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Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 1, Number 6 October 2002 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Self-Help Shelf Fiction Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Still a Steelers Fan
Brad Andrew Shutzberg
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1401065031 $20.99 www.xlibris.com

Still A Steelers Fan is the personal testimony and memoir of Brad Andrew Shutzber, a gay man who candidly and engaging reveals what it is like to live in the closet, hiding one's sexual orientation, and also what it means to finally come out and be honest to friends, associates, and family. Written specifically to answer the questions of his own parents, Still A Steelers Fan is very highly recommended for providing valuable personal experience and insights for others who have might have questions about friends and family members with a non-heterosexual orientation, or who may be debating life outside the closet for themselves.

Jumping Lightyears
Dr. H
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1401054544 $22.99 www.xlibris.com

Jumping Lightyears: The Evolution Of Interstellar Travel by mystic, philosopher and scientist Dr. H, is an intriguing metaphysical study of how interstellar travel might be possible not through contemporary physics (which currently seem to refute it), but rather through advanced powers of the mind and mystical experience. Jumping Lightyears refutes traditional concepts of religion as a means of expanding one's spirituality, but instead embraces the depths of the Self as a means of traversing the stars. Jumping Lightyears is a thought-provoking, iconoclastic metaphysical study written by an author who has borne witness to a UFO at close range and recommended reading for students of cutting edge metaphysical studies.

Prism
David St. John
Arctos Press
PO Box 401, Sausalito, CA 94966-0401
0965701573 $22.00 http://members.aol.com/Runes

Prism is an outstanding collection of brief, simple, memorable free-verse poems by David St. John which are vividly illustrated with full-color illustrations by Lance Patigian, and which are reminiscent of the mystery and inspiration of modern art. Emotional, provocative, and stunning to behold, the poetry and artwork blend into a unique and unforgettable whole. Red Python: I didn't see it until she stretched out/One leg as she shifted her weight/On the chair at the conference table where/We'd been discussing some detail so arcane//Even the academic horseshit flies had grown bored//& beneath the steel grey silk of that pant leg/Flicked quick as a tongue with a single razor-toed boot/Scaled unmistakably with the stripped skin/Of some sacred serpent slicked still/& dyed the same shade as//The memory of some ancient sacrifice where/The stones themselves had grown bloody as hope/& as I caught her eye for just an instant//I felt all that useless human breath squeezed out of me

In, and Of
Jack Haas
Iconoclast Press
Suite 144, 3495 Cambie St., Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R3
0973100710 $18.00 1-604-682-3269 ext. 8832 www.iconoclastpress.com

In, And Of: Memoirs Of A Mystic Journey Along Canada's Wild West Coast is an enthralling, true-life account of Jack Hass' personal travels through the wilderness of coastal British Columbia. His excursions embraced both the natural splendor that surrounded him, and a continuing quest to better understand the workings of the self. Because of its philosophical, emotional, and insightful narrative, In, And Of is very strongly recommended reading for students of metaphysics and the contemplative life.

The Deepest Wound
Linda Crockett
Writer's Showcase/iUniverse.com, Inc.
5220 South 16th Street, #200, Lincoln, NE 68512-1274
0595199224 $23.95 www.iuniverse.com

The Deepest Wound: How A Journey To El Salvador Led To Healing From Mother-Daughter Incest by Linda Crockett, is a powerful and personal testimony of her own life journey that draws parallels between healing from sadistic parental abuse and recovering from political torture. An insightful journey to how the scars of terrible, repeated trauma can be accepted, and adapted, without sacrificing one's ability to pursue hopes and dreams. The Deepest Wound is profoundly candid, deeply moving and highly recommended reading.

Silence And The Soul
Ellen Miller and Gary Sherman
Inner Harmonics Press
PO Box 1173, Palo Alto, CA 94302
1886594023 $16.95 1-877-218-1414 www.deepening.com

Collaboratively written by Ellen Miller and Gary Sherman (creators of the Perceptual Integration Process), Silence And The Soul: Awakening Inner Wisdom is a deeply spiritual book about traversing a journey of consciousness. Miller and Sherman cogently describe the soul-searching effects of listening to the wisdom of one's Inner Teacher, and drawing upon connections between emotional cleansing and a higher level of outreach to the world around us. Highly recommended reading for students of spirituality, Silence And The Soul is a profound metaphysical and personal testimony to the evolution of perception, both within and beyond the five senses.

