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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Everydata
John H. Johnson, PhD and Mike Gluck
Bibliomotion, Inc.
39 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445
www.bibliomotion.com
9781629561011 $27.95 hc / $9.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Synopsis: While everyone is talking about "big data," the truth is that understanding the "little
data" (stock reports, newspaper headlines, weather forecasts, etc.) is what will help you make
smarter decisions at work, at home, and in every aspect of your life.
The average person consumes approximately 30 gigabytes of data every single day, but has no
idea how to interpret it correctly. Everydata explains, through the eyes of an expert economist
and statistician, how to correctly interpret all of the small bytes of data we consume in a day.
Readers will become effective, skeptical consumers of everyday data.
Critique: Enlightening and educational, Everydata is a "must-read" for the twenty-first century.
Peppered with eye-opening true stories, Everydata reveals the importance of keeping a critical
frame of mind when hearing about the latest poll or statistics - under what circumstances was the
data gathered, and what is the possible margin of error? (One of the most famous data-related
blunders in American history was a newspaper headline "Dewey Defeats Truman" in an election
that Truman unquestionably won.) Highly recommended, for both personal reading lists and
public and college library collections.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Soul
Robert Clancy
Mohawk Street Press
www.guidetothesoul.com
9780985939502, $16.95, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Driving down life's highway, en route to our life's purpose, we each have opportunities
to exit. Whether deliberate or by chance, these exits often route us away from our true path and
into despair. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Soul" by Robert Clancy address such questions as:
How can you retain your focus and remain on your life path?; What will your next encounter
with a kindred spirit mean to you, your family or the world?; Does your volunteerism really make
a difference? "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Soul" is an evocative collection of the
transcendental journeys, spiritual tips and chance encounters that will transform the way you
think about your compassion for humanity while bringing deeper meaning in your everyday life.
Critique: Impressively well written, organized and presented, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Soul" is an inherently absorbing and ultimately inspiring read. Indeed, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to
the Soul" is one of those books that will linger in the mind and memory long after it has been
finished and set back upon the shelf. Very highly recommended for community, college, and
university collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Hitchhiker's Guide
to the Soul" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
The Heritage Keeper
Jacqueline Leigh
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781523309467, $6.95, PB, 158pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: It is the 1830s, and Fima and her mother are rice traders on the West Coast of Africa in
the Sherbro River area: a network of mouths of rivers, mangrove mudflats and shifting sandbars
where traders can load captives in secret onto vessels whose captains take them across the
Atlantic for sale as slaves on auction blocks. Sherbro's rich agricultural hinterland can produce
enough rice to maintain the thousands of slaves kept captive in barracoons during the weeks and
months they are waiting to be loaded onto the slave vessels. It also produces enough rice to
provision the slave vessels for their transatlantic crossings. Fima dreams of one day owning her
own rice business in Sherbro, on her own terms. But when a family crisis occurs and her mother
suddenly departs on foot for upcountry, she leaves Fima on her own sooner than she had
expected. She also leaves her with an important family heirloom to guard. Fima is excited, and
confident she will succeed. Little does she know, however, that people are not always what they
appear...
Critique: "The Heritage Keeper" is an historical novel based on the true experience of a girl
growing up on the West African coast in the 1830s in what is now called Sierra Leon. An
extraordinary and highly recommended novel, "The Heritage Keeper" is an especially
recommended addition to personal, middle grade school and community library collections for
young readers.
DIARY of a 99%-er
D. Helene
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781501009303, $15.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Who comprises the 99%? They are the majority of Americans, who have to work for a
living, sometimes struggling to just keep a roof over their heads. Although a work of fiction,
"DIARY of a 99%-er: The Struggle Between Survival and Creative Expression" by journalist and
author D. Helen is a novel that delves into the issues of income inequality, poverty,
consciousness, politics, spirituality, yoga, and the balance between living and working.
Critique: Impressively well written from beginning to end, "DIARY of a 99%-er: The Struggle
Between Survival and Creative Expression" is a compelling read that is as thoughtful and thought
provoking as it is insightful and entertaining. Very highly recommended for both community and
academic library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"DIARY of a 99" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The American History Shelf
The Emergence of One American Nation
Donald J. Fraser
Fraser & Associates
www.perspectiveshistory.com
9780997080506 $16.95 pbk / $12.95 Kindle www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the Emergence of One American Nation, Donald J. Fraser explores the difficulties
that the founding generation confronted in molding the United States into one nation. At the heart
of that endeavor was the effort to create and ratify a new Constitution for the country, one to
replace the failed Articles of Confederation. Fraser not only explains the American leaders'
process of constitution making, but places it clearly in the context of the separation from Great
Britain, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, and fighting the Revolutionary War.
Fraser's work not only tells of the events that led to the creation of one American nation, but also
includes engaging portraits of the individuals who helped bring about the revolution and the new
political order under the Constitution, including Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jefferson,
Madison, Hamilton, and a host of lesser known but interesting characters.
Critique: The Emergence of One American Nation: The Revolution, the Founders, and the
Constitution makes American history come alive. The difficult birth of the American nation is
often misrepresented in modern political propaganda; The Emergence of One American Nation is
an excellent tour of the legendary (and lesser-known) personalities and milestone events that
shaped the process. As engaging as it is enlightening, The Emergence of One American Nation is
enthusiastically recommended for personal browsing and public library collections alike.
The World History Shelf
In Their Own Words
Edited by Elizabeth Foxwell
Oconee Spirit Press
www.oconeespirit.com
9780985910778 $11.95 pbk / $4.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The contributions of American women to World War I often are neglected, perhaps
because of a mistaken impression that as the official U.S. participation was two years in duration,
its female contribution must be equally short. The few collections of World War I writings by
women are composed of mostly British contributors, with only a few American women
represented, and even those tend to be only the most prominent (e.g., Edith Wharton). The
Department of Veterans Affairs report America's Women Veterans states that more than 10,000
American women served in the war; of the nearly 200 listed as casualties, four occurred under
combat conditions. Countless others worked in private or nongovernmental relief efforts or in
initiatives connected to Allied nations. Still others reported on the war. In Their Own Words:
American Women in World War I restores American women's role in the war through their
first-person accounts, thus providing a fuller picture of their participation.
Critique: In Their Own Words: American Women in World War I is a vivid primary source of
history, offering the direct, personal perspectives of American women who aided the war effort.
Most of these letters and other communications were written during or shortly after the war. In
Their Own Words will fascinate historians and lay readers alike, and is especially recommended
for public, community, high school and college library collections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Rainbow Dead
David John
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781517365424, $9.99, PB, 408pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Spontaneous Human Combustion is a rare and unexplained phenomenon that occurs
maybe once a decade. So why has there been two cases in as many weeks both in the same area
and in the same community? This is something lifelong sceptic and belligerent D.I. Eddy
Souness has had dumped on him as his last case before he retires. Nobody expects results, they
just want to keep him quiet until he goes. But then a prostitute is murdered on the same patch, in
the same community. Connected? He's not sure but indications are that the two SHC cases may
have been murder!
Critique: A carefully crafted suspense mystery thriller from beginning to end, "The Rainbow
Dead" by David John will prove to be an engaging page-turner of a read by a true master of the
genre and a "must" for all dedicated mystery buffs. Very highly recommended for community
library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Rainbow Dead" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
The Four
T. C. Ashing
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781503561243, $20.99, PB, 520pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: West Chambers, Georgia, was not a large town, but it held close to its own. The town
had become somewhat isolated from the outside world. In keeping with that disconnection,
conformity was mainstream. If you stood out in appearance or mind-set, you were looked down
upon. With this public viewpoint, no one was more out of place than Nathan Kole. As the son of
a hero cop, there were many high expectations on his shoulders, but he didn't seem to be living
up to any of them in the eyes of the townspeople. He had enough trouble already after a tragedy
hit his home, triggering a series of nightmares that he has been unable to escape. The only person
he ever confides in is the new girl at his college.
Samantha was also a bit of an outcast, not following the popular feminine trends. She, like many
others in town, had her own secrets. Erick was born within a dark, secret society led by his
wealthy father. Recently discharged from the army, he returns home to the wife chosen for him.
Erick's father still holds a tight grip on him even after his imprisonment. When they found the
young witch named Jessica holding a book written in a dark language that only Erick could
understand, it became apparent that the four of them were connected in some mysterious way.
Their journey to discover what ties them together will lead them down a path soaked in blood
and paved with the bodies of the unfortunate caught in the crossfire.
Critique: All the more impressive considering that "The Four" is author T. C. Ashing's debut as a
novelist, this exceptionally well written saga is an original, absorbing and fully entertaining from
beginning to end -- and one that will leave its readers looking eagerly toward Ashing's next
literary project. Very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "The Four" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Judicial Indiscretion
Michael Arkin
JB Stillwater Publishing Company
12901 Bryce Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
www.casadesnapdragon.com
9781937240639, $16.95, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The Santa Fe Trail sets the scene for drug running, money laundering, treachery,
murder, and challenges to character, as "Judicial Indiscretion" by Michael Arkin plays out in the
cactus-studded New Mexican Rio Grande Valley landscape. A highly respected judge is
murdered in Mimbres County, New Mexico and local attorney David Madrid is arrested for the
crime. San Diego Times investigative reporter Linda Lawson prevails upon long time friend Matt
Lucas to assist in the defense of David, her brother. In this second title in Michael Arkin's
outstanding Matt Lucas series, "Judicial Indiscretion" is a compelling story of an underworld of
crime, deception, and injustice.
Critique: Another compelling read from a master of the genre, Michael Arkin's "Judicial
Indiscretion" is very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections
and the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs who appreciate an especially well
crafted story replete with unexpected twists and surprising turns.
Just Vengeance
Anthony D'Augustine
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
9781478763611, $28.95, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Mac Taylor is a rough and tumble ex-Newark cop who is now a Private Investigator.
