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Reviewer's Choice
A Grande Guide to Starbuckian Zen
Tiffany Ivy
Innovations Press
PO Box 4800, Mission Viejo, CA 92690
9781929830190, $10.00
A Grande Guide to Starbuckian Zen is a guide to all things connected to the relaxed-atmosphere
coffee and espresso-based beverage chain that is Starbucks. Written by a dedicated Starbucks
consumer who freely admits that she is hooked on caffeine, chapters discuss everything from the
etiquette of ordering one's beverage amid the medley of options, to working Starbuckian
beverages into a calorie conscious diet (though many beverages are high-calorie, there are helpful
options such as requesting nonfat milk or sugar-free syrup), to the fascinating true story of how
coffee is created, definitions of the special lingo used in Starbucks and much more. A definite
treat for coffee lovers and Starbucks patrons.
The Money/Finance Shelf
The Brainwashing of the American Investor
Steven R. Selengut, MBA, RIA
W&A Publishing
PO Box 849, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
9781934354032, $29.95 www.w-apublishing.com
Now in a newly revised edition, The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book That
Wall Street Does Not Want You To Read! lives up to its title as a savvy wake-up call to
investors. Written by forty-year veteran of the financial services industry Steven R. Selengut,
MBA, RIA, The Brainwashing of the American Investor covers how to identify quality
investments and weed out the bad ideas, why income is the only real hedge against inflation, how
to properly diversify one's investments, why commissions and taxes should be secondary
investment considerations, and much more. The cautionary tales alone make The Brainwashing
of the American Investor an invaluable resource sure to recoup its worth many times over. "Most
of you have probably been told, at some time in your investment life to: sell your losers and let
your profits run. That type of thinking will eventually sink your portfolio, particularly when issue
breadth runs negative for an extended period of time. It just doesn't make sense with good
companies, and absolutely defies the cyclical nature of the financial markets." Highly
recommended, and an absolute "must-read" for anyone preparing to engaging in serious
investing.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Essential Sermons
Saint Augustine, author; Father Edmund Hill, translator
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd., Hyde Park, New York 12538
9781565482760, $29.95 www.newcitypress.com
Skillfully and accessibly translated into modern English by Father Edmund Hill, Essential
Sermons is an astutely chosen selection of the sermons of Augustine of Hippo (354-430), who
served as bishop of Hippo in North Africa after his conversion to Christianity. Featuring a new
introduction and notes by Father Daniel Doyle, Essential Sermons reveals a level of genius and
insight that transcend his era. "Man's first ruin was caused by love of self. I mean, if he hadn't
loved himself, and had put God before himself, he would have wanted always to be subject to
God, and he wouldn't have turned away to disregarding God's will and doing his own. That, after
all, is what loving oneself means, wanting to do one's own will. Put God's will before all that;
learn to love yourself by not loving yourself." Especially recommended for church and seminary
library collections
The Last Book of the Bible Revealed at Last
R. Berning & D. McMurdo
Leathers Publishing
4500 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas 66211
9781585974467, $17.95 www.leatherspublishing.com 1-888-888-7696
Authors R. Berning & D. McMurdo take their inspiration directly from the Bible and the Holy
Spirit in The Last Book of the Bible Revealed at Last, their straightforward interpretation of the
Book of Revelation. Chapters quote all the verses scriptures side-by-side with their
interpretations so the reader may judge and compare for himself or herself. Avoiding excessively
complex metaphysical imaginings, The Last Book of the Bible Revealed at Last answers such
questions as "How long is the Great Tribulation really going to last?" "Who are the four
horsemen of the apocalypse?" and "Who is the seven headed, ten horned dragon?" Refreshingly
direct in its approach, The Last Book of the Bible Revealed at Last is thoroughly accessible to lay
readers and biblical students of all backgrounds.
The Fiction Shelf
Chasing the Wind
Helena P. Schrader
iUniverse, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
9780595444717, $30.95 www.iuniverse.com
Written by military historian Helena P. Schrader, Chasing the Wind: A Story of British and
German Pilots in the Battle of Britain is a historical fiction novel set during World War II, amid
the pivotal Battle of Britain. RAF aerobatics pilot Robert "Robin" Priestman is enormously
talented but suffers from excessive recklessness under fire. Fallen in the Air Ministry's bad
graces, he is sent to Training Command, where he unexpectedly falls in love with a girl from the
Salvation Army. Meanwhile, Luftwaffe Women's Auxiliary recruit Klaudia von Richthofen is in
the middle of a love triangle - she has fallen for Baron von Feldburg, while his wingman,
Lieutenant Ernst Geuke, had fallen even harder for her. Intricate personal relationships and the
heady press of air battle action intertwine in this singularly captivating saga.
Spirit Of The Law
Patrick Higby
Morgan Bradley Publishing
PO Box 638, Marcus, WA 99151
9780979937705, $6.99 www.morganbradleybooks.com
Patrick Higby's riveting western, "Spirit Of the Law" is the story of Jim McClair, an
ex-confederate soldier who is mandated his old friend John Wilson who is nowadays Montana
Territorial Governor to put an end to a sniper that is terrorizing a formerly peaceful Montana
community. It's a dangerous mission made even more complicated by a lovely undercover
Pinkerton operative assigned to discovering how gold bars can disappear from a locked security
vault. A deftly crated story of intrigue, deception, violence, and discovery, "Spirit Of The Law" is
populated by memorable characters, and characterized by an action-packed story that engages the
readers total and rapt attention from first page to last. Especially recommended to western novel
buffs, "Spirit Of The Law" will leave enthusiastic readers looking eagerly toward Patrick Higby's
next adventure in the Jim McClair saga.
