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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
A Goddess Is Born
Madhu Bazaz Wangu
Spark Publishers
PO Box #154, PA 15090-0154
0972145907 $12.00 m.wangu@attbi.com www.amazon.com
Written by educator and South Asian Religion expert Madhu Bazaz Wangu, A Goddess Is Born:
The Emergence Of Khir Bhavani In Kashmir is a meticulous and scholarly interpretation of
ancient
Asian scripture with in its historic context, and including visual representations and the Tulmul
temple itself in order to reveal the inception of the Kashmiri Goddess Khir Bhavani. An
extensively
detailed, thoughtful, and deftly researched account, A Goddess Is Born is very highly
recommended
for Asian Religious Studies reference library collections and reading lists.
Seaweeds Of The Pacific Coast
Jennifer Mondragon & Jeff Mondragon
Sea Challengers
4 Sommerset Rise, Monterey, CA 93940
0930118294 $21.95 1-831-373-6306 www.seachallengers.com
Jennifer Mondragon and Jeff Mondragon are a pair of marine biologists who have personally
traversed the Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska. In Seaweeds Of The Pacific Coast:
Common Marine Algae From Alaska To Baja California, Jennifer and Jeff effectively collaborate
to
provide the reader with a full-color field guide featuring eye-catching photographs combined with
basic information about identifying characteristics, range, and habitat concerning 128 species of
marine algae commonly found in the Pacific coast region. Seaweeds Of The Pacific Coast is very
highly recommended as being an superbly organized and thoroughly "user friendly" quick
reference
which is suitable for marine biology professionals and non-specialist general readers alike.
Young At Heart
Anne Snowden Crosman
Hara Publishing Group, Inc.
PO Box 19732, Seattle, WA 98109
1887542027 $18.95 1-425-775-7868
Compiled by Anne Snowden Crosman, Young At Heart is a witty anthology of zesty insights
drawn
from sixty-one extraordinary men and women, each of whom focuses their remarks upon the issue
of
defying age and living life to the fullest. Words of wisdom from Steve Allen, Benjamin Spock,
Hildegarde, Roy Rogers, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (and 56 other men and women), fill the pages of
this
upbeat, inspiring, energetic, celebration of our glorious golden years.
Nine Lives
Mary Cantando with Laurie Zuckerman
Cantando & Associates
1013 Erin's Way, Raleigh, NC 27614
0972952802 $15.95 www.WomanBusinessOwner.com
Compiled by Mary Cantando with the assistance of Laurie Zuckerman, Nine Lives: Stories Of
Women Business Owners Landing On Their Feet is an excitingly informative, evening inspiring,
collection of personal experiences by outstanding female entrepreneurs who have braved both
inner
considerations and barriers as wells as economic, financial, and competitive obstacles in order to
pursue their hearts and careers in successful and trailblazing ventures, ranging from the CEO of
Neutral Posture, to the former missionary and current owner and general manager of JC Tec
Industries. Nine Lives is enthusiastically recommended reading, especially for those women
seeking
to make their mark in today's challenging, competitive, and rapidly evolving business world.
Kundalini And The Evolution Of Consciousness
Solomae Sananda
Living Spirit
c/o Living Spirit Foundation
PO Box 882, Somerset, CA 95684
096778526X $17.00 1-530-620-2487 www.livingspiritfoundation.org
Written by Solomae Sananda (a living master of Kundalini energy), Kundalini And The Evolution
Of
Consciousness is a spiritual self-help guide to gaining advanced states of consciousness, passing
through the seven planes of existence, emerging intoenergetic entrainment and purification, and
much more. Kundalini And The Evolution Of Consciousness is a thoughtful and
thought-provoking
instructional guide to opening one's mind and soul to metaphysical possibilities far beyond the
mudane.
