 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Small
Press Bookwatch |
Small Press Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
My Father's Son
Andy Symonds
Mascot Publishing
560 Herndon Parkway, #120, Herndon, VA 20170
http://mascotbooks.com
9781631770418, $19.95 HC, $2.99 Kindle, 316 pages, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When Nathan's father, a decorated Navy SEAL, is killed in combat, he must rely on his
father's teammates for direction while learning to become a man. The normal struggles of
adolescence are amplified while growing up in the shadow of a war hero, and a young man's
future hangs in the balance. No one is safe from the scars of war in this funny, heart-wrenching,
poignant novel.
Critique: Although My Father's Son is a novel, it's firmly grounded in the real-life effects of fame
and scrutiny heaped upon elite Navy SEALs, who are perhaps best known for the daring raid that
killed international terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Powerful, thought-provoking, and embellished
with moments of ironic humor, My Father's Son is highly recommended. It should be noted that
"My Father's Son" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
Almost Home
Githa Hariharan
Restless Books
www.restlessbooks.com
9781632060617, $16.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: What does a medieval city in South India have in common with Washington D.C.?
How do people in Kashmir imagine the freedom they long for? To whom does Delhi, city of
grand monuments and hidden slums, actually belong? And what makes a city, or any place,
home? In the ten intricately carved essays comprising "Almost Home: Finding a Place in the
World from Kashmir to New York", author Githa Hariharan tackles these questions and takes
readers on an eye-opening journey across time and place, exploring the history, landscape, and
people that have shaped the world's most fascinating and fraught cities. Harihan combines
memory, cultural criticism, and history to sculpt fascinating, layered stories about the places
around the world ranging from Delhi, Mumbai, and Kashmir to Palestine, Algeria, and eleventh
century Cordoba, from Tokyo to New York and Washington. In narrating the lives of these
place's vanquished and marginalized, she plumbs the depths of colonization and nation building,
poverty and war, the fight for human rights and the day-to-day business of survival.
Critique: Articulate, erudite, compelling, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Almost Home:
Finding a Place in the World from Kashmir to New York" is an extraordinary read from
beginning to end. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Almost Home" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.99).
Trumped!
Peter Davidson
Sweet Memories Publishing
PO Box 497, Arnolds Park, IA 51331-0497
9780976271840, $10.95, PB, 116pp. www.amazon.com
Synopsis: It has been politically correct to be politically correct for many years now, and it seems
that the trend is even intensifying. A slip of the tongue, an off-the-cuff comment, or a heart-felt
posting on social media might bring a firestorm of criticism down upon a person. It might even
get them fired from their job. A person who always tries to be politically correct must choose
their words and actions carefully, so they don't offend someone or hurt someone's fragile
feelings. There used to be a saying that kids in school repeated if someone said something mean
or nasty to them: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
Whatever happened to that simple philosophy? "Trumped! - Beyond Politically Correct: What
You Would Say if You Had the Guts" by Peter Davidson is about going beyond simple political
correctness. It's about saying what you mean and meaning what you say. "Trumped!" contains
over 100 situations that people face in real life along with the type of response a person might
give if trying to be politically correct. Then, what a person would say if they had the guts to go
beyond being politically correct and saying what they really believe, to be brutally honest, is
shown for the same situation. "Trumped!" is about relationships, advice, wisdom, and
philosophies to live by, sprinkled with a good dose of humor, satire, and irreverence-- and it's a
little risque.
Critique: Not for the politically delicate, "Trumped!" is an inherently fascinating and consistently
compelling read from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists, it
should be noted that "Trumped!" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.95).
Gramma Darling
Lissa Schroeder, author
Doron Ben-Ami, illustrator
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478757900, $21.95, HC, 30pp, www.amazon.com
The difference a grandmother can make in the life of a child is truly extraordinary. Beautifully
written by Lissa Schroeder and stunningly illustrated Doran Ben-Ami, "Gramma Darling: A
Season of Childhood Spent at a Dear Grandmother's House" is a simply delightful book for
children, parents, and grandparents as it paints a nostalgic picture of unhurried summer days at a
dear grandmother's house. Seen and felt through the eyes of a child, every discovery is full of
innocence and wonder; from an attic brimming with treasures to running through the fields at
twilight catching fireflies. Parents will laugh and remember their own childhood and feel as
though they are there sharing in all the small adventures of her little world; the baby birds, the
gardening, the stormy days, and bedtime baths. And through it all, in the background, is Gramma
Darling and her laughter. Readers will sense the atmosphere of nurturing, protection, and worth
that she provides; and far more importantly, get a glimpse into the wisdom of a woman whose
genuine genius for simply loving, inspires wholehearted lifetime devotion. It will leave readers
uplifted and looking for ways to spend quality time with the little ones in their own life.
Critique: Clearly a picture book for grownups, "Gramma Darling: A Season of Childhood Spent
at a Dear Grandmother's House" is very highly recommended and will prove to ben an enduringly
popular addition to personal and community library collections.
The War of Matrimony
Annie Hartzog Clayton
Trafford Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.trafford.com
9781490727738, $12.99, PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The War of Matrimony" by Annie Hartzog Clayton is story is about a woman named
Onyx who blindly went into marriage with a man named Jake, an only child who was suffering
from abandonment. Onyx, along with her siblings, was raised by her mother and step-dad and
suffered from abuse by her mother. She grew up with low self-esteem, but she met her prince
charming, who wined and dined her and treated her with class and gave her the respect she
desperately needed. But instead of a fairytale ending, it was the nightmare beginning of an
abusive relationship.
Critique: A chronicle born of forty years in an abusive marriage, author Annie Hartzog Clayton's
message in "The War of Matrimony" is that all women should know that they are not alone in
dealing with domestic abuse. Very strongly recommended for community library collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The War of Matrimony" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($3.99).
The Biography Shelf
Ethereal Voices
Shona Jabang
Lulu Publishing
3101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5436
www.lulu.com
9781326520816, $14.84, PB, 360pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Ethereal Voices" an inherently fascinating account of what life was like for a child
growing up in Jamaica and entering womanhood. This memoir by Shona Jabang effectively
introduces the reader to the flavors, smells, cultures, social mores and climate of that Jamaica.
She also skillfully represents the poignancy and charisma of the indigenous people who are
constantly searching for their true identities.
Critique: "Ethereal Voices" by Shona Jabang (a Jamaican-American and a 9th and 10th grade
language arts teacher at an American high school as well as a part-time university writing
instructor. offers a scintillating and thought-provoking selection of short stories and poems with
an eclectic, trans-Atlantic, Caribbean flavor) is all the more impressive when considering that
this memoir is her debut effort as a writer. As informed and informative as it is a compelling and
insightful read from beginning to end, "Ethereal Voices" is very highly recommended for
community and academic library Contemporary Biography collections. For personal reading lists
it should be noted that "Ethereal Voices" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).
Simply Bob
Robert Brown
Denro Classics
9780983676867, $14.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In less than seven seconds, Bob Brown's life was shattered. It wasn't an accident. It
wasn't illness. It was a documentary film, and it took him forty years to recover. In this memoir
of seeking the reason to get out of a warm, comfortable bed in the morning, Brown tells the story
of what made sense to him, and it may be right for you too. He thanks his parents for making it
all possible.
Critique: "Simply Bob: Searching for the Essence" is a compelling read from beginning to end
and very highly recommended for community library Contemporary American
Biography/Memoir collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Simply Bob" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($5.95).
Love, Loss, and Awakening
Dennis P. Freed
Tolawaken Press
www.Lovelossandawakening.com
9780997191615, $12.95, PB, 88pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The death of a loved one is devastating, and can leave us questioning our new path.
Will I ever want to find love again, and if so, how do I find it? What is appropriate behavior for a
widowed fifty-four-year-old senior? Should I explore dating sites? Meet women in bars? Rely on
introductions from friends? The questions far outnumber the answers.
Dennis and Hope Freed had a fulfilling marriage. Over the course of thirty-two years they built a
home, created a loving family, and shared all their dreams with one another and their two sons.
Then Hope got cancer. She fought a long, brave battle, but it was one she couldn't win. Dennis
Freed's beloved wife and best-trusted friend had gone, leaving him alone to figure out a future
he'd never imagined.
As he sorted through what society expected of a long-term caregiver and widower, Dennis
eventually emerged from mourning, his heart ready for life's next chapter. Nervously, he began to
go out with women again, and endured all the awkward and hilarious embarrassments a man who
hadn't been on a date in decades might expect. He kept on trying, embracing and trusting the
process. "Love, Loss, and Awakening: (Mis)adventures on the Way Back to Joy" chronicles a
courageous and uplifting journey through sorrow, the search for new love, and the rediscovery of
happiness.
Critique: Candid, intimate, compelling, exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"Love, Loss, and Awakening: (Mis)adventures on the Way Back to Joy" is an ultimately inspired
and inspiring memoir that is very highly recommended for community library collections. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Love, Loss, and Awakening: (Mis)adventures on
the Way Back to Joy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Garbage Bag Suitcase
Shenandoah Chefalo
Mission Point Press
www.missionpointpress.com
9781943995035, $17.99, PB, 196pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Garbage Bag Suitcase" is the autobiography of Shenandoah Chefalo and the story of
her wholly dysfunctional journey through a childhood with neglectful, drug-and alcohol addicted
parents. She endured numerous moves in the middle of the night with just minutes to pack,
multiple changes in schools, hunger, cruelty, and loneliness. Finally at the age of 13, Shen had
had enough. After being abandoned by her mother for months at her grandmother's retirement
community, she asked to be put into foster care. Surely she would fare better at a stable home
than living with her mother? It turns out that it was not the storybook ending she had hoped for.
