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Wisconsin Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Beer, Brats, and Cheese: A Wisconsin Road Trip
Heather Kerrigan
University of Wisconsin Press
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299349844, $19.95, PB, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beer-Brats-Cheese-Wisconsin-Road/dp/0299349845
Synopsis: As the popular PBS television series "Wisconsin Foodies" demonstrates week after
week, Wisconsin's foodways contain much more than beer, brats, and cheese. Yet these items
remain at the pinnacle of the state's fame -- and rightly so.
If you live in Wisconsin (or have simply visited) you know how hard it is to imagine tailgating,
graduating, or celebrating without the Big Three.
In 2022, Heather Kerrigan undertook a twenty-six-hundred-mile road trip crisscrossing the
Badger State, seeking the hidden gems that locals frequent. She visited Wisconsin's best
restaurants, creameries, breweries, butcher shops, and cheesemongers -- ultimately resulting in
the publication of "Beer, Brats, and Cheese: A Wisconsin Road Trip.
Kerrigan highlights the innovative flavors and unexpected delights found in the spots she visited,
while revealing why these three foods enjoy a place of honor in the state's culinary culture. Great
beer isn't made only in Milwaukee, Sheboygan doesn't have a lock on the best bratwurst, and
excellent cheeses don't just come from Monroe County. In fact, there are towns large and small,
from the far north to the Illinois border, from Door County to the Mississippi River, that produce
amazing culinary experiences.
Whether you're planning a turn-by-turn day trip or simply looking for a great place to eat or drink
nearby, "Beer, Brats, and Cheese: A Wisconsin Road Trip" is an ideal guide for exploring the
culinary wealth Wisconsin has to offer.
Critique: Featuring a number of maps and the occasional B/W illustration, Heather Kerrigan's
"Beer, Brats, and Cheese: A Wisconsin Road Trip" from the University of Wisconsin Press is a
treasured combination of Wisconsin culinary history and food themed travel guide showcasing
what Wisconsin on has to offer beyond beer, brats, and cheese -- as well as the best of those
iconic foods. Informative, exceptional, and an inherently fascinating read from start to finish,
"Beer, Brats, and Cheese: A Wisconsin Road Trip" is especially and unreservedly recommended
for personal reading lists and community/academic library Travel Guide & Wisconsin History
collections.
Editorial Note: Heather Kerrigan is a journalist, editor, and author who was raised in Wisconsin.
She is owner of River Horse Communications, which provides writing and editing services to
publishers, professional and trade associations, and consulting companies.
(https://www.asja.org/member/heather-kerrigan)
The Cookbook Shelf
LEON Big Flavours Cookbook
Rebecca Seal
Conran
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781840918267, $26.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/LEON-Big-Flavours-Cookbook-Salty/dp/1840918268
Synopsis: Why can't fast food be good food? LEON's culinary mission is to prove that it can be
by serving naturally fast food that not only tastes good but does you good too, and now, with the
publication of "LEON Big Flavours Cookbook: Salty - Sour - Spicy - Sweet" you can use these
recipes to create delicious meals in the comfort of your own home.
If you love lunches which pack a punch and suppers with attitude, then this DIY collection of
recipes for more than 100 flavorful dishes from LEON is the one for you. From fiery coconut
noodles to miso-spiked aubergine, caramel pork to yuzu blondies, this book is all about turning
flavors up to their max - be they deliciously salty, sweet, sour or spicy.
Among this compendium of recommended recipes are included:
Sweetcorn and jalapeno breakfast fritters with avocado and salsa
LEON's Coconut Makhani
Pasta alla limone
Chicken and coconut curried noodles
Blackened trout tacos with aji verde
Potato bread with garlic and anchovy herbed butter
Miso apple tarte tatin with vanilla mascarpone
Critique: Beautifully (and deliciously) illustrated throughout with full color photos of finished
dishes, "LEON Big Flavours Cookbook: Salty - Sour - Spicy - Sweet" by Rebecca Seal is a
unique and thoroughly 'family cook friendly' compendium of recipes that are inspirational for
planning memorable meals with. An especially recommended pick for personal, family, and
community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "LEON
Big Flavours Cookbook" from Conrad is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$12.99).
Editorial Note: Rebecca Seal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Seal) is a former assistant
editor of Observer Food Monthly and Observer Woman and is now a cookbook author, magazine
editor, and freelance journalist.
The Pickle Jar
Nick Vadasz
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804192740, $24.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pickle-Jar-Recipes-Pickles-Ferments/dp/1804192740
Synopsis: The positive link between great gut health and eating fermented foods is now well
established. Making your own at home is the perfect way to incorporate ferments into your diet -
they're easy to create, require minimal equipment, contain no chemicals or preservatives and taste
fantastic!
With the publication of "The Pickle Jar: Recipes for Making and Using Pickles and Ferments",
pickling expert Nick Vadasz teaches you how simple it is to get pickling, and provides delicious,
healthy recipes using your own creations.
The first half of "The Pickle Jar" covers how to make your own fermented and pickled products
at home - including kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles. These key base recipes combine with tips and
ideas for getting inventive with your own fermented creations. While the second half features
recipes incorporating your creations, ranging from Kimchi Glazed Aubergine to Orange, Fennel
and Super Beet Salad, and from Kimchi French Toast to a Dill Pickle Martini.
Whether you want to create your own ferments from scratch or find ways to save the kimchi
languishing in your fridge, "The Pickle Jar" offers a culinary wealth of ways to incorporate
fermented foods to upgrade your flavors and boost your gut health.
Critique: Comprised of 70 distinctive and 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, "The Pickle Jar: Recipes
for Making and Using Pickles and Ferments" by Nick Vadasz offers everything needed to employ
and enjoy the health and gustatory benefits of pickling and fermenting at home! Profusely and
deliciously illustrated throughout with full color photos of finished dishes, "The Pickle Jar" is an
impressive and welcome pick for personal, professional, and community library specialized
cookbook collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Pickle Jar" is also
readily available from Hamlyn in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Nick Vadasz is known as The Picklesman. Inspired by his Hungarian heritage, he
founded Vadasz in 2011 in a shipping container in Hackney, East London. He began selling his
range of both fermented and vinegar brined pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi at markets across
London. Vadasz soon became the first UK based producer of pickles & ferments, and is now
stocked by restaurants and retailers including Wholefoods Market, LEON, Shake Shack,
Waitrose, M&S, Coop, Sainsbury's, Ocado and more. Vadasz have 16.6k followers on
Instagram.
The Pocket Rhubarb Cookbook
Nina Mukerjee Furstenau
Belt Publishing
https://beltpublishing.com
c/o Arcadia Publishing (distribution)
https://www.arcadiapublishing.com
9781953368980, $18.00, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Rhubarb-Cookbook-Cookbooks/dp/1953368980
Synopsis: Rhubarb is the fleshy, edible stalks (petioles) of species and hybrids (culinary rhubarb)
of Rheum in the family Polygonaceae, which are cooked and used for food. The plant is a
herbaceous perennial that grows from short, thick rhizomes. Historically, different plants have
been called "rhubarb" in English. The large, triangular leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid
and anthrone glycosides, making them inedible. The small flowers are grouped in large
compound leafy greenish-white to rose-red inflorescences. (Wikipedia)
There is a lot more to rhubarb than you would think. This distinctive plant was initially used as
an herbal medicine, and it eventually became a favorite baking ingredient and was known
stateside as the "pie plant". Today in some circles it is considered a superfood thanks to its high
levels of vitamin C and K and fiber.
A compendium of more than sixty recipes, "The Pocket Rhubarb Cookbook" by food journalist
and author Nina Mukerjee Furstenau takes aspiring kitchen cooks on a journey through the
extensive applications of the tart red stalk. From classics desserts like strawberry-rhubarb pie to
savory main dishes, plus preserves, relishes, and even drinks, the best-dressed member of your
garden shines in ways you never would have dreamed of.
Critique: With recipes ranging from Rhubarb Crisp, Rhubarb Marmalade, Rhubarb Almond Bars,
and Rhubarb Blueberry Barbecue Baked Beans, to Strawberry Rhubarb Daiquiris, Rhubarb
Pickles, and Rhubarb Salsa, "The Pocket Rhubarb Cookbook" is a 'must' for all dedicated
rhubarb fans and also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.10). This highly portable (5
x 0.31 x 7 inches, 5 ounces) paperback edition of Nina Mukerjee Furstenau's "The Pocket
Rhubarb Cookbook" from Belt Publishing is a unique, specialized, and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook
collections.
Editorial Note: Nina Mukerjee Furstenau (www.ninafurstenau.com) is a food journalist and
writer with interest in food, identity, and culture. She has written five books, including her
memoir, Biting Through the Skin: An Indian Kitchen in America's Heartland, which won the
MFK Fisher Book Award, among other accolades. In addition to the books Green Chili & Other
Impostors, Food & Culture, Tasty! Mozambique, and Savor Missouri, her podcast, Canned
Peaches, is available through NPR. She also writes stories and essays for magazines and current
media.
Oysters: Recipes that Bring Home a Taste of the Sea
Cynthia Nims
Sasquatch Books
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632175250, $22.95, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Oysters-Recipes-that-Bring-Taste/dp/1632175258
Synopsis: For the benefit and enjoyment of oyster lovers everywhere, "Oysters: Recipes that
Bring Home a Taste of the Sea" by Cynthia Nims is a luscious and beautifully illustrated
cookbook that includes recipes, shucking instructions, and the local farming success story of the
many delicious oysters from the Pacific Coast.
From Hangtown Hash with Fried Eggs to Half-Shell Oysters with Kimchi-Cucumber Relish, this
gorgeous cookbook features 30 recipes, ideas for what to drink with oysters, and tips for buying,
storing, and shucking to bring out the "oh!" in oysters.
Since oysters are grown and harvested in some of the most beautiful environments on earth,
"Oysters: Recipes that Bring Home a Taste of the Sea" is brimming with full color scenic and
food photography. The delectable oysters grown along the West Coast (which include Pacific,
Kumamoto, Olympia, and Eastern and European Flat species) are the culinary stars of this
beautiful cookbook celebrating oysters based cuisine.
Critique: "Oysters: Recipes that Bring Home a Taste of the Sea" by Cynthia Nims is
exceptionally well organized and presented, making it an ideal resource for novice and
experienced kitchen cooks alike. Originally published (2016) in hardcover, and now available
from Sasquatch Books in paperback and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) "Oysters:
Recipes that Bring Home a Taste of the Sea" is a specially recommended pick for personal,
professional, family, and community library Seafood themed cookbook collections,
Editorial Note: Cynthia Nims is a cookbook author and culinary consultant focused on food,
beverages, and travel. She studied cuisine in France, is the author of 15 cookbooks, and served
on the editorial team for Modernist Cuisine.
Doughnuts: 90 Simple and Delicious Recipes to Make at Home
Lara Ferroni
Sasquatch Books
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632175243, $19.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Doughnuts-Simple-Delicious-Recipes-Make/dp/163217524X
Synopsis: A chocolate-glazed doughnut and cup of coffee is a match made in heaven for many
North Americans, but wait! Something new is happening in the doughnut world: boutique
bakeries are popping up everywhere, and "designer doughnuts" are all the rage.
But the best news of all is that they are actually easy to make at home! And really, is there
anything more scrumptious than a fresh doughnut?
