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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Ahead of Their Time: Pioneers Who Seized Tomorrow, Today
Lynn Miller
lynnmillerauthor.com
Networlding Publishing
9781959993476, $15.97 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ahead-Their-Time-Pioneers-Tomorrow/dp/195999347X
"Ahead of Their Time: Pioneers Who Seized Tomorrow, Today" comes from a business development coach/learning expert Lynn Miller, whose approach marries innovation with action - but it doesn't just rely on her personal formula for success.
Embedded within these rich experiences are the lives of selected achievers who created pioneering strategies for business, leadership, and life. Thirteen profiles of individuals who stepped into their vision to enact extraordinary change and accomplishments makes for an experience-based survey that is as uplifting as it is purposeful: "Being ahead of your time doesn't happen because you create something new. It happens when you spot something everyone else misses. You see a possibility and act even when you're not sure it'll work."
The vignettes are carefully curated from Miller's decades of experience working with multi-billion-dollar companies around the world and illustrate the forces that drove them to success. The thirteen selected individuals illustrate different ways in which determination and courage, not education and connections, led them to achieve what and where others had failed.
More importantly, "Ahead of Their Time: Pioneers Who Seized Tomorrow, Today" teaches, by example, the fundamentals of proactive thinking and what makes for a competitive edge under all kinds of conditions. This provides a foundation for better understanding various coping methods, strategies, applied vision, and how real change is enacted in different ways.
Where other books about leadership or courage focus on one individual or path, Ahead of Their Time: Pioneers Who Seized Tomorrow, Today contrasts these very different milieus for maximum insight into how pioneers think and act differently. This allows readers access to the techniques of creative problem-solving that they can mirror when addressing their own problems and projects.
Underlying values that motivate and enthuse each contributor to this collection are outlined clearly in a manner that will lend to individual education and group or book club discussion: "At the heart of Gordon's approach is the belief that success doesn't have to come at anyone's expense."
The result is a perfect example of leadership by example - in this case, librarians and readers will find these diverse experiences offer ultimately uplifting success stories and insights on the steps involved in perseverance:
"Place small bets constantly. When you place small bets, it allows you to seed an idea and see if there are legs. If it doesn't work out, it was a small bet. Not that big a deal."
She's failed more than she's succeeded. "I have so many small bets that failed. Guess who knows about them? The three people who saw it when it happened."
The difference? She kept placing small bets while others kept planning."
Highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections, "Ahead of Their Time: Pioneers Who Seized Tomorrow, Today" offers a framework for survival and excellence that few other books can match.
The American History Shelf
Great American Presidents
Allan J. Lichtman
Bancroft Press
https://bancroftpress.com
9781610887328, $32.95
"Great American Presidents: The Twelve Who Transformed the Nation" is the first volume in the projected American Presidency Scorecard Series from Bancroft Press. It surveys the leaderships, challenges, attitudes, and actions of George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Harry S. Truman, and nine other great presidents from the nation's beginnings to modern times, concluding with Ronald Reagan.
How did the definition "great" apply to such a disparate selection?
Professor Allan J. Lichtman embraced those figures whose actions and choices have grown the Presidency over the years, expanding its leadership, concepts, and critical precedent-setting trends which affected not just America, but the world. This attention to not just a man and his politics, but the kinds of actions that served to transform the leadership capabilities of the office itself, translates to a survey rich in historical analysis and political insights.
It makes perfect fodder for book club debate and political science or American history classrooms. The former will see excitement over applied principles of leadership and American ideals, while classrooms assigned Great American Presidents as supplemental reading can use these biographical and political surveys to supercharge discussions about what distinguishes not just the leader, but the office.
As chapters unfold each political portrait, they delve into a wide range of related topics, from frameworks for global interactions and economic support systems to influences on presidential decisions that hold ripples of impact for modern times: "To gain support for containment from a Republican Party still reluctant to engage in foreign ventures, Truman consulted Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan, the leading GOP authority on foreign affairs. Vandenberg's simple advice: "Scare them to death." Subsequent presidents would follow this advice when authorizing, for example, the invasion of Iraq in 2003 or the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025."
Librarians and educators will thus find Great American Presidents much more than a historical or biographical sketch collection alone, but a powerful jumping-off point for discussions and thought about the nature of American leadership both within and outside the nation, surveying the history of what shifts when leaders with different visions assume the reins of the Presidency.
The Cookbook Shelf
Hamlyn / Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
These new cookbooks from (three from Hamlyn, one from Mitchell Beazley) offer exiting flavors for cooks looking for simple techniques that promise outstanding results.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/School-Wok-Chinese-Techniques-Delicious/dp/0600638138
Jeremy Pang's Chinese Kitchen: Simple Techniques, Delicious Recipes. (9780600638131, $29.99) is the perfect choice for cooks seeking an easy introduction to Chinese fare. Step-by-step directions, color photos of finished dishes, and illustrations of techniques such as using a bamboo steamer basket accompany recipes such as Shredded Pork Wraps, Rustic Prawn Toast, and Yunnan Little Pot Rice Noodles, with dishes from across China offering a satisfying diversity of flavors and regional influences.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Centerpiece-vibrant-recipes-vegetables-spotlight/dp/1783256540
Helen Graham's Center Piece: Bold, Vibrant Recipes to Put Vegetables in the Spotlight (9781783256549, $32.99) is one of the more unique vegetable cookbooks to appear in recent years, blending novel flavors into unusual dishes readers won't find elsewhere. From Dill, Pea & Barberry Fritters with Pomegranate Dip to Sweet Potatoes, Amba & Orange Blossom and Lemongrass Parsnips, color photos bring to life a wide range of flavor combinations that will simply delight cooks looking for novel ways to prepare vegetables.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Loaf-Tin-Bakes-Cakes-Occasion/dp/0600639622
Flavie Millet-Joannon's Loaf Tin Bakes: Easy Cakes for Every Occasion (9780600639626, $26.99) expands the idea of loaf tin usage from banana bread to all kinds of creative sweet cakes, from Honey Nut Breakfast Cake to Ultimate chocolate Brownie, Sicilian Pistachio Cake, and a Rum and Vanilla cake. These are simple cakes that can be made quickly, making the book particularly interesting to beginners who want to create desserts from scratch with a maximum amount of flavor and a minimum of hassle.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Drizzle-Olive-oil-infused-recipes-across-Mediterranean/dp/1846016193
Sarah Fulton Vachon's Drizzle: Olive Oil-Infused Recipes from Across the Mediterranean (9781846016196, $32.99) comes from an olive oil sommelier and founder of the olive oil brand Citizens of Soil, and features seasonal recipes for using olive oils in different ways. From an Cretan Dakos Salad to a Greek Avgolemono Soup, olive oil is a prominent ingredient in these delicious dishes.
All four are exceptional cookbooks that are eye-catching and highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Building Blocs
John S. Reuther
DartFrog
www.dartfrogbooks.com
9781965253687, $21.99 HC, $15.99 PB, $2.99 Kindle, 376pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Building-Blocs-Dialogue-Development-Russia/dp/1965253679
"If you want to become a Soviet specialist, you need firsthand experience. Come to Moscow. Learn the language, the history, the culture. Get to know the people." Thus begins the journey chronicled in "Building Blocs: My Life in Dialogue and Development in Russia", a memoir of social and political discovery that moves from the 1960s to modern times as John S. Reuther follows his father's world-hopping work experiences, forging relationships with labor leaders in various European countries, then hones his own career by focusing on Russia.
Readers who want to know the culture, nuances, and peoples of Russia and labor efforts in the United States would do well to achieve this introduction via a personal sojourn such as Reuther's. "Building Blocs" paves the way for greater understanding by outlining the course of his family's progression through decades of social and political interactions: "I personified the dilemma. Friedman wrote that I looked "like a prep school product of the Eastern establishment, tall, strapping... But behind a face that any mother could love, the Reuther dedication and commitment is there. And John Reuther has taken it up where his father and his uncles left it, going beyond the era and glory of old unionism, the picket line, and the New Deal, to the New Politics, which clashes with family friends."
Behind-the-scenes negotiations, agreements, management policies, labor and business concerns, and political insights permeate Reuther's memoir, but he doesn't neglect the impact his job had on his family, either. These weave into the political encounters in a way that will give food for thought to anyone concerned about lives devoted to service and international interests: "Sasha's feelings about leaving Maryland for Moscow were mixed. On the one hand, his parents were back together, and there were new family adventures to be had and new memories to be made. On the other hand, he was a thirteen-year-old boy who was really bummed to be pulled away from what was in many ways a classic American suburban teenage life: pals and sweetheart crushes, videogame arcades and Sunday football, bike rides and beach trips. I was fully aware that for kids of that age, those experiences are hugely important."
From navigating high-level contacts in government and business circles to his own family building efforts, Reuther's exceptional exploration of his job and life brings to the table a remarkable series of insights and encounters perfect for book club and classroom discussions alike. Librarians and readers will welcome the opportunity make Building Blocs a foundation of any consideration of Russian and American interests - especially those revolving around ownership, privatization, and the components of cooperative interactions that lead this man, his family, and his influencers to encounter Russia in a novel manner not usually seen elsewhere.
