 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / MBR
Bookwatch |
MBR Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Able Greenspan's Bookshelf
Cuba and the Independence War in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde
Victor Dreke Cruz
Pathfinder Press
www.pathfinderpress.com
9781604882162, $12.00, PB, 176pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Cuba-Independence-Guinea-Bissau-Cape-Verde/dp/1604882166
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cuba-and-the-independence-war-in-guinea-bissau-and-cape-verde-victor-dreke/1149014853
Synopsis: In 1974-75 the people of two West African countries, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, put an end to 500 years of Portuguese colonial exploitation. The result of a popular movement forged by Amilcar Cabral, their struggle triggered the collapse of Portugal's entire colonial empire and brought down the 40-year fascist dictatorship in Portugal itself.
With the publication of "Cuba and the Independence War in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde: The Fall of the Last Colonial Empire In Africa", author Victor Dreke provides a firsthand account that brings to life this decisive victory in the wave of anti-imperialist struggles that swept the globe during and after World War II.
Cuba's revolutionary leadership provided vital aid to the African fighters we meet here -- the men and women Cabral saw as part of "humanity's soldiers."
We also meet the Cuban volunteer combatants who joined their struggle. Through their example we come to know the international solidarity extended by millions of Cuban working people whose lives had been transformed by making a genuine socialist revolution in their own country.
Critique: Informed and informative, eloquent, engaging and of immense interest for students, academia, historians, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject,"Cuba and the Independence War in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde: The Fall of the Last Colonial Empire In Africa" by Victor Dreke Cruz is an singularly extraordinary, quite unique, and highly prized contribution to personal, professional, community, and college/university 20th Century Colonial and African History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Victor Dreke (1937-) joined the July 26 Movement in June 1956; joined Revolutionary Directorate column that integrated into Che Guevara's Rebel Army column in October 1958. Commanded forces in Escambray mountains in struggle against counterrevolutionary bands 1960-65. Founding member of the Communist Party of Cuba in 1965 and a member of its Central Committee from 1965 to 1975.
In 1965 he served as second in command of the volunteer column led by Guevara in the Congo. In 1966-68 he led Cuban internationalists aiding national liberation forces in Guinea-Bissau. Later headed the Political Directorate of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. Retired from active military duty with rank of colonel 1990. Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea 2003-2008. President of Cuba-Africa Friendship Association and head of Association of Combatants of Cuban Revolution in Havana Province. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADctor_Dreke)
Dreke is the author of From the Escambray to the Congo: In the Whirlwind of the Cuban Revolution (2002).
Able Greenspan
Reviewer
Diane Donovan's Bookshelf
That Other Family
Lis Angus
Next Chapter
9784824150080, $15.99 Paperback/$24.49 Hardcover/$3.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GCZJF799
Books 2 Read
https://books2read.com/thatotherfamily
When librarian and mother Julie is confronted by a previously unknown half-sister, Frances Boyle, with the fact that her beloved deceased father had two families, at first she can't accept the notion. He's long dead and the idea that he led two lives feels wrong, despite Frances's photographic evidence that indicates otherwise.
To further complicate an already-impossible situation, Frances warns Julie that their brother Dominic has no knowledge of this, and will seek vengeance if he find out. Vengeance on a dead man and his secret family? It doesn't make sense, Julie thinks. To make matters worse, waters become murky over who is having the most issues accepting the reality of her father's double life.
Lis Angus builds a powerful plot and unexpected confrontations between three siblings as events spiral into disasters, explosions, hired hit men, and alter egos.
The delight of this story lies in its questions. Who is good and who is evil? Who is the saving personality and who would destroy everyone?
Another plus to Angus's approach is the shifting viewpoints (clarified neatly by chapter titles) that explore each family member's perspective. These contrasts in experience go far to inject satisfying tension, strong character development, and clashing motivations for actions into a story that keeps moving between redemption and disaster.
The skepticism of authorities who investigate the house explosion and threats creates a realistic dance between possible motives and investigators who can't quite believe the wild ride Julie and her family has taken:
"My husband told you who we think was likely responsible for the explosion."
"Ah, yes. A family of American criminals who have it in for your family?" He raised his eyebrows, and a sardonic expression crossed his face.
I frowned and leaned forward. "I don't think you took in the whole picture. This... didn't my husband tell you - we've just learned that my father already had another family when he married my mother. And yes, his other wife's family is involved in criminal enterprises in the U.S."
Librarians looking for action-packed stories where a family's division is carried to the extremes of reaction and dysfunction will relish how suspense integrates with psychological revelation in this delightful dance.
Filled with satisfying twists, clashing personalities, and shifting understanding as perspectives change, The Other Family is a heart stopping story of intrigue and action that juxtaposes nonstop confrontations with surprises many won't see coming.
Aftershock
Keith Spence
www.keithmspence.com
Midnight Cipher Publications
9798993564203, $27.99 Hardcover/$14.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Aftershock-Keith-M-Spence/dp/B0GD2WK1TS
Espionage thriller readers will find Aftershock an engrossing international chain of events that opens in 1980 with the North Korean hostage crisis. David Jourbet knows this situation has been going on for far too long. Selena Walsh is waiting to execute (literally) her deadly plan of revenge for childhood abuses. What do the two seemingly disparate lives of a savvy new female killer and Belgian man hold in common? Plenty. The story is powered by a cat-and-mouse game of pursuit, attack, and ultimatums that change not just politics, but individual lives.
Keith Spence carefully constructs a story replete with edge-of-your-seat encounters with a variety of characters that face East German assassins, psychopaths, a deadly woman who has become "an arterial Jackson Pollock," and a revised definition of "killer" versus "traitor."
Spence is particularly adept at pointing out the similarities between seemingly disparate characters and intentions that shake the definition of good and bad guys on an overall playing field of political intervention. The search for "a clean ending for a very messy story eighteen years in the making" and the sacrifice and judgment which embroil David and Selena in conflict and connection emerge alongside a host of special interests.
From the threat of nuclear inferno to the aftermath of those who lose control of their assets, morality, and efforts to survive, David and those around him experience a whirlwind of Russian associations and CIA connections that challenge their families and values.
Libraries seeking thrillers replete with Russian subterfuge and encounters and satisfyingly unpredictable cat-and-mouse games will relish how Aftershock builds a set of glowing possibilities from the very different lives and perspectives of a man and woman caught up in circumstances beyond their control.
Readers looking for international intrigue, suspense, and confrontations that form gripping examinations of contrasting realities will appreciate how the interactions between Popov, David, and others builds to a crescendo of action and realizations that many won't see coming.
Navigating Her Next Chapter: A Retro Novel
Jean Burgess
Apprentice House Press
https://apprenticehouse.com
9781627106273, $22.99
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Her-Next-Chapter-Retro/dp/1627206272
In Navigating Her Next Chapter, aspiring writer, 26-year-old Margie Stevens, moves to New York City in the early 1980s in search of her dream. There, she discovers that her anticipation of a magical world of artistic license and creativity instead introduces the manic world of East 65th Street and beyond.
What's a small-town girl doing in the big city? It's not like her savvy father didn't try to discourage her - but still she persisted in leaving the tiny Maryland enclave of Church Creek for something she imagined would be better and more stimulating. And now she's paying for it.
Jean Burgess crafts a powerful saga in which an Eastern Shore non-city girl defies tradition and family edict to do something different. What she discovers is not only intellectually challenging and attractive, but spawns romantic possibilities (with the considerate Miguel) which Margie never anticipated.
Margie adapts, adopts some of the tools from various new perspectives and programs around her, and begins to hone a revised vision for her future as a result of not a singular drive, but influences past and present:
Just as Amy stated that she still had work to do to resolve her Twelve Step program, I knew my positivity plan would be ongoing. Dark feelings toward Amy's treatment of me would flare up from time to time. And I still held on to fears and worries about my career choices, and Dad's pressure, and other decisions I needed to make, and... well, you name it. One step at a time.
The positivity cultivated during this journey is just what is needed for modern readers. Margie's progression is realistic, thought-provoking, and involves a vast reassessment of her life values and trajectory. These neatly play out against the backdrop of encounters with addicted people, evolving new friendships and support systems, and the big-city conundrums and attractions which work together to change her course.
The story isn't just about change, however. It's about how life transitions are navigated. The focus is exquisitely sharp, producing a novel of discovery and revised life choices that ultimately prove interesting, revealing, and thought-provoking.
Margie makes some difficult decisions, comes to candidly review her faults and options, and encourages readers to do the same as she grows. This approach produces a novel replete with "aha" moments that can lend readily to book club discussions.
Librarians and readers seeking novels steeped in New York City culture and down-home personalities will welcome their intersection in Navigating Her Next Chapter: A Retro Novel. It's about navigating the process of getting to a new place physically, emotionally, and intellectually as much as the end result - which is what makes the story so appealing and easy to love.
The Blueberry Society: A Schoolyard Novella, Misguided Short Stories, and Other Ramblings
Zeebo
Thawland Creative Studios LLC
www.thawland.com/zeebo
9798990161634, $14.00
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Blueberry-Society-Schoolyard-Misguided-Ramblings/dp/B0GGQB28KC
The Blueberry Society: A Schoolyard Novella, Misguided Short Stories, and Other Ramblings is a thought-provoking reflection on life, experience, and irony. It's delivered with a dash of humor that inspects "the sweet nectar of the blossom we call the truth" about which, "Sadly, these days, it exists dimly in a haze of noisy distractions."
The vignettes open with an encounter in a diner over grits:
"Can I try just one or two grits? I don't know what they taste like, so I don't know if I want a full order."
She had teased hair, a kind, sweet smile, and had over-sprayed herself with a tad too much Obsession perfume. I was sure she was sick of rude city boys like me who think a large tip will excuse all crimes against those in the food service industry. Her voice was gritty and coated in her southern twang. "You can't have just one or two grits," she replied, rolling her eyes upward, possibly reading the diner rules tattooed inside her eyelids.
Each story is a study in social inspection, humorous observation, and life encounter that presents fun inspections of Zeebo's world and the forces that move it. Each offers nuggets of wisdom, whether they stem from an experience taking peyote, from "many shades of darkness," or from reflections of the son of an immigrant who experiences his own puzzling journey through American culture and diversity.
Part memoir, part fiction, and fully embedded with wonderfully surprising, hilarious life observations, these "ramblings" represent pieces of experience delivered with the wry inspection of youth, maturity, and life ironies, all wound into one intriguing, hard to define package of literary inspection.
Libraries and readers seeking short stories that sizzle with magic, mayhem, and life possibilities will find all these forces and more at work in a gathering of wry experience that will leave readers feeling connected to the beauty and impasses of life.
Side Hustle & Flow: The Daily Grind
Cliff Beach
Please & Funk You Publishing
B0GDW12379, $5.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GDW12379
Side Hustle & Flow: The Daily Grind: 365 Days to Shine is about juggling "passion projects" with full-time work that pays the bills. It offers daily motivationals for a year which readers can use to stay inspired and focused on a long-term goal despite the rigors of effectively working two jobs at once.
Each day takes a step towards realizing that dream, with Day 1's "Start Before You're Ready" pairing a motivational thought with a reflective exercise that workers can apply to that day's effort:
Reflection: What's one thing you've been waiting to start? Take one small step toward it today.
The admonitions and reflections change as the months progress, as in Day 138, "Stay Committed to Your Dreams," which advises:
Your dreams require commitment. Stay dedicated, even when the path seems uncertain.
Reflection: What's one action you can take today to stay committed to your dreams?
Each day offers a different reflection that encourages the worker/dreamer to keep advancing their "side hustle" project, tackling the nuances of success, defeat, and change that can derail a dream. One such example is represented in Day 228, "Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable":
Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. Learn to get comfortable with discomfort.
Reflection: What's one thing that makes you uncomfortable, but that would help you grow?
By now, it should be evident that Side Hustle & Flow: The Daily Grind offers more than a series of progressive encouragements. It requires of the reader a dedication to self-examination, change, and attitude adjustment in the process of honing in on one's dream.
The advice can be applied to a wide range of projects, attitudes, efforts, and conundrums which arise during the process of balancing work life, offering a serious opportunity for self-advancement that requires only a willing, open mind to apply properly.
Librarians and readers interested in the nuts and bolts of not just realizing a dream, but adopting the kinds of habits and life approaches to make it possible will relish how Side Hustle & Flow: The Daily Grind creates opportunities for self-reflection and advancement that accepts the rigors of trying to balance a double work life while realizing one's real dreams.
Filled with easy insights delivered on a daily basis, Side Hustle & Flow: The Daily Grind is the ultimate cheerleader for tackling work life's daily challenges in a more productive, insightful manner. It is highly recommended to anyone interested in pursuing their dreams while paying the bills with non-inspirational jobs.
Lady of Lincoln
Rachel Elwiss Joyce
www.rachelelwissjoyce.com
Hedgehog Books
9781919337906, $17.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0G1ZCJ4ZX
Books 2 Read
https://books2read.com/u/4980nW
Lady of Lincoln is a novel set in 12th century England, where noblewoman Nicola de la Haye chafes at the thought of having to marry in order to secure her inheritance. All has been arranged for her, but Nicola refuses the chosen suitor and instead marries a lowly knight. Trouble deepens when she then faces betrayal by her husband, who sides with the opposition to royalty in a brewing civil war.