With the publication of "Doughnuts: 90 Simple and Delicious Recipes to Make at Home" by
doughnut making expert Lara Ferroni, prepare to be tempted by a compendium of DIY recipes,
ranging from Chai, Huckleberry Cheesecake, and Red Velvet, to Carrot Cake, Sourdough Raised,
and Almond-Sea Salt Caramel Sugared.
Of course, this uniquely specialized cookbook is also presents traditional recipes for favorites
like Old-Fashioned Sour Cream and Chocolate Raised doughnuts, as well as vegan and
gluten-free recipes. The mouthwatering photography and tasty recipes will leave readers and
home cooks drooling and dreaming about doughnuts.
Critique: The full page, full color photos of finished donuts will inspire and motivate kitchen
cooks and their doughnut loving families to enjoy one of America's favorite treats -- the
doughnut. This DIY compendium, kitchen cook friendly, specialty cookbook will prove to be a
highly prized and enduringly popular pick for personal, family, professonal, and community
library Bakery Goods cookbook collections. Original published in 2018, this new paperback
edition of Lara Ferroni's "Doughnuts: 90 Simple and Delicious Recipes to Make at Home" from
Sasquatch Books, is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). Simply stated
-- anyone who enjoys a good doughnut will prize this 'user friendly' and inspiring collection of
DIY recipes for truly memorable baked/fried goodness that is the doughnut.
Editorial Note: Lara Ferroni (https://laraferroni.com) is a tech geek turned food geek who spends
her days exploring food and cocktail culture. As a writer and photographer, you might spy her
learning to make kimchi in the back room of a local church, foraging for wild berries, or
snapping away in some of the finest kitchens and bars. She is the author of five cookbooks,
including Doughnuts, An Avocado a Day, Real Snacks, and Put an Egg on It.
28 Days Keto
Lisa Butterworth & Caroline Hwang
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781923049574, $19.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/28-Days-Keto-complete-lifestyle/dp/1923049577
Synopsis: Ketosis is a metabolic state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the
blood or urine. Physiological ketosis is a normal response to low glucose availability. In
physiological ketosis, ketones in the blood are elevated above baseline levels, but the body's acid
- base homeostasis is maintained. This contrasts with ketoacidosis, an uncontrolled production of
ketones that occurs in pathologic states and causes a metabolic acidosis, which is a medical
emergency. Ketoacidosis is most commonly the result of complete insulin deficiency in type 1
diabetes or late-stage type 2 diabetes. (Wikipedia)
For those having to deal with Keto imbalances, embarking on a new diet can be daunting,
especially if it means drastically changing what you eat and having to cook with ingredients that
might be unfamiliar to you. "28 Days Keto: A complete guide to living the keto lifestyle easily"
takes the stress out of dieting, helping you to transition to ketosis and enjoy all the benefits that
the keto diet brings.
As well as an informative introduction to the keto diet, "28 Days to Keto" k includes everything
you need to know, from the science behind the diet and keto-friendly ingredients to meal plans,
shopping lists, and easy-to-follow advice.
To help make the transition easier, "28 Days Keto" has 28 full days of recipes, from breakfast to
dinner, and a shopping list for every week -- proving that healthier decisions don't have to be
difficult. With snacks, drinks, and basics included, everything is covered to make the transition to
a keto diet achievable and effortless.
Critique: More than just a cookbook, "28 Days Keto: A complete guide to living the keto lifestyle
easily" by co-authors Lisa Butterworth and Caroline Hwang is an effective 28-day DIY plan to
achieving ketosis easily and enjoy the benefits of a keto lifestyle. This large format (7.91 x 0.88 x
9.71 inches, 1.6 pounds) paperback edition of "28 Days Keto: A complete guide to living the keto
lifestyle easily" from Smith Street Books is profusely and beautifully illustrated with full color
photographic throughout. Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "28 Days
Keto". While highly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as professional, and
community library specialized cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Lisa Butterworth (www.lisabutterworth.com) is the West Coast editor of
BUST and a founding editor of Tidal. She covers food, fashion, pop culture, women's issues, and
more for outlets including Nylon, Cosmopolitan, Women's Health, Elle, Martha Stewart Living,
Time Out,and New York magazine while basking in L.A.'s eternal sunshine.
Editorial Note #2: Caroline K. Hwang (www.carolinekhwang.com) is a Los Angeles - based food
stylist and recipe developer. She left a career in the arts to pursue her love and passion for food
and cooking by way of restaurant kitchens. She works across a range of commercial and editorial
media and has worked with prestigious clients including Foodheim, Beyond Burgers, and Stella
Artois.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly
Jeff Apter
Citadel Press
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9780806543529, $29.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0806543523
Synopsis: Carl Perkins was the King of Rockabilly, and one of rock and roll's true pioneers. A
groundbreaking guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Carl Perkins inspired countless musicians in
country, rock, and pop music. His influence is enormous. As Paul McCartney said, "If there were
no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles." One Beatle was such a fan that he gave himself the
stage name Carl Harrison. Now acclaimed music writer Jeff Apter recounts Carl Perkins's
remarkable life story - the triumphs, tragedies, and career highlights that include some of the
most pivotal moments in music history.
Born in Tennessee to poor sharecroppers, Carl grew up listening to gospel and country music,
learned blues guitar from a fellow field hand, and started writing songs at age fourteen. He plied
his trade in rough and rowdy honky-tonks, performing with his brothers before beginning his
recording career at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis. It was there that Carl became a
member of the fabled "Million Dollar Quartet," alongside Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry
Lee Lewis. In 1955, he wrote and recorded "Blue Suede Shoes," the first record by a Sun artist to
sell over a million copies. But then a fateful car crash stalled his career, one of many tragedies in
Carl's life.
Over the following decades, Presley, Cash, and countless other artists, from the Beatles, Tom
Petty, and Bob Dylan to Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, performed and recorded his songs and
became Carl's friends, collaborators, and champions. Rich with insider detail and background
into Carl's private battles, humanitarian work, and personal inspirations, this is a fascinating,
in-depth look at "Mr. Blue Suede Shoes" and his one-of-a-kind legacy.
Critique: A deftly crafted and information packed biography rescuing from an undeserved
obscurity one of Rock Music's trailblaizing founding fathers, "Carl Perkins: The King of
Rockabilly" by Jeff Apter is a fascinating and memorable read from start to finish. Exceptionally
well written, organized and presented, "Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library 20th Century American
Popular Music & Musicians collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for personal reading lists of fans and students that this hardcover edition of "Carl Perkins:
The King of Rockabilly" from Citadel Press is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.54)
Editorial Note: Jeff Apter (www.JeffApter.com.au) is the author of more than 30 books about
music and musicians, and his work has been published all around the world. His subjects include
Keith Urban, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, AC/DC's Bon Scott and the Young brothers, the Bee
Gees, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Cure, and Dave Grohl. He was on staff at Australian
Rolling Stone for several years. He lives on the NSW South Coast with his wife and two
children, and enough pets to fill a small zoo.
Eyes of A Different Color
Robert Jaffee, M.D.
Jaffee Publishing
9798991316101, $19.95, PB, 350pp
https://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Different-Color-Memoir-America/dp/B0DR18B5V2
Synopsis: It's 1979, and a young Israeli girl finds love with an American doctor during a brief
visit and risks it all to get married after a whirlwind romance. Now the young couple must really
get to know one another post-nuptials while trying to survive as fish out of water in rural
Texas.
What could Robert 'Bob' Jaffee, a newly minted New York physician, and an 18-year-old Israeli
woman, Iris, have in common?
From New York to Tel Aviv and, finally, of all places, Odessa, Texas, they develop a mutual
love. While struggling to outline the boundaries of a marriage, Iris is determined to find her own
identity, apart from just being a doctor's wife. She must master a new language, face
antisemitism, and fight the loneliness of being away from family and friends in a new land.
Both of them experience a new culture in Texas, encountering cowboy boots, the Texas two-step,
and differing religious views. Readers will follow along with Bob and Iris as they travel from the
skyscrapers and mountains of New York to the hills of Jerusalem and on to the desert of Texas.
Readers will also be introduced to the people they knew (New Yorkers, Israelis, Texans) and the
situations of marriage, culture, and self-identity that many of us share in our own lives. "Eyes of
a Different Color" is a true life story of hard-won triumphs and unexplained tragedy.
Critique: Deeply personal but with a universal resonance, "Eyes of a Different Color" is an
inherently interesting and memorable memoir by Dr. Robert Jaffee in the form and format of a
true love story will carry the reader along through the ups and downs of of their lives with this
candidly detailed story of a marriage that is quite singular and like no other. Exceptionally well
written, organized and presented, "Eyes of a Different Color" is one of those personal memoirs
that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and
set back upon the shelf. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted
that this paperback edition of "Eyes of a Different Color" from Jaffee Publishing is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Robert Jaffee, MD, received his Medical Degree from the Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. He completed his Residency in Ophthalmology at University of
Connecticut, Farmington, CT and New York University Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr.
Jaffee completed a Fellowship in Anterior Segment Surgery at Odessa Regional Medical Center,
Odessa, TX. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American
Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Wilderness Woman: A Triumphant Spirit
Diane Young
Christian Faith Publishing
https://www.christianfaithpublishing.com
9798892431903, $21.95, PB, 126pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Woman-Triumphant-Diane-Young/dp/B0D96Q8RL4
Synopsis: The summer of 1945...the Kansas City Star newspaper would have read like this: "The
Division of Family Services reports...A young female child whose identity remains anonymous.
She was rescued from her grandparent's house. The mother and father are also being investigated
by the authorities. The grandparents volunteered to watch the new baby girl. Her mother was a
beauty operator down the street."
"Diane" knew the daily drill. Each morning, her grandparents greeted her eagerly with evil warm
smiles. The trap was set -- the lower cabinet file drawer, which was at her eye level. She pulled
the drawer out slowly and struggled to lift the heavy box out onto the floor. She sat cross-legged,
enticed by the shiny eye-catching trinkets. She had not eaten breakfast. Her thoughts of the
yummy chocolate-covered cherries would be good for her tummy.
The best of all was a warm wiggly reddish-brown puppy. This experience lasted day after day,
week after week, and year after year. We ask ourselves how could this happen? Why? It's called
insanity, which can't be explained.
The Lord brought a loving family into her young life. God's creation along with her love for
horses healed her childhood wounds and continues to heal her adult scars.
Critique: A candid and unique memoir of a troubled childhood and young adult life ultimately
redeemed with maturity in love and faith as told from a dedicated Christian perspective,
"Wilderness Woman: A Triumphant Spirit" by Diane Young is told with the narrative eloquence
of literary fiction but it is, in fact, her true life story. A inherently fascinating and ultimately
inspiring memoir from start to finish, "Wilderness Woman: A Triumphant Spirit" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library
Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections and reading lists. It should be noted that
this paperback edition of "Wilderness Woman: A Triumphant Spirit" from Christian Faith
Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The General Fiction Shelf
At the Island's Edge
C. I. Jerez
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662523427, $16.99, PB, 399pp
https://www.amazon.com/At-Islands-Edge-C-Jerez/dp/1662523424
Synopsis: As a combat medic, Lina LaSalle went to Iraq to save the lives of fellow soldiers. But
when her convoy is attacked, she must set aside her identity as a healer and take a life
herself.
