Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Wisconsin Bookwatch

Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 13, Number 12 December 2018 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Christmas Shelf Biography Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Woodworking Shelf
Activity Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf Poetry Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Business Shelf
Education Shelf World History Shelf Civil War Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime
Tommy G. Thompson & Doug Moe
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299320805, $29.95, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Tommy G. Thompson holds the record as Wisconsin's longest-serving governor, from 1987 to 2001, when he accepted an appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the cabinet of President George W. Bush. Doug Moe is a longtime Wisconsin journalist and biographer. Together they have effectively collaborated to produce an inherently fascinating and impressively informative political biography of a man who was arguably one of Wisconsin's most popular and effective governors. Deftly blending personal anecdotal stories articulated with biographical details with insightful and informative policy discussions, "Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime" is an especially well organized and presented study that is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Political Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

The Secret Destination
Sally Cullen, photographer
Meg Files, poet
Susan Reimer, artist
Imago Press
9780998179155, $20.00, HC, 50pp, www.amazon.com

A visually stunning volume of paintings, photographs, and poems chronicling three sisters' journey to Iceland and into the territory of personal and artistic insights, and into the land of memory, "The Secret Destination" is the collaborative work showcasing the photography of Sally Cullen, the poetry of Meg Files, and the paintings of Susan Reimer. The result is a beautifully and deftly interwoven experience for the reader that is as unique as it is memorable -- making "The Secret Destination" unreservedly recommended for personal and community library collections.

Trekking Beyond
Damian Hall, Dave Costello, and Billi Bierling, authors
Alex Treadway, photographer
White Lion Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781781316962, $35.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

A stunning photographic journey to the world's most iconic walking destinations by the team of outdoor journalist Damian Hall, film maker Dave Costello, mountaineer Billi Bierling, and photographer Alex Treadway, "Trekking Beyond: Walk The World's Epic Trails" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community and academic library collections. Readers will encounter the epic drama of mountain trails, windswept coastal paths, dense forest walks and the immense canyons, glaciers and ocean vistas that can only be accessed on foot. Vivid essays introduce the world's best trekking regions ranging from the Himalayas to the Andes, the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to the dusty Australian Outback, in an exploration the challenges of walking these paths, the history of their formation and the sense of exploration and wonder to be found along these distinctive routes. Each showcased route is accompanied by stunning visually memorable photography, showcasing the variety of terrains and their magnificent vistas. An absolute 'must' for armchair travelers, aspiring mountaineers, and ambitious world travelers, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Trekking Beyond" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.36).

A Little Rain, A Little More
Ron Czerwien
Bent Paddle Press
c/o Avol's Books LLC
https://www.jeanietomasko.com/bentpaddlepress
9781732705708, $12.99, PB, 34pp, www.amazon.com

Ron Czerwien is a professional bookseller by trade, having several decades of experience and an unquenchable attraction to great literature and poetry. Now he has published a small volume of his own select poetry using such inspirations and metaphors as snowflakes, owls, fathers, loves, premonitions; and other observational experiences that the reader will find familiar but new in his word conjured images. Ron's particular style of poetry is conversational in organization, presentation and cadence. His verse is succinct and original. Very highly recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated poetry lovers and community library Contemporary American Poetry collections, "A Little Rain, A Little More" is one of those very special volumes of poetry showcasing verse that will linger in the mind and memory long after this slender paperback book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. 'Three Crows': An old man wearing his only suite / damn's the cardinal's extravagance. // The outlaw in every Western / chased by a posse of sparrows. // The ghost of my father / eyeing my front lawn.


The Christmas Shelf

Reader's Digest Ultimate Christmas Puzzles
Reader's Digest Editors
Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
44 South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601
www.rdtradepublishing.com
9781621454106, $9.99, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com

Christmas is everyone's favorite time and "Reader's Digest Ultimate Christmas Puzzles: Stay Sharp and Focused All Season Long!" is the perfect seasonal gift for puzzle fans. With this entertaining compilation anyone can take a minute, take an hour, or take a lazy afternoon to enjoy this copious compendium puzzle teasers that will help stay relaxed throughout the busy holiday season. An ultimately entertaining collection, "Reader's Digest Ultimate Christmas Puzzles" includes creative crosswords, Spot the Difference photos and illustrations, mind-bending quizzes, tricky word searches, challenging sudokus and mazes, as well as tons of fun brainteasers, festive trivia, word games, and so much more -- all of which are unreservedly guaranteed and recommended to tone the brain while celebrating the holiday spirit!

A Christmas Tarot
Dinah Roseberry, author
Kesara Dennett, illustrator
Red Feather
c/o Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764355684, $24.99, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com

For those who enjoy the holiday classic 'A Christmas Carol', they can now embark on a metaphysical journey of discovery through "A Christmas Tarot", a Dickens's inspired 22-card Majors-only Tarot deck by the team of author Dinah Roseberry and illustrator Kesara Dennett. Now tarot enthusiasts can visit with interesting ghosts of the season (or any other time of year) and connect to the spirit and magic that dwells in all our souls at Christmastime. Look inside these curious and fashionable images to interpret your life path and make the best decisions, receive guidance from Christmas Angels, and determine your past, present, and future through this simple and effective divination tool. Keywords on the cards allow for quick intuitive thinking while viewing situations that reflect daily life. Discover a special channeled Christmas angel message for each card you choose, and learn about Christmas traditions shown on the cards. Whether a beginner or advanced reader, anyone will be able to navigate the paths of self-discovery through these personal Christmas Tarot interpretations. Beautifully crafted, inspired and inspiring, "A Christmas Tarot" is unreservedly recommended for personal and professional tarot card collections.

The Christmas Remedy
Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall
WaterBrook Press
c/o WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
10807 New Allegiance Drive Suite 500, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com
9780735291041, $14.99, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Twenty-four-year-old Holly Zook lives a unique life for a young Amish woman. Years ago, her bishop allowed her to continue her education and become the lead technician for Greene's Pharmacy, an old-timey drugstore that looks out for the Amish community -- a group largely without secure healthcare plans. She knows she can't marry and hold onto her professional job. She's Amish, and she can only have one or the other, so she spurns love and works toward addressing treatable diseases -- like the one that claimed her father's life. As long as Holly continues to avoid Joshua Smucker, the one man who draws her like a warm hearth in winter, she should be fine. When something unexpected threatens Greene's Pharmacy, Holly and Joshua must work together to unravel what's happened and find the "missing" patient before the Board of Pharmacy shuts them down. As the snows of December arrive, with Christmas in the air, will Holly succumb to the generous spirit of the season? A wonderfully entertaining and deftly scripted story for the Christmas season, "The Christmas Remedy: An Amish Christmas Romance" by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Christmas Remedy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

A Christmas by the Sea
Melody Carlson
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800722715, $16.99, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com

When Wendy Harper inherits her family's beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in (temporarily, she reminds him) in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist. Another original and wonderfully entertaining Christmas season read from beginning to end by novelist Melody Carlson, "A Christmas by the Sea" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Christmas by the Sea" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781974927524, $29.99, CD).

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas
Jacqueline Frost
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683318033, $26.99, HC, 309pp, www.amazon.com

When a body turns up in a larger-than-life candy bowl filled with peppermints on the town square, Holly White is horrified to learn her best friend Caroline is the main suspect. Everyone in town, including Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, saw Caroline fighting with the victim on the night of his death. Worse, a custom kitchen knife, engraved with Caroline's initials was found with him. Now, just ten days before Christmas, Holly's up to her jingle bells in holiday shenanigans and in desperate need of a miracle. Juggling extra shifts at her family's Christmas tree farm and making enough gingerbread jewelry to satisfy the crowd is already more than she can handle -- and now she has to find time to clear her best friend of murder. Add in her budding relationship with the sheriff, and a personal stalker dressed as Santa Claus, and Holly's ready to fly south until springtime. But her Sherpa-lined mittens come off when Caroline is taken into custody. Can Holly wrap up the case in time for Christmas, even after she gains the true killer's attention? "Twas the Knife Before Christmas", is author Jacqueline Frost's second pine-scented 'Christmas Tree Farm Mystery' and once again demonstrates her mastery of the mystery genre with another simply riveting read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended, especially for community library collections, it should be noted for dedicated mystery buffs that "Twas the Knife Before Christmas" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.69) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781982540357, $29.95, MP3 CD).


The Biography Shelf

Selectively Lawless
Asa Dunnington
Brown Books Publishing Group
16250 Knoll Trail Drive, Suite 205, Dallas, TX 75248-2871
www.brownbooks.com
9781612542744, $22.95, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com

In the early twentieth century, money, power, and reputation were king. With outlaws like Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson roaming the streets, it was a lawless time, with lawless individuals taking their fates and fortunes into their own hands. Emmett Long was one of them. Bank robber, moonshiner, gambler, and on occasion even a killer, he made his own rules. But he varied from the typical story. Instead of dying at the young age of thirty-something in a blaze of guns and fury, he lived to a ripe age, reformed his ways, found Christianity, married a good woman, raised a family, and became a successful rancher. Not the expected turn of events for such a lawless beginning. In a new twist to the classic Great Depression outlaw narrative, author Asa Dunnington shares the life story of his uncle in the pages of "Selectively Lawless: The True Story of Emmett Long, an American Original". A simply fascinating read that is as deftly crafted as it is candidly informative, "Selectively Lawless" is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary life and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library American Biography collections.


The Fiction Shelf

No Quarter
John Jantunen
ECW Press
www.ecwpress.com
9781770412057, $16.00, PB, 384pp, www.amazon.com

Rene Descartes is a recently released ex-con who is living in a ramshackle trailer only a short distance from Hidden Cove, a secluded paradise where the country's rich and famous relax in opulent gated summer retreats. A savage attack against Rene by the son of the fourth richest man in the country spurns a brutal act of revenge that will ignite this paradise into a fiery vision of hell on earth. As the flames threaten to engulf rich and poor alike, only Deacon Riis, a small-town reporter haunted by his own past, suspects it wasn't Rene who set Hidden Cove ablaze but someone with a far more sinister agenda: to write into life the apocalyptic world imagined by the late George Cleary, a local novelist who was convinced that the end of times is now. A unique and extraordinary novel by an author with a genuine flair for character and narrative driven storytelling, John Jantunen's "No Quarter" is a simply riveting read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "No Quarter" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.45).

Night of Miracles
Elizabeth Berg
Random House
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780525509509, $26.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she's hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn't know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets. When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln's parents aren't the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community -- just when they need it the most. Another deftly crafted gem of a novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality, memorable characters, and inherently compelling, narrative driven storytelling, Elizabeth Berg's "Night of Miracles" is an especially recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of Elizabeth Berg's legions of fans that "Night of Miracles" is also available in a large print paperback edition (9780525631781, $28.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

The Crown Lord
William Sirls
Rare Bird Books
453 S. Spring Street, Suite 302, Los Angels, CA 90013
www.rarebirdbooks.com
9781947856462, $25.95, HC, 392pp, www.amazon.com

After a successful revolt in 1846 that reversed the roles of slaves and masters, modern-day America is now dominated by a wealthy, black ruling class and whites are dealing with decades of oppression and prejudice. When his father, a civil rights attorney, is killed after defending a white man, seventeen-year-old Willie Gibbons is forced to move to Michigan with his uncle and thrust into the heart of the racial divide. The search for his father's killer lands Willie on the wrong side of a powerful and shadowy black supremacist group known as The Crown, a dangerous place for any man -- black or white. An 'alternate universe' what if novel, "The Crown Lord" is the kind of dystopian novel that is as thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is engaging and entertaining, making it unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.

