Pick of the
Month:
Quite simply the single best
book of that month's
Recommended Reading!
Click-> Link to Pick of the Month for years after 2020
From the December 2019 Issue:
Lustily
Ever After
Stephanie Bentley
Story by Miranda
Ray
978-1089023753
$6.95 Audio/$2.99 ebook
https://www.lustilyeverafter.com/
Anyone who has ever read much in the romance novel genre is well aware of the typical devices common to the majority of romance reads that include highly dramatized, passionate scenes, idealized perceptions of love and attraction, and more.
Now imagine all these romance approaches with a tongue-in-cheek exaggerated twist, brought to life in audio, and you have an idea of the fun and humor permeating the audio version of Lustily Ever After.
The story quite simply makes fun of these romance stories. The more a listener is familiar with these genre reads, the funnier the audio production becomes.
Add the trappings of a musical to the irony with its very musically adept interludes for a hilarious spoof no romance reader (and many with only a casual familiarity with the genre) should be without.
Add the trappings of a musical to the irony with its very musically adept interludes for a hilarious spoof no romance reader (and many with only a casual familiarity with the genre) should be without.From the November 2019 Issue:
David
- Savakerrva, Vol 1
Lawrence
Brown
Independently
Published
978-1096469919 $19.99
Paper/$7.99 Kindle
Take an extraordinary boy from Detroit who has always seemed ordinary, add an alien invasion's long-range impact, and blend a coming-of-age story with a legacy that changes the world for a thoroughly engrossing, original tale designed to appeal to adult and teen sci-fi readers alike.
David - Savakerrva, Vol 1 holds the ability to reach readers of all ages, creating a plot that is filled with feisty characters, intrigue and mystery, epic battles, and imaginative scenarios.
Readers who like sweeping epics and compelling characters will find this story a standout, highly recommended above other reads for its involving characters and original premise.
From
the October 2019 Issue:
Bruce Ferber, Editor
A Vireo Books/Rare Bird Books
9781644280140
$18.00
Paper/$14.99 Kindle
www.rarebirdbooks.com
From the September 2019 Issue:
Marion's
25
Marion
Hill
Red
Mango Publishing
978-0998761268 $9.99
Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998761265
Professional book reviewers rarely take the time to stop and assess the bigger picture of standout titles among all the books they have either read or reviewed, which is why Marion Hill's Marion's 25 is a rare breed among book lists and recommendations.
Marion Hill has nine years of experience reading and reviewing books, but this selection of only 25 gems is a standout because it crosses many genres and chooses writings that are truly diverse and representative of the cream of the crop.
Such a list invites book readers to expand their horizons of reading, from classics to modern literature, in a way that virtually guarantees what any bookworm looks for: a solid, superior, memorable read.
Marion's 25 is a great place to begin to pinpoint the best of the best, which can lead to a great expansion of knowledge and an attention to trying new things.
From the August 2019 Issue:
Get
Your Life Together, Girl
Danielle
A. Vann
https://www.danielleavann.com/
Everyone has a choice to make about how they will live their lives: by embracing circumstance, accepting fear, or overcoming adversity to move into a better, more self-determined state of being. Many self-help books hold insights on this process, but none are as hard-hitting or specific as Danielle A. Vann's Get Your Life Together, Girl: a real manifesto for change.
Self-help readers interested in taking action to see opportunity in obstacles and 'live in growth' could have no better blueprint for this process than this book, which is very, very highly recommended not just for its far-reaching ideals, but for the very solid specifics of how to get to a state of mind that embraces change and actionable choices.
From the July 2019 Issue:
Never
Sit If You Can Dance
Jo
Giese
She
Writes Press
9781631525339 $16.95
On the face of it, Never Sit If You Can Dance is a memoir about Jo Giese's mother; but it's also a celebration of mother-daughter differences, evolving relationships from childhood to adulthood, and a dance between two very different individuals who find themselves becoming closer as the years go by.
While this book would be a hit especially recommended for Mother's Day, its bright, effervescent celebratory manner will find an audience year-round. It's very highly recommended as an inspirational read that moves beyond one woman's life and one daughter's changing relationship with her mother.
From the June 2019 Issue:
Solve
the Divorce Dilemma
Sonia
Frontera
Coventina
House
9781733569521
(Ebook) $ 6.99
9781733569538
(Paperback) $12.99
Website:
https://www.soniafrontera.com
Amazon
Sales Page: http://bit.ly/get_off_the_fence
Universal
URL: https://books2read.com/u/4XRByN
Sales
Via Author Website: https://www.soniafrontera.com
Women who want to assess the potential survival of their marriage should consider Solve the Divorce Dilemma: Do You Keep Your Husband or Do You Post Him on Craigslist?: Get Clear, Get Strong and Get Off the Fence. A Roadmap to Freedom ... Sister's Guides to Empowered Living one of the most powerful tools in their toolkit of understanding.
Under the guise of a whimsical, chatty piece lies an undertone of serious strategies for testing and rating one's relationship to see if it's truly time to call it quits, or if it's possible to make major revisions.
There are many, many books on the market about divorce, but Sonia Frontera's tone and techniques hold a satisfying difference from most, allowing women to take back control of the process how to make judgments and changes more clearly. Designed to supplement professional help, Solve the Divorce Dilemma is not a pro- or anti-divorce treatise, but one which encourages readers to enter this analysis with eyes wide open, and should be the first 'go-to' guide for any woman contemplating marital change.
From the May 2019 Issue:
#LookUp:
A Parenting Guide to Screen Use
Judy
Stoffel
Wise
Ink
978-1-63489-201-8 $14.95
Readers might anticipate a discussion of limiting or eliminating screen time by the title of this book, but parents receive a broader (and better) guide that goes beyond admonitions about monitoring content to consider how media actually changes family interactions and relationships and perhaps physically harms childrens' developing brains.
Parents are encouraged to become more knowledgable and involved about their kids' devices in a guide that addresses habits that affect interpersonal relationships and create solutions all ages can use.
The broader social, psychological and political perspective of this book makes it a top pick.
From the April 2019 Issue:
I Did It...You Can, Too!Fiona Harewood
Hope Publishers
978-0-9838774-0-0 $15.00 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
www.fionaharewood.com
Anyone who would return to school after a hiatus needs this primer, which comes packed with information not only on how to re-enter school to complete a degree or goal, but why this is necessary.
From locating resources and mentors to considering financial aid and family adjustments, this book goes the extra mile in connecting the dots between life goals and higher education, offering the kinds of approaches and ideas that must be considered for a successful return to the education system.
No returning adult learner should embark on this endeavor without first consulting this book.
From the March 2019 Issue:
We Sit
Paintings
by
Marley Kaul
Poems
by Taiju
Geri Wilimer
Mill
Studio Press
9781732389403
$20.00
www.marleykaul.com
We
Sit represents
a powerful synthesis of art and poem and juxtaposes free verse
with
intricate
color images on facing pages. The collaboration between Marley Kaul
and
Taiju Geri
Wilmer offers an exquisite, delicate dance between word and vision
that
is
spiritually insightful, psychologically powerful, and philosophically
introspective,
all in one.
Many poets and
artists have attempted shared projects. Few achieve the impact
and
appeal of We Sit,
which should be in literary and arts collections alike.
From the February 2019 Issue:
Cooking after Brain Injury: Easy Cooking for Recovery: Book 3Susana Stoica, PhD
Healing Alternatives Press
ASIN: B07KWGLNQP $9.95 Kindle
http://a.co/d/dzyZrG3
Cooking After Brain Injury empowers those brain-injured individuals who either associate cooking with independence or who used to be cooks before their injury, and creates a structured series of introductory cooking lessons specifically tailored to those who struggle with ordinary tasks after brain injury.
With its shorter size and step-by-step instructions adjusted for those with limited attention and abilities, the series in general and this book in particular offer a progressive series of lessons to re-introduce adult cooks to kitchen basics in a way they can absorb.
The author herself is recovering from brain injuries; and her prior background as a good home cook combines nicely with relearning tools that no brain-injured reader should be without.
