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Reviewer's Choice
Busting the Bankers' Club
Gerald Epstein
University of California Press
www.ucpress.edu
9780520385641, $26.95, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Busting-Bankers-Club-Finance-Rest/dp/0520385640
Synopsis: Bankers brought the global economic system to its knees in 2007 and nearly did the same in 2020. Both times, the
US government bailed out the banks and left them in control. How can we end this cycle of trillion-dollar bailouts and make
finance work for the rest of us? Busting the Bankers' Club confronts the powerful people and institutions that benefit from
our broken financial system -- and the struggle to create an alternative.
Drawing from decades of research on the history, economics, and politics of banking, with the publication of "Busting the
Bankers' Club: Finance for the Rest of Us", economist Gerald Epstein shows that any meaningful reform will require
breaking up this club of politicians, economists, lawyers, and CEOs who sustain the status quo. Thankfully, there are
thousands of activists, experts, and public officials who are working to do just that.
Clear-eyed and hopeful, "Busting the Bankers' Club" centers the individuals and groups fighting for a financial system that
will better serve the needs of the marginalized and support important transitions to a greener, fairer economy.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an Appendix (The Banker's Assault on the New Deal
Regulatory Structure), thirty pages of Notes, thirty-two pages of References, a thirteen page Index, "Busting the Bankers'
Club: Finance for the Rest of Us" is an extraordinary and timely study that will have immense value to readers with an
interest in the relationship of banks, the U.S. economy, and the methods used by the banking industry to influence
governmental policy makers. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Busting the Banker's Club" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary
Economics & Finance collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia,
political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Busting the Bankers' Club" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Gerald Epstein (https://peri.umass.edu/economists/gerald-epstein) is Professor of Economics and a Founding
Codirector of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is the author of The
Political Economy of Central Banking: Contested Control and the Power of Finance.
The Chapter
Nicholas Dames
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691135199, $35.00, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/History-of-the-Chapter/dp/0691135193
Synopsis: Why do books have chapters? With this seemingly simple question, and with the publication of "The Chapter: A
Segmented History from Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century", Professor Nicholas Dames embarks on a literary journey
spanning two millennia, revealing how an ancient editorial technique became a universally recognized component of
narrative art and a means to register the sensation of time.
Professor Dames begins with the textual compilations of the Roman world, where chapters evolved as a tool to organize
information. He goes on to discuss the earliest divisional systems of the Gospels and the segmentation of medieval
romances, describing how the chapter took on new purpose when applied to narrative texts and how narrative segmentation
gave rise to a host of aesthetic techniques.
Professor Dames also shares engaging and in-depth readings of influential figures, from Sterne, Goethe, Tolstoy, and
Dickens to George Eliot, Machado de Assis, B. S. Johnson, Agnes Varda, Uwe Johnson, Jennifer Egan, and Laszlo
Krasznahorkai. He illuminates the sometimes tacit, sometimes dramatic ways in which the chapter became a kind of
reckoning with time and a quiet but persistent feature of modernity.
Ranging from ancient tablets and scrolls to contemporary fiction and film, "The Chapter" provides a compelling, elegantly
written history of a familiar compositional mode that readers often take for granted and offers a new theory of how this
versatile means of dividing narrative sculpts our experience of time.
Critique: A simply fascinating history of the literary invention of the chapter from its origins in antiquity to today, "The
Chapter: A Segmented History from Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century" is an original work of meticulous scholarship
and of immense interest to students of the evolutionary history of literature down through the millennia to the present day.
Highly recommended as a unique contribution to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
collections, it should be noted for students, academia, historians, and dedicated bibliophiles that "The Chapter" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.25).
Editorial Note: Nicholas Dames (https://nicholasdames.org) is the Theodore Kahan Professor of Humanities at Columbia
University and an editor in chief of Public Books. He is the author of The Physiology of the Novel: Reading, Neural
Science, and the Form of Victorian Fiction and Amnesiac Selves: Nostalgia, Forgetting, and British Fiction, 1810 -
1870.
Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience
Ron Faiola
Agate Publishing
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572843318, $38.00, HC, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wisconsin-Supper-Clubs-Fashioned-Experience/dp/1572843314
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience "
by Ron Faiola is an indispensable and comprehensive resource for and about the supper clubs of Wisconsin and includes
charming photographs of their unique supper club interiors, proprietors, and customers, as well as fascinating archival
materials. Also recorded in this new edition of "Wisconsin Supper Clubs" are the regional specialties served at these clubs,
ranging from popovers and fried pickles in the northern part of the state to Shrimp de Jonghe in the south. One Northwoods
supper club even features fry bread, a traditional Native American dish uncommon to most restaurants.
In this updated second edition of "Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience ", Faiola revisits many of the
clubs across the Dairy State that starred in his first edition, recording their struggles and triumphs in the years following
widespread pandemic shutdowns. New to this edition are fifteen extra clubs that have entered the scene in the past decade,
striving to be a part of this custom that is hugely popular with Wisconsin locals and regularly frequented by all midwestern
foodies in the know.
The "supper club experience" is a tradition embodied by many long-standing restaurants scattered throughout the small
towns of Wisconsin. It is based around a bygone idea that going out to dinner should be an experience that lasts an entire
evening, emphasizing food made from scratch, slow-paced dining, and family-run businesses. Combine this with stately
dark-panel decor, complimentary relish trays, and the best brandy old-fashioned sweet you'll ever have, and you have barely
scratched the surface of the Wisconsin supper club's appeal.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.75 x 11 inches, 2.8 pounds) hardcover edition of the newly published second edition of
"Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience" is profusely illustrated throughout with full color photos and
informatively descriptive commentaries making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, community
library, and college/university library Midwestern Culinary History collections in general, and Wisconsin Supper Club
collections in particular. Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in both
organization and presentation, "Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience: 2nd Edition is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Ron Faiola (https://www.ronfaiola.com/about.html) is an author and filmmaker who has produced and
directed numerous critically acclaimed documentaries. He is the president and founder of Push Button Gadget Inc., which
has been specializing in audio visual and business theater production for nearly 20 years. He is the author of "Wisconsin
Supper Clubs", "Wisconsin Supper Clubs: Another Round", and "The Wisconsin Supper Clubs Story" -- all of which are
published by Agate. He currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Rise of the Reader
Nick Hutchison
The Reading Revolution Publishing
9798988090922, $19.99, HC, 287pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Reader-Strategies-Mastering-Applying/dp/B0CHFD5YQJ
Synopsis: Are you devouring every personal development bestseller out there but still finding it hard to apply what you're
learning to everyday life? Reading for self-improvement can be powerful as long as you're effectively implementing the
right information. You can become a more successful problem solver and transform your life in as little as 15 minutes a
day!
Nick Hutchison, founder of the popular book review site BookThinkers, read over 400 personal development books, but
implementing their valuable lessons was tougher than just finishing the next chapter. Nick knew self-help books could help
him do things like master his social anxiety and fear of public speaking, opening the doors to a successful career in business.
Through trial and error, he developed an easy-to-follow framework to retain the knowledge needed to transform his life
completely. Now with the publication of "Rise of the Reader: Strategies For Mastering Your Reading Habits and Applying
What You Learn" he is giving you over 100 habits to implement into your own reading journey and fulfill your dreams.
With "Rise of the Reader" you will learn:
How swapping 15 minutes of social media scrolling for 15 minutes of reading can dramatically impact 20 different areas of
your life.
The power of intention when it comes to choosing the right books for you and how much you retain from their
knowledge.
How to avoid bias and situational advice in the self-help industry.
Methods for note-taking and information implementation.
More than 100 new habits to improve your health, wealth, and happiness.
With relatable anecdotes and engaging stories, "Rise of the Reader" will inspire and motivate you to take action and
embrace the power of reading. Whether you are a student, a professional, or someone who just wants to reach their full
potential, "Rise of the Reader" is your guide to self-actualization and embracing change through reading.
Critique: Original, fascinating, inspirationally motivating, "Rise of the Reader: Strategies For Mastering Your Reading
Habits and Applying What You Learn" is of special interest to anyone concerned with reading as a means of memory
improvement and personal transformation, While also available for in a paperback edition (9798988090908, $14.99) and in
a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "Rise of the Reader" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal
reading lists, as well as professional, community, and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement
collections.
Editorial Note: Nick Hutchison (https://nickhutch.com) is the visionary force behind BookThinkers, a company dedicated to
bridging the gap between authors and readers. He hosts the popular book podcast, BookThinkers: Life Changing Books,
where he chats with the authors of his favorite self-help and business publications. As a speaker and coach, he's helped
thousands of people achieve their personal and professional goals through the power of positive reading. He can also be
followed on Instagram: @BookThinkers
Saints and Skeletons
Ana Manwaring
Indies United Publishing House, LLC
www.indiesunited.net
9781644566169, $14.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle, 338pp
https://www.amazon.com/Saints-Skeletons-Memoir-Living-Mexico/dp/1644566168
Saints and Skeletons: A Memoir of Living in Mexico presents the foundations of Ana Manwaring's JadeAnne Stone thriller
series, but holds the potential to reach both these readers and newcomers who may hold little familiarity with Manwaring's
works.
This vivid memoir of her travels through Mexico and Central America, which began in the summer of 1991, traverses other
cultures, capturing the rich flavors of foods, romance, and adventure as armchair readers follow in her footsteps. More so
than almost any other travelogue about Mexican experience, the nation comes to life as readers walk the gritty roads of
countries steeped in the cultures and flavors of non-Western influences.
From winding (and often uncertain) travels through the mountains of Michoacan to budding romances and relationships, the
evocative flavors of Manwaring's life are compellingly, vividly portrayed. The resulting "you are here" exploration is
exceptionally enlightening in its revelations, encounters, and experiences, whether they be cultural misunderstandings or
expressions of enlightenment.
Libraries and readers interested in a travelogue that explores relationships, food, and cultural perceptions, injecting
adventure into every moment, will find Saints and Skeletons outstanding in its presentation, revelations, and
attractions.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
How to Draw a Novel
Martin Solares
Grove Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802159304, $15.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/How-to-Draw-a-Novel/dp/0802159303
Synopsis: "How to Draw a Novel" is composed of a series of finely wrought essays in which, Martin Solares examines the
novel in all its forms, exploring the conventions of structure, the novel as a house that one must build brick by brick, and the
objects and characters that build out the world of the novel in unique and complex ways.
With poetic, graceful prose, that reflects the power of fascination with literary fiction, Solares uses line drawings to realize
the ebb and flow of the novel, with Moby Dick spiraling across the page while Dracula takes the form of an erratic
heartbeat. A novelist, occasional scholar, and former acquiring editor in Mexican publishing, Solares breaks out of the
Anglo-American dominated canon of many craft books, ranging across Latin and South America as well.
He also considers how writers invent (or discover) their characters, the importance of place (or not) in the novel, and the
myriad of forms the novel may take. Solares' passion for the form is obvious, and his insights into the construction of the
novel are as profound as they are accessible.
Critique: "How to Draw a Novel" by Martin Solares is preeminently book for writers, and an important, significant, and
memorable contribution to the study of the craft storytelling for aspiring authors, literary academia, and dedicated
bibliophiles. Ideal as a textbook for creative writing classes and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, organization and
presentation, "How to Draw a Novel" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections. It should be noted that "How to Draw a Novel" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Martin Solares is the author of the novels Don't Send Flowers and The Black Minutes, which was a finalist
for France's most prestigious award for crime fiction, the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere, and for the distinguished
Spanish-language award, the Romulo Gallegos Prize. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mart%C3%ADn_Solares)
Self-Promote & Succeed
Julie Broad
Stick Horse Publishing
https://selfpublishandsucceed.com
9781736031513, $17.95, PB, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Self-Promote-Succeed-Attract-Audience-Non-Fiction/dp/1736031511
Synopsis: Every nonfiction author dreams of being a bestselling author, having their book flourish in the hands of eager
readers. This dream hinges on a well-positioned book and a savvy understanding of marketing. Many authors feel like they
have tried everything in the world of self-publishing -- launching mass press releases, designing attractive bookmarks, and
attempting to run ads on Amazon. Yet the numbers crawl, the dream stalls, and the frustration mounts.
With the publication of "Self-Promote & Succeed: The No Boring Books Way to Build Your Brand, Attract Your Audience,
and Market Your Non-Fiction Book", Julie Broad (the founder of Book Launchers and specialist in promoting/marketing the
work of self-published authors) brings her high-energy approach and hold-nothing-back attitude in the form of a
comprehensive and compelling guide to successfully self-publish. Julie champions independent authors to achieve book
marketing success, revealing that the secret to success goes beyond a narrow focus on book sales. She presents a map to use
your book to become an industry thought leader, bolster your personal brand, and leverage your book as a tool for business
growth.
"Self-Promote & Succeed" shows how to: Architect a layered marketing strategy, optimizing every aspect of your book
production and marketing, for success; Position your author brand to appeal directly to your target audience; Choose your
book launch strategy from four proven methods; Enhance your book's visibility with the right pricing and keywords on
platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing; Leverage speaking engagements to personally connect with readers and boost book
sales.
Critique: Simply stated, if you are (or want to become) a self-published author, then "Self-Promote & Succeed: The No
Boring Books Way to Build Your Brand, Attract Your Audience, and Market Your Non-Fiction Book" by seasoned and
successful book marketing professional Julie Broad is the 'how-to' book for you. A compendium of information, tips, and
technique, "Self-Promote & Succeed" is extraordinarily well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for aspiring and newly self-published authors that "Self-Promote
& Succeed" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Julie Broad (www.JulieBroad.com) is the founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and
an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author. Her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers.TV teaches nonfiction authors
how to write and market books people will want to read. An expert on writing with marketing in mind, Julie has been
speaking on stages across Canada and the US since 2009, providing the best approaches to get results, make an impact, and
ultimately, make more money.
Editorial Note #2: As the editor-in-chief of the Midwest Book Review I can attest personally and professionally that Julie
Broad is an expert in the field of book promotions/marketing and self-published authors (and anyone who aspires to become
one), should add a copy of "Self-Promote & Succeed: The No Boring Books Way to Build Your Brand, Attract Your
Audience, and Market Your Non-Fiction Book" to their personal reading and instructional reference list. - Jim Cox,
Midwest Book Review
Mid-Century Type
David Jury
Merrell Publishers
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858947075, $55.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mid-Century-Type-Typography-Graphics-Designers/dp/1858947073
Mid-Century Type: Typography, Graphics, Designers is a visual art reference to the history of typography. It gathers some
five hundred examples of typefaces, literary ads, signs, book and magazine covers, and more into a survey that captures the
style and usage of 20th-century type and graphic design by American and European typographers. Any art library interested
in historical reviews of designers, influences, and changing approaches to typography will find Mid-Century Type an
essential reference containing captivating color visuals that reinforce its historical survey.
The Social Issues Shelf
When We Walk By
Kevin F. Adler, author
Donald W. Burnes, author
Amanda Banh & Andrijana Bilbija, contributors
North Atlantic Books
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781623178840, $19.95, PB, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Walk-Forgotten-Homelessness/dp/1623178843
Synopsis: Think about the last time that you saw or interacted with an unhoused person. What did you do? What did you
say? Did you offer money or a smile, or did you avert your gaze?
With the publication of "When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in
Ending Homelessness in America", co-authors Kevin F. Adler and Donald W. Burnes (and with extensive contributions of
Amanda Banh and Andrijana Bilbija) takes an urgent look at homelessness in America, showing us what we lose (in
ourselves and as a society) when we choose to walk past and ignore our neighbors in shelters, insecure housing, or on the
streets. And it brilliantly shows what we stand to gain when we embrace our humanity and move toward evidence-based
people-first, community-driven solutions, offering social analysis, economic and political histories, and the real stories of
unhoused people.
Collaboratively, Kevin F. Adler and Donald W. Burnes, with Amanda Banh and Andrijana Bilbija, recast chronic
homelessness in the U.S. as a byproduct of twin crises: our social services systems are failing, and so is our humanity. With
"When We Walk By", readers will learn:
Why our brains have been trained to overlook our unhoused neighbors
The social, economic, and political forces that shape myths like "all homeless people are addicts" and "they'd have a house if
they got a job"
What conservative economics gets wrong about housing insecurity
What relational poverty is, and how to shift away from "us versus them" thinking
That for many Americans, housing insecurity is just one missed paycheck away
Who "the homeless" really are - and why that might surprise you
What you can do to help, starting today
Critique: With the rising rates of homelessness in our cities from coast to coast, "When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity,
Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America" is a necessary, timely, deeply
humanizing read that goes beyond theory and policy analysis to offer 'engaged solutions with compassion and heart'.
Articulate, eloquent, and a clarion call to both individual and collective action, "When We Walk By" is essential and
ultimately inspiring reading for everyone who cares about the problem of homelessness, possible and successful housing
solutions, as well as their own personal humanity. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and
college/university library Contemporary Social Issues collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students, academia, governmental policy makers, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending
Homelessness in America" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note #1: Kevin F. Adler is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Miracle Messages. He holds a Masters in
Sociology from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelors in Politics from Occidental College. In his work on
homelessness, he has pioneered the concept of "relational poverty" as an overlooked form of poverty severely affecting
unhoused individuals. He previously authored Natural Disasters as a Catalyst for Social Capital.
Editorial Note #2: Donald W. Burns funds The Burnes Institute for Poverty Research at the Colorado Center on Law and
Policy and teaches at Denver's Academy for Lifelong Learning. He was an adjunct professor and scholar-in-residence at the
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. He co-authored Journeys Out of Homelessness: The Voices of Lived
Experience and A Nation in Denial: The Truth About Homelessness and co-edited Ending Homelessness: Why We Haven't,
How We Can.
Venture Meets Mission
Arun Gupta, et al.
Stanford Business Books
c/o Stanford University Press
www.sup.org
9781503636286, $30.00, HC, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Venture-Meets-Mission-Aligning-Transform/dp/1503636283
Synopsis: The world today is facing dramatic geopolitical, environmental, and technological shifts. Co-authored by Arun
Gupta, Gerard George, and Thomas J. Fewer, "Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate
and Transform Society" argues that if Business, Government, and Society come together, rebuild trust, and collaborate, we
have a generational opportunity to address societal challenges -- climate change, cybersecurity, disease outbreaks, food
insecurity, and education.
"Venture Meets Mission" also explains, with hope and passion, how our existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the ideals
of democracy, can be the foundation for a new mission-driven capitalism.
The good news is the components of this problem-solving ecosystem already exist. The co-authors collaboratively explain
what is required to join people, purpose, and profit together for world-changing impact -- starting with rebuilding trust
among Business, Government, and Society.
The co-authors also draw on their combined leadership experience with Silicon Valley innovation, venture capital, and work
at the highest levels of the federal government. "Venture Meets Mission" presents engaging and illustrative stories of
successful entrepreneurs, with diverse perspectives and intersectional experiences, who combine mission and venture to
solve critical societal problems.
"Venture Meets Mission" also seeks to inspire a generation of students, young professionals, and entrepreneurial executives
to pursue mission-driven ventures that can make the world a better place. Of special note is the explanation of why and how
forward-thinking government officials and policymakers can harness private sector entrepreneurship and innovation to solve
society's problems.
Critique: With the inclusion of eight pages of Notes and a seven page Index, "Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People,
Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society" is a welcome and timely addition to personal, professional,
community, corporate, and college/university library Contemporary Business Development & Entrepreneurship collections
and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives,
entrepreneurs, and governmental policy makers that "Venture Meets Mission" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $28.50).
Editorial Note #1: Arun Gupta is a venture capitalist, Lecturer at Stanford University, and Adjunct Entrepreneurship
Professor at Georgetown University. He is CEO of NobleReach Foundation, which is focused on catalyzing and inspiring a
renewed spirit of national service through innovation.
Editorial Note #2: Gerard (Gerry) George is the Tamsen and Michael Brown Family Professor of Entrepreneurship and
Innovation at Georgetown University and Senior Advisor at TPG, a leading global alternative asset manager.
Editorial Note #3: Thomas J. Fewer is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative at Georgetown
University and VP at NobleReach Foundation, focused on developing innovative talent programs to educate and inspire the
next generation of mission-driven change makers.
The Education Shelf
Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success
Ronald E. Hallett, et al.
Routledge
www.routledge.com
9781032581286, $170.00, HC, 242pp
https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Campus-Wide-Culture-Student-Success/dp/103258128X
Synopsis: Offering a new approach to institutional practices, "Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success" by the
team academicians Ronald E. Hallett, Adrianna Kezar, Joseph A. Kitchen, and Rosemary J. Perez describes evidence-based
strategies to create a campus culture conducive to truly supporting all students.
We are at a critical crossroads in higher education, where large numbers of low-income, racially minoritized, and
first-generation college students (referred to in "Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success" as "at-promise
students") are attending college in greater numbers than ever, yet access has not translated to significantly improved
retention and graduation rates.
"Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success" therefore, proposes a realignment of existing initiatives to create
campus-wide support through a new model of coordination.
The ideas presented in "Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success" are the culmination of one of the largest
studies of comprehensive college support programs for at-promise students. Chapters include illustrations of the key
concepts and promising practices of the Promoting At-promise Student Success (PASS) Project, as well as guiding
questions that can be used to facilitate conversations on campus. In this helpful resource, the four co-authors address how
student supports are delivered in validating ways, rather than focusing solely on what supports are offered, as has typically
been the way institutions address the issues that at-promise students face.
"Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success" is primarily intended to provide guidance and support to educators
who want to be a part of changing how higher education supports at-promise students toward increased equity.
Critique: A solidly researched, exceptionally well written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
presentation, "Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success" will prove to be of particular value to readers with an
interest in Higher Education and Continuing Education curriculum development and student support. While especially and
unreservedly recommended as a core acquisition for college and university library Contemporary Education Studies
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, higher education and student support
oriented curriculum developers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Creating a
Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781032581514, $42.95) and in
a digital book format (Kindle, $40.80).
Editorial Note #1: Ronald E. Hallett is a lead research associate at the Pullias Center for Higher Education in the Rossier
School of Education at the University of Southern California and a Professor of Education in the LaFetra College of
Education at the University of La Verne, USA.
Editorial Note #2: Adrianna Kezar is Dean's Professor of Leadership, Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education, at the
University of Southern California, USA, and Director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education within the Rossier School
of Education.
Editorial Note #3: Joseph A. Kitchen is an Associate Research Professor in the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the
University of Southern California, USA.
Editorial Note #4: Rosemary J. Perez is an Associate Professor in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary
Education at the University of Michigan, USA.
The American History Shelf
Red Blood and the Indian Trader
Marilyn Dear Nelson and Chris Nelson
TwoDot/Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9781493073900, $24.95 PB, $17.99 Kindle, 406pp
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Cloud-Indian-Trader-Friendship/dp/1493073907
Red Blood and the Indian Trader: The Remarkable Friendship of the Sioux Chief and JW Dear in the Last Days of the
Frontier should reside in any American history collection as a unique and personal survey of Civil War years and beyond.
JW Dear not only fought in the war as a Confederate soldier, but then journeyed West, where he was one of the last fur
traders and the longest-serving government-appointed Indian Trader to Red Cloud's Sioux. Beset upon by misfortune and
bad circumstances again and again, JW participated in one of the most turbulent periods in American history in the West.
His poignant search for a better life amidst the postwar tumult creates a riveting, personal history of the times that is hard to
put down and infinitely memorable.
The World History Shelf
The Long War for Britannia 367 - 664
Edwin Pace
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399013758, $42.95, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Long-War-Britannia-367-644-Post-Roman/dp/1399013750
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Long War for Britannia 367 - 664: Arthur and the History of Post-Roman Britain",
historian Edwin Pace recounts some two centuries of 'lost' British history, while providing decisive proof that the early
records for this period are the very opposite of 'fake news'. This unique British history shows that the discrepancies in dates
claimed by many scholars are illusory. Every early source originally recorded the same events in the same year. It is only the
transition to Anno Domini dating centuries afterward that distorts our perceptions.
Of equal significance, "The Long War for Britannia 367 - 664" demonstrates that King Arthur and Uther Pendragon are the
very opposite of medieval fantasy. Current scholarly doubts arose from the fact that different British regions had very
different memories of post-Roman British rulers. Some remembered Arthur as the 'Proud Tyrant', a monarch who plunged
the island into civil war. Others recalled him as the British general who saved Britain when all seemed lost. The deeds of
Uther Pendragon replicate the victories of the dread Mercian king Penda. These authentic (yet radically different) narratives
distort history to this very day.
Critique: An inherently fascinating, unique, documented, and extraordinarily well written history, "The Long War for
Britannia 367 - 664: Arthur and the History of Post-Roman Britain" is further enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a
twenty-eight page Bibliography and a ten page Glossary. Impressively informative and a singularly invaluable contribution
to the study of post-Roman Britain and the legends/stories of Arthur Pendragon, "The Long War for Britannia 367-664" is a
very special and strongly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
histories of Great Britain' history. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "The Long War for Britannia 367-664" is also available in a paperback edition (9781399013796,
$26.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Edwin Pace has an advanced degree in European history and honed his analytical skills in a three-decade
long career as an intelligence analyst, working for both NSA and GCHQ. He has published half a dozen peer-reviewed
articles on various aspects of the research behind this book in the Journal of the Australian Medieval Society and
Arthuriana. He has defended parts of his hypothesis in conferences at the University of Boulogne (ULCO), Western
Michigan University, and the International Arthurian Society, British Branch. He is the author of a work of popular history,
Arthur and the Fall of Roman Britain.
The Nubian Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives
Aidan Dodson
American University in Cairo Press
www.aucpress.com
9781649031631, $35.00, HC, 228pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nubian-Pharaohs-Egypt-Their-Afterlives/dp/1649031637
Synopsis: The region of Nubia (now spanning the modern border between Egypt and Sudan) was long a subject of Egyptian
imperial domination by its ancient pharaohs. However, in the eighth century BC matters were suddenly reversed, when the
kings of Kush (the ancient name for Nubia), became the overlords of Egypt for nearly a century, before being forced to
withdraw in the face of Assyrian invasions. Yet the Kushite kingdom would endure back in its heartlands for another
millennium, the heritage of its Egyptian sojourn still visible in its fields of pyramid tombs.
"The Nubian Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives" by Professor Aidan Dodson is an authoritative yet accessible
and illustrated history that tells the story of these Nubian pharaohs of Egypt, from the origins of their kingdom of Kush,
through their time as rulers of Egypt, to their heritage in the heart of Sudan -- and their rediscovery in modern times.
The latter uncovers some very unsavory examples of the racist attitudes of some earlier scholars. These engendered
enduringly negative attitudes to aspects of careers of the Nubian pharaohs that find little support in the actual surviving
evidence. The latter includes a fascinating network of texts from not only Egypt and Sudan, but also Assyria and the Bible,
reflecting the interactions and conflicts of the period. There are also the standing monuments of Nubian pharaohs, ranging
from temples they built throughout their dominions, to their tombs: pyramids, constructed in their ancestral heartland, in
which Nubian and Egyptian funerary customs were intriguingly entangled.
Richly illustrated throughout in full color, "The Nubian Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives" is a fascinating
study by a leading Egyptologist will be essential reading for anyone interested in the lives and times of Egypt's Nubian
pharaohs.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Nubian Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives"
by Professor Aidan Dodson is significantly enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an informative Preface, a listing of
abbreviations and conventions, a ten page Introduction, a four page Chronicle of Ancient Egypt, twelve pages of Notes, a
fourteen page Bibliography, a two page listing of Sources of Images, and a six page Index. A work of meticulous
scholarship, this hefty large format (8 x 1 x 10 inches, 2.6 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Nubian Pharaohs of Egypt:
Their Lives and Afterlives" from the American University of Cairo Press must be considered as an indispensable and
critically necessary addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Egyptian History
collections and supplemental Egyptology curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Aidan Dodson is honorary full professor of Egyptology in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
at the University of Bristol, UK. He was also Simpson Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo in 2013
and Chair of the Egypt Exploration Society during 2011 - 16. Awarded his PhD by the University of Cambridge in 1995, he
was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2003. He is the author of some twenty-five books and over
four hundred articles and reviews.
Aurelian and Probus: The Soldier Emperors Who Saved Rome
Ilkka Syvanne
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781526767509, $42.95, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Aurelian-Probus-Soldier-Emperors-Saved/dp/1526767503
Synopsis: "Aurelian and Probus: The Soldier Emperors Who Saved Rome" by historian Ilkka Syvanne is the biographical
and military history of the Roman emperors Lucius Domitius Aurelianus (270-275) and Marcus Aurelius Probus
(276-282).
In this detailed study, Syvanne offers a an informed and informative history of the emperors Lucius Domitius Aurelianus
(who reigned from 270 to 275) and Marcus Aurelius Probus (who reigned from 276 to 282). Also included are the other
reigns between the years 268 and 285. It shows how these two remarkable emperors were chiefly responsible for the Empire
surviving and emerging largely intact from a period of intense crisis. It was Aurelian who first united the breakaway regions,
including Zenobia's Palmyra, and it was Probus who then secured his achievements.
The reigns of Aurelian and Probus have been subjected to many studies, but none of these have approached the extant
material purely from the point of view of a military analysis. Most importantly, the previous historians have not exploited
the analytical opportunities provided by the military treatises that describe the strategy and tactics of the period Roman
army. It is thanks to this new methodology that Ilkka Syvanne has been able to reconstruct the military campaigns of these
two soldier emperors and their other contemporaries in far greater detail than has been possible before.
Critique: Impressively informative, thoroughly documented, inherently fascinating, exceptionally well written, exceptionally
illustrated, and thoroughly 'reader friendly in organized and presentation, "Aurelian and Probus: The Soldier Emperors Who
Saved Rome" is a singularly important and unreservedly recommended acquisition for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library Roman History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. For students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Aurelian and Probus: The Soldier Emperors
Who Saved Rome" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781399021456, $28.95) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Ilkka Syvanne gained his doctorate in history in 2004 from the University of Tampere in his native
Finland. Since then he has written extensively about ancient and medieval warfare and his publications include: 'The Age of
Hippotoxotai, Art of War in Roman Military Revival and Disaster 491-636' (Tampere UP 2004), 'The Reign of Gallienus'
(Pen & Sword, 2019), the multivolume 'Military History of Late Rome' published by Pen & Sword and the critically
acclaimed Caracalla. He is the co-author with Professor Katarzyna Maksymiuk of the 'Military History of Third Century
Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2018) and the 'Military History of Fifth Century Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2019). He was Vice Chairman of the
Finnish Society for Byzantine Studies from 2007 until 2016. He has been an Affiliated Professor of the University of Haifa
since 2016. (https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Ilkka-Syvanne/a/2164)
The Military History Shelf
Facing the Red Army in Festung Posen
Hans Klapa, author
Alfred Kriehn, author
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399061759, $32.95, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Red-Army-Festung-Posen/dp/1399061755
Synopsis: "Facing the Red Army in Festung Posen: First-Hand Accounts of German Soldiers on the Eastern Front in 1945"
by co-authors Hans Klapa and Alfred Kriehn features the personal combat stories of two German soldiers who took part in
the battles for Festung Posen (Pozna Fortress) in January and February 1945.
Never before published in English, the accounts of Hans Klapa was written immediately after the war (1946) and that of
Alfred Kriehn came later (early 1990s). Together they provide details relating to the course of the battle, as well as the
armaments of the German garrison, its morale and even first-hand descriptions of individual actions during bloody street
fighting.
Although describing the same battle, both memoirs are completely different as they represent different branches of the
armed forces and each takes place in different parts of the city. While Hans Klapa fought only in the eastern part, Alfred
Kriehn describes the fighting on the western side.
However, what separates the two accounts the most is the fate of both heroes immediately after the battle, with Klapa
describing his epic, months-long struggle with his comrades not to fall into the hands of the enemy and to avoid being taken
prisoner by the Soviets at any cost.
Critique: Unique, detailed, and an exceptionally riveting read from start to finish, this dual memoir of the same battle from
the German perspective, "Facing the Red Army in Festung Posen: First-Hand Accounts of German Soldiers on the Eastern
Front in 1945" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library World War II History & Biography collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Facing the Red Army in Festung Posen: First-Hand Accounts of German
Soldiers on the Eastern Front in 1945" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note #1: After previous combat experience fighting on the front, Wehrmacht soldier Hans Klapa was sent on an
officer's course at the V School of Infantry Cadets in Pozna (Schule V f r Fahnenjunker der Infanterie Posen) in November
1944. Following the Red Army's offensive in January 1945, Klapa, along with 1,300 cadets of the V School and other
German soldiers, was conscripted into the Festung Posen garrison (Pozna Fortress) to take part in merciless, month-long
battles for the Polish city.
Editorial Note #2: Alfred Kriehn fought on the Eastern Front from 1944 as an assault gun loader (Sturmgeschutz) in the elite
Sturmgeschutzbrigade "Grossdeutschland". In January 1945, his unit was transferred from East Prussia to the area of Kutno
(then Warthegau) in order to stop Red Army troops advancing towards Pozna . After a dramatic escape, losing his vehicle
along the way, Kriehn and several of his colleagues reached Pozna , where, as a member of the assault cannon crew and the
Festung Posen garrison, they again resisted the Red Army.
Nazis on the Potomac
Robert K. Sutton
Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
Tantor Media
https://tantor.com
9781612009872, $34.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nazis-Potomac-Top-Secret-Intelligence-Operation/dp/1612009875
Synopsis: Now a green open space enjoyed by residents, Fort Hunt, Virginia, about 15 miles south of Washington, DC. was
the site of one of the highest-level, clandestine operations during World War II.
Shortly after the United States entered World War II, the US military realized that it had to work on exploiting any
advantages it might gain on the Axis Powers. One part of these endeavors was to establish a secret facility not too close, but
also not too far from the Pentagon which would interrogate and eavesdrop on the highest-level Nazi prisoners and also
translate and analyze captured German war documents.
That complex was established at Fort Hunt, known by the code name: PO Box 1142. The American servicemen who
interrogated German prisoners or translated captured German documents were young, bright, hardworking, and absolutely
dedicated to their work. Many of them were Jews, who had escaped Nazi Germany as children -- some had come to America
with their parents, others had escaped alone, but their experiences and those they had been forced to leave behind meant
they all had personal motivation to do whatever they could to defeat Nazi Germany. They were perfect for the difficult and
complex job at hand. They never used corporal punishment in interrogations of German soldiers but developed and
deployed dozens of tricks to gain information.
