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Reviewer's Choice
The American Book of Fables
Matthew Mehan, author
John Folley, illustrator
Sophia Institute Pres
https://sophiainstitute.com
9798889116912, $39.95, HC, 396pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/American-Book-Fables-Matthew-Mehan/dp/B0G1XYVC54
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-american-book-of-fables-matthew-t-mehan/1148961893
Synopsis: From the Everglades to the Great Lakes, from the sequoias of California to the rocky islands of Maine, "The American Book of Fables" invites readers to rediscover the beauty of America -- her lands, her people, and her principles of liberty, law, and love.
"The American Book of Fables" is an heirloom collection of original and adapted fables, by author and educator Matthew Mehan and re-imagines Aesop for the New World, replacing lions and tigers with buffalo, eagles, manatees, and other creatures of our own blessed land.
Each tale (crafted in the rhythms of classic verse and prose) reveals the joyful and hard-won harmony between faith, virtue, and freedom, showing how the gifts and laws of nature and nature's God can continue to guide and free the hearts of all Americans in their pursuit of happiness.
"The American Book of Fables" speaks to all ages with sections 'for Littles, Middles, and Big', readers. The youngest will delight in playful rhymes; older children will ponder and laugh with amusing moral tales; adults will savor Mehan's rich wit, historical wonder, and layered reflections on the human heart. Together, The American Book of Fables" will help Americans of all ages to recapture that wit and wisdom, that gratitude and self-government, which are the foundations of both a good life and a great republic.
Featuring luminous realist-impressionist illustrations by acclaimed painter John Folley (each of which is an homage to American art, history, and landscape), "The American Book of Fables" is both a moral treasury and a work of beauty.
For families seeking to renew their love for nature, neighbor, God, and country, "The American Book of Fables" is more than a book -- it is a keepsake, a handbook of liberty, and a celebration of the providence and the inspired generations that shaped America and that still calls her (and us) to greatness today.
Critique: Original, exceptional, entertaining, inspiring, "The American Book of Fables" is an extraordinary collaboration between author/storyteller Matthew Mehan and artist/illustrator John Folley. This large format (12 x 9 x 0.63 inches, 3.74 pounds) hardcover edition of "The American Book of Fables" from the Sophia Institute Press is a unique and unreservedly recommended pick for family, middle school, highschool, community, and college/university library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of readers with an interest in modern/contemporary folk tales and myths that "The American Book of Fables" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.95).
Editorial Note #1: Matthew Mehan is Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Government at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College's Washington, D.C. campus. He has taught and designed humanities and leading citizenship curricula for over twenty-five years. Trained as a literary scholar, he earned a B.A. in Politics, an M.A. in English, and an honors Ph.D. in Literature from the University of Dallas. Mr. Mehan is the author of The Handsome Little Cygnet and Mr. Mehan's Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals, a best-selling illustrated book of poetry praised as "a new classic" in children's literature. He writes for both scholarly and popular audiences, with bylines in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal.
Editorial Note #2: John Folley is an illustrator and visual storyteller known for bringing imaginative stories to life through expressive and engaging artwork. His illustrations combine warmth, detail, and a playful sense of character, helping young readers connect with the stories on the page. In "The American Book of Fables", Folley's artwork adds a vivid visual dimension to the timeless tradition of fables, capturing the charm, humor, and lessons within each tale and making them memorable for readers of all ages.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Writing Memoir in Flashes
Lita Kurth
Thinking Ink Press
https://www.thinkinginkpress.com
9781942480440, $22.00, HC, 132pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Memoir-Flashes-Creative-Stories/dp/194248044X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/writing-memoir-in-flashes-lita-kurth/1149780937
Synopsis: With the publication of "Writing Memoir in Flashes: Creative Ways to Tell Your True Stories, One Memory at a Time", Lita Kurth will helps you tell your own true and personal stories. Whether you're a memoirist, a family historian, or an author who needs to write about yourself, "Writing Memoir in Flashes" is friendly and inspirational DIY guide that will help you get started, find the heart of your story, and connect your piece with your audience.
"Writing Memoir in Flashes" is the ideal instructional guide to writing a short memoir and includes:
Creative writing techniques
Writing samples and exercises
Advice on building a collection
You don't have to write a whole book to create compelling, meaningful memoir. With "Writing Memoir in Flashes" you can tell your own story in your own words!
Critique: Original, exceptional, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in style, organization and presentation, "Writing Memoir in Flashes: Creative Ways to Tell Your True Stories, One Memory at a Time" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections and an essential guide how-to guide for ordinary folk to write down for themselves and posterity, bits and pieces of their life in an effective storytelling memoir format. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Writing Memoir in Flashes" is also available in paperback (9781942480426, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: For nearly 20 years and almost as many organizations and schools, Lita has taught creative writing to students aged 8 to 80 (many college-aged) and from jail inmates to members of a poetry society. She has published many, many small pieces in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, but this is her first "big piece"! Dozens of her students have published and performed work they wrote in her classes. She is also the co-founder of a long-running literary reading series, Flash Fiction Forum. (www.goodreads.com/author/show/4146662.Lita_Kurth)
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
What Do I Do After High School? White Collar, Blue Collar, or No Collar
Oreste J. D'Aversa
Cutting Edge Technology Publishing
9781952294471, $25.00, PB, 528pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/What-After-School-White-Collar/dp/1952294479
Synopsis: Every year, nearly four million students graduate high school and get asked the same question: What are you going to do after graduation?
