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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
OCME: Life in America's Top Forensic Medical Center
Brude Goldfarb
https://brucegoldfarb.com
Steerforth Press
https://bookshop.org/shop/Steerforth
9781586423582, $19.00, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/OCME-Americas-Forensic-Medical-Center/dp/1586423584
Synopsis: Real life is different from what gets depicted on television or movie procedural crime dramas. Equipped with a
journalist's eye, a paramedic's experience and a sardonic wit, Bruce Goldfarb spent ten years with Maryland's Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner, where every sudden or unattended death in the state is scrutinized.
Touching on numerous scandals, including Derek Chauvin's trial for the murder of George Floyd and the tragic killing in
police custody of Freddie Gray, with the publication of "OCME: Life in America's Top Forensic Medical Center", Goldfarb
pulls back the curtain on a pioneer institution in crisis.
Medical examiners and the investigators and technicians who support them play vital roles in the justice and public health
systems of every American community. During Goldfarb's time with the Maryland OCME, opioid-related deaths
contributed to a significant increase in their workload. Faced with a chronic shortage of qualified experts and inadequate
funding, their important and fascinating work has become more challenging than most people could ever imagine.
The public gets a skewed view of the relationship between police and medical examiners from procedural crime dramas,
Bruce Goldfarb writes of his work inside one of America's most storied forensic centers. In his words -- We aren't on the
same team . . . We aren't on any team. The medical examiner's sole duty is to the deceased person. We speak for the
dead.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and especially recommended reading for anyone with an interest in criminology, the
sociological study of modern medicine, and medical professional biographies/memoirs, "OCME: Life in America's Top
Forensic Medical Center" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic
library Contemporary Medicine and American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted that "OCME: Life in
America's Top Forensic Medical Center" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Bruce Goldfarb (https://brucegoldfarb.com/about-2) is a former EMT/paramedic and a nursing school
dropout who has written for national and local newspapers, magazines, and web publications. He also wrote and edited
several medical texts and reference books. He is the author of 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of the Woman Who
Invented Modern Forensics and served from 2012 to 2022 as the executive assistant to the chief of OCME Maryland.
The Parenting Shelf
Your Kid's Rebound from Pandemic Lockdowns
Jeff Nelligan
https://www.nelliganbooks.com
Independently Published
9798360844747, $7.99, PB, 188pp
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Kids-Rebound-Pandemic-Lockdowns/dp/B0BPLN5119
Synopsis: What did the Covid-19 lockdowns do to our kids? Parents know the stark answer: There was significant harm to
the mental, social, and physical well-being and development of our children. School closings, the suspension of daily social
interaction, and an ever-present environment of fear and foreboding pushed families to a breaking point. Now, parents ask
themselves: What's the true extent of lockdown damage? How do I get my child back to the cheerful, motivated and
well-adjusted individual they once were?
"Your Kid's Rebound from Pandemic Lockdowns: A Parent Guide to Restoring Their Family" by Jeff Nelligan charts your
way forward. It relies on facts and data from the nation's leading medical and psychological authorities and sensible advice
from numerous parenting and family experts.
This parental guide addresses the ways in which you can: Reverse your kid's increased use of screens and digital media;
Restore your kid's confidence and mental well-being; Re-establish your kid's physical health and fitness.
Gathered here is the best thinking on how to guide the development of young children, pre-teens and adolescents in this
post-lockdown period. Short and informative, this parental guide was written with the busy parent in mind.
Your kid's Rebound - your family's Rebound - from the cruel damage of lockdowns is vital and the instructions for doing so
are all here.
Critique: Exceptionally informative and impressively well written, organized and presented, "Your Kid's Rebound from
Pandemic Lockdowns: A Parent Guide to Restoring Their Family" is especially and unreservedly recommended reading for
parents concerned with helping their children (of any age) recover from the impact of the Covid-19 school and community
lockdowns. While a 'must' for all professional, community, and academic library Parenting instructional reference
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Your Kid's Rebound from Pandemic Lockdowns: A Parent
Guide to Restoring Their Family" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Jeff Nelligan (https://www.nelliganbooks.com) is the father of three boys and a well-known commentator in
the world of American parenting. Currently a senior executive at FDA, Nelligan formerly worked for three Members of the
U.S. Congress and served twice as a Presidential appointee. An Army Reserve veteran, he is a of Polynesian ancestry (Maori
Indian, New Zealand) and a graduate of Williams College, Georgetown University Law School, and the French Army
Brevet Commando School.
New Parenting Can Change Your World
Karlton Terry
https://ktbabytherapy.com
Independently Published
9798842589128, $21.99, PB, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/New-Parenting-Change-Your-World/dp/B0BM3R6WKL
Synopsis: With the publication of "New Parenting Can Change Your World: More Wisdom - Less Stress - Including the
Cure for Colic", world-renowned baby therapist Karlton Terry shares his expertise and offers informative and
groundbreaking insight into the lives of babies.
He describes, in a loving and intelligent way, what babies really go through during their birth. He has discovered the
accessible language that babies use to articulate their experience and express what they need.
"New Parenting Can Change Your World" is an essential instructive guide for parents, grandparents, and baby practitioners.
It is a well-founded DIY manual for dealing with issues that are imprinted at birth, including: Colic, Sleeping Issues;
Transition Issues; Feeding; Bonding Issues
Karlton also shares several useful, practical, and effective practices, such as mirroring the baby's feelings. He further
addresses the broad challenges of the birth journey that deeply affect us, shaping our way of life.
Critique: With occasional illustrations, "New Parenting Can Change Your World: More Wisdom - Less Stress - Including
the Cure for Colic" is exceptionally informed and informative. While expertly written, organized and presented, "New
Parenting Can Change Your World" must be considered a core addition to Parenting/Motherhood collections. It should also
be noted for personal reading lists that "New Parenting Can Change Your World" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Karlton Terry (https://ktbabytherapy.com) is the recipient of the 2022 DAvid Chamberlain Award for the
Baby Pioneer Dedicated to the Safety, Health, and Wellbeing of the Unborn and Born Child.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Autonomy
Joseph Radich
https://josephradich.com
R3 Health Network
9798985402599, $39.99, HC, 200pp
https://www.amazon.com/Autonomy-Joseph-Radich/dp/B0BQSB2F7X
Synopsis: The medical system in the United States is broken. We pay too much and still get substandard care. Our failure to
deliver high-quality healthcare is simple: the system is controlled by money, from the pharmaceutical companies, to
insurance companies, to regulatory agencies, to politicians both state and national who are bought off by big
businesses.
With the publication of "Autonomy: Taking Control of Your Healthcare In a Broken System", by Joseph Radich shows that
there is a better way. In his medical clinics, he has pioneered a new approach to medicine that puts the power back where it
belongs, with you, the patient. This new paradigm in medical care costs less while delivering superior results. Members of
the general public can now join with the thousands of patients of Radich in learning how you too can reclaim your autonomy
and live your best life.
Critique: As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Autonomy: Taking Control of Your
Healthcare In a Broken System" is a welcome, timely, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, college, and university library Health/Medicine collections. It should be noted for medical students, academia,
political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Autonomy: Taking Control of Your Healthcare In a Broken System" is also available in paperback edition
(9798985402575, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Joseph Radich (https://josephradich.com) is a NCCPA Board Certified Physician Assistant that specializes
in Regenerative Medicine. His practices are located in Palm Beach, Florida and Manhattan, New York where the focus is on
helping educate patients and practitioners on what most call holistic, integrative, alternative or anti-aging medicine. The
human body is designed to take care of itself and if put in the right environment it will keep itself functioning proficiently,
clinically I aim at helping people focus on wellness, health maintenance, & disease prevention.