Free Tours, Museums, And Sites In America: Southern States Series
Lee Ellis
Americana Group Publishing
54 Woodridge Drive West, River Falls, WI 54022
0966796195 $19.95 1-800-206-7730 www.amazon.com
Compiled and written by Lee Ellis, Free Tours, Museums, And Sites In America: Southern States
Series is a solidly presented guide designed specifically for those seeking economical travel advice
and entertainment suggestions in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. From zoos and botanical gardens, to wine and brewery tours,
to
national monuments, to scenic overlooks, to natural history museums, and more, this is a
straightforward compendium of places to visit (complete with addresses, telephone numbers, brief
descriptions, and other basic information), Free Tours, Museums, And Sites In America: Southern
States Series is an excellent and recommended resource for planning vacations, road trips, and for
anyone living in these fine southern states wanting to see something special during a day trip
excursion, a weekend adventure, or an extended holiday experience.
Learning To Dance With The Dragonfly
Holly N. Fordyce
Dancing Dragonfly Press
867 Curve Street, Carlisle, MA 01741
0972701346 $29.95 www.dancingdragonflypress.com
Written by breast cancer survivor and professional social worker Holly Fordyce, Learning To
Dance
With The Dragonfly: Healing Lessons Of Nature is a contemplative and inspirational collection of
essays, spiritual meditations, brilliant color photographs, and profound day-by-day insights into
the
wonder and beauty of the natural world. A moving and immersive reading experience, Learning
To
Dance With The Dragonfly is a original and unique reading experience that will linger in the mind
long after the book is finished and placed back upon the shelf.
The Fiction Shelf
Reactor
Gerald Kobernick
PublishAmerica
PO Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705-0151
1591298598 $34.95 www.publishamerican.com
Reactor is a compelling novel of conspiracy, presenting a nefarious Middle Eastern
terrorist-driven
scheme to assemble a nuclear reactor within the United States and use it to crush America and
Israel
both. Author Gerald Kobernick presents the reader with a deftly written, attention gripping, plot
twisting ride of ruthless conspiracy and inevitable unfolding plans for nuclear devastation and
horrific destruction. With a storyline that could easily become tomorrow's newspaper headlines,
Reactor is enthusiastically recommended reading from first page to last.
Purple Sun
Lawrence McAuliffe
Upper Access Books
87 Upper Access Road, PO Box 457, Hinesburg, VT 05461
094267927X $12.95 1-802-482-2988 www.upperaccess.com
Purple Sun: An Epic Tale Of War And Redemption is a novel by Lawrence McAuliffe of Billy
Kern
and Isaiah Ross, two veterans of the Vietnam war, and men who care little for one another yet
share
a common concern for another young soldier who had gone missing in action (MIA). Some
twenty-eight years after the war was over, and guided by a former Viet Cong soldier, the two men
search from the monastery of the Purple Sun of Vietnam to the mountains of Wyoming, seeking
to
uncover the answer to a wartime mystery. Purple Sun is a thoroughly captivating saga, one of
those
reads which are so easy to pick up and so hard to set down.
Silicon Secrets
Catherine Burr
Gardenia Press
PO Box 18601, Milwaukee, WI 53218-0601
0972234918 $14.50 1-866-861-9443 www.gardeniapress.com
Silicon Secrets by Catherine Burr is an intense and deftly written novel of Lucky (who would sell
his
soul to get what he wants) and Heather (an artistic free spirit who has everything she needs but
lacks
the one thing she can't have), two souls in desperate search for love and freedom. And then there
is
J.J., the corporate seductress who is willing to offer Lucky farm more than just stock options.
Lucky
and Heather are obsessed with obtaining their desires, but are in serious risk of losing the precious
possibilities that lie before them both. Silicon Secrets is enthusiastically recommended as an
original,
captivating, cautionary, and contemporary tale of human relationships.
Halcyon Daze
Palmer Owyoung
Village Market Press
1089 54th St., Oakland, CA 94608
0972848703 $11.95 1-800-520-0818 www.palmerowyoung.com
Halcyon Daze by Palmer Owyoung is a debut novel that "marches to a different drummer", -- just
as
its twenty-something protagonists do as they seek to find themselves. Halcyon Daze tells of
Kalani
Smith's adventures as she and those she encounters strive to find meaning in their lives. Halcyon
Daze is commended as a superbly written, surreal vision quest, offering paths for future travel and
mind-expanding perspectives on life itself along the way.