With foster parents more interested in the income received by housing a foster child, Shen was
once again neglected emotionally. The money she earned working at the local grocery store was
taken by her foster parents to "cover her expenses." When a car accident lands her in the hospital
with grave injuries and no one came to visit her during her three-week stay, she realizes she is
truly all alone in the world. Overcoming her many adversities, Shen became part of the 3% of all
foster care children who get into college, and the 1% who graduate. She became a successful
businesswoman, got married, and had a daughter. Despite her numerous achievements in life
though, she still suffers from the long-term effects of neglect, and the coping skills that she
adapted in her childhood are not always productive in her adult life. "Garbage Bag Suitcase" is
not only the inspiring and hair-raising story of one woman's journey to over- come her desolate
childhood, but it also presents grass-root solutions on how to revamp the broken foster care
system.
Critique: Candid, compelling, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Garbage Bag
Suitcase" is an extraordinary memoir and one that is very highly recommended for community
and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections. For personal reading lists it
should be noted that "Garbage Bag Suitcase" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).
Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal
Louise Stanger
WZY Press
9780996761406, $14.99, PB, 188pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Life is full of moments that feel like you're falling. For Louise Stanger (who has over
thirty years of experience as a college professor, is 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), was 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 -- 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: A candid and inherently fascinating read from beginning to end, "Falling Up: A
Memoir of Renewal" is a compelling life story told with a frank honesty and truthful sincerity
throughout. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
Contemporary American Biography collections
I Have A Voice
Tyler Williams
Williams Raymond Publishing
9780997380804, $9.99, PB, 198pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Tyler Williams has known success. He has performed in Atlanta's famed Fox Theatre,
raced down Victory Lane as a NASCAR driver, worked on hit film and TV shows, and sang for
thousands in packed arenas. But Tyler has also known failure, devastating setbacks, and the pain
of lost love. He knows how it feels to be lost, disconnected from himself and his passion. In "I
Have A Voice", Tyler tells his story of losing his "voice", navigating life for many years without
it, then finding it again -- and finding himself in the process. "I Have a Voice" is full of life
lessons that people both young and old will recognize. "I Have A Voice" is a book of hope,
challenges and breakthrough moments as Tyler recounts his personal journey and uses his
experience to help guide readers back to their own voices without dictating the steps to get there.
Those who have lost their purpose, passion and "voice" will find renewal in his words.
Critique: Impressively well written, exceptionally well organized and presented, "I Have A
Voice" is a compelling and ultimately inspiring read from beginning to end. Simply stated, "I
Have A Voice" is an extraordinary and highly recommended memoir for personal, community,
and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections and reading lists.
I'm Tim Maude, and I'm a Soldier
Stephen E. Bower
iUniverse, Inc.
c/o Author House
1663 Liberty Dr. Suite #300, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.iuniverse.com
9781491753224 $25.95 pbk / $3.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Lt. Gen. Tim Maude shares the distinction of being the highest ranking American
soldier to lose his life in military action. But unlike Lesley J. McNair and Simon B. Buckner Jr,
both lieutenant generals who died during World War II, the battle he died in was not one he
expected. On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists commandeered an American Airlines flight out of Dulles
International Airport and crashed it into the southwest wall of the Pentagon, killing Maude and
more than a hundred other military and civilian workers. Scores of other people were injured
when the airliner ripped through the building at 530 miles per hour. At the time of his death,
Maude served as the deputy chief of staff for personnel, the Army's chief executor of personnel
policy and manager of the various programs affecting the strength and moral well-being of
America's land forces. As one of only five members of the Army's Adjutant General's Corps to
rise to the rank of lieutenant general, his story is one of triumph and celebration, and an abiding
commitment to family, country, and service.
Critique: The life story of Vietnam veteran and U.S. Army officer Lieutenant General Timothy J.
Maude, I'm Tim Maude, and I'm a Soldier is a profound portrait of courage, patriotism, and
service, as well as a heartbreaking reminder of the thousands of American lives cut short in the
September 11th terrorist attacks. Notes, an index, and a handful of black-and-white photographs
enrich this thoughtful, carefully researched and vividly presented biography of a true hero.
Highly recommended.
The Military Shelf
The Reluctant Soldier
Marnie Mellblom
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478757405, $16.95, PB, 290pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Compiled from hundreds of letters written by Neil Mellblom, an Army combat reporter
with the Pacific Stars & Stripes and the Third Division's Public Information Office, the United
Nations sanctioned police action, "The Reluctant Soldier" spotlights America's "forgotten war" in
Korea. Neil received the Bronze Starr for "aggressive reporting" which made the division one of
the best known of the Korean war. "The Reluctant Soldier" is a definitive presentation of a
soldier's life in wartime and traces the funny, yet deeply moving story of Neil's growth from a
cocky Montanan to a seasoned adult.
Critique: An outstanding contribution to the growing library of Korean War literature, "The
Reluctant Soldier" is very highly recommended for community and academic library 20th
Century American Military History collections in general, and Korean War supplemental studies
reading lists in particular.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Sand And Scrap
Chris R. Sendrowski
Pine Fire Publishing
www.chrissendrowski.com
9780692612576, $9.95, PB, 306pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Michael stared at the sand as nervous sweat slid down his brow. The nagra were
everywhere, nesting beneath the polluted ground, waiting to drag down the unwary. "And it only
takes one false step", he whispered. A tough break, but that was the life of a Culver cleanser. Dig,
scrap, disarm and hope to return from a work detail with enough fingers to still count your pay.
But as with any risk there are great rewards. Even in the Culver Waste, a land fouled by a decade
long war and plagued with poisonous elemental traps and vicious predators, treasures untold
remain hidden beneath the toxic sands. Relics, scrap, weapons, even entire cities -- all abandoned
and forgotten after the last great magic war swallowed the land whole. But not everything can
remain lost forever. And when Michael Carter and his work crew unearth a mysterious bunker
while on a cleansing run, they soon learn some things are best never found again.
Critique: The debut first volume of Chris Sendrowski's dark fantasy series "Dregs of the Culver
Waste" series, "Sand And Scrap" is an impressively well written and deftly compelling read from
beginning to end. Very highly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy
collections, it should be noted that "Sand And Scrap" is also available for action/adventure
fantasy fans in an inexpensive Kindle edition ($0.99).
Blood Is Thicker
Silas H. Patterson
Trafford Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.trafford.com
9781490764771, $16.99, PB, 376pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Blood Is Thicker: Part 1" by Silas H. Patterson is the first volume of a multi-part
series that starts with a woman's strange last request: "Don't Save Me". It follows the story of
Adam Davis, her vampire husband, as he begins this 25 year story to his son, and ranging from
the steaming war torn jungles of the last years of the Vietnam War, to the exclusive high rise
hotels of the Ginza District of Tokyo. "Blood is Thicker: Part 1" takes the reader on a bloody,
whirlwind ride as Adam Davis acquires and is taught how to use his powers, from his vampire
mentor Dr. George Stein. In a race to get home to help his wife and newborn infant son, he
discovers his powers and his responsibilities as a vampire.
Critique: A consistently compelling read from beginning to end, "Blood Is Thicker: Part 1" is
unreservedly recommended for all vampire fiction enthusiasts. While very highly recommended
for community library Fantasy Action/Adventure collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of vampire fans that "Blood Is Thicker: Part 1" is also available in a Kindle edition
($3.99).
Clovers
Samira
PartridgeIndia
9781482858891, $25.99, PB, 78pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Clovers" is the story of Androxen, the sea, a nice bunch of aliens of the Andromeda
galaxy, Samira, and some serious citizens of earth. "Clovers" begins with Androxen of the seas,
who can only breed males and so ever on the lookout for sirenmates in a waterful life together.
But the old sage androx and the equally mature seasalt androx are Androxen of another sort.
Appalled by the state of seas and land around, they badger aliens for blueprints for an all right
world. And as the old salt plots across galaxies with his infallible plotter, unbanded frequency
waves tingle with vibes of alien tracks. The rest is history, or rather, geography, as final outcome
is an earth with extended platforms. In its past, this planet had been exploited, explored, and
exalted in song, word, and deed, but now it could breathe again. Spacelings, normally visualized
vandalizing the environs, reverse roles here, getting humans out of the hole and giving the planet
an earthly chance. Good, clean humour. But underlying the light tone, there is an anxiety over the
crisis confronting earthlings and an earnest hope that it ends in a happy beginning.
Critique: Inherently fascinating, unique, deftly constructed, and consistently entertaining from
beginning to end, "Clovers" is very highly recommended for dedicated science fiction and fantasy
enthusiasts. Appropriate for community library Fantasy & Science Fiction collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Clovers" is also available in a Kindle edition
($4.99).
Ordo Draconum: The Lazarus Vial
T. C. Gates
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478752769, $18.95, PB, 292pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Delaine Rogan is a teenage girl whose father disappeared on one of his many
dangerous expeditions. She is summoned to Romania to assist her father's friend and his
investigative team in searching for him. What she discovers is a world she never knew existed; a
world where her father reigned as a destroyer of dangerous creatures, and was part of a secret
group known as Ordo Draconum. In this new world, Delaine finds answers to questions about
herself she'd never thought to ask and finds a strange bond in a person she'd never expected.
