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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Life Hikes
Renee Brown Harmon, MD
www.reneeharmon.com
Many Hats Publishing
9781734791730, $16.95 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN1N731R
Life Hikes: Walking Through Loss to What Comes After comes from a physician who lost her husband to Alzheimer's. Here she chronicles the progression of grief in a memoir consisting of three sections: "Beginning Again," "Moving Onward," and "Coming Home to Myself." Though her story follows familiar trails and routes of discovery and recovery, Renee Brown Harmon links these progressions to overall life balance and transition points. This allows readers to progress through life decisions and community involvement via a physical hike accompanied by mental redirection. Dr. Harmon's reflections on her life's progression, her relationship before and after husband Harvey's diagnosis and ultimate demise, and the touchstones of values and foundations are engrossingly revealed:
"I was reminded by these memories that the richness of my particular life before Harvey's diagnosis was molded by my need for balance. This was most evident in my professional and family life. Harvey and I, as individuals and as a couple, achieved balance in our work and home lives because it was a priority. Much has been written about the work-life balance, and few are able to attain it, but because Harvey and I valued each other, our careers, and our family in the same manner, we were able to do it."
Even though a good part of the book is about the physical effort of hiking and participating in hiking circles and community, even when Dr. Harmon is describing nature, readers gain a sense of the bigger picture: "While I'm hiking, especially if it's a narrow path or uneven terrain, I have to keep my eyes on the ground in front of me. That's when I spot tiny insects, flowers, or interesting rocks. Every now and then I'll see a turtle, a toad, or another unexpected animal. This is my "present mind." Even while on the trail, attending to the ground at my feet, I do look ahead to see where the trail is heading, scanning for obstacles and a trail blaze. I also like to turn around occasionally to see what the trail looks like from that perspective - how steep the ascent or descent was, for example. If I keep my eyes trained only on the trail, I miss things. Important things."
From being marked for life by the Alzheimer's experience and caregiving and finding paths not just onward, but upward, Life Hikes should be given to caregivers in all kind of situations - especially those who have just experienced the finality of loss. Libraries will find Life Hikes quite a different approach to grief and recovery which deserves not only inclusion in their collections, but top recommendation to readers who look for more than another memoir steeped in the pain of loss. Dr. Harmon's efforts to grow in new directions is simply fascinating, and is highly recommended reading not just for those overcoming their own grief, but anyone looking to hone an upward trajectory in life:
"I am marked, but I will continue to grow and reach for the sun, transforming and adapting myself as my circumstances call for it. There will always be a need to mold myself to fit whatever life's journey has for me."
The Social Issues Shelf
The Adoption Paradox
Jean Kelley Widner
Mystic Publishers
9781597374000, $32.99 Hardcover/$26.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Paradox-Putting-Perspective/dp/1957374004
The Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective gives voice to a population rarely given perspective and attention in adoption books - adoptees who are impacted long-term not just by their history, but the attitudes and proceedings surrounding adoption. Jean Kelley Widner interviewed a hundred adoptees of all kinds for this book, from domestic and international adoptions to transracial adoptions, to capture all the issues and nuances adoptions hold for everyone involved. This approach not only gives voice to a population too often silenced, but illustrates many surprising issues resulting from the adoption concept and process which don't appear (or aren't highlighted properly) in other books.
One example is the legal precedents that deny adoptees access to the information that would answer questions about their birth parents. Widner points out that "The harsh truth is that keeping birth parents powerless and nameless ghosts is convenient." Her powerful contention of the big impact these processes hold for all involved makes a case for eliminating damaging secrecy and barriers that keep adoptees from better understanding their backgrounds.
She also covers types of adoptions well beyond traditional approaches, pointing out, for one example, that social media is the "wild west" of private adoptions. They can happen on a handshake and involve no legal oversight to assure that prospective adoptive parents actually qualify for the job. From how adopted children can end up in foster care or in abusive situations to considering all sides of the adoption's impact on kids, prospective parents, birth parents, and others, Widner creates a dialogue between various forces and factions in the adoptive world. This moves beyond legal precedent and social ideals into the very real nature of impact on adoptive children and their families.
Part history, part biographical sketches, and part social analysis, The Adoption Paradox reveals not one but many interlinked paradoxes throughout the process in an analysis which personalizes the political and idealistic views of adoption, inviting dialogue. This is why libraries and readers should consider The Adoption Paradox a "must" addition to their collections and reading lists.
Certain to spark dialogue, controversy, and insights both within families and among institutions designed to guide and support adoption processes, The Adoption Paradox is a necessary read for anyone who would consider its ultimate impact and better approaches. Packed with case history examples that personalize all aspects of the adoption process, The Adoption Paradox goes where few adoption guides dare to travel in revealing the underbelly of adoption issues and their ultimate impact. In so doing, it reveals how to mitigate money's influences on the adoption process as children become commodities and everyone struggles to adapt.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Anatomy of a 66-Year Marriage
Don Hughes
Independently Published
9798267120449, $6.99 Kindle $15.95 Paperback
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSLWKW78
Imagine finding lost journals and manuscripts after a father's death which chronicles family history in an introspective, revealing manner which fills in many blanks. Don Hughes not only discovered previously unknown nuances about his father Ernest's life and marriage, but realized these journal entries also served as an important blueprint to how to be married and live a good life. These entries form the foundation of a memoir rich in family experience and devotion, demonstrating how a loving couple made their vows, then lived them daily through adversity and struggle and good times.
Any reader interested in following in their footsteps will find in this story the nuggets of wisdom and reflection that encourages similar choices and discoveries. The experiences unfold with a faith-based foundation that Christian readers will find satisfying and supportive. They embrace all kinds of family challenges, from infirmity to drug abuse, yet also represent love and acceptance in manners readers can learn from. The family history reads like fiction, with Ernest Hughes and others represented in description, dialogue, and vivid scenarios that come to life, tailored by his son Don Hughes:
"The current plan is to rent a house for Mother, and his son James Allen and his family."
His forehead creased in disapproval. "James Allen has had a lot of problems over the years with drugs and jail." They moved to the couch.
"I know," she said. "But Jim thinks now that he's married with a family, he's turned his life around."
Unconvinced, he said, "I feel this is a temporary arrangement at best."
Entries from his father Ernest's writing accent son Don Hughes's translations of family events and interactions:
"Reflecting on my past life and all the mistakes I made, I wonder if given the chance, would I make the same ones all over again? Human nature being what it is, I probably would. If given a second chance, I would certainly try to be a more respectful and loving son, a more sensitive and loving husband, less harsh in my discipline of the boys, and more willing to listen to their side. And also, I would hope to be a better Christian."
