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Reviewer's Choice
Transnational Frontiers
Emily C. Burns
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806160030, $45.00, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com
"Transnational Frontiers: The American West in France" by Emily C. Burns (Assistant Professor
of Art History at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama) is a lavishly illustrated visual history that
shows how American artists, writers, and tourists traveling to France exported the dominant
frontier narrative that presupposed manifest destiny -- and how Native American performers with
Buffalo Bill's Wild West and other traveling groups challenged that view. Many French artists
and illustrators plied this imagery as well. At the 1900 World's Fair in Paris, sculptures of
American cowboys conjured a dynamic and adventurous West, while portraits of American
Indians on vases evoked an indigenous people frozen in primitivity. At the same time,
representations of Lakota performers, as well as the performers themselves, deftly negotiated the
politics of American Indian assimilation and sought alternative spaces abroad. For French artists
and enthusiasts, the West served as a fulcrum for the construction of an American cultural
identity, offering a chance to debate ideas of primitivism and masculinity that bolstered their own
colonialist discourses. By examining this process, Professor Burns reveals the interconnections
between American western art and Franco-American artistic exchange between 1865 and 1915.
Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Transnational Frontiers" is an extraordinary
work of outstanding scholarship that is expertly written, organized and presented, making it ideal
for academia and non-specialist general readers alike. Certain to be an enduringly appreciated
contribution to personal, community, and academic library collections, "Transnational Frontiers"
is deservedly and unreservedly recommended.
Every Landlord's Legal Guide, 14th edition
Marcia Stewart & Janet Portman
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413325171, $44.99, PB, 504pp, www.amazon.com
Every landlord must comply with local and state laws governing the rental of properties.
Specifically designed for the non-specialist general reader and now in a completely updated and
expanded 14th edition, "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" by the team of Marcia Stewart and Janet
Portman, provides all the legal forms and state rules every landlord and property manager needs
to keep up with the law and make money as a residential landlord. From move-in to move-out,
"Every Landlord's Legal Guide" offers reliable and practical help with legal, financial, and
day-to-day issues. With "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" landlords will avoid hassles and
headaches, legal fees and lawsuits. "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" will prove invaluable in:
screening and choosing tenants; preparing leases and rental agreements; avoiding discrimination,
invasion of privacy, personal injury, and other lawsuits; hiring a property manager; keeping up
with repairs and maintenance; making security deposit deductions; handling broken leases;
learning how to terminate a tenancy for nonpayment of rent or other lease violations; restricting
tenants from renting their place on Airbnb; and dealing with bedbugs, mold, and lead
hazards. Of special note is the inclusion of a new discussion of how to deal with the aftermath of a
tenant's death. Complete with downloadable forms, and unreservedly recommended for
community library collections, "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" is an essential instructional
reference. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Wisconsin's 37
Erin Miller & John B. Sharpless
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476672007, $29.95, PB, 251pp, www.amazon.com
The signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973 signified the end of the Vietnam War. American
personnel returned home and the 591 American prisoners held captive in North Vietnam were
released. Still, 2,646 individuals did not come home. Thirty-seven of those missing in action
were from Wisconsin. Their names appear on the largest object -- a motorcycle (that is now part
of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection) to ever be left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Using the recollections of the soldiers' families, friends and fellow servicemen, Erin Miller, with
the help John B. Sharpless, (Professor of American history at the University of Wisconsin -
Madison) tells the story of the life of each of those 37 men. Featuring an informative Foreword
by Major General John D. Logeman (Ret.), "Wisconsin's 37: The Lives of Those Missing in
Action in the Vietnam War" is an extraordinary and valued addition to the growing library of
Vietnam War Histories and Memoirs. While very highly recommended for both community and
academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Wisconsin's 37" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).
Mountains Without Handrails
Joseph L. Sax
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
www.press.umich.edu
9780472037148, $19.95, PB, www.amazon.com
Joseph L. Sax was a Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. Previously, he
was the counselor to the Secretary of the Interior and Professor of Law at the University of
Michigan Law School. "Mountains Without Handrails: Reflections On The National Parks" is
Joseph Sax's thought-provoking treatise on America's national parks, remains as relevant today as
when first published in 1980. Focusing on the long-standing and bitter battles over recreational
use of our parklands, Sax proposes a novel scheme for the protection and management of
America's national parks. Drawing upon still controversial disputes such as those associated with
Yosemite National Park, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, and the Disney plan for
California's Mineral King Valley, Sax boldly unites the rich and diverse tradition of nature
writing into a coherent thesis that speaks directly to the dilemma of the parks. Exceptionally well
informed and informative, "Mountains Without Handrails" is an extraordinarily thoughtful and
thought-provoking read throughout. While very highly recommended for both community and
academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mountains
Without Handrails" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.00).
Winning Fights
Dr. Phillip Stephens
YMAA
www.ymaa.com
9781594396007, $18.95
Winning Fights: 12 Proven Principles for Winning on the Street, in the Ring, at Life takes martial
arts and conflict management principles, mix them with an examination of the art of warfare as
applied to personal experience, and mixes in explanations of principles involved in winning
battles over strategies to do so. Dr. Stephens researched combat literature for the last few
thousand years to assemble a listing of these basic principles, adding insights from soldiers and
military professionals to round out discussions of these twelve core principles. Anyone who
would win any kind of struggle needs this thought-provoking survey of why some battles are won
and others are lost.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Why Healthcare Costs So Much
David G. Brown, MD
Orange Frazer Press
PO Box 214, Wilmington, OH 45177
www.orangefrazer.com
9781939710833, $14.95, PB, 194pp, www.amazon.com
All Americans are currently wrestling with such questions as; Why does healthcare cost so
much? What can we do to reduce the cost? Why is the cost of health insurance so high? What is
the effect of pharmaceutical drugs in increasing costs? Does preventative medicine reduce the
cost of care? Do Medicare Cost Reduction Programs actually significantly reduce the cost of
Medicare? Do Workplace Wellness Programs work? What is the role of medical technology in
healthcare costs? What is the effect on hospitals (and the patients they take care of) by increasing
costs? What about Medicaid? How can the soaring costs of Medicaid be restrained but patients
receive the care they should have? How do costs affect the other two aspects of
healthcare--access and quality? What is the quality of healthcare in the U.S. and single payer
systems? What system should the American people choose? Is healthcare reform achievable
through the free market system? These are the questions we as Americans must find answers too
if Healthcare Reform will prove to be not only effective, but possible! "Why Healthcare Costs So
Much: How Do We Bring Down the Cost of Care?" by board certified pulmonologist Dr. David
G. Brown shows why healthcare prices have gone up and how they can be reduced. Dr. Brown
informatively examines the various healthcare plans, including the present healthcare system, and
reveals how healthcare reform can be effectively be achieved. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation, "Why Healthcare Costs So Much" is a timely and 'real world
practical' contribution to our current and on-going national dialogue over reforming our health
system so that health care is a universal human right and not a financially based privileged for
those with incomes large enough to afford it under the present system.
The Inside Scoop on Informed Choice
Diane Hall
Health Professions Press
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.healthpropress.com
9781938870767, $64.99, Spiral Bound, 220pp, www.amazon.com
Medical and health administrators, nurses, dietary managers, or dietitians, all have a role to play
in supporting a patient's right to make personal food choices (while also meeting regulatory
guidelines and reducing professional liability). "The Inside Scoop on Informed Choice: A
Step-by-Step Guide for Personalizing Diets in Long-Term Care" by registered dietitian and
licensed nursing home administrator Diane Hall (who is an expert consultant and nationally
recognized speaker on culture change and dining standards in long-term care) is an instructional
guide for creating person-centered meal plans in long-term care settings. This user-friendly
resource is filled from cover to cover with pragmatic tips and guidelines as well as time-saving
forms for planning and delivering individualized meals to meet dining preferences. "The Inside
Scoop on Informed Choice" also debunks common myths and misinformation about special
diets, restricted diets, doctor's orders, and federal regulations. A definitive guide to providing the
tools and explanations for truly individualizing of institutionally provided food services, "The
Inside Scoop on Informed Choice" also features sample forms and guidelines, assessment tools,
quizzes, QAPI-based dining solutions, as well as available CEUs, -- making it an invaluable and
unreservedly recommended addition to professional, hospital, residential care facilities, college,
and university library Health Care Management collections.
The A-List Diet
Fred Pescatore, MD
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781944648138, $24.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
With a unique dieting innovation, more than 100 delicious recipes, and easy-to-follow meal
plans, "The A-List Diet" by Dr. Fred Pescatore goes beyond Atkins, beyond The Whole30,
beyond Eat Fat, Get Thin, and way beyond Paleo. By combining the benefits of protein boosting,
protein rotation, inflammation busting, and acid-reducing alkalization, this diet maximizes your
ability to drop weight. In "The A-List Diet", there is no point counting, no obsessing over the
scale, and no gimmicks. Just smart swaps, simple solutions, and a fresh new look at everyday
choices. Dr. Pescatore helps you identify what type of dieter you are so you can customize his
strategies to work best for you, so this is truly an invaluable and effective diet secret. Featuring
testimonials from Dr. Pescatore's patients, "The A-List Diet" is the ultimate guide to losing
weight with healthy strategies and quick results. While very highly recommended for community
and academic library Health & Medicine instructional reference collections for weight control, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The A-List Diet" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781946885159, $17.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Headache Healer's Handbook
Jan Mundo, CMSC, CMT
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608685134, $18.95
Author Jan Mundo has been healing headaches for over forty years; but she never planned on
becoming a healer. Her work on her own spirituality led to a hidden talent that has only
blossomed, as she's relieved headaches both in her own body and in those of others. Lest readers
think this is an autobiography of her spiritual growth and healing process, it should be noted that
here she organizes her healing strategies into a program with step-by-step instructions others can
employ for success. The result is a holistic self-care guide that addresses prevention as well as
relief, highly recommended for any headache sufferer who wants relief.
The PMA Method
Faisal Abdalla
Aster
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781912023370, $19.99
The PMA Method: 14 Days to a Stronger, Healthier, Happier You comes from a Nike trainer
who here pairs diet and fitness objectives, creating a program he calls Positive Mental Attitude
(PMA). The all-in-one book includes recipes for healthier versions of favorite foods, kitchen tips,
and workouts that are accompanied by step-by-step color visuals which nicely supplement a
weekly training regimen. The result is an uplifting approach to health that should gain a wide
audience of readers seeking more than an exercise guide alone could offer.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Play-of-Color Quilting
Bernadette Mayr
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764355332, $24.99, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com
German quilt designer Bernadette Mayr specializes in the freehand cutting technique. She
originally learned it from American quilt artist Nancy Crow, and has since made her mark with
the unique designs and color use of her creations. In "Play-of-Color Quilting: 24 Designs to
Inspire Freehand Color Play" she draws upon her many years of experience and expertise with
twenty-four quilting projects where the emphasis is on the energy, the bold accents, and the
contrasts. "Play-of-Color Quilting" offers new ways to think about freestyle color piecing. These
new designs offer colorful, playful, wild, and geometric quilts to make, and enable even the most
novice of quilt makers an encouraged ability to experiment with color. A few smaller projects,
like pillows and a silk evening bag, focus color play into a smaller piece. "Play-of-Color
Quilting" is also guide also serves as a complete resource for new quilters by offering 14 lessons
on the important basic quilting skills like cutting shapes, freehand machine embroidery, and quilt
assembly. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation,
"Play-of-Color Quilting" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal and
community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.
Stitches from the Yuletide
Kathy Schmitz
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
9781604688955, $25.99, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com
Now needlecrafters ranging from the beginning novice to the experienced expert can celebrate
the charms of the season with exquisite embroidery using instructive designs from needlecraft
expert Kathy Schmitz! "Stitches from the Yuletide" showcase spectacularly embroidered winter
scenes inspired by classic motifs, as well as delightful hand-drawn sketches and beautiful
watercolor paintings in page after page of elegant designs. Using "Stitches from the Yuletide",
dedicated needlecrafters can create a pillow, tea towels, wall art, ornaments, and more, all perfect
for decorating and gift giving. Needlecraters will find themselves embroidering motifs that range
from jolly snowmen to frolicking reindeer. Kathy's signature birds and bunnies also make a
special appearance -- inspiring some of the season's best stitching! While very highly
recommended for community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections, it should be
noted for the personal lists of enthusiastic needlecrafters that "Stitches from the Yuletide" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.36).
Jelly Roll Bargello Quilts
Karin Hellaby
Landauer Publishing
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.landauercorp.com
9781947163010, $18.95, PB, 64pp, www.amazon.com
Bargello quilts consist entirely of straight seams and rectangular pieces, yet create the
mesmerizing optical illusion of graceful movement, waves, and curves! "Jelly Roll Bargello
Quiltes" by Karin Hellaby introduces Bargello quilt making including a fascinating technique
that uses straight lines to create those optical illusions of curves and movement. Beginner
friendly designs look complicated, but are suitable for new quilters. Hellaby provides a wide
variety of projects with both solid and printed fabrics, and varying from monochromatic to
riotously colorful -- and include patterns for pillows, a quilt bag, wall hangings, table toppers,
and lap quilts. Bargello quilt making looks complex and difficult, but any beginner quilter who
can sew a straight seam can master the necessary skills. It is also a technique that is easy to
complete quickly and with confidence, thanks to pre-cut jelly rolls and Hellaby's clear how-to
instructions. Hellaby works with both solid and printed fabrics, and varies her color palette from
monochromatic to riotously colorful. She explores the impact of offset seams for gentle curves
and matched seams for dramatic arc and turns in the pattern. The result is a quilting instructional
guide that is exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. "Jelly Roll Bargello
Quilts" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and
community library Needlecraft & Quilting instructional reference collections.
Stash Statement
Kelly Young
That Patchwork Place
c/o Martingale & Company
www.shopmartingale.com
9781604688818, $23.99
Stash Statement: Make the Most of Your Fabrics with Easy Improv Quilts introduces the idea of
and teaches structured improvisation when using stash fabrics to produce unique quilts, and
teaches three basic methods for sewing together different shapes, strips, and small fabric scraps
to create new scrappy results. The basics of mixing colors, patterns, and scraps are imparted in
some twelve approaches to mix and match stash quilting that encourages improvisation and
creative quilting.
The Music Shelf
Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time, and Americana Music
Craig Harris
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781455624010, $24.95, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Craig Harris is the author of several books on roots music, American Indian music, and the Band.
He has performed with Melanie, Rod MacDonald, Jonathan Edwards, Rick Danko, and the Gaea
Star Band, with whom he co-hosts a weekly radio show. Harris taught music in public and
charter schools before launching his award-winning Drum Away the Blues program. In the pages
of "Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time, and Americana Music", and based on exclusive interviews
with over 120 groundbreaking musicians, Harris has crafted what feels like the first truly
comprehensive history of bluegrass. His research and never-before-seen photos make his study a
new authority on the music genre's strongest influencers. Arranged chronologically from Bill
Monroe in 1927 to the Earls of Leicester today, highlights also include entertaining facts and
anecdotes about Flatt & Scruggs, Del McCoury, Doc Watson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and
more. With "Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time, and Americana Music", non-specialist general
readers and mountain-music buffs alike will come away with a rich understanding of the roots
and evolution of this uniquely American sound. While an especially and unreservedly
recommended for both community and academic library American Music History collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time, and Americana
Music" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.95).
Fare Thee Well
Joel Selvin, author
Pamela Turley, contributor
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306903052, $27.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
The Grateful Dead rose to greatness under the inspired leadership of guitarist Jerry Garcia, but
the band very nearly died along with him. When Garcia passed away suddenly in August of 1995,
the remaining band members experienced full crises of confidence and identity. So long defined
by Garcia's vision for the group, the surviving "Core Four," as they came to be called, were
reduced to conflicting agendas, strained relationships, and catastrophic business decisions that
would leave the iconic band in utter disarray. Wrestling with how best to define their living
legacy, the band made many attempts at restructuring, but it would take twenty years before
relationships were mended enough for the Grateful Dead as fans remembered them to once again
take the stage. Music journalist Joel Selvin was there for much of the turmoil following Garcia's
death, and in "Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead's Long, Strange Trip" he
offers a behind-the-scenes account of the ebbs and flows that occurred during the ensuing two
decades. The final chapter of the band's history has never before been explored in such detail.
Culminating in the landmark tour bearing the same name, "Fare Thee Well" charts the arduous
journey from Garcia's passing all the way up to the uneasy agreement between the Core Four that
led to the series of shows celebrating the band's fiftieth anniversary and finally allowing for a
proper, and joyous, sendoff of the group revered by so many. An absolute 'must read' for the
legions of dedicated Grateful Dead fans, "Fare Thee Well" will prove to be a popular and
appreciated addition to both community and academic library Contemporary American Music
History collections in general, and Grateful Dead supplemental studies lists in particular. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Fare Thee Well" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $17.99).
The Life I've Picked
John McEuen
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781613738955, $18.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
John McEuen is one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Now 50-years
strong, the band is best known for its evergreen bestselling album Will the Circle Be Unbroken
and for its gorgeous version of the song "Mr. Bojangles". McEuen is one of the seminal figures
who conceived and originated the fusion of folk, rock and country, a unique sound still hugely
popular today. In addition to performing on tour with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and on dozens of
bestselling NGDB albums (many of which went platinum and gold), McEuen also has a
successful solo performing and recording career. And as a music producer, he won the Grammy
Award in 2010 for producing The Crow, a music album by Steve Martin, John's lifelong friend.
McEuen writes candidly and movingly about the ups and downs in his life. Among the highs was
NGDB's tour of the Soviet Union in 1977; they were the first American group to perform there.
Among the downs was the breakup of his family in the 1980s. McEuen is a born storyteller, and
his tales of working with everyone from Linda Ronstadt to Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash to the
Allman Brothers to Bob Dylan to Dolly Parton to, of course, Steve Martin will thrill every fan of
folk, rock, and country music alike. "The Life I've Picked: A Banjo Player's Nitty Gritty Journey"
is a wonderfully entertaining and impressively informative read from cover to cover. While
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary American
Music History collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Life I've Picked:
A Banjo Player's Nitty Gritty Journey" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
The Fiction Shelf
The Bookshop of Yesterdays
Amy Meyerson
Park Row Books
195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007
http://www.parkrowbooks.com
9780778319849, $22.99, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Miranda Brooks grew up in the stacks of her eccentric Uncle Billy's bookstore, solving the
inventive scavenger hunts he created just for her. But on Miranda's twelfth birthday, Billy has a
mysterious falling-out with her mother and suddenly disappears from Miranda's life. She doesn't
hear from him again until sixteen years later when she receives unexpected news: Billy has died
and left her Prospero Books, which is teetering on bankruptcy -- and one final scavenger hunt.
When Miranda returns home to Los Angeles and to Prospero Books (now as its owner) she finds
clues that Billy has hidden for her inside novels on the store's shelves, in locked drawers of his
apartment upstairs, in the name of the store itself. Miranda becomes determined to save Prospero
Books and to solve Billy's last scavenger hunt. She soon finds herself drawn into a journey where
she meets people from Billy's past, people whose stories reveal a history that Miranda's mother
has kept hidden -- and the terrible secret that tore her family apart. All the more impressive when
considering that is it author Amy Meyerson's debut as a novelist, "The Bookshop of Yesterdays"
is an extraordinary read from cover to cover and will have special appeal to bibliophiles who
enjoy browsing through neighborhood bookstores and have toyed with the idea of having one of
their own! While very highly and unreservedly recommended for community library
Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Bookshop of Yesterdays" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781538516553, $39.99, CD).
The Moving of the Water: Stories
David Lloyd
Excelsior Editions
c/o State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438472287, $19.95, PB, 162pp, www.amazon.com
Anchored in the community of first-, second-, and third-generation Welsh Americans in Utica,
New York, during the 1960s, the seventeen short stories comprising David Lloyd's "The Moving
of the Water" deftly delve into universal concerns: identity, home, religion, language, culture,
belonging, personal and national histories, mortality. Unflinching in their portrayal of the
traumas and conflicts of fictional Welsh Americans, these are expertly crafted stories that
embrace multiple communities and diverse experiences in linked, innovative narratives: soldiers
fighting in World War I and in Vietnam, the criminal underworld, the poignant struggles of
children and adults caught between old and new worlds. The complexly damaged characters of
these surprising and affecting stories seek transformation and revelation, healing and
regeneration: a sometimes traumatic "moving of the water". Entertaining, thought-provoking,
original, and inherently fascinating, "The Moving of the Water: Stories" is an especially
recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
A Final Shoot-Out
J. D. Kincaid
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444836295, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 240pp, www.amazon.com
When Abe Fletcher is released from prison (his father having called in a favor from the Judge so
that Abe would get 10 years instead of the hangman's noose for the killing of a harmless and
none-too-bright man), he's anxious to reclaim his inheritance in the form of a beautiful and
flourishing ranch. At the same time, bank robbers Red Ned Davis and Hank Jolley are fleeing
from a botched bank robbery and holed up with Jolley's cousin, Vic Morgan. After a chance
encounter between Abe and Vic, the outlaws agree to help Abe regain his inheritance by
assassinating his father and brother. However, their plans go awry due to the unexpected
intervention of a seductive saloon singer, Arizona Audrey, and the famous Kentuckian
gunfighter, Jack Stone. With "A Final Shoot-Out" J. D. Kincaid continues to showcase his
genuine mastery of the genre with a compelling page-turner of a read that is very highly
recommended for community library Western Fiction collections, as well as the personal reading
lists of dedicated western fans who will appreciate this large print edition from the Linford
Western Library series.
