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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Salmon Way
Amy Gulick
Braided River
c/o Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680512380 $29.95 amazon.com
Featuring striking, full-color photography throughout, The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of
Mind is a coffee table book about the environmental history of wild salmon in the state of
Alaska, and the connections between salmon and the land, the people (especially native
populations), and other wildlife. Native Alaskans have depended upon the salmon to survive
throughout history; yet today, wild salmon are imperiled in the region. Threats include large-
scale development, overfishing, environmental degradation and more. The Salmon Way explores
the salmon's integral role to both survival and culture, as well as the search to establish a
sustainable, long-term relationship with salmon. The Salmon Way is both a work of natural
history and a modern-day environmental parable, highly recommended especially for personal
and public library collections.
House of Secrets
Allison Levy
Tauris Parke
c/o I.B. Tauris
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781788313605, $25.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
"House of Secrets: The Many Lives of a Florentine Palazzo" tells the remarkable story of Palazzo
Rucellai from behind its celebrated facade. The house, beginning with its piecemeal assemblage
by one of the richest men in Florence in the fifteenth century, has witnessed endless drama, from
the butchering of its interior to a courtyard suicide to champagne-fueled orgies on the eve of
World War I to a recent murder on its third floor. When Allison Levy, an art historian,
serendipitously discovered a room for let in the house, she lands in the vortex of history and is
tested at every turn -- inside the house and out. Her residency in Palazzo Rucellai is informed as
much by the sense of desire giving way to disappointment as by a sense of denial that soon
enough must succumb to truth. "House of Secrets" is about the sharing of space, the tracing of
footsteps, the overlapping of lives. It is about the willingness to lose oneself behind the facade, to
live between past and present, to slip between the cracks of history and the crevices of our own
imagination. A unique and riveting read from cover to cover, "House of Secrets" is a deftly
written extraordinary story that will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
community library collections. This is the kind of extended yet personally resonating history that
will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book itself has been finished and
set back upon the shelf.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Artists Write to Work
Kate Kramer
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764356490, $16.99, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Artists need to write, every day, to support their studio practice and careers. While working
artists already know this, newly minted art graduates and emerging artists usually have to learn
this the hard way -- most often when a gallery owner asks for basic documents like an artist
resume, biography, and statement to support an upcoming exhibition! Conversational and
instructive, "Artists Write to Work: A Practical Guide to Writing about Your Art" by Kate
Kramer (who is a lecturer in critical writing at the University of Pennsylvania and has worked as
a curator, gallery director, art historian, public art administrator, and writer) is practical primer
specifically designed to help artists learn the best writing and research strategies for the
documents they must craft including: letters, biographies, statements, proposals, applications,
wall text, and more. Kramer aligns writing strategies with art school curriculum (foundations,
topics, capstones, professional development). "Artists Write to Work" is the instructional guide
and manual that every artist will turn to again and again. In addition to models, templates,
worksheets, and sample analyses of calls for entry, "Artists Write to Work" references readily
available and public resources throughout. Ultimately, this primer brings writing process into
practice so the art work can continue to thrive. Simply stated, "Artists Write to Work" is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, art school, and
university library Writing/Publishing collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Comic Hero's Journey
Steve Kaplan
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932870, $26.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
A traditional hero or heroine going on a journey is the traditional stuff of the movies. But for the
comic hero, it's often quite, quite different. The hero deliberately chooses to go on the adventure;
the comic hero often has no choice. The hero has a wise old man; the comic hero often meets an
idiot who inadvertently says something that can teach him a thing or two. In "The Comic Hero's
Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films", Steve Kaplan (who for years, has
been the film and television industry's most respected and sought-after expert on comedy) will
shows the aspiring script writer the diverse paths that comedy takes in "The Comic Hero's
Journey". Exceptionally accessible in organization and presentation, "The Comic Hero's Journey"
is a complete course of specialized script writing instruction and highly recommended for
personal, professional, community, college, and university library instructional reference and
resource collections.
The Education Shelf
The Best Value Colleges, 2019 Edition
Robert Franek
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.PrincetonReview.com
9780525567868, $22.99, PB, 480pp, www.amazon.com
The experts at The Princeton Review have been helping students, parents, and educators achieve
the best results at every stage of the education process since 1981. The new 2019 edition of their
annual "The Best Value Colleges" showcases two hundred colleges and universities that provide
students and their families with the best financial and career returns on their tuition investment.
These are the schools that offer generous financial aid, excellent academics, and valuable
career-building experiences for a successful post-college outcome! Each school was selected on
the basis of 40+ data points, including academics, cost of attendance, financial aid, and post-grad
salary figures. Here are definitively profiled 200 schools that offer fantastic value, with insight
into their career services offerings. Of special note are the top 25 schools with the Best Alumni
Network, Best Career Placement, Top Financial Aid, and more; The highest-paying majors and
great schools that offer them; Starting and mid-career salary information for graduates of each
school; Percentages of alumni who report having meaningful jobs and who majored in
science/technology/engineering/math (STEM) fields. "The Best Value Colleges, 2019 Edition" is
unreservedly recommended for families of graduating high school students, high school
counselors, and community library Contemporary Education collections.
50 Shades of Teaching
Todd Cole
Dorrance Publishing Company
585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9781480989436, $9.00, PB, 30pp, www.amazon.com
Todd Cole is an elementary school teacher recently retired from Laurel Elementary School in
New Castle, Pennsylvania, where he taught first grade for 25 years and fourth grade for 9 years.
In the pages of "50 Shades of Teaching" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise to
provide 50 bits of wisdom that are serious, funny, practical, and thoughtful. Above all, they're
presented for the purpose of supporting one of the most noble (and undervalued) of professions --
the teaching children. "50 Shades of Teaching" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
school district, college, and university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental
studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of student teachers, K-12 classroom
teachers, school administrators, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that "50 Shades of Teaching" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.00).
The Cookbook Shelf
The Crock-Pot Ladies Big Book of Slow Cooker Dinners
Heidi Kennedy, Katie Handing, Sarah Ince
Harvard Common Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781558329249, $24.99, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
Showcasing more than 300 quick and easy recipes for truly memorable dishes that are presented
in an exceptionally 'kitchen cook friendly' for the time-stressed family chef format, "The
Crock-Pot Ladies Big Book of Slow Cooker Dinners" is an impressive compendium of do-it-
yourself recipes that range from Cheese-Stuffed Beefy Manicotti; Salisbury Steak Meatballs;
Drunken Peach Whiskey Pork Chops; and Curried Lamb Shanks; to Orange Marmalade-Glazed
Carrots; Warm Corn Casserole; Super Easy Baked Potatoes; and Holiday Pecan Spiced Potatoes.
There is a whole section devoted to crock pot slow cooker recipes for desserts featuring Baked
Oatmeal with Spicy Pears; Dried Cranberry and Maple Bread Pudding; Silky Chocolate Fondue;
Slow Cooker Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies, and more! Of special note is the chapter devoted to
'Staples: Homemade Stocks, Sauces, and Seasoning Mixes. Impressively well organized and
presented, "The Crock-Pot Ladies Big Book of Slow Cooker Dinners" is especially and
wholeheartedly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
It should be noted that "The Crock-Pot Ladies Big Book of Slow Cooker Dinners" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.49).