Most of them answer without a map, without a framework, and without anyone who has given them the tools to answer it well. They are handed a brochure and told to pick something. They are told to follow their passion without being taught how to find it. They are pointed toward college as the default answer without anyone honestly explaining what it costs, what it produces, and whether it is the right fit for who they are.
A practical workbook/lifebook to finding your path, your own your future, building a prosperous, meaningful and joyous life, with the publication of "What Do I Do After High School? White Collar, Blue Collar, or No Collar", Oreste J. D'Aversa has managed to change that.
"What Do I Do After High School? White Collar, Blue Collar or No Collar" is a practical workbook and lifebook for students ages 16 to 24 -- as well as the parents, grandparents, counselors, and educators who love them.
Oreste J. D'Aversa (Certified Professional Coach, Career and Life Coach, and author of over twelve books) provides every young person the honest, complete, and practical guidance that they need and which public school systems rarely provide.
At the center of this DIY manual is the Three-Collar Framework which offers a way of understanding every career path available after high school without bias, pressure, or cultural assumption:
White Collar - the professional and corporate world. Business, law, medicine, technology, finance, and education. Careers that typically require a college or advanced degree and offer a wide landscape of meaningful work for the right person.
Blue Collar - the skilled trades and hands-on world. Electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC technicians, carpenters, and mechanics. Careers in high demand, with strong earning potential and a pathway to a prosperous life - without the debt burden of a four-year degree.
No Collar - the entrepreneurial and independent world. Freelancers, founders, solopreneurs, content creators, and independent contractors who build income on their own terms and outside traditional employment structures.
None of these paths is better than the others. Each one can produce a prosperous, meaningful, and joyous life. The only question is which one is right for you.
Across thirty chapters and four sections, "What Do I Do After High School? White Collar, Blue Collar or No Collar" takes its readers through the complete journey:
Section One: The Journey - the inner work of self-discovery. Values. Gifts. Passion. Purpose. The foundation of every good career decision.
Section Two: The Decision - an honest exploration of every path. Real costs. Real rewards. Financial literacy. Technology. Artificial intelligence and the future of work.
Section Three: The Real World - the practical tools. Resume writing. Interviewing. Business and personal networking. Communication. Professional appearance. The Life Master Plan.
Your Destination: Now That We Are Here - a celebration and a send-off. Everything learned, carried forward.
"What Do I Do After High School? White Collar, Blue Collar or No Collar" is not a book to be read and shelved. It is a book to be written in and is comprised of ninety exercises, written in the reader's own voice, building a personalized career and life roadmap chapter by chapter. By the time the final page is turned, readers will have done something most adults have never done: sat down, looked honestly at themselves and their options, built a real plan, and made a genuine decision about their future on their own terms.
The road ahead is yours. What "What Do I Do After High School? White Collar, Blue Collar or No Collar" provides is gives the map to get there.
Critique: Original, exceptional, informative, thought-provoking, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "What Do I Do After High School? White Collar, Blue Collar or No Collar" is unreservedly recommended for graduating highschool and college students and young adults in planning their careers and evaluating their employment choices. It is a consumable paperback but one that would well serve as a jobs/careers planing guide again and again in the course of life that often makes changes and choices of vocation and employment volatile and unexpected.
Editorial Note: Oreste "Rusty" D'Aversa, CPC is a Certified Professional Coach as well as being an Author of several other books, a Public Speaker, Seminar Leader, Entrepreneur Coach, Marketing and Sales Consultant, Trainer, Job Search Coach, and University Lecturer. He is also an All-faiths Minister and his life's purpose is to help people with practical tools, methods and techniques to find their true life's work and their spiritual path while being financially prosperous.
The Business Shelf
Stakeholder Management for Project Managers
Michelle Bartonico
Vibrant Publishers
https://www.vibrantpublishers.com
9781636516929, $66.99, HC, 239pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Stakeholder-Management-Project-Managers-Self-Learning/dp/1636516920
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stakeholder-management-for-project-managers-michelle-bartonico/1150373089
Synopsis: Stakeholder engagement is the lifeblood of project management -- and yet it remains one of the most underdeveloped skills in any project manager's toolkit. Whether you are navigating a multi-million-dollar digital transformation or leading a cross-functional initiative, your ability to identify, analyze, and engage stakeholders determines whether your project succeeds or stalls.
With the publication of "A Practical Guide for Managing Projects and Engaging People", Michelle Bartonico gives you a complete, practitioner-focused playbook for managing every stakeholder relationship from project kickoff to final delivery.
"A Practical Guide for Managing Projects and Engaging People" provides:
A complete stakeholder engagement framework from identifying and mapping stakeholders to building a robust Stakeholder Engagement Plan that drives alignment and reduces friction at every project phase
Practical tools and templates including stakeholder registers, power/interest matrices, the salience model, RACI charts, empathy maps, and communications management strategies you can apply immediately
Change management strategies that apply ADKAR, Kotter's change model, and the change curve to move stakeholders through uncertainty and toward adoption
Empathy-driven project leadership and discovering how cognitive, emotional, and compassionate empathy transform stakeholder relationships and fuel project success
Whether you are a seasoned PMP, a project coordinator stepping into a leadership role, or a business analyst managing client relationships, "A Practical Guide for Managing Projects and Engaging People" is an ideal guide that meets you where you are. Every chapter builds your ability to anticipate stakeholder needs, manage resistance, and deliver measurable value to your organization.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "A Practical Guide for Managing Projects and Engaging People" by Michelle Bartonico is an extraordinary, comprehensive, and 'real world practical' introduction to managing special project teams for the most beneficial outcomes. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "A Practical Guide for Managing Projects and Engaging People" from Vibrant Publishers is also readily availalble in paperback (9781636516905, $38.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.93, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Michelle Bartonico is a PMP & PROSCI-certified project manager and strategist with 20 years of experience leading strategic initiatives, teams, and enterprise-wide change programs. (https://www.vibrantpublishers.com/pages/michelle-bartonico)
The Political Science Shelf
We the Presidents
Ronald Gruner
Libratum.Press
9781737823124, $34.50, HC, 650pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/We-Presidents-American-Shaped-Century/dp/1737823128
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-the-presidents-ronald-gruner/1140781421
Synopsis: Rather than a traditional presidential history, with the publication of "We the Presidents: How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century", author Ronald Gruner focuses on a century of presidencies from Warren G. Harding to Donald J. Trump showing how their presidencies have shaped today's America, and the world.