Although she is honored as a hero when she returns to the US, Lina cannot find her footing. She
is stricken with PTSD and unsure of how to support her young son, Teo, a little boy with
Tourette's. As her attempts to self-medicate become harder to hide, Lina realizes she must do the
toughest thing yet: ask for help.
She retreats to her parents' house in Puerto Rico, where Teo thrives under her family's care. Lina
finds kinship, too -- with a cousin whose dreams were also shattered by the war and with a
handsome and caring veteran who sought refuge on the island and runs a neighborhood bar.
But amid the magic of the island are secrets and years of misunderstandings that could erode the
very stability she's fighting for. Hope lies on the horizon, but can she keep her gaze steady?
Critique: A deftly crafted novel that will be especially enjoyed by readers with an interest in
original stories of war driven trauma, recovery and redemption, "At The Island's Edge" is an
emotionally compelling inherently engaging, and memorably entertaining read from start to
finish. Author C. I. Jerez's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling skills raises this novel of
personal and family relationships to an impressive level of literary excellence -- making it
especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "At The
Island's Edge" is also readily available from Lake Union Publishing in a digital book format
(Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: C. I. Jerez (www.cijerezbooks.com), who has a blend of Irish, Puerto Rican, and
Cuban parentage, grew up near El Paso's Mexican border experiencing a true cultural
amalgamation. After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso, she commissioned as a
signal officer in the US Army and rose to the rank of major before transitioning out of the
military. She holds an MBA from Webster University and a doctorate in international business
from Liberty University.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
A Tiny Piece of Blue
Charlotte Whitney
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781647428365, $17.99, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Piece-Blue-Novel/dp/164742836X
Synopsis: Rural Michigan, 1934. During the throes of the Great Depression, thirteen-year-old
Silstice Trayson finds herself homeless, abandoned by her parents after a devastating house fire.
Nearby, aging midwestern farmers Edna and Vernon Goetz are pillars of the community, but
when do-gooder Edna takes up Silstice's cause, Vernon digs in his heels, displaying his true
nature as an ornery curmudgeon.
Theirs is a quiet-seeming community, but danger lurks beneath the bucolic facade. With so many
youngsters leaving home to make it on their own, child trafficking has grown rampant, and
Silstice and her two spirited young brothers soon find themselves in the sights of a ring of
kidnappers that's exploiting local children into forced labor -- and worse. Meanwhile Vernon
finds himself at risk of losing everything.
Narrated by Silstice, Vernon, and Edna, "A Tiny Piece of Blue" sets the customs and traditions of
rural Michigan against a backdrop of thievery, bribery, and child-trafficking -- weaving a
suspenseful yet tender tale that ultimately winds its way to a heartwarming conclusion.
Critique: An emotionally compelling and inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "A Tiny
Piece of Blue" by Charlotte Whitney will prove to be especially prized by readers with an interest
in rural historical fiction set in the era of the Great Depression. As a author, Charlotte Whitney
has a distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style that raises her novel to an impressive level
of literary excellence making it a prime and recommended addition to community and
college/university library American 20th Century Historical Literary Fiction collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "A Tiny Piece of Blue" from She
Writes Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Charlotte Whitney (https://charlottewhitney.com) is the author of the widely
acclaimed debut historical novel, Threads: A Depression Era Tale, which was followed by the
historical mystery The Unveiling of Polly Forrest, which won multiple awards. She is also the
author of two nonfiction books and a romance novel, I Dream in White. Charlotte received a
master's degree in English from the University of Michigan and spent much of her working
career in higher education.
Hold Strong
Robert Dugoni
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662516313, $28.99, HC, 555pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Strong-Novel-Robert-Dugoni/dp/1662516312
Synopsis: Sam Carlson is a projectionist in small-town Minnesota, where fantasies unspool in
glorious black and white -- for him and for his sweetheart, college-bound math whiz Sarah
Haber. But when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Sam is sent to the Philippines and captured
as a POW. Brutalized but unbroken by the Bataan Death March and POW camps, Sam is one of
eighteen hundred starved and weakened prisoners herded into the cargo hold of a barbaric hell
ship called the Arisan Maru -- his survival doubtful.
Determined to use her math skills on the home front, Sarah is recruited to Washington, DC, into
the covert field of code breaking. When Sarah intercepts a message about a Japanese convoy, the
US Navy's mission is clear: sink the Arisan Maru and send it to the bottom of the South China
Sea. Now, the lives of the two young lovers are about to inadvertently collide in one of the most
shocking acts of World War II.
Anchored in an extraordinary true story and breathlessly re-created, "Hold Strong" is a singular
novel that explores faith, courage, survival, and coming home against insurmountable odds.
Critique: Although a work of deftly crafted fiction, "Hold Strong" by Robert Dugoni is inspired
by real events played out in the Pacific Theater of World War II. With great attention to historical
detail, and the compelling creation of memorable characters and dramatic events, "Hold Strong"
is an inherently compelling read from start to finish. Raised to an impressive level of literary
excellence by the narrative driven storytelling skills of Robert Dugoni as a novelist, "Hold
Strong" is unreservedly recommended as a pick for community library World War II fiction
collections. For the personal reading lists of the legions of Robert Dugoni fans, it should be noted
that this hardcover edition of "Hold Strong" from Lake Union Publishing is also readily available
in paperback (9781662516306, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Robert Dugoni (www.robertdugonibooks.com) is the author of the Tracy
Crosswhite series; the Charles Jenkins series; the David Sloane series; several standalone novels,
including A Killing on the Hill, The World Played Chess, and The Extraordinary Life of Sam
Hell; and coauthor of the nonfiction expose The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book
of the Year. Dugoni is also the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction, a multi-time
winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest,
and a finalist for many other awards. His books are sold in more than twenty-five countries, have
been translated into more than thirty languages, and have reached millions of readers
worldwide.
Payback
Penny Mickelbury
Bywater Books
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612943039, $23.95, PB, 436pp
https://www.amazon.com/Payback-Penny-Mickelbury/dp/1612943039
Synopsis: World War II ended less than 10 years ago, and the Korean War less than one. But no
one has recovered from wartime privations, especially the Colored soldiers who fought a ruthless
enemy on foreign lands, expecting to return home with all the rights and privileges of American
citizenship.
But those rights and privileges remain few and far between, and in her novel, "Payback", author
Penny Mickelbury's cast of characters find themselves reflecting on the Harlem they call home:
they are educated and unschooled; wealthy and desperately poor; committed to improving
circumstances for Negroes and abjectly hopeless. They create a family of and for themselves --
women, men, children, gays, and the proudly self-named. They commit themselves to helping
create a world to benefit their people based on hard work, artistic expression, and faith in their
community.
They have learned to live in the larger world by two guiding principles: Each One Teaches One,
and Harm to One is Harm to All -- because in this neighborhood, payback will always be swift
and painful.
Critique: Original, skillfully crafted, memorably entertaining, "Payback" by Penny Mickelbury is
an extraordinary novel that while a work of fiction, accurately presents a very particular segment
of 20th Century African-American history -- Americans of color who served at their peril in
America's wars and still were subject to racism and discrimination upon their return home. One
of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book is finished and set
back upon the shelf, "Payback" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and
college/university library Contemporary African-American Literary Fiction collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that his paperback edition from Bywater Books is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Penny Mickelbury (https://pennymickelbury.com) is a trailblazing journalist,
author, and award-winning playwright. She is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist, was a
writer in residence at Hedgebrook Women Writers Retreat, and a recipient of the Audre Lorde
Estate Grant. In 2020 she was awarded the Alice B. Medal for her body of work. Before focusing
on literary pursuits, Penny was a pioneering newspaper, radio, and television reporter based
primarily in Washington, D.C. In 2019 she joined other Washington Post Metro Seven members
as an inductee into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
Mutual Interest
Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
Bloomsbury Publishing
www.bloomsbury.com
9781639733323, $28.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mutual-Interest-Olivia-Wolfgang-Smith/dp/1639733329
Synopsis: At the turn of the 20th century, Vivian Lesperance is determined to flee her origins in
Utica, New York, and avoid repeating the dull, limited life of her parents. When she meets Oscar
Schmidt, a middle manager at a soap company, Vivian finds a partner she can guide to build the
life she wants-not least because, more interested in men himself, Oscar will leave Vivian to tend
to her own romances with women.
But Vivian's plans require capital, so the two pair up with Squire Clancey, scion of an old
American fortune. Together they found Clancey & Schmidt, a preeminent manufacturer of soap,
perfume, and candles. When Oscar and Squire fall in love, the trio form a new kind of
partnership.
Vivian reaches the pinnacle of her power building Clancey & Schmidt into an empire of personal
care products while operating behind the image of both men. But exposure threatens, and all
three partners are made aware of how much they have to lose.
Critique: A novel of queer romance, empire, and power by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith, "Mutual
Interest" is an emotionally engaging, exceptionally well written, and impressively original, told
with the author's genuine flair for narrative driven storytelling. A LGBTQ themed novel raised by
Oliva Wolfgang-Smith to a dramatic level of literary excellence, "Mutual Interest" is a very
special and unreservedly recommended pick for community library collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Mutual Interest" from Bloomsbury
Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.29).
Editorial Note: Olivia Wolfgang-Smith (https://wolfgangsmith.squarespace.com) is the author of
Glassworks, which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. She is a 2024
NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Fiction from The New York Foundation for the Arts.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
The Continental Divide: Stories
Bob Johnson
Cornerstone Press
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9781960329646, $24.95, PB, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-Divide-Stories-Bob-Johnson/dp/1960329642
Synopsis: "The Continental Divide: Stories" is a collection of fourteen short stories by Bob John
and includes: A country woman who makes a kind of Sophie's Choice regarding her family's
survival. A small town marshal hunts his own son for murder; A former football hero must face
his role in a brutal locker room ritual; and twelve other original tales both ferocious and real.
These stories comprising "The Continental Divide" from Cornerstone Press deftly explore the
undertow of violence and sin along the St. Lawrence Divide in northern Indiana, where men,
women, and children struggle to find their way in the darkness... of the divide.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that while having won awards for individual
literary projects, "The Continental Divide: Stories" from Cornerstone Press is Bob Johnson's
debut as a published author. His skillfully crafted, memorably entertaining, and original tales
raises his short story collections to an impressive level of literary excellence -- making it
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university
library Contemporary American Literary Fiction & Short Story collections.
Editorial Note: Bob Johnson (https://www.bobjohnsonwriter.com) is an award-winning short
story writer and graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop. His work has been published by The
Common, Philadelphia Stories, Vol. 1. Brooklyn, The Barcelona Review, and elsewhere. His
story "The Continental Divide" was named Short Story of the Year in The Hudson Review. He
lives in South Bend, Indiana.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Cupid on the Loose
John J. Jacobson
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9798200960552, $28.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cupid-Loose-John-J-Jacobson/dp/B0D7J4NLSK
Synopsis: Aspiring author Billy Spiers tends to fall passionately in love, but soon, finding
something missing, fall quickly out again. His grandmother, who raised him, thinks he needs to
settle down and find a mate. When Billy's on the verge of ending yet another relationship, his
grandmother decides to do some well-intentioned meddling.
