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California Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews
Carolyn Korsmeyer, et.al., Editors
Carolyn Korsmeyer, Publisher
9798991200257, $3.99 Kindle, $11.99 Paperback, 284pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Feisty-Deeds-II-Historical-Batches/dp/B0GFJZ42RY
Book Funnel
https://buy.bookfunnel.com/hv51sg2w3u
"Half (more or less) of the people confronting any memorable moment, be it a battle or a famine or the toppling of an empire, were female. That's decades, centuries, eons of women experiencing history not as some distant story but as life, the backdrop and the foreground for their every thought, word or action."
Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews is the second book in the Feisty Deeds anthology to celebrate women. This story delves into the potions, brews, medicines and foods women concocted in the course of supporting families, their lives, and their objectives. Lest readers think these tales will comprise some sort of cooking memoir, be advised that what's being cooked up are connections to life, death, and survival. These shatter the notion that women of the past were less thinking, proactive, or empowered than those in modern times.
Take "Snowberry Season" by Ashley E. Sweeney, for example. Flora McTavish's 1800s Oregon life is vivid as she struggles with loving another woman in an era where such love is not only forbidden, but unknown. How this connects with Scotland, faeries, forbidden unions, and clever plots makes for an engrossing tale of discovery, determination, and action that draws with personal revelation and cements with a sense of revenge and betrayal.
"Love Happily Ever After" by Patty W. Warren is set in North Carolina in 1969, offering a more contemporary view of women's lives and mettle. Here, modern witches with love potions and Ada's determination to help her fellow woman coalesce in a warm description of fabulous meals, wellsprings of happiness, and a lasting legacy one woman concocts out of her own life successes.
N.J. Mastro's "Breadline" is set in 1939 Minnesota and captures the unwritten rules of being women during those times as the first-person narrator offers her younger protegee words of wisdom for survival: "The first lesson is this: bread is like money during hard times like these." It turns out that bread is more than a food as the story builds an evocative structure that reflects on survival tactics, politics, and hunger.
Each story crafts a different place, time, and circumstances of feisty women interacting on levels that both drive and support their strengths as they make choices that impact their worlds. Each offers a sense of enchantment as these revelations transmit to readers different sensory perceptions of women who employ their powers and abilities in new directions. These embrace culinary and herbal wisdom in building the kinds of connections that make a difference in their worlds.
Librarians and readers seeking stories that are heartwarming, tender and purposeful, and evocative will find Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews provides diverse lessons in history and experience that are cemented by women's experiences and approaches to life. Touching in its personal lives, powerful in its diversity and scope, and satisfyingly thought-provoking for book clubs and reader group discussion, Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews both supports the prior Feisty Deeds short story collection and stands alone as a compelling exploration of women's experiences and perceptions as they reach for new inner strengths and transmit them into the world around them.
The Political Science Shelf
The Naked Communist
W. Cleon Skousen
Izzard Ink Publishing
www.izzardink.com
9781642281262, $34.95 Hardcover/$19.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Communist-Exposing-Communism-Restoring/dp/1630729221
The Naked Communist: Exposing Communism and Restoring Freedom is a treatise on Communism that goes beyond competing books that seek to define it or review its history. It redefines the presence and nature of Communism in action around the world. This revised edition of a classic work considers the impact of Communist ideology in various ways, from its incarnation in Russia to its appearance in the United States - but of particular interest here are the insights about the covert manner in which Communism infiltrates societies. Those insights about how its ideology contrasts with others and how it is spread cast a thought-provoking light on how Communism conquers not just nations, but hearts.
The study is heavily footnoted with historical references, which will delight scholars that seek source materials and contentions backed by facts. Political clashes and incidents between nations, questions designed to provoke reader consideration and group debates, and reviews of history which consider nuances of Communist history that readers may not draw from other books make The Naked Communist a standout: "While communist espionage channels were being perfected in the United States, similar subversive networks were being built throughout the world. Soon Stalin found the state secrets of all the major powers pouring in so fast that he was able to play the worldwide game of power politics like a professional gambler who sits at the poker table carefully planning his strategy as he reads the marked cards held by each of the other players."
The book not only redefines history with an analytical eye to exploring Communism's rise and impact, but delves into the choices and events that either thwart or support Communism. The Naked Communist reviews not just national clashes, but social programs and approaches to social issues that illustrate how even democratic governments may unwittingly participate in advancing Communist ideals at home: "Distancing children from home values is the basic theme in many sociology experiments underway today. The policies underlying federally funded childcare programs and pre-schools perpetuate those themes of "it takes a village to raise a child."
Students of history and economics will especially want to consult The Naked Communist, while high school to college teachers of political science courses should consider assigning the book as supplemental reading. It would be a shame to acquire this book for a library or assign it to a class without using it for debates and discussions. In order to be fully gainfully employed as a tool for deeper understanding, The Naked Communist will benefit from the avid discussions that surely will emerge in history, book club, and political science reading groups. This is why The Naked Communist is very highly recommended for libraries, readers, educators, and book clubs. Its ability to not just review the past, but spark discussions about Communism's contemporary incarnation in modern times makes it a unique winner.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Awakenings in Real Life
Dan Cohen
Current Words Publishing
www.currentwords.com
9781957224473, $4.99 eBook
Awakenings in Real Life: Family Stories of Inspiration, Meaning, and Hope collects stories of transformation that stem from an unusual source: not the usual spiritual roots commonly associated with an awakening; but from dementia's impact on individuals and the family structure.
To associate such a positive thought as an awakening with such a devastating diagnosis as dementia may seem a stretch, but Dan Cohen's journey embraces a heartfelt emotional experience that frames "awakening" in a new manner. This will prove surprisingly uplifting and positive in a manner that adds extra dimensions of possibility and understanding to the dementia experience.
