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Reviewer's Choice
A Grief Postponed: A Nurse Practitioner's Journey Through Delayed Grief
Jacqueline Werket
https://jacquelinewerket.com
Guardian of Light Books LLC
9798993687810, $17.99, PB, 228pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Postponed-Practitioners-Journey-Through/dp/B0GL9NC93S
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-grief-postponed-jacqueline-werket/1149479272
Synopsis: Do you struggle with unexplained body aches and relentless fatigue, only to be reassured by your doctor that everything is normal? You may be facing the insidious grip of delayed grief, an emotion that ambushes us months or even years after a loss.
In her personal memoir, "A Grief Postponed: A Nurse Practitioner's Journey Through Delayed Grief", Jacqueline Werket courageously shares her life experience of suppressed grief following the death of her son a decade earlier.
Readers will join with Jacqueline as she opens her heart and invites them to a journey alongside her through her son's lost battle with leukemia, the repressed grief that impacted her life for ten years and her path toward healing.
Her readers will discover that they are not alone in their sorrow. That Werket's transformation becomes a beacon of hope and renewal for all seeking solace and the courage to begin again.
Critique: Authentic, deftly crafted, insightful, inspiring, "A Grief Postponed: A Nurse Practitioner's Journey Through Delayed Grief" is an extraordinarily personal story of recovering from chronic grief that will have a universal resonance and value for others struggling with the same issues of depression and loss. With an impressive level of eloquence, "A Grief Postponed" will hold a special interest for readers concerned with grief, bereavement, familial conflict resolution, and mental/spiritual healing. Exceptional, engaging, memorable, "A Grief Postponed" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir Collections and supplemental Death & Grief Counseling curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Jacqueline Werket (https://jacquelinewerket.com) holds a Baccalaureate degree in nursing and a masters degree from the University of Minnesota, Jacqueline's expertise is unmatched. She co-created the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States, serving as its first president, and she is a certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist, showcasing her commitment to helping others navigate their grief. Her knowledge is enriched by studies with renowned practitioners, including Jack Canfield, the New York Times best-selling co-author of The Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul and the Success Principles, and New York Times best-selling author, Oliver Nino, of Do This Before Bed. She honed her Qigong skills with Chi Kung Master, Binhui He, and is a certified Geo1 energy healer.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Invention and Craft, 2nd Edition
Ronda Leathers Dively
Anthem Press
www.anthempress.com
9781839989773, $89.95, PB, 300pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Invention-Craft-Second-Exercising-Creativity/dp/1839989777
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/invention-and-craft-second-edition-ronda-leathers-dively/1143330108
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Invention and Craft: Exercising Creativity in College Writing and Research" by Ronda Leathers Dively is a first-year college composition textbook that employs creativity theory to augment best practices in writing instruction.
Promoting a problem-solving, insight-driven approach to composing, it casts students in the role of meaning-makers by pinpointing strategies for transforming knowledge, the hallmark of successful expository prose.
"Invention and Craft: 2nd Edition" offers an explicit treatment of knowledge transfer fosters recognition of patterns within and across genres and encourages students to apply lessons learned in subsequent rhetorical situations. Furthermore, "Invention and Craft: 2nd Edition" provides an instructional framework that maps similarities between expository writing and creative activity in other venues as a means of demystifying the former and broadening students' repertoire of composing strategies.
Acknowledging individual cognitive styles and diverse interests, "Invention and Craft: 2nd Edition" places a high priority on energizing students and building their confidence as writers.
Critique: This trade paperback edition of "Invention and Craft: Exercising Creativity in College Writing and Research, 2nd Edition" by Ronda Leathers Dively is a complete and comprehensive instructional course on how to best and successfully write compositions and publishable papers at the college/university level. Exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, the new and expanded second edition of "Invention and Craft" from Anthem Press is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Ronda Leathers Dively is aretired Southern Illinois University Rhetoric and Composition Professor and writing program administrator. She is also the author of Preludes to Insight: Creativity, Incubation and Expository Writing (Hampton Press, 2006), Invention and Craft: A Guide to College Writing (McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2016) and Creativity and the Paris Review Interviews: A Discourse Analysis of Famous Authors' Composing Practices (Anthem Press, 2022). Additionally, she has written numerous articles on expository writing pedagogy and writing program administration.
The Social Issues Shelf
Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It
Annie Leonard and Andre Carothers, authors
Patagonia
9781952338335, $40.00, HC, 276pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Protest-Respect-Defend-Annie-Leonard/dp/1952338336
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/protest-annie-leonard/1148702579
Synopsis: Our right to peaceful protest is under attack, and we must act now!
Co-authored by Annie Leonard and Andre Carothers, "Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It" offers a powerful look at the role peaceful activism has played in advancing the public good -- and shines a light on the urgent need to protect this democratic right. This is not a how-to guide. Rather, it is a celebration of what collective action can achieve, an invitation to be inspired, and a reminder that each of us has the capacity to make a difference.
Featuring more than 40 iconic campaigns from around the world, "Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It" deftly combines photos, artifacts, and memorable quotes to create a vivid testament to the power of public dissent. Guest essays from Jane Fonda, Tennessee Representative Justin Pearson, Dolores Huerta, Nemonte Nenquimo, and others reveal how protest shaped their own commitment to driving change. Through storytelling and first-hand reflection, readers are invited to witness, reflect, and engage in peaceful activism -- right here, right now.
From rivers that don't catch fire, to the freedom to marry whom we love, to clean air and water, to weekends off, It's been peaceful protest (protected in the U.S., as in many countries, as a cornerstone of participatory democracy) that helped bring about each of these accomplishments. "Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It" documents free speech, dissent, and public mobilization as essential tools for advancing so many causes, including environmental protection, workers' rights, human rights, self-determination, and climate, social, and racial justice.
Yet even as protest has delivered lasting progress (and perhaps because of it) the right to speak freely and organize is increasingly under threat. Crackdowns are no longer confined to authoritarian regimes; anti-protest sentiment is spreading across established democracies. Activists are being vilified, targeted, and even criminalized. In the U.S., anti-protest laws have been enacted in 49 states. SLAPP suits (meritless legal actions used to silence dissent) are on the rise. New legal concepts like "negligent protest" are being used to hold organizers liable for damages, while violent actions by anti-democratic forces are reframed or excused.
Published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of one of history's most consequential acts of protest (the signing of the Declaration of Independence) "Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It" is an invitation. It invites readers to learn about the creativity, courage, and impact of peaceful protest, to be inspired by those who came before, and to recognize that this essential democratic right belongs to everyone -- now more than ever.
Critique: An essential part of the clarion call to defend against the erosion of constitutionally guaranteed rights in general, and protesting against injustice in particular, "Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It" is essential reading for this current generation of citizens seeking to preserve American Democracy, right wrongs, improve lives, protect the planet, and so much more. Profusely illustrated throughout and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Civil Rights & Contemporary Social Issues collections and supplemental Political Science studies lists, it should be note by students, academics, political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that his hardcover edition of "Protest: Respect It Defend It Use It" from Patagonia is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.95).
Editorial Note #1: Annie Leonard is a lifelong activist who has protested on multiple continents over many years. She spent seventeen years with Greenpeace US, including serving as Executive Director from 2014 to 2023; created The Story of Stuff film, book, and organization; co-launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC; and campaigned against the international trade in hazardous waste and technologies around the world. Annie speaks and writes frequently about environmental and democracy issues, focusing on pollution, waste, consumerism, climate, and activism. She has appeared in numerous media, has testified before Congress, and has received a number of awards for her work, including an honorary degree from Vermont Law School and inclusion in Time magazine's Heroes of the Environment.
Editorial Note #2: Andre Carothers is an activist, writer, and organizer. Andre has been involved in campaigns and protests on issues of climate change, human rights, environmental protection, and nuclear disarmament for over four decades. He worked for Greenpeace US for thirteen years, including serving on the board of directors. He is the cofounder of the Rockwood Leadership Institute, a training organization for activists, and works as an organizational development consultant and coach for leaders in the social change sector. He has served as an adviser and board member of numerous organizations, including International Rivers, the Center for Environmental Health, the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Furthur Foundation, Rainforest Action Network, and the Story of Stuff Project
The AI Studies Shelf
The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality
Steven Rosenbaum
Matt Holt Books
c/o BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637749104, $30.00, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Future-Truth-How-Reshapes-Reality/dp/1637749104
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-future-of-truth-steven-rosenbaum/1148559801
Synopsis: Truth was never simple, but facts were facts. Now, even that is changing. You feel the drift (the blur) as stories bend, facts fracture, and reality starts to feel... negotiable. That's not failure -- it's the fight for the future of Truth.
With the publication of "The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality", we go on a truth treasure hunt with author, filmmaker, and media explorer Steven Rosenbaum as he sets out to understand how this is happening -- and what comes next. What begins as a personal investigation becomes something stranger and more urgent: a story about systems captured, consensus collapsing, and humans caught in the digital crossfire.
"The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality covers:
How Truth is being bent, blurred, and synthesized, and how the ways we love, work, learn, and remember are changing -- even history is no longer trusted.
Why institutions we recently trusted (medicine, education, justice, journalism) are collapsing under pressure of fast-moving, profit-driven AI.
What happens when war is waged with data, protests are hijacked by bots, and power hides behind precision algorithms.
How, in their hunger for clarity, robots erase Truth's messy, beautiful middle, replacing it with something cold, confident, and designed to serve soulless AI, not the humans who built it
At the heart of "The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality" are exclusive, provocative conversations with some of the most original thinkers of our time: wild-haired philosopher David Chalmers calls it "a simulated reality crisis." Cultural provocateur Douglas Rushkoff says, "Truth has been coded for profit." Legal legend Larry Lessig warns of "an attention economy built to distort." AI truth-teller Gary Marcus sees "confidence without comprehension." Gen Z literary leader Hailey Colborn, raised inside the feed, says "Truth isn't something you find -- it's something you perform." And futurists and reformers Juan Enriquez, Esther Dyson, Steve Fuller, and Eli Pariser each offer raw, urgent, and provocative visions on where Truth is headed --and whether we can still catch it before it falls off a cliff.
Part cultural investigation, part memoir, and part manifesto, "The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality" is a wild journey into the collapse -- and the humans determined to rebuild Truth into something better, before AI rewrites reality without us.
Critique: Artificial Intellience is already busy at work shaping and directing the world we live in today. The rapidly expanding roles of AI and equally rapid advancements of this technology will result in seismic changes in our society, our culture, our lives, our realities. This is why "The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality" by Steven Rosenbaum is so timely and essential a selection choice for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Artificial Intelligence/Technology collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, governmental policy makers, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in this subject that the hardcover edition of "The Future of Truth: How AI Reshapes Reality" from Matt Holt is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Steven Rosenbaum is the executive director of the Sustainable Media Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring the impact of AI and social media on truth and society. An accomplished writer and commentator, Rosenbaum has authored books such as Curation Nation and The Future of Truth, where he delves into the ethical and societal implications of technology on media and public discourse. With a master's degree from NYU's Gallatin School focusing on the future of truth, he is a recognized thought leader on issues related to media integrity, AI, and digital transformation. His insights are regularly featured in publications like HuffPost, Forbes, and Fast Company, making him a sought-after speaker on the evolving landscape of technology and truth. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Rosenbaum)
The Science Shelf
A New Theory of the Visible Universe
Joe Fisher
Leadstart Inkstate
https://www.leadstartcorp.com
9789362637581, $12.00, PB, 167pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/New-Theory-Visible-Universe/dp/9362637588
Synopsis: For over a century, physicists have upheld the belief that the universe consists of both matter and space -- two fundamental components of existence. With the publication of A New Theory of the Visible Universe, Joe Fisher boldly challenges this long-standing assumption, proposing a revolutionary vision of reality: there has never been any "space." Instead, there has only ever been one infinite, visible, contrasting surface -- eternal, seamless, and continuously illuminated by an infinite form of finite non-surface light.
Fisher's radical reasoning dismantles the core principles of modern astrophysics. He asserts that the universe cannot expand, that Einstein's curved space-time is imaginary, and that Edwin Hubble's observations were misinterpreted. The Big Bang, Fisher argues, was an illusion -- for an infinite universe could never have a beginning, an end, nor a period of cooling. Infinity does not explode; it endures.
In this groundbreaking study, Fisher refutes the work of Einstein, Hubble, and Hawking, as well as the theories endorsed by NASA, Roscosmos, and the China National Space Administration. Written with clarity, conviction, and the rare courage to question scientific orthodoxy, "A New Theory of the Visible Universe" invites readers to reexamine everything they believe about existence itself.
"A New Theory of the Visible Universe" is not just a book about physics -- it is a call to see the universe as it truly appears: infinite, visible, and forever alive in contrast.
Critique: An original, seminal, and iconoclastic study, "A New Theory of the Visible Universe" by Joe Fisher challenges established/traditional views on the nature of reality. Erudite, eloquent, and exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, this thoughtful and thought-provoking study is an unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Philosophy of Science collections and supplemental Astrophysics curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "A New Theory of the Visible Universe" from Leadstart Inkstate is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.00).
Editorial Note: Joe Fisher is also the author of "Learning and Living with AI: A Practical Guide to Curiosity in the Digital Age" (Independently Published, 9798275614909, $9.99 PB, $5.99 Kindle, 50pp).
The Education Shelf
Cultivating Change in Schools
Chun Sing Maxwell Ho
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781035366545, $145.00, HC, 230pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Cultivating-Change-Schools-Entrepreneurial-Strategies/dp/1035366541
Synopsis: A cutting-edge book illustrating the need for schools to be innovative, flexible and proactive in rapidly changing contexts, "Cultivating Change in Schools: Entrepreneurial Strategies for Educators and Leaders" by Professor Chun Sing Maxwell Ho suggests that by adopting an entrepreneurial mindset, schools can create environments where teachers feel supported, students are empowered and communities become stronger.
The individual chapters comprising "Cultivating Change in Schools: Entrepreneurial Strategies for Educators and Leaders" draw upon international research to provide practical strategies for leading change, including building teamwork, forming community partnerships and embedding fresh ideas into daily routines.
Professor Ho combines theoretical and practical insights in a range of case studies across primary, secondary and SEN schools, examining curriculums in self-directed learning and innovation. "Cultivating Change in Schools: Entrepreneurial Strategies for Educators and Leaders" ably demonstrates that meaningful change in education does not come from one leading figure but from collective leadership, trust and resilience.
"Cultivating Change in Schools: Entrepreneurial Strategies for Educators and Leaders " will prove to be a valuable resource for students and scholars of educational leadership, management and policy. It will also benefit school management teams, teachers, education policy and reform researchers and professional development providers.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study in the field of education, "Cultivating Change in Schools: Entrepreneurial Strategies for Educators and Leaders" by Professor Chun Sing Maxwell Ho is deftly organized into three major sections: Catalysts of Change in Education; The Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Leadership; Embedding Entrepreneurial Leadership. Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, this hardcover edition of "Cultivating Change in Schools: Entrepreneurial Strategies for Educators and Leaders" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists of educators, academia, and administrators, as well as professional and college/university library MBA & Education Philosophy/Policy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Chun Sing Maxwell Ho is an Assistant Professor, Department of Education Policy and Leadership, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Sy_FLtEAAAAJ&hl=zh-TW)
Bored At Home: A Language Arts Workbook
Debra A. Boyle M.Ed
https://authorwebservices-temp4.net/WestBowPress/868946
WestBow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
www.westbowpress.com
9798385060443, $28.99, PB, 176pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Bored-At-Home-Language-Workbook/dp/B0G1CRNYPB
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bored-at-home-debra-a-boyle-m-ed/1148697952
Synopsis: "Bored At Home: A Language Arts Workbook" an instructional workbook for students who don't like to write!
Written and illustrated by language arts tutor Debra Boyle and drawing upon her more than two decades of experience helping young students learn to write, "Bored At Home: A Language Arts Workbook" will help introduce an elementary school student to the fun of writing and reading comprehension.
Each chapter comprising "Bored At Home: A Language Arts Workbook" contains:
A story plot surrounding a mystery to solve, humorous (bored at home) main character. Comprehension questions that challenge young minds to remember details, draw conclusions, and form opinions.
Answers to questions for parents or students to self-check; literary terms that increase skills and knowledge for better reading and writing; writing tasks that involve your student's personality and give them pride in their finished work.
Examples of how to write their best (as well as comparisons to poorly written work).
Simple illustrations leaving room for young imaginations to fill-in or color-complete
One full-page beautiful illustration to be inspirational or prompt curiosity
Motivation to do the best work and continue through every chapter to the end!
Critique: This consumable trade paperback (11 x 0.46 x 8.5 inches, 1.28 pounds) edition of "Bored At Home: A Language Arts Workbook" by educator Debra A. Boyle is ideal for a classroom and home-schooling literacy development curriculums for children ages.5-10. With it, children will learn to enjoy and engage in the language arts of poetry and prose, storytelling and the written word. Original, extraordinary, effective, 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation, "Bored At Home: A Language Arts Workbook" is a fun and unreservedly recommended pick for Elementary School classroom teachers and home-schooling parents of young children.
Editorial Note: Debra Boyle is a Learning Specialist and Cognitive Developer working to assist students of all ages through difficult areas of education. Her work has been tried with students and then modified as she sees their response to worksheets, short stories, etc. during the last 22 years (since 1992). While she works individually on a tutorial basis or small groups, her graphics and content is aimed at simplifying concepts to best transfer learning for all students. Boyle holds a Master's degree in psychology and specializes in observing and discovering ways in which students learn easiest. She also employs graphics that are both helpful and motivational. (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/debra-a-boyle-med)
Into Oblivion: The Preventable Collapse of the University of the Arts
Andrew Hanna
Independently Published
9781955144148, $39.99, HC, 250pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Into-Oblivion-Preventable-Collapse-University/dp/1955144141
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-oblivion-andrew-hanna/1148667170
Synopsis: With the publication of "Into Oblivion: The Preventable Collapse of the University of the Arts", Andrew Hanna provides a gripping investigation into the sudden downfall of one of Philadelphia's oldest cultural and educational institutions. Once celebrated as a hub for creativity and innovation, the University of the Arts (UARTS) closed its doors abruptly in 2024, leaving students, faculty, and alumni stunned.
But this collapse was not inevitable -- it was preventable.
Drawing on more than a year of intensive research, Hanna uncovers the hidden decisions, financial missteps, and administrative failures that pushed UARTS toward insolvency. From questionable donations and mounting debt, to missed opportunities for enrollment growth, to leadership strategies that echoed failed models elsewhere, Hanna pieces together a story of mismanagement and neglect.
Far from a dry financial audit, "Into Oblivion" offers a vivid narrative of how misaligned priorities and poor communication can unravel even the most historic of institutions. Through careful documentation, it reveals how the warning signs - ignored faculty concerns, unsustainable tuition strategies, and opaque capital campaigns - were visible years before the final announcement.
More than an institutional autopsy, "Into Oblivion" asks urgent questions about the future of higher education. How do universities balance mission and survival? What role should transparency and accountability play in nonprofit governance? And how can communities safeguard the schools that shape culture and opportunity?
For alumni, educators, policymakers, and anyone concerned with the state of higher education, "Into Oblivion" offers both a case study and a cautionary tale. It is an essential read for understanding not just how one university collapsed, but what its demise means for the future of creative and academic institutions across the nation.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "Into Oblivion: The Preventable Collapse of the University of the Arts" is as informative as it is fascinating. Of immense interest with readers concerned with the financial state of colleges and universities, "Into Oblivion" is a meticulous, detailed, and exhaustive study that is impressively 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Arts Sustainability and College/University Financing collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Into Oblivion" is also readily available in paperback (9781955144155, $29.95).