Many of today's critical issues including immigration, inflation, income disparity, civil discord, and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East all had their roots in earlier presidencies. Ronald Gruner's engaging and straightforward writing describes how presidencies over the last century have shaped today's America from the Emergency Immigration Act of 1921 to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020.
An award-winning study, "We The Presidents" is more than an informatively absorbing read; it provides a singularly great education on the issues which have shaped the American century up to the present day when democracy, both in America and around the world, faces yet another crucial test of its resilience, strength, and survivability.
Critique: Simply stated, "We the Presidents: How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century" by Ronald Grunner is a seminal, groundbreaking, non-partisan approach to examining the roles of a series 19th and 20th Century American presidents and their impact on domestic and foreign policies that shaped contemporary political/social/cultural relationships within our country and throughout the world for the past century. Exceptionally well written, organize and presented, "We the Presidents" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Political Science and History 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 hardcover edition of "We the Presidents" from Libratum Press is also readily available in paperback (9781737823100, $25.49) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.50).
Editorial Note #1: On July 4, 2026, Gruner published a special edition of "We the Presidents: How American Presidents Shaped the Last Century" in commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. The new addition includes extensive updates to reflect the Biden presidency and the first year of Donald Trump's second term.
Editorial Note #2: Ronald Gruner founded and served as the chief executive of three successful technology firms over his forty-year career. As a business executive, Gruner wrote extensively on the industry and technology. Since retiring, Gruner has published two histories, "We the Presidents" and "Covid Wars", and the anthology, "Short Essays for Inquiring Minds".
The General Fiction Shelf
The Ryukyu
Ruhi Anya P.A.
Pen Tip Publishing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKNh7AKvECY
9781066654802, $9.99, 187pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ryukyu-Ruhi-Anya-Purushothaman-Aruldevi/dp/1066654808
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ryukyu-ruhi-anya-purushothaman-aruldevi/1150334642
Synopsis: Yumi thought her life was already messy, losing her parents, living under Aunt Mary's watch, and surviving high school drama. But when a fire rips through her school, and strange people begin appearing in her life, her too-cool brother Hikaru, the mysterious model Elleigh, and the sharp-tongued Devika, Yumi realized her parents' past wasn't just tragic.
It was dangerous.
Secrets hidden in late-night chases and a box carved with her parents' initials pulled Yumi into a web of lies bigger than she ever imagined. Everyone seemed to know more than they were saying, and some of them might even want her gone!
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, and a riveting read from start to finish, "The Ryukyu" by Ruhi Anya P.A. is an impressive blend of suspense, mystery, and adventure that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "The Ryukyu" from Pen Tip Publishing is also available in a digital book format (9781066654819, Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: There is an informative YouTube video of "The Ryukyu" available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKNh7AKvECY
Hidden River
Sara Lippmann
https://www.saralippmann.com
Tortoise Books
https://tortoisebooks.com
9781965199251, $19.99, HC, 254pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-River-Sara-Lippmann/dp/1965199259
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hidden-river-sara-lippmann/1147693482
Synopsis: Sally Sellers has made it big in London and is eager to flesh out her wedding guest list. Cass and Sally were once inseparable, sharing everything from boys to beds. But secrets polluted their friendship -- particularly Cass's illicit entanglement with Sally's father, Len, which began in adolescence, and ended with his untimely death.
Will the wedding finally force Cass to reckon with her painful, hidden past? Can she heal well enough to truly grow into her own adulthood? And what does healing look like when the most damaging memories are also the ones that last?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and an effective and artful blending of comedy and tragedy, "Hidden River" showcases author Sara Lippmann's genuine and effective character and narrative driven storytelling which raises her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. One of those stories set in recent history will have a special resonance with those readers who themselves live through the scandals of late 1980s and 90s. While a very highly recommended pick for community and public library Literary Fiction collections, as well as readers with an interest in stories of Women's Relationships and Family Life, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Hidden River" from Tortoise Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Sara Lippmann's Hidden River is an unforgettable masterwork by a writer at the top of her game. With a timeline that toggles between the summer of 2008 and the late 80s/early 90s, this lean but bold novel casts an intimate look at grooming in the era before #metoo. A fascinating blend of tragedy and dark comedy, a work of brutal emotional truths unearthed with lightness and grace, this exquisitely charged story, at once private and political, will linger in your mind - and earn a place in your heart.
Now I'm Photogenic and Other Stories I Tell Myself
Jill Rosenberg
https://jillrosenberg.me
Black Lawrence Press
https://blacklawrencepress.com
9781625572172, $17.95, PB, 148pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Photogenic-Other-Stories-Tell-Myself/dp/1625572174
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/now-im-photogenic-and-other-stories-i-tell-myself-jill-rosenberg/1148336899
Synopsis: "Now I'm Photogenic and Other Stories I Tell Myself" by Jill Rosenberg is a collection of ten playfully strange and unsettling short stories, some realistic and some surreal.
