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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
End Boring, second edition
Ivan Wanis Ruiz
Publicus Hretorutyun Publishing
www.publicspeakinglab.com
9780993624711, $14.99, PB, 142pp
https://www.amazon.com/End-Boring-Tactical-Approach-Communication/dp/0993624715
Synopsis: You've sat through countless boring presentations, struggling to stay awake as speakers drone on about quarterly reports or product updates. You've tried to improve your own speaking skills, but the typical advice feels useless. "Connect with your audience," they say. But how? The truth is, most public speaking books are full of fluff and self-help nonsense that don't apply to your everyday communication needs.
With the publication of "End Boring: A Tactical Approach to Public Speaking and Communication, second edition", communications expert Ivan Wanis Ruiz provides the antidote to all that ineffective communication advice.
Drawing from neuroscience, poker analysis, police interrogation techniques, viral social media videos, and even professional wrestling, Ivan delivers a tactical guide that he has used to teach over a half million people around the world to become better communicators and leaders.
"End Boring" isn't about finding your passion or facing your fears -- it's a compendium of practical, physical tactics you can start using immediately. Built using case studies from business, teaching, corporate sales, fitness classes, nursing, and more, "End Boring" gives you real exercises to create muscle memory in how you speak, look, and present while speaking.
Forget cookie-cutter rules. "End Boring" gives you a utility belt of tools to command any room, whether in person or virtually.
Whether you're giving a sales pitch or leading a team meeting, you will learn:
The Belly Button Rule that instantly boosts your confidence.
Why traditional eye contact advice is wrong - and what to do instead.
The sneaky Liar's Parallel that's killing your credibility (and how to fix it).
When most people only remember 2% of presentations, structure sentences to make your message unforgettable.
Virtual presentation hacks that'll make you a Zoom superstar.
Ready to work out your communication skills? Becoming a great speaker isn't a natural talent -- you can learn to be an influential speaker through physical practice, repetition, and focusing on what matters most to the audience. "End Boring" is an effective guide to becoming the speaker everyone wants to listen to.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this newly updated second edition of "End Boring: A Tactical Approach to Public Speaking and Communication" by communications expert Ivan Wanis Ruiz is the ideal DIY tutorial and instructional guide for the non-specialist general reader seeking to acquire expertise and confidence as a public speaker. Real world practical in concept and example, "End Boring" is an invaluable and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Public Speaking/Communications Skills collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "End Boring" from Publicus Hretorutyun Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Ivan Wanis Ruiz (www.publicspeakinglab.com) is a communication expert, international speaker. As founder of Public Speaking Lab, he's revolutionized communication training, blending neuroscience, comedy, and even pro wrestling techniques. Ivan's expertise spans from commanding 50,000-strong stadiums to transforming corporate boardrooms. A top-rated Coursera and Udemy instructor, Distinguished Toastmaster, and Hollywood actor, Ivan's unique approach has empowered over a half million people worldwide.
The Social Issues Shelf
Exit Strategies: Living Lessons from Dying People
Cynthia X. Pan
www.cynthiaxpanmd.com
Rice Water Publishing
9798991007429, $26.99, HC, 318pp
https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Strategies-Living-Lessons-People/dp/B0DKQ95DDZ
Synopsis: From a cancer patient prioritizing their last sip of orange soda to surprising sexual innuendos from the dying, with the publication of "Exit Strategies: Living Lessons from Dying People", Dr. Cynthia X. Pan shines a compassionate (and at times hilarious) light on end-of-life care and what we can learn from the dying. In the face of the difficult discussions loved ones and patients often avoid, seasoned hospice and palliative care expert Dr. Pan shares a new perspective on the experiences that make us human.
Part practical guide, part heartwarming stories of wisdom, growth, and freedom, "Exit Strategies" equips readers with the lessons and tools to make end-of-life decisions with confidence and care. Covering topics from cultural customs, music, and the comfort of food, to understanding advanced directives and how to have the tough conversations, in the pages of "Exit Strategies" you will find the light in what may seem to be the darkest times.
