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Reviewer's Choice
A Door Into the Wild: Poetry and Art
Ellery Akers
Blue Light Press
http://bluelightpress.com
9798350929829, $18.99, PB, 88pp
https://www.amazon.com/Door-Into-Wild-Poetry-Art/dp/B0CYSJ77YR
Synopsis: Winner of the 2024 Blue Light Press Book Award, "A Door into the Wild: Poetry and Art" by Ellery Akers is both a celebration of California landscapes and a meditation about love, loss, and the healing power of nature. In this memorably elegant collection of prose poems and drawings, multifaceted poet and artist Akers offers the reader a profound tribute to the Earth.
Critique This large format (8.5 x 0.2 x 8.5 inches, 9.3 ounces) edition of Ellery Akers' "A Door into the Wild: Poetry and Art" from Blue Light Press is an eloquent delight to page through one poem and hand-drawn illustration at a time. A fascinating, reflective, thought-provoking, and memorable read from cover to cover, "A Door into the Wild: Poetry and Art" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Poetry and Landscape Art collections.
Editorial Note: Ellery Akers (https://elleryakers.com) is the author of several collections of poetry including Swerve: Environmentalism, Feminism, and Resistance (2020), which won BookAuthority's Award for the Best Environmentalism Books of All Time; Practicing the Truth (2015), which won the Autumn House Poetry Prize, an Independent Publisher Book Award, and the San Francisco Book Festival Poetry Award; and Knocking on the Earth (1989), named a Best Book of the Year by the San Jose Mercury News. She is also the author of a children's novel, Sarah's Waterfall (2009), which won a NAPPA Award, a Mom's Choice (Gold) Award, and a Skipping Stones Award. Her nature essays have appeared in The Sun, Story Quarterly, California Living, and in anthologies such as Intimate Nature: The Bond Between Women and Animals (1998); Short Takes: Model Essays for Composition (1999); and Stories from Where We Live: The California Coast (2001).
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
A Sometimes Paradise
Mark E. Miller
https://www.markmillerauthor.com
Sandra Jonas Publishing House
https://bookshop.org/shop/sandrajonaspublishing
9781954861152, $29.95, HC, 260pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Paradise-Reflections-Wyoming-Family/dp/195486115X
Synopsis: With the publication of "A Sometimes Paradise: Reflections on Life in a Wyoming Ranch Family", author/academician Mark E. Miller is a moving personal journey into the rugged beauty and hardscrabble challenges of Wyoming ranch life that shaped him as a boy and then as a young man.
Against the backdrop of deadly ice storms and punishing droughts in a harsh, unforgiving environment, Mark shares stories of adventures, misadventures, and invaluable lessons he learned along the way. As he adapted to the rugged Wyoming terrain, he forged an unbreakable connection with the land and animals -- and discovered the true power of family and friendship.
An eloquent account of self-discovery, "A Sometimes Paradise" paints a vivid portrait of resilience and a steadfast commitment to a vanishing way of life. More than a just a memoir, "A Sometimes Paradise" is a recorded testament to the enduring spirit of the American West and the people who call it home.
Critique: An informative, fun and fascinating read from start to finish, "A Sometimes Paradise: Reflections on Life in a Wyoming Ranch Family" is an eloquent, colorful, thoughtful, and memorable account -- a personal life story that will hold immense appeal to readers with an interest in Wyoming history, nature, ecology, and life. While also readily available for personal reading lists from Sandra Jonas Publishing House in a paperback edition (9781954861169, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99), "A Sometimes Paradise" will prove a welcome and appreciated addition to community and college/university library Contemporary American Autobiography & Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Mark E. Miller (www.markmillerauthor.com) spent his youth and early adulthood on a large ranching operation in Carbon County, Wyoming, started by his great-grandfather Isaac C. Miller in 1881. Mark lived around livestock for thirty-two years before he moved on to a full-time career in archaeology, receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Wyoming and a PhD at the University of Colorado. He served as Wyoming State Archaeologist for three decades and today holds an adjunct professorship in the anthropology department at the University of Wyoming.
The Hotel Martinez
Phillip M. Kenny
Sandy Productions Publishing
https://thehotelmartinezbook.com
B0DD51792Q, $9.99, Kindle, 542pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Martinez-Phillip-M-Kenny-ebook/dp/B0D6WRNGDL
Synopsis: The Hotel Martinez, a beacon of luxury on the French Riviera, has long stood as the epitome of glamor and elegance, especially during the Cannes Film Festival. Yet, behind its opulent facade lies a story far richer and more compelling than any film shown within its vicinity.
This a narrated audio book edition of "The Hotel Martinez" by Phillip M. Kenny is a biographical history of ambition, war, love, and a fight for justice that spanned decades, and centers around its founder, Emmanuel Michel Martinez.
Born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1882, Emmanuel's journey from the son of a harbor master to the pinnacle of the hotel industry is a testament to his relentless ambition and resilience. Emmanuel's early success in Paris was just the beginning. His strategic investments in London's hotel industry during the early 20th century showcased his business acumen, turning failing establishments into profitable ventures.
Emmanuel's dream of establishing a world-class hotel on the French Riviera materialized with the opening of the Hotel Martinez in 1929. Quickly, it became the preferred destination for the elite, embodying the extravagance of "La Belle Epoque."
However, the prosperity of the Hotel Martinez and the Martinez family was short-lived. The Great Depression, followed by World War II, brought unprecedented challenges. The Nazi occupation of France during the war saw the Hotel Martinez commandeered by German and Italian officers, forcing Emmanuel to walk a tightrope of compliance and resistance. His covert support for the French Resistance and the Allies, often facilitated through his future son-in-law Tom Kenny, a Canadian intelligence officer, highlighted his courage and moral conviction.
The war years also brought personal turmoil to the Martinez family. Tom's arrest by the Gestapo and Micheline's perilous journey across Spain to reunite with him underscored the family's resilience and dedication to each other.
Yet, the war's end did not bring peace to Emmanuel. His financial dealings during the occupation, particularly a loan from a controversial figure, led to accusations of collaboration. Emmanuel faced the loss of his beloved hotel, his reputation, and his financial stability. In the post-war years, Emmanuel fought tirelessly to clear his name and reclaim his property.
Though he was ultimately exonerated, the French government's refusal to return his assets left him in dire straits. The legacy of Emmanuel Martinez is a complex tapestry of triumph and tragedy, innovation and injustice.\
Critique: A true and candid story of a life lived out in turbulent and dramatic times, and unreservedly recommended for anyone with an interest in World War II biographies and memoirs, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of author Phillip M. Kenney's "The Hotel Martinez" is a riveting 'theatre of the mind' experience from start to finish and will prove a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, community, and college/university library audio book collections.