Lifelines to Cancer Survival
Dr. Mark Roby, MD
Integrative Medicine Publishing
c/o Lifeline Education Connection
https://www.lifelinetoasoul.com
9780986167300, $16.95, PB, 226pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lifelines-Cancer-Survival-Approach-Personalized/dp/0986167304
Synopsis: On December 30, 2002, Dr. Mark Roby was diagnosed with one of the rarest cancers in the world and told it was
unresponsive to all known chemotherapy. His oncologist suggested he "accept the inevitable" -- but Roby thought
otherwise.
Quickly realizing that conventional thinking would do little to help him, he created his own, personalized treatment plan
targeting his specific tumor. And he survived!
"Lifelines to Cancer Survival: A New Approach to Personalized Care", is Dr. Roby's story, but more importantly it is Dr.
Roby's compilation of the many resources he painstakingly discovered and wants to share with others who are fighting
similar battles.
With a medical insider's knowledge of what it takes to stay alive when all the odds are against you, "Lifelines to Cancer
Survival: A New Approach to Personalized Care" is the first book for the non-specialist general reader to help guide cancer
patients toward advanced modalities and testing, such as genetic profiling, personalized vaccines, and more. Dr. Roby wants to lead the charge of patients directing and supervising their own care.
Critique: An absolutely essential book for anyone having to deal with the health and medical issues of cancer, within
themselves, a family member, or a friend, "Lifelines to Cancer Survival: A New Approach to Personalized Care" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Health/Medicine &
Cancer Research collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Lifelines to Cancer
Survival" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
College to Career, Explained
Amy Feind Reeves
https://www.jobcoachamy.com
Epigraph Books
https://www.epigraphps.com
9781954744752, $22.95, PB, 327pp
https://www.amazon.com/College-Career-Explained-Skills-Confidence/dp/1954744757
Synopsis: When you are ready to start your career, you get to decide what happens next. Nothing is scripted anymore. So the
question is what exactly do you do to start that career? Maybe you're getting some advice, a little instruction and even a few
contacts. But you still need to put it all together.
With the publication of "College to Career, Explained: Tools, Skills and Confidence for Your Job Search", career coach and
expert Amy Feind Reeves has written the resource she wishes she had when she failed to land a job after college but went
on to enjoy a rewarding 25+ year career as a banker, global management consultant, corporate executive, and non-profit
executive.
She wrote "College to Career, Explained: Tools, Tips & Confidence for Your Job Search" to provide a the detailed and 'real
world practical' plan for what exactly you need to do to find a job you like.
Offering step-by-step DIY instructions, Amy uses humor and insight to provide examples, exercises, and practical tips that
teach you how to: Discover what jobs are out there, and which ones may be right for you; Develop the tools you need to get
you noticed; Build networking skills; Gain confidence in interviews.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "College to
Career, Explained: Tools, Skills and Confidence for Your Job Search" is an extraordinary, effective, and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Jobs/Careers collections. It
should be noted that "College to Career, Explained: Tools, Skills and Confidence for Your Job Search" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Amy Feind Reeves (https://www.jobcoachamy.com) is the Founder and CEO of JobCoachAmy,( a
Boston-based consultancy where she leverages her experience of over 25 years as a senior executive and hiring manager to
help professionals at all levels find and keep jobs that make them happy. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal,
Business Insider, The Baltimore Sun, Chicago Herald Tribune, McMillan Digital, and Job-Hunt.org. She speaks regularly to
undergraduate and alumni groups, women's conferences and at wellness resorts. Amy has an MBA from the Tuck School at
Dartmouth College, graduated cum laude from Wellesley College and earned a Certificate in Petroleum Engineering from
the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
The International Studies Shelf
Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope
Fritznel D. Octave
https://fritzneloctave.com
Gatekeeper Press
https://gatekeeperpress.com
9781662923760, $29.95, HC, 364pp
https://www.amazon.com/Haiti-Between-Pestilence-Hope-Progressive/dp/1662923767
Synopsis: "Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope: The Progressive Ideals from the Revolution of 1804 Set the Pace" by
Fritznel Octave brilliantly presents Haiti's entire socio-political and economic history with poignant analysis into just eight
succinct chapters.
From the relatively peaceful and stable pre-colonial period, to the illustrious independence victory, and concluding with
Haiti's current struggles. "Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope" offers unique assistance with understanding Haiti's political
instability, social discords, and economic woes without falling into bias theory. It also relates the story of a valiant, resilient,
creative, imaginative, and mysterious people with objectivity. Above all, "Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope" not only
diagnoses Haiti's problems but also goes deep into the root causes of those problems and proposes solutions to resolve them
and build a better future for Haiti.
No matter who you are, young or old, native Haitian or not, a student or professional interested in real knowledge about
Haiti, this book is for you. Whether you are a decision-maker or simply interested in Haiti's affairs, you will learn about
Haiti's challenges both past and present, and its hope for the future.
Critique: Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope: The
Progressive Ideals from the Revolution of 1804 Set the Pace" must be considered as essential reading for anyone seeking to
understand the devastating social issues, political unrest and violence, and seemingly endemic economic instability of Haiti
today. "Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope" is an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and academic library Haitian Studies collections. It should also be noted for personal reading lists
that "Haiti Between Pestilence and Hope" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781662923777, $14.99) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Fritznel D. Octave (https://fritzneloctave.com/bio) was born and raised in Bombardopolis, a commune
located about eight miles South of Mole Saint-Nicolas on Haiti's northwestern peninsula. A veteran journalist specializing
in social and environmental reporting, Octave spent years at the heart of Haitian events contributing to several media
outlets. He holds a BS in Communications from the Faculte des Sciences Humaines of the State University (Haiti). He
attended Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication at the University of West Indies (Kingston, Jamaica) and Green
College at the University of Oxford (England) for certification studies in Journalism.
The General Fiction Shelf
Send Her Back and Other Stories
Munashe Kaseke
www.munashekaseke.com
Mukana Press
https://mukanapress.com
9780578323589, $26.89, HC, 204pp
https://www.amazon.com/Send-Her-Back-Other-Stories/dp/0578323583
Synopsis: With the publication of "Send Her Back and Other Stories", author Munashe Kaseke offers an impressively
intimate and fresh telling of the immigrant experience of Black women in the United States.
Equally awash with the joys of exploring a new world as well as a myriad of challenges, her complicated, and often tangled,
female Zimbabwean protagonists navigate issues of identity, microaggressions, and sexism in vibrant, indelible settings. Yet
again, these are not only stories of navigating an at times tense US political climate, they are also marked by characters who
rise to the top of their professional fields, seize the American dream, and travel the world in glee.
As an author, Kaseke deftly peels back on the inner wranglings of characters caught between two worlds, be it by stories of
dating outside one's culture and race or failing to assimilate upon returning home after spending time abroad.
Critique: Comprised of seventeen superbly crafted short stories that are all the more impressive when considering that "Send
Her Back and Other Stories" is Munaskhe Kaseke's debut as a writer and clearly showcases her genuine flair for thought-
provoking originality. A fun and thought-provoking read from cover to cover, "Send Her Back and Other Stories" is one of
those short story collections that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back
upon the shelf. While also available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9780578353128, $17.95) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $6.99), "Send Her Back and Other Stories" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
community and academic library Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Literary Fictions collections.