The Allies won the war against Hitler for a host of reasons, discussed in hundreds of volumes. This is the first book to
describe the intelligence operations at PO Box 1142 and their part in that success. It will never be known how many
American lives were spared, or whether the war ended sooner with the programs at Fort Hunt, but they doubtless did make a
difference. Moreover these programs gave the young Jewish men stationed there the chance to combat the evil that had
befallen them and their families.
Critique: A unique and hitherto obscured aspect of the American involvement in World War II, "Nazis on the Potomac: The
Top-Secret Intelligence Operation that Helped Win World War II" is an exceptionally well written, organized and presented
account of a once heavily classified military intelligence gathering program. Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of an
eight page Bibliography, twenty-six pages of End Notes, and a six page Index, "Nazis on the Potomac" will prove of
immense value to readers with an interest in World War II political and military intelligence. Excellent in organization and
presentation, "Nazis on the Potomac" will prove a prized addition for community and college/university library World War
II collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and military history buffs, that "Nazis on the Potomac" is also readily available in a paperback edition
(9781636243771, $24.95), in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor
Audio, 9798212081351, $46.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Robert K. Sutton recently retired as Chief Historian of the National Park Service, which culminated a
33-year career in the service. On his first day in this position, he met with the team interviewing the veterans who served at
Fort Hunt during World War II. He encouraged the group in their efforts and was able to subsidize travel to complete the
interviews. National Park Service historians did an absolutely masterful job of tracking down surviving veterans and
capturing their stories. Sutton is writing this history with the belief that it should be a vehicle to share these stories with as
wide an audience as possible. In addition to this volume, Sutton has published a number of books, articles and reviews on
various public history topics.
Anzio Nettuno: A Battle of Leadership Mistakes
Jorg Staiger, author
Matthias Strohn, editor
Linden Lyons, translator
Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636241913, $45.00, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Anzio-Nettuno-Leadership-Mistakes-Wehrmacht/dp/1636241913
Synopsis: The Allied amphibious operation code named Shingle was launched in late January 1944. It was opposed by
German forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno. Success depended on the element of surprise, and the speed with which the
invaders could build up strength and move inland. This was understood by General Mark Clark, commander of the US Fifth
Army, but not fully understood by his subordinate commanders.
"Anzio Nettuno: A Battle of Leadership Mistakes" by Jorg Staiger is a German account that focuses on the landing at Anzio
as it was the only one that failed to achieve its objective of smashing the German defense and achieving operational freedom
of movement. The battle lasted over six weeks, with mistakes made by leadership on both sides, and consequently also great
sacrifice by soldiers on both sides.
But the operation was not a German success either, and attempts to prevent the creation of a strong bridgehead failed.
Ultimately the Allies would reach Rome, and the Allies applied lessons from this battle to facilitate the success of Overlord,
launched five months later.
While not complete, as Jorg Staiger did not have access to some of the war diaries of higher levels of German command,
this is still one of the best German accounts of Operation Shingle and is edited by Matthias Strohn and translated into
English for the first time by Linden Lyons .
Critique: An eye-witness account from the German army perspective, "Anzio Nettuno: A Battle of Leadership Mistakes" is
an invaluable and unreservedly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, and college/university
library World War II European Theatre collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: In writing "Anzio Nettuno: A Battle of Leadership Mistakes, Jorg Straiger draws upon his own personal
experiences as a commander of the 11 Battalion of the 26 Panzer Regiment during that campaign. He is also the author of
"Retreat through the Rhone Valley" (Casemate, 2023).
Editorial Note #2: Matthias Strohn is head of historical analysis at the Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research
and the British Army's strategic think tank, visiting professor of military studies at the University of Buckingham, and a
member of the academic faculty at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Matthias was educated at the universities of M
nster (Germany) and Oxford. He holds a commission in the German Army and is a member of the military attache reserve.
He deployed to Iraq (with the British Army) and Afghanistan (with both the British Army and the German Bundeswehr).
Matthias was awarded the highest German military decoration, the 'Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Gold,' and has published
widely on 20th-century German and European military history; he has authored and edited over 20 books and numerous
articles.
Editorial Note #3: Linden Lyons holds a master's degree in history from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He
studied German at the University of Freiburg and librarianship at the University of Canberra. He is the translator of several
titles in the Die Wehrmacht im Kampf series, most recently Counter-Strike Operations, Normandy, and Rome to the Po
River.
The Science Shelf
Radiography in the Digital Age: Physics - Exposure - Radiation Biology, 4th Edition
Quinn B. Carroll, M.Ed., R.T.
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
https://www.ccthomas.com
9780398094089, $120.95, HC, 833pp
https://www.amazon.com/Radiography-Digital-Age-Exposure-Radiation/dp/039809408X
Synopsis: Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded fourth edition, "Radiography in the Digital Age: Physics -
Exposure - Radiation Biology" by radiography expert Dr. Quinn B. Carroll provides just the right focus and scope for the
practice of radiography in this digital age, covering four entire courses in a typical radiography program.
The entire emphasis of foundational physics has been adjusted in order to properly support the specific information on
digital imaging that will follow. The paradigm shift in imaging terminology is reflected by the careful phrasing of concepts,
accurate descriptions and clear illustrations throughout this comprehensive edition.
There are over 700 illustrations, including meticulous color line drawings, numerous photographs and stark radiographs.
The two chapters on digital image processing alone include 60 beautifully executed illustrations. Foundational chapters on
math and basic physics maintain a focus on energy physics. Concepts supporting digital imaging (such as the interpretation
of graphs supporting the understanding of histograms) are more thoroughly discussed.
All discussion of electricity is limited to only those concepts which bear directly upon the production of x-rays in the x-ray
tube. Following is a full discussion of the x-ray beam and its interactions within the patient, the production and
characteristics of subject contrast, and an emphasis on the practical application of radiographic technique. This is
conventional information, but the terminology and descriptions used have been adapted with great care to the digital
environment.
Eight chapters are devoted directly to digital imaging, providing extensive coverage of the physics of digital image capture,
digital processing techniques, and the practical applications of both CR and DR. Image display systems are brought up to
date with the physics of LCD screens and electronic images. PACS and medical imaging informatics are also covered.
Chapters on Radiation Biology and Protection include an unflinching look at current issues and radiation protection in
practice. The radiation biology is clearly presented with numerous lucid illustrations, and a balanced perspective on
radiation and its medical use is developed. To reinforce mathematical concepts for the student, dozens of practice exercises
are strategically dispersed throughout the chapters, with answer keys provided in the appendix. Extensive review questions
at the end of each chapter give a thorough, comprehensive review of the material learned.
The Instructor Resources for Radiography in the Digital Age, available on disc, includes the answer key for all chapter
review questions and a bank of over 1500 multiple-choice questions for instructors' use. It also includes 35 laboratory
exercises, including 15 that demonstrate the applications of CR equipment. Supported by prominent medical physicists and
documents from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), this textbook provides the most accurate
information available to radiography educators in all the aspects of digital radiography.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this newly updated and comprehensive fourth edition of
"Radiography in the Digital Age: Physics - Exposure - Radiation Biology" is of particular relevance to readers with an
interest in radiology and nuclear medicine. This is an ideal textbook and unreservedly recommended for professional and
college/university library Radiography collections and curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: There is an extensive online listing of books by Queinn B. Carroll at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/473241.Quinn_B_Carroll
The Universal Timekeepers
David J. Helfand
Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu
9780231210980, $24.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Timekeepers-Reconstructing-History-Atom/dp/0231210981
Synopsis: Atoms are unfathomably tiny. It takes fifteen million trillion of them to make up a single poppy seed -- give or
take a few billion. And there's hardly anything to them: atoms are more than 99.9999999999 percent empty space. Yet
scientists have learned to count these slivers of near nothingness with precision and to peer into their internal states. In
looking so closely, we have learned that atoms, because of their inimitable signatures and imperturbable internal clocks, are
little archives holding the secrets of the past.
With the publication of "The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom", astronomer and academician
David J. Helfand reconstructs the history of the universe back to its first microsecond 13.8 billion years ago with the help of
atoms.
Professor Helfand shows how, by using detectors and reactors, microscopes and telescopes, we can decode the tales these
infinitesimal particles tell, answering questions such as: Is a medieval illustrated prayer book real or forged? How did maize
cultivation spread from the highlands of central Mexico to New England? What was Earth's climate like before humans
emerged? Where can we find clues to identify the culprit in the demise of the dinosaurs? When did our planet and solar
system form? Can we trace the births of atoms in the cores of massive stars or even glimpse the origins of the universe
itself?
A lively and inviting introduction to the building blocks of everything we know, "The Universal Timekeepers" demonstrates
the power of science to unveil the mysteries of unreachably remote times and places.
Critique: A work of outstanding and meticulous scholarship, and especially well written for the edification and benefit of
students, academicians, and non-specialist general readers alike, "The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom
by Atom" is an extraordinarily informative and thoroughly 'reader friendly' study that will prove of immense value to readers
with an interest in such diver subjects as climatology, environmental science, astrophysics. and the use of the scientific
method to unravel the history of all creation. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Science collections, it should be noted for students, academia, and
non-professional general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Universal Timekeepers" is also readily available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: David J. Helfand (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Helfand) is the chair of the Department of
Astronomy at Columbia University where he has served on the faculty for four decades. He has also been a visiting scientist
at the Danish Space Research Institute, the Sackler Distinguished Visiting Astronomer at Cambridge University, and
president of the American Astronomical Society. He was a founding tutor and served as president and vice chancellor at
Quest University Canada. He has published commentary in Nature, Physics Today, the Globe and Mail, the Washington
Post, and the New York Times, among other publications.
Roadside Geology of Kansas
James S. Aber, et al.
Mountain Press Publishing Company
www.mountain-press.com
9780878427154, $26.00, PB, 318pp
https://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Geology-Kansas-James-Aber/dp/0878427155
Synopsis: Fossils, badlands, and caprocks are scattered through the prairie -- all there to be found with the help of the
"Roadside Geology of Kansas" as your guide.
Featured is a billion years of geologic history that left zinc and lead deposits, salt beds, and oil buried beneath layers of
limestone and shale, deposited in the many seas that inundated the continent.
Finally, glaciers reconfigured stream drainages, left enormous boulders scattered about, and provided the windblown silt for
excellent cropland.
Nineteenth-century paleontologists flocked to the chalk outcrops of western Kansas to collect fossils of dinosaurs,
mosasaurs, giant turtles, and more. Settlers used the rock they found at the surface to build houses, bridges, water towers,
and churches, as well as stone fence posts that wouldn't burn during prairie wildfires.
"Roadside Geology for Kansas features sixteen roads (including all the state's scenic, historic, and national byways) that
point out prominent landmarks such as Mushroom Rock, Pawnee Rock, Coronado Heights, and Mount Mitchell, along with
more hidden geologic delights, such as kimberlite pipes, Rock City, and the source for Kansas amber.
Critique: Of immenst value for professional and non-professional readers with an interest in Midwestern geology in general,
and the state of Kansas in particular, "Roadside Geology of Kansas" by co-authors James S. Aber, Susan E. W. Aber, and
Michael J. Everhart, (and profusely illustrated throughout with full color photos), is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Geology Science collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: James S. Aber was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and Susan E. W. Aber is a native of
Halstead, Kansas. Since meeting as students at the University of Kansas, they have resided most of their adult years in
Emporia. Jim received a PhD in geology from the University of Kansas and is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at
Emporia State University. His specialties include glaciation, wetlands, tectonics, and remote sensing.
Editorial Note #2: Susan E. W. Aber received her undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Kansas and a PhD
in Library and Information Management from Emporia State University. She taught formerly at San Jose State University,
North Carolina Central University, and Emporia State University. She has expertise in mineralogy, gemstones, maps, and
GIS for librarians. Jim and Susie have wide-ranging international research experiences in North and South America, Europe,
and southeastern Asia.
Editorial Note #3: Michael Everhart is an Adjunct Curator of Paleontology at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in
Hays, Kansas. He specializes in the study of marine reptiles and other fossils from the Late Cretaceous in western Kansas
and has written two books, Oceans of Kansas (Indiana University Press) and Sea Monsters (National Geographic). He is the
author and coauthor of many scientific papers on Kansas fossils, including the naming of six new species.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Food Allergy Baking Book
Kelly Woyan
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572843158, $24.95, PB, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Food-Allergy-Baking-Book-Nut-Free/dp/1572843152
Synopsis: A one-stop guide to delicious, everyday baked goods free of dairy, eggs, and nuts (the most common food
allergens), "The Food Allergy Baking Book" offers more than 90 timeless, foolproof recipes that are easy to prepare, even
for the most novice of family kitchen bakers. It is an invaluable DIY culinary resource for home bakers (and their families)
who love sweets and treats -- but have food allergies that must be accommodated.
These recipes are more than delicious enough to be enjoyed by everyone who craves great baked treats, whether they have
food allergies or not, but they fill a particular need for families who find baking at home to be the smartest and safest option
to avoid exposure to allergens. All the traditional baking favorites are included, with chapters devoted to the best and tastiest
muffins and quick breads, cookies and bars, and all manner of cakes, pies, crisps, and cobblers. The book also provides
practical advice about dealing with classroom and birthday parties, as well as easy ingredient substitution ideas.
Critique: Simply stated, "The Food Allergy Baking Book: Great Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family" by
Kelly Woyan is an indispensable 'how to' guide for food-allergy conscious bakers everywhere. Profusely illustrated
throughout with full color images of finished deserts, "The Food Allergy Baking Book" will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular pick for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections. Of special value to
anyone with a food allergy or who is interested in gluten free diets, or vegan desserts, it should be noted that "The Good
Allergy Baking Book" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.62).
From Biscuits to Lane Cake
Evan A. Kutzler
Mercer University Press
www.mupress.org
9780881469028, $22.00, PB, 145pp
https://www.amazon.com/Biscuits-Lane-Cake-Rylander-American/dp/0881469025
Synopsis: When the Lane cake, named after Emma Rylander Lane (1856-1904), appeared in Harper Lee's "To Kill A
Mockingbird" (1960), the boozy Southern dessert was at peak popularity. Yet the culinary artist behind the cake had fallen
into obscurity. "From Biscuits to Lane Cake: Emma Rylander Lane's Some Good Things to Eat" recovers Lane's biography
and reveals the Georgia back story of Alabama's official state dessert, as well as the recipes she published in "Some Good
Things To Eat" (1898).
Born in Americus, Georgia, and left fatherless in the American Civil War, Lane spent most of her life living, studying, and
managing a household in Southwest Georgia. While in Clayton, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia, she drew on the diverse
culinary heritage of the South as she won cooking demonstration competitions, published a cookbook, and taught cooking
classes. Lane's recipes, from biscuits, wafers, and loaf cakes to salads, cordials, and holiday favorites, show that her
expertise went far beyond the bourbon-infused dessert that bears her married name.
Critique: An inherently fascinating, and extraordinary gem of historical culinary American history, "From Biscuits to Lane
Cake: Emma Rylander Lane's Some Good Things to Eat" is an especially and unreservedly recommended and unique
addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Evan A. Kutzler (https://evankutzler.com) is an Associate Professor of U.S. and Public History at Western
Michigan University. He is also the author or editor of many books, including Ossabaw Island, A Sense of Place, and Prison
Pens.
Flavor
Sabrina Ghayour
Aster
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781783255955, $34.99, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Flavor-Bestselling-author-Persiana-Everyday/dp/1783255951
Synopsis: "Flavor" is culinary expert Sabrina Ghayour's new collection of more than 100 simple, delicious, flavorful, and
crowd-pleasing recipes with a very special Middle-Eastern twist.
Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full page, full color photos of finished dishes reader to serve, the
recipes range from Zaatar onion, tomato & Eggplant tartines with labneh; Chicken shawarma salad; Herb koftas with warm
yoghurt, mint & pul biber; and Ras el Hanout and orange lamb cutlet platter; to Mama ghanoush; Pan-fried salmon with
barbary butter
Nut butter noodles; Lime, coconut & cardamom loaf cake; Tea, cranberry, orange & macadamia shortbreads -- and so much
more!
Critique: An impressive and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly" compendium of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes
for memorable dishes to enhance any and all dining experiences, "Flavorful" is certain to be a prized pick for personal,
professional, family, and community library Middle Eastern and Ethnic Cuisine cookbook collections. It should be noted
that "Flavorful" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Sabrina Ghayour (www.SabrinaGhayour.com) is an Iranian-born, self-taught home cook turned chef,
cookery teacher and food writer. She made her name hosting the hugely popular 'Sabrina's Kitchen' supper club in London,
specializing in Persian and Middle Eastern flavors, and went on to be named the Observer's Rising Star in Food. Her
award-winning debut, Persiana, is a worldwide bestseller, and her follow-ups Sirocco, Feasts, Bazaar, Simply and Persiana
Everyday were Sunday Times bestsellers.
We Cook Filipino
Jacqueline Chio-Lauri
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804854665, $24.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Filipino-Heart-Healthy-Personalities-Award-Winning/dp/0804854661
Synopsis: A beautifully and profusely illustrated compendium of food and people, the 51 delicious recipes comprising "We
Cook Filipino: Heart-Healthy Recipes and Inspiring Stories from 36 Filipino Food Personalities and Award-Winning Chefs"
are not just "from the heart" -- they are also "good for the heart" with specifically included information about their health
benefits. The result is a cookbook presenting food as something central to Filipino culture and emotional well-being as well
as being nutritious and amazingly tasty!
Critique: Along with insightful stories and 51 different recipes, interested readers will learn many Filipino tips and
techniques to infuse an impressive array of ethnic flavors into truly memorable and authentic cultural dishes. Fascinating to
browse through and inspiring to plan menus with, "We Cook Filipino: Heart-Healthy Recipes and Inspiring Stories from 36
Filipino Food Personalities and Award-Winning Chefs" is a prized and recommended pick for personal, professional, and
community library Ethnic Cookbook collections. It should be noted that "We Cook Filipino" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $21.37).
Editorial Note: Jacqueline Chio-Lauri (@myfoodbeginnings) is the editor and lead author of this compilation of stories and
recipes, as well as the highly acclaimed The New Filipino Kitchen. Her upcoming picture books are based on the lives of
Filipino food icons Maria Orosa and Ma Mon Luk.
Instant Pot Indian
Anupy Singla
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572843172, $21.95, PB, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Indian-Instant-Pot-Cookbook-Authentic/dp/1572843179
Synopsis: Taking full advantage of the ease and convenience of the Instant Pot, with the publication of "Instant Pot Indian:
70 Full-Flavor, Authentic Recipes for Any Sized Instant Pot", cookbook author Anupy Singla presents 70 Indian favorites
you can make in minutes.
Singla experimented with every size of Instant Pot to ensure that home cooks would get the full, delicious flavor in every
recipe, every time. These no-guesswork recipes are simpler than their traditional counterparts and healthier than restaurant
favorites, as they don't require extra oil and fat.
The "Indian Spices 101" chapter introduces readers to the mainstay spices of an Indian kitchen, as well as how to store,
prepare, and combine them in different ways. Among these 70 recipes are all the classics (specialties like dal, palak paneer,
and aloo gobi), as well as dishes like butter chicken, keema, and much more.
Singla's clear, detailed instructions walk even the most novice of family cooks through the process of using an electric
pressure cooker. The result is a successful and enticing introduction to healthful, flavorful Indian food made using the
simplicity and convenience of the Instant Pot.
Critique: Illustrated throughout with full color, full page photos of finished dishes, the large format (9 x 0.5 x 8 inches, 1.25
pounds) paperback edition of Anupy Singla's "Instant Pot Indian: 70 Full-Flavor, Authentic Recipes for Any Sized Instant
Pot" from Agate Surrey will prove a welcome source for planning memorable menus featuring palate pleasing, appetite
satisfying dishes suitable for both formal and informal dining occasions. While also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $10.99), "Instant Pot Indian" is a unique and highly recommended pick for personal, professional, family, and
community library Ethnic cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Anupy Singla (https://www.indianasapplepie.com) is the author of the The Indian Slow Cooker (Agate
Surrey, 2010), Vegan Indian Cooking (Agate Surrey, 2012), and Indian for Everyone (Agate Surrey, 2014), all of which
have been among the top-selling Indian cookbooks since their release. She is the founder and CEO of Indian As Apple Pie, a
company that creates and sells custom spice blends as well as unique home goods. Singla also blogs at Indian As Apple Pie,
and her writing has been featured in many print and online outlets. Her books have been praised in Better Homes &
Gardens, Good Housekeeping, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Entrepreneur
magazine.
Coffee Art Masterclass
Dhan Tamang
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781788404648, $14.99, HC, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Art-Masterclass-incredible-designs/dp/1788404645
Synopsis: A beginners guide to taking your coffee designs to the next level, with the publication of "Coffee Art Masterclass:
50 Incredible Coffee Designs for the Home Barista" will enable true coffee lovers to take their DIY designer coffee to the
next level with author and coffee expert Dhan Tamang's simple to follow and incredible designs.
With "Coffee Art Masterclass" you can Impress your partner, your friends and your family by making them a cup with a
design for every pastime and hobby. You will learn how to recreate famous paintings, paint mythical creatures and sculpt
stunning artworks all on the surface of your morning coffee.
There's no special equipment needed, and Dhan explains the basics, so that you can craft incredible designs from the outset.
There are even templates for quick results and tips for ensuring your art stays in place for as long as possible.
"Coffee Art Masterclass" includes next-level latte designs that everyone and anyone can achieve.
Critique: A compendium of profusely and effectively illustrated DIY step-by-step directions, "Coffee Art Masterclass: 50
Incredible Coffee Designs for the Home Barista" is a very special and unique addition to personal, professional, community,
and college/university library Coffee & Tea collections. This simple fabulous and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional
'how-to" guide to the art of coffee decoration and presentation is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$6.99).
Editorial Note: Dhan Tamang is the UK Latte Art Champion for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, as well as a finalist at
the 2016 World Latte Art Championship. He is renowned in the coffee art world for his use of color and the precision of his
designs. Originally from Nepal, Dhan has been demonstrating his techniques the world over and training would-be baristas
from his coffee lab in the UK. (https://notabarista.org/dhan-tamang-coffee-story)
Wok for Less
Ching-He Huang
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781804191590, $29.99, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wok-Less-Budget-Friendly-Asian-Minutes/dp/1804191590
Synopsis: A wok is a deep round-bottomed cooking pan of Chinese origin. It is common in Greater China, and similar pans
are found in parts of East, South and Southeast Asia, as well as being popular in other parts of the world, including the
United States. That's because the traditional wok is an incredibly quick, heat-efficient cooking method -- and a lot less
expensive (and bulky) than an air fryer.
Chinese and Asian cuisines have also always featured recipes that use cheaper ingredients. With the publication of "Wok for
Less: Budget-Friendly Asian Meals in 30 Minutes or Less", Chinese culinary authority and author Ching-He Huang focuses
on traditional, clever ways to reduce costs without scrimping on taste.
From creative ways to make fish, seafood and meat go further, to inventive veg-packed dishes that will satisfy the most
committed carnivore, and ideas for using storecupboard ingredients to make multiple meals, the DIY recipes are not only
delicious but will save on both time and money.
Critique: Presenting dishes that range from Smoked Tofu x Veggie Stir-Fry x Cashew Nuts; Prawn x Edamame Fried Rice;
Honey Soy Chicken x Mangetout x Walnuts; and Soy Egg & Broccoli Scramble; to Chinese-Style Oyster Sauce Beef Egg
Omelette; Soy Braised Sweet Potato & Chickpea Ramen; Bang Bang Chicken Peanut Noodles, "Wok For Less:
Budget-Friendly Asian Meals in 30 Minutes or Less" features full color, full page photos of finished dishes. Simply stated,
"Wok for Less: Budget-Friendly Asian Meals in 30 Minutes or Less" is an extraordinary and thoroughly 'kitchen cook
friendly' compendium of wok created, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, and memorable dishes for any formal or informal
dining experience.
Editorial Note: Ching-He Huang (https://www.chinghehuang.com) was born in Taipei, Taiwan. An Emmy-nominated TV
chef, her culinary ethos is to use fresh, organic, ethically sourced ingredients to create modern dishes that fuse Chinese
tradition with innovation. Her TV series include Chinese Food Made Easy, Chinese Food in Minutes, Exploring China and
Ching's Amazing Asia. She is the author of ten cookbooks including Stir Crazy, Eat Clean: Wok Yourself to Health,
Exploring China, Ching's Fast Food, Everyday Easy Chinese, Everyday Easy Asian, Ching's Chinese Food in Minutes,
Chinese Food Made Easy and China Modern. She appears regularly on TV in both the UK and US, including on BBC
Saturday Kitchen and ITV's Lorraine.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs
James Goldgeler, author
Tamara Cofman Wittes, author
Georgetown University Press
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781647123833, $24.95, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Foreign-Policy-Careers-PhDs-Possibilities/dp/1647123836
Synopsis: Whether out of choice or necessity, many people with doctorates pursue careers outside the academic world.
"Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs: A Practical Guide to a World of Possibilities" by co-authors James Goldgeler and Tamara
Cofman Wittes provides a wealth of sound information, practical advice, and inspiring encouragement to PhD holders who
are considering a career in foreign policy.
Both Professor James Goldgeier and Senior Sanctions Policy Adviser Tamara Cofman Wittes draw on their own
experiences and present inspiring interviews with over two dozen practitioners who successfully made the transition to
policy work.
"Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs" reveals the wide array of public, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations that hire PhD
holders. This instructive study serves as a compass for job seekers as they navigate the policy community, think about the
opportunities that would be right for them, and present themselves as attractive candidates. "Foreign Policy Careers for
PhDs" then concludes with appendixes that list employers, fellowships, networking groups, and more.
Critique: Simply stated, "Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs: A Practical Guide to a World of Possibilities" is essential and
invaluable reading for anyone who is exploring private and governmental foreign policy career possibilities and is a unique
and seminal resource for academic advisers and career counselors. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, "Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs: A Practical Guide to a World of Possibilities" is also available for personal
reading lists and college/university library Jobs/Careers collections in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: James Goldgeier is a professor of international relations and former dean of the School of International
Service at American University. He has served at the State Department and on the National Security Council staff.
Editorial Note #2: Tamara Cofman Wittes is a senior sanctions policy adviser in the Biden administration and was
previously a senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution and a deputy assistant secretary
of state for Near Eastern affairs during the Obama administration.
The International Studies Shelf
The Russia That We Have Lost
Pavel Khazanov
University of Wisconsin Press
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299345105, $89.95, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Russia-That-We-Have-Lost/dp/0299345106
Synopsis: In 1917, Bolshevik revolutionaries overthrew the tsar of Russia and established a new, communist government,
one that viewed the Imperial Russia of old as a righteously vanquished enemy. And yet, as Professor Pavel Khazanov shows
with the publication of "The Russia That We Have Lost", that after the collapse of Stalinism, a reconfiguration of Imperial
Russia slowly began to emerge, recalling the culture of tsarist Russia not as a disgrace but as a glory, a past to not only
remember but to recover, and to deploy against what to many seemed like a discredited socialist project.
Professor Khazanov's careful untangling of this discourse in the late Soviet period reveals a process that involved figures of
all political stripes, from staunch conservatives to avowed intelligentsia liberals. Further, Professor Khazanov shows that
this process occurred not outside of or in opposition to Soviet guidance and censorship, but in mainstream Soviet culture
that commanded wide audiences, especially among the Soviet middle class.
Excavating the cultural logic of this newly foundational, mythic memory of a "lost Russia," Khazanov reveals why, despite
the apparently liberal achievement of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Boris Yeltsin (and later, Vladimir Putin)
would successfully steer Russia into oligarchy and an increasing autocracy.
The anti-Soviet memory of the pre-Soviet past, ironically constructed during the late socialist period, became and remains a
politically salient narrative, a point of consensus that surprisingly attracts both contemporary regime loyalists and their
would-be liberal opposition.
Critique: A fascinating and seminal study, "The Russia That We Have Lost" by Professor Pavel Khazanov is informatively
enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a listing of the illustrations provided, twenty-two pages of Notes, an eight page
Bibliography, and a twelve page Index. Of special and particular interest to students of Russian History,
Communism/Socialism, and Russian Popular Culture, "The Russia That We Have Lost" is a welcome contribution
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections and supplemental Russian
Studies curriculum reading lists.
Editorial Note: Pavel Khazanov is an assistant professor of Russian at Rutgers University, where he teaches courses on
Russian literature and history. (https://reell.rutgers.edu/people/faculty/pavel-khazanov)
The Political Science Shelf
Filibustered!: How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America
Senator Jeff Merkley with Mike Zamore
The New Press
www.thenewpress.com
9781620977989, $27.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Filibustered-How-Senate-Broke-America/dp/1620977982
Synopsis: If we want to fix what ails America, we have to fix the Senate. And if we want to fix the Senate, we must fix the
broken filibuster.
In a compelling and powerfully argued book, the U.S. Senator from the state of Oregon, Jeff Merkley, with the help of his
longtime chief of staff Mike Zamore tells an insiders' story of how the Senate used to work and how the filibuster came to
cripple the self-styled "World's Greatest Deliberative Body" with paralyzing gridlock. And they make the surprising case
that restoring a modified version of the old-style, talking filibuster may just be our democracy's best and only path back
from the brink of legislative disaster.
For nearly two centuries, the Senate (as designed by the Founders) served the purpose originally envisioned: it was a
deliberative legislative body where the nation's thorniest challenges were hashed out. Senators had the ability to speak at
length and offer any manner of amendments to influence bills, and then when all had had a say, the Senate voted. Senators
who objected to passing a bill could wage a defiant filibuster -- in the spirit of fictional Senator Smith who talked until he
collapsed in order to block a corrupt railroad deal in the classic 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. But at the end of
the day, nearly all legislation, amendments, and nominations went to a vote, and the majority prevailed.
Today, however, thanks to abuse of a fifty-year-old reform intended to make it easier for the Senate to pass legislation, the
exceedingly difficult, rare filibuster has morphed, plunging the Senate into dysfunction and threatening the very foundations
of our democracy. Now, the minority party can simply declare a "no-talk" filibuster, insisting on a super- majority of sixty
votes to pass nearly any bill or a lengthy process to confirm any of the president's nominees -- giving themselves a veto over
the majority's agenda. Wildly popular bills languish, judgeships and administrative posts remain unfilled, military leadership
positions go empty, but ordinary citizens can't see why because the obstruction all takes place behind closed doors.
With the publication of "Filibustered!: How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America", Senator Jeff Merkley deftly
combines a fascinating romp through key moments in filibuster history (from the first filibuster in 1841 through Southern
Dixiecrat filibusters of civil rights legislation, up through Mitch McConnell's transformation of the filibuster into a routine
tool of perennial gridlock) with firsthand accounts of recent high-profile legislative fights, and a compelling argument that
the key to the Senate's future may be found in its past.
Critique: Every American citizen and voter who views congress in general (and the U.S. Senate in particular) as broken
should give "Filibustered!: How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America" by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and
immediate and careful reading from first page to last. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Filibustered!:
How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Contemporary American Political Science collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, political activists, and governmental policy makers that
"Filibustered!: How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Senator Jeff Merkley has served in the U.S. Senate since 2009 and has been a champion of reforming our
democracy and a vigorous advocate for tackling inequality and climate change. He has written a number of proposals to
restore the talking filibuster and responded to the Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination with the eighth-longest speech in
Senate history, clocking in at nearly fifteen and a half hours. He is the author of "America Is Better Than This"
(Twelve).
Editorial Note #2: Mike Zamore was Senator Jeff Merkley's longtime chief of staff and a twenty-two year veteran of Capitol
Hill. The co-author (with Senator Merkley) of Filibustered! (The New Press), he is a leading expert on Senate
procedure.
The Computer Shelf
How AI Works: From Sorcery to Science
Donald T. Kneusel
No Starch Press
www.nostarch.com
9781718503724, $29.99, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/How-AI-Works-Sorcery-Science/dp/1718503725
Synopsis: Artificial intelligence is now to be found everywhere, from self-driving cars, to image generation from text, to the
unexpected power of language systems like ChatGPT -- yet few people seem to know how it all really works.
With the publication of "How AI Works: From Sorcery to Science", AI expert Donald T. Kneusel unravels the mysteries of
artificial intelligence, without the complex math and unnecessary jargon.
"How AI Works" explains: The relationship between artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning; The history
behind AI and why the artificial intelligence revolution is happening now; How decades of work in symbolic AI failed and
opened the door for the emergence of neural networks; What neural networks are, how they are trained, and why all the
wonder of modern AI boils down to a simple, repeated unit that knows how to multiply input numbers to produce an output
number; The implications of large language models, like ChatGPT and Bard, on our society -- nothing will be the same
again.
AI isn't magic. If you've ever wondered how it works, what it can do, or why there's so much hype, "How AI Works" will
teach you everything you want to know.
Critique: A timely and invaluable contribution to our current national dialogue and concerns about artificial intelligence and
its impacts for good or ill on human society, "How AI Works: From Sorcery to Science" will prove of immense interest to
both professional and non-specialist general readers wanting to know what it is and what it can do. Exceptionally well
written, organized and presented, "How AI Works: From Sorcery to Science" must be considered an essential and valued
addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, political activists,
governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "How AI Works: From
Sorcery to Science" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Ronald T. Kneusel is a data scientist who builds deep-learning (AI) systems, as well as extensive experience
with medical imaging and the development of medical devices. He earned a PhD in machine learning from the University of
Colorado, Boulder, has nearly 20 years of machine learning experience in industry, and is presently pursuing deep-learning
projects with L3Harris Technologies, Inc. Kneusel is also the author of Random Numbers and Computers (Springer 2018),
in addition to Math for Deep Learning, Practical Deep Learning, Strange Code, and The Art of Randomness -- all of which
are published by No Starch Press.
Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations
Micah Lee
No Starch Press
www.nostarch.com
9781718503120, $49.99, PB, 544pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hacks-Leaks-Revelations-Micah-Lee/dp/1718503121
Synopsis: With the publication of "Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations: The Art of Analyzing Hacked and Leaked Data" by
cybersecurity expert and investigative reporter Micah Lee it is now possible to unlock the internet's treasure trove of public
interest data. This hands-on DIY guide blends real-world techniques for researching large datasets with lessons on coding,
data authentication, and digital security. All of this is spiced up with gripping and illustrative stories from the front lines of
investigative journalism.
Readers will be able to dive into exposed datasets from a wide array of sources: the FBI, the DHS, police intelligence
agencies, extremist groups like the Oath Keepers, and even a Russian ransomware gang. Lee's own in-depth case studies on
disinformation-peddling pandemic profiteers and neo-Nazi chatrooms serve as blueprints for your research.
