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Reviewer's Choice
From Tuscany with Love
Lauretta Avina
MSI Press
http://msipress.com
9781957354637, $35.00, PB, 194pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tuscany-Love-Lauretta-Avina/dp/1957354631
Synopsis: Lauretta Avina's "From Tuscany with Love" is an emotional memoir capturing the life journey of a scared, little girl from the rolling hills of Lucca to the bustling life in America. Through evocative stories and cherished family recipes, Lauretta pays tribute to the rich culture, love, and flavors that shaped her life. This unusual and unique memoir beautifully blends personal reflections on family, resilience, and the timeless traditions of Tuscan cuisine, offering readers a deeply personal and flavorful look at an immigrant's path to finding a home and a sense of belonging in a new world.
Critique: A fascinating combination of cookbook and memoir, "From Tuscany with Love" is an extraordinary read from start to finish. The recipes are as authentic as Lauretta Avina's life lessons learned as she relates her personal life story and the role that family ethnicity and Tuscan approach to food played in that story. The recipes are 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, the life story parts and eloquent and emotionally engaging. The result is the Laurette Avina memoir, "From Tuscany With Love" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Biography/Memoir and Ethnic Cookbook/Italian collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "From Tuscany With Love" from MSI Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Lauretta Avina is an Italian American immigrant who has a deep passion for sharing good food with family and friends. Her first cookbook, Ricette del Mio Paese, came out in 2011. Lauretta is the founder and president of the Franca Barsi Memorial Scholarship, created to honor her late sister, a victim of domestic violence. In addition to her advocacy for domestic violence victims, she is a staunch supporter of military veterans and their families. She also advocates for students in her role as a Guidance Technician at her local high school. Lauretta enjoys preparing delicious meals, often using vegetables and spices from her husband's garden. She is well-known in her community especially for her Lasagna alla Lucchese and her Biscotti.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
The Profitable Author
Sharon Woodhouse
Everything Goes Media, LLC
www.conspirecreative.com
9781734145274, $24.95, PB, 508pp
https://www.amazon.com/Profitable-Author-Build-Business-Around/dp/1734145277
Synopsis: The message from Sharon Woodhouse in "The Profitable Author: 1,001 Ways to Build a Business You Love Around Your Books" is to stop dreaming about making it as an author and start building a sustainable business you love from the books you write.
It's critically important reading for aspiring and practicing authors who are tired of earning meager royalties or Amazon deposits. For authors who want to turn their passion for writing into a profitable business. In the pages of "The Profitable Author", successful publishing veteran Woodhouse reveals her insider secrets to creating a multi-faceted author career that goes beyond book sales.
Drawing on over 25 years of experience as an independent publisher, Woodhouse provides a practical framework for building a sustainable and rewarding author life. This isn't about chasing bestsellers or landing a movie deal (though those are nice when they happen). It's about understanding the business of being an author, implementing proven DIY strategies (over 1,001!) to generate multiple streams of income from your books, expertise, and experience, and empowering you to take charge of your author journey.
"The Profitable Author" guides writers step-by-step through:
Identifying 15 different author income streams, from ebook sales and events to services, merch, and rights sales.
Designing a customized author business model that aligns with your goals, values, and lifestyle.
Unlocking creative financing hacks to fund your dreams.
Finessing author events (and getting paid!).
Unleashing your inner entrepreneur and monetizing your expertise.
Embracing the power of non-bookstore and volume sales.
Mastering essential business skills (without losing your creative spark), including marketing, sales, negotiating, networking, and mindset.
Crafting a fabulous sales and marketing plan tailored to YOU and your books, whether you're a fiction writer, a nonfiction expert, a cookbook queen, or a children's book hero.
Cultivating a network of support to help you thrive as an authorpreneur.
Packed from cover to cover with real-world examples, actionable advice, and inspiring insights, "The Profitable Author" is an essential guide to creating the author life and revenue generating business you deserve. Stop waiting for success to find you -- take charge and build the profitable author business you love with "The Profitable Author".
Critique: Far more than just another 'how to get published and sell a lot of books' instructional guide, "The Profitable Author: 1,001 Ways to Build a Business You Love Around Your Books" is a compendium of practical, proven, DIY actions and activities that you can use from a business perspective on what you write and the audiences you write for. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "The Profitable Author" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections and workshops, it should be noted that this paperback edition from Everything Goes Media, LLC is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Sharon Woodhouse (www.conspirecreative.com/sharon-woodhouse) is an author, former indie book publisher, and current owner of Conspire Creative -- a book business agency that offers coaching, consulting, project management, and business support services for authors and indie publishers. She writes about all aspects of creating holistic, income-generating author businesses you love and finding your place in the vibrant ecosystem of books. She has helped tens of thousands of other authors and publishers through her teaching, group coaching, and writing.
In 1994, Woodhouse founded her first publishing company and created with a small staff the beloved Chicago brand of Lake Claremont Press. LCP published over 500,000 books of 80 different titles in its 25 years and won 30 small press awards. In 2011, she started Everything Goes Media, LLC, to encompass her growing range of book industry activities, including consulting, coaching, mediation, print brokering, private publishing, and project management, adding the Conspire Creative name in 2015.
1000 Words
Jami Attenberg
Simon Element
c/o Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781668023600, $24.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/1000-Words-Writers-Creative-Productive/dp/1668023601
Synopsis: In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg's online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has now become a literary movement -- write 1,000 words per day without judgement, or bias, or concerns about writer's block, and see what comes of it.
"1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round" is the book-length extension of this movement. It is about becoming (and staying) motivated to write, discovering yourself and your creative desires, and approaching your craft from a new direction. It also features advice from more than fifty well-known writers, including New York Times bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winners, and stars of the literary world. Framing these letters are words of wisdom and encouragement, plus specific strategies, from Attenberg on how to carve out a creative path for yourself all year round.
Paired with vibrant word art illustrations, "1000 Words" is an accessible and motivational craft book that allows you to open any page and get a quick and fulfilling hit of inspiration.
Critique: Unique, invaluable, fascinating, thought-provoking, practical and inspiring, "1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round" is exceptionally well organized and presented, making it an invaluable and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections. Ideal for writer workshops, it should be noted for aspiring and experienced writers that this hardcover edition of "1000 Words" from Simon Element is also available in paperback (9781668023617, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Jami Attenberg (https://www.jamiattenberg.com) has written about food, travel, books, relationships, and urban life for The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Times (London), The Guardian, and others. She is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins and All Grown Up, and, most recently, a memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You. Her work has been published in sixteen languages. She is also the founder of the annual #1000WordsofSummer project, and maintains the popular Craft Talk newsletter year-round.
Editorial Note #2: Contributors to "1000 Words" include Roxane Gay, Bryan Washington, Susan Orlean, Maris Kreizman, Sara Novic, Rumaan Alam, Lauren Oyler, Emma Straub, Christopher Gonzales, Benjamin Percy, Mira Jacob, Laura van den Berg, Carmen Maria Machado, Courtney Sullivan, Rebecca Carroll, Ada Limon, R.O. Kwon, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, Elissa Watusha, Alexander Chee, Maggie Shipstead, Deesha Philyaw, Jasmine Guillory, Kristen Arnett, Attica Locke, Megan Abbott, Min Jin Lee, Lauren Groff, Andrew Sean Greer, Camille Dungy, Megan Giddings, Isaac Fitsgerald, Hannah Tinti, Michael H. Weber, Celeste Ng, Elizabeth McCracken, Will Leitch, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Morgan Parker, Kiese Laymon, Melissa Febos, Alissa Nutting, Liz Moore, Laila Lalami, Megan Mayhew Berman, Rebecca Makkai, Meg Wolitzer, Mychal Denzel Smith, Josh Gondelman, and Dantiel W. Moniz.
The Cookbook Shelf
Onigiri Rice & Miso Soup
Megumi Fujii
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319055, $18.99, HC, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Onigiri-Rice-Miso-Soup-Superfoods/dp/4805319054
Synopsis: Onigiri rice and miso soup are Japan's answer to the classic soup and sandwich combo - but a whole lot healthier!
"Onigiri Rice & Miso Soup: The Perfect Pairing" is comprised of 100 amazing recipes by Japanese nutritionist Megumi Fujii who combines fresh seasonal ingredients with traditional Japanese superfoods to create deeply nourishing meals -- the perfect antidote to modern ultra-processed foods.
In the illustrated pages of "Onigiri Rice & Miso Soup - the Perfect Pairing", you will find 48 delicious and easy-to-prepare meals like:
Broccoli and Salmon Onigiri + Miso Soup with Clams and Mushrooms
Onigiri Rice with Nori and Sesame + Mackerel and Kimchee Miso Soup
Hijiki Seaweed Onigiri + Miso Soup with Ground Chicken and Carrots
Bright Green Onigiri + Miso Soup with Tofu and Shiitake Mushrooms
Oyster Onigiri + Pork and Turnip Miso Soup
Plus 43 other incredible combinations!
Enhanced with beautiful photographs of finished dishes, "Onigiri Rice & Miso Soup - the Perfect Pairing" showcases the limitless possibilities of two classic Japanese homestyle dishes. Japanese culinary expert Fujii highlights the nutritional benefits of the ingredients in each recipe and introduces to all sorts of ways to use healthy Japanese superfoods like seaweed and miso that are now available everywhere.
Critique: Fascinating and inspiring to browse through one page at time, "Onigiri Rice & Miso Soup - the Perfect Pairing" is an ideal, authentic, and 'kitchen cook friend' resource for planning and creating palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, physical health inducing menus for any and all formal and informal dining occasions. With its clear ingredient lists, step-by-step cooking instructions, and serving number estimates, "Onigiri Rice & Miso Soup - the Perfect Pairing" is an ideal and unhesitatingly recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and community library Ethnic/Japanese Cuisine cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Megumi Fujii is a registered dietician and recipe developer in Japan. A graduate of Kagawa Nutrition University, she has worked on television cooking programs and as a food coordinator. Her books include Warming Sauces to Boost Your Immune System, Two-Dish Meals to Stay Healthy After 50, Main Dish Salads, Super Tasty Low-Cal Appetizers, 200 Essential Homestyle Recipes, and 100 Simple Bentos, all from Shufu to Seikatsu Sha Co.
Zareen's Pakistani Kitchen
Zareen Khan & Umair Khan
Sasquatch Books
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632175298, $35.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Zareens-Pakistani-Kitchen-Well-Fed-Childhood/dp/1632175290
Synopsis: Showcasing 95 recipes specifically designed for American cooks, "Zareen's Pakistani Kitchen: Recipes from a Well-Fed Childhood" is an ideal introduction to Pakistani cooking from the folks behind Zareen Khan's Michelin Guide approved restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A unique culinary compendium featuring the most beloved dishes from the popular California restaurants, Zareen's favorite home-cooked comfort foods, and street fare from growing up in Karachi, "Zareen's Pakistani Kitchen" include:
An introduction to the Desi pantry, with substitutes, common methods, and equipment
Popular street food like Paratha Rolls, Bun Kabab, and Chaat.
Entree staples like the famous Beef Nihari, Biryani, and specialties from Zareen's Memoni community like Memoni Crispy Fried Chicken
Vegetarian-friendly mainstays like Tarka Daal and Bhindi Masala
Handmade breads like Naan, Roti, and Laccha Paratha
Sweet treats like Kulfi and Burfi, and even Zareen's riot-inducing Doodh Patti Chai
Menu planning section with special occasions including Eid and Diwali
Spotlights on inspiring women (including poet Rupi Kaur and food blogger Michelle Tam), with a portion of the proceeds going to select charities.
Zareen's goals are threefold: first, to make authentic Pakistani food simple and accessible; second, to share their sheer foodie joy and vibrant Pakistani culture; and third, to inspire women (especially other immigrant women) to entrepreneurship and activism.
Critique: Perfect for the culinary adventurous with an interest in authentic Pakistani cuisine (as well as Pakistani-American seeking the comfort of nostalgic recipes from their youth), and co-authored by Zareen Khan and Umair, "Zareen's Pakistani Kitchen: Recipes from a Well-Fed Childhood " is beautifully illustrated throughout with full page, full color photos of completed dishes -- making it especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Ethnic/Pakistani cookbook collections. It should be noted for family cooks and restaurant chefs that this hardcover edition of "Zareen's Pakistani Kitchen: Recipes from a Well-Fed Childhood" from Sasquatch Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Zareen Khan was born in Karachi, and specializes in Pakistani and North Indian food while celebrating the cuisine of the Memons, an ethnic community hailing from Gujarat, India, and Karachi, Pakistan, to which her family belongs. Zareen started her restaurant business at 43, shortly after winning her battle with oral cancer in 2012. Now a celebrated restaurateur, Zareen has a global following for her eponymous Bay Area restaurants.
Editorial Note #2: Umair Khan was also born in Karachi and co-founded Zareen's with his wife. He is also the founder of Folio3 Software, a global tech services firm, founding partner at Mentors Fund, an early stage tech investment firm, and was a visiting professor at UC Berkeley.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin
Andrea Dubus III
W. W. Norton & Company
www.wwnorton.com
9781324105046, $14.99, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Dogs-Andre-Dubus-III/dp/1324105046
Synopsis: During childhood summers in Louisiana, Andre Dubus III's grandfather taught him that men's work is hard. As an adult, whether tracking down a drug lord in Mexico as a bounty hunter or grappling with privilege while living with a rich girlfriend in New York City, Dubus worked -- at being a better worker and a better human being.
With the publication of "Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin", Dubus's storytelling skills are on full display in his memoir recounting his personal and professional successes, failures, triumphs, and pain.
In his longest essay, "If I Owned a Gun," Dubus reflects on the empowerment and shame he felt in keeping a gun, and his decision, ultimately, to give it up. Elsewhere, he writes of a violent youth and of settled domesticity and fatherhood, about the omnipresent expectations and contradictions of masculinity, about the things writers remember and those they forget.
"Ghost Dogs" renders moments of personal revelation with emotional generosity and stylistic grace, ultimately standing as essential witness and testimony to the art of the essay.
