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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 35, Number 7 July 2025 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice AI Studies Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Political Science Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf Cookbook Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Military History Shelf
Civil War Shelf Wildlife Shelf Biography/Memoir Shelf
General Fiction Shelf Historical Fiction Shelf Romantic Fiction Shelf
Western Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Poetry Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Library CD Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Mythology Shelf Folktale/Fairytale Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Sports Shelf Architecture Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Business Shelf Music Shelf
Liquor Shelf Fashion Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Travel Shelf Art Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Self-Help Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Holocaust Studies Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Safest Family on the Block
Jason Brick
https://www.safestfamilyontheblock.org
YMAA Publications
www.ymaa.com
9781594399923 $32.00 hc
9781594399909 $24.00 pbk / $12.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Safest-Family-Block-Tricks-Protect/dp/1594399921

Synopsis: With the publication of "Safest Family on the Block: 101 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Habits to Protect Your Family", Jason Brick is an invaluable and 'real world practical' guide for parents aiming to protect their families without succumbing to fear.

An accessible DIY instructional offering crucial advice for enhancing your family's physical, mental, and emotional health without causing anxiety or alarm, "Safest Family on the Block" is comprised of 101 brief essays (perfect for reading during short waits or while on the go) each one of which provides quick tips, expert guidance, and empowering insights to immediately enhance your home and family's safety in practical, approachable ways.

In the pages of "Safest Family on the Block" you will discover how to:

Implement a simple alternative to "Situational Awareness" effective and suitable for all ages
Prepare yourself with the right mindset before discussing safety with your children, ensuring calm and constructive conversations
Secure your front door in just five minutes for only two dollars
Transform a family vacation into a fun and effective safety-building experience
And so much more!

You will also receive advice on handling those rare but challenging days, with strategies to turn potential emergencies into mere inconveniences, empowering you to manage unexpected situations confidently.

"Safest Family on the Block" deftly combines Jason's experiences as a journalist, father, and martial artist, offering skills and insights for a proactive, positive approach to family safety.

Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "Safest Family on the Block: 101 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Habits to Protect Your Family" will prove to be a long-term and effective resource to insure a family's safety as individuals and as a group. "Safest Family on the Block" covers fire and accident prevention, care and driving safety, safety at school, online safety, safer sex and relationships, communication and safety, travel safety, crime prevention, and emergency preparation. Of special note is the section devoted to 10 'Golden Rules' for insuring personal and family safety. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family, professional, community, and college/university library Security and Parenting collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Safest Family on the Block" from the YMAA Publication Center is also readily available in paperback (9781594399909, $24.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: Jason Brick (http://www.brickcommajason.com/) is a career journalist, podcast host, father of two sons, husband, homeowner, and member of a multigenerational family dwelling. His hobbies include martial arts, travel, role-playing games, and arguing with strangers on the internet.

How I Found Myself in the Midwest
Steve Grove
Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781668062449, $28.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/How-Found-Myself-Midwest-Reinvention/dp/1668062445

Synopsis: Just after turning forty, Steve Grove left Silicon Valley as a Google executive to move to his home state of Minnesota with his wife and fellow tech exec, Mary Grove, and their one-year-old twins. Gone from the Midwest for two decades, Grove returned home with fresh eyes. Yearning to put down new roots, he traded his career at Google for a position in state government with Governor Tim Walz. Far from working at a fast-paced tech company, Grove's shift to leading a large government bureaucracy brought a sequence of struggles and triumphs vividly portrayed with both humor and affection with the publication of "How I Found Myself in the Midwest: A Memoir of Reinvention".

But this story of reinvention takes on new urgency when crisis strikes, as the coronavirus pandemic and the tragic murder of George Floyd unfolds just miles from his newfound home, thrusting Grove's work into an unexpected spotlight. Tasked with distributing billions in aid, rolling out pandemic restrictions, redeveloping neighborhoods, and navigating deep divisions in a state long proud of its exceptionalism, Grove's journey through crisis brings new insights about himself and his new community. His experiences of the political, geographic, and racial divisions in his home state yield surprising discoveries about what also binds us together.

From making new friends and building a family to reconciling with his past and exploring his faith, Grove's journey to find purpose by going local provides a roadmap for anyone looking to discover what gives meaning to their life. Along the way, Grove shares insights about a part of the country that many people ignore at their peril, and why he is optimistic about America's future. "How I Found Myself in the Midwest" will move and inspire you, no matter where you choose to call home.

Critique: Colorful, candid, engaging, informative, insightful, compelling, inspiring, and an inherently fascinating and memorable life story lived out in what the Chinese referred to as 'interesting times', "How I Found Myself in the Midwest: A Memoir of Reinvention" by Steve Grove is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections.

It should be noted for the personal reading list of anyone with an interest in Midwestern politics, the impact of the Covid crises, and life in the Upper Midwest, that this hardcover edition of "How I Found Myself in the Midwest: A Memoir of Reinvention" from Simon & Schuster is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9781668110898, $39.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Steve Groveis (https://www.stevegrove.com) is the CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Previously, he was Minnesota's commissioner of employment and economic development. Before moving back to his home state, Grove built a career in Silicon Valley as an executive at Google and YouTube, most recently as the founding director of the Google News Lab and previously as YouTube's first head of news and politics. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a master's degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, Grove has written for several national publications and has served as an advisor to the White House and State Department on counterterrorism strategy. Steve and his wife Mary are the cofounders of Silicon North Stars, a nonprofit that helps under-served youth find career pathways in technology.

City Nature
Martha Retallick
Western Sky Communications
www.westernskycommunications.com
9798986857701, $99.95

https://www.amazon.com/City-Nature-Opinionated-Gardening-Tragedies-ebook/dp/B0DNB7F5W4

Martha Retallick has photographed, designed, and written City Nature: Tales of Ornery Plants, Opinionated Birds, Gardening Triumphs and Tragedies, and Capturing It All Through a Lens. This magnificent, oversized volume enlivens the issue of water harvesting and droughts, but this short descriptor doesn't mean the book's simply another conservation advisement.

City Nature is actually a work of art, a mandate for change, a passionate story of transformation, and a celebration of nature and water usage in landscaping. It documents Retallick's personal endeavors to utilize, conserve, and direct water in better ways -- away from a home's foundation and into the garden and nature where it belongs. This was no light feat. Her passive watering focus freed her from reliance on Arizona's municipal water system in an area where 40 percent of water is traditionally used for landscaping.

Introductory insights pair Retallick's personal life experiences, travels, adventures, and challenges with accounts of how she honed many values and goals from her journeying. These ultimately translated to near-revolutionary thinking about landscapes and conservation. The oversized presentation's top-quality full-page images does justice to such close-ups as her backyard fig tree, "The Mighty Figster," and her ironwood tree's flowers, which are captured in light and dark from her front yard display.

Botanists and gardeners will relish the fruits of labors, brought to life both by art and by Retallick's creative written appreciation of the plants that fill her landscapes and life. The pairing of intimate relationships with plants, photography, and landscape choices makes for a thoroughly engrossing, artistic celebration of plants and nature.

City Nature is very highly recommended for a wide range of library collections, from arts and photography schools to libraries interested in botany, landscaping and gardening, and the intersection of art and nature appreciation. Perhaps nowhere else is this bond so thoroughly explored (and so compelling) as in City Nature, where every large-size, high-quality color image is displayed in a captivating manner that captures the abundance and life in a landscape that does not require a high infusion of city water to prove abundant and successful.

City Nature stands in a high-quality arena of its own. It is highly recommended for libraries interested in top-notch artistry, conservation issues, discussions of Arizona nature, water, and landscape challenges, and botany.


The AI Studies Shelf

Generative AI with Python
Bert Gollnick
Rheinwerk Publishing
c/o Sap Press
https://www.sap-press.com/rheinwerk-computing
9781493226900, $59.95, PB, 392pp

https://www.amazon.com/Generative-Python-Developers-Pretrained-Generation/dp/1493226908

Synopsis: "Generative AI with Python: The Developer's Guide to Pretrained LLMs, Vector Databases, Retrieval Augmented Generation, and Agentic Systems" by Bert Gollnick is your ideal and 'reader/user' friendly guide to generative AI with Python.

It begins with an introduction to generative AI, NLP models, LLMs, and LMMs -- and then dives into pretrained models with Hugging Face. Work with LLMs using Python with the help of tools like OpenAI and LangChain.

Comprised of step-by-step instructions for working with vector databases and using retrieval-augmented generation, and with up-to-date information on agentic systems and AI application deployment, "Generative AI with Python" provides you with all you need to become an AI master including:

Work with pretrained LLM and NLP models on Hugging Face and LangChain
Create vector databases and implement retrieval-augmented generation
Add an agentic system using frameworks such as crewAI and AutoGen

"Generative AI with Python" also covers:

Large Language Models -- Set up LLMs and then learn how to apply your models using Python. Walk through the available tools: OpenAI, Meta's Llama model family, Mistral models via Groq, and open-source LLMs. Work with prompt templates, chains, and more.

Vector Databases -- Create and use vector databases to store and query large collections of documents. Master all aspects of the pipeline, from importing a raw document, to processing it, to storing it in a vector database.

Retrieval Augmented Generation -- Leverage large-scale pretrained language models and external knowledge sources with retrieval-augmented generation. Retrieve relevant information from large corpora, integrate it into the generation process, and evaluate the quality and diversity of the generated texts.

Agentic Systems -- Use AI models to build agents that act autonomously to achieve their goals. Discover the different Python packages for this task: crewAI, AutoGen, and LangChain.

"Generative AI with Python" also deals with:

Natural language processing (NLP) models
Large language models (LLMs)
Pretrained models
Prompt engineering
Vector databases
Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
Agentic systems
OpenAI
LangChain
Hugging Face
crewAI
AutoGen

Critique: This large format (1.25 x 7 x 10 inches, 1.57 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Generative AI with Python: The Developer's Guide to Pretrained LLMs, Vector Databases, Retrieval Augmented Generation, and Agentic Systems" by Bert Gollnick is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. A complete and comprehensive course of DIY instruction, "Generative AI with Python" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Computer Science & AI collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Generative AI with Python" is also readily available from Rheinwerk Publishing in a digital book format (Kindle, $51.44).

Editorial Note: Bert Gollnick (https://www.udemy.com/user/bert-gollnick) is a senior data scientist who specializes in renewable energies. For many years, he has taught courses about data science and machine learning, and more recently, about generative AI and natural language processing. Bert studied aeronautics at the Technical University of Berlin and economics at the University of Hagen. His main areas of interest are machine learning and data science.

AI First
Adam Brotman
Harvard Business Review Press
http://hbr.org/books
9781647829650, $32.00, HC, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/AI-First-Playbook-Future-Proof-Business/dp/1647829658

Synopsis: What does the rapid rise and astonishing rate of improvement of AI (Artificial Intelligence) mean for brands over the next five years?

This is what OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told authors Adam Brotman and Andy Sack when he met them: "It will mean that 95 percent of what marketers use agencies, strategists, and creative professionals for today will easily, nearly instantly, and at almost no cost be handled by AI. No problem."

Upon hearing that astonishing statement, the authors began a journey of discovery to understand what the transition to an AI first world would mean.

"AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand" is comprised from a who's who of tech visionaries who spoke with the authors, including Altman himself, as well as Bill Gates, and Reid Hoffman, sharing how they're thinking of the transition to the new reality. Plus practitioners bold enough to be surfing this tidal wave of change, including one who audaciously mandated experimentation with AI for all his employees.

Brotman is the former chief digital officer at Starbucks, pivotal in the development of the coffee giant's mobile payment and loyalty programs. Sack is a legendary tech visionary and former adviser to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Together, they formed the strategic consultancy Forum3 to take on every aspect of the challenge of becoming an AI first organization, including how you think about the design of jobs, what skills you need to develop within your organization, what your customers will expect from your brands, and how you can achieve early wins.

In the AI first arena, where almost anyone can build creatively engaging brands quickly and cheaply, you need to know how to compete. It's time to get ready for a brand-new world -- Starting with "AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand".

Critique: The transition of business and the economy that were experienced with the Industrial Revolution were as dramatic and as ubiquitous as that now occurring with our new digital and AI revolution -- but this pervasive AI impact will occur with a jaw dropping speed that will be unequaled by anything in the last 10,000 years of human history.

For corporate planners, professional economists, governmental policy makers, and the general public to understand how AI will effect their personal finances, business enterprises, jobs, careers, and the economy, "AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand" by co-authors Adam Brotman and Andy Sack must be considered essential and mandatory reading. Simply stated for the benefit of entrepreneurs and corporate executives, AI is going to change brand strategy and marketing forever -- and that process is already well underway.

Wile especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library AI, robotics, automation, publicity, marketing, and management collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand" is also readily available for MBA students, employees, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note #1: Adam Brotman is the cofounder and co-CEO of the strategic consultancy Forum3. He was the inaugural chief digital officer at Starbucks, where he played a pivotal role in launching the company's renowned mobile payment and loyalty platform. His leadership extended to strategic roles at J.Crew and board positions at MOD Pizza and Ruby Tuesday, showcasing his expertise in digital transformation and consumer engagement.

Editorial Note #2: Andy Sack is the cofounder and co-CEO of Forum3. He brings more than twenty-five years of entrepreneurial and investment expertise in high tech and finance to this role. As the founder and managing partner of Keen Capital, he focused on blockchain ventures. In addition, he is a former adviser to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Sack's successful track record includes leading Techstars Seattle and selling multiple technology companies to giants such as Microsoft and New York Times Digital.

Artificial Intelligence for Business
Kamales Lardi
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398618022, $89.00, HC, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Intelligence-Business-Harness-Innovation/dp/1398618020

Synopsis: As AI continues to evolve, it is increasingly important for businesses to make informed decisions about how to use AI to drive success and growth. With the publication of "Artificial Intelligence for Business: Harness AI for Value, Growth and Innovation", Kamales Lardi provides a comprehensive understanding of AI and its applications in business, making it the ideal resource for business managers and leaders looking to stay ahead of the curve. With a focus on practical applications, it helps readers understand what AI is, how it is transforming business, how it can be used to innovate and how to navigate the realities of implementation.

"Artificial Intelligence for Business" looks at the combination of AI with other emerging technologies such as blockchain, internet of things and virtual and augmented reality, showing how these can work together to create new business opportunities and solve complex business problems. It provides guidance on the importance of designing AI applications that are human-centred, including inclusive design and empathy in AI.

"Artificial Intelligence for Business" also features contributions and insights from leading experts and a wealth of real-world examples profiling AI adoption and innovation.

Critique: With each of the nine chapters comprising "Artificial Intelligence for Business: Harness AI for Value, Growth and Innovation" featuring Key Takeaways; References, and Further Reading sections for the benefit of the reader, this is a perfect introduction to the applications and possibilities of artificial intelligence for the business community. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Artificial Intelligence for Business" by Kamales Lardi is an essential and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library AI & Business collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in AI, Information Management, and Strategic Business Planning that this hardcover edition of "Artificial Intelligence for Business" from Kogan Page is also readily available in paperback (9781398618008, $29.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.69).

Editorial Note: Kamales Lardi (https://www.kamaleslardi.com) is a bold and strategic thinker in digital and business transformation, with over 25 years of cross-industry expertise. She excels in combining cutting-edge digital and technology solutions with a neuroscience-backed approach to drive measurable business results. A champion of the human side of technology, Kamales empowers organizations to achieve impactful, people-centric transformation. Kamales is also the author of The Human Side Of Digital Business Transformation, an essential guide for leaders navigating next-generation organizational transformation. She is based in Zurich, Switzerland.

AI Strategy
Bernard Marr
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398619579, $113.00, HC, 328pp

https://www.amazon.com/AI-Strategy-Artificial-Intelligence-Business/dp/1398619574

Synopsis: AI is transforming every industry. The question of corporate executives, business managers, and entrepreneurs -- is your business keeping up?

"AI Strategy: Unleash the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Your Business" is an essential introduction and guide by author and futurist Bernard Marr who provides a comprehensive playbook for leaders looking to harness the power of AI.

From understanding AI's transformative impact to developing a clear, actionable strategy, "AI Strategy" equips workplace leaders with the tools they need to drive innovation, manage risks, and stay ahead in an AI-driven world.

"AI Strategy" is the definitive guide for anyone ready to unlock AI's potential at scale. Covering every aspect of AI adoption (from ethical considerations and data management to employee upskilling and tech infrastructure) "AI Strategy" delivers real-world examples across multiple organizations and industries, from energy, healthcare and education to marketing and HR.

Whether you're just starting or scaling fast, "AI Strategy" is a critically important, essential, guide will help you confidently build and execute a winning AI strategy.

Critique: Impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in presentation, "AI Strategy: Unleash the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Your Business" by Bernard Marr offers a complete course of DIY instruction that will be of particular value and relevance to business leaders and entrepreneurs wanting to their business enterprises to succeed with respect to taking advantage of the rapidly evolving applications of artificial intelligence that are already reorganizing the economies of the world. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Artificial Intelligence Systems & Planning collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBA Students, academia, entrepreneurs, and corporate policy makers that this hardcover edition of "AI Strategy: Unleash the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Your Business" from Kogan Page is also radily available in paperback (9781398619555, $32.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.14).

Editorial Note: Bernard Marr (https://bernardmarr.com) is an author, keynote speaker, strategic performance consultant, and analytics, KPI, AI & Big Data guru. He has worked with and advised many of the world's best-known organisations. LinkedIn has recently ranked Bernard as the number one LinkedIn Top Voice among UK influncers. He writes on the topic of data and analytics for various publications including Forbes, HuffPost, and LinkedIn Pulse. His blogs and SlideShare presentation of the topic have millions of readers.


The Economic Studies Shelf

A World Safe for Commerce
Dale C. Copeland
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691172552, $38.00, HC, 504pp

https://www.amazon.com/World-Safe-Commerce-Revolution-International/dp/0691172552

Synopsis: When the Cold War ended, many believed that expanding trade would usher in an era of peace. Yet today the United States finds itself confronting not just Russia in Europe but China in the Indo-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. Shedding new light on how trade both reduces and increases the risks of international crisis, "A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China" by Professor Dale C. Copeland traces how, since the nation's founding, the United States has consistently moved from peace to conflict when the commerce needed for national security is under threat.

Professor Copeland shows how commerce pushes the United States and its rivals to expand their spheres of influence for access to goods even as they worry about provoking a breakdown in trade relations that could spiral into military conflict. Taking readers from the wars with Britain in 1776 and 1812 to World War II and the Cold War, Professor Copeland aptly describes how America's leaders have grappled with this inherent tension, and why they have shifted, sometimes dramatically, from peaceful, mutually beneficial policies to coercion and force in order to increase control over vital trade and prevent economic decline.

"A World Safe for Commerce" also reveals how trade competition could lead the United States and China into full-scale confrontation. But it also offers hope that both sides can work to improve their overall trade expectations and foster the confidence needed for long-term peace and stability.

Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty-two page Bibliography, fifty-two pages of Notes, and a ten page Index. Original, exceptional, informative, insightful, and unreserved recommended for community and college/university library International Economics collections and supplemental American/Chinese Economic History & Policy curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, economists, corporate executives, and governmental policy makers that this hardcover edition of "A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China" from the Princeton University Press is also readily available in paperback (9780691256320, $27.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.55).

Editorial Note: Dale C. Copeland is professor of international relations at the University of Virginia. He is the author of Economic Interdependence and War (Princeton) and The Origins of Major War. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_C._Copeland)

Inclusive Finance
Alessandro Hatami, author
Meaghan Johnson, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398610453, $134.00, HC, 328pp

https://www.amazon.com/Inclusive-Finance-Innovation-Transform-Financial/dp/1398610453

Synopsis: Financial institutions are under growing pressure from their customers, regulators and employees to play more active roles in supporting underbanked and unbanked individuals.

With the publication of "Inclusive Finance: How Fintech and Innovation Can Transform Financial Inclusion", co-authors Alessandro Hatami and Meaghan Johnson review what is currently socially broken in the existing financial system and identifies opportunities for how incumbent players, fintech start-ups and scale ups can improve their social impact and meet compliance requirements while delivering financial profit.

"Inclusive Finance" also explores how innovations such as blockchain, distributed ledger technology, AI, cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, tokenization and DeFi can all play a role in democratizing finance. Written by two esteemed finance experts that are driving digital innovation, this is an indispensable guide for finance professionals and organizations who need to address financial exclusion, making the global economy larger and fairer.

Critique: A thoroughly comprehensive introduction to the economic issues concerning corporate and business financing, "Inclusive Finance: How Fintech and Innovation Can Transform Financial Inclusion"is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation -- making it an ideal textbook for college and university level MBA curriculums. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in the financing aspects of banking and business development, it should be noted for personal and professional reading lists that this hardcover edition of Alessandro Hatami and Meaghan Johnson's "Inclusive Finance: How Fintech and Innovation Can Transform Financial Inclusion" from Kogan Page is also available in paperback (9781398610439, $38.99

Editorial Note #1: Alessandro Hatami (https://www.alessandrohatami.net) is the founder and managing partner of advisory firm Pacemakers.io, specialising in driving digital transformation in payments, financial services and banking organisations. He has been driving digital innovation for over 15 years at firms such as the Lloyds Banking Group, PayPal UK, PayPoint.net and GE Capital. He is a non-exec director of Cashplus Bank, mentor to several fintech start-ups and an investor in a number of early-stage tech companies. He is a well-known figure in European fintech and is a frequent speaker at events across the globe. His book Reinventing Banking and Finance(2021), also published by Kogan Page, was rated Best Overall Book on Banking of 2021 by Investopedia.com in the US. He is based in London, the UK.

Editorial Note #2: Meaghan Johnson (https://meaghanjohnson.com) is a fintech researcher and consultant with an interest in using emerging technologies and business models to increase financial inclusion. She is the co-founder of 11:FS and Digital Mags and the Chief Strategy Officer at Bazara Tech. She is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Aveiro.


The Political Science Shelf

Future-Generation Government
Nicholas Chesterley
McGill-Queen's University Press
www.mqup.ca
9780228024750, $34.95, HC, 300pp

https://www.amazon.com/Future-Generation-Government-Legislate-Long-Term/dp/0228024757

Synopsis: In the decades preceding COVID-19 there were nine pandemics or near-pandemics, from SARS to Ebola. Despite this turbulent recent history, many governments were unprepared for the recent pandemic and remain ill-equipped for the next.

Our impact on future generations has never been greater, and the challenges we face will increasingly play out over the long term. Climate change is accelerating, antibiotic resistance is rising, underground aquifers are depleting, natural disasters catch us off guard, fish stocks are dwindling, and automation and population aging may transform our economies. Drawing on insights from behavioral science, with the publication of "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term", Nicholas Chesterley offers a fresh perspective on short-termism and proposes clear, practical reforms that can help leaders respond to tomorrow's challenges without compromising today's democratic rights and freedoms.

People value the present over the future, research shows, so governments balance the scales by rewarding future-planning behaviours: granting tax deductions for retirement savings or supporting educational savings, for example: "Future-Generation Government" explains how individuals, in turn, should reward our governments for making durable policy decisions that anticipate future crises.

Critique: Given the current political backdrop of the Trump administration's massive reductions and seemingly indiscriminate cut backs in America's health care infrastructure, "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term" is incredibly timely, necessary, and fundamental if we are to prepare for the next (and inevitable) pandemic. Being unprepared for the last one (Coved-19) cost the loss of multiple millions of men, women and children and brought the world economy to a disastrously crippled state.

Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty-two page Bibliography, twelve pages of Notes, and a fifteen page Index., this seminal and urgently needed study is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, governmental policy makers, healthcare reformers, political activists, members of the medical community, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term" from the McGill-Queen's University Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.22).

Editorial Note: Nicholas Chesterley (https://www.nchesterley.com) is a behavioral economist and public servant. He completed his PhD in behavioural economics at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow and has held a range of leadership roles in government. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Public Policy in Action: Perspectives on the Policy Process
Victor Bekkers, author
Merino Fenger, author
Peter Scholten, author
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781781004524, $192.00, HC, 360pp

https://www.amazon.com/Public-Policy-Action-Perspectives-Process/dp/1781004528

Synopsis: Co-authored by Victor Bekkers, Merino Fenger, Peter Scholten, "Public Policy in Action: Perspectives on the Policy Process" is a comprehensive textbook that definitively explores the policy process from a multitude of perspectives, including rationalism, culturalism, institutionalism and from a political point of view.

This approach allows political science students to discover key concepts from the policy science literature and gain a deeper understanding of how public policy is discussed academically and shaped empirically.

"Public Policy in Action" also gives a detailed breakdown of all stages of the policy process by discussing the emergence of policy problems affecting the agenda, the formulation of policy alternatives, the decision-making process, the implementation of policies and the progression to evaluation, learning and policy change.

The co-authors also outline the sets of factors which influence the steps of the policy process internally and externally. "Public Policy in Action" is supported by a wide variety of case studies from a number of national and international contexts of relevance to an international audience.

The key features of "Public Policy in Action" include:

Up-to-date review of the literature on the policy process
Coverage on all key elements of the policy cycle
Insight into the complexity of policy making in practice
Multiple perspectives of the policy process
Critical reflections on the roles of policy analysts
Multiple case studies including water management, migration and social policies.

An extensive and detailed textbook, "Public Policy in Action" will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate and masters students of public policy, policy analysis and public administration, by providing an insight into the complexity of policy making in the real world.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Public Policy in Action: Perspectives on the Policy Process" is an ideal and recommended for college/university library Political Science/Public Policy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, governmental policy makers, political advocates, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Public Policy in Action: Perspectives on the Policy Process" from Edgar Elgar is also available in paperback (9781781004609, $62.95).

Editorial Note: Victor Bekkers, Menno Fenger and Peter Scholten are each with the Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

How to Save the Amazon
Dom Phillips
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
www.chelseagreen.com
9781645023203, $27.95, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/How-Save-Amazon-journalists-answers/dp/1645023206

Synopsis: During the dark days of the Bolsonaro administration, British journalist Dom Phillips set out to accomplish an ambitious goal: through research, interviews, and site visits deep in the rainforest, he would emerge with a book answering the question -- how can we save the Amazon?

Traveling with his companion Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, Dom's adventure includes trekking through Amazonia to see where ranching, fires, illegal fishing, mining, the drug trade, and urbanization have deforested and degraded millions of acres of important forest, degraded ecosystems, and created dangerous conditions for the Indigenous tribes who have called the Amazon home for thousands of years.

Jair Bolsonaro came into power on a platform of anti-environmental exploitation and deregulation. During his term, deforestation in the Amazon, the "lungs of Planet Earth," increased exponentially as environmental criminals took advantage of lax rules, advantageous land use policy, and the difficulty of enforcing laws in a remote area of immense size. Lawlessness reigned and environmental activists found themselves in danger.

With the intention of discovering strategies to protect both the land and the people who inhabit it, Dom connected with politicians, farmers, and Indigenous activists to study the benefits and pitfalls of solutions like agroforestry, tourism, and the bioeconomy.

While traveling by boat in the Javari Valley, Dom and Bruno were brutally murdered. Unwilling to see her late husband's work be for naught, Dom's widow, Ale, and his literary agent assembled a team of expert writers, journalists, and activists to complete his work, with each tackling one unfinished chapter and grappling with the challenge of interpreting his field notes and discovering his conclusions.

"How to Save the Amazon: a Journalist's Fatal Quest for Answers", therefore, is a book both by and about Dom Phillips, his quest for answers, and his search for hope.

Critique: Absolutely and unreservedly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the struggle over protecting vs. exploiting the internationally important and essential natural resource that is the Amazon, "How to Save the Amazon: a Journalist's Fatal Quest for Answers" is an essential and critically important acquisition selection for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Environmental Policy and Natural Resources collections, as well as supplemental Environmental Economics & Amazon Rainforest curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "How to Save the Amazon: a Journalist's Fatal Quest for Answers" from the Chelsea Green Publishing Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Dominic Mark Phillips (23 July 1964 - 5 June 2022) was a British freelance journalist who wrote for The Guardian and The Washington Post, and contributed to The Times,[ the Financial Times and Bloomberg News. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_Phillips)


The Cookbook Shelf

Taste of Home: Made From Scratch
Taste of Home, editor
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889771128, $21.99, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Made-Scratch-HEARTWARMING/dp/B0DJZBNMFG

Synopsis: Each of the 275 recipes comprising "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" is carefully curated and presented with complete with step-by-step instructions and vivid photos to make sure even the most novice of cooks will succeed.

Readily organized into chapters covering every meal and occasion, including Breakfast and Brunch, Soups and Stews, Main Courses, Sides and Salads, and Desserts and Sweets. Whether you're making handmade biscuits, hearty casseroles, or decadent pies, these recipes will help you cook meals that taste better from scratch.

Need pantry staples? Included are 30 creative, money-saving recipes for homemade essentials like broth, sauces, and spice blends that reduce food waste while keeping your meals all-natural.

Stay informed with nutrition facts provided for every recipe, allowing you to seamlessly plan healthy meals for you and your loved ones. All recipes celebrate the magic of whole, quality ingredients, making this cookbook an essential for every kitchen.

Whether perfecting family favorites or exploring new cuisines, this "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" cookbook will inspire countless culinary memories for both formal and informal dining.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color photos of finished dishes, this large format (8.06 x 0.7 x 8.94 inches, 1.8 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" will prove a welcome addition to personal, professional, and community library American Family Cookbook collections. A simple and inspiring pleasure to browse through and menu plan with, it should be noted that "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" is also readily available for family cooks and professional chefs in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking and entertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands of subscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web site is a top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has more than 6.4 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.7 million Pinterest followers and receives more than 28 million unique monthly visitors. Visit Taste of Home on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to learn more.

