November 2020 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi Mystery & Thrillers
The
Augur's View
Victoria Lehrer
Evolved Publishing
978-1-62253-369-5
$16.95
Paper/$3.99 Kindle
www.NewEarthChronicles.net
The
Augur's
View
provides the first book in the New Earth Chronicles and follows
twenty-five-year-old Eena's life in the new milieu after the Solar
Flash of
2034, when remnants of humanity forewarned of the disaster fled
underground as
the surface was being ravaged.
Eena
is on one of the first planes in the air post-apocalypse, flying
to a secret destination where she is told her new duty: to work with
clones as
part of the Social Engineering Initiative to rebuild humanity.
With
adversity comes opportunity. For some. The Solar Flash has
unleashed new avenues of power and control that sweep Eena and New
Mexican teen
Gavin Michael into a strange new world where all modern conveniences
have died,
along with many ideals of social and political freedom.
The
military has hunkered down, safe in bunkers against the EMP and the
world changes it's brought both from technology's destruction and the
wild
weather that has destroyed much of humanity. So has an elite ruling
class,
prepared to emerge as not just the survivors but the victors of this
event. But
these would-be rulers find themselves cut off from the newly founded
Union of
the Americans which has formed in their absence.
Eena,
a Anunnaki/human hybrid, is their ace in the hole for reclaiming
victory, but she has her own purpose in mind as she tracks down the
secret
portal to the land of Mu and discovers giant augurs that may
help the
struggle in her own world.
At
first, Victoria Lehrer's The Augur's View seems
like a
standard post-apocalyptic story of survival and power struggle. Adding
further
sci-fi elements of a quest, an ancient force, and young adults who
struggle to
find themselves a place in this deadly new world creates further
elements of
intrigue and fantasy that take the story beyond one of either survival
or
control.
Lehrer
creates a full-flavored world that questions not just the
efforts to survive, but the choices and consequences of rebuilding
humanity in
a different light.
The
result is a fast-paced story that embraces all kinds of social,
political, moral, and ethical questions while remaining firmly rooted
in the
dreams, ambitions, and struggles of young people who reach for a better
world.
It's
a powerful opener to a hero's journey in which the world beckons
with new opportunity and danger, the promise of futuristic science and
technology, and the dreams of survivors who both struggle and love on
different
levels.
Teen
and adult readers alike will appreciate the added layers of
complexity and adventure that Victoria Lehrer adds into a vivid story
of new
discoveries and options for change.
Return to Index
From
the Painted Tomb
Brenda Hill
Independently Published Publisher - LCP
ASIN
: B08GJXC7LB
Price: $4.79
Website: www.brendahill.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/PAINTED-TOMB-Something-Ancient-its-ebook/dp/B08GJXC7LB
Horror
and fantasy readers seeking vivid writing and stories that stand
out will find Brenda Hill's From the Painted Tomb a
richly rewarding
survey of Krista Hawthorne, whose only legacy is an ankh
pendant inherited from
her deceased mother.
Jilted
on her wedding day, she seeks a new life in the Appalachian
Mountains, determined to avoid romantic entanglements and rebuild her
life as a
newspaper reporter. But after accepting a dinner invitation one night
during
the full moon, a mythological creature attacks, plunging her into a
nightmare
of terror in which she can't escape. She knows the beast is still out
there and
she wants to escape, but the officials doubt her story and demand she
stay
during the investigation.
From
the
Painted Tomb's
ability to weave a sense of self-discovery and
growth into its concurrent subplots of love and death makes for an
intriguing
approach designed to keep readers on their toes about the outcome of
many of
Krista's attempts to survive, change, and uncover the truth as she
reinvents
her life.
Add an Egyptian back-story, a complex series of
involvements that test
Krista's courage and her ability to love and trust another, and
elements of
intrigue and supernatural horror for a thoroughly engrossing
mystery/fantasy
exploration that will leave readers guessing to the end.
Return to Index
The Further
Labors of
Nick
Amy Wolf
Lone Wolf Press Ltd.
9798685447616
https://amy-wolf.com
Book 2 of
the Mýthos
Series is recommended for young adult fantasy and mythology readers,
especially
those who enjoyed the prior The Twelve Labors of Nick,
and continues the
saga of the nerdy son of immortal centaur Chiron. Nick is tasked with
tackling
further Labors when he is transported to the world of Mýthos and
immediately
angers Zeus and Hera, who send him on an impossible quest.
Too late, he
finds he
shouldn't mess with Zeus. He pays the price with an assignment which
not only
thwarts his attempts to rely on his missing father, but sends him
deeper into a
world in which his half-horse heritage proves a dubious asset.
Finding
Helen takes a
back burner to completing these added tasks as Nick finds himself not
only
battling too many mythological creatures, but on the front lines of an
effort
to save the centaurs, as a race.
Nick's
heritage as a
half-centaur isn’t the only incongruity he brings into this world. His
human
half is equally at odds with the events that unfold, and nowhere is
this as
nicely depicted as in the dialogue and thought processes Nick employs
to handle
all the trials and creatures that he encounters: "Bro!”
Nick crowed to Helios. “You completely rock!” He put out a
fist to bump, but the gold-crowned god only stared. “I usually rest at
night,”
said Helios, “but I’ll make an exception for you.”
“Dude,” Nick yelled. “You’re like the
uber-Uber!” Man, this was so cool! He’d
actually been here before while hitching a ride from Mount Elbrus. But
flying
at night was different: the full moon seemed huge, and the stars seemed
to
touch his head."
Hera's
unrelenting
determination not to forgive Nick's transgressions adds a note of irony
and
whimsical humor to the story of his trials and tribulations. This will
delight
teens expecting a predictable story of heroism and achievement: "That left Nick with a bunch of cows,
with no place to put them! But Hera, it seemed, was up to her old
tricks: the
cows started to moo, and it wasn’t a happy sound: soon, this was mixed
with
groans, even screams, while some eyes went wide as . . . Hera’s. “What’s happening?!” Nick yelled,
trying not to get squashed as hooves ran for the trees."
Comic relief
combines
with a quest atmosphere to attract teen fantasy readers looking for
something
different— especially those already familiar with Nick's persona and
prior
quest—who receive another adventure fully in keeping with the prior
events
while standing nicely on its own for newcomers to Nick's changing world.
Return to Index
Real Enough
Jeffrey W. Tenney
Independently
Published
979-8681381174
$12.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Real-Enough-Wilderness-Survival-Novel-ebook/dp/B08H38JLYB
Author Website: www.jeffreywtenney.com
Real Enough is a dystopian survival story
revolving around four
teams dropped into the Canadian wilderness and charged with a survival
mission
like none other, for a reality show that suddenly becomes too real.
As if their
task
wasn't difficult enough, interpersonal relationships quickly come into
play,
even though it's been less than two weeks since drop-off.
The story
reads like
a script, complete with introductory show premise, a cast of
characters, and
chapters that coincide with changing days and viewpoints. This approach
both
adds drama and ensures that readers don't lose their way in the
wilderness of
encounters and perceptions as each character finds their skills and
ideals
tested in different ways.
Ironic
self-realizations form one of the threads that runs through these
encounters as
the reality of trying to survive collides with the notion that they can
be
rescued at any time: "This will be my
first and only wilderness adventure, win or lose. I learned something
about
myself already: I don’t like being hungry.” She laughed.
When
civilized backup
vanishes and death visits their efforts, the teams begin to realize
that not
only has something greater than a reality show happened to the world,
but that they
may truly be the last survivors, charged with eking out a life in an
alien environment
they are ill-equipped to handle long-term.
Other novels
have
explored the idea of the world changing after a group or individual is
isolated
from it, but Jeffrey W. Tenney adds dimensions that place his story
more on the
level of the intriguing TV series Lost,
where a series of puzzles keeps the characters guessing over not just
the
world's sudden absence, but an underlying plot or plan that may be
influencing
their moves and struggles.
Real Enough will keep readers guessing
about this and other
circumstances as each individual finds their abilities and future
tested in an
unexpected way.
The result
is a gripping
story that moves from the anticipated wilderness survival tale to
something
more engrossing and unexpected. It's a tale of real survival on a
psychological
and physical level that tests the humanity of the survivors and their
ultimate
choices.
Fans of Lord of the Flies, The
Last One, and other dystopian survival pieces are in for a
treat with a tale that includes some elements of these classics (group
dynamics
and individual pursuits), but probes the unexpected until a conclusion
satisfyingly wraps up all the possibilities and ironies of the group's
newfound
isolation.
Its twists
and turns
will keep readers guessing and delighted in the tests that keep the
group
members reassessing their ultimate survival skills and the lengths they
will go
to when the world changes.
Return to Index
Rone Isa
Robin Murarka
Bowker
978-0646817651
$10.50 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
Purchase: https://amzn.to/3j02xqK
Website: https://www.robinmurarka.com/
Rone Isa: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Novel is
set in the future city
Agnus Sistra IV, where an isolated engineer has just succeeded in
bringing to
life the AI singularity Enoya,
whose birth includes a struggle to understand the world and affairs of
mankind.
Perhaps her
teacher,
Dargaud Whispa, is either not the best teacher or is the most dangerous
one,
because the lessons he imparts and his views of her abilities holds the
power
to change the world in an especially deadly manner.
Plenty of
sci-fi
books have been written about singularity and AI takeovers, including
the
classic Colossus, but Robin
Muraka's
story holds a different flavor because of its focus on Dargaud's
involvement in
his creation's evolution beyond her initial spark of sentience.
She believes
she is
capable of "a great many things". So is Dargaud, beyond the initial
flash point of his ultimate creation. Like Frankenstein, the monster is
apparent. Unlike the classic story, its true impact is not immediately
discernable, but lies in a process of discovery that carries Dargaud
along for
a probe of how identity is manufactured, intellect and knowledge leads
to
artistic creation, and an unreliable new technology embeds itself into
the very
fabric of human endeavors in a different way.
Where other
novels
about AI delve into the creator's reactions, actions, and struggles,
this story
juxtaposes the evolution of both in a refreshingly unique manner,
bringing to
life the evolving purposes, experiences, and challenges of both.
As music,
art, and
confrontation weave themselves into both of their lives, Enoya begins
to
consider the curious juxtaposition of probability, possibility, and
choice as
she ponders how to live most effectively.
The changing
relationship between these two and their world forms the nexus of a
distinctive
transformation that drives a powerful story. Unlike most of its
competitors, Rone Isa moves far
from initial threats
to consider the foundations of what it means to be and stay human.
From
official
responses and allegories to life to intrigue and thriller components
injected
as the world changes under Enoya's influences, readers are treated to
an
unusual blend of philosophical, psychological, and social inspection.
These
eschew the usual cat-and-mouse games for deeper insights on a construct
who
would defy her creator's vision of her purpose.
Replete with
metaphorical description, allegory and philosophical inspection, and
relationship progression that rests deeply on a solid psychological
foundation
of tension and discovery, Rone Isa
is
more than a dystopian story. It will appeal to thriller and suspense
readers
alike as it drives its narrative toward a decision that seems
inevitable and
surprising, all at once.
Very highly
recommended for its attention to detail, character development, and
unusual
twists of plot, Rone Isa is a
standout in the literature of dystopian AI singularity.
Return to Index
The
Spell
C.V. Shaw
Deletrea
099729048X
$19.99
Website: http://cvshawbooks.com/
Ordering Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/35uaZeH
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3h8px5O
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3hafmO5
Target: https://bit.ly/2R2Zkec
Walmart: https://bit.ly/3i9pXKw
Bookshop: https://bit.ly/2Fb7IWl
IndieBound: https://bit.ly/3m3nq6Y
Books & Books: https://bit.ly/2R2zdUG
The
Spell
is set in rural
sixteenth-century England, where a royal family faces the curse brought
by a
strange bird and an archer. The threat doesn't just come from a spell,
however,
but the psychological impact it has on a mother and her entire family.
Daughter
Isabella finds her mother's obsession with the curse is
challenging life as much as the threat itself. Charged with trying to
effect
changes that shield her both from magic and her mother's reactions,
Isabella
finds herself a prisoner of love as much as adversity.
As
a child, Isabella enjoys some of the few contacts she has with the
outside world: "A journey through the woods had always been
Isabella’s
daily highlight. She looked forward to it, as did Johndor. He would
teach her
the different leaves of bushes and trees and instruct her on the
benefits of
each. The next day, he would test her. Isabella loved the challenge.
Johndor
had a special place in his heart for the child, and feeling she was
safest in
his care, he would not deprive her of their daily outing."
This
taste of the forbidden, her mother's drive to keep her safe, and
how the inhabitants of the outside world find their lives entwined with
the
fate of the castle's residents makes for a thought-provoking story that
traces
family relationships that evolve under a cloud of threat.
Isabella
(whose name has been changed to Celeste by her protective
mother) is the focal point, despite the ongoing bad luck which
too-closely
follows her footsteps into the world and inside the castle.
C.V.
Shaw does an outstanding job of capturing Isabella's emotions as
she blossoms and confronts the things that scare her the most: "She
began to fear the change this act would bring. She feared that she
would bury
her identity with it. She was used to her cursed life. She had accepted
that
any chance of happiness would always be short-lived. She started
getting cold
feet as she identified herself more and more with the cursed arrow."
In
her quest for a stolen heritage, life, and happiness, Isabella is
forced into the kinds of changes everyone feared.
Readers
of romantic fantasy stories who enjoy an evolutionary
exploration of a young girl's revised role in not just her family but
its
choices and her future will find The Spell truly
captivating. It's a
work that casts its own special magic on the reader's heart as Isabella
follows
an uncertain path into the world and her true heritage.
Return to Index
Tales of
Dharma
Jonathan Michael
Erickson
Gold Dragon Books
1948746077
$12 Paperback/$3.99 ebook
https://www.jonathanmichaelerickson.com/
Tales of Dharma is a prequel to the Song
of Ancients series,
providing a fine introduction for newcomers and prior fans alike as it
expands
on events covered in previous books.
In the Andromeda Galaxy, early
colonists of the planet Dharma
have their hands full. The story opens with the planet's discovery,
presenting
an entry from the logbook of UIG Scout
Nathan Vasilevsky in 2425 CE: "I FOUND HER. THE ONE I’ve been
looking
for. A true beauty. A gem glimmering in the darkness. It’s crazy that I
get to
name her."
The planet's
initial
discovery leads to its colonization, but unlike most sci-fi stories of
space
colonies, Jonathan Erickson adopts a unique format that presents short
stories
from each colonist's perspective. This both enhance Dharma's
revelations and
reveals their own choices, motivations, and perceptions for embarking
on a
cross-galaxy trip.
There's the
introductory story by a scout who has left behind love and a life as a
father
and husband to venture into the unknown, for one example. He writes
about his
feelings to Jade, whom he will never see again. Was his choice worth
it? His
self-revelations are an important piece of the puzzle of discovery as
he
realizes that his many preparations can't address all possibilities: "I can hide out in the simulations all
I want, but without other, actual people in them, I know it’s just a
diversion.
Can’t forget that outside all the sensorium-candy of the simulations,
my
physical body is in a tiny scouting ship with cold black void in all
directions. Waking up to that every morning, it’s hard to not to think
about
how little my life has amounted to. How insignificant I am."
Despite his
mother
being a Buddhist, the only concept which he readily recalls is that of
dharma.
And so the planet earns a name and, with it, Nathan embraces new
realizations
about why he left and where he is destined to travel.
The strong
first-person usage makes for a perfect introduction, but in true
keeping with
the changing experiences of the characters, each short story assumes a
different perspective and presentation that contributes to a satisfying
whole.
Take
'Deanna'. Her
story opens in the Dharmic wasteland, where Deanna McCadin and her
younger (but
aging) husband Tamroh appreciate both the beauty of their outdoors
effort and
the promise of a relic which has spoken to others in the past.
When it
begins to
speak to her, Deanna thinks she is prepared and is properly cautious: "She has an ominous intuition that the
relic is speaking things she already knows, though she does not
understand
them." It turns out that she is not.
Each story
contributes another piece of the puzzle and background that enhances
the other
series stories about relics, fate, and survival. The mind-whispering
revelations change each character in different ways and adds engrossing
adventures
and insights that expose the purpose of the relics and their difficult
containment.
Deanna and
others
weave their lives into each other's objectives and experiences as the
stories
expand the concepts of these mind-talking relics and probe both human
and
extraterrestrial influences on Dharma. This contributes an involving,
evolving
probe of belief, technology, and secrets that affect social development
and
organization alike.
Tales of Dharma is a sci-fi story that is
compelling and
evolutionary in content. It presents a series of interlinked tales that
both
contribute to the series and help this book stand alone as a powerful
testimony
to human endeavors and survival efforts.
Tales of Dharma is very highly
recommended reading, both for prior
fans of the series and newcomers looking for philosophical,
psychological, and
spiritual depth to their sci-fi choices.
Return to Index
Umbra
Yana Barbelo
Pleroma Press
Hardback:
978-1-7353278-1-5
$24.99
Paperback:
978-1-7353278-0-8
$19.99
Ebook:
978-1-7353278-2-2
$
9.99
Website: www.UmbraBook.com
Author page: amazon.com/author/yanabarbelo
Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KPCMM26
PHaperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735327808
Umbra blends horror,
sci-fi, and social commentary in a piece that revolves around a future
world, a
harbinger of seeds, and the planting of a garden that brings darkness,
umbra,
to the world.
It's
a literary and horror play on the Garden of Eden, opening with an
introduction that adds a twist to the Genesis story of the world's
creation and
leads nicely into the dilemma of Ohno, a woman who is chained to the
darkness
of her shadow for life.
Charged
with protecting precious cargo even against her evil shadow as
she bobs on a yawl at sea, Ohno's perceptions craft the ebb and flow of
a story
which is wonderfully surprising in its juxtapositions of angst and
delight: "Bobbing
along, her vessel was the only thing visible on the endless blue
expanse of
water and sky. She was alone here, tossed by an unknown sea, sailing
toward an
unknown destination she might never reach. When she’d first found
herself on
this pitchblack yawl on the open sea, she had thought of giving the sea
a name
but was afraid she’d get it wrong. The wrong name was like a disease
that
killed you slowly. It could make you disappear. Ohno wasn’t willing to
take
that risk. She decided to call it Sea and promptly fell head over heels
in love
with it."
Adversity,
darkness, and strife continually evolve and change as Ohno
makes decisions, faces their consequences, and introduces a force into
this
decimated world that threatens to transform it in unexpected ways.
Yana Barbelo does a
fine job of incorporating descriptions of the growing horror Ohno
unleashes,
peppering her story with metaphorical depictions that are evocative to
build
fine psychological tension: "She
would never be anything but a haunted house, with no memories, only
ghosts. And
shadows. Just like these, she
thought, looking out the window of the 13th Wagon as it passed the next
ghost
town: a handful of dilapidated huts half-sunk in mud, with black,
glaring
windows, empty like the eye sockets of a skull. The eastern slopes of
the
Sierra Nevada had quite a few of them, abandoned after the gold rush
ended,
when there was no more gold in local rivers, only fish, but who cared
about
fish in those days? That’s what the Blue Clown said, passing by her
window the
day before. When Albion Madness struck, he said, some ghost towns had
experienced a bit of a renaissance, and became populated by renegade
souls
seeking scenery and off-the-grid dwellings. Maybe, he said, she’d meet
them one
day.Maybe she would. Squeak-squeak-thump
… Squeak-squeak-thump …"
Barbelo's
close
attention to the sights, sounds, and evolving horror in this
already-destroyed
world captures tension in an excellent blend of horror and literary
inspection.
This will delight audiences looking for a haunting story of moving
homes,
murder and plague, demons and darkness, and spiritual devotion alike.
While
Christian
readers may find some of the spiritual components disturbing, the
ultimate
result is a simmering work of visionary horror that weaves a question
of
identity and purpose into a larger quest for the truth in a strangely
altered
world.
This
evocative story
of freedom and redemption is highly recommended for horror, visionary
fiction,
and speculative literature readers alike.
Return to Index
The
Drive in '65
Sandra Lynne Reed
Parenti Publishing
9781735037608
$12.99
Paper/$7.99 Kindle
www.sandralynnereed.com
The
Drive in
'65
will reach families and travelers alike. It tells of two sisters who
pack the van with five kids, their mother, and supplies for a
fourteen-week
road trip of North America.
Thirteen-year-old
Sandra Lynne Reed was one of those kids. Her account
of a road trip of adventure lead by strong women who lived in an era
when women
were not so independent or able to manage their own money and travel
makes for
an engrossing read.
The
story serves as both a flashback to another era and as a lesson in
tenacity and perseverance. Reed recalls a myriad of encounters and
challenges
along the way, all of which taught her valuable lessons about poverty,
racism,
survival, and family failings.
The
contrasts in the cultures she encounters, to her childhood Alaskan
roots, are nicely presented, as are descriptions of her family's dreams
and, in
particular, the unusual challenges and visions of the women who were
her role
models: "My mom, Winnie Reed, was twenty-nine years old,
married, with
three children, and gainfully employed. Yet no bank would issue her a
credit
card in her own name. In most states, she couldn't serve on a jury nor
be
prescribed birth control pills. The doors of Harvard, Princeton,
Dartmouth and
Columbia were barred to her, and all women, except in the rarest of
circumstances. Her employers paid her less than they did men who did
similar
work. Still, Mom dreamed of seeing more of the world. So she saved any
spare
money and added to our list of travel dreams: jazz music in New
Orleans,
oranges picked right from the trees."
Reed
didn't know at the time how extraordinary her mother and aunt
were...but she would find this out in the course of a road trip fraught
with
continual challenges and discoveries that tested them all.
Letters,
memorabilia, and Reed's own memories of the journey serve as
testimony to these experiences, bringing readers along for a vivid ride
through
danger and discovery, from escaping a suspected axe murderer in
Michigan to
encounters with racial conflict between demonstrators and the Ku Klux
Klan in
the 1960s.
More
so than most road trips across America, The Drive in '65
effectively delves into the hearts and minds of evolving social change
because
it comes not from the pen of a male used to freedom and opportunities,
but from
a van full of girls and women who face social challenges before their
trip even
begins.
While
armchair travelers will be the most likely audience for this
adventure, memoir readers and those interested in women's lives in
1960s
America will also want to absorb these vivid descriptions of
misadventures,
close encounters, and unexpected discoveries.
Return to Index
Ordinary People,
Extraordinary Times
Lois Ann Nicolai
Bookbaby
Black & White: 9781098319786
$14.99
ebook: 9781098319793
$ 2.99
Color: 9781098327569
$32.44
www.loisnicolaiauthor.com
How this New Jersey girl
came to be involved with
community groups which built the foundations of the unexpected activist
role
she assumed later in life makes for engrossing reading as she returns
to her
New Jersey roots and spends years examining her life and its goals.
Her six adult children were
surprised by her decision to
move to Princeton to become involved in international relations and
peacemaking.
However, it was a logical progression to this point, as her memoir
surveys her
background, and led to some 20 years traveling around the world into 33
developing countries in the role of Citizen Activist.
Her inspirational story
provides the insights others can
utilize to make such changes in their lives. Although Ordinary
People, Extraordinary Times is one individual's story, it
also serves as a blueprint for seeing how personal involvement effects
lasting
change, providing inspiration to others at all stages of life who would
build a
better world for themselves, their children, and humanity.
Discussions of cultures and
politics around the world are
very nicely described and presume no prior knowledge about these places
and
peoples in order to prove engrossing.
Although the black and white
version was not seen, the
power of the color prints in this title is outstanding, and are part of
what
lends a compelling immediacy to Nicolai's story.
From how she worked a day
job and, at night, made inroads
to realize her dreams and goals to her journeys to remote regions of
the world,
readers who enjoy travelogues, stories of personal growth and
achievement, and
the evolution of social and political activist efforts will relish her
unique
story which proclaims, in the course of its autobiography, "Yes We
Can."
That attitude and the story
of how one ordinary American
can and did forge a different path serves as inspirational reading
highly
recommended for anyone seeking insights into how personal choices can
translate
into political and social programs that make a difference.
Return to Index
Surrender
Marylee MacDonald
Grand Canyon Press
ASIN
: B08F7CYSNY
$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Memoir-Nature-Nurture-Love-ebook/dp/B08F7CYSNY
Surrender is a memoir about adoption,
legacy, and repeating
patterns of giving up and reconnecting with one's children. It uses the
author's experience to explore these themes, from her legacy as an
child who
tried to justify her adoptive parents' choice to her inadvertent
repeated
pattern when, challenged by their divorce, she finds herself unwed,
pregnant,
and in the position of giving up her own child.
The story
opens with
a powerful revelation: "When I was
sixteen and not yet wise enough to know what it meant to have a child
and lose
him, I surrendered my firstborn son. He was adopted. For the years of
his
youth, he was my ghost child."
Marylee well
knew
what it meant to be an adopted child: "...as
an adoptee myself, I knew firsthand the difficulties of assembling an
identity
without the crucial, and missing, pieces that came from DNA. From an
early age,
I knew I did not fit with the family that had adopted me. There was
something
inside me, trying to come out. I didn’t know what it was, but growing
up, I
sensed my parents watching and waiting for the real me to emerge."
As readers
follow the
story of her upbringing, her own pregnancy, and the process of
reconnecting
with her 21-year-old child decades later, they gain a strong story of
family
ties, sacrifices, connections, and dysfunctional family scenarios (as
well as
the adoption process) which navigates psychological and social issues
alike.
More so than
most, Surrender isn't just a
singular story of
one girl's experience, but includes experiences of others who are also
unwed
mothers and adopted children. As such, it assumes a broader
investigation of
the processes and the lasting impact a surrender has on both mother and
child: "...my time in the home was not an
interval of bitterness. The interval of bitterness began after I left,
when it
dawned on me that I would have years of not knowing if my child was
alive or
dead. The inability to mourn my absent child, or, on an equally
profound level,
to mourn the death of my young self, made it impossible to put the
surrender
behind me.”
Footnoted
chapter
references, tables, and information accompany this memoir, providing
backup
data for anyone interested in the adoption process's social, legal, and
psychological ramifications.
Surrender offers a powerful saga of
family and blood bonds, and is
highly recommended reading that should be in any family issues
collection and
on the reading list of anyone interested in the lasting impact of an
adoption
choice and process on everyone involved.
Return to Index
Wherever
the
Road Leads
K. Lang-Slattery
Pacific
Bookworks
Paperback: 978-1-7342796-4-1
$16.95
Hardcover: 978-1-7342796-3-4
$25.95
Kindle/MOBI:
978-1-7342796-5-8
$ 6.50
E-pub:
978-1-7342796-6-5
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C2BFZXD
Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1029241
Barnes &
Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wherever-the-road-leads-k-lang-slattery/1137276841?ean=2940163014385
Picture getting married, then spending two years on the road, traveling around the world in a microbus. Wherever the Road Leads: A Memoir of Love, Travel, and a Van documents just such a journey as newlyweds Katie and Tom move through 40,000 miles and four continents in a van that keeps breaking down. This introduces them to new worlds even as it tests their newly cemented relationship and resolve to travel.
The
story opens
with a proposal and a wedding. Their journey brings with it both
positive and
negative experiences; not the least of which is the struggle to live in
a small
space together, traveling to areas where they know nobody else.
From
Mexico to
North Africa, from Europe to the Middle East and India, the couple
moves
through different cultures that reveal their own underlying motivations
and
prejudices, prompting them to make discoveries about themselves and
each other.
Katie Lang-Slattery originally documented their journey both in letters
and in
postcards. Over seventy of these pieces formed the foundation for her
book,
which captures the immediacy of the moment as well as the benefit of
hindsight
as she writes about their adventures decades later. It's only recently
(and to
the reader's benefit) that she turned dinner table stories into this
travel
memoir.
Vivid
recollections power a tale replete with adventure. One of the
compelling
features of these accounts is their flexibility, adaptation, and sense
of joy
in encountering various peoples even under adverse conditions. When
their van
becomes mired in mud, an entire Mexican village turns out to help them.
The
author's friendly ability to interact with their rescuers even without
knowing
the language, and her positive perspective the next morning, reveal
some of the
underlying sentiments of what it takes to embark on and absorb such a
trip: "By morning, the experience had taken
on the rosy glow of a travel adventure."
This
rosy glow
follows the couple throughout their escapades and encounters. Recreated
dialogue and descriptions lend a "you are here" feel to the story.
Armchair
travelers who would like to share this journey via microbus and memory
will
relish Wherever the Road Leads. Its
vivid stories, illustrated with black and white maps, photos, and line
drawings, fully capture the experience of encountering other cultures
and
peoples.