Kari Porter is not only smart and beautiful but also a writer with passions and sensibilities similar
to Billy's. She loves the same kind of stories, quotes lines from his favorite old poems and songs,
and has similar unique takes on Shakespeare -- is this the kindred spirit he's been longing for?
Sparks fly, and soon the two are lingering over dinner and taking romantic sunset bike rides
along the California coast. They even manage to matchmake their four closest friends.
But artistic types can be overly sensitive. As their relationship rapidly progresses, they become
afraid of moving too fast -- and of getting hurt. Kari becomes distant, dealing with a crisis she
feels she can't share with Billy, while Billy responds with crazy drastic actions that he thinks
might salvage the relationship.
Billy's grandmother can't help meddling again, sending all three couples to a magical mountain
lodge where she and her husband fell madly in love decades before. Mayhem ensues when the
enigmatic and impish proprietor of the lodge introduces passion-fueled havoc, pushing the young
lovers (inadvertently) in bizarre directions.
Critique: With the publication of "Cupid on the Loose", novelist John J. Jacobson offers his
readers a kind of twenty-first century twist on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A fun
read from start to finish, "Cupid on the Loose" will hold a ver special appeal for readers who
enjoy stories involving the all-to-human foibles of infatuation, lust, and romantic love. Highly
recommended for community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections, it should be
noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated romance fans that this hardcover edition of
"Cupid on the Loose" from Blackstone Publishing is also readily available in paperback
(9798212630986, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: John J. Jacobson (https://johnjacobsonwrites.com) is the author of three novels,
including All the Cowboys Ain't Gone and California Fever. Born in Nevada, he grew up in the
West, surfed big waves in Hawaii, circled the world thrice, and survived the sixties and
seventies, corporate America, and grad school. Among other degrees he has an MA in
Renaissance literature from Claremont Graduate University.
Dream Girl Drama
Tessa Bailey
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063380776, $30.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Girl-Drama-Rom-Com-Unconventional/dp/0063380773
Synopsis:When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier's car breaks down and his phone dies, he
treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe
Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure
and penchant for stealing champagne.
Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can't wait to see each other again, but
when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad's new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also
there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe's mother. Oh, and they're engaged.
Sig's dream girl is his future stepsister.
Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy,
yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of
independence in Boston -- but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more
than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But
keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially
knowing they were meant for so much more...
Critique: The stuff of which Hallmark Movie Channel Rom-Coms are made, "Dream Girl
Drama" by Tessa Bailey is a fun, laugh-out-loud read from start to finish. Unequivocally
recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections, it should be noted for
the personal reading lists of all dedicated Rom-Com fans that this hardcover edition of "Dream
Girl Drama" from Avon Books is also readily available in paperback (9780063380783, $18.99)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Tessa Bailey (https://www.tessabailey.com) can solve all problems except for her
own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue-collar men and loyal, lovable
heroines. Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Something Like Fate
Amy Lea
www.amyleabooks.com
Skyscape
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517600, $16.99, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Something-Like-Fate-Amy-Lea/dp/1662517602
Synopsis: For generations, the fortune-telling women in Lo Zhao-Jensen's family have foreseen
The One (the great loves of their lives) before ever meeting them. Except for Lo, who has zero
psychic abilities. Just memories of old rom-coms and a lot of poor judgment when it comes to
love. -- Until now.
When Lo finally has the vision she's been waiting for, her delighted aunties are convinced she'll
meet The One on her backpacking trip in Italy. 'Vero amore', here she comes.
Along for the summer is Lo's best friend and confidant, Teller Owens, her opposite in every way.
Upon arrival in Venice, Lo is saved from a runaway trolley by Caleb, a fellow backpacker. It's a
meet-cute so swoony, it has to be fate. But with each destination, Lo's complicated feelings for
Teller are becoming harder to ignore. From the cobblestone streets of Rome to the rocky cliffs of
Amalfi, Lo begins to wonder if fate has other plans.
Critique: An impressively well crafted coming-of-age novel of romance and emotional
adventure, "Something Like Fate" by novelist Amy Lea is a fun and memorable read from start
to finish. With the author's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style, "Something Like
Fate" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and
community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for readers of all ages
that this paperback edition from Skyscape is also currently available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Amy Lea (www.amyleabooks.com) is the author of romantic comedies for adults
and teens, including Woke Up Like This, a Mindy Kaling's Book Studio selection; The Catch;
Exes & O's; and Set on You. They have been optioned for film and sold to over a dozen foreign
territories. Amy's writing has also been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and
Cosmopolitan, among others.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder
Bellamy Rose
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781668075654, $27.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668075652
Synopsis: When Pomona Afton, Upper East Side hotel heiress, stumbles out of a gala and upon
the scene of her grandmother's murder, her first thought is that the society queen won't be missed
for her kind, cookie-baking ways. In fact, she was mean, greedy, and paranoid -- so paranoid that
she secretly slipped a clause into her will mandating that, should she die an unnatural death, all
the family assets get frozen. And if the "unnatural death" isn't explained? Those accounts stay
frozen.
Practically overnight, Pomona is locked out of her penthouse with no other option than to move
in with a roommate: Gabe, the irritable (yet handsome) son of her former nanny. Not only is his
apartment cramped, it doesn't even have a doorman. Or a chef! Pom needs someone to solve this
murder, like, yesterday, so she can get her trust fund back.
And Gabe? He needs this murder solved because that's the only way his mother, who toiled for
the Afton family for years, will ever get the retirement money she deserves. As Pom's family
clams up, blocking the police at every turn, Pom quickly realizes that if she wants her glamorous
life back, she's going to have to put on her big-girl Manolos and do it herself... with the help of
Gabe, who she's falling for more and more by the day.
Can Pomona Afton (who previously couldn't solve a crossword in the bath on a hungover
Sunday) actually solve this murder? And if she does return to her former life of luxury, will it be
worth the possibility of losing Gabe?
Critique: Wickedly funny, impressively original, deftly scripted, "Pomona Afton Can So Solve A
Murder" by author Bellamy Rose is a terrifically entertaining and compulsive page turner of a
read from start to finish. Ideal for the personal reading lists of those legions of cozy mystery fans,
"Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular
pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this hardcover
edition from Atria/Emily Bester Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Bellamy Rose (https://www.amandaelliotbooks.com) is the pen name of an
author of romantic comedy/murder mysteries. She has never solved an actual murder. She has
also published non-murdery rom-coms as Amanda Elliot.
I Died for Beauty
Amanda Flower
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593816462, $19.00, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Died-Beauty-Emily-Dickinson-Mystery/dp/0593816463
Synopsis: Amherst, 1857. The Dickinson family braves one of the worst winters in New
England's history. Trains are snowbound and boats are frozen in the harbor. Emily Dickinson and
her maid, Willa Noble, have never witnessed anything like it. As Amherst families attempt to
keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound.
These worries prove not to be unfounded as a blaze breaks out just down the street from the
Dickinson in Kelley Square, the Irish community in Amherst, and a young couple is killed,
leaving behind their young child. Their deaths appear to be a tragic accident, but Emily finds
herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. Emily and Willa
must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost.
Critique: A skillfully crafted and fully engaging cozy mystery, "I Died For Beauty" is a part of
gifted storyteller Amanda Flower's 'An Emily Dickinson Mystery series'. Original, fun and a
simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "I Died for Beauty" is an ideal and unreservedly
recommended pick for community library History Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be
noted for the legions of cozy mystery fans that this paperback edition of "I Died for Beauty" from
Berkley Books is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$12.99).
Editorial Note: Amanda Flower (http://www.amandaflower.com) is award-winning mystery
author of over forty novels, including the nationally bestselling Amish Candy Shop Mystery
Series, Magical Bookshop Mysteries, and, written under the name Isabella Alan, the Amish Quilt
Shop Mysteries.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Legend of Meneka
Kritika H. Rao
Harper Voyager
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9780063349186, $30.00, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Meneka-Divine-Dancers-Duology/dp/0063349183
Synopsis: Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered
for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained
as a weapon, as a warrior, Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent
illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain,
she craves her freedom more and more.
When a mortal sage's growing powers threaten Indra's supremacy in his own realm, Meneka
seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal -- if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will
allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself
captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he challenges
everything she's ever known. Can she overthrow the man who she is (little by little) falling for, or
is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her
duty to protect her home and the thrumming of her own heart.
Critique: An original and deftly blended story of romance, seduction, fantasy, Hindu mythology,
and epic adventure, "The Legend of Meneka" debuts novelist Kritika H. Rao's new 'Divine
Dacers' duology'. A fun and riveting read from start to finish, "The Legend of Meneka" is an
inherently fascinating and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Epic Fantasy
Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of mythology and fantasy fans
that this hardcover edition of "The Legend of Meneka" from Harper Voyager is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Publishing, 9798874873769, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Kritika H. Rao (https://www.kritikahrao.com) is a speculative and children's
fiction author, who has lived in India, Australia, Canada, and The Sultanate of Oman. Whether
writing for younger audiences or adults, Kritika's stories are influenced by her lived experiences,
and explore themes of self vs. the world, identity, and the nature of consciousness.
A Circle of Uncommon Witches
Paige Crutcher
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/stmartinspress
9781250905543, $19.00, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Circle-Uncommon-Witches-Novel/dp/1250905540
Synopsis: If she can't break the centuries old curse placed on her family, Doreen MacKinnon is
doomed to die of a broken heart.
Three hundred years ago, Ambrose MacDonald, a powerful male witch, fell in love with a
MacKinnon. And when the MacKinnon witches forbade him from seeing his love, by secretly
hiding her away, he retaliated by cursing the family and its future generations to never find love.
But it wasn't without a cost. Now, Ambrose is imprisoned by those same witches, trapped in a
tempest and doomed to outlive everyone he has ever loved.
But Doreen isn't like the other MacKinnon witches. As the 13th generation of the MacKinnon
line, Doreen is one of the most powerful witches in centuries... and one of the loneliest. So when
she discovers where Ambrose has been trapped, she releases him to help her break the curse,
once and for all. Ambrose agrees to help, but with his own motive: vengeance. He plans to use
her as bait to enact his revenge on her family.
Together, they enter a series of trials, which take them to a castle in Scotland, off a cliff, and into
a world beyond their wildest dreams. As they work together, sparks start to fly, but soon Doreen
must choose how far she is willing to go to break the curse, and what she's willing to
sacrifice.
Critique: Of special and particular interest for readers who appreciate a deft blending of fantasy
and romance, Paige Crutcher's new novel, "A Circle of Uncommon Witches" is a compelling
adventure of romance, magic, and an ultimate inquiry into the question -- is true love worth the
cost? An original and fun read from start to finish, "A Circle of Uncommon Witches" is an ideal
and recommended pick for personal and community library Romance & Fantasy collections. it
should be noted that this paperback edition of "A Circle of Uncommon Witches" from St.
Martin's Griffin is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Paige Crutcher (https://paigecrutcher.com) is the author of The Orphan Witch and
The Lost Witch. She is a former journalist, and her work appears in multiple anthologies and
online publications.
The Beauty of the End
Lauren Stienstra
https://www.laurenstienstra.com
Little A
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662525650, $28.99, HC, 351pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-End-Novel-Lauren-Stienstra/dp/1662525656
Synopsis: Charlie Tannehill and her twin sister, Maggie, are just eight years old when an
unfortunate scientific discovery upends their world -- and the world order. The revelation?