Doctor's Journal
Dr. Emanuel M. Cane, D.C.
1st Books Library
2511 West 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
0759632049 $16.50 1-800-839-8640

Ably written by Emanuel M. Cane, D.C., a chiropractor with over 50 years of experience, Doctor's Journal: A Guide For Senior Longevity is a solid and well-rounded guide to maintaining and improving the quality of one's life in spite of the inevitable progression of age. Presented in plain, simple, accessible language for the non-specialist general reader, Doctor's Journal aptly covers recommended simple exercises, tips for good nutrition, ways to guard against common ailments such as stroke, sprains, and high blood pressure, and a great deal more. Doctor's Journal is highly recommended as being an excellent primer for taking good care of oneself in one's golden years - and it's never too soon to get into good health habits no matter what your age!

Marine Corps Detectives
James B. Benson, Jr.
Chesapeake Book Publishers
1400 South Sunkist, SP. 199, Anaheim, CA 92806
0970794002 $TBA 1-714-956-0408 Jimsue199@email.msn.com

Marine Corps Detectives by James B. Benson, Jr. (a retired U.S. Marine Corps Criminal Investigator) is a collection of over forty true stories of marine corps law enforcers charged with the responsibility of tracking down and arresting the perpetrators of a crime. Straightforward, brusque, yet quite solid in its information, Marine Corps Detectives is a unique and simply fascinating look at real human experiences in the stark yet absolutely necessary world of military law enforcement. Marine Corps Detectives is highly recommended reading and an unusual addition to any academic or personal Military Studies or Criminology reference collection.

Out of the Ruins: A New York Record
Jean Holabird
Gingko Press
5768 Paradise Drive, Suite J, Corte Madera, CA 94925
1584231165 $19.95 www.gingkopress.com

Compiled and edited by Jean Holabird, Out Of The Ruins: A New York Record is a unique memorial tribute to those who perished and to those who survived the tragic events of the September 11 attacks. Out Of The Ruins is filled from cover to cover with emotional and commemorative watercolor paintings (all of which are presented in vibrant full-color) capturing the cruelties of reality and the resplendence of hope in simple, memorable shapes and patterns. Lines of brief poetry accompany most of the watercolors, creating a profound, combined artistic event. Out Of The Ruins is very highly recommended as an unforgettable, bittersweet memorial volume.

Spanish Lingo For The Savvy Gringo
Elizabeth Reid, MA, DRe
In One Ear Publications
PO Box 847, Round Rock, TX 78680-0847
1881791084 $14.95 1-800-431-1579

Spanish Lingo For The Savvy Gringo is a superbly organized and presented "do-it-yourself" guide to the Spanish language, culture and slang - not just common expressions, but also curse words, severe insults, and the Spanish equivalents of the most vicious and dirty gutter talk, as well as lighter common verbal outbursts and expressions. It is not in dictionary form, instead arranged so that slang can be looked up by subject or usage. Each Spanish slang word or phrase is presented in detail with its literal meaning, the history of its usage, its ties to a specific Spanish-speaking country, comparative definitions in English, and basically everything the studious Spanish speaker needs to know in order to better understand Spanish slang. Spanish Lingo For The Savvy Gringo is a unique and very highly recommended supplement to the Spanish-language and usage textbooks (especially for travelers and students in Spanish speaking communities and countries) that most assuredly do not teach this information!


The Self-Help Shelf

Coaching For An Extraordinary Life
Terri Levine
Lahaska Publishing
PO Box 1147, Buckingham, PA 18912
0965053474 $14.99 www.lahaskapublishing.com

Coaching For An Extraordinary Life is a collection of sound advice from professional coach Terri Levine (Founder, Comprehensive Coach U., The Professional's Coach Training Program), who offers a wealth of "user friendly" tips, tricks, and techniques for coping with the common woes of everyday life. From learning the art of deep listening, to building up one's mind, body, and spirit, to the joy of helping others achieve their goals, Coaching For An Extraordinary Life is a simple, inspiring, practical guide to self-improvement, and a potentially life-changing catalyst which is especially recommended for the non-specialist general reader seeking to improve the day-to-day quality of their lives and life experiences.

Drive Yourself Sane
Susan Presby Kodish & Bruce I. Kodish
Extensional Publishing
PO Box 50490, Pasadena, CA 91115-0490
0970066465 $18.00 www.amazon.com

Now in its revised second edition, Drive Yourself Sane: Using The Uncommon Sense Of General Semantics by Susan and Bruce Kodish (recipients of the J. Talbot Winchell Award for their work in general semantics) is a practical-minded look at the semantics of the English language, how they affect interpersonal communication, and how individuals can use knowledge of the underlying meanings between phrases and words to improve their understanding and interaction with fellow human beings. Drive Yourself Sane is highly recommended for its informed and informative examination of the practical side of language science, and for its accessible to both the formal student of linguistics and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the effects of communication upon personal development.

