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Wisconsin Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
A Bookshop of One's Own
Jane Cholmeley
Bloomsbury Academic
c/o Bloomsbury Publishing
www.bloomsbury.com
9798881806217, $34.00, HC, 386pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bookshop-Ones-Own-Group-Change/dp/B0DJC677N9
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-bookshop-of-ones-own-jane-cholmeley/1143608948
Synopsis: What was it like to start a feminist bookshop, in an industry dominated by men? How could a lesbian thrive in
Thatcher's time, with the government legislating to restrict her rights? How do you run a business when your real aim is to
change the world?
Silver Moon was the dream of three women - a bookshop with the mission to promote the work of female writers and
create a much-needed safe space for any woman. Founded in 1980s London against a backdrop of homophobia and
misogyny, it was a testament to the power of community, growing into Europe's biggest women's bookshop and hosting a
constellation of literary stars from Margaret Atwood and Maya Angelou to Angela Carter.
While contending with day-to-day struggles common to other booksellers, plus the additional burdens of misogyny and the
occasional hate crime, Jane Cholmeley and her booksellers created a thriving business. But they also played a crucial and
relatively unsung part in one the biggest social movements of our time.
"A Bookshop of One's Own: How a Group of Women Set Out to Change the World" is a fascinating slice of social history
from the heart of the women's liberation movement, from a true feminist and lesbian icon. Written with heart and humour,
it reveals the struggle and joy that comes with starting an underdog business, while being a celebration of the power
women have to change the narrative when they are the ones holding the pen.
Critique: Unique, deftly crafted, informative, insightfully thought-provoking, and an inherently fascinating read from first
page to last, "A Bookshop of One's Own: How a Group of Women Set Out to Change the World" is an extraordinary
account that will be of immense value and appeal to readers with an interest in the role of the bookshop to a community.
While a special and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library collections, it should be
noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated bibliophiles, authors, publishers, and aspiring independent bookstore
proprietors that this hardcover edition of "A Bookshop of One's Own: How a Group of Women Set Out to Change the
World" from Bloomsbury Academic is also readily available in a British paperback edition from Amazon (Mudlark,
9780008651077, $12.30, 384pp).
Editorial Note #1: The Silver Moon Women's Bookshop was a feminist bookstore at 68 Charing Cross Road in London,
England, founded in 1984 by Jane Cholmeley, Sue Butterworth, and Jane Anger. They established Silver Moon Bookshop
to promote women's writing, serve a community of readers and encourage discussion of women's issues. The shop served
both as a safe space for women to participate in literary events and a resource centre to learn about local feminist
initiatives. Jane Cholmeley and Sue Butterworth also founded Silver Moon Books, publishers of lesbian romance and
crime fiction. In Autumn 1986 Sue Butterworth created the shop's newsletter Silver Moon Quarterly, reaching out
nationwide and internationally. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Moon_Bookshop)
Editorial Note #2: Jane Cholmeley is a key figure in British feminism and books, the co-founder of Silver Moon Women's
Bookshop, which became the largest of its kind in Europe. Silver Moon created a safe space for women and proudly made
women's writing central and visible on the best bookselling street in the world. It quickly came to play a vital role in the
second-wave feminist movement. Operating in a male-dominated space, the stop was often subject to threats of arson but
maintained a safe space for customers, with community activism at its core. The bookshop frequently hosted writers such
as Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and Margaret Attwood. Sandi Toksvig nominated Jane Cholmeley as a Gay Icon in the
National Portrait Gallery's exhibition of that name in 2009 and Jacqueline Wilson named Jane her feminist icon in Stylist,
2018.
The AI Studies Shelf
Ethical AI in Marketing
Nicole Alexander
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398622319, $134.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-AI-Marketing-Aligning-Responsibility/dp/1398622311
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ethical-ai-in-marketing-nicole-alexander/1146743878
Synopsis: The rapid evolution of AI presents marketers with unparalleled opportunities, but innovation inevitably invites
scrutiny. To stay ahead, marketers must ensure their use of AI is both effective and ethical.
Whether you are launching your first AI marketing initiative or scaling existing programs, "Ethical AI in Marketing:
Aligning Growth, Responsibility and Customer Trust" by Professor Nicole Alexander is practical and instructive guide that
will equip senior marketing professionals and aspiring leaders with the strategic insight and tactical expertise needed to
navigate the complexities of AI-driven marketing.
Offering a comprehensive roadmap for those responsible for implementing AI solutions, "Ethical AI in Marketing" also
explores how to harness AI's transformative power while upholding ethical standards and fostering consumer trust.
Additionally, and through real-world examples from organizations such as Ally, OSF Healthcare, Adobe, and Ipsos,
"Ethical AI in Marketing" examines how businesses are addressing key challenges, from navigating privacy considerations
while delivering personalized experiences to developing governance frameworks that ensure ethical oversight without
hindering innovation.
"Ethical AI in Marketing" fully delves into the strategies that create sustainable competitive advantages through ethical AI
adoption and provides a nuanced understanding of how companies at various stages of AI maturity are approaching
responsible implementation. By illuminating both the challenges and opportunities that arise in AI adoption, "Ethical AI in
Marketing" offers marketers the tools and frameworks necessary to build trust, drive innovation, and ensure AI-driven
marketing aligns with long-term ethical and business goals.
Critique: A seminal, groundbreaking, informative, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking study, "Ethical AI in
Marketing: Aligning Growth, Responsibility and Customer Trust" by Professor Nicole Alexander is impressively
'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty-
eight page Glossary, a one page Postscript, and a four page Index, "Ethical AI in Marketing: Aligning Growth,
Responsibility and Customer Trust" is a timely and unreservedly recommended addition to corporate, community, and
college/university library Business Ethics/Corporate Governance collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies
lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business managers,
entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject tht this hardcover edition of "Ethical AI in
Marketing: Aligning Growth, Responsibility and Customer Trust" from Kogan Page is also readily available in paperback
(9781398622296, $38.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.99).
Editorial Note: Nicole Alexander is a marketing leader and educator with over 25 years of experience driving growth,
innovation and transformation. She is an Adjunct Professor at NYU, a Lecturer at Section School and a Board Member at
Per Scholas. She has held prominent leadership roles, including Global Head of Marketing at Meta, SVP of Innovation at
Ipsos and VP of Innovation for Greater China at Nielsen. Nicole holds an MSt in AI Ethics and Society from the
University of Cambridge and an Executive MBA from TRIUM (NYU Stern, HEC Paris, LSE).
(https://perscholas.org/about/board-staff/nicole-alexander)
The Education Shelf
The Best 391 Colleges, 2026
Robert Franek, et al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
www.PrincetonReview.com
9780593518298, $26.99, PB, 896pp
https://www.amazon.com/Best-391-Colleges-2026-Depth/dp/0593518292
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-391-colleges-2026-the-princeton-review/1146546474
Synopsis: The Princeton Review's college rankings started in 1992 with surveys from 30,000 students. Over 30 years and
more than a million student surveys later, they stand by their claim that there is no single "best" college, only the best
college for a specific student -- and that "The Best 391 Colleges, 2026: In-Depth Profiles & Ranking Lists to Help Find the
Right College For You" is the ideal resource for finding it!
"The Best 391 Colleges, 2026" features:
391 in-depth school profiles based on candid feedback from 170,000+ students, covering academics, administration,
campus life, and financial aid
Insights on unique college character, social scene, and more
Direct quotes from students about their school's professors, campus culture, career services, and more
Lists of the top 25 colleges in 50 categories based on students' opinions of academics, campus life, facilities, and much
more
Ratings for every school on Financial Aid, Selectivity, and Quality of Life
The detailed admissions information includes:
The "Inside Word" on competitive applications, test scores, tuition, and average indebtedness
Comprehensive information on selectivity, freshman profiles, and application deadlines at each school
Also offered is free access to 2 full-length practice tests online (1 SAT and 1 ACT) to help a student prep for the important
admissions-exams part of their admissions journey.
Critique: Comprehensive, reliable, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Best 391 Colleges,
2026: In-Depth Profiles & Ranking Lists to Help Find the Right College For You" is an indispensable and essential
acquisition and informational resource for highschool counselors, parents, graduating highschool seniors, and adults of any
age seeking to attend a college and seek a degree.
Editorial Note: The experts at The Princeton Review have been helping students, parents, and educators achieve the best
results at every stage of the education process since 1981. The Princeton Review has helped millions succeed on
standardized tests, and provides expert advice and instruction to help parents, teachers, students, and schools navigate the
complexities of school admission. In addition to classroom courses in over 40 states and 20 countries, The Princeton
Review also offers online and school-based courses, one-to-one and small-group tutoring, as well as online services in both
admission counseling and academic homework help.
The Cookbook Shelf
Heartland Masala
Jyoti Mukharji & Auyon Mukharji, authors
Olivier Kugler, illustrator
Kevin Miyazaki, photographer
Collective Book Studio
https://thecollectivebook.studio
9781685553289, $35.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Heartland-Masala-Cookbook-American-Kitchen/dp/1685553281
Synopsis: Co-authored by Jyoti Mukharji and Auyon Mukharji, "Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an
American Kitchen" is packed from cover to cover with rich storytelling, stunning visuals, and a blend of modern and
traditional dishes. Both a heartfelt portrait of one Midwestern family and a practical guide to cooking incredible Indian
meals at home, "Heartland Masala" features:
Delicious, Accessible Recipes: 99 carefully tested dishes bring Indian flavors into your kitchen, with ingredients and
methods tailored for American home cooks.
Cultural Essays & Family Stories: Fresh, insightful, and often humorous essays explore the immigrant cooking philosophy,
the Mukharjis' mother-son dynamic, and the many quirks of Indian culinary history.
Illustrations & Stunning Photography: A 32-page full-color photo insert by photographer Kevin Miyazaki - plus original
art make this a gorgeous centerpiece for your kitchen or coffee table.
Step-by-Step Guidance: Illustrations by Olivier Kugler that demystify complex techniques, along with spice shopping tips
to build confidence and skill.
Critique: An informative and inspiring culinary browse for 'culturally curious' readers and adventurous American family
cooks alike, "Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen" is unique among Indian cookbooks and
ideal for planning authentic, memorable, India themed menus with for special dining occasions and celebrations.
Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook
collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American
Kitchen" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note #1: Jyoti Mukharji is a chef, teacher, and retired physician. She immigrated to the US from India in the late
1970s, and she began teaching weekly Indian cooking classes out of her home in Prairie Village, KS in 2010. Jyoti has
since welcomed several thousand students into her kitchen, and her writing and teaching have been celebrated in press and
radio outlets across the Midwest. Jyoti's team includes her husband Jhulan (art director), her eldest son Arnob (grocery
shopping deputy), her middle son Auyon (musical guest), and her youngest son Aroop (copy editor).
(https://kansascitymag.com/midwest-masala)
Editorial Note #2: Auyon Mukharji is a musician, writer, and culinary historian who spends most of his time thinking
about food. He studied biology at Williams College and was awarded a Watson Fellowship in 2007 to study
self-expression in folk music. Since 2009, Auyon has toured with, and cooked for, the acclaimed indie-folk band
Darlingside. He otherwise finds time to work in and around kitchens (and farms) in both his hometown of Kansas City and
his adopted state-of-residence of Massachusetts. (https://fahertybrand.com/blogs/journal/auyon-mukharji)
Editorial Note #3: Olivier Kugler (www.olivierkugler.com) is a German-born London-based editorial illustrator and visual
journalist. He has travelled to Iran, Laos, Iraqi Kurdistan, Cairo, Ghana and many other places on assignment for a variety
of publications including The Guardian, New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, French journal XXI and German GQ. He has
done extensive reporting on Middle Eastern refugees in Europe and a book collecting this work called Dem Krieg
Entronnen was published in German by Edition Moderne - and in the UK and North America as Escaping Wars and
Waves. The book has won two major European design and illustration awards. Oli is also a past winner of a V&A
Illustration Award and World Illustration Award.
Editorial Note #4: Kevin Miyazaki's food, interior and travel assignments have taken him to 23 countries and 37 states. His
passion is shooting cookbooks, and he loves the unique collaboration involved with each project. His publishing clients
include Collective Book Studio, Knopf, Clarkson Potter, Rizzoli, House Beautiful, Smithsonian and The New York Times.
Kevin is a past IACP finalist and a member of Diversify Photo. (https://www.kevinmiyazaki.com)
(Almost) Instant Noodles
Lily Martin
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600639527, $19.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Almost-Instant-Noodles-Ultimate-Speedy/dp/0600639525
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/booklily-martin/1147149049
Synopsis: Noodles are a quick and easy to cook, and delicious to eat. With the publication of "(Almost) Instant Noodles:
Rapid Raman, Ultimate Udon, Speedy Stir Fries and More!", Lily Martin offers a beautifully illustrated culinary
compendium of foolproof noodle based recipes that can be made in a flash so that you can have a tasty and filling noodle
meal, almost instantly!
The recipes are organized thematically, with oodles of noodle inspiration in chapters dedicated to Soups, Saucy, Salads,
Stir Frys and Sides, plus an especially useful chapter on upgrading instant and pot noodles from corner-store basics to
mind-blowing meals.
It couldn't be easier to embrace the noodle trend with recipes that range from Crispy Salmon Ramen; Spicy Chicken Satay
Noodles; and Aubergine and Sesame Salad; to Ginger and Chili Stir Fry, Summer Rolls with Peanut Dip; Tofu with Black
Beans and Cashews -- and more!
Critique: Beautifully illustrated with a full color, full page photograph of each finished dish, "(Almost) Instant Noodles:
Rapid Raman, Ultimate Udon, Speedy Stir Fries and More!" by Lily Martin is the ideal resource for planning memorable
noodle-based menus with. While and ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community
library Seoul, Taiwanese, and Korean themed cookbook collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of
"(Almost) Instant Noodles: Rapid Raman, Ultimate Udon, Speedy Stir Fries and More!" from Hamlyn is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note #1: Lily Martin is a food writer based in Bristol, UK. Her recipes are creative, exciting and easy to achieve,
and draw inspiration from flavours and techniques she has enjoyed travelling around the world. Lily has loved noodles
since she was a student, and first discovered she could turn simple and affordable ingredients into innovative,
flavour-packed and satisfying meals. She has since become a noodle expert, traveling extensively in Southeast Asia and
mastering the art of cooking with noodles. There is an extensive listing of her books online at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5068380.Lily_Martin
Editorial Note #2: Hamlyn, was founded by Paul Hamlyn and is one of the most well known names in illustrated
publishing producing practical, informative and inspiring books. It approaches all the books it publishes in an accessible
and appealing manner.