These journal entries add personal reflection to the outline of family experience in a rich layer of realization and contemplation that brings not only Ernest Hughes and his family to life, but surveys the vitality and concerns of their days. Memoir audiences may be used to stories that entirely paraphrase or consist solely of source material writings, but here the juxtaposition of a son and father's efforts translates to a more powerful exploration than most, holding special messages of reality and inspiration for readers who would also aspire to long, good marriages and family connections.
Libraries seeking memoirs packed with daily detail and life inspection alike will find Anatomy of a 66-Year Marriage an outstanding survey of upswings, downturns, and life events that will prove inspirational for individual pursuit as well as book club and reading group discussions about marriage and family life. Nicely centered in its focus on various personalities and family members and realistic and immediate in its progression, Anatomy of a 66-Year Marriage is a winning memoir that deserves a place in any library strong in memoir writing, family explorations, and ordinary American lives made extraordinary by their choices, connections, and love.
Destination Silicon Valley
Lin C. Wu
Independently Published
9798330276301, $14.99
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Destination-Silicon-Valley-Broom-Supercomputer-ebook/dp/B0FVGF1BKR
Destination Silicon Valley: From Broom Shop to Supercomputer is a memoir of achievement and the immigrant experience that deserves high praise for any collection strong in California's Silicon Valley culture and individual success stories. Chinese culture blends with American high-tech insights in a story that follows how Wu wound up at an Ivy League college, honed a career that brought him across America to new opportunities, and explored cross-cultural encounters from the early days of Silicon Valley to Japan. As Wu's experiences unfold, so does his capacity for understanding not just technological challenges, but his place in the work world and in American society:
"Here I was, at age 28, and I had joined an up-and-coming computer development team to develop the fastest computer in the world. It seemed that my whole past had been preparing me for this adventure. I was finally given the opportunity to do a complete computer design from the very beginning. My Amdahl experience would definitely allow me to gain insight into the big picture, and with that, I would be able to have a top-down view from semiconductor design to computer development. I would understand how the critical technical decisions were made."
Readers will especially appreciate the juxtaposition of personal life ambitions and developments in different kinds of relationships and the business and technology acumen Wu navigates as his career expands. Lessons about team development and breakthroughs that carry Wu beyond a glass ceiling limiting his advancements will especially intrigue business readers interested in immigrant history and integration processes.
The result is a memoir that surveys the culture of high technology, how people with foreign ties and roots blend with and contribute to its evolutionary process, and how Wu navigates new challenges of both a technical and personal nature. Libraries interested in adding memoirs about hard work, opportunity, and family ties to their collections will want to point out Destination Silicon Valley: From Broom Shop to Supercomputer to patrons and book clubs as the perfect example of how small choices and endeavors can contribute to bigger personal and community growth.
The General Fiction Shelf
A Boy with a Torn Shirt
Diane Green
DCG Books
www.DCGBooks.com
9798291954881, $12.99
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Torn-Shirt-Diane-Green/dp/B0FHB1JJD7
A Boy with a Torn Shirt is a novel that will appeal to a wide age range, from young adults to adult readers interested in stories about resilience, confronting violence and stepping up to be a young hero, and handling the aftermath of difficult choices. Ten-year-old Christian sits in a principal's office for fighting a bully, but the attempted shooting that changes his life and those around him becomes the impetus for further anguish and struggle after media attention fades and Chris is left with the aftermath of a traumatic encounter. Thought-provoking passages delve into the mind of this young hero as he initially considers what he could have done differently only to realize that, really, there was no choice in the matter:
"The boy thought about his mother, would she praise his action or tell him he'd risked his life in a situation too dangerous; that he should have fallen to the floor. But a gun shoots upward, straight-ahead, or downward."
As peers and others around Chris struggle with their own increasingly distant but still devastating memories of that horrible day, it becomes evident that the PTSD element of survival extends far beyond the circle of those immediately involved. Diane Green takes the time to inspect the psyches and long-term effects of a shooting event on everyone, from children to adults. She reveals the logic, survival tactics, and different forms of resolution embraced by different characters, weaving all into a fabric of recovery and discovery to make A Boy with a Torn Shirt outstanding, intimate, and revealing. Topics of healing, forgiveness, and moving on thus assume a far more personal, powerful countenance than in most accounts of shootings, packing in value with brevity and allowing each character's perspective to come to light and contrast with others.
Libraries may choose A Boy with a Torn Shirt for young readers, but will want to see that the story is not limited to YA audiences, but receives due attention from book clubs. These audiences, from psychology groups interested in the process of survival and recovery to individuals interested in the social and individual impacts of guns and violence, will relish the many discussion opportunities. All these audiences, of any age, will find A Boy with a Torn Shirt hard-hitting and revealing.
Illegal Gringo Crosser
Paul Edwards
Independently Published
9798231037179, $5.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Illegal-Gringo-Crosser-Paul-Edwards-ebook/dp/B0FL2Y917R
Illegal Gringo Crosser adopts an unusual countenance, taking the form of a novel about the author's efforts to pitch his screenplay (of the same title) to producer Harvey Wains. The line between fiction and nonfiction appears to blur as Edwards struggles to market his story about immigrant experience but faces not only a money-hungry producer's narrowed focus on what will be profitable, but insights about his own estranged Mexican-American mother and his heritage. The edits Harvey suggests to Edwards aren't just clarifications, but a complete readjustment of his screenplay's political and social focus. And so Edwards resists the opportunity to disempower his manuscript, his life, and his heritage even as he battles these possibilities on a personal level.
The cost of selling one's soul and values for the sake of creating a marketable (albeit shallower) production comes to light as the screenplay about his character Jake takes on unexpected life. Readers anticipating a novel format receive a screenplay which, in and of itself, represents both the nature of drama and the ironies of pairing the general public's interests in emotional connections with bigger-picture portraits of immigrant experience. The screenplay format becomes, itself, a selling point for the novel's shifting focus as Jake dreams of more than a dead-end job, at the beginning of the tale:
"Another spreadsheet. Another soul-crushing day.
He sighs, pushing away the keyboard. He picks up a crumpled travel brochure featuring vibrant images of Mexican landscapes - turquoise waters, ancient ruins bathed in sunlight. He traces a finger along a picture of a bustling marketplace."
Screenwriter Edwards interjects his own writer's observations, craft, and struggles in the course of evolving his screenplay. This neatly juxtaposes the play's scenes with its writer's eye for detail and trouble:
Paul, his eyes burning with a fire that belied his sun-baked skin and threadbare clothes, leaned closer. The glint of steel in his gaze was sharper than any knife.