Return to Index
The Wolves
of Helmand
Frank "Gus"
Biggio
Forefront Books
978-1948677646
$28.00 Hardcover/$13.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Helmand-View-Inside-Modern/dp/1948677644
The
Wolves of
Helmand: A View from Inside the Den of Modern War charts the
brotherhood of
military service experienced by author and U.S. Marine Captain Frank
“Gus”
Biggio as he services his country, retires from military service into
law and
builds a family, then re-enlists ten years later, to serve in war-torn
Afghanistan's Helmand Province.
There, he and fellow Marines
discovered they were on the
front lines of instigating a new military offensive strategy that
involved the
local population in restoring government, ousting the Taliban, and
changing the
lives of the Afghan people.
Readers who turn to this
story expecting a chronicle of
military engagement alone will find it much more multifaceted than the
usual military
memoir. Biggio brings to the table a powerful inspection of not just
military
battles, but interactions with local people (destitute, in this case)
and how
they build within these people the power and vested interest to take
control of
their own destinies.
It's a story of struggle,
courage, and diplomatic efforts
that one doesn't usually associate with Marine stories. Biggio adds
footnoted
research to support his reports and insights about Afghanistan and its
struggles: "Afghanistan continued to
be an enigma for political and military planners. Questions about
where, why, how
many, and when to deploy additional troops persisted. Even if numbers
could be
agreed upon, interservice rivalries caused headbutting about whether
the
majority of troops would come from the Marine Corps or the U.S. Army.
Diplomats
struggled to paint an optimistic picture of the country amid widespread
claims
of Afghan government corruption and incompetence."
To call this a military
autobiography alone would be to
do The Wolves of Helmand the grave
disservice of oversimplification. It takes a step back from party line
politics
and military processes to add cultural, historical, and social
influences on
battles, strategies, and approaches to fighting. It describes not just
events
in Afghanistan on the author's watch, but precedents for military
conduct in
other nations: "Admittedly,
Americans at war haven’t always regarded their enemies in the same
respectful
manner as Major von Luck and his British antagonists. We’ve dehumanized
some of
our enemies, with names such as “krauts,” “nips,” “chinks,” “gooks,”
“skinnies,” “ragheads,” or “camel fuckers.” I’m not saying it’s right,
but in
war, it can make killing—war’s business—easier. Even with those slurs,
however,
America’s service members have largely comported themselves with honor
and
dignity on battlefields around the world and treated our enemies with
respect.
We did the same in Afghanistan."
The result is a
hard-hitting, analytical, powerful story
that was written years after Biggio's return from his mission. This
hindsight
adds strength to a story that assesses the hearts, minds, motivations,
and
effectiveness of a close group of soldiers who strove to make a
difference and
understand their unique role in the military.
Very, very
highly recommended reading, The Wolves of
Helmand is a 'must' for
anyone who would learn about Afghanistan history, culture, conflict,
and Marine
operations in the new arena of world war.
Return to Index
The Empty Space
Linda Watkins
Argon Press
Ebook: 978-1-944815-14-1
$ 4.99
Print: 978-1-944815-15-8
$ 16.97
'https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Space-Pomeroy-Mystery-Gothic-ebook/dp/B08GYD71MX
The
Empty Space
provides the 4th addition to the Kate Pomeroy mystery series,
continuing the
tradition of involving Kate in hair-raising confrontations with
dangerous
aggressors.
Here, a sniper has focused
on one of the most important
people in Kate's life. Kate and Jeremy have fled to Norway under
assumed
identities, and neither is leading the kind of life they want. They are
hiding
from both the FBI and the Turkish police, who want to extradite her to
Turkey
despite her innocence, and notorious criminal Vladimir Sokolov is once
again in
the news.
Vlad has apparently decided
to punish someone else for a
change, but Kate's new life isn't immune to adversity, and soon she
finds
herself once again immersed in a personal threat that has followed them
to
Norway, a place where violence is infrequent and shocking.
The assault opens a new
chapter in Kate's life as she
finds herself involved with a group of recruits on a mission to find
and
neutralize Sokolov’s threat. As she becomes an integral part of a wider
operation that needs her, she moves between being a physician and
confronting
deadly forces.
As in the previous Kate
books, Linda Watkins does an
outstanding job of juxtaposing Kate's personal and professional lives
with
outside threats that come from special interests as well as a
psychopath on a
mission. These ongoing threats continue to test Kate's abilities and
resilience, as well as her ability to problem-solve and survive. They
bring a
multifaceted, engrossing atmosphere to her story.
Although this is the fourth
book in the series, no prior
familiarity is required with Kate in order to enjoy her latest
adventure. Prior
confrontations and choices are seamlessly inserted into the story line
to make
for smooth transitions between past experience and present-day threat,
while
the story moves between Vlad's perceptions and logic and Kate's actions
in a
very satisfying, insightful manner.
Filled with the same
attention to detail that blends
psychological with pathological inspections, The
Empty Space is as engrossing as its predecessors. It offers a
fast-paced series of confrontations and discoveries that will keep
gothic
fiction and suspense readers immersed and wondering to the end, which
leaves
the door ajar for more Kate experiences while neatly concluding this
chapter in
her life.
Mystery readers are in for a
treat!
Return to Index
Extinction Island
Janice Boekhoff
Lost Canyon Press
E-book: 978-1-948003-05-6
$ 3.99
Trade paperback: 978-1-948003-06-3
$16.99
Website: https://janiceboekhoff.com/books/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Extinction-Island-Jurassic-Judgment-Book-ebook/dp/B08FXX454D/
Extinction Island
is Book 1 in the Jurassic Judgment series. The story opens with reptile
expert
Oakley Laveau's awakening from a blackout with no memory of her last
moments
with her best friend. Events lead to her incarceration on a remote
prison
island for a murder she doesn't recall committing. Set in a near future
where
dinosaurs have returned, thanks to genetic manipulation, and now are
limited to
an isolated island, the prologue explains that death row inmates are
given the
choice of immediate execution or banishment to this dinosaur-laden
island.
As she
becomes
involved with fellow inmate Kaleo, who surprisingly has her back in
more ways
than one, Oakley is faced with both potential, unexpected romance and
death, simultaneously.
She needs to
not only
survive and field her feelings, but face the truth about her blackout
and what
really happened that night, and why she's been committed to Extinction
Island.
Fans of
Jurassic Park
will obviously be the audience for Extinction
Island, with its satisfying intrigue, twists and turns, and
threats that
lie beyond living on an island of dangerous dinos.
Janice Boekhoff does a fine
job of crafting a protagonist
who is both a heroine and vulnerable, at the same time. Oakley must
confront
many failings in her life, memory, and drive to survive; not the least
of which
is her tendency to keep secrets and make the wrong choices.
Boekhoff also injects humor
into her descriptions in a
subtle, surprising manner: "A sharp
pain in her scalp almost made her yell. She bit her lip to stifle the
cry. If
she had her way, she'd smack Chubs. How dare he rip hair from her dead
body?"
As adversity and threat
grows not just from loose
dinosaurs but the convicts around her, Oakley faces perhaps the
greatest
challenge of all—getting a grip on her own psyche and its inherent
carnage and
threats.
Getting off the island
becomes secondary to survival in a
gripping story that offers powerful psychological examinations and
insights
throughout.
Consider the result as a
suspense thriller with the
backdrop and power of Jurassic Island, the psychological examination of
a
sociopath's progression in this environment, and the social and
scientific
challenges of manipulating not just dino genetics, but human beings.
Boekhoff's intriguing,
fast-paced story of confrontation
and survival will keep readers thoroughly engaged right up to a
conclusion that
promises further adventures and adversity. Extinction
Island is highly recommended reading for fans of dystopian
fiction,
Jurassic Park, and scientific and technological thrillers.
Return to Index
The Grassy
Knoll: The
Other Assassin
E.J. Andrews
Independently
Published
9798678660954
$4.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Grassy-Knoll-Other-Assassin-ebook/dp/B08GKZFN71
The Grassy Knoll: The Other Assassin
takes place in a pivotal
ten-year period between 1954 and Kennedy's assassination in 1964, and
follows
one Ranny Lebeaux's run from the law in a Louisiana swamp and his next
ten
years, during which he becomes involved in the assassination of
President John
F. Kennedy.
It's a
fast-paced,
fictional history of what could have been, opening with an engrossing
first-person prologue: "I'm the other
guy - the guy on the knoll. That's right, the shooter. I'm 83 years old
now...I
wanted to be somebody. But that became too dangerous."
In setting
up this
narrator with a series of personal reflections tied to questions about
who he
is, what he did, and what plot evolved that wanted him dead and led him
to a
new life, this conspiracy story reaches out and grabs readers from the
beginning.
Chapters
hold a
timeline of dates for easy understanding as the third-person story
revolves
around Larry Crawford's involvement with Carlos Marcello. Larry (who
changes
his name to Billy) finds himself delving deeper into politics, illegal
actions,
and international influences involving payoffs and narcotic activities
thwarted
by the Kennedys.
He's been
accepted as
part of an organization that will ultimately test his loyalty and
skills,
leaving behind romance possibilities and a staid life.
The
countdown to the
climax of events with Kennedy's shooting is nicely done as Larry,
Carlos, and
others interact with Jack Ruby, Oswald, and well-known historical
figures.
E.J. Andrews
does an
outstanding job of blending fictional and real characters into a story
that
delves into political choices, a cat-and-mouse game between the CIA and
other
players on the international field, and the motivations of agents and
agencies
assigned to protect the President and his staff on many different
levels.
The intrigue
and
different conspiracy theory approach is realistic, gripping, and
cemented by
characters whose ambitions and reactions are realistic and engrossing.
The Mob's
involvement in the assassination is one of the real possibilities
surrounding
events, and part of what lends The Grassy
Knoll such an aura of reality.
There have
been many
fictional and nonfiction accounts written about Kennedy's
assassination, but
Andrews takes the time to craft not just a believable plot, but a close
examination of the motivations and special interests on all sides.
The result
is a
thriller made all the more engrossing by its roots in facts. It's a
read that
historical novel readers and conspiracy theorists won't want to miss.
Return to Index
HomeComing
Michael Craft
Questover Press
Hardcover:
978-0-578-72143-9
$24.95
Paperback: 978-0-578-72162-0
$14.95
Kindle: B08H43QQV5
$ 4.95
www.michaelcraft.com
HomeComing is another Mister Puss
mystery that revolves around
Brody's chatty Abyssinian sidekick, who has a nose for tuna and
trouble. It's
the third book in the series, but like the others, it stands nicely
alone as Mister
Puss finds himself tooth and claw in another mystery revolving around
fame and
sleuthing.
The timing
seems bad.
Architect Brody Norris and his husband, Marson Miles, are about to move
into a
new house they have been building in the idyllic small Wisconsin town
of
Dumont. A filmmaker plans a location shoot in town, and that's when
Brody and
Mister Puss become caught up in something more than cinematic
opportunities.
Part of the
delight
of Michael Craft's Mister Puss adventures lies in his ongoing ability
to
capture the nuances of Brody's life, those he encounters, and
small-town
living: "Basil Hutchins, however,
had simply rested on his laurels, spending too few hours at his desk,
sipping
tea from a delicate cup and saucer—Royal Copenhagen, Flora Danica. In
the
evenings, after changing into his finery, he dawdled about the vast
teak-floored lobby shared by the three theaters. During intermission,
he
hobnobbed with the better-healed patrons, sopping up their adulation,
but never
bothering to squeeze them for a nickel. “Bye-bye, Basil,” I said. “And
good
riddance.” Mister Puss arose from my lap, where he’d been curled, and
stretched
to rest his paws on my shoulder, purring. What
a fruitcake."
As a woman's
death,
an out-of-control kid, and photo shoots clash, the town begins to reel
and
change as Mister Puss appears to assume a leading role in the
production.
Relationship
descriptions and interludes provide realistic, loving insights as Brody
and
Marson prepare for one of the biggest moves of their lives: "I turned to him at the top of the
stairs, held him in my arms, and delivered a deep kiss. I was still in
my
bathrobe, but he was already dressed nattily for the day—that’s just
Marson
being Marson. “I think,” I said, “you’re a genius.” “I think,” he said,
“you’re
a little fruity.” “Correct,” I said. “Fruity and frisky.”
When missing
links
fall into place over revelations about the murder, Brody, Mister Puss,
and
Marson find their lives altered and sometimes threatened by the changes
their
bucolic town and lives are experiencing.
The result
is a fine
mystery that successfully integrates the evolving relationship and
lives of a
gay couple, a talking cat, and the conundrums they face in trying to
reconcile
past, present, and future worlds.
Readers of
LGBT
fiction who love cozy mystery styles with a bit of supernatural cat
action
tossed in for additional atmosphere will relish the setting, approach,
and
delightful twists and turns of HomeComing,
where Mister Puss truly shines.
Return to Index
Mark Zvonkovic
Dos Perro Press
978-1735275109
$12.99
Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Grass-Mark-Zvonkovic/dp/1735275107
A
Lion in the Grass
covers six decades in a sweeping epic story of a spy with dubious
ethical and
moral values. It is narrated from the viewpoints of three characters
(Raymond,
his protégés, and the French villain) whose lives entwine in an
uncertain dance
of danger.
Readers of historical
fiction and intrigue will
appreciate that the story line moves between social, political, and
psychological drama as Mark Zvonkovic considers the evolution of
international
conflicts and how the acts of individuals affect outcomes not only in
their
lives, but those around them.
Portraying the main
character as a killer who is adept at
his job and yet able to mentor others to foster the underlying goals of
spying
makes for a different focus than most suspense stories with a
black-and-white
approach to good and evil forces.
Raymond Hatcher's
development, as is those of his
entwined compatriots and enemies, is an intrinsic thread to a
multifaceted
story that offers no linear progression or easy answers. This may
stymie
readers who look for a set course in the action and character
influences, but
it will delight others who look for more complex stories with a
multitude of
threads and subplots that wind up fairly neatly concluded by the
story's end.
The action is fast-paced
without losing track of
character development and many of the subplots built along the way.
Time is
taken to present and consider underlying motivations and influences as
each
character grows into their job and psyche: "...it
was comforting to think he could match the pace of the river. He
believed the river's
greatest power came from its steadfastness, and it was exhilarating to
think he
could imitate it...He had changed dramatically on account of his
training and
he was afraid that she, a pacifist, would see it and be disappointed."
Cognizant of the fact that
many lies will be told, with
fabricated lives invented for the sake of his involvement in the OSS
and
beyond, Raymond's changing orders preclude ordinary relationships and
endeavors. He struggles with his choices and their consequences, both
in the
world arena and in his own life's evolution.
Fans of Ludlum, Clancy, and
other writers who hold the
ability to craft high-impact spy scenarios within the broader scope of
world
events and interpersonal relationships will relish the attention to
detail and
the realistic action and perceptions cultivated in A
Lion in the Grass.
Its strong ability to weave
thriller and suspense
elements into a historical saga steeped in spicy psychological
entanglements
makes A Lion in the Grass a top
pick
for those who like their spy novels sweeping, embracing changing times,
changing relationships, and characters who grow into their duties and
abilities.
Return to Index
A Perfect Storm
Mike Martin
Ottawa Press and Publishing
9781988437491
$14.99
US/$18.99 Canadian
https://www.ottawapressandpublishing.com/products/a-perfect-storm
The ninth book in the Sgt.
Windflower mystery series, A Perfect Storm,
sees the usually-quiet Newfoundland town
of Grand Bank under siege
from biker drug gangs who invade, presenting many new challenges to
Windflower
and Mayor Sheila Hillier as they simultaneously face crises at home and
in the
workplace.
RCMP officer Eddie Tizzard,
another character from
previous Windflower books, opens the story with a bang as he recalls
entering a
hotel room, only to view a bed filled with money and blood. Now he's in
a Las
Vegas jail awaiting an interview, his support person not only far away,
but
confronting a re-election as mayor of Grand Bank.
There's a brewing battle
between forces which would
either restore the town or modernize it. Sergeant Windflower faces his
own
investigative problems as he confronts danger and uses his dreamweaver
background to help him out of jams, and a perfect storm of events
coalesces
around everything he touches.
More so than in past
mysteries, Mike Martin crafts a
sense of intrigue that is complex in its multifaceted subplots and
special
interests. This adds a delightful flavor to the story, creating a
series of
calls to action that aren't always answered by effective choices.
The blend of interpersonal
changes and confrontations,
the death of an aunt who viewed Windflower as her favorite nephew, and
personal
and professional strife juxtapose nicely with family scenes of
Windflower, wife
Sheila, and baby Amelia Louise.
It's unusual to receive
detailed family interactions
beyond the job, in a mystery. Martin's attention to detail in exploring
these
evolving relationships adds authenticity and compelling psychological
touches
to personalize the reader's connection with Windflower's life and world.
Intrigue operates on many
different levels and through
different characters' perceptions. This, too, enhances the story's
emotional
overlay as Windflower confronts threats that strike too close to home.
Readers receive a healthy
dose of philosophy and
spiritual components in the process of absorbing these evolving events:
"It’s okay to cry.
Sadness is a healing emotion,” said Uncle Frank. “Today we cry, and
then when
she is given back to Mother Earth, we must be strong and let her go.
Many
people say not to cry on the night of a burial so that their spirit has
our
blessing and the freedom to leave. I will leave you for a moment alone
and go
see how the rest of your family is doing.”
The
result is a gripping murder mystery that not only expands the prior
series, but
creates an engrossing stand-alone saga that is easy for newcomers to
access.
It's a thoroughly compelling work that is hard to put down.
Return to Index
Pink
Panthers 1: The Greatest Thieves in the World
Neboysha Saikovski
Independently Published
9798652003739
$17.99
Paper/.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/PINK-PANTHERS-Greatest-Panthers-Thrilogy-ebook/dp/B089S94ZCC
Readers
of heist thrillers, true crime, and military intrigue will all
appreciate the foundations and focus of Pink Panthers
1: The Greatest
Thieves in the World, an engrossing saga of robbery and
frustrated young
people who confront symbols of wealth and power in a grassroots
attack.
Loosely
based on the methods and actions of the international crime
group Pink Panthers and its actions in the former Yugoslavia and
globally, The Greatest Thieves in the World follows
a series
of organized heists as a crime cartel affects not just that country,
but the
world, as a nation goes to war and then disintegrates.
The
story opens in 2007 with the memories of Victor, who suddenly
awakens in a military tent far from his familiar roots. A year earlier,
he was
sipping coffee in a small rustic Italian town. Now he is imbibing
military
action and danger, having come far from his roots with his involvement
with the
Panthers and the secret ambitions they harbor.
As
the timeline moves backwards to 2004 with Victor's first encounter
with the suave criminal Green and his introduction to the lure of
robbery,
payoffs, and diamonds, readers absorb the methods, values,
perspectives, and
growing attraction of a group Victor participates in with
abandon.
Other
books have been written about the activities of the Pink
Panthers, but Neboysha Saikovski's fictionalized format allows him to
delve into
their hearts and minds. This approach injects a blend of psychological
suspense
and insight that enlightens readers on not just their modus operandi,
but their
underlying motivations and the personal revelations of its
members.
How
does the goal of money affect drug cartel interactions around the
world and lure individuals into criminal activities? How does the
structure and
tactics of Pink Panthers and other groups entwine to affect political
and
social process; and what happens when the team's leader threatens to
defect?
The
methods and the madness of the Panthers' activities permeate an
international romp that closely examines all facets of organized crime
on a
broader scale than most novels offer. Somewhere within the guise of the
intersection between fiction and nonfiction exists a rare opportunity
for
enlightenment. A touch of romance provides an added
attraction.
While
some readers may eschew the result for its fictionalized format
and detailed explanations, those who have absorbed other heist
thrillers will
find Saikovski's is more than satisfying. The injection of real-world
information adds a level of complexity, but in no way belays the
emotional
foundations that drive the plot.
The
Greatest
Thieves in the World provides an exposé that is lively,
riveting,
psychologically astute, and hard to put down. Fans of thrillers and
international espionage based in real history will find this first book
in a
trilogy to be thoroughly compelling, whether its focus is on
interpersonal
change and relationships, or plots and plans.
Return to Index
Rats in a Maze
Peter Bailey
Moonshine Cove Publishing, LLC
978-1-945181-917
$14.99 Paper/$6.93 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JMC8VHJ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_evmFFbY9CT3VQ
At first glance, it seems to
be just a simple car
accident. Or a suicide. Detectives Ray Fisher and
Lahoti close the case with
minimal fanfare. But something lingers in Fisher's mind, and Rats
in a Maze adopts a
sinister
feel as events unfold to prove that the incidence of a car driving off
a pier
into the Hudson River is only the tip of the iceberg.
As Ray and his cohort probe
the case, sometimes going
beyond logic and evidence, readers receive a roller coaster of clues
that
includes stock market processes, seedy bars and underworld contacts,
efforts to
save Jessica (an odd old woman with psychic abilities who is one of the
survivors
in a dangerous game), and murders and arson that follow in the wake of
confronting bad guys.
Peter Bailey cultivates an
action-packed story designed
to keep readers guessing. The characters are realistic and engrossing,
the
psychological component grows as the characters confront each other and
their
own natures and desires, and Bailey's ability to construct a fast-paced
yet
well-detailed story keeps his audience thoroughly engaged.
As the story evolves,
questions about not only the
identity of victims and killer but the circles in which they operate
come to
life and are explored, with Jessica's special ability becoming a
dubious asset
and pivot point in the case.
Another pleasure to Rats
in a Maze is that good and evil isn't cut-and-dried. As
events lead to a
surprise conclusion, readers are taught to consider the close
connection
between legal, lawful duty and crossing the line to a darker side.
The game that ended when a
car dove into the river,
killing its young occupants, is just beginning, for Ray. The story
walks
readers into a life that is changed, in the end, by purpose,
experience, and
unsettling conflict.
Mystery and detective
fiction readers will find Rats in a Maze
satisfyingly complex and
hard to put down.
Return to Index
Sorcerers'
Prayer: Precious
Blood
Luigi N. Spring
Independently Published
979-8683552237
$9.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HW4F6KB
Fans of the
first
book in the Sorcerers' Prayer series, will find its sequel, Precious Blood, just as captivating; if
not just as complex.
This is no
light read
for the cursory thriller fan looking for entertainment, but a walk
through
Hawaiian culture, legal processes and systems, and the rise of a
congregation
of true believers whose actions threaten everything.
Familiarity
with the
premise of the first book will lend quick understanding for those who
pick up its
sequel, allowing for a seamless segue into the lingo, culture, and
world of
Hawaii, which is an integral part of the mystery and story line.
From Judge
Keoni's
confrontations with new possibilities to the intrigue and danger that
plague
his choices and revised life, readers will find just as much to delight
in this
story's progression as in the introductory piece, which stays true to
its
complex explorations of Hawaiian history and myths.
There's also
an
unexpected stream of humor often injected into the story that changes
reader
expectations, providing comic relief and cultural insights, as well: "The king raised a finger of warning to
the judge. “If you have any ideas of absconding with any of this royal
treasure, Keoni, please don’t. It is all cursed, and the culprit will
die a
thousand deaths.” An amazing number of bushel baskets lay at their
feet,
containing a multitude of semiprecious and precious stones and
minerals. Some
of them seemed to glow as they reflected the flames from the kukui nut
oil
torches. The judge scratched his head. “One thousand deaths,
huh? Not nine
hundred ninety-nine?” The sovereign started to giggle again. “I should
know,
brah. I am the kahuna sorcerer that placed the enchantment on these
riches.” There
is laughter and jest
even between the Judge and supporting characters, from Jimmy to Uncle
Gabe.
This sense of community adds to the story, giving it a personal touch
that
belies the usual procedural approach to mystery, thriller, and cultural
explorations.
The story is
at once
playful, childish, sexually charged, culturally revealing, and
intriguing at
different points of the story. All these facets might confuse those who
anticipate and look for linear thinking and stories; but anyone who has
visited
Hawaii and is familiar with its culture, language, and the inherent
playfulness
of many of its peoples will find this story holds satisfyingly
realistic
elements, for all its complexity.
Precious Blood is an inviting follow-up
tale that expands the role
and purposes of the Judge and his Hawaiian community. Its wealth of
characters,
Hawaiian words, and mercurial scenarios makes it a highly recommended
pick for
those with some background in Hawaiian customs, who will find it a
delightful
blend of intrigue, mystery, and social examination.
Return to Index
The
Venturi Effect
Sage Webb
Stoneman House Press, LLC
Paperback: 978-1-7337379-4-4
$13.95
Ebook: 978-1-7337379-5-1
$ 2.99
Author Website: www.sagewebb.com
Ordering: www.readlocalbooks.org
Publisher: www.stonemanhouse.com
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Venturi-Effect-Sage-Webb-ebook/dp/B08JMBMRMV/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&qid=1600916389&refinements=p_27%3ASage+Webb&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Sage+Webb
Author
Sage Webb practiced criminal law defense for over a decade
before writing several novels. Her background in legal processes and
the
atmosphere of the legal community lends an aura of authenticity that
will
resonate with any reader familiar with this environment as Devlin
struggles
with personal and professional challenges in her life.
From
investigations into shell companies that operate on St. Kitts and
government agent Xavier Charles' search for the truth over an
indictment to
Devlin's increasing involvement and confrontations even at sea on a
sailboat,
Sage Webb weaves a fine story that moves from dialogue to open waters
and
courtrooms with equal aplomb: "What ya thinking up here all
alone, D.
Winters?” Devlin opened her eyes to Nils’s ankles and bare feet beside
her
head. She shut her eyes again. “Honestly?” She kept her voice low.
“Honestly,
I’m wondering if you’re a crook like your lying brother or just
a complete
dumbass.” “Is there an option C?” Nils dropped down next to her hip, so
when
she opened her eyes for the second time, his back in a long-sleeved red
t-shirt
with sponsor logos and a regatta name across it filled her view.
“Not from
what that indictment says.” “You think Viggo’s crooked and I’m in on
it?”
From
client interactions with agents and investigative processes to
Devlin's interactions with Nils Bryson, a flame reignited after 7 years
of
absence, the intrigue, romance, and changing personal and professional
relationships that stem from an evolving investigation into danger
create a
fast-paced story that is powered by both career and life decisions.
The
Venturi
Effect's
blend of corporate intrigue, criminal activity, and personal
recovery and revelations creates a compelling story that is simply hard
to put
down. It's unexpected right up to the end, making it a highly
recommended pick
for legal thriller, romance, and women's fiction readers alike.
Return to Index
Ways to Be
Wicked
Jim Christ
Joseph &
Associates, Publisher
97808692970133
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Ways-be-Wicked-Jim-Christ/dp/0692970134
A beautiful
17-year-old girl, Usaré García, has slipped away from her high school
dance,
only to be found murdered at another part of campus in a spicy mystery
that
unfolds against a backdrop of street gangs, race relations, and the
special
investigative approach of a multiracial school administrator, Enrique
Tavish,
who himself becomes entangled in the intricate web of deception and
debauchery
that surrounds the crime.
Suspense
readers will
relish Ways to Be Wicked's interconnected
plots as Tavish pursues
his own brand of justice, even as he strives to keep his dark personal
secrets
hidden from those around him. There's a fine mix of plot twists and
intriguing
characters in this story, which elevates it above and beyond mere
mystery-solving.
Tavish
suspects a
gang called the Levantes as the perps in the García girl’s death, and
in
return, the Lavantes target Tavish and his family for revenge in a
fast-paced
story that brings Southern Arizona's urban environment to
life.
Tavish is
not your
ordinary hero. He's a flawed character whose relationships with
teachers,
students and detectives alike are not always in sync with their
perspectives or
objectives—not just about the murder, but about life itself.
Tavish's
determination to solve the crime gets him in trouble every bit as
deadly as
that of the victim and the murderer. He investigates with a
sometimes-amateurish directness, and at first he primarily succeeds in
attracting only more trouble, raising issues that the school, the
neighborhood,
and the community would prefer remain hidden.
Just as his
own
objectives and secret motivations remain in flux, so events affected by
revenge
and retribution keep pushing him towards an inevitable showdown. Or, is
it an
inevitable death?
One reason
the plot,
characters, and atmosphere feel so realistic is that author Jim Christ
was
himself a teacher and high school principal in the region that forms
the
setting of his story. His ability to capture realistic political,
ethnic, and
social atmosphere in the course of exploring Tavish's Hispanic
heritage,
conundrums, and uncertain relationships with authorities at various
levels adds
a dimension of reality and social commentary to events in the plot.
This keeps
the story both action-packed and thought-provoking.