Extinction, encoded in every creature's DNA. The expiration date for humans? Only four
generations away.
A decade later, unsure of what tomorrow holds, Charlie and Maggie enroll as counselors in a
government-run human-husbandry program. By offering cash rewards for reproduction, they
hope to forestall humanity's decline and discover a genetic mutation that might defeat it. While
Charlie struggles with the ethical implications of the work, Maggie makes unspeakable sacrifices
to improve her odds of success -- but such unchecked ambition could come at a greater cost than
even she realizes.
Torn between her own morality, her love for her sister, and the pressures of a vanishing
civilization, Charlie must search deep within to decide what she's willing to sacrifice -- for
herself, for Maggie, and for society -- in order to salvage hope for the whole of humankind.
Critique: Carefully crafted, impressively original, "The Beauty of the End" by novelist Lauren
Stienstra will hold a special attraction to science fiction fans with an interest in dystopian fiction
raised an epic status of literary excellence. While strongly commended for community and
college/university library Science Fiction & Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Beauty of the End" from Little A is also
readily available in paperback (9781662525667, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$5.99).
Editorial Note: Lauren Stienstra's (www.laurenstienstra.com) professional life in government has
been instrumental in shaping her literary voice. From the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic
response to addressing the critical issue of climate change, Stienstra's lived experiences and
deep-rooted commitment to public service have informed and inspired her prose. She holds
degrees in physiology and crisis management, has studied creative writing at UCLA Extension,
and is currently completing her doctorate in public health at Johns Hopkins University. These
endeavors have not only broadened her understanding of the world's most pressing challenges but
also fueled her passion for resonant stories that weave together the complexities of the world she
knows so intimately.
The Borealis Queen
Henry Guard
Independently Published
9798992606508, $14.95, PB
9798308487791, $3.99, Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Borealis-Queen-Henry-Guard/dp/B0DWKPBGW3
Synopsis: Long ago, in the primeval Americas, a tribe of hunters excelled in bringing down the
mighty beasts now long extinct. From this tribe emerged a strong-willed girl who, defying all
odds, became the most powerful and revered woman of the Ice Age.
"The Borealis Queen" follows her journey from a playful child who befriended and petted some
of the most fearsome prehistoric predators to a unique, young, beautiful, and free-spirited woman
who conquered the hearts and goodwill of her contemporaries.
She brought down enemies and prey alike with the expert use of her sling weapon and the help of
the animal allies she sheltered as younglings. This is the story of a young woman whom all her
people hailed as the "Borealis Queen" -- Queen of the North!
Critique: A deftly blended work of historical action/adventure with elements of epic fantasy,
"The Borealis Queen" is a fascinating, compelling, and fun read from start to finish. Author
Henry Guard's narrative driven and memorably entertaining storytelling style is original,
skillfully crafted, and ideally suited to the heroic fantasy genre. "The Borealis Queen" is a unique
coming of age fantasy that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists
and community library Fantasy Fiction collections for all dedicated fantasy fans.
Editorial Note: All the more impressive when considering that "The Borealis Queen: The Epic
Journey That Forged The Ruler" is Henry Guard's debut as a novelist, it should be noted that this
epic saga is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Orisha, Volume 1: With Great Power
Huzayfa Umar
Saturday AM
https://www.saturday-am.com
c/o Rockport Publishers
c/o The Quarto Group
quarto.com
9780760390320 $13.99 pbk / $13.29 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Orisha-Great-Power-Saturday-TANKS/dp/0760390320
Nigerian author Huzayfa Umar presents Orisha, Volume 1: With Great Power, an action-packed,
shonen manga-style graphic novel about an young African man who unexpectedly inherits a
fragment of divine power. Aboki is an ordinary villager who is reluctant to stand up for himself;
his life changes forever when he receives a celestial seed that bestows incredible power. The seed
transforms him into an Orisha, a human wielding godlike abilities. But Aboki's seed came from a
murdered Orisha; who could have slain the seed's original holder, and why? Other Orisha are
suspicious of Aboki, so Aboki sets out on a quest to prove his honorable intentions by sealing a
rift between the world of humans and the world of dangerous voodoo beings! The dynamic,
black-and-white art makes fantastic clashes of fists and magic all but leap off the page, in this
grand adventure steeped in West African culture and mythology. Highly recommended!
Life Sucks
Jessica Alba & Gabe Soria, authors
Warren Pleece, illustrator
Fantagraphics Books
www.fantagraphics.com
9781683969969, $19.99, PB, 188pp
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Sucks-Jessica-Abel/dp/1683969960
Synopsis: Life sucks for Dave Miller - he's broke, girlfriendless, and stuck in a dead-end job.
Really dead-end: Dave is the night manager at the Last Stop, LA's finest vampire-owned and
operated, all-night convenience store. Facing an eternity of turning hot dogs and restocking blood
broth for his crappy boss and Vampire Master, the future looks about as appealing as the
sunrise.
It's bad enough that Dave is clinging to his days as a vegetarian and refusing to feed off humans,
leaving him weak as a kitten. But when he finds himself competing with psychotic surfer-vamp
Wes for the affections of Rosa, a beautiful mortal flirting with the dark side, unlife gets about as
sucky as it possibly can.
Critique: Originally published in 2008, Fantagraphics is bringing this YA classic back into print
with a new edition. Veteran comics creators Jessica Abel (Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars), Gabe
Soria (Batman '66), and Warren Pleece (Incognegro) have crafted a timeless goth love
triangle/coming-of-age story.
With full color illustrations by graphic artist Warren Pleece once more bringing to life the
original and noir style storytelling by co-authors Jessica Alba and Gabe Soria for a new
generation of vampire novel enthusiasts, it should be noted for personal reading lists and
community library graphic novel collections that this new paperback edition of "Life Sucks" is
also readily available from Fantasgraphics in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Author and coach Jessica Abel is the author of many books, including the
graphic novels La Perdida and Out On the Wire and two textbooks about making comics. She is
Chair of the Illustration Program at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Editorial Note #2: Gabe Soria writes books, comics, role-playing games, album liner notes, and
assorted other things. He is the creator of the Sword & Backpack RPG, the Midnight Arcade
series from Penguin Workshop Books.
Editorial Note #3: Warren Pleece is a British comics artist who has contributed to comics titles
such as Hellblazer, The Invisibles, 2000 AD, and many others.
The Music CD Shelf
Griot Songs
Omar Thomas
www.omarthomasmusic.com
Omar Thomas Music
$40.00 double LP / $9.03 MP3
https://www.omarthomas.com/griot-songs
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ4LZ9QY
West Africa has an ancient tradition of "griots" - historians, storytellers, poets, and/or musicians
who fulfill a vital community role in preserving collective memory and sometimes in dispute
mediation as well. Griot Songs is the third album by the Omar Thomas Large Ensemble, led by
award-winning composer Omar Thomas and featuring soloists Jason Palmer, Mark Zaleski, Alex
Brown, Mark Cocheo, and more. Griot Songs blends elements of the big band jazz with
multicultural inspiration, and is a unique treasure for international music connoisseurs. The
tracks are The Sun In September; Sail To The Moon; Obeah Woman; Nothing There; Episode
D'Azur; The Path; and A Touch of Obsidian, A Flash of Scarlet.
Altitude 1100 Meters
Satoko Fujii GEN
Libra Records
https://librarecords.com
$TBA CD / 1,000 JPY digital
https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/altitude-1100-meters-2
Satoko Fujii GEN ("gen" meaning "string" in Japanese) is a six-person string ensemble
consisting of Satoko Fujii on piano, Yuriko Mukoujima on violin, Ayako Kato on violin, Atsuko
Hatano on viola and electronics, Hiroshi Yoshino on bass, and Akira Horikoshi and on drums.
Altitude 1100 Meters is the ensemble's debut album, an original suite written by Fujii. Inspired
by mountain views, stirring breezes, and the changed feeling of the air itself at high elevations,
Altitude 1100 Meters is an extraordinarily beautiful performance and a treasure for connoisseurs
of international jazz. Highly recommended! The tracks are Morning Haze, Morning Sun, Early
Afternoon, Light Rain, and Twilight.
What Happened There?
Keiji Haino and Natsuki Tamura
Libra Records
https://librarecords.com
$TBA CD / 1,000 JPY digital
https://natsukitamura.bandcamp.com/album/what-happened-there
What Happened There? is a collaborative, instrumental album by trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and
guitarist Keiji Haino. In their debut duo performance, they weave an extraordinary, full-length
performance with elements of jazz, free improvisation, subversive inflection, and original genius.
What Happened There? is an extraordinary musical journey and highly recommended for
connoisseurs of avante-garde soundscapes. The tracks are What Happened There? part one
(9:16), What Happened There? part two (7:59), What Happened There? part three (9:21) and
What Happened There? part four (09:07).
Soft Light
Mark Scott III
Miller Three Publishing
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTKS15FZ
Austin, Texas-based music artist Mark Scott III presents Soft Light, an original jazz album debut
showcasing his exceptional guitar talent with support from Ben Triesch on bass and Mike
Gordon on drums. Ranging in emotion from lighthearted to wistful to optimistic for the future,
Soft Light is a treasure for jazz guitar connoisseurs and highly recommended. The tracks are
Carpals, Food Court, Rhythm-Ding, News Blues, Sneak Peak, Monster Best, Soft Light, Smile,
Warmth, Tomorrow, and The Sun Behind a Cloud.
Small Things
Jackson Potter
www.jacksonpottermusic.com
Shifting Paradigm Records
https://www.shiftingparadigmrecords.com
$11.79 CD / $8.91 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Things-Jackson-Potter/dp/B0DNRFR27P
New York City based guitarist and composer Jackson Potter presents his sophomore album
Small Things, a jazz guitar showcase featuring tracks composed by Potter and others, and
performed by the talented quintet of Jackson Potter on guitar, Alex Ridout on trumpet and
flugelhorn, Troy Roberts on tenor saxophone, Hamish Smith on bass, and Marcello Cardillo on
drums. Drawing upon both new and old jazz styles, Small Things is a smooth delight for genre
connoisseurs and highly recommended. The tracks are Trams (Troy Roberts); Small Things
(Jackson Potter); Mr. M (Jackson Potter); Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Jerome Kern); Hey, It's Me
You're Talking To (Victor Lewis); Background Noise (Jackson Potter); The Duke (Dave
Brubeck); Everything I Love (Cole Porter); and Sophia's Waltz (Jackson Potter).
Danser avec le feu
Ariane Racicot
arianeracicot.com
Privately Published
$20.00 CAD CD / $10.00 CAD digital
https://arianeracicot.bandcamp.com/album/danser-avec-le-feu
Danser avec le feu (French for "Dancing with Fire") is the second album of prize-winning
Montreal jazz pianist Ariane Racicot. All songs are composed by Racicot, who showcases her
extraordinary piano talent supported by Antoine Rochefort on electric bass and Guillaume Picard
on drums. The songs have a charged message about resilience, environmental anxiety, and the
importance of listening to one's instincts. Several pieces of Danser avec le feu are through-
composed music - created to be continuous, non-sectional, and non-repetitive (as opposed to
many compositional styles that use a repetitive chorus or refrain). The result is a captivating and
immersive soundscape that invites the listener to explore new horizons. Danser avec le feu is a
choice pick for connoisseurs of original piano jazz, highly recommended. The tracks are Avant la
tempete, Going For A Walk, Dancing With Fire, There Is Some Hope, Chez-moi, Canicules, I
Have Doubts, and Apres la Tempete.