From the January 2019 Issue:
Driven:
An Oaktown Girls Novel
Suzanne Falter
New Heights
Publishing
978-0-9969981-3-0
$12.99 paperback, $4.99 eBook
Author website:
suzannefalterfiction.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9GGJCR
Driven is a winning novel not just for its plot, which outlines the personal and business dilemma of a LBGT woman whose woman-owned car repair garage is facing stiff competition, but for its exquisite, gritty portrait of California's Oakland community.
Replete with personal and business relationships, competition, and true-to-life insights on the San Francisco Bay Area's changing economic and cultural scene, Driven succeeds in providing a compelling portrait not just of Oakland's atmosphere; but of the many forces and conflicts that drive social change and affect interpersonal relationships on many different levels.
Readers with a special affection for and familiarity with the San Francisco Bay Area will find much to appreciate in Driven's lively story of competition, contention, and, ultimately, survival on many levels.
From the December 2018 Issue:
The Yankee Way: The Blueprint that Created AmericaTroy Tyson
Courant Publishing, LLC
978-1732781207 $14.95
www.theyankeeway.com
Given the rhetoric that revolves around American strengths and wellsprings of beliefs, it's important to step back with a consideration of the foundations of these central forces, and that opportunity is provided in The Yankee Way: The Blueprint that Created America.
Readers of historical and political issues will find that The Yankee Way offers a rare set of insights into the basic ethnic traits of Yankees, who developed moral and ethical principles that were passed from the early New England Puritans to their descendents.
By considering these foundations, this book provides a rare opportunity to trace changing values and systems from early to modern America, and should be read by any American voter wanting a survey of where the nation's most treasured values began.
From the November 2018 Issue:Pleasuria:
Take As
Directed
John J. Jessop
Köehlerbooks
978-1-63393-727-7
$16.95
www.koehlerbooks.com
Link
a doctor's midlife
crisis and attempt to move into something more exciting than a medical
career
in pharmaceuticals to a murder mystery revolving around his new P.I.
license
and expertise in drugs for an outstanding medical thriller on the scale
of
Robin Cook, but with more personal challenges.
The
blend of funny
observations, a murder mystery, and a physician's reinvention of his
life makes
for a completely engrossing story holding many twists and turns and
more than a
little psychological depth.
From the October 2018 Issue
Postcards
From The Void
Guy
N. Smith, et.al.
Darkwater
Syndicate, Inc.
978-1-946378-15-6
(paperback) $19.99
978-1-946378-16-3 (hardcover)
$29.99
Amazon
(Kindle e-book): https://www.amazon.com/Postcards-Void-Guy-N-Smith-ebook/dp/B07G8YBY9Q
Paperback:
http://www.darkwatersyndicate.com/store/p54/Postcards_From_The_Void.html
Hardcover:
http://www.darkwatersyndicate.com/store/p55/Postcards_From_The_Void_Hardcover
Fans of Stephen King, Joe Hill, and other extraordinary writers of eerie horror are in for a treat, because this collection of twenty-five short stories truly represents the best of not just Darkwater Syndicate authors and archives, but the cream of the crop for the genre as a whole.
The odd twists of plot in stories centered around strange environments and places will truly surprise even the most experienced reader of horror fiction, while the deliveries and diverse voices make each of these pieces original and powerful works supported by fine black and white images throughout.
The abandoned places, ghost towns, and pilgrimages into horror could not have been better done and are highly recommended as superior, completely engrossing reads.
From the September 2018 Issue
Devil's DenJeff Altabef
Evolved Publishing
9781622531388 $15.95 Paper; eBook: $3.95
www.evolvedpub.com
https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Den-Nephilim-Thriller-Book-ebook/dp/B07GC367K1/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1533990576&sr=1-1&keywords=Altabef+devil%27s+den
Having a protagonist who must fight his personal demons as well as threats from a cult who kidnaps the daughter of a long-time unrequited love lends a special complexity and satisfying set of surprises to Devil's Den.
Realistic insights and reflections on cult activities in society make for an engrossing facet to a story that is well detailed and hard to put down.
The result is a standout story in the thriller genre that excels in superb tension, the blend of supernatural forces with a mystery overlay, and a plot that keeps readers on their toes and guessing until the end.
From the August 2018 Issue
Kristen Wolf
Pixeltry
ISBN: 978-0-9996103-1-2
$14.99
ASIN: B07DN1BLC9
$ 5.99
Purchase link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DN1BLC9/
Author website: www.kristenwolf.com
From the July 2018 Issue
They Must Be
Monsters
Matthew LeRoy & Deric Haddad
The Manor Publishing House
978-1-7324489-0-2
http://theymustbemonsters.com/
In a different approach,
this true story of the hysteria which gripped the nation over the
Manhattan
Beach preschool sexual abuse allegations of the 1980s might have
limited itself
to those events alone.
Matthew LeRoy & Deric Haddad use several different approaches to elevate the story beyond its initial events: they include research conducted at the time and over a period of many years; they adopt a fictional delivery format to add drama and insights on all the people involved in the case; and they move far beyond the case to document the evolution of mass hysteria and its impact on society as a whole, from social to legal transformations.
The result is more than an astute documentation of one case's events, but moves into realms of how mass presumptions and erroneous belief systems are conceived, spread, and become an accepted part of popular culture. This riveting lesson should be assigned to any sociology, history, or psychology student and anyone who would learn how the McMartin Preschool Trials serve as a valuable lesson for understanding historical events from the Salem Witch Trials to modern times.
From the June 2018 Issue
Chipless
Kfir
Luzzatto
Pine
Ten
Kindle: 978-1-938212-72-7 $4.99
EPUB: 978-1-938212-73-4 $4.99
Paperback: 978-1-938212-71-0 Price
TBA
Website:
https://www.kfirluzzatto.com
Ordering
links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRB84MX
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1128306551?ean=2940155189688
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/chipless
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/808184
While most sci-fi is designed for entertainment value, the best of genre reads encourages readers to think about possible futures and their impact on humanity, and Chipless is one of those reads that stimulates the brain. The premise is simple: in a futuristic society, chips are placed in infant brains to help present diseases.
However, such chips can also be manipulated; and it takes a chipless girl to confront the reality of these artificial enhancers of humanity and the so-called utopia they promise. Fans of dystopian fantasy who like to think about the definitions and roots of tyranny versus freedom will relish Chipless not just for its vivid twists and turns of plot, but for its wider-ranging lessons on utopia and control.
From the May 2018 Issue
Your
Greatest Adventure
Mande
Buckmaster
Mande Buckmaster, Publisher
Trade Hardcover:
978-1-7320568-0-0 $16.99
Trade Paperback:
978-1-7320568-1-7 $
7.99
Kindle
Edition:
978-1-7320568-2-4
$ 2.99
www.amazon.com
The adventures are crafted by a clever mother who finds a way of including her child in not only her daily routine, but in envisioning something fantastic from the most routine tasks in life.
Parents looking for a whimsical and fun approach to parenting will relish Your Greatest Adventure as much as youngsters who will appreciate its zany focus. Very, very highly recommended for its exceptionally colorful illustrations that accompany an equally colorful vision of the world.
From the April 2018 Issue
Rare
& Exotic Orchids
Joel L. Schiff
Springer
ISBN:
978-3-319-70033-5
(Hardcover)
$37.85
ISBN: 978-3-319-70034-2
(eBook)
$29.99
http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319700335
Most books about orchids are fairly singular productions with audiences limited to botanists who enjoy specialty reads; but the pleasure in Rare & Exotic Orchids lies in its ability to reach into general-interest audiences with little prior background in botany or orchids. It offers a particularly lively format, includes plenty of scientific detail for seasoned readers but adeptly explains history, science, and background for non-scientists, and adds special insights on their cultural importance and why international communities around the world take special note of orchids
The result creates a lively blend of history on the discoveries of new exotic orchids and how individual plants captured different hearts and minds to early explorers and scientific insights, supported by lovely color photos throughout, that will attract even casual orchid fans or newcomers to the topic .
From the March 2018 Issue
The
Wingman
David
Pepper
St.
Helena Press
9781619848719 $15.99/$8.99 Kindle
The Wingman offers a gripping political thriller with a difference: it tells of a savvy political reporter whose eye for trouble turns a subliminal sense of discomfort during an interview into a full-blown investigation of political candidates that leads to a terrible truth.