Mac's first client hires him to look into a reported suicide, but he soon uncovers a sinister plot
that involves murders in Scotland and Italy, and plans to destroy several U.S. landmarks. Shortly
after his discovery, Mac and his pregnant wife, Cheryl, become targets of an international terror
organization; specifically, that of a psychopathic killer named Dirk Conroy, aka Ahmed Sal
Mohammed. Working with FBI Agent Sara Dillon, Mac sets out to find Conroy. Dillon wants
him captured alive. Mac wants him dead at all costs. Along the way, Taylor's old friend from his
Vietnam days, Nick Polsani, tries to convince him that seeking justice is the only course of action
to be taken. Mac disagrees. It's not justice he's looking for, it's just vengeance.
Critique: Another terrific action/adventure suspense thriller from author Anthony D'Augustine
who is a master of the genre, "Just Vengeance" is very highly recommended for community
library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Just
Vengeance" is also available in a paperback edition (9781478763079, $16.95) and in a Kindle
format ($4.99). Also enthusiastically recommended is the first Mac Taylor novel by Anthony
D'Augustine, "Best Enemies" (iUniverse, 9780595657179, 256pp, $26.95 HC, $16.95 PB, $3.99
Kindle).
The Painter of Time
Matthew O'Connell
Privately Published
www.matthewoconnellauthor.com
9780996669337, $14.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The Painter of Time" by Matthew O'Connell is a combination contemporary and
historical suspense novel set amid the art world of modern day NYC and the dawn of the Italian
Renaissance. Bronx born and bred, Mackenzie Ferrara is both nervous and excited to begin her
career as a restorer of fine art at the prestigious Cloisters in New York City. The star of the
restoration team is a handsome and reserved Italian, Anthony Bataglia. On loan from the Ufizzi,
he is renowned for his ability to bring pre-Renaissance treasures back to life. Despite a rocky
start, the two form a close working relationship, which Mackenzie hopes will blossom into
something more. But as she works with him she begins to notice peculiar patterns and
unexplainable similarities in all of his restorations. Something is clearly not what it seems to be
with the dashing Mr. Bataglia. Mackenzie (with help from her father, a retired detective) is
determined to uncover the truth, regardless of the consequences.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "The Painter of Time" is author
Matthew O'Connell's debut as a novelist, this original and deftly crafted page-turner of a read is
very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. For personal
reading lists it should be noted that "The Painter of Time" is also available in a Kindle edition
($7.99).
Death Notice: Committed to Excellence
Barbara Rolland & Al Rolland
www.barbrolland.com
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781514422434, $20.99, HC, 130pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Paul Lang, director of campus security, is restless. His wife has moved to California to
help her folks open a new clothing shop-a divorce perhaps? His daughter, Shelley, is ready to
graduate and has decisions to make and growing up to do. His best friend, the university
basketball coach, plans to retire-he will be missed! The university has a new boss-a woman! It
looks like a difficult year ahead. Just as life seems to be settling down, however, the usually quiet
campus office is turned upside down with the sudden death of Dr. Evans, their leading research
director. It was murder caused by a broken neck! And it came just as the campus was to be
visited by a supervisory team for evaluation. They are all still reeling from the murder when a
second occurs. Again, a broken neck, but no sign of why. The campus community receives a
warning message, and the pressure becomes intolerable. The answer comes as the honors day
ceremony is played out and the hallowed halls of the university are once again open to all.
Critique: A deftly crafted, quick and compelling read, "Death Notice: Committed to Excellence"
is especially commended to the attention of mystery buffs who appreciate a skillfully written
story of unexpected twists and turns. Very highly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Death Notice:
Committed to Excellence" is also available in a paperback edition (9781514422427, $19.99) and
in a Kindle format ($3.99).
The Last Cruz
Caitlin Avery
SDP Publishing
PO Box 26, East Bridgewater, MA 02333
9780996842655, $14.95, PB, 292pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Up-and-coming ingenue Catrina Lang is burned out on Hollywood. Sick of paparazzi,
her handlers, and her fans, she wants to cruise under the radar for a while, so she invites her
loudmouthed sister on a backcountry motorcycle ride down Baja. Cat is prepping for a role as a
motocross racer, and Sissy races bikes back in Texas. The trip offers the sisters a trade: Cat gets
her sister's coaching, and Sis gets an all-expenses-paid vacation. Should be a win-win, but
trouble starts when Sis brings along an uninvited friend. The getaway takes on new meaning
when Sis's friend turns out to be a drug mule, making the trio a target for the cops and the cartel.
"The Last Cruz" by Caitlin Avery is a road trip adventure that spirals down into a dark and
suspenseful thriller when Cat finds herself trapped in a nightmarish race to make it home safely.
She survives a violent mugging, a stint in prison, and a murderous rampage at a Day of the Dead
parade, only to face a day of reckoning she cannot forget - and may never recover from.
Critique: Impressively well written and an absolutely absorbing read from beginning to end, "The
Last Cruz" clearly establishes author Caitlin Averny as a master of the suspense thriller genre.
Very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "The Last Cruz" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Ice Chest
J. D. Rhoades
Polis Books
1201 Hudson Street, #211S, Hoboken, NJ 07030
www.PolisBooks.com
9781940610801, $24.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Famous beauty Clarissa Cartwright is about to take the stage wearing a fortune in
jewels, and not much else. In the wings, a motley crew of bumbling crooks is scheming to make
off with the biggest heist of their careers: five and a half million dollars in precious stones, used
to create the world's most expensive piece of lingerie. But mix the glitz and glamour of the
highest of high fashion with a team of crooks that would have trouble stealing a sandwich from a
deli, and all bets are off. When the robbers find themselves pursued by both the intimidating
ex-cop tasked with protecting the world's most valuable piece of lingerie and Clarissa's insanely
jealous and mobbed-up ex-boyfriend, things get ugly. Especially when Clarissa decides she's had
quite enough of being a sex object and decides to turn the tables on both the crooks and the
fashion world.
Critique: A deftly crafted and impressively skillful novel that holds and keeps the reader's riveted
attention from first page to last, "Ice Chest" by J. d. Rhoades will prove to be an enduringly
popular addition to community library collections. Very highly recommended reading for all who
enjoy an action-packed thriller by a true master of the genre, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Ice Chest" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).
Fall Irmgard: Operation Irmgard
Rand Charles
Penurious Publishing
9780996793902, $17.99, PB, 442pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Occupied Paris: April 1941 Desperate to return home from France on the eve of
Hitler's anticipated declaration of war, American Addie Bridges realizes her future is anything
but certain when she witnesses the brutal murder of German businessman and sweet old
raconteur Konni Ritter. Addie is ordered to remain in Paris as a material witness to the murder,
threat of war or no. The fragile balance of the occupation's first well-mannered year could careen
into violent oppression if it turns out the French engineered Ritter's death. And nothing would
benefit the SS more in their desire to wrest control of France from the army. Charged with
uncovering the truth, Abwehr major Rolf von Gerz begins to tally the suspects: Was it the
spiteful chanteuse at the Club l'Heure Blue? Or the club's crafty Alsatian manager, with
well-known ties to the Paris underworld? Ritter's estranged business partner? Or could the recent
murder of a French stockbroker somehow be connected? And most troubling of all: Can the
beautiful young American be trusted?
Critique: Impressively well written from beginning to end, "Fall Irmgard: Operation Irmgard" by
Rand Charles is a riveting combination of murder mystery, spy thriller, and love story, featuring
uniquely colorful characters and a surprise ending, This is one of those all too infrequent novels
that linger in the mind and memory long after the book is finished and set back upon the shelf.
This is the kind of deftly crafted story that block-buster movies are made from. "Fall Irmgard:
Operation Irmgard" is very highly recommended for community library collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Fall Irmgard: Operation Irmgard" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.99).
Candyland
Vicki Salloum
www.vickisalloum.com
Moonshine Cove Publishing, LLC
http://moonshinecovepublishing.com/index.html
9781937327828, $13.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Lazara overhears her brothers plotting to kill the teenage son of her
employer for failing to pay his drug debt. Unable to bear the burden of the boy's murder on her
conscience, she embarks on a crusade to save the boy, first alerting the boy's father then
confronting her brothers and, finally, seeking help from a New Orleans cop. When all efforts fail,
she steals a handgun and surprises her brothers during their rendezvous with the boy at the meth
lab, Candyland, unleashing consequences she never expected or could ever have imagined.
Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "Candyland" is replete with unexpected twists
and surprising turns. Clearly author Vick Salloum is an exceptionally gifted novelist and one that
will leave her readers looking eagerly toward her next effort. "Candyland" is very highly
recommended for community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Candyland" is also available in a Kindle ($5.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Quest of a Teenage Mystic
Susan Ware
iUniverse, Inc.
c/o Author House
1663 Liberty Dr. Suite #300, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.iuniverse.com
9781491722886, $25.95, HC, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Sean Mason thinks he has no future. Ever since his father vanished
three years ago, Sean has been living in pain, haunted by his memories and in constant conflict
with his mother. Worse yet, he has begun to experience chilling visions foretelling a possible
future of devastation and destruction in the world. Sean feels helpless and out of control. But all
of that is about to change. One day, in the throes of yet another vision, a disembodied voice tells
Sean he has been given a mission that will determine his life's purpose and quite possibly the fate
of humanity. Immediately, Sean free-falls into emptiness and is drawn into another world, where
he is gifted with a powerful seed that holds all the answers he needs - if he can discover its secret.
Meanwhile, in a faraway dimension, a lowly castle watchman, an ancient and partially demented
Knight, along with a prophetic, but ominous raven work together to lead Sean and his three
friends into alternate realities where they struggle through trials and challenges that eventually
reveal that it is up to their generation to help humanity rise above its self-destructive ways, no
matter what the personal cost to them.
