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Wisconsin Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The City Is Up for Grabs
Gregory Royal Pratt
Chicago Review Press
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781641605991, $28.99, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/City-Up-Grabs-Chicago-Lightfoot/dp/1641605995
Synopsis: Chicago is a world-class city, but it is also a city in crisis. Crime is up, schools have repeatedly shut down due to
conflict between City Hall and the powerful teachers' union, and COVID-19 only deepened the entrenched poverty,
institutional racism, and endless tug of war between the city's haves and have nots.
For four years, the person at the center of this storm was Lori Lightfoot. A groundbreaking figure (the first Black, gay
woman to be elected mayor of a major city and only the second female mayor of Chicago) who knew the city was at a
critical turning point when she took office in 2019. But the once-in-a-lifetime challenges she ended up facing were beyond
anything she or anyone else saw coming.
With the publication of "The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis" from
the Chicago Review Press, Gregory Royal Pratt (a Chicago Tribune reporter) offers the first comprehensive
behind-the-scenes look at the tumultuous single term of Mayor Lightfoot and the chaos that roiled the city and City Hall as
she fought to live up to her promises to change the city's culture of corruption and villainy, reform its long-troubled police
department, and make Chicago the safest big city in America.
Some of Chicago's problems can be explained by forces greater than the mayor: national polarization, long-standing
cultural and racial tensions, our plague years. But some are the result of Lightfoot's poor leadership at City Hall, a story
that hasn't been told in full -- until now.
Critique: A riveting and extraordinarily informative read from start to finish, "The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago
Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of
a nine page Prologue, a four page listing of Acknowledgments, twenty-four pages of Notes, and an eleven page Index.
While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone
Audio, 9708874725235, $41.99, CD), " The City Is Up for Grabs" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Political Science & Chicago History collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Gregory Royal Pratt (https://royalpratt.com) covered every day of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's term and was
deeply sourced in city hall, as well as in the other offices of local, state, and national politics that shaped the mayor's
administration. A Chicago native, Pratt has won several national awards for his political reporting and he is a regular
commentator about the city on local and national media, including appearances on CNN and NPR.
The Cookbook Shelf
Way Up North Wisconsin Cookbook
Victoria Shearer
The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493070848, $26.95, PB, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Up-North-Wisconsin-Cookbook/dp/1493070843
Synopsis: The northern part of Wisconsin is said to be a "state of mind and geography, less about geography and more
about what you do when you get there." Generally considered to be any area north of Highway 8, this northern section of
Wisconsin was once a remote primeval forest settled by iron and copper miners and then lumberjacks. Now it is an
extremely popular vacation destination, drawing vacationers year-round from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, and
parts beyond, Up North showcases more than 7,500 lakes, rivers, and streams, and more than a million acres of public
forest.
More than just another cookbook, with the publication of "Way Up North Wisconsin Cookbook: Recipes and Foodways
from God's Country", Victoria Shearer celebrates the history of Wisconsin, including the people, and the cultures that so
influenced the area for centuries with a compendium of recipes presenting a fresh take on traditional foods laid out
alongside interesting features on the quintessential uniqueness that makes this distinctive part of Wisconsin.
Critique: A culinary treasure house of authentic Wisconsin recipes that range from Twice-Baked Stuffed Potatoes, Grilled
Brushetta Walleye Fillets, Beer Can Chicken, and Upside-Down Dill-Salmon Loaf Pie with Lemon Sauce, to Butter
Burger Sliders, Grilled Five Cheese Sandwiches, and BLT Soup, "Way Up North Wisconsin Cookbook: Recipes and
Foodways from God's Country" is beautifully illustrated and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and
presentation. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.37), "Way Up North Wisconsin Cookbook" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook
collections.
Editorial Note: Victoria Shearer is a longtime travel and food journalist who frequently contributes to national magazines
and newspapers. She is also the author of The Florida Keys Cookbook, ten editions of Insiders' Guide to the Florida Keys
& Key West, Walking Places in New England, It Happened in the Florida Keys, and others. There is a listing of her books
online at https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/98296.Victoria_Shearer
Anaconda's Melting Pot Cookbook
Anaconda Community Foundation
Sweetgrass Books
c/o Farcountry Press
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591523253, $39.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Anacondas-Melting-Pot-Cookbook-Celebration/dp/1591523257
Synopsis: Immigrants flocked to to the Montana city of Anaconda for work when Marcus Daly built the smelter in the late
nineteenth century and settled together in neighborhoods where they retained their language, customs, celebrations and
cuisine.
"Anaconda's Melting Pot Cookbook: A Celebration of Anaconda Montana's Heritage & Cuisine" was created to honor and
preserve that rich culinary heritage. This compendium of authentic recipes will evoke vivid memories of aromas drifting
out of the kitchen and the people who prepared the dishes. Above all, "Anaconda's Melting Pot Cookbook" pays tribute to
Anaconda's melting pot of cultures and all proceeds from its sales will to to support the Anaconda Community
Foundation's mission to build a permanent financial legacy for Anaconda through the generosity of its citizens and friends
in order to develop and maintain a thriving community forever.
Critique: "Anaconda's Melting Pot Cookbook: A Celebration of Anaconda Montana's Heritage & Cuisine" includes: 219
original recipes from the Anaconda, Montana community; A detailed index, measurement conversions, and food
substitutions; and 121 historical and modern-day black and white photographs. A pleasure to browse through and fun to
plan memorable menus with, this large format (8.6 x 0.7 x 11.3 inches, 2.45 pounds) hard cover edition of "Anaconda's
Melting Pot Cookbook" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and
community library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: The Anaconda Community Foundation helps the Anaconda, Montana community respond to the challenges
of the citizens, the infrastructure and the local environment in a meaningful and effective way. Their mission is to build a
permanent financial legacy for Anaconda through the generosity of its citizens and friends in order to develop and maintain
a thriving community forever. (https://anacondacommunityfoundation.org)
Easy Indian Vegetarian
Chetna Makan
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600637752, $32.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Indian-Vegetarian-Delicious-recipes/dp/0600637751
Synopsis: With "Easy Indian Vegetarian: Delicious recipes for every day" American family cooks can easily prepare
authentic vegetarian Indian food at home with more than seventy delicious, nutritious, palate pleasing and authentic recipes
from India.
Cookbook author Chetna Makan's newest recipe collection takes inspiration from the incredible vegetarian food that India
has to offer. From deliciously spiced Gujarati thepla to indulgently sweet balushahi, Chetna's recipes celebrate the vibrant
flavours of vegetarian Indian cuisine.
Each individual recipe is provided with step-by-step instructions. Beautifully illustrated with full page color photos of
finished dishes, this edition of "Easy Indian Vegetarian" from Hamlyn also includes a menu planner that is ideal for
everyday cooking on a busy schedule. Vegetarians, Vegans, and Meat-Eater alike will keep returning to this outstanding
culinary compendium for flavor-packed, creative, authentic and wholesome ethnic recipes.
Critique: From Masala potato bonda; Rainbow chard and peas sabzi; Chickpea yogurt curry; Onion paratha flatbread, and
Green ginger pulao, to Yogurt rice; Roast cauliflower raita; Coriander ginger chutney, and Coconut barfi, "Easy Indian
Vegetarian: Delicious recipes for every day" fully lives up to the promise of its title and will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular pick for family, personal, professional, and community library Ethnic & Vegetarian Cookbook
collections. It should be noted that "Easy Indian Vegetarian" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.99).
Editorial Note: Chetna Makan (www.Chetnamakan.co.uk) was born in Jabalpur in Central India. She has a degree in
fashion and worked in Mumbai as a fashion designer before moving to the UK in 2004. Chetna was part of The Great
British Bake Off in 2014 and since then has written 7 cookbooks. They range from baking, Indian street food, healthy
Indian food, vegetarian and quick Indian. She also has a very popular YouTube channel 'Food with Chetna' where she
shares her creative flair for all things cooking and baking. She can be followed online at: Youtube.com/FoodwithChetna;
Instagram.com/chetnamakan; Twitter.com/chetnamakan; and Facebook.com/chetna.makan
Korean Made Easy
Seji Hong
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804191804, $26.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Korean-Made-Easy-Recipes-Midnight/dp/1804191809
Synopsis: Korean ingredients such as kimchi, gochujang and sesame oil are ubiquitous in kitchens worldwide and
continuing to grow in popularity. But Korean food has a reputation of being longwinded and full of difficult-to-source
ingredients.
With the publication of "Korean Made Easy: Simple Recipes to Make from Morning to Midnight", culinary author Seji
Hong dispels this myth, and shows how only seven basic store-cupboard essentials are required to recreate the flavors that
make up the cuisine: Gochujang, Doenjang, Ganjang (soy sauce), Rice, Sesame oil, Fish sauce, Gochugaru, which, along
with just a few additional ingredients that can be found in supermarkets, make up all the dishes comprising this Korean
cuisine compendium.
Seji also highlights ingredient swaps throughout.
Of special note are the chapters that include Kimchi, Small dishes/banchan, Rice & noodles, Soups & stews, Noodles &
rice, Korean BBQ, Seoul-style street food, Korean tapas & twists, Seji's sauce remix and Sweet & Soju. The approximately
80 recipes comprising "Korean Made Easy" will include classics such as Bibimbap, Japchae and Beef Bulgogi, more
contemporary dishes such as Gochujang Sausage Spaghetti, 3 ways to update your Ramyeon (Korean packet noodles) and
3 ways to make Korean Fried Chicken, as well as delicious soju-based cocktails, which include a Watermelon Soju
Punch.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated with full page color photography of finished dishes, "Korean Made Easy:
Simple Recipes to Make from Morning to Midnight" is an inspiring delight to page through and thoroughly 'user friendly'
in planning and executing memorable meals with. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), "Korean
Made Easy: Simple Recipes to Make from Morning to Midnight" will prove a highly prized pick for family, personal,
professional, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Seji Hong (https://bombom-market.com) is Bombom's founder, chief creator and menu developer. She
hosted supper clubs in Wimbledon in 2019 before launching Bombom sauces in November 2021. Born in Seoul, Seji grew
up in a modern Seoul family that loved cooking and eating together. Dishes and memories such as Seji's grandmother's
traditional food cooked with seasonal ingredients following the lunar calendar and her mum's modern fusion Seoul food
inspired Seji to develop a unique menu, incorporating three generations of Korean cooking, that also suit a western palate.
Bombom sauces have scooped two stars in the highly regarded Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Awards 2022 and have
also featured in publications such as Vogue UK, BBC Good Food Magazine and Korean Air in-flight magazine.
The Slimming Foodie Easy Meals Every Day
Pip Payne
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781783255658, $26.99, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Slimming-Foodie-Easy-Meals-Every/dp/178325565X
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Slimming Foodie Easy Meals Every Day: Healthy Dinners for the Whole Family",
cookbook author and food blogger Pip Payne has enabled even the most novice of family cooks to get dinner on the table
every night with easy, healthy and family-friendly meals. With over 100 low-calorie recipes, "The Slimming Foodie Easy
Meals Every Day" shows how anyone can get maximum flavor with minimum fuss.
An impressive and profusely illustrated compendium of culinary treasures, "The Slimming Foodie Easy Meals Every Day"
is comprised of simple, slimming recipes, including clever swaps and everyday ingredients to get fabulous and flavorful
results from superfood salads, to comfort foods, to indulgent 'fakeaways'.
Critique: Featuring days-of-the-week dividers from Monday through Sunday, "The Slimming Foodie Easy Meals Every
Day: Healthy Dinners for the Whole Family" is a pleasure to browse through, and a delight to plan memorable menus with.
While also currently available in an inexpensive digital book format (Kindle, $1.99), this hardcover edition of Pip Payne's
"The Slimming Foodie Easy Meals Every Day" from Hamlyn is an especially recommended pick for personal, family,
professional, and community library Low Carb and Weight Control themed cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Pip Payne (www.theslimmingfoodie.com) is the creator of the award-winning blog The Slimming Foodie.
Keeping a love of food at the fore, Pip's approach is about bringing back convenient home cooking by making healthy
recipes that are accessible to a new wave of home cooks. In her books, Pip shows readers how to prepare great tasting
meals that are cooked from scratch, while cutting down on fat and sugar and following science-led nutrition advice.
The Monday Pasta Club
Ed Barrow
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804191989, $26.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Monday-Pasta-Club-recipes-occasion/dp/1804191981
Synopsis: Every Monday at 5pm, The Monday Pasta Club posts a new recipe to its followers. Each one celebrates pasta's
versatility, not just in terms of the ingredients it goes with, but also how long a dish takes to cook. "The Monday Pasta
Club: 60 pasta recipes for every occasion" by Ed Barrow includes some fan favorites along with brand-new recipes, all
packed with flavor and easy to create.
Organized so that family cooks can find something suited to both their time limit and budget, the individual chapters
comprising "The Monday Pasta Club" each include 5 vegetarian, 5 fish and 5 meat recipes. From a super speedy Pistachio
& Parsley Pesto pasta, to dishes that take a little longer such as Sea Bass, Chilli and Lime Spaghetti and slow cooked treats
such as Lamb and Rosemary Pappardelle, all of the recipes are delicious, easy-to-follow and celebrate the joy of pasta.