As secrets are exposed, Jack discovers his hint of trouble has turned into the revelation of covert warfare and corruption at the highest levels, posing a choice he'd rather not confront.
Gripping, unexpected, and replete with political savvy, social commentary, and personal involvement, The Wingman proves hard to put down and is a highly recommended pick for thriller enthusiasts seeking something different.
From the February 2018 Issue
The
Language of Bears
John
Eidswick
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN:
B075L6BFBQ $4.95
978-1549736179 $14.99
Amazon
link:
https://www.amazon.com/LANGUAGE-BEARS-John-Eidswick-ebook/dp/B075L6BFBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513205129&sr=8-1&keywords=Language+of+Bears
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36332085-the-language-of-bears
Author
Blog: https://eidswick.blog/
The Language of Bears is rich in detail, complex in its descriptions, and offers a powerful blend of personal and social commentary as it weaves the story of one Adam, who wants only peace from his world, but consistently gets adversity and angst, even though he is a farmer with simple needs, living off the land.
When strange, otherworldly elements affect his quiet life and present new challenges to his perceptions of reality, Adam is faced with choices that doesn't always make sense, an accusation of witchcraft, and the specter of his early American world affected by a technological wonder from the future.
Vivid and compelling, this is a literary piece that's hard to put down.
From the January 2018 Issue
Sky
Theater: Essays on Rural Life and Community from the Editor of
Dakotafire Magazine
Heidi
Marttila-Losure
Prairiesummer
Books
978-0984890736
$34.95
for the color version (a black and white version is also available
for $14.95; the color Kindle version is $9.99)
http://dakotafire.net/product/sky-theater-essays-rural-life-community-editor-dakotafire-magazine-color-photos/ or https://www.amazon.com/Sky-Theater-Community-Dakotafire-Magazine/dp/0984890734
Grassroots rural community development and powerful leadership programs rarely receive gorgeous color visual embellishment much less a focus that embraces community values and the evolution of rural, local advocacy, but Heidi Marttila-Losure's memoir is a sweeping, wide-ranging survey that contrasts rural and urban community support systems, and does so in a manner that is lively, compelling, and thought-provoking.
The result is an assessment that is unique, creative, and provides a rare set of insights into exactly how cooperative systems work on a small-scale level. It's easily one of the most powerful and visually compelling discussions to appear in 2017.
From
the December 2017 Issue
Out
of Rushmore's Shadow
Lou
Del Bianco
Niche
Content Press Corporation
ISBN:
978-0-9989987-2-5 (paperback) $18.95
ISBN:
978-0-9989987-3-2 (e-book) $ 9.99
ISBN:
978-0-9989987-4-9 (hardcover) $29.93
Out of Rushmore's Shadow: The Luigi del Bianco Story - An Italian Immigrant's Unsung Role as Chief Carver should be in every American history collection because it performs an important role in correcting history that even authoritative discussions of the building of Mount Rushmore have neglected. In fact, when grandson Lou Del Bianco began researching its history, his grandfather's role as master carver on the project was not mentioned anywhere in the literature.
Thus began a research effort to document his grandfather's role, experiences, and influences in the Mount Rushmore project: an occupation and calling that would last a lifetime.
Even more important is the secondary story of Luigi del Bianco's immigration to America and how this immigrant came to serve such a key role in the creation of one of the nation's greatest monuments.
No history collection should be witout this key acquisition.
From the November 2017 Issue
Blood Business: Crime Stories From This World And Beyond
Edited by Mario Acevedo and Joshua Viola
Hex Publishers
978-0-9986667-9-2
Price: $27.99 (hardcover), $4.99 (eBook)
Blood Business is a mystery collection like no other; so readers anticipating any of the usual genre productions, whether it be noir or whodunit writings, will be surprised and delighted to find this collection includes healthy dose of horror and dark psychology wrapped nicely in the guise of crime-solving efforts.
The 'stories from this world and beyond' label is nicely supported by quite a variety of approaches that keeps readers on their toes.
Another big plus: each piece is a gem. There's no 'filler' to this anthology, which is very, very highly recommended as an exceptional approach that crosses genres and promises to delight an exceptionally wide audience seeking engrossing, literary productions.
From the October 2017 Issue
Oswald
the Lucky Rabbit
David
A. Bossert
Disney
Editions
978-1-4847-8037-4 $40.00
www.books.disney.com
If it weren't for the 1927 hit Disney had with Oswald the Rabbit, the Disney empire might not be where it is today - yet, the animated Oswald had a rocky ride between initial rejection to acceptance and fame, and when Disney lost the contract to their first major character, it would take six decades for them to regain.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is a foundation work of animation history as it covers these events, offering a history of animation practices of the past, a coverage of rights lost and regained, and episode reviews as it packs its survey with animation frames and vintage photos alike.
From
the September 2017 Issue
Our
Game Too: Asian Pacific Americans in Major League Baseball
Dr. Billy W.
Simpson & Dr. Jennifer Simpson
Elevation Book
Publishing
978-1-943904-11-2
(hc) $26.95
www.elevationbookpublishing.com
Avid baseball player and enthusiast Dr. Billy W. Simpson and his wife Dr. Jennifer Simpson have much to offer in this book, which reviews the history and lesser-known experiences of Asian Pacific Americans in major league baseball: a chronicle that has received relatively little to no attention elsewhere.
From discussions of player experiences and prejudice in the sport to how generations of players from Asian roots made a different in the sport's statistics and plays, this should be a 'must have' addition to any collection strong in baseball history: there's nothing quite like it on the market, and offers many insight that will delight even the most devoted sports fan who professes much prior knowledge about minorities in the spart.
From the August 2017 Issue
Holy Crap! The World is Ending!
Anna-Marie Abell
Alien Abduction Press
Paperback: 978-1-947119-01-7 $15.99
Hardback: 978-1-947119-02-4 $28.99
Epub ISBN: 978-1-947119-03-1 $ 4.99
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-947119-04-8
http://www.writtenbyanna.com
Blend a paranormal romance with a sexy alien, surprisingly hilarious overtones to the story of a mission to save Planet Earth, and a rollicking revision of "Take Me To Your Leader" that lends a surprising tongue-in-cheek, wry humor to an apocalyptic scenario and you just begin to get a sense of the delights in store in Holy Crap! The World is Ending!
This is an unexpected story that promises to be one of the most creative science fiction discoveries of the year, especially recommended for genre readers who like their stories to cross genres and cross boundaries in an edgy, fun consideration of alien abduction and uncertain alliances.
From the July 2017 Issue
Your
Crocodile Has Arrived
Laurie McAndish King
Destination
Insights
978-0-9986615-1-3
www.destinationinsights.com
Your Crocodile Has Arrived: More True Stories from a Curious Traveler provides an armchair romp around the world as it follows Laurie McAndish King's cultivation of a sense of wonder and destinations that go beyond cross-culture encounters to enter into the adventure realm. The blend of humor, history, and first-person travelogue makes for a compelling standout that's hard to put down, and very highly recommended indeed~
From the June 2017 Issue
Cooperative Games for a Cooperative World
Dada Maheshvarananda
Inner
World
Publications
9781881717584 $19.95
www.innerworldpublications.com
Any educator or leader working with youth will be familiar with competition-based games; but the glory of this title is that it promotes cooperative strategies for team-building, encouraging processes that will translate, decades later, into business and other pursuits. . Cooperative play encourages healthier values and this book provides a solid framework for this process. No collection should be without its specifics, which pair philosophy with specifics for creating opportunities for sharing and friendship.
From the May 2017 Issue
Heading
Home: Field Notes
Peter Anderson
Conundrum Press
9781942280217
$14.99
www.conundrum-press.com
Fans of the literary fly-fishing philosophical best-seller A River Runs Through It are especially in for a treat with Heading Home, because this account contains a similar blend of metaphorical observation and philosophical reflection that keeps its story lively and its writing supercharged with emotion.
Under the guise of a Western landscape and story lies the heart of a poet and the kinds of descriptions that are evocative and striking, turning this story of the author's journey into the Western wilderness into a powerful blend of discovery and enlightenment, very highly recommended as an exceptional literary work that grabs the mind and imagination and doesn't let go.From the April 2017 Issue
The
Bone War of McCurtain County
Russell Ferrell
Rabelais
Publishing
978-0-9833551-5-1
$16.95
A scientific, corporate, and political war fueled by a strange discovery sounds like fodder for fiction; but the special delight of The Bone War of McCurtain County: A True Tale of Two Men's Quest for Treasure, Truth, and Justice lies in the fact that this Indiana Jones-style adventure is, in fact, nonfiction.
