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Reviewer's Choice
A Guide To Deception
Spencer Coffman
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9780996856201, $13.99, PB, 102pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: From high-ranking politicians to your local used car salesman, deception in the form of lies, misrepresentations, and obfuscation seems to be the order of the day. But with Spencer Coffman's "A Guide To Deception" will enable the reader to learn the language everyone speaks but no one understands -- Body Language.
Coffman is a certified expert in micro-expressions and well versed in human behavior, gives the reader a practical understanding of the little hidden signs displayed by every person on earth. These unconscious behaviors are exactly that, unconscious. Because of this, they are often unrecognized. However, with training, they can be seen and lies can be detected.
While there are many books available on the subject of body language, Coffman's "A Guide To Deception" is the first to take the form of a study guide or lesson plan and is focused exclusively on deception. "A Guide To Deception shows: How to recognize lying eye contact; What a shoulder shrug really means; How someone feels when the cross their arms; What it means when a persons voice changes; That speech and body language must match; and so much more!
Critique: Impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "A Guide To Deception" is extraordinarily informative and 'real world' practical. Comprehensive and thorough, "A Guide To Deception is unreservedly recommended, especially for community and academic library Communication Studies collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of communication students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that Stephen Coffman's "A Guide To Deception" is also available in a digital book format ($5.99).
Not Getting Stuck
Lily E. Espinoza
Alive Books
http://alivebookpublishing.com
9781631320392, $16.95, PB, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Not Getting Stuck: Success Stories of Being Latina and Transferring from a California Community College" by Lily E. Espinoza, is a deftly presented and unique account of college success from the Latina point-of-view. Showcased are voices of Latina students in the transfer process from community college to the university. These are new, fresh, never-before-told stories that allow the reader to experience the heart-pounding adventure of the college admissions process!
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Not Getting Stuck: Success Stories of Being Latina and Transferring from a California Community College" is comprised of extraordinary accounts that are as intrinsically fascinating as they are impressively informative. An uncommon and original read from beginning to end that will hold a special appeal for college aspiring or bound students of an Hispanic heritage, "Not Getting Stuck" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Educational Studies collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
Moon Shadows, Flowers, and Butterflies
Lynette Wells
BalboaPress AU
9781504305860, $21.99, PB, 74pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: I n 2006, author Lynette Wells lost her husband of twenty years and then her mother in a span of just six weeks. She was overcome with grief and couldn't understand her intense unfamiliar emotions. In "Moon Shadows, Flowers, and Butterflies", she tells how a creative process helped her make sense of her situation. She shares her story of how she journeyed through her grief, including the images and stories inspired and revealed to her through the beauty and strength of nature.
Wells narrates how she could not find the words to express the intense emotion she carried every waking moment, and then she decided to try painting, one of her favorite pastimes. She randomly chose colors and watched them flow effortlessly across the canvas, shapes turning into images to give her a visual view of the emotion felt at that moment. Once the picture evolved, words were revealed, and she slowly began to understand what seemed like a tangled knot buried deep within.
In "Moon Shadows, Flowers, and Butterflies" she also discusses how her sadness gradually transformed to moments of happiness as she reflected on memories and stories of loved ones. "Moon Shadows, Flowers, and Butterflies" it is her hope that the creative process she experienced might also guide others who are journeying on the grief path to find peace and happiness.
Critique: Exceptional, unique, inspired and inspiring, "Moon Shadows, Flowers, and Butterflies" is unreservedly recommended to the attention of all those that are grieving the loss of a loved one. While very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Moon Shadows, Flowers, and Butterflies" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
The Social Issues Shelf
The Drug War: A Trillion Dollar Con Game
Brian Saady
Prerogative Publishing
www.briansaady.com
9780998724508, $14.99, PB, 338pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The first volume of a three-book series (Rackets -- denouncing crony capitalists and the government "racketeers"in the form of bureaucracies, which operate similarly to organized criminals by posing as the solution to problems caused by the government), "The Drug War: A Trillion Dollar Con Game" by Brian Saady presents the case for the legalization of drugs and gambling, along with the decriminalization of prostitution. It reveals the underlying corruption, hypocrisy, and abuses of power associated with the prohibition of these three vices.
The war on drugs is a microcosm of far greater systemic problems with criminal justice and politics. "The Drug War: A Trillion Dollar Con Game" shines a much needed and overdue spotlight on the bureaucratic and corporate special interests that are fighting to keep this disastrous policy in place.
The perfect antidote to decades of government propaganda, "The Drug War: A Trillion Dollar Con Game" strips away every disingenuous aspect of the war on drugs and reveals all of the ways in which in the war on drugs serves as a pretense for expanding government power and our military forces abroad. Of special note is how several major corporations and government agencies have been complicit in flagrant drug trafficking without being held accountable.
Critique: Impressively informed and informative, "The Drug War: A Trillion Dollar Con Game" is exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, making it an ideal and very highly recommended addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Social Issues collections in general, and Drug War supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for students, governmental drug policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Drug War: A Trillion Dollar Con Game " is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Music Shelf
These Are My People
Mark Rickert
www.markrickertauthor.com
Boutique of Quality Books
9781608081721, $17.95, PB, 262pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: What would it be like to be a part of country music history? Singer/songwriter and manager Merle Kilgore could have told you. He awed his fans with tales of his life in the music business, always with a supporting cast of impossibly famous friends. At age fourteen Merle carried the guitar for Hank Williams Sr. Four years later he wrote his first song, and Webb Pierce turned it into a million-seller. He double-dated with Elvis Presley, wrecked hotel rooms with Johnny Cash, held seances with Johnny Horton, and convinced Audrey Williams to put Hank Jr. on the road at fourteen-years-old. Merle became a prolific songwriter, entering the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He co-wrote his signature accomplishment, Ring of Fire with June Carter Cash. This work is listed by CMT as one of the top four all-time country music songs. These are just a few of the amazing stories of Merle's life, showcased in "These Are My People", written by his grandson Mark Rickert.