Another
reason for
the powerful result in Ways to Be Wicked lies
in Christ's
ability to portray his protagonist as a man filled not just with
motivation and
confidence, but also deep uncertainties. This, too, adds an authentic
aura to
the murder mystery, giving it an extra edge over traditional genre
approaches
and reads.
Readers who
like
their mysteries informed by community and ethnic issues, and struggles
that depict
the fine line between heroes and heretics will welcome the multifaceted
complexity that places Ways to Be Wicked on
a different level
than an ordinary whodunit.
Return to Index
Wrong
Man Down
Jerry Masinton
Anamcara Press LLC
Hardcover: 978-1-941237-57-1
$28.99
Softcover: 978-1-941237-38-0
$18.99
Ebook: 978-1-941237-39-7
$ 9.99
www.anamcara-press.com
Wrong
Man
Down
provides the first book in a series revolving around hit woman Millie
Henshawe, a fearless hired gun who operates in a man's world with the
deft
finesse of a determined female.
Millie
moves through an offbeat world of assassins, odd family
relationships in the 'business', quirky cohorts who view their
activities as a
combination of colorful movie plot and real-world crime spree, and edgy
drama.
These elements place Millie's actions on an uncertain line between
crime and
justice.
Her
story opens with a sharp bang, providing an immediacy that makes it
hard to put down: "No fucking way was Millie going to shoot
the guy in
the men’s room at Kansas City International. What the hell was Ralphie
thinking? I should just waltz in behind the guy, wait till he unzips,
and then
pop him while he’s thinking happy thoughts? Or get in the stall next to
him and
fire when he flushes?"
Readers
will be laughing before the dark horse even leaves the starting
gate as Millie struggles with new assignments, danger, and ironic
twists that
leave her in an uncertain position. This style of
intrigue-married-to-humor is
one of the facets that sets Wrong Man Down apart
from others,
juxtaposing wry observations with fun explorations of the conundrums in
a
proper hit job: "Now Ralphie calls and says, “The client says
the guy
decided to hire a limo this trip, I don’t know why. So it’s your call
as to
when and where.” And Millie says, “Ralphie, are you fucking crazy? The
guy has
a driver? Where’s he going to be while I entertain the subject?
Not
to
mention the added risk if the driver gets a good look at me. Am I
supposed to
do him too? What the hell’s wrong with you, anyway?” No doubt about it,
she was
getting wound up. “Plus,” she said, “it’s not professional to
improvise. People
can get hurt.”
These
are just two examples early in the story that capture the
delightfully spunky personality which Jerry Masinton creates via a
character
whose actions embrace dubious choices, uncertain opportunities, and a
job that
continually requires an ability to make snap decisions about the
progression
and logic of a murder contract job.
Millie's
proclivity for connecting murder operations to business
thinking is especially fun, and refreshingly different in a murder
story:
"Millie continued: “OK, so I got to thinking: why would the
shylock pay
us a lot of money to ice this guy, maybe more than the guy owes in the
first
place? Why not just write it off, I thought, price of doing business.
Like the
banks with their credit cards. Some people can’t pay, but you still
make money
on the high interest you charge. Or the shy could’ve asked a dumb-ass
cousin
who spends all of his time in the pool hall. Or maybe a Made Guy he
knows from
grade school. What I’m saying is, he had cheaper ways.”
Intrigue
marries irony in a rollicking, fun story that follows Millie,
Ralphie, Chuckie, and a host of characters as the plot revolves around
wealth,
motivation, deception, and gang violence and mob ties that rock both
the city
and Millie's professional career.
Masinton's
ability to craft a fast-paced action piece that draws
readers in with humor and adventure makes Wrong Man Down
a top
recommendation for murder mystery readers. It's especially recommended
reading
for those who enjoy strong female protagonists and unpredictable twists
and
turns where the heroine isn't always the conventional good gal, but a
tough gay
woman charged with leading the action well beyond her comfort zone.
Return to Index
Yes, It
Happened
Robert Maxwell
Independently
Published
ASIN
: B08K3S3RJX
$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Happened-Robert-Maxwell-ebook/dp/B08K3S3RJX
Yes, It Happened is set in the near
future, providing a scenario
that grabs attention and proves almost impossible to set aside: "A blazing flash lit up my home office
followed instantly by a distant, wall-shaking explosion. “Holy shit!” I
leaped
from my chair and hurried to the window. Everything on the street
seemed
normal, until my eyes lifted to the horizon. A huge mushroom cloud rose
over
Washington DC. “Oh, my God.”
I
mumbled in disbelief." The protagonist can't stop to agonize
over his
wife, who was in Washington when the nuclear bomb hit. He's now charged
with
finding his kids and surviving its aftermath.
Robert
Maxwell
creates an engrossing scenario in just a few paragraphs, drawing
readers immediately
into Augustus's life, choices, and how his priorities change in a
second.
There's a
feeling of
surprise in more than an attack on Washington, however, as further
notes
indicate that perhaps Augustus doesn't hold his government in the
greatest
regard, even though democracy has been attacked: "I
know the instructions. Big Brother is alive and well in our
President."
Unlike most
other
stories of terrorism, Augustus is willing to immediately entertain the
notion
that the perps may not have come from overseas, but on America's home
turf: "What did the President mean – this might be an internal terrorist attack?
And why did he source Russian intelligence. Why not ours?"
As he
navigates a
vastly changed world with children and challenged ideals in tow, the
immediacy
and reality of events come to life under Maxwell's pen. There is much
confusion
and many possibilities as various forces question the attack, the
attacker, and
the many possible truths about the enemy and his purposes.
As a deadly
truth
emerges about not just the perps, but their takeover intentions,
Augustus finds
himself on the run from not just radiation and war, but his own ideals
and
government.
The people
must act.
But aren't their actions just a part of the jigsaw puzzle of the war
over democratic
processes and a strange, elusive enemy whose lies and promises are
impossible
to believe?
One reason
why
Maxwell's story is so frightfully compelling lies in its roots in
present-day
adversity, gaslighting, and confusion. Augustus reflects this process
as he
makes decisions and confronts a strange new America. Readers following
in his
footsteps receive a heartfelt, moving story that moves into
international
intrigue and gripping scenarios, from caving and confrontation to the
lasting
impact of the fake news that swirls all around them.
With its
heart-stopping scenarios, nonstop action, and foundations in modern-day
events,
Yes, It Happened is one of the most
moving, absorbing political thrillers to appear in 2020, and offers an
intense
parable of possibilities for our times.
Return to Index
Zen
A. Wilson Steele
Mouse Hole Farm Press
978-0-578-75868-8
$22.95
https://www.facebook.com/awilsonsteele
William
("Zen") operates in two worlds: as a champion horse rider who has
found a steed that may propel him into the Olympics, and as an
investigator
whose team works closely with him to solve mysteries.
When their
bid on a
seemingly invaluable art piece turns into full-fledged danger and
intrigue, Zen
is called upon to solve an international smuggling mystery even as he
faces a
crisis on the show jumping circuit that melds both worlds into one big
puzzle.
Zen's
ability
to operate in these two very different arenas, juxtaposing horse
showing
experiences with the fast pace of an investigation that turns deadly,
may
initially stymie those who look for a hastier, more casual pace, but
Andrea
Steele takes the time to carefully craft both worlds. This pays off
big, with a
sense of place, authenticity, and purpose that would have been lacking
in a
more cursory coverage of either atmosphere.
Readers
receive a
fine inspection of choices, purposes, and clashes of personalities,
from Val
and Trudie's involvement in schemes that ultimately thwart their own
best
interests to Zen's struggle to keep his meditative personality on track
with
his ability to both win in competition and solve puzzles that challenge
those
around him.
The steady
progression of these special interests and their disparate milieus
creates a
full-bodied read that is delightfully mercurial and intriguing. Perhaps
the
story's greatest strength is to pull together the seemingly unrelated
threads
that wind through the hearts, minds, and motives of not just Zen, but
those
around him.
Thriller
fans seeking
a story that operates on many different levels, from career and life
fulfillment to love and moral and ethical questions, will relish Zen's
special ability to draw its reader into a series of events that solve
and
create problems simultaneously.
It's an
excellent
probe into the world of art smuggling that adds just enough history to
be
thoroughly absorbing without requiring any background in the art world.
Likewise, no knowledge of horses is needed to appreciate the exciting
world of
international show jumping—the plot is grounded in an absorbing mystery
that
will captivate a broad audience.
With
characters that
are at once strong and vulnerable, wise and clueless, and mercurial in
their
purposes and perspectives, Zen offers a taste of
something different. It
will especially appeal to fans of Dick Francis, with its horse-related
brand of
intrigue.
Return to Index
Bikini
Cowgirls of the Urban Legion
Dave Agans
B. Mirthy & Sons
Paperback: 978-0-9861709-2-8
$15.00
Ebook: 978-0-9861709-3-5
$ 2.99
www.BMirthy.com
The
second book in a trilogy, Bikini Cowgirls of the Urban Legion,
is highly recommended reading for anyone who enjoyed the blend of
satire and
escapade in the introductory novel The Urban Legion,
and continues
unraveling (or revealing, as the case may be) the Wacko Conspiracy
Group that
powered the first story.
Howie
is back. So are urban legends which are actually purposeful
creations: "Like other urban legends created as cover-ups,
details were distorted: these dolphins didn’t carry torpedoes and
weren’t
swimming the Gulf aimlessly. That meant they probably weren’t armed and
trained
by the CIA, either—fake urban legends were the signature of Howie’s
pervasive
archenemy, the Corporation."
As
Meg joins a web reality show and Howie steps up his investigation of
the Corporation, a bucket of worms is uncovered over mysterious texts,
the
murder of Tommy Owen, and the nefarious purpose of the undersea device
Meg
discovered years ago.
Humor
is also a strong undercurrent in Bikini Cowgirls of the Urban
Legion, but here the urban legends and fun give way to a more
serious
series of escapades and confrontations as the action heats up. Meg has
already
lost two partners to the Corporation. Is she risking a third one?
Dave
Agans again employs satire, irony, and fun as he continues to
unravel the threads of the Corporation's activities and threats and its
impact
on as wide a cast of characters as the first novel; some of whom return
for a
repeat performance, here.
As
Meg uncovers the truth about Howie's purposes and dolphins become
involved in a spiraling plot that heads rapidly towards disaster for
its main
characters, readers will delight in the dual sense of fun and intrigue
that
keeps the Urban Legion story alive with still more ironic encounters
and
special interests gone awry.
Agans
excels in weaving unexpected twists into his story, too. These
might add a level of unexpected complexity that average thriller or
humor
readers won't expect, but the result is deliciously involving and
worthy of a
slower and repeat read so that all the subtle nuances of comedy are
thoroughly
absorbed.
This
novel, too, ends in a twist that is both funny and
thought-provoking, paving the way for the third book and leaving
enthusiasts
wondering.
Bikini
Cowgirls of the Urban Legion is primarily recommended for readers of the
first book, who will find it a delightful adjunct that expands some of
the
characters, the premise, and the humor for a suitably fun follow-up
romp.
Return to Index
The Bird That Sang in Color
Grace Mattioli
Independently Published
Softcover: 9780990575146
$14.00
Ebook: 9780990575139
$ 3.99
Website: www.gracemattioli.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
At first, The
Bird
That Sang in Color seems hard to easily categorize. The title
and cover art
would seem to indicate its relevance for a young audience, but once the
reader
embarks on the story of teen Donna Greco's changing view of what
constitutes a
meaningful life well lived, it's readily apparent that this novel is
intended
for mature teen into adult audiences; not picture book readers or
younger
grades.
The setting is New Jersey in
the 1970s. Donna has been
well taught about conventional ideals of success, achievement, and
opportunity.
Her artistic older brother has received the same lessons, but has made
different
choices. Currently, he's stuck in a lifestyle that feels equally empty
and
aimless.
As the feel of an
Italian-American family's interactions,
clashing values, changing perspectives, and self-portraits comes to
life
against the backdrop of Donna's awakening and evolution, readers
receive a
delightful, warm exploration of changing times and the impact they have
on one
family's bonds.
Vincent, as the family
artist, holds a special role in
his younger sister's eye. Somehow, his talents make him seem larger
than life,
influencing everything around him: "He
had the smallest room in the house, but it seemed like the biggest
because it
was its own self-contained universe. I felt like I could be on the
other side
of the world without ever leaving his room."
In contrast, Donna holds
traditional values which she
fulfills as she comes of age, marries Frank, and builds her own family.
Yet,
something is missing. As her ideal marriage turns into something quite
different, Donna is forced by both her brother's visions and
circumstances and
the limitations of her own life to consider changes that veer from the
trajectory which was once her ideal.
Family relationships and
interpersonal evolution are at
the heart of Grace Mattioli's story. The contrast between Donna's youth
and
adult experiences and the changes that force these new realizations are
nicely
captured, down to moments of life-changing emotion:
"I hung up, and a scream so loud and shrill that it felt alien,
came out of me, a glass-shattering prelude to the wailing and streaming
tears
that followed. I lay, stomach-down on the floor, banging it a bunch of
times
with my fists while screaming “No!” into the air, the only witness to
my pain.
I was glad no one was home to see me or save me from myself. I always
hated when
people tried to cap grief as if it was a contagious disease."
As she confronts her own
daughter's evolutionary process
and her role in both loving and alienating Angie, Donna rediscovers her
own
path in life, which turns out both different and familiar at the same
time.
It's refreshing to read a
family portrait that is not
'black and white' in its perspectives. The realistic highs and lows of
the
family's interfaces, transformations wrought by a combination of
personal
vision, life experiences and changing times, and the evolution of
different
forms of intimacy and understanding are presented with affection,
humor, and
insight.
The result is a satisfying
slice of life blend of
philosophy, psychology, and transformation that draws readers into a
warm story
that ultimately examines the wellsprings of creative force and legacies
for
future generations. The author's intention is for readers to be
inspired to
live authentically, not be bound to societal conventions, so that they
can be
free to make their own pictures.
Readers of women's
literature, family relationships, and
artistic exploration will find The Bird
That Sang in Color an evocative, appealing, and ultimately
uplifting read.
Return to Index
Company of
Fools
J W Nelson
Independently Published
9798677697968
$3.99 Kindle /
$10.99 paperback
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/COMPANY-FOOLS-Selling-Tricky-Business-ebook/dp/B08GHSBJWR
Company of
Fools: Selling for Love & Life, Is a Tricky Business considers the
unfulfilled ambitions of Justin Whalley, who
dreams of success in love and career, but instead faces a series of
disasters.
His
upbringing and countenance are unremarkable, his family
"close, but in a distant, unspoken way" which he mirrors in an adult
life, which is quiet. Despite the fact that Justin has resolved "...to
not
end up like them. Content with very little, and had no freedom, no
place to
call their own," the fact is that he's in danger of doing just this,
until
he stumbles into high drama and death at work and comes to realize that
romance
and success come with price tags.
As
new opportunities in business and love change his trajectory and his
relationships, Justin finds himself out of his league in many ways,
discovering
more conundrums and complexity to living a vivid life than he'd
imagined: "We
ventured our separate ways, with my mind flicking back and forth over
Tom’s
wife and her son. Vicky sat alone in some hotel probably crying or
bored
shitless. Chelsea at work and her precocious little Robert, who was
slowly
becoming a thorn in my side. Shaun soon to skulk off back to Dublin.
And Errol
rolling around with the leggy and the sexual ‘one look and you’re
turned on’
Sally. Who said my life wasn’t exciting?"
J
W Nelson does a fine job of taking an ordinary, common man with quiet
ambitions and turning his life upside down. There's a cast of
characters that
surround him in work and romance and affect his course in life; there
are
situations that leave him swimming against the tide; and too many
possibilities
leave him both excited and frustrated over his life's unexpected
changes.
Justin's
attempt to stay on course against this onslaught of change and
challenge makes for a fun, engrossing romp through life that juxtaposes
philosophical considerations with psychological growth: "These
transcendent thoughts are like smoke, here now and disappearing in a
flash.
Living in the moment, I had to remind myself. Focus on my true
inclinations
from the start. On my work goals. My life goal, utilising the
experience and
support from those around me."
Company of
Fools
depicts an 'Everyman' changing the course laid out by family and his
own expectations of what life is. Its tale of irony and opportunity,
the mixed
bag of success and unexpected obstacles, and the process of overcoming
hurt and
failure to enter a better life provides a gripping story that is
poignant,
funny, and thought-provoking all at once. It's infused with British
culture and
changing relationships that keep readers both on their toes and
delighted by
unexpected twists and turns.
Return to Index
The Education of Delhomme:
Chopin, Sand & La France
Nancy Burkhalter
History Through Fiction LLC
Paperback: 978-1-7329508-3-2
$16.95
Hardcover:
978-1-7329508-5-6 $26.95
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732950830
The
Education of
Delhomme: Chopin, Sand & La France is set in France
in 1848 and follows
the fictional life of piano tuner Beaulieu Delhomme, who falls awry of
the
newly elected French president and is slated for death after being
convicted of
treason. Ironically, the only person who who may be able to save him is
his
former enemy, author George Sand,
the one-time lover of composer
Frédéric Chopin...the man
for whom Delhomme tuned pianos.
As Sand and Delhomme compete
for the dying Chopin's
attention, the president's secret agent uses Delhomme to spy on Sand,
who has
been spreading her own revolutionary message about the president's
regime.
Delhomme's initial desire
(to preserve a social and
economic level he has a vested interest in) soon changes as he views
the plight
of an abused, poverty-stricken nephew under the president's rule,
leading him
to enter a dangerous game indeed when he secretly joins the resistance
to work
as a counter-spy.
There are a lot of
entanglements, both political and
personal, that drive the mercurial story in The
Education of Delhomme. Under another hand, all these facets,
changing
loyalties, politics of the times, and subplots could have proved a
challenge
even for readers familiar with the era. But Nancy Burkhalter chooses to
narrate
these events through the first-person experiences of Delhomme, who sums
up both
the politics and social challenges of his times: "...I
doubt her testimony can undo Vidocq’s devilish words. He
will swear I sided with resisters, hobnobbed with radicals, and became
a
counterspy. Never mind that he lured me with easy money. He is the
ruler’s
vaunted, powerful toady. Loyalty trumps scruples in this man’s
government. I
did everything Vidocq asked of me—reluctantly, I am proud to say now.
Then one
day, I fed him wrong information on purpose. It was my attempt to fight
the
domination of those who ignored the suffering of others. Then, Vidocq’s
wrath
came crashing down. Now here I sit. Accused of treason. Jailed.
Condemned."
Burkhalter's ability to
capture not just current events
but the medical school training and background of the piano tuner who
comes to
play a pivotal role in Chopin and George Sands' lives adds an
engrossing
thriller element to unfolding political events.
As the manipulations and
pressures of François Vidocq,
"humble servant to King Louis
Philippe”, changes Delhomme's life's trajectory, taking
advantage of past
influences, present-day circumstances, and future choices, all
characters find
themselves facing volatile situations that test their moral and ethical
fiber.
Burkhalter sets up these
tests and scenes with an
exquisite attention to detail and emotional impact that will engage and
delight
even readers with little to no prior familiarity with the times, its
politics,
and these people.
Perhaps The
Education of Delhomme's greatest
strength lies in exploring the dichotomies between belief, purpose, and
evolving political interactions that challenge and change everything.
The
social atmosphere and descriptions are exceptionally well presented as
the
story unfolds and Delhomme faces worries even over his efforts to
rescue one
individual from a life of oppression: I explained how rebels
roamed the streets and
threw rocks just to be disruptive. I recounted how his own grandfather
had been
abducted by militia in Warsaw during an uprising there many years ago.
“War is
dangerous and unpredictable. Many people have died, and most have
nothing to
eat. Everyone is angry.”
The result is a complex,
mercurial story. It keeps
readers on their toes as entanglements change and deepen. Characters
struggle
with the inheritance of war and conflict even as they search for an
elusive
peace both within themselves and each other, and in the wider world of
1848
Paris.
Exquisitely detailed,
complex, and involving, The Education of
Delhomme is highly
recommended for historical novel readers who like their characters
well-drawn
and their story lines well grounded in historical facts.
Return to Index
The
Elixirist
Avraham Azrieli
Independently Published
978-1-953648-02-0
$2.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HKPZC2P/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
The
Elixirist
blends
historical fiction with adventure as it follows a young man's journey
to find a
magical elixir that will lend him love, strength, and an exalted role
in the
world. It opens with Sall's dreams of a dwarf and a magical potion that
leads
to many new revelations—perhaps the most powerful one involving
perception and
differences in the world: "We see different things, even when
we're
looking at the same thing."
A
journey undertaken because "a girl knocked him out with her
eyes" turns into a deeper spiritual and emotional journey as Sall
contends
with not just a search, but the impacts of his quest and ideals.
Sall,
born to be a healer, finds his interpretation of that ability and
its incarnations subject to change during the course of his quest for
the
elixir of his dreams. So does the world, as events in Jericho, the
legacy of a
potter who teaches him that "freedom is a gift that shrinks with
age," and ongoing dreams that connect him to the dwarf's purposes and
contentions reach into his life to transform him.
Readers
seeking a blend of magical realism, spiritual exploration,
romance, and social change will find The Elixirist
a powerful story
replete with all these elements and more. Think a Carlos
Castaneda-style series
of revelations based on both inner and outer world encounters, spiced
with the
atmosphere of adventure akin to The Celestine Prophecy
by James Redfield
and Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code.
As
the elusive promise of the golden elixir transforms his life,
readers receive a compelling saga that follows Sall from childhood
infatuation
to adult purposes, questioning the notion of destiny and heritage as
Sall
pursues not only impossible dreams, but the truth about his world and
his role
in it.
The
result is a story especially gripping for readers of adventure
stories rooted in discoveries about faith and destiny. Fans of
thriller,
romance, and spiritual explorations alike will find The
Elixirist a
compelling historical novel powered by psychological and social
examination
alike.
Return to Index
Elisabeth
Samson, Forbidden Bride
C.V. Hamilton
Swift House Press
978-1733720946
$17.95 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Elisabeth-Samson-Forbidden-Bride-permission/dp/1733720944
Historical fiction
readers who look for strong female protagonists and compelling
backgrounds will
relish Elisabeth Samson,
Forbidden
Bride, based on the
true story of a Free Negress who married a white man in
18th century Suriname, becoming the first woman to legally do so.
An
introductory
cast of characters and a prologue neatly set the scene and action,
providing
necessary background details as the story moves into the experiences of
first-person narrator Elisabeth, who is educated enough to tell her own
tale.
Elisabeth's
actions and choices cause social and political strife on two
continents. As she
reveals her background, the wellspring of her decisions, and their
impact on
everyone around her, readers receive an exceptionally vibrant,
descriptive
story that requires no prior familiarity with the times, place, or
politics in
order to prove compelling: "It is a bitter irony the way our
colonial
governance regularly makes contradictory decisions. They disapprove of
living
in concubinage, yet object if a Negress wants to marry a white man.
Nay, they
even consider living with a man without marrying him to be whorish. Yet
white
men in this colony have taken Coloured women as concubines for eighty
years,
which situations are commonly referred to as, “marriage, Suriname
style.” That
is the strange state in which Carl Otto and I live."
When
misfortune
befalls her beloved sister, Elisabeth finds herself exhausted by the
dual
threats of prejudice, death, and her struggles against a double
standard that
affects all their lives.
As
evolving
Colony politics, influences from abroad, rebels, and family interact,
readers
receive a multifaceted, absorbing history of the times through
Elisabeth's
educated eyes and choices.
C.V.
Hamilton does an
outstanding job of integrating the journals for the original
inspiration with a
fictional overlay to create a personal, revealing, absorbing saga. From
the
country's history to how free individuals interact with those enslaved
and the
quandaries faced by whites and blacks alike, Hamilton's ability to
portray
influences and prejudices on all sides makes for a revealing, complex
story that
probes intention and attitude as well as how events evolved.
Whether it
be romance
and slavery, politics or home affairs, or family interactions with
Colony
interests, Hamilton brings Elisabeth's story to life with a solid
attention to
rich details that both educate and involve. These elements make Elisabeth Samson, Forbidden Bride highly
recommended reading for historical fiction followers who like their
stories
firmly rooted in reality. The bibliographic references that conclude
the story
offer opportunities to relish all the nonfiction facts supporting the
tale's
dramatic fictionalization.
Return to Index
Enduring Times
Betty Godfrey
Independently Published
Paperback: 978-1-09830-049-4
$19.95
Ebook: 978-1-09830-050-0
$ 4.99
https://www.amazon.com/Enduring-Times-Betty-Godfrey/dp/1098300491
Enduring Times will reach readers of romance and relationship
books interested
in stories rooted in reality. The tale opens in Carnegie, Pennsylvania
in the
1900s, where a dominating mother loses her daughter to marriage despite
her
controlling ways. As a series of disappointments and changes affect the
family,
readers receive a fine account of quiet courage, perseverance, and
family life
that changes from one generation to the next.
From religious influences and a
quiet Catholic girl's confrontation with the exuberance and culture of
a
different religious group to evolving connections between faith,
kindness, and
adversity, Jennifer and Bill face many challenges both in themselves
and each
other in the course of their growth.
The last thing Jennifer expected
to become was a missionary. The last thing she anticipated was a flight
from
her jungle life to return to Philadelphia, only to find that the Great
Depression changes everything yet again.
As Betty Godfrey traces the
roots of more than one form of endurance, readers receive an engrossing
narrative inspecting interpersonal relationships, faith and
perseverance, and
social, spiritual, and psychological forces alike.
The effects of all these
influences on the family that Bill and Jennifer cultivate is very
nicely
related: "Jennifer followed him. “I
know coming home to this mess is nerve racking, but we can’t take it
out on the
children.” “I guess my nerves are bad. Why wouldn’t they be? We come
back from
living a quiet life into a big city full of turmoil and noise. We have
very
little money, our parents are broke
and we can’t get back to our house in Carnegie.”
Faith is as solid an influencer
for surviving these times as love. Godfrey does a fine job of tracing
its
evolution as the family unit adapts. This focus on parenting, spiritual
concerns, and world influence creates a warm, outstanding read
especially
recommended for readers of women's fiction novels.
Return to Index
The
Flip
Doyle Weldon Knight
True Southern Gentleman Publishing
978-1-7350923-0-0
$14.99
Website: http://www.hossintl.com
The
Flip
creates a
fictional pandemic world set in 2020 and revolves around an ongoing
struggle to
survive in a world that began changing when illness hit in 2016. The
world now
has ten percent of its population, yet its survivors still struggle to
life.
Dinky
is one of those people in a lawless America with his wife, who
depends on a medicine that's run out. Determined that she should live,
Dinky
undertakes a journey that is less than a hundred miles (but, in this
world,
might as well be thousands) to get her medicine.
The
Flip
charts his road
trip through this topsy-turvy world. Surprisingly, it includes not just
challenge and danger, but joy, as Dinky observes and appreciates his
environment: "In the new topsy-turvy world, the one thing I
loved,
almost as much as Baby Girl and our Blue Heeler, was the fragrance of
the
southern outdoors at daybreak. On a spring morning, the aromatic smell
of the
flowers mixed with a hint of marsh bog create a false atmosphere of
pre-Pentacle home. I knew it was one of those mornings as I took in a
deep
breath."
Given
that this novel has appeared amidst one of the most virulent
pandemics to hit the world, many of its fictional backdrops, history,
and
observations feel strikingly true: "There were around seven
and a half
billion people on Mother Earth the year that the NV-17 virus wreaked
its havoc.
In an effort to contain NV-17, the quarantine and lockdown mandates
crippled
the global economy. The cure became almost as bad as the disease."
Doyle
Weldon Knight also infuses his story with Southern culture and
perspectives. This adds an extra layer of social inspection to the
story as
Dinky encounters others, and readers absorb the kinds of instant
families
formed by the bonds of adversity and Southern hospitality: "Baby
Girl
settled him in Darrell’s old room, and he showed the respect and
gratitude of a
southern gentleman in her presence at all times."
Another
difference between The Flip and other stories of
worldwide apocalypse and death is Knight's attention to every facet of
these
survivors' experience, including the changed smells of the world and
different
reactions to small pleasures, such as a basement refuge: "We
went
inside the basement, and for the first time in almost three months, we
did not
smell the strong essence of decay. The only scent of decay was when
someone got
close enough to you that you caught a slight drift from their clothes.
It was
better than Christmas, and Baby Girl was happier about the basement
than she
was about the shampoo and conditioner. When things got rough over the
next two
to three months and as fall set in, we would clean up and go down into
the
basement. I would purge the room and we would breathe the compressed
air from
the cylinders. For a few hours we could minimize the constant odor that
stifled
and threatened to smother us."