Seldom is a gripping read like this
replete with
so many insights into special interests and social, scientific and
political
subterfuge, but The Bone War is a
stellar example of what happens when reality runs head-on into special
interests on all sides. This vivid, well-detailed story of a clash
between
cultures is hard to put down and very highly recommended as an
engrossing,
unique scientific saga.
From
the March
2017 Issue Touch
No One
1612968279
$17.95
www.joeyhirsch.com
Cyberpunk was born in the 1980s and is a sub-genre of science fiction, set in a future filled with technological achievements not always equalled by social awareness or evolution. Most novels that fall under the heading of 'cyberpunk' were fairly original creations when the genre began; but over the decades the 'new' shine has worn from the genre until too many of its plots are filled more with technological spoofs and wonders than real stories with depth.
That's why Touch No One is more than a cut above the norm - that, and its inclusion of an investigative mystery element that keeps readers involved in a winding plot centered around a host of not just technological wonders, but their impact on humanity as a whole. Woven into the detective/mystery theme are bots that are servants and best friends, currency that is 'dark', human enhancements that reduce human beings, and much more.
The title Touch No One is just one indicator of something special: a standout in a realm of tired technological devices that will keep readers happily guessing to the end.
From the February 2017 Issue
Rubiks:
The Rabbit Mysteries Book 1
Suse Wilcox
Joie Press
ASIN: B01GM5WFA4
http://a.co/0EpVUre
It's a crushing moment for ten-year-old Logan when his long-anticipated birthday gift of a dog turns out to be a bunny - and, a secondhand one, at that. All he can think of is that he'll be the school laughing stock - and that Rubicks can't possibly be the companion animal he'd envisioned from his future dog pet.
It's a surprise when quite the opposite happens, and when a mystery involves both Logan and Rubicks in a series of events that changes Logan's mind about the value of his new pet. Advanced elementary to middle school grades receive a fine blend of fantasy, adventure, and an underlying series of insights about pets and their value in this different story that represents a fun leisure read with an important message.
From the January 2017 Issue
The
Frog Prince: The Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella
Mike Klaassen
Bookbaby
9781483586366
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
The only thing teen prince Gerit wants to do is escape from the castle for a little fishing and time away from royal responsibilities, but when his precious moments away are interrupted by a fall into a bog, he considers it his royal right to command an old woman passing by to help him - and is annoyed when she asks for a reward in exchange. As he resists her suggestion and pays for it by falling into more adventure than he'd bargained for, Prince Gerit finds that he's experiencing a different kind of life that makes his castle duties look good.
The Frog Prince as originally told by the Brothers Grimm was only part of the tale: Mike Klaassen reveals the other, deeper impacts of the young brash prince's decisions in a story that follows the frog's life and changing perspectives about both watery and human worlds.
Fans of fairy tale retellings are in for a real treat in this psychologically complex, compelling read.
From the December 2016 Issue
Deborah
Rising: A Novel
Inspired by the Bible
Avraham Azrieli
HarperLegend
978-0062563552
http://a.co/gIj1jeL
www.AzrieliBooks.com
A flair for vivid descriptions that recreate Biblical times with an unusually compelling attention to detail, a story line embracing one of the relatively minor characters in the Bible which elevates the life of Deborah to unexpected meaning, and a solid representation of the life, times, and various political and social concerns of Jesus Christ lend to a story that is highly recommended reading for all.
Too many Biblical retellings suffer from a staid focus and predictable approach; but Deborah Rising is an exceptional production that hones a dramatic retelling of Deborah's world from many different perspectives. From how women live and the beauty of her environment to Deborah's precarious life and escapes from death, her story is well captured in a delightfully intricate yet absorbing story line that is hard to put down: the hallmark of a superior production and a standout in the genre of Christian literature.
From the November 2016 Issue
Red
Death
Jeff Altabef
Evolved Publishing
978-1-62253-319-0
Paperback = $17.95 List
Hardcover = $30.95 List
eBook = $3.99
www.JeffAltabef.com
November’s issue was exceptionally large due to authors moving reviews from prior months into the holiday area, so it was especially difficult to choose this month’s standout ‘Pick’ – but Jeff Altabef’s Red Death deserves acclaim for its ability to reach beyond its intended young adult fantasy reader audiences well into adult circles, and for its complex, sweeping saga of a brother and sister who find themselves on the wrong side of their society when a brother’s special abilities solves a long-standing community health problem.
One would think acclaim would result from a breakthrough such as this; but in fact curing a plague only brings the wrath of the establishment down upon the heads of Aaliss and her younger brother, who soon find themselves in a strange new world outside of their comfortable society.
Reminiscent
of The Hunger Games’ dystopian world but fueled by a
combination of social angst, political confrontations, and siblings who
puzzle
out the inconsistencies of their world, Red Death is a complex and fine
read
that weaves in elements of thriller, sci-fi and young adult perception.
From the October 2016 Issue
The
Whizbang Machine
Danielle
A. Vann
Waldorf
Publishing
978-1-943847-92-1
$14.95
www.WaldorfPublishing.com
It’s rare to see a young adult story that features a collaborative investigation by a grandfather and his granddaughter, but The Whizbang Machine does a wonderful job of outlining a warm relationship between the two as they struggle to understand the supernatural forces and messages revolving around a typewriter’s output.
In 1960, Patricia Ward’s The Secret Pencil featured a mysterious silver pencil that helped send a young investigator on the chase of her life as it wrote its secret messages; but The Whizbang Machine holds the added attraction of a family curse and a conundrum that leads the two relatives on a problem-solving mission involving family heritage and a magic typewriter.
Young adults and all ages will find the story well-done and steeped not just in mystery and supernatural elements, but replete with strong characterization and adventure.
From the September 2016 Issue
Code
Name: Papa
John
Murray as told to Sharron Murray, With Abby Jones
Archway
Publishing
ISBN:
978-1-4808-1945-0 (sc) $20.99
ISBN:
978-1-4808-1946-7 (hc) $37.95
ISBN:
978-1-4808-1947-4
(e) $ 7.99
Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about Code Name Papa isn’t that it’s part of a trilogy or that it’s a thriller, but is that it reads with the high drama and immediacy of fiction, yet represents the factual story of a family man who led a double life as a middle-class American father and a secret agent.
Author John Murray worked his way up the ladder to head an international covert team charged with ridding the world of dangerous political enemies and terrorists. As an undercover agent, Murray traveled the world and faced down terrorists; but to his family he was anything but adventurous, dangerous, or cunning – he was a family man, and a Papa to his kids.
Code Name Papa makes for especially riveting reading when one considers that his dual life often impacts his personal world in unexpected ways. His autobiography takes on thriller elements as it provides a page-turner that’s absorbing and hard to put down.
From the August 2016 Issue
Side
Effects: What Candidates Don't Tell You
Tomas Payne
Finlee Augare
Books
ISBN:
978-1-943080-25-0
(print) $14.95
ISBN:
978-1-943080-26-7 (e-book) $4.99
https://amzn.com/B01G0KUW0G
With the 2016 political elections coming up fast, citizens who want to learn how to read between the lines of political promises should well consider the advice of an author who is a CPA and who has a MBA in finance and a BS in political science.
Side Effects: What
Candidates Don't
Tell You for
general-interest audiences who may not be well
versed in political subterfuge and methods for uncovering the truth,
and its advice applies to all parties as it provides the basic tools
of how to identify and understand rhetoric and differentiate it from
fact.
Data, charts, and close analysis of how to inspect
arguments and contentions on all sides provide the powerful keys to
assessment that any voter should master before deciding on a
proposition, candidate, or law.
From the July 2016 Issue
A
Fairy-tale Ending: Book One of the Charming Tales
Jack Heckel
Harper Voyager
978-0062420695
$6.99
http://amzn.com/0062420690
The
Pitchfork of Destiny: Book Two of the Charming Tales
Jack Heckel
Harper Voyager Impulse
978-0062359322
$6.99
http://amzn.com/0062359320
The entire purpose of this 'Pick of the Month' section is to choose one title that stands as the singularly best title received that month, regardless of genre - but this month, an exception is being made to this rule because both books are not just equally powerful, but are connected in a series ("The Charming Tales").
