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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 12, Number 6 June 2017 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Homeowner's Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Poetry Shelf Business Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Political Science Shelf Fiction Shelf Parenting Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Cookbook Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Crafts Shelf Railroading Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Technology Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Computer Shelf Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf Gaming Shelf  
Sports Shelf Interior Design Shelf Biography Shelf
Travel Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Education Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Vintage Trailer Voyeur
Victoria Ocken
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764351280, $34.99, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Readers will be taking a fanciful journey into the world of vintage camping trailers through the stories of their owners in Victoria Ocken's "Vintage Trailer Voyeur: A Peek Inside the Unique Custom Trailer Culture". Featuring almost 400 photos, "Vintage Trailer Voyeur" offer a unique look at the rare, the unique, the coveted, and the just plain adorable. "Vintage Trailer Voyeur" features a vintage trailer rally, visits an all-girls camp, and checks out the decor of these jewels on-the-road trailers that range from original birch paneling, chenille bedspreads, and a period-perfect Dixie stove, to a "Sharkstream" trailer-as-art-installation. Anyone with the conviction that trailers deserve to be loved and lived in will enjoy exploring the possibilities as they search for, renovate, or simply dream of living in their own little piece of history. An inherently fascinating and impressively informative read from cover to cover, "Vintage Trailer Voyeur" is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library collections, and should be considered a "must" for anyone who has ever enjoyed a trailer of their own out on the open road.

Toybox Time Machine
Marty Baumann
IDW Publishing
2765 Truxtun Road, San Diego, CA 92106
www.idwpublishing.com
9781631409073, $29.99, HC, 164pp, www.amazon.com

Marty Baumann is an illustrator, graphic artist, and production designer. He has contributed to some of the most popular, Oscar-winning animated films of all time. With "Toybox Time Machine: A Catalog of the Coolest Toys Never Made" he recaptures an innocent era of boundless commercial creativity in a beautifully illustrated tome featuring some of the greatest toys that were never made -- but the world would have been a better place if they had. "Toybox Time Machine" is also a tribute to the unbridled imaginations and madcap design and illustrative skills of the toy creators who drew inspiration from the robots, movie monsters, comic books and military men that kids adored, as well as the limitless possibilities of the space age. Showcased in catalogs, comics, trading cards, drug store and department store displays, somehow these geniuses knew what we wanted before we did. Baumann has drawn inspiration from these incredible creators and extrapolated on those outlandish and appealing ideas, developing and illustrating an amazing array of fictional toys that reflect that optimistic era. A delight to simply browse through, "Toybox Time Machine" is original, entertaining, and basically a nostalgic 'wish list' for what never was but might have been. Thoroughly entertaining from cover to cover, "Toybox Time Machine" is enthusiastically and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library collections.

Winnie & George
Allison Murphy
Mercier Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781781174708, $24.99, PB, 351pp, www.amazon.com

"Winnie & George: An Unlikely Union" by biography Allison Murphy is the true and previously untold story of forbidden love in Belfast. Winnie and George were opposites in every way, in the already divisive age of Ireland, in the early 20th century. Yet, for all their differences, what they shared was a passion for fairness and the rights of the working class. It was this cause which ultimately brought them into each other's lives and helped form this very unlikely union that would last a lifetime, despite opposition from both their families. Allison Murphy, (an award winning Belfast teacher), was introduced to George's story by her mother-in-law, who nursed him in his last days, and who encouraged Allison to research the background and tell his story. Allison took on the challenge and has set the story of these two remarkable characters in the context of their time, tracing them through letters and documents and imagining conversations that would have happened. An inherently fascinating and skillfully crafted read from beginning to end, "Winnie & George" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Biography collections. It should be noted that "Winnie & George" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.99).

101 Amazing Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
Susan Branson
Familius
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
www.familius.com
9781945547140 $12.99 amazon.com

101 Amazing Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar lives up to its title as a handy compendium of practical (and often unexpected!) uses for humble apple cider vinegar. From acne treatment to relieving muscle pain after intense exercise to eliminating cat urine odor, killing weeds, or crafting a simple fruit fly trap, 101 Amazing Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar is a handy resource for getting the most out of an inexpensive home remedy! Also highly recommended is "101 Amazing Uses for Ginger" (9781945547126, $12.99).


The Homeowner's Shelf

Greywater, Green Landscape
Laura Allen
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612128399, $16.95, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com

Greywater is all wastewater generated in households or office buildings from streams without fecal contamination, i.e. all streams except for the wastewater from toilets. Sources of greywater include, e.g. sinks, showers, baths, clothes washing machines or dish washers. As greywater contains fewer pathogens than domestic wastewater, it is generally safer to handle and easier to treat and reuse onsite for toilet flushing, landscape or crop irrigation, and other non-potable uses. Now with "Greywater, Green Landscape: How to Install Simple Water-Saving Irrigation Systems in Your Yard", ordinary homeowners can keep a lawn and garden lush without wasting resources by capturing and recycling the greywater that drains from sinks, showers, and washing machines. This accessible, illustrated and detailed instructional guide walks you through each step of planning for and installing a variety of greywater systems, including laundry-to-landscape and branched drain gravity-fed systems. After identifying greywater sources in the home and estimating flow rate, the reader will learn to pinpoint where to redirect the wastewater for the greatest benefit. No matter which system you decide to build, "Greywater, Green Landscape" will provide the information for do-it-yourself construction, or have the confidence to hire a professional. While very highly recommended, especially for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Greywater, Green Landscape" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Undertow
R. M. Greenaway
Dundrun
c/o The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459735583, $17.99, PB, 424pp, www.amazon.com

Last summer the inlet waters washed an unnamed woman's body onto the rocks of North Vancouver's Neptune shipyards. When RCMP Constable Cal Dion returns home after a year's absence, he finds the case still open and grown cold. While Dion works to fit back in and put closure to the Jane Doe drowning case, newly relocated Constable Dave Leith is learning to cope with his first big-city posting. But they have bigger concerns: Why would anyone beat up a young electrician, then track down his wife and baby girl to finish them off? It is a motiveless and haunting killing that leaves behind one small witness and a handful of cryptic clues. And who battered and asphyxiated a wealthy nightclub owner in his own garage? A case of home invasion, by the looks of it. But Leith has a less abstract set of suspects to deal with: the victim's business partner and his strange little clan. The North Vancouver General Investigations Section is put to the test, with two files to solve, one tragic cold case, and Dion seemingly lost at sea. The second volume of author R. M. Greenaway's outstanding new 'B.C. Blues Crime Novel' series, "Undertow" is a deftly written and inherently compelling read from cover to cover. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Undertow" is also available in a Kindle format ($5.38).

Pursued
Lisa Harris
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800728564, $25.99, HC, 322pp, www.amazon.com

After a plane crash, Nikki Boyd and the Missing Persons Task Force race to find a key witness in a high profile case before she is permanently silenced when a woman who was sitting right next to her is nowhere to be found and whose very presence on that downed plane is being denied. Once again author Lisa Harris demonstrates her absolute mastery of the genre and an impressive ability to compel her readers rapt attention from beginning to end. An absolutely riveting read, "Pursued" is very highly recommended and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs it should be noted that "Pursued" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800724207, $15.99) and in a Kindle format ($8.53).

To Hell On A Fast Horse
Peter Brandvold
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432833015, $25.95, HC, 386pp, www.amazon.com

"To Hell On A Fast Horse: A Western Duo" features two bounty hunter Lou Prophet stories under one cover. In 'The Devil's Ambush' Prophet and his sometime-sideick, sometime-love Louisa Bonaventure are lured to an old and abandoned cavalry outpost in southest Colorado where they are ambushed and Louisa is badly wounded. Prophet tracks down the seven nightriders responsible with pure and bloody vengeance on his mind. In "Bring Me The Head Of Chaz Savidge!' Prophet and Louisa have to deal with competing bounty hunters as they track the notorious killer and rapist Chaz Savidge from the Dakota Territory to Denver. But along the way their most dangerous enemy is a young, grief-stricken pioneer widow whose husband and lover lie dead on her cabin floor! Author Peter Brandvold is an acknowledged master of the western genre and "To Hell On A Fast Horse" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Western Fiction collections -- and a 'must read' for the legions of Peter Brandvold fans!

Sidney Chambers and the Persistence of Love
James Runcie
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781632867940, $28.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com

It is May 1971 and the Cambridgeshire countryside is bursting into summer. Attending to his paternal duties, Archdeacon Sidney Chambers is walking in the woods with his daughter Anna and their aging Labrador, Byron, when they stumble upon a body. Beside the dead man lies a basket of wild flowers, all poisonous. And so it is that Sidney is thrust into another murder investigation, entering a world of hippies, folk singers, and psychedelic plants, where love triangles and permissive behavior seem to hide something darker. The sixth book in the James Runcie's much-loved Granchester Mystery series, full-time priest and part-time detective Sidney Chambers plunges back into sleuthing when he discovers that body in a bluebell wood. "Sidney Chambers and the Persistence of Love" is another "must read" title for all dedicated mystery buffs from the pen of a true master of the genre. While certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Sidney Chambers and the Persistence of Love" is also available in paperback edition (9781632867957, $17.00) and in a Kindle format ($9.99).

The Devil's Country
Harry Hunsicker
Thomas & Mercer
9781503941908, $15.95, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Former Texas Ranger Arlo Baines didn't come to the tiny West Texas town of Piedra Springs to cause trouble. After his wife and children were murdered, Arlo just wants to be left alone. Moving from place to place seems to be the only thing that eases the pain of his family's violent end. But a chance encounter outside a bar forces him to rescue a terrified woman and her children from mysterious attackers. When the woman turns up murdered the next day (her children missing) Arlo becomes the primary suspect in exactly the same type of crime he is trying desperately to forget. Haunted by the fate of his family, and with the police questioning the existence of the dead woman's children, Arlo decides it's his duty to find them. The question is, just how deep will he have to sink into the dusty secrets of Piedra Springs to save them and clear his name? An inherently riveting read from cover to cover, "The Devil's Country" documents author Harry Hunsicker's complete mastery of the western genre and a novelist of considerable talent who is able to compel his reader's complete attention with an unpredictable storyline replete with unexpected twists and surprising turns. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Western Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated western novel fans that "The Devil's Country" is also available in a Kindle format ($4.99).

I Found You
Lisa Jewell
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781501154591, $26.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com

In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside. Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed. Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable - and it's not just that he's playing the role of protective older brother. Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of "I Found You", still another brilliantly crafted new novel by Lisa Jewell. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "I Found You" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.99).

The Death of a Century
Daniel Robinson
Arcade Publishing
www.arcadepub.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781628725391, $24.99, HC, 280pp, www.amazon.com

Set in Greenwich, Connecticut, 1922, "The Death of a Century" by novelist Daniel Robinson is the absorbing story of newspaper man Joe Henry who finds himself the primary suspect when his friend, fellow reporter Wynton Gresham, is murdered. Both were veterans of French battles during WWI -- the war that was supposed to end all wars. Unanswered questions pile up in the wake of a violent night: Gresham lies dead in his home, a manuscript he had just completed has gone missing, three Frenchmen lay dead in a car accident less than a mile from Gresham's home, and a trunk full of Gresham's clothes lay neatly packed in his bedroom. Hours after his friend's death, Henry discovers in Gresham's desk drawer a one-way ticket reserved in his friend's name aboard a steamer ship to France. The ticket is dated for the next day. Henry steals away under Gresham's identity, escaping the heated interrogation of the town sheriff, to Paris in the roaring 20s. In the City of Light he becomes a hunted man. To clear his name he must find the man responsible for his friend's murder, while evading his own, and discover the deadly secret revealed in the lost manuscript. In the process, with the help of other broken veteran expats of Hemingway's Lost Generation living in Paris, he finds hope in a world irrevocably altered by war. An impressively engaging, deftly crafted, thoroughly entertaining read from beginning to end, "The Death of a Century" is very highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Death of a Century" is also available in a paperback edition (9781628727555, $14.99) and in a Kindle format ($14.18).