The Blu-ray Shelf
Levels
Starring Cara Gee and Peter Mooney
Written and directed by Adam Stern
RLJE Films
https://www.amcnetworks.com
$15.39 Blu-ray
https://www.amazon.com/Levels-Blu-Ray-Adam-Stern/dp/B007RH6ZFI
Levels is a science fiction mystery-thriller movie set in the near future. Joe's peaceful life comes
crashing down in heartbreak when a stranger kills Ash, the woman he loves. Overcome with
grief, Joe tries to end his own life - yet time and again he fails. Reality frays about the edges, and
the world around Joe might not be what it seems. Could Ash still be alive? Edge-of-seat suspense
and intense twists and turns of plot keep the viewer enthralled and second-guessing to the very
end. Highly recommended! Special features include a "Behind the Scenes of Levels" showcase.
Levels is rated R due to language, violence, and suicide. English language with English subtitles
and English audio description track, 92 min.
The World is Still Beautiful Complete Collection
Sentai Film Works
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com
c/o RLJ Entertainment (distribution)
$59.98, Blu-ray, 2 discs
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/products/816726020372-the-world-is-still-beautiful-complete-
collection-blu-ray
The World is Still Beautiful Complete Collection is a Japanese anime set amid fictional
kingdoms with an 18th century vibe, about an arranged marriage between a princess and the Sun
King. Princess Nike did not expect to have an easy time with her betrothed, but neither did she
expect to be suddenly thrown into jail! Is her brief imprisonment just a rough start? Can the royal
couple tame their personality clashes in time to stop the sinister forces threatening to destroy both
of their kingdoms? The World is Still Beautiful Complete Collection weaves a serious political
plot with elements of fourth-wall breaking romantic comedy, and features a very strong-willed
couple (who each need to work on their own shortcomings). Highly recommended! The World is
Still Beautiful Complete Collection is rated TV-14 due to mature situations such as kidnapping
and the threat of worse. 12 episodes on 2 Blu-ray discs, Japanese audio only, English subtitles,
300 min.
The Gardening Shelf
Birds & Blooms Beauty in the Backyard
Birds & Blooms, author
Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889771074, $19.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Blooms-Beauty-Backyard-APPRECIATE/dp/B0D87QSJ27
Synopsis: You can relish nature's beauty all year long when you create a backyard that celebrates
everything nature has to offer. From landscaping with color and texture to attracting favorite
fliers in every season, the secrets to creating your own sanctuary are shared in the illustrated
pages of "Beauty in the Backyard" from the team at Birds & Blooms magazine.
You will learn how to enhance small yards, turning shady spots into stunning areas, and get the
most bang for your buck with oversized plants and blooms. You will even find expert advice on
house plants, front-porch decor, crafty ideas using nature's bounty and so much more. "Beauty in
the Backyard" features more than 300 no-fuss tips, hints and suggestions make it easy!
Best of all, hundreds of magnificent and inspiring full color photos make "Beauty in the
Backyard" a joy to page through all year long. Whether you're an experienced gardener or
working on your first yard, whether you own acres of land or a tiny city plot, "Beauty in the
Backyard" is an ideal instructional guide and 'how to' manual.
Critique: Mandatory reading for both novice and experienced gardeners wanting to create the
backyard of their dreams, who seek to increase curbside appeal with seasonal flair, to attract
birds and butterflies to their backyard, to landscape with color, keep houseplants healthy, to make
the most of small and shady spaces, this large format (8.6 x 0.8 x 10.9 inches, 1.65 pounds)
paperback edition of "Beauty in the Backyard" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in and inspiring in
both organization and presentation, making it especially and unreservedly recommended for
community library Gardening & Domestic Landscaping collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Beauty in the Backyard" from Birds &
Blooms is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Birds & Blooms (https://www.birdsandblooms.com) features incredible nature
photography, expert gardening advice and detailed accounts that are adored by today's bird and
butterfly enthusiasts, Birds & Blooms magazine and books are cherished by readers throughout
North America. With more than a million followers on social media, Birds & Blooms prides
itself on inspiring a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature by celebrating beauty in the
backyard and beyond.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Flower Embroidery: Over 100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create
Susie Johns
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946814, $27.95, PB, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Foolproof-Flower-Embroidery-Stitches-Combinations/dp/1617459747
Synopsis: From delightful daffodils to cheerful cherry blossoms, with the publication of "Flower
Embroidery: Over 100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create", needlecraft expert Susie Johns
introduces her readers to a range of fundamental embroidery techniques and best practices
through easy-to-follow instructions, clearly defined tips and step-by-step photography.
Each page features beautifully photographed projects which vary from pillowcases, table cloths
and cutlery wraps, to aprons and picnic cloths. The projects comprising "Flower Embroidery:
Over 100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create) will appeal to both beginners and more
experienced embroiderers.
Whether you're a seasoned needlework enthusiast or a budding embroidery artist, "Flower
Embroidery: Over 100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create" offers a bouquet of inspiration and
step-by-step guidance to create stunning floral masterpieces.
The projects include: Lavender pouches, Buttercups and Daisies Cutlery Wrap, Summer Bouquet
Cushion, Honeysuckle Apron, Poppy Picnic Cloth, and more!
Critique: This large format (7.9 x 0.5 x 9.9 inches, 1.15 pounds) paperback edition of "Flower
Embroidery: Over 100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create" by Suzie Johns will hold a very
special appeal to needlecrafters with an interest in embroidery as an art form, the creation of
embroidered flowers and plants. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Flower Embroidery: Over 100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Needlecrafting
collections.
Editorial Note: Susie Johns (https://susieatthecircus.typepad.com) is an artist and designer who
has written dozens of craft books, including Circus Embroidery, Knitted Woodland Creatures,
How to Embroider, Fat Quarter: Bags & Purses and Fat Quarter: Vintage. Her patterns and
designs appear regularly in consumer craft magazines in the UK, such as Let's Knit, Sew and
Let's Get Crafting, and she has written numerous patterns for suppliers such as DMC. She has
also demonstrated various crafts on television. She lives in London.
Crocheted Mythical Creatures
Jacki Donhou
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946876, $26.99, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crocheted-Mythical-Creatures-Folklore-Fairytales/dp/1784946877
Synopsis: From ferocious dragons to mischievous fairies, "Crocheted Mythical Creatures: 15
Makes from Legends, Folklore and Fairytales" by Jacki Donhou is the perfect combination of
instructional guide and "how-to" manual for novice and experienced needlecrafters who are
looking to ignite their imagination by creating fantastical projects from their stash of colorful
yarn. Each project comes with detailed and easy-to-follow instructions, perfect for beginner and
more intermediate crocheters alike!
Inspired by the Japanese crochet style of amigurumi, each project in "Crocheted Mythical
Creatures: 15 Makes from Legends, Folklore and Fairytales" (which includes a Unicorn, a
Dragon, a Mermaid, a Banshee, a Genie, and more!) is quick and fun to make. The smaller size
of each project makes for the perfect decoration or toy. Needlecrafters will be able to create
creatures straight from the pages of a fairy tale or from myths across the world -- from a genie to
Medusa, needlecrafters will be guided through step-by-step instruction and photography as their
magical projects come to life!
Critique: Beautifully illustrated step-by-step instructions guarantee success for even the most
novice of crochet beginners with Jacki Donhou's "Crocheted Mythical Creatures: 15 Makes from
Legends, Folklore and Fairytales". Impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,
this exceptional and step-by-step guide will prove to be an immediately and enduringly popular
addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft/Crochet instructional
reference collections.
Editorial Note: Jacki Donhou (https://www.dearjackistitchery.com) taught herself to crochet as a
hobby to pass the time alongside bringing up her three children, and she has been designing
amigurumi and plush patterns ever since. Her passion is to bring something unique to the crochet
and yarn community that children and adult collectors alike will enjoy.
Vintage Granny Squares
Emmy Varnam
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946791, $26.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Granny-Squares-author/dp/1784946796
Synopsis: Granny squares are a thrifty, fun and fashionable way to use up your yarn stash by
creating adorable items to wear and to decorate your home. "Vintage Granny Squares: 20 Crochet
Projects with a Retro Vibe" by needlecraft expert Emma Varnam is comprised of colorful and
cheerful creations which have an appealing retro vibe, taking you back to the feel-good comfort
of home-made furnishings and accessories. A handy techniques section explains all the basic
skills needed, making this book appealing to beginners and more experienced crocheters
alike.
Patterns are based around the classic granny square, but with a modern twist. They won't take
long to make and are quick and easy to complete once you know the basics of crochet. Each
project has detailed color photography and clear, concise instructions to follow. From gorgeous
blankets to colorful cushions, to stylish scarves, shrugs and mittens, "Vintage Granny Squares:
20 Crochet Projects with a Retro Vibe" is packed with inspiring DIY projects that are guaranteed
to get you reaching for your crochet hook, and they'll make charming gifts too.
Critique: Profusely illustrated, featuring thoroughly 'user friendly' instructions, and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, and community library collections, "Vintage Granny
Squares: 20 Crochet Projects with a Retro Vibe" will have a particular and very special appeal to
both novice and experienced needlecrafts with an interest in fun, practical, and creative DIY
crochet projects.
Editorial Note: Emma Varnam (http://emmavarnam.co.uk) has written several popular crochet
books, Crocheted Flowers, 10,000 Crocheted Hats, Cute Crocheted Food, Crocheted
Houseplants, Crocheted Succulents, Cute Crocheted Animals, How to Crochet, Granny Squares
Home and Granny Squares Weekend, (all published by GMC Publications). She has also had a
number of successful collaborations with the celebrated knitwear designer Debbie Bliss. Emma
regularly shares her design inspiration on her award-winning knitting and crochet blog.
Cute Plushies and Mochi Dolls
Eriko Teranishi
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804857871, $18.99, HC, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cute-Plushie-Mochi-Dolls-Manga-style/dp/0804857873
Synopsis: Plushies are squishable, stuffed dolls. Mochi are the cute, limbless little dolls that are
shaped like a bread loaf. Dress them, squeeze them, display them, hang them on your computer
and carry them around with you. Cute Plushie and Mochi Dolls will turn everyone into a plushie
doll expert quickly with:
One easy-to-sew basic body pattern
Templates for 27 different dolls based on this body
Patterns for 10 adorable palm-size mini mochis
Templates for an array of hairstyles and facial features
Small enough to be handstitched using very simple techniques, these little dolls make perfect
gifts for manga, anime and kawaii fans of all ages. Designing their wild hairdos is easy and fun.
Try different faces and hair and clothing combinations to create dolls that resemble your
friends-they will love it! And the adventure doesn't stop there, with "Cute Plushies and Mochi
Dolls: Sweet Manga-style Kawaii Characters to Sew" by Eriko Teranishi you will be able to
make over 50 mix-and-match outfits and accessories for everything, from everyday clothes to
cosplay costumes.
Illustrated instructions, patterns and templates take you all the way from start to finish. Whether
you are a seasoned sewing enthusiast or a novice just beginning to explore the world of plush toy
crafting, let "Cute Plushies and Mochi Dolls: Sweet Manga-style Kawaii Characters to Sew" be
your guide to some seriously creative fun!
