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Reviewer's Choice
October 7th: The Day Life Changed
Eitan Barokas
Independently Published
https://www.october7thbook.com
9798218695484, $35.99, HC, 420pp
Author's Website
https://www.october7thbook.com/purchase/book
Synopsis: On October 7th, 2023, Hamas led the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Roughly 1,200 people were killed, and more than 250 were taken into Gaza as hostages.
In the wake of that black Saturday, Eitan Barokas traveled from the United States to Israel to document the voices of those directly impacted by the events of October 7th.
Over the course of two months, Eitan met with survivors of the nova festival, residents of the Gaza envelope, and family members of the hostages, gathering their firsthand accounts of what happened that fateful day.
With the publication of "October 7th: The Day Life Changed", Eitan encapsulates seventeen stories and interviews, standing as a historical record. "October 7th: The Day Life Changed" offers a window into life before, during, and after October 7th, shedding light on that fateful day and the reverberations that continue to echo down to the present.
Critique: "October 7th: The Day Life Changed" is comprised of 6 conversations with survivors of the nova festival, 2 conversations with residents of the Gaza envelope, and 9 conversations with family members of the hostages. It is a collective eye-witness account of a sneak attack and massacre that would go on to kill thousands of Palestinians as Israel was provoked into war by the Hamas invasion into Israel -- a war and killing that still goes on today. "October 7th: The Day Life Changed" is an original, unique, grim, informative and groundbreaking study that is both intensely personal and with a universal resonance. "October 7th: The Day Life Changed" is an especially and unreserved recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Israeli/Palestinian History collections and supplemental Middle Easter International Studies curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Eitan Barokas (https://www.eitan.gallery) is an Israeli-American artist based in New Jersey, whose work spans painting, digital art, photography, and writing. His artistic practice, long rooted in abstract painting, has steadily expanded to include narrative-driven forms -- often combining visual media and language to explore human stories.
On October 7th, 2023, Eitan's creative work came to an abrupt halt. In February of 2024, just a few months later, he traveled to Israel to document the experiences of those impacted by the October 7th attacks. Over the year that followed, Eitan transcribed and translated the stories and
interviews he had collected in Israel from Hebrew to English crafting a record of memory and testimony that became his first published work.
The Education Shelf
Basic Concepts in Math and Science
Kerman Bharucha
Independently Published
9798993611006, $35.00, PB, 440pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Concepts-Math-Science-complement/dp/B0H8KDWCC4
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/basic-concepts-in-math-and-science-a-complement-to-school-texts-kerman-bharucha/1150764696
Synopsis: With the publication of "Basic Concepts in Math and Science", author Kerman Bharucha as a supplement to school texts in the areas of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Coordinate Geometry and Basic Science. Of special note is the inclusion of a table-of-contents for details on the many topics covered in the book.
"Basic Concepts in Math and Science" is specifically geared as a complement to school texts as it provides explanations of concepts to a clarity and depth that you will be hard-pressed to find in other books.
As one example: Word-problems tend to be a sticking point with many students. The explanations for word-problems that I have come across in other books do not compare favorably with how I have approached word-problems using my "balance concept in math" technique. In particular, my "balances as fractions" technique allows one to solve word-problems extremely easily and almost mechanically.
"Basic Concepts in Math and Science" also provides detailed explanations in the areas of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Coordinate Geometry and Basic Science that the student will find easier to comprehend and learn from, than what would be found in other texts on basic math and science.
The language of math is a shorthand notation for expressing simple and complex ideas succinctly. This book will help the student to enjoy the language of math and science because "Basic Concepts in Math and Science" will help the student to understand the language of math and science.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 1.17 x 11 inches, 2.94 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Basic Concepts in Math and Science" is an ideal curriculum supplement for homeschooling parents and classroom instructors -- as well as caretakers of the pre-K child who are willing to do some reading and teaching as part of their work with young children. It is also exceptionally appropriate for the young student in elementary or middle school who has difficulty with basic math, home-schooling curriculums -- as well as anyone of any age who needs a review of basic math. "Basic Concepts in Math and Science" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, school district, and college/university library Math/Science instructional reference collections and curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Kerman Bharucha (https://www.udemy.com/user/kerman-bharucha) has a BS in Chemistry and Physics from the University of Bombay (Mumbai), India; a BS in Physician Assistant from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY., has been a computer programmer for about 35 years; an instructor in computer science for many years at Xerox Corp. He has authored 2 books on computerized database management, many years ago.*He has also taught math and science to many students, both children and adults. As well as being very involved in the early childhood education of my grandson. It was his 10 years of experience teaching his grandson that was the driving force in my authorship of "Basic Concepts in Math and Science".