Spine Damage
Sharon St. Geroge
Camel Press
PO Box 70515, Seattle, WA 98127
www.camelpress.com
9781603815819, $16.95, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com

Paulo Ferrara is a young Portuguese man who lies comatose in the Intensive Care Unit of Timbergate Medical Center. He had been shot in the spine. The neurosurgeon who would normally be in charge of his care has left town to attend to an injured daughter, and the only other neurosurgeon, the rude and egotistical Dr. Godfrey Carver, is about to be suspended for not completing his continuing education requirements. The unpleasant duty of ensuring that the staff obey the rules lies with Aimee Machado, the medical center's forensic librarian and Continuing Education Coordinator. Aimee and her pilot boyfriend Nick live together on her grandparents' llama farm. While dealing with Dr. Carver, Aimee learns the circumstances of Paulo's injury and enlists Nick's help. Aimee is half Asian and half Portuguese, and her parents live on Faial, one of the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal. Faial is the closest neighbor to Pico, home of Paulo and his family. Paulo came to rural Northern California in search of his fifteen-year-old sister Liliana, who vanished two weeks ago. Nick's wealthy employer Buck Sawyer takes an interest in the girl's plight as well, especially when they learn that she left the Azores on a superyacht. Not only is Buck a yacht owner, but he is also on a crusade against drug trafficking, and Paulo and Liliana have clearly stumbled onto a criminal operation of some kind. The trail leads Aimee and Nick from Timbergate, to the Azores, to San Francisco. Paulo's condition is deteriorating, and he might never be able to explain what got him shot. Can Aimee, her brother Harry, and Nick unravel the mystery in time to save Liliana? In "Spine Damage", author Sharon St. George once again demonstrates her mastery of the genre with this fourth title in her outstanding 'Aimee Machado Mystery' series. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs in general, and Sharon St. George fans in particular, that "Spine Damage" is also available in a Kindle format ($4.95).

Murder on the Red River
Marcie R. Rendon
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas, El Paso, Texas 79901
www.cincopuntos.com
9781941026526, $15.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Cash and Sheriff Wheaton make for a strange partnership. He pulled her from her mother's wrecked car when she was three. He's kept an eye out for her ever since. It's a tough place to live in northern Minnesota along the Red River. Cash navigated through foster homes, and at thirteen was working farms. She's tough as nails, five feet two inches in height, wears blue jeans, a blue jean jacket, smokes Marlboros, drinks Bud Longnecks. She makes her living driving truck, and plays pool on the side. While Wheaton is big lawman type, of Scandinavian stock, but with darker skin than most. Wheaton wants Cash to take hold of her life and get into Junior College. So there they are together, staring at the dead Indian lying in the field. Soon Cash was dreaming the dead man's cheap house on the Red Lake Reservation, mother and kids waiting. She has that kind of power. That's the place to start looking. There's a long and dangerous way to go to find the men who killed him. Plus there's Jim, the married white guy. And Longbraids, the Indian guy headed for Minneapolis to join the American Indian Movement. With an impressive attention to background detail in "Murder on the Red River", author Marcie R. Rendon is an enrolled member of the White Earth Anishinabe Nation and a gifted novelist with a genuine flair for originality, memorably drawn characters, and a master of the genre. While "Murder on the Red River" is especially recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Murder on the Red River" is also available in a Kindle format ($10.42).

Calamity at the Continental Club
Colleen J. Shogan
Camel Press
PO Box 70515, Seattle, WA 98127
www.camelpress.com
9781603813358, $15.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

The Mayflower Society is about to hold its annual meeting at Washington D.C.'s swanky gathering place for the elite, the Continental Club. That means Kit Marshall's upper-crust future in-laws, Buffy and Winston Hollingsworth, are coming for a visit. Annoyed that Kit has not set a date to marry Doug, Buffy wants her to commit to a high society wedding at the club. Kit, though chief of staff for a congresswoman, feels uncomfortable with Buffy and Winston's crowd. Kit receives an unexpected reprieve in the form of murder. En route to her morning jog, she encounters the corpse of the leader of the Mayflower Society, conservative multimedia tycoon Grayson Bancroft. On the security cameras, no one was seen entering or leaving the club, which means the culprit had to be an overnight guest. Little love was lost on Bancroft, but the police have their prime suspect: Doug's father. Buffy and Winston, formerly disdainful of Kit's sleuthing, urge her to investigate. With her future in-laws' freedom and reputations at stake, Kit sets out once again to solve a murder mystery, this time aided by her fiance Doug in addition to her friends Meg and Trevor and her dog Clarence. Her search for clues will take her from the club to the Smithsonian Museum, the National Archives, and Mount Vernon. The third novel in Colleen Shogan's outstanding 'Whodunit' series, "Calamity at the Continental Club" once again reveals her genuine mastery of the genre. A consistently compelling and entertaining read from cover to cover, "Calamity at the Continental Club" is unreservedly recommended to the attention of dedicated mystery buffs and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Bound by Mystery
Diane D. DiBiase, editor
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com
9781464208324, $18.95, PB, 450pp, www.amazon.com

In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Poisoned Pen Press commissioned original short stories from thirty-five of its authors, both past and present. The result is "Bound by Mystery: Celebrating 20 Years of Poisoned Pen Press", an anthology celebrates Poisoned Pen Press authors in terms of their talent, and their diversity. Some have chosen to feature characters well-established within their own series protagonists, supporting cast, and even one villain-turned-hero. Others have gone in totally different directions, inventing new characters and going dark or cozy for the first time, with chilling and delightful results. Yet as different as these authors and their stories are, they all share a common passion for finely crafted tales of crime and murder. One of the very best mystery/suspense anthologies in the last few years, "Bound by Mystery" is a tour-de-force and an absolute 'must' for any and all dedicated mystery buffs. Also available in a Kindle format ($6.99), "Bound by Mystery" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Ecumenism of Beauty
Timothy Verdon, editor
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612619248, $28.99, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by Timothy Verson (Burke Professor of Art History, Stanford University Florence Center and Director of the Museo dell-Opera del Duomon, Florence, Italy) the contributors to "The Ecumenism of Beauty" share the belief that in this visual age, beauty and art can bridge differences. "The Ecumenism of Beauty" is comprised of seven major essays from Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant artists, scholars, clergy and theologians exploring beauty as a means to unify the body of Christ. The occasion of the Reformation commemoration year offers a time to reflect on the rich artistic heritage shared by all Christians and an opportunity to learn from other traditions. Impressively informative and inherently thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Ecumenism of Beauty" is an extraordinary volume that is very highly recommended for church, community, and academic library Ecumenical Christian collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Ecumenism of Beauty" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

Welcome to College, second edition
Jonathan Morrow
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825444883, $21.99, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com

One of the most important reasons for attending college is for students to determine what they will do with their life. In college, whether they realize it or not, students will answer that question every day with each decision. All of the new friends and new experiences of higher education will shape their future. It's critical that students know how to handle college before they're in the thick of it. Now in a newly updated and revised second edition, "Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower's Guide for the Journey" by Jonathan Morrow addresses questions that arise during these formative academic years such as: How do you grow spiritually?; How do you manage your time to both study well and have fun?; Is all truth relative?; Are there good reasons to be a Christian?; As a Christian, how should you view issues like dating and sex? Of special note is the chapter on Christianity, homosexuality, and the Bible. Grounded that is grounded in both Morrow's own extensive experience and in biblical truths. "Welcome to College" is comprised of quick, easy-to-read chapters and excellent advice. While very highly recommended to all college and university bound members of the Christian community (regardless of denominational affiliations), it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Welcome to College" is also available in a Kindle format ($17.74).

Unsinkable Faith
Tracie Miles
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.cookministries.com
9780781414364, $16.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

For many people, remaining optimistic and feeling positive about themselves and their lives is a constant battle -- especially when circumstances are difficult and life is hard. For others, negativity is something that only sneaks up from time to time, yet still wreaks havoc in their hearts. Regardless of the root causes, once pessimistic thoughts permeate our minds, our feelings and emotions begin to control us instead of us controlling them. Eventually it doesn't seem possible to stay positive, happy, and full of joy, and negative thought patterns shake our faith, causing us to sink emotionally, mentally, and spiritually over time. But it doesn't have to be that way. Despite what storms roll in, hearts anchored in God don't sink. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and live, even if our circumstances remain the same. Intentionally embracing the opportunity to experience a transformed heart and a renewed mind opens the door for a changed life, because a positive mind will always lead to a more positive life. In "Unsinkable Faith: God-Filled Strategies to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live", author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Tracie Miles offers hope for women who struggle with negativity. Each individual chapter deftly explores personal stories, showing how women were able to rise above their circumstances by transforming and renewing their minds. Informative and thoughtful, inspired and inspiring, "Unsinkable Faith" is a life-enhancing, faith-affirming read from cover to cover and highly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliation. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Unsinkable Faith" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

Daniel Rudd: Calling a Church to Justice
Gary B. Agee
The Liturgical Press
2950 Saint John's Road, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
9780814645253, $14.95, PB, 138pp, www.amazon.com

In May of 1890, The Christian Solider, an African American newspaper, identified the Catholic journalist and activist Daniel Arthur Rudd as the "greatest negro Catholic in America". Yet many Catholics today are unaware of Rudd's efforts to bring about positive social change during the early decades of the Jim Crow era. In "Daniel Rudd: Calling a Church to Justice", Church of God pastor Gary Agee (who teaches church history for the School of Theology and Christian Ministry at Anderson University, Indian) offers a compelling look at the life and work of this visionary who found inspiration in his Catholic faith to fight for the principles of liberty and justice. Born into slavery, Rudd achieved success early on as the publisher of the American Catholic Tribune, one of the most successful black newspapers of its era, and as the founder of the National Black Catholic Congress. Even as Rudd urged his fellow black Catholics to maintain their spiritual home within the fold of the Catholic Church, he called on that same church to live up what he believed to be her cardinal teaching, "the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man." Rudd's hopeful spirit lives on today in the important work of the National Black Catholic Congress, as it carries forward his pursuit of social justice. This informed and informative account of the man and his mission is particularly and especially recommended reading for all members of the Catholic community and is also available in a Kindle format ($11.99).

Becoming Like a Child
Jerome W. Berryman
Church Publishing Incorporated
www.churchpublishing.org
9780819233233, $30.00, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

In "Becoming Like a Child: The Curiosity of Maturity beyond the Norm", Jerome W. Berryman (who is the founder of Godly Play and Senior Fellow of the Center for the Theology of Childhood) invites the reader into a creative process that explores what it means to be spiritually mature, starting with Jesus' injunction to 'become like a child'. What does this mean at the literal level? the figurative level? the mystical level? the ethical level? The structure of the process of this study parallels the organization and the structure of Christian worship, as well as the arc of life itself. The steps on this journey begin when we enter, and the world of childlike maturity opens to us as we respond with inarticulate wonder and gratitude. Berryman includes stories and examples from his long career working with children ages 2 to 18, adding to the warmth and appeal to "Becoming Like a Child". Exceptionally well written, impressively organized and presented, inspired and inspiring, "Becoming Like a Child" is highly recommended for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliation. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Becoming Like a Child" is also available in a Kindle format ($27.00).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen
Yechiel Frish & Yedidya HaCohen
Urim Publications
c/o Lambda Publishers
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655242539, $39.95, HC, 334pp, www.amazon.com

Although mainly known as the chief rabbi of Haifa, Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, born in the year 1927, has lived an intriguing life, playing an important role in the establishment of the state of Israel. As the son of Rabbi David Cohen (1887-1972), the legendary Nazirite of Jerusalem, Rabbi Cohen grew up among some of Israel's greatest rabbis. Destined to become a Nazirite until the age of sixteen, Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen studied under the influence of Rav Kook. During the 1948 War of Independence, Rabbi Cohen fought to defend the Old City of Jerusalem, until he was severely wounded and taken to Jordan as a prisoner of war. After his return he became Chief Rabbi of the Israel Air Force, and then governed as the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem with Teddy Kollek. Rabbi Cohen served as the Chief Rabbi of Haifa and President of their rabbinical courts for 36 years. The details of his achievements and captivating life in this biography are further encapsulated in excerpts of his diary, which include vivid details of the battles he fought in and his imprisonment in Jordan. The biographers, Rabbi Yedidya HaCohen is a disciple of Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, from whom he received rabbinical ordination. While Prof. Yechiel Frish is the President of Michlelet Shaanan (Shaanan College), a religious teachers training college established in 1951 near Haifa, Israel. "Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen: Between War and Peace" is an informed, comprehensive, and ultimately inspiring read from beginning to end and very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library collections.

