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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Common Sense Law Enforcement Leadership
Gerald W. Garner
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
https://www.ccthomas.com
9780398094768, $54.95, PB, 400pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Common-Sense-Law-Enforcement-Leadership/dp/0398094764
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
https://www.ccthomas.com/details.cfm?P_ISBN13=9780398094768
Synopsis: With the publication of "Common Sense Law Enforcement Leadership", author Garner provides advice drawn
from his numerous books for aspiring police sergeants, first-line law enforcement supervisors, mid-managers, and police
chiefs which can all be found here, along with the provision of a lot of new information.
These different leadership ranks have enough in common that a single book would be of value to each of them. That is, of
course, if the book contained practical advice that the law enforcement leader could apply to the challenges they face
virtually every shift.
"Common Sense Law Enforcement Leadership" is intended to be that book.
It recognizes that, while many leadership issues are the same regardless of the rank of the leader, some of the challenges
faced by the sergeant are not identical to the ones confronted by the chief or sheriff. While advice applicable to every rank is
furnished in each chapter, each chapter also addresses the different issues encountered at each leadership level.
All that helpful advice emphasizes practical application, not theory. After all, that is what common sense is all about.
As a law enforcement officer, you will draw heavily upon your training, knowledge, and experience to do that. To be truly
effective in your quest, you must also add a healthy dose of common sense to these things. "Common Sense Law
Enforcement Leadership" will aid you immeasurably by relating the experiences (good and bad) of other law enforcement
leaders.
The information provided in the pages of "Common Sense Law Enforcement Leadership" is not based on theory but upon
actual practice. A solid core of common sense supports it.
"Common Sense Law Enforcement Leadership" will also help you take care of yourself by offering time-proven advice on
working for someone, handling bad events, when and how to ask for help, and surviving the hazards of your position.
"Common Sense Law Enforcement Leadership" is about helping you do your important job extremely well while living to
enjoy great satisfaction from your accomplishments. It's all about enforcing the law with a common sense approach.
Critique: An ideal textbook for police academia, law enforcement in-service workshops, and college/university library
supplemental Administrative Law curriculum studies lists, this trade paperback (10 x 7 x 1 inches, 1.88 pounds) edition of
Gerald W. Garner's "Common Sense Law Enforcement Leadership" from Charles C. Thomas Publishers is a unique and
unreservedly recommended for personal and professional, Law Enforcement collections.
Editorial Note Gerald W. Garner is also the author of "Basic Handbook of Police Supervision: A Practical Guide for Law
Enforcement Supervisors 2nd Edition" (Charles C. Thomas Publishers - 2022).
Cooking as Therapy
Debra Borden
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9798892422031, $29.99, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Therapy-Improve-Mental-Through/dp/B0DT3RGLV9
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cooking-as-therapy-debra-borden/1146961209
Synopsis: With the publication of "Cooking as Therapy: How to Improve Mental Health Through Cooking", licensed
clinical social worker and sous therapist Debra Borden provides you with all the tools and techniques to have therapy
sessions in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Cooking therapy is an experiential therapy that allows you to conduct a therapy session while you cook a meal. Using
cooking processes like chopping, kneading, stirring, and more, you will develop the skills to recognize limiting patterns and
behaviors, improve self-esteem, and form healthy daily habits, and you might even have fun incorporating techniques
centered around:
mindfulness - which develops calm,
metaphor - which creates clarity, and
mastery - which sparks self-esteem.
You do not have to be a great cook to try cooking therapy -- or even like cooking. You only need an interest in
self-exploration. In the pages of "Cooking as Therapy" Borden will teach you the processes involved in preparing a recipe or
meal that trigger awareness and even "aha" moments. Unlike talk therapy, cooking therapy sessions incorporate tangible
acts. It is less about what you prepare and more of a guided journey to self-reflection through how you prepare a dish.
Critique: Featuring twenty recipes to practice on, "Cooking as Therapy: How to Improve Mental Health Through Cooking"
offers a novel but quite effective approach to DIY Self-Help/Self-Improvement programming/activities. Part therapy
handbook, part cookbook, "Cooking as Therapy" is as original and fun and it is 'reader/user' effective in organization and
presentation. Original and unique, "Cooking as Therapy" is a prized and recommended pick for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Cooking as
Therapy" from Alcove Press is also readily available in paperback (9798892422895, $19.99) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Debra Borden (www.Debrabordenauthor.com) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NY and NJ and a
novelist. Her essays and articles have appeared in Women's Health Magazine and The New York Times. A pioneer in the
field of cooking therapy, Debra is thrilled and grateful to be a part of the creative community of mental health professionals,
writers, and foodies. She can also be found online at Instagram & Facebook @debraborden as well as TikTok
@cookyourselfhappy
Among the Giants
Carolyn Fry and Christina Harrison
Gaia
c/o Octopus Publishing
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781856755872, $29.99 HC, $15.99 Kindle, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Among-Giants-Life-Trees-Kew/dp/1856755673
Among the Giants: A Year at Kew's Arboretum departs from the usual focus on the plants at Kew to provide an outstanding
survey of the Tree Gang - Kew's team of eight people who maintain these vast gardens - and how they work to preserve tree
health at Kew. Stories about these experiences bring readers into the daily challenges of maintaining Kew, while insights
into variables that influence a plant's health or decline will delight those interested in how environmental and climate
changes affect work at Kew and other arboretums around the world. Librarians will want to add Among the Giants to any
collection strong in environmental considerations, gardening, or Kew's history and operations.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
The Hollywood Standard - Third Edition
Christopher Riley
Michael Wiese Productions
www.mwp.com
9781615933563, $49.95, HC, 220pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Standard-Complete-Authoritative-LIBRARY/dp/1615933565
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hollywood-standard-third-edition-christopher-riley/1139442893
Synopsis: Intended to be kept at a screenwriter's fingertips, this newly updated and expanded third edition of "The
Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style" provides what even the best script
software cannot -- clear, concise instructions and hundreds of examples to take the guesswork out of a multitude of
formatting questions that perplex even seasoned screenwriters.
This new edition of "The Hollywood Standard" covers:
When a new scene heading is appropriate and when it isn't
How to format shot headings, dialogue, direction and transitions
How to control pace with formatting
How to make a script page visually inviting to the reader
What to capitalize and why
How to get into and out of a POV shot
How to handle text messages and Zoom meetings
How Hollywood's most innovative screenwriters are pushing the boundaries of format
How format for animation differs from live action formats
Simply put, Riley knows more about script format than anyone in Hollywood and shares it all in this indispensable
instructional guide and 'how-to' manual.
Critique: This large format (8.75 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches, 1.8 pounds) hardcover edition of the new third edition of "The
Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style" by Christopher Riley is a complete
and comprehensive DIY course in becoming a successful script writer. Extraordinarily 'reader/user' friendly in style,
organization and presentation, and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library Writing/Publishing collections, as well as writer workshop tutorials and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it
should be noted for aspiring (and practicing) scriptwriters that this hardcover edition of "The Hollywood Standard: The
Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style: 3rd edition" from Michael Wiese is also available in
paperback (9781615933228, $29.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Christopher Riley is a professional screenwriter who co-wrote with his wife Kathy Riley the award-winning
German language film After the Truth. The Rileys have written scripts for Disney's Touchstone Pictures, Paramount
Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Sean Connery's Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions. Christopher
produced the action-thriller Red Line and executive produced the web series Bump+. He began his career as a proofreader in
the standard-setting script processing department at Warner Bros., a department he eventually rose to manage. He is the
former director of the Act One Hollywood Writing Program, the author of the classic screenplay format guide The
Hollywood Standard, an instructor of screenwriting at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a founding partner of Story
Masters Film Academy, and a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West. HIs books are listed online at --
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/40078.Christopher_Riley)
The Amazon Author Formula Workbook
Penny C. Sansevieri
www.amarketingexpert.com
Independently Published
9798282296648, $12.99, PB, 172pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Author-Formula-Workbook-Hands/dp/B0FD3D4FZG
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Amazon Author Formula Workbook: Hands-on Exercises and Expert Tactics to
Dominate Amazon's Marketplace", book marketing expert Penny Sansevieri provides authors and independent publishers a
hands-on guide to mastering the strategies that make books sell on Amazon.
Whether you're launching your first book or refining the reach of a full series, this companion workbook to Penny's
"Amazon Author Formula" provides DIY step-by-step worksheets, guided prompts, and insider tactics to boost visibility,
improve conversions, and drive real sales.
Of special note is that every worksheet comprising this DIY workbook is yours to download for free! Use the access code
inside the book to instantly generate printable versions and get to work. Whether you prefer print or Kindle, you're
covered!
From keyword and category alignment to pricing strategy, Amazon Ads planning, and retail page optimization -- every page
is specifically designed to help you take focused, immediate action. Track your progress, fine-tune your Amazon relevance
score, and uncover what's really holding your book back from charting higher. With detailed planners, ad campaign
organizers, and expert insights, this workbook turns strategy into execution -- so you can stop guessing and start growing
your sales.
Packed with the same market-tested techniques Penny has successfully used with thousands of authors, "The Amazon
Author Formula Workbook" is the ultimate Amazon toolkit for taking your book marketing to the next level.
"The Amazon Author Formula Workbook" covers:
A comprehensive Author Bio Builder to help craft a compelling, professional Amazon bio
Step-by-step Book Description Worksheet and Checklist for high-converting sales copy
Launch Plan Template to map your release timeline and marketing efforts
ARC Tracker for managing and following up with early readers and reviews
Pricing Comparison Sheet to evaluate competitive pricing in your genre
Promotional Schedule Planner, including timing for KDP Select countdowns and free deals
Retail Page Optimization Checklist to maximize every inch of your Amazon listing
Amazon Ads Prep Checklist to ensure your book and page are ad-ready
Keyword Planner to generate 300+ keywords tailored for your Amazon Ads
Ad Strategy Worksheets to help design, test, and track ad campaigns that convert
Progress Trackers to measure improvement across your marketing efforts
Expert tips and real-world advice throughout every section
"The Amazon Author Formula Workbook" is essential to long-term success with Amazon as a vendor.
Critique: Especially and unreservedly recommended, "The Amazon Author Formula Workbook: Hands-on Exercises and
Expert Tactics to Dominate Amazon's Marketplace" is essential for anyone who seeks to utilize Amazon (the 800 lb. gorilla
of online book marketing) as a sales vendor for their book(s). Unique, comprehensive, 'real world' practical, thoroughly
'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "The Amazon Author Formula Workbook" should be a part of any
personal, professional, community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collection, as
well as writer workshop and curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "The Amazon Author
Formula Workbook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Penny C. Sansevieri (www.amarketingexpert.com) is exceptionally well know throughout the publishing
industry. As the Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., she has revolutionized book marketing, shaping the
careers of authors and guiding them to bestseller status. Penny's influence is undeniable and she is known for her
cutting-edge Amazon campaigns and innovative strategies that catapult exceptional books onto bestseller lists.
Herself a bestselling author of 24 books, Penny's expertise spans across self-publishing, social media, and strategic book
promotion. She's a trusted voice in the publishing world, teaching self-publishing courses at NYU and hosting the top-rated
podcast Book Marketing Tips and Author Success. Her company has secured placements for dozens of books on major
bestseller lists, including The New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal.
Penny's unique ability to turn author brands into viable business ventures in today's competitive publishing landscape has
earned her recognition as one of the industry's foremost experts.
The Science Shelf
The LNT Report
Mike Conley
https://mikeconleyauthor.com
Open Universe
www.carusbooks.com
9781637700655, $24.95 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/LNT-Report-Science-Afraid-Nuclear-ebook/dp/B0F4X9CH6D
The LNT Report: How Bad Science Made the World Afraid of Nuclear Power is an important survey that reviews the LNT
(Linear No Threshold) hypothesis and it came to be widely accepted as fact, quashing nuclear power development around
the world. No matter what side of the issue a reader is on, it's important to consider this book's contentions, which are
endorsed by scientific experts, not just for its alternative reflection on nuclear power's promotion or negative image, but for
better understanding how theories are developed, disseminated, and promoted or quashed on all sides. Readers can
anticipate a healthy mix of psychology, science, and philosophy as Mike Conley tackles the weighty subjects of good and
bad scientific theories, how cancer risks and other assessments are made, and how the LNT model was developed. Debates
over how flaws in logic and science The LNT Report particularly enlightening for group and classroom discussions.
The Education Shelf
Paying for College, 2026
Kalman Chany and Geoffrey Martz, authors
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
www.PrincetonReview.com
9780593518786, $25.99, PB, 384pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Paying-College-2026-Everything-Admissions/dp/0593518780
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paying-for-college-2026-the-princeton-review/1146867357
The Princeton Review
https://www.princetonreview.com/press/paying-for-college-2026
Synopsis: Financing a college education is a daunting task no matter your financial circumstances -- and the recent rollout of
the redesigned FAFSA hasn't made things any easier. But with th publication of "Paying for College, 2026: Everything You
Need to Maximize Financial Aid and Afford College", college finance guru Kalman Chany and the experts at The Princeton
Review have come prepared with line-by-line instructions for filling out the latest iteration of the FAFSA, and
consumer-friendly advice to minimize college costs.
Take control with "Paying for College: 2026", which will help you:
Maximize your financial aid eligibility
Explore long- and short-term strategies to reduce college costs and avoid expensive mistakes
Complete every question on the FAFSA and CSS Profile aid applications to your best advantage
Compare aid offers and learn how to appeal them if necessary
Get advice for handling the impact of FAFSA Simplification
Critique: This completely updated edition of "Paying for College, 2026: Everything You Need to Maximize Financial Aid
and Afford College" from The Princeton Review covers all the crucial 2026-2027 FAFSA changes in applying for (and
receiving) financial assistance in paying for college tuition and expenses. Exhaustively comprehensive, exceptionally
'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, this large format (7.79 x 0.8 x 10.25 inches, 1.69 pounds) paperback
edition of "Paying for College, 2026: Everything You Need to Maximize Financial Aid and Afford College" is an essential
and core addition to personal, professional, family, community, highschool, and college/university library Education
Financial Costs/Aids reference collections. It should be noted that "Paying for College, 2026" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note #1: Kalman Chany is the founder and president of Campus Consultants, an independent New York-based
firm that has helped thousands of families maximize their financial aid since 1984. He has authored articles on college
funding for Parade and other publications and has appeared on ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's Evening News, and
CNN's Your Money. (http://www.campusconsultants.com/kalchany.html)
Editorial Note #2: A listing of books by Geoffrey Martz is available online at Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3986787.Geoffrey_Martz
Editorial Note #3: The experts at The Princeton Review have been empowering students, parents, and teachers to achieve
their best results at every stage of the education process since 1981. The Princeton Review has helped millions succeed on
standardized tests and navigate the complexities of school admission. In addition to classroom courses in more than forty
states and twenty countries, The Princeton Review also offers online courses, one-to-one and small-group tutoring, and
online services in both admission counseling and academic homework assistance.
AI-Enhanced Literacy
Mary Ehrenworth and Philip Seyfried
ASCD
www.ascd.org
9781416633853, $35.95, PB, 195pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/AI-Enhanced-Literacy-Practical-Deepening-Instruction/dp/1416633855
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ai-enhanced-literacy-mary-ehrenworth/1147673454
Synopsis: The relationship between AI and literacy education isn't simple. Every tool that makes work more efficient also
requires careful consideration. With the publication of "AI-Enhanced Literacy: Practical Steps for Deepening Reading and
Writing Instruction", literacy experts Mary Ehrenworth and Philip Seyfried present a measured look at the powerful
capabilities of artificial intelligence and take K - 12 teachers on a tour of what's possible when AI tools are seamlessly
integrated into literacy teaching and learning.
Each chapter comprising "AI-Enhanced Literacy: Practical Steps for Deepening Reading and Writing Instruction" examines
AI's potential to expand literacy instruction, deepen student understanding, and make the teacher's role more interesting and
satisfying.
Presented are both theoretical approaches and practical examples to help K-12 educators to:
Understand and feel at ease with current AI tools.
Create AI-enhanced spaces in your classroom.
Harness AI as a writing coach.
Develop students' reading comprehension with digital texts and tools.
Extend multilingual competencies using AI-powered translation tools.
Build and use engaging text sets.
Teach students to think critically about and with AI.
Using AI tools to improve reading and writing instruction can feel overwhelming, but it is a critical skill for today's literacy
teachers. "AI-Enhanced Literacy: Practical Steps for Deepening Reading and Writing Instruction" illuminates a strategic and
successful path toward wise and seamless AI use by K-12 classroom teachers and their students.
Critique: As timely as it is 'real world' practical, "AI-Enhanced Literacy: Practical Steps for Deepening Reading and Writing
Instruction" is the ideal introduction for K-12 teachers and administrators to the implementation of AI based technologies
and tools into literacy curriculums for a more effective and 'student' friendly instruction and skill development.
Exceptionally well written, organized and presented by the team of educators Mary Ehrenworth and Philip Seyfried,
"AI-Enhanced Literacy: Practical Steps for Deepening Reading and Writing Instruction" is a critically important and
unreservedly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, school district, and college/university library
Education Technology collections and supplemental school district workshop and Teacher Education curriculum studies
lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "AI-Enhanced Literacy: Practical Steps for Deepening Reading and
Writing Instruction" from ASCD is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.15).
Editorial Note #1: Mary Ehrenworth, EdD, co-led a think tank on global literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University,
for 20 years. She now runs Ehrenworth Literacy Innovations, working nationally and globally to empower teachers and
students through critical literacies and collaborative inquiry. Ehrenworth's degrees include a BA in history and literature
from Harvard and an MA and EdD in curriculum and teaching from Columbia University. Her most recent research fields
are AI and literacy and vocabulary acquisition.
Editorial Note #2: Philip Seyfried is a doctoral student in curriculum and teaching at Teachers College, Columbia
University, focusing his research on the intersection of digital literacy and artificial intelligence in education. With more
than a decade of experience as a middle school language arts and literature teacher, he now supports schools and edtech
companies as a literacy and digital literacy consultant.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Planning Miracles: How to Prevent Future Pandemics
Jon Cohen
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780593321225, $35.00, HC, 448pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Planning-Miracles-Prevent-Future-Pandemics/dp/0593321227
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/planning-miracles-jon-cohen/1146800933
Synopsis: In 1955, the vaccine that eliminated polio was celebrated as a "planned miracle." Today, despite the astonishing
global effort that came together to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 at unprecedented speed, we struggle against the rise of
science denial and misinformation. Since 2020, we have had to face a terrifying truth: It's not if we'll experience another
pandemic, it's when. -- So just how do we prepare for it?
With the publication of "Planning Miracles: How to Prevent Future Pandemics", Jon Cohen shares the stories of the
committed scientists at the front lines, fighting back against societal distrust and panic, monitoring the threats that exist,
detecting outbreaks early, and developing new interventions as quickly as possible.
A renowned science reporter, Jon Cohen travels from the mountains of Vietnam to the rainforests in the Amazon, from the
"wet" markets in Cambodia to fairgrounds in the United States, exploring how we can better defend ourselves against the
growing threat of pandemics, and he finds surprising (and encouraging) answers.
Cohen meets scientists sampling bats, pigs, wild birds, poultry, and insects to hunt for the next dangerous virus. He visits
labs developing next-generation vaccines with cutting-edge technology that aim to protect us from entire viral families.
Cohen discovers the unexpected links between climate change and the spread of disease and describes efforts to improve the
equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and data sharing around the world.
Weaving together history, reportage, and science writing, "Planning Miracles" is revelatory and necessary -- providing hope
that if we work together to plan for the next pandemic, we can avoid disaster.
Critique: Timely (especially in view of the damages the Trump administration appointees are doing to the Department of
Health, the CDC, and restrictions on federally funded research grants) deftly written, impressively informative,
exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Planning Miracles: How to Prevent Future Pandemics" is a
seminal and comprehensive study that is an unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Health/Medicine collections. It should be noted for medical students, academia, members of the
medical community, political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
this vital subject that this hardcover edition of "Planning Miracles: How to Prevent Future Pandemics" from Knopf is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Jon Cohen (https://joncohen.org/bio-2) is a longtime correspondent for Science magazine, is a widely
published magazine writer and author who specializes in biomedicine and infectious diseases. He has a degree in science
writing and has done field reporting on health topics in more than 50 countries. He frequently appears on TV and radio
shows, and he has collaborated on several documentaries and series. His print and broadcast stories have won awards from
leading science academies and journalism organizations, as well as two national Emmys.
Move for Life
Damien A. Joyner JD CPT
North Atlantic Books
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9798889842811, $26.95 pbk / $18.99 Kindle, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Move-Life-Practical-Building-Confidence/dp/B0DRXF6FB6
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/move-for-life-damien-a-joyner-jd-cpt/1146766999
Synopsis: Too often, society tells you that as you age, you will become frail. You will lose your mobility. It's time to slow
down. But at a time when nearly 50 million Americans are aged 65+, these assumptions are more harmful than ever --
especially because they're wrong!
With the publication of "Move for Life: A Practical Guide to Building Everyday Strength, Balance, and Confidence for
Thriving after 65", fitness expert Damien Joyner explains which exercises are the most important to prioritize for the
movements you do every day -- whether that's standing up from a chair or getting groceries from the car into the
cabinet.
His exercises include:
Straightforward, safe, effective, and evidence-based
Clearly illustrated via helpful how-to photo guides
Tailored to meet the concerns of active agers, like improving bone density
Appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of fitness
For keeping fit and doing real-world, everyday tasks that help you stay active and engaged
As a fitness professional who specializes in training people who are 50+, Damien Joyner's approach in "Move for Life"
helps you build strength, increase flexibility, and work on your balance -- all while dispelling any doubts you may have
about your ability to stay active after midlife.
Critique: What as important as the length of life, is the quality of life. With "Move for Life: A Practical Guide to Building
Everyday Strength, Balance, and Confidence for Thriving after 65" expert and experienced geriatric fitness expert Damien
A. Joyner has created a thoroughly 'user friendly', DIY instructional guide and manual specific to the needs of our current
'Baby Boomer' population now achieving retirement age. Informative, motivative, 'real world' effective, "Move for Life" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, Senior Center, and community/public
library Health & Medicine collections for elder Americans seeking to live healthy and well for as long as possible. It should
be noted for personal use that this large format (6.98 x 0.45 x 9.96 inches, 13 ounces) paperback edition of "Move for Life'
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Damien A. Joyner (https://incrementalfit.com) is a health coach at UC San Diego's WorkStrong Program and
a personal trainer for his business, Incremental Fitness. After earning his Juris Doctorate, he transitioned to the fitness
industry in 2016, gathering experience with the general population and eventually focusing on the active aging population in
his business. His diverse experience includes leading group classes for San Diego's Feeling Fit Club and Fitness Specialist
at Golden Door Wellness Resort. As a subject matter expert and virtual certification committee member for the American
Council on Exercise, Damien contributes to study materials, media requests, and internal discussions. He is passionate about
improving clients' quality of life and promoting mental and physical well-being through self-care.
The American History Shelf
The American Revolution: An Intimate History
Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns, authors
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780525658672, $80.00, HC, 608pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/052565867X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-american-revolution-geoffrey-c-ward/1146981805
Synopsis: "From a small spark kindled in America, a flame has arisen not to be extinguished."
-Thomas Paine
In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside down.
Thirteen colonies on the Atlantic coast unitedly rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of
government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired independence movements and democratic reforms around the
globe.
The American Revolution was at once a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war, fought by neighbors on
American farms and between global powers an ocean or more away. "The American Revolution: An Intimate History" is
sumptuous volume with which historian Geoffrey C. Ward ably steers us through the international forces at play, telling the
story not from the top down but from the bottom up -- and through the eyes of not only our "Founding Fathers" but also
those of ordinary soldiers, as well as underrepresented populations such as women, African Americans, Native Americans,
and American Loyalists, asking who exactly was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Enriched by guest essays from lauded historians such as Vincent Brown, Maya Jasanoff, Jane Kamensky, and Alan Taylor,
and by an astonishing array of prints, drawings, paintings, texts, and pamphlets from the time period, as well as newly
commissioned art and maps (and woven together with the words of Thomas Paine), "The American Revolution: An Intimate
History" reveals a nation still grappling with the questions that fueled its remarkable founding.
Critique: Presented with the kind of flair that co-author Ken Burns is noted for in his documentaries, the large format (9.63
x 1.52 x 11.09 inches, 1.25 pounds) hardcover edition of "The American Revolution: An Intimate History" by historian
Geoffrey C. Ward is profusely illustrated, deftly crafted, informatively detailed, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style,
organization and presentation. Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of a twelve page Bibliography and a ten page
Index, "The American Revolution: An Intimate History" is a truly extraordinary and unreservedly recommended acquisition
for personal, community, and college/university library American History/American Revolution 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 this hardcover edition of "The American Revolution: An Intimate History" from Alfred A Knopf
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note #1: Geoffrey C. Ward (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_C._Ward) is an historian and a screenwriter,
as well as the author of twenty books, including A First-Class Temperament: The Emergence of Franklin Roosevelt, which
won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Francis Parkman Prize, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He has
written or co-written many documentary films, including The Vietnam War, The Civil War, Baseball, The War, The West,
Mark Twain, Not for Ourselves Alone, and Jazz. KEN BURNS, the producer and director of numerous film series,
including The Vietnam War, The Roosevelts, and The War, founded his own documentary film company, Florentine Films,
in 1976.
Editorial Note #2: Kenneth Lauren Burns is an American filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series,
many of which chronicle American history and culture. His work is often produced in association with WETA-TV or the
National Endowment for the Humanities and distributed by PBS. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Burns)
The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade
Henry Carroll
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500027370, $60.00, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/1990s-Visual-History-Decade-Decades/dp/0500027374
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-1990s-henry-carroll/1147538866
Synopsis: "The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade" by Henry Carroll is a visual celebration of a seminal decade in
American history. As the Cold War ended and a new millennium approached, grunge, hip-hop, and rave exploded in
popularity as teenagers and twenty -- somethings searched for, something real, something more meaningful. Ostentation was
out. Authenticity was in.
And so, we had the first flashes of reality TV, the O. J. Simpson trial, the rise of surveillance culture, and the internet. We
also had early wake-up calls to the world of social media as The Truman Show and The Blair Witch Project exploited the
emerging visual language of DIY video content.
We heard the rallying call of "Girl Power!" from riot grrrls and the Spice Girls. We argued over East Coast versus West
Coast rap and Biggie versus Tupac. Ice-T went from "Cop Killer" to TV detective and Will Smith went from the Fresh
Prince to a man in black.
Cults, crop circles, and conspiracy theories spread while The X-Files and The Matrix pulled back the curtain on fictional
hidden truths. It was the end of history, and it was print's last hurrah -- or so we thought.
"The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade" deftly explores history, art, film, music, and culture in a unique, immersive,
and visual narrative of a conflicted and momentous decade. A fascinating ecosystem of influence between high and low
culture, this stimulating volume makes sense of the decade's recurring motifs, trends, and themes, from supermodels to
airport style and from the fall of the Soviet Union to the end of the world -- and more!
Critique: This large format (9 x 1.4 x 11.7 inches, 2.31 pounds) hardcover edition of "The 1990s: A Visual History of the
Decade" from Thames & Hudson is the sequel to writer and photographer Henry Carroll's "The 1980s: Image of a Decade".
Profusely illustrated throughout with the inclusion of 338 illustrations (with 311 being in color), "The 1990s: A Visual
History of the Decade" is extraordinary, informative, iconic, nostalgic, and an inherently fascinating read from start to
finish. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style, organization, and presentation, "The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade" is
highly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, community, highschool, and college/university library
20th Century American History & Popular Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Henry Carroll (https://www.henrycarroll.co.uk) is the author of fourteen books including the Read This if
You Want to Take Great Photographs series, which has sold over one million copies across twenty-two languages. He is
also the author of Photographers on Photography, the Photographs That Make You Think series, and The 1980s: Image of a
Decade.
The World History Shelf
Land Between the Rivers
Bartle Bull
Grove Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802162502, $35.00, HC, 576pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Between-Rivers-000-Year-History/dp/0802162509
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-between-the-rivers-bartle-bull/1144927413
Synopsis: At the start of the fourth millennium BC, at the edge of recorded historical time, civilization first arrived with the
advent of cities and the invention of writing that began to replace legend with history. This occurred on the floodplains of
southern Iraq where the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates meet the Persian Gulf. By 3000 BC, a city called Uruk (from
which "Iraq" is derived) had 80,000 residents. Indeed, as Bartle Bull reveals in his epic history, "Land Between the Rivers:
A 5,000-Year History of Iraq", -- "if one divides the 5,000 years of human civilization into ten periods of five centuries
each, during the first nine of these the world's leading city was in one of the three regions of current day Iraq" -- or to use its
Greek name, Mesopotamia.
Inspired by extensive reporting from the region to spend a decade delving deep into its history, Bull chronicles the story of
Iraq from the exploits of Gilgamesh (almost certainly an historical figure) to the fall of the Iraqi monarchy in 1958 that
ushered in its familiar modern era. The land between the rivers has been the melting pot and battleground of countless
outsiders, from the Akkadians of Hammurabi and the Greeks of Alexander to the Ottomans of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Here, by the waters of Babylon, Judaism was born and the Sunni-Shia schism took its bloody shape.
Central themes play out over the millennia: humanity's need for freedom versus the co-eternal urge of tyranny; the
ever-present conflict and cross-fertilization of East and West with Iraq so often the hinge. We tend to view today's tensions
in the Middle East through the prism of the last hundred years since the Treaty of Versailles imposed a controversial
realignment of its borders. Bartle Bull's remarkable, sweeping achievement reminds us that the region defined by the land
between the rivers has for five millennia played a uniquely central role on the global stage.
Critique: A seminal, extraordinary, and groundbreaking study that will prove to be of considerable value and interest to
historians, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, "Land Between the Rivers: A
5,000-Year History of Iraq" is exceptionally well written, impressively informative, remarkably comprehensive, and
thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. A meticulously model of historical research, "Land Between
the Rivers: A 5,000-Year History of Iraq" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and
college/university library Ancient Mesopotamia History collections and supplemental Assyria, Babylon, Sumer, Iraq
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and anyone with an interest
in the historical origins of civilization as we know it today that this hardcover edition of "Land Between the Rivers: A
5,000-Year History of Iraq" from Grove Press is also readily available in paperback (9780802165411, $22.00) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note: Bartle Bull (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartle_Bull) has written from the Middle East for the New York
Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Foreign Policy, Die Welt, and other
publications. He is the only western journalist to have been embedded with the Mahdi Army in Iraq. He sits on the Visiting
Committee of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
The Military History Shelf
On Board the USS Boise in World War II
Ian S. Bertram
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476698076, $39.95, PB, 235pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Board-USS-Boise-World-War/dp/1476698074
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-board-the-uss-boise-in-world-war-ii-ian-s-bertram/1147474767
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/on-board-the-uss-boise-in-world-war-ii
Synopsis: "On Board the USS Boise in World War II: The Battles and Secret Missions of Light Cruiser CL-47" by Ian S.
Bertram is the true and amazing story of the USS Boise (CL-47) is one of fear, loss, endurance, fame, triumph, and pain.
This light cruiser endured a remarkable career through the entirety of World War II, with a redemption arc that took its crew
from the position of scapegoats to heroes, and ultimately to the vanguard of America's liberation forces.
One man, Donald "DB" Fitch, witnessed the entire conflict from his battle-station on the bridge. The ship conducted secret
missions and fought at Guadalcanal, Sicily, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Through Fitch's eyes, "On Board the USS
Boise in World War II" relives the terrors and thrills of naval combat along with the pranks, shenanigans, and the rumors
that were the lifeblood of a ship through four years of war. Fitch and his friends fought for each other and their country, and
in the end, they left their mark on history.
Critique: Part memoir, part history, this large format (7 x 0.47 x 10 inches, 14.7 ounces) trade paperback edition of "On
Board the USS Boise in World War II: The Battles and Secret Missions of Light Cruiser CL-47" by Ian S. Bertram is an
extraordinarily informative and high value contribution to the growing library of World War II Naval Military histories and
biographies. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "On Board the USS Boise in World War II" is informative
enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a Prologue, an Epilogue, several B/W historical photographs,
twenty-two pages of Notes, a four page Bibliography, and a five page Index. While this paperback edition of "On Board the
USS Boise in World War II" from McFarland & Company is a highly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, and college/university library World War II Military History/Biography collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of students, academia, dedicated military history buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that it is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: Ian S. Bertram is an Air Force pilot with an MA in military history from Norwich University, an MA in
international security from the Korbel School. He has written for The Strategy Bridge and Small Wars Journal.
Taking Command
Thomas D. Phillips
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811777278, $34.95, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Command-Americas-Innovators-Difference/dp/0811777278
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taking-command-thomas-d-phillips/1145809466
Synopsis: From the general who made the impossible Berlin Airlift succeed to the mastermind behind the raid that killed
Osama bin Laden, with the publication of "Taking Command: America's Unsung Military Leaders, Innovators, and
Difference Makers Since World War II", retired Air Force veteran Thomas Phillips unveils the remarkable stories of
twenty-four unsung military leaders who transformed America's fighting forces. These commanders didn't just execute
orders -- they revolutionized warfare through innovation, unconventional thinking, and sheer determination.
Through portraits of these exceptional but relatively unknown American military leaders, readers will discover:
How "Tonnage Tunner" moved 1.8 million tons of supplies during the Berlin Airlift
The Marine general whose controversial Vietnam tactics cost him his career but proved prescient
How Admiral McRaven's leadership principles extend far beyond his famous "make your bed" speech
The untold story behind the "Be All You Can Be" commander who later led the Panama invasion
Phillips provides a truly compelling narrative that admirably serves both as a vital missing chapter in American military
history and a masterclass in leadership under pressure. For anyone fascinated by military strategy or seeking to understand
the qualities of exceptional leadership, "Taking Command: America's Unsung Military Leaders, Innovators, and Difference
Makers Since World War II" offers unprecedented access to the minds of America's most innovative military
commanders.
Critique: Profusely illustrated with photos and maps, "Taking Command: America's Unsung Military Leaders, Innovators,
and Difference Makers Since World War II" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of six page
Introduction (Setting the Stage), a nine page listing of References, and a twelve page Bibliography. Deftly organized into
seven succinct chapters devoted to the major post-World War II conflicts involving the U.S. military (The Cold War, Korea,
Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, The Gulf War, Afghanistan/Iraq/Global War on Terrorism), this hardcover edition of Thomas
D. Phillips' "Taking Command" from Stackpole Books is an original, unique, deftly crafted, impressively informative, and
unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library U.S. Military
History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: During a thirty-six-year military career, Tom Phillips led an isolated unit through a terrorist episode, ran a
think tank for the Commander- in-Chief, Strategic Air Command, served as Director of the Air Force Military Personnel
Readiness Center during Operation Desert Storm, and led troops into Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. After his military
service, he worked as a university administrator before beginning a writing career that includes several books on military
history and one on the sport of baseball. He writes short stories and poetry when the time is right.
Guderian's Panzers
Craig W. H. Luther, PhD
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811777476, $39.95, HC, 432pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Guderians-Panzers-Triumph-Defeat-Eastern/dp/0811777472
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guderians-panzers-craig-wh-luther-phd/1146852764
Stackpole Books
https://www.globepequot.com/9780811777483/guderians-panzers
Synopsis: On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union that
opened the Eastern Front in World War II. With lightning speed and devastating success, the German army tore through
Soviet territory and rolled over the Red Army, scoring some of the most dramatic victories in military history -- until the
blitzkrieg bogged down during the approach on Moscow.
At the spearhead of the attack was General Heinz Guderian, one of the most celebrated and controversial commanders of the
war, who commanded a tank group in the center of the German front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
"Guderian's Panzers: From Triumph to Defeat on the Eastern Front (1941)" by military historian Craig W. H. Luther
reconstructs Barbarossa from the perspective of Generaloberst Guderian and his 2nd Panzer Group.
With the German war machine at the height of its martial prowess in June 1941, Guderian's group of 250,000 men and 900
tanks rapidly broke through the Soviet frontier defenses and thrust some 600 kilometers into Soviet Russia in a matter of
weeks -- in doing so playing an integral part in the successful encirclement (cauldron) battles of Belostok-Minsk (June/July
1941) and Smolensk (July/August 1941); each of these battles resulting in the loss of several Soviet armies and hundreds of
thousands of prisoners.
Despite having sustained alarming losses of personal and equipment in these opening battles, Guderian pushed his men, and
himself, to even greater achievements, culminating in the triumphant cauldron Battle of Kiev in the Ukraine (September
1941) that obliterated the Soviet Southwestern Front and resulted in the capture of over 600,000 Red Army POWs. It was,
perhaps, Germany's greatest victory in WWII, and Guderian had made it happen.
In October/November 1941, the German Ostheer (Eastern Army) launched a desperate attempt to seize Moscow; and, once
again, Heinz Guderian and his tank troops were at the forward edge of battle. Yet, by the end of November, the entire
German offensive (exhausted, stretched thin, dangerously reduced in strength, and suddenly largely paralyzed by the fall
rain and snow) had ground to a halt.
Meanwhile, in early December, the resurgent Red Army launched a major counteroffensive that, in the weeks ahead, not
only threatened Guderian's forces with annihilation, but those German Army Group Center writ large. Guderian, and the
Ostheer as a whole, were now trapped in a remorseless war of attrition they could never win. Refusing his superiors' orders
to stand fast in the face to the advancing Soviet juggernaut, Guderian continued to jerk back in retreat with the remnants of
his forces and, thus, was relieved of his command on 26 December 1941.
With the publication of "Guderian's Panzers: From Triumph to Defeat on the Eastern Front (1941)", military historian and
Eastern Front expert, Craig Luther, draws on new material drawn from letters and diaries to tell the story of Guderian's
armored force during Operation Barbarossa and fleshes out the story with vivid firsthand accounts from the soldiers who
slugged it out with the Red Army on the Eastern Front. "Guderian's Panzers" effectively traces the ups and downs of
Guderian and his panzer group during six pivotal months of World War II and explains why and how the Germans,
especially its panzers, achieved such impressive successes, only to be defeated on Moscow's doorstep.
Critique: A meticulous and impressively detailed history of Germany's armored forces in their attack on the Soviet Union,
"Guderian's Panzers: From Triumph to Defeat on the Eastern Front (1941)" features an informative Introduction, Foreword,
Epilogue, and Postscript. It's nine major chapters are deftly organized into three main sections (From the Frontier to
Smolensk; Into the Ukraine: The Kiev Cauldron Battle; Operation Typhon: From Triumph to Tragedy), Informatively
enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of both B/W and Color Maps, a five page listing of Abbreviations,
forty-six pages of Notes, a ten page Selected Bibliography, and a ten page Index, "Guderian's Panzers: From Triumph to
Defeat on the Eastern Front (1941)" is an extraordinary, deftly crafted, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library World War II History/Biography collections. It should be noted for
students, academia, and military history buffs that this hardcover edition of "Guderian's Panzers: From Triumph to Defeat
on the Eastern Front (1941)" from Stackpole Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.99).
Editorial Note: Craig W. H. Luther (https://barbarossa1941.com/about-me) is a former Fulbright Scholar and a retired U.S.
Air Force historian. He is author of Barbarossa Unleashed: The German Blitzkrieg through Central Russia to the Gates of
Moscow (Schiffer, 2014), The First Day on the Eastern Front: German Invades the Soviet Union, June 22, 1941 (Stackpole,
2018), and, with acclaimed historian David Stahel, Soldiers of Barbarossa: Combat, Genocide, and Everyday Experiences
on the Eastern Front, June - December 1941 (Stackpole, 2020). He lives in California.
The Civil War Shelf
Every Day of the Civil War: A Chronological Encyclopedia
Bud Hannings
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476658452, $95.00, PB, 637pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Every-Day-Civil-War-Chronological/dp/1476658455
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/every-day-of-the-civil-war-2
Synopsis: From the early seizure of government property during the latter part of 1860 to the final Confederate surrender in
1865, "Every Day of the Civil War: A Chronological Encyclopedia" by Bud Hannings provides a day-to-day account of the
U.S. Civil War.