Editorial Note: Phillip M. Kenny is a member of the French Centre National du Cinema and the Guild of Film Production Executive, Great Britain. He has lived in England, France, Canada, Spain, and the U.S. Phillip is a renowned line producer and production manager, having worked on over 100 films and TV commercials.
A Perfectly Good Fantasy: A Memoir
Lynn Walker
MZW Publishing
https://www.mzwpublishing.com
9781737895534, $22.99, HC, 292pp
https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Good-Fantasy-Nonfiction-Addiction/dp/1737895536
Synopsis: Fiercely determined to live without drugs and alcohol, Lynn Walker has rebuilt her life, having somehow survived her dad and his cocaine and his smuggling. But she can't seem to find all the pages to life's instruction manual.
With wit and insight, in her memoir, "A Perfectly Good Fantasy", Lynn takes us on her life's journey -- and what a wild ride it is! Trying not to drink vodka in a Russian castle. Trying not to drink anything in graduate school. Cocaine-addicted lab rats. Peeing next to a grizzly bear. Trudging through the wilderness of relationships in search of this thing called love.
Even if you have never struggled with addiction or love, you will find humor and wisdom in Lynn's very human, very true story of how we can use just about anything (booze, relationships, potato chips) to try to change the way we feel.
Critique: "A Perfectly Good Fantasy" is the candid and darkly funny sequel to Lynn Walker's previous memoir, "Midnight Calling: A Memoir of a Drug Smuggler's Daughter" (also from MZW Publishing, 2022). honest, frank, and a fascinating read from start to finish, "A Perfectly Good Fantasy" is exceptionally well written and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Perfectly Good Fantasy" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781737895589, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Lynn Walker (www.LynnWalkerMemoir.com worked for many years with at-risk high school students whose parents were drug addicts and alcoholics. Her work with those teens compelled her to reconnect with her own estranged father, who had been a Miami undercover narcotics agent-turned-drug smuggler.
Only Heaven Knows My Heart
Ivy Price-Ware
Independently Published
9798879149418, $25.00, PB, 124pp
https://www.amazon.com/Only-Heaven-Knows-My-Heart/dp/B0CVF9VRPQ
Synopsis: Born to a mother who struggled with addiction. Overcoming foster care, molestation, and several traumatic, childhood experiences. "Only Heaven Knows My Heart", is the raw and riveting account of a young girl's journey into womanhood.
From poverty to multiple teen pregnancies, Ivy Price-Ware has endured it all. Though often judged and sometimes misunderstood, Ivy always knew there was purpose in her pain.
Remembering that God doesn't choose perfect people to do Heaven's work, Ivy followed his call to tell her story. She leaves the ugliest parts of her life on the pages in every chapter, trusting that the broken pieces of her heart will fill a void in the lives of many.
As a wife, mother of four, mentor, advocate, and educational powerhouse with over twenty-three years of experience, Ivy is now a beacon of light and vessel of hope to everyone she encounters.
Critique: An iconic, impressively candid, and inspiring personal story of tribulation and redemption, "Only Heaven Knows My Heart" by Ivy Price-Ware is one of those memoirs that will linger in the mind and memory long after this slender book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "Only Heaven Knows My Heart" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections.
The General Fiction Shelf
Bummer Camp
Ann Garvin
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662518560, $16.99, PB, 331pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bummer-Camp-Novel-Ann-Garvin/dp/1662518560
Synopsis: Cat McCarthy has spent years extricating herself from the family business (an increasingly run-down theater camp) and all the drama contained within it. At thirty-seven, she's putting the final touches on a new life as she renovates her dream cottage and awaits her first child. Does it worry her that the McCarthy legacy is in the hands of her disastrously irresponsible sister, Ginger? Sure. But the camp is not Cat's problem anymore.
Then a series of frantic text messages pulls Cat back to center stage. Ginger has handed the reins to a crackpot motivational speaker, Bob Durand, and his scheming wife, Elaine. The couple plan to rebrand the camp as a "rehab" for anxious adults has nearly bankrupted the McCarthys. And now the Durands have skipped town days before investors arrive for a fund raising gala that could determine the camp's future.
As Cat and Ginger wrangle a cast of lovable misfits and underdogs to save the camp, the sisters rediscover the importance of family, belonging, and holding fast to sweet summer memories.
Critique: A fun and engaging read from start to finish, "Bummer Camp" showcases author Ann Garvin's exceptional sense of humor, originality, and storytelling craftsmanship. Highly recommended to the attention of readers with an interest in family oriented humorous fiction, "Bummer Camp" is a welcome pick for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted that "Bummer Camp" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99) from Lake Union Publishing as well.
Editorial Note: Ann Garvin (www.anngarvin.com) is the author of There's No Coming Back from This, I Thought You Said This Would Work, I Like You Just Fine When You're Not Around, and other funny and sad novels about people who do too much, in a world that asks too much from them. Ann teaches in the low-residency master of fine arts program at Drexel University and lives in Wisconsin with her anxious and overly protective dog, Peanut. She is the founder of the Tall Poppy Writers and is dedicated to helping authors find readers and vice versa.
Without You Here
Jody Hobbs Hesler
https://www.jodyhobbshesler.com
Flexible Press
https://www.flexiblepub.com
9798988721383, $19.00, PB, 315pp
https://www.amazon.com/Without-Here-Jody-Hobbs-Hesler/dp/B0D2PMZ482
Synopsis: Noreen, twenty-seven, is the same age as her beloved Aunt when she committed suicide.
When Noreen was little, she had a special connection to her Aunt Nonie, her namesake and kindred spirit. They seem to understand each other in a way that no one else can. But what Noreen is too young to understand is that her aunt is spinning out of control, her grasp on reality slipping, her alcohol use accelerating, her personal life in shambles. Noreen's mom, Nonie's sister, tries to help with jobs, housing, and counselors, but she's not getting better.
The only thing Nonie can hold onto is her niece, who she loves more than anything in the world. But when Noreen is playing on a tire swing under Nonie's supervision there's an accident, sending Noreen to the hospital and Nonie into a spiral from which she will not recover.
From that day in 1980 to the last months of 1999, Noreen's life spirals around the axis of Nonie's suicide, tightening the past's pressure on the present.
Now an adult, Noreen finds herself a young mother trapped in a marriage with a controlling, manipulative husband. Or is she? She is haunted by the memory of her aunt, and she is afraid her own grasp on reality slipping away.