The Midlife Kitchen
Mimi Spencer & Same Rice
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
97818409194, $32.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Kitchen-Health-boosting-recipes-midlife/dp/1784723509

Synopsis: This new edition of "Midlife Kitchen: Health-boosting recipes for midlife & beyond " is arguably a life-changing cookbook, Co-authors Mimi Spencer and Sam Rice assert that Midlife is not a time to be concerned with food fads and foibles, but rather a glorious opportunity to wrest back control of your eating in the interests of health, happiness and a long life. Taste must come first, but coupled with health and well-established nutritional common sense. Busy lives require simple, sustaining recipes that incorporate wholesome, health-giving ingredients without too much fanfare or fuss.

Alongside each of the 160 recipes is the Midlife Kitchen emblem, the star anise. With each of the eight seeds representing a specific Midlife Health category - (including Hormone Harmony; Mind, Memory & Mood; or Heart Health) "The Midlife Kitchen" also provides simple nutritional information. Health tips explain the benefits of certain ingredients, while "Why We Love It" sections explore the advantages of cooking each dish.

Of special note is that the Midlife Must-Haves show how to create homemade essentials such as Midlife Grown-up Granola, Midlife Power Porridge and Midlife Sweetener.

Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photos of finished dishes, this large format (7.75 x 1.25 x 10 inches, 2.95 pounds) this new hardcover edition of "The Midlife Kitchen: Health-boosting recipes for midlife & beyond" by Mimi Spencer and Same Rice is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Health/Dieting/Nutrition themed cookbook collections.

It should be noted for family cooks that "The Midlife Kitchen" from the publishing house of Mitchell Beazley features recipes for British dishes that are relatively unknown to American cooks including: Ricotta Angel Cakes; Red Chicory & Walnuts; Watercress Powerhouse Soup; TeaTime Walnut & Banana Loaf -- as well as a chapter on Drinks that includes recipes for Bedtime Chai; Ginger & Mint Muddle; Karkade (Hibiscus Iced Tea); and Wake Up Tonic.

Editorial Note #1: Mimi Spencer is the co-author of "The Fast Diet" with Dr Michael Mosley, which introduced the concept of 5:2 intermittent fasting to the world. Mimi went on to write "The Fast Diet Recipe Book" and "Fast Cook". Mimi's background is in lifestyle and style journalism, with an early career as a fashion writer for Vogue, the Evening Standard and then as editor of ES Magazine. She has been a columnist for You Magazine (Mail on Sunday), Observer Food Monthly and Waitrose Kitchen, while also writing lifestyle, fashion and food features for The Times. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/423862.Mimi_Spencer)

Editorial Note #2: The career of Sam Rice (https://samricefoodhealth.substack.com/about) has taken her from management consultant and travel business owner, to sommelier, wine columnist and more recently, food writer.

Larousse French Cooking
Larousse
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600638582, $49.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Larousse-French-Cooking-definitive-collection/dp/0600638588

Synopsis: The definitive bible of French cuisine from the publishers of Larousse Gastronomique, "Larousse French Cooking: The definitive collection of classic recipes from the French home kitchen" is the world's classic French cuisine culinary reference book showcasing more than 130 essential French recipes drawn from every region of France.

Even the most novice of kitchen cooks can now master the art of French cooking with this DIY essential French cuisine cookbook that is structured around the specialties and seasonal ingredients from each region.

This concise culinary guide to French cuisine is packed with invaluable information. In a few simple steps, perfect your beef bourguignon and make crowd-pleasing madeleines.

With recipes ranging from quintessential French classics to hidden regional gems, any enthusiastic cook and serious gastronome can improve their French culinary repertoire with "Larousse French Cooking".

Critique: Original, authentic, beautifully illustrated with full page, full color photographs of finished dishes, "Larousse French Cooking: The definitive collection of classic recipes from the French home kitchen" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, and community library Ethnic/French cookbook collections. It should be noted that this large format (8.75 x 1.13 x 10.25 inches, 3.18 pounds) hardcover edition of "Larousse French Cooking" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).

Editorial Note: Larousse is the pre-eminent French cookery brand, publisher of the world-renowned classic Larousse Gastronomique since 1938. Larousse is synonymous with expert culinary advice that has been trusted by generations.

The Taste of Egypt: Home Cooking from the Middle East
Dyna Eldaief
American University in Cairo Press
www.aucpress.com
9781649034281, $29.95, PB, 184pp

https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Egypt-Home-Cooking-Middle/dp/1649034288

Synopsis: Originally published in hardcover (August 31, 2016), and combining mouthwatering recipes with a fresh, contemporary design, "The Taste of Egypt: Home Cooking from the Middle East" is now available in paperback as it brings the sophisticated colors and flavors of Egyptian and Middle Eastern cuisine to the modern home kitchen in unpretentious, down-to-earth style.

With its recipes and menu planning resources, with "The Taste of Egypt" even the most novice of kitchen cooks and family chefs can impress dinner guests with exotic appetizers such as stuffed-vine leaves and roast eggplant dip.

Now anyone can create a silky cumin-infused lentil soup, sensational spiced meatballs, and delicious artichokes cooked in red pepper sauce. There are also summery salads to fill a picnic hamper and hearty slow-cooked beans and basterma (fenugreek-spiced cured beef) to evoke the bustling warmth of a Middle Eastern food market. Plus the recipes for sweet delights are designed to satisfy even the most persistent sweet tooth.

Presented in a vibrant, accessible style, "The Taste of Egypt" is a celebration of a great Egyption culinary tradition and an exciting addition to the culinary repertoire of the modern home cook.

Critique: This large format (10.3 x 0.9 x 7.7 inches, 1.95 pounds) paperback edition of "The Taste of Egypt: Home Cooking from the Middle East" by Dyna Eldaief is unique, exceptional, thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Ethnic/Egyptian cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Taste of Egypt" from the American University of Cairo Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).

Editorial Note: Dyna Eldaief (https://dynaeldaief.com) has appeared on the Middle East edition of the reality television cooking show The Taste. She is also active on YouTube and Instagram, and offers classes on her website. She currently resides in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children.

Persiana Easy
Sabrina Ghayour
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781783256129, $34.99, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Persiana-Easy-Sabrina-Ghayour/dp/1783256125

Synopsis: Compiled and presented by Middle Eastern chef Sabrina Ghayour, "Persiana Easy" is a brand new collection of inspiring recipes -- each carefully designed to be as easy as possible.

A new, authentic, and illustrated culinary compendium from Sabrina Ghayour, every recipe in comprising "Persiana Easy" balances irresistible Middle Eastern flavors with accessible step-by-step cooking instructions. From midweek meals and traybakes to pastries and sweet treats, this unique collection features easy recipes to delight your family and friends, time and again.

Critique: This large format (7.75 x 0.85 x 10 inches, 10.6 ounces) hardcover edition of "Persiana Easy" from Mitchell Beazley will prove an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for personal, professional, and community library Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cookbook collections. An inspiring delight to simply browse through and an extraordinary resource for memorable menu planning, it should be noted that Sabrina Ghayour's "Persiana Easy" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Sabrina Ghayour (www.sabrinaghayour.com) is an Iranian, self-taught home cook turned chef, cookery teacher and food writer. She made her name hosting the hugely popular 'Sabrina's Kitchen' supper club in London, specializing in Persian and Middle Eastern flavors, and went on to be named the Observer's Rising Star in Food. Her award-winning debut, Persiana, is a worldwide bestseller, was followed up by "Sirocco, "Feasts, Bazaar, Simply, Persiana Everyday, and Flavor.

The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 10th Anniversary Edition
Cherie Mercer Twohy
Ulysses Press
www.ulyssespress.com
9781646040476, $19.95, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Trader-Joes-Cookbook-Anniversary/dp/1646040473

Synopsis: Both budget-friendly and delicious, we all love the phenomena that is Trader Joe's! So why not explore your love for this beloved grocery store with the creative and mouth-watering recipes that comprise this newly published 10th anniversary edition of "The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook" by Trader Joe's fan Cherie Mercer Twohy and the Ulysses Press!

From hors d'oeuvres and appetizers for the perfect party to restaurant-worthy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, you will be surprised at the amazing meals you can make after a quick trip to Trader Joe's, including:

Apple sausage and cheddar bites
Brie and pear galette
Chile and crab chowder
Lamb loin with pomegranate reduction
Margarita pork chops
Double Corn Smash Tacos
BBQ Pasta Salad

And so much more!

Critique: This large format (7.5 x 0.6 x 9.25 inches, 1.3 pounds) trade paperback edition of "The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 10th Anniversary Edition" is ideal for planning memorable menus with and its step-by-step recipes will be especially appreciated by both novice and experienced family cooks. While unreservedly recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 10th Anniversary Edition" is also readily available in a Spiral Bound edition ($27.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note #1: Cherie Mercer Twohy is a food writer, culinary tour leader, and unabashed Trader Joe's stockpiler. After 15 years of teaching thousands of students to fall in love with Trader Joe's, Cherie moved to a tiny town on the Oregon coast, where she sees whales from her window. She lives 60 miles from her closest TJs, but still makes frequent provisioning trips. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3033286.Cherie_Mercer_Twohy)

Editorial Note #2: TRADER JOE'S is a registered trademark of Trader Joe's(R) Company and is used here for informational purposes only. "The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 10th Anniversary Edition: 150 Delicious Recipes Using Favorite Ingredients from the Greatest Grocery Store in the World" is independently authored and published and is not affiliated or associated with Trader Joe's(R) Company in any way. Trader Joe's(R) Company does not authorize, sponsor, or endorse this book or any of the information contained herein.

Bold Beans
Amelia Christie-Miller
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804192979, $26.99, HC, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Beans-Full-Delicious-Recipes/dp/180419297X

Synopsis: This new edition of "Bold Beans Full of Beans: Delicious Beany Recipes to Obsess Over" offers an addition of 70 brand new, individually photographed recipes from the trailblazing Bold Beans company.

Following their "Bold Beans: Recipes to get your Pulse Racing" (2023), a legion of 'bean champs' has sprung up via social media and supermarket shoppers, independent food store aficionados and word-of-mouth enthusiasts to call for more fantastic bean recipes.

"Bold Beans" is deftly organized by types of beans and featuring the brand's newly launched black beans, borlotti beans, queen carlin peas and queen red beans, new recipes include 'beanottos' and tray bakes for creating sensational, super-healthy and totally unprocessed meals that are both planet-friendly and ultra delicious.

Featured recipes include:

Sausage and Butter Bean Stew
Chickpea, Sweet Potato & Peanut Butter Curry
Spiced Onion & Borlotti Bean Frittata
Crispy Chorizo & Red Bean Shakshuka with Charred Padron Peppers
Carlin Pea Caprese
Double Pea Toasts with Pea Smash, Feta, Crispy Crlin Peas
And so much more!

Critique: This large format (7.75 x 0.73 x 10 inches, 1.88 pounds)) hardcover edition of "Bold Beans Full of Beans: Delicious Beany Recipes to Obsess Over" from Kyle Books features full color, full page photos of finished dishes, while the step-by-step instructions include the number of servings, cooking time, a list of ingredients, and a 'Top Tip'. A pleasure to plan menus with and of special interest to vegans and highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Note #1: Established in 2021, Bold Bean Co was set up by Amelia Christie-Miller who, following a bean epiphany in Spain, decided that the UK both needed and deserved to have a better understanding of beans and how brilliant they can be. Now listed in Selfridges, Waitrose and Planet Organic (as well as numerous independent shops and online outlets), Bold Beans are taking the food world by storm. Through targeting and working with influential chefs, cooks and food writers, they are creating a community of bean lovers who are passionate about sharing their zeal for this genuine superfood.


The American History Shelf

The Library of Congress
Jane Aikin
Georgetown University Press
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781647125714, $32.95, HC, 356pp

https://www.amazon.com/Library-Congress-Jeffersons-Vision-Digital/dp/1647125715

Synopsis: The Library of Congress is the research arm of Congress, it is also the home of the US Copyright Office and a public forum for artistic and literary culture. It is generally considered the national library of the United States, and it has influenced cultural affairs worldwide in myriad ways since its founding more than two centuries ago.

With the publication of "The Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age", Jane Aikin draws on a wealth of primary and secondary sources to weave a narrative of the individuals, events, and controversies that have shaped the history of this venerable institution.

Punctuated by stories about key donors and pivotal performances by poets, authors, and celebrities, ": From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age" is engaging and informative narrative sheds new light on the world's largest library and its global impact on knowledge and culture.

Critique: Impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well written, organized, and 'reader friendly' in presentation, "The Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age" by Jane Aikin is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a six page Appendix (Librarians of Congress), eighty pages of Notes, and a twenty-four page Index. An extraordinary history of an extraordinary institution, "The Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age" is especially and unreservedly recommended for highschool, community, and college/university library American History and Library Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "The Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age" from the Georgetown University Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.30).

Editorial Note: Jane Aikin served as director of the Research Division at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her publications include The Nation's Great Library: Herbert Putnam and the Library of Congress, 1899 - 1939 (1993) and, as coeditor with John Y. Cole, Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, the Nation & the World (2005).


The World History Shelf

Amazons: The History Behind the Legend
David Braund
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781108834490, $39.99, HC, 318pp

https://www.amazon.com/Amazons-History-Behind-David-Braund/dp/1108834493

Synopsis: The idea of the Amazons is one of the most romantic and resonant in all antiquity.

Greeks were fascinated by images and tales of these fierce female fighters. At Troy, Achilles' duel with Penthesilea was a clash of superman and superwoman. Achilles won the fight, but the queen's dying beauty had torn into his soul.

"Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" by Professor David Braund is vibrant new study offers the first complete picture of the reality behind the legends. It shows there was much more to the Amazons than a race of implacable warrior women.

David Braund casts the Amazons in a new light: as figures of potent agency, founders of cities, guileful and clever as well as physically impressive and sexually alluring to men.

Black Sea mythologies become key to unlocking the Amazons' mystery. Investigating legend through history, literature, and archaeology, Professor Braund uncovers a truth as surprising and evocative as any fiction told through story or myth.

Critique: Original, informative, fascinating, exceptionably well written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" by Professor David Braund is a seminal, meticulous, insightful, and groundbreaking study that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Ancient History collections and supplemental Greek Antiquity/Mythology/History curriculum studies lists. Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of an Introduction (Amazons in Love, War, and Mind -- Their Significance in Ancient Greek Culture), a illustrative section of Plates, a twenty-three page Bibliography, and a four page Index, this hardcover edition of "Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $37.99) to students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.

Editorial Note: David Braund is Emeritus Professor of Classics at the University of Exeter. An internationally acclaimed authority on the ancient Black Sea, his books include Georgia in Antiquity: A History of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia, 550 BC - AD 562 (Oxford University Press, 1994) and Greek Religion and Cults in the Black Sea Region: Goddesses in the Bosporan Kingdom from the Archaic Period to the Byzantine Era (Cambridge University Press, 2018). (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/526219.David_Braund)

Frequencies of Deceit
Margaret Elizabeth Peacock
University of California Press
www.ucpress.edu
9780520409736, $95.00, HC, 326pp

https://www.amazon.com/Frequencies-Deceit-Global-Propaganda-Shaped/dp/0520409736

Synopsis: On June 8, 1967, Egypt's most famous radio broadcaster, Ahmed Said, reported that Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian forces had defeated the Israeli army in the Sinai, had hobbled their British and US allies, and were liberating Palestine.

It was a lie.

For the rest of his life, populations in the Middle East vilified Said for his duplicity. However, the truth was that, by 1967, all the world's major broadcasters to the Middle East were dissimulating on the air. For two decades, British, Soviet, American, and Egyptian radio voices created an audio world characterized by deceit and betrayal.

"Frequencies of Deceit: How Global Propaganda Wars Shaped the Middle East" is important and timely study with which Professor Margaret Peacock traces the history of deception and propaganda in Middle Eastern international radio. Professor Peacock makes the compelling argument that this betrayal contributed to the loss of faith in Western and secular state-led political solutions for many in the Arab world, laying the groundwork for the rise of political Islam.

Critique: It is an old saying -- The first casualty in war is the Truth. "Frequencies of Deceit: How Global Propaganda Wars Shaped the Middle East" is exceptionally well written, impressively informative, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. A substantial and original work of meticulous and detailed scholarship, "Frequencies of Deceit' is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a sixteen page Bibliography, fifty-two pages of Notes, and a twenty-two page Index. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Middle East Studies and Radio Communications History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Frequencies of Deceit" from the California University Press is also readily available in paperback (9780520409743, $29.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.45, Amazon).

Editorial Note: Margaret Peacock is Professor of History at the University of Alabama. She is author of Innocent Weapons: The Soviet and American Politics of Childhood in the Cold War and coauthor of A Deeper Sickness: Journal of America in the Pandemic Year. (https://history.ua.edu/people/margaret-peacock)


The Military History Shelf

Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War
Ben Connable
Georgetown University Press
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781647125417, $110.95, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ground-Combat-Puncturing-Myths-Modern/dp/1647125413

Synopsis: With the publication of "Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War", Professor Ben Connable reveals the gritty details of land warfare at the tactical level and challenges today's overly subjective and often inaccurate approaches to characterizing war. Professor Connable's motivation for writing the study is to offer an evidence-based approach to examining the future of war.

In "Ground Combat" Professor Connable created and analyzed an original dataset of more than four hundred global ground combat cases, showing that there was an evolutionary rather than revolutionary shift in the characteristics of ground combat from World War II through the early 2020s. Despite advances in military technology, tanks, artillery, and infantry remain central to how war is waged on land. "Ground Combat" asks readers to stop and think about the implications of these findings for force planning and future predictions about military-technical revolutions.

"Ground Combat" sets an essential evidentiary baseline for military officers, policymakers, and scholars who think about the future of modern war.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War" is an original, seminal, and groundbreaking study of extensive and meticulous scholarship. Of special and particular interest and value to readers concerned with historical and contemporary military strategy and national/international security, "Ground Combat" is especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university Military History & Strategy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Ground Combat" from the Georgetown University Press is also readily available in paperback (9781647125424, $36.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.10).

Editorial Note: Ben Connable, (https://benconnable.com) is an award-winning research leader, a retired US Marine Corps intelligence and foreign area officer, a former senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, and an adjunct professor in Georgetown University's Security Studies program.

Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders
James Holland, author
Al Murray, author
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802166418, $28.00, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Victory-45-End-War-Surrenders/dp/0802166415

Synopsis: In May 1945 and then again in August and early September, the seemingly endless World War II finally came to a close in six dramatic surrender ceremonies, four in Europe and the last two in Japan.

With the publication of "Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders" and in celebration of the 80th anniversary of those historic events, historians and co-authors James Holland and Al Murray chronicle each of them in turn -- focusing especially on the human dramas behind each surrender and relating stories and perspectives on the end of the war that have not previously been told.

Germany's armies submitted to the Allies in four ceremonies between May 2 and June 7, the latter after considerable delays by the Germans and threats from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander.

Japan then finally conceded only after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, initially on August 15th and then in a formal ceremony aboard the USS Missouri on September 2.

Holland and Murray focus on specific characters participating in each of these world-changing events -- from ordinary servicemen and women and civilians to generals and political leaders.

The saga of the first German surrender, in Italy, revolves around senior SS general Karl Wolff's personal battle to save his own neck and involves VIP prisoners locked up in a resort in South Tyrol, art theft, money laundering, and the resistance of other German commanders to give up.

The German surrender to the Americans on May 5 follows the fortunes of private Alan Moskin from New Jersey, whose 6th Infantry Regiment found themselves liberating Gunskirchen, one of Mauthausen's sub-concentration camps, the terrible reality of which affected the rest of his life.

The stories surrounding the war's end are in their own way as dramatic as the strategy and battles themselves. As Holland and Murray make clear, they add greatly to our understanding and appreciation of World War II and its legacy.

Critique: An original, seminal, unique, ground-breaking, and deftly crafted contribution to the ever expanding library of World War II histories and biographies, "Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders" by James Holland and Al Murray is a welcome, informative, exceptional, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library World War II History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Featuring a sixteen page Timeline, twelve pages of Notes, a six page bibliography of Selected Sources, and a seventeen page Index, it should be noted for students, academia, and War War II history buffs that this hardcover edition of "Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders" from the Atlantic Monthly Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.75).

Editorial Note #1: Arguably one of WWII's finest historians, James Holland is the author of Cassino '44, The Savage Storm, Brothers in Arms, Sicily '43, Normandy '44, Big Week, The Rise of Germany and The Allies Strike Back in the War in the West trilogy, Burma '44, and Dam Busters. He has written and presented the BAFTA shortlisted documentaries Battle of Britain and Dam Busters for the BBC. (www.goodreads.com/author/list/78267.James_Holland)

Editorial Note #2: Al Murray (www.goodreads.com/author/list/660491.Al_Murray) is the author of Arnhem: Black Tuesday and Command: How the Allies Learned to Win the Second World War. He is the co-host, with James Holland, of the popular World War II history podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk.


The Civil War Shelf

Gettysburg Surgeons
Barbara Franco
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811776486, $34.95, HC, 376pp

https://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Surgeons-Facing-Common-Deadliest/dp/0811776484

Synopsis: The battle of Gettysburg was arguably the bloodiest conflict of the American Civili War.

At Gettysburg's makeshift hospitals (set up in barns, churches, and blood-soaked fields) military and civilian surgeons from both North and South worked around the clock performing life-saving operations under fire.

Drawing from a decade of meticulous research, with the publication of "Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War's Deadliest Battle", independent historian Barbara Franco reveals how these courageous medical professionals revolutionized battlefield medicine and established principles still saving lives today.

Through vivid accounts and previously untold stories, readers will discover:

How surgeons improvised new techniques that became standard trauma procedures
The harrowing reality of Civil War field hospitals during the three days of battle
How lessons learned at Gettysburg transformed American military medicine
The lasting impact on modern emergency and disaster response

"Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War's Deadliest Battle" by Barbara Franco (the founding director of the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum) is an unforgettable narrative of medicine, courage, and innovation that speaks to both history enthusiasts and medical professionals. This definitive account shows how the medical crisis at Gettysburg continues to influence how we treat mass casualties and train combat medics today.

Critique: Special, unique, meticulously researched, substantively informative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War's Deadliest Battle" is an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and Civil War buffs that this hardcover edition of "Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War's Deadliest Battle" from Stackpole Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.76).

Editorial Note: Barbara Franco (www.gettysburgsurgeons.com/about-the-author) is an independent scholar and nationally recognized leader in the museum field. She has served as executive director of the Historical Society of Washington, DC, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum, where she was founding director. She is past chairman of the American Association for State and Local History. Franco lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Lee Besieged
John Horn
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217384, $34.95, HC, 448pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Besieged-Petersburg-Offensive-18-July/dp/1611217385

Synopsis: The nine-month siege of Petersburg was the longest continuous operation of the American Civil War. Contrary to popular belief, it was anything but static trench warfare, as John Horn ably demonstrates with the publication of "Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18 - July 1, 1864".

Large-scale Union "offensives," grand maneuvers that often triggered major battles, broke the monotony of siege warfare. Once his First Offensive (the assaults of June 15 - 18) failed to capture the city, the Union commander planned and launched his next major effort within hours. This Second Offensive was one of the most dramatic operations of the entire war.

To pave the way for success, Grant brought the city's bridges under the fire of his siege guns to slow the transfer of enemy trips in and out of Petersburg. He also seized a bridgehead at Deep Bottom on James River's north bank to draw Confederate forces out of Petersburg by menacing Richmond.

Next, he took more ambitious measures by sending infantry to hem in Petersburg from the Appomattox River below the city to the Appomattox above. The move was designed to cut the critical Weldon and South Side railroads and force the Rebels to abandon Petersburg and Richmond. As his infantry went to work, his cavalry set out to sever the Confederate railroads below Petersburg to cut off supplies and reinforcements from the south and west.

Grant's opponent, however, was Gen. Robert E. Lee with his veteran infantry, not the inept John Floyd of Fort Donelson or the distracted John C. Pemberton of Vicksburg.

Lee and his infantry division commander William Mahone marched to meet the enemy, and in a stunning turn of events, routed Grant's foot soldiers at Jerusalem Plank Road. Together, Confederate cavalry under Wade Hampton and Mahone's infantry smashed Grant's troopers at the battles of Sappony Church and First Reams Station.

Thousands of Federal prisoners flooded into Confederate camps. Not until April 1865, after seven more offensives, would Grant reach the Appomattox above Petersburg and force Lee to relinquish that city and the capital of Richmond.

This is tactical battle action at its finest. Horn's explanation for the context and consequences of every decision is grounded in hundreds of primary sources and supported by 40 original maps. Lee Besieged is the first full-length book to put Grant's second effort into its proper perspective -- not only in the context of the Petersburg siege and the Civil War, but in the context of warfare's history.

Critique: Comprehensive, meticulously researched, exceptionally well written, featuring numerous B/W illustrations. two Appendices (Strength, Casualties, Effectiveness & The Orders of Battle), a twenty-six page Bibliography, and a seventeen page Index, "Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18 - July 1, 1864" by John Horn is essential reading and a welcome addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and Civil War history buffs that this hardcover edition of "Lee Besieged" from Savas Beatie is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.95).

Editorial Note: John Horn has written three more books about the siege of Petersburg and that city's soldiers and co-edited another. John's previous book, The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859 - 1865 (Savas Beatie) won the 2019 Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Writing Award for Unit History. John is popular on the speaking circuit and has blogged at www.johnhorncivilwarauthor.blogspot.com since 2015.

The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign
Stephen Davies, editor
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217278, $24.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/National-Tribune-Remembers-Atlanta-Campaign/dp/161121727X

Synopsis: As a repository for old soldiers' writings, the National Tribune is unequaled yet remains mostly unused. Indeed, it is so good one might call it the Confederate Veteran for Billy Yank.

From 1877 to 1943, the National Tribune served as a compendium for Union veteran reminiscences, war yarns, and postbellum reflections. The firsthand treasure-trove began as an eight-page monthly newspaper in 1881 and within a few years it became a weekly. The Washington-based paper was founded by George E. Lemon, a veteran of the 125th New York. Initially an advocate for Union veteran pensions, the National Tribune hit its stride when it began publishing articles about the war penned by the Northern soldiers themselves.

Within three years, John McElroy, a Union veteran with editing experience and the author of a dramatic memoir about his confinement at Andersonville (1879), assumed the reins as managing editor. His keen eye for detail and deep connections elevated the quality and quantity of the content and resulted in the publication of thousands of exclusive firsthand accounts. The National Tribune's final issue was on December 30, 1943. By that date, the Union veterans who had fought the war were nearly all gone.

More than 1,000 items were published on the Atlanta Campaign alone: articles, memoirs, and letters on every topic imaginable sent in by Union soldiers who had followed General Sherman into Georgia in 1864. The first appeared in June 1879 on the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign, edited by Stephen Davis, offers 70 selections pertaining to the Atlanta Campaign. These entries, coupled Davis's insightful annotations, advance the cause of Civil War scholarship by bringing back into print an array of some of the most important writing about the conflict penned by the men who fought in it.

Critique: Unique, exceptional, informative, a seminal source for eyewitness accounts of fighting and endurance in the American Civil War. and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign: Battles, Skirmishes, Marches, and Camp Life as Recalled by the Union Veterans Themselves", compiled and edited by Stephen Davis, is a very special and unreservedly recommended acquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Stephen Davis of Cumming, Georgia, is the author of many books related to the Atlanta Campaign, including a pair for the Emerging Civil War series: A Long and Bloody Task: The Atlanta Campaign from Dalton through Kennesaw to the Chattahoochee, May 5 - July 18, 1864 and All the Fighting They Want: The Atlanta Campaign from Peachtree Creek to the Surrender, July 18 - September 2, 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2016, 2017). He is also the editor, with Theodore P. Savas, of a forthcoming volume of essays on the Georgia Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14735260.Stephen_Davis)

The Tenacious Nurse Nichols
Eileen Yanoviak
The Lyons Press
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493053339, $29.95, HC, 184pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tenacious-Nurse-Nichols-Unsung-Civil/dp/1493053337

Synopsis: There are only two known images of Lucy Higgs Nichols, a Civil War nurse who escaped enslavement to join the Indiana 23rd Regiment.

In one captivating photograph dated to 1898, the elderly Lucy is the sole female and the only person of color. She stands stately in the middle of a large group of war veterans at a reunion that she diligently attended every year. Some of these soldiers were from the Indiana 23rd Regiment, the men whom she nursed and with whom she marched and fought.

These soldiers fiercely advocated for her Civil War nurse's pension in the 1890s.

Her life story is remarkable -- a journey from enslavement in Tennessee, to freedom and service among the ranks of the Union Army, and finally to independence and national recognition from the press, the Grand Army of the Republic, and even Congress.

Despite harrowing obstacles and unimaginable pain, Lucy achieved notoriety, nobility, and self-sufficiency in a post-Civil War era that often denied Black Americans and women justice and opportunity.

Critique: "The Tenacious Nurse Nichols: An Unsung African American Civil War Hero" by biographer Eileen Yanoviak ranges from the horrors of slavery to the battlefields of the Civil War, a personal journey that resulted in Lucy Higgs Nichols has become a symbol of resilience and a trailblazer for justice and equality. A unique Civil War biography that is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative Introduction and Epilogue, "The Tenacious Nurse Nichols" also features a nine page Selected Bibliography the includes a listing of Select Newspaper Articles, Documents, and Manuscript Collections. An impressive and seminal work of meticulous and detailed scholarship, "The Tenacious Nurse Nichols" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library American Civil War History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, American Civil War buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "The Tenacious Nurse Nichols" from Lyons Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.46).

Editorial Note: Eileen Yanoviak holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Louisville. She is the former Director of the Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana. She is the co-editor of a collection of essays entitled Formations of Identity: Society, Politics, and Landscape (2016) from Cambridge Scholars Publishing and author of Gaela Erwin: Reframing the Past (2016) from the Speed Art Museum. She has authored numerous scholarly essays for Art Inquiries, among others. She also teaches for Northern Kentucky University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.


The Wildlife Shelf

The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past
Sandra Swart
Ohio University Press
www.ohioswallow.com
9780821426258, $26.95, PB, 392pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Historian-Africas-Animal-Past/dp/0821426257

Synopsis: "Until the lion has a historian of his own, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."

