October 2024 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature
Mystery & Thrillers
Aftermath:
Into the
Unknown
Lena Gibson
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-529-4
$23.95
Paperback/$6.99 eBook/$21.95 from publisher
www.blackrosewriting.com
Readers of
Lena
Gibson’s apocalyptic novel The Edge of
Life are in for a treat with its sequel, Aftermath:
Into the Unknown. It delves into a vastly changed world
after a planet-killing asteroid fractures Earth.
Prior fans
may recall
that part of what that set The Edge of
Life apart from similar-sounding asteroid apocalyptic stories
lay in the
book’s main characters, alcoholic Kat and workaholic Ryan. Each faced
life-changing circumstances in a new environment, and each harbored
personality
and pluck that made them survivors rather than victims.
Aftermath carries interpersonal
connection further into romance and
self-discovery territory, expanding interpersonal connections,
presenting new
characters, and revealing human issues that emerge from the bigger
picture of physical
obstacles to ongoing life on Earth.
Aftermath focuses on Robin and Kory, who
have found novel ways to
survive the impossible. Robin’s youth ended when the asteroid smashed
Earth.
Now she cares for her grandfather and scavenges food.
When Kory
and his
biker club, the Wings, arrive in town, Robin finds her world again
transformed—this time, by opportunities that threaten the careful world
she’s built,
which already exists on the thin edge of survival.
When she
leaves Boise
to embark on a journey with Kory, new encounters, tension, and
unexpected
developments challenge them both on many different levels. Each is
forced to
adopt new strategies and accept fresh possibilities as their quest for
security, food, and the basics of life also becomes one of cementing a
different
kind of human connection.
Pursued by
those who
would either confiscate or destroy all they value, Kory and Robin face
many
unexpected threats—including from cannibals who kidnap travelers for
meat.
From the
kindness of
strangers to imprisonment, Kory and Robin’s travels introduce a heady
mix of
interpersonal growth and survival tactics that constantly shift under
the
uncertain ground of post-cataclysmic changes.
As a sequel
to The Edge of Life, Aftermath
proves satisfyingly powerful. Well able to operate as a
stand-alone story, it shines with action as the characters attempt to
construct
a real home and create possible family from the ashes of devastation
and inhumanity.
Libraries
and readers
seeking dystopian fiction that rests on powerful characterization,
romance, and
revised intentions to achieve more than simply survival will find Aftermath: Into the Unknown a
soul-satisfying journey. It moves readers beyond the fact of the
asteroid’s
impact into the deeper questions of how disaster and survival
requirements alter
and impact the heart.
Return to Index
Argren Blue
Ross Hightower &
Deb Heim
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-198-2
$18.95 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
www.blackrosewriting.com
Argren Blue is a prequel story from the
Spirit Song Saga that
shifts the viewpoint from the characters of Minna and her sister to
rebel Alar,
who, as the story opens, is struggling to free his fellow countrymen
with Lief
in a struggle that places him firmly in the movement to resist the
Empire.
His initial
belief
that they are making an impact is shaken when he realizes that, despite
their
forays and battles, it’s more likely the Empire considers them but a
mote in
its wide-ranging, powerful eye.
It will take
something exceptional to really make a difference, so it’s good timing
that Alar
falls into some special abilities that give him an edge over a
seemingly
all-powerful foe.
However, it
will take
more than extraordinary powers to step completely into the role of
hero, and so
Alar faces tests of his future and convictions that reveal deadly
consequences
for their choices and impacts he never saw coming.
Ross
Hightower &
Deb Heim have created a satisfying prequel story to the Spirit Sight
series
that featured Minna and her sister, expanding upon themes and clashes
to
embrace other perspectives and lives in a manner that ultimately
expands the
look and feel of this entire world.
Moments of
comic
relief pepper a story which unfolds with the same vigor and power of
the main
series, but adds different characters and dimensions of experience
backed by
the moral and ethical conundrums many of the characters face as their
convictions are tested and shaken.
Hightower
and Heim
create a vivid saga that once again expands the intentions, politics,
and
personal objectives of this world as they delve into a journey that
contrasts
the microcosm of individual growth and experience with the macrocosm of
empire-building (or destroying) moments.
These
currents of
change, backed by an environment embracing Inquisitors and others
created in
the previous series titles, will prove especially attractive to readers
who
enjoy the juxtaposition of personal and political struggles in an epic
saga of
sweeping change.
Libraries
that saw
popularity with Hightower’s main series contributions will find the new
characters
and odyssey that is Argren Blue to
be
just as involving, revealing, and hard to put down as Minna’s
adventures in
previously published books, contributing to the series as a whole.
Fantasy and
new adult readers, in particular, will find this epic journey a major
attraction.
Return to Index
The
Condemned Mage
A.S. Norris
Independently
Published
979-8-9854593-8-8
$16.99 Paperback/$24.99 Hardcover
https://www.asnauthor.com/
Fans of the
previous
three chronicles in the Jack Wartnose series well know that A.S. Norris
injects
a special blend of humor and adventure into his series titles. These
take place
in a kingdom ruled by mages, oppressors, magic, and the follies and
efforts of
flawed protagonist Jack.
The Condemned Mage, the fourth book of
the series, continues to
expand Jack’s adversaries and obstacles to his goals, opening with a
prologue
which neatly ties in with the concluding epilogue of The
Hunted Mage before segueing into Jack’s ongoing struggles and
revelations.
Skully,
Wartnose, and
other characters traverse Downriver Ferry facing ongoing danger and
assumptions
about their journey’s impact on the world. Each holds an adventurer’s
penchant
for finding trouble in unexpected places and situations.
Once again,
A.S. Norris
expands the fantasy mage-driven world and Jack’s impact on it, building
a new tale
of town heroes who keep secrets and exploring the pursuits of
sorcerers. Each
encounter reveals more issues of loyalty, confrontations, and questions
of
survival and salvation. Each poses new challenges to not just Jack, but
blind
daughter Chiyu and a host of others whose special interests diverge and
swirl
around Jack’s decisions.
The
adventure and
action components of this ongoing saga are as vividly unpredictable as
in Norris’s
prior books … as is the humor.
Dialogues
cementing
local lingo and characters continue as strongly as in the prior
stories, reinforcing
the atmosphere of a fantasy world replete with organic alchemy and a
dark lord’s
control over revenants.
Some are
convinced
that Jack Wartnose is in danger from assassins. Others believe
differently.
Assaults of mind and soul accompany the struggles, augmenting the
action-packed
scenes with reflective insights into political, social, and moral and
ethical
conundrums. These emerge as Jack pursues his goals against all odds.
Fun appendixes again
add an extra dimension of wit and insight to readers, as in the
poem/song “Oh! Why Did I Ever Get Married?”
Once again,
the story concludes neatly, but portends more
to come. Satisfyingly rich world-building complexity is not limited to
George
R.R. Martin with such strong competition as is provided by Jack
Wartnose and
his gang.
Libraries
and readers
who have enjoyed the prior Wartnose mage adventures will find The Condemned Mage just as worthy of
acquisition, recommendation, and engrossing reading as its predecessors.
Return to Index
The
Forbearing Mage
A.S. Norris
Independently
Published
979-8-9854593-3-3
$16.99 Paperback/$24.99 Hardcover
Website: https://www.asnauthor.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Forbearing-Mage-Adventures-Jack-Wartnose/dp/B0C2SMKKS2
The Forbearing Mage is the second book in
the fantasy adventures of
new mage Jack Wartnose. It raises yet another quandary surrounding
Jack’s quest
for the Tome of Time—the appearance of his estranged daughter Margaret
Stormgale,
who is bent on both physical and mental revenge.
With the
Inquisition
hot on his heels and his speed fueled by a desire to escape both forces
and
achieve his goal, Jack’s journey is fraught with compelling action and
scenes
of confrontation and realization. Of special note is the psychological
quandary
Jack faces from his daughter as he confronts his failings and dreams
for their
future:
Look
at you. At
this moment, I could reach out and hug you close. Though it would
probably draw
your murderous ire. I don’t want you to despise me forever. I know I’ve
wounded
you deeply. But if I asked for you to come with me, would you? Would
you bother
coming along with a man you barely know and despise? Or am I deluding
myself?
With two
major
obstacles standing in his way on an already-difficult quest, can Jack
overcome such
challenges to reach an increasingly elusive goal? The problem is that
Jack has
made too many enemies, from family to strangers—and none of these
pursuers have
any intention of either reconciilng or ceasing and desisting.
One again,
A.S.
Norris has created a compelling scenario and winning characters via
Jack
Wartnose’s dilemmas and confrontations. From arch-villains to ordinary
people impacted
by Jack’s poor choices of the past, the nature of these personalities
expand in
Book 2. This introduces satisfaction and further layers of depth to
prior
readers, while appealing to newcomers to Jack’s world.
The politics
of the
court, the involvement of thieves such as Skully, a wide array of
supplemental
characters (such as Brien the ranger), and a healthy injection of humor
and
ironic wit drives the characters, influencing their connections and
outcomes as
they contribute depth to a sword-and-sorcery drama which is compelling
and hard
to put down.
Libraries
seeing
patron interest in Jack Wartnose’s world and prior escapades will want
to
include The Forbearing Mage in
their
collections, highly recommending it to fantasy followers seeking a
powerful
blend of fast action, well-thought-out characters, and humor that
permeates
their efforts and achievements.
Return to Index
The Hunted
Mage
A.S. Norris
Independently
Published
979-8985459357
$16.99 Paperback/$24.99 Hardcover
Website: https://www.asnauthor.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Hunted-Mage-Adventures-Jack-Wartnose/dp/B0CL9FNHW6
The Hunted Mage is the third book in a
fantasy series revolving
around the quest and adventures of flawed hero Jack Wartnose. Here, he
moves
from the frying pan into the fire—Jack has been freed from the Mage
Inquisition,
but confronts the Murder of Crows assassins. The group harbors yet
another
vengeful personality from his past (how many are there?), sending Jack
and his
family on further journeys and struggles.
Fantasy fans
of the
series that have absorbed Jack’s prior confrontations with his past
well know
that a sense of humor is embedded into these encounters. They add
ironic
inspection to his purposes, motivations, and the follies of the past
which continue
to haunt his present world.
The tale
opens in the
magedom capital of Marcialos, where a cloaked figure (Sloth Bear) is
assigned
the task of stopping Jack Wartnose from reaching the hidden tome.
This
introduction
details only one of Jack’s opposing forces, drawing readers into a
series of
dilemmas that includes ongoing plots by his vengeful daughter and new
opposing
forces that have placed Jack on their radars.
Once again,
A.S.
Norris creates a vivid, action-packed, engrossing fantasy filled with
twists,
turns, and unexpected wit. Jack’s ability to field friends, enemies,
and family
dovetails with new revelations about his choices, their consequences,
and his
impact on the world around him.
He also
affects the
quiet town of Downriver Ferry. This creates satisfying interplays of
special
interests and adventure that will engage and excite readers of
sword-and-sorcery fantasy.
The added
value of a
stream of humor that runs throughout these encounters also lends an
extra
dimension of attraction:
Eustace wagged his head and mused, “So all I have
to do is become
friends with your wife to be instantly accepted? Well, she sounds like
an easy
woman to please.” Although not intending to insult Muriel, Eustace
instantly
knew he screwed up and regretted it. Phocas knew the lad screwed up and
buried
his face in his palm, grunting, “Oh, Eustace!” The ladies knew he
screwed up,
with Precia looking in horror as a clearly agitated Wartnose ignored
every sore
joint and muscle in his body to jump to his feet. Wide-eyed, Eustace
placed a
hand up to calm Wartnose. “Oh, crap! I … I only meant she’s an easy
woman to
become friends with!”
Even the
appendixes (carefully
designed to extrapolate further on the story’s background and
environment
without interfering with its progression by appearing within the plot)
are both
informative and wryly humorous.
While the
main story
neatly concludes with joyful new possibilities, the epilogue introduces
more
characters and portends the subject of the next series addition.
Libraries
seeking
vivid sword-and-sorcery tales of adventure and woe will want to add The Hunted Mage to any collection seeing
popularity with the prior Jack Wartnose sagas. It expands settings,
adds new
obstacles and characters, and engages fantasy-reading audiences with
shifts of
action and political involvements which are unexpected and satisfyingly
engrossing.
Return to Index
Parallels
Kfir Luzzatto
Pine Ten
978-1-953864-21-5
$5.99 eBook
https://books2read.com/parallels
What if UFOs
are not
aliens from outer space, but residents of a parallel universe? Parallels poses this and other ideas as
it unfolds the certainty of physics professor Thomas Williams that not
only are
the visitors from a parallel universe, but their increased activity
portends a dangerous
dissolution of the boundaries separating these worlds.
In order to
prove his
theory, Thomas must develop a means of accessing them. When he and his
son Dan
find themselves on the wrong side of the law, and on the lam, they
journey
through these parallel places in search of answers to more than just
UFO
identity.
Each trip
creates
trials and discoveries that introduce new challenges, impossible
ventures, and
circumstances affecting not just their travels, but the future of their
home
world.
Kfir
Luzzatto crafts
an intriguing premise that departs from the usual sci-fi account of
parallel
universes and aliens to inject novel dilemmas and quandaries into these
overlapping parallel worlds. The special interests that emerge on
various
levels threaten the fabric of time, space, and social institutions
alike:
“…all
our institutions are in
danger. If this continues, complete chaos will ensue.”
Intriguing
alternative social constructs are just one of the facets that elevate Parallels above and beyond
similar-sounding explorations:
“You know that we must spend at least twenty
percent of our income at
the mall. If we can’t produce receipts for at least that sum at the end
of the
month, we will be fined heavily and imprisoned if that repeats itself.
Of
course, all the money goes into the pockets of the tyrant who owns all
the
malls. They like to call it ‘popular dedication to the economy.’”
Dan’s
ability to uncover
the facts about these contrasting universes, and his struggles with
“doubles” that
exist in these parallel places, makes for heady reading packed with
social,
philosophical, and sci-fi investigative intrigue.
Between
double agents
and double crosses, Luzzatto builds his story on rich characters,
unexpected
events, and the progression of confrontations and realizations that
lend a fast
pace of inquiry and discovery to the story’s sci-fi foundations.
Libraries
seeking
hard-hitting, compelling tales of alternative lives and parallel
possibilities
in sci-fi literature will welcome the power of Parallels
to draw readers with intrigue and mystery, as well as
delightfully unexpected twists and turns of plot and place.
Return to Index
Prelude
Susan L. Alandar
Apropos Press
979-8-9900576-0-9
$16.99 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Prophecys-Daughter-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0D951JJZQ
Prelude, the first book in the Prophecy’s
Daughter fantasy series,
introduces a world in which humanity faces a ruined world, with its
demise
presenting an ugly mix of political, ideological, and scientific
struggles.
Rather than working together, too many factions are busy attacking and
blaming
one another.
Cop
Shandiin’s
encounter with an alluring stranger leads her to discover a scientists’
network
which is devoted to preserving humanity by fleeing this ruined world.
The last
thing she’d envisioned was fleeing her world and her duty, but this
effort
makes complete sense to her.
After all,
her
mandate to uphold the law and justice is being increasingly tested by a
flurry
of new laws she will not stand behind, which test her own moral and
ethical
ground:
“There is no law in effect allowing you to arrest
someone for being
genetically enhanced. I am telling you to let
him go.”
What isn’t
immediately apparent to her is the notion that they will be bringing
humanity’s
unresolved problems and prejudices to the stars.
Susan L.
Alandar
creates a powerful, proactive character in Shandiin from the start.
This allows
readers an entry point to this dystopian world which resonates not just
with an
end-of-days feel, but a beginning of new opportunities and struggles
with old
mindsets.
As Shandiin
encounters new situations, people, prejudices and repressive attitudes,
she
formulates a survival strategy that digresses from her values yet again
as the
colonists confront a planet already inhabited by others whose lives do
not
include taking in or being controlled by invaders.
It’s no
light feat to
marry the viewpoints, perspectives, and survival choices of two very
different
peoples and cultures, yet Alandar’s story embraces a sense of discovery
and
transformation that juxtaposes rebuilding with revisionist thinking
about
goals, methods of survival, and processes of integration.
The problem
is that
Shandiin and her group are immune to the magical influences of their
new home.
It’s a force that the planet’s residents wield powerfully and actively,
and so
one of the main governing choices that dictate their actions and belief
systems
is all but invisible to the new arrivals. This also means they lack the
ability
to fear it, which may be a problem as events unfold.
Alandar
wields strong
personalities with a deft precision that successfully conjoins the
seemingly
disparate governing guidelines and insights of two very different
groups. Their
backgrounds, encounters, and influential forces thus assume a realistic
countenance as survival efforts on all parts take very different forms.
Her ability
to present
a cast of characters whose lives and intentions dovetail in unexpected
ways,
inducing growth and confrontation on many different levels, makes Prelude a full-bodied reading experience
which appeals on emotional, dystopian, and action-packed levels all at
once.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a fantasy that builds on dystopian foundations, yet moves the
survival
mandate far beyond initial chapters that build strong characters, will
appreciate Prelude’s ability to
attract and hold attention with unexpected twists and turns and
disparate
world-building efforts.
Return to Index
Welcome to
Opine
Matthew Marullo
Marullo Publications
979-8-218-05523-3
$7.59
Website: www.matthewmarullo.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Welcome+To+Opine&i=stripbooks&crid=1KCB5A3QWU07J&sprefix=welcome+to+opine%2Cstripbooks%2C74&ref=nb_sb_noss
Welcome to Opine is a satirical,
literary sci-fi display. It presents the conundrum of a revitalized
humanity
2.0 that inhabits their new home of Opine, embracing the notion of
eliminating
selfishness through a new genetic therapy.
Idealistic
goals
aside, the comic elements that permeate a story considering the roots
of
humanity, inhumanity, and efforts to overcome human folly with
technological
advancement makes for a rollicking read filled with satisfying
high-tech twists
and turns.
The tale
opens with
an elementary school morality play replete with bloody irony for added
value
and insight:
…what good is any morality play about the Fools
without the comic
element? Laughter was the undisputed panacea for all social stresses in
Opine.
Laughter was the catharsis through which the Fool’s Bane was lampooned.
The
social, mental, and physical benefits of laughter were true way back
then,
billions of years ago, for the Ancients, as they were now.
The comic
elements
this play incorporates transforms history and reader perception alike
as proud
parents laugh about human follies of the past, convinced that their
revised
environment today is nowhere near as primitive and thoughtless. Think
again.
As the
Opines
confront their own social follies, readers are treated to ongoing
philosophical
and social inspections which encourage discussion and debate:
A sustained utopia is impossible because the
universe is mutable. The
cosmos is wired to evolve according to the laws of thermodynamics, and
the
biological world is wired to develop itself through natural selection.
Neither
the cosmos nor the biological world can ever achieve a perfect stasis,
as the
law of entropy commands everything to tend towards disorder, and for
the
biological world, disorder means evolving, or changing. While the
Opinions
attained great strides in overcoming disorder through their political
system,
educational philosophy, and employment of the Self Suppressor, there
will
always be anomalies, or ripples in the fabric of Contentment.
Anomalies, in the
form of mental illness, and crime.
Outbursts,
anguish,
and high drama evolve as the proposed therapeutic remedy hits a
roadblock which
seems to require either the sacrifice of a piece of humanity or the aid
of a
long-buried genius.
Readers who
choose Welcome to Opine for its
sci-fi elements
will find so much more happening as the tale evolves that it’s actually
a
disservice to peg it as a sci-fi saga alone, despite its futuristic
setting.
Matthew
Marullo is
skilled at contrasting and playing out the social and psychological
elements of
society which clash under vastly revised environments and conditions.
He
evolves a philosophical perspective on events that encourage readers to
not
only absorb a dramatic story of ‘hidden faces,’ but debate the ultimate
question of what constitutes humanity itself.
Libraries
that choose
Welcome to Opine for their
collections
will thus wish to highlight its special strengths of social and
philosophical
inspection for readers and book clubs.
Audiences
will be
interested in considering and debating questions of what constitutes
paradise,
hell, and the human condition that wavers between the two as
long-suppressed
desires return to the limelight. These raise perhaps-unanswerable
questions
about humanity and its ultimate direction, making Welcome
to Opine thought-provoking satirical social inspection at
its best.
Return to Index
Feisty
Deeds
Kimberly Sullivan,
et.al., Editors
Independently
Published
979898684455
$9.99 Paperback/$2.99
eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Feisty-Deeds-Historical-Fictions-Daring/dp/B0D6G27LXR
Feisty
Deeds: Historical
Fictions of Daring Women gathers
twenty-three short stories by women who contribute accounts of females
who
defied gender norms to confront limitations in their lives. Their
experiences
range from abusive relationships to a midwife who tries to protect
women from
charges of witchcraft. Spanning times from 1400s to the 1970s, each
story
represents a contrast in time and experience that lends a bigger
picture of
women’s struggles, oppressors, and the mindsets designed to repress
their
powers.
Take Ashley E. Sweeney’s
‘Double Whammy’. Here, a
27-year-old 1970s woman confronts a diagnosis of breast cancer. She’s
trying to
convince herself she can beat it when she sees a boy who reminds her of
the death
of her brother Henry, when she was only 11. Prompted by her
encouragement to her
brother to ‘touch the sky,’ he instead fell to his death.
Her atmospheric descriptions
of the event and its lasting
impact deliver emotional punches of recognition and affinity to
readers. This may
prove triggering to some, but is absolutely captivating:
I
tell myself that
a broken heart forces itself to work, even overtime, until the heart
beats
almost as well as before, that is, until it shatters again and the
process repeats
itself, over and over, until there isn’t much left at all but the
broken parts,
and all that is left is to breathe, in, out, in, out, but with every
breath it
becomes more difficult, the breathing, and the living of it.
Is life nothing more than a
crapshoot? Eva finds answers
in unusual places.
In contrast is Patty W.
Warren’s ‘Junebug.’ It’s set in
1943 North Carolina, where June Thompson helps out in the family
business while
dreaming bigger dreams. She longs to become a WASP, fulfilling her
fierce
desire to fly planes against the cautions of her wise mother, who notes
that
achievement will always be temporary for ambitious women:
“What
do you
think’s going to happen when this war is over? Those young women will
be right
back to where a female belongs and men will fly those planes.”
As June chafes against home
rules after the relative
freedoms and promises of college, she faces a disaster that leads her
to insist
on fulfilling her dreams rather than remaining in a safe (but limiting)
stasis
at home.