"Without You Here" is about generational trauma, mental illness, sloppy family dynamics, dangerous marriages, and the beautiful, redemptive nature of affection and love. In the end Noreen is left to ask: Will her life forever be defined by her aunt? And can she stop history from repeating itself?
Critique: Original, complex, deftly scripted, emotionally engaging, and a compelling read from start to finish, "Without You Here" by Jody Hobbs Hesler will hold immense appeal for readers with an interest in medical and psychological suspense novels. A fascinating story raised by its author to an impressive level of literary excellence, this paperback edition of "Without You Here" from Flexible Press is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Without You Here" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Jody Hobbs Hesler (www.jodyhobbshesler.com) lives, writes, and teaches in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of the story collection What Makes You Think You're Supposed to Feel Better from Cornerstone Press, and her writings also appear in Necessary Fiction, Gargoyle, Valparaiso Fiction Review, Atticus Review, Writer's Digest, Electric Literature, CRAFT, Arts & Letters, and many other journals. She teaches at WriterHouse in Charlottesville, Virginia; writes and copy edits for Virginia Wine & Country Life and Charlottesville Family Magazine; and serves as assistant fiction editor for the Los Angeles Review.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Exile Exodus
Ryan Flemming
Wellspring Books
www.wellspringbooks.com
9780971567641, $8.99, PB, 189pp
https://www.amazon.com/Exile-Exodus-Ryan-Fleming/dp/0971567646
Synopsis: Although a work of fiction, "Exile Exodus" is based on a series of historical events in ancient Egypt that coincide with the birth of Judaism. With it author/novelist Ryan Flemming retells the story of the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt from a fascinating historical perspective.
The turmoil of Pharaoh Akhenaten's reign was the beginning of the end of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty. In his struggle for control of the soul of Egypt against powerful high priests, Akhenaten shapes a heretic religion in the world's first experiment with a single god. His dynasty inherits discord from the religion embraced by a foreign people who had ruled Egypt two hundred years earlier.
The brewing conflict culminates in a forced exodus, seeding the birth of a new movement, changing the world forever.
Critique: A deftly crafted and simply fascinating read from start to finish that is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99), Ryan Flemming's novel, "Exile Exodus", is an impressively original and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Biblical/Historical fiction collections.
Editorial Note: After graduating from college, Ryan Fleming developed strong interest in the origins of religion including Christianity and Judaism, researching their earliest written records and how they evolved through culture, art, word of mouth, and literature. Historical records of the Israelites and Hebrew people date back over three thousand years, followed one thousand years later with the birth of Christianity. Mr. Fleming took particular interest in the development of the different sects of Christianity, their perceived authority in interpreting and disseminating supernatural truth and how these perceptions were handed down from the time of Rome's occupation of Judea. "Exile Exodus" and "Hail Judeas Caesar" are culminations of these studies and Ryan's first two novels.
Echoes of Us
Joy Jordan-Lake
https://www.joyjordanlake.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662514760, $28.99, HC, 463pp
https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Us-Novel-Joy-Jordan-Lake/dp/166251476X
Synopsis: In the midst of World War II, a Tennessee farm boy, a Jewish Cambridge student, and a German POW forge a connection that endures against all odds.
But now everything that Will Dobbins, Dov Silverberg, and Hans Hessler fought for is at risk as their descendants clash for control of the corporation they founded together. In an attempt to remake its tattered corporate image, the firm hires event planner Hadley Jacks and her sister Kitzie to organize a reunion for the families on St. Simons Island, Georgia, the place that changed all three men's lives forever.
As Hadley and her sister delve into the friends' past, they uncover the life of the courageous young woman who links them all together... and the old wounds that could tear everything apart.
Told in dual timelines spanning World War II and the present, "Echoes of Us" follows the ripple effects of war, the bonds that outlast it, and the hope that ultimately carries us forward.
Critique: Raising a work of 20th Century historical fiction to an impressive level of literary excellent, "Echoes of Us" by novelist Joy Jordan-Lake is an inherently interesting and memorable read from start to finish. While also available in both a paperback edition (9781662514753, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99), "Echoes of Us" is especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Literary/Historical Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Joy Jordan-Lake (www.joyjordanlake.com) is the author of thirteen books, including A Bend of Light; Under a Gilded Moon, a 2023 North Carolina Reads selection; A Tangled Mercy, an Editors' Choice recipient from the Historical Novel Society; Blue Hole Back Home, winner of the Christy Award for Best First Novel; and three children's books.
A Cure for Sorrow
Jen Wheeler
https://www.jenwheeler.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517143, $16.99, PB, 431pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cure-Sorrow-Novel-Jen-Wheeler/dp/1662517149
Synopsis: Convention-flouting Nora Harris is a determined young medical student in Gilded Age Manhattan. A surgeon's daughter, she always leads with her head -- until her father's latest protege, Euan Colquhoun, steals her heart. Love and logic bind the newly betrothed couple together, but a tragic accident cuts their bright future short.
Grief-stricken, Nora finds surprising comfort in corresponding with Euan's older brother, Malcolm. She decides to forsake her ambitions to retreat to the Colquhoun family farm deep in the tangled woods of upstate New York.
There, her longed-for peace is threatened by a suspicion that the whole family harbors haunting secrets. When she starts to see things that science can't explain, Nora fears for her sanity -- and when she gives in to dangerous temptations, she fears for her immortal soul.
Critique: A deftly crafted and original suspense/thriller of a novel that will have a special attraction for readers with an interest in Gothic & Historical fiction, "A Cure for Sorrow" by Jen Wheeler is a terrific read from start to finish. Showcasing the author's distinctive storytelling style, this Lake Union Publishing paperback edition is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99) and will prove a welcome pick for personal reading lists and community/public library collections.
Editorial Note: Jen Wheeler is a former managing editor of food website Chowhound and is the author of "The Light on Farallon Island" (Lake Union Publishing, 9781662508981, $16.99 PB, $2.49 Kindle, $16.95 Audio, 361pp).
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Blue Graffiti
Calahan Skogman
The Unnamed Press
https://www.unnamedpress.com
9781951213954, $28.00, HC, 301pp
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Graffiti-Calahan-Skogman/dp/1951213955
Synopsis: Living in the home he inherited from his mother and abandoned by his father, painter and construction worker Cash has never known anything beyond the fields of Johnston, WI -- and never particularly wanted to, either. Why would he when his friends are there, his work is there, his history is there? He loves Johnston. But when an emerald-eyed stranger named Rose blows into town one summer evening in his favorite local bar, everything changes. It's love at first sight. For Cash, anyway.