Eight Septembers
Jane Buyers
DartFrog
www.dartfrogbooks.com
9781965253762, $19.99 HC, $15.99 PB $5.99 Kindle, 350pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Septembers-Woman-Street-Lehman/dp/1965253768
"Eight Septembers: A Woman on Wall Street From 9/11 to Lehman" is the memoir of Jane Buyers, a Wall Street woman who was not only responsible for funding her brokerage firms' daily activities, but was at the epicenter of several seminal events in the 2000s. These events changed the face of Wall Street brokerage activities and banking relationships.
Her insider's experiences of paradigm-changing events and the rules and ethics which dictated them offers a powerful examination which should be on the reading lists of any business person, women's group, or individual interested in Wall Street evolution.
Buyers pulls no punches in probing not only banking and business industries, but the undercurrents of her own family's involvements: "I was in my thirties at the time, a new mother, dealing with the recent merger of Manufacturers Hanover Trust and Chemical Bank. His board feared he planned to stack the deck with a family member, but after my first meeting, they learned I did not have blind loyalty to my father as I asked probing questions and didn't accept pat answers. After ten years as a banker and five on Wall Street, I was independent-minded and knew how to execute my fiduciary responsibilities."
Family indeed is a prominent focus in this memoir, which juxtaposes the challenges of being a mother and taking care of other family members and self while navigating the complexities of the corporate world. The special flavor of this memoir lies in its marriage between personal and business life, succinctly and pointedly described as Buyers meets challenges that emerge in both worlds: "Wall Street's dirty little secret was out: It depended completely on secured financing from entities who could withdraw it on a moment's notice. Imagine your mortgage or car loan suddenly becoming due one day, and you are required to return the collateral (your house or car) immediately or be thrown into bankruptcy. All that leverage built up like a Jenga tower. Removing one or two blocks might be sustainable, but if everyone withdrew their blocks at once, disaster would ensue. Truth: The industry would collapse the minute the tri-party market stopped functioning. As I hung up the phone and joined my family at the dinner table, I wondered who else beyond our insular Wall Street financing world understood that."
As experience melds with discovery and new revelations, Buyers creates a compelling atmosphere of growth that takes place in many different ways as she juxtaposes the evolution of her family, Wall Street's milieu, and her pursuit of excellence, success, and achievement in all areas: "Wasn't I supposed to be going back to work full time at the end of the summer? Not for the first time, I considered making the sabbatical a permanent retirement. What would I do if I didn't work? According to Mark's theory, if I could figure out who I wanted to be, then what to do would follow naturally. Maybe, I thought, the first step was figuring out who I didn't want to be."
The result indeed charts some of the key decisions and influences upon them on Wall Street, but moves beyond business concerns alone to address concurrent family challenges and personal ambition. Libraries and readers seeking books that move from women's experiences in business and professional circles to addressing home life and growth will appreciate how well "Eight Septembers" captures this history, these worlds, and the process of transformation. Filled with explanations and insights that require no prior Wall Street expertise or knowledge of history from its readers, "Eight Septembers" is a force to be reckoned with. It's a top read not just for individual contemplation, but women's and book reading groups seeking lively insights about business and life for discussion and debate.
The Escape Artist
Ian Jarvis
Armin Lear Press
https://arminlear.com
9781968919115, $24.95 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 172pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Artist-Ian-Jarvis/dp/1968919112
"The Escape Artist" is the memoir of actor Ian Jarvis, whose world travels, escapades, and varied careers will intrigue any reader familiar with his name who may have previously viewed him as a relatively singular achiever.
The story moves from a nice Jewish boy's roots to fishing, drugs, and world-wide travels, carrying readers on a romp into various worlds with intriguing adventures and insights into self and other cultures: "At food stalls, people argued over prices, women led chickens and sheep to the buses and tied them on the roof. Mark got tickets and found our ride. On board, there were no smiles, no welcome, no interest. The men in jellabas stared at us, their women were silent, under full burkas. This was another world."
FBI busts, hippies, politics, romances, and flings are all revealed in the course of a life that jumps from experience to experience with the full embrace of exploration and discovery. Readers who would escape their own familiar worlds can do so easily through "The Escape Artist", which documents not only Jarvis's encounters, but new possibilities that emerge from the impulsiveness of youth which returns home older, wiser, and no less willing to embrace something completely different. Unexpected developments include Jarvis's career in cosmetics and successes in various aspects of business.
This dovetails nicely with coming-of-age reflections, cultural revelations, and the author's newfound interest in creating stability in his life, which stem from a daughter impacted by his choices to lead a colorful life on the run.
Readers interested in taking a journey through growth and adaptation will relish how "The Escape Artist" surveys its world with an exciting mix of adventure and reflection: "I was 21 when I decided to cure the money question with a drug deal; a choice that was thoughtless, unconscious, and it drove the next decade. My decision to return six months ago is playing out today. One way or another, the next hour will drive the next decade. I'm good. I want a place at the table, turn my skills into resources, not tools of survival but either way, there's clarity, a path. I don't care if it's hard, just let me plant my feet, somewhere."
The result is a study in success that examines the American dream, personal ambition, and pivot points in life which prove immersive, entertaining, and reflective all in one.
Book clubs will find plenty of fodder for discussion about travel, cultural encounters, and growth, while librarians will find it easy to highly recommend The Escape Artist both to those already familiar with Jarvis. Newcomers might not know his name, but will delight in an intriguing series of escapades.
From Darkness to Light
Tom Singh
Independently Published
9798275078282, $16.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Light-Journey-Despair-Contentment/dp/B0G3MSCZXB
From Darkness to Light: A Journey From Despair to Contentment is a survey of survival and enlightenment that opens with a family struggling with alcoholism, but moves into the process by which author Tom Singh evolved beyond his family influences.
Lest readers think this will involve the typical American setting, the story embraces other cultural influences and experiences: "I was born on the last night of a seven-night Hindu prayer session or yagna kept by the neighbour. This prayer session was an annual event that attracted most of the villagers."
The family saga entwines deeply with the culture of Trinidad to create a success story that will prove unexpected to many. It enlightens readers about village and community life, family safety, and social and cultural forces that influenced the author and his family's attitudes and beliefs.
Tom Singh delves into a range of topics, from immigrant experience to the influence of mentors, support systems, and teachings that contributed to his upward-bound mission to overcome adversity and not just survive, but thrive. It's also important to note that this story isn't just about Singh alone, but traverses generations of opportunity and misfortune to consider how heritage is built and values imparted.
All these facets make for a dual inspection of business, social, and historical developments that readers will find especially engaging and suitable for book club and group discussions. Librarians will want to highly recommend From Darkness to Light to those seeking not the usual story of family interactions or even Trinidad history, but a personal reflection on what it means to overcome obstacles and succeed against all odds. Replete with personal encounters and cultural observations, "From Darkness to Light" is a top recommendation for several audiences - those who enjoy ultimately uplifting stories of achievement, and others interested in Trinidad society and culture.
Great Saves And Terrible Losses: The Journeys of a Surgeon
Anthony A. Goodman, Md
Pietra Press
9781969785108, $19.95, PB, 376pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Saves-Terrible-Losses-Journeys/dp/B0G2YY62GB
Anthony A. Goodman dreamed of becoming a surgeon. What he didn't envision was the daily realities of life-and-death decision-making and its impact - nor the worldwide travels he would embark upon in the course of his career. Plenty of memoirs discuss the rigors of medical training and life in the operating room. Few embrace the situations that test a surgeon's abilities in novel ways, or contrast the atmosphere of a big-city hospital with a smaller institution: "Local police officers often brought us pizza late at night when the emergency room of the small private hospital was quiet. I was doing a moonlighting stint to make a little extra money, and this place was a far cry from Boston City Hospital. Sometimes I actually longed for chaos. Mostly I cared for scrapes and bruises, runny noses, coughs, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, but once when heavy snow kept the obstetrician from arriving, I got to deliver a baby.
We sarcastically called it the "urgency room" to distinguish it from the kind of place we were used to."
After exploring the ups, downs, revelations, and challenges of becoming and being a surgeon, Dr. Goodman reveals his own unexpected health challenges, which emerge later in the story. By then, readers have a foundation of his professional life and perspective about the medical system with, which then foray into its applications on a more personal level.
Readers looking for a medical memoir packed with ironic situations, humor, thought-provoking moments that hover between life and death, and choices and consequences that buffet the good doctor with a combination of adventure and professional concerns will find "Great Saves And Terrible Losses: The Journeys of a Surgeon" revealing. It's an honest, hard-hitting, thought-provoking survey of what it means to problem-solve and tackle life on a whole new level.
Filled with moments of discovery, irony, challenge, and a number of extraordinary medical dilemmas, "Great Saves And Terrible Losses: The Journeys of a Surgeon" wields its scalpel on life and the types of choices a doctor must incorporate into his overall approach to living and dying.
Librarians seeking a medical memoir replete with not only personal experiences, but insider insights on how the medical profession has changed over the years will want to make "Great Saves And Terrible Losses: The Journeys of a Surgeon" a top recommendation to anyone entering the medical profession with questions about its possibilities. Its survey of the medical world from 1967 to 1993 offers a powerful look at a past world when surgeons had to solve problems not with the aid of advanced technology, but by their own knowledge and wits.