Each story explores a
woman’s growth in light of social
constraints and psychological repression. Each presents an optimistic
feeling
of discovery, challenge, and change which will resonate with women who
enjoy
stories of growth and proactive living.
Feisty
Deeds
thus earns top recommendation for libraries seeking powerful
anthologies celebrating
women’s writing and achievement. It’s especially appropriate for book
clubs and
reading groups discussing women’s values, dreams, and the different
forms of
mindset and social wealth which tend to repress, but not quash,
inclinations to
fly in different ways.
Return to Index
Nightwatch
James Garrabrant
Independently
Published
979-8218456368
$14.00
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7R177MH
Nightwatch
was first published in Swedish in 2021. Its focus on darkness,
guarding, and
light is delivered in the form of succinct observational phrases and
thought-provoking insights that may alternately be considered as a
poetic,
philosophical, or historical discourse. Identifying this collection as
any of
these alone would be correct, however.
The
writings
aren’t just about life in Sweden, though they do include some
reflections as:
To live in Sweden
today, one lives separate from
today’s Sweden.
Some
of the
works are poetic reflections on nature:
Give us spindling
leaves. Give us windowglass melting
through the centuries. Give us in the moonlight the shadow images of
the crossbeams.
Others
comment
on social or political subjects:
When today’s
politician looks into our eyes it is
eerie. This person cannot live without us. We are their everything.
They have
nothing to offer. Fat with empty words and malnourished, they beg for
our
scraps.
Broad
subject
matter and a wide scope mark a collection that holds both literary and
analytical value, juxtaposing complimentary natural observations with
considerations of the heart and mind.
By
couching
these simple observations in succinct paragraphs that are easily
digested, James
Garrabrant creates a dialogue that ultimately supports the book’s
title, Nightwatch,
by pursuing and outlining the metaphors pertaining to shifting
boundaries and
historical precedent.
Libraries
that
choose Nightwatch will be delighted by its
multifaceted ability to
present literary, philosophical, ethical, historical, and psychological
matters
in a form that is not only accessible to a wide audience, but lends
nicely to
discussion and daily meditations.
Return to Index
Number 12 Rue Sainte-Catherine
Roberta Hartling
Gates
Running Wild Press
978-1-960018-90-8
$19.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
www.runningwildpress.com
Number
12 Rue
Sainte-Catherine: and Other Stories offers nine stories of
historical
fiction centered around the life, actions, and impact of Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie (known as the Butcher of
Lyon), who ruled Lyon, France from 1942-44.
Readers who
anticipate these works will recap his life will be intrigued to learn
that Roberta
Hartling Gates chooses a less predictable (and eminently more
satisfying)
focus. She considers the influences that led to his infamous popular
moniker,
exploring what might have happened to him after the war ended.
Each story
is
designed to probe these questions in disparate manners that encourage
readers
to think about history, biography, and the events of the times in
different
ways.
Take the
opening
story ‘Mama’s Boy,’ for example. Set in 1920s Germany, it reviews
Klaus’s
family relationships, the stigma of being a ‘mama’s boy,’ his uncertain
relationship with his unpredictable, ever-cross alcoholic father, and
his
notion that a perhaps-unhealed wound could be causing the family
anguish.
The moment
that Klaus
solidifies the results of his father’s experience and influence is
starkly and
intriguingly portrayed, sparking food for thought among readers
interested in
how legacies of war translate through generational experiences:
The man was a walking pustule, an ogre who carried
contagion with him
like a cloud. And he was that man’s son. He might not be acknowledged,
might
never be able to inherit, yet somehow, he knew that his father’s stink
would
always be with him. Even now, he could feel it being transferred to
him,
inexorably seeping into his clothes, his hair, his skin. And in that
moment, it
came to him, not in words or as an actual idea, but as a truth he no
longer
resisted, that this–and this alone–would be his inheritance.
In
comparison, the
short story ‘The Making of a Martyr’ documents Obersturmführer Klaus
Barbie’s
return to Lyon in 1943, where he hones terrible skills that will
ultimately
make him infamous:
Klaus will prove it because no matter what anyone
thinks he’s good at
his job. And he knows how to make people talk. It’s like springing a
lock: just
apply the right pressure and almost anybody will open up.
As layers of
Klaus’s
personality and perspective are presented, readers receive an
unprecedented
opportunity, within the marriage of fiction and historical fact, to
better
understand his evolution, logic, and terrible impact.
Libraries seeking
stories about Nazi personalities which are delivered with the high
drama of
fiction, supported by historical fact, and devoted to exposing the
psychology
and nature of evil’s evolutionary growth in human choices and affairs
will find
the tales comprising Number
12 Rue Sainte-Catherine
to be attractive and thought-provoking.
Book clubs
interested in creating dialogues that embrace
the long-term impact of social and political angst, in particular, will
find
these stories powerful in their characterization and moral and ethical
portraits. They are wrenching in their details about matters of the
heart gone
dangerously awry.
Return to Index
Recipes From My Garden
Nadja Maril
Old Scratch Press
9781957224343
$8.99
Paperback/$3.99 eBook
www.oldscratchpress.com
Recipes
From My
Garden: Herbs and Memoir Short Prose and Poetry presents
writings made during
the heart of COVID shutdown from 2020 to 2023. It’s a celebration of
life and
plants that weaves reflections and life experience into its reflections.
Nadja Maril’s writing will
especially appeal to gardeners
and plant aficionados, as observations typically begin with
celebrations of a
given plant (such as cilantro) and end with bigger-picture thinking
about that
plant’s use and connections to life:
I
heap a bouquet on
top of grilled fish and imagine sitting in a brightly tiled courtyard,
sun on
my back as I dip corn chips into salsa and guacamole seasoned with
vibrant
cilantro. In this place, this moment, I taste the universe.
Some, such as ‘Parsley’ and
‘Cucumbers,’ are presented in
poetic free verse. Others, such as the aforementioned ‘Cilantro,’
arrive in the
form of prose.
Subjects move from the garden deeper into life inspection with such works as ‘Freedom,’ where a young explorer who has worried her parents by embarking on an adventure outside their control considers the costs and delights of moving far from familiar territory.
Each piece brings with it a soft, reflective moment
that
results in a culmination of worldviews and life experiences, lending a
“you are
here” feel to the tale.
Each also embraces a
literary fortitude that gives power
and meaning to the blossoming of small observations which move into
realms of bigger-picture
thinking.
These
elements, combined with Recipes From My Garden’s unusual
ability to appeal beyond the usual literary or poetry reader and well
into
gardening circles, makes this collection a top recommendation for
libraries
seeking wider-ranging works that will appeal to women’s literary
readers,
general-interest patrons, gardeners, and book clubs alike.
Return to Index
Tender One
G. Gazelka
Finishing Line Press
9798888386002
$17.99
www.finishinglinepress.com
Tender One’s poems represent a
storyteller’s observations of magic,
hope, and discovery. Paired with black and white photos that capture
their
underlying mood, influence, and connection with nature, these pieces
explore
legend, life, and the world. They adopt a compelling voice that leads
readers
on journeys both internal and celestial.
Take ‘Magick
Hope and
Sacred Moons,’ for example. Its three-part journey to the stars is
filled with
metaphysical and metaphorical description:
Now Elektra, her passions sparked by merely a laugh,
laughs with the Light and everything beautiful inside her, too,
and embraces Avalon, and they laugh together again
and once more laugh. And walking along the shore,
Avalon adorns Elektra with a starfish necklace,
so she will not miss her old place in the stars as much.
The
concluding
observation is a joyful surprise that will resonate with readers with
not just
experiential enlightenment, but a sense of fun.
In contrast
is
‘Shakti’, which describes a spiritual crisis and alluring attraction in
a
“coiled energy” which represents feminine spiritual power at its finest.
The sensual
allure of
‘Bathsheba’ portrays yet another aspect of the collection that equates
unconditional love with a psychological attraction that adds to and
enhances
the spiritual and sensual enlightenment of the works as a whole.
In effect,
G. Gazelka
creates a contrast between stories that explore vulnerability, queer
awakening,
spiritual and nature connections, and love. Its compelling meditations
on
guidance, survival, spirit, and attraction are delivered with a
literary
prowess that considers inner peace, energy, and vulnerability (“we all seek places where who we are is
enough…”).
Libraries
and readers
seeking succinct, hard-hitting free verse poetry replete with contrasts
of
celebration and sorrow will find in Tender
One a sense of spiritual awakening which unfolds like an
attractive rose to
reveal the scents and perceptions of growth, realizations, and the
forces that
weave personal identity and lives together:
I laid my headstone to rest in the empty
nothingness beneath it all,
and beneath it all, it’s my voice I hear and it’s an indiscernible
noise, a
quiet I can’t silence, a clarity too brazen for a generation fixed in
vagaries,
and it is truth more audacious than stain-glass nudes perpetually
shattered by
insatiable longing.
Return to Index
Blindsighted
Rich Christiansen
Mountain Grabbers Press
979-8-9897998-1-7
$19.95 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBKHLLDJ/?tag=foreword-reviews-20
Blindsighted: A
Journey of Identity, Faith, and Healing is a story of
identity reconciliation, genetic surprises, and family legacy that Rich
Christiansen hopes will be passed down between generations for
enlightenment
and keys to healing pathways.
He opens
with the
story of a rare eye cancer (retinoblastoma) that his father struggled
with,
leaving him partially blind as a baby and totally blind by age four,
before
moving into the impact of a condition that hit his father in the 1930s,
when
there were few services or support systems for the blind.
Readers who
anticipate, from these opening chapters, that this memoir will focus on
physical blindness will find that
Rich
Christiansen delves into very different territory when his foray into a
fun
ancestry test reveals devastating family truths that shake his family
history,
perceptions of his place in the world, and ideals and influences.
As events
unfold,
readers will learn that blindness and being blindsided sometimes walk
hand in
hand. Christiansen surveys the possibilities of his own eye health as
he
confronts a reality he never saw coming.
From notes
about
hereditary conditions to issues of broken trust and families and the
rigors of
healing that emerge from such experiences, Blindsighted
traverses issues of faith, family, and connection with an astute
observational
style and candid exploration that will draw all kinds of readers.
From
genealogical
researchers considering the psychological impact of ancestry discovery
and
difficult truths to legacies of family health and secrets, Blindsighted offers a lesson in
adaptation, discovery, and healing
that will especially appeal to book club discussion groups.
Libraries
that choose
Blindsighted in the interests of
acquiring a memoir that embraces more than issues of blindness and
family
legacy will find it easy to recommend to patrons who look for
thoroughly
engrossing, candid stories that unfold on not one, but many different
layers of
discovery and recovery.
Return to Index
Camel
from
Kyzylkum
Lara Gelya
Life Journeys
Books
978-1737787808
$14.99
Paperback/$4.99 eBook/$0 Audiobook (with membership)
Website: https://laragelya.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Camel-Kyzylkum-Memoir-Life-Journey/dp/1737787806
Camel from
Kyzylkum: A Memoir of My Life Journey deserves
attention not just from memoir
readers, but armchair and would-be life adventurers interested in a
story
replete with excitement, drama, insights, and immigrant experiences.
It
chronicles Lara
Gelya’s concurrent journey from Ukraine
to the Kyzylkum Desert in Uzbekistan, then from the Soviet Union to
Austria,
into Italy, and eventually to America—but to view this as a travelogue
alone
would be to do Gelya’s effort a grave disservice.
The
story opens
unexpectedly, with Gelya’s arrival in Florida. She looks forward to a
retiree’s
life of beaches and relaxation—a far cry from her status thirty years
earlier,
when she landed in New York City in 1990 as a broke refugee, knowing no
English.
Her
memoir
chronicles not only physical but psychological and ideological insights
and
experiences as she faces battle after battle to free herself from the
Soviet
Union and create a new life in America.
Readers
expecting that Camel from Kyzylkum’s experiences
will mirror many other
immigrant memoirs would be, paradoxically, both right and wrong.
Gelya’s story
is spiced with contrasts in immigrant lives and small kindnesses that
emerge to
combat the unexpected trials she encounters in not just getting to
America, but
becoming part of its melting pot.
Vivid
insights
create moving, thought-provoking moments throughout her saga:
… the Black,
African woman from the flight kindly
invited me to spend a night with them. Since I had no other options, I
accepted. We arrived at an old two-floor house with many Black families
inside.
Each family had a room, and they shared the kitchen and the bathroom of
the
house. A lot of small kids were running around. They were all refugees
from
some African country. The house, inside and outside, was in pretty
run-down
condition. It surprised me, as it was not at all what I expected to see
in the
United States. But I was thankful that they gave me a corner where I
could put
my head down after a very long and thrilling first day in America.
As
she details
evolving relationships, includes color photos of her changing situation
and
surroundings, and chronicles the experiences of an immigrant who moves
into
America’s cultural mix while experiencing the trials and tribulations
of life,
Gelya produces a chronicle that is ultimately an uplifting story of
adaptation,
goal achievement, and success:
As a camel from
Kyzylkum, I plan to keep going through
my life journey, swaying like a ship on the waves of time—the high
temperature
of life’s hardships and troubles makes me stronger.
Her
powerful
voice and personal insights craft a memoir perfect for assignment and
discussion among reading groups and classrooms interested in immigrant
experiences and the process of formulating, realizing, and changing
one’s
dreams.
Libraries
will
find Camel from Kyzylkum’s inspirational benefits
make it highly
recommendable to patrons finding their own paths through life’s
challenges and
experiences.
Return to Index
Confessions
of a
Rock ’n’ Roll name-Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon’s Last
Interview
Laurie Kaye
Fayetteville
Mafia Press
9781949024586
$14.70 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
Website: https://www.confessionsofarocknrollnamedropper.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194902458X?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_KHK35YMYDVRXMRNT8HYM
Confessions of a
Rock ’n’ Roll name-Dropper: My Life
Leading Up to John Lennon’s Last Interview is
a unique rock music memoir. It stems from the pen of rock journalist
Laurie Kaye, who was the last to interview John Lennon hours before his
death.
Even more thought-provoking is that Kaye encountered the gunman as she
was
leaving Lennon’s abode, but failed to recognize the threat he posed.
As
much as this
event drives her story, the meat of this memoir lies in vivid
recollections of
growing up in Los Angeles, moving into the world of radio, reporting,
and
writing about musical and cultural icons, conducting interviews with an
array
of famous musicians from Paul McCartney to David Bowie and Mick Jagger,
and
fine-tuning her writing art. She captures these lives and the evolving
history
and culture of rock ‘n roll in such a way that future generations will
live
these times vicariously though her descriptions and experiences.
Confessions of a
Rock ‘n Roll Name-Dropper reads
as much like a juicy gossip column as
a memoir. Even though Kaye’s life is intrinsically tied to the subjects
she
interviews, their lives and efforts to promote their art receive just
as much
attention as her own constantly-shifting career, which led her into
unexpected
areas of discovery.
The
confessional
and eye-opening style of Confessions of a Rock ‘n Roll
Name-Dropper
enhances the stories and encounters she reveals, contributing a
‘can’t-put-it-down’ atmosphere of intrigue and revelation that will
especially
delight readers of cultural history and music world encounters.
Even
more
fascinating than the scope and style of her encounters are the
diversity of
individuals Kaye interviews. These range from actor Arnold
Schwarzenegger to
punk rock group the Ramones, who discuss the origins of punk rock and
its
influences in a compelling manner that even non-punk followers will
find
accessible, enlightening, and riveting:
I had to ask the
one question that’s still hotly debated
to this day: who came first, British or American punk rockers?
“It started in New York three years ago,” Dee Dee emphasized, “and we
were the
first group they started calling punk rock. And we went over to England
and
were really big there already, before we even had an album out! Groups
there
started after they came down to see us, and now it’s popping up all
over, but
we find New York more unique. The
groups in England have a lot of similarities among each other—like they
all had
the same influences—us, New York Dolls, Stooges.”
The result is elevated beyond a memoir alone by its diversity of interviews and insights, yet remains connected to the author and her readers through descriptions of bosses and work that draw important connections between Kaye’s ongoing musical world encounters and the myriad of jobs she takes on as she moves through life.
Libraries
seeking a vivid, exceptional, thoroughly immersive cultural experience
from
books that capture the excitement and impact of rock ‘n roll will find
that Confessions
of a Rock ‘n Roll Name-Dropper stands head and shoulders
above similar
music exposés, in part because
Kaye doesn’t just report on events. She lived them.
Return to Index
The Mango
Chronicle
Ricardo José
González-Rothi
Running Wild Press
978-1-960018-19-9
$19.99 Paperback/$9.49 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Mango-Chronicle-Ricardo-Jos%C3%A9-Gonz%C3%A1lez-Rothi/dp/1960018191
The Mango Chronicle tells the life story
of Cuban refugee Ricardo
José González-Rothi, who journeyed to America during the Cuban Missile
Crisis,
only to discover different forms of identity and racial crisis emerging
from
his new American life.
From the
start, his
identity as a refugee dictates his perspective and colors his life:
One never stops being a refugee. I still mend my
socks when they get a
hole. I do not leave any food on my plate. When something I own breaks,
I
either fix it, or re-purpose it. Nothing is disposed of that could be
usable. I
still fret with anxiety when going through customs in or out of the
country.
As a
chronicle of
assimilating the American way of living, González-Rothi creates a
compelling
saga of not just survival, but thriving and overcoming much to create a
rich
life in a new land.
From his
family’s
early arrival in New Jersey to political barriers that separated Cubans
from
their U.S. brethren, this memoir does more than detail one refugee’s
experiences. It chronicles the methods and impact by which political
decisions
and situations enter into and divide families that live on either side
of
barriers to unity and love.
The shifting
perspectives of child to adult offer a wider-ranging series of cultural
impacts
and events than most Latino memoirs, while the story’s adventure
components
(whether they be cockfighting or stealing a rowboat) represent added
value for
readers seeking both experiential ‘you are here’ reading and vivid
action.
As unusual
as it is
to deem a memoir ‘action-packed’, this descriptor certainly applies to The Mango Chronicle. It’s steeped as
much in adventure and thought-provoking cultural encounters as it is in
individual experience.
Whether he’s
describing physical or mental battles, the descriptions are delivered
with a
one-two punch of insight and atmosphere:
I don’t know if there is a word to say how one
feels when anger and
pity crash with each other. I came hard from behind the boxes, head
first at
Rique. I felt my neck crack as the top of my head hit the lower part of
Rique’s
back and he flew across the room into Cuca’s door. His face smashed
into the
wood frame.
Libraries
and readers
seeking to add vivid memoirs to their Latino collections and reading
lists will
find The Mango Chronicle powerfully
hard-hitting. It’s as highly recommended to book clubs looking at
Latino
experience and literature as it is to general-interest audiences
attracted to
thoroughly engrossing experiential reads.
Return to Index
South End
Syndicate
Anthony Arillotta and
Joe Bradley
Hamilcar
Publications
978-1949590760
$34.99
Hardcover/$21.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
www.hamilcarpubs.com
South
End
Syndicate: How I Took Over the Genovese Springfield Crew
brings an edgy
historical flavor to the true crime biography genre, embedding it with
the
personal experience of a police officer in a Mafia town. When Anthony
“Bingy” Arillotta, head of a Genovese crime
family in Springfield,
becomes personally and professional entwined with police officer and
writer Joe
Bradley over the effort to document Arillotta’s experiences in a book, an uncommon friendship emerges on both
their parts.
Very different worlds
collide in the face of this
developing relationship, which offers much more than a singular
biography, but
documents the rising connections, Mafia interests, and concerns of a
family
whose power ranges from Springfield to New York City and beyond.
The story of Arillotta’s
rise in the Mafia is one steeped
in not only clashes and internal politics, but powerful associations
and
history that follows his move from a common street criminal to becoming
the
head of a group whose influence embraced the extent of Western New
England.
From legal systems to
criminal enterprises, Arillotta’s
story juxtaposes personal, legal, and big crime operations with the
descriptive
hand of fiction and the authoritative approach and facts of nonfiction.
This marriage between the
two results in vivid reading.
Gang clashes and cop involvements come to life:
In
the end, Freddy
put bullets in three guys, and one of them was ours. He accidentally
shot one
of my crew during the melee. Ty stabbed three guys, including one in
the chest
who was in critical condition. Several others were beaten badly and
taken to
the hospital for concussions and lacerations requiring stitches. A
couple of
our guys had to go for treatment, including our guy who Freddy shot in
the
head. Luckily, he was just grazed, and it didn’t cause any lasting
damage. It
was a wild and exhilarating night that I’ll never forget. But it wasn’t
over—the Manzis would begin plotting their revenge.
Even more absorbing are the
thought-provoking inspections
of crime family and gang politics and interactions. More so than most
true
crime scenarios, Arillotta’s account brings these mean streets and
their
connections to life. This approach is designed to educate and inform a
wide
audience, from leisure readers seeking vivid crime story insights to
those involved
in justice system and social issues.
Anthony
“Bingy” Arillotta
pulls no punches in candidly exploring the evolutionary process of his
life,
decisions, involvements in murder and crime, and the special challenges
of
being a Mafia boss.
Libraries
and readers interested in true crime Mafia mob
stories written by bosses themselves will find South
End Syndicate an exceptional acquisition and read.
Return to Index
Stories My
Father
Told Me
Dvora Treisman
Independently Published
979-8-224-63216-9
$15.99
https://www.amazon.com/Stories-Father-Told-Kazakhstan-Dominican/dp/B0D2DQJ13L
Stories My Father Told Me: From Warsaw, Moscow,
Algeria, Siberia,
Kazakhstan, Dominican Republic is based on a memoir Dvora
Treisman’s father
(Rafał Feliks Buszejkin) wrote,
plus
stories told around the dining room table. These outlined his
experiences in
early 1900s Poland and various nations, from Russia to Algeria and
France.
Jewish roots
and heritage
permeate these tales of achievement, adaptation, and ongoing movements
between
cultures and experiences. This will especially intrigue and delight
libraries
strong in Jewish memoirs that are interested in motivating forces of
change and
the influence of social and political currents on the choices and
opportunities
presented Jewish people during these times.
Dvora
Treisman
captures her father’s stories in a manner that all readers will
appreciate. One
needn’t be either Jewish or familiar with the early 1900s in order to
appreciate tales that explore a life well-lived, filled with shifting
challenges and cultures.