"Exit Strategies" shares:
Intimate stories of patients facing end-of-life care, revealing how they found meaning, humor, and opportunities to help others even in their final days.
Practical strategies for having difficult conversations about advance directives and final wishes with family members.
An insider's perspective of hospice care, including avenues for at-home care and the range of care options available.
How to maintain dignity and quality of life during serious or terminal illness, including approaches to pain management, family meetings, sexuality, and spirituality that may surprise you.
Eye-opening insights into how patients and families can reframe their end-of-life journey, including "live funerals," creating personalized end-of-life celebrations, and ways to leave a legacy.
"Exit Strategies" is a kind of DIY road map for facing mortality with courage. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, doctor, or nurse, Dr. Pan's wisdom will help you approach end-of-life issues with greater peace of mind and an understanding that you're not alone. Empower yourself to live fully, even when facing life's final chapter.
Critique: It's a strange thing to think of but the end of our lives still has some life and life experiences left -- until we take our final breath. In "Exit Strategies: Living Lessons from Dying People" Dr. Cynthia X. Pan draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to present what are otherwise difficult conversations that we will all have to experience throughout our (and our loved ones) lives and face them with humor, understanding, and candor in this unique, special, and one-of-a-kind guide to end-of-life care. Expertly organized and presented, "Exit Strategies: Living Lessons from Dying People" is an extraordinary and recommended addition to personal, professional, community, senior citizen center, and college/university library Death/Dying Bereavement Counseling collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Exit Strategies: Living Lessons from Dying People" from Rice Water Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9798991007405, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Cynthia X. Pan (https://cynthiaxpanmd.com) is an expert in hospice and palliative care with decades of experience. As a Chinese American doctor who grew up in Latin America and now practices in Queens, New York, she brings a unique multicultural perspective to end-of-life care. Dr. Pan is a medical education leader who teaches healthcare professionals and advocates for patient-centered care, with family inclusion. She combines medical expertise with compassion and humor to help patients and families navigate difficult situations. A mother of two, Dr. Pan's personal experience with COVID-19 has deepened her understanding of serious illness from a patient's perspective.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Rewire Your Wellness
Lori Clemmons
Wildwood Publications
http://wildwoodpublications.com
9798991285520, $27.99, HC, 275pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rewire-Your-Wellness-Reclaiming-Chronic/dp/B0DPRSM31Z
Synopsis: Chronic illness, anxiety, and pain can leave you feeling as if your body and mind are working against you. Fighting the constant discomfort and emotional strain make even day-to-day life overwhelming. When you've tried all the pills and pain management plans traditional medicine has to offer, it's time to turn inward and find hope.
With the publication of "Rewire Your Wellness: A Guide to Reclaiming Your Life From Chronic Illness, Anxiety, and Pain", experienced wellness coach Lori Clemmons shares the remarkable tool she used to break free from over 25 years of chronic illness: self-directed neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to rewire itself and create new neural pathways.
Drawing from her own personal recovery, Lori teaches you how to calm your body's agitated stress response and gently rewire your brain for genuine healing. Told through compassionate storytelling and rich characters, Rewire Your Wellness brings your wellness journey to life by teaching how your emotions, thoughts, and body all play a role in healing.
In this holistic guide to wellness, you will discover:
Methods to use neuroplasticity to calm your overactive limbic system and chronic symptoms through compassionate self-coaching.
How to create balance across the four key areas of wellness: emotional, physical, mental, and relational.
The vital role of the limbic system in reducing hypersensitivity to pain, anxiety triggers, and environmental stressors.
Your Window of Tolerance and how to handle stress without triggering old symptoms or emotional overwhelm using NLP (neurolinguistic programming) and psychology techniques.
The art of pacing and incremental training so you can make sustainable progress without setbacks and incorporate exercises for overall physical self-care.
The message is that you are not a victim of your symptoms. "Rewire Your Wellness" will show you how to take leadership of your own healing process and reclaim your life with a caring and understanding coach by your side.