The immense pleasure of these books - especially for prior fans of fairy tale re-tellings - lies in their tongue-in-cheek humor paired with twists of perspectives no matter who the character may be: egotistical prince, a dragon with a bad reputation, or Princess Rapunzel, who tries to be 'more than her hair'.
Not all is what it seems in such a land: a misunderstood dragon who only wants a bite of barnyard animal once in a while gains a bad reputation when a belch leads to a fiery title, and a troll tired of his bridge-hugging lot in life decides to become a fish eater.
Hilarious and delightfully original, both A Fairy-tale Ending and Book Two, The Pitchfork of Destiny, are not to be missed!From the June 2016 Issue
Lump
Lump and the Blanket of Dreams
Gwen Jackson
Friesen
Press
978-1-4602-6439-3 (ebook)
978-1-4602-6438-6
(paperback) $11.49
www.friesenpress.com
There
are numerous children's picture book retellings of folk legends from
around the world on the market today, and many for Native American
stories - but Lump
Lump and the Blanket of Dreams is
an exceptional addition to the genre literature that deserves to be
included in any picture book collection where Native American stories
are a feature.
Among the facets that make this a standout: captivating full-page, full-color illustrations that are unique and gorgeous presentations, a story line based on Navajo culture and folklore elements that creates an original saga while staying true to its roots, and the participation of Navajo weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas, who contributed one of her blankets for a drawing and who served as a consultant to keep the story authentic (Ms. Ornelas' weavings are in the Smithsonian, the British Museum, and many other galleries).
Little bear Lump Lump just can't seem to go to sleep despite all preparations. His task is to gather materials from the forest, with the help of his animal friends, so that Spider Woman can weave him a Blanket of Dreams to help him sleep. Parents and kids will find the story engrossing and the Navajo references a powerful feature to a fine tale.
From the May 2016 Issue
Why
is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling?
Lama Tsomo
Namchak Publishing
9780990571100 $27.95
www.Namchak.org
Many books about Tibetan Buddhism attempt to make the basic concepts and spiritual facets of the practice accessible to Westerners; but few achieve this task with attention to science, humor, and a combination of spiritual wisdom and social insights as does Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice.
From why people get 'stuck' in processing lives and choosing paths to colorful visual insights, meditative connections, and strategies for mindfulness and change, the joyful perspective that is steeped within this book's pages are an attractive, lively alternative to treatments that are all too often weighty or dense.
If only a few books on Tibetan Buddhist practices were to be selected from the many on the market, Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice would be a top recommendation, happily standing heads and shoulders above the rest.
From the April 2016 Issue
What the Clocks Know
Rumer Haven
Crooked Cat Publishing Ltd.
ISBN:
9781910510896
ASIN:
B01C8PQHAQ
ASIN: B01C8PQHAQ $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/What-Clocks-Know-Rumer-Haven-ebook/dp/B01C8PQHAQ
As a reviewer who began reading timeslip stories with young adult classics such as Time at the Top, Charlotte Sometimes, andHalf Magic, it's fair to say that a certain predisposition to stories of time travel and magic exist - but that's not the only reason why What the Clocks Know resonates so strongly to make it a top recommendation as an exceptional story.
It's a ghost story, it's a romance, and it's a saga of past lives and clues to a mystery that are revealed through diary entries and a compelling saga of two souls living different lives in one body.
When their worlds collide, nothing is predictable or common, and the adventure that results doesn't just grip the reader: it grabs them and pulls one into several worlds at cross-purposes with one another.
Any reader who began with early timeslip classics and who may have found little exciting since the decades-oldTime And Againwill relish the twists and approaches of What the Clocks Know: a standout in the genre.
From the March 2016 Issue
Transformed:
San Francisco
Suzanne Falter & Jack Harvey
New Heights Publishing
978-0-9969981-0-9
$0.99
ebook
$12.99 paperback
Website: suzannefalter.com
Ordering link:
http://www.amazon.com/
Transformed: San Francisco isn't a standout just because it's set in my hometown, or because its protagonists are anything but your usual gumshoe detectives. It's a standout quite simply because the lives, perspectives, and approaches of these characters provide a satisfying mix of personal and professional angst, savvy, and innovation, and because once begin, Transformed: San Francisco's unexpected plot and characters make it nearly impossible to put down.
Fine, twisting plots and subplots create a progression of events that keeps readers not only guessing about outcomes, but on their toes. Fans of mystery and intrigue who tire of the usual, predictable formula approaches will find Transformed just the ticket for an engrossing, unpredictable read.
From the February 2016 Issue
The
Murdered Messiah series
Len Lamensdorf
SeaScape Press, Ltd.
www.lenlamensdorf.com www.
Plenty of books have been written about the life of Jesus and the politics of his times: some fiction, some nonfiction. Most are dense, challenging reads that either rehash similar perspectives and information or simply translate the life of Jesus into plain English from Biblical versions.
It's a pleasure to see something different, and a standout, in Len Lamensdorf's The Murdered Messiah series: told over a five-book series, each book delves into a particular facet of his life and follows not just his evolution, but the political and social struggles of his times.
Anything but dense, the story assumes a lively, real feel and even readers thoroughly immersed in the story of Jesus will find plenty new to relish here, making the entire series a top recommendation.
From the January 2016 Issue
Darker
the Night
Lisa London
Deep River Press
918 Twin Oaks Farm Rd
Sanford NC 27330
9780991163571-E-Book
$9.95
ISBN 9780991163557 –Trade Paper $18.95
ISBN 9780991163564-Large Print
$24.95
Publication date: February
19, 2016
http://darkerthenight.com/
www.amazon.com
What psychological and political forces lead to a young person's recruitment in an ethically questionable, ultimately horrifying series of events? Events surrounding the development of Hitler's Youth Corps are strikingly portrayed in Darker the Night, a vivid story of young Hedy, a is a winner in a competition certain to make the Fürher proud of his young warriors. This win will earn her a position in his Youth Gathering in Cologne, a high honor, indeed, for one not yet fourteen.
Young adults receive a thought-provoking and powerful story of how youth were affected by his ideals and encouraged to participate in increasingly dark events in a vivid read especially recommended as a companion view of the other side when pursuing the Diary of Anne Frank.
From the December 2015 Issue
Fire
Canoe Finnegan
Denis J. Harrington and Charlie Steel
Condor Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 39 /123 South Barlow Rd.
Lincoln, MI 48742
978-1-931079-12-9
$12.95
www.condorpublishinginc.com
www.charliesteel.net
Think 'Western novel' and authors such as Louis Armour spring to mind: usually writers whose only productions lie in this genre. But think Fire Canoe Finnegan for something satisfyingly different: a 'western' theme packed with well-researched historical background that holds the rare attribute of being an absorbing leisure read and a solid fictionalization of real American history.
As if the title wasn't enough to spark interest, the character of Finnegan, an assertive, take-charge kind of guy who is between jobs when he falls into the unlikely position of piloting a steamboat down the Missouri River, grabs attention right from the start.
Add romance, intrigue, and a series of challenges and then wind in the story of Native Americans facing vast changes from the white man's intrusion on their world and you have a captivating story that elevates the idea of 'Western' a step above the norm, making it highly recommended for any with an interest in American history and vivid drama.From
the November 2015 Issue
Killer.com
Kenneth
Eade
Times
Square
Publishing
ISBN:
1517277205
ASIN:
B0117UFSCG
www.amazon.com
Some of the factors that makes Killer.com such a gripping read is that it does an outstanding job of blending the realistic atmosphere of a courtroom drama with the thrill of a detective investigation, rounding everything off with a discussion of real-world cyberstalking dangers.
Readers with a special affection for courtroom scenes and psychological tension will relish the progress of Killer.com, which allows plenty of room for surprises and much food for thought about its realistic scenarios. The result is a compelling story that's hard to put down, and highly recommended as a cut well above most courtroom crime reads.