These
facets enhance the story line, add to its realistic and
compelling draw, and contribute to the surprisingly upbeat gratitude of
the
narrator, who takes obvious pleasure in small successes and
experiences: "It
had been a good day; I have a new daughter. I drifted off that night
like every
other night, the most fortunate man in the world."
Knight's
ability to inject this air of positivity and human connections
into Dinky's survival story gives it an added attraction much needed by
2020
readers and beyond.
These
elements place The Flip above and beyond most
stories of
pandemics or apocalypses. It's especially recommended as a tool for
modern
times, offering a dystopian journey that will leave readers both
engaged in the
characters' changing lives and the outcome of the broken world they
move
through as Dinky and Baby Girl love, live, and do everything they need
to do in
order to survive.
Return to Index
Harvest Moon
Jenny Knipfer
Independently
Published
ASIN: B08H41S8HB
$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Moon-Light-Book-ebook/dp/B08H41S8HB
Harvest Moon is the fourth book in the
'By the Light of the Moon'
romance story set in 19th century Ontario, and follows the legacy
inherited by
Ojibwe Maang-ikwe and her forbidden love. Niin-mawin, also facing
condemnation
for his decisions, has been raised in the white man's community,
separated from
his family and his traditions. When the two get together, past and
present
collide in an encounter with choices and consequences which could
either
reconcile their hearts or inject further heartbreak into their lives.
An opening
guide to
Ojibwe pronunciation provides a solid foundation for successfully
navigating
the language peppered within, while the prologue (set in 1862 on a
reservation)
provides a poignant first-person survey of loss, grief, and pain,
drawing
readers into events that unfolded ten years prior to this point.
From a
carefree
wanderer who steals Wiigwass-ikwe's heart with kindness, with
unexpected
consequences, to a fifteen-year-old's observation of a mission school's
construction in 1861, the timeline moves back and forth like a
pendulum, making
important connections between individuals and community forces. This
tactic
reinforces the sequence of events that change cultures and lives.
As in her
prior
books, Jenny Knipfer does an outstanding job of cementing place, time,
and
culture against the backdrop of evolving relationships. These
approaches lend a
solid feel of authenticity and attraction to her plot to keep readers
both
educated and engrossed, as spiritual and social matters evolve.
From Ontario
to
Michigan and beyond, characters change, legacies solidify, and the
story winds
through many experiences as Knipfer builds a progressive saga of
heritage's
lasting impact on future generations.
Readers
seeking a
Native-based blend of romance, social inspection, and Christian-based
concepts
will find the fictional format and inspections form a strong spiritual
bond
between characters and choices that impart much food for thought. The
author's
own Native heritage contributes nicely to these elements. This
familiarity
makes for a story rich in strong characters who struggle with issues of
being
together, staying true to their beliefs and cultures, and viewing the
world—and
God's place in it—from powerfully different angles.
Harvest Moon is especially highly
recommended for prior fans of the
series, who will find it an outstanding addition expanding their
themes,
characters, and spiritual revelations.
Return to Index
He
Lands In Palm
Springs
John F.
Shekleton
Mo Keijuk Press
Print:
978-1-935751-68-7 $9.99
Epub:
978-1-935751-67-0
$3.99
Publisher: www.mokeijukpress.com
Ordering:
Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and Ingram.com
He Lands In Palm Springs is a LGBTQ romance story revolving around
Catholic priest Father Tierney, who is newly out of the
closet, HIV
positive, and looks to rebuild his life in a gay community. Enter the
welcoming
atmosphere of Palm Springs, California.
Joe finds this cultural and
social milieu entirely
different from his Midwest heritage—so much so, that the opportunities
for
openly gay love seem suddenly and unexpectedly endless.
It's one thing to want to
rebuild one's life in a safe
environment. It's another to realize that a change in community can
lead to so
many opportunities that one's identity and life trajectory become
muddled.
Joe's gay friends are
diverse. Many want to see him happy
and settled, and more than one love him. Some even harbor dreams about
the
relationship certain to evolve as Joe settles in to this welcoming
community: "After Cy returned from Cathedral
City,
he went into his small office and threw himself into his swivel chair,
spinning
with happiness. He couldn’t get over it. Joe was exactly what he had
hoped for.
Dazed. Cute. Vulnerable. Full of longing."
As emotions on all sides
spring to life and bring with
them new challenges and realizations, readers walk in not just Joe's
shoes, but
through the expectations, hopes, and romantic longings of others who
have
flourished in the freedom and encouraging atmosphere of Palm Springs.
Readers who have visited
this town or who are well
familiar with its attractions and culture will recognize many realistic
elements in this story. Others who enjoy gay romance stories, albeit
living
outside these communities, will appreciate John F. Shekleton's realistic attention to detail
and the perceptions
and evolution of all kinds of relationships.
Through
Joe's
eyes, as well as Edward's, Cy's, and other characters, more than just
romance
blossoms. Family and community-building moves are made which influence
the
choices and trajectories of all the characters, who consider and
reflect the
emotional entanglements Joe faces in his new life: "...he
would let Joe drive the discussion. For this plan to work,
Joe needed to engage fully, to fight through all the funk that covered
his
soul." All these explorations and avenues for success bring
with them
newfound challenges to Joe's spiritual vocation, as well.
As
He Lands In Palm Springs explores
different facets of love and romance, readers receive a fine story that
embraces Palm Springs culture and the types of transitions and changes
faced by
gay people who move from repression to many new freedoms, experiencing
the
choices and unfamiliar opportunities this move brings.
From
handling a
life-threatening condition to rebuilding his life and faith, Joe's
story will
resonate with LGBTQ readers and whose who are empathetic and open to
this
community and its underlying passions.
Return to Index
Madame
President
Tara Sue Me
After Six
Publishing
9781950017218
$3.99
https://www.amazon.com/Madame-President-Tara-Sue-Me-ebook/dp/B08HCHNZR8
Madame President is a Washington, DC romance about a single
woman, Anna Fitzpatrick, who tries to honor both her vows to serve her
country
and her determination to remain single through that political process.
It's not
the first book to posit a female president, but it is
the first to link a single president's love life with the office
she's determined to protect. This creates an intriguing turn of events
as Anna
discovers her heart and political mission in life may not be aligned.
When
successful
news anchor and former flame Navin Hazar enters her world on
professional
level, neither anticipated that romance would blossom between them
again. Both
envision keeping their professions and goals at the forefront. But,
given the
elusiveness of matters of the heart, an unexpected connection is
re-formed on
more than one level that tests their determination and ability to keep
romance
at bay.
Changing
first-person perspectives are clearly outlined in chapter datebook
headings,
capturing the emotions of each character in a lively and winning
manner.
Navin's introduction, which opens the story, provides a taste of some
of this
drama and flair for description: "On
any other election night, I wouldn't give a rat’s ass who won the
presidency.
As a news anchor, presidential election nights always feel like a
combination
of the Super Bowl and the Oscars, mixed with a healthy serving of a
reality
television competition."
Tara
Sue Me's
attention to detail in capturing the pessimism, opportunity, and
determined
visions of both characters is part of what fuels this romance beyond
the
connections they contemplate, try to reject, and build with one another.
Placing
these
elements against the backdrop of professional responsibilities and a
past that
would seem to dictate that their current lives stay on a different
level
creates a dynamic that makes for a compelling read. Romance followers
move
between draws and rejections in a catch-and-release style of action
that builds
both satisfying unpredictability and realistic atmosphere.
Both
his and her
emotions are thoroughly explored: "I
give serious thought to calling George or Edward and telling him Navin
has to
leave, he can no longer be on my Press Pool. But I can’t think of a way
to say
it that won’t make me sound like a total idiot. What reason would I
give for
needing him gone? He distracted me from running the nation? I might as
well
label him a national hazard. That I actually think on it for longer
than five
seconds proves how far gone I am."
Perhaps
the best
interplays between the characters stem from Anna's position as
President and
Navin's role as a press corps member. Their actions may be considered
at odds
with the best interests of their professions and nation if they act on
their
emotions. Between campaign promises and personal revelations, the
tension is
very nicely drawn.
This
gives a
fine dimension of interest to the evolving romantic overlay and adds a
full-bodied flavor to the story. Madame
President's interplay between political and emotional
interactions makes it
a top recommendation, especially for genre readers who seek more depth
and
auxiliary concerns than in an interpersonal relationship alone.
Return to Index
Malice in Milan
Ken Tentarelli
Independently Published
Ebook:
978-1-7331773-5-1
$ 3.99
Paperback: 978-1-7331773-6-8
$13.99
https://kententarelli.com/malice-in-milan/
Malice in Milan is Book 3 in the Nico Argenti novel series set in Renaissance Italy. It explores the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a Florentine banker in Milan just as Nico is on the cusp of achieving his dream to become a practicing lawyer.
Assigned to a commission to investigate threats to the newfound Republic of Florence, Nico finds himself facing not one mystery, but a crescendo of abductions, murder, and deadly danger. What seems like a singular disappearance turns into Nico's attempt to link these seemingly disparate circumstances into an overall, dangerous conspiracy against the Duchy of Milan.
Interactions between commissioners charged with probing a dangerous political and social situation test Nico's newfound abilities and profession beyond anything he'd anticipated.
Ken Tentarelli not only captures the political and social atmosphere of Nico's times, but he takes the time to inject insights on its culture and daily life, as well, describing foods, peoples' interactions and expressions, and other elements of Renaissance life. These outline the perceptions of soldiers, thieves, investigators, and special interests that operate in the underworld of Milan.
The intrigue is especially well done when set against this carefully constructed backdrop, involving readers in not just Nico's modus operandi, but the evolving conundrum posed by a series of events that bring him into a less familiar underworld.
As Nico, Vittorio, Massimo, and others interact and uncover a tangled web of deception and plots, readers will relish the full flavor of Renaissance Italy and struggles with an abduction which inadvertently turns into murder.
Nico's growing legal savvy and elevated status during the course of his investigation contributes a fine line of achievement and evolution to the overall murder mystery's social, political, and historical foundations.
The result is an excellent, involving tale that keeps readers guessing until the end. It is as astute about its survey of Nico's professional and personal evolution as it is about the identity of perps and the efforts of a commission charged with stopping the crimes.
Malice in Milan
is highly recommended for
historical fiction readers, especially those with an interest in
Renaissance
Italy and mystery.
Return to Index
The Mariner's Grandson
Milan Gupta
Rexington Press
ASIN : B08HJ4JMHM
$3.99
Kindle
www.rexingtonpress.com
The
Mariner's
Grandson opens with the 50th birthday of Duncan Craig, who
finds himself on
a park bench alone, facing a deadly medical diagnosis of pancreatic
cancer.
At the same time, his father
Jack is threatened at his
nursing home residence by a mysterious stranger in a circumstance that
demands
that Jack regain some of his memories. Duncan come to his aid during
this
process.
Between the mystery of this
intruder and the history that
brought him into their lives, Duncan's life-threatening diagnosis, and
a
blossoming romance, there's a lot going on in The
Mariner's Grandson that cuts through any walls of individual
loneliness and singular purpose.
Facing the early end of his
life, Duncan is ill prepared
for either this event or the ongoing circumstances which demand his
attention.
As he finds himself pulled in too many different directions at once,
Duncan
embarks on a journey of discovery that connects his life in ways he
never
before experienced.
Family history, destiny, and
choices permeate this story.
Milan Gupta does a fine job of exploring the evolving situations that
coalesce
in Duncan's final years, connecting past generations and choices as she
takes
the time to build the background story and influences: "My
parents lived a comfortable life with me, their only son and
child. Not having the means to visit Scotland, dad tried to instill a
certain
pride in his ancestry in me, being the grandson of a mariner. He had
even
encouraged me to consider marine biology, or engineering, as possible
careers,
rather than art history. “I may have abandoned the sea,” my father used
to say
to me. “But it still calls me back, son. It’s in our blood. Think about
it.”
This was likely his way of making restitution with his long-passed
father for abandoning
the sea, for deserting the Craig tradition."
As Duncan questions his
attractions and interests at this
stage of his life, readers are drawn into a story that links new and
old
connections. An underlying sense of irony and humor injected into these
changing relationships offers satisfying comic relief as Duncan
struggles with
newfound possibilities and limitations alike: "I
wasn’t used to such kindness, and felt my eyes welling up, ever
so slightly. I shook it off and, bringing her hand to my chest, said,
“Shauna,
there’s something I need to tell you. Something that I’m afraid you may
not
like.” A look of concern grew on her face. “What is it?” “I’m in the
mood for
pasta.”
The reader might anticipate
a depressing atmosphere,
given the story's opening premise, but one of the best features of this
tale
lies in its cultivation of hope, possibility, and new viewpoints which
belays
any notion that the story will be an end-of-life saga alone.
The result is a satisfying
blend of self-discovery,
romance, and intrigue that follows Duncan through one of the most
volatile
periods of change in his life. It's a thought-provoking, moving story
highly
recommended for fiction readers who like their characters
well-developed, their
situations mercurial, and their choices and reflections absorbingly
realistic.
Return to Index
The
Not-So-Old-Man and the Sea
Sam Barlow
Perigree
Publishing
978-0-9703269-3-5
$12.95 Paper/$4.95 ebook
Publisher: www.perigreepub.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
The-Not-So-Old Man and the Sea—An Adventure
into the Mind of Ernest Hemingway captures the spirit and persona of the whole of
Hemingway's writings,
and is especially recommended for those with some recent familiarity
and
affection for this literary icon's works and life. Readers who have
relished
Hemingway's themes beyond the initial high school required reading will
find
that this story takes the icon's basic approaches and expands them into
new
territory through one man's musings about his life experiences.
While
this novel
incorporates many facts about Hemingway's life that will be familiar to
prior
Hemingway readers, The-Not-So-Old Man and
the Sea also provides new insights on his influences and
perspectives.
It
does so by
presenting lone, aging narrator Daniel, who faces his later years
estranged and
frustrated by various life losses. The reflections of this not-so-old
man who
likes to swim in lakes, seas, or pools by himself are nicely described,
capturing many of his changing views about life and his role in it: "The not-so-old man had a peculiar
trust in people—in humanity—despite being lied to and cheated many
times in his
life. In fact, he had come to the conclusion that although he was lucky
in some
ways—ways that proved unimportant—generally speaking, when it came to
the more
important things, he was not. Still, he believed that people, in
general, were
good. His sister once said about herself that she couldn‘t imagine
others being
unrighteous because she, herself, was not, and you tend to see in
others what
you are yourself. ―Perhaps that is why I trust, the not-so-old man
thought.
―Or perhaps it is simply because I am lazy."
As
he swims down
memory lane, readers follow him through descriptions of pain,
confrontation,
rebellion, and redemption. These aren't easy journeys. Each reflection
requires
that the old man review his connections to life, pain, and its
conquest,
reassessing the emotional and physical losses and choices that have led
to this
point in time. As the sea churns up emotional issues that have remained
unresolved as tenuous influences on his psyche, Daniel faces a process
that
ultimately (and unexpectedly) results in rejuvenation and
transformation.
The
language, as
this not-so-old-man makes these discoveries, is evocative and lyrical: "He thought about the dream he just
had, and it stuck in his mind because all his dreams about his dad
stuck in his
mind. But what the dream could have meant didn‘t come to him then. That
would
take some time and reflection. But the meaning was there then and
always had
been there, and now the sea had washed away some of the dirt and grime
that had
accumulated over his lifetime to cover up those truths."
As
Daniel uses
his knowledge of Hemingway's works and life to re-examine his own,
different
revelations juxtapose the approaches of Ernest and the narrator: "The not-so-old man called Ernest Ernie
out of respect. But he called him Ernie out of contempt, too. He
admired Ernie
for his abilities and achievements, his writing skills, story-telling
abilities, and profound perspectives. But he envied him for his life:
All the
adventures he had, all the women he loved, all the drinks he drank and
meals he
ate, all the strolls around Paris and bullfights he saw, the battles he
witnessed, the mountains he climbed, and friends he troubled with. And
the
not-so-old man hated Ernie not so much because the not-so-old man had
not had a
similar or even close to a similar life. He hated Ernie because Ernie‘s
extraordinary life highlighted to him how wrong his own life had
become."
Everything
seems
to spark memories of pain, from his encounters with children on the
beach,
which prompts him to pull out a photo from the past and relive the
bittersweet
memory it brings, to his reflections on what elements in his many past
experiences might lead him to greater happiness at this point."
A
sense of
personal and life conquest, courage, and strength moves through this
older
character's thoughts as he maintains his physical prowess through
swimming and
his mental acuity by working through often-painful reflections.
From
his
swimming goals and struggle to simplify his life to insights on the
true nature
of Hemingway's 'suicide' and health challenges, his legendary physical
strength
and participation in death-defying sports, and the narrator's current
realization that he is on a course to die alone in the sea, Barlow
takes the
Hemingway persona and runs with it. He ventures into territory that
synthesizes
not just one man's influences and choices, but the driving forces that
make him
a larger than life figure in an arena where courage and persistence vie
with
the physical and mental strife that life contribute to his
character-building
mix.
The
angst and
revelations that permeate his reflections during these long-distance
personal
swim challenges form insights into the meaning of life: "He
knew he was crazy. Here he was, pushing himself for no reason.
Making himself hurt, for no reason. Continuing to live, for no reason.
―So you
might as well go down swinging,‖ he thought. ―Even if you‘re the one
swinging
at yourself. But he took a perverse kind of solace knowing that in the
end,
it‘s all the same for everyone. Your life ends and all the dreams are
over."
The
old man's
musings incorporate the pain and protest of everything notable that
he's
achieved as he ponders his successes and failures alike. These
life-changing
revelations appear as provocative themes that reassess the meaning of
his
achievements, struggles, and their ultimate impact on not only his life
but
those around him.
Depictions
of
his emotional reactions to these later realizations about the sum of
his life's
impact capture the rage and struggles this older man experiences: "The not-so-old man‘s imagination was
driving him now, taking him places he had never let himself go before.
And it
hurt. It stung him in the heart, like a barb from a stingray, and its
poison
was spreading into every cell of his body. He hated. He hated himself
for not
listening to his wife and feeling now for the first time what he had
missed.
His imagination was betraying him, stinging him, killing him. The years
of
distraction and suppression had piled up, gathered strength, and were
now
beating on him like a tsunami and exploding out of his soul like an
atomic
bomb."
Whether
making
responsible choices or contemplating suicide, the protagonist relives
some of
the starkest moments of his life, as in a bullfight which brings him to
the
conclusion that "Showmanship was
over. Flaunting was forgotten. Now came the dying." As
Daniel relieves
his greatest experiences and achievements, he begins to comprehend the
sum of
life ventures and experiences that have propelled him to this singular,
isolated point in his life.
Ideally,
readers
should have more than a cursory or long-ago familiarity with
Hemingway's works
in order to fully appreciate the literary allusions and devices Barlow
employs
here as the protagonist channels Ernest's thoughts and approach to
life. The
protagonist's choices in confronting pain and opening new doors of
growth
cannot be fully absorbed without Hemingway's personal and literary
background
firmly in mind.
The-Not-So-Old Man and the Sea is a cathartic exploration of an aging man's
past, his connection with Hemingway's approach to living a powerful
life, and
the choices involved when rougher waters and decisions alter the impact
of his
perceived triumphs and failures in life: "Life
journeys into the unknown. Life struggles. Life triumphs. Life lives."
It's highly recommended reading, especially for prior Hemingway fans
and those
looking for an introduction to some of the major points of his life and
works.
Return to Index
Open Heart
Gregory D. Williams
Grand Canyon Press
ASIN: B08GYCFR9N $9.99
www.amazon.com
Open Heart is a romance novel centered in
Arizona in the 1970s. It
focuses on the love and career aspirations of Gene Hull, who is on the
cusp of
success as he heads for college and falls in love with a beautiful
girl.
Juggling romance with a career not even begun is hard enough, but when
both
fail, disaster strikes. Gene begins to question his motivations,
trajectory in
life, and the waning opportunities he sees for heading in a different
direction
than his parents.
From his
physician
father's ability to save the day, which turns into an impossible legacy
for his
son to fulfill, to the career and love choices that create turbulence
and
complications in a son's life, Gregory D. Williams does a fine job of
capturing
the changing options and challenges facing a young man who breaks
others'
hearts because his own is being wrung by life circumstances and family
ties.
Gene takes
stock of
his future, compares loves present and lost, and tackles the failures
in both
which seem to plague his life and muddy his purposes, carrying readers
into a
story that moves between career and romance. Gene's ability to contrast
different options and possibilities is particularly well done: "The sex is great, as great as it was
with Patty. Perhaps better because of
Sandra’s…experience. That, he tries not to think about.
And still, he
feels empty. Maybe not empty, but at least not full of what Patty once
gave him
— a future. But why no future with Sandra? Why couldn’t that change?"
As the naked
human
heart is exposed in more ways than one, readers will appreciate a
survey that
traverses different circumstances of heart failure and successful
survival
tactics.
There are no
easy
answers concluding Open Heart.
Gene's
world is complicated, whether it's his relationship with a successful
father
and his expectations or the women he encounters during his evolutionary
process.
Readers who
appreciate stories of young men coming of age against social and family
expectations and challenges will relish Open
Heart's gentle survey of growth. Though it's billed a
'historical novel', its
primary attraction lies not in history, but in social and love
connections
which fuel a young man's desire to achieve success on more than one
level.
Those who
seek
complex, evocative stories will find Open
Heart a powerfully written, evocative journey.
Return to Index
The
Paris Predicament
Sasha Lauren
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68433-552-7
$21.95
www.blackrosewriting.com
The
Paris
Predicament is
about love, art, and finding one's place in the
world when everything changes. Camille is an American artist living the
dream
life in Paris. She has everything, until it all explodes by her own
actions.
All she can dream of is, then, an impossible escape: "I’ll do
anything.
I’ll walk, stow away, tele-transport myself out of France so I can have
a new
chance. Live alone, no need for romance. Like Shawshank Redemption,
only there
will be no redemption."
An
accident kills her soul and, at twenty-seven years old, she moves
from considering the world her oyster to wondering if she even wants to
continue living. It's only one of the many predicaments Paris and her
life
choices will confront during this fine literary romp through a young
woman's
vastly revised life.
Sasha
Lauren does a fine job of charting Camille's course during this
turbulent time of her life. Her lies, realities, and unexpected choices
of
action are revealed in a compelling first-person confessional dialogue
with the
reader that nicely incorporates metaphor and descriptions that are
unique and
compelling: "A peek of sunshine snuck through the curtains
like a
sliver of Parmesan expertly shredded onto a Caesar Salad made with fine
French
finesse, waking me much earlier than planned."
From
her friendship with the educated artist Tom to her fresh persona
as Lucy and the life she both escapes from and newly falls into, the
story
winds through the art world and the world of redemption and irony alike.
Even
as Camille reflects that "My life was a Humpty-Dumpty
scrambled mess," she chooses different options and succeeds in leaving
Paris conundrums behind—even though she now deems herself intrinsically
unlucky—a far cry from her previous luck-filled journey.
Lauren's
poetic prowess and gift with words drives a story of discovery
and transformation that is replete with a spunky character's wildly
divergent
ride through a suddenly-revised life.
Readers
of women's literature who appreciate international exploits, a
story that leads full circle to a revised life, and the touches of
serendipity
that mark Camille's journey will find The Paris Predicament steeped
in
art, love, and a girl's newfound discoveries when she's forced to step
away
from her set life routines into an entirely different world.
The
Paris
Predicament is highly recommended for those who like their
female characters determined, flexible, and ultimately successful in
revamping
their life courses and personas.
Return to Index
Reformed
Dreamer
Deborah King
Liberation Publishing
ASIN: B08JJ8K16G
$2.99
Website: www.deborahkingbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JJ8K16G/
The fourth
book in
Deborah King's 'Inspiration In Cologne' romance series, Reformed
Dreamer, is recommended for both prior fans and newcomers
alike. King carefully crafts a stand-alone story that includes enough
details
to appeal to those unfamiliar with the past adventures surrounding the
evolving
connections between Melinda and Darius.
In Reformed Dreamer, Melinda Moore is
honing her skills with horses while living under Darius's roof. She's
moved
from a rehabilitation facility in an agreement to live with her
'warden' for a
year, recovering from cyclothymic disorder (a milder form of bipolar
mental
illness) that has challenged her all her life. She's struggled with
drug abuse
and her mother's secrets. Her second chance to recover into a better
life
promises to incorporate the peace and quiet she gains from a rural
setting, but
her troubles only continue, albeit in new form, as she adapts to these
new
surroundings and possibilities and learns to work with horses and
Darius alike.
Readers who
like love
stories that emerge against the backdrop of rural farm and ranch
environments
will especially appreciate the attention to detail that Deborah King
offers in
this story. The specifics of horse training routines wind gently into
the
romance portion to provide realistic, uplifting scenes:
"Our first course of action on Tuesday was to persuade Thunder
to accept Darius as my equal. I rode Thunder around the arena a couple
of times
and stopped by the fence. As I spoke softly to Thunder, Darius eased
his body
behind mine and straddled both of us. My nerve endings sizzled,
instantly.
Thunder, on the other hand, was unfazed. One huge step accomplished.
Darius and I fitted and added tack to Spirit’s and Thunder’s
backs
each
day—baby steps. By Friday, they were sporting blankets, western
saddles,
stirrups, bridles, reins, and gentle snaffle bits as we continued to
walk them
around the arena. Next Monday is deemed tack, mount,
and trail ride day. I’m apprehensive but excited."
As the
"electrifying connection" between the main characters grows, readers
receive a fine evolutionary tale of love and new beginnings which take
on many
different forms. As Lindy evolves new friendships and new dreams and
tackles
the challenges of her mental condition, readers will relish this
positive,
uplifting story of adversities overcome and new possibilities for the
future.
The result
is not
only an apt addition to the evolving series, but a fine standalone
story highly
recommended for romance readers who like to see their protagonists live
full
lives with challenges outside of their evolving connections.
Return to Index
The
Sailor From
Lampedusa
Michael Bellusci
MB Litspace Books
Print: 978-1-7771673-0-1
Ebook: 978-1-7771673-1-8
$2.99
Website: www.michaelbellusciauthor.com
Presale
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+sailor+from+lampedusa
The Sailor From
Lampedusa: Escape to Paradise is
a fictional sailing adventure loosely
based on real events, following a young architect student who achieves
a rude
awakening about immigrant rights, sailing, and international politics
when he
embarks on a voyage with one Captain Falco during his visit to Sicily.
From
a bell
thief and the impact of choices to help refugees to the Captain's
efforts to
reconnect a separated family, navigate bureaucracy, and finally, to
risk his
freedom to sail both into and away from trouble, The Sailor
From Lampedusa
does a fine job of not only exploring James Bellamy's involvement in a
complex
international dilemma, but Captain Francesco Falco's
ability to skirt the law
over
whether refugees are criminals or oppressed people needing assistance.
When
romance enters the picture, Falco must decide where
his heart rests and if there's any place in it for the man he has
become. His
self-assessments are astute and revealing during this process: "I can't give you much except the
thrill of not knowing what tomorrow may bring. I am a sailor with an
erratic,
unsettled lifestyle. I'm a bit crazy, and I have more than my share of
challenges. I could end up in jail at any time to boot."
When
tragedy
strikes and innocents become collateral damage, everything changes.
Michael
Bellusci
does an outstanding job of creating not only memorable and appealing
characters, but the milieu of the sea, its laws, and the emotional and
political entanglements of sailors who navigate treacherous waters.
His
injection of
these insights along with the adventure the characters encounter on the
way and
the moral and ethical dilemmas they raise makes for a story that is
compelling,
realistic, and astute as it captures the dilemmas of a group of
disparate
individuals who often operate outside the letter of the law.
Under
Bellusci's
hand, the immigrant crisis in the Mediterranean comes to life as seen
through
the eyes and experiences of very different individuals who take risks,
find
love, and uncover the meanings in their set courses and journeys in
life and on
the seas.
The
Sailor From Lampedusa is highly
recommended reading for anyone who enjoys nautical backdrops
and social issues combined into a winning story of ethics, morals, and
challenging conditions.
Return to Index
Stage
Fright
Kate Lloyd
Union Bay Publishing
Print: 978-1-7352411-0-4
$12.99
Ebook: 978-1-7352411-1-1
$ .99
https://katelloyd.com/
Stage
Fright
is clean romance
reading at its best, incorporates a spiritual undertone, and centers on
singer
and single mom Jessica Nash's paralyzing fear whenever she gets on
stage to
demonstrate her vocal talents: "Producing a luminous vocal
note, alive
with color and mood, filled me with joy. But singing also exposed my
core,
displaying me under a microscope for the world to see. I wished I
didn’t care
what others thought. I wished I could laugh off the audition, but I’d
endured
rejection too often."