From this unusual friendship will spring forth an unexpected source.
Critique: A superbly crafted blending of the supernatural and the mythological, "Ordo
Draconum: The Lazarus Vial" is an impressively written and consistently compelling read from
beginning to end. Indeed, "Ordo Draconum: The Lazarus Vial" is very highly recommended for
community library Fantasy Fiction collections, and one that is especially commended to the
attention of dark fantasy fans.
The Vampire
Sandrine Genier
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781516866533 $21.20 pbk / $4.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Jason Sterling never meant to put his life or anyone else's in danger. The Genier law
firm's excellent reputation assures him all is well when he accepts the unusual job offer with the
Genier's personal friend and client. The mysterious and alluring Augere becomes Jason's
obsession. He doesn't know that the sumptuous home they share on Beacon Hill in Boston is far
from the life in France, or the bayous of Louisiana where Augere's existence was forever
changed. He had yet to learn the secrets of the decaying house in Savannah and its connection to
Augere. Jason rationalizes the occurrences of anything unusual even when events on a trip to
Europe suggest a reality quite different from what he knows but has begun to suspect. When a
terrifying encounter finally convinces him he has been the victim of a dangerous and bitter
betrayal he loses everything in an attempt to save his life. In time he comes to realize that putting
his former life back together may not be the easiest or wisest decision. Both harrowing and
uplifting occurrences continue to divide and reunite the two as their journey becomes a struggle
for understanding, acceptance and friendship on their own terms.
Critique: First of a prospective series, The Vampire is a poignant, emotional saga about
misplaced trust, shattered fallout, and the enduring connections between kindred souls. Author
Sandrine Genier has crafted a novel with complex, three-dimensional characters, and dilemmas
that transcend the veil between life, death, and undeath. Highly recommended, especially for
connoisseurs of cerebral vampire literature!
The Travel Shelf
Spookiest Cemeteries
Terrance Zepke
Safari Publishing
PO Box 4881, Greensboro, NC 27404
www.safaripublishing.net
9780990765394 $14.95 pbk / $4.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Cemeteries can be creepy and downright scary places even without reports of
paranormal activity. But throw in a few ghosts and all bets are off! Discover which ones are
considered to be the most spookiest and why.
Critique: Third in author Terrance Zepke's "Spookiest" series, Spookiest Cemeteries is a
spine-chilling armchair traveller's delight. Black-and-white photographs illustrate these
descriptions of notoriously haunted American cemeteries, some of which even feature "ghost
tours"! Contact, website, and visitor information for each cemetery is thoughtfully provided.
The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf
Mystic Tides
C. J. Godwin
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478701378, $24.95, HC, 210pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: An Alaskan native moves to a quiet town in Florida, where he is immediately attracted
to a natural beauty with magnetic charm. Soon afterward, he begins to realize that his new love
interest might not be the perfect image that she portrays, as she begins to show signs of mystical
powers that are linked to her equally surprising past.
Critique: C. J. Godwin's "Mystic Tides" is a deftly crafted novel that is inspired by Hans
Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' story. While very highly recommended for high school
and community library YA Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Mystic Tides" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Political Science Shelf
Freedoms Stolen: Our Country is Dying
Bill Whitlow
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781530035427, $15.99, PB, 344pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: For over 200 years, our basic freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the US
Constitution have been quietly stolen. Individual rights have fallen to the whims of judges, eager
to ignore and pervert the clear language of the Constitution. Everyday Americans are finding
themselves on the receiving end of a government gone wild, and most never believed it could
happen to them -- until it did. We live in an era where all kinds of pornography is protected by
the First Amendment. Calls to remove "In God We Trust" from money are seriously considered.
Freedom of speech only applies if you don't hurt anyone's feelings or criticize a protected group.
And property rights are only respected if a judge finds it convenient. In America, the Fourth
Amendment to the Constitution is supposed to protect citizens against unlawful search and
seizure. But a produce stand in Maryland had $90,000 confiscated without any charge or
evidence of a crime. The Fifth Amendment states that no one can be deprived of liberty without
due process of law. A policeman was abducted and held against his will for six days by the city
of New York, after he presented evidence of NYPD corruption. He was later vindicated. Do you
think police need a warrant to search your home? In 2011, the Supreme Court voted 8-1 that they
don't. "Freedoms Stolen: Our Country is Dying" presents readers with real world examples of
Americans having their rights stolen. Careful analysis of Supreme Court cases shows just how
vulnerable the average person is. From censorship to seizing property without a warrant, the
pattern of abuse in the system is sure to be eye opening. In a shocking expose, "Freedom Stolen"
analyzes court cases, legal precedent, and real world examples of how freedom in America is
being taken away.
Critique: It is a cliche because it is true -- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good
men to do nothing. The erosion of our constitutionally based civil liberties over the past 40 years
has prepared the ground for the rise of an American Fascism as evidenced by the Donald Trump
campaign for the presidency of the United States, and the rise of the Corporate State is evidenced
by the Hillary Clinton campaign for the presidency of the United States. "Freedoms Stolen" is a
well researched and thought provoking work that should be considered is a "must read" that
delves into why it's happening, and what you as an ordinary citizen can do to stop it. Strongly and
urgently recommended for community, college, and university Contemporary Political Science
reference collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "Freedoms Stolen" is also available in an inexpensive Kindle edition ($0.99).
The Fiction Shelf
Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place
Vanta M. Black
Black Chateau Publishing
www.BlackChateauEnterprises.com
www.VantaMBlack.com
9780996448826, $34.99, HC, 568pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Veronica knows the monsters aren't "just in her head", but no one listens to the
headstrong ten-year-old as they tie her to a hospital bed every night. Years later, after being
dumped by her business-partner/boyfriend, Veronica finds herself on the verge of bankruptcy.
Then a late-night call promises the perfect solution in the form of a job opportunity decorating a
castle in France. Will Veronica risk what little she has left to chase a fairy tale? When the
shadowy things that once terrorized her return, Veronica must decide how much she'll sacrifice
for them, for her sanity, and for her life. "Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place" consists of
interwoven stories with paranormal twists. An epic adventure, it spans nearly two millennia
ranging from an ancient Pagan ritual in Roman-ruled Gaul, to the bloody Inquisition of the
Knights Templar, France as it's ravaged by the Black Death, to the duplicitous Reformation, to
the Paris Catacombs, and the gory French Revolution.
Critique: It's interesting to note that Vanta M. Black was inspired to write "Oubliette: A
Forgotten Little Place" after learning about the real oubliette at Leap Castle, the famed
most-haunted castle in Ireland. Deftly crafted and a compelling read from beginning to end,
"Oubliette" is very highly recommended for community library collections. For personal reading
lists it should also be noted that "Oubliette" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780996448819, $19.99) and in a Kindle format ($11.49).
Mennonite on the Edge
Cynthia Yoder
http://cynthiayoder.com
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781523398898, $10.95, PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Though a country-girl at heart, MaryJo wants to ditch her identity as a Mennonite in
marrying Adam and living a life of adventure in Manhattan. But news from home kicks up
memories she has tried to bury. While she begins to question her choices, Adam lands a
high-profile job, making a move seem impossible. MaryJo must make peace with her past and
her current situation so that she can live the life of her dreams with Adam. But can she reconcile
her craving for serenity in the City that Never Sleeps? Set in both New York City and the heart of
Pennsylvania Dutch Country, "Mennonite on the Edge" reveals a young woman's struggles to
define life on her own terms. The more she attempts to redefine herself apart from her past, the
more the past seems to pull her in.
Critique: Cynthia Yoder is a compelling storyteller as evidenced by "Mennonite on the Edge", a
deftly crafted novel that explores love and marriage, belonging and culture. While very highly
recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Mennonite on the Edge" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
The Renegade Queen
Eva Flynn
Omega Press
9780996983204, $12.99, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: It's 1869 and Victoria Woodhull has a choice to make. She can stay in an abusive marriage
and continue to work as a psychic, or she can take the offer of support from handsome Civil War
general James Blood and set about to turn society upside down. Victoria chooses revolution. But
revolutions are expensive, and Victoria needs money. James introduces Victoria to Commodore
Vanderbilt who is one of the wealthiest men in America. Along with her loose and scandalous
sister, Tennessee, Victoria manipulates Vanderbilt and together they conspire to crash the stock
market and reap profit from it. Victoria then parlays her fortune into the first female-owned
brokerage firm. When her idol Susan B. Anthony publishes scandalous rumors about Victoria's
past, Victoria enters into a fierce rivalry with Susan to control the women's movement. James
supports Victoria's efforts despite his deep fears that she may lose more than the battle. She
might lose part of herself. Victoria starts her own newspaper, testifies to Congress, and even
announces her candidacy for President. But when Victoria adopts James's radical ideas and free
love beliefs, she ignites new, bruising, battles with Susan B. Anthony and the powerful Reverend
Henry Beecher. These skirmishes turn into an all-out war, with Victoria facing prejudice,
prosecution, and imprisonment. Ultimately, Victoria and James face the hardest choice of all: the
choice between their country and their love.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "The Renegade Queen" is author Eva
Flynn's debut as a novelist, this deftly crafted and consistently compelling read is very highly
recommended for both community and academic library Historical Fiction collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that "The Renegade Queen" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($4.99).