Korean Banchan Recipes
Nobuko Kitasaka
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804858106, $16.99, HC, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Korean-Banchan-Recipes-Authentic-Pancheon/dp/0804858101
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/korean-banchan-recipes-nobuko-kitasaka/1146735033
Synopsis: Banchan are small, healthy, vegetable-focused side dishes that accompany every Korean meal. They're meant to
complement the main dishes -- providing extra flavors and textures featuring crisp, fresh vegetables. Tangy pickles,
seasoned seaweed, marinated tofu, spicy kimchi - there's something for everyone. For many, the Banchan are actually the
main event!
"Korean Banchan Recipes: 100 Authentic Side Dishes from Japchae and Jeon to Kimchi and Namul" showcases a range of
recipes that include:
Spicy Kimchi Dishes such as the sweet-tart Cherry Tomato Kimchi and rich Pork and Kimchi Stir-Fry
Lightly-seasoned Namuls like Wood Ear Mushrooms with Gochujang Namul and savory Garlic Chives with Soy
Namul
Seasonal Pickles like Pickled Whole Garlic, Perilla Leaves in Soy Sauce, and Dried Apricot Miso Jangajji
Crisp Panjeon Pancakes including Shredded Sweet Potato Jeon and Shiitake Mushroom Jeon
Stir-fried Japchae Noodles like Asparagus and Onion Japchae and Mushroom Japchae
Main Dishes like Beef Bulgogi and Sweet and Spicy Stewed Chicken Drumettes
And so many more!
With 100 unique and mix-and-match banchan recipes, preparing a complete, healthy, and delicious home-cooked Korean
meal has never been easier!
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photographs of finished dishes, "Korean Banchan Recipes: 100
Authentic Side Dishes from Japchae and Jeon to Kimchi and Namul" is a culinary compendium exceptionally 'kitchen
cook friendly' DIY recipes that are authentically Korean and unreservedly recommended for Korean themed menus for
formal and informal dining occasions. While an especially appropriate pick for personal, professional, and community
library Ethnic/Korean cookbook collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of Nobuko Kitasaka's "Korean
Banchan Recipes" from Tuttle Publishing is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Nobuko Kitasaka has made Seoul, South Korea her home for over a decade. While living there, she has
immersed herself in the pursuit of mastering traditional Korean home style recipes. Taking to heart the Korean philosophy
of "eating what's good for the body," she continues to deepen her knowledge of local ingredients and cooking methods.
She hosts cooking classes and seminars in her home, where she conveys the charm of Korean cuisine (which is spicy, but
also delicate and bold) while teaching the art of creating beautiful table settings. Kitasaka has authored three Korean
cookbooks.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Becoming Kerouac: A Writer in His Time
Paul Maher Jr.
The Lyons Press
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781589796874, $34.95, HC, 318pp
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Kerouac-Writer-His-Time/dp/158979687X
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/becoming-kerouac-paul-maher-jr/1142907131
Synopsis: Jack Kerouac was one of America's great writers of the latter half of the 20th century, yet he endured a life
characterized by persistent hardship and disillusion. With the publication of "Becoming Kerouac: A Writer in His Time",
leading Kerouac scholar Paul Maher Jr. targets the writer's embattled insight of self as central to his life and work.
"Becoming Kerouac" reveals how Kerouac's troubled interactions with alcohol, drugs, and spirituality stamped its
importance on his autobiographical prose and poetry and created a singular language that united thoughts on the human
condition and spiritual liberation. "Becoming Kerouac" affixes Kerouac's life and art in a fresh way, giving contemporary
readers a rich perspective from which to understand this 20th-century literary genius.
Using unpublished archival material, "Becoming Kerouac" also focuses upon the writer's critical formative years (1940 to
1957) to demonstrate his growth as a novelist and poet. Maher contends that Kerouac developed his singular language to
capture human consciousness as it never had before. His futilities catapulted American literature to reflect its restless
post-World War II anxieties.
Narrating the events that comprised Kerouac's life, biographers have long struggled to illustrate his complexness and the
contradictions that shaped his determinations and dogged his relationships. But without consideration of the writing, the
troubles in life fail to reveal their deeper resonances by skillfully analyzing the work while tracing the events. Maher
achieves a full portrait, revealing struggles that problematize his work. "Becoming Kerouac" fuses Kerouac's life and art to
comprehend this misunderstood literary genius.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking literary biography and analysis, "Becoming Kerouac: A Writer in His Time" by
Paul Maher Jr. is an extraordinary and informative contribution to the literary icon that was Jack Kerouac and his life's
work that proved so influential on the literary community over the past seven decades. Fascinating, informative, and a
compelling read from start to finish, "Becoming Kerouac: A Writer in His Time" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Biography/Memoir
collections and supplemental Creative Writing curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and the
legions of Jack Kerouac fans that this hardcover edition of "Becoming Kerouac: A Writer in His Time" from Lyons Press
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.50).
Editorial Note: Paul Maher Jr. (https://paulmaherjr.com) is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.. He is also
author/editor of Kerouac: His Life and Work; and editor of Tom Waits On Tom Waits: Interviews & Encounters with Tom
Waits; Miles On Miles: Interviews & Encounters with Miles Davis; One Big Soul: An Oral History of the Films of
Terrence Malick; and Isolated Wanderer: A Maxwell Bodenheim Reader.
This Is Panther Country
Tom McKeown
https://www.tommckeownbooks.com
Brown Books Publishing Group
https://www.brownbooks.com
9781612547305, $27.95, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/This-Panther-Country-Underdog-Basketball/dp/1612547303
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-is-panther-country-tom-mckeown/1146492415
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Tom McKeown, growing up in a close-knit Irish American family, struggles to balance school,
friends, and the newly discovered world of teenage society. It's an era when race and class divisions were very real, but
bridged by athletics and community purpose. From his vantage in the eighth grade, Tom and the Village of Babylon follow
their varsity basketball team, the Panthers, as they fight their way forward in hopes of claiming the first ever Long Island
Championship.
Led by visionary coach Roy Koelbel and star player Glenn Vickers, the Panthers confront adversity on and off the court.
Each obstacle overcome brings them closer to that elusive title. At the heart of their journey is a knockdown trilogy of
games with a familiar and formidable Amityville team, who have dreams of their own.
With a keen eye for strategy, detail, execution, and a deep love for the game of basketball, McKeown chronicles a season
of finding purpose in unexpected places, the power of teamwork, and the thrill of cheering for a team that embodies the
heart and spirit of a community. Even when faced with potential heartbreak, you'll find yourself shouting, "This is Panther
Country!"
Critique: Exceptionally well written, fully engaging, and a fascinating read from cover to cover, "This Is Panther Country:
A Memoir of Youth, Underdog Spirit, and Basketball Glory" by Tom McKeown is an athletic underdog story of a high
school basketball team's quest for glory and a young man's journey of growth, family, and determination. Set against the
vibrant backdrop of mid-1970s Long Island, New York, "This Is Panther Country" is a heartwarming memoir that fully
captures the excitement, challenges, and camaraderie of a small-town varsity basketball team and its dreams of triumph.
While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American
Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of highschool basketball fans that this
hardcover edition of "This Is Panther Country" from the Brown Books Publishing Group is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Tom McKeown (https://www.tommckeownbooks.com) is a successful technology entrepreneur who
cofounded and ran software provider TrenData before selling the company in 2021. He has also written numerous articles
that have been published in various trade magazines. Tom grew up on Long Island where he attended Babylon High
School and was an avid fan and participant in the school's basketball program. He later graduated from Trinity College in
Hartford, Connecticut, where among other activities he broadcast the school basketball games both in person and on the
local radio station. Tom remembers fondly the mid-1970s when his high school basketball team was a regional power and
the envy of many surrounding schools.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Secret Book Society
Madeline Martin
Hanover Square Press
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781335001153, $30.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Book-Society-Novel/dp/1335001158
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-book-society-madeline-martin/1146736612
Synopsis: London, 1885: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious
invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a
secret book club -- a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood and the courage to rewrite their stories.
Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American
dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a
dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands'
untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.
As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts and the risks
they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are
deadly, one misstep could cost them everything.
Critique: Original, clever, deftly crafted and showcasing the impressive flair of author Madeline Martin for the kind of
narrative driven and emotionally engaging storytelling style that provides the reader with a truly compelling and
memorable read from start to finish, "The Secret Book Society" is a unique and especially recommended pick for
community/public library Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists for readers with an
interest in Gothic Fiction that this hardcover edition of "The Secret Book Society" from the Hanover Square Press is also
readily available in paperback (9781335016287, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Madeline Martin (https://madelinemartin.com) is a New York Times, USA TODAY, and international
bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty
different languages.
Of Silver and Secrets
Michelle Griep
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
978074242571, $18.99, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Secrets-Victorian-Archeological-Treasures/dp/0764242571
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/of-silver-and-secrets-michelle-griep/1146440673
Synopsis: In 1889 Victorian England, Eva Inman is haunted by guilt over her parents' deaths while struggling to care for
her blind sister and manage her family's crumbling estate. With the tax deadline looming, Eva's situation looks dire until an
ancient silver ring is unearthed on the property. Despite superstitions warning against disturbing the supposedly cursed
acres, Eva's need for funds ignites her curiosity about the potential of finding more buried relics.
Cambridge professor Bram Webb must prove a legendary Christian Roman settlement exists, or he'll risk exposing his
uncle's deteriorating memory and they'll both lose their positions. Then Eva steps into his office with the prospect of an
archaeological dig that might lead to the very evidence Bram requires -- provided he and Eva can set aside painful
memories of a time they would rather forget.
As the dig forces the two to confront their pasts, the work becomes fraught with challenges that threaten Eva's and Bram's
hopes, as well as the growing attraction between them.
Critique: Original, clever, impressively well written, exceptionally memorable, "Of Silver and Secrets" by Michelle Griep
is a Victorian Romance set against the background of a19th Century archeological dig in England. "Of Silver and
Shadows" is the sequel to "Of Gold and Shadows", this second and concluding volume in the author's 'Time's Lost
Treasure' series. While this hardcover edition of "Of Silver and Shadows" is unreservedly recommended for community
and public library Historical Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of readers with an
interest in deftly crafted Christian Historical Romance novels that it is also available in paperback (9780764242571,
$18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.39).
Editorial Note: Michelle Griep (www.MichelleGriep.com) has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and
Crayola. She is a Christy Award-winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She is also an
anglophile at heart, and you'll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but
it's probably easier to follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Town College City Road
Patrick McGinty
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299354244, $18.95, PB, 284pp
https://www.amazon.com/Town-College-City-Patrick-McGinty/dp/0299354245
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/town-college-city-road-patrick-mcginty/1147076193
Synopsis: "Town College City Road" follows Kurt Boozel from childhood in an insular Northwestern Pennsylvania steel
town through life's booms and busts, and back to his Rust Belt home.
As a teenage math whiz, Kurt is bullied but relishes the opportunity to tutor his high school's star athlete. After their
friendship ends in a public and emasculating act of violence, Kurt steers his life progressively eastward, first as a closeted
economics major clinging to the coattails of his richer fraternity brothers, then to New York for a high-pressure finance
job.
After turning his attention to the fantastic promises of the cryptocurrency market, he finds himself unmoored while driving
across Pennsylvania in the midst of a snowstorm to be the best man at his brother's wedding.
Through his struggles to pass multiple masculine initiations, both real and metaphorical, Kurt ultimately discovers that the
only thing tougher than running away from rural mythology is constructing a new one.
Critique: Exceptional, emotionally engaging, and a riveting read from start to finish, "Town College City Road" by
novelist Patrick McGinty is an inherently fascinating 'coming of age' story that will have an authentic resonance with the
reader. With his distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style, author Patrick McGinty raises his novel to an impressive
level of literary excellence. Making it an unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as community
and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Patrick McGinty teaches at Slippery Rock University and serves on the executive council for his statewide
faculty union, APSCUF. He is the author of the novel "Test Drive".
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7567801.Patrick_McGinty)
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Pitcher Perfect
Tessa Bailey
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063380820, $30.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pitcher-Perfect-Fake-Dating-Disciplined-Completely/dp/006338082X
Synopsis: Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He's made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate
and fellow "orgasm donor" is his roomie -- and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets
Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone's bull... and the one member of the opposite sex
immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants
nothing to do with him.
When he discovers she's carrying a serious torch for her brother's best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to
clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can't seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land
another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie
knows it, he's agreed to be Skylar's fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her
crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?
Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake
relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they've ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of
control.
But it's all just pretend... right?
Critique: The stuff of which Hallmark Channel Rom-Com movies are made, "Pitcher Perfect: A Spicy Fake-Dating Sports
Romance of a Playboy Hockey Rookie and the Disciplined Softball Pitcher Completely Immune to His Charms" by Tessa
Bailey is a fun and funny read from cover to cover. The very definition of 'feel good' fiction, "Pitcher Perfect" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists of dedicated Rom-Com fans that this hardcover edition of "Pitcher Perfect" from Avon Books is
also readily available in paperback (9780063380837, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Tessa Bailey (https://www.tessabailey.com) can solve all problems except for her own, so as an author, 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.
The Rules of Falling for You
Mollie Rushmeyer
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764244421, $18.99, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Falling-You-Regency-Infused-Contemporary/dp/0764244426
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rules-of-falling-for-you-mollie-rushmeyer/1147013286
Synopsis: The perfect match can't be far (certainly not at a Regency-themed singles' retreat) or so podcaster Zoe Dufour
believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate
rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own:
finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.
Harrison Lundquist, Zoe's podcast producer and best friend's brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to
capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe's methods for
finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are
sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding
her back, she must decide if she's willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all
along.
She thought she knew the rules of love. Turns out, love makes its own.
Critique: Original, clever, well crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, "The Rules of Falling for You" by novelist and
storyteller Mollie Rushmeyer is rom-com reading at its very best. While a prized and popular pick for community library
contemporary 'clean' romance collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The
Rules of Falling for You" from Bethany House Publishers is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Mollie Rushmeyer (www.MollieJRushmeyer.com) writes whimsical romance with heart and humor. She
has a deep and abiding love for all things British, bookish, and filled with history and mystery. A modern girl herself- (she
wouldn't want to go a day without modern plumbing and central air!) she's always felt a special connection to the past and
anything with a happily ever after. Her debut novel, "The Bookshop of Secrets", was a finalist for a 2023 Carol
Award.