Court politics, women's roles in positions of power and circumstances of disempowerment, and medieval culture come to life under Rachel Elwiss Joyce's hand in a manner that presents the many ways women navigated their lives during those times.
Historical fiction readers will find Nicola's character (based on a real woman) a powerful example of the choices and conflicts medieval women in positions of semi-authority faced in these times. They confronted not just social norms and political strife, but expectations and trouble from their own families and marriages. This comes to life as Nicola defends Lincoln Castle against impossible odds, stands nearly alone in defying conventional expectations of royal women to carve a place for herself in a constricted world, and perseveres to realize her vision against all odds.
Vivid descriptions capture her determination and involvement in all kinds of causes:
Nicola intended to attend the court - if allowed. She needed to speak about the attack on the Jews, and she burned to see justice for Suardinc's death.
These are reinforced by dialogues between characters in which Nicola interacts with those who surround and sometimes support her:
"That was Deormod. Alured's coming. He wants the castle - and me.
He stared at her. "Lady Nicola, Alured's a slimy, 'ellspawn snake, but he's a king's man."
"I know. But I think he's been sent to claim the castle. And me!"
He stiffened. "Claim the castle?"
The romance between Nicola and Fitz also receives close inspection and strong descriptions as she ventures into family life while holding the reins of what authority she can claim as a leader and role model for those around her.
As issues of honor and freedom clash with social and political perceptions of women's' roles in this world, readers gain a vivid, realistic examination of the times. This is delivered in the immersive form of a woman who struggles, on many fronts, to lead others and remain true to her beliefs and objectives. These contrasts between personal goals and broader social and political constraints are particularly engrossing, offering book clubs and reading groups much fodder for debate about women's strengths and choices.
Librarians and readers looking for stories about women interacting with and defying court standards in 12th century Europe will especially appreciate the close attention to women's roles and issues of the times that brings Lady of Lincoln to life. Though the novel is the first in a series, it stands nicely alone as a winning introduction to these religious, social, and political times, considering the demands of duty and the constraints of staying true to one's heart.
Its epic story of Lady Nicola's journey to building family, love, and her own empowerment lingers in the mind long after reading.
A Beginning: Where We Stand Now: Book Three
Brandon Pawlicki
Independently Published
9798986050669, $19.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRSKPKH3
A Beginning: Where We Stand Now: Book Three adds to a series that flavors a post-zombie survival saga with the elements of thriller writing and intrigue to add mystery and fantasy into the mix. Thus, the story may be hard to neatly categorize, but rewards fans of all these genres with a fast-paced, unpredictable tale of survival that opens in the aftermath of horrible loss and world-changing events.
Two survivors of this apocalypse, Vallerie (aka 'The Black Wolf') and Emily, cope with trauma, nightmares, and recovery from the past which demands they adjust to a very different world and future.
While many view Vallerie as a hero for her role in changing the world, others consider her damaged goods, too volatile to be predictable or effective in this revised milieu. They are wrong, because the same strengths and determination that allowed her to survive in the past are still present as she confronts the new dilemma of a murderer who has made her a target.
Vallerie's leadership is tested by not just men, but women as she assumes a commanding position that leads her to make difficult decisions about those around her:
"Every time... Every single fucking time I've come here, you've been the louder voice in the fights. I had my suspicions. You almost got me this time. But no dice. People like you got away with it in the old world, but not anymore. Think about where you wanna go. Just know that if you wanna come at me again, I'll throw you out on your ass."
As she investigates murder victims and contemplates possible perps, Vallerie is tested by new alliances, relationships, and legal constraints that place her on the list of possible criminals:
"You killed people, Vallerie. And not on your grounds where you can simply... hand wave it away. Injured many more. Some of those men may never walk again without a cane, and that's if they can even walk at all."
"Oh, you mean the guys that tried to kill me instead of the crotch-stealing murderer? That they let get away? How do I put this politely?" She shrugged. "Fuck 'em."
Readers familiar with Vallerie's story in the prior book will especially appreciate how she steps into a leadership role during uncertain times and shifting social and political landscapes. Her dual challenges of simultaneously recovering and leading create an involving story in which survival leads to unexpected new roles in what is now the wilderness of North America.
Especially engaging is the addition of murder, killing, and moral consequences as Vallerie tackles a killer and defends her own choices. Readers familiar with apocalyptic survival stories will find A Beginning: Where We Stand Now satisfyingly different in its focus on not just survival and food, the stuff of typical genre stories, but what kinds of decisions and command forces are necessary to build new communities in a much-changed world.
Libraries and readers interested in thriller components that add value to their dystopian or fantasy worlds will relish how A Beginning: Where We Stand Now juxtaposes strong characters, world-building conundrums, and a search for renewed meaning into its plot.
I used to think that what mattered most to me was fixing the world.
The insights about revised goals and ideals are thoroughly thought-provoking and perfect for book club discussion.
Chasing the Bangkok Dragon
K. E. Karl
Kurt E. Karl Consulting, LLC
https://kekarl.com
9798987014172, $15.99 Paperback/ $7.99 eBook/$29.99 Ingram Spark Hardcover
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Bangkok-Dragon-Sebastian-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0FZNJ92G7
Chasing the Bangkok Dragon is a thriller set in 1980s Bangkok, where DEA analyst Thomas Sebastian is assigned to go underground to fight an international drug syndicate. At the heart of the battle is a new drug called "The Bangkok Dragon" which draws drug enforcers, gangs, and special interests into a tangled web of deceit and corruption.
The story is compelling from its opening line:
"You mean I'd have to carry a gun?" Thomas asked, his voice cracking.
At age thirty-five, Thomas is being tapped as much for his ability to speak fluent Thai as for any investigative skills. That, and his high security clearance, make him the perfect choice to participate in a special undercover unit of the DEA, investigating a drug syndicate that has thus far eluded them.
The short-term assignment becomes a long-term dangerous affair as Thomas (aka Robert Jordan) pursues answers and criminals against all odds.
Thriller readers will find the intrigue fast-paced and Thomas a likable character. The conundrums in his new job in Thailand spill into operations where his involvement in police situations becomes more and more entangled with subterfuge.
Fellow agents Andrea and Sakchai know who Thomas really is - but even a great plan, a good cover, and a strong team can fail when confronted with forces as strong as the Dragon and Scorpion gangs - especially when an agent's death leads local police to suspect that Thomas and his group are behind the mysterious operations.
Fans of espionage stories and international crime scenarios will relish how Thomas follows a string of clues that lead into an ever-more tangled web of relationships and possibilities.
Libraries and readers interested in adding thrillers to their collections and reading lists that take bigger picture politics and gang relationships and juxtapose them with one man's mission to stop illicit drugs from proliferating will welcome how Chasing the Bangkok Dragon represents both a survival effort and a transformation.
Thomas steps into his new role more effectively than he could have imagined, and the process by which his life and perspective are also transformed makes for thoroughly engrossing, unpredictable reading. These features make Chasing the Bangkok Dragon a compelling thriller standout.
Removal of the President
Peter Van Oossanen
https://petervanoossanen.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891328624, $32.99 Hardcover/$19.99 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Removal-President-Peter-Van-Oossanen-ebook/dp/B0FRSYG9J1
Removal of the President is the final book in the Sam Stanton saga, following The Extraterrestrial and When Mercy Died. It considers what would happen if the U.S. President undertook a course of action that could destroy the world. It's set over twenty years after the last story, so stands nicely alone for newcomers to Sam and his world as it outlines the dilemma of Sam's son Junior, who has stepped up into his father's shoes and is working with him when they uncover a deadly conspiracy involving the president.
At first they try to expose and politically thwart him, but when democratic options fail, father and son are forced to consider the unthinkable as they face the choice of either becoming killers or seeing the world explode.
Thriller readers will find plenty of action and tension as the duo consider these options and make efforts to stop what seems inevitable. Add a romance between Junior and the President's daughter for an even more compelling, thought-provoking dilemma.
Lying press secretaries, Jocelyn's discovery of what Junior really does and her struggle to accept this, a father who locks up his daughter (who just longs for life to return to 'normal' afterwards), and the struggle of leaders to take over White House operations and turn back the rush towards disaster create a grippingly realistic story of politics and special interests.
Peter Van Oossanen's engaging story rests firmly on psychological interplays and engrossing character dilemmas. These drive the tension - but even more important is timing. Given the questions and controversies of the modern American political landscape, the premise is frighteningly realistic and especially convincing, making Removal of the President nearly impossible to put down.
Librarians and readers seeking frighteningly realistic fiction surrounding presidential power gone awry will find Removal of the President a relevant, outstanding choice certain to spark book club and group discussions. Packed with twists and exquisite tension, Removal of the President represents thought-provoking, action-packed thriller reading at its finest.
The City of Shadows: A Romance of Morocco
Charles Beadle, author
Rob Couteau, editor
www.robcouteau.com
Dominantstar
9781963363074, $19.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/City-Shadows-Morocco-Annotations-Afterword/dp/1963363078
The City of Shadows: A Romance of Morocco returns to print Charles Beadle's first novel (originally published in 1911), which vividly portrays the 1908 Battle of Marrakech that led to the defeat of Morocco's Sultan Aziz. The story is embedded in real history that brings the times, place, and politics to life with characters such as adventurer Paul, who falls in love with Moroccan woman Zahra.
These characters and elements will attract readers who may hold little prior familiarity with the politics and Moroccan culture, but who will find plenty of insights and attractions woven into the Moroccan backdrop and events.
The first thing to note about Charles Beadle's style is the inclusion of local color and dialect. This may prove somewhat challenging to read, but creates atmosphere and authenticity:
As the cry of the Muedhin broke the lazy murmur, Towers glanced up with a faint suggestion of welcome recognition of an old friend. The boat glided to the jetty, and amid an excited altercation he mounted the steps, irritably pushing aside the clamorous offers of assistance. A gray-hooded figure, that had remained placidly leaning upon the rail, stepped forward.
"You come along me, Mister. I take you 'otel Savoy?"
Towers stared contemptuously at the native tout.
"You come along me, ole chap," urged the other confidentially. "Me best man. Me show you plenty dancing girl, ole chap."
Editor Rob Couteau provides numerous footnotes that reference background history. This also is unusual for a novel, but proves perfect as a reference for historical fiction readers interested in the background supporting these events.
Between romance and sharpshooters to urban conflict and confusion, Beadle brings to life the people, purposes, and politics of these times in a way that invites all kinds of readers to appreciate the people and movements of early Morocco.
Paul's encounters with the Baron are nicely detailed, inviting readers to observe and participate in court processes, including dueling:
"I exceedingly regret the absence of seconds," said the Baron, precisely, "and also the extreme irregularity of the affair, but you will, I feel sure, act with me in observing the usual etiquette as far as possible. So, with your permission, I will measure the ground."
The Baron proceeded to pace the distance, pausing for a moment to ostentatiously observe his cigarette, held out between two fingers; he smiled grimly in satisfaction.
As Paul risks death for courting Zahra and social and religious rules are broken, the characters must consider the impact of their choices in a moving story that traverses hearts, minds, and political traditions.
The result is a historical novel rich in Moroccan culture and revealing in its exploration of a forbidden love against the backdrop of change.
Librarians and readers looking for novels of Middle East history that bring these times alive through characters that make important decisions that affect the world around them will relish the opportunity to see Morocco through the eyes of a man and woman who risk much to achieve their vision of happiness.
The City of Shadows's blend of high adventure, risk-taking, and immersion in Moroccan affairs is cemented by characters whose lives and concerns are realistic and thoroughly engrossing.
Born on Monday
Richard R. Becker
www.byrichardrbecker.com
Copywrite, Ink.
9798988881650, $31.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paperback/$7.95 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Born-Monday-Richard-R-Becker-ebook/dp/B0FKX146VX
What does an ordinary person do when they are accused of committing a brutal crime? Born on Monday captures the dilemma of quarry worker Billy Stevens, who finds himself being hunted; Jessica Michaud, who is tracked by a vengeful ex; and journalist Andrea Kearney, whose investigation into local corruption takes an unexpected turn.
The three disparate individuals are drawn into a web of deceit and danger in a small Maine town as each struggle with their lives and the forces that impact them.
Richard R. Becker provides astute observations that include reflections on each character's choices:
What booze really does is open doors while you feel like your best self, and then it slams those same doors closed without warning.
As Jessica becomes wrapped up in another case while caretaking her mother (who is ill with cancer) and Billy faces a reunion with Autumn that leaves him ecstatic, the adjustments each makes and the deals made with their own particular devils make for a tense thriller that edges into unpredictable territory for everyone involved.
It should be noted that moments of violent confrontation emerge as Autumn confronts an assailant with tragic results. This might trigger sensitive readers. This caution aside, the descriptions are fully in keeping with the novel's atmosphere and progression and add to Billy's angst and realizations as he becomes a suspect.