Readers can gain practical skills in searching massive troves of data for keywords like "antifa" and pinpointing documents
with newsworthy revelations. Of special note is the crash course in Python to automate the analysis of millions of files.
"Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations" covers: Mastering encrypted messaging to safely communicate with whistle blowers;
Securing datasets over encrypted channels using Signal, Tor Browser, OnionShare, and SecureDrop; Harvesting data from
the BlueLeaks collection of internal memos, financial records, and more from over 200 state, local, and federal agencies;
Probing leaked email archives about offshore detention centers and the Heritage Foundation; Analyzing metadata from
videos of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, sourced from the Parler social network.
We live in an age where hacking and whistleblowing can unearth secrets that alter history. "Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations"
is an effective DIY toolkit for uncovering new stories and hidden truths.
Critique: Of special interest for anyone concerned with the increasing issues around cyberspace and internet database
security, "Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations: The Art of Analyzing Hacked and Leaked Data" must be considered basic,
fundamental reading. While also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.99),
"Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations: The Art of Analyzing Hacked and Leaked Data" is especially and unreservedly
recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, community, corporate, governmental, and college/university
library Computer Network Security and Computer Hacking collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Micah Lee (https://micahflee.com) is a renowned investigative journalist and computer security engineer
celebrated for securing Edward Snowden's NSA leak. He is the director of information security at The Intercept and an
advisor to the transparency collective Distributed Denial of Secrets. A former EFF staff technologist and Freedom of the
Press Foundation co-founder, Lee is also a Tor Project contributor and the developer of open source security tools like
OnionShare and Dangerzone.
The Biography Shelf
General Joseph Warren Revere
William R. Chemerka
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9781629337876, $50.00, HC, 324pp
https://www.amazon.com/General-Joseph-Warren-Revere-hardback/dp/1629337870
Synopsis: Joseph Warren Revere was a grandson of the legendary Paul Revere. He served in the U.S. Navy;
circumnavigated the globe; raised the first American flag in Sonoma, California during the Mexican War; battled pirates,
sharks, and Indians; searched for gold; had a scandalous affair; joined the Union Army and received a court-martial for his
actions at the Battle of Chancellorsville during the Civil War. And then he began the fight of his life.
With the publication of "General Joseph Warren Revere: The Gothic Saga of Paul Revere's Grandson", William R.
Chemerka, (who is an award-winning educator, author, History Channel commentator, and recipient of the North Jersey
Civil War Round Table's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012), brings the untold story of Revere's Gothic adventures to
life in this detailed biography.
Critique: Featuring occasional B/W historical photos, three Appendices (Joseph Warren Revere and Family; Revere's
Brigade within the Army of the Potomac's Order of Battle at Chancellorsville; Casualties in Revere's Brigade at the Battle of
Chancellorsville), a ten page Bibliography, and a thirty page Index, "General Joseph Warren Revere: The Gothic Saga of
Paul Revere's Grandson" is welcome contribution to the growing body of American Civil War Histories/Biographies. While
a especially recommended pick for community and college/university library collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "General Joseph Warren Revere: The Gothic Saga of Paul Revere's Grandson is also readily available in a
paperback edition (9798656521581 $30.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.90).
Editorial Note: There is an extensive list of books by William R. Chemerka on the GoodReads website at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/111065.William_R_Chemerka
Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus
Lindsay Powell
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781848846173, $39.95, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Marcus-Agrippa-Right-Hand-Caesar-Augustus/dp/1848846177
Synopsis: Marcus Agrippa (63 BC - 12 BC) personified the term 'right-hand man'. As Emperor Augustus' deputy, he waged
wars, pacified provinces, beautified Rome, and played a crucial role in laying the foundations of the Pax Romana for the
next two hundred years -- but he served always in the knowledge he would never rule in his own name. Why he did so, and
never grasped power exclusively for himself, has perplexed historians for centuries.
In his teens he formed a lifelong friendship with Julius Caesar's great nephew, Caius Octavius, which would change world
history. Following Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March 44 BC, Agrippa was instrumental in asserting his friend's
rights as the dictator's heir. He established a reputation as a bold admiral, defeating Sextus Pompeius at Mylae and
Naulochus (36 BC), culminating in the epoch-making Battle of Actium (31 BC), which eliminated Marcus Antonius and
Queen Cleopatra as rivals. He proved his genius for military command on land by ending bloody rebellions in the
Cimmerian Bosporus, Gaul, Hispania and Illyricum.
In Gaul Agrippa established the vital road network that helped turn Julius Caesar's conquests into viable provinces. As a
diplomat, he befriended Herod the Great of Judaea and stabilized the East. As minister of works he overhauled Rome's
drains and aqueducts, transformed public bathing in the city, created public parks with great artworks and built the original
Pantheon.
Agrippa became co-ruler of the Roman Empire with Augustus and married his daughter Julia. His three sons were adopted
by his friend as potential heirs to the throne. Agrippa's unexpected death in 12 BC left Augustus bereft, but his bloodline
lived on in the imperial family, through Agrippina the Elder to his grandson Caligula and great grandson Nero.
With the publication of "Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus", historian Lindsay Powell is illustrated
with color plates, figures and high quality maps. Powell also presents a penetrating new assessment of the life and
achievements of the multifaceted man who put service to friend and country before himself.
Critique: Significantly enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an informative Foreword by Stephen Saylor,
illustrations and maps, two Appendices (Res Publica: The Commonwealth Systems of Government of the Late Roman
Republic; Agrippa's Travels), a five page Glossary, a four page listing of Place Names, a three page listing of Ancient
Sources, sixty-four pages of Notes, a thirteen page Bibliography, and an eleven page Index, "Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand
Man of Caesar Augustus " is a model of scholarship in both detailed documentation and research.
An exceptionally well written, organized and presented study, "Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus" is a
significant and strongly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Ancient
Roman History & Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of
Caesar Augustus" is also available in a paperback edition (9781399024808, $26.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$2.99).
Editorial Note: Lindsay Powell (https://lindsay-powell.com) writes for Ancient History and Ancient Warfare magazine, and
his articles have also appeared in Military Heritage and Strategy and Tactics. He is author of the highly acclaimed Marcus
Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus, Germanicus: The Magnificent Life and Mysterious Death of Rome's Most
Popular General and Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania, all published by Pen
& Sword Books. His appearances include BBC Radio, British Forces Broadcasting Service, History Channel and
HistoryHit.
Gravity: Selected Letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens
Barbara E. Snedecor
University of Missouri Press
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826222916, $50.00, HC, 414pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gravity-Selected-Letters-Langdon-Clemens/dp/0826222919
Synopsis: Deftly collected and edited by Barbara E. Nedecor, "Gravity: Selected Letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens" is
volume of letters written by the wife of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) -- Olivia Louise Langdon Clemens. She writes in
her correspondence on her own terms, in her own voice, and as complementary partner to her world-famous spouse who
wrote under the pseudonym of Mark Twain.
Olivia Celmens is revealed in her letters as an enduring friend, the mother to four children, a world traveler, and so much
more. The frail woman often portrayed by scholars, biographers, and Twain himself is largely absent in these letters. Instead,
Olivia (who Twain affectionately referred to as "Gravity" in their early correspondence) emerges as a resilient and energetic
nineteenth-century woman, her family's source and center of stability, and a well of private and public grace in an
ever-changing landscape.
Mark Twain's biography recounted in Olivia's letters offers new insights, and her captivating voice is certain to engage and
enlighten readers.
Critique: A seminal work of original and meticulous scholarship, "Gravity: Selected Letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens" is
a major contribution to our understanding of the life and times of Samuel Clemens who the world will ever remember as the
authentic American literary genium -- Mark Twain. Of special value to readers with an interest in women's biographies and
19th Century American literature, "Gravity: Selected Letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens" is an especially and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections and supplemental
MarkTwain curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "Gravity: Selected Letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $52.25).
Editorial Note: Barbara Snedecor (1929-2021) served for many years as Director of the Center for Mark Twain Studies at
Elmira College, New York. In addition to editing the second edition of Mark Twain in Elmira, she has contributed pieces to
the Mark Twain Annual and American Literary Realism.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Red Harvest
Michael Cherkas
NBM Publishing
www.nbmpub.com
9781681123202, $19.99, HC, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Harvest-Graphic-Terror-Ukraine/dp/1681123207
Synopsis: Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin waged a brutal war against the Soviet peasantry leading to the Holodomor, the
terror-famine that killed at least 4 million Ukrainians during the fall and winter of 1932-33.
"Red Harvest: A Graphic Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine" is a graphic novel by Michael Cherkas that is based
on the tragic events that took place in Soviet Ukraine and other parts of the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1933.
Stalin and the ruling Communist Party began their program of forced large-scale collectivization of individual farms and
farmers, including the seizure of livestock, farm implements, crops, seed stock, and other property.
Although "Red Harvest" is the fictional story, it is also historically accurate and based on true stories as related to the
Ukranian-Canadian author, of Mykola Kovalenko, a Ukrainian immigrant to Canada, who was the only member of his
family to have survived the famine. Through his memories, we witness the horrors of what happened to his family and
fellow villagers in the "breadbasket of Europe" as they struggled not only to make sense of the war that was being waged
against them -- but, ultimately, to survive.
Critique: A simply riveting read from start to finish, "Red Harvest: A Graphic Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet
Ukraine" raises the medium of the graphic novel to a peerless level of literary excellence. The visual imagery is memorably
and effective rendered in black-and-white. "Red Harvest" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, and college/university library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted that "Red Harvest" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Michael Cherkas (https://canadianaci.ca/Encyclopedia/cherkas-michael) was born in Oshawa, Ontario in
1954 from Ukrainian roots. He has worked for over 30 years as a graphic designer, art director, cartoonist and illustrator. He
still enjoys using non-repro blue pencils, brush, India ink and paper when making comics. His other graphic novels include
the critically praised The Silent Invasion.
Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind
Bruce Dickinson, et al.
Z2 Comics
https://z2comics.com
9781954928268, $39.99, HC, 120pp
https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Maiden-Piece-Bruce-Dickinson/dp/1954928262
Synopsis: 40 years have passed since the release of "Piece of Mind" by the heavy metal rock band Iron Maiden. More than
just an album, it was a thunderous statement of intent by a band whose meteoric rise from the East End of London would
propel them to the world stage, thrusting them into the realms of legend.
In the format of a graphic novel, "Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind" is commemorative tome, containing comics, art, and
remembrances from acclaimed writers, artists, musicians and storytellers, is a powerful celebration of the unparalleled
vision which inspired them -- the living legend that is IRON MAIDEN.
Critique: An absolute 'must' for the legions of heavy metal fans in general, and Iron Maiden fans in particular, "Iron Maiden:
Piece of Mind" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university Rock Music
graphic novel collections.
Editorial Note: Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and
primary songwriter Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most of the band's history has
consisted of Harris, lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and
Janick Gers. As pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, Iron Maiden released a series of UK and US
Platinum and Gold albums, including 1980's debut album, 1981's Killers, and 1982's The Number of the Beast - its first
album with Bruce Dickinson, who replaced Paul Di'Anno as lead singer. The addition of Dickinson was a turning point in
their career, establishing them as one of heavy metal's most important bands. The Number of the Beast is among the most
popular heavy metal albums of all time, having sold almost 20 million copies worldwide.
Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby
Arthur de Pins, author
NBM Publishing
www.nbmpub.com
9781681123172, $24.99, HC, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Zombillenium-Vols-5-6-Friday-Sabbath/dp/1681123177
Synopsis: The day after "Black Friday" at Zombillenium, the employees have carte blanche to devour the visitors,
encouraged by management who intends to profit from these gains in new souls.
To thwart Charlotte and Aurelian's sinister plans with her resistance network, Gretchen must first settle accounts with her
past. And in the last culminating episode, The Zombillenium amusement park, which still keeps dozens of visitors prisoner,
is coveted by many demons, each eager to become a majority shareholder.
The only method of arbitration accepted by all: the Sabbath Grand Derby, a sporting event as violent as it is inventive in
which five witches compete against each other and will be fed to visitors to the park... Among the candidates, a certain
Gretchen, determined to play her best...
The spectators of the Sabbath Grand Derby, broadcast like an ordinary reality TV program, will get an eyeful! As for
Gretchen, she is facing a handful! The most spectacular of the Zombillenium volumes "Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black
Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby" for an true apotheosis of a finale!
Critique: This large format (9 x 0.5 x 12 inches, 1.53 pounds) hardcover edition of Arthur de Pins' superbly original graphic
novel series from NBM Publishing, "Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby" is a fun read from start
to finish and will prove to be of particular interest to fans of humor laced fantasy fiction. While highly recommended for
personal and community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted that "Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black
Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note: French artist and author Arthur de Pins was born in Brittany in 1977. He got his start as a professional
comics creator with the magazine Fluide Glacial, and the series P ch s mignons (published by Fluide Glamour), starting in
2006. In 2010, de Pins debuted a new series, the black comedy Zombillenium (Dupuis; NBM/Europe Comics in English).
The success of the series led to the release of a feature-length animated film in 2017, and which was co-written and
co-directed by de Pins.
The Audiobook Shelf
Sisters Under the Rising Sun
Heather Morris, author
Laura Carmichael, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250322838, $39.99, CD
https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Under-Rising-Sun-Novel/dp/1250322839
Synopsis: In the midst of World War II, an English musician, Norah Chambers, places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on
a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army as they move down through the Pacific. Norah
remains to care for her husband and elderly parents, knowing she may never see her child again.
Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese
she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship.
Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke
lies broken on the seabed.
After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by
the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. The camps are places of starvation and brutality, where disease
runs rampant. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side every day, helping whoever they can, and discovering in
themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination.
"Sisters under the Rising Sun" is a story of women in war: a novel of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of
circumstances.
Critique: A riveting 'theatre of the mind' experience brought vividly to life by the impressive narrative storytelling talents of
Laura Carmichael, this complete and unabridged CD audio book edition from Macmillan Audio of "Sisters under the Rising
Sun" by Heather Morris is a highly recommended pick for personal listening lists and community library Historical
Fiction/World War II Fiction audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Heather Morris is a native of New Zealand who now resides in Australia. For several years, while
working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, she studied and wrote screenplays, one of which was optioned by an
Academy Award-winning screenwriter in the US. In 2003, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who 'might just
have a story worth telling'. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Their friendship grew and Lale
embarked on a journey of self-scrutiny, entrusting the innermost details of his life during the Holocaust to her. Heather
originally wrote Lale's story as a screenplay (which ranked high in international competitions) before reshaping it into her
debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Editorial Note #2: Laura Carmichael is an English actress, most widely known for her performance as Lady Edith Crawley
in the ITV (UK) and PBS (US) television period drama series Downtown Abbey. Her other work includes television series
Marcella (2016), and the feature film A United Kingdom (2016). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Carmichael)
Inheritance: The Lost Bride Trilogy
Nora Roberts, author
Brittany Pressley, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250902450, $39.99, CD
https://www.amazon.com/Inheritance-Lost-Bride-Trilogy-1/dp/1250902452
Synopsis: 1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be
consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to
leave him...
Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about - and that her
newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the
Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off
to find out why the boys were separated at birth - and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to
light.
Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya's unease - and acknowledges that yes,
the place is haunted... but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees
a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle's office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom
the lawyer refers to as "the first lost bride." It's becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has
inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it.
Critique: Another gem of a story with elements of romance, mystery, and suspense, acclaimed novelist Nora Robert's
"Inheritance" is brought fully to life by the narrative storytelling excellence of vocal actor Brittany Pressley. Volume 1 of
Robert's 'The Lost Bride Trilogy', this complete and unabridged CD audio book is expressly and unreservedly recommended
for personal and community library audio book collections -- and a 'must' for the legions of Nora Robert's fans.
Editorial Note #1: Nora Roberts (https://noraroberts.com) is the author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place,
Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the In Death series written under the pen name J.D.
Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print.
Editorial Note #2: Brittany Pressley Brittany is an Audiofile Earphones award winning narrator in NYC. She has recorded
over 100 titles and has received several nominations for American Library Association's annual list of Amazing Audiobooks
for Young Adults. She is also an accomplished singer/songwriter and voice actress. Her voice can be heard on national and
international TV and radio commercials as well as several animated series and video games.
(https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Brittany+Pressley)
Bright Lights, Big Christmas
Mary Kay Andrews, author
Kathleen McInerney, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250902467, $39.99, CD
https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Lights-Big-Christmas-Novel/dp/1250902460
Synopsis: Newly single and unemployed Kerry Tolliver needs a second chance. When she moves back home to her family's
Christmas tree farm in North Carolina, she is guilt tripped into helping her brother, Murphy, sell trees in New York City.
She begrudgingly agrees, but she isn't happy about sharing a trailer with her brother in the East Village for two months.
Plus, it's been years, since before her parents' divorce, that she's been to the city to sell Christmas trees.
Then, Kerry meets Patrick, the annoying Mercedes owner who parked in her spot for the first two days. Patrick is recently
divorced, a father to a six year old son, and lives in the neighborhood. Can Kerry's first impressions about the recently
divorced, single father, and (dare she say handsome) neighbor be wrong?
Surrounded by warm childhood memories, sparkling possibility, and the magic of Christmas in the City, will Kerry finally
get the second chance she needs to find herself... and maybe even find love?
Critique: Of particular and very special interest to fans of deftly crafted romance novels set against the background of the
Christmas season, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of novelist Mary Kay Andrews' "Bright Lights, Big
Christmas" is expertly narrated by the storytelling talents of Kathleen McInerney who successfully presents this fun novella
for the entertainment for the fans of romance and the holiday season of Christmas. Simply stated, "Bright Lights, Big
Christmas" is a delightfully fun and unreservedly recommended pick for personal and community library Romance Fiction
audio book collections.
Editorial Note: Mary Kay Andrews is the author of 27 novels including: Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide
Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Christmas Bliss; Ladies' Night; Spring Fever; and Summer Rental, all
from St. Martin's Press, as well as Savannah Breeze; Blue Christmas; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues, all
Harper Collins), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.
Editorial Note #2: Kathleen McInerney has narrated numerous audiobooks by bestselling authors such as Emily Giffin,
Danielle Steel, Jeffrey Stepakoff, Mary Kay Andrews, and Linda Castillo. Her narration of Just One Day by Gayle Forman
won an AudioFile Earphones Award. She has appeared onstage in New York and around the United States in both classical
and contemporary theater. Her credits also include television commercials, daytime drama, radio plays, and animation
voice-overs.
The Fragile Threads of Power
V. E. Schwab, author
Kate Reading, Marisa Calin, Michael Kramer, narrators
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250911308, $59.99, CD
https://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Threads-Power/dp/1250911303
Synopsis: Once there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power and connected by a
single city: London.
After a desperate attempt to prevent corruption and ruin in the four Londons, there are left only three: Grey London, thriving
but barely able to remember its magical heritage; Red London, ruled lately by the Maresh family, flourishing and powerful;
White London, left to brutality and decay.
Now the worlds are going to collide anew -- brought to a dangerous precipice by the discoveries of three remarkable
magicians.
There's Kosika, the child queen of White London, who has nourished her city on blood and dreams - and whose growing
devotion to both is leading her down a dangerous path.
Then there's Delilah Bard, born a thief in Grey London, who crossed the worlds to become a legend far from there. She's an
infamous magician, a devious heroine, and a risk-taking rogue, all rolled into one unforgettable package. Having
disappeared to seek new adventure, an old favor now calls Lila back to a dangerous port, to join some old friends who need
more help than they realize.
Last there is Tes, a young runaway with an unusual and powerful ability, hiding out in Red London while trying to stay out
of the limelight.
Tes is the only one who can keep all the worlds from unraveling -- if she manages to stay alive first!
Critique: The first volume of author V. E. Schwab's new 'Threads of Power' fantasy series, and collaboratively performed by
the narrative team of Kate Reading, Marisa Calin, and Michael Kramer, "The Fragile Threads of Power" is an extraordinary,
entertaining, compelling, complete and unabridged audio book from Macmillan Audio. Certain to be a treasured pick for
personal reading lists and community library Fantasy/Science Fiction audio book collections, "The Fraile Threads of Power"
will leave its listeners looking eagerly toward the next installment of the 'Threads of Power' series.
Editorial Note #1: Victoria "V. E." Schwab is the author of more than twenty books, including the acclaimed Shades
universe, the Villains series, the City of Ghosts series, Gallant and the international bestseller The Invisible Life of Addie
LaRue. Her work has received critical acclaim, been translated into over two dozen languages, and optioned for television
and film. First Kill (a YA vampire series based on Schwab's short story of the same name) is now a Netflix series.
Editorial Note #2: Kate Reading is the recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards and has been named by AudioFile
magazine as a "Voice of the Century," as well as the Best Voice in Science Fiction & Fantasy in 2008 and 2009 and Best
Voice in Biography & Culture in 2010. She has narrated works by such authors as Jane Austen, Robert Jordan, Edith
Wharton, and Sophie Kinsella. Reading has performed at numerous theaters in Washington D.C. and received a Helen
Hayes Award for her performance in Aunt Dan and Lemon.
Editorial Note #3: Marisa Calin is an actress, narrator, and novelist born in England and educated in New York at the
American Academy of the Dramatic Arts. An artist with a flair for everything literary, she has written a young adult novel,
You & Me, which received a Kirkus Starred Review, and has narrated the audio books Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue by
Kerstin Gier.
Editorial Note #4: Michael Kramer has narrated over 100 audiobooks for many bestselling authors. He read all of Robert
Jordan's epic Wheel of Time fantasy-adventure series as well as Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive series. He
received AudioFile magazine's Earphones Award for the Kent Family series by John Jakes and for Alan Fulsom's The Day
After Tomorrow. His work includes recording books for the Library of Congress's Talking Books program for the blind and
physically handicapped.
The Wrong Guy
Lauren Landish, author
CJ Bloom, narrator
Ryan West, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781501208898, $19.99, MP3-CD (10 Hours 10 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Guy-Cold-Springs/dp/1501208896
Synopsis: Wren Ford is the city attorney for Cold Springs -- a job she takes seriously. Good thing she has a great form of
stress relief: a friends-with-benefits arrangement with the well-muscled and very attentive construction worker Jesse
Sullivan. Wren's heart secretly craves more, but how can she fess up her feelings to a man who doesn't want to get tied
down?
Jesse is head over heels in love with Wren, but he can't picture a happily ever after. What would an attorney and
out-of-his-league goddess want with him? Especially when a flirty, cocky lawyer who screams money and power shows an
interest in Wren.
As a scandalous high-profile split escalates from name-calling to corporate takeovers, Wren and Jesse must team up to find
a way to protect the people and the town they love. And everyone in Cold Springs is rooting for them to figure out that
maybe, against all odds, they're made for each other.
Critique: A 'must' for the legions of dedicated rom-com fans, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of Lauren
Landish new novel, "The Wrong Guy" is astutely narrated by the combined vocal storytelling skills of co-narrators CJ Boom
and Bryan West. The result is a complete and unabridged audio book that is especially and unreservedly recommended to
the attention of the growing legions of Lauren Landish fans and community library Comedy/Romance audio book
collections.
Editorial Note #1: Lauren Landish (www.LaurenLandish.com) specializes in sexy contemporary romances which includes
her wildly successful Bennett Boys Ranch books, the Truth or Dare series, and the Big Fat Fake series. When Lauren isn't
plotting ways to introduce readers to their next sexy-as-hell book boyfriend, she's deep in her writing cave and furiously
tapping away on her keyboard, crafting scenes that would make even a hardened sailor blush.
Editorial Note #2: CJ Blooms (https://www.carlyrobins.com) is the professional nome de plume of Carly Robins who is an
actor and voiceover artist based in NYC. She has narrated close to 1000 audiobooks and has completely fallen in love with
the medium. Her voice can also be heard on video games, promos, commercials, animation and ESL. She has written and
produced her own work for both stage and screen.
Editorial Note #3: Ryan West (https://tantor.com/narrator/ryan-west.html) is the narrator of nearly 200 titles.
The Snow Angel
Anki Edvinsson, author
Paul Norlan, translator
Stina Nielsen, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781491594599, $19.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours 48 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Angel-Detectives-Klint-Berg/dp/1491594594
Synopsis: When a suicidal teenage boy leaps to his death from a bridge in the northern town of Ume , Sweden, police
discover drugs scattered in the snow near his body. The town has seen a dramatic increase in narcotic use among its youth,
but nobody knows where the pills are coming from.
Relocating from Stockholm with her teenage daughter, Detective Charlotte von Klint expected Ume to be a quiet
backwater, a snow-covered change of pace from fighting the criminal underworld of the capital. But when a pharmacist is
found brutally murdered in her apartment, and a young girl and her dealer boyfriend vanish without a trace after a party,
suddenly Ume doesn't seem so benign. And the boy on the bridge doesn't feel like an isolated incident.
Is the dealer the perpetrator? Or just another victim? And can it be a coincidence that a shadow from Charlotte's past,
Syndicates boss Tony Israelsson, has recently been released from prison and is reportedly headed for Ume ?
As the snow deepens and the body count rises, Charlotte and her boss, local cop Per Berg, find themselves in a deadly
pursuit, with time rapidly running out.
Critique: An inherently compelling mystery of suspense and unexpected plot twists, Anki Edvinsson's deftly crafted novel,
"The Snow Angel" is brought vividly to life in a true 'theatre of the mind" experience in this complete and unabridged
Brilliance Audio edition. Of very special interest to and highly recommended lists for individual crime novel fans, "The
Snow Angel" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense audio
book collections.
Editorial Note: Anki Edvinsson is a familiar face to many Swedes from her former career as a television host, journalist and
weather forecaster. Edvinsson more or less grew up at a police station, spending her time with her father and his police
colleagues. Her older brother also made a career within the police force. Edvinsson moved from Stockholm to Ume in the
north of Sweden and joined the local news team. Following her dream to become an author, she signed up for a writing
course and began writing the crime novel that later became her debut. After eight years in the town and with valuable
insights from her years as a reporter, the setting of the book of course became Ume . -- "The Snow Angel" is her first book
to be published in English.
Editorial Note #2: Paul Norlen (https://swedishenglish.org/user/pnorlen) is a literary translator with over 20 years of
experience, including over 30 published books, numerous samples (partial or complete) for literary agents, and reader
reports for publishers. Fiction and nonfiction. He also translates from Danish and Norwegian. He holds a PhD in
Scandinavian Languages & Literature from the University of Washington and is the winner of the American Scandinavian
Foundation Translation Prize in 2004. He is the co-founder and president of Swedish Translators in North America
(STiNA).
Editorial Note #3: Stina Nielsen (https://stinanielsen.com) is a New York based actress who has performed in Film, TV,
Broadway, London's West End, and at many American Regional Theaters. She has recorded over 250 audiobooks and her
work has been recognized with numerous awards.
Salt & Broom
Sharon Lynn Fisher, author
Elizabeth Bower, narrator
Tim Bruce, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781491594650, $19.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours 32 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Broom-Sharon-Lynn-Fisher/dp/1491594659
Synopsis: Trunks packed with potions and cures, Jane Aire sets out on a crisp, clear morning in October to face the greatest
challenge of her sheltered girls'-school existence. A shadow lies over Thornfield Hall and its reclusive master, Edward
Rochester. And he's hired her only as a last resort.
Jane stumbles again and again as she tries to establish a rapport with her prickly new employer, but he becomes the least of
her worries as a mysterious force seems to work against her. The threats mount around both Jane and Rochester - who's
becoming more intriguing and appealing to her by the day.
Jane begins to fear her herb healing and protective charms may not be enough to save the man she's growing to love from a
threat darker and more dangerous than either of them imagined!
Critique: Deftly narrated by the talented team of Tim Bruce and Elizabeth Bower, this complete and unabridged Brilliace
Audio production of "Salts & Broom" by gifted storyteller Sharon Lynn Fisher is original, memorable, and unreservedly
recommended for community library Fantasy audio book collections and the personal lists of historical and romantic fantasy
novels fans.
Editorial Note #1: Sharon Lynn Fisher (www.sharonlynnfisher.com) writes smart, twisty, passionate tales that are blendings
of fantasy, sci-fi, and slow-burn romance set in lush and atmospheric worlds, including The Faery Rehistory series.
Editorial Note #2: Elizabeth Bower is an audiobook narrator. Books she has narrated include Eeny Meeny, One Plus One,
and Pop Goes the Weasel.
Editorial Note #3: Tim Bruce (https://www.beeaudio.com/narrator/tim-bruce) is a British RP actor-narrator,
Jaguar Prophecies
Jeff Wheeler, author
Kate Budd, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9798400141751, $19.99, MP3-CD (8 Hours 18 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Jaguar-Prophecies-Dresden-Codex-2/dp/B0BTYFLCH2
Synopsis: If an ancient indigenous 'end-of-the-world' prophecy is true, a vengeful descendant will reign with blood and fury.
The planets are already aligning.
For Jonathon Roth and his family, a vacation in Cozumel became a nightmare. Pawns in a deadly ritual, Roth and his
children barely escaped with their lives, and with the secrets of mastermind Jacob Calakmul. Calakmul's endgame: to fulfill
the Jaguar Prophecies -- the foretelling of an inevitable Armageddon, one that will destroy entire nations. The key to
stopping it is to retrieve an ancient codex -- if Roth can decipher it.
From a museum in Dresden where the mysterious codex is on display to the Roths' Montana home in the dead of winter, no
place is safe from Calakmul's reach. Obsessed with the legends of the magic of the Maya, Roth knows Calakmul's powers
are real. Roth's own daughter possesses them too. As Calakmul and his henchmen close in, Roth and his children are
running for their lives.
In a prepper's lair in the Montana mountains, Roth must piece together a terrifying puzzle to stop an apocalyptic vision from
coming true. If it's not already too late. Because the countdown to the end-time has already begun!
Critique: Brilliance Audio is a premier publisher of complete and unabridged audio books in an MP3-CD format. Their
audio book edition of "Jaguar Prophecies" by Jeff wheeler and which is expertly narrated by Kate Rudd, will be of special
and particular interest to fans of Native American infused science fiction stories replete with non-stop action and high
adventure. A fun listening experience from start to finish, "Jaguar Prophecies" is commended for both personal lists and
community library Audio Book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Jeff Wheeler (www.jeff-wheeler.com) is the author of over thirty epic fantasy novels. Doomsday Match
in the Dresden Codex series was the first thriller he's written since his early years as a budding author, but his many fans
think his fantasy novels are thrillers in their own way. Jeff is a husband, father of five, and devout member of his church. On
trips to the jungles of Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula, he has explored Maya ruins and cenotes, leading him to dive
even further into the history of ancient America and the Spanish conquistadors..
Editorial Note #2: Kate Budd (https://www.kateruddreads.com) is the winner of the 2013 Audie and Odyssey Awards for
her narration of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. She has been performing audiobooks for nearly a decade. A ten time
Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award recipient, Kate's performances have garnered inclusion in Audiofile's Best
Audiobooks of the Year 2012/2017/2018 and Best Voices of the Year 2012. She has narrated more than 450 titles across a
variety of genres.
Fall
Tracy Clark, author
Chante McCormick, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9798400125256, $19.99, MP3-CD (11 Hours 19 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Detective-Harriet-Foster-2/dp/B0BTYGQQBD
Synopsis: The Chicago PD is on high alert when two city aldermen are found dead: one by apparent suicide, one brutally
stabbed in his office, and both with thirty dimes left on their bodies - a betrayer's payment. With no other clues, the question
is, Who else has a debt to pay?
Detective Harriet Foster is on the case before the killer can strike again. But even with the help of her partner, Detective
Vera Li, and the rest of their team, Harriet has little to go on and a lot at risk. There's no telling who the killer's next target is
or how many will come next.
To stop another murder, Harriet and her officers will have to examine what the victims had going on behind the scenes to
determine who could be tangled up in this web of betrayal -- and who could be out for revenge!
Critique: Adroitly narrated by the vocal performance skills of Chante McCormick, this complete and unabridged audio book
addition of "Fall" by mystery novelist Tracy Clark is especially and unreservedly recommended to the attention of dedicated
mystery buffs and a welcome addition to community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Tracy Clark (https://tracyclarkbooks.com) is the author of the acclaimed Cass Raines Chicago Mystery
series featuring Cassandra Raines, a hard-driving African American PI who works the mean streets of the Windy City
dodging cops, cons, and killers. Clark received Anthony Award and Lefty Award nominations for series debut Broken
Places, which was shortlisted for the American Library Association's RUSA Reading List and named a CrimeReads Best
New PI Book of 2018, a Midwest Connections Pick, and a Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Broken Places has since
been optioned by Sony Pictures Television. Tracy is a member of Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and
Sisters in Crime and sits on the boards of Bouchercon National and the Midwest Mystery Conference.
Editorial Note #2: Chante McCormick (https://www.chantemccormick.com) is an Audie and Earphones Award-winning
narrator who holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Speech from Northwestern University's famed theatre department. She
is a proud member of the professional acting unions: SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association.
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
Brilliance Audio is a premier publisher of complete and unabridged audio books in a MP3-CD format in all genres and
categories. Two of their newest titles of action/adventure fantasy are written by Steven Erickson is deftly narrated by
Nicolas Bolton.
https://www.amazon.com/First-Collected-Bauchelain-Korbal-Broach/dp/B0CKZKGYP5
"The First Collected Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: Three Short Novels of the Malazan Empire" (9798400145131,
$19.99, 8 Hours 52 Minutes) is comprised of the first three tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, the famed necromancers
from the Malazan Book of the Fallen and includes:
"BLOOD FOLLOWS"
In the port city of Lamentable Moll, a diabolical killer stalks the streets and panic grips the citizens like a fever. As
Emancipor Reese's legendary ill luck would have it, his previous employer is the unknown killer's latest victim. But two
strangers have come to town and they have posted in Fishmonger's Round a note, reeking of death-warded magic, requesting
the services of a manservant...
"THE HEALTHY DEAD"
The city of Quaint's zeal for goodness can be catastrophic, and no one knows this better than Bauchelain and Korbal Broach,
two stalwart champions of all things bad. The homicidal necromancers - and their substance-addled manservant, Emancipor
Reese - find themselves ensnared in a scheme to bring goodness into utter ruination. Sometimes you must bring down
civilization...in the name of civilization.
"THE LEES OF LAUGHTER'S END"
After their blissful sojourn in Lamentable Moll, the sorcerers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach - along with their manservant,
Emancipor Reese -set out on the open seas aboard the sturdy ship Suncurl. Alas, there's more baggage in the hold than meets
the beady eyes of the crew, and unseemly terrors awaken. For Bauchelain, Korbal Broach and Emancipor Reese, it is just
one more night on the high seas, on a journey without end.