Once Upon a Christmas Carol
Melody Carlson
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.revellbooks.com
9780800744731, $18.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Christmas-Carol-Christian/dp/080074473X
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-christmas-carol-melody-carlson/1147013443
Synopsis: Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too
many dashed childhood expectations, she would rather avoid the holiday season. And working in the design industry where
she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients certainly hasn't helped!
So, this year her goal is to flee by herself to the Bahamas -- bah humbug! But bad weather and God's radically different
plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt's farm and discovers a different kind of
Christmas -- one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.
Critique: A sweet Christian/Romance novella with the themes of 'A Christmas Carol' but set in Michigan, "Once Upon A
Christmas Carol" by Melody Carlson is a fun and heartwarming read from cover to cover. The stuff of which Hallmark
Movie Channel movies are made, "Once Upon A Christmas Carol" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal reading lists and community library Christmas themed fiction and contemporary romance collections. It should be
noted that this hardcover edition of "Once Upon A Christmas Carol" from Revell is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Melody Carlson (www.bookseriesinorder.com/melody-carlson) is the author of more than 250 books,
including many Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times
Career Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie, and the movie based on
her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023.
The Christmas House
Beverly Lewis
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764244681, $17.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-House-Christian-Fiction-Lancaster/dp/076424468X
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-house-beverly-lewis/1147013282
Synopsis: With the holidays approaching, Liz Lantz is dedicated to using her Hickory Hollow buggy tour business to share
God's love with the Englisher tourists who visit her Lancaster County community.
But when her father and brother are called away for a while, Dat finds a young Amishman to assist her on the tours in her
brother's place, much to Liz's dismay. Regardless, the popularity of her Christmas House Buggy Tour means she could use
the help, so as the countdown to Christmas begins, she works alongside Matthew Yoder, who quickly takes a genuine
interest in the tour customers -- and Liz.
As an Englisher family in Hickory Hollow expresses their festive spirit with a lavishly decorated house for the second year
running, Liz's Amish community becomes increasingly concerned about attracting unwanted traffic and attention, and Liz
wonders if there is any way to bridge the gap to help the new neighbors feel welcome.
At the same time, she grapples with her growing feelings for Matt, whose position with her is only temporary. Can she find
a way to bring harmony to Hickory Hollow in time for Christmas?
Critique: A Beverly Lewis is a master of the Amish Romance genre and her latest novel, "The Christmas House" continues
to showcase her gift for deftly crafted, original, engaging, and entertaining novels set against Amish/Mennonite cultural
backgrounds. While also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), this
hardcover edition of "The Christmas House" from Bethany House Publishers is especially and unreservedly recommended
for community/public library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Beverly Lewis (www.BeverlyLewis.com) was born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, and has
more than 19 million books in print. Her stories have been published in twelve languages and have regularly appeared on
numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today.
Designed with Love
Tracy Peterson
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764245107, $29.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Designed-Love-Cheyenne-Tracie-Peterson/dp/0764245104
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/designed-with-love-tracie-peterson/1146440629
Synopsis: After being widowed on her wedding day, Emma Johnson moves to Cheyenne with her sister-in-law to start
over. Emma's life has been marked by wild living and a desire for fun, but the death of her husband forces her to reconsider
her priorities. Her brother-in-law Colton Benton travels with them, intending to help Emma get established, but she
becomes wary of Colton's intentions, wondering if he is genuinely interested in her or merely after his brother's inheritance
-- which is now hers.
Colton has harbored feelings for Emma since they first met, and he is caught between his love for her and the pressure
from his brothers to marry her for the family's financial benefit. As they settle into Cheyenne, Colton tries to balance his
business dealings with the Union Pacific and his growing affection for Emma. With his sister's simple yet profound faith in
God as inspiration amidst their struggles, Emma and Colton will be challenged to believe that a divine plan is intricately
woven into their lives.
Critique: A western Christian historical romance set in Frontier Wyoming, "Designed With Love" is the second volume in
author Tracie Peterson's 'Hope of Cheyenne' trilogy and a fun read for historical romance fans from cover to cover. Clever,
exceptional, and a highly recommended pick for community and public library Historical Romance collections, it should
be noted for the personal reading lists of Tracie Peterson fans that this hardcover edition of "Designed With Love" from
Bethany House Publishers is also readily available in paperback (9780764241116, $18.99) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Tracie Peterson (www.TraciePeterson.com) is the author of more than 100 novels, both historical and
contemporary. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement
Award. Her avid research resonates in her many popular series.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer
Ragnar Jonasson
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250408266, $29.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Case-Missing-Crime-Writer/dp/1250408261
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mysterious-case-of-the-missing-crime-writer-ragnar-jonasson/1147103015
Synopsis: One winter evening, bestselling crime author Elin S. Jonsdottir goes missing. There are no clues to her
disappearance and it is up to young detective Helgi to crack the case before its leaked to the press.
As Helgi interviews the people closest to her (a publisher, an accountant, a retired judge) he realizes that Elin's life wasn't
what it seemed. In fact, her past is even stranger than the fiction she wrote.
As the case of the missing crime writer becomes more mysterious by the hour, Helgi must uncover the secrets of the
writer's very unexpected life.
Critique: Original, exceptional, clever, compelling, and a fun read for mystery buffs from cover to cover, "The Mysterious
Case of the Missing Crime Writer" by Icelandic author Ragnar Jonasson is an extraordinary and deftly crafted detective
novel that is an unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime
Writer" from Minotaur Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Ragnar Jonasson is the award-winning Icelandic author of the international bestselling Hulda series, the
Dark Iceland series, and standalone crime fiction, with five million copies sold across 36 territories. Ragnar was also an
executive producer of the CBS Studios TV series The Darkness, based on the first novel in his Hulda series, starring Lena
Olin and directed by Lasse Hallstrom. His novel Outside is being developed for the screen by Ridley Scott.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnar_J%C3%B3nasson)
For Duck's Sake
Donna Andrews
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250894380, $28.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ducks-Sake-Langslow-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/1250894387
Synopsis: in the backyard of the house her brother Rob, his wife Delaney, and their new baby have moved into, Meg is
supervising some workmen who are using a bulldozer to start digging out a duck pond.
She wants to get away from her own house, which has become the staging site for Caerphilly's first Mutt March, which
will be held the next day. Meg thinks it will be more peaceful at Rob's house -- and it is until the bulldozers uncover a
skeleton whose skull has a hole and a bullet rattling around inside.
Meanwhile, Chief Burke begins searching the police records to see if he can identify any missing persons who would fit
the bill. He doesn't turn down Meg's offer to help with his identification efforts, and she begins looking in the library and
talking to old-timers.
She's all the more eager to help because Iris Rafferty, who sold the house to Rob and Delaney and still lives in the
mother-in-law suite, disappears the morning after the finding of the body! Does her disappearance have anything to do
with finding the body? Was it voluntary? Or was she kidnapped -- possibly by the prowlers who are spotted lurking around
the half-finished duck pond at night? Or do the prowlers have sinister designs on one or more of the dogs who will be
marching in the parade?
Critique: Original, clever, and a fun read for 'whodunnit' cozy mystery fans from cover to cover, "For Duck's Sake" is the
newest addition to novelist Donna Andrews' 'Meg Langslow Mysteries' series. While unreservedly recommended as a
guaranteed popular pick for community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery buffs and the growing legions of Donna Andrews fans that this hardcover edition of
"For Duck's Sake" from Minotaur Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Donna Andrews (http://donnaandrews.com/books.shtml) has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards,
an RT Book Reviews Award for best first novel, and four Lefty and two Toby Bromberg Awards for funniest mystery. She
is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Novelists, Inc. Andrews lives in Reston, Virginia.
She has now written 37 books in her Meg Langslow cozy mystery series.
The Killer Question
Janice Hallett
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781668083536, $30.00, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Question-Novel-Janice-Hallett/dp/1668083531
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-killer-question-janice-hallett/1146644142
Synopsis: Sue and Mal Eastwood run an isolated rural pub called The Case is Altered where a weekly trivia game has
revived its flagging fortunes -- that is, until a body is found in the nearby river. Soon after, a mysterious new team arrives
and shakes up the diverse field of regulars by scoring top marks in every round...every week.
Meanwhile, Sue and Mal have a secret of their own. Before arriving here, they were caught up in a secret police operation
which meant they had to leave town -- and whatever happened back then seems to have finally caught up with them.
Five years later, the pub lies derelict, and their nephew Dominic is determined to make a documentary about their story.
What happened at this unassuming pub? And can a single question really kill?
Critique: A dedicated mystery lover's delight, "The Killer Question" is a brilliantly crafted suspense thriller of a read from
start to finish. Featuring an amateur sleuth, clues and deceptions, a deftly crafted plot populated by memorable characters,
"The Killer Question" by novelist Janice Hallett is extraordinary, original, and unreservedly recommended for community
library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Killer
Question" from Atria Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, : 9781668124567, $39.00, CD).
Editorial Note: Janice Hallett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janice_Hallett) is a former magazine editor, award-winning
journalist, and government communications writer. She wrote articles and speeches for, among others, the Cabinet Office,
Home Office, and Department for International Development. Her enthusiasm for travel has taken her around the world
several times, from Madagascar to the Galapagos, Guatemala to Zimbabwe, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. A playwright
and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard and co-wrote the feature film Retreat.
She lives in London and is the author of The Examiner, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, The Appeal, The
Christmas Appeal, and The Twyford Code.
The Last Hurrah
Gaga Gabardi & Judilee Butler, authors
BnG Publishers
www.BnGbooks.com
https://jgabardi.wixsite.com/bngbooks
9781736123904, $16.99, PB, 308pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Hurrah-Phoebe-Korneal-Mystery/dp/1736123904
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-hurrah-judilee-butler/1138353413
Synopsis: One fateful summer morning, Old Al, an itinerant gold prospector, is discovered dead at the abandoned Sunshine
Mine. As word spreads through the community of Oresville, Colorado, a collective gasp of shock echoes. Beloved by the
community, who would want to harm him? Was his demise an accident or is something darker lurking?
Deputy Phoebe Korneal is summoned to lead the investigation, thrusting her into a mystery with more twists than a pretzel
factory. As Phoebe works to find the cause of Old Al's death, she unearths secrets that threaten to shake Oresville's
tranquility -- from the whereabouts of Old Al's stash of gold to his hidden relationship with Augusta.
Eager to solve Old Al's death, Phoebe races to crack the case, wrestling with her vow to steer clear of romantic
entanglements. Alongside the mixed web of clues and suspects, she learns about Colorado's rich mining heritage and the
resilient spirit of the town's founding women.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read for mystery buffs from cover to cover, "The Last Hurrah" by co-authors
Gaga Gabardi and Judilee Butler is the first installment of a Phoebe Korneal Mystery series and will have its readers
looking eagerly toward the next Phoebe Korneal action/adventure puzzle solving mystery novel. While an especially and
unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Last Hurrah" from BnG Books is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Co-authors, Gaga Gabardi & Judilee Butler (www.BnGbooks.com) used technology to jump the hurdles of
their distant locations (2,000 miles between our homes) and were able to develop their character, Phoebe Korneal
(pronounced Cor-nell) and grow a framework around a small mountain town, using Colorado history for background.
Mistletoe and Mayhem
Janice Thompson
Barbour Fiction
www.barbourbooks.com
9798891511729, $14.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Mayhem-Red-Truck-Mysteries/dp/B0DQLVV69W
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistletoe-and-mayhem-janice-thompson/1146701551
Synopsis: It's less than a week until Christmas in Mabank, Texas, and just a few days away from RaeLyn and Mason's
wedding on Hadley ranch. Unfortunately, a wildfire with mysterious origin is rapidly traveling across several counties and
headed right for the Hadley acreage. Fire fighters rush to put it out before the family homestead goes up in flames, taking
the business and the old red truck with it. Their perfect wedding may be ruined, and RaeLyn and Mason are determined to
find the source of the fire.
Critique: Original, carefully crafted, cleverly plotted, and a fun read for mystery lovers from start to finish, "Mistletoe and
Mayhem" is the third titles in author/storyteller Janice Thompson's Red Truck Mystery series. While a select and
unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that this paperback edition of "Mistletoe and Mayhem" from Barbour Fiction is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Janice Hanna Thompson (https://janiceathompson.com) is an accomplished author of inspirational
romance, quirky cozy mysteries, light-hearted historicals, and fun books for younger readers.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/118456.Janice_Thompson)
First Comes Marriage... Then Comes Murder
Donna Mumma
Barbour Fiction
www.barbourbooks.com
9798891511750, $15.99, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/First-Comes-Marriage-Then-Murder/dp/B0DQLWH16Y
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/first-comes-marriagethen-comes-murder-donna-mumma/1146701553
Synopsis: It is 1956 in Levi City, Florida. Vivien Sheffield (a renowned bridal gown designer and consultant for Wynton's
Department Store), is facing the greatest challenge of her career. Someone has been killing brides who wore one of her
custom gowns in their wedding!
Vivien's fellow employees and close friends (Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi) and her assistant Mirette spring into action to
save Miss Vivien and the young brides of Levy City before the murderer succeeds at destroying Vivien's business at
Wynton's... and her reputation.
Critique: Original, cleverly crafted, and a fun read for dedicated cozy mystery fans from cover to cover, "First Comes
Marriage... Then Comes Murder" by novelist Donna Mumma is part of the author's 'Women of Wynton's' mystery series
and a welcome, highly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "First Comes Marriage... Then Comes Murder" from Barbour
Fiction is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.19).
Editorial Note: Donna Mumma (https://donnamumma.me) is an award winning author who loves to blend history, mystery,
and a dash of hope in stories that explore ordinary people who learn extraordinary life lessons. Donna is an active member
of Word Weavers International, serving as president for the Tampa chapter as well as a mentor for chapters around the
country. She was recognized as the Word Weavers traditional groups president and mentor of the year in 2022. She also
serves as a line editor and contributor for www.Inskpirationsonline.com, a site featuring devotions written for writers by
writers.
The Booker
Kevin R. Doyle
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684923243, $16.95, PB, 238pp
https://www.amazon.com/Booker-Sam-Quinton-Mystery/dp/1684923247
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-booker-kevin-r-doyle/1147646024
Synopsis: Sam Quinton hadn't thought much about the entertainment business for several years. His days as a minor
celebrity were part of his past, which was fine with him. But when a Hollywood producer walks through the doors of his
gym and offers to create a TV show around his life, Sam doesn't say no right away.
Then the producer's partner ends up dead in her hotel room, and Sam has to put on his private detective hat to straighten
things out. It doesn't take long to realize the TV offer may not have been exactly what it was cracked up to be.