Critique: A pasta lover's delight to simply browse through and plan menus with, "The Monday Pasta Club: 60 pasta recipes
for every occasion" is beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full page, full color photos of finished dishes
that will wet the appetite and inspire any formal or informal dining occasion. The showcases and 'family cook friendly'
recipes are nicely organized into four major sections according to cooking times (10-15 minutes; 15-30 minutes; 30
minutes to 1 hour; ready in 1 hour+). While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), "The Monday Pasta
Club" by Ed Barrow is a strongly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library cookbook
collections.
Editorial Note: Ed Barrow (www.themondaypastaclub.com) created The Monday Pasta Club, a weekly recipe page
dedicated to his love of pasta. A pasta recipe is posted every Monday at 5pm, and the account has built up a legion of fans,
with more than 70k followers on Instagram, and over 20k website visits a month. Originally a pastry chef, Ed set up The
Monday Pasta Club during lockdown, after rediscovering a pasta machine he was given for his twelfth birthday.
Small Batch Cookies
Edd Kimber
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804191859, $26.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Batch-Cookies-Deliciously-people/dp/180419185X
Synopsis: There are times when nothing but a warm chocolate chip cookie will hit the spot. Bad day at work? Chocolate
chip cookie to commiserate. A great day at work? Chocolate chip cookie to celebrate.
The need for an emergency solitary cookie or two can strike at any time, but baking recipes typically serve large groups,
which is perfect for a party, a celebration or a crowd, but not when there's just one (or two) of you and you would rather
not spend the money on making a big batch or be faced with eating the same thing all week.
With the publication of "Small Batch Cookies: Deliciously easy bakes for one to six people", Edd Kimber shows that good
things really can come in small packages. For this new cookie cookbook compendium the focus is solely on cookies --
probably the easiest and arguably most popular kind of baking there is.
Nothing has quite the allure of a cookie straight out of the oven! The classic cookie is chocolate chip, but there is no one
single perfect version - the variations are endless and range from double and triple chocolate to dark chocolate and cherry,
and white chocolate and lemon. Other less familiar but no less delicious types of cookie include vanilla, peanut butter,
ginger, oat and raisin and coconut.
The DIY cookie making recipes also include vegan cookies and cookies for those with allergies and intolerances.
Critique: Profusely illustrated with full page color photos of each cookie, "Small Batch Cookies: Deliciously easy bakes
for one to six people" will prove to be an immediately popular and enduringly appreciated pick for personal, family, and
community library speciality cookbook collections. A mouth-watering pleasure to browse through, and thoroughly 'kitchen
cook friendly' in recipe organization and presentation, it should also be noted that this hardcover edition of "Small Batch
Cookies" from Kyle Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Edd Kimber (www.theboywhobakes.co.uk) is is a baker and food writer based in London. He is the author
of One Tin Bakes (2020) which also won the BBC Good Food, Guardian, New York Times and Washington Post Best
Food Books 2020, as well as One Tin Bakes Easy (2021) and Small Batch Bakes (2022). Over the last ten years he has
appeared on multiple television shows including Good Morning America, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Sunday Brunch,
Saturday Kitchen and, of course, on the original series of The Great British Bake Off, of which he is the inaugural
winner.
The American History Shelf
Idaho Madams
Milana Marsenich
Farcountry Press
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560377504, $16.95, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Idaho-Madams-Milana-Marsenich/dp/156037750X
Synopsis: Fur, silver, and gold first lured men to the Idaho Territory. Women soon followed. And what women they were!
Molly B'Damn, Peg Leg Annie, Spanish Belle, Lou Beevers, Diamond Tooth Lil -- their names alone promised excitement
and intrigue.
In fact, these madams led complex, turbulent lives. In the pages of "Idaho Madams" you will meet Maggie Hall, a devout
Catholic whose husband used her to pay off his gambling debts. Working as a prostitute, Maggie made her way west and,
as Molly B'Damn, became the guardian angel of an Idaho mining camp.
Then there was Annie McIntyre, a young girl among the prospectors and ne'er do wells of Rocky Bar who amassed a small
fortune as the local madam only to lose it all -- along with both her legs.
In "Idaho Madams" from Farcountry Press, author Milana Marsenich uncovers the enigmatic and salacious lives of 30
women who ran brothels in the Gem State from the 1850s to the 1980s. Here are the hedonistic and sometimes heroic
exploits of Effie Rogan, Jennie Girard, Nettie Bowen, Ginger Murphy, Dixie Colton, and Dot Allen, but also the unsung
sagas of Carrie Young, Grace Freeman, Willow Herman, Hattie Carlton, and many more.
As told by author Milana Marsenich, the stories of these women come alive with voluptuous detail, historical photographs,
and the social context of the times.
Critique: An inherently fascinating and impressively informative read from first page to last, "Idaho Madams" will prove to
be a memorably unique, immediately welcome, and enduringly popular pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library American Western History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Milana Marsenich (https://milanamarsenich.com) Her first novel. Copper Sky was a 2018 Spur Award
finalist. Her second novel, The Swan Keeper, was a 2019 Willa Literary Award finalist. Her short story "Wild Dogs" won
the 2020 Laura Award for short fiction. She has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, Moronic Ox,
Book Glow, and Feminist Studies.
The Biography Shelf
Sorry for the Inconvenience: A Memoir
Farah Naz Rishi
https://farahnazrishi.com
Mindy's Book Studio
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662520969, $28.99, HC, 316pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sorry-Inconvenience-Farah-Naz-Rishi/dp/1662520964
Synopsis: Pakistani American Farah Naz Rishi's first year of college was perfectly, thankfully, uneventful. After all, she
was in college to learn and forge a path of self-sufficiency, especially after her last relationship fell apart -- dashing her
mother's aspirations for an early marriage. What could Farah expect, anyway? For the ideal guy to just conveniently waltz
into her life? Life isn't a love story.
Then enter Stephen, a Jamaican student with an open smile and a disarmingly laid-back attitude. It's not love at first sight.
And there's no way Farah's mother would approve of him as marriage material. But they have something better: an
inexplicable connection. Through a series of impossible tragedies, grief, and trying to find her place in the world, Stephen
is always there as Farah's confidant, champion, and, most of all, best friend. Anything more could ruin a perfectly good
thing... Right?
Spanning thirteen years of complex family dynamics and a surprising kinship, Farah Naz Rishi's personal story explores
the unpredictability of love -- familial, platonic, and romantic, but never truly instant.
Critique: Eloquent, intimate, fascinating and memorable, "Sorry for the Inconvenience: A Memoir" is particularly
recommended for readers with an interest in immigrant and women's biographies/memoirs about family, life and love in
America today. While also available in a paperback edition 9781662520976, $16.99) and a digital book format (Kindle,
$5.99), this hardcover edition of Farah Naz Rishi's "Sorry for the Inconvenience: A Memoir" from Mindy's Book Studio"
is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university library Contemporary
American Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Farah Naz Rishi (www.farahnazrishi.com) is the author of I Hope You Get This Message and It All Comes
Back to You. A Pakistani American writer and voice actor, she received her BA in English from Bryn Mawr College, her
JD from Lewis & Clark Law School, and her love of weaving stories from the Odyssey Writing Workshop.
My Life in Jewelry: A Memoir
Azza Fahmy, author
Sarah Enany, translator
American University in Cairo Press
www.aucpress.com
9781649032898, $35.00, HC, 310pp
https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Jewelry-Azza-Fahmy/dp/1649032897
Synopsis: In the Egypt of the 1970s, a young Azza Fahmy set out into the all-male world of Historic Cairo's jewelry district
to apprentice as a silversmith. This was the start of a remarkable success story that would make her name an international
luxury brand.
In her memoir, "My Life in Jewelry", she recalls with warmth and candor a happy childhood in Upper Egypt, spent in the
bygone world of postwar Egypt. This idyllic start to life ended abruptly with the death of her father, when Azza Fahmy was
only thirteen, and the family was forced to move to Cairo, to begin a new life under much reduced circumstances.
It was a chance find at a book fair that changed the course of events for her -- sparking a passion for silversmithing, and
inspiring her to seek out the master craftsmen of Khan al-Khalili, the great craft district of Historic Cairo, and the nearby
Sagha, or goldsmiths' and silversmiths' district.
Through her intimate knowledge of these jewelry workshops, Azza Fahmy takes us through the quarter's exquisite
architecture and bustling alleyways, peopled with silversmiths, goldsmiths, brass workers, and artisans of every stripe, and
lays out the indelible influence this now disappearing world has left on her acclaimed jewelry designs.
While Azza Fahmy's story is one of great accomplishment, woven through it are her struggles as a single mother, a
middle-class Egyptian, and a woman working in a man's profession. This memoir (a tribute to the people and places that
shaped her creative imagination) is also an ode to the conviction that with hope and perseverance, anything is
possible.
Critique: Fascinating, informative, candid, and memorable, Azza Fahmy's life story as told in the pages of "My Life in
Jewelry: A Memoir" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university Women's
Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of those with an interest in modern
Egyptian history that this hardcover edition of "My Life in Jewelry: A Memoir" is also readily available from The
American University in Cairo Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.99).
Editorial Note: Azza Fahmy (https://azzafahmy.com/en-us) was born in 1944 and raised in Sohag, in Upper Egypt. She
graduated in interior design from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Egypt, became the first female apprentice to several of the
best jewelers in Cairo, and studied jewelry craft at the City of London Polytechnic. She now makes and markets her own
jewelry internationally with multiple stores, in Egypt, London, Jordan, and Dubai. She is the author of Enchanted Jewelry
of Egypt (AUC Press, 2007) and The Traditional Jewelry of Egypt (AUC Press, 2015).
Editorial Note #2: Sarah Enany (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Enany) is a literary translator and a professor in the
English Department of Cairo University. She is a recipient of the Banipal Prize for Literary Translation for her translation
of The Girl with Braided Hair (Hoopoe Fiction, 2020).
The General Fiction Shelf
Let Me Liberate You
Andie Davis
https://www.andiedaviswrites.com
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662515644, $28.99, HC, 268pp
https://www.amazon.com/Let-Me-Liberate-You-Novel/dp/1662515642
Synopsis: Dark, lanky, and bald, New York - raised photographer Sabre Cumberbatch can't tell if she's highly talented or
just highly Instagrammable. Up to here with art critics and their gaseous praise, Sabre returns to Barbados, her childhood
island home, to water her roots. She needs to quell self-doubt by doing something (anything!) profoundly important.
Welcoming her with bejeweled open arms is her aunt Aggie, a fearsome high-society attorney eager to show off her
famous American niece. When Sabre witnesses Aggie unleash her wrath on the household staff over a minor mistake,
Sabre finds her cause. During an interview for a puff piece about art, Sabre goes off-script and takes a righteous stand
against the tyranny of the ruling class -- starting with Aunt Aggie!
Overnight, Sabre throws her family and an entire island into chaos. How many ways can the best intentions go wrong?
They're racking up. But tingling with purpose, Sabre is counting on the ways they just might go right.
Critique: A fun read from start to finish, "Let Me Liberate You" by author/storyteller Andie Davis is original, clever,
imaginative, satirical, and memorable. While also available in a paperback edition (9781662518416, $16.99) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $5.99), this hardcover edition of "Let Me Liberate You" is exceptional and unreservedly
recommended for personal reading lists and community Library Contemporary General Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Andie Davis (www.andiedaviswrites.com) is curious about other people's lives. That curiosity has inspired
her love for languages and her travels around the world. Born in Montserrat, Davis grew up in Barbados before moving
with her family to the US, where she attended Howard University and Harvard Law School. She works as a global
development advisor focused on sustainability.
The Lost Letters from Martha's Vineyard
Michael Callahan
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063282605, $30.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Letters-Marthas-Vineyard-Novel/dp/0063282607
Synopsis: In 1959, Hollywood ingenue Mercy Welles seems to have the world at her feet. Far removed from her Nebraska
roots, she has crafted herself into a glamorous Oscar-nominated actress engaged to an up-and-coming director...
Until she shockingly vanishes without a trace, just as her career is taking off.
Almost sixty years later, Kit O'Neill, a junior television producer in Manhattan, is packing up her recently deceased
grandmother's attic, only to discover a long-lost box of souvenirs that reveal that the grandmother who raised her and her
sister was, in fact, the mysterious Mercy Welles.
Putting her investigative skills to use, Kit is determined to solve the riddle of her grandmother's missing life, and the trail
eventually leads to Martha's Vineyard.
Mercy had retreated to the island nursing a broken heart, only to be drawn to the roguish Ren Sewards, who is not just the
simple oysterman he appears to be but a scion of one of the island's wealthy founding families. With her attraction to Ren
quickly growing, Mercy soon found herself entangled in the intrigues of the tightly knit community and the secrets of the
Sewards.
Alternating between Mercy and Kit's timelines, including excerpts from letters Mercy wrote the summer she disappeared,
"The Lost Letters from Martha's Vineyard" unfurls into a heart-stopping story of love, betrayal, and even murder.