Critique: A riveting read from beginning to end, "Quest of a Teenage Mystic" showcases author
Susan Ware as a master of the fantasy genre and will have exceptional appeal for young readers
ages 12 and up. Very highly recommended for school and community library YA Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Quest of a Teenage Mystic" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781491722893, $15.95) and in a Kindle format ($3.99).
Crossover and the Gymbrats: The Crystal Baller
Demetrius Calip
Lulu Publishing
3101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5436
www.lulu.com
9781483442686, $14.99, PB, 108pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Crossover and the Gymbrats: The Crystal Baller" by Demetrius Calip takes young
readers on a fun and magical adventure with eleven-year-old Crystal Baller, Devaryl P. Carroll,
nicknamed "Crossover". He is a dreamer and a gifted kid with an amazingly fast cross over
dribble on the basketball court and the power to make his dreams become reality. With the help
of a red mysterious crystal with the number 9 inscribed in it, Crossover begins to explore new
worlds and endless possibilities. Taking his talents from the streets of Los Angeles to New York,
Crossover attends Longfellow Middle School for the Highly Gifted, where he meets a mentor
along with a crew of other gifted tweens with their own special gifts, called The Gymbrats, who
help Crossover recognize his hidden gifts. But everyone isn't so happy to see the new kid on the
block, as he learns the streets of New York can rival any of the tougher streets across the country,
and currently belong to Flint a ruthless tweenager.
Critique: Impressively well written and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end,
"Crossover and the Gymbrats: The Crystal Baller" is enthusiastically recommended for school
and community library children's books collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted
that "Crossover and the Gymbrats: The Crystal Baller" is also available in a Kindle edition
($8.99).
The Midnight Land: The Flight
E. P. Clark
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781518839498, $15.99, PB, 534pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The sun did not rise on the morning of the trial, and neither did Slava's spirits. As
younger sister to the Empress of all of Zem' and the only one possessing her foremothers' gifts of
clairvoyance, Slava is both one of the most powerful and powerless people in the Known World.
Desperate to escape the intrigue and hostility of her sister's kremlin, Slava takes off on an
expedition to the Midnight Land, the uninhabited, unmapped tundra on the Northern edge of
Zem'. But as she travels North, Slava discovers that it is more than just the world of women that
covets her gifts, and that fate is pushing her to become a most unlikely hero.
Critique: Combining motifs from classical Russian literature with the genre of high fantasy, "The
Midnight Land: The Flight" is volume one of the new 'Zemnian Trilogy" from E. P. Clark and is
both a gripping coming-of-age tale and a subversive exploration of gender, morality, and
subjectivity. A riveting saga from beginning to end, "The Midnight Land: The Flight" will leave
fantasy fiction fans looking eagerly toward the next installment of this outstanding series. While
very highly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "The Midnight Land: The Flight" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($0.99).
The Legend of the Dagger Prince
T. A. Gallant
Timotheos Press
http://timotheospress.com
9780997244700, $13.95, PB, 174pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the days of King Tsedecc, the seventh generation after Qccesed the Great, a
kidnaping shatters young Prince Korbin's idyllic world. In short order, everything he knows is
called into question as he hears horrifying things about the world around him. In the deadly
aftermath, nothing can ever be the same. A twisting tapestry of virtue and intrigue, "The Legend
of the Dagger Prince" is much more than a simply coming-of-age tale or an ordinary adventure
story, although it could aptly be described as bing both. Rather, T. A. Gallant's "The Legend of
the Dagger Prince" is a carefully-woven medievalesque fantasy is a rich journey toward
redemption, exploring hard lessons regarding the cost of loyalty and honor-and the price of
deceit.
Critique: Impressively well written and a riveting page turner of a read from beginning to end,
"The Legend of the Dagger Prince" is the first volume in what promises to be an outstanding new
series, 'The Annals of Adamah' and clearly establishes author T. A. Gallant as a master novelist
of the first order. Very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to
community library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
action/adventure fantasy fans that "The Legend of the Dagger Prince" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($3.99).
The Perfect Tear
Connie Lansberg
Rockit Press
www.RockitPress.com
9780996216012, $14.95, PB, 326pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Eleanor is a singer. Her songs keep nature in balance, but when they are stolen from
her, a grey mist descends and her world fails to thrive. This timid orphan is thrust into a course of
action she never asked for, nor envisioned. Set against a backdrop of abandonment, loss and
betrayal, she must find her way through strange and dangerous landscapes in her desperate search
for the Perfect Tear, a dark crystal which holds the future of her world. But, Eleanor is no savior.
She is a simple girl with strong instincts and she must learn to trust them. Just like the notes of
song must connect to create a melody, Eleanor must discover the connections needed to create
the harmony required to truly save her world.
Critique: A deftly crafted and original fantasy, "The Perfect Tear" by Connie Lansberg is a
riveting great read for fantasy fans from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for
community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"The Perfect Tear" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
Kai
Derek Vasconi
www.derekvasconi.com
Privately Published
9780692422120, $13.99, PB, 362pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Kai" by Derek Vasconi explores how one innocent girl becomes the target of
enormous rage living inside another girl-who is seemingly from another world. Satsuki
Takamoto is an invisible otaku teenager in Hiroshima. The only thing she has going for her is the
upcoming birth of her sister. No longer will she be alone. But when her mother has a gory
miscarriage right in front of her, Satsuki loses her one chance at happiness. She spirals into a
deep depression, shutting out everyone and everything by locking herself inside her bedroom-for
good. Her sadness, however, pales in comparison to her uncontrollable anger. It spreads like a
nuclear fire, ambivalent to what or who it destroys, and won't stop until Satsuki accepts her
sister's death.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world in Evanston, Illinois, Seul Bi Rissiello can't sleep
because every time she closes her eyes, she relives her adoptive parents' gruesome deaths. Why is
she thinking so much about them now, ten years afterward? As she struggles with working at a
clinic for the mentally disturbed, Seul Bi starts to unravel under the weight of living a lonely life
and being twice an orphan. Her life devolves into a series of ominous and dangerous
hallucinations that threaten not only her sanity, but her very existence as well. As both girls
struggle to understand what is happening to them, their enigmatic connection comes into focus,
raising the question: What if all the suffering in your life was carefully choreographed by
somebody you've never met?
Critique: A deftly crafted Japanese themed horror fantasy of the first order, "Kai" by Derek
Vasconi is an inherently fascinating, page-turner of a read from beginning to end -- but with the
lights on at all times! Very highly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Kai" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($2.99).
When Is Sylvia Wallace?
Brad Anderson
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478763949, $24.95, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Deputy U.S. Marshal Sylvia Wallace's new world began in complete silence and
absolute darkness. It wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't even supposed to be possible. All the
science and technology said so, but a freak accident changes everything and she now finds herself
sometime in the future when the Janus Project does not exist and most of the people around her
are prison escapees. All is not forsaken, however. A note from the past gives her hope. Deputy
U.S. Marshal Robert Mackie (from Brad Anderson's the Guardians trilogy) and Colonel John
Callan (from The Janus Project) are coming to take her back to her own time. All she has to do is
stay alive until they find her, which becomes the most dangerous time of all.
Critique: Another terrific read from the mind and imagination of Brad Anderson, "When Is
Sylvia Wallace?" is enthusiastically recommended addition to the personal reading lists of
science fiction enthusiasts, and is certain to be an enduringly popular addition for community
library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted that "When Is Sylvia Wallace?" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).
The Christian Studies Shelf
Saturate Field Guide
Jeff Vanderstelt & Ben Connelly
Saturate
www.saturatetheworld.com
9780996849302, $19.99, 234pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Whether you're just beginning a relationship with Jesus or you've been a follower of
Jesus for a long while, many of us have a hard time translating the truths we believe in our mind,
to the reality of our everyday life. Given our tendency to wander away from God, we need both
encouragement and tools to keep the gospel at the center of our action in the everyday stuff of our
lives. "Saturate Field Guide: Principles & Practices of Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday
Stuff of Life" is an 8-week guide that offers an all-of-life approach to being disciples who make
disciples of Jesus. The questions, activities, prayers, and exercises will prompt you to do exactly
that-put your thoughts and theology into hands-on practice. Designed for both group and
individual use, each week will build on the next, aligning your heart with the will of God,
examining your core identity beliefs, and launching you into mission. When God's people
commit together to sow gospel seeds in the everyday rhythms of life, a ripple effect moves
through our lives, out toward the whole earth, saturating it with the good news of Jesus.
Critique: Written with an admirable clarity, impressively well organized and presented,
exceptionally inspired and inspiring, and presented in a spiral bound hard cover edition, "Saturate
Field Guide: Principles & Practices of Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life" is
very highly recommended to all members of the Christian community regardless of their
denominational affiliation. It should be noted that the "Saturate Field Guide" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.99).
From Fear To Faith
Barbara Harris
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478762164, $9.95, PB, 76pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: As a young child, Barbara Harris could see and hear witches in her closet. This was the
first clue something was wrong with her. There were early signs of her mental diseases but they
were not severely manifested until her father's suicide when she was a teenager. After that her
schizophrenia manic-depression, depression and panic attacks took over and her drug and alcohol
abuse began. "From Fear To Faith" is a story of a woman who had no hope. At age 45, Barbara
found the power, with the Lord's help, to recover from drugs, alcohol and my mental diseases. It
was not an easy journey and had many facets including family murders, living in an ashram,
relapses and spirit guides. Barbara had always been spiritual and had a close relationship with the
Lord. It was thru her faith and trust in God that she was healed. The prize for this new life is
freedom from bondage of self and self-will. Alcohol is a crutch to many people with mental
disease. It becomes a vicious circle and is an added challenge to stay sober. "From Fear To Faith"
can provide hope for many who suffer the way she did.