Covan My
Edward Armstrong and Stephen Armstrong
iUniverse.com, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595269346 $12.95 www.iuniverse.com
Set in 1965 Vietnam, when American advisors were sent to aid the South Vietnamese Army,
Covan
My: An American Advisor In Vietnam co-written by Edward and Stephen Armstrong is an
exciting
novel of war, death, heroism, and ruthless conflict. A suspenseful story that captivates the
imagination and brings alive the imagery of sight, sound, and fear, Covan My is highly
recommended
reading.
Samsara
John Hamilton Lewis
Durban House Publishing Company, Inc.
7502 Greenville Avenue, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75231
1930754299 $24.95 www.durbanhouse.com
Set in Hong Kong after World War II, Samsara is a superbly crafted novel of love and conflict.
Nick
Ridley is a war veteran who suffered horrific treatment when taken prisoner by Japanese forces
attempts to rebuild his life, yet demons from the past encroach upon him and kidnap the love of
his
life. Nick must confront a monster and engage in a life and death struggle to survive in body and
spirit both in this gripping and tautly written thriller. A very highly recommended work of
suspense,
Samsara showcases the considerable literary skills and storytelling originality of author John
Hamilton Lewis.
Carl Melcher Goes To Vietnam
Paul Clayton
Booklocker.com, Inc.
800 Memorial Drive, #17, South San Francisco, CA 94080
1591133009 $13.95 www.booklocker.com www.amazon.com
A finalist of the 2001 Frankfurt eBook Award, Carl Melcher Goes To Vietnam by Paul Clayton is
a
compellingly written novel drawn from Clayton's own experiences in the Vietnam War. Packed
with
gritty detail and a story that obliges thought and attention on the part of the reader. The feel and
emotion of what it was like to risk one's life amidst a larger conflict that vastly superseded the
individual comes clear in exquisite detail. Carl Melcher Goes To Vietnam is an original,
entertaining,
occasionally thought-provoking, and highly recommended reading.
Coyote Ridge
Barb Mihaljevich
Bright Eagle Publishing
604 Hindsdale Court, Fort Collins, CO 80526-3933
0972652809 $23.00 1-970-232-0782
Set in Colorado, Coyote Ridge by Barb Mihaljevich is a deftly written novel about families
hard-pressed to survive and keep a decent standard of living on the harsh prairie. Family crises,
betrayal, mistrust, a surgeon father's disdain for his would-be actor son, are among the elements
weaving a tangled web of human destiny in this involving drama. Coyote Ridge documents Barb
Mihaljevich as a gifted and original storyteller with a flair for narrative.
Island Games
Roger Helm
Liberty Tree Publishing
1713 Persimmon Lane, Suite 300, Knoxville, Tennessee 37922
0972076727 $28.95 www.amazon.com
Island Games is Roger Helm's compelling debut novel, set in a secluded South Pacific
tropical island paradise tainted with a murderous secret, and where a group of men hunt their
victims
relentlessly. A fast-paced and exciting thriller where an ordinary man on his
honeymoon and a Tahiti-resident private eye become caught up in a deadly power struggle.
Highly
recommended reading, Island Games clearly documents Roger Helm as an author of considerable
talent and narrative storytelling skill.
The Madonnas Of President Street
John Sandman
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1401032605 $21.99 1-888-795-4274 www.xlibris.com
Set in 1984 urban America, The Madonnas Of President Street is John Sandman's contemporary
novel about Vivian viola and her 17-year-old daughter Melanie, who are forced to move back to
the
Vivian's childhood neighborhood when funds become tight. Melanie must struggle with her desire
for a father, and her wishes for her mother to find a boyfriend or husband -- yet the mother cannot
allow her marital status to become the primary banner of her accomplishment or worth. A
poignant,
profound, original narrative, The Madonnas of President Street documents John Sandman as an
exceptional literary talent.