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
More Than a Paycheck
Ozlem Brooke Erol
https://www.caringleadershiplearning.com/coach-brooke-ozlem-erol
Jetlaunch Publishing
https://jetlaunch.net
9798994236727, $29.99, HC, 274pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Paycheck-Step-Step/dp/B0GNPK6PC5
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-than-a-paycheck-ozlem-brooke-erol/1149494541
Synopsis: For many professionals, work looks successful on the outside (steady income, respected title, a polished resume) yet feels empty on the inside. The quiet dread of Monday mornings, the sense of misalignment, and the feeling that something essential is missing are more common than we admit.
"More Than a Paycheck: A Step-by-Step Guide to Clarity, Alignment, and Purpose to Find and Do Work We Love" by Ozlem Brooke Erol is a compassionate and practical guide for people who believe work should carry meaning, dignity, and purpose. It also speaks to professionals who are burned out, stuck, or at a crossroads-whether they are rethinking a long-held career path, navigating a layoff, or questioning traditional definitions of success.
Drawing from decades of coaching experience, Ozlem Brooke Erol helps readers reconnect with what truly matters. Through reflection, real-life stories, and grounded exercises, readers will learn to identify their strengths, clarify their values, and recognize what genuinely energizes them at work.
Rather than promoting drastic or reckless change, "More Than a Paycheck" offers thoughtful pathways forward-showing how purpose can be expressed by enhancing one's current role, transitioning careers with intention, or creating something new. It emphasizes alignment over hustle and sustainability over sacrifice.
At its core, "More Than a Paycheck" challenges the idea that work is something to endure until retirement. It invites readers to design a working life that supports well-being, fulfillment, and contribution-while honoring real-world responsibilities.
"More Than a Paycheck" is for anyone who knows, deep down, that work can be more human-and that a fulfilling career is not a luxury, but a possibility worth pursuing.
Critique: Most of us spend at least a third of our lives working for a living. But there's a certain folklore truth to the expression that -- "If you are doing what you love, you won't have to work a day in your life." Now we are entering the age of AI and its impact on jobs and careers will be monumental. This makes "More Than a Paycheck: A Step-by-Step Guide to Clarity, Alignment, and Purpose to Find and Do Work We Love" by Ozlem Brooke Erol especially timely and a critically important pick for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Jobs/Careers Hunting and employment themed Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "More Than a Paycheck" from Jetlaunch Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9798994236710, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Ozlem Brooke Erol worked at IBM for 11 years and held positions as VP of Sales and Marketing in a few others. She started her first business YourBestLifeInc helping individuals step into a more meaningful and fulfilling life by using their gifts and passion. She loves being a career coach to make sure more people are aligned with what they do at work and be more fulfilled. She knows there are too many unhappy people at work and human potential and lives are wasted. After working with hundreds of very smart, capable people who are very unhappy at work, she wanted to have a bigger impact. She started working with CEOs, entrepreneurs and HR Directors to create Great Work Cultures that increases engagement, happiness at work while increasing profit. So she started her second business Purposeful Business, Inc.
Locked Out
Byron K. Veasey
www.byronkveasey.com
Independently Published
9798199359887, $21.99, HC, 298pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Locked-Out-Strategies-Senior-Level-Professionals/dp/B0H3HCXY2S
Synopsis: With the overturning of anti-discrimination laws governing employment in recent years, and the impact of AI technology, it has come significantly more difficult for men (and women) of color to compete for jobs and to establish careers.
As career strategist and experienced African-American corporate executive Byron K. Veasley lays out in "Locked Out: Proven Strategies to Navigate ATS Filters, Overcome Workplace Bias, and Win Senior-Level Roles in a Shifting Job Market for Black Professionals" --
Same resume. Different name. Thirty to fifty percent fewer callbacks.
You have the credentials. You have the track record. You have done, without exception, everything you were told would work.
And the applications keep going silent.
Most job-search advice will tell you to network harder or fix your resume. That advice was written for a market that isn't the one you're standing in. Because what you're facing isn't one obstacle - it's three, operating at the same time.
The Triple Barrier
Algorithmic filtering. Software ranks and sorts before any person reads a word - and the patterns it learned came from decisions humans already made.
Human bias at the screen. Resume audit studies have found identical applications drawing 30 - 50% fewer callbacks when the name reads as Black.
Dismantled infrastructure. The DEI programs and internal advocates that once created a side-door have been cut, quietly, across most of the corporate market.
Any one of these is survivable. Running simultaneously, they produce a search that feels personally hostile and looks, from the inside, like a verdict on you.
It isn't a verdict. It's a system. And systems can be read.
What "Locked Out" gives you is:
A diagnostic - which of the three barriers is actually stopping you, so effort goes where it converts instead of everywhere at once
A resume the machine reads correctly -- formatting that survives the parser, keyword work that isn't stuffing, and the tailoring pass that doesn't take your whole evening
The side-door strategy -- how referrals, sponsorship, and warm introductions actually get built when the formal channels have been cut
Interview and negotiation moves -- including how to answer the questions that get asked of you and not of others, without shrinking
A way to hold your footing -- the psychological work of staying steady through a search designed to make every silence feel personal
"Locked Out is specifically intended for Black professionals with real seniority and real results (often mid-career, often the only one in the room) running a search in a market that changed while they were busy being excellent at their jobs. If you have started wondering whether the problem is you, "Locked Out" was written to answer that question with evidence rather than encouragement.