Editorial Note: Andrew Hanna is a graduate student pursuing concurrent degrees in aerospace and electrical engineering. Alongside his academic work, he has developed a strong interest in institutional accountability, financial transparency, and the social impacts of organizational collapse.
The American History Shelf
Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights
Cody McDevitt
https://codymcdevitt.com
Independently Published
9798994112625, $29.99, HC, 416pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Given-No-Choice-History-Abortion/dp/B0GTL4D1WB
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/given-no-choice-cody-mcdevitt/1149817844
Synopsis: With the publication of "Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights", journalist and author Cody McDevitt provides a sweeping narrative history of abortion rights in America that ranges from whispered remedies and underground networks, to the legal battles, activists, and political forces that shaped modern reproductive freedom.
For more than a century, the fight for abortion access has been told in fragments -- court cases, headlines, protests, and political battles that rarely capture the human story underneath. "Given No Choice" brings those pieces together. Drawing on archival research, rare interviews, oral histories, legislative transcripts, and firsthand accounts, McDevitt weaves an urgent, intimate, and deeply human history of how abortion rights were won, lost, and defended across generations.
From midwives and discreet physicians operating in the shadows, to the women forced into dangerous decisions, to the organizers and attorneys who risked livelihoods to challenge the law, "Given No Choice" lays bare the truth: abortion in America has never been just a medical issue -- it has always been a struggle for autonomy, dignity, and power.
Inside this groundbreaking book, readers will discover:
The hidden networks that allowed women to access abortions long before Roe v. Wade
How politicians, judges, and religious movements reshaped reproductive law
The real stories of women harmed (and sometimes saved) by the choices available to them
The rise of the anti-abortion movement and the strategies it still uses today
Exclusive interviews with doctors, activists, legal experts who witnessed the fight firsthand
What the post-Roe landscape reveals about the future of reproductive freedom
Deftly blending investigative journalism with narrative nonfiction, "Given No Choice" offers a definitive, unflinching account of one of the most consequential civil rights battles of our time. "Given No Choice" is a vital book for anyone who wants to understand how we got here -- and what comes next.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking cultural, political, and medical history of American abortion law and practices, "Given No Choice: A History of Abortion Rights" by journalist Cody McDevitt is a meticulously presented, impressively informative, and definitive study of one of America's most divisive and politicized social issues today. A fascinating and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Abortion/Birth Control collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be note for students, academia, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Given No Choice" that it is also available in paperback (9798994112618, $22.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Cody McDevitt (https://codymcdevitt.com) is an award-winning journalist, historian, playwright, and author known for bringing overlooked and complex histories to life. His previous books include Banished from Johnstown, a deeply reported history of racial expulsion in Western Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh Drinks, a cultural history of the region's cocktail and spirits scene. McDevitt's journalism and nonfiction writing combine investigative depth with narrative storytelling, illuminating the human experiences behind major social and legal shifts. Alongside his books, he is developing plays and screenplays based on true events, including the stories of Dr. Aleck Bourne, Joan Malleson, and the Rosedale Banishment. He shares ongoing research and commentary through his newsletter, Repro Rights Now, and continues to work on new book, theatre, and film projects.
America, But Bigger
Mark Kawar
Independently Published
https://americabutbigger.com
9798901741689, $19.99 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 409pp
Synopsis: In his first term, President Donald Trump privately raised an idea so far outside the Washington mainstream that it shocked his inner circle. His advisers couldn't be sure at first whether he was joking or serious. Trump wanted the United States to buy the island of Greenland. Aides were confused, then skeptical, until Trump made it clear that he was entirely serious. He grew increasingly excited at the prospect of making the largest real estate deal of his career. It would be America's first territorial expansion in the 21st century. Adding the world's largest island would make America the second-largest country in the world, overtaking Canada. Borders that had seemed fixed would move again. In the republic's early years, it grew by repeatedly buying, negotiating for, and conquering territory. So why, Trump asked, couldn't America do it again?
Trump ended his first term in 2021 without any noticeable progress toward acquiring Greenland, and for a time, the episode was mostly forgotten. But it made Mark Kawar wonder: What other foreign lands could have been added to the United States? Why did America annex some places but not others? And what would the U.S. look like today if it had gained all of the territory it could have?
Mark decided to make a post on Reddit. It would have been a map showing all of the potential annexations in America's history. He expected it would take me about 20 minutes. He shaded today's U.S. territory in blue, and possible land acquisitions in red.
So first, Mark colored Greenland red. Then added red to Canada and Mexico, since both have been targets of numerous attempted land grabs. That created a large, contiguous, colored area over North America. Then he shaded Cuba, an island in America's sights for most of the 19th century and into the 20th. And the Philippines, on the other side of the Pacific, which the U.S. annexed but later granted its independence.
Mark also found that he would need to add all of the far-flung islands that the U.S. once claimed around the world, which are now part of other countries. That would put little red dots across multiple oceans (plus some blue dots for the territories that the U.S. took and kept). The map was starting to fill up. This was a bigger project than he had expected. The more research he did, the more annexation targets he learned about: Russian Arctic islands, part of Malaysia, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The red was creeping across the globe!
Mark's text accompanying the map kept growing, too, as he added more historical details. But it all remained a draft. He couldn't post anything because there was more information he needed to include. He kept learning more stories of potential annexations: Indonesia, Ecuador, Taiwan. The more rabbit holes Mark went down, the more history he unearthed: America's possible annexations have been vast.
Mark had been reading about history and geography all his life, but he was surprised at how many stories he was learning about for the first time. There was enough history here to fill a book. So he wrote "America, But Bigger".
Whether seeking natural resources, trade wealth, military advantage, slavery, humanitarian goals, or just the thrill of conquest, both Americans and foreigners have engaged in an almost continuous effort to expand U.S. borders for over 250 years. Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century phrase, but American expansionism predates the Declaration of Independence.
Since its founding, America has successfully acquired territory that had been held by the United Kingdom (and its Canadian colonies), France, Spain, Mexico, Russia, independent Hawaii, Samoa, Denmark, and Japan, as well as numerous Native nations. That's how the country grew from 13 colonies hugging the Atlantic coast to 50 states and 14 territories spanning the globe today. "America, But Bigger" isn't about the lands the nation acquired and still possesses. It's about the might-have-beens: the annexation attempts that would have changed the size, culture, politics, and demographics of the country (dramatically or minutely) if they had succeeded.
I learned from my research that these attempted annexations have included the territory of at least 40 of the modern countries of the world (maybe over 60, depending on what you count). That's at least one in five countries that would be smaller today - or not exist at all - if the annexationists had succeeded. Some of the lands were sought through war, some by diplomacy, some by exploration. Some, like Trump's interest in Greenland, were attempted purchases. Some places had populations that welcomed Uncle Sam's embrace or even asked to join the Union. Others tenaciously fought American advances. Others had no population at all. Some territories were taken and then let go again, like fish caught and then released back into the sea. Either they steadfastly resisted annexation, or America lost interest. The histories of these unsuccessful expansions include tales of bravery, greed, altruism, hubris, racism, hucksterism, and larger-than-life characters. They are America's history in microcosm.
Critique: "America, But Bigger" by Mark Kawar is an original, seminal, meticulous, and groundbreaking study of an aspect of American political and imperial history that is not taught in school. It may shock the reader to learn that Donald Trump's talk about possible going to war to against the Danish in order to obtain Greenland, or his declaration that after kidnaping the President of Venezuela that he was now in charge of that country, is well in line with the history of American expansion efforts -- some of which succeed and some of which failed. A unique, fascinating, informative and iconoclastic read from start to finish, "America, But Bigger" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Mark Kawar offers his online Annexation Blog which is available online at: https://americabutbigger.com/annexation-blog
Delaware Keepers: Life at the Edge of the Sea
Dave Tabler, author
Regina Higgins, editor
Independently Published
9798992166767, $36.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Delaware-Keepers-Life-Edge-Sea/dp/B0G8S3YZCX
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/delaware-keepers-dave-tabler/1148984774
Synopsis: For more than 170 years, Delaware's lighthouse keepers guarded one of the most dangerous coastlines in America. Their lives unfolded far from the spotlight, yet their work shaped maritime safety, coastal communities, and generations of families who lived at the edge of the sea.
With the publication of "Delaware Keepers: Life at the Edge of the Sea", author Dave Tabler tells the largely untold story of these men and women-from the first keeper appointed in 1769 to the quiet end of human watchkeeping in the mid-twentieth century. Drawing on newspapers, government records, congressional testimony, and family histories, the book reveals lighthouse keepers not as lonely eccentrics or tragic figures, but as skilled federal employees whose lives blended technical responsibility, civic duty, and family endurance.
The story begins at Cape Henlopen during the colonial era, when keepers worked under primitive conditions amid political upheaval. During the Revolutionary War, Elizabeth Dickerson reportedly burned the lighthouse rather than allow it to guide British ships. In the early republic, keepers like Abraham Hargis pleaded with President Thomas Jefferson for relief from isolation and financial hardship, exposing the human cost of maintaining the nation's coastal lights.
As lighthouse construction accelerated in the nineteenth century, so did the challenges. New technologies, inadequate training, and bureaucratic neglect left many keepers struggling. Reform came in 1852 with the creation of the U.S. Lighthouse Board, which professionalized the service and reshaped daily life at the stations. The Civil War tested that system, while producing a generation of keepers-often war veterans-who elevated the role's public standing.
Contrary to the popular myth of light keeper isolation, most keepers lived stable lives rooted in family and community. They raised children, joined churches and civic groups, and served for decades at the same stations. When tragedy struck, it stemmed from specific circumstances, not inevitable madness. "Delaware Keepers: Life at the Edge of the Sea" replaces legend with lived reality.
This maritime history also gives voice to lighthouse families. Hannah Hill's 1950 congressional testimony reveals decades of sacrifice-dragging boats across ice, losing children at remote stations, and keeping lights burning alone during illness-offering a rare account of life beyond official records.
The final chapters follow the profession's disappearance as automation replaced human watchfulness and the Lighthouse Service merged into the Coast Guard in 1939. Abandoned stations were dismantled, their materials scattered, and much of Delaware's lighthouse heritage nearly erased. Preservation efforts emerged only decades later, led by descendants, educators, and local advocates determined to save both structures and stories.
Critique: A seminal, meticulous, comprehensive, and simply fascinating maritime history, "Delaware Keepers: Life at the Edge of the Sea" by Dave Tabler (and with the editorial assistance of Regina Higgins), is a unique and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Maritime History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, it should be noted for students, academia, and readers with an interest in lighthouses and their history that this hardcover edition of "Delaware Keepers: Life at the Edge of the Sea" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Dave Tabler is a Delaware-focused author using his University of Maryland degrees in art history and photojournalism to examine and explore the first state's rich history and publish works of his findings. He also manages AppalachianHistory.net
Editorial Note #2: Regina Higgins (https://reginahiggins.wordpress.com) is a writer and editor living in Lexington, Kentucky. She has more than twenty years of experience working with writers, publishers, universities, and nonprofits universities, and nonprofits. Along the way, she has been a college teacher, a university administrator, and an outreach director. But most of all, She's a worker with words and a gifted storyteller.
The World History Shelf
The Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome: A Brief History
Jack L. Schwartzwald
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9780786478064, $39.95, PB, 232pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Near-East-Greece-Rome/dp/0786478063
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-ancient-near-east-greece-and-rome
Synopsis: "The Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome: A Brief History" by Jack L. Schwartzwald offers a concise survey of Western Civilization from the Stone Age through the fall of the last Western Roman Emperor in AD 476.
Each of the three sections comprising "The Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome: A Brief History" succinctly chronicles a critical epoch in human history.
Section I encompasses man's ascent from barbarism to civilization in the Ancient Near East; Section II witnesses the development of Western Civilization in Ancient Greece; and Section III catalogs the failed attempt to build the West's first "nation-state" in Ancient Rome. Human foibles are abundantly portrayed but so too is the ascent of humankind.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, concise, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome: A Brief History" by Professor Jack L. Schwartzwald is an extraordinary and firmly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Antiquarian History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. As an ideal introduction to the history of the Near East, Greece and Rome, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "Jack L. Schwartzwald" from McFarland & Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Jack L. Schwartzwald is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Brown University's Warren Alpert School of Medicine. There is an online listing of his books at Goodreaders: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5860598.Jack_L_Schwartzwald
The Quest for the Hittites: Uncovering a Forgotten Civilization
Fausto Labruto
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476692395, $35.99, PB, 198pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Hittites-Uncovering-Forgotten-Civilization/dp/1476692394
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-quest-for-the-hittites
Synopsis: The Hittites, one of the most powerful peoples of the ancient Near East, successfully challenged all other nations, including almighty Egypt, from their Anatolian stronghold. Then, their empire collapsed, was consigned to oblivion, and lay forgotten.
Three thousand years later, a motley group of scholars, archaeologists, and adventurers rediscovered the Hittites in an enterprise spanning a century and weaving through the worlds of German kaisers, Turkish sultans, and even the Nazis.
"The Quest for the Hittites: Uncovering a Forgotten Civilization" by Fausto Labruto is the history of the rediscovery of the Hittites. It's a true story packed with intrigue and played out against a compelling historical backdrop. It involves colorful characters like an explorer fluent in 29 languages and an archaeologist who slept in royal tombs, along with Victorian historians, cuneiform experts, code-crackers, and grave robbers. These unlikely sleuths uncovered the very roots of the Hittite Empire.
Critique: An ideal introduction to the people and events related to the archaeological discovery of the ancient Hittite empire, "The Quest for the Hittites: Uncovering a Forgotten Civilization" is a simply fascinating read from start to finish. An impressively informative work of meticulous scholarship throughout, "The Quest for the Hittites" is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a four page Introduction to the subject, as well as a three page Epilogue, ten pages of Chapter Notes, an eight page Bibliography, and a four page Index. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Quest for the Hittites" is an impressive and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library Ancient History and Archeological collections in general, as well as supplemental Hittite curriculum studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "The Quest for the Hittites" from McFarland & Company" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: Based in Australia, Fausto Labruto is a medical doctor, associate professor of radiology, independent researcher in history, and web educator in the field of ancient languages.
Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945
Ian Buruma
The Penguin Press
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593654347, $35.00, HC, 400pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/059365434X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stay-alive-ian-buruma/1147669576
Synopsis: In 1939, when Professor Ian Buruma's epic "Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945" opens, Berlin has been under Nazi rule for six years, and its 4.3 million people have (more or less) made their accommodations to the regime. When war broke out with Poland in September, what was most striking at first was how little changed. Unless you were Jewish. Then life, already hard, was soon to get unfathomably worse.
In this history of World War II Germany, Professor Buruma gives tender attention to the Jewish experience in Berlin during the war, weaving its thread into the broader fabric of this marvelously rich and vivid mosaic of urban life. The distillation of a broad-gauged reckoning with a vast trove of primary sources, including a surprising number of interviews with living survivors, this history is a study in extremes -- depravity and resilience, moral blindness and moral courage, pious bigotry and unchecked hedonism.
By 1943, with the German defeat at Stalingrad, ordinary life in Berlin would acquire an increasingly desperate cast. The last three years of the war in Berlin are truly a descent into hell, with a deranged regime in desperate free fall, an increasingly relentless pounding from Allied bombers, and the mounting dread of the approaching Soviet army. The common greeting of Berliners was now not "Auf wiedersehen" or "Heil Hitler" but "Bleiben Sie ubrig" - "Stay alive." And by war's end Berlin's population had fallen by almost half.
Among the people trying to stay alive in the city was Professor Buruma's own father, a Dutch student conscripted into forced labor in the war economy along with 400,000 other imported workers. Buruma gives due weight to his and their experiences, which give this history a very special added dimension. This is a history resonate with tenderness and genuine heroism, but it is by no means sentimental: again and again we see that most people do not do the hard thing most of the time. Most people go along. It's a lesson that has not lost its timeliness.
Critique: Unique, original, and a seminal, groundbreaking study, "Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945" by Professor Ian Buruma is an extraordinary and invaluable contribution to the growing library of World War II histories. With its focus on life in Berlin throughout the war under the totalitarian rule of the Nazis that was so brutal and deadly that the city's population was cut in half by the end of the war. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a five page Introduction, a two page listing of Acknowledgments, twenty-two pages of Notes, numerous B/W images, and a fourteen page Index, "Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945" is an extraordinary, deftly crafted, massively researched, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library World War II/Germany History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945" from Penguin Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Ian Buruma was born in the Netherlands. He studied Chinese at Leiden University and cinema at Nihon University, Tokyo. He has lived and worked in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, and New York. He is a regular contributor to Harper's and The New Yorker and writes monthly columns for Project Syndicate. He is a professor at Bard College and lives in New York City. (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/ian-buruma)
The Military History Shelf
Thunder Over Normandy
Joseph T. Molyson, Jr.
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811777780, $34.95, HC, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Over-Normandy-Allied-Liberate/dp/0811777782
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thunder-over-normandy-joseph-t-molyson-jr/1147495572
Synopsis: By June 1944, Allied air forces were ready to unleash hell on the Germans in occupied France. Massive numbers of bombers and fighters had been assembled in the United Kingdom, as well as more than one million troops poised to invade the continent.
With the publication of "Thunder Over Normandy", Joseph T. Molyson, Jr. tells the story of the air campaign that began on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and culminated in the liberation of France -- one of the largest, most complex, and most successful aerial operations in history.
In April 1944, Allied air forces in Europe (including the vaunted U.S. Eighth Air Force and RAF Bomber Command) were placed under Dwight Eisenhower's Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and given a twofold mission to lay the groundwork for D-Day: destroy the Luftwaffe's battle strength and isolate Normandy from reinforcements. American and British heavy bombers completed these tasks with devastating effectiveness.
D-Day began with the midnight launching of 1,200 transports to drop American and British paratroopers and gliders behind enemy lines in Normandy. In a monumental effort, the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions landed behind Utah Beach and fought for towns like Carentan; the British 6th Airborne seized Pegasus Bridge and other crossings near Caen. Toward dawn, 1,000 bombers hammered German positions along the coast, just ahead of the troops who stormed the beaches.
As the fighting moved inland during the next two months, Allied fighters and fighter-bombers swarmed in to provide close support for the ground forces slogging through the hedgerows of Normandy. The bombers continued to strike German industry, but priority was now given to destroying V-1 and V-2 rocket sites as part of Operation Crossbow. Bombers were also used tactically in conjunction with ground operations, including the heavy bombardment that preceded the breakout from Normandy in late July.
By the time Paris was liberated in August 1944, air power (numbering thousands of sorties, hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs) had contributed mightily to Allied victory. "Thunder Over Normandy" accurately details the air operations that made this happen, from thundering bomb runs and low-level strafing attacks to paratrooper drops, glider flights, and wheeling dogfights with the Luftwaffe.
During the summer of 1944, as this stirring account vividly shows, the Allies were truly masters of the air.
Critique: Enhanced with B/W illustrations, "Thunder Over Normand" is an impressively presented work of meticulous research that is a critically important and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library World War II Aviation/Combat collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Along with a profusion of maps and tables, "Thunder Over Normand" features five Appendices, a one page listing of Acknowledgments, twenty-four pages of Notes, and a fifteen page Bibliography. A seminal and groundbreaking contribution to the history of combat aviation in the European Theatre of World War II, it should be noted for students, academia, military aviation buff, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Thunder Over Normand" from Stackpole Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.99).