What follows is an intimate reflection on the love, faith, and tragedy that courses through the blood of America's backbone. Cash and his closest friends find themselves vital threads in the fabric of their community, the memory of those forgotten, and partners in a new enterprise. A bluesey ode to the Beat generation for the modern era.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that this edition of "Blue Graffiti" from The Unnamed Press is writer Calahan Skogman's debut as a novelist. With its themes of essential freedom, romance, and nostalgic longing for a bygone era, "Blue Graffiti" showcases Skogman's distinctive, narrative driven, and memorably engaging storytelling style. While also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.49), "Blue Graffiti" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college and university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Calahan Skogman is a writer, poet, and actor born in Davenport, Iowa, raised in Wisconsin. He earned his MFA at the University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts and is best known for his leading role as Matthias Helvar in Netflix's Emmy-nominated show Shadow and Bone (based on the best-selling series by Leigh Bardugo).
The Light Between Us
Elaine Chiew
https://epchiew.com
Neem Tree Press
https://neemtreepress.com
9781915584779, $27.95, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Light-Between-Us-Elaine-Chiew/dp/1915584779
Synopsis: At work one night, photography archivist Charlie Sze-Toh receives a misdirected letter from Wang Tian Wei, a 1920s colonial era Chinese photographer. Through a mysterious digital folder at her end and photographic plates at his, they begin a conversation that leads to a transcendental romance that spans lifetimes.
In his time, Tian Wei scours a turbulent Singapore for his missing friend, Aiko, leading him to the perfumed chambers of a Japanese brothel. Meanwhile, in the modern day, Charlie struggles against a family dynamic dominated by her stepmother, a manipulative matriarch who uses family secrets as bargaining chips. Communication starts to become difficult and Tian Wei's letters are tinged by the increasing threat of Japanese Occupation. Will one last fate-defying letter from Charlie allow Tian Wei to keep their love alive?
Critique: Inspired by her research into Singaporean historical archives, with "The Light Between Us", novelist Elaine Chiew deftly crafts out of Chinese mythology, 20th century colonial Singapore history, romance and science fiction into a unique and memorable novel that raises fiction up to an impressive level of literary excellence. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Light Between Us" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781915584670, $17.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.49).
Editorial Note: Elaine Chiew (https://epchiew.com) is the author of The Heartsick Diaspora (recommended in The Guardian, The Singapore Straits Times, BookRiot, and Esquire SG) and compiler/editor of Cooked Up: Food Fiction From Around the World. Her stories have won prizes, notably twice in the Bridport International Short Story Prize, and been anthologised in the U.S., U.K. and Asia, with BBC Radio 4, and in The Best Asian Short Stories 2021. She mentors, teaches creative writing ad hoc, writes freelance and has worked as an independent researcher in the visual arts. She has an M.A. in Asian Art History from Goldsmiths London. In a former career, she was a U.S. trained attorney with a degree from Stanford and worked in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Elaine currently resides in London, UK.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Caribbean Crush
R. S. Grey
https://rsgrey.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517648, $16.99, PB, 299pp
https://www.amazon.com/Caribbean-Crush-R-S-Grey/dp/1662517645
Synopsis: Casey Hughes is a struggling travel journalist desperate for a big break when she lands the assignment of a lifetime: hop on board Aurelia for its maiden voyage through paradise. While she will bask in the luxury cruise ship's fine dining and complimentary spa treatments, her real mission is to snag an exclusive interview with Phillip Woodmont.
Casey and the elusive shipping heir have history. Once, they were nothing short of brutal enemies. Though the former brace-faced teen is now a suited-up CEO with devastating good looks, he makes it clear to Casey that he has no interest in forgetting their past.
The volatile grudge between them is as explosive as ever. More than once Casey is tempted to toss Phillip overboard, but for her work, she'll have to swallow her pride. If it's an apology he's after, she'll serve it up on a silver platter. If he wants her to walk the plank, she'll salute with an aye, aye, Captain.
Casey can't let him provoke her. She needs this interview. So if Phillip wants to play dirty, Casey will just have to play dirtier.
Critique: Simply stated, "Caribbean Crush" is a fully entertaining Rom-Com of a novel and the stuff of which Hallmarke Movies are made. An original and deliciously funny read from start to finish, "Caribbean Crush" is a deftly crafted and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted that this edition of "Caribbean Crush" from Montlake is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: R.S. Grey (https://rsgrey.com) is the author of over thirty novels. She can be followed on Facebook, Instagram (@AuthorRSGrey)
Divorce Towers
Ellen Meister
https://ellenmeister.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662520891, $16.99, PB, 351pp
https://www.amazon.com/Divorce-Towers-Novel-Ellen-Meister/dp/1662520891
Synopsis: Addison Torres has nothing left to lose in New York: no job, no fiance, no parents to lean on. So when Uncle Arnie offers her a concierge gig in sunny California, she hops on a plane without looking back.
Before it all came crashing down, Addison had a matchmaking career and handsome partner -- then she got a little too cozy with a client. Digging her way out of the wreckage, she's taken a strict vow of celibacy.
Unfortunately, Addison's new home is where such promises go to die. As concierge at the luxurious Beekman Towers (nicknamed "Divorce Towers" due to the constant influx of the newly single) she's in constant demand by Beverly Hills' most eligible and entitled bachelors. Like Dante, a cocksure talent agent. And Zach, an adorable tech wizard.
Addison Torres thinks she's ready for anything except love. But in Divorce Towers, the world's toughest concierge may have finally met her match.
Critique: Original, clever, entertaining, expertly crafted, and of special appeal to readers with an interest in Contemporary Romance fiction, "Divorce Towers" by Ellen Meister is a fun read and a 'must' for the growing legions of Ellen Meister fans. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library collections, this edition of "Divorce Towers" from Montlake is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book formt (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Ellen Meister (https://ellenmeister.com) is a novelist, book coach, screenwriter, and creative writing instructor who started her career writing advertising copy. Her novels include Take My Husband; The Rooftop Party; Love Sold Separately; Dorothy Parker Drank Here; Farewell, Dorothy Parker; The Other Life; and more. Meister's essays have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Newsday, the Wall Street Journal blog, the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast, Long Island Woman, Writer's Digest, and Publishers Weekly. Career highlights include appearing on NPR, being selected for the prestigious Indie Next List by the American Booksellers Association, having her work translated into foreign languages, and receiving a TV series option from HBO.