From the October 2015 Issue
The
Millennial Reincarnations
Daniel
M. Harrison
Publick
Media
Publishing
978-1513603766
$18.00
http://www.dmh.co/the-millennial-reincarnations/
There are few books that can claim to be compelling, original reads; especially those that skirt the borders of a philosophical piece, a new age exploration, and a spiritual examination wrapped in the guise of fiction – but the pleasure of The Milleannial Reincarnations lies not in its ethereal subjects, but in its invigorating language and sweeping examination of world peoples and influences on life choices and planetary ecology.
Harrison
uses
bright, vibrant language, a fictional format, and a dual focus on
faith and opportunity as he posits scenarios in which milleannial
generations – and thinking – transforms hearts and minds.
It’s complex, rich, and engrossing all in one: that it achieves this feel with so many seemingly-disparate threads running through it is testimony to a story that simply reaches out and grabs its audience. Very highly recommended as a unique, five-star read!
From the September 2015 Issue
Linked
Through Time
Jessica Tornese
Solstice Publishing
614 Wal-mart Drive
Suite #209
Farmington, Mo. 63640
1477570799 Price- $1.99 Kindle/
$10.99 print
My website: www.jessicatornese.
Ordering link: http://www.amazon.com/
Timeslip young adult fiction has been a top genre read for this reviewer, from Edward Eager’s time-travel sagas to the works of L.N. Boston, Edward Ormondroyd, Penelope Farmer, and many more. Such is the history and shared methods of this genre that over a period of time they all tend to assume the same basic structure: a teen falls into another world and struggles to return home.
Linked Through Time ups the time-travel ante by having protagonist Kate wake up in the 1960s living the life of an aunt she’s never met. If she thought that living at her grandparents’ house without benefit of celluar service was a challenge, this life is a whole different ballgame, forcing her into a world of relative poverty, country living, and a dangerous knowledge of what is to happen to this aunt.
Is everything predictible, and can Kate’s choices change the future? The timeslip devices may sound familiar but Tornese’s approach takes the story line a step further and lends a delightful feeling of surprise that will satisfy even the most seasoned, avid reader of timeslip young adult fiction enthusiasts.
From the August 2015 Issue
Rowdy
Christopher
Madsen
CPM
Publishing
978-0-9960260-0-0
$55.00
Contact:
rowdystory@yahoo.com
http://www.rowdystory.com
In 1998, author Christopher Madsen discovered a derelict, leaky sailboat named Rowdy which reeked of neglect and mystery. The process of rebuilding her and uncovering her murky past led him on a journey that traversed East and West coasts, involved exhaustive research, and ultimately drew the author as much into researching nautical history as into the physical act of restoring an old, once-grand boat.
It’s this lively approach which makes Rowdy so much more than just another nautical story or account of a boat restoration project: in restoring Rowdy to her former magnificence, Madsen’s research filled in many gaps in nautical and ship-building history. Add color and vintage, historical black and white photos and illustrations which are liberally peppered throughout and you have a read that goes far beyond any sailor’s story to chart an investigation that traverses time and excels in historical research and vintage history. "Five Stars"
From the July 2015 Issue
Creating
Joy & Meaning for the Dementia Patient
Ronda
Parsons
Rowman &
Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781442227552
$38.00
There are so very many books on the market directed to 'managing care' and 'handling' dementia patients - and so many more dementia patients needing help - that it's refreshing to see a more human, caring approach focused on the basic elements of living (joy and meaning) rather than 'management' in Creating Joy & Meaning for the Dementia Patient.
Ronda Parsons’ specific title is packed with insights on how to tailor these elements for dementia mental states, offering a virtual treasure trove of recommendations and approaches that eschews the usual clinical 'management' terms and ideas to address the very personal dilemma of how to make the ending years of life just as meaningful and important as the early ones.
Outstanding in its concept and approach and specific in its 'how to' arena, Creating Joy & Meaning for the Dementia Patient should be in the libraries of caregivers, families, health providers, and any concerned about maintaining high quality of life for dementia patients.
From
the June 2015 Issue
These
Boots Are Made for Butt-Kickin': The MisAdventures of Miss Lilly,
Volume Two
Kalan
Chapman Lloyd
Lloyd
Words
5906
S. Knoxville Ave,
Tulsa,
OK 74135
kalanclloyd@gmail.com
www.kalanchapmanlloyd.com
Print
ISBN 978-1-312-93526-6
Digital
ISBN
978-1-312-93525-9
Delightfully fresh and original in its story of a butt-kickin’ lawyer who opens the saga with a confession that he’s the perp who pulled the trigger (and shot his opponent in the toe), These Boots Are made for Butt-Kickin’: The MisAdventures of Miss Lilly, Volume Two is a rollicking fun read that doesn’t just cross genres: it busts them apart.
Think detective story, Western, legal thriller, and mystery and then throw in a sassy protagonist with a propensity for outrageous candidness and actions that border on legal rebellion of system and process and you have a fun, unpredictable story that is a breath of fresh, original air and a hilariously fun read.
From
the May 2015 Issue
Weird
Tales
Lyn Murray
Golden Panda Publishing
ASIN: B00UTNS8RK ISBN:
978-1508841128
www.amazon.com www.
Weird Tales revitalizes a genre that falls somewhere between science fiction and horror - and which saw its golden age in magazines from the 1920s which fostered such great talents as Ray Bradbury and H.P. Lovecraft.
Since then, horror has taken somewhat of a large step away from 'weird' - which is why it's essential to read Lyn Murray's Weird Tales for a sense of what has been missing in many modern short stories of the unexpected.
These are compelling, visionary tales that offer twists that don't depend on bloodbaths or deep trauma. In typical 'weird' format they often come steeped in the supernatural - and always come with extraordinary visions and satisfying surprises.
So sit back, relax, and let Lyn Murray's stories tell themselves: they provide testimony to an approach that may have seen its heyday in bygone years, but which is still alive and powerful under the right hand.
From the April 2015 Issue
Beauty
and Chaos
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press
978-1-942410-00-3
http://www.michaelpronko.com
http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-
An interest in Toyko's culture and people is the only requirement to appreciate Beauty and Chaos, a vivid and compelling account of the city from a professor who uses the essay to bring the city's streets to life.
This isn't your usual travelogue: it focuses on the ironies, inconsistencies, chaos and beauty inherent in Tokyo's world and packs in passages that are evocative and beautiful even as they offer compelling visions of Tokyo's unique attributes.
Tokyo is well known for its fast-paced urban life, but under Pronko's hand, now it can develop into something much more. No armchair traveler or potential visitor should leave home without absorbing the city through Beauty and Chaos.
From the March 2015 Issue
Beware
the Sheep
M. Lewis-Lerman
Opta Ardua
ISBN for Hardcover: 9780986342332 -- priced at $24.99
ISBN for Softcover: 9780986342363 -- priced at $15.99
ISBN for .mobi (Kinde): 9780986342370 -- $5.99
ISBN for .epub (all other ereaders): 9780986342301 -- $5.99
mlewislerman.com
amazon.com/author/mlewislerman
What a curious title! What could this book be about? The opening lines seem to have little to do with rural living: could it be a murder mystery perhaps involving wool?
And that's the beauty of Beware the Sheep: straight away, you've uncovered the magic in a book that sounds like one or two possibilities but turns out to be something different - and in a world where everything is boxed, labeled, and fairly evident, this is a winning feature indeed.
The twists and turns of Beware the Sheep are simply delightful: you may not always know where you're going, but the adventure lies as much in the journey as in the action - a fact many authors forget, but which M. Lewis-Lerman keeps firmly in mind as a character and setting evolve that will reach beyond teen readers well into adult fantasy enthusiasts.
At once a fantasy for middle school to adult readers, a mystery, and a tale of magic, Beware the Sheep holds the special attribute of offering compelling characters, well-done atmosphere, and an unpredictable plot - what more could one ask for, from a fantasy?
From the February 2015 Issue
Tales
from Little Lump: Night of the Undead Snow Monkeys
Jeff Folschinsky
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B00OO2I6K6
www.amazon.com
Japanese snow monkeys: how could something so adoreable be so deadly? But perhaps a bigger question is: how did they get to the town of Little Lump in Texas? How did they come to be an undead threat? And what are the good residents of Texas going to do about it?