The characters in these stories feel alienated: from their communities and relationships, on the streets of wealthy suburbs, at the doctor's office, in classrooms and swimming pools, in their own homes and their own skin. They wonder: is it better to be alone, imagining the life you want, as fantastic and strange as you wish, or is it better to be in the real world with real people, even if that means you might be hurt, embarrassed, and misunderstood?
What if the intensity of it all feels equally threatening and glorious?
The short stories comprising "Now I'm Photogenic and Other Stories I Tell Myself"" include an angry father wishes he could be loving and gentle; a seven-year-old girl wants to be better at school and thin like her sister; an uncoordinated, awkward teenager is training to be an Olympic athlete.
What would happen, we are left to wonder, if these characters brought their wild sides out into the light? What if they stopped trying to be normal?
Critique: Original, emotionally compelling, intellectually engaging, deftly crafted, the stories comprising "Now I'm Photogenic and Other Stories I Tell Myself" fully showcase author Jill Rosenberg's remarkable and entertaining flair for the kind of character and narrative storytelling style that is ideal for the short story format. A fascinating and memorable read from start to finish, "Now I'm Photogenic and Other Stories I Tell Myself" is unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Now I'm Photogenic and Other Stories I Tell Myself" from Black Lawrence Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.95, Barnes & Noble).
Editorial Note: Jill Rosenberg (https://jillrosenberg.me) is a graduate of Vassar College and the MFA Program at the University of Montana. Her fiction has been published by the Kenyon Review, swamp pink, Black Warrior Review, and other journals. She currently writes and teaches in Montclair, New Jersey, where she also works with rescued cats and practices practicing Buddhism.
Be Well
Sarah Flocken
Heliotrope Books
https://heliotropebooks.com
9781956474817, $20.00, PB, 274pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Be-Well-Sarah-Flocken/dp/1956474811
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-well-sarah-flocken/1150062698
Synopsis: Summer 2009
Brand-new college graduate Ann Ward has sent out nearly three hundred job applications, but nobody will employ her. The last thing she wants to do is leave Los Angeles, return to her desert hometown, and live in the shadow of her fame-hungry televangelist father -- and it's starting to look like that's her fate.
Thankfully, Ann's luck turns after a humiliating failed job interview, when she meets the magnetic founder of the upscale holistic wellness collective Sagebrush. She's quickly drawn deep into the privileged, demanding world of Sagebrush, inventing Anneliese-a dubious new persona-to fit in.
But when her funds run out and her lies blow up, Ann must choose between facing reality or doing whatever she has to do in order to get the future she wants.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, laced with dark humor, "Be Well" by Sarah Flocken is a fascinating and emotionally engaging 'coming of age' read from start to finish. With a particular resonance readers, "Be Well" deftly explores, ready we can be to believe in something unquestioningly -- all while lying to ourselves and others. "Be Well" is about what can be done "when everything feels uncertain and the future isn't guaranteed". While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary American Fiction collections it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Be Well" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Sarah Flocken (https://www.sarahflocken.com) is an author who writes unhinged fiction for the silently enraged. "Be Well" is her first novel. She is also a public relations professional, comedian, improviser, and pun contest host (yes, it's a thing) with performance credits worldwide. Los Angeles will always hold a piece of her heart and blood pressure, but San Diego is the place she calls home. She can be followed on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook at @sarahflockenwrites
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Bargains of Fate
Sharon Virts
Flashpoint Books
https://www.flashpointbooks.com
9781967510115, $18.95, PB, 368pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Bargains-Fate-Book-Fields-Honor/dp/1967510113
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bargains-of-fate-sharon-virts/1147995866
Synopsis: Though the twisted scars on his arm still tell the tale, Jack McCarty has worked hard to put his duel with Armistead Mason in the past. He's one of Virginia's brightest young lawyers, married to the love of his life, and poised once again for political stardom -- an opportunity he thought he'd lost when forced to face Armistead on the field of honor.
Lucinda Lee has also moved forward, closing the door on the betrayal that almost ended her courtship with Jack. But even as she and Jack begin to build a seemingly charmed life, Lucinda watches the women who fawn over him with suspicion -- and bristles at the brazenness of her sister Fanny, a hopeless flirt.
When a horrible tragedy binds Fanny and Lucinda together in ways they never imagined, and Jack falls prey to a disastrous lapse in judgment, the family struggles to keep scandal at bay. As Jack is swept up in dramatic court cases and festering disputes, he once again finds himself at the wrong end of a dueling pistol. Is the man he has worked so hard to become slipping out of his reach?
Critique: The sequel to author Sharon Virts' novel "Masque of Honor" (and continuing the story of Jack, Lucinda and Fanny), "Bargain of Fate" is the second in the 'Fields of Honor' series. Original, deftly written, and a compelling read from start to finish, is an impressive novel that will hold a special appeal to readers with an interest in multi-generational fiction set in the 19th Century. Of special note is the emphasis on historical detail backgrounded an inherently fascinating story of a yesteryear of duels, scandals, politics, ambition, and redemption. While a very highly recommended pick for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Bargain of Fate" from Flashpoint Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Sharon Virts is the author of three historical fiction novels: Veil of Doubt, The Grays of Truth, and Masque of Honor, the first installment in the Fields of Honor series. Veil of Doubt was named a finalist by the American Book Fest's 2024 Best Book Awards in Best Historical Fiction and by the IAN Book of the Year Awards in the Historical Fiction: Pre-20th Century category. The Grays of Truth won the 2025 International Book Award for Best Historical Fiction. Sharon lives with her husband, Scott Miller, at the Selma Mansion in Virginia, a historic estate they rescued from demolition and lovingly restored.