Vanished
Kathryn Mackel
Veritas Communications
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
9781599792118, $12.99 www.veritasincorporated.com
Vanished is an exciting and suspenseful novel about a terrorism outbreak that devastates a
working-class neighborhood in Massachusetts. Police sergeant Jason Logan struggles to keep
order in the wake of a bomb explosion and a mysterious mist that appears to block outside help.
Meanwhile, nurse-practitioner Kaya de los Santos must treat the wounded with limited medical
resources, and her teenaged son flees for his life from both the cops and the terrorist! A thrilling
saga of finding the resources within to survive when help is emphatically not on the way.
The Music Shelf
101 Uptown Jazz Chord Progressions With Guitar Chord Frames
Larry McCabe
Red Dog Music Books
PO Box 13341, Roanoke, VA 24033
1934777080, $16.95 www.reddogmusicbooks.com
Jazz is the authentically American music form that had its beginnings in the brothels of New
Orleans and evolved to become an established musical genre appreciated and supported around
the world. Larry McCabe draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as the author of
more than eighty published instructional music books for children and adults to present "101
Uptown Jazz Chord Progressions With Guitar Chord Frames", a spiral bound collection of jazz
progressions for the guitar. specific fingers called chord frames are presented, along with blank
music staves for each progression so that aspiring jazz guitarists wanting to write, perform,
record, or teach melodies, licks, solos, and bass lines can do so with a professional competence.
Of special note are the 'Suggested projects for Students" and the accompanying CD which
includes all 101 progressions covering two-five-one, four-bar, eight-bar opening; sections, as
well as eight-bar bridges, twelve-bar blues, sixteen-bar, and turnarounds. "101 Uptown Jazz
Chord Progressions With Guitar Chord Frames" is an ideal instructional that is confidently
recommended for dedicated and aspiring jazz guitarists alike!
The Education Shelf
S&S Press
7829 Center Blvd SE, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
www.kidpower.com 1-425-396-1012
S&S Press publishes a trilogy of educational children's books by G.T. Bond designed to help
parents raise the intelligence of their toddlers by expanding their word knowledge and vocabulary
comprehension. "24 Words Toddlers Can Read In Color (List Price $24.95; Website Price
$16.45) and "60 Words Toddlers Can Read In Black And White" (List Price $16.95; Website
Price $9.95) feature a full page illustration with the word being illustrated on the opposing page
in a large font. "G.T. Bond's Absolutely Stupendous Books Of Colors" (List Price $24.95;
Website Price $16.45) focuses upon teaching preschoolers their colors. Also ideal for use by
preschool providers, kindergarten teachers, librarians, all three of these outstanding and highly
recommended titles are as 'kid friendly' as they are 'parent friendly' and will give youngsters an
effective and practical preparation for succeeding in school.
The Art Shelf
The She Project
Lauren Ohlgren
Growing Art Press
419 NW 16th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330
1934367494, $49.00 www.growingartpress.com
Art serves many purposes both individual and collective. Compiled and with commentary by
Lauren Ohlgren, "The She Project: How She Inspired A Community" is just such an example of
art produced by a community of women that, taken as a whole, celebrates the lives and
experiences of women who come into contact with each other in settings as diverse as bathrooms
and hallways, waiting rooms and restaurants. Lauren Ohlgren founded 'The She Project' to reflect
a community of women simultaneously and artistically responding to a provocative phrases (the
'She phrases') about women and their daily lives within the scope of two hours and within a size
limitation of 8"x10". The artistic expressions utilized a variety and diversity of materials ranging
from pens and paper, to old magazine images, to found objects, to paint and paper. The results as
compiled and organized by Lauren Ohlgren within the pages of "The She Project" are unique,
engaging, and as thoughtful as they are thought-provoking. "The She Project" is a very special
approach to using art to express experience, and as such is strongly recommended for personal,
academic, and community library American Art, Popular Culture, Sociology, and Women's
Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Mose T From A to Z
Anton Haardt
Saturno Press
2858 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
9780975344206, $46.00 www.saturnopress.com
African-American art is as diverse, innovative, and reflective of mind, imagination, and cultural
experience as any other form of folk-oriented artistic expression. "Mose T From A to Z" The
Folk Art Of Mose Tolliver" by Anton Haardt is the perfect showcase with which to introduce one
of the truly talented representatives of this authentic American art genre. When Mose Tolliver
was injured on the job, he was able to overcome his disabilities by teaching himself how to paint
as a way to pass the time as constructively as possible. After several years of honing his skills as
a self-instructed folk artist, his work was discovered by art collectors and critiques, including the
best of his creations being displayed in such venues as the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington
DC. Artist, photographer, and writer Anton Haardt provides interested readers with an
informative biography and an informed commentary to accompany selected preproductions of
Tolliver's work, including a 'pictorial essay'. Enhanced with a Timeline, as well as art captions,
"Mose T A to Z" is a seminal work that will well serve to introduce a unique African-American
artist to an appreciative new audience and should be considered a seminal addition to personal,
academic, and community library 20th Century American Art History collections in general, and
African-American Artist reference shelves in particular.