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Collected-Bauchelain-Korbal-Broach/dp/B0CKZK7292
"The Second Collected Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: Three Short Novels of the Malazan Empire"
(9798400147708, $19.99, 14 Hours 49 Minutes) finds that the intrepid necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach
(scourges of civilization, raisers of the dead, reapers of the souls of the living, devourers of hope, betrayers of faith, slayers
of the innocent and modest personifications of evil) have a lot to answer for and answer they will, but first they must lie,
murder and cheat their way through three more escapades in some of the harsher fringes, deprived wastelands and
impoverished communities of the Malazan Empire. Much to the shame of their long-suffering general factotum, Emancipor
Reese...
This second volume is comprised of the novellas "The Wurms of Blearmouth"; "The Crack'd Pot Trail"; and "The Fiends of
Nightmaria.".
Critique: Deftly brought to life through the narrative storytelling talents by Nicolas Boulton, this two volume collection of
original action/adventure fantasy novellas by Steven Erickson is especially and unreservedly recommended for both
personal and community library Fantasy audio book collections.
The Library CD Shelf
A Message From the Flying Horse Big Band
The Flying Horse Big Band
Flying Horse Records
flyinghorserecords.com
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN1SBJPR
A Message From the Flying Horse Big Band is the eighth album from the Flying Horse Big Band - a grand ensemble of
talented performers on saxophones, trumpets/flugelhorns, trombones, and rhythm instruments - created in tribute of the
legendary American group, The Jazz Messengers (which formed in the 1950s and lasted over thirty-five years as a
collective). Individual songs are composed by Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton, and Hank
Mobley; former member of the Jazz Messengers Michael Mossman personally arranged the tracks "Free for All" and
"Gregory is Here". An homage to American jazz history as well as a rollicking great time, A Message From the Flying
Horse Big Band is highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are Free For All,
Hipsippy Blues, Room 608, This Is For Albert, Mosaic, Peace, Gregory Is Here, Lester Left Town, Whisper Not, and On the
Ginza.
And I Love You So
Barbara Fairchild
Country Rewind Records
www.countryrewind.com
$10.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/I-Love-You-So/dp/B0BVJ4LWM5
Legendary American country and gospel singer Barbara Fairchild presents And I Love You So, an album featuring songs
never before released commercially, including two Don McLean songs. Barbara's dulcet voice is supported by talented
musicians whose contributions have been added to the original recordings. And I Love You So is a treasure for
connoisseurs, a choice pick for public library music collections, and makes a wonderful Valentine's Day gift! The tracks are
A Girl Who'll Satisfy Her Man; Teddy Bear Song; Behind Closed Doors; I'm Gonna Write; Kid Stuff; And I Love You So;
Vincent (Starry, Starry Night); I Really Don't Want To Know; One Of Those Songs; Satin Sheets; You Always Come Back
(To Hurting Me); Color My World; Why Me, Lord; and Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms.
Douce France Sweet France
Margot Sergent
margotsergent.com
Zoho Music
$16.99 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Douce-France-Sweet-Margot-Sergent/dp/B0CHWLJ3Z6
New York-based French jazz singer Margot Sergent presents Douce France Sweet France, a beautiful mix of classic French
chansons and American jazz. Margot sings dulcet vocals while playing the harp, and various songs also feature Patrick
Brennan on guitar, Alec Safy on bass, Linus Wyrsch on clarinet, Ben Silashi on drums, and Vitor Goncalves on accordion.
Douce France Sweet France is a treasure for connoisseurs of jazz music and French culture, highly recommended. The
tracks are Keep the Moon In Mind, Douce France, The Apartment Next Door, I Wish You Love, Little Miracle, La Boheme,
Dans Tes Bras Mon Ange, La Rua Madureira, Silent Steps, L'Hymne a l'Amour, and Saudade.
Gabriella
Miguel Espinoza Fusion with Howard Levy
miguelespinozafusion.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $18.00 digital
https://miguelespinozaflamencofusion1.bandcamp.com/album/gabriella
Miguel Espinoza on guitar, Dianne Betkowski on cello, and Randy Hoepker on bass form the core of Miguel Espinoza
Fusion, a band that draws upon the traditions of flamenco, classical music, jazz, North African rhythms, and more. Their
fourth full-length album is Gabriella, a collection of ten original songs with world-spanning influences from Afro-Cuban to
Moroccan and Celtic traditions. Collaborations with Grammy winners Howard Levy and David Balakrishnan round out this
extraordinary, eclectic work highly recommended especially for world music collections. The tracks are Gabriella, Joy,
Howard's Tune, Rune, Whistlin' Down The Street, Buleria Esta Antiqua, Mermaid, Hudson Avenue, La Lluvia, and Barrio
Latino.
Canto
Susan Alcorn and Septeto del Sur
susanalcorn.net
Relative Pitch Records
$TBA CD / $12.00 digital
https://susanalcorn1.bandcamp.com/album/canto
Pedal steel guitar virtuoso Susan Alcon and Chilean folk music ensemble Septeto del Sur present Canto, a "nuevo cancion"
(socially aware folk) collection. The Spanish-language lyrics speak of deadly serious violations of human rights, including
how Pinochet's security forces notoriously made people "disappear" without a trace. Other tracks honor Chilean improviser
and former political prisoner Lukax Santana, and the late Argentine folk singer known as "La Negra". Canto is beautiful,
serious, soulful, and ultimately an album of hope for a better tomorrow in spite of the tragedies and horrors of the past.
Highly recommended. The tracks are Suite Para Todos, Canto I. Donde Estan?, Canto II. Presente: Sueno de Luna Azul,
Mercedes Sosa, and El Derecho de Vivir en Paz.
It's Not Over
Kelly Garner
kellygarner.com
Kelly Garner Endeavors
$22.00 CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.kellygarner.com/product-page/it-s-not-over-cd
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C25SGKDJ
Kelly Garner presents It's Not Over, a resonant gospel album showcasing her faith and her extraordinary talent. Themes of
love, forgiveness, worship and reverence for God and Jesus Christ make It's Not Over a choice pick for both personal and
church music collections. Highly recommended! The tracks are Good Ole Gospel Sing, Waymaker, It's Not Over, My God
Is Still Good, It's My Desire, The Day I Get Home, Testimony, The Risen Lamb, Precious Lord, I Will Not Hope in
Something Less, Revelation Song, When I Call On The Name of the Lord, The Goodness of God, and Forgive Myself.
The General Fiction Shelf
The Ways of Water
Teresa H. Janssen
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781647425838, $17.95, PB, 440pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Water-Teresa-H-Janssen/dp/1647425832
Synopsis: As Josie Belle Gore, daughter of a Louisiana train engineer and Texas seamstress, journeys with her itinerant
family through the deserts of the boom-and-bust American West and revolutionary Mexico, she learns that in her life, two
things are constant: water is precious, and her role in her family is to save it.
When unforeseeable events force the separation of her family, Josie begins an odyssey that takes her from New Mexico's
Jornada del Muerto to Bisbee, Tucson, Los Angeles, and finally post-WWI San Francisco -- experiencing betrayal,
pandemic, and survivor's guilt, as well as the compassion and generosity of friends and strangers, along the way.
Once she lands in San Francisco, like a river meeting the sea, Josie has nowhere else to run -- and she realizes that she must
make peace with the past and good on her promise to the family she loves.
Inspired by the author's family lore, "The Ways of Water" is a lyrical tale of loss, hope, and forgiveness set in the rugged
beauty of the turn-of-the-century Southwest that, like Josie, is growing up in fits and starts.
Critique: An inherently fascinating, deftly crafted and eloquently entertaining saga of a novel from start to finish, "The Ways
of Water" is especially impressive when considering that it is author Teresa H. Janssen's debut as a novelist and will prove
to be of particular interest to fans of coming-of-age novels and Family Life fiction. While especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "The Ways of Water" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: Teresa H. Janssen (https://www.teresahjanssen.com) is a career educator, essayist, and author of short fiction
whose writing has appeared in a variety of literary journals, including Zyzzyva, Catamaran, and Chautauqua. She attended
Gonzaga and the University of Washington where she received an M.A. in Linguistics.
Swanna in Love
Jennifer Beale
Akashic Books
www.akashicbooks.com
9781636141633, $29.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Swanna-Love-Novel-Jennifer-Belle/dp/1636141633
Synopsis: It's the summer of 1982 and fourteen-year-old Swanna Swain is the only one left at camp. The place is a ghost
town by the time her mother Val finally shows up six hours late (stoned and radiant) in a Ford pickup driven by Borislav,
her new young Russian lover. Assuming she is headed home to her air-conditioned Upper West Side apartment, Swanna and
her lovable younger brother Madding are instead dragged to Vermont -- to an artist colony where kids are not welcome and
they are forced to sleep in the back of the truck, while Val is cozy inside the house with the Russian.
Then Swanna meets Dennis, a handsome married father of two, at a bowling alley, and, knowing a thing or two about
seduction from Judy Blume, her best friend at camp, and her own parents' many affairs -- she sets out to convince Dennis to
help her. But love seldom obeys rules, and even a tough, smart, city girl like Swanna might not be able to handle falling in
love.
Critique: With the publication of "Swanna In Love" from Akashic Books, author Jennifer Belle presents a kind of inverse
Lolita that deftly explores adolescent desire from the girl's point of view. Original, hilarious, wildly shocking and
iconoclastic, "Swanna in Love" is an inherently fascinating, compulsive page turner of a novel that is highly recommended
for community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Swanna In Love" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781636141640, $16.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Jennifer Belle is the author of four novels, Going Down (which was named best debut novel by
Entertainment Weekly and optioned for the screen twenty-seven times), High Maintenance, Little Stalker, The Seven Year
Bitch, and Animal Stackers, a picture book for children (illustrated by David McPhail). Her stories and essays have
appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the Independent (London), Harper's Bazaar, Ms.,
BlackBook, the New York Observer, Post Road, and many anthologies.
The Devil Comes to Bonn
Jennifer Harris
Matador
9781803137629, $12.99, PB, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Comes-Bonn-Jennifer-Harris/dp/1803137622
Synopsis: It's Germany 1941 and Hildegard needs a job. Interviewing for a hotel post, she does not realise she is about to
collide with the sinister Fuhrer. She is thrust into the role of maid to Hitler in the infamous Room 106 in a hotel he visited
more than 70 times.
In 2015. Stella, an historian, comes to Bonn, Germany for a World Heritage conference. Life at home is tense, but she
pretends all is well until she is assaulted over a trivial matter by another delegate. Bewildered, Stella descends into obsessed
stalking.
When she meets the now elderly Hildegard, she is drawn into her wartime story, little seeing the similarities to her own.
In this dual-timeline story, Stella and Hildegard face questions of survival, identity, love and meaning as they juggle moral
ambiguities.
Critique: Unique, expertly crafted, fascinating, entertaining, memorable, "The Devil Comes to Bonn" is a literary treasure of
masterful storytelling by Jennifer Harris and will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in 'Women's
Friendship' fiction. While an exceptional and eloquent work of immense literary merit, and in addition to being unreservedly
recommended for community and college/university library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "The Devil Comes to Bonn" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Jennifer Harris writes literary fiction inspired by the historic environment -- not historical fiction, but fiction
set in the contemporary era that responds to the past, remembered either publicly in museums, monuments and heritage
sites, or through subtle, private memorial acts. Her PhD is in Cultural Heritage theory and she has lectured in, and
researched, cultural heritage and museums for many years. She has run a small social history museum, and worked as a
journalist in Australia and London.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
A Journey to St. Thomas: Tales for Our Time
Josiah Hatch III, author
Cathy Morrison, illustrator
Fulcrum Publishing
www.fulcrumbooks.com
9781682753347, $35.00, HC, 392pp
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-St-Thomas-Tales-Time/dp/1682753344
Synopsis: Hoping for an adventure (and at a discounted price), two dozen strangers set sail for balmy St. Thomas in the
Virgin Islands. As different from one another as strangers can be, they agree to pass the time by telling stories. As the
passengers share their stories, they begin to learn some astonishing things about their neighbors.
Then, partway through the voyage, they are notified about a virus that has spread across the United States and their
destination. The ship is quarantined, and they are destined to loll on the waves of the open sea until a port welcomes
them.
Stuck together in the confines of the ship, the group continues to regale each other with ingenious tales.
"A Journey to St. Thomas: Tales for Our Time" by Josiah Hatch is a modern reimagining of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury
Tales. Hatch, who studied Anglo Saxon and Middle English languages at Oxford University, writes in iambic pentameter,
craftily updating Chaucer's characters to those on the present-day cruise liner.
Touching on topics that include political differences and discord, elitism, economic hardship, and the perceived inability of
the ordinary citizen to make a difference, "Journey to St. Thomas: Tales for Our Time" is richly textured and innovative
novel that effectively captures the humor, insight, and pathos of the original Canterbury Tales -- all while telling a very
modern story
Critique: Eloquent, entertaining, thought provoking, memorable, and embellished with the B/W images of artist/illustrator
Cathy Morrison, "A Journey to St. Thomas: Tales for Our Time" by Josiah Hatch III is a truly extraordinary literary event
and will have a very special attraction for readers with an interest in epic poetry and satire. A unique novel that will linger in
the mind and memory of the reader long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "A Journey to St.
Thomas: Tales for Our Time" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university
library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: #1: Josiah Hatch (https://www.fulcrumbooks.com/hatch) attended Princeton University, where he graduated
summa cum laude, majoring in Ancient Greek and Latin with a minor in music theory. A Marshall scholar at Pembroke
College, Oxford, he studied Anglo-Saxon and Middle English. He spent a year in Italy studying Latin literature, history and
art. After studying at Oxford, Josiah moved to Washington, serving as a museum administrator at the Smithsonian
Institution, a speechwriter and political aide, and, after obtaining a law degree from Georgetown, a lawyer.
Editorial Note #2: Cathy Morrison is a children's book illustrator working from her home studio in northern Colorado. Her
studio overlooks the Mummy Range, the northern side of Rocky Mountain National Park.
(www.artlicensing.com/artists/cathy-morrison-illustrates)
Little Rabbit
Alyssa Songsiridej
Bloomsbury Press
www.bloomsbury.com
9781639731657, $17.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Rabbit-Alyssa-Songsiridej/dp/1639731652
Synopsis: When the unnamed narrator of Little Rabbit first meets the choreographer at an artists' residency in Maine, it's not
a match. She finds him loud, conceited, domineering. But when he reappears in her life in Boston and invites her to his
dance company's performance, their interaction at the show sets off a summer of expanding her own body's boundaries. Her
body learns to obediently follow his, and his desires quickly become inextricable from her pleasure. This must be happiness,
right?
But what does it mean for a queer young woman to partner with an older man, for a fledgling artist to partner with an
established one? Does falling in love mean eviscerating yourself? Combining the sticky sexual politics of Luster with the
dizzying, perceptive intimacy of Cleanness, "Little Rabbit" is a wholly new kind of coming-of-age story about lust,
punishment, artistic drive, and desires that defy the hard-won boundaries of the self.
Critique: Vivid, iconoclastic, sensuous, electrifying, memorable, "Little Rabbit" by Alyssa Songsiridej raises a coming-of-
age story to the rarified levels of fine literature. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99), "Little Rabbit" is a truly extraordinary and highly recommended pick for personal and community library
contemporary literary erotica collections.
Editorial Note: Alyssa Songsiridej (https://alyssasongsiridej.com) is an editor at Electric Literature. Little Rabbit is her first
novel. A 2022 National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Just Once
Karen Kingsbury
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781982104443, $27.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Once-Novel-Karen-Kingsbury/dp/1982104449
Synopsis: In 1941, beautiful Irvel Holland is too focused on her secret to take much notice of the war raging overseas. She's
dating Sam but in love with his younger brother, Hank (who is her longtime best friend) and Irvel has no idea how to break
the news.
Then the unthinkable happens -- Pearl Harbor is attacked. With their lives turned upside down overnight, Sam is drafted and
convinces Hank to remain in Indiana, where he and Irvel take up the battle on the home front.
While Sam fights in Europe, an undeniable chemistry builds between Irvel and Hank but neither would dare cross that line.
Then, two military leaders pay Irvel a visit at the classroom where she teaches. The men have plans for her, a proposition to
join a new spy network. One catch: She can tell no one.
With Irvel caught between two brothers thousands of miles apart, can love find a way, even from the ashes of the greatest
heartbreak?
Critique: An exceptionally entertaining and deftly crafted novel from start to finish, "Just One' by Karen Kingsbury will
have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Christian Romance Fiction set against the background of World War
II. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of the growing legions of Karen Kingsbury fans that "Just One" is also readily available in a paperback
edition (9781982104450, $17.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Simon & Schuster Audio, 9781797134840, $34.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Karen Kingsbury,(https://www.karenkingsbury.com) is an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University
who has more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped
bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books were
developed into a TV series.
Brighter Dawn
Leslie Gould
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764241352, $29.99, HC, 421pp
https://www.amazon.com/Brighter-Dawn-Amish-Memories/dp/0764241354
Synopsis: Ivy Zimmerman is successfully navigating her life as a young Mennonite woman, one generation removed from
her parents' Old Order Amish upbringing. But when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, Ivy's way of life is upended.
As she deals with her grief, her sisters' needs, and her Dawdi and Mammi's strict rules, Ivy finds solace in both an upcoming
trip to Germany for an international Mennonite youth gathering and in her great-aunt's story about Ivy's great-grandmother's
visit to Germany in the late 1930s.
As Ivy grows suspicious that her parents' deaths weren't, in fact, an accident, she gains courage from what she learns of her
great-grandmother's time in World War II Germany. With her great-aunt's encouragement and the inspiration of her
great-grandmother, Ivy seeks justice for her parents, her sisters, and herself.
Critique: From the talented pen of novelist Leslie Gould comes "A Brighter Dawn", a powerful, deftly scripted, and
evocative dual-time story partly set during World War II. Exceptional, fascinating, entertaining, "A Brighter Dawn" will
prove a welcome addition to community library Amish/Mennonite Romance collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists of Christian Romance fans that "A Brighter Dawn" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764240249,
$17.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.44), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Recorded Books,
9798212412421, $123.75, CD).
Editorial Note: Leslie Gould (www.lesliegould.com) is a Christy Award-winning and a bestselling author of over 35 novels,
including four Lancaster County Amish series. She holds an MFA in creative writing and enjoys church history, research
trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest.
Julia Monroe Begins Again
Rebekah Millet
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764242182, $22.99, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Monroe-Begins-Again-Beignets/dp/0764240951
Synopsis: Julia Monroe has just turned forty and has high hopes for a fresh start after the last decade of her life abruptly left
her a young widow and a single mom. With both her boys off to college, she can finally focus on expanding her New
Orleans-based cleaning business. Julia is ready for new beginnings -- but it seems that God has other plans.
Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who shattered her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and
is the kind of distraction she never saw coming.
After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to
avoid him if she wants any chance of preventing history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend keeps throwing
them together. And now it seems inevitable that the man who was hard to forget might just be impossible to resist.
Critique: A fun and original romance story from start to finish, "Julia Monroe Begins Again" by novelist Rebekah Millet
will be of particular value and interest to fans of Contemporary Christian Romance Fiction and is unreservedly for
community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Julia Monroe Begins Again" is also
available in a paperback edition (9780764240959, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note: Rebekah Millet (www.rebekahmillet.com) is a Cascade Award and ACFW First Impressions
Award-winning author of contemporary Christian romance novels. A New Orleans native, she grew up on beignets and cafe
au lait, and she loves infusing her colorful culture into her stories.
Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise
Anne Blackburne
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
Oasis Audio
www.oasisaudio.com
9781636096896, $14.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ruths-Ginger-Surprise-Heart-Amish/dp/1636096891
Synopsis: Ruth Helmuth has never been rude in her life; trust her to choose the bishop of her Amish community for her first
time!
Ruth has worked hard to keep body and soul together since her husband, Levi's, death. She tends her herd of goats, making
her living from the milk and fiber she gets from them, all while running a farm and household by herself - and very
competently, thank you! How could she imagine the bishop suggesting she should give it all up to another family, who will
"make better use of the space"?
Enter widower Jonas Hershberger, owner of a pair of adorable dimples and father of a charming 4-year-old daughter. Jonas
is in need of a larger place to house his growing business. Ruth's big red barn may be just the ticket. Little Abigail is in need
of a new mother. Ruth might be just the ticket there, too!
Can two independent souls learn to work together for their mutual good? And will they be willing to explore what grows
between them? Or will Ruth's fear over her "big secret" and Jonas's caution about allowing someone new to get close to his
young daughter, kill their love before it has a chance to grow?
Luckily for both of them, God's plan involves the stubborn pair getting a little help in the form of a wise, elderly friend; a
quirky orange kitten; and a smart little girl who takes one look at Ruth and decides she would make her the perfect new
mother!
Critique: An absolute 'must' for fans of Amish romance novels, "Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise" by Anne Blackburne is part
of Barbour Publishing's the 'Heart of the Amish' series. Fully original and inherently riveting read from start to finish,
"Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise" is impressively and memorably entertaining, making it especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Ruth's
Ginger Snap Surprise" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49). Librarians should note that there is a large
print library binding edition of "Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise" (Thorndike Press, 9798885795241, $31.99) and as a complete
and unabridged audio book (Oasis Audio, 9781685924836, $32.36, CD).
Editorial Note #1: Anne Blackburne (https://www.anneblackburne.com) lives and works in Southeast Ohio as a newspaper
editor and writer. For fun, when she isn't working on Amish romance or sweet mysteries, Anne directs and acts in
community theater productions and writes and directs original plays.
Editorial Note #2: The Heart of the Amish series from Barbour Publishing also includes:
The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele; The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker; Courting the Amish Bishop by Mindy
Steele; and Mary's Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne.
Second Duke's the Charm
Kate Bateman
St. Martin's Paperback
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250907363, $8.99, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Dukes-Charm-Kate-Bateman/dp/1250907365
Synopsis: The wedding-night death of her much older husband left Tess Townsend the Dowager Duchess of Wansford --
and still a virgin. Now she and her two best friends investigate London's most scandalous crimes, and while Tess longs to
experience physical pleasure for herself, she can't risk losing her treasured independence...
Cynical shipping magnate Justin Thornton never expected to inherit a dukedom, but he'll do his duty. When the ravishing
woman he kissed at a party turns out to be the Dowager Duchess, Justin sees an obvious solution: a marriage of convenience
that will suit them both.
But the passion that sparks between them is anything but convenient. As Tess works on a new case at the request of Queen
Charlotte, her increasingly suspicious behavior makes Justin question her motives -- and her past. The infuriating woman
clearly can't be trusted, but Justin doesn't believe in love, so there's absolutely no danger of him falling for his own wife...is
there?
Critique: A master of the Regency Romance genre, "Second Duke's the Charm" by author Kate Bateman is unusual story of
three brilliant women who run King & Co., London's most exclusive investigative agency. A fun read from start to finish,
"Second Duke's the Charm" is unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Romance collections. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated Reg4ency Romance fans that "Second Duke's the Charm" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is a bestselling author of historical romances, including her
RITA(R) nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, the Bow Street Bachelors series (This Earl of Mine, To Catch an
Earl, and The Princess and the Rogue), along with the novels in the Secrets & Spies series (To Steal a Heart, A Raven's
Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart). When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes
you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV
shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England. (https://www.kcbateman.com)
The Stage Kiss
Amelia Jones
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9781639105847, $19.99, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Kiss-Novel-Amelia-Jones/dp/1639105840
Synopsis: Actress Eden Blake's biggest claim to fame is a mortifying pharmaceutical commercial for male enhancement
pills. That is, until the female lead on the nationwide tour of Broadway's hit Pride & Prejudice musical abruptly quits, and
Eden is called up to fill the role.
The cast of Liz and Darcy: The Musical has just settled into a three-week run in Washington, DC, and Broadway royalty
Brennon Thorne is set to play Darcy. Despite Brennon's reputation as being "a dream to work with", Eden's first impression
of him is more like a nightmare. Now, she'll have to kiss the pompous jerk eight shows per week.
Brennon can't disguise his disdain for understudies like Eden. But New York is filled with reminders of his most recent
failed relationship, and this American tour is a much-needed distraction from his loneliness. As Eden and Brennon take the
stage playing Jane Austen's most memorable characters, their reality begins to mirror Elizabeth and Darcy's explosive
chemistry and all. Together, they power through press performances and curtain calls, even as rumors of Brennon's
checkered romantic past resurface and prove to Eden that he can't be trusted.
But with each choreographed stage kiss, Eden and Brennon's passion for the stage (and each other) ignites. Maybe, just
maybe, not all rumors are to be believed -- and not all showmances are doomed to fail.
Critique: A cleverly crafted and fun read from start to finish, "The Stage Kiss" by Amelia Jones is rom-com storytelling at
its very best. Certain to be a popular pick for community library Contemporary Romantic Comedy Fiction collections, it
should also be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated romance fans that "The Stage Kiss" is easily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Amelia Jones (https://akjoneswritesromance.com) is a die-hard fan of happily ever afters, striking heroes,
complex leading ladies, and heart-stopping swoons. The first romance she ever read was Austen's Pride and Prejudice for
high school English, and she's never been the same. Her hobbies include reading spicy romance, bingeing reality television,
obsessive cross-stitching when necessary, and cooking meals while dancing to Taylor Swift.
Against the Wind
Amanda Cabot
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.revellbooks.com
9780800745035, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Against-Wind-Secrets-Sweetwater-Crossing/dp/0800745035
Synopsis: Doctor-in-training Louisa Vaughn has no intention of remaining in Sweetwater Crossing. She's just there for a
few days to help a friend. But she can't abandon the injured man she finds at the side of the road. Until his broken leg heals,
she'll serve as the town's doctor and midwife. She may not be fully qualified yet, but surely she's better than nothing.
Josh Porter's plans to win his grandfather's challenge and fulfill his father's final wish to gain full control of the family
business hit a roadblock when he breaks his leg. But his enforced stay in Sweetwater Crossing gives him new ideas about
the expansion of the company into new territory -- ideas Louisa could help turn into reality.
If only the town were more accepting of Louisa's talents! Someone is determined to convince her to abandon her dream of
healing others. Can Josh help her uncover the person behind the threats before it's too late? And is there any future for them
together when neither of them plans to stay?
Critique: Simply stated, "Against the Wind" by novelist Amanda Cabot is historical Christian romance at its very best.
Original, fascinating, replete with interesting characters and reader surprising plot twists, "Against the Wind" is a fun and
deftly crafted read from start to finish. While a highly recommended pick for personal and community library Historical
Romance collections, it should be noted that "Against the Wind" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800740658,
$15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note: Amanda Cabot (www.AmandaCabot.com) is the author of After the Shadows, as well as several historical
and contemporary romance series, including Mesquite Springs, Cimarron Creek Trilogy, Texas Crossroads, Texas Dreams,
and Westward Winds. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and the
Booksellers' Best.
Second Chances in New Port Stephen
TJ Alexander
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781668021965, $17.99, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-New-Port-Stephen/dp/166802196X
Synopsis: Eli Ward hasn't been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and
sober, he's a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV
writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he'll survive his boisterous,
loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare.
Just when he thinks this trip couldn't get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who's somehow hotter
than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick's world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life
can't keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli.
Against the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past... or move
on together.
Critique: A deftly crafted and original novel that will be of special interest to fans of LGBTQ romance novels, "Second
Chances in New Port Stephen" by TJ Alexander is a fun read from start to finish. While highly recommended for
community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Second Chances in New Port Stephen" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone
Audio, 9781797169514, $39.99, CD).
Editorial Note: TJ Alexander is an amateur baker and author who writes about queer love. Originally from Florida, he
received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston.
Marshaling Her Heart
Mary Connealy
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764242205, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Marshaling-Her-Heart-Wyoming-Sunrise/dp/0764242202
Synopsis: Becky Pruitt has always prided herself on knowing everything that's happening on her successful ranch, so an
unexpected admission from her foreman, Nate Paxton, comes as quite a surprise. With the notorious Deadeye Gang on the
loose, Nate (a former U.S. Marshal) believes Becky's ranch is the best spot for a group of Marshals to use as a base to hunt
them down.
The timing couldn't be more crucial for the town of Pine Valley, and Becky feels obligated to help. But after escaping the
grasp of her harsh father, she's never liked giving up control, of her life or her ranch. If there's anyone she can trust with her
ranch, and her heart, it might be Nate. But the outlaws won't go away quietly, and as danger draws ever nearer, Becky and
Nate are faced with impossible choices that will test their growing bond.
Critique: A fun and deftly crafted read from cover to cover, "Marshaling Her Heart" by novelist Mary Connealy will prove
an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Western Frontier Romance collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Marshaling Her Heart" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Mary Connealy (www.MaryConnealy.com) writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for
her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series
Wyoming Sunrise, The Lumber Baron's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with
her very own romantic cowboy hero.
Silver Lady
Mary Jo Putney
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496739216, $27.95, HC, 257pp
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Lady-Mary-Jo-Putney/dp/1496746635
Synopsis: A sense of duty sends Bran Tremayne to Cornwall to confront his heritage of British nobility. Abandoned at birth,
Bran wants nothing to do with the embittered remains of his family. But as a special agent for the Home Office, he senses
trouble brewing along the coast.
He also cannot turn away from the vulnerable woman he encounters in the Cornish countryside. Merryn's amnesia makes
her past a mystery to them both, but with her life in danger, the only thing Bran knows for sure is that the beautiful stranger
needs his protection -- but would they share a future?
Leaning into Bran is difficult enough, but can Merryn trust the strong bond (and the powerful passion) she feels for her
rugged rescuer? She has no choice once Bran uncovers that she is at the center of a plot between French agents and Cornish
smugglers. From misty woodlands to stormy shores, the two join forces with a band of loyal Cornishmen to bring down a
common enemy. Yet will their growing love survive the coming peril?
Critique: A brilliant combination of Regency Romance and historical action adventure, "Silver Lady" by Mary Jo Putney is
a carefully crafted, original, and inherently entertaining novel from first page to last. With its many an unexpected plot twist,
deftly created characters, and the author's narrative driven storytelling style, "Silver Lady" will be an immediately and
enduringly popular addition to community library Regency Romance collections. It should be noted for the personal reading
lists of enthusiastic romance fans that "Silver Lady" is also now available in a paperback edition (9781496746634, $16.95)
and in digital book format (Kindle, $8.91).
Editorial Note: Mary Jo Putney (https://maryjoputney.com) is a novelist known for her historical and contemporary
romance, fantasy, and young adult fantasy novels. Winner of numerous writing awards, including two RITAs and two
Romantic Times Career Achievement awards, she has five times had books listed among the Library Journal's top five
romances of the year, and three times had books among the top ten romances of Booklist, the magazine of the American
Library Association.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Agatha Christie
A Signet Classic
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguin.com/berkley-overview
9781398611665, $9.99, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Roger-Ackroyd-Hercule-Poirot/dp/0593639588
Synopsis: In the small English village of King's Abbot, a widow's suicide has stirred up dreadful rumors of blackmail and
deception. Most shocking of all is the subsequent murder of her lover Roger Ackroyd, stabbed to death in his own study by
an unknown assailant. There are suspects and motives aplenty, and rumors that his neighbor, the recently retired detective
Hercule Poirot, doesn't have a clue who did the dastardly deed.
Critique: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" was the first published (1926) mystery novel of the legendary mystery writer
Agatha Christie and introduced the character of Hercule Poirot. Once again brought back into print for a new generation of
appreciative readers, this Signet Classic paperback edition with its informative Introduction by Ruth Ware is unreservedly
recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections -- and is an absolute 'must' for the legions
of Agatha Christie (and Hercule Poirot!) fans.
Editorial Note #1: Born in Torquay in 1890, Agatha Christie began writing during the First World War and wrote over 100
novels, plays and short story collections. She was still writing to great acclaim until her death, and her books have now sold
over a billion copies in English and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. Yet Agatha Christie was always a very
private person, and though Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple became household names, the Queen of Crime was a complete
enigma to all but her closest friends.
Editorial Note #2: Ruth Ware (https://ruthware.com) is an international number one bestseller. Her thrillers In a Dark, Dark
Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game, The Death of Mrs Westaway, The Turn of the Key, One by One, The It
Girl and Zero Days have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and New York Times,
and have sold more than six million copies. Her books have been optioned for both film and TV, and she is published in
more than 40 languages.
Murder at the Matterhorn
T. A. Williams
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804832677, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 336pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-matterhorn-t-a-williams/1144007310
Synopsis: An old friend in need...
Despite being retired from the police, Dan Armstrong is always on hand to help with solving a crime. So, when he's
contacted by an old colleague in need of help, Dan readily agrees. The only problem Dan can see is the location -- an
isolated mountain-top campsite of UFO enthusiasts.
An unexplained death...
But these are no ordinary star watchers, and when Dan arrives one member of the group is already dead. Some of the group
suspect alien abduction, but Dan is sure the killer is much closer to home. An out of this world case? Dan doesn't believe in
aliens, but faced with black hole of secrecy from the group of suspects, he and Oscar have their work cut out to catch the
murderer...before they strike again.
It's another 'whodunnit' murder mystery for Dan and Oscar to solve!
Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in international crime fiction in a cozy mystery format, this large print
trade paperback edition of novelist T. A. Williams "Murder at the Matterhorn" is particularly and unreservedly
recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and the personal reading lists of all dedicated
'whodunnit' mystery buffs.
Editorial Note: There is an extensive on-ling listing of novels by T. A. Williams at
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/t-a-williams
Arsenic at Ascot
Kelly Oliver
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804831878, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 410pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arsenic-at-ascot-kelly-oliver/1143980413
Synopsis: London, 1918 Fiona Figg finds herself back in Old Blighty saddled with shuffling papers for the war office. Then
a mysterious card arrives, inviting her to a fancy house party at Mentmore Castle.
This year's Ascot-themed do will play host to a stable of animal defense advocates, and Fiona is tasked with infiltrating the
activists and uncovering possible anti-war activity. Disguised as the Lady Tabitha Kenworthy, Fiona is more than ready for
the "mane" event, but the odds are against her when both her arch nemesis, dark-horse Fredrick Fredricks, and would-be
fiance Lieutenant Archie Somersby arrive unexpectedly and "stirrup" her plans.
When a horse doctor thuds to the floor in the next guest room, Fiona finds herself investigating a mysterious poisoning with
some very hairy clues. Can Fiona overcome the hurdles and solve both cases, or will she be pipped to the post and put out to
pasture by the killer?