Editorial Note: Joseph T. Molyson, Jr. is a thirty-year U.S. Air Force veteran who spent most of his service in intelligence and retired as a colonel. His previous books are Six Air Forces over the Atlantic (Stackpole) and Air Battles before D-Day (Stackpole).
The Civil War History Shelf
Mollie Brumley's Civil War
Theodore Catton
University of Oklahoma Press
www.oupress.com
9780806196503, $32.95, HC, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mollie-Brumleys-Civil-War-Surviving/dp/0806196505
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mollie-brumleys-civil-war-theodore-catton/1148299014
Synopsis: Mollie Brumley was a thirteen-year-old orphan and living on a farm in the mountainous Ozarks of northwest Arkansas when the Civil War broke out. In a borderland region on the northern periphery of slavery and the western edge of white settlement, her corner of Arkansas saw terrible destruction -- but not primarily from fighting between opposing armies.
Mollie Brumley's Civil War was one of guerrilla warfare and outlawry, shifting loyalties, betrayals real and imagined, and, for some, death by starvation. In telling Mollie's story (and drawing largely upon her 1902 autobiography), with the publication of "Mollie Brumley's Civil War: Surviving the Guerrilla War in Arkansas", author and historian Theodore Catton offers a rare, intimate look at the heroism and desperation of war conducted on the home front -- all amidst the anything-but-ordinary romantic adventures of an adolescent who lived during an extraordinary time.
In the course of this riveting narrative, Mollie (while still in her teens) falls in love with one Confederate soldier who is lost in battle, marries another who joins the Rebel guerrillas, and leaves the farm to become an army laundress during escalating guerrilla depredations against her home and family.
Intertwined with Mollie's tale is that of Parthenia Hensley, an enslaved young woman living in the same rural community. The story of Parthenia and her white family of enslavers broadens Catton's portrait of a war-torn community of farmers on the edge of the Slave South.
An unprecedented picture of the Civil War in the Trans-Mississippi West, "Mollie Brumley's Civil War: Surviving the Guerrilla War in Arkansas" is also a remarkable coming-of-age story shaped by the fight against slavery -- a fight that Mollie didn't choose but that finally influenced the person she became and the outcome of her life.
Critique: A unique and very special contribution to the growing library of American Civil War History/Biography collections, "Mollie Brumley's Civil War: Surviving the Guerrilla War in Arkansas" is an extraordinary and seminal work of meticulous scholarship and gifted storytelling. Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a six page Introduction, eighteen pages of Notes, and a five page Index, "Mollie Brumley's Civil War: Surviving the Guerrilla War in Arkansas" is especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War/Biography collections and supplemental American Civil War curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, Civil War buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of Theodore Catton's "Mollie Brumley's Civil War: Surviving the Guerrilla War in Arkansas" from the University of Oklahoma Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.95).
Editorial Note: Theodore Catton is a public historian, independent scholar, historical consultant, and faculty affiliate in the Department of History at the University of Montana.
This Great Contest Afloat
Neil P. Chatelain
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217773, $16.95, PB, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/This-Great-Contest-Afloat-Coastline/dp/1611217776
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-great-contest-afloat-neil-p-chatelain/1148428266
Synopsis: "History offers no example where so much was accomplished in so short a time, or where so many events were crowded into the space of four years, in which the Navy was employed subduing a coast over four thousand miles in length, and recapturing a river-coast of more than five thousand miles," wrote Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter in his 1886 The Naval History of the Civil War.
Porter's words demonstrate the true scale of the war's naval activity. Thousands of ships took part, fighting battles alongside the armies and patrolling the globe. The actions of more than 100,000 sailors on both sides impacted military, naval, economic, and diplomatic aspects, all while providing the tools to realize the Anaconda Plan of isolating and splitting the Confederacy.
Unlike the army dividing its efforts into the Eastern, Western, and Trans-Mississippi theaters, the Civil War's naval forces fought in four distinct theaters of conflict. The offshore blockade was an economic and logistical campaign waged to determine whether Southern armies would remain properly supplied.
Sailors enacting that blockade worked in tandem with armies to assault cities and coastal areas to deny the Confederacy its ports and coastal infrastructure, while Confederate sailors fought to both break the blockade and keep control of its ports.
Meanwhile, fleets on both sides battled for control over the Mississippi River Valley in an effort to cleave off the Trans-Mississippi Theater from the rest of the Confederacy.
Finally, an economic and diplomatic war was waged across the oceans, where Southern privateers and commerce raiders prowled for Federal merchant ships.
With the publication of "This Great Contest Afloat: The Civil War on the Seas, Coastline, Rivers, and Oceans", historian and academician Neil P. Chatelain unpacks each of these naval theaters. Using prolific firsthand accounts merged with keen macro analysis, Professor Chatelain invites his readers to board blockade-runners, tread the beaches during coastal assaults, ride on riverine ironclads, and sail on targeted merchant vessels, all the while demonstrating the extent and impact of Civil War naval activity.
Critique: Featuring B/W illustrations throughout, "This Great Contest Afloat: The Civil War on the Seas, Coastline, Rivers, and Oceans" by Professor Neil P. Chatelain is an extraordinary work of meticulous historical scholarship and an unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of maps, three Appendices (African American Sailors; Naval Organizations; Visiting Naval Sites); and a two page listing of Suggested Readings, "This Great Contest Afloat: The Civil War on the Seas, Coastline, Rivers, and Oceans" from Savas Beatie is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note: Neil P. Chatelain (https://www.neilpchatelain.com) is an associate professor of history at Lone Star College - North Harris and vice president of Emerging Civil War. A former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer, his book Treasure and Empire in the Civil War: The Panama Route, the West and the Campaigns to Control America's Mineral Wealth won the A.M. Pate Jr. Award in Civil War History.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
From Patient to Advocate
Tim McDonald
Independently Published
9798246377079, $17.99, PB, 180pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Patient-Advocate-Survivorship-Healthcare-Advocates/dp/B0GL3BQMH6
Synopsis: When Tim McDonald was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer in 2020, he thought his life was over. Instead, it became the beginning of something far more powerful.
Five years later, Tim serves on patient advisory councils for multiple national organizations, influences medical research, shapes healthcare policy, and has helped save dozens of lives through screening awareness. "From Patient to Advocate: Turning Survivorship into Impact: A Healthcare Advocate's Guide" is the roadmap he wishes he'd had.
"From Patient to Advocate" is the first comprehensive guide to healthcare advocacy for patients, survivors, and the organizations that support them. Whether you are newly diagnosed, years into survivorship, or supporting someone with a chronic illness, this DIY instructional guide will show you how to channel your experience into meaningful change.
"From Patient to Advocate" presents:
The four distinct forms of advocacy, and which one fits your strengths and situation
How to build credibility without formal medical credentials or training
Strategies for avoiding burnout while maintaining long-term impact
How organizations can authentically engage patient advocates as true partners
Real stories from advocates who transformed their experience into lasting influence
Your experience as a patient isn't something to overcome, it's your greatest asset for creating change. "From Patient to Advocate" shows you how to:
Navigate the advocacy landscape and find your place
Work effectively with healthcare organizations, research institutions, and policymakers
Balance advocacy work with your health, treatment, and personal life
Measure and communicate your impact
Build sustainable advocacy practices that last
With the publication of "From Patient to Advocate", Tim McDonald draws upon 17 years of community management experience and 5 years of healthcare advocacy work to create a truly practical and strategic guide. His roles include Research Advocate with Fight Colorectal Cancer, Florida Chapter Leader for Man Up To Cancer, and positions on patient advisory councils for HOPA and PAN Foundation.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, informed and informative, as well as extraordinarily 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, Tim McDonald's DIY 'how to" manual, "From Patient to Advocate: Turning Survivorship into Impact: A Healthcare Advocate's Guide" is essential and an impressive compendium of 'real world' practical information pick for the personal reading lists of medical professionals and non-specialist general readers having to deal with cancer (physically, emotionally, mentally) afflicting themselves, a loved one, or a patient. It is especially and unreservedly recommended for professional, community, and college/university library Medical/Health collections and supplemental Cancer Treatment curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: There is an extensive onine listing of books by Tim McDonald at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/3123007.Tim_McDonald
The Cookbook Shelf
Taste of Home What Can I Bring?: Vol. 2
Taste of Home (Editor)
Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
https://www.tasteofhome.com
9798889771715, $22.99, PB, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/What-Can-Bring-Vol-Entertaining/dp/B0FCDDMZ42
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taste-of-home-what-can-i-bring-vol-2-taste-of-home/1148980788
Synopsis: Wondering what dish to bring to your next big family or church gathering? "What Can I Bring?: Vol 2" from the folks at Taste of Home is comprised of more than 300 recipes specifically tailored for potlucks, bake sales, church suppers, and every bring-a-dish occasion. Whether you are hosting a backyard barbecue or attending a family reunion, this compendium of 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ensure you'll always have the perfect contribution at your fingertips.
"What Can I Bring?: Vol 2" is packed with 300+ illustrated recipes especially designed for potlucks bake sales and gatherings and includes appetizers entrees slow cooker dishes desserts and more. It also features crowd-pleasing recipes that are easy to transport and serve. Of special note are the handy tips to helping keep dishes fresh and organized for any occasion -- making this a cookbook resources that is ideal for menu planning when it comes to parties, picnics and potlucks!
Critique: With its 300+ recipes deftly organized into sections that include Snacks & Appetizers; Breakfast or Brunch; Main Dishes; Sides & Salads; Big-Batch Dinners; Slow-Cooker Sensations; The Sweetest Treats; and No-Bake Cookies & Treats, "What Can I Bring?: Vol 2" wonderfully showcases palate pleasing, appetite satisfying contributions to any and every group dining occasion. A practical and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "What Can I Bring?: Vol 2" is also readily available from Taste of Home in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Taste of Home (https://www.tasteofhome.com) is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking and entertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands of subscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web site is a top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more.
Super-Simple Comfort Foods
Gooseberry Patch (Author)
Gooseberry Patch (Publisher)
https://www.gooseberrypatch.com
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
https://www.globepequot.com
9781620936139, $18.95, Spiral Comb Binding, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Super-Simple-Comfort-Foods-Gooseberry-Patch/dp/1620936135
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/super-simple-comfort-foods-gooseberry-patch/1146806211
Synopsis: "Super-Simple Comfort Foods" from Gooseberry Patch is a compendium of recipes for favorite dishes that are seen as comfort foods that just seem to warm the heart and soul. But with work, school and other activities, meal planning based on comfort foods can be a challenge! If you've been wanting to serve delicious home-cooked meals more often, then "Super-Simple Comfort Foods" is your cookbook of choice.
"Super-Simple Comfort Foods" showcases 260 of the tastiest, most comforting recipes for every occasion dining occasion -- formal or informal. For example -- Creamy Vanilla French Toast that gets any day off to a bright start. For lunchtime or anytime, serving up Copycat Cheeseburger Soup -- it's like a hug in a bowl! The pair it with Simple Classic Coleslaw, or Caramel Apple Salad for everyone's sweet tooth.
For dinner tonight, how about 30-Minute Skillet Lasagna...amazing! Really Delicious Meatloaf and Spicy Chicken Mac & Cheese are sure to please, too. For the kiddies, whip up Barbecued Franks & Noodles...they'll love it! Round out dinner with Laura's Creamy Potatoes, Aunt Bev's Baked Beans and Scalloped Sweet Corn...what a feast!
Casual meals and get-togethers are sure to be a hit with Grandpa Ed's Potato Chip Chicken Fingers, French Bread Pizza, Quickie Meatballs and Jolly Dipping Sauce. You'll even find super-easy desserts like chocolatey Wacky Cake, Dreamy Butter Cookies and Ice Cream Sandwich Cake.
Critique: With a 'laying it flat' spiral comb binding, and showcasing easy-to-follow DIY directions for each dish while using familiar ingredients, plus lots of tips for making every meal extra special, "Super-Simple Comfort Foods" is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation. An ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections, this edition of "Super-Simple Comfort Foods" from Gooseberry Patch is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Gooseberry Patch was founded more than 40 years ago by Vickie Hutchins and JoAnn Martin, two moms looking for a way to do what they loved and stay home with kids too. Gooseberry Patch is best known for their collection of family-friendly, community-style cookbooks. Each book is created with today's time-strapped, budget conscious families in mind and filled with recipes shared by cooks all across the country... with some from friends in Canada and occasionally "across the pond". Along with treasured family recipes, each book includes the stories the go along with these tried & true dishes.
The Parenting Shelf
Keep Your Cool: Anger Management for Parents
Olivia Tanner Greene
Parenting Potentials
https://parentingpotentials.net
9798991771542, $9.99, PB, 210pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Your-Cool-Anger-Management-Parents/dp/B0GLYW7G19
Synopsis: Deftly blending evidence-based strategies from the fields of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Trauma-Informed Parenting, "Keep Your Cool: Anger Management for Parents: Proven Strategies to Stop Yelling, Understand Your Triggers, Manage Your Emotions, and Create a Calmer, More Connected Home" by Olivia Tanner Greene will show parents and caregivers of children how to:
Interrupt the explosion before it happens (even when you feel it coming)
Understand what's really driving your anger (hint: it's not just your kids' behavior)
Repair quickly when you do lose it -- without the shame spiral
Fill your own cup so you actually have something left to give
Break the patterns that keep you stuck in the yelling cycle
Create a home where mistakes don't mean failure and connection is always possible
Also covered is:
Why "managing" your anger isn't the same as stuffing it down and what to do instead
The specific scripts and phrases that buy you time when emotions are running high
How to tell if your anger is actually depression, anxiety, trauma, or burnout in disguise
The difference between shame and guilt -- and why one helps you change while the other keeps you stuck
How to maintain boundaries without losing your temper
What to do when you're too angry to use any of the tools
Of special note is the inclusion of a 'bonus' in the form of instant access to the online Keep Your Cool Companion Toolkit -- practical, downloadable resources designed to help you implement these strategies in real life.
Critique: Impressively well written, organized and presented, "Keep Your Cool: Anger Management for Parents: Proven Strategies to Stop Yelling, Understand Your Triggers, Manage Your Emotions, and Create a Calmer, More Connected Home" by Olivia Tanner Greene is an ideal child provoked anger management resource for parents, counselors, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Parenting & Anger Management collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that it is also available from Parenting Potentials in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Olivia Tanner Greene is the parent of two never-boring children diagnosed with ADHD and related conditions. She has dedicated over a decade to understanding neurodivergence and finding effective solutions to make family life work more smoothly.
Drawing from strategies including Positive Parenting, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Parent Training, Olivia distills complex information into accessible, practical guidance for parents and caregivers. She offers her readers empathetic insights and evidence-based strategies aimed at promoting positive change in family dynamics.
Olivia's writing is informed not only by research, but also by the daily challenges and triumphs she has experienced as a parent. She believes in the power of empathy, kindness, and positive reinforcement in helping children with ADHD and related conditions thrive. Olivia's greatest wish is to help others transform their family life so that they find more enjoyment and fulfillment on their parenting journeys.
The Peaceful Sleeper
Chrissy Lawler, LMFT
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394328864, $22.00, PB, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Peaceful-Sleeper-Christine-Lawler/dp/1394328869
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-peaceful-sleeper-chrissy-lawler/1147919677
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Peaceful Sleeper: An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep", renowned family therapist and sleep coach Chrissy Lawler offers parents an attachment-based, research-backed approach to baby sleep.
With the understanding that knowing how to help your baby get good sleep can be overwhelming given the loud, contradictory voices doling out advice, Lawler relies on a flexible and personalized approach to share solutions that work for you and your family.
Parents and caregivers will find insights on how to:
Use clues from your baby, plus science, to determine the best approach to sleep, allowing you to get results (and more sleep!) as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Cut through the noise of misinformation on controversial topics like the cry-it-out method.
Rise above frustrating platitudes like "babies will be babies; just endure it until they're older, and it might get better".
Manage sleep after sleep training, and navigate challenges like regressions, teething/illness, and schedule changes (like dropping naps).
"The Peaceful Sleeper" is essential reading and an invaluable resource for new and expecting parents who need trusted support to improve their baby's sleep as well as their own sleep and mental health. "The Peaceful Sleeper" is also invaluable for experienced parents who struggled with sleep with their older children during the newborn phase and are looking for a new approach to sleep training.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Peaceful Sleeper: An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep" by infant sleep specialist Chrissy Lawler is an ideal and critically important instructional guide that is especially and unreservedly recommended for new parents of infants with respect to getting them to sleep well and predictably. Adequate sleep is essential for the good health of a baby. While a 'must' for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Infant Health & Parenting collections, it should be noted for parents and caregivers that this paperback edition of "The Peaceful Sleeper: An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep" from Jossey Bass is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.00).
Editorial Note: Chrissy Lawler, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 15 years of experience, as well as the owner, founder, and CEO of The Peaceful Sleeper, where she offers coaching, courses, and resources for parents to achieve better sleep and mental health for their babies and themselves. (https://www.thepeacefulsleeper.com)
The Miswired Child
Dr. Kimberly Idoko
Alcyone Books
https://alcyonebooks.com
9798994340608, $24.99, HC, 180pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Miswired-Child-Dr-Kimberly-Idoko/dp/B0GVGC3P5Y
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-miswired-child-kimberly-idoko/1149794203
Synopsis: Your child didn't change overnight. The systems didn't fail all at once.
Before diagnosis, there is a losss of rhythm and a narrowing tolerance. A child's developing brain is forced to expend more energy to achieve the same function. These early shifts are biological warning signs of a nervous system under pressure.
With the publication of "The Miswired Child: How Modern Childhood Harms The Brain", Dr. Kimberly Idoko exposes what unfolds beneath symptoms that are routinely misread. She traces how neurological load accumulates inside the developing brain, then shows how modern systems compound it: Big Food that destabilizes physiology. Big Pharma that suppresses signals without asking why. Big Medicine that waits for collapse. Big Government that enforces delay. Big Media that profits from confusion.
Clear-eyed and unsentimental, "The Miswired Child" by neurologist Kimberly Idoko reveals why delay is never neutral, and why a parent's noticing of pattern and loss may be the only data that arrives in time.
Critique: An informative introduction for parents and members of the medical community with an interest in the learning disorders found in children of all ages, "The Miswired Child: How Modern Childhood Harms The Brain" by Dr. Kimberly Idoko is especially noteworthy for its 'reader friendly' organization and presentation for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject. While this hardcover edition of "The Miswired Child" from Alcyone Books is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Parenting collections and supplemental Nervous System Disease curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for parents, teachers, caregivers, and school counselors that "The Miswired Child" is also readily available in paperback (9798994340615, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Kimberly Idoko (https://drkimberlyidoko.com) is a Yale-, Penn-, Columbia-, and Stanford-educated neurologist and attorney who works with families navigating neurodevelopmental differences. She brings a rare combination of clinical neuroscience, systems literacy, and lived experience as a mother to the question parents are rarely given time to ask: what is actually happening inside my child's brain? She is also a board-certified physician who cares for thousands of patients each year. Additionally, she founded Special Parent Coach, where she helps parents interpret early neurological signs and understand how modern systems shape outcomes.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Leopard and the Moon: A Journey in Dolpo, Nepal
Nigel Roberts
Imperfect Books
9798992821116, $17.99, PB, 306pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Leopard-Moon-Journey-Dolpo-Nepal/dp/B0GT6Z6BPD
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-leopard-and-the-moon-nigel-roberts/1149724259
Synopsis: In September 2016, at the age of 65, Nigel Roberts embarked on a two month trek through Dolpo, one of the most remote regions in Nepal.