Ethiopia
Yohanis Gebreyesus
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781623719630, $35.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Ethiopian cuisine has been influenced by a cultural history enriched with a religious mix of
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as some of the most fertile land on the continent. The delicious dishes showcases in "Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa"
include Doro Wat (chicken stewed with berbere spice, Siga Tibs), flashfried beef, and Asa
Shorba (a hearty spiced fish soup), plus vegetarian dishes such as Gomen (collard greens with
ginger and garlic), Azifa (green lentil salad), and Dinich Alicha (potatoes and carrots in an onion
turmeric sauce). Along with beautifully executed photography of the stunning landscapes and
vibrant artisans of Ethiopia combined with insightful cultural and historical details "Ethiopia:
Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa" demonstrates why Ethiopian food should be
considered one of the world's most singular and enchanting ethnic cuisines. While very highly
recommended for community library Ethnic Cookbook collections, it should be noted for
personal cookbook collections that "Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Models Do Eat
Jill de Jong
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781946885517, $19.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Jill de Jong was born in Holland, and her successful modeling career brought her to the US. She
eventually made the career shift from full-time modeling to health coach, personal trainer, and
chef. Jill draws upon her years of experience and expertise in "Models Do Eat" to showcase more
than 100 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes specifically designed to create beautiful and healthy
results for themselves and their loved ones. A team of inspiring women collaborated with Jill in
this project. These are models love to eat and they eat a lot. With approaches from paleo and
gluten-free eating to vegetarianism and veganism, and everything in-between, "Models Do Eat"
is proof that there's not just one "correct" way to eat well and feel beautiful. With recipes for
palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes ranging from Mediterranean Breakfast Cups;
Gluten-Free Endless Energy Matcha Muffins; Wholesome Mushroom Tacos; and Coconut Basil
Sweet Potato Fries; Bison Stew and Bone Broth; Charred Cauliflower with Peppers & Egg; Raw
Vegan Cheesecake Bars; and more, "Models Do Eat" will prove to be an extraordinarily popular
addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Models Do Eat" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
The Business Shelf
Breaking Bad Habits
Freek Vermeulen
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633696822 $18.00 pbk / $9.97 Kindle amazon.com
Breaking Bad Habits is a guide to the downsides of entrenched "best practices" in business. "Best
practices" can become outdated, expensive, or a hindrance to innovation, and managers may be
reluctant to change them because they worked in the past. Breaking Bad Habits offers a roadmap
to identifying popular yet ultimately detrimental ideas, processes, and strategies, and
transforming them for the better, along with a wealth of real-world examples. Breaking Bad
Habits is a "must-read", especially for business and managerial professionals seeking to break out
of a rut! Also highly recommended is "Harvard Business Review Leader's Handbook" by Ron
Ashkenas and Brook Manville (9781633693746, $29.99 pbk / $17.49 Kindle).
Good Charts Workbook
Scott Berinato
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633696174, $35.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Being able to create effective graphs and charts as a means of messaging is essential for success
in any business or corporation. Offering a wealth of practical tips, effective tools, and instructive
exercises, the "Good Charts Workbook" by Harvard Business Review Senior Editor and dataviz
expert Scott Berinato is the ideal hands-on instructional guide and reference. The "Good Charts
Workbook" takes a step-by-step approach through the key challenges in creating good charts
(controlling color, crafting for clarity, choosing chart types, practicing persuasion, capturing
concepts) with warm-up exercises and mini-challenges for each. The "Good Charts Workbook"
includes helpful prompts and reminders throughout, as well as white space for users to practice
the Good Charts talk-sketch-prototype process. A 'must-have manual' for better understanding
the dataviz around you and for creating better charts to make your case more effectively, the
"Good Charts Workbook" is especially and unreservedly recommended for professional,
corporate, community, college, and university library Business Management collections and
supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of MBA students,
entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that the "Good Charts Workbook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.99).
The Fiction Shelf
The Birth of China
E. Ted Gladue
Commonwealth Books
P.O. Box 770354, Coral Springs, FL 33077
9781892986115, $17.99, PB, 225pp, www.amazon.com
Sean Semineaux, on a merchant ship, coming out of New Zealand in 1986, has to fight for his
survival as the ship sinks in the middle of the Pacific in the midst of strange circumstances.
Semineaux survives and washes up on the China coast. The only problem, the year is 261 BC,
and, at first he thinks he has gone mad, but he becomes a witness to the first unification of China
in 221 BC. "The Birth of China" is an exceptionally well written and compelling novel that
showcases author E. Ted Gladue's genuine flair for combining originality within an accurately
detailed historical framework. An inherently fascinating and thoroughly entertaining read from
cover to cover, "The Birth of China" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to
community library Historical Fiction collections and personal reading lists.
Lights on the Mountain
Cheryl Anne Tuggle
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781640601666, $17.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Barely old enough to vote when he loses his parents in an accident and inherits the family farm,
Jess Hazel struggles to find meaning in the life he has always loved. Unable to shake the memory
of a strange light he has seen hovering on the mountain peak above his valley home, he embarks
on a pilgrimage, a halting inner odyssey riddled with fits and false starts. The beauty of this finely
crafted story lies in the unlikely people Jess encounters along the way, transmitters of a grace
which at first hounds, then quietly eludes. Through events both tragic and joyous, Jess is led on a
journey of self-discovery through ancestral sin, unexpected love, loss, holiness, compassion,
forgiveness and redemption. Like the creek which cuts through the Allegheny foothills of its
Western Pennsylvania setting, hope runs through every chapter of author Cheryl Anne Tuggle's
novel, "Lights on the Mountain". A fully engaging and ultimately inspiring novel by an author
with a genuine flair for originality and narrative storytelling, "Lights on the Mountain" will prove
to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lights on the Mountain" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
How the Light Gets In
Jolina Petersheim
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496434173, $25.99, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com
When Ruth Neufeld's husband and father-in-law are killed working for a relief organization
overseas, she travels to Wisconsin with her young daughters and mother-in-law Mabel to bury
her husband. She hopes the Mennonite community will be a quiet place to grieve and piece
together next steps. Ruth and her family are welcomed by Elam, her husband's cousin, who
invites them to stay at his cranberry farm through the harvest. Sifting through fields of berries
and memories of a marriage that was broken long before her husband died, Ruth finds solace in
the beauty of the land and healing through hard work and budding friendship. She also
encounters the possibility of new love with Elam, whose gentle encouragement awakens hopes
and dreams she thought she'd lost forever. But an unexpected twist threatens to unseat the happy
ending Ruth is about to write for herself. On the precipice of a fresh start and a new marriage,
Ruth must make an impossible decision: which path to choose if her husband isn't dead after all.
One of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been
finished and set back upon the shelf, Jolina Petersheim's "How the Light Gets In" is unreservedly
recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "How the Light Gets In" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781496402233, $15.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99), and as a complete
and unabridged audio book (Oasis Audio, 9781640911604, $33.99, CD).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
A Room Full of Night
T. R. Kenneth
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608093229, $26.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Stag Maguire is a burnt-out journalist hardly able to prop himself up in the wake of tragedy but
who nevertheless agrees to help a friend move. They find an urgent message (HELP ME) written
on a piece of silk tacked behind a long-forgotten portrait. The message from an address in Berlin
is urgent; though it had to have been written pre-World War II. Curious, Stag and his friend,
begin to research the address and whomever might have written the message. They trace the
address to an apartment, a sealed time capsule that has not been lived in since 1942. And from
one phone call to that apartment, the men unleash a nefarious plot and brutal security forces long
thought vanquished. Events begin to cascade without mercy, and Stag (a broken man from the
Midwest) finds himself pitted against a vestige of the Third Reich with powerful forces ensuring
the propagation of Heydrich's infamous SD (Nazi's intelligence agency) in today's world. Will
ordinary-man Stag Maguire prevail in his lone stand against evil? "A Room Full of Night" is a
simply riveting read from cover to cover and features more unexpected plot twists and turns than
a Coney Island roller coaster! While especially and unreservedly recommended for community
library Suspense/Thriller collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Room
Full of Night" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Malta Exchange
Steve Berry
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250140265, $28.99, HC, 416pp, www.amazon.com
The pope is dead. A conclave to select his replacement is about to begin. Cardinals are beginning
to arrive at the Vatican, but one has fled Rome for Malta in search of a document that dates back
to the 4th century and Constantine the Great. Former Justice Department operative, Cotton
Malone, is at Lake Como, Italy, on the trail of legendary letters between Winston Churchill and
Benito Mussolini that disappeared in 1945 and could re-write history. But someone else seems to
be after the same letters and, when Malone obtains then loses them, he's plunged into a hunt that
draws the attention of the legendary Knights of Malta. The knights have existed for over nine
hundred years, the only warrior-monks to survive into modern times. Now they are a global
humanitarian organization, but within their ranks lurks trouble (the Secreti) an ancient sect intent
on affecting the coming papal conclave. With the help of Magellan Billet agent Luke Daniels,
Malone races the rogue cardinal, the knights, the Secreti, and the clock to find what has been lost
for centuries. The final confrontation culminates behind the walls of the Vatican where the
election of the next pope hangs in the balance. A riveting great read from cover to cover, "The
Malta Exchange" clearly showcases author Steve Berry's narrative driven storytelling skills. This
is the stuff of which block buster movies are made! While unreservedly recommended, especially
for community library Suspense/Thriller collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "The Malta Exchange" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a
complete an unabridged audio book (Macmillan Audio, 9781250316530, $39.99, CD).
