an amazing journey that links them both. Fueled by
wine,
grapes, and personal growth, its lively, realistic tone engagingly
juxtaposes
the cultures of France, New York, and California in satisfyingly
realistic
detail.
Return to Index
Eddie's Boy
Robert Schwab
Warren Publishing
978-1-7358600-1-5
$18.95
paper, $4.95 ebook
www.warrenpublishing.net
Eddie's
Boy is
a literary survey of family ties and healing. It opens in 2007, when "Dr. Landon Ratliff’s fortieth birthday
had been lost, thwarting everyone’s expectations, including his own." An
accident has changed the course of his life, resulting in a head injury
and a
shattered thumb. On the surface, this appears to be a recoverable
incident.
However, like ripples in a
pond, his healing sends
undercurrents of change through his life, from his relationship with
Luna Quinn
to changes in his ability to help and teach others.
As Landon's healing moves
beyond immediate trauma to
embrace issues of a past he'd never successfully confronted, his
journey
becomes one of reestablishing connections on more than one level—and in
more
than one life.
His medical leave from his
former passions, including
teaching, begins to offer him new opportunities, and Landon discovers
himself
on a trajectory in which nothing of value is protected, certain, or,
oftentimes, even appealing.
Robert Schwab does a fine
job of exploring a healing
process that changes everything. As Luna joins his journey into his
past and
family relationships, readers are treated to a story of reconciliation
and
transformation that offers an enlightening, thought-provoking story.
The focus on how long-held
family relationships and
patterns are revised on all sides is particularly nicely done, and will
especially attract psychology students and readers interested in how a
commitment to doing the right thing goes awry in Eddie's life,
Landon's, and
others.
Eddie's real legacy turns
out to give readers pause for
thought as they absorb the lasting impact of life and death decisions
on a
son's ability to love and embrace life. Perhaps more than anything,
this is the
shining light in a story that moves through Landon and Luna's world and
what it
means to be part of a family.
Literary readers who enjoy
novels about pivot points in
life that lead characters in new directions will appreciate Eddie's Boy, which comes full circle to
lead an esteemed doctor to heal himself, opening up his life to new
possibilities and the warm embrace of a different depth of love.
Return to Index
Falling Forward, a Woman's
Journey West
Pat Benedict Jurgens
Purple Pine Publishing
978-0-578-70157-8
$15.95 paper; $6.99 Kindle eBook
Website: www.patjurgens.com
Ordering link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/057870157X/
Falling
Forward, a
Woman's Journey West is coming-of-age literary fiction at its
best and
follows the saga of seventeen-year-old Louisa, a Mennonite farm girl
living in
1890s Ohio.
Her dreams of travel and
adventure seem impossible when
her mother dies in childbirth, leaving her to care for her younger
siblings as
her father struggles to keep the farm running.
When he hires Thomas, an
outsider to the Faith, to help
on the farm, Louisa finds everything changed not just by her attraction
to him,
but the differences between her strict Mennonite upbringing and the
challenges
he poses to them as an outsider with very different beliefs and
perspectives on
life and God.
When her loving father
agrees to their union, Louisa and
Thomas thus begin their own journey, making many discoveries about
themselves
and each other along the way. They are challenged to create a life
together in
a community that has shunned them.
Pat Benedict Jurgens brings
the times to life, as well as
introducing the foundations of a Mennonite household and its Germanic
heritage.
Her attention to detail includes dialogue between father and daughter
which
captures these foreign flavors while keeping the story understandable: “I haf lost face in de church, but still haf
my daughter. Vith a strong-headed girl like you, dat is victory.” She
looked up
with an uncertain smile, but didn’t say anything. “Nineteen years you
are, a
voman grown, and one who knows her own mind.” Louisa’s fingers stopped
sewing
to take in his words: “I hope it nein vill land you in too much
trouble.”
When yet another tragedy
strikes, the headstrong and
determined Louisa is challenged to continue her foray into the world
alone: "...outdoors in the natural world,
grass along the walk greened, crocuses and then daffodils pushed their
way up
from the earth. The scent of earth and early blossoms permeated the
air.
Looking at the buds on the big cottonwood tree in the yard, Louisa saw
the
world awakening. Gradually she began to feel that life was for living."
Jurgens adds many
observations about women's roles during
this era, in these wild places and times: "A
woman’s livelihood hinged on either having a husband or enough money
to be independent." But Louisa is not the kind of woman to
remain
quietly true to her assigned role even as a bank president stymies her
proposal: “I don’t doubt your capability,
Miss. And I admire your enthusiasm, but starting a business is a man’s
job. If
your husband were alive, I doubt that he’d agree to your ambitions. I
understand you need to make a living, but perhaps something you could
do at
home would be more seemly. A store run by a woman? Pardon me, but a
man’s head
for commerce is needed for an endeavor of this magnitude.”
Readers who anticipate the
journey of another pioneer
girl will find this coming-of-age story offers so much more as Louisa's
ventures in the West evolve from travel to business to enter another
forbidden
circle, politics, which brings with it a blossoming women's suffrage
movement.
All these elements are
presented in a warm, involving
story that is a delight to read. The personal growth of a homebody and
feisty
girl into a determined woman who falls into a role of advocating for
social
change is well done and compelling.
Women's fiction readers who
seek more than adventure
alone will welcome Louisa's story of social, political, and personal
transformation.
Return to Index
Incentives
George Franklin
FPA Books
9781733444422
$14.95
www.GeorgeFranklinAuthor.com
Incentives:
The
Holy Water of Free Enterprise may sound like a business book
or a
motivational self-help piece, but it's a humorous novel that spoofs and
looks
at the motivators for economic development and the intersection between
politics and rogue actions. It offers a tongue-in-cheek survey of
public
policy, business special interests, and considers the
often-questionable
incentives that drive both.
One of George Franklin's
objectives was for his readers
to "...have a good laugh and be completely entertained from page to
page
through each character's storyline." This goal is met through the
stories
of two rednecks who insert themselves into a multi-billion-dollar
industry
thanks to government aid, with ribald results. But the story holds more
than
comedic observation alone.
Also embedded in this saga
is a set of cultural mishaps
and investigations, tongue-in-cheek commentary on male and female
relationships
and roles both within and outside the business world, legal entities
and
political entanglements, and more.
The rogues aren't just the
rednecks who find themselves
in new and unpredictable circumstances, but the social structures and
politics
which surround their rise to power and their newfound objectives.
Carl Hiaasen fans,
especially, should take note; because
the approaches, characters, and ironic situations that swirl throughout
the story
are reminiscent of his works, as well as a good Christopher Moore spoof.
Readers warned about the
novel's humor might find
unexpected the business, political, and social food for thought
embedded in the
ruckus—but it's there, and is a nice contrast to the inherently fun
nature of
the read.
Readers looking for
something original, sassy, and
intriguing will find Incentives: The Holy
Water of Free Enterprise defies easy or pat categorization as
its
characters embark on paradigm-changing romps through business and
social
milieus alike.
Return to Index
The
Limits of
Limelight
Margaret Porter
Gallica Press
9780990742012
$14.95 (print) $5.99 (ebook)
Author website: www.margaretporter.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
The Limits of
Limelight is a Hollywood novel
about the cousin of Ginger Rogers, Helen Nichols,
who finds a different kind of opportunity in the town when her cousin
invites
her to become successful in the new motion picture business that is
rapidly
evolving.
The
Oklahoma
teen comes to "talkie town" set for success, between her famous
cousin's invitation, the possibility of a contract, and her new name
(Phyllis
Fraser). What she doesn't bring with her is an understanding of the
undercurrents of 'tinsel town' and its ability to crush the dreams and
aspirations of the inexperienced.
Her
chaperon and
aunt, Lela Rogers, also has stars in her eyes and her own agenda for
personal
success. This affects her relationships with her daughter Ginger and
her niece.
As
the females
face a male-dominated film industry that is ruthless its money-driven
approach
to life, each changes and faces challenges to her dreams that forces a
revised
picture of Hollywood's allure and opportunities for women.
Their
relationships grow (as does the sense of family connection) from these
experiences: "Was Ginger going to ask her to move in? She’d
grown so
attached to Anne and Mimi Shirley. What’s more, she was reluctant to
return to
that place she’d previously occupied, deep within the shadow cast by
the
outrageously talented and enormously popular movie star."
As
each is
transformed by hobnobbing with other stars, handling new wealth and its
promise
of more, and dealing with Hollywood's social and political environment,
The
Limits of Limelight does a fine job of capturing family
relationships
affected by the backdrop of opportunity (either real or illusionary).
Based
on the
true journey of Helen Maurine Brown Nichols (best remembered as Phyllis
Fraser
Cerf Wagner), this story's progressive examination of the price of
success and
a young girl's entry into an industry notorious for prosperity and
romance
provides an engrossing glimpse into a bygone era and the forces
affecting a
young woman's evolution into her own abilities and adulthood.
Women
who like
stories of Hollywood and family ties will find The Limits of
Limelight
adds just the right blend of action to keep it vigorous and involving
to the
end. It's a story especially recommended for anyone interested in
Hollywood
history and affairs.
Return to Index
The Magician
Kathleen Shoop
Independently
Published
ASIN
: B08WFG2CCW
$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Magician-Donora-Story-Collection-Book-ebook/dp/B08WFG2CCW
The Magician is a sweeping historical
family saga that moves
between 1920 and 2019, tracing the heritage, birth, and growth of a
baseball
legend whose achievements change the Donora household. Before Stanisław
Franciszek Musiał steps into his destiny, however, a series of
mishaps (both
personal and social) pose seemingly insurmountable barriers to his
goals.
His story is
told by
92-year-old Patryk Rusek who, having been thwarted in his escape from a
retirement
community, decides to capture the magic of his family history for a
young boy,
which eventually expands to embrace other listeners. Rusek hoped that,
by
gathering these recollections, he would be deemed sane enough to return
to his
Donora, Pennyslvania home.
Donora is a
real
town, affected by the mills that became its lifeblood and by the
peoples whose
lives were changed and challenged by factory work. Kathleen Shoop
consulted
members of the Donora Historical Society to build authentic color into
her story,
which represents a fine blend of fictionalized lives and nonfiction
realities
and social issues. She also reviewed source materials about the legend
and life
of baseball player Stan Musial, injecting a background of solid history
and
biographical facts into the story.
Stan Musial
is a
baseball player deemed a "magician" by Rusek and everyone who knew
him. His magic stemmed as much from his attitude towards his abilities,
an
equally extraordinary way of overcoming seemingly insurmountable
obstacles to
achieve the impossible, and his kindness towards others as his skillful
playing.
As Shoop
delves into
his childhood, Donora history, and the events and elements that shaped
Musail's
life, readers receive a powerful story of the Depression, the
concurrent battle
Patryk faces over cancer, and the choices it brings to both his present
world and
connections with his family.
Perhaps the
greatest
strength to Shoop's story lies in its evocative descriptions of not
just Stan's
life and relationships, but the inner logic of his thoughts. Her
ability to
bring these to life to explore Stan's progression through hard work,
family
crises, love, and baseball dreams alike lends a powerful flavor to the
book
that even non-sports readers will find absolutely compelling: "...when I bat and I’m looking at the
pitcher and everything just fades away, all the voices, the fielders,
my
doubts, and I feel the pitcher’s movement like it’s mine, and in the
back of my
mind I register the grip and see the ball come off his fingertips—but
that’s
not even what’s important; it’s what comes after all that stuff that I
concentrate on, and before the ball gets halfway to the plate I know
where it’s
gonna break or curve or drop, and I know whether to swing for short
left field
or smack one through the center right gap. And then I do. It’s not like
the
kind of thinking in algebra or making sure I don’t stammer or deciding
to try
college. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever
experienced. It’s like magic. It’s when I’m the most happy
I could ever be.”
These
moments of
fulfillment, happiness, and walking in the shoes of destiny drive this
story
and makes all its characters and their choices and trials realistic and
gripping.
Readers who
believe
that a prior interest in baseball or Donora history is a requirement
for
enjoying The Magician will be in
for
a surprise. All that's required is an open mind and heart. The magic
embedded
in the tale will do the rest.
Return to Index
Paris Secrets
Sean Vogel
MB Publishing
978-0-9850814-3-0
$9.95
www.mbpublishing.com
Paris
Secrets, the third novel in
the Jake McGreevy series,
combines a pun-filled culinary adventure in Paris, France,
with
a historical family mystery from World War
II. This is a
fast-paced tale of
intrigue that will appeal to middle
grade readers ages 10 and up.
The
stage is set
by a prologue that opens in German-occupied
Paris in 1942.
A courageous woman, forced to make difficult
decisions and employ
survival tactics during the war, must part
from her 11-year-old
daughter, Esther. Two fellow underground members will escort her south
to the
Free Zone in France. The woman packs a family photo with a cryptic note
written
on the back into her daughter's belongings
and jots down important information about Esther into an
already
jam-packed journal, next to the details about her two other daughters,
who had
been smuggled out of Paris earlier.
Fast forward
71
years. It's spring break in 2013, and
fifteen-year-old Jake and
his best friend Ben Meyers have just arrived in
Paris to participate
in a televised baking contest, run by the Le Cordon Bleu
cooking
school. When not being judged on their baklava and brioche,
they will
be digging into Jake's late mother's family's
past. A photo from
the 1940s with a mysterious note, which once belonged
to Jake's late
grandmother, is their only clue, but it's enough to
get them started.
With the
photo as
their guide, Jake and Ben begin their journey. After knocking
on a few
apartment doors, they meet Jake's cousin Sophie
and her grandmother,
Esther (Jake's great-aunt), who tells them about her mother's
special
mission in the 1940s and two journals. The four of them marvel at the
identical
photos. If the note on the back can
be deciphered, it will lead them to answers about Jake's
family
history—and so much more.
