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Wisconsin Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs
Susan Hartzler
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476697178, $29.95, PB, 223pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Teaming-Up-Therapy-Dogs-Partnerships/dp/1476697175
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/teaming-up-with-therapy-dogs
Synopsis: "Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs: Skills to Build Healing Partnerships" by Susan Hartzler is powerful new book
celebrates the world of therapy dogs.
Part heartfelt memoir, part practical insights, and featuring inspiring true stories, "Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs" takes
readers into healing spaces where the quiet magic of dogs transforms lives. With warmth and insight, "Teaming Up with
Therapy Dogs" shares what it takes to become a therapy dog team, offering step-by-step guidance on training, certification,
and the unique demands of working in emotionally charged environments. "Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs" introduces
readers to remarkable handlers and their dogs, each making a difference in the lives of people facing illness, trauma,
anxiety, or loss.
"Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs" also explores the science behind the human-animal bond and the rich history of therapy
dogs. It includes original "Fairy Tale" trick routines -- creative, story-based performances Susan Hartzler developed to
bring joy to those in need of comfort.
Whether you're considering volunteering, are already part of a therapy dog team, or are simply a dog lover who believes in
the power of paws-on healing, "Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs" is a heartfelt tribute to the magic that happens when a
therapy dog team shows up at the right moment.
Critique: A part of the McFarland & Company 'Dogs in Our World' series, "Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs: Skills to
Build Healing Partnerships" by Susan Hartzler will hold an immense informational value to readers with an interest in the
therapeutic value of dogs. An ideal introduction to the history and use of dogs as a therapeutic resource for people under
emotional, psychological, or physical stress, "Teaming Up with Therapy Dogs: Skills to Build Healing Partnerships" is
unreservedly recommended acquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Alternative
Medicine collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, counselors,
therapists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "Teaming Up
with Therapy Dogs: Skills to Build Healing Partnerships" from McFarland & Company is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Susan Hartzler (https://susanhartzler.com) is an award-winning writer, blogger, and a public relations
professional. She trains her own dogs, two talented Australian Shepherds who are both working actors and models. She
volunteers her time as an evaluator for Therapy Dogs International and escorts her dogs to hospitals and schools to visit
children in need.
The AI Studies Shelf
The AI-Driven Data Team: Improve Your Analytics with AI
Nicholas Kelly
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398627598, $69.00, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/AI-driven-Data-Team-Improve-Analytics/dp/1398627593
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ai-driven-data-team-nicholas-kelly/1148052163
Synopsis: "The AI-Driven Data Team: Improve Your Analytics with AI" by Nicholas Kelly is a proven-to-work playbook
for data and analytics leaders who want to align analytics capabilities with the demands of an AI-powered business
environment.
Specifically written for leaders who are accountable for data, analytics and business intelligence, "The AI-Driven Data
Team" provides tools for diagnosing capability gaps among data analytics teams, modernizing legacy stacks and delivering
AI-driven insights to help organizations make better decisions.
"The AI-Driven Data Team":
Diagnoses skills gaps and map AI-augmented career paths
Integrates modern AI tools with existing analytics stacks
Launches six revenue-driving and cost-focused pilots in 90 days
Embeds governance without slowing innovation
Applies an ROI framework, governance checklist and 90-Day Charter
Drawing upon expert insights and real-world applications, "The AI-Driven Data Team" will help you upskill your analysts,
strengthen AI governance and provide AI-driven insights that drive real results.
Themes covered in "The AI-Driven Data Team: covers AI strategy, data governance, analytics leadership, ROI from AI,
organizational transformation, and executive decision-making.
Critique: Impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well written, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, "The AI-Driven Data Team: Improve Your Analytics with AI" by Nicholas Kelly is an ideal and highly
recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as community, corporate, and college/university library AI and
business management collections and supplemental Master of Business Administration curriculum studies lists. It should
be noted for MBA and Computer Science students, academia, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with
an interest in data mining and other AI applications, that his hardcover edition of "The AI-Driven Data Team: Improve
Your Analytics with AI" from Kogan Page is also readily available in paperback (9781398627574, $42.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $42.99).
Editorial Note: Nicholas Kelly is a principal at Delivering Data Analytics. He is a leader in analytics adoption having
designed and developed dashboards for some of the world's largest companies, from global banks to Formula 1 teams. He
is a frequent speaker at international conferences, has trained thousands of professionals in data visualization and analytics
adoption and is the inventor of the Dashboard Wireframe Kit.
The Cookbook Shelf
Adirondack Appetite
Susi Gott Seguret
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781961293625, $25.00, HC, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Adirondack-Appetite-Recipes-Cabin-Beyond/dp/1961293625
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adirondack-appetite-susi-gott-seguret/1150285846
Synopsis: Now with the publication of "Adirondack Appetite: 150 Recipes for Cabin, Camp & Beyond", anyone can bring
the flavors of the Adirondacks into their kitchen! Whether tucked into a lakeside cabin, gathered around a crackling
campfire, or simply longing for the peace of the North Country, "Adirondack Appetite" is an impressive compendium of
recipes that introduces the rich culinary traditions of one of America's most beloved mountain regions.
More than just a cookbook, "Adirondack Appetite" is a beautifully illustrated journey into Adirondack living -- where
food, nature, and heritage come together in every meal.
Inspired by the legacy of the Great Camps and the rhythms of mountain life, cookbook author Susi Seguret deftly blends
rustic recipes, regional flavors, and cultural storytelling into a collection that celebrates the wild beauty of Upstate New
York.
From hearty trail meals to cozy cabin comfort food, each dish reflects the seasonal ingredients, foraging traditions, and
outdoor cooking heritage of the Adirondacks.
"Adirondack Appetite" features:
Rustic Adirondack recipes rooted in local traditions
Campfire cooking & outdoor meal ideas for hikers and adventurers
Seasonal dishes featuring wild mushrooms, berries, and forest ingredients
Hearty comfort food perfect for cabins, lodges, and home kitchens
Stories and reflections on Adirondack history, conservation, and culture
Stunning photography capturing mountain landscapes and food
"Adirondack Appetite" stands apart from typical cookbooks by blending:
Wilderness cooking + refined rustic cuisine
Place-based storytelling + practical recipes
Traditional techniques + modern flavor inspiration
From huckleberry pancakes at sunrise to wild mushroom risotto after a day on the trail, "Adirondack Appetite" invites a
reconnection with nature and cooking with intention.
Critique: Showcasing authentic Adrondack cuisine with recipes that range from Corn Fritters, Pork Chops with Raspberry
Vinegar Cream Sauce, Camp Cassoulet, and Geoff's Camp Bread, to Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies, Mountain Ash
Cocktail, Maple Walnut Lake Store Sundae, and Flank Steak with Roasted Potatoes, "Adirondack Appetite" is a prized and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. Of
special note is listings of Adirondack Ingredients, an Adirondack Mushroom Primer, an Adirondack Fern Savvy, and
listings of Adirondack Artists, Adirondack Great Camps, Adirondack High Peaks, Selected Adirndack Restaurants,
Selected Adirondack Resources, and Selected Camp Songs. This hardcover edition of "Adirondack Appetite: 150 Recipes
for Cabin, Camp & Beyond" from Hatherleigh Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Susi Gott Seguret (https://www.susigott.com/index.html) honed her culinary expertise during a 20-year trek
around Europe, obtaining a diploma in gastronomy from the Cordon Bleu and the Universite de Reims. Founder and
director of the Seasonal School of Culinary Arts, she is passionate about taste and how it extends from our palate into our
daily lives. In the twelve years since its inception, she has employed over 60 chefs, beverage experts and growers to share
their intimate knowledge of the ingredients they use to tickle the palate. Editor of 7 cookbooks, and contributor to several
others, Susi has written extensively on a variety of culinary ventures for diverse publications. She is also the author of
Cooking with Truffles, and Child of the Woods.