Critique: An absolutely riveting read from cover to cover, "These Are My People" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community and academic library 20th Century American Music History collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of Merle Kilgore fans and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "These Are My People" is also available in a digital book format ($7.55).
All I Have to Do Is Dream
Lee Wilson
Two Creeks Press
PO Box 120847, Nashville, TN 37212
9780997650723, $23.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "All I Have to Do Is Dream" is the story of Nashville's first professional songwriters, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, who wrote a long string of 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s country and pop hits, most of the Everly Brothers standards, and "Rocky Top" -- the most famous bluegrass song in the world. Their professional partnership is legendary -- their compositions have influenced several generations of artists and few other writers have had as great an impact on modern popular music. Their personal relationship is one of the great American love stories -- they eloped within days of meeting and were madly in love for the next forty years. "All I Have to Do Is Dream: The Boudleaux and Felice Bryant Story" is a lavishly illustrated biography that tells the story of the songwriters and of the most famous Bryant songs. Biographer Lee Wilson draws upon rare interviews and photos from the Bryant family's private collection to tell how the Bryants' talent, hard work, and devotion to each other changed music history. Anyone who was ever in love will enjoy the account of their romance and anyone who appreciates the scope and originality of American popular music will treasure the story of their songs.
Critique: A simply fascinating and impressively informative read from cover to cover, "All I Have to Do Is Dream: The Boudleaux and Felice Bryant Story" will have a special appeal to anyone who ever danced or romanced to an Everly Brothers song or enjoyed the 'down home' entertainment of their country music compositions. No personal, community, or academic library 20th Century American Music History reference collection can be considered comprehensive or complete without the addition of Lee Wilson's "All I Have to Do Is Dream: The Boudleaux and Felice Bryant Story"!
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Grammar Nazis are Not Always Rite, Right, Write
Robert K. Swisher Jr.
Open Talon Press
www.swisherbooks.com
9780997909616, $12.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Grammar Nazis Are Not Always Rite, Right, Write" is based on a fiction writing course Robert K. Wisher Jr. (being an author for 45 years with 16 of novels having been published by traditional presses, 9 by independent presses) taught at a small university that repudiates, in both humorous and serious ways, what is considered by most writers to be proper and necessary for writing fiction. It should be clearly understood that "Grammar Nazis Are Not Always Rite, Right, Write" is not an instruction manual for good grammar. Rather it's intended purpose is to help aspiring and practicing writers to find their own individual creative path, get over any fear with respect to writing, and answer many questions that seem to haunt both novice and established writers when it comes to writing anything from a simple short story to the Great American Novel. "Grammar Nazis Are Not Always Rite, Right, Write" also explores many aspects of the modern writing business (both traditional and self-publishing).
Critique: The Midwest Book Review has previously given very positive reviews of several of author Robert Swisher's novels. Impressively informative, thoroughly entertaining, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Grammar Nazis Are Not Always Rite, Right, Write" will prove to have an exceptional practicality and enduring value for authors. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Grammar Nazis Are Not Always Rite, Right, Write" is also available in a digital book format ($3.99).
The Money/Finance Shelf
10 Financial Mistakes You Should Avoid
Stephen S. K. Ng, CLU, CHFC, CEP
Privately Published
9780692463611 $14.95 amazon.com
Synopsis: If you are retired or about to retire, you face a rapidly changing landscape and a number of unique financial challenges. Will you have enough to last through retirement? How can you preserve your assets and standard of living? What are the strategies and solutions you can put in place to help preserve the money you have worked so hard to earn? In 10 Financial Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make, Stephen Ng addresses these questions and many more. After more than two decades of working with retirees and pre-retirees, he knows the mistakes people make - and how to avoid them.
In his direct and accessible style, Stephen guides you through every step of the journey, from devising a retirement plan to educating yourself to helping preserve your investments. He also provides a number of risk management strategies, helping readers understand the dangers posed by longevity risk and the sequence of returns. 10 Financial Mistakes is packed full of invaluable information and the strategies for retirees seeking to manage their retirement assets in an uncertain world.
Critique: Written by a professional in the field, 10 Financial Mistakes You Should Avoid: Strategies Designed To Help Keep Your Money Safe and Growing is an invaluable resource that could potentially save the reader its cover price thousands of times over. Chapters address risk management strategies, longevity risk, the sequence-of-return risk, and much more. Highly recommended. "When I have clients who are hesitant to look into eldercare options or do their estate planning, I remind them that, in all honesty, it isn't for them - it's for the next generation. If not for yourself, then do it for your kids, grandkids, and other family members who will be left alone in their time of loss, wading through all the paperwork you never completed."
The Biography Shelf
Gorky, Russia; First Man In
Donn G. Ziebell
Ziebell Associates, Incorporated
9780989474535, $14.95, PB, 150pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Russians needed internal visas to travel outside their place of residence. It was rare for foreigners to get such travel permission. After 30 years of corporate employment Donn Ziebell made an improbable career change. His new boss and two VP's were black-listed by the KGB and could not enter Russia.That's why they asked Ziebell to write a business seminar proposal for Russia to see if he could open a door and get in.
One of the three Russians who received the proposal got approval nine months later by Moscow's Ministry of Education and the KGB . Surprisingly the seminars were designated to be held in Gorky, an exile city for political prisoners and closed to foreigners.
The Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. and the officials in Moscow would not issue a travel visa to Gorky. So Ziebell took the chance to be driven 250 miles to Gorky without a visa.
The Russians in the city had never seen an American before. The seminar was attended by 60 top industrial personnel, including some suspected to be KGB. In "Gorky, Russia; First man in: Memoirs from being the first American allowed inside Russia's closed exile city" describes seminar incidents which reveal the thinking and unexpected responses by the Russians.
Ziebell was taken to meet with many different people and visited many sites during his stay. The memoir is filled with events, pictures and entertaining cross-cultural experiences. From his time inside Russia, readers follow the many twists, turns and surprises Ziebell encountered which entertain and hold reader's attention. Gorky was not opened to foreigners until the year after all these events took place.