Critique: Candid, memorable, compelling, informative, and ultimately inspiring, "From Fear To
Faith" is highly recommended to the attention of anyone struggling with psychological illnesses
and substance abuse issues. "From Fear To Faith" should be a part of every counseling center and
community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement reference collection.
The Apocalypse Within
Vincent Justino DiTizio
Xulon Press
2301 Lucien Way, Suite 415, Maitland, FL 32751
www.xulonpress.com
9781498406840, $13.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: One of the original meanings of the Revelation was that the entire story of what
happens occurs inside us. All of the beasts and destruction are parts of our sinful nature being
destroyed as we get closer to God. In The Apocalypse Within" by Vincent Justino DeTizio, you
will find: How each image in the revelation is a personal message to you, showing you how to
get closer to God; Simple, practical, and proven methods from the earliest Christians which will
make the power of God a reality in your life.
Critique: Vincent Justino DiTizio is a self taught Bible scholar, who has used his thirty years on a
night doorman shift as a kind of "monastery with a paycheck". Not being restrained by the
particular theology of any divinity school has given him a great freedom in the study of
Christianity. Exceptionally well written and impressively organized and presented, "The
Apocalypse Within" is informative, thoughtful, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspiring --
making it very highly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community
regardless of their denominational affiliation. For personal reading lists it should be noted that
"The Apocalypse Within" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99).
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Return to the Shtetl
Dorothy Sucher, author
Joseph Sucher, editor
Summit Crossroads Press
www.parentsuccess.com
9780961451912, $17.95, PB, 134pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: A shtetl or shtetlech (plural) were small towns with large Jewish populations which
existed in Central and Eastern Europe before the Holocaust. Think "Fiddler on the Roof".
Shtetlech were mainly found in the areas which constituted the 19th century Pale of Settlement in
the Russian Empire. In 1992, Dorothy Sucher (a psychotherapist, journalist, editor, painter,
writer, and lecturer) ventured alone to Russia and Belarus in search of information about her
grandparents and their lives in a shtetl. During this trip Dorothy kept a journal and took many
photographs, forming the basis of a number of presentations to large audiences. This material,
edited by her husband Joseph Sucher, is presented in the pages of "Return to the Shtetl". In it
Dorothy paints a vivid and moving picture of the state of Belarus at the time, not long after the
Chernobyl explosion, with writing which will fully capture the reader's attention.
Critique: Impressively well written, enhanced with the inclusion of color photography, deftly
organized and presented, "Return to the Shtetl" is an absorbing and informative read from
beginning to end. "Return to the Shtetl" is highly recommended to the attention of readers with
an interest personal travelogues in general, and the people and places of Russia and Belarus in
particular.
The Fiction Shelf
The First Day in Paradise
Stuart Walton
Roundfire Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781785352355, $21.95, PB, 424pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The First Day in Paradise" by Stuart Walton tells the story of a young orphaned
family who have been passed on from one set of relations to another, and whose eldest sibling,
Adam, becomes enthralled by the impending opening nearby of a gigantic and beautiful
shopping-mall by a flamboyant entrepreneur. To the consternation of his aunt and uncle, who run
a small business, he joins the staff of one of its stores, and begins a dizzying ascent through the
ranks, until circumstances induce him to question whether his entire value-system has become
corrupted. "The First Day in Paradise" functions both as social-economic critique, and as a
personal moral fable about the conjuration of ambition from present-day consumer culture.
Critique: "The First Day in Paradise" is a deftly crafted, multi-layered novel that is a riveting read
from beginning to end and showcases author Stuart Walton's originality and skills as a novelist.
Very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "The First Day in Paradise" is also available in a Kindle edition
($7.99).
The Angel's Lamp
Ashby Jones
Top Hat Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781785352232, $19.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The Angel's Lamp" by Ashby Jones is set in war-torn Ireland just after the Easter
Rising, and centers around a love affair between Johnny Flynn, an Irish-bred, English
staff-sergeant in charge of the rebellion's soon-to-be executed leaders, and Nora Connolly, the
firebrand daughter of James Connolly, the uprising's charismatic leader. Johnny meets Nora
while standing guard over her soon-to-be executed father and is struck by her determination to
take the fight to the British. But then, unknown to Nora and under the threat of death Johnny is
unexpectedly summoned to serve on the firing squad that executes Connolly. Ridden with guilt
after the execution and feeling a traitor to his heritage given all he has seen and done, Johnny
deserts the British Army, joins the ragtag Irish rebels, and soon crosses paths with Nora. The
story that follows culminates in an fiery emotional conflict between Johnny and Nora that pits the
possibilities of love against the unyielding obstacles to forgiveness.
Critique: An impressively crafted and riveting story from beginning to end, "The Angel's Lamp"
established author Ashby Jones and un exceptionally gifted novelist of the first order. "The
Angel's Lamp" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections.
For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Angel's Lamp" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($7.49).
Leather Compass
Brian Siguenza
Black Rose Writing
PO Box 1540, Castroville, TX 78009
http://www.blackrosewriting.com
9781612966052, $18.95, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Reflecting on what was once a game of integrity and sportsmanship, star quarterback
Adam McDonough sees today's college football as a minor league version of the pros, complete
with scandal and luxury box seats, as corporations and even Uncle Sam are looking for a big
payday off the backs of amateur players. Routine preparation for a big game leads Adam to
uncover a project known as "Leather Compass", in which scientists have been working with the
government and a major media company to develop an individual talented enough to increase
ratings and consumer spending through the use of genetic alterations. With the sport he has loved
since childhood under the threat of being taken over by pure greed, Adam, his journalist
girlfriend, and others at their college campus set out to expose a conspiracy of epic proportions
and bring fair play back to the game.
Critique: With its underlying and all-too-believable premise, "Leather Compass" is a riveting
read from beginning to end and establishes author Brian Siguenza as an impressively gifted and
original novelist. Very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Leather Compass" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($6.99).
Zabel
Pearl Gray
Privately Published
http://www.pearlgray.ca
9780994871411, $14.95, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: With parallels to events in today's Middle East, "Zabel" is the compelling story of a
woman who is forced into exile for her religious beliefs. It is a warrior queen's journey from the
throne of Lesser Armenia to refuge in France in the 12th century. After the death of her father,
Zabel is forced to marry Raymond, a French crusader. When it is discovered she follows the
pagan ways of the Great Mother, she and Raymond are exiled. They arrive at Raymond's family
estate near Paris, and Raymond dies. Zabel finds herself alone in a culture with different values,
mores, and laws. Although Zabel was trained to ride and shoot, she took a vow of peace, but
now, how can she survive in a society bent on her destruction? Scenes of exotic palace life, filled
with fine silks and hot, scented baths and adventures on the Spice Trail fill the pages. In Rum,
Zabel meets a Sufi mystic who, like the poet Rumi, is also the spiritual advisor to the Sultan.
Later, in Montpelier, Zabel becomes a confidant of Eleanor of Aquitaine. With clear, concise
prose, this novel evokes the medieval culture of the Middle East and France through a
masterfully plotted and intriguing story.
Critique: A unique and inherently absorbing read from beginning to end, "Zabel" is a novel
clearly showcases author Pearl Gray's complete mastery of storytelling skills. One of those rare
novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book is finished and set back upon
the shelf, "Zabel" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Zabel" is also available in a Kindle edition
($4.95).
Maiden General
Mike MacCarthy
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
9781478763512, $18.95, PB, 269pp, www.outskirtspress.com
Synopsis: The year is 1429 and the English have been attempting to annex France since long
before Joan can remember, and since 1419 trying to illegitimize its crown prince (the Dauphin).
Joan, 17 years old and a pious young woman, runs away from home in order to attempt an
impossible mission from God by having herself appointed as a French field general and lead her
country to victory over the English. She knows she's small in stature, of low birth, illiterate, and
has no knowledge of war or politics. Nonetheless, like her hero, the Blessed Virgin Mary, she
says "yes" to God and, determined to succeed, sets off to prevent a major English victory at
Orleans. "Maiden General" chronicles Joan's every perilous step from the harsh road away from
her parent's farm to the Dauphin's heavy-handed investigation to determine if she's a witch or
virgin. It also portrays the indignity she suffers at the royal court as well as the anger and hysteria
among veteran French generals with the announcement of her elevation to knighthood. Then, at
its heart, "Maiden General" takes readers through the week long Battle of Orleans, including
Joan's failures, her wounds, her indomitable courage, and finally her impossible and miraculous
victory.
Critique: An exceptionally well crafted historical novel, "Maiden General" is an inherently
fascinating, informative, and entertaining read -- and one the demonstrates author Mike
MacCarthy's impressive body of knowledge with respect to the young French girl who would
forever be known as Joan D'Arc! Of special note is the inclusion of maps and illustrations, a
bibliography, a timeline for Jehanne la Pucelle, and the Julian Calendar of 1429. Very highly
recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Maiden General" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.00) at
www.amazon.com
The Revelation of the Nones
Arnie Stone
Lulu Publishing
3101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5436
www.lulu.com
www.TheRevelationoftheNones.com
9781483438047, $19.99, PB, 356pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: What if you were told that everything you believe about your religion is false? A
self-proclaimed "messenger from The Maker," arrives with a dire warning: the world will soon
end, and The Maker will not intervene. There is only one way for us to save ourselves and her
mission is to show us the way. She quickly harnesses the strength of the Internet, social media,
and the mainstream press. Her message resonates strongly with those already feeling
disenfranchised from the organized religions of the world. Soon, millions believe in what she
says, abandoning the restrictive religions that they once followed. The unaffiliated, sometimes
referred to as "Nones", rapidly increase their numbers. This globally expanding "religion of no
religion" soon begins to threaten the leaders of the major organized religions, led by the United
Religious Congress. As they prepare for their massive world-wide "Call to the Mountain"
conference, they are determined to regain their power and their followers at whatever the
cost.