The Life She Left Behind
Jessica Blair
Magna Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780750545662, $35.50, HC, Large Print, 330pp, www.amazon.com
As a young widow, Glenda McKinley is torn between remaining at her beloved estate in the
Scottish Highlands, and following the plans her deceased husband made to go to America. When
the family doctor suggests her daughter Caitlin's health would improve by moving, the family
prepare to go to Colorado. This is a blow to Ros, the eldest girl, who has fallen in love with
Clive, son of their estate manager. But for her sister's sake, she agrees to try life on her uncle's
cattle ranch. When a gentle cowboy falls for Glenda, she is inclined to stay, but Ros yearns to go
back. Can they ever find true happiness? A wonderfully entertaining and deftly crafted romance
novel, this large print edition of "The Life She Left Behind" by Jessica Blair is certain to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections, and is unreservedly
recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated historical romance fans who would
benefit from a large print format.
The Man From Jerusalem
Jack Martin
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444836301, $20.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Day after day, the sun does its utmost to roast the very land upon which the dilapidated town of
Jerusalem sits. Johnny Jerusalem is returning home to the town of his namesake. He'd left years
ago, but no sooner is he back than the little money he was left by the man who took him in when
he was abandoned as a baby, has been stolen from him during a bank robbery. He sets out with in
the company of young gunslinger to find the culprits who have wronged him - but there's a posse
behind them, bandits ahead of them, and a war band of Indians to deal with. Soon the bullets are
flying, men are dying, and the stolen money can't be found! Another original western by a master
of the genre, Jack Martin's "The Man From Jerusalem" features many a plot twist and a
thoroughly surprising finale, making this large print edition strongly recommended for personal
reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Back From Boot Hill
Colin Bainbridge
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444827507, $20.99, PB, www.amazon.com
After finding himself inside a coffin on the way to Boot Hill, Clay Tulane, still in possession of
his guns, wants answers. Whilst local townsfolk Miss Winona and the boy Pocket help him piece
together the story of how he got there, Tulane finds himself drawn into a violent struggle against
local landowner Marsden Rockwell and his Bar Nothing outfit, who want to take over the
neighboring Bar L. As tension mounts, the search for the truth throws up many more questions
and leads to a series of confrontations including one with a professional hired gunman and
professional killer by the name of Spade. "Back From Boot Hill" by Colin Bainbridge is another
original and deftly crafted western novel by a true master of the genre and this large print edition
from the Linford Western Library is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library collections.
The Cattle Drive
Ethan J. Wolfe
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432838638, $25.95, HC, 251pp, www.amazon.com
Michael and Michele Dunn, twelve-year-old twins, are wealthy orphans living with their socialite
businesswoman aunt, Angela Dunn, in Chicago. Angela is too committed to running the family
business to raise the twins and she makes arrangements with the Illinois Detective Agency to
send them to California to live with distant relatives. The detective agency is run by the son of its
founder, Frank Miller. He contracts to take the twins to California and they leave with a team of
his men. On the journey, the twins overhear a plot by Miller to kidnap them and hold them for a
very high ransom demand. At a water stop near Medicine Bow in Wyoming, the twins jump the
train and run away into the night. An original and entertainingly riveting read from first page to
last, "The Cattle Drive" by Ethan J. Wolfe is another deftly crafted western novel by a master of
the genre. While very highly recommended, especially for community library collections, it
should be noted for the personal reading lists of Ethan Wolfe fans that "The Cattle Drive" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Cottage by the Sea
Debbie Macomber
Ballantine Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780399181252, $27.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Annie Marlow has been through the worst. Rocked by tragedy, she heads to the one place that
makes her happy: Oceanside in the Pacific Northwest, the destination of many family vacations
when Annie was a teenager. Once there, Annie begins to restore her broken spirit, thanks in part
to the folks she meets: a local painter, Keaton, whose large frame is equal to his big heart -- and
who helps Annie fix up her rental cottage by the sea; Mellie, the reclusive, prickly landlord
Annie is determined to befriend; and Britt, a teenager with a terrible secret. But it is Keaton to
whom Annie feels most drawn. His quiet, peaceful nature offers her both comfort and reprieve
from her grief, and the two begin to grow closer. Then events threaten to undo the idyll Annie
has come to enjoy. And when the opportunity of a lifetime lands in her lap, she is torn between
the excitement of a new journey toward success and the safe and secure arms of the haven (and
the man) she's come to call home. Annie finds that the surest way to fix what is damaged within
is to help others rise above their pain and find a way to heal. "Cottage by the Sea" is a thoroughly
entertaining and heartwarming tale by a master storyteller and one of Debbie Macomber's best
novels to date! While strongly and unreservedly recommended for community library collections
where it will become and immediate and enduringly popular addition, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Cottage by the Sea' is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.99).
A Breath of Hope
Lauraine Snelling
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764230615, $22.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
The second book in author Lauraine Snelling's outstanding 'Under Northern Skies' series, "A
Breath of Hope" is the story of Nilda Carlson who has been trying to save enough money to go to
America for months, so when a letter from Einar and Gerd Strand arrives, offering to pay her
ticket, she jumps at the chance. Her younger brother Ivar accompanies her, and they can't wait to
join their brother Rune and his family in the northern forests of Minnesota. Signe and Rune
Carlson are thrilled to welcome Nilda and Ivar to America, but life on the farm remains a
struggle. Though Gerd has softened and grown to love the Carlson family, Einar is still harsh and
unforgiving, obsessed solely with felling as many trees as possible. Rune is trying to build a new
home for his wife and children, but Einar refuses to help and forbids anyone from the nearby
community from stepping foot on his land. What dark secret must lie in his past to have caused
him to isolate himself (and anyone living under his roof) in this way? When a tragedy lays the
truth bare, the Carlsons and Strands will have to come together like never before and become a
true family. Another deftly crafted and unfailingly entertaining read by a master of the genre,
Lauraine Snelling's "A Breath of Hope" is an especially recommended addition to community
library general fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Breath of
Hope" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764218972, $15.99) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $8.53).
The Season for Strawberries
Dorothy Brown Henderson
Wood Lake Publishers
www.woodlake.com
9781773431437, $19.95, PB, / $9.99 Kindle 272pp amazon.com
"The Season for Strawberries" by Dorothy Brown Henderson is about a feisty, single, female
pastor who faces challenges in life until she discovers some truth while drinking liqueur with an
elder in the church basement. Readers will be drawn into the village world of Aleda Vastag,
complete with red rubber boots and a cranky old pet horse that lives in the stone church shed.
What happens when the energy-consuming strawberry social is threatened and when a tragedy
shakes the village to its core? A remarkably and inherently entertaining read from cover to cover,
"The Season for Strawberries" showcases author Dorothy Henderson's genuine flair for
originality and narrative driven storytelling. While very highly recommended for community
library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "The Season for Strawberries" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Mollie On The March
Anna Carey
O'Brien Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781788490085, $15.00, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Mollie and her best friend Nora have been bravely fighting for women's rights - even though
nobody else really knows about it. They know they have to take part when they hear a big protest
is being planned -- but against what odds? "Mollie On The March" is a wonderfully entertaining
and carefully crafted read from cover to cover, showcasing author Anna Carey's genuine flair as a
novelist for originality and narrative storytelling . Certain to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to community library fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Mollie On The March" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Catch My Drift
Genevieve Scott
Goose Lane Editions
www.gooselane.com
9780864929884, $22.95, PB, 331pp, www.amazon.com
Lorna always wanted to stand out, but her career as a competitive swimmer was cut short by a
knee injury. Cara, her daughter, tries hard to blend in, but when she has to fill in for her brother at
a school pageant, she is overwhelmed by terror. Lorna is vain about her ability to shut out
distractions. Cara can't control her scary thoughts. And while Lorna tries her best to move past
life's early disappointments, Cara picks at the cracks in her family's story. Spanning two decades,
Catch My Drift follows mother and daughter through life changes big and small, and reveals that
despite our shared experiences, we each live a private story. An original, deftly crafted, and
unfailingly entertaining novel by an author with a genuine flair for narrative storytelling,
Genevieve Scott's "Catch My Drift" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to
personal reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.
The Kabbalah Master
Perle Besserman
Monkfish Book Publishing Company
www.monkfishpublishing.com
9781939681928, $15.95, PB, 228pp, www.amazon.com
Sharon Berg is a middle-aged divorcee with two children who has gainful employment working
overtime for the mysterious Rabbi Joachim, spiritual director of the Center for Mystical Judaism.
"The Kabbalah Master" by Perle Besserman is set in Coney Island, where Sharon's efforts at
making a life for herself and her children take readers on a journey though Hasidism as it exists
today including its schools for children and the fundamentalist characters that run them. When
the Rabbi travels to Israel on a mission, and fails to return, Sharon must confront difficult choices
and herself. A deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for descriptive and narrative
driven storytelling, "The Kabbalah Master" is an extraordinary, informative, and entertaining
read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended for community library Contemporary
General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Kabbalah
Master" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Midnight Blue
Simone van der Vlught
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062686862, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Following the sudden death of her husband, twenty-five-year old Catrin leaves her small village
and takes a job as a housekeeper to the successful Van Nulandt merchant family. Amsterdam is a
city at the peak of its powers: science and art are flourishing in the Golden Age and Dutch ships
bring back exotic riches from the Far East. Madam Van Nulandt passes her time taking
expensive painting lessons from a local master, Rembrandt van Rigin, and when Catrin takes up
a brush to finish some of her mistress's work, Rembrandt realizes the maid has genuine talent,
and encourages her to continue. When a figure from her past threatens her new life, Catrin flees
to the smaller city of Delft. There, her gift as a painter earns her a chance to earn a living painting
pottery at a local workshop. Slowly, the workshop begins to develop a new type of pottery to
rival fancy blue-on-white imported Chinese porcelain -- and the graceful and coveted Delft Blue
designs she creates help revolutionize the industry. But when tragedy strikes, Catrin must decide
whether to defend her newfound independence, or return to the village that she'd fled. Simone
van der Vlugt is an acclaimed Dutch novelist (whose books have sold more than two million
copies) and Midnight Blue is her latest and arguably her best novel to date. An inherently
engaging and exceptionally well crafted read from first page to last, "Midnight Blue" will prove
to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of her fans that "Simone van der Vlught's "Midnight Blue"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Hope of Azure Springs
Rachel Fordham
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800735166, $25.99, HC, 338pp, www.amazon.com
Seven years earlier, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding
the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness
is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to
search for her long-lost sister, but she won't be able to do it alone. For Caleb Reynolds, sheriff of
Azure Springs, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He's
determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name
for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn't expect is the hold this strange young
woman will have on his heart. A deftly crafted and compellingly entertaining historical romance
that is all the more impressive when considering that it is author Rachel Fordham's debut as a
novelist, "Hope of Azure Springs" is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition
to community library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated
historical romance fans that "Hope of Azure Springs" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780800734732, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Showrunner
Kim Moritsugu
The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459740976, $17.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Rising-star showrunner Stacey McCreedy has one goal: to leave behind her nerd-girl origins and
become a power player like Ann Dalloni, her former mentor and current producing partner. Ann,
meanwhile, is feeling her age and losing her mind. But she'll be damned if she cedes control of
their hit primetime TV show to Stacey. After Ann hires Jenna, a young actress hoping to restart
her stalled career, as an assistant, the relationship between Ann and Stacey deteriorates into a
blood feud. Soon, Jenna must choose whom to support and whom to betray to achieve her own
ends. And Stacey will find out if she possesses the killer instinct needed to stay on top. Another
deftly crafted and riveting novel by an author with a genuine flair for inherently engaging and
unfailingly entertaining narrative driven storytelling, "The Showrunner" by Kim Moritsugu is an
especially recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Showrunner" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Land Mammals and Sea Creatures
Jen Neale
ECW Press
www.ecwpress.com
9781770414143, $16.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Almost immediately upon Julie Bird's return to the small port town where she was raised,
everyday life is turned upside down. Julie's Gulf War vet father, Marty, has been on the losing
side of a battle with PTSD for too long. A day of boating takes a dramatic turn when a majestic
blue whale beaches itself and dies. A blond stranger sets up camp oceanside: she's an agitator,
musician-impersonator, and armchair philosopher named Jennie Lee Lewis -- and Julie discovers
she's connected to her father's mysterious trip to New Mexico 25 years earlier. As the blue whale
decays on the beach, more wildlife turns up dead (apparently by suicide) echoing Marty's deepest
desire. But Julie isn't ready for a world without her father. A stunning exploration of love and
grief, "Land Mammals and Sea Creatures" is magic realism on the seaside, a novel about living
life to the fullest and coming to your own terms with its end. All the more impressive when
considering that "Land Mammals and Sea Creatures" is author Jen Neale's debut as a novelist and
reveals her genuine flair for originality and narrative driven storytelling. While very highly
recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Land Mammals and Sea Creatures" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle $11.99).
Her Pretty Face
Robyn Harding
Scout Press
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th floor, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781501174247, $26.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Frances Metcalfe is struggling to stay afloat. A stay-at-home mom whose troubled son is her
full-time job, she thought that the day he got accepted into the elite Forrester Academy would be
the day she started living her life. Overweight, insecure, and lonely, she is desperate to fit into
Forrester's world. But after a disturbing incident at the school leads the other children and their
families to ostracize the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever before. Until she meets Kate
Randolph. Kate is everything Frances is not: beautiful, wealthy, powerful, and confident. And for
some reason, she's not interested in being friends with any of the other Forrester moms -- only
Frances. As the two bond over their disdain of the Forrester snobs and the fierce love they have
for their sons, a startling secret threatens to tear them apart. Because one of these women is not
who she seems. Her real name is Amber Kunik. And she's a murderer. In her masterful follow-up
to "The Party", novelist Robyn Harding spins a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, asking the
question: Can people ever change? And even if they can, is it possible to forgive the past? A
simply riveting read by a master of narrative storytelling, "Her Pretty Face" will prove to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Her Pretty Face" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Storm Front
Susan May Warren
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800735135, $29.99, HC, 328pp, www.amazon.com
A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a
group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to
rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved (and lost) walks back into his life. But Brette
needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And
when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine. A
blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the
same place as Ty, the guy who she ran away from over a year ago. She had her reasons -- good
ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't
the kind of man to give up -- not on the missing students, or on her. Life and love hang in the
balance in "Storm Front", Susan May Warren's breathless story of holding on to hope during a
deadly summer of storms. Another deftly crafted jewel of a novel by a master storyteller, "Storm
Front" is unreservedly recommended addition to community library Contemporary General
Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Storm Front" is also
available in a paperback edition (9780800727475, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.54).
Where the Hurt Is
Chris Kelsey
Black Rose Writing
PO Box 1540, Castroville, TX 78009
www.blackrosewriting.com
9781684330713, $18.95, PB, 318pp, www.amazon.com
It's an unseasonably hot April night in 1965. The social revolutions rocking America have mostly
bypassed Burr, a tiny rural community in western Oklahoma. Like much of the state, Burr
remains as it's always been: Religious. Conservative. And 100% white. When an unknown young
African-American woman is found murdered on the railroad tracks outside town, most of Burr
would rather look the other way. The town's police chief, troubled local hero and ex-Marine
Emmett Hardy, doesn't have that luxury. A lover of books and jazz in the land of football and
country & western, Emmett is an outsider in a place he knows like the back of his hand. In his
search for the killer, he's forced to slice through layers of hate and hypocrisy to confront the
ethical rot at the town's core, while being haunted by the vision of a life and love that might have
been. "Where the Hurt Is" by author Chris Kelsey is a simply riveting read from cover to cover
and one that showcases Kelsey's genuine flair for deftly crafted originality in terms of narrative
driven storytelling. While very highly recommended, especially for community library
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Where the Hurt Is" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Baghdad Noir
Samuel Shimon, editor
Akashic Books
232 Third Street, #A115, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.akashicbooks.com
9781617753435, $15.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
"Baghdad Noir" is the latest addition to the simply outstanding 'Noir' anthology series from
Akashic Books. This new volume showcases short stories by Sinan Antoon, Ali Bader,
Mohammed Alwan Jabr, Nassif Falak, Dheya al-Khalidi, Hussain al-Mozany, Layla Qasrany,
Hayet Raies, Muhsin al-Ramli, Ahmed Saadawi, Hadia Said, Salima Salih, Salar Abdoh, and
Roy Scranton. The stories themselves play out against the background of one of the world's most
war-torn cities. A simply fascinating and at times compulsively driven read, "Baghdad Noir" is
unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Contemporary
Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Baghdad Noir" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.15).
Don't Believe It
Charlie Donlea
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496713803, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
The Girl of Sugar Beach is the most watched documentary in television history -- a riveting,
true-life mystery that unfolds over twelve weeks and centers on a fascinating question: Did Grace
Sebold murder her boyfriend, Julian, while on a Spring Break vacation, or is she a victim of
circumstance and poor police work? Grace has spent the last ten years in a St. Lucian prison, and
reaches out to filmmaker Sidney Ryan in a last, desperate attempt to prove her innocence. As
Sidney begins researching, she uncovers startling evidence, additional suspects, and time line
issues that were all overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes
filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case. But as the show surges towards its final
episodes, Sidney receives a letter saying that she got it badly, terribly wrong. Sidney has just
convinced the world that Grace is innocent. Now she wonders if she has helped to free a ruthless
killer. Delving into Grace's past, she peels away layer after layer of deception. But as Sidney
edges closer to the real heart of the story, she must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her
newfound fame, her career -- even her life. A riveting novel of suspense with more plot twists
and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster, "Don't Believe It" showcases author Charlie
Donlea's genuine flair for originality and narrative driven storytelling. While unreserved
recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
'Don't Believe It" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Side by Side
Jenni L. Walsh
Forge
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765398451, $27.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
"Side by Side" is a novel based on the infamous outlaw couple Bonnie and Clyde. Set in 1931
Texas at the height of the Great Depression, and Bonnie is miles from Clyde. He's locked up, and
she's left waiting, their dreams of a life together dwindling every day. When Clyde returns from
prison damaged and distant, unable to keep a job, and dogged by the cops, Bonnie knows the law
will soon come for him. But there's only one road forward for her. If the world won't give them
their American Dream, they'll just have to take it. A simply riveting read from beginning to end
by a master of narrative storytelling, "Side by Side" by Jenni L. Walsh is unreservedly
recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Side by Side" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
A Murder for the Books
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683314394, $26.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Fleeing a disastrous love affair, university librarian Amy Webber moves in with her aunt in a
quiet, historic mountain town in Virginia. She quickly busies herself with managing a charming
public library that requires all her attention with its severe lack of funds and overabundance of
eccentric patrons. The last thing she needs is a new, available neighbor whose charm lures her
into trouble. Dancer-turned-teacher and choreographer Richard Muir inherited the farmhouse
next door from his great-uncle, Paul Dassin. But town folklore claims the house's original owner
was poisoned by his wife, who was an outsider. It quickly became water under the bridge, until
she vanished after her sensational 1925 murder trial. Determined to clear the name of the woman
his great-uncle loved, Richard implores Amy to help him investigate the case. Amy is skeptical
until their research raises questions about the culpability of the town's leading families...
including her own. When inexplicable murders plunge the quiet town into chaos, Amy and
Richard must crack open the books to reveal a cruel conspiracy and lay a turbulent past to rest,
Written by a true master of the genre, "A Murder for the Books", the first installment of author
and librarian Victoria Gilbert's new 'Blue Ridge Library' mystery series. While unreservedly and
enthusiastically recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be
noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "A Murder for the Books" is
also available in a paperback edition (9781683316077, $15.99) and in an inexpensive digital
book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Buried in Books
Kate Carlisle
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780451477743, $25.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Brooklyn is a young woman who has everything covered. She's triple-checked her wedding to-do
list, and everything is on track for the upcoming ceremony with the love of her life, security
expert Derek Stone. Not everyone has been as lucky in love as Brooklyn. Her old college
roommates Heather and Sara lost touch twelve years ago when Sara stole Heather's boyfriend.
Brooklyn was caught in the middle and hasn't seen her former besties since their falling-out.