Soon,
Heather (a new
friend from the baking contest) and Sophie's friend Claire
(a Parisian
Catacombs expert) join their quest. Along the
way, contemporary
dangers emerge: Whom can the teens trust? And who is that shadowy
person
following them on a moped?
Readers
will find Paris Secrets an
outstanding read that requires
no prior familiarity with Jake McGreevy's first
two adventures, and they will be riveted by
this impactful story
about friendship and valor, past and present.
Return to Index
Saints and Martyrs
Aaron Roe
Atmosphere Press
978-1636495644
$18.99
Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://atmospherepress.com/books/saints-and-martyrs-novel-by-aaron-roe/
Saints
and Martyrs
follows protagonist Damian Kurt's determination to write his father's
story,
proving that he was a saint and that, therefore, Damian is in line to
become a
saint in heaven himself. This involves confessing his sins, handling
his overly-Catholic
mother, and recovering from an accident that leads him away from home
and the
prospect of becoming a religious figurehead, thanks to his mounting
list of
sinful ways.
The pursuit leads him to a
remote seminary which at first
seems ideal for following his goal of sainthood. However, it just goes
to show
that ideals of godliness are rarely achieved by those who aspire to
purity. As
Damian faces new challenges, the real challenge to his objectives
emerges in a
place of healing, wonder, and revelation.
Aaron Roe injects a wry
sense of humor into his
descriptions. Readers will find delight in the most common of
experiences, such
as Damian's ill-sought experiences during confession: "Dizzy,
he suddenly found himself leaning to the left. He swung
his torso in the opposite direction and almost fell through the
confessional
curtain and into the body of Canadian Martyrs. To steady himself he
gripped the
sides of the small, square window facing him. Through its
diamond-pattern
grating, Father Dennis slouched in a black cassock and purple stole.
With his
thick thumb and index finger, the priest pinched the ridge of his nose,
raising
his glasses to his forehead. Then he rubbed his eyes before resting his
cheek
on his fist. He seemed oblivious to Damian’s flailing."
The sense of place, purpose,
and people are cemented
throughout by such descriptions, which tap realistic scenarios but
present them
with a chuckle—perhaps because of their astute commentary on the
realities of
Catholic thinking: "He wanted to
confess his masturbation along with looking at the underwear model in
the
catalogue, but it was his practice, when confessing acts of lust, to
sandwich
them between other, less embarrassing sins."
Damian's ability to
transcend earthly challenges seems
doomed as Roe outlines his failures in even the most mundane of tasks: "Damian was fully awake now and
recalled Thoreau’s injunction to keep awake
“by an infinite expectation of the
dawn.” This infinite
expectation was, to Damian’s understanding, a perpetual
readiness to
re-approach life, adjust one’s worldview, and to daringly alter how you
spent
your days. Also, to ever hope afresh, to never dampen one’s outlook by
adopting
dull, outmoded, and conventional beliefs. Ultimately, to retain, as
Christ had
enjoined his followers, a childlike awe for nature’s beauty, for life’s
flowing
spring of surprises. And since today was just about to fully dawn, he
waded to
shore where, chilly and dripping, he realized he’d forgotten a towel
and fresh
underwear. If he dried himself with his old clothes, his stale, smelly
past
would cling to him just when he was about to sail forth into a fresh
future!"
The result is a
tongue-in-cheek romp into the ideals of
sainthood and godly behavior that will have readers both reflecting on
and
laughing at Damian's convoluted journey. Religious readers who think
they are
choosing a story about achieving a spiritual goal will find this story
of a
flawed character who strives for perfection to be funny,
thought-provoking, and
poignant as Damian tries to rid himself of his fears and the seminary's
increasingly crumbling façade of corruption, only to stumble into
unexpected
truths and a new vision of life.
It's a vocation story of
another order, entirely!
Return to Index
Standees
Robert Rubenstein
Independently Published
979-8579977748
$4.99 Paper; $2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/STANDEES-robert-Rubenstein/dp/B08T872QV8
The 2021
world
depicted in Standees holds the rare
attribute of simultaneously feeling both familiar and alien. This will
delight
readers of social satire and literary allusion, offering a close
inspections of
ironic and dark settings that provide a twist on perspectives of modern
society's oddities.
Take a walk
into
Lovee's world, where an elderly best friend has been reborn as
a
'standee'—a cardboard cutout of himself who represents a wave of undead
new
observers in a strange half-dead/half-alive milieu.
It's a
pandemic
setting which puts all kinds of relationships to the test. In this
world,
"love has run amuck," and has washed everything away. Lovee still
finds plenty to fear, despite his changed condition: "Now,
the lights in our apartment flickered. I best not move
forward. She held another unborn hostage in her womb. She had the power
of life
and death. The stillborn still breathed in our memories amidst the
gloom."
Standees is no straightforward
progression through the usual
pandemic scenario, but a surreal romp that juxtaposes inner and outer
worlds of
imagination and change: "At that
instant, my phone rang. The question posed had awakened a memory. I was
brought
again to that cold storage bin. A nurse was pulling me out of my
confines, as
if I were born again. “Hi honey.” It was Miraj. She sounded breathless.
“I
thought we could get together,” she said. Miraj, the nurse with her
bubble
butt, who extricated me. Her error put me in a body bag for the whole
world to
see. Her and her cohort, palpating my lip. How much more pain did I
need, in
the midst of a world pandemic? It was obscene."
Readers
familiar with
the usual logical progression of such a scenario may chafe at the
twisting,
turning, winding story line that ebbs and flows like the tide. Standees assumes not a linear
progression but the mercurial staccato images of a dream, intoxicating
in its
romp through images, underworlds, and the dark, stark reality of
newly-formed
standees who are corrugated coroplasts of their former selves.
Dip into a
stream of
consciousness style of narration in which Lovee is buffeted, abused,
changed;
the observer of a society transformed by pandemic and its own implosion
of
values: "Ruì’ān was being
brain-washed. How else to explain the rage? He was being programmed to
kill, or
to suicide by over-ingesting milk chocolatey frosted donuts. There were
many
ways to kill Americans those days."
It brings to
mind One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest;
but
Lovee is too often the participant as well as the observer of revised
survival
tactics and choices in this dreadfully altered world.
Prepare to
be amazed
and confused and delighted, all in one. Standees
is no light read, but carries its readers into the dissolution of
society and
self which seems both all too familiar and hauntingly surrealistic.
Literature
readers well used to the devices of satire and dark humor are in for a
treat,
as well as sci-fi or pandemic fiction audiences looking for a far more
thought-provoking
twist on the subject.
Return to Index
Tatar Storm
Tibor Gergely
Independently
Published
979-8649768399
$12.99 Paper/$7.40 Kindle
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Tatar-Storm-Mr-Tibor-Gergely/dp/B089M2CY4D
Website: www.heroesfromthepast.com
Historical
fiction
fans with a special interest in the Mongol era and medieval European
backdrops
will find a special treat in Tatar Storm—it's
the only fictional work to include all
the significant events of the
invasion.
The focus is on the grandson of
Genghis Khan,
Batu Khan, who has his sights set on ruling the entire European
continent. He
only made it to Hungary, where his rule changed the lives of its people
and led
to a firm rebellion that prevented him from achieving his broader goals.
One would expect such a story
to open in this
bygone era, but it begins in modern times, when a female archaeologist
arrives
on site to investigate an unexpected discovery during a construction
project.
An ornately carved, hidden door sporting the double seal
of Béla IV
leads to an ancient sealed box that holds a historical treasure: the
words of Detre, son of Máté,
who records in extraordinary detail the events which led he and his
fellow men to hole up in an old castle for nine months; starving, cold,
and
dreading the Tatar invaders who have decimated Hungary.
This introduction injects a
compelling
desperation into the story from the start that draws readers while
assuring
that no prior familiarity with the era or Hungarian history is needed
in order
to thoroughly access and enjoy this vivid account: "I
shall
write down all that I witnessed during this last year, when our
beautiful
flourishing country became filled with corpse-stinking air and littered
with
rotting ruins hither and yon, until the time is upon us, until Our
Lord's
judgment is fulfilled. My story started here, in this small castle by
river
Danube exactly a year ago, and how, as the king’s vassal I came to be
here, and
not, rather sharing the bitter bread of exile with my master, is all
explained
in the history of events recounted below…"
This preface
leads
into a story that attracts in two ways: though strong characters, and a
'you
are there' series of atmospheric descriptions that capture the sights,
sounds,
smells, and times: "The mounted
regiments, the heavy cavalry of the Knights Templar and Hospitaller
along with
the king`s own heavy cavalry and also the county`s light cavalry
brigades
camped on the left of the road leading to the city. The private
soldiers of the
aristocrats erected their tents to the right. There was an empty
square,
tram-pled flat and fenced in with barriers constructed by the squires,
where
their lords were passing the time jousting and practising dragoon
duelling. The
metallic clattering was constant, blade on blade, on shield, on armour."
From the
invaders'
underestimation of the power of the king and the determination of the
Hungarians to choose their own leader and destiny to the close
attention to
historical detail unparalleled in other stories of the times (according
to
author Tibor Gergely: "About two-thirds of the events
described in the novel actually happened. About 70% of the characters
in the
novel were real people. The novel also features details from original,
contemporary documents that fit perfectly into the story."),
this story is powerfully rendered. It will simply delight both
newcomers and seasoned readers familiar with the times, who well know
of the
gap in literature surrounding this important, little-covered era
(again, per
Gergely: "So far no novels or films
have been made about the events of the Mongol invasion in Hungary.").
The close attention to
historical detail alone
would have made this historical novel exceptional; but its ability to
draw in
those less familiar with the history blends accessibility with flair
for drama
that exquisitely captures the pathos, conflict, and tortuous social and
political changes that were the legacies of an invasion that almost
resulted in
genocide.
It's rare to find such a blend
of scholarly
detail spiced with compelling fictional proficiency. Tatar
Storm is a standout in many ways, and deserves a place as a
foundation piece in any historical fiction library, and on the shelves
of
readers who may or may not have a prior background or interest in
medieval
European history.
Return to Index
To Every
Page a
Turning
Carl Buccellato
Mascot Books
978-1-64543-522-8
$16.95
www.mascotbooks.com
To
Every Page a
Turning: One Life's Journey presents the transformative
fictional journey
of a seventy-seven-year-old narrator who reflects back on his life and
its
conflicts as he cleans out the memories of his past.
It is Florida, 2019. He is
prompted to undertake a
sentimental journey through the decades when he stumbles upon scribbled
pages
in a file. These bring him back to Vietnam, to a world of steamy
jungles, an eighteen-year-old
boy thrust into the work of military men, and a survival process which
results
in a long-term emotional cost: "...the
tears were buried deep within him, so deep he wondered if he could ever
really
feel again, or just go on pretending."
Religious beliefs and
sentiments aside, this young man
has developed coping mechanisms for war that continue to influence his
life
choices and attitudes during peacetime: "He
wondered, “Does anyone really know me? Can anyone see me below the
surface? Am
I alone in a world full of strangers?”
Somehow, he had always been a stranger, on the edge, waiting, judging,
watching, appearing to be on the inside smiling, joking, but that was
always
the mask for show. And once again he asked, “Is this the day, Lord?”
As the story moves from
war-torn jungles to his marriage
to Mary and his involvement in a twelve-step group, he learns new ways
of
engaging with a world he'd purposely disengaged from in order to
survive. This
process is engrossingly described, and readers receive inspections of
the
various means by which he confronts his past and present: "Sunday evening, he sat in the silence of his room,
pen in hand,
writing a letter to his late father and mother, finally able to speak
his heart
to them without condemnation and with acceptance."
To
Every Page a
Turning is a captivating novel of recovery and reflection
that will
especially reach readers who have their own wartime and military
experiences to
consider. Its journey of growth also reflects America's changing ideals
and
experiences as seen through the eyes of a young man who moves beyond
survival
tactics to adopt a new vision of the world and his place in it as an
adult.
These evolving social issues change his life completely, bringing him
full
circle to share his strengths, his weaknesses, and his joys in a new
way that
comes full circle.
Its
different take on the long-term aftermath of the
Vietnam War will involve and interest readers with a special interest
in a
lifetime of coming to terms with the past.
Return to Index
Town of
Angels
Jody Sharpe
Independently
Published
978-0988562004
$12.00 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Town-Angels-Mystic-Jody-Sharpe/dp/0988562006
Those who
believe in
the presence and influence of angels in everyday life will find the
third book
in the Mystic Bay series, Town of Angels,
an uplifting study in positivity. It blends a mystery with the story of
an
angel who takes on a bully in a small town where angels live as humans.
The town is
replete
with psychics and ordinary people. All live a bucolic life until bully
Klaus
Waxman comes to town and tries to change its psyche.
It's
difficult to
ignore his negativity and typecasting; especially when he opens a store
that
mocks the angel sightings the town knows to be true.
It's up to
Angel Ken
to lead the charge to thwart Klaus's influence.
As much as
this is a
story of angels and psychics, it's also a story of small-town life
affected by
an outsider bully's influence and approach, providing lessons not just
of a
spiritual nature, but on how to confront bullying and prejudice with a
gentler
perspective on life.
As faith
meets fear,
different points of view present dilemmas from a number of angles,
engaging readers
in more than a cursory examination of clashing belief systems.
The only
prerequisite
for enjoyment of this story is the ability to read about the presence
of angels
and their guidance of human affairs.
Those who
welcome the
thought, appearance, and approaches of angels in everyday life will
relish the
positive notes, mystery, and problem-solving attitudes of angel and
human alike
in this gentle story of kindness, hope, belief, and resolving
differences.