"Poor, Harvey? Yes, we're as barren as this cursed land. But helpless? *Never*. This desert has etched its lessons into our very bones. We've stared down the devil himself, and his name isn't always Smugglers. We've bled for this sand, and it's soaked up more than just our sweat." His voice, low and gravelly, carried the weight of a thousand unspoken battles. The heat shimmering off the sand seemed to amplify the intensity of his words, the very air crackling with the unspoken threat.
"This time, the devil will learn what it means to underestimate the fury of a cornered desert viper."
The intersection of fiction, writer, and economic and political pressures to tell a different kind of story creates a fine literary dialogue between creator and production. This will especially intrigue literature readers who are, themselves, aspiring screenplay writers or producers. All audiences, however, will readily appreciate the moral, ethical, and professional quandaries Edwards faces in the course of his pursuit. They also will relish how issues of immigrant experience wind into an adventure that involves family reconciliation, a new path in Mexico, and Jake's impossible choice to stay and build a new life or go where he's really needed.
Replete with powerful interactions and scenarios heightened by the form of a screenplay and the adjunct scenes of the writer's struggles to create and shape his world, Illegal Gringo Crosser is especially highly recommended for libraries interested in literary explorations of personal, economic, and political struggles where ideals are tested and realities faced. Filled with thought-provoking moments of change and adaptation, Illegal Gringo Crosser crosses not only physical but mental borders during its astute portrait of a writer struggling with his own best interests on many different fronts.
Not Our Crowd, Darling
Michael Craft
www.michaelcraft.com
Questover Press
9798218679354, $18.99 Hardcover/$7.99 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPDQ5H9R
Not Our Crowd, Darling departs from Michael Craft's previous cozy gay mysteries in presenting the dilemmas of middle-aged Meghan Auric, a straight woman confronting the lasting impact of some bad decisions made in her youth while navigating the challenges of aging. Alone (even though married) and self-confined to her house, Meghan faces her much older husband's recent death and vastly revised circumstances while acknowledging that her isolation stems from her own psyche and choices: "Dark secrets and a long-ago betrayal put her there, while debilitating fears and guilt have kept her there."
Is this the perfect opportunity to pursue new social and political truths? Possibly. But the potential of losing what she now has (a lavish lifestyle) feels like an overwhelming cost for the promise of undertaking new risks in life. Michael Craft crafts a powerful story of a self-described "trophy wife" who seeks to change. He neatly captures the psyche and perspective of the agoraphobic personality, considering how this developed into a viable choice and why it may no longer be a suitable game plan for the future.
Even more compelling are scenarios in which Meghan confronts a mystery outside her usual circle of problem-solving, builds new strengths against all odds, and comes to realize the real impact of situations she's simply fallen into versus new ones in which she is forced to make reasoned decisions. Suspense builds through first-person revelations and interactions which inject gay and straight characters into Meghan's world, prompting new revelations from her efforts and encounters:
"With a snort of a laugh, I recalled, "Both parents, military heroes - orphaned before high school - scholarship to Oxford. Talk about claptrap."
Chase gave me an odd, steady look. "It all checked out."
Literally, I dropped my spoon. "Impossible," I said. "I know for a fact that that man's parents were alive and well after he finished school - at a community college just north of Consensus. Oxford my ass." I laughed at the thought of it, the absurdity of it."
From schemes involving violations of department protocols to political pushback, detective work that dovetails with creating clever clickbait, and navigating unfamiliar territory far from the youthful decisions she'd once made, Meghan's character is cemented with a gritty first-person voice that considers how she is forced to take the first, hardest step into a new life. Libraries seeking novels that explore the dilemmas of middle-aged women who are compelled to walk out of their familiar worlds and habits will welcome Not Our Crowd, Darling's wry humor, psychological revelations, and simmering mystery. These elements contribute to the bigger picture of growth and revised choices that Meghan fields in the course of leaving the house and considering new opportunities for her life. The result is a novel that is warmly embracing, thoroughly engaging, and spiced with just enough intrigue and suspense to keep its outcome satisfyingly unpredictable.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Right Time: Back to the 80s
Lena Gibson
https://lenagibsonauthor.ca
Black Rose Writing
https://www.blackrosewriting.com
9781685136932, $22.95 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Right-Time-Back-80s/dp/1685136931
The Right Time: Back to the 80s is a timeslip story about thirty-year-old Andie, who has successfully escaped her abusing husband to make a new life, only to be threatened anew. In desperation, she makes a wish and it comes true, sending her back into a past she never could have imagined. The 80s may have a reputation for being a simpler, safer time, but Andie doesn't find this to be true as she rebuilds a new life for herself once again and faces undercurrents of the times that pose unimaginable threats to her future. One of these complications takes the form of paramedic Zack, who is used to pushing away people and love. Despite Andie's allure, Zack resists temptation. This is a problem because new relationships and love are several of the main ways Andie seeks to rebuild a better life. And Zack is tops on that list of revised possibilities.
Unlike most timeslip stories in which characters become fixated on changing the future or returning to it, Lena Gibson creates a satisfyingly different perspective in The Right Time. Here, the protagonist is determined to remake the best of her life with new choices and the wisdom gained from knowledge of the future and what could happen. This translates to a series of thought-provoking encounters that drive the story with not just passion and romance, but new growth opportunities fueled by her unique experiences:
"Knowing what the finished house looked like from 2033 gave her a different perspective. Usually, a foundation and concrete-covered hole wouldn't be enough to help her visualize the final construction. A surge of satisfaction filled her. The house would be beautiful and one day, Andrea would live there."
From navigating an era in which familiar technological assets haven't yet been invented to Zack's growing acknowledgment of new possibilities for his own life, Gibson juxtaposes the very different backgrounds of these individuals to achieve a satisfying contrast in realizations and dreams:
"Xander's life seemed a lot fuller than his own. His cousin's life had changed enough that Zack now felt the difference between them. Perhaps living for work wasn't enough. It was like a punch to the gut, a betrayal of everything he'd strived for throughout his life. Was it too late to change everything?"
Do wishes really come true? Both Zack and Andie find themselves in a dance where their expectations, life lessons, and experiences receive a second chance to change, giving the story far more depth than the usual timeslip novel.
Libraries seeking exceptional timeslip scenarios that meld disparate lives in intriguing ways will want to welcome The Right Time: Back to the 80s into their collections as a warm survey of revised relationship possibilities and choices. Book clubs will appreciate how the tale introduces subjects well suited for debate, from the impact of future knowledge on revised outcomes of the past to how two very different people with diverse life experiences can build something entirely new together. Readers who choose The Right Time for its promise of returning to a simpler time will find especially delightful the emotional and social changes that translate to two characters who find their current situation anything but simple, even if it benefits from knowing what the future can bring.