As the evidence stacks up against him, Billy finds an important and uncertain new relationship with Derrik and Metcliff, police officers who consider him both a possible suspect and a victim.
Becker's ability to embed these characters in a changing small town's political and social milieu results in an atmospheric read that is thoroughly engrossing and realistic. Readers follow Billy's quandaries and relationships through the lens of past experience and moral shifts as he is continually called upon to redefine his relationships and identify his enemies.
Ironically, the back story of money laundering and murder provides a breathing and healing space to Billy and Jessica, who probe the foundations of small town secrets only to discover the story of a lifetime. This engages readers in a series of conundrums and supporting characters whose lives and purposes intersect in satisfyingly unpredictable ways.
Librarians and readers seeking engrossing tales of victims, survivors, and small-town conundrums will relish how Born on Monday crafts suspense and psychological growth. The finale, in which two surprising heroes save each others' lives while navigating the raging storms of passion and tragedy, creates a powerful conclusion that most readers won't see coming.
Born on Monday is highly recommended for thriller readers seeking intense psychological probes and connections in stories about small towns and big problems. Its ability to draw characters that walk a fine line between hero and flawed personality makes for a thought-provoking approach.
Killer Urge
Steven Fisher
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891329409, $28.99 Hardcover/$16.99 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Urge-Steven-Fisher-ebook/dp/B0D54JCZBN
Killer Urge tells of a hiker killed in a park, an investigation that stymies local authorities, and the expertise and participation of outsider Kevin Mathers in the search for a savvy killer.
The story opens with a first-person dialogue from the killer's perspective. This gives the story a powerful personal perspective from its opening lines:
I had known for a long time that I needed to kill someone. There were so many things in my life that I was angry about. Someone needed to be punished. My feelings simmered, waiting to explode out into the world. I knew that I needed to tap this volcano inside me, or it would implode. But who should I kill?
The loner's encounter with "Chatty Cathy" results in the woman's death. This leads to the introduction of Kevin, a Philadelphia celebrity who has already solved a major crime puzzle - without being either a P.I. or a police officer. He may have stepped into the world of crime when that serial killer turned out to be his girlfriend, but when he inadvertently becomes involved in yet another homicide case, Kevin finds his problem-solving abilities tapped in an unusual way.
The perspectives of the story's characters keep changing, but headers with their names leave little room for confusion as the story evolves. These viewpoints add to the story's complexity and satisfyingly psychological twists and turns as Anna, Leonard, Jennifer, and others step into a pressure cooker of death and nightmare confrontations.
Each character contributes thought-provoking experiences and insights into the mix as the original killer's rage builds into an explosion of action. Each adds to the evolution of the "Valley Green Killer" as the victims mount and questions about death and connections emerge from their lives, leading Kevin and the homicide team on a lively chase that appears to hold no logical conclusion.
Libraries and readers who like their action fast-paced, their characters multifaceted and complex, and their murder mysteries steeped in an air of psychological connection and discovery will relish how Killer Urge focuses on and fine-tunes the killer instinct for a totally unpredictable outcome.
Filled with satisfying twists powered by revelations on the part of perp and investigators who become entwined in these deaths and lives, Killer Urge is a winning saga that is a real page-turner.
Tidal Overlook
Helen Montague Foster
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891329249, $30.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tidal-Overlook-Helen-Montague-Foster/dp/B0FYHV69W3
The psychological thriller Tidal Overlook is the sequel to the award-winning Lost Graces. It continues the story of psychiatrist Nancy Thomas's foster daughter Soolie, who is still suffering from PTSD. This challenges Nancy, who doesn't have the energy she wishes to devote to parenting. When Nancy, Mack, and Soolie come across a body in the road, Soolie bolts into the forest and Mack runs after her, leaving Nancy to deal with hunters who show up and demand that they leave the property.
Important psychological insights emerge from the beginning:
It no longer surprised me that traumatized people acted in ways that brought about what they feared.
New insights keep evolving as the story progresses from family angst to Nancy's decision to treat a famous author against her own instincts, a series of intriguing incidents that lead them to wonder about the true nature of the secretive bed-and-breakfast conference facility nearby, and Nancy's concealed weapons case. The latter threatens to expose the truth about the hunters who had seemed unconcerned about their injured friends or Nancy's missing family.
As a potential malpractice suit further challenges Nancy's ability to pursue the truth, readers receive a fast-paced thriller that excels in juxtaposing murder with writer's block and psychiatric conundrums about treatments and outcomes.
Helen Montague Foster does a fine job of dovetailing personal life with investigative intrigue. Her story traverses mishaps of the past with present-day twists and turns of events, creating a novel replete with many different psychological and thriller twists.
Librarians and readers who look for a breath-taking dance between family life and community involvement will find the solid characterization, fast pace, and layers of subterfuge and psychological challenge in Tidal Overlook makes for a story hard to predict and thoroughly rooted in personalities whose special interests rise to the forefront of dangerous challenges and affairs.
Filled with unexpected moments and revelations, Tidal Overlook is a tale of narcissism, discovery, dreams, and nightmares which incorporates a wide range of flavors as Nancy pursues the truth and employs her professional acumen to the best of her ability - and against all odds.
DUCK redux
Nic Bettauer
www.NicsPics.net
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891329102, $15.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/DUCK-redux-Nic-Bettauer/dp/B0GGD33BTX
DUCK redux tells of Arthur Chase, a man "who had loved deeply and well, but whose loving had come to an end." As he sits in his Los Angeles apartment looking at his wife's urn, then performing the simple daily tasks of life, he feels loneliness, disconnection, and a careless inattention to his own mortality when he leaves that apartment and walks through the streets ignoring cars and danger.
This period in his life is when "the curse of age" turns the present unbearable, leading him to reflect on life's meaning and how he has come to feel so disconnected from it:
...a ripple can take hold in a life and grow to encircle others. But the touch that creates this ripple is a light one and can oftentimes be mistaken for no touch at all.
It's a perfect time to enter the park, relive uplifting or toxic encounters of the past, and confront a sea change in his perspective that stems not just from philosophical and emotional contemplation, but the appearance of a duckling.
Duck "Joe" unexpectedly pushes Arthur into a world of purpose and life meaning through its vulnerability, pulling him back into a world where "discovering light through the darkness ever depended on one's approach."
Nic Bettauer builds a contemplative voice in character Arthur that considers all kinds of topics, from building trust and relationships to thinking about what is worth fighting for in life. She encourages readers to contemplate a range of life encounters and issues, from family conception and the impact of rolling blackouts both physical and emotional to the uncommon relationship Arthur builds with a duck that has imprinted on him and considers him its parent.
Threads of humor run through the novel, as when Arthur tells an evaluating psychiatric team what language he uses to communicate with Joe, providing comic relief to offset the serious encounters and topics.
How do humans survive isolation and sadness in life? As Arthur demonstrates different ways of forming new connections, his experiences impart lessons to readers interested in life developments and the survival tactics of people in crisis and pain. The novel is an allegory that reflects Bettauer's work as a crisis counselor, drawing astute and powerful connections between two disparate beings who, against all odds, save each other's lives:
Joe saw Arthur. Because he, too, understood visions of sorrow. And Joe heard Arthur. Because he, too, understood sounds of sadness. Joe felt Arthur. Because he, too, understood feelings of grief.
Libraries and readers seeking literary, philosophical, psychological examinations of life's meaning and survival tactics will find DUCK redux an outstanding tale of discovery, recovery, and growth. Its ability to interconnect the lives of two species and personalities makes for an uplifting survival story that will soothe and attract a wide audience.
Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence
Betty Bolte
www.bettybolte.com
Mystic Owl Publishing
9798986045078, $4.99 eBook
Author's Website
https://www.bettybolte.com/katythewomanwhosignedthedeclarationofindependence
Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence is a historical novel about Mary Katharine Goddard, who risked hanging to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1700s America. The story will reach not only adults, but into young adult circles with its considerations of women's issues, political struggles, and relatively unknown American history that deserves a place in any reader's mind no matter their age.
The story opens with twenty-four-year-old Katy facing a new life in a different colony than the New London world of her childhood. When her younger brother William finishes his printing apprenticeship and sets up shop in Providence, his invitation for his widowed mother and his sister to join him changes all their lives in unexpected ways.
Katy finds herself not just settled in a new home, but following her brother's impulsive business ventures and learning the printing business so she can keep work running while he pursues bigger dreams.
Betty Bolte unfolds the story with an attention to the details of Katy's growing abilities, political awareness, and the forces that simmer revolution under the public countenance of daily business:
She had a new awareness of the city in which she lived, as well as the political divide simmering beneath its genteel population. Would the simmering pot ever boil over?
Katy's observations, her growing political awareness, and the concurrent development of a special form of daring that stems from having the right skills to apply at a pivotal moment in history makes for an engrossing story about how the Declaration of Independence emerged and how Katy became a key force in its creation - even under the threat of committing treason.
History comes to life through her eyes and personal experiences and makes more sense, providing an emotional connection and overlay to evolving political changes that draw her into plots and her own journeys far from home.
Of special note is how lives on all sides dovetail to create a logical progression of events. Even though readers may think they know the outcome, the details of how hearts and minds are challenged and changed makes for a riveting story.
Librarians seeking historical fiction that explores American experiences will relish the many insights and opportunities for discussion created in Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence.
It's a vivid tale of the times that is replete with vibrant insights and descriptions, offering an immediacy of perspective and emotional response that most stories about those times don't embrace:
Patriots in nearby Annapolis on the nineteenth of October had seized and burned the brigantine Peggy Stewart when its owner had actually paid the import tax on the tea it carried. Granted, in order to unload the merchandise and the fifty-three indentured servants from what was characterized as a leaky ship, Anthony Stewart, representing Thomas Charles Williams & Company, had to pay the hated, banned taxes. But to have smuggled, under blankets, over two thousand pounds of tea into harbor? What were they thinking?
Dementia Man: An Existential Journey
Samuel A. Simon
Independently Published
www.DementiaMan.com
9781737909736, $14.99 Paperback/9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dementia-Man-Existential-Choosing-Alzheimers/dp/1737909731
Dementia Man: An Existential Journey is a memoir that reflects on a journey through an incurable disease: early-stage Alzheimer's. It reviews the personal challenges of living with such a diagnosis, the forces that drive some into suicide and families into poverty, and offers a critical analysis of "urgently needed changes in how people with cognitive disorders are perceived, treated, and supported in our society, as well as how their families and loved ones are supported throughout the process."
With its eye towards personalizing the diagnosis, treatment, outcome and progression of Alzheimer's, Samuel A. Simon takes an important step in demystifying the condition and considering its impact and the response of friends, family, and medical systems to the disease.
Of special note is how the diagnosis is delivered and the inevitable outcome seemingly set in stone:
The doctors' words echo in the now-empty room, or maybe just my head: "There is only one road for you, Sam, down. Down! You will only get worse."
Simon embarks on a journey to refute the notion that his life will be just one downhill experience, offering insights, definitions, and reviews of the differences between memory loss, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's.
His path leads him in some unexpected directions, including political activism, while his health dictates choices he must acknowledge as being limiting and a factor in what and how far he will pursue justice and change:
I don't know whether, currently, with my Alzheimer's, I have the energy or capacity to take on that issue. I would like to see it fixed.
From his initial goal of living his life as authentically as possible and tapping into and listening to his inner voice of wisdom to fielding the changes of Alzheimer's, Simon offers nuggets of not just wise reflection, but revised purpose into his life that will resonate with others who have received such a diagnosis:
I need to leave this world with those values at play. I want to be a force for change, to be authentic to my core self within the milieu of my life. As I travel along this final journey with Alzheimer's, I am witness to a broken system, a system tied to a history of misunderstanding the nature of cognitive disorders and which heavily discounts the core value of the lives of those with the disease.
The result both embraces and goes beyond the trials of initial diagnosis, medical mishaps, and psychological reflection, delving into the courses of action and purpose that refuel Simon's life and will inspire his readers.
Librarians and readers seeking a different Alzheimer's memoir that charts not just a progressive deterioration, but the purposeful decisions that challenge everyone to lead better lives, will find Dementia Man surprisingly uplifting, realistic, and ultimately inspirational.
It's just the ticket for learning new coping and survival skills in the face of the inevitable and impossible life revisions.
Witch in the Wall
Quinn Hodshead
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891329843, $34.99 Hardcover/$22.99 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Wall-Book-Quinn-Hogshead/dp/B0G3CCQWVC
Witch in the Wall is a vivid fantasy adventure about fairy worlds, an entrapped wicked witch, and what happens when a civil war envelops Everwatch in a conflict that leads half-sibling Gavriel Hall to consider releasing a terrible witch from her confines in order to gain a new life.
Evil makes promises - but they don't emerge in the manner that Gavriel expects. As the story unfolds, the first facet of Quinn Hogshead's talent that becomes evident is the intense descriptions which are at once vivid and horrifying:
I shouldn't have looked. Mom was bloated from decay. She was pallid and pockmarked, naked save for the ragged remains of her grey funeral shroud glued to her skin by pus and blood. Rats had eaten her eyes. The bravest tongues of firelight glinted on the gore dripping from her pitted scythe.