Great Failures Of The Extremely Successful
Steve Young
Tallfellow Press
1180 S. Beverly Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90035
1931290172 $24.95 www.tallfellow.com

Great Failures Of The Extremely Successful by Steve Young (a man who failed college four times; discharged from the army after three months; divorced; fired from 23 jobs in the summer of 1968; failed businessman; losing contestant on both "The Dating Game" and "The Gong Show"; dropped from four literary agencies; and the recipient of a "gazillion" book, television and film rejections) is a collection of unique anecdotes about the stumbling blocks many famous and wealthy people encountered on the way to success, ranging from basketball star Bill Walton, to humorist Steve Allen, to advocate Erin Brockovich. Offering valuable life lessons, and most of all, emphasizing the importance of getting back on the metaphorical horse after being thrown, Great Failures Of The Extremely Successful is an enjoyable, enlightening, motivating, and highly recommended addition to any self-help, self-improvement reading list or library reference collection.

How To Stay Married & Love It!
Nancy Landrum & Jim Landrum
River Publishing
PO Box 27433, Anaheim, CA 92809-0114
0971931429 $17.95 1-866-276-8571

How To Stay Married & Love It! Solving The Puzzle Of Soulmate Marriage by Nancy and Jim Landrum is an informed and informative guide written in response to today's regrettably high divorce rate. Individual chapters focus on communication difficulties, motivating oneself to be respectful to one's partner even when inwardly seething, and learning to devote one's heart to a relationship. How To Stay Married & Love It! is a highly recommended, "reader friendly" guide that offers a multitude of new insights into the conflicts, difficulties, and rewards of married life.

Touchstones To Remembering Your Spirit
Norma Jennings
We-Publish.com
7709 Mines Road, PMB AJ01-1, Laredo, TX 78045
1931335311 $12.95 1-301-608-3580, http://www.ebook-case.com/Shop/buytouchstones.htm

Accessibly written by educator, humanitarian, intuitive healer, and ordained African-American minister Norma Jennings, Touchstones To Remembering Your Spirit is a testimony spiritual blessing and raising consciousness blending folk tradition, reverence for divine grace and ways to nourish inner wellness. Touchstones To Remembering Your Spirit is highly recommended as an insightful, emotional look at means by which ordinary people can better incorporate spirituality into their daily lives.

Message Of Hope
Kathleen Gage
Turning Point, Inc.
2120 South 700 East, Suite H251, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
0965815943 $10.95 http://www.turningpointpresents.com

In Message Of Hope: Inspirational Thoughts For Uncertain Times, public speaker, training, consultant, and author Kathleen Gage offers invaluable, inspirational, highly recommended perspectives for dealing with life's uncertainties, especially those arising from change, loss, death, and fear. Each single page observation is worth of contemplation and reflection. Clarity: I enjoy the quiet time I share with myself. In the silence of my mind and heart I can connect with my purpose in a most peaceful way. I can tune into the clarity that is meant to be mine. I give thanks for the goodness that has been bestowed upon me. I give thanks for the clarity as it unfolds.

Meeting Wisdom
Brian L.
Meeting Wisdom Publishing
PO Box 320786, Los Gatos, CA 95032
0971877912 $16.95 meetingwisdom.com

Meeting Wisdom by Brian L. is an impressive compendium of penetrating, inspiring wisdom arising from the experience of attending and participating in 12-step meetings, whether for Alcoholics Anonymous or any number of other addiction recovery 12-step programs. Highly recommended reading, Meeting Wisdom provides a wealth of informed and informative insights into the difficult path to recovery, and what it means to commit to a clean and sober life will hold great value to readers of all backgrounds, and whether they are currently involved in a particular 12-step program or not.

Thrival!
Dr. Paul O. Radde
Path Lighter Press
1500 Riverside Drive, Suite 810, Austin, TX 78741
0962587214 $25.00 1-800-966-8333

Thrival!: How To Have An Above Average Day Every Day is an inspiring self-help book by international speaker and consultant Paul O. Radde. Thrival! nurtures the psyche of the reader with guidelines to opening oneself to the world, accepting reality, nurturing oneself, creating and maintaining a positive attitude, and much, much more. Thrival! is highly recommended as an outgoing, "user friendly" guide packed from cover to cover with solid self-help advice for anyone seeking life's satisfactions and fulfillments regardless of their past or current circumstances.