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
The Elba Trilogy
Drew Banks
Dot Dash Press
9798250537841, $34.99, PB, 814pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Elba-Trilogy-Drew-Banks/dp/B0GXF8R6Y3
Synopsis: "The Elba Trilogy" is comprised of three stories by Drew Banks; 'Able Was I', 'Ere I Saw Elba', and 'I Before E'. "The Elba Trilogy" is a multi-generational literary fiction series spanning New York, Paris, and Italy, exploring identity, exile, and chosen family.
Transcending the traditional LGBTQ genre, the trilogy traces the intersecting lives of three characters bound by displacement across three generations: a gay middle-aged American man haunted by a life unlived, a French woman shaped by the trauma of wartime Paris, and a young Italian immigrant navigating identity and belonging in 1980s New York. Together their stories build toward a single pivotal night and a reckoning none of them can avoid.
Comprised of the three novels, "The Elba Trilogy", author Drew Banks has crafted a unique genre-blending trilogy that will captivate readers who enjoy LGBTQ+ literature, coming-of-age journeys, historical fiction, family drama, romance, mysteries, European settings, and evocative "armchair travel" storytelling.
Critique: This 20th Anniversary Omnibus Edition of "The Elba Trilogy" by novelist Drew Banks is especially and unreservedly recommended to a new generation of readers with an interest in LGBTQ+ literature. A compendium of three novels by an author whose character and narrative driven storytelling style raises these gay coming of age stories to an impressive level of literary excellence, "The Elba Trilogy" is unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Literary Fiction collections, and supplemental LGBTQ+ Fiction curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Elba Trilogy" from Dot Dash Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Drew Banks (https://www.drewbanks.com) is a retired entrepreneur, business author, and novelist. In his business writing as well as fiction, Drew deconstructs behavioral patterns in an attempt to explore psychological motivations and deterrents. While Drew's business books examine organizational implications of various social psychologies, he is drawn to fiction (where he is now focused) as a more intimate medium for delving beneath the surface of an individual.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Seagulls
Nina Chayka
https://ninachayka.com
Black Lawrence Press
https://blacklawrencepress.com
9781625572189, $19.95, PB, 252pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Seagulls-Nina-Chayka/dp/1625572182
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seagulls-nina-chayka/1148336898
Synopsis: A teenage Olympic champion in Krakow, a stripper in New York, an American professor at Yale, a tech executive, and a doctor turned undocumented nanny -- in a stunning collection of the linked stories comprising author Nina Chayka, "Seagulls" follows these women and men as they navigate exile, marriage, violence, and love in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Although fictional, Nina Chayka's debut collection draws on stories collected by the author from Ukrainians and Russians whose lives were shattered by the war, and from the author's own experiences as a member of a Muslim minority in Russia, her escape from harassment and threats of the Russian government, and her eventual exile in the United States.
Through these interconnected lives, "Seagulls" explores how individuals bound by war find the relentless, if sometimes reluctant, need to move forward.
Critique: Eloquent, articulate, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, the emotionally engaging and intellectually compelling stories comprising "Seagulls" showcases author Nina Chayka's genuine and authentic flair for the kind of character and narrative storytelling style that is ideal for the short story format. Here is a collection of original 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. While an unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Seagulls" from Black Lawrence Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.95).
Editorial Note: Nina Chayka is a writer from Saint Petersburg, Russia. She holds a BA from Harvard University and currently lives in Brooklyn. "Seagulls" is her debut collection of short stories.
Spice of Life And Other Stories
A. K. Frailey
A. K. Frailey Books
9798994596555, $30.00, HC, 398pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spice-Life-Other-Stories-Frailey/dp/B0H1DS4GY7
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spice-of-life-and-other-stories-a-k-frailey/1150144039
Synopsis: "Spice of Life And Other Stories " is a diverse collection of short stories by A. K. Frailey that range from humorous ordinary day situations, to moments of poignant reevaluation of self and others in a world of changing perspectives.
Included are stories featuring contemporary family fiction, a touch of fantastic fantasy, a new dramatic moment from the Newearth universe, and a novella where humanity's sanity hangs in the balance offer a menu with enough spice to satisfy any literary longings.
It is the hazards of daily life that test the soul. Nobility, bravery, decency, kindness, and mercy are the shafts of light that pierce the darkness of the human experience. Drama and personal crisis amid the realities of family life make for relatable stories. Finding hope through the struggle.
"Spice of Life And Other Stories" evokes all the excitement of a novel experience in the format of compact short stories about contemporary lives moving through dark trials to light and hope.
Critique: Deftly crafted, original, diverse, imaginative, entertaining, thought-provoking, emotionally engaging, the short stories comprising "Spice of Life And Other Stories" anthology clearly showcase author A. K. Frailey's genuine flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for the short story format. While an unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists as well as community and college/university library Contemporary American Short Story collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Spice of Life And Other Stories" is also available in paperback (9798994596548, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.00).
Editorial Note #1: A. K. Frailey (https://akfrailey.com) is the author of a a science fiction series, short story collections, inspirational non-fiction books, a children's book, and a poetry collection. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4676216.A_K_Frailey
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Enigma of London
T. C. Simon
New Generation Publishing
https://www.newgeneration-publishing.com
9781918422696, $14.95, PB, 247pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/ENIGMA-LONDON-T-C-Simon/dp/1918422699
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enigma-of-london-t-c-simon/1150068906
Synopsis: What drives a former London cop to abandon the rules -- and put on a mask to seek revenge?