With the publication of "The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past", Professor Sandra Swart takes up the challenge of that African proverb and, with this study, becomes the lion's historian.

As a species, humans are not alone; but our history has been written as though we were. Swart insists on a multispecies retelling of our more-than-human past as she reconstructs a shifting series of significant interspecies relationships, from quirky, idiosyncratic connections to others that triggered major changes.

Embracing a radical interdisciplinarity informed by a background in history and environmental studies, Professor Swart combines the natural sciences with the social sciences, oral history, indigenous knowledge, and archival research. She blends current thinking about animal sentience, agency, cognition, and emotion to offer a new way to understand animals' role in our shared history.

The animals in this book (baboons, cows, elephants, hippos, horses, jackals, lions, Nazi cattle, okapi, police dogs, quagga, sheep, and white ants) exemplify different facets of our shared past. With this animal-centric lens, decades of research are brought together in a collection that takes animals seriously.

This is a study with claws and fangs, tearing through conventional narratives to ask, Are we prepared to move beyond the convention that "history" is the story of only our own species? The entanglements between humans and other animals have shaped our past, but they suggest something more.

The possibility of our shared future pivots on a reckoning with our shared pasts. Professor Swart shows what human-animal history can do, not only to understand our place in the world better but to make our world (however slightly) a better place.

Critique: Original, unique, the product of exhaustive and meticulous research, impressively informative, expertly written, organized and presented, "The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past" by Professor Sandra Swart is a seminal and groundbreaking study that will be of particular interest to readers with a concern for African Human/Wildlife History, Biology, and Environmental Science. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library African Wildlife Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, environmentalists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past" from the Ohio University Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.60).

Editorial Note: Sandra Swart is a professor and chair of the Department of History at Stellenbosch University. She received her DPhil in modern history from Oxford University while simultaneously obtaining an MSc in environmental change and management, also at Oxford. She studies the socioenvironmental history of southern Africa, focusing on the shifting relationship of humans and animals. (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=AhJ7nIwAAAAJ&hl=en)


The Biography/Memoir Shelf

Mosaic
Laura Gaddis
Unsolicited Press
https://www.unsolicitedpress.com
9781956692914, $22.95, PB, 290pp

https://www.amazon.com/Mosaic-Laura-Gaddis/dp/1956692916

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mosaic-laura-gaddis/1146431247

Synopsis: "Mosaic" is a deeply personal life story with a universal resonance. It's a story of exploration and self-identification, of grief, relationships, tackling mental health, and how to walk through difficult times when there is nowhere else to go.

"Mosaic" follows Laura, who along with her husband Jason, embarked on having a baby, only to go on a journey that spanned over five years.

Over this time, Laura learned the hard truth about pregnancy loss, the medical field, and how to negotiate unforeseen difficulties. She persevered through four high-risk pregnancies, with the last one being a pregnancy more successful than the rest. Yet, it posed many tribulations, launching Laura and her husband into the world of an unpredictable birth, fetal abnormalities, their premature baby, the NICU, and breath-holding.

"Mosaic" delves into grief and resilience, and how they work together to get Laura through a difficult time in her life. It also shows how relying on her own mother also taught her how to enter motherhood for herself, no matter at what stage she considered herself to be a "mother."

"Mosaic" explores how to use challenges to change us into better versions of ourselves.

Critique: Deftly written, emotionally engaging, informative, insightful, inspiring, "Mosaic" by Laura Gaddis is one of those memoirs that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental Pregnancy/Childbirth curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for readers with an interest in books focused on love, loss, death and grief, that this paperback edition of "Mosaic" from Unsolicited Press is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Laura Gaddis (https://lauragaddis.com) is a writer, book coach, and educator. With a former career in clinical psychology, and more recently earning her MFA in creative writing from the Miami University (of Ohio), she is interested in writing about the human condition, whether it be her own or that of others. Laura writes fiction and nonfiction that centers around the idea that through storytelling we can connect humanity on profound levels, elevating us to be better for ourselves and for each other. Her writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and she has publications in literary nonfiction, poetry, and humor fiction in Thin Air Magazine, The Avalon Literary Review, Adelaide Literary Magazine, Ligeia Magazine, Pif Magazine, Vita Brevis Press, Kitchen Sink Magazine, The Dillydoun Review, Evening Street Review, 805 Lit + Art, Stonecoast Review, The Weekly Humorist. Additionally, she has published articles on parenting and mental health on the popular websites Scary Mommy, Tiny Buddha, and The Mighty.

Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery
Maura Casey
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510780774, $32.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Ellen-Memoir-Hope-Recovery/dp/1510780777

Synopsis: Financial privation and her father's drunken scenes formed the backdrop to Maura Casey's childhood, but her sister Ellen's years-long struggle with kidney disease consumed her whole family. Determined to see Ellen live to adulthood, her mother fought medical advice to donate a kidney at a time when organ transplants were medical miracles. She concealed the true impact of that decision, which would affect the family for years to come.

Set in Buffalo amidst the tumult of the 1960s and 70s, "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery" by Maura Casey traces her recovery from alcoholism and sexual assault and tells of her irrepressible older sister Ellen, who fought to claim her dream of becoming an athlete; her smart, feminist mother, whose World War II Army service prepared her to manage her own platoon of six children; and her adulterous, alcoholic father who, at the end, was haunted by his shortcomings and regrets. Despite the hard truths of her childhood, "Saving Ellen" is ultimately a story of humor at unexpected moments as well as the grace of reconciliation and gratitude.

"Saving Ellen" will have a very special appeal to readers who themselves have endured the stress of caring for a chronically ill family member, with all the fraught choices that entails. Readers who have experienced the unique insanity of living in a large alcoholic family will recognize the mix of madness and humor that forms the foundation of daily life.

Critique: A deftly crafted, unblinkingly candid, inherently fascinating story of 'family dysfunction and siblings trying to help one another cope in a dilapidated house with an unstable father', "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery" by Maura Casey is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery" from Skyhorse Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Maura Casey grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., the youngest of a large, Irish family. She has written regularly since she was thirteen. For more than thirty years, Casey was an editorial writer for three New England newspapers and The New York Times, where she had a seat on the exalted Times editorial board. Over her opinion writing career, she won more than forty journalism awards. Casey holds a BA from Buffalo State College and an MA from The American University. She and her husband Pete have two adult children and two grandchildren. They live on a small farm in Connecticut with two dogs and a barn cat. Casey writes a weekly column, Casey's Catch.

Nine Lives: My Risky Road
Claire Kahane
Brandylane Publishers
www.brandylanepublishers.com
9781962416832, $33.95, HC, 286pp

https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Lives-My-Risky-Road/dp/1962416836

Synopsis: "Nine Lives: My Risky Road" by Claire Kahane is a tell-all memoir of a woman now in her eighties, who was born during the Great Depression to Jewish immigrants, and unveils to her readers the intimate self-transformations that took place in the course of nine decades.

Determined at an early age to prove herself a free spirit in a male dominated world, as a young adult Kahane went on the road, hitchhiking her way into and out of risky adventures and romantic affairs, ceaselessly chasing new experience.

But what started out as a "road book" takes a different turn in midlife when, influenced by the insights of psychoanalysis and feminism, she became a feminist professor, mother and wife.

In later life her story changed tracks again when a visit to Auschwitz compelled her to confront her own family history of loss and renewal.

Claire Kahane's memoir ends with a surprising new twist that opens to a hopeful future.

Critique: Fascinating, compelling, engaging, exceptionally well written, "Nine Lives: My Risky Road" is an extended and riveting life story. One of those memoirs that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "Nine Lives: My Risky Road" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Nine Lives: My Risky Road" from Brandylane Publishers is also readily available in paperback (9781962416825, $19.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: Claire Kahane (https://clairekahane.net/about-2) is a feminist literary critic and memoirist who lives in Berkeley, California. As a young woman propelled by a lust for adventure and the will to challenge the cultural expectations for women, she spent part of the 1950s and 60s on the road, traveling through Mexico, the United States, Europe and Morocco, living a life unusual for a woman of her time. Years later, as a Professor of English at the University at Buffalo, and informed by her study of psychoanalysis, she wrote and edited books and essays which explored gender conflict in modern fiction, the dark appeal of Gothic literature, Holocaust trauma in literature.


The General Fiction Shelf

In Berlin
Eric Silberstein
Liu Book Group
9781737351979, $32.00, HC, 312pp

https://www.amazon.com/Berlin-Eric-Silberstein/dp/1737351978

Synopsis: Software engineer Anna Werner lives at a rapid clip, relishing her work and adopted city as much as her early morning runs. All comes undone on a sweaty August evening when, in the course of a 20-minute commute, Anna goes from worrying vaguely over a sore shoulder to staggering her way into an ambulance. She has suffered a spinal stroke. Over the coming months, her parents join the insurance man in telling her to get ready for life in a group home.

The only person who recognizes what Anna is still capable of is Batul al-Jaberi, a recent Syrian immigrant who meets Anna while doing her rounds as a janitor at the hospital. Batul is applying to medical school, where she hopes to regain control of a life hijacked by her family's flight from persecution in the early days of the Arab Spring.

At first the friendship is what Anna and Batul each need to regain mobility. But as their relationship deepens, Batul finds she must choose between her family and Anna-a choice that will force both women to rewrite their notions of loyalty!

Critique: With the publication of "In Berlin", author Eric Silberstein presents a finely crafted novel of geopolitics, ambition, and competing loyalties. Original, exceptional, inherently compelling, and as relevant as today's nightly news headlines, "In Berlin" is a fascinating read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "In Berlin" from the Liu Book Group is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Eric Silberstein (https://www.ericsilberstein.com) is also the author of "The Insecure Mind of Sergei Kraev".

Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop
Sharon Booth
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836567578, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 288pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836567578

Synopsis: The beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale is run as a living museum, allowing tourists to see history in action. But there's more to the place than any visitor would guess...

Fifty-something Shona grew up in the village and now runs its vintage, 1940s-themed teashop. Not everyone knows that the previous manager, her great-aunt Polly, still lives there too... as a ghost!

When newcomer Max arrives, hoping to find out more about the place where his German grandfather was a prisoner of war, both Shona and Polly are unsettled. Shona, because handsome, interesting Max is the first man to catch her eye since her divorce, and Polly, because she must finally confront the terrible truth about her past.

A 1940s-themed weekend planned for the village brings the families' connections to a head and tragic secrets to light. Can Shona help her ghostly great-aunt to find love and forgiveness once more, while also creating her own happy ever after?

Critique: An original and simply delightful blending of the supernatural with romance, suspense, family tragedies, and life in an English village, this large print trade paperback edition of "Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop" by Sharon Booth is a fun and engaging read from cover to cover and a very special and praiseworthy addition to personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Sharon Booth (https://www.sharonboothwriter.com) writes cosy romances, as warm and welcoming as a mug of hot chocolate, served in delicious, small-town settings, stirred with family relationships, close friendships, and tight-knit communities, and topped with a swirl of humour. They are also available with a scoop of the supernatural, and/or sprinkles of magic and mystery! New for 2025! Ghosts of Rowan Vale is a brand-new series set in the stunning Cotswolds. Cosy contemporary romance with a dash of ghostly goings-on! Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall, the first in the series, is out now. Sharon lives in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Lancaster Gold
Katia Lebeau
Independently Published
9798282164336, $21.99, HC, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/LANCASTER-GOLD-Suspenseful-Tale-Faith/dp/B0F7XX59YY

Synopsis: Shielded by tradition, one family rules the region's most unlikely operation with old-world precision, bound by loyalty, silence, and secrets.

When a million-dollar shipment sparks a high-stakes road trip, two sisters and three rogue brothers hit the highway, chasing freedom and outrunning suspicion. A young couple amongst them, defying tradition for forbidden love, risks everything to face the dangers ahead.

But as state lines blur, so do the truths of their past. Loyalties fracture, secrets unravel, and redemption demands its price. Is their path guided by God's will -- or is faith just a cloak for betrayal?

Set against the haunting beauty of the Amish country of Lancaster County, "Lancaster Gold: A Suspenseful Tale of Faith and Risk" by Katia Lebeau explores loyalty, faith, and a love willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, and a memorable read from start to finish (and all the more impressive when noting that it is her debut as a novelist), "A Suspenseful Tale of Faith and Risk" artfully showcases author Katia Lebeau's authentic and genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling skills that will be especially appreciated by readers with an interest in Amish and Mennonite family saga and crime fiction novels that are populated by interesting characters, forbidden love, and unexpected plot twists. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Lancaster Gold" is also readily available in paperback (9798315400639, $15.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: Katia Lebeau is a Canadian author and educator from Montreal. A lifelong storyteller and passionate teacher, she draws inspiration from her roots, her deep love of language, and the beautiful chaos of raising four daughters.

The Elias Enigma
Simon Gervais
https://simongervaisbooks.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662518553, $16.99, PB, 348pp

https://www.amazon.com/Elias-Enigma-Caspian-Anderson/dp/1662518552

Synopsis: Caspian Anderson, once a black-ops assassin known as Elias, now works for the Defense Clandestine Service. But unfinished business dies hard. Glimpsing a familiar face while tying up loose ends overseas, he swears it's his lover, Liesel Bergmann -- a German spy and erstwhile collaborator. But back stateside, he can't ask her without giving himself away.

This mystery hangs between them as they kick off a new mission together: to unravel a global criminal conspiracy, one that implicates Caspian's own parents. Dispatched to France, they must track down rogue start-up founder Frank LaBelle before his cutting-edge defense tech falls into the wrong hands. But when Caspian's team is compromised by friends and foes, he's left with no one to trust but himself. And to complete the mission (and save the world) he resurrects the deadly Elias.

Critique: Clearly, with the publication of his action packed yet intricately plotted thriller of a novel, "The Elias Enigma", author Simon Gervais again demonstrates originality and a genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader's rapt attention from start to finish. A fun read for fans of espionage, political, and military style thrillers, "The Elias Enigma" will prove to be an enduringly popular pick for library collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "The Elias Enigma" from Thomas & Mercer is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Simon Gervais (https://simongervaisbooks.com) joined the Canadian military as an infantry officer and in 2001 was recruited by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to work as a drug investigator. He was later assigned to antiterrorism, which took him to several European countries and the Middle East. In 2009, Gervais became a close-protection specialist tasked with guarding foreign heads of state visiting Canada. He served on the protection details for Queen Elizabeth II, US president Barack Obama, and Chinese president Hu Jintao, among others. For more about Gervais he can be followed on Facebook (@SimonGervaisAuthor), Instagram (@SimonGervaisBooks), and X (@GervaisBooks).

The Fourth Daughter
Lyn Liao Butler
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662529054, $16.99, PB, 299pp

https://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Daughter-Lyn-Liao-Butler/dp/1662529058

Synopsis: Chef Liv Kuo's star is on the rise... until a traumatic incident leaves her emotionally unable to venture outside her Manhattan apartment. But an unexpected reason to break free comes from Ah-Ma, Liv's beloved grandmother in Taiwan. Ah-Ma needs Liv's help in finding her fourth daughter, taken from her when the girl was an infant. After all these years, it seems impossible. It's also a mystery: Ah-Ma's fourth daughter is an aunt Liv never even knew existed.

After landing in Taiwan, Liv hears the heartbreaking story of her grandmother's plight in a country once under martial law, of choices made for her, and of the hopeful search for a lost girl that has endured for more than sixty years. Like the enriching food and traditions that bind Liv and Ah-Ma, their journey for answers brings them together.

And it's a quest that turns up both a precious old cookbook and a tale of fatal betrayal that shakes everything Liv believed about her family -- revelations that could also give her the courage to face the trauma she left behind.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, emotionally compelling, "The Fourth Daughter" is a unique family saga by Lyn Liao Butler that is an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover. Skillfully defined characters, unexpected plot developments, and author Butler's distinctive kind of storytelling style, raises this cogent novel of family relationships, tragedies, and reconciliations to an impressive level of literary excellence. While recommended as a prize pick for community and college/university library Contemporary American Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this trade paperback edition of "The Fourth Daughter" from Lake Union is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Lyn Liao Butler (www.lynliaobutler.com) is a Taiwanese American author of thrillers, upmarket fiction, and rom-coms. Her thriller, Someone Else's Life, was an Amazon bestseller, and her second book, Red Thread of Fate, was a finalist in the WFWA Star Awards for 2023. Before becoming an author, she was a professional ballet and modern dancer and is still a fitness and yoga instructor.

The Women of Arlington Hall
Jane Healey
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662526503, $16.99, PB, 335pp

https://www.amazon.com/Women-Arlington-Hall-Novel/dp/1662526504

Synopsis: 1947: Adventurous Radcliffe graduate Catherine "Cat" Killeen cancels her wedding and upends a future that no longer suits her. At the behest of her professor and hungry for a challenge, Cat arrives in Virginia to work on a confidential military project. A student in cryptoanalysis, Cat is already ahead of the game -- to assist in rooting out Soviet spies who have infiltrated the US.

Joining the "government girls" of Arlington Hall, Cat gains the respect of her superiors and the friendship of her peers. Then, on a night out in DC, Cat runs into Jonathan Dardis, her arrogant and privileged Harvard rival and newly minted agent for the FBI. What Cat and Jonathan share is a competitive drive and an attraction that's becoming just as spirited. They're also united in the same critical goal for America. Together, they're diving deep into the shadows of espionage.

The stakes of the codebreaking operation grow ever higher, and Cat's relationship with Jonathan opens her heart. Amid dangerous intrigue and grave secrecy, Cat is ready for every risk -- no matter how personal the stakes get.

Critique: Blending unexpected romance with a compelling suspense thriller set in a Cold War environment of spies and spycatchers, "The Women of Arlington Hall" by Jane Healey is a fun and memorable read from start to finish. Original, exceptional, and highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library collections, it should be noted that this trade paperback (5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches, 11.2 ounces) edition from Lake Union is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Jane Healey (www.janehealey.com) is the author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club, Goodnight from Paris, The Secret Stealers, and The Beantown Girls. Additionally, she is the host of the Historical Happy Hour podcast, where she interviews fellow historical fiction authors about their latest novels. Jane is also a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Northeastern University.

The Sandy Page Bookshop
Hannah McKinnon
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781668025215, $18.99, PB, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sandy-Page-Bookshop-Novel/dp/1668025213

Synopsis: After her publishing career and engagement fell apart in Boston, Leah Powell has no choice but to return to her hometown. Feeling lost and discouraged, she stumbles upon a once prominent sea captain's historic home that now looks as dilapidated as she feels. Suddenly inspired, Leah decides to transform it into a bookstore and cafe she will call The Sandy Page.

Luke Nickerson, a life-long local and contractor, remembers Leah, even if she doesn't remember him. Intrigued by her return and her project, he agrees to help her bring the old captain's house back to life. As they work together, The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town's go-to gathering spot for locals, tourists, and anyone who is feeling adrift during this long, sweet summer.

It's a home for second chances. But will it be enough for Leah and Luke?

Critique: Exceptional, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, "The Sandy Page Bookshop" by novelist Hannah McKinnon is the stuff of which Hallmark Channel romance movies are made. "The Sandy Page Bookshop" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community Contemporary Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated romance fans that this paperback edition of "The Sandy page Bookshop" from Atria/Emily Bestler Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Hannah McKinnon is the author of several acclaimed novels, including The Lake Season, Mystic Summer, The Summer House, Sailing Lessons, The View from Here, Message in the Sand, The Darlings, The Summer Club, and The Sandy Page Bookshop. A listing of her books online: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/3504524.Hannah_McKinnon

The Da Calvi Legacy
Judith Barclay
Austin Macauley Publishers
https://www.austinmacauley.com
9781035882649, $16.95, PB, 242pp

https://www.amazon.com/Calvi-Legacy-Judith-Barclay/dp/1035882647

Synopsis: Cristi Jenkins is leading a quiet life as a primary school teacher in a small village on the coast of West Wales. Stuck in this familiar backwater, she feels her life is going nowhere.

Then, out of the blue, she receives a mysterious letter bearing an Italian postmark... Cristi knows her only link to Italy is a tenuous one -- the mother she never really knew, and definitely can't remember. Yet her story is about to become inextricably linked to that of the Da Calvi family - four brothers torn apart by war, and an unbreakable bond between two young boys forged years before.

In modern day Italy, Seb Luce is the attractive Italian lawyer entrusted with Ennio Da Calvi's affairs. The file appeals to his curiosity and determination to find answers to the questions left by an intriguing legacy... What does all of this mean for Cristi, what decisions will she face, and is this a chance for her to find out who she really is?

Critique: Deftly crafted with memorable characters, "The Da Calvi Legacy" is an original, compelling, and entertaining read from start to finish. With her compelling set of narrative driven storytelling skills, author Judith Barclay has elevated her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Da Calvi Legacy" from Austin Macauley Publishers is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.50).

Editorial Note: Judith Barclay (https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/barclayjudith) has a degree in education from the University of Nottingham and started writing seriously after retiring from a career in teaching.


The Historical Fiction Shelf

Wayward Girls
Susan Wiggs
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063118270, $30.00, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Wayward-Girls-Novel-Susan-Wiggs/dp/0063118270

Synopsis: Set in 1968, "Wayward Girls" by novelist Susan Wiggs is the story of six teens who are confined at the Good Shepherd (a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns). Locked away merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly, the include:

Mairin -- free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.

Angela -- denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

Helen -- the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her "temporary" stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

Odessa -- caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

Denise -- sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.

Janice -- deeply insecure, she couldn't decide where her loyalty lay, except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

The there is Sister Bernadette -- rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

"Wayward Girls" is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption...and justice.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, memorable, emotionally engaging, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "Wayward Girls" reveals author Susan Wiggs' immense talent as an imaginative, compelling, and narrative driven storyteller. Raised to an impressive level of literary excellence, "Wayward Girls" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Wayward Girls" from William Morrow is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). There is also a large print paperback edition of "Wayward Girls" (9780063441903, $34.00, 640pp) from William Morrow Large Print.

Editorial Note: Susan Wiggs (https://www.susanwiggs.com) is the author of more than fifty novels, including the beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages.

The Palace at the End of the Sea
Simon Tolkien
www.simontolkien.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662528620, $28.99, HC, 463pp

https://www.amazon.com/Palace-End-Sea-Novel-Sterling/dp/1662528620

Synopsis: New York City, 1929. Young Theo Sterling's world begins to unravel as the Great Depression exerts its icy grip.

He finds it hard to relate to his parents: His father, a Jewish self-made businessman, refuses to give up on the American dream, and his mother, a refugee from religious persecution in Mexico, holds fast to her Catholic faith.

When disaster strikes the family, Theo must learn who he is. That's when a charismatic school friend and a firebrand girl inspire him to believe he can fight Fascism and change the world, but each rebellion comes at a higher price, forcing Theo to question these ideologies too.

From New York's Lower East Side to an English boarding school to an Andalusian village in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Theo's harrowing journey from boy to man is set against a backdrop of societies torn apart from within, teetering on the edge of a terrible war to which Theo is compulsively drawn like a moth to a flame.

Critique: A deftly crafted and original 'coming of age' story set in globally turbulent times, "The Palace at the End of the Sea" showcases author Simon Tolkien's genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that emotionally and intellectually engages the readers full attention and interest from start to finish. Original, compelling, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Palace at the End of the Sea" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Palace at the End of the Sea" from Lake Union Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9781662528644, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Simon Tolkien (www.simontolkien.com) is also the author of No Man's Land, Orders from Berlin, The King of Diamonds, The Inheritance, and Final Witness. He studied modern history at Trinity College, Oxford, and went on to become a London barrister specializing in criminal defense. Simon is the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien and is a director of the Tolkien Estate. In 2022 he was named as series consultant to the Amazon TV series The Rings of Power.

American Sky
James Grady
Pegasus Books
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781639369218, $28.95, HC, 496pp

https://www.amazon.com/American-Sky-Novel-James-Grady/dp/163936921X

Synopsis: For the teenaged Luc, his days are preoccupied with the daily dramas of high school. President John F. Kennedy's assassination seems a world away. But the winds of history find their way to his small Montana town as marijuana clouds rise in the hallways and the notices of neighborhood young men "Killed in Action" in Vietnam keep arriving at an increasing rate.

"American Sky" is the story of a young man who is caught in the nexus of vast social change. From blue-collar life in the heartland to Kent State and the Civil Rights movement, "American Sky" is a sweeping narrative that builds to a crime that threatens to tear Luc's world apart.

Critique: Original, skillfully crafted, and an inherently riveting read from start to finish, "American Sky" will have immense appeal to readers with an interest in 'coming of age' stories set in a time of immense political, social, cultural, and economic turmoil. As an author, James Grady demonstrates a genuine flair for the kind of distinctive and narrative drive storytelling style that elevates his novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library American Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "American Sky" from Pegasus Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).

Editorial Note: James Grady's first novel Six Days Of The Condor became the classic Robert Redford movie Three Days Of The Condor and the current Max Irons TV series Condor. Grady has received Italy's Raymond Chandler Award, France's Grand Prix Du Roman Noir, Japan's Baka-Misu literature award, two Regardie's magazine short story awards, and been a Mystery Writers of America Edgar finalist. He's published more than a dozen novels and three times that many short stories, been a muckraker journalist, and a scriptwriter for film and television. In 2008, London's Daily Telegraph named Grady as one of the "50 crime writers to read before you die." In 2015, The Washington Post compared his prose to George Orwell and Bob Dylan. -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Grady_(author)


The Romantic Fiction Shelf

Once Upon A Thyme
Jane Lovering
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835332511, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 346pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835332511

Synopsis: All her life, Natalie Fisher has been taught not to ask questions. Why risk uncovering uncomfortable truths, when you can stay in the safety of blissful denial?

Since taking over the family herb farm, Natalie has stuck with what she knows, rarely venturing much further than the nearby village where her invalid mother now lives. But then, one day, everything changes with the arrival of unexpected visitors.

First comes Zeb, employed by Natalie's mother to help with the business but soon hinting at other motives. Then comes Simon with the famous band he manages, wanting to film in Natalie's beautiful garden. The band causes chaos and the attitude of one particular member throws Natalie's ordered life into confusion.

Over one magical summer of revelations and uncovering secrets, Natalie starts to blossom and by the time autumn arrives she knows nothing will ever be the same again.

Will she finally get an answer to the mystery of her childhood? And can she embrace the fresh start she so deserves -- but which means she'll have to take one enormous and brave leap of faith?

Critique: A fun, original, memorable, and emotionally engaging read from start to finish, this large print trade paperback edition of "Once Upon a Thyme" by novelist Jane Lovering will have a particular appeal to readers with an interest in carefully crafted romances that are conflicted, authentic, and creative. This edition of "Once Upon a Thyme" from Boldwood Books" is an ideal and popular pick for personal reading lists and community library Large Print Romance Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: British author Jane Lovering is a highly regarded novelist of romance and paranormal novels, creating stories that really stand the test of time. Infusing her fiction with comedy and a sense-of-humor, she's a gifted writer drawing in readers from all over. This is something that she's come to excel at in recent years, being one of the foremost writers currently working within her field to date. Instantly accessible, she's extremely talented, knowing exactly what it is that she wants to say and precisely how to say it. There is an online listing of her books available at: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/jane-lovering

To Catch a Lord
Emma Orchard
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836338536, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 439pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836338536

Synopsis: London, 1813. As a daughter of the notorious Wyverne family, Lady Amelia is used to being the subject of gossip. But while she has accepted her marred reputation (however unfair it is) she hates the horrible men it attracts.

Amelia decides she needs a suitor of impeccable repute to save her from the attentions of ungentlemanly gentlemen, and who better than the handsome and famously moral Lord Thornfalcon?

Since coming into his title, 'Thorn' has been besieged by women who want to marry him, or have an affair with him, or both -- so perhaps a pretend relationship might suit him too? There's just one small catch. Thorn's childhood sweetheart Lavinia has also set her sights on him again, and rallied half the ton behind her.

But what does that matter to Amelia -- it's only a fake engagement, isn't it? Except, as Lavinia and her friends try to tear Amelia and Thorn apart, she starts to realise that her feelings may not be quite so fake after all. Because the trouble with brave and handsome Lords is... they might just steal your heart!

Critique: Regency romance at its most original and best, this large print trade paperback edition of "To Catch a Lord" is a fun read from cover to cover. Novelist Emma Orchard demonstrates and impressive master of this romance genre with her distinctive, effective, and narrative driven storytelling style and expertise. "To Catch a Lord" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Large Print Romance collections.

Editorial Note: Emma Orchard Emma Orchard was born in Salford. She studied English Literature at the Universities of Edinburgh and York, before working behind the scenes in publishing and television for many years. Her first job was at Mills & Boon, where she met her husband in a classic enemies-to-lovers romance. She now lives in North London. Her books are listed online at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23140742.Emma_Orchard

Eat Post Like
Emily Arden Wells
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9780063307438, $18.99, PB, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Post-Like-Self-Discovery-Love_Perfect/dp/006330743X

Synopsis: Cassie Brooks has her life all figured out.

Make partner at the prestigious law firm she works at by age 35
Put in as much work as required to make goal #1 happen
Spend as much time as possible with her boyfriend, James Colwell

Work might be exhausting, but for now she's satisfied making good money and enjoying New York City with James. He's an accountant but has surprisingly eclectic taste in food. Cassie is starting to think he could be the one when her life flips upside down with one call: James has died tragically.

Months into her grief, she uncovers a worn diary belonging to James and stumbles upon a remarkable revelation: James was the mastermind behind the hottest, anonymous foodie account in the city. With detailed food reviews, lists of new restaurants, and a tantalizing plan to involve Cassie, James had been preparing for an adventure of a lifetime.

When Cassie unwittingly accepts a dinner reservation on behalf of James's viral account, she embarks on a whirlwind journey filled with unforgettable meals and unexpected connections. She goes from endless hours on-call as a lawyer to savoring exquisite pasta in Italy and indulging in the finest French cuisine in Paris.

But as Cassie navigates the demands of being an influencer and embracing her newfound passions, she struggles to find balance. Does she have what it takes to maintain her secret identity while pursuing her own dreams? Can she balance her grief of losing James with the thrilling possibilities that lie ahead?