Critique: This large format (7.5 x 0.6 x 10.2 inches, 1.45 pounds) hardcover edition of Eriko
Teranishi's "Cute Plushies and Mochi Dolls: Sweet Manga-style Kawaii Characters to Sew" from
Tuttle Publishing is thoroughly needlecrafter friendly in organization and presentation. Profusely
illustrated instructions and featuring full color photos of finished dolls, "Cute Plushies and Mochi
Dolls" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community
library Needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Cute Plushies and
Mochi Dolls" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Eriko Teranishi (www.youtube.com/@ErikoTeranishi) is a toy designer and
prolific author of craft books in her native Japan. Many of her books are written especially for
children, introducing them to handicrafts such as sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, felting
and paper crafts; others are written with kid-lovers in mind, featuring toys and accessories kids
love. She is the author of the popular book Finger Knitting for Kids (Tuttle Publishing).
Crochet Cute Amigurumi Animals with Mix-and-Match Outfits
Written by The Halations
Introduction by Gayle Roehm
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804857864, $17.99, HC, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Amigurumi-Animals-Outfits-follow/dp/0804857865
Synopsis: With the publication of "Crochet Cute Amigurumi Animals with Mix-and-Match
Outfits: 76 Easy-to-follow Patterns Using Clear Japanese-style Crochet Charts", the needlecraft
team of The Halations shows novice and experienced crocheters how to make endearing animal
dolls with a fabulous array of fun fashions to dress them in.
One basic ragdoll body shape is used to make a bunny, a bear, a dog, a cat, and many other
animal cuties. And here's where the real fun starts -- creating a mix-and-match wardrobe of
outfits and accessories that all your dolls can share!
You can dress your handmade toys in:
Classy sweaters and frilly skirts
Pretty tops and casual pants
Adorable sneakers, flats or boots
A huge range of accessories from jaunty hats to a backpack with bunny ears and a tail!
Plus enchanting costumes for every occasion
These outfits can be used for any ragdoll of a similar body size. An illustrated step-by-step lesson
in making the doll body is included. Project instructions are presented in the charts-and-symbols
style pioneered by Japanese amigurumi artists.
"Crochet Cute Amigurumi Animals with Mix-and-Match Outfits: 76 Easy-to-follow Patterns
Using Clear Japanese-style Crochet Charts" is a great way to expand your crochet skills and join
the growing number of crocheters enjoying this clear "visually-oriented" instructional method --
and a great way to delight amigurumi doll lovers of all ages!
Critique: Fun and inspiring for crocheting needlecrafters of all ages and levels of experience, this
large format (7.48 x 0.63 x 10 inches, 1.35 pounds) hardcover edition of "Crochet Cute
Amigurumi Animals with Mix-and-Match Outfits: 76 Easy-to-follow Patterns Using Clear
Japanese-style Crochet Charts", which is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99),
is a unique, inspired, highly recommended, and thoroughly welcome addition to personal,
professional, and community library DIY Crochet/Needlecrafting instructional reference
collections.
Editorial Note: The Halations is a collaboration of four talented crafters. Creating amigurumi
since 1998, andeBoo specializes in using different materials and colorful designs with a touch of
whimsy. Green Bear went independent focusing on easy-to-crochet amigurumi and small
accessories designs after working as a planner for a handicraft supplies manufacturer for 12
years. Takagi Yuki is involved with craft and doll knit brands in Japan, actively participating in
craft events and providing designs for handicraft books. MIYA is a teacher and writer of books
on crocheted toys, clothes and accessories. She is the author of the popular Crochet Cute Dolls
with Mix-And-Match Outfits (Tuttle Publishing).
The Business Shelf
SHIFTS
Sam Adeyemi
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394277728, $30.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/SHIFTS-Transform-Mindset-Elevate-Leadership/dp/1394277725
Synopsis: With the publication of "SHIFTS: 6 Steps to Transform Your Mindset and Elevate
Your Leadership", Dr. Sam Adeyemi provides a step-by-step blueprint for leaders that seek to
create lasting positive change with respect to their organizations be they social, religious, or
commercial.
Drawing from his more than 30 years of leadership coaching experience, Dr. Adeyemi teaches
readers the importance of personal development, cultural awareness, and leading effectively in a
globalized world. This essential read introduces the SHIFTS framework, a unique methodology
that guides leaders through six transformative steps:
1. See: Cultivate vision to recognize opportunities and challenges.
2. Hear: Listen deeply to understand spoken and unspoken messages.
3. Insight: Synthesize information to gain clear perspectives for decision-making.
4. Formulate: Develop innovative and practical strategies from insights.
5. Transform: Implement strategies to drive change and achieve goals.
6. Succeed: Sustain positive change and inspire continuous growth.
Critique: Practical, informative, instructive, and impressively organized and presented for the
reader's benefit, Dr. Sam Adeyemi's "SHIFTS: 6 Steps to Transform Your Mindset and Elevate
Your Leadership" must be considered essential reading for both current and aspiring leaders
seeking to develop essential leadership skills applicable to any role and industry. While this
hardcover edition of "SHIFTS: 6 Steps to Transform Your Mindset and Elevate Your
Leadership" from Wiley is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Business Management/Leadership collections and
supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, corporate
executives, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that "SHIFTS: 6 Steps to Transform Your Mindset and Elevate Your Leadership" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note: Dr. Sam Adeyemi (https://samadeyemi.com) has over 30 years' experience
teaching leadership and providing solutions to global leaders and organizations. He is an
internationally renowned speaker and has spoken at global events including Horasis and
GLS.
Inspire
Adam Galinsky
Harper Business
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063294677, $32.00, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Inspire-Universal-Transforming-Yourself-Leading/dp/0063294672
Synopsis: Whether you're a leader, a member of a team, a spouse, or a parent, "Inspire: The
Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others" by social psychologist and leadership expert
Adam Galinsky is an engaging and rigorous exploration that unpacks the science of inspiration.
Through compelling stories, fascinating research, and practical tips for addressing the common
dilemmas we face daily, "Inspire" reveals how all of us, regardless of status or circumstance, can
be more inspiring more often.
Professor Galinsky has spent three decades building a method for determining when we are
inspiring versus infuriating, and where various leaders (presidents, CEOs, coaches, teachers,
parents, and a wealth of others) currently land on that spectrum.
Professor Galinsky also shows how inspiring leaders can fill us with a wellspring of hope and
possibility as they guide us to become better versions of ourselves. In contrast, infuriating leaders
disappoint and annoy, fueling seething cauldrons of rage. But both types of leaders are deeply
connected - together, they represent a universal continuum that is rooted in the very architecture
of the human brain. This means that inspiring leaders aren't born - instead, we can inspire or
infuriate in any given moment through our behavior, words, or presence.
In his fascinating study, Professor Galinsky identifies the three universal archetypes of truly great
leaders and explains how each of us can develop these characteristics within ourselves to become
more inspiring:
Visionaries offer a big-picture, optimistic, and engaging vision of the future;
Exemplars are courageous and calm protectors who authentically express their passion while
remaining consistent in word and deed;
Mentors encourage, empower, and elevate others while challenging them to reach their
potential.
"Inspire" is an essential guide to becoming not only a better leader but also an effective
decision-maker, a dynamic problem-solver, a value-creating negotiator, and an inclusive
innovator.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Inspire: The Universal Path for
Leading Yourself and Others" by Professor Adam Galinsky must be considered essential reading
for anyone charged with a position of importance and responsibility in their professional career
and in their personal life. Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an
eleven page Introduction, twenty-two pages of Notes, and an eleven page Index, "Inspire: The
Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others" is especially and unreservedly recommended
for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Business
Management/Leadership collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for students, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives that this hardcover edition of "Inspire:
The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others" from Harper Business is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone
Publishing, 9798874873738, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Adam Galinsky (https://adamgalinsky.com) is the Vikram S. Pandit Professor of
Business and Chair of the Management Division at the Columbia Business School at Columbia
University. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Animal Theology
Andrew Linzey
University of Illinois Press
www.press.uillinois.edu
9780252064678, $22.00, PB, 224pp
9780252097805, $19.95, Kindle
https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p064678
Synopsis: "Animal Theology" was originally published in 1994 by the ethicist and theologian
Andrew Linzey. The work explores how traditional Christian doctrines and practices have
approached animal ethics and argues for a reassessment of animals' moral and spiritual status.
Linzey builds his case around principles of reverence, responsibility, and rights, suggesting that
Christian theology provides the tools for a more compassionate relationship with animals.
Summary
"Animal Theology" is divided into two sections. The first establishes theological principles,
discussing key concepts like the intrinsic value of creation and the moral responsibilities humans
hold toward animals. Linzey critiques historical perspectives, including those of theologians such
as Karl Barth and Thomas Aquinas, which he views as overly anthropocentric. He engages with
Albert Schweitzer's idea of Reverence for Life and proposes a theocentric framework where all
creatures are valued as part of God's creation.
The second section addresses ethical issues, including animal experimentation, hunting,
vegetarianism, and genetic engineering. Linzey examines these practices through a theological
lens, questioning their alignment with Christian values such as mercy, stewardship, and justice.
He suggests that humans, as part of creation, have a duty to act as caretakers rather than
exploiters, reflecting a model of service and compassion.
Critique: Now brought back for a new generation of appreciative readers by the University of
Illinois Press in a paperback format, "Animal Theology" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for readers with an interest in animal welfare and animal/human relationships
within the context of Christian theology and philosophy. Also now available in a digital book
format (Kindle), "Animal Theology" is an inherently interesting read and recommended for
clergy, seminary students, community and college/university library Christian Theology/Animal
Welfare collections and curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Andrew Linzey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Linzey) is an English
Anglican priest, theologian, and prominent figure in Christian vegetarianism. He is a member of
the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oxford, and held the world's first academic post in
Ethics, Theology and Animal Welfare, the Bede Jarret Senior Research Fellowship at Blackfriars
Hall. Linzey is also the founder and director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, an
independent academic centre opened in November 2006 to promote the study and discussion of
animal ethics.
The Travel Shelf
Women's Home Museums of the Northeast: A Guidebook
Marlene Wagman-Geller
The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493086283, $19.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Home-Museums-Northeast-Guidebook/dp/1493086286
Synopsis: With the publication of "Women's Home Museums of the Northeast: A Guidebook" by
Marlene Wagman-Geller, readers will discover the rich tapestry of New England's history
through the lives and legacies of thirty remarkable women.
The "Women's Home Museums of the Northeast" is the ultimate guide to exploring these iconic
home museums. Each individual chapter is singularly dedicated to a trailblazing woman who left
an indelible fingerprint on her region's past.
Offering more than just a series of on-site descriptions, biographer and travel writer Marlene
Wagman-Geller invites you to step into the shoes of history's larger-than-life ladies as she
presents vivid portraits of pioneering women and the secrets of their residences. These historic
homes, preserved as three-dimensional diaries, bring their stories to life.
In addition to captivating biographies, there are practical details to help plan your visit including:
nearby attractions, parking tips, admission costs, and visiting hours. Whether you're a history
buff, a cultural enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique travel experience, "Women's Home
Museums of the Northeast: A Guidebook" is the key to unlocking the stories behind these iconic
addresses.