Although "Every Day of the Civil War: A Chronological Encyclopedia" provides a daily chronicle of the combat, it is
written in narrative form to give readers some continuity as they move from skirmish to skirmish.
During the course of the saga, "Every Day of the Civil War: A Chronological Encyclopedia" also chronicles the life spans of
more than 600 Union and Confederate vessels, documenting when possible the time of each vessel's acquisition,
commissioning, major engagements, and decommissioning.
Of special note is the inclusion of seven appendices provide lists of prominent Union and Confederate officers, primary
naval actions, and Medal of Honor recipients from 1863 to 1865.
Critique: With B/W illustrations throughout, this large format (8.5 x 1.28 x 11 inches, 3.21 pounds) trade paperback edition
of Bud Hannings' "Every Day of the Civil War: A Chronological Encyclopedia" from McFarland & Company is
impressively and comprehensively informative, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, and an
unreservedly recommended, core addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American
Civil War History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Bud Hannings (June 5, 1942 - August 18, 2025) oversaw Seniram Publishing Incorporated, a company
specializing in U.S. military history, and wrote several major reference books for McFarland.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/167578.Bud_Hannings)
Civil War Cavalry
Earl J. Hess
Louisiana State University Press
https://lsupress.org
9780807184448, $49.99, HC, 448pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Cavalry-Mounted-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0807184446
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/civil-war-cavalry-earl-j-hess/1147269229
Synopsis: The American Civil War produced the largest cavalry force ever raised in the nation's history. With the
publication of "Civil War Cavalry: Waging Mounted Warfare in Nineteenth-Century America", Civil War historian Earl J.
Hess examines that force comprehensively and from new perspectives, challenging standard views of the war's mounted
arm.
Professor Hess surveys the organization, training, administration, arming, and mounting of cavalry units and examines
mounted troops' tactical formations and maneuvers. He addresses the nature of cavalry operations, discussing the mounted
charge, dismounted fighting, long-distance raids, the varied types of weapons used by troopers, and the difficulty of
supplying horses.
Professor Hess also brings concepts from the burgeoning field of animal history to argue that cavalry mounts exercised a
degree of agency in shaping their role in the large military machine. Civil War Cavalry is a sweeping and innovative history,
establishing a new criterion for understanding how Americans waged mounted warfare in the mid-nineteenth century.
Critique: Informative enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an eight page Introduction, thirty-two pages of
Notes, a twenty-eight page Bibliography, and a twelve page Index, "Civil War Cavalry: Waging Mounted Warfare in
Nineteenth-Century America" is a meticulously researched and seminal study of a critical and unique aspect of the
American Civil War -- the horse calvary including their weaponry, tactics, and military applications. Exceptionally well
written and a seminal contribution to the growing library of American Civil War Histories/Biographies, "Civil War Cavalry:
Waging Mounted Warfare in Nineteenth-Century America" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended acquisition
selection for community and college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, Civil War buffs, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Civil War Cavalry: Waging Mounted Warfare
in
Nineteenth-Century America" from the LSU Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.95).
Editorial Note: Earl J. Hess (https://kansaspress.ku.edu/author/earl-j-hess) is professor emeritus of history at Lincoln
Memorial University and the author or editor of twenty-nine books on the American Civil War, including Civil War Infantry
Tactics: Training, Combat, and Small-Unit Effectiveness.
The Archaeology Shelf
Architectural Networks in the North Aegean
William Aylward, Jacques des Courtils, & Bonna D. Wescoat, editors
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299350109, $119.95, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Networks-North-Aegean-Hellenistic/dp/029935010X
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/A/Architectural-Networks-in-the-North-Aegean
Synopsis: During the Hellenistic period, the North Aegean Sea was a dynamic and diverse area, linked by robust trading
networks and sometimes precarious political allegiances. The islands of Thasos, Samothrace, and Lesbos in particular
played crucial roles in their position between Anatolia, Macedonia, Thrace, and Greece. Migration, trade, and politics (not
to mention the specifics of sites and climate) shaped the development of architecture. The region pioneered many
innovations that subsequently spread across the Mediterranean.
Employing the idea of networks to effectively describe the interconnectedness of design, materials, technology, religion, and
politics, the contributors to "Architectural Networks in the North Aegean: Thasos, Samothrace, and the Formation of
Hellenistic Design" establish the need to understand this important region holistically and on its own terms.
Taking a close look at major buildings and monuments (while considering technique, design, and decoration as elements of
a vigorous web) "Architectural Networks in the North Aegean: Thasos, Samothrace, and the Formation of Hellenistic
Design" offers important insights about the area's significance in the history of Hellenistic architecture, including lasting
innovations in architectural illusion, Ionic entablature, and groundbreaking uses of marble and plaster.
"Architectural Networks in the North Aegean: Thasos, Samothrace, and the Formation of Hellenistic Design" documents
that it was from the North Aegean that it was such principles and tactics as were transmitted to the rest of the Hellenistic
world, that influenced Roman architecture and, from there, Western architectural history.
Critique: Original, exceptional, informative, and a seminal work of meticulous scholarship that has been knowledgeably
compiled and collaboratively edited by the academic team of William Aylward, Jacques des Conrtils, and Bonna D.
Wescoat, this large format (8 x 0.9 x 10 inches, 2.3 pounds) hardcover edition of "Architectural Networks in the North
Aegean: Thasos, Samothrace, and the Formation of Hellenistic Design" is informative enhanced for the reader's benefit with
the inclusion of numerous B/W illustrations, an Introduction (Framing the Inquiry), fourteen articles deftly organized into
three major sections (Sanctuaries & Monuments, Technique & Design, Ornament), a thirty-four page listing of References,
and a twelve page Index. A masterpiece of collective scholarship, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this
edition of "Architectural Networks in the North Aegean: Thasos, Samothrace, and the Formation of Hellenistic Design"
from the University of Wisconsin Press is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, and college/university library Archaeological Studies collections in general, and supplemental Hellenic
Archaeology/Culture/History curriculum studies lists in particular.
Editorial Note #1: William Aylward, (a professor of classics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, is the editor of
Excavations at Zeugma: Conducted by Oxford Archaeology. (https://canes.wisc.edu/staff/william-aylward)
Editorial Note #2: Jacques des Courtils is a professor of art history and archaeology at the Universite de Bordeaux -
Montaigne. He is the author of Guide de Xanthos et du Letoon. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonna_Daix_Wescoat)
Editorial Note #3: Bonna D. Wescoat is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Art History at Emory University and the
director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. She is the author of The Temple of Athena at Assos and
Samothrace, vol. IX, The Monuments of the Eastern Hill. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonna_Daix_Wescoat)
The Cookbook Shelf
The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook
Heidi Herman, author
Rhonda Thornton, contributor
Hekla Publishing LLC
https://contacthekla-publishing-1603-capitol-avenue-ste-310-a431cheyen.square.site
9781947233119, $49.99, HC, 180pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Vegetables-Cookbook-Recipes-Veggie-Averse/dp/1947233114
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hidden-vegetables-cookbook-heidi-herman/1148068360
Synopsis: If you've ever wished you could eat healthier without choking down another forkful of kale or pretending to like
Brussels sprouts, then, as a compendium of 90 palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, health promoting recipes for kids and
adults who think they dislike veggies, "The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook" is a timely source of 'meals that appeal'
especially for them.
"The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook" is is not your typical health or vegetarian oriented cookbook. It doesn't try to convince you to fall
in love with spinach or develop a taste for zucchini. Instead, it gives you a creative, practical way to get the benefits of
vegetables without tasting them at all.
These recipes are smart, satisfying, and designed for real adults who know they should eat their veggies... but just don't like
them. Within the pages of this illustrated cookbook, author Heidi Herman brings step-by-step recipes together showcasing 90
flavorful dishes that cleverly incorporate fresh vegetables in ways that blend, mask, and even overpower their taste so you
get the nutrients without the struggle.
From hearty dinners to indulgent treats, here are to be found vegetable-packed recipes that actually taste amazing. And no,
they don't look green or "healthy" in that bland, boring way. They just taste like good food.
"The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook" will help the family chef in terms of:
Eating More Vegetables Without Changing Your Taste Buds - These recipes work with your existing preferences, using
vegetables in a hidden way that won't mess with the flavors you love.
Enjoying 90+ Delicious, Comforting Recipes - Think Beef Bourguignon with hidden spinach, Chicken Enchiladas with
pureed carrots and onion, or chocolate cake where the zucchini disappears entirely.
Feeling Validated Instead of Guilty - Lots of adults don't like veggies, so here offered is a real solution, not a lecture.
Boosting Your Nutrition Effortlessly - Get your daily dose of fiber, vitamins, and minerals without even realizing it.
Needing no Special Skills or Tools - Recipes are simple, accessible, and use common ingredients. Perfect for busy cooks or
beginners.
Rethinking What Healthy Food Can Look (and Taste) Like - No bland salads. No raw veggie platters. Just real meals that
feel indulgent and nourishing at the same time.
Whether you are trying to eat cleaner, sneak more nutrition into your meals, or finally stop feeling bad about your veggie
aversion, "The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook" will make veggie meals easy -- and actually enjoyable. You will no longer
have to avoid recipes just because they call for squash or feel left out of the healthy-eating conversation. These recipes are
designed to fit into your lifestyle, not the other way around. And the best part? You'll enjoy every bite without
second-guessing what's hidden inside. With practical, no-fuss instructions and real ingredients, you can finally eat better
without sacrificing flavor or forcing down foods you dislike.
Critique: Whether vegetarian, vegan, or a carnivore who enjoys a delicious and nutritious meal but isn't much interest in
veggie dishes, "The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook" offers 90 nutritious, delicious, and fun-to-make dishes that range from
Shepherd's Pie Potato Skins; Butternut Squash Cornbread; Nutty Egg Waffles, and Beef Bourguignon; to Skillet Ziti with
Sausage & Kale; Cowboy Beans; Sweet Potato Fries; and Kale Coconut Cream Pie. Beautifully illustrated in full color
throughout, "The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook" is original and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and
presentation. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook
collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook" from Hekla Publishing is
also readily available in paperback (9781947233133, $24.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note #1: Heidi Herman (https://heidihermanauthor.com) co-authored an Icelandic cookbook, "Homestyle Icelandic
Cooking for American Kitchens" with her mother, Ieda Jonasdottir Herman, which won a US category in The Gourmand
World Cookbook Awards that year. Heidi then published her debut novel, "Her Viking Heart", in 2018, and it was named
the 2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner - Romance Category. Her motivational work, "On with The
Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life" was inspired when Heidi worked to complete her mother's final work,
"Never Too Late." Ieda Jonasdottir Herman (1925-2019) was 94 years old and had completed a year of new experiences to
prove a person is never too old to enjoy life. She has authored seven books in five genres. Today, she continues to write
between time spent traveling, sharing Icelandic culture plus a number of hobbies and interests.
Taste of Home How To Cook (Just About) Anything
Taste of Home
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889771562, $26.99, Spiral Bound, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-About-Anything-Step-Step/dp/B0DV4NMFTK
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taste-of-home-how-to-cook-taste-of-home/1148140407
Synopsis: Each of the more than 200 recipes comprising "Taste of Home How To Cook (Just About) Anything" comes with
a vibrant, full-color photo, helping you see exactly what your finished dish will look like. The clear, step-by-step
instructions ensure success, even if you're new to the kitchen. You will also find helpful how-to photos and plenty of
time-saving tips to elevate your cooking game with ease.
What sets this cookbook apart is the presence of special icons that highlight recipes which fit busy lifestyles, such as dishes
prepared in 30 minutes or with just 5 ingredients! Plus, slow-cooker and Dutch oven recipes round out the collection,
offering versatile meal-in-one options.
Together, the individual chapters comprising "Taste of Home How To Cook (Just About) Anything" cover everything you
need to create delicious meals at home, including breakfast, snacks, soups & stews, breads, favorite sides, meats, poultry,
seafood, vegetarian mains, and desserts. From cooking juicy roasts to baking perfect pies, this DIY culinary guide will
quickly become your go-to resource for every meal.
No matter your skill level, :How to Cook (Just About)Anything" will produce joyful cooking experiences, delicious results,
and a lifelong kitchen confidence. Perfect for seasoned cooks and beginners alike, this is one cookbook that is an essential
addition to every kitchen collection.
Critique: Exceptional, extraordinary, special, user friendly in style, organization, and presentation, "Taste of Home How To
Cook (Just About) Anything" is a spiral bound, hardcover compendium of delicious and nutritious recipes for any and all
dining occasions and can transform any meal menu into something truly memorable as a culinary experience. While also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), this 'user friendly', (9.38 x 1.4 x 9.63 inches, 1.91 pounds), 'lay flat on
the table' edition of "Taste of Home How To Cook (Just About) Anything" is a welcome and recommended pick for
personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.
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 7 million fans on Facebook, 2.1 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.
Taste of Home Soups & Breads
Taste of Home
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889771586, $22.99, PB, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Soups-Breads-Comforting/dp/B0DVCJ7HNY
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taste-of-home-soups-breads-taste-of-home/1148140406
Synopsis: With the publication of "Taste of Home Soups & Breads: 200+ Comforting Recipes for Soups, Stews, Chowders,
and Homemade Breads", even the most novice of family cooks will discover how to deftly craft soul-soothing soups and
golden, aromatic breads.
This comprehensive DIY culinary guide will ensure always having the perfect combo for any dining occasion, whether it's a
cozy quick dinner or a special holiday spread.
Featured in its fully illustrated pages are to be found:
200+ Recipes to Savor: Enjoy a variety of comforting soups, stews, chowders, and bakery-quality breads.
Soup & Bread Basics: Learn to make broths, sourdough starters, and master bread kneading with ease.
Perfect for Busy Days: Features slow-cooker soups and quick breads for an effortless meal planning on hectic nights.
Tested by Experts: Recipes are approved by the Taste of Home Test Kitchen for guaranteed success.
Nutrition Facts Included: Nutritional details accompany every recipe to assist with healthy meal planning.
Then there are the simply sensational recipes for a variety of soups. Family cooks will learn the importance of starting with
the essentials -- learning to create homemade broths, storing soups safely, and using pantry staples to whip up a hearty meal
anytime.
From timeless classics like Grandma's Tomato Soup and Yummy Chicken & Dumpling Soup to modern delights like
Cheeseburger Soup and Italian Sausage Pizza Soup, there's something to please every palate. Busy week? Try slow-cooked
soups or five-ingredient recipes that freeze beautifully, making your life easier while ensuring every bowl is delicious.
Then there are the recipes of an impressive variety of breads because no soup is complete without a bread to match, and this
cookbook delivers on both counts.
With sections on yeast breads, quick breads, and savory specialties, there are step-by-step instructions for creating buttery
rolls, flaky biscuits, and rustic loaves -- including Crusty Cheddar Cheese Bread, Butternut Squash Braid, and Classic
Pumpkin Bread. Even beginners can succeed with tips on proofing dough, and discover the ins and outs of yeast doughs
before baking up a buttery delight.
"Taste of Home Soups & Breads: 200+ Comforting Recipes for Soups, Stews, Chowders, and Homemade Breads" is more
than just collection of 'how-to' recipes -- it is an ideal go-to resource for making any mealtime menu memorable. Complete
with nutrition facts, icons for slow-cooker and Dutch-oven recipes, and easy-to-follow instructions, it's designed for every
home cook -- whether you're a seasoned and experienced homemaker or just are just starting out in learning how to cook
and bake for your family.
The promise offered is that with "Taste of Home Soups & Breads: 200+ Comforting Recipes for Soups, Stews, Chowders,
and Homemade Breads", anyone can transform their kitchen into a culinary haven of comfort and warmth -- one recipe at a
time!
Critique: This large format (8.06 x 0.7 x 8.94 inches, 14.3 ounces) trade paperback edition of "Taste of Home Soups &
Breads: 200+ Comforting Recipes for Soups, Stews, Chowders, and Homemade Breads" from Taste of Home is exceptional
'user friendly' in organization and presentation, profusely illustrated in full color throughout, and a definitive pleasure to
simply browse through one palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, health providing recipe at a time. While also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "Taste of Home Soups & Breads: 200+ Comforting Recipes for Soups, Stews,
Chowders, and Homemade Breads" is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and
community library cookbook collections.
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 7 million fans on Facebook, 2.1 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.
Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round
Paul Hollywood
Bloomsbury Publishing
www.bloomsbury.com
9781639735037, $40.00, HC, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Celebrate-Joyful-Baking-Year-Round/dp/1639735038
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celebrate-paul-hollywood/1146429526
Synopsis: With the publication of "Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round", world renowned baker Paul Hollywood is
back with an impressive collection of his ultimate recipes for the perfect celebration bakes year-round.
Whether a holiday feast or a big summer picnic, Hollywood has the perfect recipe for every crowd. From wintertime Yule
Logs and Panetone Cake, autumnal Pumpkin Pie and Apple Doughnuts, or Key Lime Pie and a Marble Cherry Vanilla Tray
Bake for warm months, each recipe is meant to be shared and devoured among friends and family on the most special days
of the year.
You will also find your new go-to party food recipes like focaccia for a crowd, cheese straws, and the ultimate mini sausage
rolls-and show-stopping cakes from Japanese cheesecake to black forest gateau.
"Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round" is Paul Hollywood at his best. Every recipe showcased in its illustrated pages is
both classic and fresh, making for bakes that will be fun, festive, and perfect every time.
Critique: Profusely illustrated in full color throughout, this large format (7.7 x 0.85 x 9.95 inches, 2.29 pounds) hardcover
edition of "Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round" by Paul Hollywood is an extraordinary collection of palate pleasing,
appetite satisfying, health inducing, step-by-step DIY recipes that even the most novice of family kitchen bakers can
accomplish. From Japanese Cheescake; to Asparagus, Feta and Phyllo Tart; to Fraisier Cake, to Blueberry Lattice Pie, to
Christmas Pudding, and so many, many more, "Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round" will prove to be an immediate
and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Paul Hollywood (www.paulhollywood.com), himself the son of a baker, has shot to fame with his role as a
judge on The Great British Bake Off. He worked as Head Baker at exclusive hotels including Cliveden and the Dorchester
and he went on to launch The Paul Hollywood Artisan Bread Company, which now supplies Waitrose among others.
Delicious Japanese Street Eats
Laure Kie, author
Takashi Fujii, illustrator
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319932, $24.99, HC, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Delicious-Japanese-Street-Eats-Okonomiyaki/dp/4805319933
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/delicious-japanese-street-eats-laure-kie/1147462797
Synopsis: Vibrant Yatai street stalls in Japan serve up all kinds of delicious dishes ranging from steaming bowls of ramen
with all your favorite fixings, to crispy gyoza dumplings and perfectly seasoned onigiri rice balls. "Delicious Japanese Street
Eats" brings the flavor and fun of those lively streets right into your kitchen.
Comprised of 60 soulful street food recipes (Yakitori, Ramen Okonomiyaki, Yakisoba, Gyoza, Onigiri, Karaage, Katsu
Sando and many more!), "Delicious Japanese Street Eats" is a new cookbook by Laure Kie (Europe's leading Japanese
cookbook author), and takes you on a colorful culinary journey through the back lanes of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto where
the best street food can be found -- all while showing you how to recreate these easy, crowd-pleasing dishes at home,
including:
Yakitori: Soy-glazed chicken skewers grilled to juicy perfection - momo (thigh meat) and tebasaki (wings) are the most
popular!
Katsu Sando: Thin pork cutlets breaded and fried until crispy on the outside and tender inside, then tucked into a sandwich
with mayo and lettuce!
Okonomiyaki: This savory, stuffed pancake is loaded with cabbage, meat, and egg, then drizzled with a sweet, soy-based
sauce and plenty of toppings!
Karaage: These mouthwatering Japanese-style chicken nuggets are marinated in mirin, garlic, and soy, then coated in potato
starch for an irresistible crunch!
Onigiri: The "new sushi" and a simple kawaii treat - these versatile rice balls can be filled with anything from seafood and
seaweed to herbs and seasonal veggies!
All the recipes comprising "Delicious Japanese Street Eats" use easy-to-find ingredients and simple, step-by-step
instructions you can follow at home. Each dish is beautifully photographed in full color to inspire your cooking!
Critique: Original, unique, authentic, profusely illustrated throughout, fun to browse through and 'kitchen cook friendly' to
create memorable meals with, "Delicious Japanese Street Eats" by cookbook author Laure Kie and illustrator Takashi Fujii
is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Japanese cookbook
collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Delicious Japanese Street Eats" from Tuttle Publishing is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.74).
Editorial Note #1: Laure Kie was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a French father. Her many trips to Japan have
taught her to appreciate the great richness of Japan's cooking culture, which she imparts in her cookbooks and cooking
classes. An English-language edition of her book Japanese Cuisine: An Illustrated Guide was published in 2021.
Editorial Note #2: Takashi Fujii is an Okayama-based illustrator who founded the food blog OKAYAMAGOGO in 2007,
which highlights the delicious specialties of his home region. He illustrates travel guides and works with editors and
publishers around the world.
Word of Mouth: Asian American Artists Sharing Recipes
Laura Kina, editor
Jave Yoshimoto, editor
The University of Arkansas Press
https://www.uapress.com
9781682262672, $44.95, PB, 146pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Word-Mouth-American-Artists-Sharing/dp/1682262677
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/word-of-mouth-laura-kina/1146509312
University of Arkansas Press
https://www.uapress.com/product/word-of-mouth
Synopsis: Conceived during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and the accompanying rise in anti-Asian bigotry, "Word of
Mouth: Asian American Artists Sharing Recipes" is an artists' themed cookbook featuring stories and artwork from
twenty-three Asian American and Asian diaspora artists from across the United States, with contributions that range from
Los Angeles - based performance artist Kristina Wong's "Recipe for Political Action" to New Orleans - based painter
Francis Wong's family recipe for stir-fried Szechuan alligator.
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Laura Kina and Jave Yoshimoto, "Word of Mouth" was originally
published as an online exhibition through the Virtual Asian American Art Museum. This paperback print version features a
new introduction by art historian Michelle Yee, expanded essays, and brand-new recipes.
Each contribution is accompanied by an original illustration and enriched by the artist's reflections on how their cuisine has
been impacted by histories of war, migration, relocation, labor, or mixing.
A pandemic project turned illustrated cookbook, "Word of Mouth" is a unique collection that disrupts genre expectations to
celebrate how artists use food to nurture and sustain their diverse communities and artistic practices as well as to build
connection during times of isolation, grief, and loss.
Critique: Original, select, authentic, and an inspiring collection of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, illustrated, 'kitchen
cook friendly' recipes, "Word of Mouth: Asian American Artists Sharing Recipes" is a unique compendium of 'kitchen cook
friendly' dishes that would grace any mealtime menu, and is an unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, and community library Asian themed cookbook collections. It should be noted that this large format (8 x 0.35
x 10 inches, 1.2 pounds) paperback edition of "Word of Mouth" from the University of Arkansas Press is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.67).
Editorial Note #1: Laura Kina (https://laurakina.com) is a queer, disabled, mixed-race Okinawan American artist and
educator whose work focuses on Asian American art and identity. Kina is a Vincent de Paul Professor at the Art School at
DePaul University in Chicago and is the co-editor of War Baby / Love Child: Mixed Race Asian American Art and
Queering Contemporary Asian American Art and the illustrator of Lee A. Tonouchi's award-winning children's book
Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos.
Editorial Note #2: Jave Yoshimoto (https://www.javeyoshimoto.com) is a recipient of the 2015 Joan Mitchell Foundation
Grant and a recognition award from the Friends of the United Nations in New York and associate professor of art at the
University of Nebraska at Omaha where he teaches painting compositions and professional practices. He is a visual artist,
competitive axe thrower and cat lover. His works represent the visual history of humanitarian struggles.
Disney Frozen: The Official Cookbook
Daytona Danielsen, author
S. T. Bende, author
Insight Editions
www.insighteditions.com
9798886635430, $27.99, HC, 144pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Frozen-Official-Cookbook-Arendelle/dp/B0CTYHP9HW
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disney-frozen-daytona-danielsen/1145069216
Synopsis: With the publication of "Disney Frozen: The Official Cookbook: A Culinary Journey through Arendelle", and for
the first time in forever, fans of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf will get to experience sights, smells, and tastes of Arendelle.
This all-new cookbook from co-authors Daytona Danielsen and S. T. Bende features Scandinavian recipes celebrating some
of the people and cultures that inspired Disney's Frozen and Frozen 2.
"The Tastes of Arendelle: The Official Frozen Cookbook" features step-by-step DIY instructions and full-color photographs
so chefs of any age or skill level can learn to prepare traditional Scandinavian treats. Showcasing more than fifty-five
recipes with historical tie-ins to each recipe's significance in the films and culture, this comprehensive cookbook brings the
tastes of Arendelle into your very own home.
"Disney Frozen: The Official Cookbook" includes recipes for Scandinavian dishes and delicacies such as kransekake,
inspired by the Disney animated feature film Frozen and Frozen 2. Plus more than 55 additional recipes for appetizers,
entrees, drinks, and desserts will bring Arendelle into your kitchen and dining room.
Critique: Of special note are the wealth of beautiful, full-color photos of finished dishes help ensure success for even the
most novice of kitchen cooks. Exceptional, authentic, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Disney Frozen: The Official
Cookbook" is especially recommended for kids, adults, families, and community/public library cookbook collections. While
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99), it should be noted that "Disney Frozen: The Official Cookbook" is a
part of the Disney themed cookbook collection that includes: Disney: Cooking with Magic, Lilo & Stitch: The Official
Cookbook, Encanto: The Official Cookbook, and Coco: The Official Cookbook.
Editorial Note #1: Daytona Danielsen (www.daytonadanielsen.com) is a novelist and cookbook author whose fiction and
food writing evokes the forests, fjords, and folklore of her Norwegian heritage. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Pacific
University.
Editorial Note #2: S.T. Bende (https://www.stbende.com) is a young-adult and children's author, known for the Norse
mythology series Viking Academy and the AEre Saga. She's also written books for Disney, Lucasfilm, Pixar, The Jim Henson
Company, and Marvel. She lives on the West Coast, where she spends far too much time at Disneyland, and she dreams of
skiing on Jotunheim and Hoth.
Chef Celeste's Louisiana Kitchen
Celeste Gill
Louisiana State University Press
https://lsupress.org
9780807184974, $34.95, HC, 136pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Chef-Celestes-Louisiana-Kitchen-Simplifying/dp/0807184977
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chef-celestes-louisiana-kitchen-celeste-gill/1147269275
Synopsis: Chef Celeste Gill began to learn traditional southern cooking from her mother and grandmother at the age of four.
Raised in Detroit and trained as a chef in Hawaii, she ultimately chose to make her home in South Louisiana, where she has
worked to promote farm-to-table cooking and eating, and to help fledgling chefs build their confidence to make even the
most intimidating traditional Louisiana dishes.
At the center of Chef Celeste's practice is support and mentorship for new cooks as they learn to feel comfortable in the
kitchen. With the publication of "Chef Celeste's Louisiana Kitchen: Simplifying Cajun and Creole Cuisine" she continues
this work with recipes that are easy to follow, breaking down challenging preparation procedures into manageable directions
and simple-to-understand steps.
The recipes comprising "Chef Celeste's Louisiana Kitchen: Simplifying Cajun and Creole Cuisine" celebrate the bounty of
Louisiana's native plants and animals, highlighting the use of fresh ingredients, but with adjustments possible for chefs
outside of the state or without easy access to fresh produce and meats.
Food is more than sustenance: it can be a refuge for some, therapy for others, and community for all. The simple act of
preparing and sharing a meal can forge connections, and "Chef Celeste's Louisiana Kitchen: Simplifying Cajun and Creole
Cuisine" well serves as an ideal culinary bridge to the rich world of Louisiana cuisine.
Critique: Original, authentic, profusely illustrated, exceptional, celebratory, and a guaranteed welcome to personal,
professional, and community library Ethnic & Regional Cookbook collections, "Chef Celeste's Louisiana Kitchen:
Simplifying Cajun and Creole Cuisine" is impressively 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation. Making
historically genuine Cajun/Creole dishes readily available to even the most novice of kitchen cooks, it should be noted that
this hardcover edition from the LSU Press covers soups, salads, chicken dishes, seafood palate pleasers, beef recipes,
vegetable & side dishes, and memorably delicious desserts.
Editorial Note: Celeste Gill (https://chefceleste.com) is a chef, caterer, TV personality, and the owner of the event venue
520 Spain. As a decades-long mainstay in the Baton Rouge food scene, she has offered food demonstrations at the Red Stick
Farmers' Market since its inception. She has been named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Association and
received the Seafood Award at the Baton Rouge Capital Chefs' Showcase.
Thai Cuisine
Caroline Trieu, author
Kanchanok Inprung, illustrator
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105848, $19.95, PB, 128pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Thai-Cuisine-Recipes-Anecdotes-Gastronomic/dp/0228105846
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thai-cuisine-caroline-trieu/1147114591
Synopsis: Thai food has been popular in the west since its introduction in the 1970s. But it goes far beyond Pad Thai -- a
traditional noodle dish that is a favorite in restaurants and is also the national dish of Thailand. "Thai Cuisine: Recipes and
Anecdotes from Thai Gastronomic Culture" by Caroline Trieu is a key to open the mysteries of flavor-rich Thai
cuisine.
"Thai Cuisine: Recipes and Anecdotes from Thai Gastronomic Culture" is fully illustrated by Kanchanok Inprung and is an
ideal introduction and guide about Thai food culture beyond the recipes themselves. It informatively addresses:
What is the agriculture of Thailand and how does this influence ingredients?
What are the dominant flavors of spices and aromatic herbs?
Vegetarian or not?
Daily food: rice, noodles, vegetables, spices and condiments
Fermented fish sauces, cooking techniques and utensils
Shopping for the freshest shrimp, coconut and other ingredients
Thai table etiquette.
As well as:
The regional cuisines of Thailand
Most popular dishes
Street food of Thailand
Holiday special meals
Desserts and drinks.
"Thai Cuisine: Recipes and Anecdotes from Thai Gastronomic Culture" is particularly useful for a student of Asian food
cultures, as well as the young cook of Thai descent who wants to make the dishes "Grandma and Grandpa" made.
Critique: Unique, exceptional, authentic, and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "Thai
Cuisine: Recipes and Anecdotes from Thai Gastronomic Culture" is the collaborative effort of Thai cuisine expert Caroline
Trieu and artist/illustrator Kanchanok Inprung is especially and unreservedly recommended -- especially as a prime pick for
personal, professional, and community/public library Asian Cookbook collections in general, and Thai Cuisine specialty
collections in particular.
Editorial Note #1: Caroline Trieu is from Southeast Asia, and Thailand has been her adopted home for more than 15 years.
She learned to cook from the women in her family and is passionate about passing on traditional techniques and the right
balance of flavors at her cooking workshops in Rennes, France. She shares her recipes and cooking secrets through the Taste
of Mekong blog.
Editorial Note #2: Kanchanok Inprung, also known as "Mew," is a Thai illustrator. After a career in interior design in
Bangkok, she settled in Phetchaburi, where she has had her studio for more than 10 years. Phetchaburi is a city steeped in
history and a gastronomic capital that was recognized by UNESCO in 2021. Mew has developed a range of projects
promoting her country's cultural and gastronomic heritage. (https://www.instagram.com/mew_inp)
Spinning Plates
Anna Stanford
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600639541, $26.99 HC, $13.99 Kindle, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spinning-Plates-Dinners-Substitutions-Families-ebook/dp/B0DNQ5441B
Spinning Plates: Easy Dinners with Simple Substitutions for Busy Families comes from a cook who has developed a
technique for producing not multiple meals nightly, but a basic template for dishes that can then be adapted for different
tastes to produce diverse results. Quiches, curries, pastas, and even a steak dinner enlivened by the twist of an Aju Verde
Peruvian-style sauce illustrates how flavors can be fine-tuned for variety and surprising ease of preparation, making
Spinning Plates attractive for busy families and varied palates. The addition of full-page color photos to nearly every recipe
makes for a cookbook that offers a satisfying spin on fast and healthy food preparations that excel in a diversity of
flavors.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Crochet Your Celebrity Crush
Lee Sartori
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
https://www.quarto.com
9780760393659, $24.99, PB, 160pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760393656
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crochet-your-celebrity-crush-lee-sartori/1146793331
Synopsis: "Crochet Your Celebrity Crush: Stitch Your Very Own Amigurumi Heartthrobs, Hunks, and Hotties" by Lee
Sartori is your DIY guide to bringing your favorite celebrities to life with yarn and hook. "Crochet Your Celebrity Crush" is
an original collection that includes over a dozen amigurumi patterns inspired by beloved male celebrities, each crafted to
capture the unique look and charm of Hollywood heartthrobs, pop stars, and athletes.
With its easy-to-follow instructions and clear patterns, "Crochet Your Celebrity Crush" is suitable for crocheters of all
experience and proficiency levels, making it easy to create charming collectibles or unique gifts for fans.
"Crochet Your Celebrity Crush" features:
15 adorable amigurumi patterns: Depicting celebrities from various fields, the patterns showcase their iconic looks and
personalities.
Crochet-worthy crushes: The patterns include Ryan Gosling, Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, Harry Styles, David Beckham,
Idris Elba, Timothee Chalamet, Jason Momoa, V (Kim Tae-hyung), Keanu Reeves, Ncuti Gatwa, Jonathan van Ness, Tom
Holland, Pedro Pascal, Sam Heughan, and Lenny Kravitz
Detailed guidance for all skill levels: Clear, step-by-step instructions ensure that every project is fun and successful.
Collectible and giftable: Whether you're making these characters for yourself or as gifts, they're guaranteed to impress.
Mix and match: In addition to making the featured crushes, you can create any custom figures you like!
Bonus content: Fascinating facts about each crush and a "Find Your Ideal Crush" quiz add to the fun.
Blending pop culture with crochet, "Crochet Your Celebrity Crush" brings a fresh and fun twist to amigurumi, making it the
ideal addition to any crafter's collection. Perfect for fans, collectors, and crochet enthusiasts, these projects are as delightful
to make as they are to display!
Critique: Original, fun, profusely illustrated throughout, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and
presentation, "Crochet Your Celebrity Crush: Stitch Your Very Own Amigurumi Heartthrobs, Hunks, and Hotties" is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library
Needlecrafting/Crochet DIY instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Lee Sartori is the crochet designer behind CoCo Crochet Lee. Lee's passion is designing modern, wearable
garments and adorable amigurumi. The author of several crochet books, she was formerly a guest host on the popular
PBS/CreateTV show Knit & Crochet Now, as well as a cast member of Annie's Creative Studio. Lee is the in-house
designer for Lion Brand and works with Jimmy Beans Wool, WeCrochet, and other companies. Her books include
Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet, Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet, and Amigurumi Affirmations.
(https://www.cococrochetlee.com/about)
Contrast in Crewel Embroidery
Tatiana Popova
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800922716, $35.00, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Contrast-Crewel-Embroidery-designs-stitched/dp/180092271X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/contrast-in-crewel-embroidery-tatiana-popova/1145292416
Synopsis: With the publication of "Contrast in Crewel Embroidery: Modern designs stitched on light and dark",
needlecrafter and embroidery expert Tatiana Popova invites exploring the interplay of light and dark, and experiment with
color and stitch in this stunning, practical guide to crewelwork. Through her innovative stitch designs and inimitable eye for
color, Tatiana explores how the traditional technique of crewel embroidery can be reimagined for stunning, contemporary
results.
"Contrast in Crewel Embroidery" includes:
A complete guide to the tools and materials needed.
A guide to planning successful color, thread and stitch choices - all explained with invaluable personal insights.
4 'smart doodles', which allow you to produce an accomplished finished piece while you practice your stitches.
4 paired 'light and night' embroideries: each pair uses one design but varies the colors of the threads, fabric color and
stitches used, to give two distinctly different results. Each project contains a complete thread and stitch list, which
corresponds to detailed photography of the finished embroidery, to make it as accessible as possible.
A full stitch directory with more than 130 crewelwork stitches explained step by step, from back stitch to woven wheel.
All templates.
Critique: This large format (8.81 x 0.82 x 11.31 inches, 2.54 pounds) hardcover edition of "Contrast in Crewel Embroidery:
Modern designs stitched on light and dark" by Tatiana Popova is beautifully and profusely illustrated in full color
throughout. Inspiring, practical, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Contrast in Crewel
Embroidery" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library
Needlecraft/Embroidery instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Contrast in Crewel Embroidery" is also
readily available from Search Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.23).
Editorial Note: Tatiana Popova (www.owl-crafts.com) is a Ukrainian embroiderer. She learnt to stitch at an early age,
inspired by her mother and grandmother's embroidery, and for a time she pursued her passion for stitching by studying a
huge variety of embroidery styles and techniques, both at school and in her own time. Tatiana studied Floristry Design at
university, but soon after graduating she discovered the world of embroidery. She started her own business, Little Owl
Smart Crafts Company, producing kits for silk ribbon and crewel embroidery. Tatiana participates in a number of craft
shows all around the world, including the UK, USA and Japan, and annually teaches at the Bead & Button Show in the
USA.
Creative Modern Crochet for the Home
Lucy Djevdet
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800922204, $19.95, PB, 112pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Modern-Crochet-Home-techniques/dp/1800922205
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/creative-modern-crochet-for-the-home-lucy-djevdet/1146019309
Synopsis: "Creative Modern Crochet for the Home: Stunning projects using simple techniques" is a DIY compendium of 12
practical crocheting projects, all made from a range of contemporary textures including raffia, jute and macrame cord as
well as yarn that will spruce up your home and your mood! Fresh, bold and functional, there are homeware patterns/projects
for all levels of crochet abilities, and every technique needed is shown and clearly illustrated step by step.
With "Creative Modern Crochet for the Home" novice and experienced crochet enthusiasts alike can:
Get organized with a stylish and practical hanging fruit basket, created from macrame cord and designed to keep your
produce fresh
Snuggle up with a cozy blanket and comfy pillow, made with chunky feather stitch for a stylish geometric finish
Use sturdy raffia yarn to create on-trend storage baskets in four different sizes - perfect for use in any room of the house
Create a decorative doormat using jute twine for a practical, hard-wearing finish
Make do rather than buy new: update an old vase with a stylish cover, create a new shade for an old lamp and transform
used tins into stunning hanging herb planters.
For a stunningly textured, multi-craft finish, several of the projects comprising "Creative Modern Crochet for the Home"
incorporate touches of weaving and macrame, both of which are also clearly explained. Lucy's stylish designs support a
sustainable lifestyle and will inject colour and joy into any home setting.
Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, with each crochet project exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization
and DIY presentation, this large format (8.13 x 0.33 x 10.19 inches, 15.2 ounces) paperback edition of "Creative Modern
Crochet for the Home: Stunning projects using simple techniques" from Source Books is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $16.51) and is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community
library Needlecraft/Crochet instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Lucy Djevdet is a self-taught crafter, who currently works as a marketing manager for an estate agent. She
regularly creates patterns for leading publications such as Inside Crochet magazine and recently had a design featured on the
cover of Mollie Makes magazine. Lucy sells her patterns via Etsy and on her own website (www.craftingbylucy.co.uk). She
also regularly creates behind the scenes content for other crochet brands such as Bella Coco Crochet. In October2023, Lucy
designed a Crochet along blanket running with the UK's major craft chain Hobbycraft. Lucy lives in the UK.
Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book
Tanis Gray
Insight Editions
www.insighteditions.com
9798886634747, $34.99, HC, 200pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Gilmore-Girls-Official-Knitting-Through/dp/B0CTYGXR12
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gilmore-girls-tanis-gray/1145650493
Synopsis: With the publication of "Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book: Knit Your Way Through Stars Hollow and
Beyond" by Tanis Gray, needlecrafting Gilmore Girls fans can now knit their way through Stars Hollow with this
compendium of easy-to-follow DIY patterns that celebrate the characters, friendships, and knits seen on Gilmore Girls
television series! From hats to scarves to decor, "Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book" brings the warmth of Luke's
Diner, Sookie's kitchen, and Lorelai's inn into our closets and homes.
With "Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book" fans can create one of Lorelai's iconic scarves, get fancy with Richard's
Friday Night Dinner Bowtie, and carry around drum sticks in the adorable drum stick bag inspired by Lane Kim and her
band, Hep-Alien!
Inspired by the beloved and always quirky characters of Stars Hollow, these easy-to-follow patterns feature a mix of fun and
vibrant knits in stunning full-color photography celebrating the on-screen relationships and friendships between Lorelai,
Rory, Emily, Sookie, Lane, Paris, Luke, and many others from this classic series. Fans can bring Stars Hollow to life with
the help of their knitting needles, and create clothing, home decor, holiday decorations, and more that will transport them to
the Dragonfly Inn, Luke's Diner, and beyond!
Critique: "Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book" is a compendium showcasing more than 25 knitting patterns drawn
from Stars Hollow favorites ranging from Rory's Debutante Tunic to Lorelai's Stranded Colorwork Hat. "Gilmore Girls: The
Official Knitting Book" features gorgeous full-color photos of patterns to help ensure knitting success, as well as celebrate
beloved moments from the series. A must for all dedicated Gilmore Girls fans who knit, "Gilmore Girls: The Official
Knitting Book" will prove to be an enduringly welcome addition to personal and community library knitting instructional
guide collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book" from Insight
Editions is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Tanis Gray (https://www.tanisknits.com) is the author of 11 knitting books including the international
bestseller Harry Potter: Knitting Magic and Star Wars: Knitting the Galaxy. She has over 500 published knitting patterns,
has worked for Vogue Knitting, Martha Stewart, and HBO, was a regularly featured guest on Knitting Daily TV, has
multiple stranded colorwork classes on Bluprint, and teaches knitting worldwide.
The Pets Shelf
Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats
Ursula K. Le Guin
The Library of America
www.loa.org
9781598538298, $16.95, HC, 96pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ursula-K-Guins-Book-Cats/dp/1598538292
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ursula-k-le-guins-book-of-cats-ursula-k-le-guin/1146800091
Synopsis: Ursula K. Le Guin is an iconic American author. Posthumously published, "Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats"
combines her illustrative artwork with her poetry and commentaries which includes the hard-to-find The Art of Bunditsu,
plus more than 30 other literary cat themed delights from a lifetime of reflection on the mystery and magic of cats
In her words: "The presence of a cat keeps me in touch with the mystery, the unreasonableness, the beauty, the stubborn
wildness of the nonhuman world." In her life as in her art, Ursula K. Le Guin was fascinated by the feline. "Ursula K. Le
Guin's Book of Cats" is an irresistible little volume of poems, meditations, and drawings dedicated to the complicated
creature that captured her imagination.
"Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats" features:
The Art of Bunditsu, Le Guin's hard-to-find "tabbist" meditation on the arranging of cats
Twenty-six cat poems -- many illustrated by Le Guin herself
The Historic First Issue! of Le Guin's one-of-a-kind cat comic book, Supermouse Comix!
Cat Tai Chi, as depicted in a charming series of drawings
Cat Correspondence: letters between Le Guin's cat and those of her daughter detailing the Five Deliberations that cats spend
their lives studying
Critique: Original, unique, clever, quirky and comprised of memorable cat poems, positive meditations, and illustrative
drawings, "Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats" is and a fun read and an ideal gift for cat lovers -- and a 'must' for the legions
of Ursula Le Guin fans! While very highly recommended for community and college/university library collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats" from the Library of
American is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Ursula K. Le Guin (October 21, 1929 - January 22, 2018) was an American author, as well as the recipient of
multiple Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal
for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/874602.Ursula_K_Le_Guin)
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Day They Hanged Old Brown
John R. Van Atta
University of Missouri Press
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826223388, $48.00, HC, 344pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Day-They-Hanged-Old-Brown/dp/0826223389
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-day-they-hanged-old-brown-john-r-van-atta/1147239775
Synopsis: Abolitionist, fanatic, terrorist, freedom fighter, alleged murderer -- all of those labels fit John Brown. Yet he also
qualified as a mid-nineteenth-century celebrity whose name and fame/infamy were known nationwide.
Brown's life span covered most of the period between the Revolution and the Civil War, a time of the still-early beginnings
of the United States. Only then had his kind of "celebrity" started to matter. From different economic and moral
perspectives, politically aware Americans clashed over different visions for the future of the country. At that time, any
disruptive figure might be taken as a barometer of the progress or the decline of the republic. A function of the widely
varying newspapers and magazines of that day, celebrity offered Americans an angle of vision, happily or not, as to who
they were or were becoming or believed themselves to be -- as if by a mirror reflection.
With the publication of "The Day They Hanged Old Brown: The Making of Celebrity and Martyrdom in the Civil War Era",
author, historian and biographer John Van Atta examines the creation of celebrity in John Brown's time and how it differed
from modern day perceptions. Yet, as applicable as the concept of celebrity is in this case, the story of Brown's notoriety
represents far more. To his admirers, Brown was not merely a celebrity; he was a hero and, after his sacrificial death, a
martyr. Not all celebrities rise to such levels.
"The Day They Hanged Old Brown" traces the meaning of heroism and martyrdom (as well as the opposite side of that coin,
villainy) and suggests that John Brown's story and legacy helped to redefine these concepts for many Americans during the
era of the Civil War, before modern historians began to deliberate him.
Critique: Original, meticulous, exceptional, thought-provoking, and informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the
inclusion of illustrations, a ten page Introduction, a sixteen page Prologue (Charlestown, December 2, 1859), a fourteen
page Epilogue (Stores College, May 30, 1881), thirty-six pages of Notes, and eighteen page Bibliographical Essay, and a ten
page Index, "The Day They Hanged Old Brown: The Making of Celebrity and Martyrdom in the Civil War Era" is an
especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library 19th
Century American Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental American Civil War & Abolitionist 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 Day They Hanged Old Brown: The Making of Celebrity and Martyrdom in the
Civil War Era" from the University of Missouri Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $45.60).
Editorial Note: John R. Van Atta, who received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Virginia, specializes in the Early
Republic period of U.S. History (1776-1865) as well as nineteenth-century America generally. He taught at Hiram College
in Ohio and, for thirty-six years, at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he held the Oaklawn Chair in
American History until retiring in 2020. He is the author of four books, Securing the West: Politics, Public Lands, and the
Fate of the Old Republic, 1785-1850 (2014); Wolf by the Ears: The Missouri Crisis, 1819-1821 (2015); and Charging Up
San Juan Hill: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of Imperial America (2018), all published by the Johns Hopkins
University Press. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14213536.John_R_Van_Atta)
Getting Lost On My Way
Diane Hartman
https://www.dianehartmanauthor.com
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781647429768, $17.99, PB, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Lost-Way-Self-Discovery-Backroads/dp/1647429765
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-lost-on-my-way-diane-hartman/1146922316
Synopsis: "Getting Lost On My Way: Self-Discovery on Ireland's Backroads" is the true life story of Diane Hartman -- an
introverted, divorced, middle-aged mother and school librarian from the Midwest who decides to leave her comfort zone
and travel alone to Ireland, to fulfill her dream, overcome her fear, and immerse herself into what will become an adventure
of courage and self-discovery.
Motivated by her love of Irish music and Celtic spirituality, along with her desire to find healing from depression and
divorce, Diane sets off for Ireland, a country she's been obsessed with for years. Her romantic preconceptions of the Emerald
Isle quickly clash with reality, however, and while there she faces many obstacles, including driving the narrow, ill-marked
roads throughout the countryside she traverses. Nevertheless, this first sojourn leads to three more trips over the next six
years, and she gradually learns to navigate Ireland's back roads -- not to mention her own personal and spiritual roads toward
self-discovery and acceptance.
"Getting Lost On My Way" is a heartfelt and humorous account of Diane's adventures including hanging out with an Irish
rock band, traveling remote roads in search of a hermit nun, and meeting her favorite Irish musician not once but twice. Her
story is certain to inspire readers to get outside their own comfort zones and take some rewarding risks of their own.
Critique: Part memoir, part travelogue, part mid-life adventure, "Getting Lost On My Way: Self-Discovery on Ireland's
Backroads" by Diane Harman 's deftly written, fully engaging, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover. As a
storyteller, Diane has a genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven presentation that is particularly compelling for the
reader from start to finish -- all the more impressive when considering that it is her debut as an author. While especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Biography/Memoir collections,
it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Getting Lost On My Way: Self-Discovery on Ireland's Backroads" from
She Writes Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Diane Hartman (https://www.dianehartmanauthor.com) is a retired school librarian, photographer, dog
rescuer, mother, grandmother, and lover of Ireland. She has received honors for her writing from Midwest Writers
Workshop, Daisy Pettles Women's Writing Award, and the Griffith Writing Fellowship at the Mary Anderson Center. Her
photography has garnered several awards, including the Indiana Governor's Award. She is an alumnus of Laura Munson's
Haven Writing Workshops and Retreats.
Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery
Maura Casey
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510780774, $32.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Ellen-Memoir-Hope-Recovery/dp/1510780777
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saving-ellen-maura-casey/1145682375
Skyhorse Publishing
https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510780774/saving-ellen
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" is a deftly crafted
memoir that traces Maura's 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 special appeal to anyone who has had to endure 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 also recognize the mix of madness and humor that forms the foundation of daily life.
Critique: Candid, eloquent, emotionally engaging, intellectually thought provoking, exceptionally well written, organized
and presented, "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery" is an inherently fascinating read from start to finish. One of
those life stories that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back
upon the shelf, "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted that
this hardcover edition of "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery" from Skyhorse Publishing is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: For more than thirty years, Casey Maura 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.
Casey writes a weekly column, Casey's Catch (https://maurac.substack.com)
The General Fiction Shelf
86 The Chef
Adam K. Watson
Wooster Street Publishing
https://woosterstreetpublishing.com
9798992924305, $13.95, PB, 268pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/86-Chef-Adam-K-Watson/dp/B0F4NRCZ3L
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/86-the-chef-adam-k-watson/1147270732
Synopsis: Trey Chapman may just be the most famous chef in the world. But his culinary empire and the constant spotlight
have turned into a pressure cooker he desperately needs to escape.
When Trey learns that he can't just walk away from his celebrity, he enlists the help of his rogue little brother to devise a
plan. Joey Chapman, though, has problems of his own. He's being hunted by a federal task force after a wheel of illegal,
maggot-ridden cheese, that he smuggled into the country, has taken social media by storm.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, "86 The Chef" by Adam K. Watson is a finely tuned
culinary caper that will hold enormous appeal for readers who appreciated exceptionally memorable and clever thrillers.
While this paperback edition of "86 The Chef" from Wooster Street Publishing is especially and unreservedly recommended
for community/public library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Food and writing -- these were Adam K. Watson's greatest passions growing up in Southeastern Virginia.
After working in enough kitchens to realize cooking was best kept as a personal pastime, he pursued a degree in creative
writing. However, his career took a different path, spanning two decades in broadcast television production. He has worked
with globally recognized brands such as ESPN, the NFL, The Weather Company at IBM, and Gulfstream Aerospace.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2044674.Adam_K_Watson)
Paper Roses: Inspired by a True Story
Debby Show
Fieldmere Press
9798999602763, $28.99, HC, 334pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Roses-Debby-Show/dp/B0FSBD3T7N
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paper-roses-debby-show/1147950287
Synopsis: Some families leave you money. Others leave you scars.
When Abigail Jones learns of her sister Nikki's third arrest, she's pulled into a spiral of questions: Was it fate, family, or
something buried even deeper? As Abigail begins to piece together the past, she uncovers a trail of silence and survival
that stretches across continents and generations.
From a 1940s Moroccan household where a young maid quietly bears witness to the origins of a generational wound, to the
sun-washed suburbs of 1970s California, and finally to 2023 (and told through podcast transcripts, court documents, and
splintered memory), "Paper Roses: Inspired by a True Story" follows Abigail's search for answers, her confrontation with the sister she thought she
knew, and her reckoning with a legacy neither of them could escape.
Critique: Original, exceptional, engaging, deftly crafted, and a haunting story of loyalty, silence, and the cost of breaking
free' that is based upon a true story and real-life experiences, "Paper Roses: Inspired by a True Story" showcases author Debby Show's consummate
skills as a narrative driven storyteller raise her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. An inherently fascinating
read from start to finish, "Paper Roses: Inspired by a True Story" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition from Fieldmere Press is also
available in paperback (9798999602770, $15.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99), and in a large print paperback
edition (9798218876517, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Debbie Snow (https://debbyshow.com) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and School
Psychologist based in California. With years of experience working with individuals and families, she brings a deep
understanding of human behavior, relationships, and generational dynamics to her fiction. Though "Paper Roses: Inspired by a True Story" is her
debut novel, Debby has honed her craft through coaching, writing workshops and a lifelong passion for storytelling.
Inspired by real history and intimate truths, her work explores how the past shapes who we become.
Unconditional: A Story of Fatherhood, Lost Love, and Lifelong Friendship
Stephen Kogon
WOH Press
9798998975028, $19.99, HC, 258pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Unconditional-Story-Fatherhood-Lifelong-Friendship/dp/B0FH65VVWD
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unconditional-stephen-kogon/1148399087
Synopsis: Matthew is an indecisive bachelor who never imagined or considered parenthood. But when his brother's sudden
death leaves a newborn daughter stranded, he faces an impossible choice: walk away or become a father overnight.
Meeting baby Allie changes everything. In a heartbeat, he trades his carefree life for sleepless nights and diapers -- and
discovers a love fiercer than fear. With the help of his loyal best friend Sherry, Matthew stumbles through the chaos of
single fatherhood.
Over eighteen years, as life throws enormous challenges in their path (some forcing Allie to grow up faster than she hoped)
their bond only deepens.
"Unconditional: A Story of Fatherhood, Lost Love, and Lifelong Friendship" is about how one decision can rewrite a man's
life and forever alter a child's future. When the world tests them, will their unconditional love be enough to guide them
through?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, exceptional, emotionally engaging, memorably inspiring, and a simply compelling read
from start to finish, "Unconditional: A Story of Fatherhood, Lost Love, and Lifelong Friendship" by Stephen Kogon is a
very special and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community/public library Contemporary
General Fiction collections. It should be noted for readers with an interest in coming of age fiction and adoption themed
family fiction that this hardcover edition of "Unconditional: A Story of Fatherhood, Lost Love, and Lifelong Friendship"
from WOH Press is also readily available in paperback (9798998975011, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$0.99).
Editorial Note: Stephen Kogon grew up in Columbia, MD and wrote his first story at 7-years-old -- and have been addicted
to storytelling ever since. He has written books, screenplays/scripts, comedy sketches, and comic strips. Upon graduating
college (UMBC) he moved to Los Angeles to work as a writer and filmmaker. Other books he has written include a young
adult comedic book called "Max Mooth - Cyber Sleuth and the Case of the Zombie Virus" and two children's books called
"Squiglet the Rhyming Piglet" and "Squiglet the Piglet Goes on a Nature Hike". He also wrote a book about the making of
his movie 'Dance Baby Dance" which will help anyone who wants to make their own indie film.
Sea of Glass
Patrick Shattuck
Genius Book Publishing
https://geniusbookpublishing.com
9781958727812, $19.95, PB, 284pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Glass-Patrick-Shattuck/dp/1958727814
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sea-of-glass-patrick-shattuck/1148082574
Synopsis: Shannon Delaney always lived in the shadow of her twin sister, Sarah. Sarah is brilliant, beautiful, and bound for
Berkeley, while Shannon is unsure, overlooked, and heading nowhere fast. The only thing that's ever been hers is Frankie - -
her best friend since fifth grade, the one boy who saw her for who she really was.
But now Frankie is slipping away, drawn into Sarah's orbit as they compete together in a high-stakes math tournament. Then
something strange happens. A mysterious blue light glows from an old glass paperweight by Shannon's bed, revealing
ghostly visions -- of snow, of love, of heartbreak. She tries to convince herself it's just a dream, but the feeling won't fade.
The glass may be showing her the truth.
As Shannon watches her world shift -- her sister's secrets, Frankie's choices, her own unraveling sense of self -- one thing
becomes clear: the hardest truths aren't always the ones others hide. They're the ones buried inside.
Critique: Original, eloquent, deftly crafted, engaging, and an inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "Sea of Glass"
by author Patrick Shattuck showcases his extraordinary and narrative driven storytelling skills that raises his novel to an
impressive level of literary excellence. Blending 'coming of age', psychological suspense, and the supernatural, "Sea of
Glass is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that this paperback edition for "Sea of Glass" from Genius Book Publishing is also readily available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: In addition to being a longtime English teacher, Patrick Shattuck is also a dedicated writer who holds a B.A.
in English from Syracuse University and an M.A. in English from Simmons College. His short stories and poetry have been
published in the Antietam Review, Smashing Icons, Lonesome Traveler, Paradigm Magazine, Fox Cry Magazine, and
Evening Street Press. He is also the author of "Dawn's Web" and "Red Moon Over Manhattan".
The Secret Christmas Library
Jenny Colgan
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063437371, $18.99, PB, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Christmas-Library-Heartwarming-Mysterious/dp/0063437376
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-christmas-library-jenny-colgan/1146828353
Synopsis: Mirren Sutherland stumbled into a career as an antiquarian book hunter after finding a priceless antique book in
her great aunt's attic. Now, as Christmas approaches, she's been hired by Jamie McKinnon, the surprisingly young and
handsome laird of a Highland clan whose ancestral holdings include a vast crumbling castle.
Family lore suggests that the McKinnon family's collection includes a rare book so valuable that it could save the entire
estate -- if they only knew where it was. Jamie needs Mirren to help him track down this treasure, which he believes is
hidden in his own home.
But on the train to the Highlands, Mirren runs into rival book hunter Theo Palliser, and instantly knows that it's not a chance
meeting. She's all too familiar with Theo's good looks and smooth talk, and his uncanny ability to appear whenever there's a
treasure that needs locating.
Almost as soon as Mirren and Theo arrive at the castle, a deep snow blankets the Highlands, cutting off the outside world.
Stuck inside, the three of them plot their search as the wind whistles outside. Mirren knows that Jamie's grandfather, the
castle's most recent laird, had been a book collector, a hoarder, and a great lover of treasure hunts. Now they must unpuzzle
his clues, discovering the secrets of the house -- forming and breaking alliances in a race against time.
Critique: Original, featuring a roster of deftly crafted characters and a memorable roller-coaster of a plot, with the
publication of "The Secret Christmas Library", author Jenny Colgan serves up an inherently fascinating book lover themed
mystery seasoned for the season with hints of romance, intrigue, and a wealth of holiday spirit! A fun read from cover to
cover, and also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), this paperback edition of "The Secret Christmas Library"
is especially recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Jenny Colgan (https://www.jennycolgan.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous
novels, including The Christmas Bookshop, The Bookshop on the Corner, Close Knit, and The Summer Skies. Jenny, her
husband, and three children live in a genuine castle in Scotland.
As Long as You're Mine
Nekesa Afia
https://www.nekesaafia.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662524080, $16.99, PB, 299pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/As-Long-Youre-Mine-Novel/dp/1662524080
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/as-long-as-youre-mine-nekesa-afia/1147025094
Synopsis: Professional ballerina Thea Ross's world shatters when her screen-legend father commits suicide, leaving behind
a shocking confession to a decades-old murder. Determined to uncover the truth, Thea teams up with a relentless journalist,
following a trail of clues that leads her back to the glittering yet treacherous world of 1930s Hollywood.
There, she discovers the story of Lorelei Davies, a struggling actress willing to endure anything for her family's sake. As
Thea peels back the layers of Lorelei's life (her dreams, fears, and dangerous secrets) the connection between Lorelei's past
and Thea's present challenges everything she believes about her family history. But as she untangles all the lies, she comes
to know herself more truly than ever before.
As Thea navigates the glamorous facade of Old Hollywood, she must decide whether uncovering the truth about her father
is worth sacrificing the life she planned -- and whether some secrets are better left buried in Hollywood's golden age.
Critique: Original, cleverly scripted, and a compulsively fascinating read from start to finish, "As Long As You're Mine" by
novelist Nekesa Afia offers a deft blending of memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and African-American history
in an historical Hollywood setting. While an extraordinary and recommended pick for both personal reading lists and
community library collections, it should be noted that this trade paperback edition of "As Long As You're Mine" is also
available from Lake Union Publishing in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Nekesa Afia (https://www.nekesaafia.com) holds a degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan
University and a certificate in publishing from Centennial College. She is also the author of the Harlem Renaissance
Mystery series.
Last Call at the Savoy
Brisa Carleton
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781538772881, $29.00, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Call-Savoy-Brisa-Carleton/dp/1538772884
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-call-at-the-savoy-brisa-carleton/1147078647
Synopsis: Six years ago, Cinnamon Scott was a young writer on the rise in New York City. But since the sudden loss of her
parents, she's been stuck in place, retreating to a life of endless partying -- made possible by the massive fortune she's
inherited. Despite their tragic loss, she and her older sister Rosemary have always had each other to lean on. But now, with
Rosie living in London and about to give birth to twins, Cinnamon feels more lost than ever.
When Rosie is put on bedrest, Cinnamon flies to her sister's side, where she's temporarily living at The Savoy. Immediately
swept away by the beauty and history of the legendary hotel and its famed American Bar, Cinnamon finds ample
opportunity to distract herself. When the late shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the
cocktail recipes The Savoy popularized in its famous handbook a century ago, Cinnamon is inspired by the bartender's vivid
stories of Ada's fearlessness and can't understand why Ada's name is nowhere to be found.
After meeting a handsome historian researching the hotel and realizing that Ada is likely to be once again overlooked,
Cinnamon must decide if she can overcome her demons and stand up for Ada's story. And, along the way, she might just
save her own story too.
Critique: As a novelist, Brisa Carleton exhibits a genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling
style that raises her novel, "Last Call At The Savoy" to an impressive level of literary excellence. A fun and fascinating read
from start to finish, "Last Call At The Savoy" will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in historical fiction
about two sisters, one of which is determined to rescue the Hotel Savoy's first female bartender from an undeserved
obscurity. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library General Fiction collections,
it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Las Call At The Savoy" from Grand Central Publishing is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Brisa Carleton (https://www.brisacarleton.com) turned her passion for musicals and "flare for the dramatic"
into an award-winning career as a Broadway producer. Three Tony's later, she's worked on numerous productions including
Hamilton, Beautiful and Moulin Rouge. In 2019 at the request of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco Brisa joined his foundation
to lead philanthropy efforts in theater, dance and film on behalf of his mother, Princess Grace Kelly. Most recently she
turned her entrepreneurial spirit to actual "spirits," launching Literati Spirits, a premium vodka created by book lovers for
book lovers. She now spends her days traveling to literary destinations with a martini in one hand and a manuscript in the
other, collecting stories with her husband Mark.
Hemlock Lane
Marshall Fine
www.marshallfine.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662530487, $16.99, PB, 237pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hemlock-Lane-Novel-Marshall-Fine/dp/166253048X
Synopsis: In the summer of 1967, the Levitsky family convenes for a long weekend at their home in the suburbs - an idyllic
holiday for the perfect family.
But Nora has always known better.
Growing up, she learned to tiptoe around her mother Lillian's explosive temper. Her father did the same. Nora's sole
confidante was their housekeeper, Clara, and their bond has only strengthened through the years. In fact, it's all that's
keeping Nora together for her homecoming. But under that lifetime of pressure, the facade is beginning to splinter.
Over the next four days, everyone's secrets are at risk. None more so than what Nora really wants for her life, how Clara has
helped her get it... and how they've orchestrated it all behind Lillian's back.
As the family grapples with the complex ties that bind them, Nora discovers that facing the truth (however painful) might be
the key to finally breaking free. This weekend, Nora's bravest act may be in knowing which bonds to cherish and which ones
need to be gently set aside, making room for a future of her own choosing.
Critique: Original, riveting, eloquently crafted, and an inherently fascinating 'coming of age' novel by an author with a
genuine flair for a narrative driven storytelling style that raises his novel to an impressive level of literary excellence,
"Hemlock Lane" by Marshall Fine is an extraordinary read and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick
for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of
women's fiction fans that this paperback edition of "Hemlock Lane" from Lake Union Publishing is also readily available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: The career of Marshall Fine (www.marshallfine.com) as a journalist, critic, and filmmaker has spanned fifty
years. Before his successful 2024 fiction debut, "The Autumn of Ruth Winters", Fine wrote biographies of filmmakers John
Cassavetes and Sam Peckinpah, directed documentaries about film critic Rex Reed and comedian Robert Klein, conducted
the Playboy interview with Howard Stern, and chaired the New York Film Critics Circle four times.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Summer of Meteors
Kris Schaale
https://krisschaale.com
Catamount Press
c/o Sunbury Press
https://www.sunburypress.com/collections/catamount-press
9798888193426, $19.95, PB, 219pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Meteors-Kris-Schaale/dp/B0FR98G83J
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-of-meteors-kris-schaale/1148353454
Synopsis: As the nation teeters on the edge of civil war, three women converge at the elegant Bedford Springs Hotel in
Pennsylvania.
Harriet Lane, strong-minded and vivacious niece to President James Buchanan and the nation's "Democratic Queen," begins
to question the cost of loyalty as her uncle's stance on slavery casts a long shadow. Anne McCoy, a quiet Quaker widow,
carries the scars of loss, and dangerous secrets. Juba, an enslaved nursemaid to a presidential guest, dreams of freedom and
the family torn from her.
When a chance encounter with local agents of the Underground Railroad sparks a daring escape plan, loyalties are tested,
and lives are forever changed. Meanwhile as scandal brews and radical abolitionist John Brown plots revolution nearby,
these women must decide what they're willing to risk for justice and each other.
Set against the backdrop of a divided America, "Summer of Meteors" is a powerful tale of courage, sacrifice, and the bonds
forged in the fight for freedom. A forgotten summer where history burned across the sky and nothing, not even the stars,
would ever look the same.
Critique: With the publication of her novel, "Summer of Meteors", author Kris Schaale showcases an extraordinary and
deftly crafted storytelling style that fully engages her readers from cover to cover. Original, compelling, and with a skill that
raises her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence, "Summer of Meteors" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for community/public library Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
this paperback edition of "Summer of Meteors" from Catamount Press is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Kris Schaale (https://krisschaale.com) is an American novelist interested in a wide array of genres. Though
her love of history and psychology always seems to find a way into her work. She uses her bachelor's and master's degrees in
psychology from Pennsylvania State University to study and write about people's behavior, motivations, and life journeys.
Through the format of story, she hopes her readers will learn and be enriched in their own understanding of people and
life.
The Royal Artisan
Tessa Afshar
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764245572, $29.99, HC, 368pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Artisan-Historical-Fiction-Biblical/dp/0764245570
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-royal-artisan-tessa-afshar/1147013287
Synopsis: Sazana of Persia creates exquisite pottery that graces Susa's finest tables, but her master, Lord Haman, does not
know her secret: Sazana is one of the Jews he has vowed to eradicate. When Haman discovers her true identity, he forces
her into indentured servitude. But at Haman's sudden downfall, Queen Esther becomes the new master of the pottery
workshop, restoring Sazana to her rightful place.
Yet her troubles are not over as Haman's sons are enraged by his death, and the queen assigns one of her men to root out any
threats. Sazana is shocked to discover the identity of the queen's agent is none other than Jadon, the man who left her heart
in ruins years ago. But despite his presence, danger still lurks, and when Sazana and Jadon become entangled in the hunt for
an ancient artifact, so much more than their own hearts and lives depends on the success of their mission.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a compelling read from start to finish, "The Royal Artisan" will prove to be of
particular and enthusiastic appeal to readers with an interest in Biblical themed historical fiction. A fun and entertaining
blending of romance and intrigue set in Biblical antiquity, this hardcover edition of "The Royal Artisan" from Bethany
House Publishers is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Royal Artisan" is also readily available in paperback (9780764243707,
$18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Tessa Afshar (TessaAfshar.com) is the author of award-winning biblical fiction and has been on Publishers
Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists, as well as translated into thirteen languages. Born in the Middle East, Her
conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. Today Tessa is self-described as being a devoted
wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.
Sonora
Jennie L. Walsh
Harper Muse
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400246779, $18.99, PB, 400pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sonora-Novel-Jenni-L-Walsh/dp/1400246776
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sonora-jenni-l-walsh/1147137164
Synopsis: Sonora Webster is penniless young woman but plucky, and despite the looming Great Depression, she follows her
wanderlust, answering an advert to dive with horses. Little does she know that she is about to be thrust into a world teeming
with danger, excitement, and fierce competition.
As Sonora delves into the cutthroat world of show business, complete with trapeze aerial acts and juggling bears, her
undeniable talent and unwavering dedication propel her into the limelight, making her a sensation, and after marrying the
show runner, her entire life becomes their act and their horses. But she soon learns that a diver (and her horse) are only as
good as their last show, a show some are hellbent on shutting down.
When a tragic accident changes her life forever, can Sonora muster the courage to climb the forty-five-foot tower and dive
again, risking her life to save the show and their horses from falling into the wrong hands?
Critique: An original and deftly crafted novel that is based on and inspired by the true story of one of the first women to dive
horses as part of an entertainment act, "Sonora" is raised to an impressive level of literary excellence by the effectively
engaging storytelling style of author Jenni L. Walsh. With an admirable attention to historical detail, "Sonora" is an
especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Sonora" from Harper Muse is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Jenni L. Walsh (https://www.jennilwalsh.com) worked for a decade enticing readers as an award-winning
advertising copywriter before becoming an author. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in
historical or contemporary settings. Jenni is also the author of historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting
Woman, The Call of the Wrens, Unsinkable, and Ace, Marvel, Spy. Additionally, she writes books for children, including
the nonfiction She Dared series and historical novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies,
Over and Out, and Operation: Happy. She can be followed on social media at @jennilwalsh
The Man in the Stone Cottage
Stephanie Cowell
Regal House Publishing, LLC
https://regalhousepublishing.com
9781646036240, $19.95 Paperback/$9.95 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Stone-Cottage-Stephanie-Cowell/dp/1646036247
The Man in the Stone Cottage is a novel about Bronte sisters Charlotte, Anne, and Emily who, in 1800s Yorkshire, find
their lives replete with emotional turmoil and literary failure. Romance is in the air for Emily, but her sudden death quashes
many possibilities while raising others that involve her sisters in a search for truth.
The story opens with twelve-year-old Emily's wanderings on the moors, revealing her discovery of a stone cottage and the
allure it represents. As she grows older she stops visiting the cottage, and it eventually vanishes from her life and
memories.
Fast forward to Charlotte's adult life, where she is a teacher. She is perceived by her students as being distant and
emotionless, but this couldn't be further from the truth: "She knew what they thought of her when she stood before them to
teach them English: a dry young woman who never revealed her feelings. Did they know? She dared not reveal them."
As Emily and Charlotte confront the ravages of growing up, dangerous love, and letters between them which both enlighten
and connect while reflecting on deeper concerns, readers become steeped in the Yorkshire backdrop and the events that
draw sisters together, then part them in unexpected ways.
Stephanie Cowell neatly intersects biography with fiction through quiet drama, passionate moments of revelation, and
choices and consequences which send each sister in a different direction. Equally compelling is the suspense and mystery
which evolves both between them and from outside forces that separates, divides, and severs connections.
Also revealing is how Charlotte and Anne receive recognition from the literary world at last as their efforts see print, and
how they continue to forge new connections with each other and with the missing Emily that changes their lives and
perspectives.
Librarians seeking biographical fiction that thoroughly captures the times, personalities, and family interactions of the
Brontes will find that The Man in the Stone Cottage is a powerful draw. It will also attract book club readers interested in
sibling relationship developments and insights about how broken family ties can be mended.
Readers with a literary penchant who already appreciate the Brontes will find this novel attractive on many different levels,
while those who may harbor little prior knowledge of them will appreciate how Cowell's haunting depiction of the English
countryside and the world that shapes a literary family creates thoroughly compelling, thought-provoking reading.
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
Fireflies in a Jar
Beka Wueste, author
Liz Pipher, editor
https://www.bekawueste.com
Fox Island Press
9781967077045, $35.00, HC, 284pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Fireflies-Jar-Beka-Wueste/dp/1967077045
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fireflies-in-a-jar-beka-wueste/1147853636
Synopsis: "Fireflies in a Jar" by Beka Wueste is the story of Sam.
"Who are you, Sam?" Unfortunately for Sam, the answer is: a lonely, single, closeted, mid-thirties woman with no close
friends and no romantic prospects who feels stalled in her own life.
Entirely convinced that she is unworthy of love or happiness after surviving decades of emotional neglect and bullying, Sam
knows she needs to make changes, but is held hostage by her own history, which complicates her attempts to take control
and start her second act.
For most people it's the 2010's, but for Sam, it's 1991, 1997, 2004, or any other painful moment from her past. At any given
moment, her memories rear up and seize her, paralyze her, force her to relive an endless loop of the worst times of her
life.
Sam's inability to come to terms with her past immobilizes her, leaving her isolated, unfulfilled and desperate for change
while navigating past traumas and current family crises.
As Sam tries to change her own life for the better, her actions have unintended consequences across her family.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and an LGBTQ+ themed work of fiction that will resonate with the real life experiences of
so many members of that community, "Fireflies in a Jar" by Beka Wueste is an extraordinary and inherently engaging story
from start to finish. With an eloquent storytelling style that lifts "Fireflies in a Jar" to an impressive level of literary
excellence, "Fireflies in a Jar" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library
LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Fireflies in
a Jar" from Fox Island Press is also readily available in paperback (9781967077052, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Beka Wueste (https://www.bekawueste.com) is the author of "The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior". She is also
an award-winning visual artist who exhibits her work frequently in regional and national shows.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Love, Dirt
Bruce Johnson
University of Iowa Press
www.uiowapress.org
9781685970390, $19.00, PB, 154pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dirt-Short-Fiction-Award/dp/1685970397
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-dirt-bruce-johnson/1147345748
University of Iowa Press
https://uipress.uiowa.edu/books/love-dirt
Synopsis: From the intimate confines of a Nebraska farmhouse to the bustling streets of South America, the characters of
"Love, Dirt" by author and storyteller Bruce Johnson traverse uneasy spaces in search of human connection.
A closeted teen on a trip to Chile hides in his parents' bedroom to avoid being caught fooling around with a local boy.
An elderly couple attempts to scale a volcano, wrestling with their own physical limitations and an unbearable loss in their
past.
A father becomes convinced that a daycare has swapped his toddler with a near-identical imposter.
The public relations industry of Las Vegas is at first amused and then scandalized by a businesswoman's ability to divine
people's birthplaces and childhood experiences just by listening to them speak.
A son's long-deceased parents return to life as fumbling, inept zombies who are more nuisance than threat.
In these and other stories comprising "Love, Dirt", Bruce Johnson's bold, thought-provoking debut explores how we are
shaped by the narratives that we craft for ourselves and others.
Critique Original, deftly crafted, exceptional, and an inherently fascinating, engaging read from cover to cover, "Love, Dirt"
is an impressive compendium of sixteen short stories and fully documents author/storyteller Bruce Johnson as a master of
this literary format. This paperback edition of "Love, Dirt" from the University of Iowa Press is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community, and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: The stories by Bruce Johnson (https://brucejohnsonfiction.com) have appeared in Best Microfiction 2023,
Wigleaf, Prime Number Magazine, The Cincinnati Review's miCRo series, and The Adroit Journal. He lives in Santiago,
Chile.
My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death
Beka Wueste, author
Liz Pipher, editor
https://www.bekawueste.com
Fox Island Press
9781967077076, $33.00 hc / $19.99 pbk
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Side-World-Other-Tales-Death/dp/196707707X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-side-of-the-world-and-other-tales-of-death-beka-wueste/1148573138
With the publication of "My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death" by Beka Wueste, Death takes the lead in a
collection of eight disparate tales, each short story exploring how the loss of loved ones affects us, how surviving close calls
with death shape us, how the fear of death motivates us, and how we can be either lifted up or let down by our communities
in dealing with lingering grief.
Of special note is how the genres vary between these eight short stories range from science fiction, to magical realism, to
suspense.
The short stories comprising "My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death" include:
My Life with Death: A child becomes friends with Death and later serves as Death's assistant, constantly grappling with
how much her relationship with Death limits her ability to enjoy her own life.
The Patron Saint of Pianos: A 1980's homicide detective, exhausted by working on too many cartel and gang-related deaths,
moves from the southern border to a quiet, one-stoplight northern town for a fresh start.
My Husband's Fathers: A marriage strained by a husband habitually using the death of his mother to dismiss anyone else's
pain or trauma endures a new challenge when the couple fosters two young brothers.
The Girl Who Sold the World: Humanity faces an existential threat when an alien collective arrives at Earth to judge the
worthiness of all species on the planet.
My Sister Agnes: A 1990's suburb is shaken by an unexpected death, which brings neighbors together for one summer, and
forever shapes one of the families.
The Shattered Glass Girl: A teenage girl in the 1920's dies due to her father's cruel discipline, leaving her spirit bonded to
the house, enabling her to have a second chance at happiness when a new family moves in.
My Side of the World: A married woman in her midlife discovers evidence that a former paramour may be dead, leading her
to obsess over confirming his demise in the present, while also reexamining her past and the influence he had in shaping her
present life.
The Red Lights: When a young girl has a recurring nightmare of being murdered, her grandmother convinces her that it is a
factual depiction of what will happen.
Critique: The eight short stories comprising "My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death" clearly showcase author Beka
Wueste as an exceptionally talented, impressively imaginative, and engagingly original storyteller. An inherently fascinating
and memorable read from cover to cover, "My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, college and university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections
and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Editorial Note: Beka Wueste (https://www.bekawueste.com) is the author of "The Unsent Letters of Lucy
Prior". She is also an award-winning visual artist who exhibits her work frequently in regional and national shows.
Burner and Other Stories
Katrina Denza
https://www.katrinadenza.com
Cornerstone Press
9781968148126, $24.95, PB, 172pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Burner-Other-Stories-Katrina-Denza/dp/1968148124
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burner-katrina-denza/1147940797
Cornerstone Press
https://bookshop.org/p/books/burner-and-other-stories-katrina-denza/beda1799cb5c3269
Synopsis: With the publication of "Burner and Other Stories", author Katrina Denza presents a series of short stories about
women in conflict: attempting to woo a man via a burner phone, discovering the best friendships are those grounded in
reality, subscribing to a hologram service to speak to a deceased husband, reclaiming power only to realize power is an
illusion, discovering there is no safe haven, confronting the frustrations of being an artist, and reckoning with mistakes
made as a mother.
Although works of carefully scripted fiction, there is an impressive authenticity in showing how women readers so often
find themselves reflected in the characters in these stories as they wrestle with connections and disconnections, highs and
lows, and the vagaries of modernity.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, the short stories comprising "Burner and Other Stories" showcase author Katrina Denza's
exceptional storytelling skills that raise her anthology to an impressive level of literary excellence. This paperback edition of
"Burner and Other Stories" from Cornerstone Press is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists as
well as community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: The stories of Katrina Denza (https://www.katrinadenza.com) have appeared in Confrontation, Emerson
Review, Jabberwock Review, Nelle, New Delta Review, New World Writing, Passages North, REAL: Regarding Arts &
Letters, and The MacGuffin, among other places.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
A Satchel of Richards
Lee Taylor
Periwink Press, LLC
9798992960402, $19.00, PB, 366pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Satchel-Richards-Lee-Taylor/dp/B0FMJ92BQ6
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-satchel-of-richards-lee-taylor/1148052160
Synopsis: Novelist Bridget Stanton's life needs a massive rewrite. Between the mortgage on her first home (a perfect if
teensy beach cottage), and the cost of feeding her horse-sized dog, she'll never be able to quit her day job. Until it quits
her.