Critique: Providing a unique, unprecedented, insightful, on-site view and perspective of contemporary Russia, "Gorky, Russia; First Man In: Memoirs from being the first American allowed inside Russia's closed exile city" is an extraordinary and inherently fascinating read from cover to cover. Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Gorky, Russia: First Man In" is an especially recommended addition to community and academic library Contemporary Russian Studies collections, and will prove to be of particular interest to students, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
Risks: A Memoir
William Claassen
Cornel & Williams Publishing
PO Box 1964, Columbia, MO 65205-1921
9780692870440, $17.95, PB, 324pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Risks: A Memoir " by longtime social activist, writer, traveler, photographer, and teacher William Claassen takes the reader into unfamiliar communities, widely diverse cultures, and very challenging political territory. From the 1960s through the 1980s, Claassen's political, sexual, and spiritual identities evolved in unpredictable ways. During those two decades, Claassen worked as a civil rights organizer in the South and a laborer on an Israeli kibbutz. He took to the road as a long distance hitchhiker and walked onto the New York stage as an actor. Claassen joined an Oregon tree-planting cooperative, served in Kenya with the Peace Corps, and became a resident of an intentional Quaker community. Claassen then traveled to Central and South America as a peace activist and a journalist.
Critique: An inherently fascinating and impressively informative read from cover to cover, "Risks: A Memoir" is deftly written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. A unique life lived out in unique times, "Risks: A Memoir" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him
Shawn P. Flynn
Abbe Road Publishing
9780998788005 $9.95 pbk / $6.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Shawn Flynn and his fiancee were excited to start their new life together. They planned their wedding and bought a new home. The last thing the two of them needed was a new cat. But their recently purchased house seems to come complete with a stray orange feline -- a cat with a vibrant personality and a talent for mousing. So Shawn soon finds himself with a regular companion. Little does he realize that this cat will shortly become more important to him than he can possibly imagine. As Shawn's personal life begins to shift in ways he never saw coming, Kitty remains a constant source of stability and comfort. Shawn gave Kitty a home, and now Kitty gives Shawn the love he needs to heal.
Critique: "The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him" is a touching and inspiring story of heartfelt companionship that offers an uplifting perspective on what it means to find true friendship in this world. Anyone who has ever shared a meaningful connection with a pet of their own will find universal (and often unexpected) truths about the mutual affection, companionship, and support that our animal companions provide. One of those unique and compelling stories that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him" is unreservedly recommended for community library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him" is also available in a digital book format ($6.99).
Samson: Memories of a Found Hound
Carmen Ambrosio
AMBROSart, Ltd.
http://www.ambrosart.com
9780692871089, $12.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: What if: only the body of your beloved dog dies? What if your dog's spirit continues to exist nearby? What if your dog has plenty to say about the time he spent with you?
Samson is an opinionated mixed breed pooch known for ignoring commands and demanding massages who in "Samson: Memories of a Found Hound" recounts his life experiences to refined Golden Retriever pal Alfie when the two dogs reunite in a hazy realm somewhere in the hereafter.
In "Samson: Memories of a Found Hound", author and art photographer Carmen Ambrosio cedes the spotlight to her fickle muse and exasperated mutt motivator in this part memoir/part fictional tale. Candid photographs and insightful comments reveal the many endearing, eccentric quirks that make Samson a truly unforgettable dog.
Critique: Unique, entertaining, and a 'must' for anyone and everyone who has or has had a canine companion of their own, "Samson: Memories of a Found Hound" is a deftly crafted read from beginning to end and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Samson: Memories of a Found Hound" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
The Self-Help Shelf
Live Without Stress: How to Enjoy the Journey
Marvin Marshall
Piper Press
P.O. Box 2227, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
http://withoutstress.com
9780989063449, $17.95, PB, 254pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Live Without Stress: How to Enjoy the Journey" by American educator, writer, and professional speaker Marvin Marshall is a comprehensive stress management book written in simple language demonstrating how to use some simple strategies to significantly reduce stress, promote responsibility, increase effectiveness, improve relationships, and truly enjoy life's experiences.
Whether stress stems from work, parenting, teaching, relationships, work, or a situation that cannot be changed, "Live Without Stress" shows how the brain-body connection can be used to reduce and relieve stress. "Live Without Stress" is a fresh and innovating read that details the various ways individuals can improve their lives by shedding the psychologically debilitating exoskeleton of stress.
Marshall's fundamental messages is that people are affected by their mental states, and fear paralyzes and traps them in a self-imposed shell, one they perceive to be their armor or strength, but in reality it is an anchor weighing them down, miring them in misery.
Critique: Impressively informative, exceptionally insightful, and ultimately inspiring, "Live Without Stress: How to Enjoy the Journey" is written with a 'real world practicality' presented in a thoroughly 'user friendly' organization and presentation. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Live Without Stress" is also available in a digital book format ($14.95).
The Reluctant Intuitive
Tatiana H. Irvin
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
www.balboapress.com
9781504362498, $28.95, HC, 130pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: This earth life is a wild, mysterious and equally complex existence in which we are born whole, and due to societal exposure, devolve in spirals of fragmentation and isolation; only to be left yearning for wholeness and connection yet again. In "The Reluctant Intuitive: A Soulful Confession and Practical Guide", Dr. Tatiana Irvin (owner of Dr. Tatiana Irvin Coaching LLC and Nurturing Hands LLC) shares with the reader the intrinsic truth that we are all connected, intuitively bound to one another and WHOLE. From that standard of -wholeness- we can now see the world cleanly and in full command of our power and potential.
Critique: Impressively 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "The Reluctant Intuitive: A Soulful Confession and Practical Guide" is an exceptional, life-enhancing, life-affirming read from cover to cover. While unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Reluctant Intuitive" is also available in a paperback edition (9781504362474, $11.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Journey
Gary S. Roen
Legacy Book Publishing
www.legacybookpublishing.com
9781937952075 $18.95 amazon.com
Synopsis: A syndicated book critic now turns his attention on a new endeavor, the short story, by writing his own science fiction collection. Some are as short as 66 words, which is a true test of an author's ability to tell in so few words. There are seven adventures of the scary stuffed bear named Slotski, who has rare abilities. This compilation contains other slices of life in the near future: technology gone amuck, a smart phone that is smarter than it should be, a radio broadcast that isn't all it sounds, a cat that has a message for humanity, and a woman who doesn't want to just make money in a research study, are among some of the intriguing stories you'll find in Journey.