Critique: A fun read from start to finish, "Arsenic at Ascot" is a part of novelist Kelly Oliver's Fiona Figg & Kitty Lang
Mystery Series and has everything the dedicated cozy mystery readers want -- an intrepid female sleuth trying her best to
find out 'whodunnit' in a murder mystery with more unexpected and deftly crafted plot twists and turns than a Coney Island
roller coaster. This large print trade paperback edition of Kelly Oliver's "Arsenic at Ascot" from Boldwood Books will prove
to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for both personal and community library Mystery/Suspense
collections.
Editorial Note: Kelly Oliver (https://kellyoliverbooks.com) is a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Vanderbilt
University, and the author of fifteen non-fiction books and over 100 articles on issues such as the refugee crisis, campus
rape, women and the media, animals, and the environment.
The Juliet Code
Pepper Basham
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
Oasis Audio
www.oasisaudio.com
9781636096940, $15.99, PB, 315pp
https://www.amazon.com/Juliet-Code-Freddie-Grace-Mystery/dp/1636096948
Synopsis: Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the
historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art
heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington.
Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace
learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings, (Renaissance paintings feature Shakespeare's tragic heroine) rumored to hold a
secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries.
As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits
and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it's too late?
Critique: A fun and original read from start to finish, "The Juliet Code" by Pepper Basham is the sequel to "The Mistletoe
Countess" and "The Cairo Curse" in her 'Freddie and Grace Mystery' series. Of particular int4erest to fans of Christian
mystery and romance, "The Juliet Code" is a firmly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Juliet Code" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99). Librarians should note that "The Juliet Code" is additionally available in a large print hardcover edition (Thorndike
Press, 9798885797139, $31.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Oasis Audio, 9781685924829, $31.99,
CD).
Editorial Note: Pepper Basham (www.pepperdbasham.com ) is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with
grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in
the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018
RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her
contemporary novels, the Mitchell's Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her
love for humor and family.
Murder Checks Out
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105205, $30.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Checks-Ridge-Library-Mystery/dp/1639105204
Synopsis: Returning to her role as an amateur detective is the last thing library director Amy Muir wants. She's already
buried under an avalanche of responsibilities, including sharing the directorship of the local public library, parenting her
holiday-obsessed five-year-old twins, and helping her choreographer husband, Richard, present The Nutcracker as part of
the town's festivities. With her frosty mother-in-law, Fiona, visiting for the holidays, Amy definitely has enough on her
Christmas cookie plate.
But when the chair of the festival committee is found as dead as Dickens's proverbial doornail at the town's ice rink, Amy is
determined to uncover the real perpetrator to protect her brother-in-law, Ethan Payne, who was placed at the scene. The
clock is ticking down as Sheriff Brad Tucker is equally sure that Ethan is guilty.
It's beginning to look a lot like the murderer hasn't wrapped up his killing spree, and now, it might just be "lights out" on the
holiday festivities -- and on Amy's life!
Critique: A cozy mystery at its very best, "Murder Checks Out" is a part of author Victoria Gilbert's 'A Blue Ridge Library
Mystery' series and once again features librarian Amy Muir as she finds she must become an amateur female sleuth needing
to find out 'whodunnit' in a very cleverly written murder mystery. An unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended pick
for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all
dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Murder Checks Out" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99)
from Crooked Lane Books.
Editorial Note: Victoria Gilbert (https://victoriagilbertmysteries.com)turned her early obsession with books into a dual
career as an author and librarian. Now retired after over 30 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, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. She is also a member of
Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime.
Trotting into Trouble
Amber Camp
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105182, $30.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Trotting-Trouble-Horse-Rescue-Mystery/dp/1639105182
Synopsis: It's business as usual when horse rescue owner Mallory Martin gets a call from Sheriff Grady Sullivan that a loose
horse has been found in a popular hunting area. While trying to catch the horse, Mallory stumbles upon the body of his
unfortunate rider, Hillspring's star basketball coach, Douglas Griggs. All signs point to a tragic hunting accident.
Despite her better instincts, Mallory finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation when the coach's widow
begs her to look into the case. Mrs. Griggs believes the sheriff is ignoring any evidence that doesn't point to an
accident.
But Mallory's troubles are only beginning. As she juggles a blossoming romance, tensions with her best friend Lanie, and
responsibilities at the rescue, she discovers that Coach Griggs's enemies had ample motive to murder him. And now,
Mallory may be in the killer's sights.
Critique: "Trotting Into Trouble" is one of novelist Amber Camp's new cozy mystery 'A Horse Rescue Mystery' series and
fully showcases the author's genuine flair for originality and the creation of a simply riveting plot with many an expected
twist and turn. A throughly fun read that will have a very special interest for fans of cozy animal mysteries featuring amateur
female sleuths trying to find out 'whodunnit'. While especially and particularly recommended for community library
Contempoary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for cozy mystery fans that "Trotting Into Trouble" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Amber Camp (https://www.ambercampauthor.com) writes cozy mysteries that reflect her love of animals
and quirky small towns. A lifelong lover of books, she started writing her own stories as a teenager and found she loves to
write as much as she loves to read. Amber is also a member of Sisters in Crime.
Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal
Raquel V. Reyers, author
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105243, $30.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Barbacoa-Betrayal-Caribbean-Kitchen-Mystery/dp/1639105247
Synopsis: A surprise trip to Miriam's parents in Punta Cana, which should be filled with arroz con pollo and breezy days
under the tamarind tree, quickly becomes a hunt for a possible property saboteur. But before Miriam can begin to uncover
the person damaging the vacation rentals her parents manage, she's called away to Puerto Rico to film a Three Kings Day
special. She's welcomed to the blue ballast-stone streets of Old San Juan by crime scene tape, and things only get worse
from there.
An anonymous personal gift on Miriam's doorstep on New Year's Eve screams stalker, and the 400-year-old guesthouse
creaks and moans like there is something trapped in its walls. Luckily, her BFF, Alma, and their mutual friend Jorge are in
town to keep her distracted between filming cultural segments for the network. But private chef tables and spa days come to
an abrupt halt when Jorge's telenovela heartthrob novio goes missing. And there is something worrisome about Alma's
too-perfect boyfriend -- specifically, his duffle bag full of cash.
Will demon masks, African drumbeats, and dark alleys lead to Miriam's demise? Or will the mysterious events come
together like the delicious layers of a pastelon?
Critique: Of particular appeal and interest to fans of cozy culinary mysteries, and featuring a Hispanic amateur woman
sleuth, "Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" by novelist Raquel V. Reyes is a stellar pick for personal reading lists and
community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of cozy mystery fans that
"Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Raquel V. Reyes (http://rvreyes.com) writes Latina protagonists. Her Cuban American heritage, Miami, and
Spanglish feature prominently in her work. Mango, Mambo, and Murder, the first in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series,
won a Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery. It was nominated for an Agatha Award and optioned for film. Raquel's short
stories appear in various anthologies, including The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022.
Shot With Crimson
Nicola Upson
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781639102662, $31.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shot-Crimson-Josephine-Tey-Mystery/dp/1639102663
Synopsis: September 1939, and the worries of war follow Josephine Tey to Hollywood, where a different sort of battle is
raging on the set of Hitchcock's Rebecca.
Then a shocking act of violence reawakens the shadows of the past, with consequences on both sides of the Atlantic, and
Josephine and DCI Archie Penrose find themselves on a trail leading back to the house that inspired a young Daphne du
Maurier -- a trail that echoes Rebecca's timeless themes of obsession, jealousy, and murder.
Critique: The eleventh 'Josephine Trey' mystery novel series by Nicola Upson, "Shot With Crimson" will prove to be of
immense interest for readers with an interest in historical and compelling murder mysteries starring amateur female sleuths.
A fun, original, deftly crafted, and compelling read from start to finish, "Shot With Crimson" is unreservedly recommended
for community library Mystery/Suspense & Cozy Mystery collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Shot With Crimson" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio
book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212880664, $39.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Nicola Upson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_Upson) was born in Suffolk and read English at
Downing College, Cambridge. She has worked in theatre and as a freelance journalist, and is the author of two non-fiction
works and the recipient of an Escalator Award from the Arts Council England.
The Lace Widow
Mollie Ann Gox
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105281, $29.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lace-Widow-Eliza-Hamilton-Mystery/dp/163910528X
Synopsis: New York, 1804. America's beloved Alexander Hamilton lies dead after a duel with Aaron Burr. Meanwhile,
Eliza Hamilton's eighteen-year-old son, Alexander Jr., was seen fighting with a man in a tavern the night before his father's
duel and quickly comes under suspicion for murder when the man turns up dead.
Eliza searches for ways to clear her son's name, even as she is grieving, but as she combs through her late husband's papers,
she finds evidence of a plot to steal money from the government during his tenure as secretary of state. Hamilton was
accused of stealing that money, and it was a scandal that almost broke the family -- but is Eliza now holding proof of
Alexander's innocence?
Deep in debt and despair, with eight children to support, Eliza turns to selling her handmade lace and finds herself drawn
into a mysterious network of widow lacemakers who are intimately connected to New York's high-society families. They
know their dead husbands' secrets -- and soon, Eliza begins to piece together the truth.
There's a dark plot connected with the duel, as one by one, witnesses to the bout are being killed. Now, Eliza must not only
clear her husband's and son's names but keep herself out of the killer's sights.
Critique: A first class and deftly crafted historical cozy mystery, "The Lace Widow" by Mollie Ann Cox will have a very
special appeal to readers with an interest in 'whodunnit' murder mysteries featuring an armature female sleuth. Offering a
fun read with many an unexpected plot twist and turn, "The Lace Widow" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended
pick for community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of
dedicated cozy mystery fans that "The Lace Widow" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Mollie Ann Cox (https://molliecoxbryan.com) is the author of several popular mystery series, also writing
under the pen name Maggie Blackburn. Her books have been selected as finalists for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du
Maurier Award and as a Top 10 Beach Reads by Woman's World. The Lace Widow is the first time she's combined her
passion for history and mystery.
The Problem of the Wire Cage
John Dickson Carr
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613164860, $25.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Wire-Cage-Mystery-American/dp/1613164866
Synopsis: John Dickson Carr is famous for his puzzling "impossible crime" plots, in which corpses are discovered in
scenarios that seem to lack any logical explanation, concealing clues as to how the murder was committed and how the body
arrived in its current setting.
Among all of Carr's ingenious crime scenes, "The Problem of the Wire Cage" is one of his best known murder mysteries. A
dead man is found strangled in the middle of a clay tennis court, just after a storm. In the damp dirt, there is one set of
footsteps (his own) leading back to the grass; the court is otherwise untouched. There are no trees above from which the
body may have fallen and no other visible means by which it may have been transported to its final resting place.
Before being able to determine the perpetrator of the strangulation, the local authorities are first confronted by the utter
implausibility of the location -- two interlocking questions puzzling enough to stump even the most seasoned inspector.
The bafflement is reaching a harried volley by the time amateur sleuth Dr. Gideon Fell gets involved, but he soon shows that
the knotted plot is no match for his deductive powers. Before he can serve up a dazzling explanation of whodunnit, though,
Fell will have to sort through a confounding set of clues in search of a diabolical killer and a bizarre murder method.
Critique: Reissued for the first time this century, "The Problem of the Wire Cage" is a formerly time-lost treasure of a
mystery novel. An atmospheric and amusing Golden Age mystery with a memorable puzzle at its center, "The Problem of
the Wire Cage" will be of particular interest to a new general of fans of traditional 'whodunnit' detective stories replete with
plot twists and conundrums. It is certain create new and appreciative fans of John Dickson Carr and is also a great entry
point into his series of beloved Gideon Fell mysteries. Highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense
collections it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Problem of the Wire Cage" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781613164877, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.95).
Editorial Note #1: John Dickson Carr (November 30, 1906 - February 27, 1977) was arguably one of the greatest writers of
the American Golden Age mystery, and one of the only American authors to be included in England's legendary Detection
Club. Though he was born and died in the United States, Carr began his writing career while living in England, where he
remained for nearly twenty years. Under his own name and various pseudonyms, he wrote more than seventy novels and
numerous short stories, and is best known today for his locked-room mysteries. His beloved series character, Dr. Gideon
Fell, was based on author G. K. Chesterton and appeared in twenty-four novels.
Editorial Note #2: Rian Johnson is an American film director, writer, and producer. His mystery film Knives Out (2019),
starring Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
and its sequel Glass Onion (2022) was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Johnson has also created the television
crime drama Poker Face for the streaming service Peacock.
The Great Mistake
Mary Roberts Rinehart
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613164600, $15.95, PB, 450pp
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Mistake-American-Mystery-Classic/dp/1613164602
Synopsis: In an elaborate house known as the Cloisters, Maud Wainwright rules supreme. The queen of society in the small
town of Beverly, she has a table long enough to seat one hundred, and she keeps an iron grip on the guest list. Her
right-hand woman is Pat Abbott, a local girl who is beautiful, innocent, and kind. Pat has no idea how cutthroat high society
can be, but she's about to get a deadly first lesson.
Pat has fallen head over heels in love with Maud's son, Tony, a clever young rake with a single flaw: his vicious,
gold-digging wife. At the same time that she is dangerously infatuated with a married man, Pat's world is turned upside
down by a series of attacks on the estate - and a truly shocking murder. To save Tony and Maud, Pat must find the killer.
But the list of suspects is as long as one of Maud's guest lists: When a woman has room at her table for one hundred friends,
she'll have more than her share of enemies.
Critique: Mary Roberts Rinehart was America's answer to Agatha Christie. She had an impressive gift for atmospheric
writing, period detail, and characters caught in an intriguing murder plot. Originally published in 1940 and brought back as a
time-lost treasure for a new generation of appreciated mystery fans by American Mystery Classics, this paperback edition of
"The Great Mistake" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense
collections.
Editorial Note: Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1958) was the most beloved and best-selling mystery writer in America in the
first half of the twentieth century. Born in Pittsburgh to the owner of a sewing machine factory, she wrote fiction in her
spare time until a stock market crash sent her and her husband into debt, forcing her to lean on her writing to pay the bills.
Her first two novels, The Circular Staircase (1908) and The Man in Lower Ten (1909), established her as a bright young
talent, and it wasn't long before she was a regular on bestseller lists.Among her dozens of novels were The Amazing
Adventures of Letitia Carberry (1911) and The Bat (1932), which was among the inspirations for Bob Kane's Batman.
Twilight Falls
Juneau Black
Vintage Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780593470510, $16.00, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Falls-Shady-Hollow-Mystery/dp/0593470516
Synopsis: It's spring in Shady Hollow, and romance is in the air. Even reporter Vera Vixen is caught up in the season as her
relationship with new police chief Orville Braun blossoms. But true love is not always smooth sailing, as two of the
hollow's young residents come to find. Jonah Atwater and Stasia von Beaverpelt find themselves battling their families in
order to be together. And when Jonah's father, Shelby, goes over the top of Twilight Falls, all signs point to Stasia being the
murderer.
The evidence against Stasia appears overwhelming, and Orville arrests her. It looks like the case is closed, but Vera isn't so
sure. There are almost too many clues indicating Stasia is the killer, leading her to suspect someone is setting Stasia up.
Besides, what about the mysterious ghostly creature skulking around town at night? Maybe he or she was involved? As Vera
investigates further, her sleuthing puts her in direct opposition to Orville, and soon she's stirred up a hornet's nest of
trouble!
Critique: "Twilight Falls" by Juneau Black is the fourth book in the author's 'Shady Hollow Mystery' series sees and features
Vera again becoming embroiled, this time in a case involving star-crossed lovers whose affair may have turned deadly. Cozy
animal mystery at its very best, "Shady Hollow" is a fun read from start to finish and will have immense and entertaining
appeal for fans of amateur women sleuths having to find the 'whodunnit' solution to a deftly crafted murder mystery. Highly
recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "Shady Hollow" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Juneau Black (http://www.juneaublack.com) is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel.
They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses, and good murders (in fictional form only). Though they are two
separate people, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. This can
be a little unnerving for any number of reasons.
Death by Demo
Callie Carpenter
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105625, $29.99, HC, 229pp
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Demo-Home-Renovation-Mystery/dp/163910562X
Synopsis: Jaime and Henry were the perfect couple with the perfect life; together, they ran one of the most successful
construction and interior design companies in all of Charlotte, North Carolina. But when Jaime catches her charismatic
husband in an affair, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought she married. The divorce is equally gutting (due to
an ironclad prenuptial agreement), Jaime receives only one thing: a historical house in disrepair. Knowing that any
renovation she attempts will be tedious and costly, Jaime starts to believe that things can't get much worse -- until she finds
a dead body in the house.
The body is found behind a recently renovated wall -- and this leaves Jaime with more questions than answers. Who killed
this person and why? Could it have been the previous owners, someone who snuck in while nobody was looking, or Henry?
Furious that the house is now a crime scene, which further delays all renovations, Jaime decides to investigate the murder
herself, DIY-style. Together with the new resident cat she calls Demo and the handsome and friendly hardware store owner
who happens to be her neighbor, Jaime is ready to use all the tools in her toolbox to catch the killer.
Jaime needs to renovate this house if she wants to move forward with her life, but will this murder investigation leave her in
ruins -- or worse?
Critique: Original, clever, entertaining, "Death by Demo" introduces us to Home Renovation Mystery'. This is the first of a
new cozy mystery series by Callie Carpenter who provides her readers with a fun read -- and one that will have them
looking eagerly toward her next title in this simply outstanding series with a them home demolition and renovation as the
background for an amateur female sleuth trying to solve a complicated 'whodunnit' murder mystery. A fun and original read
from cover to cover, "Death by Demo" is certain to be a welcome and popular addition to community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the now legions of dedicated cozy mystery
fans that "Death by Demo" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Callie Carpenter grew up with an architect father who was more than happy to share his love of
woodworking with his daughter. She has a (mostly unused) bachelor of science degree in geology, one husband, and two
cats. When Callie isn't writing, she's working at her day job, reading, yanking weeds out of her garden, or planning her next
home renovation project.
Murder of an Amish Bridegroom
Patricia Johns
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105328, $29.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Amish-Bridegroom-Seamstress-Mystery/dp/1639105328
Synopsis: Petunia Yoder is Blueberry, Pennsylvania's youngest old maid, at twenty-two years of age, and completely
unmarriageable. But she's determined to celebrate her friends' weddings with joy and a full heart. Unfortunately, Petunia's
best friend, Eden Beiler, is playing a dangerous game with a man who is ruining her reputation.
Ike Smoker is the community's iceman (the one who cuts, stores, and sells the ice) and when Petunia discovers him dead
with an ice pick in his chest, Eden is found on the scene with blood on her hands. Homicide detective Asher Nate is new to
the area, and he has a challenge on his hands. The Amish community sticks close together, and he doesn't understand the
subtleties and nuances of the clues he uncovers. He needs an Amish interpreter, and he asks Petunia if she'll help. In a bid to
keep her best friend out of prison, she agrees.
The community is filled with people who had good reason to hate Ike Smoker, especially as Petunia and Asher begin to
uncover his secrets. Was someone trying to protect their family's reputation? Or to exact revenge for a sin buried deep in the
past?
There's a litany of damning clues that litters the ground -- and if Petunia and Asher can't come up with the truth, they could
end up as the next ones on the killer's list!
Critique: The newest volume in author Patricia Jones' An Amish Seamstress Mystery series of cozy mysteries featuring an
amateur female sleuth trying to help the authorities solve a murder mystery and clear a friend, "Murder of an Amish
Bridegroom" enriches the story line into a fun read from start to finish with elements peculiar and special to the
Amish/Mennonit community. Solidly entertaining from first page to last, "Murder of an amish Bridgegroom" will prove an
enduringly welcome and popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Murder of an Amish Bridegroom" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Patricia Johns (https://patriciajohns.com) was born in Alberta, Canada, and moved with her family all over
the country, as well as some parts of the US. She attended college at the University of Toronto, where she obtained her Hon.
BA in English literature. She began pursuing her writing career then while working part-time jobs in Toronto. She met her
husband when she was twenty-five and got married shortly afterward. They moved together to Alberta, Canada, and their
son was born a few years later.
The Ice Cream Man
Big Boy Pete, author
Stark House Press
www.starkhousepress.com
9798886010282, $15.95, PB, 258pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ice-Cream-Man-Big-Pete/dp/B0BWL6FQ6B
Synopsis: Kala, the 17-year-old daughter of Max's housekeeper, is now living with Max and his wife Jade since the return of
her war-damaged father. Max and Jade live in a mansion, and Kala quickly becomes aware that she is becoming part of an
uneasy triangle between Max and his barren and needy wife. Kala is also more than curious about the forbidden Garden
behind Max's home. Surely Max couldn't have amassed his fortune with just his ice cream business alone.
Kala soon figures that the Garden is a front for something illegal. And as she gently weaves her way into becoming Jade's
replacement and Max's confidant, Kala realizes she is being groomed as Max's business partner. Then she meets Eddie, a
renegade CIA operative attempting to penetrate Max's cartel while posing as road manager for touring musicians. While war
is being waged in nearby Vietnam, it's Eddie's job to guide English singer Duke DeLuxe around the various US Air Force
bases and clubs in Thailand.
Each of them has their own agenda here in the land of smiles. But what will triumph -- business, or pleasure?
Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, immensely compelling, and thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish,
"The Ice Cream Man" will hold a very special interest and appeal for dedicated fans of crime thriller fiction. While available
and highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense/Crime Fiction collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists that "The Ice Cream Man" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99) as
well.
Editorial Note: Peter Miller is better known as Big Boy Pete, a pioneer of psychedelic rock and roll music. He toured
extensively with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones during the Sixties, and took his English band to play for the GIs
throughout Southeast Asia from 1969-72 (providing the basis for The Ice Cream Man). Miller has written three screenplays
and over 500 songs, including some that have charted, and has also written and published a 500-page training manual for
Recording Engineers and Music Producers that is being used in 175 countries.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Miller_(musician))
A Bean to Die For
Tara Lush
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105458, $29.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bean-Die-Coffee-Lovers-Mystery/dp/163910545X
Synopsis: Lana Lewis is brewing up new concoctions at Perkatory, a popular cafe in Devil's Beach, when she decides she
wants to try her hand at growing her own coffee. She secures a gardening plot in the community garden, thanks to her father
and the garden's owner, Darla. Darla's list of rules is long, but that doesn't stop someone from leaving Jack Daggett's body
amongst the gardening plots.
Jack, an environmental activist, had been banned from the garden previously, because of his many fights with Darla about
organic produce. Lana promises her boyfriend, police chief Noah, that she's going to stay out of this case, having been too
involved in previous cases. But when she learns that Jack died from an accidental overdose, and Darla is the top suspect
because of her shady past, Lana can't help but poke around in an attempt to clear Darla's name.
As Lana dives deeper into the case, she learns that Jack had more enemies than she realized. When Darla turns up dead,
Lana has to turn up the heat on her investigation. With Lana on the case, it won't be long before someone spills the beans to
crack this case wide open. But will she able to find the killer before they strike again?
Critique: "A Bean to Die For" is a part of author Tara Lush's 'A Coffee Lover's Mystery' series and will have a very special
appeal for cozy mystery fans. Original, impressively well written, featuring a memorable amateur female sleuth, and a
'whodunnit' murder mystery with more unexpected turns and twists than an Oklahoma twister, "A Beat to Die For" is readily
available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and will prove to be a welcome addition to
community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Tara Lush (https://taralush.com) is a Rita Award finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and a George C. Polk
Award winning journalist. For the past decade, she's been a reporter with the Associated Press, covering crime, alligators,
natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations.
Deadly to the Core
Joyce Tremel
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105434, $29.99, HC, 231pp
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Core-Cider-House-Mystery/dp/1639105433
Synopsis: After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life
alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a
fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an
opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do with it: open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far
from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of
this murder.
She had been in correspondence with Carl, who had agreed with her brilliant idea of opening a cider house. But not
everyone is so quick to buy what she was selling - Uncle Stan's lawyer, Robert Larabee, paints a less rosy financial outlook
of the orchard's past, present, and future.
Kate discovers that Carl had large, unexplained deposits to his bank account and it becomes clear that either he was
blackmailing someone, or someone was paying him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Kate and her neighbors receive offers to buy
their property from a mysterious buyer. And there's more than meets the eye with the neighboring orchard owner, Daniel
Martinez, although Kate can't quite put her finger on if it's sweet or sour.
Will she be able to pick out the bad apple among the bunch before it's too late?
Critique: A 'Cider House Mystery' from the imagination and impressive storytelling abilities of novelist Joyce Tremel,
"Deadly to the Core" is an original and deftly scripted cozy mystery that has all the trimmings -- an amateur female sleuth
finding herself caught up in a dangerous 'whodunnit' murder mystery. A fun read from start to finish, "Deadly to the Core" is
a culinary mystery that will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$17.99).
Editorial Note: Joyce Tremel (http://www.joycetremel.com) was a police secretary for ten years and more than once
envisioned the demise of certain co-workers, but settled on writing as a way to keep herself out of jail. In addition to the
Cider House mysteries, she wrote the Brewing Trouble mysteries.
The Sign of Four Spirits
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105397, $29.99, HC, 279pp
https://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Sherlock-Holmes-Bookshop-Mystery/dp/1639105395
Synopsis: When a psychic fair arrives in West London, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and
Emporium, wants nothing to do with it. But somehow, at the urging of Donald Morris, an enthusiastic Sherlockian, she
finds herself talked into attending a seance, along with baker and best friend Jayne Wilson, store assistant, Ashleigh, and
former pop star Bunny Leigh.
But to her surprise, Gemma finds herself banned from the seance and shown the door. Curious, she listens in from outside
the room. The medium informs a disappointed Donald that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be able to make it tonight.
Then, Gemma hears a voice cut off, a cry for help, a scream. Gemma bursts into the library to see that someone has
collapsed on the table -- dead. The windows are all locked, and Gemma was guarding the only door. Someone in this room
is a murderer. But who?
The game is once again afoot for Gemma Doyle, as she hunts a killer. But, this time, is the killer of flesh and blood or had
the medium summoned doom from beyond the veil?
Critique: Simply stated, as a novelist, Vicki Delany is a master of the mystery genre in general, and the cozy mystery format
in particular. Here newest title, "The Sign of Four Spirits" is a part of her outstanding 'A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop
Mystery' series and will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should also be noted for personal reading lists of the growing legions of cozy mystery fans that "The Sign of
Four Spirits" is a fun read that is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Vicki Delany (http://vickidelany.com) is the Canadian author of more than thirty novels/novellas in several
of mystery's subgenres. Born in Manitoba and raised in Ontario, she is the former president of the Crime Writers of Canada,
a member of Capital Crime Writers, and a member of Sisters in Crime.
Hammers and Homicide
Paula Charles
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105991, $29.99, HC, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hammers-Homicide-Hometown-Hardware-Mystery/dp/1639105999
Synopsis: Recent sexagenarian widow Dawna Carpenter thought running her own hardware store after the death of her
husband was hard enough. With her adult daughter, April, moving back into town, and Darlene, the annoying boutique
owner next door to her shop poking around, Dawna has her hands full. But when she finds a dead man in the bathroom of
her store, with a framing hammer by his side, she's in way over her head.
The victim, Warren Highcastle, was a land developer who was looking to purchase the old theater in town to build a new
hotel. Dawna and April, worried about the implications of the crime scene at the hardware store, put themselves on the case.
They soon learn that Warren had made quite a few enemies in his short amount of time in town. As the suspect list starts
growing, so too do the threats against Dawna and April. Can Dawna and April nail the killer before they strike again?
Critique: A deftly crafted and fun read from first page to last, "Hammers and Homicide" by novelist Paula Charles is part of
her 'A Hometown Hardware Mystery' series and a true delight for all dedicated cozy mystery fans. While very highly
recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all
dedicated 'whodunit' mystery buffs that "Hammers and Homicide" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$17.99).
Editorial Note: Paula Charles (https://www.paulacharles.com) is a member of Sisters in Crime. There is an extensive listing
of her novels at https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/166419153-paula-charles
Death at a Scottish Wedding
Lucy Connelly
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639105410, $29.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Scottish-Wedding-Isle-Mystery/dp/1639105417
Synopsis: Finally feeling like Sea Isle, Scotland is becoming her new home, American doctor Emilia McRoy is delighted
when she is invited to a wedding at Morrigan's Castle. Her friends have warned her that it's a three-day party and it's bound
to get wild, not to mention the impending snowstorm. Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle, ensures their safety
with the blizzard. What he didn't ensure, is that all of his guests would survive the night alive. When Emilia explores the
impressive castle, she finds a dead man in one of the turrets.
The snowstorm hits and the local police can't reach the castle until it lets up. With no one able to leave, the family insists
they carry on with the wedding, which makes Emilia's job as the coroner a bit easier (the suspects are in one place) and
complicated because the killer has Emilia in his sights. The fact no one claims to know the victim isn't helping. Why would
someone no one knows be murdered at a castle in the middle of nowhere?
It's up to Emilia to uncover the mystery who the victim is, so the killer doesn't get away Scot free.
Critique: A compulsively entertaining read from start to finish, "Death at a Scottish Wedding" has all the elements dear to
the hearts of dedicated cozy mystery fans -- an amateur female sleuth compelled by circumstance to identify and bring to
justice a killer -- before she herself can become a victim. A simply riveting read, "Death at a Scottish Wedding" is author
Lucy Konnelly's second novel in her 'A Scottish Isle Mystery' series and unreservedly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Death at a Scottish Wedding" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Lucy Connelly (https://www.lucyconnelly.com) has a master's degree in humanities and enjoys learning all
the things. And she's been published under many other pen names.
City of Betrayal
Victoria Thompson
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593440605, $28.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/City-Betrayal-Counterfeit-Lady-Novel/dp/0593440609
Synopsis: A year has passed since Elizabeth Bates ran her last con. Life has been simpler, although not nearly as exciting,
but she has thrown herself into working to get the 19th Amendment ratified by thirty-six states to become the law of the
land. Since every other Southern state has already rejected the amendment, it seems unlikely Tennessee will be an exception
-- but it is their only hope, so the suffragists descend on Tennessee for the final battle.
Elizabeth's ability to interact with difficult men and to persuasively explain all the advantages of allowing women to vote
(all skills she perfected as a grifter) have made her a valuable member of the team. But she would never have expected the
lengths to which some would go to keep the vote out of women's hands. She'll need to devise the perfect con or the
suffragists' life's work could all be for nothing.
Critique: An unusual and inherently fascinating take on the cozy mystery genre, "City of Betrayal" by Victoria Thompson is
part of the author's 'A Counterfeit Lady' series of novels. Of immense interest to fans of historical mysteries starring female
sleuths, "City of Betrayal" is an original and fun read from start to finish. While also available for personal reading lists in a
digital book format, "City of Betrayal" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Victoria Thompson (https://victoriathompson.com) writes the Edgar and Agatha Award nominated Gaslight
Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt, and the Sue Grafton Award
nominated Counterfeit Lady Series set in early twentieth century New York City and featuring con artist Elizabeth Miles.
Victoria also teaches in the Seton Hill University master's program in writing popular fiction.
Coaching Fire
Victoria Laurie
Kensington Cozies
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496742469, $27.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Fire-Gilley-Coach-Mystery/dp/149674246X
Synopsis: Gilley's whirlwind romance with creative director Stuart Jacobs began in Paris, where Stuart was sourcing fabric
for the world-renowned Texas Rose Festival, which he is heading up for the first time. The festival is nothing short of
spectacular, bringing in half a million people (and their wallets) to see the artistic displays, and exquisite gowns and jewels
worn by the Rose Queen and her court. Stuart and his crew seem to have it all under control. But the night Cat arrives in
Texas, someone is shot dead in cold blood, and a member of Stuart's staff is named the prime suspect!
The Rose Festival is too important to the city's economy to cancel, so while Stuart scrambles to prevent the festival from
derailing, Cat and Gilley launch their own investigation into the murder. With a parade of potential suspects to parse, and an
even longer list of motives, they bring in East Hampton Police Detective Steve Shepherd to help. As rumors of arson,
burglary, and professional sabotage swirl around the already fraught festival planning, Cat and her team immerse themselves
in the cutthroat pageantry to identify the killer, who has already picked their next victim!
Critique: "Coaching Fire" by Victoria Laurie has everything a cozy mystery fan could want in the form an amateur female
sleuth having to solve a perplexing 'whodunnit' murder mystery at the risk of her life and the lives of her friends. With more
unexpected plot twists and turns than Kansas tornado, "Coaching Fire" is a fun read from start to finish and one that is
especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of all dedicated cozy mystery fans that "Coaching Fire" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $13.77).
Editorial Note: Victoria Laurie (www.VictoriaLaurie.com) identifies herself as a real-life psychic and is the author of the
Psychic Eye Mysteries, the Ghost Hunter Mysteries, and the Life Coach Mysteries.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Calamity
Constance Fay
Bramble
c/o Tor/Forge Books
www.tor-forge.com
9781250330413, $18.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Calamity-Uncharted-Hearts-Constance-Fay/dp/1250330416
Synopsis: Temperance Reed is the captain of a ragtag mercenary spaceship is given an offer she can't refuse by the ruthless
head of an intergalactic noble family. The only catch? She'll have to team up with his son (an upsettingly competent
hardbody with his own agenda) to get her reward.
She's got a ramshackle spaceship, a misfit crew, and a big problem with its sexy newest member...
Temperance, banished from the wealthy and dangerous Fifteen Families, just wants to keep her crew together after their
feckless captain ran off with the intern. But she's drowning in debt and a revolutionary new engine technology is about to
make her beloved ship obsolete.
Arcadio Escajeda is the second child of the terrifying Escajeda Family. Plus he is the thorn in Temper's side as they're sent
off on a scouting mission on the backwater desert planet of Herschel 2. They throw sparks every time they meet but
Temper's suspicions of his ulterior motives only serve to fuel the flames between them.
Despite volcanic eruptions, secret cultists, and deadly galactic fighters, the greatest threat on this mission may be to
Temper's heart.
Critique: Especially and unreservedly recommended to the attention of readers who enjoy a space opera novel at its romance
& science fiction best, "Calamity" is a deftly crafted, completely riveting, and impressively fun read from start to finish.
Showcasing author Constance Fay's genuine flair for original, creativity, and narrative driven storytelling style, "Calamity"
will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library Science Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Calamity" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Constance Fay (https://constancefay.com) writes space romance novels and genre fiction short stories. Her
short fiction can be found in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Catscast podcast, and other publications. She has
a background in medical device R&D and lives with a cat who edits all her work first.
