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Wisconsin Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Bicentennial Eve: A Wisconsin Novella
Julie A. Jacob
https://julieajacobwriter.com
Fresh Water Press
https://freshwaterpressllc.com
9798998895319, $18.00, PB, 232pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Bicentennial-Eve-Wisconsin-Julie-Jacob/dp/B0GZRD8S48
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bicentennial-eve-julie-a-jacob/1149874814
Synopsis: The day before July 4, 1976, as a nation observes its bicentennial, one family's preparations spark quiet
reckonings of loyalty, longing, and the cost of independence.
"Bicentennial Eve: A Wisconsin Novella" is a gentle, slice-of-life tale by author and storyteller Julie A. Jacob of a family
on the eve of July 4, 1976 -- the USA's 200th Birthday.
As the cast of characters go about their day, each of them struggles with their own passing of time. From Grandma Kitty's
quest for some adventure to young Skylar's search for a taste of first love, each family member is looking for a little
independence of their own against the backdrop of a changing country.
With the publication of "Bicentennial Eve", Julie A. Jacob has created a believable world in the form of the fictional
Wisconsin Lakeshore community of Middleport. Her writing is impeccable, drawing the reader into the story with great
attention to the cultural details of the times. "Bicentennial Eve" is more than a nice written novella; it is an eloquent
testament to the lasting values that make up family and a look into the communities that make up Midwestern
America.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, fun and fascinating from start to finish, "Bicentennial Eve: A Wisconsin Novella" will
hold a very special resonance for readers from similar communities elsewhere around the country. With her distinctive
character and narrative driven storytelling style, Julie Jacob has created a novella that will linger in the mind and memory
of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. While an unreservedly recommended pick
for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted
that this paperback edition from Fresh Water Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Julie A. Jacob (https://julieajacobwriter.com) is a communications professional and freelance writer. She
has an MFA in creative writing from Roosevelt University, and her creative nonfiction works and essays have been
published in Midwest Prairie Review, On Wisconsin, Open, Under the Sun, and several editions of the TallGrass Writers
Guild annual anthology. Some of her work is featured in a self-published collection of essays, Two States of Single: Essays
on Love, Family, and Living Solo, available on Kindle.
The Education Shelf
The Dad Difference
Chacko Abraham & Deborah R. Higdon
ISTE +ASCD
www.ascd.org
9781416634331, $32.95, PB, 123pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dad-Difference-Invite-Fathers-School/dp/1416634339
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dad-difference-chacko-abraham/1149852188
Synopsis: When students' fathers are engaged at school, good things happen. Discipline problems ease. Achievement rises.
A positive sense of community and connection grows. The Dad Difference is a testament to the power of fathers as leaders
and role models and a practical guide to working with them as educational partners.
Informed by experience and inspired by the dads whose voices appear in the book, education leaders Chacko Abraham and
Deborah R. Higdon explore the transformative nature of effective father engagement programs. You'll learn...
What the research says - how fathers' presence and absence affect student success and well-being and the overwhelming
case for getting dads more involved in school.
How to get started - advice for building a foundation of effective collaboration, from getting fathers on the phone and in
the building to connecting them with peers and leveraging their talents and presence as committed partners.
How to keep going - smart ways to navigate obstacles to father engagement, including dads feeling out of place, having
irregular work schedules, and being physically distant.
You'll also find a starter kit of effective father engagement strategies - 20 different activities that can expand your school's
capacity, foster strong school - home relationships, and boost confidence and belonging in both kids and dads. If you're
looking for a low-cost, research-backed way to improve students' academic, social, and emotional outcomes, The Dad
Difference is for you.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "The Dad Difference: How and Why to Invite Fathers into Your School" by
co-authors and educators Chacko Abraham and Deborah R. Higdon is a 'real world practical' DIY blueprint for making
positive father engagement a reality in K-12 public schools. Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader/user'
friendly in organization and presentation, "The Dad Difference" will prove to be a welcome and enduringly useful pick for
personal, professional, school district, community, and college/university library Parent Participation in Education
collections and supplemental Teacher Education curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of
"The Dad Difference" from ISTE + ASCD is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.99) and ideal for teacher
in-service training workshops.
Editorial Note #1: Chacko Abraham is an international educator, school administrator, writer, speaker, and school board
and PTA member. The coauthor (with Deborah R. Higdon) of The Dad Difference, his work focuses on how fathers can
make a real difference in the lives of children, families, and schools. Through storytelling, reflection, and practical advice,
he encourages fathers to see their role not just as a responsibility but as a sacred calling, to lead with love, to be consistent,
and to help their families feel rooted no matter where life takes them. Abraham has a doctorate in education from the
George Washington University and a master's degree in education from Temple University. He served as a professor at the
Universidad de San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador.
Editorial Note #2: Deborah R. Higdon is an experienced educational leader who has been a school nurse, high school
teacher, assistant principal, principal, and central office supervisor. The coauthor (with Chacko Abraham) of The Dad
Difference, she is a father engagement specialist, a national and international speaker, and currently a K - 12 administrative
substitute and adjunct professor for Montgomery College, in Montgomery County, Maryland. Higdon earned a doctorate in
educational leadership from Bowie State University, a master's degree in education from Hood College, and a Bachelor of
Science degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.
School's Out: Why Families Are Choosing Unconventional Education
Mickey Revenaugh
The Johns Hopkins University Press
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421454870, $34.95, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Schools-Out-Families-Unconventional-Education/dp/1421454874
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/schools-out-mickey-revenaugh/1149304597
Johns Hopkins University Press
https://press.jhu.edu/books/title/54028/schools-out
Synopsis: There is a quiet revolution currently reshaping how American children learn.
In the wake of the pandemic, millions of American families have made a quiet but consequential decision: to leave
traditional schools behind. With the publication of "School's Out: Why Families Are Choosing Unconventional
Education", education journalist and online-learning pioneer Mickey Revenaugh takes readers inside the rapidly expanding
world of unconventional education.
From homeschooling and virtual public schools to microschools, from hybrid programs to roadschooling, Revenaugh
traces the many paths parents are choosing for their children -- and the deeply personal reasons behind them.
Each chapter centers on families navigating questions of safety, identity, flexibility, and belonging, revealing a movement
far more diverse and complex than common stereotypes suggest.
"School's Out" also introduces readers to Black homeschool collectives in the South, neurodiverse learners thriving online,
families wrestling with ideological divides, and parents seeking refuge from bullying, rigid curricula, or institutional
mistrust.
Rather than advocating for a single solution, Revenaugh presents these stories as windows into a broader transformation of
American education -- one accelerated by technology, remote work, and shifting expectations about how children learn
best.
Additionally, "School's Out" explores both the promise and the risks of this educational shift. As personalization increases,
so do concerns about isolation, equity, and community.
Revenaugh argues that the future of education will depend on how well families and institutions balance flexibility with
connection and offers a clear-eyed look at an educational landscape being reshaped in real time.
Critique: Original, informative, insightful, iconoclastic, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "School's Out: Why Families
Are Choosing Unconventional Education" by Mickey Revenaugh is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick
for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Education Issues: Home Schooling collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "School's Out" from the Johns
Hopkins University Press is also available to students, academia, parents of K-12 students, K-12 school board members,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that it is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$31.30).
Editorial Note: Mickey Revenaugh is a writer and the cofounder of Connections Academy
(https://www.connectionsacademy.com).
The Parenting Shelf
Your Brain Loves Patterns
Kim Feller, M.Ed.
https://www.fellerschool.org
Independently Published
9798255868537, $14.99, PB, 106pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Loves-Patterns-Dyslexia/dp/B0GX2PXDZN
Author's Website
https://www.fellerschool.org/your-brain-loves-patterns
Synopsis: What if your child's reading struggle isn't a disability -- but a mismatch between how they're taught and how
their brain works?
If your bright, curious child is falling behind in reading, you've probably been told to "wait and see" or "just practice more
at home." Meanwhile, you watch their confidence shrink and their frustration grow.
Here's what most schools won't tell you: your child's brain is wired for patterns. We've been teaching them to guess.
With the publication of "Your Brain Loves Patterns: A Parent's Guide to Dyslexia and the Science of Reading", veteran
reading specialist and dyslexia expert Kim Feller shares what she learned after years of watching smart children struggle
under well-meaning but ineffective reading instruction. Trained in Balanced Literacy and the three-cueing system, Kim did
everything she was told to do -- until she realized her students weren't actually learning to read.
Instead they were learning to be good guessers.
Through powerful classroom stories and clear explanations, Kim reveals why many struggling readers (especially those
with dyslexia) don't need more memorization or more exposure to books. They need explicit, systematic instruction that
teaches them the logic of English.
"Your Brain Loves Patterns" explains why English is far more logical and pattern-based than you've been told. It also
covers:
The difference between guessing strategies and real decoding
Why "balanced literacy" fails pattern-recognition brains
What brain research shows about how struggling readers build new pathways
Early warning signs of dyslexia you shouldn't ignore
Why timing matters -- and why early intervention is critical
Specific questions to ask teachers and schools
How to advocate confidently for instruction that actually works
"Your Brain Loves Patterns" is not a workbook. It's not a curriculum. And it's not a book about lowering expectations.
Rather it is a clear and empowering guide to understanding how your child's brain works -- and how to match instruction to
their strengths.
Kim has seen children go from non-readers to confident decoders in a matter of weeks when the method finally fits the
brain. When pattern-recognition thinkers are taught through patterns, everything changes -- not just reading skills, but
identity, confidence, and joy.
If someone has whispered the word dyslexia and you're not sure what to do next...
If your child can explain a movie plot in detail but can't read the word cat...
If you know in your gut something isn't working...
"Your Brain Loves Patterns" will help you understand why -- and what to do about it.
Your child isn't broken. They are just wired differently. And when we teach to that wiring instead of against it, struggling
young readers become strategic thinkers.
Critique: Original, iconoclastic, groundbreaking, and critically important, high priority reading for any parent with an child
who struggles with reading or who is informed by school or counseling authorities that their child is dyslexic, "Your Brain
Loves Patterns: A Parent's Guide to Dyslexia and the Science of Reading" by Kim Feller (President and Head of the Feller
School for Dyslexia) is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
parenting, dyslexia, and education/reading collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for
parents, teachers, school counselors, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this
paperback edition of "Your Brain Loves Patterns: A Parent's Guide to Dyslexia and the Science of Reading" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Kim Feller is an educator and the founder of Feller School, a specialty K-6 school in Madison, Wisconsin,
dedicated to students with dyslexia and related learning differences. (www.fellerschool.org)
The Astronomy Shelf
A History of the Sky in 300 Infographics
Pierre Lena & Christian Grataloup
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500030592, $35.95, HC, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/History-Sky-300-Infographics/dp/B0GJ77WY1Q
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-history-of-the-sky-in-300-infographics-pierre-lena/1149494849
Synopsis: For thousands of years, humans have looked to the sky to make sense of the world. Long before astronomy
became a formal discipline, observations of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars shaped calendars, navigation, and systems of
belief across many cultures.
With the publication of "A History of the Sky in 300 Infographics" co-authors Pierre Lena and Christian Grataloup trace
this global history, examining how societies developed the concepts and methods that allowed humanity to interpret the
cosmos.
"A History of the Sky in 300 Infographics" uses infographics and maps to show how people throughout history have
understood the universe and to consider what the future of space exploration might hold. It follows early astronomical
traditions in Babylon, China, the Maya world, and Polynesia; the emergence of new ideas in classical Greece; and the
scientific advances that transformed astronomy in early modern Europe and the Enlightenment era. It then considers the
modern age, in which humans have ventured from Earth to the Moon and beyond, sending probes through the solar system
and signals into deep space.
Designed for keen enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike, "A History of the Sky in 300 Infographics" reconnects readers
with the ancient fascination of looking up. It reveals how today's science rests on centuries of observation, argument, and a
thirst for adventure -- and addresses a central question:
How do we know what we know about the universe?
Critique: Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of 250 color illustrations, a seven page Introduction (The Human Sky),
a Postscript (The Call of the Sky), a four page Bibliography, a six page Glossary, two pages of Quiz Answers, a four page
listing of the Contributors and their credentials, and an eight page Index, "A History of the Sky in 300 Infographics" is a
unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Astronomy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Pierre Lena is an astrophysicist, member of the French Academy of Sciences, and professor emeritus at
Paris Observatory and Paris Cite University. As someone who is well-versed in making his research available for all
audiences, he worked for over three years on "A History of the Sky in 300 Infographics".
Editorial Note #2: Christian Grataloup is acclaimed to be "the most historian of all geographers." With a PhD in
geography, and as a former professor at Paris Cite University, he is a specialist in geohistory. Since 2019, he has headed
the Atlas Historiques collection published by Les Arenes.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Dessert Table: 100 Joyful Jewish Sweets
Leah Koenig
W. W. Norton & Company
www.wwnorton.com
9781324076599, $39.99, HC, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dessert-Table-Joyful-Jewish-Sweets/dp/1324076593
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dessert-table-leah-koenig/1149229655
Synopsis: The dessert table is the star of any Jewish gathering: sprinkle cookies and honey cake, airy meringues and flaky
rugelach, sweets brimming with tender apples and bright pops of pomegranate.
Eager to bring a little extra sweetness to all our tables, with the publication of "The Dessert Table: 100 Joyful Jewish
Sweets", cookbook author Leah Koenig takes us on a delightful tour through the 2,000-year-old tradition of Jewish
sweets.
She shares recipes and stories from historic Jewish communities in Venice, Syria, and Curacao; home bakers from
Hungary and Poland; and up-and-coming diaspora bakeries across the United States.
Her 100 all-new recipes comprising 'The Dessert Table" include creative takes on familiar favorites, like Chai-Spiced
Cheesecake or Chocolate Turtle Babka, as well as lesser-known treats, such as a lush Orange and Almond Cake and Fluffy
Apricot Jam Doughnuts inspired by Hungarian fank.
Beloved for her well-researched storytelling and clear, encouraging directions born from her own kitchen, Koenig
energizes the dessert canon as no one else can!
Critique: Enhanced for the kitchen cook's benefit with the inclusion of 75 full color photos and a 2-page map, "The Dessert
Table: 100 Joyful Jewish Sweets" from Leah Koenig showcases a wide range of authentic, thoroughly kosher, and 'kitchen
cook friendly' Jewish desserts that would grace any dining occasions, formal or informal. This large format (8.3 x 1 x 10.3
inches, 2.74 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Dessert Table" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for
personal, professional, family, and community library Ethic/Jewish cookbook collections. It should be noted that this
hardcover edition of "The Dessert Table' from W. W. Norton & Company is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $37.99).
Editorial Note: Leah Koenig (https://www.leahkoenig.com/cookbooks) is the author of seven previous cookbooks,
including the IACP Award - winning Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome's Jewish Kitchen. Her writing and recipes
have been published in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, the New York Times, and more.
Totally Nachrageous
Alex R. Taylor
Harvard Common Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
https://www.quarto.com
9781577158356, $22.99, HC, 176pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Totally-Nachrageous-Next-Level-Recipes-Crowd-Pleasing/dp/1577158350
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/totally-nachrageous-alex-p-taylor/1149627099
Synopsis: Remember the '80s, the decade that brought us boom boxes, cool shades, neon everything, and MTV? Food
writer and snack philosopher Alex P. Taylor, the Nacho King of Connecticut, brings that playful, maximalist sensibility
with the publication of "Totally Nachrageous: 70+ Next-Level Nacho Recipes for Parties, Game Days & Crowd-Pleasing
Fun".