The Cookbook Shelf
The ABC's Of Fish Cooking
Virginia Clark
Golden West Publishers
4113 North Longview, Phoenix, AZ 85014-4949
9780931532306, $12.95 www.goldenwestpublishers.com 1-800-658-5830
Whether on the deep blue sea or beside a babbling stream, from a rowboat on the lake to a deeply
flowing river, fishing continues to be a popular sport and a great source for fine eating. In "The
ABC's Of Fish Cooking", dedicated fishing enthusiast Virginia Clark draws upon her many years
of experience and experience to provide a spiral bound compilation of superb and thoroughly
'user friendly' recipes that are perfect for either campsite or kitchen. Organized alphabetically and
beginning with an informative introduction, the step-by-step recipes showcase quality dishes
featuring an impressive variety of fish ranging from Bass and Mackerel, to Perch and Salmon, to
Trout and Tuna, and more! Of special note for the novice are three chapters in particular, 'All
About Fish Cooking'; 'Dressings and Sauces'; and 'Uncommon Fish'. From a Catfish-Vegetable
Stir-Fry; to Mahi Mahi with Fresh Herbs; to Tilapia Fillets on Spinach; to Grilled Trout with
Bacon, "The ABC's Of Fish Cooking" will make a welcome and enthusiastically appreciated
addition to any family or community library cookbook collection! Also very highly
recommended is Virginia Clark's companion cookbook from Golden West Publishers, "The
ABC's Of Camp Cooking" (9780931532290, $9.95).
A Dash Of Aloha
Kapiolani Community Collge
Watermark Publishing
1088 Bishop Street, Suite 310, honoluly, HI 96813
9780979676949, $15.95 www.bookshawaii.net
A showcase compendium of recipes from the islands of Hawaii, "A Dash Of Aloha: Healthy
Hawai'i Cuisine And Lifestyle" is a collaborative project of the University of Hawai'i's Kapi'olani
Community College and based on the DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) program.
Beautifully illustrated with full-color photography, "A Dash Of Aloha" has a spiral binding
enabling it to be laid open on a kitchen counter, and features healthy eating tips from the
American Heart Association, food nutrition and seasonality charts, as well as exercise and
lifestyle advice. The seventy 'kitchen cook' recipes are 'kitchen cook friendly' as they are
delicious and nutritious. Ranging from Ginger-Bran Cake; Spanish Rice with Napa Cabbage
Rolls; and Loco Moco Fried Rice; to Tofu Burgers with Mango Chutney; Curried Sweet Potato
Chowder; and Forbidden Black Rice Salad, every recipe comprising this outstanding collection
comes with serving size information, a brief commentary and a Nutrition Facts chart about the
dish. Especially recommended for personal and community ethnic cookbook collections, "A
Dash Of Aloha" is particularly appropriate as a culinary reference for anyone having to deal with
weight loss, cardiopulmonary, or general health and fitness improvement issues.
The Best Of Bloodroot: Volumes 1 & 2
Selma Miriam, Noel Furie, Lagusta Yearwood
Anomaly Press
85 Ferris Street, Bridgeport, CT 06605
www.blooodroot.com 1-203-576-9168
Vol. 1: 0977854906, $27.50; Vol. 2: 0977854914, $27.50
Bloodroot is a unique combination of restaurant and bookstore that was founded in a Bridgeport
Connecticut residential neighborhood in 1977. Illustrated with both black-and-white as well as
color illustrations, "The Best Of Bloodroot" is a two volume collection of meatless recipes that
are as 'kitchen cook friendly' as they are healthy, nutritious, and absolutely delicious, reflecting
the entire spectrum of dishes that have made Bloodroot one of the most innovative restaurants in
the country offering gourmet quality ethnic and seasonal cuisines with dishes drawn from the
culinary traditions of many different nations. Volume 1 focuses on 'Vegetarian Recipes' and
begins with an informative introduction that includes notes from a cooking class demonstrating
the basic of how to cook and eat vegetarian dishes, along with guidelines for achieving authentic
and authoritative vegetarian menus. Volume 2 has as its orientation 'Vegan Recipes' and provides
a veritable wealth of dairy-free recipes guaranteed to please any palate and satisfy any appetite.
Enhanced with personal essays on various health, social, political, and ethical aspects of a
vegetarian diet, a glossary of useful and thematically relevant terms, "The Best Of Bloodroot" is a
simply outstanding and continually impressive compilation that ranges from a Persimmon,
Walnut, and Buttermilk Pudding; New Potato, Carrot, and Broccoli Salad with Garlic
Mayonnaise; Cardamon Bread; and Roasted Bosc pears with Walnuts, Blue Cheese, and
Raspberry Vinaigrette; to Dried Cherry Apple Strudel; Three-Mushroom Stroganoff; Chilled
Lemon Zucchini Soup with Leeks and Herbs; and Broccoli Raab Calzone. No personal,
professional, or community library vegetarian cookbook collection can be considered complete
without the inclusion of "The Best Of Bloodroot: Volumes 1 & 2"!