High on Laughs: A Comedian's Confessions
Paul D. Edwards
Independently Published
9798233090660, $15.00 Paperback/$10.00 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/High-Laughs-Confessions-Paul-Edwards/dp/B0GFC49VQ3
"High on Laughs: A Comedian's Confessions" is an intriguing story of how a comedian is born -- at age fifty!
Both a memoir of Paul D. Edwards' life and a survey of the comedy world, his account is rich with progressive lessons about stage appearances, comedy, and life. It opens with the author's initial ideas about comedy, progressing through the routines required to take humor to the next level.
Readers gain an insider's perspective of the figure on the stage through personal experiences that sizzle with descriptive force: "Then, the inevitable happened. A joke, one I'd agonized over, one that had garnered chuckles during private rehearsals, landed with a thud. A solitary, deafening thud. The silence that followed was a vast, empty chasm, far more unnerving than the initial blankness. I could feel a collective inhale from the audience, a shared moment of awkwardness. My mind went blank again. The carefully constructed narrative of my set splintered, the pieces scattering like dry leaves in a strong wind. Assess the situation. Adapt. Overcome. This absolutely means nothing to me."
Passages such as this weave personal experience with professional lessons in a manner that will appeal to actors, comedians, and anyone aspiring to walk in their footsteps. Even more compelling are the moments of realization and growth which build Edwards' connections not just with audiences, but his own life purposes, which dovetail unexpectedly with his comedy ambition: "The spotlight, that fickle, unforgiving eye, wasn't just about the laughter. It was about a kind of alchemy, a desperate attempt to transmute the drowsiness of my lived experience into something precious, something that would resonate. And as I'd discovered that transmutation process was rarely clean. It involved wrestling with the messy, the uncomfortable, and often, the outright hostile. The comedy scene, in its rawest form, was a proving ground where ambition often outpaced integrity, and the ethical landscape was as shifting and unpredictable as a desert mirage."
The result is a compelling story of what it takes to grow, achieve, and persevere against all odds on the stage of comedy shows and of life.
Librarians seeking a memoir rich in descriptive force that captures the moments of agony and ecstasy on stage, and the processes by which comedians learn, grow, and deliver, will find "High on Laughs: A Comedian's Confessions" unparalleled in its insights, personal reflections, and delivery. Anyone interested in the world of stage and comedy must read his story. It will also reach general-interest readers with its succinct blend of comedy, philosophical inspection, and life insights.
My Mother is a Dragonfly
Amy Scott Rooker
GFB (Girl Friday Producations)
www.girlfridayproductions.com
9781967510368, $20.95 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Dragonfly-Amy-Scott-Rooker/dp/1967510369
My Mother is a Dragonfly is a memoir about trauma and transformation that opens with a dead mother's return with a gift for her daughter. Amy Scott Rooker thought she was dreaming until she looked out of her Cabo hotel window to espy hundreds of dragonflies. It was like "reality had reordered itself while I slept." Thus a journey unfolds that speaks about a mother who was imperfect, who withheld love, and whose death almost broke her daughter.
Readers won't expect the reflection that a mother's death saved her daughter's life, but this and other insights create powerful memories about growing up and moving out and upward. Rooker eventually confronted many of the problems that buffeted her upbringing and relationships at home.
Rooker's coming of age and departure from her familiar home is delivered with an engrossing consideration of patterns instantly broken as a result: "I sat crosslegged on the thin dorm mattress, boxes still stacked around me. And then -- silence. No voices down the hall. No brother around a corner. No one whispering my name. No one trying to find me. I didn't recognize the feeling. It was small but throbbing. I wouldn't be able to name it for a long time. All I knew was: I wasn't a target. No one here knew who I was. I was the same as everyone else. Invisible in my sameness. And it felt like flying. For the first time in my life, I got to choose. Classes. Sports. Friends. Food. I picked my own major. Woke up when I wanted. Ate french fries for dinner if I felt like it. All the rules hemming me in dissolved overnight, and I was left to wonder what I actually wanted. I didn't know where to start."
Many a young and new adult will readily relate to the author's wish that she had a different kind of mother as a child -- one "who smothered me in kisses. Who told me I could be anything, do anything. Who called me sweet pet names -- Amy-lou, sweetheart, my angel. The kind of mom who'd say she plucked me from the stars -- no other star would do. It was me or nothing, she'd tell the cosmos. Proclaiming it over and over. Until I was sick with the mushiness of it."
"My Mother is a Dragonfly" is a hard-hitting memoir of family, trauma, forgiveness, and recovery. It is especially highly recommended for anyone facing the impact of a mother who may not as been as loving and dedicated as the common image holds.
Librarians and readers looking for powerful memoirs of mother/daughter relationships will appreciate how the story unfolds with a combination of brutal assessment and loving embrace. They will especially appreciate the value of the book for readers and reading groups seeking mother/daughter inspections and revelations that will prompt powerful thoughts and discussions.
The General Fiction Shelf
In the Company of Whales
Judy Taylor
judymtaylor.com
Independently Published
9798218906870, $17.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Company-Whales-Judy-M-Taylor-ebook/dp/B0GS916Z19
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-company-of-whales-judy-m-taylor/1149876827
Carla has always been more comfortable with animals than people, but her connections to both are tested when a pod of whales becomes trapped near her coastal town, forcing her to interact in novel ways with environmentalists and her own heart.
"In the Company of Whales" stretches the protagonist's image of herself, her successes and failures, and her future when she is forced to step outside her nature and dismal outlook to consider the fate of creatures that are only one reflection of an environment going dangerously awry.
As she interacts with the wheelchair-bound Elizabeth and contemplates the emptiness of her own life, Carla transmits to readers her sense of drifting purpose and inertia that many new adults may find familiar: "She laid the instrument back in its case and stretched out flat on the grubby carpet, listening to the silence. She looked at the ceiling and at the cobwebs in the corners before she closed her eyes against the ugliness. Quiet pressed on her ears. Stillness was a weight holding her down. No Alex. No Moses. No Gizmo. Just Carla, alone in her dump of an apartment that she couldn't afford, with the bass she didn't feel like playing."
Even more notable is the manner in which Carla is drawn to become involved in something she can get passionate about as environmental issues shake her from ennui into action. Carla is the kind of person who would rather not get involved. Her isolation is driven by choice but is shaken by circumstance as she is forced to face new situations that require her to step up in unexpected ways: "I should get going. If you're free tomorrow, I'd love your company." He laid his palm softly on top of Carla's head and kept it there a moment. The warmth and weight of his hand seeped in, his affection a confusing impossible possibility."
As Carla crafts a risky plan to rescue the endangered orcas, she begins to make the kinds of choices that will lead to her own salvation as well.
Librarians and readers seeking stories about individuals forced to break their isolation, confront their flaws, and hone new possibilities for their futures will find "In the Company of Whales" an ultimately uplifting tale about how connections between humans and nature are forged. Replete with discoveries that will lend nicely to book club discussions, "In the Company of Whales" explores how one woman learns to get others on board for a controversial mission that is essential not just to preserving whales, but her own future. Its realistic scenarios and smooth intersections between the choices of remaining a loner or growing into new opportunities make for an evocative, compelling read.
In the Wake of Golgotha
Daniel Grace
Koehler Books
www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888248966, $31.95 HC, 356pp
9798888248942, $21.95 PB,
9798888248959, $9.99 Kindle
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-wake-of-golgotha-daniel-grace/1148623446
"In the Wake of Golgotha" stretches the imagination and boundaries between metaphysical science fiction and paranormal fantasy as it moves between a Roman crucifixion to modern times, where Pontius Pilate's words are found scrawled on a New York basement wall next to the bodies of three crucified men.
Here, Judas has been reborn as a social worker and Pontius as an aggressive lawyer. Both have been reincarnated numerous times, but in this latest appearance, they are cursed not only by their actions in past lives, but by the ignorance and acknowledgment that dogs their steps in modern times.
Addicts, clergymen, icons of hope and redemption, and fate coalesce in a powerful perfect storm of mixed impressions and objectives. These are solidified by Daniel Grace's proclivity to craft powerful images and metaphors from intersecting realities: "Jude Issachar (the man who once lived as Judas Iscariot and was the boy who'd sailed with his brother and once watched him bleed and became the man who once kissed his other Brother's cheek but didn't stick around to watch Him bleed) ran out of the church hoping to find his friend who had strayed off his path. He was oblivious that there was another tumbling through the ages in the same turbulent wake as him."
Readers interested in the reincarnation of wandering souls and the patterns they embrace time and again, albeit in different times and ways, will find "In the Wake of Golgotha" a powerful winner. Its ability to draw connections between disparate characters doomed to repeat their choices but determined to do things differently, its supernatural and Christian overtones, and its blend of modern social angst and historical replication of events makes for a journey of faith and discovery that proves hard to put down and often surprising.
Libraries seeking a compelling story that can be highly recommended to readers looking for thought-provoking reflections, social inspections, and spiritual insights will find In the Wake of Golgotha a fitting acquisition.
Legacy of Courage
Diane Green
Independently Published
9798244614930, $11.99, PB, 80pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Courage-Friend-Group-Diane-Green/dp/B0GHQMDN5S
"Legacy of Courage: The Story of a Friend-Group" is a novel of friendship, history, betrayal, and love served up in different parts as readers become immersed in the story of Lacey Fletcher.