Return to Index
Two Boys at
Breakwater
Boston Teran
High-Top Publishing
978-1-567030176
$22.00
www.bostonteran.com
Two Boys at Breakwater is set in the late
1950s to mid-1960s and
follows the lives and connections between two New York inner city
youths: Guy
Prince, the son of a racketeer, and Dean Teranova, the son of a conman.
The story
opens with
a ten-year-old who is arrested for murder. In the next chapter, father
Peter
Prince is walking away from his son not knowing if he will be murdered.
This world's
motto is
“The crime…is life itself.” It's an adage that drives fathers, sons,
and
relationships as the Bronx and its culture and crime come alive for
readers.
From this
opening,
one might expect the usual story of two boys who come together to
create a life
of crime, but Two Boys at Breakwater
offers much more, delving into a search for a gangster who has been
missing for
ten years, punished for the one good deed he's done in his life.
As the world
of mafia
associations, friendships, politics, and 1960s street culture comes to
life,
the account becomes a gripping coming-of-age story which employs more
vivid
language and description than the usual mafia tale to bring the
streets,
culture, and times to life: "Dean
knew this was the full dose of no good. It was like every nothing
argument in
Spofford where guys stumblefucked over their own dicks in the race to
prove
they were fools."
Boston
Teran's
ability to guide the English language in a unique manner that both
surprises
and captures the New York community milieu creates an atmosphere that
is
compelling and often unexpected as the boys struggle with themselves,
their
heritage, and each other. Teran's language is crisp, original, and
exceptional
throughout: "They might have gotten
into it. Dean knew Guy was suffering and it was a dirty wound because
there was
the son, fighting for a father he had not seen in a decade and now knew
he
wasn’t dead. Here was the son playing the paladin, waiting on word
would he see
him again."
As issues of
ruthlessness, protection, love, and redemption come into play, the two
boys
develop disparate yet connected lives and concerns that provide
glimpses of
probabilities, futures, and alternatives.
Two Boys at Breakwater is no West Side
Story. In its exploration of
a different kind of love between two young men on the cusp of change,
it
creates a compelling search and saga that is cemented by strong
characterization, a sense of place, and an evolving purpose that
changes both
boys.
Readers of
crime
fiction or coming of age stories who anticipate the usual progression
of
transformative events will find Two Boys
at Breakwater is a horse of another color...vivid,
surprising, gritty, and
filled with accounts of crime and lessons about life...and death.
It's highly
recommended reading for anyone seeking a story of two souls who
navigate the
uncertainties of a dangerous urban world and their own hearts.
Return to Index
The Weary
God of
Ancient Travelers
Jessica Stilling
D. X. Varos, Ltd.
978-1-941072-950
$18.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.dxvaros.com
The Weary God of Ancient Travelers
presents the dilemma of amnesiac
Lydia Warren, who struggles to regain her identity and life, then moves
through
a different scenario as she experiences life in Greece with a man she
can't
quite recall and tries to reconcile this world with a past which is
shrouded in
questions.
Jessica
Stilling
brings Greece alive from the start in an introductory paragraph that is
compelling, evocative, and filled with the promise of a good mystery: "I remember how it tasted. It was pasta
that reminded me of past lives, where I wore a different face, slipped
into
another skin. It was the taste of white wine and garlic, the slight
hint of
salt coming off the Aegean. It’s the sea itself, how blue it is. Then
again
wasn’t it Proust who said that taste and smell are directly connected
to
memory? He ate a cookie once that he hadn’t had since his childhood,
the story
goes, and memories of being a little boy came flooding back. Then he
wrote
Remembrance of Things Past. They call it the madeline memory. But it’s
not just
this life, one past, that we’re connected to. Sitting at a restaurant
looking
out at the sea, I could taste it in the pasta, the white wine and
garlic, a
past life."
Lydia knows
that her
current life is overlaid by a past she can't quite recall. The
questions are
not only what that life was and what happened to it, but at what points
the two
personas intersect, and how to rebuild it from a blend of new and old
foundations.
When an
agent from
the UN arrives at her door, Lydia begins to discover that her
connections to
this world may not be as straightforward as the accident that caused
memory
loss and thwarts her recovery. She may be involved in something that
involves
not just present-day experiences, but past lives: "I
see spies and enemy planes, secret agents, trench coats and
fedora hats. Was I a spy in my life as Olivia? Did I perish undercover
decades
after World War II? Is this what she’s hiding, the secret in Europe she
cannot
reveal not to me or to herself?"
This added
facet of
intrigue powers a story spiced with psychological inspection and
mystery. As
she finds out about threats to people who were her family and her role
in these
events through a third party agent, Lydia and Agent Rynsburger uncover
evidence
that much more is going on than a simple memory loss. Are her past life
memories real? If not, why do they fill in so many blanks about the
present?
The reports
surrounding her identity don't make sense. The facts surrounding a
death do not
add up. And Lydia's commitment to uncovering the truth about her past
and
possible other lives leads her to place trust in another's ability to
investigate, even though he might not prove to be acting on her best
interests.
The motive for her choices is especially well portrayed: "There
is a comfort in his expertise and I want to push him to know the truth
even if
I cannot remember it. I want him to piece this together ever so
carefully."
The blend of
romance,
mystery, the compelling-almost visceral-descriptions of Greece, and the
psychological self-inspection all work together to create an absolutely
compelling piece worthy of high recommendation.
Who is Lydia
Warren,
in all this? The answer will rock not only her world, but many readers.
Return to Index
Where
Madness Lies
Sylvia True
Top Hat Books/John
Hunt Publishing
9781789044607
$18.95 Paper/$7.19 Kindle
www.tophat-books.com
Where Madness Lies moves between 1934
Germany and the USA in 1984
as it weaves connections between the Holocaust and its lingering impact
on the
world. It is especially recommended for readers who might wonder at the
need
for reinforcing Holocaust history in modern times, and considers the
lasting
legacy of repression and genocide on surviving generations.
It should be
noted
that this is the fictionalized story of Sylvia True's grandmother's
world. True
has embellished somewhat for the sake of crafting a captivating
fictional read,
admitting that while some details are how she imagines them, "the bones of the story are true."
This realistic feel is part of what makes Where
Madness Lies so compelling; but another satisfying reason for
its strength
is that no singular point of view is the lone capturer of these events.
The story opens with
a Q&A session in 1947 Germany with Dr.
Paul Viktor Bohm—Medical Director of Sonnenstein Psychiatric Hospital
and
Deputy Director of Action T4. The discussion of 'mercy murders' and why
a
professional physician would willingly become involved in gas chamber
executions
of his fellow ordinary countrymen makes for a powerful introduction,
injecting
moral and ethical examinations from the start: "Q:
And you agreed to this because of orders from Bouhler? A: I
agreed to it because we were releasing patients from lives of misery."
As events move back and
forth in time and between
different characters, True is careful to include these changing dates
in each
chapter heading so readers experience no confusion about past and
present
settings.
From the well-known methods
of oppression which overtake
Germany to the specter of mental illness and how it is handled over the
decades, True crafts an involving story of the changing world and how
mentally
ill patients and people become especially threatened: “I
am only thinking that because of the times we live in, I find some
of the methods used at the hospital, to be blunt—barbaric.”
As these different eras fall
under True's close
inspection, readers receive a discussion that examines concepts of
freedom,
civil rights, repression, and the lasting impact of social and
political
changes on generations to come.
It was more than a time of
genocidal efforts...it
embraced the effort to use women's mental health against them as one of
the
many means of controlling the population and altering their perceptions
of
right and wrong.
This detailed examination of
how a horrifying concept
became part of the mainstream acceptance of Nazi contentions forms the
backbone
of a story firmly rooted in family experience and struggle.
Any reader of Holocaust
history who thinks they already
have likely received enough of the typically familiar focus on events
should
think again—and choose Where Madness Lies. It represents a
powerful survey of control, transformative social experiments, and the
real
struggles the Nazi paradigm brought to ordinary Germans; and it traces
these
repercussions into today's world, with chilling food for thought.
Return to Index
You Might
Feel a
Little Prick
Reuben Leder
FriesenPress
978-1-5255-7309-5
$22.99
www.friesenpress.com
You Might Feel a Little Prick injects
satirical examination into a
medical thriller format to provide readers with an unusual blend of
intrigue
and humor.
From its
introductory
sentence, it's evident that the story is filled with startling
descriptions
that are compellingly original in their representation: "The
keening wind blowing off Lake Erie weaponized the snow,
turned it horizontal—a Christmas Eve more appropriate for balaclavas or
burkas
than reindeer sweaters. Or better yet, to stay inside. Unless inside
meant
Cleveland Mercy Hospital; then all bets were off."
Nick and
Julie were high school sweethearts who both worked for the
same medical
company, EZ Care. They find themselves unexpectedly in trouble in
different
ways, threatened by the health system they once believed in. Nick has
an
accident that results in a series of botched procedures that he comes
to
believe are benefiting his employer, while Julie is framed by her
sexist
supervisor for the loss of a patient and is fired.
The couple
joins
forces to seek justice—and that's where You
Might Feel a Little Prick becomes complicated and especially
intriguing.
Questions of moral and ethical judgment—and actions on all sides --
including a
too-savvy police detective who connects the dots of their actions and
is rapidly
closing in—combined with a range of obstacles, from dangerous doctors
to
corporate shenanigans and threats, to complete a romp through the pages
of an
engrossing saga.
Even arrest
processes
are hilariously depicted: "...according
to the AMA, you’re not licensed to practice anywhere in the United
States.”
“You lie!” said Demidova. “Dr. Trout arrange all my licenses!
Everything is in
order!” “Then I’d say killing him was a helluva of a way to say
thanks.” Oohs
and aahs from the crowd as Demidova wailed, “Akhineya!
How could I kill the man I love?” Demidova’s white-hot
glare would have made the sun cower, had it been out. “Save it for the
jury,
Doc,” said Sikorski. “Along
with the reason your fingerprints were all over his French doors to
oblivion.” “He
ask me to open!” That begat woofing from the bystanders, who’d taken on
the
singularity of a reality show audience."
Expect the
unexpected, whether it's in interpersonal interactions, special
interests,
changing points of view, or images of perps and police alike: "Detective Debs, with flaming red hair
and freckles that scrunched up like a colony of fire ants when she was
thinking
real hard, was alright."
The
descriptions,
language, and progression of You Might Feel
a Little Prick are simply outstanding. The story will
especially appeal, as
a spoof, to medical thriller readers who will recognize many
tongue-in-cheek
comments on more serious medical thriller components.
From
remarkable personal
transformations as Julie turns away from the person Nick loved and
manages to
find her way back on the path home to issues of medical system special
interests, along with a serving of revenge and redemption, You Might Feel a Little Prick is
delightful in its dilemmas. It will
intrigue a wide audience, from medical thriller fans (who receive
something
very different with the added value of satirical inspection) to those
who enjoy
black humor, corporate shenanigans, and stories of idealistic
worldviews gone
awry.
Return to Index
#ImpactMyLife: Being the
Change
Eric Godwin
Mascot Books
978-1-64543-252-4
$24.95
www.mascotbooks.com
#ImpactMyLife:
Being the Change charges readers to spread kindness around
the world by
making a difference in small ways. It is especially recommended reading
(and a
call to action) for those who feel they can't really impact the world
in a
positive way.
Its choice of using memoir
rather than admonition creates
a concrete link between desire, action, and impact, setting the stage
for the
intersection of all three right from the start: "The
purpose behind this book is to create a transformation in the
way each person impacts another’s life, which in turn positively
impacts your
life. This book is for anyone who has contemplated the thought, I want to make a difference, or, I wish I could do something more. I
am one of those people."
By publishing this treatise,
Eric Godwin actually lives
up to the letter of change in his own words by reinforcing that
negativity can
be offset by constructive and purposeful efforts to engage with the
world,
causing it to adopt a different course.
His is a blend of memoir,
blank page journal, and
action-encouraging admonition that provides a game plan for healing and
empowerment. Weekly tasks are quite simple to achieve: "Your
task this week: go to any grocery store and purchase five
dollars’ worth of non-perishable goods and donate them to the local
food bank,
school, church, et cetera. You can do more than five dollars, if you
wish. Food
is an essential item for life, so the bigger the impact, the better!"
#ImpactMyLife
doesn't
just focus on individual action and effects, however, but broadens its
scope
and approach to embrace community-changing efforts: "After
this week, you will have made an impact on yours and
others’ lives for a month! There is an old saying, “When you are green,
you are
growing.” This week, let’s impact the environment in a positive way."
As the weeks unfold, tasks
and notes lead to bigger and
bigger jobs, such as mentoring another, adopting a highway or community
road to
care for, or baking a cake to donate to a worthy community-supporting
office.
For example: "Bake a cake for your
local soil and water conservation office. The soil and water
conservation
service provides numerous resources for your business, home, or
community to
help you understand soil conservation techniques, water quality
management, and
youth education programs."
The result is highly
recommended for readers who want to
help, but are stuck in routines and approaches that thwart meaningful
efforts.
Anyone prepared to not just
lip sync the idea but do the
service work will welcome this firmly-grounded approach to changing
lives for
the better through small efforts and volunteer work that can be easily
done.
Kindness starts with home and heart, and with a blueprint for action.
The kind
of actions specifically outlined here.
Return to Index
The 48 Laws
of Happiness
RMC Lit
Dr. Rob Carpenter
978-1-7366155-0-8
$16.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XVRQ8SP/
The 48
Laws of
Happiness: Secrets Revealed for Becoming the Happiest You teaches
the rudiments of self-actualization and positivity
through a survey that identifies the common thought processes of happy
people,
showing how these can be adopted by anyone.