The Holiday Shelf
Gifts from the Heart
Virginia Brucker
Insomniac Press
192 Spadina Avenue, Suite 403, Toronto, ON Canada M5T 2C2
1897178301, $14.95 www.insomniacpress.com
Written by teacher Virginia Brucker, Gifts from the Heart: Simple Ways To Make Your Family's
Christmas More Meaningful lives up to its title by offering ways to celebrate the Christmas
holiday centered upon sharing, giving, and community rather than simple consumerism. Chapters
cover volunteering as a family, tips for getting organized and freeing up time, ways to reach out
to friends and loved ones suffering from loss during the holidays, kid-tested craft projects, ways
to celebrate with books and share the gift of literacy, and much more. A number of delicious
holiday-themed recipes pepper this welcome antidote to the rampant commercialization of
Christmas.
The Aviation Shelf
Spinning Through Clouds
Max E. Knight
Indiana Historical Society Press
450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3269
9780871952561, $19.95 www.indianahistory.org
Suitable for readers of all ages and backgrounds, Spinning Through Clouds: Tales from an Early
Hoosier Aviator is an anthology of aviation vignettes by author Max E. Knight, who began flying
in 1936 at the age of ten. Tales from Knight's own experience, the adventures of his fellow
aviators, and amazing stories of early state and national aviation history fill the pages of this
head-in-the-clouds reflection of how far flying has come. "That white thing up there is called a
cloud. It is harmless unless another aircraft is at your level going the opposite direction." Dry yet
good-natured wit characterizes this enjoyable glimpse of days yore, enthusiastically
recommended for aviation buffs.
The Poetry Shelf
The Meaning of Life
Ronnie Ka Ching Lee
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
9781432706753, $19.95 www.outskirtspress.com 1-888-672-6657
Written by Chinese poet and philosopher Ronnie Ka Ching Lee, The Meaning of Life:
Existentialism, the Universe and Social Problems: Understanding Social Problems with Morality
and Logic is the sequel to "The Book of Life". Packed cover to cover with philosophical,
free-verse poetry exploring why we live, how we can improve our lives, and the essence of one's
will and psyche. An extraordinarily deep and soul-searching compilation. "Existentialism and
Worth": Nothingness never needs to be worthy, / But existence always needs to be worthy. //
This law states that the will, / Tends to what makes it worthy, / To live, / And existence evolves
to what makes it worthy, / To exist. // To be worthy means to like life, / To value life, / To want
life, / And to want to live, / And have a will. // Morality is therefore value, / And the best value
for life, / Is to be worthy.
Fathom
Philip Brady
Word Press
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
9781933456720, $17.00 www.word-press.com
Fathom is an anthology of free-verse poetry by Youngstown State University professor and
prizewinning poet Philip Brady, addressing events ranging from the September 11th attacks to
saying the final farewell to a deceased friend to the wondrous beauty lying dormant in the natural
world. The thoughtful stanzas evoke the breadth and depth of the human experience in their
resonant and at times sensual flow. "Berkeley": I am thinking of the city of Cata Huyuk, / elder
sister of Jericho, nexus / of stone-age trade, shrine of the chthonic / goddess and her fecund,
polyandrous / queens. I am pondering the citizens, / innocent of wheels and war, lovers / of cats,
skilled in obsidian, / who excarnated their dead for sacred vultures. / As I walk through People's
Park watching a suit / angle his head to cradle a cell phone, / I dwell on the ancient metropolis
and its fate: / One day without disaster or invasion / the entire population disappeared / as if their
souls were carried off by birds.
I Don't Believe in Ghosts
Moikom Zeqo, author; Wayne Miller, translator
Boa Editions, Ltd.
250 N. Goodman St., Suite 306, Rochester, NY 14607
9781934414019, $21.95 www.boaeditions.org
Albian-born poet Moikom Zeqo originally wrote the poems of I Don't Believe in Ghosts in his
collection "Meduza", created circa 1970-74. His work challenged the core principles of Albanian
socialist realism, and was therefore denounced as "hermetic, with modern influence, dangerous,
[and] foreign" by the Fourth Plenary Session of the Albanian Communist Party. Harshly
suppressed until 1995, when the Albanian communist system had collapsed, Zeqo's work has
since earned him one of Albania's highest honors, the award of "Important Master of His Field."
Each poem in I Don't Believe in Ghosts is presented in a two-page spread, in its original
Albanian on the left and a superb English translation by Wayne Miller on the right. A creative,
utterly mesmerizing poetry collection. "Time": Time is an enormous bird; / her one wing is day;
the other, night. / Caw, she cries, and I must feed her my flesh / for the flight to continue. / Caw,
caw! - my skeleton flies through the cosmos.