Remembrance
Mary Monroe
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496715821, $20.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

For Beatrice Powell, the holidays are usually an extra-special time to celebrate. Between her twenty-year-plus marriage, gorgeous Berkeley, California, home, and three wonderful adult children, she has everything she could desire. But change-of-life doubts are making Beatrice a stranger to herself and her bewildered family. She only finds peace volunteering at the local soup kitchen, especially helping out homeless Charles Davenport. And his sensitivity and honesty soon comfort her in ways she never imagined. Charles thought he had it all -- until a devastating betrayal and the shattering loss of his family drove him to living on the streets. Beatrice is the first person who's truly cared about him in a long time. And little by little, he's finding reasons to care about rebuilding his life -- and risking a sudden, courageous choice. Drawn to Charles and the temptation of a second chance, Beatrice is faced with the hardest of decisions. But his insight, secrets (and the reminder of a profound past encounter) will give her unexpected inspiration, gratitude, and the strength she needs to find her way -- perhaps in time for Christmas! Exceptional, original, and a seasonal delight by an author with a genuine flair for narrative driven storytelling that is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), Mary Monroe's "Remembrance" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists and all community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.

The Sacred Fury
Barton Cockey & Elizabeth Cockey
http://sacredfury.com
Dorrance Publishing Company
585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9781480991446, $19.00, PB, 274pp, www.amazon.com

Dylan and Sidney Greene, are a newly married couple who live in Baltimore. Dylan, who is the Junior Editor at a local newspaper, is enticed to join an organization called G.O.O.D. whose aim is to control all human life. But Sidney begins having bizarre prophetic dreams about graveyards, disembodied spirits from the past and macabre visions of Samurai armor that comes to life. Meanwhile, Dylan is drawn inexorably into the sinister organization where he realizes his job is to write the news before it happens. At the same time, Sidney seeks an explanation for her dreams from a local fortune teller. It is here where she learns the truth about G.O.O.D. and their plan to excavate the grave of Edgar Alan Poe in search of the potion for eternal life. A literary work of social criticism, "The Sacred Fury" by Barton and Elizabeth Cockey is a deftly crafted and inherently riveting novel that is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library collections.

A Healing Justice
Kristin Von Kreisler
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496700452, $15.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Two years ago, police officer Andrea Brady fell madly in love with a black-muzzled, slightly rumpled German shepherd who showed up at her house one misty autumn day. Now, with the brave and intuitive Justice as her expert K-9 drug sniffer, she's found an unbeatable partner. Then the unthinkable happens. A savage attack leaves a teenager dead and Andie trapped in every cop's worst nightmare. Placed on administrative leave, she's pursued by media and investigated by a deputy sheriff whose handling of the high-profile case could earn him a coveted promotion. Haunted by self-doubt, Andie is in danger of losing everything -- her career, her freedom, and the critically injured dog who's her soul mate. But as she finds kind allies in her Puget Sound island community, the road back becomes a journey of healing for both Andie and her canine companion. And Andie learns important lessons about justice (and about Justice) as she struggles to find the courage to forgive herself and reclaim the gift of her life. A deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and narrative driven storytelling, "A Healing Justice" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Healing Justice" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete an unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781977363183, $29.99, CD).

48 Hours
William R. Forstchen
Forge
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765397911, $26.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

In 48 hours, the Earth will be hit by a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from the Sun, a "Carrington Event" that has the power to shut down and possibly destroy the world's electrical infrastructure. To try and prevent permanent damage, everything goes dark prior to the hit: global communications are shut down; hospital emergency generators are disconnected; the entire internet, media broadcasting, and cell phone systems are turned off. Will the world's population successfully defend itself in the wake of the CME, or will mass panic lead to the breakdown of society as we know it? William R. Forstchen's "48 Hours" is a deftly crafted gem of an apocalyptic novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and inherently riveting narrative storytelling. While unreservedly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "48 Hours" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781470813222, $29.95, MP3 CD).

Ways to Hide in Winter
Sarah St. Vincent
Melville House Publishing
www.mhpbooks.com
9781612197203, $25.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

After surviving a life-altering accident at twenty-two, Kathleen recuperates by retreating to a remote campground lodge in a state park, where she works flipping burgers for deer hunters and hikers -- happy, she insists, to be left alone. But when a hesitant, heavily accented stranger appears in the dead of winter (seemingly out of nowhere, kicking snow from his flimsy dress shoes) the wary Kathleen is intrigued, despite herself. He says he's a student from Uzbekistan. To her he seems shell-shocked, clearly hiding from something that terrifies him. And as she becomes absorbed in his secrets, she's forced to confront her own -- even as her awareness of being in danger grows. Steeped in the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and playing out against the background of America's war on terror, "Ways to Hide in Winter" is all the more impressive considering that it is author Sarah St. Vincent's debut as a novelist with a genuine flair for originality and narrative driven storytelling. While unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Ways to Hide in Winter" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), as well as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781982590666, $29.95, MP3 CD).

The Death and Life of Strother Purcell
Ian Weir
Goose Lane Editions
www.gooselane.com
9781773100296, $22.95, PB, 380pp, www.amazon.com

In 1876, the fabled lawman Strother Purcell disappears into a winter storm in the mountains of British Columbia, while hunting down his outlawed half-brother. Sixteen years later, the wreck of Purcell resurfaces (derelict, homeless and one-eyed) in a San Francisco jail cell. And a failed journalist named Barrington Weaver conceives a grand redemptive plan. He will write Purcell's true-life story. All it requires is a final act. What unfolds is an archetypal saga of obsession, lost love, treachery, and revenge, told in author Ian Weir's trademark funny, fast, wickedly intelligent style. A deadpan revisionist Western, refracted through a Southern Gothic revenge tragedy, "The Death and Life of Strother Purcell" is an inherently compelling novel about two cursed brothers, a pair of eldritch orphans, the vexed nature of truth, and the yearnings of the treacherous human heart. A deftly scripted novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and narrative storytelling, "The Death and Life of Strother Purcell" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.

Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany's
Julie Wright
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629724874, $15.99, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com

"Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany's" is the story of Silvia Bradshaw, a young woman who begins her Hollywood career loving every aspect ranging from the glamour and style of Audrey Hepburn to the behind-the-scenes filmmaking magic. Silvia is ready to prove her worth as the newest film editor at a major production studio in Hollywood. But a studio scandal and lawsuit jeopardizes her job and forbids her from seeing love interest Ben from a rival studio! A master of the contemporary romance genre, Julie Wright's "Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany's" is an extraordinary and entertaining read from first page to last. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany's" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.54) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781982575755, $34.95, CD).

Maybe We're Leaving
Jan Balaban
Glagoslav Publications Ltd.
https://www.glagoslav.com
9781911414698, $24.50, PB, 166pp, www.amazon.com

A young boy from the housing estates comes across a copse of old oaks to which he can escape, as to an oasis of calm. It will remain a locus of balance, decades later, for a single mother struggling with the difficulties of raising the child she loves. A husband, on the lip of an ugly divorce, drives across town in the middle of the night to rescue his wife, abandoned by her lover, and then (as she falls asleep in the car) takes the long way home, to prolong a moment such as he has not experienced in years. An elderly doctor, self-diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, makes use of the few precious moments of consciousness granted him each morning to pass on to his grandson what he has learned about life and living responsibly. Loss, and permanence, the ephemeral and the eternal, are common themes of Jan Balaban's short stories that comprise "Maybe We're Leaving", presented here for the benefit of an American readership in an English translation by Charles S. Kraszewski. "Maybe We're Leaving" is an anthology of twenty-one linked narratives featuring the lives of everyday people, with everyday problems about love and respect for the former, and bearing up with the latter. With stories that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "Maybe We're Leaving" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections and reading lists.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Moscow Sleepers
Stella Rimington
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781632867971, $27.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

A Russian immigrant lies dying in a hospice in upstate Vermont. When a stranger visits, claiming to be a childhood friend, the FBI is alerted and news quickly travels to MI5 in London. Liz Carlyle and her colleague Peggy Kinsolving are already knee-deep in conspiracies, and as they unravel the events that landed the man in the hospital, Liz learns of a network of Russians and their plot to undermine the German government. Liz and Peggy set out to locate and stop this insidious network, traveling the world from Montreal to Moscow. "The Moscow Sleepers" is a riveting read with more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Suspense Thriller collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that Stella Riminton's "The Moscow Sleepers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.82).

Let The Dead Keep Their Secrets
Rosemary Simpson
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496715739, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Heiress Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter investigate crimes during the Gilded Age of New York City in the late 19th Century in a probe that takes them from the slums of Five Points in Lower Manhattan to the Fifth Avenue mansions of society's elite. The case involves the death of a woman thought to die in childbirth -- but was it, as the woman's sister thinks, a case of murder? A simply riveting read from first page to last, "Let The Dead Keep Their Secrets" by novelist Rosemary Simpson will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Let The Dead Keep Their Secrets" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781977361288, $29.99, CD).

Raylan Goes to Detroit
Peter Leonard
Rare Bird Books
453 S. Spring Street, Suite 302, Los Angels, CA 90013
www.rarebirdbooks.com
9781947856219, $26.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

After an altercation with his superiors in Harlan County, Kentucky, Deputy US Marshal, Raylan Givens is offered two choices. He can either retire or finish his career on the fugitive task force in the crime-ridden precincts of Detroit. Acting on a tip, Raylan and his new partner, deputy marshal Bobby Torres arrest Jose Rindo, a destructive and violent criminal. Rindo is also being pursued by the FBI who arrive shortly after he is in custody. Raylan bumps heads with a beautiful FBI agent named Nora Sanchez, who wants Rindo for the murder of a one of their own. When Rindo, escapes from the county jail and is arrested in Ohio, Raylan and FBI Special Agent Sanchez drive south to pick up the fugitive and bring him back to stand trial. Later, when Rindo escapes again, Raylan and Nora still at odds are reunited and follow the elusive fugitive's trail across Arizona to El Centro, California and into Mexico where they have no jurisdiction or authority. How are they going to bring Rindo, a Mexican citizen, across the border without anyone knowing? A deftly crafted and simply riveting read from beginning to end by an author who is a master of narrative driven storytelling, Peter Leonard's "Raylan Goes to Detroit" is very highly recommended and unfailingly entertaining. Certain to be an immediately popular addition to community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Raylan Goes to Detroit" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

The Golden Havana Night
Manuel Ramos
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Freeway, Bldg 19, Rm 100, Houston, TX 77204-2004
www.artepublicopress.com
9781558858671, $17.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Ex-con Gus Corral is at peace with his new life as a private investigator. He's good at his job, even if he's mostly a delivery man or a go-for guy trying to expose or protect someone else's secrets. An unexpected visit by Joaquin Kino Machaco, the Colorado Rockies' all-star center fielder who defected from Cuba as a teen, disrupts his routine. The famous ballplayer needs help: His brother has a gambling problem and owes a lot of money to a Cuban criminal who's threatening their family. He needs Gus to travel to the island with his brother to hand over half a million dollars in cash. Not only will Gus need to keep the money safe from the inveterate gambler, he'll have to convince the entrepreneur to leave Machaco's family alone after the payoff. Gus' visions of relaxing on warm, beautiful beaches accompanied by Latin jazz and rum concoctions are immediately dashed. A hail of bullets violence virtually unheard of in the autocratic nation leaves one dead and several wounded and leads to unforeseen ramifications that will come to a shocking, bloody conclusion in Denver. A deftly crafted and refreshingly original mystery by an author with a genuine flair for memorable characters and a riveting narrative storytelling, "The Golden Havana Night" is especially recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs.