Bad Reputation
Emma Barry
https://authoremmabarry.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662520839, $16.99, PB, 319pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Reputation-Emma-Barry/dp/1662520832
Synopsis: Cole James's reputation as Hollywood's favorite himbo no longer suits him. His fans can't separate the real man from the character he played on a soapy teen drama decades ago. But that's going to change with Waverley, the hit streaming historical romance series.
Maggie Niven hates her own notoriety. Fired for directing a divisive play, Maggie takes her fight against censorship public. When Hollywood comes calling, she becomes the new intimacy coordinator for Waverley. But it's harder than she imagined to focus on the job.
Cole isn't what she expected - and Maggie is more than he dreamed of. As filming gets underway, the cast's old traumas lead to real intimacy, and Cole and Maggie struggle with feelings they shouldn't have. Having an affair on set could destroy his comeback and her new career.
The show must go on. But if Cole and Maggie want a happy ending, they'll have to start doing things their own way.
Critique: Especially and unreservedly recommended as an original and fun read from start to finish for all dedicated Rom-Com fans, "Bad Reputation" by author/storyteller Emma Barry will prove to be a welcome and popular pick for community/public library Contemporary Romance collections. The stuff of which Hallmark Movies are made, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Bad Reputation" is also readily available from Montlake in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Emma Barry (www.authoremmabarry.com) is a teacher, novelist, former political staffer, and recovering academic. Emma lives with her high school sweetheart and a menagerie of pets and children in Virginia, where she occasionally finds time to read and write.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Red House Mystery
A. A. Milne
Pushkin Vertigo
c/o Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781805335290, $15.95, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Red-House-Mystery-Milne/dp/1805335294
Synopsis: In a quaint English country house, the exuberant Mark Ablett has been entertaining a house party, but the festivities are rudely interrupted by the arrival of Mark's wayward brother, Robert, home from Australia. Even worse, not long after his arrival the long-lost brother is found dead, shot through the head, and Mark is nowhere to be found. It is up to amateur detective Tony Gillingham and his pal Bill to investigate.
Between games of billiards and bowls, the taking of tea and other genteel pursuits, Tony and Bill attempt to crack the perplexing case of their host's disappearance and its connection to the mysterious shooting. Can the pair of sleuths solve the Red House mystery in time for their afternoon game of croquet?
Critique: "The Red House Mystery" marked A. A. Milne's first and final venture into the detective genre, despite the book's immediate success (which was praised by Raymond Chandler and renowned critic Alexander Woolcott), this gem of classic Golden Age crime sparkles with witty dialogue, an intriguing cast of characters, and a brilliant plot. An absolute 'must' for the personal reading lists of dedicated traditional detective mystery/suspense fans, this paperback edition of "The Red House Mystery" will prove an welcome and enduringly popular pick for community/public library Classic Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition from Pushkin Vertigo is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.59).
Editorial Note: A. A. Milne (1882-1956) is best known as the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh tales, written for his son, Christopher Robin. By 1925, Milne had published eighteen plays and three novels, including The Red House Mystery. The Red House Mystery, often cited as one of the greatest mysteries ever written, is his only mystery novel.
The Younger Girl
Georgia Jeffries
https://georgiajeffries.com
Mission Point Press
https://www.missionpointpress.com
9781961302617, $16.95, PB, 282pp
https://www.amazon.com/Younger-Girl-Historical-Thriller-Based/dp/1961302616
Synopsis: In 1933, Chicago tabloids trumpeted the death of twenty-year-old town belle Aldine Younger with the sensational headline "HEIRESS SLAIN, MARRIED MAN HELD".
In the aftermath of Aldine Younger's tragic death, her grieving brother Owen suspects that their wealthy uncle orchestrated a sinister murder plot to cover up the theft of Aldine's inheritance. Fast forward to 1996, when an aging Owen, burdened by the weight of the past, is compelled to discover the truth before he dies. His daughter, Joanna, becomes the key to unraveling the family's twisted history.
Father and daughter journey back to Pontiac, Illinois, to claim Owen's rightful bequest. There they find themselves caught in a labyrinth of lies born of family greed and treachery crossing three generations. Amidst violent storms and dramatic revelations, Owen's sanity teeters on the edge as he confuses Joanna with the sister he lost. Joanna, racing against time, unearths secrets that could shatter her world and discovers a psychic bridge linking past, present, and future. But at what cost? And who will survive the revelations?
Critique: Although a work of fiction, "The Younger Girl" by Georgia Jeffries is based on a true crime and in which the author deftly combines historical fiction and supernatural suspense to unravel a thrilling tale of family deception and long-denied redemption. A deftly crafted and simply fascinating read from start to finish, "The Younger Girl" will hold a special attraction to readers with an interest in murder mystery thrillers with an element of paranormal. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Younger Girl" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.95) as well.
Editorial Note: Georgia Jeffries (https://georgiajeffries.com) is a writer of Emmy Award-winning drama and acclaimed noir fiction. Honored with multiple Writers Guild Awards, Golden Globes, and the Humanitas Prize. Her short stories have appeared in national suspense anthologies, including Mystery Writers of America's Odd Partners and Sisters in Crime's The Last Resort. She has also written biography and historical profiles for HuffPost, Los Angeles Review of Books, and University of California Press. A cum laude UCLA graduate, Jeffries is a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she created the first BFA Television Thesis program at an American university.
Little Boy Blue
Margaret Fenton
Aakenbaaken & Kent
9781958022184, $16.99, PB, 222pp
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Boy-Blue-Margaret-Fenton/dp/1958022187
Synopsis: Mystery solving child welfare social worker Claire Conover is back in "Little Boy Blue,". She and Grant Summerville have broken up, and she is getting used to being a single foster mother. When Grant is accused of child abuse by a former employee, Regina Maynard, Claire vows to prove his innocence.
Then Regina is murdered, and Claire takes charge of her six-year-old son, Dylan. There is no shortage of suspects in Regina's murder, including Grant himself. Regina had many enemies, including people she stole from and ex-lovers she was blackmailing. Claire and Grant must work together to solve her murder before Grant loses everything.
Critique: The fourth title in novelist Margaret Fenton's 'Claire Conover Mystery' series, "Little Boy Blue" is one of those 'whodunnit' murder mysteries with more unexpected twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado. A compulsive page turner of a read from start to finish, "Little Boy Blue" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Margaret Fenton (https://margaretfenton.com) is the author of the Little Mystery series set in Birmingham, Alabama, and featuring child welfare social worker Claire Conover. All of the books are available on Amazon as well as Kindle versions.