Learning from New Jersey
Joel Lewis
Talisman House, Publishers
PO Box 3157, Jersey City, NJ 07303-3157
9781584980568, $14.95 www.amazon.com
Learning from New Jersey is an anthology of free-verse "linked poems" by author, war journalist,
and seasoned poet Joel Lewis. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate the
down-to-earth, at times jarring verse echoing the voiced frustrations of flawed speakers. At times
wistful, at times as harsh as human beings can be to one another in real life, Learning from New
Jersey encapsulates the dynamics of complex human relationships small and large, as well as a
recurring theme of Mafia dialogue. "A Major Life Lesson: // On an East New York stoop /
watching wise guys / in pearl-gray gingerella hats / leaving from home at noon in / Twizzler
black Caddys // - while his working stiff neighbors / carried baloney sandwiches / onto the BMT
trains."
Auto Mechanic's Daughter
Karen Harryman
Black Goat
c/o Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781933354361, $14.95 www.akashicbooks.com
Auto Mechanic's Daughter is an anthology of free-verse poetry by published poet Karen
Harryman, whose work has appeared in "Alaska Quarterly Review", "Los Angeles Review",
"Poetry New Zealand", and "Cortland Review", among other places. Reflecting the author's own
trials and challenges, the poems speak of growing up in Kentucky, moving to California, and the
culture shock that accompanies setting out to make a bold change in one's life. An open, heartfelt,
and unforgettable glimpse into the hardships and rewards of surviving transition. "At Least": In
May and June / there are the jacarandas' / purple blossoms fallen / on green lawns of every block
// reminding me of home / how bluegrass isn't blue / until it gives up that flower / until it goes to
seed.
Definite Space
Ann Iverson
Holy Cow Press
PO Box 3170, Mount Royal Station, Duluth, MN 55803
9780977945849, $15.95 www.holycowpress.org
Definite Space is the second anthology of poetry by Ann Iverson. A particularly relevant
collection for modern times, Definite Space reflects upon the first and second deployment of the
author's stepson to Baghdad, Iraq, as well as the daily adjustments that need to be made when
transitioning from the inner city to the suburbs. The poignant and powerful free-verse literally
speaks for itself, taking timeless snapshots of emotion and transformation. "Before You Leave
Again": We gather for dinner, / good friends and all. // We push the big bowl aside / to make
room for plates and napkins. // The cat, you know the one, / jumps up and curls into the bowl. //
We talk and laugh and joke / though no one says a word.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Time Masters
Geralyn Beauchamp
Cold Tree Press
214 Overlook Court, Suite 253, Brentwood TN 37027
9781583851982, $18.95 www.coldtreepress.com
Book One of "The Call" series, Time Masters is a fantastic, sweeping epic. In the year 3698, a
terrible civil war is on the brink of erupting. To prevent unthinkable ruin, Dallan MacDonald
must inherit the responsibility of being a Time Master - yet to earn the title he must earn the love
of the nigh-otherworldly Muiraran Maiden. Stolen away as an infant and hidden in another time,
she rejects the truth of her nature, and earning her love will be no small task! A race against time
to prevent the destruction of civilization ensues, in this dramatic and absorbing saga of heroes,
villains, love, and hatred.
The Arterian Redemption
David Berner II
Ursa Minor Press
15914 44th Avenue West, Suite M305, Lynnwood, WA 98087
9781604023374, $37.99 www.ursapress.com
In "The Arterian Redemption", author, artist, and classical mythology scholar David Berner has
created a 575-page saga of heroic proportions set is an ancient world of fantasy, gods, prophecy,
wizardry, and conflict. Once long, long ago a powerful god called Malitrox ushered in the
beginning of a realm called Arteris as the Grand Deity created light from darkness. Those first
conceived formed a council of Wizards, each absorbing an essence of existence. Down through
the centuries these wizards quarreled and conflicted, eventually resulting in the assassination of
Malitrox who, with his final breath, declared his eventual return to resurrect his creation from the
corruption that afflicted it. Five-hundred years later the prophecy is nearing its time as an evil
wizard called Rannus seeks to dominate Arteris. But a challenge to his corruption in the form of
a band of friends seeks to defeat Rannus and all he stands for. This magnificently bound volume
comprises under one cover a saga of epic proportions. So well defined and written as to capture
the interest of the reader from beginning to end. A welcome addition to any personal or
community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collection, "The Arterian Redemption" is
especially recommended to fans of adventure fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and mythological
sagas.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Last of the Red Hot Poppas
Jason Berry
Chin Music Press Inc.
2621 24th Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98199
9780974199528, $24.50 http://chinmusicpress.com
Investigative reporter and award-winning playwright Jason Berry presents Last of the Red Hot
Poppas, a mystery novel following the consequences when the Governor of Louisiana is suddenly
found dead. In search of the murder motive, a young attorney must navigate the tangled skein of
local politics, following a trail that leads to diverse and dangerous locales ranging from a brothel
in the swamps to Angola Prison to an isolated mortuary and amidst a dramatic capitol funeral. At
the center of the intrigue are a cabal of ruthless oil brokers who heedlessly poison the land with
their toxins, in this modern-day parable of greed and ruthlessness. Utterly absorbing from cover
to cover.