Open Carry
Marc Cameron
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496721723, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter is a born tracker. Raised in the Florida swamp lands, he honed his
skills in the military, fought in the Middle East, and worked three field positions for Marshal
Services. When it comes to tracking someone down (or taking someone out) Cutter's the best.
But his newest assignment is taking him out of his comfort zone to southeast Alaska. Cold, dark,
uninhabited forests often shrouded in fog. And it's the kind of case (the shocking murder of a
Tlingit Indian girl) that makes his blood run cold. But the murder is just the beginning. Now,
three people have disappeared on Prince of Wales Island. Two are crew members of the reality
TV show, Fishwives. Cutter's job is to find the bodies, examine the crew's footage for clues, and
track down the men who killed them. But it won't be easy, because the whole town is hiding
secrets, every trail is a dead end -- and the hunter has become the hunted! Another absorbing,
action packed, compulsive page turner of a mystery suspense from the pen of Marc Cameron,
"Open Carry" is a riveting great read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended,
especially for community library Mystery/Suspense/Thriller collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Open Carry" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Code of Valor
Lynette Eason
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800735586, $29.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
What Detective Brady St. John really needs is a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, just as the sun
is setting on his second day at a friend's cabin on Lake Henley, he hears a scream and races to
rescue a woman from her would-be killer. When the killer escapes only to return to finish the job,
Brady vows to utilize all of his many resources to keep her safe--and catch those who would see
her dead. Financial crimes investigator Emily Chastain doesn't trust many people. And even
though she let the detective who saved her life in on a few pertinent facts about why she was
being attacked, there are some things you just don't share with a stranger. Little does she suspect
that the secret she is keeping just might get them both killed. Another riveting read by an author
with a genuine flair for investing his readers in a page-turning thriller, Lynette Eason's "Code of
Valor" is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated
mystery buffs that "Code of Valor" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800727048,
$15.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Tantor Audio, 9781515934547, $29.99, CD).
The Chef's Secret
Crystal King
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781501196430, $28.00, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate comprised of properties, money,
and his position to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two
strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi's dire warning that the
information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni's life and others at risk, Giovanni is
compelled to learn his uncle's secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi's
journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder - all to protect an illicit love
affair. As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi's past, he must contend with two rivals
who have joined forces -- his brother Cesare and Scappi's former protege, Domenico Romoli,
who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef's recipes. An erudite, engaging,
entertaining, and compulsive page turner of a read, "The Chef's Secret" by Crystal King is certain
to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library Historical
Fiction collections. It should be noted that "The Chef's Secret" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781501196423, $16.99), a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781508282303, $39.99, CD).
The Enemy of My Enemy
W.E.B. Griffin
G. P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780735213067, $29.00, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com
A month ago, James Cronley managed to capture two notorious Nazi war criminals, but not
without leaving some dead bodies and outraged Austrian police in his wake. He's been lying low
ever since, but that little vacation is about to end. Somebody (Odessa, the NKGB, the Hungarian
Secret Police?) has broken the criminals out of jail, and he must track them down again. But
there's more to it than that. Evidence has surfaced that in the war's last gasps, Heinrich Himmler
had stashed away a fortune to build a secret religion, dedicated both to Himmler and to creating
the Fourth Reich. That money is still out there in the hands of Odessa, and that infamous
organization seems to have acquired a surprising (and troubling) ally. Cronley is fast finding out
that the phrase "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" can mean a lot of different things, and that
it is not always clear which people he can trust and which are out to kill him. Another deftly
scripted and compulsive page turner of an action/adventure novel from the pen of W.E.B.
Griffin, "The Enemy of My Enemy" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to
community library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of
W.E.B. Griffin fans that "The Enemy of My Enemy" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). Librarians should note that there
is a large print edition of "The Enemy of My Enemy" (Random House Large Print,
9781984827586, $31.99, PB, 464pp) as well.
Hunt Them Down
Simon Gervais
https://simongervaisbooks.com
Thomas & Mercer
9781503903210, $24.95, HC, 325pp, www.amazon.com
Former Army Ranger Pierce Hunt is no stranger to violence. Fresh off a six-month suspension,
he's itching to hit a notorious Mexican drug cartel where it hurts, even if that means protecting
crime boss Vicente Garcia, a witness in the case against sadistic cartel leader Valentina Mieles.
But things spiral out of control when the cartel murders Garcia and kidnaps his granddaughter
and an innocent bystander, Hunt's own teenage daughter. Mieles wants the new head of the
Garcia family on a plate -- literally. Hunt has seventy-two hours to deliver, or Mieles will execute
the girls live on social media. With the clock ticking, Hunt goes off the grid and teams up with
Garcia's daughter, a former lover and current enemy. To save the girls, Hunt will have to become
a man he swore he'd never be again: an avenging killer without limits or mercy. Another simply
riveting read from author Simon Gervais, "Hunt Them Down" showcases his mastery of narrative
driven storytelling and his flair for embedding his novels with more twists and turns than a
Coney Island roller coaster. While very highly recommended, especially for community library
Suspense/Thriller action adventure collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Hunt Them Down" is also available in a paperback edition (9781503904507, $15.95), a digital
book format (Kindle, $4.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio,
9781978636583, $24.99, MP3 CD).
Widows' Revenge
Lynda La Plante
Zaffre
9781499862041, $27.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Against all the odds, Dolly Rawlins and her gangland widows managed the impossible: a heist
their husbands had failed to pull off - at the cost of their lives. But though they may be in the
money, they're far from easy street. Shocked by her husband's betrayal, Dolly discovers Harry
Rawlins isn't dead. He knows where the four women are and he wants them to pay. And he
doesn't just mean getting his hands on the money. The women can't keep running. They have to
get Harry out of their lives for good. But can they outwit a criminal mastermind who won't
hesitate to kill? Especially when one of them has a plan of her own -- to kill or be killed. Another
original and inherently riveting read from by novelist Lynda La Plante, "Widows' Revenge" is the
sequel to her groundbreaking thriller, "Widows" (now a major motion picture) and will prove to
be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Widows' Revenge" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781785768293, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Batter Off Dead
Maymee Bell
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683318781, $26.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Sophia Cummings may be unlucky in love, but she knows that the way to a man's heart is
through his sweet tooth. This evening, she plans to use that knowledge (and her skills as a New
York City-trained pastry chef) to open the hearts and wallets of Rumford, Kentucky's richest
men. Sophia, proprietress of For Goodness Cakes, has been commissioned to cater the Heart of
the Town Library charity fundraiser at Grape Valley Winery. She's spent all her dough to make
this a successful event, raise her profile, and win more plum catering jobs. At first, the going is as
smooth as an elegant chocolate ganache. After nibbling Sophia's tasty treats, Ray Peel, the
winery's landlord, announces he will pay off Rumford's library loan. But the evening soon turns
decidedly frosty when Ray is murdered before he can make good on his promise, and before he
can pay Sophia for her catering services. For Goodness Cakes will collapse if Sophia can't collect
what she's owed. So Sophia once again puts on her sleuthing apron to figure out who iced Ray.
The latest installment of author Maymee Bell's 'A Southern Cake Baker Mystery' series, "Batter
Off Dead" is a mystery buff's delight that also includes authentic Souther recipes! While very
highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense
collections, it should be noted that "Batter Off Dead" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
Hooks Can Be Deceiving
Betty Hechtman
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683318842, $26.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Molly Pink's excitement level is off the hook: The Craftee Channel's new cable talk show
"Creating with Crochet" has scheduled an upcoming taping at the bookstore. While she's there,
TV host Rory Graham is to work with the Tarzana Hookers on a Make and Take bracelet project
to draw bookstore customers to the yarn section. It's a win-win...or so it "seams". The situation
gets a bit knotted when channel producer Michael Kostner confides to Molly his concern that
Rory may have oversold her ability as a crocheter. When the producer's worst fears are realized,
it's up to Molly to make sure Rory comes through. Guiding Rory through
crocheting-for-beginners will have to wait, though, as Molly suddenly has to untangle the
mysterious death of a new Tarzana Hookers member. Marianne Freeman and her live-in
companion, Connie Richards, haven't exactly been gabby since they joined the Hookers, but
Connie's voice is silenced permanently when she is electrocuted while walking on a wet
lawn electrified by an old radio plugged into a faulty extension cord. The fingers point at
Marianne, but Molly is fast on the case to protect one of her own. Was Marianne the killer...or
the intended target? Why does her younger brother want to keep her from talking to the cops?