Suspended for teaching the suddenly banned book, A Wrinkle in Time (and her childhood favorite), Bridget is desperate for
a book advance. So she throws herself at the mercy, literally, of her brand new, witty, suave, unflappably charming agent,
who has reluctantly inherited her.
His advice: skip the Lit Fic and write steamy romance instead. Has he met her? Actually, no. But Bridget knows nothing
about passionate sex. Ever ready with advice, he proposes a solution: research -- she needs to get herself a satchel of
Richards.
Enter Josh, a wildly successful romance cover model with Hollywood screenwriting dreams. His vivid descriptions have
helped numerous authors navigate their spiciest scenes, but Bridget, it seems, needs a more hands-on approach.
As their "research" heats up, she offers him credit on the book -- a big break that could help launch his wished-for career.
But her publisher balks. The God of Abs cannot share the byline.
Now, Bridget must choose: do it their way and save her way of life or risk it all for a real-life love story.
Critique: Impressively original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, "A Satchel of Richards" by Lee Taylor is
a perfect pick for the legions of Rom-Com fans who like their characters memorable and their plot lines presented with
many an unexpected twist and turn. The stuff of which Hallmark Movies are made, "A Satchel of Richards" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that this paperback edition of "A Satchel of Richards" from Periwink Press is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Lee Taylor lives and writes in one of the most bewitching forests in the Appalachians. She can be found
most mornings before daybreak in her "Yome Sweet Yome" (think "yurt" but so much better), loving all the tropes,
particularly the ones she turns on their heads. When not writing or hiking, Lee travels the country for a day job she loves and
is always on the lookout for an indie bookstore. And if the store is romance only, all the better.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51285582.Lee_Taylor)
Sorry, Not Sorry
Frances Mensah Williams
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781806006830, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 410pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781806006830
Synopsis: Trainee relationship counselor Delilah Braithwaite is better at breaking couples up than bringing them together.
But after one break-up too many, she is suspended and ordered to get to grips with her own baggage if she hopes to get her
job back.
Desperate to prove she's not the problem, Delilah accepts a challenge from her sister: track down five exes and make
amends for dumping them all with no good reason. But when she runs into Noah (the fiance she left at the altar) her plans
take a complicated turn.
While Delilah seeks redemption, her own therapy sessions begin to unearth hidden secrets and painful truths she's long
avoided. But only when she's forced to confront the trauma of her past does she begin to understand that love means a whole
lot more than just saying sorry.
Critique: Original, exceptional, engaging, and profusely laced throughout with diabolically funny humor, "Sorry, Not Sorry"
by Frances Mensah Williams will hold immense appeal for fans of problematical romances. Unexpected plot twists,
memorable characters, and a deftly crafted and a witty storytelling style that raises this romance novel to an impressive level
of literary excellence, and the stuff of which Hallmark Movie Channel films are made, this large print paperback edition of
"Sorry, Not Sorry" from Boldwood Books is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
Contemporary Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Frances Mensah Williams is a Londoner of Ghanaian origin and the author of the From Pasta to Pigfoot
romance series. Frances writes novels set in both London and contemporary Ghana, where the stories play out against a
backdrop of locations ranging from high-rise office buildings to modern shopping malls, pristine beaches, night clubs, art
galleries and restaurants. An award-winning entrepreneur and Executive Coach, Frances has also written two non-fiction
careers books. Contact Frances via Twitter - @FrancesMensahW- or Facebook - francesmensahwilliams - or Instagram -
francesmensahw
The Austen Affair
Madeline Bell
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
https://us.macmillan.com/st-martins-griffin
9781250420718, $30.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Austen-Affair-Novel-Madeline-Bell/dp/1250420717
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-austen-affair-madeline-bell/1146657327
Synopsis: Tess Bright just scored her dream role starring in an adaptation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. It's not just
the role of a lifetime, but it's also her last chance to prove herself as a serious actress (no easy feat after being fired from her
last TV gig) and more importantly, it's her opportunity to honor her mom, who was the biggest fan of Jane Austen ever. But
one thing is standing in Tess's way -- well, one very tall, annoyingly handsome person, actually: Hugh Balfour.
A serious British method actor, Hugh wants nothing to do with Tess (whose Teen Choice Awards somehow don't quite
compare to his BAFTA nominations). Hugh is a type-A, no-nonsense, Royal Academy prodigy, whereas Tess is big-hearted,
a little reckless, and admittedly, kind of a mess. But the film needs chemistry -- and Tess's career depends on it.
Sparks fly, but not in the way Tess hoped, when an electrical accident sends the two feuding co-stars back in time to Jane
Austen's era. 200 years in the past with only each other to rely on, Tess and Hugh need to ad-lib their way through the
Regency period in order to make it back home, and hopefully not screw up history along the way. But if a certain someone
looks particularly dashing in those 19th century breeches... well, Tess won't be complaining.
Critique: Original, witty, and a deftly crafted blend of time travel science fiction, romance, and second chances, "The
Austen Affair" is a fun and fascinating read from start to finish. A 'must' for the legions of Jane Austen fans, time travel
sci-fi fans, and believers in true romance overcoming time and space, "The Austen Affair" is an ideal pick for community
library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Austen Affair" from St.
Martin's Griffin is also available in paperback (9781250373519, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Madeline Bell (https://us.macmillan.com/author/madelinebell) grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY and holds an
MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. Like any rom-com heroine worth her salt, she is a lovably clumsy New
Yorker with an office job in a creative field.
We Met Like This
Kasie West
Saturday Books
c/o Macmillan
www.macmillan.com
9781250349149, $19.00, HC, 368pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/We-Met-Like-This-Novel/dp/1250349141
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-met-like-this-kasie-west/1146657386
Synopsis: Can a swipe right turn into swept away?
Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic. That's why she wants to be a literary agent -- to help bring romance books to the world.
It's also why she hates dating apps with all her romance loving soul. She wants her own love story to be just as much fun as
the books she reads -- a mixed up coffee order, a mistaken identity. She's not going to tell the story that she swiped right on
future husband's shirtless pic for the rest of her life.
The problem is that her most consistent relationship over the last several years is with Oliver, a guy she keeps rematching
with on the apps. They've only been on one date and it was a disaster... well, until the make out session in the car before
parting ways. But, she keeps reminding herself, a make out session does not a relationship make. And so there will not be a
date two regardless of how witty their app banter is.
When Margot gets fired from her job on the same day she meets Oliver again, her life becomes a veritable shit show. Her
dream career is dying right before her eyes, and Oliver thinks she's interested in only one thing: a repeat of the hot make out
session they had three years ago so she can get him out of her system. And maybe that is all she wants from him, because
she and Oliver are definitely not compatible -- he doesn't hit the snooze button, he runs five miles every morning, he reads
nonfiction, and worst of all, she didn't meet him in cute way!
But in her scramble to keep her dream career alive, by opening her own agency, Oliver is there with his golden retriever
energy, more steady and helpful than any man she's ever dated. Just when she thinks she's overcome her app bias, she
realizes that maybe it's not her who's holding back, but him. And his reasons are more than she bargained for.
Critique: As the impressively talented author of a number of young adult romance novels, Kasie West now turns to writing a
more adult Rom-Com story of romance, sex and laced with humor banter -- all artfully combined to present a fun read from
start to finish. Original, cleverly crafted, and a Rom-Com fan's delight, "We Met Like This" is an extraordinary and
unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that this paperback edition of "We Met Like This" from Saturday Books is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Kasie West (http://www.kasiewest.com) is the author of more than fifteen (and counting) young adult
novels. Her books have been named ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, Junior Library Guild Selections, and ALA-YALSA Top
Ten Best Books for Young Adults. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Kasie is also the author
of We Met Like "We Met Like This" is her adult novel debut.
The Western Fiction Shelf
Showdown at Squaw Pass
Robert B. McNeill
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855326, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 204pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855326
Synopsis: When two drovers are found dead on the Western Trail near the Texas town of Cutter's Crossing, marshals Hank
Ross and Abe Naylor aim to find their killers and bring them to justice.
Their task is complicated when the local schoolteacher, Alice Carnaby, is kidnaped by the drovers' killer, who heads for
Mexico with her. Hank Ross and Abe Naylor join forces with George Bowman, a half-breed Indian tracker, and set out after
them.
Meanwhile, a sinister local rancher has his own reasons to make sure the marshals don't succeed in freeing Alice. He is an
unscrupulous individual with ambitions to run for governor in the state elections to be held in 1876.
The schoolteacher and the marshals have discovered something that could scupper his ambitions. He sends four men to
make sure that she and the marshals are eliminated. The rancher is determined there will be no witnesses -- and therefore no
trial.
Critique: A simply riveting read from start to finish, "Showdown at Squaw Pass" by Robert B. McNeill is western
action/adventure at its best. Especially appropriate and recommended for community library Western Fiction collections,
this large print paperback edition of "Showdown at Squaw Pass" from the Linford Western Library is a solid pick for the
personal reading lists of all western fiction fans and readers.
Editorial Note: A prolific author, the novels of Robert B. McNeill are listed online at Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6507084.Robert_B_McNeill
The Man Who Burned Hell!
Sam Clancy
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855784, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 253pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855784
Synopsis: The little town was Serenity: in name and nature. Then the railroad and miners came, dragging violence and death
behind them. Renamed Hell, the sleepy town changed under the rule of Ike Cordis. Known as The Devil, Cordis controlled
The Three Horsemen, the fastest guns in town. Long forgotten was the fourth horseman - a man riding a blue roan. A man
determined to make The Devil burn in Hell!
Critique: An absolute and compulsive page turner of an action/adventure western, "The Man Who Burned Hell!" by Sam
Clancy is impressively original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover. The stuff of which 1970s Spaghetti
Western Movies were made, this large print paperback edition of "The Man Who Burned Hell!" from the Linford Western
Library is a prime pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Sam Clancy is an Australian and the author of numerous Westerns. A listing of his books is online at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16371002.Sam_Clancy
McAllister's Last Ride
Bill Cartwright
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855357, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 231pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855357
Synopsis: When Marshal Brent McAllister is told by the doctor that he has less than a year to live, he decides that he will
not wait passively for death to overtake him. Instead, he determines to hunt down and dispose of the worst men in the state;
vicious and depraved criminals, whom the law cannot touch. It is McAllister's expectation that in the course of this quest, he
may find a quick and easy death from a bullet, rather than a lingering end in a hospital bed.
Critique: Original, clever, gun play packed, and a riveting read from start to finish, this large print paperback edition of
author Bill Cartwright's "McAllister's Last Ride" from the Linford Western Library is a solid and enduringly recommended
pick for both the personal reading lists of dedicated western action/adventure fans and community/public library Western
Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Bill Cartwright is also the author of "The Holdfast", "Gunfight at Hilton's Crossing", "La Jolla, Jewel of My
Childhood", and co-author of "If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Bulls: Stories from the Sideline, Locker Room, and
Press Box of the Chicago Bulls Dynasty".
McClain
Will Keen
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855234, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 229pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855234
Synopsis: Deputy Marshal McClain is found in his home, kneeling over his dead wife's body, holding the bloody knife that
had killed her. Accused of her murder, he escapes from jail and stumbles across evidence pointing to her killers. So begins a
long manhunt that takes him from Arizona to the Texas Gulf Coast and a town on the shores of Laguna Madre. There,
tangling with the Skeltons, a family of bootleggers, brings to McClain more startling information that sees him heading back
to Arizona. Tormented by guilt, he at last meets his wife's killer, and deals with him in a way he would never have
expected.
Critique: An original, riveting and deftly crafted action/adventure western, this large print paperback edition from the
Linford Western Library of "McClain" by novelist Will Keen is especially and unreservedly recommended for community
library Western Fiction collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans.
Editorial Note: Will Keen was raised in North Wales during the war years, and began writing short stories while in the army
in the 1960s. While living in Australia he had general and romance stories published in national magazines, later several
crime stories in The Alfred Hitchcock Magazine. He worked for 10 years in the 1980s and 1990s as a freelance feature
writer and photographer for two North Wales newspaper groups. Since then have published some 60 nonfiction books and
novels. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/625703.Will_Keen)
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Death at the Door
Olivia Blacke
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250336705, $28.00, HC, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Door-Cordelia-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/1250336708
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-at-the-door-olivia-blacke/1146701017
Synopsis: Ruby Young is slowly adjusting to her new life in Boston. A big part of that is her unexpected roommate -- the
ghost of the woman who lived there before. For while Cordelia Graves may no longer be breathing, it is still her apartment
and Ruby is the somewhat unwanted houseguest.
They're both happy they've managed to become friends, which is a miracle considering they struggle to communicate with
each other. Cordelia even set Ruby up with her old job.
But when Ruby discovers the body of a delivery guy at work, the new life she's been building hangs in the balance. The last
time Cordelia dragged Ruby into a murder investigation, it was almost two ghosts living in the apartment, not one.
Determined to protect Ruby, Cordelia tries to shield her from the investigation, but Ruby has other ideas. It will take both of
them working together to navigate the fine line between the dead and the living to bring a killer to light.
Critique: A delicious blending of the supernatural with the cozy mystery, "Death at the Door" by Olivia Blacke is an
original, imaginative, and just plain fun read from cover to cover. The sequel to the author's supernatural crime solving
novel, "A New Lease on Death", we are once again introduced to the unique murder mystery sleuthing team of Ruby and
Cordelia in a deftly crafted 'whodunnit' novel that will leave the reader looking eagerly toward the next thrilling adventure
of a human/ghost crime solving duo. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Death at the Door" is also readily available
for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Olivia Blacke (https://oliviablacke.com) is the Anthony Award-winning author of the Ruby and Cordelia
Mysteries, as well as the cozy Record Shop Mysteries and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries. She had her first ghost encounter
when she was five, but wasn't involved with an active crime scene until much later, when she accidentally stepped into a
chalk outline on a Manhattan sidewalk. Armed with a Criminology degree, she channels her love of the supernatural and
passion for writing into darkly humorous supernatural mysteries.
O, Deadly Night
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9798892421874, $29.99, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Night-Year-Round-Christmas-Mystery/dp/B0DT3VY4ZD
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/o-deadly-night-vicki-delany/1147464401
Synopsis: It's Christmastime in Rudolph, New York, which means it's time for the December Santa Claus parade. This year,
shop owner Merry Wilkinson has decided to decorate her float as Santa's elves' workshop and invites her landlady, Mabel
D'Angelo, to help supervise the excited children playing the elves. But when Mrs. D'Angelo doesn't show up, Merry begins
to worry.
Worry quickly turns into frustration when Mrs. D'Angelo reveals she was delayed by new neighbors moving in. As the
center for all things gossip, Mrs. D'Angelo is determined to introduce the new arrivals to the neighborhood. As the days
pass, Mrs. D'Angelo notices strange things about the newcomers, but Merry, busier than an elf in Santa's workshop, has
little time for matters that really don't concern her. But things turn from jolly to downright concerning when Mrs. D'Angelo
disappears and Merry is forced to admit that something might be terribly wrong.
With family and friends counting on her during this stressful holiday season, it is up to Merry to make sure this Christmas
doesn't end up wrapped in blood red.
Critique: Simply stated, author Vicki Delany is a master of the cozy mystery genre and her latest novel, "O, Deadly Night: A
Year-Round Christmas Mystery" is another carefully crafted and simply riveting read from start to finish. Original plotting,
an amateur female sleuth, a puzzling murder -- all set against an Xmas backdrop, "O, Deadly Night" will prove to be an
especially popular pick for library Cozy Mystery collections all year long! Looking for a Christmas themed cozy mystery?
The be advised for the personal reading lists of dedicated Vicki Delany fans that this hardcover edition of "O, Deadly Night"
from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798228659636, $45.20).
Editorial Note: Vicki Delany (https://vickidelany.com) is one of Canada's most prolific and varied crime writers and a
national bestseller in the US. She has written more than fifty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police
procedurals to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is a past chair of the Crime Writers of Canada and
cofounder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. She is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch
Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. Vicki lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
(https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/vicki-delany)
Death on Dickens Island
Allison Brook
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892420488, $29.99, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Dickens-Island-Books-Mystery/dp/B0DTP955N1
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-on-dickens-island-allison-brook/1147464345
Synopsis: Delia Dickens has come home to Dickens Island, a small island in the Long Island Sound, after a twelve-year stint
in Manhattan. She's looking forward to helping her father revitalize the general store that the family owns as well as curating
a small book nook. Most importantly, she wants to reunite with her fifteen-year-old son. But Dickens Island isn't the
peaceful town Delia remembers -- and she might be in more danger here than she ever was in the big city!
Delia's Aunt Reenie and Uncle Brad, both prominent community leaders, are at odds over the sale of a farm and its future
use. This has created friction, not only in their marriage, but amongst the citizens of the town. When a young woman, new
to the town council and friendly with Brad, is found murdered, everything escalates and reaches a new boiling point.
With Reenie and Brad both suspects in the case and at each other's throats, the townspeople start to take sides. When the
ghost of her grandmother visits her, Delia learns how past events have impacted the present, and it is up to her to expose the
farm's sordid secrets in order to catch a murderer and restore peace to her beloved island.
Critique: A part of author Allison Brook's 'On The Beach' mystery series, "Death On Dickens Island" is an especially well
constructed 'whodunnit' in the cozy mystery style of a murder mystery that involves an amateur female sleuth, interestingly
fashioned characters, and a wealth of unexpected plot twists and turns. Original, clever, and a fun read from cover to cover,
"Death On Dickens Island" is an especially recommended pick for community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections.
It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "Death on
Dickens Island" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in paperback (9798892422536, $19.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Allison Brook (https://www.marilynlevinson.com/about) writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for
young readers. She loves traveling, reading, knitting, doing Sudoku, and visiting with her grandchildren, Olivia and Jack, on
FaceTime. She lives with her feisty red cat, Sammy, on Long Island, where she writes her charming Haunted Library
mysteries. (https://cozy-mystery.com/allison-brook.html)
The Queen Who Came in from the Cold
S. J. Bennett
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892420921, $29.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Who-Came-Cold-Investigates/dp/B0DWX1PMSL
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-queen-who-came-in-from-the-cold-s-j-bennett/1147464343
Synopsis: 1961, England. -- Queen Elizabeth is spending a night on board the royal train with her entourage and her sister,
Princess Margaret. But before they reach their destination, an unreliable witness claims to have seen a brutal murder from
one of the carriages.
The Queen and her assistant private secretary, Joan McGraw, get to work on their second joint investigation. No one else
saw the crime. If there is a victim, could he be the missing photographer friend of Margaret's new husband, Tony Armstrong
Jones?
This time, the Cold War threatens to undermine the Queen's upcoming visit to Italy. She and Joan must tackle dark forces
that follow them all the way, in a tale of spies, lies, and treachery!
Critique: "The Queen Who Came In From The Cold" is the fifth novel comprising author S. J. Bennett's unique cozy
mystery series 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates'. Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, this latest
murder mystery solving adventure by the Queen will prove to be an immensely popular and special addition to community
library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of cozy mystery fans that this
hardcover edition of "The Queen Who Came In From The Cold" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in
paperback (9798892425339, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). It of interest to those new to the gifted
storytelling style of mystery author S. J. Bennett that this first four novels comprising this series include: "The Windsor
Knot", "A Three Dog Problem", "Murder Most Royal", and "A Death in Diamonds".
Editorial Note: S. J. Bennett (https://www.sjbennettbooks.com) was born in Yorkshire, England, and lives in London. An
army child, she grew up traveling around the world. Her first novel was published when she was forty-two, after a varied
career and lots of procrastination. She is the award-winning author of several books for children and teaches and podcasts
about writing.
Dying Cry: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery
Margaret Mizushima
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9798892421959, $29.99, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dying-Cry-Timber-Creek-Mystery/dp/B0DT3Z7VLT
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dying-cry-margaret-mizushima/1147464432
Synopsis: Newlyweds Mattie and Cole Walker are teaching Cole's daughters how to snowshoe in a remote canyon when a
shattering scream pierces the air. They know that somewhere ahead, someone has been injured or worse. Cole takes the girls
while Mattie and Robo go deeper into the canyon to search for the source of the scream.
From a distance, Mattie and Robo see a shadowy figure at the base of a cliff, but a rockslide buries the person under layers
of stone and shale before they can provide help. Desperate to uncover the individual in case they're still alive under the rock,
their efforts are in vain. The victim is already dead. When they investigate the canyon rim from which the person fell, they
discover evidence that indicates the fall was no accident. To make matters worse, the victim was one of Cole's friends.
The Timber Creek County investigative team springs into action, uncovering a trail of greed that leads to a killer who
threatens Mattie's cherished new family and tests her with the most difficult task she's faced in her duty as a K-9
handler.
Critique: The tenth title in author Margaret Mizushima's 'A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery' series, "Dying Cry" is another
unique, deftly crafted, and riveting novel of murder, mystery, and suspense featuring the police dog Robo. Memorable,
engaging, and a fun read for dedicated fans of animal accompanied female sleuths, crime thrillers and police procedurals,
"Dying Cry" is an ideal addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that this hardcover edition of "Dying Cry" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9798228696280, $41.99).
Editorial Note: Margaret Mizushima (https://margaretmizushima.com) writes historical novels and contemporary
mystery/suspense novels. She has authored ten novels in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series. She has served as past
president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and was elected 2019 Writer of the Year by Rocky
Mountain Fiction Writers. Her short story "Hayhook" was published in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2014
anthology, Crossing Colfax.
Murder Two Doors Down
Chuck Storla
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892423342, $29.99, HC, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Two-Doors-Down-Homicide/dp/B0DT3KSSBX
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-two-doors-down-chuck-storla/1147464300
Synopsis: Brad Hanson's life in his suburban Atlanta subdivision is unremarkable. He investigates insurance fraud, which is
as dull as it sounds, though if he's able to get a good bonus this year, his wife, Rhonda, will finally get to have her new
kitchen. His highest achievement in life is being secretary and de facto parliamentarian on the homeowners association
board, which is the center of all the neighborhood drama.
As frustrating - and heated - as the arguments over tennis court resurfacing and dog droppings may be, much like his
subdivision compatriots, Brad would never kill a neighbor, but... he might enjoy thinking about it from time to time. (Who
hasn't?)
When someone murders cranky old Inga Oskarsdotter - a frequent source of complaints to the HOA board - a literal
smoking gun turns Brad into the chief suspect. But Brad is not waiting around to be arrested - after all, he is an investigator
by trade - and he takes it upon himself to find the real killer. Then the body count starts to rise.
One thing is sure: A murderer on the block is not good for property values.
Critique: Impressively original, exceptionally compelling, deftly crafted, laced throughout with humor, originality, and
providing the reader with a first class 'whodunnit' murder mystery, "Murder Two Doors Down" by novelist and humorist
Chuck Storla is especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
collections. Clever and a fun read from cover to cover, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery
fans that this hardcover edition of "Murder Two Doors Down" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in
paperback (9798892423366. $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: After graduating with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts, Chuck Storla considered following his muse until he
saw her checks bounce because of insufficient funds. Instead, Chuck joined a well-known and occasionally well-run
computer manufacturer. Upon leaving the corporate world, he rediscovered his inner artist. Chuck also discovered the great
thing about being a writer is that the barrier to entry is incredibly low. He has learned humor can be an effective way to deal
with anger while avoiding almost all legal consequences. His short piece of fiction, "I Chat, Therefore I Am," was runner-up
for the 2023 Terry Kay Prize. You can find other examples of his writing in past editions of The eQuill, a publication of the
Atlanta Writers Club. and visit his website at: https://www.chuckstorla.com
A Wonderful Christmas Crime
Jacqueline Frost
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9798892421973, $29.99, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Wonderful-Christmas-Crime-Tree-Mystery/dp/B0DTPDMQXL
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-wonderful-christmas-crime-jacqueline-frost/1147464306
Synopsis: As Christmas descends on Mistletoe, Maine, Holly White has an extra gift for the season: a new baby on the way.
Her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, has been worried about her elevated blood pressure, and Holly has agreed to take this year
easy. Being idle has never been one of Holly's gifts, so when Evan surprises her with tickets to the town-wide dinner, she
and her many cravings thank him. But when a thief tries and fails to steal an antique ornament from the dinner's holiday
display, it's clear that someone is on the naughty list.
The thief manages to escape, but after dinner, Holly spots their lifeless body. It's clear that someone in town was keen to
kill. Evan is less than jolly to find his wife at the scene of yet another holiday homicide and asks her to promise that she'll
leave the investigating to the police. But Holly has never been one to turn down a challenge and has to get creative with the
help of a few of her friends in order to find this killer.
Will she and her friends be able to stop the killer and uncover the motive behind the attempted robbery, or will the killer
strike again and paint the town a bloody red?
Critique: Simply stated, as a novelist author Jacqueline Frost is a master of the cozy mystery genre and with the publication
of "A Wonderful Christmas Crime" she once again demonstrates her originality and genuine flair for the kind of narrative
driven storytelling style that has earned her legions of devoted fans. The stuff of which Hallmark Channel Mystery Movies
are made, "A Wonderful Christmas Crime" is a fun read for mystery buffs and a prized pick for community library
Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "A Wonderful Christmas
Crime" from Crooked Lane Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Dreamscape, 9798228696297, $49.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Julie Anne Lindsey (www.julieannelindsey.com) is an award-winning author of more than fifty novels of
mystery and romantic suspense. She also writes under the pen names Bree Baker, Jacqueline Frost, and Julie Chase.
Murder Made Her Wicked
Elizabeth Hobbs
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9798892423236, $29.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Made-Her-Wicked-Marigold/dp/B0DWX9LBFN
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-made-her-wicked-elizabeth-hobbs/1146996068
Synopsis: 1894, Boston. Penniless Boston heiress and accomplished modern woman Marigold Manners has put her past to
good use, selling the story of the Great Misery Island Murders to earn enough money to resume the life she was always
meant to have and return to her studies at Wellesley College.
But her carefully laid plans for academic excellence are thrown into disarray when she stumbles across the body of a young
woman in the campus lake.
When the peace of the bucolic campus is shattered by the murder, the cloistered world of a women's college that Marigold
finds so comforting proves it is not immune to the malice and wickedness of the world. The closed community becomes a
hothouse where disparagement blooms into insult and small slights that have festered for years blossom into academic
rivalries that could spill over into something far more sinister.
Marigold must use every ounce of her logic and enlist her eccentric, colorful cast of fellow students and found family to
identify the girl and find the murderer -- before they kill again.
Critique: With all the elements for a good cozy mystery, author Elizabeth Hobbs' new novel, "Murder Made Her World" is
impressively original while blending an historical 'whodunnit' murder mystery with an amateur female sleuth who feels a
compelling necessity to tracking down the culprit to prevent further bloodshed. A fun and compulsively engaging page-
turner of a read from cover to cover, this hardcover edition of "Murder Made Her World" from Crooked Lane Press is a
welcome and recommended pick for community library Historical Mystery/Suspense Fiction collections. It should be noted
for the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery and historical mystery fans that "Murder Made Her World" is also
available in paperback (9798892424837, $19.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798228659612, $49.95, CD)
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Hobbs (https://www.elizabethhobbsauthor.com) is a New Englander born and bred who spent her
childhood roaming the woods, making up stories about characters who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn't always
so -- long before she ever set pen to paper, Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in classics and art history
and then earned her MA in nautical archaeology from Texas A&M University. While she loved the life of an underwater
archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing historical mysteries full of wit, wickedness, and adventure.
The Tarot Reader
Finley Turner
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892423076, $29.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Reader-Novel-Finley-Turner/dp/B0DP44TPY6
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tarot-reader-finley-turner/1146606059
Synopsis: Twenty-five-year-old Jade Crawford spends her days selling crystals, conducting seances, and reading tarot cards
in her shop in Winston-Salem, NC. But her connection to the other side is all a facade. After losing their mother to a terrible
accident and their father serving jail time, Jade and her younger sister Stevie do what they can to survive. When a local
politician goes missing, Jade sees a lucrative opportunity to drum up new clients and inject some much-needed cash into
their pockets.
Jade submits a "psychic vision" to the police tipline only to discover that her shot in the dark is chillingly accurate when the
police find the politician's body. Caught in a media whirlwind, Jade revels in her newfound popularity and success, but she
quickly finds herself the target of not only a police investigation but of the killer who is still on the loose.
Critique: Original, clever, and one compulsive page turner of a read from start to finish, "The Tarot Reader" showcases
novelist Finley Turner's compelling and imaginative storytelling style which raises her murder mystery to an impressive and
memorable level of literary excellence. A fun and fascinating read that will hold immense appeal for suspense/thriller fans,
"The Tarot Reader" is a solid and recommended pick for community and public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Tarot Reader" from Crooked
Lane Press is also available in paperback (9798892423076, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Finley Turner (https://www.finleyturner.com) is a thriller writer. Initially convinced she wanted to be a
professor, she got her master's in religious studies at Wake Forest University, focusing on new religious movements, cults,
and religious violence. During her program, she applied for a student position in the university library and quickly realized
she would rather be an academic librarian than be at the front of a classroom teaching. She worked as an archivist at Wake
Forest University for six years after getting her master's in library and information science from UNC Greensboro. She now
writes and parents full time.
The Deadly Book Club
Lyn Liao Butler
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892422215, $29.99, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Book-Club-Thriller/dp/B0DTPCH8RX
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-deadly-book-club-lyn-liao-butler/1147164064
Synopsis: Five of the most prominent book influencers in the US make up an exclusive virtual book club that's the envy of
the online book world. Once a month, they get on a video call to sip cocktails, chat about social media campaigns and book
events, and discuss their monthly book club pick.
Until one meeting, when all of their screens freeze, and they listen to gut wrenching screams as one of them is brutally
attacked. It feels like an eternity before the video call drops -- and thus begins the frantic texts and phone calls as they try to
figure out who was murdered and why.
As the investigation unearths secrets each of them needs to keep buried, the jealousies, hidden resentments, and trouble in
their personal lives begin to surface. The remaining four women are suspicious of each other, pointing fingers to take the
heat off their own indiscretions.
But if they want to figure out who killed their friend, they need to band together and put past hurts behind them. Or one of
them will be next.
Critique: Deftly crafted, impressively original, and an inherently fascinating read, "The Deadly Book Club" by novelist Lyn
Liao Butler is a riveting thriller of a murder mystery that will keep the reader's full and compulsive page turning attention
from cover to cover. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community/public library
Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The
Deadly Book Club" from Crooked Lane Press is also available in paperback (9798892422918, $19.99) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Lyn Liao Butler (https://lynliaobutler.com) is a Taiwanese American author. Her thriller Someone Else's Life
was an instant Amazon bestseller and her second book Red Thread of Fate was a finalist in the WFWA Star Awards for
2023. She and her family, including two rescue dogs and a myriad of foster animals, divide their time between New York
and Kauai.
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder
Emily Soderberg
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892423458, $29.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Your-About-Murder/dp/B0DTPKB2NF
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-talk-to-your-dog-about-murder-emily-soderberg/1147543008
Synopsis: Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is struggling to get her pet behaviorist business off the ground, making ends meet as a
dog walker while keeping her eyes peeled for greener pastures. An appointment in a rich suburb of Saint Louis seems to be
her ticket to success. The wealthy Mrs. Van Meer wants Nikki to help the family's old hound dog, who is grieving the loss
of his owner. But then Mrs. Van Meer turns up dead.
With a multitude of suspects like the sketchy landscaper, the judgy housekeeper, and the rest of Mrs. Van Meer's
money-obsessed family members, Nikki's happy to sit back and let the police solve the crime. Until she learns that Mrs. Van
Meer's will leaves Nikki in charge of a sizable amount of money and the police start dogging her every step.
Life would be a lot easier if she just had to deal with the animals, but Nikki resolves to catch the real culprit and convince
the cops they're barking up the wrong tree.
Critique: Original, clever, engaging, and an ideal pick for the personal reading lists of dog lovers and cozy mystery fans
alike, "How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder" is a fun read from cover to cover. Author Emily Soderberg has a
particularly effective storytelling style that fully engages her readers and will leave them looking eagerly toward's her next
'whodunnit' mystery. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and public library Mystery/Suspense
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery enthusiasts that this hardcover edition of
"How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in paperback
(9798892423465, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Emily Soderberg (https://emilysoderberg-books.com) has always loved reading and writing mysteries. She
was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, only moving away for college. She graduated with honors from Washington
University in St. Louis, where she studied religious studies and German, subjects that have come in handy exactly twice in
her professional career. She's lived in St. Louis ever since, because moving seems like a huge hassle. These days, she spends
her free time up in the air as a trapeze and aerial hoop coach. She might be tempted to run off and join the circus, but her
cats prefer a more settled lifestyle.
Death on a Scottish Train
Lucy Connelly
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9798892421911, $29.99, HC, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Scottish-Train-Isle-Mystery/dp/B0DT3MYX11
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-on-a-scottish-train-lucy-connelly/1147464303
Synopsis: Summer is coming to a close on beautiful Sea Isle in Scotland, and Dr. Emilia McRoy is celebrating one year
since her big move. With a weeklong festival to end the season, the town gathers for a magical ride on the newly refurbished
Storyteller's Train, but the launch's success is dampened by an unexpected death.
What appears to be a case of deadly allergies is soon revealed as murder. As Emilia, her assistant Abigail, and the local
constable Ewan McGregor unravel the mystery, the killer sets their murderous intentions on them.
If they want to survive, they will need the help of all of their friends -- before they become the latest victims!
Critique: "Death on a Scottish Train" is the newest addition to author Lucy Connelly's simply outstanding cozy mystery
series 'A Scottish Isle Mystery'. Played out against the backdrop of Scotland, and featuring an amateur female murder
mystery solving protagonist, along with all the essentials of a classic cozy mystery, "Death on a Scottish Train" is a fun and
absorbing read from cover to cover. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community and
public library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of
"Death on a Scottish Train" from Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). For
librarian be it noted that "Death on a Scottish Train" is a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media,
9798228696235, $39.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Lucy Connelly (https://www.lucyconnelly.com) is also the author of "An American in Scotland". She travels
around the world, usually with her bossy dog in tow. Her favorite pastime is sipping tea in a quaint cafe as she turns each
passerby into a murder victim, witness, or suspect. If she stares at you strangely, don't worry. She only murdered you in her
book!
To Kill a Queen
Amie McNee
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892423557, $29.99, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Queen-Novel-Amie-McNee/dp/B0DWX747Q6
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-kill-a-queen-amie-mcnee/1147431766
Synopsis: London, 1579. In the treacherous alleyways of London, Jack has left behind the life of petty crime, hoping to
atone for the past by rooting out murderers. As the eldest child of a notorious and infamous figure who controls the slums,
Jack has no safe place to land and dreams of a future off the streets. When an attempt is made on the Queen's life, it falls to
Jack to catch the would-be assassin and fight for a different future.
With the help of a coroner, Damian; a sultry barmaid with a secret; and the criminal connections from Jack's past, the
unlikely investigator dives into the case. But the former thief's informants keep turning up dead, and every lead seems to
vanish just when it feels within reach. As Jack follows the trail deeper into danger, the question becomes: Who can truly be
trusted?
With the promise of security and redemption hanging overhead, Jack must uncover who orchestrated the assassination
attempt before time runs out in this historical mystery, perfect for fans of Tasha Alexander.
Critique: Exceptionally well crafted and skillfully written, "To Kill A Queen" showcases author Amie McNee's impressive
mastery of the historical mystery genre. An original and fun read from start to finish, "To Kill A Queen" is an extraordinary
and especially recommended pick for community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated historical murder mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "To Kill A Queen" from
Crooked Lane Press is also readily available in paperback (9798892423564, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Amie McNee (https://www.amiemcnee.com) is an author, speaker, and podcaster. Her fiction novels include
The Rules Upheld by No One and Regrettably, I Am About to Cause Trouble, which explore the lives of women in
16-century England. In addition to her fiction, Amie is the author of We Need Your Art, a manifesto on the vital importance
of creating. Through her online platform, Inspired to Write, and her podcast, The Unpublished Podcast, Amie shares
inspirational pep-talks, guidance, resources, and teachings with a worldwide community of both aspiring and flourishing
artists. Amie currently splits her time between speaking, writing, and creating spaces for artists to thrive, always driven by
the belief that storytelling is one of humanity's most profound acts of connection.
The Lost Heiress
Elizabeth Klehfoth
https://www.elizabethklehfoth.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662529955, $16.99, PB, 397pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Heiress-Novel-Elizabeth-Klehfoth/dp/1662529953
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lost-heiress-elizabeth-klehfoth/1147226965
Synopsis: Wealthy heiress Saoirse Towers vanished during her eighteenth birthday gala four decades ago. Now her remains
have finally been found under Cliffhaven, the aristocratic family's mansion high atop the windswept Central Coast of
California. But the mystery only deepens... for her skeleton is not alone.
In 1982, Ana Rojas arrives to care for the supposedly frail Saoirse, who turns out to be a beautiful, spirited young woman
straining against her family's standards. But Ana bears secrets of her own. She's come to Cliffhaven with a hidden agenda,
one complicated by her growing feelings for Saoirse's handsome brother.
But it's formidable housekeeper Florence Talbot who truly holds the key to the past -- a locked box teeming with secret
betrayal, forbidden love, and hard-won redemption. Casting a long shadow, one tragedy binds the three women's lives
together. And as the truth about Saoirse's fate and those it entangled comes to light, the legacy of Cliffhaven will be forever
changed.
Critique: An deftly crafted work of historical fiction that blends mystery with suspense, romance and history, "The Lost
Heiress" showcases author Elizabeth Klehfoth's genuine flair for originality and the kind of storytelling style that fully
engages her reader's attention from cover to cover. Memorable and engaging, "The Lost Heiress" will prove to be a welcome
addition to community and public library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that this trade paperback edition of "The Lost Heiress" from Lake Union Publishing is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Klehfoth (https://www.elizabethklehfoth.com) studied creative writing, earning her BFA from
Chapman University and her MFA from Indiana University, where she also taught fiction writing and composition. An an
author, Elizabeth published her first novel, "All These Beautiful Strangers", in 2018.
Hired Lover / Summer Hotel
Orrie Hitt
Stark House Noir Classics
c/o Stark House Press
www.starkhousepress.com
9798886011142, $19.95, PB, 266pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hired-Lover-Summer-Hotel-Orrie/dp/B0DM2PYVBF
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hired-lover-summer-hotel-orrie-hitt/1146548798
Synopsis: Two time lost classics of Noir Fiction by Orrie Hitt are brought back into print for the benefit of a new generation
of appreciated readers in the form of a Stark House Press double:
Hired Lover
Mike Callahan was a drifter -- a handsome one, sure, but still just a drifter. His life lacked meaning, lacked direction... until
his path crossed that of Kitty Grey. Kitty was the complete package - a beautiful girl whose body just wouldn't quit. From
that moment Mike was captivated. With a girl like Kitty beside him, he could go places, be someone. There was only one
problem. Kitty's husband.
David Grey was an old man, dried-up, worn-out, a fabulously wealthy businessman who was sick and just waiting to die.
And that was where the second problem came into it. David Grey was taking his own sweet time about dying. Kitty wanted
to hurry that process along, give it a little... help. And if Mike provided that help, he knew he could have Kitty forever.
All it would take was a little murder...
Summer Hotel
On the surface, the Parsons Ranch was just another summer resort. In fact it was a glorified brothel, where just about
anything went. Men and women could indulge their wildest fantasies - and they did. Mac Osmond had run a similar set up
once before, and as the manager, he was the guy who'd paid the price when the police raided the place.
That made Mac virtually unemployable... so he jumped at the chance when he was asked to manage the Parsons Ranch. But
the desirable Diana Shipton played her part, too. Mac wanted her from the minute he clapped eyes on her. The only problem
was, she was already married.