But it should be noted that "Locked Out" is not about how unfair things are. That you already know. It's not a pep talk, and it's not a list of affirmations. It names each barrier precisely, explains the mechanism, and hands you the moves that work against it.
All this is because you were never the problem. You were locked out. "Locked Out" is how the lock works -- and how to get past it.
Critique: Simply stated, "Locked Out: Proven Strategies to Navigate ATS Filters, Overcome Workplace Bias, and Win Senior-Level Roles in a Shifting Job Market for Black Professionals" is essential reading for anyone being discriminated against in the workplace, or being passed over for employment, or running into a dead end with respect to their chosen career, all because of the color of their skin. This is a 'real world practical' DIY instruction manual and how-to guide for succeeding in a job hunt search and/or a job interview despite racial discrimination -- even in today's increasingly hostile job market ranging from blue color employment to corporate executive positions and opportunities. An unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Jobs/Careers and Black Studies collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Locked Out" is also available in paperback (9798199354493, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Byron K. Veasey (www.byronkveasey.com) is a writer, career strategist, and data quality engineering leader whose work explores the emotional, psychological, and professional landscapes people navigate during periods of transition. Recognizing that sudden career disruption is as much a neurological event as a logistical one, his writing blends clarity, humanity, and deep empathy -- giving language to experiences many feel but rarely articulate. He provides the tactical and psychological blueprints professionals need to execute a true career reset.
Through his platform, Career Strategies, Byron has published long-form essays, guides, and podcasts that reach thousands of readers each month. He equips his audience to navigate the Job Search 2026 landscape by helping them rebuild confidence, reclaim their identity, and move through uncertainty with strength and self-trust. His work focuses heavily on the intersection of human resilience and technological disruption.
By teaching professionals how to build a sovereign AI Career Strategy, Byron empowers his readers to leverage their un-hackable "Human Premium" against the rising tide of corporate automation and algorithmic hiring.
The Parenting Shelf
Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective
Jean Kelly Widner
Mystic Publishers
https://adoptionparadox.com
9781957374123, $32.99, HC, 485pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Paradox-Putting-Perspective/dp/1957374128
Synopsis: Adoption impacts countless families worldwide, yet the voices of those directly involved (especially the adoptees, the central focus of the process) are rarely highlighted.
With the publication of "Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective", Jean Kelly Widner reviewed nearly one hundred individuals involved in the adoption process ranging from domestic, international, and transracial adoptions, as well as foster care, along with adoptive and birth parents, therapists, experts, and allies.
These narratives reveal both the love and the emotional costs borne by everyone affected, exposing adoption as a complex and challenging experience. Healing is possible with the right support, but addressing adoption's hidden issues requires activism to confront unethical practices that lack oversight.
"Adoption Paradox" is a compendium of moving real life stories that shed light on unaddressed pain and systemic flaws in our adoption systems -- and calling for a more transparent and compassionate approach to adoption.
Critique: A seminal, contemporary, and ground breaking study on adoption, "Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective" by Jean Kelly Widner is essential reading for anyone (adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents) who is involved in or contemplating an adoption. Of special note is the information offered with respect to 'The Online Adoption Market', 'Reunions', and 'Adoptee Birth Certificates & Politics'. Comprehensive, informative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Parenting & Adoption collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective" from Mystic Publishers is also available in paperback (9781957374000, $26.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Jean Kelly Widner (https://adoptionparadox.com) is a domestic adoptee born in 1965 and raised in Washington State. After having a mostly positive adoption experience growing up, she now shares her story, as it continues to evolve navigating adoption's complexities. Jean is an award winning author, a marketing consultant, and joint venture affiliate marketing expert. With her husband she has built and sold two e-commerce companies. She is the owner of a local news and information blog in her small town, which expanded her love of storytelling and writing. Jean is also a member of a local Rotary Club and volunteers with the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates organization. She currently lives in Southern Nevada with her husband and two dogs.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
When the Tamarind Tree Blooms
Elaine Russell
https://www.elainerussell.info
Belles Histoires
9781732499492, $21.00, PB, 400pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tamarind-Blooms-Elaine-Russell/dp/1732499497
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-the-tamarind-tree-blooms-elaine-russell/1145034119
Synopsis: Genevieve (Vivi) Dubois (a metisse, half-Lao/half-French), turns eighteen and leaves the French orphanage in Vientiane where she has been trapped for fourteen unhappy years.
With only a distant memory of being torn from her mother's arms at age four, she is determined to uncover what happened to her parents and locate her missing twin brother. But where to start?