The Biography Shelf
Fox Island Stories
Susan D. Roebuck
Paisley Publishing
PO Box 15597, Chattanooga, TN 37415
0922127069 $15.95 www.amazon.com spiralfinder@hotmail.com
Fox Island Stories is Susan D. Roebuck's entertaining memoir and anecdotal stories of life in a
rustic
wilderness lodge on an Alaskan island and characterized by a rugged outdoor beauty. From
encounters with wildlife, to the unceasing toil of hard work required to survive, to welcoming a
variety of visitors and seeing the splendor of nature itself, Fox Island Stories is an inviting and
captivating transport to a wilder land and the people who called it home. Also highly
recommended
are Susan Roebuck's coloring book for children age 4 through 8, Arctic Animal Babies: Pictures
To
Color (0922127042, $5.95).
He Showed Us How!
C. Bruce Miller
K-Moore Publishers
PO Box 2609, Stockbridge, Georgia, 30281
0972947507 $19.95 1-770-389-5246 k-publish@charter.net
A true testimony to the human spirit, He Showed Us How! is the powerfully presented biography
of
Buster Miller, a man who grew up during the great depression and learned to make the most of
what
life has to offer despite being incapable of walking without the assistance of crutches due to birth
defects. Written from the perspective of Buster's younger brother Rex Miller, He Showed Us
How!
is an unforgettable episodic journey through the highs and lows of growing up. Buster became a
farmer, drove his own farm machinery, and went through the whole of his remarkable life giving
more than the got. A remarkable biography of a most remarkable man.
A Ride To Khiva
Frederick Gustavus Burnaby
The Narrative Press
PO Box 2487, Santa Barbara, CA 93120
1589762274 $16.95 narrativepress.com
A Ride To Khiva: My Travels And Adventures In Central Asia 1875 is the personal memoir of
soldier, traveler, writer, and pioneer balloonist Frederick Gustavus Burnaby, who died on January
17, 1885 at the age of 42 who was then a colonel in the British Army and speared to death in the
Sudan along with 73 of his men. In 1875 Burnaby chose to personally investigate the rationale
behind Russia's exclusion of foreigners in Central Asia. In the middle of winter Burnaby traveled
by
rail, carriage, sleigh, and horseback, while observing the people and their customs. A classic tale
of
true adventure, of struggling with language barriers, and of the determination to see one's task
through, A Ride To Khiva is very highly recommended reading -- especially for enthusiasts of true
adventure sagas.
Dream Rider
Rosemary Carstens
Black Lightning Press
914 Hover Ridge Circle, Longmont, Colorado 80501
0974054690 $15.00 www.TheDreamRider.com
Dream Rider: Roadmap To An Adventurous Life by Rosemary Carstens combines a deftly written
memoir and cross-country travelogue to describe her purchase of a motorcycle and learning that
one
is never to old to discover new thrills and enjoy life to the fullest. An engaging personal testimony
so
vivid as to carry the feel of the wind in one's face, Dream Rider is especially recommended
reading
for anyone who has ever rode the highways on a bike, scooter, or cycle in search of lay beyond
the
horizons of hearth and home -- or who would like to!
The Sports Shelf
The SMS Lady Bears And The House Of Stiles
John Hegle
Lady Bears Book
2733 E. Battlefield #110, Springfield, MO 65804
0971771308 $26.95 JohnHegle@aol.com www.houseofstiles.com
The SMS Lady Bears And The House Of Stiles by sports enthusiast John Hegle is a detailed
recounting of the season in which Jackie Stiles became the greatest scorer in NCAA Women's
Basketball history, -- as well as how the SMS Lady Bears earned another trip the NCAA women's
final four. Color photographs and engaging, day-by-day details combine to make The SMS Lady
Bears And The House Of Stiles a vivid, detailed, and absorbing chronicle which is most especially
recommended reading for fans of women's basketball.
American Classic Pedigrees (1914-2002)
Avalyn Hunter
Eclipse Press/NBN, dist.