And why is this whole case starting to remind Molly Pink of an old TV movie? Of special note is
the inclusion of recipes and crochet patterns deftly incorporated into author Betty Hechtman's
superbly crafted mystery novel "Hooks Can Be Deceiving". Certain to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary Mystery collections, it should
be noted for dedicated mystery buffs that "Hooks Can Be Deceiving" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $7.80).
The Second Goodbye
Patricia Smiley
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738752365, $15.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Assume nothing is the touchstone for every homicide investigation Detective Davie Richards
undertakes. She approaches her latest case the same way, determined to learn as much about the
victim as she does about the killer. But there's nothing about thirty-four-year-old Sara Montaine
or her death that makes sense. Was Sara a saint caring for her dying husband or a gold-digger
with a sketchy background? Did she commit suicide or was she murdered? Before her marriage,
Sara lived comfortably without any obvious source of income, unusual for an orphan raised in
foster care. As Davie digs deeper, she unearths Sara's troubled past and a viper's nest of villains
who are willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden. Another gem of a mystery novel by author
Patricia Smiley, "The Second Goodbye" is an inherently compelling read from first page to last
and one that will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated
mystery buffs that "The Second Goodbye" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.59).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Shadow Pact
Tally Adams
www.TallyAdams.com
Brown Books Publishing Group
www.BrownBooks.com
9781612542850 $7.99 amazon.com
Shadow Pact is a dark fantasy about Emily's quest to find her missing sister Amber, which
embroils her in an ongoing supernatural conflict between vampires and werewolves. The
handsome vampire-werewolf hybrid William rescues Emily from a dire situation, but far greater
dangers await - a sinister vampire queen, a blood-crazed Coven, a werewolf king greedy for
power, and more. Exciting to the very end, Shadow Pact is a "must-read" for connoisseurs of the
genre, highly recommended.
Samuel Johnson's Eternal Return
Martin Riker
Coffee House Press
79 Thirteenth Avenue NE, Suite 110, Minneapolis, MN 55413
http://coffeehousepress.org
9781566895286, $16.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
When Samuel Johnson dies, he finds himself in the body of the man who killed him, unable to
depart this world but determined, at least, to return to the son he left behind. Moving from body
to body as each one expires, Samuel's soul journeys on a comic quest through an American
half-century, inhabiting lives as stymied, in their ways, as his own. A ghost story of the most
unexpected sort, Martin Riker's extraordinary debut is about the ways experience is mediated, the
unstoppable drive for human connection, and the struggle to be more fully alive in the world. The
debut novel of author Martin Riker, "Samuel Johnson's Eternal Return" is an extraordinarily
engaging and impressively crafted read from first page to last. Showcasing Riker's genuine flair
for originality and narrative driven storytelling skills, "Samuel Johnson's Eternal Return" is
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Literary
Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Samuel Johnson's Eternal
Return" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.19).
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: Volume 35
David Farland, editor
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com
www.writersofthefuture.com
9781619866041, $15.95, PB, 450pp, www.amazon.com
An internationally acclaimed anthology of award-winning science fiction and fantasy short
stories and featuring 24 award-winning Sci-Fi and Fantasy authors and illustrators, this 35
volume of "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future" showcases the annual Galaxy Press
competition featuring expertly crafted stories and art that span the gamut from hard core sci-fi to
epic fantasy. One of science fiction and fantasy's most celebrated annual publications, "L. Ron
Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: Volume 35" should be considered a 'must have' addition
to both community and academic library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated SciFi and Fantasy fans that "L. Ron Hubbard
Presents Writers of the Future" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Glory of Grace
Lewis Allen & Time Chester
Banner of Truth
PO Box 621, Carlisle, PA 17013
www.banneroftruth.org
9781848718340, $14.00, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
"The Glory of Grace: An Introduction to the Puritans in Their Own Words " address the
questions of: Who were the Puritans? What did they seek to achieve? What were their successes
and failures? Are they of any importance to Christians today? The story of the Puritans is what all
Christians need to know in order to discover the important story of how these men and women
sought to follow Jesus Christ. Their convictions resulted in a brave and joyful faith, and the
writing they have left us on the Christian life continues to be a rich resource for our own
discipleship. Meeting the Puritans by listening to them has enriched both of us more than we can
express. And so, "The Glory of Grace" is an introduction to a people who had a deep love for
Jesus Christ and a great vision for the Christian life. Each chapter contains a concise introduction
followed by carefully selected excerpts from key Puritan works, together with suggestions for
further reading, making it an ideal addition to personal, church, seminary, community, college,
and university library Christian Studies collections in general, and Puritan History supplemental
studies reading lists in particular.
Salt Lake School of the Prophets, 1867-1883
Devery S. Anderson, editor
Signature Books
www.signaturebooks.com
9781560852346, $47.95, HC, 700pp, www.amazon.com
Ministerial training was an early goal of Mormonism. The priesthood-led institution called the
School of the Prophets was established in Kirtland, Ohio in 1833 by Joseph Smith and was
basically a divinity school for prospective missionaries. However, instead of prophecy and
revelation, the topics of study included penmanship, English grammar, arithmetic, philosophy,
literature, government, geography, and history. For seven weeks there was even a course in
Hebrew, but it was discontinued. Still, it was in this setting that Joseph Smith received his
revelation on diet and health and some of the spiritual manifestations associated with the
Kirtland temple dedication. Brigham Young re-established the school in the Salt Lake Valley in
1867; his successor, John Taylor, resuscitated it for a while in 1883. Young's emphasis was
theology, first as an appendage to Deseret University, and then as a separate institution.
Compiled and edited by Devery S. Anderson (who is also the editor of a three-volume
documentary history of LDS temple worship), presented in "Salt Lake School of the Prophets,
1867-1883" for the first time are all available minutes for the Utah period. A seminal
contribution to the growing library of Mormon historical and theological literature, "Salt Lake
School of the Prophets, 1867-1883" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and
university library Mormonism collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for
students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Salt
Lake School of the Prophets, 1867-1883" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Inside an Amish Home
Herald Press Editors
Herald Press
P.O. Box 866, Harrisonburg, VA 22803
www.heraldpress.com
9781513804255, $10.99, HC, 96pp, www.amazon.com
It's rare for outsiders to see inside the homes of Old Order Amish people, who live their Christian
faith in community, simplicity, and humility. Impressively produced by the editorial staff of the
Herald Press, "Inside an Amish Home: A Rare And Intimate Portrait" presents an Amish family
home in the Midwest gives outsiders an authentic and profusely illustrated glimpse into the
intimate spaces where their family life unfolds. Patterns of work, play, fellowship, and worship
become visible, and the warmth and light of the rooms bear witness to their love for God and for
each other. A unique and original volume, "Inside an Amish Home" is very highly recommended
for personal and community library collections.
The Testament of the Lord
Alistair Stewart, translator
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
575 Scarsdale, Road, Crestwood, NY 10707-1699
www.svspress.com
9780881416114, $25.00, PB, 170pp, www.amazon.com
The 58th volume in the 'Popular Patristics Series' from St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, "The
Testament of the Lord: Worship & Discipline in the Early Church", this is one of several ancient
Church Order texts. Written in the first four centuries of the Church, these are materials that
directed Christian conduct and morality, ecclesiastical organization and discipline, and the
Church's worship and liturgical life. Beginning with an apocalyptic section in which the risen
Lord himself addresses the reader, "The Testament of the Lord" then describes the building of a
church, the mode of appointment for clergy and monastics, and the conduct of daily prayers and
of other liturgical services. The text is newly translated from the extant Syriac (with an eye to
Ethiopic manuscripts) into English by Alistair Stewart, and the introduction makes the case for a
fourth century Cappadocian redactor who gave the work its present shape, though much of its
material goes back at least to the third century. An impressive work of theological scholarship,
"The Testament of the Lord" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as
seminary, college, and university library Christian Theology & History collections and
supplemental studies curriculums.