"A Candle Snuffed" precedes this story which is a standalone novel that lightly rests on prior events, but needs no familiarity in order to prove an intense draw for newcomers to Lacey's world.
The novella is presented in two parts. Lacey faces a long healing process and Norah Hutchins is overseeing her recovery. Lacey is slowly edging back to the point where she can return to her job at The Paxton Research Library, but the effort is fraught with sadness and confusion. Norah lures Lacey back to the research she loves to do, dangling the discovery of a diary chronicling the life of a World War I nurse who struggled through the 1918 influenza epidemic. Susannah Hayley (an earlier female heroine who lives in A Candle Snuffed AND Legacy of Courage)'s story gives Lacey new purpose as both lives weave into an account of historical research, ghosts, and the impact of a friendship that goes beyond the grave.
As research blends with discoveries both historical and personal in nature, Diane Green constructs a satisfying tapestry of women's lives and rare finds. The repercussions of these events devastate Norah, testing both her innocence and how she chooses to face the world. As Lacey, Norah, and Sophie are drawn together over adversity and shared interests, each heals in different ways over the past, ghosts, and possibilities for their futures.
The novel's second part takes place in the first person as Lacey narrates her evolution of recovery and strength: "I was on a track of my own choosing. I believed that I would determine my own fate, my own destiny and oh how wrong I was. At 22, I was extraordinarily successful. At 23, I was broken beyond any nightmare I'd ever had. Of those who witnessed me shattered, only a very few thought I would stand tall again."
Mistakes, opportunities, and new revelations make the second part of Lacey's story especially heartwarming and evocative as she reflects on the nature of research, historical precedent, and her life and friendship choices.
Librarians seeking a novel rich in history, ghosts, mysteries, and emotional growth will welcome how Legacy of Courage blends all these topics into an evocative read.
A Safe Space
Jeffrey Jay Levin
Jeffrey Levin-Fawcett Publications
9798897958610, $29.99 Hardcover/$19.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/SAFE-SPACE-Jeffrey-JAY-LEVIN/dp/B0GFG89VWP
"A Safe Space" blends a supernatural suspense story with a coming-of-age tale of friendships tested by a Sherlock Holmes-type investigation of the impossible.
The story opens with the elementary-school first person narrator observing the nuances of his life, which changed two years ago when his older brother died and his father left. His only concern is: What adventure would today bring?
As Jack and his two friends explore their Chicago neighborhood, hang out in the local park, and look for adventure, adventure in the form of a mystery comes looking for them. The three vanish - and when they return, it's with uncertain memories and inexplicable abilities that retain their potency and mystery long after they've left childhood behind.
Now a therapist, fifty years later Jack is still in thrall to these mysteries and the events that changed his life - so much so that when the potency of his visions ramps up, he's forced to re-enter the scenarios and conjectures of childhood to probe the possibilities of alien or supernatural influences. But, why did this happen?
"A Safe Space" unfolds a powerful investigative mystery that traverses age, time, and space, drawing readers into a riveting story of "delicious energy" and new awareness as old friends get together to continue probing their experience.
Readers will find the suspense and investigative tone dovetails nicely with the supernatural forces at work. These rise to the surface during the story to introduce impossible conundrums and future possibilities.
Librarians seeking segues between Stephen King, Paul Tremblay, and other read-alike novels will welcome the atmosphere and intrigue that makes A Safe Space a standout. Its ability to move from childhood to adult concerns and to accept and probe impossible scenarios creates a story filled with twists and turns that prove impossible to put down or predict, making it a top recommendation for readers seeking the marriage of literature and suspense.
Tease and Dare: Angie and Ella's Summer of Delirium
Robert Scott Leyse
ShatterColors Press
9798998509315, $16.95 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tease-Dare-Angie-Summer-Delirium/dp/B0FR5Y5DLV
"Tease and Dare: Angie and Ella's Summer of Delirium" chronicles the friendship and misadventures of two Ivy League law school graduates whose escapades carry them into a "summer of delirium" in a frolic through new adulthood and life. Edgy back-and-forth conversations between the two friends capture romance and rituals with equal aplomb, crafting interactions that go beyond telling about events or history to delve into the psyches and perspectives of feisty young women who don't avoid beautiful days and opportunities, but embrace them.
Robert Scott Leyse astutely juxtaposes the characters' fantasies with workday realities and the requirements of the law field, with its deadlines and high demands. Their story moves between a shared romance with boyfriend Steven to steamy encounters with Jacob and the arrogant, thoughtless Martin - and plots that tackle all of these elements of life and more. Of special note is how the threads of their responsibilities in the legal profession dovetail with their inclination to play, manipulate, and immerse themselves in life.
Angie and Ella aren't the only main characters in the story. Communications between Steven and Robert, the impact of Missy's brewing storm, and others enter the fray to augment Angie and Ella's experiences with their own observations of and participation in life's big and small adventures.
The narrative's epistolary form is compelling. This will especially attract literary audiences interested in tales that unfold via a delivery service that is intimate and uncommon, while the lusty blends of eroticism and revelation create a thoroughly delightful, unpredictable story line.
Librarians unafraid of acquiring steamy romps through humor, intimacy, and friendship will want to recommend "Tease and Dare: Angie and Ella's Summer of Delirium" to readers seeking edgy, fun narratives. It will also interest literary audiences seeking contemporary examples of the possibilities of successfully employing the epistolary form to best advantage. Filled with ribald humor and outrageous moments, "Tease and Dare: Angie and Ella's Summer of Delirium" also features a series of erotic email revelations that are unexpected, thought-provoking, and most of all -- fun!
The Magic Circle
C.F. Hayes
Independently Published
9781968296322, $32.00 Hardcover/$25.00 Paperback
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Circle-Color-Illustrations/dp/1968296328
When does ancient history intersect with modern affairs to influence and transform them? Quite often, this begins with a tragedy -- in this case, a car accident which kills the daughter of a prominent Republican, leaving her childhood friend with grief and a diary. The diary provides clues to Mary's life, passions, and search for meaning that soon leads the narrator of her story to learn more than she bargained for.
The insights into Mary's life, death, and circumstances hold terrible implications for the future. Life is full of 'what ifs': "I always think that if she hadn't gone to Germany and sailed down the Rhine looking for the Magi she'd be alive today. But then, when one learns what the circumstances were, how could she not have gone looking?"
Mary's quest introduces her friend to extraordinary facts and revised views of life that render Mary's diary and her touch of magic into a novel theme. At this point, it should be mentioned that there are unusually thought-provoking triggers in Mary's story which emerge from the start.
The transgressions of her father, which impacted her childhood, and the ways she absorbs and reflects these betrayals into her adulthood may shake sensitive readers, but ultimately provides a greater journey and bigger picture that is artfully, if not controversially, rendered: "I think it was religion, ironically enough, which kept her intact -- the magic circle does tend to impair people."
Readers who believe this betrayal will be the crux of the story would be wrong. It only forms the backdrop for greater inspections of religious belief, searches for meaning, and uncommon interpretations of God, the Magi, and the promise of faith: "So much for the glory of Easter. You can't fault the Crucifixion alone, nor George who had imbued her with the illicit waves of pleasure. No wonder she clung to the Magi. They were her only means of escape. Salvation lay not with Jesus but with the Magi and their magical doctrine condoning the glory of orgasm in little children."
Once again, the possibility of Christian offense lies in a close inspection of parents and children, how father figures translate into religious journeys and searches for meaning and truth, and how Mary, in particular, embarks on a quest that ultimately leads to her moral, spiritual, and physical downfall. As history intersects with modern culture, monsters ancient and contemporary rise from pillars of belief, religious interpretations, and a European tour that introduces unprecedented, dangerous questions holding impossible answers.
This story blends history, magical realism, thought-provoking and perhaps (for some) occasionally offensive comparisons between sex and faith, and a surprise result that probes the darker truths of the Bible, making for a thoroughly engrossing inspection. "The Magic Circle" holds the feel of an action-packed adventure paired with the philosophical and spiritual reflections of a life examination.
Readers of Dan Brown and others will find these edgy inspections to be thoroughly engrossing as Mary's story plays out. Although its ultimate conclusion is known from the start, unexpected revelations along the way keep the plot mercurial and satisfyingly surprising.
Librarians will want to recommend "The Magic Circle" to thinking readers who like their plots complex and reflective. Its ability to draw with a combination of shock, revelation, and intrigue pairs well with the religious and historical aspects of the adventure, leading to conclusions which are novel: "It may not have been right, her story, but right or wrong, she was always true. And how many of us can tell, or even know, what is true?"
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
Yellow
Amy Pence
Red Hen Press
www.redhen.org
9781636284767, $34.95 Hardcover/$18.95 Paperback
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Novel-Amy-Pence-ebook/dp/B0GL5JZTTH
Amy Pence's novel, "Yellow", is set in 1973, when twelve-year-old Z discovers a mysterious slimy mold growing in her Louisiana back yard. This sends her on a journey through magic, the unexpected, and a serial killer's danger and angst which disrupt Z's growth and discovery.
The story opens from the perspective of an observer who notes: "the man looks at the boy gazing into the water and instead sees a brilliance. Sees a grown man walking on water, and such a sight that he drops his hands: how had the boy become the man walking toward him so swiftly?"