The many
family
moments woven into these bigger-picture experiences create connections
and
generate interest in readers as events move into 1919 Warsaw. One
example of
this personalization lies in the details of how the family not just
moved and
adapted, but found joy in small events and unexpected encounters in
their new
abode:
They winter-proofed the windows as they had done in
Russia and left
one, the lufcik, a small
horizontal window meant to be used for ventilation, that could be
opened for
fresh air. One day a pigeon flew in though the lufcik and sat on the
9-foot
tall white tiled furnace. They started to leave him food on the table
after
meals when they left the table, and eventually he made the rounds while
they
ate. He became a member of the family …
The warm
embrace of
family, achievement, and adaptation spice many of these stories with a
personal
‘you are here’ atmosphere which is embedded into the coalescence of
personal
and political growth.
These, in
turn, will
inspire and educate readers interested in how different cultures and
communities changed in Europe during these times. These juxtapositions
of
interests and heritage emerge at unexpected junctures in her father’s
journey:
The kolkhoz VIPs were all party members, but the
indoctrination didn’t
seem to have soaked in. One day Dad was riding with six of the leaders
from one
of the kolkhozes when the others asked Dad to ride ahead and they would
catch
up. Dad rode slowly and when he turned to see what they were up to, he
saw them
all down on their knees, bowing in front of the ruins of a building.
The result
is a
collection of experiences that holds many possibilities for discussion
among
Jewish book clubs and readers, history groups seeking personal
perspectives,
experiences, and general-interest readers seeking a series of
engrossing
experiential scenes and insights.
Return to Index
Deadly
Secrets
Nancy Stancill
Black Rose
Writing
978-1-68513-524-9
$19.95
www.blackrosewriting.com
Deadly Secrets is the third Annie Price mystery in Nancy
Stancill’s series, but
newcomers will find it as attractive as prior fans. Here, Annie faces
new
conundrums when North Carolina splits into two states and she follows
her
reporter’s investigative nose into trouble.
The
story opens
with a literal bang as a “godly mission” achieves its explosive goal.
The
self-appointed justice duo who
call
themselves The Westcarolina Righteous Action Committee comes from a
mega-church
whose secretive mandate for change challenges both individuals and
social and
political systems with proactive, sometimes violent responses.
Issues
of
pro-life beliefs and politics coalesce as opening chapters swirl around
the
church’s clandestine plan to rid America of medical abortions. The
evangelical
church’s setup of Westcarolina and its fostering of a new era of both
terrorism
and active pro-life beliefs translate to a sticky situation that
investigator
Annie finds immersive and dangerous.
Stancill
takes
her time to fully portray this futuristic community in the first two
chapters
before introducing Annie, a Houston Times reporter
newly back on the job
after a medical hiatus. During her recovery from her last assignment,
her
newspaper has vastly changed its scope and audience. At age 42, she’s
in the
uncomfortable position of contemplating new work and starting over.
As
she reviews
news of the explosion and considers the ongoing impact the secession of
Westcarolina has had on America, she finds her expertise on the subject
applied
in different ways as she’s drawn to move to Charlotte during the course
of her
latest inquiry.
There,
she
uncovers not only political subterfuge, but mounting murders, and fraud
cases
that test her ability to quietly report the truth.
Stancill
excels
at juxtaposing the divergent perspectives of church with a quest for
justice,
capturing the attitudes and intentions of all players in this complex
scheme
and futuristic setting:
“…we’ll do our best
to ignore a news industry that
exists to put us down and kill the dreams of a God-centered state.”
The
conflicts,
idealism, and murderous events coalesce in a whirlwind of violence and
realizations which will keep readers riveted—especially since many of
the
political scenarios presented here aren’t far from present-day
possibility.
Annie’s
personal
life comes into play with emotions and reflections that also provide a
satisfyingly realistic contrast to the murder mystery itself.
Libraries
and
reader seeking a story set in a fictional, yet familiar, near future
where
religious, psychological, social, and political interests intersect
will find
much to appreciate in Annie’s character and focus in Deadly
Secrets.
Book
clubs, too,
will find it an unexpected opportunity to discuss a variety of subjects
about
church, state, women’s issues, and the price of proactive thinking and
behavior
on all sides.
In short: Deadly Secrets is powerful in its characterizations, astute in its political extrapolations, unexpected in its action and twists and turns, and hard to put down.
Deadly SecretsReturn to Index
Double Takedown
Kevin G. Chapman
First Legacy
Publishing, LLC
978-1-958339-21-3
$26.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paperback
Kevin G.
Chapman
introduces the murder, the trial proceedings, and the dilemma Mike and
Jason
uncover as they put their own perceptions and beliefs on trial, only to
conclude that the director might actually be innocent. In that case,
they’d
have put an innocent man behind bars, leaving the real perp free to
pursue his
interests.
A seemingly
open-and-shut case thus needs re-opening when new evidence emerges that
sends
Mike and Jason into a tailspin.
Embarking on
an
unauthorized investigation is never a good idea; particularly when it
reveals
numerous avenues of discovery. These place Mike and Jason in tenuous
positions,
both personally and professionally.
Chapman
excels at
creating an atmospheric story rich in not only investigative processes,
but matters
of the heart. Quandaries accompany acknowledgement that their
preconceived
notions may have colored the judicial process’s ideal of fairness. This
forces
both characters to reconsider their own methodology, which has proven
successful in the past, but now appears to obstruct the truth:
“But let’s not rule anything — or anyone — out
until we’re finished. No
tunnel vision this time. Right?”
Readers
seeking a
powerful blend of mystery and police procedural spiced with intrigue
and
thriller components overlaying interpersonal relationship quandaries
will find
the back-and-forth discoveries Make and Jason make to be unpredictable
and
completely engrossing.
Chapman’s
attention
to building strong characters whose depth marries nicely with their
relationship
outside courtroom and police headquarters gives added value to the
mystery,
while the progressive intrigue building the story rests on the powerful
survey
of a perp who almost got away with the perfect crime.
Libraries
and readers
seeking either another Mike Stoneman mystery or a stand-alone read that
operates as a finely tuned inspection of judicial and ethical processes
will
relish the depth Chapman creates and serves up in Double
Takedown, a winning a mystery that stands more than a cut
above other genre choices.
Return to Index
The Grays of
Truth
Sharon Virts
Flashpoint
978-1-959411-72-7
$28.95
Hardcover/$18.95 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
www.flashpointbooks.com
The Grays of Truth deftly marries true
crime with history and
fiction in a saga loosely based on real facts. Set in
Reconstruction-era
Baltimore, it follows circumstances which swirl around the deaths of
various
members of high society—including Jane Gray Wharton’s husband Ned.
At first,
these
deaths don’t seem mysterious at all. Soon, however, Jane finds herself
caught
up in a net of deception and danger when she and her daughter suddenly
fall
ill.
Jane
suspects poison,
which leads her to not only confront a macabre truth, but question her
own
sanity as circumstances provide answers that are too troubling and
impossible
to contemplate.
The saga
opens in
1867 Washington D.C., where Jane Gray’s background as a nurse during
the
Rebellion gives her a reputation for helping out in medical
emergencies. Such
is the case when she attends to Mrs. General Ketchum, who is in sudden
distress.
As she comes
to
question mean-spirited relative Ellen (cruel she may be, but is she
really capable
of murder?) and the circumstances that seem to point in one direction
while an
emerging reality leads Jane on an entirely different path, readers
become
thoroughly engrossed. The mystery component dovetails nicely with
explorations
of power plays, politics, and matters of the heart.
Sharon
Virts’s
seamless merging of real history with fictional drama results in a
compelling
story. The protagonist finds herself buffeted not just by external
forces, but
her own cognition and perceptions.
Tension is
nicely
developed, the plot embraces legal proceedings (which also contribute
to Jane’s
teetering mental state as she is confronted with realities that defy
her
problem-solving abilities, medical prowess, and social standing), and
characters and their motives, alliances, and relationships are
especially
powerfully rendered.
Virts deftly
wields a
heady blend of historical fact, forensic science, and research. This
includes
autobiographical writings and records of proceedings initially
published in
1866 by William K. Boyle, which cement the atmosphere and authenticity
of her
story.
Libraries
will thus
find The Grays of Truth of special
interest and recommendation to two major audiences: those interested in
true
crime stories, and genre mystery fans who like their intrigue couched
in a
history and atmosphere that evolves in as much a pragmatic, realistic
manner as
the puzzle itself.
Return to Index
Murder on
the Rocks
R.F. Wilson
Pisgah Press, LLC
978-1-942016-87-8
$19.95 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
www.pisgahpress.com
Murder on the Rocks adds to R.F. Wilson’s
Rick Ryder mystery
series, following Rick to the North Carolina coast into a fictional
community.
Rick’s intention is to recover from his wife’s death and visit his
friend,
Deputy Hammond Oakley, but when he discovers Hammond has suddenly died,
his
investigative hackles rise. He’s then drawn into an unexpected murder
mystery
that challenges both his personal psyche and his professional abilities.
Hammond’s
sister
Rebecca suspects sinister influences on her brother’s death, because
she’s also
a detective with a savvy nose for trouble. She provokes Rick into
opening a
dangerous inquiry that uncovers much more simmering beneath its surface
than
murder alone.
R.F. Wilson
builds a
plot that requires no prior familiarity with Rick’s background and
talents in
order to prove attractive to newcomers. A thread of wry humor runs
through
interactions to pique a reader’s sense of irony:
“Detective Hammond. What’re you doing down here at
this hour?”
“Detectivizing.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
“Being a detective. Looking for clues. That kind of thing.”
Conjoined
with this
humor are psychological revelations that connect the two characters,
revealing
serious influences on healing, recovery, and life choices and
progression:
“Think there’ll be a World War III, Rick?”
“What the hell kind of question is that, Becky? You just lost your
brother. I
just lost my wife. Is this how you deal with grief? ‘Let’s imagine
something
worse than what’s going on in our lives right now.’?”
From
activity that is
hidden to the public to Rick’s attempt to preserve his undercover
investigator
status against the glaring identifier of a missing arm, cat-and-mouse
struggles
inject the story with a satisfying blend of high-octane action,
intrigue, and
psychological insights and revelations. These elements translate to
competing
concerns about solving the case, revealing its bigger-picture impact,
and
recovering from loss.
Libraries
that choose
Murder on the Rocks for their
collections will want to highly recommend it to readers seeking more
than a
whodunit mystery. The emotional threads running strongly through the
characters’ lives create a draw that is impossible to ignore and a read
that is
equally hard to put down.
Return to Index
Rain
H.N. Hirsch
Pisgah Press, LLC
978-1-942016-84-7
$22.95
www.pisgahpress.com
Fans of H.N.
Hirsch’s
prior Bob and Marcus mysteries will find much to relish in the third
series
addition, Rain. Here, Professor
Marcus George is confronted by grad student Kenny Glick, who thinks
he’s about
to be implicated in and arrested for a murder after he’s questioned by
the
police. Of course, he maintains that he is innocent. But his very
admonition
involves Marcus in a matter that taps both his educational expertise as
an
ethics professor and his savvy investigator’s nose for trouble.
From the
outset,
Hirsch paints these associations and relationships from prior books in
such a
manner that old fans won’t be bored by lengthy recaps, while newcomers
will be
able to seamlessly walk into a tale that builds on these associations
to create
a powerful legal thriller.
Private
defense
attorney Bob Abramson takes on Kenny’s case, but is hampered by
evidence which
points to his client’s guilt, and by the impact his investigation has
on
partner Marcus when evidence increasingly implicates his employer, the
University of California at San Diego.
Ethical
dilemmas
abound as Bob faces difficult choices about where his loyalties lie and
comes
to realize that the impact of his drive for justice will also result in
a
terrible blow to his partner’s career.
Marcus and
Bob became
an official married couple ten years earlier. Can their relationship
withstand
an investigative process which compels both to re-examine their morals
as well
as their commitments? As they journey to Palm Springs and other
locales,
interviewing interested parties and formulating their own ideas of
whodunit,
gay culture seamlessly woven into the backdrop adds further realistic
atmosphere to unfolding legal and interpersonal dilemmas.
Hirsch
explores both
the back-and-forth of court proceedings and the couple’s efforts. This
focus
dovetails nicely with the expanding forces buffeting Marcus and Bob’s
relationship, with university politics and gay culture adding a broader
dimension to the plot.
Readers who
enjoy
action that takes place both in the courtroom and outside of it thus
will be
especially pleased with the focus Hirsch expands upon in Rain.
They will also appreciate its accompanying insights on how
legal and ethical quandaries permeate home environments to impact
relationships
as much as trial outcomes.
Libraries
seeking
either another addition to Hirsch’s series or a standalone legal
mystery that
revolves around motivation, ethics, and gay relationships will welcome Rain into their collections as a
powerful depiction not just of justice and murder, but of shifting
social and
psychological milieus.
Rain proves a wonderfully powerful story
that rests on
well-developed relationships, characters, and quandaries replete with
satisfying twists and turns, making it nearly impossible to put down.
Return to Index
The Reluctant Reckoner
J. Lee
Moonshine Cove Publishing LLC
9781952439797
$18.00
Paperback/$6.99 eBook
Website: www.jleethrillers.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
A cryptic message in his
email inbox leads accountant
Mark Richter on a journey of discovery when his abilities are called
into
question and a mystery arises that seems to paint him as incompetent at
best or
an embezzler at worst.
Mark is floored. His
professional reputation for accuracy
has never been called into question before:
“The
notion that he
was even connected to such a discrepancy, much less Larry’s
not-so-subtle
implication that he was responsible for it, was overpowering.”
His initial reaction is: what the hell is going on! It’s a
response that will be mirrored in
events that unfold to reveal that missing company money is only the tip
of the
iceberg—and Mark’s problems.
J. Lee evolves a diabolical
plot that opens with a
mysterious email which subsequently vanishes, a dedicated accountant
determined
to clear his reputation, and a conundrum that keeps expanding like
origami to
embrace other elements of the protagonist’s personal and professional
life.
Mark has never been tested
in this way before. He then
falls into association with equally mysterious new ‘best friend’ Tom,
who
promises answers but only delivers more intrigue. Readers will become
engrossed
in a plot that shimmers with tension, revelation, unexpected twists and
turns,
and a foray into strange questions, dubious answers, and tests of trust.
Memorable passages
throughout Tom’s journey into a very
different world and life give pause for thought and fodder for book
club
discussion groups looking for a meatier read than intrigue alone:
“…filth
meant
hunger, hunger meant desperation, and desperation meant negotiable.”
As Tom leads Mark on a
journey that both entangles and
challenges him, Mark’s mission expands to not just solve the mystery
and access
the money, but save himself. Chance, luck, and foolproof plans play a
big part
in Mark’s efforts, adding healthy doses of emotional interplays and
confrontations into the evolving conundrum.
A host of characters are
drawn into Mark’s plot to get
the money back—including the FBI, which has its own objectives and
(potentially
unethical motivations). Sandwiched between two organized entities (one
of which
is supposed to protect him) that both care more about their own
missions than
Mark or his family, he’s forced to work both sides as criminal and
informant;
partner and competitor. The question is: will he be alive when all is
said and
done?
Mark’s encounter with
participants such as Jason
introduces ethical questions into the picture. These, again, will spark
philosophical discussions among book club audiences:
“I
commit crime to
prevent crime. My atrocities, if you want to call them that, prevent
genocide
over time. I’m a utilitarian. I care about the greater good.”
The result is a rollicking
ride through business pursuits
both legal and illegal, underworlds and everyday life, and revised
perspectives
on purpose and reality. All will delight the classic beach reader
looking to be
entertained with a great mystery/suspense novel, libraries seeking
multifaceted
stories of intrigue, and readers seeking more than intrigue alone from
their
reading choices.
Return to Index
Rose Island
Zander Hatch
Izzard Ink
9781642281118
$24.95
www.izzardink.com
Rose Island’s special brand of military
thriller places it in a
category of high-octane action paired with secrets and espionage
cat-and-mouse
games. It will especially delight readers interested in adventure
stories
delivered with the sizzle of strong characterization, complex weavings
of
personal lives and political interest, and a setting that has been so
well
erased from the world’s maps and attention that it might as well not
exist.
At the heart
of these
interactions is a secret group known as The Team. Their names,
presence,
objectives, and work to make the world a safe place are top secret.
That
doesn’t mean its members are entirely invisible, however. The story
opens with
an eye on Madi, a Marine Corps captain recruited to join one of the
most elite
forces in the world.
Tapped to
join a
mission to a region that’s not on any map (or even in top military
knowledge
bases), Madi’s plane falls under unexpected attack as they near the
island, and
they crash. But not before a distress message is sent to The Team,
alerting
them that Rose Island’s force is far greater than they imagined.
From this
infusion of
military presence and battle emerges a team committed to not only
rescue, but
uncovering and nullifying the danger of Rose Island.
The Team’s
characters
emerge from the flames of this crash as proactive, creative thinkers
and
fighters able to apply out-of-the-box analysis to impossible
situations. This
lends their efforts and insights a touch of extraordinary ability to
keep
readers both engrossed and guessing about outcomes.
Fans of
military
fiction, in particular, will appreciate the novel’s structure and
realistic
interactions, whether on the battlefield or in the hearts of characters
forced
to react and engage far beyond their training.
Zander
Hatch’s
ability to succinctly and powerfully portray these emerging combatants
gives
his story a vivid countenance:
Of average height with salt and pepper hair and
matching facial hair,
Henderson had a fierce work ethic, little patience for bullshit, and a
commanding presence whenever he entered a room.
Within the
fiery
scenes of confrontation lies a deeper wellspring of psychological
tension that
clearly depicts the motivations and perceptions of each character on
The Team,
building a story as vivid in its interpersonal engagements as its
battles.
Few military
thrillers offer such a strong juxtaposition, which translates to a
superior,
action-packed, character-driven read which ices its cake with intrigue
and
mystery to keep readers guessing about ultimate outcomes.
Libraries
seeking an
exceptional military thriller for their holdings will find that Rose Island stands out from the crowd
with insights that marry action and reaction with solid military
training
tactics:
While on deployments in Syria or Somalia, his
teammates relied on one
another to make timely decisions under pressure and to put their
emotions
aside, to find a way to win.
This meld of
character, setting, and intrigue is a special blend that should not be
missed.
Return to Index
Schroeder
Neal Cassidy
M&S Publishing
979-8-218-47116-3
$6.99 eBook/$13.99 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/SCHROEDER-Neal-Cassidy-ebook/dp/B0DBL5F4GV
Schroeder is a literary thriller that
focuses on the sudden
emergence of a brutal executioner who moves from ordinary man to a
killer on a
mission one morning, bicycling from house to house with murder on his
mind. How
can such a monster emerge virtually overnight from an ordinary life?
Combine five
nights
of poor sleep with a lifetime of disappointments as Schroeder has
absorbed all
he can take of humanity’s follies and failings for some degree of
initial
insight into his latest deadly choices.
The first
note to
make about Neal Cassidy’s road trip through life is that many of its
descriptors could be identified as run-on sentences by grammatically
staid
readers. However, others who appreciate stream-of-thought presentations
will
recognize, in these passages, a series of jumps and connections that
mirror
real-life abilities to take impossible leaps between subjects,
experiences,
hopes and dreams, and reality:
The air is noticeably hotter on the street, out of
the shade, the Sun
exceedingly brighter than when I arrived, and, after checking my phone
and
barely registering a text advertising gutters and a phone call I missed
almost
an hour ago from an eight-seven-seven number, I wonder why I didn’t
switch it
to silent the instant I place it back in my pocket, but I don’t bother
in case
of I don’t know what, and deciding to walk my bike to the path in the
woods
instead of hopping on, I happily visualize that aged gardener’s futile
attempts
to escape the suffocating wet mud and soil in all that darkness, his
afternoon
plans, which most likely included sipping on lemonade in one of those
metal
chairs and admiring his years of sweat and dedication, laid to waste.
The result
of such
long-winded reflections represents a process of realization and
experience that
more thoroughly absorbs readers into the moment than a properly spaced
paragraph could have provided.
Another
observation
about this novel is its ability to trigger sensitive readers with
specific
details of murder. Those who avoid descriptions of violence should look
elsewhere, because these moments are an intrinsic part of the story
and, though
appropriately placed, are still powerful indicators of the death
through
narrator Schroeder’s eyes.
As the
protagonist
winds through the slums and suburban wealth of his urban environment,
readers
will appreciate the thoroughly engrossing ride that carries them
through a
day’s wonders, challenges, violent intentions and possible redemptions.
Neal Cassidy
creates
a compelling antihero in Schroeder, whose observations and intricate
involvements in his world impact it in more than in predictable ways.
This
process offers much food for thought for book clubs and psychology
groups, in
addition to the story’s target audience of horror and thriller readers.
Schroeder’s literary components defy
pat
genre labels and limited audience assignment, expanding it to groups
the typical
thriller does not attract.
Libraries
that choose
Schroeder for their collections will
appreciate its wide-ranging immersive trip into a surprisingly likeable
killer’s mind and his impact on the world as his greatest secrets come
to
light:
I know that life is truly a gift I should cherish,
one where if we only
knew food and sun and water and shelter, that’s all we’d need, it’s
beautiful
if you think about it, and I’m well aware that when the public learns
of this,
even after the content of my diaries has been revealed on the news,
online, and
in the papers, a great number of people will still emphatically express
their
opinions, saying, “He should’ve just skipped to the end,” that my
apathetic,
unforgiving obligation to involve the victims was unwarranted, and an
insignificant, weak man like me not only destroyed the lives of the
deceased,
but the families as well, and I’d considered that multiple times, and
there
could have been a reality in which that was the case, except that
didn’t seem
fair.
Return to Index
The
Shutdown
List
Sharon Dukett
SharKen
Publishing
979-8-9899479-0-4
$17.95 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://sharondukett.com/where-to-buy/
The Shutdown List will appeal to thriller readers seeking nonstop
action, strong female
characters with a proclivity for problem-solving and proactive
thinking, and
stories that sizzle with political and social conundrums surrounding
issues of
environmental justice and climate change.
Anita
Forester
is at a protest with her husband Julian when he is dragged off into
custody and
vanishes. The impulse to flee and protect herself runs headlong into
her
determination to find her husband and confront the forces bent on
separating
them. After her son Stephen’s death in a fire, she can’t lose him, too.
Sharon
Dukett
evolves a rich tale which interlocks climate activism with special
interests
which clash and coalesce upon Anita’s life. Many of her reflections
will
resonate with readers also stuck between a rock and a hard place when
it comes
to juggling the difficult personal choices of action and inaction:
She knew doing
nothing had consequences, but she was
exhausted: the kind of exhaustion that hovered around her like a shroud.