Chapters follow how Cohen's father "woke up" from his dementia, which in turn triggered an awakening in his son. The surprises which emerge from the book's introduction reflect the overall tone and unfolding of these revelations: "...without his awakening I may never have realized all the others that had already happened in my life. All of these events, when looked at through the lens of my father's awakening, inspire me to be reflective in my own life, and realize how many blessings life brings to us that we are too asleep to see."
Those who would see such opportunities in their own lives would do well to read this memoir whether or not their own path involves illness, dementia, or other big life changes that may feel overwhelmingly and completely negative. Cohen's ability to pinpoint the wellsprings of this awakening process translates to a series of surprises - such as how dementia cured his father's lifelong OCD.
Family stories, space for journal notes accompanied by the author's gentle guidance for readers to fill in their own blanks based on these insights, and psychological and philosophical wisdom accompany the warm-hearted story of a father and son's lifelong shared connections: "Sometimes finding humor in a hard or sad situation can supply a moment of emotional relief and give you some perspective."
Laced with a selection of black and white family photos throughout, Awakenings in Real Life goes beyond the usual spiritual or clinical reports of transformation to pinpoint just how these revelations can emerge from adversity.
Librarians and readers seeking a powerful account of revised thinking, emotional intimacy, spiritual and psychological revelations, and detailed insights into just how "awakening" manifests, is interpreted, and leads to transformative thinking will relish how intimately and precisely Awakenings in Real Life reflects this journey.
Belonging to the World
Barry Hoffner
GFB
www.girlfridayproductions.com
9781964721415, $32.00 Hardcover/$18.95 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Belonging-World-Journey-Connection-Country/dp/1964721415
Belonging to the World is more than a story of grief over a man losing his love and travel partner. It's about developing a new drive and purpose in life. In this case, Barry Hoffner's sudden and devastating lack of connection to life resulted in his determination to visit all 193 countries on Earth in an effort to find renewed meaning in his efforts. That he did - and more, making Belonging to the World more than another probe of grief and recovery, but a broader search for what makes humans feel part of the world and the homo sapiens community.
His travel observations make for a vivid read for armchair travelers interested in physical and psychic transformations as he visits Yemen, home of the most striking architecture (which he deems the "Manhattan of the desert"), Bhutan for the best spiritual experience ("Land of the Monks"), Palau's natural wonders ("underwater Serengeti"), and more. From confronting tides of grief in Jamaica and family life in Russia to facing rapids and primates in Uganda as he officially undertakes 'Project 193', Hoffner imparts many revelations to his readers that stem from ordinary and extraordinary encounters with cultures and individuals: "The world was not smaller than I thought, but simply more familiar than I had allowed."
Another big attraction for armchair travelers is the contrasting observations made by a man who sojourns through different cultures around the world and thus is in a unique position to discuss their similarities and differences, as in his Eritrea experience: "For a guy whose favorite country in the world is Italy, Asmara was the next best thing to being in la bella Italia. And the fresh-made pasta was not bad here, either. The next day brought a completely distinct kind of foreignness when we traveled to Keren. There, we visited the monthly camel market, where Arabic-speaking men in white robes, with keffiyehs covering their heads, offered hundreds of camels for sale."
Step by step the process of honing new connections is made and transmitted to readers. The memoir hones a crisp, clear set of observations and wide-ranging contrasts that are rare even in the world of adventure travel literature, placing Belonging to the World in a class of its own. Delightful in its travelogue, pointed in its psychological and philosophical observations, and totally immersive in its approach, Belonging to the World is a treasure highly recommended for libraries, individuals, and book clubs alike. Its ability to explore experiences, contrast urban and rural environment and cultures, and pinpoint the moments that build not just understanding, but lifelong friends makes for an uplifting account highly recommended for a wide audience of travelers, thinkers, grievers, and readers seeking extraordinary encounters: "They weren't just guides, and now friends; they were teachers and witnesses to this journey's unfolding purpose. Like a spectacular sunset that lingers in memory, Obed's role in Project 193 will remain with me always."
Making God Laugh
R.C. Goodwin, MD
https://www.rcgoodwin.net
Secret Harbor Press, LLC
9781733143974, $16.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Making-God-Laugh-Psychiatry-Electric/dp/1733143971
Making God Laugh: A Memoir of Psychiatry, Dublin, and the Electric Chair is a memoir about career achievement, life ironies, and survival. It comes from a psychiatrist whose perspective is embedded in a sense of humor and morbid curiosity. The latter leads him to not just examine an electric chair in the prison he works in, but to experience it himself. His wry observation of this is an early example of the wry sense of life inspection that permeates his tale: "Apart from the thick leather straps and ankle restraints, it wouldn't have looked too bad in someone's den."
Lest readers think these experiences will be a barrel of laughs, it also should be noted that serious realizations are often the result of these inspections: "They unstrapped me and I stood up, slightly shaky. No reason for shakiness. The electric chair, unplugged for decades, was as innocuous as a Barcalounger. Despite that, though, it was an unsettling experience. It took a while for my heart rate to go back to normal. This field trip had made the chair more than a symbol or a point of law. It was quite real."
Why should an ordinary person write a memoir about their life? Because perhaps that life embraces important reflections that mirror others' experiences, values, and discoveries: "Writing a memoir smacks of chutzpah. Then I remembered my time in the electric chair. It occurred to me that perhaps my life hasn't been as humdrum as I'd supposed."