"Lovelies," she cooed. "Where are you, my lovelies? Mommy wants to give you all a kiss.
Past events and influences and present-day magic coalesce in a riveting story that marches through family discord and relationships, trials and opportunities, and dialogues and struggles. These foster Hogshead's proclivity for thoroughly absorbing plots, dialogues, and clashes:
"I don't care what you think." I crawled my way towards that damn fucking crown. It was the reason that everyone around me was dying. My focus narrowed until all I could imagine was breaking it.
Many fantasy stories strive for the goals of fast-paced action, unexpected encounters, and atmospheric descriptions that place readers in the thick of the action. Few can match the tone, impact, and immersive structure of Witch in the Wall, which is heavy on moral and ethical impact as its characters consider releasing a legendary evil back into the world in the name of freedom.
Libraries and readers seeking tantalizing fantasy stories that erupt with tension and clashes yet are nicely centered in dilemmas that make sense will find Witch in the Wall extraordinary.
If The Star Thief is set free, if she wins, sooner or later she will lose control of her magic, and it will crack the sky.'
What is the cost of freedom - and is it worth chaos? This story's focus makes it especially recommendable to fantasy book clubs, which will find much fodder for discussion within its fast-paced plot.
The Swan's Arrow
Holly M. Jenkins
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891329324, $31.99 Hardcover/$18.99 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Swans-Arrow-Holly-M-Jenkins-ebook/dp/B0FYHZDXYB
The Swan's Arrow is a fantasy revolving around the classic Swan Princess fairy tale. It will delight fairy tale readers with its story of a princess who is forced into a relationship with a man she despises due to political influences and alignments. Odette's future seems set, but one cursed sorcerer with a bad reputation (Ren) can change that trajectory - if she's willing to ignore his past.
It seems unlikely that Odette could form a relationship with one legendary wicked man while avoiding politically required connections with another that she actually hates, but fate places Ren and Odette on complimentary paths, and their purposes become strangely entwined as the years pass.
From moral conflict to betrayal, love, and twists of the tale, Holly M. Jenkins creates a fabulous story powered by first-person self-inspections, moral quandaries, and revelations that stem from unexpected alliances:
I glance at him, taking in the breathtaking allure he exudes. He's an incredible sight to behold, and I can't shake the feeling that my attraction to him will only grow in this bizarre situation. Am I losing my mind for still finding him appealing after he's just mentioned his intentions to kidnap me?
A powerful side note to Ren and Odette's choices and challenges is that Jenkins switches perspectives between them for maximum impact. Chapter headings clearly identify which character is narrating the event, making it easy for readers to neatly step into the shoes and possibilities for both Ren and Odette as they navigate different obstacles. Their dance between acceptance, curses, and condemnation within themselves, between each other, and from the world around them is exquisite.
From the heritage of witch queens and the lasting impact of dark magic to the possibility of breaking a spell via an impossible cure-all, Odette and Ren confront not just challenges in their lives and choices, but the fate of romance and the future of the world.
Readers who re-familiarize themselves with The Swan Princess legend first will especially relish how The Swan's Arrow both stays true to and deviates from this classic, and will find renewed appreciation for Jenkins' approach and story.
Librarians that seek fantasy fairy tales retold will want to place The Swan's Arrow high on their acquisition list, alongside such celebrated authors of the genre as Marissa Meyer, Jane Yolen, Neil Gaiman, and other masters of fairy tale retellings. The exquisite detail and dilemmas in The Swan's Arrow join with the best of fairy tales retold for modern times.
Long Lost Midwife
Skye Smith
www.skyesmith-author.com
MindStir Media
https://mindstirmedia.com
9781966799214, $26.99 Hardcover/$18.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Lost-Midwife-Skye-Smith/dp/1966799217
Long Lost Midwife opens in 1934 Missouri where young white girl Pamela is about to give birth. She searches for the African American midwife Miss Minnie, who assisted in her own birth in 1911. Her determination stirs a pot of underlying racial prejudice in her family and community, even though her motivation to have a home birth and not opt for the popular hospital birth is the motivator for her quest.
Even though her own mother admits that "Miss Minnie knew more than the doctor. If Miss Minnie hadn't been there, I don't know what might've happened," Pamela receives no support there, either. She feels alone and abandoned by everyone.
As the story evolves, readers come to realize that Pamela's mission and determination is about more than home versus hospital birth. It's about vulnerability, relinquishing control, empowerment, and breaking down the barriers between races. Though the story begins with Franklin's birth, it moves far beyond birth issues to probe the undercurrents of social repression and women's' roles as mothers and midwives.
Skye Smith gathers a host of issues, personalities, and conflicts to add intrigue to the story, from the nature of Minnie's relationship to Dr. Forrest to Pamela's decision to make a place for Minnie in her home against all social decorum.
Vivid scenarios of Pamela's turmoil and descent into trouble permeate a story rich in social and psychological inspection:
Pamela both labored to relive and evade that moment. She resisted, folded into it, resisted. Who was that diminutive girl? Thinking about her made Pamela freeze, but then she forced herself to glance toward the mantel. What did she see? The girl's outline? Was she there? Again? Now, in the dark? Pamela screamed.
Her interactions with Minnie's physician, John Henry Forrest, and his reactions to her increasing agitation, husband Frank's growing resentment over her seeming demands and decisions, and the evolution of lives around her, from widow Miz Lucille and her live-in maid Edna to mysterious attackers who leave a threatening note ("Whoever owns this house, why all the high nigger traffic? This neighborhood is WHITE!!!!"), the racial confrontations of the times literally come to roost in this home. They are represented by Pamela, Frank, and everyone who comes into contact with them.
The result is not just a book about midwifery or even African American interactions with whites in 1930s Missouri, but a powerful story of women and men confronting and defying social norms against all odds, risking death in the course of pursuing their freedom as a murder places each one of them in the legal and social crosshairs of justice.
Librarians and readers seeking a thought-provoking, engaging novel steeped in history and mystery will find Pamela's struggles dovetail nicely with those around her in a story that simmers with unsettling truths and new perceptions.
Long Lost Midwife is especially highly recommended for book clubs seeking evocative discussion material about the role of women and prejudice in 1930s America.
Civilization
Kevin Bohacz
kevinbohacz.com
Independently Published
9780979181559, $18.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Author's Website
https://kevinbohacz.com/civilization
Civilization weaves science fiction into a thriller that is engaging, surprising, and adds dashes of romance, mystery, and intrigue into its bigger-picture thinking. This creates a thought-provoking deep dive into the history of humanity and the roots of civilization, pairing an Indiana Jones-style staccato-action atmosphere with intellectually satisfying discourses about the past, present, and future of humanity.
So many subplots and issues coalesce here - transhumanism, ancient technology, artificial reincarnation, and classic clashes between good and evil forces - that readers may anticipation that Civilization will be a weighty read. However, despite all its thought-provoking moments, powerful characterization and swift action supplement its intellectual reflections to create utterly compelling dialogues and events that make the story impossible to put down.
At the heart of investigations is Dylan Smith, an archaeologist who stole an ancient artifact years earlier, going against the ethical and scientific constraints of his profession. Stealing a small gold ring from a dig was a snap. Maintaining control over it? That's another matter.
As Dylan pursues the relic's enigma, he wanders into uncharted territory but builds references to past precedents and events, from the monster that was his father (who may still be alive) to the politics of digs in other countries and the quandaries of discovery.
From changing relationships with Jenny, Nina, and other participants to an enigmatic Teacher who provokes Dylan's vivid lucid dreaming and points out the path to reclaiming lost knowledge, Dylan's journey takes many twists, but builds blossoming relationships with a number of individuals who influence his progression and choices.
Dylan's growing abilities are tempered by his decisions on how to employ them in a variety of confrontations and situations:
What he lacked in confidence in perception warps was made up for in physical assurance. He was twice the size and weight of any of these punks. He wondered if he could warp their perceptions just enough so that they would think he was so big and dangerous that they would pee them selves and run. He doubted it. Trying to warp the perceptions of a single receptor would not be easy. Trying to do it to so many receptors without going into a deep trance was pure foolishness.
Even physical battles are augmented by growing special forces that place Dylan in often uncomfortable, untenable positions. He confronts those who are unevolved, the Teacher who guides him in novel directions and his own professional drive for uncovering truths from the past.
Kevin Bohacz crafts a story rich in vivid descriptions that capture the extent of Dylan's amazing journey:
Even with all the nanotech enhancements and lifetimes spent with avatar teachers in alternate realities, memories of his past lives were still a fragmented, knotted-up ball of rotting yarn that kept breaking as he tried to unravel it. When Dylan was a young prodigy with languages, he had sensed all this raw potential in himself that hungered to be developed. He now had those same feelings once more.
The result is a powerful sci-fi thriller that will appeal to an exceptionally wide audience on many levels, creating an exciting juxtaposition between intrigue, evolutionary growth and revised perceptions, and moral and ethical quandaries that accompany Dylan on his ever-widening probe of civilization, human roots, and human potential.
Libraries and readers that choose Civilization will find it thoroughly compelling. It's packed with twists and turns they won't see coming as well as "aha" moments of transformative discoveries on the part of Dylan and others around him.
Civilization's ability to juxtapose seemingly diverse themes of artificial intelligence, symbiotic relationships, and what it means to be transhuman makes for a vivid story. It will especially lend to book club discussion and debates over creation, growth, and the influence and impact of evolutionary forces beyond human ken.
Hearts and Bones
Lawrence D. Bub
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891329423, $29.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Bones-Lawrence-D-Bub/dp/B0G16BG764
Hearts and Bones is a novel of love, mental illness, and heartbreak that simmers with tension, discovery, and change. When college freshman Maya meets Peter, she enters into a romance that coincides with her newfound determination to try different things. The takeaway lesson about mental illness that she ultimately receives instead changes her life forever.
Years later, now a medical student, Maya regrets some of the choices she made in that relationship - and the heartbreak she caused, as a result.
As chapters develop, the timeline alternates between Maya's present life as a medical student in 1997 and her college life in 1989, contrasting a maturity process which impacts her decision-making and its consequences. This gives Hearts and Bones a particularly thought-provoking perspective on how mental illness affects all aspects of life as Maya matures both as a medical student and as a person.
Also evocative and well-done are scenes in which Maya flashes back to this past even as she moves forward with her revised future goals and persona:
Felix's black leather motorcycle jacket hung from a hook on the wall. Even from six feet away, she could smell the leather. But then something on his desk caught her eye. Winnie the Pooh, dressed in a Chinese shirt, stood serenely, flying a yin and yang kite. Maybe the innocence of it reminded her of Peter. Maybe it was something else, but a part of her consciousness awoke, and she took a step back, looking at the floor.
As for Peter - love is still alive, albeit in a manner that leads Maya to opt for distance and self-preservation:
She knew what she was doing, and it felt awful. He was two thousand miles away. They hadn't been close for years. She was busy, and he no longer needed her. They both had to move forward with their lives, and so, she gently pushed him away.
Libraries and readers seeking astute examinations of hope, fear, mental illness, and moving on will appreciate the finely tuned relationships that Maya develops in Hearts and Bones. The novel draws with emotional revelation, educates readers about mental illness's impact on relationships, and immerses its audience with a heartfelt, close inspection of what that maturity looks like in relationship-building choices.
Filled with moments of reflection and discovery, Hearts and Bones is especially highly recommended to readers who like their romances more contemplative and thought-provoking than most. It delves beneath the surface of possibility to consider the lasting impact of heartbreak and what it means to truly move on.
At Least I'm Trying
Tara Hodgson
Independently Published
9781069617705, $18.95 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/At-Least-Trying-Tara-Hodgson/dp/1069617709
At Least I'm Trying is a teen novel about self-esteem that opens with unexpectedly mature reflections as Reese considers her past and future:
Every night, I fall into the memories that I spend all day trying to outrun. It's like there's a giant portal tying my bedroom to them and they hunt me down while I'm at my most vulnerable, abducting me against my will.
The stuff of nightmares stems from a reality that won't let her go. This becomes all too real as her friendship with Cassie Brentwood leads her into relationships that prove deadly on many different levels.
Reese's nightmares force her to confront what she's desperately hiding from:
Through the dreams, I'm forced to not just remember, but to relive. And all I want to do is forget. But I can't. I remember too much.
The prelude, set in Reese's future, builds a foundation of intrigue and possibility for the story that unfolds in 'Before' to lead young adults on a strange journey of in-person and internet relationships.
More than a story of online dangers, however, At Least I'm Trying adds insights on self-esteem, accomplishment, co-dependency, and independence. These reflect realistic scenarios of infatuation, the repetition of dangerous patterns of thinking and choice, and deadly attractions which prove to be something other than head-over-heels love.
As her relationship with Willow (a friend with whom she was inseparable before everything changed) shifts, Reese reflects on interesting contrasts in her relationship choices that will involve teens reconsidering their own life choices and connections:
She knows me and understands me so well, it's scary sometimes. I don't feel like the broken one around her like I did with Willow, and she'd never understand that.