The Adventures of Fletcher MacDonald
Vaud E. Massarsky
FelVaud Books
PO Box 1925, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Diamond & Company Public Relations (publicity)
PO Box 302, Radio City Station, New York, NY 10101-0302
0615164927, $14.95 www.FletcherMacDonald.com
The Adventures of Fletcher MacDonald is an anthology of fourteen short stories and mysteries
starring traveling Canadian Scotsman sleuth Fletcher MacDonald, as told from the viewpoint of
his friend and colleague Max Bateman. Confronted with problems and puzzles galore, Fletcher
applies his own unique mix of intuition and harsh logic, seasoned with a dash of theatrical
presentation, to ferret out the truth. His genius is sought around the globe; as a result, the tales
shift through exotic locations ranging from the Galapagos to Lithuania, Nova Scotia, Las Vegas
and much more. A lively literary tour especially sure to delight mystery lovers with an additional
zest for exciting armchair travels!
Three Deuces Down
Keith Donnelly
Court Street Press
PO Box 1588, Montgomery, AL 36102
9781588382276, $24.95 www.newsouthbooks.com
Keith Donelly's debut novel Three Deuces Down: A Donald Youngblood Mystery is a
suspenseful adventure following Donald Youngblood, a Wall Street genius turned private
investigator on a whim, and Billy Two Feathers, a full-blooded Cherokee Indian, who opens
Cherokee Investigations with him to work small cases together. When the wealthy and powerful
Joseph Fleet demands that Donald and Billy find his missing daughter and son-in-law, they
become submerged in a nefarious plot involving a killer on the loose, a restless girlfriend, and a
beautiful but determined blond police officer. A high-stakes conflict ensues, where cunning is
just as a crucial to staying alive as dexterity and sweat! The forthcoming second Donald
Youngblood mystery, "Three Days Dead", can't arrive soon enough.
Dangerous Past
A. F. Ebbers
Silverhawk Books
PO Box 2284, Manchaca, TX 78652-2284
9780978948238, $24.95 www.silverhawkbooks.com
The debut novel of reporter, military pilot and Vietnam veteran A. F. Ebbers, Dangerous Past is
an aviation thriller about an airline captain and Vietnam veteran haunted by the choices he made
in his past, and hunted by mysterious assailants. Suspended from his job after the airliner he was
flying suffers a horrifying decompression explosion, Captain Frank Braden is under suspicion of
the FBI for causing the accident in a suicide attempt; yet the truth of the intrigue closing in upon
him and his wife is much more sinister. As the death threats mount, and his efforts to alert the
authorities are dismissed as schizophrenic rantings, he must search for answers amid corruption
in the highest levels of Washington. A gripping page-turner to the very end.
Code Black
Philip Donlay
iBooks
1230 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10128
9781596873681, $22.95 www.bricktowerpress.com
Professional aviator Philip Donlay presents Code Black, an aviation thriller that opens with a
brutal blizzard and a horrific mid-air collision. The Wayfarer Flight 880 struggles on with half its
roof ripped off, still carrying wounded passengers among its dead and dying. Pilot Donovan Nash
must resist decompression and oxygen deprivation to reach the cockpit, and land a plane he's
never flown with no power and no instruments. On the ground, his fiancee Dr. Lauren McKenna
and her unlikely ally Henry Parrish must work together to help save the survivors aboard
Wayfarer Flight 880; they struggle against the machinations of a ruthless airline seeking to
manipulate the impending disaster for their own benefit, in the hope of executing a daring midair
rescue. An exciting novel of grace under pressure and the desperate measures demanded by
desperate times.
The Self-Help Shelf
Talk Like A Winner!
Steve Nakamoto
Java Books
17202-204 Corbina Lane, Hunting Beach, CA 92649
9780967089355, $14.95 www.menarelikefish.com
When relationships either fail in being established or once established, begin to break down, they
tend to do so as a result of impaired communications. Being able to listen and to speak
effectively is one of life's fundamental requirements for success. Now personal development
trainer Steve Nakamoto (who also serves as the dating/relationship expert on iVillage.com's 'Ask
Mr. Anser Man' message board) draws upon his many years of experience and expertise in
counseling men and women to communicate more effectively and successfully, has distilled his
advice into writing "Talk Like A Winner: 21 Simple Rules For Achieving Everyday
Communications Success". Readers will learn how to develop an unshakable self-confidence in
their ability to express themselves in any social circumstance; how to connect quickly and
effectively with others; how to keep romantic connections active; how to gain the respect and
friendship of others; how to bring out the best not only in themselves but in others as well; how
to avoid costly, counter-productive, and avoidable arguments; how to build lifelong relationships;
and how to enjoy the kind of unlimited freedom of thought (as well as action) that
self-expression can provide anywhere and at any time. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Talk Like A
Winner!" is a confidently recommended addition to personal self-help reference collections and
self-improvement reading lists.
The Genie Within Your Subconscious Mind
Harry W. Carpenter
Anaphase II Publishing
2739 Wightman Street, San Diego, CA 92104-3526
9780945962281, $16.95 www.cyberlepsy.com/anaphase.htm
Written by retired aerospace research engineer Harry W. Carpenter at the behest of students
asking him to put his insights into harnessing the subconscious down on paper, The Genie
Within Your Subconscious Mind: How It Works and How to Use It is a no-nonsense guide to
overcoming negative thoughts in order to promote better health and improved quality of life.
Offering amazing insights into the mind-body connection, The Genie Within Your Subconscious
Mind draws upon published studies and testimonials to reveal the "laws" of the subconscious and
useful communication techniques. "The Law of Expression states that every thought causes a
physical reaction in the body... Ever read a book, or seen a movie, about a poignant love story
and got choked up?... The mind and body are one: therefore, what affects one affects the other."