Carmel College in the Kopul Era
Rabbi Dr. Chaim Simons
Urim Publications
c/o Lambda Publishers
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655242362, $39.95, PB, 680pp, www.amazon.com

In 1947, Rabbi Kopul Rosen, a graduate of the Mir Yeshivah and the then Principal Rabbi of the British Federation of Synagogues, began to develop his dream of establishing a residential boys school which would combine the ideals of the British Public School with the study and practice of traditional Judaism. As a result, Carmel College was born. Despite financial problems and administrative obstacles, Rabbi Rosen succeeded remarkably well with his project. "Carmel College in the Kopul Era: A History of Carmel College September 1948-March 1962" by Rabbi Dr. Chaim Simons is the detailed and comprehensive story of Carmel College during that time. Impressively informed and informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, enhanced for scholars with the inclusion of a five page bibliography, a four page index of names associated with Carmel College, and a section of color photos, "Carmel College in the Kopul Era" is a very highly recommended addition to academic library 20th History Judaic Educational History collections in general, and Carmel College History supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators
Guy Armstrong
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.wisdompubs.org
9781614293637, $29.95, HC, 328pp, www.amazon.com

Guy Armstrong has been leading insight meditation retreats since 1984 in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. His training included living as a monk for a year in the Thai forest lineage. Guy is a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council and a guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society. Within "Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators", he draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to makes difficult Buddhist topics easy to understand, weaving together Theravada and Mahayana teachings on emptiness to show how we can liberate our minds and manifest compassion in our lives. Enhanced with the inclusion of an informative Introduction, a two page list of Acknowledgements, a two page listing of Sources and Abbreviations, twelve pages of Notes, a six page Glossary of Pali and Sanskrit Words, and a twenty page Index, "Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal and valued addition to community and academic library Buddhism collections in general, and Buddhist Mediation supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for Buddhism students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Buddhist mediation, that "Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators" is also available in a Kindle format ($17.99).

Boundless Heart
Christina Feldman
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
www.shambhala.com
9781611803730, $16.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Compassion, kindness, equanimity, and joy are not only the fruits of the awakened life but also the path to it: attitudes of mind that can be cultivated by anyone willing to set the intention for doing so. In the pages of "Boundless Heart: The Buddha's Path of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity", Christina Feldman (a prominent teacher in the Insight Meditation world in the US and the UK, one of the Guiding Teachers of the Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA, and who is also cofounder of Gaia House in the UK) shows how these ennobling qualities that are known in Buddhism as the brahma viharas (sublime abodes) or the Four Immeasurables, are far more than simply the "feel-good" states they are sometimes mistaken for. If we pursue them sincerely as spiritual practice, they work together, complementing and enhancing each other, to lead us to the kind of awakening that we are compelled to share with others. Thus through the practice of the brahma viharas we can become participants in the healing and liberation of our world. Informative, thoughtful, insightful, inspiring, "Boundless Heart" is impressively 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, making it very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Buddhist Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Boundless Heart" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.99) and in a complete and unabridged audio book edition (Brilliance Audio, 9781543601343, $9.99, MP3 Una).


The Poetry Shelf

The Mountains Within: Poems of the Wild
Garth Gilchrist
Regent Press
2747 Regent St., Berkeley, CA 94705
9781587903540 $19.95 www.regentpress.net

Showcasing the free verse poetry of Garth Gilchrist, "The Mountains Within: Poems of the Wild" is enhanced with the inclusion of 36 beautifully colored photographic images. In a modern world where our days are increasingly cramped, digital, media-driven, virtual, unrelentingly stimulating and stressful for young and old alike, we forget about nature as a part of ourselves and we lose something essential to our humanity. The poetry of Garth Gilchrist will bring back that reflective sensitivity to the importance of nature to our well being as humans. Enduringly memorable, "The Mountains Within: Poems of the Wild" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections. 'To Now': A spruce awaits / lifting to wind, steady in snow / life in roots // A babe suckles / milk flowing out of some / deep source // In winter's depth / I draw from a clear / hidden spring


The Business Shelf

Listening Deeply, second edition
Howard F. Stein
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th St., Columbia, MO 65211
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826221247, $45.00, HC, 280pp, www.amazon.com

Listening deeply is the foundation of all effective organizational management, research, and consulting. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Listening Deeply: An Approach to Understanding and Consulting in Organizational Culture" by Howard F. Stein (who currently serves as a facilitator at the American Indian Diabetes Prevention Center) deftly explores the many aspects of attentive listening through storytelling and includes examples of organizational case studies. In Stein's professional practice, listening deeply is an attitude evoked by the psychoanalytic concept of hovering attention -- a careful attending to the person or group one is trying to help and an equally careful attending to how one is hearing these others. The listener's own feelings are as crucially diagnostic as what the consultant observes in other people. This new edition of "Listening Deeply" fully updates historical context, theory, method, and organizational stories. A psychodynamic orientation informs much of 'Listening Deeply" and the language Stein uses is direct. His lessons are useful to the manager in any kind of organization, as well as practitioners of psychology, sociology, business management, medicine, and education. Well written, organized and presented, "Listening Deeply" is an extraordinary work of exceptional scholarship and very highly recommended for corporate, community, and academic library Business Management collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Listening Deeply" is also available in a Kindle format ($32.88).

Who Knew?: It's All About You
Richard F. Libin
Automotive Profit Builders, Inc.
PO Box 2011, Natick, MA 01760
www.richardlibin.com
www. who-knew.com
9780692789353, $14.99, PB, 180pp, www.amazon.com

The selling of goods and/or services is a basic building block of civilization in general, and capitalism as an economic system in particular. Selling is an essential skill. Poor behavior and bad consumer experiences, however, have created negative stereotypes of commercial salespeople. And, because business schools and universities avoid teaching students how to sell, many sales professionals don't understand how to sell and are not trained or qualified. This only perpetuates bad experiences and the negative stereotypes. All this can be changed by a carefully reading of "Who Knew?: It's All About You" by president of APB and business management expert Richard F. Libin. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, of special note are the chapters on What Does the Brand Stand For?; First Impressions Aren't Everything; Avoiding Culture Shock; Do You Want Customers or Clients?; and Feedback -- The Silver Bullet. Also available in a Kindle format ($14.99), "Who Knew?: It's All About You" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community, corporate, and academic library Business Management instructional reference collections.

Get Organized. Get Focused. Get Moving.
Cynthia Kyriazis
Incorgnito Publishing Press
300 E. Bellevue Drive Ste 208, Pasadena, CA 91101
http://www.incorgnitobooks.com
9781944589073, $12.95, PB, 166pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "Get Organized. Get Focused. Get Moving.", national productivity coach, strategist, and trainer Cynthia Kyriazis shares with the best organization and time-management principles of her 25-year professional career. From small business owners to Fortune 500 companies, these principles are proven, effective, and most importantly, applicable to your life, work, and business. Kyriazis also provides coaching and instruction on how to build the foundation for time-management success: Getting Organized. Once the reader will have mastered this formerly 'easier-said-than-done' principle, their time and newly found focus will facilitate the building of the things they really want to be successful at: goal-setting, prioritizing, scheduling, communications, and delegating, to name a few. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Get Organized. Get Focused. Get Moving." is a seminal and critically important read for both corporate executives and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Get Organized. Get Focused. Get Moving." is also available in a Kindle format ($5.99).


The Self-Help Shelf

7 Mindsets of Success
Sten Morgan
Morgan James Publishing
11815 Fountain Way, Suite 300, Newport News, VA 23606-4448
www.morganjamespublishing.com
9781683503026, $29.95, HC, 152pp, www.amazon.com

In "7 Mindsets of Success: What You Really Need to Do to Achieve Rapid, Top-Level Success" by financial investment advisor Sten Morgan, readers will not only explore topics like embracing discomfort, healthy conflict, time management, perspective, safety nets, and future self, but the intrinsic motivation behind their success. They will learn secrets and steps that are easily overlooked in business today. They will weigh the cost of their success and ask themselves, "Am I willing to do everything it takes?" Morgan's underlying messages is that success could be as easy as changing your mindset to see your business or job differently, and in turn, see the world differently -- that there are seven psychological mindsets that will unlock success for his readers. Extraordinarily 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "7 Mindsets of Success" will prove to be an enduringly valued and appreciated addition to community, corporate, and academic library Business Management and Self-Help collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists of business students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "7 Mindsets of Success" is also available in a paperback edition (9781683503019, $16.95) and in a Kindle format ($7.99).

The Dog's Guide to Your Happiness
Gary McDaniel & Sharon Massen
Lumina Media
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781621871682, $19.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

How do we define happiness in a world where people regularly feel rushed, stressed, and overwhelmed by the daily demands of life? In "The Dog's Guide to Your Happiness: Seven Secrets for a Better Life from Man's Best Friend" authors Garry McDaniel and Sharon Massen collaborate to suggest that we look to our canine companions to learn what happiness is really about. Based on their research and insights, as well as real-life stories about dogs and their people, "The Dog's Guide to Your Happiness" is an informative guide that explores seven essential traits for happiness through the eyes of our trusted furry friends including: The value of loyalty in our personal and business relationships; Canine communication tactics - namely, vocalizations, body language, and eye contact -- and a discussion on interpersonal communication; The lost art of play and why it is important for people (and dogs) of all ages; The unconditional love that dogs bestow on their humans and how it applies to our relationships with other people; How an unwillingness to forgive others holds us back, and why dogs are able to "forgive and forget"; How to nurture an optimistic outlook on life's ups and downs; A dog's approach to life balance and why a lack of balance is detrimental to emotional health; Exercises, charts, and worksheets to guide readers in self-exploration through applying the principles set forth in each chapter; Suggestions and activities to help readers attain the seven secrets of happiness. Extraordinary, original, and thoroughly 'reader friendly in organization and presentation, "The Dog's Guide to Your Happiness" is very highly recommended, especially for community library Self-Help and Pets/Wildlife collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Dog's Guide to Your Happiness" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.91).


The Political Science Shelf

Election 2016: Democracy in Disarray
Sandra Lee Stuart & Aaron Jaffe
Barricade Books
2037 Lemoine Ave., Suite 362, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
www.barricadebooks.com
9781569808108, $19.95, PB, 250pp, www.amazon.com

When people look back at the 2016 Election, they will use many words to describe it. Among them will not be "decorous," "thoughtful," "reasoned," and "civil". The campaign, at times, has seemed as if it was waged in an alternate cartoon universe. It's hard to imagine Dwight Eisenhower or Abraham Lincoln boasting in a public forum about the size of their genitals. We have had a candidate being labeled "Lucifer in the Flesh" and the love child of Joe McCarthy and Dracula. And an ultra-conservative billionaire who has contributed ridiculous amounts of money to right-wingers saying a Democrat might make a better president than the Republican choices. This has been all part of the craziness and unseemliness that has the rest of the world wondering if we have collectively lost our sanity. A thoughtful and thought-provoking study of an undeniably successful national political campaign for the presidency that was 'bloated with bombastry, bigotry, and blatant lies', "Election 2016: Democracy in Disarray" offers a detailed depiction of the campaign while also skewering those that need the pomposity punctured. In a nation already suffering 'buyer's remorse', "Election 2016: Democracy in Disarray" is a timely and highly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted that "Election 2016: Democracy in Disarray" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

Worshiping Power
Peter Gelderloos
AK Press
370 Ryan Avenue, #100, Chico, CA 95973
www.akpress.org
9781849352642, $16.98, PB, 286pp, www.amazon.com

In "Worshiping Power: An Anarchist View of Early State Formation", Peter Gelderloos (an anarchist writer originally from Virginia) argues that Americans need to stop thinking of the State as a potential vehicle for emancipation. From its origins, the State has never been anything other than a tool to accumulate power. "Worshiping Power" is an innovative and partisan study of human social complexity cuts through in-adequate theories of early state formation to uncover social practices and institutions that have stifled egalitarian forms of self-organization throughout history. Just as importantly, "Worshiping Power" shows that the difficulties and consequences of state formation are not relegated to prehistory. Despite a ubiquity that renders them almost invisible today, states are constantly trying to augment their power, and all are closer to the brink of collapse than they would like to let on. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Worshiping Power" is an original and highly recommended study and should be a part of every community and academic library Political Science collection in general, and Anarchy supplemental studies reading list. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Worshiping Power" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.97).