It's all
well and good to
propose positive thinking, but quite another thing to understand the
routines
and processes which prompt and support such reactions to daily living.
Dr. Rob
Carpenter's focus on
these nuts and bolts covers the process of loving oneself, then moving
that
self-love into the world at large. Chapters cover common pitfalls along
the
way, consider statistics that indicate that too many people are failing
to
adopt lifestyles and attitudes that support life-enriching choices, and
share
the stories of others who have tapped negativity to create
transformative
experiences. This book thus goes far in not just illustrating the
'why', but
the 'how'.
One such
example is Myles, whose
devastating grief over the loss of his mother seemed insurmountable.
His
discussion of how he moved through the grief period to better times is
specific: "This acceptance of my
mother’s death and adaptation into inner strength which I created from
it has
been a key element of my being for my entire adult life. I am grateful
for my
mom’s foresight that allowed me to turn a tragic event into a
transcendent one
with the careful choice of words and values which she instilled in me."
This is just
one small example
of the many avenues Dr. Carpenter illustrates as concrete courses
leading into
a better attitude and life.
Tips run the
gamut from
emotional reflection to choosing clothing that radiates positivity (oh,
you
think clothing shouldn't matter? Consider this reflection: "The
colors of our
clothing carry symbolic and psychological meaning. In fact, our
clothing can
trigger chemicals in our brains so we can dress ourselves happier.").
The result
is a wide-ranging
consideration of psychological influence, social issues, and the impact
of
choice and attitude on the concept and realization of happiness.
Anyone in
pursuit of happiness
who has felt at odds with the effort will find footnote-supported
research,
case histories, and plenty of solid advice in The
48 Laws of Happiness. Together, these elements set this book
apart from most similar-sounding discussions.
Return to Index
The Algorithm of
Consciousness
Kenneth A Macfarlane
Independently Published
978-0-578-71689-3
$9.95
Paper/$1.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Algorithm-Consciousness-Kenneth-Macfarlane/dp/1098336135
The
Algorithm of
Consciousness presents essays that link mathematics to
questions of
spirituality, consciousness, and philosophy. It is recommended reading
for
those who seek reasoned inspections of the process of becoming
self-aware.
Readers who consider
inspections of the Divine to be part
of this process will embrace the tenants of these essays and the
underlying
purpose of this book: "If you commit
to considering this book's contents with an open mind, I can assure you
that
you will emerge with a new inner feeling of self-worth. You will begin
to
embrace patience and a sense of peace—the peace arises from knowing
that you/we
are not alone."
Its inspections will
particularly be welcomed by those
who like mixes of spirituality, philosophy, and autobiography as
Kenneth A
Macfarlane considers how family dynamics and dysfunction contributed to
building a set of values and approach to life that then shifted over
the years.
His personal inspection ties
in well with the lessons he
learned from life experience. This blend of candid self-assessment and
spiritual evolution will help readers face their own transitions and
pivot
points in life: "My storyline says I
am always accurate and speak from a truthful place! Not true! So, when
faced
with the accusation, my suppressed denial had been called out, despite
the
fact, in this example, I was in a “cry wolf” situation."
It should be mentioned that
these essays provide a
progressive journey into spiritual realms some readers will find
unexpected: "The role the planets, as
sentient
beings, have in the development of matter and consciousness is
breathtaking. I
concede there is truth buried in the lore of Astrology. Until now, I
never
imagined that planets within a given system worked as a community to
achieve
the desires of the Divine."
Its progressive logic and
discussions will especially
delight those who look for a blend of ethereal reflection cemented by
concrete
experience and influence.
An open mind and heart is
thus required, as well as an
affinity for expansive spiritual concepts. This examination of the
Divine, its
plan and incarnations, and its purpose is especially recommended for
those
already embarking on a path of self-awareness and spiritual reflection.
The Algorithm of Consciousness
offers a
fine synthesis of memoir and life examination, adding a spiritual
overlay that
provides much food for thought.
Return to Index
Dear Parents
Christina Singh, Ed.D
Warren Publishing
978-1-7361714-0-0
$14.95
www.warrenpublishing.net
Dear
Parents...Lessons from Your Child's Teacher: The Parent and Teacher
Guide to
Creating a Better Bond comes from a parent and teacher who
was motivated to
write this discourse due to recent challenges to parent/teacher
interactions
and experiences inside and outside the classroom.
This relationship, once
supported by both sides, has
become dysfunctional and broken in modern times. Parents and teachers
are often
seen as being on opposite sides of the fence, when their real
objectives should
be shared and supported.
Author Christina Singh
taught in both Brooklyn, New York and
in North Carolina. The diversity of her classrooms and experiences with
parents
created a unique opportunity to address the modern disconnect between
parents
and teachers.
Singh seeks to re-establish
these connections by
reminding readers what parents and teachers have in common. One might
think
this is self-explanatory, but Singh points out the forces at work in
creating
modern disconnections between parents and teachers, while placing blame
on
neither. "The problem is not the
teachers; the problem is not the students; and the problem is not the
parents.
The problem is that everyone is living on their own island without
access to
the others’ perspectives. This is where I come in. I’ve been a parent,
and I’ve
been a teacher. In today’s society, both parenting and the education
system are
under attack. Every day, the news and social media of all kinds is
filled with
negative stories of teachers, bus drivers, or schools and, sometimes,
all of
the above in one news segment."
Her consideration of the
psyches, teaching methods, and
social environments of schools and homes and how they intersect offers
astute
analysis of many different scenarios and issues arising from them: "Some of the most outstanding teachers
are structured, well-organized, and no-nonsense. There is a fine line
between
this individual—insert teacher name who comes to mind here—and the
grumpy
teacher who sits behind the desk, never budging an inch even in the
most dire
of circumstances. I will interject these thoughts: The purpose of
school is to
learn, and it is challenging to be a student, parent, or teacher in
this world.
Please do not mix a structured teacher who pushes your child to the
fullest
potential with a teacher overdue on retirement."
From methodologies that
foster positive bonds between
teachers and parents to her own experiences as a teacher that taught
her, in
turn, how to best tap the strength of parental connections to reinforce
both
her approach and the student's learning opportunities, Dear
Parents aims to rebuild these broken ties for a stronger
educational and parent-supported result.
Parents who have felt
frustration over their local school
systems and individual teachers, as well as teachers who have felt the
same
toward parents, would do well to consult the examples, routines, and
advice of Dear Parents. It won't
disappoint.
Return to Index
The
Divine
Language of Coincidence
Sophia Demas
Mascot Books
978-1-64543-211-1
$18.95
www.mascotbooks.com
The Divine Language
of Coincidence: How
Miracles Transformed My Life After
I Began Paying Attention charts the course of a spiritual
evolutionary
process that began at age 19.
Seemingly
blessed with good fortune, Sophia Demas learned to trust her instincts
to find
that, in so doing, more good things fell into her lap. As she absorbed
the
choices and perceptions that built on this success, she became more
aware of
their spiritual roots: "The graces I received through
apparent
synchronicities and serendipities began to seem more intentional. I
began
calling them “miracles.” Along with love, faith was a word I had heard
my
mother use forever, and I wondered what it meant. When I finally
entered that
realm, I knew. I had become a believer and attributed these mysteries
to
God."
More
so than
most books about faith, Demas has the ability to get to the
nitty-gritty of
different perceptions and how to make the most of them: "If
you operate
from the perspective of wishful thinking, you would most likely find
yourself
befuddled by these seemingly disconnected chance events and, chalking
them up
to coincidence, proceed to buckle your seatbelt in silence as you
continue to
wish for help in making the right decision. At the second level,
operating from
the perspective of hope, you become aware of the triple whammy
coincidence as
“something meant to be” and wonder if you should give in to the “gut
feeling”
telling you to strike up a conversation, hoping that you might glean
some
helpful information. Operating from the perspective of faith, the third
level,
you wouldn’t hesitate for a second knowing that this man was put next
to you
for a reason, and you would find the first opportunity to engage in
conversation that will yield the clarity you need to resolve your
dilemma."
Chapters
incorporate research into prayer, meditation, and attitude as they
explore the
foundations of each and how they intersect to create a divine approach
to life.
More
than a
spiritual reflection or philosophical contemplation alone, Demas
includes a
memoir about her own life's course and the miracles, coincidences, and
attitudes that continue to drive its progression. Her personal
experiences,
reflections on changing social and economic climates around her, and
choices in
expressing gratitude and using the Course in Miracles
program to change
fear to love makes for engrossing reading not just for its ideas, but
for the
insights into how they are enacted in everyday life situations.
Spirituality
readers looking for a road map to making some of these transitions and
realizations themselves will find that The Divine Language of
Coincidence
charts the results of a simple determination to pay better attention to
life.
It's
a powerful
series of revelations that enlighten, educate, and inspire, and should
be on
the shelves of any new age or spirituality collection.
Return to Index
Find
Your Carrot
Jacquelyn H.
Berry, Ph.D.
FYC Enterprises
978-1-7364792-0-9
$12.00
www.jacquelynhberry.com
Find Your Carrot comes from a Fulbright scholar and cognitive
scientist who studies
human/computer interaction and authenticity. In it, she asks a succinct
and
hard-hitting question: are those motivated to succeed chasing the
carrot, or
running from the stick? Do the foundations of success hold their roots
in fear,
or positivity?
These
and other
questions drive a self-help psychology examination that excels in
understanding
goal-oriented behavior sources and how to not just gain heart's
desires, but
identify and separate them from influences that deviate from the
heart's true
path.
This
process
involves refining and honing goals ("The price for taking up
space on
this planet is doing something only you were meant to do and helping
others in
the process."), identifying struggles and their deeper
meaning ("Struggling
with how to do something is normal. But make sure it’s the how you’re
struggling with and not the why."), and
finding a better level
of focus, surrounding oneself with those who share that same objective
("The
people you surround yourself with should reflect who you want to be.").
While
many of
these messages aren't new concepts, what is new is
their appearance
under one cover under the uniform goal of creating a transformative
experience
that develops new support systems, replacing old patterns and
expectations of
self with revised, more purposeful visions of the future.
More
than just a
formula for success, Find Your Carrot gets down to
the nitty gritty of
identifying unique personal goals and cognitive avenues that free
individuals
to strike while the iron is hot, tapping into one's personal power to
create
and recreate an authentic self.
All
the nuts and
bolts of that process are here. Motivated self-help readers will find
many
insights to guide them on the path to authenticity, helping them
visualize and
achieve ideal outcomes with an ultimate "carrot" or goal in mind.
Self-help
collections and readers already on that path will want to make Find
Your
Carrot a foundation read. It covers a process author
Jacquelyn H. Berry has
successfully employed herself, to get to where she is today.
Return to Index
The Great
Weight
Debate
Amy Newman Shapiro,
RDN, CDN, CPT
Snewman Media
978-0-9886071-2-5
$14.95
Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Weight-Debate-Facts-Choose-ebook/dp/B08SZ4N37F
The Great Weight Debate: Get the Facts and Choose
the Diet That’s Right
For You explores the rationales behind the myriad of popular
weight loss
plans and premises on the market today.
Unlike
weight loss
books designed to promote a particular avenue towards success, Amy
Newman
Shapiro's guide contrasts the latest research, theories, and
perceptions of
what kind of diet promotes weight loss. Her approach offers a
foundation of
knowledge of contrasting scientific and health approaches to managing
weight,
giving readers the opportunity to debate and contrast all the facts.
The diets
range from
popular, well-known ones to those equally effective but less familiar.
Individual health and genomic profiles are as great an influence on a
diet's
success as the science behind each method. This explains why various
diets work
for some and not others, and also supports the importance of
understanding
what's involved in a diet's ultimate success, which goes beyond
willpower alone
to delve into individual bodily makeup.
As Shapiro
expands
her discussion, readers receive important facts about weight control
which
probe overall gut health (how to maintain, preserve, or restore it),
connections between diet and exercise, how to handle plateaus, and how
to
understand the difference between a fad diet and a lifestyle change.
The Great Weight Debate is the perfect
book for readers interested
in weight loss who question the approaches and need for different
diets. Its
survey of the principles and research behind each diet allows for a
reasoned
contrast unavailable in books that focus on the process itself. Its
assessments
of the latest trends and research assures that weight loss enthusiasts
have all
the facts at hand to make reasoned decisions about how they can best
lose
weight.
No weight
loss or
health collection should be without this simple discussion of weight
loss
risks, benefits, and options.
Return to Index
Healing Ourselves Whole
Emily A. Francis
Health Communications, Inc.
978-0-7573-2377-5
$15.95
Paper/$11.99 ebook
www.hcibooks.com
Healing
Ourselves
Whole: An Interactive Guide to Release Pain and Trauma by Utilizing the
Wisdom
of the Body comes from a motivational body worker who
provides self-help
and new age readers with a powerful survey of how to use the body's
inherent
healing systems to release pain and trauma.
Emily A. Francis is a
wellness expert with much
educational prowess to her name. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in
Exercise
Science and Wellness as well as a Master’s of Science in Physical
Education,
graduated from the Atlanta School of Massage in clinical and
neuromuscular
massage therapy, and went on to specialize (through the Dr. Vodder
School North
America) in manual lymphatic drainage and combined decongestive
therapy. New
age health readers will be particularly interested in the fact that she
also is
a Usui and Karuna Ki Reiki master-level practitioner.
This extensive background,
combined with her expertise as
a speaker who hosts a regular internet radio show (All
About Healing, on
Healthy Life Radio), contributes to an authoritative guide on healing
that few
other authors can match.