More than a cookbook, this is a full-on nacho experience. Showcasing more than 70 over-the-top recipes, bold retro vibes,
and crowd-pleasing ideas for every occasion, "Totally Nachrageous" is a uniquely specialized cookbook that is made to be
shared.
As part of Generation Nacho, Taylor's first memory of enjoying his favorite snack dish was in the 1980s. This loving
homage to the decade of big dreams offers crowd-pleasing classics, such as Double Cheeseburger Nachos and Breakfast
Nachos, alongside boundary-breaking originals, including Supreme Shawarma Nachos and a towering treasure stack called
Gold Mine Nachos. There's even a selection of sweet nachos for dessert lovers (hello, Holy Cannoli Nachos)! Think of
"Totally Nachrageous" as a nacho playground -- one where chips are the canvas, cheese is the paint, and the toppings are
pure innovation.
From game-day blowouts and backyard parties to laid-back movie nights and impromptu snack attacks, get ready to
unleash a nacho revolution. "Totally Nachrageous" brings the bold with more than 70 next-level nacho recipes designed to
wow any crowd.
"Totally Nachrageous" is an illustrated compendium showcasing:
Globally inspired nachos
Nacho Knowledge
Music-pairing playlists ("Nacho Mixes")
Taylor's signature Perfect Nacho Formula
A guide to the most unique and creative nachos in every state
With options for vegans, '80s movie fans, and holiday enthusiasts alike, "Totally Nachrageous" is the ultimate gift book for
food lovers, students, gamers, partiers, and nostalgia seekers -- basically, snackers of all stripes. Escape the ordinary with
the biggest and raddest nacho party of all time because these nachos are, like, totally outrageous!
Critique: The illustrated and fully 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes comprising "Totally Nachrageous: 70+ Next-Level Nacho
Recipes for Parties, Game Days & Crowd-Pleasing Fun" are original, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, and a lot of fun.
Certain to be a unique and enduringly popular pick for personal, professional, and community library cookbook
collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Totally Nachrageous" from the Harvard Common Press is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.83).
Editorial Note: Alex P. Taylor (https://alexptaylor.com) is a TV personality, food content creator, and nachopreneur. He
was nicknamed the Nacho King of Connecticut for his passion for nachos. With 20+ years in hospitality and regular
appearances on Great Day Connecticut, Fox 61, WTNH and 96.5 TIC FM, he's known for outrageous nacho creations and
a big-hearted sense of humor. His viral "Most Unique Nachos in Every State" series has earned him a loyal following
across Instagram, TikTok, and iHeartRadio. Whether sharing snack wisdom or building sky-high stacks of chips, Alex is
ready to lead the nacho revolution -- one chip at a time. Follow his adventures on Instagram and TikTok:
@alexptaylor1
Scran: Modern Scottish Food Inspired by Tradition
Ali Stoner
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781846016486, $32.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Scran-Modern-Scottish-Inspired-Tradition/dp/1846016487
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scran-ali-stoner/1149277175
Synopsis: "Scran: Modern Scottish Food Inspired by Tradition" by Ali Stoner is a new and illustrated collection of more
than 100 nostalgic and traditional Scottish recipes, as seen through a modern culinary lens. Stoner (@rovinghaggis) offers
recipes for old favorites, classic bakery treats and creative new dishes inspired by Scotland, its landscapes and its
traditions.
The chapters comprising "Scran: Modern Scottish Food Inspired by Tradition" are divided into My Scottish Pantry,
Scottish Breakfast, Handheld Savories, On Toast, Soups, Family Scran, On the Side, Sweet Puddings, Your Daily Bread,
Home Baking and Swally (Cocktails & Drinks).
The step-by-step recipes are wide ranging and include:
Scottish Eggs Benedict with Whisky Chive Hollandaise
Millionaire shortbread
Crabby Scottish Crumpet
Peppermint slice
Chicken Balmoral sausage roll
Macaroni pie
Scots rabbit
Confit sardines with gin pickled onions
Morning rolls
Tattie Scone Tacos
Tablet
Scottish Soda Bread (Fife Bannock)
Scottish martini
Critique: Authentic and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "Scran: Modern Scottish Food
Inspired by Tradition" is informatively enhanced with the inclusion of a two page Introduction, a four page 'My Scottish
Pantry', a one page Glossary, and a three page Index. Inspiring to browse through, fun to plan menus with, and beautifully
illustrated throughout with full color, full page photographs of finished dishes, "Scran: Modern Scottish Food Inspired by
Tradition" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Scottish, Welch,
and English themed cookbook collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Scran: Modern Scottish Food
Inspired by Tradition" from Mitchell Beazley is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Ali Stoner is a Scottish cook. Born in Glasgow, she currently lives in Melbourne, Australia with her
husband, family and two dogs. In early 2022, encouraged by her friends and family, she was finally tempted to stretch her
cooking talents further and applied to be a contestant on Masterchef Australia. During her time on the show, her creativity
and inventiveness were a stand out and the experience encouraged her to take her food journey further. In May 2023, Ali
launched her Instagram and presence under the Roving Haggis moniker and has seen her audience grow rapidly with a
large global following, particularly in North America, Canada and of course Scotland and the UK.
Sugar & Spice
Francesca Huntingdon
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600640295, $26.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Spice-Sweet-Treats-Nights/dp/0600640299
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sugar-spice-francesca-huntingdon/1149602872
Synopsis: Autumn is a season of the year beloved by so many; it's the time of warm colors, crisp leaves, chunky knitwear
and spiced hot drinks -- and it's also when many of us grab our bowls and cooking implements and get cooking!
Throughout "Sugar & Spice: Sweet Treats and Bakes to Enjoy as the Nights Draw In" by Francesca Huntingdon, you will
find a vast selection of bakes and sweet treats -- everything you might want to indulge in as the season turns and autumn
leaves start to fall. From simple puddings to more elaborate and indulgent bakes, "The Sugar and Spice" will be the go-to
baking bible for cinnamon bun fans, pumpkin spice perfectionists, chocoholics and cake lovers.
"Sugar & Spice" is a beautifully designed gift for everyone from first-time bakers to experienced cakemakers. It is the
definitive collection of recipes for baking autumnal treats -- from iced loaf cakes and moist muffins to gooey chocolate
brownies and beyond, whether it's sugar-crusted, spiced or outrageously sticky, everything showcased in "Sugar & Spice"
will prove to be simply irresistible and utterly scrumptious.
Critique: With many of the baked goods being illustrated in full color, "Sugar & Spice: Sweet Treats and Bakes to Enjoy as
the Nights Draw In" is impressively 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation with every one of the recipes
in this culinary compendium include number of pieces made, prep time, cooking time, ingredients, and baking instructions.
A simple pleasure to browse through and ideal for planning menus with, "Sugar & Spice" is unreservedly recommended as
a very special addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted
that this hardcover edition of "Sugar & Spice" from Hamlyn is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.99).
Editorial Note: Francesca Huntingdon is a home cook, recipe writer and food stylist based in Bath, England. She
specialises in creating inspiring, dependable and fuss-free recipes - with a strong emphasis on flavor. There is an online
listing of her books at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/48695954.Francesca_Huntingdon
The Wildlife Shelf
Birds Color by Color
Geoffrey E. Hill
Rizzoli Universe
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9780789346834, $37.50, HC, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Color-Visual-Beauty-Science/dp/0789346834
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/birds-color-by-color-geoffrey-e-hill/1149620958
Synopsis: Cardinals, blue jays, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, ruby-throated hummingbirds, green honeycreepers: color is often
the very first feature that captures our attention. Yet only recently have ornithologists begun to unravel the mysteries
behind birds' brilliant plumage and biological processes that produce such vivid hues.
Although scientists have made remarkable progress, much of this knowledge remains out of reach for general readers.
With the publication of "Birds Color by Color: A Visual Guide to the Beauty and Science of Color in the Avian World ",
Professor Geoffrey E. Hill bridges that gap by showcasing the dazzling spectrum of bird coloration and explaining, in clear
and accessible language, how birds achieve their remarkable colors.
Richly illustrated with stunning artwork and photography, "Birds Color by Color" is divided into two parts.
Part One explores the science of color in feathers. Chapters examine how coloration varies within a species and how these
variations can signal sex, age, and individual identity. This section also considers how color can function both as
camouflage and as a bold display that attracts mates or deters rivals.
Part Two presents a color-coded gallery of more than 200 species, spanning the spectrum from red to violet -- and
including brown, black, white, and multicolored birds. Each entry highlights how particular colors arise, explains their
biological purpose (whether camouflage, species recognition, or courtship), and features a concise fact file listing common
and scientific names, distribution, habitat, size, and coloration.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photography of birds, "Birds Color by Color: A Visual Guide to
the Beauty and Science of Color in the Avian World" academician and bird curator Geoffrey E. Hill is an extraordinary,
seminal, and meticulous study that is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a four page
Introduction, a one page Glossary, a one page bibliography of Further Readings, and a two page Index. Thoroughly 'reader
friendly' in organization, presentation, and style, this hardcover edition of "Birds Color by Color" from Rizzoli Universe is
an exceptional and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university
library Avian Wildlife collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Geoffrey E. Hill is Professor and Curator of Birds at Auburn University, Alabama. He is the author of Bird
Coloration (Harvard, 2006), Ivorybill Hunters (Oxford, 2007), Bird Coloration (National Geographic, 2010), and A Red
Bird in a Brown Bag (Oxford, 2019), as well as more than 300 scientific articles.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Call Me Dave
Denny Lynch
Koehler Books
www.koehlerbooks.com
9798897471829, $39.95 hc
9798897471805, $19.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Dave-Counter-Founder/dp/B0GZBLR79Y
Synopsis: Dave Thomas (July 2, 1932 - January 8, 2002) turned a boyhood dream of owning a hamburger stand into a
worldwide success story. He proved that honesty, integrity, friendliness, and hard work never go out of style.
Denny Lynch was Dave's close friend and a former Wendy's SVP of communications,
With the publication of "Call Me Dave: Behind the Counter with Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy's", Lynch offers an
intimate look at the man behind the apron, tracing Dave's rise from a determined young busboy to one of America's most
beloved spokesmen.
Featuring personal reflections and anecdotes from his wife, daughters, employees, friends, and Wendy herself, "Call Me
Dave" explores Dave's quest to build the nation's best hamburger chain while staying true to his principles. Dave never
forgot where he came from and created a second legacy-the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-dedicated to finding
loving homes for more than 130,000 children lingering in the foster care system.
It should be noted that all author profits are donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, continuing Dave's
lifelong mission to find every child a forever home.
Critique: Featuring the occasional B/W historical photo, "Call Me Dave: Behind the Counter with Dave Thomas, Founder
of Wendy's" by Denny Lynch is an extraordinary and informative introduction to the life and accomplishments of Dave
Thomas -- a man whose influence in shaping America's fast food industry still impacts our lives today. Uniquely informed
and a simply fascinating read from start to finish, "Call Me Dave" is especially and unreservedly recommended for the
legions of Wendy's fans, as well as community and college/university library American Biography/Memoir
collections.
Editorial Note: Denny Lynch launched a lifetime career in public relations while working on the student newspaper in
college. A chance meeting with Wendy's founder Dave Thomas in 1981 led to a twenty-year adventure together
crisscrossing the US and Canada, with Denny eventually rising to senior vice president of communications for Wendy's.
Denny also helped create the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 1992 and served as chairman for twenty years. In
2009, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Ohio State University. He loves retirement with his wife of
forty-five years, two children, and four granddaughters.
Northern Lights and Rocket Flights
Neal Brown
https://www.nealbrownrockets.com
Springer
https://www.springer.com/us
9783032145970, $39.99, HC, 285pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Lights-Rocket-Flights-Biographies/dp/303214597X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/northern-lights-and-rocket-flights-neal-brown/1148766199
Synopsis: The late Neal Brown (December 12, 1938 - July 19, 2021) dedicated over four decades to the University of
Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and inspired countless individuals with his passion for discovery and education.
Born in 1938, Neal's journey led him from early work with NASA to becoming a beloved figure in Alaska science
education. His fascination with the aurora borealis drew him to Fairbanks in the mid-1960s. This marked the beginning of
a lifelong commitment to understanding the aurora, Earth's atmosphere, and space.
Poker Flat Research Range is the only university-owned rocket range in the world and is a premier facility for launching
sounding rockets for scientific research. Neal served as the director for 18 years, overseeing numerous rocket launches and
other research projects, and enormous improvements in the infrastructure there. Later, he led the Alaska Space Grant
Program, promoting education and research in aerospace and earth sciences across the state.
In his own words -- "What we had were a bunch of experienced hooligans with Alaska homesteader personalities who had
a hunch they could do it better and cheaper than "those NASA guys".
Critique: With the publication of "Northern Lights and Rocket Flights: My Years at Poker Flat Research Range", Neal
Brown (with the assistance of Sue Mitchell) posthumously presents his personal memoir and shares his life experiences
and contributions to aerospace and earth sciences.
A fascinating and informative memoir that will have a very special appeal for readers with an interest in Climatology,
Weather, and the Earth Sciences, "Northern Lights and Rocket Flights: My Years at Poker Flat Research Range" is
enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of numerous illustrations, a twelve page Epilogue (Neal Brown's
Legacy), a four page Obituary, and a three page Index. This hardcover edition of "Northern Lights and Rocket Flights"
from Springer is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library science and scientists themed Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note #1: "Northern Lights and Rocket Flights: My Years at Poker Flat Research Range, a memoir by Neal Brown
(https://www.nealbrownrockets.com) was posthumously completed with Sue Mitchell. Discovered after his death, Brown's
1,100 stories and notes were carefully distilled into a compelling 270-page account of NASA, the aurora, and nearly two
decades leading the world's only university-owned rocket range.
Editorial Note #2: Sue Mitchell is an editor and science communicator who spent much of her career helping translate
complex research into engaging stories for broad audiences. Following many years as production editor with the University
of Alaska's Press, she led the public information team at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, or GI.
There she worked closely with scientists to share their work, including at Poker Flat Research Range.
Unbelonging: A Life in Search of Home
Catherine Jagoe
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299357948, $21.95, PB, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Unbelonging-Life-Search-Catherine-Jagoe/dp/0299357945
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unbelonging-catherine-jagoe/1148516308
Synopsis: "Where are you from?"
For poet, translator, essayist and critic Catherine Jagoe, a set of complicated assumptions often lies behind this seemingly
banal question.
While partly an immigrant narrative, Jagoe's memoir in essays, "Unbelonging: A Life in Search of Home" is not so much
(or not only) about moving to the US and putting down roots but rather more about feeling perpetually in-between and
never quite "home."
Throughout her memoir, Jagoe wrestles with what identity and fidelity mean for a woman with three nationalities, a job as
a translator who frequently lives in a fourth country, a history of depression, and chronically divided allegiances.
Together, these essays comprising "Unbelonging: A Life in Search of Home" paint a deeply personal yet incredibly
relatable portrait of what it means to be an American (and an immigrant) in the twenty-first century.