Critique: An impressively well written and original novel, "The Revelation of the Nones" is an
inherently fascinating and entertaining read from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for
community and academic library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "The Revelation of the Nones" is also available in a Kindle edition ($1.99).
Wrinkled Heartbeats
Temple Emmet Williams
Temple Works Properties
www.templeworks.biz
9780996892018, $29.95, HC, 294pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Wrinkled Heartbeats" is the story of a Korean war hero stumbles into a web of
money-laundering, lies, and deadly secrets, including the "Gator Pole," a painful way to make
people disappear in Florida's famous River of Grass, the Everglades. A very generous offer to
buy the hero's luxury home includes an expiration date on his life. The only person who can save
him is the person hired to kill him. For the warrior, one of the bloodiest battles in the history of
the Marine Corps becomes a life-threatening allegory in the tropical paradise of the Palm
Beaches.
Critique: In "Wrinkled Heartbeats", the author Temple Emmet Williams, incorporates flashbacks
that link the reader to the true story of a brutal, 17-day battle that pitted 67,000 Chinese troops
against 30,000 NATO soldiers in North Korea in 1950. Chairman Mao Zedong ordered his 9th
Army, under the command of Song Shi-Lun, to destroy the UN forces that had swept northeast
from the Port of Inchon, across the 38th Parallel. The historic Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also
known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, turned the UN invasion into a retreat, but it was a
Pyrrhic victory. Chairman Mao's triumph inflicted such a crippling toll on his own Chinese
Communist Forces (CCF) that it became tantamount to defeat. The numbers are staggering.
Marine Corps combat losses were 836 dead, less than a thousand warriors. Estimated casualties
for the Chinese numbered 35,000 dead, with many more wounded. History records the Battle of
Chosin Reservoir as a great victory for the United States Marine Corps. It becomes a revealing
allegory in this deftly crafted and extraordinary novel. "Wrinkled Heartbeats" is very highly
recommended for community library General Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it
should be noted that "Wrinkled Heartbeats" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780990843368, $16.95) and in a Kindle format ($3.99).
First, You Swallow the Moon
Kipp Wessel
www.kippwessel.com
radialGRAIN
http://radialgrain.com
9780990924807, $21.95, HC, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: At twenty-four years old, all Jack Hesley knows with certainty is he's head over heels
in love. But his life (and love) veers from center when his brother's car careens across an icy
Wisconsin interstate and into a stand of pine. Stunned by loss, Jack retreats into isolation - a
depression so stubborn the only living thing forceful enough to cross its threshold arrives in the
shape of wild bears. He dreams them. He becomes obsessed by them. And he alters his forward
path, risking limb and love, to follow real bears, grizzlies, into the thick woods of western
Montana to untangle their impossible message - to become one of them.
Critique: "First, You Swallow the Moon" by Kipp Wessel is a deftly crafted, reader engaging,
modern novel of love, loss, heartbreak, redemption, wilderness, and the sometimes seemingly
impossible act of letting go. A compelling read from beginning to end, "First, You Swallow the
Moon" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library General
Fiction collections.
Promise of the Black Monks
Robert E. Hirsch
W & B Publishers Inc.
www.a-argusbooks.com
9781942981602, $19.99, PB, 558pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Born of nobility in France in the year 1066, the fate of seven-year-old Tristan de
Saint-Germain is thrown to the winds upon the execution of his father for treason against
William the Conqueror of Normandy. Then, abandoned by his mother who remarries and departs
for England, Tristan and his four-year-old brother find themselves thrown into the monastic
world of the Benedictine Black Monks of Cluny, France. Under the tutelage of Grand Prior Odo
de Lagery, who one day will ascend to the very pinnacle of power within the Catholic Church in
Rome, Tristan develops into an academic and linguistic prodigy by the age of twelve and
becomes known as the Promise of the Black Monks. Tristan's unusual talents become useful to
the Benedictines as well as to Rome, and the boy soon finds himself pulled into the visceral
power struggle between Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henrich IV as they mercilessly wage
spiritual, political and military war upon each other to claim supremacy over the continent of
Europe.
Critique: "Promise of the Black Monks" by Robert E. Hirsch is the riveting story of a young man
who is predestined to be the catalyst of war. Torn between his heart and his church, he knows one
to be his true love and the other a farce. Impressively well written, this deftly crafted saga of a
novel is very highly recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Promise of the Black Monks" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($4.99).
When Worlds Collide
Rick Parker
www.rickparker.org
Green Ivy Publishing
1 Lincoln Center
18W140 Butterfield Road, Suite 1500, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4843
www.greenivybooks.com
9781944680046, $20.00, PB, 388pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The Kingdom of Morocco is a quiet, conservative country. At least it was before Karly
Winfield arrived. Her best years may be in the rearview mirror, but buxom Karly can still turn
heads. Traveling with her portly husband, from the exotic suuqs of Marrakech to the High Atlas
Mountains to medieval Fes, Karly leaves a trail of cultural faux pas in her wake as the
middle-aged couple bickers its way across North Africa. However, impressions change when the
Winfields encounter strange phenomena in the lonely and ancient village of Tiz Tisgui, located
high in the barren mountains of central Morocco. In this isolated locale that evokes a prior age,
villagers believe in Jinn and other supernatural beings, while incorporating their steadfast Islamic
faith into their humble daily existence. Without warning, science, religion, and everything in
between begin to collide in unexpected ways. Even the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of
Morocco and the President of the United States are unable to stave off catastrophe. The best they
can hope for is to somehow contain the ensuing damage. In the aftermath of the events they were
unexpectedly thrust into, Morocco in general and Karly Winfield in particular, find themselves
changed, down to their very cores. Neither will ever be the same.
Critique: A carefully crafted and highly entertaining novel, "When Worlds Collide" is a
compelling read from beginning to end -- and even learn a little bit about a Moroccon Islamic
culture as a beneficial counter to the Islamic terrorist distortions of one of the world's great
monotheistic religions. An absorbing, compelling, engaging, and enjoyable read, "When Worlds
Collide" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "When Worlds Collide" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($18.99).
Becoming Valley Forge
Sheilah Vance
Elevator Group Publishing
PO Box 207, Paoli, PA 19301
www.TheElevatorGroup.com
9780982494592, $17.95, PB, 564pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Becoming Valley Forge" by Sheilah Vance is an epic historical novel that shows how
the lives of ordinary men and women who lived in the shadow of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania,
were changed forever during The Philadelphia Campaign in mid-1777, when the American
Revolutionary War conflict came to their doorsteps, leading them and their loved ones to the
Valley Forge from winter 1777 through summer 1778. James, a former slave, lives as a
blacksmith on Rebel Hill in Gulph Mills, with his patriot friend, Daniel. Daniel is reluctant to
volunteer for the army because he supports his mother and sister. James questions the sincerity of
patriots who fight for freedom when so many African Americans are still slaves. But, the
Continental Army's occupation of Rebel Hill in early December uproots their plans. Orland
Roberts, a Paoli farmer, leads a local patriot spy network with the help of his wife Teenie,
daughter Betsey, and brother Norman, who owns a local tavern.
As soon as they come of age, the Roberts' boys (Fred and Allen) enlist in the Continental Army
under the command of their neighbor, General Anthony Wayne, which puts them in the thick of
The Philadelphia Campaign battles. The family outcast, Connie, who runs a brothel in
Philadelphia that services many British officers during their occupation of the city, views the
presence of both the redcoats and the patriots in the area as just another challenge that she has to
conquer to survive, until a series of events causes her to put family ties above all else. Their paths
converge, along with many other people's, at Valley Forge, where General George Washington's
Continental Army, a young nation, and the fascinating characters in the book are forced to
confront the reality and the aftermath of war, revolution, and freedom as they grow and become
the meaning of Valley Forge.
Critique: Although a work of fiction, author Sheilah Vance has included a great deal of
historically factual background details in her stirring saga of a novel. Impressively well written
from beginning to end, "Becoming Valley Forge" is highly recommended for both community
and academic library Historical Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted
that "Becoming Valley Forge" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Paradise Lost
Mollie Bach
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.authorhouse.com
9781504991766, $30.51, 194pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Set in the present day, "Paradise Lost" by Mollie Bach takes place in London and
Southern France. There are two central characters, Judith and Annabel. Judith is a young artist
who meets and falls in love with Claude, who is doing his doctorate on the painter Vincent van
Gogh and the causes of his mental disintegration, which led eventually to his suicide. Judith's
mother is an alcoholic. Annabel is a financial advisor to the NHS. Her job is deficit reduction
within the hospital trusts. These two diverse characters are drawn into a complex relationship,
which is not of their making, and for much of the story, they are unaware of the threads that bind
them. These threads slowly tighten and strengthen until they are inexorably bound together. Dark,
sensuous, original, "Paradise Lost" is an unflinching exploration of the devastating effects of
neglect and addiction, but also of the extreme pleasures of art.
Critique: An original, totally engaging, and impressively written story from beginning to end,
"Paradise Lost" clearly establishes author Mollie Bach as an exceptionally gifted novelist. Very
highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Paradise Lost" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781504991773, $18.24) and in a Kindle format ($4.99).
Just Another Trip
Martin Whittle
AuthorHouse UK
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.authorhouse.com
9781504943147, $24.34, PB, 382pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: August 1943 and the Allies' air war in Europe is not going well and losses are
mounting. Matt White and the crew of Lancaster bomber M-Mother have become a close-knit
team but as the battle intensifies, the raw brutality of the endless night operations has a
devastating effect on them. "Just Another Trip" is their story.