Critique: A deftly crafted and original novel that will be particularly appreciated by readers with an interest in timeline
intersecting novels of suspense, romance, and mystery, "The Lost Letters from Martha's Vineyard" by author/storyteller
Michael Callahan is an extraordinary, engaging, and fun read from start to finish. While also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9708874627232, $49.99, CD),
this hardcover edition of "The Lost Letters from Martha's Vineyard" from Mariner Books is unreservedly recommended for
personal and community library Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Michael Callahan is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Searching for Grace Kelly and The Night
She Won Miss America, as well as a coffee-table history of the famed Musso & Frank Grill restaurant in Hollywood. A
contributing editor at Vanity Fair, his work has been published in Esquire, Town & Country, and the New York Times,
among others.
The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships
Ali Bryan
Henry Holt & Company
www.henryholt.com
9781250863430, $28.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crow-Valley-Karaoke-Championships/dp/1250863430
Synopsis: A year after forest fires ravaged the town of Crow Valley and claimed the life of Dale Jepson (karaoke legend,
local prison guard, and all-around good guy) the community hosts a high-stakes karaoke competition. But when a
convicted murderer escapes from nearby Crow Valley Correctional, residents discover there's more on the line than local,
perhaps even national, karaoke fame.
In "The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships", author Ali Bryan gives the readers a darkly comedic, fast-paced ride
through an unforgettable small town, five residents with intimate connections to Dale and drastically different goals for the
night will collide into, conspire with, and aid one another as they scramble to make it successfully through the evening
under the scrutinizing watch of neighbors.
To the soundtrack of classics belted out with abandon, voices will crack, cars will be stolen, marriages will falter, and kids
will slip away in search of trouble. And maybe, just maybe, lives will be transformed for the better.
Critique: Laced throughout with drama, humor, the unexpected, and the inherently fascinating, "The Crow Valley Karaoke
Championships" demonstrates author Ali Bryan's remarkable and distinctive talent for the kind of narrative driven
storytelling style that will keep her readers thoroughly entertained with an original and fun read from start to finish. While
also available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9781250863454, $18.99) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.99), this edition of "The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships" from Henry Holt & Company is
recommended as a prized pick for community library small town themed fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Ali Bryan (www.alibryan.com) is a writer based in Alberta. Her first novel, Roost, won a Georges Bugnet
Award for Fiction and was an official selection of One Book Nova Scotia. Her second novel, The Figgs, was released in
2018 and was a finalist for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. She won the 2020 Howard O'Hagan Award
for Short Story. She is a Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Emerging Artist recipient. Her debut YA novel, The
Hill, was released in March 2021 from Dottir Press and was long-listed for the 2021 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing
Prize.
Boss Lady
Alli Frank & Asha Youmans
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662522918, $28.99, HC, 332pp
https://www.amazon.com/Boss-Lady-Novel-Alli-Frank/dp/1662522916
Synopsis: Antonia "Toni" Arroyo's protective mother has outdated notions for her daughter's life: employ her natural
beauty and marry young. But Toni has wholly different aspirations.
A promising inventor and budding entrepreneur, she fights to keep her passions alive as a financially strapped mother of
twins with a job in airport transportation services that has her going in circles. One treasured frequent passenger is elderly
traveler Sylvia Eisenberg, Toni's sage but unofficial adviser and cheerleader. When Toni meets Sylvia's grandson, Ash, a
striking venture capitalist, luck just might bend her way.
With a game-changing new business endeavor in development, Toni hustles an opportunity to pitch her idea on TV's
Innovation Nation. Toni's unexpected challenger? Her very own recently resurfaced, self-aggrandizing
not-quite-ex-husband. As Toni's interrupted past collides with her tenuous future, she is more determined than ever to
follow through on her delayed dreams. Toni's been clinging to "maybe" for so long -- it's finally time for "absolutely."
Critique: Original, memorable, deftly crafted, and a fun read from start to finish, "Boss Lady" by co-authors Alli Frank and
Asha Youmans will be of considerable interest to fans of novels about mothers and daughters, family life, and women's
domestic lives. Immediately engaging and thoroughly entertaining throughout, "Boss Lady" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Boss Lady" is also available in a paperback edition (9781662514791, $16.99) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note #1: Alli Frank (www.alliandasha.com) has worked in education for more than twenty years, from boisterous
public high schools to small, progressive private schools. A graduate of Cornell and Stanford University, Alli lives with
her husband and two daughters. With Asha Youmans, she is the coauthor of Tiny Imperfections, Never Meant to Meet
You, and The Better Half and is a contributing essayist in the anthology Moms Don't Have Time To: A Quarantine
Anthology.
Editorial Note #2: Asha Youmans (www.alliandasha.com) spent two decades teaching elementary school students. A
graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Asha lives with her husband and two sons. With Alli Frank, she is the
coauthor of Tiny Imperfections, Never Meant to Meet You, and The Better Half.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
The Curse of the Flores Women
Angelica Lopes
Amazon Crossing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662516139, $16.99, PB, 235pp
https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Flores-Women-Novel/dp/1662516134
Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Alice Ribeiro is constantly fighting -- against the status quo, female oppression in Brazil, and
even her own mother. But when a family veil is passed down to her, Alice is compelled to fight for the rights of all
womankind while also uncovering the hidden history of the women in her family.
Seven generations ago, the small town of Bom Retiro shunned the Flores women because of a "curse" that rendered them
unlucky in love. With no men on the horizon to take care of them, the women learned the art of lacemaking to build lives
of their own. But their peace was soon threatened by forces beyond any woman's control.
As Alice begins piecing together the tapestry that is her history, she discovers revelations about the past, connections to the
present, and a resilience in her blood that will carry her toward the future her ancestors strove for.
Critique: A work of fiction with echoes of realism that lifts it to an impressive level of literary excellence, "The Curse of
the Flores Women" by Angelica Lopes is an inherently interesting red from start to finish and will prove to be of immense
interest to fans of novels about women's friendship, cultural restrictions, and the complexities of female family life. While
also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99), "The Curse of the Flores Women"
will prove a welcome and highly appreciated pick for community library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Angelica Lopes is a novelist, screenwriter, and journalist from Rio de Janeiro with over twenty years of
experience in writing fiction. Her dramatic vein came from writing Brazilian soap operas, known worldwide for attracting
millions of viewers daily. She is also an award-winning author of YA novels and has written scripts for cinema, TV series,
and comedy shows. The Curse of the Flores Women is her first adult novel and was sold for translation in France and Italy
even before being published in her native Brazil.
Things I Want Back From You
Elizabeth Stix
https://www.elizabethstix.com
Black Lawrence Press
https://blacklawrencepress.com
9781625570741, $22.95, PB, 196pp
https://www.amazon.com/Things-I-Want-Back-You/dp/1625570740
Synopsis: "Things I Want Back From You" by novelist Elizabeth Stix is set in the fictional California town of San Encanto
(a place where suburban angst coexists with the astonishing) where a lonely wife finds her oppressive husband has become
a dirigible who follows her from the sky, a neglected boy spends his summer unwinding a parasitic Guinea worm from his
little sister's belly, and an aspiring life coach attends a self-actualization seminar that goes wildly off the rails.
"Things I Want Back From You" is comprised of 20 linked stories featuring hopelessly flawed characters who flail against
their own insecurities, seeking one true moment of connection, and if they' re lucky, winning that rarest of gifts -- a second
chance.
Critique: Eloquent, elegant, original, memorable, and with a distinctive, narrative driven storytelling style, "Things I Want
Back From You" by Elizabeth Stix is an inherently fascinating read from start to finish -- and one that rises to an
impressive level of literary excellence. This paperback edition of "Things I Want Back From You" from Black Lawrence
Press is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university
library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Stix (www.elizabethstix.com) writes and edits in Northern California. Her stories have appeared
in McSweeney's, Tin House, Boulevard, The Los Angeles Times Sunday magazine, and elsewhere. Her work has been
performed live at Selected Shorts in New York and the New Short Fiction Series in LA, and her story " Alice" was
optioned by Sneaky Little Sister Films. In the early 2000s, she founded the vanguard lit zine The Big Ugly Review. Her
stories have won the Bay Guardian Fiction Prize and the Katherine Manoogian Scholarship Prize, and have been finalists
or semi-finalists for the Disquiet Prize.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Not You Again
Ingrid Pierce
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9781639108138, $20.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Not-You-Again-Ingrid-Pierce/dp/1639108130
Synopsis: Wedding gown designer Andie Dresser is hanging on by a thread. Gaining a following on TikTok for her
one-of-a-kind fairytale gowns has earned her a spot at Atlanta's Fashion Week, but the costs to design a full bridal line
have stretched her to her limit. When her best friend suggests she sign up for a reality show with a potential $100,000
prize, she realizes the money could allow her to hire some desperately needed help. All she needs to do is marry a stranger
(sight unseen) and opt for divorce at the end of filming. No big deal, right?
Architect Kit Watson just returned to Atlanta to help his loving but stubborn mother through a health crisis. However,
she'll only accept his help if he agrees to settle down, insisting he sign up for a matchmaking reality show. Willing to do
anything for his mom, he finds himself at the altar (on camera) staring at Andie, the woman he abruptly left without
explanation ten years ago.
With producers out to prove they're the perfect match, Kit and Andie join in on the reality show hijinks, cameras following
their every move. Somewhere between zip-lining and ax-throwing therapy sessions, their feelings for each other grow
under the spotlight. But with decision day and Fashion Week looming, Andie needs to decide if the manufactured
scenarios for TV are enough to choose loving Kit over her dreams of success.
Critique: A deliciously fun read from start to finish, "Not You Again" by Ingrid Pierce is the stuff of which Hallmark
Channel movies are made! Original, deftly crafted, and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary
Romance collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated Rom-Com fans that "Not You
Again" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) from Alcove Press.
Editorial Note: Ingrid Pierce lives a large amount of her life in hospital scrubs. By night, she writes what her friends dub
"emo romance novels" and reads anything she can get her hands on. She lives with her husband, son, and menagerie of fur
babies. When she's not writing, she's helping other writers reach their full potential as a book coach and attempting to
finish a single knitting project.
Toward the Dawn
Mary Connealy
Bethany House Publishers
www.bethanyhouse.com
c/o Baker Publishing Group
9780764242663, $17.99, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Dawn-Historical-Western-Cheyenne/dp/0764242660
Synopsis: Kat Wadsworth and Sebastian Jones never imagined their lives would entwine so closely. Forced to flee on a
wagon train from a vengeful uncle and an unknown gunman, they live in a hidden canyon with the family that rescued
them. But as the days turn into months, they each have separate reasons for wanting to move back to society, and the best
way to the independence they desperately crave might be through a marriage of convenience.
However, settling into their homestead in Cheyenne, Wyoming, reveals a different reality for Kat. Her new husband
becomes consumed by his inventions, leaving her feeling lonely and isolated. And just when they think they've left danger
behind, a mysterious attacker lurks in the shadows, threatening the new life they've built. Together, they must confront the
perils from their pasts to forge a future with hope and the prospect of love.
Critique: An original and fun read from start to finish, "Toward the Dawn" by Mary Connealy will have a particular appeal
to fans of western romance. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09), this
paperback edition of "Toward the Dawn" from Bethany House Books is unreservedly recommended for community library
Historical Romance collections. It should be noted by librarians that there is also a large print library binding edition of
"Toward the Dawn" available from Thorndike Press (9781420514889, $34.99)
Editorial Note: Mary Connealy (www.MaryConnealy.com) writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for
her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise and The Lumber Baron's
Daughters and many other books.
Viscount in Love
Eloisa James
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063347410, $9.99, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Viscount-Love-Novel-Accidental-Brides/dp/0063347415
Synopsis: He wants a nanny, not a bride...
Suddenly guardian to twins, Viscount Dominic Kelbourne is luckily betrothed to a suitable lady -- until she elopes. With
no time to woo, Dominic decides to marry his fiancee's unconventional sister. Torie isn't perfect, but their kisses are so
passionate that society thinks he's actually chosen her.
She wants to marry for love...
Torie has never been able to make sense of words on a page, so she has turned her talents to art. She longs for a man who
values her as she is... but marries for the sake of the twins. She doubts Dominic is capable of love, let alone respect, but as
their heated debates turn into something more, Torie begins to imagine a life as a wife, not a nanny.
But when the arrogant viscount finds that his viscountess has stolen his heart, he will have to give all he has to win her
love.
Critique: "Viscount in Love" by Eloisa James is the lively and romantic story of two eccentric orphans who bring together
a grumpy viscount and the free-spirited heroine who steals his heart in the first novel in Eloisa James's new Accidental
Brides series, in which haughty aristocrats find themselves married to the wrong women. Especially recommended for
readers with an interest in Regency romance novels and infused with a bit of the paranormal, "Viscount in Love" is
unreservedly recommended as a fun read from start to finish and a welcome pick for personal and community library
Historical Romance collections. "Viscount in Love" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (HarperCollins Audio, ASIN: B0CVZWD7ZV, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Eloisa James (https://eloisajames.com) is an author and 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.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
A Lonesome Place for Dying
Nolan Chase
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639107773, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lonesome-Place-Dying-Novel/dp/1639107770
Synopsis: In the quiet seaside town of Blaine, Washington, the most serious police work involves dealing with stray
coyotes or ticketing speeders along the I-5. But on Ethan Brand's first day as the town's chief of police, he finds a threat on
his porch, along with a gruesome souvenir, a bloody animal heart.
There are plenty of people who are upset about Ethan replacing the last Chief, but when a body shows up on the railroad
tracks, Ethan has to turn his focus from the threats against him to the first homicide case the town has seen in years.