Suddenly, a whole lot of seemingly bad folks are gunning for Sam. Forget his budding Hollywood career. He has to do
everything possible to keep himself and his client alive!
Critique: Original, deftly written, imaginative, and a fun read for traditional private eye detective stories, "The Booker" by
Kevin R. Doyle is a riveting suspense thriller that will keep hold of the reader's rapt attention from first page to last. Doyle
has the ideal and narrative driven storytelling style perfectly suited to the genre and while "The Booker" is a welcome and
recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
this paperback edition from Camel Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: A retired high-school teacher and former college instructor, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of six novels in
the Sam Quinton mystery series, all published by Camel Press. He's also written four crime thrillers, including And the
Devil Walks Away and The Anchor, and one horror novel, The Litter, along with numerous short horror stories published
in small magazines over the years. The first Quinton book, Squatter's Rights, was shortlisted for the 2021 Shamus award
for Best First PI Novel. (https://kevindoylefiction.com)
Making a Killing in Diamonds
Rob Bates
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684923229, $16.95, PB, 252pp
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Diamonds-Diamond-District-Mystery/dp/1684923220
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-a-killing-in-diamonds-rob-bates/1147434405
Synopsis: A brilliant scientist has discovered a way to produce synthetic diamonds so close to the real thing, not even
incredibly sophisticated equipment can tell them apart from natural gems. But then, the scientist disappears, just as these
high-tech imitations begin to turn the diamond market upside down.
As journalist-turned-sleuth Mimi Rosen tries to locate the scientist and his mysterious formula, she uncovers a trail of
murder and intrigue, where executives double-cross each other and use people as pawns in a deadly game of money and
power.
Critique: Set in New York City's Diamond District, "Making A Killing In Diamonds" is another deftly crafted, fun and
exciting suspense-thriller of a mystery by novelist Rob Bates -- who draws from his many years in the diamond/jewelry
trade to give his fictional novel an impressive sense of authenticity. A compulsively compelling adventure from cover to
cover, "Making A Killing In Diamonds" is original, clever, and inherently fascinating mystery that will hold a very special
appeal for readers with an interest in 'the ways humans try to hold onto what's true and meaningful in an increasingly
fake-filled world'. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community/public library
Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the growing legions of Rob Bates fans that this
paperback edition of "Making A Killing In Diamonds" from Camel Press is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Rob Bates (https://robbatesauthor.com) has written about the diamond industry for three decades. He is
currently the news director of JCK, the leading publication in the jewelry industry. There, he has won 12 editorial awards,
and been quoted as an industry authority in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and on National Public Radio.
He is also a comedy writer and performer, whose work has appeared on FuseTV, comedycentral.com, and
Mcsweeneys.
Knights on the Graveyard Watch
T. B. Pasko
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684923205, $18.95, PB, 284pp
https://www.amazon.com/Knights-Graveyard-Watch-T-Pasko/dp/1684923204
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knights-on-the-graveyard-watch-t-b-pasko/1147195339
Synopsis: Veteran Officer Danillo Venko, an overweight, white dinosaur knocking on the door of 50 works the graveyard
shift in the beleaguered 7th Precinct under an oppressive commander. It couldn't get much worse and yet it does with a
cold case.
Venko is assigned to train rookie Officer Marcus McGhee, an African American Gen Z member who spends more time
watching his phone than the streets. The pair are assigned a cold case of two missing teens abducted 27 years apart by the
same suspect that vanished after both incidents.
They discover their cold case kidnapper has recently reappeared and snatched another teen only to release him ten minutes
later, unharmed with no memory of the event
A winding chase leads them to a retired one-legged detective, a toxic industrial plant, and a cover up before the shocking
conclusion.
Critique: An impressively original and cleverly crafted novel, "Knights on the Graveyard Watch" by T. B. Pasko is given a
particular feel of authenticity as the author draws from his years of experience and expertise as a nightshift police
offers.
"Knights on the Graveyard watch" will will be of special interest to fans of police procedural novels. The debut title for
Pasko's 'The 7th Precinct' series, "Knights on the Graveyard Watch" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
community/public library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Knights
on the Graveyard Watch" from 6th Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: T. B. Pasko (https://tbpaskoauthor.com) is a retired police officer with 27 years law enforcement
experience. In the summer of 2019 just prior to retiring, the seeds of my first novel were planted while working the
midnight shift.
The Spies in Jimmy's Place
Michael Mayo
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684923083, $18.95, PB, 294pp
https://www.amazon.com/Spies-Jimmys-Place-Suspense-Novels/dp/1684923085
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spies-in-jimmys-place-michael-mayo/1147296336
Synopsis: September, 1934. All of New York is riveted by the surprise capture of Bruno Hauptmann, but no one more than Jimmy Quinn whose violent
life was changed by the Lindbergh kidnapping.
At the same time, American Nazis march through Jewish neighborhoods, and a German spy network operates out of a
midtown hotel.
The murder of one of Jimmy's employees brings him to the attention of a rogue Federal agent, while Jimmy's beautiful and
larcenous girlfriend Connie helps a young blonde who suspects that her Sugar Daddy is setting her up to take a fall.
All of them meet in an explosive finish high atop Rockefeller Center in the Rainbow Room.
Critique: Original, skillfully written, clever, engaging, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "The Spies
in Jimmy's Place" is sequel to author Michael Mayho's "Welcome to Jimmy's Place". This riveting read deftly combines
action, suspense, and mystery. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Historical Mystery
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of suspense/thriller fans that this paperback edition of "The
Spies in Jimmy's Place" from Camel Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Michael Mayo (https://mike-mayo.com) has written about film for numerous publications, including The
Washington Post. He has worked extensively in radio and was co-host of the nationally syndicated Movie Show on Radio
and Max and Mike on the Movies. Among his books are American Murder, Videohound's Horror Show, War Movies and
the Jimmy Quinn suspense novels.
Bless Your Heart
Leigh Dunlap
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892421638, $29.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bless-Your-Heart-Leigh-Dunlap/dp/B0DQBZSLHW
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bless-your-heart-leigh-dunlap/1147297842
Synopsis: Anderson Tupper, a member of one of Atlanta's richest families, has been murdered in the dugout of the Little
League field where he was a volunteer coach, and it's up to Detective Shay Claypool, a single mother from the other side of
town, to find his killer.
With the exclusive area of Buckhead threatening to secede from the city of Atlanta and take its tax revenue with it, Shay is
under pressure to solve the murder of one of Buckhead's own. Accustomed to handling drug dealers and prostitutes, she
must now contend with an even more sinister group: the Buckhead Betties, the insufferably entitled women of Georgia's
most affluent zip code. One of them might be a murderer, but who? Is it the old-money queen of Buckhead? The
mysterious new girl in town? The drug-dealing trophy wife?
It seems secrets and lies are as plentiful as luxury handbags in Atlanta and everyone's guilty of something. Shay's
investigation will make her examine her own prejudices and discover that, as a woman and a mother, she might not be that
different from the Betties after all. And if she isn't careful, they just might take her down with them.
Critique: Clever, engaging, and a cozy mystery lover's delight from cover to cover, "Bless Y our Heart" by author Leigh
Dunlap is all the more impressive when considering that it is her debut as a novelist. A fun and thoroughly engaging read
for police procedural mystery buffs and a highly recommended pick for community library Contemporary
Mystery/Suspense collections, this hardcover edition of "Bless Your Heart" from Crooked Lane Press is also available for
personal reading lists in paperback (9798892422710, $19.99) and a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Leigh Dunlap (https://leighdunlapwrites.com) is the screenwriter of the hit Warner Bros. movie A
Cinderella Story. A native of Los Angeles, she attended film school at the University of Southern California. She now
splits time and personalities between South Carolina and South Kensington and dreams of one day giving it all up and
searching for buried treasure. Until then, she writes movies and books. Including this "Bless Your Heart".
What the Dead Can Do
Peter Rosch
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892421836, $29.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/What-Dead-Can-Do-Thriller/dp/B0DQBYY3DF
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-the-dead-can-do-peter-rosch/1147196960
Synopsis: When a commercial flight crashes, all 184 people on board perish -- with the singular exception of a
two-year-old boy named Ethan, who is then entrusted to family friends Matthew and Nicole per his late parents'
wishes.
From the afterlife, Ethan's parents, Tag and Amanda, watch helplessly as Nicole's secret addictions, the family's financial
struggles, and the public's fascination with their story ignite events that threaten their son's welfare.
Soon, Amanda's grief turns into an insidious obsession: Ethan belongs with her and no one else, and she sets out to reunite
with her son by any means possible -- including killing Ethan herself.
After Amanda learns how to possess the living, only Tag stands in her way. He must protect his child, even if the
consequences of his actions mean he may never see his wife or son again.
What the Dead Can Do is a dark, psychological, speculative thriller tinged with horror, destined to keep readers' minds
spinning long after the final page.
Critique: An impressively original, deftly crafted, and emotionally compelling psychological thriller with an inherently
interesting supernatural element, "What The Dead Can Do" is a riveting and memorable read from start to finish. All the
more impressive when considering that it is author Peter Rosch's debut as a novelist, "What The Dead Can Do" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "What The Dead Can Do" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily
available in paperback (9798892422802, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Peter Rosch (https://www.peterrosch.com) is the author of multiple dark fictions born from the various
addictions he chased while living in New York City as an award-winning writer and creative director. He's many years
sober now but remains an addict's addict.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Dragons: A Handbook of History & Lore from Basilisks to Wyverns
Agnes Hollyhock
Castle
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
www.quarto.com
9781577155409, $19.99 HC
https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Handbook-History-Basilisks-Wyverns/dp/1577155408
Synopsis: For millennia, dragons have been considered real, appearing in legends and myths across cultures and societies,
including Central America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Why are these creatures so popular, and what do they reveal about
human nature?
Dragons offers a deep dive into the imaginative world of dragons and explores their vivid lore and myths across a wide
variety of cultures. Through detailed descriptions and original artwork, learn all about these mysterious and powerful
creatures, including:
Historical Tales and Legends
Dragons in Ancient Cultures
European Dragon Lore
Asian Dragon Myths
African and Polynesian Dragons
Dragon-Related Symbols
And more!
Featuring beautiful illustrations and a comprehensive appendix of notable dragon sites around the world, this easy-to-use
and informative handbook is perfect for fantasy enthusiasts and the dragon curious. From their appearance in ancient myths
to contemporary fantasy works, discover how dragons have influenced human culture across the globe.
Critique: Black-and-white and a few two-color illustrations enhance Dragons: A Handbook of History & Lore from
Basilisks to Wyverns, a compendium about different types of dragons as described in myths and legends around the world.
Organized like a reference handbook, Dragons covers a fascinating array of draconic topics, including lore, taxonomy,
symbolism, legendary dragons, dragons in fiction, and more. Dragons: A Handbook of History & Lore from Basilisks to
Wyverns is a delight for dragon fans and a welcome addition to public library fantasy collections, highly
recommended.
King Foretold
Jayci Lee
https://www.jaycilee.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662533655, $28.99, HC, 363pp
https://www.amazon.com/King-Foretold-Realm-Four-Kingdoms/dp/1662533659
Synopsis: Nine-tailed fox spirit Sunny Cho has spent years running from her destiny, but fate is upon her. Inevitable or not,
she doesn't like it one bit.
After a harrowing battle with a dark enemy from her past, Sunny has nowhere left to go but back to the Realm of Four
Kingdoms. She grudgingly trains as a suhoshin cadet by day while learning to harness the Yeoiju's magic by night -- to
disheartening results. At least throwing herself into training with Jihun and her suhoshin friends keeps her from running to
Ethan and a love that can never be.
But there are more immediate dangers to fear than the slow fracturing of her heart. Tyranny, deadly secrets, and betrayal
reign in the Realm of Four Kingdoms. And eternal darkness threatens magical and mortal worlds alike. To stop the rise of
evil, Sunny must embrace the full force of her powers... or risk being consumed by the darkness within.
Critique: Imaginative, clever, and drawing upon Korean folklore/fantasy to deftly craft a distinctive and original
action/adventure romantic fantasy, "King Foretold" by Jayci Lee is an extraordinary, memorable, and fun read from cover
to cover. While an ideal and recommended pick for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for
the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that this hardcover edition of "King Foretold" from Montlake is also
readily available in paperback (9781662520778, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Jayci Lee (https://www.jaycilee.com) writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance featuring Korean
American main characters. Jayci is retired from her fifteen-year career as a litigator because of all the badass heroines and
drool-worthy heroes demanding to have their stories told.
Kingdom of Tomorrow
Gena Showalter
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662530524, $16.99, PB, 363pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Tomorrow-Book-Arden-Showalter/dp/1662530528
Synopsis: Twenty-year-old Arden Roosa knows only Ourland. Two worlds split and stitched together, with broken pieces
from each, statues of fallen gods, and heavenly artifacts that are either worshiped or feared.
But nothing is more fearsome than the night.
A strange madness haunts the darkest hours, turning innocents into gleeful killers. Arden does her best to stay safe, until
she reads a book written about her life. It's called The Book of Arden -- and everything changes.
Forced to join Fort Bala Royal Academy, Arden is paired with the ruthless High Prince Cyrus Dolion. But while he trains
her for combat against a mystical adversary, she can't deny the sparks burning between them.
If her panic attacks and war games aren't enough, Arden is also tapped to join the Tome Society, rumored guardians of an
invisible library with books that foretell the future. But the more she learns about the society, the less she understands
about Ourland, the gods -- and the person she's destined to be.
Critique: Original, imaginative, clever, exceptionally well written and a thoroughly fun read from start to finish, in
"Kingdom of Tomorrow", author Gena Showalter deftly blends romance, fantasy, adventure, and elements of a dystopian
future. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Romantic Fantasy collections, it should be
noted for the personal reading lists of 'Romantasy' fans that this paperback edition of "Kingdom of Tomorrow from
Montlake is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Gena Showalter (https://genashowalter.com) is the author of nearly one hundred novels. While most of her
work falls under the genre of romance (be it paranormal, fantasy, contemporary, or young adult), she has also coauthored a
quirky, cozy mystery series and a nonfiction guide about writing a book in one year.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Making Manga: The Saturday AM Way
Saturday AM
Rockport Publishers
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760389928, $21.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Manga-Saturday-Storytelling-Building/dp/0760389926
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-manga-saturday-am/1147095158
Synopsis: Created by the team at Saturday AM, the world's leading showcase of diverse manga and comics stories,
"Making Manga: The Saturday AM Way - Storytelling, World-Building, Layouts - With Two Manga Short Stories for You
to Complete!" gives you guidance on everything you need to develop, create, and publish your own dynamic Manga
stories.