Following the route taken by Peter Matthiessen (The Snow Leopard) and George Schaller (Stones of Silence) over forty years before him, Nigel was driven by a wish to make sense of illness and tragedy in his family, and to better understand his part in those traumatic events.
A quest for clarity and candor, "The Leopard and the Moon: A Journey in Dolpo, Nepal" Nigel deftly weaves together three different journeys: a demanding physical hike, an emotional reckoning, and Nepal's own trajectory across four tumultuous decades.
Critique: Some memoirs just tell stories, some memoirs, like Nigel Roberts' "The Leopard and the Moon: A Journey in Dolpo, Nepal" do far more -- they take the reader along a life journey that while intensely personal, has a universal resonance that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Especially and unreservedly recommended as a prime pick for personal and community library Contemporary Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "The Leopard and the Moon" from Imperfect Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Nigel Roberts worked for thirty years for the World Bank, much of that time based in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, West Bank and Gaza, and Australia. Since retiring, he has
advised governments in Somalia, Myanmar and Afghanistan on managing the economics of war and instability. He lives in Virginia with his wife, Sarah, and his grandson, Alex.
The General Fiction Shelf
Baker Vaughan: A Novel
Stuart Hotchkiss
https://stuarthotchkiss.com
Halsnoch (Publisher)
9798993970028, $17.95, PB, 337pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Baker-Vaughan-Running-Grief-That/dp/B0GMPKWK2Y
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baker-vaughan-stuart-hotchkiss/1149670011
Synopsis: In the winter of 1985, Baker Vaughan is in his second year at Yale seminary when he his wife dies -- his partner, the person who made the future they'd planned worth having. Suddenly, everything crumbles. He has nothing left of the life that was supposed to be. Only pain, only emptiness, only the possibility of rebuilding, and he runs away from it all.
By 2011, Baker has made himself a wildly successful corporate career on Madison Avenue. However, he remains haunted by his past and incapable to face it, so spiritually bankrupt that he can't recognize the face he sees in the mirror. The humiliating end of a rebound relationship forces him to flee.
He finds a fresh start in Idaho, joining a small community in hopes of reclaiming some part of what he once wanted. But no path of destruction comes to an end so neatly. In a tangle of scandal, clashing instincts, and moral discord, Baker must face what he's been running from all these years or lose his last chance at becoming whole again.
Critique: A deftly scripted and original novel about how a personal tragedy can dramatically alter a life, and how you view yourself thereafter. "Baker Vaughan: A Novel" by Stuart Hotchkiss is the story of a life altering trauma that feels intensely personal, yet has a universal resonance. With a writing style that is character and narrative driven, author Stuart Hotchkiss raises "Baker Vaughan" to an impressive level of literary excellence. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95), this paperback edition of "Baker Vaughan" from publisher Halsnoch is an especially and unreservedly pick for community/public library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: H. Stuart Hotchkiss (https://stuarthotchkiss.com) is the former Executive Creative Director of Time Inc. and President of Time Inc. Home Entertainment. He holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Columbia University, and has served as Vice-President on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho.
Elsewhere is a Place in Central Park
Harrison Rose Tate
https://www.harrisonrosetate.com
ECS Publishing
https://www.facebook.com/people/ECS-Publishing/61579110791589
9798994988008, $31.99, HC, 362pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Elsewhere-Place-Central-Park-Harrison/dp/B0GNS3FTF3
Synopsis: Sofie has been married for decades. She has not shared a life with her husband for most of them.
Raised working class in Copenhagen and later drawn into the orbit of one of Denmark's most powerful families, a single tragic event rearranges her fate, altering the future before it has begun.
Raw and unceremonious, yet vast in consequence, "Elsewhere Is a Place in Central Park" weighs the permanent cost of crossing thresholds that cannot be uncrossed. From embassy galas to luxury hotels, from Copenhagen to Madrid to New York, Sofie must maintain composure while her inner life is held in silent, endless peril just beneath the surface. What sparkles carries its own undertow. What feels like ascent can become a form of exile. Sofie learns, slowly, that the deepest turning points in a life are often the ones no one sees.
Critique: Although a work of deftly crafted fiction, "Elsewhere Is a Place in Central Park" by Harrison Rose Tate is a novel that is based on a true story. Original, exceptional, and an fascinating read from cover to cover, Tate as raised her entertaining and thought-provoking novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. While an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections, this hardcover edition of "Elsewhere Is a Place in Central Park" from ECS Publishing is also available in paperback (9798998773792, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Harrison Rose Tate (https://www.harrisonrosetate.com) has played an extensive role over the last two decades as a writer has largely been on behalf of corporations, often without a byline. Her work has appeared in essays, articles, technical publications, and archival formats. Her academic background includes a master's degree, but most of her insight comes from years spent inside the system; building it, running it, watching how it shapes the people who use it. After years of ghostwriting, consulting, and building systems for others, her newest titles have special meaning. They are the first major works published in her own name.
The House That Remembers You
Kristen A. Peters
ISA Therapy, LLC
https://isatherapy.org
9798295778476, $35.00, HC, 254pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/House-That-Remembers-You/dp/B0GW9HT468
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-house-that-remembers-you-kristen-a-peters/1149797322
Synopsis: Annette has built a stable, carefully ordered life far from her childhood home on Blackwood Lane. Her memories of 1994 are fragmented, sealed off, beginning only after a sudden departure she cannot fully explain. When a meticulous local historian named Miller contacts her about the property, his interest feels less academic than personal. He speaks of gaps, progress, and preservation, treating Annette not as a source but as a specimen.
As Annette navigates a town that no longer behaves as it should-streets looping, distances warping, familiar places subtly misaligned-her sense of time begins to erode. Ordinary spaces become unstable. Sounds recur without sources. Memory intrudes without invitation. With the quiet involvement of her friend Melanie, Annette is drawn back toward the history she has avoided, guided by records, renovations, and a fragment of the house itself.
The past does not return as a single revelation, but as bleedthrough: flickering lights, the weight of stone, the presence of a dog who once watched everything. Annette begins to understand that what she believed was forgetting may have been containment-and that the house on Blackwood Lane did not simply witness her childhood, but participated in it.
As Miller's intentions sharpen and the boundaries between documentation and possession blur, Annette must confront what was sealed away and why she was important enough to be remembered. The house does not want an explanation. It wants recognition.
With the underlying concept that 'about memory as architecture-something that preserves, distorts, and waits', Kristen Peter's novel, "The House That Remembers You" is a compellingly memorable story about trauma without spectacle, horror without monsters, and the quiet terror of being noticed by something that never forgot you.
Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, compulsively compelling, and a true 'keep the lights on while reading' page turner of a read from start to finish, "The House That Remembers You" showcases author Kristen A. Peters' genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is especially well suited for the psychological horror genre. While an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Horror Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of dedicated fans of psychological horror fans that this hardcover edition of "The House That Remembers You" from ISA Therapy, LLC is also readily available in paperback (9798233923562, $25.95).
Editorial Note: Kristen A. Peters is the founder and steward of ISA Therapy, a neurodiversity affirming, multi modal framework developed to support relational safety, interdisciplinary collaboration, and individualized engagement across developmental stages. Her work is informed by both professional practice and lived experience as an autism parent, grounding the framework in ethical responsibility, practical application, and long term sustainability. Peters is the author of The Modalities of ISA: A Multi Modal Approach to Neurodivergent Care, which establishes the foundational structure of ISA Therapy.
Promising Young Man
Elias Axel
My Delightful Life Press
https://www.mydelightfullife.com
9798992065602, $17.99, PB, 239pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Promising-Young-Man-Elias-Axel/dp/B0DVQ7LLG6
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/promising-young-man-elias-axel/1146973363
Synopsis: Oscar Danielsson is eighteen, brilliant, ADHD, and about to ruin his life -- again.
He looks like a promise waiting to be kept. His biggest fear is everyone discovering he's not what they expect at all. Between his spectacular mistakes, self-medicating, and overwhelming existential dread, hiding in his room feels safe, even if it means blowing high school graduation.
Then, one hazy mistake too many launches Oscar on a mysterious cross-country road trip with his free-wheeling Grammy, who's done playing by the rules... and living a lie. Leaving behind his girl crush, beloved dog, and all his comforting vices is torture. But Grammy's secret changes everything -- and Oscar discovers one of his own!
Oscar is the defiant anti-hero you can't stop rooting for. Grammy's his unlikely wingman.
Together they're almost okay.
Critique: Deftly edited by Julian Josip, "Promising Young Man" is a simply fascinating, original, and exceptional 'coming of age' novel by Elias Axel and showcases the author's genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that makes for a great read. Laced throughout with satire and dark humor, "Promising Young Man" is a fun, deftly crafted, and thought-provoking novel that is especially and unreservedly recommended for highschool and community library Contemporary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Promising Young Man" from My Delightful Life Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Alias Axel has a high value website (https://eliasaxel.com) that will interest his readers as features his blog, a section called 'Get Involved', and more.
For Love of Billie
Patricia Vido
https://patriciavido.com
Grunge Muffin Press
https://www.grungemuffinpress.com
9781971167008, $19.99, PB, 244pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Billie-Patricia-Vido/dp/1971167002
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-love-of-billie-patricia-vido/1149176664
Synopsis: When twelve-year-old Finn Maguire is smitten by the beautiful Billie (his dad's young coworker and subsequent lover) he is thrust into a rivalry with the father he idolizes and a tragedy that tears him away from her.
At nineteen, unmoored by his mother's cancer diagnosis, Finn seeks consolation from Billie, convinced she's been waiting for him. Tempted, will he consummate the relationship that's preoccupied him for years, or overcome his obsession and choose love with an age-appropriate partner?
Critique: An original and deftly crafted blending of a 'coming of age' story, an intergenerational familial love triangle, and psychological suspense thriller, "For Love of Billie" by Patricia Vido is an extraordinary and riveting read from start to finish. Showcasing Vido's impressive flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that readers will find riveting, "For Love of Billie" is unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "For Love of Billie" from Grunge Muffin Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Patricia Vido (https://patriciavido.com) honed her writing and editing skills as a reporter, features writer, and features editor at newspapers in western Pennsylvania. She was always most interested in stories that explored (and tried to explain) why people do what they do. She has won writing awards from three Pennsylvania press associations.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Ronin: The Wolf's Path
Robert Nakamura
Shadow Gate Press
9798994119204 (Paperback) $17.99
9798994119211 (Hardcover) $26.99
9798994119228 (eBook) $4.99
Publishing Release Date: September 2026
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D49MXZ7K
Author's Website:
https://robert-nakamura.com/takeshi-the-wolf-ronin
Synopsis: As the Izumo Empire falls into ruin, Takeshi the Wolf and his ronin band roam the shattered provinces, blades for hire with no master and no mercy. When he slays a priest of the Black Jade Circle, a cult of forgotten horrors, Takeshi awakens forces darker than any he has faced.
Pursued by death and despair, he finds an unexpected ally in Prince Zasuro, a leader whose dreams of unity may not survive the coming storm. Together, they must stand against the darkness -- or be consumed by it.
Critique: "Ronin: The Wolf's Path" is a simply deftly crafted and riveting read from start to finish and one that will be of particular interest to fans of Japanese samurai stories laced with dark magic and unexpected plot twists. Original, exceptional, compelling, and an impressive blending of a series of different character's perspectives, "Ronin: The Wolf's Path" clearly showcases author Robert Nakamura's genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driving storytelling style that is perfectly suited to riveting and original action/adventure stories set in ancient Japan.
Editorial Note: Robert D. Nakamura is a debut novelist and lifelong student of samurai history and culture. His fascination with Japan's warrior traditions began in childhood and deepened over the years through both academic research (drawing on historians such as Eiko Ikegami and Thomas D. Conlan) and the classic literary sources that first brought the era to life for Western readers.
His influences span several traditions. On the Japanese side, Eiji Yoshikawa's novels Musashi and Taiko, along with classic war chronicles such as The Tale of the Heike and the Taiheiki, shaped his understanding of the era and its warriors. From Western fantasy, the morally complex worlds of Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy, Glen Cook's The Black Company, and Mark Lawrence's Prince of Thorns showed him how to bring that darkness to the page. And from manga, Kentaro Miura's Berserk and Takehiko Inoue's Vagabond provided a visual and emotional language for telling stories about broken warriors searching for meaning through violence.
The idea for Ronin first took root nearly twenty years ago and never quite let go. Over the years, between other commitments, Nakamura returned to the story again and again: first through short stories set in the same world, then through the novel that gradually took shape around them. The result is a grimdark fantasy set in the fictional empire of Izumo, a world inspired by feudal Japan but shaped by its own history, politics, and mythology.
The Petworth Project
Nola Longhurst Sweet
https://www.nolasweet.org
NLS Publishing
9798990178236, $18.99, HC, 234pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Petworth-Project-Mrs-Longhurst-Sweet/dp/B0CYZNYMDS
Synopsis: Based on true events in 1832, "The Petworth Project" by author Nola Longhurst Sweet shadows an Earl and a Minister as they artfully maneuver social justice in the tension filled British system. By bringing together opposing social classes into a collaborative journey, will their plan save England from a similar fate as the French Revolution? Using their brazen savvy, they appeal to the pocket books of the wealthy. Driven by compassion or atonement for a flamboyant lifestyle is left for the reader to decide. "The Petworth Project" is one of the more palatable violations of social norms.
"The Petworth Project" also reveals perspectives stretching the stratus of society as readers travel along with the poverty-stricken Longhurst clan whose militia background enables them to avoid the deplorable work houses by opting to cross a turbulent sea that leaves indelible scars.
Joseph and Sarah Longhurst guide their nine children including their son Charles, who is torn between venturing to a New World and leaving behind the girl he loves. While many more of the impoverished venture on this journey including brothers, Luke and Billy Cooper, who are caught up in the revolutionary retaliation of the Swing riots.
What will it cost these pioneers as they risk unknown peril for a better life?
Critique: A deftly crafted saga of a British and Canadian themed historical novel that is based on genuine, authentic historical events, "The Petworth Project" is an inherently fascinating read and one that reflects author Nola Longhurst Sweet's genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader's mind and imagination from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Petworth Project" from NLS Publishing is also readily available in (9798990178212, $13.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Nola Longhurst Sweet (https://www.nolasweet.org) was born in rural Ontario, Canada into a large family. Her father had a wealth of information about our ancestors who emigrated from England in 1832. Nola was always interested in hearing the stories he would tell that had been passed down the generations. After retiring in 2022, Nola began intensive research on what would become The Petworth Project". Her research inspired her to write. The people are real and the events in her novel are true. Nola reports truly enjoyed weaving it into a fictional story of how it may have unfolded.
Enheduanna's Song from the Sands
Ellen Rachlin
Histria Books
www.histriabooks.com
9781592117543, $19.99 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Enheduannas-Song-Sands-Ellen-Rachlin/dp/1592117546
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enheduannas-song-from-the-sands-ellen-rachlin/1148666398
Enheduanna's Song from the Sands is an historical fantasy surrounding the life and actions of Enheduanna, the daughter of Sargon the Great and High Priestess of Ur, a powerful religious and business leader who lived approximately two-thousand years before Virgil.
Ellen Rachlin entwines her history with myth in a novel about the world's first named author, who finds herself the focal point of conflict, transformation, and choices surrounding an extraordinary power rising in ancient Mesopotamia.
From the start, the first-person story builds an evocative, compelling scenario that draws readers with passion and insight: "Inanna, supreme in Heaven and Earth, ruler over all gods, I beg of you: restore me to my temple, bring me home! In the ancient city of Ur, I no longer breathe the salty air, lift myself from the sacred bed or unravel Ningal's dreams for my followers. The southern stars have slipped away from me; Now I walk the thorny brush of the northern mountainside. As I sing your blessed song, I am dying."
A host of equally memorable characters enter Enheduanna's life and chambers, from Darda, the son of Purushanda's former king, to her mother and father, Sargon and Tashlultum, Uanna and Nidintu, women who are part of a core circle Enheduanna thinks she can trust, and others from different sides of an evolving rebellion. Enheduanna tries to fulfill her destiny, but often winds up feeling isolated and uncertain: "...in this forest of knowledge, the faces of some of my closest friends are becoming increasingly obscured."
As Enheduanna faces riots, rebels, and intrigue, her world comes to life with a host of social, political, and personal issues; all of which she navigates with authority and, sometimes, uncertainty: "I fear we're losing real ground to our enemy." Suffused with rage, she then documents the history of her world in vivid detail that readers will find engrossing and realistic.
Librarians and readers seeking a story of ancient history come to life will find Enheduanna's Song from the Sands rich with detail, personalized by the protagonist's reflections as she steps into her power and makes difficult choices. Filled with dramatic action and confrontations with self as well as the outside world, Enheduanna's Song from the Sands will appeal both to leisure readers and scholarly students of ancient times. The former will appreciate the high drama and personal touches; the latter the footnotes and references which cement events and fantasy in a layer of real history.
An important footnote by the author clarifies why this novel should be in any serious collection of women's history, as well as in fantasy and historical fiction holdings: "I stumbled across Enheduanna while researching Sargon the Great. No one I knew, including poets, had ever heard of her or her hymns. When I began to uncover what was more broadly known about Enheduanna, it astounded me that the first-named author in history was not only a virtual unknown, but a woman who lived in a male-dominated culture."
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Catherine: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights
Essie Fox
Charnwood Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444860429, $43.50 / $36.98, PB, Large Print, 396pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444860429
Synopsis: With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow -- until Mr Earnshaw's death leaves Hindley, Catherine's brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.
Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty -- but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.
Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story -- and seek redemption.
Critique: With the publication "Catherine: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights", author Essie Fox brilliantly reimagines Emily Bronte's iconic 'Wuthering Heights' with a new beauty and riveting intensity. This deftly crafted, haunting, and atmospheric retelling of a true literary classic breathes new life into an iconic story that 'lays bare the dark heart of an immortal love'. This large print trade paperback edition of "Catherine: A retelling of Wuthering Heights" from Charnwood Large Print is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library Historical Romance & Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Essie Fox was raised in Herefordshire, on the borders of Wales. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University she worked in magazine and book publishing, before developing a career in commercial illustration. Always an avid reader, Essie now writes gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the 2012 National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4's TV Book Club. This was followed by Elijah's Mermaid, and then The Goddess and the Thief. The Last Days of Leda Grey was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. The Fascination became an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Coming in April 2025 is Dangerous - a dark mystery set in Venice and based on the life of Lord Byron.
A Moment's Surrender
John Burt
https://johndaviesburt.com
Press Americana
https://www.americanpopularculture.com/press_americana.htm
9781735360188, $22.00, PB, 332pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Moments-Surrender-John-Burt/dp/173536018X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-moments-surrender-john-burt/1149251874
Synopsis: A Moment's Surrender by John Burt follows freshman writing instructor Paul Bishop in the aftermath of the murder of his former best friend, the renowned poet Tom Corbin.
Haunted by guilt and bound by a devastating secret, Paul takes it upon himself to care for Tom's terminally ill widow, Susan. But the truth he withholds -- that Tom had planned to leave Susan for another woman.
Paul's own long-ago lover Rachel Lake draws Paul into a painful triangle of loyalty, betrayal, and unresolved desire. Caught between the two women, Paul must navigate a web of grief and deception that threatens to undo them all.