Critique: Of particular interest to readers of contemporary romance novels with elements of love, loss, resilience, and recovery (and all the more impressive being the author's debut as a novelist) "Eat Post Like" by Emily Arden Wells is original, compelling, and a fully engaging read from cover to cover. While an extraordinary and recommended pick for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Eat Post Like" from Avon Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798228470187, $45.95, CD)

Editorial Note: Emily Arden Wells (https://www.emilyardenwells.com) is a partner with the Colorado based architecture firm, Move Matter / Architecture, and owns a digital media agency called Five O'Clock Creative, where she has won awards for her photography and food styling. She co-founded the award-winning cocktail and spirits website, Gastronomista.com, and is considered to be one of the first cocktail influencers who has inspired generations of content creators. Her writing has been published in Saveur Magazine, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Bloomberg Pursuits, among others.

The Lawyer and the Laundress
Christine Hill Suntz
Tyndale House Publishers
www.tyndale.com
9798400507755, $32.99, HC, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lawyer-Laundress-Christine-Hill-Suntz/dp/B0DJY6W48V

Synopsis: Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O'Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant.

For propriety's sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara's medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter's life.

When Sara's presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected solution: become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.

If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they're together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband's life.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, a clean and wholesome 'marriage-of-convenience' historical romance novel, "The Lawyer and the Laundress" by Christine Hill Suntz is a novel of love, faith and adventure. Of special note is the inclusion of discussion questions for book clubs. A fun and memorable read from start to finish, "The Lawyer and the Laundress" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Romance collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of Regency Romance and Christian Historical Romance fans that this hardcover edition of "The Lawyer and the Laundress" from Tyndale Fiction is also readily available in paperback (9798400507762, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Christine Hill Suntz (https://www.christinehillsuntz.com) knew she wanted to write novels the day she finished Anne of Green Gables, and she's been lost in her imagination ever since. Her love of language led her to study French and German and pursue a graduate degree in Comparative Literature before finding a home teaching high school French. Her work has won numerous prizes, including the 2022 ACFW Genesis competition.

Look Before You Leap
Virginia Heath
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250896094, $18.00, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Look-Before-You-Leap-Prentices/dp/1250896096

Synopsis: Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, was publicly humiliated by a failed and reckless romantic gesture. Despite this, his mother clings to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching thirty, Guy's work is his life. In desperation, his mother blindsides Guy with a week long house party at his estate filled with annoying debutantes, all competing to be his wife.

After failing as a governess, Lottie Travers is struggling as a lady's companion. Raised in an all-male household, she's developed habits that get her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice's teachings of how to be a lady, she climbs trees better than she embroiders and can't resist riding horses astride, in breeches. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages, she's determined to conquer her wildness once and for all.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one who catches Guy's eye -- though he tries to deny it. For Lottie, succeeding in her new role proves difficult when the Wennington estate is filled with horses, and a spark ignites between her and the grumpy lord. Will they remain stuck in their ways, or learn that they may just be the perfect match?

Critique: A fun read from cover to cover, "Look Before You Leap" by Virginia Heath is especially and unreservedly recommended to the attention of all dedicated fans of the Regency Romance genre. Exceptionally well written with fully formed characters and entertaining plot twists, this is the kind of romantic comedy that will appeal to Hallmark Rom-Com movies fans. While a perfect pick for community library Regency Romance collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Look Before You Leap" from St. Martin's Griffin is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: When Virginia Heath (https://www.virginiaheathromance.com) was a little girl, it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Now her Regency rom-coms (including the Wild Warriners and Merriwell Sisters series) are published in many languages across the globe. Thirty-two books and four Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later -- it still takes her forever to fall asleep!


The Western Fiction Shelf

Long John
D. D. Lang
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855210, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 208pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855210

Synopsis: William Henry John was a small time rancher. But when his wife died in a riding accident, he became a broken man. He turned to drink. At first his neighbors were helpful and sympathetic, but Henry John soon became the town drunk and was ignored by all. Then one day his life changed. He saved the life of a young woman who he thought was his dead wife. She thanked him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. From that day forth, William Henry John became a changed, if disturbed, man.

Critique: An inherently fascinating and extraordinary novel set in the west, this large print paperback edition of "Long John" by historical novelist D. D. Lang is both unique and memorable. Simply stated, "Long John" is a highly recommended addition to both personal reading lists and community library Historical Fiction and Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: D.D. Lang is the author of more than 40 Black Horse Westerns. He lives in Hawarden, North Wales. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/408937.D_D_Lang)

Shadow Shooters
George Arthur
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855197, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 296pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855197

Synopsis: Released from Yuma Prison in the fall of 1878, after serving three years for bank robbery, Anson Hawkstone returns to the Apache village where he lived, determined to find Rachel, his former love, and give up the outlaw trail. However, things do not go as planned when he is forced to take part in a stagecoach hold-up after Hattie, an Apache princess, is taken hostage. Hawkstone is pushed to the limit in trying to avenge the wrongs committed by other men before he can finally be reunited with Rachel.

Critique: Original, exceptional, memorable, and a fun read that will be particularly appreciated by dedicated fans of western action/adventure novels about flawed heroes going up against great odds with guns blazing! This large print paperback edition of veteran author George Aruther's "Shadow Shooters" from the Linford Western Library series will prove a welcome and appreciated pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: George Arthur has published more than 53 books and dozens of short stories and articles. George is now committed to writing westerns, and has started his Hawkstone series of western novels. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1991135.George_Arthur)

Trouble at Painted River
Matt Cole
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855227, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 232pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855227

Synopsis: Outlaw Birch Hamilton was born Birch Kent, a bastard boy who was thrust into a life of crime at the age of 16. Now he was attempting to do the near impossible -- break out of the Yuma Territorial Prison. Once out, his plans are two-fold: to return home to see his beloved mother, and to be reunited with the woman he has loved since his youth. He also intends to settle a score with the meanest man he ever knew -- his father. But with bounty hunters and the law on his trail, and his outlaw partner Molly Floyd at his side, Birch's plans prove far from straightforward.

Critique: Deftly crafted, original, clever, compelling, and a fully entertaining action/adventure western from start to finish, "Trouble at Painted River" showcases veteran western author Matt Cole's genuine flair for the kind of storytelling that keeps his readers fully engaged with unexpected plot twists and memorable characters. This large print paperback edition of "Trouble at Painted River" will prove an immediate popular pick for the personal reading lists of western novel fans and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Matt Cole is the author of more than 20 novels. A listing of his books is available at https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/990012.Matt_Cole.

Texan Secrets
Dirk Hawkman
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855203, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 248pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855203

Synopsis: Sheriff Owen Rowlands' closest friend Renard has gone missing. Searching his friend's ransacked house, the lawman finds a dying man on the bed -- but no sign of Renard. Determined to track down his friend, Rowlands investigates links to a mysterious gang, only to find that his old friend was not what he seemed. As he hunts down the gang to their mountain lair, a deadly secret is unraveled, and the sheriff finds that his world is flipped upside down.

Critique: Compelling action/adventure replete with unexpected plot twists and turns, this large print paperback edition of Texan Secrets" by the veteran western author Dirk Hawkman is a fun and riveting read that will be especially appreciated by dedicated western novels fans. This large print edition of "Texan Secrets" from the Linford Western Library series is a welcome and recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: A complete listing of titles by western novelist Dirk Hawkman can be found online at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17769233.Dirk_Hawkman


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Dangerous
Essie Fox
Thorpe/Charnood
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444856033, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 360pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444856033

Synopsis: Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city

But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumors begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer!

As events escalate and tensions rise (and his own life is endangered, as well as those he holds most dear) Byron is forced to play detective, to discover who is really behind these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the scandals of his own infamous past come back to haunt him...

Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron's life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself...

Critique: This large print trade paperback edition of "Dangerous" by author Essie Fox is an impressively crafted blending of an historical murder mystery with a compelling action/adventure vampire theme that is an original, clever, and fun read from cover to cover. This large print edition of "Dangerous" from Thorpe/Charnwood is an especially welcome and wholeheartedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.

Editorial Note: Essie Fox (https://essiefox.com) was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, then the book publishers George Allen & Unwin - before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design. Always an avid reader, Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4's TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Her latest novel, The Fascination is based in Victorian country fairgrounds, the glamour of the London theatres, and an Oxford Street museum full of morbid curiosities. Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian. She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.

Murder In the City of Light
Michael Mandaville
Creative Explorer Publication
https://creativeexplorer-michaelmandaville.com
ASIN: B09FZTJDRJ, $4.99 Kindle, $24.99 PB, 322pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Death-Aristotle-Witzer-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09FZTJDRJ

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-the-city-of-light-michael-mandaville/1145998918

Synopsis: In Paris, American film student Adele Longet is found murdered. Aristotle Witzer (a Defense Analyst new to America's Paris embassy) receives a late night call to get a police report. Witzer is drawn into hunting for her killer, leading to encounters with film fanatics, Catacombs lovers, and scum from France's Nazi past.

In the Paris Catacombs, underground rave parties blaze until dawn with ecstasy, sex and cinema as Witzer scrambles through this subterranean web -- the haunt of French kings, the sanctuary for Resistance Fighters and the domain of partying 'Cataphiles'.

Who murdered Adele? Unexposed French collaborators? Drug dealers? Criminal kingpins? He can trust no one. On a hot summer night, when a famed music festival shuts down the City of Light, he searches for a drug lab with answers to Adele's murder - and the clue to his own daughter's kidnaping - before he loses her to "A Cold Death".

In the words of author Michael Mandaville: "Paris is among the greatest and probably is greatest city in the world. The City of Light. To me, the magic of Paris is found on every street corner and turn. The city itself is a treasured vault of history, architecture, art, language and learning. I visited the Lutece - an ancient Roman amphitheatre - and the Pompidou Centre in the same day. Having gone to Paris numerous times, I was excited to actually visit their libraries. Geek that I am. I went to the Bibliotheque Mazarine and the Bibliotheque Richelieu. In their old stately buildings, they were magnificent. The old book collection at Mazarine was enthralling. And there's a cool secret entrance hidden on the book shelves for the library workers - which is a door looking like book shelves. I also went to a great World War II museum there in Paris about the Resistance Fighter hero, Jean Moulin. Enthralling if you are a World War II history junkie. There is no place like Paris with its energy and intrigue, history and great thought. Paris is a creative explorer's mindset."

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, "Murder in the City of Light" showcases author Michael Mandaville's complete mastery of the suspense thriller mystery genre and genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader with its memorable characters and unexpected plot twists. This digital book edition of "Murder in the City of Light" is especially and unreservedly recommended for readers with an interest in classic noir murder mysteries and suspense thrillers.

Editorial Note: Michael Mandaville graduated from the University of Southern California with a Masters Degree in their Professional Writing program. He received a B.A. in Philosophy at UC Santa Barbara and attended the B.A. Film program at Columbia College. As a Film Industry professional, he works as a Line Producer/Unit Production Manager on feature films and TV. (https://creativeexplorer-michaelmandaville.com/about-michael-8733-4233-4764)

Death of a Psychic
B. Wells
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684922505, $17.95, PB, 296pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Psychic-B-Wells/dp/168492250X

Synopsis: Lena Rezenchov, famous psychic and New Age author/guru, is found dead after a supposed car accident. Rookie Detective Ted Nishita is tasked with solving the case. Grateful for a distraction from a recent heartbreak, Nishita delves into Lena's life. He soon finds himself caught up in a web of secrets, lies, and coverups.

Along the way, Nishita finds tantalizing connections between Lena's death and his brother's hit-and-run murder nineteen years ago. Are the two cases linked?

What secrets does Lena have to share from beyond the grave? Will solving Lena's murder finally put his brother's ghost to rest?

Nishita must follow the twisted threads to uncover the deadly cost of love, loyalty, and greed.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, emotionally/intellectually engaging, skillfully written plot twists and a dramatic finale, "Death of a Psychic" by B. Wells will have immense appeal for readers with an interest in psychic murder mysteries, police procedurals, and authentic detective 'whodunnits'. A fun and fascinating read from start to finish, "Death of a Psychic" is an ideal pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this trade paperback edition for "Death of a Psychic" from Camel Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Editorial Note: B. Wells (https://www.bwellsauthor.com) received an MFA in Theatre Arts and enjoyed a long and delightful career as an actress. Performing plays gave her an ear for dialogue and building tension. But as she aged, the acting jobs lessened, and she funneled her energies to a non-profit company. When the economy tanked, her job downsized she embraced what Sister Mary Rose had told her in second grade: write. Writing of loss, compassion, beauty, and betrayal, she strives to tell stories as complex as her readers.

Dogged Pursuit
David Rosenfelt
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250324511, $28.00, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dogged-Pursuit-Carpenter-Mystery-Novel/dp/1250324513

Synopsis: Andy Carpenter has spent the three years since graduating law school working as a prosecutor in Paterson. But having seen how the system never looks out for the little guy, he leaves to start his own practice as a defense attorney. His office might be a little bit of a dump, but he's excited to make a change.

Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog, where he meets his beloved golden retriever, Tara, for the first time and feels an immediate connection. The shelter is crowded and Tara's been sharing space with a dog named Sunny; Andy hates to break them up and so asks to take Sunny, too, but since there's a pending criminal case involving the owner, he'll need to get written permission for temporary possession.

Andy discovers that Sunny's owner, Frank Tierney, has been arrested for the murder of his ex-boss. But he takes an immediate liking to Frank and his clear dedication to his dog, and ends up with his first case along with the two dogs.

This prequel to the long-running and perennially popular Andy Carpenter mysteries is a gift for fans and a terrific entry-point for newcomers.

Critique: The 31st novel in author David Rosenfelt's outstandingly successful Andy Carpenter mystery series, "Dogged Pursuit", the novel that reveals how Andy started out as a reluctant crime solver with a canine companion. A fun and riveting read from cover to cover, "Dogged Pursuit" is a 'must' for the legions of mystery writer David Rosenfelt fans. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for cozy animal mystery enthusiasts that this hardcover edition of "Dogged Pursuit" from Minotaur Books is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Macmillan Audio, 9781250395092, $29.99, CD).

Editorial Note: David Rosenfelt (https://davidrosenfelt.com) is the Edgar-nominated and Shamus Award - winning author of almost 30 Andy Carpenter novels, including Dog Day Afternoon; several stand-alone thrillers; nonfiction titles; and several K Team novels, a series featuring some of the characters from the Andy Carpenter series.

See How They Fall
Rachel Paris
Scarlet / Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
c/o W.W. Norton (distribution)
https://wwnorton.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781613165942, $17.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/See-They-Fall-Rachel-Paris/dp/1613165943

Synopsis: When Skye married into the wealthy Turner family, she thought she was entering paradise. But now, several years later, she remains uneasy amid the opulence of her husband's world, struggling with her own secrets and working to maintain a normal life for their young daughter, Tilly.

Skye's delicate balance is undone when the family patriarch, Sir Campbell Turner, dies suddenly and an illegitimate heir comes forward to stake his claim in the luxury goods empire the old man leaves behind. Reluctantly, the Turners receive the newcomer at an intimate weekend retreat at Yallambee, the family seaside estate, but tempers flare and egos clash within their first few hours together and the night ends in a tragedy that leaves one dead and another fighting for life.

Sergeant Mei O'Connor is assigned to investigate the incident and though her superiors are keen to close the case as swiftly as possible, the evidence just isn't lining up. Convinced that there's more to the suspicious death than a simple accident, Mei continues to search for answers. But pulling at these threads may just tear down the Turner empire.

Critique: A deftly crafted and compelling thriller of a novel from cover to cover, "See How They Fall" by author Rachel Paris will hold a special interest to fans of murder mysteries and psychological thrillers featuring a female sleuth and more unexpected plot twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado. A riveting and fun read throughout, "See How They Fall" is a strongly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "See How They Fall" from Scarlet is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798228593343, $45.95, CD).

Editorial Note: Rachel Paris (https://www.rachelparisauthor.com) has worked as a commercial lawyer in London and Auckland before writing her debut novel, "See How They Fall". She holds a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School and a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Auckland. Rachel currently lives with her family in Auckland.

Them Bones
David Housewright
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250360519, $29.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Them-Bones-McKenzie-Cities-Novels/dp/125036051X

Synopsis: There are two things that Rushmore McKenzie hates to turn down -- a request from a friend and a challenge. Both of them show up in his wife's nightclub in the person of Angela Bjork, who has come to request McKenzie's help.

McKenzie, once a homicide detective, now through a series of unlikely events, is a retired millionaire. But occasionally, for friends, he will do some unofficial private detective work. Over the years, he's hunted down a stolen Stradivarius, the hoard of 1930's gangster, and recovered a stolen, apparently cursed, artifact but McKenzie never imagined a case like this. An exceedingly rare dinosaur skull has been stolen.

Angela, a doctoral candidate, was out on a dig site in Southeastern Montana, when she found a skeleton of an Ankylosaurus. And no sooner than when the skull was removed and placed on a truck then they were attacked, the truck and skull stolen. Worried that nothing is being done to find the stolen skull, she turns to McKenzie. Worth millions on the black market, the chance to recover it becomes fainter by the day. And the people behind the theft are likely willing to do anything, to anyone, to hold onto it.

Critique: Another riveting and action packed suspense thriller of novel in the Rushmore McKenzie mystery series by an author who is a master of the genre, "Them Bones" by novelist David Housewright is an original, skillfully crafted, imaginative, and fun read from cover to cover. A 'must' for the growing legions of David Houswright fans, "Them Bones" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Them Bones" from Minotaur Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: David Housewright (https://www.davidhousewright.com) has won the Edgar Award and is the three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for his crime fiction, which includes the modern noir Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie series (starting with A Hard Ticket Home). He is also a past president of the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA).

The Vanishing Place
Zoe Rankin
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9798217188093, $30.00, HC, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Place-Zo%C3%AB-Rankin/dp/B0F211STY3

Synopsis: A child who ran from the forest. A woman who must return to it

Growing up with her younger siblings in the unforgiving New Zealand bush, Effie believed their parents had cut them off from civilization because they loved Nature. She never suspected that their reasons might be more menacing. After witnessing a terrifying episode of violence, she escaped the wilderness to forge a life for herself halfway across the globe.

Now, when she learns the only witness to a murder is a little girl who looks just like her, Effie is compelled to return to the scene of her troubled childhood, where the secrets of her upbringing and the terrors of her past come rushing back to the surface. In order to find out once and for all what became of her family (and possibly help this mysterious girl who could be her younger self) Effie must face her greatest fears once more.

Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, as well as a fascinating and fun read from cover to cover, "The Vanishing Place" by New Zealand author Zoe Rankin will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. All the more impressive when considering that "The Vanishing Place" is Rankin's debut as a novelist, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of psychological thrillers fans that this hardcover edition of "The Vanishing Place" from Berkley Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.990.

Editorial Note: Zoe Rankin grew up in a village in Scotland. She studied International Relations and Arabic before going on to qualify as a primary school teacher. She spent many years travelling in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and eventually settled in New Zealand. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55470387.Zoe_Rankin)

The Highland Heist
Pepper Basham
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
9798891511415, $15.99, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Heist-Freddie-Grace-Mystery/dp/B0DJN13J5C

Synopsis: Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace's sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband's murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sister's they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother's inheritance.

The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias disappears, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland, sure the answers will be found in a long-forgotten castle.

With a ghost from Frederick's past leaving threatening clues along the way, the mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself, and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must capture the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.

Critique: "The Highland Heist" by Pepper Basham (the fourth novel in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series), is the sequel to "The Mistletoe Countess", "The Cairo Curse", and "The Juliet Code". An impressively crafted and fun read from cover to cover, "The Highland Heist" will be a particularly appreciated pick for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs, as well as a popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of Pepper Basham fans that this paperback edition of "The Highland Heist" from Barbour Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.19).

Editorial Note: Pepper Basham (http: //www.pepperdbasham.com) writes romance novels peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell's Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family.

Red Tide
Irma Venter
Catalyst Press
https://www.catalystpress.org
9781960803139, $21.95, PB, 380pp

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Tide-Catalyst-International-Crime/dp/1960803131

Synopsis: Three years after his niece is found dead the week of her wedding, Jaap Reyneke, a retired detective, is still doggedly looking for answers. Why was her body displayed so carefully, like a macabre art installation? Who erased all correspondence from her devices? But the townspeople of Carnarvon seem content to let dead bodies lie.

Desperate for help, Jaap turns to Sarah Fourie, a convicted hacker seeking reprieve from her own demons. Together, they sniff out the truth of Janien's death, setting in motion a chain of events that will tear the town apart from within.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, and a fun read from cover to cover for fans of LGBTQ and internationally themed murder mysteries and crime novels, "Red Tide" by author Irma Venter is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Red Tide" from Catalyst Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Irma Venter (https://www.irmaventer.com) is a South African crime fiction writer and a journalist at a media company in Johannesburg. She writes books about strong women, interesting men and that fascinating space between right and wrong.

Ink Ribbon Red
Alex Pavesi
Henry Holt & Company
www.henryholt.com
9781250755957, $28.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ink-Ribbon-Red-Alex-Pavesi/dp/1250755956

Synopsis: Anatol invites five of his oldest friends to his family home in the Wiltshire countryside to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. At his request, they play a game of his invention called Motive Method Death. The rules are simple: Everyone chooses two players at random, then writes a short story in which one kills the other.

Points are awarded for making the murders feel real. Of course, it's only natural for each friend to use what they know. Secrets. Grudges. Affairs. But once they've put it in a story, each secret is out. It's not long before the game reawakens old resentments and brings private matters into the light of day. With each fictional crime, someone new gets a very real motive.

Can all six friends survive the weekend, or will truth turn out to be deadlier than fiction?

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Ink Ribbon Red" by Alex Pavesi is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommend addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of those with a particular interest in skillfully written and immersive psychological thrillers that this hardcover edition of "Ink Ribbon Red" from Henry Hold & Company is also readily available in in paperback (9780241433591, $22.52) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Alex Pavesi (https://alexpavesi.com) is an author of crime novels. He lives in London, where he writes full time. Alex previously worked as a software engineer and before that obtained a PhD in Mathematics

The Housewarming
Kristin Offiler
www.kristinoffiler.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662530920, $16.99, PB, 301pp

https://www.amazon.com/Housewarming-Novel-Kristin-Offiler/dp/1662530927

Synopsis: For five friends vacationing on Block Island, it was a summer to remember. How could they forget it when only four made it back to the mainland?

Now, half a decade after Zoe Gilbert's unsolved disappearance, Callie Sutter invites estranged friends Meg, Tess, and Lindsey (the last to see Zoe on that fateful trip) to reunite on the anniversary of the mystery that tore them apart. Back on Block Island, Callie reasons, they can come together again, memorialize Zoe, allay old resentments and recriminations, and put the past to rest.

But it won't be so easy. Patricia Adele, a true crime podcaster who once made a name for herself by casting suspicion on Zoe's surviving friends all those years ago, is most eager for the reunion. She's resurfaced with a book proposal claiming to expose them all as cold-blooded liars and conspirators in a crime once and for all.

Driven by self-preservation, the women must reckon with their long-held secrets and shared history if they're to find out what really happened to Zoe on that hot August day. But will the truth set them free or condemn them all? No one is prepared to find out.

Critique: Original, exceptional, complex, brilliant, and an inherently fascinating, compelling read from start to finish, "The House Warming" clearly demonstrates author Kristin Offiler's genuine master of the psychological suspense thriller genre. Deftly written characters and unexpected plot twists make for riveting reading and unreserved recommendations for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this trade paperback edition of "The House Warming" from Thomas & Mercer is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Kristin Offiler (www.kristinoffiler.com) holds an MFA from Lesley University. Her short fiction has appeared in the Raleigh Review, Waccamaw Journal, The Bookends Review, and The Bookends Review Best of 2020 print anthology.

Scenery of the Crime
Frank Fraser Verlizzo
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684923106, $18.95, PB, 282pp

https://www.amazon.com/Scenery-Crime-Frank-Fraver-Verlizzo/dp/1684923107

Synopsis: In this first book of the Retro Broadway Mystery Series by Frank Verlizzp, "Scenery of the Crime" is set in 1975 New York City with several bizarrely executed murders involving theatrical ad execs Vic Senso and Bettie Balboa in the far-from glamorous world of backstage Broadway.

Behind all the beautiful scenery hides a myriad of potentially life-threatening hazards. Has there ever been a stage-related "accident" that was actually a cover-up for murder?

Legendary actress Helena Baxter is once again starring on Broadway! A weird death on stage places her in the spotlight of suspicion, along with a cast of other suspects, including her dashing British bridegroom, her Hollywood Producer Ex, the demure set designer, the ubiquitous photographer, the watchful general manager, and a catty rival diva.

With assistance from a quirky press agent and her handsome young assistant, Vic and Bettie inadvertently place themselves in grave danger. It will take NYPD Detective Renny Clements and high society psychic, Mizz Mitzi, to make sense of the murders in time to save the lives of their new friends.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, compelling, and a fun read from start to finish, "Scenery of the Crime" is an extraordinary mystery novel that will hold a very special interest for fans of police procedural stories. Of special note that, as a novelist, author Frank 'Franer' Verlizzo" has set his story, its characters, and its reader engaging plot lines into a world that he has spent his adult working life in -- the Broadway theatre. That brings a special note of authenticity to his tale of mystery and murder. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for dedicated crime fiction fans that this trade paperback edition of "Scenery of the Crime" from Camel Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: Frank "Fraver" Verlizzo has left an indelible mark on the landscape of the American theatre. He's created poster art for over 300 Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional and international productions, including some of the most memorable designs in theatre history including The Lion King, Deathtrap, Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George. Playbill has called him, "the theatre poster legend." In 1987, Fraver's designs garnered him a Special Drama Desk Award for "consistently inspired artwork for theatrical productions," an honor never before bestowed in the area of theatrical advertising. In 2011, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center presented a retrospective exhibit of his posters in celebration of his illustrious career.

Perilous Tides
Elizabeth Goddard
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.revellbooks.com
9780800746155, $18.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Tides-Elizabeth-Goddard/dp/0800746155

Synopsis: Three years after her mother's suspicious death, forensic artist Jo Cattrel is in hiding, working at a storm-watching lodge along the Washington coast. When her father sends her a disturbing and cryptic message, Jo leaves the safety of the lodge to find him. But during the ferry crossing, Jo witnesses a murder -- and becomes a target.

More surprising to Jo than being in danger is the identity of the person who steps in to protect her -- none other than her ex, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. Now a private investigator, Cole has been looking into her mother's death. If he can just uncover the truth, maybe Jo can end her self-imposed captivity and the two of them can pick up the pieces and build a future together.

As Cole and Jo search for answers, the past rushes in like a dangerous tide before the truth can be revealed.

Critique: Original, deftly scripted, absorbing, and a simply fascinating read from start to finish, "Perilous Tides" by Elizabeth Goddard will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in stories that skillfully blend romance with mystery, unexpected plot twists and memorable characters, and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader from beginning to end. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99), "Perilous Tides" is a highly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Elizabeth Goddard (ElizabethGoddard.com) is the author of more than sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska, Rocky Mountain Courage, and Uncommon Justice series. She is a Carol Award winner, a two-time Reader's Choice Award winner, and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.

Shadowed Witness
Angela Carlisle
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764244957, $39.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Shadowed-Witness-Secrets-Kincaid-Carlisle/dp/0764244957

Synopsis: Murder -- that's what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Waking with bruises on her neck and a foggy memory, she believes she survived an attack, but everyone seems to think she simply sustained a head injury from falling down the stairs outside her studio. Plagued by an undiagnosed health condition, she is torn between the haunting reality of what she may have seen and the possibility that her mind is playing tricks on her.

Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. Still, he adds Allye's report to his already full caseload. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.

Critique: A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Shadowed Witness" by Angela Carlisle is a deftly blended novel of romance, suspense, and mystery. Showcasing the author's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style, "Shadowed Witness" is also available in paperback (9780764242519, $18.99) and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections, Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this edition of "Shadowed Witness" from Bethany House Publishers is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).

Editorial Note: Angela Carlisle (www.AngelaCarlisle.com) resides in the hills of northern Kentucky and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN. Angela's debut novel, "Secondary Target", was a Parable Weekly top seller and was included in the Library Journal Stars So Far listing. Angela is an editor by day and prefers to spend her free time reading, baking, and drinking ridiculous quantities of hot tea.

Night in the City
Michael McGarrity
W. W. Norton & Company
www.wwnorton.com
9781324066279, $28.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Night-City-Novel-Michael-McGarrity/dp/132406627X

Synopsis: Sam Monroe thought his steamy love affair with Manhattan socialite Laura Nielson was dead and buried, but when she didn't show up after unexpectedly calling him late at night and asking to meet, he decides to investigate. He finds her naked on her penthouse balcony, strangled, his dog tags wrapped around her neck. With a bull's-eye on his back as the prime suspect, Sam begins a search for the killer that reveals Laura's involvement with several men, some with ties to a well-known crime family.

As circumstantial evidence mounts against him, the cops close in, especially a heavy-handed rogue patrolman carrying a grudge against Sam and looking for serious payback. Forced to operate in the shadows, he relies on the unofficial help of several coworkers in the DA's office and Debora Jean Ryan, a private investigator who offers to assist but has an agenda that she refuses to disclose. As they probe Laura's past looking for clues, they must also figure out Laura's mysterious trip out west, the death of a young man in New Jersey during her childhood, and who is making attempts on his life.

From the crime-ridden precincts of Lower Manhattan, the mean streets of Spanish Harlem, and the lofty mansions along Millionaires' Row, Night in the City is classic crime noir fiction at its best that wonderfully evokes the vibrant world of 1950s New York. Michael McGarrity again proves himself to be one of the most accomplished writers of mysteries working today.