Dr. Goodwin progresses through his training, marriage, divorce and remarriage, patient encounters, and therapy snafus with an attention to the moment that will immerse readers in his world. From issues of taking personal safety in professional settings for granted to the inherent desire to be useful that drives many of his choices, the good doctor reveals the influences and direction of his life with the precision of a surgeon, extracting the moments from it that will resonate with his readers' lives in different ways. From medical training to travel, Dr. Goodwin explores the boundaries of his life and what he's learned from it with an attention to dramatic details that add vigor and reflection to the results. Libraries and readers seeking a story of adventure and travel which takes place on different levels of work, leisure time, and life experience will relish how Making God Laugh traverses Ireland and inner sanctums with equal attraction and vigor.
The General Fiction Shelf
The Book of Reservations
Laura Buchwald
https://www.laurabuchwald.com
Radiance
9798892990776, $31.99 Hardcover/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Reservations-Ghost-Table-Trilogy/dp/B0FY22CLJ8
The Book of Reservations, the second book in the Ghost Table Trilogy, blends fantasy, ghosts, and romance into the vivid, ongoing story of Josie Gray, who can commune with the spirits and who is undertaking the challenging venture of running a restaurant at the same time. The tale opens with a reflection about seasonal access to ghosts: "As autumn descends, the veil between the living and dead grows thin. Those who want proof of an afterlife are sure to find it. Those who don't will have to ignore the clearest of signs. It takes effort not to believe because evidence is everywhere - a tingling on the back of your neck, a high-pitched hum you might be imagining, a creeping sensation you're not alone in the room."
Josie's relationship with the dead takes a toll on her relationship with Derek Mangus, who would rather not share her with a host of ghosts. That's why they are consulting Dr. Quentin Bannister and seeking therapy that will heal their relationship and hopefully reconcile their differences. From the first chapter's opening lines, Laura Buchwald creates an inviting series of insights that connect psychological conundrums and disparate personalities with life events and perspectives: "Josie's innate optimism was a relatively new trait, and a hard-earned one after years of unhappiness. But once she realized she could turn her struggles into opportunities to grow, she began to view the world in a different light. In hindsight, she realized even in her gloomier younger days, part of her had always believed good things lay ahead. Now she joked she was a "glass half full" girl, while Derek was a "glass is broken" guy."
This will attract readers to Josie's paranormal dilemmas as they begin to interfere not just with her relationship, but her entire life. Conflicts boil down to Josie's gift, which Derek wants nothing to do with, and how it spills over into their business and personal affairs to impact them both. Readers will be delighted at how the romance develops in fits and starts as setbacks and progression emerge from ghostly encounters. Between issues of unexamined pain and denial to facing a visiting father who has a reputation for disappointing her, Josie has her hands full. Readers interested in how various life struggles dovetail and coalesce will find the notes of discovery and growth embedded in Josie's story to be revealing and often delightfully unexpected. As she delves into the possibility of different lifetimes, Josie and her readers enter into revised perceptions of life's meaning as a whole and the place of romance and change within those lives. The juxtapositions of messages from the dead, insights gained from dealing with them, and surprising roads to recovery and change makes for a story that takes a typical ghostly encounter and turns it on end for an expected result.
Librarians and readers interested in series titles that blend supernatural encounters with romantic fantasy will relish how The Book of Reservations both expands Josie's paranormal world and increases the real-world connections she feels with Derek and those around her. Realistic in its psychological connections and review of relationship and business stress, thought-provoking in its consideration of how and why spirits communicate with the living, and replete with personal changes and discoveries, The Book of Reservations traverses grief, loss, gratitude, and love with a powerful eye to intriguing developments. Readers will relish and reflect upon these notes long after the story concludes. These attributes will lend to avid book club discussions, as well.
The Good Mother Test
Michael R. French
thegoodmothertest.com
Mango Moon Media
https://www.mangomoonmedia.com
9781948749909, $21.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Mother-Test-Trying-Raising/dp/1948749904?s=books
Emily and Doug are on their way to the hospital for the birth of their baby as The Good Mother Test opens. They aren't married. Emily is balancing impending motherhood with her final year at UCLA and Doug is at her side for the duration. Emily wants only one thing for her daughter Violet - for her child to always trust her. That may be an order too big to deliver upon. Time passes quickly as Violet turns one and Doug and Emily contemplate a foreign vacation either with or without her.
The divide between Doug and Emily rises as Emily embraces her maternal role to the point where she sees her job and its responsibility and stresses as being much more demanding than Doug's day job as a broker. When he leaves, she wonders if she is drowning her daughter in too much love. This feels impossible. Three years of effort and what she has to show for it is a baby she's going to raise herself. Still, Emily is determined to be the best mother to her daughter no matter what happens in their lives. The rigors of being a separated couple jointly raising a beloved daughter come to life as The Good Mother Test unfolds. Doug and Emily's psyches and responses to parenting come to life with satisfying contrasts that will keep readers involved in familiar-sounding relationship scenarios.
Michael R. French builds a triangle of despair and conundrums which create a different kind of family structure than will be familiar to many a reader. He takes the time to create strong dialogues between characters to cement their personalities, struggles, and intentions: "At this point, who cares? You have to apologize. It's the only thing that will calm the waters."
"I believe in apologies if they're warranted," Emily said.
"Don't you think peace is warranted? Can't we all count our blessings with Violet and call it a day?"
"You can't sell me, Doug."
"Oh, this is a matter of ironclad principle?"
"This is, yes."
"If you can't be pragmatic, Em, I'm bowing out of your war with the woman I'm married to. For good."
"You can't. You have to stay involved. You're Violet's dad."
"Violet and I have our own relationship. It's different from the three-way with you and Amanda."