Especially poignant and powerful is the connection between romantic infatuation and compromise. This offers insights and lessons many an adult has yet to learn:
Even though I'm suddenly terrified of this guy and certain he can't be trusted, I still love him. And whether I want to admit it or not, he holds a part of me that I can't get back.
The result is a lesson in co-dependency, independence, and choice that is highly recommended for teens seeking stories that ultimately consider the foundations of choice and love.
While librarians will want to highly recommend At Least I'm Trying to leisure readers, ideally its important, immersive subject will lend to reading groups, classrooms, and book club discussions led by adults interested in exploring the fundamentals of healthy and dysfunctional relationships with teens.
A Perfect Year?
Ruth Foster
https://ruthfosterauthor.com
Ollerford Publishing
9781068777301, $12.99 Paperback/$6.56 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Year-feelgood-families-mystery-ebook/dp/B0DKDG68ZC
A Perfect Year? presents an intriguing English setting in the 1990s. The scenario involves three very different families navigating life and the strange twist taken by an annual "good news" holiday letter that, in this year, proves anything but easy to write, what with a local murder mystery impacting everybody's life.
Ruth Foster employs a different approach to building her story, taking the concept of a "round robin" collage of events and lives and melding them into a sequence which explores the inhabitants of fictional Upley Rising. The plot follows how the undercurrents of their lives unfold beneath the public descriptions they publish about the events buffeting their worlds.
This lends an intriguing atmosphere to not just the mystery, but the story of how people perceive, live, and represent their lives.
As the story progresses, Ali, Caroline, Robert, and their families experience different threads of connection and quandaries. These are represented not only in snapshots of the round robin letters, but by inserts of news reports from various large and small magazines and newsletters. These provide realistic backdrops for the personal touches of each character and family's lives, narrated through letters reflecting events that emerge to shake the foundations of belief, propriety, and strength:
There was a scare with Colin in September. A young newspaper reporter appeared at our house asking questions about the murders that took place in Paradise View back in the 1960s. Everyone in the road has got used to people turning up at intervals, either from the papers or just those with a morbid interest in tragedy. At Neighbourhood Watch meetings we have regular discussions about how to handle them; the usual consensus is to be polite and do nothing to upset property prices.
From British politics and the impact of the murder and new revelations to threads of humorous observation that connect the dots between individuals, families, and social order, Ruth Foster provides an entertaining story of murder and impact. A Perfect Year? is unexpected in its progression and completely involving in its insights:
It was all meant to end there, our family demo: modestly exercising our democratic right to point out that there are more important things in the world than tea parties and unelected aristocracy swanning around on taxpayers' money. Even at that level it would have been the biggest upset in Upley Rising since the witch-ducking riots of 1659 that led to the Wellspring Festival.
Libraries and readers seeking a murder mystery that is more than a whodunit will thoroughly enjoy the personalities and progression of A Perfect Year?
The story's ability to draw readers with the concurrent experiences of a wide circle of British subjects and the mystery which influences and enfolds their perfect lives makes for a wonderful tale that proves hard to put down.
The Crucible Principle
Jeremy Hess
www.leadwithjeremy.com
Independently Published
9798273611474, $12.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Crucible-Principle-Adversity-Purpose-Leadership/dp/B0G1KKT55L
The Crucible Principle: How Adversity Shapes Purpose, Leadership, and Legacy is about adversity, pressure, stepping up to leadership, and understanding the connections between challenge, angst, and growth.
The survey opens with an especially powerful, thought-provoking contention:
Pressure doesn't break a leader. It reveals one.
The method of delivery used to reinforce this principle and its impact takes the form of a fictional fable in which Jackson receives unusual guidance on how to be a leader. He learns how to not just cope with the demands of guiding others, but realize how adversity shapes the strongest leadership responses. This assumes the form of lessons that Jackson absorbs as events unfold and insights develop:
"Leaders wrap themselves in what they do so tightly they forget who they are. We don't do that here."
Forced to consider the presence, impact, and outcome of control, fear, failure, shame, and distance, Jackson evolves a new series of responses to his role and responsibilities that resonates into life with newfound intentions and approaches.
Because these lessons are couched in an overlay of experience, they will prove far more accessible and inviting than the usual motivational self-help guidebook. They offer all kinds of leaders in all kinds of roles the chance to re-assess their own actions, intentions, and impact on the world.
The striking lessons that teacher Ronan imparts to Jackson will provoke much discussion and food for thought in all kinds of reading groups, from self-help to business and political audiences:
Father Ronan stood slowly and walked to the window, hands in his pockets. "You're a fighter, Jackson. But right now, you're losing a battle you don't need to win."
Jackson's voice was low. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ronan turned, his gaze steady. "It means the first rule of leading through a crucible is simple."
He stepped closer. "Lead without needing to win."
The Crucible Principle's series of revelations are couched in one man's journey. They will prove especially thought-provoking and inviting because their appearance in the form of guidance and lessons is less admonishing and more revealing.
Libraries and readers interested in motivational guidebooks will find The Crucible Principle contains far more impact and attraction than the usual motivational nonfiction book. Filled with passages that give pause for thought and accompanying group discussion, The Crucible Principle offers a powerful series of insights and lessons that can be applied under many conditions and incorporated into a plan for life attitude revision and better approaches to not just leadership, but human interactions.
Managing Mad Mast Cells
Joy Schweizer
Greener Pastures Books
www.MCAS-book.com
9783952627303, $32.99 Hardcover/$26.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Mad-Mast-Cells-Activation-ebook/dp/B0GHPGQ2MC
Managing Mad Mast Cells: A Practical Guide to Living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is not just an important guide, but is an essential read for anyone struggling with acute or chronic hives, allergies, and a body response which involves ongoing reactions to a host of environmental and food triggers.
As these sufferers likely know, there is little published about this condition that so many suffer from. Head to a library or bookstore and you're likely to come up empty-handed. One reason why Managing Mad Mast Cells is and will become increasingly relevant to a wider audience is because, as chemical triggers and allergens in everyday food and environments increase, more and more are being forcibly introduced to new knowledge about what a mast cell is, how it reacts, and how heavily it can impact daily life and choices.
Those who face years of struggle just getting back to a place of relative health will appreciate knowing that just consulting Managing Mad Mast Cells provides a kick start to solutions that work, having been backed and tested by both medical research and Joy Schweizer's own experiences. Recovery may no longer take years of trial-and-error thanks to this book.
Those who have experienced long-term allergies well know about their ongoing impact. Diagnosis of the allergens is half the battle; but addressing them is the other, often more difficult piece of the health equation. An understanding of what mast cells are, how they operate, and what happens when they flare up is one of the keys to maintaining health - thus the importance of this book.
As Schweizer states about her journey:
I hadn't yet found anything on how I could learn to live with this disease, let alone how to heal it. I was hoping to find a book that would provide some real insight and a few clues on how to move forward, but it increasingly seemed that I'd have to find my own way.
This book can serve as a guidepost for those who want to know more than what mast cells do, how they can impact health, and the science behind them. The all-important tips on living with allergies and mast cell impacts are essential to better health and health management.
Most readers will find they perhaps aren't as ill as Schweizer, with the wide-ranging symptoms she exhibited and the ongoing puzzles over how to identify and resolve them. Thus, the descriptions of all these symptoms and reactions won't be a 'one-size-fits-all' situation for all mast cell sufferers, but provide pieces to the overall health puzzle to a wide audience.
Section 1 is the author's memoir of her many health challenges and journey from doctor to doctor in search of answers; Section II focuses on understanding MCAS and its triggers (this is where the meat of the book's science lives); and Section III, about managing a diagnosis, holds the nuts and bolts of how to live with these conditions. Section IV reviews daily survival tactics, while Section V covers one of the foundations and impacts of mast cell management: diet.
Readers who don't have this condition but want to better understand its physical and emotional impact will also benefit from Schweizer's self-analysis, "Becoming Hypersensitive," which explores what it feels like to go through life with a mast cell condition.
Libraries and readers will, in short, find a treasure trove of personal, scientific, and medical details under one cover that demystifies the process of understanding mast cell issues. Given that little exists on library or home health shelves about this condition and its variances, Managing Mad Mast Cells will offer education, coping strategies, and hope to an exceptionally wide audience.
Areta
Daniel Rirdan
www.danielrirdan.com
Corino Press
9798992609059, $25.95 Hardcover/$16.95 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Areta-Daniel-Rirdan/dp/B0FXX8HRNF
Areta is a novel in which tens of thousands of humans were brought aboard a celestial ark around 300 BCE to make their home among the stars. A century passes, bringing war and then peace, during which the knowledge of this journey, their home, and their connections is lost.
That's just the opening salvo of Areta, in which countless generations have evolved on ship for two thousand years before its true nature is discovered, along with the fact that its course set to collide with a sun.
Scholar Angora, former millwright Sargon, and adoptive daughters Lilit and her twin find themselves enmeshed in a dangerous dance of realization, revised purposes, and scientific and technological investigations and advancements. The story probes this society and its greatest challenge to survival, which involves unexpected forms of innovation and adaptation.
Daniel Rirdan creates a novel rich in a delightful blend of hard science and social inspection. The characters, their roles in this space-faring society, and evolving mysteries that come from the Age of Genesis permeate a plot in which each character is called upon to step up into a new role and possibilities for the sake of everyone's survival.
Equally astute are passages which chronicle the dichotomy between perceptions of lifesaving decisions and society-destroying choices:
"You believe the world will come to an end. In case it doesn't, can we agree that the secrets of this disruptive technology" - he pointed at the compressed air sphere - "and whatever else we may end up contriving won't be shared with the broader community?"
Accompanying issues of seduction, empowerment, awakening new powers that hold no precedent of experience, and social disorder contribute to a moving saga of world-building, possible annihilation, and the emergence of new abilities that might prove the saving point of humanity.
Librarians and readers seeking sci-fi that involves social inspection as well as survival issues and growing empowerment struggles will find Areta satisfyingly replete with the unexpected. It's wonderfully populated with realistic characters and conundrums and is packed with bigger picture thinking opportunities that will lend to book club and discussion group action.
Fallout of War: Ukraine: Year One
H. Peter Alesso
Independently Published
9798272219855, $24.98 Hardcover/$19.98 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Fallout-War-Ukraine-Year-One/dp/B0FYNMLBPN
Fallout of War: Ukraine: Year One is an epic war novel centered around the actions and experiences of Lieutenant Commander James Fairbanks, a naval submarine officer who becomes a military attache to the American embassy in Kyiv in late 2021.
Journeying to Ukraine with his wife, they are introduced to simmering political and military tensions with Russia at a pivot point in the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. They find themselves in the center of a battle that erupts to make or break leaders like the former entertainer-turned-President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The first thing to note about this sweeping epic story is its foundations in real-world events and people. From the politics of Kyiv's expat community and the relationships that develop between politicians, ordinary people, and military attaches and leaders to immersive programs and educational opportunities that impact the players on all sides, H. Peter Alesso builds an atmosphere of exploration and insight. This approach creates a foundation for understanding the growth of military actions and the participation of all levels of people in the nation's survival:
"What about approach tactics?" he asked. "How are you planning to get these close enough to strike without being detected and engaged?"
"That's where we need help," Serhiy admitted. "We're engineers, not naval officers. We can build these things, but we don't really know how to employ them tactically. We've been operating on intuition and whatever we can learn from video games and open-source intelligence."
Also striking and revealing is the "you are here" feel that places readers in the center of evolving conflicts:
The sky turned black with smoke. An artillery shell landed close enough to shower James with dirt and debris, snapping him back to the present. The memory dissolved, replaced by the immediate reality of Ukrainian mud and Russian artillery. He was pressed into the bottom of the ditch, his body trembling with adrenaline, the taste of earth in his mouth. How long had he been lost in that flashback? Seconds? Minutes? The barrage was still ongoing, shells falling in a pattern that suggested the Russians were walking their fire across the field, searching for targets.
Much more than a "military novel," Fallout of War: Ukraine: Year One crafts a story that rests on the insights, decisions, perceptions, and choices of a wide range of players from all walks of life. This translates to a thoroughly engrossing interplay between ideals and reality, choices of war and peace, and impacts on society and individual as the Ukraine situation plays out.
How a small nation struggles with looming war and impossible odds of survival makes for a story steeped in discovery, thought-provoking confrontations, and historical and social insights. These will enhance any reader's understanding of the circumstances, peoples, and events impacting not just Ukraine, but the entire region.
All these elements translate to a novel that librarians will want to whole-heartedly recommend not just to the usual military fiction reader, but to anyone interested in Russia, Ukraine, and events impacting the entire region.
Filled with action, insight, and impact, Fallout of War: Ukraine: Year One attracts with realistic dilemmas, evolves unexpected new situations that test the ideals and might of its participants, and creates a thoroughly immersive experience to place its readers not just on the battlefield, but in the homes and hearts of all involved.