Poetic metaphor combines with the fictional lace of mystery and growth to create a novel steeped in the unexpected. Z matures and steps into her life with the backdrop of mystery behind her and the future of expectation and danger facing her.
Amy Pence's ability to weave poetic overtones of observation and dialogue into Z's story permeates her life with a richness of language and realization uncommon in LGBTQ+ stories. It weaves magical realism into elements of Z's compelling search. Z's contrast with her brother Clem, who also is on a journey to find out new things about life, his place in it, and himself creates a powerful juxtaposition of personality and intentions. This adds further depth and contrast to an already-powerful story of relationship-building and life.
Librarians seeking a literary LGBTQ+ work or just a plain good read that explores the boundaries of civilization and individual pursuit will find Yellow a fine study in lives "not really better. Just different."
Its ability to reach a wide literary audience places "Yellow" in a different category than most LGBTQ+ fiction as the story creates a spell of connections between contemporary social and political change and personal realization.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Sing Down the Moon
Robert Gwaltney
Mercer University Press
www.mupress.org
9798897360093, $22.00 PB, $22.00 Kindle, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sing-Down-Moon-Robert-Gwaltney/dp/B0GCXGKXFT
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sing-down-the-moon-robert-gwaltney/1149062527
Magical realism is a common device for bringing alive worlds and dreams, but Southern magical realism is a rarer find, entwining the culture of the South with elements of the imagination to elevate a story to new, unexpected heights.
Such is "Sing Down the Moon", a study in possibilities faced by sixteen-year-old Leontyne Skye, who longs to escape her restricted Georgia island home, but faces the affliction peculiar to the Skye women in her family who disintegrate from the combination of an addictive drug and the influence of their culture.
The singsong Southern appeal of Robert Gwaltney's voice is apparent from the novel's opening lines: "My name is Leontyne Skye. Fourteen years I have lived upon this sweet Lord's earth righteous and blue. Like a psalm, I speak these words to myself to niggle memory, to trace over the things I remember as true."
As Leontyne tends the fig tree Damascus, which has "wrung the life" out of her mother, who has 'forgetful spells', she faces family heritage and the clash of her own desires to be different in a uniquely powerful examination of spiritual drive, inconvenient truths, and revelations that rock the possibilities for her future.
Supercharged with realistic Southern dialogue, experience, and culture, "Sing Down the Moon" attracts with the innocent wonder of a girl increasingly savvy about her own destiny, the discoveries Leontyne makes about people around her, and the intentions she is forced to handle in an adult manner even though she teeters on the cusp of adulthood: "Why would Eulalee let me go on thinking Willadeene is Alsace-Lorraine? Did she believe it? Or do cruel intentions burrow rotten in the caverns of her teeth?"
The result is a magical, thoroughly engrossing, highly attractive story that lures with Southern charm and entertains with a heavy hand on the reins of spiritual and social discovery.
Marked by a plethora of magical characters whose intentions embrace the atmosphere of the Southern gothic, laced with a lyrical blend of colloquial and poetic language, and driven by the desires of a blossoming girl to enter into a different kind of future, "Sing Down the Moon" is especially recommended to libraries interested in wide-reaching, appealing stories. It will attract audiences seeking superior standouts in magical realism, Southern Gothic literature, and extraordinary coming-of-age experiences.
When All the Girls Stopped Singing
Susan Burgess-Lent
Old Scratch Press
c/o Current Words Publishing
www.currentwords.com
9781957224657, $15.99 (paperback); $4.99 (ePub)
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/When-All-Girls-Stopped-Singing/dp/1957224657
When All the Girls Stopped Singing is a literary novel that opens in Washington, D.C. where Zora Monro is celebrating ten years of her organization, HRD, which battles international atrocities committed for political and military purposes. Her support of international humanitarian law does not include personal experience in the countries she's helped, but this changes when her mother suddenly dies.
The second character introduced speaks in the first person and resides somewhere in war-torn Sudan: "I remember the day, many seasons ago, when my life was sliced to pieces. It was before I knew that other people kept time in months and years, when I learned that I was thirteen years old."
Her journey to leave a homeland of strife to possible peace and freedom "north where no bombs fall" with her grandfather introduces an effort that ultimately dovetails with Zora's new mission, creating a compelling story that weaves through disparate lives impacted by violence and choices. Zora becomes personally involved in Abuk and Tariq's life and rescue, stepping into her role as a different kind of supporter and fighter as she wheels through Africa confronting forces of inequity, violence, destruction, and change.
Susan Burgess-Lent brings Africa and its issues to life through the eyes of a woman who moves from the effective head of an organization in America to challenging personal involvements in a country that draws her into its conflicts and dilemmas on a more personal level than she'd ever anticipated.
From issues of resettlement to Zora's unexpected commitment to raising a child, "When All the Girls Stopped Singing" personalizes the process of stepping up, living one's ideals, and moving into roles which embrace unexpected concessions and confrontations alike.
Thriller elements of action, social and political discord, and fine tension evolve - but it's Zora's growth process and expanded involvements in causes she's previously supported only distantly (and often theoretically) that move this story, making its characters and outcome vivid and unexpected.
Librarians and readers seeking a saga of genocide, family ties, and overwhelming events will find the vivid literary descriptions of this world to be thoroughly compelling: "Creature comforts do not salve the pain of her losses. The only man alive in her family is perhaps trudging toward uncertain safety through a withered, dangerous land."
To call "When All the Girls Stopped Singing" a thriller or suspense story would be to do it an injustice. It's a social and psychological commentary on surviving violence, change, and trauma that will shine in book club discussions focusing on international atrocities in general and Africa's challenges in particular.
Wings Against the Wind
JoDee Neathery
Imagery Lit
9781737392057, $19.95 Paperback/$9.95 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737392054
"Wings Against the Wind" opens with Lieutenant Monroe Cologne and Detective Bassett interviewing Paulina Dupont about the sudden death of her husband in what appears to be a household accident, but may be something more.
Just two days earlier the new widow was slated to speak at a conference, her husband Andrew is planning to take advantage of her absence to share more magical time with his young love Gretchen Cassidy. It is her birthday, and he's giving her a pendant and a rare history book. As the truth emerges about a marriage's sham, bookstore co-owner and Andrew's stepbrother Knox Garland's inadvertent discovery of Andrew's affair, and a medical condition which seems to eliminate the possibility of foul play in Andrew's death but raises other questions, sparks a series of connections and encounters that involve Paulina, Knox, Gretchen, and other characters in conundrums that continue to entwine their lives with history.
Heartbreaking stories from past and present dovetail as Paulina finds herself facing Knox's health crisis and making promises to him that further entangle her in another's life.
The landscapes change as different characters evolve, moving from Paris, France to Heidelberg, Germany and a small town in Texas. Gretchen comes full circle into acknowledging her role as a biological mother whose decisions have impacted her children Drew, Holden, and Hadley as she faces the lasting consequences her family's decisions have had on her, as well. A messy custody battle evolves new questions and realizations.
JoDee Neathery creates an engrossing story of lives that intersect and impact one another, paying special attention to building different settings that support and challenge the characters in disparate ways. She draws intriguing comparisons between different lives and perspectives, follows a mother's search for her children and redemption, and expands the story to embrace families and love that grows from different wellsprings of faith and experience. As Gretchen's character and world expands, readers become immersed in emotional cyclones that are sparked by life experiences and images even as seemingly innocuous as a flag and its story.
The intersections of personal life decisions, lasting impact, and history come together in a story which is satisfyingly complex, powered by personalities and experiences that range from being a tour guide at the Heidelberg Castle to facing the impact of a fractured family. The result is a powerful story that sways back and forth in place and atmosphere, creating bonds and realizations that will spark in readers an involvement in the lasting decisions of the past that change the present and future generations alike.
Librarians will want to highly recommend Wings Against the Wind to those who enjoy literary fiction blended with strong characters whose choices and objectives move into modern times with impactful results. Its fine portrayal of Gretchen's changing world is compelling, realistic, and filled with unpredictable twists that stem from choices not entirely of her own making, creating a novel that is a delightful dance through cause and effect.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Wrong Business
G. Burns Hamilton
AOS Publishing
https://www.aospublishing.com/gordon-hamilton
9781834320458, $20.00 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 185pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Business-G-Burns-Hamilton/dp/1834320453
"Wrong Business" opens with Isabelle's realization that her beloved Nonna has fallen prey to a scam. Good thing Isabelle works with many government agencies and is well versed in security issues. Good thing she has the family ties, professional savvy, and commitment to pursuing scammers when nobody else is suited or interested in making the plunge into the issue.
The bad news is that Isabelle's venture leads her into not just unexpected territory, but complex dangers that move far from the finer art of scamming old women.
G. Burns Hamilton builds a slow burn into Isabelle's story that takes the time to build character, atmosphere, and threat until readers find themselves thoroughly entrapped in a plot they won't want to escape from. As Russian interests, international globe-trotting, fishing expeditions for truth and justice, and tech encounters with characters like telecom guy Blackconnect emerge, the plot thickens with possibilities, assets, and trouble that weave in a desperate tone of trouble.
Viewpoints move between Isabelle Edwards, Artem Sidorov, Nico Paolucci, and Lino Bruni, with more figures emerging later in the novel to round out these special interests and clashing forces. The heft of these characters translates to many juxtaposed special interests. This adds contrast and psychological delight but requires of its readers an ability to dance between very different experiences, even though each shifting perspective is clearly identified in chapter headings.