But George Shipton was an older man, and he was virtually crippled by diabetes. If someone was to hide George's insulin,
then just maybe Diana wouldn't stay married for long...
Critique: With an informative Introduction by Jeff Vorzimmer, this paperback edition of "Hired Lover / Summer Hotel" by
Orrie Hitt is a fascinating read that will be of special appeal to readers with an interest in Noir Crime Fiction by a master of
the genre. Highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that this paperback edition of "Hired Lover / Summer Hotel" is also readily available from Stark House Press in
a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Orrie Hitt was born in Colchester, New York, on October 27, 1916. He married Charlotte Tucker in Port
Jervis, New York, where they settled and had four children. Hitt wrote approximately 150 books over a period of about 14
years while sitting at his kitchen table surrounded by iced coffee, noisy children and Winston cigarettes. In his prime, he
wrote a new novel every two weeks. Though most of his books are now categorized as sleaze novels, Orrie Hitt perfectly
captured the not-so-quiet desperation of the working class in the continual search for sex, money and happiness. He died in
a VA hospital in Montrose, New York, from cancer on September 7, 1975.
Golden Age Christmas Mysteries
Otto Penzler, editor
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613167014, $27.95, HC, 360pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Mysteries-Presents-American-Classics/dp/1613167016
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/golden-age-christmas-mysteries-otto-penzler/1147066717
Synopsis: Christmas has served as a fertile background for mystery fiction for a very long time, perhaps because it has the
appearance of a time of peace and love while being so at odds with violence, crime, and even murder.
Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Otto Penzler, "Golden Age Christmas Mysteries" is delightful seasonal
anthology that includes holiday mystery short stories crafted by some of the greatest Golden Age mystery authors.
"Golden Age Christmas Mysteries" showcases such icons of the genre as Ellery Queen, Mary Roberts Rinehart, John D.
MacDonald, and John Dickson Carr, plus introducing lesser-known writers such as Norvell Page, Meredith Nicholson, and
Pat Frank. With chronicles that range from truly chilling to heart-warming to hilarious to puzzling, this singular volume
highlights a variety of subjects and styles as each author brings their own approach to the most wonderful time of the
year.
Critique: Comprised of fourteen outstanding short stories of Yuletide mystery selected and introduced by Edgar-winning
anthologist Otto Penzler, "Golden Age Christmas Mysteries" is a mystery lover's delight and a fun read from cover to cover.
Highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, "Golden Age Christmas Mysteries" is an ideal
Christmas gift for any and all dedicated mystery buffs. It should be noted that this hard cover edition of "Golden Age
Christmas Mysteries" from American Mystery Classics is also readily available in paperback (9781613167021, $17.95) and
in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.48).
Editorial Note: Otto Penzler, the creator of American Mystery Classics. He is also the founder of The Mysterious Press
(1975); MysteriousPress.com (2011), an electronic-book publishing company; and New York City's Mysterious Bookshop
(1979). He has won a Raven, the Ellery Queen Award, two Edgars (for the Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection, 1977,
and The Lineup, 2010), and lifetime achievement awards from NoirCon and The Strand Magazine. He has edited more than
70 anthologies and written extensively about mystery fiction
Have You Seen Him
Kimberly Lee
https://www.kimberlylee.me
Butterfly Effect Press
9798991867214, $16.99, PB, 268pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Have-You-Seen-Him-Kimberly/dp/B0FB88YBBF
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/have-you-seen-him-kimberly-lee/1147495825
Synopsis: For David Byrdsong life is just a series of daily obligations. An attorney, he lacks both ambition and the ability to
commit to a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Gayle. Abandoned by his family at an airport when he was eleven, he
learned to blunt his feelings, despite his subsequent adoption by a loving couple.
Then one day David discovers his own face in a missing child ad. Suddenly driven to uncover the truth about his past, he is
forced to tap into his inner strength as he encounters corporate conspiracies, murdered bystanders, and distressing suspicions
about the only family he's ever really trusted.
David enlists Gayle's help and the help of an unlikely stranger with secrets of his own as he attempts to find his true family
-- whoever they are.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, "Have You Seen Him" by author Kimberly Lee is an impressively engaging, cleverly
scripted, and simply riveting read from start to finish. Especially recommended fans of unique suspense thrillers, and
showcasing the author's genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that reader's will find relentlessly
compelling, "Have You Seen Him" is an unreservedly pick for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Have You Seen Him" from the Butterfly
Effect Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Kimberly Lee, JD (https://www.kimberlylee.me) is a writer, workshop facilitator, and editor with a passion
for nurturing the imaginative spirit and helping others reveal their creative gifts. She holds degrees from Stanford University
and UC Davis School of Law.
Framed: A Thriller
Patricia Grayhall
www.PatriciaGrayhall.com
Rain City Press
9798993701707, $17.99, PB, 354pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Thriller-Patricia-Grayhall/dp/B0FRCW47GW
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/framed-patricia-grayhall/1148307789
Synopsis: Environmental attorney Jo Turner is building the case of a lifetime, suing World Petrol, one of the country's
largest refineries, for toxic emissions linked to rising cancer rates along the Houston Ship Channel. Her crucial evidence
comes from Dr. Tori Nelson, a respected physician and Jo's college crush, whose research exposes devastating community
health impacts.
But just as the lawsuit gains momentum, Tori is arrested for a shocking, high-profi le bank robbery. Jo knows it's a setup.
Someone is trying to silence Tori to bury the findings that could bring World Petrol down.
As Jo races to prove Tori's innocence, she uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving Tori's estranged husband, a mysterious
woman, and shadowy figures complicit in environmental crimes. With Tori's freedom, career, and the lives of an entire
community at stake, Jo will risk it all to expose the truth-before it's too late!
Critique: Original, clever, deftly written, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, "Framed" is a consummate legal
thriller by novelist Patricia Grayhall. The stuff of which high-tension movies are made, "Framed" showcases the author's
genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader with every twist and turn of the
carefully crafted plot. This trade paperback edition of "Framed" from Rain City Press is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Patricia Grayhall (www.PatriciaGrayhall.com) is a retired medical doctor and author of the memoir,
"Making the Rounds: Defying Norms in Love and Medicine", which garnered many awards, including the 2024 National
Indie Excellence Award for LGBTQIA Non-fiction and Memoir and the 2023 Best Indie Book Award Winner in LGBTQ
Memoir.
A Very Merry Murder
Kate Wells
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836781462, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 433pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836781462
Synopsis: When Jude Gray inherited Malvern Farm, she never thought she'd become so used to farm life, let alone be good
at it! But now a beloved national TV show is coming to film their Christmas special on her land, celebrating the charm of
rural living and all Jude's achieved so far.
At least, that's the plan... until one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances.
At first, it looks like a tragic accident, but when alibis start to crack, it seems like anything but. With a growing list of
suspects and enough behind-the-scenes drama to rival anything the cameras are capturing, Jude must dig deep to uncover
the truth.
Because someone on her farm is hiding a deadly secret - and this year, the season of goodwill may come with a killer
twist...
Critique: An amateur female sleuth drawn into solving a puzzling murder, "A Very Merry Murder" by British author Kate
Wells is the essential, exceptional, original cozy mystery -- and a riveting fun read from cover to cover. A 'must' for the
legions of cozy mystery fans, this large print paperback edition of "A Very Merry Murder" from Boldwood Books is highly
recommended for both personal reading lists and community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Kate Wells (https://www.katewellscrime.co.uk) is the author of the Malvern Farm Mystery series for adults.
she also writes books for children as Kate Poels.
Murder In Trafalgar Square
Michelle Salter
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835613078, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 423.pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835613078
Synopsis: London, 1910 -- Coral Fairbanks is a contradiction. As well as a suffragette, she's a bit-part actress and nude
model, which is earning her the disapproval of her fellow suffragettes.
Guy Flynn is an artist. He's also a detective inspector at Scotland Yard, who doesn't always see eye to eye with fellow
officers in the Metropolitan Police.
When Home Secretary Winston Churchill orders the police to terrorize the suffragettes during an afternoon of violence that
becomes known as Black Friday, the battlelines are drawn -- and Coral Fairbanks and Guy Flynn are on different sides.
But when a young suffragette is found murdered in the National Portrait Gallery and one of their paintings is stolen,
Fairbanks and Flynn must put their differences aside and combine their knowledge to track down the killer.
Critique: An historical cozy mystery that is impressively original, deftly crafted, replete with unexpected plot twists, and a
simply riveting read from start to finish, this large print paperback edition of author Michelle Salter's "Murder in Trafalgar
Square" from Boldwood Books is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for both the personal reading lists
of dedicated mystery buffs and community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Michelle Salter (https://www.michellesalter.com) is the successful and prolific author of historical and cozy
crime fiction. Her acclaimed Edwardian and 1920s murder mysteries blend rich historical detail with gripping, twisting
plots. Michelle's character-driven books feature suffragettes, trailblazing women, Scotland Yard detectives, and secrets from
the First World War. When she's not writing, Michelle enjoys researching history, exploring Britain's heritage, and sharing
fascinating facts from the Edwardian era and Roaring Twenties on her blog and social media. She lives in Hampshire,
England, and loves reading classic crime novels, amateur sleuth mysteries, and Golden Age whodunits.
The Mistletoe Murder Club
Katie Marsh
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836787372, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 369pp
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836787372
Synopsis: When Clio (a former actress and currently struggling private detective) manages to score a key role in the town's
Christmas pantomime, she's secretly delighted. At last, perhaps, her talents will be recognized?
It's all going dramatically well, until their esteemed director is found murdered on the opening night. And Clio knows it's up
to her to find out who the mistletoe murderer is.
She knows her best chance of capturing the culprit is to bring her best friends Amber and Jeanie into the cast. Even if the
best way to sneak them in is to carefully conceal them both in a pantomime cow costume.
But before she can cry 'he's behind you', all of them will be in danger for their lives, as there's a murderer with only one
thing on their mind... to bring the curtain down on the Mistletoe Murder Club. Forever.
Critique: An original, impressively written, and thoroughly fun read that will be of particular interest to dedicated fans of the
cozy mystery, this large print paperback edition of author Katie Marsh's "The Mistletoe Murder Club" from Boldwood
Books will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense
collections.
Editorial Note: Katie Marsh (https://katie-marsh.com) wrote romantic fiction before turning to crime. Her debut novel was a
World Book Night pick and her books are published in twelve languages. She lives in the English countryside and loves
strong coffee and pretending to be in charge of her children. Katie spends far too much time on Instagram, where she loves
to talk all things bookish with her readers who are invited to say hello @katiemarshauthor
Rose Dhu
Mark Murphy
www.mark-e-murphy.com
GFB
c/o Girl Friday Productions
https://www.girlfridayproductions.com
9781967510702, $19.95, PB, 378pp
9781967510719, $9.99, Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Dhu-Novel-Mark-Murphy-ebook/dp/B0FR79T2B7
Girl Friday Productions
https://www.girlfridayproductions.com/titles/rose-dhu
Synopsis: Dr. Janie O'Connor's disappearance from her Savannah estate, Rose Dhu, has shocked the town to its core. Her
former fiance, Phillip Carruthers (once the most eligible bachelor in coastal Georgia and the playboy son of Savannah's most
powerful billionaire family) is the prime suspect.
Phillip maintains his innocence and seems to have an airtight alibi, and the case has local police stumped. But Detective
Frank Winger, who has his own personal connection to Janie's family, is determined to discover what happened... as long as
false witnesses, evidence tampering, and ghosts from his past don't get in the way.
When back-door dealings and long-forgotten enemies reveal themselves, will Frank be able to distinguish fact from fiction
to figure out what happened to Janie? Or will her whereabouts stay shrouded in the shadows of Savannah's live oaks?
Critique: Original, cleverly scripted, thoroughly engaging, and a fun read for dedicated mystery buffs from start to finish,
"Rose Dhu" showcases author Mark Murphy's genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven and deftly crafted storytelling
style that lifts his novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. Defined characters, a riveting plot with many
unexpected twists and turns, "Rose Dhu" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Rose
Dhu" from GFB is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Mark E. Murphy (www.mark-e-murphy.com) is a native of Savannah, Georgia. He has worked as a fast-food
worker, marine biologist, orderly, ordained minister, and gastroenterologist -- his current "day job." When he's not healing
the sick, he writes anything he can -- newspaper columns, short stories, magazine articles, and textbook chapters. "Rose
Dhu" is his third novel.
Wrong Hand Right
William Michael Ried
https://www.wmrauthor.com
CK Books Publishing
https://ckbookspublishing.com
9781966219163, $15.99, PB, 284pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Hand-Right-William-Michael/dp/1966219164
Synopsis: In the neon-glare and grit of 1980s New York with its graffiti-streaked subways, squeegee men at stop lights, dive
bars and an old-world gentlemen's club, left-handed lawyer Finnegan Alger has built a routine of chasing trademark
counterfeiters and hapless romance -- until a deadly crime upends his life.
Navy pilots are dying, and Finn stumbles upon the cause. This should be the big break to make his career, but why does
everyone press him to look away? A pervasive cover-up forces him to confront more than the ghosts of his childhood
tragedy and grudge against the right-handed world. In a city built on ambition and silence, what will one outsider risk for
justice -- or retribution?
Critique: Riveting, original, exceptional, deftly crafted and an inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "Wrong Hand
Right" is an extraordinary blend of legal thriller and conspiratorial urban crime fiction. Showcasing author William Michael
Ried's extraordinary storytelling style as a novelist, "Wrong Hand Right" is an especially and unreservedly recommended
addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of
suspense/thriller fans that this paperback edition of "Wrong Hand Right" from CK Books Publishing is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: William Michael Ried (https://www.wmrauthor.com) practices law in New York City and is the author of
four other award-winning novels: "Five Ferries", "Backstory", "Pandion" and "Two Degrees: A Climate Change Novel".
A Shot of Scandal
Simone Stier
https://simonestier.com
Independently Published
9798338603468, $12.99, PB, 244pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Shot-Scandal-Cafe-Crimes-Mystery/dp/B0DGF21V5Q
Synopsis: Parker Hayes (a former true-crime podcaster turned aspiring cafe owner) thought swapping the hustle of big-city
life for the charm of Magnolia Grove would be a piece of cake... or at least a slice of pie! But when a high-society gala at the
historic Beauregard Mansion ends with a murder and the theft of the priceless Magnolia Rose necklace, Parker's peaceful
plans quickly go up in steam.
Between renovating her new cafe and navigating small-town secrets, Parker finds herself in the middle of a mystery steeped
in scandal, lies and lattes. Can she sift through Magnolia Grove's dirty laundry, catch a killer and still get her cafe up and
running?
Critique: Another gem of a cozy mystery by Simone Stier, "A Shot of Scandal" is the latest addition to her 'A Cafe Crimes
Cozy Mystery' series. Original, clever, well written, and a memorably fun read from cover to cover, "A Shot of Scandal"
continues to showcase Simone Stier's gift for the cozy mystery genre where an amateur female sleuth finds herself having to
solve a puzzling 'whodunnit' murder mystery. While a very highly recommended pick for community/public library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of Simone Stier fans that this
hardcover edition of "A Shot of Scandal" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Simone Stier (https://simonestier.com) is the author of the Cafe Crimes cozy mystery series, featuring quirky
characters, small-town secrets and twisty whodunits. Alongside her husband Peter, she writes heartwarming mysteries with
a dash of humor and Southern charm.
Editorial Note #2: Simone Stier's "Cafe Crimes" series are 'stand alone' reads and is currently comprised thus far of:
A Shot of Scandal
A Drizzle of Danger
A Blend of Betrayal
A Measure of Mayhem
A Sprinkle of Secrets
A Hint of Homicide
A Dash of Deceit
A Pinch of Peril
A Brew of Blunders
A Roast of Revenge
A Crumble of Chaos
A Dusting of Doubt
A Twist of Trouble
A Dollop of Disaster
A Whisk of Woes
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Motherless America: How History Became Mute
Jonathan DeCoteau
Animus Nor Books
9798999419613, $9.99, PB, 200pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Motherless-America-History-Became-Mute/dp/B0FH4VX435
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/motherless-america-jonathan-decoteau/1147945396
Synopsis: In an uncertain future, nothing is more dangerous than an original idea. The Oracle, the greatest artificial
intelligence program ever known, has erased history. In its place, The Oracle has created a post-racial society canceling
words, peoples, moments, and ideas that cause the slightest disturbance to the greater peace. The Oracle controls all thought
and language.
Gabriel Prosser, the slave behind Gabriel's Rebellion, is reborn with an original idea: that mankind should be free. He pulls
back the veil of the cybernetic world to realize that The Oracle is lying about history, insisting that slavery never existed.
Now Gabriel must fight The Oracle's top security file to stage a new rebellion. Gabriel must free an America unaware it's
even enslaved from the very technology that binds it!
Critique: Original, unique, clever, exceptional, deftly crafted, and a simply fascinating, thought-provoking read, "Motherless
America: How History Became Mute" will be of special interest to fans of science fiction in general, and dystopian novels
in particular. Author Jonathan DeCoteau has a fertile imagination and a genuine flair for the kind of vivid, narrative driven
storytelling style that keeps the reader's rapt attention from start to finish. The kind of novel 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, "Motherless America: How
History Became Mute" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Motherless America: How History
Became Mute" from Animus Nor Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, 2.99).
Editorial Note: Jonathan DeCoteau is a nature lover who is firmly convinced that animals are smarter than most humans. He
lives and teaches in beautiful, pastoral New England. See on-line character profiles and author info at
www.waroftheanimals.com
The Tartarus Conspiracy: Seven Thrilling Days Before Dystopia
William J. Oxfield, author
Diego Sanguino, illustrator
Mark Legatt and Rodney Hatfield, contributors
Oxfield Books
9789083611129, $24.99, HC, 500pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tartarus-Conspiracy-Thrilling-Before-Dystopia/dp/9083611124
Synopsis: What begins with a cryptic phone call plunges investigative journalist Amanda VanderBilt into a labyrinth of
hidden research, secret military experiments, and a conspiracy so vast it spans continents, faiths, and centuries.
Her grandfather vanished decades ago in a top-secret facility. Her father, once a respected historian, was discredited for
uncovering too much. Now Amanda must follow their trail into the shadows they died to expose, before reality itself is
rewritten by powers older than civilization.
From encrypted notebooks to bloodstained sigils, from Washington's corridors of influence to sacred sites in India and Iran,
she uncovers a chilling truth. The Watchers, exiled beings once dismissed as religious myth, are awakening beneath the
surface of world events. As celestial alignments converge and religious prophecies blur into terrifying unity, individuals
across the globe begin to vanish without explanation.
With only seven days before a cataclysmic revelation, Amanda races to connect the final pieces. Humanity's last hope may
lie in the hands of those the world has long forgotten.
Critique: Original, riveting, deftly crafted, and an inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "The Tartarus Conspiracy:
Seven Thrilling Days Before Dystopia" by the team of William J. Oxfield (Author), Diego Sanguino (Illustrator), Mark
Legatt and Rodney Hatfield (Contributors) is a gripping dystopian thriller laced with elements of fantasy/science fiction and
blending ancient myth, geopolitical intrigue, and apocalyptic prophecy into a relentless tale of survival and revelation.
Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community/public library Fantasy & Science
Fiction dystopian thriller collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Tartarus Conspiracy: Seven
Thrilling Days Before Dystopia" from Oxfield Books is also readily available in paperback (9789083611112, $17.990 and
in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note #1: William J. Oxfield is a writer, pianist, and analytical thinker who believes that every story begins where
certainty ends. Largely self-taught in both music and writing, he has spent over a decade exploring how truth, perception,
and belief shape the human experience.
By day, William leads operations in IT infrastructure, managing a team of more than 200 professionals and service partners
across the globe. The precision and systems thinking of his professional life contrast sharply - and harmoniously - with the
creative freedom of his nights, where he composes stories and melodies that ask what lies beneath order and chaos.
His debut novel, The Tartarus Conspiracy: Seven Thrilling Days Before Dystopia, is the culmination of twelve years of
imagination, discipline, and rediscovery. What began as a challenge to create outside music became a world of secrets,
myths, and philosophical intrigue - anchored by a question that haunts his characters and himself: what if truth isn't relative,
only hidden?
William has already completed the drafts for his next stories, continuing his exploration of the boundaries between truth and
illusion. When he isn't writing, he finds calm behind the piano, running and being with his family.
Island and Main: The Sudden Quiet
Joshua Veith
https://www.joshuaveith.com
Independently Published
9798281411936, $65.00, HC, 486pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Island-Main-Sudden-Quiet-Book/dp/B0F7LN8FQT
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/island-and-main-joshua-veith/1145640286
Synopsis: Society has collapsed, the modern age has expired, and global mortality is curving toward 99 percent. In northern
Michigan, the electrical grid has been down for over a year.
Three scouts, all uninfected, start on a mission from Beaver Island to the darkened mainland.
They're on a search for allies and information, led by Keith Two-Crow, a Vietnam veteran and Ojibwe elder. Keith's two
charges, Mukwa and Miin, are foster siblings unrelated by blood but connected to the green-pulse of the planet by their
adoptive grandmother, Samantha, a traditional healer and mystic.
After reaching the mainland, the scouts are targeted by traffickers, befriended by eco-elves, and are astonished at Mother
Nature's resurgence and recovery.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, compelling, "Island and Main: The Sudden Quiet" by novelist Joshua Veith is Book 1 of a
2 volume series and will have an extraordinary appeal to readers with an interest in Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic fiction.
While "Island and Main" is a dark and dramatic exploration of the collapse of human civilization, it also has an ultimate
message of hope, healing, and redemption made possible by the perseverance and recovery made possible by the support of
community and a respect for the healing qualities of nature. An entertaining and fascinating read from start to finish, "Island
and Main: The Sudden Quiet" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated SF fans that this hardcover edition of "Island and
Main: The Sudden Quiet" is also readily available in paperback (9781961302624, $19.95) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $7.95).
Editorial Note: Joshua Veith (https://www.joshuaveith.com) is an educator, adventurer, and outdoor enthusiast. He earned
an MA in Literature from Eastern Michigan University. Josh strives to be an Indigenous ally, recognizing that traditional
relationships with the environment offer the most sustainable pathways for humankind's interaction with the planet.
Witches of Honeysuckle House
Liz Parker
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9798892422901, $29.95, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Honeysuckle-House-Liz-Parker/dp/B0DTP1LQ5Z
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witches-of-honeysuckle-house-liz-parker/1146801208
Synopsis: Florence and Evie Caldwell have long disagreed on how to break their family's curse, and tension has been high
since their mother's death thirteen years ago. Honeysuckle House, the family estate where every Caldwell has lived, now
only houses one of the sisters. Evie has crafted it into an enchanted bed-and-breakfast while Florence runs a magical
bookstore in town, refusing to even set foot inside Honeysuckle House.
But when the house starts behaving dangerously and catches fire, Florence and Evie must set aside their differences and dig
into past generations of their family and the town's history before the curse claims someone they love.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Witches of Honeysuckle House" by novelist Liz
Parker is an impressive blending of suspense, romance, fantasy and sisterhood that makes it an ideal and welcome pick for
both personal reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Witches of
Honeysuckle House" from Alcove Press is also readily available in paperback (9798892421997, $19.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Liz Parker (https://www.lizparkerwrites.com) is also the author of "In the Shadow Garden", and "The Other
March Sisters". An herbalist and a witch, Liz lives in Los Angeles and is a practitioner of tarot, of astrology, and enjoys
talking to plants.
An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder
K. Valentin
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9798892423427, $29.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Amateur-Witchs-Guide-Murder-Novel/dp/B0DT3S7DX3
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amateur-witchs-guide-to-murder-k-valentin/1146913080
Synopsis: Mateo's mother forbade him from ever using magic, but now that she's gone, magic's his only marketable skill,
and he'd really like an exorcism -- which costs money he doesn't have. What's the harm in making a quick buck by calling
himself an Occult Specialist and chanting a few half-remembered spells in his crappy Spanish?
Enter Topher, a naive nepo baby with a curse that keeps killing people around him. Most importantly, he's rich and too
clueless to perceive that Mateo and his astral projecting best friend Ophelia have never actually had a client before. Lifting
Topher's bad luck curse should be simple, but as luck would have it, nothing is simple, and Topher (who Mateo sort of, kind
of likes) might be at the center of a deadly magical conspiracy.
To make matters worse, the more magic Mateo does, the stronger the demon inside him grows and the more he wants to eat
people. But would caving to the urges of an ancient evil really be that bad if it helps him get a payday?
Critique: Part fantasy, part mystery, part suspense thriller, and a thoroughly fun read from start to finish, it is all the more
impressive when considering that "An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder" is author K. Valentin's debut as a novelist.
Original, clever, deftly scripted, "An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder" is an extraordinary and solidly recommended
addition to personal and community library Romantic Fantasy and action/adventure LGBTQ+ themed collections. It should
be noted that this hardcover edition of "An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder" from Alcove Press is also available in
paperback (9798892423434, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: K. Valentin (https://www.kvalentin.com) works as a senior art director in casual gaming, herding
twenty-plus amazing artists into some semblance of organization. She has been published in the Bag of Bones Horror
Anthology, the Latino Book Review, and Cosmos: An Anthology of Dark Microfiction. As a comic writer and illustrator,
her work has been published in Puerto Rico Strong and Proud: An LGBTQ+ YA Anthology. She has a BA in creative
writing from Southern New Hampshire University.
Tarou: The Fall
Dana Fredsti and David Fitzgerald
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9798874748449, $19.99, PB, 390pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tarou-Dana-Fredsti-David-Fitzgerald/dp/B0F4GPXBTB
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tarou-dana-fredsti/1147266296
Synopsis: The magnificent empire of Tarou is a panoply of dreams and wonder, the envy of the world. Its ships rule the seas
and air, its magics and science bring forth new learning, and its tutelary gods smile upon all the many peoples and cultures
of its shining lands. But even now, at the peak of its glory, the highest religious leaders of Tarou secretly dream of even
greater power--enough to wrest the empire from its rightful rulers.
Alia is a warrior without equal, but even a captain as great as she must bow to the demands of duty. With her arranged
marriage only weeks away, she, her betrothed, and their escort undertake the journey to the empire's capital--but unexpected
hazards lie in wait.
Magpie is a petty thief and con artist, hoping to score big during the Imperial Festival--though his timing could not be
worse.
However, none of them are prepared when a forbidden magical experiment goes wrong, unleashing an apocalypse that
engulfs the city. Before their paths converge, they all must face a cataclysm unlike any the world has ever seen ...
Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins. Emperor and Empress, High Priestess and Hierophant. Light and Dark. Life and Death.
The evocative symbolism and arcana bound up within the cards of the tarot have fascinated seekers for centuries. Now the
heroic fantasy novel "Tarou: The Fall", co-authored by Dana Fredsti and David Fitzgerald, imagines the reality that inspired
the mystical -- the real fantasy world of which all our rich tarot imagery is but a shadow.
Critique: Whether it's called Heroic Fantasy, Swords & Sorcery, or Historical Fantasy, "Tarou: The Fall" clearly documents
co-authors Dana Fredsti and David Fitzgerald as masters of the genre and that their new novel (inspired by the Tarot) is a
simply riveting read from cover to cover. Original, deftly crafted, fascinating, "Tarou: The Fall" is an extraordinary and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community/public library Fantasy Fiction
collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Tarou: The Fall" from Blackstone Publishing is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing,
9798212563680, $35.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Dana Fredsti (http://danafredsti.com) is the author of the Plague Town trilogy, and an actress with a
background in theatrical sword fighting whose screen credits include the cult classic Army of Darkness. She has been a
producer, director, and writer for stage and film. David Fitzgerald is an award-winning fiction and nonfiction author and
editor. His works include Nailed, The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion, Under the Kilt, and Demon Lovers
(co-edited with Dana Fredsti).
Editorial Note #2: David Fitzgerald (https://www.davidfitzgeraldauthor.com) is an author living in Dublin, Ireland and the
founder of Dark Legend Books. A graphic designer by profession, David has been fascinated by epic fantasy from a very
young age. Dark Legend: Beyond the Mountain, is his first novel and Book One in The Dark Legend Saga. Book Two is due
to be released mid-2026.
Baen Books
www.baen.com
New arrivals from Baen pair intriguing plots with strong characters that will engross fans of fantasy and military drama
alike.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fate-Soldier-Arcanum-Haskins/dp/1668072807
A.C. Haskins presents Blood and Fate (9781668072806, $18.00) for urban fantasy fans, depicting how Thomas Quinn seeks
a quiet life after saving the world for a second time, but falls into a magical dilemma when he investigates the Otherworld,
becomes involved with a lovely Faerie woman, and faces the Norns and other challenges. The pairing of lively urban
settings and clashes between different forces makes for a thoroughly engrossing new adventure.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Flag-Exile-Honor-Harrington-5/dp/0671319809
David Weber's Honor Harrington adventure Flag in Exile (9781668072813, $18.00) tells of a disgraced, broken military
leader whose retreat to the planet Grayson doesn't offer her solace because an uprising sparks a new Navy that requires her
leadership. Too many people want Honor dead. Honor herself tries to evade a new duty, but the forces that would invade her
world and life force her to re-enter the world of battle and murder. As turmoil erupts around her, Honor is forced into some
very uncomfortable personal and professional positions that will once again change and challenge her life. Prior fans of
Honor Harrington will be delighted by her new adventure, which is thoroughly engaging, immersive, and will prove
especially rich for those who are already followers of Honor's many exploits.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Swords-Larceny-David-Afsharirad/dp/1668072874
David Afsharirad and Mark Finn edit Swords & Larceny (9781668072875, $18.00), which enjoys fantasy contributions of
short stories by Wen Spencer, Tim Akers, and others who are interested in the presence of thieves in fantasy adventures.
From stealing crown jewels or a dragon's hoard to heists and capers driven by creative thinking and unpredictable
encounters, this fantasy collections harbors elves, dungeons, goblins, dragons and more in a satisfyingly diverse collection
of tales that delight.
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Plague-Magic-Arcane-Hoard/dp/1668072858
Marisa Wolf's A Plague of Magic (9781668072851, $18.00) is set in an era where magic has been outlawed for centuries,
with the world's haunted corners forbidden territory for such as Cima and her crew. The scavengers aren't above entering
such corners when they are forced into them, however, and when they recover a hoard that will restore the balance of magic
to the world, they find they are playing with unfamiliar fire instead of reaping riches. Will Cima and her gang reinvent the
world? A powerful story of what happens when everything explodes around them will delight and intrigue fantasy readers
with a different kind of adventure.
The Poetry Shelf
Dissociative Effect
Jacqueline S. Redmer
Shanti Arts
https://shantiarts.co
9781962082822, $15.95, PB, 86pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dissociative-Effect-Jacqueline-S-Redmer/dp/1962082822
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dissociative-effect-jacqueline-s-redmer/1148304369
Shanti Arts
https://shantiarts.co/uploads/files/pqr/REDMER_EFFECT.html
Synopsis: "Dissociative Effect" by physical and poet Jacqueline S. Redmer offers reflections on several common narratives
of girlhood as well as the her own personal journey to a more embodied self. In the introduction.
The poetry of Dr. Redmer reminds us that humans have evolved to "think in stories, to talk in stories, to narrate an unfolding
autobiography to ourselves in stories..." She also reminds us that the narrative process is a template for healing as our
narrative lives can be rewritten, retold, restoried.
The "dissociative effect" is a reference to the anesthetic ketamine and the distance one can sometimes feel from living an
embodied, authentic life. It is also a testimonial to the perspective that is a necessary part of healing and the wisdom that can
come from aging.
Dr. Redmer uses "Dissociative Effect" as her own blueprint for healing, exposing lessons learned when one looks deeply at
the difficulties encountered in living a life. She writes, "I opened you up to me. And there/in the radiance of darkness/were
the seeds for a deserving life." The topics covered in this manuscript are universal, and many readers will connect deeply
with this content.
Critique: Original, deftly scripted, insightful, thought provoking, written with both wit and wisdom, intimately personal yet
with a universal resonance, the verse comprising "Dissociative Effect" by Dr. Jacqueline Redmer is an absorbing,
meditative, and fascinating collection -- and one that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it has been
finished and set back upon the shelf. This paperback edition of "Dissociative Effect" from Shanti Arts is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Contemporary American Poetry collections.
Editorial Note: Jacqueline S. Redmer M.D. (https://www.jacquelineredmer.com) practices family medicine and palliative
care in the Driftless Region of southwest Wisconsin. She started writing poetry during the Covid pandemic to steady herself
during the brief pauses of a busy life. Her writing has been published in Examined Life Journal, The Intima Journal,
Bramble, Wisconsin Poets Calendar, and Kevin MD Blog. She recently completed the Columbia University Narrative
Medicine CPA program and has pursued creative writing courses through Stanford University Continuing Studies Program.
On a personal note -- her favorite place to write is in her backyard sauna.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Walt Disney's Donald Duck "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold"
Carl Barks
Fantagraphics
www.fantagraphics.com
9798875001130, $39.99, HC, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disneys-Donald-Finds-Pirate/dp/B0DLZ1QWP3
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/walt-disneys-donald-duck-donald-duck-finds-pirate-gold-carl-barks/1146518057
Synopsis: With the publication of "Walt Disney's Donald Duck "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold": The Complete Carl Barks
Disney Library Vol. 1", Fantagraphics presents Carl Barks's very first Donald Duck stories! This is where it all started, as
Carl Barks took control of Donald Duck's comic book adventures and began a series of clever, creative, complex, and
comedic stories that would continue under his cartooning brilliance for more than 20 years -- and would guarantee his place
in comics history.
Volume 1 in "The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library" is, naturally, filled with firsts: Barks's first comic book story
(starring Pluto), the first Donald Duck story created for an American comic book (and also the first to see Donald and his
nephews go on a treasure hunt), Barks's first Donald 10-pager, Barks's first truly solo Donald Duck story, and Barks's first
solo longer-form Donald Duck adventure ("The Mummy's Ring").
With more than 200 pages of story and art, each meticulously restored and newly colored, and the insightful story notes by
an international panel of Barks experts, this long-awaited collection of stories makes clear what generations of Disney fans
have always known: Carl Barks's work as The Good Duck Artist is some of the greatest American cartooning in the history
of the medium.
Critique: With full-color illustrations throughout and issue in a graphic novel format, "Walt Disney's Donald Duck "Donald
Duck Finds Pirate Gold": The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 1" is a 'must' for the legions of dedicated Donald
Duck fans and an ideal, welcome introduction to one of Walt Disney's most popular characters (arguably second to only
Mickey Mouse) in the comic book adaptations of Disney characters. A fun read from cover to cover, "Walt Disney's Donald
Duck "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold": The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 1" also features Bonus Story Notes,
'Comic Readers Find Comic Gold' by Maggie Thompson, 'Carl Barks: Life Among the Ducks' by Carl Barks, a listing of the
contributors, a listing of 'Where Did These Duck Stories First Appear', and 'The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library'.
While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.99), this hardcover edition from Fantagraphics is a unique and
solidly recommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library Comics & Graphic Novels
collections.
Editorial Note: Carl Barks (March 27, 1901 - August 25, 2000) was one of the most brilliant and acclaimed cartoonists of
the 20th century, entertained millions of readers around the world with his timeless tales of Donald Duck and Barks's most
famous character creation, Uncle Scrooge. Over the course of his career, he wrote and drew more than 500 comics stories
totaling more than 6,000 pages, most anonymously. He achieved international acclaim only after he semi-retired in 1968.
Among many other honors, Barks was one of the three initial inductees into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame in
1987. (The other two were Jack Kirby and Will Eisner.) In 1991, Barks became the first Disney comic book artist to be
recognized as a "Disney Legend," a special award created by Disney "to acknowledge and honor the many individuals
whose imagination, talents, and dreams have created the Disney magic." He has been similarly honored in many other
countries around the world.
Turn Loose Our Death Rays And Kill Them All!
Fletcher Hanks, author
Paul Karasik, editor
Fantagraphics
www.fantagraphics.com
9798875001444, $44.99, PB, 376pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Loose-Death-Rays-Kill/dp/B0DXSWQZJB
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/turn-loose-our-death-rays-and-kill-them-all-fletcher-hanks/1123506755
Fantagraphics
https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/turn-loose-our-death-rays-and-kill-them-all-the-complete-works-of-fletcher-hank
s-softcover
Synopsis: Fletcher Hanks was arguably the first great comic book auteur: He wrote, penciled, inked, and lettered all of his
own stories -- which was an unprecedented solo act in the 1940s comic book industry. Between 1939 and 1941 he created
nearly 50 comics stories, all unified by a uniquely artistic vision that was primitive, bizarre, and singularly
idiosyncratic.
Whether it's the superhero Stardust doling out ice cold slabs of poetic justice, or the jungle protectress Fantomah tearing
evildoers from limb to ragged limb, contemporary readers will be stunned by the pop surrealism and unfiltered violent
mayhem of Hanks' work.
Featuring full-color illustrations throughout, deftly edited by Paul Karasik, the new paperback edition of "Turn Loose Our
Death Rays And Kill Them All!: The Complete Works Of Fletcher Hanks" from Fantagraphics brings back into print all of
Hanks' previously published material and is the most complete collection of his work.
Critique: Fletcher Hanks Sr. was an iconic American cartoonist from the Golden Age of Comic Books, who wrote and drew
stories detailing the adventures of all-powerful, supernatural heroes and their elaborate punishments of transgressors. Hanks
also worked under a number of pen names, including Hank Christy, Charles Netcher, C. C. Starr, and Barclay Flagg. Hanks
was active in comic books from 1939 until his death in 1941. This large format (7.8 x 1.2 x 10.3 inches, 2.95 pounds) trade
paperback edition of "Turn Loose Our Death Rays And Kill Them All!: The Complete Works Of Fletcher Hanks" is a
highly recommended acquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American
Comics/Graphic Novels collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Bringing back from an undeserved obscurity
the work of an exemplary comic book writer/illustrator from the pre-World War 2 era of the American comic book, it
should be noted that "Turn Loose Our Death Rays And Kill Them All!: The Complete Works Of Fletcher Hanks" is also
readily available from Fantagraphics in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.99).
Editorial Note #1: Fletcher Hanks (December 1, 1889 - January 22, 1976) was an artist who, under various pseudonyms,
wrote, drew, penciled, and inked his entire body of comics work from 1939 - 1941. Some consider his Fantomah character
to be the first female superhero. He was an abusive alcoholic who was found frozen to death on a park bench.
Editorial Note #2: Paul Karasik (https://www.paulkarasikcomics.com) is a cartoonist who appears in the New Yorker, the
co-author (along with David Mazzucchelli) of the perennial graphic novel classic City of Glass, adapted from Paul Auster's
novel, and the co-author (with Marc Newgarden) of the ultimate deconstruction of Ernie Bushmiller's Nancy, How to Read
Nancy.
The Audiobook Shelf
Fate of Echoes and Embers
C.L. Mecca, author
Kate Handford, narrator
Max Dowler, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836563006, $90.95/$77.31, CD (9 Hours 3 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/uk/search/9781836563006
Synopsis: Marek spent years running from a past that still haunts him, and for an immortal, that's a hell of a long time. But
when an ancient power rises from the ocean's depths, he is forced back into the one place he swore he'd never return. And
into the arms of the only woman he ever loved.
Lady Isolde has built her life on control... of her lands, her legacy, and the feelings she buried the day a dashing Thalassarian
captain disappeared. When he returns, asking for her help to retrieve the legendary Wind Crystal, she agrees, even knowing
it could destroy her all over again.
The sea is rising. War is coming to Elydor. And the only thing more dangerous than the mission ahead is the passion
between Marek and Isolde that never really died.