Critique: The kind of novel that 1950s film noir movies were made, "Night in the City" by author Michael McGarrity is a deftly crafted and riveting read from cover to cover. Memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and the kind of narrative driven storytelling that keeps readers fully engaged throughout, "Night in the City" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of fans with an interest in historical murder mysteries that this hardcover edition of "Night in the City" from W. W. Norton is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.64).

Editorial Note: Michael McGarrity (https://michaelmcgarrity.com) is the author of the Kevin Kerney crime novels, which he concluded in Head Wounds, the acclaimed American West trilogy, and his recent novel, The Long Ago.

The Safari
Jaclyn Goldis
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781668066959, $28.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Safari-Novel-Jaclyn-Goldis/dp/1668066955

Synopsis: Odelia Babel, CEO of a sustainable fashion empire, is about to marry for the second time -- to a man twenty-five years her junior. Asher Bach is the thirty-something designer of Odelia's luxury clothing line, the darling of every high-fashion journalist, and madly in love with Odelia.

Eager to celebrate her nuptials with her nearest and dearest, Odelia invites her adult children, her daughter-in-law, her grandchild, and her best friend/assistant to an all-expenses-paid luxury safari at Leopard Sands in South Africa, the Babel family's favorite vacation spot.

It seems like the perfect trip, but not everyone is thrilled for the happy couple. Amid game drives in the bush and bonfires beneath the desert stars, tensions among the family threaten to boil over. And then, the morning after a big fight with her son Sam (and hours before the wedding) Odelia is found murdered. Sam is immediately the prime suspect, but he claims he has an ironclad alibi - he was with his twin sister, Bailey.

Only Bailey is nowhere to be found...

As the heat roils, desperate poachers and ferocious animals lurk, along with dark motives festering, it becomes clear that whoever killed Odelia isn't quite finished yet, and the rest of the Babel family is their prey.

Critique: An original, deftly crafted, and simply riveting suspense thriller of a novel, "The Safari" by Jaclyn Goldis will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. Imaginative, memorable, and having immense appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and 'whodunnit' murder mysteries, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Safari" from Atria/Emily Bestler Books is also readily available in paperback (9781668066966, $19.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Jaclyn Goldis (https://www.jaclyngoldis.com) is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU School of Law. She practiced estate planning law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. After culling her possessions into only what would fit in a backpack, she traveled for over a year until settling in Tel Aviv, where she can often be found writing from cafes near the beach. She is also the author of The Chateau, The Main Character, and The Safari.

Bald-Faced Liar
Victoria Helen Stone
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662514616, $16.99, PB, 318pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bald-Faced-Liar-Victoria-Helen-Stone/dp/1662514611

Synopsis: Traveling nurse Elizabeth May has a promising new home in Santa Cruz. And another new identity. It's a pattern of reinvention for a woman escaping her traumatic childhood -- and hiding from the decades of notoriety and destruction that followed. Invisibility has kept Elizabeth safe. Until now. After all these years, someone sees her for who she is.

Threat by threat, a vengeful stalker is dismantling Elizabeth's carefully constructed lifetime of lies. And no one in her temporary circle can be trusted -- not her fleeting new love interest, not the supportive friend she knows only from online forums, and certainly not the police. They've never been there for her.

As fear sharpens to terror, Elizabeth soon discovers something about her past that even she didn't know. The revelation could finally set her on a path of healing and redemption. Or, now alone in the dark, it could be Elizabeth's worst nightmare.

Critique: An original and riveting novel of psychological suspense, "Bald-Faced Liar" is a testament to author Victoria Helen stone's authentic flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for thriller fiction. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for suspense/thriller fans that this paperback edition of "Bald-Faced Liar" from Lake Union is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Victoria Helen Stone, (www.victoriahelenstone.com) writes critically acclaimed novels of dark intrigue and emotional suspense. Her work includes Jane Doe, Follow Her Down, At the Quiet Edge, The Last One Home, Problem Child, Half Past, The Hook, and the chart-toppers False Step and Evelyn, After.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Onyros Chronicles I: Splinter
D. K. Thorne
Independently Published
ASIN: B0DYFB8SCS, $4.99 Kindle
9783000815683, $TBA print, 374pp

https://www.amazon.com/Onyros-Chronicles-Splinter-Dystopian-Consciousness-ebook/dp/B0DYFB8SCS

Synopsis: In a dying world, the last frontier is the mind. -- And reality is a relic.

Humanity has abandoned the physical world for the digital world of Onyros -- a vast, dystopian virtual sprawl where consciousness thrives and flesh is obsolete.

Logan Bochniak is an illegal extractor, pulling minds out of digital paradise before they collapse for good. Years of jumping between realities have left his own psyche dangerously frayed.

Then he finds it: An impossible anomaly. A hidden signal. Something even the creators of Onyros can't explain.

As reality fractures and enforcers close in, Logan races to uncover the source of the anomaly -- and the truth behind humanity's final escape.

Critique: With the publication of "The Onyros Chronicles I: Splinter: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Book for Adults about Consciousness and Identity", author D. K. Thorne has created an inherently fascinating, deftly crafted, and original story that will hold a special attraction for science fiction fans with an interest in dystopian science fiction in a cerebral, high-concept thriller akin to the Matrix trilogy. A high tech thriller about 'identity, consciousness, and the cost of living inside your own illusion', "The Onyros Chronicles I: Splinter" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated, hardcore cyber punkscience fiction fans.

Editorial Note: D. K. Thorne (https://dkthorne.net) studied philosophy and sociology and holds a B. Sc. in Psychology. With philosophical science fiction as his first love, Thorne crafts stories that explore the complex intersection between consciousness and reality.

A Vow of Embers
Sariah Wilson
www.sariahwilson.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662526589, $28.99, HC, 589pp

https://www.amazon.com/Vow-Embers-Eye-Goddess/dp/166252658X

Synopsis: Lia is always prepared for battle, but being blackmailed into marriage by Prince Alexandros is a challenge too far. She has no choice. He's holding her sister hostage to force her hand. But with this union built on betrayal and rage comes a contract. By the goddess's law, the marriage must not be consummated. A relief to Lia. She'd rather commit regicide than fall into bed with a man she loathes.

There is one other saving grace. Marriage gives Lia access to the palace and a chance to uncover the truth about the treasured eye of the goddess -- and the magic it holds. But something inexplicable and impossible to ignore soon binds Lia and the prince. By night they walk in each other's dreams, and by day they share each other's pain.

As longing and trust grow between Lia and Alexandros and inhibited desires are set free, outside forces rise against them, posing an ever-present danger. Not only to the throne but to their very lives.

Critique: "A Vow of Embers" is the sequel to author Sariah Wilson's novel "A Tribute of Fire" and continues to showcase her genuine flair for deftly blending romance with fantasy -- the result is another fun read from cover to cover. Original, clever, skillfully written, and unreservedly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of epic fantasy fans that this hardcover edition of "A Vow of Embers" from Montlake is also readily available in paperback (9781662526602, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Sariah Wilson (www.sariahwilson.com) is the author of more than two dozen romantic fantasy and contemporary romance novels comprising her 'A Tribute of Fire in the Eye of the Goddess' series, The Chemistry of Love, and Roommaid.

Rhymer: Hel
Gregory Frost
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781668072608, $28.00

https://www.amazon.com/Rhymer-Hel-3-Gregory-Frost/dp/1668072602

Rhymer: Hel joins others in the Rhymer series that follow the exploits of Thomas the Rhymer, an immortal shape-changing foe of the Elf Queen and her minions. When Thomas learns of an assassination plot against Queen Elizabeth, he gains some perhaps-unwelcome attention from her spymaster, Francis Walsingham, who blackmails Thomas into joining his intelligence network. English history, faerie struggles, and extraordinary literary forces coalesce in a struggle that impacts Rhymer's personal life and objectives in this taunt blend of fantasy, revised history, and engrossing confrontations between very different forces.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Tide-Make-Darkness-Light/dp/1668072637

S.M. Stirling's To Turn the Tide (9781668072639, $18.00) is a time travel story that blends Stirling's talents for creating end-of-days scenarios with a different take on the use of time travel. What if a scientist created a time travel machine not to prevent nuclear holocaust, but survive it? A team of American grad students sent back to the late Roman Empire receive an extraordinary education in survival, ethics, and history as they navigate a vastly revised world-changing event in this different kind of disaster/time travel meld which excels in nonstop action and thought-provoking challenges.

https://www.amazon.com/Magelight-Kacey-Ezell/dp/1668072610

Kacey Ezell's Magelight (9781668072615, $28.00) tells of Aelys of Brionne, a noble daughter who dreams of joining the Battlemage Crops despite her weakness. This just seems to destroy her relationships, and so there is only one way out: to run from her dreams and leave her protected life behind. Her counter with three strangers who help her survive makes for an engrossing story of connection, a revised life vision, and new experiences which force Aelys to not only accept her limitations, but use them to create a new future.

Both of these new Baen Books science fiction and fantasy titles are thoroughly engrossing stories.


The Poetry Shelf

The Essential C.D. Wright
C.D. Wright, author
Forrest Gander & Michael Wiegers, editors
Copper Canyon Press
https://www.coppercanyonpress.org
9781556597190, $22.00, PB, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/Essential-C-D-Wright/dp/1556597193

Synopsis: What Keeps

We live on a hillside
close to water
We eat in darkness
We Sleep in the coldest
part of the house
We love in silence
We keep our poetry
locked in a glass cabinet
Some nights We stay up
passing it back and
forth
between us
drinking deep

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Forrest Gander and Michael Wiegers, "The Essential C.D. Wright" from Copper Canyon Press gathers rare selections across the famed poet's entire oeuvre -- from the first book, Alla Breve Loving (1976), through to ShallCross, which was in production at the time of her unexpected death in 2016.

Tracing a writing life that spans more than four decades, this essential collection illuminates works that remain empowered by an unrelenting independence, a reverence for mentors, and wry, wisecracking lyricism. A formally restless, energetic, uncompromising, and utterly unique voice, C.D. Wright introduced a contemporary audience to the promise and power of docupoetics, while pushing the musical boundaries of vernacular speech and reshaping American poetry.

With a moving and informative introduction by Forrest Gander, this volume cements C.D. Wright's place in the literary canon of American Poetry.

Critique: "The Essential C.D. Wright" comprises and showcases the poetry and essays. Published by the Copper Canyon Press this is a fitting memorial and well deserved legacy for Carolyn D. Wright (January 6, 1949 - January 12, 2016) whose word crafting style was as memorably distinctive as it was emotionally engaging. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.20), this trade paperback edition (6.5 x 0.75 x 9 inches, 15.2 ounces) of "The Essential C.D. Wright" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Poetry collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: C.D. Wright (1949-2016) taught at Brown University for decades and published over a dozen works of poetry and prose, including One With Others, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was nominated for a National Book Award; One Big Self: An Investigation; and Rising Falling Hovering, the Griffin International Poetry Prize and a MacArthur Fellowship. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_D._Wright)

Editorial Note #2: Forrest Gander (https://forrestgander.com) is the author of numerous books of poetry, translation, fiction, and essays. He is also the A.K. Seaver Professor of Literary Arts and Comparative Literature at Brown University. A U.S. Artists Rockefeller fellow, Gander has been recipient of grants from the NEA, the Guggenheim, Howard, Witter Bynner and Whiting foundations. His 2011 collection Core Samples from the World was an NBCC and Pulitzer Prize finalist for poetry, and his 2018 collection Be With won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry and was long-listed for the National Book Award.

Editorial Note #3: Michael Wiegers has been editing books for Copper Canyon Press since 1993, and currently serves as the Press's Executive Editor/Editor in Chief. Most recently, he edited two anthologies of Copper Canyon Press poetry, both published this year: A House Called Tomorrow: 50 Years of Poetry and Come Shining: More Poems and Stories from Fifty Years of Copper Canyon Press. He is also the poetry editor of Narrative magazine and edited What About This: The Collected Poems of Frank Stanford, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and The Essential W.S. Merwin. He is currently at work on a book about the poet W.S. Merwin and serves as a trustee for the Merwin Conservancy.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Huxley
Ben Mauro
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500298435, $35.00, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/HUXLEY-Ben-Mauro/dp/0500298432

Synopsis: "Huxley" by Ben Mauro is a boundary-breaking graphic novel whose story takes place on a once-thriving world that is now buried in the ashes of a nuclear holocaust and ruined by generations of planetary wars -- it lies in perpetual waste.

To save humanity from itself, the remaining AI-bred and cloned elite humans are trained to become workers, soldiers, and enforcers (including armored warriors known as Ronin) to help keep order and give humanity a purpose in this brave new world. After a certain age, the clones start to think for themselves and are sent on increasingly dangerous missions until they are killed or "retired," replaced by younger and more compliant clones, until the cycle repeats itself.

While humanity limps on, the lives of two soldiers, Max and Kai, become intertwined on a routine mission upon discovering an ancient sentient robot known as Huxley, and soon find themselves caught up in a mystery of galactic scale, as the robot's true purpose is slowly revealed.

A thrilling sci-fi debut by artist and world-builder Ben Mauro's "Huxley" sets the stage for an immersive postapocalyptic adventure that will leave readers captivated and hungry for more.

Critique: Comprised of 230 color illustrated, deftly crafted, storytelling images by artist/illustrator/storyteller Ben Munro, this large format (8.1 x 0.8 x 10.6 inches, 2.4 pounds) paperback edition of "Huxley" from Thames & Hudson is original, imaginative, extraordinary, fascinating, and memorable. Especially and unreservedly recommended for fans of Post- Apocalyptic Science Fiction fans, "Huxley will prove an enduringly popular pick for community library Graphic Novel collections and reading lists.

Editorial Note: Ben Mauro (https://www.benmaurodesign.com) is a luminary in the world of concept art and visual design. He has contributed to blockbuster hits such as Elysium, Chappie, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Lucy, The Amazing Spiderman 2, and the iconic The Hobbit Trilogy, working with directors Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, Luc Besson, and Neill Blomkamp to help bring their visionary films to life. His personal IP, HUXLEY(R), showcases his prowess as a storyteller and creator, blending captivating visuals with compelling narratives.

Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business
Raymond Chandler, author
Arvind Ethan David, author
Ilias Kyriazis, illustrator
Cris Peter, colorist
Pantheon Books
www.pantheonbooks.com
9780553387599, $29.00, HC, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Chandlers-Trouble-My-Business/dp/0553387596

Synopsis: In 1940s Los Angeles, a sour-faced millionaire hires Philip Marlowe, a hard-boiled, harder-drinking detective, to scare off a suspected gold digger who has gotten her claws into his even wealthier stepson. Marlowe takes the case but quickly discovers that the woman, Harriett Huntress, isn't just after gold: she's playing a long, cold game of revenge...

Marlowe forms an alliance with George, the client's chauffeur-cum-bodyguard-cum-fixer. George is a Black, Dartmouth-educated veteran with a sniper's skills and his own agenda, and the two uneasy allies find themselves on the wrong end of a brace of hired killers and an enigmatic casino boss... It quickly becomes clear that Marlowe, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong, is just asking for trouble. But that's the thing. Trouble is his business.

Critique: A true crime noir classic now brilliantly adapted to a graphic novel format, "Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business" is a compelling and entertaining read from start to finish. Based on the late Raymond Chandler hard-boiled detective novel, "Trouble is My Business", this large format (7.51 x 0.55 x 11.24 inches, 1.44 pounds) hardcover graphic novel edition is part of the Pantheon Graphic Library series and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business" from Pantheon Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note #1: Raymond Thornton Chandler (1888 - 1959) was the master writer of American hard-boiled crime fiction. At the age of forty-five began writing fiction, publishing his first stories in Black Mask. Chandler's detective stories often starred the brash but honorable Philip Marlowe (introduced in 1939 in his first novel, The Big Sleep) and were noted for their literate presentation and dead-on critical eye. Never a prolific writer, Chandler published only one collection of stories and seven novels in his lifetime. Some of Chandler's novels, like The Big Sleep, were made into classic movies that helped define the film noir style. In the last year of his life he was elected president of the Mystery Writers of America.

Editorial Note #2: Arvind Ethan David is a Stoker Award nominated graphic novelist who has also written chart-topping Audiodramas (The Crimes of Dorian Gray, Earworms), television (Anansi Boys) and plays (The Boy with Wings). Arvind is also a producer of film and theater, including the Emmy & Grammy award winning musical Jagged Little Pill. Arvind's career started when he adapted the Douglas Adams novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency as his college play and Adams came to see it. Years later, Arvind brought Dirk Gently to a global audience as a Netflix/AMC TV series.

It Rhymes With Takei
George Takei, et al.
Top Shelf Productions
c/o IDW
www.idwpublishing.com
9781603095747, $29.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rhymes-Takei-George/dp/1603095748

Synopsis: George Takei has shown the world many faces: actor, author, outspoken activist, helmsman of the starship Enterprise, living witness to the internment of Japanese Americans, and king of social media. But until October 27, 2005, there was always one piece missing -- one face he did not show the world. There was one very intimate fact about George that he never shared... and it rhymes with Takei.

Now for the first time ever, with the publication of "It Rhymes With Takei", George shares the full story of his life in the closet, his decision to come out as gay at the age of 68, and the way that moment transformed everything.

Following the phenomenal success of his first graphic memoir, "They Called Us Enemy", George Takei reunites with the team of Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger for a jaw-dropping new testament. From his earliest childhood crushes and youthful experiments in the rigidly conformist 1950s, to global fame as an actor and the terrible fear of exposure, to the watershed moment of speaking his truth and becoming one of the most high-profile gay men on the planet, "It Rhymes with Takei" offers a sweeping portrait of one iconic American navigating the tides of LGBTQ+ history.

Combining historical context with intimate subjectivity, "It Rhymes with Takei" shows how the personal and the political have always been intertwined. Its richly emotional words and images depict the terror of entrapment even in gay community spaces, the anguish of speaking up for so many issues while remaining silent on his most personal issue, the grief of losing friends to AIDS, the joy of finding true love with Brad Altman, and the determination to declare that love openly (and legally) before the whole world.

Looking back on his astonishing life on both sides of the closet door, George Takei presents a charismatic and candid account of how far America has come... and how precious that progress is to himself and the LGBTQ+ community.

Critique: Published in the style of a graphic novel, this informative, detailed, and pictorial memoir of George Takei will be of immense interest to his legions of fans in the Start Trek fandom community, the LGBTQ+ community, and readers with an interest in Contemporary American Biographies/Memoirs. Entertaining, heartfelt, fascinating, inspiring, "It Rhymes With Takei" is especially and unreservedly recommended as an enduringly popular pick for community and college/university library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "It Rhymes With Takei" from Top Shelf Productions is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note #1: George Takei (https://www.georgetakei.com) is a civil rights activist, social media superstar, Grammy-nominated recording artist, New York Times bestselling author, and pioneering actor whose career has spanned six decades. He has appeared in more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television roles, most famously as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, and he has used his success as a platform to fight for social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and marriage equality. His advocacy is personal: during World War II, Takei spent his childhood unjustly imprisoned in United States incarceration camps along with 125,000 other Japanese Americans. Takei is the author of five books, including his autobiography, To the Stars. His Eisner Award winning and New York Times bestselling graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy was released in July 2019. His picture book for children, My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story, also became a New York Times bestseller upon its release in April 2024.

Editorial Note #2: Steven Scott is an award-winning author of nonfiction and fiction graphic novels. Following They Called Us Enemy, he co-created the Sixth-Grade Shape-Shifter series, as well as launching The Magic History Book series, both from Capstone. He writes and illustrates the graphic memoir G'Day Yank. The west coast of Canada is where he calls home with his two kids. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7107197.Steven_Scott_Williamson)

Editorial Note #3: Justin Eisinger (https://justineisinger.com) is a critically-acclaimed author and editor who has worked with some of the world's most beloved entertainment brands as well as groundbreaking graphic nonfiction. After They Called Us Enemy and It Rhymes with Takei, look for his forthcoming illustrated nonfiction children's series from Chronicle Books. When not writing, Eisinger can be found in Ohio on his rollerblades or spending time with his wife and dogs.

Editorial Note #4: Harmony Becker (https://www.harmonybecker.com) is an author and illustrator of graphic novels. Her works include They Called Us Enemy and her solo debut Himawari House, which won the Kirkus Prize in 2022. She lives in Mexico City with her two cats, where she spends her time lying around, roller skating, and taking pictures of weird signs in the street.

Monsterverse Declassified
David M. Booher, et al.
Legendary Comics
https://www.legendary.com/comics
9781681161303, $19.99, PB, 112pp

https://www.amazon.com/Monsterverse-Declassified-David-M-Booher/dp/1681161303

Synopsis: "Monsterverse Declassified" explores the great uncharted corners of the Monsterverse in a thrilling graphic novel style anthology that delves into the previously classified myths and origins of the towering monsters we know as Titans!

Bear witness to the eight-legged horror that is ABADDON, who may or may not be the forebearer of all arachnids. Walk in the monolithic footsteps of BEHEMOTH, the lumbering protector of vulnerable biomes the world over. Discover the legacy of TIAMAT that lives on through ancient fables and futuristic technology. And live a day in the life of the tiniest Titan of them all, TITANUS... DOUG.

All this and much more revealed thanks to newly unsealed documents straight from the secured vaults of Monarch, the mysterious agency of discoverers and defenders in a time of monsters. Let myth be your compass in this journey through the Monsterverse...

Critique: Original, exceptional, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Monsterverse Declassified" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Science Fiction Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted for fans of deftly crafted and illustrated monster stories that this paperback edition of "Monsterverse Declassified" from Legendary Comics is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.75).

Editorial Note #1: David M. Booher is a multiple Eisner and GLAAD nominated writer of comics, television, and film.

Editorial Note #2: Rosie Knight is the co-host of Crooked Media's X-Ray Vision podcast where she built a large and interactive fanbase of eager listeners, and you can find her 4000+ bylines at sites like Esquire, The Hollywood Reporter, Nerdist, IGN, Polygon, Women Write About Comics, Den of Geek, DC Comics, /Film, BuzzFeed, and Refinery29.

Editorial Note #3: Daniel J. Park daylights as a TV, comic, and video game writer and moonlights as a martial arts practitioner and teacher. He's currently developing a LGBTQ high fantasy series for Netflix Animation and writing a superhero brawler game for Black Tower Studios.

Editorial Note #3: Drew Zucker is an American-based comic book artist. A 2010 graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, the Co-Creator and artist of CANTO, THE HOUSE, and SKYBREAKER. His work has been featured by IDW Publishing, Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics.

Editorial Note #4: Vittorio Astone is a comic book artist born and based in Rome, Italy. He published short stories with Heavy Metal Magazine and Editoriale Aurea's Lanciostory. He is currently working as an artist, cover artist, and colorist on many new projects.

Editorial Note #5: Marco Roblin graduated from the Chilean School of Fine Arts and has worked in comics for 10 years collaborating with talented writers telling exciting stories. With several titles soon to be published and working hard to bridge the line between a great project and a printed book.

Editorial Note #6: Oliver Ono is a Japanese-American Comic Artist and Illustrator. His work blends his Rustbelt upbringing with a retro-manga tone to create rich, lived-in worlds and vibrant characters. He's passionate about the borders between the natural world and Science Fiction and is best known for his work in the Godzilla Rivals comics series and as the creator of Arma Cursor with a series of Mecha illustrations.

Editorial Note #7. Born in Assisi (Italy), David Ferracci attended the International School of Comics in Rome. Since 2015, he collaborated as a comic artist for publishing companies such as Image Comics, La nave di Teseo, Feltrinelli Editore, Astorina, Bugs Comics, Noise Press, Passenger Press and Raven Distribution. He also worked as Video editor, Graphic designer and Printing Technician.

Editorial Note #8: Jurek Malottke started working as a professional comic book artist in 2018. He adapted two stories by fantasy writer Kai Meyer into graphic novels. Since 2020 he works as one of several artists on director Jorg Buttgereit's superhero series CAPTAIN BERLIN.

Pride and Pompousness: Nothing Special #3
Katie Cook
Ten Speed Graphic
c/o Ten Speed Press
https://crownpublishing.com/imprint/ten-speed
9781984862884, $29.99, HC, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Special-Three-Pompousness-Graphic/dp/198486288X

Synopsis: Laurel Poppyfield, matriarch of the fairy Poppyfield family, is dying. She holds the majority of the Poppyfields' magic, and has no heir to give it to. Or so she thought until Callie, Declan, Lasser, and Radish walked into the family estate trying to find someone to heal Declan's wing. It turns out Declan is Laurel's grandson and practically fairy royalty, and the timing of his arrival could not be more perfect.

But not everyone is happy about Declan's sudden appearance, though. Leir, one of Lasser's older brothers, has worked for years to become a trusted presence in the Poppyfield home. He was Laurel's top choice to inherit the family's magic before Declan showed up, and he's not about to let his plans get ruined. It's up to Callie, Declan, Lasser, and Radish to thwart his nefarious schemes before the Poppyfield magic falls into the wrong hands.

Critique: The third and final volume of the webtoon based 'Nothing Special' fantasy graphic novel trilogy by author/illustrator Katie Cook, "Pride and Pompousness" is an original, imaginative, deftly crafted, and fun read from cover to cover. "Pride and Pompousness" (along with "Through the Elder Woods" and "Concerning Wings" the previous two titles comprising the 'Nothing Special' series) is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, highscool, and community library Fantasy & Graphic Novel collections for fans of Manga style science fiction and fantasy.

Editorial Note: Katie Cook (https://katiecandraw.com) is the creator of the Nothing Special webcomic on Webtoon and the oldie-but-goodie webcomic Gronk: A Monster's Story (which was one of the first webcomics archived by the Library of Congress!). She spent several years as one of the primary writers on IDW's My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic comics to the point that they made her a pony on the show (really). Then there's all those books she has illustrated and written for a tiny franchise called Star Wars. Maybe it'll take off one day. Time will tell. She has also written and drawn comics for Marvel, Disney Publishing, Boom!, and many other publishers.

The Sin Bin
Robbie Thompson, author
Patricio Delpeche, illustrator
IDW Publishing
www.idwpublishing.com
9798887241678, $18.99, PB, 152pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sin-Bin-Robbie-Thompson/dp/B0DDSHGK11

Synopsis: Dale "Dukes" Duquesne is a washed-up hockey player by day and a ghost, monster, and demon hunter by night. After each away game, Dukes finds the local legend that goes bump in the night and takes it down, locking it away in the Sin Bin. When his daughter, Cat, discovers the truth about his demon hunting, it becomes her dream to follow in his footsteps.

As they work their first case together, Cat will learn Dukes' biggest secret, though. He doesn't hunt monsters out of the kindness of his heart. He's searching for someone that was taken by monsters years ago... his wife, and Cat's mother, Marta! Together, they hit the road to save mankind and reunite their family.

Critique: Original, clever, and a fun read from start to finish, this graphic novel edition of "The Sin Bin" from IDW Publishing, and showcasing the storytelling talents of Robbie Thompson and impressive skills of artist/illustrator Patricio Delpeche, is a highly recommended pick for personal and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy action/adventure graphic novel collections.

Editorial Note #1: Robbie Thompson is best known as a writer for the hit show Supernatural. He has also been a major force at Marvel Comics, most recently writing Spider-Man/Deadpool, Meet the Skrulls, and multiple Star Wars comics, such as Target Vader, and at DC Comics with a recent run on The Suicide Squad.

Editorial Note #2: Patricio Delpeche is an illustrator and cartoonist born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A graduate from the Universidad de Buenos Aires in graphic design, Patricio divides his day between design identity and word balloons. He has won some contests (Eduardo Risso's Crack Bang Boom), and his work has been featured in various publications (Fierro, Terminus, Heavy Metal, V1).

Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II -- Sons of Giants
Frank Tieri, author
Inaki Miranda, illustrator
IDW Publishing
www.idwpublishing.com
9798887241876, $17.99, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Godzilla-There-Dragons-II_Sons-Giants/dp/B0DDTBT218

Synopsis: Sir Francis Drake had his reasons for hiding treasure on Monster Island and in this miniseries from IDW Publishing all secrets will be revealed in the pages of "Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II -- Sons of Giants"!

Who are the Illuminati-esque cult, known only as the Sons of Giants, and what is their mission? More importantly, how have they been pulling the strings of every major kaiju encounter since the dawn of time? As part of this series, "Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II - Sons of Giants" reveals how it all came to be, how Godzilla was discovered by the leaders of the world, and how it changed history forever!

Critique: From imaginative storytelling mind of author Frank Tieri and the artistry of illustrator Inaki Miranda (the incredibly talented team behind Old Lady Harley), comes an action-packed five issue graphic novel Godzilla action/adventure series that is a unique, riveting and fun read from start to finish. The sequel to "Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons" from IDW Publishing, "Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II - Sons of Giants" is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library fantasy/science fiction themed Graphic Novel collections.

Editorial Note #1: Frank Tieri is a writer working in TV, film, video games, and comics. At Marvel he has written for many of their top franchise including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Avengers, Spider-Man, and more. At DC he has written Harley Quinn, Batman, and JLA among others. -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Tieri_(writer)

Editorial Note #2: After graduating in Fine Arts and testing the waters of animation and video games, Inaki Miranda made his debut in comics in 2003, illustrating UK's cultural icon Judge Dredd for 2000AD. He got his DC Comics break as a guest artist in Vertigo's multiple award winning series Fables. That lead to Fables spin-off Fairest and the co-creation of Coffin Hill. This was followed by his work in the DCU with Catwoman, Batgirl, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Ragman and Old Lady Harley.


The Audiobook Shelf

Murder at the Ponte Vecchio
T. A. Williams, author
Simon Mattacks, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835187869, $83.95/$71.36, 6 CDs (8 Hours 19 Minutes)

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835187869

Synopsis: Private investigator, Dan Armstrong, lives and works in Florence and knows the world famous Ponte Vecchio well. Usually a magnet for tourists, on this occasion it is the scene of an unexplained death, and Dan finds himself involved in the intriguing case.

Dan quickly discovers that the victim, an elderly jeweller, was every bit as hard as the diamonds he sold in his shop on the bridge. Few people liked him, not even his adult children, and his business dealings look murkier than the waters of the River Arno. Dan suspects more secrets lie hidden -- perhaps inside the massive safe in the old man's luxury villa...