Critique: A deftly crafted, compelling, page-turner, "Just Another Trip" by author Martin Whittle
is a riveting read that showcases his impressive skills as a novelist. With an exceptional fidelity
to historical detail and background, "Just Another Trip" is certain to be an enduringly popular
addition to community library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Just
Another Trip" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).
Lone Buffalo
C. J. C. Whitehouse
Arena Books Ltd.
www.arenabooks.co.uk
9781909421653, $26.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Lone Buffalo" is the story of Manophet, a man who was born in the wrong place at
the wrong time, namely northeastern Laos in the autumn of 1969. With the Secret War building
to its climax, American bombers had just razed the last buildings in Muang Khoun (the
provincial state capital where his family lived) to the ground, destroying everything they
possessed. He grew up in a communist state cut off from the outside world and littered with
unexploded bombs.
Bogged down in a mire of poverty and traditional values, he became increasingly frustrated with
his dead-end existence, from which there seemed to be no escape. But this was a man who was
not prepared to give up his dreams of forging a better life for himself and his fellow men without
a struggle. As much by accident as by design, he developed a skill set that allowed him to play a
role in the reconciliation process as it slowly gathered momentum. He began reaching out to the
country's remote ethnic minority tribes, some of who had been recruited by the CIA to act as
America's fighting force on the ground during the sixties and seventies. When Laos finally
reopened its borders with the outside world, he engaged fearlessly with westerners, and before
long was rubbing shoulders with two of the more significant American figures from the war.
Critique: "Lone Buffalo" is a riveting read from beginning to end. In large part because although
it is a work of fiction, author C. J. C. Whitehouse has taken an impressive effort to get his
historical details and background information correct. Very highly recommended for both
community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Lone Buffalo" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.66).
Forgetting Tabitha
Julie Dewey
Holland Press
www.juliedewey.com
9780578172316, $l4.95, PB, 280pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Raised on a farm, Tabitha Salt, the daughter of Irish immigrants, leads a bucolic and
sheltered existence. When tragedy strikes the family, Tabitha and her mother are forced to move
to the notorious Five Points District in New York City, known for its brothels, gangs, gambling
halls, corrupt politicians and thieves. As they struggle to survive in their new living conditions,
tragedy strikes again. Young Tabitha resorts to life alone on the streets of New York, dreaming
of a happier future. The Sisters of Charity are taking orphans off the streets with promises of a
new life. Children are to forget their pasts, their religious beliefs, families and names. They offer
Tabitha a choice: stay in Five Points or board the orphan train and go West in search of a new
life. The harrowing journey and the decision to leave everything behind launches Tabitha on a
path from which she can never return.
Critique: Impressively well written and thoroughly engaging from beginning to end, "Forgetting
Tabitha" is a deftly presented novel that clearly underscores author Julie Dewey as a master
storyteller of the first order. A solidly entertaining read that firmly absorbs the readers total
attention from first page to last, "Forgetting Tabitha" is strongly recommended for community
library Historical Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that
"Forgetting Tabitha" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Push Monkey
Ray St. Louis
BookLocker.com, Inc.
5726 Cortez Rd W, #349, Bradenton, FL 34210
www.booklocker.com
9781634909686, $20.95, PB, 470pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Valerie Polanski (a.k.a. Sunny), age 17, lands a job as a push monkey (a human
powered ride operator) at her local Renaissance festival. Over her mother's objections, Sunny hits
the road with the ride company and the adventure begins. As she travels from fair to fair, Sunny
adapts to the "rennie" lifestyle: prolonged tent living, fair affairs, Bizarre Bazaars and Funky
Formals. Meanwhile, others are working to bring her freewheeling new life to an end.
Critique: A deftly crafted 'coming of age' story, "Push Monkey" is original, entertaining, filled
with unexpected twists and turns, and an altogether riveting read from beginning to end. Very
highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Push Monkey" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Dangerous Dreams
Mike Rhynard
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781517054847, $16.01, PB, 798pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: On July 23, 1587, England established its first permanent North American settlement
on Roanoke Island in present day North Carolina. Barely a month later, the colony's deteriorating
circumstances forced Governor John White to return to England for additional supplies and
colonists. However, war with Spain preempted his return until 1590, when upon his arrival, he
discovered the colony had vanished.
The Lost Colony's saga mysteriously unfolds through the lifelike dreams of a young twenty-first
century woman, Allie O'Shay, who after her dreams continue like a TV mini-series, night after
night, deduces she's dreaming the gripping drama of the Lost Colony. But Allie's dreams do far
more than witness history -- they entwine her with a young colonist named Emily Colman with
whom she develops a strange, compelling emotional intimacy.
Emily and the colonists begin their struggle for survival against mounting adversity---internal
dissent erupts; multiple suitors seek Emily's favor, the powerful Powhatan chiefdom plans the
colony's demise, and four warriors from a tribe to the distant north arrive to trade with tribes near
the colony. The subplots converge amidst the excruciating drama of the colony's waning fortunes,
and Emily faces terrifying perils that ultimately force her to make an agonizing, fateful
decision.
Increasingly distraught, Allie follows the Lost Colony and Emily as they march inexorably
toward their destinies. Desperate to understand the genesis and verity of her dreams, she probes
the depths of modern dream science to fashion a theoretical explanation. But as the colony's
prospects dim, she discovers there may be far more to her bond with the Lost Colony and Emily
Colman than she could ever have imagined; and as her emotional fusion with Emily surges, she
faces a dire challenge that threatens her own survival.
Critique: An inherently absorbing and deeply engaging read from beginning to end, "Dangerous
Dreams" by Mike Rhynard is an exceptionally well written and consistently impressive novel that
will prove to be of special interest to fans of historical fiction, romance fiction, and fantasy.
Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Dangerous Dreams" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
Billionaires and Bagmen
Ray Bourhis
Blue Point Books
PO Box 91347, Santa Barbara, Ca 93190-1347
www.bluepointbooks.com
9781883423438, $19.95, PB, 202pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Sean Cogan, a funny, prickly, charismatic economist turned venture capitalist, is
convinced that our system is no longer "of, by and for the people", that all three branches of
government are bought and paid for, and that reform efforts are a complete joke. He believes that
no matter who happens to be President, we have become a nation held in a vice grip by powerful
billionaires, corrupt multinational corporations and their bagmen: the politicians and lobbyists
who carry out their agendas. He gathers up a few old high school friends in their small town and
decides to shake things up. Sean convinces them that if something dramatic doesn't happen now,
the very concept of self-government will become obsolete. He heads to town hall, plunks down
$250 and registers an initiative to be put on the November ballot for his hometown of Fairview to
declare its independence from everybody. From a savvy newspaper reporter to a secretive former
CIA agent who knows how the game is played to the idiot alcoholic mayor of the town who tries
to sabotage the initiative to a controversial talk show host with an agenda, things start to spin out
of control. Particularly when the powers that be in Washington become concerned that this
independence movement could take on a life of its own. Cogan and his gang plow ahead in spite
of the collusion of spies, lobbyists, a controversial talk show host and a whole boatload of other
unsavory characters. It's an exciting, scary and dangerous ride. The climate for real change
ripens. But is it too late?
Critique: In a novel that reflects current anxieties, concerns, believes, and attitudes of an
enormous and growing percentage of the American public, "Billionaires and Bagmen: What
Happens When A Small Town Takes Them On" is a deftly crafted and compelling read that
clearly establishes author Ray Bourhis as an exceptionally skilled storyteller. Very highly
recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Billionaires and Bagmen" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).
Mongolia And The Golden Eagle
Bradford G. Wheler
BookCollaborative.com
PO Box 403, Cazenovia, NY 13035
www.bookcollaborative.com
9780982253892, $14.99, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Why is Cornell archaeology professor Robert Johnson, a pre-Columbian scholar,
selected to head up a multimillion-dollar project in Mongolia? Why is this so important to
high-tech billionaire Walter Falone? Why is he using consultants from Israel Aerospace
Industries for his government contract in Mongolia? For Johnson and his colleague, brilliant and
beautiful assistant professor Abbey Summers, it becomes the adventure of a lifetime in Mongolia
And The Golden Eagle, by Bradford G. Wheler. Cyber security threats, high-tech spying, and
Chinese agents mix in this ingenious and thrilling plot of full of twists and turns. Somewhere in
spectacular snowcapped Altai Mountains of western Mongolia there is a mysterious object that
people are willing to kill for. Populated by such fascinating and memorable characters as: a
high-tech billionaire, a quick-witted professor, his beautiful young assistant, a former sumo
wrestler, a full-blooded Navajo Indian, and the people of Mongolia, "Mongolia And The Golden
Eagle" is an assiduously researched, fast-paced novel brings archaeology and cyber espionage to
life against the backdrop of the wild and rugged landscape of Mongolia, the land of Genghis
Khan.
Critique: A riveting read from beginning to end, "Mongolia And The Golden Eagle" is enhanced
with the inclusion of twenty-seven illustrations and photos. It is interesting to note that author
Bradford G. Wheler draws on his own personal expertise in engineering, technology, and
business to help his readers feel that they are living the adventure. Certain to be an enduringly
popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Mongolia And The Golden Eagle" is also available in a Kindle edition
($4.99).
Riot: A 1960s Love Story
Charles S. Isaacs
Harpers Ferry Press
9780692486962, $29.95, PB, 458pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: It's September 1967 and white, idealistic, naive, Steve Harris begins his freshman year.
During that year, he will fight to end the war, fall in love, confront painful truths about his
family, and be jailed and beaten by police. Through this crucible, he emerges with a transformed
consciousness, of the world and of himself. His awakening begins with a rousing antiwar speech
delivered by Emma Gold, a Depression-era radical. When Emma introduces him to young Cat
Crawford (inter-racial, brilliant and exotically beautiful) his bewitching is complete. The two
students' instant friendship blossoms before long into a passionate love affair. Their bond is
tested, though, by the mounting demands of the times, and by their own deep-seated
psychological issues. 1968 is marked by campus unrest, urban rebellion, assassinations, and
political violence that leads the two into clashes with the Chicago Police and the National Guard.