Nine Lives of Sadie Briar
Melvin Litton
Gothus Press
9798218773281, $14.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lives-Sadie-Briar-Melvin-Litton-ebook/dp/B0FTJMH4RZ
Nine Lives of Sadie Briar is a sweeping historical story that opens in the late 1800s on the Kansas frontier to follow the life of Sadie up to the 1960s. It tells of a woman who becomes a mother, a caretaker, a settler, and a survivor whose life is buffeted by adversity and the unexpected, but who always seems to find a path forward. From the start, Melvin Litton reviews how political events, often from afar, affect family member perceptions and decisions, forcing Sadie to continually adjust her expectations of the future:
"...passing to the New Year, the far crisis deepened. Chants for war grew daily. Ultimatums issued and scorned. Spain would neither yield nor concede. Naval forces were sent forth, maneuvered and positioned. McKinley ordered the battleship Maine to Havana to evacuate American diplomats and citizens if necessary. Nightfall, February 15th, amid the glitter of harbor lights the Maine exploded, whether by accident or hostile act, whether the powder magazine or a mine, was only guessed at, never known. But 250 American sailors died, cast into the waters.
"That's our casus belli," Hagan said. "Once war is declared, I will go."
"Surely there's no need," I countered, startled by the grave shift of things.
"No, but I must." His tone firm and I said no more."
From the effects of births and decisions about family which divide her friendships (and sometimes her immediate circle of connections) to how Sadie maintains a stoic countenance and resolution to live her life no matter the actions and influences of those around her, the story is delivered steeped in reflections of how people ultimately grow, survive, and endure:
"Yes, they readily agreed, the fruit never falls far from the tree...then it spoils and rots - Hannah's scandal so ripe that few could resist dipping a spoonful and lapping their tongues. I ignored all and replied to none, closed my ears and walked straight. Hid in task and routine, spending full days at the paper, busy at editing and layout, helped clean and maintain the printer, laid my hands to anything that needed doing."
Sadie's world comes to life, and because of this attention to social and psychological depth, it becomes real and engrossing even to those who might hold little prior interest in historical fiction or American history. This audience will see the world through Sadie's eyes and will become entranced by its progression and her attitude.
Libraries seeking engrossing examinations of a span of decades that considers how shifts in experience, politics, social decorum, and personal objectives occur and blossom will find Nine Lives of Sadie Briar not only attractive for a wide audience, but perfect for those who normally eschew historical fiction. Replete with realizations, endurance, determination and survival in the face of repeated losses of different kinds, Nine Lives of Sadie Briar is a reflective, engrossing story certain to strike a nerve in the wide audience who will become Sadie's fans.
Lockett's Innocence
T.J. Johnston
Vivus Historical Press
9798991938402, $14.99 Paperback; $4.99 Kindle; $7.99 Audiobook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Locketts-Innocence-James-Lockett-Novels/dp/B0FYYYMF7J
Lockett's Innocence is a prequel to the Civil War novel series about Lockett's experiences that will appeal to both newcomers to T.J. Johnston's series and newcomers who will find this saga the perfect introduction to Lockett's life and times. James Lockett believes, when he leaves Kalamazoo for war, that his fellow companions have no idea of the atrocities they will face. In reality, surprises also buffet wise James, who comes to realize that the assumptions he's made about the Civil War in general and battles in particular are as far off the mark as his companions' initial enthusiasm for participating in battle. His journey leads him into the Battle of Shiloh and beyond, with every experience attacking his idealism, values, and thoughts about not just Confederates and Yankees, but friendship.
Johnston couches these revelations in a thoughtful inspection that ties together many threads of connection and experience. The first of these comes from the perspective of his friend Patrick McManus, who is reliable, steady, and set to first enlist, and then later re-enlist alongside his friend James despite the tragedy of a recent loss still buffeting his life. As the war's participants reflect on their ultimate impact on the world around them, readers are brought into the fold of some difficult realizations:
"You've already done your bit, Patrick."
McManus spat irately to the side. "That's what I think of that! What have we done, James? Chase simple people from their homes? Steal the goods from their general stores in the name of the Union? Run at the first shots at Hallsville? We've done nothing! This war won't end with a bunch of 'nothing' being accomplished."
The emotional realizations power Lockett's Innocence in a manner rarely seen in Civil War battle stories, lending to the novel's appeal to a much wider audience than the usual military fiction or American history reader. Libraries seeking Civil War stories that simmer with inspections of everyday lives and people who step up to life (and death) in extraordinary ways will welcome how Lockett's Innocence exposes the heart of motivations to fight, surrender, or change. Filled with satisfying encounters between friends and enemies and ideals shattered on a battlefield where "a million things seem to be happening at once," Lockett's Innocence provides a hard-hitting "you are here" feel to the Civil War experience that will prove an enlightening draw for present-day readers whether they are history buffs or not.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Soda Lake
John C. Hampsey
Rare Bird Books
www.rarebirdbooks.com
9781644284865, $28.00 Hardcover/$14.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Soda-Lake-Novel-John-Hampsey/dp/1644284863
Soda Lake is a locale "expansive, white, shimmering... and nearly unreal in the purple sunlight." It's also where the narrator views a man running into the lake and disappearing, sparking a search through time and other characters in which the mysterious vagrant "McCuade" causes different observers to speculate about his life and purposes. A series of explorations are undertaken in which McCaude proves the impetus for each of these characters to change their lives while participating in investigations whose boundries are sometimes mercurial, laying somewhere between a search for someone and self-inspection: "What if Inishtrahull is the last place he can go, I said, standing up. The northern limit of his world..."
From darkness and death-art to a detective story that involves probing the inner sanctum of psychological threads and responses, Soda Lake's surreal atmosphere and injection of magical realism results in a moving, heady story of transformation that occurs on many different levels: "His final manifestation will not be a manifestation at all but simply living for the lost idea of his own being, rather than for them. They will not understand. If they did, they would call him the true-lord.... Without their knowing, he is the last-lord."