The Horseman's Song
Ben Pastor
Bitter Lemon Press
www.bitterlemonpress.com
9781912242115, $14.95, PB, 376pp, www.amazon.com

In the summer of 1937 the civil war between Spanish nationalists and republicans rages on. Situated in the bloody sierras of Aragon, among Generalissimo Franco's volunteers is Martin Bora, the twenty-something German officer. Presently a lieutenant in the Spanish Foreign Legion, Bora lives the tragedy around him as an intoxicating epic, between idealism and youthful recklessness. The first doubts, however, rise in Bora's mind when he happens on the body of Federico Garcia Lorca, a brilliant poet, progressive and homosexual. Who murdered him? Why? The official version does not convince Bora, who begins a perilous investigation. His inquiry paradoxically proceeds alongside that which is being carried out by an "enemy": Philip Walton, an American member of the International Brigades. Soon enough the German and the New Englander will join forces, and their cooperation will not only culminate in a thrilling chase after a murderer, but also in a very human, existential face-to-face between two adversaries forever changed by their crime-solving encounter. An expertly crafted mystery by a master of the genre, that is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.95), "The Horseman's Song" is an especially recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. Also very highly recommended for dedicated mystery buffs are the other novels by Ben Pastor that feature the character of Martin Bora including "Lumen" (9781904738664, $14.95 PB, $6.67 Kindle), "Liar Moon" (9781904738824, $14.95 PB, $9.00 Kindle),"A Dark Song of Blood" (9781908524300, $14.95, $9.00 Kindle), and "The Road to Ithaca" (9781908524805, $14.95 PB, $8.40 Kindle).

Fool's Moon
Diane A. S. Stuckart
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738757087, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Most days, Ruby Sparks feels like the sign that says "Tarot Card Reader Extraordinaire" should say "Tarot Card Reader Fairly Competent"! But as challenging as it is to take care of her half-sister's New Age shop (and her growing menagerie of enchanted pets) Ruby never worries that she's bitten off more than she can chew -- until a customer wants her to divine the truth about a murder. When her own life is threatened with a double dose of danger, Ruby begins to wonder if she's being played for a fool. Luckily, she has Ophelia and Brandon (sibling black cats with a talent for tarot) and a feisty pit bull friend who all lend a paw in collaring the culprit before Ruby finds herself taking her final cat nap. A brilliantly constructed and original approach to a murder mystery, "Fool's Moon" is the first title in Diane A. S. Stuckart's new 'A Tarot Cat Mystery' series. A simply compelling read from beginning to end, "Fool's Moon" will prove to be an immediate and popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Fool's Moon" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.44).

Death and Daisies
Amanda Flower
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683317814, $26.99, HC, 308pp, www.amazon.com

Fiona Knox thought she was pulling her life back together when she inherited her godfather's cottage in Duncreigan, Scotland -- complete with a magical walled garden. But the erstwhile Tennessee flower shop owner promptly found herself puddle boot-deep in danger when she found a dead body among the glimmering blossoms. One police investigation later (made a trifle less unpleasant by the presence of handsome Chief Inspector Neil Craig), and Fiona's life is getting back on a steady, though bewitched, track. Her sister Isla has just moved in with her, and the grand opening of her new spellbound venture, the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in Aberdeenshire, is imminent. But dark, ensorcelled clouds are gathering to douse Fiona's newly sunny outlook. First, imperious parish minister Quaid MacCullen makes it undeniably clear that he would be happy to send Fiona back to Tennessee. Then, a horrific lightning storm, rife with terribly omen, threatens to tear apart the elderly cottage and sends Fi and Isla cowering under their beds. The storm passes, but then, Fi is called away from the Climbing Rose's opening soiree when Kipling, the tiny village's weak-kneed volunteer police chief, finds a dead body on the beach. The body proves difficult to identify, but Kipling is certain it's that of the parish minister. Which makes Fiona, MacCullen's new nemesis, a suspect. And what's worse, Isla has seemed bewitched as of late -- did she do something unspeakable to protect her sister? The last thing Fiona wanted to do was play detective again. But now, the rosy future she'd envisioned is going to seed, and if she and Craig can't clear her name, her idyllic life will wilt away. "Death and Daisies" is the second enchanting Magic Garden mystery by author Amanda Flower who has a very special flair for originality and narrative driven storytelling. Another skillful masterpiece of mystery fiction, "Death and Daisies" is especially and highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Death and Daisies" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.69).

The Blood
E. S. Thomson
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681778754, $25.95, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com

Summoned to the riverside by the desperate, scribbled note of an old friend, Jem Flockhart and Will Quartermain find themselves onboard the seamen's floating hospital, an old hulk known only as The Blood, where prejudice, ambition, and murder seethe beneath a veneer of medical respectability. On shore, a young woman, a known prostitute, is found drowned in a derelict boatyard. A man leaps to his death into the Thames, driven mad by poison and fear. The events are linked -- but how? Courting danger in the opium dens and brothels of the waterfront, certain that The Blood lies at the heart of the puzzle, Jem and Will embark on a quest to uncover the truth. In a hunt that takes them from the dissecting tables of a private anatomy school to the squalor of the dock-side mortuary, they find themselves involved in a dark and terrible mystery. Another gem of a deftly crafted novel in author E. S. Thomson's Jem Flock mystery series, "The Blood" is a riveting read from beginning to end. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "The Blood" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Death Comes to Bath
Catherine Lloyd
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496702128, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

After Sir Robert's injury from the battle of Waterloo begins troubling him again, his wife Lucy insists they relocate from the village of Kurland St. Mary to Bath, along with her sister Anna, so that Robert can take the waters and recover. At the Roman baths, Robert befriends an elderly and pugnacious businessman, Sir William Benson, ennobled by the Crown for his service to industry. Their acquaintance is short-lived, however, when the man is found drowned in the baths. Robert vows to find his killer, with Lucy's aid. The members of Sir William's family seem the most obvious suspects to benefit from the wealthy man's death, but his will has gone missing. To deduce who sent Sir William to a watery grave, Robert and Lucy must investigate with the utmost discretion -- before they too find themselves in over their heads! Another deftly crafted gem of a mystery by Catherine Lloyd, "Death Comes to Bath" is an inherently riveting read that is unreservedly recommended for dedicated mystery buffs and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for all Catherine Lloyd fans that "Death Comes to Bath" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

A Knife in the Fog
Bradley Harper
Seventh Street Books
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633884861, $15.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

September of 1888 finds a twenty-nine-year-old Arthur Conan Doyle practicing medicine by day and writing at night. His first Sherlock Holmes story, "A Study in Scarlet", although gaining critical and popular success, has only netted him twenty-five pounds. Embittered by the experience, he vows never to write another "crime story". Then a messenger arrives with a mysterious summons from former Prime Minister William Gladstone, asking him to come to London immediately. Once there, he is offered one month's employment to assist the Metropolitan Police as a "consultant" in their hunt for the serial killer soon to be known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle agrees on the stipulation his old professor of surgery, Professor Joseph Bell (Doyle's inspiration for Sherlock Holmes) agrees to work with him. Bell agrees, and soon the two are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who knows how to use a Derringer and serves as their guide and companion. Pursuing leads through the dank alleys and courtyards of Whitechapel, they come upon the body of a savagely murdered fifth victim. Soon it becomes clear that the hunters have become the hunted when a knife-wielding figure approaches. A deftly crafted and simply riveting mystery by Bradley Harper and featuring Margaret Harkness and Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Knife in the Fog" is a 'must read' for the legions of dedicated mystery buffs and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "A Knife in the Fog" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781515934394, $29.99, CD).

2 Degrees
Bev Prescott
Bywater Books
P.O. Box 3671, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-3671
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612941356, $16.95, PB, 295pp, www.amazon.com

In the year 2092, climate change has transformed the face of Earth. Storms, disease, famine, thirst and war show no mercy on the living. Sharon Clausen, a self-reliant farmer, has a secret apple tree -- a tree that keeps Sharon and her wife, Eve, fed. The only other people who know of her secret, or so she thinks, is Dr. Ryan, a long-time confidant, and his wife, Areva. Once a month, Sharon and Eve travel from Maine to Boston to trade apples with Dr. Ryan for Eve's leukemia treatment. Everything suddenly changes when Eve is kidnapped and the Ryan's are murdered. Sharon learns that her best kept secrets are known and coveted by a coldly practical villain known as the Strelitzia. Sharon sets out on a harrowing journey across North America to rescue Eve. Along the way, she teams up with an Inuit refugee boy, a stray dog named Erik the Red, an eccentric former school teacher, a jujitsu master, an Argentinian opera star, and a brilliant scientist who leads an alliance of eclectic people known as the Qaunik. Together, this ragtag group battle horrific storms, an unrelenting desert, terrifying criminal gangs, feral humans, and the Strelitzia. In the end, Sharon must face her greatest challenge -- risking all that she loves for something much greater than herself. Set against a background of climate change predictions come to pass, "2 Degrees" by Bev Prescott is a classic and deftly crafted dystopian novel. An inherently riveting read from beginning to end, "2 Degrees" is unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "2 Degrees" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

City of Secrets
Victoria Thompson
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780451491619, $26.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Elizabeth Miles knows that honesty is not always the best policy when it comes to finding justice. Elizabeth has discovered that navigating the rules of high society is the biggest con of all. She knows she can play the game, but so far, her only success is Priscilla Knight, a dedicated young suffragist recently widowed for the second time. Her beloved first husband died in a tragic accident and left her with two young daughters--and a sizable fortune. While she was lost in grief, Priscilla's pastor convinced her she needed a man to look after her and engineered a whirlwind courtship and hasty marriage to fellow parishioner Endicott Knight. Now, about nine months later, Endicott is dead in what appears to be another terrible accident. Everyone is whispering, but that is the least of Priscilla's troubles. She had believed Endicott was wealthy, too, but her banker tells her she has no money left and her house has been mortgaged. He also hints at a terrible scandal and refuses to help. Priscilla stands to lose everything, and Elizabeth is determined not to let that happen. But, as always, Elizabeth walks a fine line between using her unusual talents and revealing her own scandalous past. Elizabeth soon discovers that Endicott's death was anything but accidental, and revealing the truth could threaten much more than Priscilla's finances. To save her new friend's future (and possibly her own) Elizabeth, along with her honest-to-a-fault beau, Gideon, delve into the sinister secrets someone would kill to keep. Another thriller of a mystery novel by Victoria Thompson, "City of Secrets" will prove to be an immediately and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of Victoria Thompson fans and dedicated mystery buffs that "City of Secrets" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Venators: Magic Unleashed
Devri Walls
Brown Books Publishing Group
16250 Knoll Trail Drive, Suite 205, Dallas, TX 75248-2871
www.brownbooks.com
9781612549873, $16.99, PB, 416pp, www.amazon.com