Well, any town that can stand down an alien invasion with a .22 can more can cope with undead cuties, as Night of th Undead Snow Monkeys only goes to show. Readers of the original Tales will know that aliens who came in peace were gunned down by an over-enthusiastic small Texas town's determination to prevent invasion at all costs. But no prior familiarity is required for this continuation of the horror theme as the Texas shoot-em-up approach is applied to a greater horror in the form of undead cuties.
It's side-splitting humor, it's zany small town ironies and characters, and it's the American spirit against any elements of the supernatural or th alien at its best.
If you're looking for serious zombie apocalypse tales - look elsewhere. Night of the Undead Snow Monkeys requires that its readers have a funny bone in place - and then it tickles and tweaks it until the result is uproaring laughter: something very few horror books can claim to offer.
So go ahead - open the door, aim your weapon, and get ready to party with Night of the Undead Snow Monkeys. It promises a night you won't forget, and is very highly recommended as a standout read.
From the January 2015 Issue
Red
Star Diary of 1916
Rena Corey and Bill Noxon
Bygone Era Books, Ltd.
9781941072189
$14.95 paperback/$4.99 e-book
www.BygoneEraBooks.com
Ordering:
http://www.bygoneerabooks.com/
World War I histories are usual dry affairs, of special interst to military readers, but not especially accessible to the general reader who may seldom pick up an account of this conflict. Red Star Diary of 1916 was found by Rena Corey in a flea market in 1993 - but the story didn't stop there. It was a bit of luck that its buyer specialized in antiquarian documents and took a shine to Bill Noxon's story, using the few clues it contained to track down its author. Her discovery of Bill Noxon's life apart from his diary adds to his teenage reflections to create a complete picture and involving account of his life and changing world.
Unlike most histories of World War I, Red Star Diary of 1916 doesn't come from a journalist, a military fighter their family, or anyone associated with media, politics, or society. It's from a comparative outsider who evolves from his concerns of daily living and his move from city to the country to take in the wider, evolving world.
If you've read a lot of World War I history, you know that it's a fairly singular subject. Most approaches concentrate on historical events and don't capture daily life in a diary format; and most come from adults, not from teen observers. And Red Star Diary of 1916's maker was deceased - so Rena Corey's first task was to recreate his words and life as he would have, creating a factual, textual documentary and avoiding the usual tendency to produce chapters in favor of the more personal approach of the diary's original format. Quotes from Bill's diary are thus interspersed with Corey's words to round out and tell the entire story, and her additions appear in italics to clearly differentiate her voice from his unedited reflections.
Add a wealth of period illustrations (photos, handbills, postcards, maps, advertising, and more) and you have a unique presentation powered by the unusual collaborative efforts of a young boy's words and an antiquarian document enthusiast's attention to recreating vivid history from a single youth's diary.
Very few other stories of World War I hold the intimacy and perspective of Red Star Diary of 1916, making it a standout recommendation not only for readers of the subject, but those interested in the process of re-creating history from original writings and antiquarian works.
From the December 2014
Issue
The
Laced
Chameleon
Bob Rogers
Booklocker.com,
Inc.
9780991296118
$16.99
http://www.amazon.com/The-
Francesca Dumas is a New Orleans belle who leads the lavish life of a lady of high society, until her love is shot dead and she declares revenge. Her determination to find his killer changes her life of parties, riches and high society and brings her into a world replete with danger - but this is only a piece of the real story in The Laced Chameleon.
The novel is set in 1862 New Orleans during the Civil War, when the Union Army occupied New Orleans, and delves into the social and racial structure of the city by presenting the life of a 'quadroon' (a person resulting from biracial sex, with three white grandparents) who moves in the world of rich white men. In an arranged union between women of color and white men in antebellum New Orleans, Francesca is the product of such a union, and her place in society and her abilities to move within it are strictly regulated.
Through her eyes and the author's attention to historical detail readers are treated to insights on the intricacies of such a world.
But it's not just a historical novel, though its setting is firmly rooted in historical fact - it's a mystery, as well, and Francesca proves a fitting investigator of a murder.
Part of what makes The Laced Chameleon such a well-done approach is that Francesca's world is vividly portrayed. She doesn't just fall into the role of an investigator - she's pushed in. Her skills at surviving her world will serve her well in her new role, because life just got a lot more complicated.
And the attention to small details - such as the appearance of monies bearing separate images of George Washington and enslaved black cotton pickers, or the question of what kind of currency - Confederate or Northern - is acceptable payment - are little points that serve to reinforce the bigger picture of 1800s New Orleans.
Facing a mortgage from her father, a notorious gambler, and the possibility that her lover's murderer is the same man who stole her friend Emily, Francesca has even more reason for pursuing the truth; only the truth proves not as simple as tracking down a single killer nor uncovering a singular motivation for murder, and her choices at every turn hold implications for independence, changed status in society, and a journey that will change her world.
It's rare to find a historical mystery so well-grounded in the flavors and atmosphere of the antebellum South, and one which so thoroughly injects New Orleans atmosphere into every chapter. This backdrop strengthens the character of Francesca, her life, and her purposes and helps identify the source of her tenacity, creating a believable, living protagonist whose concerns and approach to life is well grounded in the politics and social mores of her times.
The characters she encounters are equally believable, equally logical in relation to the society atmosphere of the times, and are powerful adjuncts to Francesca's world, which is overrun by Union soldiers, lawyers, high society and politics.
From links between deaths of friends to the involvement of policemen and doctors, this is an engrossing saga that depends on one woman's cleverness and ability to delve into close-held secrets and associations for answers that will ultimately return her life to a semblance of normality.
Any who look for a historical murder mystery that's more than light reading will find The Laced Chameleon a top, winning recommendation.
From the November 2014
Issue
Retirement
Basics
Golden Goddess Press
ASIN B00OWJ76SO $5.99
www.retirementbasicsforboomers.com
No
matter
how far
away you are from retirement - or, how close, for some - it always
inevitably
winds up around the corner, in your face, and quite often that's when
finances
are truly assessed and found lacking.
Most
retirement
books address their concerns to those young enough to change course,
leaving
baby boomers, in particular, out in the cold.
That's
why Retirement
Basics: Help for Broke Baby Boomers
is a standout, and so key to many: it appeals to late-in-life
retirement
planners who haven't built a nest egg and who may already be living on
the
edge. One might not think such an audience would be able to consider
retirement
- but
Chapters
are specific to the process, to an under-considered audience,
and are key to any baby boomer worrying about retirement. In a world
where
retirement guides appeal to younger generations or salaried readers,
this is a
standout - and highly recommended!
From the October 2014
Issue
Mystery
and Misadventure -
An Old Acquaintance
M.D. Hall
ASIN: B00NBA6UUA $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NBA6UUA
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NBA6UUA
It's
very
clear what
influences M.D. Hall has cultivated in the course of producing Mystery and Misadventure - An Old
Acquaintance: from a chatty introduction and ending by a wry
narrator who
duly warns readers of the quiet atmospheres of horror to come to short
stories
that excel in taking ordinary events and plain people and infusing
growing
horror into their experiences, this is Twilight
Zone style at its best, plain and simple.
M.D.
Hall
is a
master at building this kind of atmosphere, and if Twilight
Zone were in production today, would likely become one of its
chief writers.
From the September 2014 Issue
Cannon
Fodder
Margaret Taylor
Margaret Taylor, Publisher
9781311269942
$3.99
Website:
http://steamtrainsandghosts.wordpress.com/
Ordering links: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424257
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cannon-fodder-margaret-r-taylor/1119059298
http://www.amazon.com/Cannon-Fodder-Margaret-R-Taylor-ebook/dp/B00JD0GNEU
Cannon Fodder is the perfect example of a book which doesn't know exactly what it wants to be - a mystery, a fantasy, or a young adult read - and in normal circles, that would spell trouble. But add more than a healthy dose of unexpected humor, which is relatively rare in any of these genres, and you have a superior read filled with unpredictable moments, ironic observations, and a young protagonist who isn't at all sure that his ultimate goal is to live up to his training as an evil overlord.
Usually when a story tries to combine too many disparate elements, it falls short. Cannon Fodder holds the rare ability to shine in all genres, whether its reader seeks a solid, involving mystery, a fantasy replete with destructive gods and evil schemes, or a young adult coming-of-age exploration.