Critique: A fascinating, compelling, engaging, candid, and unusual life story, "Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin" by Andre Dubus III is a simply riveting read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of those interested, that this paperback edition of "Ghost Dogs: On Killers and Kin" from W.W. Norton is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Andre Dubus III (https://www.andredubus.com) is the author of Such Kindness and eight other books, including the bestsellers Townie and House of Sand and Fog, a National Book Award Finalist in Fiction and an Oprah's Book Club selection.
The General Fiction Shelf
White Line Fever
K.C. Jones
Tor Nightfire
c/o Tor/Forge Books
www.tor-forge.com
9781250792716, $18.99, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/White-Line-Fever-KC-Jones/dp/1250792711
Synopsis: At a passing glance, County Road 951 is an entirely unremarkable stretch of blacktop, a two-lane scar across the Cascade foothills of Central Oregon. But the road is known by another name, coined by locals who've had to clean up after all those scenic detours went horribly wrong: The Devil's Driveway.
When Livia and her long-time friends take the Driveway as a shortcut to a much-needed weekend getaway, what begins as a morning joyride quickly becomes anything but. Soon, they're driving for their lives, pursued by a horror beyond anything they ever imagined.
The Devil's Driveway might be only 15 miles long, but with danger at every turn, it will take the four women to the very limits of their friendships and their sanity. -- And there's no telling what else lies in wait just beyond the bend.
Critique: Of particular appeal to readers with an interest in ghosts, the occult, and murder, "White Line Fever" by K. C. Jones is a simply riveting read from start to finish. An original masterpiece of white knuckle suspense by a novelist with a distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style, "White Line Fever" is a strongly commended pick for community library Suspense/Thriller Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "White Line Fever" from Tor Nightfire is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: After graduating from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in film production, KC Jones (https://www.kcjonespnw.com) returned to the Pacific Northwest to focus on a career in screenwriting, before making the leap to novels. He is also the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of "Black Tide".
The Baker of Lost Memories
Shirley Russak Wachtel
https://www.shirleywachtel.com
Little A
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662525674, $28.99, HC, 317pp
https://www.amazon.com/Baker-Lost-Memories-Novel/dp/1662525672
Synopsis: Growing up in 1960s Brooklyn, Lena wants to be a baker just like her mother was back in Poland prior to World War II. But questions about those days, and about a sister Lena never even knew, are ignored with solemn silence. It's as if everything her parents left behind was a subject never to be broached.
The one person in whom Lena can confide is her best friend, Pearl. When she suddenly disappears from Lena's life, Lena forges ahead: college, love and marriage with a wonderful man, the dream of owning a bakery becoming a reality, and the hope that someday Pearl will return to share in Lena's happiness - and to be there for her during the unexpected losses to come.
Only when Lena discovers the depth of her parents' anguish, and a startling truth about her own past, can they rebuild a family and overcome the heart-wrenching memories that have torn them apart.
Critique: An inherently fascinating and engaging read from cover to cover, "The Baker of Lost Memories" by author Shirley Russak Wachtel will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Family Life/Women's Friendship novels. Showcasing novelist Wachtel's genuine flair for the kind of deftly crafted narrative fiction that will hold the reader's full attention from start to finish, "The Baker of Lost Memories" is especially recommended as an enduringly popular pick for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Baker of Lost Memories" from Little A is also available in paperback (9781662527609, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Shirley Russak Wachtel (www.shirleywachtel.com) is the author of A Castle in Brooklyn. She is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Shirley holds a doctor of letters degree from Drew University and for the past thirty-five years has taught English literature at Middlesex College in Edison, New Jersey. Her podcast, EXTRAordinary People, features inspiring individuals who have overcome obstacles to make a difference.
Shadows of Tehran
Nick Berg
Greenleaf Book Group Press
www.greenleafbookgroup.com
9798991971409, $27.95, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Tehran-Conflict-Iranian-American/dp/B0DMHKHY6L
Synopsis: Raised in Tehran but torn between two worlds, Ricardo's young life is thrown into chaos when his American father abandons the family just as the Islamic Revolution of 1979 breaks out. As fundamental human rights are washed away in a tide of religious, anti-Western fanaticism, Ricardo's mother remarries, introducing a stepfather with a dark secret.
At only 14 years old, Ricardo vows to take back what was stolen under the oppressive, authoritarian rule. He quickly becomes a rebel leader, earning himself renown as the Shadow Rider of Tehran. When his name is leaked and an execution order issued, he must flee the only country he has called home. But the fight is not over. Blessed with an indomitable will and unbreakable spirit, Ricardo becomes a US Special Forces soldier, and in a surprising turn of events, lands right back where he started.
Spanning continents and infused with heart-pounding action, "Shadows of Tehran" is more than just another story of a war. It is an exploration of one man's refusal to break under abuse, abandonment, and loss -- an affirmation that we, not the events in our lives, determine whether to be a victim or survivor.
Critique: Although a compelling work of fiction, "Shadows of Tehran" by Nick Berg is based on a true story. Of immense appeal to readers with an interest in deftly crafted stories of 'resilience, rebellion, and the enduring human spirit', author Nick Berg's genuine flair for compelling and narrative driven storytelling makes "Shadows of Tehran" especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Military/War themed action/adventure collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Shadows of Tehran" from the Greenleaf Book Group is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Born to an Iranian mother and American father, Nick Berg experienced firsthand Iran's vibrant culture and violent political upheavals. He served in US Special Operations before transitioning to a successful tech executive career. In his novel, "Shadows of Tehran", Nick mirrors his own life through Ricardo, bridging cultural gaps and emphasizing resilience and hope. (https://www.pnberg.com)
Overheard
Dominik Barta, author
Gary Schmidt, translator
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299351540, $17.95, PB, 168pp
https://www.amazon.com/Overheard-Dominik-Barta/dp/0299351548
Synopsis: In his early thirties, Kurt Endlicher has finally settled down, with a steady job as a teacher and a small flat to call his own. But the walls are thin, and he and his neighbors can overhear every cough, footstep, and toilet flush. Initially annoyed by the intimacy, he gradually learns to appreciate the value of community and discovers the key to his own happiness.
"Overheard" is a novel by Dominik Barta that is set in Vienna in the mid-2010s -- a time of significant social change and political conflict, with tens of thousands of Middle Eastern refugees arriving and protests taking place over a cafe's expulsion of two women who greeted each other with a kiss. Kurt is gay, but his best friend is not. He has a soft spot for the city's newcomers as well as its longtime residents. He's a sympathetic listener, leading him (and the reader) to revisit and reevaluate assumptions.
Critique: Originally published as Tur an Tur (literally "door-to-door" but more accurately "next-door neighbors"), Dominik Barta's novel is ably translated into English for an American readership by Gary Schmidt. A fun, fascinating, and thought-provoking read from start to finish, "Overheard" is laced throughout with humor, insight, memorable characters, and a suspenseful plot. This is an original and compelling novel that deftly combines visions of, in the author's words, present an 'idealized past and a longed-for future to create a present that we all want to inhabit'. This paperback edition of "Overheard" from the Wisconsin University Press is a confidently recommended addition to community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Overheard" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.05).
Editorial Note #1: Dominik Barta was born in Upper Austria and studied in Vienna, Bonn, and Florence. In addition to Tur an Tur, he published the award-winning Vom Land.
Editorial Note #2: Gary Schmidt (https://people.wright.edu/gary.schmidt) is a Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Wright State University. He is also the author of The Nazi Abduction of Ganymede: Representations of Male Homosexuality in Postwar German Literature, translator of The Summers, co-translator of What Makes a Man: Sex Talk in Beirut and Berlin, and co-editor of Quertext: An Anthology of Queer Voices from German-Speaking Europe.
Three Mothers
Hannah Beckerman
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662523366, $16.99, PB, 351pp
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Mothers-Hannah-Beckerman/dp/166252336X
Synopsis: When seventeen-year-old Isla Richardson is killed in a hit-and-run incident, a community's lives are thrown into disarray. For Isla's mum, Abby, it is her second devastating bereavement, having lost her husband five years ago. As Abby begins to uncover secrets about Isla's life, she's forced to rethink everything she thought she knew about her family.
For Abby's best friend, Nicole, the tragic death sets in motion a chain of events that will have irreparable consequences for her husband and her two teenage sons.
For Jenna, Isla's death threatens to expose secrets about her son's past that she has done everything in her power to hide, to secure him a better future.
Tackling friendship, family, social prejudice and the pressures facing young women, Three Mothers asks: how well do we really know our children? And how far would any of us go to protect the people we love?
Critique: A deftly crafted and emotionally engaging novel of how tragedy affects the lives of those left behind, "Three Mothers" by Hannah Beckerman will be of particular appeal to readers with an interest in domestic suspense thrillers populated by memorable characters and riveting plot twists and turns. A fascinating and compelling read from cover to cover, "Three Mothers" is a well recommended pick for community library Contemporary American General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Three Mothers" from Lake Union Publishers is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Hannah Beckerman (www.hannahbeckerman.com) is an author, journalist and broadcaster. She is a book critic and features writer for a range of publications including the Observer, the Guardian and the FT Weekend Magazine, and was the book pundit on the Sara Cox show on BBC Radio 2. A regular chair at festivals and events across the UK, she has interviewed a range of writers and celebrities from Graham Norton and Nigella Lawson to Maggie O'Farrell and Kate Atkinson. She has judged numerous book prizes including the Costa Books Awards. "Three Mothers" is her fifth novel.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Such a Good Man
Dustin M. Hoffman
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299352448, $18.95, PB, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Such-Good-Man-Dustin-Hoffman/dp/0299352447
Synopsis: "Such a Good Man" is an anthology of inventive and formally daring short stories by Dustin M. Hoffman in which he shines a literary light into the dark corners of American suburbia.
The housepainters, contractors, formerly incarcerated carnival workers, and fathers that populate the short stories comprising "Such a Good Man" are doing their best to overcome life's brutal indifference. Hoffman's characters sometimes face unusual situations: one plays infinite games of Monopoly with God, while the Man in the Yellow Hat must decide how to react when a window washer is hospitalized with serious injuries. Mostly, though, they navigate the challenges of grief, poverty, and arguments with siblings that many of us will find all too familiar.
With brilliance and perception, Hoffman interrogates the intersections of labor and masculinity, peeling back the spackled facades of class, family, and domesticity. "Such a Good Man" depicts darkness, cruelty, and absurdity without flinching -- and reveals the eternal human desire for intimacy, especially when it remains just out of reach.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, memorable, fun and fascinating, the twenty-one eloquent and riveting short stories comprising Dustin M. Hoffman's "Such a Good Man" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Studies and Short Story Anthology collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Such a Good Man" from the University of Wisconsin Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note: Dustin M. Hoffman (https://dustinmhoffman.com) is the author of the story collections One-Hundred-Knuckled Fist, winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize, and No Good for Digging, as well as the fiction chapbook Secrets of the Wild. He spent ten years painting houses in Michigan before earning his MFA in fiction from Bowling Green State University and his PhD in creative writing from Western Michigan University. He lives in South Carolina and teaches creative writing at Winthrop University.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Unlikely Story
Ali Rosen
https://ali-rosen.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662527920, $16.99, PB, 318pp
https://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Story-Ali-Rosen/dp/1662527926
Synopsis: As a relationship therapist, Nora helps patients explore their feelings honestly. But she's hiding an embarrassing relationship secret of her own: she's in love with someone she's never even met.
J edits the advice column Nora's been writing anonymously for the last seven years. He's in London, she's in New York, and they communicate solely through shared files. When he confides that his girlfriend's out of the picture, and her boss asks her to come to London, Nora takes both as a sign.
But that's not the only thing on her mind. A client's ex-boyfriend just moved into her co-op, directly beneath her. Eli blames Nora for his breakup and seems determined to make her life miserable, gleefully planning a noisy renovation.
Yet despite all his bluster, Nora eventually starts to see the softness behind Eli's brusque, charming exterior... and after a slipup reveals a startling secret, Nora wonders whether someone can be two things at once.
Critique: A deftly crafted and original novel that will hold a very special appeal for readers with an interest stories of contemporary workplace romance and romantic comedies, "Unlikely Story" by Ali Rosen is a fun read from cover to cover. Exceptional and memorable, "Unlikely Story" is a very highly recommended and popular pick for community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for all dedicated romance fans that this paperback edition of "Unlikely Story" from Montlake is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Ali Rosen (http://ali-rosen.com) is the author of Recipe for Second Chances, a novel. Her second novel, Alternate Endings, was named an Amazon Editors' Pick. Rosen is also the Emmy- and James Beard Award - nominated host of Potluck with Ali Rosen on NYC Life, as well as the author of cookbooks like the bestselling Modern Freezer Meals, 15 Minute Meals, and Bring It! Rosen has been featured everywhere from the Today show to the New York Times, and she has written for Bon Appetit, the Washington Post, and New York Magazine.
The Usual Family Mayhem
HelenKay Dimon
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063427594, $24.95, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Usual-Family-Mayhem-Hilarious-Suspenseful/dp/0063427591
Synopsis: Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors -- her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags' Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in "best friend" Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal... and now she has a problem.
Mags and Celia aren't interested, which isn't a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they're hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface - all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags' Desserts -- Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.
As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia's nephew and Kasey's long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey's boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands (even if those husbands deserve it) might be impossible... but Kasey never shied away from a challenge.
Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in romance, mystery, complicated family life, and a fun read from cover to cover, "The Usual Family Life" is anything but! Author HelenKay Dimon's new novel is original, clever, skillfully crafted, and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Usual Family Life" from Avon Books is also readily available in paperback (9780063240582, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: HelenKay Dimon (www.helenkaydimon.com) is a former divorce lawyer with a dual writing personality. Her books have been featured in numerous venues, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Cosmopolitan. Her most recent release, Moorewood Family Rules, has been optioned by Paramount for television. She also writes thrillers as Darby Kane and is a #1 international bestseller in that genre. Two of her thrillers have been optioned for television, including her debut, Pretty Little Wife.