Whether tackling issues of greater good or personal survival and redemption, Dukett’s mesmerizing story fluctuates between personal and political survival tactics. This approach proves thoroughly engrossing as Anita navigates unfamiliar territory replete with challenging new revelations.
Perspectives
shift between Mike (whom she meets in a bar, and who seems able to help
her)
and Anita. Chapter headings would have more instantly clarified these
changing
viewpoints, but Dukett’s writing makes it fairly clear who is the focus
in each
chapter. Anita’s gut says one thing while her intellect considers the
new
possibilities Mike offers:
A hint of a smile
showed on Mike’s face, like he’d
tricked her into admitting something she shouldn’t have. Her stomach
muscles
clenched together. This was wrong. Her gut told her.
These
insights
lend atmosphere and realistic drama into the story, which will
especially be
appreciated by readers who like their characters’ psyches well
developed.
The
result is a
highly recommended thriller steeped in twists and turns surrounding
activism,
betrayal, subterfuge, and corruption. It will delight climate fiction
and
thriller audiences alike, making The Shutdown List
particularly
attractive for libraries looking for memorable, action-packed books
recommendable to their patrons and book clubs alike.
Return to Index
A
Terrible Guilt
Bob Rothman
Black Rose
Writing
978-1-68513-475-4
$22.95 (print) $5.99 (Kindle)
Website: www.bobrothmanauthor.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
A Terrible Guilt will delight legal thriller audiences on the hunt
for more and better
writing. It opens with the case of a temperamental busboy accused of
killing
the owner and the chef of a restaurant. The case closes quickly upon
the
mercurial presentation of a D.A. up for re-election and interested in
garnering
as many convictions as he can. This seemingly open-and-shut case is
just what
he needs, despite pleas for him to wait until further evidence is
assembled.
Two
Atlanta
lawyers who have observed these proceedings decide to step in and
conduct their
own investigation … and that’s where matters become complex. Their bid
for
representing now-convicted felon Owens involves not just remaking a
legal case
in court, but formulating an appeal that can win against all odds.
As
the case
becomes more convoluted, the capital murder case’s impact (both
political and
psychological) expands to affect not just the courts and justice
system, but
society as a whole.
Unlike
most
legal thriller writers, Bob Rothman is especially adept at charting not
just
one case’s progression, but its wider-reaching impact. His focus on
special
interests, intriguing motivations both evident and often below the
surface of
acknowledgement and actions, and characters whose lives are upended by
decisions and actions beyond their control makes for riveting reading.
The
ethical
concerns that swirl around legal matters are neatly summed up in
dialogue that
continually questions and challenges not just legal precedent, but the
decision’s influences:
“A man’s life is on
the line here, and you want me to
cut corners? When did you lose the compassion, the sense of that
special
obligation of lawyers to serve the public good we learned about in law
school?
Is law now about nothing but making more and more money, about
increasing
profits per partner, so that our partner distributions can go beyond
their
already astronomic level?”
The
story opens
with a profile of the murder victims on their typical (and last) day of
work.
The racial components of references and actions also enlighten readers
as to
the influences of the murder on the story’s progression. The twists and
turns
that take these elements into surprising new territory sets the action
apart
from more predictable legal thrillers.
All
these
elements add depth to the story, while the mystery and intrigue
components are
covered in a manner that allows readers to absorb the psychological
underlay
almost seamlessly as they become riveted by courtroom and personal
proceedings.
The
suspense and
impact of the murder trial are captured in realistic scenes that spice
whodunit
questions with deeper-level inspections of whydunit. The challenges of
accepting pro bono legal work, the working relationship between Greg
Williams
and Elena Samuels, and the news media reports and investigative
quandaries that
emerge from them all contribute to a riveting plot packed with
unexpected
events.
Libraries
seeking
legal thrillers that hold the qualities of being thoroughly engrossing,
complex
in their moral, ethical, and legal presentations and outcomes, rich in
character special interests, and well-developed in suspense and mystery
arenas
will find A Terrible Guilt engaging and
thought-provoking.
As a special
recommendation for book clubs and reading groups interested in debates
and
discussions revolving around legal proceedings and social impact, A
Terrible
Guilt is a clear standout in its genre.
Return to Index
Too Close
for Comfort
Mike Martin
Ottawa Press and
Publishing
978-1-990896-22-4
$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Too-Close-Comfort-Windflower-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DGVN6LBL
Too Close for Comfort delivers another
Sergeant Winston Windflower
mystery to both new audiences and prior fans, who will find this
Newfoundland
detective’s life intrinsically wound into another dilemma that occupies
his
mind and impacts his life.
Windflower
has
returned to his primary job as a RCMP officer, and despite the fact
that he and
his wife own a local B&B, he is more immersed in his expanded
role as
inspector for a much wider region than before.
Another
vacant
property fire leads him to suspect a firebug is at work, but it turns
out that
the conflagrations portend more complexity than an arsonist’s hand.
As in
previous books,
Windflower’s home life and family are as much an attraction as the
mystery he
investigates. The descriptions of shootings, lying, and fires juxtapose
scenes
of his off-duty interests in a satisfying manner that lends a
realistic,
believable atmosphere to the story:
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said, hugging him
closely. She knew
better than to ask for details. He almost never talked about the
difficult
parts of his police work. He said that he didn’t want to bring that
home with
him. “The girls were really worried about you. They wanted to stay up
until you
got home, but I told them they had skating and dance in the morning. I
can take
them if you need me to.”
As
complexity evolves
unexpected directions in the plot, from European involvements to gold,
and
spiritual responses, it’s evident that Too
Close for Comfort’s interplay of interests, mystery, and
personal response
sets it head and shoulder above many detective investigate pieces.
Disparate
elements are drawn together to create intriguing, compelling moments:
He mixed his sacred medicines and smudged.
Afterward, he sat there for
a moment to allow the smoke to come into his body and spirit. This one
act
connected him, even if briefly, to himself and to what he believed was
the
spirit world. In that space he offered thanks to those who had come
before him
and asked for help in this world, not just for himself but for anyone
who might
be struggling this morning.
The expanded
diversity of Windflower’s character and his small community will
especially be
enjoyed by mystery fans who look for more than intrigue in their
choices. It’s
the sense of not just purpose, but place, that makes Too
Close for Comfort an exceptional read.
Mike Martin
is
especially strong in weaving in references to past experiences and
connections
to make Too Close for Comfort highly
accessible to newcomers who hold no prior familiarity with
Newfoundland,
Windflower, or any of the background presented in previous stories.
The result
is another
full-faceted Windflower mystery which brings community, causes, and
protective
instincts to life in a swirl of dilemmas and responses that will
especially
attract libraries seeking superior Canadian-based intrigue and
characters whose
persona lives shine as much as the mystery.
Return to Index
Always Noel
Kathleen Shoop
Independently
Published
9798771944081
$9.24 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
Website: www.kshoop.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Always-Noel-Season-kathleen-shoop/dp/B09M4YFH27
This tale is
set in
1937 Oregon. The town of Albany is emerging from the Great Depression
determined
to celebrate the season with renewed hope and vigor … except for Jane
Scott,
who has been accepted at the school of her dreams, but is denied the
scholarship funding that would allow her to attend. So near, and yet so
far!
Adding to
her misery is
trouble from her boyfriend, who doesn’t support her when she needs it
the most.
It will take
the
reemergence of family holiday traditions and new possibilities to
remind her of
how good a life she really has—and how many options she has to enact
positive
changes.
Kathleen
Shoop’s
special blend of holiday and history brings the times and characters to
life, infusing
them with not just joy, but struggles based on shifting perspectives
about what
is possible, what should change, and what should remain the same.
The notes
about
self-growth that are induced by the holiday season are particularly
attractive:
With her arms loaded with all the root vegetables
in the world for
Christmas dinner, she was back en route for home, passing the final set
of
stores on her way out of town. She again noted the cheerful windows and
smiling
clerks. Though she knew unemployment was high in Albany—everywhere in
the
United States—the storefronts were lively and welcoming, sending a
positive
message when times were so bad. Perhaps she needed to embrace such an
approach
for herself.
From the
gift of
giving that Jane and her mother cultivate during this special time to
the reward
of receiving from unexpected places and in different ways, Shoop
highlights a
life buffeted by social and political changes. This profiles strong
foundations
in family and tradition that help Jane not just survive these times,
but
thrive.
Despite
questions
about Jack’s loyalty and her ability to achieve her goals, Jane finds
that the
holiday propels her forward. Readers receive a powerful tale of
evolving
proactive behavior, creative problem-solving, and love. This will help
them
understand some of the season’s underlying messages and impact.
Libraries
seeking
historical fiction with holiday and romance themes which present strong
characters at odds with their desires and future will find Always Noel a choice pick. It’s highly
recommendable to patrons
seeking something different in uplifting holiday reads.
‘Tis the season—and this book in particular (and the series as a whole) supports underlying messages of giving, positivity, and hope.
Always NoelReturn to Index
Beyond
the
Flames
Gregory Lee
Renz
Three
Towers
Press/
HenschelHAUS
Publishing, Inc.
978159598-999-4
$18.95
Paperback/$29.95 Hardcover/$8.99 eBook
Website: www.glrenz.com
Ordering:
Few
novelists
are in a position of capturing the drama, decisions, and danger of
firefighting
as Retired Milwaukee Fire Captain Gregory Lee Renz. His background
blended
perfectly with a flare for vivid reporting in his prior novel Beneath
the
Flames, and here continues in Beyond the Flames,
which explores the
psychological and physical challenges of fighting fires in buildings
and hearts
alike.
Readers
needn’t
be familiar with firefighter experiences or his previous book in order
to enjoy
this story. Renz places his audience within the flames of daily
experience with
his ‘you are here’ touch, covering personal relationships between
firefighters
as well as the actions they undertake to save lives.
The
story opens
in 1956, with two young friends who are playing (literally) with fire.
The
conflagration they create is chronicled from different perspectives,
from the
firefighters called upon to contain and stop it to the horrified kids
and
adults whose lives are impacted by what they’ve created.
Renz
weaves
realistic descriptions into his story, derived from his own experiences:
“These old houses
don’t have firestops in the walls. A
fire anywhere in the house can spread to the attic in seconds.” The
captain
slapped Merle’s hand away. “Those idiots were up there to open a hole
in the
roof to ventilate the smoke and flames in that event.”
Lee,
the boy who
started the fire, observes all these interactions and sets aside his
dreams of
becoming a pilot, replacing them with the vision of being a firefighter
when he
grows up.
Themes
of
domestic abuse are graphically described, which may prove triggers to
some
readers. Those who persevere will find Beyond the Flames
a powerful
story of redemption, discovery, and growth that moves from these
childhood
traumas in 1956 into adult experiences in the 2000s.
Chapters
flow
between Lee’s perspectives and those of Mitch (whose personality drove
events
in Beneath the Flames), who loves fighting fires
but finds his real
passion in farming.
As
Mitch and Lee
move beyond fighting physical fires and into even more dangerous realms
of
subterfuge and violence, confronting a group called Hells Disciples,
readers
enjoy a vivid story that takes many satisfyingly unexpected twists and
turns.
By
continuing
many of the elements portrayed in Beneath the Flames,
Beyond the
Flames sparks an intense, interesting read that juxtaposes
the fire of
passion with other conundrums. These range from money laundering
discoveries to
intrigue that sparks violent reactions not just on the parts of perps,
but the
flawed heroes themselves.
Libraries
interested in stories rooted in firefighting, but which expand beyond
these
borders into the passion of confronting threats and danger, will find
motivating moral and ethical factors as strong a draw as the nonstop
action,
and will want to recommend Beyond the Flames to
both fans of the prior
book and newcomers who will appreciate this story’s standalone status.
In Vietnam, there
were times when the fighting was so
fierce, he was sure he wouldn’t survive. His team’s one-word motto was
“endure.” His die-hard refusal to give up saved his ass and others. He
had made
a promise to Alexus, and by God, he was going to keep it. There was no
accepting any other outcome.
Return to Index
Bunker
Mentality
Copernicus Paul
Mount Wilson
Publishing
979-8-9899347-0-6
$18.95 Paperback/$7.99
eBook/$30.95 Hardcover/$25.00 audiobook
www.copernicuspaul.com
Bunker Mentality is a novel about the
Cold War, underground
bunkers, and one Roy Chisolm,
who is sent to such a
facility in the course of his duty, only to find that the bunker isn’t
well-ordered, logical, or calm, but a chaotic mess.
The
author’s introductory note is especially appropriate for setting the
stage and
mood of events:
History, alas, occurs only once, yet is often
interpreted thereafter in
a thousand different ways. My depiction is but one of those ways. This
is an
artifact of a moment in time, cast as an adult story.
Few other
fictional
considerations of these times holds such a powerful ability to capture
the
sense of duty, urgency, and fear as this story, which delivers bursts
of
attention-grabbing insight from its opening salvo:
Confidence permeated the unyielding world I was
leaving in Strategic
Air Command, or SAC as we called it. One might find it hard to
associate peace
with the constant threat of imminent annihilation, but better this
tenuous
position than a life of totalitarian Soviet thought or control. At SAC,
survival and freedom were the result of childhood “good versus evil”
allegories
taken to a real-world logical extreme. Those entrusted with America’s
thermonuclear arsenal existed in this extreme.
As life
within the
Bunker and cultural changes outside of it are explored, Copernicus Paul
crafts
a heady blend of insight and emotional motivation that not only
captures the
politics and psychology of the Cold War era, but brings them to life
through
the first-person perspective of a military man who moves into civilian
life
with a boatload of baggage from his service.
The
influence of
bunker life and relationships on shifting political and military
perspectives
creates especially thought-provoking scenes as Roy interacts with
others and
finds his own convictions being shaken and shattered on levels he’d
never
anticipated.
Paul’s focus
on this
process successfully dovetails the politics and experiences of military
men in
powerful positions, creating a story that is especially important for
present-day and future generations to thoroughly read and understand.
Also present
are
elements of irony, examinations of the nature of courage and efforts to
save
the world (or, at least, democracy), and considerations of flourishing
debates
and conundrums which emerge from the bunker to permeate individual
lives and
the outside world.
Any reader
interested
in a fictional pursuit of the atmosphere and challenges of the Cold War
era
needs to take a look at it through protagonist Roy’s eyes and
experiences in Bunker Mentality.
Worthy of
library
acquisition and recommendation, it is equally highly recommended to
book clubs
interested in novels well steeped in thought-provoking moments which
even hold
relevance to modern-day conundrums and considerations:
I deliberated “us”—Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit.
The big ones. I was
killing myself trying to reconcile the difference between what I wanted
out of
life and what others would make of it. Falling into this abyss, unable
to grasp
any tether to climb back out to what was home, could be only one thing—
my
penance for some sin of which I yet did not know, but for which I was
going to
make good. But why? Always why? And then it came to me, this
game. Everyone works god-awful hard to make something of it. But they, them, those bastards never give up.
Return to Index
Children of
Saturn
John Neeleman
Open Books
978-1948598781
$23.95
https://open-bks.com/library/moderns/children-of-saturn/about-book.html
Children of Saturn is a historical novel
replete with elements of unusual
insights about the French Revolution. It will delight readers with a
special
interest in this era and its conflicts.
Three
divergent
political figures of the times— English-American
political
activist Thomas Paine; radical journalist Camille Desmoulins; and
Machiavellian
politician Joseph Fouché—view and chronicle social unrest from very
different
perspectives.
This lends a
satisfying contrast to the experiences, beliefs, and a vision of French
society
of the times, creating insights about how the Revolution was birthed,
grew, and
was influenced by the coup d’etat and shifting relationships between
monarchy
and the populace.
While much
research
has obviously gone into recreating the facts and experiences of the
times, John
Neeleman’s style also embraces a realistic “you are here” dramatic
touch. He
portrays shifting relationships in political and social circles in a
manner
that lends a sense of immediacy and intimacy about unfolding events.
Neeleman is
particularly adept at capturing nuances of relationships changed by the
political power, influences, and choices of these times:
“You will have to resign your office, if we are to
leave for America.”
He understands. The point is not to leave tomorrow. There may not be an
available ship bound for America for a while. She wants to know if he
is more
devoted to her than to his calling, than to France, even than to the
king or
republicanism.
As violence,
votes,
and vicious attacks arise among different layers of French society,
readers
will appreciate the attention given to not just unfolding events, but
allegories of the past that give rise to revised insights and
connections:
Camille enjoys drawing allegory from ancient Greek
or Roman history to
reinforce a current political argument. But it is distasteful to him
that in
this second issue, Robespierre has interfered and aggressively deployed
his pen
to ardently condemn Anarcharsis Clootz, himself a Jacobin, as a
counter-revolutionary. Camille disapproved, but said nothing. Clootz, a
German,
is his own man, and Camille likes him for this, and his intelligence.
Nevertheless, the first priority is to enmesh Robespierre in this
scheme. So
the second number goes to press with the marks of Robespierre’s heavy
pen. Like
the first, it is a hit and sells out quickly.
Historical
fiction
readers (especially followers of French Revolution history who like
their
details complex and explicit) will relish the research-based story
that’s
filled with complex political and interpersonal revelations—as well as
the
depth, style, and contrasts—that Children
of Saturn presents.
Libraries
that choose
Children of Saturn for their
collections will want to highly recommend it to anyone studying France,
the
French Revolution, and the ways in which rebels, leaders, and followers
are influenced.
Return to Index
Christmas in
Eagle
Bend
Kathleen Shoop
Independently
Published
9798359294171
$12.24 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
Website: www.kshoop.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Eagle-Bend-Tis-Season/dp/B0BLR6ZLVS
Christmas in Eagle Bend opens the week
before Christmas. Levi
McFarland desperately needs a drink . . . or two or more. The holiday
season is
upon him, bringing home four adult children and their families, who
each
struggle with different aspects of life.
Christmas
aside,
Levi, Ivy, Avi and Oliver each harbor feelings of failure and turmoil
that,
under one roof, threatens to spill into and mar the Christmas spirit
their
father tries to cultivate against all odds.
Shoop paints
a
compelling portrait not just of these life forces, but the underlying
motivations and emotions each character holds that affects their lives,
interactions with each another, and their goals. These portraits come
to light
early on in the story as the adult children interact:
He’d been determined to hold tight to the anger and
resentment that had
crusted inside him. Why? It felt good to feel something, a sensation
deep and
solid, something to divert his attention from the details of the mess
he’d
made.
These
individual
observations, as well as broader inspections of family choices and the
glue
that binds them together, create a psychological profile revealing why
the
holiday season so often unhinges families with a long history of using
distancing to keep conflicts at bay:
Though Ivy loved these changes in her mother, there
was something
weirdly too much about her and the bread. But, like a good McFarland,
Ivy
turned her thoughts away from that and back to the precious moment at
hand and
asked again what the most wonderful secret of all was.
Life is
always
changing. That’s a lesson Mum tries to impart to her children, despite
the fact
that they hold a vested interest in keeping the peace and status quo.
This
Christmas seems different, however, as Mum’s new bread-baking hobby and
centuries-old starters begins to infuse the household with new
possibilities
and perceptions.
At every
step of this
transformative process of not just one, but numerous adults, Shoop
creates
satisfying interplays and dances between the holiday, family dynamics,
and
changes that portend good as well as perhaps-unwelcome new
possibilities and
pathways of change.
Themes of
reconnection,
rejuvenation, and renewal permeate a story that holds all the usual
holiday
trappings of snow, Christmas, and a family gathering. However, the plot
moves well
beyond these walls to explore how set psyches and interactions between
family
members can still change for the better.
This
enhances the
holiday overlay with an attention to how families not only join, but
change
together.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a spirited holiday novel that serves up a healthy dose of
revised
acceptance, newfound understanding, and lively family discourses will
find Christmas in Eagle Bend
perfect for
group and family discussions about how foundations of connection and
love can
re-emerge even under the best and worst of circumstances.
Return to Index
Cinder Bella
Kathleen Shoop
Independently
Published
979-8498619446
$11.24 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
Website: www.kshoop.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Bella-Season-kathleen-shoop/dp/B09KN657P7
The third
book in the
‘Tis the Season holiday series is set in a small Pennsylvania town in
1893.
Bella lives in a converted barn on an estate run by a wealthy
businessman. When
he and his wife are stranded overseas, she’s one of the few employees
to
remain, fostering her talent of encouraging the farm’s hens to lay
amazing
eggs.
Lonely for a
companion, she hatches a plot to get an egg into the hands of an
appreciative
man who might then express his love for her. Such a man could be
now-broke
philanthropist Bartholomew Baines, whose banking empire has collapsed,
leaving
him penniless and lonely.
Seems like a
match
made in heaven, right? Wrong, because Bella and Bart’s first encounter
is
anything but romantically destined. It takes a while for any semblance
of
attraction to emerge between them. In the meantime, Bart and other
now-homeless
people arrive at Bella’s estate as refugees.
Of course,
the
holiday season is upon them. With it comes a different kind of
attraction,
kindness, and redemption as Belle and Bart face changing situations
that force
each to respond and grow in different ways.
As in the
two prior
series titles, Kathleen Shoop excels at weaving themes of poverty,
generosity,
and revised economic circumstances into the broader scope of a
developing
romance. This gives the story added value and ties in nicely with the
holiday
season, providing readers with just the right blend of love and
achievement
that gives the characters a full-bodied feel.
As disparate
lives coalesce,
the story’s major themes also come together, illustrated by different
impulses,
experiences, and the unified desire to not just survive, but live well
and find
love in the process. Shoop outlines these perspectives using succinct
language,
exploring experiences that flavor love with issues of achievement and
growth:
“Persistence, patience, boredom, hope,
impossibility. They all go
together. I’m with Bartholomew. Not sure this will work.”
The result
is a
thought-provoking holiday read which will especially delight seasonal
readers
looking for more than a love story alone. Libraries will want to
recommend it
to patrons who like feel-good romances backed by more than attraction
alone.
Return to Index
Crossing
the
Blue Ridge
L.E. Denton
Independently
Published
979-8-218-47718-9
$15.99 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBDVQQNR
Crossing the Blue
Ridge: A Tale of King's Mountain
will appeal to historical fiction readers
harboring a special interest in the American Revolutionary War. It
brings to
life the atmosphere and personalities driven and called upon to
participate in
a bid for freedom, following the raging river of change which impacts
narrator
Caleb Anders, who grew up under harsh conditions and then became a
force to be
reckoned with.