Box 4038, Lexington, KY 40544-4038
1581500955 $50.00 1-800-866-2361
In American Classic Pedigrees (1914-2002), thoroughbred racing expert Avalyn Hunter
informatively examines the pedigrees of the winners of the five American Classic horse races of
the
twentieth century: The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, and
Coaching Club American Oaks. Closely studying the evolution of the breeding horses to be racing
champions; the degree of inbreeding among race winners; and presenting an exciting history of the
races themselves, American Classic Pedigrees (1914-2002) is enthusiastically recommended
reading
for professionals as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in the lineage of
championship race horses.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Growing Up With Scoliosis
Michelle Spray
Book Shelf, Inc.
PO Box 946, Stratford, CT 06615
0971416036 $12.95 www.havingscoliosis.com
Scoliosis refers to the curving of the spine and is a medical condition that affects hundreds of
teenage girls each year. Written and illustrated by Michelle Spray, Growing Up With Scoliosis: A
Young Girl's Story addresses the emotional and social aspects arising from this condition and
answers all the questions commonly raised by girls, friends, and family members affected by
Scoliosis. Recommended by the National Scoliosis Foundation and a welcome addition to any
medical clinic, community school or public library reference collection, Growing Up With
Scoliosis
is thoroughly "reader friendly" and simply invaluable in helping teens and families to cope with a
condition that could otherwise have serious emotional ramifications.
Plant Roots
Rex Bowlby
Outside Box
PO Box 3402, Burbank, CA 91508
0967249643 $17.95 www.booksindesign.com
In Plant Roots: 101 Reasons Why The Human Diet Is Rooted Exclusively In Plants, Rex Bowlby
strongly advocates the consumption of a vegan diet - one consisting of plant-based foods alone,
with
no meat, milk, or eggs. Articulately defending the vegetarian diet as healthier, more economical,
better for the environment, and less likely to spread disease, Plant Roots is stringent and
unashamed
in its denouncement of the physical and social ills caused by meat, milk, and egg consumption,
ranging from the callous disregard of animal (or dairy cow) life, to cultural and social issues of
food
processing technologies and practices, to the threat of food-borne diseases and increased bacteria
resistance to antibiotics caused by eating antibiotic-treated meat. An unapologetic manifesto
advocating sweeping dietary change, Plant Roots is a welcome and seminal addition to personal
and
professional Vegetarian Studies reading lists, as well as community and academic Health &
Nutrition
Studies library reference collections.
The Self-Help Shelf
A Journey Of Work-Life Renewal
Bonnie Michaels and Michael Seef
Managing Work & Family Inc.
912 Crain Street, Evanston, IL 60202
0972811508 $13.95 www.mwfam.com
A Journey Of Work-Life Renewal is the story of Bonnie Michaels, an internationally recognized
work/life expert who, with her husband Michael Seef, took time off to escape "burn-out" and
recharge, by traveling around the world on a simple budget. Exciting adventure, reaching out to a
fresh look on life, and the absorbing personal stories and memorable figures make A Journey Of
Work-Life Renewal a rewarding reading experience and recommended for personal
self-help/self-improvement, travelogue, and career/lifestyle reading lists.
Put Your Rear Into Gear
Jeanine Reiss
Lifeworks Publishing, Ltd.
372 Christleton Avenue, Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1Y 5H7
www.lifeworkspublishing.com
0973009519 $10.95 1-866-868-2054 www.lifeworkspublishing.com
Now in a new revised edition, Put Your Rear Into Gear: Understanding And Breaking Free From
Procrastination by Jeanine Reiss (Registered Counselor working with individual adults and
couples
in private practice in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) is a self-help guide to understanding
our
true reasons for putting off work, responsibilities, or even life-long goals and putting a stop to
self-delaying tactics. Individual chapters address learning how to say "no" when needed; how to
deal
with fatigue, stress, and boredom; overcoming the hurdle of laziness, and much more. An upbeat,
go-getter guide, Put Your Rear Into Gear is very strongly recommended reading -- when you can
get around to it!
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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