This will simply delight readers interested in stories of transformation and change that operate as literary examinations of duality, choice, and dreams. The spiritual elements of encountering Him all through life supplement the threads of these diverse characters' lives, creating a powerful story of becoming and ending that ultimately considers the foundations and impact of faith. Libraries looking for literary thrillers that are thoroughly steeped in magical realism and inspections of faith will welcome how Soda Lake blends a wide range of inspections into its journey. Replete with metaphor, allegory, and insight, Soda Lake moves full circle in its saga of a search for love, truth, and resolution, and is especially highly recommended for readers seeking components of psychological thriller reading that are delivered firmly embedded in powerful revelations about finding (and failing to find, sometimes), core values in life and faith.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Witch
M. Mackinnon
DartFrog Books
www.dartfrogbooks.com
9781965253496, $16.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Echoes-Time-M-MacKinnon/dp/1965253490
Witch, the third book in the Echoes in Time romance series, is highly recommended for prior fans who enjoyed how smoothly Scottish lives and superstitions played out among Fiona and various characters in the previous three books. This story focuses on how a 1700s curse impacts the present-day world of Adam MacArthur, who confronts a dangerous and impossible liaison with the past. As in the previous books, Scottish Highlands dialect adds authenticity and flavor to the characters' encounters. These nicely represent the culture of the Scottish, but create very minimal challenge for readers unfamiliar with these accents:
"Duncan Sutherland narrowed his eyes. "Take care who ye're talkin' to, son," he said. "There's a line ye dinnae want t' cross."
Another note is that the story shifts between present and past, but clear chapter headings not only identify settings, but places. This keeps the story both flexible and easily understandable as Adam's journey forges connections between different times, Scottish locales, and Adam's world. A young woman in a bookshop who harbors an odd healing power may be the key to how Adam can confront this curse and not just survive, but thrive. Before that happens, his connection with Mairi blossoms into new possibilities that keep both characters on their toes.
Perspectives shift between their worlds and experiences to build a satisfying love story and survival tale. M. Mackinnon weaves these lives, times, and possibilities in such a manner that no prior familiarity with the previous series titles is required in order to thoroughly appreciate Adam and Mairi's encounters. Perhaps one reason why the story is so evocative lies in its foundations in real history:
"This novel is based on the true story of the last witch of Scotland, Janet Horne. It is not her real name, because that is unknown, so the name given her in history basically means "Jane Doe." She was, like Doirin Gilchrist in this story, a lady's maid who came to Dornach with her daughter in the early part of the eighteenth century."
History, magical realism, love, and family ties come together in a satisfyingly original way that introduces characters from the previous Echoes in Time stories in a way that expands their lives and threads of experience. The result is a vivid foray into other places, cultures, impacts and intentions, and connections, building psychological tension in a way that makes Witch nearly impossible to put down. Libraries can easily consider it a standalone acquisition, an adjunct to the previous stories, and a top recommendation for readers who enjoy genre-busting blends of history, romance, and cultural exploration. Filled with many surprises readers won't see coming, Witch is a winner that both compliments its predecessors and sets the stage for an invigorating new exploration into the roots of love and family connections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Expert Witness
Karen Knutson
Warren Publishing
www.warrenpublishing.net
9781966343271, $31.95 Hardcover/$19.95 Paperback
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Witness-Karen-Knutson/dp/1966343272
Expert Witness will reach a wide audience interested in women sleuth and detective stories with its focus on nurse practitioner Elle Larson's anticipation of Thanksgiving when the attempted murder of one of her clients spirals her into an investigation well above her pay grade. As other murders linked to the case occur, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina becomes the backdrop for a lethal series of events that places caregivers and elder abuse on trial in an unusual juxtaposition of personal and professional challenges.
Author Karen Knutson, herself a nurse practitioner, injects realistic insights about the job, the medical evaluation process, and the world of eldercare as Elle and other characters find their careers and perspectives spiraling into the danger zone. Legal proceedings contrast nicely with social, medical, and judicial observations as events reveal many curious facts that don't make sense - including an evaluation by an unreliable physician. Medical ethics collide in sparks of discovery and danger as Elle pursues the truth.
Accompanying hard-hitting realities explain morally challenging decision-making that holds not just dubious results, but treacherous implications. Knutson's ability to recreate the medical milieu for non-medical readers, then weave it into the pursuit of truth and justice for those seeking vivid detective stories, translates to a work of fiction replete with many heart-stopping moments, such as:
"Charlie heard the slap of running shoes against his deck as the intruder pushed him to the deep side of the pool. He was reliving his worst nightmare. The tears started when he saw the water. Water had always been part of his life; and his pool - he'd swum laps in it for so many years. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he hit the water. He had no fear of water, until now."
Libraries seeking suspense stories nicely grounded in real medical conundrums will appreciate how Expert Witness cements its action with believable characters, scenarios, and contrasts of intention and action. The issues surrounding elder abuse are particularly notable and thought-provoking. Readers interested in medical scenarios that don't detract from the medical realities of struggles with Alzheimer's and dementia while building intrigue will relish how Expert Witness takes many unexpected turns. Filled with discovery and puzzles, Expert Witness is an exceptionally strong story that deserves a place in any mystery library, well-rooted in a sense of place that is the Charlotte's medical community.
Impetus: A Novel
S.J. Leone
Proving Press
c/o Columbus Publishing Lab
www.ColumbusPublishingLab.com
9781633379664 $29.99 hc
9781633379596 $16.99 pbk / $7.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Impetus-SJ-Leone/dp/1633379590
Impetus: A Novel is actually a political thriller. It revolves around Jimmy and his girlfriend Alice who, in the opening prologue, is gone. Backtrack six years to find out why, which is the meat of story in which a pivotal concert changes the lives of Jimmy, Alice, and their circle of friends. Jimmy feels that, with these surprising turns of events, he has reached a dead-end in life:
"This place's life should be over," Jimmy mused aloud, "just like mine is."
As he finds new life in locating targets and returning to old haunts from a vastly different perspective, it feels like the game-changing scenario of his youth will never let him find peace and resolution despite his revised efforts:
"He was headed for the headquarters of Priority Health Systems and once more would have to pass by Dawn River. Why was it that every time he came into the city he wound up near it? Was it coincidence? Or was it pulling him back, holding him back, never letting go?"
As Dawn River connections evolve into domestic terrorist connections and attacks, bigger pictures come to light. These challenge not just Jimmy, but Elijah Barrett's bid for re-election and power and his support of The Plan, Ariel's re-invention of herself after the events of Dawn River into the 'New Ariel,' and political struggles. The intersection between personal growth and reactions to violence and plots, political ambition, and social change create a vivid story of fluctuating interests and ambitions which builds not just suspense, but psychological intrigue and political revelations.
All these reasons are why libraries seeking political thrillers that resonate with realistic scenarios, characters, and outcomes will especially appreciate how Impetus: A Novel moves from one kind of disaster scenario to another. Its ability to build a thought-provoking series of encounters that blossom from individual experience and intention to broader political struggles results in a tense thriller hard to put down and satisfyingly impossible to predict.