Critique: Deftly organized and presented by state (New York, New Jersey, Conneticut, Rhode
Island, Massachusetts, Maine), "Women's Home Museums of the Northeast: A Guidebook" is
impressively informative and ideal reading for both the armchair traveler with an interest in
American Women's History, as well as an on-site planning trip itinerary resource. Highly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Women's
History and Travel Guide collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of Marlene
Wagman-Geller's "Women's Home Museums of the Northeast: A Guidebook" from Globe
Pequot is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.95) as well.
Editorial Note: Marlene Wagman-Geller is a writer whose eleven books have been reviewed in
the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, HuffPost, and dozens of other
newspapers as well as national magazines. There is a listing of her books online at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2120381.Marlene_Wagman_Geller
Tar Heel Traveler
Scott Masun
The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493085477, $34.95, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tar-Heel-Traveler-Landmarks-Attractions/dp/1493085476
Synopsis: With the publication of "Tar Heel Traveler: 201 North Carolina Landmarks and
Attractions", tour guide Scott Masun celebrates the many great and notable places to visit across
North Carolina, ranging from historic landmarks to little known nooks and crannies.
Also featured are museums, gardens, bakeries, theaters, lighthouses, even cemeteries --
attractions that Scott has showcased on his popular TV show, his nightly series which has aired
since 2007 on WRAL-TV and features colorful characters and fascinating locations across the
state.
Mason writes about these unique places in "Tar Heel Traveler" and includes their contact
information as well as photos of each landmark and attraction.
Critique: A lingering pleasure for the armchair traveler to browse through, a valued informational
resource to plan trip itineraries with, profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' in
organization and presentation, "Tar Heel Traveler: 201 North Carolina Landmarks and
Attractions" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library North Carolina travel guide and history collections. It should be
noted that this hardcover edition of "Tar Heel Traveler" from Globe Pequot is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.89).
Editorial Note: Scott Mason (https://www.thetarheeltraveler.com/about) is known as North
Carolina's Tar Heel Traveler. His nightly series is in its 16th year on WRAL-TV, the NBC
affiliate in Raleigh, and features colorful characters and fascinating locations across the state. On
average, 82,000 viewers watch the Tar Heel Traveler each night, and more than 30,000 people
follow him on social media.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Essence of Tarot
Mary K. Greer
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578638529, $18.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Essence-Tarot-Essential-Rituals-Readings/dp/1578638526
Synopsis: The ancient art of fragrance has long been a component of magical and spiritual
practice and rituals. With the publication of "Essence of Tarot: Using Essential Oils, Magic, and
Rituals to Empower Your Readings", tarot master Mary K. Greer demonstrates how this
primordial art can be used to enhance modern tarot practices, whether for divination, meditation,
or affirmations. Greer (among the world's foremost authorities on the topic), demonstrates how
essential oils can enrich the tarot experience, as well as empower tarot readers.
Readers will learn how to create a more magical life through the union of tarot and aromatherapy.
No previous experience with essential oils is needed, as Greer offers a crash course, along with
details about the historical role of scent and perfumery in magical and divinatory rituals. Greer
provides oils and scents to correspond with each of the seventy-eight cards of the tarot.
"Essence of Tarot" may be used in daily rituals and as a reference guide for tarot lovers.
Instructions for crafting tarot oils are included, as well as detailed instructions for using them to
maximize the tarot experience.
Originally published as The Essence of Magic, this new edition of the beloved classic includes a
new foreword by Judika Illes and retains the botanical illustrations by Ed Buryn, creator of the
William Blake Tarot, photographer, and vagabonding pioneer.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader/user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Essence of Tarot:
Using Essential Oils, Magic, and Rituals to Empower Your Readings" by Mark K. Greer is
essential reading for tarot students and practitioners alike. A deftly crafted combination of
instructional guidebook and 'how to' manual, "Essence of Tarot" is unreservedly recommended
for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies
reference collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Essence of Tarot" from
Weiser Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well as a
complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798228449756, $39.99,
CD).
Editorial Note: Mary K. Greer (www.marykgreer.com) is an independent scholar, writer, teacher,
and professional tarot consultant. She has an MA degree in English literature from the University
of Central Florida where she also first taught tarot in 1974. For eleven years, she was a teacher
and administrator at New College of California in San Francisco. In 2007, she received the
International Tarot Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Tarot Studies. She
also received the 2006 Mercury Award from the Mary Redman Foundation for excellence in
communication in the metaphysical field, and the 2006 Coalition of Visionary Resources award
for best divination book. She is an ordained priestess in the Fellowship and Church of Isis.
Archetypal Astrology Oracle: A 55-Card Deck and Guidebook
Jonathan Waller
Findhorn Press
www.findhornpress.com
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9798888500927, $30.00, Cards, Boxed Set, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Archetypal-Astrology-Oracle-55-Card-Guidebook/dp/B0CY9LLNCK
Synopsis: The "Archetypal Astrology Oracle: A 55-Card Deck and Guidebook" by Jonathan
Waller is ideal for Intuitively learning and working with Archetypal Astrology
This boxed set includes 55 full-color cards featuring each planetary archetype (the Sun, Moon,
and planets individually) as well as each aspect or pairing of two celestial bodies
It provides an in-depth guidebook with interpretations for each planet or aspect, explaining the
core meanings, potential gifts and challenges, and how to navigate their transits
It also explores different ways to work with the deck: as a divination oracle, as a part of a daily
spiritual practice, as an aid with dream work, or by creating a tableau of your Archetypal
Astrology birth chart for deep insight
Vividly bringing the planetary archetypes to life, the "Archetypal Astrology Oracle" deck from
Findhorn Press invites you to explore and deepen your relationship to self and cosmos in a new
and inspiring way.
The 55 full-color cards feature every planetary archetype individually and offers interpretations
exploring how the cosmic bodies or aspects can positively or negatively affect your life, how to
integrate their lessons, and how to navigate their transits.
Drawing insights from Jungian and contemporary psychology, current psychedelic therapy
research, and the work of Stanislav Grof, this oracle card set can be used for divination, aiding
dream work, or creating a tableau of your archetypal astrology birth chart for deeper insight.
Critique: Beautiful, inspirational, ideal for both the aspiring novice and the experienced
divination and astrology practitioner, the "Archetypal Astrology Oracle: A 55-Card Deck and
Guidebook" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library Metaphysical Studies Astrology & Divination collections.
Editorial Note: Jonathan Waller (https://www.jonwallercoach.com) is a respected archetypal
astrologer, life coach, visual artist, essayist, and poet. The co-host of Awakenings - The
Archetypal Astrology Podcast, Jonathan currently resides in southwest England.
Tarot and Other Meditation Decks, 2nd Edition
Emily E. Auger
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476686790, $39.95, PB, 276pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Other-Meditation-Decks-Aesthetics/dp/1476686793
Synopsis: Arthur E. Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith's Rider-Waite Tarot (1909) is the
most popular Tarot in the world. Today, it is affectionately referred to as the Rider-Waite-Smith
Tarot in recognition of the high quality of Smith's contributions. Waite and Smith's deck has
become the gold standard for identifying and analyzing contemporary Tarot and other meditation
decks based on archetypes.
Developments in both visual and literary history and theory have influenced Tarot since its
fifteenth-century invention as a game and subsequent adaptations for esotericism, cartomancy,
and meditation. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Tarot and Other Meditation
Decks: History, Theory, Aesthetics, Typology" by Emily E. Auger considers Tarot in relation to
established modern and postmodern art movements, such as Symbolism, Surrealism, and Pattern
and Decoration Art, as well as the concepts and theories informing both the dominance and the
dissolution of the modernist "grid" and hierarchical priorities.
This seminal work also explores the close connection between Tarot and the invention of the
literary novel and includes new material on the representation of Tarot in film and fiction. A new
chapter addresses the growing influence of the archetypal "shadow" and "shadow work" on Tarot
as an artistic form, narrative genre, and practice in the new millennium.
Critique: This large format (7 x 0.55 x 10 inches, 1.1 pounds) paperback edition of "Tarot and
Other Meditation Decks: History, Theory, Aesthetics, Typology: 2nd Edition" by Emily E. Auger
is illustrated throughout in black/white images, and is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the
inclusion of a twenty-four page Appendix featuring individual card imagery, sixteen pages of
Chapter Notes, a two page listing of Meditation and Other Decks Cited, a thirteen page
Bibliography, and a nine page Index. Extraordinarily well organized and presented, "Tarot and
Other Meditation Decks: History, Theory, Aesthetics, Typology, 2nd Edition" is an ideal and
recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Folklore
& Tarot collections, as well as supplemental Metaphysical Studies curriculum reading lists. It
should be noted that this paperback edition of "Tarot and Other Meditation Decks: History,
Theory, Aesthetics, Typology, 2nd Edition" from McFarland & Company is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: Emily E. Auger (https://emilyeauger.weebly.com) is a retired art historian and
author of numerous reviews, articles, and books. She is the founder and chair of the "Tarot and
Other Divination Methods" area at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture
Association (2004-2020).
Dream It to Do It: The Science and the Magic
Howard Eisenberg
Syntrek(r) Inc.
9781737916901, $24.95, HC, 136pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Do-Science-Howard-Eisenberg/dp/1737916908
Synopsis: Physician and scientist Dr. Howard Eisenberg is a long-time explorer of the various
realms of consciousness. With the publication of "Dream It to Do It: The Science and the
Magic", he shares his recent awe-inspiring revelation of our dream-like entrapment in a virtual
reality of toxic divisiveness -- and the potential underlying infinite 'field of consciousness' that
connects and empowers all.
By integrating indigenous wisdom, spiritual experience, and the leading-edge scientific
discoveries, "Dream It to Do It" is designed to reshape your understanding of reality by revealing
the magical-like formula between envisioning the impossible and manifesting it into our external
world.
A powerful book of spiritually and scientifically integrated revelations, with "Dream It to Do It"
you will:
Learn to unlock the secrets of reality itself
Discover who you really are - beyond your 'ego mind' and brain
Harness your potential powers for real magic - the kind that transforms physical reality!
"Dream It to Do It: The Science & the Magic" is the multi award-winning guide to unlocking the
secrets that can transform your life and restore your deeper connection to others and our
World.
Critique: A seminal and ground breaking study and instructional guide, Howard Eisenberg's
"Dream It to Do It: The Science and the Magic" will be of special appeal to readers with an
interest in parapsychology, the role and utilization of dreams and dreaming, and a 'New Age'
approach to self-help/self-improvement. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
this hardcover edition of "Dream It to Do It: The Science and the Magic" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
collections. It should be noted that "Dream It to Do It: The Science and the Magic" is also readily
available in paperback (9781737916925, $18.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$5.99).
Editorial Note: Howard Eisenberg, M.Sc. (Psych), M.D., is a medical doctor with additional
postgraduate training in psychology and psychiatry. He has been a lecturer at the University of
Toronto and an associate professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont. He is also the CEO
of the international consultancy Syntrek(R) Inc.On a more personal level, he's been on a
passionate lifelong quest to discover the true nature of reality. He was awarded the first
postgraduate degree in Canada at McGill University for his highly successful research on
Telepathy. He then pioneered the instruction of Parapsychology as a regular credit course at the
University of Toronto.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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