When they both show up at her surprise bridal shower, Brooklyn is sure drama will ensue. But
she's touched when the women seem willing to sort out their differences and gift her rare copies
of The Three Musketeers and The Red Fairy Book. Brooklyn's pre-wedding calm is shattered
when one of her formerly feuding friends is found murdered and Brooklyn determines that one of
the rare books is a forgery. She can't help but wonder if the victim played a part in this fraud, or if
she was targeted because she discovered the scam. With a killer and con artist on the loose,
Brooklyn and Derek (with the unsolicited help of their meddling mothers) must catch the culprit
before their big day turns into a big mess! Another carefully crafted gem of a novel by a true
master of the genre, Kate Carlisle's "Buried in Books" is an inherently engaging read from cover
to cover, and one that will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to all
community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists
of dedicated mystery buffs (and bibliophiles!) that "Buried in Books" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media,
9781974900749, $29.99, CD).
April in Paris, 1921
Tessa Lunney
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681777757, $25.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Paris in 1921 is the city of freedom, where hatless and footloose Kiki Button can drink
champagne and dance until dawn. She works as a gossip columnist, partying with the rich and
famous, the bohemian and strange, using every moment to create a new woman from the ashes of
her war-worn self. While on the modeling dais, Picasso gives her a job: to find his wife's portrait,
which has gone mysteriously missing. That same night, her spymaster from the war contacts her -
-- she has to find a double agent or face jail. Through parties, whisky, and seductive informants,
Kiki uses her knowledge of Paris from the Great War to connect the clues. Set over the course of
one springtime week, "April in Paris, 1921" is a deftly crafted mystery that combines artistic
gossip with interwar political history through witty banter, steamy scenes, and fast action. A
compelling and entertaining read from cover to cover, Tessa Lunney's "April in Paris, 1921" will
prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated
mystery buffs that "April in Paris, 1921" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$12.99).
Murder at the Mansion
Sheila Connolly
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250135865, $26.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Katherine Hamilton's goal in high school was to escape from her dead-end hometown of
Asheboro, Maryland. Fifteen years later she's got a degree in hospitality management and a great
job at a high-end boutique hotel in Baltimore. Until, that is, the hotel is acquired by a chain, and
she's laid off. When Kate's high school best friend calls with a mysterious invitation to come talk
with the town leaders of Asheboro, she agrees to make the trip, curious about where this new
opportunity might lead. Once Kate arrives, the town council members reveal that their town is on
the verge of going bankrupt, and they've decided that Kate's skills and knowledge make her the
perfect person to cure all their ills. The town has used its last available funds to buy the huge
Victorian mansion just outside of town, hoping to use it to attract some of the tourists who travel
to visit the nearby Civil War battle sites. Kate has less-than-fond memories of the mansion, for
personal reasons, but to make matters worse, the only person who has presented a possible
alternate plan is Cordelia Walker -- Kate's high school nemesis. But a few days later, while
touring the mansion, Kate stumbles over a body -- and it's none other than Cordelia. Kate finds
herself juggling the murder investigation and her growing fascination with the old house, which
itself is full of long-hidden mysteries. Kate must clear her name and save her town -- before she
ends up in hot water. Another superbly crafted mystery by a master of the genre, "Murder at the
Mansion" is one of author Sheila Connolly's 'Victorian Village' series and unreservedly
recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs in general, and Sheila Connolly fans in
particular, that "Murder at the Mansion" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781541465572, $29.99,
CD).
Like to Die
David Housewright
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250094537, $26.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Once a police detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rushmore McKenzie has become an unlikely
millionaire and an occasional unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends. The favor,
this time, is for a friend of a friend -- Erin Peterson, a local business person and owner of a
growing food company called Salsa Girl. Someone seems to have a beef with her: the outside
locks on her factory having been systematically filled with superglue. But for some reason, Erin
doesn't want to report this harassment to the police. As a favor to his poker buddy and hockey
teammate Ian, McKenzie agrees to stop by and chat with Erin. At first Erin denies there's
anything going on and then, when the harassment escalates and threatens her business, she also
asks for McKenzie's help. The further McKenzie digs into the situation, the more complicated
(and deadly) it becomes. And somewhere, in the middle of it all, is Erin, playing all sides against
the middle, leading McKenzie to wonder if you ever really know who your friends are. Author
David Housewright has won the Edgar Award and is the three-time winner of the Minnesota
Book Award for his crime fiction, including his simply outstanding Twin Cities P.I. Mac
McKenzie series of which "Like to Die" is just the latest addition. While "Like to Die" is
unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be
noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that it is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $12.99).
City of Sharks
Kelli Stanley
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250006752, $26.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
The blonde secretary was scared when she visited Miranda Corbie's office. A shove into a
streetcar track, a box of poisoned chocolates, and hateful, violent letters. Someone was trying to
kill her. Miranda isn't sure of anything at first except that Louise Crowley, the blonde who works
as an assistant to Niles Alexander, San Francisco publisher, is in trouble. Despite her own
preparations for an imminent voyage to a blitzkrieged Britain and a painful farewell to the city
she loves, Miranda decides to help Louise and takes on her last case as a private detective in San
Francisco... investigating her client, surveying the publishing world of 1940, and stumbling into
murder with a trail that leads straight to Alcatraz. Along the way, Miranda explores her beloved
San Francisco once more, from Playland-at-the-Beach to Chinatown to Nob Hill and Treasure
Island. She encounters John Steinbeck and C.S. Forester, and is aided and abetted by the
charming and dapper San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen. And she also discovers
personal truths she's long denied. Set in 1940 San Francisco, "City of Sharks" is a deftly crafted
compelling blend of mystery and suspense by an author with a genuine flair for narrative
storytelling and memorable characters embedded in an inherently fascinating plot replete with
unexpected twists and turns. While very highly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated
mystery buffs that "City of Sharks" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.99).
Scandal Above Stairs
Jennifer Ashley
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780399585531, $15.00, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Priceless artwork has gone missing from the home of a wealthy baronet, and his wife stands to
take the blame. When Kat's employer asks for help in clearing her friend's name, Kat trades her
kitchen for the homes of Mayfair's wealthiest families. Soon antiques are disappearing not only
from the extravagant households of connoisseurs and collectors, but from the illustrious British
Museum. As the thefts increase in frequency, Kat calls upon her friend Daniel McAdam, who has
already set himself up in a pawnshop on the Strand as a seedy receiver of stolen goods. When a
man is murdered in the shop, Kat must use all of her wits to see that the thieves are caught and
justice is done. In the pages of "Scandal Above Stairs", author Jennifer Ashley continues to
reveal herself as a master of the historical mystery genre. A compelling and entertaining read
from first page to last, "Scandal Above Stairs" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Scandal Above Stairs" is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), as well as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Dreamscape Media, 9781974903207, $29.99, CD).
Caught in Time
Julie McElwain
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681777665, $25.95, HC, 464pp, www.amazon.com
In October 1815, there is only one place Kendra Donovan wants to travel -- and that's back to her
own time period in the twenty-first century. But since that's not happening, she agrees instead to
travel with her new guardian, the Duke of Aldridge, to one of his smaller estates in Lancashire.
Their journey takes them through Yorkshire, a region whose breathtaking beauty masks a
simmering violence brought on by the Industrial Revolution, which pits mill owner against
worker. When Kendra and the Duke encounter a band of Luddites on a lonely, fog-shrouded
road, the Duke informs the authorities in the nearby village of East Dingleford that mischief may
have been done at the local mill. However, it isn't just mischief but murder that is discovered,
when the body of the mill manager, Mr. Stone, is found brutally bludgeoned to death in his
office. The Constable is certain the radical-minded Luddites committed the murder. One look at
the crime scene and Kendra knows they did not, prompting the Duke to shock the locals by
volunteering their services to catch the real killer. Joined by lover Alec and Bow Street Runner
Sam Kelly, Kendra must sort through the puzzle of Stone's rather unsavory life, picking apart
alibies and dissecting carefully created deceptions from a growing list of suspects. As a special
agent for the FBI, Kendra thought she'd encountered every kind of evil. But when another, even
more vicious murder rocks East Dingleford, Kendra realizes that they're dealing with a stone-cold
killer -- someone who has a shocking secret that he will do anything to protect. A combination of
science fiction time travel, mystery and suspense, "Caught in Time" is a simply fascinating and
compelling read from cover to cover. Showcasing author Julie McElwain's impressive flair for
originality and narrative driven storytelling, "Caught in Time" is very highly recommended for
community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Caught in Time"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), as well as a complete and unabridged
audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781977355041, $29.99, CD).
The Con Artist
Fred Van Lente, author
Tom Fowler, illustrator
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
9781683690344, $14.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, seeking sanctuary with other
fans and creators (and maybe to reunite with his ex) but when his rival is found murdered, he
becomes the prime suspect. To clear his name, Mike will have to navigate every corner of the
con, from zombie obstacle courses and cosplay flash mobs to intrusive fans and obsessive
collectors, in the process unraveling a dark secret behind one of the industry's most legendary
creators. A wonderfully original and unrelentingly entertaining read from beginning to end, "The
Con Artist" showcases author Fred Van Lente's genuine flair for colorfully original, narrative
driven storytelling. While "The Con Artist" is very highly recommended, especially for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of
mystery buffs in general, and comic convention fans in particular, that "The Con Artist" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
A Death in Eden
Keith McCafferty
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780525557531, $26.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
When scarecrows appear in the cliffs above Montana's famous Smith River and a little girl
reports being chased by one in the night, state investigator Harold Little Feather is brought in to
find the culprit. Are the menacing effigies related to a copper-mining project that threatens the
purity of the Smith? That's Harold's initial suspicion, but his investigation takes an ominous turn
when a decapitated body is found in the river. As Harold's search leads him back in time through
the canyon's history, Sean Stranahan launches his raft upriver. He has been hired to guide a
floating party that includes Clint McCaine, the manager of the mine project; Bart Trueblood, the
president of "Save The Smith", a grassroots organization devoted to stopping the project; and the
documentarian filming their arguments. McCaine and Trueblood grew up on the Smith on
neighboring ranches, and as they travel downstream, it's revealed that the two share a past that
runs much deeper and darker than their opposing viewpoints. The currents of the seemingly
unrelated trips will soon flow together, and Stranahan's long-time love Sheriff Martha Ettinger
will enter the fray as the boats hurtle toward a date with danger at a place called Table Rock. The
seventh novel in the author Sean Stranahan's Sean Stranahan mystery series, "Death in Eden" is
another deftly crafted gem that is a riveting, entertaining read from first page to last. While very
highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for
the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Death in Eden" is also available in a
digital press format (Kindle, $12.99).
Confound It
Maggie Toussaint
Camel Press
PO Box 70515, Seattle, WA 98127
www.camelpress.com
9781603815956, $16.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
While hosting out-of-town guests at her Georgia home, Dreamwalker Baxley Powell is called
upon to help investigate a suspicious fire. One of her guests, close friend and fellow dreamwalker
Deputy Sam Mayes, accompanies her to the scene. A meth cook is dead, and when Baxley visits
her beyond the Veil of Life, she determines that the woman was murdered. Baxley pities Mandy
Patterson, a single mother with aspirations for her teenage son Doodle. Unconcerned about the
death of a criminal, the authorities pursue the drug-supply chain angle. Baxley worries about
Doodle and vows to find out who killed his mother. As the case grows more baffling, Baxley
struggles against her attraction to Sam. Although her husband is missing and declared dead, she
does not feel free to love again until she is sure of his fate. Two suspects have the strongest
motive, but Baxley has reason to believe they are pawns in a deeper game. And unless she can
stop them, the world will never be the same. The fifth title in author Maggie Toussaint's simply
outstanding Dreamwalker Mystery series, "Confound It" is another deftly crafted and simply
riveting read by a master of the genre that is unreservedly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated
mystery buffs that "Confound It" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.95).
The Gene Police
Elliott Light
Bancroft Press
PO Box 65360, Baltimore, MD 21209
www.bancroftpress.com
9781610882170, $25.95, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
When Jennifer Rice was brutally murdered DNA evidence found at the scene, DNA that belongs
to a man long thought dead, and a shadowy fifty-year old photograph of a woman holding a baby
taken at a near-by farm. Shep Harrington is drawn into this legal quagmire by the arrival of his
friend, and now client, Reggie Mason, a black state trooper, who admits that he obtained the
DNA illegally. All Reggie wants Shep to do is to ask former residents of the farm it they
remember anyone taking pictures or if they saw a woman with a baby. But simple requests are
not easily contained. As Shep soon learns, the request brings him to the top of a slippery slope
with an ill-defined edge. Question begets question, and the slide down the slope proves
inevitable: What happened to the baby? Who is in the photograph? And who killed Jennifer
Rice? The answers lead Shep into a confrontation with the so called gene police -- a
confrontation that was fifty years in the making. "The Gene Police" by Elliott Light is an original
and simply riveting mystery novel by a master of the genre -- one that is especially recommended
for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading
lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "The Gene Police" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $6.99).
Dead Pretty
David Mark
Blue Rider Press
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
9780399185151, $16.00, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
While a colleague struggles to solve the recent killing of a man too vile to have mourners, Aector
McAvoy, Detective Sergeant of the Humberside Police's murder squad, is still haunted by the
past. His devotion to his cases is unshakeable, but it's been nine months since Hannah Kelly
disappeared in the quiet English countryside, and it is becoming harder to convince himself that
she is just missing instead of dead -- especially when another young woman is found brutally
murdered. As McAvoy looks for connections between the women, his boss Trish Pharaoh is
preoccupied with troubles of her own. Reuben Hollow (a man convicted of murder with the help
of perjured testimony from the Humberside Police) has just been released from prison after a
high-profile wrongful conviction suit, putting Pharaoh's reputation at stake. But when her house
is broken into and her children threatened, she soon learns it is not only her good name that's in
danger. As the cases intertwine and Pharaoh's behavior becomes more erratic, McAvoy must
question who he can trust if he is to uncover Hannah's fate and find justice for the dead -- without
joining them himself. Featuring a deftly crafted, gritty, atmospheric mystery by a master of the
genre, "Dead Pretty" is a compelling read with more twists and turns that a Coney Island
rollercoaster. While very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Dead
Pretty" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Three Strikes, You're Dead
Elena Hartwell
Camel Press
PO Box 70515, Seattle, WA 98127
www.camelpress.com
9781603817271, $15.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Private investigator Eddie Shoes heads to a resort outside Leavenworth, Washington, for a
mother-daughter getaway weekend. Eddie's mother Chava wants to celebrate her new job at a
casino by footing the bill for the two of them, and who is Eddie to say no? On the first morning,
Eddie goes on an easy solo hike, and a few hours later, stumbles upon a makeshift campsite and a
gravely injured man. A forest fire breaks out and she struggles to save him before the flames
overcome them both. Before succumbing to his injuries, the man hands her a valuable rosary. He
tells her his daughter is missing and begs for her help. Is Eddie now working for a dead man?
Barely escaping the fire, Eddie wakes in the hospital to find both her parents have arrived on the
scene. Will Eddie's card-counting mother and mob-connected father help or hinder the
investigation? The police search in vain for a body. How will Eddie find the missing girl with
only Eddie's memory of the man's face and a photo of his daughter to go on? "Three Strikes,
You're Dead" is another deftly crafted mystery by Elena Hartwell. With more plot twists and
turns than a Cony Island roller coaster, "Three Strikes, You're Dead" is a compelling page-turner
of a novel by a true master of the genre. While very highly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated
mystery buffs that "Three Strikes, You're Dead" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$4.95).
The Disappearing
Lori Roy
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10014-3657
www.us.penguingroup.com
9781524741938, $27.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
When Lane Fielding fled her isolated Florida hometown after high school for the anonymity of
New York City, she swore she'd never return. But twenty years later, newly divorced and with
two daughters in tow, she finds herself tending bar at the local dive and living with her parents on
the historic Fielding Plantation. Here, the past haunts her and the sinister crimes of her father--the
former director of an infamous boys' school -- make her as unwelcome in town as she was the
day she left. Ostracized by the people she was taught to trust, Lane's unsteady truce with the town
is rattled when her older daughter suddenly vanishes. Ten days earlier, a college student went
missing, and the two disappearances at first ignite fears that a serial killer who once preyed upon
the town has returned. But when Lane's younger daughter admits to having made a new and
unseemly friend, a desperate Lane attacks her hometown's facade to discover whether her
daughter's disappearance is payback for her father's crimes -- or for her own. With reporters
descending upon the town, police combing through the swamp, and events taking increasingly
disturbing turns, Lane fears she faces too many enemies and too little time to bring her daughter
safely home. Powerful and heart-pounding, "The Disappearing" questions the endurance of
family bonds, the dangers of dark rumors and small town gossip, and how sometimes home is the
scariest place of all. Another deftly crafted read by a master of narrative storytelling, Lori Roy's
"The Disappearing" is a simply riveting read from beginning to end. While an especially
recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "The Disappearing" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $13.99).
Broken Ground
Joe Clifford
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608092437, $26.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
At an AA meeting, handyman and part-time investigator Jay Porter meets a recovering addict
who needs his help. In the midst of another grueling northern New Hampshire winter, Amy
Lupus' younger sister, Emily, has gone missing from the Coos County Center, the newly opened
rehab run by Jay's old nemeses, Adam and Michael Lombardi. As Jay begins looking into Emily's
disappearance, he finds that all who knew Emily swear that she's never used drugs. She's a
straight shooter and an intern at a newspaper investigating the Center and the horrendous secret
hidden in it -- or beneath it. When Jay learns of a "missing" hard drive, he is flung back to five
years ago when his own junkie brother, Chris, found a hard drive belonging to Lombardi
Construction. For years Jay assumed that the much-sought-after hard drive contained
incriminating photos of Adam and Michael's father, which contributed to Chris' death. But now
he believes that hard drive may have harbored a secret far more sinister, which the missing Lupus
sister may have unwittingly discovered. The deeper Jay digs, the more poisoned the ground gets,
and the two cases become one, yielding a toxic truth with local fallout -- and far-reaching
ramifications. Another deftly crafted novel by Joe Clifford, "Broken Ground" is a simply riveting
read from beginning to end and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists
of dedicated mystery buffs in general -- Joe Clifford fans in particular -- that "Broken Ground" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Uncharted
Kevin J. Anderson & Sarah A. Hoyt
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781481483230, $25.00, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
After Halley's Comet was destroyed in a magical battle in 1759, the backlash separated the entire
New World from the Old in an event known as The Sundering. Now isolated from the rest of the
globe, America has become a very different place, where magic works and history has been
changed forever. Now It is 1803 and young Meriwether Lewis, footloose and intrigued, goes to
hear a lecture in St. Louis by the venerated old wizard Benjamin Franklin. Franklin's talk is
disrupted by the attack of a winged fire-breathing beast, much like legends from Lewis's own
Welsh heritage. In the aftermath, Franklin tells the young man that he knows of a great, growing
evil that lurks in the uncharted Arcane Territories west of the Mississippi. Using his own vast
fortune, Franklin commissions Lewis and his own talented partner William Clark to embark on a
remarkable voyage of exploration, to meet and document the indigenous tribes, to find a route all
the way to the Pacific Ocean (and perhaps beyond the magical veil to Europe again) and to stop
the growing evil that is filling the American West. For while the Sundering separated the rest of
the world and granted the original colonists unexpected magical gifts, sorcery inspired by native
legends has also been ignited. And the Arcane Territories may hold unparalleled dangers for the
expedition, both natural and magical. Accompanied by the brilliant shape-shifting sorceress
Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark set off on an unparalleled adventure across a landscape that no
European has ever seen. Set in an 'alternate history' of an Arcane America, "Uncharted" is a
simply riveting and compelling read from first page to last. With more fantasy plot twists and
turns than a Cony Island roller coaster, "Uncharted" will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It
should be noted for the legions of Kevin J. Anderson fans that "Uncharted" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $7.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance
Audio, 9781978647565, $14.99, MP3 CD).
World of Warcraft: Before the Storm
Christie Golden
Del Rey
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780399594090 $28.00 hc / $14.99 Kindle amazon.com
World of Warcraft: Before the Storm is a fantasy novel set in the world of the immensely popular
multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft, and specifically taking place between
the "Legion" expansion and the "Battle for Azeroth" expansion. After a horrendous war to put an
end to the demonic Legion, both the Alliance and Horde need time to plant crops, tend to their
wounded, and recover from devastation. Rumblings of discontent remain, and renewed war
between the factions seems inevitable... or is it? The young, recently crowned King Anduin
devises a plan in hope of bridging the gap between the humans of the Alliance and the undead
Forsaken of the Horde... but the Horde Warchief Sylvanas, Queen of the Forsaken has her own,
cunning machinations. As the title implies, Before the Storm is a novel about the brief, uncertain,
and tenuous cessation of hostilities; the narrative focus is not on combat or violence, but rather
the daily lives of rulers and commoners alike. Light is shined on how the undead Forsaken see
the world around them, and go on from day to day without biological rhythms to structure their
existence. Vividly descriptive to the point of haunting, Before the Storm is a treat for fantasy
connoisseurs and a "must-read" for any gamer looking forward to the Battle for Azeroth
expansion!
A Hymn Before Battle
John Ringo
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781481483261, $16.00
A Hymn Before Battle tells of a universe in which Terrans are considered backwards, humanity
winds up in a battle with three worlds to look after, and allies are dubious. This military sci-fi
read is fast-paced and engrossing, offering genre readers a satisfyingly unpredictable story of
alien/human alliances gone awry in the process of a battle that's impossible to predict.