The Castle
Vincent Mooncastle
www.vincentmooncastle.com
Independently Published
B0GFQ5BQJN, $4.49 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Those-enter-never-leave/dp/B0GJMNS88D
The Castle opens in 1766 with a prologue that introduces the Mercenary's trek through a forest to reach a dark, towering castle that looms from its depths. Shrouded in mystery and darkness, the castle commands fear from all who enter its shadow. In this instance, that would be the Mercenary and Basileo, who dare to approach the gates of the castle no matter the consequences.
The next chapter opens a year later in 1767 where Vinicio, an apprentice to a traveling trader, arrives in town to herald an attack on the townspeople that awakens a long-repressed voice in his head. The voice forces him to enter the Castle, where he discovers the curiously trapped Basileo and a puzzle that involves a mirror, a madman trapped in a tapestry, and a series of bloody confrontations that test not only Vinicio's endurance, but his very sanity.
Besides the supernatural touches, intrigue, and forces affecting a host of characters, Vincent Mooncastle develops a sense of self-examination and questioning to his story that adds to its Gothic atmosphere to create thought-provoking moments for his readers:
He touched his face again. Flesh. Bone. His nose felt the same. His jawline, too. He scanned the chamber for mirrors but there were none. Was it? Was he himself? Basileo's fearful eyes suggested he wasn't.
From questions about madness and illusions to the influences of the Castle and its special form of insanity, Mooncastle builds superb tension as the story ripens into one of not just discovery and confrontation, but personal conviction and mental and physical survival tactics:
Those are not your memories. They weren't and yet they were. Like the rest of his recent memories, they'd entered into that blurred state, like the bustle of the market, where anything was possible. He was only certain of one thing, for now. 'We're alive,' he said out loud.
The dance between the Mercenary, Basileo, and Viniceo creates a dangerous, edgy series of Castle encounters and experiences which tests each character in different ways.
As readers follow their journey, the cat-and-mouse games of purpose, entrapment, survival, and the pursuit of sanity make for a full-bodied experience that is more than a Gothic horror story, engaging readers in thought-provoking questions about choices, death, and rescue attempts.
Librarians and readers seeking a vivid, fast-paced read that weaves the elements of Gothic fiction into magical realism with a touch of horror and suspense will find The Castle riveting reading.
Filled with satisfying twists and turns many won't see coming, this intriguing story concludes with a scenario in which some of the characters will likely reappear in a follow-up story, yet creates an ending which neatly winds up the threads of discovery.
Little Edna's War
Janet Bond Brill, PhD
Amsterdam Publishers
www.LittleEdnasWar.com
9789493418634, $19.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Ednas-War-page-turner-resistance/dp/9493418634
Who will tell our story? We will.
These words reflect the grit, determination, and survival stories of Holocaust survivors as they die out as a group. Their experiences would otherwise be lost to history were it not for the efforts of groups such as the USC Shoah Foundation, which is dedicated to acquiring and preserving these memories lest they be lost to time and shrouded from history.
Little Edna's War joins the Holocaust Survivor True Stories series of Amsterdam Publishers to outline the life of Edna Szurek who, at age seven, was smuggling food into the Warsaw Ghetto to help feed her family. Disguised as a Catholic girl, she participated in anti-Nazi efforts the youngest soldier in the Polish Home Army. She defied all odds for her own survival, and was even recognized and decorated by Pope Pius XII, who was unaware of her true identity as a Jewish child.
Five hours of Edna's firsthand testimony was recorded and turned into this gripping, stark account of not just survival, but determined resistance. The account is written by her daughter-in-law, Dr. Janet Brill.
Edna's story is a result of Brill's meticulous weaving of fragments of Edna's memory, what she heard in over thirty years of family gatherings, intimate conversations with her mother-in-law, and supplemental insights from her brother Yakov, who narrated his side of the story to the Ghetto Fighters' House Museum in Israel.
Another powerful note that sets this Holocaust survival story apart from others is its employment of the first-person, which allows readers to step into Edna's thoughts, psyche, and the environment around her. This adds an intimate "you are here" feel that usually is presented in novels and not memoirs written by other than the subject. It allows readers to step into that world and understand not just resistance and survival efforts, but the cost of carefully orchestrating a life of lies in order to remain free and effective:
We recited our practiced narrative - born in Lublin, moved to Warsaw as small children, parents killed during a bombing raid, surviving on the streets through our performances. The story contained enough truth to be convincing, with key omissions to conceal our Jewish identity.
As Edna progresses through the days and times, readers join her hopes, dreams, and observations on how to remain covert in a dangerous world:
In past months, there had been several moments when we thought liberation was imminent, only to have our hopes dashed. The Germans would reinforce their positions, or the Soviets would halt their advance, and we would continue our shadow existence.
Little Edna's War preserves a sense of purpose, place, and the fine art of staying alive even as her family fractures and forces beyond their control dictate difficult choices:
I understood the desperation that drove such decisions. I had seen the corpses in the streets, watched children my age waste away until they resembled ancient, withered dolls rather than living beings. If there was any chance of improvement, any possibility of eventual escape from the ghetto's slow death, how could Papa not pursue it?
Libraries and readers seeking immersive experiences about the Holocaust and what it means to live under Nazi rule will find Little Edna's War outstanding. It is heads and shoulders above many other Holocaust survival accounts with its attention to the daily details of survival and resistance, and in its powerful portrait of a young girl who does everything she must in order to not just survive, but thrive.
Little Edna's War is highly recommended as a "must have" for collections seeking firsthand accounts of Jewish people surviving under Holocaust conditions.
Chasing Success in High Heels
Dr. Miral S. Mehta
Clever Fox Publishing
9789367073483, $19.99 Hardcover/$12.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Success-High-Heels-Fundamental/dp/9367073488
Chasing Success in High Heels: 12 Fundamental Rules Power, Influence, & Success for Women is highly recommended for ambitious women who would reach pinnacles of success with new skill sets and the empowerment gained by assuming a leadership role. It teaches the fundamentals of navigating that new role with integrity and individuality, encouraging women to adopt their own style and approach to transform the leadership role in ways only a woman could do.
These lessons dovetail nicely with a woman's revised life expectations and originated with Dr. Miral S. Mehta's own ambitions and experiences:
From tears and complaints and uncertain steps, to facing challenges with a belief in myself, no matter the outcome, I have come a long way. Each challenge has taught me invaluable lessons. Sometimes the victory was sweet, other times futile. Sometimes the failures felt bitter, other times pivotal. Every single rule in this book has come to my rescue at some point in time.
This translates to a practical guide that backs its ideology and philosophy with real-world encounters. Biographies of women honing their own remarkable journeys through political and business environments expand the dimension of experience and applications. They rest on concrete examples of achievement that often contrast male/female encounters, such as the life of Giorgia Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister:
As a mother, she is often asked about the tension between political life and motherhood, a question rarely ever posed to a man in the same position. However, her ability to transform this critique into an opportunity to illustrate the ability of women to balance both, is a sign of prudence and strategic thinking.
Contrasts between perceptions of males and females in roles and positions of power in all kinds of arenas are illustrated by capsule biographies of a wide range of women, such as tennis champion Serena Williams:
She was either too timid or too strong, too weak or too aggressive. She was either too ambitious or too unfit. From being labeled as "unprofessional" to being criticized for her muscular build and strength, to being questioned about her actual capabilities, her treatment by media was often derogatory when compared with male players in similar situations. She was also often reprimanded for her apparently "nonfeminine" physical features. Ignoring all of these damned reviews and opinions about herself, she cultivated and nourished her sense of confidence and stayed calm in the face of the storms. She may have been aggressive on the field and in the heat of the moment, but she kept her communication and public interaction professional and limited.
Each example reinforces a leadership role and rule, provides concrete information defining success and illustrating how the subject conquered many obstacles, and creates a portrait of courage, determination, and achievement. These transmit important lessons to female readers forging their own paths to success.
The result is more than a memoir or a study in how to be a leader. It's a study in adaptation and proactive behaviors that will inspire readers to overcome personal and societal obstacles to success to reach for their own stars.
Libraries and readers seeking a thought-provoking, reality-cemented, inspirational book about women in positions of power will find Chasing Success in High Heels offers not just a formula for success, but the tangible examples of how to get there that will help them revise their own mindsets and lives to get a leg up in whatever endeavor they pursue.
Its invaluable insights are immersive and will especially lend well to women's groups, business leadership, and general book club discussions.
Diane C. Donovan, Senior Reviewer
Donovan's Literary Services
www.donovansliteraryservices.com
Gary Roen's Bookshelf
The Board
Katy Farber
Blackstone Publishing
www.blackstonepublishing.com
9798212232258, $17.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Board-Katy-Farber/dp/B0DXMBYKQT
Katy Farber known for her nonfiction works on education, takes her first plunge "The Board" into the suspense novel realm with overwhelming success. Liv Wilcox and her daughter Piper move from Boston to a small New Hampshire town to begin a new life leaving all the negativity behind. From her first encounter with officials of the school and board her instinct conveys something is not proper. Repeatedly, she is warned leave things alone. This just spawns her to delve deeper to reveal what they are hiding. From the beginning "The Board" flows along with tight writing, believable characters, and plenty of conflicts to hold readers spellbound to a final revealing ending. "The Board" is a first-class thriller for anyone who wants to add a new author to their reading list.
Robert B. Parker's Showdown: A Spenser Novel
Mike Lupica
Putnam
c/o Penguin Random House
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9798217045297 $32.98 HC / $14.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Robert-B-Parkers-Showdown-Spenser/dp/B0DYHHCXP2
A Spenser novel is always a delight and "Robert B. Parker's Showdown" delivers the goods of a great mystery thriller. A Podcaster with a huge following, is known for spewing intolerable references to his massive audience. Enter Spenser, who is hired to contact, the hate monger to set up a meeting with his client, who has some earth-shattering information for the racist personality. Fireworks ensue as the case takes many twists and turns in typical Spenser fashion with snappy dialogue, fast paced writing, slam bang action and characters like Hawk, Susan and others who grace the pages to make "Robert B. Parker's Showdown" another great addition to the Spenser titles that are always enjoyable fare.
Stuart Woods' Blown Away: A Teddy Fay Novel
Brett Battles
Putnam
c/o Penguin Random House
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593854747 $30.00 HC / $14.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Stuart-Woods-Blown-Teddy-Novel/dp/0593854748
When Stuart Woods created the character of Teddy Fay he became an added bonus to the already popular Stone Barrington novels. Even better is when titles were about Teddy Fay and cameos of Barrington. "Stuart Woods' Blown Away" once again takes Fay into a dangerous realm where he must use everything he has to stay alive. Now he is on the trail of sinister plot to possibly take over an advanced technological breakthrough energy company. He must do everything he can to stop the menacing plan from ever succeeding "Stuart Woods' Blown Away" is page turning excitement.
Charade
Sandra Brown
Grand Central Publishing
c/o The Hachette Book Group
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781538743003, $7.99 pbk/ $7.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Charade-Sandra-Brown/dp/0446601853
Sandra Brown's "Charade" once again shows why she is one of the best writers in the genre of romantic suspense. TV personality Cat Delaney begins a new life after her new heart surgery. She changes her starring role on a major soap opera to a host on a local Texas TV station. She meets Alex Pierce, a former cop turned mystery writer. She learns that other heart recipients are mysteriously dying and later finds she is being stalked. Now she does not know who she can trust. Brown fills "Charade" with interesting characters, plenty of suspenseful twists and turns to the final conclusion that will have readers riveted to the very end.
The Burning Edge
Rick Mofina
www.RickMofina.com
Mira
c/o Harlequin
www.Harlequin.com
9780778313014, $7.99 pkb, $3.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Edge-Jack-Gannon-Novel/dp/0778313018
Reporter Jack Gannon is back in action in "The Burning Edge." Lisa Palmer's life changes when she becomes involved in a robbery where she is a witness to the murder of an off-duty FBI officer. On a tip from someone who was involved, Jack Gannon digs deep into the story to reveal the chilling truth. Mofina has once again told a nail-biting story with great characters and lots of page turning action. "The Burning Edge" is a great suspense novel that races along to its final pages, sure to please readers of this genre.
The Donors
Jeffrey Wilson
JournalStone
www.journalstone.com
9781936564460, $16.95 pbk/ $6.00 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Donors-Jeffrey-Wilson/dp/1936564467
Do not be fooled by the amateurish looking cover. Jeffrey Wilson's "The Donors" is a very professionally written tale of nail-biting chilling horror. Demons are attacking patients at a hospital. Only a small boy named Nathan and his doctor Jason Gelman can save them from the terrifying menace. Wilson begins the story with the admittance of Nathan for a broken bone in his arm and major burns. He was abused by his mother's boyfriend Steve who did not like that Nathan spilled Spaghetti-Os on the floor of their kitchen. Something strange happens to Nathan and the only person who believes him is Dr. Jason Gelman. "The Donors" is sure to please any reader who is looking for a memorable yarn of horror.