Critique: Deftly crafted, intensely personal, and with a universal resonance, "Unbelonging: A Life in Search of Home" is
an eloquent and inherently fascinating life story -- one that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after this
slender book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. The paperback edition of "Unbelonging: A Life in Search of
Home" is especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university library
Contemporary Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental Women's Studies curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Catherine Jagoe (https://www.catherinejagoe.com) is a poet, essayist, and translator based in Madison,
Wisconsin. Her collection Bloodroot won the Settlement House American Poetry Prize and the Council for Wisconsin
Writers' Edna Meudt Award, and Praying to the God of Small Things was named an Outstanding Work of Poetry by the
Wisconsin Library Association. A recipient of a Pushcart Prize, among several other honors, she has published nine
full-length books and four chapbooks across genres. Her personal essays have aired numerous times on Wisconsin Public
Radio's Wisconsin Life series.
Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir
Edna Bonhomme
Haymarket Books
www.haymarketbooks.org
9798888906378, $55.00, HC, 390pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tending-Our-Wounds-Diasporic-Memoir/dp/B0FJL8NGSX
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tending-to-our-wounds-edna-bonhomme/1147868558
Synopsis: Written with astute insight and immersive prose, with the publication of "Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic
Memoir", Edna Bonhomme outlines a personal and political history of her life in the United States, Haiti, and Germany --
discovering what it means to be Black at home and abroad. It is also the intensely personal story of how she unlearned the
lies that she was told about slavery and colonialism and explores how communities are resisting the weight of centuries of
history.
Whether examining debt, medical racism, art, or reparations, "Tending to Our Wounds" cuts a breathtaking course between
the past and the present, the individual and the collective -- identifying the tendrils of history in the everyday and outlining
a path to real freedom.
Critique: Intensely personal but with a universal resonance for the reader, "Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir"
by Edna Bonhomme is an extraordinary and fascinating life story told with candor, insight, and appreciation. While an
unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library
Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for readers with an interest in memoir based political commentary that
this hardcover edition of "Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir" from Haymarket Books is also readily available
in paperback (9798888905951, $19.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99, B&N).
Editorial Note: Edna Bonhomme (https://www.ednabonhomme.com) is a critic, historian of science, and journalist. She
earned a PhD in history from Princeton University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in
Public Health from Columbia University. Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Esquire, The Guardian, London
Review of Books, and The Nation. She is co-editor of After Sex, a literary anthology on abortion and reproductive justice,
and the author of A History of the World in Six Plagues. Bonhomme has earned awards from the Andy Warhol Foundation
and the Robert Silvers Foundation. She has lived in Berlin since 2017.
The General Fiction Shelf
Recipe for Joy
Monica Comas
www.monicacomas.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662532412, $16.99, PB, 331pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Joy-Novel-Monica-Comas/dp/1662532415
Synopsis: Belle Sutton is a little lost these days.
She has a stalled career, a New York apartment she can't afford, and her sister, Lexie, is more estranged with each passing
year. Belle's one true consolation is her beloved grandmother, who's powered through her own broken family ties with a
tenacious zest for life and a passion for cooking. But when her grandmother suddenly passes away, a grieving Belle feels
her only connection to the past is gone forever.
That's when Belle receives a series of letters, along with a cookbook, photographs of Belle and Lexie when they were
young and happy, and her grandmother's last wish that the sisters mend severed ties before it's too late. For the love of
Gran, a challenge is met that sets Belle and Lexie on a journey of hope, reconciliation, surprising discoveries, and the
nourishing power of family, forgiveness, and tradition.
All they have to do is follow the directions.
Critique: "Recipe for Joy" by Monica Comas is the deftly crafted story of grieving woman who finds healing and purpose
through her late grandmother's cherished recipes in a poignant and hopeful novel about rediscovering the comfort of family
in the most trying of times. Author Monica Comas reveals a genuine and quite impressive flair for the kind of character
and narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the readers emotional and intellectual interest from start to finish.
While a highly recommended acquisition for community library Domestic/Family Life themed general fiction collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Recipe for Joy" from Lake Union Publishing is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Monica Comas (www.monicacomas.com) holds a bachelor's degree in English from The Ohio State
University and a master's in journalism from New York University. She's worked as a newspaper reporter, a journalist
covering stocks and the economy, and a financial editor. But fiction has always been her true love.
In a Word, Yes
Kit Tosello
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
https://bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780800747770, $18.99, PB, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Word-Yes-Contemporary-Christian-Relationship/dp/0800747771
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-a-word-yes-kit-tosello/1148520091
Synopsis: Lucy Montgomery excels at drawing boundaries and avoiding risk. Her favorite word is no, and she's not afraid
to use it.
It's been five years since she picked up the leftovers from a crumbled marriage and started over with her brilliantly unique
autistic son in Charity Falls, Oregon. As a single mom, she now works behind the scenes at a local newspaper. Enter Wyatt
Hayes -- an affable local police officer with the soul of a poet and the kindness she's always craved. A man who's more
than eager to help her break free from her security blanket of an adventure-free life.
Lucy's celebrity mother, Carly Montgomery (a vivacious and beloved women's Bible study leader) can't deny a sense of
weariness. But if she doesn't remain in perpetual motion, her regrets are bound to catch up with her. Despite the outward
appearance of a perfect empty-nester life, she's kept her daughter at arm's length and has already missed so much of her
young grandson's life. Is it too late to turn that around?
For Lucy and Carly to restore their relationship, and for Lucy and Wyatt to embrace the risk of loving, it will take a big
step of faith to reconcile the past together.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a sterling example of contemporary Christian fiction, "In A Word, Yes" by Kit
Tosello will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in family life themed fiction. It should be noted that
Tosello's distinctive flair for character and narrative driven storyteller style raises her domestic novel of love and
relationships to an impressive level of literary excellence. While highly recommended, especially for community library
Contemporary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "In A Word,
Yes" from Revell is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Kit Tosello (www.KitTosello.com) is an award-winning writer of small-town contemporary fiction with a
big heart, as well as inspirational essays and devotionals. With her eye trained on the beauty hiding in plain sight all around
us, she arranges words with tenderness, humor, and hope.
When She Was Ours
Anna Nordberg
https://www.annanordberg.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662539183, $28.99, HC, 319pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/When-She-Was-Ours-Novel/dp/1662539185
Synopsis: Thea Erickson, a renowned surgeon, is filled with both joy and grief as her family gathers at their home on a
summer night in 1995. Her elder daughter Phoebe is getting married, but even the happiness of the day feels bittersweet, as
Thea grapples with a terminal cancer diagnosis. She worries she won't be around to support her younger daughter Astra,
who's still in college, but even Thea cannot foresee what is to come -- a terrible accident the night of the wedding that
changes Astra's life forever.
In a last-ditch effort to protect her family, Thea arranges a secret meeting with an old family friend and extracts a promise
that will reverberate long after she's gone.
Years after her mother's death, Astra has moved forward with a career and relationship, but she still struggles with her
grief. When a man reaches out to her and Phoebe, offering a window into their mother's past, Astra must make a choice,
and her decision forces her to face what it means to love someone after they're gone, who we decide to forgive, and how
families reckon with the past.
Critique: All the more extraordinary when considering that "When She Was Ours" is author/journalist Anna Nordberg's
debut as a novelist. Original, eloquent, deftly crafted, and showcases Nordberg's exceptional flair for the kind of character
and narrative driven storytelling style that is particularly apt for a grief & bereavement themed novel and lifts her work of
fiction to an impressive level of literary excellence. While unreservedly recommended for community and
college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that this hardcover edition of "When She Was Ours" from Lake Union Press is also readily available in paperback
(9781662539206, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Anna Nordberg (https://www.annanordberg.com) is a journalist and culture writer whose essays have
appeared in Slate magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She grew up in
New York City and now lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children. "When She Was Ours" is her first
novel.
Where the Water Meets the Sky
Diane Les Becquets
Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781668221891, $29.00, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Water-Meets-Sky-Novel/dp/1668221896
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-the-water-meets-the-sky-diane-les-becquets/1148560267
Synopsis: On a night in January, on the Garden Peninsula of Michigan, a farmhouse burns to the ground. A young child
makes it out and flees into the woods with a book of matches in her hand.
Ten years later, Abby, a lover of birds and the natural world, returns to Garden, to the woods, lakes, farms and fisheries of
her childhood in order to assist her uncle on an environmental study of trees.
Her best friend, Brew, invites her to a party where she meets a troubled girl named Seda, on the run from her abusive ex.
Abby sets out to protect Seda and introduces her to an abandoned cabin that becomes a sanctuary for them both. Here,
Abby begins to process her unrequited feelings for Brew while also discovering the person she is becoming. She wants
more for her life, a hunger both spiritual and physical, and seeks to understand the trauma of her childhood that took her
mother from her. Abby cares deeply for the people and flora and fauna around her and identifies with the wounds of the
environment.
She is desperate to remember what happened the night of the fire and as the summer of 1996 unfolds, Abby will be forced
to reckon with the truth.
Perfect for fans of the lush and tender nature writing of Helen Macdonald and Richard Powers, Where the Water Meets the
Sky is a coming-of-age novel that expertly delves into the connection between our perception of ourselves and our natural
environs. It is a paean to the vast and beautiful wildscape around us and to the power of community and the wisdom of
love.
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, "Where The Water Meets The Sky" is an extraordinary, fascinating, and
engaging read from start to finish. Author Diane Les Becquets's distinctive and genuine flair for the kind of memorable,
character, and narrative driven story telling style lifts her novel to an impressive level of literary elegance. While especially
and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Coming-of-Age and Psychological
Friction collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Where The Water Meets The Sky" from Simon &
Schuster is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Publishing, 9781668155844, $44.99) narrated by Anna Caputo.
Editorial Note: Diane Les Becquets (www.dianelesbecquets.com) is the author of Breaking Wild and The Last Woman in
the Forest. Breaking Wild, an Indie Next Pick and a national bestseller, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly,
Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist, and was featured on NPR's Morning Edition. It was the recipient of the Colorado Book
Award in Fiction, the New Hampshire Outstanding Work of Fiction, and was short-listed for the Reading the West Book
Award in Fiction.
When the Silence Breaks
Elizabeth Goddard
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
https://bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780800747688, $18.99, PB, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/When-Silence-Breaks-Northwest-Mountains/dp/0800747682
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-the-silence-breaks-elizabeth-goddard/1148520101
Synopsis: When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her
brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed
information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she
looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family
business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings
danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates,
their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and
confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
Critique: A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in. "When
Silence Breaks" by novelist Elizabeth Goddard is an entertaining blend of mystery, suspense, and Christian romance from
start to finish. Original, compelling, deftly crafted, "When Silence Breaks" is unreservedly recommended for personal
reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for readers with an
interest in Christian Romance & Suspense that this paperback edition of "When Silence Breaks" from Revell is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Elizabeth Goddard at Book Series in Order:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/elizabeth-goddard
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Jeb Wright, Colonial Assassin
Dave Meek
Coffeetown Press
https://coffeetownpress.com
c/o Epicenter Press
https://epicenterpress.com
9781684922932, $21.95, PB, 330pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Colonial-Assassin-Dave-Meek/dp/1684922933
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jeb-wright-colonial-assassin-dave-meek/1149588650
Synopsis: It's 1776. The American Revolution teeters on the brink of collapse. George Washington and his Continental
Army are on the run, suffering defeat after defeat. The British Army pursues them, bent on hunting the American soldiers
to extinction. Across the colonies, the raging war pits neighbor against neighbor. Loyalists fight for their king. Patriots
fight for bold, new ideas of freedom.
Into this land torn asunder enters Jeb Wright, the twenty-year-old son of smuggler parents.
Seven years earlier, Jeb's parents fled with him from New York to France, one step ahead of the hangman. Now, Jeb
returns from self-imposed exile. He wants only one thing: to reunite with Rebecca Bennett, his childhood sweetheart.
Instead, Jeb finds Rebecca has betrothed herself to Major Donovan Huxley, a mysterious British officer. Jeb soon
discovers Huxley keeps a terrible secret, one that could doom Rebecca, Washington, and the Revolution.
But Jeb keeps his own secret: a hidden past and fighting skills never before seen in Colonial America. The fate of
Rebecca-and America-lies in Jeb's hands.
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, "Jeb Wright, Colonial
Assassin" by novelist Dave Meek is the first volume of an epic trilogy set during the darkest hours of the American
Revolution. "Jeb Wright, Colonial Assassin" will hold a particular fascination for readers with an interest in assassination
themed historical thrillers and mysteries set in the time of the American Revolution. While an unreservedly recommended
pick for personal reading lists and community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted that this paperback
edition of "Jeb Wright, Colonial Assassin" from Coffeetown Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.99).
Editorial Note: Dave Meek writings have won awards from the Maui Writers Conference, the Pikes Peak Writers
Conference, and most-recently, the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Writers Conference where his novel, "Jeb
Wright, Colonial Assassin", won first place.
Carrion Crow
Heather Parry
Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781805680550, $17.95, PB, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Carrion-Crow-Heather-Parry/dp/1805680552
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carrion-crow-heather-parry/1144751192
Synopsis: Marguerite Perigord is locked in the attic of her family home, a towering Chelsea house overlooking the stinking
Thames.
For company she has a sewing machine, Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, and a carrion crow who has come
to nest in the rafters. Restless, she spends her waning energies on the fascinations of her own body, memorising Mrs.
Beeton's advice and longing for life outside.
Cecile Perigord has confined her daughter Marguerite for her own good.
Cecile is concerned that Marguerite's engagement to a much older, near-penniless solicitor, will drag the family name - her
husband's name, that is - into disrepute. And for Cecile, who has worked hard at her own betterment, this simply won't do.
Cecile's life has taught her that no matter how high a woman climbs she can just as readily fall.
Of course, both have their secrets, intentions and histories to hide. As Marguerite's patience turns into rage, the boundaries
of her mind and body start to fray.
And neither woman can recognise what the other is becoming.
Critique: "Carrion Crow" was first publishing in hardcover by Doubleday and is now re-printed by Pushkin Press in a
paperback edition for new generation of appreciative readers. "Carrion Crow" is the fascinating and macabre story of a
mother and daughter who each have a dual capacity for both great kindness and unfathomable cruelty. Fusing grisly body
horror with raw and evocative prose, "Carrion Crow" will have particular appeal to readers with an interest in haunting
gothic novels and LGBTQ+ historical fiction crafted from the mind and imagination of award-winning author Heather
Parry. A highly recommended pick for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Carrion Crow" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Heather Parry on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7301850.Heather_Parry
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
The Reluctant Healer of Halifax
Terrie Todd
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
9798891514027, $14.99, PB, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Healer-Halifax-Enduring-Hope/dp/B0FY49MW9N
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-reluctant-healer-of-halifax-terrie-todd/1148597322
Synopsis: Three days ago, Pearline Campbell's family was whole and Oliver Hamilton still loved her. But upon returning
to Halifax disfigured and shellshocked, Oliver ended their relationship.
Then came Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the Halifax harbor was leveled by a tremendous explosion... and Pearline
fears nothing will ever be whole again. Her parents are dead, her brother is missing, and her sister refuses to speak.
Pearline must fortify herself to open her home to needy orphans, including an unidentified baby. Where can she find the
strength for each new day as misery grips the city?