The Fiction Shelf

The Dead File
Kevin O'Morrison
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1401000037 $16.00 www. xlibris.com

Set in 1950's America, The Dead File is a novel by Kevin O'Morrison about the infamous TV blacklist during the equally infamous era of Joe McCarthy and the congressional HUAC investigations, and how it permanently changed one actor's life. Insightful, sometimes sad, yet a powerfully charged saga of the struggle to find meaning and dictate one's own existence when the telephones stop ringing with offers and no one will tell you why -- The Dead File is highly recommended reading and as contemporary as the recently past "American Patriots" act of congress.

Still Life With Fish And Other Stories
Laurence Klinger
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1401031838 $20.99 www.xlibris.com laurenceklinger@laurenceklinger.com

Still Life With Fish And Other Stories is a highly recommended anthology of stories by Laurence Klinger that toy with the boundaries of reality with chilling and transcendental effects. From office clerks who use archery to alleviate the tedium of their dreary lives, to a fig tree at the center of the Universe that is the site of traded fantasies, to a prostitute who is offered great wealth to expose her naked soul, Still Life With Fish And Other Stories pushes literary boundaries to give the reader new and unusual ways of looking at this old world and we struggling creatures who populate it.

Growing Young
Dean Warren
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1401051634 $19.54 www.xlibris.com

Growing Young by Dean Warren is an adventurous and intriguing science fiction novel about Dr. Mark Langer, an old man who is presented with a cure for aging. Langer undertakes the treatment and reverses his aging body to one the status of a robust and health 25 years. Yet in a world already crushed with overpopulation, how is he to see that this magnificent achievement is not abused for malevolent ends? Growing Young accomplishes what science fiction does best -- provides the reader with a profound and thoughtful saga about how the possibility of immortality could affect human society as a whole.

Centurion
Peter W. Mitsopoulos
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1401027407 $18.69 www.xlibris.com

Set in A.D. 9 and based on an actual event in Roman history, Centurion: A Novel Of Ancient Rome by Peter W. Mitsopoulos is the story of Glaxus Valtinius, a Senior Centurion who must confront betrayal and incompetence during his last duty station before he can return to Rome and pursue his destiny with the woman he loves. Powerful, emotional, and vivid in its presentation of turn-of-the-millennium life, Centurion is an unforgettable and highly recommended historical novel, which is also available in hardcover ($28.79) and ebook ($8.00) editions.

And Gladly Teach
Brian Libby
1st Books Library
2511 West 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
0759654042 $18.50 1-800-839-8640

And Gladly Teach is an upbeat, humorous novel by Brian Libby about an Episcopal boarding and prep school with a bit more than its fair share of problems. The Headmaster is dyslexic and incompetent, the athletic program is out of control, money is running out, the chaplain practices dark magical arts, and the food is gut-shakingly bad. Rollicking funny and tragically astute, And Gladly Teach is highly recommended as a wry, ironic tale about a private institution of learning where anything that can be corrupted -- is.

Scum & Other Tales
Richard Bellush, Jr.
Robert D. Reed Publishers
750 La Playa Street, Suite 647, San Francisco, CA 94121
1931741190 $24.95 www.rdrpublishers.com

Scum & Other Tales is an engaging and eclectic selection of twelve short stories by Richard Bellush, Jr., about a series of eccentric characters, each one just barely on the other side of reality. From a would-be vampire killer, to the intelligence-challenged survivors of an asteroid impact, to the sellers of a substance called "Scum" that embodies all the worst traits of junk food and then some, Scum & Other Tales never disappoints in its out-of-this world settings that hold up a curved, funhouse-style mirror to the dark twists of reality.

The Journals Of Emlyn Harness
Clayton Laurence Cheek
Glyptodont Publishing
551 W. Cordova Road #214, Santa Fe, NM 87505-4100
0967819407 $23.95 www.glyptodont.net

The Journals Of Emlyn Harness by Clayton Laurence Cheek is an exciting, emotional, well wrought tale set in the old west. The engaging novel is presented partly through journal entries represented by a written script simulating sleek handwriting, and partly with more traditionally typeset text narration. The Journals Of Emlyn Harness is highly recommended with its unique narrative flavor coloring a gritty, personal saga steeped with the feel of the hot sun and the memories of a bygone era.