Tudor Morrison once believed in the system. But years of red tape, broken justice, and untouchable criminals have pushed him beyond the law he once served. Now, he's hunting the elusive and murderous Webface (a fugitive who thrives in the shadows of London's underworld) while trying to hold together the fragile pieces of his personal life.
As Tudor enlists uneasy allies, the battle spills into the streets. Clashes with Webface and his ruthless cohorts ignite chaos, spreading fear and destruction across the city. No corner of London is safe.
With powerful criminals tightening their grip (and corrupt politicians pulling strings behind the scenes) the very soul of London hangs in the balance. If Tudor fails, the city will fall into darkness
Outnumbered and alone, how can one man take on an entire criminal empire? And if he can't... is London already doomed?
Critique Original, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting action-adventure novel set in a gritty noir tale of corruption and vigilante justice, "Enigma of London" by T. C. Simon is a fun and fascinating read from start to finish. Memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, cliffhanger suspense, and climatic confrontations, "Enigma of London" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library contemporary fiction collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Enigma of London" from New Generation Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.69, Amazon).
Editorial Note: TC Simon is a London-based family man who grew up immersed in Marvel and DC comics. Motivated to write following a personal bereavement, he spent over two years crafting his debut novel, "Enigma of London", while balancing work and family life. His deep affection for the city shines through in every page, with London itself acting as a harsh, unrelenting character alongside the protagonist. Simon sets the foundation for an expanding series, promising more thrilling, gritty adventures in the same vein.
Hunt for the Third Woe
John S. Powell
Hawfields Press
9780962989926, $14.95, PB, 271pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Third-Woe-John-Powell/dp/0962989924
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hunt-for-the-third-woe-john-s-powell/1149934866
Synopsis: A greedy, amoral billionaire plans to unleash a genetically modified strain of smallpox for which he has the only effective antidote. It is scheduled for the anniversary of the 1993 massacre at Waco, Texas.
Bruno Rattenvanger, aka RatCatcher, leads the effort to implement the plot. Aiding him is Doctor BrightAngel, an Afrikaner and expert at weaponizing pathogens.
To avoid detection, RatCatcher connives to dupe Brother John, an apocalyptic televangelist, into taking blame for the approaching pandemic. Under the spell of the Jerusalem Syndrome, Brother John believes he has been chosen by the Archangel Michael to pour out the first bowl of the Third Woe as prophesied in the book of Revelation in the Bible.
Sister Magg, intelligent, attractive and ruthless, undertakes to block this deadly scheme. A former escort and drug addict, she is Brother John's confidant and protector. Joining her is Cheyenne "Jinx" Whyte, a member of Homeland Security's Emergency Search Team. Professional and level-headed, Jinx wants to prove she can handle dangerous fieldwork.
When five ampules of smallpox are smuggled into an antique shop in Manhattan, battlelines are drawn and the countdown begins. The hunt is on.
Critique: Original, featuring a cast of memorably crafted characters, and a simply riveting suspense thriller of a read from start to finish, "Hunt for the Third Woe" showcases author John S. Powell's distinctive and genuine flair for the kind of vivid storytelling style that is ideal for the Conspiracy/Technothriller genre. With the kind of deftly written 'cliff-hanger' storyline, "Hunt for the Third Woe" is one of those medical terrorism tales that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the novel has been finished and set back upon the shelf. While an unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Hunt for the Third Woe" from Hawfields Press is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: John S. Powell is co-founder of LabCorp, a medical testing laboratory. Interested in pathogenic viruses, he researched the history of smallpox and how it could be used by determined terrorists. He was an artillery officer in the US Army. He is also an attorney. In addition to Hunt for the Third Woe, he has written a technothriller, The Nostradamus Prophecy, and a historical novel on the US civil war battle of New Market.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Blood of the Forgotten
Rowleic
Grosvenor House Publishing Limited
https://grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk
9781836156413, $26.99, HC, 234pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/SonaRift-Saga-Blood-Forgotten/dp/1836156413
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sonarift-saga-rowleic/1149788421
Synopsis: "The Blood of the Forgotten" launches The SonaRift Saga, an epic fantasy series by Rowleic that deftly blends dark lore, rebellion, and the shattering consequences of crossing worlds.
When Orion, the accidental creator of a device capable of ripping holes through reality, falls through a rift into a realm ruled by the Velari, everything he knows fractures. The Velari are a powerful, ancient vampire race bound by blood, tradition, and a history written in silence. Orion's arrival is a spark in dry tinder: dangerous, unexpected, and impossible to ignore.
Amaris Black Rose, a farm girl and reluctant warrior, discovers Orion wounded on the borders of her family farm. Haunted by war, guided by loyalty, and torn by emerging feelings she does not yet understand, Amaris is thrust into a conflict far larger than her quiet world. As rebellion stirs in the shadows and the Emperor tightens his grip, long-forgotten truths creep back into the light.
Together, Orion and Amaris uncover secrets buried beneath centuries of lies, truths about bonding, blood, and the ancient connection between humans and Velari. Their discoveries threaten to unravel the empire itself.
But the greater threat lies beyond the rifts. Was Orion the first to cross... and will he be the last?
"The Blood of the Forgotten" is a story of love, loyalty, and awakening power, where destiny is not a path, but a fracture. And once the rifts begin to open, nothing can stop what comes through.
Critique: A fun and riveting read from start to finish for fans of heroic fantasy sagas, "The Blood of the Forgotten" showcases author Rowleic's genuine flair for the kind of imaginative, character and narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for the genre. Original, exceptional, and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that this hardcover edition of "The Blood of the Forgotten" from Grosvenor House Publishing Limited is also available in paperback (9781836156406, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.98).