Critique: "The Reluctant Healer of Halifax" is the sixth title in novelist Terrie Todd's outstanding Christian Romance
series, 'Enduring Hope', and once again showcases the author's storytelling gift for originality, deftly crafted characters, and
memorably entertaining tales contemporary and historical romantic drama. This paperback edition of "The Reluctant
Healer of Halifax" from Barbour Publishing is unreservedly recommended for community library collections and readily
available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: The other titles comprising the Enduring Hope Series include:
The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey
The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn
The Caregiver of Wounded Knee by Debby Lee
The Daughter of Shiloh by Terri J. Haynes
The Girl from Tomorrow's Town by Naomi Musch
Editorial Note #2: There is an online listing of books by Terri Todd available at FantasticFiction:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/terrie-todd
A Mismatch Made in London
Melanie Dickerson
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
https://bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780764245237, $18.99, PB, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mismatch-Made-London-Enemies-Lovers/dp/0764245236
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-mismatch-made-in-london-melanie-dickerson/1148520090
Synopsis: When Amelia Moore is invited to London for the social Season, she hopes for a chance at love -- but certainly
not with Jeremy Beaumont, the Season's most sought-after bachelor.
Upon making the acquaintance of his sister Juliet at her first ball, Amelia becomes fast friends with her, but Jeremy's
protective nature leads him to question her motives, and he accuses Amelia of using his sister to capture his attention and
fortune. Outraged at his arrogance, Amelia vows never to speak to him again, which proves a more difficult feat than she
anticipated.
As Amelia attracts the attention of other wealthy gentlemen, Jeremy feels compelled to warn her away from certain suitors,
a goodwill gesture that she does not appreciate. When an unexpected circumstance threatens Juliet's reputation, Amelia
and Jeremy are forced to confront their undeniable attraction -- and discover whether their battle of wills has actually been
a dance toward love.
Critique: Simply stated, Melanie Dickerson is a master of the historical romance genre and her latest novel, "A Mismatch
Made In London" is a 'must' for her legions of fans. Original, exceptional, and a fun read from cover to cover, "A
Mismatch Made In London" is unreservedly recommended as an enduringly popular pick for community library Historical
Romance collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "A Mismatch Made In
London" from Bethany House Publishers is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Melanie Dickerson (www.MelanieDickerson.com) is a two-time Christy Award winner, and Carol Award
winner with more than thirty published novels. There is an online listing of her books at:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/melanie-dickerson
Pride Comes Before a Fall
Virginia Heath
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o Macmillan Publishers
https://us.macmillan.com
9781250896117, $19.00, PB, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pride-Comes-Before-Fall-Prentices/dp/1250896118
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pride-comes-before-a-fall-virginia-heath/1148026463
Synopsis: Despite his many responsibilities, there is nothing Leopold Sloane, the 11th Duke of Debden, takes more
seriously than the safety of those he loves. When one of his sisters is injured at a protest rally, he drags his family to Bath
for the summer to keep his reckless and rebellious siblings out of harm's way. The only flaw in his plan is his
overwhelming but inexplicable attraction to the new chaperone he has hired to watch out for them. An outspoken
conundrum of a woman who soon causes him more trouble than both his sisters combined...but who calls to his soul
regardless.
From the moment Portia Kendall read her first revolutionary pamphlet beneath her bedcovers at Miss Prentice's School for
Girls, she realized that her true calling was to make the world a fairer place for the masses downtrodden by the aristocracy.
A calling that led her to Equitas, a radical newspaper that champions reform.
But as Portia discovers, writing doesn't pay the bills. To make a living, she must push aside her principles and serve the
very people she criticizes weekly in her column. A temporary position as a chaperone in the home of a pompous duke
seems like the perfect way to earn enough to follow her heart. Unfortunately, the duke who hires her seems to be more
dashing and noble than pompous and soon begins to call to her heart too -- as much as she tries to deny it. But dare she risk
her principles for love or will her pride always come before a fall?
Critique: Author and novelist Virginia Heath is one of those masters of the historical romance genre whose character and
narrative driven storytelling style is ideally suited to the genre and in the case of her latest novel, "Pride Comes Before a
Fall", raises her fiction to an impressive level of literary excellence. An original and fun read from start to finish, "Pride
Comes Before a Fall" will prove a welcome and popular edition to community library Historical Romance collections. For
the personal reading lists of Virginia Heath fans it should be noted that this paperback eition of "Pride Comes Before a
Fall" from St. Martin's Griffin is also available in a digital book format ($11.99).
Editorial Note: When Virginia Heath (https://www.virginiaheathromance.com) was a little girl, it took her ages to fall
asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the
stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to
embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Now her Regency rom-coms (including the Wild Warriners and
Merriwell Sisters series) are published in many languages across the globe. More than thirty-two books and four Romantic
Novel of the Year Award nominations later, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
How to Ruin a Wedding
Elba Luz
https://elbaluz.com
Mindy's Book Studio
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662543043, $28.99, HC, 303pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/How-Ruin-Wedding-Elba-Luz/dp/1662543042
Synopsis: Lucy Delgado knows all about things that don't work out. Between two failed marriages and losing her job,
"meant to be" doesn't seem to mean much anymore. And watching her sister's marriage deteriorate isn't convincing Lucy
otherwise.
Desperate for money and disillusioned by love, she turns her nothing-left-to-lose attitude into action as a professional
wedding saboteur. Lucy knows how to play any part (old lover, nosy relative, wise stranger) to save brides and grooms
from making the same mistakes she did.
Until she crashes the wrong ceremony.
For Anders Kennedy, Lucy's timing couldn't be better. She's exactly what he needs to derail his own sister's upcoming
nuptials by posing as Anders's new girlfriend so she can slip into the family circle and sabotage from within. And Anders
has the kind of money Lucy can't afford to turn down.
As they fake-date their way through family celebrations, high jinks, and secrets, Lucy and Anders are forced to confront
their cynicism about marriage. Their schemes were meant for the greater good, but what if love really does conquer
all?
Critique: Original, wickedly funny, and a compelling read from start to finish, "How To Ruin A Wedding" by novelist Elba
Luz is a simply fascinating and deftly crafted read that will have a very special appeal for fans of contemporary romance.
Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library Romance Fiction collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "How To Ruin A Wedding" from Mindy's Book Studio is
readily available in paperback (9781662539145, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Elba Luz (https://elbaluz.com) is a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or
books. A failed astrophysicist turned publishing professional in New York City, she can be found annoying people with
facts about space or lounging about with her adorable pit bull Stormy. She writes romance for adults and teens.
The Roman Holiday Rule
Andra Loy
Haven
c/o Baker Publishing Group
https://bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780764245954, $18.99, PB, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Roman-Holiday-Rule-Rivals-Lovers/dp/0764245953
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-roman-holiday-rule-andra-loy/1148520099
Synopsis: Lexi Walker has finally committed to the Italian adventure that she and her late mother dreamed of for years --
complete with a meticulously crafted itinerary, four sealed letters to open at Rome's most iconic sites, and her mother's
final painting to present at the art festival Lexi is helping organize.
She's ready for the perfect Roman getaway. What she doesn't expect is for her mother's artwork to start manifesting in real
life, turning her carefully planned trip into something unpredictable.
Italian-American architect Mark Russo has sworn off American tourists after having his heart broken, and he's certainly not
about to let another one distract him from winning the restoration bid that could reunite his estranged father with his
grandfather. But when the captivating woman next to him on the flight to Rome proposes a photography challenge
(whoever captures the heart of Italy in seven days wins) Mark can't resist the bet or her charm.
As Lexi follows the letters from her mother around the city, she encounters Mark everywhere she goes. Their competitive
banter turns to undeniable chemistry, but they both know the cardinal rule of holiday romances. Will a little magic (and a
lot of mishaps) break the Roman Holiday Rule?
Critique: In "The Roman Holiday Rule", novelist Andra Loy has deftly crafted an original and 'No-Spice Magical Realism
Rivals-to-Lovers' contemporary romance set in the eternal city of Rome. A fun read for romance fans from cover to cover,
"The Roman Holiday Rule" is an extraordinary and recommended pick for community library Contemporary Romance
collections. For the personal reading lists of fans who appreciate vacation themed wholesome romances, it should be noted
that this paperback edition of "The Roman Holiday Romance" from Haven is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Andra Loy (www.AndraLoy.com) writes hopelessly romantic rom-coms where love bends reality. Her
unpublished works of fiction have received multiple awards. An avid explorer of storied castle ruins, Andra lived in
Europe for over twenty years with her husband and three kids, but she recently moved back to the United States. When not
reading and writing, she enjoys teaching English, traveling, and playing piano.
Through the Valley
Patricia Johns
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
https://bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780764244193, $18.99, PB, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Through-Valley-Christian-Tradition-Inheritance/dp/0764244191
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/through-the-valley-patricia-johns/1148520086
Synopsis: Miri Schrock never expected to inherit anything after months of caring for Old Tom Yoder, so upon his passing,
she's stunned to learn he's left her everything. But Tom's family is equally shocked, and Miri is not sure she can rightfully
accept an inheritance that clearly belongs to Tom's grandsons.
Moses Yoder thought he knew his grandfather, but his decision to leave the Lancaster County family farm to Miri has
Moses questioning everything. Now he's caught between his family's demands that Miri surrender what's rightfully theirs
and his own growing romantic attraction toward her.
As Moses and Miri are drawn together, they must navigate family tensions, yet discovering the truth behind the inheritance
may change everything they thought they knew about love, family, and God's plan for their future.
Critique: Author and novelist Patricia Johns is a master of the Amish Romance genre and "Through The Valley" (the third
and latest addition to her 'The Amish of Shepherd's Hill' series) is a fun and engaging read from cover to cover. Memorable
characters, a skillfully crafted plot, and a distinctively Amish approach to romance, family inheritance rights, and familial
reconciliation. An especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library
Christian/Amish Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for the legions of Patricia Johns fans that this paperback
edition of "Through The Valley" from Bethany House Publishers is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.61).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Patricia Johns at Book Series in Order:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/patricia-johns
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Shadow Friends
Tess Gerritsen
https://www.tessgerritsen.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662533419, $28.99, HC, 319pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Friends-Martini-Club/dp/1662533411
Synopsis: When a renowned disease expert and Russian defector dies mysteriously during a global affairs conference in
Purity, Maine, the tight-knit band of former spies in the Martini Club once again sees their quiet coastal retirement
interrupted by international intrigue. And when a waitress at the conference hotel is found murdered, Ingrid Slocum sees
chilling links to a disastrous mission that nearly killed her three decades ago.
Desperate to uncover the truth, Ingrid's drawn back into the game by a magnetic ex-CIA colleague (and former lover) who
was with her on the long-ago doomed mission. He convinces her to join him, and together they head to Amsterdam to track
down her would-be killer.
Ingrid's frantic husband Lloyd and Maggie Bird are close behind, but a clandestine network of assassins is intent on
stopping them. Forced to question every allegiance, the Martini Club must rely on the skills they tried to leave behind.
Because in this game of revenge and deception, the past never dies -- it just hides in the shadows.
Critique: Once again, with the publication of "The Shadow Friends", author Tess Gerritsen confirms that her gift for the
kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for crafting an original and riveting novel of international
suspense, mystery and crime. A fun read from start to finish and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the legions of police procedural fans in general,
and Tess Gerritsen fans in particular, that this hardcover edition of "The Shadow Friends" from Thomas & Mercer is also
readily available in paperback (9781662533402, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindel, $3.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Tess Gerritsen available at Book Series in Order:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/tess-gerritsen
A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile
Angela Bell
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
https://bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780764242144, $18.99, PB, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ladys-Handbook-Gadgets-Guile-Victorian-Era/dp/0764242148
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ladys-handbook-to-gadgets-and-guile-angela-bell/1148520079
Synopsis: London, England, 1895
Ambulatory wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for the Daughters of Genius Society, a covert team
of lady inspectors disguised as harmless bluestocking spinsters. While her fellow inspectors gallivant about London
solving crimes, Margaret has been perfectly content assisting from the sidelines -- until her expertise is needed to infiltrate
the domain of London's most prolific inventor.
Charles Noble sacrificed his career as a musician to support his family after his father's stroke. Now he balances ledgers as
a secretary by day and tends to his disabled father by night, but he can't pass up the chance to take a temporary job as event
coordinator for a famous inventor commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his mechanical empire.
As strange occurrences cause Charles' event planning to collide with Margaret's case, the pair must unravel a plot of
sabotage against the inventor's legacy while also investigating the sparks of attraction between them.
Critique: An original and wonderfully entertaining historical cozy mystery, "A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile" by
Angela Bell is a unique and whimsical steampunk Christian historical romance set in Victorian-Era London. A part of the
author's 'A Daughter of Genius Society" series, "A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile" is a strongly recommended
pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this paperback
edition from Bethany House of "A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Angela Bell at Fantastic Fiction:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/angela-bell
Dead Men Don't Play Fetch
David Rosenfelt
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250427625, $28.00, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Men-Dont-Play-Fetch/dp/1250427622
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dead-men-dont-play-fetch-david-rosenfelt/1148307654
Synopsis: It's defense lawyer Andy Carpenter's dream to retire. That goal is once again thwarted when he gets a call from
Lou Campanelli, an old friend asking for a favor and who he simply cannot refuse. Lou runs a rehab center, and when one
of his patients, a homeless veteran, is charged with first degree murder, he needs Andy's help. And of course, Andy will
also be called on to care for the accused's dog, but that's okay: What's one more dog?
The man that Jason Maddox is accused of stabbing to death is none other than billionaire Paul Vincent, an eccentric
businessman and inventor. Bickert dedicated a great portion of his life to philanthropy, with a soft spot for dog-related
causes. This led him to befriend Jason, a physicist and war hero, whose life fell apart to the point where he ended up on the
streets with his dog, just trying to survive.
But why would Jason possibly have wanted to kill him? Well, for one thing, he was to receive a fortune in Vincent's will.
That, coupled with the fact that Jason was at the scene, his fingerprints were on the knife, and Vincent's wallet was in his
jacket, made it a slam dunk arrest.
Once again, Andy is enmeshed in a puzzling, twisty case. But in order to reunite a man and his dog, Andy will have to
untangle it all.
Critique: Another original and deftly crafted novel of murder and suspense starring Andy Carpenter and his canine
companion, "Dead Men Don't Play Fetch" by author/storyteller David Rosenfelt is ripe with unexpected plot twists and
turns. Rosenfelt is a master of the suspense/thriller genre and his latest epic, "Dead Men Don't Play Fetch" is a 'must' for
his legions of fans, as well as unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should
be noted that this hardcover edition of "Dead Men Don't Play Fetch" from Minotaur Books is also readily available for
personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by David Rosenfelt at Book Series in Order:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/david-rosenfelt
The Getaway
Kieran Scott
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662538520, $16.99, PB, 285pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Getaway-Kieran-Scott/dp/1662538529
Synopsis: For years, three couples have gathered at The Villa (billionaire Lincoln Foster's Hamptons estate) for lavish
weekends among friends. But this year, mysterious blue cards appear in each bedroom, exposing secrets: their host's
betrayals and the guests' own dark deeds.
Everyone has something to hide. Marley and Marshall Foster. Suzy and Sean McTeague. Juliet and Josh Jacoby. Lincoln
and his new wife, Hazel. Even uninvited guests hoping to be accepted among the elite.
With a hurricane bearing down, no one is getting out. When the revelations turn deadly, the trapped friends must confront
what their lies have cost them -- which possibly includes their lives!
Critique: A deftly crafted and riveting read from start to finish, author Kieran Scott's distinctive flair for the kind of
character and narrative driven storytelling style makes "The Getaway" a 'must read' pick for the legions of dedicated
suspense thriller murder mystery fans. While highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Getaway" is also currently available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Kieran Scott available at FantasticFiction:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/kieran-scott
A Past Without Pictures
Jonathan Ames
The Mysterious Press
www.mysteriouspress.com
9781613168059, $23.95, HC, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Past-Without-Pictures-Jonathan-Ames/dp/1613168055
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-past-without-pictures-jonathan-ames/1149520314
Synopsis: Maria Cole's life has never been a walk in the park. Raised in foster care and with a history of abuse, her journey
to the force was winding and loaded with heartache. When the LAPD detective is involved in a tragic shooting and, soon
after, learns that her estranged ex-con father has been murdered, she finds her past surging back in a double-bout of
grief.