Blaine's population is only five thousand, but eight million vehicles pass through its railroad crossing every year. It's the
perfect site for drug smuggling, human trafficking, larceny, and murder.
Ethan begins to realize that the small town has many more secrets than its quiet surface suggests. With no one to trust, his
job already on the line, and the threats getting bolder and more reckless, Ethan Brand must find the killers and bring them
to justice before anyone else winds up dead.
Critique: An original, compelling and memorable read from start to finish, "A Lonesome Place for Dying" showcases
author Nolan Chase's impressive and narrative driven storytelling style and master of the suspense thriller genre. With its
deftly crafted characters and more unexpected plot twists and turns than a Kansas tornado, "A Lonesome Place for Dying"
from Crooked Lane Books will prove a welcome and popular addition to community library Contemporary
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists dedicated murder mystery 'whodunnit'
novels that "A Lonesome Place for Dying" is also available in a paperback edition (9708892420983, $19.99) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Over the Edge
Kathleen Bryant
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Tantor Media
https://tantor.com
9781639107544, $30.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Over-Edge-Novel-Kathleen-Bryant/dp/1639107541
Synopsis: After a disastrous mistake ended her career as a crime reporter, Del Cooper returns to Sedona and takes a gig
with a down-on-its-luck tour company while she rebuilds her life. Her peaceful small-town escape ends when, hiking in a
remote red rock canyon, she finds the broken body of a murdered man.
At first, she believes the murder is connected to a proposed land trade that will pave the way for a luxury development on
the edge of town, but it seems money isn't the killer's only motive. As she digs deeper, she uncovers the small town's
darkest secrets, all leading her to Lee Ranch, a former filming location for Western movies. Two women disappear after
Del interviews them, and rumors begin to spin faster than Sedona's famed energy vortexes. But she knows the truth:
Someone is watching her from the shadows.
Desperate for answers, Del ventures into the wilderness to lure the killer into the open. But out here in the red rocks,
bodies can be lost forever.
Critique: A simply riveting murder mystery novel from first page to last, author Kathleen Bryant's "Over the Edge" is an
extraordinary and inherently fascinating read that will have a special interest for fans of psychological thrillers and deftly
crafted murder mysteries. While an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community library
Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Over the Edge" is readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99), as well as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio,
9708874835729, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Kathleen Bryant (www.kathleenbryantwriter.com) turned her boots-first exploration of the West's
landscapes and cultures into a career as a travel writer and novelist. Her publishing credits include romance novels, travel
guides, magazine articles, an award-winning children's picture book, and a cookbook highlighting National Parks. An avid
hiker and history buff, she's led tours of ancient rock art sites, participated in field school digs, helped stabilize prehistoric
ruins, and guided yoga experiences in the red rocks of Sedona.
Smoke and Mirrors
M. E. Hilliard
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639106196, $30.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Mirrors-Greer-Hogan-Mystery/dp/1639106197
Synopsis: Having spent months quietly investigating in the village of Raven Hill, Greer Hogan returns to New York City
determined to find her husband's murderer. She secures a temporary gig at a private library inventorying the personal
collection of a deceased magician. In her free time, Greer sleuths, leaving no stone unturned - even the ones which could
be hiding deadly secrets.
Four years earlier, Greer had discovered her husband Dan dead in their apartment. He'd tried to tell her about something
strange going on at his office, but she hadn't had time to listen until it was too late. Worse still, she has always suspected
that the wrong man was convicted of the crime. Now, Greer has solved other murders and has a few tricks up her sleeve.
She combs through belongings she packed away soon after Dan's death and interviews his former colleagues and people
who were near the scene when he died. Soon, Greer is followed and attacked, so she knows she's struck a nerve -- but
whose?
When two more people are killed and Greer realizes she can't escape the smoke and mirrors surrounding her suspects, she
confides in one of her new colleagues, a magician named Grim with whom she's bonded over similar traumas. Though she
knows he's got secrets of his own, the tricky Grim may be exactly the assistant Greer needs to pull a rabbit out of a hat and
shine a spotlight on a killer before the curtains come down on her for good.
Critique: Fascinating, compelling, memorable, as an author, M. E. Hilliard has raised her novel "Smoke and Mirrors" to an
impressive level of literary excellence and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. Hilliard has utilized her personal background as a librarian to infuse a quality of realism
into her work of fiction that will be especially appreciated by her readers. It should be noted for the private reading lists of
dedicated mystery fans that "Smoke and Mirrors" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book narrated by Kirsten Potter (Dreamscape Media, 9708874751470, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: M. E. Hilliard is currently a full-time librarian who started out in retail merchandising. After twelve years
of mergers, consolidations, and moves around the country, she went to graduate school and got a Master of Library Science
degree. Originally from the Connecticut shoreline, she has never lost her love of quaint small towns, big cities, and
fashion, so she indulges that in her writing. A life-long lover of mystery fiction, M. E. currently lives and works in
Florida.
The Assassin of Venice
Alyssa Palombo
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639107872, $30.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Assassin-Venice-Novel-Alyssa-Palombo/dp/1639107878
Synopsis: Valentina Riccardi is many things: beautiful, cultured, deadly. As one of Venice's famous courtesans, she's
perfectly positioned to seduce powerful men, get them alone, and assassinate them. Spies. Traitors. Who they are doesn't
matter -- only that they made an enemy of the Council of Ten, the shadowy and seemingly omniscient power from which
Valentina takes her orders without question.
Venice is her home, and after losing everything once before to an invading army, there is nothing she won't do to protect
her city, for there is nothing she loves more. -- Well, almost nothing.
She vowed to never fall in love again, but Valentina can't help but give her heart to Bastiano Bragadin, a fellow assassin.
But when Bastiano starts asking the wrong questions, Valentina receives a new assignment: kill him.
Yet the more Valentina learns about the Council of Ten, the more she wonders if they are truly acting in the interest of the
Venetian state, or using her for their own dark ambitions. If Valentina is to save Bastiano, she must untangle their
conspiracy - with the help of her fellow courtesans --before it's too late.
Critique: With the publication of "The Assassin of Venice" from Crooked Lane Books, author Alyssa Palombo presents a
deftly written, original, compelling and memorable novel that brings 16th-century Venice vividly to life, and although a
work of fiction, draws on the fascinating real history of both Venetian cortigiane oneste (honest courtesans) and
Renaissance Venice's sprawling intelligence service. A fully entertaining read from start to finish, "The Assassin of
Venice" is particularly recommended as a prized pick for community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections. It is
also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $$17.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9708874751869, $45.95, CD) narrated by by Nicol Zanarella, Amy Landon,
Greg Tremblay, Soneela Nankani, and Natasha Soudek.
Editorial Note: Alyssa Palombo graduated from Canisius College with degrees in English and creative writing and now
works as a marketing copywriter for a software company. She is the author of five previous novels: The Violinist of
Venice, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel, and The Borgia Confessions -- as
well as the contemporary novel Heavy Metal Symphony, published as A.K. Palombo.
Kill or Bee Killed
Jennie Marts
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639106585, $30.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Bee-Killed-Keeping-Mystery/dp/1639106588
Synopsis: The small town of Humble Hills, Colorado, is abuzz with excitement over the upcoming annual Bee Festival,
sponsored by Bailey's Granny Bee and the Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch. The long weekend of festivities includes a beauty
pageant, beekeeping demonstrations, a local restaurant bake-off, and a 3K Bear Run where all the participants are dressed
as bears. The bake-off brings in a television crew from California to film, so it's the most drama-filled part of the weekend,
especially when the famous celebrity host winds up dead.
Because the celebrity was holding her bracelet and had been witnessed having an altercation with Bailey's best friend Evie
shortly before his death, everyone suspects Evie of the murder -- and Bailey is quickly on the hunt for clues to clear Evie's
name, alongside Granny Bee and her bunch of geriatric misfit friends. Bailey's potential new honey, Sheriff Sawyer Dunn,
is none too pleased to have Bailey buzzing around the investigation, but Bailey's determined to uncover the truth, rescue
her grannie's beloved Bee Festival, and save her bestie.
They say you get more flies with honey, but in this case, more honey may mean you end up dead. And a little competition
never hurt anyone -- unless it ends up killing you.
Critique: A simply riveting read from first page to last, "Kill or Bee Killed" will have a very special appeal to readers with
an interest in carefully crafted and original 'whodunnit' cozy mysteries. Part of author Jennie Marts 'Bee Keeping Mystery'
series, "Kill or Bee Killed" is certain to be a popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and is also
available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Dreamscape Media, 9708874751142, $45.95, CD) narrated by Cris Dukehart.
Editorial Note: Jennie Marts (https://jenniemarts.com) is the author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and
always a happily ever after. She loves genre mashups, and her books range from western romance to cozy mysteries but all
have the charm and appeal of quirky small-town life.
The Stranger in the Library
Eva Gates
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639106608, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Library-Lighthouse-Mystery/dp/163910660X
Synopsis: When a traveling show of impressionist art comes to Nags Head, North Carolina, librarian Lucy and the staff at
the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library are inspired to create an educational display about art history. Their launch of the
display is a huge success, but the morning after, they discover that a reproduction of a famous painting has gone
missing.
No one knows why anyone would bother stealing it: the picture is of no value - the real, priceless painting is under lock
and key at the art show itself. Lucy gets an invite to the glitzy opening night for the real show, where she notices unusual
tension among the show's organizers. Then, the man scheduled to give the welcoming speech fails to arrive, and a
party-goer is discovered drowned in a fish pond.
Meanwhile, Louise Jane is totally captivated by Tom Reilly, a handsome, charming art dealer lurking at the edges of the
receptions on both nights. Tom slipped away from the party early, and he cannot be located by the police. Who, Lucy asks,
is Tom Reilly, the shadowy figure threatening to break Louise Jane's heart?
Something is afoot in Nags Head, and it's up to Lucy and her friends to get to the bottom of it before it's not just paintings
being framed.
Critique: The ninth novel in author Eva Gates' A Lighthouse Mystery Series from Crooked Lane Books, "The Stranger in
the Library" once again proves her total mastery of the cozy mystery genre and is a deftly crafted and fun read that will be
especially appreciated by her growing legions of fans. A perfect pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections,
"The Stranger in the Library" is also available to dedicated cozy mystery readers is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $17.99). Librarians should note that "The Stranger in the Library" is also available in a large print
paperback edition (Thorndike Press, 9781420517316, $27.99).
Editorial Note: Eva Gates began her writing career as a Sunday writer: a single mother of three high-spirited daughters,
with a full-time job as a computer programmer. Now she has more than twenty novels under her belt in the mystery genre,
published under the name Vicki Delany. This is her ninth Lighthouse Library mystery.
The Last Line
Scott Lyerly
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639108213, $30.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Line-Scott-Lyerly/dp/1639108211
Synopsis: The new production at Ellie Marlowe's community theater could save her from financial ruin, but her
overbearing lead, Reginald Thornton IV, is determined to antagonize every cast member. Nervous and with her Tourette's
syndrome flaring, Ellie is relieved when opening night seems to be going well. But then Reginald's death scene at the end
of the play turns out to be all too real.
The state police write the death off as a heart attack, but several things don't add up, and Ellie and her childhood friend,
Bill Starlin, the local chief of police, begin investigating. When another person linked to the theater is attacked, they're
convinced a killer is on the loose.
As Ellie and Bill reveal connections between cast members, they uncover dark secrets and must race to find the killer
before it's curtains for someone else.
Critique: A traditional 'whodunnit' murder mystery where the investigative detectives are two amateur sleuths, "The Last
Line" by author Scott Lyerly is a solidly entertaining thriller of a read from start to finish. Original, deftly crafted, and with
a distinctive, narrative driven storytelling style, "The Last Line" is a memorable and highly recommended addition to
community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of mystery fans that "The
Last Line" is also readily available from Crooked Lane Books in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Scott Lyerly (https://scottclyerly.com) worked for nearly a decade as a bookseller but eventually made the
job into corporate retail. He currently works as an IT Manager for a large retail company.
A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets
Kate Khavari
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639106622, 29.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Botanists-Society-Secrets-Saffron-Everleigh/dp/1639106626
Synopsis: London, 1923. Returning from Paris, botanical researcher Saffron Everleigh finds that her former love interest
Alexander Ashton's brother, Adrian, is being investigated for murder. A Russian scientist working for the English
government has been poisoned, and expired in Adrian's train compartment. Alexander asks Saffron to put in a good word
for Adrian with Inspector Green. Despite her unresolved feelings for Alexander, Saffron begins to unravel mysteries
surrounding the dead scientist.
As if a murder case weren't enough, her best friend Elizabeth's war-hero brother, Nick, arrives in town and takes an
immediate interest in Saffron. Saffron learns Alexander has been keeping secrets from her, including a connection to Nick,
who Saffron and Elizabeth begin to suspect is more than he seems.
When another scientist is found dead, Saffron agrees to go undercover at the government laboratory. Risking her career
and her safety, she learns there are many more interested parties and dangerous secrets to uncover than she'd realized. But
some secrets, Saffron will find, are better left undiscovered.