Editorial Note: Munashe Kaseke (www.munashekaseke.com) was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. She migrated to
the United States of America at age nineteen when she received a scholarship to study at Drake University in Des Moines,
Iowa. She holds Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Public Administration degrees.
An Old Woman Walks Into a Bar
Deborah Shouse
https://www.deborahshousewrites.com
Independently Published
9798805315603, $12.95, PB, 269pp
https://www.amazon.com/Old-Woman-Walks-Into-Bar/dp/B0B4PBHBRB
Synopsis: Nursing a beer at a local bar in the middle of the day, Grace wonders if she has anything left in the tank at age 78.
Widowed and retired from teaching, she discovers renewed purpose by spearheading a free community preschool. But when
she's ousted from the project by a younger superstar fundraiser with a dark secret, Grace faces another quandary. Should she
be true to herself or do whatever it takes to reach her goal? Before she can answer that question, she's off catching a thief,
riding a motorcycle, becoming a YouTube sensation, and maybe, just maybe, falling in love again. Grace puts a new twist
on an ageless joke: Who knows what will happen when an old woman walks into a bar?
Critique: Unique, compelling, deftly crafted, and all the more impressive when considering that is the author's debut as a
novelist, "An Old Woman Walks Into a Bar" by Deborah Shouse (who is 73 years young) is a singular literary work that will
have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Women & Family Life fiction. One of those novels that will linger
in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book itself is finished and set back upon the shelf, "An Old Woman
Walks Into a Bar" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Women's Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "An Old Woman Walks Into a Bar" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Deborah Shouse (https://www.deborahshousewrites.com) has been featured in many anthologies, including
more than five-dozen Chicken Soup books. For years, she wrote a Love Story column for The Kansas City Star. Deborah
and her life partner Ron Zoglin co-wrote Antiquing for Dummies and she co-authored several volumes in the Yes, You Can
financial series. She also co-leads the KC Writers Group.
Loving the Dead and Gone
Judith Turner-Yamamoto
https://turneryamamoto.com
Regal House Publishing
https://regalhousepublishing.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9781646032587, $17.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Dead-Gone-Judith-Turner-Yamamoto/dp/1646032586
Synopsis: For forty years Aurilla Cutter has tended a clutch of secrets that have turned her mean. A freak car crash in 1960s
rural North Carolina puts in motion moments of grace that bring redemption to two generations of women and the lives they
touch. This fatal accident becomes the catalyst for the release of the passions, needs, and hurts in everyone affected by her
hidden past.
Darlene, a seventeen-year-old widow, struggles to reconnect with her dead husband while proving herself alive. Soon loss
and death work their magic, drawing Darlene into an unlikely affair that threatens to upend Aurilla's family, and sets loose
Aurilla's own memories of longing and infidelity.
Critique: Eloquent, original, memorable, "Loving the Dead and Gone" by author Judith Turner-Yamamoto is a lyrical and
insightful novel that explores how both grief and love are the ties that bind. Highly recommended for community library
Literary Fiction collections, "Loving the Dead and Gone" is one of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory of
the reader long after the book is finished and set back upon the shelf. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Loving the Dead and Gone" is also available in a digital book format ($0.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9798212275323, $31.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Judith Turner-Yamamoto (https://turneryamamoto.com) is an art historian who first came to writing through
learning to appraise what she saw and to describe what moved her. Her work has appeared in StorySOUTH, Mississippi
Review, Snake Nation Review, and American Literary Review, among others, and in many anthologies, including Walking
the Edge: A Southern Gothic Anthology, Show Us Your Papers, and Gravity Dancers. Her awards include two Virginia Arts
Commission fellowships, an Ohio Arts Council fellowship, VCCA and Fundacion Valparaiso fellowship residencies, the
Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, the Washington Prize for Fiction, and the Virginia Screenwriting Award.
Wash Ashore: A Tale of Cape Cod
Mary Petiet
https://marypetiet.com
Sea Crow Press
www.seacrowpress.com
9781735814070, $16.95, PB, 206pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wash-Ashore-Tale-Cape-Cod/dp/1735814075
Synopsis: When Olive Adams comes to Cape Cod to live in her aunt's old house, she finds her fortune shifting like the
sands. Can she navigate a new life in a welcoming but mysterious house? As a dangerous hurricane barrels up the coast,
Olive struggles to save the land next door from destruction as she waits for her new love to return.
Critique: A surprise inheritance, a deadly hurricane, nn ancient landscape under threat, these are the contributing elements
that make "Wash Ashore: A Tale of Cape Cod" by Mary Petiet a simply riveting read from first page to last. While
especially and unreservedly recommended for community library New England themed literary fiction collections, it should
be note for personal reading lists that "Wash Ashore: A Tale of Cape Cod" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Mary Petiet (https://marypetiet.com) is a writer, poet, and publisher from Cape Cod where her work is
deeply influenced by the Cape's nature and inspirational energy. Her work emphasizes our connection to each other and the
natural world with a focus on positive empowerment. Mary is the founder of Sea Crow Press.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Rose of Washington Square
Pat Wahler
www.patwahler.com
Evergreen Tree Press
9781732387690, $15.99, PB, 391pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Washington-Square-ONeill-Creator/dp/1732387699
Synopsis: Self-taught artist Rose O'Neill leaves the Midwest for New York in 1893, determined to become an illustrator in a
field dominated by males. Mindful of her duty to the impoverished family she left behind, Rose's obligations require her to
yield to the men who hold the reins of her career; as well as the men she grows to love.
Yet despite every obstacle facing her, she excels at her craft, eventually designing a new character, the Kewpie. Her creation
explodes into a phenomenon, but Rose's disenchantment with the status quo fosters new ambitions. She must decide
whether to remain within the boundaries dictated for her, or risk everything she's gained to pursue the creative and personal
passions that ignite her soul.
With grit and tenacity, Rose O'Neill blazed an unforgettable path as artist, writer, suffragist, and philanthropist during the
turbulent times of the early 20th century.
Critique: Although a work of deftly crafted fiction, "The Rose of Washington Square" by Pat Wahler is based upon the real
life and accomplishments of one Rose Cecil O'Neill (June 25, 1874 - April 6, 1944) who was an American cartoonist,
illustrator, artist, and writer. She rose to fame for her creation of the popular comic strip characters, Kewpies, in 1909, and
was also the first published female cartoonist in the United States. This fictional biography is a fully entertaining read that is
especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Biographical & Historical Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Rose of Washington Square" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$4.99).
Editorial Note: Pat Wahler (www.patwahler.com) is a winner of Western Fictioneers' Best First Novel of 2018, a Walter
Williams Award winner, and the winner of Author Circle Awards 2019 Novel of Excellence in Historical Fiction for I am
Mrs. Jesse James. She has also authored a three-book contemporary romance series-the Becker Family Novels, and two
holiday-themed books; all named Five-Star Readers' Favorites. A frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul
anthologies, Pat is an avid reader with a special passion for historical fiction, women's fiction, and stories with heart.
Angels and Bandits
Brodie Curtis
www.brodiecurtis.com
Westy Vistas Books
9781733783521, $10.95, PB, 364pp
https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Bandits-Brodie-Curtis/dp/1733783520
Synopsis: On the eve of World War II, working-class Eddy Beane is a flight instructor in London. He successfully
completes dangerous espionage missions for Air Commodore Keith Park and takes on society-girl June Stephenson as a
student. Her ex-fiance, Dudley Thane, is also a flyer, but upper-class and Cambridge-educated. When the German Luftwaffe
attacks England in 1940, Eddy and Dudley end up serving in the same Spitfire squadron. Aerial combat is intense, and both
men show their skills and courage, but can they set aside jealousy and class differences to become fighting brothers for the
defense of Britain?