"Riot: A 1960s Love Story" by Charles S. Isaacs builds to a heartrending climax during the street
battles surrounding the Democratic National Convention.
Critique: A deftly crafted and complexly layered novel of immense passion and divisive politics
that is a quite accurate portrayal of the events and issues backgrounded this emotionally dazzling
story from beginning to end, "Riot: A 1960s Love Story" establishes author Charles S. Isaacs as a
truly extraordinary and gifted novelist. Very highly recommended for community library General
Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Riot: A 1960s Love Story"
is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.95).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Cocoon of Cancer: An Invitation To Love Deeply
Abbe Rolnick & Jim Wiggins
Sedro Publishing
http://abberolnick.com/sedro-publishing
9780984511938, $10.95, PB, 118pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Written by Abbe Rolnick with the assistance of Jim Wiggins, "Cocoon of Cancer: An
Invitation To Love Deeply" is a book of inspiration for those diagnosed with cancer, their
caregivers, and family. Writing in "real time", the patient and caregiver offer an insider's look at
how life changes forever when the word cancer is uttered. A realistic and hopeful work, it keeps
one centered and also provides tips on how to manage life and illness. Sometimes raw, letters to
and from friends, voice the unspeakable. The scientific voice of Jim, the patient, comes through
when he has the energy to speak. This is an invitation to feel and find comfort. Abbe offers
invaluable insights with her Caregiver Tips, Questions I Still Ponder, and Questions for the
Reader. "Cocoon of Cancer" is a very special love story that keeps your heart open.
Critique: Unique, compassionate, informative, and ultimately inspiring, "Cocoon of Cancer: An
Invitation To Love Deeply" is very highly recommended for both community and academic
library collections. Especially commended to the attention of anyone having to deal with a
diagnosis for cancer for themselves or a loved one, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "Cocoon of Cancer: An Invitation To Love Deeply" is also available in a Kindle edition
($5.99).
The Self-Help Shelf
How I Conquered Call Reluctance, Fear of Self-Promotion & Increased My Prospecting!
Sidney C. Walker
High Plains Publications
9780962117770, $16.95, PB, 172pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Everybody is promoting something, and most of us have some resistance to the process
of getting other people interested in whatever you are offering. The resources in "How I
Conquered Call Reluctance, Fear of Self-Promotion & Increased My Prospecting!" by Sidney C.
Waliker are a reflection of his thirty-plus years as a full-time sales performance coach. This
information has helped thousands of other people break through their barriers and find the will to
make the prospecting calls they need to make. Many different perspectives are presented because
everyone is different. The key is finding a state of mind that allows you to take action. From a
bigger perspective, "How I Conquered Call Reluctance, Fear of Self-Promotion & Increased My
Prospecting!" is about how to positively deal with the resistance you have to doing what you
need to do to succeed. There is a part of you that doesn't want to take any risks, but there is a part
of you that is practically fearless. If you can learn to block out the part that is putting on the
brakes and listen more carefully to the part that can do anything...you can find a way to make the
prospecting calls you need to make!
Critique: Extraordinarily 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation,
"How I Conquered Call Reluctance, Fear of Self-Promotion & Increased My Prospecting!" is a
impressively informative read from beginning to end. Imminently practical, "How I Conquered
Call Reluctance, Fear of Self-Promotion & Increased My Prospecting!" is one of those
life-changing books that will linger in the mind and memory long after it has been finished and
set back upon the shelf. Very highly recommended for community and academic library
Self-Help/Self-Improvement reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "How I Conquered Call Reluctance, Fear of Self-Promotion & Increased My Prospecting!" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Soul Courage
Tara-Janelle Walsch
Rainbow Ridge Books
http://www.rainbowridgebooks.com
9781937907396, $16.95, PB, 252pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Have you ever thought about who you really are and why you're here? Most people
share the understanding that Life is about more than the experiences of the Body and the Mind,
but it takes a special kind of courage to also engage one's Soul in our daily encounters. Knowing
this is one thing. Knowing how to do it is another. There are no schools offering courses in Soul
Connection. There is, however, "Soul Courage" by Tara-Janelle Walsch offers a clearly
articulated path to such a connection with yourself and others. A path that has the potential to
create some of the most enriching experiences in your life, allowing you to come alive in ways
that can utterly transform your journey of self-awareness to one of soul-awareness. The promise
of "Soul Courage" is it is within our reach, and the rewards can be extraordinary in terms of
forever changing the way you view yourself and the world.
Critique: Informative, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspiring, "Soul Courage" by
Tara-Janelle Walsch is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and
presentation. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
Self-Help and Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted that "Soul Courage" is also
readily available in a Kindle edition ($6.99).
The Parenting Shelf
Ask More, Tell Less
Greg Warburton
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478708810, $19.95, PB, 294pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When faced with a misbehaving child, do you find yourself resorting to lecturing,
reminding, or even yelling? Do you sometimes feel helpless and panicky after you have tried
everything you know to do and your child still seems "out of control" or withdrawn? Do you feel
frustrated when nothing you are doing is moving your children to be responsible and achieve
their unique potential? "Ask More, Tell Less: A Practical Guide for Helping Children Achieve
Self-Reliance" by Greg Warburton (a licensed mental health counselor who helps children and
parents become instruments of their own healing and change) provides a new model of parenting
that can help transform the growing-up years. Life will become fulfilling and enjoyable rather
than an ongoing, painful collision of wills. Behavior troubles diminish or vanish when children
discover that they have the power to make their lives run more smoothly. These methods are not
a "cater to the children" approach. Instead, they take the pressure off parents and put the whole
family on a positively different road, traveling together in a land of mutual dignity and respect,
maturity, and lasting change. Greg Warburton brings time-tested, practical methods out from
behind the counselor's door to enable you to give your children the greatest gift of all:
self-reliance. Through artful questioning, you can give them a clear and compelling road map for
getting on with growing up in this rapidly changing world.
Critique: Informed and informative, impressively well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
tone, organization and presentation, "Ask More, Tell Less: A Practical Guide for Helping
Children Achieve Self-Reliance" is ideal for the non-specialist general reader seeking to improve
their parenting skills. Very highly recommended for community and academic library Parenting
instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Ask More,
Tell Less" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).
The Travel Shelf
Travel Healthy
Natasha Leger
Blue Pearl Media
http://www.bluepearlmedia.com
9780991246502, $18.00, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Business travel is challenging enough with stress, work commitments, delays and time
scarcity. Eating well is usually sacrificed under these circumstances. "Travel Healthy: A Road
Warrior's Guide to Eating Healthy" by Natasha Leger (Co-Founder of Global Business Traveler
Wellness Associates, a consortium of travel wellness advisors, which brings awareness to often
neglected business travelers) will help you make healthy food choices and find nouri while
traveling. "Travel Healthy" is designed for busy business travelers and those who prefer to read
short books that get to the point quickly. There are a series of tools that are easy to use that will
inspire you to think differently about food.
Critique: "Travel Healthy" is not a diet book, but rather a compendium of practical information,
advice, suggestions, and recommendations with respect to staying physically healthy by making
sound food choices for anyone who travels a lot for either business or pleasure. Thoroughly 'user
friendly' in tone, content, organization and presentation, "Travel Healthy" is very highly
recommended for personal, corporate, community, and academic library travel instructional
reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Travel Healthy" is also
available in a Kindle edition.
The Biography Shelf
Miracle Man: Beating the Odds; Cheating Death
Scott Pribyl
Tate Publishing
127 East Trade Center Terrace, Mustang, OK 73064
www.tatepublishing.com
9781682706336, $10.99, PB, 98pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Miracle Man: Beating the Odds; Cheating Death " is the personal story of Scott
Pribyl, who survived an internal injury that is 90-95 percent fatal. In "Miracle Man" (a title
bestowed upon him by his nurses), Scott describes his seven-year rehabilitation and comeback.
Scott also describes how he lost fifty pounds in less than two months!
Critique: A quick and easy read, "Miracle Man: Beating the Odds; Cheating Death" is especially
commended to the attention of anyone who is having to face, or who has faced, a major surgery,
illness, disease, or other life-changing personal/financial situation. "Miracle Man" is a source of
hope, inspiration, spiritual grace, and the sheer will to keep going. "Miracle Man" will also have
a very special appeal to readers who want or need to lose weight quickly yet permanently, and
with minimal exercise. Very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Miracle Man" is also available in a Kindle edition
($7.25).
Up: From Where We've Come
Charles Wright
Miles High Productions
PO Box 93157, Hollywood, CA 90093
9780578169309, $24.99, PB, 246pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Up: From Where We've Come" by Charles Wright contains historical moments with
which the reader will experience inserts of the author's life long before he gained his status as a
musical legend. And like his music, Wrights' story is a historical account of events that could
only be told in his own personal and unique style. Wright's book, is about a young boy and his
family's trials and tribulations on a cotton plantation owned by a cruel sharecropper named
Edward Miles, who was born with an unfair advantage, which he uses to dominate his subjects.
At the critical age of eight, the boy's father demanded he pick no less than a hundred pounds a
day. Their saga continued due to one incident after another until finally, the child's mother sought
help from her oldest daughter, who'd already moved out of state. The rest is history.
Critique: This autobiographical memoir of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Charles Wright is an
inherently fascinating read and a "must" for his legions of fans. Very highly recommended for
community, college, and university library Contemporary American Biography and
African-American Biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Up:
From Where We've Come" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).