From
the
beginning, L.E. Denton brings this character and his times to life. She
captures Caleb’s growth, coming of age, entry into manhood, and the
political
forces which changed his course in 1774, catapulting his life in an
entirely
unexpected direction as he fled his father’s home to enter a tumultuous
adulthood.
Deserving
of
high praise is how Denton weaves political events into Caleb’s life and
growth.
Caleb’s insights about situations he’d once thought quite different
from his
experiences and interests are nicely presented:
I thought a moment,
and then remembered Jacob telling
me about the Boston Tea Party while we were on one of our hunts. I had
paid
little attention to it at the time, being caught up in my own cares and
concerns. I had little idea then that such an incident would spark a
fire that
could not be contained.
A
wagon train
journey sparks new encounters and revelations (including insights about
the
disparate backgrounds of the early melting pot of cultures that
comprised the
times). Readers will be engrossed by the diversity of Caleb’s
encounters, which
provide many unexpected moments of contemplation.
From
the
stopover at Shelby’s Fort, Virginia to threats of Indian uprisings,
Denton
takes the time to build not just disparate characters, but insights
into their
political and social foundations:
“My father was but
a mere lad during the Uprising in
’45 in Scotland. Now, he and his family were no Jacobites. We are all
good and
decent Protestants. But after the rising, times were made difficult for
our
people, even though they had no hand in going against the King. The
English
came down hard on all Scots, no matter what allegiance they had. They
took
lands, handed out harsh sentences, raised taxes, did away with the
clans. Many
were bitter over the high-handed way the British abused the Scottish
people.”
This
focus lends
much richer (and more insightful) realizations than most historical
novels
centered on the American Revolution, creating a backdrop of special
interests
and heritage that, in turn, enhances understanding the political
currents that
buffeted the new America.
Embedded
within
these insights are reflections that could apply equally well to modern
times:
The younger generation cannot fully appreciate the
hardships and
deprivations we suffered to make the life they now so easily enjoy. My
oldest
now attends Blount College in Knoxville, blithefully ignorant of the
hazards we
endured to make the life he now knows. I suppose it is the same with
all
generations. Retelling what occurred rather than suffering through it
cannot
produce the same results. At times I shudder to think what the future
will hold
for our fledgling country. Hard times are quickly forgotten, I fear.
As
Nate, Caleb,
Captain Shelby and others venture into unfamiliar territory (both
geographic
and political), readers attracted to historical fiction surrounding
these times
will be pleased by the care Denton takes to fully develop the
atmosphere and
influences of all sides and different special interests.
The
result is a
vivid retelling of American history that will attract libraries and
reading
groups interested in a story that not only is built on political facts
familiar
to many, but explores emotional and cultural undercurrents of the times.
Powered
by a
journey both physical and soulful, Crossing the Blue Ridge
is a highly
recommended book that will find its audience not only in those looking
for
plots set in Revolutionary times, but in general-interest readers who
need not
know an excessive amount about the times in order to readily enter and
absorb
their nuances and influences.
Return to Index
The Current
Fantasy
Charlie Haas
Beck and Branch
Publishers
979-8-9885505-4-9
$14.99
Paperback/$4.99 eBook
www.beckandbranch.com
The Current Fantasy is a novel set in the
early 1900s, when a group
of counterculture Germans take off for the promise of America
(specifically,
the woods in California’s San Bernardino area), where they envision
living a
life of freedom devoid of constraints. Their construction of the
Sunland
community will not only change their lives, but the lives of those
around them
as they create a new lifestyle, new dreams, and revised ideals.
From its
opening
lines (in 1914 Berlin), Charlie Haas captures the fantasy and hope of a
unique
brand of dreamers:
Look at that, Anna thinks—after all this time, a
little hope. Only a
flicker, but in the current climate you’ll warm your hands around
anything.
War is
predicted.
It’s obviously time to leave Germany.
One note
about the
descriptions is that they incorporate not only original ‘you are here’
detail,
but embrace a wry undertone of ironic humor:
Four phony antique clocks strike five. Anna puts
her ladle in the
rinse, rubs her cramped arms and goes to see a friend in the veal
department
who gives her a bag of cutlets too odd-shaped to sell. At the lockers
in back
she unlaces the dirndl, breathes as if she swam here underwater, puts
on her
own mercifully shapeless dress, moves the letter to its pocket
and goes outside. The sidewalks are crowded and the sunset’s red with
factory
smoke. Anna squeezes onto a streetcar full of soldiers, all shouting at
one
another through her head. Maybe the war started while I was at work,
she
thinks. God knows they all seem happy enough.
Haas creates
a host
of characters who satisfyingly enhance Anna’s perspective and
experience as all
embark on a journey that embraces family, friends, and new
possibilities.
The
sentiments,
hopes, and incarnation of a utopian, counterculture lifestyle ‘back in
the day’
comes to life under Haas’s pen, not only introducing readers to a
historical
milieu which feels realistic and hopeful, but bringing them into the
daily
lives and experiences of community-building.
Also
especially
notable are the ways in which ideals and reality clash:
There’s the tarpaulin, back by those trees. Lilli
lifts it, uncovers
the bicycle, walks it through the field and looks over at Sunland. Our
safe,
special place, she thinks, except for the guns, secrets, fighting, and
people
pushing over each other to get what they want. You can have all that
anywhere,
and some places the baths are hot.
As Sunland
and the
era unfold, violence looms even far from German soil, forcing the
community and
those outside of it to acknowledge hard truths about what they are
attempting
and how it impacts the world around them—which is closing in.
A masterful
set of
insights into the era and its political and social transformations is
offered
to readers. Excellent characterization and an attention to atmospheric
details
cement a sense of the times that brings readers directly into these
lives and
their motivating visions.
Libraries
that choose
The Current Fantasy for all these
facets and more will find it easy to recommend to a wide range of
patrons, from
historical novel readers with a special interest in utopian communities
and the
intersection of German and American cultures to general-interest novel
readers
looking for a powerfully compelling story of personal and societal
growth.
Return to Index
The
Death of
Clara Willenheim
Charlotte
Lesemann
The Gothic
Literary Society, LLC
979-8-9902373-1-5
$17.99
Paperback/$24.99 Hardcover/$9.99 eBook
www.charlottelesemann.com
The Death of Clara
Willenheim is a work of gothic
fiction that captures
all the flavors of the genre. It revolves around teen Clara, who is a
prisoner
in her family’s castle in 1800s Bavaria. Her only path to freedom lies
in
entering the catacombs beneath the castle; there to confront the ghosts
of
family history and long-buried secrets.
The
first note
about this story lies in author Charlotte Lesemann’s powerfully
evocative,
atmospheric approach, which injects compelling drama into the story
from its
opening sentences:
Every house is an
extension of its occupants. It
absorbs their secrets, clouding its windows over time, in an attempt to
veil the
hypocrisy and lies. Bricks and stones grind against selfish ambition
and settle
under the weight of apathy. But in the end, no house can withstand its
own
history. The larger the house, the greater the fall.
Many
gothic
novels slowly develop a compelling draw, but The Death of
Clara Willenheim’s
portrait of darkness and danger from its opening salvo portends a read
that is
emotionally supercharged by castle life and the ghosts of history which
reach
out from the past’s grave to influence Clara’s life.
Mystery
and
intrigue rise, along with the ghost of a long-dead aunt whose mandate
injects
Clara’s objective to escape and survive with further complex
juxtapositions of
vengeance and discovery.
Lesemann
employs
all the strengths of history, psychological tension, and motivation to
reflect
her young protagonist’s drive for survival and freedom. This emerges
with
special attention to the moral and ethical quandaries revolving around
justice,
redemption, and freedom of choice.
The
plot
features many satisfying twists and turns, as one might expect from a
gothic
novel. But it’s the attention given to psychological and atmospheric
build-up
that gives The Death of Clara Willenheim an
especially satisfying
“you-are-here” aura, making for a standout story.
Readers
will
find the powerful characterization creates a story impossible to set
aside,
while the secrets and threats that emerge profile satisfying blindsides
that
even the most seasoned gothic enthusiast won’t see coming.
All
these
features are why libraries building strong gothic novel collections
should
consider The Death of Clara Willenheim an exemplary
foundation
acquisition. It’s worthy of high praise and recommendation to any
patron who
seeks vivid stories, moral and ethical reflections about justice and
redemption, and the added value of intrigue that concludes in a manner
that’s
unexpected and supercharged with drama.
Return to Index
Draakensky
Paula Cappa
CL Publishing
978-1-964398-20-4
$13.99-$14.99 Paperback
https://www.crystallakepub.com
Draakensky: A
Supernatural Tale of Magick and Romance
is a novel steeped in the rich dual
attractions of Gothic romance and ghosts. Set in the rural town of
modern
Bedford, New York, it blends more than a touch of fantasy into its
ghost story,
promising to reach a much broader audience than fantasy, supernatural
fiction,
or romance alone could attract.
The
story opens
with a murder, a first-person confession, and a spirit that tells how
he was
conjured up, residing in an uncertain milieu between life and death.
Paula
Cappa does an excellent job of injecting atmospheric intrigue into her
story
from the start. This approach will capture reader attention almost
instantly
with a literary descriptive voice that is alluring:
I came forth at the
conjuring with my jazzy voice in
autumn of 2021. I have no taste for gray magick. Fleeing to safer
avenues is my
preference. I am no legendary figment or Victorian in a black cloak who
has
trumped death. I don’t swipe at chilly shoulders or snap at faces. I
remain
thin as a toothed elm leaf absent its green color. When the village
people see
me, they veer away and twist their mouths. Since the calling on that
dreary
night, I learned to attach to earth and weave myself into daily
existence. Only
then can I fling my voice, words shivering in the air.
The
introduction
moves into third-person descriptors and action as Charlotte Knight
enters
Draakensky to become involved with its ghosts, shadows, memorials, and
a new
relationship with owner and barkeep Marc Sexton, who lives in a
renovated barn
in the woods “chock-full of owls and wild geese.”
As
their
relationship and events progress, Charlotte feels confident in the
foundations
she is building with Marc. But she is less confident about her future
in
Bedford, and the impact Draakensky has on her life.
The
story’s
continual lure lies in Cappa’s ability to follow Charlotte and Marc’s
footsteps
using powerful literary descriptions that keep their evolving
relationship and
encounters firmly rooted in Bedford’s rural countenance:
Robed in blue,
coffee mug in hand, she walked barefoot
on the cold earth, its heartbeats drumming against her soles, toes
curling the
soil. Wintergreen, bearded moss, and peat perfumes filled her. Dew
rested on
the grass. If she were a butterfly, she would spread her wings and
float from tree
to tree.
The
more deeply
Charlotte ventures into heady waters of transformation and
spirit-driven
encounters, the more her romance developments juxtapose with forces
that buffet
her life, provoking change and danger.
Libraries
interested in acquiring a modern Gothic mystery that incorporates
fantasy
elements into its romance and ghostly encounters will find Draakensky
exceptional. Its ability to build intrigue and attraction makes it a
powerful
recommendation not only to patrons interested in Gothic fiction, but
also to
book clubs seeking contemporary Gothic stories with unpredictability
and twists
usually not seen in the formula writing that tends to permeate the
Gothic novel
genre.
Return to Index
Easter at
the Three
Coins Inn
Kimberly Sullivan
Independently Published
979-8-9868844-6-2
$4.99 eBook
www.kimberlysullivanauthor.com
Easter at the Three Coins Inn explores
friendship, hotel ownership,
and a European experience that cements three women’s lives. It entwines
their
choices with family dilemmas and healing attempts which emerge from
unexpected
wellsprings of connection.
From the
start,
Kimberly Sullivan excels at crafting a story of transformation steeped
in the
culture and atmosphere of Europe. This permeates not just individual
encounters
and concerns, but the community that serves as a backdrop for Tiffany,
Emma,
and Annarita’s lives. At the heart of it all is an inn that promises
revitalization and transformation:
Many a tourist have spent a happy week—or
two—residing in The Three
Coins Inn. Many of them return for repeat visits, hoping to recapture
the sense
of peace and happiness that envelops them in this little slice of
Umbria.
A host of
characters,
from Kathryn and Heike to Grace, Chris, and Madison, add their own
perspectives, special interests, and dilemmas into the mix. This makes
for an
expansive story of evolving, shifting friendships and connections.
One might
think that
so many characters could prove confusing, but not only do chapter
headings
define shifting viewpoints, but each character adds something to the
bigger
picture. This evolves as the inn hosts a disparate group, fostering new
objectives as a diverse set of individuals marry their singular
concerns into shared
goal.
These
emotional
interactions and divergent special interests are another powerful
backdrop to a
story that exposes unexpected new revelations:
Grace tilted her face up to catch the sun glowing
down. She closed her
eyes. For a moment, Heike feared she had fallen asleep. Once again, she
bit her
tongue. A tear slipped out through one closed eye. Heike realized how
difficult
this revelation was on her friend. She was determined to hear her out.
She
remained in silence until Grace opened her eyes again.
The result
is a cozy
novel that invites readers of women’s fiction to imbibe a tale of
entwining
lives that offers different forms of healing to each individual.
Libraries
seeking
acquisitions which can serve as beach reads, women’s group literature,
and book
club discussion material will find it easy to recommend the ultimately
uplifting atmosphere that comprises and permeates Easter
at the Three Coins Inn.
Return to Index
The End of
the
Playboy
Harlin Hailey
Independently
Published
979-8-218-39123-2
$17.99
www.harlinhailey.com
The End of the Playboy is a novel about
Funk, a venerable gentleman
who navigates a dying/changing world fully cognizant that the music and
literature he has valued in the past are on their way out … as he may
be, himself.
Relevance is
cast to
the winds at this stage of his life, where even writing a successful
memoir
might gain him only a dubious audience. Funk exits the bookstore and
heads for
a favorite newsstand (“another dying venue”).
The dye is
cast and
Funk proves ripe for revelation and discovery, building upon the
foundations of
his introductory angst and fading importance to the world:
How he
‘fills these
holes’ becomes the subject of an unexpected rollicking ride through
life as
Funk rises above his own condition to discover new opportunities, a new
persona, and a revised version of himself just waiting to break free
from his
‘self-imposed exile.’
Harlin
Hailey’s
masterful employment of the psychology of aging and the sociology of
cultural
change lends to a story in which Funk proves the pivot point for
transformation
because “He doesn’t miss the old days; he
just dislikes the new ones.”
His journey
to
reinvent old into new days leads readers through a mindful,
thought-provoking
experience that will compel book club discussion groups to consider the
ways in
which people “find their rhythm” in the changing world.
Hailey’s
ability to
build and focus on characters that interact to elevate their own
perceptions,
experiences, and choices allows readers to get into the heart of Funk’s
experiences and the events which led him to this transition point in
life. The
new directions outlined here are culturally revealing and socially
pointed as
Funk navigates both family and unfamiliar territory, allowing his
readers to
similarly consider their own changing psyches and aging processes.
Dreamers who
keep on
course for the light receive especially insightful explorations in The End of the Playboy as Funk confronts
this ‘brave new world’ with a renewed sense of creativity and purpose.
Libraries
and book
clubs looking for thought-provoking, inspirational, transformative
thinking in
their novel choices will find The End of
the Playboy astute and reflective, packed with the music,
art, and culture
of Western society. It’s a story of change and discovery well worth
acquisition, and especially highly recommended for book club discussion
groups.
Return to Index
July and
Everything
After
Allie Nava
DartFrog Books
978-1-965253-06-9
$15.99
www.dartfrogbooks.com
One reason
why July and Everything After
proves so
compelling a novel is because its events build off of real-world events
that took
place in North America and Sri Lanka. Black July was one of them. The
story’s
opening passages in July of 1983 in Sri Lanka alludes to a savage
confrontation
that threatens Maya’s life and notion of safety which the family had
achieved
when in America, after grappling with temporary poverty and their
status as
immigrants.
Even in a
land of
promise, Maya faces prejudice and problems (“You
people… Why don’t you go back where you came from.”).
Books proved
Maya’s
defense and refuge, but they don’t help in Sri Lanka, where her
father’s background
rises up to change their future.
As Maya and
her
father flee their attackers, a small internal voice cautions that the
worst is
yet to come … but that she can ultimately survive it:
People
are being
attacked. People are being killed. There will be more cruelty, and you
are
going to experience an extraordinary amount of pain now. But know that
you can
move beyond this…
July and Everything After recounts that
process of survival,
adaptation, and growth that moves Maya from impossible circumstances
and
confrontations to forging ahead with new relationships and
possibilities that
are still tainted by the events of that summer.
Here is
where Allie
Nava’s words shine—in documenting a healing and discovery process where
Maya
learns not just how to survive, but how to absorb what has happened to
her and
better understand its impact on her choices and future.
The minute
details of
this process receive intense investigation … so much so that readers
triggered
by extreme violence in their own lives may be prompted to digest the
story in
bits and pieces as Maya’s timeline moves away from the event to embrace
further
challenges in her life.
That caution
aside, July and Everything After creates a riveting story of
survival and
growth made all the more powerful for its roots in the real world. It
embraces
the rationale and motivations behind immigrant choices and experiences,
unfolds
the process of assimilation on many different levels, and reveals
issues of
citizenship and adaptation.
Its special
blend of
emotional-driven experience embraces how people become “stuck” in
sadness and
frustration—and how
Maya
digests, comes to understand, and avoids similar traps in her own
evolutionary
process. Her own evolutionary process will give readers and book club
discussion groups much food for thought.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a story of immigrant experience, a dovetailing of American and
Sri
Lankan experience, and most of all, a delicately woven tale of healing
will
welcome July and Everything After
for
its hard-hitting inspections of one young woman’s life before, during,
and
after a cataclysmic event that changed her life trajectory.
Return to Index
The Kingdom
of Hatch
J.B. Manning
Encircle Publications
978-1645995654
$19.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
https://encirclepub.com/product/the-kingdom-of-hatch/
The Kingdom of Hatch is a novel that is
difficult to peg. Some might
identify it as a thriller because it holds elements of international
intrigue;
or a study in identity crisis, as young attorney Arlo Hutch struggles
with
wanting more out of life and career than a partnership with a
successful law firm.
He looks for even more than a romance with Stella, an attractive
philanthropist
who just so happens to be the daughter of his client, Tucker Barnett.
These are
just two
themes that open a story which quickly moves into realms of corporate
greed,
political and business manipulation, and a plot to run Arlo off his
Vermont
land, which he’s turned to in hopes of healing and refuge.
Readers will
appreciate the nonstop action which ensues as Arlo’s experiences move
from his
perspective to the insights of various supporting characters:
Stella frowned at her phone—once again, Arlo failed
to pick up. She
didn’t understand it. First he ghosts her; then he says “Miss you!
Call?”; then
he doesn’t respond to her repeated efforts to do just that. Expect the
worst, she
thought. You’ll never be disappointed.
These
include
Tucker’s new wife Maggie, his threatening former client Konstantin
“Kostya”
Kozlov (who wields a mean butcher knife), and mystery woman Kristen,
whose own
special interests introduce tension and further discoveries and
dilemmas.
Some could
say that
J.B. Manning weaves a convoluted plot, but the success in any such
project lies
in how neatly the threads come together. In this case, a seemingly
disparate
and wide array of influencers, special interests, and political and
business
plots that lure Arlo out of his gardening goals and refuge transform
into an
absorbing, satisfyingly unpredictable romp.
When
survivalists
kidnap a progressive gubernatorial candidate, the plot thickens—as does
the
playing field of special influencers whose diverse interests land on
Arlo’s
shoulders.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a story replete with satisfying twists and turns that’s hard to
easily
categorize and easy to love will find The
Kingdom of Hatch spins an attractive yarn of discovery,
changes, and
threats that’s difficult to set aside, once begun.
It’s
especially
highly recommended for readers seeking nonstop action, strong
characterization,
and multifaceted stories that specialize in going in new directions.
Its outcomes
neatly draw all characters into symbiotic relationships that simmer
with
intrigue and transformation.
Return to Index
Legend of
Lost Basin
Bruce Hartman
Swallow Tail Press
978-0-9997564-7-8
$13.95
www.amazon.com
Although its
setting
is in the West, to categorize Legend of
Lost Basin as a Western would be to do it a grave disservice.
Despite its
setting, its progression, characterization, and literary acuity place
it far
above and beyond the Western genre’s tendency towards formula writing,
making
it a literary novel of the West which stands apart from most.
The story
opens with
the mysterious Slater, a stranger who arrives in town with a
“ramshackle herd”
of cattle and the intention of staking a claim on Seven Mile Ridge
alongside a
sandwash notorious for being dry.
Not that
anyone in
town will tell him that.
Bruce
Hartman’s
exceptional literary style builds characters, intrigue, and atmosphere
from the
start, injecting the politics of the times with a sense of law and
lawlessness
which influences the choices of strangers and residents alike:
The cattlemen paid Slater no mind as long as he
kept his gaunted stock
off their land. It wasn’t their land, of course. It was open range,
owned by
the Indians or the government or God Almighty, but they’d made it their
own and
they weren’t about to let some ragged cowpuncher out of nowhere crowd
them off
it. Everything that followed—the deadly rivalry, the raids, the
killings—traced
back to Slater’s determination to stay in the basin.
Slater is
not the
only strong character in this story. Another part of its beating heart
lies in
the love that grows between Rory and the captain’s daughter Elena.
Against the
backdrop
of Elena’s romantic and personal journey (The
mustang was wild and frantic to escape. Behind her mask of death, she
blazed
with life and spirit and freedom and defiance, like the wild horses in
Elena’s
dreams. Elena wanted to take that freedom and defiance into herself to
keep it
away from Luke and his leaden stupidity), these other
characters enter Rory’s
milieu with their own special interests and rationale for leading their
lives
on the frontier:
Rory drew a long sip of devil spit and shuffled out
into the breaking
dawn. In town, the day they were confronted by the Captain, he’d seen
the girl,
the Captain’s daughter, and for that reason alone (which he kept secret
from
Slater, almost secret from himself) he wanted to stay in the basin, not
only to
avoid the disgrace of running away but because he wanted that girl, and
he
imagined, from the way she’d looked back at him and jerked her eyes
away, the
way you’d twitch your line to snag a trout, that she wanted him.
The
dialogues,
confrontations, expectations, and clashes that emerge from these
characters
thus evolve an intriguingly realistic and insightful set of events that
unfold
not with predictability, but with twists many readers won’t see coming.
Hartman
builds lives
and legends on gunshots and frontier justice, spiced with the
wilderness of
animal and man and the evolutionary process of love. His approach gives
these
events a special brand of action and insight, helping the story stand
out in
many different ways and lending a ‘you are here’ feel to the mystery,
romance,
and intrigue.