Orphanage and government officials refuse to reveal her origins. She leaves her strict Catholic upbringing behind and emerges into the deeply divided world of 1931 French colonial Laos. Neither French colons nor native Lao readily accept her mixed heritage.
Where does she fit in as she navigates her way, one foot stuck in each world?
She is grateful for the kindness of her former French teacher, who offers her shelter and support. But she meets with prejudice, mistreatment, and rejection at every turn. Even falling in love is fraught with the cultural restrictions of two dissonant societies. A long circuitous route leads her to the past and a way forward to a better future, one where she is proud of who she is and rightfully claims her life as her own.
Critique: Original, creative, deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, and a fascinating read from start to finish, "When the Tamarind Tree Blooms" showcases novelist Elaine Russell's impressive flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style is exceptional and ideal for the historical 'coming-of-age' genre. While an unreservedly recommended pick for community library 20th Century Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "When the Tamarind Tree Blooms" from Belles Histoires is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Elaine Russell (https://www.elainerussell.info) is the author of three historical novels and six award-winning children's book. When she begin a new novel, it feels like some of her characters and their unexpected personalities soon take over. Equally enjoyable as the writing, is the research she does for her books. Holding a B.A. in History, she is always finding fascinating events or facts that help shape her stories. Her love of travel and history have also contributed significantly to her writing, as weaves in the culture and past of other countries into her stories.
Asphalt Surfer
Jeffrey P. Armstrong
Flare Books
c/o Catalyst Press
https://www.catalystpress.org
9781963511468, $19.95, PB, 260pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Asphalt-Surfer-Jeffrey-P-Armstrong/dp/1963511468
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/asphalt-surfer-jeffrey-p-armstrong/1147812869
Synopsis: In 1968, Venice, Florida isn't cool -- but the vibe in Venice, California is.
Jack Walsh has just graduated from high school. A surfer in Venice, Florida, Jack's dream is to hitchhike across the United States to Venice, California, in search of the perfect wave. Along the way, the naive teenage surfer-wannabe encounters mysterious, beautiful, and terrible strangers, highlighting the social norms and cultural realities of America of the late 60s, transforming the young man into the adult he desires to be.
Critique: An original and deftly crafted coming of age novel by Jeffrey P. Armstrong, "Asphalt Surfer showcases the author's genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for the genre and raises his novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. While this paperback edition of "Asphalt Surfer" from Flare Books is an unreservedly recommended pick for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.95, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Jeffrey P. Armstrong grew up in New York and Florida and as a teenager hitchhiked around America in the late 1960s. He has worked as a salesman in the health industries and as a registered nurse. He lives in Gulfport, Florida with his wife. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jeffrey-P-Armstrong-Author/61576674609576
The Literary Fiction Shelf
A Short Stay in Hell
Steven L. Peck
http://stevepeckniche.com
Strange Violin Editions
https://strangeviolineditions.com
9780983748441, $25.99, HC, 110pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Short-Stay-Hell-Steven-Peck/dp/0983748446
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-short-stay-in-hell-steven-l-peck/1017543045
Synopsis: An ordinary family man, geologist, and practicing Mormon, Soren Johansson has always believed he would be reunited with his loved ones in an eternal hereafter.
Then, he dies.
Soren awakes to find himself cast by a God he has never heard of into a Hell whose dimensions he can barely grasp: a vast library he can only escape from by finding the book that contains the story of his life.
"A Short Stay in Hell" is haunting existential novella wherein author, philosopher, and ecologist Steven L. Peck explores a subversive vision of eternity, taking the reader on a journey through the afterlife of a world where everything everyone believed in turns out to be wrong.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "A Short Stay in Hell" is a unique and thought-provoking read. Author Steven L. Peck's genuine flair for the kind of imaginative, character and narrative driven storytelling style raises his fantasy themed novella to an impressive level of literary excellence. While a prized and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of metaphysical /visionary fiction that this hardcover edition of "A Short Stay in Hell" from Strange Violin Editions is also available in paperback (9780983748427, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: When Steven Peck (http://stevepeckniche.com) was in seventh grade, he wrote a long epic poem about a weasel. It was full of pathos, adventure, heartbreak, and sorrow. It might have been the greatest poem ever written. But alas it is lost. His teacher liked it well enough she had him read it to the class. Afterwards, a kid who had tormented him endlessly, chasing him home from school nearly every day to beat him up (he never caught his, he was like a deer in those days), came up and with tears in his eyes (TEARS!), said, 'Peck. That's the best thing you've ever done.' The power of poetry! I was hooked on being a writer from that moment on.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Aunt
Courtney Psak
https://courtneypsak.com
Hodder
9781399748193, $18.99, PB, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Aunt-must-read-gripping-thriller-suspense/dp/139974819X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-aunt-courtney-psak/1150236243
Synopsis: The day that Amy gets the call, her whole world falls apart. Her younger sister Lexi has been killed in a tragic boating accident, along with her husband. Despite being estranged for the last ten years, Amy never stopped loving Lexi, and the news crushes her.