The Dessert Table: 100 Joyful Jewish Sweets
Leah Koenig
W. W. Norton & Company
www.wwnorton.com
9781324076599, $39.99, HC, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dessert-Table-Joyful-Jewish-Sweets/dp/1324076593
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dessert-table-leah-koenig/1149229655
Synopsis: The dessert table is the star of any Jewish gathering: sprinkle cookies and honey cake, airy meringues and flaky
rugelach, sweets brimming with tender apples and bright pops of pomegranate.
Eager to bring a little extra sweetness to all our tables, with the publication of "The Dessert Table: 100 Joyful Jewish
Sweets" Leah Koenig takes us on a delightful tour through the 2,000-year-old tradition of Jewish sweets.
Within this beautifully illustrated cookbook Leah shares recipes and stories from historic Jewish communities in Venice,
Syria, and Curacao; home bakers from Hungary and Poland; and up-and-coming diaspora bakeries across the United
States.
Her 100 all-new recipes also include creative takes on familiar favorites, like Chai-Spiced Cheesecake or Chocolate Turtle
Babka, and bring lesser-known gems to the conversation, such as a lush Orange and Almond Cake and Fluffy Apricot Jam
Doughnuts inspired by Hungarian fank.
Beloved for her well-researched storytelling and clear, encouraging directions born from her own kitchen, with the 'kitchen
cook friendly' recipes Leah energizes the dessert canon as no one else can.
Critique: "The Dessert Table: 100 Joyful Jewish Sweets" is a very special collection of Jewish desserts that is enhanced
with 75 color photos and 2-page map, along with commentaries about the Jewish desserts across the diaspora, the Jewish
holiday, essential baking tools and techniques, and a note on the Kosher Laws and the recipes comprising "The Dessert
Table". Of special note are the 'I Can't Bake' Dessert Recipes, the Vegan Dessert Recipes, and the Gluten-Free Dessert
Recipes. An extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library
Ethnic Cookbook & Dessert Cookbook collections, it should be noted that this large format hardcover edition of "The
Dessert Table" from W. W. Norton is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $37.99).
Editorial Note: Leah Koenig is the author of seven previous cookbooks, including the IACP Award - winning Portico:
Cooking and Feasting in Rome's Jewish Kitchen. Her writing and recipes have been published in Food & Wine, Bon
Appetit, the New York Times, and more.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Champagne Times: Lawrence Welk and His American Century
Lance Byron Richey
North Dakota State University Press
https://ndsupress.org
9781946163769, $225.00, HC, 3 Volumes, 1240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Champagne-Times-Lawrence-American-Century/dp/1946163767
North Dakota State University Press
https://ndsupress.org/tag/champagne-times
Synopsis: Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 - May 17, 1992) was an American accordionist, bandleader, and television
impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1951 to 1982. The program was known for its light and
family-friendly style, and the easy listening music featured became known as "champagne music" to his radio, television,
and live-performance audiences. (Wikipedia)
Over seventy years after his debut on KTLA in Los Angeles, and nearly decades after his debut on ABC in 1955, Lawrence
Welk's unprecedented and almost continuous run on network, syndicated, and now public television confirms his place in
American entertainment history.
From his childhood in a small, German-speaking immigrant community on the North Dakota plains to one of the richest
and most recognizable entertainers of his generation, Lawrence's life story is a microcosm of the national experience
during the American Century. By telling his story, author and biographer Lance Byron Richey came to understand the
experience of assimilation and secularization, war and peace, and Depression and prosperity that his generation of
Americans lived through in the twentieth century.
In the process, the supposedly traditional and timeless values Lawrence mythologized for his audience were revealed as
just as time-bound and transient as those of the Baby Boomer generation that supplanted him and his generation as the
arbiters of cultural taste.
Most importantly, though, as a man, Richey came to see Lawrence in his moral simplicity and personal complexity, a
deeply good and decent man whose family often paid the price for his unquenchable desire for success and security, which
his childhood on a North Dakota farm had implanted in him.
In short, Welk's story is a quintessentially American story.
Critique: A massive three volume biography published by the North Dakota University Press, "Champagne Times:
Lawrence Welk and His American Century" by Professor Lance Richey is a comprehensively detailed and documented
biography that will hold immense and intense interest for the legions of Lawrence Welk fans and students of 20th Century
Popular Culture. Rescuing from obscurity one of America's cultural influences of a bygone generation of Americans,
"Champagne Times: Lawrence Welk and His American Century" is a seminal and meticulously researched study that is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library 20th Century American
Biography collections and supplemental 20th Century American Music/Popular Culture curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Lance Byron Richey serves as President of the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where
he also holds the rank of Professor of Theology. A graduate of Furman University (B.A. in History, 1988) and Conception
Seminary College (Certificate of Pre-Theological Studies, 1991), he studied both Philosophy (PhD 1995) and Religious
Studies (PhD, 2004) at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he as published widely in both disciplines.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
The Last Revision
Maya O'Neill
Independently Published
B0H5J8ZRSH, $6.99, Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Revision-Chances-Decision-Everything-ebook/dp/B0H5J8ZRSH
Synopsis: What if you could go back and fix the worst thing you ever did -- and the only thing standing between you and a
second chance is the terrifying possibility that you've been wrong about it for twenty years?
Elena Marsh has a plan. She has always had a plan.
For two years she has been preparing quietly, methodically, and with the precision of someone who has spent her entire
adult life managing everything that comes near her -- all for the single appointment that will change everything.
The Bureau has approved her slot. The date is set. In eleven days, Elena will go back to the moment she walked out on her
brother and never returned, and she will finally make it right.
She is ready. She has been ready for twenty years.
But the closer Elena gets to her appointment, the more the certainty she has built her entire life around begins to fracture. A
woman in a waiting room tells her five sentences about her husband that Elena cannot stop thinking about. A redacted file
surfaces data the Bureau never intended her to see. A professor in Edinburgh with four cats and an axe to grind tells her the
number she has been trusting is wrong - dangerously, quietly, irreversibly wrong.
And then, nine days before she is supposed to rewrite the past, something happens that no amount of preparation could
have accounted for. -- Her brother calls.
Twenty years of silence. One phone call. And somewhere in the forty-eight hours that follow, Elena will have to answer
the question she has spent two years (and twenty before that) running from.
What if the life you are trying to fix is not the one that is broken?
Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, and a exceptionally compelling read from start to finish, "The Last
Revision" by Maya O'Neill is an extraordinary, emotionally and intellectually engaging novel reflects her genuine and
memorable flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that raises "The Last Revision" to an
impressive level of literary excellence making it unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community
library Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: May O'Neill write novels that blend mystery, suspense, thriller elements, and occasionally light science
fiction, always centered on compelling female protagonists navigating extraordinary circumstances. her novels combine
layered characters, emotional depth, and thought-provoking questions with page-turning plots designed to keep readers
engaged until the very last page. When she is not writing, she is usually researching unusual ideas, exploring "what if"
questions, and searching for the next story that refuses to leave her alone.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Spirit Guide
Bridget Walsh
Pushkin Vertigo
c/o Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781805335832, $17.95, PB, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Guide-Bridget-Walsh/dp/1805335839
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spirit-guide-bridget-walsh/1144973166
Synopsis: 1879, Victorian London. -- An era of tea room sting operations, seedy music hall secrets, elaborate disguises,
and slow-burn romance.
In "The Spirit Guide" by Bridget Walsh, Detective duo Minnie Ward and Albert Easterbrook return for another exciting
case to uncover the dark secrets at the heart of Victorian London's spiritualist scene.