Her book teaches how to pair
affirmations with exercises,
deep meditation techniques, and various therapeutic approaches to
supporting
positivity and healing-promoting measures.
Audio and written
meditations link to her exercise
instructions to provide dialogues designed to regain connections with
and
communication between mental and physical bodily systems.
Between journaling, audio
meditations, and supporting
science, Healing Ourselves Whole offers
a fine opportunity for identifying poisons to body and soul and how to
heal
from them. It's a self-help workbook recommended for new age and
health-oriented
readers who would use the power of meditation and healing to foster
their own
revised, positive paths to complete body and mental health.
Return to Index
It's Not the Trauma, It's
the Drama
Marjorie Leigh Bomben
Independently Published
979-8706984625
$14.98
paper/$11.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Trauma-Drama-Department/dp/B08W7JH43P
Chicago has one of the
busiest ambulance services in the
country. Its murder rate is high, its population dense, and its
paramedics are
used to facing extraordinary situations. It's
Not the Trauma, It's the Drama: More Stories by a Chicago Fire
Department
Paramedic captures Marjorie Leigh Bomben's experiences in
vivid detail for
lay readers and fellow medical professionals alike.
Each Chicago neighborhood
has its own story, its own
cultural milieu, and its own predictable problems. Take Ambulance 39,
known as
the "geriatric ambulance," located in a quiet neighborhood of rest
homes and assisted living establishments. Here, the average patient is
over
eighty years old, there are few surprises, and often the EMT is called
upon to
service the Slipper Ladies...elderly 911 callers whose complaints tend
to be
less true emergencies as the result of loneliness and isolation.
These ladies insist on going
to the hospital even when
nothing is apparently wrong...but before they get there, they'll have
ordered
the paramedics to bring them the right coat from the closet, sort
through
articles of clothing for just the right ensemble for leaving home,
and—horror
of horrors—choose just the right slippers from a plethora of
possibilities.
How do you make the most
serene, unshakeable paramedic in
history experience a momentary flash of anger? Assign him to a Slipper
Lady.
This hilarious story is a
surprise opener to a collection
that juxtaposes life-threatening, dangerous scenarios with those that
are just
plain ironic, unbelievable, or taxing for all involved.
Readers who anticipated high
drama and edge-of-your-seat
reading won't be disappointed, but that's not all that goes on in the
life of a
typical fire department paramedic, as Marjorie Leigh Bomben reveals in
these
diverse tales.
From a dangerous
confrontation with a schizophrenic
family member who refuses to take her meds to interactions between
field
chiefs, medics, police, and other officials as calls are handled,
readers gain
not just a series of lively stories and surprising situations, but
insights
into how this public service is handled politically, socially, and
professionally at all levels of the chain of command.
Readers who may know little
about what a fire department
paramedic actually does will want to hold onto their hats for a wild
ride
through diverse challenges, while fellow professionals who well know
many of
these routines will find much to relish as the creativity and response
talents
of teams are put to the test.
The unexpected lighthearted
dash added into a sobering
subject will delight general-interest readers in a collection of real
stories
of lifesavers who face a myriad of scenarios that demand they respond
not just
with professional expertise, but psychological flexibility, creativity,
and
restraint.
These stories make perfect
reading for those who want a
blend of action and reflection on interpersonal relationships and
handling
difficult people and situations with finesse.
Return to Index
Le Deal
J. Byrne Murphy
Lyons Press
978-1-4930-6068-9
$19.95
Paper/$7.59 ebook
www.rowman.com
Author Bryne Murphy was a
successful entrepreneur at a
young age, cultivating the finer art of the deal long before the term
became a
business buzzword. Le Deal: How a Young
American, in Business, In Love, and in Over His Head, Kick-Started a
Multibillion-Dollar Industry in Europe follows his sojourn
into the
European retail clothing trade in a business book that reads with all
the drama
and action of a novel. Because of Murphy's approach to the written
word,
readers who normally eschew business lesson nonfiction memoirs will
relish this
tale.
If this title sounds
familiar, it should be noted that
this is a republication of an earlier book, retailored for new
millennial
business readers and for future generations who have moved beyond the
original
book's Baby Boomer paradigm.
Le
Deal is
about the fine art of identifying and making the next step in a series
of
building blocks of business acuity. This reformatted exploration
emphasizes
this process and the pattern recognition associated with it as Murphy
explores
the cognitive approaches that lead to new, successful outcomes and
approaches.
Unlike traditional models
about building business
success, every venture is different. Murphy found this out when he
entered the
foreign world of European business circles, explored the start-and-stop
social
and political underpinnings of entering a strange new world with
something
valid to build upon and share, and honed a success story during the
process of
restructuring his vision.
The intersection of human
connections and interactions
and commerce makes for an engrossing read that contrasts American and
European
retailing approaches as a whole, as well as the paths Murphy traveled
to
realize his success in both milieus.
From product life cycles to
basic concepts involved in moving
from and between American and European export and import markets,
business
readers receive a lively survey based not just on facts and figures,
but the
course of Murphy's life and decision-making processes.
As high adventure, high
risk, and high hopes lead Murphy
and his cohorts continually into new arenas and revised observations of
the
branding processes, the British buying public, and new markets, readers
will be
fascinated by the recreation of dialogue between all levels of business
folk.
The rise of hopes and new expectations, the realities of roadblocks,
and
unexpected disasters sometimes hold their roots in cultural
differences: "Byrne," Marie-France responded
calmly and with confidence, "this is normal. In France, it is always
this
way before an opening." "Well, not in America," I barked. I had
never been harsh with Marie-France, and she didn't deserve it even
then. But
all I could think of was the train wreck that was about to happen the
next day
as hoards of shoppers (we hoped) descended upon twenty-nine stores that
would
be nowhere ready for them."
Educational, enlightening,
and lively enough to be chosen
for leisure pursuit by business readers, Le
Deal defies the usually-staid process-oriented approach of
the typical
business book. It holds the potential to reach beyond its genre borders
into
general-interest audiences who simply relish a good read, strong
characters,
and engrossing stories that lead to better insights about the process
of
crafting success.
Return to Index
Mindfulness
Without
the Bells and Beads
Clif Smith
John Wiley
9781119750765
$25.00 Hardcover
www.wiley.com
Sometimes
(too rarely,
these days) a book title strikes the reader with such promise that it
becomes a
compelling attraction without even turning the first page. This is an
ideal
most authors strive for; but very few achieve.
Clif Smith has
accomplished this with the title of his book, Mindfulness
Without the Bells and Beads, which promises a more
pragmatic approach to the new age concept of mindfulness and its
applications
to daily life. He then reinforces his excellent book's appeal to
professionals
with a clarifying subtitle: Unlocking
Exceptional Performance,
Leadership, and Well-being for Working Professionals.
With the subject firmly
rooted in both new age and
business worlds, Smith's next task is to live up to his title's
potential. This
is more than achieved in a survey that adopts a reasoned series of
applications
of mindfulness to business theory and routines, grounding it in a
manner that
most new age and psychology titles don't begin to touch.
Take the meditation process
which is one of the
foundations of mindfulness training, for example. Smith points out that
"Although many mindfulness teachers and
practitioners are attached to the things on the following list and
other things
you probably associate with meditation, you do not need any of them to
authentically practice and reap the benefits of mindfulness.
Furthermore, none
of these will make you “better” at cultivating mindfulness."
The list
includes bells, beads, special meditation equipment, a trip to India,
tiny
statues of Hindu deities, and other approaches which assume a
tongue-in-cheek
humor about the typical things some will identify as requirements for
successful meditation and mindfulness development.
He does note that, for some,
these rituals or objects can
be useful; but points out that they are not the requirements many claim
are
essential to the practice: "These
things are like pearls, quite beautiful in some respects and wearing
them helps
people project a certain image to others, which is extremely important
to many.
However, that outer sparkle distracts from the true core without which
there
would be no pearl. With mindfulness, far too many get ensnared by and
attached
to the outer shell, the pretty accessories that project they are
mindful
people, and completely miss the true essence...The bottom line is that
you
don’t need to add any of these things to your life to practice
mindfulness
effectively, and in fact getting attached to them can be a real
hindrance to
your practice."
Mindfulness and
meditation typically involve an especially big shift for
nose-to-the-grindstone
personalities. Smith makes his book accessible to this audience by
addressing
common criticisms and barriers to achieving mindfulness. In many ways,
the
practice might seem to counter common business sense. Smith
acknowledges these
in sections such as that on 'Shifting
from Doing to Non-Doing, aka Being', pulling no punches as he confronts
perception, reality, and the challenge of making such shifts: "It may seem strange to talk about
shifting from a doing mode to a non-doing or being mode in a book that
purports
to unlock exceptional performance, leadership, and well-being. You’ve
gotten to
where you are in your career and life by getting things done and
solving
problems! Why would you stop now? It’s not about stopping; it’s about
balance."
Perhaps Smith is ideally
suited to write such a book
because his own career has been firmly grounded in pragmatic
approaches. He's a
US Army veteran, a former diplomat, a
CIA-trained former intelligence officer, serves as EY's
Americas
Mindfulness Leader and Global Mindfulness Network Leader, and teaches
mindfulness
to tens of thousands of corporate and government leaders across the
globe.
His insights
are an
intrinsic part of what sets Mindfulness
Without the Bells and Beads apart from any other book on the
subject. The
promise in the title is to reach into business minds and hearts not
normally
attracted to such a practice. This audience holds the best potential
for taking
mindful practice to a new level and applying it to business pursuits
for
maximum impact while preserving its positive impact on personal
well-being and
interpersonal connection.
Now these
readers
have a book that speaks their language...one especially highly
recommended for
business readers and library collections catering to them.
Return to Index
Nursing Home 101
Ruthie Rosauer
Warren Publishing
978-1-7361714-9-3
$16.95
www.warrenpublishing.net
Nursing
Home 101: A
Daughter's Perspective deserves a place in self-help, health,
and family
living collections. It documents a family's uncertain journey through
the world
of nursing homes when a social worker gave two daughters less than 24
hours to
locate a nursing home facility for their elderly mother.
Thrust into the challenges
of a long-term care world they
were ill prepared to handle, Ruthie and her sister learned the hard way
about a
myriad of issues, from dental care and dealing with staff to insurance,
paperwork, and rules and regulations.
If she's done nothing else
by providing this journal
record of the journey, Ruthie Rosauer successfully documents a path of
pitfalls
and possibilities that offer a blueprint for other families facing
similar
challenges.
Choosing a good nursing home
is just the tip of the
decision-making iceberg. Even when an elderly person is properly
placed, there
are a myriad of care issues that family members need to address and
consider,
from the daily routines of care to dealing with staff members and
rules,
visiting, and considering little things, such as the challenge of
finding
glasses that work when the patient can't properly handle a vision test.
Journal entries provide both
an easy way of understanding
these issues and document the daily frustrations and challenges, as
well as
solutions found by employing creative problem-solving methods. The
format will
prove more accessible to readers than most books about nursing home
experiences.
Heartfelt insights help
readers understand their revised
role in a loved one's life when they enter a nursing home: "I reflected on that day, thinking how being
present to ask her
these questions was a luxury probably enjoyed by no one else in her
nursing
home. I was acting as an amateur therapist, asking her to consider her
hopes
and dreams. I was willing to listen to what went on in her mind. The
nursing
home tried to keep residents clean, out of bed, dressed each day, fed,
quiet,
and protected from falls. Staff would say a few words, but no one
reached out
to the residents’ hearts. I was, and still am, so grateful I was there
for my
mom to do that."
Anyone facing the challenges
of not just locating but
dealing with a nursing home needs Nursing
Home 101!
Return to Index
The Top Five
Things
to Consider Before Filing
An Employee Relations
Complaint
Patrice Miller
Page Publishing
9781642984804
$11.95 Paper/$9.95 ebook
Website: www.dreamgoalscoaching.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Things-Consider-Employee-Relations-Complaint/dp/B08R95KD97
The Top Five Things to Consider before Filing an
Employee Relations
Complaint: And How to File an Effective Complaint is as
important a
reference as one's employee manual, providing insights for employees at
all
levels of business. Its review of company policies, the complaint
process, how
to assess the pros and cons of a dilemma for best resolution, and
cautionary
notes about investigators who look into a complaint should be
foundation
knowledge for any American worker.
Ideally, The Top Five Things to Consider before
Filing an Employee Relations Complaint will be taught in
business courses
for new adults just entering the workplace. It provides concrete
insights that
more general books directed to this audience fail to mention and it
assesses
strategies, typical courses of action (and inaction), and includes
psychological insights into common causes for complaints.
From
bullying in the
workplace and tips on conflict resolution to things to consider before
an
employee complaint is filed, this slim but accessible manual helps
employees
avoid many common pitfalls and lends to understanding how the complaint
system
works on both sides.
Succinct and
packed
with details, The Top Five Things to
Consider before Filing an Employee Relations Complaint is an
essential
worker's guide that should be a staple in any business book collection
and
worker's reference library.
An Employee Relations Complaint
Return to Index
You Can't
Write City
Hall
Jeremy Nunes
Clovercroft
Publishing
978-1-950892-97-6
$14.99
https://www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Write-City-Hall/dp/1950892972
You
Can't Write
City Hall: What Happened When A Stand-Up Comedian Got Elected Mayor is
based on the true story of a stand-up comedian who was elected to
public
office. It comes from an author who was an active participate in the
comedy
community when he decided to help that same community by running for
office.
The Introduction comes with
a caveat warning of a slow
buildup in the comedy arena as Nunes sets his stage for readers: "Like my mayoral career and any good
comedic story, this book first takes a little time to lay the
foundation. As
the story builds, so does the humor. In my biased opinion, once you
understand
the basic details of the story, you’ll really settle into the laughter
it brings
as you continue through the pages.