Friends with Secrets
Christine Gunderson
https://christinegunderson.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662522710, $16.99, PB, 431pp
https://www.amazon.com/Friends-Secrets-Novel-Christine-Gunderson/dp/1662522711
Synopsis: What you see isn't always what you get.
Take Ainsley. The gorgeous mother of two lives a picture-perfect life with her husband, Ben - aspiring politician and heir to a candy fortune - in suburban Washington, DC. But in reality, Ainsley has no idea what she's doing and is terrified someone will figure out who she really is and where she came from.
Nikki's fighting to keep afloat as a stay-at-home mother of four, subsisting on chicken nuggets and very little sleep. She's a mess on the outside, and inside yearns for the validation - and the paycheck - of the television news career she left behind.
When a dangerous figure from Ainsley's past becomes a coach at her kids' school, she fears the worst and confides in Nikki, spilling every detail of her former life.
Together, they devise a plan to expose the coach and safeguard their kids. But can they protect their own lives (and their new friendship) in the process?
Critique: With a particularly impressive blending of humor and suspense, "Friends with Secrets" is a novel of a woman's family life that effectively showcases author Christine Gunderson's natural and distinctive storytelling style that has created an original and fun read from cover to cover. While also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99), this paperback edition of "Friends with Secrets" from Lake Union Publishing is an ideal pick for community/public library Contemporary Suspense/Thriller Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Christine Gunderson (www.christinegunderson.com) is a former television anchor and reporter and former Capitol Hill aide.
Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Robert Dugoni
https://www.robertdugonibooks.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517990, $28.99, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Reasonable-Doubt-Keera-Duggan/dp/1662517998
Synopsis: When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court -- she's Jenna's childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows.
Five years earlier, Keera's father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for the killing of her company's chief scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Keera knows Jenna too well. When she was a kid, Keera saw Jenna for what she was: a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath. Now, with only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes, this time, to be innocent.
As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears that this time she's telling nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.
Critique: A first rate suspense thriller of a read from start to finish, "Beyond Reasonable Doubt" by novelist Robert Dugoni is an impressively original, deftly crafted, compellingly memorable, and unreservedly recommended pick for community/public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense/Thriller fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of "Beyond Reasonable Doubt" from Thomas & Mercer is also available in a paperback edition (9781662500220, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Robert Dugoni (www.robertdugonibooks.com) is the author of several series, including Tracy Crosswhite, Charles Jenkins, David Sloane, and Keera Duggan. His stand-alone novels include Damage Control, The 7th Canon, The World Played Chess, and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell. Dugoni is also the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction and a multi-time winner for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has been a finalist for many other awards.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero
Jordan Keller
Speaking Volumes
https://speakingvolumes.us
9781645407621, $17.99, PB, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wildfire-Rise-Ashes-Avalon-Trilogy/dp/1645407624
Synopsis: Abigail Turner knew she wanted to be a superhero even before her flame powers developed. She honed her skills, aced community college, and became the sidekick to San Arbor's number one hero, Volcanic. When she is fired for misconduct, however, furthering her career seems impossible.
Determined to don her cape at a different superhero company, Abigail knows she must get stronger and accepts a deal from an unlikely source.
Cinder, a similarly powered villain who has bested her at every encounter, offers to train her if Abigail owes him a favor: A way out of the city.
Falling in love wasn't part of the deal.
As the line between good and evil blurs, Abigail must choose between her passion to do good and her love for a villain who is hiding much more behind his mask.
"Wildfire" offers an introspective look at the relationships and career complexities within a superhero society and the pursuit of one's identity when the shadows of their past loom over their future.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from start to finish, "Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero" by Jordan S. Keller will prove to be of immense appeal to readers with an interest in superhero themed science fiction/fantasy action adventure stories with an element of superhero/supervillain romance. Launching novelist Keller's 'Ashes Over Avalon' trilogy, "Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for the personal reading list of all superhero fans that this edition of "Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero" from Speaking Volumes is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Jordan Keller (https://www.jordanskellerauthor.com) possesses a Bachelor's Degree from Morehead State University for Convergent Media. She sharpens her writing skills while recounting the heroics of her Dungeons and Dragons characters, and running a blog of the outrageous things her college-aged tenants call her about.
The Witches of Santo Stefano
Wendy Webb
https://wendykwebb.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517419, $16.99, PB, 315pp
https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Santo-Stefano-Novel/dp/1662517416
Synopsis: When Cassie Graves discovers her husband's affair, it's enough to chip away at the foundation of her life. But after researching her family's Italian ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her.
Her grandmother Gia's often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria -- witchcraft.
Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of locals: the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie's; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet -- and the warning that she may have walked into a trap.
When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the haunting discovery of who she really is.
Critique: Having a very special resonance for fans of Gothic & Occult fiction, "The Witches of Santo Stefano" by talented novelist Wendy Webb is an impressively original and simply riveting read from start to finish. While "The Witches of Santo Stefano" is an especially recommended pick for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this Lake Union paperback edition is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Wendy Webb (www.wendykwebb.com) is the author of nine novels of gothic suspense, including The Stroke of Winter, The Keepers of Metsan Valo, The Haunting of Brynn Wilder, Daughters of the Lake, The Vanishing, The Fate of Mercy Alban, The Tale of Halcyon Crane, and The End of Temperance Dare.
The Timestream Verdict
Jordan Berk
IE Snaps!
c/o IngramElliott Publishing
http://www.ingramelliott.com/ie-snaps-imprint.html
9781952961267, $19.99, PB, 282pp
https://www.amazon.com/Timestream-Verdict-Jordan-Berk/dp/1952961262
Synopsis: Aaron Barnett falls asleep in 1985 as an ordinary accountant and wakes up sixty years later as a juror for the trial of the century. The utopian society of 2042 is grappling with the murder of the 'Mother of Time Travel'. And only this jury of inadvertent time travelers is equipped to reach an impartial verdict.
The twenty-first century feels like a paradise to Aaron. Far removed from his monotonous life, he savors the advancements and luxuries that the seemingly idyllic future has to offer. That is, until he uncovers the complicated, hidden truths behind time travel, and his own past, present, and future are suddenly at risk.
A time-travel crime calls for a time-travel jury. As it turns out, Aaron and his fellow jurors may be ruling on more than a lone case of temporal homicide. They may be delivering a verdict on the very nature of time itself.