Enthusiastically recommended as a useful tool for taking greater control of one's life and
happiness, for readers of all backgrounds.
Eastern Wisdom for Your Soul
Richard A. Singer Jr.
Dreamriver Press, LLC
12 Franklin Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031-2006
Page-Turner Publicity
32091 Virginia Way, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
9780979790805, $16.95 www.amazon.com
Eastern Wisdom for Your Soul: 111 Meditations for Everyday Enlightenment is an anthology of
helpful meditations crafted by award-winning author, trained psychotherapist, and devoted
student of Eastern psychology Richard A. Singer, Jr. Designed to help the reader transcend the
restrictions of ego, improving his or her ability to live in the moment and enjoy life to the fullest,
Eastern Wisdom for Your Soul promotes the cultivation of happiness and joy. Each page consists
of an inspirational quote, the brief meditation itself, and a "real life application" often presenting
insight into the meditation's wisdom for day-to-day living. A sample meditation reads, "The
fleeting sensory pleasures created by material and corporeal possessions will not fulfill your inner
yearning for happiness and tranquility. The blissful state you seek is already within you as a
natural part of your being and must be tapped into consciously. Absolutely nothing outside of
your being will provide you with genuine contentment. You may continue in this useless search
externally, but know that it has no end." A suggested twelve-step plan grounded in Eastern
wisdom rounds out this thoughtful and positive collection.
Dynamic Components Of Personal Power
Jim Bouchard
San Chi Publishing
10 Jordan Avenue, Brunswick, ME, USA
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MA 02466
9780615159164 $19.95 www.JimBourchard.org 1-800-786-8502
Personal authority, charisma, leadership, and influence are not qualities that are innate at birth,
rather they are learned skills and abilities based on principles and concepts going back thousands
of years in recorded human history. In "Dynamic Components Of Personal Power: Success -- The
Black Belt Way", martial artist Jim Bouchard has produced an instructional manual based upon
ancient martial arts teachings that he has adapted and adopted for modern personal and
professional success through creating, enhancing, and maintaining personal power within any
social, business, or professional relationship. As a founder of northern Chi Martial Arts and a
member of the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Brouchard writes with a special expertise as he
applies a Kung Fu-oriented philosophy and practice to harnessing its techniques to the
development of personal talent and ability by applying the motivational and transformational
power of the dojo to the demands of ordinary life. Of special note are the 'Power Drills', exercises
specifically designed to strengthen goal commitments. Superbly organized and presented,
"Dynamic Components Of Personal Power" is very highly recommended reading and would
make a popular addition to any community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement reference
collection.
Expanding The Boundaries of Self
Oliver H. Jobson
Global Publishing Associates
2860 Somerset Drive, Suite 215, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MA 02466
9780976498803, $23.95 www.gpaonline.com
Exploring our possibilities and maximizing our potential to take useful advantage of all that life
has to offer us as we seek to live out whatever definition of 'the good life' we have takes the kind
of experience-based wisdom and practical insights that comprise Oliver H. Jobson's "Expanding
The Boundaries of Self" Beyond The Limit Of Traditional thought, Discovering the Magic
Within". A practitioner of Monistic meditation and a dedicated student of Eastern philosophy for
the past four decades, Jobson deft draws upon his years of experience and expertise to write a
combination instruction manual and inspirational guide that will enable his readers to tap into
their 'inner intelligence', and to take charge of their own thoughts, actions, and emotions. A kind
of spiritual biography, "Expanding The Boundaries of Self" teaches by example and many of the
principles and SDA techniques Jobson presents are applicable with respect to any form of
relationship -- by they business, family, social, or cultural. Articulate, enhanced with a glossary,
and thoroughly 'reader friendly', "Expanding The Boundaries of Self" is very strongly
recommended for community library self-help collections and personal improvement
self-improvement reading lists and reference collections.
Dark Water
Opal Rose
Author House
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781434309587, $12.50 www.authorhouse.com www.darkwaterrippling.com
1-800-280-7715
Author Opal Rose draws directly from her own life experience in Dark Water: Stress After
Trauma, a self-help guide to learning how to effectively cope with the fallout of severe trauma.
Written in a conversational tone accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Dark Water adopts the
view that a person suffering from post-traumatic stress has been injured as a whole being, and the
entire neurophysiology needs to heal. Chapters discuss "Living with Recurring Symptoms and
Startling Insights", "How does it Feel, to Feel?", "What Do You Do After Trauma?" and much
more. Though Opal Rose is neither a psychologist nor a clinician, her honest appraisals speak
directly from the heart of one who has been there, suffered that. "The bottom line is that it's
necessary for you to figure out how you feel about being injured, how you deal with your anger
and hurt about that, how you approach others who might be uncomfortable around you, and how
you approach yourself and your future. Please remember that help for all of this is a good thing
and that you don't have to undertake the healing process by yourself, even though you probably
feel very alone now and then."