Only In America
John Soltez
Gansevoort Press
PO Box 30962, New York, NY 10011-9992
0971016801 $21.95 1-212-727-2875 www.amazon.com

John Soltez's debut novel, Only In America, is the story of Doug Murphy, a Midwestern career man whose life and sleepy town are caught up in the sweeping fervor generated by a Louisianan Presidential candidate with a unique oratorical genius. Hope, fear, unrest, protests and prophets mark this roller coaster ride of a raucous and highly recommended novel, leading up to the surprising climax.

Honor Among Thieves
Rosalie More
NovelBooks, Inc.
PO Box 661, Douglas, MA 01516
1931696667 $17.95 www.novelbooksinc.com

Rosalie More's Honor Among Thieves is a superbly written novel of suspense, intrigue, and gunplay set in the Old West as a woman on the run and an outlaw must work together to rescue their loved ones from marauders. Romance and fierce action combine in this enthralling, adventurous, thoroughly entertaining saga. Honor Among Thieves is the stuff of which blockbuster movies and high-rated television mini-series are made!

The Scottish Thistle
Cindy Vallar
NovelBooks, Inc.
PO Box 661, Douglas, MA 01516
1591050340 $19.95 www.novelbooksinc.com

Set in 1745 Scotland, an era marked by bloodshed and rebellion, The Scottish Thistle is an deftly written historical novel of uneasy alliances, a call to arms, and a blood oath sworn and reinforced through a marriage of strangers. Chieftain Rory MacGregroy puts her clan's welfare ahead of her own and weds a stranger. Then an oath sworn on the dirk compels Duncan Cameron to forge an uneasy alliance with Rory, unaware that a Stewart prince comes to the Highlands to wage war against the usurper who sits upon the throne. The Scottish Thistle is a powerful and highly recommended novel of strength and survival, conflicted love and compelling duty, spotlighting the intricacy of Scottish war and politics.

The Measure Of The Universe
Ellen Larson
Saga SF
473 17th St. #6, Brooklyn, NY 11215-6226
0966987748 $12.95 http://savvypress.com/sagasf/index.html

The Measure Of The Universe by Ellen Larson is the story of an archeologist from Aldebaran who arrives in the Greek isles for the purpose of studying ancient inscriptions. He meets a sharp-tongued professor of paleography and the alien teams up with the human, joined by a mutual love of exploring ancient ruins and writings, only to discover a hidden plot against both their worlds. The Measure Of The Universe is enthusiastically recommended to science fiction enthusiasts as an original, wild, and fun-loving romp touching on limits between and beyond human and nonhuman cultures alike.

Second Chances
Lynne Norris
Yellow Rose Books
c/o Renaissance Alliance Publishing
PMB 238, 8691 9th Avenue, Port Arthur, TX 77642
1930928297 $19.99 1-800-720-3913 www.rapbooks.biz

Second Chances by Lynne Norris is an entrancing, romantic, alternative lifestyle novel. Alex Margulies is a strong-willed chief attending physician at the emergency department of a community medical center. When Regina Kingston, a resident doctor with considerable talent, joins the staff there is an inevitable clash between two confident and dominant personalities, each of which is spurred by each woman's hidden demons. Alex and Regina must find their own ways to cope with the past, and learn to open herself to love once more in this emotional and sensual tale.

The Jiangxi Virus
Steven Schlossstein
Stratford Books
Phenix & Phenix (publicity)
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
0962706027 $15.95 1-800-247-6553

The Jiangxi Virus: A Novel Of Bioterror by Steven Schlossstein is a gripping story about a deadly pathogenic threat whose origins are in China. The Center for Disease Control assigns their top detective, Dr. Ellen Chou, to the all-important task of saving America from a microscopic lethal threat. Beset by terrorist aims, insufferable bureaucracy, and an ever-decreasing supply of time, Dr. Ellen Chou has her work cut out for her in this fast-paced saga. Not for the faint of heart, The Jiangxi Virus is a gripping and highly recommended read from first page to last.

The Circle
H. Edward Schmidt
Upper Falls Books
PO Box 85, Upper Falls, Maryland 21156
0971757607 $24.95 1-410-592-7996 www.upperfallsbooks.com

Set in the Holy Land during the early 1900s, before and during World War I, The Circle: Terror And Triumph In The Holy Land by H. Edward Schmidt is a compelling historical fiction about the Poletsky family of Arach, his wife Rivka, and their two children Sarah and Yitzhak. They are a Jewish family who live on the sacred soil of Palestine even as war erupts all around them. As the fate of the land is debated and promised, the family's son joins the Circle, a hard-core and extreme Zionist group committed to murdering its enemies, while the daughter embraces a vision of a free Palestinian state with both Jewish and Arab citizens. Crisscross pressures and childhood friendships create multiple conflicts in this heated page-turner of a novel.