Critique: "A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets" is the newest addition to novelist Kate Khavari's 'A Saffron Everleigh
Mystery' series and continues to confirm her impressive storytelling talents and complete mastery of the cozy mystery
genre. An entertaining and fun read from first page to last, "A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets" is a carefully
crafted, original, and highly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted
for the increasing legions of cozy mystery fans that "A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets" is also readily available
from Crooked Lane Books in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Dreamscape Media, 9708874751111, $45.95, CD) performed by Jodi Harris.
Editorial Note: Kate Khavari (https://www.kkhavari.com) is the author of fiction ranging from historical mysteries to high
fantasy epics. She has her parents to thank for her fascination for historical mysteries, as she spent the majority of her
childhood memorizing Sherlock Holmes's and Poirot's greatest quips.
A Collection of Lies
Connie Berry
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639106660, $30.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Collection-Lies-Kate-Hamilton-Mystery/dp/1639106669
Synopsis: As Kate Hamilton and her new husband, DI Tom Mallory, honeymoon in Devon, a local history museum asks
them to trace the provenance of a bloodstained dress said to belong to a Victorian lacemaker accused of murder. If genuine,
the dress and its puzzling connections to a nineteenth-century Romani family who camped on Dartmoor will be the
centerpiece of a new historic crimes exhibit -- exactly Kate's kind of mystery. But matters turn deadly when a shot is fired
during a fundraising gala, injuring the man who donated the dress.
The injured donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cybersecurity expert who lives and dresses as a Victorian gentleman, but
everyone believes the real target of the attack to be another attendee -- a controversial politician intent on rooting out local
corruption. This belief is overturned when Gideon is found dead in a pool of blood. But then the politician receives a death
threat.
Who was the real target? Who would want to kill both a man with an obsession for history and a tough-on-crime
politician? When asked to assist in the investigation, Kate races to discover the truth, as it becomes clear the killer isn't
going to come quietly.
Critique: "A Collection of Lies" confirms author Connie Berry continues to be a master of the cozy mystery genre with all
the elements (an amateur female sleuth trying to solve a bewildering 'whodunnit' murder mystery) of a vivid, narrative
driven, and thoroughly fun read for fans of original suspense thriller novels. While also available for personal reading lists
in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book narrated by Ruth Urquhart
(Dreamscape Media, 9708874751807, $45.95, CD), "A Collection of Lies" is a choice and unreservedly recommended
pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Connie Berry (https://connieberry.com) is the author of the Kate Hamilton mysteries, which are cozy
mysteries set in the UK and feature an American antiques dealer with a gift for solving crimes. Like her protagonist,
Connie was raised by antiques dealers who instilled in her a passion for history, fine art, and travel. In 2019 Connie won
the IPPY Gold Medal for Mystery and was a finalist for the Agatha Award's Best Debut. She is also a member of Mystery
Writers of America and on the board of the Guppies and her local Sisters in Crime chapter.
Murder on Devil's Pond
Ayla Rose
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639107117, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Devils-Hummingbird-Hollow-Mystery/dp/1639107118
Synopsis: When thirty-three-year-old Hannah Solace returns to her hometown to renovate and reopen the inn she co-owns
with her sister Reggie, her mission is to give the old Victorian hotel an entirely new life. She's even planting pollinator
gardens around the inn - native flowers and fruit trees to lure honeybees and houseguests alike.
Hannah's fresh start is stymied by Reggie's continual interference, unreliable contractors, a check-the-couch-for-coins
budget, and townspeople Hannah left behind fifteen years ago. Her main source of camaraderie is Ezra Grayson, an
eighty-year-old recluse who lives nearby. After an unsettling conversation with a disgruntled Ezra, Hannah is horrified to
discover him dead on her property later that day.
Ezra had always had plenty of people to complain about, especially locals trying to force him out of his property for its
prime real estate. As buzz around town grows after his death, Hannah finds herself on the short list of suspects. Hannah
starts digging and quickly discovers that secrets lurk beneath the charming surface of the town she once again calls
home.
Critique: With all the hallmarks of a cozy mystery (amateur female sleuth, a 'whodunnit' mystery, a memorable cast of
characters, and more plot twists than a Disney Land roller coaster, "Murder on Devil's pond is one of author Ayla Rose's
Hummingbird Hollow B&B Mystery novels and a fun read from cover to cover. "Murder on Devil's Pond" is a strong pick
for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should also be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated
cozy mystery fans that "Murder on Devil's Pond" is readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Ayla Rose is an author and lawyer. When not writing, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening, and
spending time with her husband, sons, and the family's three dogs.
There's No Murder Like Show Murder
M. S. Greene
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639108190, $31.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Theres-No-Murder-Like-Show/dp/163910819X
Synopsis: Tasha Weaver is most at home in the cozy backstage world of the Eastbrook Playhouse. As the costume shop
head at the charming regional theater, she's used to watching dramatic acts of love and revenge from the shadows. But
when Kurt Mozer (the insufferable Broadway reject who stars in their production of Annie Get Your Gun) is shot center
stage, the spotlight turns to her.
Everyone knows Kurt was difficult to work with, and after he got into a fight with both director Marnie Mason and artistic
leader Arthur Winston, he promptly decided to quit the show. In deep financial trouble, the Eastbrook Playhouse depended
on a big name like Kurt to keep afloat. With reporters coming in from the Big Apple to Tasha's little corner of Connecticut,
she realizes it's up to her to save their local theater and keep her community safe. After all, the show must go on... but what
do you do when the killer could very well be one of your loved ones?
With the help of her friends, her long-time crush Bruno Machado, and her feline colleague Hilly, Tasha must catch a
murderer before the shining lights of the playhouse go out forever.
Critique: The newest addition to author M. S. Greene's 'A Backstage Mystery' series, "There's No Murder Like Show
Murder" from Crooked Lane Books is an original and fun cozy mystery from first page to last. While also available for
personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99), "There's No Business Like Show Murder" will prove to be
an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: M. S. Greene is a playwright, lyricist, screenwriter, novelist, and overall theatre nerd living the dream in
New York City. Under his full name - Matthew Greene - his scripts have been produced on both coasts and several places
in between. When he's not hunched over a keyboard, he can be found teaching, directing, and working to close the arts
education gap with some of the city's most talented young people.
Echo Road
Kendra Elliot & Melinda Leigh
https://www.kendraelliot.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662522000, $28.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Road-Kendra-Elliot/dp/1662522002
Synopsis: During a vicious heat wave, a county maintenance worker stumbles upon two suspicious suitcases abandoned by
the side of the road. Sheriff Bree Taggert responds to find two bodies stuffed inside the luggage. The press demands action.
The community is on edge. Suddenly, Bree is at the center of a media firestorm.
In Oregon, a senator's daughter goes missing. FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick agrees to keep the politically sensitive
case on the down-low. When she finds a link between the disappearance and a double homicide three thousand miles
away, Mercy takes the next plane out -- and lands right in the middle of Bree's double homicide investigation.
To save the missing girl, Bree and Mercy must work together to stop a killer who's playing deadly games with the press
and stirring up public rage. Hungry for notoriety, he dares Bree and Mercy to catch him before he kills again.
Critique: A deftly crafted and truly riveting read from start to finish, co-authors Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh
successfully blend romance, suspense, and murder to make an original thriller of a story with "Echo Road". It should be
noted for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections that "Echo Road" is
also readily available in a paperback edition (9781662521997, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note #1: Kendra Elliot (www.kendraelliot.com) is the author of the Bone Secrets and Callahan & McLane series,
the Mercy Kilpatrick novels, and the Columbia River novels. She's a three-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award,
an International Thriller Writers Award finalist, and an RT Award finalist.
Editorial Note #2: Melinda Leigh (www.melindaleigh.com) is the author of the She Can series, the Midnight Novels, the
Scarlet Falls series, the Morgan Dane series, and the Bree Taggert series. Melinda is an International Thriller Award
finalist for best first book. Her novels have garnered numerous other awards, including two RITA nominations.
Hidden in the Night
Elizabeth Goddard
Fleming H. Revell Company
www.revellbooks.com
c/o Baker Publishing Group
9780800742065, $17.99, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Night-Investigation-Romantic-Picturesque/dp/0800742060
Synopsis: At the behest of her ailing mother, former FBI special agent turned rare-book collector Ivy Elliott arrives in
Alaska to secure an unpublished Jack London manuscript kept secreted away for decades. But when she arrives, she learns
the manuscript is gone -- taken by the granddaughter of the woman who possessed it. Ivy sets off in pursuit, not just to save
the manuscript but to save the vulnerable girl, who was previously trafficked and has no idea what she's getting herself
into.
Joining forces with Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, Ivy must battle a blizzard, sabotage, and the worst of an Alaskan
winter as the search goes on. But every answer they find only raises more questions -- and the danger to their lives and to
the missing girl may only be the tip of the iceberg.
Critique: "Hidden in the Night" by Elizabeth Goddard is a romantic suspense thriller of a read from start to finish. Set in
picturesque Alaska and highly recommended for readers with an interest in a deftly crafted murder investigation and
missing persons story, "Hidden in the Night" is a strongly recommended and enduringly popular pick for community
library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists tht "Hidden in the Night"
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.49).
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Goddard (www.ElizabethGoddard.com) is the author of more than 60 novels, including Cold
Light of Day, Shadows at Dusk, and Hidden in the Night, as well as the Rocky Mountain Courage and Uncommon Justice
series. She is a Christy, Carol, and Reader's Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion
finalist.
Don't Let the Devil Ride
Ace Atkins
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063293380, $30.00, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Devil-Ride-Novel/dp/0063293382
Synopsis: Addison McKellar isn't clueless. She knows that she and her husband Dean don't have the perfect marriage. But
she's still shocked when he completely vanishes from her life.
At first Addison is annoyed, but as days stretch into a week and she's repeatedly stonewalled by Dean's friends and
associates, her frustration turns into genuine alarm. When even the police seem dismissive of her concerns, Addison turns
to her father's old friend, legendary Memphis PI Porter Hayes.
Porter and Addison begin to dig deeper into Dean's affairs and quickly discover that he was never the hardworking
business owner and family man he pretended to be. As they piece together the connections between a hook-handed
mercenary, one of Elvis's former leading ladies, and a man posing as an FBI agent, it becomes clear that Dean was deeply
enmeshed in a high-stakes web of international intrigue -- and that Porter and Addison aren't the only ones looking for
him.
Dean had angered some very dangerous people before he disappeared. People who have already killed to get what they
want -- and they won't hesitate to come after his family to even the score.
Critique: With the publication of "Don't Let the Devil Ride" from William Morrow, author Ace Atkins has once again
deftly written a original, compelling, and deftly narrated novel that will prove to be of interest to readers with an interest in
murder mystery thrillers featuring a hard-bitten Private Investigator and a truly memorable cast of characters -- and more
unexpected plot twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado. While very highly recommended pick for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Don't Let the Devil Ride" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Ace Atkins is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author who started his writing career as a
crime beat reporter in Florida. Don't Let the Devil Ride is his thirtieth novel. His previous novels include eleven books in
the Quinn Colson series and multiple true-crime novels based on infamous crooks and killers. In 2010, he was chosen by
Robert B. Parker's family to continue the iconic Spenser series, adding ten novels to the franchise.
The Body in the Bed / The Body Beautiful
Bill S. Ballinger
Stark House Press
www.starkhousepress.com
9708886010701, $19.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Body-Bed-Beautiful/dp/B0CP2RQ6M1
Synopsis: "The Body in the Bed"
Barr Breed doesn't want to take the case at first. When Mr. Gibbs comes to him with a story about finding his mistress
strangled in her bed, and not wanting to go the cops about it, Breed turns him right down. He doesn't want to get involved
in murder. But Gibbs persuades him to take a look at the murder scene and keep the cops away for 24 hours. Convinced of
Gibbs' innocence, Breed begins to cover his client's tracks. Then someone tries to push him into traffic. And not long after,
Gibbs himself is gunned down. Breed is the thick of it now. And between the thug who's shadowing him and the cops
who're after him, this case could just be his last.
"The Body Beautiful"
When Barr Breed is introduced to showgirl Coffee Stearns, it's lust at first sight. But she plays hard to get. In fact, just as
Breed is figuring that she doesn't like men at all, she changes her tune. That night he decides to catch her show. Coffee she
is one of the nearly nude golden girls that swing from cages above the actors below. But as soon as the cages begin to rise,
there is a flash of light and Coffee falls forward out of her cage and into the orchestra pit - with a knife in her back! Breed
immediately goes into action, but there's nothing he can do for her. So he sets out to find out who murdered her - and why -
and takes on the most dangerous case of his career.
Critique: Featuring an informative introduction by John Bennett, "The Body in the Bed / The Body Beautiful" showcases
two stories by Bill S. Ballinger as part of the Stark House Mystery Classic series of time lost literary treasures being
brought back into print for the benefit and enjoyment of contemporary mystery/suspense fans. Especially recommended to
the attention of Hard-Boiled Private Investigator thrillers, "The Body in the Bed /The Body Beautiful" is an ideal pick for
personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Bill Sanborn Ballinger was born on March 13, 1912, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and was educated at the
University of Wisconsin. He worked in radio and advertising in the early 1940s. Ballinger wrote 81 radio scripts, then
turned to writing novels in 1948, eventually producing about 30 books, including the Joaquin Hawks series. He received
the Geneva Grand Master Award for Portrait in Smoke and was nominated for an Edgar in 1958 for The Longest Second.