From
seasonal changes
to Slater’s focus on building a house suitable for a new bride, he
grapples
with hidden demons, the shifting interests of man and relationships
with nature,
and his fellow man. All these facets create a gripping saga of
discovery,
growth, and efforts to “hold back the forces of nature.”
Hartman
explores the
nature of romantic and growth connections in a way that makes the story
gripping, psychologically astute, and packed with “aha” moments of
realization
about Rory and Elena’s lives, as well as the reader’s assumptions about
their
relationship. The injection of concluding action that reflects
redemption as
well as love allows the novel to sizzle with new possibilities and
understanding.
Libraries
interested
in literary frontier stories that hold little connection to the usual
Western
formula approach will find
Legend of Lost Basin of special
interest, highly recommendable to
patrons who like their Western frontiers served up with the added value
of
legends from the trappings of real history. It’s a
gripping saga of discovery, growth and love that keeps readers
thoroughly engaged.
As a note
about added
value, Legend of Lost Basin opens a
trilogy which promises further adventure and thought-provoking frontier
insights.
Return to Index
My
Beloved
Thessaloniki, Greece: 1940-1944
Dr. Jennie DiBartolomeo
Palmetto
Publishing
979-8822940079
$32.99
Hardcover/$22.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/My-Beloved-Thessaloniki-Greece-1940-1944/dp/B0D7YRMPNC
While
My
Beloved Thessaloniki, Greece: 1940-1944 may sound like a
memoir, it’s
actually a work of historical suspense spiced with elements of a
thriller that
rests firmly on events surrounding the outset of World War II in
Greece. It
ultimately considers how these affect and change one family.
Young
father and
university student Alexandros
never anticipated that he could become involved in espionage, political
plots,
and dangerous resistance activities. But the Nazi threat immerses he
and his
family in a struggle to save everything they love.
From the start, Dr. Jennie DiBartolomeo crafts a saga
replete with a personal reflective overlay
of her
own family connections to Greece. These are introduced in a preface
which
confesses “I probably would have been born in Greece if it
weren’t for the
occupation of Greece during World War II…” It was an event
that diverted
her family, their lives, and their intentions—and ultimately separated
future
generations from their homeland.
Why
the focus on
Greece? Family connections were not Dr. DiBartolomeo’s only incentive
for
exploring its history. Equally motivating was her desire to illustrate
how this
small farming nation served as a beacon of resistance and hope for the
rest of Europe,
and her interest in illustrating the power of religion and faith in
overcoming
oppression against all odds.
Using
her family
members’ experience to flush out characters and bring Greek history to
life,
Dr. DiBartolomew appeals to a much wider audience than a nonfiction
memoir
could have achieved. She illustrates the daily lives, social and
political
trials, and suspense of actively working against the Nazis with a
passionate
hand to drama, history, and well-developed tension.
These
elements
bring to life not only the resistance movement, but Greek psyche and
convictions, as well as underlying religious connections that helped
the Greeks
not just survive the Nazis, but employ effective widespread efforts to
quash
their power.
Added
value lies
in the experiences of Greek immigrants to the U.S. and the challenges
they
faced both in a new country and in maintaining concern and connections
in the
old country. Given the dialogues on immigrant experiences today, the
experiences of Greeks in the 1940s is especially relevant and important
to any
discussions about assimilation, homeland connections and roots, and why
immigrants to America bring with them important strengths to add to its
melting
pot.
Being
fictional,
My Beloved Thessaloniki, Greece both expands upon
personalities and adds
dramatic touches to embellish history so that readers will become
immersed in
characters and conspiracies. (Note: Those particular about historical
accuracy
will want to fact-check before taking all the events in My
Beloved
Thessaloniki, Greece as real.)
Another
plus
about My Beloved Thessaloniki, Greece lies in its
focus on feelings,
emotions, and the complexities of personal and political struggle.
Throughout
the story, these insights flush out the characters and their
motivations,
adding depth and interest to evolving events. From empathic connections
to
logical presumptions and conclusions, the story explores the points of
view of
characters such as Katerina, Alexandros, and others who face their
deepest
fears and threats to their loved ones.
As
the story
follows hard decisions, choices to flee and begin anew, and debates
over
democratic possibilities in Greece, readers receive a full-bodied
account that
simmers with intrigue, struggle, difficult decisions, and new
opportunities
both in America and at home in Greece.
Libraries
seeking historical fiction steeped in the realistic portraits of
ordinary
Greeks caught up in events that challenge not only their psyches, but
their
survival as individuals and as a nation, will find My Beloved
Thessaloniki,
Greece an important collection addition.
It
will appeal
widely, reaching readers with Greek roots and broader interests in how
religion
bolsters survival efforts, and general-interest audiences with a
special
interest in World War II history.
Return to Index
Rediscovering
Ramona
Gwen Banta
Independently
Published
979–8338831243
$10.99
Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGLWCNHV
Once an
extrovert
with an engaged life, Ramona ‘Ro’ Walters finds her personality vastly
challenged and changed by the COVID lockdown in Los Angeles, a
situation which
forces her to retreat and regroup. Re-emergence is not without its own
pain, as
Ramona discovers that in order to enter the world again, it must be in
a
different way … a way she has not yet fully envisioned.
Thus is a
travelogue
and journey of self-discovery born, in which Ramona comes to find and
feel that
the gateway to growth foregoes the familiar, driving her into choices,
lands,
and consequences which are foreign to her current nature and past
experience.
Gwen Banta
follows
Ro’s story with a healthy dose of wry humor. This extends to Ro’s
examination
of herself as well as those around her, who also have been affected by
the COVID
shutdown:
“Ro's sister Lisa always told her she was like a
baguette because she
was crusty on the outside but soft on the inside. Perhaps Lisa was
right, but
Ro thought it only sensible to lead with the tough part--somewhat akin
to a
preventative strike. After all, the world was full of so many idiotic
turd-sacks that she wished someone would invent a leaf blower for
humans.”
From a
milieu in
which Ro actually welcomes the respite isolation brings comes the
bigger
question of how to re-engage with that life (when the time comes),
albeit in a
different direction.
Ro is
halfway into
her novel-writing before she decides to choose a course that her dear
friend
and literary advocate Geoffrey battles. He suspects her decision even
before
she hits him with the news during a hilarious (and pointed) lunch
conversation.
The dialogue between them is particularly well presented:
“I'm here to tell you some news to which I believe
you will react
negatively at first; but if you pause to take a few breaths and think
about
what I'm about to tell you, I'm quite sure you will see this as a
positive step
forward."
"Oh, n-o-o," he groaned. "I should've known you wouldn't
come out of your cocoon just to be social."
"I am being
social, Godfrey. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"This is the look I always have on my face when I think someone is
about to drop a nuke in my lap. Hold on. Let me order a drink before
you
Nagasaki me."
Indeed,
dialogue and
interactions are part of the flair that makes Rediscovering
Ramona’s journal so appealingly personal and
realistic. Whether Ro is confronting her agent or her sister, these
lively
discourses identify and cement emerging emotions with the precision of
a
surgeon’s knife as Ro tackles the remnants of her past and considers
its
ongoing impact on her future choices.
Her
involvement with
noisy neighbor Fred Dunston's will, the undercurrents of the lovely
Southern
California community of Laurel Canyon, and her sojourn to Morocco
(where she
finds herself saved in an unexpected manner) lends to this saga of
personal
transformation that evolves interesting supporting characters. Each
contribute
to Ramona’s sense of self-discovery.
Libraries
who see
patron interest in women’s literature, novels about growth and new
ventures,
and stories that evolve with psychological depth endeavors (where
travel is but
a part of the adventure of novel) will find much to like and recommend
in Rediscovering Ramona.
It will
appeal to
women’s reading groups as a fine point of group discussion on many
issues—especially
the lasting impact of COVID isolation and its ability to force isolated
women
to re-examine their lives.
Return to Index
The
Reluctant
Pioneer
Julie McDonald
Zander
St. Helens Press
978-1-963467-01-7
$16.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
www.sthelenspress.com
In 1847, a
woman
crossed the Oregon Trail with her husband and four young sons. The
Reluctant Pioneer chronicles her journey and represents
historical fiction
writing at its best. It details the trials and tribulations of their
journey in
such a way that readers seeking a vivid, compelling saga will welcome
the
opportunity to ride alongside Matilda Koontz as the now-elderly pioneer
takes a
walk down memory lane with a reporter who is interested in her
experiences.
From long
walks and
participants who moved along the Oregon Trail to the struggles facing a
young
woman whose husband decreed they move far from family and friends in
Missouri
to the unknown wilds and opportunities of the West, Julie McDonald
Zander captures
not just experience, but the motivations and relationships that
impacted Oregon
Trail riders:
“… the
farm
isn’t big enough to divide among four boys. We can have 640 free acres
out
west. Free! Why wouldn’t we go?”
Matilda bit her
lip and stepped to the wood stove. She hated arguments. Discord
unsettled her,
tightening her midsection. Especially when she knew they’d likely go
west no
matter what she said.
Zander is as
adept at
capturing the details of all kinds of family structures and
relationships
before the Trail experience as she is during and after it:
Morning
brought
the moment Matilda dreaded. Saying goodbye. . Oh, if only she
could fly
like an eagle, soaring over the mountains and prairies, swallowing the
miles
between them whenever she missed home. As she did every morning
Philip’s house
slave, Ophelia, fixed her master and his guests a hearty breakfast of
eggs,
ham, fried potatoes, and fresh bread with peach preserves. Matilda
climbed the
stairs to fold and put away the quilts but found a young slave girl
already
doing so.
The
intensity of the
‘you are here’ feel only expands as readers join Matilda on her
life-changing
journey, traversing hardships and discoveries while experiencing the
challenges
of shifting relationships along the way.
Zander’s
attention to
interpersonal, geographic, and historical details creates a special,
vivid
interest over events that will attract even readers who do not usually
choose
historical novels or stories about the West.
Many women
were not
keen about the pioneer option and experience—certainly not as keen as
the
husbands who usually dictated that the family be uprooted for new
opportunities
in undeveloped land.
The romance
and
revised relationships which enter and change Matilda’s bigger picture
will
prove fascinating to readers who may have previously seen the Oregon
Trail
history as solely involving Indians and rugged travel
hardships.
This is why
libraries
and book clubs and reading groups alike will want to make The
Reluctant
Pioneer an acquisition. It’s a worthy addition to a
collection or reading
list, appropriate for debates in school and women’s reading circles
about the
promise and transformative opportunities the Oregon Trail held for
women who
would otherwise have stayed in one place with their families.
Return to Index
Snowflakes
in the
South
Rose Patrice and Jenn
Kacmar
Current Words
Publishing, LLC
978-1-957224-37-4
$4.99
https://www.amazon.com/Snowflakes-South-Rose-Patrice-ebook/dp/B0D8Z21NK6
Snowflakes in the South is a timely novel
about political
corruption, women’s power, and the efforts of a circle of female
friends to fight
a local politician who seems a shoe-in for re-election.
Readers
won’t expect
this saga to begin with the pages from young Jackie Hudson’s
third-grade
handwritten science journal, but one of the delights of Snowflakes
in the South is that it takes the time to follow and
build early relationships which then blossom into adult concerns and
connections.
The second
piece of
fictional incongruity lies in the form of a memo which follows the
journey,
outlining a North Carolina public health advisory before moving into
the story
of “the irritant,” which appears in a diary-like chronology of
unfolding
events.
Rose Patrice
and Jenn
Kacmar’s attention to building tension through a blend of strong
characters,
political insights, social revelations, and various forms of
presentation adds
high drama and interest to the story.
Readers will
discover
that the shifting status quo operates against a backdrop of emotions
and
motivations spiced with wry observational humor. This further creates
characters that will delight readers, as in the descriptors in the
chapter
‘Don’t Rain On My Fish Fry”:
The rain-drenched gravel crunches under Terry’s
lucky alligator cowboy
boots.
Issues of
racism and
prejudice mingle with those of political aspiration, social misfits,
and behind-the-scenes
special deals stuck in Weaver County. This brings readers into a
satisfyingly
realistic story of insider activities and outsider observations and
responses.
Community events and relationships come to life in a realistic,
engaging manner,
lending authenticity to the progressive confrontations and actions
women take
to preserve their power:
The Squirrel Park children drop, crisscross
applesauce, in a semicircle
around her, and Lucille faces her audience. “Thank you so much for
comin’ out
to today to enjoy the music. I’d like to thank my little campaign
helpers
gathered by my feet. These kids have helped me prepare and plan for
many of our
fundraising events. They inspire me every day. And now to my grown-up
friends:
Birdie, Babs, Deepa, Nina, and Avery, I wouldn’t be up here without
y’all. You
believed in me before I believed in myself.
The result
is a
powerful story of women’s relationships, empowerment, and shaking the
status quo
tree, however firmly it’s rooted in a community facing its deepest
convictions
and fears during an upcoming election.
Libraries
seeking
novels about women’s relationships and power which adds in the
challenges and
struggles between leftists and right-leaning influencers will find Snowflakes in the South easy to highly
recommend to patrons looking for stories with any of these themes, set
in the vivid
culture of the South.
Return to Index
Sor Juana,
My Beloved
MaryAnn Shank
Dippity
Press
978-1-7335819-4-3
$7.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Sor-Juana-My-Beloved-Passion-ebook/dp/B0D7V18D9Z
Historical fiction
comes to life in Sor Juana, My Beloved: The Poetry, The Passion That Is Sor Juana
Ines de la Cruz, a
novel
steeped in Mexican history and events that swirl around the life and
achievements of 17th century poet and nun Sor
Juana, whose vivid and
unique life changed the world.
Much like its legendary
subject, MaryAnn Shank’s novel
opens with the flash-bang of descriptive excitement that belays any
anticipation of a staid historical overview:
THIS
WAS HER LAND,
Juana’s land, 17th century Mexico, Nueva España, where relentless
passions
merged with raw brutality to create a chaotic beauty. The peoples of
Nueva
España reflected this dichotomy in every sensual swing of their hips,
in every
syllable of prayer to la Virgen Maria.
The immersive atmosphere and
promise begun here expands
to include a keen eye for detail and dialogue as Sor Juana takes her
vows, then
takes her life in unexpected directions that seem far from her
commitment as a
nun.
As she develops friendships
and enters into a lesbian
relationship during a time when such connections are relatively
unknown,
readers receive an ongoing portrait of her life, achievements, and
social influences
that come alive under Shank’s pen:
Maria Luisa
welcomed this brilliant woman, this woman who was more than her equal.
All the
others – the wealthy landowners, the politicians, the businessmen –
they were
all her subordinates. This poet, this philosopher, this proud nun, this
was no
subordinate. Juana was in all respects her equal and, she hoped, a
great deal
more.
Her literary
prowess,
her search for truth about family and her world, and her uncommon
relationships
and achievements all come to life in a story that will prove hard to
put
down—even for readers who normally eschew historical fiction as being
either
too dry or filled with unfamiliar scenarios and backdrops that make
them
challenging to understand or absorb.
Sor Juana, My Beloved’s
passionate
exploration of Sor Juana’s life brings it to vibrant levels of drama
paired
with facts to attract fiction readers interested in a story packed with
psychological, social, and spiritual reflections. Her various
incarnations as
nun, intellectual, poet and writer, and lover all come to life,
rounding out
the facts and progression of her world.
All these
elements
are why libraries strong in either Mexican history or historical novels
in
general will find Sor Juana, My Beloved
such a standout. It’s also strongly recommended for literary reading
groups
interested in discussing Sor Juana’s life, times, and trials.
Return to Index
The
Stories We
Cannot Tell
Leslie A.
Rasmussen
Van Royen Press
979-8-9889712-1-4
$32.99 Audio/$14.99 Paperback
Website: https://www.lesliearasmussen.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Stories-We-Cannot-Tell-Novel/dp/B0CN463MCF
The Stories We
Cannot Tell is a novel that
contrasts the emotional journeys of two very different
pregnant women, dovetailing their experiences in such a way as to
explore
issues of not just motherhood, but family and interpersonal connections.
Readers
who
enjoy emotional tales replete with humor, inspiration, and
thought-provoking
dilemmas will relish this novel’s ability to capture and contrast
characters in
such a way that life-changing decisions become studies in choice and
consequence.
Rachel
and Katie
face impossible decisions in different ways. After numerous
miscarriages,
Rachel and Brent face the possibility they will have to adopt to
achieve their
goal. Meanwhile, devoutly religious Katie finds her faith and
determination
tested. In her thirties, she is still alone and unmarried, surrounded
by
congregations of expanding families. Nobody in Los Angeles knows the
truth she
is hiding from herself as well as others.
As
chapters
shift between viewpoints and experiences, readers receive powerful
studies in
psychological development
that stem from
Katie and Rachel’s evolving friendship.
Leslie
A.
Rasmussen is particularly astute at embedding her story within the
timeline of
these two pregnancies. Chapters detail experiences and changes as the
weeks go
by. This adds an element of progressive growth as unmarried Katie
develops a
relationship with social worker Daniel and discovers that being single
and
pregnant does not preclude new emotional ties and opportunities.
The
attention
given to contrasting these two characters and the extent of their
motivations,
interests, and challenges over pregnancy and family-building results in
a heady
mix of personal and interpersonal revelations that will lead readers to
not
just appreciate the disparity in Rachel and Katie’s lives, but
celebrate the
differences that force them to make different difficult decisions.
Libraries
seeking novels replete in emotional discovery, insights on pregnancy,
opportunity, and revised options, and stories of women whose different
lives
become conjoined from their experiences will find The Stories
We Cannot Tell
delightfully revealing, emotionally driven, and an excellent
recommendation to
patrons and book clubs interested in exploring the forces and choices
that
alternately divide and unite men and women.
Return to Index
Reviewer's Choice
Abyss of
Tyranny
Justin Cook
MindStir
Media
978-1963844214
$16.99 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
www.mindstirmedia.com
Abyss
of Tyranny:
When the System Strikes Back documents the true story of
Justin Cook’s
battle with a justice system designed to repress rather than
rehabilitate. It
follows his life after leaving San Quentin, in which a few corrupt
officials
with their own agendas and vested interest in seeing him fail thwarted
his
efforts to regain his footing in society. This story offers a stirring
examination of how that system is prone to failure.
Students of justice system
management and political
corruption will find Abyss of Tyranny
absolutely compelling. More than a memoir (but spiced by personal
experiences
and descriptions of justice, injustice, and battles for freedom), it’s
a story
designed to push the boundaries of conventional assumption from the
start:
…today’s
lesson: A
jail cell, regardless of what city, county, or state you are in still
smells
like piss, fear, and bologna. And now I’m
back in one… again.
After twenty-one months in jail and San Quentin State Prison in
California, how
did this happen again? And over a technicality? I despise the people
who run
this profiteering system: the self-gratifying blue wall of silence.
The ones who break people to make themselves feel less broken.
This life seems to be a spectacle of fearful acts.
Cook’s passionate voice
resonates with anger and outrage
as he chronicles his ongoing confrontations with a system designed to
disempower him. In the course of discussing the ins and outs of
America’s justice
system, Cook also defines (and often redefines) the processes of
probation,
linking it to psychological and social manipulation by those who would
manipulate the system for their own ends.
In the course of absorbing
such descriptions, readers
learn much about not only different processes, but the differences
between
ideals and real-world challenges:
It’s
vital to note
that there are two types of probation: Standard and Intensive.
I
was on Standard. But Cerberus and
Lamia treated me like I
was on EXTRA INTENSE. They had a
vendetta out for me and would
have openly murdered me if given the chance.
Their message from day one
was unequivocal:
You aren’t allowed to have a life.
You aren’t allowed to be a person anymore.
You don’t deserve a normal job.
You don’t deserve a family.
You are below us.
You are below society.
You will be reminded of the above every day with our rules.
Hence, the rules and restrictions they imposed on me were not only
nearly
impossible to adhere to but also sadistic.
Don’t expect
a dispassionate survey. The outrage and
injury experienced and expressed from Cook’s viewpoint are important
keys to
understanding the psychological and social impact of systems which
operate not
just ineffectually, but dangerously when in the wrong hands.
Readers who adhere to common
myths about the
administration of justice might be tempted to dismiss Cook’s
contentions out of
hand—but they shouldn’t do so without thoroughly reading and
considering his
many experiences and struggles.
Abyss
of Tyranny
presents gripping insights about prisons, justice, redemption, and
failure. These
insights are especially highly recommended for book clubs and reading
groups,
as well as any library or individual interested in justice system
processes and
impact.
Return to Index
Being.
Belonging. Becoming.
Ēma Thurairajah
Praxis Press
978-1-0689092-3-8
$17.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1068909234
Being. Belonging.
Becoming: Know Yourself. Better.
is a survey of self-discovery that begins
with a basic foundation question: if knowing yourself is paramount,
then what’s
the definition of that ‘self’?
Science
and
philosophy blend in the journey that follows, which involves a
deconstruction
of the concept of self, discussions on individuality and identity, and
links
between feelings, memory, and conscious expereince.
These,
in turn,
lead to questions and insights that not only revolve around human
identity, but
contrasts humanity with other living things, including animals:
…do animals
question their identities, their
subjective experience, as humans do? Or do they ponder their existence
in a
manner that is unique to their kind? Is it even possible without
language?
These are yet more unanswered—and perhaps unanswerable—questions.
Whether or
not they engage in self-reflection, it is now generally accepted that
most, if
not all, animals are conscious.
Integrating
research from diverse fields and thinkers, Ēma
Thurairajah paints a unique portrait of
human existence using physics, biochemistry, psychology, sociology and
philosophy. He connects developing a sense of self with
purpose,
community, and growth in a much broader way than most books about any
of these
subjects.
Readers
might
not expect a history of the human race to appear in a self-help book,
but the
value of this exploration lies in unusual approaches to delineating not
just
individuality and its pursuits, but the psyche of homo sapiens as a
whole.
The
result is a
highly impactful survey that is surprisingly easy to access despite its
emphasis on research, history, and science. It offers readers a solid
exploration of the definition and roots of being, pathways which lead
to
self-knowledge, and the process of expanding compassion and other
traits to
better connect and contribute to human endeavors.
Libraries
seeking a book that goes beyond the usual approach to understanding
self and
others will find Being. Belonging. Becoming. an
excellent study in
transformative thinking. It is also highly recommendable to book club
and
psychology reading groups interested in considering an approach that
moves
beyond individuality to tackle social concerns ranging from stereotypes
to
human rights.