There is an estate to settle and a funeral to attend, so Maria travels to her father's rural home in coastal Alabama and starts
asking questions about his murder. But the tight-lipped locals don't -take kindly to inquisitive outsiders, and she has to
tangle with corrupt small-town officials, bigoted cops, and home-grown criminal conspiracies to get answers. In the
process, she uncovers shocking revelations about her father's life -- and her own.
Critique: With a deftly crafted, character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideally suited to the suspense thriller
and noir style mysteries genre, author Jonathan Ames's "A Past Without Pictures" is a simply fascinating read from start to
finish. While an unreservedly recommended pick for the personal reading lists of dedicated police procedural themed
mystery buffs and community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "A
Post Without Pictures" from Mysterious Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (HighBridge Audio, 9798236017268, $35.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Jonathan Ames is the author of thirteen books, including the Happy Doll series. Two of his books, You
Were Never Really Here and The Extra Man, have been turned into films. Ames is also the creator of two television series:
Bored to Death and Blunt Talk.
The Scallop Plot: A Cape Cod Thriller
Judy Foreman
https://judyforeman.com
She Writes Press
https://shewritespress.com
9798896363668, $17.99, PB, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Scallop-Plot-Cape-Cod-Thriller/dp/B0FWZXR96F
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-scallop-plot-judy-foreman/1148560731
Synopsis: In Provincetown, MA, feisty scallop fisherwoman Isabella Ferreira goes up against a sleazy wind farm
developer, Olaf Svensson, who wants to install wind turbines in the ocean right off the coast of Cape Cod.
At a nearby scallop hatchery, marine biologists Leif and Astrid Borgen are already using the new gene editing technique
CRISPR to insert a growth hormone gene into scallop embryos to make them bigger and thus more profitable -- all of
which is legal. But unbeknownst to the hatchery owner, Svensson is also paying the pair to insert another gene -- one that
causes PSP, paralytic shellfish poisoning. If this works, no one will ever eat scallops from this site again, thus freeing it up
for Svensson's turbines.
Then Pulitzer Prize - winning Boston Times reporter Samantha Fuller appears on the scence. Together with Isabella,
Samantha slowly uncovers Svensson's deadly plot -- but not before hundreds of people die.
Along the way, love blossoms, tragedies occur, and the subtleties of the pro- and anti-wind power groups are exposed.
Critique: "The Scallop Plot" by Judy Foreman is an impressively original and inherently riveting suspense thriller of a read
from start to finish, Foreman's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for crime fiction genre. The result
is a fun read for suspense thriller fans and a highly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Scallop Plot" from She Writes
Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Judy Foreman on Goodreads at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7062976.Judy_Foreman
City of Promise
Victoria Thompson and Ellen Thompson
Berkley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593816516, $30.00, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/City-Promises-Counterfeit-Lady-Novel/dp/059381651X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/city-of-promises-victoria-thompson/1148625021
Synopsis: Famed former police detective turned private investigator Frank Malloy and his wife, Sarah, come to Gideon
Bates desperate for legal guidance. The Malloys' adopted daughter, Catherine, a burgeoning star of the stage, has
announced her engagement to a man she barely knows. Catherine has recently gained access to her trust fund, and
Sebastian Talbot appears very eager to marry her as quickly as possible.
As Gideon and his wife, Elizabeth, investigate, it becomes all the clearer that Talbot may not be who he says he is. As a
former con artist herself, Elizabeth suspects one may be in their midst. Undeterred by her pregnancy, she must pull out all
the stops to out swindle a swindler and save another woman from ruin.
Critique: An original, deftly crafted and fun read for cozy mystery buffs and historical suspense thrillers, "City of
Promises" by the mother/daughter team of Victoria Thompson and Ellen Thompson is especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for readers who particularly enjoy
mysteries being solved by amateur sleuths that this hardcover edition of "City of Promises" from Berkley Prime Crime is
also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Victoria Thompson was the USA Today bestselling, Edgar(R) and Agatha award - nominated author of
the Gaslight Mysteries and the Counterfeit Lady novels. She became enchanted by New York City, and Greenwich Village
in particular, while her daughter Ellen attended New York University.
Editorial Note #2: Ellen Thompson is an award-winning screenwriter and an award-nominated musical playwright. She
earned a bachelor of fine arts from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She lives in Los Angeles and advocates
for Lyme and other tick-borne disease awareness.
The Mystic and the Missing Girl
Vikki VanSickle
Minotaur Books
c/o Macmillan Publishers
https://us.macmillan.com
9781250461100, $28.00, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Missing-Girl-Mystery/dp/1250461103
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mystic-and-the-missing-girl-vikki-vansickle/1150043432
Synopsis: Tarot card reader and paranormal Drew Benson has a secret. She gets visions, something she hasn't tapped into
since she was a teenager, when her late aunt, a TV psychic known as Hannah Mystic, became the scapegoat in the
unsolved disappearance of a local teenager.
Twenty years later, Drew is happy to ignore her gift, focusing instead on keeping the metaphysical shop she inherited from
Hannah afloat, wrangling her sole, astrology-obsessed employee, and dodging local rake Foster Banks in her picturesque
lakeside hometown.
But when Drew's arch-nemesis from high school, now a big city reporter, decides to investigate the cold case from all
those years ago, it's Drew's ability that could finally make a break in the decades old mystery.
With bills piling up, a disapproving mother laying on the guilt, and a local vandal who wants Drew and her witchy store
gone, Drew has a lot to lose. But what she stands to gain (finding out what happened to the missing teen, clearing her
aunt's name, and a second chance at belonging) could change everything.
Critique: An original and fun read for cozy mystery fans from start to finish, "The Mystic and the Missing Girl" by Vikki
VanSickle deftly draws reader into an deftly crafted small town story of mystery and 'whodunnit' suspense. The author has
a genuine flair for the kind of imaginative, character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for the cozy mystery
genre. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Mystic and the Missing Girl" from Minotaur Books is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Vikki VanSickle (https://vikkivansickle.com) has worked as a bookseller, a menstrual health educator and
publishing professional with Penguin Random House Canada. Currently, she lives and writes in Toronto and hosts a book
segment on a national morning show.
Promised Land
Henry Wise
Atlantic Crime
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802164506, $26.99, HC, 384pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Promised-Land-Henry-Wise/dp/0802164501
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/promised-land-henry-wise/1149433270
Synopsis: Deep within southside Virginia lies the Snakefoot -- a wild swampland that holds secrets, hides truths, and
harbors the dead in murky waters that refuse to shine yet somehow glow.
One morning, a pickup truck is found jammed into the mud, the driver's door open amidst scattered bullets and bloodstains
on the seat. The driver, Rainbo Boon, is nowhere to be found, but his tracks lead Deputy Sheriff Will Seems and his
partner, Tania Jameson, into the swamp.
During their investigation, Buck Tomlin, the grandson of the missing Rainbo, proves cooperative, at least at first. But
when the boy's whereabouts from the night of the accident don't check out, Will and Tania must confront the troubling
reality that the Snakefoot might hold more than just a runaway victim.
When haunting layers of history (both local and personal) rise to the surface of the Snakefoot, the people who have found
refuge in its murky waters are exposed. Who really is Rainbo Boon? Where was Buck on the night of the accident? And
how does this all connect to the recent efforts to redevelop the land?
As Will and Tania search for answers, so does Buck, and the sum of their investigations illuminates the hard fact that there
is a price for progress, and a cost to living by a code. Sometimes all a person has is his word, and that word is his
bond.
Critique: Original, compelling, complex, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Promised Land"
by novelist Henry Wise is a murder mystery plaid out against 'the gravity of the past, the momentum of sin, and the
impossibility of salvation'. A fun and fascinating read the is especially and unreservedly recommended pick for the
personal reading lists of murder mystery fans and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It
should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Promised Land" from Atlantic Crime is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $25.64).
Editorial Note: Henry Wise (https://www.henrywise.com) is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and the University
of Mississippi MFA Program. His work has appeared in Shenandoah, Nixes Mate, Radar Poetry, Clackamas, and
elsewhere. His first novel, Holy City, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel of the Year.
For Services Rendered
Will Thomas
Minotaur Books
c/o Macmillan Publishers
https://us.macmillan.com
9781250343659, $29.00, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Services-Rendered-Barker-Llewelyn-Novel/dp/1250343658
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-services-rendered-will-thomas/1148026406
Synopsis: In 1896, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, would become reformer and revolutionary, turns up in London, running away from
China's Imperial Qing Secret Service, who has placed a substantial bounty on his head for his political activities. Captured
by those agents, he's imprisoned in the Chinese Embassy until he can be smuggled back to China to face execution.
In the meantime, private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn receive the unbelievable news that Sebastian
Nightwine is both alive and in London. Not just that, it seems he's taking action against Barker and his close
associates.
At the same time, they've been hired to find this missing Sun Yat-Sen.
With elements of the Chinese secret service, elements of the British government, and Nightwine himself all working
against them, Barker & Llewelyn are at risk of being cornered by the deadliest set enemies they've yet faced.
Critique: Simply stated, as an author and novelist, Will Thomas is a master of the historical mystery and British detective
genre as documented by his multi-volume 'Baker & Lewellyn Mystery' series. "For Services Rendered", the latest addition
to the series, is a fun and deftly crafted read from start to finish and is unreservedly recommended for the personal reading
lists of dedicated historical mystery buffs, as well as community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted
for the growing legions of Will Thomas fans that this hardcover edition of "For Services Rendered" from Minotaur Books
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Will Thomas is the author of the critically acclaimed Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn series, including
Some Danger Involved, Fatal Enquiry, Lethal Pursuit, Fierce Poison, Heart of the Nile, and Death and Glory. He lives in
Oklahoma. There is an online listing of books by Will Thomas at: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/will-thomas
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Hocus Pocus Handbook
Ann Aguirre
Sourcebooks Inc.
www.sourcebooks.com
9781464224119, $18.99, PB, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hocus-Pocus-Handbook-Ann-Aguirre/dp/1464224110
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hocus-pocus-handbook-ann-aguirre/1148776876
Synopsis: Thea Winter didn't choose to be a changeling -- stolen from the mortal world as a baby, raised in the wildlands
by a hobgoblin named Mudge who taught her everything worth knowing. How to read the weather in a crow's wing. How
to barter with brownies. How to stay alive in a world of capricious fae courts. What Mudge couldn't teach her was how to
stay out of trouble. Which is why she's entangled in a objectionable marriage of convenience.
Or would be, but her spouse bolted. Now she has to hunt down Devan J. Fenelon, but she's been saddled with a taciturn,
humorless hunter known as Winter's Hound. He answers only to his cousin, and she's not looking forward to this quest at
all.
Kerboros has survived the Winter Court by being exactly what they made him: relentless, invisible, and careful never to
want anything at all. His life is an endless series of ceaseless commands from his reprehensible cousin, Lord Liskaal. Since
his father's failed rebellion, Kerboros has been permitted to survive only as an example to others, an object lesson as to
how far one may fall. But traveling with Thea (wild, warm, impossible Thea) is a glorious torment for an enforcer who has
never known freedom.
She is sunshine. He is shadow.
Their love is forbidden, but when irresistible force sweeps up an immovable object, the resulting reaction might be
magical...
Critique: An original and fun read from cover to cover, "The Hocus Pocus Handbook" by Ann Aguirre will hold a very
special appeal to readers with an interest in witchery/fantasy themed romantic comedies. Aguirre's genuine flair for the
kind of imaginative and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for the cozy fantasy romance genre. While unreservedly
recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted that this
paperback edition of "The Hocus Pocus Handbook" from Sourcebooks is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Ann Aguirre available at Book Series in Order:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/ann-aguirre
Fold Catastrophes
Peter Watts
Tachyon Publications
https://tachyonpublications.com
9781616964672, $18.95, PB, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Fold-Catastrophes-Peter-Watts/dp/1616964677
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fold-catastrophes-peter-watts/1149404636
Synopsis: What if a weaponized water supply were to re-program pattern recognition in the human brain, provoking
violent rage at the sight of the Google logo. Or an accidental hive mind create a global agenda to resurrect itself in the
scant seconds between its emergence and dissolution? Then there is a steroidal jump gate-building ship attempts to survive
passage through a red-giant sun by hiding inside an ice-giant planet. Finally, when something is trying to colonize the sun,
humans try to stop it. (Spoiler alert: Nobody comes off very well.)
Critique: In his newest science fiction short story collection, "Fold Catastrophes" by Peter Watts also features an
informative introduction by Richard K. Morgan, Watts (The Freeze-Frame Revolution). With his genuine flair for the kind
of character and narrative driven storytelling style that brings his imaginative and original stories alive, "Fold
Catastrophes" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections. It should be
noted for the legions of Peter Watts fans that this paperback edition of "Fold Catastrophes" from Tachyon Publications is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Peter Watts on Book Series in Order:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/peter-watts
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Peepshow
Joe Matt
Fantagraphics
www.fantagraphics.com
9798875002304, $49.99, HC, 464pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Peepshow-Joe-Matt/dp/B0FWHKVM3P
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/peepshow-joe-matt/1103166774
Synopsis: Few comic book series can claim to have influenced a generation of cartoonists, comics fans, and comedians the
way the late Joe Matt's "Peepshow" did during its fourteen issues from 1992 to 2006.
With an often alarming and always hilarious compulsion to confess, Matt found no aspect of his life that wasn't more grist
for the humor mill: his dysfunctional (and sometimes abusive) relationships, his Catholic repression, his horrible social
skills, his addiction to pornography, his masturbation habits, etc.
Yes, the character Joe Matt was usually an insufferable outsider, but in the hands of Joe Matt the writer/artist, his life was
depicted with an eye and ear for human folly that rivalled R. Crumb, as well as an entertainer's instinct and sense of
comedic timing to rival Larry David, and it made "Peepshow" one of the most essential reads of its era.
This edition of "Peepshow" from Fantagraphics collects for the first time the entire original fourteen-issue series in one
hardcover volume, as well as the posthumously-published fifteenth issue from 2024 (detailing Matt's move to Los Angeles
in 2003 to pursue an ill-fated HBO adaptation of his work), each presented as painstakingly-restored facsimiles of the
original issues.
This definitive Joe Matt collection also includes other art and ephemera from the artist's personal archives, including a
hand-written introduction to a complete Peepshow collection that at the time was purely hypothetical and was only
discovered after his death in 2023.
"Peepshow" is rounded out with an insightful afterword by Diana Schutz, the Will Eisner Hall of Fame comics writer and
editor, and longtime friend of Matt's (and sister of Trish, Matt's ex-girlfriend and key player in Peepshow's cast).
Critique: Rescuing from an undeservedly obscurity by Fantagraphics for the benefit of a new generation of appreciated
readers, "Peepshow" showcases the unique self depreciative humor and social commentary of the late Joe Matt (September
3, 1963 - September 18, 2023) and is an unreservedly recommended acquisition for personal, community, and
college/university library biography themed Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of
"Peepshow" from Fantagraphics is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.99).