The Fiction Shelf

A Fragile Hope
Cynthia Ruchti
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
www.abingdonpress.com
9781426791505, $14.99, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Josiah Chamberlain's life's work revolves around repairing other people's marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife's unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she's unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken. Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what's left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them? "A Fragile Hope" showcases author Cynthia Ruchti's genuine flair for deftly created and memorable characters involved in a multilayered story of unexpected twists and turns that are inherently compelling and provide a thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Fragile Hope" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.81). Librarians should be aware that "A Fragile Hope" is available in a large print edition as well (Thorndike Press, 9781432841706, $39.99).

A Minor Fall
Price Ainsworth
SelectBooks, Inc.
87 Walker Street, Suite B1, New York City, NY 10013
www.selectbooks.com
9781590794098, $24.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Davy Jessie seems to have everything going for him. He's a young personal injury lawyer working at a top Houston law firm. He has won a few cases on his own and has had the opportunity to work closely with the firm's flashy senior partner, Tim Sullivan, who is a simply brilliant lawyer. His undeniable gift for delivering an elegant turn of phrase, coupled with his bon vivant lifestyle, make him the center of attention wherever he goes. He's a man of the world who travels through life with near-mystifying facility. His charisma, command, and poise make him a role model for everything that an aspiring attorney should want in life -- at least in the impressionable young minds of the junior associates who are all too willing to overlook his glaring flaws. Is Davy Jessie also about to fall under his hypnotic spell? As Jessie's orbit draws nearer to Sullivan's shining star, the inalterable forces of tragedy are set in motion. The two men will ultimately be set at odds while Jessie's family, career, and life careen into a downward spiral. Original, deftly crafted, and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end, "A Minor Fall" reveals author and trial lawyer Price Ainsworth's genuine flair as a novelist. While very highly recommended, especially for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Minor Fall" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

The Path of the Wind
James A. Misko
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780757004445, $17.95, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Miles Foster is a newly minted teacher who dreams of getting a teaching job in the highly respected and financially stable Portland, Oregon school system where everything is available, and where he and his wife call home. But the only opening for his talents is in a remote lumber mill town in central Oregon, two hundred miles away. It is a poor school with forty students, and is controlled by a jealous superintendent and school board who tolerate no thinking outside the box and who conspire to destroy his teaching career. Miles must find a way to educate students who have been passed along regardless of what they learned, and defeat the damaging control of the school board and superintendent without losing his marriage or his job, or both. A thoroughly entertaining and compelling read from beginning to end, "The Path of the Wind" clearly showcases author James Misko's undeniably flair for originality and deftly crafted storytelling. While also available for personal reading lists in a Kindle format ($10.99), "The Path of the Wind" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections.

Under a Sardinian Sky
Sara Alexander
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496706362, $15.00, PB, 416pp, www.amazon.com

In 1952, Simius is a busy Sardinian town surrounded by fertile farms and orchards. Carmela Chirigoni, a farmer's daughter and talented seamstress, is engaged to Franco, son of the area's wealthiest family. Everyone agrees it's a good match. But Carmela's growing doubts about Franco's possessiveness are magnified when she meets Captain Joe Kavanagh. Joe, an American officer stationed at a local army base, is charismatic, intelligent, and married. Hired as his interpreter, Carmela resolves to ignore her feelings, knowing that any future together must bring upheaval and heartache to both families. Mina is a London-based travel writer, and the enigmatic silence surrounding her aunt Carmela has become a personal obsession. Carmela disappeared from her Italian hometown long ago and is mentioned only in fragments and whispers. Mina has resisted prying, respectful of her family's Sardinian reserve. But now, with her mother battling cancer, it's time to learn the truth. As Mina follows the threads of Carmela's life to uncover her fate, she will discover a past still deeply alive in the present, revealing a story of hope, sacrifice, and extraordinary love. Sara Alexander is a gifted novelist whose "Under a Sardinian Sky" reveals her mastery of the Romance Suspense genre. While certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Under a Sardinian Sky" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99). Librarians should be aware that there is also a large print edition of "Under a Sardinian Sky" (Thorndike Press, 9781432840464, $30.99).

Besieged
A. J. Tata
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496706638, $25.00, HC, 344pp, www.amazon.com

"Besieged" by A. J. Tata is a deftly crafted novel that starts with the unthinkable -- a school under siege, a shooter in the classroom. This is a nightmare scenario that has become all too common in today's United States. But this time, former Delta Captain Jake Mahegan is there when it happens. Checking in on the schoolteacher daughter of a colleague, Mahegan finds himself face to face with a merciless gunman rigged as a suicide bomber. Without warning, the school is attacked from the outside as well -- all hell breaks loose. The teacher shoots the gunman, Mahegan is knocked unconscious, and a twelve-year-old autistic girl named Misha is kidnaped. When the smoke clears, Mahegan is left with a long list of unanswered questions -- and a deeply personal mission to rescue Misha. Racing against the clock, his search will take him from the tech-fueled think-tanks of a North Carolina factory to the top-secret nerve centers of embedded Iranian agents. It's all part of a bigger, darker conspiracy that's taking domestic terrorism to a whole new level. And it's up to Mahegan to stop what could be the most devastating attack in U.S. history. A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Besieged" is strongly and unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Besieged" is also available in a paperback edition (Pinnacle, 9780786039517, $9.99) and in a Kindle format ($2.99).

Land of Wolves
T. J. Turner
Oceanview Publishing
595 Bay Isles Road, 120-G, Longboat Key, FL 34228
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608092024, $26.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

T. J. Turner's deftly crafted novel, "Land of Wolves", finds Joseph Foster with Molly settling into a new-found life in the hills of Tennessee. But Abraham Lincoln's former bodyguard, the man who saved the President's life, cannot escape the Consortium as they come roaring back, killing his mother, abducting his daughter -- all to coerce his Congressional testimony on their behalf. Instead, Joseph and Molly strike the Consortium in their own safe haven of New York City. In a Bonnie an unexpected twist, they rob from the Consortium to draw out their leader -- the infamous General Dorsey. But the hidden plan reveals more than they counted on, exposing the true intention to steal the Black Hills and the gold underneath from the Lakota Sioux. "Land of Wolves" is an inherently fascinating, compelling, and fully entertaining read from cover to cover. While unreservedly recommended, especially for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Land of Wolves" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Parenting Shelf

Lord, Have Mercy
Ellen Miller
Tyndale Momentum
c/o Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496419378, $14.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

While motherhood is often a hysterical ride of pure joy, it can also hold some of the most mind-numbing, heartbreaking, and sacrificial moments of a woman's life. In "Lord, Have Mercy: Help and Hope for Moms on Their Last Nerve", author Ellen Miller specifically writes to moms who could use a good laugh (and sometimes a good cry) as they live through the trials and triumphs of parenting in the 21st century. All-too-real, always honest, and often hilarious, each devotional is filled with personal stories to remind mothers that God is with them in both the big and small moments of motherhood, but most especially when the children are getting on their last nerve! Written with practical insight, profound empathy, appreciated humor, and ultimate inspiration, "Lord, Have Mercy" is wholeheartedly and unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Parenting instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lord, Have Mercy" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Money/Finance Shelf

How to Profit from the Next Bull Market
Alan Dustin
Dundurn
c/o The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459737495, $24.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Whether you're a seasoned investor or just joining the game, "How to Profit from the Next Bull Market" by experienced financial advisor Alan Dustin will teach you valuable skills and secrets to investing and succeeding in the Canadian stock market. Dustin shows how technical analysis will reliably forecast when to buy and sell with certainty, interpret and understand a company's financial statements with ease, master seven proven strategies that will protect you from losing money in the market today, and how understanding market cycles can be used to predict the future. "How to Profit from the Next Bull Market" shows how to research, select, and manage their own stock portfolios using easily accessible resources, and provides an analysis of twenty Canadian and American companies that have demonstrated their financial strength, staying power, and incredible rates of return over repeated market cycles. Offering an honest, candid, and understandable approach to investing, "How to Profit from the Next Bull Market" will serve Canadian investors well for the rest of their lives. While highly recommended for personal and academic library Money/Finance, it should be noted that "How to Profit from the Next Bull Market" is also available in a Kindle format ($4.99).


The Cookbook Shelf

Taste of Home Brownies & Bars
Editors at Taste of Home
c/o Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
44 South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601
www.rdtradepublishing.com
9781617656064, $15.99, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

No matter what the occasion, brownies and bars are universally popular as handheld treats and after meal desserts. Exceptionally well organized and presented by Catherine Cassidy and her editorial staff at 'Taste of Home', this dedicated culinary compendium showcases 263 homemade brownies and bars that are certain to please any palate and enhance any dining occasion. Of special note is the chapter devoted to speedy sweets and a "5-Ingredient" icon helping even the most novice of time-stressed kitchen cooks to expertly whip up a favorite even when the kitchen clock is ticking. A "Freeze It" icon even spotlights those snacks the hold up in the freezer! Baking a sweet sensation has never been easier. Beautifully and profusely illustrated from cover to cover, the thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Frosted Banana Bars; Swedish Raspberry Almond Bars; Caramel Brownies; and Irish Butterscotch Bars; to Nutty Cheesecake Squares; Frosted Peanut Butter Bars; Strawberry Almondine; Fudge Brownie Pie; and Cherry-Coconut Chocolate Torte. An enormous pleasure to simply browse through, "Taste of Home Brownies & Bars" is ideal for planning dessert menus with and will prove to be an extraordinarily popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Taste of Home Brownies & Bars" is also available in a Kindle format ($11.99).

The Savvy Cook
Izy Hossack
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784722708, $19.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

The recipes collected and showcased by Izy Hossack in "The Savvy Cook" were specifically selected for those cooking for themselves for the first time, as well as for anyone who wants the weekly budget to go a bit further without sacrificing flavor. Although many of the recipes are gluten-free and/or vegan, "The Savvy Cook" is not about health fads, "antioxidants" or obscure ingredients; it's about honest, nourishing and delicious cooking that will result in palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, 'kitchen cook friendly' meals for any and all dining occasions. With recipes ranging from profusely illustrated recipes ranging from Scrambled Chick Pea Tacos with Peach Salsa; Sweet Miso Eggplant & Walnut Salad; Lazy Potato Hash with Kale, Pesto & Eggs; to Easy Summer Pasta; Stir-Fry Quinoa, Pea & Broccoli; Oaty Snack Cake; and Easy Freezer Chocolate Chip Cookies, "The Savvy Cook" is a delight to browse through and practical for planning menus with. Other features include proposed menu plans, as well as effective ways to cut down on meat and giving last-night's leftovers a make-over. While very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "The Savvy Cook" is also available in a Kindle format ($6.99).

Aquafabulous!
Rebecca Coleman
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778805649, $19.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Rebecca Coleman is a food blogger (Cooking by Laptop) and she works primarily with small businesses, arts and non-profit organizations to help them to create social media marketing plans. In "Aquafabulous!: 100+ Egg-Free Vegan Recipes Using Aquafaba" she has compiled a unique culinary compendium of recipes based on Aquafaba which is the water that's drained off neutral-colored beans like chickpeas, white beans and cannellini beans. Vegans have had limited choices when it came to baked goods. The existing substitutes did not have the chemical properties of eggs which made them integral for binding and leavening. But now there is the perfect substitute and it's aquafaba. And it's blown open the world of vegan baking. It's proof that you can go egg-free and still enjoy delicious recipes. The general rule of thumb is 3 tbsp of aquafaba equals one egg. The protein in aquafaba, when mixed with some sugar and a pinch of cream of tartar, perfectly simulates egg whites. Neutral in taste, you don't have to worry about your dishes tasting beany. The recipes comprising "Aquafabulous!" range from a Red Pepper and Cheese Omelet, to Pasta with Cashew Chickpea Alfredo Sauce, to Meatless Loaf with Miso Gravy, to French Macarons. Beautifully illustrated with full color photography, "Aquafabulous!" is an impressive collection of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes, that will be appreciated by vegans and anyone who has an allergy to dairy and eggs.