Critique: Journey offers a fresh surprise with every sci-fi short story. From a view askew of modern technology, to animal wisdom on a cosmic scale, to questioning modern materialism, Journey doesn't just entertain; it also encourages the reader to think beyond the boundaries of the present and the future. Highly recommended!
Red Witch: The Tales of Ingrid Redstone
Sean Patrick Traver
Rocket Surgery Books
http://seanpatricktraver.com
9780985597115, $14.99, PB, 364pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In 1910, actress, occultist, and bohemian adventurer Ingrid Redstone travels to the fledgling city of Los Angeles in search of a legendary Hole in the Sky, said to be a portal to the Aztec afterlife. On the far side of it Ingrid meets Mictlantecuhtli, an ancient and bloodthirsty deity who soon becomes dangerously fascinated with the first living woman he's ever met. Ingrid is no less entranced by 'Mickey' and his realm, where the totality of human remembrance is theirs to explore. But their dangerous relationship may have unforeseen consequences for both this world and the next when Ingrid is faced with the choice of becoming the privileged yet powerless queen of the dead, or attempting to thwart her supernatural lover's unnatural ambitions. Ingrid is a liberated witch facing a collision with life and death at the dawn of a strange new era. Her wanderings in the underworld bring her into contact with a cast of notables from the city's past, including Dorothy Parker, Alfred Hitchcock, and Califia, the pre-Columbian Queen of California. From the ancient history of LA to the glittering future of the film industry, Ingrid goes where no one has gone before -- and lived to tell about it.
Critique: The story of a silent-film star who begins an affair with the Aztec god of the dead, "Red Witch: The Tales of Ingrid Redstone" is an refreshingly original, inherently fascinating, deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for deftly crafted and truly memorable storytelling. While unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended, especially for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "Red Witch: The Tales of Ingrid Redstone" is also available in a digital book format ($1.99).
The King's Prophecy: The Amulet
Ricky Stahl
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
http://thekingsprophecy.com
9781533321893, $12.95, PB, 334pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Long ago, the Black Knights overthrew the King to steal twelve ancient pendants with untold power. As foretold, at dawn the knights rode into a village and slaughtered everyone, leaving only four young cousins alive. That day Bran, Gareth, Jason and Exandra swear to avenge their families. If successful they will break a 500-year-old curse. Now age seventeen, the cousins must activate the amulets before time runs out or they will succumb to the same fate as the Black Knights. "The Amulet" follows the teenagers' trek across England into Wales in search of a lost castle. On their way, Bran, Gareth and Jason discover that Exandra has a secret, a mysterious power. Will she be able to use her ability to guide them to the fabled "Tree of Forever?" Beyond the horizon lies an unexpected challenge, their greatest obstacle yet.
Critique: The first volume in what promises to be a simply outstanding and original fantasy series, "The King's Prophecy: The Amulet" showcases author Ricky Stahl's genuine flair and exceptional skill as a storyteller. "The King's Prophecy: The Amulet" is a compelling and unfailingly entertaining read, very highly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for the reading lists that "The King's Prophecy: The Amulet" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
The Bones of the Past
Craig A. Munro
Inkshares
99 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607
www.inkshares.com
9781942645337, $16.99, PB, 450pp, www.amazon.com
The Night Guard walk the streets of the old kingdom of Bialta seeking out threats that are beyond the abilities of the common soldier. Nial is one such threat -- a girl changed into something "other" and on the hunt for human souls. Salt, a sailor recently rescued by the Night Guard, has been inducted into their ranks. He's a quick study, but as new threats multiply all around them, will he have what it takes to survive?
Bialta is not alone in its woes. Sacral, a city that vanished in the distant past, has reappeared where it once stood at the heart of the Wastes. Like many of Sacral's people, Maura is content living a quiet life, ignoring the outside world. But she finds herself desperately fighting to save her home as war comes to the city returned.
Meanwhile, across the Great Desert, creatures are stirring. Carver, the last living master of the magic known as flesh carving, has won the support of the tyrant of Tolrahk Esal. Together they will unleash his twisted creations to sweep across the land and forever disrupt the balance of power.
Critique: "The Bones of the Past" is an epic saga wherein armies march, demons feed, and deities unleash their powers on a world that will never be the same. A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "The Bones of the Past" reveals author Craig Munro as a master of the fantasy action/adventure genre. While very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library fantasy fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Bones of the Past" is also available in a digital book format ($9.99).
Alvar's Spear
Charles Freedom Long
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781546552246, $18.95, PB, 472pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Thirty years after dancing with the dead, half-Terran, half-Antal, Gar has just one desperate last chance to save the Antal hive from immolation at the hands of its own mother, the sentient moon-world, Alvar. He must do this before a mutant conspiracy turns Alvar into a fetid swamp, and enslaves the Antal. Alvar has sworn to hurl herself into the gas giant she orbits before she allows that to happen. To become the planetary savior known as Alvar's Spear, Gar must confront enemies, assassins, a traitor, and a beautiful, brilliant, Terran geneticist. He must travel into the mysterious forbidden mountains of the wild, from which no one has returned. If successful, he will save Alvar. But the danger of creating a savior is that he will be his own person. He will do what he will, and whether his acts are judged good or bad will only be known in the unrolling of time. Time is not on gar's side. But time does unroll. What it reveals may not be to everyone's liking.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, an engagingly entertaining read from beginning to end, "Alvar's Spear" by Charles Freedom Long will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction fans that "Alvar's Spear" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
The Myrrosil Chronicles: Dawn's Touch
Steven McCullough
Lulu Publishing
3101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5436
www.lulu.com
9781365790188, $32.99, HC, 294pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The Myrrosil Chronicles by Steven McCullough is a collection of the third-person accounts of the life of Cyrus Farrington, a young man who finds himself entwined in the fate of another world. It is filled from cover to cover with romance, treachery, adventure, and an ever-present mystery that revolves around Cyrus and the strange artifact that he finds himself connected with. "Dawn's Touch" is the first volume in a series that will take the reader through the depths and heights of a wondrous world known as Myrrosil, ripe with its own magics and mysteries.