Baen Books
www.baen.com
Two new Baen sci-fi titles are recommended picks for science fiction fans who enjoy interesting
plots, good, solid writing, and stories that stand alone as powerful creations. Steve White and
Charles E. Gannon's Oblivion (9781481483254, $16.00) joins the prequel Extremis and takes
place after the war with the alien Arduans has ended. Aliens and humans are allies now; but one
warrior caste of the Arduans refuses to quit, and wages a battle against this new alliance using a
new deadly weapon from yet another alien race. Sci-fi readers will find this story vivid and
well-detailed in both military strategy and its approach to new alliances and deadly new dangers
born of them. Kevin J. Anderson and Sarah A. Hoyt's Uncharted: Lewis and Clark in Arcane
America (9781481483239, $25.00) tells of a very different kind of 1803: one in which young
Meriwether Lewis attends a lecture given by a old wizard Benjamin Franklin, which is
interrupted by the attack of a creature that might be a dragon. In this alternative America where
Haley's Comet was destroyed by magic and isolated the nation from the world, magic is real,
history is different, and everything of myth and legend has entered the realm of reality. This
exceptional alternative magical history will especially engage readers who like Orson Scott
Card's 'Prentice Alvin' series and similar re-imaginings of a world that only teeters on the edge of
the familiar. Both are engaging books that offer twists and turns that are hard to predict and
satisfyingly different.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Church: Theology in History
Frederick J. Cwiekowski
The Liturgical Press
2950 Saint John's Road, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
9780814644683, $39.95, PB, 424pp, www.amazon.com
The historical context in which theological understandings have developed play an important role
in our understanding of the modern Christian church. In "The Church: Theology in History",
Sulpician priest and scholar Frederick J. Cwiekowski deftly traces the theology of the church,
beginning with the community of disciples during Jesus' ministry and the New Testament era.
Father Cwiekowski continues through the various periods of history, highlighting events from
both the East and West, including the remarkable developments surrounding the Second Vatican
Council, the post-conciliar period, and today's pontificate of Pope Francis. Written and intended
for both theology students and seminarians, as well as non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject, Father Cwiekowski hopes to promote an appreciation of the mystery that is
the church. Impressively informed and informative, exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "The Church: Theology in History" is an extraordinary study that is unreservedly
recommended for seminary, community, and academic library Christian History collections. It
should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, clergy, academia, and members of the
Catholic community with an interest in the subject that "The Church: Theology in History" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
Redeeming How We Talk
Ken Wytsma & A. J. Swoboda
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
www.moodypublishers.com
9780802416179, $14.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Electronic technology such as the iPhone has made it easier than ever before to share just about
everything: pictures, ideas, even the ups and downs of our morning errands. Yet all our talking
doesn't seem to be connecting us the way it promised to. That's because we don't need to talk
more, we need to talk better. In "Redeeming How We Talk: Discover How Communication Fuels
Our Growth, Shapes Our Relationships, and Changes Our Lives", Ken Wytsma (President of
Kilns College, Bend, Oregon, where he teaches courses in philosophy and justice) and A. J.
Swoboda (Pastor of Theophilus Church, Portland, Oregon) collaboratively explore what the
Bible has to say about that central aspect of life and relationships -- conversation. The Scriptures
show us that words have remarkable power to create, to bless, to encourage, and to forgive. By
weaving together theology, history, and philosophy, "Redeeming How We Talk" will help all
members of the Christian community to reclaim the holiness of human speech and the relevance
of meaningful conversation in our culture today. While highly recommended for seminary,
church, community, and academic library Contemporary Christian Studies collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Redeeming How We Talk" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.59) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Christian Audio,
9781545907733, $19.98, CD).
Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching: The Beginning of the Gospel
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev
SVS Press
575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707
www.svspress.com
9780881416084, $35.00, PB, 578pp, www.amazon.com
It has been said that Jesus Christ is always actual, and at the same time always anticipating
actuality. This is something that Metropolitan Hilarion has made abundantly clear in his
monumental six-volume study, "Jesus Christ: his Life and Teaching". As he observes, throughout
history there has never been a person about whom so much has been written; and yet the
Metropolitan has himself found many new ways to restate, in fresh and vivid terms, the ancient
truths about the Savior. "Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching: The Beginning of the Gospel is the
first volume a truly remarkable and informative study that deserves to be read with close
attention by all members of the Christian faith. While very highly recommended for seminary,
church, and academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of seminary students, clergy, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that "Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching: The Beginning of the Gospel" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Compelled
Dudley Rutherford
Worthy Publishing
One Franklin Park
6100 Tower Circle, Suite 210, Franklin, TN 37067
www.worthypublishing.com
9781683972518, $16.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith", Dudley Rutherford
(Senior Pastor of Shepherd Church, a 15,000-member congregation) shares his earnest desire for
each and every Christian believer to be equipped and bold with the good news of salvation. He
encourages his readers with inspiring stories of men and women, young and old, who have
accepted the irresistible call to share Jesus with everyone they meet. And he provides practical
methods to overcome our fears and effectively articulate the message of salvation. "Compelled"
will strengthen the gentle nudging in our spirit until it's too loud to ignore -- until we as members
of the Christian community are compelled to tell others, Christians and non-Christians alike,
about the hope we have found in our faith. While highly recommended for all members of the
Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations, it should be noted that
"Compelled" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.48) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (ChristianAudio, 9781545907917, $19.98, CD).
Reclaim Regret
Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP
Pauline Books & Media
50 St. Paul's Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3433
9780819865137, $14.95, PB, www.pauline.org
Reflecting on the life you've lived so far might be an exercise wrought with guilt, frustration,
disappointment, and regret. When these feelings hinder your spiritual strength and closeness to
God, you might feel stuck in all areas of life. "Reclaim Regret: How God Heals Life's
Disappointments" by Sr. Kathryn Hermes can lead you along the path of reshaping those regrets
in the context of your life story. Real-world examples, powerful meditations, and Sr. Kathryn's
own experiences can transform that feeling of midlife stagnation into spiritual liberation.
"Reclaim Regret" is helpful guide that uses narrative, sacred scripture, and prayer to explore the
hopeful journey of emerging from shame and disappointment from life choices. Learn about
God's four promises to you that will help you forgive yourself, encounter God's love and healing,
and embrace spiritual freedom. "Reclaim Regret" includes stories of real people who faced and
overcame debilitating regret; prayer moments in each chapter connect scripture, stories, and
personal reflection; a concrete process of reclaiming regret for a stronger relationship with God;
and practical meditations to guide the spiritual healing journey. Exceptionally well written,
organized and presented, "Reclaim Regret" is an especially recommended addition to personal,
church, community, and academic library Spirituality & Personal Growth collections and
supplemental studies reading lists.
The City of God: Abridged Study Edition
Saint Augustine, author
William Babcock, translator
Boniface Ramsey & Joseph Kelley, editors
New City Press
202 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
www.newcitypress.com
9781565486607, $34.95, PB, 620pp, www.amazon.com
Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the greatest thinkers and writers of the Western world.
After he converted to Christianity he became bishop of Hippo in North Africa, where he was
influential in civil and church affairs. His writings have had a lasting impact on Western
philosophy and culture. Along with his Confessions, "The City of God" is undoubtedly St.
Augustine's most influential work. In the context of what begins as a lengthy critique of classic
Roman religion and a defense of Christianity, Augustine touches upon numerous topics,
including the role of grace, the original state of humanity, the possibility of waging a just war, the
ideal form of government, and the nature of heaven and hell. But his major concern is the
difference between the City of God and the City of Man one built on love of God, the other on
love of self. One cannot but be moved and impressed by the author's breadth of interest and
penetrating intelligence. For all those who are interested in the greatest classics of Christian
antiquity, The City of God is indispensable. Ably translated into English by William Babcock
and collaboratively edited by Boniface Ramsey and Joseph Kelley, "The City of God: Abridged
Study Edition) is a highly recommended textbook for seminary, college, and university Christian
Theology curriculums in general, and St. Augustine supplemental studies lists in particular -- as
well as being an ideal choice for individual students, clergy, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject.
Horses Speak of God
Laurie M. Brock
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612619293, $16.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Laurie M. Brock is an Episcopal priest serving St. Michael the Archangel in Lexington,
Kentucky. She also volunteers as a crisis chaplain with the Lexington Police Department.
"Horses Speak of God: How Horses Can Teach Us to Listen and Be Transformed" is what
happens when a writer, preacher, and lover of words encounters some of creation's wisest
theologians -- horses. First, she argues with them. They are, after all, horses. What could they
possibly know about life and God that theologians haven't already written? But slowly she
engages their language and listens to their holy wisdom, attending to how they express their
being, their actions, and their relationships. She allows horses to draw her out of the faith of
intellect and into a deeper faith of emotion, body, and soul. With edgy honesty and humor, Laurie
Brock invites all who have longed for a deeper spiritual encounter with God to join her in the
saddle (and occasionally on the ground) to discover how horses speak of God and how their ways
of knowing help us to discover ways of God speaking to us. Unique, entertaining, thought-
provoking, inspired and inspiring, "Horses Speak of God" is very highly recommended and
uplifting reading for all members of the Christian community. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Horses Speak of God" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
The Judaic Studies Shelf
The Israel Bible
Rabbi Tuly Weisz, editor
Menorah Books
c/o Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
c/o Toby Press
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
www.korenpub.com
9781940516806, $59.95, HC, 2212pp, www.amazon.com
This bilingual (English/Hebrew) edition of "The Israel Bible" is the world's first Bible centered
around the Land of Israel, the People of Israel, and the dynamic relationship between them.
Designed for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike, "The Israel Bible" offers a unique
commentary that seeks to explain God's focus on the Land of Israel alongside the original
Hebrew text and the New Jewish Publication Society translation. All 929 chapters highlight
verses that relate to Israel, including relevant quotes and perspectives from prime ministers, as
well as abundant maps, charts, and illustrations. In the 70 years since the modern rebirth of the
State of Israel, the Jewish State has been at the forefront of the world's attention. Today, there are
countless efforts to vilify the Jewish state. Yet, there is also an ever-expanding movement of
biblical Zionists who stand alongside the nation of Israel as an expression of their commitment to
God's eternal word. As we seek to understand the clash between these two conflicting ideologies,
while seeking to make sense of the modern world's great interest in Israel, the need for "The
Israel Bible" has never been so timely or important. Very highly recommended for academia and
non-specialist general readers alike, "The Israel Bible" is an impressively informative,
exceptionally well organized, and accessibly presented study that should be a part of every
community, synagogue, and academic library Judaic Studies collections.
The Automotive Shelf
The Chandler Automobile
James H. Lackey
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476663937, $75.00, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
Incorporated by veteran automakers in 1913, the Chandler Motor Car Company was initially
successful in a fiercely competitive industry, manufacturing an array of quality automobiles at a
range of prices. Yet by the late 1920s the company was floundering under mismanagement.
Producing four lines of cars with numerous body styles, Chandler and its lower-priced
companion marque, Cleveland, were unable to find markets for their numerous models and
seemed in effect to be competing against themselves. Drawing on numerous automotive histories
and two large private collections of memorabilia, "The Chandler Automobile: A History
Including the Cleveland and Chandler-Cleveland Marques" by James H. Lackey is an exhaustive
and comprehensive study of the Chandler Motor Car Company that covers the automobiles in
detail, including all body styles, and their changes during production. "The Chandler
Automobile" aptly chronicles the growth, expansion and later troubles of Chandler and
Cleveland, providing fresh insight into the formative years of the auto industry and the
personalities who made it go. Profusely illustrated throughout, exceptionally well organized and
presented, "The Chandler Automobile" is an extraordinary and welcome addition to personal,
community, and academic library 20th Century American Automotive History collections and
supplemental studies reading lists.
Brain Haulage Ltd
Peter Sumpter
5m Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781912158164, $39.95, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Brain Haulage was formed by Charles Edward Brain in 1950 and played a major role in the
container revolution in the UK, completely changing the way goods were transported over the
world. Peter Sumpter was a driver with Brain Haulage until it closed in 1992, and he is an
unofficial archivist of the brand, having taken hundreds of photographs and chronicling his
adventures in a diary for over 20 years. In the illustrated pages of "Brain Haulage Ltd: A
Company History 1950-1992", Peter tells the history of Brain and the container revolution, as
well as the story of Charles Brain, from his early years working for the L.M.S. Railway at
Camden Town to his time in the R.A.F. during the second world war, before eventually starting
his own haulage company. The rest of the story is from Peter's own diary and the many ex-drivers
and Brains staff he worked with over the years. Including over 300 previously unpublished
photographs, "Brain Haulage Ltd" is a uniquely informative history and unreservedly
recommended reading for academicians and non-specialist general readers interested in
containers and their revolution, as well as road transport and haulage trade enthusiasts. While
unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Automotive & Transportation
History collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Brain Haulage Ltd" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
The Gun Shelf
Blue Book of Gun Values, 39th edition
S. P. Fjestad
Blue Book Publications
https://www.bluebookofgunvalues.com/#/Index
9781936120321, $54.95, PB, 2512pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly updated and expanded 39th edition featuring accurate information and up-to-date
values for modern firearms and many major trademark antiques, the "Blue Book of Gun Values"
by S. P. Fjestad once again provides the most firearms information and pricing, including all the
new makes/models for 2018. This 39th edition the "Blue Book of Gun Values" continues to be
the "bible" for the firearms industry and is comprised of more than 1,700+ manufacturers and
trademarks are listed with brief histories whenever possible. Almost 24,000 models are
individually listed and described with 550,000 up-to-date values being provided. The 80-page
color Photo Percentage Grading System (PCGS) has been revised, making firearms grading even
easier and more accurate. Serialization charts have been expanded, allowing more years of
manufacture to be determined on individual makes/models. Unique, comprehensive, reliable,
exceptionally well organized and presented, this 39th edition of the "Blue Book of Gun Values"
is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library
reference collections. It should be noted that it is also available in DVD-ROM format
(9781947314061, $39.95).
The Art Shelf
Painted Ladies
Randy Walker
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780887403927, $29.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Today's nose art has become the rule and not the exception throughout the bomber and tanker
fores of Strategic Air Command, and although Tactical Air Command frowns on non-standard
markings of any sort, several TAC gained Air National Guard units have artwork on their
aircraft. Tradition plays a large part in modem nose art. As shown in Randy Walkers' profusely
illustrated study, the painting of cartoons and sexy ladies on military aircraft has returned. Names
like "Memphis Belle", "Chow Hound" and "Maid in the USA", that once went to war on B-17s
and B-24s are now carried by B-52s and FB-111s, as well as many other modem aircraft. This
modem nose art is often applied by a professional artist, though it is sometimes painted by
members of the unit, and in the process some excellent artwork has been created. A simply
fascinating read, "Painted Ladies: Modern Military Aircraft Nose Art & Unusual Markings" is a
unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library
Military Aviation History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Bigfoot Nation
David Hatcher Childress
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
9781939149961, $22.00, PB, 346pp, www.amazon.com
David Hatcher Childress is world-known author and researcher, the author of over 26 books, and
currently the co-star on the History Channel's popular series Ancient Aliens which now in its
11th season. In the pages of "Bigfoot Nation", Childress examines the seemingly real world of
bigfoot around us in the United States and Canada. Whether real or imagined, bigfoot has made
his way into the American psyche. He appears in television commercials, movies, and on
roadside billboards. In fact, bigfoot is everywhere, with actors portraying him in variously
believable performances and it has become the popular notion that bigfoot is both dangerous and
horny. Bigfoot Nation is all about style, a kind of lifestyle that keeps bigfoot on the fringes of
society, gently creeping into our dreams. "Bigfoot Nation" begins with the very first bigfoot
reports in the 1800s and continues to the present day. The chapters that comprise "Bigfoot
Nation" include: 1800 to 1899: The Wildmen of the Frontier; The Oldest Bigfoot Photo; 1900 to
1940: The Pre-War Years; 1950 to 1990: The Post-War Years; The Skunk Apes of Swamp
Nation; Missing Hunters & Berry Pickers; Bigfoot in New Mexico and Arizona; 2000 to 2020:
Post-Millennial Bigfoot, more. Enhanced with the inclusion of 16 pages of color photos that
document Bigfoot Nation, this unique and inherently fascinating study is especially and
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections, as well as the
personal reading lists of anyone with a curiosity about the creatures known as Sasquatch, Yetis,
or Bigfoot.
The Animal Allies and Gemstone Guardians Cards
Margaret Ann Lembo, author
Richard Crookes, illustrator
Findhorn Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781844097418, $15.99, Cards, www.amazon.com
When an animal, insect, bird, or other creature from nature appears repetitively, whether in real
life or dreams, it is time to pay attention and find the message that nature is bringing you. "The
Animal Allies and Gemstone Guardians Cards " is a full-color oracle deck pairing animal allies
and gemstones to increase our awareness and bring inspiration to light our path Each individual
card matches the vibration of an animal with the energy of a crystal, mineral, or stone to provide
guidance and messages of hope, happiness, and well-being. This beautifully crafted deck includes
44 full-color cards, each with a question for contemplative thought, a positive affirmation, and
Divine Guidance. Animal allies are helpers, supporters, and our spiritual entourage, here to
reveal self-knowledge and provide clarity on life's challenges. The Gemstone Guardians are the
devic force of the gemstone, which adds energetic assistance in achieving goals and desires
through the color and geometric structure of the stone. Very highly recommended for personal
and professional metaphysical studies and tarot collections, each of the cards in this unique deck
offers a question for contemplative thought, a positive affirmation, and Divine Guidance.
Modern Druidism
Yowann Byghan
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476673141, $29.95, PB, 252pp, www.amazon.com
Yowann Byghan is an author, poet and playwright who has been a practicing Druid for more than
fifty years. He is a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, and speaks fluent Cornish. His knowledge of
Scottish Gaidhlig, Irish Gaeilge and Welsh, as well as Latin, has allowed him to research source
texts in the original languages as well as in translation. In the pages of "Modern Druidism"
Byghan provides an informed and informative introduction to modern Druidism, as well as
providing a comprehensive overview of today's Pagan religion and philosophy, whose roots are
in the Celtic tribal societies of ancient Britain and Ireland. "Modern Druidism" covers Druidism's
mythology, history and important figures and its beliefs and moral system, and describes
practices, rituals and ceremonies. A gazetteer of important sacred sites is included, along with
information about modern Druid groups and organizations, "Modern Druidism" is very highly
recommended for personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections in
general, and Druidism supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Modern Druidism" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
The Book of Tarot
Danielle Noel
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781449491864, $16.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
More than a just another instructional guidebook, "The Book of Tarot: A Guide for Modern
Mystics" by freelance designer, writer, and visual artist Danielle Noel offers a space in which to
set goals and intentions with clarity and purpose. It also serves as an accessible introduction to
the Tarot's many uses, from mystical touchstone to practical resource. In this beautifully
designed, easy-to-navigate volume, Noel instructs readers in using the Tarot as a tool for
self-understanding, meditation, and soulful introspection. A unique approach to learning about
the use and value of tarot readings, "The Book of Tarot: A Guide for Modern Mystics" will prove
to be a welcome and valued addition to personal, professional, and academic library Tarot
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of tarot students and practitioners that
"The Book of Tarot: A Guide for Modern Mystics" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
The Biography Shelf
The Wonderful Mr Willughby
Tim Birkhead
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781408878484, $27.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Francis Willughby (22 November 1635 - 3 July 1672) lived and thrived in the midst of the
rapidly accelerating scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. Traveling with his
Cambridge tutor John Ray, they decided to overhaul the whole of natural history by imposing
order on its messiness and complexity. It was exhilarating, exacting, and exhausting work. Yet
before their first book, "Ornithology", could be completed, Willughby died in 1672. Since then,
Ray's reputation has grown, obscuring that of his collaborator. Now, for the first time,
Willughby's story and genius are given the attention they deserve in "The Wonderful Mr
Willughby: The First True Ornithologist" by Tim Birkhead (a Fellow of the Royal Society of
London and a professor at the University of Sheffield where he teaches animal behavior and the
history of science). In his too-short life, Francis Willughby helped found the Royal Society,
differentiated birds through identification of their distinguishing features, and asked questions
that were, in some cases, centuries ahead of their time. His discoveries and his approach to his
work continue to be relevant (and revelatory) today. Professor Birkhead describes and celebrates
how Willughby's endeavors set a standard for the way birds (and indeed the whole of natural
history) should be studied. Rich with glorious detail, The Wonderful Mr Willughby is at once a
fascinating insight into a thrilling period of scientific history and an authoritative, lively
biography of one of its legendary pioneers. An inherently fascinating and impressively
informative biography, "The Wonderful Mr Willughby" is an especially recommended addition
to community and academic library biography collections. It should be noted for the personal
reading lists of ornithology students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "The Wonderful Mr Willughby" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.74).