But Amy is shocked when she discovers she is set to inherit Lexi's beautiful mansion on Palm Beach, all her fortune... and her newborn daughter.
Amy is stunned - how did she not know her own sister had a baby? And when the police reveal that they are treating the accident as suspicious, Amy starts to question everything.
Did she ever really know her sister? What secrets has Lexi been hiding? Can Amy protect her baby niece, or will the truth cost her everything?
Critique: "The Aunt" by Courtney Psak is an original, deftly crafted and fun read from start to finish with a special appeal to readers with an interest in psychological suspense thrillers featuring female sleuths. With an impressively adroit character and narrative driven storytelling style, Courtney Psak's new novel, "The Aunt" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "The Aunt" from Hodder is also currently available in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Courtney Psak (https://courtneypsak.com) graduated with a degree in Communications and Journalism from Monmouth University, following with a master's degree in Publishing from Pace University. She started her career at magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Self and Modern Bride. In 2015 she wrote her first novel, Thirty Days to Thirty. She is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association, the National Writers Association, International Thriller Writers and the Mystery Writers of America.
The Confessor: A Logan Hollister Novel
Noah Christopher
Noah Christopher Books
9798996910618, $29.99, HC, 417pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Confessor-Logan-Hollister-Novel/dp/B0H7M9Q2Z6
Synopsis: The man known as the Confessor is never wrong. He has built his whole life around being sure of it. He chooses people who got away with it -- never charged, never even suspected. The charity director who gutted his own foundation. The smiling influencer who built an empire on a lie. The Confessor sits them down alone with a pen and a yellow legal pad, and waits as long as it takes for the truth in their own hand. Then he balances the account.
The confessions are real. But on paper, nothing connects the victims -- separate lives, separate crimes, no thread that should tie one death to the next.
Detective Logan Hollister has every reason to stay out of it. The money came a long time ago; the house is an hour down the coast, the kind of quiet other men spend their whole lives chasing. Logan can only tolerate it in small batches before he wants back in. He keeps the badge, works the cases that still mean something, and this is the one he can't walk away from.
On the surface, he and the man he's hunting are opposites. One has everything a life can hold. The other spent years making himself into no one at all.
But the bodies keep coming, and the difference between them keeps thinning -- until Logan can't always tell whether he's hunting the man or recognizing him.
Critique: Author Noah Christopher has a genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for the deftly crafted vigilante style suspense thriller. An impressively original and riveting read from start to finish, "The Confessor" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of hard-boiled mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "The Confessor" is also readily available in paperback (9798996910601, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Noah Christopher is the author of The Confessor and The Rival, the first two novels in the Logan Hollister crime-thriller series. His fiction blends Los Angeles police procedure, psychological suspense, impossible crimes, and morally complicated investigations.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The SonaRift Saga: The Blood of the Forgotten
Rowleic
Grosvenor House Publishing
https://grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk
9781836156413, $26.99, HC, 234pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/SonaRift-Saga-Blood-Forgotten/dp/1836156413
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sonarift-saga-rowleic/1149788421
Synopsis: The Blood of the Forgotten launches The SonaRift Saga, Rowleic's an epic fantasy series blending dark lore, rebellion, and the shattering consequences of crossing worlds.
When Orion, the accidental creator of a device capable of ripping holes through reality, falls through a rift into a realm ruled by the Velari, everything he knows fractures. The Velari are a powerful, ancient vampire race bound by blood, tradition, and a history written in silence. Orion's arrival is a spark in dry tinder: dangerous, unexpected, and impossible to ignore.
Amaris Black Rose, a farm girl and reluctant warrior, discovers Orion wounded on the borders of her family farm. Haunted by war, guided by loyalty, and torn by emerging feelings she does not yet understand, Amaris is thrust into a conflict far larger than her quiet world. As rebellion stirs in the shadows and the Emperor tightens his grip, long-forgotten truths creep back into the light.
Together, Orion and Amaris uncover secrets buried beneath centuries of lies, truths about bonding, blood, and the ancient connection between humans and Velari. Their discoveries threaten to unravel the empire itself.
But the greater threat lies beyond the rifts. Was Orion the first to cross... and will he be the last?
"The Blood of the Forgotten" is a story of love, loyalty, and awakening power, where destiny is not a path, but a fracture. And once the rifts begin to open, nothing can stop what comes through.
Critique: Original, exceptional, and a fun read from start to finish, "The Blood of the Forgotten" is played out against a deftly crafted background of a world where magic, science, and myth are meshed with rebellion, mystery, vampires, and romance. "The Blood of the Forgotten" is an extraordinary action/adventure themed epic fantasy that is a riveting read from cover to cover. Author Rowleic has an impressive gift for the kind of imaginative, character, and narrative driven storytelling style that ideal for the heroic fantasy fiction genre. Simply stated, "The Blood of the Forgotten" is especially and unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated heroic fantasy fiction fans and community library Romantic/Epic Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition for "The Blood of the Forgotten" from Grosvenor House Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9781836156406, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.98).