As Violet grows up to evolve her own personality and matters wind up in court, readers will find absolutely compelling the juxtaposition of flawed characters, good intentions gone awry, and the impact of divided families on children who come to reflect their own special brands of division and mistrust. Libraries seeking powerful stories of relationships, child-rearing, family makeup and breakup, and accompanying considerations of what makes for good or bad decisions will welcome The Good Mother Test into their collections. It's a highly readable, relatable novel about ordinary people interacting, clashing, and blending their lives in however a messy or successful manner they can, and will attract readers interested in the psychological dovetailing of family and relationship-building which all boils down to luck and trust. These elements move full circle to guide characters and readers in an unexpected journey towards new beginnings and hope, making for a hard-hitting, satisfying read.
The Grace Writers
Heather Morse Alexander
St. Helen's Press
9781963467079, $14.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963467078
In The Grace Writers, Claire Baldwin lies wide awake in a next to her husband, Will, "in a house steeped in years of vacancy" on her first night in a new town. A year ago, he'd awakened her on a similar night with the news that her parents had been killed in a car accident. She hasn't moved on from that event, when her good life came to a halt: "She mourned the little things - her mom's laugh and her dad's optimism... Then, as always, grief turned to anger. That one detail - the drunk driver was a deacon at their church, a pillar of righteousness."
She's moved to Walters Bluff to get away from memories and grief, awakening to a newfound determination to let go of both. She also needs to find her faith again, because God seems to have abandoned her following the death of her parents. The Grace Writers is about finding all these things and more. From reluctantly visiting the First Community Church to try to form a new connection with God to being drawn into and embraced by The Grace Writers, a group of church ladies who share friendship, stories, and scones, Claire moves from uncharted territory into something familiar, yet different, as she regains her belief and forges new connections in the community. The small town processes of Walters Bluff force her to make changes in her approach to life - but not before tragedy strikes again, threatening the new foundations she's struggled to rebuild.
The Grace Writers is exceptionally good at employing realistic dialogues between these women, who identify problems in their community, faith, and relationships. This injects a full-bodied, realistic feel to the unfolding events that test Clare, adding the perspectives and dilemmas of other community members who form bonds around faith, sisterhood, and life purpose. The cast of auxiliary characters, from Harley and Bertie (who are also struggling with issues of forgiveness and death) to Josephine and the daughter she's never spoken of, hold their own experiences and insights into God and develop changed paths in life as a result of their interactions. As Waters Bluff comes to life with undercurrents and relationships that prove unexpected and thought-provoking, readers receive a warm, cozy introduction to the presence of faith and friendship in their community. The insights on how ties are forged, tested, and redevelop are especially thought-provoking.
Librarians and readers seeking an ultimately uplifting story of change and new beginnings will welcome how The Grace Writers brings all these facets to light in a journey that focuses on female friendship-building and connection. Cemented with a spiritual undercurrent, the plot leaves readers with profound lessons about connection and the power of hope.
The Other Side of the Coin
Ci Ci Soleil
Independently Published
https://beachreadsbooks.com
9798985066074, $20.99
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Coin-CI-Soleil/dp/B0GFQ5M4G7
"Everything led to everything else. How did she end up here?" The Other Side of the Coin opens with a question and then delves into the life of Jane Donahue, an American in Paris who is honing both her French and her skills at navigating a vastly different culture. Jane's unexpected opportunity to impress an Englishman thanks to fate and the efforts of French friend Claudine Bellarose results in a validation of Claudine's perception that "love is like the toss of a coin. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes... eh."
Jane wants someone to love her. And Paris and fate seem like the perfect dovetailing of opportunities and events to make that happen. Jane appears to get her wish, but it arrives with a dose of unwelcome realizations about family history, influence, and dysfunction. These lead her to pull back unexpectedly from an opportunity for romance that she's wanted for much of her life: "So many pieces were falling into place about his family. They were so damn dysfunctional and finally she understood why. She pulled her hand out of his."
Despite the warning signs about those who enter her life with different baggage, Jane pursues her dream against all odds. She finds herself both lost and found in a series of challenging relationships that each offer and take away something different. Nick, Giovanni, and the choices Jane makes between them and in her life result in not just the flip of a coin that decides her fate, but in another choice that drives her decisions in an unexpected direction. Ci Ci Soleil is exceptional at outlining the paths of life goals for happiness and satisfaction that buffet Jane and those around her, changing their perceptions of goals, outcomes, and possibilities. The psychological depth exhibited in The Other Side of the Coin is tempered by surprising intrigue and mystery that also permeates Jane's decisions and the outcome of her life goals and trajectory. Nothing comes cheaply. Especially not love.
Libraries and readers who choose The Other Side of the Coin for its promise of international encounters and growth won't be disappointed. Jane's move from predictable to unpredictable realms in her relationships and life creates a compelling story. It will serve equally well as a beach read or a discussion point in book clubs and reader's circles devoted to women's lives and the influences on their decision-making processes.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Must Be Friends
Corey Johnson
Izzard Ink Publishing
www.izzardink.com
9781642281347, $24.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Must-Be-Friends-Corey-Johnson/dp/1642281344
Must Be Friends is a coming-of-age story about the friendship between two girls who disguise themselves as boys in order to participate in the world of 1920s Midwestern America. It's a world where "...the worth of a boy, as determined by his peers, was based on his bat, his mitt, and his arm."
This world commonly doesn't admit girls to the table of broader choices - until now. JoAnn and Samantha first meet at the ballgame which opens the story. As they reveal raw, candid experiences to one another, their friendship is jump-started by honesty:
"Everyone in my life already knows where my mother is, so I've never had to answer that question. Look, I'm going to say some words I've never said before, and I'm going to hear myself speak the truth out loud for the first time." Jo took in a deep breath and then let it out. "My mother is in prison, and my stepdad beats me when he's drunk. That's my life. That's who I am." She picked up the sack and walked away.