What follows can be best
described as a romp through
political and social conundrums as Nunes offers the first revelation:
although
he ran for office, he never intended on taking up the reins. Indeed,
his comedy
persona dominated his ticket: "I ran
for office as a joke. I registered my name on the ballot as “Comedian
Jeremy
Nunes.” Then, I distributed fliers with my campaign slogan: “Put a Real
Joker
in Office.”
You'd think the community
would get a general laugh out of
such a campaign, and then turn over the keys to the city to a seasoned
politician. The fact that they went for the punch line hook, line, and
sinker
only goes to show that a breath of fresh air is preferable over staid
approaches to holding public office, these days, at all levels.
Nunes first won a seat on
the council, virtually
uncontested. His bid for Mayor resulted in a win...and then began his
political
surprises as he settled into the job of running a town where
questionable
characters can be observed egging a house in the night, yet still can't
be
confronted: "Sure enough, they had
egged the house. We called the police, yet again, and filed a report.
And yet
again, the police said that just because we say we saw the Greens do
this,
didn’t mean they could do anything about it. We had to prove it, or all
the
police could do was talk to them. Yet again, I was reminded that
somehow we had
to get them out of this town."
The combination of real
political conundrums, backroom
discussions, dog-and-pony shows between politicians, and wheeling and
dealing
to get things done blends well with the elements of irony, satire, and
a
comedian's perspective on the job.
The latter lends a
tongue-in-cheek observation of the
political process which readers will find accessible even as they are
enlightened about what a town mayor does and how he does it.
Passages delving into this
process are delightful: "The annual argument
over what night to
hold the bonfire and wiener roast then commenced. Rhonda chimed in,
saying, “I
am sick and tired of Buffalo doing their event the same night as ours.
We did
it first in our community, so there’s no reason to change it!”
The result may sound
incongruous, at first, but it's a
fine mix of real-world processes and a comedian's very different take
on how to
react to complainers and small-town drama queens.
Readers who like their
comedic encounters firmly cemented
in serious real-world confrontations will find You
Can't Write City Hall cultivates a delightful blend of
insights
on political processes, memoir, and a comedian's unique perspective on
how to
react to an audience which embraces an entire community. It gives
chuckles;
sure...but within the arena of political inspection that succeeds in
offering
rare enlightenment while it spices the story with fun encounters of the
comedic
kind.
Return to Index
A Shau:
Crucible of the Vietnam War
Jay Phillips
Izzard Ink Publishing
9781642280432
https://izzardink.com/a-shau/
Readers of
Vietnam
War accounts will find that A Shau
holds a different approach and message than most, documenting events
during the
war that centered on the A Shau Valley, a 40-kilometer hub central to
Communist
activities.
This region
experienced some of the most intense battles of the war as Americans
tried and
failed to achieve their goals. It served as a microcosm of the
struggles of the
Vietnam War as a whole, so its analysis and position are central to
understanding what went awry in U.S. efforts in that country.
Jay Phillips
creates
a military history that embraces events, people, and struggles at a
pivotal
point and place in time. As he points out: "The
United States and its South Vietnamese ally were never able to wrest
control of
one strategically critical location on the enemy line of
communications, the A
Shau Valley, away from the Communists after they overran the Special
Forces
camp in March 1966, and how that failure contributed, in a
major way, to the final outcome of the
war."
Thus, his
narrowed
focus and study holds vast implications for scholars seeking better
knowledge
of the events and influences upon the Vietnam War's outcome as a whole,
and is
a key acquisition for any collection interested in more than the usual
wartime memoir.
As Phillips
surveys
this history, he charts ambushes, military strategy, company movements,
and the
choices and consequences which led to outcomes.
Citations
from those
who experienced these battles add "you are there" accounts to the
history, capturing accounts of courage and extraordinary efforts such
as that of
1LT James M. Sprayberry, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for action
on the
night of 25–26 April 1968: "This
rescue operation, which lasted approximately 7½ hours, saved the lives
of many
of his fellow soldiers. Capt. Sprayberry personally killed 12 enemy
soldiers,
eliminated 2 machineguns, and destroyed numerous enemy bunkers."
So many
Vietnam War
histories, analyses, and personal accounts exist that, at this point,
readers
might wonder at the need for yet another.
A
Shau: Crucible of
the Vietnam War's ability
to outline
the struggles that both defined and led to the ultimate outcome of the
war
lends to a study rich in strategic analysis: "Whether
the Vietnam War was, at any point in time, “winnable” is
beyond the scope of this work. What is clear is that by its failure to
retain
or regain occupancy of the A Shau Valley, the United States enabled the
enemy
to develop and use it as the key logistical base in the northern half
of the
country, if not all of South Vietnam. This wasn’t so much a lost
opportunity as
one that was forgone. For whatever reasons, and for whatever purposes,
troops
that might have altered the course of the war by permanently occupying
the A
Shau were used elsewhere, for pacification or for pursuing the enemy’s
“big
battalions” in the hinterlands."
Heavily
footnoted and cross-referenced and filled with
battle-by-battle analysis, A Shau:
Crucible of the Vietnam War is
no
casual coverage, but a scholar's delight. It focuses on the central
role of a
Vietnam valley that saw battles beginning in 1961 and lasting through
the end
of the war in 1975.
Perhaps nowhere else in the war-torn country has one locale so represented the successes and failures of opposing forces as graphically and consistently throughout the war as in A Shau. A narrowed focus on this region is essential to understanding all the military and political facets involved in the war's ultimate outcome. A Shau: Crucible of the Vietnam War is a scholarly history highly recommended as a foundation acquisition for any collection serious about Vietnam War analysis.
A
Shau:
Crucible of the Vietnam War
Return
to Index
Balloons for
Tiger
Lori Orlinsky
Mascot Books
9781645435235
$14.95
www.loriorlinskyauthor.com
Balloons for Tiger talks about balloons
that take center stage
after a beloved pet's death, discussing concepts of grief, the 'rainbow
bridge', and how adults can help children identify and cope with their
feelings
about loss.
The rhyming
exploration opens with: "It was a
cold winter day. When the balloons for Tiger floated away."
The
balloon's journey
is compared to the journey Tiger will take after death, serving as a
gentle
form of instruction as read-aloud adults use Balloons
for Tiger to show how Tiger will live on in the memories
of those who loved her.
The in-depth
survey
and approach of this tender story ideally will work best with adults
who choose
it as a starting point for discussions with children about pets and
death.
Youngsters
drawn to
the unexpectedly cheerful approach of a story about pet death will find
Balloons for Tiger inviting. It
pairs
Common Core discussion points (presented at the story's conclusion)
with five
selected coping strategies parents can employ with the very young.
Vanessa
Alexandre
employs bright and appealing color illustrations throughout.
It's the
perfect
primer for a young child facing the loss of a beloved pet.
Return to Index
A
Dog Named Trouble...Goes to a Forever Home
Anthony
Gonzalez
Mascot
Books
978-1-64543-600-3
$16.95
www.mascotbooks.com
A
Dog Named Trouble...Goes to a
Forever Home tells the story of a large
Saint
Bernard dog rescued from a
shelter that proves a handful for his new owners.
Picture
book readers will enjoy, both, the dog story and the engaging, fun
drawings by
Walter Policelli, who brings to life the story of a dog anxious to fit
into his
new family, and enthusiastic about the outside world after his life in
a
shelter.
Trouble
the dog likes exploring, guarding his new home, playing with children
and going
for rides in the family truck. He also lives up to his name as Mommy
and Daddy
face a series of adventures getting him acclimated to their home and
setting
boundaries that work for them all.
Trouble
may be his name, but as the dog becomes a part of the family, it would
be more
trouble to live without him.
A
Dog Named Trouble...Goes to a
Forever Home celebrates the pros and cons
of
integrating a shelter dog into a
new family. It's a realistic portrait of the process that helps young
kids understand
how their new pet will settle into their family and come to display
unique
personality traits, needs, and desires of their own.
Parents
who wish a young child to better understand their new pet will find A Dog Named Trouble...Goes to a Forever Home
just the ticket for following the process of pet adoption in a
whimsical,
revealing manner.
Photos
of the real-life Trouble conclude this delightfully warm dog adoption
story.
Return to Index
How to Break
an Evil
Curse
Laura Morrison
Black Spot Books
978-1-7335994-8-1
$18.95 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Break-Evil-Curse-Chronicles-Fritillary/dp/1733599487
Enter a
world in
which a princess lives in darkness, but defies the usual princess edict
to
remain a damsel in distress until rescued. Season it with the young
woman's
determination to take charge of her own freedom, only to find eight
years of
digging her way to freedom leads her, ironically, straight into the
arms of the
man who holds a cure to the curse she is under.
Then add
more than a
dash of humor for a rollicking adventure in How
to Break an Evil Curse, which follows the two through a world
filled with
telling names and trials, past the Brook of Dashed Hopes and the
Dwelling Place
of Mirabella the Traitor into a place where secrets are revealed and
even the
honest and honorable aren't above taking the money and running.
At first
Julianna is
focused on saving her father's throne and legacy from evil wizard
Farland
Phelps and his determination to seize control.
But as her forays lead her to question the value of that
throne,
Julianna finds herself aligned with the commoners who are in the
process of
affecting an overthrow, themselves.
Irony,
satire, and
fun permeate this story—unusual devices in a tale many teens will pick
up for
its fantasy elements and promise of supernatural confrontations. YA
readers in
grades 7 and up will appreciate the complexity of this tale as well as
its
introduction to a special blend of humor. The female protagonist's
self-determination and feisty approach to her heritage, her life, and
possibilities lead her beyond anything she's been raised to believe in.
Laura
Morrison's
writing captures ribald circumstances and zany encounters that also
turn the
notion of good and evil upside down, as when Julianna and Warren
encounter a
thug who harbors his own different dreams: “A
life of peace does appeal, you know. I’ve been in the thug business for
so long
I hardly know anything else, but there was a time I dreamed of being a
writer…”
he said dreamily. “Ooh!” Julianna said. “What kind of stuff would you
write?” “True
crime. The experts say to write what you know, after all, and I come
from a
long line of criminals. I’ve always dreamed of something more, but it’s
the
cycle of poverty, you know. Parents poor and uneducated, kids don’t
know
anything different, it takes an awful lot of luck and resourcefulness
to—” “I
hate to interrupt,” Warren said. “But we are in a big hurry. We need to
get out
of the city before the King and Queen realize we’re gone.”
The result
is at once
hilarious and thought-provoking. Kids already steeped in the usual
trappings of
fantasy and fairytales will delight the unexpected descriptions
presented here:
"Without further ado, Julianna and
Copernicus dragged Warren out of the Forest of Looming Death and into
safety."
While this
story is
created for teen readers, many an adult interested in re-envisioned
fairytales
will find How to Break an Evil Curse
original, action-packed, and worthy of the read.
Return to Index
Isn't It Scary?
Vernon Hamilton
Archway Publishing
9781480889163
$25.95
https://www.hamiltonauthor.com/
Isn't
It
Scary? is a children's
picture book story that
opens with a baby rabbit who disappears into a dark hole. Young Travis
observes
that the darkness is scary...but Mother points out that it's not scary
to the
rabbit family that considers the darkness their home.
And so begins a
nature-centered
exploration of elements which initially seem scary, but prove to just
be part
of the ordinary, to other creatures. These scenarios include squirrels
unafraid
of climbing tall trees; swamps that hold bugs and worms; the hidden,
unknown,
dark woods the deer call home; and more.
Each potentially
frightening place is
presented as a welcoming home to other creatures as Mother guides her
two
children through a world of nature that isn't actually scary after all,
upon
closer inspection.
Vernon Hamilton's
book is a study in
contrasts between initial perception and learning more about what seems
frightening. As the children's knowledge of nature expands, the world
seems
less scary.
Children who enjoy
this book as a
read-aloud with parental support in place will also find it a welcoming
introduction not just to the different environments of nature, but
confronting
one's fears with an added dash of knowledge and a wise mother's support.
It's a lovely
story of family, home, and
different comfort zones, and is especially recommended as bedtime
reading to
reinforce the notion that the world is filled with differences that
don't have
to translate to being scary at all.
Return to Index
The Legend of Jet the Gerbil
Michael Keller
Wise Ink Creative Publishing
978-1-63489-418-0
$19.95
www.jetthegerbil.com
The
Legend of Jet
the Gerbil's subtitle is hilarious ('Could
Be the Greatest Gerbil Story Ever Told') and portends an
exceptional read
as young picture book animal enthusiasts absorb the story of Jet, who
is more
than just another in the many pet gerbils Michael has enjoyed in his
young
lifetime.
Jet "Did amazing things and
had unbelievable
adventures" and this story reviews his extraordinary life, spiced by
lovely,
detailed drawings by Patrizia Donaera.
As Michael reviews all the
ways Jet is bigger, stronger,
faster and braver, and even challenges invading cats, readers will
delight in
the tale of a spunky little gerbil who defies gravity and the odds to
stand out
from the gerbil crowd.
Owner Michael thinks Jet can
do anything...but can he
confront an appliance monster, and death?
This uplifting, fun
celebration of a very special gerbil
is truly delightful. Kids who have an affinity for pets or gerbils will
find
Michael's celebration of his beloved pet is moving and appealing,
concluding in
a section of natural history facts about gerbils.
Parents and teachers will
find the story lends to read
aloud, while kids ages 3-8 with good basic reading skills will want to
pursue
Jet's adventures for themselves. It's an all-around positive story of a
boy and
his pet that delights with both its action and Donaera's accompanying,
beautiful illustrations that support science-based lesson plans, as
well.