This time, an investigation into two mysterious deaths leads this famed detective duo to the doors of the Spirit Sisterhood,
a female-only spiritualist group that facilitates communion with the souls of the dead. And recently several of its visitors
have been found dead themselves.
Minnie isn't buying it: there is more to the Sisterhood than there first seems. The more Minnie looks, the more covert
operations come to light. She goes undercover at the organization's secretive countryside home, where she quickly finds
herself drawn into the dark but strangely alluring world of spirits and ghosts.
But, isolated from Albert and everyone she loves, Minnie's situation quickly gets out of hand. Can she find a way out of
this remote cult before time runs out? And can she keep her own demons at bay long enough to withstand the
Sisterhood?
A rip-roaring murder mystery brimming with theatrical detail, loveable characters, and exciting new reveals that will keep
you guessing until the very last page.
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, and a fun read for mystery buffs from cover to cover, "The Spirit Guide" by
British novelist Bridget Walsh once again showcases her genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven
storytelling style that is ideal for the Mystery/Suspense genre. The second novel in author Bridget Walsh's 'A Variety
Palace Mystery Series' that includes "The Innocents" and "The Tumbling Girl", this paperback edition of "The Spirit
Guide" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that
this paperback edition of "The Spirit Guide" from Pushkin Vertigo is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.99).
Editorial Note: Bridget Walsh (https://bridgetwalsh.co.uk) was born in London to Irish immigrant parents. She studied
English literature and was an English teacher for 23 years, before leaving the profession to pursue her writing. Bridget
lives in Norwich, England with her husband, Micky, and her two dogs.
Death at a Scottish Halloween
Lucy Connelly
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892426459, $29.99, HC, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Scottish-Halloween-Isle-Mystery/dp/B0G1YR7H7D
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-at-a-scottish-halloween-lucy-connelly/1149863041
Synopsis: It's the week of Halloween (or as they say in Scotland, All Hallows' Eve) and the town of Sea Isle is full of
spooky celebrations. Dr. Emilia McRoy loves being part of her new community and is eager to help out in any way she
can.
But the festivities are interrupted when she and her assistant, Abigail, find a dead body in a haunted house. A real one.
They're too late to save the victim, but they'll do whatever it takes to find his killer.
There's just one problem: There are too many suspects.
Critique: Another original, masterfully crafted and fun reads for dedicated cozy mystery fans by Lucy Connelly, "Death at
a Scottish Halloween" is part of the author's 'A Scottish Isle Mystery' series. All the elements are here -- a murder, an
amateur female detective, and a urgent quest to find out 'whodunnit'. "Death at a Scottish Halloween" is a prized addition
to personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for cozy mystery fans that
this hardcover edition of "Death at a Scottish Halloween" from Crooked Lane Books is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Lucy Connelly (www.lucyconnelly.com) at Book Series in Order:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/lucy-connelly
Death on the Books
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892427333, $29.99, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Books-Ridge-Library-Mystery/dp/B0FZS7QM4H
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-on-the-books-victoria-gilbert/1149863050
Synopsis: When a stranger falls over dead in the Taylorsford Public Library, clutching a crumpled piece of paper inscribed
only with the words hen and sapphire, Library Director Amy Muir must once again investigate. She soon learns that the
man is the personal assistant to Warren Sanderson, an art collector and dealer who just so happens to be visiting Kurt
Kendrick, the godfather of Amy's twins.
When the autopsy reveals that the library patron was poisoned, suspicion falls on those who knew him -- mainly
Sanderson, his granddaughter Heather, and Kurt. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Amy digs into the
contentious relationships between Kurt and the Sandersons. But as it turns out, suspects abound, and when Amy's best
friend's boyfriend is implicated, the case becomes even more complicated.
Amy's research ties the dead man's note to a lost treasure of the Romanov empire. Then another person falls victim. With
the bodies piling up, Amy knows better than anyone that killers often keep killing until they're caught, and she'll stop at
nothing to get to the bottom of this tangled mystery.
Critique: As an author of cozy mysteries, Victoria Gilbert is a master of the genre. Here latest novel, "Death on the Books"
is part of her 'Blue Ridge Library Mystery series and a deftly crafted, fun read from start to finish. A guaranteed popular
pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted that this hardcover
edition of "Death on the Books" from Crooked Lane Books is also available in paperback (9798892428880, $19.99,
Barnes & Noble) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert
(https://victoriagilbertauthor.com) turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now
retired after over thirty years in the library field, she's worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university
library director. Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library mystery series, the Booklover's B&B mystery series, the Campus
Sleuth mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. She is a member of
Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
A Taste for Murder
Matt Baker
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892427531, $32.99, HC, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Murder-Novel-Matt-Baker/dp/B0FZSCVP1V
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-taste-for-murder-matt-baker/1146989489
Synopsis: For murder detective Joe Mottram, a summer visit to his in-laws' idyllic beachside restaurant on the beautiful
Italian island of Capri is meant to offer refuge. After the death of his wife Sofia in a hit-and-run in London, Joe has taken a
sabbatical, hoping to heal and reconnect with his teenage daughter, Angelica.
But then a British businesswoman is found dead at the foot of a notorious cliff, and his in-laws' plans to teach Joe how to
cook and get him and Angelica talking again have to be abandoned. A reluctant Joe is forced to swap his recipe books for a
detective's notebook once more, as he's drawn deeper into the case.
Joe must form a partnership with a young local police inspector, Lara Sarrancino, who is desperate to prove herself and
resents his involvement. As the two detectives butt heads, the investigation flounders, until a second body turns up, and
they realize the killer is still at large on the tiny island. Unfortunately for Joe, the evidence trail appears to lead back
uncomfortably close to home...
Critique: Of particular interest to fans of police procedural themed murder mysteries, "A Taste For Murder" by Matt Baker
is an extraordinary and inherently interesting read from start to finish. As a novelist, Matt Baker's natural flair for the kind
of character and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for the genre. While highly recommended for personal reading
lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "A Taste For
Murder" from Crooked Lane Books is also readily available in paperback (9798892427548, $22.99) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Matt Baker (https://www.mattbakerwriter.com) is a television screenwriter best known for creating the ITV
series Hotel Portofino. He cowrote and adapted the series Professor T, Suspect, and Before We Die and is the lead writer
on Channel 4 series Patience, which aired in January 2025 and attracted an average audience of more than four million
viewers across its run.
Killer Vibes
Jack Friday
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250428615, $29.00, HC, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Vibes-Peter-Novel-Mystery/dp/1250428610
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/killer-vibes-jack-friday/1149640610
Synopsis: Meet Peter Key: self-proclaimed "laziest private investigator in Texas" (it's harder than it looks), unapologetic
bisexual, dedicated stoner, and the surprised recipient of a windfall inheritance from an uncle he barely knew. Peter's life
was a mess before, but now )as the owner of a dilapidated house in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Austin) he
has a mountain of debt to deal with and pressure to sell from every side.
But Peter doesn't like to be pushed around. And when he discovers a bag full of cash, he starts to suspect his uncle's death
wasn't an accident. He soon finds himself pulled into a lethal game where not everybody plays by the rules.
Fortunately, Peter's never been good at following rules.
Critique: Original, exceptional, and a wickedly funny read from cover to cover for dedicated suspense/thriller fans, "Killer
Vibes" by Jack Friday is the debut title in the author's new Peter Key mystery series. Jack Fiction's genuine flair for the
kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for the mystery/suspense genre. While also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), this hardcover edition of "Killer Vibes" from Minotaur Books is an extraordinary and
unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Jack Friday is the pen name of John Fram, the author of several queer supernatural thrillers such as "The
Bright Lands" and "The Midnight Knock".