Critique: Original, exceptional, and deftly crafted from start to finish, "A Moment's Surrender" showcases author John Burt's impressively effective character and narrative driven storytelling style that raises his inherently fascinating novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. This paperback edition of "A Moment's Surrender" from Press Americana is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: John Burt (https://johndaviesburt.com) studied Biochemistry and English in college, and received a Ph.D in English at Yale. He has taught at the University of Nevada at Reno, and, for more than forty years, at Brandeis University, where he is Paul Prosswimmer Professor of American Literature. His scholarship centers on Lincoln and the political crisis of the 1850s, and on the poet and novelist Robert Penn Warren (for whom he is literary executor). He has also published three volume of poetry.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Freedom Quest: A Love Story
Debora Masterson, author
Mary Quinlan, illustrator
https://deboramasterson.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798901741269, $18.99, PB, 302pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Quest-Story-Debora-Masterson/dp/B0GRKG1DHW
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/freedom-quest-debora-masterson/1149640063
Synopsis: Michael Griffin is a gifted musician whose journey through the Southern California music scene of the 1960s-80s becomes a cautionary tale about artistic integrity, the pursuit of stardom, and the cost of chasing dreams. From backing up strippers in North Beach, San Francisco, to nearly landing a Capitol Records deal, from fronting his band Freedom Quest to losing the love of his life, Grace, Michael's story captures the raw reality of what it means to live and breathe music.
It all begins in 1965, when an instant spark ignites between the two of them in a San Fernando Valley music shop. As Michael chases his musical destiny amid the counterculture revolution, Grace becomes his anchor, his muse -- and the love he can't live without. But the struggle between artistic integrity and commercial success, betrayal, and the chaos of the times tear them apart, sending each down separate and often harrowing paths of self-discovery.
Critique: An original, deftly crafted, impressively sweeping and engagingly emotional odyssey, "Freedom Quest: A Love Story" by novelist Debora Masterson is a an inherently fascinating story a love and relationship that, while surviving separation, success, failure, and illness, goes on to reveal the redemptive power of music -- and that timeless truth that true love does exist in the world. Masterson's exceptional and genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style is perfectly suited to creating a 'Rockstar Romance' in the musical culture of the late 20th Century. While unreservedly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Historical Romance & Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Freedom Quest: A Love Story" from Atmosphere Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Debora Masterson (https://deboramasterson.com) is a writer, educator, producer, musician and Francophone. Her writing has appeared in the Off-Campus Writers Workshop "About Write" publication and she is an editor for the Chicago Writers Association "Windy City Review". Her career in the arts began in her youth as a singer/dancer. She was recruited by Sammy Davis, Jr. as a dancer & background singer performing in major cities throughout the USA. She transitioned into the agency business setting up Working Artists Agency. WAA was the first boutique talent agency to represent post-production clients and expanded into developing film and television programs. As an educator, she has taught tap, jazz and modern dance. With an MA in French, she taught high school, community college and adult French classes and tutored Nestle executives in accent reduction. She has taught presentation skills and business writing to CBRE management as a corporate trainer and taught a master class about the agency business to students at the Columbia College Chicago Los Angeles location.
Everything's Grand
Freya Kennedy
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835338544, $43.50 / $36.98, PB, Large Print, 500pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835338544
Synopsis: Becca Burnside finally has life heading in the right direction. She's loving her new job, writing magazine features about being a woman in her forties, her boys are happy, her romance with Conal O'Hagan is blossoming - and for once, she actually feels like she's got it together.
But when Conal starts talking about the future, Becca's commitment collywobbles kick in with a vengeance. Add in a new grandbaby who's as adorable as she is exhausting, a Fabulous Forties Club that refuses to organize itself, and her mum giving her more reasons than ever to worry, Becca's 'fabulous' forties are starting to look a lot more FFS.
Meanwhile, best friend Laura is discovering there's more to life than clean laundry and home-cooked dinners. When she finally enrols in the university course she's always dreamed of, she realises her family have been taking her for granted - especially when they still expect dinner on the table and their pants ironed, even when she's not at home! But with a little help from Becca and the gang, Laura's ready to remind everyone (including herself) that it's never too late to chase what you really want.
Can Becca and Laura hold it all together - or will their fabulous forties turn into full-blown chaos?
Critique: "Everything's Grand" by novelist Freya Kennedy will hold a very special appeal for fans of 'later in life" romance stories. Featuring clearly defined characters, women's friendship bonds, and an original and talented storytelling style by the author, "Everything's Grand" is a thoroughly engaging read from start to finish. This large print trade paperback (5.08 x 0.68 x 7.8 inches, 9 ounces) edition of "Everything's Grand" from Boldwood Books is unabashedly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Freya Kennedy available at FantasticFiction: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/freya-kennedy
The Irish Cottage by the Sea
Clodagh Murphy
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781805578116, $43.50 / $36.98, PB, Large Print, 500pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781805578116
Synopsis: When single mum Lou moves from the chaos of Dublin to a forgotten seaside cottage in Dingle, she hopes for a calmer life for her son, Jack -- a place where he can grow up surrounded by the warmth of a small community.
But village life isn't without its challenges. The cottage needs work and Lou needs a job, but at least Jack quickly makes friends -- including Bo, the spirited daughter of Aidan, the head chef of the restaurant where Lou eventually finds work. Aidan is serious, skilled, and a little distant, yet there's something about him Lou is drawn to.
Lou is firm in her decision not to get involved with anyone, not after the heartache Jack's father caused them both. But as Lou and Aidan grow closer, they may just discover what matters most: family, community, and the unexpected joys of opening your heart again.
Critique: Deftly crafted, compelling, emotionally engaging, and a fun read from cover to cover, this large print paperback edition of Clogagh Murphy's new romance novel, "The Irish Cottage by the Sea" from Boldwood Books is very highly recommended, especially for the personal reading lists of 'second chance at romance' fans, as well as community library Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Clodagh (rhymes with Yoda) Murphy is an Irish author of romantic comedy and feel-good fiction with sassy heroines, swoony heroes and happy (for now) endings. There is a listing of her novels at FantasticFiction: www.fantasticfiction.com/m/clodagh-murphy
The Western Fiction Shelf
The Guns of Sorrow
Neil Hunter
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444857474, $26.00 / $22.10, PB, Large Print, 192pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444857474
Synopsis: Bodie's trek to the town of Sorrow plunges him into all kinds of trouble. For a start, he's beginning to have doubts as to the guilt of his prisoner, Henry Purcell - it doesn't seem likely that the man could have killed his business partner. As Bodie rides north, the weather in the timberline becomes worse, with endless snow hampering his travel. Being Bodie, he pushes on, encountering gunfire, treachery, and people who simply want him out of the way. With his prisoner wounded, Bodie will take on all comers until he faces down the people behind Sorrow's troubles.
Critique: "The Guns of Sorrow" showcases western author Neil Hunter's genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideally suited for the action/adventure western genre. Original, engaging, and a terrific read from cover to cover, this large print paperback edition of "The Guns of Sorrow" from the Linford Western Library series is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: There is an extensive online listing of western novels by Neil Hunter available at Fantastic Fiction - https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/neil-hunter
Fire in the Wind
J. D. Sandon
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444857467, $26.00 / $22.10, PB, Large Print, 344pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444857467
Synopsis: Mexico, 1914. The revolution is in full, bloody spate. Zapata holds the south, Pancho Villa the north. Mexico City is caught in the pincer grip of the rebel armies. But in Reynosa there is an answer to the government's siege: enough explosives to blast the rebels to hell. And a way to deliver it: a bi-plane. It's a new way of making war, a way to deliver death from the sky. But the Gringos will meet it the only way they know how...with bullets and blood!
Critique: Non-stop action adventure set agains the Mexican Revolution, "Fire in the Wind" by western author J. D. Sandon is an extraordinary and entertaining read from cover to cover. An original, exceptional, deftly novel, this large print paperback edition of "Fire in the Wind" from the Linford Western Library collections is a highly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community/public library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: There is an extensive online listing of books by J. D. Sandon available at: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/j-d-sandon
The Silent Kill
James A. Muir
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444857481, $26.00 / $22.10, PB, Large Print, 280pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444857481
Synopsis: In his wake was a trail of blood which tainted his footsteps and marked him as a killer. Now he approached the culmination of his long pursuit-vengeance! Now he would strike his blow without mercy, because he was called Breed -- and the name spelled violent death.
Critique: "The Silent Kill" reveals author James A. Muir as a master of the vengeance themed action/adventure western genre. A deftly crafted and riveting read from start to finish, this large print paperback edition of "The Silent Kill" from the Linford Western Library collections will prove a popular addition to both the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans and community/public library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: There is an comprehensive online listing of books by James A. Muir at Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1899349.James_A_Muir
The Death Riders
Cole Shelton
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444857498, $26.00 / $22.10, PB, Large Print, 192pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444857498
Synopsis: Dan Eckert was an outlaw with a desire to go straight. By selling out his companions, the notorious McCabe gang, he earned himself a full pardon. There was just one problem.
Two decades later, the McCabe gang broke out of prison and came looking for revenge. Eckert, now the respected town marshal of Sweetwater, knew he couldn't fight them by himself, so he hired Shane Preston and Jonah Jones to help even the odds.
But one thing nobody anticipated was the reaction from Sweetwater itself. Fearful of the gang, the locals decided to offer up Eckert as a sacrificial lamb!
Critique: "The Death Riders' by Cole Shelton continue the adventures of Shane Preston and his companion Jonah Jones in still another riveting, gun blazing, compulsive page turner of a western novel by a master of the genre. This large print paperback edition of "The Death Riders" from the Linford Western Library collection is unabashedly recommended as a popular pick for the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: There is an online listing of books by Cole Shelton available at FantasticFiction: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/cole-shelton
Silver
Daniel Logue & Stephen Logue
https://danleelogue2008.wixsite.com/silver
Independently Published
9798377120384, $22.95, PB, 428pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Daniel-Logue/dp/B0GKFCY2ZJ
Synopsis: Jake was once the sheriff of the idyllic little town of Oak Bluff in the picturesque Arizona Territory. It has been three years since a tragic hostage standoff led him to put down his gun and badge -- and vowing never to pick them up again.
But when a stranger wearing a black flat-brimmed hat walks into town one stormy night, rumors of grisly murders following him from the west, Jake discovers that the only nightmare worse than dying might be having to live again.
Co-written by Daniel and Stephen Logue, "Silver" raises questions about the very notion of what it is to be good, the intentions of God, and what it really means to live. This is a story of the journey we all take through life, how it can turn deadly, and, finally, how redemption can be found in the most unexpected way.
Stretching from 1764 Gevaudan, France, to the Arizona Territory of 1878, "Silver" is truly epic tale of lost innocence, what we fear in the night, and how a monster can pull a good man back from the brink of damnation.
Critique: An original, deftly crafted, and simply riveting read from start to finish, "Silver" by co-authors Daniel and Stephen Logue is an action/adventure novel set in France and the American West. It is raised to an impressive literary excellence by the effective collaboration of authors with a genuine flair for the character and narrative driven arts of storytelling. "Silver" is also the first novel in a trilogy that will follow Jake Dawson's story from the 1878 Arizona Territory to Gevaudan, France, and back again. While an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for the personal reading lists of western fans and community library Western Fiction collections it should be that this paperback edition of "Silver" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Daniel Logue and Stephen Logue are both electrical engineers who grew up in a log cabin built by their father in the backwoods of Central IL. The story of "Silver" stems from those childhood years of living within the magic that only a child's mind can bring to life.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
You Can Tell Me
Melinda Leigh
www.melindaleigh.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662516993, $28.99, HC, 299pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Tell-Olivia-Cruz/dp/1662516991
Synopsis: On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz's horrific kidnapping, she's scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up -- not today!
Zoe's husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren't looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend's last steps, she finds Zoe's phone and a text with one chilling word: Run.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there's no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend's past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?
Critique: With deftly crafted characters and an original, spellbinding story that is a simply riveting read from start to finish, "You Can Tell Me" by accomplished novelist Melinda Leigh is especially and unreservedly recommended as prized pick for personal reading lists of suspense thriller fans and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. Another exceptional novel from a master of the genre from Melinda Leigh, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "You Can Tell Me" from Montlake is also readily available in paperback (9781662517006, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Melinda Leigh (www.melindaleigh.com) is the author of Echo Road, the She Can series, the Midnight series, the Scarlet Falls series, the Morgan Dane series, the Bree Taggert series, the Olivia Cruz series, and numerous short stories, as well as the Rogue series novellas and the Widow's Island series novellas. Melinda has garnered numerous writing awards, earned two RITA nominations, and been an International Thriller Award nominee for Best First Novel.
Smoking Guns: Quitting Just Got Lethal
Matthew Bars
Independently Published
9798246691526, $22.00, HC, 311pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Smoking-Guns-Quitting-just-lethal/dp/B0GLTM12LY
Synopsis: MacArthur "Mac" Stahl stands out as the one of the world's foremost experts on treating tobacco addiction. With his wise-cracking persona and a past steeped in the tough streets of the Bronx and Manhattan, MacArthur "Mac" Stahl is far from your typical shrink. The son of a loan shark, he grew up surrounded by violence and criminality, shaping a tough exterior that contrasts with his genuine desire to help others conquer their addiction.
Despite the rough edges, Mac has dedicated his life to aiding those trapped by tobacco and nicotine. His methods, crafted over decades of experience, have garnered him a reputation in his field as wildly successful with his patients. However, his commitment to his work has inadvertently placed him in the crosshairs of the most powerful players in the tobacco industry.
In the sleek boardrooms of Big Tobacco, a sinister plan emerges to protect their staggering $100 billion per year empire at any cost. As profits are threatened, they devise a chilling strategy to eliminate the world's top tobacco addiction clinicians and researchers.
As bodies begin to drop, Mac finds himself ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, grappling with his past while navigating a threat that seems to have limitless resources and no moral compass. He isn't looking for a fight, but he isn't walking away from one either and losing means dying.
Mac is not unfamiliar with violence and violent men. He has a brown belt in Hom Do Karate and hits the weights in the gym like he still plays college football.
Amid the chaos, an unexpected romance develops, providing Mac with moments of hope and personal growth even as the forces of Big Tobacco close in. With each passing day, he must summon his street smarts, fighting skills, and intellect to survive and expose the corrupt enterprise targeting him.
In a tense climax, Mac unravels a truth more sinister than he could imagine. Faced with tough choices between self-preservation and doing what's right, he navigates the complexities of survival in a ruthless world.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, "Smoking Guns: Quitting Just Got Lethal" by novelist Matthew Bars aptly showcases his character and narrative driven storytelling style. Drawing on the 'real world' history of the tobacco industry's misinformation, disinformation, and political corruption activities in challenging anti-tobacco science and medical based efforts to reveal the harmful and addictive qualities of tobacco make "Smoking Guns: Quitting Just Got Lethal" a believable background to a fictional story of mystery, suspense, and murder. Exceptionally well written and a true page-turner of a suspense thriller, "Smoking Guns: Quitting Just Got Lethal" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for action/adventure mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "Smoking Guns: Quitting Just Got Lethal" is also available in paperback (9798246701706, $12.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Matthew Bars is a board-certified tobacco treatment specialist, shrinkologist, and health-tech innovator, who has spent his career on the front lines of addiction, medicine, and public policy. Known professionally as the "Chief Quitting Officer," Bars works with the Fire Department of New York City, other patients, physicians and other clinicians, translating addiction science into real-world outcomes. "Smoking Guns: Quitting Just Got Lethal" is his debut novel and draws on decades of experience inside healthcare systems, regulatory battles, and the human cost of nicotine dependence. Blending medical realism with high-stakes crime and corporate intrigue, Bars brings an insider's authenticity to a story where science, money, power and corruption collide.
The Invisible Worm That Flies in the Night
James Dain
www.JamesDain.com
Brown & King
9798993375342, $4.99, Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Worm-That-Flies-Night-ebook/dp/B0GHYCDNZH
Synopsis: In a declining steel town in western Pennsylvania in the early 1960s, a stranger arrives looking for a second chance.
His name is Tony Pagano and he is a man on the run, determined to leave behind a past he barely understands and cannot control. Taken in by Father Vinton, an earnest young priest who believes in redemption, Pagano finds uneasy refuge on the margins of a tight-knit working-class community.
At the same time, eleven-year-old Francis Mozek is searching for his missing father, trying to make sense of a world already fractured by abandonment and confusion. Drawn to Pagano's attention, the boy finds in him something he has been missing -- understanding, protection, even affection.
Others are less certain. Francis's mother, lonely and vulnerable, offers Pagano a place to stay, while Officer Bob Grybowski, a hard, watchful cop, begins to suspect that the newcomer carries more than he admits.
What unfolds is not sudden violence, but a slow and dangerous entanglement of need, secrecy, and self-deception, as each character moves step by step toward consequences they neither intend nor fully comprehend.
As the line between care and exploitation begins to erode, the cost of misplaced trust becomes irreversible.
Told with unflinching psychological clarity, "The Invisible Worm that Flies in the Night" is not a sensational story, but a serious examination of how predation takes root within ordinary lives -- and how a community, in its blindness and longing, can become involved in its spread.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a riveting read from start to finish, "The Invisible Worm That Flies in the Night" showcases author James Dain's extraordinary flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for the crime novel. His skills as a novelist working in the noir genre and raises "The Invisible Worm That Flies in the Night" to an impressive level of literary excellence. A compelling, compulsive, page-turner of a read, "The Invisible Worm That Flies in the Night" from Brown & King is an exceptional and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists as well as community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: James Dain (www.JamesDain.com) writes character-driven thriller and suspense fiction. His work has won multiple awards, including "Best Novel" at the Los Angeles Neo-Noir Festival. He enjoys an adventurous life in Palm Springs, California, where he teaches college, hikes with his dog and explores the nearby mountains.
The Judas Window
Carter Dickson
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444860306, $43.50 / $36.98, PB, Large Print, 318pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444860306
Synopsis: Avory Hume is found stabbed to death with an arrow - in a study with bolted steel shutters and a heavy door locked from the inside. In the same room James Caplon Answell lies unconscious, his clothes disordered as though from a struggle, his fingerprints on the damning arrow.
Here is the unique Carter Dickson "impossible situation" - yet the great, explosive Sir Henry Merrivale gets down to serious sleuthing and at last startles the crowd in the Old Bailey with a reconstruction of the crime along logical, convincing lines.
Critique: A classic Carter Dickson 'locked room' murder mystery, this large print paperback edition of "The Judas Window" is a deftly crafted and fun read from start to finish. Originally from British Library Crime Classics, this Isis Large print edition is an unreservedly recommended for both the personal reading lists of dedicated 'whodunnit' mystery fans and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "The Judas Window" is also available in a complete and unabridged CD (9780750552943) and MP3-CD (9780750552950) formats ($104.95 / $89.21 each).
Editorial Note: There is an extensive online listing of books by John Dickson Carr available at Books Series in Order: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/john-dickson-carr
Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose
Martin Davies
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444859805, $43.50 / $36.98, PB, Large Print, 366pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444859805
Synopsis: When a priceless ruby known as the Malabar Rose vanishes while being guarded by Sherlock Holmes his assistant, Dr. Watson, and his formidable landlady Mrs. Hudson set out to give a lesson in criminal deduction for her most famous and logical of tenants -- the master sleuth himself.
Critique: A deftly crated and thoroughly fun read from cover to cover, "Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose" is the second book in the eight title 'A Holmes & Hudson Mystery' series by Martin Davies. This series is a delightful expansion of the Sherlock Holmes canon and a 'must' for the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery enthusiasts in general, and Sherlock Holmes fans in particular. This large print paperback edition of "Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose" from Isis Large Print is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose" is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book in both a CD (9780750553117) and MP3-CD (9780750553124) format ($111.95 / $95.16 each).