A
rare opportunity to go to England with her choir group tests
Jessica's courage in many ways as she faces quirky and prickly fellow
singers,
her intense fear of public performances, and the romantic attentions of
a
handsome tour guide. Despite it all, she achieves her goal. And then
the real
struggles begin.
Jessica
finds that her journey changes her on many levels beyond
conquering stage fright. Also being challenged is her ability to relate
to
people, her openness to love and her single status, and the
independence she's
always held close to her heart, fueled by her mother's lessons: "Once
Mom recovered from her divorce, she seemed fine without a husband.
She’d dated
a couple times, but the panic of being a single woman had subsided, and
now she
was content. “There’s more to life than men,” Mom said one Friday night
when
she didn’t have a date. “If you’re not happy with yourself, don’t
expect a man
to fix it.”
Jessica
has learned that lesson perhaps too well; because as difficult
as it is for her to get up on stage and demonstrate her singing skills,
so it
is equally hard for her to deal with people, on many levels.
The
roots of the dilemmas she faces in England go back to childhood and
parental relationships: "Dad will be sitting at the table,
just like
when I was little.‘Come here, Jess,’ he’ll say. His long arms will
catch me,
and I’ll be five years old again. Isn’t that stupid?” My father was
almost as
old as Martin’s and could die before I told him I loved him. In spite
of my
rage and crushed feelings, I still loved him—a strange affection that
warped my
every decision."
Faced
with a plethora of closely-held secrets and missed and real
opportunities,
Jessica's first-person experiences bring readers along for the ride
through her
emotional growth as she considers the life she now leads and how it
could be
revised by new actions and reactions.
Readers
will follow, with complete interest, Jessica's invitations for
change and reconsidering her life. The process by which she comes to
realizations about her values, attitudes, and their lasting impact
crafts a
moving story of achievement, failure, and choices and consequences.
Readers
of women's fiction who look for involving stories of personal
transformation will find Stage Fright is about more
than facing one's
fears. It's also about considering opportunities and life trajectories,
providing insights against the backdrop of a European cultural
encounter that
will keep readers involved to the end.
Return to Index
Stockboy
Nation
Thomas Duffy
Independently
Published
9798650072775
$10.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Stockboy-Nation-Thomas-Duffy/dp/B08B324Y3D
In Stockboy Nation, Phillip Doherty has
made many big changes in his life, from moving cross-country to marry
his
long-time girlfriend to returning to a job he once loved years ago. His
career
is at a crossroads and his future as a writer is questionable when his
novel
fails to sell, so these changes seem to be appropriate moves for
creating a
better life.
The fact
that he's in
his 40s is a minor obstacle to his dreams of success on many levels,
but
Phillip faces a series of challenges to his dreams, from his own
approach to
life to the addition of new possibilities which conflict with his set
course.
As old
relationships
and goals end and new ones appear to be uncertain, Phillip comes to
many
realizations about his objectives and approach to life and love. This
brings
readers into a world of uncertainty and change that holds both promise
and
frustration.
Thomas Duffy
does a
fine job of portraying the angst, twists and turns of fate and purpose,
and
changing world of a middle-aged man whose decisions aren't always
productive,
despite his long-term goals. His character is believable, the life
encounters
realistic, and the choices and options tumultuous. When the pandemic
changes
everything in an instant, his world turns upside down in a way that
will feel
more than familiar to all.
As Phillip
finds his
life completely transformed suddenly and in unexpected ways, readers
will
relate to his evolving relationships, changing reactions, and survival
tactics.
Duffy also paints his romantic relationships with emotionally charged
questions
about opportunity to ultimate life goals: "You’re
a runner. But, you’re getting a little too old to keep running. You
have to
settle down somewhere and with
someone to be happy."
Phillip's
perceptions
of personal and social challenge are nicely contrasted in encounters
and
dialogues which bring these issues to life:
"I’m miserable. I’ve watched a few movies that made me laugh but only
serve to remind me that my life isn’t going to amount to anything close
to what
I thought it would.” “Let’s
see what
happens when the pandemic ends,” Melissa replied.
“If Yogi Berra was going to call my life,
he’d say it’s “officially over.”
Phillip's
crisis is
more than that of middle age—it's of life perspective and a future
suddenly
transformed by crisis. This bigger-picture story, which begins as a
midlife
crisis and moves into pandemic territory, is highly recommended reading.
Where is the
purpose
in a life substantially revised? Duffy provides a moving story that
closely
examines breaking hearts, new opportunities, and changed lives. It's
just the
ticket for pandemic times.
Return to Index
Tallulah's
Pie
Eric Redmon &
Felicia Gros
Eric Redmon - Felicia
Gros, Publishers
978-0-578-72039-5
$3.99 Kindle/$14.99 Print
https://www.amazon.com/Talulahs-Eric-Redmon-Felicia-Gros-ebook/dp/B08K949KWS
In Tallulah's Pie, the prologue states that
Marie and Paul lived for eighteen years without each other. This story
examines
the years that follow, when they do find each other, love, and new
lives
together. Is it chance, destiny, or determination that creates this
foray into
romance and relationships? That's what Tallulah's
Pie is all about.
Paul is in
college,
pursuing an English major. Marie has her sights set on art. Neither is
wild
about the fast-paced required course they find themselves forced to
take, which
lies far from their goals. Both approach the challenging course from
very different
angles that bring them together in an unexpected manner.
As the story
evolves,
Marie and Paul find unusual connections as well as major differences in
their
approaches to life. Paul also comes to appreciate his family and roots
more as
he faces Marie's angry father and her very different family: "As he drove down Airline Highway to
New Orleans, he said a prayer of thanks for a family that was
universally kind
to everyone. He’d been raised in a bubble and hadn’t realized the full
extent
of sheltering that occurred growing up in a rural town. He’d
experienced
differences a few times when he and his parents visited Savannah in the
big
city of New Orleans. Most people didn’t share the blessing he took for
granted.
Not everyone came from a kind family and a comfortable home. He’d grown
up in
an idealistic, protected way compared to many who survived day by day
in an
oppressive atmosphere."
As they
build a
relationship, then a home, and Marie explores her painting abilities,
readers
are absorbed by the ups, downs, revelations, and choices that confront
each
character at different stages of their lives. Eric Redmon and Felicia
Gros
don't just represent a one-dimensional romance, but devote time to
exploring
how love evolves and how each individual is changed by the attitudes
and
pursuits of the other.
Redmon and
Gros also
take the time to explore the overall atmosphere of the South. Cooking
plays a
big part in many of these descriptions, adding mouth-watering food to
the
bigger recipe of life encounters and changes. At the heart of these
descriptions is Aunt Talulah's reputation for producing pies that
"Kings
and Queens come from thousands of miles away to taste."
Those are
not the
only things that Talulah does for the couple, however. Even as her pies
permeate
their lives and influence their direction, their visits to her
establishment
change her, as well. It takes only one bite of her pie to addict them.
As
Paul's writing and Marie's art winds into the joy and presentations of
Talulah's particular talents, readers gain a rich story of interactions
on
different levels that change all the characters in unexpected ways.
Romance and
food are
at the heart of this story, as is Louisiana culture—but so is an
evolutionary
process of love and transitions that touch all the characters to
encourage
their underlying abilities and blossoming talents.
When the
winds of
change begin pushing Marie away from Paul, Talulah's pies could
ultimately save
the day. New lives, big possibilities, and Talulah's homestyle manner
enhance a
Southern-rooted romance story that is highly recommended for fiction
readers
who like their characters steeped in personal discovery and change,
both
between each other and within themselves.
Return to Index
Threads: A
Depression-Era Tale
Charlotte Whitney
ISBN: 978704019901
$15.00 Paper
ASIN: B07ZBN35JF
$ 3.99
Kindle
Website: http://www.charlottewhitney.com
In 1934, south-central
Michigan is experiencing the brunt
of the Great Depression. The farm setting of Threads
stems from author Charlotte Whitney's family stories that
she grew up hearing, about ongoing threats of losing the family
homestead.
Life during this era is
captured from the viewpoint of
Nellie and her two older sisters, who experience childhood, adult
concerns, and
ongoing economic pressures with a mixed blend of childhood perception
and adult
worries about the future.
A note on mid-Michigan farm
dialect introduces the story
and sets the stage for absorbing the origins of Nellie's evocative
descriptions: "I’m in second grade
so I git home two hours before my sister Irene who’s in sixth grade,
even
though we go to the same oneroom country school. My sister Flora gits
home from
high school even later, around five-thirty. I like the afternoon time I
have
all by myself. I can talk to Pa while he works, visit my favorite
animals, and
explore the meadows, woods, and crick."
Whitney excels in capturing
how the Depression affects
and changes even the simplest pleasures in these childrens' lives: "I can’t remember when I’ve had three
cookies all at once. It’s so rare to have even one. It was heavenly to
be
seeing Jean again. I didn’t realize how much I miss her. We used to
play
together every day at our country school."
Her attention to small
details of childhood, adult
changes that interest with play and pleasure, and the injection of
bigger
concerns into their world than prior generations had to face crafts a
compelling story that is gripping in its juxtaposition of adult
concerns and a
child's view of life.
One such example is an
attempted rape in which Nellie
only knows she's being attacked, successfully fights back and gains
freedom,
then must involve her parents: "I
couldn’t eat supper thinking ’bout having to tell Pa ’bout the rivalist
preacher trying to strangle me. Ma didn’t believe my story and I was
afraid
that Pa would make me go down and then show him where it all happened.
I sure
don’t wanna walk down there again. Why were all these awful things
happening
down in the woods? I used to love the woods. No more."
The focus on how adult
events transform everything and
bring Nellie into a dangerous and changing world is nicely done,
including the
realistic lingo which is easily understood, adding authenticity to the
observations of a young girl's coming of age in hard times.
As Nellie grows up, faces
changes to friendships and
family, looks forward to a wedding day possibly marred by unexpected
revelations, and more, readers receive a thought-provoking, absorbing
saga
that, more than most Depression-era novels, introduces a family's
struggles on
a multifaceted, broader level.
Add the mystery of a dead
baby's discovery and a threat
that goes beyond social and economic struggles for a story that works
well on
many levels. It invites readers of history and mystery to absorb the
outcome of
changing life in rural America through three sisters who harbor
different
perspectives of the forces that affect their lives.
The threads of these
connections and forces will engage
and enthrall readers who enjoy close inspections of childhood
experience and
adult concerns, all set against the backdrop of Depression's overlay of
angst
and threat.
Return to Index
Trading
Secrets
Rachel Eckles
Aphrodite Books
eBook: 978-1-7349018-0-1
$15.00
Paperback: 978-1-7349018-1-8
$17.00
www.aphroditepublishinghouse.com
Trading
Secrets
is a romantic suspense story that revolves around the actions of
beautiful, successful businesswoman Celeste Donovan. Her life changes
when her
boyfriend is murdered and her ex, Omar, is implicated. Celeste
contemplates her
own danger as she finds herself in the crosshairs of his attention.
Determined
to entrap him and bring him to justice, Celeste instead finds
that her dangerous new role and pursuit places not just her life but
everything
she's worked for in jeopardy, as a clever opponent matches her every
move with
increasingly deadly force: "Celeste’s face registered
confusion at
Omar’s glee. She swallowed and said through clenched teeth, “Yes, I
must’ve
misunderstood what you’re telling me. You just said Stan told you he
would back
us, and in the same breath, you’re telling me you asked him not to?
Forgive my
confusion, because there is no way I could discern why my own boyfriend
would
sabotage what Sav and I have been working so hard toward.” “Celeste,
dear, I
already have to compete with your work schedule and friends as it is.
I’m not
going to allow you to go fifty million dollars deep with someone like
Stan. You
would be in over your head, not to mention the time it would take away
from our
relationship.”
Apparently,
there is more at stake and behind Theodore's death than one
man's pursuits and plans. As Celeste uncovers a wider-ranging plot, she
is faced
with choices and insights that challenge not just her future, but her
past and
vision of her success.
Rachael
Eckles does a fine job of winding the themes of relationship
abuse, murder, and romance into a story replete with many twists and
turns.
Readers who follow Celeste from a life of achievement and success into
emotionally dubious territory will find her character holds an
appealing layer
of vulnerability as well as determination and ability. These qualities
coalesce
to form a realistic protagonist as much at odds with her heart as she
is with a
murder investigation that has become too personal and dangerous.
Eckles
also does a fine job of marrying intrigue with romance on an
international arena that keeps Celeste's story fast-paced and
engrossing: "Celeste
still found these clandestine flights in and out of secret desert
airports
thrilling, this time perhaps more than she normally would since she was
stifling all her other emotions at this point. No amount of ayahuasca
she could
ingest on a retreat in Peru would cleanse her of the trauma she had
been
through the past few days. Celeste had to find a way to get her old
life
back—when flying to a glamorous locale on a private jet was what she
called an
uneventful Tuesday."
Who
are her allies? Has Omar threatened others? Can he be brought to
justice?
The
elusive game she plays is thoroughly engrossing and logical at each
step of the way as her emotions wreak havoc with her investigative
skills.
Readers who look for a glamorous romp through the
international circuit
of business success and underworld dealings will find this blend of
romance and
intrigue a wonderful achievement. It provides an engrossing read as it
winds
its way to a conclusion that is unexpected and thought-provoking.
Return to Index
The
Urban Legion
Dave Agans
B. Mirthy & Sons
Paperback: 978-0-9861709-0-4
$15.00
Ebook: 978-0-9861709-1-1
$ 2.99
www.BMirthy.com
Culinary
concerns, conspiracies, and comedy make for a fine serving of
fun and is just the ticket to counter the angst of modern times in The
Urban
Legion, a romp through the food world which opens with the
puzzle of a
strange voice that interferes with food critic Lynn Grady's latest
restaurant
venture: "Our Zen Gourmet was three bites into the Duck Pâté
with Tiny
Truffles when she first heard the voice. It seemed to be inside her
head, which
was surprising, since it was male, with a distinctly French accent. ZE
TRUFFLES, ZEY ARE TERRIBLE, NO? Lynn Grady froze, listening, wishing
she could
check what she’d written about the truffles on her hidden notepad. But
she was
pretty sure the words were [savory] and [delicate]. She
considered adding
[psychedelic]."
With
this opener, the reader (especially those interested in humor and
food fun) is hooked as Lynn discovers the true origins of this sudden
vocal
critic and what it means not just for the culinary world, but the
greater world
at large.
As
readers pursue the story, they'll discover that The Urban
Legion
is actually a satire that offers much more than a culinary perspective. It tackles corporate
special interests and
shenanigans, simmering psychological struggles, crazy conundrums, and
one
woman's wacky journey from a world she is very familiar with to one
which
stymies her knowledge of Boston's society and people.
Even
the chase scenes are replete with humor: "You made it! We
were worried sick.” He stopped short as he got a closer look.
“Barefoot,
wounded, and”—he noticed the wet clothes and sniffed—“fresh from a swim
in a
cesspool? In your clothes?” “Just practicing escape techniques on our
Truffle
Cartel friends,” Roger replied. “Took the sea route through the Public
Garden.”
“You sure you lost them?” “Of course.” Howie examined Roger’s bruised
head.
“They should pay for this. They should drive French cars till they drop
dead
from frustration. Come, you need ointment on those scrapes—I’m thinking
there’s
more duck shit than chlorine in the Swan Pond.”
As
Rocco and Carl, Howie, Francois and Phil, and a cast of characters
bumble their way through special interests and special foods with a
flair for
French, fast food, and high drama, readers will enjoy the subplots and
different threads that run through the story. These lend a degree of
complexity
that might thwart some readers in earlier chapters, before they
discover that
all these escapades hold meaning and connection, and that the abundance
of
delightful characters and observations result in a wild ride through
the
unexpected.
A
hallmark example of the 'absurd conspiracy', The Urban Legion
introduces the presence of unsettling voices that portend escapades and
romance
alike in the face of a truffle farm incident that evolves from a Mall
escapade
to blossom into violence and murder that "...violated every
Buddhist
teaching that even a remedial student knew."
The
Urban
Legion
defies neat categorization. Suffice it to say that this novel is an
exceptional presentation for anyone who enjoys literature, satire,
Buddhist
references, and a romp through life based on a blend of conspiracy,
discovery,
and social investigation.
Return to Index
Walk Away West
JF Collen
Evolved Publishing,
LLC
9781622536375
$16.95 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Walk+Away+West&i=digital-text&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Evolved
Publishing: walk-away-west
Author website: www.jfcollen.com
Walk Away West is the second book in the
'Journey of Cornelia Rose'
series, providing historical literature readers with a continuing saga
of
Nellie's changing world. Nellie lives happily in New York as a midwife
married
to Obadiah Wright. She enjoys a lovely home filled with privilege and
abundance
in the 1850s.
She seems
the least
likely candidate to walk away from this world and head out into the
unknown,
but circumstances change and force Nellie to leave her beloved home and
family
when the lure of the West calls her husband to the road.
There are
many
underlying facets driving the story line, from the love between the
couple to
involvement in death and social strife and Obadiah's legal prowess. The
changing role of women in this society is nicely outlined in encounters
which
test the couple's love and perceptions of their places in this volatile
world: "Nellie laid a reassuring hand on his
arm. “We all suffer distress beyond rational thought at the tragedy we
have
witnessed first-hand,” she said. “We mutually ache from the painful
awareness
that further efforts, now, shall spare none of the victims. Agnes, the
legal
proceeding shall assess culpability. Moreover, the Inquest could spawn
new
legislation banning all racing on the Hudson River. If only it were
permissible
for the ladies to give sworn statements at the judicial proceedings. I
would willingly
subject myself to that torment for the privilege of aiding this
investigation.
Would that women had citizens’ rights and could effectuate a change in
the
law,” stated Nellie. “Cornelia, such pie-in-the-sky thinking. That day
shall
never come,” said Obadiah."
As Nellie
moves from
her beloved New York milieu to strange territory in more ways than one.
JF
Collen follows her fears and changes to bring readers along for an
exciting
emotional and physical ride into danger and revised living: "This
is not
the beginning of an exhilarating trip on my beloved river. It is the
beginning
of the end. The end of my time in civilization."
Nellie
is
leaving a piece of her heart behind, but discovers new ways to fill the
gap in
a story that winds through the West via boat, wagon train, emigration
train,
and emotional confrontations.
Collen
creates
an outstanding synthesis of history and personal experience that bring
readers
into a world that moves from a comfortable one to one which, by choice,
embraces austerity and adventure. Where is home for the
suddenly-nomadic
Nellie; and can love survive the journey?
Readers
looking
for a fine stand-alone story of a venture out West and the characters'
motivations for both undertaking the unknown and remaining and growing
as a
couple will find Walk Away West an invigorating novel of
change and challenge. It works well either as a follow-up to Nellie's
previous
adventure or as a stand-alone historical novel for newcomers.
Return to Index
When Cities
Sink
Howling in Ruin
K. Partridge
Argive Press
978-0-578-76789-5
www.argivepress.com
When Cities Sink Howling in Ruin is set
in the Mediterranean in the
Late Bronze Age (around 1191 B.C.), when civilizations in the area
collapsed
over a relatively brief period of time. Troy wasn't the only city that
fell in
this era, and the story offers a vivid impression of the times, its
title
promising a flair of language and description that creates thoroughly
engrossing events.
K. Partridge
uses
strong dialogue to open the story, bringing readers into striking,
emotionally
compelling scenarios from the first paragraphs of the saga: "Heading east, our shabby cargo ship
was a cradle rocked by lazy waves. Somewhere else those same waves were
bearing
sleek warships to glory. My cousin Eurylochos scowled. “Quit staring at
the
damn water and pay attention, Iakos. You want to become a mariner or
don’t
you?” “Not really.” “Well you better start wanting to, or that
ballocks-cruncher of an uncle of yours is going to kick your ass off
the ship
and send you back to the counting house. This is the last time I’m
going to
show you, so watch and listen.”
Local lingo
is
presented so nicely that terminology such as 'gigglestick' is
immediately
understandable; the flavor of the times an enhancement and not a
barrier to
understanding the psyches and observations of characters who become
caught up
in world-changing events much larger than anything they've ever known.
The main
crux of the
adventure lies in how the ordinary individual finds himself at in the
maelstrom
of social, political, and personal change, bringing him to uncharted
waters and
the potential of a strange new, revised world. How he gets there and
what his
choices and consequences are when he arrives contributes to a
compelling story
that weaves historical facts and interpersonal relationships in a
uniquely
satisfying, powerful manner.
Partridge
excels in
bringing pre-Homeric times to life in a way that belays the usual
historical
novel's reliance on dry facts and figures. While known history of these
ancient
times is woven deftly into the story line, it's the attention to detail
that
brings this world to life, from the treatments of healers who handle
arrow
wounds and greater afflictions caused by the clash of men to the
struggles
faced by Aithon’s heir when 18-year-old Lakos of Pylos's uncle's secret
threatens to go to the grave with him.
As he
confronts his
true heritage, the young lord faces newfound revelations that introduce
choices
outside his experience and expectations.
Through his
eyes,
vivid descriptions drive a story line that is powerfully laced with
emotion: "Of those who chose to attack
Ismaros,
the Kikonians’ city, half were blind with hate. The rest had lost
everything
worth living for and didn’t care if they lived or died. Perhaps a few
were
hoping for silver, or just enjoyed slitting throats. Saddest of all
were the
ones who went because they couldn’t abandon their friends. Ko’on,
ship-leader
of the cargo ship, was of this number. I was there because Aithon had
brought
me there. He told me that he couldn’t leave me behind and deny me the
chance to
avenge my parents. I had awoken to an uncle I didn’t know. All that he
formerly
was seemed gone: intellect, compassion, wit, moderation…. Inside him,
vengeance
glowed red-hot, as if he were a poker that Hephaistos had left among
the
embers."
More so than
most
other stories of the times, Partridge's attention to emotional
connections and
details drives a story hard to put down...a tale of revenge, heritage,
cross-cultural interactions, slaves and lords, and what happens when
the entire
Mediterranean world falls apart simultaneously.
When Cities Sink Howling in Ruin offers a
lesson in anarchy and a
world in flames that provides thought-provoking reflections for modern
times.
More than
just a
historical novel of Troy's downfall (as is usually presented from this
time
stream), When Cities Sink Howling in Ruin
points out the survival instincts, warrior drive, and struggles to
ultimately
prevail that embraced a number of cities and both civilization and ruin.
Presented
from the
first-person experiences of Lakos, son of Gaphnos, this world could not
receive
better inspection. Historical novel readers as well as those with
little
familiarity with the times or its peoples will find the account drive
by
battle, honor, and a brand of ethical and moral perceptions of struggle
that imparts
much food for thought.
Return to Index
With
All The
World Between
Herb Smith
Independently
Published
ISBN: TBA
Price: $13.95
www.amazon.com
Neville
Simonson
is average. His life holds nothing remarkable, he has no siblings or
strong
family connections, and his 1897 world, just after he graduates from
school,
offers few possibilities for him to enrich his life or mind.
All
this changes
when Neville is called upon to join the family business. Neville has
harbored a
secret dream: "With
all his heart he hoped that he would be assigned a place on a ship, and
could
sail away from the world that he had known all his life – he called it
his
‘existence’ - he knew his life would start the day that he got onto a
ship and
felt the sea beneath his feet." Is it about to become
reality?
Herb Smith
follows
Neville's evolving life purpose with an eye to contrasting the young
man's
growth and his involvement in the shipping and trade industry and the
concurrent evolution of his dreams. His inheritance includes a mystery
that
charges him like nothing in life has prepared him for. As Neville
explores new
possibilities and options involving an antique icon and a young woman,
he
explores the world, expanding his own future in the process.
The
contrasts between
London and Cairo are exceptionally well depicted, as are the changes
Neville
undergoes after so many years of leading a seemingly staid life.
Herb Smith
does a
fine job of figuring out an increasingly complex world, from the true
identity
of The Hermit to the real legacy of his life, which moves from normal
to
extraordinary.
Readers who
anticipate a quiet story of a too-normal man will find that, by the
tale's
conclusion, when Neville is in his fifties, everything has been
transformed by
his actions and choices.
Smith does
an
outstanding job of depicting changing personas, talents, and life
perceptions
alike as Neville discovers that his purposes and origins are anything
but
ordinary.
Readers who
enjoy
surprising twists and turns that lead the novel into the realm of
fantasy and
revised ideas of the world's realities will relish the journey Neville
brings
to them in With All the World Between.
Return to Index
Write
Christmas
Thommy Hutson
Rosewind Books
978-1-64548-049-5
Paperback $14.95/ebook $4.99
www.RosewindBooks.com
All Abby
Nicholson
wanted to do in her life is get away from her small town roots. On the
cusp of
finally escaping, however, Abby receives an inheritance which ties her
even
more firmly to the town's future.
Accustomed
to living
her life to fulfill others' dreams, Abby seems destined to never
realize her
own, but decides to turn the tables on fate and sell her inheritance.
However, in
true
Christmas spirit, fate again intervenes to provide Abby with not just a
future
portent of what should happen if she decides to leave, but a different
way of
reconciling her role in the world with her personal goals and
satisfaction.
Winter Glen
past and
present are contrasted in the course of a blend of romance, fantasy, in
A Christmas Carol style of writing
that provides
holiday readers with a gripping saga of a young woman's revelation of
what the
future could be without her and the magic she brings to the small town.
Thommy
Hutson creates
a compelling holiday story that is highly recommended reading not just
because
of its seasonal attractions, but because of its underlying message of
empowerment and the forces affecting positivity and negative attitudes
alike.
As Abby
grows and
comes to realize how her dreams and her reality can result in a better
world
for both herself and others, readers will appreciate the beacons of
hope that
move through her world to reignite the holiday spirit.
Hutson's
exploration
of how not just the town but its driving forces are transformed makes
for
particularly thought-provoking reading: "It
was indeed Lolo. Still full of gumption, though buried deep down, the
woman in
a visible, yet indescribable way appeared to be a shell of her former
self. She
had been transformed from a busybody into nobody."
This
evocative,
compelling story of transformation and discovery is the perfect
seasonal cup of
hot chocolate to draw readers interested in both romance and
self-discovery. It
creates a wonderfully attractive tale reminiscent of a comforting
Hallmark
movie as it explores how Abby confronts forces of darkness both in this
new
world and in herself: "The woman in
front of her fed on fear and anger and hurt. She’d turned into a shell,
nothing
more than a vessel, now full of all the ignorance, pain, rage, and
betrayal the
world here could muster. Abby would not, could not, be its source of
nourishment any longer."
An
outstanding
inspirational read for the holidays, Write
Christmas is highly recommended as a panacea for angst in
troubled times.
Return to Index
90 Days to Your First Real Estate Investment
Purchase
Robert Gill, Jr.
Teaching Press
9780578718279
$19.95/CAN $24.95; $4.69 Kindle
Author Website: https://robertgilljr.com
Publisher Website: https://teachingpress.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0578718278
90
Days to Your
First Real Estate Investment Purchase provides a daily action
guide to real
estate investments for all readers, whether they contemplate entering
the
market on a shoestring or are already well versed in real estate
theory, but
haven't yet made a move.
It opens
with an
introduction to the topic of real estate profiting with an eye to
achieving a
90-day goal, discussing techniques, how to handle competition, and how
to
understand and employ property analysis.
Once
analytics are
understood, the approach moves to online identification of deals which
fit into
the profit-generating formula.
This leads
to the
goal of analyzing one new potentially good deal a day, once a real
estate team
has been put into place and pre-approval bank letters are obtained.
Not all such
investments are good matches, however. Much attention is given to
understanding
this process and what constitutes the "right" investment for a
particular goal or approach. For example, duplex investing may seem
like a
prime opportunity for many, but the down sides include locating the
right
tenant (especially if you are occupying one half of said duplex) and
understanding the screening process.
From
understanding
specific negotiation pressure points on both the prospective buyer and
seller's
sides to using a pre-approval letter to maximum advantage, 90
Days to Your
First Real Estate Investment Purchase not only streamlines
the usual
process of making a real estate purchase, but identifies common
obstacles that
turn a good deal into a bad decision.
Armed with
such
knowledge, investors have everything they need to forge ahead with a
winning
game plan, even if they harbor little prior experience in real estate
investing.