A Parish Guide for Bereavement Ministry & Funeral Planning
Jill Maria Murdy
Twenty-Third Publications
1 Montauk Avenue, #200, New London, CT 06320
www.23rdpublications.com
9781627853927, $16.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
The death of a loved one is a shock and planning a funeral can feel like a burden in a time of
stress and grief. Created for pastoral ministers, deacons, pastors and parish leaders by Jill Maria
Murdy (who is currently in her 17th year as Director of Liturgy and Music at St. Frances Cabrini
Parish, West Bend, Wisconsin), "A Parish Guide for Bereavement Ministry & Funeral Planning"
is a helpful resource to pastorally accompany Catholic funeral planning -- either in advance of or
after the death of a loved one. It is also a comforting planning tool for Catholics to have at home
when facing aging or illness. An essential resource in for use in the chapel or to be handed out to
families after an anointing, "A Parish Guide for Bereavement Ministry & Funeral Planning" will
prove to be an enduring and invaluable instructional reference and resource.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
The Intellect and the Exodus
Jeremy Kagan
The Toby Press
c/o Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
www.tobypress.com
9781592645138, $29.95, HC, 316pp, www.amazon.com
Developing the Judaic concept of emuna, or faith in God, is extraordinarily challenging in our
day. Emuna may have sat comfortably with us as we dwelt among the worshiping cultures of the
ancient Near East. But several thousand years of exposure to rationally based Western cultures
has transformed our consciousness, personalities, and outlook to the point that God often seems
like an idea pasted incongruously onto our vision of reality. How can we achieve an emuna that
is integrated, consistent with our rational context, yet still retains its Near Eastern soul? In
'Intellect and the Exodus', Rabbi Jeremy Kagan traces the history of our experience of emuna,
building on the perspective it provides to gain powerful insights into the nature of emuna in the
modern world. He then shows how the story of the Exodus is structured to foster a perception of
reality in us, out of which an awareness of God emerges naturally. That perceptual component,
however, must be complimented with an inner sense of God that has a genuine basis. That basis
is to be sought in the depths of the self. Exceptionally well written, organized, presented,
thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Intellect and the Exodus" is an extraordinary, engaging,
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, rabbinic, college, and university library
Judaic Theology collections and supplemental studies lists.
The Sports Shelf
Rock Climbing Anchors, second edition
Topher Donahue & Craig Luebben
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680511406, $24.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Rock Climbing Anchors: A
Comprehensive Guide" by Topher Donahue (who at the age of 14 was one of the youngest
American climbing guides in the history of the sport) and Craig Luebben (an AMGA certified
guide and instructor) offers a complete and profusely illustrated course of instruction that will
prove to be of life-saving value for all rock climbing enthusiasts from the absolute novice to the
seasoned professional. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this new edition of
"Rock Climbing Anchors" is thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library rock
climbing instructional reference collections.
It's Hard. But It's Fair
Charles M. Choice
Dorrance Publishing Company
585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9781480954649, $30.00, PB, 150pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "It's Hard. But It's Fair", Charles M. Choice shares his experiences of the Major
League as the father of player Michael Choice. Michael is a hardworking, dedicated, and talented
baseball player who has had his dad and other family members supporting him along the way.
Through Charles' eyes, we see what it took for Michael to get to the show. Michael and Charles'
story will prove that dreams do come true. An inherently fascinating and informative read for
anyone with an interest in professional baseball, "It's Hard. But It's Fair" is a unique and highly
recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library Sports/Athletics
collections.
The Technology Shelf
Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi
Matt Timmons-Brown
No Starch Press
245 - 8th Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-3910
www.nostarch.com
9781593279202, $24.95, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Matt Timmons-Brown is the creator of the world's most-popular Raspberry Pi YouTube channel:
The Raspberry Pi Guy. In "Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi" Matt daws upon his years of
experience and expertise to take even the most inexperienced robot makers to becoming a
successful and accomplished robot builder. Aspiring robot makers will start off building a
two-wheeled robot powered by a Raspberry Pi minicomputer and then program it using Python,
the world's most popular programming language. Gradually showing how to improve a robot by
adding increasingly advanced functionality until it can follow lines, avoid obstacles, and even
recognize objects of a certain size and color using computer vision. "Learn Robotics with
Raspberry Pi" shows how to: Control a robot remotely using only a Wii remote; Teach a robot to
use sensors to avoid obstacles; Program a robot to follow a line autonomously; Customize a
robot with LEDs and speakers to make it light up and play sounds; See what a robot sees with a
Pi Camera. Also covered are such fundamental electronics skills as: How to wire up parts; Use
resistors and regulators; Determine how much power the robot needs. By the end, aspiring robot
makers will have learned the basics of coding in Python and know enough about working with
hardware like LEDs, motors, and sensors to expand their creations beyond simple robots.
Exceptionally and accessibly well organized, illustrated, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in
presentation, "Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi" is unreservedly recommended for school and
community library Contemporary Technology & Robotics instructional reference collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The 6 Keys
Jillian Michaels
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316448642, $28.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
With "The 6 Keys: Unlock Your Genetic Potential for Ageless Strength, Health, and Beauty",
Jillian Michaels shows how to conquer the mayhem, myths, and misunderstandings associated
with aging. Scientists and doctors have identified six major age inciters: Metabolism; Damaged
Macromolecules; Epigenetics; Inflammation; Stress Adaptation; Telomeres. "The 6 Keys"
presents an ageless health, fitness, and beauty plan that addresses all six of them -- and gets them
working for you instead of against you. Empowering and rigorously researched, "The 6 Keys"
outlines powerful lifestyle interventions, dietary guidelines, exercise plans, and vanguard
strategies for cultivating mindfulness that restore and protect human performance, keeping fit,
healthy, and beautiful for life. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The 6 Keys"
is impressively 'user friendly' and real world practical, making it an ideal and unreservedly
recommended addition to community library Health & Medicine collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that "The 6 Keys" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
The Self-Help Shelf
Feed Your Soul
Carly Pollack
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608685783, $16.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Countless diets, cleanses, and thirty-day challenges are geared to help people lose weight, heal
their digestion, and have more energy. Yet these temporary protocols fall short when it comes to
true transformation. Nutritionist Carly Pollack lived a vicious cycle of weight ups and downs
until trial and error, and over a decade of formal study in health and healing, led her to the
insights she has since shared with thousands. In the pages of "Feed Your Soul: Nutritional
Wisdom to Lose Weight Permanently and Live Fulfilled", Carly presents her unique
understanding of body science, brain wiring, and spiritual principles to facilitate real, lasting
change. Carly helps you reframe your thinking to, for example, see comfort foods as the numbing
toxins they truly are and focus on long-term goals rather than immediate gratification. This
no-nonsense guide will show you how feeding your soul can change your life, your health, and
your body. Exceptionally well written, organized, presented, and 'real world' practical, if you only
have time for one self-help title this year, make it Carly Pollack's "Feed Your Soul". While very
highly recommended, especially for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Feed Your Soul" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Growing Forward When You Can't Go Back
Laurie Pawlik
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764232176, $12.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
After life is shattered by loss or a traumatic experience (whether big or small) it can seem
impossible to heal or even move on. Deep down you believe God intends good for you, but you
just don't have the energy or strength to figure out how to move forward. Author Laurie Pawlik (a
writer with 25 years of teaching, social work, and Bible study experience) has been there, and In
"Growing Forward When You Can't Go Back" she shares how she was able to flourish despite
multiple losses. Through practical tips and thought-provoking questions, Laurie helps her readers
to take small yet powerful steps toward healing and letting go. She also offers insights and
encouragement from the lives of strong women in the Bible. Readers will glimpse the painful
losses these women experienced and learn how they flourished despite seasons of hardship and
grief; discover how God shows His presence and power in the valleys, deserts, and storms; and
you'll feel a fresh sense of hope that, with God, we can redefine ourselves, remake our lives, and
grow forward into a beautiful new season. While very highly recommended for personal and
community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Growing Forward When You Can't Go Back" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $8.99).
The Graphic Novel Shelf
The Valley of Fear
Rodolphe, author
Leo, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183949, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com
Trent's superior tasks him with helping a lady who came to the police to report the disappearance
of her husband. The Canadian mounted police sergeant is stunned to discover that the woman he
has been assigned to assist is Agnes -- the woman he is still in love with. Her husband is the
manager of a railway construction site far to the northwest, and he hasn't been heard from in
weeks. Worse, his last letters spoke of a mysterious danger threatening the camp. The pair go to
investigate. The fourth volume in the Trent graphic novel series by author Rodolphe and
illustrator Leo is a compelling read from cover to cover and while very highly recommended,
especially for community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "The Valley of Fear" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$5.99).