Murder in Barcelona
Christina Koning
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444859812, $43.50 / $36.98, PB, Large Print, 348pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/uk/search/9781444859812
Synopsis: Summer, 1937. Frederick Rowlands' peaceful holiday in Cornwall is derailed when a film star is found dead in his hotel.
The suspicious nature of Dolores La Mar's death points to murder and Rowlands soon finds himself caught up in the police investigation. When his old flame, Secret Service agent Iris Barnes arrives, it transpires that the killing has links to the political turmoil of the Spanish Civil War.
Rowlands and Barnes begin to follow a treacherous trail of Republican revolutionaries which leads them to the dark streets of Barcelona, where they discover that their Cornish murder is more connected to the city than either of them realized.
As Europe inches closer towards international conflict, will Rowlands and Barnes make it out of Spain alive?
Critique: Another literary gem from the pen of Christina Koning, the newest edition to her 'The Blind Detective Investigates' series, this large print paperback edition of "Murder In Barcelona" from Isis Large Print is another extraordinary adventure of for the pleasure of dedicated fans of historical murder mysteries and tales of the amateur sleuth, Frederick Rowland, as he once again finds himself facing dangerous odds. This large print paperback edition of "Murder in Barcelona" is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Christina Koning has worked as a journalist, reviewing fiction for The Times, and has taught Creative Writing at the University of Oxford and Birkbeck, University of London. From 2013 to 2015, she was Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge. She won the Encore Prize in 1999 and was long-listed for the Orange Prize in the same year. An extensive online listing of books by Christina Koning is now available at Fantastic Fiction -- https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/christina-koning.
A Midsummer Murder
Kate Wells
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836781561, $43.50 / $36.98, PB, Large Print, 500pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836781561
Synopsis: Jude Gray is delighted to hear that her friend Kerry is setting up a wellness retreat with her new boyfriend. If anyone deserves to find peace and happiness, it's Kerry and a retreat at the foot of the Malvern Hills sounds perfect. So Jude (as any good friend would) offers to pitch in.
But the appearance of charismatic keynote speaker Inigo Sage sets Jude's instincts on edge. With his mystical mantras and too-perfect smile, he strikes her as more showman than spiritual guide. Still, he keeps the guests happy, and with a few unexpected extra arrivals, Jude and Kerry certainly have their hands full.
When a fatal accident shatters the peace, the weekend of relaxation descends into anything but tranquility. And Jude learns that Inigo's connections to many of those at the retreat go back decades, and their shared secrets have been deeply buried.
As tensions flare and old resentments bubble to the surface, can Jude find the truth before someone else gets hurt?
Critique: With all the elements of a cozy mystery (an amateur female sleuth, 'whodunnit' suspense, a plethora of plot twists) with the publication of her newest novel, "A Midsummer Murder", author Kate Wells once again demonstrates her compelling flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is produces an original, compelling, and fun read for the growing legions of her fans. This large print paperback edition of "A Midsummer Murder" from Boldwood Books will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for personal reading lists, as well as community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Kate Wells (https://www.katewellscrime.co.uk) is the author of the Malvern Farm Mystery series for adults, she also writes books for children as Kate Poels. There is an online listing of her books at FantasicFiction: www.fantasticfiction.com/w/kate-wells
Bullets Over Bourbon: Urban Crime Stories
David Goldstein
Crime In Progress Press
www.anotherbodyinbrooklyn.com
9798999411235, $18.99 PB, $4.99 Kindle, 420pp
Synopsis: "Bullets Over Bourbon: Urban Crime Stories" by David Goldstein is comprised of thirteen short stories each one featuring an original, gritty, and memorable tales of urban centered crimes and the men who committed them. Some are of stories of passion, some of greed, some of relationships gone wrong, some of balancing accounts -- one way or another.
These stories (in roughly chronological order) includes tales set in New York and its environs: Gimme Shelter (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn -- 2013); Bed-Stuy Burning (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn -- 2014); Up Close and Personal (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn -- 2014); Big Mac's Baggage (East New York, Brooklyn -- Late 2000's); Motel Mayhem (South Jamaica, Queens -- Mid-2010s); Jasmine (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn -- 2009); Bullets Over Bourbon (New York City -- 2012); Shades Of Truth And The Shot That Couldn't Drown Out The J Train (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn -- Late 2000's); What If I Came Knocking? (New York City -- Mid-2010's); Warrantless Entry (South Jamaica Queens -- Late 2010's).
Plus two stories set in Los Angeles: Unauthorized Donut Shops (Los Angeles -- Late 2000's); The West LA Junkett -- Late 2000's).
Critique: As an author with professional experience in law enforcement, the individual noir style short stories comprising "Bullets Over Bourbon: Urban Crime Stories" aptly demonstrate David Goldstein's impressive flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for the short story format. His deftly crafted tales are authentically original, succinctly riveting, and will have enormous appeal to fans of contemporary crime fiction. An entertaining, engaging, and at times simply fascinating, "Bullets Over Bourbon: Urban Crime Stories" is especially and unreservedly recommended for both the personal reading lists of noir crime story fans and community library Contemporary Criminal Suspense/Thriller Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: After serving as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, David Goldstein spent two and a half years as a patrol officer with the LAPD in Los Angeles. He then joined the NYPD and served in high-crime areas in northern Brooklyn before becoming a Lieutenant/Platoon Commander in South Jamaica, Queens. After retiring from the NYPD in 2020, he served for four years as a campus police officer in Boston. David's debut crime novel, Another Body in Brooklyn, was released in October of 2025.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Seeker
Glenn S. Robertson
https://www.glennsrobertson.com
Echo & Ink, LLC
9798994686904, $16.99 PB
9798994686928, $4.99 Kindle
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GV3PKBC2
Synopsis: More than a century after a devastating plague collapses civilization, the American West has returned to older ways. Towns are small, the land is unforgiving, survival depends on reputation and violence, and justice can come from the end of a rifle - or a rope.
Ghost is a Seeker, a solitary rider hired to recover lost knowledge from the ruins of the old world. When a young girl is kidnapped by raiders from Denver, his search carries him across Wyoming's plains and mountains, where every mile tests what remains of a person when the world strips everything else away.
"Seeker" blends post-apocalyptic survival with the soul of a western, telling a story rooted in character and place, where the land itself shapes those who endure it.
Critique: An original and deftly crafted novel that will have immense appeal for readers with an interest in action/adventure dystopian themed science fiction stories, "Seeker" by author Glenn S. Robertson showcases his impressive flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the reader fully engaged from start to finish. A simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "Seeker" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Seeker" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).
Editorial Note: Glenn S. Robertson (https://www.glennsrobertson.com) is a Wyoming-based writer and U.S. Navy veteran. His work is shaped by the American West, an interest in survival under pressure, and a belief that place leaves an imprint on the people who endure it. Before turning to fiction, he worked as a public affairs professional and military journalist, with his writing published widely in newspapers and online. "Seeker" is his first novel.
The Planetary Tribunal
D. K. Locke
Rathen & Vane Press
9798992609080, $32.00, HC386pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Planetary-Tribunal-Novel-Ideas/dp/B0GSYSYNFT
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-planetary-tribunal-d-k-locke/1149712245
Synopsis: In a multiverse where a few ageless individuals serve as clandestine auditors for myriad worlds, Hagar is the auditor overseeing Earth. She uncovers doctored reports, suppressed alarms, and a civilization deep into overshoot. Before she can act, she is silenced.
Decades later, a sleeper agent succeeds in locating and releasing Hagar. Their desperate attempt to convene a planetary hearing takes them on a tumultuous journey-from being thrown into the hold of a slave ship in the past to being thwarted by Earth's emergent entity.
"The Planetary Tribunal" by D. K. Locke is a deftly crafted novel of ideas that are fierce in argument, unsparing in judgment, and sweeping in scope. It stands in the tradition of The Brothers Karamazov's moral confrontation, Atlas Shrugged's civilizational reach, The Deluge's ecological reckoning. It also offers a scathing autopsy of Earth's economic engine, industrial agriculture, religious dogmas, mass panics-and the underlying systems that sustain them. Woven throughout are glimpses of parallel-universe societies that chose otherwise. The fate of Earth's inhabitants hangs in the balance as the consequences of humanity's actions are finally brought before the bench.
Critique: Original, iconoclastic, dystopian, compelling, and a simply fascinating read from start to finish, "The Planetary Tribunal" by novelist D. K. Locke is an extraordinary example of speculative fiction drawn from the extrapolation of the nature of mankind to the moral ambiguities of exploitation and its possible consequences. Eloquent and deftly crafted, "The Planetary Tribunal" is one of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. While an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for dedicated science fiction fans that this hardcover edition of "The Planetary Tribunal" from the Rathen & Vane Press is also available in paperback (9798992609097, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Portraits of Decay
J. R. Blanes
https://jrblanes.com
Ruadan Books
9798991258760, $16.99, PB, 388pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Portraits-Decay-J-R-Blanes/dp/B0FJS3SK51
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/portraits-of-decay-j-blanes/1147900603
Synopsis: Up-and-coming young artist Jefferson Fontenot has everything going for him: The hot New Orleans art scene has noticed him, and he's finally found his true love, Nevaeh Parker. But Fontenot's bright future hides a darkness known as Gemma Landry -- the artist's lover and art scene influencer.
Gemma believes Jefferson's talent holds the key to her seizing control of the popular Carondelet Street Gallery. But when Gemma discovers Jefferson's infidelity, she enslaves the artist with a poison she acquired from swamp-dwelling witch Mirlande St. Pierre.
Now trapped in a rotting body and plagued by hellish visions, Jefferson finds himself reduced to a zombie-like servant for his unhinged ex, while Nevaeh is forced to embrace her past, hoping to save the man she loves. As the dark curse courses through Jefferson's veins, everyone involved soon discovers (in the most brutal of fashions) the terror that awaits when you cross Gemma Landry.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and all the more impressive when considering that "Portraits of Decay" is author J. R. Blanes debut as a novelist, this brilliantly fashioned story of the occult, witchcraft, and horror showcases Blanes' genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for the psychological suspense and fantasy genres. While this paperback edition of "Portraits of Decay" from Ruadan Books is an unreservedly recommended pick for library Contemporary Fantasy & Horror collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: The short fiction of J. R. Blanes (https://jrblanes.com) has been published in several anthologies, magazines, and podcasts such as Winter in the City, Tales to Terrify, The NoSleep Podcast, Thirteen, and Creepy, among others. "Portraits of Decay" is his debut novel.
The Moon Detente
Peter Policastro
Mount Lindsey Press
9978994808207, $34.99, HC, 594pp
9798994808214, $19.99, PB, 593pp
9798994808221, $6.99, Kindle, 586pp
Publication Date: September 15, 2026
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Detente-Peter-Policastro-ebook/dp/B0GTJL6SKB
Synopsis: America's moment has passed -- or so the world believes. As allies slip away and enemies sharpen their ambitions, Washington clings to comforting illusions -- blind to the storm gathering just beyond the horizon.
But one man is not fooled. Jacob P. Slake, founder of the tech empire Q Corp, wagers everything on a secret plan to prevent global collapse. He pays for it with his life, dying aboard a colossal spacecraft as it touches down on the Moon.
In the aftermath, the burden falls to his widow, Jayne --an unlikely leader thrust into a role that could determine humanity's future. With only a small circle of trusted insiders (a wily general, a principled engineer, and a gregarious lawyer) she must now lead a mission designed not to rule the world, but to save it.
Critique: Original, cleverly crafted, and with an authenticity extrapolated from the current decline of respect for America's self-claimed role in the world today, "The Moon Detente" by Peter Policastro will prove of immense appeal to dedicated science fiction fans. All the more impressive when considering that "The Moon Detente" is Policastro's debut as a novelist, his genuine flair for character and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for the action/adventure themed science fiction genre and format making it an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for both personal reading lists and community library Science Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Peter Policastro is a scientist. He earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from MIT in 1983, and has worked as a researcher, inventor, entrepreneur, biotech CEO and academician.
The Woman Who Touched The Sun
Daniel Rirdan
https://www.danielrirdan.com
Corino Press
9798992609073, $13.99, HC, 22pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Who-Touched-Sun/dp/B0GVGD4LGQ
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-woman-who-touched-the-sun-daniel-rirdan/1149605894
Synopsis: Nobody sees Jo leave. One moment the farm is asleep; the next, the barn roof rolls open and a hand-built iron ship blasts its way into the sky.
A woman from Nebraska-quiet, stubborn, with a samurai's bloodline-has spent long nights with a sledgehammer and a welding torch in her barn. Now she flies the ship past the moon, through gravity wells and solar gales, and into the blazing fury of a star that roars in her mind and forbids her to come closer.
With a church bell welded to a railroad chain and a hymn her grandmother sang in Japan, she dares anyway.
Critique: Original, novel, and a fun read from start to finish, "The Woman Who Touched The Sun" by Daniel Rirdan reveals a genuine and impressive character and narrative driven storytelling style that is perfectly suited for the short story/novelette format. Imaginative and deftly crafted, "The Woman Who Touched The Sun" from Corino Press is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for the personal reading lists of science fiction fans and will prove to be an immediate and welcome addition to highschool and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.
Editorial Note: Daniel Rirdan (https://www.danielrirdan.com) wrote his first novel, Interstellar Crew, in longhand at the age of thirteen -- becoming Israel's youngest published novelist. At fifteen, he wrote a book on education reform, hammering away on a rented mechanical typewriter in a laundry closet barely large enough to hold a folding table and a chair. After military service, he moved to Australia, mastering English with jotted vocabulary lists carried everywhere from the bathroom to tram stops. A year later, the peer-reviewed journal Foundation featured his essay on William Gibson. Decades of detours, dead ends, and one PW-starred review environmental tome later, he returned to speculative fiction at fifty and hasn't looked back since.
What Darkness Reveals
A. K. Folsom
Obsidian Quill Books
https://akfolsom.com
9781971298009, $17.99, PB, 396pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/What-Darkness-Reveals-Ravens-Hollow/dp/197129800X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-darkness-reveals-a-k-folsom/1149894276
Synopsis: Philip Emrick was once a man with a future, until the night everything changed. Turned into a vampire and thrust into a hidden hierarchy of supernatural rule, Philip now reigns as the Crown Prince of North America, bound by laws that sever him forever from the life and the woman he once loved.
When a brutal attack leaves Philip broken and exposed in the human world, secrets long buried begin to unravel. A medical examiner who once knew him as human discovers the impossible truth, while a growing threat lurks beneath, one that could ignite a war among vampires themselves.
Blending high-stakes supernatural politics, chilling mystery, and emotional depth, "What Darkness Reveals" is compelling urban fantasy that reveals a world where the monsters known as vampires walk among us -- and the line between humanity and darkness grows dangerously thin.
Critique: "What Darkness Reveals" by A. K. Folsom is an original, expertly crafted, urban vampire fantasy novel that deftly blends vampirism, supernatural intrigue, riveting suspense, brutal conflict, and a forbidden love played out against the backdrop of modern America. With a character and narrative driven storytelling style, Folsom has expanded the vampire world with an imaginative prowess reminiscent of Anne Rice by way of Bram Stoker. Especially and unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of vampire story fans and community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "What Darkness Reveals" from Obsidian Quill Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: A. K. Folsom (https://akfolsom.com) writes vampire fiction for readers who crave more than the familiar. Fascinated with vampires since childhood, Folsom has spent decades exploring the folklore, history, and cultural myths behind the world's most enduring creatures of the night. That lifelong curiosity blends with a background in technology and data to create stories that feel grounded, immersive, and unsettlingly real. The idea for "What Darkness Reveals" came during a fever-driven series of dreams that refused to let go, unfolding night after night until they became the foundation for an entirely new take on vampire mythology. Since then, Folsom has focused on reimagining what vampires are, what they could be, and the hidden worlds they might inhabit. With the tagline "Every Shadow. Every Light. Vampires retold, reimagined," Folsom is building a body of work that spans far beyond a single series, exploring the vampire genre from multiple angles, tones, and perspectives.
Gristholme
L. J. Byers
Proving Press
https://www.provingpress.com
9781633378384, $19.99, PB, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Gristholme-L-J-Byers/dp/1633378381
Synopsis: In the mysterious and shadowy world of Gristholme College, forces of good and evil clash in a battle that has been hidden from view for decades. Perched on a plateau above the quiet town of Newton Falls, surrounded by dense pine forests, Gristholme is home to powerful entities both mystical and menacing.
At the heart of the conflict are the Artificers, a secretive group led by Resin Kirkbride, a campus safety officer with mysterious eldritch powers. The Artificers are dedicated to protecting the students from arcane threats and ensuring that dark magic does not wreak havoc on the campus.
Opposing them is the sinister Gredalia Council, which seeks to use Gristholme's students as pawns in their grand scheme to establish a new world order through dark magic.
Lucia Frey, a young witch and student at Gristholme, finds herself caught between these two powerful factions. As a member of both the Artificers and the Gredalia Council, Lucia faces a harrowing choice: remain a key player in the Council's plans or embrace her role in protecting the innocent from the encroaching darkness.
Critique: "Gristholme" by L. J. Byers is an original and extraordinary mix of fantasy, magic, witchcraft and adventure. All the more impressive when considering that "Gristholme" is Byers' debut as a novelist and a fun and riveting read from start to finish, "Gristholme" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for fantasy fans of all ages that this paperback edition of "Gristholme" from Proving Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: L. J. Byers is an author, soccer enthusiast, avid reader, military veteran, musician, significant other, and father who lives in central Ohio.
A New Witch in the Northwoods
Elise Posledni
Ten16 Press
9781645386667, $16.99, PB, 380pp
Publishing Release Date: September 22, 2026
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/New-Witch-Northwoods-Elise-Posledni/dp/164538666X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-new-witch-in-the-northwoods-elise-posledni/1149731702
Synopsis: When Mary Matherson moved into her late grandfather's house in a small town located in northern Wisconsin, she was prepared to deal with the prying locals while digging for clues about her grandfather's curious death. What she was not prepared for was the veil between the supernatural plane practically in her backyard.
It turns out, Mary is a witch. Her new boyfriend is a demon. The Other world is hard to resist and Mary wants to learn the magic her grandfather kept secret from her. Instead of nosy neighbors and coffee shop gossip, Mary must deal with supernatural politics and a threat that has hunted her family's magic for generations.
Small town life in the Wisconsin Northwoords is not like anything Mary expected.
Critique: An original and fun read from cover to cover, "A New Witch in the Northwoods" by novelist Elise Posledni will be especially appealing to readers with an interest in contemporary romance deftly blended with fantasy and the supernatural. With Posledni's impressive and consistent character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for a deftly crafted 'romantacy', "A New Witch in the Northwoods" is an unreservedly recommended pick for community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "A New Witch in the Northwoods" from Ten16 Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Elise Posledni (https://www.epwrites.com) is currently a bookkeeper by day and writer by weekend and very early mornings. She has short stories featured in the Creative Wisconsin Magazine and A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror anthology. "A New Witch in the Northwoods" is Elise's debut novel. Having lived in Wisconsin for most of her life, she enjoys incorporating the lifestyles of the small towns and truly spectacular natural areas into her writing.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
The End of the Arab of the Future: A Youth in the Middle East Vol. 1
Riad Sattouf, author/illustrator
Sam Taylor, translator
Fantagraphics
www.fantagraphics.com
9798875002373, $22.99, PB, 184pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/End-Arab-Future-Youth-Middle/dp/B0FW9DXQR2
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-end-of-the-arab-of-the-future-riad-sattouf/1148535770
Synopsis: "The End of the Arab of the Future: A Youth in the Middle East" is the story of Riad, a teenager growing up in the French region of Brittany, where he lives with his mother and brother and attends high school in Rennes. But his adolescence is anything but typical. Born to a Syrian father and a French mother, Riad spent much of his early childhood in Libya, rural Syria, and France -- moving through contrasting worlds, political ideologies, and daily absurdities.