Going Organic Can Kill You
Staci McLaughlin
Kensington Publishing Corp
https://www.kensingtonbooks.com
9780758275004, pbk $7.99, $6.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Going-Organic-Blossom-Valley-Mystery/dp/0758275005
"Going Organic Can Kill You" is a fun opening novel in a new mystery series. O'Connell Organic Farm and Spa has just opened its doors for business when a guest is murdered. Dana Lewis, head of PR for the complex, becomes an amateur sleuth on the trail of the killer. McLaughlin fills the story with entertaining characters and some laugh out loud situations that move the story along at a very nice pace to the very end. Fans of organic foods may not like the title but that's too bad because "Going Organic Can Kill You" is good mystery fare for any fan of the genre.
Set Sail With McHale
Denny Reese & Steven Thompson
Bear Manor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887714516, $32.00 pbk $9.95 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Set-Sail-McHale-Denny-Reese/dp/B0D1YHND35
McHale's Navy set a new standard for oddball funniness, on the ABC network from 1962 to 1966, as well as two theatrical movies. It set the tone for other shows, like F Troop, that are now classic forays, into satirical entertainment. Now, authors Denny Reese & Steven Thompson take readers on an excursion through so many aspects, including who created the show, the people who were tested for roles, it was originally intended to be a WWII war drama then changed concept to what it evolved into, why Ernest Borgine originally told his agent no interest and what changed his mind is a great story. Included are the cast members like Tim Conway who emerged as a major star, Joe Flynn and Gavin Mcloud, both of whom worked, in many other things like Ozzie and Harriet and Andy Griffith show, then found more solid work for the four years they were a part of McHale's Navy, episodes guides, and highlights of the major motion picture with Tom Arnold. "Set Sail With McHale" is a fan's delight of all there is to know about this classic show.
My Three Lives: A Memoir
Tina Cole
Bear Manor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887710624, $29.95.00 pbk $9.95 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/My-Three-Lives-Tina-Cole/dp/B0BNJDW1L3
Tina Cole as Katie, broke the mold when she came onto the show My Three Sons and married Robbie Douglas played by Don Grady. "My Three Lives: A Memoir" is a tell all title from a lady who has acted in so many things. There's so much to tell, of other aspects of her entire life like her singing career, acting on stage, and so much about My Three Sons and her co-stars like the Livingston brothers, Fred McMurry, Beverly Garland who also changed the concept of the show and how they became tight friends Another great thing is when she was on Hawaiian Eye with Robert Conrad, Troy Donahue Poncie Ponce and Connie Stevens. At the core of her life is her belief in God and how she was so committed to living a life devoted to strong religious principles. All in All "My Three Lives: A Memoir" is enjoyable reading about a long-gone period of entertainment by someone who has been in it for so many decades...
The Streets of San Francisco: A Quinn Martin TV Series
James Rosin
The Autumn Road Company
www.classictvseriesbooks.com
9781981817221, $21.95 pbk, $9.95 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Streets-San-Francisco-Quinn-Martin/dp/1981817220
"The Streets of San Francisco: A Quinn Martin TV Series" is another great look at an older TV show that reveals many here to for unknown facts about the show. Rosin reveals many things about the series like how Karl Malden and Michael Douglas were chosen to play their roles, how it came to television, guest stars, episode guides and interviews with many of the people involved with the making of many of the episodes and how and why Richard Hatch replaced Michael Douglas. To enjoy the full series on dvd of "Streets," "The Streets of San Francisco: A Quinn Martin TV Series" is for anyone who wants to know more of the behind-the-scenes information that will make watching it even more enjoyable.
Gary Roen
Senior Reviewer
Helen Dumont's Bookshelf
Body and Grace: A Woman's Hike to Wholeness on the Pacific Crest Trail
Dami Roelse
Mantra Books
9781782797074, $18.95, PB, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Body-Grace-Womans-Wholeness-Pacific/dp/1782797076
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/body-and-grace-dami-roelse/1147379350
Synopsis: "Body and Grace: A Woman's Hike to Wholeness on the Pacific Crest Trail" is the story of Dami Roelse who, after losing her husband, made a transformational 2650-mile hike to help herself find wholeness after this life-altering loss.
"Body and Grace" follows Dami's journey over a period of 10 years to completion of the Pacific Crest Trail. The reader will travel along with her through snowfields, deserts, and fires, as well as her nights alone in the woods, getting lost, and finding beauty that transcends.
The inner journey of becoming whole after the loss of her life partner is woven through the trail stories comprising "Body and Grace".
Critique: Emotionally engaging and ultimately inspirational, "Body and Grace: A Woman's Hike to Wholeness on the Pacific Crest Trail" is an inherently original and fascinating read from cover to cover. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Biography & Memoir collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Body and Grace" from Mantra Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) for readers with an interest in the subject of grief resolution, personal transformation, and applied spirituality.
Editorial Note: Dami Roelse (https://sixtyandme.com/author/dami-roelse) was born and raised in Holland. She has traveled the world extensively, lived on different continents and studied with different spiritual teachers. Dami has used her passion for long distance hiking and backpacking as a means to deepen her connection with nature and the universe. Her inner spiritual journey has evolved right along with her outer journey. She lives in New Mexico.
Helen Dumont
Reviewer
John Taylor's Bookshelf
Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food - and Our Future
Bruce Friedrich
BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637747933, $29.95, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Meat-Agricultural-Revolution-Transform-Humanitys/dp/1637747934
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meat-bruce-friedrich/1147557084
Synopsis: The human love of meat appears to be hard-wired into our DNA. The world consumes more than 550 million metric tons of meat and seafood each year. That number has been climbing for decades and is expected to continue to rise through at least 2050.
What if we could give humanity the meat it craves, but produced differently? Plant-based and cultivated meat that are just as delicious as the meat you love, but more affordable and healthier.
Think it's not possible? With examples ranging from the "horseless carriage" (car) to the smart phone in your pocket, "Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food - and Our Future" by Bruce Friedrich reminds readers that scientific innovations often move from disbelief or opposition to inevitability and ubiquity, much faster than almost anyone expects.
Envisioning a future where meat is both a delight and a force for good as "Meat" explores:
Humanity's 12,000-year-old practice of raising animals for meat, and why we need to figure out a better way.
The science and scientists behind the efforts to create plant-based and cultivated meat that is indistinguishable from conventional animal meat, but less expensive, more nutritious, and safer.
How plant-based and cultivated meat can preserve forests and biodiversity, mitigate climate change and ocean pollution, and lower antimicrobial resistance and pandemic risk.
The economic and food security benefits of making meat more efficiently, which include trillions of dollars in economic output annually, tens of millions of good jobs, and the possibility of a revitalized farm economy.
"Meat" offers a vision of the next agricultural revolution that is optimistic, achievable, -- and delicious!
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twelve page Introduction (The Next Global Agricultural Revolution), thirty-three pages of Notes, and an eight page Index, "Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food - and Our Future" is a meticulously researched, deftly crafted, impressively organized and presented study that will be of special and particular value to readers concerned with the impact of climate change on food production, food science, and the continuing evolution of agriculture with an emphasis on meat production. Original, inherently fascinating, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food - and Our Future" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Agricultural Issues collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, governmental and meat-related corporate policy makers, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food - and Our Future" from BenBella Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Bruce Friedrich (https://meatbook.org) is the founder and president of the Good Food Institute (GFI), a global science think tank with more than 230 full-time team members, the plurality scientists. Climate charity evaluator Giving Green recommends GFI as a top six charity for climate impact, highlighting its "successful track record, breadth of expertise, and strategic approach," and calling it "a powerhouse in alternative protein thought leadership and action."
John Taylor
Reviewer
Mary Cowper's Bookshelf
God, Where Are You?: Unmasking Your Pain, Uncovering His Presence
Dominique Young
NavPress
www.navpress.com
c/o Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
www.tyndale.com
9798898020217, $16.99, PB, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/God-Where-Are-You-Uncovering/dp/B0FD7PTZYV
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/god-where-are-you-dominique-young/1147629370
Synopsis: If you are silently suffering under the weight of depression, anxiety, shame, grief, and spiritual doubt, with the publication of "God, Where Are You?: Unmasking Your Pain, Uncovering His Presence" Dominique Young helps you discover the nearness of a God who does not shy away from your brokenness. In this safe space, you are invited to take off your mask, confront your hidden pain, and be seen by God for who you truly are -- beloved.
Far from a quick fix or feel-good message, "God, Where Are You?" is a vulnerable, faith-filled journey that uses heartfelt storytelling and practical tools to help you wrestle with real emotions and deep questions -- like how to deal with failure, how to find your true identity, and more.
The practical and effective tools provided in "God, Where Are You?" include:
Tracing God Devotionals: Explore Bible verses at the end of each chapter and learn how to recognize God's character and presence even in hard places.
Reflection Questions: Through self-examination, you can heal deeply and receive clarity, healing, and personal revelation.
Prayers: Each chapter includes heartfelt prayers that bridge raw emotion and spiritual intimacy, modeling honest and hopeful dialogue with God.
"God, Where Are You?: is a healing journey blending authenticity, compassion, and biblical grounding, with Dominique as your traveling companion to uncover the life-giving truth: even in the silence, God is near.
Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "God, Where Are You?: Unmasking Your Pain, Uncovering His Presence" by Dominique Young is a deftly crafted blessing in the form of a life changing, life enhancing, spirituality embracing book that is especially and unreservedly recommended to all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliation -- and anyone else struggling with their own emotional and spiritual needs. Thoroughly 'read friendly' in organization and presentation, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "God, Where Are You?: Unmasking Your Pain, Uncovering His Presence" from NavPress is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Dominique Young is a wife, mom of four amazing kiddos, and caregiver to her wonderful godson. With over 16 years of ministry, she is passionate about helping people know Jesus, live the Word, and share the Gospel in their everyday lives. Dominique holds a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and is the founder of Faith Mamas and Faith Family Worldwide -- two connected ministries committed to biblical literacy, discipleship, and authentic community. She also teaches biblical literacy and Bible application through daily teachings like Mornings with Jesus and has shared her wisdom on platforms such as Beloved Women, Daughter Arise, and Seated Sisterhood. Her YouVersion devotional, Look Again! Learning to See God in the Midst, invites readers to recognize God's presence in every season.
Mary Cowper
Reviewer
Micah Andrew's Bookshelf
Projecting America: The Epic Western and National Mythmaking in 1920s Hollywood
Patrick Adamson
University of Oklahoma Press
www.oupress.com
9780806196077, $45.00, HC, 268pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Projecting-America-National-Mythmaking-Hollywood/dp/0806196076
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/projecting-america-patrick-adamson/1147143041
Synopsis: In the mid-1920s, the heyday of silent film, the epic Western swept Hollywood and the nation. Movie moguls sought to add gravitas to their output with the productions -- films they argued offered American audiences authentic history and lessons in citizenship at a time when Hollywood faced criticism for its movies' morals and star scandals.
Initially extremely popular, these now nearly forgotten Westerns were hailed by the movie industry's proponents and critics alike for their "authentic" reconstruction of America's nineteenth-century frontier period and the social benefits in portraying historical episodes foundational to American identity to the melting pot of moviegoers.
With the publication of "Projecting America: The Epic Western and National Mythmaking in 1920s Hollywood" (the first-ever book on these silent epic Westerns) Patrick Adamson demonstrates how these films indelibly impacted the genre, historical filmmaking, and Hollywood, inviting audiences to accept uncritical visions of Manifest Destiny as accurate history.
Drawing on a wealth of primary sources and punctuating his argument with film stills and intertitles, Adamson introduces readers to a variety of epic Westerns, with a particular emphasis on The Covered Wagon (1923), The Iron Horse (1924), and The Vanishing American (1925). These productions depict such key moments as pioneers on the Oregon Trail, the construction of the transcontinental railroad, and challenges faced by Indigenous peoples.
Combining close analysis of these films' historiography with exploration of their production and reception, Adamson investigates how the epic Western's emergence responded to and informed discourses far beyond those traditionally associated with the Western genre. He demonstrates that these movies not only represent an important chapter in film history but also collectively illustrate how American identity was formed and the motion picture medium was used as a vehicle for mass historical and cultural education.
In "Projecting America", Adamson deftly shows how epic Westerns, at the heart of the 1920s' pressing debates about cinema's social influence, are integral to a broader understanding of the history of Western films and American identity.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "Projecting America: The Epic Western and National Mythmaking in 1920s Hollywood" by Patrick Adamson is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of twenty-two pages of Notes, a four page Filmography, a sixteen page Bibliography, and a four page Index. A meticulously researched and inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "Projecting America" is especially commended to the attention of film buffs with an interest on the impact of Cinema on early 20th Century American social, cultural, and political history. An inherently fascinating study, "Projecting America" is particularly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cinematic History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Patrick Adamson is Associate Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of St Andrews. There is an informative interview with him on 'The Author's Corner" online at (https://thewayofimprovement.blog/2025/11/18/the-authors-corner-with-patrick-adamson).
Micah Andrew
Reviewer
Michael Dunford's Bookshelf
A Dedication to Beauty
Mel Shakespeare
Firefly Books
https://www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105923, $65.00
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dedication-Beauty-Antiquarians-Antiques-Houses/dp/0228105927
Synopsis: In this splendid book, Mel Shakespeare traces his 60-year history of saving old barns, log houses and antiques "from the burn pile" and restoring them in harmony with each other.