Critique: Brought vividly to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' joint performance by co-narrators Kate Handford and Max
Dowler, "Fate of Echoes and Embers" by novelist C. L. Mecca will prove to be of special appeal to fans of the heroic
fantasy saga. Part of the author's 'Heirs of Elydor' series, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Fate of
Echoes and Embers" from Boldwood Books, with its hardcover plastic clamshell container, is an ideal selection pick for
community/public library Fantasy Fiction audio book collections. It should be noted for personal acquisition that "Fate of
Echoes and Embers" is also readily available in an MP3-CD format (9781836563013, $90.95/$71.31) and in a large print
paperback edition (9781836563068, $42.00/$35.70).
Editorial Note #1: C.L. Mecca (https://meccaromance.com) writes romantasy and paranormal romance filled with slow-burn
heat, magical worlds, and morally gray heroes. Her stories explore the thrill of forbidden magic, the weight of destiny, and
what it means to choose love without losing yourself.
Editorial Note #2: Kate Handford (https://www.voicesquad.com/artist/kate-handford) is an actress and award winning voice
artist. She has narrated over 150 audiobooks, has been awarded an Earphones Award by Audiofile Magazine, and regularly
works with Penguin, Macmillan, Bloomsbury and Hachette. She also narrates for The Guardian Long Read; features in
video games like Horizon: Kate is also a Shakespeare Tutor at the British American Drama Academy in London, and serves
as an audition panelist for MA Acting at her alma mater, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Editorial Note #3: There is an online listing of books narrated by Max Dowler at Goodreads
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16876039.Max_Dowler)
Valour
Richard Cullen, author
Mark Meadows, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836033691, $107.95/$91.76, CD (11 Hours 32 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836033691
Synopsis: Burzenland 1223 AD -- King Andras II of Hungary has invited the Teutonic Knights to secure his eastern frontier
against the nomadic Cuman raiders, establishing fortresses along the Carpathian Mountains to quell the constant incursions
by pagan clans.
Estienne Wace, has found purpose serving at the Order's fortress of Rosenau, and he has earned respect through his
unflinching courage. When a Christian mission, led by Fabrisse of Avallon, arrives determined to convert a pagan clan
beyond the mountains, Estienne's warnings of danger fall on deaf ears.
News soon arrives of Fabrisse's capture and Estienne, along with a small band of knights, undertake a desperate rescue
mission through hostile territory where Estienne will face trials beyond endurance.
In the ensuing crucible of violence, he must decide what price he is willing to sacrifice for survival, justice, and redemption,
in a land where mercy is a luxury few can afford.
Critique: Original, imaginative, engaging, and a 'must' for anyone with an interest in carefully crafted and memorably
narrated historical action/adventure fiction set in medieval times, this complete and unabridged audio book of author
Richard Cullen's "Valour" from Boldwood Books is brilliantly brought to life by talented vocal actor Mark Meadows who
creates a true 'theatre of the mind" experience for the listener. Featuring a hard plastic case for an extended shelf life,
"Valour" is highly recommended for community library Historical Fiction audio book collections. It should be noted that
"Valour" is also available in an MP3-CD format (9781836033707, $107.95/$91.76) and in a large print paperback edition
(9781836033752, $42.00/$35.70).
Editorial Note #1: Richard Cullen is a writer of historical adventure from Leeds in the heartland of Yorkshire. His most
recent series, the Chronicles of the Black Lion, published by Boldwood Books, follows errant knight Estienne Wace through
the chaotic years of the early 13th Century. Book 1, Rebellion, and Book 2, Crusade, Book 3, Valour. As well as being a
writer of historical fiction, Richard has also written a number of epic fantasy series as R.S.Ford. He can be visited on his
website, Wordhog, and followed on Twitter at @rich4ord, or Instagram at thewordhog.
Editorial Note: Mark Meadows is an experienced narrator and actor who has narrated over 100 audiobooks. His works
include the 2013 Man Booker Prize winner The Luminaries as well as voice work for Ridley Scott's Prometheus. In addition
to his extensive theater, film, and television credits, he frequently contributes to plays, musicals, and readings for BBC
Radio 3 and 4. (https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Mark+Meadows)
Camelot: The Chronicles of Arthur
Peter Gibbons, author
Sean Barrett, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835182543, $107.95/$91.76, CD (10 Hours 50 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835182543
Synopsis: With the abandonment of the Romans, Britain is sliding further and further into darkness. It has become a
splintered land ruled by brutal Kings in their hilltop fortresses and besieged by Saxon invaders.
Wielding Excalibur, Arthur Pendragon, king of kings is now all that stands between Britain and Saxon conquest.
His call to arms to unite against the Saxon invasion as one army is rebuked. Ancient rivalries, jealousy, and bitterness
prevent Arthur from uniting his countrymen in defiance of the savage Saxon warlords who have seized Britain's east and
south coast.
Arthur must face and defeat enemies within his own kingdom, and then unite the kingdoms of Britain in a war that will
shake the country's very foundations.
Can Arthur succeed with vicious enemies all around him? Merlin, Lancelot, Bors, Gawain and Kai join their swords to
Arthur's iron will as they do battle for Britain's very existence.
Critique: Original, riveting, and presenting author Peter Gibbons's absorbing historical series set in the ancient kingdoms of
post-Roman Britain, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Camelot: The Chronicles of Arthur" from
Boldwood Books is impressively narrated by the exceptionally talented vocal actor Sean Barrett. A fun and compelling
production from start to finish, this CD edition with its protective hard-shell plastic casing is an ideal and recommended
addition to community and public library Historical Fiction audio book collections. It should be noted for Peter Gibbons'
fans that "Camelot: The Chronicles of Arthur" is also available in an MP3-CD format (9781835182550, $107.95/$91.76)
and in a large print paperback edition (9781835182611, $42.00/$35.70).
Editorial Note #1: Peter Gibbons (https://petermgibbons.com) is an author based in Kildare in Ireland, with a passion for
Historical Fiction, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. His books include the Viking Blood and Blade Saga, the Saxon Warrior
series, and the Chronicles of Arthur series.
Ashes of Rebellion
Michael Jecks, author
John Telfer, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781837032761, $100.95/$85.81, CD (8 Hours 23 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781837032761
Synopsis: 1358 A.D. Northern France.
In a land ravaged by war, King John II is the prisoner of the King of England. His son, the teenaged Dauphin, must battle to
impose control over the fractured kingdom. But King Charles of Navarre wants to wrestle power for himself. He leads
Parisians and the Jacquerie to open rebellion, upending the social order, pitting noble against commoner in a brutal struggle
for power.
A free company of English men and boys, led by John Hawkwood, previously of Sir John de Sully's Vintaine, must navigate
the treacherous landscape with only their wits, combat skills and each other to rely on.
From the smouldering ruins of small French villages, to the blood-soaked battlefields, their journey is fraught with danger,
dogged by a mysterious enemy intent on revenge. As they face the harsh realities of medieval warfare, their bonds are tested,
and their fates intertwined with the destiny of a nation.
Critique: Author Michael Jecks mediaeval novel underlines the message that any game of thrones is a blood sport. Jecks
gritty historical story of royal intrigue and armed combat is aptly narrated and brought to life for the listener by the
impressive vocal storytelling talents of narrator John Telfer in the complete and unabridged audio book production of
"Ashes of Rebellion" from Boldwood Books. An ideal and highly recommended addition to community/public library
Historical Fiction audio book collections, it should be noted that this CD edition with its protective hard plastic clamshell
container is also available in an MP3-CD format (9781837032778, $100.95/$85.81) and in a large print paperback edition
(9781837032839, $40.00/$35.70).
Editorial Note #1: Michael Jecks (https://michaeljecks.co.uk) is the author of 54 novels, 6 novellas, a series of collaborative
novels, including "The Sinking Admiral" with the Detection Club, and 6 Medieval Murderers stories, as well as one "How
To" book, "Howdunit", also with the Detection Club.
Editorial Note #2: John Talfer is an AudioFile Earphones Award winning narrator and an actor best known for playing the
character of Willy Pettit in five seasons of Bergerac. He has appeared many times in various television dramas, while his
parallel theatrical career has involved him in leading roles at the Bristol Old Vic, the Royal National Theatre, the Old Vic in
London, and many regional theaters. He has made hundreds of radio broadcasts, and he plays the part of Alan, the vicar, in
The Archers.
Murder on an Italian Island
T. A. Williams, author
Simon Mattacks, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835187968, $83.95/$71.36, CD (6 Hours 36 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835187968
Synopsis: When private investigator, Dan Armstrong, and his girlfriend, Anna, are invited to the gorgeous island of Elba for
a much-needed break, he jumps at the chance. The thought of sun-drenched shores makes Dan promise Anna he won't "play
detective" for a whole week...
Their luxurious hotel, with its wonderful food and picturesque seaside views, seems the perfect escape, especially with
Dan's best friend Virgilio and his wife joining them. But the calm shatters with a sinister encounter and a sudden, suspicious
death...
Virgilio's past connection to the victim casts a long shadow, pulling Dan into a decades-old case. But beneath Elba's beauty
lie secrets and resentments. The victim was universally hated, but was his death the result of foul play or just a tragic
accident?
With his faithful canine companion, Oscar, Dan must once again unravel the island's mysteries, a task that soon takes a
decidedly personal and unsettling turn!
Critique: Author T. A. Williams is a master of the cozy mystery genre and "Murder on an Italian Island" is his newest
addition to the simply outstanding 'Armstrong and Oscar' series of 'whodunnit' mysteries set in magnificent described Italian
backgrounds. Strongly recommended as a high priority acquisition for community library Mystery/Suspense audio book
collections, it should be noted that this complete and unabridged CD edition with its hard plastic clamshell casing for an
extended shelf life is also readily available in an MP3-CD format (9781835187975, $83.95/$71.36) and in a large print
paperback edition (9781835188033, $42.00/$35.70).
Editorial Note #1: T. A. Williams has written all sorts of suspense thrillers, historical novels, romances, 'whodunnit'
mysteries, and numerous short stories. An extensive listing of his books is online at
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/t-a-williams
Editorial Note #2: There is an extended listing of Simon Mattacks narrated audio books online at Goodreads --
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/narrator-simon-mattacks
The Atlantis Covenant
Rob Jones, author
Simon Mattacks, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781805579885, $90.95/$77.31, CD (8 Hours 15 Minutes)
Ulverscroft
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781805579885
Synopsis: When world-famous archaeologist and ex-soldier Max Hunter finds a mysterious artifact in a tomb beneath the
Gates of Nineveh, his lifelong dream of finding Atlantis comes one step closer. -- But he's not the only one looking for
it...
His discovery unleashes a high-speed hunt for the lost civilization between a mysterious Swiss foundation, the FBI, and the
world's most secretive society.
From the dangers of the Iraqi desert to Cuba and the jungles of El Salvador to the enigmatic Valley of the Kings in Egypt,
Hunter faces a race against time and murderous enemies who will stop at nothing to claim the greatest prize in history. As
he fights for his life, it soon becomes apparent that his enemies are searching for something altogether more sinister than the
lost city...
Hunter must use his unique ingenuity and knowledge to decipher the clues and find Atlantis (and its lethal treasures) before
they fall into enemy hands.
Critique: Packed from start to finish with action, adventure, and cliffhanger suspense, "The Atlantis Covenant" by novelist
Rob Jones showcases this author as an imaginative master of the genre. In this complete and unabridged CD audio book
edition dramatically narrated by vocal actor Simon Mattacks, the listener will be fully immersed in a thriller of a 'theater of
the mind' experience. While highly recommended as a popular pick for community/public library audio book collections
(and featuring a hard plastic clamshell casing for an extended shelf life), it should be noted that this CD edition of "The
Atlantis Covenant" from Boldwood Books is also available in an MP3-CD format (9781805579892, $90.95/$71.31), and in
a large print paperback edition (9781805579953, $42.00/$35.70).
Editorial Note #1: Rob Jones (www.robjonesnovels.com) has published over 40 novels in the action-adventure,
action-thriller and crime genres.
Editorial Note #2: There is an extended listing of Simon Mattacks narrated audio books online at Goodreads --
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/narrator-simon-mattacks
The Library CD Shelf
AZURE: Portraits of Sadness
Edmond Paul Nicodemi
https://edandcarolnicodemi.com
$11.99 CD / $7.99 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN3R5GPB
Ed and Carol Nicodemi's Store
https://edandcarolnicodemi.com/store
AZURE: Portraits of Sadness is a hauntingly beautiful music album primarily featuring Edmond Paul Nicodemi's masterful
solo piano talent (the tracks "Lonely Afternoon", Azure", and "Sad Reflections" balance Nicodemi's piano artistry with
cellist Rachel Gawell's superb performance). Nearly all songs are Nicodemi's original compositions, except for two classical
tracks written by Johann Sebastian Bach and Frederic Chopin. The songs of Azure were composed and selected for their
cathartic resonance with the emotions of grief, lost love, and melancholy; the deeply moving music inspires the listener to
reflect, remember, and treasure the moments that slipped by. Profound and deeply moving, AZURE: Portraits of Sadness is
a welcome addition to both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are Sad Romance; Sudden Goodbye;
Lonely Afternoon; Nothing But Time; Desolation; Concerto No. 3 in D Minor After Marcello, BWV 974. II. Adagio (by
J.S. Bach); Azure; Dark Heaven; Innocent Cry; Prelude, Opus 28, No 6 in B Minor (by Frederic Chopin); and Sad
Reflections.
Life Got in the Way
Heather McKay
heathermckaymusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://heathermckay.bandcamp.com/album/life-got-in-the-way-2
Composer, guitarist, and teacher Heather McKay presents Life Got in the Way, an album of original Latin jazz compositions
created over the course of twenty years. Nearly all tracks are created by McKay, except for track 6, "Run" by Leonardo
Lucini. An extraordinarily talented ensemble brings the songs to life: Heather McKay herself on guitar; Leonardo Lucini on
bass; Leland Nakamura on drums; Campbell Charshee on keyboard; Peter Fraize on saxophone; and Bruno Lucini on
percussion. Vibrant, vivacious, and inspirational, Life Got in the Way is a treasure for connoisseurs of Latin jazz, highly
recommended! The tracks are You Make Me Smile; Boo; Narraguagus Bay; Eleven Reasons Why; The Playground
(Sammy, Elle and G); Run; Things That Were Said; Kenyan Moon; and Lucini in the Park.
Where I Am Now
Kent Blazy
https://www.kentblazy.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRKNRZ99
Where I Am Now is a contemporary American country music album of original songs written by Kent Blazy (except "Once
Upon a Rhyme", which was composed by Kent Blazy and Cory Batten). Kent Blazy presents a signature performance on
guitars and vocals, supported by Steve Allen on guitars, Lee Francis on bass, Kevin Murphy on drums, and Billy McClaran
on sax. Where I Am Now is honest, heartfelt, and a choice pick for country music connoisseurs and public library
collections. Highly recommended! The tracks are Once Upon a Rhyme; On Any Given Day; Thanking You Now; American
Dreamers; A Breeze; Gone Side of Goodbye; The America I Grew Up In; Music Meant Something; My Wrecking Ball;
Sometimes; and Where I Am Now.
Time Dances Past
Lynn Tredeau
www.lynntredeau.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Time-Dances-Past-Lynn-Tredeau/dp/B0FDD8C1LM
Time Dances Past is a new age solo piano album of captivating original music, composed and performed by extraordinarily
talented pianist Lynn Tredeau. Time Dances Past entrances the listener with its distilled beauty, in a reflective soundscape
inspired by the small moments of everyday life. Ideal for creative inspiration, relaxation, or simple auditory pleasure, Time
Dances Past is highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are Her Hands;
Special Wish; Small Town Summer; Thread the Needle; Daisies in Her Hair; Falling Softly; Socks on Shoes; It's
Complicated; Capture the Breeze Wild Horses; When I Dream; One Last Time; and Turn the Page.
While We Were There
Matthew Labarge
www.matthewlabarge.com
Privately Published
$12.00 CD / $9.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://matthewlabarge.bandcamp.com/album/while-we-were-there
While We Were There is a new age, neoclassical album of original solo piano music written, recorded, mixed, and mastered
by multitalented music artist Matthew Labarge. The instrumental songs flow into one another, weaving a beautiful musical
suite inspired by an evening surrounded by nature. The song titles refer to the timeless moments of darkness encroaching
about a still pond, the journey to a cottage through the darkened forest, the lullaby serenade of a whippoorwill while drifting
off to sleep, and the memories that linger on long after the moment. While We Were There is a musical soundscape ideal for
fostering relaxation, meditation, or creativity, and also makes an excellent gift. Highly recommended! The tracks are Stars
Reflecting in the Still Pond; Dark Forest; Quiet Voice of the Night Marsh; Deep Sleep of Countless Dreams; Whippoorwill
Lullaby; As the Sky Before Dawn, So the Heart Before Dawn; and While We Were There.
Flow Remastered
Jon Jenkins
Spotted Peccary Music
www.SpottedPeccary.com
$16.00 CD / $10.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://thejonjenkins.bandcamp.com/album/flow-remastered
Flow Remastered is an ambient new age album that defies easy classification. Now in a remastered release with greater
depth and intensity, Flow Remastered invites the listener on an audio journey through layers of imagination, inspired by the
metaphor of how water itself ebbs and flows. The natural cadence of the music inspires active listening or motivated
creativity. Flow Remastered is a choice pick for both personal and public library music collections, and also makes an
excellent gift. The tracks are From the Spring; Into a World of Wonder; Flow; Night Drifting Through Black Canyon; Cross
Over; The Power / Washed Away; Breathing in the Deep; A Word with the Vine; Blood and Water; Part of the Solution;
and Ebb.
Ki
Natsuki Tamura, trumpeter and composer
Satoko Fujii, pianist and composer
Libra Records
$TBA CD / 1,000 Japanese yen digital
Bandcamp
https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/ki
Ki is the tenth duo album by pianist-composer Satoko Fujii and trumpeter-composer Natsuki Tamura. Tamura created most
of the tracks of Ki, except for track 8 "Dan's Oceanside Listening Post" which is by Fujii. Ki defies genres by blending the
improvisational style of free jazz with the subtle intensity of orchestra. The result is a rapturous musical experience, highly
recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are Keyaki; Sugi; Hinoki; Kusunoki;
Arakashi; Icho; Kunugi; and Dan's Oceanside Listening Post.
The Kasambwe Brothers
Performed by The Kasambwe Brothers & guests
MASS MoCA Records
$TBA CD / $9.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://massmocarecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-kasambwe-brothers
The Kasambwe Brothers is the self-titled debut album of a multigenerational band that has been making music with
handmade instruments, harmonious vocals, and a call to dance for almost 40 years. Now passing the torch to the younger
generation, The Kasambwe Brothers continue their tradition of music shaped by rich cultural and heritage traditions of the
southeastern African nation of Malawi. MASS MoCA and The Fresh Grass Institute enabled the band to record their first
full-length album at Studio 9, along with musicians from Massachusetts. The Kasambwe Brothers band members are Joseph
Msofi on vocals and guitar; Konzani Chikwata on vocals and babatone; and Fatsani Kennedy on vocals and drums. Guest
music artists are Todd Reynolds on violin (songs 1, 2, 3, 7, 9); Paul de Jong on cello (songs 1, 2, 3, 9); Greg August on
upright bass (songs 1, 2, 9); Alice Hixon Kirk on cello (song 3); and Soren Smedvig on flugelhorn (songs 4, 8). The
Kasambwe Brothers is a vibrant, multilayered work of art, highly recommended for both personal and public library
international music collections! The tracks are Mtima Wanga (My Heart); Getu (Gertrude); Ahedi (Head Teacher);
Langizani Mwachikondi (Advise With Love); Timkonde (We Should Love Her); Kungade (Even In The Dark); Atate Athu
(Our Father); Ndibwino (It Is Good); and Ali Yemweyo (He Remains The Same One).
Live in St. Louis, Senegal
Raphael Pannier Quartet, Khadim Niang, & Sabar Group
https://www.raphaelpannier.com
Miel Music
$23.00 CD / $TBA digital
Raphael Pannier's Website
https://www.raphaelpannier.com/shop
French drummer, bandleader, composer, and educator Raphael Pannier presents Live in St. Louis, Senegal, an exciting live
recording of Raphael Pannier's quartet collaborating with highly skilled jazz and sabar (a type of traditional drum) musicians
in the West African nation of Senegal. They performed together during Senegal's Saint Louis International Jazz Festival, the
largest jazz festival on the continent. Live in St. Louis, Senegal is a cultural fusion that captures the musical expression of a
lifelong dream made real, and choice pick for international jazz enthusiasts. Highly recommended! The tracks are Lonely
Woman; Take Five; Xalat Bou Set; Naima; Hommage to Doudou N'Diaye Rose; Sine Saloum; and Djolokanete!
Angel Falls
Sylvie Courvoisier, pianist and composer
Wadada Leo Smith, trumpeter and composer
Intakt Records
$TBA CD / $15.80 digital
Bandcamp
https://sylviecourvoisier.bandcamp.com/album/angel-falls-24bit-hi-res-96khz
Angel Falls is the first duo collaboration between pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith. All songs
are the original creations of Courvoisier and Smith. The instrumental tracks evolve and shift, reflecting both music artists'
skill in improvisation as well as composition. Angel Falls is an enthralling tour de force, highly recommended especially for
free jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are Olo'Upnea and lightning; Naomi Peak; Whispering Images; A Line Through Time;
Vireo Bellii; Angel Falls; Sonic Utterance; and Kairos.
Contemporaneous
Pat Petrillo
https://patpdrummer.com
Innervision Records
$16.56 CD / $37.98 vinyl / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Contemporaneous-Pat-Petrillo/dp/B0F6KDVK8M
Pat Petrillo's website
https://patpdrummer.com/shop
Drummer-composer Pat Petrillo presents Contemporaneous, a genre-defying jazz album of instrumental songs composed (or
co-composed) by Pat Petrillo and performed by Petrillo with a vibrant grand ensemble of world-class musicians on bass,
guitar, keys, trumpet, trombone, tenor sax, alto sax, and even more special guests. The result is an exciting, multifaceted
performance that ranges from jazz fusion to R&B/funk, and world music. Contemporaneous is an extraordinary musical
adventure that reaches beyond the limits of expectation and imagination, highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of
avant-garde artistry! The tracks are Fused (Chris Fischer/Pat Petrillo); Late Night Dinner (Fischer/Petrillo); How's the
Weather? (Ron Hayden/Petrillo); Summer in Philly feat. Will Donato (Hayden/Petrillo); On the Regular (Hayden/Petrillo);
Contemporaneous (Petrillo); Grizzle (Petrillo); Dirty Jerz (Petrillo); Sunset Sound Studios 2 (Petrillo); Weekend Vibe
(Petrillo) and Glide in My Stride (Petrillo).
Octopus Dreams
Bruce Gertz quintet
brucegertz.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.03 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Octopus-Dreams-Bruce-Gertz-Quintet/dp/B0FC6FQRGX
Octopus Dreams, is an original, instrumental album of songs composed by Bruce Gertz and performed by the Bruce Gertz
quintet: Gertz on bass; Phil Grenadler on trumpet and flugelhorn; Rick DiMuzio on tenor saxophone; Gison Schachnik on
piano; and Gary Fieldman on drums. Together they have created a post-bob sensation brimming with timeless depth and
mysticism. A musical journey to expand the mind and soothe the spirit, Octopus Dreams is a choice pick for avant-garde
jazz connoisseurs and highly recommended. The tracks are Power Walk; Octopus Dreams; Sea Worthy; Mr. Z; I'm Busy;
Redacted; and Opening.
Take It To The Sky
Motivation
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.03 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPPN8GHF
Take It To The Sky is an extraordinary jazz funk album performed by a talented 21-person ensemble of vocalists, horn
players, string players, piano and organ players, guitar players, bass players, and percussionists. Together they perform
rapturous renditions of songs from a variety of creators; all tracks are masterfully arranged by Bill Runge. An exciting
musical adventure in fine-tuned collaboration, Take It To The Sky is a joy to experience and highly recommended especially
for ensemble jazz enthusiasts. The tracks are T-Jam (George Duke); Prelude (William Runge); Take It To The Sky (Maurice
White/Lorenzo Russell Dunn/Charles Alexander Glenn Jr.); Skyscrapers (Eumir Deodato); Never Let Me Go (Joseph Wade
Scott); Free As The Wind (Joe Sample); and You Can't Even Walk In The Park (Johnny Pate; from "Shaft in Africa").
Divine Apology
Saku Mantere
sakumantere.ca
Orchard of Pomegranates
$TBA CD / $10.00 CAD digital
Bandcamp
https://sakumantere.bandcamp.com/album/divine-apology
Composer, vocalist, and bandleader Saku Mantere presents Divine Apology, a vocal jazz album of original songs primarily
composed by Saku Mantere, although many tracks have co-composers. Saku Mantere's captivating vocals are supported by
Kate Wyatt on piano, Adrian Vedady on bass, Jim Doxas on drums Lex French on trumpet, Eric Hove on alto saxophone,
and Bohdanna Novak on vocals for "Not Fair". Divine Apology is both emotional and philosophical, with songs that weave
stories. What does it mean for the divine to extend an "apology", whether as a gesture of regret or as a defense of what is?
Divine Apology does not have direct answers, but the contemplative music may aid the listener in their own journey of
discovery. Divine Apology is highly recommended for both personal and public library vocal jazz collections. The tracks are
Meditation (Saku Mantere/Norman Cristofoli); Sorrow (Mantere/Cristofoli); Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
(Mantere/Dylan Thomas); Lapin Aidin Kehtolaulu (Kalervo Hamalainen); Not Fair (Mantere); Velvet (Mantere); The Last
Romantic (Mantere/Cristofoli); Ensin Toinen (Mantere/Teemu Laajasalo); Emerald Angel (Mantere/Cristofoli); and Marty's
Song (Mantere/Cristofoli).
Let's Not Wait: The Music of Ed Bonoff
Greg Burrows
gregburrows.net
GreBu Records
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $12.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://gregburrows.bandcamp.com/album/lets-not-wait-the-music-of-ed-bonoff
The second music album dedicated exclusively to the compositions and arrangements of New York composer, arranger, and
drummer Ed Bonoff (the first was "The Human Factor" released in 1997 by trombonist Eddie Bert), Let's Not Wait: The
Music of Ed Bonoff is a celebration of Bonoff's storied life and sensational works. All compositions are by Ed Bonoff
unless otherwise noted in the track list. Drummer Greg Burrows, a long-time friend and musical partner of Bonoff, is the
driving force behind this incredible tribute. With Bonoff's express blessing, Burrows assembled an extraordinary lineup of
talent: Tim Armacost on tenor and soprano saxes; Gary Smulyan on baritone sax; Jon Fumasoli on trombone; Al Orlo on
guitar (for "Shout 'em, Aunt Tillie"); Hiroshi Yamazaki on piano; Rich Zurkowski on double bass; and Greg Burrows
himself on drums and percussion. A vivacious musical soundscape from first track to last, Let's Not Wait is highly
recommended. The tracks are Piazza Navona; Meatloaf and Margaux; It Just Gets Better; Shout 'Em, Aunt Tillie (Duke
Ellington); Spruce Alley; Let's Not Wait; Ellington/Strayhorn Medley (Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn); Le Corbeau de
Chavignol; Acadian Nights; and Mitosis.
City Lights
Anthony D'Alessandro
www.anthonydalessandro.ca
Privately Published
$25.00 CAD CD / $13.00 CAD digital
Bandcamp
https://anthonydalessandro.bandcamp.com/album/city-lights-2
Toronto-based pianist Anthony D'Alessandro presents City Lights, a jazz album of swinging original songs, including one
ballad with sublime vocals by Jennarie. All songs are composed by D'Alessandro except for the ballad "Oversight", which is
co-composed with Jennarie, and the final tracks "Charleston" and "Harlem Strut", which are composed by James P.
Johnson. In addition to D'Alessandro's masterful piano artistry, City Lights showcases the talent of a full suite of performers:
Summer Camargo on trumpet, Jacob Chung on tenor saxophone, Jonathan Chapman on bass, and Ernesto Cervini on drums.
City Lights is a rhythmic celebration of urban life and a welcome addition to jazz music libraries, highly recommended! The
tracks are Four Minute Mile; Staying the Course; Sacred Ground; City Lights; The Line Up; Oversight; Green Sauce;
Charleston; and Harlem Strut.
For the Record
Pete Mills
https://petemills.com
Mighty Ernie Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Record-Pete-Mills/dp/B0FK82F5S7
Saxophonist Pete Mills presents For the Record, a genre-defying album of original songs composed and performed by a
talented four-man band Pete Mills on tenor saxophone; Jon Eshelman on Hammond B3 organ; Tom Davis on electric guitar;
and Zach Compston on drums. Each of the four composed one or more of For the Record's instrumental tracks. For the
Record is reflects the band's years of shared artistry on stage, reflecting both their individual talents and the layered
complexity of their cohesive performance. For the Record is a choice pick, highly recommended especially for jazz
connoisseurs! The tracks are For the Record (Jon Eshelman); The Kid (Pete Mills); Bird Lives (Pete Mills); Kenny, Ken
(Tom Davis); Z is for Zadie (Zach Compston); Jammy Git (Tom Davis); The Visitor (Tom Davis); Step On It (Tom Davis);
and Baby Simon (Zach Compston).
Hieroglyph & Stuttering
Nick Joz
Endectomorph Music
https://www.endectomorph.com
$TBA CD / $12.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://nickjoz.bandcamp.com/album/hieroglyph-stuttering
Experimental bassist and composer Nick Joz presents Hieroglyph & Stuttering, an album of original songs blending
electronic and acoustic elements through extensive editing and mixing. Joz began the creative process by assembling a
talented team of music artists: Joanna Mattrey on violin, John McCowen on clarinet and other reeds, Peter Evens on trumpet
and piccolo trumpet, Mark Gardner on modular electronics, and Nick Joz himself on contra-bass and cello. The musicians
created marvels of improvisation with minimal instructions; then Joz undertook the years-long editing process to craft an
album that listeners would enjoy and want to experience repeatedly. Hieroglyph & Stuttering is a choice pick for
connoisseurs of avant-garde, multi-disciplinary electro-acoustic music, highly recommended. The tracks are Stuttering(1);
Stuttering (2); Hieroglyph(a); Stuttering(3); Hieroglyph(b); Stuttering(4); Hieroglyph(c); Stuttering(5); Hieroglyph(d);
Stuttering(6); Stuttering(7); and Hieroglyph(e).
The Coloring Book Shelf
Epic Quests
Illustrated by Sanjay Charlton
Ninth Bridge Books
c/o BenBella Books
BenBellaBooks.com
9781637747865 $16.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Epic-Quests-Coloring-Dungeons-Monsters/dp/1637747861
Synopsis: Embark on an epic coloring adventure!
Launch a thrilling and creative campaign into the pages of Epic Quests and bring RPG legend and lore to life. Venture into
the forest and brave the deepest darkest dungeons to face page after page of terrifying beasts, powerful wizards, heroic
halflings, and glorious dragons. Game masters and fans of all ages will enjoy adding a touch of color to iconic characters
and magical realms.
Encounter the ornate wonder of 38 hand-drawn fantasy illustrations
Revel in a creative coloring escape designed for true fans of role-playing games
Tear out and share your finished pieces thanks to single-sided, perforated pages
Brave the dangers that befall you and let your imagination take the lead with Epic Quests.
Critique: Inspired by role-playing games and fantasy adventures, Epic Quests is an all-ages coloring book that will
especially appeal to fans of both tabletop RPGs and video game RPGs. The 38 hand-drawn illustrations show striking poses
of heroes and monsters, as well as climactic moments of legendary battles. There are also some uniquely memorable
pictures, such as a dwarf blacksmith forging a sword with help from a shoulder-riding dragon companion, who adds a blast
of fire in just the right spot! Artist Sanjay Charlton shows his love of the genre in these high-quality images ready for just
the right splash of color from any art materials. Each illustration is on its own detachable page, ideal for display, or even the
enhancement of a weekly gaming session! Highly recommended.
Editorial Note: Sanjay Charlton is a graphic designer and illustrator for animation, advertising, and children's books. Sanjay
has been a devoted fan of comic books and fantasy since he was a young boy growing up in the countryside of Jamaica.
Today, he lives and works in Jamaica.
The Botany Shelf
Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America
Garrett E. Crow and C. Barre Hellquist, authors
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299343002, $99.95 HC / $159.95 ebook (PDF), 952pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Wetland-Plants-Northeastern-America/dp/0299343006
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/A/Aquatic-and-Wetland-Plants-of-Northeastern-North-America2
Synopsis: Co-authored by Garret E. Crow and C. Barre Hellquist, "Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North
America" from the University of Wisconsin Press is is arguably the best and most comprehensive manual and illustrated
guide to native and naturalized vascular plants (ferns, conifers, and flowering plants) growing in aquatic and wetland
habitats in northeastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and south to Virginia and Missouri.
This massive and long-awaited work completely revises and greatly expands Norman Fassett's 1940 classic "A Manual of
Aquatic Plants", yet retains the features that made Fassett's book so useful.
"Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America" includes:
Coverage of 1139 plant species, 1186 taxa, 295 genera, 109 families
More than 600 pages of illustrations, and illustrations for more than 90% of the taxa
Keys for each species include references to corresponding illustrations
Habitat information, geographical ranges, and synonomy
A chapter on nuisance aquatic weeds
Glossaries of botanical and habitat terms
A full index for each volume
Wetland ecologists, botanists, resource managers, public naturalists, and environmentalists concerned with the preservation
of wetland areas (which are increasingly threatened) will welcome this clear, workable, and comprehensive guide.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 1.9 x 11 inches, 5.3 pounds) hardcover, second edition of Professor Garret Crow and
Professor Barre Hellquist's massive study, "Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America" from the
University of Wisconsin Press is packed from cover to cover with informatively captioned B/W illustrations. Unique,
comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, this primary reference and resource is
especially and unreservedly recommended as a core acquisition for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Botany & Outdoor Wetlands collections and supplemental 'Wet Lands Ecosystem' curriculum
studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Garrett E. Crow is Professor of Botany at the University of New Hampshire.
(https://calvin.edu/people/garrett-crow)
Editorial Note #2: C. Barre Hellquist is Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
(https://iwgs.org/hof/dr-c-barre-hellquist)
Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Fourth Edition
Jeffrey B. Jones, et al.
APS Press
https://www.apsnet.org/publications/apspress/Pages/default.aspx
9780890546963, $250.00, PB, 810pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Laboratory-Identification-Pathogenic-Bacteria-Fourth/dp/0890546967
APS Press
https://my.apsnet.org/APSStore/Product-Detail.aspx?iProductCode=46963
Synopsis: A trusted and essential resource for more than four decades, this newly updated and expanded fourth edition of
"Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria" from APS Press remains the most authoritative reference
and guide for plant pathologists, diagnosticians, and students who need to accurately identify bacterial plant pathogens using
both conventional and cutting-edge methods.
Each chapter comprising this new edition of "Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria" is authored
by leading experts and provides a holistic, comprehensive overview of the genus or genera, including characteristics useful
for identification, isolation techniques, and molecular, serological, biochemical, and other assays for identifying
phytobacteria. This impressively updated edition provides simplified identification methods, detailed protocols, color
photographs, and a list of semiselective agar media for bacterial isolation. Whether you are an experienced researcher or
new to plant pathology, this guide offers the essential tools and knowledge to tackle today's diagnostic challenges.
This comprehensive volume provides:
Thorough coverage of more than 30 genera, including 11 not covered in previous editions, such as Dickeya, Lonsdalea,
Robbsia, Rhizorhabdus, and Candidatus Liberibacter
Step-by-step protocols for isolation, culturing, and pathogenicity testing of bacterial strains
Detailed diagnostic approaches - including molecular, serological, biochemical, and real-time PCR assays - to assist in
genus- and species-level identification
Insightful context on evolving bacterial taxonomy, including the integration of whole genome sequencing and average
nucleotide identity in modern species classification
Two foundational chapters on bacterial taxonomy and initial identification of common genera
Of special note is that this fourth edition of "Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria" is dedicated
to Norman W. Schaad, the driving force behind the first two editions and lead editor of the third. The late Professor Schaad
was an excellent scientist with a passion for accurate identification of bacterial plant pathogens as well as a friend to many
in the field. The editorial staff of "Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Fourth Edition" includes
Jeffrey B. Jones, George W. Sundin, Sally A. Miller, Eric A. Newberry, and Anuj Sharma.
Critique: Simply stated, This large format paperback edition of "Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic
Bacteria, Fourth Edition" from APS Press continues to be the most authoritative reference currently available for plant
pathologists, diagnosticians, and students who need to accurately identify bacterial plant pathogens using conventional and
cutting-edge methods. This new fourth edition of "Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria" from
APS Press also includes a four page listing of the contributors and their credentials. "Laboratory Guide for Identification of
Plant Pathogenic Bacteria: Fourth Edition" is extensively comprehensive, exceptionally well organized and thoroughly
reader-friendly and user-friendly in presentation -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended textbook for
professional and college/university library Agricultural Pathology/Diseases collections and supplemental Botany curriculum
studies lists.
The Reference Shelf
Guinness World Records 2026
Guinness World Records, publisher
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com
9781913484750, $29.95, HC, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Guinness-World-Records-2026/dp/1913484750
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guinness-world-records-2026-guinness-world-records/1146657024
Guinness World Records
https://gwrstore.com/en-us/products/guinness-world-records-2026-personalised-edition
Synopsis: Discover the incredible achievements and inspiring stories of record breakers from around the world (and how
you can become one of them) with "Guinness World Records 2026".
With all new content ranging from high-end hotels, to deserted ghost towns, to talented pets, to global sports superstars, and
so much more this new edition of Guinness World Records once again shows how record breaking is for everyone,
everywhere.
With "Guinness World Records 2026" readers can:
Find a hidden talent within the Fantastic Feats chapter, including crazy collections, super strength and even pickleball
Get inspired by 8 new ICONS - who embody the very best of record breaking - from music legend Dolly Parton, blind
adventurer Erik Weihenmayer to powerhouse swimmer Katie Ledecky
Marvel at the possibilities of the cutting-edge tech behind modern cities, robots and space exploration in a dedicated Science
& Engineering chapter
Celebrate the differences of the most incredible Human Beings from height extremes to superlative seniors and awesome
anatomy
Take on the grown-ups with records just for under 16s and the Young Achievers proving age is no barrier in the Kids
Zone
Cheer on American sporting heroes - including Caitlin Clark, Lamar Jackson, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and more - as
we run through the latest year in Sports
Critique: A classic and iconic compendium of trivia, fun facts, and record-breaking accomplishments, "Guinness World
Records 2026" is fascinating to browse through. This large format (9 x 0.7 x 11.95 inches, 2.53 pounds) hardcover edition
of "Guinness World Records 2026" is profusely illustrated on every page. A thoroughly 'reader friendly' compendium of fun
facts and interesting trivia, "Guinness World Records 2026" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for
personal, family, K-12 school, and community library collections.
Editorial Note: Guinness World Records (known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as The Guinness Book of Records
and in previous United States editions as The Guinness Book of World Records), is a British reference book published
annually, listing world records both of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. Sir Hugh Beaver created
the concept, and twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter co-founded the book in London in August 1955. Guinness World
Records is the recognized and global authority on all things record-breaking, with offices in UK, US, China, Japan, and
UAE, as well as official adjudicators all over the world. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Records)
The Gaming Shelf
Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2026
Foreword by Niftski
Guinness World Records, publisher
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com
9781913484767 $15.99 pbk
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Guinness-World-Records-Gamers-2026/dp/1913484769
Synopsis: Featuring the top 100 greatest gaming characters!
Explore the coolest records across the most popular consoles, developers and games through a brand-new list from the
ultimate authority on record breaking.
From Lara Croft to Link and the crew of Mass Effect to the Creepers of Minecraft, see where the biggest and best characters
ranked. Do you agree and did your favourites make the list?