Take It to the Limit Book Four: The Stillness of Murder
Linda Opdyke
Independently Published
9798268147209, $14.95 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Take-Limit-Book-Four-Stillness/dp/B0FTSHP8X3
Fans of the Take it to the Limit PI murder investigation series now have another series addition to relish, Take It to the Limit Book Four: The Stillness of Murder. The story opens with a compelling bang whether or not detective fiction readers are familiar with the prior books:
"Ethan's body lay taut, flat across the dirt and rock-strewn ground, his hands tightly clutching Mickey's as she dangled helplessly over the edge of the cliff. Blood from his scalp ran down his face, threatening to blind him as his calm gaze locked with her terrified one. The hot summer sun mercilessly beat down on both of them, sweat making it more difficult to secure his grip."
With this powerful introduction, it's almost impossible to stop reading. It's rare to find a story that begins seemingly in the middle of heart-stopping events, then evolves a logical sequence of encounters that leads readers back and forth in time in a progressive romp through different characters and special interests, but The Stillness of Murder does so with an astute hand to discovery and revelation that proves thoroughly engrossing and easy to follow. From tracking down a missing grandmother in a venture that attracts unwanted suspicion and attention from diner owner Boomer, whose threat to Mickey keeps unfolding in unexpected ways, to a probe into a suicide's reasoning that turns into a murder investigation of unexpected events, The Stillness of Murder corners Mickey in circumstances which challenge her investigation and professionalism.
Rookie Mickey also finds herself at odds with Ethan, who refuses to believe Lonnie, who has hired Mickey to probe what turns out to be a dangerous situation, is his father's son, and is convinced that Hannah Burnett is a liar. The professional conflicts impact those she considers family as well as colleagues, with Ethan's involvement in her case threatening that family secrets might explode before she can uncover the full truth. Linda Opdyke specializes in a form of explosive revelations about family, connections, and friend-or-foe tipping points that keep Mickey and her readers on edge, considering a smorgasbord of possibilities. The story is rich in exploring these connections and a series of dilemmas that evolve from proximity, love, and death. Equally powerful are descriptions which supercharge confrontations between friends, adversaries, and those who lie somewhere in-between:
"He grabbed her arm and spun her around. He was so angry he could barely speak. "Let's get something straight. You believe you're singled out, that there's no faith in you, no confidence... the bullshit list goes on."
She jerked free. "My plan would draw out..."
He blew up. "Your plan will get you killed."
The result is an outstanding addition to the series that also stands well alone for newcomers interested in a PI investigation that incorporates winning elements of suspense and intrigue into its whodunit plot. Libraries seeking compelling stories that either stand nicely alone or compliment their series will want to add The Stillness of Murder to their collections, highly recommending it to readers who seek multifaceted stories replete with tense moments of discovery and confrontation, murky psychological relationships that reveal unexpected truths, and plain good reading. Replete with interpersonal arguments and realizations, The Stillness of Murder revolves around circumstances in which much more than murder is at stake.
Five Roses for Walter
LeeAnne James
Black Rose Writing
www.blackrosewriting.com
9781685136772, $21.95 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Roses-Walter-Inspired-Events/dp/168513677X
Five Roses for Walter adds to the Thin Blue Line series with a kidnapping thriller inspired by true events. It surveys the life and long-ranging impact of a fourteen-year-old kidnap and rape victim whose assailant is still a mystery, even though he held her in a bunker for a year. Sergeant Steve "Mac" MacIntosh is personally affronted by Joanie's ongoing nightmare and vows to track down this psycho at any cost. But, apparently it will take a miracle to find him, because he's shockingly elusive and surprisingly capable of repeating his actions while remaining at large. At this point, it should be emphasized that readers sensitive to graphic sexual assault descriptions (which are part of this story) should look elsewhere for their thriller reading.
LeeAnne James adopts a realistic tone and approach throughout, bringing her subject to life by delving into personalities and psychological motivations. She pulls no punches in describing the warped mental processes of the kidnapper. As for kidnapper Walt, the strangeness that justifies his actions comes to life as he repeatedly assaults Joanie, then somehow imagines he's a good guy: "The man who'd kidnapped her, raped her, and stolen her innocence, stood smiling in the doorway."
Mac's long search for the underground bunker which houses depravity leads to unexpected frustrations and dead ends as Walt moves from Joanie to Gabrielle and Yen, repeating his sordid actions and apparently getting away with them. The contrasts made between Mac's investigations, his victims' entrapment, and Walt's insights are particularly well done, with each girl's disparate background lending a different vision of possible resolution: "Gabrielle was more of a fighter and had spent time on the streets, which made her a tougher, more combative hostage. Nonetheless, she was still only fourteen years old, and the tough persona on the outside would crumble when she was alone, especially during the long and lonely nights." Joanie will be an adult before this case even begins to resolve itself, and the lasting impact of Walt's predatory ways will change more than one life as he continues unchecked.
Libraries seeking especially vivid accounts of evil, stories of how social monsters are born, and questions about justice and perps who deny reality will relish how Five Roses for Walter powerfully walks a fine line between victim and abuser, documenting impacts on all involved. Walter's warped logic is particularly hard-hitting as the story evolves its long-term perspective, creating perfect fodder for psychology and book group discussions as the tale unfolds. It's not light thriller reading, but ultimately is a powerful survey of men and women's rights and how these can become warped and flawed. This pushes readers into considering difficult decisions and perceptions in the process of absorbing compelling characters that are at odds with social convention and possibly their own minds.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Emerald Passage
Aneta Torchia
The Luminary Press
www.theluminarypress.com
9781738768783, $19.99 Hardcover/$13.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Passage-Prism-Aneta-Torchia/dp/1738768783
Emerald Passage is an action-packed fantasy adventure that opens with a perfect day gone badly when novice pilot Sarah's flight in a Cessna, which usually gives her freedom from the repressive Order, turns into a chilling lesson in survival. One of the reasons she enjoys flying is to cultivate skills she can give to the Order, as well as escaping psychopaths on the ground. But the second reason is that flight skills will expand her ability to unravel secrets - such as where the Order hides the Arachna, the powerful tech that allows it to track down and eliminate their threats. Sadly, she's no closer to finding it than she was months earlier.
Perspectives shift from Sarah to main character Everest Cleary, whose battle against the Vulturians sends her on a perilous mission through time and space on a mission to reveal the origins of the Order and gain access to the Prism in this second book in The Prism Series. A host of characters, from Erik to Shahina, consider rifts in space-time and the lasting impact of journeying to the past to confront the deadly enemies and new possibilities that change and impact the present: "But the past is not that simple. There's no delete button - no trash bin you can empty when you're done with it. It's always waiting in the shadows, ready to pounce and haunt you again, often at your lowest moments."