Bear's Tooth: Werner
Yann, author
Alain Henriet, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183512, $11.95, 48pp, www.amazon.com
It is April 1945 and the Third Reich is collapsing. In Berlin, surrounded by Soviet troops, a small
aircraft lands under enemy fire. Daring pilot Hanna Reitsch escorts an important officer to
Hitler's bunker -- and is granted an audience with the Fuhrer, from which she emerges visibly
upset. Meanwhile, in a German hospital in the countryside, Max comes to after a long coma. His
task remains the same: to kill Hanna. But what new mission has she been given? The third and
final book of the 'Bear's Tooth' trilogy, "Werner" is a simply riveting graphic novel from first
page to last. Superbly illustrated by Alain Henriet whose artwork brings Yann's original story
fully to life, "Bear's Tooth: Werner" will prove to be an extraordinary and enduringly popular
addition to community library graphic novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Bear Tooth: Werner" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Kriss of Valnor
Jean Van Hamme, author
Grzegorz Rosinski, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184229, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com
Continuing one of the best graphic novel ancient action/adventure series, "Kriss of Valnor"
continues the story of Thorgal with his wife Aaricia and her children being sold as slaves to an
Imperial prince who believes that the northern warrior has died. But Thorgal's family refuse to
believe that he is dead, and keep trying to escape, eventually wearing off their new owner's
patience. Condemned to a year of hard labour in the silver mines, Aaricia and the children meet
someone unexpected there: Kriss of Valnor, a wielding the whip of a forewoman who is yet a
prisoner like them. Despite their mutual hatred, the two women will have to work together to
escape. A deftly crafted chapter of story that is superbly crafted by Grzergorz Rosinski fully
supported by the artwork of Jean Van Hamme, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Kriss of Valnor" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
The Audiobook Shelf
The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl
Julian David Stone, author
Read by Stefan Rudnicki
www.JulianDavidStone.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781504768023 $39.95 amazon.com
Award-winning director and writer Julian David Stone presents The Strange Birth, Short Life,
and Sudden Death of Justice Girl, now in an unabridged audiobook rendition masterfully
performed by Grammy and Audie Award winner Stefan Rudnicki. The novel is set in 1955 New
York City, following scriptwriter Johnny Dirby, who walks away from his steady job to protest
rampant McCarthyism. Dirby's last-second tweaks to a Superman-inspired parody kick off the
shockingly popular success of the heroine "Justice Girl", and thrust him into the unexpected
spotlight. An actress out to blacklist Dirby, a network president desperate to get complete control
of the "Justice Girl" show, a rapturous legion of Justice Girl fans and more populate this tongue-
in-cheek, twentieth-century parable. Highly recommended! 12 CDs, 14 1/2 hours.
Team of Vipers
Cliff Sims
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250238184, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com
For the Trump administration's first 500 days, Cliff Sims stood with at the side of President
Donald J. Trump in the eye of the political storm raging inside and around the presidency. Now
having left that administration he has written and narrated a complete and unabridged audio book
for his insider's 'tell all' memoir "Team of Vipers". Sims tells the story that no one else has
written -- simply because no one else could. His is personal and candid story of what it was really
like in the West Wing as a member of the President's team. "Team of Vipers" is a revelatory story
of power and palace intrigue, backstabbing and bold victories, as well as painful moral
compromises -- occasionally with himself. Very highly recommended for anyone with an interest
in the Trump administration and current politics on the national level, "Team of Vipers" will
prove to be an extraordinarily timely and popular addition to both community and academic
library audio book and Political Science collections.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Maria Semple, author
Read by Kathleen Wilhoite
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781549113512 $20.00 amazon.com
Where'd You Go, Bernadette is the unabridged audiobook rendition of unique novel (which has
been adapted into a major motion picture starring Cate Blanchett) about a nuclear family with
complicated connections and hidden secrets. When fifteen-year-old Bee earns a family trip to
Antarctica as a reward for her stellar grades, her agoraphobic mother Bernadette tries to prepare
for travel. But after years of attempting to adapt to life in Seattle, Bernadette is on the brink of
total collapse. Disasters pile up, Bernadette disappears, and Bee and her father are left in the
lurch. Bee tries to piece together what happened and why through emails, invoices, school
memos, and more. Poignant, profound, and superbly performed by Kathleen Wilhoite, Where'd
You Go Bernadette is highly recommended for both personal and public library audiobook
collections. 9 CDs, 9.5 hours.
All In
Shelley Shepard Gray, author
Read by Tavia Gilbert
Blackstone Audiobooks
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781538427668 $32.95 amazon.com
Masterfully performed by award-winning narrator Tavia Gilbert, All In is the unabridged
audiobook rendition of an original romance novel between Meredith Hunt, the independent-
minded owner of a successful Pilates studio, and Ace Vance, a single father who fixes classic
cars for a living. Their first meeting is a chance encounter, in which Ace rescues Meredith from a
mugger. A spark of attraction with the potential to blossom into something far greater starts to
form, but both Meredith and Ace have their own emotional obstacles to overcome. Thoughtful
and heartwarming, All In is a choice delight for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended
for romance audiobook connoisseurs and public library collections. 7 CDs, 8 hours.
True Yoga
Jennie Lee, author and performer
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781721307005 $19.99 amazon.com
True Yoga: Practicing with the Yoga Sutras for Happiness & Spiritual Fulfillment is an
unabridged MP3 audiobook (plays on MP3-CD enabled players or transfers to portable devices)
by yoga therapist Jennie Lee. Here are practical methods that anyone can learn to maintain
positive thoughts, keep stress under control, improve communication, and more. Lee breaks
down the Eight Limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras, into thoroughly accessible plain
terms. Yoga is an excellent practice to foster harmony in body, mind, and spirit; True Yoga is a
superb guide to harnessing timeless wisdom, in order to transform one's life for the better. Highly
recommended. 1 disc, 5 hours 58 min.
The Music CD Shelf
Man Made Fire
Petite Celine
Privately Published
$TBA www.petiteceline.com
Franco-American indie singer Petite Celine presents Man Made Fire, her new indie pop album
that freely incorporates global elements, even phrases from other languages (Spanish,
Portuguese, French, or German) in brief passages. Passionate, vivacious, and brimming with
energy, Man Made Fire sets the imagination alight! Highly recommended, especially for
connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are "We Were All Good Kids", "Explorame", "Que
Sommes Nous", "No No More", "Man Made Fire", "Cartographers", "Wine and Cheese",
"Jezebel", "The Great Unknown", and "Tigre Fondant".
The DVD Shelf
Beginner Tai Chi for Health
Helen Liang
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594396694 $29.95 amazon.com
Beginner Tai Chi for Health is a fitness DVD guide created especially for beginners, offering a
mirror-view workout that is easy to follow. Tai Chi is an ancient practice excellent for improving
strength, flexibility, balance, posture, and grace. Tai Chi master Helen Liang leads the viewer
through a qigong warm-up, a Tai Chi class, and a cool down meditation. A separate chapter
offers step-by-step instructions of the 16-movement Tai Chi form, shown from multiple angles.
No exercise equipment is required. Beginner Tai Chi for Health is a superb resource, and its
energizing core routine can be performed in as little as fifteen minutes - perfect for people who
are short on time. Highly recommended! 92 min.
Ackley Bridge, series 2
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$59.99 www.acornonline.com
Set in a fictional twenty-first century town, Ackley Bridge is an award-winning, school-based
British drama; now series 2 is available on DVD. Series 2 continues the complicated saga of a
high school striving to integrate its community of white and Pakistani residents. Here are tales of
an intelligent young student who conceals her sexual identity beneath a false engagement; a girl
struggling to maintain stability in spite of her drug-addicted mother; and a strict headmistress
whose academic regime frustrates both staff and students. A dramatic, character-driven
exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of human nature, Ackley Bridge is highly
recommended. Bonus materials include a recap of series 1 and behind-the-scenes featurettes. 12
episodes on 3 DVDs, 576 mi. plus bonus, SDH subtitles.
The Simple Heist, series 1
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
www.acornonline.com
$39.99 amazon.com
The Simple Heist, series 1 begins an unorthodox crime drama on DVD, filmed in Swedish with
English subtitles. Two women in their sixties, struggling and on the brink of poverty, decide to
engage in a crime spree to secure money and take control of their lives. But their scheme quicky
goes awry, and both women become enmeshed in blackmail, car chases, and the threat of a
deadly biker gang. Elements of dry, tongue-in-cheek satire permeate this dark, riveting thrill ride!