Killing in the Countryside
Maria Malone
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892427197, $32.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Countryside-Wren-Wilson-Mystery/dp/B0G1Y8BKFV
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/killing-in-the-countryside-maria-malone/1149863013
Synopsis: It's just another day in the small town of Heft when Ali follows up on reports of an escaped pride of peacocks
stirring up trouble in a once quiet cul-de-sac. A routine call, a case of fuss and feathers, Ali suspects. But what she
discovers inside the house the birds have invaded is far from routine. The couple who live there have been receiving
anonymous hate letters.
Letters that are at once threatening and suspiciously personal.
As Ali and Wilson investigate, they dig up long-buried secrets at the heart of the community. Every detail they uncover
brings them closer to the truth, that someone in Heft will stop at nothing to keep their past hidden...
Critique: Advancing the cozy mystery series by Maria Malone that began with "Death in the Countryside", once again Ali
Wren and her police dog, Wilson, must solve a puzzling crime in "Killing in the Countryside". Memorable characters, an
engaging plot with many an unexpected twist and turn, "Killing in the Countryside" is a fun read from start to finish and an
unreservedly recommended acquisition for any and all dedicated cozy mystery fans (and dog lovers!). While guaranteed to
be popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this
hardcover edition of "Killing in the Countryside" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in paperback
(9798892427203, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Maria Malone (https://mariamalonebooks.com) was born in the North East of England, and worked in print
journalism and television news and features. She has written TV companion books, has ghosted celebrity autobiographies,
and is a former Yorkshire Press Awards Journalist of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year.
Killer Art
Jon St. Denis
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892426398, $29.99, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Art-Jon-St-Denis/dp/B0FZSJPGN4
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/killer-art-jon-st-denis/1148682909
Synopsis: When art professor Vika Chen discovers the strangled body of Professor McGuire in a campus art studio, she
becomes the prime suspect in a murder connected to an exhibition exposing AI-generated art.
Since local law enforcement fails to find any optional leads, Vika and her partner, journalism professor Sam Worthing,
take the investigation into their own hands. Vika, who until recently worked as a curator at MoMA, and Sam, a former
crime reporter for the New York Times, find themselves uniquely suited for the job.
Much to the chagrin of the police chief, the pair's investigation pinpoints multiple suspects who might have felt threatened
by the exhibition. But the stakes become deadly when someone tries to run Vika off the road.
As more bodies pile up, Vika and Sam uncover a collage of secrets that someone would kill to keep buried.
Critique: Original and deftly crafted, "Killer Art" by novelist Jon St. Denis features all the elements that make for a
riveting cozy mystery -- murder, multiple suspects, amateur detectives trying to figure out 'whodunnit'. A fun read from
start to finish, "Killer Art" is an especially recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Killer Art" from Crooked Lane Books is
also readily available to traditional detective mysteries fans in paperback (9798892426404, $19.99) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Jon St. Denis (https://jonstdenis.com) is a former journalist in Europe, filing stories from Austria, Italy,
France, Greece, and Ireland. Formerly a college professor in California, St. Denis writes compelling historical mysteries
with thriller and international espionage elements.
The Sins of Summer Daughters
Lo Patrick
Sourcebooks Inc.
www.sourcebooks.com
9781464260506, $17.99, PB, 400pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sins-Summer-Daughters-Novel/dp/1464260508
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sins-of-summer-daughters-lo-patrick/1148312105
Synopsis: Meg Gregory never wanted to return to Tuskin, the small Georgia town she grew up in, as barren as the fields
that surround it. But after her divorce left her wounded, she knew she had to quit running. Now, years later, as Meg
watches her daughter and granddaughter navigate familiar dirt roads, Meg is bent on hiding from the memories that haunt
her. Because she skipped town for a reason, and that reason runs deep.
But when Meg's unassuming granddaughter Lucy is suddenly charged with the murder of her boyfriend, everything
changes. Meg knows Lucy couldn't have done it. Killing a boy will break a girl like that. She should know. She's seen it
happen before.
As Meg fights for Lucy's innocence, memories from the past threaten to break free, and she's left to contemplate a different
murder, a different dead boy, a different summer under the hot Georgia sun. And soon enough Meg isn't quite sure what is
memory and who, in all of this, is innocent.
Critique: "The Sins of Summer Daughters" by Lo Patrick showcase the author's impressive gift for the kind of narrative
driven, deftly crafted storytelling style that makes her characters resonate with the reader as this original coming-of-age
story plays out. A fun and memorable read that will hold a special appeal to fans of multi-generational fiction set in the
American South, "The Sins of Summer Daughters" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for
community library Contemporary American Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this
paperback edition of "The Sins of Summer Daughters" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$17.99).
Editorial Note: Lo Patrick (https://www.lopatrickbooks.com) is a former lawyer and current novelist living in the suburbs
of Atlanta. Her debut, The Floating Girls, earned a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, was a finalist for the Townsend
Prize for Fiction, and was a Reader's Digest Editor's Pick.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Any More Questions for the Corpse?
J. J. Unthank
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892426909, $30.99, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Any-More-Questions-Corpse-Novel/dp/B0G527M8B1
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/any-more-questions-for-the-corpse-j-j-unthank/1148875189
Synopsis: Twenty-one-year-old Malowin Gladstone was raised by the dead -- two skeletons to be precise. While his
parents keep a close eye-socket on him, he just wants to get through the rest of university without using any more of his
much-loathed necromancy. A hope that gets all the more difficult when he's recruited by a secret Order to hunt a serial
killer.
Dunwich, the hidden magical capital of England, has its fair share of oddities, its most recent being a series of murders that
have the police at a dead end. But Detective Walters has an unorthodox suggestion. Who better to find a killer than
someone who can talk to the dead? He proposes that Mal use his necromancy for good and solve the case before it goes
stone-cold.
As more bodies begin to drop, Mal befriends several misfits who help him unearth the culprit. Among them, Des, a
fledgling vampire; Hala, a magical empath; and Yu, a shapeshifting genius.
The team put their unique set of skills to the task, but as they get closer to digging up the truth, the group's ghosts come
back to haunt them, and the killer won't rest until they're all dead and buried.
Critique: The deftly crafted story of a young necromancer who investigates a string of deaths in the hidden magical capital
of England -- evan as the dead come back to haunt him in more ways than one, "Any More Questions for the Corpse?" is
original, exceptional, imaginative, a fun read from cover to cover. "Any More Questions for the Corpse?" by J. J. Unthank
will prove to be an especially appreciated pick for the personal reading lists of mystery/fantasy fans and community library
Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Any More Questions for the Corpse?" from
Crooked Lane Books is also available in paperback (9798892426916, $20.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Jack Unthank was born in Andover, Hampshire, in 1994. He regrets this but had very little say in the
matter. To avoid his hometown, he stuck his head in fantasy books and video games and had a habit of writing stories of
his own. He studied computer science at the University of Bath, a degree he would use for seven or so years working in the
video game industry as a programmer. This career came to a close when a chronic illness crept up behind him and
unceremoniously bonked him on the head, taking him out of action. With a lot of time on his hands and never getting out
of the habit of writing stories, he tried turning one into a book. He currently lives in Cardiff with his wife and two
cats.
The Bone Dagger
Clara Rhodes
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonepublishing.com
9798228466500, $29.99, HC, 378pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Dagger-Out-Darkness/dp/B0FVPLZHR8
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bone-dagger-clara-rhodes/1148495476
Synopsis: Born with the blood of a hell god in her veins, Helaina Ironblood has lived her life in secrecy, hidden from a
realm already teetering on the edge of ruin. When tragedy shatters her family and the heir to the throne is lost, Helaina is
cast into exile -- her cursed power now a beacon to enemies who would see the world burn. Beyond the Ash Cliff
Mountains, monsters stalk the land, and darker forces hunger for the weapon Helaina carries within her.