Years earlier, his father (charismatic, authoritarian, and obsessed with dictators and with building a utopian Arab society) abducted Riad's second younger brother, Fadi, and returned to Syria, leaving behind a fractured family.
At 14, Riad navigates puberty, isolation, and the pressures of French society, while haunted by the absence of his father and brother, and the sadness of his mother. He turns to books, heavy metal, and drawing as refuge. The tone is darkly comic and sharply observant, capturing both the universal pains of adolescence and the surreal contradictions of the 1990s.
Blending personal story and social commentary, this stand alone graphic novel offers a biting, poignant portrait of a young man coming of age in a world that feels both familiar and foreign.
"The End of the Arab of the Future" is the first book in a two-volume series that concludes the critically acclaimed autobiographical graphic novel begun in "Arab of the Future".
Critique: Featuring full-color illustrations throughout, "The End of the Arab of the Future: A Youth in the Middle East" from Fantagraphics is original, compelling, and memorable. With the text aptly translated into English by Sam Taylor, this trade paperback (7.1 x 0.7 x 9.8 inches, 1.27 pounds) edition of "The End of the Arab of the Future: A Youth in the Middle East" by author/illustrator Riad Sattoul is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library Graphic Novel/Biography collections.
Editorial Note #1: Riad Sattouf is a French-Syrian cartoonist and filmmaker. His works often explore from an observational lens the characteristics and contradictions of the French and Arab identities, and the meeting point between. With his multi-volume Arab of the Future series, chronicling his upbringing in Libya, Syria and France, he received widespread international acclaim and recognition. His comics work has won him the Rene Goscinny award at Angouleme International Comics Festival and his work in film has won him the Cesar Award.
Editorial Note #2: Sam Taylor is a literary translator and novelist. He is the author of five novels and the translator of more than 70 books from French, including bestsellers such as Leila Slimani's The Perfect Nanny, award winners such as Maylis de Kerangal's The Heart, and classics such as Marcel Proust's The Seventy-Five Folios.
The Audiobook Shelf
Alfred Lord Tennyson: In Memoriam, Idylls of the King, Maud & More
Alfred Lord Tennyson / Full Cast Production
BBC Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781529987126, $116.95 / $99.41 CD (10 Hours 52 Minutes)
9781529987560, $116.95 / $99.41, MP3-CD (10 Hours 52 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/search/alfred%20lord%20tennyson
Synopsis: Featuring a full cast of professional voice actors, "Alfred Lord Tennyson: In Memoriam, Idylls of the King, Maud & More" is definitive collection and performance of Alfred Lord Tennyson's finest works.
Even during his own lifetime, he was considered a national institution: Queen Victoria appointed him Poet Laureate in 1850, a position he held for 42 years, and in 1884 he became the first writer to be granted a baronetcy. In a long and fruitful career, he penned numerous classic works, and this BBC Radio collection showcases some of the very best beginning with two of his masterpieces, dramatized by award-winning poet Michael Symmons Roberts.
The Idylls of the King is an extraordinary epic poem that infuses the legend of King Arthur with a passionate intensity. Told here in five acts, it stars Tim Pigott-Smith. Considered one of the finest elegies, In Memoriam was written in response to the sudden death of his friend Arthur Hallam. This drama weaves the peerless poem into the story behind it, and stars Holliday Grainger, James Cooney and Ashley Margolis.
Crossing the Bar plunges us into Tennyson's stirring sea-narratives, with sea-songs performed by a cappella trio Coope, Boyes and Simpson. It includes the poems 'The Kraken', 'The Sea Fairies', 'Enoch Arden', 'The Voyage of Maeldune' and 'Crossing the Bar' - read by John Dougall, Rachel Bavidge, Sam Dale, Jasmine Callan, Stuart McLoughlin and Joseph Kloska.
In Maud, Tennyson's dark, lyrical verses tell of a disturbed young man roaming the windswept hills, madly in love and haunted by loss. Dramatised for radio in 1969, Harold brings to life the story of England's last Anglo-Saxon King, starring Gabriel Woolf.
Next up are readings of Tennyson's best-loved poems, including seven written in the language of his native Lincolnshire and introduced by his great-grandson Hallam Tennyson. 'Aylmer's Field', his Victorian version of the Romeo and Juliet story, is read by Andrew Sachs; while Peggy Ashcroft reads his celebrated lyrical ballad 'The Lady of Shalott'. 'The Lotos-Eaters', inspired by the tale of Odysseus and his mariners, is read by Sir John Gielgud. 'The Northern Farmer', 'The Parson's Daughter', 'The Church Warden and the Curate', 'Owd Roa,' 'The Village Wife', 'The Northern Cobbler' and 'The Spinster's Sweet-Arts' are read by Edward Campion and Mary Wimbush. Lastly, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' is read by Alfred Badel, and 'The Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington', read by the poet's grandson Sir Charles Tennyson.
This remarkable audio book collection concludes with a pair of fascinating documentaries exploring the poet's life and work. Searching for Alfred in the Shadow of Tennyson sees Ruth Padel investigating the man behind the image.
In Our Time finds Melvyn Bragg discussing the poet's moving meditation on love and death.
In terms of chronological listing, the first was published 1830 ('The Kraken', 'The Sea-Fairies'), followed in 1832 ('The Lady of Shalott', 'The Lotos-Eaters'), 1833 ('Fatima'), 1850 ('In Memoriam'), 1852 ('Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington'), 1854 ('The Charge of the Light Brigade'), 1855 ('Maud'), 1859-1885 (Idylls of the King), 1864 ('Enoch Arden', 'The Northern Farmer'), 1876 (Harold), 1880 ('The Voyage of Maeldune', 'The Village Wife', 'The Northern Cobbler'), 1885 ('The Spinster's Sweet-Arts'), 1889 ('Crossing the Bar', 'Owd Roa'), 1891 (Alymer's Field), 1892 ('The Church-Warden and the Curate').
Critique: An impressively 'theatre of the mind' produced collection, this complete and unabridged audio book CD & MP3-CD editions of "Alfred Lord Tennyson: In Memoriam, Idylls of the King, Maud & More" from BBC Audio are unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library audio book collections. Of special note is that the 10 disc CD edition comes in a sturdy hard plastic clamshell casing for an extended shelf life.
Editorial Note: BBC Audio (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcaudio) has a team of 650 editorial and technical staff that creates and delivers more than 100 hours of original audio programming every day. Their podcasts and radio programs are heard around the world.
The Medici Bankers, Gangsters, Popes
Mike Walker / Patrick Baladi, Sirine Saba, Tom Cullen, Saran Morgan, Catrin Aaron
BBC Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781529987140, $79.95 / $67.96, CD (5 hours 41 minutes)
Synopsis: "The Medici Bankers, Gangsters, Popes" is Mike Walker's gripping BBC Radio drama about money, art, religion, politics and power Florence, 1415.
Banker Cosimo Medici is looked down upon as a jumped up money-changer. Then he marries the noble Contessina de Bardi and becomes the richest man in Europe. But his wealth and power threaten the Florentine elite, who are determined to bring him down... However, the House of Medici cannot be crushed that easily.
Sixty years and many violent deaths later, the family are the unquestioned, ruthless rulers of Florence. They control the government, have transformed the city through their patronage of the arts, and one of them has even been crowned Pope. But trouble is coming in the form of the fanatical poet monk Savonarola, and the bank is in decline.
Can Lorenzo the Magnificent save anything for his dim-witted successors -- and will they even care?
With a cast of extraordinary characters including Piero the Gouty, master negotiator Lucrezia Tornabuoni and Pope Leo X, as well as Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Artemisia Gentileschi, this fast-paced 'Renaissance Soprano' tells the thrilling story of one of the most infamous dynasties of all time. Among the cast are Patrick Baladi, Sirine Saba, Tom Cullen, Saran Morgan and Catrin Aaron.
Critique: Original, riveting, and offering a true 'theatre of the mind' experience, "The Medici Bankers, Gangsters, Popes" is available in a complete and unabridged audio book CD (9781529987140) and MP3-CD (9781529987584) formats ($79.95 / $67.96 each). Dramatically created with a BBC Radio full-cast performance, this is a simply outstanding production and a simply fascinating presentation from start to finish making "The Medici Bankers, Gangsters, Popes" is an extraordinary and highly recommended acquisition choice for personal and community library audio book collections.
Editorial Note: BBC Audio (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcaudio) has a team of 650 editorial and technical staff that creates and delivers more than 100 hours of original audio programming every day. Their podcasts and radio programs are heard around the world.
The Ealing Comedy Collection
Full Cast Recording
BBC Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781529987157, $79.95 / $67.96, CD (5 Hours 40 Minutes)
9781529987591, $79.95 / $67.96, MP3-CD (5 Hours 40 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/search/the%20ealing%20comedy%20collection
Synopsis: "The Ealing Comedy Collection"is comprised of a quartet of classic Ealing comedy films, reimagined for BBC Radio Between 1947 and 1957.
Ealing Studios produced a series of immensely popular, darkly funny film comedies that made the West London borough famous throughout the world. Almost 50 years later, four of these timeless films were recreated for BBC Radio 4, and are now collected together for the first time.
The Ladykillers - Eccentric elderly widow Mrs Wilberforce unwittingly foils a gang of crooks lodging in her London house under the pretext they are a string quintet. Dramatised by award-winning playwright Bruce Bedford from the much-loved 1955 film, this captivating crime caper stars Edward Petherbridge, Donald Sinden, Margot Boyd, Johnny Morris and Stratford Johns.
Kind Hearts and Coronets - Disinherited by his snobbish aristocratic family, Louis Mazzini sets out to gain his rightful place as a Duke by bumping off the other eight D'Ascoyne heirs who stand ahead of him. But then he is arrested for the one murder he didn't commit... Michael Kitchen stars as Mazzini and Harry Enfield as the various members of the D'Ascoyne family in this brilliant dramatization of the classic 1949 comedy film.
Passport to Pimlico - When an undetonated World War Two bomb accidentally goes off, the explosion reveals a cache of treasure - including an ancient treaty declaring that the residents of Pimlico are actually part of the Duchy of Burgundy... Adapted by acclaimed scriptwriter John Peacock from the evergreen 1949 film, this delightful drama stars George Cole, Louise Lombard and Sylvia Sims.
Whisky Galore - It is the middle of World War Two, and the residents of the Hebridean islands Great Todday and Little Todday are facing a whisky drought. Then a cargo ship bound for America runs aground carrying 50,000 cases - but can the islanders keep this unexpected bounty secret? Bernard Holley and Dolina MacLennan star in this witty dramatisation of Compton Mackenzie and Angus MacPhail's 1949 film.
Critique: Featuring a BBC Audio full cast of actors remaking for an audio book format four classic movies, the CD and MP3-CD editions are complete and unabridged audio books from BBC Audio. They both are flawlessly produced, thoroughly entertaining, and unreservedly recommended additions to personal and community library audio book collections.
Editorial Note: BBC Audio (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcaudio) has a team of 650 editorial and technical staff that creates and delivers more than 100 hours of original audio programming every day. Their podcasts and radio programs are heard around the world.
Viking Conqueror: Tyant, Ruler, Conqueror
J. C. Duncan, author
Sean Barrett, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836177791, $116.95 / $99.41, CD Audio Book (10 Hours 9 Minutes)
9781836177807, $116.95 / $99.41, MP3-CD Audio Book (10 Hours 9 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/search/viking%20conqueror
Synopsis: 1066 AD, Norway
Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, the Thunderbolt of the North, reigns supreme; undefeated on the battlefield and unchallenged at home. His banner, Land-Waster, flies triumphant everywhere he marches. Everything that was stolen from his brother, King Olaf, has been regained.
But power does not satiate. Glory does not fill the empty void in an ambitious heart. Victory is an elixir that runs dry no matter how freely it flows. No matter the height on which the triumphant stand, there, in the corner of his eye, is the glitter of another conquest.
Harald has achieved more than any man of his time, but fate is not done with him. His destiny lies on the banks of a quiet river in England's green and pleasant land - Stamford Bridge.
To finish his great story, to forge the empire he always desired, all the last Viking conqueror must do is defeat a worthy opponent; King Harold of England, and seize his country and his crown.
Born to be king. Destined to die for glory. His life changed nations. His death will change the world.
Critique: Also readily available from Boldwood Books in a large print paperback edition (9781836177852, $43.50 / $36.98, 500pp), "Viking Conqueror" by J. C. Duncan is vividly narrated by the talented storyteller Sean Barrett in a flawlessly produced CD and MP3-CD audio book formats. Presented in a graphically descriptive and immersive 'theatre of the mind" experience for the listener, "Viking Conqueror" is an unreservedly and candidly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: There is a listing of books by J. C. Duncan available online at FantasticFiction: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/jc-duncan
Editorial Note #2: There is a listing of books narrated by Sean Barrett available online at Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Sean+Barrett
Treaty of Blood
Michael Jecks, author
John Telfer, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781837032969, $111.95 / $95.16, CD Audio Book (8 Hours 56 Minutes)
9781837032976, $111.95 / $95.16, MP3-CD Audio Book (8 Hours 56 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/search/treaty%20of%20blood
Synopsis: 1359, Northern France. With the ink still drying on the Treaty of Bretigny, an agreement most believed to be nothing more than a stalemate between King Edward III of England and John II of France, the country is left riddled with both English and France armies - exhausted, adrift and directionless.
An atmosphere ripe for rebellion.
Berenger Fripper returns to the only life he truly understands, among the troops of Hawkwood's company. But danger and treachery lurk around every abandoned French farm or village. When the company comes across the promise of riches hidden in a monastery, the motley crew finally feel as though their luck is changing.
But as quickly as they find the treasure, quicker still it's stolen from under their noses, and as they seek revenge on the unknown thief, they find themselves swept up in the might and the politics of the Great Company.
Will any of them get out alive?
Critique: Also readily available (and highly recommended) in a large print paperback edition from Boldwood Books of "Treaty of Blood" (9781837033027, $43.50 / $36.98, 500pp) by Michael Jecks is also offered in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience by the impressive narrative skills of vocal actor John Telfer as complete and unabridged CD and MP3-CD audio books -- especially for readers and listeners with an interest in historical fiction and medieval knightly warfare. "Treaty of Blood" will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular edition to community library audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: There is a listing of books by Michael Jecks available online at Book Series in Order: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/michael-jecks
Editorial Note #2: There is a listing of books narrated by John Telfer available online at Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=John+Telfer
The Importance of Being Murdered
Debbie Young, author
Laura Kirman, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835185667, $86.95 / $73.91, CD Audio Book (6 Hours 19 Minutes)
9781835185674, $86.95 / $73.91, MP3-CD Audio Book (6 Hours 19 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/search/the%20importance%20of%20being%20murdered
Synopsis: One village, ten suspects, one deadly performance. The curtain is about to rise on the Bunbury Players' latest production, Oscar Wilde's classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest.
But moments before the show starts, the leading man, retired star of stage and screen Bertram Manchester, is found dead in his dressing room.
As rumours spread throughout the Cotswold village community, Detective Constable Windermere seizes her chance to catch a killer and secure the promotion she craves.
The trouble is, every member of the cast has something to hide.
Will her front-row seat to murder enable DC Windermere to uncover the truth ... or will she be the next person taking their last bow?
Critique: Also readily available in a large print paperback edition (9781835185735, $43.50 / $36.98, 500pp), "The Importance of Being Murdered" by Debbie Young is readily available as a complete and unabridged audio book in both CD and an MP3-CD formats. A deftly crafted cozy mystery that is impressively narrated by Laura Kirman, "The Importance of Being murdered will prove a celebrated and enduringly popular pick for personal lists and community library audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: There is a listing of books by Debbie Young available online at Book Series Order: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/debbie-young
Editorial Note #2: There is a listing of books narrated by Laura Kirman available online at Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Laura+Kirman
Murder on the Cricket Green
Catherine Coles, author
Alex Lee, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804150856, $86.95 / $73.91, CD Audio book (6 Hours)
9781804150863, $86.95 / $73.91, MP3-CD Audio book (6 Hours)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/search/murder%20on%20the%20cricket%20green
Synopsis: Westleham Village, May 1948 -- The villagers of Westleham are excited for the first village cricket match since the end of the war. But Martha Miller has more pressing concerns - namely, the sudden reappearance of her husband, Stan, missing for two years and acting as though nothing has happened.
Martha doesn't know what to feel, especially now that his return threatens her growing fondness for the kind-hearted village vicar, Luke. Yet she's not the only one unsettled by Stan's return...
As the match begins and the crowd cheers, Stan suddenly collapses -- dead before he hits the ground. And all eyes turn to Martha.
To clear her name, she must uncover the truth about Stan's missing years and his sudden reappearance. But in a village this small, everyone has something to hide. Will Martha's amatuer sleuthing find the real killer or will she pay the price for someone else's deadly deed?
Let the investigation commence!
Critique: Also available in a large print paperback edition from Boldwood Books (9781804150924, $43.50 / $36.98, 500pp) and in both CD and an MP3-CD audio book formats, "Murder on the Cricket" by Catherine Coles is impressively narrated by Alex Lee. Cozy, and part of the 'Martha Miller Mystery' series, "Murder on the Cricket Green" is an absolute 'must' for the legions of cozy mystery fans and fun 'theatre of the mind' experience from start to finish. This complete and unabridged edition "Murder on the Cricket" will prove a welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Catherine Coles (https://catherinescountryclub.com) writes cozy mysteries that are irresistibly British, gently humorous, and filled with the kind of secrets only found in quiet villages.
Editorial Note #2: Alex Lee (https://www.alexleeaudio.uk) has narrated some 100 titles across many different genres including cosy murder mysteries, historical fiction, thrillers, romance, literary classics, children's literature, biographies, adventure, comedy, science fiction and poetry.
The Library CD Shelf
Indigo Garden
Black Nile
Mass MoCA Records
$TBA CD / $9.00 digital / $25.00 vinyl
Bandcamp
https://blacknile.bandcamp.com/album/indigo-garden
Brothers and GRAMMY-nominated music artists Aaron and Lawrence Shaw formed the genesis of Black Nile, a band that embraces original jazz music as both creative expression and as rebellion against the injustice and murder that America has inflicted upon its black population throughout the nation's history. They recruited additional talented performers to round out the band. Indigo Garden is their latest original album, performed by Aaron Shaw on sax, flute, bass clarinet, and ewi; Lawrence Shaw on bass and juno; Luca Mendoza and Brian Hargove on keyboards; Myles Martin and Malachi Harvey on drums; and Na'il Ali on guitar; and Soren Smedvig on trumpet. Passionate, grounded in Los Angeles, and speaking to diaspora and survival, Indigo Garden is highly recommended especially for jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are Ritual of Returning; Exposure; Skyrim; Connecting the Links at The World Stage; Day Break; City of Silent Angels; City of Fire; Slauson Fog; The Blue Zone; Ashes In the Berkshires; Danielle; and Love at The World Stage.
Terry Callier at the Earl of Old Town
Terry Callier
Time Traveler Recordings
$23.56 CD / $14.19 MP3 / $46.02 vinyl
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Earl-Old-Town-Terry-Callier/dp/B0GL24WVR7
Originally recorded live at The Earl of Old Town, Chicago on October 24, 1967, Terry Callier at the Earl of Old Town is a two-CD set capturing the stellar performance of African-American soul, folk, and jazz guitarist/singer/songwriter Terry Callier (1945-2012). Released in cooperation with the Terry Callier Estate, Terry Callier at the Earl of Old Town is expertly restored and mastered, with bonus liner notes by radio programmer Mark Ruffin and comments by Sunny Callier. Terry Callier at the Earl of Old Town is a choice pick for connoisseurs of Terry Callier's "folk jazz" music and for public library collections.