Editorial Note: Rowleic is a UK-based author, designer, and storyteller whose work blends cinematic worldbuilding with emotional depth. With a creative vision that spans multiple disciplines, writing, art, music, and conceptual design. Rowleic crafts expansive realms where science, magic, and myth collide. The Blood of the Forgotten: Book One of The SonaRift Saga, marks the beginning of this flagship universe, a multi-realm epic filled with rebellion, mystery, and the tension between fate and choice. When not writing, Rowleic develops original artwork, resin creations, and immersive concepts that expand the lore and aesthetic of the SonaRift world. The mission behind every project is simple: create stories and experiences that feel lived-in, powerful, and unforgettable.
The Poetry Shelf
Beauty: Poems
J. R. Solonche
DOS Madres Press
https://www.dosmadres.com
9781962847582, $21.00, PB, 124pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-poems-J-R-Solonche/dp/1962847586
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beauty-j-r-solonche/1150764212
Synopsis: "Beauty" is J.R. Solonche's forty-sixth book of poetry, and still another welcome addition to a remarkable life's work. All of his passions and preoccupations are on full display, singing, dancing, sighing, shouting, joking, laughing, complaining, exulting and lamenting their way across the universe of these pages.
As ever, there's close observation of the natural world. Here's a wild turkey with feathers of bronze and green "like old metal." Here's a dead opossum, just "another ephemeral landmark" by the side of the road. Here's a woodpecker, "blue-collar worker" who "makes holes for a living." Here are song sparrows, "little brown ideas that haven't quite formed yet."
So, too, are Solonche's signature wit and humor here in abundance. In "Troy," he gives his wife, no Helen but an avid gardener, a watering can. "No one hides inside it./ No one comes out in the middle of the night/ to burn down the house./ And all I need is a blow-job every so often in return." In "Physical," Solonche's visit to his doctor ends with this exchange: "After all these years, I never know when/ you're joking and when you mean it."/ I grinned. I've been going to Charlie/ for 40 years. He still can't read my mind."
In a departure from earlier collections, for the first time since The Lost Notebook of Zhao Li (Dos Madres 2022), Solonche's persona makes a cameo appearance.
Critique: An eloquent, articulate, and iconoclastic, "Beauty" is a volume of poetry that continues to document and illustrated J. R. Solonche's mastery of verse and distinctive style as a poet and storyteller. This paperback edition of "Beauty" from DOS Madres Press will prove to be a treasured addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Poetry collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: J.R. Solonche (https://poets.org/poet/j-r-solonche) was nominated for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, twice for the National Book Award and three times for the Pulitzer Prize, J.R. Solonche is the author of more than 50 books of poetry and the co-author of another.
Divinity School
Elizabeth Pyjov
Happiness Sangha Printing Press
https://www.happinessangha.com
9798218891336, $25.00, HC, 74pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Divinity-School-Elizabeth-Pyjov/dp/B0GTV6R4TY
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/divinity-school-elizabeth-pyjov/1149899661
Synopsis: "Divinity School" is collection of poems by university professor, theologian, and meditation teacher Elizabeth Pyjoy that offers a Buddhist reinterpretation of Judeo-Christian theology, and examines core religious concepts and figures through an Eastern philosophical lens.
The poems comprising "Divinity School" presents alternative perspectives on well-known biblical narratives, such as the roles of God, Eve, Christ, and the apostles, often emphasizing themes of non-duality, doubt as a twin of belief, and the limitations of language and dogma.
The collective text of verse also explores broader spiritual ideas like suffering, the nature of truth, the perception of time, and the continuous flux of existence, suggesting that wisdom is found in the space of not knowing. Overall, "Divinity School" is a book of poems that engages in a contemplative and critical dismantling of traditional religious certainties to advocate for a more nuanced and experience-based spirituality.
Critique: Eloquent, articulate, contemplatively thoughtful and iconoclastically thought-provoking, "Divinity School" is poet Elizabeth Pyjov first published collection of verse and will hold an immense value for readers with an interest in Buddhist and Judeo-Christian cosmology. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with an informative Foreword by Harvard Professor Michael Puett and an Afterword by Luis Fernandez Cifuentes, "Divinity School" is a unique and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American/Buddhist Poetry collections.
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Pyjov has taught over 100,000 people to meditate and lead happier lives. Elizabeth is a meditation teacher, scholar, speaker, theologian, and lawyer who holds 3 Harvard degrees, speaks 5 languages, reads texts in 2 dead languages, and has designed and taught over 50 different classes about happiness. Elizabeth's goal is to make the world more compassionate by helping people practice self-compassion.