Seized by Theodon Wrenn, the feared captain of a mysterious legion, Helaina is thrust into a war that stretches far beyond
her imagining. Ruthless, commanding, and bound by secrets of his own, Theodon believes she is the key to victory. Yet the
more he tries to bend her to his will, the more he is drawn to her defiance -- and to the dangerous fire in her blood.
Unlocking her power requires the Bone Dagger, an ancient relic that binds gods, beasts, and mortals alike, but demands a
price -- Helaina's mortal life.
Torn between the man who would sacrifice her and the destiny she never wanted, Helaina must decide whether her curse
will bring salvation ... or ruin.
Critique: Original, fantastic, deftly crafted, compelling, "The Bone Dagger" is particularly impressive when considering
that it is author Clara Rhodes' debut as a novelist. Blending life and death dark fantasy with obstacle plagued romance,
Clara reveals an exceptional gift for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is especially well
suited to an heroic fantasy saga between the forces of good and evil. A fun, fascinating, and riveting read from start to
finish, "The Bone Dagger" is a solid and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that this hardcover edition of "The
Bone Dagger" from Blackstone Publishing is also available in (9798228707016, $19.99) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Clara Rhodes (https://www.clararhodesauthor.com) is a paramedic-turned ER nurse, a proud firefighter
wife, and mom of two. She embraces chaos in her home, and loves fitness, reading, and making memories with her family.
After experiencing the loss of both her siblings, she turned grief into creativity, writing her debut romantasy novel The
Bone Dagger with the intention of helping others who are navigating grief feel less alone. Now, with stories pouring out,
she envisions a second career as an author, bringing her love for storytelling to life.
These Vile Hearts
Melody Robinette
G. P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group
www.penguin.com
9798217178384, $32.00, HC, 400pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/These-Vile-Hearts-Melody-Robinette/dp/B0G1Y5XPNP
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/these-vile-hearts-melody-robinette/1148726405
Synopsis: Maddox Sinclair has run out of options. No job means no health insurance -- a death sentence for a type one
diabetic like herself. She flees to the forest to make a desperate deal with a dryad queen: If she kills the Redwood King she
will be cured of the illness that threatens her life.
In the redwood treetops, Prince Castor, is cursed -- anyone who loves him is doomed to die. Like Maddox, he has made an
equally unwise pact with his brother, the Redwood King: If he can get a mortal to fall in love with him by solstice he will
be free of his curse forever.
When Maddox mistakes Castor for the king, sparks fly and troubles ensue. Each must decide what is more important --
survival and freedom, or the love they (kind of, almost) feel in their traitorous, vile hearts.
Critique: Especially impressive when considering that "These Vile Hearts" by Melody Robinette is her debut as a novelist,
she has deftly fashioned a story that blends romance with a fantasy that is awash with magic and dark humor. This is a
carefully crafted, emotionally engaging, and fun read from start to finish. While this hardcover edition of "These Vile
Hearts" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should
be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated 'romantasy' fans that this hardcover edition of "These Vile Hearts" from
G. P. Putnam & Sons is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Melody Robinette (www.melodyrobinette.com) is a speculative fiction author with a love of all things
gothic and macabre. There is an online listing of her books at Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13531463.Melody_Robinette
The Music CD Shelf
Inverted Tango
The Holland Court Jazz Trio
frankdwagner.com
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Inverted-Tango-Holland-Court-Jazz/dp/B0GTMSXWNQ
The Holland Court Jazz Trio consists of Frank Wagner on bass, Dave Marck on piano, and Dave Meade on drums.
Together with contributions from Ben Sutin on violin, they present Inverted Tango, a standout jazz album featuring six
original songs and two arrangements of songs by the legendary Billy Strayhorn (1915-1957) and Jimi Hendrix (1942-
1970). Just as the title of Inverted Tango refers to a an Argentine dance form where the role of leader and follower are
switched, the music experiments with both traditional and nontraditional minor modes of music to create an adventurous
soundscape that pushes past boundaries and inspires creative freedom. Inverted Tango is a choice pick for jazz
connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are Inverted Tango (F. Wagner); Hi-Ya (D. Marck); Phrygian Natural Six
(F. Wagner); A Flower is a Lovesome Thing (B. Strayhorn, Arr. D. Marck); Invisible Enemy (F. Wagner); Domenica
Canta (F. Wagner); Quiet Room (F. Wagner); and Manic Depression (J. Hendrix, Arr. F. Wagner).
Into the Sunset
James Michael Stevens
https://www.jamesmichaelstevens.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1NPM75T
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/568EzoebiQzHujqO5p1Z6V
Nashville-based composer and pianist James Michael Stevens presents Into the Sunset, an original album of solo piano
music inspired by the "golden hour" before sunset when the sunlight is softer and redder, and the reflective quiet that
follows. The extraordinarily beautiful music lingers and resonates, fostering meditative calm, and is ideal for unwinding
after a long day. Into the Sunset is highly recommended solo piano connoisseurs, and also makes an excellent gift. The
tracks are Into the Sunset; Memories in a Dream; Time Drifting By; Serenity Lake; A Still Space; Gray Dawn - Piano Solo;
Late Night Cafe - Piano Solo; White Petals at Night; Cry Me a Dream - Piano Solo; and Peace, My Love.
A Blooming Body
Cinder Well
Hen House Studios
$12.00 CD / $25.00 vinyl / $9.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://cinderwell.bandcamp.com/album/a-blooming-body
Cinder Well is the music project by multi-instrumentalist Amelia Baker and a medley of contributors on guitar, vocals,
horn, synths, e-bow, and more. Cinder Well's latest creation is the sublime "gloomy folk" album A Blooming Body, which
features meticulously crafted arrangements remixed to showcase the full depth of the multilayered sound. Intense, intricate,
and unforgettable, A Blooming Body is highly recommended especially for personal and public library original folk music
collections. The tracks are While the Womb Screams Silently; Beyond the Pale; Ashes; Of Nettles and Roses; Signals; The
Color of Earth; August; and Shadows of Leaves on Red Brick.
New Paradigm
Zen Zadravec Quintet
Marmite Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3JBSNFK
New Paradigm is a jazz album of original songs composed by Zen Zadravec and performed by Zen Zadravec on
piano/keyboards with support from an extraordinary ensemble of performers on alto saxophone, tenor and soprano
saxophone, trumpet, vocals (for "Rebirth" and "New Paradigm"), guitar, acoustic bass, drums, and more. The multilayered,
harmonic music of New Paradigm expresses the emotional search for connection, and the wonder of exploring beyond
everyday confines. New Paradigm is a treasure for connoisseurs of creative, mind-expanding original music, highly
recommended. The tracks are First Impressions; Seeking Spirit; Rebirth; New Paradigm; Love Letter; In Memoriam; Do or
Do Not, There Is No Try; and The Warrior's Code.
Trio Convergence
Will Schneider Trio featuring Geoffry Schneider and AJ Shank
Marmite Records
$TBA CD / $10.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://williamschneider.bandcamp.com/album/trio-convergence
Trio Convergence is a jazz album of original music created by Will Schneider and performed by Will Schneider on horn,
Brad Billmaier on drums, and Andrew Peck on acoustic bass, with guest contributors A.J. Sank on tenor saxophone (for
"Astral Voyage") and Geoffry Schneider on alto saxophone (for "Ways of Knowing"). An extraordinary showcase of the
Will Schneider Trio's masterful expertise, Trio Convergence is a bold, refreshing soundscape and highly recommended
especially for connoisseurs of original jazz. The tracks are Cave of Dreams; Sea of Stars; Eldr Gathering; Convergence; In
the Tradition; Astral Voyage; and Ways of Knowing.