Sam, undeterred, ran to catch up with her. "No, Jo, you're wrong. That's not who you are. That's just what happened to you."
Interactions between boys and girls cement not just the characters and their relationships, but the attitudes and psyches of the two sexes. This sets the stage for insights about control, empowerment, and ambition which grow in theme and appearance as the plot unfolds. When Sam saves Jo, new revelations and connections emerge from to propel them both into uncommon choices and directions in life. Corey Johnson creates a powerful, moving story filled with thought-provoking insights between adults and children, philosophical reflections in impact and connection, and astute moments of revelation: "I believe what you are describing is beauty. Your edges perhaps represent the clarity that comes when something beautiful enters your life...When we are better acquainted, you can tell me about your life, and I will share with you about mine. But I promise you this: Life without beauty is a grueling struggle. But together we will find it. That is my promise to you. We will find the beauty."
As reflections on music, mothers, and life connections grow, the friendship between these two girls envelopes readers in a cloak of revised perceptions, understanding, and experiences. Philosophical discussions about love, hate, baseball, and art create new levels of understanding as the story progresses. Interactions with the different adults in their lives also provide points of reflection and discussion as the two friends navigate life changes. Librarians and readers interested in a coming-of-age story about girls, friendships, and growth will find Must Be Friends warm and inviting. Its attention to small-town experiences, community and individual connections, and life-saving encounters makes for an evocative tale that all ages will find reflective and attractive.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
French Toast
Corinne LaBalme
Independently Published
9791095525035, $15.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/French-Toast-Paris-Writer-Chronicles/dp/B0FSQ78P4N
French Toast reveals a dilemma in which ghost writer Melody Layne is looking for a low-key assignment to take her mind off of her recent breakup. What she gets seems ideal - working on the cookbook memoir of a TV celebrity - but the menu but the menu gets murky when crime curdles the creme brulee. Suddenly, Melody finds herself caught up in a cook's vision as well as a nightmare; both of which receive intense and evocative description: "My vision of French cuisine is revolutionary and not easily understood." His eyes shone. "This book will bring my work the respect and validation that it deserves."
Comic relief, as in a reference to "cannibal cookbooks," abounds, as does the wry sense of humor that accompanies Melody's reflections on her past connection to Carlos which are hard, surprisingly alluring memories she must set aside - but cannot. When Carlos re-enters her world to introduce further complexity and personal dilemmas, Melody finds herself falling into the same seductive trance that led her into trouble with him in the first place: "Why did my love affair with Carlos always play like some ill-starred Cinderella storyline? The fairytale factors couldn't be faulted - music, wine, and designer dresses - but there were always setbacks."
As threats mount and strike the International Food and Wine Society's members, Melody must marry her observational and deductive skills with her writing prowess in order to reveal the truth: "I checked my notes on the Cuisine Idol videos I'd binge-watched on YouTube. Muriel brought her fire-breathing mom on the set for the season finale. However, it was hard to visualize Mommie Dearest using party drugs to avenge her daughter's loss. She looked more like the type who'd use store-brand rat poison... but who knew? I'd have to scan those episodes again. Now that I was on the look-out for malicious intent, maybe someone's body language would reveal their true feelings as well."
Corinne LaBalme's delightful story can be read as mystery, a romance, or as a tale of one woman's attempt to reconcile the people and influences in her life with her personal and professional goals. The novel cultivates an astute, powerful, first-person voice that is filled with emotional connection and reflections that draw readers deeply into the world of French food and affairs, charismatic men, and delightfully unexpected interplays between "the first oohs and aahs of gourmet delight" and the screams of disaster.
Striking twists and turns of plot and a number of relationship developments keep readers engaged in Melody's constantly-shifting world. These elements make French Toast a special, top recommendation to libraries and readers seeking culinary and cultural mysteries more than a cut above others. Filled with exciting moments of revelation and surprise, French Toast holds the ability to attract well beyond the murder mystery genre audience. It will reach into the circles of women who enjoy gourmet food, love stories, and unexpected developments. These elements make the story impossible to predict, and a real page-turner.
Poetry Slammed
Joy Ann Ribar
Wine Glass Press
9781959078364, $17.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Slammed-Bay-Browning-Mystery/dp/1959078364
Poetry Slammed is the third Bay Browning Mystery in the series, returning Cassandra Browning and her sixth sense to a new case that opens with housekeeper Fanta Sweet rummaging through the house seeking Posey's treasure, which might contain a dangerous truth that could destroy lives. Posey's murder has cast a wide cloud over much of life. Cass has found herself spending more and more time at Spirit Gardens, drawn by reflections on Posey's murder and the puzzling letter she left behind for the living to solve even as unresolved grief continues unabated. Cass thought she'd gained an uncertain form of peace by revealing her special abilities to a chosen few around her, making them fearful and wary of her company and affording her some relief from their interactions. Instead, she's just opened the door to a bid for justice. Posey's promise of a treasure that will unlock that door to peace is the only thing left to hold on to.
The story evolves intrigue, supernatural elements, suspense, and confrontations as Cass confronts the mysterious (and missing) Daniela while her sister Bay embarks on her own journey for the truth. As more characters join the fray, from Cliff Marsden, investigators Downing and Harris, and Cass's supporter Abigail, Joy Ann Ribar uses poetic, compelling descriptions to create evocative, lovely scenarios: "Abigail patted Cass's knee. "Naturally, it must be true. Those gifts are passed on, Cassandra. Your sister's a prodigy scholar - literature runs through her veins. And you, you make poetry in your teas. Flowers and herbs are your words, and your tinctures are the verses."