Portals, prisms, mysteries and dreams coalesce in a vivid, action-packed journey that readers of the first fantasy thriller, The Prism, will appreciate for its fast pace. It's a powerful, ongoing story of how Everest confronts her own magical abilities and the potential of changing not just her world, but several. Her additional revelations about the Order and its intentions expand and enhance The Prism's worlds with new adventures and realizations that many readers won't see coming. These developments are cemented by believable characters whose personal and political dilemmas are thoroughly engrossing.
Libraries seeking series fantasy titles about confrontation, repression, and a "different slice of Earth" will want to add both The Prism and Emerald Passage to their lists of high-octane stories of battles against repressive forces. The tale ends in a cliff-hanger, so further additions to the series will be required, but the sum result of Emerald Passage is to reinforce and expand a gripping saga of harnessing personal powers for the greater good. Readers who like their fantasies embedded with engrossing scenarios and twists will find Emerald Passage hard to put down.
Initial Condition
Ian Domowitz
www.iandomowitz.com
Casa Muerte Books
B0FM672RH8, $2.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Initial-Condition-Mechanics-Diary-Book-ebook/dp/B0FM672RH8
Initial Condition, the third book in the Mechanic's Diary series, depicts a world in which an AI boy called The Mechanic confronts a religious sanctuary where AIs are forbidden. Too bad, because a kidnapping leads Hanzi Boss not only into this environment, but to challenge its most sacred foundations. Readers of the Mechanic's Diary books will have an excellent grounding for appreciating this latest entry in the diary experiences.
Virtual environments and reality blends with history, philosophical inspection, and experience in the same vivid manner of reflective action that prior fans will relish. Newcomers may momentarily flounder as they absorb these sometimes-challenging scenarios, but any effort expended in delving into this world is more than rewarded by a powerful tale of monsters, reality (both virtual and otherwise), and community and individual secrets that come to light with soul-changing results. Ian Domowitz continues to finely intersect these worlds and nuances as Hanzi delicately dances between forces that would end his existence or kidnap the essence of creativity and soul from the world:
"Your book hints at artificial beings capable of language." Hanzi cringed at the squeak in the seated man's voice. Notes of contempt covered the unintelligible movement of his lips. Abomination, they said.
"Do you have first-hand knowledge of such things?"
"The book is prophecy and open to interpretation."
"The Chronicles is allegory. Context matters. Will the future require language skills to survive? I'm not the prophet here." Hanzi had found the last phrase necessary in many conversations. It served to quiet discussion.
"That is not God's question." The beard on the young man's face was too thin to shake with the severity of his head's movements.
"The stage is set at the beginning of time and all things follow from that creation." Hanzi had never believed it. His idea of moral responsibility centered on intent and accountability. Time spent with strict Catholics of a nomadic community suggested more of a stochastic form of predestination, with God steering existence with imperfect foreknowledge occasioned by human free will.
From the creations of golems and existential flaws that challenge Hanzi's love of his creation to his lessons in dreams, transparency, and devices that introduce nightmares, this story of uncertain definitions of life, death, monsters, and heroes creates a vivid march through time and intention. It is as thought-provoking and gripping as the other Mechanic's Diary books in the series.
Libraries seeking series additions that work well together to add philosophical, psychological, and magical realism components to a dark fantasy for mature teen and adult readers will find this mix of spiritual and ideological reflection to be astute and compelling. These elements make the book a special recommendation for those interested in out-of-the-box thinking and characters whose very existence defy space, time, and possibility. "I'm not the bad guy. We're good people with a secret." The wellsprings of that secret and its discovery make for a completely engrossing, creative story that toes the line between magical realism, dark fantasy, philosophical and social inspection, and an exciting foray into human and AI potential.
A Raven in the Storm
Alida Miranda-Wolff
alidamirandawolff.com/books
Rainflower Publishing
9798999209122, $28.95 Hardcover/$4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Storm-Gods-Tellus-Book-ebook/dp/B0FXT4Z585
A Raven in the Storm is the first book in the Gods of Tellus series. This compelling romantic fantasy is Alida Miranda-Wolff's fiction debut, demonstrating her world-building prowess as she depicts competing gods (both greater and lesser) whose lives intersect in unusual ways. It's set in a fantasy universe filled with familiar, real-world issues that might trigger sensitive readers with vivid descriptions of violence and confrontations that include self-harm and suicide, but ultimately crafts an immersive experience. The plot includes situations of anguish and angst to sterling moments of discovery and empowerment. The story is narrated in the first person by Lyanna, a lady-in-waiting at the Storm Palace, whose uncle is the right hand to a cruel king.
From its opening paragraphs, A Raven in the Storm injects emotional responses into its atmospheric descriptions that succinctly capture women's' roles and adaptive survival tactics in positions of power and servitude:
"The king's obsession with her was decades old, and she had learned to resist him through the strength of her bearing rather than tears or pleas. She endured him for those under her protection - the Skylanders who remained in her court and lived in her territory, her courtiers, and me. Shame flooded me. I could see that she would take a punishment she did not deserve in my home territory, the one I was supposedly poised to inherit, and could do nothing to stop it. I balled my hands into fists to keep from screaming."
Lyanna refuses to stand by placidly while her beloved Lady Opis is tortured and ravaged. Her response forces her to run from everything she's known and into uncharted territory. She embarks on a journey that takes her through Witcher's Woods and into the other side of the world during a storm of physical clashes and psychological and moral controversy. Alida Miranda-Wolff's ability to bring these women's choices to life makes for a hard-hitting adventure that traverses growth, new opportunities, and revised connections. Lady Lyanna Tempestas and Lady Juno Strabo continue their friendship through letters while Lyanna spies, experiences uncertainty over marriage and her relationships with men, and endures political struggles that test her future. Lord Cassius Coronis adds a strong male counterpoint to Lady Lyanna and Lady Strabo, with a romantic component that also forces Lyanna to re-examine her beliefs and values:
"I had no reason to trust this man, other than Lady Opis said he would protect me because I was a member of his court, a court that I had basically admitted I didn't think should exist. No amount of exhaustion, hunger, and dehydration could justify this. What was wrong with me?"
Especially notable is how the politics and perspectives of the time impact Lyanna's relationships and life:
"I didn't so much as bristle as he called me "sister" instead of "comrade," the rejection of my place here familiar. Nobles, especially ones of my station, had never been welcome in the Resistance. We were their enemies, no matter our views."