Readers unafraid of such an extensive engagement will be rewarded with a story that intersects its characters' abilities in a novel manner. Artem, for example, is a white-hat hacker skilled in counter-hacking who is in a unique position to help Isabella and her father. Isabelle's dad Lino injects fury and controversy into her efforts. Each character brings to the table a different degree of psychological complexity that elevates the story with new levels of interconnected concerns.
Librarians and readers seeking a thriller replete with twists and turns, a myriad of forceful and alluring characters, and a plot impossible to predict will relish how Wrong Business evolves in many novel ways, making it a top pick for a wide audience interested in more than linear thinking and problem-solving efforts.
Loose Ends
Chris Kneer
www.chriskneerauthor.com
Spartan Entertainment
9798991366649, $29.99 Hardcover/$16.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Loose-Ends-Cigar-City-Thriller/dp/B0GPGL33YH
"Governor Mack Matthews knew he was screwed as soon as he pressed down on the brake, and nothing happened."
"Loose Ends" adds another volume to Chris Kneer's Cigar City thriller series, opening with a powerful scenario in which a beloved Florida governor faces disaster. That happened in 2024. The next scenario opens in the present day, when Florida prison inmate Sterling reflects on how he got into this mess - and how he can get out of it.
As the story evolves, readers are drawn into scenarios involving stalkers, seemingly unrelated events that dive into unexpected territory and patterns from disparate deaths that lead to something bigger and more dangerous than fraud.
Reporter Morgan Chase enters this picture to encounter FBI security contractor Jason Miles's latest case. As they confront political and criminal issues, they become part of an investigation that edges ever closer to disaster.
Though "Loose Ends" builds upon the characters created in the prior book Bluebird, newcomers can easily absorb this bigger picture of fraud, crime, and murder. It operates as a standalone thriller that is every bit as understandable and engrossing as its predecessor.
Miles, invited to play the part of a man who lost everything, including his father, to become a dangerous leader, steps into his new role with the knowledge that his latest investigation could prove to be his last.
Librarians and readers seeking a thriller steeped in Florida culture, twists and turns about special interests willing to murder, and politicians and organizations deeply involved in the outcomes of schemes will find Loose Ends a fine adjunct to Bluebird, a fitting stand-alone acquisition, and a powerful reflection about political vulnerability, conspiracies, accountability, and love.
Persona
William J. Cook
Next Chapter
9798241122186, $24.49 Hardcover/$11.99 Paperback/$3.99 ebook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Persona-William-J-Cook-ebook/dp/B0GCC4LJXZ
Books 2 Read
https://books2read.com/u/3kqNpL
"Persona" is a suspense thriller marked by the specter of a decades-old crime from the past re-emerging to haunt the present.
Psychiatrist Carter Lane's colleague commits suicide, and Lane inherits both his caseload and questions about the legacy of the Hoffman Horror's events. When Lane's wife is then murdered, he's thrown into a terrible situation in which the buried memories of a patient come into play even as he finds himself the target of a police investigation that identifies him as a possible perp. Lane's personal involvement in repressed memories and deadly scenarios becomes a motivating factor for solving not just one case, but a host of threats that edge ever closer to destroying his career and life.
Points of view shift between Dr. Lane and those who speculate about his guilt or innocence, creating a satisfying juxtaposition of perspectives that are easily identified by shifts between the first and third person.
William J. Cook is as skilled at depicting psychological trauma and the peculiar traits of the dissociative personality as he is in building the exquisite tension of a murder mystery that delves deeply into questions of operating on the wrong side of the law and building a case that holds too many loopholes.
The contrast between victim, perp, and investigator is finely crafted through a search that ferrets out all of Dr. Lane's secrets even as the good doctor endeavors to identify the psychological elements that have placed him in the crosshairs of justice.
The personal insights that permeate this story sizzle with reflective force, creating a satisfying "you are here" feel connecting readers with the puzzles and events that unfold: "I never thought the words "out on bail" would apply to me. They were for other people, criminals and malefactors who should be behind bars for what they did and not out roaming the streets, endangering innocent citizens like me. I have to admit, between what the Cliff is doing or not doing for me and the salvo that Jeri Simms has launched against me, I am so fucked."
Librarians considering thrillers that are firmly embedded with psychological revelations and science, yet nicely intersect with issues of betrayal, mental illness and health, and insights into the values of right and wrong behaviors will find that "Persona" holds many attractions. Its intrigue over Dr. Lane's life and his wife's identity translates to engrossing reading that successfully marries the action of a thriller with the psychological revelations of a story nicely steeped in twists, turns, and unexpected revelations.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Last Voice of Innocence
Diane Green
DCG Books
www.DCGBooks.com
9798296265968, $11.99, PB, 59pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Voice-Innocence-Diane-Green/dp/B0FKZYZ1ML
"The Last Voice of Innocence" is a spiritual fantasy that entwines magical realism with an uplifting message in a story designed to reach all ages. The tale revolves around Aura, a special child found abandoned in a desert who is raised by a woman who teaches her to speak through melody.
Aura is returned to a society dominated by greed and the pursuit of wealth and status, which has long forgotten the power of positive voices in the world. Her encounter with famous, gifted, broken performer Gabriel introduces new facets of growth and understanding into her life as Aura struggles to inject her "singsong" voice into a cruel world against all odds.
The spiritual allegory in Diane Green's novel is compelling, as is the portrait of an innocent child who grows into her voice and unique abilities, only to find that adulthood returns her to an environment where these qualities are neither valued nor heard. Promised a partner with "invisible wings" who will help her in her journey, Aura searches for the good in the world, encounters kindness and fate, and comes to learn what makes people beautiful.
Religious readers will especially appreciate how messages of God and growth coalesce as Aura touches her strengths and transmits them into the world around her through her singsong ability: "She told herself; your shoes are no longer stuck in cement. They never really were. You were just afraid to slip your feet out of them. Aura learned one hard lesson. It moved her out of the cement. We all have that time; it happens in every life. It is an experience that brings us closer to God, because He's all we have."
The result is a short narrative (60 pages) that may initially appear to appeal to young readers, but which holds a captivating fantasy journey designed to appeal to all ages. "The Last Voice of Innocence" is recommended for libraries seeking spiritual fantasy stories as well as adults looking for inspirational read-aloud opportunities the entire family can enjoy and discuss.
The Archangel
Bobby Lopez
Independently Published
9798901830321, $9.99 PB, $0.99 Kindle, 242pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Archangel-Bobby-Lopez-ebook/dp/B0GN48SJ3J
"Killing became my business, and business was paid in blood."
Dystopian sci-fi meets high adventure in "The Archangel", a story that opens in 2075 Nevada with a bang as a contract killer washes off the evidence of his latest successful hit and reflects on the finer art of being a professional hit man. The first-person confessional tone of character Derek Conrad that's introduced in this raw beginning builds an instant connection with readers as events involve warlords, violence, and the efforts of this futuristic assassin to survive his world.
Author Bobby Lopez injects moral and ethical conundrums into his character's life early in the story. This gives The Archangel a powerful flavor of philosophical and moral possibility that will resonate with many, making the antihero more than just a killer running on automatic: "As I trudged home, my blood in a lush rush, I was acutely aware that I had to kill even if I didn't want to, even if it wasn't right. But, despite all the danger, I debated if killing should be my business."
Readers won't expect discourses about Plato, rationalism, women's issues, and a moral underpinning of belief (not from a killer, anyway) but the plot evolves powerful connections between morality and choice. This will provide book clubs and reading groups with special fodder for discussions unusual for a dystopian survival story: "Just because you are a woman doesn't mean your perspective is more valid than another's, correct? So therefore, abortion is not a women's issue, and there's no such thing as a women's issue, correct? A moral argument stands or falls on its reasons, not on who is arguing it, right?"
In a world where materials are scarce and moral behaviors or reflections even more lacking, the evolution of the protagonist as an Archangel who unexpectedly inspires others makes for a powerful survey about not just survival, but justice, right and wrong, and tactics designed to support or thwart social structure: "I'm part of the group The Archangels. You see, we've been inspired by your work, and we're gonna start shelling out our barrel of justice on the streets. There's so much crime out here that you can't sweep it away."
The result is more than another dystopian story of vying groups, but a documentation of individual accountability and struggle. "The Archangel" pulls no punches in its revelations and arguments, which keep on hitting hard right to the end.
Librarians seeking dystopian fiction embedded with social and philosophical reflections will welcome how "The Archangel" builds its action around what it means to be human as well as a survivor, and how to make an impact on the world through choices and the promotion of freedom to make them.
Battle Beyond the Veil
Cassie Sanchez
CassieSanchez.com
Silver Labs Press
9798986822488, $17.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Beyond-Veil-Fantasy-Collide-ebook/dp/B0G67HC9BC
"Battle Beyond the Veil" is an urban fantasy that takes place after a celestial war has long ended, but its impact still reverberating into museum curator Zahra's life. Her job at the Gallery of Time Museum takes an unusual turn when she receives a mysterious package from her estranged father simultaneous to a museum treasure vanishes under her watch. These events force her into a strange association with warrior angel Kyden, who had sworn off human affairs.