"Angels and Bandits" by novelist Brodie Curtis takes place as the air battle over Britain rages and two young RAF pilots
from very different stations in life must somehow find common ground -- and staying alive in this lethal conflict where, in
paraphrased words of Winston Churchill, 'So many owe so much to so few'.
Critique: With a very special appeal to readers who are fans of World War II themed action/adventure stories, "Angels and
Bandits" is a rewarding read from first page to last. Showcasing the narrative driven storytelling style author Brodie Curtis,
"Angels and Bandits" is unreservedly recommended for community library WWII Historical Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Angels and Bandit" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Brodie Curtis (www.brodiecurtis.com) is the author of "The Four Bells", a novel of The Great War, which is
the product of extensive historical research, including long walks through the fields of Flanders, where much of the book's
action is set. His second novel, "Angels and Bandits", takes his protagonists into The Battle of Britain. A lover of history,
particularly American history and the World Wars, Curtis reviews historical fiction for the Historical Novels Review.
The LGBT Fiction Shelf
Catboat Road
Kate Rounds
https://www.katerounds.com
Bywater Books
https://www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612942452, $18.95, PB, 220pp
https://www.amazon.com/Catboat-Road-Kate-Rounds/dp/1612942458
Synopsis: "Catboat Road" by Kate Rounds is the story of Candace "Ace" Ragsdale. No one in her family is moored to social
convention. Each of them has learned to surf the wave of the unfamiliar and make the most of chaos. From Ace's
womanizing-yet-worshipful brother to her elusive-yet-loving parents, we watch this well-meaning family weave its way into
a rich tapestry of townspeople, often to comic effect.
The backdrop to "Catboat Road" is the Massachusetts seaside town of Horton, cut off from the world. On the surface, boats
sway on their moorings, while below bubbles a primal brew of salt and sea life -- much like the Ragsdales, a decidedly
modern family whose humor and goodwill skim breezily above an ocean of smoldering emotions.
Into this infinite chaos careens a rebel grandmother who shows up to help the family save the town windmill, whose
mysterious energy whips up the coastal disturbances of a changing world. As this spectacle of public conflict and private
anguish unfolds, Ace must pilot the turbulent waters of love, sex, and traditionally non-traditional small-town values.
Critique: A deftly crafted novel of LGBTQ romance, "Catboat Road" is an extraordinary and original story that fully
showcases author Kate Rounds storytelling skills. A fascinating read from first page to last, "Catboat Road" is one of those
novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf.
While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should
be noted for the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in LGBTQ fiction that "Catboat Road" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: Kate Rounds (https://www.katerounds.com) is a veteran journalist who grew up on the Massachusetts coast
and lives without a cat.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Assumed
MHR Geer
https://mhrgeer.com
MG3 Publishing
9798987115923, $13.99, PB, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/ASSUMED-MHR-Geer/dp/B0BNW778K1
Synopsis: When her friend Sandy asks for help, Anne Wilson leaves her small, lonely life in Miami for the picturesque
island of Saint Martin. But as soon as she arrives, Sandy is murdered, and her death exposes lies: an alias, a secret past,
stolen money. Suspected of murder and trapped on the island, Anne is shocked when a cryptic message arrives:
Find the money. Take it and run.
She follows Sandy's trail of obscure clues, desperate for proof of her innocence and must decide if she can trust the two men
who offer help-the dark, mysterious Brit or the American with a wide grin and a pickup truck. When memories
resurface-dark truths she'd rather leave buried and forgotten, her past becomes intertwined with her present.
Her only way forward is to face her own secrets.
Critique: A deftly crafted and inherently riveting read with more plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster,
"Assumed" by novelist MHR Geer will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in novels that feature murder,
romance, suspense. An original and inherently compelling thriller from beginning to end, "Assumed" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated murder mystery fans that "Assumed" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$3.99).
Editorial Note: MHR Geer (https://mhrgeer.com) was born in California but raised in the Midwest. After studying Physics at
the University of California, Santa Barbara, she started a bookkeeping business. MHR enjoys reading suspense and is
always delighted with an unexpected twist. "Assumed" is her debut novel.
The Fishhook Rebellion: Hawai'i 1847
Dan Gooder Richard
https://www.dangooderrichard.com
Inkspiration Media, LLC
https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_va/S3797307
9781939319340, $24.95, PB, 614pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fishhook-Rebellion-Hawaii-Dancer-Advenure/dp/193931934X
Synopsis: It's the antebellum days of 1847: Correspondent Samantha Swift's voyage from New York to Hawai'i to return a
kidnapped island girl turns deadly as she struggles to survive aboard a transport ship at the center of the very opium and sex
trafficking ring she is determined to expose. From a Five Points brothel in Manhattan to the howling graveyard of Cape
Horn to the cyclone-of-the-century off Robinson Crusoe Island in the Pacific someone wants Swift dead - and will do
anything to make that happen.
Meanwhile secret agent Jack Dancer's around-the-world odyssey is driven by orders from President James K. Polk to
discover Napoleon's long-lost Maltese treasure before an unknown foreign power finds the trove (and buys domination in
the Pacific) a domination that could threaten the new California territory. Duty propels Dancer from the same New York
brothel to a stolen notebook in Paris to a Christmas tryst in Cairo and headlong into cutthroats in Zanzibar and reeking death
temples in Tahiti.
But as Swift and Dancer's separate trails of danger and death interweave nothing can stop the ruthless and murderous drive
of their enemies to achieve their ends. Nothing -- that is until Swift and Dancer meet up in the "whaler's hellhole of the
Pacific:" Lahaina, Maui. There they are forced to put aside their mutual dislikes after they uncover a secret so explosive it
could destroy America's fragile young republic forever.
Against all odds Swift and Dancer follow an elusive trail stalked by a sadistic killer determined to beat them to one of the
world's greatest treasures. Only to find themselves in a lost world both wondrous and horrifying where the Hawaiian chiefs
have long guarded an ancient secret -- until now!
Critique: Comparable in dimension to James A. Michener's "Hawaii", Dan Gooder Richard's veritable saga of an historical
novel, "The Fishhook Rebellion: Hawai'i 1847" is the stuff of which block buster movies are made and will have a very
special appeal to readers who enjoy a deft blending of women's suspense thriller and military action/adventure. The creation
of memorable characters, a plot with more twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster, "The Fishhook Rebellion:
Hawai'i 1847" is one of those works of literary fiction that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the
book is finished and set back upon the shelf. While available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99), "The Fishhook Rebellion: Hawai'i 1847" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community,
college, and university library Historical Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Dan Gooder Richard (https://www.dangooderrichard.com) earned a bachelor's in history blasting water wells
in India with the Peace Corps. He earned his master's in journalism at Missouri. Dan's middle name comes from his
maternal grandfather: Leslie MacDonald Gooder who was a publisher in Chicago from the early 1910s through the 1950s.
Dan carried on the family name in publishing. After he and his wife sold their marketing/publishing business in 2016 Dan
turned his full-time attention to writing historical adventures.
Death of A Dancing Queen
Kimberly G. Giarratano
www.kimberlyggiarratano.com
Datura Books
https://twitter.com/DaturaBooks
9781915202420, $15.99, PB, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Dancing-Queen-Kimberly-Giarratano/dp/1915202426
Synopsis: After her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Billie Levine revamped her grandfather's private investigation firm and
set up shop in the corner booth of her favorite North Jersey deli hoping the free pickles and flexible hours would allow her
to take care of her mom and pay the bills. So when Tommy Russo, a rich kid with a nasty drug habit, offers her a stack of
cash to find his missing girlfriend, how can she refuse? At first, Billie thinks this will be easy earnings, but then her missing
person's case turns into a murder investigation and Russo is the detective bureau's number one suspect.