The Sports Shelf
Strike Season
Michael Eck
Regalo Press
https://regalopress.com
9798895655825, $28.99, HC, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Strike-Season-Played-Coaches-Walked/dp/B0G3B6CYTR
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strike-season-michael-eck/1148786521
Synopsis: Michael Eck had always been captivated by his father's love of Notre Dame football. Now, they were recruiting him to play quarterback. But just two games into his high school senior season, his teachers went on strike, and the coaches followed. With the season canceled and their college dreams in jeopardy, Michael and his three co-captains had a daring idea: What if we coached ourselves?
Secretly thinking this gave them leverage in negotiations with the union, the school board shockingly agreed. Facing the roar of picket lines and corralling adrenaline-charged teammates, the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils became more than symbols of defiance -- they were unwitting pawns in an adults' game. Every play carried weight; every practice and victory risked unraveling into chaos. And as scouts watched and headlines chronicled their season, Michael and his teammates navigated the unprecedented responsibility of holding the team together, winning without coaches, and chasing their dreams.
"Strike Season: The True Story of a Team That Played on When the Coaches Walked Out" is a poignant memoir about the lengths young people will go to achieve their dreams in the face of overwhelming odds. It is also the story of a boy desperate to make his father proud, a coach wrestling with his loyalties, and a young social studies teacher fighting for his union. At once thrilling and inspiring, "Strike Season" captures a moment in sports history when youth and courage collide, forever changing a group of young men and the game they loved.
Critique: A deftly crafted blend of memoir and student athletic football sports history, "Strike Season: The True Story of a Team That Played on When the Coaches Walked Out" by Michael Eck is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Strike Season" from Regalo Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor, 9798212863117, $39.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Michael Eck is a founder of the nonprofit STEER for Student Athletes, which provides mentorship support to high school student athletes from challenging circumstances. Proceeds from book sales will be donated to Steer. He was interim CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village and had a forty-year career on Wall Street. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University and a BS from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, where he played quarterback on the football team and was an Academic All American.
Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN
Bill Rasmussen
SuccessDNA
https://success-dna.org
9781962988223, $24.95 PB, $24.95 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Heaven-Birth-Bill-Rasmussen/dp/1962988228
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sports-heaven-bill-rasmussen/1148811669
Synopsis: "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN" is the incredible story of Bill and Scott Rasmussen -- the father and son team who against all odds and legions of doubters created the most significant sports business of all time.
With unique perspectives from key players in the ESPN origin story, you will be taken on an entrepreneurial roller coaster ride right up to ESPN's launch on September 7, 1979.
"Sports Heaven" features the perspectives and insights of Bill, Scott and the team who built ESPN from a dream into a powerhouse. You will also hear from original anchors Chris Berman, George Grande, Bob Ley, and Greg Wyatt, as well as leaders of consequence like Jimmy Pitaro, George Bodenheimer, and Rosa Gatti as they recount the riveting and seemingly improbable entrepreneurial tale of destiny that became ESPN.
If you enjoy stories of sports and business success, then you will enjoy "Sports Heaven".
Critique: Original, exceptional, informative, deftly crafted, and a fascinating read from start to finish, "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN" by Bill Rasmussen is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library American Sports History and Sports Broadcasting collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of ESPN sports fans that this paperback edition of "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN" from SuccessDNA is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.70, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Bill F. Rasmussen (October 15, 1932 - August 18, 2026) founded ESPN immediately after being fired by the Hartford Whalers hockey team. There is no better author to tell the incredible, underdog origin story of ESPN.
The Humor Shelf
Alone At The Hospital
Bob Adamov
www.BobAdamov.com
Independently Published
9798185759899, $20.00, PB, 133pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Alone-At-Hospital-Hilarious-Citizen/dp/B0H87WDPFV
Synopsis: Sometimes the best medicine is laughter.
When cantankerous eighty-year-old George Ivers is rushed to the hospital, he expects a quick trip home. Instead, he finds himself admitted and wisecracking his way through a number of unwanted medical procedures while battling wits with the doctors and nurses.
George, who's part Archie Bunker, Fred Flintstone and Mr. Magoo, must also survive uninvited visits from quirky family members and friends whose attempts to help only make matters hilariously worse.
Readers will laugh at George's predicaments, smile at the kindness of those who care for him, and perhaps even see a little of themselves in his unforgettable journey. Warm, witty, and wonderfully relatable, "Alone At The Hospital" is a celebration of the remarkable healthcare professionals who care for us when we need them most and underscores just how humor can be the best prescription!