Ballinger also wrote at least 150 teleplays, including scripts for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Kolchak: The Night Stalker and
Ironside. In the late 1970s, he became an associate professor of writing at the California State University Northridge in Los
Angeles. Ballinger passed away on March 23, 1980, in Tarzana, California.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Court of Miracles
Victor Dixen, author
Francoise Bui, translator
https://www.victordixen.com
Amazon Crossing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662505737, $28.99, HC, 396pp
https://www.amazon.com/Court-Miracles-Vampyria-Saga/dp/1662505736
Synopsis: The vampire King Louis XIV reigns supreme over a terrorized France, determined to protect his empire at any
cost. When a mysterious renegade vampire named the Lady of Miracles ascends to power in an underworld Parisian court
and claims the city for herself, Louis feels threatened for the first time in centuries.
His secret weapon to fight back? Mademoiselle Diane de Gastefriche, a young baronette who earned the king's trust
through her own cunning and wit. He sends Diane to squash the new threat to his power. But King Louis has no idea that
this feisty girl's real name is Jeanne Froidelac: she is an infiltrated commoner, whose secret mission is to destroy him and
rid the world of the vampiric tyranny.
Caught between a vengeful king and a ruthless rival, Jeanne embarks on a quest that could alter the kingdom's destiny --
and expose a powerful secret that she will do anything to protect.
Critique: Ably translated into English by Francoise Bui, "The Court of Miracles" by author/storyteller Victor Dixen is the
sequel to his first Vampyria novel "The Court of Shadows" and continues the story of a commoner girl who successfully
infiltrates the French imperial court of vampires lorded over by Louis XIV with the aim of ending the scourge that
murdered her family and continue to lethally prey upon the French citizenry. A simply riveting read from start to finish,
Victor Dixen has added a whole new dimension to the vampire genre. A fun read for fantasy fans in general, and vampire
fiction fans in particular, "The Court of Miracles" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community
library collections. It should be noted that "The Court of Miracles" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781662505706, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Victor Dixen (www.victordixen.com) is a two-time winner of the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire and stands at
the forefront of French fantasy. His acclaimed series include Animale, Phobos, Cogito, Extincta, and Vampyria. A
nomadic writer, he has lived in Paris, Dublin, Singapore, New York, and now Washington, DC, drawing inspiration from
the promises of the future as much as the ghosts of the past.
Editorial Note #2: Fran‡oise Bui (https://ccfw.calvin.edu/speakers/francoise-bui) spent twenty years as an executive editor
at Penguin Random House, where her list of edited books included numerous novels in translation. Of these, four received
the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for outstanding children's books initially published in a foreign language; two others
were Honor titles.
The Poetry Shelf
Prairie Roots
James Lowell Hall
Shanti Arts Publishing
https://shantiarts.co
9781962082129, $18.95 138pp
https://shantiarts.co/uploads/files/ghi/HALL_PRAIRIE.html
https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Roots-James-Lowell-Hall/dp/1962082121
Synopsis: Expressed in verse, "Prairie Roots" by James Lowell Hall is the story of a town, a home, a family, and a legacy.
Told with poetic charm and treasured photographs, the story begins in 1915 in the town of Delavan, Illinois, with the
marriage of Ray and Marguerite Lillibridge, the poet author's grandparents.
From that time forward, joys and trials were lived and shared, and then told and retold, becoming memories that form the
foundation of a family rooted in the prairie soil of the Midwest. Take time to appreciate the history, dignity, and love
within this small-town family. Allow the poetry to reach deep into your own memories, unearthing your own stories and
your foundation.
Critique: Of particular interest to fans of storytelling in verse, "Prairie Roots" by James Lowell Hall is an extraordinary
compendium of deftly crafted free verse, much of which will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the
book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. With themes dealing with love, family history, community life,
and personal experiences that have universal implications, this paperback edition of "Prairie Roots" from Shanti Arts
Publishing is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and
college/university library Contemporary American Poetry collections.
Editorial Note: James Lowell Hall (www.jameslowellhall.com) is a practicing physician in Illinois. He is married with two
children and a quirky German Shepherd, Moli. He is the author of Good Night Sweetheart Goodnight and Lillibridge
Houses. He also edits the poetry column "Poetic Ponderings" in Wilmette Living Magazine.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
The Science of Ghosts
Lilah Sturges, author
El Garing, illustrator
Alitha Martinez, contributor
Legendary Comics
9781681160863, $11.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Ghosts-1-Lilah-Sturges/dp/1681160862
Synopsis: While navigating the mysteries of the afterlife, Joy Ravenna (a transgender parapsychologist) finds that she must
also deal with the very real challenges of her past and present. Her first post-transition relationship, a hostile ex-wife, and
clues to murder long forgotten will test her at every twist and turn. For Joy, working with ghosts is way easier than dealing
with the living!
Critique: The collaborative work of author/storyteller Lilah Sturges and artist/illustrator El Garing, this graphic novel
edition of "The Science of Ghosts" from Legendary Comics is an inherently fascinating and fun read from start to finish.
The B/W story boarding approach is an ideal format for this action/adventure style tale of the supernatural backgrounding a
deftly crafted murder mystery is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and
college/university library graphic novel collections. It should be noted that "The Science of Ghosts" is also available from
Legendary Comics in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note #1: Lilah Sturges (https://lilahsturges.com) is the writer of numerous comics, including the PRISM Award
winning Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass and The Magicians and Legendary Comics' upcoming The Science of
Ghosts, as well as many other titles from DC, Marvel, IDW, and others.
Editorial Note #2: Artist El Garing loves illustrations. He migrated to the United States many years ago to follow a dream,
and met his hero personally, The Great Frank Frazetta, who is always an inspiration. El was mentored by one of the best,
Hal Santiago, and was taught by Philippines National Artist Francisco V. Coching. With Legendary Comics and Lugosi
Enterprises, he worked on the graphic novel Bram Stoker's Dracula Starring Bela Lugosi, which won a Rondo Award in
2022. (www.simonandschuster.com/authors/El-Garing/192673105)
The Music CD Shelf
Island Hopping
Gabriel Evan Orchestra
gabrielevanmusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6TB47FY
Island Hopping is a celebration Caribbean jazz and early to mid-twentieth century folk music, performed by Gabriel Evan
Orchestra - Gabriel Evan on soprano saxophone, clarinet, shaker, and clave; Charlie Halloran on trombone; Josh Dunn on
guitar; Kris Tokarski on piano; Pete Olynciw on upright bass; and Jafet Perez on drum set, bongos, and cajon. Featuring
both original compositions and classic favorites, Island Hopping is a wonderful taste of Caribbean musical culture and
makes a great summertime gift! The tracks are Pani Ti Moun, Carmencita, Boychick Calypso, Habana Hammock, Asi
Pare, Tes Yeux, Rhum, Flor de Yumuri, Reverie Antillaise, Ba Cor de Zailes, Lamoula Creole, Venezuela, Ba Yo
Milatresse, Amor (Bolero), and Rumba Blanca.
Sweet Tears
Tevet Sela
tevetsela.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $7.92 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0D3FKVMJ4
Sweet Tears is an instrumental album of original songs composed by Tevet Sela and performed by Tevet Sela on alto
saxophone, John Roney on piano, Mike Downes on bass, and Mark Kelso on drums. Blending a wide variety of musical
styles including klezmer, middle-eastern scales and harmonies, and elements of Latin jazz and rhythm & blues. An
emotional, expressive, and genre-bending musical journey, Sweet Tears is highly recommended for connoisseurs in search
of something new and inspirational. The tracks are In Your Own Words, Better Days, Sweet Tears, Naked Soul, Omaya, I
Feel Ya, Shabbaton, and Far Yet Close.
Tribute to the Groove
Brasstactics
thebrasstactics.com
Privately Published
$TBA
Tribute to the Groove is an album of nine, New Orleans-inspired brass band songs - both originals and reimagined covers -
performed with force and verve by the band Brasstactics. Bold and adventurous, featuring lively horns, pulsing drums, and
occasional rap lyrics, Tribute to the Groove lives up to its title and is highly recommended for especially for brass band
fans! The tracks are Dutch Angles (Jonny McCormack), Bad Guy (Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connel), Regal (Zach
Semanuik), 8 Bit (Semanuik), Chomp (Semanuik), Hunker Down (McCormack), River City Rumpus Room (McCormack),
Runaway Baby (Bruno Mars), and Tribute to the Groove (Nick Froman).
Zouzou
Dobet Gnahore
Cumbancha
$12.39 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Zouzou-Dobet-Gnahore/dp/B0D2J5W5JT
Award-winning singer, dancer, percussionist, and songwriter Dobet Gnahore presents Zouzou, an album embodying the
musical traditions of her homeland - the West African nation of Ivory Coast. Zouzou means "Angel" in French, and is a
fitting title as the album is dedicated to the development of an orphanage project to serve African youth. The masterful
interplay of musical traditions and African rhythms underscore a strong message of hope and support for today's young
people who will be tomorrow's future. Zouzou is a "must-have" for international music collections, worthy of the highest
recommendation. The tracks are Nan Plu Dan, Zouzou, Ayoka, Libonou, Espoir, Ghui Agui Bah, Dobet, Komou Bebe,
Gni, You, and Srikpi Ah Blile.
NatJim
Natsuki Tamura and Jim Black
Libra Records
https://www.librarecords.com
$18.00 CD
https://www.librarecords.com/sne/store.html
NatJim is an extraordinary, improvisational music collaboration between trumpeter-composer Natsuki Tamura and
drummer Jim Black. In their first duo recording in 25 years, Tamura and Black celebrate their reunion with a creative and
exciting "off the rails" performance - the duo simply let the music take them wherever it may go. An extraordinary push to
the heights of what improvisational music is capable of, NatJim is highly recommended. The tracks are Morning City,
Afternoon City, City of Dusk, City of Night, Quiet City, Noisy City, Calm City, Bright City, and Bonus.
BEATitude
David Bixler
davidbixler.com
Tiger Turn
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CX6KD1ZN
Saxophonist, composer, and educator David Bixler presents BEATitude, an album of Bixler's original jazz compositions
performed by Bixler on alto saxophone, Jon Cowherd on piano, Ike Sturm on bass, and Rogerio Boccato on percussion.
BEATitude is an empathetic work, featuring songs that resonate compassion and the depths of the soul. Thoughtful,
introspective, and inspirational, BEATitude is a sublime experience and highly recommended. The tracks are A Power
Deferred, Balm, Hide Seek Find, Down/Up, Peace, I Spy, Clement, and Lost Hours? No.
Under the Covers
The Steve Luciano Quartet
steveonguitar.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3SLVSXF
The Steve Luciano Quartet features masterful jazz guitarist Steve Luciano and the extraordinarily talented quartet of Mike
Avila on piano, Charlie Siva on bass, Walt Hubbard on bass, and Dan Jordan on sax and flute. Their latest album is Under
the Covers, a rendition of cover songs that Steve Luciano has personally selected from the past fifty years of jazz history.
Under the Covers is a tribute to both beloved favorites and lesser-known yet heart-stirring musical discoveries, and is
highly recommended especially for jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are Chant (Duke Pearson), I'll Take Romance (Oscar
Hammerstein II and Ben Oakland), Like Someone in Love (Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke), Hammer Head
(Wayne Shorter), Caruso (Lucio Dalla), "Everything I've Got (Rodgers and Hart), Summer's End (Ralph Towner), Love
You Madly (Ellington and Strayhorn), On the Stairs (Pat Martino), and The Bad and the Beautiful (David Raksin).
Love on the Tyrrhenian
CeCe Gable
https://cecegable.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5FG94P8
Love On The Tyrrhenian is a beautiful, vocal jazz album showcasing the extraordinary talent of CeCe Gable. Supported by
talented musicians on guitar, piano, bass, percussion, saxophone, and more for various tracks, Gable provides a smooth,
dulcet performance worthy of a cherished spot in the collections of vocal jazz connoisseurs everywhere. Highly
recommended! The tracks are Love on the Tyrrhenian, The Riviera, Little Boat, Say It Isn't So, You and the Night and the
Music, Small Day Tomorrow, Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most, Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home, I'll See You
in C-U-B-A, and Once Again It's Winter.
The Humor Shelf
Hope It All Works Out!
Reza Farazmand
Andrews McMeel Publishing
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781524893897, $16.99, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hope-All-Works-Out-Collection/dp/1524893897
Synopsis: On the surface, the animals in Reza Farazmand's world of Poorly Drawn Lines are sophisticated, decadent
creatures -- Turtle sports a beret, Snail wears shades, Bird smokes cigarettes, and Mouse assumes a fighting stance when
anyone challenges his emotional fragility.
But lurking beneath their surface images is a surprising warmth and charming naivete that provides the perfect setup for
Farazmand's unparalleled sense of humor and satire.
"Hope It All Works Out!: A Poorly Drawn Lines Collection" from Andrews McMeel Publishing is an author-curated
collection of new comics and greatest hits showcasing the unique and charming world of these small animals and the
amusing gap between their tough guy images and animal innocence.
Familiar to millions of readers of the Poorly Drawn Lines webcomic and FX animated series on Hulu, this collection
includes dozens of never-before-seen comics.