Saving Abby
Steena Holmes
Lake Union Publishing
9781503934160, $14.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: All children's book illustrator Claire Turner ever wanted was to be a mother. After six
years of trying to conceive, she and her husband, Josh, have finally accepted that she will never
be pregnant with a child of their own. Yet once they give up hope, the couple gets the miracle
they've been waiting for. For the first few months of her pregnancy, Claire and Josh are living on
cloud nine. But when she begins to experience debilitating headaches, blurred vision, and even
fainting spells, the soon-to-be mother goes to the doctor and receives a terrifying diagnosis. Since
any treatment could put their unborn baby's life at risk, the Turners must carefully weigh their
limited options. And as her symptoms worsen, Claire will have to make an impossible decision:
Save her own life, or save her child's?
Critique: A compelling novel from beginning to end, "Saving Abby" by Steena Holmes is an
unforgettable and deftly crafted story of one woman's courage and love -- a story that will linger
in the mind and memory long after the book is finished and set back upon the shelf. While very
highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Saving Abby" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99) and in an
MP3 CD format ($9.99).
A Monk's Way
Clark Eide
AGT Publishing Inc.
PO Box 714, Yankton, SD 57078
www.agtpublishing.com
9781944030094, $12.95, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Jean Moreau, a modern monk at the Abbey of Kervennec, is in trouble. His obsession
with a beautiful woman provokes his undoing with his God and with his rival, now the
power-hungry abbot. "A Monk's Way" by Clark Edie is a parable for modern times, describing in
rich language and clear steps the soul journey Jean must make to get back to wholeness.
Although a work of fiction, "A Monk's Way" introduces the reader to an understanding of the
two worlds we see - the worlds of the material and of the spiritual. Jean teaches us the path to
spiritual Awareness, creating a guidebook to Spirit that all can use to bring us closer to our
Source. Combining his two realities as a priest and as a man, "A Monk's Way" in a tactful and
insightful way suggests to the reader that true spirituality comes via direct connection to God as
opposed to merely following the blind dogma of a religion. In the end, the reader of "A Monk's
Way" develops the tools necessary to cultivate the sine qua non - Awareness - in order to arrive
at a meaningful and mindful direct relationship with God.
Critique: Impressively well written and consistently compelling from beginning to end, "A
Monk's Way" is as thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is unfailingly entertaining. While very
highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "A Monk's Way" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.95).
The Avignon Legacy
Daniel C. Lorti
W & B Publishers Inc.
www.a-argusbooks.com
www.danielclorit.com
9781942981459, $17.99, PB, 408pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When Pope Gregory XI abruptly decides to move the Papacy back to Rome in 1377,
chaos and rebellion descends upon both Avignon and the Papal States in Italy. The Rome-based
Pope's foes and critics are everywhere and any shipment of the papal treasury from Avignon to
the Vatican is at risk. An ingenious location is devised by Sir Jean Termonde, a heroic knight, to
secure the treasure from discovery until it can be transferred to Rome. The papal treasure never
arrived at the Vatican, and the legend of the lost gold and jewels has grown over the centuries.
Rare book dealer Jim Pierce's expertise is in tracking down and retrieving old volumes coveted
by well-heeled clients. He has little interest in the French Middle Ages until two armed thugs
enter his bookstore demanding an ancient 14th century volume on the Avignon Papacy that
mentions the Church's treasury. They are killed thanks to Pierce's precautionary measures. When
he receives an offer of $5 million from the legendary billionaire recluse John W. Baxter, to steal
a 14thcentury volume from the Vatican Secret Archives, his interest is piqued leading him to
wonder if Baxter wants the volume or if the contents are related to the treasure. So Pierce sets out
to attempt two thefts: the volume from the Vatican, and the treasure from Avignon. That's when
he discovers the French and the British police are on Baxter's heels who is, in turn, after
him.
Critique: An extraordinary and original novel, "The Avignon Legacy" documents author Daniel
C. Lorti as an exceptionally gifted author with an impressive set of storytelling skills. A
compelling and consistently entertaining read from beginning to end, "The Avignon Legacy" is
the stuff from which block-buster Hollywood movies are made. While very highly recommended
for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "The Avignon Legacy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Without Leave
Deborah Fleming
The Black Mountain Press
www.theblackmountainpress.com
www.works.bepress.com/deborah_fleming
9780970016560, $22.50, PB, 274pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Without Leave" by Deborah Fleming chronicles the stories of two alienated young
people in 1967. There is David, who goes AWOL from the Navy where he'd hoped to find
training and focus for his life but finds only boredom and disillusionment during deployment on
an aircraft carrier and an artist. And then there is Diane, who drops out of college after a brutal
rape and the death of the black man she loved when they met and fell in love in the
Haight-Ashbury region of San Francisco in 1967 only to find they cannot escape their past. David
cannot be free while a fugitive and Diane cannot be free in a segregated society at war with
itself.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, this deftly crafted novel is consistently compelling from
beginning to end and clearly documents author Deborah Fleming as an impressively gifted
storyteller. One of those all too infrequent novels that will linger in the mind and memory long
after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "Without Leave" is very highly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.
Waltzing in Vienna
C. G. Metts
Catmoon Media
9780692533345, $11.99, PB, 280pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Diana Parks was once a country-rock star who traded in the limelight to go into
business with her husband. While visiting Charleston she is reunited with old friends,
psychologist Eve Hayes, and socialite Lucy Pendleton, and when they gather at Lucy's stately
(and lonely) antebellum home, it turns into a wine and marijuana-fueled recollection of their
college summers. Those carefree days spent at Folly Beach inspired them to seek out their
dreams, but now those days seem so far away from the disillusionments of their adulthood. As
their lives fall apart, and regrets become clear, they find comfort in their renewed friendship and
solace in getting high and Waltzing in Vienna.
Critique: A deftly crafted and exceptionally compelling read from beginning to end, "Waltzing in
Vienna" showcases author C. G. Metts as an impressively talented novelist. While very highly
recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Waltzing in Vienna" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
Friction
Matt Marshall
Caged Letter Press
9780997212006, $12.95, PB, 146pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The novel "Friction" by Matt Marshall unfolds over the course of the tumultuous year
2014. The planet continues to warm, pro-Russian militants seize large swaths of Eastern Ukraine,
the Islamic State rises to terror in the Middle East, Syria splinters further toward collapse, Ebola
breaks out in West Africa, unbridled white cops cut down unarmed blacks in U.S. cities, heroin
kills indiscriminately throughout the Midwest (and beyond), a floundering man meets a desperate
woman wheeling her bike off the velodrome in Cleveland. Written in a free-flowing style
punctuated by shifts in font size, Friction follows the relationship between these two
Clevelanders: the woman, a recovering heroin addict increasingly drawn into the conflict in her
ancestral Ukraine; the man, an "astronomical folklorist" with a penchant for Sun Ra recordings,
trying, perhaps, just to stay tethered to Earth. Identities flitter and morph as 2014 rumbles on and
the two struggle to find meaningful roles amidst the upheaval.
Critique: A deftly crafted, erudite, and consistently compelling read from beginning to end,
"Friction" showcases the impressive literary talents of author Matt Marshall as a consummate
and original novelist. Very highly recommended for community and academic library Literary
Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Friction" is also available in
a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Say You'll Never Love Me
Ann Everett
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
www.anneverett.com
9781523703593, $12.99, PB, 286pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Raynebeaux Starr's life is damn near perfect. She has wonderful friends. An interesting
career. A man when she wants one and none when she doesn't, thank you very much. But when
tragedy strikes and she's named guardian to her six year old niece, her world is turned upside
down. She finds herself alone in a new town with a small child, no parenting skills and desperate
for guidance. That's when she meets Father Jared Sloan. The sexiest minister she's ever seen. He
is kind, patient and a literal God-send. If only she could stop having unholy thoughts about him!
Jared Sloan's love life is a disaster. He has one girlfriend he can't shake, and an ex-fiancee on his
doorstep wanting him back. As if things weren't complicated enough, he encounters what must
be a fallen angel in a church parking lot. Little does he know when he offers her counseling that
she would be unlike anyone he's ever experienced. He wants to be the kind of man she can trust.
He also wants to taste her so bad it hurts. Can Jared convince Raynie there is such a thing as
happily-ever-after? Or will his deceit only confirm her belief that fairy tale endings don't exist in
the real world. Especially not in Lubbock, Texas.
Critique: A superbly crafted, compelling, and consistently entertaining read from beginning to
end, "Say You'll Never Love Me" reveals author Ann Everett as an impressively gifted novelist
and a master of the contemporary romance genre. While very highly recommended for
community library Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal read lists that
"Say You'll Never Love Me" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Tribune of the People
Dan Wallace
Branden Books
PO Box 812094, Wellesley, MA 02482
www.brandenbooks.com
9780828326049, $19.95, PB, 472pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Tiberius Gracchus, the son of a celebrated plebeian father and a venerated patrician
mother, fully expects to pursue the course of honor in Rome. After all, at just age 17, he won the
Mural Crown for being first over the wall in the last, furious assault on Carthage. Ten years later,
his path to glory takes him through northern Italia as a high-ranking officer to join the legions at
war against Numantia in Hispania. On his way, however, the sight of countless throngs of
starving veterans and their families stuns Tiberius. The devastating vision of fellow plebeians
forced off their land by greedy patricians troubles Tiberius profoundly.