Rune Jenkins has a long-standing infatuation with anything from the supernatural world, and she's trying to hide it. If she doesn't, she angers her reckless twin brother Ryker, and starts feeling like her own sanity is slipping. But the closer she gets to Grey Malteer (an old friend who waves his fascination with fantasy like a flag) the harder it becomes to stifle her own interest. The supernatural suddenly invades their reality when other-worldly creatures come hunting for the three college students. With help from a mysterious savior Rune and Grey escape, but must follow Ryker's abductors into an alternate dimension, Eon, and discover their true identities. They are Venators, descendants of genetically enhanced protectors and sentries between Eon and Earth. In this world of fae, vampires, werewolves, and wizards, power is abundant and always in flux. Ryker is missing, and Rune and Grey are being set up as pawns in a very dangerous game. The three must find their way through and out of Eon, before it consumes them! A deftly crafted, impressively original, and inherently fascinating read from first page to last, "Venaktors: Magic Unleashed" by Devri Walls is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "Venators: Magic Unleashed" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Hell Divers IV: Wolves
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Blackstone Publishing
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781538557105, $24.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

They dive so humanity survives. Now they take to the sea. In "Wolves", the fourth installment of the author Nicholas Sansbury Smith's 'Hell Divers' series, the Sea Wolf sets out to search for the Metal Islands. Leading the expedition is legendary Hell Diver Xavier Rodriguez. After enduring for a decade on the poisoned surface, his survival skills will be put to the test on the dangerous open seas. But storms, sea monsters, and the cannibalistic Cazadores aren't the only threat to X and his small crew. Their mission will uncover hard truths about the history of the war that left humankind stranded in the air for centuries. And the fate of those still living on the airships might very well rest on this fragile and perilous journey to find a new home. A 'must read' for all Hell Diver fans, "Hell Divers IV: Wolves" is very highly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Hell Divers IV: Wolves" is also available in a paperback edition (9781538589489, $9.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.38).

Lies Sleeping
Ben Aaronovitch
Daw Books, Inc.
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dawbooks.com
9780756415136, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

The Faceless Man, wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud, and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run. Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring him to justice. But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that the Faceless Man, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long term plan. A plan that has its roots in London's two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees. To save his beloved city Peter's going to need help from Lesley May, his former best friend and colleague who brutally betrayed him and everything he thought she believed in. And, far worse, he might even have to come to terms with the malevolent supernatural killer and agent of chaos known as Mr Punch. A simply riveting read that will have a very special appeal to dedicated mystery buffs and fantasy fans alike, "Lies Sleeping" by Ben Aaronovitch is unreservedly recommended, especially for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lies Sleeping" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

The Valley of Shadows
John Ringo & Mike Massa
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781481483551, $25.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

From his corner office on the forty-fourth floor of the Bank of the Americas tower on Wall Street, Tom Smith, global managing director for security, could see the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park -- and an oncoming ravening zombie horde. Officially, Smith was paid to preserve the lives and fortunes of employees, billionaires, and other clients. And with an implacable virus that turned the infected into ravenous zombies tearing through the city, the country, and the world, his job just got a lot harder. Good thing Smith, late of the Australian special forces, isn't a man to give up easily. But saving civilization is going to take more than the traditional banking toolbox of lawyers, guns, and money. Smith needs infected human spinal tissue to formulate a vaccine - and he needs it by the truckload. To get it, he will have to forge a shady alliance with both the politicians of the City of New York and some of its less savory entrepreneurs. But all of his back-alley dealing may amount to nothing if he can't stave off the fast-moving disease as it sweeps across the planet, leaving billions dead in its wake. And if he fails, his only fallback is an incomplete plan to move enough personnel to safe havens and prepare to restart civilization. What's more, there are others who have similar plans -- and believe it or not, they're even less charitable than a Wall Street investment banker. Sooner or later Smith will have to deal with them. But first he has to survive the Fall! A very special treat for all zombie apocalypse fans, "The Valley of Shadows is the sixth volume in John Ringo and Mike Massa's popular 'Black Tide Rising' series and will prove to be a very popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated zombie themed science fiction fans it should be noted that "The Valley of Shadows" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Shattered Sun
Rachel Dunn
Harper Voyage
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062428196, $16.99, PB, 496pp, www.amazon.com

The world has been plunged into darkness and only the scheming priest Joros might be able to bring back the sun. With his ragtag band of fighters (a laconic warrior, a pair of street urchins, a ruthless priestess, and an unhinged sorcerer) Joros seeks to defeat the ancient gods newly released from their long imprisonment. But the Twins have champions of their own, and powers beyond knowing and the only sure thing is that they won't go down without a fight. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as the Twins aim to enact revenge on the parents that imprisoned them, and the world that spurned them. The Long Night has begun, and the shadows hide many secrets -- including that the Twins themselves may not be as powerful as they would have everyone think. Joros and his allies must strike now, before the Twins can consolidate their power, and before they are allowed to shape the world in their vision. With the publication of "The Shattered Sun", novelist Rachel Dunn's he epic sword-and-sorcery 'Bound Gods' fantasy series comes to its dark conclusion in an inherently fascinating saga of a vibrant world whose fate lies in the hands of vengeful gods and bold warriors. While certain 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 action/adventure fans that "The Shattered Sun" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781982601447, $55.99, MP3 CD).


The Cookbook Shelf

The Complete Milk Street TV Show Cookbook
Christopher Kimball
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316415842, $40.00, HC, 464pp, www.amazon.com

Christopher Kimball's Milk Street is located in downtown Boston at 177 Milk Street and is home to a cooking school, a bimonthly magazine, as well as public television and radio shows. This newly revised edition of Christopher Kimball's "The Complete Milk Street TV Show Cookbook" is comprised of every recipe from every episode of one of television's most popular cooking shows. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, the recipes themselves range from Spanish-Style Eggs with Garlicky Crumbs and Chorizo; Smashed Cucumber Salad; Indian Tomato Rice; and Soba Noodles with Asparagus, Miso Butter and Egg; to Cape Malay Chicken Curry; Oven-Poached Salmon with Thyme, Dill and Vermouth; Australian Oat-Coconut Cookies; and Pistachio-Cardamon Cake. An ideal and unreservedly recommended resource for menu planning, "The Complete Milk Street TV Show Cookbook" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Mouneh: Preserving Foods for the Lebanese Pantry
Barbara Abdeni Massaad
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781566560368, $50.00, HC, 592pp, www.amazon.com

"Mouneh: Preserving Foods for the Lebanese Pantry" by food writer, TV host, and cookbook author Barbara Abdeni Massaad is all about preserving food and culture the Lebanese way. The reality for many of contemporary Americans is that they no longer enjoy a strong, family originated connection to their culinary roots. For Lebanese-Americans too often the beauty and simplicity of home-preserved pantry items, the mouneh, which they had taken for granted during their childhood, often seems a lifetime away. "Mouneh: Preserving Foods for the Lebanese Pantry" preserved and showcases in its pages a diligently researched volume comprised of stunning photography combined with simply presented instructions and delightful stories. Organized month by month throughout the calendar year, and providing step-by-step instructions on preserving all manner of edible plants, seeds, herbs and roots, "Mouneh: Preserving Foods for the Lebanese Pantry" will prove to be a unique and highly prized addition to personal and community library collections.

Wholefood Baking
Jude Blereau
https://wholefoodcooking.com.au
Murdoch Books
https://www.murdochbooks.com.au
9781760634506, $27.99, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com

Jude Blereau is a natural foods chef, author, food coach, cooking teacher and real food activist who has been involved with the organic and wholefoods industry for more than 18 years. In 1997, Jude co-founded The Earth Market, a much loved wholefood store and cafe in Perth, Western Australia. In 2001 she founded the Whole Food Cooking school and website (https://wholefoodcooking.com.au). In "Wholefood Baking: Wholesome Ingredients for Delicious Results" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to create a compendium of recipes for dishes that are as palate pleasing and appetite satisfying as they are kitchen cook friendly. Nicely illustrated throughout, the recipes ranges from Glutton Free Drop Scones; Pretty Buttermilk Cake; and Better Buttercream; to Coffee and Walnut Cake; Vincotto Cherries; and Balsamic Onions. A culinary compendium that begins with practical information on ingredients and what they do, tools for the wholefood kitchen, and 'Becoming a Baker' - instinct and techniques, "Wholefood Baking" is ideal for planning memorable menus with, and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family, personal, professional, and community library collections.

The Cheesecake Bible
Georgy Geary
Robert Rose Inc.
www.robertrose.ca
9780778806189, $24.95, PB, 384pp, www.amazon.com

Cheesecake is a sweet dessert consisting of one or more layers. The main, and thickest layer, consists of a mixture of soft, fresh cheese (typically cream cheese or ricotta), eggs, vanilla and sugar; if there is a bottom layer it often consists of a crust or base made from crushed cookies (or digestive biscuits), graham crackers, pastry, or sponge cake. It may be baked or unbaked (usually refrigerated). Cheesecake is usually sweetened with sugar and may be flavored or topped with fruit, whipped cream, nuts, cookies, fruit sauce, or chocolate syrup. Cheesecake can be prepared in many flavors, such as strawberry, pumpkin, key lime, lemon, chocolate, Oreo, chestnut, or toffee. George Geary teaches baking and cooking techniques at more than 100 cooking schools across North America every year. He is a food journalist and the author of five cookbooks. Judging by the new second edition of his cookbook, "The Cheesecake Bible: 300 Sweet and Savory Recipes for Cakes and More", Geary is also a gourmet level expert in the making of a wide variety of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly cheesecakes for any and all dining occasions. In addition to the recipes themselves, "The Cheesecake Bible" also includes an informative introduction covering tools and equipment for perfect cheesecakes, common ingredients, basic techniques for perfect cheesecakes, and 'Frequently Asked Questions form My Cheesecake Classes'. An impressive collection, "The Cheesecake Bible" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

The Fondue Bible
Ilana Simon
Robert Rose Inc.
www.robertrose.ca
9780778806172, $24.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Since the 1950s, the term "fondue" has been generalized from being basically a pot of melted cheese to include other dishes in which a food is dipped into a communal pot of liquid kept hot in a fondue pot including: chocolate fondue, in which pieces of fruit or pastry are dipped into a melted chocolate mixture, and fondue bourguignonne, in which pieces of meat are cooked in hot oil or broth. Fondue continues to be a popular party dining event, and is the perfect choice when wanting to create a memorable meal experience for family and friends. Now in a revised and expanded second edition, "The Fondue Bible" by Ilana Simon continues to be a trusted resource on fondue cooking. In addition to traditional favorites and new twists on those classics, "The Fondue Bible" offers a range of recipes that go well beyond the familiar cheese and chocolate varieties, along with dozens of dips and sauces specially designed to complement the recipes. Of special note is the inclusion of a 'Party' section. Featuring four sections of beautiful, full color photographs, "The Fondue Bible" is a 'must have' cookbook for all fondue enthusiasts!