Suddenly Billie is embroiled in a deadly gang war that's connected to the decades-old disappearance of a famous cabaret
dancer with ties to both an infamous Jewish mob and a skinhead group. Toss in the reappearance of Billie's hunky
ex-boyfriend with his own rap sheet, and she is regretting every decision that got her to this point. Becoming a P.I. was
supposed to solve her problems. But if Billie doesn't crack this case, the next body the police dredge out of the Hudson
River will be hers.
Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "Death of a Dancing Queen" by novelist Kimberly G. Giarratano will have a
very special appeal to fans of female PI stories. Original and with more plot twists than a Disneyland roller-coaster, "Death
of a Dancing Queen" is highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should be noted that "Death of a Dancing Queen" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$6.99).
Editorial Note: Kimberly G. Giarratano (www.kimberlyggiarratano.com) is an author of mysteries for teens and adults. Her
debut novel, Grunge Gods and Graveyards, won the 2015 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA at Killer Nashville. A former
librarian, she is currently an instructor at a SUNY Orange County Community College and a reviewer for BookPage. She is
also the chapter liaison for Sisters in Crime.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Tiny Tin House
L. Maristatter
Niffycat Press
https://www.niffycatpress.com
9798986631110, $34.99, HC, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Tin-House-L-Maristatter/dp/B0BCV3NJMW
Synopsis: In the Christian States of America, a woman's place is with a man. No exceptions. Therfore, although she's legally
an adult, eighteen-year-old Meryn Flint must live at home until her stepfather, Ray, finds her a husband. That's the law.
But when Ray kills her mother and Meryn must flee for her own safety, she quickly discovers there's no safe place in the
CSA for a woman on the run. Unless she's willing to marry her former boyfriend (a man who's already demonstrated his
capacity for violence) she'll be forced to live on the street. And that's a dangerous option for a woman alone.
As time runs out, Meryn is offered a third path: build herself a tiny house, a safe place to call home. Even though it's a
violation of her Family Duty as well as every moral law on the books, Meryn seizes the chance. --- But even a tiny tin house
might not be enough to save her!
Critique: A dystopian science fiction novel that is a believable extrapolation of current social, cultural, and religious
attempts to restrict and role back the rights and freedoms of women, "Tiny Tin House" is a masterfully crafted and riveting
novel populated throughout by memorable characters. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community
library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tiny Tin House" is also available in a
paperback edition (9798986631103, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: L Maristatter (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLMaristatter) is a self-described Christian liberal feminist
and has published poetry in Songbirds Southwest and fiction in The Saturday Evening Post. She is on Facebook and Twitter
(regularly), and Instagram and TikTok (when she's feeling brave).
Blank
Nanette L. Avery
https://www.nanetteavery.biz
Book Baby Publishers
www.bookbaby.com
9781667852522, $14.99, PB, 290pp
https://www.amazon.com/Blank-Nanette-L-Avery/dp/1667852523
Synopsis: With the publication of "Blank", science fiction author Nanette L. Avery imagines the world just resetting itself --
everything goes Blank, and humankind can't remember the past. No one knows how much time has passed since the Blank;
no one remembers much of the time before.
Set in a dystopian version of Earth, where seeds are used to barter for goods, we meet the sisters Danube and Amazon
Rivers along with the Bailiwick brothers, Alabama and Nebraska. The four youths grew up in the same town, and one day
they stumbled across the mysterious Alice, who appeared out of nowhere. But unlike the four and their mundane lives, Alice
knows how the world came to be in its current state.
Told in the third person while displaying multiple character points of view, "Blank" distinguishes life not endowed with
ready-made meaning and the characters who are responsible for creating their own. The world everyone knew before is
gone, and the one they have ended up in operates by a completely different set of rules. Alice's existence may very well
destroy what humanity has rebuilt, but she must complete the mission she was entrusted with at any cost.
Critique: Original, imaginative, deftly crafted, and a fun read for all dedicated science fiction fans, "Blank" is unreservedly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted that "Blank"
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Nanette L. Avery (https://www.nanetteavery.biz) is an eclectic author who transcends many genres.
Acclaimed by Forward Reviews for her impressive tribute to the Southern Gothic in her debut novel "A Curious Host"
(2016).
Stealing God And Other Stories
Bruce McAllister
Aeon Press
https://www.aeonpresspdx.com
9780993468216, $14.95, PB, 262pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Other-Stories-Bruce-McAllister/dp/0993468217
Synopsis: "Stealing God And Other Stories" is a compendium of eighteen original and deftly crafted short stories by Bruce
McAllister. Among them are tales of a young woman in an abandoned house brings ruin to every man she meets; A
wise-cracking hitman is recruited by an angel of God to kill the oldest vampire on Earth; A son travels into the past to find
the mother he lost; and more.
If there is one thread of a message common to each of them is that nothing is more important than realizing just what it
means to be human.
Critique: With a special appeal to readers with an interest in the paranormal, as well as urban science fiction and fantasy,
each one of these carefully crafted and original stories by Hugo and Nebula nominee Bruce McAllister showcases hist
genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that keeps and holds his reader's full attention. While unreservedly
recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction/fantasy fans, "Stealing God And Other Stories" is
certain to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy
collections.
Editorial Note: Bruce McAllister is a writer of literary fiction and of fantasy, science fiction and thriller fiction, which he's
been publishing professionally since he was sixteen. From l974 to l997 he taught at the University of Redlands in southern
California, where he helped establish and direct writing programs. Since l998 he has worked as a writing coach and book
and screenplay consultant. His short fiction has appeared in literary quarterlies, national magazines, original anthologies,
"year's best" anthologies and college readers; won awards from Glimmer Train magazine and the National Endowment for
the Arts; and been a finalist for Hugo, Nebula, Shirley Jackson, New Letters, and Narrative magazine awards. His
non-fiction articles on sports, popular science and writing have appeared in a variety of magazines and newspapers.
The Poetry Shelf
Animal Afterlife
Jaya Stenquist
https://jayastenquist.com
Airlie Press
https://www.airliepress.org
9781950404094, $18.00, PB, 92pp
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Afterlife-Jaya-Stenquist/dp/1950404099
Synopsis: The voices of near-extinct animals create troubled echoes in Jaya Stenquist's debut poetry collection, "Animal
Afterlife". In fragmented reincarnations, these poems reach for the limits of humanity, the boundaries of species, and the
laws of embodiment. Here, sensations become the mechanism for insight.
With lithe lyric power, Stenquist verse builds a world of impossibilities, a language for the binturong, the eyeless spider, the
siren of Canosa, and wild ponies of England; communications and intermingling with the human that can never be
preserved, only imagined. As the Earth continues to change during its Sixth Great Extinction, "Animal Afterlife" creates an
poetic archive of spellbinding ghosts.
Critique: Eloquent, erudite, original, unique, thought-provoking, meditative, imaginative, the poetry written and compiled
by Jaya Stenquist in her first published collection from Airlie Press is an extraordinary, memorable, and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections.
Editorial Note: Jaya Stenquist (https://jayastenquist.com/Abt) is a writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her work has
appeared in The Rumpus, Mid- American, Black Warrior Review, and West Branch Wired. She is also a PhD student at the
University of Texas-Austin.