Fake It Like You Mean It
Megan Murphy
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9798892422291, $29.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fake-Like-You-Mean-Novel/dp/B0DLMXYTHN
Synopsis: Elle's grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her for as long as she can remember. But remembering is just the problem. With Lovie's Alzheimer's progressing fast, it's Elle's turn to step up.
Leaving Chicago behind, the last thing she expects when she walks through the door of her childhood home is Adam Wheeler -- in her bed. Live-in nurse and pain in the ass, Adam is here to do his job. Eat, sleep, nurse, repeat.
Thrown together to care for Lovie, tensions rise and lines are drawn, but there's a bigger problem: in her Alzheimer's riddled mind, Lovie's convinced that Elle and Adam are madly in love.
Certain she'll forget by morning, Elle and Adam play along. The only snag? She doesn't forget.
Lovie is the only person who thinks this fake dating scheme is real... so why is Elle fantasizing about Adam when he's not around? And why is it getting harder to pretend?
Critique: An original, fun and funny read from cover to cover, it is all the more impressive when considering that "Fake It Like You Mean It" (a memorably crafted story of romance, comedy, and heartbreaking beautiful moments) is author Megan Murphy's debut as a novelist. The stuff of which Hallmark Channel Rom-Com Movies are made, "Fake It Like You Mean It" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated romance fans that this hardcover edition of "Fake It Like You Mean It" from Alcove Press is also readily available in paperback (9798892420648, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: When Megan Murphy is not writing (or reading) swoony, laugh-out-loud contemporary romances, she works as a business analyst. Megan's most at home with her husband and rescue dog, Captain, or enjoying a concert or local festival. Whilst she now lives in a small-Kentucky town, a two-year stint in Northern Indiana became the inspiration and setting for, (https://www.meganmurphywrites.com)
Hardly a Gentleman
Eloisa James
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063347465, $9.99, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hardly-Gentleman-Novel-Eloisa-James/dp/0063347466
Synopsis: Desperate after her Season comes to a spectacularly disastrous end, the Honorable Miss Clara Vetry jumps into a carriage hired to take a housekeeper to Scotland.
The laird of Castle CaerLaven has no interest in a wife, especially a love match -- but when Caelan sees his new housekeeper, he changes his mind. Marriage to a delectable bookworm strikes him as a perfect arrangement.
To his surprise, Clara refuses his proposal once... and again... yet again.
When her true identity is revealed, and they are forced to marry, Caelan realizes he has a far more crucial challenge. He finally has Clara's hand -- but how will he ever win her heart?
Critique: With the publication of "Hardly A Gentleman", author Eloisa James demonstrates a complete mastery of the Regency Romance genre. Original, deftly crafted, memorable characters and a skillfully scripted story replete with unexpected plot twists and turns, the paperback edition of "Hardly A Gentleman" from Avon Books is an especially recommended and fun read for historical romance fans and a welcome addition to community library collections.
Editorial Note: Eloisa James (https://eloisajames.com) is a professor of English literature, who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight.
Green Pastures
Patricia Johns
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764244544, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Pastures-Amish-Shepherds-Hill/dp/076424454X
Synopsis: Tabitha Schrock's return to Lancaster County shakes the foundations of her family and community. After her departure during rumspringa and a recent divorce, Tabitha faces the challenge of reintegrating into Amish society while pursuing her dream of working as a veterinarian.
Meanwhile, her sister Amanda, whose own prospects were dimmed by Tabitha's leaving Shepherd's Hill, decides to seize her chance at love by pursuing a man with a shadowed past. And their youngest sister, Rose, despite her beauty and romantic hopes, faces the harsh realities of matrimony, grappling with the weight of vows made before Gott and her community.
As the sisters navigate the intricacies of love, faith, and tradition, they are bound by their commitment to uphold their Amish way of life. But as they strive to keep their promises, how much are they willing to sacrifice to remain true to themselves and their community?
Critique: A Christian novel of 'Sisters, Love, and Redemption', "Green Pastures" by novelist Patricia Johns is a skillfully crafted and original story that is an inherently fascinating as it is emotionally engaging for the reader. A fun and absorbing read from cover to cover, "Green Pastures" is an ideal and recommended pick for community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of Amish/Mennonite Romance fiction that his hardcover edition of "Green Pastures" from Bethany House Publishers is also readily available in paperback (9780764244179, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Patricia Johns (www.PatriciaJohns.com) is the author of more than 50 books. She writes Amish fiction with tight communities, outspoken heroines, and the handsome, rugged men who fall in love with them. (www.goodreads.com/series/list?id=6902850.Patricia_Johns)
Love, The Duke: Say I Do
Amelia Grey
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781250850454, $9.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Duke-Say-Amelia-Grey/dp/1250850452
Synopsis: When the Duke of Hurstbourne receives a letter from his childhood friend asking him to marry his sister Ophelia, Hurst declines. He's not adverse to taking a bride, but he believes in love at first sight that stirs his desire - not marriage sight-unseen.
Adhering to society's strict propriety for ladies, Ophelia Stowe has no choice but to present herself as a man to seek the Duke of Hurstbourne's favor. If not for the dire situation she finds herself in, she wouldn't have asked for help from the handsome man who had rebuffed her. When the alluring duke's response is a plan of his own, Ophelia never dreams it would be a proposal of a marriage of convenience.
But the stakes are high, and the good name of the Stowe family will be damaged if a missing antiquity isn't found. When she accepts his offer, she quickly finds she isn't immune to the passion building between her and her new husband--or how real the marriage begins to feel.
Critique: The concluding book in author Amelia Grey's 'Say I Do' trilogy, "Love, The Duke" once again demonstrates her complete mastery of the Regency Romance genre. Original, engaging, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Love, The Duke" is an ideal pick for personal reading lists and community library Historical Romance collections. It should be noted that this mass market paperback edition of "Love, The Duke" from St. Martin's Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212172141, $35.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Amelia Grey is the author of over twenty-five books, including the Heirs' Club trilogy and the Rakes of St. James series. An up-to-date listing of her books is available at https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/amelia-grey
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets
S. K. Golden
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892420266, $29.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Socialites-Sleuthing-Secrets-Pinnacle-Mystery/dp/B0D6VBPK3X
Synopsis: New York, 1958. When Evelyn's mail is delivered during a luncheon in the Gold Room, she's surprised to find she has received a diamond tiara, which catches the attention of a costume jewelry sales team lunching nearby. Their leader, Lois Mitchel, is especially interested, but by the end of the lunch, Lois has choked and fallen into Evelyn's lap -- and by the end of the day, she's dead.
The papers report on the death the next day, while also spreading news of a Gentleman Thief who's been leaving behind a red pocket square after robbing the city's wealthiest. Determined to figure out what happened to Lois, Evelyn devotes herself to the investigation.
The truth is as rare as a diamond and just as hard to crack, and Evelyn swiftly discovers that this particular mystery is multifaceted, too. From costume jewelry hawkers to wannabe Robin Hoods and a detective in residence at the Pinnacle, nothing is simple. But neither is Evelyn -- and this case is hers to solve.
Critique: One of the distinguishing characteristics of the cozy mystery is the development of an amateur female sleuth caught up on a 'whodunnit' murder mystery involving a friend, neighbor, relative, or 'innocent accused' -- as well as a threat to themselves from the unknown killer. Clearly, with the publication of "The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets" author S. K. Golden clearly demonstrates that she is a master of the cozy mystery genre. An original and fun read from cover to cover, "The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets" is highly recommended reading and an ideal pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of cozy mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets" from Crooked Lane Books is also available for personal reading lists in paperback (9798892422284, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Sarah K Golden (www.skgoldenwrites.com) was born and raised in the Florida Keys and married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls - including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. She graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor's degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She's worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father's church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now.
Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)
Jessie Q. Sutanto
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593546246, $30.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Vera-Wongs-Guide-Snooping-Novel/dp/0593546245
Synopsis: Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She's surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.
Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure trove: Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer -- who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.
Online, Xander had it all: a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.
Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.
Critique: A genuine treat for the legions of cozy mystery fans, once again in the pages of author Jessie Q. Sutanto's new novel, "Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)" we following the elderly and amateur female sleuth that was so entertaining in "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers". A classic cosy mystery that is a deftly crafted and fun read from cover to cover, "Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)" is a solid and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all cozy mystery fans in general, and 'Vera Wong' enthusiasts in particular, that this hardcover edition of "Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)" from Berkley Books is also readily available in paperback (9780593549223, $19.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Jesse Q. Sutanto (https://jesseqsutantoauthor.com) is the award-winning author of the Aunties series, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, I'm Not Done with You Yet, and You Will Never Be Me. Her young adult titles include The Obsession and Well, That Was Unexpected, and her children's fantasy series is Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit. She has a master's degree from Oxford University and a bachelor's from the University of California, Berkeley. She currently lives in Jakarta, Indonesia with her husband and two young daughters.
Seems Perfect
Rebecca Hanover
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662520501, $18.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Seems-Perfect-Novel-Rebecca-Hanover/dp/1662520506
Synopsis: Emily Hawthorne lives in the well-heeled Noe Valley of San Francisco... but just barely. With less work than she would like at the yoga studio, a pile of debt, and a fraught past, she can no longer afford her tiny condo. When she meets the charming Penelope "Pip" Stone and her young daughter, also beset by financial woes, she agrees to take them in as roommates.
But Emily's stroke of luck turns out to be another twist of the knife: Pip is a professional squatter who has no intention of paying rent. And Pip doesn't want to share the condo.
She wants the whole thing.
Their domestic standoff only intensifies when a downstairs neighbor is murdered. Both women become suspects, not to mention each other's mistrustful alibis.
Emily feels the walls closing in. Is she trapped with a vulnerable grifter (who, like her, may have good reasons for making bad decisions) or is Pip just a cold-blooded killer?
Critique: A deftly crafted combination of psychological thriller and murder mystery, "Seems Perfect" by Rebecca Hanover is an original, fascinating and entertaining read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Seems Perfect" from Lake Union Publishing is also available in paperback (9781662509308, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Rebecca Hanover (https://prabook.com/web/rebecca.hanover/1938716) is the author of the young adult series the Similars. After graduating from Stanford University with a BA in English and drama, Rebecca joined the writing team of the CBS daytime drama Guiding Light, where she earned an Emmy Award. She now writes novels full time from her home in San Francisco, where she enjoys matcha lattes and a complete lack of seasons. "Seems Perfect" is Hanover's second novel for adults, following The Last Applicant (2023).
What She's Hiding
Art Bell
Ulysses Press
www.ulyssespress.com
9781646047512, $28.95, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/What-Shes-Hiding-Art-Bell/dp/1646047516
Synopsis: The day Henry Gladstone, a lawyer at a white-shoe Manhattan law firm, met Leslie Dunlop, he knew she was trouble -- but he couldn't say no. Their steamy affair became a marriage filled with secrets and lies that collapsed as spectacularly as it began.
Cut to today: Leslie, who Henry hasn't heard from since their divorce, bursts into his office and announces that if he doesn't hand over a quarter-million dollars, they'll both be killed. Henry dismisses her story as a stupid attempt to steal his money and (despite his still-smoldering desire for her) tells her to get lost. But when he comes home to find his apartment ransacked, he begins to think this time Leslie may be telling the truth. And now that he desperately needs to find her -- but she has disappeared again!
In a harrowing journey through the glittering heights and shadowy corners of New York City, where the legal world meets the dark underside of the city, Henry assembles a team that includes his best friend Aiden, a private investigator named Gabriella, and Aiden's ex-wife Emma, to track down a missing engagement ring, stay one step ahead of the Russian mob, and uncover the secrets of Leslie's past. As the screws turn tighter and tighter, Henry must learn who he can trust to uncover the truth... before it's too late.
Critique: Original and all the more impressive when considering that "What She's Hiding", is author Art Bell debut as a novelist, this deftly crafted story of organized crime, murder and suspense is a simply riveting read from cover to cover. Showcasing Art Bell's natural flair for kind of narrative driven, plot twisting, and reader engaging storytelling, "What She's Hiding" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of noir thriller fiction that this hardcover edition of "What She's Hiding" from Ulysses Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Art Bell (https://www.artbellwriter.com) is a writer and former television executive known for developing and launching the Comedy Channel (later Comedy Central) while at HBO; and, as president of Court TV, overseeing daily live courtroom coverage and the production of hundreds of hours of original true-crime television series, documentaries, and movies. His memoir Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor, was a finalist in the 2020 Best Book Awards in both the memoir and business categories. Bell has had short stories, nonfiction, and satire published in several journals. What She's Hiding is his first novel.
On the Cusp
Erik Erickson
Regent Press
www.regentpress.net
9781587906909, $19.95, PB, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cusp-International-Murder-Mystery/dp/1587906902
Synopsis: Someone is trying to kill Andreas... or are they? His psychiatrist has doubts, and so does Vanessa, his dancer-turned-actress girlfriend. After a series of seemingly close encounters, the 25-year-old high school teacher ditches his job and flees the Big Apple on a Morocco-bound freighter. From there, along with a shifting cast of fellow travelers, skeptical friends, and globe-trotting eccentrics, he embarks on a drug-and-alcohol-fueled trip-of-a-lifetime throughout North Africa, Europe, the U.K., and Ireland. Manfully, he tries to keep his sanity (and his vows to Vanessa -- but the scent of impending demise and temptation persists.
Critique: Laced throughout with author Erik Erickson's singular style of dark humor, murder mystery, all laid out against a vividly written travelogue style backdrop, "On The Cusp" is an original and fun read from cover to cover. With its distinctive flair for narrative driven and reader engaging storytelling, "On The Cusp" is especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. as well as the personal reading lists of fans of international mystery and intrigue.
My Sister's Shadow
January Gilchrist
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892420587, $29.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/My-Sisters-Shadow-January-Gilchrist/dp/B0D3YDNVQX
Synopsis: England, 1904. Mirror twins Adelaide and Victoria have spent their lives in orbit of each other. Each doomed to be in the other's shadow, their lives are intertwined and inextricable as each other's identical inverse. Adelaide is dutiful and reserved, happy to remain in her childhood home, Harewood Hall, forever. Victoria wishes for a thrilling life, exploring the world and finding a great romance -- but the twins cannot live apart.