Fool's Fate
Rik Wright's Fundamental Forces
https://www.rikwright.com
HipSync Records
$TBA CD / $9.03 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3XK79C1
Author's Website
https://www.rikwright.com/store
Fool's Fate is a jazz album of original songs by Rik Wright, performed by Rik Wright on guitar, James DeJoie on alto
saxophone, Geoff Harper on bass, and Greg Campbell on drums and percussion. An expressive, enthusiastic album that
featuring both skilled syncopation and exciting improvisation, Fool's Fate is a treasure for connoisseurs of original jazz.
Highly recommended! The tracks are Fool's Fate; Nothing but a Thang; Freezer Jam; Luminescence; Glitter Bomb; Mixing
Glass; and Something Sad and Sweet.
The Wolf Sleeps Alone
Strat Andriotis
www.stratmusic.net
Dekatria Records
$TBA CD / $12.00 CAD digital
Bandcamp
https://stratandriotis2.bandcamp.com/album/the-wolf-sleeps-alone
The Wolf Sleeps Alone is a music album of nine original songs composed by Strat Andriotis and masterfully performed by
the dynamic trio of Strat Andriotis on guitar, Vince Di Francesco on bass, and Alex Karcza on drums. The music extends
past creative and genre boundaries, in its expressions of rhythm and the joy of the moment. A fresh, creative, and
adventurous listening experience, The Wolf Sleeps Alone is highly recommended. The tracks are Bullets; Can't Help
Myself; Caretaker; Collisions; Delivery; For Alex; Great Forgiveness; Letters; and Sorry.
The Art Shelf
The Art of Reading Art
Matthew Olivier
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781923503335, $29.95, HC, 280pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Reading-Understanding-makes-great/dp/1923503332
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-reading-art-matthew-olivier/1149787658
Synopsis: Across eras, painters have pulled on their past and present to create works celebrated far into the future. But
while museums are filled with artworks considered to be genius, it can be difficult to understand why these particular
paintings have earned that title.
With the publication of "The Art of Reading Art: Understanding what makes great art great", artist and author Matthew
Olivier expands his exceptionally popular online series (@matthewolivierx) to conversationally break down some of
history's great paintings, from Bosch's The Conjurer and Jan van Eyck's The Arnolfini Portrait to Edward Hopper's
Nighthawks. In his uniquely welcoming style, Olivier captures, for readers, what these paintings say, and how exactly they
say it.
Traveling across periods and styles, Olivier's focus isn't on a timeline of movements, or on creating an academic catalogue.
Rather, his writing uncovers what makes over 100 of history's artworks so special. From discussions of history and
technique to analysis of what details say about a work and its painter, "The Art of Reading Art" helps readers dive deeper
into paintings without the need for an art history degree.
Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Art of Reading Art: Understanding what makes great art
great" by Matthew Olivier is an extraordinary, original, and deftly crafted study that will hold immense value for readers
with an interest in art history and criticism. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Art of Reading Art"
is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a six page Introduction, and a twelve page Visual
Index. This large format hardcover edition of "The Art of Reading" from Smith Street Books is an especially and
unreservedly addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Art History collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Matthew Olivier (https://matthewolivier.com) is a visual artist, author, and storyteller from Toronto,
Canada, whose work brings classical technique into dialogue with present-day culture. Known for his emotionally nuanced
paintings and quiet attention to the human experience, Olivier has emerged as one of the most widely recognized and
talked-about voices in visual art today.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians
Lee C. Camp
https://www.leeccamp.com/books
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
www.eerdmans.com
9780802877352, $22.99, HC, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802877354
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scandalous-witness-lee-c-camp/1132479842
Synopsis: In the United States, Christian identity is in moral and political crisis because of the many ways in which it has
been coopted and misrepresented by self-serving politicians and some mislead and misleading clergy.
Addressing this painful reality, with the publication of "Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians",
Lee Camp argues that the cause of the crisis is "our failure to rightly understand what Christianity is."
Building on this provocative claim, Camp makes a convincing case that a renewed Christian politic is more essential than
ever -- one that is "neither left nor right nor religious", but instead is a prophetic way of life modeled after Jesus of
Nazareth.
Writing with a truth teller's courage and conviction, Camp exposes modern parodies of faith and challenges believers to
rethink who they are and how they participate in the world today. Authentic gospel truth is a scandal to adherents of
nationalist myths, he argues -- and Christians are called to be scandalous witnesses.
Critique: Articulate, informative, insightful, timely, "Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians" by
Lee Camp is a much needed counter to the political corruption that has (and is) doing so much damage to the message and
gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the American Christian community today. Eloquent, prophetic, and a clarion call for a
return to Christian values currently under siege from secular political forces, "Scandalous Witness" is deserving of as large
a readership as possible and is an unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as church, community,
seminary, and college/university library Christian Studies and Contemporary Political Science collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for political science students, seminary students, academia,
clergy, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of
"Scandalous Witness" is also available in paperback (9780802886385, $22.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$22.99).
Editorial Note: Lee C. Camp is a scholar of ethics and moral theology. He has published several books, including Who Is
My Enemy? Questions American Christians Must Face About Islam, and Themselves, Mere Discipleship: Radical
Christianity in a Rebellious World, and Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians, which was listed
among the Best Books of 2020 by the Englewood Review. He taught theology and ethics at Lipscomb University for more
than twenty years. He is also the creator and host of "No Small Endeavor," an acclaimed podcast series that explores what
it means to live a good life.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
The Monk's Mindset
Sam Yo
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonepublishing.com
9798212435994, $29.99, HC, 230pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Monks-Mindset-Finding-Stillness-Moving/dp/B0FQ84PXPC
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-monks-mindset-sam-yo/1148298119
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Monk's Mindset: Finding Stillness in a World That Won't Stop Moving", former
Buddhist monk and renowned Peloton instructor Sam Yo shares the transformative lessons that helped him move from
chaos to clarity. Drawing on his monastic training, meditation practice, and experiences as a performer and coach, he
reveals how anyone can weave ancient Buddhist wisdom into modern life to find calm, focus, and purpose, even in a world
that never slows down.
Through vivid storytelling and reflective practices, Sam explores how to:
1. Align your four dimensions--body, mind, heart, and spirit--for lasting balance and well-being;
2. Channel your energy wisely with Right Effort--learning when to move, when to rest, and when to simply be;
3. Repair your story and free yourself from limiting beliefs;
4. Calm a restless mind with his bubble practice for managing overwhelm and uncertainty;
5. Listen deeply by emptying your cup--a mindful communication practice that nurtures true presence;
6. Live with intention through short monk's mindset moments that fit any schedule.
Each chapter comprising "The Monk's Mindset" deftly blends memoir and modern mindfulness with practical habits,
reflection prompts, and affirmations to help you reconnect with your inner strength, deepen emotional awareness, and
cultivate lasting peace.
Whether you are seeking clarity, navigating change, or simply trying to slow down, "The Monk's Mindset" offers a
practical tool kit for mindfulness, self-discovery, resilience, and spiritual growth and reminds you that the stillness you
seek has been within you all along.
Critique: Extraordinary, exceptional, inspirational and aspirational, "The Monk's Mindset: Finding Stillness in a World
That Won't Stop Moving" by Sam Yo will prove to be informative and instructive in the 'real world' application of
Buddhist techniques, philosophy, and practices when dealing with the ordinary and extraordinary stresses of modern life.
Unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Buddhist Philosophy and
Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Monk's Mindset: Finding
Stillness in a World That Won't Stop Moving" from Blackstone Publishing is also available in paperback
(9798236009829, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Sam Yo (https://www.yoiamsamyo.com/book) is a Londoner of Thai descent who has dedicated his life to
helping others achieve their physical and mindset potential. A graduate of the Laban Centre with a degree in movement
and dance, a certified Pilates instructor, a NASM personal trainer, and an ordained Buddhist monk, he is now a Peloton
instructor with a massive and devoted following. His media presence is multiplied by appearances in publications such as
People, Today, and The Washington Post. Sam has also been featured in promotional materials for brands such as LEGO
and on podcasts and radio programs.
The Self-Help Shelf
You Can Just Do Things
Cate Hall and Sasha Chapin
Harper Edge
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063488458, $32.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Just-Things-High-Agency/dp/0063488450
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-can-just-do-things-cate-hall/1149447449
Synopsis: We all know a few rare individuals who never stop moving, taking wild risks, and collecting public failures, yet
somehow always seem to land on top.
Cate Hall is one of those maddening, inspiring people. She left an elite legal career just before making partner to gamble
for a living -- and became the world's top-ranked female poker player. Then a drug addiction left her broke and
brain-damaged, but a year after emerging from it, she co-founded a biotech startup that set a clinical trial speed record. Not
long after, she took the helm of one of the world's largest philanthropic foundations.
Why don't the rules apply to her? What if they don't apply to you either?
With the publication of "You Can Just Do Things: How High-Agency People Get What They Want Out of Life", Cate Hall
persuasively argues that the so-called "rules" of success aren't rules at all -- they are productivity guidelines for low-agency
people. Hall shows readers how to live with agency and take control of your future including:
Increasing your surface area for luck
Taking every shortcut available
Building "forcing functions" that ensure commitment
Using your deepest insecurities as fuel for growth
"You Can Just Do Things" is for those who are ready to cross the cringe minefield? To show up where they don't belong,
to apply for jobs they are not qualified for, to call people who aren't expecting it, and to risk looking foolish in front of
others. Every time you think, "Somebody should do this," that somebody can be you.
An uncomfortable psychological journey and a toolkit for bold living, "You Can Just Do Things" reveals how to stop
waiting and start building the life you want.
Critique: Articulate, informative, iconoclastic, inspirational, motivational, and a simply fascinating read from start to
finish, "You Can Just Do Things: How High-Agency People Get What They Want Out of Life" by Cate Hall is part
memoir, part DIY self-help manual and guide. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections and supplemental MBA curriculum
studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "You Can Just Do Things" from Harper Edge is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing,
9798228986282, $33.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Cate Hall (https://www.catehall.com) is a former attorney and the ex-number one ranked female poker
player in the world. She co-founded Alvea, a pandemic medicine company that set the record for the fastest startup to take
a drug candidate to a Phase I clinical trial. Later, she served as CEO of the Astera Institute, a multibillion-dollar private
foundation. SASHA CHAPIN is an award-winning journalist and recovering chess enthusiast. His writing has appeared in
The New York Times Magazine, Buzzfeed, and Hazlitt. She lives in Prague.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Luminous Women Oracle
Eloha Loups Saxod, author
Stephanie Pitino, illustrator
Earthdancer
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9798888504628, $22.99, Card Set
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Luminous-Women-Oracle-49-Card-Deck/dp/B0FRSS658Z
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-luminous-women-oracle-eloha-loups-saxod/1148325032
Synopsis: In a culture that values perfection over wholeness, it is important to accept our strengths and weaknesses -- our
light and dark sides. By opening our hearts and embracing both without judgment, we can realize our full human
potential.
"The Luminous Women Oracle" consists of 49 cards, divided into 7 themes, and is inspired by female archetypes that
mirror not only our individual power but also our hidden shadow. The accompanying booklet offers practical
recommendations for working with the cards and provides guidance on implementing three key elements to activate our
full potential: finding inner balance in duality, unleashing an energy boost to initiate a change in perspective, and an
affirmation to integrate both our radiant and invisible sides.
With instructive text by Eloha Loups Saxod and ethereally illustrated by the artistry of Stephanie Pitino, "The Luminous
Women Oracle" will help you acknowledge your dual nature and find harmony and healing as you discover the real
treasures within yourself.
Critique: "The Luminous Women Oracle" consists of 49 cards that mirror our individual strengths and our hidden dark
side, providing affirmations for both. Cards that will guide you toward inner balance and self-acceptance to realize your
full potential. Cards that draw upon female archetypes and are divided into 7 themes to rediscover the harmony and healing
that comes from acknowledging your dual nature. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and inspirational in design, "The Luminous
Women Oracle" from Earthdancer is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies/Card Deck collections.
Editorial Note #1: Eloha Loups Saxod is a holistic therapist, acupuncturist, and soul awakener. She collaborates with
experts on the sacred feminine in her training courses to help women reclaim sovereignty and develop their personal and
professional lives. She lives in Occitania.
Editorial Note #2: Stephanie Pitino is a photographer, an intuitive, and an artist inspired by fairytale, the subtle realms,
nature, and mythology.
The Crafty Witch's Guide to Cord Magic
Loren Morris
Weiser Publishers
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578639199, $18.95, PB, 176pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Crafty-Witchs-Guide-Cord-Magic/dp/1578639190
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crafty-witchs-guide-to-cord-magic-loren-morris/1147729650
Synopsis: Enter into many metaphysical and witchcraft shops and you will often see long braided cords, typically hanging
from high surfaces. Beads, shells, amulets, and other magical materials may be braided into the cords. These cords may
resemble decoration or ornamentation, but actually they are a form of magic. A specialized magic using textiles, knots, and
the crafter's intention, they form a physical manifestation of a spell.
With the publication of "The Crafty Witch's Guide to Cord Magic: The Art of Braiding and Knotting Spell Cords", Loren
Morris offers clear, detailed instructions on how to craft specific cords for diverse and varied intentions, showing both
finished cords as well as cords in progress.
Loren Morris is a practicing and traditional witch and the owner of Primitive Witchery who, in the pages of "The Crafty
Witch's Guide to Cord Magic" offers spiritual insight and comprehensive instructions on how to turn the act of braiding
into a tool for manifesting intentions and deepening one's own magical practice.
Making spell cords is meditative magic charged with your will and energy. Place your intentions on the cord. It is all up to
you.
Critique: Original, exceptional, and an ideal instructional guide, "The Crafty Witch's Guide to Cord Magic: The Art of
Braiding and Knotting Spell Cords" by Loren Morris is a thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly introduction and DIY manual for
anyone seeking to practice the ancient and mystical art of cord magic. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion
of a three page Bibliography, "The Crafty Witch's Guide to Cord Magic" is a special and unique pick for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Magic & Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for
students, academia, Wiccans, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition
of "The Crafty Witch's Guide to Cord Magic" from Weiser Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Editorial Note: Loren Morris (www.primwitchery.com) has been a practicing and traditional witch for over twenty-five
years. She is the owner of Primitive Witchery, a magical arts-and-crafts shop. She is also an experienced educator and has
taught workshops at WitchCon. Loren also volunteers at a local raptor center, working with hawks and owls, as a service
to the goddesses she works with in her spiritual practice.
The Shadow Apothecary
Nicolette Miele
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9798888503218, $22.99, PB, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Apothecary-Healing-Addiction-Medicine/dp/B0FRSRF2S3
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shadow-apothecary-nicolette-miele/1148324917
Synopsis: A guide to shadow work with herbs, "The Shadow Apothecary: Healing Trauma, Grief, and Addiction with
Plant Spirit Medicine" by clinical herbalist, pagan, and author Nicolette Miele:
Introduces herbs that can help us explore our hidden depths, release trauma, grief, and shame, ease stress and anxiety, and
support addiction recovery
Looks at the healing abilities of plants associated with the Divine Feminine, the powers of poisonous and entheogenic
plants, and how to use them safely
Provides a detailed formulary for incorporating shadow work herbs into daily life, including recipes for teas, tinctures, oils,
and ritual baths
Through their holistic healing abilities, plants are ideal allies for those seeking to embrace their shadow self and experience
spiritual rebirth. Miele introduces plants that can help us explore our hidden depths, release trauma and grief, support
recovery from addiction, and heal our psyche.