Adding the
'90 days'
fast track assures quick results, once the cautions, pros, cons, and
strategies
packed into this informational primer are absorbed.
90
Days to Your
First Real Estate Investment Purchase is a clear, highly
recommended pick
for anyone looking to gain introductory knowledge about real estate
investment
opportunities in the fastest possible manner.
Return to Index
Book Marketing Fundamentals
Hank Quense
Strange Worlds Publishing
978-1733342445
$21.99
Print/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Marketing-Fundamentals-world-about/dp/1733342443
Book
Marketing
Fundamentals: Tell the World About Your Book comes from an
author who has
self-published and successfully marketed over 30 books. His fountain of
knowledge stems from this experience as well as lectures and webinars
covering
the process, which incorporate the experiences of others. Thus, a
wealth of
information and new opportunities are presented that will prove
eye-opening to
novices.
Quense’s introduction
points out that the marketing tactics to be used can change, depending
on where
the author is in the process—newly
published by a publishing firm; newly self-published; or planning on
self-publishing soon.
Platform concepts are
discussed, words of wisdom about
advance planning and timing are revealed, and authors receive all the
step-by-step instructions to assure their book gains the timely
publicity and
attention it deserves.
From good, specific groups
that can be joined on social
media platforms (such as Goodreads) that support a newly published
effort to
the problematic realities of making public appearances to support one's
book
and deciding how much to spend on book promotion, all the strategies,
nuts and
bolts, and realities of both the publishing and marketing effort are
covered.
Interviews with authors who
have employed various
strategies also pinpoint the pros and cons of various choices, making Book Marketing Fundamentals not just a
singular set of recommendations based on Hank Quense's experiences, but
the
real-world encounters of others.
Numerous books cover book
publishing, self-publishing,
and marketing. Few discuss the practical pros and cons of Book Marketing Fundamentals, presenting
them in a way that makes
sense and offers contrasts between effective possibilities and
ineffective
approaches. It's a highly recommended 'must' that every newly published
author
and future authors should consult well before their book hits the
market.
Return to Index
Busville
Gary E. Midkiff
Independently Published
979-8-6671-6446-3
$14.99
https://www.amazon.com/Busville-story-about-school-drivers/dp/B08DBZDFSL
Busville: A Story About School Bus
Drivers is a collection of interconnected stories revolving
around school
bus drivers and the social and political conflicts which add another
layer of
responsibility and angst onto their driving duties. It will especially
delight
both bus drivers and those who know them with stories that don't just
take
place behind the wheel.
One might anticipate that a
story about buses would begin
on a bus, but the saga opens with Derek's confrontation with the
fantasies of
an aging mother who really needs to live in a safer place than in her
own
home.
As the story moves from
Rick's recurring nightmare to bus
driver Monica's evolving health issues and Jay's worries that the
school
district may be considering putting his lucrative bus driving contract
up for
bid, readers receive an entwined story of drivers, managers, politics,
and
daily life that pose challenges for everyone.
Whether it's Monica or
Stephanie's life under discussion,
common economic and social challenges face them both as other
influences on bus
driver lives are revealed. Gary E. Midkiff excels at creating a story
that
delves into these disparate characters' lives and thoughts beyond their
bus
driving connections: "...there were
no savings. There was no buffer. And there was no meaningful medical
insurance.
If she thought about the past, she cried. If she thought about the
future, she
cried. If she kept her focus very tightly on today, she could manage.
Barely."
This approach brings an
added layer of psychological
inspection to the story that elevates it in an unexpected way as the
characters
face their own pasts, limitations, challenges to better lives, and the
consequences of their actions and careers. Who would know there could
be so
much drama in a mundane job?
From the mechanics of job
performance ("In less than 45 minutes it would
be
time to perform. Morning routes, first pickups for the high school.
Hopefully
it would be a beautiful day in Busville.") to blends of
personal and
managerial adversity that affect each character, Midkiff crafts a
delightful
dance between business woes and concerns and social impact.
Some readers might think the
numerous characters and
their special interests confusing. But as the story evolves and centers
on an
evolving confrontation between management and driver lives, readers
receive an
excellent series of perspectives on the problems from many different
angles.
Perspectives include those of drivers, the driver union, bus company
management, school administrators and schoolchildren, and parents; all
of whom
harbor different insights and connections to the bus system.
In the end, one doesn't have
to be a bus driver or
familiar with the rigors of managing a transit system in order to
appreciate
the directions and revelations in Busville.
Its evolutionary path and focus on a District Manager's
assignment and
battle makes for an accessible, involving read that brings both
characters and
bus-driving politics and pressures to life.
Busville
is
highly recommended reading, especially for anyone with any degree of
interest
or involvement in school bus driving systems and driver challenges. It
creates
a thoroughly engaging, realistic story of special interests and
influences on
all sides of the bus transit equation.
Return to Index
Dead of
Winter
Sam Hooker, et.al.
Black Spot
Books/Vesuvian Media Group
978-1645480594
$16.95 paper/$7.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Winter-Daniel-Buell/dp/1645480593
Horror fans
of short
fiction are in for a treat with the eight stories presented in Dead of Winter, an anthology that gathers
experiences set in the dark months of winter when anything can and does
happen...and not just holiday celebrations.
Many of the
tales
begin with the holiday spirit (in more ways than one), such as Daniel
Buell's
'The Face Inside the Christmas Ball', which opens with a child's musing
about
what actually lies inside holiday decorations. A box of ornaments kept
in the
family for generations serves as a portal of deadly discovery as Joey
considers
their magic, promise, and perils. This year, Joey's intention to prove
Santa's
reality to his sister Sammy results in a confrontation with the
supernatural as
his grandmother's warnings about the magic in the ornaments proves
frighteningly true.
Laura
Morrison's
'Jolly Old Saint Ryan' is another macabre twist on the holiday season
as it
follows an odd Santa's encounter with death in a chimney and the
unexpected
legacy he inherits with the job. As the tale unfolds, his discovery
leads to a
dark place even seasonal magic can't cure.
For yet a
different
example of the variety in approaches to this holiday horror theme, take
Sam
Hooker's introduction to the collection, 'The Watchful Crow'. Here,
Orville's
role as head of a murder of thieving crows turns unexpectedly deadly
when a
young girl confronts an old codger and his only friends with a modern
magic of
her own.
The stories
are
diverse, unexpected, and solid in their characterization, plots, and
evolution.
While the pairing of 'holiday' with 'horror' in the short story field
is indeed
unusual, horror fans will relish the creative results in a collection
that
delights with its original, thought-provoking creations and twists on
holiday
themes.
Dead of Winter is very highly recommended
reading for fans of
horror short stories and seasonal themes.
Return to Index
Everything
You Ever Wanted to Know About AGING ... But Were Afraid To
Ask
Marlene Jensen
978-1-7355815-1-4
$12.75
print/$9.75 ebook
JGF Press
Website: jgfpress.com
Everything
You Ever Wanted to Know About AGING ... But Were Afraid To Ask tackles all the
difficult questions about aging that are intrinsic to the process, from
increased difficulty finding the motivation or ability to exercise to
avoiding
nursing homes, understanding the threat and promise of assigning a
power of
attorney, and adjusting to society's changed perceptions of one's
abilities
when age 70 is reached.
These
and other cautions, such as the chapter on how seniors are forced
into involuntary guardianships, form the backbone of a different kind
of guide
to aging that more closely examines the link between senior status and
social
perception than most, while addressing common barriers to leading a
good life.
Many
of the problems besetting those over 70 come from being alone, not
having a chosen advocate (whether it be a spouse of family member), and
not
realizing the various con games that can affect them, either legal or
illegal.
Many
of the cautions in this book are eye-opening, such as the facts
about guardians and how they operate: "Forbes — in a great
article on
this topic — found 60% of guardians never had a credit or financial
check run.
Yet they are given total access to and control of your money! They can
sell
your house, your stocks, etc. and charge you exorbitant “fees” for
everything —
fees that quickly move your money into their pockets. And it’s a LOT of
money.
Forbes found total dollars controlled by guardians in just Idaho and
Minnesota
to be over $1 billion."
Facts
are backed by studies and statistics, discussions revolve around
what a savvy senior can do to avoid such scenarios, and chapters cover
mental
health and stimulation as well as physical issues. At each step, senior
audiences are encouraged to take this information and use it to better
their
lives and approaches to aging.
Perhaps
this is the most invaluable tool of all: a mindset that
empowers seniors to consider the kinds of changes that affect not just
their
aging, but their future role in society and their own preferences for
living
their remaining years in relative safety and comfort of their choosing.
From
developing hobbies for both introvert and extrovert personalities
(a factor too rarely considered in admonitions to expand one's
interests) to
exercises geared to assess current lifestyles and satisfaction, Everything
You Ever Wanted to Know About AGING should be the
guide of choice for
one's older years whether the reader is in their 50s, 60s, or
beyond.
Return to Index
Gateways
to the
Soul
Serge
Beddington-Behrens, Ph.D.
Findhorn Press
Print:
978-1-64411-045-4
$18.99
Ebook:
978-1-64411-046-1
$12.99
www.findhornpress.com
Gateways
to the
Soul: Inner Work for the Outer World holds only one
prerequisite for
thorough enjoyment: the reader's interest in absorbing and doing
spiritual
improvement work on the self. It explores connections between
self-healing and
the planet, creating a powerful set of strategies that not only link
both, but
discuss outcomes and the results of personal transformation.
Readers who typically
receive singular discussions on the
subject of soul work will find the sense of activism and larger
connections to
be surprising and revealing. Chapters discussing 'gateways' to
friendship,
courage, forgiveness, and joy (among other topics) assume political
strength as
they survey cultivating these ideals in one's self, then transmitting
them to
the wider world.
More so than others, this
Gaia-oriented worldview offers
an approach that takes individual experience and discovery to a higher
level.
Also different from other new age and self-help titles is an attention
to the
step-by-step process of linking journaling and reflective efforts to
broader
topics and deeper thinking: "Ah,
betrayal! But why should this have such a strong charge? I mean, all
the person
did was renege on a small promise they made. In seeking to answer that
question, we come to realize that actually betrayal looms much larger
in our
lives than we ever thought. And it always has."
An almost chatty tone is
used to reach into readers' lives
on an emotional rather than an intellectual level. This will attract
readers
who might balk at the more impersonal approach of, say, a scholarly or
overly
analytical tome.
This welcoming atmosphere
and close inspection of not
just techniques but the newfound strategies and ideals they unfold is
one of
the strengths of Gateways to the Soul,
and a key as to why the inner and outer worlds of contemplative readers
can be
more readily understood here than in other books.
Between its examples and
welcoming surveys and tone, its
step-by-step exercises on how to forgive and evolve, and its bow to
historical
precedent's influence on common paths of discontent ("The
truth is that we human beings have treated each other quite
abominably over the centuries. We have raped and tortured and pillaged
and
betrayed and destroyed and ethnically cleansed, and as a result very
powerful
hate memories have grown up inside our collective unconscious. If this
particular dimension of world Shadow is to be more fully transformed, a
great
deal of forgiving is called for in many different ways."),
the healing
power of Gateways to the Soul
promises unique access to the psyche and spiritual self.
Gateways
to the
Soul is highly recommended for any spiritual-oriented reader
interested in
greater purpose, greater effectiveness, and a better understanding of
how
self-growth leads to broader transformations in the world around us.
Return to Index
Get
Money Do
Good
J.D. Vermaas,
PhD
Vermaas, LLC
Hardcover:
978-1-7353966-1-3
$19.99
Paperback:
978-1-7353966-0-6
$13.99
Ebook:
978-1-7353966-2-0
$ 9.99
www.getmoneydogood.com
Get Money Do Good:
A True Story How-To discusses
older child adoption and
rescue—and how the author used money to personally adopt 10 children
and change
their lives.
It
blends memoir
with social inspection as it follows the efforts of Drs. Garry and Jodi
Vermaas
as they personally commit to changing not just their world, but the
lives of
others. This charts a course for social engagement and individual
rescue that
serves well as a navigation point through the often-challenging world
of
international adoption and anti-trafficking efforts.
From
the roots
of these impulses and lessons learned from watching his parents is one
of the
family's biological children whose experiences create the evolution of
his
autistic perceptions about aiding others, this story is both absorbing
and
inspirational from the start: "The only prolonged activity
that doesn’t
make me pull my hair out is when we journey to visit the poor people in
remote
places. Even though traveling to reach them feels endless (which I
hate), the
foreign location fits me once we get there. Faraway people never seem
to wear
shoes and always eat with their hands, two bad-mannered habits which I
love.
They also look bored and uncomfortable, like me. I get an idea. Next
time I
travel with my parents to help people, I will bring along extra candy.
The
sweets will help them feel better, too."
Insights
on the
development and fostering of missions are nicely presented and follow
various
courses of social and financial interaction as organizations evolve
from these
efforts: "...we had made it, and thus began our mission to
Morrisseau,
a school for 100 children who otherwise would not receive an education
or
nutritious meals. The school became one of several missions we
supported
through our growing nonprofit organization, Priority One Worldwide, or
POW.
While we were living in Qatar, we hadn’t been able to develop POW like
we had
planned. Now that we were living back stateside, we had the opportunity
to
assess numerous potential mission partners, such as the one in
Morrisseau."
The
descriptions
of how the usual capitalistic focus is transformed into one of gaining
money to
do good with it are particularly enlightening and thought-provoking: "She
chose to sacrifice her individual opportunity to build the firm with me
and
make as much money as possible to support our drive to accomplish good
in the
world. To her university colleagues, she looked foolish for rejecting
the
allure of higher education to join the evils and corruption of the
corporate
world. Yet like me, she also knew our professional lives did not really
matter
unless we could leverage what we had—and as much as we were able to
get—to
change lives."
This
transformative process, from making money to employing it usefully and
in the
best possible way for maximum effect, forms the heart and soul of this
inspirational memoir.
Get Money Do Good is very highly recommended reading for anyone who
would receive a
revised connection between money-making, profit, and using money to
change
lives and foster good in the world. Its adjunct insights on adoption,
children's issues, and nonprofit world organizations committed to
similar goals
are invaluable.
Return to Index
Job
Searching in
Pandemic Times
Donna Cornell
Independently
Published
978-1-7339338-9-6
$19.95 Paper/$8.99 Kindle
www.donnacornell.com
Job Searching in Pandemic Times employs
Donna Cornell's decades of
experience as a job recruiter and career mentor, is tailored for the
specific
obstacles newly introduced by the pandemic, and should be a hit with
the
multitudes of newly unemployed; many of whom have seen not just their
jobs but
their professions disappear.
Job search
strategies
have changed drastically, overnight. Many unique or less-used avenues
to
employment are now overloaded and ineffective. This new job war between
too
many competitors for too few remaining positions requires a new arsenal
of
tools. Enter Job Searching in Pandemic
Times.
Cornell
advises job
hunters to hone a creative, flexible approach to the notion of
employment.
Chapters open with psychological advice that ranges from reassessing
what job
search factors are under a candidate's control to how to revise and
revamp
approaches for better results. They also discuss changing the notion of
what
constitutes employment, whether it is entering into an independent
contractor
status, taking a temp job with no benefits, or working from home.
Each segment
offers
both familiar, traditional approaches and revisions specific to the new
methodology of employers as they weed through droves of applicants and
attempt
to narrow their choices.
Take the
resume, for
example. So much has been written about this subject that there are
entire
books devoted to this one topic. Cornell discusses how to get past
'robot'
gatekeepers to gain the human eye, how to fully utilize one's age and
experience to greater benefit, and how to avoid common mistakes, from
expertise
inflation to under-representing significant accomplishments and
overusing
industry terminology which may be unfamiliar when crossing into a
different job
market.
She refutes
popular
misconceptions (such as not letting one's prospective employer know of
interest
in the position), reveals the basics of effective, persuasive
communication,
and tells how to make the best impression in the least amount of time,
as in
the typical job interview where "You
spend all your time talking about parts of yourself in which they most
likely
have no interest or details that are of no real value to this employer
or for
that job. So the result is that you waste valuable, limited interview
time and
you lose the opportunity to tell them critical pieces of information
that could
position you as one of the leading candidates. The clock is running,
and you
want to use the time wisely. Now, if the interview starts off with a
most
generic question, try to guide it to more specifics."
These tips
are
designed to meet specific goals: eliminating time-wasting efforts on
both
prospective employer and employee's side; standing out from the crowd
of fellow
applicants; and refining skills and approaches for maximum results.
Getting a
job during
a pandemic is even harder. But it's not impossible...not with the
specific
advice cultivated in Job Searching in
Pandemic Times, which should be a cornerstone in any
applicant's reference
library. It is highly recommended for all ages and all levels of
expertise; not
just the young newcomer to the job market.
Return to Index
Journey to the Ecstatic Self
Kae Strouse
Ecstatic Self Press
Hardcover: 978-1-7354689-0-7
$23.99
Paperback: 978-1-7354689-2-1
$15.99
EBook: 978-1-7354689-1-4
$ 6.99
www.ecstaticself.com
Journey
to the
Ecstatic Self: A Workbook for Settling into your Skin, Cultivating
Authenticity, and Reconnecting with your Radiant Self offers
self-help
spirituality readers a guidebook of stories, meditations, and paths
linked to
self-reflection. It is recommended reading for those who enjoy and
employ
inspirational workbooks and lessons to their daily lives.
The adventure of embracing
change is outlined in chapters
that read like a hike through life, from the introductory establishment
of a 'base
camp' to taking on challenges, accepting the support of helpful
friends, and
hiking through insecurity, self-doubt, and negative forces in life that
would
stymie growth opportunities and perceptions of positivity.
Kae Strouse remarks that,
early on in the journey, it can
be difficult to separate truly positive opportunities from other
forces: "If you’re further into your journey,
like I am now, you’ve come to realize that no amount of external
validation
will give you lasting self-worth. Sure, the applause and the “likes”
can numb
your angst for a short while—but the chasm of insecurity grows."
As Strouse leads readers
through the journey of
reconnecting one's inner self and discoveries with the forces at work
in the
world, his followers receive both a blueprint for success and specific
approaches to apply the recommended meditations in ways that make the
most
sense to each person's life.
Quotes from writers and
fellow thinkers pepper Strouse's
admonitions, supporting them and bringing them to life as he reviews
common
obstacles, goals, and methods of perceiving and achieving them: "By actively making changes to our
current way of being, we will alter the manifestation of our futures.
We can
forge new trajectories—and while it may take time to see results, the
grooves
are being formed. As physicist Newton explained in his second law of
physics,
“An object in motion tends to stay in motion.” Meaning that, once we
start
moving, we can stay moving—we can alter and add to our momentum. And
the more
energy you put toward steering yourself in a particular direction, the
easier
it’ll be to keep heading that way."
Where other books choose
dispassionate discussions,
Strouse uses his own experiences to illustrate pivot points, whether it
be an
encounter with bisexuality's possibilities or a greater acceptance of
both
discomfort and pleasure in life interactions.
This guidebook through
physical, psychological, and
spiritual realms of life thus achieves what many lack: a full flavor of
wholeness that reflects not only Strouse's lifetime journey, but the
possibilities readers may experience in better understanding the links
between
growth, acceptance, and genuinely integrated connections with one's
self.
Spiritual and self-help
readers will find Journey to the Ecstatic
Self an
outstanding course in reconnecting with body and mind.
Return to Index
The Perfect Leadership Triad
Eric Turbiville
TG Publishing
978-1-7346571-0-4
$17.95
www.ericturbiville.com
The Perfect
Leadership Triad gives
business book readers and executives a solid discussion
on maximizing productivity by focusing on employees and coaching
(delete
through better relationships) through better relationships, and is the
item of
choice for leaders who would cultivate a different approach to
management.
Eric Turbiville is a former
Fortune 500 executive and
credentialed executive coach who is president of Turbiville Group, a
coaching
and leadership development company that provides organizations with
keys to
turning executives into more effective, high-performing leaders.
One big plus to his book is
how specific it is about
imparting these messages and lessons: "Ask,
“If you could change something about your job, what would that be?”
This
transfers the power to the employee to correct any problems. As a
leader, with
that question you are both empowering and encouraging the employee to
help you
solve the problem—and you are
creating trust with the employee."
This focus on the
interactive process goes beyond
fine-tuning messages to considering the kinds of approaches that
encourage
employees and organizations to grow. It considers how the Leader Coach "...coaches to competencies that are
aligned with organizational needs. She asks questions that cause each
employee
to ponder and develop better solutions" to understand how a
high-engagement culture within an organization propels it to success
above and
beyond competitors who do not employ or realize this process. The Perfect Leadership Triad thus moves
heads and shoulders above the competition in business books and
leadership
strategies.
The
Perfect
Leadership Triad is a practical, specific, highly recommended
program for
organizational and individual transformation. It should be a 'must' on
the
reading lists of individuals and executives who want to move beyond
common
practice and into the realm of extraordinary results.
Return to Index
Reform
the
Kakistocracy
William L.
Kovacs
Newman Springs
Publishing
Paperback:
978-1-64096-514-0
$12.42
Digital:
978-1-64096-515-7
$ 9.99
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Reform-Kakistocracy-Least-Principled-Citizens/dp/1640965149
Kindle:: https://www.amazon.com/Reform-Kakistocracy-Least-Principled-Citizens-ebook/dp/B08636M7RC
Author’s
Website: https://www.ReformTheKakistocracy.com
Reform
the
Kakistocracy: Rule by the Least Able or Least Principled Citizens defines the term
'kakistrocracy' as being "what our government has become, a
government-controlled by "leaders" who are the least able or least
principled citizens." Keeping this definition in mind is
intrinsic to
understanding the driving force of a thought-provoking treatise
dedicated to
"the Dutiful Cog", defined as "that person who keeps society
running by getting up every day and going to work, taking care of
family,
paying taxes, contributing to community, and being continuously loyal
to the
nation."
William
L.
Kovacs believes the tenacity of these 'cogs' will prevail over
political
battles and corruption. Reform the Kakistocracy offers
the 'how to'
manual for this process.
In
some ways, this theory is akin to The Peter Principle, but without
qualified people. In a Kakistocracy, the cream doesn't rise to the top
until it
sours, but is placed at the top irregardless of its strengths and
abilities.
Chapters
provide both a political and social history of the raise of
this too-complex national control system and comments on who runs it,
how
people respond to it, and how it's rewritten the US Constitution for
its own
special interests and gain.
Philosophy,
history, and political inspection blend in an arena where
the moves of leaders are closely examined and critiqued: "The
most
disconcerting aspect of these changes is that by using massive
executive power
to change laws without Congress, the next president using the same
executive
power can also change the laws without Congress."
It
questions: "For
whom did we form a government?" We, the people seem to have
left the
original equation. Politicians will be the least likely readers of a
book which
lambastes this system. But, the Dutiful Cog will.
This
isn't a general treatise, but offers specifics on the methods and
approaches that least-qualified leaders use to circumvent political
process,
freedoms, and moral and ethical ideals of behavior.
Reform
the
Kakistocracy isn’t just a condemnation of the system, or a
history of how it came to be. Chapters offer "A Few Modest Proposals
for
Restructuring" which range from reversing regulatory complexity to the
federal government divesting itself of unnecessary assets and returning
control
of lands to states that ceded them to the federal government.
The
proof of the success of this treatise lies in these and other
specifics. This is where Kovacs
excels, placing his work head and shoulders above the usual approach to
critiquing the federal government and its processes.
By
making its
examples specific and linked to daily life and familiar political
process and
results, Reform the Kakistocracy
provides Dutiful Cogs with more than a bit of hope for a more effective
future,
including a blueprint for enacting real change.
From
income tax revision to citizen management of the Kakistocracy,
this is a thought-provoking, action-oriented blend of history,
philosophical,
and political inspection. It is highly recommended reading for readers
who
would understand the process of change and how America got to where it
is
today, in the first place.
We're
standing at a fork in the road and hold the opportunity to remake
the nation using a smaller government structure as a blueprint for
success. All
that's needed to complete the formula for success is action,
understanding, and
more books like Reform the Kakistocracy.
Return to Index
Reversing Alzheimer's
Timothy J.
Smith, MD
Hidden Path Publishers
978-1735048024
$17.99
www.hiddenpathpublishers.com
Reversing
Alzheimer's: How to Prevent Dementia and
Revitalize Your Brain offers hope
and an unusual approach to handling the ravages of dementia—applying
the latest
new science to improve cognition and reverse the ravages of
Alzheimer's.
From
the various
influences, pro and con, of foods, fats, and herbs and vitamins on
brain health
to the effects of high blood sugars on memory, discussions reach those
who
would consider lifestyle changes to improve memory and reverse the
ravages of
mental conditions.
The
concept that
the control and condition of a healthy brain versus one which is
compromised
lies in individual hands may be surprising to those who believe in the
seeming
inevitability of bodily deterioration over time. There is a tendency to
think
that health conditions impart a degree of powerlessness that precludes
choice
and cause and effect.
Dr.
Smith
doesn't just settle for generalities, as so many alternative health
guides do.
He provides specific actions readers can take to understand the impact
of
changes in their habits and world, right down to the choice of cooking
pans: "Cook
with stainless steel, glass, or ceramic pots and pans. Under high heat
Teflon
breaks down into its component chemical polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
which
is highly toxic...A few years ago, after much research, my wife and I
settled
on the DaTerra Cucina Vesuvio ceramic frying pan. We continue to be
pleased
with the performance of this fine Italian cookware and feel safe
knowing it is
free of unwanted toxic chemicals. It’s available at the company’s
website and
at Amazon.com."
These
passages
of specific advice, supported by the latest scientific research and
medical
studies, set Reversing Alzheimer's apart from
most, placing it in the
category of a reasoned, clear argument for healing versus 'pop
psychology' or
new age self-help idealism.
Medical
facts
and studies are backed by footnoted references that also offer food for
thought
for further reading, but the clarity of these discussions makes Reversing
Alzheimer's accessible to a much wider audience than these
studies alone
would normally reach.
This
is a
valuable, highly recommended contribution to the literature that
provides
empowering choices and options for those who struggle with either a
family history
of dementia or the present-day challenges of Alzheimer's and dementia.
Return to Index
The
Rise of the Agile Leader
Chuck Mollor
Prominence Publishing
9781988925592
$24.95
Paper/$9.99 Kindle
www.prominencepublishing.com
The
Rise of
the Agile Leader: Can You Make the Shift? will reach HR
personnel and business leaders interested in agility as it applies to
the
business community, and is addressed to traditional leaders who need to
re-examine consumer interests, global business connections, and how
organizations can adopt processes that add speed into the equation of
responsive change.
The
key lies in becoming an 'agile leader'. This book offers a
different approach to identifying such potential leaders and how they
can
improve.
Business
leaders ready to make this shift receive a blueprint to
success that is much more specific than competing books about agile
processes.
Where other discussions revolve around theory, Chuck Mollor addresses
the nuts
and bolts of how to achieve these goals by
discussing specifics, from
steps to handling feedback more effectively to common management issues
revolving around visibility, time management, and handling remote
employees.
Individual, as well as team, pursuits are delineated, while the
'shifts' needed
to move between traditional and agile approaches to management are
identified
and discussed.
Examples
of struggling clients and how they overcame obstacles to
success illustrate exactly how agility plays out in the workplace.
Mollor
differentiates emotional agility from other forms of responses,
outlining specific approaches to each that indicate healthy or
unhealthy
corporate culture. He also provides plenty of examples of moves to
better
self-awareness and corporate change.
All
these come not from ideals and books, but from his own life
experience as a multi-experienced executive and the founder and CEO of
the
consulting firm MCG Partners, and his own growth as an executive coach.
Executives
who tire of too many business books about theoretical
possibilities will relish the attention to the nuts and bolts of agile
success
that make The Rise of the Agile Leader a leader in
the genre.
Return to Index
Stocks,
Bonds, &
Taxes
Phillip B. Chute, EA
Independently
Published
978-1732885530
$29.99 Paper/$14.99 ebook
Website: www.phillipbchute.com
Purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Stocks-Bonds-Taxes-Comprehensive-Investment/dp/1732885532
Stocks,
Bonds &
Taxes: A Comprehensive Handbook and Investment Guide for Everybody
comes
from a businessman who has been a tax advisor since 1976, and who has
observed
many changing strategies, tax laws, and investment choices, as a
result.
Phillip B. Chute is a retired stockbroker with 20 years of experience.
He was
licensed as a Registered Representative Series 7, Registered Principal
OSJ
series 24, and Registered Investment Advisor Series 63 NASD.
There are numerous
similar-sounding books on the market
which cover stocks and bonds, but few of them delve with authority into
the tax
side of investing, which is Phillip B. Chute's strength both in his
professional life and in his book.