The
Legend of Jet the
Gerbil is very, very highly recommended for its excellent
combination of
both word and art.
Return to Index
Listen
Mama
M.S.P. Williams
Souls
Take Flight
978-0-578-73017-2
$7.50
Paper/$2.99 Kindle
Website: https://mspwilliams.com/
Purchasing
Link: https://linktr.ee/msp_williams
Listen
Mama is powerful reading for the
teen and young adult audience it's directed towards—but then, many
other genre
reads also embrace themes of abuse, depression, and struggles with a
parent's
mental illness. What sets this story apart from others is its attention
to
bringing these situations alive through diary entries, letters to a
mother
(that come from a fourteen-year-old recovering from his abusive
parent's
physical attacks), and the devastating and healing effects these had on
a
loving family and his long-term relationships
The
first thing to note about Listen Mama
is its candid assessment of how these choices were not cut-and-dried
(as they
too often appear in other stories of family mental illness). Williams
acknowledges, from the beginning, the clash between belief systems,
values, and
realities which require hard decisions that often go against all
perceptions
and ideals: "...although you screamed to the heavens that
everyone was
against you, that’s just not the case Mama. The vote to have you
committed was
a lot closer than you would have ever imagined...But the concerns of
the rest
of the family had me pretty worried. They said they did not know what
might happen
to you, that this was wrong, and nobody’s freedom should be taken away
from
them. And I’ll be honest, I was really scared due to the portrayal of
mental
institutions in films and television. For all I knew they would have
you locked
up on the same wing as some psychopath or deranged killer . . . I was
mainly
terrified at the potential for abuse and mistreatment at the hands of
the
clinic’s staff. For one, I thought it was more like a jail scenario,
with all
degrees of the mentally ill lumped together."
As
the narrator reviews the ideas and realities of not just mental health
and
illness but institutionalization, the healing process of all involved,
and
young Manny's search for answers about his own place in life and his
role in
his mother's illness, readers receive a compelling saga. It moves into
adult
choices when he finds himself in a caretaker role while struggling with
his own
legacy of mental illness.
Many
other issues are woven into the story, from racism and poverty to
struggles to
identify and separate mental illness concerns from daily life obstacles.
One
reason why Manny's story is so accessible to teen readers, especially,
is its
candid, heartfelt acknowledgments of searching for a mother's love and
accepting both the good and bad moments that stem from that search and
the
alienating facts of mental illness's effects on love, parents, and
children
alike: "Whenever I am away and don’t
visit her for a while, I find myself missing Mama for all the wrong
reasons.
How she made me feel about myself is high on the list. How she gave me
tremendous love as a child when no one else could/would—not even you.
How she
made this sad little boy think a withered old lady would slay a dragon
if it
meant keeping him from harm. On those days I ran home crying, I was not
aware
of anything offhand that I had done wrong to deserve a treatment of
this
caliber from society. And Mama Dear would often cry silently too. She
would
then try to get me to understand that I was normal, like any other
child. The
only difference I had was actually on the inside.
That’s what made me special. That’s what made me
different—not the burns on my head. But I was usually not appeased, and
I would
beg her to tell me when it would get better. When would people see my
inside
instead of my outside—just like she could? And her reply was always the
same,
“Sooner than you think, honey. Sooner than you think.”
Manny
speaks of the "soft bigotry of low expectations" and social
interactions that also intersect with family strife. He also adds humor
and
close inspections of family circumstances which ultimately gave him the
strength to rise out of poverty, prejudice, and abuse to live a good
life.
All
these make for compelling reading that injects a positive note into a
situation
seemingly fraught with inevitable disaster: "Did
I have a tough life? Yes. Did I grow up in poverty and face things
during the
day and night that I would never wish upon my worst enemy? Yeah. Do I
wish he
had shown just the slightest interest, or at least talked/met me once?
You
bet. And while I am not a saint or martyr, I am also not vindictive. I
am not
spiteful and I am not a bad person.
Young
adult (and many an adult) readers will find Listen
Mama a thoroughly absorbing story about not just a mother's
love and a
family's mental illness, but the dysfunction of society as a whole.
Return to Index
Look at Me!
Niyka Hicken
Mascot Books
978-1-64543-310-1
$14.95
www.mascotbooks.com
Look
at Me!
follows a child's active imagination as he goes exploring with his
mother and
uncovers a world of possibilities. It is recommended for read-aloud to
the very
young.
As the young child views the
world as his oyster and
contemplates flying and exploring, vivid language pairs with equally
lovely
color illustrations by Vanessa Alexandre to bring his playful, hopeful
enthusiasm to life: "Do you think I
can reach? Do you think I can be everything I hope and see?"
His mother has taught him
how to soar. Now he wants to
fly. And he brings her along to witness his achievements in a fun,
positive
story that reminds the young of all the possibilities of life, and how
parental
encouragement and participation is part of the magic.
As the young narrator dreams
of the unbelievable, the
impossible, and the possible; children receive an excellent,
enthusiastic
survey of a child's life where his mother runs beside him and people of
color
face all the magic of the world with big dreams and hope.
Collections looking for
positive reinforcement of all
possibilities, both real and imagined, for the very young reader will
find that
Look at Me! captures the combined
themes of opportunity and imagination, winding them into an exuberant
story
that's just perfect for read-aloud fun.
Return to Index
Maya
Loop
Lis
Anna-Langston
Mapleton Press
9781087943060
$16.99 Print/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/108794306X
Middle-grade
readers who look for first-person narratives strong in contemporary
perspectives will find Maya Loop attractive.
Eleven-year-old Maya Loop's
world is falling apart as she begins her story. Everything is about to
change,
but she just wishes she could turn back time and keep everything the
same in
her beloved Baltimore, which has also changed around her.
It
all began
with her father's death years ago, which leads to her mother's desire
to move
into a bigger place and get away from her dead-end job as a Baltimore
cop to
accept a position which offers much higher hazard pay.
Moving
to the
country to live with relatives wasn't in Maya Loop's game plan, but she
is told
she has to "find a way to love this place." The process by which she
sets aside old connections, including the internet, and adjusts to a
very
different world makes for a compelling read.
Middle
graders
will find Maya thoughtful and intriguing. As her adventure traverses
otherworldly realms, the fantasy component of her encounters lends to a
powerful exploration of her evolving strengths and ability to not just
adjust,
but break free of the dead-end loop her former life became.
As
she discovers
the truths surrounding her family heritage and her abilities ("only
the
Loops can restart the clock"), she faces
new choices that lead
her to question what she really wants from her life.
Especially
powerful passages explore her psyche and the difficult choices involved
in
saving not just herself, but others: "An old anger swells in
my gut.
The kind I feel when kids push other kids around in the halls or take
their
lunch or steal their backpacks. The anger and fear that arises when I'm
not
sure I can make the situation right. The anger of helplessness. Bullies
feed
off of it. I try to swallow it back, but it stays. I don’t know what to
do. My
sketchpad is in my hand, but it's not an option. Not now. Drawing a
door will
get me out of this mess but it leaves everyone else behind. Drawing a
door
doesn’t prevent the Landions from finding that one final piece and
erasing us
all."
The
result is a
story driven by Maya's changing emotions, life, and abilities. It will
attract
readers also challenged to accept new circumstances, relationships, and
perceptions about life and its purposes.
Readers
interested
in a passionate journey of determination and evolving wisdom will find Maya
Loop unpredictable, driven by understandable emotions and
extraordinary
events that lead Maya to a new form of determination and courage.
Return to Index
"Meeting"
Anne Frank: An Anthology
Tim Whittome, Editor
Xlibris
978-1-6641-4556-6
$19.99 Paper/$35.99 Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Anne-Frank-Anthology/dp/1664145567
"Meeting" Anne Frank: An Anthology
belongs in any
Holocaust or children's history collection where Anne Frank's diary is
of
interest. It is comprised of twenty essays by those who never actually
met the
girl, but found her influence on their lives to be unusually compelling
and
lasting.
Although
over seventy
years have passed since Anne and her sister died in a concentration
camp, the
authors of these pieces have all felt her lasting impact on their
lives. They
explore many striking facets of this impact, which will prove
engrossing and
sometimes compellingly controversial.
One such
example of
the latter lies in this thought by Tim Whittome: "If
the life of Jesus Christ for Christians across the world
derives much of its unique power and meaning from his miraculous transcendence of death and subsequent
appearance to his disciples, Anne Frank’s life derives almost all of
its
transcendent power and meaning from the fact that she died
in the state-sponsored grip of one of the cruelest of all
ideological and genocidal dreams—namely, that the world would be
infinitely
better off without there being any Jews left to envy or despise. Did Anne have to die at Bergen-Belsen
and—as far as we know—not rise
again and did Jesus have to
die
on a cross and then rise again in accordance with Christian faith for
their
current martyred reputations to exist today? On one level, it might
seem
presumptuous to link these two historical figures and fellow Jews, but
on
another, we need to bear in mind that Anne’s diary has become one of
the most
well-read and translated books in the world after the Bible."
Each writer
formed a
personal relationship with the deceased Anne through her writings. Some
knew
her father or others connected with her, as well. The impact of Anne's
vivid
influence is striking, as in Anne Talvaz's reflection: "Anne
did indeed tell of sad events. Perhaps my previous Holocaust
reading had hardened me to the cruel facts she related—I do not know.
But what
stood out was the wit, the needle-sharp portraits, the flawless
dialogue, and
the sense of comic timing. The description of the potato peelers’
thoughts, the
cat peeing in the attic, the strawberry preserving, the German soldier
shooting
his officer for treason all had me laughing out loud. And then there
was the
sheer wizardry of her use of words."
Why does
Anne's story
continue to resonate with future generations where so many similar
accounts
have been consigned to the annals of history? By capturing twenty lives
changed
by her words and their legacy, this anthology succeeds in showing how a
writer's experiences and eye for detail can translate to life-changing
impacts
generations later.
Readers of
Anne Frank
and Holocaust history will of course be the likely major audience for
this
book, but let it also serve as an inspiration for writers of all ages
who
question the lasting power of words to reach out and transform others,
as well
as teenagers learning about Anne and the Holocaust.
It's a
potent lesson,
indeed.
Return to Index
Merin And
Her Very
Bright Star: A Story of Resiliency
Lori Mier
Independently Published/New
Beginnings Publishing
ISBN:
978-1-7366569-0-7
Price: $14.95
https://www.bluemountainpathcoaching.com/about-1
Young Merin
lives on
the outskirts of town, where the sky is dark enough to see a very
bright star
that she equates with her missing parents. Merin
And Her Very Bright Star: A Story of Resiliency is about
loss and grief six
years later. It is a very simple reader that follows a young girl's
ongoing
life and adjustments.
This joins a
relatively small number of books that cover the long-term effects of
grieving.
Merin struggles as much with the notion that her parents' absence is
somehow her
fault as she does with the vacancy this has left in her young life.
As a grief
counselor
helps her and Merin discovers her imagination is an acceptable
approach, young
readers receive an evocative, compelling story that follows Merin's
ongoing
resiliency as a process rather than a singular revelation, unlike so
many books
about grief.
The
transformative
opportunities of this process are especially nicely explained: "...here
is what became true: all the bright and beautiful things were filling
her life.
And she was brighter. And she was not the only person with an unknown
space
wanting to be filled. The star taught her that she could turn something
lost
into something found, and if everyone did this, the world would be
brighter."
The result
is an
outstanding story that will bring healing and better understanding to
all ages,
whether they are read-aloud adults or children able to absorb this
short work
for its enlightening, uplifting, supportive message.
Very highly
recommended, Merin And Her Very Bright Star:
A Story of Resiliency takes an important extra step in
outlining the
long-term approaches and effects of grieving and its opportunities for
growth
and developing a positive resiliency that transforms despair into
something
brighter.
Return to Index
Mystery
of the Khar
Chuluu
Wilson Whitlow
Independently Published
978-1-7349098-0-7
$7.99
paper; $2.99 Kindle
Website: www.wilsonwhitlow.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734909803/ref=olp_aod_redir#aod
Mystery of the Khar
Chuluu will reach middle grade to
adult readers and holds a surprise: it's a
full-length book designed to be read aloud. Those who believed their
read-aloud
days ended with growing away from picture books will find this a
delightful
prospect because this gentle fantasy, narrated by the "Djinn
of All
Deserts, who piles himself like a pillar of smoke and rolls across the
ages," reveals this sweeping tale using metaphor and mystery
to grab
attention.
It's
the perfect
milieu for read-aloud attention by all ages, and so lends well to those
who
want an ongoing bedtime read filled with action and adventure.
Chul
Sun has
been hired to steal the khar chuluu, a powerful black stone. But, he's
decided
not to follow through on turning it over to an even deadlier force, and
is on
the run. So is Anita Aminou, who is on her own quest to unlock dark
powers to
save her magical family.
The
convergence
of the two and their seemingly disparate purposes form a saga that
reveals the
khar chuluu is not a key, as Chul has believed, but a "wicked thing,
full
of dark magic" (as the reluctant Djinn is forced to reveal to the
children).
Those
who
command its force will face decisions and dilemmas beyond the ken of
most
humans. And Chul and Anita may be pushed to make the hardest decision
of all in
its deployment and protection, tapping into a power that defies even
the
narrator Djinn's abilities.
Wilson Whitlow's enchanting,
fast-paced journey is
replete with a special form of magic. It's unusual to find a story
featuring
young protagonists that holds the ability to thoroughly immerse adult
audiences, as well.
As the mystery evolves,
powered by the Djinn's savvy and
sometimes sarcastic observations of human behaviors, it becomes a
riveting read
impossible to put down, filled with gripping moments that transform not
just
the characters, but the readers and read-aloud listeners.