As the evidence begins to mount up, so too do the several suspects with their different motives. With a fortune in gold bullion and precious stones involved, Dan thinks the only way to catch the killer is to lay a trap, but might he be caught in the killer's sights? Fortunately, he has Oscar, his canine wingman at his side, always eager to prove that he's as good as gold.

Can Dan and Oscar sniff out the killer's tracks or will this case be a bridge too far?

Critique: Once again the wildly popular 'Armstrong & Ocare another cosy mystery series title is available in a full 'theatre of the mind' experience with complete and unabridged audio book release of T. A. Williams's "Murder at the Ponte Vecchio" from Boldwood Books. Once again the narrative storytelling talents of Simon Mattacks does full justice to the characters and storylines comprising "Murder at the Ponte Vecchio". This traditional 6 CD edition with its hard plastic clamshell casing is an ideal and solidly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections. It should be noted for fans of the cozy mystery and private investigator genres that "Murder at the Ponte Vecchio" is also readily available from Boldwood Books in an MP3-CD format (9781835187876, $83.95/$71.36).

Editorial Note #1: A male author, T. A. Williams is a pseudonym used because 65% of books are read by women. He has written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories, romances and whodunnits.

Editorial Note #2: Simon Mattacks (https://www.simonmattacks.com) has been doing voice over and narrator work for advertisements, cartoons, corporate videos, video games, and audio books for more than 30 years.

Tide of Waves and Secrets
C. L. Mecca, author
Kate Handford, narrator
Max Dowler, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836562900, $90.95/$77.31, 7 CDs (8 Hours 48 Minutes)

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836562900

Synopsis: A daring spy.
A rebel princess.
A kingdom on the brink of war.

When a mysterious human, Sir Rowan arrives in the immortal realm of Thalassaria seeking the legendary Tidal Pearl, Thalassarian guard Nerys is assigned as his escort and to keep close whilst he's in the palace. But her duty wars with her desires as the more time she spends with Rowan, the harder it becomes for them to ignore their growing attraction. Powerful, enigmatic, and devastatingly mortal, Rowan stirs something deep within her that could change the course of her future.

Trapped within the palace while the queen decides the humans' fate, Nerys realizes her allegiances are shifting. With the tidal peal at risk, there is only one way to protect it... by challenging the Queen's crown. But as the moment approaches, Nerys and Rowan are forced to confront a choice between loyalty to their realms or a love that defies the laws of mortality.

In a kingdom where magic flows like the tides, one secret could drown them both!

Critique: Action/adventure high fantasy at its best, "Tide of Waves and Secrets" by C. L. Mecca has been brought to fantasy fans in a complete and unabridged listening experience with the impressive narrative storytelling skills of experienced vocal actors Kate Handford and Max Dowler. This Boldwood Books audio book production will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy audio book collections. It should be noted that this hard plastic clamshell casing traditional CD edition for "Tide of Waves and Secrets" is also readily available in an MP3-CD format (9781836562917, $90.95/$77.31).

Editorial Note: C.L. Mecca (a.k.a. Cissy Mecca) writes romance with a twist loves to transport readers to another time and place. Her debut romantasy series, Heirs of Elydor, begins with Whisper of War and Storms, a story packed with forbidden love, elemental magic, and a lost princess. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19149245.C_L_Mecca)

Editorial Note #2: Kate Hanford (https://www.voicesquad.com/artist/kate-handford) is an actress and award winning voice over artist. She has narrated over 100 audiobooks; performed in video games and voices projects for international brands and charities.

Editorial Note #3: Max Dowler (https://maxdowler.com) always brings his vocal acting A-game to any project he works on. He is always interested in trying something new.

A Lethal Cocktail
Ciar Byrne, author
Jilly Bond, narrator
Isis Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399189873, $100.95/$85.61, 8 CDs (8 Hours 56 Minutes)

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399189873

Synopsis: Three ex-husbands.
Two ex-wives.
One shocking murder.
A wedding that's the talk of the town...

Tudor Close Hotel, Rottingdean, is the most glamorous venue of the season. And not somewhere Virginia or her sister Vanessa would usually choose to frequent. They're far happier at home with their writing or painting, than brushing shoulders with debutantes or starlets.

But Lady Ottoline has had a difficult year, so (despite her rather outlandish tastes) they let her choose the meeting spot. And when the group bumps into fashion designer Mimi Mason in the hotel bar, they begrudgingly accept an invite to her wedding breakfast the next morning.

No one imagined that, a few cocktails later, Mimi would be dead.

Critique: A wonderfully entertaining cozy mystery by a master of the genre, "A lethal Cocktail" by Ciar Byrne has been deftly produced as a complete and unabridged audio book featuring the remarkable storytelling skills of narrator Jilly Bond. The result is a welcome, extraordinary, and highly recommended pick for fans of the cozy mystery genre and for community library audio book collections. It should be noted that this tradition 8 CD audio book is also readily available from Isis Audio in an MP3-CD format (9781399189880, $100.95/$85.81).

Editorial Note #1: Ciar Byrne (https://www.ciarbyrne.co.uk)is a freelance gardening writer for the Daily Mail and The Lady magazine, and has previously worked on staff for The Independent, The Guardian and Private Eye.

Editorial Note #2: Jilly Bond (https://www.jillybond.co.uk/audio) has been narrating audiobooks since 1996, with about 450 books to her credit. This strand of her career started as a result of a year spent with the BBC Radio Drama Company, during which I recorded 70 radio plays and many readings, both fictional and factual. This was an invaluable learning experience and ignited her passion for audio work. Jilly also won four Golden Earphones awards and am on the shortlist for the One Voice 2020 Awards.

The Darkest Winter
Carlo Lucarelli, author
Joseph Kloska, narrator
Isis Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399189552, $112.95/$96.01, CD (9 Hours 44 Minutes)

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399189552

Synopsis: In November 1944, Bologna's bomb-scarred streets are filled with starving refugees fleeing the advancing Allies. The Fascist Black Brigades, S.S. officers, and Italian Resistance partisans compete for control. Comandante De Luca, once Bologna's most brilliant investigative officer, now works for the Political Police in a torture facility. He faces three murders: a professor shot through the eye, an engineer beaten to death, and a German corporal gnawed by rats in a flooded cellar. De Luca must solve these cases to save ten Italian hostages from a Nazi firing squad. As he navigates personal and political motivations, risking his life, De Luca uncovers secrets in the frozen heart of Bologna.

Critique: A deftly crafted and riveting story brought vividly to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience by the narrative storytelling skills of Joseph Kloska, "The Darkest Winter" by Carlo Lucarelli is an extraordinary and recommended pick for community library audio book collections. Complete and unabridged, and with a sturdy hard plastic clamshell casing, this traditional 10 CD edition from Isis Audio is also available in an MP3-CD format (9781399189569, $112.95/$96.01).

Editorial Note #1: Carlo Lucarelli (born 26 October 1960) is an Italian crime-writer, TV presenter, and magazine editor. He was shortlisted for the Gold Dagger in 2003 for the novel Almost Blue. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Lucarelli)

Editorial Note #2: Joseph Anthony Kloska (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kloska) is an English actor. He began his career in radio, moving on to work in television, theatre, and film. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kloska)

Falconer's Judgement
Ian Morson, author
Mark Meadows, narrator
Soundings
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399186728, $83.95/$71.36, CD (6 Hours 59 Minutes)

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399186728

Synopsis: Spring 1261. In Rome, Pope Alexander lies dying. Across Europe, in Oxford's Oseney Abbey, ambitious Bishop Otho is already positioning himself as successor.

Almost immediately, a student protest against the greed of the Church spirals out of control and the bishop's brother is killed. Everyone assumes the fatal arrow is meant for the bishop himself. The protesters are swiftly accused of murder and imprisoned in an Oxford gaol. But with no motive, William Falconer can't believe his students would do such a thing.

The next day the prime suspect is found hanging in his cell. Now Falconer knows there's more to this than a case of mistaken identity. With his trusted friend, and town constable, Peter Bullock, Falconer must use his famed logic to solve a murderous riddle.

Who is the real killer? And who is the real target?

Falconer's investigations turn up a plot that extends far beyond the walls of Oxford -- and puts him directly into the killer's range.

Critique: William Falconer (Regent Master of Aristotle's Hall at the University of Oxford) has a fascination for the obscure and an unusual interest in scientific experiments. He is considered an eccentric. Suffering from poor eyesight, he has been able to obtain eye-lenses -- a cause of great wonder among the townsfolk. However, Falconer's keen logic draws him into curious murder cases. Featuring real life medieval characters and situations, William Falconer is the original Oxford detective and "Falconer's Judgement by novelist Ian Morson is the latest of Falconer's adventures to be brought vividly to life with the narrative storytelling talents of Mark Meadows in a complete and unabridged edition of "Falconer's Judgement" from Isis Audio. An outstanding medieval mystery that is a 'must' for the legions of Ian Morson fans, this traditional 6 CD edition with its plastic clamshell casing is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections. It should be noted that "Falconer's Judgement" is also readily available from Isis Audio in an MP3-CD format (9781399186735, $83.95/$71.36)

Editorial Note #1: Ian Morson (https://www.ianmorson.com/about-me-1) As well as his Falconer series, Ian has written crime stories about a Venetian explorer in the mould of Marco Polo whose name is Nick Zuliani. He has also have written short stories for anthologies put together by a fellow group of crime writers calling themselves The Medieval Murderers.

Editorial Note #2: Mark Meadows is a British actor and narrator known for his work in audiobooks, including titles like "Immortality is a Bummer" and "How the Christian Revolution Remade the World." He has also appeared in television shows such as "EastEnders" and films like "Nicholas Nickleby." -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Meadows_(actor)


The Library CD Shelf

Message
Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura, and Takashi Itani
Libra Records
www.librarecords.com
$TBA CD / $TBA digital

https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/message

Message is the third music album performed by the Japanese trio This Is It! - pianist/composer Satoko Fujii, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, and percussionist Takashi Itani. All songs are composed by Fujii. The original, instrumental pieces balance modern jazz with elements of classical, rock, and traditional Japanese music. Message is a magnificent musical tour de force and a welcome addition to personal and public library international jazz music collections, highly recommended. The tracks are Message; Cryptography; Falafel Feast; Ernesto; Never Mind; and Orange Flicker.

Armageddon Flower
Ivo Perelman & Matthew Shipp String Trio
Tao Forms
$14.98 CD / $11.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/Armageddon-Flower-Ivo-Perelman/dp/B0F2P3RJ3Z

Armageddon Flower is an instrumental album of four long, original and complex compositions performed by Ivo Perelman on tenor saxophone, Matthew Shipp on piano, Mat Maneri on viola, and William Parker on bass. The multilayered compositions weave into duo and trio performances at times, but most of Armageddon Flower is a four-way musical medley. Richly layered, emotional, showcasing the fine essence of cooperative harmony, Armageddon Flower is a wonderful symphonic soundscape, highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The tracks are Pillar of Light (16:04); Tree of Life (21:00); Armageddon Flower (11:26); and Restoration (16:11).

Memories of You
David M. Edwards
www.davidedwardspiano.com
Independently Published
$9.00 CD / $9.00 digital

https://davidedwardspiano.bandcamp.com/album/memories-of-you

The fourth album released by music artist David Edwards, Memories of You is a captivating collection of original solo piano music featuring a wide range of styles and elements. The multifaceted journey reflects Edwards' perseverance to create despite severe osteoarthritis that disrupted his ability to play for three years. After multiple surgeries and physical therapy, Edwards has composed and performed an extraordinarily beautiful and inspirational album. Memories of You is highly recommended especially for solo piano connoisseurs and public library collections, and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are Saturday Morning; Swallows In Flight; Melancholy Mood; The Mountains Were Calling; Pale Blue Dot; Aspen Leaf Waltz; Tempest; The Way You Smile; Canopy of Stars; Come Take My Hand; Lovely Lady; A Walk in the Park; Rainbow in the Mist; Memories of You; and Dolphins Swimming Underwater.

Echoes From The Forest
Ann Licater
www.AnnLicater.com
Cul de Sac Mystic Productions
$16.98 CD / $9.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Forest-Ann-Licater/dp/B0FB293QNG

Echoes From The Forest is an astonishingly beautiful new age flute album by award-winning music artist Ann Licater. All songs are original solo or duet compositions, ideal for meditation, relaxation, or fostering creativity. A mellifluous audio experience that lingers gently in the mind and the heart, Echoes from the Forest is a treasure for connoisseurs and highly recommended for public library music collections. The tracks are Sky Dreaming; Cedar Sanctuary; Wisdom of the Pines; Echoes from the Forest; Peaceful Willow; Ancient Vistas; Redwood Canyon; Rose Moon; Circle of Trees; Woven Reflections; Wings in the Mist; Earth Calling; Bird and Breeze; and Journey Beyond.

I Guess We're Not Alone
The Beveled Edges
https://thebevelededges.com
Detrallas Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F93XK5T2

I Guess We're Not Alone is the debut album of The Beveled Edges, featuring original songs crafted by vocalist Shelly Bhushan and multitalented stringed instrument master Anthony Lanni. The style is best described as a fusion of Latin, Brazilian, soul, jazz, pop, and world music, brought to life with the performances of a full ensemble of talented music artists, lending their skill with the flute, drums, piano, organ, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, accordion, strings, and more. Fresh, lively, and rapturous, I Guess We're Not Alone is a choice pick for modern music connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are Amarillo; I Guess We're Not Alone; I'll Be There For You; Autumn Fell; At The End Of The Day; Paris Isn't Paris Without You; Down The Stairs, Fade Into The Sky; Never Too Late; and Paris Isn't Paris Without You Reprise.

Catalyst: The Music of Gregg Hill
Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly
davesharpworldsquartet.com
Cold Plunge Records
https://www.gregghilljazz.com
$17.95 CD / $7.92 MP3

https://www.gregghilljazz.com/product-page/catalyst

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5LR2NYQ

The Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet consists of violinist Henrik Karapetyan, oud (a Middle Eastern stringed instrument) player Igor Houwat, percussionist Mike List, and bassist, bandleader, and creative director Dave Sharp. Together with guitarist Elden Kelly they present Catalyst: The Music of Gregg Hill, a tribute album performing eight of legendary jazz artist Gregg Hill's compositions. Brimming with vibrant rhythm and passion, Catalyst: The Music of Gregg Hill is highly recommended especially for jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are Traveling with Gregg; Rue de Royal; 13th Century Lion; Ducks Night Out; Catalyst; Cidade; Savana; and The Stray Moonduck.

Basie Rocks!
The Count Basie Orchestra with Deborah Silver
Directed by Scotty Barnhart
deborahsilvermusic.com
Green Hill Productions
$12.98 CD / $9.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/Basie-Rocks-Deborah-Silver-Orchestra/dp/B0DQVCKQ8M

Top-tier talented vocalist Deborah Silver and The Count Basie Orchestra present Basie Rocks!, a jubilant big band album that puts a blazing jazz twist on legendary rock songs. The Count Basie Orchestra consists of a multitude of supremely talented members playing trumpet, trombone, bass, guitar, percussion, and more. Exciting and extraordinary, Basie Rocks! is a choice pick especially for fans of big band jazz with dulcet vocals. Highly recommended! The tracks are Paint It Black; Benny & The Jets; Baby, I Love Your Way; Tainted Love; Band On The Run; A Hard Days Night; Joy To The World; Fly Like An Eagle; Every Breath You Take; Old Time Rock & Roll; and Life's Been Good.

A Celebration of Maurice Hines - Tappin' Thru Life
Clint Holmes and Ann Hampton Callaway, vocalists
John Manzari and Leo Manzari, tap dancers and vocalists
Featuring The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
www.divajazz.com
Independently Published
$TBA CD / $11.00 digital

https://thedivajazzorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/a-celebration-of-maurice-hines-tappin-thru-life

A Celebration of Maurice Hines - Tappin' Thru Life lives up to its title as a posthumous tribute to Maurice Hines, by showcasing the soundtrack from his autobiographical show "Tappin' Thru Life". The recording features original cast members John Manzari (tap dancer and vocalist), Leo Manzari (tap dancer and vocalist), Sherrie Maricle (music director and drummer) and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, as well as special guests Grammy-nominated vocalist Clint Holmes and Tony-nominated vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway. Tappin' Thru Life is a jubilant expression of the sheer joy of performance, capturing the magic of the stage, and is highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of exuberant big band jazz with bass, piano, trumpet, trombone, and saxophones. The tracks are Tappin' Thru Life Overture; I've Never Been in Love Before; Every Day I Have the Blues; I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face; Get Me to the Church on Time; Ballin' the Jack; Honeysuckle Rose; Come Fly with Me; All the Way; I've Got You Under My Skin; Luck Be a Lady; Ko- Ko; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; It's Only a Paper Moon; Smile; L.O.V.E.; It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing); and Too Marvelous for Words.

Standards III
Noah Haidu
noahhaidu.com
Infinite Distances
$20.00 CD / $9.00 digital

https://noahhaidu.bandcamp.com/album/standards-iii

Pianist Noah Haidu presents Standards III, a collaborative music album with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Hart, along with Gervis Myles on bass, Charles Goold on drums, Steve Wilson on alto saxophone, Peter Washington on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. Standards III lives up to its title as a superbly performed selection of classic jazz standard songs, plus the original song "Slipstream" reworked from Haidu's debut album. Like the previous albums Standards and Standards II, Standards III is a treasure for jazz connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are Yesterdays; Lover; Things Ain't What They Used To Be; A Child Is Born; Alone Together; Slipstream; Casual; Old Folks; Stevie W.; Tonight... Teach... Me; and Teach Me Tonight.

Mixed Bag
The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra
Summit Records
$12.99 CD / $8.99

https://www.summitrecords.com/release/mixed-bag-the-pete-mcguinness-jazz-orchestra

The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra celebrates its (near) twentieth anniversary with Mixed Bag, an album of beloved big band jazz songs by various composers, with a guest appearance from Grammy-winning pianist Bill Charlap. The extraordinary ensemble, led by three-time Grammy-nominated bandleader and vocalist Pete McGinness, delivers a vibrant, rich, and exciting performance. Mixed Bag is a "must-have" for connoisseurs of big band jazz, highly recommended. The tracks are From This Moment On (Cole Porter); Rebecca (Chris Rogers, BMI); The Dark Hours (Pete McGuinness, BMI); Lilac Blues (Pete McGuinness, BMI), Down the Rabbit Hole (Pete McGuinness, BMI); Body and Soul (Johnny Green); So in Love (Cole Porter); Django (John Lewis); 'Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk); The Sly Fox (in memory of Bill Holman) (Pete McGuinness, BMI); and Where Do You Start? (Johnny Mandel, lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman).

Heart Music
George Crotty Trio
georgecrotty.com
Independently Published
$10.00 CD / $10.00 digital

https://georgecrotty.bandcamp.com/album/heart-music

The George Crotty Trio consists of composer and cellist George Crotty, bassist John Murchison, and percussionist Jeremy Smith. Together, they present Heart Music, an instrumental jazz album of original songs composed by George Crotty. Heart Music draws upon musical inspirations around the world, from New York to Canada, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and more. Elements of European jazz, Hindustani raga, and contemporary chamber music combine in this extraordinary fusion of rhythm, improvisation, and creative passion. Heart Music is a welcome addition to contemporary world jazz collections, highly recommended. The tracks are Bandish; Heart Music; Niggun; The Task at Hand; Twelfth House; A Game; Cigarettes at Sunrise; and Saturn Return.

Ruta De La Clave
Joaquin Nunez & Habana Safari
Lulaworld Records
lulaworldrecords.ca
$TBA CD / $8.91 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F79XN6KG

The debut album of Juno-winning, Cuban-Canadian percussionist, composer, producer, and bandleader Joaquin Nunez, Ruta De La Clave ("The Route of the Clave" - a "clave" is one of the paired cylindrical sticks used to play percussion instruments) is an exciting showcase of Afro-Cuban jazz. All songs are the original creations of either Joaquin Nunez, pianist/keyboardist/vocalist Dayramir Gonzalez, or both. A multitude of skilled performers combine their talents for vocals, piano & keyboards, bass, trumpet & flugelhorn, tenor sax, alto sax, flute, violin & viola, and more for a rich tapestry of thrumming folk rhythms and the freestyle complexity of improvisational jazz. Ruta De La Clave is a treasure for connoisseurs, and highly recommended especially for international music collections. The tracks are Afrocubanos (Gonzalez); Mi Changui (Gonzalez); Juaco & Day (Nunez/Gonzalez); Ruta De La Clave (Nunez/Gonzalez); Danzon Sin Tumbao (Gonzalez); Ruba De Solar (Gonzalez); Una Guajira En NY (Nunez/Gonzalez); Nostalgia (Nunez); and Suite Columbia (Nunez/Gonzalez).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Sacred Struggle: Jewish Responses to Trauma
Rabbi Lindsey Danziger, editor
Rabbi Benjamin David, editor
CCAR Press
www.ccarpress.org
9780881236620, $24.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Struggle-Jewish-Responses-Trauma/dp/0881236624

Synopsis: How do we find the strength to continue when dealing with traumatic experiences?

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Rabbis Lindsey Danziger and Benjamin David, "The Sacred Struggle: Jewish Responses to Trauma" is an anthology of personal stories, each one offering a deeply moving exploration of how Jewish wisdom can help us navigate life's most difficult moments.

With stories including enduring the loss of a child, losing a loved one to suicide, surviving sexual assault, responding to a diagnosis of cancer, experiencing antisemitism and racism, and many more, this volume is rooted in vulnerability and resilience, revealing the profound ways Judaism offers tools for reflection, connection, and healing.

Featuring an informative Foreword by Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, "The Sacred Struggle: is a companion for anyone seeking comfort and hope in the face of trauma.

Critique: Timely, informative, compelling, inspired and inspiring, "The Sacred Struggle: Jewish Responses to Trauma" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Jewish Theology and Trauma Counseling collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, trauma counselors, trauma survivors, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this trade paperback edition of "The Sacred Struggle: Jewish Responses to Trauma" from the Central Conference of American Rabbis is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note #1: Rabbi Lindsey Danziger (https://rabbilindseydanziger.com) is the director of campaigns at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, guiding synagogues and clergy across the country in their work to organize and mobilize for justice. She is also an adjunct professor at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, where she teaches community organizing.

Editorial Note #2: Rabbi Benjamin David is a past President of the Tri-County Board of Rabbis, serving New Jersey's Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around the World
Marianne Julia Strauss, editor
Gestalten
c/o Roedl LLP
https://us.gestalten.com
9783967041361, $70.00, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Temples-Spiritual-Places-Around/dp/3967041360

Synopsis: "The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around the World" is a compendium of full color captioned photos and informative commentaries that offers the reader with a visually stunning and spiritually enriching exploration of sacred sites worldwide that will prove especially appealing to anyone with an interest in religious architecture, spirituality, and travel. Its comprehensive and inclusive approach, featuring diverse and carefully curated temples and places of worship, combining stunning photography and detailed illustrations with informative and thought-provoking essays.

Critique: Original, magnificent, informative, this large format (9.45 x 1.06 x 11.81 inches, 4.15 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around the World" from Gestalten is compiled and edited by Marianne Julia Strauss. Unique, special, and unreservedly recommended, "The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around the World" is especially fitting as a community or college/university library Memorial Fund acquisition and a prized pick for personal collections and reading lists as well.

Editorial Note: Marianne Julia Strauss (aka Janna Strauss) is an award-winning travel journalist renowned for her captivating storytelling and in-depth exploration of global destinations. Her work highlights the beauty of travel and delves into the rich histories and traditions of the places she visits. Janna's insights and vivid narratives inspire readers to embark on their adventures. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20289587.Marianne_Julia_Strauss)

Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked
Ezra Stuyvesant, author
Gary W. Moore, author
Patrick, Standing Bear, author
Newman Springs
9798896172307, $15.95, PB, 120pp

https://www.amazon.com/Questions-about-Life-Grandchildren-Asked/dp/B0F8K9GJ4F

Synopsis: An impressive work of experience, insight, observation, reflection and love, "Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked" is compendium showcasing a series of succinct 'Words of Wisdom' by Ezra Stuyvesant, drawing from his 75 years on Earth and his late wife and children for 57 of them.

Here is sampling of what comprises "Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked":

God's greatest gift to man or woman is their free will. Man's greatest gift to God is the willful surrender of their free will back to God to do God's will. (p. 7)

Your lies are what create the pebbles, the rocks, the boulders that interfere with the stream of God that flows within you. Lies strengthen your ego, blocking the flow of God. (p. 14)

It is important to become the glory on the mountaintop, not the little light in the valley. (p. 14)

The joke is you can never leave God. Wherever you go, there you are! (p. 47)

Become the buoy to flow across the waves of life! (p. 42)

"Never again, dear Lord, dear God, will I have someone else cry tears of pain because of me." (p. 18)

Your job is to rediscover the God within you so that everything you do emanates from the God within. So that when you face your guides and teachers and God at the end, you will be able to account for everything that you have done in the breath of the great white buffalo. (p. 21-22)

Critique: Eloquent, elegant, unique, inspired and inspiring, "Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked" by Ezra Stuyvesant (assisted by Gary W. Moore and Patrick, Standing Bear) is an inherently fascinating read from start to finish, and the kind of legacy that will prove more life changing, life affirming, and life enhancing than anything else a parent could leave their children, their grandchildren, and the future generations of their descendants yet unborn. "Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked" will be of special and particular value to readers with an interest in Religion & Spirituality, Self-Help & Psychology. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked" from Newman Springs is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Mythology Shelf

The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture
Robert M. Sarwark
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476685298, $39.95, PB, 260pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-World-Mythology-Culture/dp/1476685290

Synopsis: A dragon is a magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in Western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as winged, horned, and capable of breathing fire. Dragons in eastern cultures are usually depicted as wingless, four-legged, serpentine creatures with above-average intelligence. Commonalities between dragons' traits are often a hybridization of reptilian, mammalian, and avian features. (Wikipedia)

Dragons are everywhere, seemingly hidden in plain sight. These mythological reptilian monsters date far into known human history in nearly every part of the world and are still prevalent in today's media and entertainment. The wide cultural, geographical, and linguistic diffusion of dragons or dragon-like creatures shows how modern humans have influenced each other through shared tales of monsters while simultaneously hinting at a shared genesis.

With the publication of "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture", Robert M. Sarwark introduces his readers to dragon myths and legends from around the world by following human culture's shared evolutionary past via language, folklore, the arts, and commerce.

Dragons in folklore, literature, and pop culture are analyzed from Eastern and Western perspectives, leading to a dual analysis of dragons in today's popular culture and media. While other books on the topic have focused primarily on classical sources, or on cataloging various dragon tales in general, this work identifies the subtle yet profound ways in which the dragon figure or related motifs have slyly entered into our collective psyche as participants in the modern, interconnected world.

Critique: Featuring numerous B/W illustrations, "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture" is a deftly written and impressively comprehensive compendium of dragon related information drawn from various countries and cultures from around the world. Consisting of twelve chapters organized into three major sections (Birth of the Dragon; East and West; Dragons of Today and Tomorrow), "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the addition of a four page Bibliography, sixteen pages of Notes, and a three page Index. An absolute 'must' for the legions of dragon fans and an ideal addition for both community and college/university library Mythology/Folklore collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this trade paperback edition of "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture" from McFarland & Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.99)

Editorial Note: Robert M. Sarwark (https://www.robertsarwark.com) is a librarian and writer living in Atlanta, Georgia. He has previously been published in Vexillum, The Porch Press, Reverb.com, and the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom blog

Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld
Sharon Paice MacLeod
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476669076, $29.95, PB, 293pp

https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Cosmology-Otherworld-Sovereignty-Liminality/dp/1476669074

Synopsis: The early medieval manuscripts of Ireland and Britain contain tantalizing clues about the cosmology, religion and mythology of native Celtic cultures, despite the later censorship and revision by Christian redactors.

Focusing on the latest research and translations, with the publication of "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic Origins, Sovereignty and Liminality", Sharon Paice MacLeod provides fresh insight into the beliefs and practices of the Iron Age inhabitants of Ireland, Britain and Gaul. Chapters cover creation and cosmogony, the deities of the Gaels, feminine power in narrative sources, druidic belief, priestesses and magical rites.

Critique: The result of impressively original and meticulous scholarship, "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic Origins, Sovereignty and Liminality" is a welcome and invaluable contribution to the study of the Celtic religion and culture. Author and Celtic Studies authority Sharon Paice MacLeod has also included a twelve page Bibliography, thirty- four pages of Chapter Notes, and a six page Index making this trade paperback (6 x 0.59 x 9 inches, 10.4 ounces) edition of "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic Origins, Sovereignty and Liminality" from McFarland & Company an invaluable and strongly commended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Celtic Religion/Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic Origins, Sovereignty and Liminality" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).

Editorial Note: Sharon Paice MacLeod is a Harvard-trained Celticist, grant-funded researcher, historical consultant. She has taught Celtic literature, mythology and folklore at the university level. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3468898.Sharon_Paice_MacLeod)

Celtic Myth and Religion
Sharon Paice MacLeod
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9780786464760, $25.00, PB, 244pp

https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Myth-Religion-Traditional-Translated/dp/0786464763

Synopsis: With the publication of "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs", Sharon Paice MacLeod provides a comprehensive overview of Celtic mythology and religion, encompassing numerous aspects of ritual and belief.

The topics covered include the presence of the Celtic Otherworld and its inhabitants, cosmology and sacred cycles, wisdom texts, mythological symbolism, folklore and legends, and an appreciation of the natural world.

Evidence is drawn from the archaeology of sacred sites, ethnographic accounts of the ancient Celts and their beliefs, medieval manuscripts, poetic and visionary literature, and early modern accounts of folk healers and seers.

Of special note are the new translations of poems, prayers, inscriptions and songs from the early period (Gaulish, Old Irish and Middle Welsh) as well as the folklore tradition (Modern Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, Breton and Manx) complement the text.