Critique: The first volume of a simply outstanding new fantasy series, "Dawn's Touch" is a tale will leave the reader looking eagerly toward the next installment of The Myrrosil Chronicles! An inherently fascinating, original, deftly crafted and entertaining read from cover to cover, "Dawn's Touch" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "Dawn's Touch" is also available in a paperback edition (9781387024322, $14.99) and in a digital book format ($9.99).
Everly
Meg Bonney
Pandamoon Publishing
http://www.pandamoonpub.com
http://www.megbonney.com
9781945502095, $16.99, PB, 276pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Madison Rosewood on her 18th birthday is about to graduate and head off toward a big, bright future that any kid would kill for: a full ride on a track scholarship, the world's greatest best friend, and an aunt that has always provided for her. The problem? Madison just wants to find her birth parents, even if it costs her all of the above.
When her Aunt Ruth is kidnapped and taken to a hidden world called Everly, all of Madison's plans are put on hold. Guided by a mysterious stranger, Madison and her best friend follow Aunt Ruth's kidnappers through a portal into Everly. Traveling through fairy lit caverns and towering oak tree forests Madison quickly realizes that behind Everly's beauty is a world of magic, violence, and shocking truths about her family.
There, armed only with an enchanted sword and a sharp tongue, she battles her way past deceptive witches and bounty hunters to attempt a dangerous rescue that changes both her and Everly's future forever.
Critique: A wonderfully entertaining read from beginning to end, "Everly" reveals author Meg Bonney's undeniable gift as a fantasy novelist with a genuine flair for originality, deftly crafted characters, and a memorably unpredictable storyline replete with unexpected twists and turns. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Action/Adventure Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Everly" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Irrationalist
Andrew Pessin
www.andrewpessin.com
Open Books
www.open-bks.com
9780998427447 $19.95 pbk / $8.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Who would want to murder the world's most famous philosopher? Turns out: nearly everyone.
In 1649, Descartes was invited by the Queen of Sweden to become her Court Philosopher. Though he was the world's leading philosopher, his life had by this point fallen apart. He was 53, penniless, living in exile in the United Provinces, alone. With much trepidation but not much choice, he arrived in Stockholm in mid-October.
Shortly thereafter he was dead.
Enter Adrien Baillet. A likeable misfit with a mysterious backstory, he arrives just as the French Ambassador desperately needs an impartial Frenchman to prove that Descartes died of natural causes.
But solving the mystery of Descartes's death (Baillet soon learns) requires first solving the mystery of Descartes's life, with all its dangerous secrets ... None of it is easy, as nearly everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted.
Critique: A historical fiction whodunnit based on the storied life and death of master mathematician Rene Descartes (1596-1650), The Irrationalist draws the reader into the world of the 17th century (in the middle of the Thirty Years War, no less). Sharply written, with twists, turns, and tangled cast of people harboring deadly secrets, The Irrationalist is a "must-read" for connoisseurs of historical mysteries, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The Irrationalist is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).
The Fourth Pularchek
Samuel Marquis
Mount Sopris Publishing
9781943593156, $14.99, PB, 294pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "The Fourth Pularchek", Nick Lassiter and femme fatal Italian assassin Skyler quickly become embroiled in an international case involving Lassiter's newly discovered biological father, the Polish billionaire and intelligence commander Stanislaw Pularchek, and buried secrets from Europe's World War II past. Their perilous journey takes them from the American capitol to the streets of Warsaw to the murderous gates of Auschwitz to the salt mines and snow-dusted mountain peaks of Austria. But can Lassiter, his adoptive father Brewbaker of the CIA, and his Polish biological father Pularchek work together as a team, and are they prepared for the consequences of stirring up the past? Furthermore, will Skyler be brought to justice for her multiple killings on U.S soil, or will she escape yet again?
Critique: This is the third book in the author Nick Lassiter-Skyler's outstanding 'International Espionage Series', "The Fourth Pularchek" is still another riveting novel by a master of the genre and very highly recommended, especially for community library Suspense/Thriller fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Fourth Pularchek" is also available in a digital book format ($3.99).
One In A Million
Tony Faggioli
Atticus Creative, Inc.
www.tonyfaggioli.com
9780997897401, $10.99, PB, 372pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Kyle Fasano has it all: a loving wife, two children and a house on the hill. Still, for one night, it's not enough. Risking everything, he has a fling with a woman from the office. He knows better, but she offers a simple temptation.
Napoleon Villa has very little: No real family or home. A veteran detective for the LAPD, he is a gray wolf in an ever darkening world. When the call comes in that a young woman has plummeted to her death at the Los Angeles Hilton, it seems like just another case.
Both are running from something: Fleeing his affair at the Hilton, Kyle runs into a stranger dressed in gray, with heavenly powers, who tells him something he never expected to hear. In order to save his soul, he must now prevent his first love, who he hasn't seen in over twenty years, from making the same mistake he has. For Napoleon, it all comes down to a case long closed, but forever open in his mind, of a child murderer that he failed to stop in time.
And both are on a collision course: As he runs from the law with everything to lose while being pursued by a detective from East L.A. with nothing to lose, Kyle Fasano is about to learn that with every choice there are consequences. Sometimes there can be hell to pay. Literally.
Critique: Original, absorbing, exceptional, and a thoroughly entertaining read from beginning to end, "One In A Million" is the first volume of author Tony Faggioli's three volume supernatural thriller series 'The Millionth Trilogy'. "One In A Million" is a compelling novel that is very highly recommended for community library Paranormal Fiction collections. Also very highly recommended is the second volume of this outstanding series "A Million To One" (9780997897432, $10.99, PB), as well as the third and concluding volume "One Plus One" (9780997897432, $10.99, PB). It should be noted for personal reading lists that all three volumes are also available in a digital book format ($5.99 each).