"Making Manga: The Saturday AM Way" features:
A detailed method for building a "storytelling box" that will help you define and frame your concept
Suggestions for developing compelling characters and power systems that can successfully drive your story
Techniques for mastering layouts that ensure your scenes are easy to follow while using visual flow to heighten tension,
build drama, or deliver a punchline
How to enhance your stories with powerful backgrounds and effective lettering techniques
An overview of options for publishing, distribution, and licensing that gives you potential strategies for getting your work
out there
Invaluable advice and insights through interviews with industry experts on storytelling, writing, character development,
creating layouts, lettering, printing, retail, promotion, and more
Two short manga starter stories inspired by Saturday AM's hit series Apple Black and Clock Striker that let you explore
your new creative skills
QR codes that link to exclusive instructional videos
Ideal for beginning to intermediate manga and anime artists, character designers, fantasy illustrators, animators, and
cartoonists, "Making Manga: The Saturday AM Way" is the complete insider's guide to producing your own manga from
the ground up.
Critique: This heavily illustrated, large format (8.75 x 0.5 x 11 inches, 1.2 pounds) paperback edition of "Making Manga:
The Saturday AM Way - Storytelling, World-Building, Layouts - With Two Manga Short Stories for You to Complete!"
from Rockford Publishing is impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. Also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $10.99) "Making Manga: The Saturday AM Way" is an unreservedly recommended pick for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Instructional Art/Manga collections.
Editorial Note: Saturday AM is a unique digital comics brand featuring an ever-growing catalog of popular, exclusive and
diverse action manga-style webcomics by independent creators from around the world. Among the nearly 50 visionary
artists on the Saturday AM team are @WhytManga (Apple Black), @JeyOdin (Hammer), and @saigamiproject (Saigami).
To learn more about Saturday AM, visit saturday-am.com, or find them on Instagram (@saturday_am), YouTube
(youtube.com/user/MyFutprint), and Twitter (@saturday_am).
Suitor Armor: Volume 3
Purpah
Ten Speed Graphic
c/o Ten Speed Press
https://crownpublishing.com/imprint/ten-speed
9780593835692, $24.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Suitor-Armor-3-Purpah/dp/0593835697
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suitor-armor-purpah/1146546451
Synopsis: After paying a visit to an illegal market on the outskirts of the kingdom, per direction from her imprisoned faerie
ally Quinn, Lucia learns that she has been living in complete ignorance: Fairies are being tortured, mutilated, and killed as
a consequence of the war. And the elves that she has seen humans taking as servants and laborers are just faeries who have
had their wings forcibly removed. Lucia is ridden with immense guilt and emotional turmoil that she has survived for so
long in secrecy as one the last of the monarch faeries with her wings still intact.
Bearing the weight of her newfound knowledge, amidst the arrival of King Reimund's terrifyingly suspicious uncle Lord
Ricon, Lucia fears she is no longer safe both within and beyond the castle. Modeus continues to serve as a pillar of comfort
and safety for her, but he begins to develop his own complicated emotions while wrestling his true violent inclinations.
Lucia's relationship with Kirsi is strained as the future queen begins to assert herself and the power of her status, leaving
Lucia feeling utterly alone.
Complete with original behind-the-scenes content and a bonus storyline exclusive to this thrilling and suspenseful third
volume, "Suitor Armor: Volume 3 includes episodes 39-51 of the greatly successful Webtoon webcomic by
storyteller/illustrator Purpah.
Critique: Like the first two installments of the Suitor Armor series by artist and storyteller Purpah, this third volume is an
expertly illustrated and presented graphic novel that will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Manga
style romance, fantasy, and adventure. Highly recommended for personal and community library graphic novel collections,
it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Suitor Armor: Volume 3" from Ten Speed Graphics is also readily
available in paperback (9780593835708, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Purpah is an artist and writer based in California. They earned a BFA in illustration and have since gone on
to create Suitor Armor on Webtoon as well as writing for other projects.
(https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/suitor-armor/list?title_no=2159)
The Music CD Shelf
BloodLines
Rico Jones
Giant Step Arts
giantsteparts.org
$TBA CD / $20.00 digital
https://ricojonesjazz.bandcamp.com/album/bloodlines
BloodLines is a live-recorded jazz album of original compositions by Rico Jones, performed by Rico Jones on tenor
saxophone, Max Light on guitar, Joe Martin on bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums. Half of BloodLines consists of a five-
part suite; the other half is four songs reflecting on moments that transcend time, and presence of God made manifest. The
music of BloodLines speaks to listeners of all faiths, and is highly recommended especially for mind-expanding spiritual
contemplation. The tracks are Bloodlines: Suite of the Eternal & Omnipresent Spirit (I. Invocation; II. Lone Wolf; III.
Bloodlines; IV. Queen Isabelle; V. Dwennimmenn); Judgement and Absolution; Across Time; The Moment; and The
Voice of God Shines Brightly on My Heart.
Under the Surface
Sumi Tonooka, composer
www.sumitonooka.com
Performed by Alchemy Sound Project
www.alchemysoundproject.com
Privately Published
$15.00 CD / $9.99 digital
https://sumitonooka.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-surface
Under the Surface is a captivating original jazz album composed by Sumi Tonooka and performed by Sumi Tonooka's trio
and Alchemy Sound Project: Sumi Tonooka on piano; Gregg August on bass; Johnathan Blake on drums; Erica Lindsay on
tenor saxophone; Samantha Boshnack on trumpet; Michael Ventoso on trombone; and Salim Washington on tenor
saxophone, bass clarinet, and flute. The music is inspired by the roots of trees and the fungi-supported mycorrhizal
networks that form a symbiotic relationship with long-lived plants. Under the Surface is entrancing, adventurous, mind-
expanding, and highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of original jazz. The tracks are Points of Departure;
Savour; Interval Haiku; Tear Bright; Mother Tongue, For Stanley; and Under the Surface.
Candy Apple
Domenic Cicchetti
domcicchetti.com
Nyack Records
$TBA CD / $TBA digital
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vKggpH4PZdMvsNv4YEq9Z
https://music.apple.com/us/album/candy-apple/1796015579
Candy Apple is an original jazz album by multi-instrumentalist Domenic Cicchetti, featuring Cicchetti on piano, keyboards
and synth with contributions from a medley of talented music artists on guitar, sax, drums, flute, percussion, and more. The
songs range in tone from exciting and energetic to smoothly flowing and serenely beaming. Candy Apple is as flavorful as
its title suggests, and highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of original jazz. The tracks are Jump To It; Candy
Apple; PCH; Sunlight; Intricate Journey; Ode to a Friend; and Night Time.
Overlook
Ben Clifton
Ben Clifton Music
ben-clifton.com
$TBA CD / $14.00 digital
https://benclifton.bandcamp.com/album/overlook
Pianist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Ben Clifton presents Overlook, a jazz album of original songs which
showcase Clifton's talent; ten tracks were written entirely by Clifton, while four tracks were co-written with others.
Clifton's masterful piano is the centerpiece of the performance; some individual tracks are enriched by talented music
artists on bass, drums, electric guitar, violin, cello, vibraphone, or other instruments. Overlook is a sweeping life journey in
music form, and highly recommended especially for jazz connoisseurs in search of something fresh and exciting. The
tracks are Convocation (Ben Clifton); Shadows (Ben Clifton/Nicoya Polar); No Access to Hollywood (Ben Clifton/Kelly
Doyle); Serenity (Ben Clifton); Constructs (Ben Clifton); Overlook (Ben Clifton); Relapse (Ben Clifton); Cortiandt (Ben
Clifton/Nicco Martinez/Johnathan Hulett); Lost on Maple (Ben Clifton/Arthur Moyler); Return to Sanity (Ben Clifton);
Introspection (Ben Clifton); Dream State (Ben Clifton); Don't Live the Same (Ben Clifton); and Precious Transition (Ben
Clifton).
Loving You
Kieran Brown
Cellar Music Group
$14.99 CAD CD / $9.99 CAD digital
https://kieranbeatricebrownmusic.bandcamp.com/album/loving-you
Jazz vocalist Kieran Brown presents the music album Loving You, a resonant performance of classics love songs (and two
of Brown's originals) brought to life with a grand gathering of talented musicians on piano, bass, drums, guitar, alto and
tenor saxophone, violin, viola, cello, and more. Enduring love is a central theme of all the memorable songs. Brown's
rapturously beautiful, dulcet vocals make Loving You a special treasure for connoisseurs of the genre. Highly
recommended! The tracks are You're Gonna Hear From Me (Andre Previn/Dory Previn); Do It Again (George
Gershwin/Buddy DeSylva); Emily (Johnny Mandal/Johnny Mercer/Henry Mancini); Mediation (Antonio Carlos
Jobim/Newton Mendonca/Norman Gimble); I'll Love You Just the Same (Kieran Brown); Alfie (Burt Bacharach/Hal
David); Little Bits of Magic (Kieran Brown); Loving You (Stephen Sondheim); Hallelujah, I Love Him So (Ray Charles);
and Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim).
Lift Up This Old World
Hilary Hawke
www.hilaryhawkemusic.com
Privately Published
$20.00 CD / $15.00 digital
https://hilaryhawke.bandcamp.com/album/lift-up-this-old-world-2
Talented banjoist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Hilary Hawke presents Lift Up This Old World, a bluegrass album
featuring nine original songs and two arrangements. Joined by Ross Martin on guitar, Max Johnson on bass, Camie Howes
on fiddle, and more music artists lending their exceptional talent to enrich specific tracks, Hilary Hawke has created a
down-to-earth album about building confidence to tackle life's challenges. Immersive, insightful, and creatively engaging,
Lift Up This Old World is a choice pick for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended. The tracks are Liza Jane; All
I've Ever Known; Have Your Own Way; Parts And Labor / 4 Cent Cotton; Never Take Me With You When You Leave;
NYC Waltz; World Rests Its Head; No Surprises; Lonely Heart; Sun Is All around; and Dreaming Of You.
Haunted Melody
Peter Campbell
Peter Campbell Music
petercampbellmusic.com
$TBA
American-Canadian vocalist and producer Peter Campbell presents Haunted Melody, an eclectic jazz album of timeless
songs co-arranged with masterful Canadian guitarist Reg Schwager. An extraordinary array of talented music artists lend
their expertise in the trumpet, flugelhorn, tenor saxophone, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and more to enrich this
extraordinary reimagination of selected songs by various composers. Haunted Melody is a stunning and immersive audio
experience, highly recommended. The tracks are Sweetest Presence/Doce presenca (Ivan Lis/Jane Monheit/Vitor Martins);
Lost in a Summer Night (Andre Previn/Milt Raskin); My Mood is You (Carl Sigman); No One After You (Anjani
Thomas/Leonard Cohen); He Never Mentioned Love (Curtis Lewis); Invitation (Bronislaw Kaper/Paul Frances Webster);
Song for Old Lovers/La chanson des vieux amants (Jacques Brel/Amanda McBroom/Gerard Jouannest); I'm Lost (Otis
Rene); Forgetting You/Esquecendo voce (A.C. Jobim/Judy Spencer); If Ever/Saudade de amar (Dori Caymmi/Tracy
Mann/Paulo Cesar Pinheiro).
Short Stories
Don Macdonald
donmacdonaldmusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FM4LV71H
https://donmacdonald.bandcamp.com/album/short-stories
Short Stories is a vocal jazz album by Canadian composer, violinist, alto sax player and vocalist Don Macdonald, featuring
seven original songs and three arrangements of classic favorites. JUNO-winning guitarist Mike Rud, award-winning
pianist David Restivo, bassist Jill McKenna, drummer Joel Fountain, tenor sax player Kiyo Elkuf, and vocalist Allison
Girvan combine their talents with Don Macdonald's vision and performance to bring Short Stories to vibrant life. True to
the album's title, each song presents its own snapshot story of the perils, pitfalls, and hopes of everyday life. Short Stories
is a treasure for vocal jazz connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are Sofia's Coming Out; Nobody Knows You
When You're Down and Out (Jimmie Cox); Fall From Grace; Invisible; Clementine; Sonny's Bridge; Fate; One More Cup
of Coffee (Bob Dylan); Stormy Night With You; and I Cover the Waterfront (Johnny Green/Edward Heyman).
The Blu-ray Shelf
Leiji Matsumoto's Queen Millennia Complete TV Series
Sentai Film Works
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com
c/o RLJ Entertainment (distribution)
$99.98
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/products/816726023670-queen-millennia-complete-collection-blu-ray
Originally broadcast in 1981-82, Leiji Matsumoto's Queen Millennia Complete TV Series features all forty-one episodes
plus a special episode of the anime adaptation of the classic space opera manga by Leiji Matsumoto, who is also known for
creating the beloved sci-fi series "Space Battleship Yamato", "Space Pirate Captain Harlock", and "Galaxy Express 999".
In Queen Millennia, the genius astronomer Professor Amamori has discovered a tenth planet named in the solar system,
and it's on a collision course for the Earth! This projected doom is more than a natural disaster; a spy from the tenth planet,
using the name Yayoi Yukino, has infiltrated Earth on a mission to facilitate the enslavement or destruction of humankind.
Yet Yukino's interactions with humanity, especially Amamori's young adult nephew, cause her to reconsider her deadly
mission. Can Yukino defy the will of an alien world and find a way to save humankind - or to help humans save
themselves with science? A sweeping sci-fi odyssey, Queen Millennia Complete TV Series is a "must-have" for
connoisseurs of classic anime, highly recommended! Queen Millennia Complete TV Series is rated TV-14; parental
guidance is suggested for preteen viewers. 41 episodes plus special episode on 5 Blu-ray discs, 1050 minutes, Japanese
audio with English subtitles.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Crocheted Flowers
Emma Varnam
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946807, $27.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crocheted-Flowers-Stylish-realistic-crochet/dp/178494680X
Synopsis: "Crocheted Flowers: 30 Stylish and realistic blooms to crochet" by Emma Varnam showcases beautiful
needlecraft projects (including poppy, daisy, daffodil, lavender and peony) which are fun to make and the perfect way to
use up odds and ends of your favorite yarn.
With 30 botanical beauties to choose from, ranging from cheery sunflowers to ruffled roses, cool Bachelor Buttons and a
beautiful Tulip, there's sure to be a favorite for everyone. The projects make charming gifts and provide instant decorations
for plain bags, clothing and other accessories. You can also create a unique bouquet or flower garland.