Critique: Original, imaginative, deftly crafted storytelling, "The Timestream Verdict by author Jordan Berk is a fun read from start to finish. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction fans that "The Timestream Verdict" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Jordan Berk is a software engineer by trade and a certified nerd by nature. He has loved time-travel stories for as long as he can remember, and The Timestream Verdict is his first contribution to the genre. (https://www.facebook.com/jordanberkauthor)
Imbrifex Books
https://imbrifex.com
Imbrifex Books is the publisher of author Andrew Varga's outstanding new science fiction time travel trilogy, 'A Jump in Time' that is comprised of these three linked novels and intended for teen and young adult readers ages 12 to 21:
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Saxon-King-Jump-Novel/dp/1945501855
"The Last Saxon King: Book 1" (9781945501821, $18.99 HC, $14.99 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 316pp)
Life is progressing normally for sixteen-year-old Dan Renfrew when he accidentally transports himself to England in the year 1066. He soon realizes that he's trapped there, and that's not his only astonishing discovery. Dan learns that he's descended from a long line of time jumpers -- secret heroes who travel to the past and resolve glitches in the time stream that threaten to alter subsequent history.
The only way Dan can return home is to set history back on its proper course in the Anglo-Saxon age. This is no easy task. A Viking horde is ravaging England in the north while a Norman army threatens to invade from the south. In between and desperately struggling to hold on to his throne is Harold Godwinson, the newly-crowned English king. Dan is fighting to ensure that events play out correctly when he finds himself plunged into an even more lethal conflict.
To save history, Dan must battle a band of malevolent time jumpers whose lust for wealth and power threatens the entire future of the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Deception-Jump-Time-Novel/dp/1945501898
"The Celtic Deception: Book 2" (9781945501869, $19.99 HC, $15.99 PB, 9.99 Kindle, 302pp)
Dan Renfrew hates that he's a time jumper -- but seventeen-year-olds should not be stuck with the responsibility of saving history. But with no one else stepping up to stop Victor Stahl's plot to take over the world, Dan and his time-jumping partner Sam have no choice but to jump back into history again.
They land on the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, hoping to find answers on how to stop Victor. Their task isn't easy. Everyone seems to be hiding something, from the druids who rule Anglesey to the Celts who take the time jumpers in. As two Roman legions (intent on wiping out everyone on the island) draw closer, time is running out for Dan and Sam.
https://www.amazon.com/Mongol-Ascension-Jump-Novel-Three/dp/1955307075
"The Mongol Ascension: Book 3" (9781955307048, $20.99 HC, $16.99 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 304pp)
Seventeen-year-old Dan Renfrew's life is anything but ordinary. In addition to facing the usual teenage challenges, he has a secret. He's a time jumper, a member of a clandestine group tasked with fixing glitches in history. When rogue jumpers threaten global chaos, Dan and his partner Sam embark on a perilous mission to Mongolia in the year 1179. There they encounter a brave teen fighting to save his kidnapped wife. They soon realize they're in a desperate race against time to save the Mongol Empire -- and the future of the entire world!
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from start to finish, the 'A Jump in Time' trilogy by novelist Andrew Vara is especially and unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated action/adventure time travel science fiction fans and community/public library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.
Editorial Note: Ever since his mother told him he was descended from Vikings, Andrew Varga has had a fascination for history. He's read hundreds of history books, watched countless historical movies, and earned a BA from the University of Toronto with a specialist in history and a major in English. Andrew has traveled extensively across Europe, where he toured famous castles, museums, and historical sites. During his travels he accumulated a collection of swords, shields, and other medieval weapons that now adorn his personal library. It was his children's love of reading, particularly historical and fantasy stories, that inspired Andrew to write this series. (http://andrewvargaauthor.com)
The Poetry Shelf
Minnesota Poems from the Outposts
Hari Hyde
Independently Published
9798986718163, $12.99, PB, 252pp
https://www.amazon.com/MINNESOTA-POEMS-OUTPOSTS-HARI-HYDE/dp/B0DCVLQQ5C
Synopsis: With the poetry and verse comprising "Minnesota Poems from the Outposts", poet Hari Hyde deftly explores the astonishing small towns, indomitable freethinkers, astounding legends, inquisitive Christians, and glorious watery wilderness abiding in the Minnesota heartland.
The distinctive verse of Hari Hyde (a native of Middle River, Minnesota), recounts the poetical precincts of farms, villages, lakes, and forests that vivify the North Star State. With humor, homage, wonder, and wit, Hari's poetic journeys from Minnesota's outposts to the expansive wilds wandering our minds is skillful, emotionally engaging, and memorable.
Critique: A master of both free verse and rhyming verse, Hari Hyde admirably showcases his word crafting skills in the pages of "Minnesota Poems from the Outposts". His rhythms and verbal imagery are eloquent and elegant, making this edition of "Minnesota Poems from the Outposts" a prized pick and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Poetry collections ann supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Fantasy and poetry author. Hari Hyde is also the author of The Honeygate Chronicles, a satirical, fantasy adventure trilogy. Many readers who loved the lyrical style of those fables have forecast Hari Hyde's pilgrimage into poetry. Hari has harbored in Minnesota, the Milky Way, and the boisterous burrows of Unbathed Brains.
The Literary Studies Shelf
The Journey of Dagny Taggart
Frederick H. Cookinham
Pereset Press
https://peresetpress.com
9781737308836, $54.95, HC, 478pp
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Dagny-Taggart-Commentary-Shrugged/dp/1737308835
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Journey of Dagny Taggart: A Commentary on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged: Volume 1" author Frederick H. Cookingham offers the most detailed literary analysis of Ayn Rand's iconic novel "Atlas Shrugged" yet published.
Cookinham works through the Rand novel page by page to explore the many life experiences and locations that influenced her literary development of the novel. Unlike most reviews of "Atlas Shrugged", Cookinham says the book should be examined as a romantic novel about the philosophical transition of Dagny Taggart through three love affairs rather than as a political manifesto.
Along the way, Cookinham also examines the many criticisms that have been launched against Rand's literary skills by critics, many of whom probably never read the book, and thoroughly refutes them. He demonstrates through the commentary that Rand is a novelist of extraordinary skill and deserves to be treated as such.
Critique: Articulate, insightful, iconoclastic, fascinating, thought-provoking, "The Journey of Dagny Taggart: A Commentary on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged: Volume 1" by Frederick H. Cookinham is an extraordinary work of literary criticism and an unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library Literary Criticism collections and supplemental Ann Rand Studies curriculum reading lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and the legions of Ann Rand fans that "The Journey of Dagny Taggart: A Commentary on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged: Volume 1" from Pereset Press is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781737308829, $35.95).