Editorial Note #1: Joe Matt passed away in 2023 at the age of sixty. Born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, he spent
most of his adult life in Toronto and then Los Angeles.
Editorial Note #2: Diana Schutz is a Canadian-born comic book editor, serving as editor in chief of Comico during its peak
years, followed by a 25-year tenure at Dark Horse Comics.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec Vol. 1
Jacques Tardi, author and illustrator
Kim Thompson, translator
Cynthia Rose, introduction
Fantagraphics
www.fantagraphics.com
9798875002380, $29.99, HC, 196pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Adventures-Ad%C3%A8le-Blanc-Sec-Vol/dp/B0FW969G3H
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-extraordinary-adventures-of-ad-le-blanc-sec-vol-1-tardi/1148609478
Synopsis: Paris, 1911. One gloomy night at the Museum of Natural History, a pterodactyl escapes from its display and
wreaks havoc upon the city. Enter journalist extraordinaire Adele Blanc-Sec, who must use her wits and firepower to get to
the bottom of this bizarre mystery. An enchanting antihero, Adele is fearless, brash, and thoroughly ill-tempered, smoking
and cursing her way through the case -- always just barely escaping peril to tell her tale.
Masterful French cartoonist Jacques Tardi created his iconic "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec" series in
1976. Set in the atmospheric Belle Epoque Paris, the series features supernatural monsters, mad science, steampunk
aesthetic, murder, humor, and delightful derring-do. This new collection of classic Adele stories includes four episodes:
"Pterror Over Paris," "The Demon of the Eiffel Tower," "The Mad Scientist," and "Mummies on Parade."
In celebration of Adele's 50th anniversary, Fantagraphics has re-issued these classic stories in luxuriously redesigned
hardcover editions. While Fantagraphics published translations of the first four Adele adventures 15 years ago, this new
series will bring the complete 10 episode run of the series into English for the very first time.
Of special note to this new edition is the an introduction by British journalist and comics historian Cynthia Rose.
Critique: Featuring full-color illustrations throughout, this new 50th Anniversary edition of "The Extraordinary Adventures
of Adele Blanc-Sec Vol. 1" from Fantagraphics brings to a new generation of appreciative readers a time-lost treasure of a
graphic novel by French author and illustrator Jacques Tardi. The iconic adventure series, set in atmospheric Belle Epoque
Paris, showcases the perilous adventuress Adele as she contends with dinosaurs, demons, and death cults. While a very
highly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Graphic Novel
collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec Vol. 1"
from Fantagraphics is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.99).
Editorial Note #1: Jacques Tardi is a pioneering, internationally award-winning European cartoonist. His Adele Blanc-Sec
series was adapted into a feature by Luc Besson, and the animated film April and the Extraordinary World was inspired by
his cartooning. He lives in Paris with his wife, the singer Dominique Grange, and their cats.
Editorial Note #2: Kim Thompson (1956-2013) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the co-publisher of
Fantagraphics Books and a champion of alternative and global comics. He lived in Seattle, WA, with his wife, Lynn, and
their dog.
Editorial Note #3: Cynthia Rose is a British author, journalist and broadcaster based in Paris. She has published four books
on art, design and why James Brown screamed and she is currently writing the history, in French and English, of a Paris
dive bar.
The Music CD Shelf
The Path
Josh Warren
https://bio.site/joshwarren
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $15.00 CAD digital
Bandcamp
https://joshwarren.bandcamp.com/album/the-path
Award-winning Canadian bassist, composer, and arranger Josh Warren presents his debut album The Path, a jazz album of
original, instrumental music featuring Josh Warren on electric bass, Christian Antonacci on trumpet and flugelhorn, Ethan
Zabarylo on tenor saxophone, Miles Cakebread-Kraus on guitar, Emmett Hodgins on piano, Matteo Romaniello on drums,
and Miles Johnson on percussion. Inspired by Warren's journey as a musician, The Path is grounded in jazz traditions yet
draws influence from music stylings across the globe. The rich interweaving of melody and harmony reflects a journey of
personal growth, development, and refinement. Inspired and inspiring, The Path is highly recommended especially for
connoisseurs of original jazz. The tracks are Gratitude; Spirits (for Jinx); Everything, in time; The Path; and What
Remains.
A Study in Songbook
Dr. Gianni Bianchini
GianniBianchini.com
Gianni Bianchini Entertainment LLC
$TBA CD / $20.00 digital
Creator's Website
https://www.giannibianchini.com/music-page
Jazz pianist, vocalist, organist, and educator presents A Study in Songbook, an album of classic favorites performed by
Bianchini on piano and vocals, Ross Kratter on bass, and Sam Hart on drums. The emotional songs, selected for a central
theme of love and memories, draw the listener into a beautiful, smooth jazz repertoire. A Study in Songbook is a choice
pick for vocal jazz connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are East of the Sun (Brooks Bowman); I Wish You
Love (Leo Chauliac, Charles Trenet, and Albert A. Beach); Give Me the Simple Life (rube Bloom, Harry Ruby); I Thought
About You (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer); Dindi (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Aloysio de Oliveira, Johnny Mercer);
After You've Gone (Turner Layton, Henry Creamer); Sweet Lorraine (Cliff Burwell, Mitchell Parish); I Remember You
(Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer); and That's All (Bob Haymes, Alan Brandt).
What Next?
Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band
www.russanixter.com
Privately Published
$15.00 CD / $10.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://hippiebigband.bandcamp.com/album/what-next
What Next? is an album of classic favorite rock, funk, and fusion songs arranged into orchestra-style majesty with a dash
of improvisation. A bonus track, "War Pigs", is exclusive to the download version. Arranger, orchestrator, and bandleader
Russ Anixter leads Russ Anixter's Hippie Big Band, and extraordinary confluence of talented performers on saxophones,
flute, clarinets, trumpet, flugelhorn, French horn, trombones, guitar, bass, drums, and more. What Next? is vivacious, a
treasure for connoisseurs of bold band music! The tracks are I Saw Her Standing There; Freddie's Dead with Danny Louis;
I Walk on Guilded Splinters; Freeway Jam; Shakedown Street; Bird Song with Erica von Kleist; A Remark You Made;
Compared to What; No Quarter/Bitches Brew; and the download-exclusive bonus track War Pigs.
Plays at the Wrong Time
Haruna Fukazawa, composer and arranger
https://www.harunaflute.net
Orange Paw Records
https://www.orangepawrecords.com
$20.00 CD / $9.03 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H65DRVRB
Creator's Website
https://www.harunaflute.net/store/p7/Plays_at_the_Wrong_Time.html
Flautist, composer, and arranger Haruna Fukazawa presents Plays at the Wrong Time, an adventurous music album
featuring three of Fukazawa's original compositions and four of Fukazawa's arrangements. The physical CD has an
exclusive eighth track of an alternate arrangement, "When I Fall in Love (Alternate Take)", a divergent musical vision
from the second track's arrangement of "When I Fall in Love"; this eighth track is not present in the MP3 version. The
uplifting songs of Plays at the Wrong Time are performed by five extraordinarily talented music artists: Haruna Fukazawa
on flute and alto flute; Steve Wilson on soprano saxophone and flute; David DeMotta on piano; Bill Moring on bass; and
Steve Johns on drums. Inspired by the musical concept of timing as personality that adds warmth and heart to a song,
rather than a strictly limiting rule, Plays at the Wrong Time is a treasure for connoisseurs of flute music, highly
recommended. The tracks are Plays at the Wrong Time (Haruna Fukazawa); When I Fall in Love (Victor Young); Mellow
Shadow (Haruna Fukazawa); Hot & Spicy, Sometimes Sweet (Haruna Fukazawa); Let's Cool One (Thelonius Monk);
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (Tommy Wolf); Fungii Mama (Richard "Blue" Mitchell); and the physical CD
exclusive track, When I Fall in Love (Alternate Take) (Victor Young).
Satoko Fujii's Bunker Ulmenwall Orchestra
Satoko Fujii, conductor
Composed by Satoko Fujii, Andreas Kaling, Natsuki Tamura, and Luise Volkmann
Performed by Buker Ulmenwall Orchestra
Libra Records
$TBA CD / 2,000 JPY digital
Bandcamp
https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/satoko-fujiis-bunker-ulmenwall-orchestra
Satoko Fujii's Bunker Ulmenwall Orchestra is recording that lay unknown in the archive of concert producer Wolfgang
Gross for a decade. When Gross found and shared it with Fujii, both agreed that the concert was a special event that
worthy of being published in a publically available format. A double CD capturing a majestic soundscape conducted by
Fujii, showcasing the layered compositions of multiple talented composers, and performed by coordinated and talented
orchestra members on trombone, tuba, saxophones, guitar, piano, cello, drums, and more, Satoko Fujii's Bunker
Ulmenwall Orchestra is a treasure for connoisseurs and highly recommended. The tracks are Shiki (Satoko Fujii);
Yamantaka (Andreas Kaling); Jasper (Natsuki Tamura); Antischwarm (Luise Volkmann); and Gen Himmel (Satoko
Fujii).
After the Storm
Satoko Fujii, composer
Performed by Orchestra Kobe
www.satokofujii.com
Libra Records
$TBA CD / 1,200 JPY digital
Bandcamp
https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-storm
Japanese composer Satoko Fujii presents After the Storm, a music album inspired by the vision of a more hopeful future
(especially during the dark days of the global COVID -19 pandemic) and performed by the renowned Orchestra Kobe.
Talented music artists on alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, and drums bring Fujii's
sweeping, four-part soundscape saga to vivid life. After the Storm is a treasure for connoisseurs of original international
music, highly recommended. The tracks are After the Storm 1; After the Storm 2; After the Storm 3; and After the Storm
4.
Jagged Edges Elegant Lines: The Music of Ayn Inserto
Ayn Inserto, composer, arranger, and bandleader
Sean Jones, composer
Performed by WDR Big Band with Sean Jones
ayninserto.com
Summit Records
summitrecords.com
$15.99 CD / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Jagged-Edges-Elegant-Lines-Inserto/dp/B0H3CG9LPQ
Magnificently talented composer, arranger, and bandleader Ayn Inserto presents Jagged Edges Elegant Lines: The Music
of Ayn Inserto, a music CD album featuring songs Inserto composed across her storied career, one song ("BJ's Tune")
composed by trumpeter Sean Jones and arranged by Inserto, and a newly created "Suite for Sean Jones" by Inserto.
Performed by the masterful WDR Big Band with Sean Jones, Jagged Edges Elegant Lines is a sweeping odyssey featuring
extraordinary coordination and world-class talent on saxophones, trumpets, trombones, bass, piano, drums, and more.
Jagged Edges Elegant Lines is a treasure for connoisseurs of big band music, and also makes an excellent gift! The tracks
are Eshel Sketch; La Danza Infinita; Vinifera; Down A Rabbit Hole; Mr. Jones and Company; BJ's Tune; Suite for Sean
Jones: I. The Artist; Suite for Sean Jones: II. The Educator; Suite for Sean Jones: III. The Husband and Father; and Suite
for Sean Jones: IV. The Human Soul.
Salvaging the Future
Dean De Benedictis
Spotted Peccary Music
www.SpottedPeccary.com
$16.00 CD / $10.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://deandebenedictis.bandcamp.com/album/salvaging-the-future
Salvaging the Future is the third and concluding installment of a rapturous music CD trilogy by ambient electronic music
artist Dean De Benedictis; the first two CDs of the trilogy are Salvaging the Past, and Salvaging the Present. The
instrumental album, shaped through a multilayered process involving re-synthesis, layered processing, and older computer
systems treated as distinct instruments, draws the listener into an inspirational soundscape that sparks imagination and
hope that tomorrow will be better than today. The entire trilogy is a treasure for electronic new age music connoisseurs,
highly recommended. The tracks are My Love Is An Extinction Event; The Outer Links; Voca; They Fought To Sway;
Urband Glacier Fund; ASMR Tragedy Lines, Salvaging My Story; Future Incandescence; All The Wild; Born Of Flight;
and Our Story Survives Collectively.
The Art Shelf
Modern Folk Art
Sandra Hutter
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
https://www.quarto.com
9798317900663, $21.99, PB, 144pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Folk-Art-Charming-Botanicals/dp/B0GF1DHNXH
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/modern-folk-art-sandra-hutter/1149154008
Synopsis: With the publication of "Modern Folk Art: Draw 75 Charming Animals, Botanicals, Patterns, and More",
popular surface pattern designer and illustrator Sandra Hutter guides you through 75 easy-to-follow tutorials for drawing
beloved folk art motifs. Along with vibrant illustrations, this charming book provides simple instructions for creating your
own folk art, from tools, techniques, and color palettes to getting creative when adding details, patterns, and designs.
With "Modern Folk Art" you will learn how to draw a variety of popular folk art illustrations in chapters devoted to:
Florals & Botanicals
Fruits, Veggies & Snacks
Friendly Creatures
Everyday Objects
Holidays
Lettering
You will also enjoy encouraging tips with every tutorial on how to be bold with your creativity! The key to captivating folk
art is adding color and details to make your creations stand out.
"Modern Folk Art" is a fun and fresh take on this timeless art style. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a novice, you'll
feel your creativity blossom with this comprehensive guide to the cheerful world of folk art.
Critique: Original, thoroughly art student friendly in organization, presentation, and approach, "Modern Folk Art: Draw 75
Charming Animals, Botanicals, Patterns, and More" by Sandra Hutter is an ideal DIY instructional guide for both novice
and experienced illustrators and art students alike. While this large format (8.05 x 0.7 x 10.05 inches, 1.12 pounds) trade
paperback edition of "Modern Folk Art" is a highly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library
instructional Contemporary Art reference collections, it should be noted for art students, novice artists and experienced
illustrators alike that this Rock Point edition of "Modern Folk Art" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$21.99).
Editorial Note: Sandra Hutter (https://www.sandrahutter.com) is a surface pattern designer and illustrator based in Vienna,
Austria. For the past seven years, she has been running her own business and specializes in creating cheerful artwork in
bold and vibrant colors for the things people love in their everyday lives. Her art has been featured on a wide range of
products by companies around the world.
20-Minute Watercolor
Emily Olson
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
https://quarto.com
9781577157526, $22.99, PB, 160pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/20-Minute-Watercolor-Projects-Beginner-Friendly/dp/1577157524
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/20-minute-watercolor-emily-olson/1149752277
Synopsis: With the publication of "20-Minute Watercolor: 52 Projects Using 7 Paint Colors and 1 Brush - Beginner
Friendly Projects to Build a Daily Painting Habit" by watercolor art specialist and experienced instructor Emily Oldson,
you will not need a huge time commitment or fancy tools to start watercolor painting -- just 20 minutes a day, 7 basic
colors, and 1 good brush. "20-Minute Watercolor" makes watercolor approachable, enjoyable, and achievable for every
skill level.
"20-Minute Watercolor" is a compendium of 52 quick painting projects, each of which are designed to teach watercolor
basics in an engaging and low-pressure format. Aspiring artistw will learn essential techniques like washes, wet-on-wet,
dry brushing, and color mixing -- all while painting everyday objects, landscapes, florals, animals, and more. Each project
includes step-by-step instructions, progress photos, and links to supporting videos, making it easy to succeed even if you've
never picked up a brush.