Return to Index
Beyond Everest
Corinne Richardson with Pem Dorjee Sherpa
DartFrog Plus
978-1-961624-85-6
$15.99
DartFrog Books
Beyond
Everest: One
Sherpa’s Summit and Hope for Nepal is not your usual
mountaineering story
of scaling the famous mountain, but documents the life of a Sherpa
whose summit
of Everest saved him from poverty and opened new doors to success.
In the course of describing
the influences changing this
life, Corinne Richardson presents a masterful series of insights into
the
Nepalese people that combines true-life adventure with personal and
cultural
insights.
Of special note is her focus
on economic conditions,
which are largely omitted from similar-sounding Everest stories in
favor of an
adventure focus. This gives the story added value by surveying poverty,
how
communities struggle and develop pathways towards better living, and
the
economic impact of tourism and adventuring on participants and
countries
hosting exploration opportunities.
Pem Dorjee Sherpa introduces
the saga with a note to
readers which places his life, culture, and story in perspective. This
invites
further reading and armchair explorations. Why is his story novel?
Because:
Many
Sherpas have
similar stories of hard work and sacrifice, but not many Sherpa stories
get
told. My story is a bit unique because I was able to overcome the
hardship my
family was facing and help educate my siblings.
Unfortunately, most Sherpas are unable to change their
situation because
of a lack of education and good paying jobs in Nepal.
The other reason Sherpa
stories often remain untold is
the language barrier and the need to know English. Enter writer Corinne
Richardson, whose abilities made Beyond
Everest possible as she follows Pem’s life both in Nepal and
as an
immigrant to the U.S. Corinne’s own familiarity with and travels
through Nepal
gave her an edge of personal experience that Pem found to be the
perfect fit for
his desire to present his life to a wider audience in a book.
From this association comes
a candid third-person review
of life in Nepal, with stories personalizing and highlighting social
challenges
and conditions:
In
the twenty-first
century, girls are still less valued than boys, often preordained to
child
marriages or sold into the sex trade. Stocking up on groceries requires
the
same six-day walk. There are still no motorized vehicles in these
villages.
Commerce, farming and transporting goods from place to place is
conducted by
foot on the backs of villagers, or by yak or zokyo,
a hybrid pack animal, a cross between a yak and a cow.
It’s nearly impossible to
climb to the top of poverty and
leave behind its restrictions, but how Pem did exactly that creates as
much
insight and adventure as the actual mechanics of mountain climbing.
The result is a memoir that
holds special excitement for
not only adventure-oriented readers, but those who would explore
poverty and
economic transformation from a more personal (and very different)
perspective
than most books about Nepalese mountaineering.
This is why Beyond
Everest is a top recommendation not only for its vivid
autobiography and
“you are here” feel of explorations and adventures on the mountain, but
for its
equally compelling social and economic insights off-slope.
Libraries seeking a blend of
memoir, adventure story, and
socioeconomic exploration will find Beyond
Everest widely appealing to a range of patrons. It’s also
more than
suitable for recommendation to book clubs that may not have anticipated
that a
story about Everest would also prove to be a powerful survey of
poverty,
achievement, and immigrant experience.
Return to Index
Business Warfare
Paulo Cardoso do Amara
Armin Lear Press
9781963271201
$24.95
Paperback/$34.95 Hardcover
https://arminlear.com/
Business
Warfare
offers a framework for revised business approaches based on the
philosophies of
Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, Foch, and Machiavelli. While prior familiarity
with these
thinkers is not a prerequisite (because Paulo Cardoso do Amara deftly
covers
their philosophies in the course of his discussion), independent
reading will
certainly lend a deeper understanding as to why Cardoso do Amara’s
building
blocks of business revision are so productive and important.
Readers with entrepreneurial
interests who already know
these ideas will have a leg up on this book’s expanded insights and
business
applications. While they may, for example, know of Sun Tzu’s writings,
Cardoso
do Amara offers specific applications and extrapolations key to
understanding
how cultural and business warfare coalesce and clash.
Even more importantly, Business Warfare invites a dialogue
between business, political,
and personal interests which reveals the boundaries of these three
intersections and how players in different infrastructures and belief
systems
interact on many levels. This, in turn, represents both heady,
thought-provoking reading and a call to action based on revised
perceptions and
thinking about all kinds of business and social issues:
The
five traits
mentioned by Sun Tzu constitute a leadership audit to validate the
merits
covered in Sun Tzu’s “Leadership Virtues.” It’s good to check these
before and
during battle due to their implicit nature. Some traits only reveal
themselves
through practice and can significantly influence combat decisions.
Therefore,
it becomes mandatory correcting any dysfunctions at this level. Please
keep in
mind the difficulty in being self-aware about tacit
shortcomings and the
risk of having authoritarian leaders completely immune to feedback and
unwilling to evolve their leadership competencies.
By deploying a ‘battle
strategy’ approach to better
understand leadership, innovation, and impact, Cardoso do Amara’s
multifaceted
book evolves within (and possibly even beyond) business special
interests, crafting
discussions that will prove vivid and unique … especially to business
leaders
who traditionally receive pat answers and set programs and approaches
to
achievement from their business reading.
This is why business
libraries and college-level
discussion groups need to make Business
Warfare an essential collection addition. Its juxtaposition
of social
inquiry, psychological insight, and business applications makes for a
standout
in business literature, reaching into other disciplines, as well:
Humbleness
precedes
learning because acknowledging unknowns is mandatory, with either a
tacit or
explicit nature. Without this recognition, learning cannot occur. On
the one
hand, being humble with explicit knowledge means being honest about
ourselves.
When we acknowledge what we don’t know, it’s easy because we can take
deliberate action to acquire that knowledge it. But how can we become
aware
that there is something new to learn when we are unaware of what we
should already
know? That is why learning is a constant search for the unknown, with
humbleness as its cornerstone.
Return to Index
Fallen
Spirits
Diane Hatz
Whole Healthy Group
LLC
979-8-9862823-6-7
$19.97 Hardcover
(Amazon only)/$14.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://dianehatz.com/
Fallen Spirits is the second book in the
Mind Monster series. It
doses its plot with rollicking adventure, humor, and insights into
distressing
behaviors and situations that could impact sensitive readers …
especially those
adverse to ongoing descriptions of bodily functions.
Diane Hatz
covers
further experiences of Alex (the main character of her first book, Rock
Gods
& Messy Monsters) as Alex continues her
perhaps-futile search for
happiness while confronting messy situations that immerse her not in
joy, but
in dangerous, challenging situations. Having lost her fiancé and her
job, Alex
finds herself on a road trip from hell with a woman she calls Crystal
and
involved in the unlikely scenario of an underground network attempting
to
return wayward spirits to their dimension.
Crystal
and Alex no sooner form uncertain new bonds than circumstances
threaten to tear them apart.
Many
characters enter the fray to affect her pursuit of happiness. One
is super-billionaire Jackson Thomas Wilson (known worldwide as ‘JT’),
who is
not only fixated on controlling the world, but threatens everyone
around him
with his relentless pursuit of power and money. The global kingpin may
be
powerful—but that doesn’t translate into an effective leader. JT can’t
even
break up with a girlfriend without a crib sheet of notes in hand.
As
villainous as he is, JT also struggles, in a manner eerily similar
to Alex, to understand the world and his place in it … especially when
it comes
to women, who only seem to covet him for his wealth. JT hates
weakness in others and in himself—but his betraying body and
uncertain ability to achieve trillionaire status indicates that he may
ultimately not be able to effectively control everything around him.
Alex’s
involvement with JT and the revelations that stem from this
association lead her deeper into both an inner journey of growth and a
disconnection between what she really wants, and her ongoing experience
of
feeling frustrated and lost. Meanwhile, JT dances between power and
egotistical
pursuits.
His
involvement with inter-dimensional travel and confused spirits
introduces more angst into his life, muddying the waters of his goals
as he
teeters between success and complete disaster.
With
wry satirical social commentary steeped in Alex and JTs
psychological and spiritual development and Crystal’s true identity,
the story
moves into realms of speculative fiction in a novel way. Each character
proves
flawed and desperate—but likeable in sometimes-odd ways … even villain
JT.
This
will delight readers seeking stories that are difficult to neatly
fit into a given genre. This multifaceted tale offers many twists and
turns
most readers won’t see coming, defying any inclination to bill it as
sci-fi, a
thriller, or anything else easily defined or narrow in scope.
While
it rests upon the history and experiences of Alex’s previous
encounters, this zany romp requires no prior familiarity with Rock Gods & Messy Monsters. Fallen
Spirits will thus captivate
newcomers
as well as prior fans … but, be prepared for a wild ride as
personalities
clash.
Libraries
should consider acquiring and recommending Fallen
Spirits to a wide audience of readers seeking creative
stories packed with
satire, intrigue, and adventure. Book clubs, too, will find Fallen Spirits lends to debates over
many issues, from billionaires and lovers to spiritual matters as Alex
struggles with disparate forms of monsters.
When dreams
morph
into nightmares, how is rebuilding possible? By honing attempts to
discover
what is truly valuable in life and self.
(Spoiler:
the story’s
cliffhanger ending requires readers and libraries to make the third
book a
‘must have’ acquisition.)
Return to Index
GoldenRuleism/Living
A GoldenRuleism-Guided Life
Craig Cline
MindStir Media,
LLC
978-1-962987-61-5
$6.99 Print/$.99 Digital
Website: http://www.goldenruleismcan.org
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/GoldenRuleism-Living-GoldenRuleism-Guided-Craig-Cline/dp/1962987612
GoldenRuleism/Living
A GoldenRuleism-Guided Life
advocates for sweeping global
change through embracing compassion, justice, and a form of
community-wide
humane thinking that Craig Cline calls “GoldenRuleism.”
The
concept is
heady; especially when applied to large segments of humanity rather
than the
kernel of community thinking—but nobody ever promised that
transformative
experiences would involve simple mindset adjustments.
Cline’s
short
treatise (nearly a booklet, at under fifty pages) synthesizes the
ideals,
concepts, and avenues of enacting GoldenRuleism, condensing all these
facets
into two simple sentences designed for easy memorization and equally
succinct
applications. These are:
Do for all others,
both directly and indirectly,
what you would want done for you.
Don’t do to any others, either directly or indirectly,
what you wouldn’t want done to you.
Cline
then
applies these traditional thoughts to modern-day events and
considerations,
reinvigorating them with modern thinking and challenges and considering
the
various incarnations they may take when overlaid with contemporary
social,
psychological, and political conundrums.
Seemingly
simple
choices thus receive more thoughtful processing via this approach:
GoldenRuleism does
not only have a few more words
attached to it, its meaning delves deeper into who we are and how we
should
interact with ourselves and others. GoldenRuleism upholds the values
and moral
and ethical precepts that are at our core as humans.
From
various
“isms” that GoldenRuleism intrinsically rejects to the importance of
including
and understanding “indirectly,” readers receive thought-provoking moral
and
ethical food for thought that is worthy of book club reading and
classroom
debate alike.
Readers
who have
grown up with the ideals of the Golden Rule, but then discarded them
due to the
challenge of applying them to modern circumstances, will want to
revisit the
concept in GoldenRuleism/Living A GoldenRuleism-Guided
Life.
It’s
worthy not
only of classroom assignment for students of moral, ethical, and
sociological
circles, but of library acquisition and recommendation to patrons
seeking more
options for transforming their own lives and communities. As an added
bonus, this
book is published in both English and Spanish.
Return to Index
In
the Time of
Coronavirus
Janet Zinn, LCSW
Atmosphere Press
979-8891322141
$17.99 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
www.atmospherepress.com
In the Time of
Coronavirus: Reflecting on the Past to
Embrace a Joyful Future
chronicles
the experiences of a social worker tapped to do damage control for the
survivors of 9/11. These experiences created a baseline of trauma and
loss
insights and effective approaches to handling the pandemic, which are
detailed
here.
Through
the
weekly blog she produced during these years, Janet Zinn created a
powerful
account of being confronted with a new reality that demanded a revised
paradigm
for daily living, viewing past, present and future, and identifying and
addressing underlying fears.
In
many ways,
the routines and trauma of the pandemic mirrored the societal
disconnects and
tendency to view others with suspicion and fear that remains prevalent
today.
Through Zinn’s eyes, personal experiences and reflective moments prove
enlightening keys to moving forward by better understanding these
impulses:
While in the park,
I found unpopulated paths and was
happy to enjoy the brisk, sunny day on my own. Yet, when leaving the
park,
there was a group of younger people spread out on the walkway and the
road. I
had to take a wide circle around them to maintain the six feet dictum,
certain
that others in the park also felt put upon by the group’s enjoyment of
their
time together. It was at that moment that the measures I had taken to
stay safe
were challenged, and I quickly saw the small clique as my enemy.
Zinn’s
ability
to pinpoint why COVID was so uniquely traumatic documents not just
personal
experience (as so many emerging memoirs about these times do), but its
translation into social arenas of dysfunction and fear:
In the past,
pre-COVID-19, there was a freedom we all
shared. Most of us could make choices about where we went or who we
saw. We
could stop to talk to neighbors or hurry along so we wouldn’t have to
listen to
others. Those choices are not available to us in the same way now.
Through
this conjoined
lens of personal and social reflection, understanding emerges about the
lasting
impact of this worldwide alteration in viewpoints and why it ripples so
strongly through societies around the world.
More
so than
most COVID memoirs, Zinn’s ability to embrace this bigger-picture
thinking
provides readers with thought-provoking insights perfect for book club
discussion. These reach into groups centered not only on the COVID
years, but
the lasting psychological trauma and changes they introduced—and what
new
choices may be made to mitigate impact and adopt better modes of
thinking,
reacting, and living.
Libraries
seeking a powerful reflective journey that holds broader impact and
implications than the usual memoir of the times will find that In
the Time of
Coronavirus is head-and-shoulders above many similar-sounding
books. It
promises enlightenment and positive new pathways to resolving PTSD,
promoting
self-care tips that mitigate the division and fear COVID injected into
the
world.
Return to Index
The Little Black Book of
Marriage
Mike Kowis, Esq.
Lecture PRO Publishing
979-8-9900133-6-0
$9.99
Paperback/$2.99 eBook
www.mikekowis.com
Quote wizard Mike Kowis is
at it again with a succinct
but hard-hitting collection of quotes in another collection—this one
centering
on marriage.
The
Little Black
Book of Marriage should be prominent on any couple’s wedding
gift table
because its words of wisdom (collected from all manner of writers, from
Oscar
Wilde and President Abraham Lincoln to novelist Philippa Gregory and
sci-fi
writer Tamora Pierce) will observe and smooth many a marriage pathway
with its
insights.
The quotes are organized in
themed chapters which move
from marriage to divorce, juxtaposing such insights as:
Never marry at all,
Dorian. Men marry because they are tired, women, because they are
curious: both
are disappointed. – Oscar Wilde, The
Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
with:
I
think a lot of
people get so obsessed with the wedding and the expense of the wedding
that
they miss out on what the real purpose is. It’s not about a production
number,
it’s about a meaningful moment between two people that’s witnessed by
people
that they actually really know and care about. –
Jane Seymour
The diversity of writers and
reflections identifying what
marriage is, how it operates for better or for worse, and the
foundations of
connection and discord which lead to either heady relationships or
dysfunctional separation create powerful insights that will be perfect
for
those already married as well as readers contemplating marriage.
Libraries will find the
diversity and attraction of this
book extensive. It holds the power to reach out to any patron
interested in the
institution of marriage, the rigors of commitment and love, and the
outcomes of
engagement and melding lives.
Return to Index
Louis
Pasteur
Condemns Big Pharma
Stephen Heartland
Quill by Knight Publishing, LLC
979-8-9904721-1-2
$18.50 Paperback/$8.50 eBook
Email: stephenheartland630@gmail.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/author/stephenheartland
Louis
Pasteur Condemns Big Pharma: Vaccines,
Drugs, and Healthcare in the United States blends topic of
healthcare politics and processes, medicine, science, and history into
a survey
that will attract both healthcare providers of all ilk and
general-interest
readers. It calls modern American healthcare on the carpet (as so many
other
books do), but with a difference. The added insights gained from
biographical
sketches of wisdom.
The
author is
neither a doctor nor a healthcare worker, but an interested observer
whose
acute research skills lend to a study that is packed with author
opinion and
conclusions that will lend to book club and healthcare participant
debates and
discussions.
The
first thing
to note about Louis Pasteur Condemns Big Pharma is its
immersion in pro- and anti-vaccine debates which kicks off the
revelations with
astute analytical assessments that requires readers to conduct their
own
individual analysis of the wellspring of their attitudes towards
vaccines:
We know who we are,
and we know our thoughts on the
matter, but why is it that we think as we do? Could it be that some
external
forces have led us to believe as we do, such as the news or other forms
of
media? Have we experienced vaccine damage personally, and understand
this
subject on a personal level? Do we know someone who has suffered from
vaccines,
and have seen and dealt with what comes after, be it death or the long
suffering of vaccine related injury or disease? Or do we look with
scorn upon
others and their claims of vaccine damage and/or injury, and suspect
they are
part of some strange cult which is against one of the very foundations
of
modern science and medicine? How can these two sides be so far apart?
Indeed,
the crux
of many perceptions and realities is shaped by media and outside
influences. Stephen
Heartland makes these contentions
from a foundation of researched history and personal approaches to
better
understanding, leading readers into the heart of argument about what a
healthcare system is, how it evolved, and how it’s managed and
perceived in
modern times.
Many of
Stephen
Heartland’s condemnations about Big Pharma can also be applied to
general big
business interests in connecting marketing with control:
If you can go to the grocery store and look at the
ingredients on the
side of the product packages, then you should be able to do the same at
the
pediatrician’s office. After all, vaccination can cause deaths and
injuries, so
it would be prudent to be careful when considering these vaccine
products. Why
isn’t the information concerning the ingredients easily available to
us?
Because Big Pharma wants to hide this information from us. They do not
like
transparency. An ill-informed public is a more easily exploitable
public.
From
corruption in
pharmaceutical and media arenas to the emergence of activist efforts
and
educational insights that promote critical thinking, Heartland tackles
the
foundations of exploitative efforts which lie as much in encouraging
public
ignorance as in manipulating data and spinning it to create compliance
or
confusion.
This is why, ideally,
Louis Pasteur Condemns Big Pharma: Vaccines, Drugs, and Healthcare in the United
States will reach
into and beyond audiences interested in medical issues to
address and expand the potential for dialogue in circles exploring
related
issues of social manipulation and control.
Libraries
that
choose Louis
Pasteur Condemns Big Pharma: Vaccines,
Drugs, and Healthcare in the United States will want to
highly recommend it for readers interested in developing further
critical
thinking skills, as well as insights into how medicine is marketed and
manipulated.
Return to Index
Passion
Struck
John R. Miles
Post Hill Press
979-8-88845-140-3
$19.70
Hardcover/$29.86 Audio/$14.99 eBook
www.posthillpress.com
Passion
Struck:
Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most
Intentional Life advocates routines designed to transform
the reader’s life
from ordinary to extraordinary. It encourages behavior shifts that will
prove
especially attractive and enlightening to those willing to undertake
the work
to make the most difference in their personal growth, life
progressions,
relationships, and perceptions.
The requirement of an
engaged, open mind is rewarded with
clear insights and reviews of where passion originates, how it’s either
tamped
down or supported, and the idea that “…the
most important things in life are not represented by a financial
statement or
balance sheet. Rather they are represented by confronting the fear of
doing
what you truly are meant to do.”
This and other concepts
receive engaging analysis that
connects life stories and case histories with keys to understanding how
the
“passion-struck” reader can become a leader (or transform into being a
better
one) through a series of life adjustments. These can prove as simple as
developing humility and then applying it to reflecting on setbacks and
listening to others.
The difference between Passion Struck and similar-sounding
guides also lies in the fact
that its principles and concepts don’t stem from John R. Miles alone. They are developed from
programs influenced by
such celebrities as Ophrah Winfrey, Square creator Jim McKelvey, and
even the
leadership experiences and contentions of the Honorable Keith Krach,
former
Under Secretary of State.
Having these
renowned
influencers contribute their own insights and experience into the
bigger
picture mix gives Passion
Struck an
authority and applications that are reinforced by the experiences of
these
respected individuals, making the book relevant to readers across
various
stages of life, from young adults navigating their purpose to seasoned
professionals seeking growth.
Return to Index
Seeking
Fairness at Work
Hanna Hasl-Kelchner
Smart Direction
Press (div. of Business M.O., LLC)
979-8990029903
$24.95
Hardcover/$18.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook/$13.64 Audio
https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Fairness-Work-Engagement-Satisfaction/dp/B0D1GRWKZH
Seeking
Fairness at
Work: Cracking the New Code of Greater Employee Engagement, Retention
&
Satisfaction comes from
the
president of Business M.O., who explores workplace politics and
underlying
assumptions that belie notions of fairness, promoting behaviors and
responses
that are anything but just.
Her focus on
organizational behaviors, dysfunction, and interactions between
employees and
employers creates a thought-provoking analysis of the fine lines of
corporate
culture that, while often undiscussed and unacknowledged, trickle down
to
impact everyone in the business.
Plenty of
business
books tackle the heady subject of unfairness at work, but the proof of
an
effective study lies in how it is addressed. The meat of Hanna
Hasl-Kelchner
resides in strategies for not just identifying, but mitigating and
overcoming
unfairness in the workplace. Examples emerge from all levels of
corporate
structure.
From
promoting a
self-awareness that leads to better interpersonal interactions and
relationships to devising a standard of accountability that deletes
underlying
assumptions, prejudices, and expectations from the formula of success,
Hasl-Kelchner creates a measured study that discusses moral and ethical
injury
as well as healing and redemption processes.
Business
readers may
not expect such subjects to emerge within the context of a solid
business
analysis, but their presence and examination represents core value
revisions
and considerations that are essential for confronting the bigger
picture of
corporate fairness and accountability.
Fairness is about mitigating dangers that can cause
moral injury.
This process
is no
easy task. Case history examples from all kinds of businesses and
structures
illustrate various facets of the challenges involved in remedying
dysfunctional
business relationships, patterns, and approaches.
Business leads that
choose Seeking
Fairness at Work
should be prepared to do the work necessary to analyze their own
contributions to unfairness, consider applied solutions to common
corporate
problems, and encourage a workplace that operates on a deeper level
than job
descriptions and assignment fulfillment alone.
‘New age’ ideals such as
gratitude and a growth mindset
are among the many tools that can be applied to such efforts, so
business
leaders should be flexible enough to consider how these ideals
translate into
concrete daily functions.