Gentle Shadows Fierce Wings
Nikita Kapoor
www.nikitakapoor.net
Paper Lily Press
9798986811727, $8.99, PB, 105pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Shadows-Fierce-Nikita-Kapoor/dp/B0BN43KF4F
Synopsis: With the publication of "Gentle Shadows Fierce Wings", Nikita Kapoor presents is a collection of
thought-evoking poems written with a touch of innocence and infused with inspirational snippets of courage and wisdom
that demonstrate the depth of her innate poetic sensibilities. Of special note is that beautiful art pieces are paired with the
poems that visually express their spirit and make the poetry comprising "Gentle Shadows Fierce Wings" an even more
enjoyable read.
Critique: A truly remarkable, thoughtful, and thought-provoking body of poetry matched with art, "Gentle Shadows Fierce
Wings" is an inherently fascinating work made even more impressive when considering this young poet's age (10 years old).
Simply stated, "Gentle Shadows Fierce Wings" is unreservedly recommended for elementary school, middle school, and
community library Contemporary Poetry collections. It will be of special appeal to those with an interest in inspirational and
religious poetry.
Editorial Note: Nikita Kapoor, (www.nikitakapoor.net) is a ten year old 5th grader, an avid reader, and loves to write. Nikita
has been writing since she was young (about 4 years old). She started writing her first middle grade fantasy fiction book,
Pack of the Lost - The Uninviting Forest when she was 8 years old and is delighted to finally see it published. Besides
fantasy fiction, she loves to write poems, and her first poetry book is "Gentle Shadows Fierce Wings". She is a member of
the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth and was awarded Grand Honors for achieving scores that are among the
highest of all CTY Talent Search participants. She is also part of the Gifted and Talented (GATE) program at her school, in
addition to being a member of Mensa.
The Biography Shelf
Overcoming All Odds
Carol Ann Wilson
https://carolannwilson.info
Quantum Press
9798987088807, $20.00, PB, 204pp
https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-All-Odds-Adversity-Persistence/dp/B0BLG6SWPD
Synopsis: With the publication of "Overcoming All Odds: My Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Persistence, Survival, and
Triumph", Carol Ann Wilson shares her personal story of courage, the love of family and friends, and of fear and faith. But
most of all, this is a story about the invincible human spirit that lives in all of us.
When Carol Ann arrived for her annual checkup and revealed her age as 85 to the physician's assistant, the woman was
aghast. "What is your secret?" she asked. Carol Ann thought about that after she left and realized that she had heard that
question for years. -- What is your secret, Carol Ann?
At the age of 29 with three kids under the age of five (a usually talked about behind closed doors if talked about at all)
surgery turned her life upside down. That surgery opened a door, welcoming her to an incredibly fulfilling life for Carol Ann
as she dealt with: Life-threatening chronic illnesses; Surviving cancer; Having her business stolen from her -- not once, but
twice!; Having books she authored plagiarized and republished with another's name as the author; Dealing with the
unexpected sudden death of her husband while she was cruising in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, while he was home
alone.
None of this (and more!), kept her down. She beat the odds, surviving, and then thriving. And was part of the impetus for
the creation of an international health information organization; institutes for financial professional; software that impacted
and changed family law nationwide; and even designing a pottery line!
Throughout her nine decades, she has never, ever given up. Carol Ann is still here, living her hand of life and in her memoir,
"Overcoming All Odds" is ready to reveal her secret: Believing that when difficulties and trauma are experienced, that good
things can come.
Critique: Overcoming All Odds: My Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Persistence, Survival, and Triumph" is an exceptional,
insightful, and motivatingly inspiring read that will have a very special appeal to readers who are seeking encouragement
and ideas for dealing with the problems affecting their own lives and happiness. While also available for personal reading
lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), "Overcoming All Odds" is unreservedly recommended as an addition to
community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement and American Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: There is an informative website dedicated to the life and work of Carol Ann Wilson at
https://carolannwilson.info/authors-biography
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Saving The World One Case At A Time
Kenneth Foard McCallion
https://www.kennethmccallionauthor.com
HHI Media
https://www.hhimedia.net
9781737149255, $39.25, HC, 434pp
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-World-One-Case-Time/dp/1737149257
Synopsis: In the United States, the right of both citizens and non-citizens to file civil lawsuits is one of the most cherished
rights available to ordinary people. With the publication of "Saving The World One Case at a Time", former federal and
New York state prosecutor Kenneth Foard McCallion gives his readers an insider's look into how certain legal cases can
change the world for the better.
"Saving The World One Case at a Time" dives deep into many of the highly-publicized cases McCallion has worked on
throughout his career, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Bhopal India Gas Disaster Case, the Holocaust Claims
cases, the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, as well as many lesser-known cases fought on behalf of
ordinary people who have been deeply wronged.
Written as a primer for the uninitiated, as well as those with some familiarity with the American judicial system, "Saving
The World One Case at a Time" is about real people: the plaintiff-victims, the lawyers, the judges, and other participants in
the legal system. It goes beyond the headlines and shows how the right of ordinary citizens to pursue justice in a court of law
is a precious right worth fighting for.
Critique: A simply fascinating and informative read throughout, "Saving The World One Case at a Time" is exceptionally
well organized and presented, making it a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and
university the Judicial Studies collections and supplemental law school curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for law
school students, academia, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Saving
The World One Case at a Time" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781737149262, $21.95) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $6.36).
Editorial Note: Kenneth Foard McCallion (https://www.kennethmccallionauthor.com) is a world-renowned civil litigator
who has worked on some of the most notable cases in U.S. legal history over the past 50 years. He is also an Adjunct
Professor at Cardozo Law School in New York City and has lectured at Fairfield University.
The Business Shelf
Real Flow
Brandi Olson
Star Blazer Press
www.realworkdone.com
9798218018429, $17.99, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Real-Flow-Burnout-Unlock-Performance/dp/B0B92D3D9P
Synopsis: Business leaders have seen it before. Teams that should be achieving great work with ease are caught in a wild
frenzy of competing priorities. Gradually their people suffer burnout, innovation evaporates, and time and energy are wasted
on the wrong problems.
Thanks to this organizational multitasking, their organization is flooding from the pressure to do it all. But there is an
unexpected solution to achieve high performance once again.
With the publication of "Real Flow: Break the Burnout Cycle and Unlock High Performance in the New World of Work",
organizational agility expert Brandi Olson brings front and center what happens when an organization chases too many
priorities simultaneously. Featuring extensive interviews with organizational leaders, "Real Flow" demonstrates the
principles of flow that will create the environment teams need to achieve and sustain high performance. Integrating
cognitive science, organizational agility, and lean principles, this is your guide to deliver exceptional value and enable
people to be happy, healthy, and engaged in their work.
"Real Flow" reveals: The costly link between competing priorities, multitasking, and burnout and why no amount of
vacation, self-care, or team-building activities will solve it; How to embrace the ecosystem paradigm and the direct impact it
has on an organization's ability to adapt, change, and thrive; Strategies to remedy the burnout problem that don't involve
doing less, expecting less, or shrinking the to-do list; How to redefine performance to maximize human potential for the
long term over the short term and what that will do for your teams; The essential practice of limiting work in progress to
improve the flow of value, plus the radical effect it has on solving the challenges your organization is facing.
Business managers and corporate executives don't need to choose between good work and their teams' well-being. Leading a
high-performance organization depends on happy, healthy people. A careful reading of "Real Flow" will enable them to
cultivate an evidence-driven approach to design a high-performing, agile organization, improve employee retention, and
stop their employee burnout for good.