Each project has detailed color photography of the completed flower and there are clear, concise instructions to
follow.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and step-by-step presentation, this large format trade paperback
edition of Emma Varnam's "Crocheted Flowers: 30 Stylish and realistic blooms to crochet" from the The GMC Group will
prove to be a welcome and prized addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlcraft/Crochet
instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Emma Varnam (https://emmavarnam.co.uk) has for more than a decade had a successful crochet and
knitting design career. She enjoy balancing her daily need to be creative with sharing my experiences and inspirations in an
online blog.
Flower Embroidery
Susie Johns
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946814, $26.99, PB, 136pp
https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Embroidery-Floral-Motifs-Projects/dp/1784946818
Synopsis: From delightful daffodils to cheerful cherry blossoms, with the publication of "Flower Embroidery: Over 100
Floral Motifs and Projects to Create". Susie Johns introduces aspiring embroiders 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 comprising "Flower Embroidery: Over 100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create" features beautifully
photographed projects which vary from pillowcases, table cloths and cutlery wraps, to aprons and picnic cloths. Projects
included in this step-by-step instruction guide will appeal to both beginners and more experienced embroiderers alike.
Whether you are a seasoned needlework enthusiast or a budding embroidery artist, "Flower Embroidery: Over 100 Floral
Motifs and Projects to Create" offers a needlecraft bouquet of inspiration and step-by-step guidance to create stunning
floral masterpieces.
Recommended embroidery projects include:
Lavender pouches
Buttercups and Daisies Cutlery Wrap
Summer Bouquet Cushion
Honeysuckle Apron
Poppy Picnic Cloth
Critique: This large format (8 x 0.5 x 10 inches, 1.1 pounds) paperback edition of Suzie John's "Flower Embroidery: Over
100 Floral Motifs and Projects to Create" from The GMC Group is especially 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community
library Needlecraft/Embroidery instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Susie Johns 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.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/166687.Susie_Johns)
All-New Twenty To Make: One Patch Quilts
Carolyn Forster
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800922587, $11.95, HC, 64pp
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Patch-Quilts/dp/1800922582
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-new-twenty-to-make-carolyn-forster/1146019281
Synopsis: Appropriate for both novice and experienced quilters looking for ready-to-trace templates and contemporary
one-patch quilting inspiration, "All-New Twenty To Make: One Patch Quilts" is a simply stunning and instructive DIY
instructional guide for twenty quilting projects from Carolyn Forster and contains 20 different patchwork shapes, ranging
from triangles and diamonds, to tumblers, clamshells and applecores, each of which are made up into a stunning one-patch
design.
For each of the 20 shapes there is:
A full-size template, ready to trace off and use
Piecing instructions to help you put together your one-patch designs with ease
Layout variations to inspire you to use each shape in numerous ways
Clear photographic visuals showcasing Carolyn's chosen layout and fabric.
A complete quilting primer makes "All-New Twenty To Make: One Patch Quilts" easily and methodically accessible for
beginners, with advice on scaling the templates up and down, and both hand and machine sewing.
Of special note is the inclusion of a complete one-patch quilt project, with full making-up instructions and sumptuous
photography, created using a selection of the one-patch blocks.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this new edition of "All-New Twenty To Make: One
Patch Quilts" from Search Press is an expanded hardback edition of their "20 to Stitch: One-Patch Quilts" (2017) and is an
especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft/Quilting
collections. It should be noted for personal use that this hardcover edition of "All-New Twenty To Make: One Patch
Quilts" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.44).
Editorial Note: Carolyn Forster (www.carolynforster.co.uk) is a popular quilting author who started making quilts when
she was a teenager and went on to study Textiles at the University of Bath. Since graduating, Carolyn has taught patchwork
and quilting both in the UK and the USA and has had her quilts featured in a number of books and magazines, including
Fabrications, Popular Patchwork and Patchwork and Quilting. Carolyn lives in Tunbridge Wells, UK.
The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf
Dark Fairy Tales
Viktor Wynd, author
Luciana Nedelea, illustrator
Prestel Publishing
www.prestel.com
9783791393506, $40.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Fairy-Tales-Definitely-Suitable/dp/3791393502
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-fairy-tales-viktor-wynd/1147082929
Synopsis: Viktor Wynd has always gravitated toward the weirder corners of folklore. On his extensive travels, he has
amassed a trove of folklore and fairytale stories that refuse to play nice -- filled with risque twists, grotesque details, and
endings that are surprisingly happy, though not always in the way one might expect.
Having entertained audiences around the world with these tales, he has now written down some of his favorites in "Dark
Fairy Tales: Stories from Around the World (That Are Definitely Not Suitable for Children)", a book as beautifully
produced as it is macabre.
The stories comprising "Dark Fairy Tales" were collected in Wales, Ireland, Arabia, Germany, Norway, Papua New
Guinea, and Borneo and include the adventures of a one-eyed troll; the feckless Paddy O'Dwyer; a changeling child; a girl
who thinks she can outwit a witch; the doomed Sinbad the Traveler; shapeshifters; and a baby-eating pig.
Each chapter begins with Wynd's personal account of how he came to learn these stories. Arresting and intricate B/W
illustrations by Transylvanian artist Luciana Nedelea perfectly balance the charming and grotesque.
"Dark Fairy Tales" also includes a guide to the art of learning and recounting fairy tales. With foil accents and
black-stenciled edges, this very special volume feels like a forbidden artifact plucked from a dusty cabinet of
curiosities.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an Introduction (On Fairy Tales - How to
Use This Book), an eight page article 'How to Tell a Story', eight pages of Notes, and 21 fairytales organized by country of
origin (Wales, Ireland, Arabia, Germany, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Borneo), "Dark Fairy Tales: Stories from Around
the World (That Are Definitely Not Suitable for Children)" is a unique and fascinating read from start to finish and highly
recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Folklore/Fairytale collections. It should be noted for
students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Dark
Fairy Tales: Stories from Around the World (That Are Definitely Not Suitable for Children)" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $36.99).
Editorial Note #1: Viktor Wynd (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Wynd) is a writer, artist, and the proprietor of the
eponymous Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and UnNatural History in London. He regularly leads expeditions to Papua
New Guinea, the Congo and beyond, taking small groups with him via his boutique travel agency Gone with the Wynd. He
is the author of Viktor Wynd's Cabinet of Wonders and The UnNatural History Museum (both published by Prestel).
Editorial Note #2: Luciana Nedelea is an illustrator from Transylvania specializing in heavy metal-style imagery. She holds
a PhD in ancient history and archaeology. (https://nedelealuciana753.wixsite.com/luciana-nedelea-art/portfolio)
The Art Shelf
Draw & Color Everything Awesome
Leon Romer
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760398418, $16.99, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Color-Everything-Awesome-Step-Step/dp/0760397694
Synopsis: "Draw and Color Everything Awesome: Includes Easy Step-by-Step Drawings, Fun Coloring Pages, and QR
Codes to Video Lessons!" by Dutch artist Leon Romer is packed from cover to cover with easy-to-follow tutorials and
inspiration, making it perfect for beginners who want to explore cute, kawaii-inspired drawing. Whatever your age or skill
level, you can learn to draw everything from foods and animals to outdoor scenes and cozy indoor items.
This US edition of Leon's Dutch "Draw and Color Everything Awesome" includes exclusive bonuses like 20 extra coloring
pages along with QR codes that link to his video tutorials for added guidance. Known for his kawaii style, Leon brings
ordinary items to life with a playful touch that inspires creativity.
"Draw and Color Everything Awesome" is a veritable treasure trove of inspiration that includes:
100+ step-by-step drawing tutorials: Learn to draw foods, animals, and everyday items in a fun, accessible style.
Exclusive coloring pages: This US edition includes 20 additional coloring pages offering extra opportunities to color fun
drawings.
Interactive video content: QR codes lead to instructional videos, so artists can see the techniques in action.
An ideal DIY instruction and 'how-to' manual for young artists, beginners, or anyone interested in kawaii art, "Draw and
Color Everything Awesome" makes drawing accessible and enjoyable. With vibrant illustrations and plenty of
encouragement, "Draw and Coor Everything Awesome" turns drawing into a personal journey of artistic creativity and
fun.
Critique: An ideal introduction to Kawaii style art, "Draw and Color Everything Awesome: Includes Easy Step-by-Step
Drawings, Fun Coloring Pages, and QR Codes to Video Lessons!" is comprised of 100 step-by-step kawaii drawing
tutorials that are impressively 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation. This large format (8.5 x 0.48 x 11
inches, 1.7 pounds) paperback edition of "Draw and Color Everything Awesome" from Walter Foster Publishing is a truly
extraordinary and highly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university
library Art Instruction Guide collections and supplemental Art/Illustration curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Leon Romer (https://www.leonromer.nl) has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with his
whimsical illustrations and charming characters. His distinctive artistic flair, characterized by vibrant colors, playful
designs, and a big touch of kawaii charm, has earned him a dedicated following across various social media platforms
where he can be found @leonromer. Whether he's creating enchanting children's books, hosting engaging television
segments, or crafting delightful merchandise, Leon's work embodies a sense of joy and wonder that inspires the
imaginations of all ages. Through his art, Leon continues to spread positivity and creativity, leaving a lasting impression on
all who encounter his delightful creations.
Visionary Art
Alexander Shester M.D., author
Regent Press
www.regentpress.net
9781587907111, $29.95, PB, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Visionary-Art-Alexander-Shester-M/dp/1587907119
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/visionary-art-alexander-shester-m-d/1147424021
Synopsis: "Visionary Art" is comprised of many of psychiatrist Alexander Shester's artistic image that he has produced
throughout the years. The visionary imagery was stimulated by his earlier Jungian studies dealing with dreams, active
imagination meditations, and later by visionary plant medicines, all of which took him into the extraordinary depths of his
psyche to experience archetypal symbolism as part of his individuation process and healing.
A personal commentary follows each art piece; however, author/artist Shester invites the viewer to find meaning in the
images that reflects their own psyche. "Visionary Art" reflects Shester's personal struggles with the forces of darkness and
light, woundedness and radiance, despair and hope, as well as his transpersonal connection to the natural world.
Critique: Original, articulate, thought-provoking, visually interesting, and of particular value/appeal to readers with an
interest in Jungian Psychology and Philosophy, this large format (8 x 0.25 x 10 inches, 9.9 ounces) paperback edition of
Dr. Alexander Shester's "Visionary Art" from Regent Press is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Psychology & Art collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Alexander Shester, M.D., is a psychiatrist and Jungian Analyst with over thirty years of participating in
guided Vision Quests using entheogens and shamanic principles. He is now retired and manifesting his creativity and
experiences as a visionary artist, author, and musician with an interest in Americana and folk music, singing and playing
his guitar, banjo, and harmonica.
The Parenting Shelf
Just One: The New Science, Secrets & Joy of Parenting an Only Child
Susan Newman
Prometheus Books
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493088584, $21.95, PB, 178pp
https://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Science-Secrets-Parenting/dp/1493088580
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-one-susan-newman/1145809494
Synopsis: Drawing from groundbreaking new research and interviews with over 100 families, with the publication of "Just
One: The New Science, Secrets & Joy of Parenting an Only Child", renowned psychologist Susan Newman, Ph.D.
dismantles the outdated myths about having and parenting only one child.
"Just One" provides parents with a informed and informative roadmap for confident parenting decisions. Whether you are
contemplating your family's size being restricted to a single child or already raising an only child, "Just One" is an
authoritative guide addresses the most pressing concerns including:
Is one child right for me? Am I being selfish?
No sibling: Am I cheating my child?
What are the benefits of being an only child?
Why the "selfish, lonely only" stereotypes no longer hold up
How to raise a well-adjusted, compassionate only child
Is caring for aging or ill parents too much for one child?
More and more families are embracing the solo child with little to no pressure from family and friends to have another.
The one-child family has become desired in the U.S. and worldwide in developed countries. China, England, Korea,
France and Canada have already been labeled "one-child nations".
Critique: An original, seminal, and extraordinary work of meticulous research, "Just One: The New Science, Secrets & Joy
of Parenting an Only Child" by social psychologist Susan Newman is impressively well written, organized and presented --
making it ideal for both professional and non-professional readers with an interest in the specific subject of having and
raising an only child whether it is in response to fertility issues, governmental decrees, cultural pressures, or conscious
decision making. While uniquely and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Contemporary Parenting collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Just One:
The New Science, Secrets & Joy of Parenting an Only Child" from Prometheus Press is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $20.85).
Editorial Note: Susan Newman, Ph.D. is a social psychologist specializing in parenting concerns, family dynamics and
trends. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, The Authors Guild, and the American Society for
Journalists and Authors, and is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Indigenous Activism in the Midwest
Margret McCue-Enser
Michigan State University Press
https://msupress.org
9781611865509, $34.95, PB, 175pp
https://msupress.org/9781611865509/indigenous-activism-in-the-midwest
Synopsis: With the publication of "Indigenous Activism in the Midwest: Refusal, Resurgence, and Resisting Settler
Colonialism", Professor Margret McCue-Enser examines how Minnesota Indigenous activists use public memory sites to
interrupt and challenge the dominant narrative of place.
Professor McCue-Enser also explores how Indigenous activism reveals and disrupts material, discursive, and performative
rhetorics of settler colonialism. This work cultivates the ground between rhetorical studies of place and space and
Indigenous studies in which place is central to Indigeneity and activism.
Using largely in situ analysis and drawing on Indigenous and rhetorical scholarship as well as Indigenous and mainstream
press, the analysis focuses on sites such as an outdoor art installation, a historic settlers' village, centennial and
sesquicentennial farms, and a celebrated military fort.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study of meticulous scholarship, "Indigenous Activism in the Midwest: Refusal,
Resurgence, and Resisting Settler Colonialism" by Professor Margret McCue-Enser is an extraordinary contribution to
Contemporary Native American collections. Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an
eighteen page bibliography of Works Cited, thirty-eight pages of Notes, and a six page Index, this original study is an
especially and unreservedly recommended acquisition for community and college/university library Indigenous People
Studies and supplemental curriculum lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia,
governmental policy makers, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this
paperback edition of "Indigenous Activism in the Midwest: Refusal, Resurgence, and Resisting Settler Colonialism" from
the Michigan State University Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $33.20).