Furnace
William Alan Rieser
iUniverse.com, Inc.
5220 South 16th Street, #200, Lincoln, NE 68512-1274
0595233082 $16.95 www.iuniverse.com

Furnace by William Alan Rieser is a shocking and impressively written novel about an investigation into a young woman's unusual death which was ruled by the authorities to be a case of human spontaneous combustion. The investigation reveals a dark, twisted, and utterly murderous psychic plot. Terror, ruthlessness, and supernatural disregard for human limits and life mark this unpredictable, unique, and highly recommended saga.

Niagara Fall
Stephen F. Wilcox
Mystery and Suspense Press/iUniverse.com
5220 South 16th Street, #200, Lincoln, NE 68512-1274
0595221467 $18.95 www.iuniverse.com

Niagara Fall: A Novel Of Crime And Comedy by Stephen F. Wilcox offers the reader a dramatic, flourishing, twisted narrative that blends black comedy with sudden violence and motives cloaked with intrigue. When a suburban house wife hires an inept hit man to assassinate her husband, it kick-starts a spiraling, snowballing chain of events in this humorous and edgy adventure novel.

Fate
Mary Jane
Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com
5220 South 16th Street, #200, Lincoln, NE 68512-1274
0595189857 $16.95 www.iuniverse.com

Fate by Mary Jane is a deftly written novel showcasing the eternal dilemma of destiny versus free will. A successful attorney turned incompetent bank robber and a mysterious woman become entangled in an amazing quest along the length and breadth of America, with unforseen consequences awaiting their zigzag journey, in which each will have to make a final, life-changing decision once and for all. Fate is an original, exciting, enthralling, carnival ride of a read.

Cherish The Magic
Gioacchino Giampapa
Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com
5220 South 16th Street, #200, Lincoln, NE 68512-1274
0595006876 $20.95 www.iuniverse.com

Gioacchino (Jack) Giampapa's Cherish The Magic: A Novel Of Uncompromising Honor is the engaging story of Gianni Giancarlo, a Fort Lauderdale teen who enlists in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, hoping that by doing so he can preempt being drafted into Army and thereby avoid worst of the bloodletting. His hopes are dashed as he must endure a terrifying ordeal of the brutal transition to manhood in this solidly written, attention gripping saga of survival against the background of grime war time realities.

Touched
Linda Armstrong-Miller
Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com
5220 South 16th Street, #200, Lincoln, NE 68512-1274
0595139183 $12.95 www.iuniverse.com

Touched is a compelling novel by Linda Armstrong Miller about the power of forgiveness to transform life itself. When Matthew Allen, a man burdened by the pain in his past, closes himself off from all friends and family, he denies himself love and happiness. Yet his self-inflicted deprivation is about to change, as he comes to understand that learning to forgive and to make peace with one's past is the first step to being able to truly embrace and enjoy life. Touched is highly recommended, emotionally satisfying reading.

Hold On To My Heart
Judi L. Strider
PublishAmerica
1591293928 $19.95 www.PublishAmerica.com

Hold On To My Heart by Judi L. Strider is a dramatic novel of love rekindled and the threat of murder. Jillee is a widow who has unexpectedly lost her husband Michael in a drunk driving accident and feels that she will never love again. When a chauffeur named Marc meets Jillee in beautiful Hawaii, he finds that winning her heart is an uphill battle - made even more difficult when it comes to light that someone wants the widow Jillee as dead as her late husband. Highly recommended reading, Hold On To My Heart is an enthralling, romantic, and adventurous story.

Secrets Of The Soul
Victoria M. Brunk-st. Christopher
Creative Works Publishing
4197 Fulton Dr., NW, Canton, Ohio 44718
193069363X $13.95 www.cwp-books.com

Secrets Of The Soul by Victoria M. Brunk-St. Christopher is the latest Ace Montgomery mystery, featuring a tough, smart female P.I. with a strong sense of justice. Montgomery's investigation of a local car accident reveals trails of governmental corruption. Meanwhile, a loving lesbian couple is riven by tragedy, culminating in one partner dying mysteriously, leaving the other partner distressed to learn that the woman she loved and lived with had a very secret life. Rife with suspense and complex machinations, Secrets Of The Soul is a highly recommended, gripping page-turner of a novel.


James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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