Fairy House Cooking
Liza Gardner Walsh
Down East Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781608936410, $16.95, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Following up on her popular Fairy House and Fairy Garden handbooks, Liza Gardner Walsh presents a new dimension in fairy-themed cooking activities with Fairy House Cooking: Simple Scrumptious Recipes & Fairy Party Fun!" A distinctly delightful culinary compendium, "Fairy House Cooking " is comprised of delicious recipes ranging from pretty fairy muffins, to tiny confetti cookies, to candied violets, and many more. There are also recipes for tiny snacks meant for fairies, and fun recipes for treats to leave out for the animal friends of fairies. Complementing the recipes are fun sidebars of fairy lore and guides for hosting fairy-themed teas and birthday parties. Simple steps and easy-to-follow recipes will help kids and their parents make yummy food for parties, friends, or just for fun. Original, unique, beautifully illustrated, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Fairy House Cooking" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family and community library cookbook collections.

Cook Lively!
Laura-Jane Koers
Lifelong Books / Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738219677, $24.99, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Canadian Laura-Jane Koers is a food writer, stylist, and photographer and the blogger behind TheRawtarian.com, one of the most popular raw vegan communities online. She also hosts the Raw Food Podcast on iTunes. In "Cook Lively!: 100 Quick and Easy Plant-Based Recipes for High Energy, Glowing Skin, and Vibrant Living - Using 10 Ingredients or Less" she showcases thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes that are palate pleasing, as they are appetite satisfying. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, the "Cook Lively! recipes range from Simply Chocolate Milk the Easy Way; Neapolitan Chia Pudding with Raspberry Cashew Cream; Spiced-Right Yam Wedges with Paprika and Garlic Powder; and Cheesy Burrito Bowl with Black Beans and Chopped Tomatoes; to Rich Strawberry Cheesecake with Pecan Crust; Black Bean Cookies with Vanilla and Cinnamon; Golden Baked Bananas with Coconut Oil; and Smooth Almond Butter. Of special note is the section offering a Gran, Lentil & Sprout Guide. While unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Cook Lively!" is also available in a Kindle format ($15.99).

A Farmgirl's Table
Jessica Robinson
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423642183, $24.99 HC, $9.99 Kindle, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Jessica Robinson is a New England farmgirl who was raised on a small Connecticut farm and then found herself transplanted to a small farm in Graham, North Carolina, shares in "A Farmgirl's Table" heartwarming stories and personal advice along with a bushel of new recipes for using produce from the garden or farmers market, stocking a pantry with canned goods, making homemade bread and traditional family recipes, and entertaining guests at get-togethers with recipes for lemonades and drinks, salads, hearty main courses, pies, cakes, and more. Profusely illustrated and showcasing recipes for dishes ranging from Red Velvet Marble Cake; Raspberry-Apricot Jam; Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta; and Peach Sweet Tea; to Country-Style Meatloaf; Farmhouse Sourdough Bread; Lemon-Blueberry Scones; and Strawberry Lemonade, "A Farmgirl's Table" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library collections. Of special note is culinary author Jessica Robinson's popular blog: Carolina Farmhouse Kitchen.

Bites on a Board
Anni Daulter
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423645740, $24.99, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com

In her beautifully illustrated cookbook "Bites on a Board", food stylist Anni Daulter shows creative hosts how to make the most of their boards and serving platters with dishes that range from classic charcuterie boards with prosciutto, olives, and roasted figs to luscious dessert boards with mini cheesecakes and red-wine ice-cream bites. Comprised of rustic, trendy, pickled, and even culturally-inspired boards and recipes, "Bites on a Board" reveals that the last thing any kitchen cook will want to do when finished cooking is put away the cutting board! While very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Bites on a Board" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Kitchen Table Tarot
Melissa Cynova
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738750774, $16.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

From the early ages of 14, Melissa Cynova has been sitting down with friends and neighbors who are curious about the tarot. She's heard all the questions and misconceptions that can confuse newcomers (and sometimes more experienced readers, too). Drawing upon her many years of experience and expertise, "Mellisa has now written "Kitchen Table Tarot" as an instructional guide and reference for anyone looking for no-nonsense lessons with a warm, friendly, and knowledgeable teacher. Readers will benefit from Melissa's sharing of straightforward guidance on decks, spreads, card meanings, and symbols. Filled with real-life examples and personal explanations of what it's like to read the cards, "Kitchen Table Tarot" tells it like it is and provides the information even the most novice of tarot readers will need to use their decks with confidence. Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Kitchen Table Tarot" is a complete course of training in the use of the tarot under one cover. While very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections in general, and Tarot supplemental studies reading lists in particular, it should be noted that "Kitchen Table Tarot" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards
Sasha Fenton
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
65 Parker St., Ste. 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.hrpub.com
9781571747679, $16.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Knowing how to interpret tarot cards can enable us to understand ourselves and others better and be able to accurately predict what's going to happen in the future. "Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards" by professional astrologer, palmist, and tarot card reader Sasha Fenton is an accessible and easy guide that teaches how to use the tarot. Fenton's guidelines combined with the reader's intuition makes using the cards easy and fun. She provides the meaning of each card and suggestions for spreads that can be used for a variety of purposes -- from focusing on the consequences of a particular situation to resolving a particular question to providing clarity on personal relationships. She also shows us how to link the cards together in a life narrative. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards" is an ideal instruction manual and guide for novice tarot readers and is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Science collections in general, and Tarot Cards supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

Origins of the Sphinx
Robert M. Schoch & Robert Bauval
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620555255, $24.95, PB, 528pp, www.amazon.com

New research and evidence that the Sphinx is thousands of years older than previously thought. In "Origins of the Sphinx: Celestial Guardian of Pre-Pharaonic Civilization" Robert M. Schoch (a tenured faculty member at Boston University who earned his doctorate in geology and geophysics at Yale University, and is known for his research on the Sphinx), contrasts what Egyptologists claim about the Sphinx with historical accounts and new research including reanalysis of seismic studies and updates to Schoch's water weathering research and Bauval's Orion Correlation Theory. Professor Schoch also examines how the Sphinx is contemporaneous with Gobekli Tepe, aligned with the constellation Leo, and was recarved during the Old Kingdom era of Egypt. Of special note is the revelation that the Sphinx was built during the actual historical Golden Age of ancient Egypt, the period known in legend as Zep Tepi. Impressively informed and informative, exceptionally thoughtful and thought-provoking, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Origins of the Sphinx" is enhanced with illustrations, the inclusion of a twelve page Bibliography, an eleven page Index, and a one page listing of Books Of Related Interest. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Origins of the Sphinx" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.99).


The Needlecraft Shelf

The Fussy Cut Sampler
Nichole Ramirez & Elisabeth Woo
Lucky Spool Media
www.luckyspool.com
c/o The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781940655222, $27.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com

A favorite part of quilting for many needlecrafters is fussy cutting -- and it usually involves figuring out how to enhance an interesting quilt block by framing a favorite element in most-loved fabrics! With "The Fussy Cut Sampler: 48 Quilt Blocks from Your Favorite Fabrics" by quilting experts Nichole Ramirez and Elisabeth Wood, fussy cutting becomes more than just showing a single design. By following along with how Nichole and Elisabeth create drastically different samplers from each of their 48 unique patchwork blocks, quilt makers will see how those same 9'' blocks can easily be adapted to your own personal taste. Compare their blocks (and their samplers!) side by side, aspiring quilters will be inspired to use the fabrics they love to create their own sampler blocks. "The Fussy Cut Sampler shows how to navigate those pesky stripes, how to work with either a limited palette or an eclectic scrappy one, and how to incorporate improvisational piecing to fussy cut even the smallest parts of anyone's favorite designs. "The Fussy Cut Sampler" reveals the endless possibilities in a fabric stash and quilters simply won't be able to resist creating a fussy-cut sampler all their own. Beautifully illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Fussy Cut Sampler" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft collections in general, and Quilt Making supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

Pin Loom Weaving to Go
Margaret Stump
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811716130, $17.95, PB, 120pp, www.amazon.com

Expert weaver Margaret Stump draws upon her more than forty years of experience and expertise to provide step-by-step instructions for 25 portable pin loom weaving projects in "Pin Loom Weaving to Go". Palm-sized weaving looms go anywhere and make just about anything imaginable ranging from fashionable wrist cuffs to full-sized blankets. Featured are elegant wraps, a fun fox bag, an American flag blanket, pillows, pins, stylish scarves, and more. With beginning weavers in mind, "Pin Loom Weaving to Go" walks aspiring needlecrafters through how to weave on a 2" and 4" loom. Once knowing how to make a basic square and connect pieces, pin loom weavers will be well on their way to making any of these specific projects. "Pin Loom Weaving to Go" divides the projects into those that use a 2", 4", adjustable fine-gauge, and even a pot holder loom, and those that combine pieces from different looms, so it is easy to find a project and get started. "Pin Loom Weaving to Go" includes all the basics of pin loom weaving, beginning and medium level projects can be made on the go, simple weaving techniques for portable looms, instructions for making a simple 2" loom, and projects for standard 2" and 4" looms, as well as potholder looms and knitting looms. Unique and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Pin Loom Weaving to Go" is very highly recommended for community library Needlecraft collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Pin Loom Weaving to Go" is also available in a Kindle format ($16.99).

Little Loom Weaving
Andreia Gomes
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612436630, $16.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Andreia Gomes is a self-taught weaver, creative thinker, compulsive maker and interior stylist. Her work has been featured in CYL Collective, Makers Movement, Future Positive, Koel Magazine, A Montra/The Window and more. In "Little Loom Weaving: Quick and Clever Projects for Creating Adorable Stuff " she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to present a beautifully and profusely illustrated instruction manual covering everything needed to create trendy and timeless woven pieces on a small, portable loom. Packed with step-by-step 'user friendly' instructions, "Little Loom Weaving" covers such techniques as: Tabby Weave; Looping; Hemstitch; Open Slit; Rya Knot; and Soumak. Aspiring weavers will enjoy a range of projects that include: Wall Hangings; Bracelets; Pillows; Keychains; Recycled Materials; and Planters. While "Little Loom Weaving" is very highly recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of aspiring little loom weavers that it is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Bones of the Past
Craig A. Munro
Inkshares
99 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607
https://www.inkshares.com
9781942645337, $16.99, PB, 450pp, www.amazon.com

The Night Guard walk the streets of the old kingdom of Bialta seeking out threats that are beyond the abilities of the common soldier. As a girl changed into something "other" and on the hunt for human souls, Nial is one such threat. Salt, a sailor recently rescued by the Night Guard, has been inducted into their ranks. He's a quick study, but as new threats multiply all around them, will he have what it takes to survive? Bialta is not alone in its woes. Sacral, a city that vanished in the distant past, has reappeared where it once stood at the heart of the Wastes. Like many of Sacral's people, Maura is content living a quiet life, ignoring the outside world. But she finds herself desperately fighting to save her home as war comes to the city returned. Meanwhile, across the Great Desert, creatures are stirring. Carver, the last living master of the magic known as fleshcarving, has won the support of the tyrant of Tolrahk Esal. Together they will unleash his twisted creations to sweep across the land and forever disrupt the balance of power. "The Bones of the Past" is epic tale in which armies march, demons feed, and deities unleash their powers on a world that will never be the same. Author Craig Munro demonstrates originality and a genuine flair for deftly crafted fantasy action/adventure, making "The Bones of the Past" a very highly recommended addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans it should be noted that "The Bones of the Past" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl
Paige McKenzie
Weinstein Books
250 West 57th Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10107
www.weinsteinbooks.com
9781602862982, $17.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Is Sunshine Griffith who she thinks she is? Now that her powers are fully awakened, and having barely survived an abyss full of demons, Sunshine must figure out who-or what-has been organizing the forces of darkness against her. Thanks to her brainiac boyfriend, Nolan, they not only unearth that Sunshine's death would trigger a calamitous event, but that all civilization depends on her survival. So when an unexpected event unleashes a fierce war between the luiseach and the demon army, Sunshine will learn a shocking truth about herself. Can she bring herself to make the ultimate sacrifice to save humankind? The third and final volume of Paige McKenzie's outstanding fantasy action/adventure trilogy will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99). Also highly recommended are the first two books in the trilogy, "The Haunting of Sunshine Girl" and "The Awakening of Sunshine Girl".