"20-Minute Watercolor" features:
Quick 20-minute sessions that make it easy to build a daily painting habit
Simple supplies (you only need 7 colors and 1 brush to start)
Bonus templates and videos to help you trace, paint, and practice with confidence
An encouraging tone and expert instruction from a popular teacher who has taught thousands of people through her online
classes
Perfect for beginners, hobbyists, and anyone craving a calm, creative outlet, "20-Minute Watercolor" proves that
watercolor doesn't have to be intimidating. It's the perfect gift, daily challenge, or personal reset -- and a beautiful way to
add more art to your life.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches, 1.3 pounds) trade paperback edition of "20-Minute Watercolor: 52
Projects Using 7 Paint Colors and 1 Brush - Beginner Friendly Projects to Build a Daily Painting Habit" by Emily Olson
(founder of Watercolor Mastery) is informatively enhanced for the reader/user's benefit with the inclusion of Traceable
Templates and is an ideal selection for personal and professional art instruction collections and art class curriculum studies
lists. It should be noted that "20-Minute Watercolor" from Quarry Books is also currently available for art students and
watercolor painting novices in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.35).
Editorial Note: Emily Olson (www.watercolormastery.com) is an artist living in Boulder, Colorado. She has taught
thousands of people to paint with her "no pressure, just paint" method through her Watercolor Mastery online school. She
is the author of Paint the National Parks and can be followed on Instagram: @e_olson_art & YouTube:
@EmilyOlsonArt
Learn to Watercolor Adorable Animals
Lacey Walker
Walter Foster Publishing
Quarto Publishing Group
https://www.quarto.com
9781577158646, $24.99, PB, 154pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Watercolor-Adorable-Animals-Step/dp/1577158644
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/learn-to-watercolor-adorable-animals-lacey-walker/1149125423
Synopsis: From USA TODAY bestselling author Lacey Walker (@rebelunicorncrafts) comes Learn to Watercolor
Adorable Animals, a fun and accessible way to explore watercolor painting - no sketching required!
"Learn to Watercolor Adorable Animals: 20 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Lessons on Watercolor Paper" by Lacey
Walker (@rebelunicorncrafts) is delightful DIY instruction guide for aspiring watercolor artists and features 20
beginner-friendly projects, each focused on a different animal subject.
Aspiring artists will learn how to paint a playful pug, a curious pigeon, or a fun-loving octopus -- alongside other charming
creatures chosen to delight and inspire. Each individual project introduces essential watercolor skills while guiding you
toward creating frame-worthy artwork of your own.
"Learn to Watercolor Adorable Animals" features:
Step-by-step painting tutorials
A variety of lovable cartoon-like animal subjects
Outlines printed on a watercolor paper pad - no tracing or sketching necessary
Watercolor techniques, including wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, layering, blooms, and more
Linked video tutorials for extra guidance
Whether you are new to watercolor or simply looking for a relaxing and creative hobby, "Learn to Watercolor Adorable
Animals" provides everything you need for a joyful, stress-free painting experience -- perfect for enjoying on your own or
as a fun activity with kids.
Editorial Note: This trade paperback edition of "Learn to Watercolor Adorable Animals: 20 Step-by-Step
Beginner-Friendly Lessons on Watercolor Paper" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and step-by-step
presentations making it an ideal and fun pick as a personal DIY watercolor painting instructional guides and art school
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Learn to Watercolor Adorable Animals: 20 Step-by-Step
Beginner-Friendly Lessons on Watercolor Paper" from Walter Foster Publishing is also readily available to art students and
aspiring watercolor artists in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
Editorial Note: Lacey Walker is the artist and creator behind Rebel Unicorn Crafts (www.rebelunicorncrafts.com) and the
immensely popular Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube accounts @RebelUnicornCrafts. She has an unstoppable need to
create, whether watercolor painting, drawing, crafting, pottery, or silversmithing. She is always thinking of new things to
make and experimenting with new mediums. Guided by her belief that art and creativity are crucial to the world and
essential for achieving happiness, she loves to spread knowledge and creativity through social media classes, her blog, and
her shop.
The Crafts Shelf
Official Fourth Wing Crochet: Flight of Dragons
Quarry
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
https://quarto.com
9798317900601, $24.99
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Official-Fourth-Wing-Crochet-Award-Winning/dp/B0GQKYS9GR
Synopsis: Stitch your own dragons from the world of Fourth Wing. This enchanting kit includes all the materials you need
to crochet Baby Andarna, plus a bonus pattern for Tairn.
If you're a fan of the bestselling Empyrean series of novels by Rebecca Yarros, you can now bring their favorite dragons to
life with Official Fourth Wing Crochet: Flight of Dragons, a collectible crochet kit inspired by Fourth Wing, Iron Flame,
and Onyx Storm.
This officially licensed kit celebrates the bond between rider and dragon through two beautifully designed crochet patterns
- Baby Andarna, the golden feathertail; and Tairn, the legendary black Morningstartail - both created by noted crochet
designer Jodie Chadwick.
Inside the kit:
All the supplies you'll need to crochet Baby Andarna, including gold yarn, hook, stuffing, wire for wings, and safety
eyes
A 64-page instruction booklet with complete patterns for Baby Andarna (13.5 inches/34.3 cm long) and Tairn (52
inches/132 cm long), including detailed instructions and full-color photos
Dragon lore pages featuring color and tail meanings
Each stitch channels the courage, strength, and wonder that define the Empyrean saga. Whether displayed as keepsakes or
gifted to fellow fans, these handmade dragons embody the heart of the story - and the magic of creativity itself.
Critique: Based on and fully licensed by the award-winning "Empyrean" fantasy series by Rebecca Yarros, Official Fourth
Wing Crochet: Flight of Dragons is a hands-on, easy to use boxed kit crafting project with all the materials needed to
crochet a golden baby Andarna dragon (13.5 inches/34.3 cm long), plus a bonus pattern to crochet the larger (52
inches/132 cm long) black dragon Tairn. Crocheters will need to provide their own yarn, stuffing, wire, and safety eyes to
create Tairn.
Official Fourth Wing Crochet: Flight of Dragons contains a 64-page project book with detailed, step-by-step instructions;
220m of golden yarn; a crochet hook; stuffing; 1m of wire; safety eyes; a tapestry needle; and stitch markers for the golden
baby Andarna dragon. Official Fourth Wing Crochet: Flight of Dragons is a delightful way for dragon fans to enjoy
crochet, and create a memorable handmade keepsake or gift! Highly recommended. It should be noted that Official Fourth
Wing Crochet: Flight of Dragons is intended for crocheters age 14 and older, and is not suitable for young children due to
the presence of small parts.
The Needlecraft Shelf
The Wandering Knitter
Krista Ann
Quarry Book
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
https://www.quarto.com
9780760398715, $24.99, PB, 128pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Knitter-Learn-Techniques-Project/dp/0760398712
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wandering-knitter-krista-ann/1149390070
Synopsis: If you're a dedicated needlecrafter looking to expand your knitting skills and explore the world without leaving
your favorite chair, with the publication of "The Wandering Knitter: Learn New Techniques, One Project & Place at a
Time", professional designer and world traveler Krista Ann invites you on a cross-continental knitting adventure, using 20
destination-inspired patterns to teach essential techniques like lace, cables, brioche, colorwork, and more.
Each individual chapter takes you to a new region, from the flower fields of California to iconic East Coast beaches. With
every project, you'll "visit" a different place, explore a new knitting technique, and come away with a memorable hand-knit
souvenir. And if you're inspired to venture out with your knitting, Krista shares valuable tips for traveling with yarn.
Inside this guided journey through fiber there are:
20 knitting patterns inspired by inspiring destinations, from beautiful beaches and majestic mountains to flower fields and
desert vistas.
Tips for knitting on the go and making the most of your travel time
Project planning advice for road trips, retreats, and yarn crawls
Perfect for adventurous beginners and experienced knitters alike, "The Wandering Knitter" is a celebration of hands-on
learning, travel stories, and the joy of making. Whether you're knitting from your RV, your couch, or a cozy cabin in the
woods, "The Wandering Knitter" turns each project into a passport stamp of fiber and creativity.
Critique: Original, illustrated, inspiring, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization, presentation and style, this
large format (8.75 x 0.39 x 10.95 inches, 1.34 pounds) paperback edition of "The Wandering Knitter: Learn New
Techniques, One Project & Place at a Time" from Quarry Books is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, and community library Contemporary Needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be noted for
novice and experienced knitters that "The Wandering Knitter" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$24.99).
Editorial Note: Krista Ann (https://kristaannes.com) is a professional crocheter, knitter, and world traveler. She enjoys
teaching aspiring makers how to create a flawless piece. Krista has professionally knit (and crocheted) pieces that have
appeared in many major television shows and movies, including Hocus Pocus 2, The Mindy Project, Stranger Things, and
Annabelle Comes Home. She is the author of Crocheting the National Parks and Knitting Van Gogh. You can follow her
adventures across the USA on Instagram @explorewithknitsy
A Hoop of Threads & Longing
Hilary Leslie
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
https://www.quarto.com
9781577158172, $19.99, PB, 112pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hoop-Threads-Longing-Ink-Drinking-Projects_Oaths/dp/1577158172
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-hoop-of-threads-longing-hilary-leslie/1149125373
Synopsis: "A Hoop of Threads & Longing: 20 Ink-Drinking, Slow-Burning Romantasy Embroidery Projects - Oaths,
Daggers & Stitches for Shelf Trophies" by embroidery expert Hilary Lesie brings the worlds of fantasy romance off the
page and into the hoop with a charming array of romantasy-inspired embroidery projects.
Designed for both devoted readers and eager makers, "A Hoop of Threads & Longing" is an enchanting DIY 'how-to'
manual that combines beginner-friendly instruction with imaginative motifs inspired by the tropes fans love most.
From celestial daggers and dragon sigils to fae bargains and cozy library scenes, each project captures a slice of romantasy
magic. With customizable templates, step-by-step instructions, and QR-linked videos, you can feel confident as you bring
your favorite stories to life in stitches.
"A Hoop of Threads & Longing" is comprised of:
15 in-the-hoop patterns featuring dragons, daggers, fae bargains, star-crossed lovers, and more.
5 no-sew projects for embroidered bookmarks, book bag, needlebook, and e-reader sleeve.
A comprehensive stitch guide introducing embroidery basics in a clear, visual format.
Transfer methods and finishing techniques for professional results every time.
Customizable templates ready to transfer to your fabric.
QR codes linking to short video tutorials for extra guidance.
Projects tailored for display as "shelf trophies" - perfect for reading nooks or gifts.
Blending craft and fandom, "A Hoop of Threads & Longing" invites you to experience one of the hottest embroidery
trends. Whether you're an embroiderer drawn to fantastical motifs or a romantasy reader ready to make your love of the
genre tangible, "A Hoop of Threads & Longing" offers an irresistible escape -- one stitch at a time.
Critique: Original, illustrated, inspiring, and absolutely 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "A Hoop of
Threads & Longing: 20 Ink-Drinking, Slow-Burning Romantasy Embroidery Projects -- Oaths, Daggers & Stitches for
Shelf Trophies" from Quarry Books is highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft:
Embroidery instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Hilary Leslie is a self-taught embroidery artist living in Maine. Though drawing was her main creative
outlet since day one, she never looked back once she picked up an embroidery needle in 2020. Hilary's work has since been
featured in Love Embroidery Magazine, Labores del Hogar, Homespun, and Etsy's Pick. She has expanded her reach to
new audiences as the author of Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery, with more books to come. You can see more of her
work and get a glimpse behind the scenes on Instagram and TikTok @hlesliedesign and on Etsy at
hlesliedesign.etsy.com
The Woodworking Shelf
Japanese Carpentry
Carpenters Tool Study Group
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805320464, $29.99, HC, 176pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Carpentry-Complete-Projects-Drawings/dp/480532046X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/japanese-carpentry-carpenters-tool-study-group/1149079770
Synopsis: "Japanese Carpentry: The Complete Guide to Joinery, Tools, Woods and Projects" by the Carpenters Tool Study
Group is lavishly illustrated volume that introduces you to all the tools and techniques used by traditional Japanese
carpenters. It also introduces the joinery techniques used to create all types of furniture items without the use of screws or
nails, as well as the essential tools -- traditional Japanese chisels, saws, mallets, planes and more.
"Japanese Carpentry" is essential guide provides all the key information you need to know including:
Japanese-style Joinery: Three-piece, wrapped, sword-locked mortise, T-joints, L-joints and many more!
Handcrafted Japanese Tools: Traditional implements used by master carpenters: chisels, saws, planes and more!
Woods & Design: How to select the right woods and how to design and plan your project!
Workshop Set-up: How do you set up the ideal workshop? See how Japanese carpenters do it!
Keepsake Pieces: Detailed step-by-step instructions for ornate boxes, chests of drawers and elegant side tables!
Finishing Techniques and Materials: Japanese-style lacquer and finishing techniques, hinges and hardware.
Whether you're a weekend hobbyist or a seasoned professional, "Japanese Carpentry" will open up a whole new world of
woodworking artistry, refinement and technique!
Critique: Profusely illustrated in full color throughout, "Japanese Carpentry: The Complete Guide to Joinery, Tools,
Woods and Projects" is a welcome and informative introduction to the traditional Japanese approach to carpentry,
including the creation of custom-made furniture and accessories. Informed and informative, as well as thoroughly 'reader
friendly' in organization, scope, and presentation, "Japanese Carpentry: The Complete Guide to Joinery, Tools, Woods and
Projects" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community instructional
carpentry collections, and trade college carpentry curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: The Carpenters Tool Study Group is a craft collective which brings together Japan's leading woodworkers,
carpenters and wood-based craftspeople.
The Interior Design Shelf
The Well-Crafted Home
Vivienne Ayers and Brent Darby
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804194164, $39.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Well-Crafted-Home-Bespoke-Handmade-Living/dp/1804194166
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-well-crafted-home-vivienne-ayers/1149370927
Synopsis: "The Well-Crafted Home: Bespoke Handmade Living" taps into the slow living movement - sustainable,
individual, handcrafted and simple. From the photographer and interiors writer team of Brent Darby and Vivienne Ayers,
"The Well-Crafted Home" showcases the work of more than 15 inspiring interiors that features furniture, furnishings,
decorative objects or materials, from artisan tilework to designer furniture, reclaimed antiques to individually created
ceramics and glass.
The craft revival is truly underway, as home owners turn away from mass-produced and readily available items. "The
Well-Crafted Home" is a celebration of living with the handmade in all its forms, from furniture and furnishings to art and
craft. Stunning locations and photography showcase the work of individual designers, architects and creatives to reveal
how to embrace the craft aesthetic in your own home to create an individual style.
"The Well-Crafted Home" is for anyone who wants to create a home that celebrates a unique style inspired by the creative
process in architecture, design or decoration or simply by the local landscape and materials used for home design.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, this large format hardcover edition of "The Well-Crafted Home:
Bespoke Handmade Living" by co-authors and professional interior designers Vivienne Ayers and Brent Darby is
informative enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an two page introduction (Te Importance of Craft in a
Home), a one page listing of the Contributors and their credentials, and a three page Index. Inspiring, thought-provoking,
and simply fascinating to browse through from start to finish, "The Well-Crafted Home" is an especially and unreservedly
recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Interior Home
Design collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Well-
Crafted Home" from Kyle Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note #1: Writer Vivienne Ayers (@vivienneayersjourno) is an experienced interiors writer and stylist with a
black book stuffed with great locations and interiors contacts. She worked as houses editor on Country Homes & Interiors
for 15 years before returning to Homes & Gardens as a contributing editor on a freelance basis.