As philosophical reflection blends with extraordinary abilities, kidnappings, undercover operations, and clues left in literature, readers will appreciate the fine dance between cozy mystery, clashing personalities and special interests, and literary references to Jane Austen. These elements drive a mystery that widens with a bigger embrace of special interests and Posey's legacy.
Libraries and readers need have no prior familiarity with Cass and her world in order to delve into and thoroughly appreciate her psyche and life in Poetry Slammed. The story's rich set of clues requires no introduction to prove thoroughly immersive, the characters dovetail and dance through their special interests and abilities in extraordinary ways, and, ultimately, how Posey's life is revealed and interpreted serves as a point of intrigue and healing that provides a satisfying conclusion to a number of character dilemmas. Filled with satisfying discoveries, a tone of revelation and realization, and a series of encounters that draw Cass and her readers ever deeper into the mystery of Posey's legacy, Poetry Slammed is an evocative, cozy read that is warm-hearted and hard to put down.
The Usual Suspect
Neil Turner
Neil Turner Books
https://www.neilturnerbooks.com
B0G3MKFTH6, $5.99 eBook/$14.99 Paperback
Books 2 Read
https://books2read.com/u/mqAwMe
The Usual Suspect adds to Neil Turner's Tony Valenti thriller series with a case against military veteran Van Booker, accused of murdering her husband. The evidence against Van stems from many circumstances which point to her guilt, so for a struggling small law firm to defend her translates to a big risk of losing. Tony Valenti of Brooks, Valenti & Williams is a man on a mission - and a budget. His quest for the truth seems to implicate his client even further - to the point that he himself begins to doubt her innocence. How ironclad does the case have to be to prove indefensible?
A strength of this novel lies in its presentation in the first person. This allows readers to enter into Tony's thought processes and self-analysis: "It's not that we necessarily need to believe a client is innocent to represent them to the best of our abilities; we all ascribe to the belief that every criminal defendant is entitled to a robust defense. That said, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that we bring a little additional fire to the task when we truly believe in our client's innocence. I like Van, but do I believe in my little heart of hearts that she's innocent?"
The story's reflects on societal problems, legal challenge, and personal dedication: "It seems that the only thing the bean counters running the world focus on is how to pick everyone else's pockets so they can plow the booty into their personal investment portfolios." These elements enhance the legal and investigative process to the point that Tony's efforts, convictions, and revelations become a personal draw for his readers. From his personal life and parental duties to ethical conundrums and business challenges, Tony comes across as a three-dimensional, likeable character that is in it for more than the money. The result is a satisfyingly complex journey through a maze of courtroom and personal conflicts as Tony edges closer to an impossible truth and the reality of his client's life and choices.
Libraries and readers who enjoy not just mystery and legal thrillers, but the added value of psychological growth and ethical considerations will relish how The Usual Suspect goes the extra mile. It creates situations that encourage readers to think about not just outcomes and possible perps, but values and motivations. Replete with excellent tension, strong characters, and intrigue, The Usual Suspect is a winner.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Ascendants
Don Schechter
https://donschechter.com
GFB
www.girlfridayproductions.com
9781967510344, $19.95 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ascendants-Don-Schechter/dp/1967510342
Ascendants is set in 2026 and provides a twist to a futuristic afterlife scenario. Here, afterlife has been proven, but is only available to a genetic elite. Everyone else faces oblivion upon death.
An overseeing entity called The Jacobs Institute is tasked with managing this new era of Ascension, but three individuals become caught up in processes which represent twists of science and ethical behavior. These diverse characters with their very different perceptions of reality, purpose, and immortality drive a story that is far more than a struggle over the right to live forever.
From the start, Don Schechter embeds his novel with elements of a thriller's tension and psychological foundations as the story opens not with afterlife, but with a surprising death: "I'm supposed to be dead!" Sam screamed. "They pulled me back, Alexandra. But I won't stay. Not without you."
Truths emerge from these investigations, from the separating DNA force of siblings who are Ascendants and those who are not (who supposedly come from the same family) to the addictive attraction of a future technology which will resonate with many today: "Studios created massive complexes where films were replaced by immersive experiences doled out to audiences with eyes glassy and still. The experiential stories would play out in their minds. They did not just observe the thrills and chills of action and suspense, the terror and delight of horror, or the expansive wonder of science fiction, but genuinely experienced the full breadth of sensations that came with their chosen narrative."
Incongruities, such as a dead wife's reappearance on databanks, emerge to challenge each of the characters in different ways as the puzzles and conundrums arise. Ascendants cultivates its intrigue through futuristic opportunities and ethical conundrums. It builds its connection through the in-depth psychological probes of those who uncover strange processes and impacts from ascendancy, and its power through a combined force of personalities and possibilities that keep readers guessing.
Libraries will find that whether patrons are interested in futuristic sci-fi, philosophical and ethical pursuits, or the edgy action of a powerful thriller, Ascendants satisfies all three pursuits. It can be highly recommended to readers interested in frighteningly believable scenarios that pit not only life, but the afterlife, against even those who command its accessibility and potential. As for the man who discovered Ascension and ushered in a new era for humankind - he's in for a rude surprise, too, in a story that sizzles with twists that keep the plot satisfyingly mercurial and totally unpredictable.
Fae and Fallen Hearts
Amy Wolf
Lone Wolf Press Ltd.
www.lonewolfpress.com
9798274557177, $TBA
Amazon
https://www.amazon.ca/Fae-Fallen-Hearts-AMY-WOLF/dp/B0GLGT3FL4
Fae and Fallen Hearts combines the genres of romance and fantasy, opening The Shattered Bonds series with the powerful story of Princess Eleanor, who longs to escape her sheltered life. She moves from childhood to become a lovely adult and fodder for potential suitors, but wants to become more than destiny has handed her. Eleanor finds she must be careful what she wishes for, because her initial resentment over court processes that meddle in her life turns into an encounter with the fae, possible real romance, and difficult decisions that push her to step up into her destiny in unexpected ways.