Libraries seeking a solid
business revision acquisition
that marries lofty ideals with practical, everyday business approaches
will
find Seeking Fairness at Work a
practical, specific, solution-oriented approach to workplace health
that can be
highly recommended to business patrons seeking to revitalize their own
operations.
Return to Index
The Trial of
William
Shakespeare
Robert Boog
THS International
978-1-7365121-3-5
$15.88 Paperback/$8.88 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Trial-William-Shakespeare-Love-Story/dp/1736512137
The Trial of William Shakespeare is
subtitled “A Love Story,” but
readers expecting the passion of romance will find its incarnation
largely
surrounds court proceedings and AI-enhanced discoveries. In this
milieu,
unexpected love is the added value and influence to a story that toes
the line
between sci-fi, legal thriller, and contrasts between different times.
Not only is
Shakespeare on trial (for plagiarism), but so is his timeless
reputation and
his personal life. These elements unfold under courtroom probes and
with the
aid of modern technology’s ability to raise literary figures from the
dead in
order to answer unresolved questions.
From the
hologram
Shakespeare’s first arrival in the courtroom, the first-person
narrative
captures both the wonder of being in the presence of a timeless legend
and the
process of prosecution in a literary court that will decide whether the
Bard is
an innocent genius or a guilty word thief.
Edward de
Vere (the
17th earl of Oxford) is the plaintiff, with the time travel machine
revitalizing both his case and his opponent. Narrator Michael McKenzie
represents him against the defendant’s lawyer’s maintenance that the
accusation
“…reeks of the works of conspiracy
theorists and flat-earth believers. It is an absolute refusal on the
part of
some people to accept factual evidence, and it is based on snobbery and
ignorance.”
One of the
intriguing
aspects of Robert Boog’s AI-generated characters is that they arrive
immersed
in modern cultural norms:
Sitting
at the desk of the defense, the digital figure of William
Shakespeare, the immortal bard, wearing a gold ring in his left ear,
defiantly
extends his middle finger to me.
Yes, he certainly
knows our modern culture, I decide.
The
intersections
between time machines, technological marvels, and literary struggle and
scholarship surrounding Shakespeare’s life and times creates a
satisfying
interplay between characters past and present. This proves absorbing
and often
surprising in its twists and turns.
When the
programming
is reversed to allow Michael to step into the Bard’s life in search of
the
truth, unexpected connections. Developments on romantic, literary, and
legal
levels keep readers engaged and on their toes as intrigue evolves both
within
and outside of courtroom proceedings.
As Edward
confesses
to an inner darkness being one of the motivators for his writing,
readers
receive an evolving story of love and loss which touches upon
incentives for
creativity, literary fame, and personal redemption:
“Here's a secret I've never shared with anyone
before. Writing serves a
purpose, you see. It helps me understand the world around us, but more
importantly, it helps me heal what is ailing inside myself.”
Readers will
find
especially intriguing the contentions of how authorship is claimed and
proven,
the courtroom jousts between literary figures of the past, and the
impact and
influence of love on the entire scenario and historical legacy.
Libraries
interested
in novels which take poetic license into the courtroom with intriguing
interplays
between characters and emotional, literary, and political motivators
will find The Trial of William Shakespeare
embraces all kinds of historical, and psychological elements.
Its
depiction of a
future courtroom scenario in which history’s mysteries come to life via
a court
hearing where Shakespeare's authorship controversy is challenged by
modern AI
technology makes for a thoroughly engrossing read. It’s especially
recommended
for fans of sci-fi and legal fiction, who will find the contentions and
processes
of AI-enhanced legal arguments to be a major attraction.
Return to Index
Wash
Your Brain
Donna Debs
WanderWonder
Books
978-1-7374221-1-2
$15.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
https://amzn.to/3WcKOSk
Also available on
IngramSpark
Humor
and essay
books abound, but Donna Debs’s Wash Your Brain: Stories.
Laughter. Yoga.
Life. takes a novel approach to both as she explores a life
vividly lived,
chronicling the ironies and mishaps embedded in such a ride.
From
the
beginning, Debs exhibits a remarkable ability to marry yoga and mindful
insights in fun stories. Thus, chapter headings such as ‘Blundering,’
‘Coping,’
‘Tolerating’ or ‘Reconciling’ place each personal experience within the
broader
context of not just humor, but thought-provoking analysis.
Take
‘America
Needs a Nap,’ for one example. What begins as a survey of the
importance of
daytime napping turns into a political examination that moves from the
personal
to national applications. Debs wields these thoughts with an
attractively
gentle hand that doesn’t bludgeon with admonition and advice, as too
many
mindful approaches do, but tempers insights with appealing language and
a blend
of fun and honesty:
It’s time to take
our heads out of the sand and put
them on a pillow. Napping in this country, as sleep-deprived zombies
know, is
often belittled as the slacker’s Achilles heel, the dark cave of the
unemployed
sloth. Embarrassing. Sluggish. Weak. But that’s old school. Today the
nap is
increasingly touted as the darling of intellectual and artistic types,
doctors and
scientists, business tycoons who say small sips of dead-to-the-world is
a smart
way to boost your focus, brighten your mood, and pump up those creative
juices
so you don’t sit there staring into space researching topics like naps.
As
Debs presents
her case for self-care and national napping on many different levels,
readers
will not just learn, but laugh. It’s hard to say which is more
important, given
the rigors of modern living; but one thing is for certain—her gift for
insight
is delivered in a compelling manner that makes readers not just
understand, but
thoroughly enjoy:
I’m building a case
for a national nap proclamation.
With perhaps unanimous voter support, I state the following: In an age
when
things we never thought possible have been possible—gay marriage, legal
marijuana, a reality show president—let’s give up the illusion that a
full day without
a period of stone-cold unconsciousness is good for us.
Subjects
embrace
wide-ranging life experiences from Botox to old boyfriends, bucket
lists
(described in ‘Kick the Bucket List’), cat-cleaning, zucchini
possibilities,
and more. The shear breadth and scope of these topics might feel
chaotic, but
solid chapter placements and ultimate conclusions keep the stories and
fun on
track for deeper revelations that are delivered in not just a painless,
but a
compelling manner.
All
these
reasons are why Wash Your Brain is very, very
highly recommended for a
variety of library collections (and readers), from those interested in
self-help and new age thinking to readers who would flavor their own
life
experiences and mishaps with bigger-picture thinking.
Rarely
is such a
joining delivered without pain. Wash Your Brain is
not only painless, but
its unusual blend of jolly information represents a sterling example of
how
effective literary humor works, reaching creative writing groups and
classes
interested in extraordinary examples of such effectiveness.
Return to Index
Animal Quest
David Bush
Independently
Published
979-8329450408
$5.99 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Quest-David-Bush/dp/B0D8XN28CG
Though Animal Quest follows David Bush’s
acclaimed General Jack and the Battle of
the Five Kingdoms, it actually represents a stand-alone
novella that
introduces the projected trilogy, and so will be accessible by both
prior fans
and newcomers.
Opening in
1342 Year
of the Cat, it tells of Farmer Sven’s idyllic farm, which is struck by
a
pestilence that leaves its animals on their own.
The
allegorical story
is hard to neatly peg because it embraces so many different facets.
Call it
Christian fiction, fantasy, young adult quest story, or historical
fiction as
you will: the point is that the animal tale holds value for each of
these genre
audiences and more as the animals’ points of view power a heady saga of
creating a new home against all odds.
From its
introductory
passages, it’s evident that Animal Quest
incorporates a special brand of philosophical and psychological
inspection
within its animal-centric kingdoms:
Heartlandia is densely populated by animals as
passionate,
enterprising, and ambitious as their human counterparts. But they are
never
happy, they want more. When they get more, they want even more. It’s
their life
mission to dominate the neighbouring regions, especially Brawnlandia
which they
regard as their backyard. Evermore is their unifying byword, and in all
things,
they are the heart of Our Land.
From how the
self-absorbed creatures join together in a cause that promotes
fellowship for
survival purposes while challenging these relationships with harrowing
encounters, to how tiny, bossy cat Big Bertha pads into her leadership
under
new conditions that challenge survival skills, David Bush’s story
represents
both inviting entertainment value and absorbing social, political, and
philosophical experiences. These will encourage readers of all ages to
imbibe of
and discuss the plot that unfolds.
The quest to
restore
harmony in a new environment leads readers to consider their own
wellsprings of
inspiration, leadership, and courage as Jonas and Big Bertha
contemplate their
evolving relationship and incorporate bigger-picture thinking into
their choices:
“Let’s face it, Big Bertha. We may soon die in this
current climate.
What’s the point?”
“But at least we would have been one in our final days. More than that,
we
would have played our small part in begetting harmony in this world
through our
offspring.”
The result
is a force
of nature as the animal kingdom, human interests, and greater good
reflections
form a heady blend of adventure and insight.
Libraries
seeking
multifaceted stories for teens that lend especially well to classroom
and book
club discussion will find Animal Quest
a commendable acquisition. Its strong characters, moral and ethical
questions,
and dilemmas, driven by adventure and survival instincts, create a
memorable
story worthy of widespread recommendation.
Return to Index
Aurora
and the
Whispering Jewels
Ed Morykwas
Independently
Published
979-8-9915399-0-6
$9.95 Hardcover/$7.95
Paperback/$5.95 eBook and Audio
Website: https://southpolechristmas.net
Ordering: www.amazon.com
It
opens with a
letter from Santa Claus to the children of the world. Santa explains
that, the
rest of the year, he enjoys observing life on earth. This is how he
comes to
inspect and present the life of Aurora Periwinkle, who lives with her
parents
on an Australian farm.
They
live in
poverty and work very hard, yet Aurora dreams of becoming a scientist
one day,
harboring a scientific curiosity about the world that is based on her
love of
solving puzzles. Her childhood interests grow even stronger as she
becomes a
young woman, moves to the South Pole, and reaches for her dreams
against all
odds.
Aurora’s
story
is presented in a series of succinct chapters. This will invite either
adult
read-aloud or the reading abilities of kids just moving from picture
books into
chapter books.
The
benefit of
adult read-aloud participation also lies in the story’s ability to
unfold over
numerous reads, offering various insights and themes parents can
explore with
the very young.
Elementary-level
libraries and parents seeking a very different Christmas tale that
holds other
elements of discovery and growth will welcome the disparate facets that
shine
in Morykwas’s Aurora and the Whispering Jewels, making
it a standout in
Christmas stories for the young.
Return to Index
The Bag
Called Hope
Stefanie Rowland and
Jessica Shackelford
Hopeful Bag Co.
9798988104704
www.TheBagCalledHope.com
Elementary-level
libraries and parents seeking picture book Christmas stories with a
colorful
twist will find The Bag Called Hope
just the ticket for a plot that stands out from the holiday crowd.
More than a
story of
Christmas, it creates a foundation for discussing holiday sharing and
fostering
a program for giving, opening with a boy’s observation that he and his
sister
enjoy “lots of toys.”
Franco Caro
Revuelta’s colorful illustrations pack the pages with appealing
portraits of
kids, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and elves who participate in a novel effort
to
bring gift-giving and generosity to a new level.
Underlying
the
adventure of this process is a powerful message about sharing and
kindness
which read-aloud parents will find especially appropriate for the
holiday
season. Discussions centering on how such impulses may translate to
actionable
choices help kids understand that Christmas should be about more than
amassing
or hoarding gifts.
Libraries,
young
readers, and read-aloud adults seeking informative, engrossing tales to
share
and discuss with the very young will welcome the uplifting message and
efforts
represented in The Bag Called Hope—especially
since it imparts a positive, concrete message during times of angst and
feeling
powerless.
Return to Index
Busy Bunnies
Margie Blumberg
MB Publishing
9780991364688
$14.95
www.mbpublishing.com
Picture book
readers
who enjoy bunnies and rhymes will be in for a treat with Margie
Blumberg's
third book in the Carrot Cake Park Tales series, Busy
Bunnies. It's
October 31, and siblings Millie and Jimmy are looking forward to a full
fall
day of fun.
Tammie
Lyon’s delightful
drawings (based on the prior work of June Goulding, who illustrated the
first
two bunny books in the series, Breezy Bunnies and Sunny
Bunnies)
capture the world of Carrot Cake Park. It all begins with getting
dressed for
the day: Pick a color— / Gold or red? / Raise your arms /
Above your head. /
We wear sweaters for a reason . . . / Fall’s a
crisp and snappy season!
Blumberg’s
language
is positive and uplifting: A “happy, zippy yellow bus”
takes the young
bunnies to school. Jimmy's class is filled with “toys and
paints and books
and blocks—kindergarten really rocks!”
After
school, more
happy adventures begin: School is out, / And that was fun . .
. / Honk-honk!
/ But we're not quite done. First, there is a visit to
Bartlett's Farm in
search of produce and pumpkins. Then home again, Millie and Jimmy help
their
mother bake a pumpkin pie. And finally, it's time for Halloween: One
more
ding-dong / On our street. / Say it loudly . . . / Trick or treat!
Adults and
lending
libraries who add Busy Bunnies to their read-aloud collections will
find the
delightful rhymes, the appealing illustrations, and the little bunnies'
positive encounters a fun reflection of fall’s offerings. Readers of
all ages
will appreciate this uplifting seasonal story and its sweet-as-pie
ending.
Return to Index
City
At My Feet
Thomas More
Mannahatta Press
9781942947240
$17.99
Paperback/$19.69 Hardcover/$6.99 eBook
Website: www.thomasmorewriter.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com/City-At-My-Feet-Mannahatta-ebook/dp/B0BHPM3J3R
Young
adult fantasy
readers are in for a treat with the first book in the Mannahatta
series, City
At My Feet. Here, a parallel world filled with magic also
holds a young
wannabe warrior woman, Sakima
Tamanend, who discovers that her brother-in-law is involved in a
campaign of
terror in the other world that is New York City.
Sakima’s
coming of
age coincides with forces that impact her entire family. The theme of
her
growth and new possibilities creates a compelling draw from the story’s
opening
lines:
Sakima Tamanend
paused in the middle of her bedroom,
silently saying goodbye to her childhood. She sighed deeply as she
scanned the
room, as if she were studying a museum recreation of her life. It was
time for
her to leave now, to prove herself, to be on her own. Despite everyone
telling
her that being herself was the wrong thing to be.
As
she
undertakes missions that challenge her abilities, future, and soul,
Sakima
leads readers into a vibrant milieu where the Spirit World is alive and
well.
Family interactions and relationships create satisfying interplays
between home
and bigger-picture environments, while Sakima’s strong, proactive
characterization is thoroughly realistic, absorbing, and layers action
with
personal revelations.
Thomas
More is
adept at pairing a quest with experiences that involve Sakima’s entire
family,
considering the influence of spirit world connections and the
intersection
between Native American and fantasy elements:
What kind of magic
is this? Sakima thought. Is
this Iroquois? Mohican?
Worse? Someone has made a pact with Mahtantu, the devil. That is the
only way
to explain such impossible physics.
As
two worlds
collide and young people on both sides become embroiled in a conflict
they have
no experience to fight, the action-packed energy provides young readers
with
plenty of thought-provoking, thoroughly engrossing moments.
Libraries
and
teens seeking fantasy stories replete with not just coming-of-age
themes, but
added value from Native American wisdom and changing family
relationships will
find City At My Feet an excellent choice. Its power
to attract young
adults who are interested not just in fantasy, but in stories of
growth, power,
and spiritual influence makes City At My Feet a
winning melting pot of
pleasurable reading and pointed lessons.
Return to Index
Hall of
Shadows
Mariah Stillbrook
Creative James Media
978-1-956183-13-9
$5.99 eBook
www.creativejamesmedia.com
Young adults
who
relish stories involving monsters, curses, other dimensions, and
mystery will
find Hall of Shadows just the
ticket
for a captivating leisure choice that draws from its opening lines and
doesn’t
quit until closing time.
Mariah
Stillbrook’s
creatively compelling descriptions are one reason why Hall
of Shadows stands out:
I’ve always been a creature of the night. Not like
a vamp—although that
would be kind of badass. I wouldn’t ever want to be like the sparkly
ones, but
I wouldn’t have an aversion to the cult classic: razor sharp fangs with
no
morals kind. Like They Thirst or
Salem’s Lot, but maybe with a
little more humanity left inside the creatures. I could totally rock
alongside The Lost Boys.
This
thought,
backdropped with darkness and white text, segues neatly into the
situation Tess
faces in Ignatius Academy’s headmaster Mr. Greene’s office. He’s
already
frustrated by her, and is trying to figure out what to do. Zoning out
during
his talk isn’t helping matters.
Tess might
as well be
wearing a badge that says ‘loner’ (or ‘witch’). Even then, Mr. Greene
doesn’t
believe she’s actually deliberately capable of hurting others … or, is
she? It
wasn’t her fault she set her classmates’ hair on fire. Or, was it?
Stillbrook’s
introductory presentation of Tess’s character helps reinforce the
dichotomies
and puzzles that emerge in her life, demanding she react in
unpredictable,
newly powerful ways.
As the
mystery of the
oracle cards and the truth about their threat and re-emergence comes to
light,
Stillbrook’s ability to spin a fine yarn based on surprises,
revelations, and
new ideas about other dimensions and probable threats drives the story.
It
incorporates elements of fantasy, coming-of-age, mystery, and
conundrums that
challenge not just Tess, but those around her.
Supporting
characters
are nicely drawn, but it’s Tess’s ability to problem-solve, and her
feisty
attitude, that cements the action and probabilities:
Mystical Maggie had been turned off from the
shadows because my family
had created an underworld corporation of sorts (whatever that all
meant). I
mean, wow. And then the woman
had taken it upon herself to demolish what she’d helped my grandmother
create.
But how? I mean, there was only one reasonable explanation and that was—
The seamless
injections of fantasy, history, and culture allow young adults to
easily slip
into Tess’s family and world, where they become immersed in
problem-solving
abilities which are tested in new ways as discovery after discovery
evolves.
Torture,
rage,
enlightenment are juxtaposed in a tasteful yet compelling manner,
lending
emotional clout to a story in which Tess moves from her position as a
loner to
one of power.
As the true
meaning
of the cursed cards and their impact emerges, young adults will find
they’ve
entered a universe replete with insights about good, evil, strength,
and how it
is wielded and absorbed.
Libraries
seeking a
teen read that poses a sassy first-person reflective and immersive
experience,
well steeped in magical clashes, will find Hall
of Shadows a winning acquisition.
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Snowy Bunnies
Margie Blumberg
MB Publishing
978-0-9994463-7-9
$14.95
www.mbpublishing.com
All about
seasonal
celebration and fun, Margie Blumberg's Snowy Bunnies
is the fourth and final entry in the Carrot Cake Park
Tales rhyming picture book series. This time out, the bunny siblings,
Millie
and Jimmy, experience winter in Carrot Cake Park. A hearty breakfast
and
special clothing for snow prepare them for the changed world outdoors:
it
snowed overnight!
Illustrator
Tammie
Lyon adopts the style of previous series illustrator June Goulding (Breezy
Bunnies and Sunny
Bunnies). Lyon's illustrations capture not just
the
winter activities, but the taste, touch, and sight of the new season.
The young
bunnies participate in snowman-building (Use your mittens—/ Pat, pat, pat./ Who knew
you could build like that?),
ice skating, feeding birds (Feed
the birds / A tasty treat. /
"Thanks," they say / With a tweet, tweet, tweet!) and
trying new things, like sledding (Jimmy, it's a gentle hill . . .) The
attention to detail is beautiful and encourages kids to get out and
explore,
experience, and embrace the season’s unique wonders.
The range of
wintery
fun presented here is a big attraction—a blending of playful encounters
and
sibling fun and sharing. Snowy Bunnies, which
demonstrates an appreciation for the everyday adventures of life, is a
fine
choice for reading aloud.
Libraries
interested
in acquiring seasonal picture books that focus on the relationships of
family
and friends, as well as the bigger picture of exploring the outside
world, will
relish Snowy Bunnies for
its
lively rhymes and its illustrations of winter’s opportunities for play
and
togetherness.
Return to Index
Superficial
Diane Billas
Creative James Media
978-1-956183-33-7
$5.99 eBook/$18.99 Paperback
Website: www.creativejamesmedia.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Superficial-Diane-Billas/dp/1956183337
Superficial belongs in libraries strong
in magical stories that
embrace LGBTQ+ elements. It tells of Lea and Jake’s participation in
the
superhero fan convention WizCon, where they find themselves facing a
threat not
only to convention attendees, but the entire state of Philadelphia.
Lea’s
viewpoint opens
the story, capturing both convention role-players and atmosphere and
matters of
her own heart:
I sigh watching them walk off, hand in hand. Being
the third wheel is
the worst, especially when it’s your two best friends who are the ones
dating.
It also doesn’t help when one of them had been your kissing buddy and
suddenly
decided you weren’t enough, but instead, concluded your other best
friend fit the bill.
The friends
are new
high school graduates on their way to college, so the convention
represents a
possible last fling before they enter more adult circles. Surprisingly,
very
adult concerns emerge at this convention before they’re even off to
college.
Diane Billas
creates
a believable, engrossing story that creates strong characters and their
special
interests before delving into a folklore and fantasy-based quest for
justice
and survival.
This serves
her well
as the story evolves a set of personalities and goals that exist prior
to any
conflicts. These are presented in action-packed encounters and scenes
designed
to test not only courage and proactive choices, but elements of love,
friendship, and connections to bigger-picture thinking.
Superficial’s timeline moves from present
to past events to build a
foundation of precedent and experience that also enhance an
understanding of
the characters and how they approach their dilemmas.
Another plus
is
chapters that shift between Lea and Jake’s perceptions. This device
adds
further dimensions of character development, surveying issues of trust
and
betrayal within their choices and consequences.
The
observations of
how and why each character operates differently and navigates their
worlds with
contrasting strengths are particularly nicely presented:
Granted, I am dressed in a ridiculous costume, but
I hate not being
taken seriously. How does Jake do this all the time
and be successful?
From
shattered trust
to new connections that stem from revised understanding, the power of Superficial lies as much in its
emotional connections and stories of individual growth as in the
impetus that
leads each character to step into the superhero role in different ways.
Libraries
seeking
engrossing stories for teens, especially those that consider the
inclusion of
LGBTQ+ elements to be a plus, will want to add Superficial
to their YA collections, recommending it to teens
seeking a winning blend of action-packed intrigue and insights about
identity
and maturity.
Return to Index