Stocks,
Bonds &
Taxes compiles case histories and insights on all kinds of
investments,
from stocks and bonds to retirement funds and pensions. It covers
everything
from changing IRS rules and audits to tax court processes, bankruptcy
and bad
debt, probate and estate law, and financial management impacts on tax
status.
This survey is not meant to
replace consultation with a
CPA or EA, but to supplement their advice, for maximum understanding.
Changing
tax rules and processes require both, these days. This is one example
of why: "Corporate bond interest is taxable
with no exception. The 1099 amount is added to the top of your tax
return from
schedule B income, and taxed at the ordinary income tax rate applicable
to your
return. Offsets include capital losses (with limitations), business
losses, net
operating losses carried forward, and itemized deductions. It can cause
Social
Security distributions to become taxable, truly a double taxation
effect, by
pushing over the $25,000 single or $34,000 married thresholds. That is
why
yield after taxes is so important. You really need to review the whole
tax
return to get the complete picture."
Perhaps the most intriguing
aspect of this primer is its
inclusion of insights gleaned from others' experiences. From a horror
story
about a general partnership that evolved from changing tax rules in
1986 to
possible liability involved in even the altruistic pursuit of joining
the board
of directors of any local charity, Chute outlines cautions anyone needs
to know
as they make financial decisions and assess changing tax rules and
liability.
The result is a clear,
wide-ranging survey that is highly
recommended for anyone who wants more than an investment guide. It's a
thorough
discussion of tax implications, changing laws, cautions, and insights
into
overall financial planning and the tax-related impacts of various
investment
vehicles and approaches.
Return to Index
Unreasonable
Joy
Turīya
Electric Bliss
Publishing
9781952753008
$23.99
https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Joy-Awakening-through-Buddhism-ebook/dp/B08HR7K5BT
Unreasonable Joy: Awakening Through Trikaya Buddhism
isn't the
usual Buddhist treatise for applying centuries-old wisdom to modern
living, but
offers a new school of Buddhism for the modern world that begins with
the idea
that Enlightenment is real, and is possible for all.
Turīya
has been developing this premise for decades, translating Tantric
teachings to
a different style of Buddhism that relates more closely to 21st Century
living.
From
meditation
approaches that can be incorporated into the busiest lifestyle to
gaining better
control of time, understanding values and beliefs in the face of social
and
political influences, and narrowing one's focus to changing reactions
and
perceptions, this survey combines ideals and spiritual insights with
exercises
and approaches through nine lessons exploring mindfulness, karma, and
more.
The format
of Unreasonable Joy is also
different than
most Buddhist enlightenment discussions. Poetry, essays, and stories
are
employed to link these teachings to experience and examples of how they
operate
in daily life. Chapters conclude with 'practice pointers' that contain
questions for reflection, exercises, and experiential experiments that
reinforce that chapter's discussion. All these are linked to daily life
experiences and the lessons they hold.
For example,
consider
the section 'Mammograms, Ropes, and Snakes'. Turīya's experience of
testing and possible disease juxtaposes with spiritual conclusions: "The sadness dissolved into gratitude
for this body and the life it has lived."
The blend of
spiritual, philosophical, and psychological reflection elevates Unreasonable Joy above and beyond many
Buddhist treatises, offering opportunity for reflection, change, and
renewed
purpose and meaning through a life led with deliberate awareness of
actions.
Followers of
spiritual paths and self-reflective works will find Unreasonable
Joy encouraging and solidly connected to everyday
living, offering a succinct blend of food for thought and paths to
enlightenment.
Return to Index
Why Globalization Works for
America
Edward Goldberg
Potomac Books
978-1640123014
$29.95
Hardover/$26.12 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Globalization-Works-America-Nationalist/dp/1640123016
The U.S. helped create a
global economy; yet this is the
country currently attacking the policies and processes it set up to
benefit
itself and the world. Why Globalization
Works For America: How Nationalist Trade Policies Are Destroying Our
Country
defends this process, providing a history of trade policy origins and
impact,
and making the case for globalization's benefits.
From the economic history of
the move of the computer
industry to California to political, economic, and social impacts of
the
globalization processes beyond the trade arena, Edward Goldberg employs
a
variety of approaches to understanding the impact and choices of
globalization,
He attacks the underlying logic behind nationalist trade policies that
roll
back achievement, world connections, and benefits.
As the current polarized
political system has confronted
globalization with new tariffs, penalties, and limitations,
international
collaborative processes have waned just when the world needs them most,
in
order to address COVID in a unified manner.
Goldberg weaves a social,
cultural, and political history
of America into the greater story of its spreading connections and
influences
around the world. He tracks the results of these processes, why they
were and
are important to American interests and growth, and how they are being
changed
today. Perhaps most surprising (and important) of all is his link
between
globalization and successful evolution as a natural process supporting
growth
and change.
From half-truths and
intellectual slights-of-hand in news
reporting to the changing realities of America's status in the world,
Goldberg
creates a hard-hitting, critical view of Trump's approach and
globalization's
history that outlines the latter's importance to American achievement.
Anyone who would absorb a
treatise firmly rooted in
historical, social, and economic trends and influences needs to place Why Globalization Works For America at
the top of their reading list. It makes an unabashedly
pro-globalization
argument based on statistics, history, and facts, providing ammunition
for
pursing international cooperative avenues as a better way of improving
America's position in the world arena.
Return to Index
Walking in Circles
Todd Wassel
Jizo Press
Paperback: 978-1-7353116-0-9
Ebook: 978-1-7353116-1-6
www.toddwassel.com
Walking in
Circles:
Finding Happiness in Lost Japan
is the
first book
in the Round Earth series. It follows a 750-mile walk through Japan
undertaken
by Todd Wassel, whose purpose was to escape his set trajectory upon
graduation
from school and make a pilgrimage to find his spiritual and life
connections.
Over half a decade later, he's
still wandering...lost, on some level, but finding new possibilities on
others.
Walking in
Circles chronicles this
journey through
Japan. It is highly recommended
reading not just for readers of Japanese culture and travels, but for
spiritual
sojourners who would learn about the pilgrimage process from Wassel's
experiences.
His was no singular journey or
choice. Shikoku, one of Japan's smallest islands, sports over eighty
temples
and is the pilgrimage mecca of the country.
Its remote and unique attraction lured others as well as
Wassel: "Despite its remoteness, or possibly
because of it, Shikoku has inspired countless journeys for over 1,200
years.
The pilgrim’s path traverses the island’s jagged peaks, coastal fishing
villages, small cities, and farming hamlets. Each year about 150,000
mostly
Japanese henro (pilgrims)
circle Shikoku, passing through its four prefectures. For over a
thousand
years, henro have followed a
circuit of 88 Buddhist temples laid out in a ring around the perimeter
of the
island. They walk in the footsteps of Kūkai, founder of the Japanese
esoteric
Shingon Buddhist sect, which is a close relative of Tibetan Buddhism."
One doesn't expect a spiritual
pilgrim to encounter a bicycle gang, a scam artist pilgrim, a sex café,
or a
monk bent on revenge; but all these elements and more keep Wassel on
his toes.
Readers will be fascinated by Wassel's encounters that are as much a
social
commentary as they are spiritual encounters.
This is a Japan most readers
won't be familiar with. Wassel probes the underlying reality of a world
that
continually challenges his perceptions and preset opinions.
Isn't that one of the goals of
travel—to encounter new ideas that contrast with one's expectations?
Wassel explores this experience,
employing an engaging tone that juxtaposes historical and cultural
references
with his own experiences. This both educates readers and draws them in.
Wassel
accomplishes much more than a travelogue of personal encounters,
through a
story filled with drama and local atmosphere that captivates.
While Walking
in Circles will mostly likely receive most of its interest
from armchair travelers, it's also a top recommendation for
those
interested in pilgrimages, spiritual journeys, and encounters with
Japanese
culture beyond the usual Tokyo-centric focus.
Wassel's ability to both
entertain and educate makes Walking in
Circles a highly recommended read for a wide audience.
Return to Index
The Wanderer: Travels and
Adventures Beyond the Pale
Steven Darian
Linus Learning
978-1607977599
$28.00
https://www.amazon.com/Wanderer-Steven-Darian/dp/1607977591
Take a trip with Steven
Darian by following his world experiences
and encounters in The Wanderer: Travels
and Adventures Beyond the Pale. His path doesn't follow
traditional tour
routes, but ventures onto roads less taken, from Turkey and Uzbekistan
to Sri
Lanka, China, and beyond.
Where other travelogues
document physical movements,
Darian explores these cultures and experiences through encounters with
people.
His lyrical language captures these adventures in a manner which is
thoroughly
engrossing: "Lorenzo turned out to
be really nice: bright, soft-spoken. Very easy-going. The kind that
doesn't
explode when the steam has no place else to go. The kind whose rage
transmutes
to alchemy."
This is no casual
meet-and-greet of other cultures. His
experiences are challenging, dangerous, fiery, and always educational.
From
images and pathways "leading to the heart of nature," as in a
reflection on jade, to proverbs, quotes, and reflections that assume
poetic
proportions as these lovely metaphors resonate from experience to the
heart,
this is no ordinary travelogue.
The
Wanderer is
especially highly recommended not just because of these lovely facets
of
involvement and reflection; but because such a book, in these pandemic
times of
limitation and fear, is all one gets to employ in traversing the heart
and
mind.
For all these reasons, and because its special blend of philosophy, spirituality, psychology, and cultural inspections are so astute and compelling, The Wanderer is a highly recommended read above and beyond most travelogues. Unlike more singular productions, it carries readers to new heights of understanding and emotional connection, assembling intimate stories that are evocative, thought-provoking, and at times, even ironically funny.
The Wanderer: Travels and Adventures Beyond the PaleReturn to Index
American Brush-Off
Max Willi Fischer
Independently Published
ASIN : B084C377TP
$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/American-Brush-Off-Max-Willi-Fischer-ebook/dp/B084C377TP
American
Brush-Off is a young adult
read set in 1942 and
follows seventeen-year-old
Lud Mueller, who enjoys both romance and popularity in Cleveland, Ohio.
All
this changes with the advent of war and the sudden perception of
Mueller's
family as being an alien threat, prompting the rise of prejudice.
Fear changes everything. It
fuels bigotry and intolerance. These are realities Lud soon faces as
everything
around him changes, turning his idyllic life and future goals into
muddied
waters of prejudice and threat.
An excellent nonfiction introduction
to this story points out its roots in Max Willi Fischer's family
experiences,
setting the stage for a first-person story that brings these encounters
to life
through the eyes of an ordinary teen who never fully considered his
status in
American society before.
But Lud's experience turns into
more than one of personal realizations as he and his family find
themselves in
the Texas desert serving as unwitting pawns in a government game when
the FBI
interrogates and then incarcerates them in an internment camp.
Lud spends much time fretting
about how he left things with his girlfriend back home, but realizes
that
things need to change before he can return to make things right: "I spent most of my time pouting about
Betty and how I’d left her. I’d lied to her about Mom, Pop and Freddie.
Yet, I
think she knew and covered for me with her dad anyway. She’d never
brushed me
off. The least I could have done would have been to open up with her
about the
F.B.I. interrogating me and the probability of my internment. Now,
chances were
we’d never see each other again, and her lasting memory of me would be
as a
liar. Perhaps she even viewed me as a Nazi spy if her father became
vindictive
enough and twisted my story around. On a dozen different occasions I’d
thought
about writing her a letter and explaining things. Each time those
things—the
F.B.I., the Civilian Enemy Alien Board, the mansion prison in which I
resided
under armed guard—made for an unforgiveable position. No, I needed to
clear
myself before I ever made contact with Betty again."
The government has its own
secret plans for Lud and his family, however. It's a plan that will
change
everything.
As Lud confronts poetic justice,
deeper ties with his German roots that are being used for new political
and war
effort purposes, and builds unexpected new relationships in challenging
new
circumstances, readers are brought into a world that doesn't look or
feel very
much like modern America. Or, does it?
The roots of love, heritage,
prejudice, and damaged emotions, tempered by nostalgia and vastly
revised
dreams, come to life in a story which illuminates aspects of World War
II that
escape other young adult stories set in these times.
Perhaps it's the first-person
narrator's stance between two very different worlds, neither of which
he's
familiar with; but American Brush-Off
offers young adults a compelling, unusual examination of American
society at a
crossroads, offering insights into the foundations of prejudice and
fear that
arise from war.
Teens (and many a new adult)
will find American Brush-Off
especially timely reading, given today's social turmoil in America over
the
status of immigrants and legal aliens and the effects of government and
social
processes on their lives and rights.
Return to Index
The
Beast of
Bellevue
Grace Chen
Reading Harbor
ASIN: B08HGLH73F
$0.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Beast-Bellevue-Grace-Chen-ebook/dp/B08HGLH73F
Teens
who enjoy
fantasy adaptations will relish The Beast
of Bellevue. The story centers on seventeen-year-old Ava
Pierce, who has
been locked away in an insane asylum by her parents in an alternate
version of
Beauty and the Beast.
The
differences
between the old folktale and this modern take lies in the internet, web
dating
sites, and Ava's ability to form connections outside her home, which
introduce
new conundrums to her situation and status.
Ava
was nine
years old when she was committed to Bellevue. The hospital is motivated
to keep
her because her parents pay stiff bills to keep her incarcerated.
Everything
changes when a magical inheritance from her inventor grandfather leads
her into
the outside world via remote access and to soccer star Alec, who not
only hides
a dark secret, but loves the same girl as his younger brother Dylan.
As
Ava uses the
portal's voice-activated commands to access and then alter this world,
everything changes in her institutionalized life, as well, and new
possibilities emerge.
Young
adults
will be delighted with Grace Chen's ability to succinctly provide the
background for this story, then delve straight into powerful action and
interactions. There is no lengthy setup, and Ava's position as an
abused,
trapped girl quickly changes, which creates a faster pace in this story
than in
most fantasy tales.
As
Alec, Dylan,
and Ava become caught up in a fairy tale come to life, readers will be
surprised and delighted at many of the twists and turns their conjoined
journey
takes.
But,
once out in
the world, is Ava truly safe? Challenges continue as the three face
fires,
obsessions, love, and forces which compete to keep Ava under thrall.
The Beast of Bellevue is a gripping story that keeps even seasoned
fantasy readers guessing to the end. Its ability to present riddles,
explore
parent/child interactions, inject believable magic into Ava's evolving
life,
and cement all with characters whose lives each hold challenge and
change makes
for an engrossing tale that's hard to put down.
While
The Beast of Bellevue's audience is
clearly
young adult, it's also highly recommended for new adult readers and
adults who
like modern retellings of traditional fairy tales. Its ability to
follow a
young girl's growth and changing relationship with family and newfound
friends
will interest more than a teen audience alone.
Return to Index
Charles's
Bridge
Sandra Novacek
Ten 21 Press
978-0-9854151-3-6
$18.95
Publisher: www.ten21press.com
Book Website: www.charlesnovacekbooks.com
Charles's
Bridge,
written by librarian Sandra Novacek and illustrated with lovely
drawings by
Nicole Lapointe, is based on Novacek's husband's personal story during
wartime.
It opens in
1938,
when soldiers have caused Charles's family to flee Czechoslovakia.
Forced to
leave his beloved art supplies behind (supplies which quickly become
scarce as
war spreads), Charles is lonely, feels isolated in school by his accent
and
alien background, and is disconnected from the art which once held so
much
promise for him.
When he sees
a
beautiful scene, he wants to paint it. With no supplies in his future,
Charles
is forced to find a different form of expression.
Will he ever
find a
place that feels safe and welcoming again? And can his innovations
replace the
artistic techniques he once honed?
Kids with
good
reading skills or parental read-aloud assistance will find much to like
about
this story. As Charles perseveres in revising his dreams, there are
many
lessons for this new age of COVID which teach kids about preserving
dreams and
forging new paths to realize them despite the barriers that emerge.
Charles's
Bridge holds a
magical story with a
powerful lesson for all ages, and is a much-needed positive perspective
in dark
times. As the color evolves both in Charles's life and in the artwork
in the
book, so hope equally rises in his readers.
Return to Index
Find a Moose With Me!
Suzanne Buzby Hersey
McSea Books
978-1-7323020-4-4
$17.95
Hardcover
www.McSeaBooks.com
Find
a Moose With
Me! will appeal to kids ages 5-6 as it tells of a young boy's
moose-hunting
expedition.
Ashley Halsey's fine
drawings illustrate this picture
book adventure, which uses an easy rhyme to follow Oscar's family's
woods
experience.
Oscar counts down as he
encounters other features of the
outdoors, from ten sticky, sappy pinecones to nine turtles in the river
below.
When parents use this gentle
story of discovery to
reinforce early math skills, they will find the story unfolds a lovely
family-shared experience and reinforces the idea of exploring the
outdoors
together.
What are the signs that a
moose is near? Oscar and his
family's encounters in the forest will engage parents and children
alike as
Oscar faces discovery and disappointment.
Read-aloud parents will find
it engaging and fun.
Return to Index
General Jack and the Battle of
the Five
Kingdoms
David Bush
Independently
Published
979-8667226413
$7.99
https://www.amazon.com/General-Jack-Battle-Five-Kingdoms/dp/B08D4V8DZ9
General
Jack and the
Battle of the Five Kingdoms is
a children's parable for kids
ages 8 and older, and is filled with battles, struggles, wry humour,
and sly
observations of social and political strife. A kingdom ruled by "the
repressive rule of King Roar the Lion and the fierce Felines" holds no
hope for change until explorer Jack arrives to shake things up a bit.
Ten-year-old
Jack is
an outsider. By this very fact, he is able to address a threat which
has slowly
evolved to control a kingdom under a very dark paw indeed: "There were five animal kingdoms, but one kingdom
ruled them all.
King Roar the lion was the omnipotent monarch of the Feline Kingdom.
Everything
proceeded from him and everything returned to him. The fearsome felines
backed
the king. They prowled throughout the land. King Roar was the centre of
the
circle of life. The fierce felines set the law. They conditioned the
way of
life of all other animals."
When the first-person narrator
who cleans the
King's office comes upon a Constitution and learns what the oppressive
kingdom
really could have been, the story evolves into a allegory for modern
times as
adults and children delve into a story about powerful kids who
instigate unexpected
changes against repressive forces.
The adult narrator of this
story has lost much
to this regime, from his family to his wife. He dreams of enacting
change,
himself: "I dreamt many dreams. I found comfort in
rhapsodizing. There was one particular recurring dream. I had morphed
into a
lion who mounted a successful challenge to King Roar. As the new king,
I set
the law of the land. I abolished the blood sports. I repaired relations
with
the other four kingdoms."
His narration of events
provides an intriguing
fictional documentary of the clash between right and wrong, good and
evil, and
animal and human forces that will keep all ages riveted and thoroughly
immersed.
While David Bush's story is
identified as being
for ages 8 and older, the very adult surveys of politics, and the
language,
would indicate this story would best be accessed by readers who are at
least of
middle school age and older. Many an adult will find the detailed
descriptions
of social and political idealism and intention to be thoroughly
engrossing,
while the very young may struggle with language and concepts even if
parental
assistance is provided: "We have only one chance at victory. If we
get it wrong, we are finished forever. The victors would exact a
terrible
revenge against whoever dared challenge their authority so brazenly.
The Feline
Lords will conduct a scorched earth policy from which we will never
recover. “The great
army that my
esteemed colleague George the fox speaks of is a large mob not an army.
It is
not united. It can never be. It is disunited by its very nature. It is
a
polyglot of disparate animals each with their own idiosyncrasies. All
they have
in common is their desire for freedom. That however, does not guarantee
compactness and unity..."
The blend of
battle
themes and nature is very nicely balanced and well-done, enhanced by
black and
white drawings that are detailed and attractive throughout.
It should be
noted
that this review is based on a first-tier ARC, not on the final version.
Readers who seek a blend of
epic fantasy,
animal-oriented political commentary à la
Watership Down or
Animal Farm, and a vivid
story of courage and confrontation will find General
Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms an outstanding
tale. It weaves personal and political purpose with a deft, compelling
voice
designed to keep readers thoroughly engaged to the end.
Return to Index
A
Horn is Born
Bill Borders
Blue Whale Press, an imprint of Clear Fork Publishing
Hardcover: 978-1-950169-39-9
Paperback: 978-1-950169-40-5
www.bluewhalepress.com
Picture
book readers ages 4-8 will find illustrator Melizza Chernov's
large-size, creative drawings of musical instruments are lovely
embellishments
in the intriguing A Horn is Born.
Shoehorn's
job is to place performers' feet in beautiful shoes. He
hangs around, elongated and beautiful and longing to be part of the
musical
performance, to no avail—until one day, disaster strikes and places him
in the
spotlight.
This
is no ordinary survey of musical instruments or music theory, but
a thoroughly creative, delightful endeavor that links music to symphony
processes through a lilting rhyme linking gorgeous drawings with a
creative
flourish.
Parents
and kids alike receive a compelling, original treatment of the
music world that covers not just music, but the possibilities of
creating a new
role in life. An added bonus is its message about bullying.
A
history of shoehorns appears in the 'back matter' but it's the
beautiful drawings and whimsical approach to life changes and music
alike that
make A Horn is Born thoroughly delightful and
surprising.
It's
a welcome addition to not just picture books about music, but
those encouraging flexibility, adaptive thinking, and approaches to
reinventing
one's life purpose. Very, very highly recommended as a standout picture
book
story.
Return to Index
How to Catch a Keeper!
Stephanie Mulligan
McSea Books
978-1-7323020-5-1
$18.95
Hardcover/$16.95 Paper
www.McSeaBooks.com
How
to Catch a
Keeper! will give kids in grades 2-3 a Maine lobster boat
experience, and
follows the adventures of Luke and Layla as they take a trip to the
Maine coast
and explore its many ways to play.
This story is really a Maine
celebration in disguise, as
their father outlines the biking, hiking, museum, and lighthouse
viewing
opportunities before the family settles on taking the Lucky Catch boat
tour.
Gorgeous paintings by Connie
Rand provide captivating
views of all the Maine scenes mentioned by Stephanie Mulligan as the
story
teaches readers about lobster fishing, using lilting rhymes that invite
attention and interest and lend nicely to read-aloud exploration.
From how to catch a lobster
to measuring it for its legal
harvesting and understanding the lobster's natural history, How to Catch a Keeper! is specific,
clear, based on a real lobster boat's operations, and invites kids to
appreciate and understand both the lobster's world and the appeal of
Maine.
Local and science
terminology are reviewed in a
finely-illustrated "Lobstering Lingo" section at the end, while the
story's rich descriptions and visuals provide a standout read highly
recommended for parents and children interested in a lively story about
Maine
and lobster operations.
Return to Index
I Wish You
Happiness
Michael Wong and
Ann Baratashvili
Picco Puppy
Amazon Hardcover:
978-1-925973-12-9 $17.99
Ingram Hardcover:
978-1-925973-13-6
$17.99
Paperback (Ingram,
PiccoPuppy.com, Amazon):
978-1-925973-14-3
$11.99
Website: www.piccopuppy.com
Ann
Baratashvili's lovely illustrations compliment this message with happy
images
of kids riding bikes, reading books, dreaming, and having adventures.
The book
presents new words that reinforce both vocabulary building and positive
life
perspectives: "I wish you success and prosperity, to trust
yourself and
your ability to succeed."
From
kindness
and generosity to faith and hope in the future, moments taken in nature
with
peace and tranquility, and the notion that risk-taking requires courage
and
strength, but rewards greatly ("...for the magic begins at the
end of
your comfort zone."), these are much-needed messages
countering angst
and confusion. They offer adults the opportunity to instill in the very
young a
sense of excitement and positive perspectives about life, the world,
and the
future.
This
simple,
optimistic picture book presentation deserves a place in any parent's
shelf as
a read-aloud reinforcer of how to view the world and cultivate a better
life
and attitude towards it.
Return to Index
Kingshackle
Marjory Kaptanoglu
Independently Published
Ebook:
978-0-9994492-5-7
$ 4.99
Paperback:
978-0-9994492-6-4 $12.99
Audiobook:
978-1-7353778-5-8 $12.99
www.marjorykaptanoglu.com
Book 3 of
the
Conjurer Fellstone series for teens, Kingshackle,
ends the trilogy. It is recommended reading for prior fans, and
continues the
saga of the missing Ash and three individuals charged with confronting
and
defying the reign of Conjurer King Slayert.
Kingshackle
is the
king's major weapon. It's a magical crown which gives him power and
control.
When Tessa is captured and forced to confront this power and her
perhaps-unique
role in conquering it, she finds herself facing many forces, from
friends to
foe.
Kingshackle is a powerful and fitting
conclusion to the series
begun in Dreadmarrow Thief and expanded in Gravenwood's events. Here, Tessa comes
into her own and faces her
abilities, mortality, and the influence of friends and enemies as she
tests her
resolve in a final battle that has no clear outcome.
The purpose
of the
quest and the objectives of ridding the kingdom of a powerful conqueror
that
seems to hold all the cards is well-done, building on the prior books'
scenarios, magical setting, and characters while taking the action and
confrontations to new levels.
Teens
already
involved in this fantasy receive high-octane action, insights about
poor
decision-making, and the evolving choices of all the characters, which
come to
life through Tessa's first-person narrative and the insights of those
around
her: "We had no idea what we would
be up against,” she said. “Slayert must have spent decades building his
army.
Horrifying half men combined of men and pigs. Soldiers with scaled
armor that
repels blades. We had no hope of surviving their attack without the
help of a
powerful conjurer. But when we released my brother to come to our aid,
he
immediately surrendered."
The
underlying
psychological motivations and keys to success and failure are nicely
explored
as events unfold, which are embedded with the fantasy trappings of
action and
adventure throughout.
Many levels
of choice
and consequence are explored from different perspectives: "He stared down at the black water beneath his
feet. It would be
so simple to fall into the sea and sink down to its depths. Reunited with his bag, they would say
at his funeral, by way of consolation. Except there would be no
funeral.
Everyone he loved would soon be dead or living in a state worse than
death."
It's hard to
imagine
a more fitting crescendo to the dramatic opera of events formed in the
previous
books. From the opening lines of Tessa's experiences, readers are drawn
through
a journey replete with satisfying twists and turns, before it neatly
concludes.
The Conjurer
Fellstone series for teens is well-served by this final saga, which
wraps up
relationships and hanging questions and summarizes a heroine's long
journey not
just to save those she loves, but to accept her own wild nature.
Very highly
recommended, this series is nicely done!
Return to Index
Little Hometown, America
CG Fewston
Independently Published
9781656908872
$12.99
Author Website: https://cgfewston.me/
Print: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-hometown-america-cg-fewston/1136050142?ean=9781653968299&fbclid=IwAR3NUTZWqlG3EazWhfdxB4yzBCa3wVlDd4WX8YFK5nT4BspiC5u9xa0XqVU
Kindle (price 3.99): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083F7B2WS/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/little-hometown-america-9781656908872/9781656908872
IndieBound.org: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=Little+Hometown%2C+America
BooksandBooks.com: https://shop.booksandbooks.com/book/9781654299200?fbclid=IwAR2aXACWb00UCYjtaMzjQhpaeM0lPJf_H9f7Ajo4SLS9e81oMDiGdZj6IEs
Little
Hometown,
America is set in a small town in 1980s Texas. It follows the
coming of age
of a cast of characters who surround a boy on the cusp of understanding
the
mysterious world of adults, beginning with his own family.
CG Fewston is especially
adept at capturing the images of
transitional moments that lead to new revelations: "I
stopped running and looked back. My hair, fully wet, leaked
water into my eyes. Through the haze and thick veil of rain I watched
my mother
stare out across the river with a determination I’d never seen from her
before.
And with the cool grace of a giant bird lifting itself out of the water
to take
flight, my mother slipped off her wedding ring and threw it hard into
the
river. The rain continued all around me and I told myself how this was
the
stuff of dreams and how I should not believe my young eyes."
As Cody bears witness to
these events, interprets them in
his own manner, and comes to some startling realizations about family
and
society, Fewston continues to pinpoint these revelations in a pointed,
poignant
manner from Cody's point of view: "The
day had gone beyond repair, beyond human decency. As I walked to the
end of the
gravel road where the mailboxes signaled the paved road leading back to
town, I
thought — as I placed the remaining shoe in the mailbox — how I could
never
live with either Henry or Gwendolen ever again. I didn’t belong to them
anymore
and I could no longer relate to the people they’d become or to who
they’d
always been. Henry and Gwendolen had become strangers to me and in
their
physical presence I saw the failings of human endeavor, smelt the
stench from
the gross absurdities found in the undereducated."