Get the lowdown on the most popular Roblox games
Count down the coolest and rarest Fortnite skins
Check out the most played Mobile Games from Pokemon GO to Brawl Stars
Discover the origins of games like Batman, Spider-Man and Midnight Suns in the Comics and Videogames feature
Trace the history of recording-breaking Sports Games with amazing facts on gaming versions of F1, American Football,
soccer and more
Learn how Videogame Voice Actors use different skills and inspirations to bring your favourite characters to life
Have fun and relax with Cozy Gaming - whether professional cleaning, cute kitties, or idyllic farms are your thing
Critique: Featuring a foreword by Niftski (one of the most dedicated and accomplished speedrunners of the original Super
Mario Bros. game, who regularly streams world record speedrun attempts on Twitch), Guinness World Records Gamer's
Edition 2026 focuses upon the top 100 greatest video game characters to date, from Astro-bot to Shovel Knight, Master
Chief (Halo series), Steve (Minecraft), Mario and much more. Filled with full-color illustrations and fun facts on every
two-page spread, Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2026 is a joy for video game enthusiasts of all ages to page
through. Extra enhancements include an awards round-up for the 2024-25 awards season, a hypothetical "versus
championship" with a QR code one can scan to vote, a "Stop the Press!" two-page spread of last-minute additions, and an
index. Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2026 will especially appeal to anyone interested in learning about the most
popular video games and their main characters. Highly recommended!
Editorial Note: Guinness World Records (known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as The Guinness Book of Records
and in previous United States editions as The Guinness Book of World Records), is a British reference book published
annually, listing world records both of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. Sir Hugh Beaver created
the concept, and twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter co-founded the book in London in August 1955.
The Library Science Shelf
Navigating Difficult Situations in Public Libraries
Margaret Ann Paauw
ALA Editions
www.alastore.ala.org
9798892552950, $49.99, PB, 152pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Difficult-Situations-Libraries-Escalation/dp/B0DTYWQ3Y2
ALA Editions
https://alastore.ala.org/ndspla
Synopsis: Because public libraries are community spaces that provide access to information, resources, and programming
for people of all ages and backgrounds, conflicts between patrons, verbal or physical altercations, and other difficult
situations can occur. These situations can be traumatic for those involved, whether patrons or staff, making it essential that
librarians know how to de-escalate them in trauma-informed ways.
Utilizing the framework from PLA's best-seller A Trauma-Informed Framework for Supporting Patrons, "Navigating
Difficult Situations in Public Libraries: The PLA Guide to Trauma-Informed De-Escalation" is practical workbook that
walks library staff members through the process of building micro-skills for handling difficult situations, providing:
A succinct overview of how to define and understand trauma, including its definition, causes, effects, and
manifestations.
Evidence-informed approaches drawn from the fields of social work, psychology, and counseling.
Dozens of activities, handouts, and worksheets designed to spur reflection and help readers build upon the practices
introduced in the book.
Guidance on debriefing, evaluation, facing compassion fatigue, and other aftercare topics.
Appendices that provide information on mental health resources, crisis intervention hotlines, and further reading on trauma
and burnout.
Critique: This large format paperback edition of "Navigating Difficult Situations in Public Libraries: The PLA Guide to
Trauma-Informed De-Escalation" by Margaret Ann Paauw is and ideal choice for use in library training programs and in-
service workshops. Exceptional, effective, and thoroughly 'reader/user friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Navigating Difficult Situations in Public Libraries: The PLA Guide to Trauma-Informed De-Escalation" must be
considered a critically important and 'real world' relevant addition to personal, professional, public library, and
college/university Library Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Dr. Margaret Ann Paauw is an Assistant Professor at Eastern Michigan University and a Licensed Clinical
Social Worker. Dr. Paauw has worked as a library social worker for the Chicago Public Library, was an active member of
the Public Library Association's Library Social Work Taskforce, facilitated the library social work direct service call, and
co-authored A Trauma Informed Framework for Supporting Patrons. Dr. Paauw has consulted on library social work
partnerships and provided trauma-informed and de-escalation trainings to libraries across the country. Dr. Paauw's main area
of research has been on the efficacy of library social work partnerships, building the body of research contributing to
evidence for this practice. (https://www.emich.edu/chhs/social-work/faculty/m_paauw.php)
Making Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library
Amanda Koziura, editor
Amy Tureen, editor
ACRL Books (Association of College & Research Libraries)
c/o American Library Association
https://www.ala.org
9798892555937, $85.00, PB, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Values-Based-Decisions-Academic-Library/dp/B0FMN9M3PD
American Library Association
https://www.ala.org/news/2025/09/new-acrl-making-values-based-decisions-academic-library
Synopsis: When faced with difficult decisions, how do academic library decision makers, at any level of positional
authority, make choices that satisfy the values of their profession, their institution, and themselves? How do you decide
which values to privilege when priorities compete or even conflict? How can you ensure decisions are thoughtful and rooted
in core values, rather than reflective only of the most immediate conditions and priorities?
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Amanda Koziura and Amy Tureen, "Making Values-Based Decisions in the
Academic Library" explores the decision-making process of librarians in both formal and informal leadership roles. Rather
than trying to identify a singular "correct" answer, authors offer an exploration of their own processes and the tools they
used to arrive at conclusions that fit their contexts and institutions. Their examples show how values can be central
considerations in assessment, inform collection development, shape our spaces and services, influence policy, and be
foundational for seeking a better way forward.
We have more power than we think to create change, and our values can be a touchstone for the decisions we make at every
level. The strategies comprising "Making Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library" can help you holistically
consider available options and make choices that consider your personal, institutional, and professional values amid
challenging and changing circumstances.
Critique: Comprised of fifteen articulate, informative, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking contributions, "Making
Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library" is an invaluable and unreservedly recommended contribution to personal,
professional, community, and college/university Library Science collections. This trade paperback (7 x 0.7 x 10 inches, 1
pound) edition of "Making Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library" from ACRL Books is n ideal textbook for
in-service training workshops and supplemental Library Science and Information Management curriculums.
Editorial Note #1: Amanda Koziura focuses on the research lifecycle with an emphasis on open scholarship and data
practices. In her previous role as a digital scholarship librarian she collaborated with faculty to integrate digital scholarship
tools and methods into their research and teaching.
(https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RQunmJoAAAAJ&hl=en)
Editorial Note #2: Amy Tureen is the Dean of Academic Success Programs as South Puget Sound Community College,
where she oversees a number of academic support units including the library, the bookstore, the tutoring programs, the
first-year experience curriculum, and the faculty development center. She holds an MLIS from Drexel University, an MA
from Simmons University, a BA from Scripps College and is currently completing her EdD dissertation at The University of
La Verne.
AI and Information Access: Benefits, Challenges and Lessons
G. G. Chowdhury, author
Sudatta Chowdhury, author
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783307722, $60.99 Amazon, $73.99 B&N, PB, 264pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/AI-Information-Access-Benefits-Challenges/dp/1783307722
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ai-and-information-access-g-g-chowdhury/1146976153
Facet Publishing
https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/page/detail/ai-and-information-access/?k=9781783307722
Synopsis: Libraries and information services are constantly evolving and adapting to the capacity and capabilities offered by
emerging technologies. With the emergence of Generative AI, the information sector wonders how it will impact
information users and professionals.
Co-authored by G. G. Chowdhury and Sudatta Chowdhury, "AI and Information Access: Benefits, Challenges and Lessons"
examines this vital question by first raising evidence-based questions around user interactions with AI and its efficacy in
providing responses that are relevant and suitable for specific user needs and contexts.
Through the critical analysis of these case studies, "AI and Information Access: Benefits, Challenges and Lessons" discusses
whether and how the conventional models of information search process, information seeking and retrieval, are applicable
to explain the user interactions with the Gen AI tools for information access.
This approach to AI and information explores:
The impact of AI tools on information by changing user behavior, shifting the gap in user access and impending users to
find the best data and being critical;
How libraries and database search services adapt these tools to improve access to information and data;
The ways in which the use of these tools could generate new knowledge in information science, seeking and retrieval
research, and education; and
How these tools can be trained to best fulfil the user's needs and context.
While exploring the implications of AI for the overall library and database services, "AI and Information Access: Benefits,
Challenges and Lessons" portrays the overall contemporary picture of applications of Generative AI in the information
science field.
Critique: An impressively timely and informative introduction to the present and anticipated impact of AI in the field of
information acquisition and library science, "AI and Information Access: Benefits, Challenges and Lessons" is an essential
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Information/Library Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for anyone with an
interest in Library Management, Information Science that this paperback edition of "AI and Information Access: Benefits,
Challenges and Lessons" from Facet Publishing is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $57.94).
Editorial Note #1: G. G. Chowdhury is a Professor of Information Science in the Department of Computer and Information
Sciences at the University of Strathclyde, UK. Previously, he had held several senior academic positions including Professor
and Head of Mathematics and Information Sciences, as the Head of iSchool at Northumbria University and as a Professor
and Director of Information and Knowledge Management at the University of Technology Sydney. Professor Chowdhury is
a world-leading expert in digital libraries, cultural information management and sustainable information systems and
services. He has published 16 books and over 160 research papers and has previously served as the European and Global
Chair of the iSchools organization.
Editorial Note #2: Sudatta Chowdhury is a Research Associate in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at
the University of Strathclyde. Previously, she had held several academic and research positions at universities in the UK,
Singapore and Australia. Her research focuses on information-seeking behavior and human-centered challenges for access to
information, including digital divide and digital and information skills. She has co-authored five books, several journal and
conference papers, and book chapters.
The Computer Shelf
Getting to Know ArcGIS Enterprise
Jon Emch, Diana Muresan, and Travis Ormsby
ESRI Press
www.esri.com/esripress
9781589487932, $99.99, PB, 298pp
9781589488557, $159.99, HC
ESRI Press
https://www.esri.com/en-us/esri-press/browse/getting-to-know-arcgis-enterprise
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Know-ArcGIS-Enterprise-Emch/dp/1589488555
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-to-know-arcgis-enterprise-jon-emch/1146141708
Synopsis: ArcGIS Enterprise is the foundational software system for GIS, powering mapping and visualization, analytics,
and data management. Collaboration and flexibility are central to ArcGIS Enterprise, allowing you to organize and share
your work on any device, anywhere, at any time. A thorough knowledge and understanding of ArcGIS Enterprise is essential
to increasing the ability to work with others and remain responsive and resilient in today's increasingly demanding and
changing business environment.
Co-authored by the team of Jon Emch, Diana Muresan and Travis Ormsby, "Getting to Know ArcGIS Enterprise" covers the
essential skills of planning, deploying, administering, using, and maintaining ArcGIS Enterprise. It addresses the most
common and vital workflows ArcGIS Enterprise administrators need to understand.
The topics covered by "Getting to Know ArcGIS Enterprise" include:
Understanding prerequisites and base deployment,
Security settings basics,
Managing users and content,
Publishing ArcGIS manager and user-managed data,
Maintaining data flows between the source geodatabase and clients,
Consuming web layers for editing and spatial analysis,
Sharing your work,
Collaborating with other organizations,
Troubleshooting,
Backups and restoration, -- and more!
"Getting to Know ArcGIS Enterprise" is an ideal choice for professionals, educators, and students who want to learn or
teach modern GIS skills or who may be working to become certified as an ArcGIS Enterprise Administrator through the Esri
certification program. Written by experts at Esri, Getting to Know ArcGIS Enterprise provides essential information for
modern GIS administrators.
Critique: Comprehensive, up-to-date, and thoroughly 'reader/student' friendly in organization and presentation, this large
format (7.5 x 2 x 9.25 inches, 1.74 pounds) hardcover edition of "Getting to Know ArcGIS Enterprise" is an ideal textbook
for personal, professional, and college/university library GIS Programming collections and supplemental Remote Sensing
and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) curriculum textbook studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Jon Emch is a senior technical lead for ArcGIS Enterprise in Esri Support Services. Jon has been working
on troubleshooting ArcGIS Enterprise through technical support since 2017. He holds a degree in geography with a minor in
GIS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Getting to Know ArcGIS Enterprise" is also available in a Kindle edition ($94.99).
Editorial Note #2: Diana Muresan is a product engineer on the geodatabase software development team at Esri. Diana
received a BA and MS in geomatics from Babe -Bolyai University in Romania and a MEng in civil engineering and GIS
from University of Colorado, Denver.
Editorial Note #3: Travis Ormsby is a principal technical lead on Esri's Training Services team. Travis has a BA in
anthropology from Grinnell College, an MA in teaching from the University of St. Thomas, and an MGIS from the
University of Minnesota.
The Sports Shelf
Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue: Essential Skills for Snow Travel
Ian Nicholson
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680516449, $34.95, PB, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Glacier-Climbing-Crevasse-Rescue-Essential/dp/1680516442
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/glacier-climbing-crevasse-rescue-ian-nicholson/1147066085
Synopsis: Through clear text and detailed step-by-step photos, with the publication of "Glacier Climbing & Crevasse
Rescue: Essential Skills for Snow Travel", IFMGA certified guide Ian Nicholson introduces the hazards climbers face and
describes everything they need to know when scaling snow-covered mountains, including foundational ropework, the tools
of the trade (ice axes, crampons, harnesses, snow pickets, and so on), basics of footwork, essential techniques for moving on
snow and ice, trip planning and navigation, rigging ropes, building anchors, belaying, rappelling, self-rescue tips and
techniques, and more.
Beyond these fundamentals, "Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue" also dives deep into methods for rescuing a climber
who has fallen into a crevasse, how skiers and snowboarders can approach such a scenario, and the hazards related to
expeditions. The inclusion of Sidebars by expert contributors highlight key takeaways from real-life stories about valuable,
life-changing lessons they've learned.
Critique: Instructively illustrated with color photography throughout, "Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue: Essential
Skills for Snow Travel" by glacier climbing and rescue expert Ian Nicholson has created a comprehensive and thoroughly
'reader/user friendly' instructional how-to manual featuring each and every essential skill and technique for safely traveling
across steep snow and glaciers. Especially and unreservedly recommended for intermediate and advanced climbers, "Glacier
Climbing & Crevasse Rescue: Essential Skills for Snow Travel" is a unique and comprehensive step-by-step instructional
guide on glacier climbing and crevasse rescue. It should be noted that "Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue: Essential
Skills for Snow Travel" is recommended by AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association). An essential and basic
addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Winter Sports & Survival collections, it should
be noted that this trade paperback (6.8 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches, 1.7 pounds) edition of "Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue:
Essential Skills for Snow Travel" from Mountaineers Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$33.20).
Editorial Note: Ian Nicholson (www.mountaineers.org/members/ian-nicholson-2) is an IFMGA certified mountain guide
and has been guiding around the world for nearly two decades. Passionate about self-rescue, Nicholson has earned two
Denali Pro Pin Awards for helping to save other climbers and works on the National Instructor Team for both the AMGA
and AIARE.
Ralph Branca and the Meaning of Life
Bob Mitchell
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476698328, $29.95, PB, 196pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ralph-Branca-Meaning-Life-Mitchell/dp/1476698325
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/ralph-branca-and-the-meaning-of-life
Synopsis: Much ink has been spilled on writing about Ralph Branca, Bobby Thomson, and the famous "Miracle at Coogan's
Bluff" pennant playoff game in October of 1951.
"Ralph Branca and the Meaning of Life" by Bob Mitchell takes a novel approach to the history and context of this venerated
game, never before attempted in such terms. This bit of baseball history and biography considers that Dodgers pitcher and
that uniquely dramatic game as actual metaphors for the human condition.
In a thought-provoking odyssey, Mitchell unpeels the metaphorical layers of this baseball onion by discussing the profound
psychological effects of winning and losing in America; the concepts of shame, hope, injustice, failure, and luck; and
Branca as a conflicted and complex, flawed yet sympathetic Everyman.
And, finally, by comparing Ralph's situation (surprisingly and revealingly) to similar "crimes and punishments" in world
literature, from Biblical icons Adam and Job to the protagonists of Sophocles, Hawthorne, Dostoevsky, Kafka, and Camus,
"Ralph Branca and the Meaning of Life" is a memorable work of baseball history and analysis that stands as the only
endeavor of its kind, demonstrating the universality of America's game of baseball to the human condition.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, thought-provoking, iconoclastic, "Ralph Branca and the Meaning of Life" by Bob Mitchell
is an extraordinary, informative, and inherently fascinating account of a life in baseball, and a baseball game that has been
rescued from obscurity and rightly classified as iconic. While this paperback edition of "Ralph Branca and the Meaning of
Life" is especially recommended for community and college/university library American Baseball History/Biography
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is also available from McFarland & Company in a digital
book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Bob Mitchell (https://bobmitchellbooks.com) holds a PhD in French and Comparative Literature from
Harvard, has had careers as a French professor (Harvard, Purdue, Ohio State), is an award-winning advertising creative
director, and a teaching tennis pro. He is also the author of 13 books, including a memoir, a collection of poems, two essay
collections, and three novels about sports and life.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
A Short History of Film, 4th Edition
Wheeler Winston Dixon and Gwendolyn Audrey Foster, authors
Rutgers University Press
https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org
9781978837676, $120.00, HC, 592pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Film-Fourth/dp/1978837674
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-short-history-of-film-fourth-edition-wheeler-winston-dixon/1146820370
Rutgers University Press
https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/a-short-history-of-film-fourth-edition/9781978837669
Synopsis: Now in a fully updated and expanded fourth edition, "A Short History of Film" by Professor Wheeler Winston
Dixon and Professor Gwendolyn Audrey Foster provides an impressively accessible overview of the major film/cinema
movements, directors, studios, and genres from the 1880s to the present.
Succinct yet comprehensive, with more than 250 rare stills and illustrations, this new fourth edition provides new
information on contemporary horror, comic book, and franchise films; issues surrounding women and minority filmmakers;
the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on movies worldwide; the shift from film to digital production; the rising use of
artificial intelligence in cinema; and the impact of streaming on the industry.
Beginning with the precursors of moving pictures, film historians and academicians Dixon and Foster lead a succinct and
fast-paced tour through the invention of the Kinetoscope, the introduction of sound and color between the two world wars,
and ultimately the computer-generated imagery of the present day. They also detail significant periods in world cinema,
including the creation of early major industries in Europe, the dominance of the Hollywood studio system in the 1930s and
1940s, and the French New Wave of the 1960s. Additionally they highlight independent efforts in developing nations and
the corresponding more personal independent film movement that briefly flourished in the United States.
Critique: Comprehensive, illustrated throughout with B/W images, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, "A Short History of Film: 4th Edition" by the team of Wheeler Winston Dixon and Gwendolyn Audrey Foster
is an ideal introduction to the history of international cinema and a highly recommended acquisition choice for personal,
professional, community, film school, and college/university library Cinematic History collections and supplemental
curriculum Cinema History/Criticism studies lists. It should be noted for film students, academia, movie buffs, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "A Short History of Film: 4th
Edition" from Rutgers University Press is also readily available in paperback (9781978837669, $44.95) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $42.70).
Editorial Note #1: Wheeler Winston Dixon is the James Ryan Professor Emeritus of Film Studies at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln. He is the author of many books, including A History of Horror, 2nd Edition (Rutgers University Press),
and an internationally known experimental filmmaker.
Editorial Note #2: Gwendolyn Audrey Foster is the Willa Cather Endowed Professor Emerita of English and Film Studies at
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and an experimental filmmaker, artist and author. Her work has focused on gender,
race, ecofeminism, eco-theory, and class studies. From 1999 through the end of 2014, she was co-editor along with Wheeler
Winston Dixon of the Quarterly Review of Film and Video.
Streaming Wars
Charlotte Henry
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398622555, $31.99, HC, 264pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Streaming-Wars-Getting-Everything-Entertainment/dp/1398622559
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/streaming-wars-charlotte-henry/1146743874
Synopsis: Streaming broadcasters have given consumers all the content they could ever want. But at what cost?
With the publication of "Streaming Wars: How Getting Everything We Wanted Changed Entertainment Forever", journalist
Charlotte Henry explores the seismic shifts behind the rise of platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Spotify, Amazon
Prime, Paramount and more. From Hollywood's 2023 strikes to the race for sports rights, the growth of ad-supported tiers
and the decline of traditional TV, she reveals how streaming has disrupted not only media economics, but also the power
structures that define what gets made and who gets seen.
As AI, rebundling and fierce competition drive a new phase in the streaming era, "Streaming Wars" offers a sharp,
accessible look at what's next for companies, creators and audiences alike. Whether you're a casual viewer or a media
professional, "Streaming Wars" is your essential guide to the business battles transforming the entertainment industry.
Critique: Impressively comprehensive, detailed and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Streaming
Wars: How Getting Everything We Wanted Changed Entertainment Forever" must be considered essential reading for
anyone with an interest in how this new and continuing to evolve technology will impact the entertainment industry and
consumer behavior. A fascinating, informative, and thought-provoking study, "Streaming Wars: How Getting Everything
We Wanted Changed Entertainment Forever" is a vital and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, corporate, and college/university library collections. It should be noted for students, academia, entrepreneurs,
film and television content producers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover
edition of "Streaming Wars: How Getting Everything We Wanted Changed Entertainment Forever" from Kogan Page is
also available in paperback (9781398622548, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Charlotte Henry is a journalist covering tech, media and politics. Her byline has appeared in publications
including City AM, the Independent on Sunday, The Times Red Box, the Telegraph, the TLS. Charlotte runs her own media
outlet, The Addition, which gives insight into the crossover of media, technology and culture. She is based in London,
UK.
Not Coming to a Theater Near You!
Bryan Kristopowitz
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887718255, $40.00, HC, 330pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Theater-Near-Direct-Video/dp/B0FS5LS38W
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-coming-to-a-theater-near-you-kenneth-turan/1006040722
BearManor Media
https://www.bearmanormedia.com/products/not-coming-to-a-theater-near-you
Synopsis: Globetrotting mercenaries! Ruthless assassins! Sci-fi apocalypses! Cyborg ninjas! Ex- Special Forces Operators!
Real badass scumbum cops! Down-and-dirty hand-to-hand martial arts brawls! Car chases! Gun battles galore! Knife fights!
Explosions! All of that (and more!) is what makes up the direct-to-video action movie genre, especially early 2000s Direct
To Video (DTV) action flicks.
But what early 2000s DTV action flicks are worth your time?
With the publication of "Not Coming to a Theater Near You!: 50 Great Direct-to-Video Action Flicks of the Early 2000s",
Cinema historian and B-movie enthusiast Bryan Kristopowitz showcases fifty full reviews of early 2000s DTV action flicks
featuring such badass action stars as Steven Seagal, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Wesley Snipes, Mark
Dacascos, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Scott Adkins, Olivier Gruner, and even Oscar winner
Cuba Gooding, Jr.,
"Not Coming to a Theater Near You!" will help cinema fans to discover, rediscover, and celebrate the sort of movie that
used to fill the shelves of video stores and now can usually be found on myriad streaming services. With "Not Coming to a
Theater Near You!" some of the best of the direct-to-video action movie genre will be brought to your attention in the
privacy of your own home.
Critique: The reviews for the films comprising "Not Coming to a Theater Near You!: 50 Great Direct-to-Video Action
Flicks of the Early 2000s" are deftly organized chronological by year from 2001 (Shadow Fury) to 2012 (The Girl from the
Naked Eye). Of special note is the inclusion of three interviews: Chad Law (screenwriter for Hero Wanted), Steve Latshaw
(screenwriter of Command Performance), Brett A. Hart (writer/director of Bone Dry), a three page listing of
Acknowledgments, and a thirteen-page Filmography. Fascinating, informative, iconoclastic, and eloquent, "Not Coming to a
Theater Near You!: 50 Great Direct-to-Video Action Flicks of the Early 2000s" is especially and unreservedly
recommended as a unique addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cinematic
History/Criticism collections and supplemental Popular Culture/Film Studies curriculum lists. It should be noted for film
students, academia, and film buffs that this hardcover edition of "Not Coming to a Theater Near You!: 50 Great
Direct-to-Video Action Flicks of the Early 2000s" from BearManor Media is also available in paperback (9798887718248,
$29.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Bryan Kristopowitz has been a regular writer for the movies section of 411mania.com since 2005, focusing
on new and old B-movies, indie genre movies, and the people that make them. He is probably best known for The
Gratuitous B-Movie Column, which he started in 2008. A graduate of Long Island University: Southampton College, he also
wants everyone to know that "B-movie" is not a slur and that the world would be better off if everyone watched more
B-movies. It just would be.
The Business Shelf
Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders
Kate Lowry
Scaleheart Press
https://www.scaleheart.co
9798218767068, $18.95, PB, 236pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Thrive-Under-Fear-Based-Leaders/dp/B0FR1G981Y
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unbreakable-kate-lowry/1148262899
Synopsis: In our fast-changing world, fear-based leaders rise quickly-tightening their grip as chaos grows. But what if you
could learn to predict their behavior, neutralize their impact, and protect what matters most?
"Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders" by Kate Lowry is your tactical guide to thriving under fear-based
leadership. Written in short, digestible chapters, this combination of instructive guide and 'how to" manual shows you how
to manage up, set boundaries, and stay anchored-without losing your job, your values, or your sanity.
Under one cover and drawing on decades of experience and expertise in start-ups, venture capital firms, big tech, and
consulting, Kate Lowry offers a master class in navigating high-control, unstable environments with clarity and agency.
With real-world tactics and reflection questions throughout, "Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders" is
your DIY roadmap through the fog. Whether you're up against a tough boss, a top-down family leader, or a completely
broken system, Unbreakable helps you move forward-calmly, bravely, and on your terms.
Critique: Informative, insightful, inspiring, "Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders" by Kate Lowry is
impressively 'real world' practical and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation. While this
paperback edition of "Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders" from Scaleheart Press is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, community, and college/university library
Business Leadership/Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBA
students, academia, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives that "Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders"
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Kate Lowry (https://www.katelowry.com) is a CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author based in Silicon
Valley. An expert in fear-based leaders, Kate developed her methodology growing up in a personal fear-based regime, then
refined her approach in the elite worlds of start-ups, private equity, management consulting, and big tech. She strives to help
everyone she interacts with-readers, clients, and friends-to process difficult realities with grace, agency, and warmth. Her
goal is for every reader to be empowered to reach their full potential, no matter their environment or circumstances.
Market and User Research Operations
Stephanie Marsh
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398620520, $113.00, HC, 312pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Market-User-Research-Operations-Operationalize/dp/1398620521
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/market-and-user-research-operations-stephanie-marsh/1146743855
Synopsis: "Market and User Research Operations: Operationalize Customer Research for Scale and Impact" by Stephanie
Marsh is a practical, detailed guide designed for mid-career research managers and professionals aiming to optimize
processes and deliver consistent, high-quality insights.
As customer expectations rise, "Market and User Research Operations" will help to build credibility by applying proven
strategies and frameworks that scale your research function effectively.
"Market and User Research Operations" covers how to:
Develop repeatable, reusable insights using proven operational principles
Implement governance and planning models for on-time, on-budget delivery
Select and optimize tools and platforms tailored to your team's needs
Manage participant recruitment ethically and efficiently
Apply AI and democratize research to meet evolving business demands
Filled with practical, illustrative, real-world examples and actionable tools, "Market and User Research Operations"
empowers the reader to streamline workflows, improve research quality and create greater business value.
Critique: Exceptional, instructive, 'real world' practical, extraordinarily informative, impressively well written, organized
and presented, "Market and User Research Operations: Operationalize Customer Research for Scale and Impact" by
Stephanie Marsh is an invaluable and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, corporate,
and college/university library Business Management and Market/Business Operations Research & Development collections
and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives,
business managers, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover
edition of "Market and User Research Operations: Operationalize Customer Research for Scale and Impact" from Kogan
Page is also readily available in paperback (9781398620506, $34.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.99).
Editorial Note: Stephanie Marsh is a leading expert in UX Research and UX Research Operations based in the UK. As the
former Head of User Research and Analysis at the UK Government Digital Service and Head of Digital at the UK Ministry
of Defence, they have played a pivotal role in advancing digital innovation within the public sector. Previously a Bunnyfoot
consultant, one of the UK's leading UX consultancies, Stephanie has applied their expertise to enhance user experiences
across diverse industries. As a respected thought leader, she has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and shared
insights through speaking engagements. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13871146.Stephanie_Marsh)
The Business Plan Workbook: 11th Edition
Colin Barrow
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398623682, $113.00, HC, 312pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Business-Plan-Workbook-Step-Step/dp/1398623687
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-business-plan-workbook-colin-barrow/1126320377
Synopsis: Now in a fully updated eleventh edition, "The Business Plan Workbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating and
Developing a Successful Business" by Colin Barrow is a practical run-through of 26 key areas of development of strategic
planning. It will allow you to think of these areas in isolation through the use of assignments that ensure you have
stress-tested your business proposition.
This informative guide covers how to:
Come up with a winning business idea
Complete market and competitive research
Forecast watertight financials and projections
This new edition eleventh edition from Kogan Page is fully updated throughout and includes:
New real-world examples including Nubank, YuLife, Inceptio Technology, Doctolib, Livspace, Teya and Zepz,
Using AI to write business plans including how to analyze market segments, create financial projects and finesse SWOT
modelling
More on storytelling and creating a compelling narrative for investors
Thoroughly revised to reflect changes in government policies, tax regulations, trade policies, and how to anticipate and
adapt to new regulations
A deck of 80 PowerPoint slides providing resources and downloadable templates
Critique: An ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, corporate, and
college/university library Business Management & Planning collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists,
Colin Barrows' "The Business Plan Workbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating and Developing a Successful Business:
11th Edition" from Kogan Page is also readily available to MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business
managers, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject in paperback (9781398623675,
$34.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $33.24).
Editorial Note: Following a career in business where Colin Barrow held senior staff and line positions, including that of
managing director of a substantial manufacturing enterprise with multi -plant and multi-country operations, he was Head of
the Enterprise Group at Cranfield School of Management, a leading European Business School, for ten years. Colin has
been a visiting professor in universities in the US, Europe and East Asia. For five years he was a non-executive director of a
high tech venture capital fund, has sat on Government task forces and is now strategic advisor to a number of business
owners. As well as his own books he currently writes freelance, ghost writing and 'Anglicising' books for American authors
and lectures extensively on business topics.
The HR Operating Model
Perry Timms
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398622395, $134.00, HC, 296pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/HR-Operating-Model-Designing-Workforce/dp/1398622397
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hr-operating-model-perry-timms/1146743877
Synopsis: An ongoing corporate question and concern is whether or not their HR operating model is aligned to deliver
measurable business value?
"The HR Operating Model: Designing a People Function that Supports the Workforce and the Business" by Perry Timms is
a strategic guide for senior company leaders who want to modernize HR to drive performance, agility and strategic
impact.
Written by a leading industry voice and five-time HR Magazine Most Influential HR Thinker, "The HR Operating Model:
Designing a People Function that Supports the Workforce and the Business" replaces outdated structures with a proven
model built on people experience, data and analytics, agility, product management and technology integration.
Drawing on examples from Santander, Jaguar Land Rover, Barnardo's, Collinson Group, Novartis and NatWest, "The HR
Operating Model: Designing a People Function that Supports the Workforce and the Business" offers governance-led
frameworks for building a high-impact HR function that aligns with organizational priorities.
"The HR Operating Model: Designing a People Function that Supports the Workforce and the Business" covers:
Redesigning HR to support a high-performing, future-ready workforce
Leveraging data and analytics to inform strategic decisions
Embedding agility, technology and product thinking into HR delivery
Building people experiences that strengthen culture and business results
With strategic models, practical tools and insights from industry experts, and addressing the themes of HR transformation,
governance, data and analytics, agility, technology integration, "The HR Operating Model: Designing a People Function that
Supports the Workforce and the Business" fully equips senior HR professionals to deliver transformation, strengthen
capability and prove HR's value at enterprise level.
Critique: An ideal textbook on HR policy, practices, designs, operations, and implementation, "The HR Operating Model:
Designing a People Function that Supports the Workforce and the Business" is an effective and recommended pick for
personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Human Resources & Management and Strategic
Business Planning collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students,
academia, entrepreneurs, business managers, union policy makers, HR staff members, corporate executives, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that his hardcover edition of "The HR Operating Model:
Designing a People Function that Supports the Workforce and the Business" from Kogan Page is also readily available in
paperback (9781398622371, $42.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $40.84).
Editorial Note: Perry Timms (https://pthr.co.uk) is a renowned blogger and international conference speaker on the
transformative power of HR professionals. He is a consultant and coach based in Northamptonshire, UK, and the founder of
People and Transformational HR Ltd. Named by HR Magazine as the most influential HR thinker in 2022 and inducted into
the HR Magazine Hall of Fame in 2023, Perry is also a Visiting Fellow and Adjunct Professor at 4 UK Business Schools, a
Chartered Member of the CIPD and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). He is also a LinkedIn Learning Instructor
and accredited in a range of psychometric tools.
The Political Science Shelf
The Morality of Politics: States, Honour and War
Ulf Hedetoft
Anthem Press
www.anthempress.com
9781839992940, $24.95, PB, 90pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Morality-Politics-States-Honour-War/dp/1839992948
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-morality-of-politics-ulf-hedetoft/1145635632
Synopsis: "The Morality of Politics: States, Honour and War" by Professor Ulf Hedetoft deals with the morality,
self-conception and honor of individual states, something that goes well beyond the narrow, rationalist defence of national
interests, which dominates most such studies.
This slender volume from Anthem Press pursues this line of thinking by focusing on three different but interconnected
thematics: political moralism, the honor of states and the peace/war-problematic.
The moral self-conception of states (which comes most clearly to the fore in situations of war) rests on the ideal conception
of 'all of us', which includes all citizens, all classes and all generations, set against their opposite numbers outside of 'our'
immediate sphere of domination.
This state-based image of itself and its existential teleology constitutes its very essence, notwithstanding that it is often seen
as a deviation ('exception') from the normal state of affairs, where the state is 'just ' there to serve and support the economy
and its principal actors.
All three chapters comprising "The Morality of Politics: States, Honour and War" thus revolve around issues that relate to
the interaction of war and democracy and the underlying morality that both legitimates and underpins the actions of
politicians as well as citizens.
Critique: Original, erudite, insightful, thought-provoking, exceptionally well crafted, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation, "The Morality of Politics: States, Honour and War" by Professor Ulf Hedetoft is an especially
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library International
Studies & Political Science collections and supplemental 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 this
paperback edition of "The Morality of Politics: States, Honour and War" from Anthem Press is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $23.70).
Editorial Note: Ulf Hedetoft is Professor, dr. phil., at the University of Copenhagen. His research interests include the theory
and history of state, sovereignty and nationalism, with a special focus on Europe.
(https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/persons/ulf-hedetoft)
Class War, Then and Now: Essays toward a New Left
Chris Wright
Manhattan Book Group
https://www.manhattanbookgroup.com
9781967458370, $19.99, PB, 392pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Class-War-Then-Now-Essays/dp/1967458375
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/class-war-then-and-now-chris-wright/1148252827
Synopsis: For nearly fifty years, America's working and middle classes have been under relentless attack. Wages have
stagnated, inequality has soared, and the vast majority now lives paycheck to paycheck -- all while trillions of dollars flow
upward into the pockets of the wealthiest few.
With the publication of "Class War, Then and Now: Essays toward a New Left", historian Chris Wright presents a searing
indictment of this economic/political order and an impassioned call to arms for a new left rooted in class struggle, solidarity,
and socialist values.
Drawing on a decade of essays and articles originally published in outlets such as Dissent, New Politics, CounterPunch,
Socialist Forum, Truthout, and Common Dreams, Wright examines the deep roots of capitalism's crises and the failures of
the contemporary left to confront them. In sharp, accessible prose, Wright tackles:
The centrality of class struggle in building a movement that can unite working people
Why identity politics, while important, must not overshadow the fight against capitalism
The overlooked necessity of nuclear power in addressing climate change
Lessons from labor history, from Jimmy Hoffa to modern union battles
The catastrophic consequences of American imperialism and endless war
How organized labor remains humanity's most universal force for justice
With the urgency of a manifesto and the depth of historical scholarship, Wright argues that only a rational, international, and
truly Marxist left can stop the United States (and the world) from sliding into neofascism and ecological collapse.
Critique: A seminal work of meticulous scholarship and essential reading for anyone concerned about the present erosion of
economic justice, the compelling need for social reform, and the very future of American democracy, "Class War, Then and
Now: Essays toward a New Left" will significantly assist the reader in shaping and articulating reform and political justice
arguments while inspire both individual and collective action.
Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Class War, Then and Now: Essays toward a New Left" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Political Science & Social Issues collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for student, academia, political activists, governmental policy
makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "Class War, Then
and Now: Essays toward a New Left" from the Manhattan Book Group is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Chris Wright is a lecturer at Hunter College, where he teaches courses in U.S. history. He is the author of
Popular Radicalism and the Unemployed in Chicago during the Great Depression and Worker Cooperatives and Revolution:
History and Possibilities in the United States. He has published in Dissent, the Washington Post, Truthout, Socialist Forum,
and other venues.
The Mythology Shelf
Tales of the Tuatha De Danann
Morgan Daimler
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803419169, $19.95, PB, 232pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Tuatha-Danann-Translations-Irish/dp/1803419164
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tales-of-the-tuatha-de-danann-volume-1-morgan-daimler/1146758346
Synopsis: A collection of modern translations of older Irish material focusing on the Tuatha De Danann and Aos Sidhe, with
the publication of "Tales of the Tuatha De Danann, Volume 1: New Translations of Irish Myths" author Morgan Daimler
has gathers authentic mythological stories of Ireland together into a single place and gives readers a more literal translation
to work from.
Focusing on shorter tales and excerpts from larger texts and offering a range of material that gives insight into who the Irish
Gods are and how they have been perceived, stories include How the Dagda Got His Magic Staff, The Treasures of the
Tuatha De Danann, Oengus's Dream, and others. This text is presented in the source languages of Old and Middle Irish with
new English translations by author Morgan Daimler.
Of special note is that many existing translations are around a hundred years old and often either exclude material or skew
the translation to fit the mores of a more Victorian audience -- while this newly published edition of "Tales of the Tuatha De
Danann, Volume 1: New Translations of Irish Myths" stays as true as possible to the source material.
Critique: Informative, engaging, exceptional, deftly written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, "Tales of the Tuatha De Danann, Volume 1: New Translations of Irish Myths" is a fascinating and memorable
read from cover to cover. While an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Irish Mythology/Folklore 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 this paperback edition of "Tales
of the Tuatha De Danann, Volume 1: New Translations of Irish Myths" from Moon Books is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Morgan Daimler (https://irishpagan.school/morgan-daimler) teaches classes and writes about Irish myth and
magical practices, fairies, and related subjects. Morgan's writing has appeared in a variety of magazines including Pagan
Dawn and Witches & Pagans, and anthologies including Naming the Goddess and Harp, Club, & Cauldron. Morgan is also
the author of a variety of fiction books such as the urban fantasy/paranormal romance series Between the Worlds, and
non-fiction through Moon Books including bestsellers Fairy Witchcraft, Pagan Portals: The Morrigan, Pagan Portals:
Brigid, and Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Native America: The Story of the First Peoples
Kenneth L. Feder
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691220451, $39.95, HC, 440pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Native-America-Story-Peoples-Unearthing/dp/069122045X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/native-america-kenneth-l-feder/1147134530
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691220451/native-america
Synopsis: With the publication of "Native America: The Story of the First Peoples", Professor Kenneth L. Feder presents an
infinitely surprising and fascinatingly deep history of the North American continent's Indigenous peoples. Feder, (a leading
expert on Native American history and archaeology), draws on archaeological, historical, and cultural evidence to tell the
ongoing story (more than 20,000 years in the making), of an incredibly resilient and diverse mixture of peoples, revealing
how they have ingeniously adapted to the many changing environments of the continent, from the Arctic to the desert
Southwest.
Richly illustrated throughout, "Native America" introduces close to a hundred different indigenous peoples, each with their
own language, economic and social system, and religious beliefs. In this meticulous history we encounter the Pequot,
Tunxis, Iroquois, and Huron of the Northeast; the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Apache of the Southwest; the Hidatsa, Mandan,
and Lakota of the Northern Plains; the Haida, Kwakiutl, Nootka, and Salish of the Northwest Coast; the Tule River and
Mohave of Southern California; the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole of the Southeast; and the Inuit and Kalaallit of the
Arctic.