In Hispania, though grave setbacks plague the Roman army, Tiberius saves 20,000 Roman troops
from certain destruction at the hands of the Numantines. Yet, he finds himself persecuted by
enemy Senators who hope to send him back to the barbarians naked and in chains. In turn,
Tiberius runs for tribune of the people, promising to restore to the plebeian veterans their land
taken by predatory patricians who include his cousin and brother-in-law. Through all, Tiberius
struggles to reconcile his ambition with the fears of his beloved wife Claudia and the demand for
honor of his mother Cornelia. Ultimately, the escalating class dispute embroiling him ends in
violence and bloodshed, the first spilled in the Roman Forum in 500 years.
Critique: A deftly constructive, exceptionally well written, and consistently compelling read from
beginning to end, "Tribune of the People" is a truly impressive novel of the old Roman Empire
by Dan Wallace. This is the stuff from which block-buster movies are made! While very highly
recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Tribune of the People" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
Mallast
Bob Prevost
RLP Industries
www.mallastbook.com
9780984636907, $16.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Mallast" by Bob Prevost is a superbly crafted novel that offers a view into the life
during the last three decades of the 1800s. Historical facts of a Prussian family, the Mallasts, are
interwoven into a story of a decisions as they endeavor to raise their seven children in a more
peaceful existence than the turbulent environment of central Europe in the late 1800s. The
families' painful decision to leave parents and friends is followed by their struggle to carve out a
new beginning in rural Michigan. The story continues with courtship and marriage of their
youngest daughter and the young couple's struggles to do well are inherently fascinating
inclusions into a masterfully presented narrative.
Critique: Original, compelling, and a terrifically entertaining read from beginning to end,
"Mallast" showcases author Bob Prevost's impressive skills as novelist. Very strongly
recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Mallast" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).
The Worship of Walker Judson
Janice Strubbe Wittenberg
Spiral Publishing
P. O. Box 340, St. Paul, VA 24283
http://spiralpublishing.net
http://strubbe-wittenberg.com
9780989562300, $16.95, PB, 432pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Walker Judson has a grand secret. He sees light that emanates from, and surrounds
other folks. Soul shadows, the boy terms them. Years later, as director of The Living Light
Healing Center, he meets the hunchback, Lauren Finch, and straightens her spine. Seduced by his
charisma, she then becomes his devout assistant, ultimately transforming into a powerful healer
in her own right. When all goes awry, even as Lauren's faith is challenged, even as others
abandon Walker, she remains steadfast. But how far is she willing to go to prove her devotion,
and what will it take for her to peel off the blinders and trust her own strengths? And so, is
Walker Judson truly a healer-gone-bad or a saintly soul whose paranormal talents are
misunderstood?
Critique: "The Worship of Walker Judson" is an original, compelling, deftly crafted read from
beginning to end and clearly establishes author Janice Strubbe Wittenberg as an impressively
gifted novelist of the first order. While very highly recommended for community library General
Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Worship of Walker
Judson" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.95).
Remembrance of Blue Roses
Yorker Keith
Book Baby
www.bookbaby.com
9781483562193, $11.99, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "Remembrance of Blue Roses", author Yorker Keith introduces a man and a married
couple in New York City, three people whose intricate relationship oscillates among friendship,
love, love-triangle, and even obsession. Its romantic ambience is interwoven with classical
music, opera, art, family legend, and international affairs, illuminating the lives of international
civil servants at the United Nations and the UN peacekeeping mission in Sarajevo, and those
with direct experience of the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the Holocaust. Mark, the narrator and
an American, works for the United Nations in New York as a personnel officer; his friend, Hans,
German, also works for the UN as an economist; and Yukari, Japanese and Hans's wife, is a
professional violinist. One day Mark encounters Hans and Yukari in a museum. As Hans enjoys
opera singing and Mark is into painting, the three foster their friendship through classical music,
opera, and art. Mark resists feeling drawn to his friend's wife. One evening over dinner, they
discover that their families were acquainted generations ago. This bonds them together. During
the summer, inspired by the beauty of Yukari in her light blue dress at the UN garden, Hans and
Mark secretly plant blue roses there for Yukari. The blue roses later blossom sumptuously. The
three enjoy their blue roses, the symbol of their friendship and bond. The story becomes
complicated by the involvement of two other women: Mark's ex-wife, Francine, a Swiss, who is
remarried to another of Mark's friends in the UN, Shem Tov, an Israeli; and Mark's high school
sweetheart, Jane, to whom he was briefly engaged. Francine encourages Mark to be happy with
Yukari, while Jane now wants to marry Mark. Yukari becomes pregnant with Hans's child and
happily settles into her role as expectant mother. Mark, Hans, and Yukari celebrate New Year's
Eve at the height of their friendship and happiness. Then a series of tragedies shatters their joy
and alters their future forever.
Critique: A deftly crafted, multi-layered, compelling read from beginning to end, "Remembrance
of Blue Roses" establishes novelist Yorker Keith as an extraordinarily gifted storyteller. While
highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Remembrance of Blue Roses" is also available in a Kindle edition
($3.99).
Lorella's Saga
Toletha J. Dixon
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781432753078, $13.95, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Lorella Watts enjoyed her job as a cook for the Madden family until she witness the
annihilation of Mrs. Madden's body. Only to awaken the next day in her own bed, with no full
recollection of the night before, Lorella spends the whole day discovering what really took place.
Now Lorella is imprisoned in the Maddens home, captured and tortured by a spirit that is trying
to tell her something. What this immoral force has to say will give a whole new twist in
discovering who Lorella Watts really is.
Critique: An impressive and consistently compelling novella, "Lorella's Saga" is an extraordinary
story crafted by an exceptionally talented author. "Lorella's Sage" is highly recommended for
personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.
Dodging Satan
Kathleen Zamboni McCormick
Sand Hill Review Press
https://www.sandhillreviewpress.com
9781937818326, $14.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Dodging Satan" by Kathleen McCormick is the humorous coming-of-age story of
Bridget Flagherty, a student at St. Michael's Catholic school outside Boston in the 60s and 70s,
who takes refuge in her wacky misunderstandings of Bible Stories and Catholic beliefs to avoid
the problems of her Irish/Italian family life. Her musings on sadistic nuns, domestic violence,
emerging sexuality, and God the Father's romantic life will delight readers. Bridget creates
glorious supernatural worlds complete with exorcisms, bird relics, Virgin Martyrs, time travel,
Biblical plagues, even the 'holy' in holy water -- all in order to cope with a family where leather
handbags and even garlic can cause explosions. An avid Bible reader who innocently believes
everything the nuns tell her, Bridget's saints, martyrs, and boney Christs become alive and
audible within her. While the nuns chide her sinful 'mathematical pride' and slow eating habits,
God answers her prayers instantly by day, but the devil visits nightly in the dark. Scenes run the
gamut from laugh-out-loud Catholic brainwashing of children, to heart-wrenching abuse, to
riveting teenage excursions toward sex. Young Bridget tries to make sense of a world of raging
men and domestically subjugated women and carve a future for herself, wrestling with how God
and men treat women. Her Italian female relatives (glamorous Santa Anna, black-and-blue Aunt
Maria, sophisticated Eleanor with a New York 'Fellini pageboy') offer sensual alternatives to the
repression of her immediate family. She prays fervently that "despite God's bizarre treatment of
married women... some [girls] might still discover ways to have a great time without being a
nun."
Critique: Exceptionally well written with wit and weirdness, "Dodging Satan" is a consistently
compelling read from beginning to end. One of those unusual and unique novels, "Dodging
Satan" will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set
back upon the shelf. While very highly recommended for community library General Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Dodging Satan" is also available in
a Kindle edition ($5.99).
Inceptions
Suzanne Eglington
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
www.suzanneeglington.com
9781483617220, $29.99, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Kate Quinn woke up with her world turned upside down. Her boyfriend of seven years
has failed her. She is awake with a hangover and has to face a dying man she has grown to love.
If it couldn't get any worse, her soon to be ex's friend is coming at her like a freight train. She
need a minute to breathe but can not catch a break. Robert Beckham is a driving force of nature.
Serious, focused, well-trained, gorgeous cop who demands respect and turns heads where ever he
is. From the first glance at Kate Quinn he became enthralled and knew she belonged to him. He
spent the last six years patiently waiting for the woman he wants to possess. When the
opportunity presents itself he will stop at nothing to keep her by his side.
Critique: A compelling read from first page to last, and one that is also available in a paperback
edition (9781483617213, $19.99) and in a Kindle format ($3.99), "Inceptions" is author Suzanne
Eglington's first title in her new 'Kate and Robert Chronicles' series and demonstrates her master
of the genre, leaving her thoroughly entertained readers looking eagerly toward the next volume
"You and I" (9781514472767, $34.99 HC, 9781514472774, $23.99 PB, $3.99 Kindle) that just
been released, and with volumes 3, 4 and 5 due out later in 2016.
The Meditating Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself
Gudjon Bergmann
Flaming Leaf Press
www.flamingleafpress.com
www.authorbergmann.com
9780997301205, $14.99, PB, 194pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The Meditating Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself" by Gudjon Bermann is a
spiritual mystery in which therapist Robert Davis has his world turned upside down when he
meets long-term meditator, psychiatrist, and suicidal patient, Dr. Vigo Andersen. Why, he asks,
would anyone who has been meditating for more than thirty years try to kill himself? It doesn't
make any sense. Meditation is intended to create moments of peace, not longing for death, right?