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, a fun read from start to finish, "Alone At The Hospital" is the third title in author Bob Adamov's Senior Citizen George Ivers series. Crisp dialogue, memorable characters, and wickedly funny, "Alone At The Hospital" will have a special resonance with reader's who themselves are senior citizens and have made their own trip(s) to the hospital. While an unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Humor collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Alone At The Hospital" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Bob Adamov at Books in Order; https://www.fictiondb.com/author/bob-adamov~38864.htm
The Christian Studies Shelf
Women of the Bible in 52 Weeks
Ginny Mossman
Paige Tate & Co
https://www.paigetate.com
9781969889028, $19.99, PB, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Women-Bible-Weeks-Year-Long-Inspirational/dp/1969889020
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/women-of-the-bible-in-52-weeks-ginny-mossman/1149817760
Synopsis: From Eve to Leah, Sarah to Hagar, the Bible is filled with women whose stories reflect struggle, faith, doubt, perseverance, and redemption. This guided Bible study invites you to slow down, open Scripture, and explore how God meets women in every season of life with grace, purpose, and unfailing love.
Designed for both personal reflection and group study, "Women of the Bible in 52 Weeks" by Ginny Mossman combines rich biblical teaching with thoughtful prompts that help you engage deeply with God's Word and apply it to your everyday life.
This immersive Bible study for women includes:
Focused studies on women of Scripture - Walk through key passages from Genesis and beyond, exploring the lives, choices, and faith journeys of women like Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rachel, and Leah, and what their stories reveal about God's character.
Guided Bible study framework - Each section includes Scripture reading, historical context, observation and analysis questions, reflection prompts, journaling space, and prayer, making it easy to study on your own or with a group.
Rooted in Scripture, relevant to real life - Go beyond surface-level inspiration as you examine themes like shame and grace, waiting and trust, identity and belonging, and God's faithfulness in the midst of brokenness.
Flexible for individual or group use - Whether you're studying independently, with a small group, or in a church setting, the open-ended questions and prompts work across denominations and with any Bible translation.
A heart-centered approach to spiritual growth - This study doesn't rush you through Scripture; it invites you to linger, reflect, journal, and pray - creating space to hear God's voice and respond honestly.
"Women of the Bible in 52 Weeks" is for women who want more than a quick devotional moment. It's also for those longing to understand Scripture more deeply and see how God's redemptive story weaves through their own lives. Open your Bible. Sit with the stories. And discover the God who sees you, calls you, and walks with you.
Critique: Ideal for Christian group and personal Bible study curriculums, "Women of the Bible in 52 Weeks: A Year-Long Bible Study for Women" is a consumable study guide with journal entry style and Q&A sections throughout. Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly reader friendly in presentation style, this trade paperback (7 x 9 x 7 inches, 1.25 pounds) edition of "Women of the Bible in 52 Weeks: A Year-Long Bible Study for Women" from Paige Tate & Co is especially and unreservedly recommended for all members of the Christian community with an interest in the history and accomplishments of women mention in the Bible.
Editorial Note: Ginny Mossman is the face behind Created By Ginny, an Instagram and online art account obsessed with bright colors and spreading joy. Also a middle school teacher, Ginny (https://createdbyginny.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html) creates vibrant, inspirational art that has been licensed by brands like Jiggy Puzzles, Calm Strips, Lake Coloring, and Spoonflower.
The Self-Help Shelf
Om La La: The Power of Positivity Guidebook
Julie L. Williams
Brave Healer Productions
https://www.facebook.com/BraveHealerbyLaura
9781969999284, $19.99, PB, 344pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Om-Positivity-Guidebook-Julie-Williams/dp/1969999284
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/om-la-la-julie-l-williams/1150437705
Synopsis: Om La La: The Power of Positivity Guidebook is a powerful collection of twenty-four inspirational stories, along with healing insights and practical tools specifically designed to help readers transform life's challenges into opportunities for growth, resilience, and deeper connection.
Blending personal development, emotional healing, spirituality, and conscious living, "Om La La: The Power of Positivity Guidebook" is uplifting DIY guidebook offering hope, wisdom, and real-world practices for navigating change with greater awareness, courage, and compassion.
Created by a collective of authors, therapists, educators, and thought leaders from around the world, "Om La La: The Power of Positivity Guidebook" is a heartfelt celebration of the healing power of positivity and the resilience of the human spirit.
Critique: Original, inspirational, motivational, "Om La La: The Power of Positivity Guidebook" by Julie L. Williams is a life-changing, life-enhancing, life-embracing study that is impressively 'reader friendly' in organization, presentation, and style. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Om La La: The Power of Positivity Guidebook" from Brave Healer Productions is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Julie L. Williams (https://consciousness-medicine.com/about-us) is a scientist and healer, and the creator of Consciousness Medicine, a complementary approach to healing that brings together her scientific background and extensive training in holistic healing into a powerful combination of skills with a heart-based approach. Her mission is to guide individuals and groups to move beyond inherited patterns and conditioning, reconnect with their inner wisdom, discover their life's purpose, and create lives of abundance, vitality, and empowerment. She offers sessions, workshops, courses, and retreats that support those who work with her in uncovering their innate healing potential, with life-changing results and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to heal. Julie is also the host of the Healing Codes podcast, where she explores the intersection of science, consciousness, and transformation through practical insights and tools.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
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