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

How to Use a Crystal
Richard Webster
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738756707, $16.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

All the metaphysical practitioner needs is a single crystal to deepen their magical practice and reach their personal or professional goals. In "How to Use a Crystal: 50 Practical Rituals and Spiritual Activities for Inspiration and Well-Being", psychic expert Richard Webster presents an accessible and inspiring instructional guide filled with practical rituals and spiritual activities that can be performed with a single stone. Readers will discover how to choose, cleanse, and energize your crystal. Once they have prepared their chosen crystal, they can then explore fifty ways to use it including: attract love, control stress, bless your home, enhance creativity, deal with regrets, communicate with spirit guides, recall past lives, make crystal elixirs, find forgiveness, and much more. "How to Use a Crystal" is the ideal guide to greater health and happiness through crystal work and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted by dedicated metaphysical students and practitioners that "How to Use a Crystal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.01).

Manifesting Your Greatness: An Oracle Deck
Amy E. Chace
Red Feather
c/o Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764356391, $34.99, PB, 104pp, www.amazon.com

Amy Chace has been a painter and illustrator for more than ten years and has worked on various books and publications. When a Tarot reader told her that she saw her artwork talking, Amy realized that speaking from her learning and living was what she wanted to share. Now in her "Manifesting Your Greatness: An Oracle Deck" she offers pearls of wisdom like "Explore Your Depths" or nuggets of truth like "It's Not Even about You". Comprised of exciting cards that are just what is needed to see through our hectic, question-filled lives, "Manifesting Your Greatness" requires no rules, offers no confusion, and needs no memorization approach, making it easy for oracle deck enthusiasts to get a message they can connect with right away. "Manifesting Your Greatness" reads effortlessly with prominent advice that is clear and concise. The accompanying guidebook provides gentle advice to further interpret the cards' messages and then takes it to the next level by delivering helpful ideas for solving problems and exploring passions. Fun, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Manifesting Your Greatness: An Oracle Deck" is a unique and highly recommended for personal and professional Metaphysical Studies collections.

Doors in the Walls of the World
Peter Kreeft
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
www.ignatius.com
9781621642282, $15.95, PB, 127pp, www.amazon.com

In "Doors in the Walls of the World: Signs of Transcendence in the Human Story", Peter Kreeft (Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, and one of the most respected Christian authors of our time) addresses -- The Absolute Good, Platonic Forms, God, gods, angels, spirits, ghosts, souls, Brahman, Rta (the Hindu ontological basis for cosmological karma), Nirvana, Tao, 'the will of Heaven', The Meaning of It All, Something that deserves a capital letter. With razor-sharp reasoning and irrepressible joy, Professor Kreeft helps us to find the metaphysical doors in the walls of the world. Drawing on history, physical science, psychology, religion, philosophy, literature, and art, Professor Kreeft invites his readers to welcome what lies on the other side of these doors, and to begin living the life of Heaven in the here and now. An inherently fascinating and exceptionally informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking read, "Doors in the Walls of the World" is unreservedly recommended for community, seminary, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of students, clergy, seminarians, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that it is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.22).


The Self-Help Shelf

Step into Your Moxie
Alexia Vernon
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608685585, $15.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com

"Step into Your Moxie: Amplify Your Voice, Visibility, and Influence in the World" by leadership coach and public speaker Alexia Vernon is a soul-stirring call to action to speak up for yourself and the ideas and issues that matter most to you. Dubbed a "Moxie Maven" by President Obama's White House Office of Public Engagement for her potent approach to women's empowerment, Alexia Vernon has helped thousands of women (and men) slay diminishing self-talk and cultivate confidence. She has created a timely, refreshingly playful guide for women to communicate with candor, clarity, compassion, and ease every time they open their mouths to speak whether it be in their careers, their communities, and their homes. "Step into Your Moxie" is the instruction and motivation manual women want by their side as they have that daring conversation, give an important presentation, run for office, or simply tell the people closest to them to step back from the boundaries they've trespassed. Effective and exceptional, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Step into Your Moxie" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Step into Your Moxie" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.42).


The Christian Studies Shelf

Zealous for Good Works
Todd A. Wilson
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
www.moodypublishers.com
9780802416896, $13.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Todd Wilson's church was devoted to the gospel and had long aspired to be the kind of city on a hill Jesus talks about in the Sermon on the Mount. They wanted their hurting neighbors to see the light of Christ and be drawn to meet Jesus. But how? What practices actually make something like that possible? They found the answers they were looking for in Titus. In that often overlooked book of the Bible, they discovered a call to be zealous for good works -- the kind of good works that are like a bright light shining in the darkness. "Zealous for Good Works: Mobilizing Your Church for the Good of Your Community" is an exposition of Titus with a particular focus on mobilizing the church towards acting in kindness and goodness toward her neighbors. "Zealous for Good Works" is for anyone who's ever wanted to make a difference in the world, and see their church do the same, but wondered how to make it happen. "Zealous for Good Works" offers field-tested, scripturally-based, practical answers that all Christians and their church leaders will get excited about putting into practice. While very highly recommended for personal, church, seminary, and community library Contemporary Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Zealous for Good Works" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.97).

Blind Spot, War and Christian Identity
Dorothy Garrity Ranaghan
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
www.newcitypress.com
9781565486638, $16.95, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Dorothy Ranaghan is the author of several books and writes for various Christian magazines. She co-authored Catholic Pentecostals, the first book detailing the history of this renewal movement and articulating its theological implications. Dorothy holds an MA in Theology from the University of Notre Dame and was a founding member of the People of Praise, a charismatic, ecumenical Christian covenant community. Now in a newly revised second edition, "Blind Spot, War and Christian Identity" she tackles the complex subject of war and Christian identity in a straightforward and thought-provoking way which will bring the reader face to face with this reality. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, inspired and inspiring, "Blind Spot, War and Christian Identity" is very highly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliation. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Blind Spot, War and Christian Identity" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Biblical Authority after Babel
Kevin J. Vanhoozer
Brazos Press
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9781587433931, $24.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

In "Biblical Authority after Babel: Retrieving the Solas in the Spirit of Mere Protestant Christianity", Kevin Vanhoozer (Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), suggest that it is appropriate to seriously consider if the 500-year experiment called the Protestant Reformation has gone wrong. Ultimately his answer is no arguing that while recent critiques of the Protestant Reformation are legitimate, by retrieving the Reformation's core principles to critics of Protestant biblical interpretation are corrected."Biblical Authority after Babel" deftly explores how a proper reappropriation of the five solas: sola gratia (grace alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (in Christ alone), and sola Deo gloria (for the glory of God alone). "Biblical Authority after Babel" offers the tools to constrain biblical interpretation and establish interpretive authority, offering a positive assessment of the Protestant Reformation, showing how a retrieval of "mere Protestant Christianity" has the potential to reform both contemporary Christian beliefs and practices. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Biblical Authority after Babel" is very highly recommended for clergy and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Biblical Authority after Babel" is also available in a paperback edition (9781587434235, $21.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.84).

Saint Oscar Romero
Kerry Walters
Franciscan Media
https://info.franciscanmedia.org
9781632532657, $15.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

"Saint Oscar Romero: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr" by Kerry Walters (Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Peace and Justice Studies at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania) is a new biography offering an inspiring look at St. Oscar's life, starting in childhood and then tracing his evolution from a conscientious but unremarkable (and at times curmudgeonly) priest to a heroic prophet and (finally) a martyr, gunned down in 1980 while celebrating mass. Informative, insightful, inspiring, "Saint Oscar Romero" is especially recommended reading for all members of the Catholic community. While very highly recommended for church and seminary collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Saint Oscar Romero" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Jewish Spiritual Path
Rabbi Dr. Joshua Golding
Urim Publications
c/o KTAV Publishing House
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655242805, $25.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

There is a leading belief in Kabbalah that the Tetragrammaton, the four lettered Hebrew name of God, serves as a model for the ideal of spiritual living. Each letter of the Name corresponds to a certain aspect of God and a specific phase of spiritual growth. At the same time, the four letters correspond to the four stages of the traditional Jewish morning prayer. This prayer serves as a spiritual exercise through which a person may cultivate the spiritual virtues associated with each of the four letters of God's Name. In "The Jewish Spiritual Path: The Way of the Name" by Rabbi Joshua Golding (Professor of Philosophy specializing in Philosophy of Religion and Jewish Philosophy at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky) combines a theoretical presentation of Kabbalistic concepts with practical guidance rooted in prayer to cultivate a deep spirituality based on the moral and mystical teachings of Judaism. "The Jewish Spiritual Path" provides both an extended commentary on prayer and an intellectually rigorous spiritual self-help book. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Jewish Spiritual Path" is an extraordinary study that is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, making it an valued and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, rabbinical, community, and academic library Judaic Studies collections and supplemental studies lists.

The Second Generation: R. Dovber of Lubavitch
Yosef Y. Schneersohn
Kehot Publication Society
770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213
www.kehot.com
9780826608048, $14.95, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com

The fourth installment of Historical sketches, "The Second Generation: R. Dovber of Lubavitch - Historical Sketches: From the Diary of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok of Lubavitch" by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (6th Lubavitcher Rebbe) focuses on the life of R. DovBer Schneuri, second Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. During the years of his leadership, the sun of chabad Chasidism shone with all its might and glory, as this was a time marked by tranquility from opposition and extensive efforts in studying and disseminating the teachings of Chasidut. "The Second Generation: R. Dovber of Lubavitch" is a monograph that records R. DovBer's concern with the economic plight of the Jewish masses, which had been ravaged by the Napoleonic Wars, and how he encouraged his Jewish brethren to engage in agriculture and basic trade, even petitioning the Czar to improve the Jews' financial position by granting then parcels of land to cultivate and settle thereon. The monograph also describes the events surrounding the arrest and liberation of R. DovBer, toward the end of his life. An especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, rabbinic, and academic library Judaic Studies collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Second Generation: R. Dovber of Lubavitch" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.95).


The Woodworking Shelf

The Craft of Veneering
Craig Thibodeau
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631869006, $29.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Craig Thibodeau has been a professional furniture maker specializing in veneering and decorative inlay for the past 16 years and has won numerous awards for this furniture -- his work can be seen at www.ctfinefurniture.com. In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch), that typically are glued onto core panels (typically, wood, particle board or medium-density fiberboard) to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. In "The Craft of Veneering", Craig draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to show aspiring woodworkers why and how to use veneer including how to combine various techniques to create exciting new work. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Craft of Veneering" offers a step-by-step instructional introduction for the novice or professional woodworker as it deftly presents a range of veneering techniques ranging from simple to complex, and that can be used to produce stunning patterns that would be impossible to achieve with solid wood. Outlines all the tools and techniques needed to work with veneer (including vacuum bagging and using clamps and cauls) are provided, as well as chapters on the fascinating arts of marquetry and parquetry. An illustrated appendix presents enlarged photos of 37 species of wood veneer. "The Craft of Veneering" is the perfect introduction to this specialized facet of woodworking and is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, trade school, and technical college Woodworking instructional reference collections.