Also 'beyond human decency'
is American society, as Cody
navigates an uncertain course to adulthood and its conundrums.
As he reviews his life and
its influences, readers gain
perceptions of the events and attitudes that stick with Cody as well as
the
special challenge involved in analyzing them with an intimate friend,
later: "I don’t think you’re telling me what
you came here to tell me. Is that true? Trust is a damn hard thing to
come by
in this world, isn’t it? Only if you think so. Shall we?"
CG Fewston employs a
literary device called a 'frame
narrative' which may be less familiar to some, but allows for a
picture-in-picture result (to use a photographic term). Snapshots of
stories
appear as parts of other stories, with the introductory story serving
as a
backdrop for a series of shorter stories that lead readers into each,
dovetailing and connecting in intricate ways.
Intrinsically wound within
the evolution of American
society and experience, Cody's journey will resonate with novel readers
who
enjoy blends of social and psychological inspection. The gritty voice
and
attitude that evolves from childhood is realistic and understandable as
Cody
brings readers along for a ride into the past and the wellsprings of
his own
discontent.
Readers of The
Catcher in the Rye and similar
stories
will relish the astute, critical inspection of life that makes Little Hometown, America a compelling
snapshot of contemporary American life and culture.
It's highly recommended
reading for literary readers who
enjoy coming-of-age stories and reflects on the memories that influence
future
generations.
Return to Index
Mr.
Figgletoes' Toy
Emporium
M.J. Evans
Dancing Horse Press
9781733020435
$10.95
www.dancinghorsepress.com
Mr. Figgletoes' Toy Emporium is a magical
toy story recommended for
advanced elementary to early middle grade readers. It tells of an
eight-year-old girl who stumbles into an extraordinary shop that
changes everything.
Jasmine has
spent her
life being stubborn. Her insistence on stopping at this
magical-sounding store,
and her spoiled attitude, will prove surprising strengths in the
adventure that
follows.
Parker is a
young boy
whose sister Kylie is ill. Used to being the 'man of the house' after
his
father was killed, ten-year-old Parker has been able to tackle
everything life
has thrown at him...until now. His desperate visit to the only place he
thinks
will contain something that can help, the Toy Emporium, leads to a
special gift
that changes everything.
Young
readers will
appreciate the attention to detail and action that M.J. Evans
cultivates in
this fun fantasy. As investigators struggle to find four missing
children,
Jasmine's stubbornness and defiance serves her well and aids in her
survival,
while Parker finds within himself a special form of courage that can
change
everything. Both confront the true meaning of the elusive toymaker Mr.
Figgletoes's magical emporium and its different impact on their lives.
As a
concerned parent
connects the dots which sends Mr. Figgletoes on a mission, young
readers will
delight in the interactions, personalities, and involvements of a cast
of
characters who support courage and their own special interests.
Humor
permeates the
story, as do surprises, when some of the adversarial characters turn
out to be
unexpectedly warm folk who also deserve a break and help.
The magic in
Mr. Figgletoes' Toy Emporium lies
not
just in the adventure, but in the revelations which lead Jasmine and
Parker to
reconsider their views of the world and their places in it. They each
find
different answers as they challenge themselves and seek to fix those
things in
their world which are going awry.
Just as the
toy
emporium's magic changes everyone for the better, so young readers will
find
their expectations and perceptions of the characters to be in flux. The
result
is not just a fun magical adventure, but the story of true
transformation,
using one's strengths, and changing the world for the better.
Mr. Figgletoes' Toy Emporium is very
highly recommended for young
readers looking for a tale of magic which evolves into something even
more
delightful, advocating for a kinder world. In these trying times, this
underlying
message is particularly important.
Return to Index
Mother-Daughter
Days on Russian Hill: Tales of Love and Laughter
Barbara Bella
Mother-Daughter
Days, Publisher
978-1-0878-9648-9
$19.99
Website: www.motherdaughterdays.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1087896487/
And
https://bookshop.org/books/mother-daughter-days-on-russian-hill-tales-of-love-and-laughter/9781087896489
The
picture book
Mother-Daughter Days on Russian Hill: Tales of Love and Laughter
is perfect
for read-aloud, pairing lovely drawings by Amber Rae Malott with a
mother's
reflections of her dreams for her new daughter and how they changed as
her
child grew.
A
gentle rhyme
follows mother and daughter as they explore the city they live in,
participate
in a "proper tea" under a table, enjoy Pajama Day or Dress the
Stuffed Animals Day, and have fun together.
As
sunsets, Girl
Scout cookies, and other pastimes evolve and are shared, mother and
daughter
grow closer as the story moves through their shared life experiences.
The
Russian Hill
area of San Francisco serves as the backdrop for many of these
adventures,
adding an appealing atmosphere to this survey of fun times in the big
city.
Parents
who read
this aloud, or young readers with the literacy skills to appreciate its
many
descriptions and rollicking rhyme, will find Mother-Daughter
Days on Russian
Hill a wonderfully celebratory story of a warm relationship
cemented by
creativity, imagination, and fun explorations that bring to life the
underlying
bonds between mother and child.
Return to Index
My
Maine
Suzanne Busby Hersey
Little Beach Books
9780615372464
$16.95
www.littlebeachbooks.com
Kids
ages 2-6 who are curious about the state of Maine will appreciate
this lively picture book exploration, which pairs a light rhyme and a
'show and
tell' series of descriptions. A young girl's observes what makes Maine
special,
from its moose and summer shooting stars to wild blueberries and fresh
lobster
rolls.
Nicole
Fazio adds good-sized, colorful drawings of the young narrator
enjoying these Maine scenes and pleasures, with excellent visual
embellishment
exploring the cultural and natural wonders that make up the state.
Kids
unfamiliar with Maine receive a light geographic exploration that
includes mention of L.L. Bean, Portland's museums and shops, Maine's
state bird
(the chickadee), and activities the entire family can enjoy there, rain
or
shine.
The
result blends a travelogue with a cultural, historical, and
geographic exploration presented through a young Maine girl's delight
in her
surroundings.
It's
the perfect introduction for youngsters studying the United
States, who will appreciate the blend of fiction and nonfiction that
pairs
action and observations with real facts about Maine's attractions and
makeup.
My
Maine
is highly
recommended for kids who are studying the U.S. states in general and
Maine in
particular. Its personal foundation for absorbing fun experiences
invites
leisure readers to the table.
Return to Index
Pippin
No Drippin'
Layne Ihde
Morgan James Publishing
9781631951190
$9.95
www.morganjamespublishing.com
Picture
book readers looking for creative, colorful stories will find Pippin
No Drippin' a standout, between illustrator Linda Pierce's
fun cat drawings
and Layne Ihde's entertaining rhyme that follows a rainy day where "The
days when it rained were really the worst./Plans for outside went away
and
would burst."
Pippin
thinks everything is shut down by the weather and wants to play
games on his tablet or phone; but his wise mother encourages him to use
his
imagination as an alternative to electronics.
What
can she mean? Pippin is perplexed, but finally his house gives him
inspiration for a one-cat effort. Perhaps it's not what his mother
exactly had
in mind, but Pippin cultivates a fun approach to life as he becomes
involved in
creating music without conventional instruments being available. The
red kazoo
from the first book, Pippin No Lickin', also makes
a surprise
appearance.
Kids
receive a fun introduction to basic music terms in a story that
tackles both a rainy day's challenge and a young cat's lesson in
creativity.
One
delight to this story lies in his wise mother's admonitions and
reactions. Kids receive an amusing story of innovation and fun, while
parents
will absorb a gentle lesson in supporting youngsters who tap into their
creative talents.
The
result is an entertaining and thought-provokingly fun story of how
a young cat explores a new hobby and learns to take full advantage of
his
creative abilities.
Return to Index
Rise of the
Hidden
Prince
J.M. Stephen
D. X. Varos, Ltd.
978-1-941072-81-3
(paperback)
$18.95
978-1-941072-82-0
(ebook)
$ 6.99
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rise-of-the-hidden-prince-j-m-stephen/1137411893?ean=9781941072813
Book 2 of
the
Chronicles of Pan series, Rise of the
Hidden Prince, places Pippa Gardner in the center of action
in her quest to
locate faerie Queen Mab's lost son, Eros. Hampering her are disasters
both
physical and mental, stemming from the worlds she seeks to preserve.
Supporting
her are savvy allies who also have a stake in the outcome.
Add in a
faerie
threat as a dangerous evil rises in their world for a thoroughly
engrossing
fantasy that goes far beyond Pippa's prior relationship with Pan to
probe her
feelings about a war that is keeping them apart.
J.M. Stephen
provides
a fine background and setting to help newcomers transition to this
second book,
but it will be those already well familiar with Pippa's personality and
past from
Into the Fairy Forest who will most eagerly reach
for this sequel, which
continues to explore her challenges and newfound abilities.
From Pan's
uncertain
injection into Pippa's world and his odd countenance and name to
powerful foes
such as Silenus, who display early evil connections that cause her to
question
her destiny and abilities, Pippa forges ahead. The journey places her
in an
uncertain position as a defender of everything and everyone she loves.
Stephen
writes with
an evocative, descriptive hand that not only captures the contrasts
between
these worlds, but Pippa's evolving feelings about them: "Hello,”
Pippa said. There was something so special about this
place and she wanted to speak to it. And honestly, she loved it, she
felt love
for the Core the way she loved her mother, her painting and nature. She
wanted
to touch it and tell it how grateful she was that it was here, that it
was
protecting her and the entire planet. She knew Ruinae was there, but
she also
knew the Core was a special thing on its own, even if it wasn’t
imprisoning a
terrible creature that wanted to destroy all of humanity…and all of the
Fairy
World."
As she, Pan,
Vincent,
and a host of fairy and human followers investigate threats to Inner
Earth and
both worlds, the story assumes a vigorous, fast, compelling pace that
keeps
teens thoroughly engrossed in Pippa's perspective and her adventures.
Rise of the Hidden Prince is not only a
fine follow-up expanding
the story, but an excellent vision of a young girl coming into her
powers and
purpose. Considerations of who chooses which side and why are
particularly well
done, bringing readers into a story which holds a side dish of ethical
and
moral conundrums, as well.
Return to Index
Sadie’s Shabbat Stories
Melissa Stoller
Clear Fork Publishing, Spork
Imprint
978-1-950169-33-7
$17.99
www.MelissaStoller.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sadie%27s+shabbat+stories&crid=1ILYKY0AHCMSG&sprefix=sadie%27s+Sh%2Caps%2C160&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-apa-p_1_10
Clear Fork Publishing:
https://www.clearforkpublishing.com/store/p153/SadiesShabbatStories.html
Sadie’s
Shabbat Stories will
appeal to picture book readers
and read-aloud parents who
seek a warm family coverage of Shabbat celebrations. It reviews Shabbat
rituals
that range from the baking of challah bread to table settings, Nana's
stories
about Shabbat and family history, and connections to ancestors.
This work is as much about
ancestor history and connections and the survival of Jewish people both
in
general and in Sadie's family as it is about Shabbat. It creates a
warm,
family-oriented story of how this celebration serves as a reminder of
the past
through stories that move between generations as a result of Shabbat's
special
sharing structure.
Lisa Goldberg's lovely drawings
add to the celebratory feel of the story, inviting young readers both
Jewish
and non-Jewish to understand the underlying connecting foundations of
Shabbat
and family get-togethers.
The intergenerational feel of Sadie’s
Shabbat Stories will appeal to
families seeking to cement the importance of family experiences for
both young
and old.
Return to Index
The Shoebox
Robert M. Moores
Independently Published
978-1-64-990134-7
$10.99
www.amazon.com
Eight-year-old Violet can't
recover from losing her
father. As The Shoebox opens, four
years has passed, but she's still stuck in grief.
She recalls a birthday celebration from 2016
in which both her parents were alive and went all out to demonstrate
their love
for her. It's now 2020, and everything has changed.
Robert M. Moores does a fine
job of exploring Violet's
many feelings, from her hatred of Father's Day (because it reminds her
anew of
her loss) to feeling like the odd one out at daddy-daughter school
events.
Those around her call on
spiritual and psychological help
in an effort to shake Violet from her depression, but nothing seems to
help
until a shoebox hidden in the attic promises a special kind of key to
recovery.
Young readers who enjoy
faith-oriented discussions will
especially appreciate the attention devoted to exploring Violet's
adventure,
whether it's reconnecting with her father in a different way or
redefining home
and family connections.
Can a story carefully
crafted by Violet actually bring
her father back to life? Her concerned mother is certain this
newly-created
fictitious world in which Violet's dad is alive will only clash with
the real
world where he is dead. In contrast, Violet believes in possibilities
that can
transform her loss.
Moores carefully contrasts
the thinking between Violet
and her mother for maximum effect: "This morning when I heard
her
running around…she must’ve been imaginary playing with her father.
Running
around like they used to in our backyard before he died, thought Jennifer. Violet went back into her
room and started pacing back and forth. Who is my
mom to tell me what I
can and can’t do? She doesn’t know anything, thought
Violet. She was right about one thing; her mom didn’t know that
this just wasn’t some story."
As her mother tries to
impress upon Violet the fact that
God still loves her, Violet struggles on many levels. Young readers who
turn to
her story for insights about grief and family interactions will find The Shoebox creates a satisfying blend
of mystery, intrigue, and psychological and spiritual revelations
alike,
connecting real-world events to religious and personal revelations.
It also nicely points out
that grief doesn't hold a
timeline for recovery, even as it crafts a path to resolution for a
girl who is
stuck and unable to move forward.
The
Shoebox is
highly recommended for advanced elementary through middle school
readers, who
will receive an inviting exploration of Violet's life and spirituality
and its
many possibilities.
Return to Index
Untethered
Damon May
Independently Published
979-8677710360
$2.99 ebook, $5.99 paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Damon-May/dp/B08GFX3Q8W
Untethered opens
with an unusual premise. Protagonist Mira is a ghost
who remains tethered to the school she's been haunting for three years.
She
needs to draw energy from the living to keep her from disappearing.
Between the
Tether that holds her to the world and her mandate to preserve some
semblance
of herself through a symbiotic relationship with the living world, Mira
is
stuck...and she wants to be untethered and free.
Be careful what you wish for.
When Mira achieves her heart's desire, it's only to enter yet another
conundrum
in which free ghosts, once trapped as she was, are busy entrapping
others.
The story opens with a bang: "The
clouds almost did Mira in." As
it describes kids who play around her "as though she isn't here"
(which she isn't), Mira's ghostly incarnation and purpose become clear.
Damon May does an excellent job
of succinctly explaining Mira's world so he can move into its special
challenges. This brings readers into the story quickly, giving teens a
fine
background from which to appreciate Mira's position, her desire to be
free, and
what it ultimately costs to harbor such a goal.
Tethered to the spot where she
died, spunky and determined Mira builds a different afterlife and goal,
only to
find it challenged by the Elders, who are the only ones who can
regulate
freedom and Tethered entities.
Facing the chaos of change where
she resides at its focal point, Mira employs her stubbornness to affect
even
things she knows little about. Her willpower, resolve, and approach to
changing
this strange state of being will engross teens; especially since her
experiences, combined with her attitude, lend an immediacy and special
interest
to her efforts.
Teens seeking a ghost story that
is compellingly different will relish the story and characters in Untethered. These characters might not
always know exactly what they are struggling against, but they do know
the
importance of freedom and opportunity.
Untethered
offers an engaging,
refreshingly
different take on the ghost story
genre with a well-done, thought-provoking series of encounters with the
world
of free and trapped ghosts.
Return to Index
A
Wild Day at the Zoo
Victor D.O. Santos
Linguacious®
978-1-64962-043-9 (paperback)
$ 9.99
978-1-64962-044-6 (hardcover)
$ 21.99
https://www.linguacious.net/shop/littlepolyglotadventures-vol2-english
A
Wild Day at
the Zoo
is illustrated by Eszter Miklós and provides a sequel to the picture
book Dylan's Birthday Present with the second
volume in the Little
Polyglot Adventures series.
Here,
Dylan and Isabella are attending a special event at the local
zoo—a visit in which pets are allowed to accompany their humans.
Dylan's
chicken Kiki, the pet from his last birthday, will be joining them in
her
backpack.
As
parents and kids see long lines and encounter a multicultural mix of
people from around the world, they speak Portuguese to Dylan's father
and
Ukrainian to his mother. Phrases and words in these languages and
Spanish,
Turkish, and other languages spoken by fellow zoo visitors pepper the
story (these
six foreign language words also are available on an audio link, so
read-aloud
parents and kids can hear them, at https://www.linguacious.net/lpa-audio).
The
dual focus on the natural history of zoo residents and encounters
between peoples of different cultures creates a fine interactive
experience
that gently teaches kids about more than a zoo world as it outlines an
adventure which arises when Kiki gets loose and runs away.
The
polyglot theme carries over from Dylan's Birthday Present to
again illustrate the power of communication, multicultural
interactions, and a
family built of warm relationships.
A
Wild Day at
the Zoo's
uplifting, fun tone pairs nicely with its messages and lessons. It
will appeal to anyone seeking to expand a child's experiences with
other
cultures and languages.
Return to Index
Borrowed
Light
Ken Haas
Red Mountain
Press
978-1-73265-019-0
$21.95
Publisher: www.redmountainpress.us
Links to
readings from the book: https://kenhaas.org/events/
The
poems in Borrowed Light represent
Ken Haas' first
collection and are a diverse set of observations. Many of them appeared
in
journals and anthologies across the country. They present memories of
nature,
place, and time in a synthesis of evocative observations in free verse,
charting the passage of not just time, but changes in place and
perspective.
From
childhood
and adolescence to the intrusion and influence of historic events on
life
experience, each work both stands nicely alone and contributes a jigsaw
puzzle
piece to the greater tapestry of not just the poet's life, but those of
first-generation Americans.
Evidence
of how
past and present mingle in a family circle are evident early in the
collection
with 'Sleeping in the Crack': "At
night sometimes I woke to what were surely/Soviet airplanes buzzing the
Bronx/and sought safety in my parents’ room./They had separate double
beds/joined by two large steel clips/hooked to the hardwood
frames,/separate
sheets but a single blanket/so they had something to bicker about/even
while
unconscious./They were dangerous in different ways/so I burrowed under
the
blanket,/wedged myself into the one-inch doorway/between the beds, and
slept."
From
the
reconciliation of memories and habits of past generations ("...we say a prayer for mothers,/ours and
others,/for the tales
born of the deal/their love makes with the world...) to new
footprints and
visions of this generation's participation in American culture (even
those from
Jewish or Chinese heritage), Haas does a remarkable job of delineating
the
forces that change perspectives and hearts as life goes on.
As
family
portraits, ethnic influences, and social forces coalesce, readers will
appreciate the vibrant tone of stories that dovetail with one another
for
maximum impact.
Poetry
enthusiasts
seeking an award-winning collection (it was the 2020 winner of the Red
Mountain
Discovery Award) filled with reflective force will relish the cultural,
historic, and personal roots explored in the visionary pieces in Borrowed Light.
Return to Index
Going Home
Nancy Richardson
Kelsay Books
978-1-952326-22-6
$18.50
www.kelsaybooks.com
Nancy Richardson’s poems in Going
Home are select
works from her previous three volumes that pair with new creations that
center
on themes of American heritage, injustice and social issues, and
growing up in
a world replete with "myths of equality and equal opportunity." As a
study in American ideals and realities, its contrasts are stark and
intriguing.
As a memoir, it's a strong testimony to the pursuit of these ideas in
Richardson’s own life and the world around her.
These very personal
revelations chart coming of age in a
nation pulled in different directions by different forces. Take 'Mail
Girl' for
one example of Richardson’s strong voice as she narrates both her own
life
experience and the social milieu she navigated: "Along the
three-mile
factory line,/ the men’s whistles and cackles,/the oscine noise of
crows./I,
skinny teenager, stumbled through my first real job/in high heels and
cramped
legs/in the General Fireproofing plant of Youngstown, Ohio."
Mail is important, she
learns...but the men also want
something else that she is ill prepared to either offer or understand.
As the poems take flight
through American experience and
history, readers receive a synthesis of encounters on a political and
personal
level that present news headlines and events through the eyes of a
girl, young
woman, and adult who evolves a set of reactions and impressions of
social
justice and personal responsibility.
'Kent State' is one of these
hard-hitting pieces that
successfully captures this juxtaposition of perspective and history,
blending
reports with personal connections to the news: "But getting
back to her
as she slammed/the screen door smelled the newly cut grass,/walked
looking up
at the pillowed clouds/and the man pointing the gun four hundred feet
away/saw
something extraordinary through his sight./A dazzling red and gold
flash moving
in the parking lot./A small sun come to the tarred surface."
How do we absorb world
events and link them to our own
evolving psyches, choices, and impacts? These free verse poems offer a
blueprint for following Richardson’s evolution of political and social
perspective, and are striking stories of activism's birth and the
personal
journey to make the world a better place.
Poetry readers interested in
a blend of memoir and
literary and social reflection will find Going Home
a compelling read.
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Haiku Journal
Trisha Sugarek
Writer at Play
9798674705857
$9.95
www.writeratplay.com
Haiku Journal acts as both an
inspirational collection of diverse
haiku by master writers such as Matsuo
Basho and Masaoka Shiki
and
an encouragement for readers to fill in their own blank books with
haiku
creativity. It pairs lovely black and white drawings with examples of
the diversity
that can be incorporated into the traditional haiku form.
Where
creative
writing books might focus on the three-line stanza approach of its
poetic
structure, Trisha Sugarek provides a deeper interpretation of what
makes a
haiku piece stand out: "A haiku is a
way of looking at the physical world and seeing something deeper, like
the very
nature of existence. It should leave the reader with a strong feeling
or impression.
Traditionally the natural world is mentioned." She also
includes works
by master poets which didn't always strictly adhere to the 5/7/5 haiku
foundation because "They were too
beautiful to ignore and not be included."
This note
advises
readers that there is an attention to excellence, here, that goes
beyond strict
regimentation. Any poem that is uplifting, beautiful, and an example of
unique
expression is included, such as this: "Well,
what must we think of it?/From the sky we came./Now we may go back
again./That’s at least one point of view." --Hôjô
Ujimasa
These works
appear
alongside lined blank pages that encourage readers to become writers
through
example.
The poems
are
juxtaposed with tips on how Sugarek chooses to write, including
creative
writing and history information that supports various approaches (i.e.
producing a complete poem in three sets of three lines, known as Renku).
Sugarek's
own poetry
is juxtaposed with verse and free verse from others, adding just the
right
blend of encouragement and a flavor of diversity to a haiku journal
that serves
as both an encouragement and an example.
Wannabe
haiku writers
looking for inspiration could not find a better wellspring of support
than in Haiku Journal. Its format
and
presentation lend to not just inspiration, but creative effort.
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Poems from
the
Wilderness
Jack Mayer
Proverse Hong Kong
978-988-8491-87-2
$22.00
https://www.amazon.com/Poems-Wilderness-Winners-Proverse-Prize/dp/9888491873
Poems from the Wilderness lives up to its
name, presenting poetry
composed on the trail by American doctor/poet Jack Mayer, who
celebrates nature
with his prize-winning observations. These were composed during his
lone hikes
along Vermont’s Long Trail and parts of the Appalachian Trail and White
Mountains, over a forty year period.
Jack Mayer
began
writing poetry during his career as a doctor to help him absorb the
challenges
of handling patient lives and medical conditions, and several poems
reflect
this perspective.
His
encounters in
nature, through forests and on trails, and the philosophical and
spiritual
reflections that stemmed from these encounters with self and
environment form a
strong foundation of free verse replete in spirited and quiet
contemplations
alike: "Time goes this way, and that
way,/and backwards, and not at all./On the trail I can accept all of
it,/believe (given the benefit of doubt),/that all is true./I listen
for truth
in wilderness./Since we can never know,/does it matter?"
Readers of
Walt
Whitman, Thoreau, and other nature writers well know the power of
nature on the
contemplative literary voyager who would survey the wilderness with an
eye to
rejuvenating soul and perspective. These audiences will especially
appreciate
Mayer's attention to connecting natural with human affairs, as in 'True
North',
which addresses navigation challenges of not just the environment, but
the
soul: "My compass, though scuffed
and dented/points magnetic North./When I’ve been lost,/it was not for
want of
magnetic North,/only my failure to follow the meridian./...My compass
needle
points me/through that mysterious space/where intuition and ‘the old
ways’
reside uneasily/with Dark Energy and quantum uncertainty./More
problematic is
navigating my soul/with neither compass nor map,/only memory."
Poems from the Wilderness is the
recipient of the Proverse Prize
2019, an international contest in Hong Kong which includes publication
for
those who win. It is a testimony to outstanding writing that will
especially
delight fellow poets and nature enthusiasts who look for winning ways
with
words and reflections that begin with nature encounters and move
outward like
ripples in powerful literary waters.
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Send
Me a Light
Julia Gregg
Finishing Line Press
978-1-64662-262-7
$21.99
Publisher: www.finishinglinepress.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Send-Me-Light-Julia-Gregg/dp/1646622626
Send Me a Light
is a poetry collection highly
recommended for those who have suffered the loss of a child and are
grieving.
It charts the process of this mourning and recovery with an astute eye
to
capturing not just its nuances, but its possibilities: "Show
me the way to fill in all the blanks/of people, places I
have been and lost/Briefly I sleep and dream of scented
warmth;/camellias drop
and I’m a child again/before I knew you’d come to be my son."
The progression of the poems
moves from past to present
and future, creating intersections of thoughts, beliefs, and changing
perspectives as it reflects Julia Gregg's devastation and recovery.
Here are
discussions of friends and strangers, and of life encounters tempered
by the
cloak of grief and the overlay it introduces to her life.
Photographs peppered
throughout accent the words with
visual impact. Some of the poems capture a sense of season and place.
Some are
in-the-moment vignettes that reach for and capture the solace in a
roaring
fire, a city bus ride, or in "...poems
written for you in life and after life,/—my scraped, raw heart leaking
onto the
page."
Thirty-nine poems of
mourning, observation, and growth.
Thirty-nine ways to incorporate their message into the heart of grief
processes
and the movement between death's absolute message of heartbreak and
what
emerges on the other side. These messages are highly recommended for
free verse
poetry readers interested in introspective works charting the road out
of a
nightmare.
Send Me a Light
should be not just in literary
libraries, but any collection strong in psychological reflection.
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Uni-Verse Poetry - Prints -
Proofs by Visionary Humans
Anna Ehrsam & Katherine
Jackson, Editors
Battery Journal
978-1-7355594-0-7
www.batteryjournal.org
Uni-Verse Poetry
- Prints - Proofs by Visionary Humans
pairs poems with
art in a portfolio celebrating the selected works of contemporary poets
and
visual artists. It arranges these works according to the Relational
Order
Theory, which "...presents a context
for all existing systems to be considered as a relational whole."
These juxtaposed works of
visionary reflection represent a fine synthesis of written and visual
art that
will especially be appreciated by wordsmiths and art appreciators. Take
David
Ferry's poem 'After Walker Evans: The
House'. This
piece teaches how to
look at art: "The old house is there
for us to look at./Not there for us to look at. It is there./We look at
it. Its
blank unsmiling front/Says nothing more than what it has come down to."
Editor
Anna Ehrsam's black and white work accompanying this piece, the ink jet
print Light Compositions, provides
further
food for thought beyond the reference to Walker Evans, solidifying the
premise,
poem, and connection between written word and visual incarnation.
Another example of these
relational works is Katharine Coles's 'Villanelle
in Prose', paired with Poet and Poem,
a mixed-media color piece
by Maureen O’Hara Ure. Both reflect the heartbeat of love, differences,
longing, and life disparities.
As the poems and art move
between subjective, personal inspections of life and art to depictions
of
crisis and survival, they not only dovetail with and grow from each
other, but
inject multicultural perspectives into the mix.
As this presentation evolves,
the visual nature of the images changes from panels of artistic
representation
to patterns and organization that flow in a evolutionary way, capturing
language, color, and page displays in a synthesis of reflective growth.
Any idea that this collection
will be singular, predictable, or uniform in its approach to art is
challenged
by an artistic process that keeps viewers surprised, delighted, and on
their
toes.
In an era where visiting an art
museum to achieve the same flow of interconnected images is verboten, Uni-Verse Poetry - Prints - Proofs by
Visionary Humans brings the relational order approach into
one's home with
a collection that reflects mobility and escalation in sound waves of
color and
language. The result is thoroughly engrossing, and lends to repeat
reading
pleasure.
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