As Robert's quest for answers takes unexpected twists and turns, it creates intense inner battles,
threatening his own meditation practice, his family life, his sobriety, his sanity.
Critique: An inherently and consistently compelling read from first page to last, "The Meditating
Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself" is very highly recommended for community library
General Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Meditating
Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Texas Yankee: Homecoming
Jerry P. Orange
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781478301790, $9.99, PB, 226pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: After fighting in the Yankee Cavalry, Joshua Granger returns to Texas to marry
beautiful Sarah Lynn Smith in spite of the fact that one of her Confederate brothers has tried to
kill him. Joshua and Sarah refuse to let anything stop them from becoming man and wife. A
hopeful love letter from Sarah sets Joshua on an unusual journey from Kentucky to Texas in
early 1866. With a couple of good horses and some big ideas he leaves the security of family and
inheritance behind for the love of a strong woman on the Texas frontier. In Arkansas, Joshua
takes on the responsibility of a mentally challenged orphan and is saddled with two wagons full
of prostitutes who need a guide to Dallas. In the meantime Sarah is planning their wedding in
spite of her mother's protests while she waits anxiously for Joshua's return. Upon arrival in
Georgetown, Texas Joshua finds that he is unwelcome in the community and marrying Sarah is
not the foregone conclusion he expected it to be. The next year is filled with the humor and
hardship of homesteading a ranch, fighting Comanche and outlaws, breaking wild horses,
catching and branding wild cattle, and hunting buffalo. In between the work, Joshua tries to
fulfill the obligations of courtship as required by Sarah's family before they will bless her
marriage to the Yankee.
Critique: "Texas Yankee: Homecoming" is author Jerry P. Orange's adventurous love story set in
Central Texas during the turbulent years following the Civil War. The gritty realism, the
heartache, and the laughter that goes into making this frontier family brings Reconstruction Era
Texas to life. Clearly author Jerry Orange is a master storyteller because "Texas Yankee" is a
compelling read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for community library
fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Texas Yankee" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Walking Well Again
Stuart Goldman
Facilitation Press
9780996111911, $39.95, PB, 348pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: For his 35 years in medical practice, Dr. Stuart Goldman has been committed to
conservative management of pain, avoiding surgery whenever possible. Dr. Goldman draws upon
his extensive experience and expertise in "Walking Well Again: Neutralize the Hidden Causes of
Pain" to provides clear guidance for both patients and clinicians in properly investigating
symptoms that may be severe, but are often easy to resolve without medicine, injections, or
surgery. The most common symptoms addressed include back pain, knee and hip arthritis, and
foot and leg pain. They make it difficult for people to walk well, stand comfortably, sleep
comfortably, sit or get up from a seated position without pain, and bend over to pick things up.
These symptoms are most often attributed to Arthritis, Spinal Stenosis, Fibromyalgia, Diabetic
Neuropathy, Poor Circulation, Painful Swollen Legs, or Restless Leg Syndrome. Even if present
for years or decades, symptoms can resolve within 1-2 days of proper treatment. Within the
practice of the author, patients with these complaints rapidly improve over 70% of the time. Less
frequently, he also sees improvement in neck pain, headaches, balance problems, and depression,
as is addressed within the book. Over 85 stories of individual patients are included in "Walking
Well Again", to help the non-specialist reader best understand the evaluation techniques that
identify the hidden causes of pain, along with tools properly manage them. These 85 are among
the over 3500 patients that have enjoyed great relief of chronic symptoms under the care of Dr.
Goldman. Video interviews of over 120 patients, many from the stories within the book, are
included on Dr. Goldman's web site www.WalkingWellAgain.com.
Critique: Impressively well written, organized and presented, "Walking Well Again: Neutralize
the Hidden Causes of Pain" will prove to an invaluable informational resource for anyone
suffering chronic pain, and is very highly recommended for personal, medical clinic, community,
and academic library Health/Medicine collections.
49 Tips & Insights for Understanding Addiction
Juan Blea
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478767657, $14.95, PB, 136pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "49 Tips & Insights for Understanding Addiction" by Juan Blea (a licensed Alcohol
and Drug Abuse counselor) provides both a rich set of writings and exercises that can help
people understand the emotional and physical mechanics of both Addiction and Recovery. "49
Tips & Insights for Understanding Addiction" challenges the reader to approach Addiction from
a place of compassion rather than anger so that the trigger/anxiety/compulsion/shame cycle of
Addiction can be disrupted. "49 Tips & Insights for Understanding Addiction" is an important
addition to the arsenal of weapons to fight Addiction and presents a wealth of practical
information that will help the reader understand such issues as: The mechanics of Substance
Abuse & Addiction; The inner struggle that an addict faces; How our own perceptions of
substances inform and guide recovery; How compassion can disrupt the shame/anxiety
cycle.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "49 Tips & Insights for
Understanding Addiction" should be considered essential reading for anyone struggling with
addiction or who has a family member or friend that is. Simply stated, "49 Tips & Insights for
Understanding Addiction" should be a part of every addiction counseling center and community
library Substance Abuse reference collection.
Homeopathy Plus Whole Body Vibration
Becky Chambers
Quartet Books
www.BCVibrantHealth.com
9780989066228, $15.95, PB, 136pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In her first book, "Whole Body Vibration: The Future of Good Health"
(9780989066204, $15.95 PB, $2.99 Kindle, 120pp), Becky Chambers introduced the
life-changing benefits of this booming body, mind, and spirit therapy. Now in her second book,
"Homeopathy Plus Whole Body Vibration: Combining Two Energy Medicines Ignites Healing"
she explores the exciting possibilities for health and well-being by combining whole body
vibration with homeopathy. Homeopathy, based on the principle of like cures like, is an energy
medicine that treats each person individually by stimulating his or her own natural healing
ability. And as Chambers has discovered, homeopathy plus whole body vibration creates a
healing fire of epic proportions. Chambers presents this latest concept in healing with research
from expert resources, including publications such as Lancet, the British Medical Journal, and
the New England Journal of Medicine, along with inspiring stories from her own clients.
"Homeopathy Plus Whole Body Vibration" offers exciting possibilities in the treatment of illness
and the quest to reach our highest potential.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, extraordinarily well organized, impressively accessible for
the non-specialist general reader, "Homeopathy Plus Whole Body Vibration: Combining Two
Energy Medicines Ignites Healing" will prove to be an enduringly popular and highly valued
addition to professional, community, college, and academic library Alternate Medicine reference
collections and supplemental studies lists. For practitioners, students, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "Homeopathy Plus Whole Body
Vibration" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall
Chris Dolley
Book View Cafe Publishing Cooperative
PO Box 1624, Cedar Crest, NM 87008-1624
www.bookviewcafe.com
9781611385533, $14.99, PB, 250pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: An escaped cannibal, a family curse ... and Reginald Worcester turning up on the
doorstep. Could things get any worse for the Baskerville-Smythe family? As the bodies pile up,
only a detective with a rare brain (and Reggie's is so rare it's positively endangered) can even
hope to solve the case. But there is the small matter that most of the guests aren't who they say
they are, the main suspect has cloven feet, and a strange mist hangs over great Grimdark Mire.
Luckily the young master has Reeves, his automaton valet, and Emmeline, his suffragette
fiancee, on hand to assist. "The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall" is the fifth Reeves &
Worcester Steampunk mystery novel by Chris Dolley.
Critique: Chris Dolley has perfectly recreated the characters and storytelling style of P. G.
Wodehouse. "The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall" is very highly recommended and will
probably result in those to whom this novel is their first encounter with Reggie and Reeves
earnestly seeking out the earlier four novels of this outstanding Steampunk Mystery series: "What
Ho, Automata"; "Reggiecide"; and "The Aunt Paradox". "Something Rummy This Way Comes".
It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Burial in Endwater
Kelly Landry
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781517499488, $15.00, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Lydia Speare never expected her brother George to go to college, let alone Harvard. It
was all made possible because of Jack Engels, the prosecuting attorney in their father's murder
trial. When Jack invites George to join his son Lev on a groomed path towards law school,
George suspects he's stumbled across an offer he cannot refuse. Lydia is much more cautious of
Jack's gift and the Engels family entirely. She has agreed to work as a companion to Mary
Engels, Lev's mother who is dying of cancer. The more time she spends in their Cambridge
mansion, the more she realizes that their picture perfect family has some cracks beneath the
surface. Eventually it is through Lev that Lydia learns his father's darkest secret, a secret that
threatens to tear apart Lev's family. Lydia must soon decide: should she reveal what she knows
about Jack and risk placing George in danger? Or should she bury the truth even though it will
bring blood and force her to live a lie?
Critique: A deftly executed and compelling read from beginning to end, "Burial in Endwater"
clearly documents author Kelly Landry as a skilled and impressively talented novelist. While
"Burial in Endwater" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is also available in a Kindle
edition ($9.99).
Eating Bull
Carrie Rubin
Science Thrillers Media
P.O. Box 601392, Sacramento, CA 95860-1392
http://www.sciencethrillersmedia.com
9781940419107, $14.99, PB, 310pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Jeremy, a lonely and obese teenager, shoots into the limelight when a headstrong
public health nurse persuades him to sue the food industry. Tossed into a storm of media buzz
and bullying, the teen draws the attention of a serial killer who's targeting the obese. Soon the
boy, the nurse, and their loved ones take center stage in a delusional man's drama.