Words of Kings and Prophets
Shauna Lawless
shaunalawless.com
Head of Zeus
https://headofzeus.com/home
9781803282671, $29.99, HC, 415pp
https://www.amazon.com/Words-Kings-Prophets-Gael-Song/dp/1803282673
Synopsis: Ireland, 1000 AD. Gormflaith is unhappily married to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, and although a queen she
struggles with her limited position. As an immortal Fomorian with the secret gift of magic, Gormflaith has a burning desire:
to find and destroy the hidden fortress of her sworn enemies, the Descendants, who seek to kill her kind at all costs. She
begins to use her magical powers, and discovers she is more skilled than she ever realized -- but can she control what she
will become?
Meanwhile Fodla, the Descendants' healer, mourns her banished sister but clings to life as the guardian of her young
nephew. She seeks a place of safety for them both, but he has secrets of his own that could threaten everything -- and Fodla
must do all in her power to keep him hidden away from those who would use him for evil.
When a mysterious man comes to King Brian's court, his presence could spell disaster or deliverance for both Gormflaith
and Fodla -- and for Ireland herself. For he is Tomas, an ambitious immortal with few scruples who will do anything to see
his plans become reality.
Soon, mortals and immortals alike are drawn towards a bitter conflict that could decide the future of Ireland and all her
people.
Critique: "The Words of Kings and Prophets" is the sequel to author Shauna Lawless' novel "The Children of Gods and
Fighting Men" and part of her Gael Song Irish mythology/fantasy series. Of special and particular interest to fans of
historical fantasy and Irish folklore, "The Words of Kings and Prophets" is a fun read from start to finish and fully showcase
Shauna Lawless' impressive flair for originality and her mastery of the historical action/adventure fantasy genre. While
especially recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of dedicated heroic fantasy fiction fans that "The Words of Kings and Prophets" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Shauna Lawless is an avid reader of Irish mythology and folklore. As an Irish woman, she loves that Irish
mythology has inspired so many stories over the years, however, she wanted to explore the history and mythology of Ireland
in a more authentic way. Her debut novel, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, has been critically acclaimed. The
Words of Kings and Prophets is the second volume in the Gael Song trilogy. She can be followed on @shaunaLwrites
Weaver
Kelly Ann Jacobson
Livingston Press
https://livingstonpress.uwa.edu
9781604893632, $19.95, PB, 278pp
https://www.amazon.com/Weaver-Kelly-Jacobson/dp/160489363X
Synopsis: "Weaver" by author Kelly Ann Jacobson is a 'Cloud Atlas' style speculative science fiction novel in which it's the
humans who are the alien invaders.
The reader learns through many documents (police reports, legal depositions, speech transcripts, and diary entries) that a
human company named HealthCorp has attempted to enslave two alien species: the Laffians stranded on a planet-wide
ocean and the feline HoFe living on a bed of hofellium. Now, those same aliens have come to Earth in the hopes of using
the planet to safely repopulate.
The overriding question becomes whether these three groups can reconcile on Earth without killing each other first!
Critique: An original, entertaining, and thought-provoking novel by an author with a genuine flair for narrative style
storytelling, "Weaver" will be of particular interest to fans of LGBTQ fiction, First Contact and Alien Invasion science
fiction. While an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library Science
Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Weaver" is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Kelly Ann Jacobson (https://www.kellyannjacobson.com) is the author or editor of many published books,
including her contest-winning chapbook An Inventory of Abandoned Things (Split/Lip Press), her award-winning young
adult novel Tink and Wendy (Three Rooms Press), and her new young adult novel Robin and Her Misfits (Three Rooms
Press). Kelly received her PhD in fiction from Florida State University and teaches creative writing full time as an Assistant
Professor of English at the University of Lynchburg and as an instructor for Southern New Hampshire University's online
MFA and Johns Hopkins University's MA in Writing. Kelly's short works have been published in such places as Best Small
Fictions, Boulevard, Southern Humanities Review, Daily Science Fiction, and Gargoyle.
Do or Die: A Zombicide Novel
Josh Reynolds
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839082610, $16.95, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Do-Die-Zombicide-Josh-Reynolds/dp/1839082615
Synopsis: Being undead isn't anything new for Westlake (who is a former thief and a currently deteriorating Zombivor) until
he realizes there's not enough formaldehyde in the world to keep him together. He decides to embark on one last mission
into the zombie apocalypse to find a long-lost drug cartel cache which will set his friends up for life. The hitch? It's in
Florida. By the time they land in the Everglades, not only is the wildlife a lot wilder and more murderous than usual, but a
hurricane looms on the horizon, ready to wipe them from the face of the earth. For Westlake, there is no other choice but to
DO OR DIE.
Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, and a 'must' read pick for the legions of zombie fans, "Do or Die" by novelist
Josh Reynolds is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Do or Die" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.95).
Editorial Note: Josh Reynolds (https://joshuamreynolds.co.uk) is the author of over thirty novels and numerous short stories,
including the wildly popular Warhammer: Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000. He grew up in South Carolina and now
lives in the UK.
Empire Falling
Robbie MacNiven
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839082375, $16.95, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Falling-Twilight-Novel-Imperium/dp/1839082372
Synopsis: Millennia ago the great empire of the Lazax brought the galaxy to heel, but now their ancient doctrine of strength
and peace is failing. In the shadows, other factions begin to move against each other and their authoritarian masters. To rule
themselves they must first tear down the crumbling regime they are forced to serve. When the Barony of Letnev, supplier of
the Lazax's grand fleet, blockades a crucial wormhole to force the empire to listen to its demands, the spark of war is ignited
and Zara Hail, an official for the Federation of Sol, is caught in the middle. As the threat of conflict continues to escalate,
every faction must choose: Bend beneath the yoke of despots, or break the chains that bind them.
Critique: A novel of the Twilight Imperium by Robbie MacNiven, "Empire Falling" is an impressively original 'space opera'
and thoroughly fun read from start to finish. Deftly crafted and with many an unexpected plot twise, "Empire Falling" is a
welcome and highly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Science Fiction collections. It
should be noted that "Empire Falling" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95) for any and all
dedicated Sci-Fi fans.
Editorial Note: Robbie MacNiven is a Highlands-native History graduate from the University of Edinburgh. He is the author
of several novels and many short stories for the New York Times-bestselling Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of
Sigmar universe, and the narrative for HiRez Studio's Smite Blitz RPG.
The Business Shelf
Sustainable Marketing
Paul Randle, author
Alexis Eyre, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398613157, $110.00, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Marketing-Industrys-Role-Future/dp/1398613150
Synopsis: "Sustainable Marketing: The Industry's Role in a Sustainable Future" by co-authors Paul Randle and Alexis Eyre
is a blueprint for embedding sustainability at the heart of marketing in today's marketing environment. Exposing the
disturbing reality of marketing's current relationship with many of our environmental and societal problems, "Sustainable
Marketing" challenges the traditional role of marketing, its cultural norms and gross inefficiency. It goes on to present a
compelling vision for change and a practical guide for marketing professionals, equipping them with the mindset and tools
to transform their daily work and the industry as a whole, into a force for good.
"Sustainable Marketing" is the perfect guide for marketing and sustainability professionals who are working through their
company's sustainable transformation while trying to avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing and carbon myopia. Deftly written
by two acknowledged experts who apply their unique framework to the issue, "Sustainable Marketing" takes what may feel
like an insurmountable challenge and breaks it down, giving in-depth advice and providing real-world success stories from
companies of all sizes including Tony's Chocolonely, The Onlii and AkzoNobel.
Critique: An impressively organized and presented DIY manual, "Sustainable Marketing: The Industry's Role in a
Sustainable Future" is essential reading for anyone charged with marketing responsibilities for their company or business
enterprise. An extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, corporate, and college/university
library Business Management & Marketing collections and supplemental MBA/Environmental Economics curriculum
studies lists, it should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, marketing directors, and entrepreneurs
that "Sustainable Marketing: The Industry's Role in a Sustainable Future" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781398613133, $31.99) and in a digital book format (Kidle, $31.99).
Editorial Note #1: Paul Randle is co-founder of the Sustainable Marketing Compass and CEO of Pickle Consulting Ltd
based in Berkshire, UK. He has over 30 years of global marketing and digital transformation experience with organisations
like BSI, Microsoft, Philips, AkzoNobel, VISA, Dentsu and Omnicom. He has spoken at events such as Google Think,
written articles for The Guardian newspaper and is an assessor and sits on the advisory panel of the Sustainable Marketing,
Media and Creative course offered by the Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Editorial Note #2: Alexis Eyre is the Co-Founder of the Sustainable Marketing Compass, Founder of Green Eyre and
Co-Founder of Sustainists Consultants. Based in Hampshire, UK, she has worked media owner, agency and client side for
brands ranging from start-up to global in size, including Natwest, Sunsail, News UK, EcoSki and Hewlett Packard. She has
spoken at a number of conferences including the Leaders Week Summit, and the Business Green NetZero Festival about
Sustainable Marketing. She runs Sustainable Marketing courses for the IPA, writes content for the CIM and is an assessor
on the Sustainable Marketing, Media and Creative course by the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. She is
also certified in Business Sustainability Management from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership.
Search Marketing: A Strategic Approach to SEO and SEM
Kelly Cutler
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398612822, $131.00, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Search-Marketing-Strategic-Approach-SEO/dp/1398612820
Synopsis: Newly published by Kogan Page, "Search Marketing: A Strategic Approach to SEO and SEM" by digital
marketing expert and educator Kelly Cutler is a comprehensive guide that delves into the dynamic world of both paid and
organic search marketing strategies, providing an in-depth understanding of the tactics and techniques that drive successful
online visibility and business growth.
As the digital marketing landscape continues to evolve, corporate and business marketing gets more technical,
time-consuming and costly. But "Search Marketing" reveals how to approach both paid and organic search marketing like a
digital strategist.
"Search Marketing" also offers insights into high-level fundamentals and advanced applications. Specifically designed to
help marketers and businesses leaders get more from this essential digital marketing tactic, "Search Marketing" dives into
what marketers can do today to help their companies take a more controlled, intentional, and strategic approach to SEO and
SEM.
"Search Marketing" identifies and explains effective techniques for increasing visibility, driving qualified traffic, measuring
the success and functionality of SEO, SEM campaigns and advanced methods for campaign optimization. Readers will learn
how to take a more informed approach to the business they bring from sites like Google and Bing, while gaining the insight
necessary to effectively oversee search marketing at a strategic level.
Critique: Given the enormous and ever increasing necessity for companies to master, employ, improve and expand their
digital marketing in today's volatile local, regional, national, and international business climate, "Search Marketing: A
Strategic Approach to SEO and SEM" is a critically important and absolutely recommended addition to professional,
corporate, and college/university library Search Engine, Web Marketing, and E-Commerce collections and supplemental
MBA studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, marketing directors, entrepreneurs,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Search Marketing: A Strategic Approach to SEO and
SEM" is also available in a paperback edition (9781398612808, $39.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $39.99).
Editorial Note: Kelly Cutler (https://www.koganpage.com/authors/kelly-cutler) is a seasoned entrepreneur, technology
executive, educator and business leader based in Chicago, Illinois. She brings over two decades of experience, with previous
strategic insights from the early days of AOL and later at Cars.com. Through her technology consulting company Kona, she
has consulted with CDW in the areas of leadership, digital transformation and learning development. She has worked with
companies across industries and geographies including Johns Hopkins, Zebra Technologies, The Los Angeles Film Festival
and Ryland Homes. Cutler holds a Master of Science from Northwestern University's Information, Design and Strategy
program where she studied data strategy, leadership and communication. In her current role at Northwestern University,
Cutler teaches at Medill, Kellogg Executive Education and the School of Professional Studies (SPS). Prior to joining
Northwestern, Cutler taught at DePaul University Kellstadt Marketing Center for nearly ten years. She has extensive
experience in training, running workshops and speaking at industry conferences around the country.
A Practical Guide to Logistics, second edition
Jerry Rudd
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398612693, $159.00, HC, 416pp
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Logistics-Introduction-Distribution/dp/1398612693
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "A Practical Guide to Logistics: An Introduction to
Transport, Warehousing and Distribution" by logistics and supply chain expert Jerry Rudd is a straightforward guide taking
readers through all aspects of the industry including covering packaging, transportation, warehousing and exporting and
importing of goods.
This new second edition published by Kogan Page features a new chapter on Health and Safety in the field, and coverage of
the most recent developments impacting logistics, including automation and electric vehicles.
This new edition of "A Practical Guide to Logistics: An Introduction to Transport, Warehousing and Distribution" will
equip readers with all the necessary knowledge to progress in their careers and provides balanced advice on how to choose
the right option for their business. "A Practical Guide to Logistics: An Introduction to Transport, Warehousing and
Distribution: 2nd Edition" is an essential introduction for practitioners, undergraduate and postgraduate students of logistics
and warehouse management.
Critique: Impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well written, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, "A Practical Guide to Logistics: An Introduction to Transport, Warehousing and Distribution: 2nd Edition" is
an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition professional, corporate, and college/university library Business,
Distribution, Logistics, and Supply Chain collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "A Practical Guide to Logistics: An Introduction to Transport, Warehousing and Distribution: 2nd
Edition" is also available in a paperback edition, 9781398612648, $41.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$37.99)
Editorial Note: Jerry Rudd (www.koganpage.com/authors/jerry-rudd) is a Logistics and Supply Chain professional with over
25 years' experience. He has worked with companies such as Ford, Peugeot, the Bank of England and Wincanton.
Advanced Introduction to Service Innovation
Faiz Gallouj, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781803925196, $120.00, PB, 198pp
https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Introduction-Service-Innovation-Introductions/dp/1803925191
Synopsis: Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences,
business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise
and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.
A part of this impressive series, "Advanced Introduction to Service Innovation" by the team of co-authors Faiz Gallouj,
Faridah Dejellal, and Camal Gallouj explores a key driver of the service economy, addressing in particular the definition and
conceptualization of innovation in services, and its measurement, using both traditional and new measures.
The three co-authors address pertinent questions such as: What is innovation in services and how is it conceptualized? How
is it measured? How is it organized and managed within both service and non-service firms?
Critique: Identifying potential challenges and outlines the future of research, reflecting on the rise of innovation networks in
the field of services, providing a comprehensive review of advances in the field of service innovation over the last 30 years,
offering illustrated via in-depth discussions the progress, and addressing the gaps to be filled in the measurement of service
innovation, "Advanced Introduction to Service Innovation" is an insightful and seminal study will be a useful introduction
for both undergraduate and graduate teaching of organizational innovation, economics of innovation and services. It will
also be an invaluable resource for researchers and business and policy practitioners in the field of service innovation. While
strongly recommended for personal, professional, corporate, and college/university library Business Management
collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Advanced Introduction to Service
Innovation" is also available in a paperback edition (9781803925219, $30.95).
Editorial Note: Both Faiz Gallouj and Faridah Djellal are Professors of Economics and members of CLERSE-CNRS,
University of Lille. Camal Gallouj is Professor of Management Science, University Sorbonne, Paris Nord, CEPN-CNRS,
France.
The Digital Transformation Roadmap
David L. Rogers
Columbia Business School Publishing
c/o Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu
9780231196581, $32.95, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Transformation-Roadmap-Organization-Continuous/dp/023119658X
Synopsis: Today, every business is talking about digital transformation. With the acceleration of new technologies, every
organization knows it must adapt to survive. But by their own admission, 70 percent of businesses are failing to transform.
Across industries, established companies are held back by bureaucracy, inertia, and old ways of working. How can
businesses break through to drive real change in what has become known as the digital age?
With the publication of "The Digital Transformation Roadmap: Rebuild Your Organization for Continuous Change" author
and C-suite advisor David L. Rogers provides every leader with the answer and persuasively argues that businesses must
transform not just products and business models -- they must transform the organization itself.
Based on two decades of research and advising companies around the world, Rogers identifies the five biggest barriers to
digital transformation: vision, priorities, experimentation, governance, and capabilities. He then shows how any business
can evolve by heeding the lessons of companies such as Disney, Walmart, Mastercard, Air Liquide, and the New York
Times Company.
"The Digital Transformation Roadmap" provides a practical DIY blueprint for organizational change, illustrated with
real-world case studies and step-by-step planning tools. Rogers also shows every leader how to think beyond the churn of
new technologies and rebuild their organization for a world of constant change.
Critique: Informative, comprehensive, motivational, inspiring, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, "The Digital Transformation Roadmap: Rebuild Your Organization for Continuous Change" is an
extraordinary and straightforwardly recommended core addition for personal, professional, community, corporate, and
college/university library Business Organizational Structure Adjustment/Management collections and supplemental MBA
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Digital Transformation Roadmap: Rebuild Your
Organization for Continuous Change" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.27).
Editorial Note: David L. Rogers (https://davidrogers.digital) is an acclaimed expert on digital transformation, a member of
the faculty at Columbia Business School, and the author of five books. His international best-seller The Digital
Transformation Playbook (Columbia, 2016) has been published in more than a dozen languages. He has helped global
companies transform their business for the digital age, advising senior leaders at Google, Microsoft, Citigroup, Visa, HSBC,
Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Merck, GE, Toyota, and many more.
The Enterprise Big Data Framework
Jan-Willem Middleburg
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398601741, $229.00, HC, 496pp
https://www.amazon.com/Enterprise-Big-Data-Framework-Capabilities/dp/1398601748
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Enterprise Big Data Framework: Building Critical Capabilities to Win in the Data
Economy", Jan-Willem Middleburg presents a comprehensive guide that covers all the aspects of transforming enterprise
data into value, from the initial set-up of a big data strategy, towards algorithms, architecture and data governance
processes.
Using a vendor-independent approach, "The Enterprise Big Data Framework" also offers practical advice on how to develop
data-driven decision making, detailed data analysis and data engineering techniques.
With a focus on business implementation, "The Enterprise Big Data Framework" includes sections on analysis, engineering,
algorithm design and big data architecture, and covers topics such as data preparation and presentation, data modelling, data
science, programming languages and machine learning algorithms.
Endorsed by leading accreditation and examination institute AMPG International, "The Enterprise Big Data Framework"
from Kogan Page must be considered as required reading for the Enterprise Big Data Certifications, which aim to develop
excellence in big data practices across the globe. Of special note is that online resources also include sample data for
practice purposes.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "The Enterprise Big Data Framework: Building Critical Capabilities
to Win in the Data Economy" is a comprehensive and completely recommended choice for personal, professional, corporate,
and college/university library Business/Entrepreneurship instructional reference collections and essential reading for anyone
charged with the responsibilities of warehouse management, data modeling/design, and designing/implementing/operating
data programing algorithms. It should be noted for in-service training programs and academic curriculum studies lists that
"The Enterprise Big Data Framework" is also available in a paperback edition (9781398601710, $59.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $47.99).
Editorial Note: Jan-Willem Middelburg is the CEO and co-founder of Cybiant, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With
Cybiant he helps to create a more sustainable world through analytics, big data and automation, developing algorithms and
employing data scientists to unearth patterns and information. He is also President and Chief Examiner of the Enterprise Big
Data Framework, an independent organization dedicated to upskilling individuals with expertise in Big Data. In partnership
with APMG-International, the Enterprise Big Data Framework offers vendor-neutral certifications for individuals.
(www.koganpage.com/authors/jan-willem-middelburg)
Systems Thinking for Business and Management
Umit S. Bititci, author
Agnessa Spanellis, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398611689, $159.00, HC, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/Systems-Thinking-Business-Management-Principles/dp/1398611689
Synopsis: Blending theory and practice, "Systems Thinking for Business and Management: Principles and Practice" by co-
authors Umit S. Bitici and Agnessa Spanellis reviews the fundamentals and includes a wide range of global cases and
examples from business, showing how systems thinking can be applied to real-world organizational contexts. MBA students
will learn to apply their knowledge to solve business system problems, carry out systemic organizational analysis and design
solutions to address complex organizational problems. They will also build valuable skills in systems analysis, business
process modelling, problem solving and decision making.
"Systems Thinking for Business and Management: Principles and Practice" includes:
An evaluation of the different models, theories and frameworks for generic systems, system properties and system
classifications
An overview of the different methods used for modelling and analysing different systems, specifically hard systems, soft
systems and complex systems
Discussion of how system thinkers can imagine and model future systems
Experiential, engaging pedagogy, such as practical activities and reflective exercises in each chapter
Online resources to support teaching and learning, such as a customizable set of PowerPoint slides and video links
The approach taken by "Systems Thinking for Business and Management: Principles and Practice" to the subject has been
tried and tested over ten years of teaching. It will be an essential text for introductory modules on systems thinking at
undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA levels. It will also be of interest to practitioners looking to apply systems thinking to
improve their organizations.
Critique: A core textbook for supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, "Systems Thinking for Business and
Management: Principles and Practice" is impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well written, thoroughly 'student
friendly' in organization and presentation, and will invaluable to any corporate officer responsible for the business and
management of their company whether local, national, or international. While highly recommended as an essential addition
to corporate and college/university library Strategic Business Planning/Management collections and MBA curriculum
studies lists, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Systems Thinking for Business and Management: Principles
and Practice" is also available in a paperback edition (9781398611665, $47.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$38.39).
Editorial Note #1: Umit S Bititci is the Acting Executive Dean of Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University and
Professor of Business Performance. He has a blend of industrial and academic experience spanning 35 years. He has worked
with an international portfolio of companies and public sector organisations and has led several international research and
development projects with a research portfolio c. 20m. He has published 200 papers and regularly appears at international
conferences and workshops as guest and keynote speaker.
Editorial Note #2: Agnessa Spanellis is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Edinburgh, UK, where she teaches modules
on Systemic Approach to Sustainability and Thinking about Business. She has been published in peer-reviewed journals,
books and outlets such as The Conversation.
Supply Chain Risk Management: 4th Edition
John Manners-Bell
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398613232, $229.00, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Supply-Chain-Risk-Management-Resilient/dp/1398613231
Synopsis: Implementing robust supply chain strategies has never been so essential in today's ever-changing world. From
geo-political risks to the continued effects of global crises, Supply Chain Risk Management is an essential resource for those
wanting to mitigate risk and ensure supply chain resilience. Offering crucial insight from a management perspective, this
updated 4th edition of "Supply Chain Risk Management: How to Design and Manage Resilient Supply Chains" by John
Manners-Bell offers new guidance on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply-chain bottlenecks and evolving
geo-political risks.
With new global case studies including disruption to the supply chain due to the Suez Canal blockage and global tensions
like the US-China trade war, this newly revised and expanded fourth edition explores a variety of real-world risks. "Supply
Chain Risk Management" details ongoing threats like climate change, corruption and technological risks while providing
crucial detail on how to implement robust systems and safeguard supply chain operations. Combining theoretical and
practical learning, "Supply Chain Risk Management" is essential for those needing to understand risk and how it can be
approached.
Critique: The recent global pandemic and the on-going Russia/Ukraine war underscore how fragile, vulnerable, and
essential supple chains are to maintaining economic prosperity for the Unites States and all the other countries of the world.
This newly updated fourth edition of "Supply Chain Risk Management: How to Design and Manage Resilient Supply
Chains" is a vital addition to personal, professional, corporate, community, and college/university library
Industrial/Manufacturing Risk Management collections, and supplemental Business/Economics curriculum studies lists.
Exceptionally well written, organized, updated, and presented, it should be noted that this new fourth edition of "Supply
Chain Risk Management: How to Design and Manage Resilient Supply Chains" is also available for personal and
professional reading lists in a paperback edition (9781398613218, $59.990 and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$47.99).
Editorial Note: John Manners-Bell is the CEO of Transport Intelligence, a leading supplier of market solutions to the global
logistics industry. He is also Visiting Professor at the London Guildhall Faculty of Business and Law, London Metropolitan
University. He holds an MSc in Transport Planning and Management from the University of Westminster, a BA (Hons) in
Classics from King's College London where he was also awarded an Associateship (AKC). John Manners-Bell is a Fellow
of the UK Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and former Chair of the Supply Chain, Logistics Global Advisory
Council of the World Economic Forum. (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GACnKq8AAAAJ
Armstrong's Handbook of Reward Management Practice, 7th Edition
Michael Armstrong, author
Duncan Brown, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398611146, $215.00, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Armstrongs-Handbook-Reward-Management-Practice/dp/139861114X
Synopsis: "Armstrong's Handbook of Reward Management Practice: Improving Performance Through Reward" by co-
authors Michael Armstrong and Duncan Brown is the essential guide to comprehending, developing and implementing
effective reward strategies. The new edition incorporates the latest research and developments within reward management,
including the reward implications of Covid and the 'great resignation' and rewarding remote and hybrid workers. This new
revisions also contain updates on reward structures, equal pay, employee benefits including wellbeing benefits, total rewards
and smart rewards.
"Armstrong's Handbook of Reward Management Practice: Improving Performance Through Reward" now covers all the
crucial aspects of improving organizational, team and individual performance through reward processes, including financial
and non-financial rewards, job evaluation, grade and pay structures, rewarding specific employee groups and ethical
considerations.
The reader will find that "Armstrong's Handbook of Reward Management Practice" now bridges the gap between the
academic and practitioner and is ideally suited to both HR professionals and those studying for HR qualifications, including
master's degrees and the CIPD's intermediate and advanced level qualifications. Tips and checklists and can be found
throughout, alongside case studies from organizations including General Motors, and the UK National Health Service.
Online supporting resources include lecture slides and comprehensive handbooks for both lecturers and students, which
include learning summaries, discussion questions, literature reviews and glossaries.
Critique: An ideal textbook for Business Management curriculum studies lists, and also readily available in a complete and
unabridged paperback edition (9781398611122, $57.99), this seventh edition of "Armstrong's Handbook of Reward
Management Practice: Improving Performance Through Reward" from Kogan Page is an essential pick for personal,
professional, corporate, and college/university library Human Resources and Personnel Management collections.
Editorial Note #1: Michael Armstrong is a Companion and former Chief Examiner of the Chartered Institute of Personnel
and Development (CIPD), a managing partner of E-Reward and an independent management consultant. Prior to this he was
an HR director of a publishing company. (www.koganpage.com/authors/michael-armstrong)
Editorial Note #2: Duncan Brown is an independent rewards adviser and researcher. He has more than 30 years' experience
with employers including IES, Aon Hewitt, PwC and Willis Towers Watson. He also spent five years as Assistant Director
General and head of research and policy at the CIPD. (https://www.koganpage.com/authors/duncan-brown)
The Library Science Shelf
Libraries Without Borders
Steven A. Knowlton, et al.
ALA Editions
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838936634, $69.99, PB, 216pp
https://www.alastore.ala.org/LHRTbook
Synopsis: What does it mean for a library to be without borders?
"Libraries Without Borders: New Directions in Library History" is remarkable collection of essays, drawn from the Library
History Seminar sponsored by the Library History Round Table (LHRT), explores the roles that libraries have played in the
communities they serve, well beyond the stacks and circulation desk.
The research contained in these pages shows how librarians and users can not only reach beyond the border separating
professionals from patrons, but also across institutional boundaries separating different specializations within the profession,
and outside traditional channels of knowledge acquisition and organization.
Delving into a variety of goals, approaches, and practices, all with the intention of fostering community and providing
information, this collection's fascinating topics includes:
1. A critique of library history as it is currently conducted, pointing out the borders of habit, familiarity, and bias that thwart
diversity within library and information studies.
2. Stories of the community-based activism that has been key to battling the "epistemicide" that can undermine collective
understandings about the world and the interests of African American library users.
3. Profiles of current Indigenous library practitioners who are both documenting and creating library history.
4. A grassroots movement to create a comprehensive collection related to the theology and practice of the Society of Mary at
the time of great ecclesiastical and liturgical changes.
5. Histories of the innovations which led to the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services and the Instruction
Section of ACRL.
6. Using the "due date" as a lens for understanding how patrons and the general public feel about the role of libraries and
their rules in the lives of average Americans.
7. How the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act influenced the work of research libraries that collected materials from
the Communist Bloc.
8. A primer on conducting research in library history that will allow readers to explore how libraries in their own
communities have affected the lives of their users.
Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Steven A. Knowlton, Ellen M. Possi, Jordan S. Sly, and
Emily D. Spunagule, "Libraries Without Borders: New Directions in Library History" also features an informative Foreword
by Renate L. Crancelle. Exceptionally informative and impressively organized and presented, "Libraries Without Borders:
New Directions in Library History" is an ideal for in-service Library Science workshops and training seminars. Of particular
relevance for supplemental General Library Administration curriculum studies lists, Libraries Without Borders: New
Directions in Library History" is unreservedly recommended for college and university library Informational/Library Science
instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note #1: Steven A. Knowlton is Librarian for History and African American Studies at Princeton University. His
research has appeared in many peer-reviewed journals, and he has served on editorial boards or as editor for numerous
scholarly publications including Libraries: Culture, History, Society. He has won the Justin Winsor Library History Essay
Award twice and is the recipient of prizes from the West Tennessee Historical Society and the North American
Vexillological Association. His first edited book, Oscar Federhen's Thirteen Months in Dixie, or, the Adventures of a
Federal Prisoner in Texas, appeared in 2022.
Editorial Note #2: Ellen M. Pozzi is an Associate Professor at William Paterson University in New Jersey. Her research
interests include library history and diversity in children's and young adult literature. Her publications include "Going to
'America': Italian Neighborhoods and the Newark Free Public Library, 1900-1920" published in the edited book Libraries
and the Reading Public in Twentieth-Century America. She is an ALA Councilor and a past chair of the Library History
Round Table.
Editorial Note #3: Jordan S. Sly is the Head of the Humanities and Social Science Librarians and the librarian for
Anthropology, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Digital Humanities, French, German, and Italian studies at the University of
Maryland, College Park. He has published in the areas of library history, the extensions of critical theory in the practice of
librarianship, digital humanities, and more.
Editorial Note #4: Emily D. Spunaugle is Humanities and Rare Books Librarian at Oakland University (Rochester, MI). She
is published in library history and book history of the long eighteenth century and is co-director of the Marguerite Hicks
Project. She has served as chair of the Library History Round Table of the American Library Association and as associate
editor for SHARP News.
The Librarian's Guide to Bibliotherapy
Judit H. Ward, author
Nicholas A. Allred, author
ALA Editions
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838936627, $49.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Librarians-Guide-Bibliotherapy-Judit-Ward/dp/0838936628
Synopsis: Bibliotherapy is a concept that can be best defined as the use of guided reading for therapeutic ends. And though
you, as a librarian, might not be a licensed mental health professional, you can (and do, even without knowing it) support
mental health and personal growth by connecting patrons to books that heal.
Regardless of your previous experience or existing skills, "The Librarian's Guide to Bibliotherapy" is an instructive guide
that will empower you to make "shelf help" a part of your library's relationship with its community.
Drawing on Reading for Recovery (a Carnegie-Whitney grant-funded project), "The Librarian's Guide to Bibliotherapy" by
co-authors Judith H. Ward and Nicholas A. Allred begins with an overview of bibliotherapy, including its concepts and
history, and sketches out how its various approaches can be adapted for library settings
It then goes on to explore the potential of bibliotherapy as an add-on to existing skills, services, practices, and collections;
demonstrate how bibliotherapy-inspired initiatives can address the needs of diverse communities (thus advancing libraries'
commitment to EDISJ); offer techniques for selecting reading material for your audience with bibliotherapy in mind;
provide a range of possible programs ranging from group discussions and public events to book displays and reading lists,
along with a step-by-step approach to planning and implementing them.
"The Librarian's Guide to Bibliotherapy" also shares outreach tips, tools, and branding ideas to make the most of your
resources and effectively reach your audience; demonstrates how to use assessment tools to test and tweak your program at
every stage to achieve the results you want; and inspires you to take your offerings into new directions, such as creative
writing and visual art programs, that fit your library and community.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Librarian's Guide to Bibliotherapy provides a complete
and comprehensive course of instruction and is an ideal and unreservedly recommended textbook for in-service training
programs and supplemental Library Science curriculum studies lists. Every personal, professional, community/academic
library, library system, college or university Library Science collection should include a copy "The Librarian's Guide to
Bibliotherapy".
Editorial Note #1: Judit H. Ward is a Science Librarian at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. In addition to
providing reference, teaching library research, and hosting outreach programs, she promotes reading for mental health and
wellness. In her previous position as the Director of Information Services at the Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies she
developed "Reading for Recovery," a bibliotherapy-inspired tool for people grappling with addiction as the recipient of an
ALA Carnegie-Whitney Award in 2014. She has presented her research and practice related to guided reading from the
librarian's perspective both nationally and internationally. She is the author or co-author of over 150 articles and seven
books, including two bibliotherapy readers in her native Hungarian. She received her MLIS from Rutgers, after earning a
PhD in Linguistics and an MA in English and Hungarian Literature and Linguistics from the University of Debrecen,
Hungary.
Editorial Note #2: Nicholas A. Allred is Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. He
holds an M.St. in English from Oxford University and a PhD in Literatures in English from Rutgers, The State University of
New Jersey. His scholarly writing has appeared in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Eighteenth-Century Fiction,
and the edited collection Scholarly Milton. While at Rutgers, he collaborated extensively with the Center of Alcohol Studies
and Rutgers University Libraries on bibliotherapy-inspired projects and initiatives, including "Reading for Recovery" - - a
guided reading tool for people with addictions developed with funding from the ALA Carnegie-Whitney Award. He is
currently at work on his first academic monograph, on connections between the prehistory of addiction and conceptions of
fictional character in eighteenth-century British culture.
Everyday Evidence-Based Practice in Academic Libraries
Claire Walker Wiley, et al.
ACRL Books Association of College & Research Libraries
c/o American Library Association
https://www.ala.org
9780838939857, $84.00, PB, 376pp
https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Evidence-Based-Practice-Academic-Libraries/dp/0838939856
Synopsis: Evidence-based practice (EBP) in academic librarianship is embedded in the way librarians are trained to
approach their work. An EBP project might be a yearlong study with many types of evidence collected or a simple
assessment that helps to make a small adjustment to a given work. Large or small, EBP is a way of operating
day-to-day.
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Claire Walker Wiley, Amanda B. Click, and Meggan Houlihan,
"Everyday Evidence-Based Practice in Academic Libraries: Case Studies and Reflections" collects excellent, thorough
examples of EBP across functional areas of academic libraries and includes many evidence types in a variety of
contexts.
"Everyday Evidence-Based Practice in Academic Libraries" is comprised of five sections that explore the themes of:
Understanding Users; Leadership and Management; Instruction and Outreach; Collections. Open Initiatives.