Critique: Of special interest to anyone having the responsibility for business management and work team leadership, "Real
Flow: Break the Burnout Cycle and Unlock High Performance in the New World of Work" is an extraordinary, insightful,
effective, and thoroughly 'user friendly' 'how-to' instructional reference guide that is especially recommended for personal
reading lists and community, corporate, and academic library Business Management/Leadership collections.
Editorial Note: Brandi Olson (https://realworkdone.com) is an organizational agility expert and the founder of Real Work
Done, a consultancy serving leaders through agile transformation, organizational strategy and team design, and executive
coaching. She has spent two decades consulting with organizations-from nonprofits to universities to global Fortune 500
companies. An expert in organizational learning and change, she teaches leaders how to solve problems and adapt fast with
high-performing teams.
The Control Catastrophe
Bob Stuckey and Ken Cooper, authors
www.KenCooper.com
TotalComm Press
https://bizcontrolsolutions.com
9780985094980, $16.95, PB, 270pp
https://www.amazon.com/Control-Catastrophe-organization-wasting-money/dp/0985094982
Synopsis: Lack of fiscal control is certain to become catastrophic for organizations. The business press is full of stories
about organizations experiencing ethics scandals, theft, cheating, fines, prosecutions, outsourcing losses, waste, and
inefficiency of all kinds.
What do these stories have in common? The organizations had all the traditional controls in place, and yet they still failed!
It's clear that traditional controls are not working.
Something new is needed. BizControl is a new "core skill" for every executive, middle manager, supervisor, and many
front-line professionals. Improving business controls is the fastest way to better protect your assets, eliminate unnecessary
costs, and put money back on your bottom line -- and that is the purpose of "The Control Catastrophe: Why your
organization is wasting money and how to fix it" by co-authors Bob Stuckey and Ken Cooper.
Critique: Absolutely required reading for any entrepreneur, business manager, or corporate executive responsible for
protecting and maintaining the fiscal health of their enterprise or business, "The Control Catastrophe: Why your
organization is wasting money and how to fix it" is impressively well written, comprehensively informative, and thoroughly
'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. The insights, advice and recommendations are 'real world' practical and
vitally necessary to insure and monitor a company's sound financial footing. "The Control Catastrophe" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and academic library collections on Corporate
Governance, Project Management, Business Leadership/Motivation collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists.
Editorial Note #1: Ken Cooper (www.KenCooper.com) is a partner in BizControl Solutions and the founder of
CooperComm, Inc. He has over 35 years' experience as a consultant, coach, speaker, trainer, and successful startup founder.
Ken is a recognized expert in the areas of learning, organizational development, and performance excellence.
Editorial Note #2: Bob Stuckey (www.bizcontrolsolutions.com) is a partner in BizControl Solutions. He has held
corporate-level positions in accounting and finance with applications to manufacturing, procurement, distribution, treasury,
tax, sales, human relations, and adoption of leading-edge IT systems. He has been involved in over thirty-five corporate
restructurings and reorganizations, and in multiple corporate mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.
Fire in the Machine
Jonathan Tofel, author
Carolina Sasson, author
Lioncrest Publishing
https://lioncrest.com
9781544530178, $29.99, HC, 238pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Machine-Entrepreneurial-Innovation-Organizations/dp/154453017X
Synopsis: As an innovator in a large company working hard to drive growth and deliver products consumers love, your size
is an advantage-one that you can leverage for incredible results.
But when it comes to innovation, you cannot rely on big-company strength alone. Between your company's capabilities and
the entrepreneurial ethos underscoring every successful startup lies the sweet spot for disruptive innovation, and the key to
unlocking exponential growth.
With the publication of "Fire in the Machine: Driving Entrepreneurial Innovation in Large CPG Organizations, co-authors
Jonathan Tofel and Carolina Sasson share insights gained from decades spent working within and consulting for Fortune
500 companies. They share the strategies that have helped their CPG clients harness entrepreneurialism and balance the
startup mindset with big business systems to unleash the best of both worlds.
Simply stated, "Fire In the Machine" is an insightful journey into the challenges that all great innovators in large
corporations eventually face -- and will show you how to leverage new strategies and realize the growth that's possible when
entrepreneurial innovation is in the driver's seat.
Critique: A combination of instructional guide and 'how-to-manual', "Fire in the Machine: Driving Entrepreneurial
Innovation in Large CPG Organizations" is exceptionally well written, expertly organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly'
in presentation. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, college,
and university library Business Management/Entrepreneurship collections and supplemental 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 "Fire in the Machine" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781544530161, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note #1: Jonathan Tofel (https://www.mission-field.com) is the founder and CEO of Mission Field. Before helping
companies like PepsiCo, General Mills, and Kellogg's create disruptive innovations, Jonathan worked in Brand
Management at P&G, Marketing and Innovation at Oxi Clean, and was an entrepreneurial consultant for The Clorox
Company. Jonathan has founded two consultancies and continues to design and implement models for rapid
innovation.
Editorial Note #2: Carolina Sasson (https://www.mission-field.com)is the Chief Operating Officer at Mission Field, where
she embraces a holistic, iterative approach to help Fortune 500 clients develop big ideas. Starting her marketing career at
P&G, Carolina launched a natural food startup in Boulder, Colorado, before spending a decade at Whitewave Foods and
eventually leading The Seed Group, an internal innovation incubator.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
So Compassionate it Hurts
Tzemah Yoreh
http://tzemahyoreh.com
Independently Published
9798836444075, $19.99, PB, 163pp
https://www.amazon.com/So-Compassionate-Hurts-Rabbi-Spectrum/dp/B0BLRCXJKX
Synopsis: Tzemah Yoreh, is a congregational rabbi who is also on the autism spectrum. How is that possible? How can he
thrive in a profession that is pastoral, that rewards extroversion, that seems mostly for those who intuitively grasp social
dynamics?
For Rabbi Yoreh it is rare that he can understand the emotions and dynamics of even his closest family members, let alone a
room full of people whom he knows only peripherally. And yet he has thrived in his role as a rabbi.
Along with the deficits of being on the autism spectrum, there are precious gifts that being neuroatypical are bequeath to
him. It took Rabbi Yoreh a while to find them.
With the publication of "So Compassionate it Hurts: My Life as a Rabbi on the Spectrum", Rabbi Yoreh share his personal
journey of being a religious leader on the autism spectrum, how he has utilized his gifts to positively impact his
congregation (and, in turn, himself), and stories that will inspire those with similar challenges to keep pushing and pursue
their passions.
Critique: Motivationally inspiring, "So Compassionate It Hurts: My Life as a Rabbi on the Spectrum" is an inherently
interesting memoir that will be of special value to readers with an interest in the subject of dealing with autism while
creating a life or a career unexpected for anyone with their medical/psychological condition. Exceptionally well written,
organized and presented, "So Compassionate It Hurts" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community,
and academic library Judaic Studies and Contemporary Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted that "So
Compassionate It Hurts" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Tzemah Yoreh (http://tzemahyoreh.com) is one of the intellectual leaders of Jewish humanism and the head
of the City Congregation in New York city. He attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he obtained his Ph.D.
in biblical criticism in 2004. He earned a second Ph.D. in Ancient Wisdom Literature from the University of Toronto for the
joy of studying ancient text. As a community leader on the spectrum, he is a passionate advocate for the inclusion of the
neuro-atypical in the Jewish community and beyond.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
A God of Our Invention
Daniel Kohanski
Apocryphile Press
https://apocryphilepress.com
9781958061183, $20.00, PB, 326pp
https://www.amazon.com/God-Our-Invention-Religion-Western/dp/1958061182
Synopsis: Daniel Kohanski has spent decades working on problems of religion. Starting from a solid background in
Conservative Judaism, he has studied law, Talmud, history, philosophy. He has researched the sources and pored over the
scholarship and gotten much help from scholars along the way.