Critique: A deftly crafted novel of suspense and a compelling read from beginning to end,
"Eating Bull" author Carrie Rubin deftly explores the real-life issues of bullying, fat-shaming,
food addiction, and the food industry's role in obesity. While very highly recommended for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "Eating Bull" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Going Coastal
Jane DiLucchio
Regal Quest Enterprises
9781619292680, $15.95, PB, 180pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: A client dying on her massage table is traumatic enough for Kate Matthews, but when
the police declare that death a murder, life becomes more painful for her as she is cast as the
major suspect. None of this is what Kate expected from her move to the peaceful town of Santa
Barbara. After a near-fatal heart attack, an early retirement from her Los Angeles law firm, and a
change in careers, Kate envisioned a quiet life with her wife, Alicia, and their grown children.
Since the client held a position on the California Coastal Commission, her death becomes a
media event. Kate finds herself and her family sucked into the maelstrom. The former lawyer has
all she can do to find the truth behind Celia's death without adding her own name to the body
count.
Critique: Original, compelling, and a consistently entertaining mystery from beginning to end,
"Going Coastal" clearly documents author Jane DiLucchio as an impressively gifted novelist who
is a master of the Mystery/Suspense genre. While very highly recommended for community
library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of mystery buffs that "Going
Coastal" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Stalking Melissa
L. A. Justice
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781530231003, $12.99, PB, 344pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Through an Internet dating site Melissa Howard has met Mr. Right -- or so she thinks.
Handsome and debonair Rex March seems to have it all, but when Melissa invites him into her
home, she is quickly overpowered and thus her endless nightmare begins. Rex is a stalker and
Melissa soon learns the police are virtually powerless to stop him although her life is in danger.
The tension ratchets up until the explosive showdown. This incredible and powerful story of
overcoming adversity is based on true events.
Critique: A riveting suspense thriller from beginning to end, "Stalking Melissa" clearly
showcases author L. A. Justice as an impressively gifted and compelling novelist. While not for
the faint of heart, "Stalking Melissa" is a very highly recommended addition to personal reading
lists and community library General Fiction collections.
Take a Byte Out of Murder
Mille Mack
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
www.milliemack.com
9781517223601, $13.95, PB, 318pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The New Year bells have barely finished tolling before murder strikes in the quiet
beach resort of Pear Cove in this third book in the Faraday Murder Series. Charles and Carrie
Faraday discover the body of Ginny Ellwood only yards from their home in the resort
community. Ginny is the fiancee of Norton, Carrie's brother, and it isn't long before police have
him targeted as their prime suspect. Ginny was a popular girl and everyone liked her. No one
would think she had an enemy in the world. But then, who murdered her? A politically motivated
chief of police has warned Carrie and Charles not to get involved. He wants a quick solution to
the murder to advance his career. But this isn't any case. It's about family. The Faradays ignore
his warning and start investigating. Ginny and Norton were growing apart. Was it just wedding
jitters, or was there something else? Were Ginny and Norton feeling the pressure from the merger
of their fathers' companies? The merger hinges on the introduction of a new medical software
system. Was this why Ginny was so interested in learning the program code, or was she spying
for someone else? Ginny bought an expensive ring that wasn't for Norton. Was there another man
in Ginny's life? Murders, blackmail, computer espionage - there are lots of clues to follow. Can
the Faradays' detecting skills put all the puzzle pieces together and save Carrie's brother before he
is charged with murder?
Critique: An original, absorbing, deftly written, and consistently compelling novel from
beginning to end, "Take a Byte Out of Murder" clearly documents author Mille Mack as a master
of the mystery genre. While very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Take
a Byte Out of Murder" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Flash Crash
Denison Hatch
Lookout Press
PO Box 1930, Studio City, CA 91614
9780997281217, $14.95, PB, 298pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When a rogue quantitative programmer intentionally crashes the gold index, it seems
that Wall Street's worst nightmare has come true. In truth, the crisis has just begun. Across town,
an armored truck filled with $120M of gold bullion is hijacked by an ingeniously crafted
electromagnetic crane and seemingly driven into thin air. Programmer David Belov discovers
that his virtual "Flash Crash" was simply a required stepping stone towards the largest physical
gold robbery in history, and that's he's been framed for the resulting chaos, the lives of his
beloved wife and son on the balance. With Detective Jake Rivett and the NYPD's finest operators
from the Major Crimes Division actively seeking to locate and arrest David, and other, darker
elements nipping at his heels, David is forced to confront his own past in order to have a
future.
Critique: "Flash Crash" is a deftly constructed and consistently compelling read by a skilled and
imaginative author. "Flash Crash" is very highly recommended for community library
collections. For personal reading list it should be noted that "Flash Crash" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($3.99).
Voracity
Brian T. Seifrit
William Jenkins Publisher
www.booksbybriant.com
9781928164128, $15.99, PB, 418pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: A fatal virus named Kuru is spreading across British Columbia, held in check by a
secret team of assassins whose mission is to stop the spread of the virus by killing anyone who
has it. Established by a private group, the team of assassins led by Blain Sweet, a.k.a. "Entity" is
also searching for a scientific cure. Blain travels to a remote cabin in the interior where research
papers written by Blain's deceased brother may provide the clue to ending the plague. Blain's
wife, Rachel, puzzled by his aloof behavior, wonders if he really is the software developer he
claims to be. Will the research point to a cure before the virus morphs into a sexually transmitted
disease?
Critique: An original and consistently compelling read from beginning to end, "Voracity" clearly
establishes author Brian Seifrit as an impressively gifted novelist. While very highly
recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Voracity" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
The Smell of Money
Janet Kole
Vinson Books
9780997228601, $14.99, PB, 286pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Jack Morgenthau is a lawyer who can no longer abide his law partners. So Morgenthau
enlists the help of his daughter Monica and professional hit-man Larry Evans in order to right
some of the wrongs in the world that a corrupt judicial system can't. The results are as twisted
and complex and surprising as they are precarious, dangerous, and down right lethal.
Critique: A riveting and consistently compelling read from beginning to end, and very highly
recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, "The Smell of Money"
reveals novelist Janet Kole as a master of the genre. It should be noted for personal reading lists
that "The Smell of Money" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).
The Self-Help Shelf
The Resume of Life
Terry J. Walker
Privately Published
9780972925020, $16.95, PB, 174pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: If it is true we only have one life to live, then why not live it in a positive, productive
and fulfilled way? Written by Terry Walker with the assistance of Angela Massey, "The Resume
of Life: A Guide to Realizing Your Purpose Through Spirit, Mind and Body" will teach you how
to do just that! Have you tried, unsuccessfully, to tap into your power? Have you ever wondered,
"Is this it?" only to discover no real answer to that question? Your search is over. "The Resume
of Life" is life-changing book is packed with questions to help you find your own answers, your
own truth, and your own purpose. You will finally discover how to release self-sabotaging
behaviors and embrace true love and acceptance from the inside -- from your Source. Your life is
like a puzzle and "The Resume of Life" will help you to put the pieces of the puzzle together so
that you can create a more beautiful, insightful and enlightened existence -- your resume of
life.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Resume of Life: A Guide to
Realizing Your Purpose Through Spirit, Mind and Body" is now available in a newly updated
second addition. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, and arrangement, "The Resume of
Life" is a compelling and ultimately inspiring read from beginning to end. Very highly
recommended for both community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Resume of Life" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($4.99).
Blooming into Mindfulness
Martha Brettschneider
Damselwings Press
https://www.bookshout.com/publishers/damselwings-press
9780996935203, $26.95, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the pages of "Blooming into Mindfulness: How the Universe Used a Garden,
Cancer, and Carpools to Teach Me That Calm Is the New Happy", writer, blogger, and
award-winning photographer Martha Brettschneider shows and explains just how to break the
cycle of discontent and take control of our own happiness. Narrated with humor and raw honesty,
Martha Brettschneider shares her transformation from ego-centered screaming mommy to a
meditation-touting creative, finally at peace with the world. Inspirational, motivational, and
sprinkled with practical tips to silence our internal bully (the first step: recognizing that not all of
our thoughts are to be trusted!), "Blooming into Mindfulness" is impressively well written and
exceptionally well organized and presented from beginning to end.
Critique: "Blooming into Mindfulness" is an extraordinary, compelling, and life-changing read --
especially for those who are seeking internal peace for themselves as well as those around them.
While very highly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Blooming into Mindfulness" is also available in
a paperback edition (9780996935227, $14.95) and in a Kindle format ($7.99).
The Sense Of Humor
Max Elliot Anderson
Elk Lake Publishing
http://www.elklakepublishing.com
9781942513971, $15.95, PB, 332pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: During these uncertain times, what people need most is a good laugh. Imagine what
would happen if you understood there is an untapped force, contained within you, that has the
power to totally change your life. And what if you discovered all you had to do in order to unlock
this secret is simply to start using it? So it is with humor. "The Sense Of Humor: Let Humor Fast
Track You to Healthier, Happier Living" is designed by Max Elliot Anderson (who has spent
most of his life in the production of documentary and dramatic films, client videos, and
television commercials) to demonstrate the sense that humor can make in the life of anyone who
is willing to use it. Humor will deliver direct health benefits to the user. Outside of this primary
benefit, humor will touch the lives of everyone around the user in positive ways for relationships,
families, education, at work, in ministries, and so much more. "The Sense of Humor" cuts across
social, economic, ethnic, and educational barriers. Music had been said to be a universal
language. So, too, is laughter!