Living Miracle
Greg Perry
www.GregPerry.com
Lifestyle of Success, Dream Life, LLC
c/o Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9780578171272, $30.95, HC, 398pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Greg Perry considers himself a living miracle. The youngest of six kids, Greg grew up
in South-Central, Los Angeles, running the streets and living life in the fast lane. One day, Greg
came to a turning point and surrendered his life to God. Greg's life is a true rags to riches story
that has taken him from poverty to a life of spiritual, family, business, and financial wealth. Greg
is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, community leader, mentor, family man, and father. He
is blessed beyond his wildest imagination. Greg became an overnight superstar in real estate and
a self-made millionaire. He has been blessed with a wonderful wife and seven beautiful, healthy
children. Through Greg's life-long experiences of joy and pain, success and failure, he discovered
how to play the game of Life and win. When people ask, "What is the key to your success?" Greg
always says, "G-O-D." Greg knew that to truly succeed in life, he had to put God first, help
others, and be an outstanding person. Greg is on a mission to change the world, make a
difference, and teach others that they have the power within to change their life and achieve true
wealth in every aspect of life. Currently, Greg is the President and CEO of Lifestyles of Success,
a life-changing brand that includes 12 affiliated companies. Greg's amazing life story, Living
Miracle, reveals his incredible and inspiring personal journey to a life of health, wealth, and
success. Greg's life is a living testament to the power of prayer, faith, and action.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Living Miracle" is an unusually
inspiring, impressively candid, and inherently fascinating memoir that is very highly
recommended for community library Contemporary American Biography collections. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Living Miracle" is also available in a paperback
edition (9780578171265, $19.95) and in a Kindle format ($9.95).
Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands
Jorge P. Newbery
Community Books
9781619613201, $9.99, PB, 242pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Life was good for Jorge Newbery. A high school dropout and serial entrepreneur, he
built a real estate empire of over 4,000 apartments across the USA. Taking risks and working
tirelessly were the ingredients to his rise. But, he took one risk too many. An ice storm on
Christmas Eve 2004 triggered his collapse. He was maligned, publicly shamed, financially
gutted, and even arrested. He lost everything and ended up $26 million in debt. As he struggled
to regain his footing, he spent what he could to get others to help lift him up. But no one did. He
discovered that there was only one person who could lift him back up. Then, he chose a new
life's purpose: to help others crushed by unaffordable debts rebuild themselves. "Burn Zones:
Playing Life's Bad Hands" is an intensely personal story of playing life's bad hands and
overcoming adversity against the worst possible odds. It's an inspirational story of a man who
was pushed to his mental and physical limits, and came out the other side even stronger. And,
most of all, it's a lesson that you can do the same.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and presented, "Burn Zones: Playing Life's Bad Hands" is a
candid, insightful, absorbing, and ultimately inspiring memoir that is very highly recommended
for both community and academic library American Biography collections. For personal reading
lists it should be noted that "Burn Zones" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99).
Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal
Louise Stanger
WZY Press
9780996761406, $14.99, PB, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Life is full of moments that feel like you're falling. For Louise Stanger, born into a
tipsy-turvy world, that didn't stop her from making a life of her own. In her autobiography,
"Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal", Louise shares personal stories infused with a spark of
human experience we collectively share, including hope. You'll follow her story from awkward
little girl to fearless adult, through family tragedies and triumphs, mental health and substance
abuse disorders, daring the reader to reflect and own their story. Because according to Louise, we
all fall, and with strength and courageous action, the journey takes us up.
Critique: Louise Stanger has over thirty years of experience as a college professor, researcher
with over five million dollars of government grants, and a licensed clinician, working with
families and individuals who experience substance abuse and mental health disorders. She is a
most remarkable woman who has led a most remarkable life. Exceptionally well written and
presented, "Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal" is a compelling and ultimately rewarding read
which is highly recommended -- and would make an enduringly popular addition to community
and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections.
Never Give Up
Jenny Maher
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478759140, $14.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Never Give Up: How Determination And God Gave Me A Better Look at Life" is the
compelling and personal story of Jenny Maher. She was forced to grow up much too early. She
was in the Los Angels foster care system most of her life. Her mom's mental illness would
sometimes cause her to be hospitalized, and with no other relatives close by, Jenny and her older
brother had no choice but to be placed in separate foster homes. She not only had to deal with
abuse growing up, she never experienced the comfort of hearing the words "I Love You," getting
tucked in at night, or feeling her mom's arms wrapped around her so tight that she could finally
feel safe. It was a life she tried to keep hidden from her friends. Until the day of her 18th
birthday, (April 15th) her mom had sent her to live with one of her high school friends. She was a
year younger then Jenny. They only knew each other through the basketball and softball teams at
school. With no permanent place to live, and only having a few thousand dollars in the bank from
working in the summer, she had to think about her future.
When recruiters went to her school looking for new recruits Jenny knew that was her answer. She
decided to join the Air Force. She hoped it would be a way for a fresh start. Though she loved the
Air Force, she couldn't no matter how many miles from home, get rid of the feelings of despair,
and emptiness inside. Medically discharged, she continued to struggle with her own mental
illness. As she continued suffering through multiple hardships, it was ultimately due to her
mental illness that at 34 she did something that caused her to be found paralyzed from the neck
down. Unable to even feed herself, she was determined to get strong enough to be as independent
as possible, to push herself in a manual chair, and ultimately live independently. Only with no
family willing or able to help care for her, she was forced to live in the hospital nursing
home.
Alone, some days were harder than others, and unfortunately, she was forced to deal with abuse
from staff, and wounds left untreated. It was when the wounds behind her calves were about 6
inches long, left exposed ligaments and tendons infected, that she was forced to make a hard
decision. Stay, and risk the chance of dying or take the chance of flying from Denver, to a spinal
cord center in Memphis, Tennessee. This is but a small piece of what she's endured, not only as a
child, but as an adult. Though she has realized she is in control of the kind of person she could be
at the present time. She can be angry at her mom for not being there for her when she needed her.
Bitter at the whole situation, being dealt a bad hand. Blame others including God for being
paralyzed. Depressed about all the things she won't be able to do now. Or she can make best of
the hand she's been dealt and move forward. "Never Give Up" is her story, as she not only shows
how much her determination changes her life, but how she finds God and how He changes her
life.
Critique: As candid and intensely personal as it is exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "Never Give Up: How Determination And God Gave Me A Better Look at Life" is
ultimately inspired and inspiring. A relatively quick and absorbing read, "Never Give Up" is
strongly recommended for personal reading lists and community library American Biography
collections.
The Social Issues Shelf
The Moral Vacuum
Martyn Gabe
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781503507920, $48.38, HC, 416pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: We are experiencing a clash of civilizations, which knows no national borders.
Fanatical and passionate fervor has no specific boundary. When it is religiously motivated it is
idealism not nationalism. The emergence of ISIS is a reaction to imperialism. There is a political
nexus between 911 and the GFC, for both are not mutually exclusive. To comprehend the
terrorism of today we must first understand its motivation. Action begets reaction. In order to
comprehend the violence of Islamic State you must firstly understand the arrogance of
contemporary imperialism, because the consequences for America began on September 11th,
2001. "The Moral Vacuum" by Martyn Gabe clearly and articulately lays it all out with an
impressive adherence to historical detail.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Moral Vacuum" is very
highly recommended for both community and academic library Social Issues and Political
Science reference collections and supplemental studies lists. For personal reading lists for
academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest seeking to understand the origins
and consequences of American foreign policy with respect to today's global conflicts, it should be
noted that "The Moral Vacuum" is also available in a paperback edition (9781503507913,
$32.25) and in a Kindle format ($4.99).
The Relationship Shelf
Divine Romance & Perfect Partnership
Linda De Coff
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781517494612, $24.99, PB, 294pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Divine Romance & Perfect Partnership: The Immortal Principles and Powers of
Divine Love!" is a the latest volume of the Reverend Linda De Coff's outstanding 'Global Divine
Consciousness' series. Revealing 'Truths of Infinite Majesty' " Divine Romance & Perfect
Partnership" has as its focus the incomparable powers and joys of what Dr. Linda calls Divine
Romance & Perfect Partnership. Dr. Linda offers enlightening keys on how to prepare for,
recognize and attract your perfect eternal mate - and how to sustain your relationship forever.
Whether as an individual or as a couple, readers of "Divine Romance & Perfect Partnership" will
learn not only how to constantly renew relationships spanning the wide circumference of life, but
to lift all in themselves and others to the highest level, and experience greater fulfillment, bliss
and attainment than ever before.
Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "Divine Romance & Perfect Partnership: The Immortal
Principles and Powers of Divine Love!" is very highly recommended reading, especially for those
seeking to create, maintain, and enjoy relationships that will last a lifetime -- and beyond! It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Divine Romance & Perfect Partnership" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Business Shelf
The Galileo Moment
Elizabeth Jayanti
Atsui Press
9780990805618, $16.95, PB, 230pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In an era of dramatic change, Galileo built a powerful telescope and observed the stars.
Contrary to theory, he saw that the earth was not the center of the solar system. It was an
observation that profoundly changed the course of history. When Dr. Elizabeth Jayanti reviewed
over 1,300 books and articles and compared over 100 top academic and commercial business
tools, what she found was staggering: almost all of the business tools we use today are based on
theories from the Industrial era which have never been tested. This was her 'Galileo Moment',
when she realized that the real-world data didn't match what she had been taught. Embracing her
Galileo Moment, she set out on a journey to understand how market-leading companies really
work in today's economy. In "The Galileo Moment", Elizabeth Jayanti crystallizes the nuggets of
wisdom gathered on this journey. Ultimately, "The Galileo Moment" asks readers to leave behind
Industrial-era management practices and step into the present-day knowledge economy.
Critique: Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, iconoclastic and
provocative, "The Galileo Moment: How Global Market Leaders Differentiate From The Rest Of
The Pack" is a compelling read from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for corporate,
community, and academic library Business Management reference collections and supplemental
studies lists, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Galileo Moment" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
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
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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