Bowie's Piano Man
Mike Garson
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
33 Plymouth Street, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042-2677
www.halleonard.com
9781617136931, $24.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 - 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie,
was an English singer-songwriter and actor. Pianist Mike Garson was Bowie's most frequent
musician, on record and onstage throughout Bowie's life. They played over a thousand shows
together between 1972 and 2004, and Garson is featured on over 20 of Bowie's albums. Written
by Clifford Slapper (who was a fellow pianist who also played for Bowie, working closely with
him on his last-ever television appearance), and now in a fully revised and newly updated
edition, "Bowie's Piano Man: The Life of Mike Garson" is the biography of Mike Garson and
explores the special relationship between Garson and Bowie, beginning with the extraordinary
story of how Garson went overnight from playing in tiny jazz clubs to touring the world on arena
rock tours with Bowie after one short phone call and audition. A noted master of jazz, classical,
and other genres, Garson has composed thousands of original works and has taught countless
students, acting as mentor to many. "Bowie's Piano Man" explores his roots and childhood in
Brooklyn, his ongoing strong presence in the jazz world, and his collaborations with a huge range
of other artists in addition to Bowie. Touring and recording with the Smashing Pumpkins and
Nine Inch Nails are given in-depth attention, as is his approach to teaching and creating music.
Explored in detail in particular is his commitment to improvisation as a form of composition, a
manifestation of his more general dedication to living in the moment and always moving forward
a trait he shared with Bowie. An inherently interesting and impressively informative read,
"Bowie's Piano Man" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as
community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections.
Under the Birch Tree
Nancy Chadwick
www.nancychadwickauthor.com
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781631523571, $16.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
A birch tree grows tall and arabesque in the front yard of Nancy Chadwick's childhood home.
Over time the tree becomes her buddy and first learned connection, synonymous with home. One
spring morning, she makes a discovery under its boughs that foreshadows the many
disconnections within her family, relationships, jobs, and home that are to come. Through the
chapters in her life, Chadwick's search for home carries her through with unflinching honesty, but
in the end, her's is a story of survival and triumph over adversity. She does not wallow in
self-pity but remains tenacious as she examines her life. An exploration of what it means to
belong, "Under the Birch Tree" is a success story of finding home. Candidly engaging, Nancy
Chadwick's memoir is an inherently fascinating, thoughtful and thought-provoking read from
beginning to end. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library
Contemporary American Biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Under the Birch Tree" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Old Riot, New Ranger
Bob Alexander
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574417296, $34.95, HC, 544pp, www.amazon.com
"Old Riot, New Ranger" by Bob Alexander is the definitive biography of 20th-century Ranger
Captain Jack Dean, who holds the distinction of being one of only five men to serve in both the
Officer's Corps of the Rangers and also as a President-appointed United States Marshal. Jack
Dean's service in Texas Ranger history occurred at a time when the institution was undergoing a
philosophical revamping and restructuring, all hastened by America's Civil Rights Movement,
landmark decisions handed down by the United States Supreme Court, zooming advances in
forensic technology, and focused efforts designed to diversify and professionalize the Rangers.
His job choice caused him to circulate in the duplicitous underworld of dishonesty and
criminality where twisted self interest overrode compliance with societal norms. This
comprehensive biography is packed from cover to cover with true-crime calamities: double
murders, single murders, negligent homicides, suicides, jailbreaks, manhunts, armed robberies
and home invasions, kidnappings, public corruption, sexual assaults, illicit gambling, car-theft
rings, dope smuggling, and arms dealing. Impressively well written, organized and presented,
"Old Riot, New Ranger" is an exceptionally informative and engaging study that is unreservedly
recommended for both community and academic library 20th Century American Biography
collections in general, and the personal reading lists for students of Texas Ranger and U.S.
Marshall histories.
Calamity Jane
D.J. Herda
TwoDot
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
97812493031948, $17.95
Many books have been written about Calamity Jane; but many readers of women's biographies
and history will find that Calamity Jane: The Life and Legend of Martha Jane Cannary is a
livelier, more readable narrative than most. It explores her early life as a street urchin who was an
orphan by age twelve and who became a single mother of two who took any job she could to
survive. The popular image is of Calamity Jane as a ribald legend; but this attention to detailing
her home life, motivations, and her rise to fame offers a more multifaceted perception of
Calamity Jane than most histories, crafting an engaging discussion that is filled with historical
references tempered by a dynamic tone during its solid attention to detail.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules
Tony Cliff
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.firstsecondbooks.com
9781626728042 $17.99 amazon.com
Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules is the third full-color graphic novel in the Delilah Dirk
series, featuring a swashbuckling 19th-century heroine reminiscent of Indiana Jones! Each
graphic novel in the series tells a standalone saga of high adventure, bravery, and derring-do. In
Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules, Delilah and her loyal companion Selim have ventured
into central Asia. When Delilah finds an artifact with a possible clue to the legendary third pillar
of Hercules, it kicks off an archaeological race against a ruthless enemy and a team-up with
Delilah's most unlikely ally - Jason Merrick, the man who framed her for espionage! Although
Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules is crafted especially for young adults age 12-18,
adventure connoisseurs of all ages will thoroughly enjoy its fast-paced action, character-driven
intrigue, and courageous heroine. Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules is a treasure for public
library, school library, and personal graphic novel collections! Also highly recommended are the
previous graphic novels in the series, "Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant"
(9781596438132, $17.99) and "Delilah Dirk and the King's Schilling" (9781626721555,
$17.99).
Four Sisters: Enid
Malika Ferdjoukh, author
Cati Baur, illustrator
IDW Publishing
2765 Truxton Road, San Diego, CA 92106
www.idwpublishing.com
9781684051960, $19.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Enid, age 9, is outgoing, with a great sense of humor; Hortense, age 11, is shy and likes to be
alone; Bettina, age 14, is good-hearted but temperamental; Genevieve, age 16, is passionate
about cooking and boxing. The oldest daughter, Charlie, struggles to care for her sisters in the
wake of the accident that took the lives of their parents This, the first volume of the "Four
Sisters" graphic novel series, is narrated by youngest sister Enid and takes place in autumn. A
free spirit, she enjoys wandering alone and talking to animals and anything she meets. Her best
friend Gulliver is, like her, offbeat and creative. When Enid begins hearing ghost-like screams,
the two friends embark on a scary adventure. These sisters are not perfect and they may not
always get along, but in times of need, they can always count on one another. A blend of coming
of age stories with a supernatural (in the form of ghosts), "Four Sisters: Enid" is a original, deftly
scripted, entertaining, and inherently fascinating read from cover to cover and very highly
recommended for personal and community library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted
that "Four Sisters: Enid" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.59).
Clandestinauts
Tim Sievert
Uncivilized Books
PO Box 6534, Minneapolis, MN 55406
www.uncivilizedbooks.com
9781941250259, $17.95, PB, 228pp, www.amazon.com
Hired to acquire the fabled Goblet of the Crimson Wizard, the expert dungeoneering team that
call themselves the Clandestinauts, enter the legendary Master Wizard's formidable fortress with
visions of unimaginable treasures in their futures. That is until, like most journeys through the
dreary depths of blood-soaked sepulchers, things don't go according to plan. Threats both
external and existential stand ready to test the always frayed sinews that bind this team of bitter
rivals together. An original and unfailingly entertaining read from first page to last,
"Clandestinauts" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to the personal reading
lists of all action/adventure fantasy fans and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy graphic novel collections.
The Audiobook Shelf
My Days: Happy and Otherwise
Marion Ross
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781543613933, $29.99, CD, www.amazon.com
Before she was affectionately known to millions as "Mrs. C.," Marion Ross began her career as a
Paramount starlet who went on to appear in nearly every major TV series of the 1950s and 1960s
-- including Love, American Style, in a failed pilot that was recycled as an episode in that
popular television series. That was when she donned an apron that would cinch her career. Soon
after came the fateful phone call from producer Garry Marshall that made her an "overnight"
success, and changed her life . In this warm and candid memoir, filled with loving recollections
from the award-winning Happy Days team Marion shares what it was like to be a starry-eyed
young girl with dreams in poor, rural Minnesota, and the resilience, sacrifices, and determination
it took to make them come true. She recalls her early years in the business, being in the company
of such luminaries as Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Noel Coward, yet always feeling the
Hollywood outsider -- a painful invisibility that mirrored her own childhood. She reveals the
absolute joys of playing a wife and mother on TV, and the struggles of maintaining those roles in
real life. But among Ross's most heart-rending recollections are those of finally finding a
soulmate late in her life -- another secret hope of hers made true well beyond her expectations.
Funny, poignant, and revealing (and featuring Garry Marshall's final illuminating interview) as
well as a touching foreword from her "TV son" Ron Howard, and a conversation with her
real-life son and daughter, Marion Ross's personal story is one of inspiration, persistence, and
gratitude. A flawlessly produced audio book production, "My Days: Happy and Otherwise" is an
extraordinary and certain to be enormously popular addition to community library collections and
should be considered a 'must' for the legions of Happy Days fans. (9 CDs, 11 Hours, 9
Minutes).
Between You & Me: A Novel
Susan Wiggs, author
Performed by Tanya Eby and Adam Verner
susanwiggs.com
Harper Audio
195 Broadway, Floor 2, New York, NY 10007-3132
www.harperaudio.com
9780062850898 $39.99 amazon.com
Between You & Me: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a story set deep within
Amish country. Caleb Stoltz made a deathbed promise to raise his orphaned niece and nephew in
quiet Middle Grove, but a sudden disaster has him cross paths with Dr. Reese Powell. At once
both a love story and a complex, character-driven narrative that questions the lengths to which
one should choose to keep secrets hidden, Between You & Me is thoughtful, compelling, and
superbly brought to life with excellent performances from Tanya Eby and Adam Verner. Highly
recommended, especially for public library audiobook collections. 11 hours, 9 CDs. It should be
noted that Between You & Me is also available as an e-book, a downloadable audiobook, in large
print, and in hardcover.
End Game
David Baldacci
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781478930037, $40.00, CD, www.amazon.com
Will Robie and Jessica Reel are two of the most lethal people alive. They're the ones the
government calls in when the utmost secrecy is required to take out those who plot violence and
mass destruction against the United States. And through every mission, one man has always had
their backs: their handler, code-named Blue Man. But now, Blue Man is missing. Last seen in
rural Colorado, Blue Man had taken a rare vacation to go fly fishing in his hometown when he
disappeared off the grid. With no communications since, the team can't help but fear the worst.
Sent to investigate, Robie and Reel arrive in the small town of Grand to discover that it has its
own share of problems. A stagnant local economy and a woefully understaffed police force have
made this small community a magnet for crime, drugs, and a growing number of militant fringe
groups. But lying in wait in Grand is an even more insidious and sweeping threat, one that may
shake the very foundations of America. And when Robie and Reel find themselves up against an
adversary with superior firepower and a home-court advantage, they'll be lucky if they make it
out alive, with or without Blue Man. A riveting thriller of an action/adventure novel with more
plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster, this flawlessly produced, complete and
unabridged audio book edition of "End Game" superbly narrated by the team of Kyf Brewer and
Orlach Cassidy. Highly recommended for personal and community library collections, this 10
CD formatted "End Game" has a total running time of 11 hours, 54 minutes.
Bring Me Back
B.A. Paris, author
Read by Cathleen McCarron & Kevin Hely
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781427296603 $29.99 amazon.com
Bring Me Back is the unabridged audiobook rendition of the psychological suspense novel by
B.A. Paris. Finn and Layla were once a loving couple on vacation. Finn stopped to use a restroom
on deserted highway, locking his car with the sleeping Layla inside. When he came back, Layla
was gone. This is the story Finn told the police - but he did not tell them everything. Ten years
later, Finn is engaged to Layla's sister Ellen, and on the verge of proposing, even though Finn's
sixth sense tells him that he shouldn't trust Ellen. Then long-lost items from Layla's past start to
appear, and Finn learns that someone from his past has claimed to see Layla hiding in plain sight.
Could Layla be alive, and if so, then why has she concealed herself all this time? A plot marked
by twists and turns, each more shocking than the last, builds to a jaw-dropping climax in this
tense, unforgettable audiobook vividly brought to life with masterful performances by Cathleen
McCarron and Kevin Hely. 6 CDs, 7.5 hours.
The Library CD Shelf
Peaceful Being
Richard Noll
www.richardnoll.com
Singing Heart Productions
$13.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Peaceful Being is an instrumental album that lives up to its title, as a selection of eight soothing,
meditative songs. The first solo album by masterful music artist Richard Noll, Peaceful Being
features alto and tenor recorders, an electronic wind instrument (the EWI 4000s), and electronic
keyboards. Peaceful Being is a choice pick to ease away stress and spark one's imagination,
highly recommended. The tracks are "Calling the Rain", "Grace", "Peaceful Being", "Early
Spring", "Nightfall", "Open Heart", "Inner Journey", and "Invocation".
Encounters of the Beautiful Kind
Rachel LaFond
rachellafond.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $10.89 MP3 amazon.com
Encounters of the Beautiful Kind is an original, solo piano album inspired by the feelings of
adjusting to life in a new country. The crescendos reflect the human will to adapt, while
emulating the sublime joy of every moment. Encounters of the Beautiful Kind is a treasure,
highly recommended for connoisseurs of neo-classical and new age music. The tracks are
"Luminous", "Your Beauty Calls Me", "Heart Full Of Memories", "Tears For Catalunya", "You
Will Conquer This Shadow", "Love's Labour's Never Lost", "The Questions Your Heart Asks",
"Don't Cry Calvin", "Unrestrained Joy", "Shout To The Sun", and "A Knight's Journey."
Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
www.folkways.si.edu
$16.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey is an album in honor of musician John Duffey, a.k.a. "The
Father of Modern Bluegrass", whose contributions to the bands The Country Gentlemen and The
Seldom Scene helped evolve the genre from regional Appalachian music to a rich, sophisticated
sound that appealed to fans worldwide. Great musicians of the bluegrass community, including
Sam Bush, John Cowan, Bela Fleck, Bruce Molsky, Tim O'Brien, Don Rigsby, and more come
together in an all-star celebration of Duffey's profound contributions to the genre. Epilogue: A
Tribute to John Duffey is a treasure for bluegrass connoisseurs, and highly recommended for
both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are "Sad and Lonesome Day", "If
That's the Way You Feel", "If I Were a Carpenter", "Lonesome River", "Sunrise", "Going to the
Races", "Some Old Day", "Girl from the North Country", "He Was a Friend of Mine", "Poor
Ellen Smith", "Reason For Being", "Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow", "Chim-Chim-Cher-Ee",
"Cold Wind a Blowin'", "Christmas Time Back Home", and "Bringing Mary Home".
Beyond Our Dreams
Anita Aysola
Privately Published
$TBA www.anitaaysola.com
Beyond Our Dreams is an album by Indian-born, Michigan-raised, Atlanta-based singer and
songwriter Anita Aysola, who has a talent for fusing Hindustani classical and Western classical
and jazz music into her own unique songs that hybridize the best of both worlds. Original and
captivating, Beyond Our Dreams is a treasure for multicultural fusion music collections, highly
recommended! The tracks are "America", "Long Way Home", "Bet On Us", "Beyond Our
Dreams", and "Tourist in Every Town".
Eve
Aine Minogue
www.minogue.com
Little Miller Records
$17.99 CD / digital amazon.com
Eve is a beautiful album of original music written and composed by award-winning singer and
songwriter Aine Minogue, showcasing her extraordinary skill and talent playing the Celtic harp,
accompanied by her stirring vocals and fellow musicians Eugene Friesen on cello and strings;
Jon Evans on bass, keyboards, percussion, guitar, and mandolin; Seamus Egan on Irish whistles;
Billy Novick on clarinet; and Alistair Halliday on harmony vocals. The songs are intended to
reflect the many different interpretations of Eve, the first woman. The result is as wondrous as a
starry sky, and highly recommended for personal and public library music collections.
Stage Door Live!
Dori Rubbicco with the John Harrison Quintet
Whaling City Sound
www.whalingcitysound.com
c/o Naxos (distribution)
https://www.naxos.com
$14.99 amazon.com
Recorded live at New Bedford's Zeiterion Theater, Stage Door Live! features Dori Rubbicco and
the John Harrison Quintet performing a mix of original compositions and covers of popular
favorites. The masterful piano of John Harrison III is the perfect complement to Dori Rubbicco's
mesmerizing voice, in this mellifluous, dulcet treasure. Highly recommended! The tracks are
"Roman Sun", "Imagine", "Two Kites", "Pretty Funny", "No Regrets", "Will You Still Love Me
Tomorrow", "Throw It Away", "Twisted", "Right Here Waiting", "I Can See Clearly", and
"That's All".
Queen City Jubilee
The Slocan Ramblers
slocanramblers.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Queen City Jubilee is a blend of original and traditional songs as well as some instrumental tunes
from Toronto bluegrass band The Slocan Ramblers. Drawing upon the essence Appalachian old-
time music grounded in all-night james and extended square-dance sessions, Queen City Jubilee
is vivacious, captivating, and highly recommended. The tracks are "Mississippi Heavy Water
Blues", "Just to Know", "Down in the Sugarbush", "Hillbilly Blues / Deer on the River", "Hill to
Climb", "Long Chain Charlie and Moundsville", "First Train in the Morning", "New Morning",
"Through and Through", "Sun's Gonna Shine in My Back Door Someday", "Makin' Home",
"Mighty Hard Road", "Shut the Door", and "Riley the Furniture Man".
Second Bloom
Sylvia
www.SylviaMusic.com
Red Pony Records
$15.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Second Bloom: The Hits Re-Imagined is an album from country/pop/contemporary musician
Sylvia, who performs her most popular songs from the 1980s with a transformative modern
sheen. Sylvia's honeyed voice transcends decades, and Second Bloom is a golden treasure for
connoisseurs! The tracks are "Drifter", "Nobody", "Tumbleweed", "Fallin' In Love", "Cry Just A
Little Bit", "Sweet Yesterday", "Like Nothing Ever Happened", "Snapshot", "I Love You By
Heart", and "You Can't Go Back Home."
The Library DVD Shelf
Chen Tai Chi for Beginners
Chenhan Yang
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
$29.95 www.ymaa.com
Tai chi master Chenhan Yang presents Chen Tai Chi for Beginners, a step-by-step DVD tutorial
to Tai chi chuan, a type of meditation while in motion with a long and storied history, intertwined
with Chinese martial arts. Chen Tai Chi is one of the most popular tai chi styles, practiced by
millions of people worldwide. Chen Tai Chi for Beginners features instructions with
demonstrations visible from the front, the rear, and multiple angles. The whole-body movements
are low-impact, and thoroughly accessible for viewers of all fitness levels. Chen Tai Chi for
Beginners is a choice pick for public library and personal DVD health and fitness collections
alike, highly recommended. 170 min.
Qi Gong for Headaches
Lee Holden
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
$29.95 www.ymaa.com
"Qi Gong for Headaches" (36 min.) is an instructional DVD that shows viewers of all skill and
experience levels how to engage in the ancient physical movement practice of Qi Gong to ease
tension and improve the flow of circulation in the head, neck, and shoulders, the better to prevent
and ease headaches without reaching for a pill bottle. Qi Gong teacher Lee Holden demonstrates
simple movements against a beautiful natural background, in this excellent, user-friendly guide
perfect for enriching one's quality of life. Also highly recommended is Lee Holden's DVD "Qi
Gong for High Blood Pressure" (44 min.) which demonstrates Qi Gong exercises ideal for
promoting relaxation and tranquility, and reducing the stress that contributes to high blood
pressure.
Girlfriends series 1
Written by Kay Mellor
Starring Zoe Wanamaker, Phyllis Logan, & Miranda Richardson
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 www.acornonline.com
Girlfriends series 1 is the DVD debut of BAFTA-winning writer Kay Mellor's six-part drama set
in modern times. The saga follows three female friends, each of which must confront modern-day
problems and responsibilities. Linda's husband tragically goes missing on a cruise; Sue is
systematically being shut out of the company she co-founded; and Gail's son abruptly returns
home from prison. The three women seek much-needed support from one another, in this deftly
woven character drama packed with twists and turns. Bonus materials include a behind-the-
scenes featurette (29 min.) and the cast panel at the Television Critics Association event (18
min.), although it should be noted that Girlfriends is intended for mature viewers due to the
presence of strong language, violence, and disturbing images. 294 min. plus bonus.
Delicious series 2
Starring Dawn French, Emilia Fox, & Iain Glen
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$34.99 www.acornonline.com
Delicious series 2 continues the character-driven British drama television series set in the
Penrose Hotel. Nearly a year after the abrupt death of philandering chef Leo Vincent (played by
Iain Glen), his ex-wife Gina (played by Dawn French) and widow Sam (played by Emilia Fox)
have transformed the once-failing Penrose Hotel into a thriving success. Gina is a master chef
while Sam expertly handles day-to-day business, but the two tend to butt heads both personally
and professionally! An ongoing police investigation, an extraordinarily handsome new hire, and a
guest that nobody could have expected further complicate matters. As Leo himself watches and
wonders from beyond the grave, his deepest secrets gradually come bubbling to the surface.