Handmade: A Hands-On Guide
Asa Christiana
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631869341, $24.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com

The author of "Build Stuff With Wood" (9781631867118, $21.95 PB, $12.06 Kindle), and with a background in engineering, woodworking, and journalism, Asa Christiana hit the ground running when he arrived at Fine Woodworking magazine in 2000, rising to become chief editor, a job he held for 8 years. Along the way, he helped launch StartWoodworking.com, a free website for beginning woodworkers. After stepping down in 2013 from his position, Asa continues to build furniture and works as a freelance writer, editor, and photographer. In "Handmade: A Hands-On Guide" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise to provide aspiring woodworkers with a profusely illustrated instruction manual for making 25 accessible projects with a modest collection of simple tools and made from all sorts of materials including concrete, leather, digital tools, Arduino, welding, casting, and printing. Perfect for aspiring do-it-yourself people of all ages who enjoy making things with their own hands, "Handmade: A Hands-On Guide" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, technical college, and community library do-it- yourself handicraft instructional reference collections.


The Activity Shelf

Geometrics
Babs Ward
B.E.S. Publishing.
www.bes-publishing.com
9781438012414, $12.99, PB, 32PP, https://bes-publishing.com/1438012411.html

Color by sticker enthusiasts will enjoy "Geometrics" which offers them a new set of exciting challenges that will take their observation skills and artistic pursuits to a whole new level! Illustrated by Babs Ward, "Geometrics" includes 12 striking portraits to complete with sticker shapes. The numbered shapes on each page can be filled with the corresponding stickers to create sophisticated works of art that are a delight. Ten pages of sticker shapes at the back of the book lead on a quest to complete a wide variety of portraits, including a bear or a panther, a monkey or a unicorn, a kingfisher sitting on a branch or a hot air balloon sailing across the desert sky. Intricate, complex, absorbing, and very highly recommended "Geometrics" provides hours of fun piecing together sticker puzzles and creating something beautiful and unforgettable.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Gone With The Goof
Andre Franquin
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184090, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

Among all the things that make Gomer the Goof such a lovable rascal, there are two that are instantly recognizable: his car, and his goofophone. His old lemon, (the favorite target of the local constabulary and every pedestrian's nightmare), is responsible for half the pollution in town -- as well as many of the more exotic accidents! Then there are the numerous catastrophic results of the terrible 'musical' instrument invented by Gomer -- stiff competition for the Trumpets of Jericho! "Gone With The Goof" is the latest collection of Gomer calamities (one per page) and the result is another hilarious read from first page to last. An absolute 'must read' for the legions of Andre Franquin fans and very highly recommended for community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Gone With The Goof" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

An Electric Monkey
Fabien Vehlmann, author
Ralph Meyer, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183710, $11.95, PB, 56pp, www.amazon.com

Ian (Intelligent Artificial Neuromechanoid) is the name of the newest recruit in Team 21 of the SRS - the 'Special Rescue Section'. Ian is an android, impossible to tell from a human being with the naked eye, and his creators claim that he's controlled by a true artificial intelligence that is capable of learning, adapting, and even of experiencing emotions. Not every member of the team is happy about their new partner, but their higher-ups aren't giving them a choice -- and the mission comes first. The first volume in a new science fiction graphic novel series by the team of author Fabien Vehlmann and illustrator Ralph Meyer, "An Electric Monkey" is a deftly scripted and visually engaging read from first page to last. Highly recommended for community library graphic novel collections, "An Electric Monkey" should be considered a 'must read' for all dedicated science fiction fans.

Distant Worlds: Episode 1
Leo, author
ICAR, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183758, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

In search of his missing father, Paul Clauden makes a long journey on the planet Altair-3, accompanied by an extraterrestrial being with impressive intelligence and strength named Stepanerk. A superbly illustrated and inherently riveting graphic novel that will have tremendous appeal for all dedicated science fiction fans, "Distant Worlds: Episode 1" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal and community library graphic novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Distant Worlds: Episode 1" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

The O.K. Corral
Xavier Fauche, author
Eric Adam, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184175, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

Everyone's heard of the Gunfight at O.K. Corral: the most famous shootout of the Old West, between the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday on the side of law and order, against the Clanton brothers and their gang. While it is a legend told many times in books and films (in sometimes contradictory versions), fortunately, here is the definitive version at last, restoring the unvarnished truth the role played by Lucky Luke! Another rollicking hilarious graphic novel of a man who could draw a gun faster than his own shadow, "The O.K. Corral" is the latest Lucky Luke story (and number 70 in the series) from the team of author Xavier Fauche and illustrator Eric Adam. While unreservedly recommended as a 'must read' for the legions of Lucky Luke fans, and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted that "The O.K. Corral" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.14).

When the Lamps Are Lit
Rodolphe, author
Leo, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183864, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

The life of a Canadian Mountie is a lonely one, always on the road while normal people go home to their loved ones. Time has passed since Trent met Agnes, and the sergeant finally decides to propose to her. But he's too late -- his beloved is gone, already married to another. The news sends Trent into a downward spiral of self-destruction, and it's a drunken wretch who, a few weeks later, finds himself in a small town harried by brutal bandits. With one completely unforseen plot twist that turns the entire story upside down, "When the Lamps Are Lit" is a unique and inherently riveting graphic novel by the team of author Rodolphe and illustrator Leo. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.46), this extraordinary and unique addition to the Trent series is unreservedly recommended for community library graphic novel collections.

Skating on Thin Ice
Cauvin, author
Laudec, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184083, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

Cedric is a young boy whose life is a series of triumphs and disasters. If one day he manages to impress his sweetheart Chen, the next his own obsessive jealousy will earn him a mighty slap. He can surprise his parents with tender, generous gestures, then bring them on the verge of a heart attack with his calamitous school reports. As for his grandfather, he's built along the same lines. The trick is to enjoy the good parts -- and survive the rest! The sixth volume in an outstanding graphic novel series by the team of Cauvin and Laudec, "Skating on Thin ice" is consistently laugh out loud funny from first page to last and will prove to be a welcome and appreciated addition to personal reading lists and community library graphic novel collections.

Before The Midnight Child
Fabien Vehlmann, author
Bruno Gazzotti, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184106, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

In the arenas, the Campton kids have won their 'citizenship' of the In-Between-World's strange society. Now free to come and go as they please, they've left town for the mountains, following Dodzi without really knowing why. When the young boy explains to them that he is in fact trying to discover whether he is the herald of Evil known as the Midnight Child a violent dispute ensues. Meanwhile, hidden nearby, the soldiers of the First Families await an opportunity to attack. The ninth volume in the 'Alone' series of graphic novels by the team of author Fabien Vehlmann and illustrator Bruno Gazzotti, "Before The Midnight Child" continues to be an utterly engaging page turner of a read from beginning to end, leaving the reader looking eagerly toward the next installment of this original science fiction/fantasy saga. While highly recommended for community library Graphic Novel collections it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Before The Midnight Child" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Bear's Tooth: Hanna
Yann, author
Alain Henriet, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183352, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

While above him a British night raid is torn to shreds by some of the Luftwaffe's 'wunderwaffen', Max is airdropped into Poland and taken in by local resistance. His specific mission is, with the assistance of the Polish resistence, infiltrate the nearby German base posing as a replacement pilot, locate Hanna Reitsch -- and then kill her! This same Hanna who as his childhood friend wears the same bear tooth pendant he does. Hanna, his childhood friend who has become a legendary figure of the Nazis as an exceptional test pilot and a lethal fighter pilot. "Hanna" is the second volume of a simply outstanding 'Bear's Tooth' trilogy by the team of Yan and Henriet. Of special note is the now revealed back story of how the bear's tooth become the shared totem of Max, Hanna, and Werner. While very highly recommended for personal and community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted that "Bear's Tooth: Hanna" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Volume 0 - The Many Lives of Doctor Who
Created by Richard Dinnick and Giorgia Sposito
Illustrated by Pasquale Qualano
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785868726 $7.99 amazon.com

Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Volume 0 - The Many Lives of Doctor Who is a grpahic novel celebrating the many lives of the resourceful Time Lord from BBC's beloved, long-running science fiction drama series "Doctor Who". As the Doctor regenerates from his Twelfth incarnation to her Thirteenth, she relives memories from her previous incarnations. This sets the stage for a showcase of never-before-seen adventures spanning the breadth of the Doctor's grand existence. "The Many Lives of Doctor Who" is a "must-read" for fans of the show and a choice pick for sci-fi graphic novel connoisseurs, highly recommended.

Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga, volume 3
Created by Markalan Joplin and Diana Schutz
Illustrated by Mike Leeke, Howard Bender, and Bill Anderson
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785862960 $24.99 pbk / $15.55 Kindle amazon.com

Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga, volume 3 continues the full-color, omnibus graphic novel reprint of classic comics adapting the animated science fiction Robotech Macross series. Volume 3 collects issues 24 to 36 of "The Macross Saga" (originally published in the 1980's), and depicts the shocking conclusion to the war between humans and the spacefaring Zentraedi, with the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance. Glorious, full-page reproductions of the original cover artwork intersperse this "must-have" for connoisseurs of the Robotech series, beloved by generations for its complex characters and its serious-minded depiction of the grim toll of war. Highly recommended, along with the previous Volume 1 (9781785862946, $24.99) and Volume 2 (9781785862953, $24.99).

Robotech Volume 3: Blind Game
Written by Simon Furman
Art by Marco Turini
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785865473 $16.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle amazon.com

Robotech Volume 3: Blind Game continues the modern graphic novel adaptation of the classic animated "Robotech" sci-fi series. Unlike previous adaptations, the full-color artwork is deliberately in a more realistic "western" style, rather than Japanese anime-style. The result is Robotech like fans have never seen it before, and a whole new way to immerse onself in this saga of galactic powers that menace Earth in search of a technological secret of great power, and the valiant human defenders aboard the SDF-1 battleship. Volume 3: Blind Game collects issues 9 through 12 of the comic book; the title reflects the stories in multiple ways, as Rick Hunter struggles with a sudden loss of vision, and the enemy enacts a hidden scheme with murderous consequences! Highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of the Robotech series, as are the previous graphic novels "Robotech Volume 1" (9781785859137) and "Robotech Volume 2: Bye Bye Mars" (9781785859144).

Dark Souls Omnibus
Created by George Mann
Art by Alan Quah
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785868757 $24.99 pbk / $15.55 Kindle amazon.com

Dark Souls Omnibus is a full-color graphic novel, collecting the first three volumes of the Titan Comics "Dark Souls" comic series. Here are tales of betrayal, murder, undeath, and twisted mystery, set in the fantastic yet grim and merciless realm of the challenging Dark Souls video games: "The Breath of Andolus", "Winter's Spite", and "Legends of the Flame". Fantasy-horror connoisseurs as well as fans of the games will find Dark Souls Omnibus a "must-read" from cover to cover! Highly recommended.