With the publication of "A God of Our Invention: How Religion Shaped the Western World", Kohanski is a compelling
analysis of two major Abrahamic religions: Judaism and Christianity.
"A God of Our Invention" takes the reader from the gods of the Ancient Near East to the modern threat of global climate
change. It explains how one of those ancient nations, the Israelites, came up with an idea of a single God who rules over all,
and how Christians used (and misused) Jewish ideas to become the leading power in Europe and to dominate much of the
world.
"A God of Our Invention" explains: How Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of Jerusalem led to the Israelites' believing in one
god; When the Jews began to believe in personal immortality and judgment after death; Why the Roman conquest of Judaea
was critical to the birth of Christianity; Why the Jews have always been indifferent to Jesus - and why Christians can't
accept that; How Christians went from being pacifists to calling for holy war; How the insistence that the world is about to
end has impacted the way we deal with sex, life, death, and global climate change; How doubt and reality combined to break
Christianity's hold on power.
"A God of Our Invention" is an ideal information resource for anyone who has questions about western religion but doesn't
know where to start looking for answers. If you want to know why religion has such an impact on your life when you're not
religious, or how religion can still do good in the world, "A God of Our Invention" is the place to start.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an Appendix (Dating the Book of Daniel), an eight
page Chronology of Events, twenty-eight pages of Notes, a six page listing of Primary Sources, 20 pages of References, and
a eight page Index, "A God of Our Invention: How Religion Shaped the Western World" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $6.99) and is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, seminary, synagogue,
college, and university library Judaic & Christian Studies collections.\
Editorial Note: Daniel Kohanski (https://thehumanist.com/contributor/daniel-kohanski) is a computer programmer, a retired
Foreign Service officer, and a lifelong student of religious history.
The Self-Help Shelf
Your Best Life
Mike X
X-Up Press
https://www.x-up.press
9798985804300, $28.00, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Best-Life-Fulfillment-Abundance/dp/B0BSMQM57T
Synopsis: Thirty years after Tony Robbins released "Awaken the Giant Within", with the publication of "Your Best Life:
Tactics, Tools and Insights to Create a Life of Fulfillment, Joy and Abundance" by Mike X brings us what may be the only
other book to deliver as much life-changing advice and insight as Robbins' original tome.
"Your Best Life" will change how you think about every aspect of your life. You'll upend your priorities, rethink your daily
habits and find endless new ways to enjoy every moment of every day. "Your Best Life" is a singularly impressive
combination of motivational instruction and 'how-to' manual that is as fun to read as it is life transformative.
Critique: A compendium of 'real world' information, with, wisdom, and insight, "Your Best Life: Tactics, Tools and Insights
to Create a Life of Fulfillment, Joy and Abundance" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. Of special note
is the 'How To Use This Book' introduction. Simply stated, "Your Best Life" is especially recommended for personal and
community/academic Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections and reading lists.
Editorial Note: In a previous career (before dedicating himself to personal development) Michael X. Franzini, writing as
Mike X, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_X) was a multi-Emmy winning television director. He created arresting
30-second TV commercials to promote a wide range of worthy causes, from HIV prevention to education reform. He
worked closely on projects with Al Gore, Bill & Melinda Gates, Oprah, Elton John, Magic Johnson and countless captains
of industry. The skill he honed across those decades of work was that of converting dense, complicated, often boring subject
matter into a form that grabs people's attention and makes it fun to consume. "Your Best Life" represents the combination of
that skill with years of in-depth research directed at identifying the keys to living a life that is truly extraordinary.
Grittitude: Choose Your Own Life Story
Kay Woodburn, author
Jacqui Flavell, author
Authors & Co.
https://authorsandco.pub
9781915771032, HC, $22.99, 242pp
https://www.amazon.com/Grittitude-Kay-Woodburn/dp/191577103X
Synopsis: Is the story of your life an adventure, a thriller, a romantic comedy or a tragedy? Are you living a life of choice?
When did you last stop and ask yourself challenging questions? Have you been avoiding your own cold, hard truths?
If the answer to any of these questions is Yes, then "Grittitude: Choose Your Own Lif Story" by co-authors Kay Woodburn
and Jacqui Flavell offers you a unique opportunity to explore these and other questions you may never have considered.
Critique: Reading what Kay and Jacqui have published is like chatting with friends over a cup of tea, while getting the
benefit of a combined fifty years' experience in transforming people's lives. A compendium of sound advice, informative
insight, motivational inspiration, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Grittitude: Choose Your
Own Life Story" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Grittitude" is also readily available in a paperback edition
(9781915771025, $12.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.14).
Editorial Note #1: Kay Woodburn is the Managing Director at Gritty People and Gritty People Athletes. She currently
resides in Frodsham, England.
Editorial Note #2: Jacqui Flavell (https://www.2ndcupoftea.co.uk) is an International Coaching Federation PCC Coach, a
Master Practitioner NLP, Timeline Therapy, and Hypnotherapy, NVQ Level 3 in Management, Learning & Development, a
Mindfulness Association Practitioner, and a Strengthscope Practitioner.
Soul Center
Jennifer Rurka
https://www.jenniferrurka.com
White Mud Publishing
9781778285837, $14.99, PB, 241pp
https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Center-Through-Control-Emotions/dp/177828583X
Synopsis: Do you feel overwhelmed and exhausted by mental chatter? Are you wobbling back and forth from one emotional
extreme to another, attempting to find balance in your life? You may be asleep to past traumas, perhaps from childhood,
which still have the power to cause pain that overrides and controls you.
With the publication of "Soul Center: The See It Through Method to Take Control of Your Emotions, Heal Your Past, and
Live a Soulful Life", perception facilitator and yoga instructor Jennifer Rurka explores how to connect your inner world to
your outer experience and examines how the past programs us. She uses the soul, psychology, and events from her life to
describe how healing and transformation can take place in anyone who is genuinely open to personal growth.
"Soul Center" reveals: Steps to use the SIT (See It Through) processes, beginning by writing down your issue in one
sentence; The difference between reality and "reelality" -- a movie state of mind; Rurka's philosophy about where the seven
major chakras reside in the body and how they work (e.g., the heart chakra is in the chest and connects to love, relationships,
and self-acceptance); Ways to use meditation as a tool -- specifically, how to listen; The effects inflamed thinking has on the
body, like bloating and other gut issues.
Critique: "Soul Center: The See It Through Method to Take Control of Your Emotions, Heal Your Past, and Live a Soulful
Life" is particularly recommended to the attention of non-specialist general readers needing to drive out the negative
thoughts, beliefs, and emotions that create fear and anxiety -- and to instead, delve into the inner workings of what's holding
them back in life, develop habits for lasting change, and begin understanding themselves from a new and insightful
perspective. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "Soul Center" is a truly exceptional and
recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections and
reading lists.
Editorial Note: Jennifer Rurka (https://www.jenniferrurka.com) is a yoga instructor and energy facilitator. She enjoys
working one-on-one with clients and wants to help them find freedom from their pasts and the strength to move forward. In
Soul Center, Jennifer shares her life experiences and the tools she used to overcome the buried trauma driving her emotions,
thoughts, and behaviors.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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