Beginning with a log house made of 24" X 24" squared timbers that he bought from a farmer who was about to destroy it, Shakespeare and his wife and various accomplices began a massive restoration job on a property near Uxbridge, Ontario. Teaching himself about Ontario and Quebec furniture from past centuries, he bought sturdy pioneer furniture that was still widely available then, and built a pond and stone- and-log house that was his home for many years.
But learning how to restore his own home gave him a new business: scouring upstate New York and New England and eastern Canada for finely created old houses to be moved and restored, and barn foundations from the 19th century that could be used for the beautifully cut and split granite that would be re-used for restored stone foundations and chimneys.
A Dedication to Beauty relates the stories of 26 beautiful reconstructions and restorations, from the first square-timber house to reconstructions of log, post-and-beam, and stone houses that were first built as far east as Nova Scotia, and from the gigantic pines of northern Ontario. Each provided challenges, from discovery to carefully bringing logs out of the regrown bush -- sometimes over frozen lakes in winter.
Numbering logs and stones for re-assembly, and finding craftsmen adept at the old arts was a part of the process. Next was finding the right authentic furniture and finishes to bring the houses to their maximum beauty.
All 26 are described and shown here (along with the people who owned them) with more than 320 full color pictures of 18th and 19th century antiques, the elements of the structures as they were being rebuilt, and the final results. And it was more than a business for Mel Shakespeare -- the relationships with the people, the structures and the antiques resonate throughout the thoughtful and often humorous text.
This is a book for everyone interested in the old structures and furniture of Eastern North America. Previously published in an edition limited to 350 copies, it is now available at a popular price.
Critique: Illustrated with 325 full-color photographs, A Dedication to Beauty: An Antiquarian's Life with Antiques and Old Houses is an extraordinary tour by antiquarian Mel Shakespeare. The text offers reflections, enrichment, and historical insights into antique furnishings and houses of Ontario, Canada. From period log homes to great stone houses, lovingly crafted furnishings, and cherished collections, A Dedication to Beauty lives up to its title for architecture and antique enthusiasts alike. Highly recommended!
Michael Dunford
Reviewer
Paul Vogel's Bookshelf
Healing Without Forgiving
Lyn Barrett
Koehler Books
https://www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888249390, $20.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Without-Forgiving-Dissociative-Survivors/dp/B0FWH7MLLB
Synopsis: Life can feel incoherent, chaotic, and painful when you're first diagnosed with a dissociative disorder due to chronic childhood trauma. The road ahead may seem frightening or uncertain, and you may think of yourself as incompetent, unworthy, or even crazy. But what if, instead, you pictured yourself as a hero about to embark on the most difficult but rewarding journey of all? What if you focused on forgiving yourself and the trustworthy people in your life, rather than following society's common advice to forgive your abusers?
This approachable and insightful workbook will equip and empower you for the long, arduous road to recovery, with or without forgiving your perpetrators. Rather than embark on a potentially harmful mission to forgive those who have hurt you, you'll embrace your inner drive to heal, set your healing intention, and ride into a whole life.
Healing Without Forgiving includes real-life stories as well as exercises to challenge and affirm you on your demanding but fulfilling healing journey. Believe it or not, you are the hero of your own story!
Critique: Healing Without Forgiving: A Hero's Journey for Dissociative Survivors is a consumable workbook structured around a premise that actively rebuts conventional wisdom. Healing Without Forgiving asserts that, for one who has suffered severely, healing and recovery should not hinge upon forgiving one's tormentor. Although Healing Without Forgiving is addressed specifically to individuals who have been diagnosed with dissociative disorder due to childhood trauma, its principles and positive message of self-care and embracing one's inner desire to heal resonate beyond its target audience. Chapters offer simple exercises, ways to grieve without deepening the harm within, and the parable of the hero's journey as a road to recovery. Highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Healing Without Forgiving is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Paul T. Vogel
Reviewer
S.A. Gorden's Bookshelf
Cowboys and Chaos (Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club #3)
Elizabeth Pantley
https://elizabethpantleyauthor.com
Better Beginnings, Inc.
9798362692995 $9.99 paper
B0BB1HS7XL, $3.99 ebook, 287 pages
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Chaos-Magical-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B0BB1HS7XL
Cowboys and Chaos is marketed as a cozy mystery. It is actually a cozy fantasy tale. The only real mystery in the story is finding out how many hints have to be given to the protagonists before they decipher the mystery. C and C is a light easy read to fill time with. The characters are quirky and the events are ridiculous enough to be fun.
In Colorado, there is a magical book club. People in the book club can select books contained in its library. After the club members chose a book and read the first page, they are transported into a set of characters within the story. They are locked into the book until they solve whatever dilemma that is in the book. The club is currently reading cozy mysteries and pick up a fantasy Western story. Since the story is a fantasy, there is only a passing resemblance to a real 1800's Arizona town. Instead, Bandana, Arizona is a blend of an idealized past mixed with magical fantasy. There is danger in the tale because, as characters in the tale, they can be hurt within the narration.
Don't read Cowboys and Chaos if you are looking for a mystery book. It is recommended if you want a light fun read with a quirky plot and characters. There are better stories that do have both a solid mystery and unique plots and characters.
Potions and the Pleasantly Poisoned (A Williams Witch Mystery Book 1)
Eloise Everhart
Alorium Publishing
9781962759007 $11.99, paper
B0CKDRXG8K, $0.00, 166 pages
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Potions-Pleasantly-Poisoned-Williams-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CKDRXG8K
Potions and the Pleasantly Poisoned is a well-rounded cozy witch mystery. Even with the addition of witchcraft, the tale is a reasonable mystery. Many fantasy cozies depend too heavily on magic but with just a tweak or two Potions could be converted to a non-magical story.
Dani's grandmother has died and Dani goes back home to settle the estate. But Dani is also thinking of staying in her old hometown since her recent divorce. When she arrives, she finds a letter from her grandmother. She comes from a family of witches but her grandmother has used a spell to block her powers. With the death of her grandmother breaking the spell, Dani now inherits her powers. While navigating this new information, one of Dani's childhood friends is murdered. Dani wants to find out what happened to her friend and stumbles through a personal investigation into the death.
Potions and the Pleasantly Poisoned is a good investigative tale. You get pulled in with the clues and various suspects. The ending twist both explains pieces of the narration and is a slight surprise. Potions is an easy recommendation for mystery readers who are looking for a light weekend read.
S.A. Gorden
Senior Reviewer
Suzie Housley's Bookshelf
An Unexpected Normal: Raising a Child with Special Needs
Rita Angelini
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781647428457, $17.99 PB / $12.99 Kindle, 368 pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Normal-Rita-Angelini/dp/1647428440
Synopsis: Norman and Rita Angelini are plunged into the full spectrum of grief when their newborn daughter contracts meningitis just days after birth. They plead, bargain, and hope for a miracle. The illness devastated Kiki, leaving her with significant brain damage, and doctors ultimately diagnosed her with cerebral palsy.
In the months that follow, denial and anger dominate their lives, raising questions about how Rita and Norman cope emotionally. Rita clings to the image of the child she envisioned, pouring her energy into therapies and treatments that promise to change Kiki's future.
The family embarks on a journey across the United States and beyond, seeking solutions - but over time, they learn to embrace KiKi as she is, discovering joy and love in her unique spirit rather than in the idea of "fixing" her.
Critique: An Unexpected Normal: Raising a Child with Special Needs is a heartfelt memoir that emphasizes hope, love, and acceptance. It reassures parents of children with disabilities that happiness and fulfillment are possible despite profound challenges.
Rita Angelini is an extraordinary storyteller whose compelling work inspires and connects with readers. Her book has the power to motivate and uplift those facing similar challenges, showcasing resilience and hope.
The Samurai's Soul: The Heart of the Samurai Book 2
Walt Mussell
Chrysanthemum Cross Press
9780999291061, $14.99 PB / $5.99 Kindle, 350 pages
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Samurais-Soul-Heart-Samurai-Book-ebook/dp/B0FX5S5SSS
Synopsis: Overshadowed by her sisters' beauty and brilliance, Aki grows up believing she can never truly measure up - until she discovers her remarkable gift with numbers. Her journey of self-discovery and resilience will inspire readers to root for her as she seeks her own path, evoking feelings of hope and admiration.
Samurai Nishioji Tomi serves with the Osaka Police as a cover for dismantling a secretive anti-Christian faction - while carefully concealing his own forbidden Christian faith. Set against the rich backdrop of Japanese tradition and honor, Tomi's struggles with duty and belief deepen the cultural resonance for readers interested in Japanese history and values.
When Tomi arrests Aki's father for alleged tax evasion, he encounters Aki herself - a young woman whose fierce intelligence, unyielding spirit, and quiet fire leave a lasting impression. Determined to prove her father's innocence, Aki refuses to be intimidated, earning Tomi's respect and admiration.
Recognizing both her strength and her aptitude, Tomi offers Aki a position that could solve more than one problem: she can help care for his mother, and in return, she gains refuge from her uncle's relentless efforts to marry her off to anyone who might increase the family's financial future.
As Tomi's investigation draws him into the shadowy underworld of the silk trade, buried secrets surface - secrets that threaten reputations, loyalties, and lives. With love, honor, and secrets hanging in the balance, Tomi and Aki must confront truths that could change everything, heightening the story's emotional tension and curiosity.
Critique: The Samurai's Soul delivers a riveting journey steeped in danger, intrigue, and mystery. Rich with suspense and unexpected twists, the novel draws readers into a world where honor and secrets collide, creating an irresistible story that lingers long after the last page.
Walt Mussell proves himself a master storyteller, crafting an irresistible tale populated by a richly varied cast of characters, each contributing a distinctive voice that propels the narrative at a thrilling, breathless pace.
The setting provides a vivid, evocative backdrop that perfectly complements the depth and momentum of the story. This book is one I highly recommend, for I believe it's destined for award-winning recognition.
Uncle Unk Becomes an Uncle
Tristan Miranda, author
Seth Thompson, illustrator
MW Press, LLC
https://mwpressbooks.com
9781959587293, $TBA HC / $2.99 Kindle, 28 pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGDFF8FR
MW Press, LLC
https://mwpressbooks.com/uncle-unk-1
Synopsis: Unk has always enjoyed a life defined by freedom and independence, answering only to himself and embracing each day without obligation. A late-night phone call suddenly interrupted his comfortable routine, informing him he had become an uncle.
Faced with the arrival of his newborn niece, Unk worries that his carefree world is about to disappear, replaced by unexpected responsibilities and unfamiliar emotions. As he navigates this new chapter, Unk must confront his fears and discover whether this tiny new presence will disrupt his life - or transform it in ways he never imagined.
A sequel, Uncle Unk Visits the Zoo!, is forthcoming.
Critique: Uncle Unk Becomes an Uncle offers a playful and heartfelt look at how change can challenge even the most independent spirit.
Tristan Miranda and Seth Thompson have crafted a lighthearted yet meaningful story that invites readers to see the world through fresh eyes, leaving them smiling long after the last page.
Through humor and warmth, the story explores the anxieties many feel when family dynamics shift, revealing how love often arrives in surprising forms.
The lifelike illustrations bring depth and personality to the narrative, enhancing its charm and emotional resonance.
Editorial Note: Recommend ages 4-9 years old.
You Are Super, Penny! My Food Allergen Service Dog
Candace Laskowski, author
Audrey Suau, illustrator
Independently Published
9798218586492, $4.99 Kindle, $12.99 PB, 31 Pages
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/You-are-SUPER-Penny-Allergen/dp/B0FJFDHCL7
Synopsis: Living with anaphylaxis requires constant awareness, careful preparation, and unwavering attention - especially for a young boy whose severe food allergies shape his everyday life. Ordinary moments become carefully managed experiences, with each meal thoughtfully prepared under the watchful care of his mother to ensure his safety and well-being.
Standing faithfully at his side is Penny, a highly trained food-allergen service dog and his closest companion. Wearing her distinctive vest like a superhero cape, Penny approaches her work with focus and determination.
At the command "Search," she uses her extraordinary abilities to detect substances that could trigger a dangerous reaction. Penny's vigilance and dedication provide both protection and peace of mind, allowing the boy to move through the world with greater confidence.
Rewarding each successful alert strengthens the deep bond between them and highlights the trust that defines their partnership. Together, they show how courage, loyalty, and teamwork can transform fear into empowerment.
Critique: You Are Super, Penny! My Food Allergen Service Dog serves both as an encouraging narrative and as a valuable resource for families navigating similar challenges. The engaging illustrations vividly bring Penny and the surrounding characters to life, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.
Candace Laskowski has crafted a meaningful and informative story that shines a light on the realities of living with severe allergies while introducing young readers to the important role service animals can play.
This heartfelt book is an excellent addition for children seeking reassurance, understanding, and inspiration in the face of medical challenges.
Editorial Note: Recommended ages 2-8 years old.
Suzie Housley, Senior Reviewer
https://housleysliteraryservices.com
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design