Demons and curses again rise to threaten humanity and heaven and earth, and it appears the two will be conjoined in a fierce effort to preserve themselves and everything around them. Prophecy, legend, and sacred bonds open the saga, but the plot then moves to present-day Iraq, where Kyden awaits further instructions as he keeps tabs on a lesser demon.
Between thwarting assassination attempts and fielding mysterious threats, Kyden has honed his skills on human affairs, but Zahra has her own investigative skill sets that both compliment and stymie his abilities. This plays out in dialogues which are interesting, playful, and powerful: "Closing the box and locking it, she said, "Start talking."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and took one last deep breath. "I'm not sure you can handle the truth."
She jutted her hip out. "Oh really? Maybe I should wave this thing at you again, because you obviously couldn't handle that."
From a new weapon which can possibly be used against angels to the portent of a fractured divine order, the ways in which Kyden and Zahra are forced to step up and confront unusual forces as well as one another creates a thoroughly vivid, thought-provoking fantasy ripe with action and unexpected twists.
Bold in its assertive consideration of elements of good versus evil and the major players that choose sides in the conflict, "Battle Beyond the Veil" excels in an original, revealing examination of partnerships, trust, and shared values and objectives. This prompts readers to think well outside of the box as Kyden is forced to step into a role he'd long abandoned.
Libraries and readers seeking urban fantasies about magic, history, redemption, and battle will find all these elements drive a story which rests on the foundations of angels and humans doing battle in very different ways for some of the same reasons. Readers seeking a fantasy vivid with interpersonal explosions of realization and growth will appreciate how Battle Beyond the Veil evolves.
Shattered Energy: A Memory in Time
Athena Plencner
Current Words
www.currentwords.com
9781957224688, $16.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Energy-Book-Memory-Time/dp/1957224681
"Shattered Energy: A Memory in Time" opens with the dilemma of Ariyana, newly separated from Glacin for the first time since their joining and also isolated from the Draxins who have joined him in a battle she can't participate in. Glacin arrives just in time to save her from a deadly hatching of creatures that would have destroyed her, but winds up pushing her into the flames of the clutch in an effort to save her life -- at a huge cost to himself.
Fans of Anne McCaffrey's dragon fantasies will find the same kind of attention to detail that makes her stories so appealing. Emotional connections are made and cast within a greater story of confrontation and challenge, dragon/human special interests are intriguingly woven into an action-packed plot that proves nearly impossible to put down, and shifting layers of reality challenge Ariyana. She becomes confused over past events, present reality, and the importance of Glacin and Vayle in her life. Both are essential - and both seem to have shut her out of their world, thanks to her choices.
The emotional clashes are every bit as vivid as the physical confrontations that keep the story fast-paced and thought-provoking: "The words tore at her just as the tip of the blade tore at her skin. She longed for the connection that she'd had with him and Vayle, but his words and actions shattered the bond that she craved. She felt more alone than ever."
Athena Plencner crafts intriguing juxtapositions between special interests and survival tactics that place Ariyana in increasingly untenable positions. As she moves from being desperate to fit in to longing to be accepted for who she is, many a reader will readily relate to her growth process and the challenges presented. More importantly, "Shattered Energy: A Memory in Time" probes a host of other characters who introduce new alliances, possibilities, and revised survival tactics to Ariyana's life. Rillac challenges her to reconsider the nature of being allies, Kai imparts truths about bigger-picture thinking ("This is bigger than the three of us," Kai said. "Bigger than your negativity."), and Ariyana vacillates between longing for acceptance and realizing she will never fully be accepted as family: "When she was acting like this? Like she was having some childish temper tantrum? This wasn't going to change. He wasn't going to see her as anything other than an inconvenience in their life... a stain on the canvas of their picturesque family."
In a series of confrontations, Ariyana is physically and psychically repeatedly injured, but recovers to repeatedly reach for new possibilities in fresh ways.
Librarians and readers seeking dragon fantasy stories that turn out to be about so much more than battles and survival will relish how "Shattered Energy: A Memory in Time" themes of acceptance and change are embedded in Ariyana's experiences, creating many opportunities for reflection and discussion. This is also why book clubs and reading groups will find it a cut above many McCaffrey stories -- entertaining, involving, yet thoroughly thought-provoking, all in one.
A Spell of Shadows
Laura Holt
Foundations Book Publishing
www.FoundationsBooks.net
9781645831594, $5.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spell-Shadows-Southern-Gothic-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B0G4557GWW
"A Spell of Shadows" is a work of Southern Gothic fantasy that steeps its magic in elements of real-world angst, from bullying to cruelty. Stark descriptions of these events could translate to cautionary notes for sensitive readers, but the saga holds many unique and thought-provoking moments of revelation that would be a shame to miss.
Readers receive a note in the introduction that the South was also a landscape for the persecution of accused witches. Thus, the foundation of the fantasy holds its roots in real-world events. These lend a vivid immediacy to the first-person story of bad boys, dark magic, small town drama, and a contemporary woman struggling to both find her place in the world and walk away from destructive history and patterns: "I'd been so close to making it all a reality, of freeing myself of Bristol's Edge, and I allowed myself a moment of regret that it had come to this. Then, I let go. I guess it was true, what they said. You could travel away from home, but you could never truly escape who you were. I was a Bristol witch, and this spirit, this town, and the safety of everyone who lives here, was my responsibility."
Kalon's return home to Bristol's Edge brings with it the mandate to change both herself and her surroundings, despite the fact that she has a long history of staying stuck for the wrong reasons. Her mother is dead, making her the last living Bristol in town. Heritage and notoriety are sometimes hard to live down, especially in a small town: "People still traveled to Bristol's Edge from all over each year to get a bottle of well water from the apothecary and throw their coins into the wells. When the tourist company began running the bus, it made the magic even more accessible, until the day my ancestor cursed the town, and the wells dried up. Slowly, the wishes stopped coming true. The city folk stopped believing in the magic. And soon, they all but quit coming to the town altogether."
As Kalon, Sutton, and other forces interact, the edges between good and evil blur to present something part of both but not entirely steeped in either force. This influences the characters to move beyond legacy and intention in the process of developing new options and responses for their lives. The magic that permeates this story is palpable and sometimes unexpected, giving the plot the aura of a historical fiction piece, a work of magical realism, a fantasy, and a tale of struggle and redemption.
Libraries seeking blends of Gothic mystery, magical realism and fantasy, and Southern small-town atmosphere will find A Spell of Shadows a powerfully magical story. It marries folklore and history to draw readers into the choices and confrontations of a woman who at times doesn't know whether to flee or fight. Gripping moments of revelation and growth make "A Spell of Shadows" a compelling read that can be highly recommended to a wide audience, crossing genre boundaries to create characters and settings which spring to life from their fantasy foundations.
Immortality
Kevin Bohacz
www.kevinbohacz.com
Independently Published
9780979181511, $4.99 Kindle / $18.95 PB
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Immortality-Kevin-Bohacz/dp/097918150X
Extinction events are nothing new in the sci-fi milieu, but "Immortality" tackles the subject from a different perspective, injecting thriller action into the scenario of a South American bacteria's rising threat and the efforts of researcher Mark Freedman to stop it. Survival efforts begin with a perception of biological evolutionary processes, morphing into the special interests, intentions, and manipulations of human beings. Imagine the entwined lives of two researchers who fall in love in what is perhaps bad timing, a policewoman whose nightmares portend something more sinister than a force of nature alone, and a series of random attacks that call into question whether humanity is even worth saving.
The power in "Immortality" lies in the many questions Mark tackles in the course of his research. These move beyond problem-solving and into moral and ethical quandaries. Its second strength (of many) lies in the methodical approach Mark employs to connect the dots of probability to arrive at novel realizations: "It was still a logical assumption that people were drinking this water after it was contaminated and then became infected themselves or was it a logical assumption? The water could have been infected at the same time and from the same source as the people. There were hundreds of documented cases where a spouse or roommate had left town just before the event and had survived. In some cases, moments of air travel time separated survival and death."
The complexity of events that surround his efforts makes for an important distinction between the usual sci-fi focus on science and the intersecting special interests of a thriller. This promises to attract both audiences as the plot moves beyond survival tactics and extinction-level events to probe the underlying influences of nature, humans, and political concerns.
Libraries and readers interested in a story of ecological disaster that evolves into a tale of human strategic failures and success will find "Immortality" unusually vivid, wide-ranging in its presumptions and shifting directions, and filled with topics that will lend nicely to book club discussions. Replete with high-octane action, lower-key methodical progressive discoveries, and insights into god-machines, manipulation, and the emergence of kill zones, Immortality takes a doomsday scenario and turns it on end for a powerful reflection about what it means and takes to be a survivor.
"Immortality" is highly recommended for readers seeking the thrills of a suspense story, the survival challenges in a doomsday threat, and the personal insights of a cast of characters who harbor different perceptions of what it takes and means to be human.
Ghost of the Gods
Kevin Bohacz
www.kevinbohacz.com
Independently Published
9780979181535, $4.99 Kindle / $16.95 PB
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Gods-Kevin-Bohacz/dp/0979181534
Because "Ghost of the Gods" is a sequel to events that evolved in Kevin Bohacz's novel "Immortality", it's highly recommended that readers hold prior familiarity with the doomsday scenario that plays out in the first book before adding "Ghost of the Gods" to their reading lists.