Delicious is utterly delectable for connoisseurs of fine drama, highly recommended! Bonus
material includes a behind-the-scenes featurette (10 min.) and a photo gallery. 4 episodes, 187
min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Big Cats In The Wild
Joe McDonald
Amherst Media, Inc.
PO Box 538, Buffalo, NY 14213
www.amherstmedia.com
9781682033241, $24.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Joe and Mary Ann McDonald have traveled the world for over thirty years, creating incredible
images of breathtaking places and the incredible creatures that inhabit them. In "Big Cats In The
Wild: A Visual Essay of Lions, Jaguars, Leopards, Pumas, and More", they have collaborated in
collecting and showcasing more than two hundred of their favorite images of big cats from
around the globe ranging from the majestic lions of Africa, to the powerful jaguars of South
America, to the elusive tigers of Asia. The McDonald's also share the stories behind the images,
taking their readers alongside them through some of the most remote parts of the world and into
the cultures and traditions of the people living in the midst of big cats. "Big Cats In The Wild"
will have a very special appeal for the wild animal lover, the armchair traveler, and anyone else
obsessed with the ancestry of the small cat in their living room!. While very highly recommended
for community library Pets/Wildlife collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Big Cats In The Wild" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.95).
A Puppy Called Wolfie
Kathie Gregory
Hubble & Hattie
www.hubbleandhattie.com
9781787110700, $18.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Using an established and cutting edge psychotherapy called Free Will Teaching, "A Puppy Called
Wolfie" by qualified animal behaviorist and trainer Kathie Gregory offers a perspective that will
change your approach to teaching dogs. Force-free, and embracing each dog's right to free will,
both you and the dogs you work and live with will achieve great success. Owning a puppy is an
exciting and rewarding experience. Understanding why your puppy does what he does, and what
influences his behavior, is key to a harmonious life together, and essential for avoiding the many
problems and issues that crop up along the way. Charting the first 18 months of a canine named
Wolfie's life from when he arrived with Kathie Gregory's family at 9 weeks old, "A Puppy Called
Wolfie" looks in detail at the mind and behavior of a puppy, and how he develops as he becomes
an adult dog. It also examines how dogs think, what they do, how they learn, form responses,
their likes, dislikes, development stages, hormones, and how all of these influence a dog's
personality and development. For both pet owner and professional, the Free Will Training
approach is a dynamic way of teaching that takes modern dog training into the future. Effective
and real world practical, "A Puppy Called Wolfie" is unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, and academic library dog training instructional reference collections
and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Business Shelf
Reinvent Your Business Model, revised edition
Mark W. Johnson
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633696464, $35.00, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly revised and updated edition, "Reinvent Your Business Model: How to Seize the
White Space for Transformative Growth" by Mark W. Johnson (who co-founded the strategy and
innovation management consultancy Innosight with Clayton M. Christensen) provides the
businessman and entrepreneur with an eminently practical framework for understanding how a
business model actually works. Identifying its four fundamental building blocks, Johnson deftly
lays out a structured and repeatable process for reinventing an existing business model or
creating a new one and then incubating and scaling it into a profitable and thriving enterprise. In
a new chapter on digital transformation, Johnson also shows how serial transformers like
Amazon leverage business model innovation so successfully. Featuring case studies of
companies that have achieved new success and postmortems for those that haven't, "Reinvent
Your Business Model" shows how to: Determine if and when your organization needs a new
business model; Identify powerful new opportunities to serve your existing customers in existing
markets; Reach entirely new customers and create new markets through disruptive business
models and products; Seize opportunities for growth opened up by tectonic shifts in market
demand, government policy, and technologies; Make business model innovation a more
predictable discipline inside your organization. Exceptionally well written and accessibly
organized and presented, "Reinvent Your Business Model" is an extraordinary and highly
recommended addition to personal, professional, corporate, community, and academic library
Business Management instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists of MBA students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Reinvent Your Business Model" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.24).
The LGBT Studies Shelf
Trans Like Me
C. N. Lester
Seal Press
c/o Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
9781580057851, $16.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
In "Trans Like Me: Conversations for All of Us", C. N. Lester (LGBT activist, musician, writer,
and co-founder of the first national queer youth organization in the UK, ) takes the reader on a
measured, thoughtful, intelligent yet approachable tour through the most important and
high-profile narratives around the trans community, turning them inside out and examining
where we really are in terms of progress. From the impact of the media's wording in covering
trans people and issues, to the way parenting gender variant children is portrayed, Lester brings
their charged personal narrative to every topic and expertly lays out the work left to be done.
"Trans Like Me" deftly explores the ways that we are all defined by ideas of gender (whether we
live as he, she, or they) and how we can strive for authenticity in a world that forces limiting
labels. A timely, informative, and valued contribution to the national dialogue about the gay
community in general, and Trans in particular, "Trans Like Me" is unreservedly recommended
for both community and academic library LGBT collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Trans Like Me" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and
as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781977366894, $24.99, CD).
Raised by Unicorns
Frank Lowe, editor
Cleis Press
101 Hudson Street, Suite 3705, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
http://cleispress.com
9781627782562, $17.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
There are now a great many books out on the subject of LBGT parenting. Now there is a new one
offering the perspective of children being parented by LBGT parents. "Raised by Unicorns:
Stories from People with LGBTQ+ Parents", Frank Lowe has carefully compiled and edited an
anthology that reflects on the upbringing of children in many different forms of LGBTQ+
families. From Baby Boomers to Generation Z, "Raised by Unicorns" features diverse stories that
express the distinctiveness of this shared journey and of each particular family. It's visceral, raw,
and not always pretty, but love is always the common thread. "Raised by Unicorns" is a unique
and ground-breaking compendium of personal stories that candidly reveal true accounts of this
particular niche of humanity, while simultaneously creating a moving snapshot of the world in
which we live. "Raised by Unicorns" guides the reader through an empathetic journey that is
nothing short of compelling and poignant. While very highly recommended for community and
academic library LBGT collections in general, and LBGT parenting supplemental studies in
particular, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Raised by Unicorns" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
The Cookbook Shelf
Go Dairy Free
Alisa Fleming
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781944648916, $19.95, PB, 515pp, www.amazon.com
"Go Dairy Free" by Alisa Fleming (the founder of GoDairyFree.org, the leading online magazine
and website for dairy-free living) provides a wealth of practical information for those needing to
change their diet. A complete guide and cookbook "Go Dairy Free' is a compendium of more
than 250 delicious dairy-free recipes focusing on naturally rich and delicious whole foods, with
numerous options to satisfy those dairy cravings. It is a comprehensive guide to dairy substitutes
explaining how to purchase, use, and make your own alternatives for butter, cheese, cream, milk,
and much more; provides essential grocery shopping information from identifying suspect
ingredients and label-reading assistance to money-saving tips. Of special note is a detailed
chapter on calcium to identify naturally mineral-rich foods beyond dairy, the best supplements,
and other keys to bone health; an in-depth health section outlining the signs and symptoms of
dairy-related illnesses and addressing questions around protein, fat, and other nutrients in the
dairy-free transition. "Go Dairy Free" has everyday living tips with suggestions for restaurant
dining, travel, celebrations, and other social situations; infant milk allergy checklists that describe
indicators and solutions for babies and young children with milk allergies or intolerances; as well
as food allergy- and vegan-friendly resources, including recipe indexes to quickly find gluten-free
and other top food allergy-friendly options and fully tested plant-based options for every recipe.
Comprehensive, exceptionally well organized, 'real world practical', "Go Dairy Free" is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community cookbook collections.
In Don's Montana Kitchen
Don Doig
Lulu Publishing
3101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5436
www.lulu.com
9781483484891, $15.95, PB, 204pp, www.amazon.com
"In Don's Montana Kitchen: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Gourmet Cooking From the Edge of the
Wilderness" presents innovative approaches to gluten-free and dairy-free gourmet cooking. If
food and cooking have long been important in your life, it can be a daunting task to cook tasty,
interesting food when you can no longer eat many of the mainstays of modern or classic French
cooking, which involve gluten and dairy. It was for Don Doig. The trick has been to come up
with gluten-free, dairy-free food which is also interesting and delicious. Many of the recipes also
incorporate oriental influences, especially Chinese regional, Thai, and Indian. Much of this
cookbook was developed using wild game. If game is not available, where the recipes call for
game, you can use these recipes for grass-fed beef or lamb. Many of these recipes revolve around
sauces, whether incorporated into the dish as it cooks, or as a stand-alone sauce added to meats
once they are cooked. "In Don's Montana Kitchen" makes it easy to substitute different meats. A
complete course of culinary instruction combined with a wealth of palate-pleasing, appetite-
satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipes, "In Don's Montana Kitchen" is a very special and
unique addition recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook
collections.
Fix, Freeze, Feast, second edition
Kati Neville & Lindsay Ahrens
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612129280, $18.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition that showcases 150 'kitchen cook friendly'
recipes, "Fix, Freeze, Feast: The Delicious, Money-Saving Way to Feed Your Family; Stock
Your Freezer with Ready-to-Cook Meals" anyone can create great tasting, nutritious meals that
don't break the bank or a time-stressed daily schedule. Cook one recipe in bulk and stock a
freezer with three nights of nutritious and delicious homemade dinners for the family. Updated
recipes incorporate plenty of fresh, seasonal produce, along with bulk grains and beans. From
Asparagus and Potato Frittata; Lemon Blueberry Strata; Tomato Basil Soup; and Berry-Roasted
Chicken; to Garlic Studded Pork Loin; Shrimp Curry; Green Beans with Gorgonzola-Pecan
Butter; and Five-Spice Cookies"Fix, Freeze, Feast" is inspiring to browse through and plan
menus with and will prove to be an enduringly popular and appreciated addition to personal,
family, and community library cookbook collections.
Homefront Cooking
Tracey Enerson Wood, Beth Guidry Riffle, Carol Van Drie
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510728707, $24.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Food brings families and friends together, providing not only nourishment for our bodies, but
also the glue that holds our families and society together. It is around the dinner table that we
interact and important announcements are made. In the military it was chow time in the foxholes
when soldiers came to know each other, forming bonds so strong they would risk their own lives
for one another. Remembering the smells and tastes of home support many in difficult times,
those memories captured here in photographs and recipes. Nicely illustrated throughout,
"Homefront Cooking: Recipes, Wit, and Wisdom from American Veterans and Their Loved
Ones" showcases a collection of treasured family recipes and photographs from military service
members past and present, and their loved ones. Recipes are accompanied by brief stories and
memories related to the recipe, military service, and/or lifestyle. With recipes that range from
Bagel and Lox Benedict; Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole; Creamy Asparagus and
Cauliflower Soup; and African Meat Samosas; to Beth's Electric Chocolate Chip Cookies;
Afghan Rice; Meat Lasagna with Roasted Vegetables; and Sunday Dinner Roast Beef,
"Homefront Cooking" is one of those culinary compendiums that will prove to be an immediate
and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook
collections. "Homefront Cooking" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.59). It
should be noted that all the authors' profits will be donated to a charitable organization in support
of veterans.
T-Bone Whacks and Caviar Snacks
Sharon Hudgins
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574417142, $39.95, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com
Showcasing 140 traditional and modern recipes by Sharon Hudgins and Tom Hudgins, "T-Bone
Whacks and Caviar Snacks: Cooking with Two Texans in Siberia and the Russian Far East"is
unique cookbook is filled with fascinating food history, cultural insights, and personal stories
about the culinary adventures of two intrepid Texans who lived, worked, traveled in (and ate
their way around!) the Asian side of Russia. Sharon vividly describes the memorable meals that
she and her husband enjoyed at the apartments of Russian friends in Soviet-era high-rises, at new
restaurants and ancient festivals, on boats and on picnics, at remote little dachas in the lush green
forests near the Russian-Chinese border, with the Buryat-Mongolians living in southern Siberia,
and along thousands of miles of the Trans-Siberian Railroad tracks. This culinary compendium
of recipes for classic Russian New Year's fare, spring festival foods, traditional Russian Easter
desserts, and the East Asian dishes adopted by Russians living in that part of the world will prove
to be a unique and immensely popular addition to persona, family, professional, and community
library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "T-Bone Whacks and Caviar Snacks" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle $31.96).
Grits to Glory
Joe Johnston
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781455624034, $23.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "Grits to Glory: How Southern Cookin' Got So Good", Missouri native Joe
Johnston takes his readers on an armchair excursion through the folksy history of Southern
cooking ranging from the best fruitcake recipe before the Civil War, to the ultimate Southern
kitchen essential -- the cast iron pan. Johnston's cultural history brings reminiscences from his
own friends and family in addition to thoroughly-researched historical anecdotes. Sprinkled
throughout with valuable stories and quotes from Southerners who really know their stuff, "Grits
to Glory" will have a very special appeal for those from every Southern walk of life, as well as
inherently interesting to anyone who is simply fascinated with the cultural history of cooking.
With every detailed recollection, the heart and soul of Southern cooking shines through, making
it an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Grits to Glory" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $17.19).
The Korean Kimchi Cookbook
Kim Man-Jo, Lee D-Young, Lee Kyou-Tae
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804848602, $17.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
A traditional side dish made from salted and fermented vegetables, most commonly napa
cabbage and Korean radishes, with a variety of seasonings including chili powder, scallions,
garlic, ginger, and jeotgal (salted seafood), Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine. There are
hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with different vegetables as the main ingredients. In
traditional preparations, kimchi was stored underground in jars to keep cool, and unfrozen during
the winter months. With the rise of technology, kimchi refrigerators are more commonly used to
make kimchi today. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Korean Kimchi
Cookbook" features the extensive history and background information about Korea's cuisine and
fascinating culture, then goes on to showcase 78 flavorful and easy to prepare recipes organized
by season including: Fresh Oyster Kimchi; Swiss Chard Kimchi; Fresh Ginger Pickles; and
Traditional Cabbage Kimchi. Now in a newly revised edition, "The Korean Kimchi Cookbook"
has been rewritten to make instructions more accessible for the home cook, with all spices,
condiments, and vegetables easily found in any supermarket. Plus, all 78 recipes are easy enough
for anyone new to the world of fermentation, yet the combinations and possibilities are endless!
Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Korean Kimchi
Cookbook" will prove a welcome addition to personal, professional, and community library
Ethnic Cookbook collections. It should be noted that "The Korean Kimchi Cookbook" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
The Acadian Kitchen
Alain Bosse
Whitecap Books
c/o Fitzhenry & Whiteside
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 4T8
www.fitzhenry.ca
9781770503137, $34.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
The Acadians were French-speaking residents of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, forced to
migrate to Louisiana after the 1763 British conquest of French Canada. Celebrating the evolution
of Acadian cooking from its 17th century roots to the Cajun and French Canadian dishes it's
known for today, "The Acadian Kitchen" by Alain Bosse (President of Alain Bosse Consulting
Ltd, and the food editor for Saltscapes Magazine) is a landmark guide to Acadian and Cajun
history, culture and the time-honored foods that define this one-of-a-kind heritage. Influenced by
the cultural exchange of historic French, Creole, Indigenous and maritime ideas, Acadian cuisine
is defined less by technique than by the desire to take simple, local ingredients and turn them into
something delicious. Offering a detailed culinary history supplemented with sidebars, historical
timelines, glossaries and over 120 extraordinary recipes, "The Acadian Kitchen" includes
chapters on chowders, pies, preserves, and classic desserts. Beautifully and profusely illustrated
throughout, "The Acadian Kitchen" features authentic and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly'
recipes that are as palate pleasing as they are appetite satisfying. Certain to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections,
"The Acadian Kitchen" is unreservedly recommended and an ideal introduction to French
Canadian and Cajun cuisine.
Dirty Gourmet
Aimee Trudeau, et.al.
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680511291, $24.95
Dirty Gourmet: Food for Your Outdoor Adventures is for foodies who want to make great food a
part of the outdoors adventure. The title began as a blog and website when three friends shared
their knowledge of backcountry cooking through workshops and easy recipes. This cookbook
offers several unexpected pluses in comparison with the usual 'campfire cookbook': fresh
ingredients are emphasized, an international culinary approach is presented, and meals from
appetizers and snacks to dinners and drinks include options for vegans and vegetarians as well as
meat-eaters. The result is a fine gathering of extraordinary cookout options that any level of cook
can easily achieve.
The Education Shelf
Best Practices in Professional Learning and Teacher Preparation in Gifted Education
Angela M. Novak & Christine L. Weber, editors
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781618217721, $65.00, PB, 250pp, www.amazon.com
All too often, school district teacher in-service education programs do not adequately train
classroom teachers in how to meet the needs of gifted and talented students in the regular
classroom curriculums. Practitioners and researchers agree that time and energy should be spent
on training teachers in how to address the needs of gifted and talented students, both within the
regular classroom and in specialized programs. "Best Practices in Professional Learning and
Teacher Preparation in Gifted Education: Methods and Strategies for Gifted Professional
Development" is the first volume of a three-book series that acknowledges this need and provides
specific strategies for professional development in a variety of settings using various methods.
Drawing on both literature in the field and research-based best practices in professional learning,
this series provides the reader with a foundation for designing and implementing effective
professional development experiences for educators working with gifted learners. "An
Introduction to Professional Learning Strategies" focuses on a variety of techniques and methods
in professional development. From reflection practices, to using case studies, to incorporating
technology, this exceptionally well written, organized and presented instructional reference
provide specific tools and resources to consider when delivering effective professional
development related to this specific population of learners. Simply stated, "Best Practices in
Professional Learning and Teacher Preparation in Gifted Education: Methods and Strategies for
Gifted Professional Development" is an essential and core addition to school district, college, and
community library Teacher Educations collections and supplemental studies lists.
Unstuck
Bryan Goodwin, et al.
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416625902, $29.95, PB, 235pp, www.amazon.com
When it comes to educating children, good ideas, the best intentions, and a stirring vision aren't
enough to effect change in public schools. The collaborative work of Bryan Goodwin (resident
and CEO of McREL International), Dale Lewis (Senior Director of Research, Evaluation, and
Technical Assistance at McREL International), Kris Rouleau (Senior Director of Learning
Services and Innovation at McREL International), and Tonia Gibson (a McREL International
project consultant) "Unstuck: How Curiosity, Peer Coaching, and Teaming Can Change Your
School" offers a road map to help schools change from the inside out instead of the top down.
Inside-out approaches are designed to encourage schools to become more innovative and
entrepreneurial, finding better ways to help students learn and pursue their own intellectual
passions and talents while also maintaining a healthy skepticism and reliance on data to make
sure new approaches and ideas are working. This process involves seven steps: starting with
moral purpose, unleashing curiosity, building on bright spots, peer coaching toward precision,
leading from the inside out, and moving the goal posts. "Unstuck" is offers 'real world practical'
tips, real-life examples, and the next steps will help educational policy makers and leaders get
from where they are now to where they want to be. While very highly recommended for school
district, college, and university library Contemporary Education Policy collections and
supplemental studies lists, it should be noted that "Unstuck" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $28.45).
Design Thinking for School Leaders
Alyssa Gallagher & Kami Thordarson
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416625940, $29.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively written by experienced public school educator, school and district administrator,
facilitator, and educational consultant Alyssa Gallahger and public educator Kami Thordarson,
"Design Thinking for School Leaders: Five Roles and Mindsets That Ignite Positive Change"
explores the changing landscape of leadership and offers practical ways to reframe the role of
school leader using 'Design Thinking', one step at a time. Leaders can shift from "accidental
designers" to "design-inspired leaders," acting with greater intention and achieving greater
impact. "Design Thinking for School Leaders" detail five specific roles to identify opportunities
for positively impacting students, teachers, districts, parents, and the communityincluding: The
Opportunity Seeker. Shifts from problem solving to problem finding; The Experience Architect
who designs and curates learning experiences; The Rule Breaker who challenges the way things
are "always" done; The Producer who gets things done and creates rapid learning cycles for
teams; The Storyteller who captures the hearts and minds of a community. Full of examples of
Design Thinking in action in schools across the country, "Design Thinking for School Leaders" is
expertly organized and presented so as to fully enable teachers, principles, superintendents, and
school board members to guide their school to the forefront of the new design + education
movement, one that will move traditional education into the modern world and drive the future
of learning. While very highly recommended for school district, college, and university library
Teacher Education instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Design Thinking for School Leaders" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$22.76).