"Everyday Evidence-Based Practice in Academic Libraries" is a compendium of informative studies on how to understand
the experiences and needs of diverse student populations; interviewing faculty to build scholarly partnerships;
evidence-based strategic planning; incorporating intersectionality in information literacy instruction; conducting a diversity
audit; and assessing open educational resources initiatives. The conclusion calls for librarian reflection to be incorporated
into evidence-based decision-making, as reflection is key to understanding the ways that a librarian chooses to embody
librarianship.
"Everyday Evidence-Based Practice in Academic Libraries" offers high-quality evidence from a variety of perspectives and
inspires a commitment to evidence-based practice in your day-to-day work and library culture.
Critique: Comprehensive, exceptional, and ideal for use as a curriculum textbook for in-service training workshops and
supplemental Library Science curriculums, "Everyday Evidence-Based Practice in Academic Libraries: Case Studies and
Reflections" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and college/university Library Science
collections.
Editorial Note #1: Claire Walker Wiley is a research and instruction librarian at Belmont University. In this position, she
serves as the liaison to the Colleges of Business and Entertainment and Music Business. Her research interests include
information literacy, business information literacy, the use of evidence synthesis methods in LIS, and librarians as academic
advisors. Claire has a BA in English and French from Harding University, an MLIS from the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, and an MSM from Austin Peay State University.
Editorial Note #2: Amanda B. Click is the head of research and instruction at the Nimitz Library at the U.S. Naval
Academy. Previously, she was the business librarian at American University in Washington, DC. She earned a PhD in
information science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied the cultural adaptation of
international students to higher education in the United States. Prior to entering the doctoral program, Amanda was the
coordinator of instruction at the American University in Cairo. Amanda also holds an MLIS from the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro and a BS in science, technology, and culture from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research
interests include the globalization of higher education, academic integrity, information literacy, and scholarly
communications. S
Editorial Note #3: Meggan Houlihan is the director of the Open Society University Network (OSUN) library resources
program, where she provides creative leadership for instruction, outreach, and collections efforts for the organization. She
directs the OSUN open educational resource program where she works to promote diversity, representation, and open
pedagogy. Prior to her role at OSUN, Meggan served in leadership roles at Colorado State University, New York University
Abu Dhabi, and the American University in Cairo. Her research interests include information literacy, international students,
and the use of evidence synthesis methods in LIS. Meggan has a BA in history from Eastern Illinois University, a MA in
modern history from the University of Reading (UK), and an MLS from Indian University.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Our Way
Julie Cajune
Fulcrum Publishing
www.fulcrumbooks.com
9781682753323, $29.95, PB, 456pp
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Way-Parallel-Anthology-Reflection/dp/1682753328
Synopsis: Indigenous history is American history and, compiled and edited by Julie Cajune, "Our Way: A Parallel History"
is an anthology of Native American history, reflection, and story that dispels the myths, stereotypes, and absence of
information about American Indian, Native Alaskan, and Native Hawaiian people as previously undervalued and obscured
part of US history.
For most of American history, stories of the country's Indigenous Peoples were either ignored or told by outsiders. "Our
Way: A Parallel History" corrects these errors, exploring the ways in which Indigenous cultures from every corner of the
nation have influenced American society from the past into the present, reminding the reader that they have both shaped the
US and continue to play a vital role in its story.
Significantly, "Our Way: A Parallel History" is a collaboration of Native scholars representing more than ten Indigenous
nations, sharing their histories and their cultures. Each contributor, either an affiliate of an institution of higher education or
a prominent Native leader, provides the reader with an inside account of tribal culture and heritage. The result is a
comprehensive resource restoring the histories of Indigenous Peoples and their nations to their rightful place in the story of
America.
Critique: Addressing such issues as: The Doctrine of Discovery; Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; US American Indian
Policy and Civil rights ; Blood Quantum; The Selling of Hawaii; and so much more, Julie Cajune succeeds in her aspiration
that "Our Way: A Parallel History" is has been impressively successful in (as she notes in her preface): "I believe this
collection of history, story, and reflection provokes and invites us to think and feel deeply about what it means for all of us
to be human in our communities, nations, and beyond. After all, that is what a good story does." Simply stated, "Our Way:
A Parallel History: An Anthology of Native History, Reflection, and Story" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Native American History & Issues collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, Native Rights
political activists, governmental Indian Affairs policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "Our Way: A Parallel History" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.49).
Editorial Note: Julie Cajune (https://montanatribes.org/julie-cajune) is a Milken Education Award recipient, and the
coordinator of the tribal history project at the Salish-Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, and previously served as Indian
Education Coordinator for the Ronan Public Schools on the Flathead Indian Reservation. She served as Executive Producer
for Heart of The Bitterroot, a DVD focused on the lives of Salish and Pend d'Oreille women. In addition to discussing the
goals and accomplishments of the history project, Julie Cajune sheds light on the 1855 Hellgate Treaty negotiations as well
as more contemporary issues related to federal policies and implementing Indian Education for All.
First Peoples of Great Salt Lake
Steven R. Simms
The University of Utah Press
www.uofupress.com
9781647691479, $80.00, HC, 242pp
https://www.amazon.com/First-Peoples-Great-Salt-Lake/dp/1647691478
Synopsis: Utah's Great Salt Lake is a celebrated, world-recognized and unique natural landmark. What is not so widely
known is that the Great Salt Lake (and the broader region bound to it), is also a thoroughly cultural landscape; generations
of peoples made their lives there.
With the publication of "First Peoples of Great Salt Lake: A Cultural Landscape from Nevada to Wyoming", and with an
eminently readable narrative, Professor Steven Simms (who is one of the foremost archaeologists of the region), traces the
scope of human history dating from the Pleistocene, when First Peoples interacted with the lapping waters of Lake
Bonneville, to nearly the present day. Through vivid descriptions of how people lived, migrated, and mingled, with
persistence and resilience, Simms honors the long human presence on the landscape.
It will be noted that with "First Peoples of Great Salt Lake", Professor Simms takes a different approach to understanding
the ancients than is typical of archaeology. De-emphasizing categories and labels, Professor Simms traces changing
environments, climates, and peoples through the notion of place. He challenges the "Pristine Myth" -- that the cultural bias
that Indigenous peoples were timeless, changeless, primitive, and the landscapes they lived in sparsely populated and
perpetually pristine.
It is revealed that the First Peoples and their descendants modified the forests and the understory vegetation (the shrubs and
plants growing beneath the main canopy of a forest), shaped wildlife populations, and adapted to long-term climate
change.
The Native Americans of Great Salt Lake were very much part of their natural world, and their history is one of long
continuity through dramatic cultural change.
Critique: Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of a twenty-six page listing of References, twenty pages of Notes, and a
ten page Index, this large format (8.5 x 0.71 x 10 inches, 2 pounds) hard cover edition of "First Peoples of Great Salt Lake:
A Cultural Landscape from Nevada to Wyoming" by Professor Steven R. Simms is part of the Utah Series on Great Salt
Lake and the Great Basin from the University of Utah Press. Nicely illustrated throughout, and an inherently interesting and
revealing study, "First Peoples of Great Salt Lake" is an impressive work of seminal scholarship and highly recommended
for personal, professional, and college/university library Native American History collections, and supplemental Native
American Anthropology curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non- specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "First Peoples of Great Salt Lake' is also available in a paperback edition
(9781647691370, $34.95).
Editorial Note: Steven R. Simms is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Utah State University. His books include
Ancient Peoples of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau (2008), and Traces of Fremont: Society and Rock Art in Ancient
Utah (2010) awarded the Society for American Archaeology Book Award in the public audience category and the Utah
Book Award for nonfiction. He has also directed over 60 archaeological projects, including the Great Salt Lake Wetlands
Project 1990 - 93, funded by the state of Utah, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Science Foundation.
(https://chass.usu.edu/anthropology/directory/simms-steven)
Indigenous Borderlands
Joaquin Rivaya-Martinez, editor
University of Oklahoma Press
www.oupress.com
9780806191836, $90.00, HC, 364pp
https://www.amazon.com/Indigenous-Borderlands-Native-Resilience-Americas/dp/080619183X
Synopsis: With the publication of "Indigenous Borderlands: Native Agency, Resilience, and Power in the Americas",
pervasive myths of European domination and indigenous submission in the Americas receive a long overdue corrective in
this far-reaching revisionary work.
Despite initial upheavals caused by the European intrusion, Native people often thrived after contact, preserving their
sovereignty, territory, and culture and shaping indigenous borderlands across the hemisphere. Borderlands, in this context,
are spaces where diverse populations interact, cross-cultural exchanges are frequent and consequential, and no polity or
community holds dominion.
Within the indigenous borderlands of the Americas, as this volume shows, Native peoples exercised considerable power,
often retaining control of the land, and remaining paramount agents of historical transformation after the European
incursion. Conversely, European conquest and colonialism were typically slow and incomplete, as the newcomers struggled
to assert their authority and implement policies designed to subjugate Native societies and change their beliefs and
practices.
"Indigenous Borderlands" covers a wide chronological and geographical span, from the sixteenth-century U.S. South to
twentieth-century Bolivia, and gathers leading scholars from the United States and Latin America. Drawing on previously
untapped or underutilized primary sources, the original essays in this volume document the resilience and relative success of
indigenous communities commonly and wrongly thought to have been subordinated by colonial forces, or even vanished, as
well as the persistence of indigenous borderlands within territories claimed by people of European descent. Indeed,
numerous indigenous groups remain culturally distinct and politically autonomous.
Hemispheric in its scope, unique in its approach, "Indigenous Borderlands" significantly recasts our understanding of the
important roles played by Native agents in constructing indigenous borderlands in the era of European imperialism.
Critique: Compiled and edited by Joaquin Rivaya-Martinez, "Indigenous Borderlands: Native Agency, Resilience, and
Power in the Americas" is comprised of eleven erudite and informative articles by experts in their field. Indigenous
Borderlands" is further enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of Illustrations, a Bibliography, a complete listing of the
contributors and their credentials, and a sixteen page Index. While strongly recommended as a core pick for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Native American History collections and supplemental Cultural
Anthropology curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "Indigenous Borderlands" is also available in a paperback edition (9780806191935, $29.95) and
in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.95).
Editorial Note: Joaquin Rivaya-Martinez is Associate Professor of History at Texas State University. He has authored
numerous essays on Comanche history and the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.
(https://www.tshaonline.org/about/people/joaquin-rivaya-martinez)
The Architecture Shelf
Climatic Architecture
Philippe Rahm
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
https://actar.com
9781638400394, $64.95, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Climatic-Architecture-Philippe-Rahm-architectes/dp/1638400393
Synopsis: Architecture and urbanism were traditionally based on climate and health, as we can read in treatises of Vitruvius,
Palladio or Alberti, where exposure to wind and sun, variations in temperature and humidity influenced the forms of cities
and buildings. These fundamental causes of urban planning and buildings were ignored in the second half of the 20th
century thanks to the enormous use of fossil energy by heating and air conditioning systems, pumps and refrigerators, that
today cause the greenhouse effect and global warming.
The fight against climate change forces the architects and urban designer to take back seriously the climatic issue in order to
base their design on more consideration to the local climatic context and energy resources. Faced with the climatic challenge
of the 21st century, we propose to reset our discipline on its intrinsic atmospheric qualities, where air, light, heat or humidity
are recognized are real materials of building, convection, thermal conduction, evaporation, emissivity, or effusivity are
becoming design tools for composing architecture and cities, and through materialism dialectic, are able to revolutionize
esthetic and social values.
Critique: "Climatic Architecture" is about climate and its impact on architecture. Informatively written by the Swiss
architect Philippe Rahm, "Climatic Architecture" is a informative monograph on the architectural, urbanistic and landscape
work of the office "Philippe Rahm architectes", as well as a manifesto for a climatic architecture to face global warming,
and a theoretical and practical treatise on the art of building atmospheres. This large format (8.1 x 1.3 x 12.5 inches, 3.05
pounds) hardcover edition of "Climatic Architecture" is highly recommended fore personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Contemporary Architectural Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Philippe Rahm (http://www.philipperahm.com) is a Swiss architect, principal in the office of "Philippe
Rahm architectes", based in Paris, France. His work, which extends the field of architecture from the physiological to the
meteorological, has received an international audience in the context of sustainability. His recent work includes the first
prize for the Farini competition (60 ha) in Milan in 2019, the 70 hectares Central Park in Taichung, Taiwan, completed in
December 2020. He has held professorships at GSD Harvard University, Columbia, Cornell or Princeton Universities. He is
a tenured associate professor at the National Superior School of Architecture in Versailles, France (ENSA-V). In 2020, he is
the curator and author of the exhibition and book "Natural History of Architecture" at the Pavillon de l'Arsenal in Paris.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture
R. C. Sproul
Ligonier Ministries
www.ligonier.org
9781642894615, $18.00, HC, 167pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Sayings-Understanding-Difficult-Scripture/dp/1642894613
Synopsis: God gave us His Word so that we may know Him and live by His truth. So, what should we do when we're
reading the Bible and a difficult passage stops us in our tracks? Sometimes the solution is right there on the page (if we
know where to look) while other passages gain clarity in light of the rest of the Bible or its historical background. With the
help of an experienced guide, we can overcome the obstacles to our progress and know God's Word more deeply.
With the publication of "Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture", Dr. R.C. Sproul applies his wisdom
as a theologian and Bible teacher to some of the most challenging verses in Scripture. By showing us how to navigate tough
texts in the Old and New Testaments, he outlines key principles to help us grow in our knowledge of God.
Critique: Erudite, eloquent, informative, insightful, inspired and inspiring, "Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages
of Scripture" is a seminal work of theological scholarship and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, seminary, and college/university library Christian Theology & Biblical Studies collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for seminary students, academia, clergy, and non-specialist general readers
within the Christian community that "Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture" is also readily available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939 - 2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship
organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was also first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel in
Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. His radio program,
Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online.
Dr. Sproul contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, colleges, and
seminaries around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and
Everyone's a Theologian. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Your Heart Was Made for This
Oren Jay Sofer
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
www.shambhala.com
9781645472001, $23.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Heart-Made-This-Contemplative/dp/1645472000
Synopsis: With the publication of "Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis
with Courage, Integrity, and Love " Buddhist and meditation teacher Oren Jay Sofer shares a pragmatic guide to living a life
of meaning and purpose in a time of great social, environmental, and spiritual upheaval.
Through touching stories, insightful reflections, and concrete instructions, Sofer offers powerful tools to strengthen our
hearts and nourish the qualities that can transform our world. Each individual chapter guides you to cultivate a quality
essential to personal and social transformation like mindfulness, resolve, wonder, and empathy.
"Your Heart Was Made for This" reveals how to: Find more choice and freedom in life; Strengthen focus, sustain energy,
and accomplish goals; Identify burnout and take steps to renew yourself; Imbue your daily activities with clarity and vitality;
Respond more effectively to collective challenges.
Critique: Of particular and very special value to readers with an interest in Buddhism Philosophy & Meditation, and its
relevance in achieving a state of personal happiness, as well as with dealing with the inevitable stresses of life in the
troubled world of today, "Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with
Courage, Integrity, and Love" is an extraordinary and straightforwardly recommended addition to community and
college/university library Buddhism and Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Your Heart Was Made for This" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Oren Jay Sofer (https://www.orenjaysofer.com) teaches Buddhist meditation, mindfulness, and
communication internationally. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and is a Certified
Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for the healing of trauma. Born and raised
in New Jersey, he is the author of several books, including the bestselling title Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to
Nonviolent Communication. His teachings have reached people around the world through his online communication courses
and guided meditations.
Embodying Tara
Chandra Easton
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
www.shambhala.com
9781645471141, $22.95, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Embodying-Tara-Twenty-One-Manifestations-Awaken/dp/1645471144
Synopsis: Tara is the Buddhist goddess of compassion. She can manifest within all of us. "Embodying Tara: Twenty-One
Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom" is an illustrated introduction to Tara's twenty-one forms by respected
female Buddhist teacher and practitioner Dorje Lopon Chandra Easton.
"Embodying Tara" shows how to invite Tara's awakened energy to come alive in yourself through: Insights into core
Buddhist concepts and teachings; Meditations; Mantra recitations; and journal exercises.
The relatable stories are taken from Buddhist history combined with the author's personal reflections in order to provide you
with the tools to live a more compassionate life, befriend your fears, and overcome everyday challenges.
"Embodying Tara" reveals how important women and movements in modern history have achieved this through their own
embodiment of Tara's enlightened activities and include the stories of Jane Goodall, Nawal El Saadawi, Oprah Winfrey,
Vandana Shiva, Black Lives Matter, Me Too, and others -- which will collectively inspire you to bring these aspects of Tara
into the world in creative and socially conscious ways for the benefit of all.
Critique: Eloquent, exceptional, impressively well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style, organization and
presentation, "Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom" is a singularly gifted and
highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Buddhism collections
and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and all members of the Buddhist
community that "Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom" is also readily available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) from Shambhala Publications.
Editorial Note: Chandra Easton is a Dharma teacher, author, and translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts. In 2015 she was given
the title of senior lead teacher, Dorje Lopon (Vajracharya), for Tara Mandala Retreat Center by Lama Tsultrim Allione and
H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche. Her training is rooted in Tibetan Buddhism (Mahayana and Vajrayana), and the
Great Perfection (Dzogchen) in particular, and her primary interest is in finding ways to make these traditional teachings
relevant and accessible for our modern experience. She offers meditation courses in the San Francisco Bay Area at the
Berkeley Alembic and San Francisco Dharma Collective. She also offers retreats in the US and Europe at venues such as
Tibet House US, Esalen, Kripalu, Kamalashila, Center for Mindful Living, Maitreya Institute, and Tara Ling Retreat Center.
Her talks, writings, guided meditations, and teaching schedule can be found at www.chandraeaston.com
The Music Shelf
Anatomy of 55 More Songs
Marc Myers
Grove Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802160201, $27.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-55-More-Songs-History/dp/0802160204
Synopsis: Songs that sell the most copies become hits, but some of those hits become something more -- iconic recordings
that not only inspire a generation but also change the direction of music. "Anatomy of 55 More Songs: The Oral History of
Top Hits That Changed Rock, Pop and Soul" is based on music journalist and historian Marc Myers column for the Wall
Street Journal, and tells the story behind fifty-five rock, pop, R&B, country, and soul-gospel hits through intimate interviews
with the artists who wrote and recorded them.
Part oral history, part musical analysis, "Anatomy of 55 More Songs" ranges from Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad
Moon Rising" to Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By," The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," and Black Sabbath's "Paranoid."
Bernie Taupin recalls how he wrote the lyrics to Elton John's "Rocket Man;" Joan Jett remembers channeling her rage
against how she had been unfairly labeled and treated as a female rocker into "Bad Reputation;" and Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis
Costello, Bob Weir, Sheryl Crow, Alice Cooper, Roberta Flack, John Mellencamp, Keith Richards, Carly Simon, and many
others reveal the emotions and technique behind their major works.
Through an absorbing chronological, song-by-song analysis of the most memorable post-war hits, "Anatomy of 55 More
Songs" also provides a sweeping look at the evolution of pop music between 1964 and today. Simply stated, "Anatomy of
55 More Songs" will change how you listen to music and evaluate the artists who create it.
Critique: Informative, insightful, and inherently fascinating, "Anatomy of 55 More Songs" by Marc Myers is a fun read and
of very special interest to American Pop Culture & Music fans. Eloquent, thoughtful and thought-provoking commentaries,
"Anatomy of 55 More Songs" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library American Music History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted
for students, academia, and non-specialists with an interest in the subject that "Anatomy of 55 More Songs" is also available
in a paperback edition (9780802161260, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09).
Editorial Note: Marc Myers (https://marcmyers.com) is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, where he writes
about music and the arts. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books Anatomy of a Song, Why Jazz Happened, and
Rock Concert, and posts daily at JazzWax.com, a three-time winner of the Jazz Journalists Association's award for Jazz
Blog of the Year.
The Parenting Shelf
Doing It All
Whitney Casares, MD
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760386996, $19.99, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Doing-All-Over-Functioning-Become-Person/dp/0760386994
Synopsis: With the publication of "Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to
Be", Dr. Whitney Casares (author, pediatrician, and mother of two girls), shares the step-by-step plan she developed as a
modern working mom to help her stop over-functioning at work and home, stop blaming herself for everything that went
wrong, and start living a balanced and intentional life.
Today's working moms are burned-out, overwhelmed, and just plain stuck. Caught amid the endless, conflicting demands of
motherhood, work, household management, and a million-and-one everyday tasks, chores, and responsibilities, they truly
are doing it all -- but getting nowhere. They think they're out of options -- but they are wrong!
Dr. Whitney tried to do it all for years, until one particularly bad week brought her to knees, and then, to a revelation: It
wasn't her that was broken, it was her system. She needed a new system, a plan of action that would look squarely at all the
common problems of working mom life (over-scheduling, inequitable partnerships, lack of boundaries, lack of support),
recognize the social and cultural causes behind them, and give her the tools and structure she needed to tackle the chaos,
find her work-life balance, and start living a life that worked for her.
In the pages of "Doing It All", she shares that system with you, a system that will help you prioritize what really matters and
where everything (even laundry!) has its place. Work calls? Yep. Time with your kids? Absolutely. Time for yourself? A
top priority.
Doing It All features Dr. Whitney's complete step-by-step plan to achieving your Centered Life, that is, a life centered on
you, as well as over forty targeted exercises, prompts, and activities to help you to: Create a vision of your life that aligns
with your values and goals and then break that vision into actionable priorities so you can start making it a reality;
Implement systems to deal with the annoying-but-necessary "have-tos" in your life quickly and efficiently; Develop equity
in your relationship with your parenting partner; Create and maintain boundaries around emotionally laden calls on your
attention; Give your kids what they need to be healthy, happy, and successful - without giving away too much of yourself;
Prioritize your own mental health and emotional well-being with intentional scheduling and rest -- And more!
Featuring powerful personal stories from real working moms, as well as quotes and interview excerpts from parenting
experts, medical professionals, and mental health advocates, Doing It All meets working moms where they are, recognizes
the personal and systemic challenges they face, and offers solutions that really work. It's time to stop merely "surviving"
motherhood. Join Dr. Whitney and thousands of other working moms across the country and discover the tools, systems,
and support you need to parent, work, and thrive in your daily life.
Critique: An effective, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'user friendly' combination of instructional guide and 'how-to'
manual for stressed out moms, "Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be"
by pediatrician and mother-of-two. Dr. Whitney Casares must be considered essential reading for all mothers (and most
especially to those new to motherhood) and a core acquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library collections on parenting. Impressively well written, organized and presented, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Doing It All" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Whitney Casares (www.modernmommydoc.com) is a practicing, board-certified pediatrician, author,
speaker, podcaster, and full-time working mom, as well as the CEO and founder of Modern Mommy Doc and The Modern
Mamas Club App. She is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), for whom she has authored two
books, The New Baby Blueprint: Caring for You and Your Little One and The Working Mom Blueprint: Winning at
Parenting Without Losing Yourself. Dr. Whitney practices pediatrics in Portland, Oregon. You can find her on Instagram
@modernmommydoc
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Cinema of the 70s: 101 Iconic Movies
John H. Foote
Palazzo Editions
https://www.palazzoeditions.com
9781786751331, $29.99, PB, 224
https://www.amazon.com/Cinema-70s-101-Iconic-Movies/dp/178675133X
Synopsis: For the first time, cinema reflected life and society, presenting both on the big screen with a compelling and
penetrating truth. Directors and movie stars became household names, often overnight, and films routinely broke box office
records.
With censorship relaxed, the subject matter could include alienation, descents into madness, drug addiction, dysfunctional
relationships, promiscuity, alcoholism, PTSD, and any big news story of the day. Audiences gladly absorbed this new,
shocking reality; in fact, they avoided films that candy-coated the truth. Musicals evolved, westerns all but died for several
years, science fiction and fantasy made an incredible resurgence, and horror dominated the box office along with disaster
films. But by and large, films about social issues were the best draw.
Enhanced for the reader with some 120 color and black and white photographs, "Cinema of the 70s: 101 Iconic Movies"
celebrates the cinema of the 1970s. What a decade for movie buffs everywhere!
Critique: Published by Palazzo Press in a large format (8.5 x 0.7 x 10 inches, 2.03 pounds) hardcover edition, "Cinema of
the 70s: 101 Iconic Movies" is essential reading for all dedicated movie buffs and will prove to be a welcome and popular
pick for community and college/university library 20th Century Cinematic History collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists.
Editorial Note: John H Foote (https://footeandfriendsonfilm.com/2018/06/25/john-h-foote) has been one of Canada's best
known film critics for the last thirty years. He was co-host and co-producer of the TV show Reel to Real, Canada's Siskel
and Ebert, for nine years before leaving for print criticism. He has written for such magazines as Toronto Life and Fashion,
and is a feature writer for Cinema of the Seventies and its sister magazine Cinema of the Eighties. Among the websites he
has written for are The Wrap.com, incontention.com and awardscircuit.com, all popular film sites. His first book Clint
Eastwood: Evolution of a Filmmaker was published in 2008.
The Warner Brothers
Chris Yogerst
The University Press of Kentucky
www.kentuckypress.com
9780813198019, $34.95, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Warner-Brothers-Screen-Classics/dp/0813198011
Synopsis: One of the oldest and most recognizable studios in Hollywood, Warner Bros. is considered a juggernaut of the
entertainment industry. Since its formation in the early twentieth century, the studio has been a constant presence in cinema
history, responsible for the creation of acclaimed films, blockbuster brands, and iconic superstars.
These days, the studio is best known as a media conglomerate with a broad range of intellectual property, spanning movies,
TV shows, and streaming content. Despite popular interest in the origins of this empire, the core of the Warner Bros. saga
cannot be found in its commercial successes. It is the story of four brothers (Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner) whose
vision for Hollywood helped shape the world of entertainment as we know it.
With the publication of "The Warner Brothers" by the University of Kentucky Press, cinematic historian and academician
Chris Yogerst follows the Warner siblings from their family's humble origins in Poland, through their young adulthood in
the American Midwest, to the height of fame and fortune in Hollywood. With unwavering resolve, the brothers soldiered on
against the backdrop of an America reeling from the aftereffects of domestic and global conflict.
The Great Depression would not sink the brothers, who churned out competitive films that engaged audiences and kept their
operations afloat -- and even expanding. During World War II, they used their platform to push beyond the limits of the
Production Code and create important films about real-world issues, openly criticizing radicalism and the evils of the Nazi
regime. At every major cultural turning point in their lifetime, the Warners held a front-row seat.
Paying close attention to the brothers' identities as cultural and economic outsiders, Professor Yogerst chronicles how the
Warners built a global filmmaking powerhouse. Equal parts family history and cinematic journey, "The Warner Brothers" is
an empowering story of the American dream and the legacy four brothers left behind for generations of filmmakers and film
lovers to come.
Critique: Absolutely essential reading for dedicated students of American cinematic history, "The Warner Brothers" is a
work of exhaustive and detailed research that is brilliantly presented for a professional and non-professional readership.
While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library American Cinematic
History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should also be noted that "The Warner Brothers" by
Professor Chris Yogerst is readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.49).
Editorial Note: Chris Yogerst (https://www.chrisyogerst.com) is the author of Hollywood Hates Hitler! Jew-Baiting,
Anti-Nazism, and the Senate Investigation into Warmongering in Motion Pictures and From the Headlines to Hollywood:
The Birth and Boom of Warner Bros. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Review of Books,
Journal of American Culture, Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television, and the Hollywood Reporter. He currently
serves as an associate professor of communication in the Department of Arts and Humanities at the University of Wisconsin
- Milwaukee.
21st Century Kaiju
Gordon Arnold
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476689623, $39.95, PB, 206pp
https://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Kaiju-Resurgence-Monster/dp/1476689628
Synopsis: Once dismissed as a fading cinematic genre from the 1950s with little to say to contemporary audiences, the giant
monster movie roared back to life in the new millennium.
In one of modern cinema's most surprising turnarounds, a wave of 21st-century kaiju films has delivered exciting and
thought-provoking viewing to global audiences. In a variety of works that range from action-packed CGI spectacles to more
personal, introspective productions commenting on real-world issues of the day, the new millennium has witnessed some of
the most intriguing films in any genre, including movies from such acclaimed directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Bong
Joon-ho and Peter Jackson.
With the publication of "21st Century Kaiju: The Resurgence of Giant Monster Movies", film historian and academician
Gordon Arnold takes a sober, multidimensional look at the new class of giant monster movies. It examines the making of
these films and their sometimes-obscure meanings. It also covers efforts to reinvent storied kaiju characters from the past,
including Godzilla and King Kong, and to transform the genre with movies such as Cloverfield, The Mist, Colossal, and
Pacific Rim that feature all-new creatures.
Critique: An inherently fascinating and impressively informative cinematic history of the Kaiju films from their beginnings
in Japan to their success in the American movie market, "21st Century Kaiju: The Resurgence of Giant Monster Movies" is
exceptionally well written, organized and presented, making it a 'must' for Godzilla style monster movie fans and a welcome
pick for community and college/university library Cinematic History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
It should be noted for personal reading lists that "21st Century Kaiju: The Resurgence of Giant Monster Movies" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Gordon Arnold (https://gordonarnold.net/books) has taught at several colleges, including Montserrat College
of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History
Josh Schwartz, author
Stephanie Savage, author
Alan Sepinwall, author
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063342798, $28.99, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-C-History-Josh-Schwartz/dp/0063342790
Synopsis: The O.C. is an American teen drama television series created by Josh Schwartz that originally aired on the Fox
network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons. "O.C." is an
initialism of Orange County, the location in Southern California in which the series is set.
On August 5th, 2003, Ryan Atwood found himself a long way from his home in Chino -- he was in The O.C., an exclusive
suburb full of beautiful girls, wealthy bullies, corrupt real-estate tycoons, and a new family helmed by his public defender,
Sandy Cohen. Ryan soon warms up to his nerdy, indie band-loving new best friend Seth, and quickly falls for Marissa, the
stunning girl next door who has secrets of her own. Completing the group is Summer, Seth's dream girl and Marissa's loyal
(and fearless) best friend. Together, the friends fall in and out of love, support each other amidst family strife, and capture
the hearts of audiences across the country.
"Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History" is just in time for the show's twentieth anniversary, The O.C.'s creator Josh
Schwartz and executive producer Stephanie Savage are dive into how the show was made, the ups and downs over its four
seasons, and its legacy today. With Rolling Stone's chief TV critic Alan Sepinwall conducting interviews with the key cast
members, writers, and producers who were there when it all happened, "Welcome to the O.C: An Oral History". will offer
the definitive inside look at the beloved show -- making it a nostalgic delight for audiences who watched when it aired, and
a rich companion to viewers currently discovering the show while it streams on HBO Max and Hulu.
The O.C. paved the way for a new generation of iconic teen soaps, launched the careers of young stars, and even gave us the
gift of Chrismukkah. Now, it's time to go back where we started from and experience it all over again.
Critique: A fun and fascinating read from start to finish, "Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History" is a 'must' for the growing
legions of fans for this iconic and now legendary television series which includes exclusive interviews with: Ben McKenzie;
Mischa Barton; Adam Brody; Rachel Bilson; Peter Gallagher; Kelly Rowan; Melinda Clarke; Tate Donovan; Chris
Carmack; Autumn Reeser; Willa Holland; Samaire Armstrong; Alan Dale; Colin Hanks; Amanda Righetti; Navi Rawat;
Shannon Lucio; Michael Cassidy; McG; Imogen Heap; Alex Greenwald; Ben Gibbard; Paul Scheer; Doug Liman - - and so
many more! . Highly recommended for community and college/university library TV History collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Josh Schwarts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Schwartz) is the youngest person in network television
history to create and run a network drama when The O.C. premiered on Fox in 2003. He subsequently launched the original
Gossip Girl for the CW with frequent collaborator Stephanie Savage. Over the next twenty years, Schwartz and Savage
produced over five hundred hours of television via their Fake Empire Productions including Chuck, Looking for Alaska,
Marvel's Runaways, Nancy Drew, Dynasty, Hart of Dixie, The Carrie Diaries, Gossip Girl and, most recently, City on
Fire.
Editorial Note #2: Stephanie Savage (vhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Savage) started her career as an executive at
Drew Barrymore's Flower Films, then formed Wonderland Sound and Vision with Director McG. It was here she met Josh
Schwartz, and transitioned to writing and producing full time. She co-created the original Gossip Girl with Schwartz, where
she served as showrunner for all six seasons. Together they formed Fake Empire and have since put over a dozen shows on
the air, including six with first time creators.
Editorial Note #3: Alan Sepinwall (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Sepinwall) is an American television reviewer and
writer. He spent 14 years as a columnist with The Star-Ledger in Newark until leaving the newspaper in 2010 to work for
the entertainment news website HitFix. He then wrote for Uproxx, where he worked for two years. Since 2018, he has been
the chief TV critic for Rolling Stone.
Magic Time: The Films and Scripts of Billy Wilder
J. R. Jordan
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887712512, $44.00, HC, 438pp
https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Time-Films-Scripts-Wilder/dp/B0CH2D1CZ9
Synopsis: Billy Wilder (born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 - March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-born filmmaker. His career
in Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Classic
Hollywood cinema. He received seven Academy Awards (among 21 nominations), a BAFTA Award, the Cannes Film
Festival's Palme d'Or and two Golden Globe Awards.
Critique: Illustrated with black-and-white historical photographs, "Magic Time: The Films and Scripts of Billy Wilder" by J.
R. Jordan is an inherently fascinating and comprehensive study of his life and work. Featuring an informative Foreword by
Austin Pendelton, '101 Motifs, Catchphrases, and More (From A to Z), and a three page Bibliography of books, articles, and
on-line resources. While a core pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cinematic History
& Biography collections, it should be noted that "Magic Time" is also available in a paperback edition (9798887712505,
$34.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: J. R. Jordan has been writing about motion pictures for several years. He is also the author of Showmanship:
The Cinema of William Castle and Robert Wise: The Motion Pictures.
The Art Shelf
The Darby School of Art
Mark W. Sullivan
Brookline Books
c/o Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781955041256, $29.95, HC, 200pp
https://www.amazon.com/Darby-School-Art-Forgotten-Impressionist/dp/1955041253
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Darby School of Art: A Forgotten Chapter in the History of American Impressionist
and Modern Painting", Professor Mark W. Sullivan presents the first full-length account of the Darby School of Art and
overturns Philadelphia's long-held unwarranted reputation as artistically stodgy (unwilling and unable to embrace
Impressionism, post-Impressionist, and abstract art) and demonstrates that Philadelphia was more avant-garde in the early
twentieth century than previously thought.