The Fiction Shelf
Takeover
Michael Wierimaa
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781542775809, $14.95, PB, 340pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the early 1800s, seeds of the Industrial Revolution were sewn in the United States. Tiny seeds germinated and eventually grew into large monopolies by the mid-1860s, as the country was healing after years of war. The vast wealth created by the industrial giants during a time of little regulation resulted in the wealthiest families wielding undue influence over the government as well as the lives of citizens, rich and poor.
Companies grew into powerful corporations, employing numerous people and generating an abundance of tax revenue. Top management of corporations often focused on achieving profits and wealth. CEOs believed they were omnipotent. They demanded that their employees work long hours for very low wages. Workers were compelled to blindly obey or lose their job.
Some corporations tried to influence the laws and policies. Congressmen were bribed with large amounts of money to vote for laws that gave corporations undue advantage. Lawmakers were corrupt and greed was commonplace.
It is against this 'real world' background that the novel "Takeover" by Michael Wierimaa is the story of the Beasley Investigation & Security Company who takes on the C & H Corporation and its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Grayson Vanderhoot, when he uses government money for personal enrichment, while the company teeters on the brink of bankruptcy.
Critique: Although a work of fiction, "Takeover" has an impressive sense of reality that demonstrates author Michael Wierimaa's exceptional flair for storytelling that is reminiscent of the muckraking novels of Sinclair Lewis. A deftly crafted and compelling read from beginning to end, "Takeover" is unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Takeover" is also available in a digital book format ($3.99).
The Brass Compass
Ellen Butler
www.ellenbutler.net
Power to the Pen
9780998419305, $14.99, PB, 356pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Lily Saint James grew up traveling the European continent, learning languages as she went. In 1938, her mother's abrupt death brings her back home to Washington, D.C., and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Lily comes to the attention of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Her knowledge of German, French, and Italian makes her the perfect OSS Agent, and her quick thinking places her as a nanny in the household of an important German Army Colonel, where she is able to gather intelligence for the Allies. After her marketplace contact goes missing, she makes a late-night trip to her secondary contact only to find him under interrogation by the SS. When he commits suicide, she flees into the frigid winter night carrying false identification papers that are now dangerous and a mini film cartridge with vital strategic information. In order to survive, Lily must make it out of Germany, into the hands of Allied-controlled France, through a path fraught with peril.
Critique: A deftly crafted and impressively entertaining novel of suspense and harrowing endangerments, "The Brass Compass" is a thoroughly riveting read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Brass Compass" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
The Blue Curtain
L. G. Metcalf
www.lgmetcalf.com
Moleyco Press
9780995858602, $14.95, PB, 314pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Devastated by her father's brutal murder, seventeen-year-old Emily Bliss is determined to find his killers, even after everyone else has given up. As Emily attempts to follow their trail, she encounters a mysterious stranger at a party. Beneath his handsome looks, physical prowess, vast wealth, intimidating presence and hypnotizing eyes, she can sense that he is tormented by demons that she cannot yet fathom. Soon Emily is shocked yet thrilled to realize that she is falling uncontrollably in love with him to the point of obsession and that she is willing say or do anything to make him stay. But an early birthday gift Emily's father left for her has revealed secrets about her life, buried centuries ago, that will hurl her into a dark underworld that she never dreamed existed and point to a great destiny awaiting her, if only she can survive long enough to seize it.
Critique: An original and deftly crafted novel from beginning to end,"The Blue Curtain" showcases author L. G. Metcalf's genuine flair for penning a truly riveting and impressively entertaining read that will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Blue Curtain" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
The Mummy
Renald Iacovelli
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781539795957, $18.93, PB, 560pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When Harold Ostrich, a successful businessman, buys a mummy at an antique shop and it comes to life, his world is turned into a nightmare. For the first time he must deal with the terror of a supernatural event, which in its persistence threatens to undermine everything he has worked for and any chance of happiness in his life.
Critique: Unique, compelling, unpredictable, engaging, blending humor with suspense, deftly crafted and unfailingly entertaining, "The Mummy" is a 'must read' and will prove to be enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Mummy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
The Dorm
Terri Weinmann
Black Rose Writing
PO Box 1540, Castroville, TX 78009
http://www.blackrosewriting.com
9781612968377, $15.95, PB, 188pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Embarking on her first semester away from home, settling into life at the dorm, Blair Palmer meets senior Logan Mills. He's everything she could want; smart, charming, forceful, possessive, a perfect gentleman who promises to keep her safe. Soon he separates her from her best friend - but it's only because he wants her all to himself. Even though her friends claim otherwise, even though he forces Blair to turn her back on her imperfect family - she knows that it's because he loves her. And she knows he'll love her forever, even after he crushes her into someone no one ever thought she'd be. Because Logan would never hurt her... right?
Critique: A serious novel detailing a young woman who, much to the dismay of her friends, spirals downwards into a toxic relationship. A deftly crafted story of seduction, manipulation and betrayal -- it will not be revealed until the very end as to whether or not a family's unconditional love can be enough to save Blair Palmer from the consequences of a misplaced love. While recommended for community library collections for mature readers, it should be noted that "The Dorm" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
The Truth About Daniel
Jeanne Gehret
Verbal Images Press
www.susanbanthonyfamily.com
9781884281013, $14.95, PB, 322pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Jeanne Gehret became acquainted with Susan B. Anthony's family in 1992 when she docented at the reformer's house museum. After writing Susan B. Anthony And Justice For All in 1994, she curated an exhibit at the Rochester, NY museum and began portraying Susan in costume. She blogs at http://SusanBAnthonyFamily.com
In "The Truth About Daniel" she turns her talents to writing the first volume of what promises to be an impressively entertaining new series of historical novels called 'The Dauntless".
Annie Osborn was fascinated by everything about Daniel Read Anthony including his service as a Civil War colonel who battled slavery; his courage and endurance settling the wild West; and his family ties to Susan B. Anthony, Annie's own heroine. Nevertheless, she has doubts about his suitability as a husband. Did he risk his life for unselfish reasons or because he enjoyed danger?