Visiting Lord Stanley bewitches Victoria with his talk of a life of luxury in New York, but it is obedient Adelaide whom he marries against her will and to Victoria's fury. Together, they all move to New York and begin a new life.
Adelaide finds herself trapped in a gilded cage on Fifth Avenue with no one but her angry and tempestuous twin for company. Amid the glamor of the upper class, Adelaide is captivated by the independent and educated women of the elite social circle Mrs. Astor's 400. As Adelaide's star rises, tensions begin to surface between the sisters, and as Adelaide grows apart from her twin for the very first time, Victoria descends into a rage-fueled darkness that threatens everything and anyone standing in her way.
Critique: Original, skillfully written, and with a special appeal to readers with an interest in Gothic mystery, crime, and suspense, "My Sister's Shadow" by January Gilchrist is an especially compelling and deftly presented story from start to finish. A riveting read, "My Sister's Shadow" is highly recommended, especially for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "My Sister's Shadow" from Crooked Lane Books is also available in paperback (9798892422321, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: January Gilchrist is a historical writer with a passion for mystery, and when she's not found soaking up the Queensland sun with her two young sons, she can be found eavesdropping on conversations in cafes and making up entire backstories (and murderous intents) for unsuspecting bystanders. When she grows up, she'd like to be Miss Marple. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49765624.January_Gilchrist)
Shadow of the Solstice
Anne Hillerman
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063344853, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Solstice-Leaphorn-Manuelito-Novel/dp/0063344858
Synopsis: The Navajo Nation police are on high alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary schedules an unprecedented trip to the little Navajo town of Shiprock, New Mexico. The visit coincides with a plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. Tensions around the official's arrival escalate when the body of a stranger is found in an area restricted for the disposal of radioactive uranium waste. Is it coincidence that a cult with a propensity for violence arrives at a private camp group outside Shiprock the same week to celebrate the summer solstice?
When the outsiders' erratic behavior makes their Navajo hosts uneasy, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is assigned to monitor the situation. She finds a young boy at grave risk, abused women, and other shocking discoveries that plunge her and Lt. Jim Chee into a volatile and deadly situation.
Meanwhile, Darleen Manuelito, Bernie's high spirited younger sister, learns one of her home health clients is gone - and the woman's daughter doesn't seem to care. Darleen's curiosity and sense of duty combine to lead her to discover that the client's grandson is also missing and that the two have become ensnared in a wickedly complex scheme exploiting indigenous people. Darleen's information meshes with a case Chee has begun to solve that deals with the evil underside of human nature.
Critique: Another riveting addition to the impressively popular Leaphorn Navaho Police mystery series by an author at the top of her game, the newly published "Shadow Of The Solstice" by Anne Hillerman is a 'must' for her legions of fans. Original, riveting, authentic, and a fun read from cover to cover for fans of mystery, suspense and drama played out in a Native American reservation. An essential acquisition for community and public libraries, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Shadow OF The Solstice" from Harper is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and in a large print edition (9780063433557, $34.00, PB, 480pp).
Editorial Note: Anne Hillerman (https://www.annehillerman.com) is the author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito mysteries. The series was created by her father, Tony Hillerman. She is also an executive producer of the Dark Winds television series on AMC. A listing of her books in order is available at https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/anne-hillerman
Hidden in Smoke
Lee Goldberg
https://leegoldberg.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662526466, $28.99, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Smoke-Sharpe-Walker-Goldberg/dp/1662526466
Synopsis: After dozens of Hollywood apartment buildings erupt in flames during a single night of terror, arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker are assigned to catch the serial torcher and end his spree. But then a catastrophic fire destroys a major freeway, crippling the city and forcing Sharpe and Walker to take on another massive case.
Desperate for help, they know exactly who to call: homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone. Together the four detectives must quickly figure out whether the freeway disaster was a tragic accident... or the work of a mastermind with a horrific plan.
As the investigations collide, an old foe with a revenge scheme enters the fray, igniting a race against time to stop a conspiracy of deception, corruption, and murder.
Critique: An original, riveting read from cover to cover, "Hidden in Smoke" by Lee Goldberg is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections. Deftly crafted in Goldberg's distinctive, narrative driven, and reader engaging storytelling style, it should be noted for readers with an interest in police procedural murder mysteries that this hardcover edition of "Hidden in Smoke" from Thomas & Mercer is also readily available in paperback (9781662526442, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Lee Goldberg (www.leegoldberg.com) is a two-time Edgar Award and two-time Shamus Award finalist and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including the Eve Ronin series, the Ian Ludlow series, the Sharpe & Walker series, and seven books in the Fox & O'Hare series, which he coauthored with Janet Evanovich. He has also written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQuest, and Monk, and is the co-creator of the Hallmark movie series Mystery 101. As an international television consultant, he has advised networks and studios in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, China, Sweden, and the Netherlands on the creation, writing, and production of episodic series.
The Peacemaker
Wanda E. Brunstetter
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
9781636099200, $16.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Peacemaker-Mifflin-County-Mystery/dp/1636099203
Synopsis: Ada's best friend, Rosa, disappeared a year ago and still has not been found. In their grief and confusion, Ada and Rosa's boyfriend, Ephraim, have grown very close. But some in the community feel Ephraim is responsible for Rosa's disappearance. Now Rosa's younger sister is making accusations against Ephraim that can't be true, and he pulls away from Ada, feeling betrayed. A fire set by an arsonist might finally be the thing to reveal secrets that have long been dividing this community of friends and family. But will it be too late for love between the peacemaker and the suspect?
Critique: Another gem of a Amish themed novel by Wanda E. Brunstetter, "The Peacemaker" combines romance with mystery in this second installment of 'The Mifflin County Mystery' series from Barbour Publishing. A fun and engaging read from cover to cover, "The Peacemaker" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Amish Romance collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of Wanda Brunstetter fans that this paperback edition of "The Peacemaker" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). Also highly recommended is the first title in this new series, "The Protector" (9781636097602, $11.99 PB, $9.99 Kindle) and readers will be looking forward to they yet-to-be-releases third and final installment of 'The Mifflin County Mystery' trilogy.
Editorial Note: Wanda E. Brunstetter (www.wandabrunstetter.com) is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards. Wanda's ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
When She Was Gone
Sara Foster
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781094094052, $26.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/When-She-Gone-Sara-Foster/dp/1094094056
Synopsis: Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote beach in Western Australia (and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care) Rose is asked to help bring Lou home.
This is the final case in DSS Mal Blackwood's illustrious career -- and there's a lot riding on it. The missing children are heirs to the Fisher property empire, and while their multimillionaire grandfather is breathing down Blackwood's neck, the media storm is intensifying. Faced with a deluge of evidence and accusations, Blackwood doesn't know who he can trust.
Rose arrives in Australia intent on proving her daughter's innocence, but how can she be sure of that when she's no longer part of Lou's life? Meanwhile, as Blackwood begins to expose the Fishers' secrets, the investigation takes a dark turn. Shadows of the past gather around the Fishers, and Rose, and soon it's clear that every hour is critical. What has happened to Lou and the children? And can Rose and Blackwood find them in time?
Critique: A deftly crafted, reader engaging, riveting read from cover to cover, "When She Was Gone" by author Sara Foster will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in tightly woven psychological suspense thrillers laced throughout with memorable characters and unexpected plot twists. Showcasing Foster's distinctively impressive and narrative driven storytelling talents, "When She Was Gone" is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "When She Was Gone" from Blackstone Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9798212175296, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Sara Foster (https://www.sarafoster.com.au) has published six other novels: Come Back to Me, Beneath the Shadows, Shallow Breath, All That Is Lost Between Us, You Don't Know Me, and The Hidden Hours. She lives near Perth, Western Australia, with her husband and two daughters, and is a doctoral candidate at Curtin University.
The Dredge
Brendan Flaherty
Grove Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802164377, $17.00, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dredge-Brendan-Flaherty/dp/0802164374
Synopsis: After some traumatic teenaged years in rural Connecticut, Cale and Ambrose Casey had nothing left to say to each other. Cale ran off to Hawaii to sell luxury real estate. Ambrose stayed behind and built up his construction company. Estranged brothers, neither one thought they would ever be in touch again and were glad for it -- until they learned of a real estate developer's plan to drain and expand Gibbs Pond.
Nearly 30 years before, the Casey brothers buried a secret in that pond, which fell somewhere between self-defense and family preservation.
Lily Rowe, the contractor in charge of the dredging, can also trace her roots (and her trauma) to the banks of Gibbs Pond. After a childhood that saw her and her brother yanked across the country by her abusive father, it was here where she finally stayed put, even if they didn't. But as ambitious as Lily is, and as much as she wants answers of her own, her family also has secrets to protect.
Now, the haunted lives of Cale, Ambrose, and Lily collide once more as they reunite to unearth the devastation of the past.
Critique: A riveting suspense thriller of a read from cover to cover, "The Dredge" by author Brendan Flaherty is all the more impressive when considering that it is his debut as a novelist. Of particular appeal to readers with an interest in crime and family in a small town, "The Dredge" showcases Flaherty genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that fully captures the reader's attention from start to finish and leave them looking eagerly toward the next novel. Originally published in hardcover (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2024), "The Dredge" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a popular pick for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this newly published paperback edition of "The Dredge" from Grove Press is also now available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Brendan Flaherty (https://www.bflah.com) is from outside Hartford. He went to Washington University in St. Louis, and received his MFA from Boston University.
Don't Turn Around
Harry Dolan
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802162823, $27.00, HC, 384pp\
https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Turn-Around-Harry-Dolan/dp/0802162827
Synopsis: When Kate Summerlin was eleven years old, she climbed out her bedroom window on a spring night, looking for a taste of freedom in the small college town where she was living with her parents. But what she found as she wandered in the woods near her house was something else: the body of a beautiful young woman, the first of Merkury's victims. And before she could come to grips with what she was seeing, she heard a voice behind her -- the killer's voice saying: "Don't turn around."
Now, at the age of twenty-nine, Kate is a successful true crime writer, but she has never told anyone the truth about what happened on that long-ago night. When Merkury claims yet another victim (a college student named Bryan Cayhill) Kate finds herself drawn back to the town where everything started. She sets out to make sense of this latest crime, but the deeper she gets into the story, the more she comes to realize that it's far from over. Her search for the truth about Merkury is leading her down into a dark labyrinth, and if she hopes to escape, she'll have to meet him once again -- this time face to face.
Critique: A simply riveting thriller of a read from start to finish, "Don't Turn Around" by novelist Harry Dolan will hold special appeal to readers with an interest in deftly crafted psychological suspense laden murder mysteries. With an original plot laced with unexpected twists and turns, and populated by solid and memorable characters, "Don't Turn Around" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Don't Turn Around" is also available in paperback (Grove Press, 9780802165206, $17.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Harry Dolan (https://www.harrydolan.com) is the author of the mystery/suspense novels Bad Things Happen (2009), Very Bad Men (2011), The Last Dead Girl (2014), The Man in the Crooked Hat (2017), and The Good Killer (2020). He graduated from Colgate University, where he majored in philosophy and studied fiction-writing with the novelist Frederick Busch.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Ageless
Renee Schaeffer
CamCat Books
www.camcatpublishing.com
9780744310023, $18.99, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ageless-Ren%C3%A9e-Schaeffer/dp/0744310024
Synopsis: Naissa Nolan is a happy child in 1850s Philadelphia -- until tragedy strikes while she and her family are on holiday. Alone and heartbroken, she is thrust into an immortal life she never bargained for or imagined.
Naissa spends the next few centuries on Earth (and beyond) desperate to learn more about her condition. While working with the esteemed Oberlin Institute in Vienna, she makes an important discovery that could change everything.
But trusting the wrong people is a mistake, and Naissa's immortal life enters a new chapter she never anticipated.
Critique: Immortality isn't all its cracked up to be! Especially if you don't understand why you keep living while those around you inevitably do not. A deftly crafted, fun and fascinating read from cover to cover (and all the more impressive considering that it is her debut as a novelist), "Ageless" by Renee Schaeffer is a blend of romance, genetical engineering, and the effects of immortality that will hold an enormous appeal for readers with an interest in this genre of science fiction. Strongly recommended, especially for community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of speculative science fiction fans that this paperback edition of "Ageless" from CamCat Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Renee Schaeffer (https://go.authorsguild.org/members/6711) has always been fascinated by technology and where it may lead us. A lifelong New Yorker, she has been found reading her prose at open mic nights in Manhattan. She married her childhood sweetheart and raised three happy, successful children. Her favorite author's moment is the time she met famed science fiction writer, Olivia Butler, in a Greenwich Village bakery specializing in goods made by the homeless, and discussed with Ms. Butler the inspirations behind her books.
Love and Other Paradoxes
Catriona Silvey
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063206441, $18.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Other-Paradoxes-Catriona-Silvey/dp/0063206447
Synopsis: Cambridge University, 2005: Student Joe Greene scribbles verses in the margins of his notebook, dreaming of a future where his words will echo through the ages, all while doubting it could ever happen.
Then, the future quite literally finds him -- in the form of Esi. She's part of a time-traveling tour, a trip for people in the future to witness history's greatest moments firsthand. The star of this tour? Joe Greene. In Esi's era, Joe is as renowned as Shakespeare. And he's about to meet Diana, a fellow student and aspiring actress, who will become his muse and the subject of his famous love poems.
But Esi is harboring a secret. She's not here because she idolizes Joe -- actually, she thinks his poetry is overrated. Something will happen at Cambridge this year that will wreck Esi's life, and she's hell-bent on changing it. When Esi goes rogue from her tour, she bumps into Joe and sends his destiny into a tailspin. To save both their futures, Esi becomes Joe's dating coach, helping him win over Diana. But when Joe's romantic endeavors go off-script (and worse, he starts falling for Esi instead) they both face a crucial question: Is the future set in stone, or can we pen our own fates?