Editorial Note: Frederick H. Cookinham, 69, was born in Syracuse, New York in 1954. He earned a BA in American History from Cortland State College in 1976 and a Masters from Brooklyn College in 1987. He is the author of The Age of Rand: Imagining an Objectivist Future World. He currently edits Broadside, the newsletter of the American Revolution Round Table of New York. He has retired from a career in legal proofreading and now leads walking tours in Manhattan (http://www.indepthwalkingtours.com). Five of his tours concentrate on Ayn Rand, whose life and work he has been studying since the age of thirteen. Six more show sites from the American Revolution in New York City.
The Business Shelf
Queen of the Side Hustle
Christine Schaub
Independently Published
9798884008083, $14.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Side-Hustle-Unleashing-Potential/dp/B0D482K8CX
Synopsis: Author and entrepreneur Christine Schaub asks the question -- Are you ready to rake in extra income with a side hustle? If so you should know that over 1/3 of American men and women now earn an average of $1000 in extra cash every month -- and you could be one of them!
"Queen of the Side Hustle: Unleashing Your Potential for Extra Income" is an informative and easy-to-read side-hustle guide in which award-winning web series host and #1 Amazon best-selling author Christine Schaub shows you how she manages six different side hustles to monetize her skills and passions, whilst encouraging you to jump aboard the 'hustle train'.
Whether you are a man, woman, teenager, or retiree looking for extra income, Christine shares the process for finding your niche, getting the word out, managing your time, and increasing your value using the best side-hustle ideas. Included is a handy list of some of the most lucrative side-hustles to inspire you to start pulling in extra cash today!
In that process, you may get slapped on the head with some unique challenges, tax dilemmas, and a solid urge to quit. Christine has been there and done that, and she shares the answers to the most common and obscure questions about succeeding in any type of side hustle.
Follow the steps, fill out the worksheets, start hustling, then rake in the dough. Who knows? You might just get to kiss the corporate world goodbye!
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly in style, organization and presentation, "Queen of the Side Hustle: Unleashing Your Potential for Extra Income" is a welcome, valued, inspiring, and 'real world practical' instructional guide to augmenting income. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Home-Based, & Start-Up Business collections and supplemental Contemporary Entrepreneurship curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBR students and aspiring entrepreneurs that "Queen of the Side Hustle: Unleashing Your Potential for Extra Income" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Christine Schaub is the host of the Telly Award-winning "Come On Over" web series about all things hospitality, with an emphasis on gardening, home decor, and no-fail recipes. Christine is also the author of the critically-acclaimed "Music of the Heart" historical fiction novels, as well as the co-author of the #1 Amazon bestselling memoir of Hall of Fame vocalist, Larnelle Harris. She's edited non-fiction memoirs for speakers/singers, and fiction for budding writers. (https://www.goodreads.com/series/85295-music-of-the-heart)
What Should We Do?
Joe Crisara
Service MVP
https://www.servicemvp.com
9798989553402, $35.99, HC, 458pp
https://www.amazon.com/What-Should-We-Do-Clients/dp/B0CTGPPX1X
Synopsis: "What Should We Do?: How to Win Clients, Double Profit & Grow Your Home Service Sales" is a DIY game-changing guide by legendary sales coach Joe Crisara who challenges you to replace your outdated business perspective with the new Pure Motive Service approach. From PHCE companies ready to scale to blue-collar pros seeking profit growth, "What Should We Do?" is a step-by-step home service sales system revolutionizing contracting businesses.
This is a 'user friendly' and definitive guide on repackaging, differentiating, and selling services at a higher perceived quality and for more money than anyone in the market. "What Should We Do?" gives tangible advice to all home service providers on dealing with the pains, troubles, and struggles that contractors face.
Joe Crisara's down-to-earth style and direct approach are based on his personal experience in the field. Covering Pure Motive Service, goal setting, methods of persuasion, proposal crafting, client objections, referrals, and so much more, "What Should We Do?" can help any home service provider win sales, double their profit, and grow their home service business.
Critique: Simply stated, "What Should We Do?: How to Win Clients, Double Profit & Grow Your Home Service Sales" is essential reading for anyone engaging in entrepreneurship at any level. Exceptionally well written and 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "What Should We Do?" is a compendium of 'real world' tips, insights, and instructive information that will prove foundationally important for business success in general, and home service providers in particular. While also available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9798989553419, $25.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99), "What Should We Do?" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for professional, community, business school, and college/university library Business/Entrepreneurship collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Joe Crisara was once a home service contractor with a failing business. Deeply in debt, he had zero sales skills, and he undercharged everyone for everything. He assumed the only way to create higher value was to do the same service everyone else did for a lower price. But when things looked most bleak, Joe had an aha! moment. Not only did it change his life - it skyrocketed his business. Since then, Joe and Julie, his wife and business partner, have helped thousands of contractors achieve three to five times greater revenue by implementing his transformative "Pure Motive Service" system. Joe's down-to-earth style and direct approach are based on having personally overcome the same pains, troubles, and struggles that contractors face - all of which are still very real to him. From startups to Fortune 1000 companies, scores of owners, managers, technicians, and sales professionals in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contracting businesses utilize his principles of persuasion, selling, presentation, and closing.
The Self-Help Shelf
Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time
Sara Shaw
https://sarashaw.org
Trilogy Christian Publishing
https://www.trilogy.tv
9798893332056, $22.99, PB, 322pp
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Your-Life-Leaf-Time/dp/B0D53QFRNS
Synopsis: Imagine, for a moment, a four-leaf clover and healing your life, one leaf at a time. Inside the chapters comprising "Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time" by Sara Shaw are personal interviews of people from all walks of life who shared some of their deepest and darkest days.
Readers will be drawn into each of their lives, wanting to read on and needing to read on to know how they survived it. What did they learn? Where are they now?
The meaning of keeping things behind closed doors is to keep things hidden and secret for very good reasons. Real names were not used to protect identities, but their stories are real, and they were told for all the right reasons. Each individual chapter cracks the door open in the hopes that these stories will bring hope and healing to others.
Critique: "Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time" is a motivational self-help/self-improvement guide from a Christian perspective and presented illuminated and illuminating real life examples drawn from the real lives of the people showcased as examples. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, author Sara Shaw's "Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time" from Trilogy Christian Publishing is especially and unreservedly recommended for seminary and church library Christian Spiritual Growth/Inspirational Self-Help collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and members of Christian congregations and communities that "Healing Your Life One Leaf at a Time" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Sara Shaw (https://sarashaw.org) received five-star reviews for her novel "Two Sisters & The Four Leaf Clover", the first book in The Clover Legend Series and is a story of a family's tragedies, desperation, and strong will to survive. This opened the door for more stories to share.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
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