From the fiery conflict of Kansas to the prim parlors of Martha's Vineyard, "The Truth About Daniel" portrays lovers who forge new bonds through their willingness to take chances as author Jeanne Gehret deftly weaves historical strands about D.R. Anthony to delve into his improbable choice of a bride, a socialite half his age from the whaling capital of Martha's Vineyard.
Critique: As a novelist, Jeanne Gehret has a genuine flair for deftly creating memorable characters and embedding them into an original and consistently entertaining story. The descriptive writing brings a bygone era in American History to vivid life. An impressively crafted and consistently entertaining read from beginning to end, "The Truth About Daniel" is unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Historical Romance collections and the personal reading list of the dedicated Antebellum romance fan.
What Remains Unsaid
Audrey Kalman
Sand Hill Review Press
www.sandhillreviewpress.com
9781937818241, $18.95, PB, 270pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In a placid California suburb, thirty-seven-year-old Sean Masterson holds his mother at gunpoint. "You have to listen to me now, Ma," he says to Ginny. She does listen. But she also talks: about her life, lost love, and the mistakes of a misguided young girl. In telling her story, Ginny begins to see the possibility of redemption. "What Remains Unsaid" is about the stories we could never imagine behind the faces we think we know. But sometimes even brutal honesty and the promise of forgiveness may come too late to save the ones we love. A deftly crafted novel from beginning to end, "What Remains Unsaid" is especially commended to readers who like diving deep into our tangled connections with one another.
Critique: A meditation on the tragedy and hope of the human condition, "What Remains Unsaid" is an original and compelling novel by skilled novelist Audrey Kalman that will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "What Remains Unsaid" is also available in a digital book format ($3.99).
A Fine Line
Dan Burns
Chicago Arts Press
www.chicagoartspress.com
www.danburnsauthor.com
9780991169429, $26.95, HC, 294pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Sebastian Drake is a novelist working out of a dilapidated apartment in the city who's trying to come up with his next story idea. But he's stuck.
Drake receives an unexpected visit from a man interested in hiring him for a project and who thinks he has just the solution to Drake's writing challenges. He also thinks that Drake's past and secret life with a shadow government organization is a valuable asset. His proposition to Drake is simple: become a hired agent to investigate a cold murder case involving one of Chicago's most powerful political families. The job comes with a decent paycheck, all the support he might need, and the types of real life experiences that can form the basis for great fiction stories.
"A Fine Line" is a novel about a man with a new lease on life, who leads a dual existence. Behind his desk, he is an aspiring author. On the streets, he is a rogue undercover and unknown vigilante. His biggest challenge is keeping intact the fine line between reality and fiction.
Critique: A unique, compelling, carefully crafted, throughly engaging, consistently entertaining read from cover to cover, "A Fine Line" clearly showcases author Dan Burns' impressive storytelling talents and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Fine Line" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Gone with the Dead
Lori Perkins
Riverdale Avenue Books
http://riverdaleavebooks.com
9781626013711, $16.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the pages of "Gone with the Dead An Anthology of Romance and Horror" erotic romance anthologist Lori Perkins has brought together 16 tales of Southern love and death in a unique short story collection. Featuring deftly crafted stories that include: Christina and the Virus by Sarah Bale; A Dead Man is Hard to Find by Ellay Branton; A Piece of Him by R. L. Merrill; A Happy Medium by Freddie Milano; Bait by Isabelle Drake; Bloody Line by Carolyn Haven; Devil's in the Well by Harley Easton; A Ferocious Blossom by Marie Piper; Kissing Summer by Megan Hart; If I Only Knew By Genevieve Williams; Animals by Sue Ayers; Dogs of War by Andrew Robertson; The Music Man by Kimberlie L. Faye; Fallen by Xio Axelrod; Leftovers by Cassandra Chandler; Here for You by Kate L. Mary.
Critique: A simply outstanding anthology that will have a very special and lasting appeal for romantic horror fans, "Gone with the Dead An Anthology of Romance and Horror" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Gone with the Dead An Anthology of Romance and Horror" is also available in a digital book format ($6.99).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Buffer Zone Diet
Fred Cuellar
Maxvera Publishing
https://maxverapublishing.com
9780998909103, $27.99, HC, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When it comes to theories about weight control, what if the general belief that 'calories in and calories out' had exceptions when it came to calculating weight control options? What if we don't all metabolize food the same? Why can't we successfully lose weight and keep it off? Your health, even your life can depend on the answers to these questions
"The Buffer Zone Diet: It's Not Just What You Eat, It's When You Eat. Harness Your Hidden Fuel for a Slimmer and Healthier You!" is the result of Fred Cuellar's personal quest to break his 'weight loss code' and understand the truths underlying weight control loss and gain and stability.
"The Buffer Zone Diet"presents: The Top Ten lies we've been told about our diet; Tips for distinguishing between emotional hunger and physical hunger; How to create nutrient-dense meals to keep physical hunger at bay; The science between weight loss and weight gain; Five distinct blueprints for designing the new and healthiest you; Strategies for breaking through weight loss plateaus; The Four Laws of Weight Management; The formula that regulates weight for the human body!
Critique: Exceptionally informative and impressively 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "The Buffer Zone Diet" is an unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library Health/Medicine collections. Of enormous value and relevance to anyone embarking on their own weight-loss journey or engaging in a personal quest for a healthy lifestyle, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Buffer Zone Diet" is also available in a paperback edition (9780998909110, $16.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Poetry Shelf
Breakfast at the Good Hope Home
Mike Bayles
918 Studio Press
www.918studiopress.com
9780985194499, $12.00, PB, 91pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The life of a young man changes in many ways after his father who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease is placed in a nursing home's care. As the disease progresses, he loses the father as well as the family he had known. He must also help his mother, who has not accepted the disease's consequences. The son tries to find meaning in his visits with his father after his father becomes unresponsive, and he finds a spiritual connection. He clings to stories his father told and learns to value his heritage. He learns to let go when he visits his father alone for the last time and is drawn back to his mother by the grief they share. In the end, he finds a sense of relief from a final conversation. A compelling and all-to-real circumstance experienced personally by an aging Baby Boomer population, "Breakfast at the Good Hope Home" is comprised of Mike Bayles' free verse poetry that takes a unique approach to telling this compelling story in a unique and effective way.