Critique: A deftly blended combination or romance and science fiction, "Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey is an impressively original and thoroughly fun read from cover to cover. While a unique and highly recommended pick for community library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated romance and science fiction fans that this paperback edition of "Love and Other Paradoxes" from William Morrow & Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798874876678, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Catriona Silvey (https://catrionasilvey.com) is a novelist and author whose short stories have been performed at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and short listed for the Bridport Prize. She was born in Glasgow, grew up in Scotland and England, and earned degrees from the universities of Cambridge, Chicago, and Edinburgh.
Scorched Skies
E. J. Mellow
https://www.ejmellow.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662526848, $28.99, HC, 541pp
https://www.amazon.com/Scorched-Skies-Way-Wings-Mellow/dp/1662526849
Synopsis: In the divided world of Cadra, where the winged Volari rule over the earthbound Sura, Tanwen has never relished her life of secrecy, but hiding is her only means of survival. As the child of a forbidden union, her very existence is punishable by death.
As the Crown Prince, Zolya is forced to fulfill his father's every whim. Acting on orders, he captures Tanwen's father and brother, whisking them away to his kingdom in the sky. Determined to save her family, Tanwen infiltrates the royal court disguised as a servant.
Amid the palace's intrigue, she realizes there's more to save than just her family and more to Prince Zolya than meets the eye. As their worlds collide, their star-crossed relationship intensifies under the king's oppression. With their loyalties pulling them in opposite directions, Tanwen and Zolya must decide if their love can bridge the divide or if they have flown too close to the sun.
Critique: Original, imaginative, skillfully written, and of immense interest to fans of historical fantasy novels with romance, memorable villains, and reader engaging adventure, "Scorched Skies" by M. J. Mellow is a fun and riveting read from start to finish. Certain to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated heroic fantasy fiction fans that this hardcover edition of "Scorched Skies" from Montlake is also readily available in paperback (9781662515439, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: E. J. Mellow (https://www.ejmellow.com/books-copy) is an award-winning author specializing in magical mayhem. Her work has been translated into multiple languages and has appeared on best-of lists such as BuzzFeed and Gizmodo, reaching number one on multiple Amazon charts and receiving medals from eLit Book Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Readers have said her "lyrical, vibrant, and imaginative" writing sweeps them into "stunning worlds." Mellow is also the cofounder of She Is Booked, a literary-themed fundraising organization that supports women's charities: https://www.sheisbooked.com
The Bane Witch
Ava Morgyn
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250835451, $19.00, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bane-Witch-Novel-Ava-Morgyn/dp/1250835453
Synopsis: Piers Corbin has always had an affinity for poisonous things -- plants and men. From the pokeweed berries she consumed at age five that led to the accidental death of a stranger, to the husband whose dark proclivities have become... concerning, poison has been at the heart of her story.
But when she fakes her own death in an attempt to escape her volatile marriage and goes to stay with her estranged great aunt in the mountains, she realizes her predilection is more than a hunger -- it's also a birthright because Piers comes from a long line of poison eaters called Bane Witches -- women who ingest deadly plants and use their magic to rid the world of evil men.
Piers sets out to earn her place in her family's gritty but distinguished legacy, all while working at her Aunt Myrtle's cafe and perpetuating a flirtation with the local, well-meaning sheriff to allay his suspicions on the body count she's been leaving in her wake. But soon she catches the attention of someone else, a serial killer operating in the area. And that only means one thing -- it's time to feed.
Critique: Once again, with the publication of her newest novel, "The Bane Witch", author Ava Morgyn demonstrates her ability to create a theater of the mind style experience for her readers. With her original and distinctive storytelling style, her protagonist is as unusual as she is fascinating with a compelling and emotionally engaging story replete with unexpected plot twists and turns to a simply riveting conclusion. A fun and memorable read from cover to cover for those with an interest in romance, suspense, and contemporary witchcraft, "The Bane Witch" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Bane Witch" from St. Martin's Griffin is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: As a reader, Ava Morgyn (www.avamorgyn.com) grew up falling in love with all the wrong characters in all the wrong stories. Then she went on to study English Writing & Rhetoric at St. Edward's University. She is a lover of witchcraft, tarot, and powerful women with bad reputations, and she currently resides in Houston with her family, surrounded by antiques and dog hair. When not at her laptop spinning darkly hypnotic tales, she writes for her blog on child loss, hunts for vintage treasures, and reads the darkest books she can find. She is the author of YA novels Resurrection Girls and The Salt in Our Blood.
The Art Shelf
Cute Fantasy Art Class: Mystical Anime Besties
Naomi Lord
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9781577154532, $21.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cute-Fantasy-Art-Class-Characters/dp/1577154533
Synopsis: With the publication of "Cute Fantasy Art Class: Mystical Anime Besties - Learn to Draw over 50 Charming Characters", the prolific artist Naomi Lord, seeks to teach aspiring and practicing artists and illustrators her signature style of anime drawing in the form of charming, mystical characters. Get ready to expand your portfolios and sketchpads with adorable characters who wield swords, axes, and wands! Through easy-to-follow tutorials, all that is needed is to grab your pens, markers, or digital programs, and start drawing!
The DIY lessons for for drawing honorable or mischievous characters from:
The Enchanted City (Adventurer, Pirate, Wizard, Princess)
The Ancient Forest (Gnome, Fairy, Elves, Druid)
The Moonlit Mountains (Troll, Skeleton, Orc, Witch)
The Wild Hamlet (Architect, Warrior, Archer, Magician)
"Cute Fantasy Art Class: Mystical Anime Besties" also includes how to customize your drawings with simple tips and tricks on how to add accessories, clothing, and hairstyles. Once you're done, not only do you have the freedom to color your characters however you want, you can also explore the bonus 'Character Familiars' chapter and give your characters a trusted companion for their adventures.
With Naomi's artistic knowledge, "Cute Fantasy Art Class: Mystical Anime Besties " will become a solid and 'user friendly' go-to reference whenever creative inspiration through the cutest art in needed.
Critique: This large format (8 x 0.6 x 9.9 inches, 1.05 pounds) paperback edition of "Cute Fantasy Art Class: Mystical Anime Besties - Learn to Draw over 50 Charming Characters" by Naomi Lord is an ideal combination of tutorials and a 'how-to' manual for anyone seeking to acquire and/or hone their artistic skills when creating/drawing anime characters in a manga style. This paperback edition of "Cute Fantasy Art Class: Mystical Anime Besties - Learn to Draw over 50 Charming Characters" from Rock Point is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.89) and is strongly recommended for personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university library Anime/Cartton/Pencil Drawing instructional art collection.
Editorial Note: Naomi Lord (www.etsy.com/shop/NaomiLordArt) is a prolific artist with a strong signature style. Her artwork has attracted a large following on Instagram @naomi_lord and she has made a career of selling her work online and partnering with retailers like Hot Topic. Naomi's creatures are both adorable and imaginative, and include a range of anime and kawaii characters inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, popular anime, Game of Thrones, and Greek mythology, as well as witches, goth characters, and her own creations. She is also the author of Cute Creature Art Class.
Creepy Cute Drawing Class
Marcie Driessen
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9781577154808, $21.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Creepy-Cute-Drawing-Class-Characters/dp/1577154800
Synopsis: "Creepy Cute Drawing Class: Learn to Draw 70 Sweetly Spooky Characters and Cozy Creatures" by Marcie Driessen is comprised of 71 step-by-step DIY drawings for creating eerily cute creatures.
Learning to draw may seem scary, but this collection of monsters and creatures is not. Dive into creepy and moody drawings with the most unexpectedly cute characters that will elicit the cozy mood of spooky season. Whether you're a budding artist or a drawing master, Creepy Cute Drawing Class includes fun and easy drawings of spooky creatures getting up to all sorts of mischief.
Whenever you're in the mood for something spooky, curl up with a copy of charmingly creepy characters, including:
Animals of the Mulberry Forest such as Skeleton Dog, Badger's Bewitching Bath, Pumpkin Peekaboo, and Hocus Pocus Possum
Creatures of the Gourd Hamlet such as Baby Yeti, Vincent Van Plague, Ghoul Scout, and Supernatural Sleepover
Spooky locations on Hollow Lanes such as Bootique, Baba Yaga's Place, Ghost Roast Cafe, and Eerie Eats Confectionery
Events that occur during Spooky Celebrations such as Jack-o-Lantern, Spookmas Tree, Easter Reaper, and Birthday Skeleton
In this comprehensive guide you will find easy-to-follow instructions, tips, and tricks that will walk you through Marcie Driessen's signature drawing style and coloring techniques. The perfect mix of creepy and cute, "Creepy Cute Drawing Class" will inspire and delight your inner ghoul!
Critique: The ideal DIY instructional guide for novice (and even experienced) illustrated wanting to create a series of creatures that are spooky, cozy and fun, "Creepy Cute Drawing Class: Learn to Draw 70 Sweetly Spooky Characters and Cozy Creatures" is especially and unreservedly recommended. It should be noted for art students, professional illustrators, and anyone with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "Creepy Cute Drawing Class: Learn to Draw 70 Sweetly Spooky Characters and Cozy Creatures" from Rock Point is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.89, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Marcie Driessen (https://marciesart.com) is a chronically ill artist from the Netherlands. She grew up in a small village in the woods where she spent most of her time reading and drawing, or on her good days, exploring the forest and marsh near her house. When creating art, she finds inspiration in the things that bring her joy, including the little creatures she visited in the marsh. Most often she works with traditional art supplies of pencils, pens, ink, watercolor paints, and markers. In 2018, she started her Instagram account (@marcies_art), and a year later, she opened her Etsy shop (@MarciesArtPlace) where she sells stickers, art prints, and mystery bags. Marcie's Art is now her brand that allows her to show her art to the world. She also loves to hike and play board games.
The Crafts Shelf
One Fold at a Time Origami
Paul Jackson
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805318997, $16.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/One-Fold-Time-Origami-First-Time/dp/4805318996
Synopsis: Paul Jackson has been teaching origami for 40 years and knows from experience that many people struggle to follow the folding instructions for origami models. With the publication of "One Fold at a Time Origami: 36 Easy Models for First-Time Folders ", he has created an all-new collection of original designs specifically aimed at first timers.
These "pureland" models feature only simple mountain and valley folds and each step is shown in a separate diagram so that the instructions are exceptionally clear -- for virtually guaranteed results!
For anyone who has been wanting to try origami but has been put off by the "difficulty factor", "One Fold at a Time Origami" is the ideal DIY introduction to the joy and fun of origami.
The 36 hassle-free models comprising "One Fold at a Time Origami" include:
Paper Jumping Jacks with built-in springs, ready for the next jump!
The Shadow Dog, which reveals its form when held up to the light
A stylish paper Baseball Cap that you can actually wear!
A cute kaiju Foldzilla ready to create monster mayhem!
The mind-bending optical illusion Mirror Collage
Unusual models like Sneakers and cute Funny Faces
And many more!
These paper models are not only easy -- they are incredibly beautiful and playful -- offering hours of fun folding them and displaying them.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "One Fold at a Time Origami: 36 Easy Models for First-Time Folders" by origami expert Paul Jackson is the perfect 'how-to' introduction to this artistic paper folding craft that is as fun as it is instructive. Ideal for the absolute beginner and the not-so-experienced novice, this paperback edition of "One Fold at a Time Origami" from Tuttle Publishing will prove an enduringly welcome addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Origami collections. It should be noted that "One Fold at a Time Origami" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Paul Jackson (https://origamimuseum.org/paul-jackson) has been a professional paper folder and paper craft artist since 1982. He is the author of 30 books on paper arts and crafts and has taught over 100 university-level paper folding courses in the UK, Germany, Belgium, the US, Canada and Israel. These include paper design courses in the fields of Architecture, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Jewelry, Product Design, Packaging, Ceramics, Industrial Design, Fine Art, Basic Design and Interior Design. He gives workshops at museums, arts centers and festivals, and has worked as "folding consultant" for companies like Nike and Siemens.
Healthy Brain Origami
Mayumi Ohara & Katsushi Yokoi
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805318959, $19.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Brain-Origami-Decorative-Healthier/dp/4805318953
Synopsis: As we age, keeping our minds sharp becomes a priority, and studies have shown that cognitive function is enhanced by activities like the meditative art of origami. "Healthy Brain Origami: Fold Decorative Paper Models that Boost Mental Acumen and Keep Your Brain Active!" by co-authors Mayumi Ohara and Professor Katsushi Yokoi offers a fun way to engage your brain by the Japanese practice and art of Origami (the folding paper models) which is an easy and fulfilling activity that encourages focus, persistence and spatial visualization.
Mayumi Ohara is a noted origami designer who has written this unique DIY guide under the supervision of Professor Katsushi Yokoi at Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences in Japan. Her simple instructions and colorful models teach the brain-training art of modular origami, where small paper squares are folded then assembled into large and spectacular models.
The basic modules on their own form charming Pinwheels, Butterflies, Maple Leaves, Hearts and Tulips. When combined into larger projects, they form dramatic rings and wall hangings celebrating the passage of the seasons.
The more than 100 paper models comprising "Healthy Brain Origami: Fold Decorative Paper Models that Boost Mental Acumen and Keep Your Brain Active!" include:
Springtime wall decorations including a Fairytale Castle and a wreath with Butterflies
Summer-themed pieces like the word LOVE written in Hearts and a Samurai Helmet
Autumn decorations like a lattice composed of Maple Leaves with Acorns and Mushrooms
Wintertime pieces, including Christmas Pine Trees and a festive Ornaments Garland
Perfect for adults and ideal for seniors, "Healthy Brain Origami" is packed from cover to cover with paper folding ideas and activities to keep your mind healthy, vibrant and active!
Critique: With colorfully and profusely illustrated step-by-step instructions for each individual Origami project, this large format (7.32 x 0.55 x 9.84 inches, 14.4 ounces) paperback edition of "Healthy Brain Origami: Fold Decorative Paper Models that Boost Mental Acumen and Keep Your Brain Active!" from Tuttle Publishing is an enthusiastically recommended pick for personal, professional, community, senior center, and college/university library Alzheimer's and Dementia Activities collections -- as well as an addition to 'just for fun' lists for those legions of dedicated Origami fans.