Editorial Note #2: Photographer Brent Darby (@brentdarbyphotgraphy) has contributed to Create, Curate and Cocoon. He
is a highly respected London-based New Zealander who specializes in lifestyle and interiors. He travels all over the world
to shoot interiors for books and magazines including Country Living, The English Home, Country Homes & Interiors and
Period Living. He was co-author, with Vivienne Ayers, of Living in New Rustic Style, published in 2024 by Lannoo in
Belgium.
The Photography Shelf
The Wild Magic of Iceland
Norris Niman
Epic Ink
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
https://www.quarto.com
9781577159599, $35.00, HC, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Magic-Iceland-Photographic-Journey/dp/1577159594
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wild-magic-of-iceland-norris-niman/1148830201
Synopsis: For centuries, the breathtaking waterfalls, fierce volcanoes, and sweeping green hills of Iceland have captivated
travelers' imaginations. With the publication of "The Wild Magic of Iceland: A Photographic Journey Through the
Seasons", acclaimed photographer and adventurer Norris Niman transports you to these and more picturesque sites on a
visual adventure through the seasons, featuring 100+ dazzling photographs. His daring and immersive shots, taken from
precarious positions including propelling off glaciers and kayaking past icebergs, reflect his deep connection with the
country he now calls home.
Capturing Iceland's fascinating beauty and climate, each individual photo is accompanied by a description of the location
and Niman's personal observations and insights, proving that there is no wrong time to visit Iceland! Gorgeously packaged,
"The Wild Magic of Iceland" includes a variety of iconic Icelandic landmarks captured in their ideal season,
including:
Summer: The Golden Circle, black sand beaches
Fall: Highland regions, forest, Gullfoss Waterfall
Winter: Northern Lights, Ice caves
Spring: Waterfalls, wildlife
As you armchair travel through the country, you will gain a better understanding of the climate and its transition between
seasons. Perfect for travelers, photographers, and art and nature lovers, "The Wild Magic of Iceland" is your opportunity to
marvel at the enchanting beauty of Iceland's landscapes.
Critique: This large format (9.46 x 0.89 x 11.53 inches, 3.11 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Wild Magic of Iceland: A
Photographic Journey Through the Seasons" showcasing the amazing and magnificent full page and double-page
photographs of Norris Niman is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a four page
Introduction and a one page Gear List. Beautiful to browse through and a stellar example of landscape and travel
photography, "The Wild Magic of Iceland" fully lives up to the promise of its titles. While an unreservedly recommended
acquisition choice for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Photography
collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Wild Magic of Iceland" from Epic Ink is also available
for photography students, academia, commercial photographers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
Iceland and/or photography in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.00).
Editorial Note: Norris Niman (@norrisniman) is a Swedish award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Nikon Creator,
and professional adventurer roaming the world since 2011, and living in Iceland. His work is built on the excitement of the
outdoors, the peace in nature, the harsh north, and the adventurer's lifestyle. Hand in hand with Niman's photography and
videography comes guiding, and he has been leading adventure tours and photography workshops, also since 2011.
Susie
Nick Cave, author
Dominique Issermann, photographer
Irma Boom, designer
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500029855, $45.00, HC, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Susie-Nick-Cave/dp/0500029857
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/susie-nick-cave/1149635334
Synopsis: Nick Cave's profound devotion to his wife Susie is present in the images he has crafted through words and lyrics
since they met in 1997. Their longstanding friend, photographer Dominique Issermann, has spent years with Susie
attempting the same elusive task on camera. The result is "Susie" -- a mirror held up to an ethereal presence, whose form
beguiles and evades the lens: there are many characters within, many Susies to record, beginning in the early days of Nick
and Susie falling in love.
In her own words, the role Susie feels most true to is that of mother. Therefore "Susie" is also an extraordinary testament to
mothering -- encompassing both the devastating loss of a beloved child and the deep comfort found in the one who
remains. It opens up a visual account that was previously held close, and casts light on a transformative point in the
family's lives.
Reflections from Nick and Susie center their adoration and faith in each other, and the strength gained through their
friendship with Issermann, whose camera they have trusted to capture even the most intimate family moments.
"Susie" is a unique and special volume to be cherished as it affirms faith in art, enchantment, beauty, and the strength of
the human spirit. It is a visual ode to love, to family, and to Susie.
Critique: Comprised of 66 B/W photographic illustrations accompanied by equally fascinating commentaries, "Susie" is an
extraordinary study that will have a visual, emotional, and intellectual resonance with the reader. This hardcover edition of
"Susie" from Thames & Hudson is original, unique, memorable and exceptional, making it unreservedly recommended for
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Photography collections and supplemental
Portraiture/Fashion Photography curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Nick Cave (www.nickcave.com) is an award-winning Australian musician, writer, and actor. His band,
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, has been described by Pitchfork as one of rock's "most redoubtable, enduring" bands and his
previous publications include King Ink (1988), And the Ass Saw the Angel (1989), The Death of Bunny Munro (2009),
and Faith, Hope and Carnage (2022), which he cowrote with Sean O'Hagan.
Editorial Note #2: Dominique Issermann (www.dominiqueissermann.com) is a celebrated French photographer who has
shot campaigns for Christian Dior, La Perla, Tiffany, Chanel, and many others.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Johnny Guitar
Brooks E. Hefner
University of New Mexico Press
www.unmpress.com
9780826369642, $19.95, PB, 216pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Guitar-Reel-Brooks-Hefner/dp/0826369642
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/johnny-guitar-brooks-e-hefner/1148560100
Synopsis: What is to be made of 'Johnny Guitar', Nicholas Ray's high-drama psychological Western from 1954?
The film met with a mixed reception on its release but over the years has assumed cult status in some circles, with some
critics now citing it among the greatest examples of the genre.
In this first-ever book on this divisive Western, Professor Brooks Hefner disentangles the tortured production history of the
film and explores the question of what makes Johnny Guitar not only an important film but an important Western in an era
rife with classic examples of the genre.
Made at the peak of director Nicholas Ray's career, Johnny Guitar's layered themes of gender, sexuality, psychology, and
politics make it one of the richest examples of the "adult Western", those increasingly sophisticated films like George
Stevens's Shane (1953), John Ford's The Searchers (1956), and the Westerns of Anthony Mann and Budd Boetticher.
At the same time, Johnny Guitar represented an effort by B studio Republic Pictures to produce a prestige picture with
major Hollywood stars like Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden. Hefner shows how, with the studio system beginning to
crumble, Johnny Guitar sits at a moment when stars and directors began to exert more control over their images and
films.
Critique: A part of the Reel West Series from the University of New Mexico Press, "Johnny Guitar" is a seminal and
groundbreaking study of this 1954 Western by director Nicholas Ray. While controversial in its time, the film, Johnny
Guitar is now celebrated as an iconic example of high camp, LGBTQ themes, and the outer limits of the Hollywood
system in the 1950s. This paperback edition of "Johnny Guitar" is highly recommended for personal, community, and
college/university library American Cinematic History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be
note for film students, academia, and dedicated movie buffs, that this paperback edition of "Johnny Guitar" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Brooks E. Hefner is a professor of English at James Madison University, where he teaches American genre
fiction, film history, and popular film genres. He is the author of Black Pulp: Genre Fiction in the Shadow of Jim Crow
and The Word on the Streets: The American Language of Vernacular Modernism.
The Wine/Beer/Spirits Shelf
Your Tasting Brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer, and Other Pleasures
Randy Mosher
University of Chicago Press
www.press.uchicago.edu
9780226848198, $35.00, HC, 376pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Tasting-Brain-Approach-Pleasures/dp/0226848191
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/your-tasting-brain-randy-mosher/1148226698
University of Chicago Press
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/Y/bo264674950.html
Synopsis: Our foodscape has never been more adventurous, but fully experiencing the subtleties of complex cheeses,
wines, or cocktails can be challenging.
But no longer!
With the publication of "Your Tasting Brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer, and Other Pleasures", food writer and
authority Randy Mosher assures us that we can all become master tasters by learning more about the brilliant ways our
bodies translate smell, taste, and mouth-feel into flavor -- without needing to know everything about terroir, varietals, or
exotic ingredients.
In "Your Tasting Brain", Mosher shares a road map to send us on our tasting journey, one that connects the worlds of
science and art. Our bodies are more finely tuned tasting machines than we realize, Mosher explains. Even a simple grasp
of how our senses interact with the world can enhance our culinary delight -- and Mosher offers us a tantalizing
framework, from how our brain processes, categorizes, and rewards (or punishes) encounters with chemicals in food, all
the way to how aromas and flavors spur us to language, emotion, and creativity.
Overflowing with scientific insight and practical advice, "Your Tasting Brain" is an appetizing guide for anyone looking to
enhance the pleasures they find in food through attention, curiosity, and practice.
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, "Your Tasting Brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer, and Other Pleasures" is an extraordinarily
informative study on the medical, physiological, and psychological aspects of of wine tasting and consumption. A seminal
and groundbreaking study, "Your Tasting Brain" is Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with a an eight page
Introduction (Function, Feeling, and Purpose), a two page listing of Acknowledgments, thirty-six pages of Notes, and a
twenty-page Index. Unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Your Tasting Brain" from The University of Chicago
Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.22).
Editorial Note: Randy Mosher (https://randymosher.com) is a food writer and creative consultant who teaches at the Siebel
Institute of Technology brewing school. He is the author of five books, including Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the
World's Greatest Drink. He is currently a minority partner in two Chicago-area breweries.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Breath of the Soul: Devotions for Powerful Prayer
Charles H. Spurgeon, author
Geoffrey Chang, editor
New Growth Press
www.newgrowthpress.com
9781645076193, $18.99, HC, 144pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Breath-Soul-Devotions-Powerful-Prayer/dp/1645076199
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breath-of-the-soul-charles-h-spurgeon/1148741477
Synopsis: For those who had the opportunity to encounter nineteenth-century pastor Charles H. Spurgeon personally, what
many noticed was that he was a man of prayer. For Spurgeon, prayer was as constant and natural as breathing. Prayer was
not only the breath of the soul, but also the breath of the church. Through prayer, the church was reminded of her constant
dependence on God. Spurgeon not only urged his people to pray, but he also taught them to pray.
Compiled by Geoffrey Chang (Curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), and drawing
from the sermons of Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon, "Breath of the Soul: Devotions for Powerful Prayer" is a daily reminder
to get your head above water and breathe again. Pastor Spurgeon understood the importance of prayer, and in our
pragmatic, distracted age, we need to hear his instruction again. His teachings provide both a theology and a practical
instruction of prayer. These devotions also focus on confession, supplication, and thanksgiving, and encourage readers to
persevere in prayer.
Comprised of thirty daily devotions to inspire readers to grow in their understanding of what prayer is, how it connects to
the gospel, and how they can grow in their practice of prayer, both in private and with others, "Breath of the Soul:
Devotions for Powerful Prayer" is the fourth book in the Old Made New series from New Growth Press, making the
teaching of theologians and pastors who have left us a rich heritage of faith accessible for modern-day readers.
Critique: Inspiring, thought-provoking, and essential reading for ministers, pastors, seminary students, and all members of
the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliation, "Breath of the Soul: Devotions for Powerful Prayer" is
an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended acquisition that is ideal for both individual and group Christian Theology:
Prayer curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Charles H. Spurgeon (1834 - 1892) was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, for
thirty-eight years, and his ministry exploded, resulting in the largest evangelical congregation of his day and the founding
of 66 parachurch ministries, including a college and an orphanage. He is widely regarded as one of the nineteenth century's
best preachers, and his sermons have been translated into over forty languages.
Editorial Note #2: Geoffrey Chang, MDiv, PhD, serves as Assistant Professor of Historical Theology and the curator of the
Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the Book Review Editor for History and
Historical Theology at Themelios (The Gospel Coalition) and is the author of many articles and books, as well as the editor
of A Wondrous Mystery.
The Surprising Savior: 25 Advent Devotions from Luke's Gospel
Dave Furman
New Growth Press
www.newgrowthpress.com
9781645076490, $17.99, HC, 112pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Surprising-Savior-Advent-Devotions-Gospel/dp/1645076490
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-surprising-savior-dave-furman/1150438595
Synopsis: Christmas is a celebration of God coming to us and becoming one of us. The anticipation and preparation that
leads up to the big day each year is but a taste of what those who were waiting for the Messiah experienced so many years
ago. With the publication of "The Surprising Savior: 25 Advent Devotions from Luke's Gospel", Pastor Dave Furman sets
out to examine the familiar stories anew, while stepping back and appreciating the mind-blowing nature of every little
detail surrounding the first Christmas.
Readers are invited to see God at work in the lives of unlikely individuals, in unexpected places, with unanticipated timing.
By exploring Christmas through the lens of the book of Luke, you will find hope and encouragement in your own seasons
of waiting and be reminded of how God often works through the weak, humble, and ordinary to accomplish his
extraordinary purposes.
With twenty-five daily devotions, "The Surprising Savior" will help Christians to refocus their hearts and marvel at the true
reason for the season, while thoughtful questions encourage personal reflection or meaningful conversations with family
and friends.
Acknowledging the many emotions and challenges that often accompany this time of year, "The Surprising Savior" gently
points readers to God's enduring faithfulness in every season.
Critique: Informative, inspiring, meditative, "The Surprising Savior: 25 Advent Devotions from Luke's Gospel" by Pastor
Dave Furman and published by New Growth Press is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for church,
seminary, and personal Christian Devotion: Christmas collections and ideal for personal and group Christian Studies
curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Dave Furman, ThM, is the founding pastor of Redeemer Church of Dubai and serves as the Chancellor of
Gulf Theological Seminary. He is the author of Being There and Embracing God in Your Suffering. He is married to
Gloria, and they have four children. (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/dave-furman)
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
A Cauldron of Spells
Eileen Holland
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578639045, $18.95, PB, 200pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Cauldron-Spells-Rituals-Potions-Candles/dp/1578639042
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cauldron-of-spells-eileen-holland/1147729643
Synopsis: Clear and easy to follow, with the publication of "A Cauldron of Spells: A Witch's Guide to Magick, Rituals,
Potions & Candles", poet, author, and Wiccan High Priestess Eileen Holland explains how to prepare and cast spells
(eighty-seven in all) including what materials are needed and which incantations will ensure the best results.
Focusing on the needs of solitary witches, "A Cauldron of Spells" provides directions for where to find specific ingredients
crucial to a spell's success and suggests alternatives for hard-to-find ingredients.
There are spells for every need, including love, money, wishes, uncrossing, protection, and problem-solving, using a wide
variety of magickal methods and techniques:
Candle magick
Knot magick
Footprint magick
Charms
Tea spells and potions
Poppets
With an index to make it easy to find the spell you need, this DIY guide also offers blessings and ways to use incense in
rituals, as well as a section that shows how to create a talisman suited to the witch's astrological sign. "A Cauldron of
Spells" has everything a witch needs to practice the Craft in the splendor of solitude.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "A Cauldron of Spells: A Witch's Guide to
Magick, Rituals, Potions & Candles" is impressively comprehensive and an ideal introduction to the casting of spells for
the novice Wiccan student, and of immense value for even the more experienced Wiccan practitioner. Unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical & Wiccan collections, it
should be noted that this paperback edition of "A Cauldron of Spells" from Weiser Books is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: The late Eileen Holland (1959 - 2019) was a solitary, eclectic witch, Wiccan High Priestess, poet, and
author of "The Wicca Handbook", "A Witch's Book of Answers", and "The Spellcaster's Reference".
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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