Mystery of the Khar
Chuluu is very highly recommended
for its astute definitions of wickedness,
goodness, power, and wisdom.
If
any book
deserved a family's read-aloud participation, it should be Mystery
of the
Khar Chuluu.
Return to Index
Mystery
School: Islid
L.C. Matherne
DartFrog Books
978-1-951490-65-2
$16.99
www.DartFrogBooks.com
Mystery School: Islid is a story set in a
world embroiled by
turmoil, and is recommended for mature teens. Estrella Chavez is a
teenager
when the story opens. Her father, part of an eco-labor movement, was
murdered
when she was a baby, but the impact of his work and absence still
resonates in
her life. Even though twelve years have passed, she still doesn't know
all the
details about his death.
Sent to
boarding
school Glouton, where she initially loves her roommates and its
atmosphere,
Estrella remains blissfully unaware of another world and danger lurking
under
the surface of her mother's actions.
As she
begins to
learn about the Spirit War, the Angelai, and disparate groups that feed
her
simmering anger, Estrella finds herself embroiled in a conflict that
not only
challenges her abilities, but her perception of the world, her family
history,
and her place in it.
Mystery School: Islid contains moral and
ethical quandaries that
arise in the course of Estrella's education: "Estrella
looks at the self-satisfied expression on his face. It’s
a look that says he thinks he’s perfectly ethical, and that money has
no
influence on him, unlike his corruptible childhood friend and her
thieving,
murdering family. “But don’t people do the bad things they do because
they don’t
have money?” Zaharia asks. “It’s much easier to behave
ethically when there is a roof over your head and food on the table.
When we
see others who have so much, and yet we have so little that our
children cry
out from hunger, is it not understandable that we might resort even to
violence
for the money that will give us relief? Money, for many, is not a
question of
ethics, but of desperation.”
Can there
really be a
world in which none of these issues exist?
As Estrella
learns
new lessons about friendship, romance, ethics, and new possibilities,
she not
only revises what she knows about her past, but tackles newfound
quandaries
that stem from a blend of self-discovery and rising consciousness about
her own
choices and their consequences: "Estrella
smiles, giddy at her own memory of dancing with Mark, but then sees a
pair of
blue eyes in her mind. John. She has a boyfriend. Right? A really good
boyfriend, who didn’t abandon her when times got tough, who texts her
almost
every day."
The result
is more
than a mystery, more than a coming of age story, and more than the
usual story
of a boarding school experience that changes everything.
Supercharged
with introspection
and thought-provoking growth, Mystery
School: Islid imbeds the overlay of mystery and discovery
with deeper
lessons about good guys, bad guys, and Estrella's real role as a brand
new
Angelai rises.
Mature teens
who
enjoy stories that embrace more than adventure will appreciate the
solid
inspections of Estrella's cultural roots, her foray into
previously-unknown
worlds and purposes, and the progression of her growth as she
incorporates
these discoveries into her own evolving psyche.
Grippingly
powered by
a host of strong characters, Mystery
School: Islid deserves its status as a powerful series opener
promising
appeal to a wide audience.
Return to Index
Mystic
Invisible
Ryder Hunte Clancy
Winter Goose
Publishing
978-1-952909-05-4
$14.99 Paper/$5.99 Kindle
www.ryderhunteclancy.com
Mystic Invisible provides teen fantasy
readers with the compelling
story of Monte Darrow, a young wizard who moves to the mystically
jeopardized
Scottish Highlands to find that magic is forbidden in a place where
legends run
awry.
Monte's
world is
regulated by the International Mystic Bureau's limitations and
oversight, but
it's still a threatened world in which magic is becoming unstable and
dangerous.
The
introductory
milieu of teens in high school fades into supernatural and fantasy
realms
involving missing Mystics, vanishing creatures, deadly possessed
seashells, and
mysterious figures cloaked in rainbow lights. Monte and his friends
Cameron,
Finn, and others find themselves both evolving their abilities and
confronting
something no adult Mystic dares to face.
From efforts
to
discover the intrigue behind a mysterious seashell to the dilemma
involved in
trying to identify valor from vice, Ryder Hunte Clancy creates
a
fast-paced story which builds its foundations on interpersonal
relationships as
much as mystical and magical encounters.
These cement
this
story of teens coming of age and coming into their powers, embracing
all the
transformative choices these processes involve.
Teens who
enjoy
fast-paced action and adventure tempered by intrigue, mystery, and the
efforts
to keep magical disasters from the prying eyes of the non-magical world
will
find Mystic Invisible satisfyingly
unpredictable and involving.
Its ability
to blend
mystery, fantasy elements, and coming of age themes as its young
protagonists
learn which rules to break and which to abide by makes for an excellent
story.
Return to Index
Rhythm Rescue
Vicky Weber
Trunk Up Books
978-1734212990
$18.99 Hardcover/
$12.99 Paper/$3.19 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Rhythm-Rescue-Vicky-Weber/dp/1734212993
Rhythm Rescue introduces readers to Music
Metropolis, where
"there's always a song to sing and instruments playing everywhere."
Filled with
light and
music as the city is, Tala is a talented young musician who appears to
be in
just the right place as she puts her abilities to work. Vicky Weber's
artistic
co-creator Geneviève
Viel-Taschereau captures Tala's
spirit in large-size pictures that insert a sense of power and
self-strength
into the story.
More than
just a
story about music, Vicky Weber teaches the very basic introductory
rudiments of
reading music and accompanying it with rhythm, injecting simple bass
and cleft
notes into the story and inviting young readers and their musical adult
accompanists to clap along at various intervals.
Tala is
superpowered
by music. The rhythms she (and the reader) cultivate over the course of
the
story help her overcome obstacles and find her way, whether it be past
downed
traffic signals, over flooded roads, or beating a storm.
Adults with
even the
simplest music-reading ability can help youngsters navigate Tala's
world and
employ the clapping beats which teach diverse rhythms, resilience, and
participation in the read-aloud experience. Those who struggle with
vague
memories of music receive further written instruction in the back of
the book
on how to interpret the rhythmic beats of each section.
Much more
than the
usual passive read-aloud picture book, Rhythm
Rescue goes beyond encouraging a collaborative experience,
but teaches
youngsters how they may empower themselves to overcome life's obstacles
through
encouraging creative artistic abilities.
Once again,
Vicky
Walker has achieved a dual goal in a story that both encourages
resilience,
individuality, and community interaction and imparts a basic awareness
of an
aspect of music's power to uplift, support, and contribute to a sense
of
adventure and positive connections in the world.
Any adult
interested
in psychological support and musical education will appreciate having
this dual
opportunity under one cover.
Return to Index
The Song
Garden
Vicky Weber
Trunk Up Books
978-1734212976
$12.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Song-Garden-Vicky-Weber/dp/1734212977
The Song Garden is a lovely, lively story
of music, creativity, and
a child's determination to contribute to the musical community by
crafting her
own original song, and creates an uplifting celebration highly
recommended for
picture book readers and parents interested in musical celebrations.
Zoe Mellors
provides
large-sized, appealing illustrations that capture the personalities
involved in
a community gala celebration, bringing to life the enthusiasm of
collaborative
work and independent creative effort alike.
There is an
element
of fantasy involved, as each participant in the town event is tasked
with
creating a song that "magical flowers" in different gardens will
sing.
Calla's
family has
always participated in this event as a group, but this year she's
determined to
work separate to make her mark as an independent creative force in her
own
right.
Her decision
to visit
others' song gardens to see what else is in the world has an unexpected
result:
she is overwhelmed by all the choices already taken and becomes worried
that
she will "get it wrong" with her own creation.
A wise
mother, a bit
of encouragement, and an epiphany about creativity leads Calla back on
the path
of positivity, which is transmitted to young readers, along with a
concluding
project reinforcing their own creative force with an opportunity to
participate
in a song garden project, themselves.
Once again,
Vicky
Weber accepts the challenge of encouraging a child's creativity and
positive
perspective about opportunities. Her song garden story is more than a
whimsical
tale or a gentle reminder of supporting a creative spirit—it simply and
successfully teaches the basics of self-awareness, collaborative and
individual
effort, and how to develop autonomy and strength by realizing a goal.
Through
her story, kids will be encouraged to consider their own path to
musical and
artistic composition.
The message
and its
translation through bright, large-size drawings by Zoe Mellors will
delight
adults seeking stories that go beyond entertainment value to reinforce
a
child's inner spirit.
Return to Index
Unwritten
Alicia J. Novo
INtense Publications
9781947796652
$16.99
Paper/$28.99 Hardcover
Website: www.alicianovo.com
Ordering: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unwritten-Zweeshen-Chronicles-Alicia-Novo/dp/194779664X
Unwritten
will
reach teens interested in magical realism and stories about bullying,
and
introduces the Zweeshen Chronicles series.
Beatrix Alba is a book nerd
and is ripe fodder for
bullying, which takes place not just in school, but at home. Like most
nerds,
she harbors dreams of being powerful enough to overcome these forces of
darkness. Unlike the rest, she actually holds the secret capability to
do
so...a power that brings her into the book world she so loves when a
spell to
keep her hidden breaks.
In Zweeshen, all the tales
she so loves are alive. It's a
world where wishes come true, there to live alongside horrors the
ordinary
world keeps buried out of sight, with only books of legends remaining
to
document this alternate reality.
Unlike her former world, in
this one, Beatrix's ability
to change everything proves not just an asset, but the starting point
for a
world-changing battle. Amidst confrontations between good and evil,
Beatrix
finds herself joining forces with a cursed conjurer to face an
adversary intent
on taking over.
Only she holds the puzzle
key to his ability to do so.
And only Beatrix can tap the help of her friends to use darkness to
succeed,
even if it means destroying the world she's lived in all her life.
Alicia J. Novo creates a
powerful story which relies on a
set of literary clues and puzzles that drive the main character and her
friends
to make difficult decisions. Beatrix is motivated by her need to see
her
mother, but there's a deeper purpose to her actions. She also needs to
uncover
truths about herself.
Teens receive a
coming-of-age (or, perhaps more
correctly, a coming-into-power) tale that is delightfully hinged on
literary
figures and devices from not just fantasy realms, but romance and other
genres.
As she questions "How much
bad is tolerable?"
Beatrix begins to find answers to questions that include many
philosophical
moments: "I'm convinced the best we
can do is live our way. It denies everyone else power over us."
While its moral and ethical
queries are one of its
strengths, Unwritten will be
relished
by teens who have experienced bullying and who will especially delight
in the
unexpected convergence of literary figures on the stage of a world that
brings
them all to life, fighting side by side: "Elizabeth
has arranged for a ship captained by one of Peter Pan's defected
pirates."
Its surprising confluence of
fantasy and its unexpected
twists and turns, supported by strong characters, draws readers into a
story
that is satisfyingly unpredictable and hard to put down.
Return to Index
When the
Angel Sent
Butterflies
Jody Sharpe
Independently
Published
978-0988562080
$9.00 Paper; $2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/When-Angel-Sent-Butterflies-Sharpe/dp/0988562081
When the Angel Sent Butterflies provides
read-aloud parents with an
uplifting primer about little Kate, who is frightened when a bee buzzes
around
her.
Jones
reminds his
sister that their mother says angels watch over them daily. Angel Ken
has a
different approach: he sends butterflies to delight the kids and take
away
their fear of nature and the outdoors.
Dog Billie
sees
angels all the time. She knows that Angel Ken's purpose is not just to
distract
with lovely butterflies, but to teach the kids that bees and
butterflies alike
are their friends, and a positive part of the world around them.
Illustrator
Susan
Clare Anderson's drawings are simple and inviting. They could have been
drawn
by a child, but provide colorful embellishments that will interest a
young age
range.
The story
concludes
on an upbeat note with an invitation to have kids draw a butterfly and
a bee,
providing an activity to reinforce the spiritual and nature message of
a
read-aloud that religious parents will find inviting.
Return to Index
The Tale of
the Tooth
Mouse
George H. Bentz, DDS,
MS
Schornsteinfeger
Press, LLC
9781734776911
$19.95
Hardcover/$14.95 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://izzardink.com/the-tale-of-the-tooth-mouse
The Tale of the Tooth Mouse is a
delightful picture book story
reaching ages 7-9 with a whimsical message about lost teeth, tooth
fairies, and
twins who live in a friendly small town in "a time of kings and queens
and
castles and knights."
They live
with and
enjoy their clever mouse friend Timothy J, who is always entertaining
and fun,
and who is quite a fan of his young friends and cheese.
When young
Jon's
first tooth comes out, it precipitates a crisis because Jon likes his
teeth,
doesn't want to throw away a tooth just because it exited his mouth,
and is
traumatized not just about the loss, but about the specter it brings
about
growing up and change.
How can
caring
Timothy J help his young friend overcome this trauma and cheer him on
his path
to maturity?
Timothy J
thinks and
thinks...and the idea stems from a combination of his caring
relationship with
the children, their appreciation of surprises, and an innovative idea
that
blossoms into a myth all children embrace today.
George H.
Bentz's
story goes far beyond the usual approach to tooth fairies and loss. It
embraces
far wider themes of growing up, being responsible and caring towards
others, arriving
at innovative solutions for problems, and how to adjust to the trauma
of losing
one's first tooth.
As Jon adjusts to the idea of change and growing up, young children will appreciate the lessons embedded in the whimsical story of a creative mouse and the human he loves. While reading skills are required to absorb the story, parents of younger kids will also find The Tale of the Tooth Mouse lends to read-aloud, with its fun drawings and important message. It's a delightfully refreshing, original change from the usual tooth fairy story.
The Tale of the Tooth MouseReturn to Index