Editorial Note #1: Mayumi Ohara is a sculptor and graphic designer. In addition to editing and designing books, she creates handmade crafts. She began with kirigami and expanded her repertoire to include origami, beadwork, ceramics and flower arrangements. She has written many books on origami, papercrafts and puzzles.
Editorial Note #2: Professor Katsushi Yokoi is Vice Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences in Osaka, Japan.
The Music Shelf
Southern Mountain Music
Wayne Erbsen
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476696461, $39.95, PB, 210pp
https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Mountain-Music-Contributions-Appalachian/dp/1476696462
Synopsis: The 56th title in McFarland & Company's 'Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studies' series, "Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen" represents a lifetime of research by Wayne Erbsen, professor of old-time and bluegrass music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, who interviewed many legendary figures in Appalachian music. Often the first and only scholar to ever collect their stories, Professor Erbsen provides his readers with an indispensable history of bluegrass and old-time music in Appalachia that will continue to be revered for generations to come.
"Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen" begins with stories featuring many pioneers of old-time and bluegrass music. Next are chapters on brother duets from the 1930s, legendary banjo pickers and fiddle players, plus tales of 19th-century songwriters whose songs still populate bluegrass music. Also covered are wide-ranging and whimsical topics such as the Ghost of Scotty Stoneman, cowboys in bluegrass music, Charlie Cline's powerful snoring, a near-encounter with Bigfoot, and Hoss Cartwright's hat.
Critique: An impressively organized, presented, fun and informative read from start to finish, "Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen" is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of B/W historical photos. This large format (7 x 0.42 x 10 inches, 13.3 ounces) paperback edition of "Southern Mountain Music" from McFarland & Company is a unique and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Music History collections in general, and Appalachian History/Culture/Music curriculum studies in particular. It should be noted that "Southern Mountain Music" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: A professor of old-time and bluegrass music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Wayne Erbsen (https://nativeground.com/about/wayne-bio) has spent most of his life playing, teaching, researching, publishing, and broadcasting southern Appalachian and bluegrass music. He has written 38 books of songs, folklore, and music instruction. He divides his time between his home in Asheville, North Carolina and his family's Civil War era log cabin in Elk Creek, Virginia.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Crocheting the National Parks
Krista Ann
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760395608, $24.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crocheting-National-Parks-Patterns-Accessories/dp/0760395608
Synopsis: With the publication of "Crocheting the National Parks: 20 Patterns for Accessories, Home Decor, Plushies, and More Inspired by Natural Wonders" by Krista Ann, needlecrafters can Immerse themselves in the beauty of America's national parks with an enchanting collection whose every project twists the spirit of nature into each stitch, offering a delightful array of crochet projects inspired by the diverse landscapes and wildlife of iconic parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. Each project captures the essence of these natural wonders, from serene coastal scenes to majestic mountain vistas, blending creativity with the awe-inspiring beauty of the great outdoors.
Curated by renowned designer Krista Ann of @explorewithknitsy, "Crocheting the National Parks" showcases 20 unique patterns, including contributions from renowned crochet artists. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, you'll find projects that suit every skill level, allowing you to explore new techniques.
"Crocheting the National Parks" features:
20 park-inspired projects: Crisscross the United States and visit iconic parks from the East Coast to the West Coast.
A wide range of designs for all skill levels: From cozy blankets and squishy cowls to playful amigurumi and home decor, each pattern is thoughtfully designed, with something for everyone.
Tips and techniques: Whether you're looking for ways to make stitching on the go easier or need step-by-step guidance on working your first stitches, Krista Ann is your expert tour guide!
Breathtaking photos and detailed illustrations: Scenic landmarks from the national parks let you enjoy majestic landscapes as you stitch projects from the comfort of your home.
"Crocheting the National Parks" is a needlecrafters' ticket to a creative journey through America's most treasured natural landscapes. Craft your way through these stunning parks and bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home!
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches, 1.3 pounds) paperback edition of Krista Ann's "Crocheting the National Parks: 20 Patterns for Accessories, Home Decor, Plushies, and More Inspired by Natural Wonders" is beautifully and informatively illustrated throughout and is impressively 'user friendly' in organization and step-by-step presentation. A highly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft/Crocheting collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition from Quarry Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.74, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Krista Ann (https://easycrochet.com) is a professional crocheter, knitter, and world traveler. She enjoys teaching aspiring makers how to create a flawless piece. Krista has professionally knit (and crocheted) pieces that have appeared in many major television shows and movies, including Hocus Pocus 2, The Mindy Project, Stranger Things, and Annabelle Comes Home. You can follow her adventures across the USA on Instagram @explorewithknitsy
The Music CD Shelf
Bone Bells
Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halvorson
Pyroclastic Records
$18.00 CD / $12.00 digital
https://sylviecourvoisier.bandcamp.com/album/bone-bells
Pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and guitarist Mary Halvorson present Bone Bells, their third album as a duo. Bone Bells is a fine balance between contemporary chamber music and avant-garde jazz, that takes the listener on a lively auditory tour. Highly recommended! The tracks are Bone Bells; Esmeralda; Folded Secret; Nags Head Valse; Beclouded; Silly Walk; Float Queens; and Cristellina e Lontano.
Every Journey
Ensemble C
clairecopemusic.com
Adhyaropa Records
adhyaroparecords.com
$20.00 CD / $40.00 vinyl / $15.00 digital
https://ensemblec.bandcamp.com/album/every-journey
Every Journey is a stunning, original album by British composer and pianist Claire Cope and her Ensemble C - a grand gathering of talented individuals performing vocals, trumpet, trombone, tenor sax, guitar, double bass, drums, and more. An extraordinary orchestral tapestry, Every Journey embodies the drive to seek out new horizons and take control of one's direction in life. A vibrant, beautiful, and motivational concert, Every Journey is highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are Every Journey (Has a Beginning); Flight; The Birch and the Larch; Isabel; The Light of the Dark; Amboseli; That Nabongo Feeling; and Home.
Ballads
Noah Preminger
noahpreminger.com
Chill Tone Records
$TBA CD / $7.00 digital
https://chilltonerecords.bandcamp.com/album/ballads
Ballads is a jazz album of four original compositions as well as covers of selected standards by Brooklyn-based saxophonist Noah Preminger, performed along with pianist Julian Shore, bassist Kim Cass and drummer Allan Mednard. Ballads is immersive and resonant, inexorably drawing the listener in to its rapturous soundscape. Highly recommended! The tracks are Stan's Mood; Carry Me Ohio; Unfair World; In Our 20's; Democracy; PNEU; and Someone To Watch Over Me.
Conceptions
Geoffrey Dean Quartet
www.geoffreydeanmusic.com
Cellar Music
$14.99 CAD CD / $9.99 CAD digital
https://geoffreydean.bandcamp.com/album/conceptions
Conceptions is a jazz piano album of original compositions by members of the Geoffrey Dean Quartet: Geoffrey Dean on piano; Harish Raghavan on bass; Eric Binder on drums; and Justin Copeland on trumpet. Adventurous and vivaciously intense, Conceptions showcases a diversity of uptempo jazz styles and is a choice pick for connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are Came and Went (Geoffrey Dean); Phoenix Rising (Justin Copeland); Amdist A Dream (Eric Binder); Conflagration (Geoffrey Dean); Road To Somewhere (Justin Copeland); Song For Hannah (Geoffrey Dean); Spiral (Geoffrey Dean); Prism (Geoffrey Dean); Arrival (Justin Copeland) and What May Come (Eric Binder).
Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill
Rodney Whitaker
rodneywhitaker.com
Origin Records
gregghilljazz.com
$17.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Mosaic-Music-Gregg-Rodney-Whitaker/dp/B0DRGZ9SPQ
Bassist extraordinaire Rodney Whitaker presents Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill, the fourth collaboration between Whitaker and Hill. The songs of Mosaic are composed by Gregg Hill and arranged by Rodney Whitaker; lyrics are by Rockelle Whitaker (tracks 5, 7, 9) and Randy Napoleon (track 2). Rodney Whitaker's masterful bass performance intertwines with a medley of additional talented musicians: Terrell Stafford on trumpet and flugelhorn; Tim Warfield on tenor and soprano saxophone; Rick Roe on piano; Dana Hall on drums; and Rockelle Whitaker on vocals. Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill is a choice pick for jazz connoisseurs and a "must-have" for admirers of Gregg Hill's immersive jazz, highly recommended. The tracks are Mosaic; Unknown Ballad; Claxilever; Katie's Tune; Moonscape; Ray-Dias; Still Life with Tuba; Sloe Gin Fizz; Stargazer; and Sunday Special.
Exits
Strat Andriotis
stratmusic.net
Dekatria Records
$TBA CD / $7.00 digital
https://stratandriotis2.bandcamp.com/album/exits
https://music.apple.com/us/album/exits/1765436907
Exits is an original, instrumental jazz album composed by masterful guitarist Strat Andriotis and performed by Andriotis on guitar, Tom Altobelli and Joel Banks on bass, and Vincent Walters and Alex Karcza on drums. The five collaborators form two contrasting trios - Andriotis, Altobelli, and Walters on tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 8; and Andriotis, Banks, and Karcza on tracks 2, 5, 6. Exits is an extraordinary soundscape that draws the listener into its unique, resonant style, and highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of exquisite guitar jazz. The tracks are Dominions; Far Away Tears; Replaced; Between You and I; While We Wait; Timer; Will It Ever Be The Same; and Exits.
Mi Hogar II
Rachel Therrien
racheltherrien.com
Lula World Records
lulaworldrecords.ca
$20.00 CD / $10.00 digital
https://racheltherrien.bandcamp.com/album/mi-hogar-ii
Mi Hogar II (the title translates to "My Home II") is the eighth album by trumpeter Rachel Therrien, along with an extensive assembly of collaborators lending their talent for vocals, violin, sax, trombone, piano, bass, and percussion. Four of the Latin jazz tracks are Therrien's original compositions; three were composed by others. A vibrant blend of traditional Latin rhythms and modern jazz, Mi Hogar II is an exuberant, multifaceted celebration and highly recommended especially for genre connoisseurs. The tracks are Fiestas Campesinas (John Benitez); Orun (R. Therrien); Back Home (R. Therrien); Suenos de Cambios (R. Therrien); Soucy (R. Therrien); Mambo 'Chucho' Influenciado (Chucho Valdes/Paquito D'Rivera); and Beauty Free (Mireya Ramos).
The Business Shelf
Warehouse Management
Gwynne Richards
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398618725, $232.00, HC, 608pp
https://www.amazon.com/Warehouse-Management-Definitive-Efficiency-Minimizing/dp/1398618721
Synopsis: As the modern warehouse continues to capitalize on cutting-edge technologies to maximize its role in the supply chain, corporate executives, business managers, and entrepreneurs will be able to fully understand how to successfully manage these warehouses with this newly updated and expanded fifth edition of "Warehouse Management: The Definitive Guide to Improving Efficiency and Minimizing Costs in the Modern Warehouse" by Gwynne Richards.
The fifth edition of "Warehouse Management" includes the most current information from across the warehouse industry. It also explores emerging technologies, like AI, robotics and automation and how they are shaping today's warehouse operations. There are new real-world examples from companies who have achieved improvements and cost savings through the introduction of new technology and equipment, leaner processes and environmental initiatives.
"Warehouse Management" also covers an extensive range of key topics from defining the modern warehouse, detailing management processes, strategies and practices to outlining how to tackle environmental challenges to ensure a sustainable supply chain. With practical insights and real-world examples into how to improve operating costs, "Warehouse Management" continues to be essential reading for optimizing warehouse performance. Of special note is the availability of online resources that include videos and PowerPoint slides.
Critique: Beginning with the role of the warehouse and the warehouse manager, "Warehouse Management: The Definitive Guide to Improving Efficiency and Minimizing Costs in the Modern Warehouse" covers various warehouse processes, information technologies, layout, equipment, automation/robotics, costs, health/safety issues, environment, and outsourcing. Of special interest in the concluding chapter on 'The Warehouse of the Future'. Comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, this new fifth edition of "Warehouse Management" is the ideal textbook for curriculum studies lists, and an essential addition to professional, corporate, and college/university library Business/Warehouse Management Operations collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover fifth edition of"Warehouse Management" is also readily available in paperback (9781398618701, $65.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $61.75).
Editorial Note: Gwynne Richards has over thirty years' experience in warehouse management and logistics. As well as running his own successful logistics consultancy, he provides a number of courses on warehouse and transport management for practitioners. He is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Warwick and the University of Aston. He is the author of Warehouse Management and The Logistics and Supply Chain Toolkit, published by Kogan Page.
Account-Based Marketing
Bev Burgess
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398619159, $130.00, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Account-Based-Marketing-Definitive-Handbook-Marketers/dp/1398619159
Synopsis: From explaining how to design the right ABM strategy, to exploring the five types of ABM and how to decide which type to use with which customers, "Account-Based Marketing: The Definitive Handbook for B2B Marketers" is a DIY guide that will help you to build your company's ABM capability through the right structure, processes and organization to deliver the best results.
Knowledgeably written by the leading practitioner in ABM, Bev Burgess, "Account-Based Marketing: The Definitive Handbook for B2B Marketers" will also help you prepare for the future of ABM as the world of marketing evolves with the introduction of generative AI, helping you to stay at the forefront of your professional practice.
With real-world examples and perspectives from companies such as Accenture, NTT, Salesforce and Vodafone, "Account-Based Marketing: The Definitive Handbook for B2B Marketers" is a key resource for Account-Based Marketers everywhere, providing an up-to-date view of best practices in ABM globally and a look at how these practices are evolving.
Whether you're a novice B2B marketer learning about account-based marketing (ABM) for the first time, or an experienced account-based marketer who wants to keep up to date with the latest advances in the field, "Account-Based Marketing: The Definitive Handbook for B2B Marketers" is the perfect guide to using ABM effectively in your business.