Critique: An absolute 'must' for the growing legions of Reza Farazmand fans, "Hope It All Works Out!: A Poorly Drawn
Lines Collection" fully showcases his wit, whimsey, and imagination as a gifted cartoon humorist. While especially and
unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary Humor collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Hope It All Works Out!: A Poorly Drawn Lines Collection" is also readily available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Reza Farazmand (https://poorlydrawnlines.com) is an author, comedy writer, and creator of the popular
internet comic series Poorly Drawn Lines. He has published four books, including the graphic novel City Monster and the
comic and essay collection Poorly Drawn Lines: Good Ideas and Amazing Stories, along with two followup collections:
Comics for a Strange World and Poorlier Drawn Lines. His work has been featured in McSweeney's Internet Tendency,
Adventure Time comics, Buzzfeed, NPR, and on Comedy Central.
The Business Shelf
LLC QuickStart Guide
Matthew C. Lewis
Clydebank Media LLC
https://www.clydebankmedia.com
9781636101040, $29.99, HC, 180pp
https://www.amazon.com/LLC-QuickStart-Guide-Simplified-Understanding/dp/1636101046
Synopsis: A limited liability company (LLC) is a specific form business structure that can combine the pass-through
taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation. LLC formation is the number one
way that business owners of all sizes can protect their personal assets! And protecting yourself and your business is more
important and easier than ever.
With the publication of "LLC QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner's Guide to Forming a Limited Liability
Company, Understanding LLC Taxes, and Protecting Personal Assets", Matthew C. Lewis teaches you exactly how to
form a limited liability company regardless of what stage your business is in or where you live.
If you a new or current business owner who worries about the financial future of your business or your own financial
future, if you someone who is starting a business but is anxious about the liability horror stories other entrepreneurs have
faced, everything you need to know is included in "LLC QuickStart Guide".
Forming an LLC professionalizes your business and protects your personal assets. That's especially important as we
currently live in an unprecedented time when starting a business has never been easier-and securing the future of your
business has never been more critical.
LLC formation is a crucial step for entrepreneurs who want to limit personal liability, manage risk, and sleep soundly
knowing that their assets are shielded from punishing litigation or relentless creditors.
Drawing from his experience as counsel for over 250 companies of all sizes, Matthew speaks clearly to the specific
concerns entrepreneurs have about the LLC formation process, pitfalls to avoid, and what every owner needs to know to
secure the future of their business. It doesn't matter if your company is just an idea in your head, has had its doors open for
only a few days, or is thriving after a year of just getting by as a sole proprietorship -- you need to form an LLC.
And this edition of "LLC QuickStart Guide" will show you how!
Critique: the "LLC QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner's Guide to Forming a Limited Liability Company,
Understanding LLC Taxes, and Protecting Personal Assets" is essential reading and an invaluable instructional 'how to'
reference for: New entrepreneurs just getting started; Existing business owners who want to manage personal risk;
Soon-to-be entrepreneurs building their dream business. While also available in a paperback edition (9781636101033,
$22.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "LLC QuickStart Guide" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Small Business Bookeeping and
Entrepreneurship collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Matthew C. Lewis, Esq. (https://matthewlewislaw.com) is a small business attorney who has helped over
250 companies of all sizes get started and protect their assets. A business owner and entrepreneur himself, Matthew has a
deep understanding of the rewards of starting your own company as well as the pitfalls and challenges faced by new
entrepreneurs. Matthew works closely with business owners as counsel and consultant, serving the Texarkana area and
beyond.
Crash Course
Ricardo Jimenez
Forefront Books
https://www.forefrontbooks.com
9781637632963, $26.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crash-Course-Founders-Journey-Startup/dp/1637632967
Synopsis: Nine times out of ten, the passionate, well-educated, semi-cocky entrepreneur with dreams of taking the market
by storm -- fails. Whether it's a quick crash and burn within the first year or a longer struggle over several years, the result
is usually the same: an exhausted, confused, financially broke, and emotionally broken startup failure.
We love to hear stories of lean-and-mean startups that bootstrap their way to a hard-fought victory. But what about the
other 90 percent? What about the startup founders who were chewed up and spit out by potential investors, dirty-dealing
partners, and fickle customers? What about the ones who dared to give their dream wings -- only to watch it crash on the
runway?
Don't we have as much or more to learn from them as we do the lucky few who actually make it?
With the publication of "Crash Course: A Founder's Journey to Saving Your Startup and Sanity", entrepreneur Ricardo
Jimenez crawls out from under the wreckage of his own failed startup and forces himself to explore how his best-laid plans
went so terribly wrong. With surgical precision, Jimenez explores every decision, meeting, step, and misstep that turned
his once-promising international toy company into an expensive lesson in how not to succeed in the highly competitive
global marketplace.
Putting pride aside, Jimenez puts his whole story on display (the good, the bad, and the terrible) with the hope that the next
generation of startup entrepreneurs can learn from his mistakes and take a pain-free shortcut to the important lessons he
had to learn the hard way.
Critique: A novel but very effective way to approach the problems associated with entrepreneurial success/failure, "Crash
Course: A Founder's Journey to Saving Your Startup and Sanity" is an extraordinary useful and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business
Management/Entrepreneurship collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA
students, academia, entrepreneurs, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Crash Cource" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Ricardo Jimenez is a Spanish-born writer, entrepreneur, and active angel investor. Since 2014, he has
performed direct investments in over thirty tech projects, including the Ethereum token launch. In most recent years, his
investment scope broadened into other industries and geographies, such as investing in a gold mine in Paraguay, a logistics
company in Pakistan, and a financial solution for Gen Z in the Middle East. He is also a founding supporter of Yo Elijo -- a
not-for-profit that supports children and families in socio-economic stress in Colombia in choosing a different path in their
lives.
The Travel Shelf
Best Mom Rockford
Erin Sturm
Reedy Press
www.reedypress.com
9781681065014, $22.50, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Mom-Rockford-Erin-Sturm/dp/1681065010
Synopsis: With the publication of Erin Sturm's "Best Mom Rockford" from Reedy Press, readers will discover all the best
things to do in Rockford, Illinois -- with kids!
Rockford is a great place to raise a family, and for good reason. There are so many places to explore music, nature, science,
and history together, and many free things to do. With "Best Mom Rockford" as your guidebook, you can confidently pack
your day full of adventurous and educational outings for all ages.
Learn what it takes to succeed in careers from astronaut to agriculture at the Discovery Center Museum, before visiting the
Rockford Art Museum and seeing the world-famous dinosaur, Jane, at Burpee Museum. Camp, fish, and boat at Rock Cut
State Park. Step back in time to discover what life was like at the turn of the last century at Tinker Swiss Cottage. Rev up
an interest in classic cars and monster trucks at Historic Auto Attractions. Practice painting pottery, relax on a river, and
indulge in Italian food and culture with one of these Rockford adventures.
Rockford author Erin Sturm will introduce you to all the places that, once visited, will have your kids declaring that you
are the best mom!
Critique: An ideal informational resource for planning memorable and fun family outings with in and around Rockford,
Illinois, "Best Mom Rockford" is impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation -- making it unreservedly
recommended for personal, family, and community library Regional Midwest Travel Guide collections.
Editorial Note: Erin Sturm is the creator and founder of Stateline Kids, a community guide for kids events, activities, and
information in Winnebago, Boone, and Rock counties in Illinois. The site, statelinekids.com. launched in 2018 to help
families make the most out of the resources and attractions in the Stateline area. Erin is also the owner of the Sturm
Agency which offers consulting, speaking, and freelance writing services in the topics of hyperlocal marketing and social
media marketing.
The Boston Handbook
John Powers, author
Peter Wallace, illustrator
The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493052271, $22.95, PB, 136pp
https://www.amazon.com/Boston-Handbook-Everything-Uniquely-Bostonian/dp/1493052276
Synopsis: In this unique city, it's less "Welcome to Boston" and more welcome Boston to you. From street names to
driving customs to weather, nothing is as it is wherever you call home, and the locals are proud of it.
With the publication of "The Boston Handbook: An Irreverent Guide to the Hub of the Universe", Boston writer John
Powers turned his experience of living in Boston for over fifty years into this fun yet practical guide which brings visitors
into the real Boston.
Infused with cartoonist Peter Wallace's animated illustrations, "The Boston Handbook" gives the inside scoop on
everything from transportation to cuisine to architecture. From front to back, there are tips on how to navigate the city (the
West End doesn't exist), how to understand Bostonians (Harvard Yard is Hahvid Yahd, and no, you're the one with the
accent), and how and why Boston has always been ahead of the rest of the USA.
Critique: An absolute 'must' for residents and visitors to Boston alike, "The Boston Handbook: An Irreverent Guide to the
Hub of the Universe" is laced through and through with humor and insider information about the City of Brotherly Love.
While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.85), this edition of John Powers' "The Boston Handbook" from
Globe Pequot Press is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library regional
(Massachusetts) Travel Guide collections.
Editorial Note: John Powers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Powers_(journalist)) is a 42-year veteran of the Boston
Globe and a class of 1968 Harvard graduate. He is a 1983 Pulitzer Prize winner for national reporting on the nuclear arms
race, and an author or co-author eleven books.
The Sports Shelf
Winning Pickleball: Expert Strategies for Next Level Play
David Satka
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578269952, $15.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Pickleball-Expert-Strategies-Level/dp/1578269954
Synopsis: With the publication of "Winning Pickleball: Expert Strategies for Next Level Play" Pickleball expert David
Satka shows players of all levels how to improve their game through strategy, technique and mental toughness. You don't
have to be a natural athlete to become a better player, you just need to learn the secrets of winning.
With over 36 million players, pickleball is one of the fastest-growing game in the country and while there are now certainly
many books about how to play with a focus on mechanics of strokes and endless instruction on drills, "Winning Pickleball"
is all about being better by making one more mentally aware.
"Winning Pickleball" includes sections on: Understanding levels of plays and setting goals; Peak performance readiness
routine; Organizational factors; Mental toughness and ability; Key positionings, footwork and shot selection; The power of
practice; The important of partner communication.
You can get significantly better at pickleball without endless hours of practice or thousands of dollars of lessons with
"Winning Pickleball" as your guide. It's the way to become a winning at pickleball without skills or drills.
Critique: "Winning Pickleball: Expert Strategies for Next Level Play" by David Satka is a 'must' for the growing legions of
dedicated Pickleball players. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this paperback edition of "Winning
Pickleball" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library Sports collections.
Editorial Note: David Satka is a USA Pickleball Ambassador for Central Pennsylvania and founded the first outdoor
pickleball courts in Altoona. An athlete all his life, he played tennis at Division I Indiana State University. David began his
instructing career at the World Class Tennis Camp in Baltimore and continued as an assistant tennis professional in
Altoona, PA. He recently retired after 25 years of teaching history and as an adjunct criminal justice professor at Penn
State Altoona where he was also a successful head basketball and assistant tennis coach.
Life on the Green
Ann Liguori
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578269785, $18.00, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Green-Lessons-Wisdom-Legends/dp/1578269784
Synopsis: Interviewed by award-winning sports journalist and broadcaster Ann Liguori, a select list of champions
including Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player, Jan Stephenson, Tom Watson, Padraig Harrington, Bernhard
Langer, Nancy Lopez, and more, talk about their personal journeys and wisdom they gleaned from their time playing the
game of golf in the pages of "Life on the Green: Lessons and Wisdom from Legends of Golf".
"Life on the Green" goes in-depth with exclusive content for die-hard golf fans while providing amusing anecdotes and
inspirational content for everyone, humanizing and helping us understand a little bit more about each star and their success
story.
Each person's story highlights a different, central theme, allowing readers to have key takeaways and a clearer
understanding of how the subject became so successful, and in turn, be inspired to utilize those life lessons towards their
own lives and legacy.
Encompassing universal themes like patience, goal setting, staying positive, pursuing one's passions, treating people right,
never giving up, practicing humility, and more, "Life on the Green" inspires, entertains and enriches in equal measure.
Critique: Showcasing 12 legendary players in golf who share with Ann Liguori and the reader the life lessons they learned
from the game, "Life on the Green: Lessons and Wisdom from Legends of Golf" is a 'must' for the legions of golf fans and
will prove to be a welcome and appreciated addition to community and college/university library Sports collections. An
inherently interesting and informative read from start to finish, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all golf
enthusiasts that "Life on the Green" from Hatherleigh Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Editorial Note: Ann Liguori (https://annliguori.com) is a trailblazer and an icon in sports broadcasting. She is an 'original'
host on WFAN-NY (the top sports radio station in the country), The Golf Channel and the Host, Executive Producer and
Owner of the award-winning 'Sports Innerview' cable series. For the past three decades, Ann has covered golf from Major
Championships (The Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship) to various LPGA and
PGA Tour events for WFAN. She also works with CBS Sports Radio Network as their Golf Correspondent and broadcasts
from Major Golf Championships and the U.S. Open Tennis Championship. She serves on the board of the Metropolitan
Golf Writers Association and is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America. She is a recent recipient of the
Winnie Palmer Award.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Set Sail with McHale
Denny Reese & Steven Thompson
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9708887714523, $42.00, HC, 366pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sail-McHale-hardback-Denny-Reese/dp/B0D2253TKW
Synopsis: Before the long-running television success of M*A*S*H, home audiences found delight and diversion in such
military situation comedies as You'll Never Get Rich (The Phil Silver Show), Hogan's Heroes, Gomer Pyle USMC, and
even the U.S. Cavalry-inspired F Troop.