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Untold History of Healing
Wolf D. Storl
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781623170936, $24.95, PB, 344pp, www.amazon.com

"The Untold History of Healing: Plant Lore and Medicinal Magic from the Stone Age to Present" by anthropologist, ethnobotanist and international natural horticulture advocate Wolf Strol takes the reader on a exciting, expansive journey of the history of medicine from the Stone Age to modern times, explaining that Western medicine has its true origins in the healing lore of Paleolithic hunters and gatherers, herding nomads, and the early sedentary farmers rather than in the academic tradition of doctors and pharmacists. This absorbing history of medicine takes the reader on a sweeping journey from the Stone Age to modern times, showing that Western medicine has its origins not only in the academic tradition of doctors and pharmacists, but in the healing lore of Paleolithic hunters and gatherers, herding nomads, and the early sedentary farmers. "The Untold History of Healing" vividly describes the many ways that ancient peoples have used the plants in their immediate environment, along with handed-down knowledge and traditions, to treat the variety of ailments they encountered in daily life. A truly impressive, informative, and deftly presented work of seminal scholarship, "The Untold History of Healing" is exceptionally well organized and is highly recommended for both scholars and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Health/Medicine collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Untold History of Healing" is also available in a Kindle format ($15.99).


The Crafts Shelf

The Absolute Beginners Guide: Jewelry Making with Resin
Theresa D. Abelew
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachstore.com
9781627004022, $21.99, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com

Theresa D. Abelew is the Editorial Associate for Art Jewelry magazine. She sells her work in galleries and fairs and can be found on Pinterest and Etsy (her shop is 2 Dog Studios). With "The Absolute Beginners Guide: Jewelry Making with Resin" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to offer 20 projects that go beyond simple resin pourings. Aspiring resin jewelry makers will learn to fold and form resin into lightweight and dramatic cuffs, layer colored resin into dimensional pendants, embed bits of wood, metal, or wire into unusual rings, and so much more. Each individual project includes clear, profusely illustrated, and easy-to-follow instructions with step-by-step instructional color photographs that are perfect for beginners new to the material. The focus is on the resin elements, but instructions and suggestions are included to complete each necklace, bracelet, ring, earring, and cuff. The techniques are simple enough for beginners to master and the results sophisticated enough to wear anywhere. An ideal instruction guide, "The Absolute Beginners Guide: Jewelry Making with Resin" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library crafts collections in general, and jewelry making supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Railroading Shelf

Great Western Star Class Locomotives
Laurence Waters
Pen & Sword Books
47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, S702AS
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781473871021, $50.00, HC, 152pp, www.amazon.com

Designed by G.J. Churchward, no. 40 was constructed at Swindon in April 1906\. It was Swindons first 4 cylinder simple engine and was the forerunner of Churchwards famous 4 cylinder Star Class 4-6-0s. Initially built as a 4-4-2 Atlantic, no. 40 was named North Star in September 1906, rebuilt as a 4-6-0 in 1909, and renumbered 4000 in 1913. Including no. 40, the Star class eventually numbered seventy-three locomotives, all built at Swindon in batches between 1906 and 1923. In service the Stars proved to be both free-running and reliable locomotives, and for many years were used to haul the Great Westerns top link services, including the world-famous Cornish Riviera Express. The introduction of the Collett Castle Class 4-6-0s in 1923, and the King Class 4-6-0s in 1927, saw the Stars relegated to secondary passenger, freight and parcels services. A number of Stars were rebuilt by Collett as Castles, including the prototype no. 4000 North Star, but the remaining Stars continued to give good service. At Nationalisation in 1948, no less than forty-seven of these fine locomotives passed into Western Region ownership, the last example, no. 4056 Princess Margaret, being withdrawn in October 1957. In "Great Western Star Class Locomotives", Laurence Waters (Honorary Photo Archivist of the Great Western Trust at the Didcot Railway Centre) deftly charts the history of the class from the prototype, right through to the final workings in October 1957. Using many previously unpublished photographs from the Great Western Trust photographic collection, accompanied by informative captions, every member of the Class is illustrated. "Great Western Star Class Locomotives" will have special appeal to those interested in the history of Great Western locomotive development as well as dedicated railroad modelers. Impressively informative and profusely illustrated form cover to cover, "Great Western Star Class Locomotives" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, community, and academic library Railroading History collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Great Western Star Class Locomotives" is also available in a Kindle format ($30.00).


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess, Book 3
Action Lab Entertainment
www.actionlabcomics.com
9781632291400 $14.99 pbk / $5.99 Kindle amazon.com

Set in the fantastic world of "Princeless", where women are often (by necessity or by their own will) as fierce and daring adventurers as men, Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess - Two Boys, Five Girls and Three Love Stories continues the full-color, graphic novel saga of Raven, a pirate princess determined to take back the inheritance stolen by her violent brothers. But Ximena, one of Raven's female crew members, has suffered an injury that may yet be fatal. Raven tries to get medical help from the Island of Free Women, but its legendary healer hates pirates with a passion! Two Boys, Five Girls and Three Love Stories lives up to its title with self-contained, flashback legends and love stories that interconnect with the present-day dilemma. And there might just be a budding love between Raven and Ximena - if Ximena doesn't die, and if Raven doesn't chicken out! Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess, Book 3 is a no-holds-barred adventure for readers ages nine to ninety, highly recommended.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap / Phantom Hourglass Legendary Edition
Akira Himekawa
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
www.viz.com
9781421589626 $17.99 amazon.com

Consisting of a single omnibus volume, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap / Phantom Hourglass Legendary Edition retells the stories of two beloved Legend of Zelda video games in black- and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) format. Both games are part of the classic "Wind Waker" lineage featuring cartoon-style graphics (to the extent that their rendition of the hero Link has been informally dubbed "Toon Link"), and the free-flowing art style perfectly captures the games' visual aesthetics. The two stories have a timeless, fairy-tale fantasy quality that will appeal to readers of all ages. Each follows young Link on a journey to battle an evil force plaguing the land... or the sea! A smattering of concept art and a brief "behind-the-scenes" glimpse into the creation of other Legend of Zelda manga round out this treasure for fans of the series.

Dragonball Super 1
Story by Akira Toriyama
Art by Toyotarou
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421592541 $9.99 www.viz.com

Set after the hero Goku's epic quest to defeat the evil Boo, Dragonball Super 1 is a new black- and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) adventure crafted by Akira Toiryama and brought to life with Toyotarou's dynamic artwork. Goku's peaceful days are interrupted by a new danger - the God of Destruction, Beerus, who threatens to annihilate Earth unless provided with sufficient entertainment! Can Goku revive the legendary "Super Sayan God" before Beerus destroys the planet out of boredom? An action-packed saga of power that literally transcends the universe, Dragonball Super 1 is a "must" especially for fans of the series.

Immortal Hounds 4
Ryo Yasohachi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993872 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Immortal Hounds 4 continues the surreal, postmodern saga set in a world where all human beings naturally resurrect from death. Resurrection is the perfect cure for every possible injury or illness, except one: Resurrection Deficiency Syndrome, or RDS. RDS permanently takes away a person's ability to resurrect, and often is not discovered until too late. The "vectors" who knowingly spread RDS - supposedly by getting their victims to fall in love with them - effectively act as serial killers in a world of immortals! Vectors come from another world, spread RDS to earn "points" to buy immortality, and receive protection from "Escape Artists" when they are caught. In Immortal Hounds 4, the conflict between Detective Shin'ichi Kenzaki (whose sister was murdered by a vector) and Rin Kazama (a skilled Escape Artist) comes to a crucial turning point, during Rin's risky attempt to rescue the vector Snow White. More is also revealed about Rin's master, the mysterious Mama, and Rin's own blood-soaked history. Immortal Hounds is highly recommended for mature readers ages 16+, due to scenes of violence.

Devils' Line 6
Ryo Hanada
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993919 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Devils' Line 6 continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) set in a world where a fraction of the human population are "devils" or "vampires". Though devils appear like ordinary humans at first glance, they are far stronger and more agile, and arousal or exposure to human blood can drive them into a frenzy that causes them to kill or rape. A mysterious organization known as the CCC is trying to incite and escalate fear of devils, and to further their cause, the CCC will kill both humans and devils without remorse. The half-devil police officer Anzai and his associates have acquired leverage over members of the CCC, including Seven, who originally joined the CCC because a devil raped and murdered her mother. Volume 6 explores Seven's tragic past in-depth, and Anzai's suppressed memories bubble to the surface with a surprising revelation. Devils' Line is a fascinating examination of the dark side of humanity, highly recommended for readers age 13+ due to mature themes and some scenes of graphic violence.

Red Range: A Wild Western Adventure
Joe R. Lansdale, author
Sam Glanzman, illustrator
IDW Publishing
2765 Truxtun Road, San Diego, CA 92106
www.idwpublishing.com
9781631409943, $19.99, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com

In a tale of hope set amidst the hyper violence of America's 19th century, this new edition of "Red Range" tells the tale of Red Mask, a tough as nails vigilante who rides to fight the tragic racism of a Klan-dominated Texas. This simply outstanding western action/adventure story also entails a bit of 'Hollow Earth' science fiction. Written by multiple Bram Stoker Award winner Joe Lansdale and illustrated by Golden Age comic book master and Sam Glanzman, this outstanding and inherently compelling graphic novel (in color for the first time) includes an informative Introduction by Mojo Press' Richard Klaw and an Afterword by Stephen R. Bissette. As a bonus, this edition of "Red Range" includes a little-seen story by Glanzman, "I Could Eat a Horse!" A gripping and starkly presented tale of savage vengeance, stone cold justice, "Red Range" is an extraordinary and highly recommended story that is especially to any and all graphic novel fans. It should be noted that "Red Range" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

Love: The Dinosaur
Frederic Brremaud and Federico Bertolucci
Magnetic Press
www.magnetic-press.com
9781942367369 $17.99 amazon.com

Fourth in the "Love" series of color graphic novels about wildlife, "Love: The Dinosaur" is visually stunning, wordless, realistically drawn saga. No single dinosaur is the sole focus of Love: The Dinosaur; species that appear include Bambiraptor Feinbergi, Dimetrodon, Triceratops Horridus, the flying Cnetochasma, and the indomitable Tyrannosaurus Rex. Every day is a struggle to survive in the prehistoric era, especially for smaller dinosaurs who are at constant risk of being trampled or eaten! A lavish, immersive saga of predators and prey in their natural habitat, Love: The Dinosaur is a "must-read" for dinosaur fans of all ages. Highly recommended.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Midas Legacy: A Novel
Andy McDermott, author
Read by Gildart Jackson
HighBridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781681684758 $49.99 https://highbridgeaudio.com

Superbly performed Gildart Jackson, by The Midas Legacy is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a globe-spanning thriller. Discovering the fabled city of Atlantis was just the beginning for Nina Wilde and her ex-SAS husband Eddie Chase; for the sake of humankind, they must race against implacable enemies to uncover the truth about the legend of King Midas. Extraordinary and captivating, The Midas Legacy is highly recommended for action-intrigue connoisseurs. 17 CDs, 20.5 hours.

Enchanted Islands
Allison Amend, author
Performed by Dina Pearlman
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
$9.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Enchanted Islands is an unabridged MP3 audiobook (plays on MP3-CD enabled players or transfers to portable devices) of a novel following Frances Frankowski, a woman who came of age at the beginning of the twentieth century, only to suffer bitter betrayal from her closest female friend. As she approaches middle age, she works as a secretary for the Office of Naval Intelligence, where she meets Ainslie Conway, an intelligence operator ten years younger. The two are arranged to be married and carry out an operation in the Galapagos Islands. Though their new home is beautiful, it surrounds them with daunting wildlife and unfriendly neighbors. Yet the greatest threat does not lie without; it lies within, amid the secrets each of them harbors. A complex, interpersonal saga, Enchanted Islands will keep the listener captivated to the very end. 1 MP3 CD, 11 hours.