Editorial Note: Rowleic is a UK-based author, designer, and storyteller whose work blends cinematic worldbuilding with emotional depth. With a creative vision that spans multiple disciplines, writing, art, music, and conceptual design. Rowleic crafts expansive realms where science, magic, and myth collide. The Blood of the Forgotten: Book One of The SonaRift Saga, marks the beginning of this flagship universe, a multi-realm epic filled with rebellion, mystery, and the tension between fate and choice. When not writing, Rowleic develops original artwork, resin creations, and immersive concepts that expand the lore and aesthetic of the SonaRift world. The mission behind every project is simple: create stories and experiences that feel lived-in, powerful, and unforgettable. (https://www.youtube.com/@Rowleic)
The Marriage Shelf
Rick and Jane Learn to Listen and Talk
Al Ray and Autumn Ray
Independently Published
9798266729308, $9.99, PB, 96pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Jane-Learn-Listen-Married/dp/B0FTLZJCL3
Synopsis: Build a stronger marriage through the power of effective communication with "Rick and Jane Learn to Listen and Talk" by Al and Autumn Ray. This is the first volume in an eight volume 'Rick and Jane Learn to be Married' series.
In this engaging and practical story, you will learn with Rick and Jane, a fictional but very relatable couple, how to truly listen to understand and talk openly about your negative feelings without creating a fight, Sam and Sally are Rick and Jane's coaches and provide practical tools that transform their relationship.
Through the relatable examples and actionable steps comprising "Rick and Jane Learn to Listen and Talk", you will learn how to:
Overcome common communication roadblocks
Express your feelings without starting an argument
Listening for understanding
Build trust and intimacy through honest conversation
Use a Listening Self-Assessment to improve your skills
Create new agreements and accountability for the changes you want
"Rick and Jane Learn to Listen and Talk" is for:
Couples who may have lost hope and are really struggling
Couples who want a better marriage
Newlyweds who want to get off on the right foot
Ministry leaders who want practical tools for the couples they are helping
Critique: Impressively well written and exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization, presentation, and style, "Rick and Jane Learn to Listen and Talk" by the husband and wife team of Al and Autumn Ray is an ideal DIY tool for enhancing the quality of marital relationship and effectively dealing with the strains and pressures that have result in a 50% marriage rate failure as expressed through divorce and emotional/physical separation. While expressly and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Marital Counseling collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Rick and Jane Learn to Listen and Talk" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Al and Autumn Ray met in college and were married in 1970. Al was an Air Force officer for over 27 years. They were not Christian when they were married and came to faith after a decade of marriage. While always committed to their relationship, they struggled with their differences. They went to everything that was related to creating a stronger marriage, but when the mountain top experience was over, they were still stuck in their old habits. Upon retiring Al worked in several different consulting and training jobs while Autumn was working as a Volunteer Manager in county government. In 2001, they started a marriage ministry that in 2006 was incorporated into MarriageTeam. The Lord used their talents in leadership, training, and curriculum development to create the MarriageTeam program that provides Christian marriage coaching across the U.S. and internationally. The program has been very successful with over 85% of the couples considering divorce deciding to stay together after completing coaching.
With years of experience coaching and equipping couples as coaches, Al and Autumn have seen firsthand the transformation that happens when husbands and wives learn to truly listen, forgive, and appreciate one another. It was out of this experience that the Rick and Jane Learn to Be Married series was born - a set of engaging, story-driven books designed to help couples tackle real-life challenges in marriage with humor, honesty, and biblical wisdom. Al and Autumn have personally walked alongside countless couples, and these stories reflect both their heart for marriage and the proven tools that bring change. When not writing, coaching or leading church activities, they enjoy traveling and family activities. They have two children and two grandchildren and live in WA.
Winning Together: 8 Keys to a Building a Thriving Marriage
Shyrone Richardson & Rebecca Richardson
www.shynbecca.com
Highpoint Life
9798998972096, $14.99, PB, 102pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Together-Building-Thriving-Marriage/dp/B0H5TR65BH
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winning-together-shyrone-and-rebecca-richardson/1150430203
Synopsis: With the publication of "Winning Together: 8 Keys to a Building a Thriving Marriage", co-authors Shyrone and Rebecca Richardson share the hard-won playbook from their thirty-two-year marriage -- one that survived infidelity, bankruptcy, infertility, and broken trust.
Using an accessible sports-team framework, Shyrone and Rebeca deliver eight practical "keys" covering communication, intimacy, finances, roles, and faith - each with concrete action plans couples can implement immediately. No theory. No pretense. Just real talk from a couple who rebuilt from the ground up.
Whether you are newlyweds or decades in, "Winning Together" is the game plan your marriage needs to stop surviving and start winning.
Critique: For some marriage is something to be enjoyed, but for others, marriage is something to be endured -- or ended altogether. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Winning Together: 8 Keys to a Building a Thriving Marriage" offers a 'real world' practical approach to insuring the emotional and psychological health of married men and women seeking to maximize the benefits of their marriage, and minimize the strains and pressures that inevitably impact upon a marriage. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, style, and structure, "Winning Together" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Self-Help/Marriage collections and supplemental Martial Counseling curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Winning Together" from Highpoint Life is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Shyrone and Rebecca Richardson are pastors of Truth Church in Jersey City, NJ, and the hosts of Marriage is Dope, a popular podcast born out of their Marriage Ministry at dopemarriage.com. Their story began when Shyrone, a Jersey City native, met Chicago-raised Rebecca while stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois - and three weeks later, they were married. Thirty-three years, countless lessons, and one extraordinary partnership later, they are more committed than ever to helping couples win in love and life. Beyond the pulpit, Shyrone serves the City of Jersey City while Rebecca channels her gift for nurturing special-needs children. Together they have hosted a weekly radio show, spoken at marriage seminars across the region, and built a Marriage Ministry rooted in faith, honesty, and joy. They don't just teach about thriving marriages - they live one every day.