At this point, the gorgeous illustrative color plates throughout should be mentioned. From the frontispiece to pictures of Eleanor, Gabriel, Alaric and others, lovely images add visual reinforcement to the drama, helping readers absorb characters and plot as they follow Eleanor into encounters with horrors, angels, death, truth, and lies.
Fae and Fallen Hearts lives up to its billing as a "romantasy," juxtaposing fantasy milieus and encounters with very different beings with an alluring development of personal growth and love that makes the characters compelling and realistic. Adventure stems from clashes and atmospheric settings, from erupting geysers to the games of Hades. From fallen friends to battles between gods and Watchers, Eleanor finds herself far from court politics as she becomes immersed in a battle that brings other worlds to life.
Readers will appreciate how deftly fantasy and romance emerge from Amy Wolf's pen, how sharply intriguing and contrasting are the characters that swirl around Eleanor and her revised ambitions and perceptions, and how unexpectedly the plot evolves, blazing a trail of discovery and connections as it moves between these worlds. Librarians and readers seeking a story replete with battles, struggles, and discoveries, cemented by a powerful female protagonist who finds her concerns at the center of change for not just herself but everyone around her, will find Fae and Fallen Hearts a study in building and breaking bonds that proves hard to predict or put down.
The Midnight Croissant
Bonnie Solomon
Bonsol Press
9798992613346, $4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pearly-Gates-Midnight-Croissant-Romantic-ebook/dp/B0FHVPZTG6
The Midnight Croissant is a standalone sequel to Bonnie Solomon's Pearly Gates fantasy novels, and follows a spirit guide from the afterlife who is tasked with helping three individuals who are facing spiritual conundrums in their lives.
Pearly Gates adopts unorthodox methods of leading her charges to spiritual realizations - methods her boss is not fond of. In this case, Pearly leads them to join a group tour of Paris, then tags along to inject further realizations into their experience of the City of Love. A frustrated boss informs her that if she doesn't succeed in the mission, her afterlife will be terminated. And then there's the issue of her ex-soulmate Thunder, who has become the tour group leader in an effort to reconnect with Pearly, bringing with her personal dilemmas of growth and transformation that also influence how Pearly operates.
Whimsy abounds from the novel's opening: "What she does not consider telling is the truth -- she got caught up in conversation with her manicurist. But only because her department's new supervisor doesn't understand the important spiritual guidance a manicurist has to offer. Who better to ask about reaching out to her ex-soulmate, Thunder, now that they're both back in the spirit world after their most recent incarnations?"
These threads of irony, observation, and wry humor are part of the attraction of The Midnight Croissant, which propels readers on a romp through afterlife intentions, spirit guides gone wild, and good intentions that sometimes go awry.
Pearly's careful consideration of choices and outcomes gives the LGBTQ+ inclusive story a serious perspective about redemption and consequence, as well: "Pearly studies the two of them - the hesitant grandfather, the hurting grandson - and feels that ache she's come to know too well: the knowledge that grace can start here, but it won't be finished here. Not yet. Back home, there will be fallout. Conversations. Maybe a reckoning that's long overdue."
The result is a fantasy story that incorporates all kinds of elements from fictional possibility. It's at one a cozy story of relationship-building and change, a fun tale of a well-meaning guide who has lost her own way and is finding new roads to romance again, and a thought-provoking survey of the dilemmas humans and spirit guides face as they make their way through life - and the afterlife.
As a continuation of the Pearly Gates series, the story dovetails nicely with Solomon's setting and protagonist, yet creates a novel that stands nicely alone for newcomers (who likely will want to pursue more Pearly Gates adventures after enjoying this tale). The result is a hilarious and thought-provoking romp through life, death, and the lives that are lived in-between, pairing romance and discovery with the misadventures of a meddling but benevolent spirit whose choices don't always fall on the side of her assignment or convention.
Librarians seeking a whimsical, inviting story of Paris's romantic allure, new beginnings, and magical outcomes will want to highly recommend The Midnight Croissant to those who look for ultimately uplifting reading that's filled with psychological depth, surprising twists of plot, and just plain fun.
Baen Books
www.baen.com
Two new Baen titles are inviting, appealing stories libraries and readers will find attractive.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Glory-Rome-Tom-Kratman/dp/1668073072
Tom Kratman's For the Eternal Glory of Rome (9781668073070, $28.00) is set in 9 AD when three Roman legions are trapped by rebelling Germanic tribes led by a renegade. An alien starship transports them through time and space, dropping one of the legions four centuries into the future where the fighting begins again. Fans of military historical time travel sci-fi will find this base of the Roman Empire's past makes for a riveting foray into the future applications of battle tactics.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tread-Obsidian-Shores-Bronze-Legion-ebook/dp/B0FX3B577P
Jason Cordova and Melissa Olthoff's The Bronze Legion: To Tread Obsidian Shores (9781668073063, $28.00) also will appeal to fans of military sci-fi battles with its Mars-based story of Blue, who just wants to join the Survey Corps and travel the universe. She never envisioned becoming a pilot instead, or encountering Tavi, whose quest for a new life in the Legion results in a pursuit of not just new beginnings, but romance and family possibilities. Their seemingly disparate interests entwine with adventure and confrontations with self, each other, and the world in this riveting story of transformation.