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Predictions of the End Times
Rex Lombardo
Xlibris Corporation
International Plaza II, Suite 340, Philadelphia, PA 19113
9781425773700, $19.99 xlibris.com
Predictions of the End Times: An Accurate Portrayal of the Antichrist and His Actions is
grounded in the visions that author Rex Lombardo has experienced - since his very first vision in
which he saw a horrific dragon being speared by the Antichrist, as a symbol of the Antichrist's
mission to conquer evil. Predictions of the End Times reveals the Antichrist's role as a harbinger
of the Second Coming, describing how his enlightened views will ultimately bring surcease to
many of the terribly problems afflicting the world today. "The Antichrist will criticize nations for
not doing enough to control the worldwide overpopulation issue. He will mention that the
population growth rate will increase at even a greater level now with his economic and political
policies in effect. The effects of war, famine disease, and other factors that normally inhibit the
global growth rate will no longer be the natural limiting factors for the world's overpopulation
problem. With an attempt to control the situation, he will forbid all nations from accepting any
new immigrants as well as the issuing of additional visas and citizenships until the administrators
accurately estimate the maximum growth rate that is acceptable for their respective regions." An
intriguing counter-revelation to the traditional view of the Antichrist as a force for unmoderated
evil, that deliberately connects to the predictions of the prophet Daniel.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Ty Beanies Tracker
Karen Holmes, editor
Bangzoom Publishers
14 Storrs Avenue, Braintree, MA 02184
9780977909957, $21.95 www.bangzoom.com
Few 20th century collectibles have had as huge a success in the popular culture as those small
plush toys known as Beanie Babies -- as well as Punkies, Pinkys, Girtz, and more!. Now in an
expanded and fully updated third edition, "Ty Beanies Tracker" under the deft editorship of
Beanie Baby expert Karen Holmes provides collectors, dealers, and the general public with a
unique, comprehensive, illustrated reference and price guide for these popular toy collectibles.
Featuring more than 4,000 color pictures comprising the complete Ty product lines (including
variations and rare items), "Ty Beanies Tracker", with its Note Pages, Daffynitions, Attic
Treasures, and NASCAR Beanies, is a simply indispensable addition to personal, professional,
and community library Antiques & Collectibles reference shelves.
The Civil War Shelf
A Concise Guide To The Artillery At Gettysburg
Gregory A. Coco
Colecraft Industries
970 Mt. Carmel Road, Orrtanna, PA 17353
0977712559, $9.95 www.colecraftbooks.com
Now in a newly published second edition, "A Concise Guide To The Artillery At Gettysburg" by
American Civil War historian Gregory A. Coco is an information packed, 104-page account of
all of the guns employed by both the Union and the Confederate armies who engaged in one of
the bloodiest and most critically important battles in which the Army of the Potomac engaged the
Army of Northern Virginia. The informed and informative narrative of the artillery battles is
nicely enhanced with the inclusion of historic photos. Offering complete and comprehensive
descriptions of the Union and Confederate artillery units throughout the battle, Coco goes on to
provide total coverage of the type, quantity, and ammunition of the guns employed on both sides.
Enhanced further with the inclusion of a three-page glossary, as well as additional notes, "A
Concise Guide To The Artillery At Gettysburg" is a seminal and highly recommended
contribution to academic library Civil War reference studies in general, and Civil War buff
supplemental reading lists in particular.
The Mythology Shelf
Ancient Greek Beliefs
Perry L. Westmoreland
Lee and Vance Publishing Company
511 East San Ysidro Bouevard, #432, San Ysidro, CA 92173
Columbine Communications & Publications (publicity)
16707 Saddle Court, Sonora, CA 95370
9780979324819, $44.99 plwnav56@yahoo.com
A massive 827-page descriptive and analytical history of Hellenic myths, folklore, religious
beliefs and practices, "Ancient Greek Beliefs" by Perry L. Westmoreland is a comprehensive,
impressively researched, superbly organized and written body of work which is divided into three
major sections: Greek Mythology, The Ancient Greeks; and Conclusions. Individual chapters are
devoted to early Hellenic creation myths, a descriptive roster of the Greek gods and goddesses
associated with Mount Olympus, and an informative roster of other Greek immortals ranging
from Aristeas to Xanthus. Also covered are other immortal groups of beings such as Daemons
and demons, the Fates, the Graces, Nymphs, River Gods, and others. Then there are the mortals
such as Heracles and Adonis who were raised to the status of gods. Also covered are tributes to
the gods, Greek heroes, and special mortals and mortal groups identified in ancient Greek
histories and myths such as King Midas and the Amazons. Of special note are the chapters on
Ghosts and 'Abridged Stores of Greek Mythologies', Seers and Philosophers, and the 'Ancient
Greek Mysteries'. This first major section concludes with informative 'Timelines in Mythology'.
The second section of "Ancient Greek Beliefs" offers an informed and informative survey and
overview of early Greek history including the city states of Athens and Sparta, the Greco-Persian
war, athletic games, coinage, islands, language, people, environments, social strata, and more.
The third and final section covers ancient Hellenic religious beliefs. Enhanced with the inclusion
of an extensive glossary, "Ancient Greek Beliefs" is a monumental work of considerable
scholarship and expertise which is especially recommended for school and community Hellenic
Studies library collections, as well as supplemental reading lists for students and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in ancient Greek history, culture, philosophy, and religion.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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