Miele examines what shadow work is and the importance of accepting our shadow. She explores the use of nervines and
adaptogens -- herbs that calm stress and stabilize the nervous system, showing how when the nervous system is balanced,
you can more easily connect with your intuition and your higher self. She also provides a detailed formulary for
incorporating herbs into daily life, including recipes for teas, tinctures, oils, and ritual baths.
Presenting plants with poisonous or entheogenic qualities, Miele reveals how these plants are profoundly connected to
shadow work. She explains how to work with them safely as plant spirit allies without direct contact or consumption. She
also looks at plants associated with the Divine Feminine and how they can aid in integrating the hidden aspects of
ourselves, and she provides practical advice on using herbs and ritual for healing trauma, depression, anxiety, heartbreak,
and sexual shame.
"The Shadow Apothecary" is an ideal guide to shadow work with plants that not only reveals new paths to healing, but also
reminds us that darkness holds beauty and is an essential counterpart to light.
Critique: An impressively informative resource and introduction to herbalism and its role in witchcraft and alternative
medicine, "The Shadow Apothecary: Healing Trauma, Grief, and Addiction with Plant Spirit Medicine" is an exceptional
and 'reader/user' friendly compendium of lore and practice of using plants and herbs as a source for spiritual and physical
medicines. Comprehensive, exceptional, and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Alternative Medicine and Metaphysical Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists, it should also be noted for students, academia, herbal medicine practitioners, Wiccans, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "The Shadow Apothecary" from Destiny Books is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Nicolette Miele is a pagan, writer, clinical herbalist, animal advocate, and founder of Handful of Dust
Alchemy. The author of Runes for the Green Witch and The Runes and Roots Oracle, she lives in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
Pagan Portals - Hecate, Goddess of Magick and Witchcraft
Irisanya Moon
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803417059, $12.95, PB, 160pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Hecate-Goddess-Witchcraft/dp/1803417056
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pagan-portals-hecate-goddess-of-magick-and-witchcraft-irisanya-moon/1148560471<
br>
Synopsis: Hecate, the goddess of magick and witchcraft, waits for us at the crossroads, torches in each hand. The goddess
of land, sea, and sky is wise and wondrous, terrifying and holy. Triple-faced Hecate does not tell us the way; she shows us
what can happen when we step into our power.
"Pagan Portals - Hecate, Goddess of Magick and Witchcraft" is a compendium of Hecate themed practices, trances, spells,
and immersive exercises with which you can build a relationship with Hecate: light-bringer, gate-breaker, and star-walker.
The Goddess of Magick and Witchcraft, Hecate inspires, guides, and grants safe passage in the darkest moments.
Critique: An extraordinary and ideal introduction to the goddess most associated with the practice of magick and
witchcraft, "Pagan Portals - Hecate, Goddess of Magick and Witchcraft" by Irisanya Moon is a solid and highly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community and college/university library Metaphysical Studies &
Mythology collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Pagan
Portals - Hecate, Goddess of Magick and Witchcraft" from Moon Books is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Irisanya Moon (https://www.irisanyamoon.com) is an author, witch, international teacher, poet, and
Reclaiming initiate who has practiced magick for 20+ years. She has taught in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia,
bringing her blend of grounded, graceful, and radically authentic facilitation to inspire transformation and liberation at the
personal and collective levels.
Pagan Portals - Idunn
Olivia Church Ph.D
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803419244, $12.95, PB, 120pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Idunn-Olivia-Church/dp/1803419245
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pagan-portals-idunn-olivia-church/1148980784
Synopsis: The Goddess Idunn is commonly known as the Goddess of youth and custodian of the Apples of Immortality --
the apples that grant the Gods of the Norse pantheon continued renewal and eternal youth.
Her best known (and only), myth details how she was abducted by a giant and how the Gods fought hard to retrieve her
(and her much-needed apples). Beyond this, one must dig very deep to excavate any further information about her. "Pagan
Portals - Idunn" is an introductory book that outlines everything we know about Idunn from historical sources, as well as
what we (as her modern devotees) have learnt from experiencing her in the modern day.
Critique: An informative, exceptional, and thoroughly fascinating introduction to a relatively obscured Norse goddess,
"Pagan Portals - Idunn" by Olivia Church is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Norse Mythology and Metaphysical Studies collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, Wiccans and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "Pagan Portals - Idunn" from Moon Books is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Dr Olivia Church is an ancient historian and Egyptologist, who has been on a polytheistic Pagan and
Witchcraft path since she was 13 years old. These days she predominantly practices Inclusive Heathenry, though she also
maintains strong relationships with deities from the ancient Mediterranean and Egypt, and this is reflected in her published
books. She lives in the UK.
The Ancient Moon Goddess
Dale W. O'Neal and Arthur Waters
www.DaleONeal.com
The Master Game Press
9798992019636, $29.99, HC, 350pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Moon-Goddess-Patriarchy-Christianity/dp/B0FR9V5F7M
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Ancient Moon Goddess: Crushed by Patriarchy, Buried by Judaism, Hidden in
Christianity", co-authors Dale O'Neal and Arthur Waters deliver a compelling narrative with striking images that connects
ancient Goddess worship to the beliefs and practices of modern religions, particularly Judaism and Christianity.
"The Ancient Moon Goddess" reveals how a Stone Age misconception about conception gave rise to the civilization of the
Moon Goddess. Her world was then crushed by a patriarchal civilization grounded in an equally flawed idea about
conception. "The Ancient Moon Goddess" calls for a complementary relationship between the sexes based on the correct
view of conception.
"The Ancient Moon Goddess" readers will:
Discover what convinced the Ancients that the Moon was a real woman.
Learn why sex was central to Goddess worship.
Discover how patriarchy threw over the long-established matriarchy.
Learn why Stone-agers ate their gods and kings.
See how the death and resurrection of the Goddess and Jesus mirror each other.
"The Ancient Moon Goddess" builds on the work of iconic mythologist Joseph Campbell, scientist and futurist Riane
Eisler, as well as anthropologist Marija Gimbutas. It shows how our Stone Age ancestors constructed a Goddess-centered
culture based on a magical view of the cosmos, which to them seemed self-evident.
There is no question that for many readers "The Ancient Moon Goddess" will prove disruptive. To put it mildly, it is
unsettling to learn how patriarchy crushed the Goddess; how Judaism buried her; and how Christianity hides her.
Critique: An extraordinary, iconoclastic, seminal and groundbreaking study, "The Ancient Moon Goddess: Crushed by
Patriarchy, Buried by Judaism, Hidden in Christianity" is an original work of meticulous scholarship that will prove
impressively informative, genuinely fascinating and thought-provoking read from start to finish. "The Ancient Moon
Goddess" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Mythology/Folklore collections and supplemental Metaphysical Studies curriculum lists. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
style, organization and presentation, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "The Ancient Moon Goddess" from is available from The Master Game
Press in paperback (9798992019605, $24.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Dr. Dale O'Neal is an author, clinical psychologist, former minister and music minister, and a lifelong
student of ancient history and mythology. His books are listed online at Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14666742.Dale_O_Neal
Editorial Note #2: Arthur Waters has been a writer, editor, freelancer, a student of English literature, and a lawyer.
Mythology has fascinated him since childhood. His books are listed online at Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42865233.Arthur_W_Waters
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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