Editorial Note: Margret McCue-Enser is a professor of communication studies at St. Catherine University. Her recent work
explores the role of rhetoric of place in constituting diasporic communities. Her published research has explored the ways
that Indigenous communities in Minnesota assert Indigenous terms of belonging and expose farmer-settler narratives of
place and how Menominee restoration leader and first female Indigenous head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Ada Deer
centers her identity and her argument on Menominee land and culture. McCue-Enser won a top article award from the
American studies division of the National Communication Association and a top paper award (with Derek Sweet) from the
rhetoric and public address division of Western States Communication Association. Her work has appeared in
Decolonizing Native American Rhetoric: Communicating Self-Determination, Reconsidering Obama: Reflections on
Rhetoric, the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Communication Studies, and Argumentation and Advocacy, among other
outlets.
The Photography Shelf
In the Moment: 40 Years of Reuters Photojournalism
Alexia Singh, editor
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500029138, $65.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Moment-40-Years-Reuters-Photojournalism/dp/050002913X
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-moment-reuters/1147007167
Synopsis: Founded in London in 1851, Reuters mission is to present to the world the news that matters. Its photographers
deliver over 1.5 million photographs every year, priding themselves on being first on the scene. For close to four decades,
Reuters photographers have captured evocative images to document events at speed. They have received numerous awards
over that time, including a 2024 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography of the Israel - Hamas war.
Extensively illustrated with around 500 photographs, and divided by decades starting from the 1980s, "In the Moment: 40
Years of Reuters Photojournalism" weaves together timelines and stories offering a visual account of forty years of Reuters
photography. Reuters photographers dedicate themselves to covering major news events around the world, often at
enormous personal sacrifice. At a time when trust in journalism is eroding, their role is more important than ever. This
timely publication draws on revelatory first-person texts from the photographers themselves, capturing not simply life
behind the lens, but what it means to bear witness to history.
Offering an unrivaled insight into the workings of an agency that has long been at the center of global events, "In the
Moment: 40 Years of Reuters Photojournalism" is a visual testament to the power and value of news photography over
four consecutive decades.
Critique: The large format (10 x 1.1 x 12 inches, 4.62 pounds) hardcover edition of "In the Moment: 40 Years of Reuters
Photojournalism" from Thames & Hudson is knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by photojournalism expert and
Reuter's picture editor Alexia Singh. A magnificent chronicle of Reuters (one of journalism's iconic institutions) is a
unique and especially recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library 20th
Century Photography collections and supplement Photojournalism curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Alexia Singh (https://www.alexiasingh.com) is a senior lecturer in photojournalism and documentary
photography at the London College of Communications. She worked as a picture editor for Reuters for twenty years. In
2010, she was appointed editor in charge of Reuters' Emmy award - winning website The Wider Image. She has worked
with clients such as Magnum Photos, WaterAid, Disasters Emergency Committee, and Save the Children.
Editorial Note #2: Reuters (https://www.reuters.com) is the world's largest international text, photography, and television
news agency. Its award-winning photographers have captured the defining moments of our times, from war zones and
protests to sporting events and culture.
Last Laughs
Elliott Erwitt
teNeues Publishing
https://www.teneues.com/en/company
9783961716333, $75.00, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Laughs-Elliott-Erwitt/dp/3961716331
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-laughs-elliott-erwitt/1145663448
Synopsis: When great black and white photography and tongue-in-cheek humor come together, as they did with Elliott
Erwitt, the result is a unique coffee table book like "Last Laughs". No one was better than the New York photography
legend at observing everyday scenes around the world with heart and humor through the lens of his camera. Shortly before
his death in 2023, he curated this wonderful selection of amusing, tongue-in-cheek snapshots for his last major photo book,
which are also tinged with a touch of wistful nostalgia from today's perspective.
Elliott Erwitt mastered the art of capturing special moments in seemingly casual everyday scenes with his camera. Whether
stars or unknown faces in the streets, whether people or dogs, when the photography legend Erwitt observed the world
through the lens of his camera, his sense of humor was always his companion. It is the unmistakable signature of his
photography in black and white that turned these tongue-in-cheek glances at the lives of others into impressive documents
of contemporary history: a wonderful, sometimes melancholy book of hand-picked photographic moments full of nostalgia
and humor.
Critique: A unique coffee table book celebrating one man's lifetime of photojournalism with nostalgic and a contemporary
photo-eyed historical perspective, "Last Laughs" is a fitting memorial to the life, legend and work of of creative
photographer Elliott Erwitt. This large format hardcover edition of "Last Laughs" from teNeues Publishing is an
extraordinary, iconic, visually and emotionally engaging photographic study of the contemporary human condition with all
its eccentricities, humor, tragedy, conformity and non-conformity. Each Black & White photo is either full page or double
page in size. This massive, coffee-table style volume is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Photography collection and supplemental
Photojournalism/Criticism curriculum studies list.
Editorial Note: Elliott Erwitt was the grand seigneur of magazine photography, a long-standing member of the famous
Magnum Photos agency and also served as its vice-president. The widely travelled photojournalist knew how to document
contemporary history and snapshots of life like no other. Whether celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy,
ordinary people on the streets of New York or his favourite animal subject, dogs, he was able to capture the humor in
everyday scenes in an incomparable way. Erwitt passed away in 2023, but the legacy of the photography legend lives on -
with a wink in black and white and this, his last self-curated photo book "Last Laughs".
The Music Shelf
Legendary Guitars
Julien Bitoun
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781788406321, $60.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Guitars-Explore-Worlds-Most/dp/178840632X
Synopsis: From the beginnings of the American guitar in the 19th century to the avant-garde Canadian creations of 2025,
from folk to electric to archtop; from the cheap guitar of the bluesmen of the 1960s to the Les Paul worth half a million
dollars; all the instruments showcased in the pages of "Legendary Guitars: Explore the World's Most Legendary Guitars"
by Julien Bitoun are exceptional, whether it's because of their sound, their craftsmanship, the way they play, their
aesthetics or the artists they inspired.
Julien Bitoun, who is a dedicated and talented musician, as well as a greatly informed specialist in the history of rock, has
lovingly selected each of the instruments. He tells the story of their creation and the reasons they entered music
history.
Enough to make the most jaded collector pale or the most occasional enthusiast definitely addicted, this magnificent
edition of "Legendary Guitars: Explore the World's Most Legendary Guitars" is profusely illustrated with spectacular color
photography of individual instruments in support of an accompanying and informative commentary.
Critique: Quite arguably the ultimate collection of 100 legendary guitars, this large format and coffee-table style (9.25 x
0.85 x 12.25 inches, 5.66 pounds) hardcover edition of Julien Bitoun's "Legendary Guitars: Explore the World's Most
Legendary Guitars" from Cassell comes in a protective paper casing and is an extraordinary and recommended pick for
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Music History collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists. It should be noted that "Legendary Guitars: Explore the World's Most Legendary Guitars" is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $31.99).
Editorial Note: Julien Bitoun a French guitarist, singer, and teacher, is the author of several books on the history of rock
and guitars, including Woodstock and Guitars & Heroes, published by Grund, and Strange Brew (Carmion blanc), a
written version of his rock history course at Sciences-Po. He also writes for major guitar and rock publications in France,
including Guitar Part and Guitar Xtreme.
The Sports Shelf
Eden: A Portrait of Mountain Biking in Aotearoa New Zealand
Nick Stevenson
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9781760765231, $55.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Eden-Portrait-Mountain-Aotearoa-Zealand/dp/1760765236
Synopsis: Few countries in the world serve up such diverse mountain bike riding landscapes as Aotearoa, New Zealand.
With a labyrinth of trails that flow, challenge, and excite set against a backdrop of dramatic and surreal landscapes, New
Zealand has become a veritable "Garden of Eden" for mountain bikers.
With contributions by leading photographers and professional athletes that have contributed to and documented the rise of
mountain biking, "Eden: A Portrait of Mountain Biking in Aotearoa New Zealand " is comprise of a stunning collection of
mountain bike photography and informative essays capturing the growth of this young sport in the youngest country in the
world.
Critique: This profusely illustrated large format (9.6 x 1.1 x 12.1 inches, 4.2 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition
of Nick Stevenson's "Eden: A Portrait of Mountain Biking in Aotearoa New Zealand" from Thames & Hudson is an ideal
pick for armchair travelers, itinerary planning for New Zealand visitors, sports photography enthusiasts, and aspiring
mountain bike cycling fans. Original, unique, and inherently fascinating from cover to cover, "Eden: A Portrait of
Mountain Biking in Aotearoa New Zealand" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library collections.
Editorial Note: Nick Stevenson is one of the founders and executive producer at production company Hunt Cinema and
managing director of the marketing agency Cadre. As a producer, filmmaker, and marketer he has crafted films, online
commercials, branded entertainment, advertising campaigns, and event experiences for many global brands.
The Gardening Shelf
Sharing the Love of Gardening
Kristie C. Wolferman
University of Missouri Press
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826223296, $54.95, HC, 258pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Love-Gardening-History-Westport/dp/082622329X
Synopsis: With the publication of "Sharing the Love of Gardening: The History of The Westport Garden Club", Kristie C.
Wolferman has carefully chronicled the seventy-five-year history of Kansas City's Westport Garden Club (WGC).
Founded as a women's garden club in 1950, the group became a member of the prestigious Garden Club of America
(GCA) in 1956. Since that time, it has evolved into an organization committed to civic improvement through educational
programs and action in the areas of conservation, horticulture and the use of native plants.
With the post-World War II housing boom, the nascent WGC became involved in landscaping projects aimed at
beautifying Kansas City. These efforts continued when the WGC led re-landscaping efforts after the Great Flood of
1951.
Early in their club's history, the women of the WGC learned that collaboration with other organizations allowed them to
have a greater impact on the causes about which they cared. They soon began working with city governments and park
departments on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line, including with the Linda Hall Library and Arboretum, the
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Loose Park Garden Center.
In addition to being a thorough history of The Westport Garden Club (and the considerable influence that a small number
of dedicated, educated women have had on it) "Sharing the Love of Gardening" is packed from cover to cover with
stunning photography, showcasing previously unpublished images from the clubs' archives and the original work of club
member and professional photographer Marianne Kilroy.
Critique: This large format (12 x 1.2 x 9 inches, 4.13 pounds) hardcover edition of Kristie C. Wolferman's epic "Sharing
the Love of Gardening: The History of The Westport Garden Club" from the University of Missouri Press is a
magnificently illustrated, meticulously researched, impressively well organized and informative horticultural society
history that will have immense appeal and value for readers with an interest in the history of Midwestern regional
gardening, urban gardening, and gardening design. This coffee-table style volume is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Gardening History collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Kristie C. Wolferman earned a B.A. in History from Middlebury College and an M.A. in History from the
University of Missouri-Kansas City. She taught middle school History and English at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas
City for twenty years and at the O'Neal School in Southern Pines, North Carolina, for twelve years. She is the author of six
books, including The Osage in Missouri, The Indomitable Mary Easton Sibley: Pioneer of Women's Education, and, most
recently, the second edition of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: A History.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1167909.Kristie_C_Wolferman)
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Diversity in Disney Films
Johnson Cheu
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9780786446018, $29.95, PB, 315pp
https://www.amazon.com/Diversity-Disney-Films-Ethnicity-Disability/dp/0786446013
Synopsis: Although its early films featured racial caricatures and exclusively Caucasian heroines, Disney movies has, in
recent years, become more multicultural in its filmic fare and its image.
From Aladdin and Pocahontas to the Asian American boy Russell in Up, from the first African American princess in The
Princess and the Frog to "Spanish-mode" Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 3, Disney films have come to both mirror and
influence our increasingly diverse society.
Compiled and edited by Professor Johnson Cheu, "Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender,
Sexuality and Disability" is comprised of essays that reflects recent scholarship on representations of diversity in Disney
and Disney/Pixar films, not only exploring race and gender, but also drawing on perspectives from newer areas of study,
particularly sexuality/queer studies, critical whiteness studies, masculinity studies and disability studies.
Covering a wide array of films, from Disney's early days and "Golden Age" to the Eisner era and current fare, the essays
comprising "Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability" highlight the
social impact and cultural significance of an entertainment giant.
Critique: Composed of eighteen eloquent and informative essays, "Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race,
Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability" is deftly organized into five major sections and further enhanced for the
reader's benefit with the inclusion of an Introduction (Re-casting and Diversifying Disney in the Age of Globalization), an
eight page Filmography, a four page listing of the Contributors and their credentials, and a ten page Index. A seminal,
unique, an important contribution to cinematic history and theory in general, and Disney movie history in particular,
"Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability" is an especially
recommended acquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cinematic Studies & Film
History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject of Disney films that this trade paperback edition of "Diversity in Disney
Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability" from McFarland & Company is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Johnson Cheu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures at
Michigan State University in East Lansing. He has published work in fields of disability studies and popular culture, as
well as poetry and creative essays. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4139431.Johnson_Cheu)
The Business Shelf
Ideas to Action
Rick Tucci
https://ideastoactionplatform.com
FriesenPress
https://www.friesenpress.com
9781038318060, $33.68, HC, 180pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ideas-Action-organizations-innovation-accelerate/dp/1038318068
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ideas-to-action-rick-tucci/1147406309
Synopsis: As automation and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to reshape the workplace, the real opportunity for
entrepreneurs and business managers isn't choosing between systems and people -- it is with effectively integrating
them.
With the publication of "Ideas to Action: Unlock your organization's hidden genius to ignite innovation and accelerate
results" makes the case (and delivers an instructive guide) for unlocking the untapped genius of your front-line workforce
and turning insight into measurable results.
Built on 35+ years of real-world application across Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, and public agencies, "Ideas
to Action" isn't about trends or theory. It's about returning to what works: making it easy for employees to share ideas, take
ownership, and lead change.
Transformation strategist Rick Tucci shares the Ideas-to-Action Process(TM) -- a simple, scalable framework that
empowers employees at all levels to contribute meaningfully to innovation and growth. This method sidesteps the common
traps of top-down change by giving frontline teams structured tools to turn insight into impact.
"Ideas to Action" is a practical DIY guide that will show you how to:
Engage employees as true partners in innovation
Tap existing know-how - without relying on outside consultants
Build a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability
Deliver measurable results in weeks -- not months or years
From the plant floor to the executive suite, Ideas to Action offers a repeatable system for building a more agile, invested,
and innovative organization -- and doing it fast!
"Ideas to Action" reveals the future of work -- and a return to what matters most.
Critique: The fundamental message of author Rick Tucci throughout "Ideas to Action: Unlock your organization's hidden
genius to ignite innovation and accelerate results" is that -- 'In the age of AI, your greatest innovation engine isn't artificial -
- it's human'.
Exceptional, informative, innovative, insightful, inspirational, motivational, and extraordinarily well written, organized
and presented, "Ideas to Action" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community,
corporate, and college/university library Business Management/Decision Making collections and supplemental MBA
curriculum studies lists.