6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 276 min., widescreen.
The Railroading Shelf
Gloucester Locomotive Sheds
Steve Bartlett
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781473875593, $49.95, HC, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Gloucester, England was a busy and fascinating rail center where ex-GWR and ex-LMS
(Midland Railway) routes met, each with main line passenger and freight services, local
passenger trains and extensive freight trips providing an endless panorama of railway activity. In
the pages of "Gloucester Locomotive Sheds: Horton Road & Barnwood" by Steve Bartlett (who
is a fourth generation railwayman), the principal ex-GWR Gloucester Horton Road and ex-LMS
(Midland Railway) Gloucester Barnwood motive power depots are covered in depth with their
locomotive allocations, operational duties and changing responsibilities over the years fully
described. Not forgotten are both depots' sub-sheds at Brimscombe, Cheltenham Malvern Road,
Lydney, Ross-on-Wye, Dursley and Tewkesbury along with the duties and local routes that they
covered. An in-depth study that is visually supported with more than 200 black and white period
photographs, many of which are previously unpublished, each of the motive power depots
covered are supported by detailed plans of the shed layouts. A comprehensively detailed
historical study, "Gloucester Locomotive Sheds: Horton Road & Barnwood" is an impressively
informed and informative volume that is wholeheartedly recommended for both community and
academic library British Railroading History collections and supplemental studies lists. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated railroading enthusiasts that "Gloucester
Locomotive Sheds: Horton Road & Barnwood" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$23.97).
Great Western Railway Gallery
Laurence Waters
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526707031, $60.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
For decades, the great Western or 'Gods' Wonderful Railway' was arguably the most famous
railway in England. Much of that original railway that survives today was the work of one of the
greatest engineers of his time, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The company was also served by
locomotive engineers such as Gooch, Armstrong, Churchward, Collett and Hawksworth, who
produced a series of locomotives that were well designed, elegant and powerful. Using
previously unpublished material from the extensive 'Great Western Trust' collection at Didcot
Railway Centre, "Great Western Railway Gallery: A Pictorial Journey Through Time" by retired
professional photographer and photography teacher Laurence Waters wonderfully and
informatively illustrates in both black and white and color many facets that made the Great
Western 'Great'. An exceptional photographic study, the "Great Western Railway Gallery" will be
an enduringly valued and appreciated addition to personal, community, and academic library
Railroading History collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for
personal reading lists of dedicated railway buffs that "Great Western Railway Gallery" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.80).
The Political Science Shelf
From Crisis to Communisation
Gilles Dauve
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
www.pmpress.org
9781629630991, $16.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Rising out of the radical Marxist French millieu and events of 1968 to criticize global capitalism
and encourage revolution in theory and practice, "From Crisis to Communisation" by Gilles
Dauve places libertarian communist theory in historical and contemporary context.
Communisation means something quite straightforward: a revolution that starts to change social
relations immediately. The concept was born out of a specific period, and this book investigates
how people personally and collectively experienced the crises of the 1960s and 1970s. The
notion is now developing in the maelstrom of a new crisis, among other reasons because of its
ecological dimension, that has the scope and magnitude of a crisis of civilization. "From Crisis to
Communisation" does not glorify existing struggles as if their present accumulation was enough
to result in revolution. Radical theory is only meaningful if it addresses the question of how can
proletarian resistance to exploitation and dispossession achieve more than aggravate the crisis?
How can it reshape the world? An erudite, thoughtful, and thought-provoking study, "From
Crisis to Communisation" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both
community and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental
studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "From Crisis to Communisation" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
The Needlecraft Shelf
sew + quilt
Susan Beal
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631869365, $24.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "sew + quilt: techniques + projects for hand-stitching + patchwork", experienced
needlecrafter Susan Beal provides clear, step-by-step instructions for 4 fundamental
hand-stitching techniques and 4 foundational quilt blocks as the foundation for learning how to
use hand-stitching as an embellishment to add texture and color to quilt projects. Each
fundamental technique includes a small project as a learning tool, followed by 12 more-generous
yet accessible patchwork projects that build on the basics. A mix of traditional and modern
patterns for both smaller, faster quilts and larger quilts. Step-by-step instruction, with lots of
illustrations and photos, plus tips and advice on everything a quilter needs to experience the joy
of making something beautiful and personal. Beautifully and usefully illustrated throughout,
"sew + quilt" is an ideal instructional guide and reference for beginning quilting students, and
unreservedly recommended for community library Needlecraft & Quilting collections.
Colorful Batik Panel Quilts
Judith Vincentz Gula
Landauer Publishing
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781947163058, $14.99, PB, 64pp, www.amazon.com
Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this
technique which originated from Indonesia. Batik is made either by drawing dots and lines of the
resist with a spouted tool called a canting, or by printing the resist with a copper stamp called a
cap. The applied wax resists dyes and therefore allows the artisan to color selectively by soaking
the cloth in one color, removing the wax with boiling water, and repeating if multiple colors are
desired. In the profusely illustrated pages of "Colorful Batik Panel Quilts" fabric artist Judy Gula
shows how to use hand-made batik panels in traditional quilt settings, or turn them into works of
art with the addition of embellishment. The creative journey begins with an introduction to Judy's
design process, and then moves on to 3 easy step-by-step projects and a gallery tour of 24
stunning art quilts. With "Colorful Batik Panel Quilts" even the most novice of quilting
enthusiasts will learn how to make one-of-a-kind art quilts and home decor with instructions for
embellishing with borders, beading, free-motion quilting, and more -- plus a step-by-step guide to
15 hand stitches! Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Colorful Batik
Panel Quilts" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library
Needlecraft instructional reference collections.
The Woodworking Shelf
Wooden Toy Spacecraft
Gonzalo Ferreyra
Spring House Press
www.springhousepress.com
9781940611839, $24.95, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Making toys out of wood is an ancient and honored activity in every culture around the world. In
the 20th Century, wooden toy designs have changed very little since long before we first landed
on the moon: plenty of cars, p-prop planes, trucks, and trains -- and, yes, that occasional Buck
Rodgers-era rocket. But few projects that hinted at the world of the future. Now in the pages of
"Wooden Toy Spacecraft" by woodworking expert Gonzalo Ferreyra, the iconic wooden toy
blasts off into the 21st century with a do-it-yourself compendium of 12 state-of-the-art spacecraft
that can be built in a weekend. Going well beyond tired old rocket ships, "Wooden Toy
Spacecraft" offers up an intergalactic fleet of original designs that can fly proudly alongside the
classics kids (and adults!) know from film, television, and our real-world history of space
exploration. Dozens of detailed photographs and clear, concise instructions make even the most
challenging techniques easy to conquer. With a few pieces of lumber, some cut-offs from a scrap
box, and a healthy dose of future-vision, space geeks of all ages can craft a beautiful,
awe-inspiring vehicle to proudly display or to gift to that special kid for hours of imaginative
play. Unique, original, fun, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Wooden Toy Spacecraft" is unreservedly recommended to all dedicated woodworkers and
toymakers!
Slingshots & Key Hooks
Geoffrey Fisher
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781497100046, $19.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
With information on how to forage responsibly and suggestions on sources for the best wood to
use, Geoffrey Fisher shows how the natural bounty of woodland can be used to stunning effect in
the creation of fifteen everyday objects made from foraged and gathered wood. Whether building
a bee hotel or an insect house to help your garden's ecosystem thrive, crafting a slingshot,
whistle, jump rope or cup and ball game to give away, or making a key hook or table brush to
organize your home, the result of each will be entirely unique while also effortlessly stylish. In
the profusely illustrated pages of "Slingshots & Key Hooks" are to be found all the basic
woodworking techniques and tools for each individual project -- plus Geoffrey also shows how
best to prepare materials, including checking for disease, drying and stripping bark. Of special
note is the provision of a detailed guide for establishing an essential tool kit. Thoroughly 'user
friendly' in organization and presentation, "Slingshots & Key Hooks" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, school woodshop, and community library woodworking instructional
reference collections.