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, ""The Sense Of Humor: Let
Humor Fast Track You to Healthier, Happier Living" is one of those life-changing reads that will
linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the
shelf. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content and commentary, "The Sense Of Humor" is
very highly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Sense Of Humor" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($9.95).
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Dare to Chart and Track Your Soul's 2nd Journey
Tommaso Grieco
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478762430, $28.95, PB, 420pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The 3 charts in comprising "Dare to Chart and Track Your Soul's 2nd Journey: A
Soul's Guide from Conception to Death" are presented by Tommaso Grieco to guide his readers
in helping to determine by their free will and their choices, both of which combine to gives then
the consequences and conditions for the summit climb to spiritual knowledge and insight. This
then is the ultimate 3rd journey for the Soul.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, ""Dare to Chart and Track Your
Soul's 2nd Journey: A Soul's Guide from Conception to Death" also features an informative
introduction, an epilogue, a list of credits and gratitude. A very special 'Geek Quiz' is also
included. A unique and highly recommended addition to Metaphysical Studies reference
collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted that "Dare to Chart and Track Your
Soul's 2nd Journey" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
The Social Issues Shelf
How the Catholic Church Became Naughty
Jack Doherty
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478765387, $14.95, PB, 136pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Naughty: disobedient, mischievous, improper, tasteless, indecorous, indecent, wicked,
evil. The cardinals and bishops of the Catholic Church have been naughty for centuries. Why
can't they practice what they preach? At Christmastime 2014 Pope Francis scolded them for their
vanity, hypocrisy, back-biting, gossiping, boasting, lusting for power and control, and acting like
Lords of the Manor. "How the Catholic Church Became Naughty...And Where the Real
Hindrance to Reform Lies" by Jack Doherty (who has a Doctorate in Theology from the Catholic
Theology Faculty of the University of Freiburg, Germany, and who has served as a Catholic
priest in parishes in the United States, Germany, and with the United States Armed Forces) is an
expansion on Pope Francis's admonition to his inner governing circle, the Vatican Curia, tracing
this naughtiness from the time of Emperor Constantine who converted to Christianity in the early
4th century and gave the Church palaces, basilicas, riches, and a noble lifestyle. It is a short
journey throughout the lascivious and corruption-filled history of these church leaders-their
torture of non-believers, selling of indulgences and church offices, concubinage, partnering with
evil kings and rulers-ending with the 20th century Vatican Bank frauds, the money-laundering for
Mafia and Mason crimes, the betrayal of the Church, and the sexual abuse of children scandal.
These popes, cardinals, and bishops of the Catholic Church are and have been the Real
Hindrance to Reform with their peculiar Vatican mindset of clericalism, arrogance, and
exaggerated self-estimation of their superiority over everyone and everything. It has been
evolving for 1700 years. "How the Catholic Church Became Naughty" is not a denunciation of
the Catholic Church, but a ray of hope that the Vatican will make the deep changes that are
necessary for survival of Catholicism. Only a priesthood that includes married, celibate, male and
female priests with a non-clerical mindset will bring about the needed reform of the Catholic
Church-not the Pope alone, nor the regressive Vatican mindset of clericalism ingrained in
present-day church leaders.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "How the Catholic Church
Became Naughty...And Where the Real Hindrance to Reform Lies" is especially commended to
both the Roman Catholic clergy and laymen concerned with the much needed reforms that are
being attempted by Pope Francis if the church is to prosper in the 21st Century. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "How the Catholic Church Became Naughty...And Where the
Real Hindrance to Reform Lies" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
The Psychology Shelf
Reluctantly Related Revisited
Deanna Brann
Ambergris Publishing
www.drdeannabrann.com
9780988810020, $15.95, PB, 186pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Reluctantly Related Revisited: Breaking Free of the Mother-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law
Conflict" by Deanna Brann (a clinical psychotherapist for more than 25 years, and who ran her
own private practice for more than 18 years) is written with insightful humor, compassion, and
personal experience. "Reluctantly Related Revisited" explores the conflict that frequently arises
in the mother-in-law (MIL)/daughter-in-law (DIL) relationship. Women everywhere know that
the MIL/DIL relationship can be one of the most complex and difficult relationships they
experience. Based on years of research and packed full of timely examples, "Reluctantly Related
Revisited" highlights the issues and struggles created in the MIL/DIL relationship that add to the
many disagreements frequently arising within families. Including detailed action steps to
overcome conflict and build a long-lasting healthy rapport with your in-law, "Reluctantly Related
Revisited" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in commentary, tone, and
presentation, "Reluctantly Related Revisited: Breaking Free of the
Mother-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law Conflict" is a compelling and potentially life-changing read.
While very highly recommended for community and academic library collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Reluctantly Related Revisited" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($9.99).
The Poetry Shelf
Jesus of Walmart
Richard Broderick
NYQ Books
PO Box 2015, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10113
http://books.nyq.org
9781630450199, $14.95, PB, 120pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: A subtle centrifugal force drives "Jesus of Walmart", an anthology of poetry by
Richard Broderick. By turns witty, solemn or capricious, the poems showcased in "Jesus of
Walmart" moves outward from private, often lyrical poems about childhood and memory on into
the realm of the "real world's" self-serving myths, fears, and institutionalized inequities, and from
there into work that celebrates the joys of love and the beauty and mystery of the natural world,
and then still further outward into poems that consider the very nature of reality, what it means to
be human, and where to find glimpses of the sacred in the midst of the profane and the
disenchanted.
Critique: An impressively well crafted collection of truly memorable free verse poetry, "Jesus of
Walmart" is very highly recommended to the attention of all contemporary poetry enthusiasts and
would be an enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library Contemporary
American Poetry collections.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Faith Without Borders
Virginia Martin
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781507669600, $9.95, PB, 92pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "Faith Without Borders: A Devotional To Inspire You To Step Out In Faith", Faith
Without Borders, Virginia Martin shares her testimony about experiencing God in her life.
Virginia encourages the reader to embark on their own spiritual journey, by stepping out in faith.
"Faith Without Borders" combines simple readings, uplifting bible verses, and points for
reflection, to bring home the message that God transforms, redeems and restores you with his
amazing grace. God is engaged in our lives and wants to meet us in all the places that we need
him.
Critique; Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Faith Without Borders: A Devotional To
Inspire You To Step Out In Faith" is inspired and inspiring. All the more impressive when
considering that "Faith Without Borders" is Virginia Martin's debut as a writer, "Faith Without
Borders" is very highly recommended for all members of the Christian community regardless of
their denominational affiliation. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Faith Without
Borders" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.95).
When God Stepped In
Bill Fisher
LifeRich Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
http://www.liferichpublishing.com
9781489705372, $30.95, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Bill Fisher is a serial entrepreneur, an international-seed-fund founder, and a former
executive vice president with Wells Fargo Bank who managed the Silicon Valley Region and the
$12 billion Northern California division. As a cofounder of the Tiburon family of international
seed funds, he has realized twenty-one successful exits. He was the founder and CEO of
www.GetSmart.com and Hometown Commercial Capital, and the cofounder of
www.GetMobileEurope.de. After a devastating car accident that killed his wife, Yvonne, and left
himself severely wounded, he realized that this was the ninth time his life had spared from death.
In the pages of "When God Stepped In", Fisher shares how his life has been punctuated with a
series of miraculous acts of the Lord. In this compelling memoir, he narrates a series of
encounters that have confirmed his faith in the power of God including healings, rescues,
protection, shield, and provision. Fisher tells how God has allowed him to get into many
unexpected, dangerous situations throughout his life and then has rescued him in often
spectacular ways.
Critique: A compelling and inspiring personal story, "When God Stepped In" is very highly
recommended and a potentially life changing read which is very highly recommended for all
members of the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation. It should be
noted that "When God Stepped In" is also available in a paperback edition (9781489705358,
$14.99) and in a Kindle format ($3.99).
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Unemployable!
David Thomas Roberts
Defiance Press & Publishing
www.defiancepress.com
9780996259019, $33.00, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the pages of "Unemployable!", David Thomas Roberts makes the case that this may
be the greatest time in history to start a business! Using Roberts' practical strategies and proven
principles, the reader will learn how to become ''unemployable'' the rest of his or her entire life!
Most of us are taught to get a good education and a good job. The idea that we should be content
to have someone else dictate our daily commute, our income, schedules and vacations is the
accepted norm. To some, the idea of life in a cubicle eight hours a day is akin to torture! What
does it really take for someone to jump off the employment treadmill and participate in the free
enterprise system, unencumbered by traditionally accepted myths?
Critique: You won't get rich working for someone else. That's the underlying message of
"Unemployable!". Exceptionally well written, organized, instructive, thoughtful,
thought-provoking, and occasionally iconoclastic, "Unemployable!" is very highly recommended
reading for any and all aspiring entrepreneurs. Very highly recommended for community and
academic library Business Management reference collections and supplemental studies reading
lists, it should be noted, especially for the non-specialist general reader seeking fiscal autonomy
and entrepreneurial success, that "Unemployable" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780996259040, $18.00) and in a Kindle format ($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
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design