Miranda-Wolff builds these forces into her story so seamlessly that Lyanna's first-person experiences come across as completely realistic and thoroughly riveting, cemented in believable scenarios, frustrations, and confrontations. The different relationships these women develop with one another, which range from romance to political associations, also adds notes of strength and insight into the story, building fascinating associations and twists into Lady Lyanna's options and encounters.
Libraries seeking a fantasy that is female-centric, heavy in relationship and political quandaries, and packed with emotional and physical action will find it easy to very highly recommend A Raven in the Storm to fantasy readers as a gripping study in relationship-building and social and political transformation. The fantasy builds a vivid account of women under siege from not just men and social expectations, but their own hearts.
The Seven Souls of Esmerelda Black
N.K. Brown
www.nkbrownauthor.com
Foundations Book Publishing
9781645831532, $21.99
Foundations Book Publishing
https://www.foundationsbooks.net
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Souls-Esmerelda-Black-Atmospheric/dp/164583154X
In order to allow her sister to live, Esmerelda Black must acquire seven souls of others. It's a devil's bargain and a challenge that Esmerelda confronts with a twist, because even though this sister is willing to sacrifice her own soul in exchange, the greedy devil maintains that she alone is not enough. N.K. Brown unfolds the story of magic, sorcery, theft, and power with an intriguing focus on a young woman whose attempts at soul-stealing lets loose a Frankenstein-type threat that begins to stalk her through the foggy streets of London. Add "atmospheric" to the description of this story of how Esmerelda builds up payment one stolen sin at a time, only to uncover a rebel in the form of a woman who harbors Sloth and is reluctant to give it up to Esmerelda's cause.
Readers can also envision the clash when Esmerelda's only connection to Hell and the possibility of saving her sister, her scrying mirror, is stolen. This forces her to confront the stalker behind her while forging ahead to face the blackmail and secrets of Dorian Rosewood, who harbors his own reasons for wanting to connect with the underworld.
Brown crafts an elegant, evocative fantasy rich in action and thought-provoking moral and ethical questions as the plot unfolds. The descriptions are especially powerful lures as this dark world reveals its secrets:
"There are many who say that Barnaby Whiteley, the heir to the Whiteley fortune, has looks that are most handsome. They swoon and murmur unintelligibly whenever he is near. He is a snowy goose, preening and posturing so that he is mistaken for an elite swan. But to me, I see straight through him, and his soul is black. When his lifeless gray eyes fell on mine, penetrating the thick gauze of my veil, my skin crawled, as if suddenly teeming with frantic centipedes, legs scrabbling and pincers tearing at my flesh, but the feeling that predominated was that of whitehot anger. It consumed and terrified me in equal measure, leaving me as pathetic and redundant as when he strolled right through the protective shield I had spent my life erecting and murdered my sister."
Treasure hunts for hidden sins, subterfuge and theft, and all-consuming desire for resolution and exposing secrets drive a story filled with revelations not only about Esmerelda's situation, but different characters that become entwined in her dangerous web:
"Lady Grafton had grown up amongst those who still considered her mother, and therefore her, as a lurker. A cuckoo who ensnared a rich husband and tried to disguise all her offspring as true-born aristocracy. She had spent almost all of her life silencing those people. She married a lord and became indispensable amongst the London elite for throwing elaborate parties, giving to charities - albeit grudgingly and sparsely - and making sure no other paupers dared enter her social circle."
As Esmerelda finds herself imprisoned by Dorian in more ways than one, she fights to achieve her goals, dances on a dangerous edge of disaster with the devil himself, and embraces thought-provoking revelations about the true wellsprings of power and how to wield it. Libraries seeking supernatural fantasies steeped in intriguing dark atmosphere mixed with ethical and moral questions about life and choice will find The Seven Souls of Esmerelda Black a strong recommendation not just for readers, but book clubs considering works that excel in accounts of ambition and uncertain lifelines after disaster. Replete with confrontations and action that are thoroughly unpredictable and completely engrossing, The Seven Souls of Esmerelda Black is hard to put down.
The Travel Shelf
Pueblos Magicos: A Traveler's Guide to Mexico's Hidden Treasures
Chuck Burton
Bayou City Press
https://bayoucitypress.com
9781951331122, $21.99 $9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pueblos-M%C3%A1gicos-Travelers-Mexicos-Treasures/dp/1951331125
Travelers to Mexico who are interested in pursuing a historical and cultural review of the country before they leave will find Pueblos Magicos: A Traveler's Guide to Mexico's Hidden Treasures just the ticket for a precursor to a successful trip that heightens understanding of Mexico's history and hidden tourism opportunities. Here lies a route less followed through an authentic Mexican experience that avoids either the well-beaten tourist paths of convention or the latest hotspots of the youthful independent traveler, choosing instead the places and experiences where "...it is unusual to see a single light-skinned foreign face in many of them. Such is the irresistible magnetism of modern tourism: A few places get all the publicity, and the crowds follow."
Those who would venture into places of magic and historical authenticity will relish how Pueblos Magicos suggests places that have managed to retain their charm even under the onslaught of tourism, such as Palenque: "The modern town is a nice, leafy place to hang out, with lots of crafts for sale and wonderful, fresh food. It is as pleasant a place to stay as any, particularly since it has become quite prosperous. It's just no longer authentically rural and forgotten by the world."
Chuck Burton presents his personal wanderings through these areas, comments on how they have changed and been revised by tourism and the outside world, and considers the ways in which they have managed to retain a sense of attraction and authenticity beyond the forces which have brought them into the modern world. Of equal interest are the reflections on "places which no longer exist" from the old Lonely Planet guidebook model of lesser-developed nations.
Presenting as both a guidebook and a travelogue of the author's journeys through Mexico, many of the dialogues contrast this route with other nations and travel experiences: "Magdalena is an eye-pleasing anomaly tucked away in the monotonous desert, anchoring a sudden and surprising oasis of lush greenery. On a small scale, it reminds me of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. That region is among the driest spots in the world..."
Destination visitors seeking a take-along tote also will appreciate Burton's specific directions for navigating these routes: "If you are a nature-lover like me, this is a fine town in which to spend a couple of days. Likewise, if you are a seeker of the kind of authenticity not offered by touristy venues like Tepoztlan. Overall rating: 6 (Higher, really, if you love trail hikes.)"
In summary, anyone with an interest in visiting Mexico and exploring its smaller towns and cultural attractions needs Pueblos Magicos. It captures the nation's magic in two ways: though author Burton's experiences and his insights on how best to travel to get the most from a Mexican encounter. Libraries that choose Pueblos Magicos for its collection will find it colorful both in description and the photos peppered throughout, and will want to highly recommend this book to anyone who contemplates venturing from the beaten tourist paths to destinations in towns that are more than a bit out of the ordinary.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net
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