It should be noted for MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs, business managers, corporate executives, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Ideas to Action" from FriesenPress is also
readily available in paperback (9781038318053, $21.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). Bulk buyers may
obtain "Ideas to Action" at a discount from bulk distributor Porchlight Books (https://www.porchlightbooks.com).
Editorial Note: Rick Tucci, for over 35 years, has helped leaders around the world unlock the hidden genius of their
frontline employees to drive innovation, accelerate results, and build stronger cultures. As the founder of Leap Academy,
Rick developed the Ideas-to-Action Process(TM) - a proven, practical system that equips leaders to tap employee insight
and rapidly convert ideas into measurable outcomes. His tools and approach have been implemented by Fortune 500
companies, government agencies, and nonprofits alike.
Marketing Effectiveness
Sorin Patilinet
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398621060, $134.00, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Effectiveness-Applying-Science-Growth/dp/1398621064
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marketing-effectiveness-sorin-patilinet/1146743863
Synopsis: Contrary to popular belief marketing effectiveness is not just about the measuring of ROI. The lens of
effectiveness must be applied to all marketing mix elements, from strategy to pricing and product, to media and
advertising. It's a strategic shift that demands robust evidence-based decisions and consistent application in order to
grow.
Written by leading marketing practitioner, Sorin Patilinet, "Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for
Brand Growth" will enable mid-senior level marketers to integrate the scientific methods and advanced measurements
required for true marketing effectiveness into their marketing strategies, in order to reap the benefits of strong customer
understanding and developing decision-making processes for growth.
Covering everything from neuroscience and its application to marketing to advanced analytics and machine learning
models, "Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for Brand Growth" provides a comprehensive practical
guide for marketers. It also takes a look into the future of how AI will impact the use of marketing effectiveness, and
features real world examples from Snickers, Warby Parker and Uber Eats.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, deftly organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Marketing
Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for Brand Growth" by Sorin Patilinet is a complete course of invaluable
instruction that is especially and unreservedly recommended to the attention of MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs,
business managers, and corporate officers with a responsibility for marketing their company's goods and/or services. While
an appropriate and recommended addition to personal, professional, corporate, and college/university library
Global/International Business Management collections and supplemental MBA Database Storage & Design curriculum
studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for
Brand Growth" from Kogan Page is also available in paperback (9781398621053, $38.99) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $37.04).
Editorial Note: Sorin Patilinet (https://www.sorinp.com/about) is the Senior Director of Marketing Effectiveness at Mars
based in Brussels, Belgium. His initiatives such as the innovative AVI and ACE effectiveness measurement systems have
earned industry recognition from prestigious organizations including WARC, ANA and WFA. As a keynote speaker at
renowned industry events including Cannes, WFA, ANA, Mad//fest, Festival of Marketing, Possible, and ARF, and as a
regular guest lecturer at Wharton Business School and other universities in Europe, Sorin plays a crucial role in shaping
the future of marketing and inspiring the next generation of marketers.
Data and Analytics Strategy for Business, 2nd Edition
Simon Asplen-Taylor
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398622036, $134.00, HC, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Data-Analytics-Strategy-Business-Leverage/dp/1398622036
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/data-and-analytics-strategy-for-business-simon-asplen-taylor/1146743866
Synopsis: Now in a new and expanded second edition, "Data and Analytics Strategy for Business: Leverage Data and AI to
Achieve Your Business Goals" by Simon Asplen-Taylor is a practical guide for business, technology and data leaders
building a data, analytics and AI strategy for their organization.
Starting by identifying the value you can obtain from data, analytics and AI, "Data and Analytics Strategy for Business"
shows you how to maximise that value to support your organization's goals and mission. It also covers the importance of
having high quality data to generate trust, getting the whole organization on board as well as all the other essential
elements required to complete your strategy. "Data and Analytics Strategy for Business" provides the keys to using data to
drive improved business results.
Incorporating the latest developments in AI, this new second edition of "Data and Analytics Strategy for Business" shows
how entrepreneurs and corporate leaders can use AI right away to get value from their existing strategy. "Data and
Analytics Strategy for Business" also provides practical guidance and recommendations for implementing AI and machine
learning to maximize performance. Filled with real-world examples from organizations including Tesco and Facebook,
"Data and Analytics Strategy for Business" is an effective step-by-step guide to designing and implementing a
results-driven data strategy.
Critique: Exceptionally informative, expertly written, impressively comprehensive, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation, "Data and Analytics Strategy for Business: Leverage Data and AI to Achieve Your Business
Goals, 2nd Edition" by Simon Asplen-Taylor is an extraordinary and recommended addition to personal, professional,
corporate, and college/university library Strategic Business Planning collections and supplemental MBA curriculums. It
should be noted for MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with
an interest in the subject of Data Mining that this newly updated and expanded second edition of "Data and Analytics
Strategy for Business: Leverage Data and AI to Achieve Your Business Goals 2nd Edition" from Kogan Page is also
readily available in paperback (9781398622012, $42.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.80).
Editorial Note: Simon Asplen-Taylor is the founder and CEO of VALSTR, a leading data, analytics and AI consultancy.
He was the UK's first Chief Data Officer (CDO) and previously served as CDO for multiple FTSE firms including Bupa
and led some of the largest data-led transformations in Europe. He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and serves
on their AI Taskforce. In 2023, CEO Magazine named him Most Influential Data Analytics CEO and in 2025, he was
awarded a Top 100 Influential People award. He is based in London, UK.
The Travel Shelf
Pale Pink Roads
Joe Tarantino
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/57942455.Joe_Tarantino
Pleasant Valley Publishing
9798218704766, $16.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pale-Pink-Roads-Journey-American/dp/B0FGKVQ1C5
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pale-pink-roads-joe-tarantino/1147887787
Synopsis: As a teenager, Joe Tarantino set out on a naive but ambitious quest to ride 100 miles on a bicycle. It did not go
well. He counted every click of the odometer, battled flat tires, ran out of food, and hit the proverbial wall. He ultimately
had to call his dad for a ride home.
But a year later, his brother and cousin convinced him to try again -- this time, a 120-mile ride. Armed with a better bike
and a bit more experience, Joe fell in love with cycling along the open road.
Over the years, long-distance cycling became a way to navigate life's hills and valleys. As he juggled raising a family,
caring for aging parents, and pursuing a career as an aerospace engineer, Joe found clarity, peace, and purpose from the
saddle of his bike.
With the publication of "Pale Pink Roads: A Journey of Faith, Pedals, and American Byways", Tarantino presents
seventeen epic rides -- each one told with humor and heart. Tarantino reveals how miles on unfamiliar pavement led to
insights on resilience, faith, and self-discovery.
More than just a ride across America, "Pale Pink Roads" is the story of a man who pedaled through fear and found
something far greater on the other side.
Critique: Original, exceptional, fascinating, inspiring, and a fun read from start to finish, "Pale Pink Roads: A Journey of
Faith, Pedals, and American Byways" is an extraordinary travelog that will hold a very special appeal to cycling enthusiasts
and travelog fans alike. Deftly written with a natural born storyteller's flair, "Pale Pink Roads" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library American Travel & Travelog
collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Pale Pink Roads" from Pleasant Valley Publishing is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Joe Tarantino has cycled through all 50 U.S. states, crisscrossing a vast network of roads and trails. With
25 marathons and other endurance events under his belt, he retired from a successful 35-year career in the aerospace
industry as a chemist, engineer, and operations manager, in response to God's call to a different direction in his otherwise
comfortable life. While pursuing his cycling goals, he seeks to inspire others to chase their dreams through his writing.
(https://bookgoodies.com/interview-with-author-joe-tarantino)
The Self-Help Shelf
A Singular Life
Greta Booth
Hail Mary Publishing
9798999385338, $19.99 PB / $9.99 Kindle 131pp
https://www.amazon.com/Singular-Life-Secrets-Without-Traditional/dp/B0FHWG76JG
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-singular-life-greta-booth/1147846100
Synopsis: Too often, those who are married or in long-term relationships seem like they get every advantage in life -- while
single people struggle to stay afloat. But it doesn't have to be this way. "A Singular Life: Secrets to Living Well With or
Without a Traditional Partner" by Greta Booth will help to pave a new path forward for those who are single -- and for
those who may find themselves single in the future.
From building a prosperous career and nurturing home to rediscovering good health and uplifting community, "A Singular
Life" explores ways single people (especially single women) can get ahead without being tethered to an unhealthy or
unfulfilling relationship. While acknowledging that good relationships do exist, "A Singular Life" also strives to help
readers embrace a way of life that feels authentic to them, and to not force a bad relationship simply for the sake of being
in one.
Throughout "A Singular Life", Greta Booth deftly weaves first-hand accounts of dating with valuable lessons, practical
advice, and spiritual hot takes. She also includes her five key rules for dating that seek to protect and empower women
while they search for love -- and not simply get them married off.
There is something for people at all stages of life in the pages of "A Singular Life" -- from those just starting out, to those
who thought they would be further along by now.
Critique: Exceptionally honest, unflinching, occasionally iconoclastic, and thought-provoking from start to finish, "A
Singular Life: Secrets to Living Well With or Without a Traditional Partner" by Greta Booth is an expertly presented
compendium of 'inspiring stories, hard-fought secrets, and unexpected tips' for being able to lead a remarkable and
contemporary life whether or not is it with or without a traditional romantic partner. While especially and unreservedly
recommended for community and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "A Singular Life: Secrets to Living Well With or Without a Traditional
Partner" from Hail Mary Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Greta Booth (https://www.asingularlife.com) has an online Q&A at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/57639877.Greta_Booth/questions
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Thai Tattoo Magick
Sheer Zed
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9798888501719, $29.99, PB, 40pp
https://www.amazon.com/Thai-Tattoo-Magick-Initiatory-Practices/dp/B0DH3MV7NT
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thai-tattoo-magick-sheer-zed/1146297997
Synopsis: Sharing his profound encounters with Thai magick during four separate pilgrimages to Thailand, with the
publication of "Thai Tattoo Magick: The Initiatory Practices of the Thai Buddhist Magicians" by writer and musician Sheer
Zed details the intense personal initiations and rituals he experienced with the sect of Thai Buddhist magicians known as
Ajarns.
Traveling all over Thailand to meet with holy monks in sacred places, Zed undergoes powerful Thai magickal rituals.
Among these are the Gold Face Blessing, where gold leaf was hammered onto his face to form a mask, and a Satuang
ritual, traditionally performed for returning soldiers, that crescendos with the release of 21 unruly catfish into the Ping
River during a Wolf Moon. As Zed explores the cultural context of Thai Buddhist necromancy, he details firsthand the
pain and transformation of his multiple talismanic Sak Yant tattoos, ritually done by hand by Ajarns in magickal inks,
including one that spiritually transformed him into a tiger. He shares his experiences of intense Serm Duang ritual baths,
the insertion of a gold Takrut needle into his arm, and a rare initiation to connect him directly with spirits.
Revealing the extreme personal losses and traumas that led to his spiritual transformation, Zed also shares how his
initiatory experiences with Thai Buddhist sorcerers helped him destroy his destructive former selves and discover profound
healing for his mind and soul. Exploring chaos magick, pop culture, and esoteric Buddhism, he also examines the artistic
and occult influences that shaped him into a magickal practitioner -- from the underground electronic music scene and the
work of the Beat Poets to the writings of Aleister Crowley and the Buddhist Anarchism of Gary Snyder.
Critique: Original, seminal, groundbreaking, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Thai Tattoo Magick:
The Initiatory Practices of the Thai Buddhist Magicians" is a unique volume that will be of special and particular interest to
readers concerned with Buddhist rituals, practices, tattoo art, and metaphysical magic. While especially and unreservedly
recommended as a unique addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Buddhist Studies
and Metaphysical Studies collections and supplemental curriculum lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this trade paperback edition of "Thai Tattoo Magick: The
Initiatory Practices of the Thai Buddhist Magicians" from Inner Traditions is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $20.99).
Editorial Note: Sheer Zed (https://sheerzed.me) is a writer, Buddhist shaman, musician, and artist. He has contributed to
Hadean Press, Indie Shaman, Rituals & Declarations, and many other publications. A counter-cultural activist,
underground music artist, and magickal practitioner for more than 30 years, he lives in the United Kingdom.
The Wisconsin Shelf
Urban Trails Madison
Andrea Debbink
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680517279, $18.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Trails-Madison-Downtown-Campus/dp/1680517279
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/urban-trails-madison-andrea-debbink/1146180926
Synopsis: Madison, often considered Wisconsin's premier city, embodies the lush lakefronts, forests, and grasslands that
make Wisconsin famous.
With the publication of "Urban Trails Madison: Downtown * UW Campus * Dane County * Ice Age Trail", Andrea
Debbnik dives straight into the area's numerous natural areas (many of them accessible by public transit) with explorations
and daytrips ranging from lakeshore walks to trails winding through prairie and wetlands preserves, plus multiple segments
of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
"Urban Trails Madison" reveals a wealth of easy opportunities for solitude and a nature fix right in their own backyard
with this handy guide that reveals so many under-appreciated gems of Wisconsin's capital city.
Critique: "Urban Trails Madison: Downtown * UW Campus * Dane County * Ice Age Trail" features 40 trails, with maps,
detailed route descriptions, and friendly tips to get the most out of every excursion by Andrea Debbink, who is a Madison
local and expert naturalist. This handy pocket guide also includes notes and information about winter hiking, trail
accessibility, and local flora and fauna. As a local author, Debbink highlights the best and most accessible trails in the city
for walking, hiking, or running, offering additional suggestions for biking, wintertime walks, or snowshoeing. Portable,
colorful, authentic, and a recommended pick for personal and community library Travel Guide collections, this pocket
paperback guidebook (4.25 x 0.5 x 6.75 inches, 8.8 ounces) is especially and unreservedly recommended for residents and
visitors alike wanting to explore Madison's beautiful trails and natural resources.
Editorial Note: Andrea Debbink (www.andreadebbink.com) is the author of more than a dozen books for children and
adults, including The Wild World Handbook series and Thrive Where You're Planted, a guided nature journal for city
dwellers. As a suburban-born kid in the Midwest, Andrea grew up exploring the natural wonders that often hide in
ordinary places, and she still has a soft spot for city habitats and wildlife. Now as an author and naturalist, she writes about
the themes of environmental stewardship, citizen science, and outdoor exploration. Andrea hikes, paddles, and writes in
Wisconsin with her family. She can be followed online on Instagram @andrea.debbink
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
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