Alight Upon the Lake: Live at the Jazz Showcase
Yusef Lateef
Resonance Records
$29.99 CD / $14.99 digital
Bandcamp
https://yuseflateeflive.bandcamp.com/album/alight-upon-the-lake-live-at-the-jazz-showcase
Available in a limited edition 3-LP package with liner notes by Lateef biographer Herb Boyd as well as exclusive interviews (as well as in a digital edition), Alight Upon the Lake: Live at the Jazz Showcase captures an extraordinary concert by legendary African-American jazz musician Yusef Lateef (1920-2013) along with pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Bob Cunningham, and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. Restored and mastered from the original 1975 tapes, Alight Upon the Lake captures the spirit of experiencing an extraordinary live show firsthand. Exciting, dramatic, and unforgettable, Alight Upon the Lake is worthy of the highest recommendation for both personal and public library jazz collections.
Glissement du temps (Slip of Time)
Jazzlab Orchestra
jazzlaborchestra.com
Effendi Records
effendirecords.com
$TBA CD / $9.00 CAD digital
Bandcamp
https://jazzlaborchestra.bandcamp.com/album/slip-of-time
Canada's Jazzlab Orchestra is a world-class collective that has performed over 500 international concerts. Their latest original creation is Glissement du temps (Slip of Time), an album that weaves polyrhythmic and polytonal music into a resonant tapestry of sound. Featuring extraordinarily talented performers on saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, and drums, Glissement du temps is an extraordinary modern masterpiece, highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The tracks are Thank's Collier (Michel Lambert); Amigos (Francois Bourassa); Murs de Verre (Gentiane MG); Outer Chamber (Erik Hove); Night Bus (Claire Devlin); EMT (Pierre De Bethmann); and La Mule (Michel Lambert).
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
From Pain to Peace
Mel Harkrader Pine
Prospecta Press
https://eastonstudiopress.com/prospecta-press
9781632261786, $18.00, PB, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Peace-Trauma-Tragedy-Compassion/dp/1632261782
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-pain-to-peace-mel-harkrader-pine/1149676856
Synopsis: "From Pain to Peace: How Trauma and Tragedy Teach Us Compassion and Wisdom" is the powerful spiritual memoir of Mel Pine -- a Buddhist practitioner with nearly eight decades of life experience. In the page of "From Pain to Peace" Mel opens his heart to share how a lifetime of traumas became stepping stones to wisdom, compassion, and ultimately, joy.
From early childhood losses to violent crises, from caring for loved ones with mental illness to confronting his family's Holocaust history, Pine's journey is raw, honest, and deeply human. Yet "From Pain to Peace" isn't a story of mere survival -- rather it is a testament to transformation.
Alternating between memoir chapters and "Spiritual Interludes," Pine deftly weaves Buddhist teachings with hard-won life lessons, showing how concepts like impermanence, equanimity, and self-compassion become practical tools for healing.
"From Pain to Peace" offers a hopeful message: The path to peace is available to everyone.
So whether you are navigating your own grief, seeking spiritual guidance, or curious about how one man turned tragedy into grace, "From Pain to Peace" speaks to the universal longing for healing and wholeness.
Critique: Exceptional, eloquent, deeply personal but with a universal resonance, "From Pain to Peace: How Trauma and Tragedy Teach Us Compassion and Wisdom" is singularly extraordinary and an unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Biography/Memoir collections and the personal reading lists of those with an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, love, loss, and the psychology of trauma. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "From Pain to Peace: How Trauma and Tragedy Teach Us Compassion and Wisdom" from Prospecta Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Mel Pine (https://melpineauthor.com) has as his end-of-life mission the sharing of the wisdom he has gained over almost eight decades of life and four decades of Buddhist practice to relieve the suffering of others. He is a seasoned writer, Buddhist practitioner, and spiritual communicator with six decades of experience in clear nonfiction writing. Through his blogs and teachings, he has cultivated a substantial following across the United States and internationally, offering accessible teachings and practices drawn from his extensive spiritual journey and Buddhist practice.
The Architecture Shelf
Seeking Abundance: Design, Ecology and a Flourishing Planet
Alan Ricks, et al.
AXIO
c/o ORO Editions
www.oroeditions.com
9781966515029, $50.00, HC, 360pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Abundance-Design-Ecology-Flourishing/dp/1966515022
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeking-abundance-sierra-bainbridge/1147188837
Synopsis: Regenerative architectural design is a way of building that heals our planet and our communities by halting biodiversity loss, reversing climate change, and improving social equity.
Over the last decade, the nonprofit design practice MASS has proven that we can yield positive social, environmental, and economic results through a series of projects in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"Seeking Abundance: Design, Ecology and a Flourishing Planet" by Sierra Bainbridge, Alan Ricks argues for reducing the harm our building activities wage in our environments and that we can and must help people and the planet thrive together.
The proof? MASS' projects represent a coherent and replicable philosophy that responds to local ecologies and transforms lives. "Seeking Abundance: Design, Ecology and a Flourishing Planet" is a seminal and groundbreaking study enhanced by contributions for thirty-three expertis in the field who collectively examine how the power of multidisciplinary collaboration, regenerative practices, and community engagement can actively contribute to a healthier, more harmonious world.
Critique: Critically important, innovative, visionary, informed and informative, "Seeking Abundance: Design, Ecology and a Flourishing Planet" is lavishly illustrated in color throughout, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. "Seeking Abundance" is an unique, extraordinary, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and college/university library collections and curriculums dedicated to Regional Architecture in general, and Sustainability & Green Design in particular.
Editorial Note: Alan Ricks is Co-Executive Director and Founding Principal and Sierra Bainbridge is a Senior Principal and Managing Director of MASS Design Group, a design firm that focuses on creating spaces that foster human flourishing while considering the needs of the environment. Their work spans a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, and conservation, with a commitment to using architecture as a force for positive change.
Arctic Practices: Design for a Changing World
Bert De Jonghe and Elise Misao Hunchuck, editors
Actar Publishers
https://actar.com
9781638401339, $45.95, PB, 368pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Postcolonial-Arctic-Urbanization-Polyvocal-Perspectives/dp/1638401330
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/postcolonial-arctic-urbanization-elise-misao-hunchuck/1144449136
Synopsis: Developed as a timely contribution to literature on Arctic design, "Arctic Practices: Design for a Changing World" covers 33 chapters and features 45 contributors, including designers, educators, artists, photographers, and filmmakers. Among this cohort, some are Indigenous, some are residents, and some are visitors to the Circumpolar North. But all generously share their ways of designing with or approaching, translating, seeing, or inhabiting changing Arctic landscapes.
The contributions shared in "Arctic Practices" respond to colonial histories, foreground Indigenous livelihoods, and demonstrate how Arctic design practices are adapting to new and changing climatic contexts. In the past, Arctic design (e.g., Arctic architecture, landscape architecture, and urbanization) has been dominated by colonial and nation-state interests, often influenced by design perspectives more appropriate to southern landscapes. Western-centric narratives and design paradigms that suffered from limited understandings of the internal dynamics, unique climatic conditions, and diversity of different people and cultures were often projected and forced (sometimes violently) onto the many different peoples and regions of the Circumpolar North.
The contributors to "Arctic Practices" collectively believe that designers (and others) can only move forward by first acknowledging the past; this includes taking seriously the responsibility to avoid committing the mistakes of those who came before them. The stories and images shared in these pages were gathered by deliberately seeking out many different forms of contributions and media in order to more adequately respond to the remarkably rich and varied histories of the world's northernmost regions.
The collection of commentaries and works comprising "Arctic Practices" has taken great care to manifest design projects, pedagogies, and artistic interventions that both critique the discipline's troubled history while also, in most cases, introducing speculative ways forward into an uncertain planetary future. This polyvocal assembly is an offering to begin to learn and unlearn so that we may share meaningful design interventions across northern lands, seas, and ice.
Critique: Expertly compiled and co-edited by the team of Bert De Jonghe and Elise Misao Hunchuck, "Arctic Practices: Design for a Changing World" from Actar is a unique and groundbreaking volume that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Regional Landscape Architecture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
The Business Shelf
Win Via Trust
Michael Rabinowitz
Intelluvia Press
https://winviatrust.com
9798994727713, $29.99, HC, 210pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Win-Via-Trust-Leadership-Exceptional/dp/B0GSFH3RSD
Synopsis: What separates resilient leaders and high performing teams from the rest? Not technology, not process, but something far more foundational -- and far more often overlooked: TRUST
Trust has become more than a leadership ideal. It has become the driving force behind organizational and individual success. Organizations that operationalize trust as a strategic asset outperform those that simply treat it as a talking point.
With the publication of "Win Via Trust: The Practical Leadership Framework to Build Trust, Close Deals and Deliver Exceptional Results" by Michael Rabinowitz, you will find clear insights and practical direction that will meaningfully elevate your leadership -- wherever you are in your leadership journey.
From closing deals, developing high-potential employees, managing crisis, optimizing remote work, and incorporating AI, "Win Via Trust" crystallizes what you need to know as a leader and provides real-world advice you can apply immediately.
"Win Via Trust" also introduces the Trustworthy Decision Matrix, a simple, practical 2x2 decision-making tool that helps you determine whether a situation is trustworthy or not and assign resources with confidence.
With over 30 years' experience driving growth and value across Fortune 100 companies and startups with fewer than 25 employees, Michael Rabinowitz aptly draws upon his years of experience and expertise to share actionable insights with relentless discipline as to why trust matters and how it should change the lens of everything you do in business.
Critique: Timely, exceptional, deftly crafted, 'real world practical', and of enormous value to readers with an interest in the subjects of business ethics, workplace culture, entrepreneurial success, and personal accomplishment, "Win Via Trust: The Practical Leadership Framework to Build Trust, Close Deals and Deliver Exceptional Results" is impressively 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation -- making it an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, business school, and college/university library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, business managers, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Win Via Trust" from Intelluvia Press is also readily available in paperback (9798994727706, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Michael Rabinowitz is a life sciences executive who has spent over thirty years driving growth and value for companies with over 100,000 employees and start ups as small as 25 employees. He has held C-suite, consulting, and other leadership roles in strategy, marketing, sales, finance, and business development functions in the US and globally, overseeing large teams or working without a staff. Michael also currently advises biotech and medtech CEOs in strategy and partnering as Founder and Principal of Intelluvia LLC. (https://michaelrabinowitz.blog/books-on-trust-and-leadership)
What Am I Made For? Cultivate and Grow Big and Little Ideas
Nancy Meyer, MA
Manuscripts Press
https://manuscript.press
9798901020791, $32.99, HC, 298pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/What-Am-Made-Cultivate-Little/dp/B0GS78LP8V
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-am-i-made-for-nancy-meyer/1149626969
Synopsis: Each of us are born carrying ideas-quiet seeds of possibility that wait for courage, attention, and the rhythm of our lives to coax them awake. Our stories, our losses, our inheritance, and our small, ordinary moments of wonder shape what we create. We evolve each time we say yes to an idea that scares us, or stirs us, or calls us by name.
Growth is rarely convenient. It arrives disguised as grief, as curiosity, as a question we didn't plan to ask. It asks us to listen to our emotions, intuition, relationships, and the wisdom that travels through our lineage.
"What Am I Made For? Cultivate and Grow Big and Little Ideas " by Nancy Meyer is a companion for those who are in the process of fully becoming ourselves. It is a reminder that ideas are not separate from us; they are expressions of who we are becoming. To generate, incubate, experiment, and birth an idea is to take responsibility for our own unfolding.
The contention of "What Am I Made For? Cultivate and Grow Big and Little Ideas" is that you are here to create-not perfectly, but earnestly. To lead yourself with tenderness and truth. To shape a life that honors your worth and your peculiar talent.
And somewhere inside that unfolding, you will glimpse the answer to the question: What am I made for?
Critique: Original, exceptional, 'real world' practical, and inspirationally motivational, "What Am I Made For? Cultivate and Grow Big and Little Ideas" by Nancy Meyer is exceptionally well written, organized and presented, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Small Business Management and Entrepreneurial collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, self-employed entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "What Am I Made For? Cultivate and Grow Big and Little Ideas" from Manuscripts Press is also readily available in paperback (9798901020784, $19.98) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99 Amazon & eBook, $9.99 B&N).
Editorial Note: Nancy Meyer (https://wementor.com/34906) is an entrenovation mentor, author, podcaster, and founder of WeMentor, inc., where she has spent more than three decades guiding entrepreneurs and creative leaders in developing the self-leadership, clarity, and resilience required to bring meaningful ideas to life. Her work blends strategic thinking with mindful practice, helping clients evolve themselves as they redesign their businesses. A former entrepreneurship and small business finance professor at two private universities, Nancy has shaped curriculum and leadership programs that integrate research, innovation, and emotional intelligence. She is known for uniting practical business insight with relational literacy and a deep respect for the creative process.
The LGBTQ Studies Shelf
The LGBTQ Almanac: 500 Years of Queer Culture in American History
Deborah G. Felder
Visible Ink Press
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578598496, $79.95, HC, 656pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/LGBTQ-Almanac-American-Inclusive-Collection/dp/1578598494
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lgbtq-almanac-deborah-g-felder/1146916707
Synopsis: Honoring the history and the impact of LGBTQ people on the history and culture of the United States across a variety of fields, "The LGBTQ Almanac: 500 Years of Queer Culture in American History" compiled by Deborah Feler is an iconic and fascinating blend of biographies, little-known or misunderstood historical facts, enlightening essays on significant legislation, and cultural changes. This exhaustive volume features a large collection of 450 biographies of both celebrated and lesser-known influencers in the community ranging from Harvey Milk (Politician); Bessie Smith (Blues Singer); James Beard (Chef); and Christine Abizaid (Intelligence Officer); to Billie Jean King (Tennis Player); Tammy Baldwin (Politician); Emily Shilling (Naval Officer); Ellen DeGeneres (Actor, Comedian); June Chan (Activist, Neurobiologist); Julie Dorf (Human Rights Activist); William Masters and Virginia Johnson (Scientists, Sexologists); Sarah McBride (Congresswoman); and hundreds more!
Celebrating Queer history and achievements, "The LGBTQ Almanac" is a unique and valuable resource. This massive tome is devoted to illustrating the moving and often lost history of LGBTQ people in business, politics, the military, art, entertainment, sports, media, religion, science, and across America life and throughout its history. Commemorating and honoring Queer achievements, honors, and influence, this important book brings to light all there is to admire and discover about LGBTQ Americans! "The LGBTQ Almanac" is enhanced with the inclusion of numerous B/W photographs and illustrations, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index.
Critique: Comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The LGBTQ Almanac: 500 Years of Queer Culture in American History" is an informative and groundbreaking compendium of succinct biographies showcasing the lives and accomplishments of LGBTQ men and women in all walks of life. Unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, highschool, and college/university library LGBTQ History/Biography collections. It should be noted for students, academia, political activists, members of the LGBTQ community, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in American LGBTQ history that his hardcover edition of "The LGBTQ Almanac: 500 Years of Queer Culture in American History" from Visible Ink Press is also available in paperback (9781578597130, $39.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
Editorial Note: Deborah G. Felder is the author of more than 20 publications, including fiction and nonfiction books and articles for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers. Her books include "The American Women's Almanac" from Visible Ink Press. She has also authored The 100 Most Influential Women of All Time: A Ranking Past and Present; and A Century of Women: The Most Influential Events in Twentieth-Century Women's History. Additionally, she has written book reviews for The New York Times Book Review, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly.
The Philosophy Shelf
Math Heals
Tiffany Suson
Avaida Publishing
https://www.mathhealsmindset.com
9798995293002, $26.99, HC, 220pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Math-Heals-Weight-Being-Human/dp/B0GT1MHQR1
Math Heals
https://www.mathhealsmindset.com/shop
Synopsis: Math is everywhere. It measures time and distance. It traces patterns in DNA and galaxies. It builds bridges and sends rockets into space.
So why does life feel different? Why do relationships feel harder to navigate than equations? Could emotion be pointing to something we have not yet understood? And could math help us see it more clearly?
While most books about conflict and emotion borrow from psychology, "Math Heals: On the Gift and Weight of Being Human" by Tiffany Suson draws from mathematics.
"Math Heals" is a work of reflective nonfiction that examines the structure beneath everyday life. Drawing from experiences in the her own life as a physical therapist, a homeschooling mother, and a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, Tiffany reflects on how the clarity of mathematics can illuminate the complexity of being human.
Critique: Original, extraordinary, groundbreaking, iconoclastic, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Math Heals: On the Gift and Weight of Being Human" by Tiffany Suson will be of special appeal and value for readers with an interest in philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, consciousness and thought. Impressively well written, organized and presented, "Math Heals"deftly explores how mathematical structure and equations may offer a clearer way to understand emotions, conflict, and the choices that shape our lives. Ideal for personal and group studies, this hardcover edition of "Math Heals" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should also be noted that "Math Heals" from Avaida Publishing is also readily available for philosophy and psychology students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject in paperback (9798995293019, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Tiffany Suson is a physical therapist and author who explores how the clarity of mathematics can illuminate the complexity of being human. For more than twenty years she has worked closely with people navigating pain, injury, and the changes that come with aging and illness. Her perspective has also been shaped by family life as a homeschooling mother of five, including raising a child on the autism spectrum. These experiences led her to notice patterns that appear in everyday life. Her book "Math Heals: On the Gift and Weight of Being Human" reflects on experiences such as conflict, misunderstanding, growth, and decision making through the lens of mathematics. Suson lives in Texas with her family and continues to work as a home health physical therapist while writing.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
God Awaits...: The Manifesto of a Contemporary Seeker
Vanish K, author
Notion Press
https://notionpress.com
9798903626632, $29.99, HC, 378pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/God-Awaits-Manifesto-Contemporary-Seeker/dp/B0GT447VM1
Synopsis: Initiated at fourteen, Vanish K has spent three decades seeking the Supreme. With the publication of "God Awaits...: The Manifesto of a Contemporary Seeker" he presents a distillation of that journey: a compilation of thresholds guiding readers from the recognition of the insatiable human void to the cultivation of contentment.
Drawing on the Fourth Way of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, alongside the teachings of Meher Baba, Osho, and other masters, the text of "God Awaits" offers a contemporary language for existential truths while honoring the awakeners who shaped its path. Moving through centers, forces, consciousness, and ways, Vanish K deftly weaves science, mysticism, and lived practice into a coherent invitation.
"God Awaits..." is not a manual of renunciation but a transmission of integration: awakening through daily life, wonder through inquiry, and devotion through conscious participation. Gentle yet firm, it summons seekers and fence sitters alike to cross into conscious evolution -- assuring that even hesitation can open the path, and that courage, honesty, and imagination remain steadfast companions.
Critique: Thoughtful and thought provoking, inspired and inspiring, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, style, organization and presentation, "God Awaits...: The Manifesto of a Contemporary Seeker" by Vanish K will be of immense and enduring interest for anyone concerned with spiritual growth, insight, understanding, and communion with the divine in our daily lives. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Religion/Spirituality and Philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "God Awaits...: The Manifesto of a Contemporary Seeker" is also available in paperback (9798901767801, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Vanish K is the founder of "Key to Elysium - Shared Space for Conscious Evolution" (https://www.keytoelysium.com).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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