Perhaps it's the humor that binds everything together, but Cannon Fodder goes beyond an entertaining read to stand out as a memorable, exceptional story recommended for any who want a story line that stands out from the crowd and creates genre-breaking action.
From
the August
2014 Issue
Who
Says That’s Art? A
Commonsense View of the Visual Arts
Michelle
Marder Kamhi
Pro Arte Books
Paperback:
978-0-9906057-0-6
$TBA
Kindle edition: 978-0-9906057-1-3
E-Pub:
978-0-9906057-2-0
$9.99
http://mmkamhi.com/proarte
There's
so many evolving, changing and
controversial styles moving from artistic circles into the general
public that it's refreshing to have an accessible, scholarly survey
that considers the foundations of not only what is art, but what is NOT
art.
Michelle
Marder Kamhi is both a scholar and
an art critic: with these credentials to her name one might expect a
dry or ponderous rendition, but Who Says That's Art?
is quite the opposite, providing a lively and specific discussion that
invites artists, patrons, critics and the general public alike to
consider the standards of art and what differentiates real art from
more casual pursuits.
As
such, this is a top recommendation for
any who would consider the foundations of art, its contemporary
applications and critical standards, and who would debate these ideas
both within and outside of the artistic community.
From
the July
2014 Issue
41 Strange
Diane
Doniol-Valcroze & Arthur K. Flam
Amazon Digital Services
978-0-615-97935-9
$3.99
http://www.amazon.com/41-Strange-Diane-Doniol-Valcroze-ebook/dp/B00JMJ32Q4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401637934&sr=1-1&keywords=9780615979359
It's rare to find a short story collection whose offerings not only
excel in bizarre turns of plot, but which provide satisfyingly diverse
tales that constantly lead readers in unanticipated directions, but 41
Strange is such a creation and is especially recommended for
fans of Ray Bradbury's classic 'The Illustrated Man' or followers of
Serling's classic 'The Twilight Zone' TV series. Take a look
at look at any of
the stories in 41
Strange - say,
'Cut It Short', in which a
door-to-door salesman peddles something nobody else has … a
customizable
calendar. Much like Ray Bradbury's famous 'The Illustrated Man', his
calendars
tell a story and entwine their readers in terrible tales which grab
victims
such as innocent Betty, who normally has a routine to dissuade all
salespeople
who come to her door.
Macabre, engrossing, and well-done: if you like the ironies and drama
of 'The Twilight Zone' and appreciate the short-short story form with a
literary focus that excels in unexpected concluding twists of tale, 41
Strange is very highly recommended!
From
the June 2014 Issue
The Renaissance
D.
Medina Lasansky, Editor
Periscope Publishing Ltd./Prestel, Distributors
9781934772256 $45.00
www.prestel.com
It's
important to note, first off,
that The Renaissance is no light
read for general-interest audiences, but a scholarly work covering
different aspects of the Renaissance, from its doctrines, politics and
social impact to the art and popular culture that evolved from its
concepts and heritage. Thus its audience will be college-level readers
who want not the usual (singular) focus on Renaissance art, but a
wider-ranging collection of scholarly essays that each holds different
themes and perspectives.
But if you expect a singular, weighty affair, you're in for a big
surprise: The Renaissance is quite the contrary,
offering important connections between classic Renaissance affairs and
modern history and culture that results in some surprising twists. One
wouldn't expect Lady Gaga to be part of such a history, for example.
And yet, there she is - along with satisfyingly diverse explorations
connecting Renaissance culture to modern affairs.
While its primary audience will still be art and history collections
strong in Italian Renaissance subjects, The
Renaissance Revised, Expanded, Unexpurgated could (and should) reach beyond
the realm of the scholar into the general-interest world and is highly
recommended as a surprisingly accessible, involving read.
From
the May 2014 Issue
One
Heartbeat Past Normal
Dennis Timothy
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B00IHI0MXM
$8.95
http://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-Past-Normal-Dennis-Timothy-ebook/dp/B00IHI0MXM
It's rare
to find a collection of short
stories where the author has truly mastered the form: and by
'mastered', I mean has put together a diverse selection of themes and
writings that excel in unexpected twists. One Heartbeat Past
Normal is such a collection, and receives top recommendation as a truly
remarkable exploration of the strengths of the short story form.
Some
are one-page zingers; others hold
several pages of detail.
Dennis
Timothy's forte lies in little
twists of plot that lead readers along a seemingly-predictable path,
then change at the last minute. For seasoned readers who continually
seek and seldom find true surprises, this is simply a delight.
Twilight
Zone fans, sit up and take note:
if you like this genre, you will love One Heartbeat Past Normal!
From the April 2014 Issue
Gateway to
Intimacy: A Married Couple's Guide to Love, Romance, Passion, and
Phenomenal Sex
Ed Gomez
Millstone Press
978-0-9911686-0-6
$16.95
www.millstonepress.com
Would
that every newly-married
couple pick up Gateway to Intimacy!
A lot of grief would be avoided.
Now, there are numerous 'sex
manuals' on the market - and surprisingly, most focus on improving
physical prowess over mental change: not so Gateway
to Intimacy, which approaches intimacy from the
psychological perspective and maintains that without attention to a
courtship that involves the heart, mind and soul - any physical
expression will fall short of its mark.
Its focus on
'Relationship-Building Sex' strategies is for readers who would move
beyond sexual fantasy and other enhancements to embrace the deeper
spiritual and psychological insights that contribute to exceptional
experience.
From
the March 2014 Issue
Timelapse
Lorrie Farrelly
9781469953502
Amazon Digital Services
(ebook, $3.99)
CreateSpace (paperback, $11.69)
ACX (audiobook, price varies)
http://www.amazon.com/Lorrie-Farrelly/e/B008P3LJ0O
https://sites.google.com/site/yourbestreads
It may be because this
reviewer maintains a bias towards 'timeslip' novels; or it could be
that because of this bias, it's easy to spot a timeslip story that
moves beyond anticipation into the realm of the unexpected … but
whatever the reason, Timelapse
certainly hit its mark with a complex story that's never easy or
predictable.
It's a 'what if' thriller
that borders on a detective story but its method is anything but
canned, while its changing action embraces romance, intrigue, and time
travel all in the same story.
If this seasoned reader of
timeslip stories can find an exceptional read in Timelapse,
so will any audience that enjoys genre-busting adventures centered
around believable protagonists and satisfying twists of plot.
From
the February 2014 Issue
The Bullies'
Predatory Footprint
Terri Ryan
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN:
B00F3AJP62
978-09523249-42
$12.99
http://www.amazon.com/Bullies-Predatory-Footprint-Terri-Ryan-ebook/dp/B00F3AJP62/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1389288132&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Bullies+Predatory+Footprint
You simply can't refute the
lasting importance of The Bullies' Predatory
Footprint, which compiles writings of experts in the field
who consider not just your usual schoolyard bullying practices, but
toxic behavior patterns throughout society as a whole.
In expanding the discussion
to follow such behaviors from school to the workplace and beyond, The Bullies' Predatory Footprint goes
far beyond most discussions that revolve around childhood bullying to
consider its wide-ranging effects on home, school, and personal life
into adult years.
It's about time that the
focus on bullying expanded its boundaries of thinking: this does the
job.
From
the January 2014
Issue
Tales From
Little Lump - Alien Season
Jeff Folschinsky
ASIN: B00FJIEID8
$.99
http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Little-Lump-Alien-Season-ebook/dp/B00FJIEID8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386274163&sr=1-1&keywords=Tales+From+Little+Lump+-+Alien+Season
When you still think about
the plot of a story months beyond its initial reading, that's the mark
of an exceptional tale - and Tales From
Little Lump - Alien Season more than fits this bill.
Perhaps it's because this
reviewer is already a Christopher Moore fan and used to Moore's wry
sense of humor; perhaps it's because that combination of odd characters
and hilarious representations isn't readily seen in novels these days,
and perhaps it's because the spoof on aliens and government deception
is couched in language and settings readers can readily have fun with.
However way you cut it, Tales From Little Lump - Alien Season is
both difficult to easily categorize and a fun, fun read for any looking
for out-of-the-box tales.