Eight Paths to Leadership
Belva C. Collins
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com
9781681251714, $34.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
Belva Collins is a seasoned educator herself, knows that many special education teachers are
called on as "leaders by default" when colleagues turn to them for expertise. She draws upon her
years of experience and expertise in "Eight Paths to Leadership: A Guide for Special Educators"
to show special educators how to pursue more intentional leadership roles so they can maximize
their impact in preK - 12 schools. Preservice and in-service teachers will discover eight different
paths they can follow to become leaders in: Making data-based decisions and conducting
classroom research; Effecting schoolwide change; Mentoring other teachers and
paraprofessionals; Conducting professional development and consultations; Working effectively
with families; Supporting students during transitions; Advocating for students; Connecting with
professional organizations that address disability-related concerns . For each path to leadership,
teachers will get detailed guidelines for success, grounded in up-to-date research and the author's
deep understanding of the everyday challenges educators face. Throughout this instructive study,
"Voice of a Leader" interview excerpts share nuggets of practical wisdom and show how real
teachers evolved and triumphed on diverse paths to leadership. Individual chapters include
learning objectives, definitions of key terms, thought-provoking reflection questions, interview
excerpts, and follow-up activities to help teachers delve deeper into each leadership path. Full
transcripts of interviews with eight teacher leaders are available online. A complete and
comprehensive course of study under one cover, "Eight Paths to Leadership" is an ideal special
education in-service curriculum text, and is unreservedly recommended for school district,
college and university library Teacher Education collections in general, and Special Education
supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
It's Not About Grit
Steven Goodman
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807758984, $29.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Steven Goodman is founding executive director of Educational Video Center (EVC), a nonprofit
youth media organization in New York City dedicated to teaching documentary video as a means
to develop the artistic, critical literacy, and career skills of young people. In the pages of "It's Not
About Grit: Trauma, Inequity, and the Power of Transformative Teaching " he draws upon his
years of experience and expertise working with struggling learners who may be experiencing the
trauma of poverty, violence, or family separation, as well as using a unique blend of students'
personal stories, classroom experience, and social and political policy to inform the teaching of
marginalized students to provide a comprehensive review of the issues that students bring to the
classroom, including health and housing, police and juvenile justice, immigration, gender and
identity, and foster care. At www.tcpress.com/goodman-video-clips, "It's Not About Grit"
features links to original clips from student-produced video documentaries and a curriculum
guide to spark discussions in college courses, professional development workshops, and high
school classes. Informative, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "It's Not About Grit" is
very highly recommended as an addition to school district in-service teacher training
curriculums, as well as college and university Teacher Education instructional reference
collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
Everything You Need for Mathematics Coaching
Maggie B. McGatha, et.al.
Corwin
www.corwin.com
9781544316987, $36.95
Everything You Need for Mathematics Coaching: Tools, Plans, and a Process That Works for
Any Instructional Leader, Grades K-12 packs in nearly a hundred tools both online and in the
book for grades K-12, offering a series of plans that will work for any math teacher in any
classroom. Critical coaching and teaching actions cover everything from key content knowledge
and student engagement processes to encouraging professional learning communities, using
coaching cycles to build rapport between teachers and students, and analyzing student work and
work protocols. Educators will find it rich with specifics and field-tested tools with proven track
records.
The Fishing Shelf
Fishing the Salmon River
Spider Rybaak
Burford Books, Inc.
101 East State Street, #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
www.burfordbooks.com
9781580801881, $18.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Spider Rybaak writes on angling and the outdoors for the Oswego County Tourism Bureau,
lectures frequently on fishing in the area and is the author of "Fishing The Great Lakes Of New
York" (9781580801768, $16.95 PB, $8.99 Kindle), and "Fishing Oneida Lake" (9781580801775,
$16.95 PB, $12.99 Kindle). The Salmon River in upstate New York ranks as one of the world's
great fisheries, boasting two major records to prove it: the Great Lakes record chinook salmon
(47 lbs. 13 oz.) and the world record coho salmon (33 lbs. 4 0z.) This fabulous, 44-mile-long
stream does it all, yielding up everything from a mess of panfish to a trophy wall-hanger. In
"Fishing The Salmon River", Rybaak has now written the first book to specifically detail the
where and how of fishing this outstanding length of water, with notes on all the significant
fishing spots and the tackle, techniques, and strategies to best approach them. The river hosts a
wealth of species, from three species of salmon (Atlantic, king and coho), trout, steelhead,
smallmouth bass, pike, perch and more, which can be fished with fly or spinning tackle. Rybaak,
who has fished the entire length of the Salmon River intensively for many years, draws upon his
years of experience and expertise to help any angler, from newcomer to veteran, put more fish on
the line when plying the waters of the Salmon River!
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide 2019/2020
Judith Miller
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784724207, $27.99, PB, 432pp, www.amazon.com
Judith Miller began collecting in the 1960s while a student at Edinburgh University in Scotland.
She has since extended and reinforced her knowledge of antiques through international research,
becoming one of the world's leading experts in the field. In 1979 she co-founded the international
best-seller Miller's Antiques Price Guide and has since written more than 100 books which are
held in high regard by collectors and dealers. "Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide
2019-2020" is her up-to-date guide to the collectibles market that no dealer, collector or
auctioneer should be without. Featuring more than 4,000 objects in full color, each with a
detailed description and current price range, "Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide
2019/2020" also offers instructive information on how to spot that rare example that may be
worth twenty times more than another piece. Meanwhile, in-depth Closer Look features explain
what to look for when appraising everything from 20th century glass to costume jewelry. Every
image is changed for every edition to keep the Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide"
fully up-to-date with collecting and buying trends and is the only full-color, fully-illustrated
collectibles price guide in the world. Essential, reliable, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in
organization and presentation, and an inherently fascinating volume to simply browse through,
"Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide 2019/2020" is a 'must have' reference for anyone
dealing with antiques and collectibles whether for fun or profit!
The Safe Bank Book
Michael Holz
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764355608, $79.99, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Made as toy savings banks, souvenirs, or advertising premiums, cast iron safe banks are found in
a variety of sizes, colors, and finishes, and were produced from 1865 until World War II. Due to
their numerous parts, coupled with the locking mechanism, they have not been reproduced.
Compiled by Michael Holz, "The Safe Bank Book: Cast Iron Safe Banks Made between 1865
and 1941" is the most complete listing of iron safe banks known to date and includes a broad
range of additional information, taken directly from primary reference resources, to engage both
the casual reader and serious collector. There are nearly 500 unique casting variations identified
with multiple colors and finishes represented. This catalog is augmented with informative
chapters that include more than twenty company profiles, 175 pages of this remarkable volume
are reproduced from original manufacturer catalogs, with over sixty ads from period mail order
catalogs, and nearly forty related US Patents, as well as trade cards, postcards, calendars, posters,
and other ephemera related to safe banks and the companies that made them. An inherently
fascinating browse from cover to cover, this unique, informative, and beautifully illustrated
volume will prove to be an immediate and appreciated addition to community library
Antiques/Collectibles collections -- and is a 'must' for collectors of personal cast iron savings
banks!
The Self-Help Shelf
The Outward Mindset
The Arbinger Institute
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
1333 Broadway, Suite 1000, Oakland CA, 94612
www.bkconnection.com
9781626567153, $16.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Unknowingly, too many of us operate from an inward mindset, that is, a narrow-minded focus on
self-centered goals and objectives. When faced with personal ineffectiveness or lagging
organizational performance, most of us instinctively look for quick-fix behavioral band-aids, not
recognizing the underlying mindset at the heart of our most persistent challenges. Through true
stories and simple yet profound guidance and tools, "The Outward Mindset" enables individuals
and organizations to make the one change that most dramatically improves performance, sparks
collaboration, and accelerates innovation -- a shift to an outward mindset. Exceptionally well
written, organized and presented, "The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves" is an
effective instructional guide for changing lives and transforming organizations for the better.
Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Outward Mindset" is very highly recommended for
community, corporate, and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that "The Outward Mindset" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Audio,
9781520014838, $19.99, CD).
The Travel Shelf
Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan
Amy Chavez, author
Jun Hazuki, illustrator
Stone Bridge Press
1393 Solano Avenue, Suite C, Albany CA 94706
www.stonebridge.com
9781611720433, $12.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
"Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan: Do It Right and Be Polite!" is a thoroughly 'user
friendly' guide for businessmen and vacationers to the common courtesy, acceptable behaviors,
and expected manners that are essential for any visitor to Japan. The Japanese people are
unfailingly polite and will never tell you if you've crossed the line. But by knowing how to act in
every situation you'll gain the respect of your hosts and in the end get even better service and
enjoyment during your travels. Covered here are all the essentials such as travel, greetings, and
dining -- plus subtle niceties like tone of voice, body language, cell phone usage, city vs. country
styles, and attire (and what to do about your tattoos!). Amy Chavez is a 25-year resident of Japan
and a tourist adviser who lives on the fabled Inland Sea. She draws upon her experience and
expertise in knowing just what foreign visitors need and in the illustrated pages of "Amy's Guide
to Best Behavior in Japan" delivers that information in a smart, compact, and delightfully
illustrated package for quick use and reference, making it unreservedly recommended for
personal, professional, and community library travel-oriented instructional reference
collections.
Secret Dallas
Mark Stuertz
Reedy Press
PO Box 5131, St. Louis, MO 63139
www.reedypress.com
9781681061047 $20.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Secret Dallas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure is a traveler's treasure trove of
little-known destinations in this bustling Texas metropolis. A wealth of black-and-white
photographs and an inset section of color plates enliven this tour of celebrity burial grounds, the
invention of the computer chip, a German POW camp and much more. Secret Dallas is a "must-
have" for prospective city visitors and an armchair traveler's delight, highly recommended.
Secret Philadelphia
Mary Dixon Lebeau
Reedy Press
PO Box 5131, St. Louis, MO 63139
www.reedypress.com
9781681061344 $20.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Secret Philadelphia: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure lives up to its title as a
different type of travel guide - one that spotlights amazing, lesser known places to visit and learn
from in the City of Brotherly Love. Black-and-white photographs as well as an inset section of
color plates enhance this showcase of wonders. From the tradition of throwing a penny on the
Founding Father's grave, to learning how surgery was performed in the 19th century, to the cave
of the first doomsday cult and much more, Secret Philadelphia is a "must-have" for city visitors
and a treat for armchair travelers!
The Coloring Book Shelf
Pomegranate Communications, Inc.
19018 NE Portal Way, Portland, OR 97230
www.pomegranate.com
Pomegranate Communications is a premier publisher of flawless produced and thematically
presented coloring books for adults. Five of their newest titles are particularly outstanding in
terms of quality and offering hours of quiet, meditative fun and entertainment. "A World of
Things: Denis Diderot Coloring Book" (9780764982279, $16.95, HC, 108pp) features 50
illustrations to color in a lay-flat binding and a high-quality paper-easy format to use with all
your fine coloring tools. It also provides an informative introduction about the mid-18th century
masterwork Encyclopedie, ou Dictionnaire raisonne des sciences, des arts et des metiers
(Encyclopedia, or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts and Crafts), as edited by Denis
Diderot and Jean Le Rond d Alembert. "Molly Hashimoto: Birds and Other Wildlife Coloring
Book" (9780764982187, $7.95, PB, 48pp) features images to color in the form of twenty-two
unpainted block prints celebrates nature in Molly's original artwork, creating beautiful images of
the landscapes and wildlife she encounters in the national parks and wilderness areas of the West.
"English Decorative Designs Coloring Book" (9780764982231, $7.95, 48pp) showcases twenty-
two images drawn from the English 'Arts & Crafts' movement with their exquisite textiles,
wallpaper, carpet, tile, and architectural ornaments from designers such as Christopher Dresser,
C. F. A. Voysey, William de Morgan, and Owen Jones. "Chinese Decorative Designs Coloring
Book" (9780764982255, $7.95, 48pp) presented twenty-two images drawn from a tradition
practiced for hundreds of years throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties where Chinese military
and civil officials wore large silk badges on the front and back of their robes that signified the
individual's rank based on the animal depicted. "Elegant Herbs and Medicinal Plants Coloring
Book" (9780764982286, $7.95, 48pp) is comprised of twenty-two images drawn from medieval
medical tomes such as the twelfth-century Book of Simple Medicines, by Italian physician
Matthaeus Platearius and are appreciated by pharmacists and naturalists today as snapshots of
botanical and medical history. All of these very highly recommended adult coloring books are
designed so that the individual pages can be removed and framed.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Fox
Dubravka Ugresic, author
Ellen Elias Bursac & David Williams - translators
Open Letter Books
c/o University of Rochester
Lattimore Hall 411, Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
www.openletterbooks.org
9781940953762, $16.95, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com
"Fox" by Dubravka Ugresic (who in 2016 was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for
Literature for her body of work) is the story of literary footnotes and "minor" characters --
unnoticed people propelled into timelessness through the biographies and novels of others. With
Ugresic's characteristic wit, "Fox" takes us from Russia to Japan, through Balkan minefields and
American road trips, and from the 1920s to the present, as it explores the power of storytelling
and literary invention, betrayal, and the randomness of human lives. Aptly translated into English
for an American readership by the collaborative efforts of Ellen Elias Bursac and David
Williams, "Fox" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Fox"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.98).
The Political Science Shelf
The Law of Good People
Yuval Feldman
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781107137103, $110.00, HC, 254pp, www.amazon.com
Currently, the dominant enforcement paradigm is based on the idea that states deal with 'bad
people' (or those pursuing their own self-interests at public expense) with laws that exact a price
for misbehavior through sanctions and punishment. At the same time, by contrast, behavioral
ethics posits that 'good people' are guided by cognitive processes and biases that enable them to
bend the laws within the confines of their conscience. In "The Law of Good People: Challenging
States' Ability to Regulate Human Behavior", Yuval Feldman (The Mori Lazarof Professor of
Legal Research at Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Law) analyzes these paradigms and provides a
broad theoretical and empirical comparison of traditional and non-traditional enforcement
mechanisms to advance our understanding of how states can better deal with misdeeds
committed by normative citizens blinded by cognitive biases regarding their own ethicality. By
bridging the gap between new findings of behavioral ethics and traditional methods used to
modify behavior, Professor Feldman proposes a 'law of good people' that should be read by
scholars and policymakers around the world. A work of simply brilliant scholarship, "The Law of
Good People" is a fully engaging, thought-provoking, informed and informative study that is
unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Political Science, Judicial, and
Contemporary Sociology collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for
students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Law of Good
People" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $66.49).
New York City Politics: Governing Gotham, second edition
Bruce F. Berg
Rutgers University Press
106 Somerset St., 3rd Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu
9780813586670, $110.00, HC, 358pp, www.amazon.com
Most political consultants and experts consider economic development to be the dominant factor
influencing urban politics. They point to the importance of the finance and real estate industries,
the need to improve the tax base, and the push to create jobs. In a newly updated and revised
second edition of "New York City Politics: Governing Gotham" by Bruce F. Berg (Professor of
Political Science at Fordham University) maintains that there are three forces which are equally
important in explaining New York City politics: economic development; the city's relationships
with the state and federal governments, which influence taxation, revenue and public policy
responsibilities; and New York City's racial and ethnic diversity, resulting in demands for more
equitable representation and greater equity in the delivery of public goods and services. "New
York City Politics" focuses on the impact of these three forces on the governance of New York
City's political system including the need to promote democratic accountability, service delivery
equity, as well as the maintenance of civil harmony. This second edition fully updates the
discussion with the inclusions of examples from the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations, as
well as current public policy issues including infrastructure, housing and homelessness, land use
regulations, and education. A definitive, thoughtful, and thought-provoking work of exceptional
scholarship, "New York City Politics" is unreservedly recommended for community and
academic library Contemporary Political Science collections. It should be noted for the personal
reading lists of political science students, political activists, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that "New York City Politics" is also available in a paperback
edition (9780813586663, $33.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.97).
After the Fact
Nathan Bomey
Prometheus Books
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633883772, $25.00
After the Fact: The Erosion of Truth and the Inevitable Rise of Donald Trump comes from an
award-winning journalist who maintains that Trump is not the source of the current war on truth;
but the result of an ongoing erosion of media, political, and social forces alike. When viewed
from this vantage point, Trump represents the outcome, not the source, of spin, distortion, and
deception on all fronts. As chapters document the shifting acceptance of lies and stretches of the
truth and the failure of critical thinking in America, they consider how the misinformation age
really began and how it threatens core democratic processes in a hard-hitting book that should be
on the shelves of any political and social thinker.
The Military Shelf
Operation Medusa
Major-General (Ret'd) David Fraser and Brian Hanington
McClelland & Stewart
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca
9780771039300, $24.00
Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle That Saved Afghanistan from the Taliban is a 'must have'
military reference for any collection strong in accounts of the Afghanistan war, and documents
the battle of Panjwayi, the major moment where 'Operation Medusa' saw its pivotal change take
place. In 2008, author David Fraser was the Canadian general in charge of the joint military
command in Kandahar Province; but despite his experience and familiarity with the region and
battle tactics, he wasn't prepared for what happened. His account of fifteen days of bloody
fighting is explicit, stark, and reviews the experience and consequences of a world-changing
military operation. No military collection should be without this powerful survey.
A Subaltern's Lament
Harry Turner
Pen & Sword Books
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526723673, $34.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Vienna 1954, nine years after the end of World War II and the victorious allies occupy the whole
of Austria, newly commissioned national serviceman and Fulham boy, Rory Trenchard, joins his
regiment, The Hambleshires, in Vienna at the very height of the Cold War. At nineteen he finds
himself not only learning the tough art of soldiering alongside his platoon of Battle hardened
Korean War veterans but is also exposed to the political machinations that exist between Britain
and her Allies. Vienna in 1954 is a dangerous place and in addition to honing his skills as a
warrior he is trusted to act as a go-between when a senior KGB officer plans to defect to the
west. He also falls in and out of love with an American girl and faces the choice of either just
completing two years national service, or becoming a regular officer. An usual and inherently
fascinating memoir that is impressively well written, organized and presented, "A Subaltern's
Lament" is a very highly recommended addition to community and academic library 20th
Century Military Biography & Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists
that "A Subaltern's Lament" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Seven at Santa Cruz
Ted Edwards
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.nip.org
9781682472873, $29.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Ted Edwards is an historian whose oral history work with World War II aviators and other
veterans of twentieth-century war is driven by a desire to understand the events via firsthand
account. In the pages of "Seven at Santa Cruz: The Life of Fighter Ace Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa"
he has written yet another riveting military biography that details how Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa
became a World War II naval hero. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, Swede flew an SBD
Dauntless dive-bomber and helped sink Shoho, the first aircraft carrier lost by Japan in World
War II. The next day, in that same Dauntless, he took off from USS Yorktown and out-flew and
out-gunned three Japanese Zeros, making him the only dive bomber pilot to be awarded Navy
Crosses for both bombing and aerial combat. Months later, the day before the Battle of Santa
Cruz, Swede was flying an F4F Wildcat fighter off USS Enterprise and had no recourse but to
follow orders he knew to be insane. He and his squadron mates flew their predictably empty
search legs and beyond, only to discover upon their return to Point Option in the dark, that
Enterprise was nowhere to be found. Incredibly, Swede located the oil slick he had noticed
seeping from Enterprise during a morning combat air patrol and was able to track it back to the
carrier. After their harrowing return, during the Battle of Santa Cruz, the fate of Enterprise, and
by extension Guadalcanal, lay in the hands of that same Swede Vejtasa. He responded by
single-handedly downing an unprecedented two Japanese dive bombers and five torpedo
bombers attacking the carrier. Skipper Jimmy Flatley recognized that in all likelihood, Swede
had saved Enterprise from destruction, and he recommended Swede for the Medal of Honor. A
deftly crafted and simply riveting read from first page to last, "Seven at Santa Cruz" will prove to
be a welcome and valued addition to the growing body of World War II historical biographies
and memoirs for personal, community, and academic library collections.
The Gardening Shelf
Stylish Succulents
Tokiiro
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804850957, $16.99, HC, 96pp, www.amazon.com
Colorful and hardy succulents are perfect for creating Japanese-style Bonsai and Ikebana
arrangements. Yoshinobu and Tomomi Kondo, collectively known as TOKIIRO, are garden and
green interior designers, authors, exhibitors, holders of workshops and purveyors of beautiful
gardening containers. Their atelier in Tokyo offers a wealth of ideas for adding succulents to your
living space. In "Stylish Succulents: Japanese Inspired Container Gardens for Small Spaces" they
draw upon their very special expertise and years of experience to create a unique guide showing
just how to make inexpensive projects with a Japanese aesthetic that will appeal to everyone
from interior designers, to small space enthusiasts, to avid gardeners. Beautifully illustrated
throughout, "Stylish Succulents" carefully explains every showcased design by using detailed
step-by-step photos on: How to choose succulents and containers to match your personal space
and mood; How to utilize empty wall spaces to make dramatic hanging planters; How to make a
lovely wreath for the holidays; How to create thoughtful and inexpensive gifts for friends and
family. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Stylish Succulents" is
unreservedly recommended and certain to become an enduringly popular addition to personal,
professional, community, and academic library Gardening instructional reference collections. It
should be noted that "Stylish Succulents" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$16.14).
The Agriculture Shelf
Compendium of Rice Diseases and Pests, second edition
Richard D. Cartwright, et al.
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890545881, $199.00, PB, 121pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "The Compendium of Rice Diseases and
Pests" was specifically developed to help agricultural professionals and academics obtain the
latest information on the management of diseases, insect pests, and abiotic disorders of the vitally
important crop to American agriculture -- Rice. Published more than 25 years after the first
edition, this new full-color update presents the major shifts in rice cultivation, including the more
extensive use of hybrid rice, herbicide resistance, new biotechnologies and fungicides, the
continued shrinkage of genetic diversity, and more intense cultural management systems.