Emma G. Wildford
Zidrou, author
Edith, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785869280, $24.99, HC, 104pp, www.amazon.com

It's been fourteen months since Emma G. Wildford's fiance, Roald Hodges, a member of the National Geographic Society board the good ship Kinship and set sail for Norway and she has had no news of him since. Every day, she questions the other members of the Society about his whereabouts, and his current situation, whether good or ill, but to no avail. Before he left, Roald gave Emma a mysterious envelope to open, but only in case something happened to him. Rejecting the very thought of Roald's death, Emma decides to leave behind everything - her life, her comfort, her England, to go to Lapland in pursuit. Along the way, Emma's certainties and beliefs will be challenged in every way, changing this quest for her fiance into a quest for her true, essential self. Beautifully illustrated by the artwork of Edith and rivetingly written with some unexpected plot twists and turns by Zidrou (Benoit Drousie), "Emma G. Wildford" is an extraordinary story that lends itself perfectly to a graphic novel format. While very highly recommended for community library graphic novel collections for an adult readership, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Emma G. Wildford" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.91).

The Prague Coup
Jean-Luc Fromental, author
Miles Hyman, illustrator
Lara Vergnaud, translator
Jonathan Stevenson, editor
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785868870, $24.99, HC, 96pp, www.amazon.com

The time is Winter 1948. The place is the Czech capital is under occupation by the allied powers. Debriefed by London Films, Graham Greene works on the writing of his next feature film that would be released as 'The Third Man'. Assisted by the enigmatic Elizabeth Montagu, the seemingly peaceful mission involves secret agents and a roster of shady characters, and encountering the Communist takeover of Eastern Europe that history will remember as the "coup de Prague" and the beginning of the Cold War. Superbly illustrated, a complex and riveting story that is a deftly crafted mix of historical fact and rational speculation, "The Prague Coup" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community library graphic novel collections. Of special note is the informative articles in the back of the book on 'Graham Green: The Enemy Within'; 'Elizabeth Montagu: The Honorable Rebel'; 'The Third Man' by Jean-Luc Fromental; an 'Afterword' by Nicholas Dennys; 'The Third Man Movie'; and 'Four in a Jeep'. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Prague Coup" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.67).

McCay
Thierry Smolderen, author
Jean-Philippe Bramanti, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785868856, $49.99, HC, 232pp, www.amazon.com

A collaborative graphic novel project by author Thierry Smolderen and illustrator Jean-Philippe Bramanti, "McCay" is an invented biography chronicling authentic (though only partially true) stories of the life of the future creator of Little Nemo, Winsor McCay -- in which McCay's life is enriched by an imaginary encounter with British mathematician and science fiction writer Charles Hinton. Hinton, as a mathematician and philosopher, postulates the existence of a fourth spatial dimension and seeks an artist capable of representing it, one with an innate sense of perspective and a limitless imagination. In Winsor McCay, Hinton finds such a man, and when their imaginations combine, an entirely new world opens up to them both. An inherently fascinating and beautifully presented read from first page to last, "McCay" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.87) and will prove to be a valued and enduringly appreciated addition to personal reading lists and community library graphic novel collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Rain Watcher: A Novel
Tatiana de Rosnay, author
Read by Simon Vance
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250298751 $39.99 amazon.com

The Rain Watcher: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a dramatic story by Tatiana de Rosnay, bestselling author of "Sarah's Key". A grand family reunion in Paris is marred by tensions and more - Paul, the internationally celebrated arborist cares for little other than the study of trees; his American wife is perhaps a little too focused on making the gathering a success; and their children each hold their own inner conflicts. Then a natural disaster prompts the Seine river to flood its banks, forcing the entire family to confront both external and internal turmoil. A story of danger, love, and the search for redemption, The Rain Watcher is highly recommended especially for personal and public library audiobook collections. 7 CDs, 8 hours.

Unsheltered: A Novel
Barbara Kingsolver
Harper Audio
195 Broadway, Floor 2, New York, NY 10007-3132
www.harperaudio.com
9780062865663 $55.99 amazon.com

Expertly performed aloud by author Barbara Kingsolver, Unsheltered: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook rendition of two tales, told in parallel. One saga in the present day is of a down-on- their-luck family burdened by debt, and living in a house that is falling apart. The second story takes place in the same town but a century previous, where the local science teacher, Thomas Greenwood, yearns to speak openly of exciting discoveries published by Charles Darwin yet risks the wrath of his employer, his young bride, his social climbing mother-in-law and more if he does. A complex, interlayered tale of uncertainty and repercussions, Unsheltered: A Novel is highly recommended for both personal and public library audiobook collections. 14 CDs, 16 3/4 hours.

Competence
Gail Carriger, author
Moira Quirk, narrator
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781549169083, $30.00, CD, www.amazon.com

Accidentally abandoned and alone in Singapore, the proper Miss Primrose Tunstell must steal helium to save her airship, the Spotted Custard, in a scheme involving a lovesick werecat and a fake fish tail. When she uncovers rumors of a new kind of vampire, Prim and the Custard crew embark on a mission to Peru. There, they encounter airship pirates and strange atmospheric phenomena, and are mistaken for representatives of the Spanish Inquisition. Forced into extreme subterfuge (and some rather ridiculous outfits) Prim must also answer three of life's most challenging questions: Can the perfect book club give a man back his soul? Will her brother ever stop wearing his idiotic velvet fez? And can the amount of lard in Christmas pudding save an entire vampiric species? Ably narrated by Moira Quirk who does full and complete justice to this third volume in fantasy author Gail Carriger's 'The Custard Protocol' series, "Competence" is a flawless produced entertainment that will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal and community library audio book collections and is a 'must' for the legions of Gail Carriger fans!


The Music CD Shelf

Martha Spencer
marthaspencermusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Appalachian songwriter and performer Martha Spencer presents her self-titled album, a collection steeped in country roots. Some songs have the support of guest performers; all are ablaze with joy and passion. Highly recommended, especially for country music enthusiasts. The tracks are "Blue Ridge Mountain Lullaby", "My Heart Says Yes", "Hard Headed Woman", "The Last Leaves", "Let the Wild Stay Free", "Chickens Coming Home to Roost", "Rambling Woman", "Wishful Thinking", "Ruby", "Cold Winter Lingers On", "Jonah", "No Help Wanted, "Tree of Heaven", and "Ramblin Hobo".

Hard Way to Go
Jimmy Charles
www.jimmycharlesmusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $6.93 digital amazon.com

Hard Way to Go is a seven-song EP album featuring guitar player and singer/songwriter Jimmy Charles, who co-wrote all but one of the tracks. The collection ranges in tone from hard rock to acoustic guitar and mandolin performances that reflect the abiding depths of love and faith. Brimming with an uplifting message of hope, Hard Way to Go lingers in the heart and is highly recommended. The tracks are "Blue Spaces", "She's Where I Belong", "Rollin's On", "God and a Woman", "Superman", "I Am Not Alone", and "Hard Way to Go".

Evening Star
Kitka
Privately Published
https://www.kitka.org/shop/evening-star
$20.00 CD / $10.00 digital bandcamp.com

Evening Star is an album celebrating the winter season by Bay Area women's vocal ensemble Kitka, known for their research and reinvention of traditional songs from Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Here are songs grounded in the traditions of Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian lands; different songs are performed in different languages, including Bulgarian, Russian, Romanian, Yiddish, Serbian, Ukrainian, Greek, and many more. Rich, soul-stirring, and extraordinarily beautiful, Evening Star is a most wondrous way to welcome the snowy season. Highly recommended, especially for international music collections.

Dreams Beyond Terra
Eleon
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
$15.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Dreams Beyond Terra is an electronica music album, crafted to be "chill" and inspired by the aesthetics of electronic dance music. Some songs feature vocals; all are steeped in mind- expanding rhythms that call to the listener with the indefinable timbre of a state just past the edge of consciousness. Sweeping and beautiful, Dreams Beyond Terra is highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are "Species Communicating", "Terra Sanctuary", "Sandbox in the Rain", "Carbon Beings", "Digital Environment", "Bionic Travelers", "The Approach", "Dreams Beyond Terra", "Earth to Heavenly Places", "Will Yur Heart Dance With Mine", "I Touch the Sky", and "All Patterns Lead To This Point".


The DVD Shelf

Picnic at Hanging Rock
Starring Natalie Dormer
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 DVD / $39.99 Blu-ray www.acornonline.com

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Picnic at Hanging Rock is a dramatic mini-series adaptation of the classic Australian novel by Joan Lindsay. On Valentine's day 1900, three schoolgirls and a teacher mysteriously vanish from a field trip to Hanging Rock, and search after search finds no trace of them. The repercussions of their disappearance sparks paranoia, hysteria, and accusations; parents pull their children from the school and staff members resign. Tensions, fear, and shame mount, with irrecoverable effects in this suspenseful period piece, highly recommended. Bonus materials include cast interviews (20 min.), crew interviews (24 min.) and behind-the-scenes footage (39 min.). 2 DVDs or Blu-ray discs, 319 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles.

No Offence, series 2
Written by Paul Abbott
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$49.99 www.acornonline.com

Written by Paul Abbott, the BAFTA Award-nominated creator of "Shameless" and other shows, Series 2 of No Offence continues this dark humor, comedy-drama police procedural featuring an atypical team of female police in Manchester. In Series 2, DI Vivienne Deering (played by Joanna Scanlan) returns to work after bereavement leave for her husband's death, but her impetuous subordinate DC Dinah Kowalska (played by Elaine Cassidy) know the cruel truth of what really happened. Then a bomb blast kicks off a gang war perpetrated by a crime family matriarch (played by Rakie Ayola)! Sharp-edged wit pervades this engaging series with strong female characters, highly recommended for crime drama connoisseurs. 7 episodes on 2 DVDs, 337 min., SDH subtitles.


The Poetry Shelf

Achill: The Island
John F. Deane, poet
John Behan, artist
Currach Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781782188995, $40.00, HC, 50pp, www.amazon.com

Comprised of the poetry of John F. Deane and the paintings of John Behan, "Achill: The Island" is a very special publication that presents and showcases an insightful and in-depth awareness of the island of Achill, its heritage, its spirit, its physical wonder and its magical light and seas. "Achill: The Island" deftly brings together two acknowledged masters in their respective individual arts, and is a unique tribute to an island that is close to their hearts -- and where every grain of sand seems to whisper a story. A beautifully elegant volume from beginning to end, "Achill: The Island" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library collections.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Ancient Rings: An Illustrated Collector's Guide
T. N. Pollio
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9781476673851, $55.00, PB, 180pp, www.amazon.com

Ancient finger rings made of base metals and low-grade silver alloys are increasingly being unearthed and sold through a growing assortment of marketplaces worldwide. Reference material on ancient rings has focused mainly on historic and "high-end" piece (the precious metals and stones of royalty and the wealthy) while little has been written on the evaluation of common rings. "Ancient Rings: An Illustrated Collector's Guide" by researcher and historian T. N. Pollio is profusely illustrated and impressively informative guide that accurately describes their composition, structure and imagery, thus providing merchants, collectors and researchers with a definitive and comprehensive reference on these ancient artifacts that, until now, have gone unexamined. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Ancient Rings: An Illustrated Collector's Guide" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Antiques & Collectible collections and supplemental studies lists.