Information of this kind has never before been collected as a compendium of the indigenous wisdom of the Celtic-speaking peoples, whose traditions have endured in various forms for almost three thousand years.

Critique: What we deem today to be 'mythology' was once the religion believed in and practiced by earlier generations of men and women. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is an ideal introduction for readers new to the study of folklore, mythology and religion of the ancient Celtic tribes.

An inherently fascinating and engaging study of meticulous and detailed scholarship, "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is organized into three major sections (Celtic Religion and Mythology; Celtic Shamanism and Wisdom Traditions; Celtic Legends and Folklore).

This seminal study is further enhanced with the inclusion of an Introduction (Journeying to the Well of Wisdom), three Appendices (The Rights of Women in Early Celtic Culture; The Celtic Folksong Tradition; Suggested Reading and Further Study), fourteen pages of Chapter Notes; a ten page Bibliography, and a five page Index.

"Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is a seminal and groundbreaking study that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Mythology/Folklore collections and supplemental Celtic History/Culture curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this trade paperback (7 x 0.49 x 10 inches, 15.2 ounces) edition of "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is also available from McFarland & Company in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Sharon Paice MacLeod is a Harvard-trained Celticist, grant-funded researcher, historical consultant. She has taught Celtic literature, mythology and folklore at the university level. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3468898.Sharon_Paice_MacLeod)


The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf

Into the Fairy Hill
Michael S. Newton
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476690025, $35.95, PB, 276pp

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Fairy-Hill-Folktales-Highlands/dp/1476690022

Synopsis: Headstrong heroines and hot-tempered chieftains, loch monsters and hill fairies, cattle raids and clan feuds, wise animals and foolish saints: the Scottish Highlands' folktales date back centuries and preserve the history and beliefs of a people deeply rooted in their land and culture. Oral traditions connect the modern world with the hearts and minds of Scottish Highlanders across the ages, bringing their world to life in vivid detail.

Compiled, translated, and presented by Michael S. Newton, "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish Highlands" is a simply fascinating anthology that includes new and approachable translations of folktales from the Scottish Highlands and Nova Scotia, providing extensive commentary on this rich storytelling tradition. Each individual story is annotated with information about its origins and any insights into its meaning. The original Scottish Gaelic texts (collected from a wide variety of rare and obscure sources) are provided in an appendix.

Critique: This large format (7 x 0.55 x 10 inches, 1.1 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish Highlands" by Michael S. Newton is an informative and fun read from cover to cover. A seminal compendium of Scottish folklore, myth and history is informatively enhanced with an appendix of Original Gallic Sources, chapter notes, and bibliography. While this trade paperback edition of "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish Highlands" from McFarland & Company is a welcome and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Mythology & Folklore collections, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Scottish mythology, folklore and fairy tales is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.99).

Editorial Note: Michael S. Newton was an assistant professor in the Celtic Studies department of St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia from 2008 to 2013. He has written a multitude of books and articles about Gaelic culture and history and is a leading authority on Scottish Gaelic heritage in North America. He lives in Carrboro, North Carolina.


The Literary Studies Shelf

The Odyssey
Homer, author
Daniel Mendelsohn, translator
University of Chicago Press
www.press.uchicago.edu
9780226604428, $39.00, HC, 560pp

https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Homer/dp/022660442X

Synopsis: With this newly translated edition of Homer's Odyssey from the University of Chicago Press, the celebrated author, critic, and classicist Daniel Mendelsohn brings the great epic to vividly poetic new life.

Widely known for his essays on classical literature and culture in The New Yorker and many other publications, Mendelsohn gives us a line-for-line rendering of The Odyssey that is both engrossing as poetry and true to its source.

Rejecting the streamlining and modernizing approach of many recent translations, he artfully reproduces the epic's formal qualities (meter, enjambment, alliteration, assonance) and in so doing restores to Homer's masterwork its archaic grandeur. Mendelsohn's expansive six-beat line, far closer to the original than that of other recent translations, allows him to capture each of Homer's dense verses without sacrificing the amplitude and shadings of the original.

The result is the richest, most ample, most precise, and most musical Odyssey available in the English language as it conveys the beauty of its poetry, the excitement of its hero's adventures, and the profundity of its insights.

Supported by an extensive introduction and the fullest notes and commentary currently available, Daniel Mendelsohn's Odyssey will most certainly become the authoritative version of this magnificent and enduringly influential literary masterpiece.

Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a forty page Introduction (A Note on the Translation), a three page Pronunciation Guide, a twenty page bibliography (Further Reading), seventy-eight pages of Notes, a two page listing of Variants from Allen, and a fourteen page Glossary of Proper Nouns. Of special note is a two- page B/W map of Odyssius' World. A work of seminal and meticulous scholarship, this new edition of "The Odyssey" by Daniel Mendelsohn is especially and unreserved for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Epic Poetry and Classic Literature collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and the general reading public that this hardcover edition of "The Odyssey" from the University of Chicago Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).

Editorial Note: Memoirist, critic, translator, and frequent contributor of essays to The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books, where he is Editor-at-Large, Daniel Mendelsohn is the author of ten books, including the international bestsellers The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million, winner of the National Jewish Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic, an NPR and Kirkus Best Book of the Year. His other honors include the Prix Medicis in France and the Premio Malaparte, Italy's highest honor for foreign writers. In 2022 he was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Republic of France. He is currently the Charles Ranlett Flint Professor of Humanities at Bard College. (https://www.danielmendelsohn.com/about)


The Sports Shelf

Courtside Candy: The Culture and Influence of Basketball
Gestalten, editor
Gestalten
c/o Roedl LLP
https://us.gestalten.com
9783967041798, $70.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Courtside-Candy-Culture-Influence-Basketball/dp/3967041794

Synopsis: With the publication of "Courtside Candy: The Culture and Influence of Basketball", the editorial staff of Gestalten take a deep dive into basketball's influence on contemporary cultural expression and urban identity in a magnificently illustrated exploration of basketball as a cultural force that transcends the sport itself, deeply influencing art, fashion, street art, urban interventions, urbanism, architecture, and graphic design.

"Courtside Candy" presents a visually compelling narrative, focusing on basketball's role as a creative catalyst within specific subcultures. By capturing the intersection of the game with various forms of expression, "Courtside Candy" reveals how basketball shapes and reflects the unique character of the places where it thrives. As basketball intertwines with diverse forms of creativity, it drives innovation in spaces where art, architecture, and culture converge.

"Courtside Candy" visually documents how the sport fuels connection and transformation, offering readers a focused exploration of basketball's ability to inspire across disciplines.

Critique: Original, spectacular, informative, thought-provoking, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, this large format (8.86 x 1.1 x 11.42 inches) hardcover edition of "Courtside Candy: The Culture and Influence of Basketball" from the Gestalten editorial staff is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Sports Culture (Basketball) and Graffiti/Street Art collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: As a publisher, Gestaltenbegan with a focus on the aesthetic, particularly that of graphic design and, over the last two decades, the scope of both our content and our expertise has widened. Today, using a myriad of observations of culture, people, art, and other intimate inspirational informants, we document and anticipate vital movements in architecture, visual culture, design & fashion, escapism, food & beverages, travel, and contemporary art. In 2014, Little Gestalten joined the literary ranks and ensured that there was a place for readers of all ages within the world of gestalten. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5115380.Gestalten)

Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons
Jen Benson & Sim Benson
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781788405775, $32.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-World-Ultramarathons-Jen-Benson/dp/1788405773

Synopsis: In this ultimate guide to ultrarunning, dive into 50 of the world's most breathtaking and brutal ultramarathons ranging from the icy tundras of Sweden to the sun-scorched deserts of the USA, and the rugged mountains of Europe.

Whether you are a seasoned marathoner in search of your next challenge or an aspiring runner eager to tackle your first ultra, each individual race is meticulously detailed with all the essential information: where to start, how to get there, and what it takes to reach the finish line.

Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of insightful interviews with world-renowned runners and the visionary founders of these epic races, alongside detailed maps, stats, and stunning photography, "Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons" is the definitive guide to the world of ultrarunning, crafted by adventurers and co-authors Jen and Sim Benson.

Critique: Original, unique, and featuring a ten page informative Introduction along with a four page Index, "Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons" is deftly organized six major sections: Europe; United States & Canada; Central & South America; Africa; Asia; and Australasia. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Sports Marathon collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons" from Cassell is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note #1: Jen Benson is a runner, writer and PhD researcher exploring the psychology and philosophy of running. She has completed over 50 marathons and the UK Ironman and Ironman 70.3 triathlons. She is a qualified podiatrist with a master's degree in sport & exercise medicine.

Editorial Note #2: Sim Benson is a running journalist who plans trails for Komoot app and Trail magazine. Together with his wife Jen, they have co-authored several books including Wild Running, Short Runs in Beautiful Places and The Running Bible.


The Architecture Shelf

The Right to Nature: For a New Urban Landscape
Emanuele Bortootti, et al.
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
https://actar.com
9781638400431, $34.95, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Right-Nature-Towards-Urban-Landscape/dp/1638400431

Synopsis: In dialogue with other architects and committees (among others, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, Stefano Boeri Architetti, Credite Agricole, Fondazione Riccardo Catella), the contributors to "The Right to Nature: For a New Urban Landscape" underline the importance of a shared quality of the daily urban landscape as a key quality of our contemporary cities.

"The Right to Nature" is a new chapter of reflection and work of the AG&P greenscape, centered on the current and renewed relationship between man and nature. Through out seven main topics including Sociality/Collectivity, Infrastructure, Inhabit, Work/Welfare, Regeneration, Care, and Heritage.

"The Right to Nature" also explores contemporary urban landscape issues at the different scales of the project, in the light of the relationship between human beings and nature.

Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Simona Galateo and Andrea Bortolotti, this large format (7.75 x 1.25 x 10 inches, 2.35 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Right to Nature: For a New Urban Landscape" from Acta is the seminal, groundbreaking, and collaborative work of co-authors Emanuele Bortolotti, Paolo Palmulli, and Alessandro Frigerio. Exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, plus profusely illustrated throughout, "The Right to Nature" will be of special interest to professional and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Landscape Architecture, as well as being a core and highly recommended addition to community and college/university library collections and is an ideal choice for supplemental Urban/Land Use Planning curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Graduated in agricultural science with a subsequent Master's Degree in Garden Design, Emanuele Bortolotti is one of the founders in 1986 of AG&P greenscape, landscape architecture firm of which he is now partner with Paolo Palmulli. In 2001 he was the first Italian to win a medal in the international competition of the Chelsea Flower Show in London. He is the author of the book "Il Giardino Inaspettato" published by Electa in 2011 and brought out in a new edition in 2015. In the last few years he participated in the projects of Parco Te in Mantua, the "New Milan Stadium" for the Sportium-Manica group, Bosconavigli in Milan with Stefano Boeri Architetti and Arassociati, the headquarters park of Credit Agricole Italia in Parma and the regeneration of the tourist town of Albena in Bulgaria.

Editorial Note #2: Graduated from Milan Polytechnic University, Paolo Palmulli is the General Manager of AG&P greenscape, landscape architecture firm of which he is partner with Emanuele Bortolotti. He works in the field of landscape design, focusing on public spaces and overseeing both the design process and its implementation, in Italy and abroad. Co-author of the book "Paesaggio diffuso: l'esperienza di un nuovo quartiere a Segrate", published by Electa in 2013. Member of the works supervision group of the new "BAM Biblioteca degli Alberi" the public park at Porta Nuova in Milan; among the most recent projects, he is working on the Levante Waterfront in Genoa with Renzo Piano Building Workshop and OBR, the CityWave for BIG studio in Milan-CityLife, and the regeneration project of Centroparco in Segrate (Milan).


The Money/Finance Shelf

Make Your Living Trust
Nolo Editorial Staff
Nolo Press
www.nolo.com
9781413332827, $39.99, PB, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Living-Trust-Editors/dp/141333282X

Synopsis: You can use a living trust to keep your estate out of probate and distribute property after you die. But how do you know whether a living trust is right for you, how do you get one, and what other documents do you need?

With the publication of "Make Your Living Trust" addresses these concerns and more by explaining:

What probate is (and why to avoid it)
How living trusts work
Why you might not need a living trust
The pros and cons of making a living trust without a lawyer
What kinds of property go into a living trust, and
How to choose a successor trustee.

"Make Your Living Trust" also explains, step-by-step, how to make a living trust -- on your own or with help from an attorney. It also covers other aspects of your estate plan, like what to do with your digital assets and why you still need to make a will, financial power of attorney, and health care directive.

Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "Make Your Living Trust" by the editorial staff of Nolo Press is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Retirement Planning, Estate planning, and Wills/Trusts collections and supplemental Financial Management/Planning curriculum studies lists.

Keep Your Money
Dean McGowan
Brown Books Publishing Group
https://www.brownbooks.com
9781612547145, $24.95, HC, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Your-Money-Advice-Investing/dp/1612547141

Synopsis: Dean McGowan is no stranger to how confusing and overwhelming the world of investing can be for most of us. Over his decades-long journey of managing his clients' investments, McGowan has observed where others go right (or very wrong) when attempting to build their wealth.

With the publication of "Keeping Your Money: Real Advice on Wise Investing" and drawing upon his many years of experience and expertise, McGowan breaks down in simple terms the best investment practices and, more importantly, what to avoid when investing your hard-earned savings.

Growing up in East Texas at a time when even children were expected to contribute financially, McGowan has always known the value of a dollar. This formative experience would later equip him with the self-management skills to put himself through college and realize his dream of working in wealth management.

With "Keeping Your Money" you will learn a multitude of timeless principles, such as:

DON'T sell at the lows or buy at the highs
DO diversify your investments
DON'T buy on a margin
DO invest for the long term
DON'T speculate on the market
DO research every investment opportunity

Illustrating his points with anecdotes from his many decades of managing client investments, along with the amusing and horrifying investment debacles that have beset figures from pop culture and history, McGowan offers an educational and engaging guide to smart investing. The time is now to give your hard-earned wealth the best possible chance to take root and keep on growing through the years ahead.

Critique: The only way to build up what's known as 'generational wealth' is to make your money make more money. "Keeping Your Money: Real Advice on Wise Investing" by financial investment expert Dean McGowan is a complete and comprehensive DIY instructional guide on how to do just that. Exceptionally well written and throughly 'read/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "Keeping Your Money: Real Advice on Wise Investing" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Money/Finance collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Keeping Your Money: Real Advice on Wise Investing" from the Brown Books Publishing Group is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Dean McGowan (https://www.deanmcgowanauthor.com/author) began his journey in wealth management as a financial advisor and mutual and pension funds manager with Schneider, Bernet & Hickman, where he was the youngest partner in the firm throughout the early seventies. In 1974 Dean joined Paine Weber as assistant branch manager and went on to found the North Dallas branch of what later became UBS Financial Services. Before retiring from UBS in 2019, Dean would also found the McGowan, Vehslage, and Goldberg advisory group (MVG Wealth Management). Dean also proudly served three years on the New York Stock Exchange committee, during which he and other committee members rewrote the entire battery of three thousand questions for the Series 7 (General Securities Representative) Exam, whose passing completion is required by brokers and other financial professionals in the U.S.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Unforgettable Presence
Lorraine K. Lee
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781394281725, $28.00, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394281722

Synopsis: In today's rapidly evolving technology and business climate, just being great at your job isn't enough anymore. In today's competitive workplace, ambitious professionals need to master both how and where they show up if they want to stand out and be recognized.

Lorraine K. Lee knows this journey firsthand. As a shy, overlooked introvert who became a sought-after keynote speaker, she discovered that success comes not from working harder, but from being intentional about your professional presence. Through her role as a founding editor at LinkedIn and work with Fortune 500 companies, she's helped millions of professionals develop an intentional, powerful presence that takes them from invisible to unforgettable.

Drawing from research-backed principles, personal anecdotes, and insights from interviews with dozens of industry leaders, including bestselling author Daniel Pink and Radical Candor's Kim Scott, with the publication of "Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career" teaches you how to:

Master virtual presence using proven frameworks for standing out in today's workplace
Deliver impactful presentations with confidence and authority
Develop executive presence at any career stage
Leverage LinkedIn to stay top-of-mind and be recognized for your expertise
Transform your team's presence and impact as a leader
Give and receive feedback that inspires change
Lead meetings that your teammates don't dread

This invaluable and 'real world practical' guide introduces practical frameworks to help you build influence and be seen as a leader, and gives you concrete tools to increase your impact immediately. You will learn to communicate with confidence, build strategic relationships, and advocate for yourself and your team effectively.

Whether you are an introvert seeking greater visibility or a leader looking to amplify your team's impact, or striving for success with respect to job or promotion interviews "Unforgettable Presence" provides the proven frameworks and practices to ensure you're remembered for all the right reasons. It's time to take control of your career trajectory by mastering both how and where you show up so that you can create a presence that makes you truly unforgettable.

Critique: A complete DIY Self-Help/Self-Improvement course in one book, "Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career" fully lives up to the promise of its title. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Unforgettable Presence" is presented in three major sections: Building Your Foundation; Today's Key Skills; and Career Advancement. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business Management/Jobs-Careers collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business mangers, and employment job seekers that this hardcover edition of "Unforgettable Presence" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.00) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishers, 9798228584310, $45.95, CD).

Editorial Note: Lorraine K. Lee (https://lorraineklee.com) is an award-winning keynote speaker who brings unique expertise in empowering both high-potential and established leaders to supercharge their presence, influence, and impact. She is passionate about helping ambitious professionals go from invisible to unforgettable in the modern workplace, and her frameworks have been adopted by Fortune 500 companies and other globally recognized organizations including Zoom, Amazon, Cisco, and McKinsey & Company.


The Business Shelf

Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Paradoxes in Play
Suna L. Nielsen, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781035325801, $170.00, HC, 362pp

https://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneurship-Theory-Practice-Paradoxes-Fourth/dp/1035325802

Synopsis: This newly updated and expanded fourth edition of "Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Paradoxes in Play" by the team of co-authors Suna L. Nielsen, Kim Klyver, Majbritt Rostgaard Evald, and Torben Bager expertly unravels the central paradoxes every entrepreneur must face. Written in a comprehensive and engaging style, it combines essential theories with real-world examples, making complex concepts accessible and relatable.

This new fourth edition of "Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice" also includes case studies crafted by world-renowned experts, offering fresh insights into the more nuanced aspects of entrepreneurship.

"Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice" includes:

A broad overview of entrepreneurship from a theoretical and practical perspective
Opportunities for student involvement through theory, paradoxes, actions and exercises
New content exploring diverse types of external crises and how they shape the world of entrepreneurship
Learning essential crisis strategies and actions that entrepreneurs can use not only to survive but to thrive in the face of adversity

"Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice" is specifically designed for all students with or without prior entrepreneurship education. It is ideal for introductory courses in entrepreneurship but is also highly valuable for advanced students seeking to deepen their understanding of entrepreneurial opportunities, processes and contexts. This latest fourth edition will furthermore prove immensely beneficial for aspiring entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, startup mentors, entrepreneurship advisors, and educators at universities, colleges, and business schools, who are currently face-to-face with a world full of multiple crises.

Critique: An ideal textbook for college/university based MBA and Entrepreneurship curriculum studies lists, "Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Paradoxes in Play" is exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'reader friendly' and coherent in presentation. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of MBA students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Paradoxes in Play" from Edward Elgar is also available in paperback (9781035325825, $55.00).

Editorial Note #1: Suna Lowe Nielsen, University of Southern Denmark (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Suna-Nielsen)

Editorial Note #2: Kim Klyver, University of Southern Denmark (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kim-Klyver)

Editorial Note #3: Majbritt Rostgaard Evald, University of Southern Denmark (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Majbritt-Evald)

Editorial Note #4: Torben Bager, University of Southern Denmark (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Torben-Bager)

Strategic Workforce Planning
Ross Sparkman
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398607293, $134.00, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Workforce-Planning-Developing-Strategies/dp/1398607290

Synopsis: Now in a newly updated second edition, "Strategic Workforce Planning: Developing Optimized Talent Strategies for Future Growth" by Ross Sparkman is a comprehensive guide that explains what 'workforce planning' is, why it's necessary and most importantly, how to do it.

"Strategic Workforce Planning" will enable HR professionals to understand and resolve core business matters, from analyzing future hiring demand to prioritizing investments like training and development. It also covers how to manage the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), automation and machine learning on the global workforce.

This fully updated second edition of "Strategic Workforce Planning" also features a new chapter on remote working strategies and operational workforce planning, as well as new and updated case studies and material on workforce planning in a downturn and for Diversity and Inclusion.

Providing fresh perspectives alongside the fundamental theory, "Strategic Workforce Planning" is essential reading for practitioners of all levels of experience looking to align people strategy with company strategy and maintain competitive advantage.

Critique: An ideal textbook for MBA curriculum studies lists, "Strategic Workforce Planning: Developing Optimized Talent Strategies for Future Growth" is also the perfect DIY instructional guide on workforce planning professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Business Personnel Management, Organization, and Human Resources reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Strategic Workforce Planning: Developing Optimized Talent Strategies for Future Growth" from Kogan Page is also readily available in paperback (9781398607279, $38.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.19).

Editorial Note: Ross Sparkman is the Head of Strategic Workforce Planning at Nike. Previously, he was the Head of Strategic Workforce Planning & Analytics at LinkedIn and GE Aviation, the Strategic Workforce Planning Leader at Devon Energy and a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting where he specialized in Human Capital Strategy and Workforce Planning & Analytics. (https://www.koganpage.com/authors/ross-sparkman)

Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation
Mohamed Zaki
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398617421, $134.00, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Data-driven-Customer-Experience-Transformation-Omnichannel/dp/1398617423

Synopsis: In our technology-led, omnichannel marketing environment, one of the biggest risks for brands is a lack of consistency in their customer experience across digital, physical and social channels.

With the publication of "Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation: Optimize Your Omnichannel Approach", Professor Mohamed Zaki provides insights and frameworks for creating delightful customer experiences across all three channels, by leveraging data and the latest technologies.

Using cutting-edge research from the Cambridge Service Alliance, at the University of Cambridge, "Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation" explores the importance of omnichannel customer-centricity across all sectors and takes you on a journey from setting your strategy, through designing and managing your customer experiences in real-time.

"Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation" also explores how AI can be used to identify opportunities and predict engagement, as well as how to use data to understand customer loyalty, forge stronger customer relationships and drive growth.

By combining academic rigour with real-world examples from leading companies such as Microsoft, KFC and Emirates Airline, "Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation" is the ultimate guide to designing and implementing an exceptional data-driven customer experience across all channels, whether you work in B2B, B2C or public services.

Critique: Featuring a twenty-five page Introduction, and with each of the twelve chapters comprising "Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation: Optimize Your Omnichannel Approach" featuring a a Key Takeaways and Notes section, this comprehensive and exceptional introduction of Business and Global Marketing in the ages of AI must be considered essential reading as well as a critically important and timely addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library National and International Marketing collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, and entrepreneurs that this hardcover edition of Professor Mohamad Zaki's "Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation" from Kogan Page is also available in paperback (9781398617391, $41.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $39.89).

Editorial Note: Mohamed Zaki (https://www.cs.rpi.edu/~zaki) is a Professor at the Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge and Deputy Director of Cambridge Service Alliance. He has 100+ publications in highly ranked service management journals, top conferences and practical outlets such as the Harvard Business Review. He has consulted and lectured for over 50 organisations, including Manchester United, Caterpillar and IKEA. He is course leader for the Data-Driven Design for Customer Experience (CX) online course at Cambridge University Press and Assessment. He was awarded the Industry Impact in Services Award by the Cambridge Service Alliance in 2025.

Reinventing the Leader
Guilherme Loureiro, author
Carlos E. Marin, author
Matt Holt Books
c/o BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637746806, $32.00, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Leader-Change-Yourself-Company/dp/1637746806

Synopsis: In the midst of a successful year, visionary CEO Guilherme Loureiro decided that Walmex (Walmart's biggest division outside of the United States) needed to make massive changes to turn the iconic company into a more data-driven, customer-centric business that would be competitive in our digital economy. The stakes were high: few companies the size of Walmex had ever attempted a transformation at such a magnitude of scale.

Co-authored by Guilherme Loureiro and Carlos E. Marin, "Reinventing the Leader: How to Change Yourself to Change Your Company" is the turbulent story of how it happened that's especially relevant in this age of globalization. Guilherme learns from Carlos that to change the company he must first transform his own leadership style. This candid history provides an insightful blueprint for any organization's success. Readers will learn:

The importance of connecting a transformation to a meaningful purpose
How any change brings risk but the biggest risk is not to change
The three crucial questions to ask team members to discern if they're ready to contribute to a transformation
The power of telling the story of a transformation by showing its impact on customers
Why it's necessary to listen attentively and embrace change independently of how successful you are

Today's leaders are expected to inspire by sharing a vision based on purpose, not just profits. Loureiro and Marin's enlightening account of self-discovery and business reinvention defines a fresh new approach to leadership for the future.

Critique: Exceptional, insightful, inspiring, impressively well written and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "Reinventing the Leader: How to Change Yourself to Change Your Company" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business Management/Leadership collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted by MBA students, corporate executives, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Reinventing the Leader: How to Change Yourself to Change Your Company" from Matt Holt Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note #1: Guilherme Loureiro is the regional CEO of Walmart for Canada, Central America, Chile and Mexico, and the newly appointed chairman of the board of Walmex. He leads an operation with a presence in eight countries: Canada, Chile Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Guilherme joined Walmart in 2012 and led Walmart Brazil as CEO from September 2013 until January 2016 when he became CEO for Walmex. Before Walmart, he worked for more than 20 years at Unilever. Guilherme has a degree in business administration from the Fundacao Getulio Vargas University in Sao Paulo, where he earned his master's and doctorate degrees, and he attended The General Management Program (TGMP) at Harvard Business School. Guilherme is a speaker who has given talks about transformation at Microsoft Mexico, Honeywell Latin America, and Nestle Mexico.

Editorial Note #2: Carlos Marin is a highly regarded executive leadership coach. He specializes in helping executive leaders achieve and verify positive changes in their leadership behavior. His work has benefited executives in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, banking and financial services, biotechnology, communications, consumer products, hospitality and entertainment, manufacturing, management consulting, pharmaceuticals, and technology and utilities. Carlos has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Olivet and master's degrees in educational psychology and guidance counseling from Michigan State University.


The Music Shelf

Beyonce All The Songs: The Story Behind Every Track
Benoit Clerc
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781788405577, $60.00, HC, 528pp

https://www.amazon.com/Beyonc%C3%A9-All-Songs-Story-Behind/dp/1788405579

Synopsis: The definitive recording history of the music phenomena that is Beyonce, "Beyonce All The Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" fully explores the extraordinary artistry and vision of Beyonce chronicled song-by-song throughout her ground-breaking career. From her early days with Destiny's Child to her trailblazing solo albums, record-breaking visual projects, and cultural moments that have redefined the music industry, "Beyonce All The Songs" includes the history behind every recording and every album.

Beyonce fans and musicologists alike will learn everything there is to know about the chart-topping anthems like Crazy in Love and Single Ladies, the deeply personal and politically charged works of Lemonade and Renaissance, as well as her most recent album, Cowboy Carter.

Expertly crafted with behind-the-scenes stories, lyrical analyses, and detailed accounts of her creative process, this book uncovers the inspiration, production, and collaborators behind Beyonce's genre-defying sound.

Enhanced with hundreds of photographs ranging from rare studio shots to breath-taking concert images, "Beyonce: All the Songs" provides an intimate portrait of her evolution as an artist, performer, and cultural icon. Lavishly illustrated throughout, "Beyonce: All the Songs" is the ultimate keepsake for the Beyonce fan.

Critique: The latest instalment in the 'All The Songs' series celebrating musical superstars from Cassell, this large format (8.5 x 1.57 x 10.75 inches, 4.66 pounds) hardcover edition of "Beyonce All The Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" by Benoit Clerc is an absolute 'must have' pick for the legions of dedicate Beyonce fans and is an unreservedly recommended acquisition selection for community and college/university library Popular Music History & Biography collections.

Editorial Note: Benoit Clerc is an author, composer, and professional musician. He has written several books in the bestselling All the Songs series, including those on Queen, David Bowie, and ABBA. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18391386.Beno_t_Clerc)


The Liquor Shelf

The Mixology Way
Lucas Tubiana
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729806, $39.99, HC, 220pp

https://www.amazon.com/Mixology-Way-Classic-cocktail-mixology/dp/1784729809

Synopsis: Gorgeously illustrated throughout with full page, full color photos of finished drinks, "The Mixology Way" is a fabulous compendium of 100 iconic cocktail recipes that will enable even the most novice of bartenders and party-givers to fully master the art of the cocktail.

"The Mixology Way" showcases 100 step-by-step recipes for truly classic cocktails -- as well as providing 20 tips and tricks to make the perfect drink, from garnishing to filtering.

Each individual cocktail recipe precisely demonstrates its composition of spirits, complete with a beautifully styled photo of the finished drinks, including Old Fashioned, Singapore Sling, Fog Cutter, Penicillin, Dry Martini, Flip, Whiskey Sour, Mint Julep, Gin Fizz, Dark and Stormy, Pina Colada, and so many more!

Critique: Elegant, magnificent, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, this large format (9.5 x 0.8 x 12.25 inches, 3.23 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "The Mixology Way" by cocktail expert Lucas Tubiana is inspiring to browse through and an ideal instructional 'how-to' guide. While highly recommended as an addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cocktail collections, it should be noted for those with an interest in the subject that this edition of "The Mixology Way" from Mitchell Beazley is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: With a degree in cuisine and after a few years in the restaurant business, Lucas Tubiana swapped his chef's hat for a cocktail shaker in 2013. He perfected the knowledge he had acquired in books by working with professionals, and went on to gain experience in some of the most renowned cocktail bars in Paris (Le Forum and Andy Wahloo), before joining a major Lyon-based group as executive bar manager. Now a consultant for a number of event and catering companies, he divides his time between France and Sweden.