Critique: With each of the eleven chapters comprising "Account-Based Marketing: The Definitive Handbook for B2B Marketers" including a Summary and Notes for the benefit of the reader, this comprehensive and 'reader friendly' instructional guide is a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Global Marketing, Direct Marketing, and Sales Accounting instructional reference collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Account-Based Marketing: The Definitive Handbook for B2B Marketers" from Kogan Page is also readily available in paperback (9781398619135, $38.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.99).
Editorial Note: Bev Burgess, based in Kent, UK, is Founder and Managing Principal at Inflexion Group. She has held senior marketing roles at British Gas, Epson and Fujitsu and headed ITSMA's global Account-Based Marketing (ABM) practice and European business. Since she codified ABM in 2003, she has personally helped over 40 of the world's most influential firms accelerate account growth using ABM techniques through her consulting, training and thought leadership. She is also the author of "Account-Based Growth" and 'A Practitioner's Guide to Account-Based Marketing" (both from Kogan Page).
The Power of HR
Joey Price
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398618978, $109.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Power-HR-Organizational-Impact-Professional/dp/1398618977
Synopsis: How can I influence the business and drive meaningful change as an HR professional? How can I improve organizational performance and showcase my value? How can I prove that HR professionals are key to company success?
With the publication of "The Power of HR: How to Make an Organizational Impact as a People Professional", Joey Price draws upon his years of experience and expertise to provide a practical guide that answers all these questions and equips HR professionals with everything they need to make an impact on the organization.
"The Power of HR" outlines the key aspects of the HR role, examines how they add value to the business and explains how practitioners can demonstrate this value to the organization. It includes coverage of the importance of attracting and hiring the people with the skills the business needs to meet its objectives, effective onboarding of these staff as well as guidance on how to communicate the value of this to the business.
Also covered is HR's essential role in company culture and why people professionals are integral to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at work and the corresponding effect this has on company performance. "The Power of HR" also has a dedicated chapter on using insights from data and analytics in HR activity to provide people professionals with the evidence they need to make an impact and influence business priorities.
Full of real-world examples from companies such as Adobe, Google, LexisNexis, Jumpstart HR and NPR as well as interviews from HR professionals and industry experts including Dave Ulrich, Lars Schmidt and Adonica Black, "The Power of HR" is ideal reading for all HR professionals wanting to demonstrate their value to the organization, drive change and influence business decision making.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Power of HR: How to Make an Organizational Impact as a People Professional" by Joey Price is comprehensively informed and informatively -- ideal as an MBA curriculum textbook on corporate HR responsibilities, and an ideal introduction to anyone newly assigned to serve in or manage a corporate HR department. Highly recommended for professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Human Resources & Personnel Management collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Power of HR: How to Make an Organizational Impact as a People Professional" from Kogan Page is also readily available in paperback (9781398618954, $34.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $33.24).
Editorial Note: Joey Price is CEO of Jumpstart HR (https://jumpstart-hr.com) where he works with companies to accomplish their strategic business aims and enhance employee experience. He leads a team of HR professionals and support staff who provide award-winning HR, Recruiting, Payroll and Learning & Development Solutions to local businesses and multinational firms. Based in Maryland, USA, he is an international HR keynote speaker, advisory board member, thought leader and TEDx speaker.
Outgrow
Alex Goldfayn
Matt Holt Books
c/o BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637746394, $30.00, HC, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Outgrow-Expand-Market-Outsell-Competition/dp/1637746393
Synopsis: In business, the top predictor of growth is not hiding in your sales numbers but in your sales behaviors.
Your competition is making a big mistake: they only communicate with their customers when something is wrong or urgent. But you can unlock organic revenue expansion by enabling your team to consistently make lightning-fast proactive communications with customers and prospects.
Although we cannot control if we will make the sale, we can control our sales-generating behaviors. Based on tens of millions of Outgrow behaviors logged, tracked, and analyzed over 15 years, revenue growth consultant and speaker Alex Goldfayn has developed an actionable system of proactive growth that is statistically proven to succeed.
With the publication of "Outgrow: How to Expand Market Share and Outsell Your Competition", Alex shares this system, which more than 300 corporate clients have implemented to generate 20 to 30 percent annual sales growth year after year. His readers can learn how to easily implement this process and unlock the power of:
Focusing on the customers you don't interact with regularly to significantly expand your wallet share with them
Logging and tracking lightning-fast revenue-generating behaviors
Generating analytics that will arm with you with predictors of coming sales growth
Guiding salespeople through a powerful mindset shift from selling to customers to helping them
Packed with practical tools such as action planning and tracking forms, scorecards, call scripts, and communication strategies, the Outgrow system will arm you with a detailed cadence of sales-growth play calling and tracking that will help you coach your people on how to create new sales and gain buy-in from your salesforce.
"Outgrow: How to Expand Market Share and Outsell Your Competition" is your practical DIY playbook for outgrowing old, limiting sales beliefs and creating predictable, sustainable, measurable, organic sales growth.
Critique: Exceptional, practical, effective, and thoroughly 'user/reader' friendly in organization and presentation, "Outgrow: How to Expand Market Share and Outsell Your Competition" is a complete course of instruction that should be considered essential and high priority reading for entrepreneurs, business managers, and corporate executives. Unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, and college/university library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBA students, academia, and all others who would be interested in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Outgrow: How to Expand Market Share and Outsell Your Competition" from Matt Holt Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Alex Goldfayn (https://goldfayn.com/books) is a three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author and one of the most sought-after sales speakers in the world. He is the CEO of The Revenue Growth Consultancy which is one of the top-grossing solo consulting firms in America. Combined, his clients have generated billions of dollars in new sales which can be tied directly to the systems and techniques detailed in "Outgrow: How to Expand Market Share and Outsell Your Competition".
The Gardening Shelf
Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass
Liz Primeau, author
Andrew Leyerle, photographer
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9781552976654, $24.95, HC, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Front-Yard-Gardens-Growing-Grass/dp/1552976653
Synopsis: Although upkeep is labor intensive and often requires an arsenal of dangerous chemicals to keep it free of weeds and pests, the appeal of a manicured lawn is almost irresistible. But more people are discovering a very attractive alternative.
Packed from cover to cover with practical tips and beautiful photographs, "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" by Liz Primeau explores the history of the lawn and our attachment to it. It features a wealth of examples of front yard gardens from more than seventy gardens from across North America. It also provides step-by-step instructions to start and grow your own front yard garden.
Primeau transformed her lawn in a quiet suburb to a mixed garden with a profusion of flowering plants, shrubs, and cacti. She now enjoys an eye-catching front garden that requires no chemicals and less watering than her lawn.
"Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" includes overall planning and design, and outlines the steps for removing the grass, enriching the soil, and planting. It is divided into several types of front yard gardens, including cottage, minimalist, secret, neighborhood, downtown, and natural. "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" also discusses the key elements of each style, gives tips on how to create and maintain the garden, and provides a list of complementary plants.
With more than two hundred beautiful photographs taken expressly for this volume by Andrew Leyerle, "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" is a veritable compendium of tips, tricks and ideas for the gardening and lawn-loving homeowner.
Critique: This large format (8.75 x 0.75 x 10.75 inches, 2.26 pounds) hardcover edition of "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" is an ideal DIY introduction and 'how-to' guide for homeowners wanting to make their front yards stand out against their neighbors more traditional manicured mono-grass lawns. Practical, informative, impressive, and inspiring, "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" is wholeheartedly recommended as an immediately and enduringly popular pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Lawn Gardening & Landscaping instructional reference collections. It should be noted for homeowners and amateur gardening enthusiasts that this hardcover edition of "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" from Firefly Books is also readily available in paperback (9781552976654, $21.99).
Editorial Note #1: Liz Primeau was a gardening magazine journalist for 30 years and now gives regular lectures on gardens and garden design, including a special presentation on front yard gardens. She has led many gardening seminars and is a featured speaker at gardening events. Liz Primeau is the founding editor of Canadian Gardening magazine and host of her own television program. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/112153.Liz_Primeau)
Editorial Note #2: Andrew Leyerle is a professional photographer. He has provided the photographic illustrations for two volumes by Lorraine Johnson: "100 Easy-To-Grow Native Plants: For American Gardens in Temperate Zones" and "Grow Wild!: Low-Maintenance, Sure-Success, Distinctive Gardening with Native Plants"
Gardener Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening
Scott A. Wilson
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105367, $24.95, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gardener-Scotts-Guide-Raised-Gardening/dp/0228105366
Synopsis: Raised-bed gardening is a form of gardening in which the soil is raised above ground level and usually enclosed in some way. Raised bed structures can be made of wood, rock, concrete or other materials, and can be of any size or shape. The soil is usually enriched with compost. Vegetables are grown in geometric patterns, much closer together than in conventional row gardening. The spacing is such that when the vegetables are fully grown, their leaves just barely touch each other, creating a microclimate in which weed growth is suppressed and moisture is conserved. (Wikipedia)
As a homeowner and amateur gardener, imagine growing thriving vegetable plants, fragrant herb gardens, robust perennials and stunning annuals. It's time to think inside the box -- especially one that's filled with good-quality soil teeming with beneficial soil organisms.
Raised bed gardening is a wildly popular method that gardeners everywhere can take advantage of, no matter your space or the quality of your native soil. Raised bed gardening has numerous benefits for both the beginner and expert gardener, but chief among those is the ability to build the best soil for your plants.
"Gardener Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening" is a no-fuss, step-by-step guide to planning, building and growing in your first raised bed. With his signature approachable, easy-to-follow style, YouTube's Gardener Scott shepherds you through every stage of creating a thriving, productive raised bed garden -- from the crucial planning phases where you'll consider the design and how you're going to use your raised bed, to building your first raised bed, filling it with soil and growing your dream garden.
"Gardener Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening" features:
Seven detailed, step-by-step building projects to try at home
Excellent advice on building good soil and creating the best soil blends for your raised bed
Information on garden planning, including successional planting and intensive planting
Expert recommendations on growing and garden maintenance, such as watering, weeding, trellising and harvesting
Advice for protecting your plants from the wrath of pests, diseases and extreme weather
Guidance on planning and maintaining your garden year-round
Money-saving tips and informative features.
"Gardener's Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening" is replete with hundreds of beautiful, full color photos that will both instruct and inspire you to explore the wonderful world of raised bed gardening.
Critique: An ideal DIY introduction to raised box gardening, this large format (7.79 x 0.74 x 9.38 inches, 1.92 pounds) paperback edition of "Gardener Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening" from Firefly Books is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a stwo page listing of Resources and a nine page Index. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Gardener Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening" is a solid and highly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Home Gardening collections and supplemental Agricultural Studies reading lists.
Editorial Note: Scott A. Wilson (better known as YouTube's Gardener Scott), is a Colorado-based Master Gardener. Scott's videos have drummed up millions of views and he has more than 400,000 YouTube subscribers. A retired U.S. Air Force Command Pilot, Scott began teaching gardening classes for the Master Gardener program in 2004 and has educated thousands of gardeners since. For four and a half years, beginning in 2014, he oversaw the development of 105 raised garden beds and 20,000 square feet of garden space for the Galileo Garden Project in Colorado Springs, teaching hundreds of students about gardening and growing more than 2,000 pounds of produce for the school district each year.
The Interior Design Shelf
Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart
Ali Heath
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729721, $39.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cocoon-Creating-Homes-Ali-Heath/dp/1784729728
Synopsis: With the publication of "Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart", professional interior stylist, designer and writer Ali Heath invites her readers to create a home sanctuary that focuses on the human touch, as an antidote to our fast-paced, tech-driven modern world.
This way of interior decorating is so much more than just a look or style -- it's about taking a holistic approach that draws upon all our senses, not just the visual, and connects us more meaningfully to ourselves and our surroundings.
In the past creating a sanctuary was about the decoration of a few key rooms, now it is about how the home as a whole makes us feel. Cocooning is not about isolation or shutting down and does not have to mean going off-grid - it is simply about tuning back into our emotions, creativity and curiosity to satisfy our need for shelter, comfort and wonder.
Beautifully photographed in inspirational homes around the world ranging from small inner-city sanctuaries to spacious island retreats, "Cocoon" celebrates a design approach that truly speaks to the heart.
Critique: Inspiring, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart" by Ali Heath is an invaluable contribution to the growing library of Interior Design books created for benefit of professionals and non-professionals alike. This large format (8.75 x 0.81 x 9.25 inches, 2.72 pounds) hardcover edition of "Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart" from Mitchell Beazley is an inherently fascinating read that is impressively enhanced with full page, full color photography throughout. Extraordinary, inspirational, visually eloquent, "Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart" is an ideal acquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Interior Design collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for interior design students, academia, interior designers, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in interior design that "Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Ali Heath (www.aliheath.co.uk) is a UK-based journalist, stylist, interior designer and author and has over 20 years freelance experience, working with prestigious interior magazines, newspapers and private clients. Her work is featured regularly in many titles that include Country Living, Elle Decoration, Elle Decoration Country, Homes and Gardens, House & Garden, Livingetc, Modern Rustic, Red, the Telegraph and YOU Magazine. Ali collaborates with many leading photographers and her work is represented internationally by Living Inside agency, in Milan. Her first bestselling book, Curate, with Australian interior stylist, Lynda Gardener, was published by Mitchell Beazley in 2020 and Ali is Contributing Editor and Creative Consultant for the new book from The White Company, The Art of Living with White (Mitchell Beazley, September 2022).
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen
Danny Stewart, author
Brad Stevens, contributor
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887716985, $37.00, HC, 194pp
https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Gangster-Movie-Youve-Never/dp/B0DXC7S6BM
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen: Abel Ferrara's The Funeral", author and cinema historian Danny Stewart delves deep into the shadows of cinema to unearth the buried gem that is Abel Ferrara's "The Funeral." Through a captivating blend of interviews, analysis, and exploration of the gangster genre, Stewart offers an unparalleled look into the making of a film often overlooked but undeniably powerful.