Profusely illustrated throughout, this newly revised edition is exceptionally well organized and
presented, making it an imperatively important addition to professional, community, corporate,
academic, and governmental library Agriculture/Horticulture instructional reference collections
in general, and rice growing supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
Compendium of Alfalfa Diseases and Pests, third edition
Deborah A. Samac, Landon H. Rhodes, William O. Lamp
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890544464, $129.00, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively written and co-edited by the team of Deborah A. Samac, Landon H. Rhodes, and
William O. Lamp, this newly updated and expanded third edition of "The Compendium of
Alfalfa Diseases and Pests" is the most comprehensive diagnostic reference guide to date on the
many diseases and insect pests of one of our most important forage crops -- Alfalfa. This
easy-to-use instructional guide and manual includes comprehensive diagnostic and management
information on nearly 50 infectious diseases, non-infectious diseases, insect pests, and abiotic
conditions (like herbicide injury). "The Compendium of Alfalfa Diseases and Pests" is an
essential illustrated reference for researchers and practitioners worldwide. Extension scientists,
consultants, field staff, growers, plant pathologists, entomologists, as well as technical staff
members in laboratories, diagnostic clinics, and regulatory agencies will find "The Compendium
of Alfalfa Diseases and Pests" reliably helpful, especially for identifying and managing alfalfa
pests and disorders. While unreservedly recommended for professional, community, academic,
and governmental Agricultural & Horticultural instructional reference collections, it should be
note for personal reading lists that "Compendium of Alfalfa Diseases and Pests" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $116.10).
The Computer Shelf
Practical SQL
Anthony DeBarros
No Starch Press
245 - 8th Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-3910
www.nostarch.com
9781593278274, $39.95, PB, 392pp, www.amazon.com
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and
designed for managing data held in a relational database management system, or for stream
processing in a relational data stream management system. "Practical SQL: A Beginner's Guide
to Storytelling with Data" covers the fundamentals of databases and the SQL language, then
build skills by analyzing data from the U.S. Census and other federal and state government
agencies. With exercises and real-world examples in each chapter, "Practical SQL" will prove to
be an invaluable instruction guide for those who have never programmed before by providing
them with all the tools necessary to build powerful databases and access information quickly and
efficiently including: Creating databases and related tables using their own data; Defining the
right data types for their information; Aggregating, sorting, and filtering data to find patterns;
Using basic math and advanced statistical functions; Identifying errors in data and clean them up;
Importing and exporting data using delimited text files; Writing queries for geographic
information systems (GIS); Creating advanced queries and automate tasks. Comprehensive and
thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Practical SQL" is an extraordinary
and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library
Computer Science collections in general, and SQL supplemental studies reading lists in
particular. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that "Practical SQL" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).
The Woodworking Shelf
Finishing Techniques for Wood Crafters
Lora S. Irish
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781565239296, $17.99, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com
Lora S. Irish is an internationally known artist and a frequent contributor to Woodcarving
Illustrated and Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts magazines. In "Finishing Techniques for
Wood Crafters: Essential Methods with Acrylics, Oils, and More" she draws upon her years of
experience and expertise to show wood workers how to create flawless finishes for their wood
working projects each and every time using a wide array of beautiful acrylic paint techniques and
oil staining/antiquing methods. "Finishing Techniques for Wood Crafters" presents all the basics
of painting and staining any woodcarving, pyrography, or gourd project. In addition to Lori's
expert advice on tools and supplies, she also explains beautiful techniques for bringing out the
texture and character of wood, with easy-to-follow instructions and workshop photographs that
illustrate every step. Sample projects throughout the book demonstrate specific techniques
including the application of a vintage finish to a chip carved fish; creating realistic skin tones on
a wood spirit cane topper; enhancing a Celtic knot dragon with an interesting stone effect; and
more. Once wood workers master these artistic techniques they can go on to mix and match them
to add pop to any wood working project. "Finishing Techniques for Wood Crafters" will prove to
be an especially popular addition to personal, professional, community, and technical college
woodworking instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Architecture Shelf
Hanok: The Korean House
Nani Park, author
Robert J. Fouser, author
Jongkeun Lee, photographer
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804850469, $15.99, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Profusely illustrated throughout and featuring the informative commentary by Korean culture
experts Nani Park and Robert J. Fouser, "Hanok: The Korean House" provides new insights on
the stylish traditional Korean homes that are experiencing a resurgence of popularity in Seoul
today. While the exteriors of these houses are indistinguishable from traditional hanok built
decades ago, the insides have entirely changed and adapted with the times. Korea is a nation that
has radically transformed itself in recent decades, yet amidst the glass-and-steel skyscrapers and
luxury apartments, the Korean design of the hanok still survives and plays a surprisingly
important role. "Hanok: The Korean House" showcases 12 very special hanok that have been
selected to reflect the Korea of today and is a very special and impressively informed and
informative contribution to personal, professional, community, and academic library
Contemporary Architecture collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of architecture students, academia, working architects, and non-specialists
general readers with an interest in the subject that "Hanok: The Korean House" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.19).
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Demystifying the Big House
Katherine A. Foss, editor
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809336579, $38.00, PB, 366pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and edited by Katherine A. Foss (Associate Professor in the School of Journalism at
Middle Tennessee State University), the essays comprising "Demystifying the Big House:
Exploring Prison Experience and Media Representations" illustrate how shows such as 'Orange Is
the New Black' and 'Oz' impact the public's perception of crime rates, the criminal justice system,
and imprisonment. The contributors look at prison wives on reality television series, portrayals of
death row, breastfeeding while in prison, transgender prisoners, and black masculinity. They also
examine the ways in which media messages ignore an individual's struggle against an all too
frequently biased system and instead dehumanize the incarcerated as violent and overwhelmingly
masculine. Together these essays argue media reform is necessary for penal reform, proposing
that more accurate media representations of prison life could improve public support for
programs dealing with poverty, abuse, and drug addiction -- factors that increase the likelihood of
criminal activity and incarceration. An exception body of simply outstanding scholarship and
contemporary relevance, "Demystifying the Big House" is unreservedly recommended for college
and university library Cultural Studies, Feminist Studies, Queer Studies, African American
Studies, Media Studies, Penal Studies, Contemporary Sociology, and Penal Psychology
collections and supplemental reading lists for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in any of these subject areas.
Understanding the Age of Transitional Justice
Nanci Adler, editor
Rutgers University Press
http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu
9780813597775, $99.95, HC, 258pp, www.amazon.com
Since the 1980s, an array of legal and non-legal practices (often referred to as Transitional
Justice) has been developed to support post-repressive, post-authoritarian, and post-conflict
societies in dealing with their traumatic past. Compiled and edited by Nanci Adler (Professor of
Memory, History, and Transitional Justice at the University of Amsterdam and Program Director
of Genocide Studies at the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies, Royal
Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences), the contributors to "Understanding the Age of
Transitional Justice: Crimes, Courts, Commissions, and Chronicling", deftly analyze the
processes, products, and efficacy of a number of transitional justice mechanisms and look at how
genocide, mass political violence, and historical injustices are being institutionally addressed.
They invite readers to speculate on what the transcripts produced by these institutions tell us
about the past and the present, calling attention to the influence of implicit history conveyed in
the narratives that have gained an audience through international criminal tribunals, trials, and
truth commissions. Professor Adler has gathered leading specialists to scrutinize the responses to
and effects of violent pasts that provide new perspectives for understanding and applying
transitional justice mechanisms in an effort to stop the recycling of old repressions into new ones.
With an extraordinary and impressively informative body of seminal scholarship by experts in
the subject of transitional justice that is unreservedly recommended for both community and
academic library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, social activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Understanding the Age of Transitional Justice" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780813597768, $34.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.95).
The Language Studies Shelf
Ireland as Gaeilge
Olga Balaeva
Orpen Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781786050410, $24.00, PB, 150pp, www.amazon.com
Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Ireland as Gaeilge: A User-Friendly Guide to the
Irish Language" is an effective, efficient, and 'real world practical way for tourists, businessmen,
and general travelers to Ireland can negotiate the non-English elements of the Irish language in
terms of signage and conversation. "Ireland as Gaeilge" is specifically intended to promote the
Irish Language outside Ireland in a popular and engaging way, to get more people interested in
and aware of this important aspect of Irish culture often overlooked by the tourism industry.
Impressively informative and a pleasure to simply browse through, "Ireland as Gaelige" is an
especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library
Language Studies collections. It should be noted for anyone anticipating traveling to Ireland that
"Ireland as Gaelige" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Three Abecedaria
Jeremiah Reedy, author
Mary Ann Reedy, illustrator
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865168565, $12.00, PB, 122pp, www.bolchazy.com
"Three Abecedaria: An Alphabetical Approach to Vocabulary" by academician Jeremiah Reedy
aims to equip readers to become logophiles (lovers of words) by introducing them to the world of
etymology. Reedy shares his own "logophilia" with readers as he leads them meandering through
the world of words. Most abecedaria are for small children -- "A is for apple; B is for ball; C is
for cat," etc. "Three Abecedaria" are for high school students (especially juniors and seniors) who
may want to increase their vocabularies -- "A is for Apocalypticism; B is for Benediction; C is
for Cogito ergo sum," etc. The abecedaria are organized by language: Words Derived from
Greek, Words Derived from Latin, and Words Derived from Latin Phrases. Each featured
abecedarium highlights English words derived from Latin or Greek, provides etymological
explanations, and explores related English derivatives from the same roots. "Three Abecedaria"
is a unique and very special contribution that is unreservedly recommended for personal,
highschool, community, and college library Latin Language collections and supplemental studies
reading lists.
The Psychology Shelf
Feminist Therapy, second edition
Laura S. Brown
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433829116, $34.95, PB, 188pp, www.amazon.com
Laura S. Brown received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology in 1977 from Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale and has been in practice as a clinician and forensic psychologist
in Seattle since 1979. In this newly updated and revised second edition of "Feminist Therapy" she
reviews the history, theory, empirical basis, and practice of feminist therapy, a groundbreaking
approach that not only listens to, but privileges, the voices and experiences of those who have
been defined as "other" by dominant cultures. Feminist therapy has evolved significantly from its
early days. Originally it functioned primarily as a corrective against the sexist approaches of the
era, whereas now it has become a sophisticated, postmodern, technically integrative model of
practice that uses the analysis of gender, social location, and power as a primary strategy for
comprehending human difficulties. Feminist therapy is no longer just for women -- it has grown
to encompass work with women, men, children, families, and larger systems. New to this edition
is an updated discussion of the sociopolitical environment for women and other marginalized
groups, updated research, and more inclusive terminology and discussion of transgender and
nonbinary individuals. A part of the American Psychological Association's 'Theories of
Psychotherapy' series, "Feminist Therapy" is an especially and unreservedly recommended
addition to professional, community, and academic library Psychology & Counseling collections
and supplemental studies reading lists.
The World History Shelf
A Concise History of Sunnis and Shi'is
John McHugo
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781626165878, $29.95, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
The 1,400-year-old schism between Sunnis and Shi'is is currently reflected in the destructive
struggle for hegemony between Saudi Arabia and Iran -- with no apparent end in sight. But how
did this conflict begin, and why is it now the focus of so much attention? Charting the history of
Islam from the death of the Prophet Muhammad to the present day, in "A Concise History of
Sunnis and Shi'is", John McHugo (an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Centre for Syrian Studies at
the University of St. Andrews) describes the conflicts that raged over the succession to the
Prophet, how Sunnism and Shi'ism evolved as different sects during the Abbasid caliphate, and
how the rivalry between the Sunni Ottomans and Shi'i Safavids ensured that the split would
continue into the modern age. In recent decades, this centuries-old divide has acquired a new
toxicity that has resulted in violence across the Arab world and other Muslim countries.
Definitive, insightful, informative, and exceptionally well organized and presented, "A Concise
History of Sunnis and Shi'is" is a thoroughly 'reader friendly' and essential guide to understanding
the genesis, development, and manipulation of the schism that for far too many people has come
to define Islam and the Muslim world. "A Concise History of Sunnis and Shi'is" is an
extraordinary history that is enhanced with the inclusion of twelve pages of Notes, an eight page
Bibliography, a two page listing of Sources and Further Reading, and a fourteen page Index.
While an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic
library Islamic Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "A Concise
History of Sunnis and Shi'is" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.24).
The Civil War Shelf
The 96th Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Civil War
David A. Ward
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476668512, $39.95, PB, 343pp, www.amazon.com
The 96th Pennsylvania Volunteers infantry regiment was formed in 1861 with its ranks filled by
nearly 1,200 Irish and German immigrants from Schuylkill County responding to Lincoln's call
for troops. The men saw action for three years with the Army of the Potomac's VI Corps,
participating in engagements at Gaines' Mill, Crampton's Gap, Salem Church and Spotsylvania.
Drawing on letters, diaries, memoirs and other accounts, "The 96th Pennsylvania Volunteers in
the Civil War" by David A. Ward (founder of the Connecticut Civil War Round Table) is a
comprehensive history that definitively documents their combat service from the point of view of
the rank-and-file soldier, along with their views on the war, slavery, emancipation and politics. A
unique and impressively informative contribution to the growing library of American Civil War
histories, "Connecticut Civil War Round Table" is unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, and academic library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The
96th Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Civil War" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.99).
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Careers for the Criminal Justice Major
Tomas C. Mijares
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 South First Street, Springfield, IL 62704
http://www.ccthomas.com
9780398092108, $29.95, PB, 148pp, www.amazon.com
"Careers for the Criminal Justice Major " by Tomas C. Jijares specifically and comprehensively
addresses the proper preparation for careers in criminal justice. Due to rapid and continuous
changes in technology and overall society, students entering the field of criminal justice
employment will be expected to adjust to changes in their line of work. "Careers for the Criminal
Justice Major" describes the realistic descriptions of the various entry-level positions that are
offered, and practical information is provided to maximize efficiency in the selection of
academic courses that will improve a student's likelihood of success during the application
process. The major topics covered include: A Short History of Criminal Justice as an Academic
Study; The Nature of Professions; Electives that Will Help; The Importance of an Internship;
Disqualifiers and What to Avoid During College Years; Stereotypes and Misperceptions in
Criminal Justice Employment; Careers in Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Private Security;
Graduate School and Law School; Realistic Alternatives; Networking, Looking for Employment
Leads, and References; Preparing for Testing and the Interview; Preparing for Transfers to
Specialized Units and Promotions; and the Roles of Nontraditional Students, Minorities, and
Women in Criminal Justice. The names of state law enforcement training councils, federal law
enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, state regulatory agencies, federal regulatory
agencies, and criminal justice professional associations are contained in the Appendices to assist
students and faculty members. A valuable resource is especially designed to assist college
students majoring in criminal justice, police academics, and law enforcement professionals,
"Careers for the Criminal Justice Major" is a unique, extraordinary, practical, informative
instructional reference and guide that is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and
university library Jobs/Careers collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Careers for the
Criminal Justice Major" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.95).
The Philosophy Shelf
1984 and Philosophy: Is Resistance Futile?
Ezio DiNucci and Stefan Storrie
Open Court
www.opencourtbooks.com
9780812609791, $19.95
1984 and Philosophy: Is Resistance Futile? joins others in the 'Popular Culture and Philosophy'
series that make ongoing connections between different philosophical viewpoints and modern
cultural dilemmas and current events. George Orwell's novel 1984 holds renewed interest in
modern times, and in this book an international team of philosophers report on different social
and political dilemmas and their philosophical connections in reflections that prove philosophy
isn't just for the ancients. Modern students and college-level debaters will find this a powerful
consideration filled with many contemporary reflections on the past, present and future of 1984's
vision.
The Reference Shelf
Mathematical Methods for Physics Using MATLAB & Maple
James R. Claycomb
Mercury Learning
www.merclearning.com
9781683920984, $89.95
Mathematical Methods for Physics Using MATLAB & Maple is designed as a college-level
reference to be used by students and professionals in physics and engineering who have
completed first-year calculus and physics. Examples of MATLAB and Maple applications are
provided for symbolic and numerical calculations in physics, applying many basic concepts to the
next step in understanding basic physics topics applicable to mechanics, relativity, and beyond.
From a review of ordinary differential equations to complex analysis and principles of
electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and special relativity, this math-based concept guide may
be used as either a classroom text or for individual study, and includes a disc of companion files
and worksheets supporting the book's contents.
The Social Issues Shelf
The Power of Context
Daniel R. Stalder
Prometheus Books
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633884014, $26.00
The Power of Context: How to Manage Our Bias and Improve Our Understanding of Others
considers values systems, judgment calls, and how bias creeps into lives and social interactions
to create misunderstandings. Social science and psychology readers alike receive a collection of
examples of how bias enters into social interactions, its damaging effects, and how prejudices
build from individual experience to permeate worldviews and social observation processes. His
narrowed focus on context and its confusing aspects makes for a thought-provoking examination
that's hard to put down.
The Technology Shelf
Vertical GaN and SiC Power Devices
Kazuhiro Mochizuki
Artech House
www.artechhouse.com
9781630814274, $169.00
Vertical GaN and SiC Power Devices comes from a recognized expert on microwave technology
and provides reference readers with a comparison of different power devices and their software
and hardware models. Engineers should expect a discussion that incorporates solid state physics
as it relates to these devices, chapters packed with discussions of power diodes, fabrication
processes, and power-switching devices, and a wealth of charts and equations supporting all
technical details. Each chapter offers an in-depth summary that includes extensive references,
making this a 'must' reference for any engineering library.
Artech House
www.artechhouse.com
Two new reference books are highly recommended works for college-level collections strong in
electronics systems ranging from microwave technology to software-designed radio systems, and
will appeal to any reference holding for engineers. Terry Edwards' Technologies for RF Systems
(9781630814502, $159.00) introduces the concepts and pieces involved in RF engineering and
microwave technology, offering engineers tips on design, circuitry, amplification, active
electronics arrays, noise figures for cascaded blocks, and more. Equations pack discussions that
review practical applications and terms for understanding parameters, expressions, and the
fundamentals of RF system operations. The result serves as both a primer and a refresher course.
Travis F. Collins, et.al.'s Software-Defined Radio for Engineers (9781630814571, $159.00) is
written by a team of industry experts and is designed to help engineers learn the software-defined
radio concepts and the latest writing designs for real-world applications. It considers wireless
techniques, includes discussions of matched filtering, source coding, and transmit techniques for
SDR, packs in black and white charts and diagrams of designs and programming tools, and uses
different case studies throughout to discuss applications and pros and cons of different
approaches. The result is recommended for any collection catering to engineers working in the
area of software radio applications and design.
The Sports Shelf
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, ninth edition
The Mountaineers
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680510041, $34.95
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills appears in its ninth updated edition to maintain its
position as a classic mountaineering guide. It covers all the basics of planning a serious
mountaineering expedition; from rappelling techniques and climbing under different conditions
from snow to big wall climbing to navigation and rescue operations. Why the need for updated
editions? Because new equipment and techniques affect mountaineering developments and
options, and this survey, vetted by a team of over 30 expert mountaineers and climbing
instructors, incorporates all the latest technology and studies. Add 400 illustrations (many new to
this edition) for a winning 'bible' that should be required reading before any serious
mountain-climbing expedition is assembled.
The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking, sixth edition
Derek C. Hutchinson
Falcon
www.falcon.com
9781493024230, $26.95
The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking appears in its sixth updated edition to provide readers with
an update to a guide which first appeared in 1976 and which has received regular updates since.
This is the 40th anniversary of its original appearance, and it's been completely updated to
include new sea kayaking developments by Wayne Horodowich, Hutchinson's friend and the
founder of the University of Sea Kayaking. Included in this survey are considerations of what
causes capsizing, how to handle waves, negotiating surf conditions, navigating, and more. No
sports reference collection, particularly those appealing to water enthusiasts in general and
kayakers in particular, should be without this guide, which comes packed with color illustrations
and specific how-to instructions throughout.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
How Hitler Was Made
Cory Taylor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633884359, $25.00, HC, 295pp, www.amazon.com
"How Hitler Was Made: Germany and the Rise of the Perfect Nazi" by documentary maker Cory
Taylor is the detailed story of how an obscure agitator on the political fringes of
early-20th-century Germany rose to become the supreme leader of the "Third Reich". The
focuses is on Hitler's formative period immediately following the conclusion of World War I
which would launch an unintended era of political unrest and violent conflict, when forces on
both the left and right were engaged in a desperate power struggle. Among the competing groups
was a highly sophisticated network of ethnic chauvinists that discovered Hitler and groomed him
into the leader he became. Based on archival research in Germany, England, and the US, "How
Hitler Was Made" is striking narrative revealing how the manipulation of facts and the use of
propaganda helped an obscure, embittered malcontent to gain political legitimacy, which led to
dictatorial power over a nation. While very highly recommended for both community and
academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "How Hitler Was
Made" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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