The Fashion Shelf

Vintage Icons of Fashion: From the Chanel 2.55 to the Rolex Oyster
Raul Barragan Sanz, author
Jean-Sebastien Moisy, author
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781840919653, $39.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Icons-Fashion-Chanel-Oyster/dp/1840919655

Synopsis: Luxury vintage clothing and accessories have avid collectors all over the world and interest in the vintage fashion market has never been greater.

Imagine being able to acquire a Birkin bag, a Chanel 2.55, or a Kelly from the 1980s at an affordable price. Imagine wearing a Hermes scarf, the Chanel Premiere watch or one of the famous Louis Vuitton travel bags. Would you be able to recognize these iconic pieces if you saw them on the street? This elegant book highlights the most emblematic vintage pieces from throughout the 20th century and into the early 2000s. You will learn their main characteristics, their history, their trademarks and their manufacturing secrets. From handbags to scarves, watches to dresses, necklaces to shoes, each element of these flagship pieces is deciphered, and you will learn how and why they have become such sought-after staples of haute couture.

Featured brands include Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Valentino, Tiffany & Co., and more.

Critique: Illustrated with lavish, full-color photography throughout, Vintage Icons of Fashion: From the Chanel 2.55 to the Rolex Oyster lives up to its title as a showcase and history of the most standout luxury fashion brands of the twentieth century and the early 2000s. Whether one is a collector, a fashion historian, or just fascinated by Veblen goods, Vintage Icons of Fashion is a joy to page through. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Vintage Icons of Fashion is also available in a Kindle edition ($22.99).

Editorial Note #1: Raul Barragan Sanz is the founder of four highly reputed boutiques in Paris - Opulence Luxury & Vintage. He is also active on social networks, sharing the finest fashion pieces, their history and their secrets. Born in Spain, he arrived in Paris in 2009 after a career in marketing working on mass-market products. In 2016, he decided to begin a new adventure in luxury and rare pieces. He opened his first shop on rue Reaumur in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, where he introduced the public to a collection of vintage bags and accessories that he had spent years compiling. Over time, and following the success of his first shop, he has opened three more.

Editorial Note #2: Jean-Sebastien Moisy is a fashion expert and historian, specializing in authentication. For him, fashion and history are two related passions. That's why, after a master's degree in art history, he joined the firm of experts Dominique Chombert and Francoise Sternbach. 13 years later, he is a passionate fashion expert. In 2015, he conducted the world's first auction dedicated to Chanel custom jewelry, becoming France's youngest expert in his field at just 24. Today, he organizes training courses and conferences around the world.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery
Hilary Leslie
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760396926, $19.99, PB, 112pp

https://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Bridgerton-Embroidery-Patterns-Inspired/dp/0760396922

Synopsis: Inspired by the hit Netflix series and Julia Quinn's Regency Romance books, "Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery: 20 Patterns Inspired by the World of Regency Romance" by embroidery enthusiast Hilary Leslie is DIY collection of in-the-hoop embroidery projects that allows you stitch your way into the lavish world of Bridgerton.

With it's easy-to-follow instructions and stunning designs, you can create elegant keepsakes and accessories fit for royalty. Perfect for both beginners and experienced embroiderers, each individual project captures the beauty, charm, and drama of the Bridgerton universe. Easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorials for basic embroidery stitches help embroidery beginners stitch projects fit for Queen Charlotte, while experienced stitchers of The Ton enjoy recreating iconic motifs!

The "Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery" features:

20 unique in-the-hoop embroidery patterns: Beautiful designs inspired by the Bridgerton series and popular motifs of the Regency era.

Step-by-step instructions for basic techniques: From beginner-friendly to advanced projects, you'll be able to make any design with the comprehensive stitch guides.

Going beyond the basics: Mastering in-the-hoop methods and create stunning pieces with ease.

High-quality photos and illustrations: Visual guides help you bring the opulence of Bridgerton into your home.

The "Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery" is your ticket to creating handcrafted pieces inspired by the beloved world of Bridgerton - perfect for gifts, home decor, and more!

Critique: Fun and thoroughly 'user friendly in organization and presentation, this large format (8 x 0.28 x 9 inches, 12.6 ounces) trade paperback edition of "Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery: 20 Patterns Inspired by the World of Regency Romance" from Quarry Books is a unique and highly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library collections. Of especially personal value for needlecrafters with an interest in needlepoint embroidery, it should be noted that the "Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).

Editorial Note: Hilary Leslie (https://hlesliedesign.wixsite.com/hleslie) is a self-taught embroidery artist living in Maine. Though drawing was her main creative outlet since day one, she never looked back once she picked up an embroidery needle in 2020. Hilary's work has since been featured in Love Embroidery Magazine, Labores del Hogar, Homespun, and Etsy's Pick. You can see more of her work and get a glimpse behind the scenes on Instagram and TikTok @hlesliedesign and on Etsy at www.hlesliedesign.etsy.com.

Easy Embroidery Embellishment
Jenny Billingham
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760395561, $22.99, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Embroidery-Embellishment-Customize-Techniques/dp/076039556X

Synopsis: With the publicaton of "Easy Embroidery Embellishment: Learn to Customize Your Clothes with Simple Stitch Techniques", needlecrafting expert Jenny Billingham provides an ultimate guide for transforming your wardrobe with simple, stylish embroidery stitches. Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished embroiderer seeking to expand your skills, "Easy Embroidery Embellishment' will teach you how to upcycle clothing and accessories with beautiful, personalized designs.

"Easy Embroidery Embellishment" is thoughtfully organized to guide you every step of the way, from the basics of embroidery to more intricate designs. It starts with a comprehensive stitch guide, introducing essential techniques like the backstitch, satin stitch, French knots, and more. From there, you'll move on to a collection of more than 30 embroidery projects, each with step-by-step photos and instructions to ensure success.

Embroidery Basics: Learn the foundational stitches and techniques to get started, even if you've never picked up a needle.

Floral and Nature-Inspired Designs: Bring jeans, jackets, and tote bags to life with delicate flowers, leaves, and whimsical motifs.

Customizing Accessories: Add flowers to a hat, monograms to your favorite hoodie, or a playful pattern to your sneakers.

Upcycling & Mending Ideas: Revamp your old clothes with eco-friendly embroidery projects, reducing waste while staying fashionable.

Bonus Mini Motifs: Get creative with a collection of charming mini motifs that can be used anywhere and everywhere for one-of-a-kind style.

Jenny's expertise, backed by her huge Instagram following, ensures that every project is approachable yet stylish, making it ideal for beginners and experienced crafters alike. With stunning photography and detailed tutorials, "Easy Embroidery Embellishment" provides all the inspiration you need to create your own wearable art.

Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.32 x 11 inches, 1.17 pounds) paperback edition of "Easy Embroidery Embellishment: Learn to Customize Your Clothes with Simple Stitch Techniques" by Jenny Billingham is profusely illustrated and an ideal step-by-step DIY instructional guide for distinctively enhancing all manner of clothing with decorative embroidery. Exceptionally 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "Easy Embroidery Embellishment" is highly recommended for community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition from Walter Foster Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.84).

Editorial Note: Jenny Billingham (@flynn_and_mabel) is a self-taught embroidery artist who studied surface design and printed textiles at university. She began experimenting with embroidery just before the pandemic began in 2020. Since then, she has co-authored Creative Embroidery & Beyond and featured in various embroidery and stitching magazines. Through sharing simple embroidery ideas and techniques, Jenny has amassed over 2 million followers across social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok.


The Woodworking Shelf

Japanese Woodworking Tools
Carpentry Tools Basics Magazine, editor
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319642, $24.99, HC, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Woodworking-Tools-Complete-Traditional/dp/480531964X

Synopsis: From the editorial staff of Carpentry Tools Basics Magazine, "Japanese Woodworking Tools: The Complete Guide to Traditional Handmade Tools - How They are Made and How to Use Them" is unique guide to traditional handmade Japanese tools offers hobbyists, woodworkers and craftspeople an essential introduction to the artistry of Japanese tools. Their structure, mechanics, use and care are described in loving detail as only master Japanese craftsmen and tool expert are able to do.

"Japanese Woodworking Tools" features:

Detailed photographs and texts introducing the full range of traditional planes, saws, hammers and chisels along with coverage of sharpening stones, clamps, knives, rulers, squares, anvils, jigs and related woodworking implements.

Information on the care and use of each tool with detailed explanations and step-by-step photographs.

Profiles of master tool makers and information about the lengthy processes used to make the tools.

Fascinating sidebars and Q&A features on wood science and interviews with skilled craftsmen

Visits to tool-making towns, tool museums and additional resources for Japanese tool enthusiasts.

"Japanese Woodworking Tools" will be an especially prized addition to any serious carpenter or woodworking enthusiast's instructional reference collection.

Critique: Comprehensive, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this large format (7.50(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.00(d), 1.2 pounds) hardcover edition of "Japanese Woodworking Tools: The Complete Guide to Traditional Handmade Tools - How They are Made and How to Use Them" from Tuttle Publishing is effectively and profusely illustrated throughout and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university Woodworking collections.

Editorial Note: Carpentry Tools Basics Magazine has been guiding Japanese woodworkers, carpenters and home enthusiasts for decades.


The Travel Shelf

Urban Trails: Madison
Andrea Debbink
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680517279, $18.95, PB, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Trails-Madison-Downtown-Campus/dp/1680517279

Synopsis: The capital city of Madison, Wisconsin (and often considered Wisconsin's premier city), embodies the lush lakefronts, forests, and grasslands that make Wisconsin famous.

With the publication of "Urban Trails Madison: Downtown, UW Campus, Dane County, Ice Age Trail", Andrea Debbink dives into the area's numerous natural areas, many of them accessible by public transit, with explorations ranging from lakeshore walks to trails winding through prairie and wetlands preserves, plus multiple segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

With this as their handy guide, visitors and residents will discover easy opportunities for solitude and a nature fix right in their own backyard with "Urban Trails: Madison" revealing many under-appreciated gems.

Andrea Debbink is a local Madison author and expert naturalist who highlights the best and most accessible trails in the city for walking, hiking, or running, offering additional suggestions for biking, wintertime walks, or snowshoeing. Portable, colorful, and authentic, this guidebook will inspire residents and visitors alike to explore Madison's beautiful trails.

Critique: A handy pocket-sized (4.25 x 0.5 x 6.75 inches, 8.8 ouncde) paperback that is an ideal and unique resource for itinerary planning, "Urban Trails Madison: Downtown, UW Campus, Dane County, Ice Age Trail" features 40 trails, with maps, detailed route descriptions, and friendly tips to get the most out of every excursion. Of special note is the inclusion of practical notes and information about winter hiking, trail accessibility, and local flora and fauna. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library regional, Midwest, and Wisconsin travel guide collections, it should be noted for both residents and visitors that this paperback edition of "Urban Trails Madison: Downtown, UW Campus, Dane County, Ice Age Trail" from Mountaineers Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).

Editorial Note: Andrea Debbink (www.andreadebbink.com) is the author of more than a dozen books for children and adults, including The Wild World Handbook series and Thrive Where You're Planted, a guided nature journal for city dwellers. As a suburban-born kid in the Midwest, Andrea grew up exploring the natural wonders that often hide in ordinary places, and she still has a soft spot for city habitats and wildlife. Now as an author and naturalist, she writes about the themes of environmental stewardship, citizen science, and outdoor exploration. Andrea hikes, paddles, and writes in Madison, Wisconsin with her family. She can be followed on Instagram @andrea.debbink


The Art Shelf

How to Draw Sci-Fi Fantasy Mecha
Kenichi Somemori, author
Shin Yoshimura, author
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319468, $19.95, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Sci-Fi-Fantasy-Mecha-Illustrations/dp/4805319461

Synopsis: With more than 450 illustrations, "How to Draw Sci-Fi Fantasy Mecha: Spaceships, Airplanes, Cars, Submarines and More!" is an all-in-one guide takes you inside the artist's studio to learn firsthand how to conceptualize and draw new fantasy sci-fi vehicles. This instructional guide gives fantasy illustrators detailed information on the following topics:

Designing three-dimensional vehicles using a perspective grid, schematics, blueprints and linear and axial measurements

Using real-world inspirations - from modes of transport to animals and organic forms - as the basis for more fantastical forms and creations

Illustration techniques that allow you to create realistic three-dimensional vehicles: line, depth, shadow, coloration and rendering the surfaces of various materials

Step-by-step tutorials, six in all, allow you to create sci-fi mashups of cars, copters, jet fighters and battleships or use these designs as the inspiration for your own creations

Illustrated with its more than 450 drawings and examples, "How to Draw Sci-Fi Fantasy Mecha" is the perfect springboard to creating your own mind-blowing Sci-Fi mecha vehicles. Your imagination will soar as these fantastic machines come to life!

Critique: This large format (7.4 x 0.6 x 9.9 inches, 1.25 pounds) paperback edition of "How to Draw Sci-Fi Fantasy Mecha: Spaceships, Airplanes, Cars, Submarines and More!" by co-authors Kenichi Somemori and Shin Yoshimura is impressively organized and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, making it a fun and unreservedly recommended pick for aspiring Science Fiction themed artists and illustrators.

Editorial Note #1: Kenichi Somemori studied painting and fine arts before working as a landscape architect and civil consulting manager. His previous publications include Perspective Techniques, Perspective Expression, 3D Sketch Practice Notebook, and Tracing Is Easy! Sketch Practice Notebook for Plants and Animals.

Editorial Note #2: Shin Yoshimura graduated from the University of Tokyo with a major in green space studies and worked in urban planning and landscape architecture planning and design at EPI Corporation. After that, he established Megadrawing -- an art studio which creates illustrations and perspective drawings. As an architect, he received the Jury's Award for the 30th anniversary of the JARA Grand Prize in 2010.


The Philosophy Shelf

Pokemon and Philosophy
Nicolas Michaud, editor
Carus Books
www.carusbooks.com
9781637700730, $26.95, PB, 238pp

https://www.amazon.com/Pokemon-Philosophy-Trainers-Toughest-Questions/dp/1637700733

Pokemon and Philosophy: A Trainer's Guide to the Toughest Questions is the fifth addition to the Pop Culture and Philosophy series, linking elements of the popular game to bigger-picture thinking. This requires familiarity with Pokemon: "Before commenting on the significance of Pokemon's challenging our values regarding the supernatural and the monstrous, we have to understand exactly how Pokemon reframes commonly frightening phenomena. And in order to do that, it is helpful to better understand the nature of fear." Many of the contributors to this survey have years of experience playing Pokemon which results in unusual depth in their analysis of the game and its philosophical conundrums. Readers of philosophy, gaming, and Pokemon especially will appreciate the wealth of insights embedded in these discussions.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Inspired Retirement
Nathalie Martin
https://inspiredretirement.org
Beaver's Pond Press
www.BeaversPondPress.com
9781643435282, $24.00, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Retirement-Purpose-Passion-Adventure/dp/1643435280

Synopsis: Exceptional well written, impressively organized and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "The Inspired Retirement: Purpose and Passion in Your Next Adventure" by Nathalie Martin is the result of meticulous and detailed research into the subject of retirement -- especially with respect to having a successful and fulfilling one.

The eighteen informative chapters comprising "The Inspired Retirement" are deftly organized into six major sections: Preparing for Adventure; Emotional Barriers to an Inspired Retirement;, Creating and Maintaining Well Being in Mind, Body and Spirit; Creating the Inspired Retirement Life; Your Money and Your Inspired Retirement; Conclusion. It should be noted that "The Inspired Retirement" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a ten page Introduction; fourteen pages of Notes, and a five page Index.

Critique: Back in the 1950s it was an observation that a substantial percentage of the men who had worked factory jobs all their lives and then retired at age 65, never saw 70. The reason, it was commonly held, was that change from having an established daily routine to not having a daily routine was hard when there was no or very little planning ahead on how to fill their day, how to still feel useful, how to have purpose. It was also considered a factor for women's longevity compared to men that back then the women were never retired from their daily routines of homemaking, friendships and family responsibilities that had always given them their sense of value and purpose.

Today we have an aging workforce (both male and female) as the BabyBoom generation has reached retirement age. That's why "The Inspired Retirement: Purpose and Passion in Your Next Adventure" by Nathalie Martin is such a timely and unreservedly recommended addition for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library collections Self-Help/Self Improvement collections about dealing with retirement after five and six decades of working for a living. Inspired and inspiring, replete with numerous examples of successful retirements, "The Inspired Retirement" should be considered essential reading, not only for the newly retired, anyone approaching retirement, but also for their friends and family members looking to support someone in retirement.

Editorial Note: Nathalie Martin is professor, a yoga and meditation teacher, and the author of several books on mindfulness, yoga, and professional life. She recently spent a year traveling the country and talking to people from all walks of life about what brings them happiness and purpose post-career.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Tarot: A Graphic History
Valentina Grande
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9781836002734, $19.99, HC, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Graphic-History-Pamela-symbols/dp/B0DP41GG8V

Synopsis: Born in London in 1878, Pamela Colman Smith moved to Jamaica with her parents at the age of eleven and then to New York to study art. She dropped out of college following her mother's death in 1896, and after her father died in 1899 she found herself back in London, joining the infamous Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society dedicated to the study of occultism. It was there that she met Arthur Edward Waite, with whom she created the classic Rider-Waite Tarot deck that is still in print today.

"Tarot: A Graphic History" by Valentina Grande is Pamela Colman Smith's life story of arcana, symbols and magic in the form of a beautifully illustrated graphic history that tells the tale of Pamela's life and relates it to the iconic cards she helped to create.

Critique: From the Fool, the beginning of every new adventure, to the Magician, who focusses energy, to the Hanged Man, who helps us see things from a different perspective, until finally we embrace the World and fulfil our destinies, "Tarot: A Graphic History" offers a unique, informative, and original 'graphic novel' style approach to the study of the tarot and the biography of one of the most influential practitioners of the late 19th Century. "Tarot: A Graphic History" is a singular and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies/Tarot collections and studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Valentina Grande lives and works in Bologna (Italy) as a teacher and scriptwriter. She is also a radio conductor of literary programs such as: Simply Salinger, and 42 La risposta, broadcast on Radio Onda d'Urto and Radio CittaFujiko. She is the accomplished author of the 2018 publications Il mio Salinger (later translated into French) and Raymond Carver, una storia. In 2020 she published the book Feminist Art (also published in Germany, USA, Great Britain, Spain, France and Korea). In 2021 she published Bauhaus, l'idea che ha cambiato il mondo. This book was also published in France, Germany, UK and USA. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17296541.Valentina_Grande)

Editorial Note #2: Pamela Colman Smith (16 February 1878 - 16 September 1951), nicknamed "Pixie", was a British artist, illustrator, writer, publisher, and occultist. She is best-known for illustrating the Rider - Waite Tarot for Arthur Edward Waite. This tarot deck became the standard among tarot card readers, and remains the most widely used today. Smith also illustrated over 20 books, wrote two collections of Jamaican folklore, edited two magazines, and ran the Green Sheaf Press, a small press focused on women writers.

The Tarot Architect
Lon Milo DuQuette
Weiser Publishers
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
www.redwheelweiser.com
Tantor Media
https://tantor.com
9781578638543, $24.95, PB, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Architect-Become-Builder-Spiritual/dp/1578638542

Synopsis: For many, the Tarot serves as a compass, illuminating the path to their "true will" and guiding them toward their destiny. If you have ever felt stuck or unsure of which way to turn, the tarot offers a beacon, revealing unseen options and providing clarity on difficult decisions. Now, with the publication of "The Tarot Architect: How to Become the Master Builder of Your Spiritual Temple" you have a unique opportunity to master the art of tarot under Lon Milo DuQuette, an internationally recognized authority on tarot and esoteric principles.

You will discover how to interact with the cards, whether new to the tarot or an experienced reader, along with learning the unique colors, correspondences, the basic symbolism of each of the seventy-eight tarot cards, their history, and simple ritual exercises designed to activate and integrate the spiritual forces resident in each individual card.

By the end of "The Tarot Architect", you will be able to bring together all the knowledge that you have learned to create your own tarot deck -- a tangible reflection of your journey and a tool for continued spiritual growth and divinatory practice.

Critique: Unique, original, exceptional, informed and informative, inherently fascinating, and a 'must' for both the novice student and the experienced Tarot practitioner alike, "The Tarot Architect: How to Become the Master Builder of Your Spiritual Temple" is exceptionally well organized and presented, comprehensive and 'reader/user' friendly. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical/Tarot instructional reference collections, it should be noted that this trade paperback edition of "The Tarot Architect" from Weiser Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9798228538184, $45.95, CD).

Editorial Note: Lon Milo DuQuette (https://www.lonmiloduquettebooks.com/about.html) is a lecturer and the bestselling author of Enochian Vision Magick and more than a dozen other books.

Tarot as Storyteller
Salicrow
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9798888502068, $22.99, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Storyteller-Psychic-Development-Cartomancy/dp/B0DH3LVQ7L

Synopsis: With the publication of "Tarot as Storyteller: Psychic Development, Cartomancy, and Reading the Web of Fate", psychic medium Salicrow shows novice and seasoned practitioners alike how to read divination cards with greater accuracy and more profound insight. She also shares practices to help you develop psychic ability (including empathic protection, body dowsing, utilizing sacred space, and divine timing) and how to build your own personal symbolic language.

Additionally, she offers techniques for developing intuition and analytical questioning, providing a clearer picture of the players, situations, and details, and thereby encouraging you to take on the role of storyteller by looking deeply into the symbols and tales that each card holds.

Expanding the concept of each card's symbolism, Salicrow explores the meanings of tarot and oracle cards through activated prayer, spell work, and guided journeys that introduce the Major Arcana as personal experiences. She also shows how to pick a deck, cleanse and bless the cards, and properly store them, and she presents many spreads that look at relationships, career guidance, and healing.

Through her insightful teachings, Salicrow demonstrates that card reading enhances the connection between intuition and imagination. With each reading, your storytelling ability will grow, as will your inner knowing for how to ask better questions.

Critique: An ideal introduction to the art of cartomancy, "Tarot as Storyteller: Psychic Development, Cartomancy, and Reading the Web of Fate" features B/W illustrations in support of an expertly presented, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly instructional guide to creating and experiencing effective and insightful tarot readings. While "Tarot as Storyteller: Psychic Development, Cartomancy, and Reading the Web of Fate" is highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies/Tarot collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition from Destiny Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note: Salicrow (https://www.salicrow.com) is a natural psychic medium who weaves the traditions of her Irish Traveler and Blackfoot heritage with modern magical techniques. For more than 30 years she has worked as a spirit channel, seer, and intuitive healer, offering readings and teaching workshops throughout the United States and internationally. She is also the author of "The Path of Elemental Witchcraft: A Wyrd Woman's Book of Shadows" and "Spirit Speaker: A Medium's Guide to Death and Dying".

Cosmic Crystals!
Paulinne Delcour-Min
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
www.ozarkmt.com
9781962858403, $22.00, PB, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Crystals-Working-Crystal-Skulls/dp/1962858405

Synopsis: For the metaphysical student and practitioner there is no denying that crystal skulls are mysterious artifacts that have inspired legends throughout the ages. Tales of their paranormal abilities abound. But what if their modern counterparts were to have equal powers?

And what if you could have your very own crystal skull?

Well you can! Because thousands upon thousands of inexpensive crystal skulls are pouring from the world's crystal workshops today -- and even if you don't live anywhere near a crystal shop, they are available to all through the internet.

Can these replicas also act as bridges to unseen worlds? Defy space and time? Act as portals to other dimensions? And even be mirrors to your soul, capable of showing you your own past lives and so much more?

With the publication of "Cosmic Crystals!: Working with New Crystal Skulls", Paulinne Delcour-Min shows that they can and tells you how!

Critique: Original, unique, fascinating, "Cosmic Crystals!: Working with New Crystal Skulls" is impressively well written, organized and presented -- making it an ideal introduction to the phenomena of Crystal Skulls that will prove to be of enormous interest to the interested reader. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted that this trade paperback edition of "Cosmic Crystals!: Working with New Crystal Skulls" from Ozark Mountain Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Paulinne Delcour-Min (www.paulinnedelcour-min.com) has a first-class honors degree and a postgraduate certificate in education. After some years teaching, an interest in healing led her to study regression therapy. Paulinne spent more than thirty years working as a past-life and soul therapist; during this time, she began writing about her work. The resulting manuscript was of such scope it was published as the trilogy Spiritual Gold, Holy Ice, and Divine Fire. The books are nonfiction. They are based on original research. The far memories recovered include many past lives, even future lives, and cut to the heart of the mystery of the ancient crystal skulls of legend.

Pagan Portals: Y Mabinogi
Mhara Starling
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803416649, $12.95, PB, 104pp

https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Mabinogi-Exploring-Mythology/dp/1803416645

Synopsis: With the publication of "Pagan Portals: Y Mabinogi: Exploring the Magic and Wisdom of Welsh Mythology" by Mhara Starling interested readers can explore the magic of Welsh mythology, and discover how to incorporate the wisdom of these enigmatic tales into the very fabric of magical and spiritual practices.

"Y Mabinogi" (part of the Pagan Portal series from Moon Books) is an introductory guide to the enchanting tales found within the four branches of the Mabinogi. Each chapter explores the themes, characters, magic, and wonder of Welsh mythology, and is delivered in an accessible, approachable narrative.

"Y Mabinogi" also considers issues such as: Are the characters in the Mabinogi Gods? How can we draw inspiration from these stories for our magical or spiritual practices? And what can the four branches teach us about the world around us, as well as ourselves?

Critique: Succinctly informative, impressively well written, exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Pagaon Portals: Y Mabinogi: Exploring the Magic and Wisdom of Welsh Mythology" is an ideal introduction to the study of Y Maginogi and Welsh mythology. While perfect for personal studies lists, as well as community and college/university library Mythology/Foklore collections and supplemental Welsh Mythology curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that the paperback edition from Moon Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Editorial Note: Born and raised in North Wales, and a first language Welsh speaker, Mhara Starling is a Welsh Folk Witch, and writes on the subjects of Welsh mythology, folklore, and magic. She lives in Chester, UK. (https://modernwitch.com/mhara-starling)

Pagan Portals: Feminist Witchcraft
Susan Harper
Moon Books
Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781785359064, $12.95, PB, 96pp

https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Witchcraft-Susan-Harper/dp/1785359061

Synopsis: Are you seeking a spiritual path that blends your love of the Earth, your yearning for magick, and your commitment to justice? Are you curious to know how collective power can change not only ourselves but also our world? Do you want to heal the damage that patriarchy does and then step into your power?

Susan Harper's "Feminist Witchcraft" from the Moon Books 'Pagan Portals' series is the metaphysical study that addresses all of these questions, aspirations, and more.

Across history, witchcraft has been about power and our world needs empowered people more than ever. "Feminist Witchcraft" is the ideal guide for a DIY journey leading towards a more embodied, politically informed, authentic life. Tapping into our personal and communal power is transformational both in caring for ourselves and each other and in using our collective will to create a more just and equitable world for all.

Critique: Original, exceptional, informative, impressively well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Feminist Witchcraft" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical/Witchcraft collections and supplemental Paganism/Wiccan/Magic curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, Wiccan practitioners, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this trade paperback edition of "Feminist Witchcraft" from Moon Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Editorial Note: Susan Harper (https://drsusanharper.substack.com/p/so-i-said-to-myself) is an educator, advocate, activist, writer, and ritual specialist in the DallasFort Worth, Texas region. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Southern Methodist University and an MA in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies from Texas Woman's University. She has been researching and writing about Feminist Witchcraft, Goddess Spirituality, and NeoPaganism for more than 20 years.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

A Calculated Restraint
Richard Breitman
Harvard University Press
www.hup.harvard.edu
9780674293649, $35.00, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Calculated-Restraint-Allied-Leaders-Holocaust/dp/0674293649

Synopsis: The Allied leaders rarely spoke directly about the Holocaust in public. When Churchill and Stalin alluded to Nazi mass murder of civilians in early speeches, they said much less than they knew. Not until December 1942 did Allied governments issue a joint statement about Nazi Germany's policy of exterminating the Jews of Europe. Roosevelt deferred his own public statement until March 1944. Why didn't these leaders speak up sooner?

Through close readings of public and private statements, with the publication of "A Calculated Restraint: What Allied Leaders Said about the Holocaust", Professor Richard Breitman pieces together the competing motivations that drove each leader's response to the atrocities.

All three knew that their reactions would be politically sensitive, as Nazi propagandists frequently alleged that the Allies were fighting on behalf of Jews, and that Jews were the puppet masters behind their governments.

At a time of globally prevalent antisemitism, these calumnies had force.

After the German invasion of the USSR, moreover, Stalin clearly wanted to focus on the threat to the Soviet state and people. At the same time, Churchill and Roosevelt realized that complete silence would prompt accusations of willful blindness. They usually finessed this dilemma by denouncing Nazi atrocities in general, prioritizing wartime constraints over moral considerations.

Timely and incisive, "A Calculated Restraint" sheds new light on the relationship between World War II and the Holocaust. Ultimately, the Allied leaders' responses cannot be reduced to a matter of character. What they said (and chose not to say) about the Holocaust must be understood in light and context of the political and military exigencies that drove their decision-making.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "A Calculated Restraint: What Allied Leaders Said about the Holocaust" is seminal and groundbreaking work of comprehensive and meticulous scholarship that is essential reading for anyone studying the Holocaust of World War II. Informative, insightful, and an inherently fascinating, thought-provoking, and memorable read from start to finish, "A Calculated Restraint" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Holocaust Studies collections and supplemental World War II History curriculums.

Editorial Note: Richard Breitman is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at American University. His many books include The Berlin Mission: The American Who Resisted Nazi Germany from Within; FDR and the Jews, coauthored with Allan J. Lichtman; Official Secrets: What the Nazis Planned, What the British and Americans Knew; and The Architect of Genocide: Himmler and the Final Solution. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Breitman)


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