At its heart, "The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen" presents a comprehensive examination of "The Funeral," dissecting its narrative intricacies, thematic resonance, and visual aesthetics. Through exclusive interviews with the key creative minds behind the film, including filmmaker Abel Ferrara, cinematographer Ken Kelsch, production designer Charlie M. Lagola, and costume designer Mindy Eshelman, readers gain invaluable insights into the artistic choices that shaped this cinematic masterpiece.
Ken Kelsch provides illuminating commentary on the film's striking cinematography, detailing the techniques employed to capture the gritty essence of the narrative. Charlie M. Lagola offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creation of the film's immersive world, from meticulously crafted sets to atmospheric details that transport viewers to 1930s New York City. Meanwhile, Mindy Eshelman sheds light on the sartorial choices that define the characters, enriching their personalities and grounding them in the era's distinct aesthetic.
In addition to its focus on "The Funeral" this cinematic study widens its scope to explore the broader landscape of the gangster genre and Abel Ferrara's influential career. Drawing parallels between "The Funeral" and other iconic gangster films, "The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen" also examines recurring motifs, narrative tropes, and thematic preoccupations that define the genre's enduring appeal. Through insightful analysis, readers gain a deeper understanding of Ferrara's unique vision and his contributions to the cinematic landscape.
"The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen" is more than just a tribute to a forgotten masterpiece; it's a celebration of cinema's power to captivate, provoke, and endure. With its blend of scholarly rigor and cinematic passion, "The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen" offers an indispensable resource for cinephiles, scholars, and anyone intrigued by the art of storytelling on the silver screen.
Critique: The result of impressively meticulous and exhaustive research, "The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen: Abel Ferrara's The Funeral" will be of particular and especial interest to fans of the gangster/mob film noir genre. It will motivate film buffs and students who have not yet seen "The Funeral" to seek it out. It will inspire those who have seen it in the past to see it again against Danny Stewart's informative and comprehensive study of the film and cinematic history with respect to the lesser known and more obscure (but highly entertaining) gangster themed movies. Recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cinematic History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for film students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "The Greatest Gangster Movie You've Never Seen: Abel Ferrara's The Funeral" from BearManor Press is also available in paperback (9798887716978, $26.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Danny Stewart (www.goodreads.com/author/list/6277047.Danny_Stewart) been nominated for the Rondo Hatton Award for Book of the Year (Non-Fiction) for his work on Soldier: From Script to Screen. Additionally, He was the executive producer of the documentary Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters. Notably, he was also involved in the documentaries Brothers in Arms, which explores the making of the Academy Award-winning film Platoon, and American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective, a comprehensive look at Michael Madsen's life and film career. He is the author of Silent Trigger: Shooting the Film which focused on the 1996 Dolph Lundgren film, directed by the filmmaker behind Highlander. Meanwhile, Saluting the Blood of Heroes: Behind the Apocalyptic Film delves into apocalyptic cinema and literature, with a central interview featuring director and screenwriter David Webb Peoples, discussing his 1989 cult post-apocalyptic film The Salute of the Jugger. These projects offer an in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes processes and stories of their respective films.
The Christian Studies Shelf
A Beautiful Second Act
Maria Morera Johnson
Ave Maria Press
www.avemariapress.com
9781646803774, $16.95, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Second-Act-Saints-Sisters/dp/1646803779
Synopsis: As advancements in health and medicine extend our lifespan, women of the sandwich generation (those balancing the needs of both children and parents) are experiencing a multitude of challenges as they transition out of the workforce and into the promise of retirement.
"A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to (Be a Badass) Age with Grace" by Maria Morera Johnson contains encouragement and wisdom from saints and contemporary soul sisters who experienced similar challenges during their transition to midlife and beyond and offers insight into the aging process.
Chapter after chapter, these inspiring saints and contemporary changemakers from all over the world will help you, too, embrace your second half and the changes it brings to our health, our personal relationships, our responsibilities, our work, and our faith.
The Benedictine mystic Hildegard of Bingen, whose knowledge of natural sciences led her to create "nerve cookies" to help you "open your heart and impaired senses, and make your mind cheerful."
Religious sister and educator Marianne Cope, who at fifty pivoted as an educator of children of German immigrants in New York to tend to the patients of a Hawaiian leper colony.
Women of resilient faith like Elizabeth Leseur, whose faithfulness in marriage led to her husband's conversion after her death.
Extraordinary artists like Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses, whose advanced arthritis drove her to use her creativity to overcome her age-related limitations.
Champions of social justice like Dorothy Day, whose conversion drove her to devote her life to a Christ-centered advocacy.
Second-act soul sisters like Josephine Bakhita, whose passion for freedom and spiritual insights raised a new generation of evangelists for her homeland.
Each chapter comprising "A Beautiful Second Act" offers experiences of female saints and soul sisters as they illuminate different aspects of this season of aging: physical changes in the body, shifts in work and purpose, dealing with aging parents and end-of-life issues, the need for strong spiritual friendships, and the importance of mercy.
Drawing from a diverse range of occupations, races, times, and outcomes, Johnson writes about her own struggle to redefine her second act and what it means to trust God as our lives begin to wind down and our ultimate purpose comes into crystal-clear focus.
Critique: Fun and fascinating, interesting and inspiring, "A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to (Be a Badass) Age with Grace" by Maria Morera Johnson is exceptional and extraordinary -- and very specifically recommended reading for Christian women dealing with the inevitable problems, responsibilities, and opportunities of becoming older. For personal reading lists it should be noted that this paperback edition of "A Beautiful Second Act" from Ave Maria Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.10).
Editorial Note: Maria Morera Johnson (https://mariamjohnson.com) is the media editor at Catholicmom.com and author of the award-winning books My Badass Book of Saints, Super Girls and Halos, and Our Lady of Charity. She also contributed to The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion, Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary, and Gaze Upon Jesus. In 2016, Johnson retired from her role as a professor of composition and literature. Johnson speaks at a number of events, retreats, and conferences, including the National Council of Catholic Women, Austin Women's Conference, and the Catholic Press Association. She's also been featured on CatholicTV and Busted Halo as well as in Catholic Digest and St. Anthony Messenger.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Witch of the Forest's Earth Oracle Deck
Lindsay Squire, author
Viki Lester, illustrator
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9781836004080, $19.95, Cards, 64pp
https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Forests-Earth-Oracle-Deck/dp/1836004087
Synopsis: Author Lindsey Squire and illustrator Viki Lester collaborated to create "The Witch of the Forest's Earth Oracle Deck: 78 oracle cards & green magick guide" for students and practitioners of metaphysics and Tarot who are wrestling with a difficult decision, embroiled in a thorny situation, or just want to add a sprinkle of magick to their day.
Working with "The Witch of the Forest's Earth Oracle Deck" is thoroughly 'user friendly'. Simply shuffle the deck and pick a card, then find its meaning in the accompanying booklet and discover a practical activity that will help you embody its wisdom.
"The Witch of the Forest's Earth Oracle Deck" draws on the symbolism and energy of:
The phases of the moon;
Crystals and metals;
Herbs, flowers, and spices;
Animals;
The four elements; and
The four seasons,
This unique and very special deck will help to find relaxation, positivity, transformation, release - or anything else that is desired.
The underlying message of "The Witch of the Forest's Earth Oracle Deck" is that the Earth is brimming with magickal potential -- so immerse yourself in its energy, uncover new ways to flourish and bloom, and embrace Witchcraft as a tool for self-discovery with this enchanting deck.
Critique: Exceptionally impressive, inherently fascinating, and a prized pick for personal and professional Tarot/Oracle card deck collections, this edition of "The Witch of the Forest's Earth Oracle Deck: 78 oracle cards & green magick guide" from Leaping Hare Press is very highly recommended for novice and experienced practitioners alike.
Editorial Note #1: Lindsay Squire is a practitioner of eclectic Witchcraft and is the Witch behind the popular Instagram account, @thewitchoftheforest. She has been walking her own spiritual path for over a decade, and is passionate about helping and empowering Witches at the beginning of their Witchcraft journeys. She is the author of The Witch of the Forest's Guide to... series: Natural Magick, Astrology Magick, Natural Magick, Earth Magick, Tarot Magick, and Folklore Magick; The Witch's Book of Spells; and two magickal decks including The Witch of the Forest's Tarot Magick Deck. (Instagram: @witchoftheforest / TikTok: thewitchoftheforest1)
Editorial Note #2: Viki Lester of Forensics & Flowers is an illustrator from London. Her work inspires people to feel magical, and features positivity with a dark botanical twist. She has previously illustrated Practical Crystals, The Witch of the Forest's Tarot Magick Deck, and Practical Symbols. (https://www.forensicsandflowers.com)
Pagan Portals - Modron
Kelle BanDea
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803417189, $12.95, PB, 104pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Modron-Meeting-Goddess/dp/1803417188
Synopsis: In the flow of healing waters and the urgent cry of the Earth, we hear the voice of the Celtic mother goddess Modron, also known as Matrona. A goddess of fertility, abundance and healing, but also of grief and loss and ancestral wisdom, she is still present, although hidden, in today's world.
We find her myths in the tales of the Mabinogi, the Welsh Triads and modern tales of Avalon, and her image and veneration in the ancient religions of Celtic Gaul, where she first emerged as a river goddess. We can trace echoes of her in ancient Indo-European texts and possibly even further back to the agricultural myths of the Neolithic. She is even present in the stars.
A part of the Pagan Portals series from Moon Books, "Modron - Meeting the Celtic Mother Goddess" by Kelle BanDea takes a deep dive into this often overlooked goddess who has inspired our modern myths, combining solid academic research with suggestions for personal practice and ritual, from a modern day dedicant and scholar of Goddess veneration. Modron is emerging from the depths. Will you answer her Call?
Critique: A succinctly informative introduction of Modron, "Pagan Portals - Modron: Meeting the Celtic Mother Goddess" is a fascinating study that is extraordinarily well written, organized and presented for the benefit of the reader. Highly recommended, especially for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections and supplemental Celtic Mythology/Folklore curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Pagan Portals - Modron: Meeting the Celtic Mother Goddess" from Moon Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Kelle BanDea is a neurodivergent mother of three with Traveller heritage. She is a writer, psychotherapist, member of the Druid Network, and a trained spiritual celebrant.
Storytelling for Magic
Halo Quinn
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803414065, $10.95, PB, 120pp
https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Magic-Bardic-Ritual-Craft-Witches/dp/1803414065
Synopsis: The underlying message of "Storytelling for Magic: Bardic Skills and Ritual-Craft for Witches and Pagans" by Halo Quinn is that In your own hands lay the keys to bringing the gifts of the ancient magic-weavers, the storytellers, into your life.
The ancient Bards of old wove magic with their words. Through myth and legend, history and inspiration, they shaped the world around them. Today, just like them, you can connect with the magic of storytelling to create powerful change. With professional performer, ritualist, bard, and witch Halo Quin's "Storytelling for Magic: Bardic Skills and Ritual-Craft for Witches and Pagans", you will learn how to use your voice in magic, how to unravel the secrets of stories, how to craft your own rituals to bring the power of myths and folk tales into your life, and how to find, learn, and tell stories to enchant the world inside and outside the circle.
Critique: Unique, unusual, informative, thought-provoking, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "Storytelling for Magic: Bardic Skills and Ritual-Craft for Witches and Pagans" by Halo Quin must be considered essential reading for anyone with an interest in paganism, Wiccan spirituality, and the role of song and storytelling in the practice of magic. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, it should be noted for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections that "Storytelling for Magic: Bardic Skills and Ritual-Craft for Witches and Pagans" is also available from Moon Books in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Halo Quin is a practicing witch, storyteller, author, philosopher, and a lifelong lover of magic. She is a devotee of the Faery Queen, a lover of the Welsh gods and myths, and sensual witch exploring the divine erotic and sacred nature of pleasure and beauty, and working to (re)enchant the world. She lives in Aberystwyth, UK.
Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach
Joey Morris, author
Weiser Publishers
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578638673, $18.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Hedge-Witchery_A-Modern-Approach/dp/1578638674
Synopsis: With the publication of "Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach", priestess of the Morrigan Joey Morris presents a revolutionary take on hedge witchery that focuses on what it means to reconnect with the sacred hedge in a modern world. The approach taken in "Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach" teaches the ways, ideas, and methods of the hedgerow, so they become accessible even to those who cannot visit the physical locations themselves.
Delving into secret liminal spaces, Morris expands the knowledge and understanding of what it means to truly embody the witchcraft life. She connects readers to the wildcrafting elements of plants and natural remedies, realigning the soul to the vibrations of the spiritual ecosystem to reconnect with the Earth and all her spirits. In a time when modernity, technology, and disconnection from the land has caused so many of us to feel lost and disheartened, Morris helps foster our kinship with the land.
Weaving together Morris's personal witchcraft gnosis, "Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach" focuses on embracing the shadows within ourselves as a reflection of sacred spaces. Morris offers a revolutionary take on what it means to be a hedge witch in the modern era and empowers us to "come home" to both the Earth and to ourselves. Spell work, recipes, meditative guides, and evocative poetry help guide us in connecting with Celtic deities of land, sea, and sky and in crossing the hedge into the Otherworld.
With "Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach" the reader will:
Learn how to connect to your own natural witchcraft.
Find the sacred landscape within yourself.
Connect with plant and animal spirit allies within the hedge and benefit from their spiritual power.
Critique: Featuring an informative Foreword by Courtney Weber, six pages of Notes, and a three page Bibliography, "Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach" an exceptionally well written, comprehensive, organized and presented resource for anyone aspiring to become an effective hedge witch in their own right. While very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Wiccan and Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach" from Weiser Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Joey Morris (www.starryeyedsupplies.com) is a priestess of the Morrigan and a hedge witch who has been on the path of Celtic witchcraft for over twenty-five years. She specializes in spirit work, shadow work, and healing. For the past thirteen years, she has run the popular Starry Eyed Witch YouTube channel, which boasts over 17,000 subscribers, as well as her own blog and witch supply store, Starry Eyed Supplies.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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