One of the most fondly remembered among these early those military service themed television comedies is McHale's
Navy.
For four season from 1962-1966, viewers were treated to the shenanigans of the misfit crew of PT-73 as they found various
ways to enjoy and amuse themselves in the Pacific theater of WW2.
The ensemble cast was led by Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine, who as Lieutenant Commander Quentin
McHale tried to maintain control but often participated in the exploits of his zany crew, much to the consternation of
long-suffering Captain Wallace B. Bingham, played by the ever-flustered Joe Flynn. Along for the ride is the by-the-book
but fumbling Ensign Charles Parker, played by comedy legend Tim Conway, and incomparable ensemble acting by a
supporting cast of talented professionals.
With the publication of "Set Sail with McHale", co-authors Denny Reese and Steven Thompson have crafted an
affectionate and entertaining look back at a television favorite, presenting an all-four season episode breakdown and
providing additional insight and trivia through their exhaustive research. Among the treasures to be discovered within
these pages is how tough guy movie actor Ernest Borgnine originally turned down the offer to appear in the pilot episode
and what prompted him to eventually change his mind.
Critique: Informative, fun, and nostalgic, and illustrated with a number of B/W historical photos, "Set Sail with McHale"
offers a wealth of historical detail that is impressively organized and presented. A 'must' for the legions of McHale's Navy
fans, "Set Sail with McHale" is especially recommended for community and college/university library 20th Century
Popular Culture Television History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Set Sail with McHale" is also available in a paperback edition (9708887714516, $32.00) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.95).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Knitted Farm Friends
Sarah Keen
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946715, $26.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Knitted-Farm-Friends-Adorable-Animals/dp/1784946710
Synopsis: With the publication of "Knitted Farm Friends: 20 Adorable Animals to Make", knitting designer Sarah Keen
offers a simply adorable collection of knitted farm animals, each of which is bursting with character and complete with
both clothes and accessories.
Keen's detailed techniques, abbreviations and knitting conversions will allow even the most novice beginner to create with
confidence.
"Knitted Farm Friends" is comprised of: 20 easy-to-follow knitting patterns, suitable for all abilities; Comprehensive
illustrated techniques section; Colorful gallery showcasing each animal.
The result of each project is a very special needlecraft creations suitable for a child, an animal lover, or an addition to your
own personal collection. The knitting projects include: a hen, a rooster, a pheasant, a goose, a turkey, a bee, a cow -- and
more!
Critique: Exceptionally needlecrafter friendly in organization and presentation, "Knitted Farm Friends: 20 Adorable
Animals to Make" is a fun, unique, and especially recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library
Needlecraft instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Sarah Keen (www.ravelry.com/designers/sarah-keen) is a freelance pattern designer and finds calculating
rows and stitches challenging but fascinating. She is experienced in designing knitted toys for children and also enjoys
writing patterns for charity. She has written numerous bestselling books for GMC Publications, including Knitted
Menagerie, Knitted Noah's Ark, Knitted Wild Animals, Knitted Farm Animals, Knitted Farmyard, Knitted Safari, Knitted
Fairy Tales, Knitted Nursery Rhymes, Knitted Cars and Trucks, Knitted Space, Topsy-Turvy Knitted Dolls, 50 Knitted
Dolls and 100 Little Knitted Projects.
The Art Shelf
Mini Plein Air Painting with Remington Robinson
Remington Robinson
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760388075, $24.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Plein-Painting-Remington-Robinson/dp/0760388075
Synopsis: Plein Air Painting is using a mint tin as both palette and easel to create small works of art.
Remington Robionsin is the talented artist behind the popular Instagram and TikTok accounts @remingtonrobinsonart and
has gained a devoted following by showcasing his unique and portable painting setup. With the publication of "Mini Plein
Air Painting with Remington Robinson: The art of miniature oil painting on the go in a portable tin", he reveals his secrets
and teaches you how to set up your own miniature plein air studio using mint tins.
You will be amazed at how easily you can carry your art supplies, including a small canvas, brushes, and a mini bottle of
mineral spirits, and be able to fit them all in your pocket or bag. Whether you're at home, on a plane, or exploring new
destinations, you'll have everything you need to immerse yourself in the art of plein air painting.
"Mini Plein Air Painting with Remington Robinson" shows you as an aspiring artist how to: Set up your miniature
workspace complete with mint-tin palette and easel; Select captivating scenes; Understand color and light; Effectively
translate your observations onto canvas.
Through engaging instruction, you will develop the skills to create mini works of art that reflect the beauty of nature and
evoke a sense of place. Remington Robinson's clear and concise teaching style, showcased in his popular process videos,
makes this book accessible to artists of all levels. Whether you're new to painting or have years of experience, Remington's
guidance will enhance your skills and help you unlock your creative potential.
Critique: Fun, informative, 'user friendly', and impressively inspiring, "Mini Plein Air Painting with Remington Robinson:
The art of miniature oil painting on the go in a portable tin" is a unique and unreservedly recommended pick for personal,
professional, community, art school, and college/university library Oil, Landscape, and Seascape painting instructional
reference collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Mini Plein Air Painting with
Remington Robinson" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Remington Robinson (www.remingtonrobinson.com) began his art-making career in Chagrin Falls, Ohio,
where he grew up. He has traveled the world documenting his journey with miniature plein air paintings in mint tins.
Remington has a passion for outdoor painting and has spent many years honing his skills in this area, developing a deep
understanding of the challenges and rewards of working in this medium. He has made a successful business by sharing and
creating his mini masterpieces and selling them completely intact in each tin, paint swatches and all.
The Crafts Shelf
Origami Polyhedra for Beginners
Miyuki Kawamura
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805318102, $14.99, PB, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Origami-Polyhedra-Beginners-Geometric-Japanese/dp/4805318104
Synopsis: Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. In modern usage, the word "origami" is often used as an inclusive
term for all folding practices, regardless of their culture of origin. The goal is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into
a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques. Modern origami practitioners generally discourage the use of
cuts, glue, or markings on the paper. Origami folders often use the Japanese word kirigami to refer to designs which use
cuts.
With the publication of "Origami Polyhedra for Beginners", Miyuki Kawamura (Japan's leading designer of polyhedral
origami) puts a new spin on the ancient art of paper folding, opening the door to a world filled with beautiful geometric
shapes. Miyuki Kawamura, a master of polyhedral origami, shows you how to create 55 different models using squares of
brightly-colored paper.
Modular origami models are created using multiple sheets of paper that are folded and then locked together without the use
of glue or tape. Clear step-by-step instructions for each model are provided. These amazing creations will captivate
everyone who sees them!
The models showcased in "Origami Polyhedra for Beginners" surprisingly easy to make, and include: Building Blocks and
Tiles which can be stacked and combined; Striking Pyramids, Cubes, Stars and Spheres; Dramatic polyhedral
"Wireframes" and "Skeletons" with open latticework; Star-shaped Icosahedrons that look like they belong on a Christmas
tree; Playful Windmills, Water Wheels -- and many other Polyhedral "Kits"!
The sense of accomplishment and delight you will experience from completing these models is well worth the time and
effort!
Critique: Instructive and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Origami Polyhedra for Beginners"
will prove of immense interest to paper based art, as well as fans of math and puzzle games. "Origami Polyhedra for
Beginners" is an ideal and fun introduction to the art of Origami and a highly recommended pick for both personal and
community library paper folding crafts collections.
Editorial Note: Miyuki Kawamura started folding origami at the age of two. She folded animal models, which were her
favorite subject. Miyuki received a masters degree in Physics in 1995 from Kobe University. Shortly thereafter, she began
to create original polyhedral models. She is famous for some of her incredible origami pieces, such as the Cosmosphere--a
massive wireframe kusudama model requiring nearly 2,000 pieces of paper to complete. She has published several books
on the subject of polyhedral origami and is currently on the board of the Japanese Origami Academic Society (JOAS).
The Self-Help Shelf
The Happiness Formula
Alphonsus Obayuwana, MD
Health Communications, Inc.
https://hcibooks.com
9780757325083, $10.99, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Formula-Scientific-Groundbreaking-Fulfillment/dp/0757325084
Synopsis: In 1979, Dr. Alphonsus Obayuwana was awarded a national research grant and Smith-Kline Medical Perspective
Fellowship to develop an instrument for measuring human hope, with the purpose of detecting hopelessness early enough
in troubled human individuals so assistance could be offered in time to prevent suicide. The Hope Index Scale (HIS) that
resulted from this grant became very popular with Fortune 500 companies and other institutions both in the US and in
other countries. This led to the foundation of decades of research that ultimately resulted in the publication of, "The
Happiness Formula: Using Science to Understand Personal Satisfaction, Human Hope, and Subjective Well-Being" from
Health Communications Inc.
Unlike other 'how to' books about happiness, which are too often filled with dos and don'ts, wishful thinking, and empty
aphorisms, "The Happiness Formula" breaks new ground by introducing a universal unit of measure called the "Personal
Happiness Index" or PHI. This makes it possible (for the first time ever) to calculate and assign numerical happiness scores
to human individuals by plugging their unique hopes, hungers, assets, and aspirations into an equation.
"The Happiness Formula" offers so much more than just a mathematical equation for measuring happiness. It is a book
about life; the relationship between human hope and happiness; how to find, measure and boost them; and, most
interestingly, how to confirm the happiest country in the world and even help identify the happiest living human, or HLH.
It challenges the World Happiness Report of 2023, debunks three major happiness myths, and then introduces the Triple-H
Equation -- the simple but profound formula about what makes life worth living.
Critique: For happiness seekers and happiness advocates everywhere, "The Happiness Formula: A Scientific,
Groundbreaking Approach to Happiness and Personal Fulfillment" by Dr. Alphonso Obayuwana is a DIY life changing,
life enhancing, life appreciating study that is especially 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. Highly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement
collections and supplemental Emotional Mental Health curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "The Happiness
Formula" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete an unabridged audio book
(HighBridge Audio, 9708874760267, $39.99, CD.
Editorial Note: Alphonsus Obayuwana, MD, PhD, CPC, is a physician-scientist, a happiness coach, and the founder and
CEO of Triple-H Project LLC-an entity that trains and certifies happiness coaches. He is a Literary Titan Gold
Award-winning author who has published several peer-reviewed articles in the national medical journals about human
hope and happiness, including The Hope Index Scale that became widely used at the Coca-Cola company, General Motors,
Veterans Administration, and many academic institutions inside and outside the United States. He is also the author of The
Five Sources of Human Hope and How to Live a Life of Hope. After thirty years of relentless research on human hope, he
successfully derived the Triple-H Equation that is at the core of The Happiness Formula.
Lost and Found
Mark D'Souza, MD
Morgan James Publishing
www.morganjamespublishing.com
9781636983837, $18.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Meaningless-Living-Destroying/dp/1636983839
Synopsis: With the publication of "Lost and Found: How Meaningless Living is Destroying Us and Three Keys to Fix It",
Dr. Mark D'Souza ventures deep into the quandary of contemporary life and addresses the poignant disconnects of our
modern era.
As workplaces remain trapped in a cacophony of disagreements, the world witnesses an opioid crisis showing no signs of
remission.
Drawing upon his extensive experience in medical practice and rich insights from philosophy, psychology, and literature,
Dr. D'Souza traces this descent into chaos, marking Nietzsche's assertion of the "death of God" as a pivotal moment in the
annals of philosophical and societal thought. As the world grapples with the void left behind, emergent replacement
religions (from climate alarmism to victimhood) attempt to fill the chasm, often adding to the turmoil.
However, "Lost and Found" is more than just another analysis of our past mistakes and present predicaments. It is also a
guiding and inspiring light, illuminating a path forward. With compelling arguments for the embrace of free speech, a
return to the grounding principles of traditional religions, and an appeal for personal responsibility, Dr. D'Souza provides
actionable solutions for the individual and society at large. For those weary of today's cultural malaise and eager to mend
our world, "Lost and Found" is an essential compass, guiding its readers toward a more cohesive and meaningful
tomorrow.
Critique: Deftly organized into three primary sections (How We Got Here; Searching For Meaning; Finding A Way
Forward), "Lost and Found: How Meaningless Living is Destroying Us and Three Keys to Fix It" by Dr. Mark D'Souza is
informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty-six page Bibliography, a ten page Glossary,
and five pages of End Notes. Insightfully thoughtful and thought-provoking, this paperback edition of "Lost and Found"
from Morgan James Publishing is particularly appropriate for, and recommended to, personal, professional, community,
and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It is also highly recommended for supplemental
Social Philosophy/Popular Culture curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Mark D'Souza, MD, is a Canadian physician based in Toronto with extensive experience in addiction and
chronic pain management. His medical practice, coupled with a lifelong passion for the humanities, provides a unique
perspective on societal issues. He has published serial opinion editorials in Canada and has had extensive local media
exposure, including TV and radio appearances and advocacy roles in healthcare organizations. Dr. D'Souza is on the
faculty at Queen's University's Department of Family Medicine.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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