The Needlecraft Shelf

I Love My Dog Embroidery
Oksana Kokovkina
Quarry
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781631596131, $19.99, PB, 120pp, www.amazon.com

Born in St. Petersburg, she currently lives in Vienna, Austria, Oksana Kokovkina (better known to her fans as MakikoArt) is a textile artist and jewelry designer noted for her naive and whimsical animal embroidery motifs, especially her hand-stitched custom pet portrait brooches. Showcasing 380 do-it-yourself stitch Motifs for dog owners and fanciers, "I Love My Dog Embroidery" is an impressive "dog fanciful" collection of stitch motifs that are a needlecraft celebration all things canine. With this lovely embroidery guide, even the most novice of needlecrafters can create all manner of pups, including: The sweet Labrador retriever, fluffy poodle, noble German shepherd, and many others; Dogs doing what they do best with classic poses, postures, and tricks (like "roll over", "give me your paw", and the ever-popular "rub my tummy"); Pooches disguised as people (the farmer, the artist, the businessman) and who can resist the sneaky but lovable mailman?; Mutts in different styles and shapes, including borders, frames, and alphabets. "I Love My Dog Embroidery" also provides guidance on how to customize a motif to fit a favorite canine companion, plus a gallery of project ideas for showcasing the completed stitch motive. With profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' step-by-step instructions, "I Love My Dog Embroidery" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Cute Needle Felted Animal Friends
Sachiko Susa
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805314999, $14.99, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com

Teaching and publishing extensively in her native Japan, Sachiko Susa is a master felter and prolific designer of stuffed toys, specializing in expressive little animals both realistic and novel. In "Cute Needle Felted Animal Friends: Adorable Cats, Dogs and Other Pets" she draws upon her very special expertise to show even the most novice of needlecrafters how to create lifelike felted figures using a little wool roving, a felting needle, and a few basic tools and techniques. Even more than this, "Cute Needle Felted Animal Friends" shows how to capture their adorable expressions when they're playing hard, napping, or just happy to see you. Easy step-by-step instructions and photos shows how to make the basic shapes and components, then how to add details like long or curly hair, spines, and stripes, as well as little faces that are utterly irresistible. With a bit of practice, any needlecraft enthusiast will be able to portray the unique poses and expressions of beloved pets from your own life. Even the most basic of beginning felters will have no trouble making these miniature animal figures, including: A perky Yorkshire Terrier; An elegant Russian Blue Cat; A playful Tabby; A sleepy Mottled Cat; A Holland Lop Rabbit; A curly Toy Poodle; A fluffy Pomeranian; A dapper French Bulldog; Matching mom-and-pup Chihuahuas; A sweet Pygmy Hedgehog; and many more! Simply stated, "Cute Needle Felted Animal Friends" is unabashedly and enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Contemporary Needlecrafting instructional reference collections.

Hand Sewing Magic
Lynn Krawczyk
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781589239685, $24.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Hand Sewing Magic by Lynn Krawczyk (a mixed-media surface design artist who focuses on pattern and color and whose work features painting, drawing, and hand stitching on both fabric and paper) is a modern, all-in-one guide for hand stitchers of all levels of skill and experience, and for all applications. A unique instructional guide, "Hand Sewing Magic" provides an in-depth overview of essential tools and materials, including thread, needles, fabric, and other key supplies. Aspiring needlecrafters will also: Explore a comprehensive visual dictionary of 35 stitches plus dozens of variations, from basic mending to stylish decorative embellishment to unique art stitching; Discover key techniques, from starting and ending threads to the right way to use an embroidery hoop, from stitching curved shapes to color shading, and more; Learn essential tips and tricks from influential and innovative stitchers, including Joanne Sharpe, Allison Aller, and Catherine Redford. "Hand Sewing Magic" also showcases 10 simple and stunning projects show unique ways to use stitches and techniques, enabling even the most novice of needlecrafters to make the most of their hand stitching and give all their projects a beautiful handmade look. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in profusely illustrated organization and presentation, "Hand Sewing Magic" is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Needlecrafting instructional reference collections.


The Business Shelf

Harvard Business Review Leader's Handbook
Ron Ashkenas & Brook Manville
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633693746 $29.99 pbk / $18.38 Kindle amazon.com

Ron Ashkenas (partner emeritus of Schaffer Consulting) and Brook Manville (former partner at McKinsey & Company) present Harvard Business Review Leader's Handbook, a guide to the practices that will help business leaders in any field or career. Chapters offer strategies for building a unifying vision, getting quality people on board, innovating for the future, and much more. "Leadership requires guts to seize opportunity but, in that pursuit, also the guts to trust others and not try doing it all yourself." Harvard Business Review Leader's Handbook is highly recommended for current and prospective business leaders, as well as college and public library Business shelves.

Business Creation
Paul D. Reynolds
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781788118347, $110.00, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Business creation, or entrepreneurship, is a major source of national economic growth and adaptation as well as an important career choice for millions. "Business Creation: Ten Factors for Entrepreneurial Success" by Paul D. Reynolds (an entrepreneurial scholar and researcher for some 30 years now) is insightful book presenting an informed and informative overview of the major factors associated with contemporary business creation, reflecting representative samples of US early stage nascent ventures, and emphasizing the unique features of the one-third that achieve profitability. "Business Creation" will prove to be a useful resource for scholars concerned with business creation. "Business Creation" also makes an engaging supplementary course textbook for upper division and graduate courses in business plan creation and research methods. Policy analysts and corporate executives emphasizing programs and policies to enhance business creation will also find it enlightening. Impressively informative, expertly written, accessibly organized, and effectively presented, "Business Creation" is especially recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, college, and university library Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Education Shelf

Nature-Based Learning for Young Children
Julie Powers & Sheila Williams Ridge
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
9781605545967, $34.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

"Nature-Based Learning for Young Children" by educators and academicians Julie Powers and Sheila Williams Ridge is specifically designed to provide ideas for all early childhood educators ranging from novice to highly experienced in a wide range of ecosystems, including forests, cities, prairies, coastal, urban, and deserts. "Nature-Based Learning for Young Children" includes background information on a range of nature topics, reproducible parent newsletters, sample play-based lesson plans, guidance and health and safety issues related to nature activities, ideas for free/inexpensive equipment and materials and for big-ticket items, ideas for family involvement, and connections to early childhood learning standards. The individual chapters are divided by nature topic, so readers can dip in right away where they want to start exploring. Practical, original, accessible, inspired and inspiring, "Nature-Based Learning for Young Children" is an essential and core addition to school district, college, and university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of education students, classroom teachers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Nature-Based Learning for Young Children" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.32).

A Think-Aloud Approach to Writing Assessment
Sarah W. Beck
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807759509 $30.95 pbk / $30.95 Kindle amazon.com

Sarah W. Beck (associate professor of English education at New York University) presents A Think-Aloud Approach to Writing Assessment, a guide to using the "think-aloud" approach (which includes encouraging the student to interact or engage in dialogue) to help adolescent student writers. The "think-aloud" approach prioritizes learning over evaluation. With classroom examples, A Think-Aloud Approach to Writing Assessment describes how to implement the method and adapt it as needed to any writing assignment. The more individualized think-aloud approach can also be incorporated into educational practice without abandoning the rigor of more structurally regulated approaches. A Think-Aloud Approach to Writing Assessment is highly recommended especially for educators and college library collections. It should be noted that "A Think-Aloud Approach to Writing Assessment" is also available in a Kindle edition ($30.95).


The World History Shelf

Journey Among Brave Men
Dana Adams Schmidt
Grove Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
154 West 14th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10011
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802125903, $17.00, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com

The late Charles Glass (1915-1994) was ABC News Chief Middle East Correspondent from 1983 to 1993. On July 4, 1962, near the beginning of the First Iraqi-Kurdish War, Schmidt left his post in Beirut to be voluntarily smuggled into Iraqi Kurdistan. It was the beginning of a nearly two-month journey that would climax in a days-long visit with the leader of the Kurdish rebellion, the most loved and feared man in Kurdistan, Mullah Mustafa Barzani. Accompanied by armed Kurdish guides and a 72-year-old Turkish interpreter, the six-feet-three-inch, seersucker-suit-clad Schmidt traveled, often at night, a secret route by foot, mule, horse and, on two occasions, jeep into the high Kurdish mountains to report on "the fightingest people in the Middle East" as no foreign journalist had done before. The physical dangers were acute -- his group was strafed more than once by the Iraqi air force. Along the way, Schmidt learned about the history and culture of the Kurds, whose cause Barzani hoped Schmidt could convey to the world. Originally published in 1964 and now back in print with a new foreword by historian Charles Glass for the benefit of a new generation of appreciative readers, "Journey Among Brave Men" is an enduring testament to the power of audacious journalism and to the strong will of the Kurds, an embattled people who remain in search of an independent state today. An inherently fascinating and informative read throughout, "Journey Among Brave Men" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library 20th Century History collections in general, and Iraqi-Kurdish War supplemental studies lists in particular.


The Civil War Shelf

Civil War Barons
Jeffry D. Wert
Da Capo Press
c/o Hachette Book Group
53 State Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306825125 $30.00 hc / $16.99 Kindle amazon.com

Civil War historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist Jeffry D. Wert presents Civil War Barons: The Tycoons, Entrepreneurs, Inventors and Visionaries Who Forged Victory and Shaped a Nation, which examines the lesser-known yet extremely vital contributions that nineteen Northern businessman made to the Union war effort. From Henry Burden, who invented a horseshoe- making machine that could craft a horseshoe every second and supplied the Union army with 70 million horseshoes over the course of four years, to John Deere's plows that aided the Union's harvests, to Jay Cooke's skillful marketing of government bonds, these visionaries and businessmen helped shape history with their masterful mental mettle. Notes, a bibliography, an index, and a handful of black-and-white photographs round out this welcome contribution to public library American History and Civil War shelves.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Cat Lover's Compendium
Milly Brown
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510739093 $14.99 pbk / $9.87 Kindle amazon.com

Interspersed with gorgeous, full-color photography of fantastic felines, The Cat Lover's Compendium: Quotes, Facts and Other Adorable Purr-ls of Wisdom lives up to its title as a repository of true-life vignettes, cat care tips, furry folklore, paw-ful parables, and much more. The Cat Lover's Compendium is highly recommended for delightful browsing, and also makes an excellent giftbook for cat connoisseurs! "When you've got to know a cat well, try stroking the base of its tail - most cats love this and will arch their backs to show their pleasure."

My Life in a Cat House
Gwen Cooper
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781946885654 $21.95 hc / $12.99 Kindle amazon.com

My Life in a Cat House: True Tales of Love, Laughter, and Living with Five Felines is a memoir filled cover to cover with true-life stories of furry felines. From the five-week-old rescue kitten that author Gwen Cooper adopted and gradually coaxed into trust, to a total of five adopted friends, each with their own purr-sonality, My Life in a Cat House includes hectic trips to the vet, games of feline fetch with a cat who taught himself to love the game like a dog, and much more. Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat also makes a return, in this cover-to-cover must-read for ailurophiles everywhere! Also highly recommended is author Gwen Cooper's previous cat-tale, "Homer's Odyssey".


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design