The Music CD Shelf

Part of a Kindly Plan
Nathan Speir
www.nathanspeir.com
Neptic Music
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Part of a Kindly Plan is the ninth instrumental album by music artist Nathan Speir, and features primarily acoustic instruments including acoustic piano, steel and nylon; string acoustic guitars; wooden flute; cello; harmonica; rain-stick and singing bowls. (A couple tunes involve synthesizer to replicate a string-section). The result is a glowing, ambient river of mellifluous dreams. Part of a Kindly Plan is a pleasure to experience, and highly recommended for instrumental music connoisseurs. The tracks are "Hued Embowment" (6:10), "As We Turn" (3:55), "Good Seasons" (4:35), "A Taste of Solace" (4:59), "Open Ranges" (6:02), "Passing Charcoal Clouds" (3:08), "Serenity In This House" (4:58), "Praxis" (5:25), "Familiar Orbits" (7:00), and "Breathing On The Shore" (8:55).

Nightfall London
Rick Sparks
www.ricksparksmusic.net
Privately Published
$9.99 CD / $7.99 download cdbaby.com

Nightfall London is a beautiful new age album designed to aid relaxation with its tranquil piano music, gently arranged with synthesizer to add layers and depth. Some electronic keyboards and individual string instruments, flutes, chimes, and choirs enrich this restful, revitalizing collection, highly recommended especially when winding down after a long day. The tracks are "Across the River" (5:25), "Nightfall London" (4:58), "Little Angel" (3:08), "First Love" (4:28), "Tokyo Rain" (4:29), "Beyond the Stars" (4:03), "In the Bleak Midwinter" (4:19), "Hearts As One" (4:29), "Highland Rose" (4:58), and "Evening Prayer" (5:28).

Open Sea / Mar Abierto
Jenny and the Mexicats
Mexciat Records
www.jennyandmexicats.com
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com

Open Sea / Mar Abierto is a music CD by Jenny and the Mexicats, featuring lively, original songs in both Spanish and English. Freely mixing elements of jazz, rockabilly, folk, flamenco, and reggae. A flamboyant celebration open to all, Open Sea / Mar Abierto is as rich and boundless as the ocean, and a vivacious treat for international music connoisseurs. The tracks are "La Primera Desperada", "Boxes", "Born in the City", "Aprendimos", "La Diabla", "ApliFire", "Lion", "Ausencia", "Fantasmas", "Canela y Azabache", "Tanto Tiempo", "Under my Skin", and "Why Why".

Wood and Strings
John Stein and Dave Zinno
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road, No. Dartmouth, MA 02747
www.whalingcitysound.com
c/o Naxos (distribution)
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
$14.99 http://johnstein.com

Wood and Strings is a jazz album featuring an unusual duet for the genre - guitar paired with bass, played by John Stein and Dave Zinno. An adventurous leap forward in harmony, experimentation, and conversational interplay between instruments, Wood and Strings is unique, exciting, and highly recommended. The tracks are "I Remember You" (4:17), "Modinha" (4:44), "Up and at 'Em" (3:21), "Out of Nowhere" (5:37), "Switch-a-roo" (5:45, "Sarlat" (4:40), "Labor of Love "(4:51), "Estate" (4:46), "Song for Now" (6:01), "But Beautiful" (5:51), "Beatrice" (4:53), "Birk's Works" (5:42), "Til There Was You" (6:19), and "When Lights are Low" (4:48).

duende libre
duende libre
Privately Published
duendelibre.rockpaperscissors.biz
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

This self-titled debut album of Latin music trio duende libre (Alex Chasey on piano and keyboards, Farko Dosumov providing electric bass and voice, and Jeff "Bongo" Busch on drums and percussion) is a liberating mix of creativity, community, and collective expression. Rich and resounding, duende libre is an up-and-coming wonder highly recommended especially to connoisseurs of the genre seeking bold, fresh new talent. The tracks are "Rio Pescadores" (6:09), "Forgotten Well" (5:51), "Michel" (5:42), "Funkination" (6:59), "Razzle Dazzle" (4:39), "Sevilla" (8:00), "Moon Waltz" (5:43), "For the Rekkerd" (4:20), "Salif" (4:42), "Still" (8:37), and "Sinister Minister" (6:41).


The DVD Shelf

Tai Chi for Body and Mind Fitness
Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi with Pat Akers
White Crane Productions
9781684183647 $34.95 www.whitecranevideo.com

Hosted by traditional Yang style Tai Chi instructor Pat Akers, Tai Chi for Body and Mind Fitness is a DVD designed for both beginner and advanced students of the art. Featuring step-by-step instructions, front and rear demonstrations of every tai chi movement, advice for improved balance and posture, tips especially for individuals with physical limitations, and more, Tai Chi for Body and Mind Fitness is an excellent addition to fitness DVD collections and a great way to learn Tai Chi for benefits in health and mental focus. Highly recommended! 2 DVDs, 283 min.

Beginner Qigong for Women
Daisy Lee, instructor
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
$29.95 each www.ymaa.com

Two DVDs in the Beginner Qigong for Women series demystify the ancient practice of qigong (energy cultivation) for health, stress relief, and improved quality of life. Both feature Radiant Lotus Women's Qigong, a practice crafted by instructor Daisy Lee after years of study with several qigong masters, and intended especially to support women's wellness. The movements can be performed while sitting or standing. "Radiant Lotus Healing Qigong Exercises with Daisy Lee" is a one-hour lesson that includes shaking and cupping to bolster immunity; self-massage to release stagnant qi; Tibetan vibrational sound healing; and more. "Radiant Lotus Medical Qigong Forms with Daisy Lee" is a one-hour lesson that covers balancing movement; anti-aging exercises; a bonus section on acupressure points for health and longevity; and more. Both DVDs are a user-friendly introduction to the benefits of Qigong, and especially recommended for health and fitness DVD collections.

Golden Years: Armed and Elderly
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$29.99 www.acornonline.com

Golden Years: Armed and Elderly is a feature-length British drama-comedy about an elderly couple pushed by injustice to embark on a criminal heist. The financial industry stole their pensions, so to make ends meet, they decide to steal their pensions back and help their impoverished friends! High-stakes humor laces this exciting "revenge of the retied" adventure! Bonus features include interviews with the cast and crew (15 min). 1 DVD, 96 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles.

Wentworth Season 3
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$59.99 www.acornonline.com

Wentworth Season 3 continues the acclaimed Australian television drama set in the confines of a women's prison. Prisoner Bea Smith (played by Danielle Cormack), sentenced to life without parole, asserts herself as the dominant alpha among the inmates; with the aid of both prisoners and officers, she wages a cunning war against the cruel governor Joan "The Freak" Ferguson (played by Pamela Rabe). But the conflict has damaging repercussions that neither strong-willed woman could have anticipated! A gritty, tense story of hard choices and moral dilemmas, "Wentworth" is a "must-see" for connoisseurs of Australian drama. Bonus materials include 44 min. of behind-the-scenes featurettes and a photo gallery. 12 episodes on 4 DVDs, 580 min plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.


The Social Issues Shelf

Fighting the Death Penalty
Eugene G. Wanger
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611862317, $39.95, HC, 300pp, www.amazon.com

Michigan is the only state in the country that has a death penalty prohibition in its constitution, and in "Fighting the Death Penalty: A Fifty-Year Journey of Argument and Persuasion" by lawyer and longtime opponent of capital punishment Eugene G. Wanger presents a series of compelling arguments for its abolition. The forty pieces comprising "in "Fighting the Death Penalty" are writings created or used by Wanger, who penned the prohibition clause regarding the death penalty, during his fifty years as a death penalty abolitionist. Wanger's extraordinary background in forensics, law, and political activity as constitutional convention delegate and co-chairman of the Michigan Committee Against Capital Punishment has produced this remarkable collection. "Fighting the Death Penalty" is not only a fifty-year history of the anti - death penalty argument in America, it also is a detailed and challenging example of how the argument against capital punishment may be successfully made. An inherently thoughtful and thought-provoking read from beginning to end, "Fighting the Death Penalty" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Fighting the Death Penalty" is also available in a Kindle format ($31.95).


The Technology Shelf

The ABCs of Fiber Optic Communication
Sudhir Warier
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630814144, $149.00, HC, 322pp, www.amazon.com

"The ABCs of Fiber Optic Communication" by Sudhir Warier (Principle Mentor at Cognitio) is unique and practical handbook providing the conceptual framework and troubleshooting tactics related to the manufacturing, selection, and installation of modern photonic networks, including optical fiber plants, optical transceivers, test and measurement equipment, and network architecture of SDH, OTN, IP/MPLS, FTTx networks, and PON. This resource includes the latest technological advancements and industry applications while covering the entire fiber ecosystem from installation to troubleshooting including the use of common tools like LPM (laser source and power meter) to overcome common issues related to optical patching and fiber plants and also discusses the use of specialized tools including the optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) for issues with fiber plants and locating fiber breaks. Readers will gain an understanding of the architecture of core TDM, IP, and Optical Access Networks including PON. Specific methodologies are explored for assessing OTN, DWDM, IT/MPLS, Optical Access Networks - PON/GPON or FTTx networks. Key parameters that influence the choice of fiber based on the network and application type are discussed. Exceptionally well organized, presented, and unreservedly recommended for both professional and academic library collections, "The ABCs of Fiber Optic Communication" also provides an overview of the current and future developments in optical fibers, interfaces, transceivers and backbone networks.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Reinvention Roadmap
Liz Ryan
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781942952688, $19.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

The underlying message of Liz Ryan in "Reinvention Roadmap: Break the Rules to Get the Job You Want and Career You Deserve" is that traditional job-search approaches just don't work anymore, and the days of trusting your career to your employer are long over. The new-millennium workplace requires all of us to rewrite the rules and start treating our careers like we're running a business - which means understanding the markets for our talents, knowing our value, and looking out over the horizon to plot our paths going forward. A former Fortune 500 HR SVP and the world's most widely read workplace thought leader, Ryan understands the recruiting system as only an insider can, and she shows how to stay focused on goals and distinguish oneself from masses of competing job seekers. "Reinvention Roadmap" offers new tools, such as a "Pain Letter" and your "Human-Voiced Resume" to land not just any job, but a job that celebrates the readers' own unique talents and takes them to the level where they want to be. Whether entering the workplace or looking to switch careers, with the help of "Reinvention Roadmap" anyone can get the perfect job if they step off the beaten path and follow the approaches insiders use to gain access to the best positions. Colorful, fun, irreverent, and a deeply practical guide to getting the job you want and building the career of your dreams, "Reinvention Roadmap" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, making it very highly recommended for community and academic library Jobs/Careers instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Reinvention Roadmap" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Computer Shelf

Computer Graphics Programming in OpenGL with Java
V. Scott Gordon & John Clevenger
Mercury Books
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781683920274, $64.95, HC, 346pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of computer experts and California State Univeristy academicians V. Scott Gordon and John Clevenger, and appropriate for both the computer science undergraduate course in 3D graphics programming using OpenGL and for professionals who are interested in mastering 3D graphics skills, "Computer Graphics Programming in OpenGL with Java" has been specifically designed in a 4-color, "teach-yourself" format with numerous examples that the reader can run just as presented. "Computer Graphics Programming in OpenGL with Java" is unique because it teaches OpenGL programming in Java, using JOGL - a standard Java "wrapper" for OpenGL's native C calls. Enhanced with the inclusion of companion files with source code and images, "Computer Graphics Programming in OpenGL with Java" is impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it very highly recommended for personal, professional, community and academic library Computer Science collections. For the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject it should be noted that "Computer Graphics Programming in OpenGL with Java" is also available in a Kindle format ($39.95).


The Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf

The Wildcrafted Cocktail
Ellen Zachos
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612127422, $18.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Unique and profusely illustrated, "The Wildcrafted Cocktail: Make Your Own Foraged Syrups, Bitters, Infusions, and Garnishes; Includes Recipes for 45 One-of-a-Kind Mixed Drinks" by Ellen Zachos (who teaches mixology workshops for bartenders and a longtime instructor at the New York Botanical Garden) combines the popular local-foods movement and craft cocktail scene to show just how easy it is to make delicious, one-of-a-kind mixed drinks with common flowers, berries, roots, and leaves that can be found along roadsides or in a backyard. An experienced foraging expert, Ellen Zachos has compiled recipes for more than 50 garnishes, syrups, infusions, juices, and bitters, including Quick Pickled Daylily Buds, Rose Hip Syrup, and Chanterelle-infused Rum. With "The Wildcrafted Cocktail" anyone can incorporate their own handcrafted components into 45 surprising and delightful cocktails ranging from Stinger in the Rye, to Don't Sass Me, to Tree-tini, and more. While very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Wildcrafted Cocktail" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Gaming Shelf

Tricky Trivia Party Games
Birke Duncan
Northwest Folklore
PO Box 253, Poulsbo, WA 98370
9780971058231, $9.99, PB, 60pp, www.amazon.com

The word 'trivia' refers to bits of information, often of little importance, and are the basis of popular general information-based games at home and in such public places as bars and pubs. "Tricky Trivia Party Games" is a 60 page compilation of game-worthy trivia assembled by author, folklorist, historian, dramatist and magician Birke Duncan. A thoroughly fun read in its own right, "Tricky Trivia Party Games" touches upon miscellaneous facts arising from movies, television shows, sports, politics, and more. Enhanced with the inclusion of a suggested list of Recommended Readings and a Selected Bibliography, "Tricky Trivia Party Games" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to community and academic library trivia reference collections, as well as the personal reading lists of anyone wanting to conduct a trivia contest of their own -- or simply improve their own performance at trivia contests at their favorite watering hole.


The Sports Shelf

1001 NASCAR Facts
John Close
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613253106, $24.95, PB, 376pp, www.amazon.com

Stock car racing has its origins with moonshine runners during the Prohibition era. For nearly 70 years, NASCAR has been the premier sanctioning body for organized Stock Car Racing in the United States. During that time, the sport has grown from a Southern, regional series to a global brand with its races telecast in more than 100 countries around the world. In "1001 NASCAR Facts", NASCAR journalist, author, team member, race-day Spotter, and fan John Close details the earliest races of the 20th Century that laid the groundwork for the formation of NASCAR through today's modern events at mega-race stadiums across the country. Presented in an easy-to-read decade-by-decade "Fact Format," "1001 NASCAR Facts" allows you to learning about the Cars (and Trucks), Personalities, Tracks, and Milestones of NASCAR, America's most popular and attended form of motorsports at your own pace. Enhanced with the inclusion of dozens of rare and informative photos that take you from the famed "Beach Course" at Daytona to the high banks of today's NASCAR tracks, "1001 NASCAR Facts" is a must read for any NASCAR, Stock Car Racing, and American Motorsports fan and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition for both community and academic library Automotive History collections in general, and NASCAR History supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

St. Louis Cardinals Where Have You Gone?, revised edition
Rob Rains with Keith Schildroth
Sports Publishing
www.sportspubbooks.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781683580300 $19.99 hc / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and revised edition, St. Louis Cardinals Where Have You Gone? chronicles the lives of legendary baseball stars who were once part of the St. Louis Cardinals team. From All-Star catcher Ted Simmons, to 2011 NLDS hero Skip Schumaker, to 2014 Basball Hall of Fame inductee Tony La Russa and many more, here's the true-life scoop about what dozens of star Cardinals players have been up to! Occasional black-and-white photographs round out this anthology of brief yet intriguing biographies, especially recommended for Cardinals fans.


The Interior Design Shelf

New Bathroom Idea Book
Jamie Gold
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631864056, $21.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The bathroom continues to be one area of the house that homeowners are willing to spend money on. This all-new edition of the Taunton Press "Bathroom Idea Book" (a virtual designer's notebook of ideas, inspiration, and information) will be a homeowner's first step in turning a dream bath into a real one, whether it's new construction or a remodel. Author Jamie Gold (is a Certified Kitchen Designer and Certified Aging in Place Specialist in the greater San Diego area) draws upon his years of experience and expertise in this lavishly illustrated (325 photos and 15 illustrations) edition of the "New Bathroom Idea Book" to provide design options for all areas of the bathroom, ranging from vanities and countertops, to fixtures, flooring, and finish details. Up-to-the-minute information on new trends like digital integration in the bathroom, new materials that mimic natural materials, accessibility and aging-in-place options, and code changes that mandate water and energy conservation make this new edition of "New Bathroom Idea Book" is the practical go-to resource for all things bathroom. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "New Bathroom Idea Book" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Interior Design reference collections in general, and Bathroom Remodeling supplemental studies lists in particular.


The Biography Shelf

John Ringo: King of the Cowboys
David Johnson
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574416725 $19.95 pbk / $11.99 Kindle amazon.com

John Ringo: King of the Cowboys is the fascinating biography of Western gunman John Ringo, best known for backing the Cowboys against the Earps in Tombstone. His life reads like a pulp fiction western - he was embroiled in blood fueds during his youth in post-Reconstruction Texas and during the Mason County "Hoo Doo" War; he was part of a shootout with Victorio's raiders in New Mexico; he championed Democratic ranchers against the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday; and in the end, he died in the Arizona desert to mysterious circumstances. Extensive notes and an index enrich this in-depth chronicle, written with scholarly precision yet thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library biography shelves.

A Witness to History
Janet M. Neugebauer, author
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
www.ttupress.org
9780896729889, $45.00, HC, 576pp, www.amazon.com

"A Witness to History: George H. Mahon, West Texas Congressman" by Janet M. Neugebauer (Deputy Director of the Southwest Collection at Texas Tech University) is the story of a man who went to Congress in 1935, when the House Committee on Appropriations still allocated a small amount of money to buy military horses. Forty-four years later, when Congressman Mahon retired as Chairman of that same committee, the committee was debating funds to purchase a bomber capable of traveling at 2,000 miles an hour. With a career spanning nearly a half century-including almost the entire Cold War, Mahon grew from a West Texas country lawyer to one of the most powerful men in the US House of Representatives, serving twenty-two consecutive terms from 1935-1978. During his time in Congress, Mahon worked easily with the giants of government, enjoying the friendship and confidence of seven of the eight presidents with whom he served. He worked just as comfortably with his constituents in the Nineteenth Congressional District of Texas. Mahon served on several Congressional committees, but it is through his service on the House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations that he had the greatest national impact. He often bragged that under his leadership the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations was the most non-partisan committee in Congress. Mahon led the subcommittee with a strong but gentle hand that earned him the respect of all who served with him. An extraordinary, comprehensive, informed and informative political biography that is impressively well organized and presented, "A Witness to History" is enhanced with illustrations, fifty-two pages of Notes, a twenty page Bibliography, and a twenty-three page Index, making is a very highly recommended addition to community and academic library Biography and Political Science collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Graham Barnett
James L. Coffey, Russell M. Drake, John T. Barnett
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574416671, $29.95, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com

Graham Barnett was killed in Rankin, Texas, on December 6, 1931. His death brought an end to a storied career, but not an end to the legends that claimed he was a gunman, a hired pistolero on both sides of the border, a Texas Ranger known for questionable shootings in Company B under Captain Fox, a deputy sheriff, a bootlegger, and a possible "fixer" for both law enforcement and outlaw organizations. In real life he was a good cowboy, who provided for his family the best way he could, and who did so by slipping seamlessly between the law enforcement community and the world of illegal liquor traffickers. Stories say he killed unnumbered men on the border, but he stood trial only twice and was acquitted both times. Barnett lived in the twentieth century but carried with him many of the attitudes of old frontier Texas. Among those beliefs was that if there were problems, a man dealt with them directly and forcefully with a gun. His penchant to settle a score with gunplay brought him into confrontation with Sheriff W. C. Fowler, a former friend, who shot Barnett with the latter's own submachine gun on loan. One contemporary summed it up best: "Officers in West Texas got the best sleep they had had in twenty years that Sunday night after Fowler killed Graham." A simply riveting, comprehensively detailed, and definitive account that is enhanced with the inclusion of illustrations, fifty-four pages of Endnotes; an eight page Bibliography; and a ten page Index, by the team of James L. Coffey (a former education consultant who worked with school districts in West Texas and lives in San Angelo, Texas), Russell M. Drake (a journalist who worked in Texas and California), and John T. Barnett (who is Graham Barnett's grandson), "Graham Barnett: A Dangerous Man" is very highly recommended for community and academic library American Biography collections in general, and the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in true life stories of real Texas gunfighters.


The Travel Shelf

Yucatan Peninsula
Liza Prado and Gary Chandler
Moon Handbooks
c/o Avalon Travel
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.moon.com
9781631214103 $23.99 pbk / $14.99 Kindle amazon.com

Part of the "Moon Handbooks" series of top-rate travel guides, Yucatan Peninsula is packed with maps, color photographs, and a propensity of information about the Yucatan Peninsula in southeastern Mexico. From the opportunity to explore Maya ruins, to the best spots for diving and snorkeling, to wildlife tours, sunny beaches, safety tips, and more. "Beware of any taxi driver who tries to convince you that the hotel you're going to is closed, roach infested, flooded, burned down, has no running water... As sincere as the driver might seem, he is more often that not retaliating against hotels that refuse to pay a finder's fee... You may have to be firm, but insist that your driver take you to the hotel of your choice. Your best option is to call ahead for a room reservation, which also serves to confirm that the hotel actually is open and operational." Yucatan Peninsula is a "must-have" for anyone traveling to this gorgeous region for business or pleasure, highly recommended.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Story You Need to Tell
Sandra Marinella, MA, MEd
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608684830, $17.95, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "The Story You Need to Tell: Writing to Heal from Trauma, Illness, or Loss", Sandra Marinella draws upon her many years of experience and expertise as a writing instructor who has taught thousands of students and fellow educators and presented hundreds of workshops to veterans, educators, and cancer patients to provide a practical and inspiring guide to transformational personal storytelling. "The Story You Need to Tell" features riveting true stories illustrating Marinella's methods for understanding, telling, and editing personal stories in ways that foster resilience and renewal. She also shares her own experience of using journaling and expressive writing to navigate challenges including breast cancer and postpartum depression. Each of the writing techniques, prompts, and exercises she presents helps us "to unravel the knot inside and to make sense of loss". Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Story You Need to Tell" is especially commended for community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Story You Need to Tell" is also available in a Kindle format ($10.97).


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance
John Capecci & Irene Ziegler, editors
Smith & Kraus Publishers
177 Lyme Road, Lyme NH 03755-6610
www.smithandkraus.com
9781575259109, $24.95, PB, 524pp, www.amazon.com

A five-minute play can be as entertaining as any two-hour production. "105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance" is a compendium of 105 theatrical gems that are perfect for classroom study or a rollicking performance evening. these short and succinct theatrical works offer rich, complete worlds that are alternately lyrical, narrative, concrete and abstract. Some pack a wallop with powerful images while others use crackling dialogue to quickly establish character and motivation some move at the speed of light. Others freeze moments fo calm meditation. Still others capture historic moments, dream states or slapstick absurdity. Along with contemporary works by both new and established playwrights, editors Capecci and Ziegler have gathered historical examples-such as those of the Italian Futurists and an early playlist by Thornton Wilder-and they offer useful tips for the study and performance of these brief and bright works. "105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to school drama department, community theatre group, community and academic library Theatrical Studies collections.


The Education Shelf

College 101, revised edition
Julie Zeilinger
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781618216267 $14.95 amazon.com

Now in a revised edition, College 101: A Girl's Guide to Freshman Year lives up to its title as a no-nonsense compendium of practical advice. Chapters address the practical ramifications of debt, balancing academics with daily life, staying healthy both physically and emotionally, and much more. "I'm constantly astonished by how many young women I know who, although they have taken out loans, are barely educated about the types of loans they're saddled with and how those loans can and will impact them in the future... their financial decision could lead to delaying motherhood, could put undue strain on their romantic relationships, could sentence them to night after night of watching 60 Minutes on their parents' couches into their 30s." Although College 101 is written especially for girls, young men shouldn't consider it forbidden knowledge - college is a tough enough, and costly enough, that students of both genders need all the help preparing for it that they can get! Highly recommended.

Colleges That Create Futures, second edition
Robert Franek
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.PrincetonReview.com
9780451487834 $14.99 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Now in an updated second edition, Colleges That Create Futures is a solid guide to selecting the college that will best launch one's future career. Entries for each college cover career services, internship support, student group activity, alumni satisfaction, noteworthy facilities and programs, and more. As college tuition continues to revise, and "return on investment" becomes more and more important, Colleges That Create Futures is absolutely invaluable and indispensable!


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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