The Fishing Shelf
The Hunt for Giant Trout
Landon Mayer
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811737197, $29.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
The waters in the United States that grow extremely large trout have for many years been closely
guarded, and the techniques for catching these large fish were only known by a select group of
die hard anglers. Compiled by Landon Mayer, "The Hunt for Giant Trout: 25 Best Places in the
United States to Catch a Trophy" is listing of top destinations in the US for trophy trout and
features interviews with expert guides and fly designers, stunning images, and essential where-to
and timing information to increase your chances of success. In the pages of "The Hunt for Giant
Trout", Landon Mayer and several others (expert anglers all) deftly describe in detail how to hunt
giants from Alaska to Maine, revealing what makes each fish and fishery unique; including over
30 distinct patterns and recipes for tying them. With essential advice and tips from top anglers
such as Dave Whitlock, Pat Dorsey, Blane Chocklette, Tommy Lynch, Nanci Morris Lyon, Arlo
Townsend, Chad Johnson, and many more, "The Hunt for Giant Trout" is an extraordinary,
profusely illustrated, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and
community library instructional reference collections for the sport of freshwater fishing.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Secrets of the Universe in 100 Symbols
Sarah Bartlett
Chartwell Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9780785836964, $14.99, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Symbols carry weight and significance. Over time they grow as different cultures attribute new
meanings to old signs. For example, the swastika, widely known now to be the key symbol for
Hitler's Nazi party, used to be a Buddhist symbol for success. From the Aztec Calendar Stone and
the Spear of Destiny, to magic circles and Navaho sand paintings, each relic, symbol, and
depiction is presented and analyzed in detail to reveal the beliefs and practices of past
civilizations from all around the globe. Philosophers, astrologers, prophets, poets, and artists
from every age and culture have whispered secrets to pharaohs, statesmen, kings, and queens. In
Renaissance Europe, two powerful women (Catherine of Medici and, later, Elizabeth I of
England) patronized the most important magi of the time. John Dee's obsidian mirror revealed
the future of the nation to Elizabeth, while Nostradamus divulged spiritually inspired prophecies
to Catherine at the Musee du Louvre in Paris. Organized into three chapters (The Art of
Divination; Enchantments, Symbols, and Talismans; and In Search of Secret Knowledge) Sarah
Bartlett's "The Secrets of the Universe in 100 Symbols" provides an engaging and informative
text that brings to light for a new generation of readers the secrets and intrigues that surround
each mysterious object and the obscure arts of the people who used them, while highlighting how
to decode their signs and symbols. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections, as well as the personal
reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
Water Witchcraft
Annwyn Avalon
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578636464, $16.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Annwyn Avalon is a witch, priestess, and the founder of Triskele Rose, an Avalonian witchcraft
tradition. She has devoted her life to the study of art, witchcraft, and magic. In "Water
Witchcraft: Magic and Lore from the Celtic Tradition" she draws upon her years of experience
and expertise to take her readers into the world of water magic. The water magic and lore in this
informative and instructional volume focuses on the Celtic tradition, but draws on other water
magic traditions as well, and features rainwater, as well as lakes, rivers, oceans, canals, swamps,
and other watery locations, together with the folk and magical customs that have been and are
still practiced at these places. "Water Witchcraft" also teaches the reader how to set up a water
altar at home, how to connect with water spirits, and how to gather or create water witch tools.
Readers are encouraged to visit local water sites but will also find an abundance of material to
perform at home. Included are practical examples, visualizations, and exercises so any reader can
start to take up spell work and establish their spiritual connection to water. Exceptionally 'user
friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Water Witchcraft" is unreservedly
recommended for community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Water Witchcraft" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
The LGBT Studies Shelf
Her Widow
Joan Alden
Dog Ear Publishing
4011 Vincennes Road, New Augusta, IN 46268-3005
www.dogearpublishing.net
9781457562983, $18.00, PB, 202pp, www.amazon.com
In "Her Widow", Joan Alden provides a candid account of a shared life between an professional
photographer and art director for Harper Collins and her novelist and painter partner during a
single and especially eventful year. Exceptionally well written and a thoroughly engaging read
from cover to cover, "Her Widow" is a truly compelling and memorable story of love and loss,
romance and marriage, and the ultimate resilience of the human spirit. While very highly
recommended, especially for community and academic library Contemporary American
Biography and LGBT collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Her Widow"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Gardening Shelf
In Bloom
Clare Nolan
CompanionHouse Books
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781620083284, $26.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Now anyone can enhance the appearance of their home with flowers after reading "In Bloom:
Growing, Harvesting, and Arranging Homegrown Flowers All Year Round", a beautifully
designed instructional reference and guide that is fairly brimming with inspirational photographs.
This is where Clare Nolan reveals her secrets for growing a bountiful harvest as well as styling
spectacular displays that will fill your home with color and the gorgeous scent of the garden
year-round. Clare takes the mystique out of the growing process ranging from choosing the plants
to suit both your garden and home and laying out your cutting patch, to planning ahead so you get
your perfect palette of color, texture and shape to play with at the right time. An entire chapter on
arranging will inspire you to create spectacular arrangements for your home without the need for
complicated floristry techniques. Being able to step out of the back door and pick a single stem
for beside the bed, pull together a posy for a friend or create a colorful centerpiece is an exciting
and rewarding addition to the whole "grow your own" experience. With "In Boom" is it possible
to grow your own flower shop at the bottom of your garden! Beautifully and profusely illustrated
in full color throughout, "In Bloom" is unreservedly recommended for personal and community
library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "In Bloom" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.64).
The Humor Shelf
The Ultimate Droodles Compendium
Roger Price, artist
Arranged and annotated by Fritz Holznagel
Tallfellow Press
www.Tallfellow.com
9781931290692 $16.95 amazon.com
The Ultimate Droodles Compendium collects the simple yet hilarious drawings of Roger Price,
known simply as droodles. For example, the droodle of "Pig Emerging from a Fog Bank" shows
only a pig snout in grey. Fritz Holznagel provides illuminating annotations, as well as a
supplementary section with a brief biography of Roger Price and his droodles. A unique treasure
for connoisseurs of minimalist wit, The Ultimate Droodles Compendium is highly
recommended.
The Psychology Shelf
The Psychology of Zelda
Edited by Anthony M. Bean, PhD
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781946885340 $16.95 pbk / $9.95 Kindle amazon.com
The Psychology of Zelda: Linking Our World to the Legend of Zelda Series is an anthology of
essays by learned doctors, psychologists, and clinicians contemplating the ramifications of the
popular and iconic "Legend of Zelda" video game series. Individual writings include "It's
Dangerous to Go Alone: The Hero's Journey in the Legend of Zelda", "The Song of the Ritos:
The Psychology of the Music within the Legend of Zelda Series", "The Legend Herself: From
Damsel in Distress to Princess of Power", and much more. Psychologists and lay readers alike
will enjoy this new medley of learned perspective on a popular video game and its reflections on
the human condition. Highly recommended.
The Wisconsin Shelf
The Making of Pioneer Wisconsin
Michael E. Stevens
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870208898 $18.95 amazon.com
Enhanced with an index for ease of reference, The Making of Pioneer Wisconsin: Voices of
Early Settlers collects a wealth of primary testimonies from settlers who established homes in
Wisconsin between the mid-1830s and 1850. A black man speaks open about his love of "sweet
freedom"; a young wife confronts life far away from her friends and family; a teenager ruminates
about heading westward. Here are letters, diaries, and newspaper articles, together offering a rich
picture of trials, hardship, and hope. Scholarly text provides nuanced context to this welcome
contribution to public library Wisconsin History collections. Highly recommended.
Wisconsin Post Office Mural Guidebook
David W. Gates Jr.
Post Office Fans
PO Box 11, Crystal Lake, IL 60039
www.postofficefans.com
9781970088090, $9.95, PB, 52pp, www.amazon.com
David W. Gates Jr. is a post office enthusiast who has traveled thousands of miles nationwide in search of historic post office buildings and art. He regularly blogs about his work at: www.PostOfficeFans.com. Some of Wisconsin's 35 New Deal era post office buildings house historic artwork created during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Not all the murals remain in their original location. In some cases, the fate of the art, and buildings remains unknown. The "Wisconsin Post Office Mural Guidebook" identifies which towns have murals and which ones have been moved. "The Wisconsin Post Office Mural Guidebook" also covers: What buildings and towns have murals viewable by the public; What buildings have been sold and if the artwork moved; What buildings are privately owned, removing access to the public; What murals have been destroyed. This is the perfect book for the post office enthusiasts and history buffs; for up-to-date photos and additional stories, you can go to www.postofficefans.com. While a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to all Wisconsin community, college, and university library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that the "Wisconsin Post Office Mural Guidebook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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