In "Native America" we also learn about hunters of enormous Ice Age beasts; people who raised stone toolmaking to the
level of art; a Native American empire ruled by a king and queen, with a huge city at its center and colonies hundreds of
miles away; a society that made the desert bloom by designing complex irrigation networks; brilliant architects who built
fairy castles in sandstone cliffs; and artists who produced beautiful and moving petroglyphs and pictographs that reflect their
deep thinking about history, the sacred, the land, and the sky.
"Native America" is not about peoples of the past, but also today's vibrant, living ones with an epic history of genius and
tenacity -- and a history that American should know.
Critique: A seminal study that is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a Prologue (Crying
Indians, Tipi Dwellers, and Other Stereotypes), an Epilogue (A Story Still Being Written), eight pages of Notes, a ten page
Reference, and a twelve page Index, "Native America: The Story of the First Peoples" by Professor Kenneth L. Feder is an
inherently fascinating, engaging, illuminating, thought-provoking, instructive, and exceptional history that is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Native American History
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 this hardcover edition of "Native America: The Story of the First Peoples" from
the Princeton University Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.62).
Editorial Note: Kenneth L. Feder is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Central Connecticut State University. His books
include Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology, The Past in Perspective: An Introduction
to Human Prehistory, and Native American Archaeology in the Parks: A Guide to Native Heritage Sites in Our National
Parks and Monuments. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Feder)
The Christian Studies Shelf
Praying with the Popes
Ave Maria Press, author
Shannon Wimp Schmidt and Eileen M. Ponder, compilers
Katie Prejean McGrady, introduction
Ave Maria Press
www.avemariapress.com
9781646804450, $16.95, PB, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Popes-Words-Hope-Peace/dp/1646804457
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/praying-with-the-popes-ave-maria-press/1148074074
Ave Maria Press
https://www.avemariapress.com/products/praying-with-the-popes
Synopsis: "Praying with the Popes: Words of Hope and Peace from Leo XIII to Leo XIV" is a unique collection comprised
of the timeless teachings from twelve modern popes are gathered into one powerful prayer book.
"Praying with the Popes" invites you to journey through a century and a half of papal wisdom (from Leo XIII to Leo XIV)
and discover a unified witness to hope, justice, and peace, offering a window into the heart of the Vatican and the soul of the
Church.
Catholic speaker and author Katie McGrady writes in the introduction "As you pray with our popes from Leo XIII to Leo
XIV, may you discover anew the hope and peace of Christ, which compels us all to engage the social ills of our day and
move forward in making the world a better place for all people now - and for generations to come."
"Praying with the Popes" gathers powerful quotes from the writings of these successors of Peter. Their words are offered as
a source of reflection and prayer -- inviting readers to grow in hope, to deepen their understanding of the Church's vision of
peace, and to foster a Christ-centered love that moves us to daily action on behalf of justice.
At once a spiritual, theological, and doctrinal introduction to Catholic social teaching, "Praying with the Popes" also serves
as a practical guide for living it out in our world today. When Robert Francis Prevost, the first American pope, was elected
to the papacy in May 2025 and took the name Leo XIV, many recognized in his choice a clear alignment with the legacy of
Leo XIII, the final pope of the nineteenth century.
The twelve popes from Leo XIII to Leo XIV guided the Church through tremendous economic, political, and social
upheaval. In doing so, they consistently encouraged the faithful to engage more deeply with the Church's social teachings -
teachings that equip believers to live out Christ's commandment to love as he loves and to help bring about God's kingdom
of peace on earth.
Each chapter begins with a short profile of the featured pope, followed by six brief excerpts from his writings. Quotes are
paired with prompts for personal reflection, prayer, and sometimes concrete actions that embody the message of justice and
love.
The popes featured in this book served the Church from 1878 to 2025 and include:
Leo XIII
Pius X
Benedict XV
Pius XI
Pius XII
John XXIII
Paul VI
John Paul I
John Paul II
Benedict XVI
Francis
Leo XIV
Before they were bishops of Rome, the popes of the Catholic Church were first sons of God and men of prayer. Each was
uniquely gifted in mind and heart and, through those graces, led the Church - and each soul within it - closer to Christ. Let
their voices guide you into deeper prayer and greater commitment to the Gospel call to champion justice, peace, and the
dignity of every human person.
Critique: Collaboratively compiled by the team of Shannon Wimp Schmidt and Eileen M. Ponder, "Praying with the Popes:
Words of Hope and Peace from Leo XIII to Leo XIV" is impressively organized and presented. Unique, extraordinary,
thoughtful, thought-provoking, insightful, memorable, passionate, inspiring, "Praying with the Popes" an is especially and
unreservedly recommended for clergy, seminary students, and Roman Catholic parishioners. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that this succinct (4.8 x 0.6 x 6.7 inches, 5.6 oundes) paperback edition from Ave Maria Press is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.10).
Editorial Note #1: Shannon Wimp Schmidt is the content director of the ecumenical youth ministry collaboration TENx10,
coauthor of Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's: A Black Catholic Celebration of Faith, Tradition, and Diversity, co-host of the Plaid
Skirts and Basic Black podcast, and a founding member of Catholics United for Black Lives. Schmidt earned a bachelor's
degree in theology and Italian from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree in pastoral studies from Catholic
Theological Union. She has more than a decade of experience in youth and pastoral ministry and has served in various
capacities, including director of OCIA, adult faith formation coordinator, diversity educator, interfaith ministry leader, and
theology teacher. Schmidt is a regular contributor to FemCatholic and U.S. Catholic magazine. Her work has been featured
in the Catholic Standard, in the National Catholic Reporter, and on CatholicTV's This Is the Day.
(https://www.avemariapress.com/pages/authors/shannon-wimp-schmidt)
Editorial Note #2: Katie Prejean McGrady earned a theology degree from the University of Dallas. She is host of the Ave
Explores podcast and The Katie McGrady Show on Sirius XM's The Catholic Channel. She is an international speaker, the
author of Room 24: Adventures of a New Evangelist and Follow: Your Lifelong Adventure with Jesus, and the coauthor of
Lent: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens, Advent and Christmas: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens, and First
Reconciliation and Beyond: A Family's Guide for Learning and Living Forgiveness. McGrady also serves as host of the Like
a Mother podcast and cohost of Family Mass Prep on the Hallow app. She writes for several outlets, including Blessed is
She, Our Sunday Visitor, and Aleteia, and contributes coverage on the Vatican and Church news to CNN. Prejean McGrady
has spoken at the National Catholic Youth Conference, Steubenville Youth Conferences, and the Los Angeles Religious
Education Congress, as well as in dioceses and parishes throughout the world.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
A Handbook for Keeping Kosher
Mordechai Hasofer
Gefen Publishing House
c/o Storch
www.gefenpublishing.com
9789657801765, $24.95, HC, English Edition, 158pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Keeping-Kosher-Hebrew/dp/9657801761
Gefen Publishing House
https://www.gefenpublishing.com/product.asp?productid=3446
Synopsis: "A Handbook for Keeping Kosher" by Mordechai Hasofer is a compilation of lectures he gave on the subject of
kosher laws delivered during his tenure at the Kashrut Authority of Bnei Brak, which is recognized as the leading authority
on kashrut in Israel.
The lectures were given between the years 1998 and 2019, when Hasofer had the great privilege of working under and being
guided by the sage Rav Moshe Yehuda Leib Landa of blessed memory, the rabbi and chief rabbi of Bnei Brak. His kosher
organization was highly esteemed, known worldwide for its quality and attention to the details of halacha. HaRav Landa's
name was highly esteemed by all, and he served as a guiding beacon in many areas, especially kashrut laws.
Hasofer had the honor to serve in this important kashrut institution as the head researcher of food production and the
inspector of all the various raw materials used in the food industry. His primary job was to ensure that the process of food
production met the highest halachic standards and that all the raw materials used therein were free from any doubt of kosher
validity.
Critique: This English Language edition of Mordechai Hasofer's "A Handbook for Keeping Kosher" from the Gefen
Publishing House is comprehensive, deftly crafted, exceptionally 'reader' friendly' in organization and presentation. Of
special note is the chapter on 'Bishul Nochri: Food Cooked by a Gentile'. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the
inclusion of an informative Introduction, a listing of Some Concept Definitions, and a Prologue, "A Handbook for Keeping
Kosher" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional reading lists, as well as
community and college/university library Contemporary Judaic Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists.
Editorial Note: Mordechai Hasofer (https://www.mordechaihasofer.com) has a diverse educational background, having
studied at the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne, Australia, as well as completing studies in
mechanical engineering and chemistry at NSW Technical College. He was among the pioneers of HACCP food quality
consulting in Australia and subsequently served as the manager of ingredients and food production for Harav Moshe
Yehudah Leib Landa, ztz"l, the chief rabbi of Bnei Brak, for 25 years. In this capacity, he oversaw the setup and approval of
production facilities and food ingredients for some of the largest food companies in Israel and internationally, including
Coca-Cola and Strauss Ice Cream. This role required extensive collaboration with leading international kosher certification
bodies. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he is regularly invited to deliver lectures on kosher food production,
both in Israel and internationally. He also provides consulting services to various kosher certification and information
bodies, specializing in ingredient analysis and the establishment of kosher production facilities.
The Liquor Shelf
The Whisky World Tour
Joel Harrison
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729653, $26.99, HC, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Whisky-World-Tour-unforgettable-distilleries/dp/1784729655
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-whisky-world-tour-joel-harrison/1146913749
Synopsis: A curated guide to unforgettable distilleries and their whiskies, "The Whisky World Tour" takes you beyond the
glass to discover 52 of the very best whisky distilleries around the globe that are open to the public. Whiskey enthusiasts
will discover these distilleries unique stories and histories -- along with bottle recommendations, too!
Award-winning whisky writer and authority Joel Harrison begins "The Whisky World Tour" in North America, taking in
key bourbon producers, before moving on to the traditional whisky powerhouses of Ireland and Scotland. Along the way
'new world' whisky-makers from South Africa to Scandinavia are explored, before finishing in Japan, home to some of the
world's most lauded whiskies.
Featured distilleries across the globe include: USA, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand,
India, and China. Each stop along the way offers a window into the world of whisky, so settle in, pour a dram and allow
yourself to be taken on this grand and spirited journey!
Critique: Profusely and impressively illustrated in full color throughout, "The Whisky World Tour" by Joel Harrison is a
fun, fascinating, and informative tour-de-force that is ideal for the whiskey drinking armchair traveler or for creating on- site
itineraries from the whiskey drinking tourist! Exceptional, engaging, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, "The Whiskey World Tour" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Wine/Beer/Liquor reference collections. It should be noted that this hardcover
edition of "The Whiskey World" from Mitchell Beazley is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Joel Harrison is an award-winning drinks writer and presenter whose work can be seen in publications as
diverse as The Times and Wired magazine. In addition to writing, Joel appears regularly on television as a spirits and
cocktail expert and hosts tastings and events across the globe. Joel is a Keeper of the Quaich, Scotch whisky's highest honor,
is a member of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, and received the Freedom of the City of London in 2020 for his work
in drinks. He also holds titles with the Compagnie des Mousquetaires d'Armagnac and the Gin Guild. --
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Harrison_(author)
The Obituary Cocktail
Sue Strachan
Louisiana State University Press
https://lsupress.org
9780807184790, $24.95, HC, 146pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Obituary-Cocktail-Iconic-Orleans-Cocktails/dp/0807184799
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-obituary-cocktail-sue-strachan/1147269278
Synopsis: New Orleans is a city known for celebrating life in the face of death, so it's no surprise that the funerary tradition
is honored by a drink. With the publication of "The Obituary Cocktail" author and New Orleans cocktail expert Sue
Strachan takes the reader and cocktail enthusiast on a spirited dive into New Orleans's bohemian past, chronicling how this
cocktail (made with gin, vermouth, and absinthe) became central to mid-twentieth-century cafe society before fading
temporarily into obscurity.
Like a good obituary, "The Obituary Cocktail" shares stories about the drink, beginning with its 1940s origins at Cafe
Lafitte, the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the U.S. and the stomping ground for the city's cafe society, which
included Tennessee Williams, Ella Brennan, and a rich crop of prominent New Orleans visitors.
"The Obituary Cocktail" also explores the history of the cocktail's ingredients, shares recipes for home mixologists, and
resurrects the stories of other morbidly monikered drinks. With detours into the world of secret societies, second-line
parades, and celebrations of deathly holidays like Halloween and All Saints' Day, "The Obituary Cocktail" gives new life to
this unique beverage.
Critique: Simply stated, "The Obituary Cocktail" by Sue Strachan is a succinct and fascinating history of an iconic cocktail
and 'must' reading for the legions of cocktail fans. This succinct, exceptionally well crafted, and informative little volume (5
x 0.5 x 7 inches, 8.5 ounces) hardcover edition of "The Obituary Cocktail" from the LSU Press is an especially and
unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Alcoholic
Spirits/Cocktails/Mixed Drinks collections.
Editorial Note: Sue Strachan (https://www.suestrachan.com) is a social historian, journalist, and author who has written
about New Orleans culture, food, history, and current events for numerous publications. Her first book, The Cafe Br lot,
was published in 2021.
The Travel Shelf
Arizona: Discover the Grand Canyon State
Mark Lisk
Familius
www.familius.com
9798893960631, $24.99, HC, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Arizona-Discover-Grand-Canyon-State/dp/B0DWHSLV17
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arizona-mark-lisk/1146960170
Synopsis: This large format (9.35 x 1.05 x 9.35 inches, 2.82 pounds) hardcover, coffee-table style edition of "Arizona:
Discover the Grand Canyon State" from the publishing house of Familius is a truly magnificent volume of simply stunning,
full color, informatively captioned photography of the state of Arizona by photographer Mark Lisk that visually transports
the browser on a fascinating and visual journey through the natural and manmade wonders of Arizona.
Critique: A unique and expertly photographed visual odyssey showcasing the natural wonders of Arizona in full page and
double-page spreads, "Arizona: Discover the Grand Canyon State" is especially, uniquely, and unreservedly recommended
for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Landscape Photography, Animal/Plant Photography,
and Travel Photography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Whether an aspiring photographer, on-site
visitor or an armchair traveler, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Arizona: Discover the Grand Canyon State"
by Mark Lisk is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.49).
Editorial Note: Mark Lisk (https://www.markliskphotography.com/index) has long roamed the deserts, mountains, and river
canyons of the American West by foot. A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photographic Arts, Lisk climbs from the sea to
high ridges and plains, gathering within his camera worlds of color and expanse that few ever see or capture in any form.
From dry curls of patterned lake bottoms to the tiniest brilliant lichen set before a vast line of granite peaks, Lisk's
foregrounds set him apart. His work fits whole universes of wilderness into single frames under glass. Lisk has recently
rediscovered his passion for the black-and-white image. His strong sense of composition complements black-and-white
tones, giving the viewer a sense of isolation, alone in a wide, sweeping landscape. Lisk's photographs stand alone within ten
books: Idaho Impressions (1997), Salmon River Country (2005), Desert Water (2005), Idaho: Portrait of a State (2007),
Owyhee Canyon Lands (2008), Owyhee Canyonlands: An Outdoor Adventure Guide (2013), Sawtooth/Whiteclouds (2016),
and Idaho: The Gem State (2019).
A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photographic Arts, Mark Lisk is a prolific photographer whose photos highlight the state's
most beautiful spots and famous natural landmarks. Arizona: Discover the Grand Canyon State is a must-own for everyone
in love with Arizona.
The Agriculture Shelf
Compendium of Cotton Diseases and Pests, Third Edition
Travis R. Faske, author
Terrence L. Kirkpatrick, author
Craig S. Rothrock, author
Jason E. Woodward, author
APS Press
https://www.apsnet.org/publications/apspress/Pages/default.aspx
9780890546932, $150.00/$135.00, PB, 176pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Compendium-Cotton-Diseases-Pests-Third/dp/0890546932
APS Press
https://my.apsnet.org/APSStore/APSStore/Product-Detail.aspx?iProductCode=46932
Synopsis: The collaborative work of co-authors Travis R. Faske, Terrence L. Kirkpatrick, Craig S. Rothrock, and Jason E.
Woodward, this newly expanded third edition of "Compendium of Cotton Diseases and Pests" from APS Press includes
significant updates and new content. This essential new edition delivers the most up-to-date information on cotton diseases,
arthropod pests, and abiotic disorders -- making it the most comprehensive guide of its kind to date.
Critique: This large format paperback edition of "Compendium of Cotton Diseases and Pests: 3rd Edition) from The
American Phytopathological Society is essential reading for cotton growers and a high value edition to personal,
professional, and college/university library Agricultural Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: The APS Press is the publishing imprint of The American Phytopathological Society, a nonprofit,
international organization that advances the science and practice of plant health management in agricultural, urban, and
forest settings. The Society was founded in 1908 and has grown from 130 charter members to more than 3,500 scientists and
practitioners worldwide.
The Music Shelf
Pearl Jam Live!
Selena Fragassi
Epic Ink
c/o Quarto Publishing Group
https://www.quarto.com
9780760393048, $30.00, HC, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Jam-Live-Legendary-Revolutionary/dp/0760393044
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pearl-jam-live-selena-fragassi/1147123002
Synopsis: Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder, and Matt Cameron are Pearl Jam -- Seattle's own
alternative rock band that sprang to the top of the charts (and into the angsty hearts of millions of global fans) in the 1990s.
Though each of the members and the band itself has faced their ups and downs in the four decades since they came together,
they continue to release new music and maintain a loyal fan base.
On July 7, 2025, Matt Cameron made the surprise announcement that he was leaving Pearl Jam after a long 27-year run that
began back in 1998. With the publication of "Pearl Jam Live!: 35 Years of Legendary Music and Revolutionary Shows",
music journalist Selena Fragassi celebrates the many years, albums, and tours that Matt was a part of before stepping
down.
"Pearl Jam Live!" delves into the band's origins from their beginning as Green River to their earliest influences, from their
biggest successes in the '90s, to their continued achievements today and the lasting legacy they've left in the alt-rock canon.
Along the way, readers will also explore:
The creation of Pearl Jam's biggest hits, such as "Even Flow" and "Last Kiss"
The fan culture that built up around the band, from the small gigs and mall tours of their earliest years to performances at
Lollapalooza and their Gigaton tour
Pearl Jam's influences, from classic rock to pop, and their place in rock history
The lasting legacy of a band proudly celebrating their thirty-fifth anniversary
Step by step, through interviews, photos, and sidebars full of fun facts and trivia, Pearl Jam fans will learn something new
about the band on every page.
Critique: This large format (8.75 x 0.89 x 10.15 inches, 2.6 pounds) hardcover edition of Selena Fragassi's "Pearl Jam Live!:
35 Years of Legendary Music and Revolutionary Shows" from Epic Ink is a profusely illustrated and impressively
informative 35 year history of one of grunge rock's most popular and influential bands. A simply fascinating read from start
to finish, "Pearl Jam Live!" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university
library American Popular Music/Grunge Rock collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for
the legions of Pearl Jam fans that this hardcover edition of "Pearl Jam Live!" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Selena Fragassi is a longtime music journalist who began her career covering women in music and culture
with the beloved Venus Zine before starting her own publication, Boxx Magazine, with a mission to close the gender gap in
music editorial coverage. Her very first published piece was on an unknown Adele, and she has continued to break emerging
artists with early pieces on Grimes and Lizzo, among others. Selena is currently a featured contributor for the Chicago
Sun-Times. She is the author of the books New Kids on the Block 40th Anniversary Celebration; NSYNC 30th Anniversary
Celebration; and The Work, Life, and Style of Greta Gerwig. Selena is also a member of The Recording Academy.
The Interior Design Shelf
Storied Style
Grace Mitchell
Harper Horizon
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400253081, $39.99, HC, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Storied-Style-About-Story-Design/dp/140025308X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storied-style-grace-mitchell/1146506620
Synopsis: Since the premiere of her first television show, interior design expert Grace Mitchell has received thousands of
messages from fans wondering how to tell their unique stories in how they design their homes.
"Storied Style: The Book About YOU, Your Story, and How to Design Your Home with It" design book gives them (and
you) the answer.
Taking you through seven essential questions, Grace showcases her exact design process to put together a home reflective of
the people living in it. Over twenty thoughtfully photographed projects, some favorites and some never-before-seen reveals
(including Grace's own home & garden!) are featured throughout "Storied Style" to showcase how answering the seven
questions leads to a home that is uniquely yours.
"Storied Style" will also take you through a deeply personal process -- personal for Grace, but also personal for you as you
take a moment to slow down and reflect on your life and what you want your space to say about who you are. You will be
motivated by Grace's simple process, along with heartfelt stories of people whose lives have been changed by following her
steps.
Using your own story to dictate the style of your home will enable you to not only share yourself in a new way with those
you welcome over, it will also help break the expensive cycle of fashioning your home around the latest trends.
The overall message of "Storied Style" is that your home can be made interesting, beautiful, timeless, and best of all,
memorable, by centering it around you!
Critique: This magnificent, large format (1 x 9 x 11 inches, 1.74 pounds), hardcover edition of "Storied Style: The Book
About YOU, Your Story, and How to Design Your Home with It" by Grace Mitchell is massively illustrated with full page
color photography throughout. Thoroughly 'reader' friendly in organization and presentation, "Storied Style" is exceptionally
informative and impressively inspiring. A thought-provoking delight to simply browse through and also available for
personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.99), "Storied Style" is especially and unreservedly recommended
for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Interior Design collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Grace Mitchell (http://www.astoriedstyle.com) tells each homeowner's unique story in HGTV's television
series 'One of a Kind'. As a home renovator and interior designer Grace creates eclectic, imaginative spaces that illustrate
the spirit of those who live there. She turned to design and style writing and eventually began her interior design business,
Storied Style Interiors, in 2012. Her work has been featured in prestigious home decor publications including Better Homes
& Gardens, Southern Living, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Domino Magazine, Vintage Remade Magazine, Do-It-Yourself
Magazine, as well as The Boston Globe.
The Art Shelf
Great Art Explained
James Payne
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500025956, $39.95, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Art-Explained-Greatest-Masterpieces/dp/0500025959
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-art-explained-james-payne/1146995646
Synopsis: Based on the popular and enormously successful YouTube channel of the same name, with the publication of
"Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces", art curator and historian James Payne reveals
the fascinating stories behind some of the world's most iconic paintings and sculptures, and thereby proving that there is
more to art than just watching paint dry.
Art can be thrilling, and resonate on a deep personal level. It is how you view the work, place it in context and understand
its history that makes an artwork truly come alive.
A fresh approach to a classic subject, Payne's no-nonsense analysis sheds new light on 30 masterpieces selected from around
the globe and reveals what reveals just what makes them truly timeless works of art.
Each individual chapter delves into not only the art itself but also the artist's life, as well as the work's place in their wider
oeuvre; in other words, what makes it "great."
From Hilma af Klint's occult altarpieces to Claude Monet's Water Lilies, Botticelli's The Birth of Venus to Georgia
O'Keeffe's Jimson Weed, each artwork is explored with clarity and passion.
Whether a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, "Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World's Greatest
Masterpieces" will deepen your appreciation and enrich your understanding of some of the world's greatest treasures.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader's benefit with more than 223 color illustrations, this large format (8.6 x 1.3 x 10 inches,
3.41 pounds) hardcover edition of "Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces" by James
Payne is extraordinarily informative, exceptionally thought-provoking, and an inherently fascinating read from start to
finish. An exhaustive analytic course in art history that is impressively 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces" is a master class level art history that is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university library Art History
collections and supplemental curriculum studies textbook and reference, It should be noted for students, academia, and fine
art enthusiasts that this edition of "Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World's Greatest Masterpieces" from
Thames & Hudson is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.98).
Editorial Note: James Payne (https://www.greatartexplained.com) is a writer, curator, and educator, as well as the creator of
popular YouTube channels Great Art Explained and Great Books Explained. Payne's videos have millions of views and
have been shown at museums and galleries such as the Albertina Museum in Vienna.
Italy: In the Footsteps of the Great Artists
Nick Trend, author
Cassandra Montoriol, illustrator
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500027530, $65.00, HC, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Italy-Footsteps-Great-Artists-Travel/dp/0500027536
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/italy-nick-trend/1146995635
Synopsis: With the publication of "Italy: In the Footsteps of the Great Artists" you can imagine navigating the backstreets of
seventeenth-century Rome in the dazzling but dangerous company of Caravaggio. Who will you meet as you drop in at the
fabulous Villa Borghese -- its owner, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of the pope, or will it be Fillide Melandroni,
well-known courtesan and occasional artist's model?
Then fast-forward to the eighteenth century, and explore the Venice of Canaletto, Casanova, and Carnevale.
"Italy: In the Footsteps of the Great Artists" is comprised of twelve chapters, each of which are devoted to an artist or group
of artists, and a dozen itineraries to choose from, you can immerse yourself in the world of the great and the not-so-good,
wandering in and out of churches, palaces, and grand residences to admire their work "in situ" -- all from the comfort of
your armchair.
Each of the chapters begins with an illustrated map, featuring hand-drawn vignettes that bring to vivid life episodes from the
artist's often turbulent existence, as well as key landmarks and local color. Set off on your own Grand Tour for the
twenty-first century.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader's benefit with 450 color illustrations, a two-page Gazetteer, a one page listing of Sources
& Further Reading, and a two page Index, this large format (9.8 x 1.3 x 12.5 inches, 5.4 pounds) hardcover edition from
Thames & Hudson of "Italy: In the Footsteps of the Great Artists" by art historian Nick Trend and artist/illustrator
Cassandra Montoriol is a magnificent, impressively informative, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community and college/university library Art History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Librarians shoot also note that this epic edition of "Italy: In the Footsteps of the Great Artists" would prove to be an
exceptional "Memorial Fund' acquisition.
Editorial Note #1: Nick Trend is an art historian and journalist. As chief culture editor for The Daily Telegraph, he has spent
nearly three decades writing about the world's art treasures and has produced guides to many of the greatest museums and
art collections. He has also worked on the curatorial staff at the National Gallery in London and authored "Art Firsts: The
Story of Art in 30 Pioneering Works". (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7649585.Nick_Trend)
Editorial Note #2: Cassandra Montoriol (https://www.cassandremontoriol.com) is a Paris-based illustrator. Her figurative
work has long graced the pages of fashion magazines and the luxury world. More recently, her work has been in high
demand among clients in the luxury hospitality industry worldwide, where she travels to capture the unique atmosphere of
these exclusive resorts through her sketches. Her elegant and colorful style is perfectly suited to showcasing chic and
sophisticated interiors, while continuously reinventing itself and adapting to each of her clients.
Watercolour and Beyond: Exploring the frontiers of landscape painting
David Bellamy
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800923003, $29.95, PB, 160pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Watercolour-Beyond-Exploring-frontiers-landscape/dp/1800923007
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/watercolour-and-beyond-david-bellamy/1146019313
Synopsis: David Bellamy is a successful and long-standing authority on painting the landscape in watercolor. With the
publication of "Watercolour and Beyond: Exploring the frontiers of landscape painting" he shares his extensive knowledge
and experience and encourages confident artists to explore the boundaries of watercolor and forge new creative paths for
themselves through experimentation.
Alongside over 100 inspiring examples of David's work there are more than 60 innovative approaches and exercises, with
tips, visual examples and step-by-step technique, throughout the following sections:
Starting traditional (with pure watercolor): learn how to strengthen your compositions, gain experience using just one color,
work with a limited palette, then tackle the striking results you can achieve with harmonious colors.
Innovating through practice: through short step-by-step techniques and plenty of finished, fully detailed examples, learn how
to combine watercolor with gouache and use additives, inks, collage, pastels, stamping, gesso, watercolor ground, different
surfaces, and found materials to create atmospheric, innovative results, for example for suggesting distant rain or creating
dramatic sunlight effects.
Interpreting and altering your subjects: discover how to change the light or colors in a finished painting, introduce features
that are not present or emphasize those that are, exaggerate perspective, or turn part of the composition into abstraction.
Discover also how to alter, rescue and improve a painting where you may have a problem, or decide to change a passage on
a whim.
Taking It further: The final section is devoted to projects which you might like to consider: personal projects that may relate
to your family, your holidays, volunteer work, or perhaps involving the local community or a special cause.
Critique: Essentially, this large format (8.56 x 0.46 x 11.06 inches, 1.45 pounds) paperback edition of "Watercolour and
Beyond: Exploring the frontiers of landscape painting" by David Bellamy is an innovative, illustrated, practical and 'user
friendly' combination of instructional guide and 'how to' manual, aimed at equipping even the most novice of landscape
artists with exciting new ideas and techniques. An ideal pick for personal, professional, community, art school, and
college/university library Watercolor Painting instructional reference collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists,
it should be noted that "Watercolour and Beyond: Exploring the frontiers of landscape painting" is also available from
Search Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.08).
Editorial Note: David Bellamy (https://www.davidbellamy.co.uk) has always been fascinated by the world's wild places.
Highly regarded as a teacher of art, he has a tremendous following among artist and leisure painters, many of whom have
attended his extremely popular courses and workshops both in the UK and overseas. He gives demonstrations and talks,
produces successful videos, has written many books on watercolor painting and is a regular contributor to art magazines.
David lives near Builth Wells, Wales.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Russell Hoban: Faithful to the Strange
Graeme Wend-Walker
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476682822, $55.00, PB, 248pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Russell-Hoban-Faithful-Graeme-Wend-Walker/dp/1476682828
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/russell-hoban
Synopsis: Russell Conwell Hoban (February 4, 1925 - December 13, 2011) was an American writer. His works span many
genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in
London from 1969 until his death.
Spanning more than half a century, Russell Hoban's celebrated literary career won him critical accolades and legions of
admirers across multiple genres. Many know him from the groundbreaking masterpiece Riddley Walker, with its
twelve-year-old protagonist contemplating "what the idear of us myt be" from amidst the ruins of civilization. Others know
Hoban from the genre-defying The Mouse and His Child or from idiosyncratic novels of floundering Londoners. Still others
fondly recall Frances the Badger's refusal to go to bed, or share Emmet Otter with their children at Christmas.
With the publication of "Russell Hoban: Faithful to the Strange", Professor Graeme Wend-Walker provides the first
consideration of Russell Hoban's literary career as a whole, exploring what binds these seemingly disparate works
together.
Discovering unexpected patterns between books written from what one character describes as a perpetual "state of surprise",
this critical literary study also draws on Hoban's biography, from his formation as an artist under the influence of jazz in
New York to the upheaval of his self-reinvention as a writer, as it offers its own reflection on what the idea of Russell
Hoban might be.
Critique: A model study of literary criticism, "Russell Hoban: Faithful to the Strange" by Professor Graeme Wend-Walker is
a unique, deftly written, and meticulously presented history of an influential contributor to children's literature. An
informative and inherently interesting work of eloquent literary criticism, "Russell Hoban: Faithful to the Strange" is a
unique and recommended addition to community and college/university library Literary History/Criticism collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Russell Hoban: Faithful to the Strange" from
McFarland & Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.99).
Editorial Note: Graeme Wend-Walker is a professor of English literature at Texas State University in San Marcos.
The Self-Help Shelf
How To Find The Good Life
Robert D. Melson
https://howtoliveagoodlife.net
Book Baby Publishers
www.bookbaby.com
9798317808709, $4.99, Kindle, 1.5 MB
9798317808693, $14.99, PB, 78 pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FT51DN48
Synopsis: With the publication of "How to Find the Good Life", Robert Dennis Melson reveals the secret to creating a truly
great life. For over ten years, Melson studied everything needed to create health, wealth, love, and happiness. In the pages of
"How to Find the Good Life" he guarantees that you will find something in DIY self help guide that will positively change
your life for the better.
His message is that remembering your beliefs is what creates your reality.
If you have ever wondered how to navigate life with great faith and intentionality while managing its struggles, then "How
to Find the Good Life" is the perfect instructional guide for you.
"How to Find the Good Life" is a powerful motivational self-help book specifically designed to teach you not just the steps
but also practical ways to attain the good life you truly desire. Melson covers a range of topics, including how to calm your
mind, improve your thoughts, harness the incredible power of gratitude, and cultivate self-confidence, among many others.
These topics can lead to significant positive changes in your mental, physical, emotional, and financial health and even
enhance your sex life.
Are you ready to transform every aspect of your life? The dive into this inspiring little volume and embark on the journey to
the profound change you have always yearned for.
Critique: Original, succinct, real world practical, exceptionally well organized, inspiring and thoroughly 'reader friendly in
tone and presentation, "How To Find The Good Life" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal,
professional, and community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted that the paperback edition
of "How To Find The Good Life" is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.00).
Editorial Note: Robert D. Melson (https://howtoliveagoodlife.net) is a self-improvement author, personal development
coach, and entrepreneur. He is also a certified coach through the John Maxwell Team and enjoys helping people stay
accountable to achieving their goals and to help find their future success.
Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go?
Portia Preston
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.revellbooks.com
9780800772703, $19.99, PB, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hustle-Flow-Let-Go-Shame-Free/dp/0800772709
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hustle-flow-or-let-it-go-portia-preston-drph/1146440628
Synopsis: In a fast-paced world filled with distraction, it is easy to lose sight of ourselves and what we value most. We
struggle with slowing down and protecting what gives our lives pleasure and meaning. Our well-being pays the price.
With the publication of "Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go?: A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness That Honors Your Reality and Gives
You Life", Portia Preston provides you with a framework for determining what the hustle costs you, where you can nurture
flexibility, and what you need to release in your life. It also shows you how to loosen the grip of perfectionism and societal
expectations to address your authentic needs, allowing you to pursue wellness and connection with awareness and
self-compassion.
If the hustle is leaving you hopeless and exhausted, the wisdom presented in the pages comprising "Hustle, Flow, or Let It
Go?: A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness That Honors Your Reality and Gives You Life" offers a better way -- helping you to
create a customized blueprint for wellness that honors your reality and gives you life.
Critique: Original, inspirational, informative and inspiring, "Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go?: A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness
That Honors Your Reality and Gives You Life" is a life-enhancing, life-enriching, life-changing read that is exceptionally
well written, organized and presented for the non-specialist general reader with an int4erest in stress management from a
Christian perspective. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Hustle,
Flow, or Let It Go?: A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness That Honors Your Reality and Gives You Life" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Portia Jackson Preston, DrPH, is the founder and CEO of Empowered to Exhale, where she works with
individuals and organizations to create a culture of sustainable wellness and performance. As an associate professor of
public health at California State University, Fullerton, she focuses on inclusive approaches to wellness and creates
innovative programming to support students, faculty, and staff. Portia holds a BA in cultural and social anthropology from
Stanford University, a master's of public health from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate of public health from
UCLA.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Book of Awakening Card Deck
Mark Nepo
Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781590035870, $18.95, Card Deck, 64 Cards
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Awakening-Inspiration-Deck-Full-Color/dp/1590035879
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-awakening-inspiration-deck-mark-nepo/1146811785
Synopsis: Having touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of readers, Mark Nepo's wisdom continues to be a daily guide
for living life (in hard times and good times) and, most importantly, living authentically. "The Book of Wakening
Inspirational Deck" is a series of sixty-four full-color, beautifully designed inspiration cards featuring Mark Nepo's words
and will help people meet their days and inhabit their lives.
You can use these cards in a variety of ways to receive the benefits from the inspirational text by:
Reading only one card a day. If that seems too fast, try one each week. Whatever you choose, try to be consistent.
Reading the cards with an open mind. Ponder the words and see how they apply to your life. Focus on the words and see
how they benefit you.
Keeping the card visible throughout your day, especially those cards that you are most inspired or challenged by.
Taking daily positive actions.
The wisdom in Mark Nepo's "The Book of Awakening" has empowered millions to change their thinking and their lives.
"The Book of Awakening Inspiration Deck" will do the same with respect to motivating you in your journey to creating the
life of your dreams.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated, impressively meditative, inspired and inspiring, as well as thoroughly 'user friendly' in
presentation, "The Book of Awakening Inspiration Deck", comprised of 64 full color cards, is especially and unreservedly
recommended for anyone of any age or any background who are seeking personal transformation, happiness, and
metaphysical themed self-help/self-improvement.
Editorial Note: Mark Nepo (https://marknepo.com) is a poet and philosopher who has taught in the fields of poetry and
spirituality for over thirty years. He has published twelve books, and his work has been translated throughout the world. In
leading spiritual retreats, in working with healing and medical communities, and in his teachings as a poet, Mark's work is
widely accessible and used by many.
Arianrhod: Celtic Goddess of Fate, Fortune and Destiny
Kristoffer Hughes
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803418278, $12.95, PB, 120pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Arianrhod-Goddess-Fortune/dp/1803418273
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pagan-portals-arianrhod-kristoffer-hughes/1146736441
Synopsis: With scholarship, vision, and practical techniques to develop devotional relationships and meaningful rituals, with
the publication of "Arianrhod: Celtic Goddess of Fate, Fortune and Destiny", Druid Kristoffer Hughes takes you on a
journey through myth and mystery to meet Arianrhod, the fiercely independent Goddess of the Silver Wheel and weaver of
fates and fortunes. With never-before-seen material in the English language (and hidden wisdom) you will be ferried across
this goddess' tumultuous seas to find her true nature beneath the starry skies of Arianrhod.
Critique: A part of the simply outstanding Pagan Portals series from Moon Books, "Arianrhod: Celtic Goddess of Fate,
Fortune and Destiny" by Kristoffer Hughes is a succinct, fascinating, and informative introduction to a remarkable Celtic
deity that will prove of immense interest to readers with an interest in Celtic Mythology. While also readily available for
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Celtic Mythology 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
this paperback edition of "Arianrhod: Celtic Goddess of Fate, Fortune and Destiny" from Moon Books is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Kristoffer Hughes is a Chief of the Anglesey Druid Order, a first language native Welsh speaker and the
author of 9 books and Tarot decks. He is also a Welsh language television presenter and actor who lives in Isle of Anglesey,
Wales, UK.
The Spiritual Magic of Dolls
Najah Lightfoot
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781578638857, $18.95, PB, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Magic-Dolls-Najah-Lightfoot/dp/1578638852
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spiritual-magic-of-dolls-najah-lightfoot/1146811764
Synopsis: Dolls have been both beloved companions and instruments of magic for millennia. With the publication of "The
Spiritual Magic of Dolls", author Najah Lightfoot bridges these two uses (companionship and magic) to enable her readers
to develop profound magical and spiritual relationships with their own dolls.
Many have beloved dolls displayed on shelves or sitting in boxes. Perhaps you still have favorite childhood dolls or have
been gifted with a doll or inherited one from a relative or friend. What if you could do more with them?
Najah shows you how you how to take that attachment to the next level, to be closer to them in magical, loving ways.
Critique: Original, fascinating, informative, and with occasional B/W illustrations, "The Spiritual Magic of Dolls" is a
unique compendium of observational/metaphysical advice and DIY how-to instructional guides. Thoroughly 'reader/user'
friendly in organization and presentation, "The Spiritual Magic of Dolls" is an ideal introduction to the use of dolls in
witchcraft and magic. Of special note is the inclusion of a one page Bibliography. While this paperback edition of "The
Spiritual Magic of Dolls" from Weiser Books is a strongly recommended and very special pick for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted that it is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing,
9798228660731, $39.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Najah Lightfoot (https://www.craftandconjure.com) is an initiated member of La Source Ancienne Ounfo, a
private Vodou society in New Orleans, Louisiana, a sister-priestess of the Divine Feminine, and an active member of the
Denver Pagan Community. She keeps her magick strong through the practice of Kung Fu, the folk magick of Hoodoo,
Pagan rituals, and her belief in the Mysteries of the Universe. Najah Lightfoot is also a regular contributing author to the
Llewellyn Almanac series.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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