Critique: An absolutely absorbing, thoughtful and though-provoking read from cover to cover, "Breakfast at the Good Hope Home" will have a very special appeal for anyone having to deal with placing a loved one in an assisted living facility, especially if dementia is involved. Unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library contemporary poetry collections, it should be noted that "Breakfast at the Good Hope Home" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99). "I say I'm family, and a nurse buzzes me / into the ward / locked for their protection. / Patients wandering through hallways groan, / and I wonder about the worlds / they inhabit and languages / without words. / They pass each other without acknowledgment, / to the smell of bleach and poop."
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Voyages Through Time and Space
Lilia Sariecheva
Surepoint Publishing
9780984059386, $12.50, PB, 343pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Ulya is a deeply religious and highly gifted Russian psychic whose paranormal experiences are detailed in "Voyages Through Time and Space: The Life of a Russian Psychic". Ulya considered her soul to be immortal and indestructible and she believed her soul had lived in numerous bodies over the eons of time. Ulya's near-death experience at three months of age triggered a wide variety of reported psychic abilities including visions that provided accurate knowledge of the future and the specific skills of healing, dream interpretation, making predictions, and casting spells.
A regular psychic traveler to places in this, and other worlds, the barriers of time and space did not exist as she roamed through the past, the present and the future. She usually flew in a smaller version of her earthly body, however sometimes she flew out-of- body in remote viewing. Ulya saw herself in past lives and she flew into the future and saw herself as she will appear in future lives.
Ulya was raised in a loving, well-to-do family in the USSR. She was considered a successful career woman with a family and a teaching position. Ulya realized at a young age that her psychic abilities made her unique and she hid most of her skills from most people. It was only as a mature woman living in America that she came to completely embrace her gift. She hoped that future civil rights activity will include society's acceptance of psychics. Fearful of retribution against herself and her children for the crime of witchcraft, Ulya allowed publication of her stories only after her death and using the nom de plume of Ulya. Her diary, a house journal, various documents and a lifetime of conversations with her good friend, author Lilia Sariecheva, provide the basis of "Voyages Through Time and Space".
Critique: Certain to be of immense and enduring interest to students of the metaphysical sciences, "Voyages Through Time and Space: The Life of a Russian Psychic" is an extraordinary and inherently fascinating read from cover to cover. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Voyages Through Time and Space" is very highly recommended for community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in psychic abilities that "Voyages Through Time and Space" is also available in a digital book format (9760984059393, $3.99).
The Cookbook Shelf
Basic Fermentation
Sandor Ellix Katz
Microcosm Publishing
2752 N. Williams Ave., Portland, OR 97227
microcosmpublishing.com
c/o Perseus (dist.)
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9781621068723 $14.95 amazon.com
Synopsis: At last, a new edition of fermentation guru Sandor Katz's first published work, including all new, step-by-step photography. A great introduction to fermenting foods at home, whether you're looking to expand your kitchen repertoire into exciting new flavors or seeking to make affordable, natural, probiotic food to heal your guts and soothe your soul. Includes clear, straightforward instructions to get you started making anything fermentable, from bread to cheese to yogurt to kimchi to miso to injera to honey wine. Who knew making tasty, healthy, interesting food could be so simple?
Critique: Accessible to cooks of all skill and experience levels, Basic Fermentation focuses upon recipes for foods that involve the fermentation process, from bread and cheese to yogurt, kimchi, miso, injera, beer, chocolate, and more. Basic Fermentation features clear, step-by-step instructions and full-color photography on virtually every other page. Highly recommended! "Amazake is a particularly dramatic ferment, because in a matter of hours it transforms the starch of plain brown rice into sugars. The result is a uniquely sweet rice porridge, which can be eaten as a pudding, strained into a drink, or used as a bubbly base for pancake batter or bread."
The Relationship Shelf
Soon To Be Ex
Jacqueline Newman
Sutton Hart Press
www.suttonhart.com
9780997936087 $18.95 pbk / $9.95 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: New York's Queen of High Net Worth Divorces, lawyer Jacqueline Newman's new book, Soon-to-be Ex: A Guide to a Perfect Divorce & Relaunch. An illuminating mix of Newman's sharp wit, wisdom, and strategy, the author decodes the divorce process and life realities to help women make smart decisions about kids, money, their own psychological well-being and plan an excellent What's Next.
Soon To Be Ex: A Guide to the Perfect Divorce and Relaunch launches with an intelligent examination of typical divorce motives to help a would-be divorcee take a step back to first determine if a split up is the right move for her or merely a grass seems greener temporary situation. If the marriage is truly on the rocks Jacqueline guides her soon-to-be ex-wife readers through the divorce process from A to Z with an experienced hand from her 15 years of legal experience as managing partner of a New York first tier matrimonial law firm.
Most important, Ms. Newman (both Manhattan's leading matrimonial lawyer and a parent herself) focuses on the children of divorce in detail to help women assure their progeny's financial well-being as well as sound advice on easing the emotional marital turbulence for the marriage's offspring. While Soon To Be Ex is solid advice for anyone looking at ending a bad marriage, Jacqueline hits her lawyerly stride with a few chapters of special counsel for the 1% she works with daily (yes the rich ARE different in their divorces too).
Critique: Written by an expert matrimonial lawyer, Soon To Be Ex is a practical-minded "must-read" for anyone preparing to confront divorce proceedings. Chapters discuss how to discern whether one is ready for divorce; how to control one's emotions and negotiate professionally; why judges don't care whether your soon-to-be ex cheated on you; how to protect your kids, money, mental health, and pets; and much more. Soon To Be Ex is insightful, forthright, and highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Soon To Be Ex is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.95).
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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