Both of these new titles from Baen Books are appealing sagas that will find a wide audience amongst sci-fi fans.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Soul's Reckoning
Shireen Anne Jeejeebhoy
https://shireen.link
Independently Published
9781997847007, $2.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3DW3DH9
The Soul's Reckoning is the second book in The Q'Zam'Ta Trilogy, and though it will attract fans of Shireen Anne Jeejeebhoy's introductory book, The Soul's Awakening, newcomers receive a handy recap of events that allows them to enter this world backed by a review of its foundations. The afterlife here is not an ending, but a new beginning filled with tests of faith, loyalty, and substance that lead Christians into new realms of possibility and belief.
Christian readers will find the story's premise provocative and interesting, and will appreciate the plot's immersive approach to protagonist Charlotte Elisabeth's new focus as she finds her faith, relationships, and belief system tested in novel ways. From her realization that she's not dead, but alive, and is being transported by her "soul family" to an unknown world past the Earth-Heaven Interdimensional Expanse to the dangers facing her both on Earth and in Heaven, Charlotte finds her choices permeated with new approaches to faith. These test her ability to survive, adapt, and embrace basic concepts about God and the universe.
Interesting character interactions in this afterlife's ethereal milieu keep readers thinking, with dialogue reinforcing the tasks Charlotte must undertake in order to maintain her momentum and build new relationships and purposes: "God wants her to succeed. She needs to learn how to exist as an energy being. She needs to learn the concepts of spirits and ghosts and what she can do here and on Earth before she leaves for Earth."
Those she encounters in this realm, such as a strange woman who helps her explore, also expand her concepts and mind in ways that encourage readers to consider their own boundaries and ability to break barriers to form new perceptions: "You and I seeing the same thing, our nascent minds creating the same environment, it must mean we're simpatico."
Each encounter brings to the table another piece of realization about growth, faith, and experience. Each offers readers the opportunity to consider Christian concepts on a far different level in which fantasy and faith intermingle in surprising, revealing ways. From how and why death doesn't seem to be final to the purposes of Heaven School, new awakenings, and new possibilities, Charlotte's journey reflects a blend of life review, reconciliation with the past, and an altered perspective of what the future could bring.
Christian readers will especially appreciate how The Soul's Reckoning offers the opportunity for vivid discussions about the reckoning process and the growth that can stem from revised considerations of God's unconditional love. Librarians seeking Christian concepts embedded in fantasy adventure scenarios about the afterlife will find it easy to welcome The Soul's Reckoning into their collections. Its many adjunct discussions of the nature of God, purpose, redemption, afterlife, and growth makes it not just compelling fictional reading, but perfect for group debate.
The Self-Help Shelf
Powerful Mind: 12 Simple Keys
Bill Harvey
The Human Effectiveness Institute, Publisher
https://www.humaneffectivenessinstitute.org
9780918538239, $19.95 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
The Human Effectiveness Institute
https://www.HumanEffectivenessInstitute.org/powerful-mind-12-simple-keys
Powerful Mind: 12 Simple Keys is a guide to the kind of life-altering self-actualization and empowerment that is oftentimes associated with life-altering chemicals or sudden life changes. The difference, here, is that psychotherapy and self-examination marry in a survey that teaches readers how they can probe beneath the surface of ingrained habits, patterns, and assumptions about self and the world to enact these powerful transformations in a drug-free manner.
An introductory "owner's manual for the mind" reviews states of consciousness, the processes involved in altering and/or reaching them, and bigger-picture thinking about how humanity arrived at its current state, before delving into the heart of matters: individual and social change.
Bill Harvey focuses on identifying higher mental powers that are possible for all, considering their presence, impact, and potential for transformation. If this sounds like lofty thinking, it should be clarified that, high-minded though these ideals may seem, they are infinitely achievable. Harvey himself identified paths towards higher-level thinking in thirty years of study, work, and pursuit.
Whereas his previous book, Mind Magic, covered much of this journey and thinking, those who have absorbed the prior introduction will find that Powerful Mind delves more deeply into why the techniques work. Chapters that cover this journey are important not just for self-help readers (the typical audience for such a blend of philosophy, psychology, and account of change), but for those interested in enacting political or social change on a broader platform than individual encounters or experiences.
These readers will discover that Harvey outlines these paths towards bigger changes with an astute eye to defining why this book stands out from others: "What if we could tap into the power of our minds with greater reliability? Not just with pep talks or woo-woo but through logical and proven steps, using methods of learning, thinking, and understanding that have been solidly established by science, but have simply not been used by enough people enough of the time. If enough of us discover these methods and use them consistently, we can become more effective at collectively solving our real problems."
Harvey unfolds a blend of memoir, psychological and social examination, and road map to change through a combination of self-reflection that succeeds in injecting compelling visions of past, present, and future into the possibilities he crafts for not just choosing different paths, but understanding their foundations: "Thinking back to kindergarten and elementary school, I can see that the Status and Prestige motivation became essential to me. Power became vital because I grew up in pre-gentrification Brooklyn during a peak time of bullies, switchblades, and zip guns." Especially intriguing are reflections on how "locked-in ideological dogmas" are connected to personal robotic reactions to life, self-enslavement perceptions, and the connections between Observer and other states of mind, and the routines that lead to altering consciousness in fruitful, purposeful ways.
Harvey is a master at creating observational lenses through which readers can consider the extent of their backgrounds, lives, ideals, and learning process. This will prove essential - as will his twelve tips for enacting change - to anyone considering assuming a more effective role in their lives and in the lives of others.
Librarians seeking a motivational book that goes beyond "self improvement" to tackle some bigger issues of social ripples of change will want to add Powerful Mind to their collections, highly recommending it not only as a tool for self-empowerment, but for social change as well. As such, it lends to group discussion and book club debate on many different levels and for a much wider audience than the usual discussion of empowerment strategies. Perhaps this is because Powerful Mind isn't just about improving oneself. It's about improving the world around us.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net
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