The Human Sexuality Shelf
The Formula of Desire
Anna Elton
New Harbinger Publications
www.newharbinger.com
9781648488788, $19.95, PB, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Formula-Desire-Together-Science-Connection/dp/1648488781
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-formula-of-desire-anna-elton-phd/1149932547
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Formula of Desire: What Brings Us Together and Drives Us Apart, and the Science of Connection", licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist Dr. Anna Elton reframes desire as a dynamic, relational process shaped by attention, emotional safety, stress, and everyday interaction -- not just chemistry alone.
Drawing on neuroscience, attachment theory, and decades of clinical experience, Dr. Elton shows why desire often fades in long-term relationships even when love remains, and what couples can do about it.
At the center of the book is the Relational Desire Formula, a practical framework that explains how awareness, emotional connection, affectionate expression, and reciprocal attraction support desire, while stress, unmet needs, and emotional withdrawal weaken it. An accompanying self-assessment translates these patterns into a relational desire score, offering a clear snapshot of relationship health and helping couples see where connection is strong and where it needs attention.
Through research, clinical stories, and structured exercises, "The Formula of Desire" explores:
1. Why attraction and desire change over time and why that's normal
2. How stress, routine, and emotional labor retrain the brain away from intimacy
3. The difference between being physically present and emotionally available
4. How to navigate conflict using effective communication
5. How to repair without escalation, shutdown, or loss of emotional and erotic connection
6. What desire equilibrium is and how restoring balance revives intimacy
7. How desire can redirect toward work, fantasy, or other people without conscious intent
8. What actually helps intimacy return by creating the conditions for desire to re-emerge naturally
"The Formula of Desire" offers a clear framework for understanding relationship shifts, improving communication, and restoring connection, intimacy, and desire through intentional change.
Critique: Especially well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Formula of Desire: What Brings Us Together and Drives Us Apart, and the Science of Connection" is an extraordinary introduction to key elements of human sexuality and biological attraction. An informative and fascinating read from start to finish, "The Formula of Desire" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Human Sexuality collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, psychologists, counselors, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "The Formula of Desire" from New Harbinger Publications is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.15).
Editorial Note: Anna Elton, PhD, LMFT, CST, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and clinical sexologist whose work sits at the intersection of desire, identity, communication, and modern relationships. She is the creator of multiple therapeutic models used by clinicians and couples across the United States, including frameworks that treat desire as a measurable signal of relational health rather than a fixed trait. Dr. Elton is also the host of Life, Love, Etc., a relationship-focused show where she explores desire, communication, intimacy, and the psychology of connection. She writes for Psychology Today through her blog, Life, Love, Etc., and continues to develop research-informed tools that support emotional and intimate connection in a world that often works against it.
The Self-Help Shelf
Silver Linings
Silver Kung
https://silverkung.com/book
Forefront Books
https://www.forefrontbooks.com
9781637635063, $26.00, HC, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Linings-Finding-Redemption-Hardest/dp/1637635060
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silver-linings-silver-kung/1148847709
Synopsis: At twenty-seven, Silver Kung inherited his family's crushing debt of $10 million after political upheaval devastated his father's business in Taiwan. What followed was a long struggle marked by low-paying jobs, garnished wages, and years of sacrifice. Yet from these trials came the skills, insights, and determination that ultimately allowed him to transform hardship into opportunity and success.
His personal story, laid out in "Silver Linings: Finding Wealth, Wisdom, and Redemption on the Hardest Road of All" is more than a financial journey -- it is also a testament to optimism, integrity, and perseverance in the face of adversity. Along the way, Kung encountered challenges ranging from brushes with corruption to cultural and professional trials across Asia and Europe. Each experience reinforced the values that guided him: honesty over compromise, family over ambition, and the pursuit of progress without losing sight of one's humanity.
Through vivid stories and practical lessons, readers will gain not only an inside look at global finance and Southeast Asian culture but also timeless wisdom on balance, responsibility, and renewal.
At its heart, "Silver Linings" offers a universal message: hardship touches every life, but so do joy and redemption. Whatever form adversity takes (financial, physical, or emotional) there is always a way forward. "Silver Linings" is an invitation to rise after the fall, to see possibility in pain, and to discover that life, even on the hardest road, can be rich with beauty, meaning, and hope.
Critique: Part memoir, part self-help manual, "Silver Linings: Finding Wealth, Wisdom, and Redemption on the Hardest Road of All" by Silver Kung is a deftly crafted and inspiring life story that will be of special and particular interest to readers with an interest in improving their economic well being, their professional corporate career, and the character building experiences of an extraordinary man in extraordinary times seeking to achieve extraordinary goals. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Silver Linings" from Forefront Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Silver Kung (https://silverkung.com) is a global investment leader, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate with more than two decades of experience in capital markets and asset management. As the Founder and Chairman of Siegfried Capital Group and Siegfried Asset Management Limited, he has built a career at the forefront of hedge funds, renewable energy private equity, and trade finance innovation. Today, he serves as Executive Director of a Luxembourg CSSF-regulated SICAV fund and multiple AIF and Cayman funds, guiding institutional investors across the globe through complex, high-impact financial strategies.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
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