This is the history and story of an almost completely forgotten summer art school that flourished first in Darby, PA, and then
in Fort Washington, PA, between 1898 and 1918. The Darby School of Art was founded and operated by Thomas Anshutz
and Hugh Breckenridge, two artists who taught during the academic year at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine
Arts.
Anshutz and Breckenridge brought a lot of new ideas about painting back to Philadelphia after their European sojourns, and
introduced those ideas to a public that was initially not very responsive to Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and
semi-abstract art. But an appreciation for modern styles of painting began to slowly grow among Philadelphia artists and
collectors, and Anshutz and Breckenridge were in the forefront of this development.
They also sympathized with what some have called the "New Woman" movement, which backed women who wanted to
pursue careers outside of the home.
"The Darby School of Art: A Forgotten Chapter in the History of American Impressionist and Modern Painting" is new
history in which art historian and academician Mark Sullivan argues that the Philadelphia area was a genuine hub of
avant-garde painting in the early twentieth century, even though it has earned the reputation of lagging far behind New York
City in its openness to new styles of painting. This erudite history also discusses how the Darby School should be
recognized as an institution that got behind the idea of women as professional artists at a time when that concept was quite
radical.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a major section of full color illustrations, "The Darby School of Art:
A Forgotten Chapter in the History of American Impressionist and Modern Painting" is an eloquent, informative, and
exceptional contribution to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Art History
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, art historians, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Darby School of Art" is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $13.49).
Editorial Note: Mark W. Sullivan earned a Ph. D. in art history from Bryn Mawr College, and taught at Rutgers University
and Rosemont College (PA), before landing a full-time position at Villanova University. He spent 37 years at Villanova, and
was the co-founder and director of its art history program. He specializes in the history of American painting, and has
written and lectured extensively on the art and architecture of the Philadelphia area.
Manga Art Fashion Secrets
Dalia Sharawna
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800921573, $19.95, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Manga-Art-Fashion-Secrets-Ultimate/dp/1800921578
Synopsis: Clothes and accessories are the perfect way to give your manga characters energy and develop their unique
identities. From on-trend streetwear to traditional and formal clothing, the way that your character is dressed is an instant
way to tell a story.
With the publication of "Manga Art Fashion Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to Making Stylish Artwork in the Manga Style"
aspiring manga artists can join with manga art expert Dalia Sharawna and her thousands of fans and learn how to draw
fashionable manga clothes that show personality, character, and mood. Packed with everything you need to know to draw a
huge variety of cool clothes and accessories in the manga style, this detailed guide covers a range of styles and looks to take
your manga characters to the next level.
"Manga Art Fashion Secrets" is packed from cover to cover with step-by-step drawings for formal and casual outfits,
sportswear, and accessories. Learn how to give your work personality and style with Dalia Sharawna's tutorials for a huge
variety of on-trend looks to dress your characters in. At the end of each chapter is a series of practice exercises where you're
encouraged to trace or freehand draw subjects from earlier on. You'll end up with a portfolio of sketches charting your
artistic development. Five contemporary artists take up residence on these pages, sharing their manga fashion secrets and
showcasing their own art.
With clear step-by-step instructions and insider secrets that manga artist Dalia Sharawna has learned on her drawing
journey, all that is needed is a pencil and paper to draw any clothing style you desire.
Critique: An extraordinary, comprehensive, and unique DIY course of Manga Art instruction, "Manga Art Fashion Secrets:
The Ultimate Guide to Making Stylish Artwork in the Manga Style" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university library Manga Art instruction collections. It should be
noted for art students and Manga art enthusiasts that "Manga Art Fashion Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to Making Stylish
Artwork in the Manga Style" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Based in Hebron in Palestine, Dalia Sharawna has been drawing manga for 10 years, fired by her passion for
watching anime since she was a kid. Find more of her art and join her 171k followers on Instagram @drawing_dalia
Kawaii Doodle Cafe
Faith Varvara
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9781631069598, $19.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kawaii-Doodle-Caf%C3%A9-Adorable-Desserts/dp/1631069594
Synopsis: "Kawaii Doodle Cafe: Learn to Draw Adorable Desserts, Snacks, Drinks & More" is an ideal 'how to' guide in
which popular kawaii artist Faith Varvara shows how to draw over 100 cute and tasty foods from around the world in an
easy-to-follow, simple style, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, a la carte items, pastries, desserts, and drinks, along with
tableware.
With "Kawaii Doodle Cafe", even the most novice of artists can create mouthwatering foods, such as the Eclair; Macaron;
Lemon Meringue Pie; Tiramisu; Creme Brulee; Strawberry Parfait; Avocado Toast; Breakfast Burrito; Japanese Omurice;
Bubble Tea -- and so much more!
Along with the step-by-step tutorials, Faith shares tips for drawing and coloring drawings of foods, along with a fun
introduction about the cozy cafe and its talented staff, and pages to color. And once you have the basic shapes down, the
options to customize the foods are endless to create your own feast for the eyes.
Critique: Published in a large (8 x 0.36 x 10 inches, 1.25 pounds) paperback format) "Kawaii Doodle Cafe: Learn to Draw
Adorable Desserts, Snacks, Drinks & More" is specially recommended for art students of all ages. It should be noted that
"Kawaii Doodle Cafe: Learn to Draw Adorable Desserts, Snacks, Drinks & More" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note 1: Faith Varvara (https://faithvarvara.artstation.com) is a full-time kawaii artist based in Calgary, Canada, and
is the creator of the whimsical world of Bumbleberry Hollows. Her work has been featured on food packaging and displayed
in a gallery in Japan. She has launched multiple successful Kickstarter campaigns for a tarot deck, plushies, and
clothing.
Editorial Note #2: The fun 'how-to' art instruction books comprising the Kawaii Doodle series includes: Kawaii Doodle
Class, Mini Kawaii Doodle Class, Kawaii Doodle Cuties, Mini Kawaii Doodle Cuties, Kawaii Doodle World, Kawaii
Kitties, and Kawaii Doggies.
Loose and Lively Animals in Watercolour, Inks & Mixed Media
Jo Allsopp
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781782219958, $25.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Loose-Lively-Animals-Watercolour-Mixed/dp/1782219951
Synopsis: Animals are a perennial favorite amongst artists, but many struggle with capturing their form and character in a
way that reflects the true spirit of the animal. Jo's genuine passion for wildlife is reflected in her art, and her skill at painting
animals in a loose, lively and dynamic style is one that many wish to emulate.
Including a broad range of animals from around the world: red squirrels, to peacocks, lions and housecats; water voles and
red squirrels, to Atlantic puffins -- "Loose and Lively Animals in Watercolour, Inks & Mixed Media" by Jo Allsoop will
appeal to both hobby artists and more advanced artists who wish to loosen up their style and take a more experimental
approach to their watercolor painting.
Jo uses an exciting range of art media and techniques in her work, and this will be fully explored in a structured way through
"Loose and Lively Animals in Watercolour, Inks & Mixed Media", beginning with pure watercolor and progressing through
various other media to show the effects that can be achieved, and when and how to use them.
Jo's main medium is watercolor, but to this she adds ink plus other media, including: Alcohol;
Water-soluble and permanent pens; Gold, silver and bronze leaf; Daler-Rowney acrylic inks.
Her technique is very wet into wet, with lots of blooms, vivid colors, and striking contrasts and texture achieved by the
addition of wax resist, salt, spatter and scratching out. Jo's animal paintings are stunning, and "Loose and Lively Animals in
Watercolour, Inks & Mixed Media" will both inspire and instruct artists on how to recreate Jo's style and her stunning
animal paintings in a loose, fresh style.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in style, organization and presentation, "Loose and Lively Animals in Watercolour, Inks
& Mixed Media" is an ideal DIY 'how-to' instructional guide that will prove to be an immediately and enduringly valued
addition to personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university library Watercolor and Mixed Media
Plant/Animal art instruction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for art students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Loose and Lively Animals in Watercolour, Inks & Mixed
Media" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.65).
Editorial Note: Jo Allsopp set up Sable Studio Gallery in the grounds of Moira Furnace Museum. From her gallery space
she sells her watercolor paintings, mosaics, cards, jewelry and gift ware. Her spacious studio enables her to teach regular
painting and drawing classes plus weekend workshops in a variety of media. Jo is an experienced demonstrator and teacher
and her worhsops are extremely popular. Jo also regularly features in the Society of All Artist's magazine Paint. In 2019 Jo
was chosen to appear on the UK's BBC One on the TV series Home Is Where The Art Is with presenter Nick Knowles.
The Mythology Shelf
The Japanese Yokai Handbook
Masami Kinoshita
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317280, $14.99, PB, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Yokai-Handbook-Spookiest-Creatures/dp/4805317280
Synopsis: The Y kai are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. Yokai come in every imaginable
shape and form -- from frightening ghosts and cruel demons to cute fairies and enchanted animals. They can be evil
monsters, harmless tricksters or prophets of doom, depending on their inclination.
"The Japanese Yokai Handbook: A Guide to the Spookiest Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Evil Creatures from Japanese
Folklore" by Masami Kinoshita profiles 100 of the most fascinating Yokai, including: Tengu (A powerful Yokai that often
takes human form with wings and a large nose who lives in mountains and forests); Kappa (A deadly Yokai that lives near
rivers and drags passersby into the water to drown); Peroritaro (A grotesque Yokai that looks like blubbering child and has
an appetite for greedy children); Baku (A monstrous Yokai with an elephant's head, a bear's body, a rhino's eyes, an ox's tail
and a tiger's legs that aids humans by devouring their nightmares) -- and a great many more!
Yokai expert Masami Kinoshita has been documenting Yokai in folklore, and in real life, for many years. "The Japanese
Yokai Handbook" presents her most interesting findings and has over 175 full-color illustrations that vividly depict the
appearances of these weird creatures. No matter their origins, each Yokai has a strange and wonderful story that is sure to
amaze the western reader!
Critique: Impressively illustrated, exceptionally informative, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation,
"The Japanese Yokai Handbook: A Guide to the Spookiest Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Evil Creatures from Japanese
Folklore" is an original and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Japanese Mythology/Folklore collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Japanese Yokai
Handbook: A Guide to the Spookiest Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Evil Creatures from Japanese Folklore" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.24).
Editorial Note: Masami Kinoshita is a Yokai researcher based in Japan. After graduating from Nara Women's University she
wrote about Yokai on the online newspaper "Nara Monster Times" which reports on supernatural beings and folklore in
Nara. She has written stories on a wide variety of Yokai, ranging from Oni and Tengu mountain spirits to Suchinoko, a
snake-like creature that was reportedly encountered several times in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Build a Bag Book: Tote Bags
Debbie Shore
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800921092, $19.95, PB, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Build-Bag-Book-paperback-variations/dp/1800921098
Synopsis: The 15 tote bag designs comprising "Build a Bag Book: Tote Bags" by Debbie Shore are created using the DIY
templates contained within this constructive 'how-to' guide. By using two templates, you can create 15 very different bags;
each made using different techniques, pockets, straps and fastenings, to create 15 very different results.
The templates can also be used for your own further design variations, as you mix and match the techniques covered within
"Build a Bag Book: Tote Bags" as Debbie gives advice on how to adapt and create your own unique designs. Each project
comprising "Build a Bag Book: Tote Bags" is explained using Debbie's trademark style and step-by-step photography, and
there is also a comprehensive techniques section and a guide to using the templates.
Critique: Unique and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Build a Bag Book: Tote Bags" will prove
an impressive and welcome addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Needlecraft
instructional reference fashion, sewing, and fashion design collections.
Editorial Note: Debbie Shore (www.debbieshoresewing.com) began her career as a children's television presenter and since
then has appeared regularly as an actress in various popular dramas and as a TV presenter. Debbie has developed her own
range of fabrics, designed her own patterns, writes for several popular sewing magazines and has written over 25 books for
Search Press with several more underway, of which she has sold 650,000 copies worldwide. She is the winner of Craft
Influencer of the Year 2020 in the Craft Business Awards and Social Media Influencer of the Year 2019 in the British
Sewing Awards. Debbie has over 250,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, which has over 30 million views. In 2018,
Debbie launched her Half Yard Sewing Club, a monthly subscription service based on the mega-selling Half Yard series,
and won the 2019 IPG Digital Publishing Award.
The Gardening Shelf
A Field Guide to Succulents
Misa Matsuyama
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804855976, $19.99, HC, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Succulents-Characteristics-Varieties/dp/0804855978
Synopsis: Each individual chapter comprising "A Field Guide to Succulents: for Colors, Shapes and Characteristics for Over
200 Amazing Varieties" by gardening expert Misa Matsuyama serves as an illustrated field guide that covers the
characteristics and needs of a particular succulent family, then zooms in to show you their attributes in detail and from
angles that let you truly see what makes these varieties different from one another.
"A Field Guide to Succulents" covers all the basics on how to grow succulents and cacti successfully - tools, soils, watering,
placement, propagating, pest and disease prevention, and how to see them through seasonal changes so that your plants will
keep growing and thriving
It is also a stunning photo guide to over 200 plants both popular and exotic with inspirational ideas for group plantings that
are attractive to the eye and congenial to the plants. Of special note is the inclusion of tips from experienced growers on
ways to approach succulent gardening
The simple instructions are geared toward beginners; the interesting mix of plants shown and explained here will appeal to
succulent collectors. Fans at every level will enjoy this up-close exploration into the infinitely diverse and surprising world
of succulents.
Critique: This large format (7.75 x 0.75 x 10 inches, 1.5 pounds) hardcover edition from Tuttle Publishing of Misa
Matsuyama's "A Field Guide to Succulents: for Colors, Shapes and Characteristics for Over 200 Amazing Varieties" is
profusely illustration in full color throughout and is an exceptionally well organized and presented instructional reference
guide that is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Gardening/Horticultural collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted
that "A Field Guide to Succulents" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Misa Matsuyama (www.solxsol.com) is a horticulturist specializing in succulents, as well as a teacher and
author of books on raising and displaying them. She is the creative director of sol x sol, a Japanese company selling
succulent plants, pots and tools and offering inspiration to home gardeners. She is the author of "The Gardener's Guide to
Succulents and Succulents for Beginners" (Tuttle, 2020).
The Wine/Beer/Spirits Shelf
Juniperlooza: Gin-soaked Cocktails and Concoctions
Elouise Anders, author
Anna Manolatos, illustrator
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922754486, $19.95, HC, 152pp
https://www.amazon.com/Juniperlooza-Gin-soaked-Concoctions-Elouise-Anders/dp/192275448X
Synopsis: Simply stated, "Juniperlooza" is the ideal 'how to' instructional resource for dedicate fans of gin and great
cocktails.
Whether you prefer the humble Gin and Tonic, the iconic French 75, or more modern creations like the Honeysuckle Sour,
gin is the foundation to some truly great libations. Without it, we wouldn't have the Martini, the Tom Collins, or the
Negroni.
"Juniperlooza" distills the best of gin cocktails, showcasing 60 recipes of drinks suitable for any mood, whether you'd like to
get effervescent with a Rosewater Fizz, sip on an Aviation, or infuse gin with botanicals. With recipes for every palette, get
ready to shake, mix, and stir your way through the world of juniper with "Juniperlooza".
Critique: The collaborative work of author and cocktail expert Elouise Anders and artist/illustrator Anna Manolatos,
"Juniperlooza" is a pleasure to browse through and be inspired by. "Juniperlooze" will prove to be a welcome and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Alcohol & Spirits
collections.
Editorial Note #1: Elouise Anders is a mixologist-turned-culture-writer based in Melbourne. She consults the city's finest
bars and restaurants on how to best curate drinks lists. Previously, she has published Cocktail Botanica, Spritz Fever!,and
Drinks on the Lanai with Smith Street Books.
Editorial Note #2: Anna Manolatos (https://www.annamanolatos.com/about) is a Brisbane artist and illustrator, based in
Abu Dhabi, who has been creating playful illustrations working with paint, wood, and mixed media since her hands could
pick up a pencil. Her work has been exhibited internationally and draws from her keen eye for color.
The Psychology Shelf
NeuroMastery
Ugochukwu Uche, MS, LPC
Independently Published
9798350917024, $12.99 PB, $6.99 Kindle, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/NeuroMastery-Retraining-Conquer-Anxiety-Attacks/dp/B0CJ6DWND9
Because there is more knowledge in general-interest circles about PTSD and the lasting impacts of psychic trauma, perhaps
there is no better time than now for the self-help message and hope offered in NeuroMastery: Retraining Your Brain to
Conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Panic Attacks.
Ugochukwu Uche here presents an important opportunity for healing that employs the latest research in cognitive
neuroscience and counseling psychology. He discusses the neuroscience of these conditions and reviews the cycles of fear
contributing to feedback loops and response patterns that too easily become engrained as habits.
Readers may not expect the neuroscience to then take a detour into mindfulness concepts and applications, but part of the
promise and allure of Uche's title is its ability to walk a fine line between science and new age thinking. It uses the attributes
and findings of both to create new pathways for recovery. Mindfulness meets cognitive behavior strategies in chapters that
review the approaches, philosophies, and results of each.
Self-help readers receive a rich series of insights into emotional self-care that appraises these strategies and cements them
via the experiences of Lucy, a twenty-six-year-old client who entered therapy interested in confronting and changing the
recurrent panic attacks and anxieties which challenged her life.
Chapters contain not just theories, but applied revisions of habits and lifestyle that, in Lucy's case, were held beneficial
results. These changes are clearly delineated in chapters that support them with scientific references, categorizing them in
ways ordinary readers can easily apply to their own lives.
Libraries and readers seeking self-help insights and routines specific to panic attacks and anxiety will find no better
approach than NeuroMastery, which cultivates an applied science approach to a condition which affects and limits far too
many.
The Autism Shelf
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
www.jkp.com
Two new arrivals from Jessica Kingsley are highly recommended acquisitions for libraries interested in building diverse and
inclusive collections.
https://www.amazon.com/Were-All-Neurodiverse-Neurodiversity-Affirming-Neuronormativity/dp/1839975784
Sonny Jane Wise's We're All Neurodiverse (9781839975783, $18.95) explores the connections between neurodiversity,
disability, and race. Interviews and narratives capture the experiences and perceptions of systems and social norms that
define and impact neurodivergent people, exploring how to identify and address inherent pathology and prejudice and how
to build a kinder, more intelligent society that effectively addresses its underlying attitudes towards neurodivergent
populations.
https://www.amazon.com/Stories-Autistic-Laura-Kate-Dale/dp/1839978090
Laura Kate Dale edits Stories of Autistic Joy (9781839978098, $21.95), a gathering that celebrates autistic experiences in a
manner few other books on the subject begin to explore. Most autistic treatises discuss suffering and prejudice, but this
book's celebratory tone fosters an appreciation for autistic strengths and identity which goes far to confront the ideas and
prejudices surrounding autism. Fifteen autistic authors from around the world add their captivating insights and experiences
of moments of joy, which comes in all forms but is unified by their autism.
Both books contain powerfully rendered, much-needed subjects that any library interested in diversity, prejudice, and new
paradigms for viewing change will find important and unique. They will be perfect additions to libraries, and should ideally
receive book club recommendation for discussion and enlightened debates.
The Literary Studies Shelf
The Cambridge Companion to the American Graphic Novel
Jan Baetens, et al.
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781009379342, $90.00, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Companion-American-Companions-Literature/dp/1009379348
Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of academicians Jan Baetens, Hugo Frey, and Fabrice Leroy,
"The Cambridge Companion to the American Graphic Novel" explores the important role of the graphic novel in reflecting
American society and in the shaping of the American imagination.
Using key examples, this unique volume is comprised of contributors who review the historical development of various
subgenres within the graphic novel tradition and examines how graphic novelists have created multiple and different
accounts of the American experience, including that of African American, Asian American, Jewish, Latinx, and LGBTQ+
communities.
Reading the American graphic novel opens a debate on how major works have changed the idea of America from that once
found in the quintessential action or superhero comics to show new, different, intimate accounts of historical change as well
as social and individual, personal experience. "The Cambridge Companion to the American Graphic Novel" also guides
readers through the theoretical text-image scholarship to explain the meaning of the complex borderlines between graphic
novels, comics, newspaper strips, caricature, literature, and art.
Critique: A seminal body of original scholarship, the contributor's articles to "The Cambridge Companion to the American
Graphic Novel" are organized into two major sections: 'History & Genre' and 'Graphic Novels and the Quest for an
American Diversity'. Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of a listing of the contributors and their credentials, "The
Cambridge Companion to the American Graphic Novel" will prove of immense interest to fans of the graphic novel as a
contemporary literary format.
While strongly recommended as a key and core addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Contemporary Literary Studies collections, and supplemental Graphic Novels curriculum studies reading lists, it should be
noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Cambridge
Companion to the American Graphic Novel" is also available in a paperback edition (9781009379359, $29.99) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $26.87).
Editorial Note #1: Jan Baetens is Professor Emeritus of cultural studies at the University of Leuven. His work focuses on the
theory and practice of contemporary French poetry, cultural theory, and visual narrative in popular print genres. Some of his
recent publications include The Graphic Novel (2014, coauthored with Hugo Frey), Novelization: From Film to Novel
(2018), The Cambridge History of the Graphic Novel (2018, co-edited with Hugo Frey and Stephen E. Tabachnick).
Editorial Note #2: Hugo Frey is Professor of Visual and Cultural History at University of Chichester UK. With Jan Baetens
he has published The Graphic Novel: An Introduction (2014) and with Baetens and Stephen Tabachnik coedited The
Cambridge History of the Graphic Novel (2018). He has written extensively on French cinema (Nationalism and the Cinema
in France, 2014) and the director Louis Malle. He has conducted research for the British Council and in 2022 was a Visiting
Professor at the University of Ghent.
Editorial Note #3: Fabrice Leroy is Professor of French and Francophone Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
He has published numerous book chapters on French and Belgian Francophone literature and graphic novels, as well as
articles in leading scholarly journals. His most recent monographs devoted to comics are Sfar So Far. Identity, History,
Fantasy, and Mimesis in Joann Sfar's Graphic Novels (2014), and Pierre La Police: Une estheitique de la malfacon (with
Livio Belloi, 2019).
Doyle's World - Lost & Found
Daniel Friedman, author
Eugene Friedman, author
Square One Publishers
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780757004483, $29.95, HC, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Doyles-World_Lost-Found-Histories-Sherlock/dp/0757004482
Synopsis: "Doyle's World - Lost & Found: The Unknown Histories of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" by
co-authors Daniel and Eugene Friedman is no ordinary biography about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -- one of the world's most
influential writers.
It is instead a work that deciphers in particular the cryptic origins and actual scientific methods used by fiction's most
famous consulting detective Sherlock Holmes -- and a study that provides a detailed look into the psyche and working life of
Holmes' creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
"Doyle's World" follows Doyle's entire illustrious literary career, with emphasis on the Sherlock Holmes mysteries as they
evolved from the late 1880s to the early 1900s. Revealed here for the first time by son-father writing team Daniel Friedman,
MD, and Eugene Friedman, MD are the many inspirations behind the physical, emotional, and intellectual characteristics
that Doyle wove together so deftly to bring his legendary sleuth to life.
Interested readers are in for many surprises as the Friedmans bring forth tantalizing parallels between the literary realm of
both Sherlock Holmes (along with his various other fiction and nonfiction works) and the actual events from Doyle's
childhood and early adulthood that served as frequent inspiration.
The co-authors offer answers to long-debated and mysterious questions, such as:
* From whom did Sherlock Holmes actually learn the art of detective work?
* Why did Doyle kill off Sherlock Holmes?
* What story elements did Doyle borrow from Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island?
* How did Doyle apply his fervent belief in Spiritualism to a variety of Holmes stories?
* Who inspired Doyle to write about civil rights after a steamship journey in 1882?
* How did the women in Doyle's life come to influence the relationships with women that both Sherlock Holmes and Dr.
Watson have across sixty written adventures?
"Doyle's World" is divided into three sections.
The first section is dedicated to the elements (both good and bad) that comprised Doyle's childhood and early adult years,
and how an assemblage of persons and places and things from his life found their way into his literature.
The second section emphasizes the highly complex themes and plots present in the Sherlock Holmes adventures, while it
also thoroughly examines some of Doyle's strengths - and weaknesses - as a public figure of his time. The Friedmans also
reveal how Doyle was able to subtly incorporate his own political, social, and religious views - in particular, his passionate
and often bewildering embrace of Spiritualism - into the Holmes stories.
The third section offer two "lost" stories they uncovered that were written by Doyle under a pseudonym -- accompanied by
textual analysis with which they make their case.
"Doyle's World" is a work of rich detail and in-depth scholarship that should win over both established fans of Doyle and
devoted "Sherlockians" everywhere -- and that will engage, and entertain, all others who enter this intriguing hall of literary
mirrors.
Critique: Fascinating, informative, thought-provoking, insightful, eloquent, and impressively well written, organized and
presented, "Doyle's World - Lost & Found: The Unknown Histories of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" is a
unique combination of biography and literary analysis that is essential and highly recommended reading for the legions of
Sherlock Holmes & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fans. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, and college/university library Literary Criticism Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it
should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject tht "Doyle's World"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note #1: Daniel L. Friedman, MD, received his BA from Stony Brook University, and his medical degree from St.
George's School of Medicine. He is currently a practicing pediatrician in Floral Park, New York, and is also an active
member of the Cohen Children's Medical Center, where he sits on the voluntary staff advisory committee. Dr. Friedman's
prize-winning articles on Doyle and Holmes have appeared in numerous national and international journals. He and Dr.
Eugene Friedman are also the authors of the book, The Strange Case of Doctor Doyle.
Editorial Note #2: Eugene Friedman, MD, received his BA from New York University, and his medical degree from New
York Medical College. He was Chief Resident in Pediatrics at New York Medical College and later served as Assistant
Chief of Pediatrics at Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia. Dr. Friedman has been in private practice with his
son, Daniel, for over twenty years.. He has held multiple leadership positions in organized medicine and has devoted
himself to the education of future physicians.
The Self-Help Shelf
Coach Yourself!
Antonia Bowring
Wiley
www.wiley.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781119931454, $27.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Coach-Yourself-Increase-Awareness-Behavior/dp/1119931452
Synopsis: "Coach Yourself!: Increase Awareness, Change Behavior, and Thrive" by Antonia Bowring is a self-help guide
for people who are committed to increasing their awareness about behaviors that aren't serving them at work or in the rest of
their lives, and then taking the necessary actions to move forward.
If you are ready to explore changing habits and behaviors to improve how you show up in work and life, "Coach Yourself!"
is specifically intended for you. With practical and accessible frameworks exploring the power of performance coaching,
Top NYC Executive Coach Antonia Bowring teaches readers to use her performance coaching formula: increased
awareness + changed behavior = flourishing individual and thriving work performance.
Bowring also offers recipes, frameworks, and tools you can use to navigate the exhilarating, and inevitably bumpy, journey
through your professional life. Within the pages of "Coach Yourself! you will discover:
Foundational definitions and concepts, including discussions about the different kinds of coaching, the benefits they bring to
the table, and the processes they use
The importance of your values, and how they anchor your progress through your coaching journey
Communication strategies used by the world's most effective problem-solvers and decision-makers in the world
While "Coach Yourself!" will be an essential guide for professionals and leaders, anyone can pick up 'how-to' self help
manual and apply the frameworks to all the various aspects of their life. That's because the essence of coaching is that we
have the answers inside ourselves, and the role of the coach is to help us access our own answers.
Critique: Insightfully informative, life enhancing, impressively well written, and exceptionally 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation, "Coach Yourself!: Increase Awareness, Change Behavior, and Thrive" will prove to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, community, and college/university library Self-Help/Self-
Improvement collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Coach Yourself!" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $16.00) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, $42.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Antonia Bowring (www.ab-strategies.com) is a highly credentialed, top New York executive coach. She
works primarily with founders, C-Suite executives, and leadership teams. One of Antonia's areas of expertise is helping
neurodiverse leaders create the necessary scaffolding to leverage their gifts and maintain their focus. She is a frequent
speaker to companies and groups on topics ranging from the leadership mindset, ADHD in the workplace, and
communication best practices. Her articles through the Forbes Coaches Council are widely read and The American Reporter
named her one of the 10 leadership coaches to watch in 2022.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Self-Love Crystals
Katie Huang
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780711290792, $22.00, HC, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Self-Love-Crystals-Crystal-rituals-self-care/dp/0711290792
Synopsis: Written by crystal expert and modern mystic, Katie Huang (Love By Luna), and filled with rituals and recipes to
help you boost your everyday wellbeing, "Self-Love Crystals: Crystal Spells and Rituals for Magical Self-Care" will teach
you how to harness the mystical powers of 30 crystals, and incorporate them into your daily self-care practice.
"Self-Love Crystals" will enable you to embrace the art of cleansing, charging, and connecting with your crystals, and
unearth their heart-warming energies with: A rose quartz spell jar for self-love; A clear quartz renewal shower ritual; A
black tourmaline cord-cutting ritual; An amethyst crystal elixir for breaking bad habits; A moonstone serenity crystal grid; A
hematite healthy boundaries spell; A colorful crystal chakra healing ceremony; A carnelian crystal elixir for boosting
confidence -- and more!
Revealing tips and tricks to help you on your self-care and crystal healing journey, "Self-Love Crystals" is a sparkling guide
to crystal magic is truly essential reading for every modern mystic.
Critique: Nicely illustrated throughout, "Self-Love Crystals: Crystal Spells and Rituals for Magical Self-Care" by crystal
expert Katie Huang is impressively 'reader friendly' and quite comprehensive on the use and utilization of crystals for self-
help/self-improvement rituals and practices. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$10.99) from Leaping Hare Press, "Self-Love Crystals" is a primary and highly recommended core addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies and Crystal Magic collections.
Editorial Note: Katie Huang is the founder of Love By Luna (www.lovebyluna.co), a leading astrological lifestyle brand.
She is also the author of Crystal Zodiac and Luminous Dreams. Katie's expertise and insights on living with crystals and the
cosmos make her an authority for modern mystics. Her insightful work has been featured in numerous publications such as
Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, and Marie Claire. One of her ventures, MoonBox, is a spiritual subscription box that
follows the lunar cycle.
The Language of Lenormand
Erika Robinson
Weiser Publishers
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578638055, $18.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Language-Lenormand-Practical-Everyday-Divination/dp/1578638054
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Language of Lenormand: A Practical Guide for Everyday Divination", Erika
Robinson has created one of the clearest guides ever written for this beloved divination system. Popular in Europe for
centuries, the Lenormand deck, consisting of thirty-six numbered and named cards, has now been embraced in North
America by cartomancers, tarot enthusiasts, oracle readers, and many others. Each card depicts an archetype (a fox, a snake,
a coffin, or whip, for example) rather than tarot's somewhat more involved symbology. This makes the Lenormand system
an easy entry point to divination.
Widely respected divination authority Erika Robinson believes that Lenormand is not just a deck of cards but also a
language that, if mastered, can help you achieve self-empowerment and the ability to attain the life you desire. A longtime
English teacher, she helps readers become fluent in the language of Lenormand. This clearly written, accessible guide to the
meanings of each card requires no prior knowledge of Lenormand, but is simultaneously a sophisticated book that takes
Lenormand to the next level, providing greater insights and elucidation for those already familiar with it.
Critique: A complete and comprehensive course of study that will have an immense appeal and value to metaphysical
students and readers with an interest in divination, "The Language of Lenormand: A Practical Guide for Everyday
Divination" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented so as to be of maximum value to the novice user and will
have significant worth to even the more experienced practitioner. Highly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted that "The Language of
Lenormand: A Practical Guide for Everyday Divination" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Editorial Note: Erika Robinson, an African-American Lenormandist, is also an award-winning blogger. She is a frequent
presenter at divination conferences in the United States and internationally, and she has contributed to The Cartomancer
Magazine as well as other publications. Robinson lives and writes in Southern California. She has two websites:
www.lenormandwitherika.com and www.erikalenormand.substack.com, and can be followed on Instagram
@divine_withme
Card of the Day Tarot
Kerry Ward
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760385630, $19.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Card-Day-Tarot-One-Card-Readings/dp/0760385637
Synopsis: The practice of tarot can be a great source for advice, insight, and spiritual connection, but doing tarot readings is
sometimes complicated and frustrating. Multi-card spreads can be impractical, tedious, and full of opaque and contradictory
messages that take time and practice to tease out. Enter the one-card draw or "card of the day" -- simple readings in which
just one card is pulled and interpreted.
In "Card of the Day Tarot: Quick and Easy One-Card Tarot Readings For Love, Work, and Everyday Life, long-time tarot
reader and the resident tarot columnist for Cosmopolitan magazine, Kerry Ward, offers 12 everyday one-card tarot rituals
for a variety of questions and situations, along with simplified interpretations of all 78 cards, to help you hone your
intuition, reconnect with the cards, and breathe new life into your tarot practice.
Incorporating other popular spiritual practices such as meditation, aromatherapy, crystal work, breathwork, and more, "Card
of the Day Tarot" includes a range of one-card draws, readings, and rituals that demonstrate the adaptability and flexibility
of the one-card draw.
"Card of the Day Tarot" also includes revamped interpretations for all 78 cards, offering simplified messages for each one
depending on the type of question being asked. Each card includes a life lesson, an affirmation, a reassurance, a yes/no
designation, a direct call to action, and more, making this an easy reference guide that will work with any tarot deck.
Whether a beginner reader still learning the meanings of the cards or an experienced practitioner looking for an easy way to
bring more tarot into your life, "Card of the Day Tarot" is a practical, visually stunning guide to conducting meaningful tarot
readings in your everyday life -- without frustration, confusion, or hours of interpretation.
Critique: A unique and singularly recommended addition to tarot collections, "Card of the Day Tarot: Quick and Easy
One-Card Tarot Readings For Love, Work, and Everyday Life" is impressively presented and ideal for the novice tarot
reader and with great value for even the more experienced tarot users with reference to personal lives and conditions -- be it
their own or a client. It should be noted that "Card of the Day Tarot: Quick and Easy One-Card Tarot Readings For Love,
Work, and Everyday Life" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Kerry Ward is the creator of the best-selling tarot deck and book Good Karma Tarot as well as Crystal Magic
Tarot. She is the resident tarot columnist for Cosmopolitan US and UK, as well as Metro UK and supports a global tarot
client list of 500+, to whom she sends a monthly email newsletter. She can be found on Instagram at @mytarotbella
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
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