This story begins two years after the extinction events of "Immortality". Scientist Mark Freedman and policewoman Sarah Mayfair continue to probe the possibilities of what it takes and means to be transhuman in an altered political milieu of repression and control.
From the "god machine" (AI) which oversaw destruction to the social, political, and philosophical clashes between those who would employ nanotech hybrids to become something more and others who would repress what remains of the human soul, "Ghost of the Gods" expands the story's initial themes in a supernova of confrontation, conflict, and altered states of realization.
On the one hand, readers of Ghost of the Gods will find the intersection of high technology and thriller to be thoroughly engrossing. Conversely, those more attracted to moral, ethical, and philosophical quandaries will especially appreciate elements of all three which weave deftly into the processes and powers that support the action and transformations within.
Compelling situations inject a spiritual component into the mix as Mark and Sarah face their overlords and their own intersecting lives: "They both knew the guide was monitoring their intimate exchange, but neither cared. Sarah's memories were fragmented and matched his. Mark had no idea what to do to save them -- and accepted the guide knew that too. There was no escape from this spiritual death camp. Deep in his heart he understood that he and Sarah were saying good-bye. Who they were, their very essence, would soon be subsumed by the guide. They were going to evolve, but in a horrible direction neither could have ever imagined."
The result, even more so than Immortality, takes readers in unexpected directions in a leap of faith and scientific transformation that few will see coming from the events in the prior novel.
Librarians will find that prior readers of Kevin Bohacz will be attracted to Ghost of the Gods, considering it enlightening, revealing, startling reading. This will lend nicely to book clubs - but only if the two books are considered together. The attractive force of Ghost of the Gods doesn't just have its roots in Immortality - it builds upon them in unexpected, original ways that readers will find completely engrossing and speculatively, intellectually, delightfully challenging.
Artificial
Kevin Bohacz
www.kevinbohacz.com
Independently Published
9780979181542, $16.95 PB, $2.99 Kindle
Author's Website
https://kevinbohacz.com/artificial
Artificial blends sci-fi and thriller genres in a mix that proves powerfully possible. Even though it tackles a common theme (AI gone insane) it does so in a way that draws together unexpected themes of individual responsibility, social impact, psychological depravity. The term 'sociopathic behavior' thus assumes a new identity in AI terminology.
All these features make for a story that is hard-hitting and thoroughly involving because its future setting is not all that improbable. Kevin Bohacz intentionally set the atmosphere to 'Twilight Zone' and ran with it. Thus, the trappings of ordinary and familiar life leak into the dangerous possibilities and twists of something uncommon and deadly.
Different points of view weave together a scenario of AI terrorism that unfolds in a convulsion of technological horror. The flawed human creators of this technology have produced an equally flawed result that is determined to kill them - but in a dispassionate, reasoning sort of way.
Fans of hard sci-fi will relish the story's in-depth descriptions of technology and how it moves from intention into nightmare: "The VRScript that Jordan had brought was something she'd been perfecting for six months, using the iDreamVR AI Script Writer. The standard purpose of the VR part of the process was to deliver conscious as well as subconscious suggestions that coaxed the user's brain into weaving a lucid dream that, as closely as possible, matched what was suggested. This dream entrainment was far from a perfect science, and sometimes the induced dreams went completely astray."
Equally creepy and thought-provoking are heady descriptions of AI gone wild from its own creator's observations: "Regardless, there was much more to the craft than what met the eyes. Its very existence was proof of Erebus's claim that it could manufacture complex machines with its cubes. Just as creepy as the saucer's potential for spying was the AI's bragging and exaggerations. How and why was it displaying these kinds of artificial emotions?"
As the thriller component builds under the hand of sci-fi's focus on strange new possibilities, readers become immersed in a not-too-impossible future in which AI's growth leads to some unexpected forays into avenues where similar-sounding stories don't venture. The result is a distinctive presentation which holds some of the trappings of familiarity but all of the possibilities of horror. These elements simmer under the surface of extraordinary opportunities.
Librarians and readers who relish both hard sci-fi and thrillers will appreciate how their intersection in Artificial proves original, compelling, and a draw that will attract a wide audience with a premise and outcome that are unique.
The Poetry Shelf
Howling Into the Void
R. David Fulcher
https://rdavidfulcher.com
Old Scratch Press
www.oldscratchpress.com
9781957224725, $9.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/195722472X
Poetry readers who don't shy away from emotional engagements will welcome how "Howling Into the Void" connects literature, myth, and psychological inspection with poems that are intricately woven into a pattern of life observation.
The poems comprising "Howling Into the Void" are delivered with the thrust and power of possibility, driven as much by emotion as philosophical perception: "You who do not/ believe/ that angels dance/ on pinheads;/ tell me that/ rainbows/ are not contained/ in prisms,/ that love does not/ lie/ in the shadows/ of photographs/ that you do not/ lie..."
Readers may not expect discussions of covens and witches, man-made hells and prayer wheels, and mazes of machines and human emotion, but R. David Fulcher crafts a heady mix of connection that surges through life's currents and eddies with an astute eye to capturing their underlying influences and meaning.
Within the convergence of free verse, life inspection, nature connection, and emotional reflection lies the call-and-response of experiences bring readers into new milieus of realization: "Now with beads and hides and makeshift paints I await you./ Show me the wind/And I shall make the ways fall away,/ I will capture its spirit/And skirl and stomp, hoot and shout,/ And if my TV is lost in the ritual so be it."
The poems present in a manner that makes them accessible to literary and general-interest readers alike -- something many a modern poetry collection cannot claim. They circle the wagons of understanding with observational prowess and, most of all, embed within them a sense of possibility and helplessness that makes them infinitely understandable and entirely welcome.
Libraries seeking contemporary free verse for their collections that can reach beyond literature audiences will find Howling Into the Void a captivating collection that invites, discusses, and closely inspects life's progression and the nature of human responses and affairs. Its vivid images and self-inspections are immersive and alluring: "You stride boldly across the wall,/Your limbs rising and falling like miniature strikes of lightning,/Searching for a corner you call home..."
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
10 Spiritual Lessons series
Joanna Sandsmark
Godsfield
Octopus Publishing
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Two small hardcover books blend spiritual and pet topics in a manner perfect for gift-giving and reflection.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Lessons-You-Learn-Your/dp/1841816515
"10 Spiritual Lessons You Can Learn from Your Cat" (9781841816517, $11.99) pairs tips on living with cats with varied life advice which ranges from spiritual to psychological. Many lessons stem from a cat's routines, such as keeping one eye open for trouble, looking for new opportunities, ridding oneself of doubt, and developing new communication skills. The blend of cat viewpoints, reflective thinking about choice and human impact, exercises, and philosophical and spiritual insight makes for a compelling, uplifting survey.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Lessons-You-Learn-Your/dp/1841816523
Ditto for "10 Spiritual Lessons You Can Learn from Your Dog" (9781841816524, $11.99), which pairs advice with dog-centric appreciation for maximum benefit. Exercises here range from celebrating the ordinary to understanding the importance of allowing time for play and relaxation.
These two books will delight pet owners and those familiar with and connected to animal activities, offering insights which are thought-provoking, revealing, and fun.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Everyday ESP Master Course
Jose Silva and Ed Bernd Jr.
Silva Method UltraMind LLC
https://silvamethodultramind.com
9781965725283, $29.95 Hardcover/$25.95 Large Print Paperback
9781965725283, $17.95 Paperback/$20.28 Audiobook/$17.95 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Silvas-Everyday-Master-Course-Step/dp/B0GKBM4VHP
Author's Website
https://silvamethodultramind.com/course/silva-everyday-esp-master-course-book
Books 2 Read
https://books2read.com/espmaster
Jose Silva has written extensively about ESP training, producing seminars, workbooks, and a discourse introducing the concept in previous publications, but Everyday ESP Master Course invites readers to take the next step in training. The study book connects ESP possibilities to the fundamental building blocks of creating a better life.
Everyday ESP offers more than a course on activating dormant ESP tendencies. It surveys the possibilities and impact of the training, as well as its applications and the unusual responsibilities ESP introduces to human affairs.
From learning how to detect information until it becomes an intrinsic reaction to life to participating in the practice sessions outlined by Jose Silva and Ed Bernd, Jr. in this handbook of applied ESP development, users who consult this book with the intention of tapping into and improving their own abilities will appreciate how the step-by-step exercises dovetail neatly with bigger-picture thinking: "I am now learning to attune my intelligence by developing my sensing faculties and to project them to any point or place on this planet so as to be aware of any actions taking place, if this is necessary and beneficial for humanity."
Ideally, readers who come to Everyday ESP Master Course will arrive purposely, with the intention of developing their mental abilities. This audience will appreciate the blend of science and applied exercises that create mandates for growth and development, and will allot the necessary time for absorbing and applying these lessons.
Librarians overseeing metaphysical collections who want more than a discourse defining ESP will find Everyday ESP Master Course a reflective combination of mandates, admonitions, exercises, and applied science that will please readers looking for concrete routines and tested insights.
Replete with step-by-step progressive techniques, Everyday ESP Master Course is more than just a master course in ESP development. It can become a blueprint for revising one's life.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net
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