Critique: Of special and particular value to readers with an interest in alternative medicine, holistic health, pain management, health and fitness, "Rewire Your Wellness: A Guide to Reclaiming Your Life From Chronic Illness, Anxiety, and Pain" by Lori Clemmons is an extraordinarily well written, organized and presented DIY instructional guide for non-specialist general readers. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Health/Medicine/Wellness collections and supplemental Alternative Medicine curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Rewire Your Wellness: A Guide to Reclaiming Your Life From Chronic Illness, Anxiety, and Pain" from Wildwood Publications is also available in paperback (9798991285506, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Lori Clemmons (www.LoriClemmons.com) is a wellness coach who overcame 25+ years of chronic illness and now helps others reclaim their health through self-directed neuroplasticity. With certifications in trauma, NLP, and hypnotherapy, she empowers clients to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Lori lives in Northern California with her family and enjoys nature. She is passionate about offering hope to those with chronic conditions and helping them develop tools for lasting wellness.
The Music Shelf
The Quiet Storm
Amani Roberts
www.amaniexperience.com
Woodside Media Group
9781734346633, $39.99, HC, 510pp
https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Storm-Historical-Cultural-Analysis/dp/1734346639
Synopsis: R&B groups once dominated the airwaves, shaping generations with their rhythms. But as the industry evolved, these iconic voices vanished from the charts, leaving music lovers to wonder: What happened? DJ and music historian Amani Roberts unravels the mystery behind the rise, influence, and decline of R&B groups. Drawing from extensive industry knowledge and with the publication of "The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups", Amani Roberts offers an insider's look into the evolution of the genre, spanning from the 1950s to the early 2000s-from chart-topping hits and cultural revolutions to the hidden dynamics behind the music.
"The Quiet Storm" reveals untold stories and memorable rhythms behind the R&B groups that laid the foundation for today's music. From the soulful melodies of the 1960s to the funk-infused beats of the 1980s, explore how these groups drove social change, influenced popular culture, and battled the changing tides of the music business as technology shifted how music was made. Roberts explains why these acts were left behind-and what can be done to bring their legacy back.
"The Quiet Storm" is a comprehensive history from the 1950s to the early 2000s, highlighting over 60 iconic groups and their impact, from The Drifters to Destiny's Child as it shares untold stories behind the hits and the hidden struggles these groups faced.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking history, "The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups" by Amani Roberts is a 'must' for the legions of R&B enthusiasts, as well as music historians, and anyone who has ever felt the pull of a soulful ballad. "The Quiet Storm", packed from cover to cover with personal anecdotes and emotional stories, is a definitive and informative guide that will aid dedicated music fans to rediscover the magic that made R&B music an unforgettable entry into American music history. Especially recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Popular Music History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups" from the Woodside Media Group is also available in paperback (9781734346626, $28.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Amani Roberts (www.amaniexperience.com) is a renowned speaker, author, and DJ specializing in unlocking creativity within hospitality and music professionals. With a master's from Berklee College of Music, he has performed globally, co-released remix EPs, and hosted podcasts. An award-winning professor at CSU Fullerton, Amani collaborates with industry giants like Marriott and Forbes. He is also the author of DJs Mean Business.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Ward: Being a Patient During the Pandemic
Dr. Celia Banting, author
Veronique L'Esperance, illustrator
Wighita Press
https://www.wighitapress.com
9780998819020, $26.99, HC, 239pp
https://www.stoponesuicide.com/product-page/the-ward
Synopsis: "The Ward: Being a Patient During the Pandemic" by Dr. Celia Banting is dedicated to the United Kingdom's National Health Service and all medical staff worldwide who showed up for work every shift not knowing if they would be dead within the week, or if they had passed Covid-19 on to their beloved family. It honors all the "essential workers" who had to leave the safety of their homes in order to keep society from breaking down. "The Ward: Being a Patient During the Pandemic" is a testament to your bravery and tenacity during the kind of global pandemic that hadn't been seen by the human race for the last 100 years.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader with the museum quality B/W artwork of illustrator Veronique L'Esperance, Dr. Celia Banting writes vividly and from a viewpoint of personal experience. Fascinating, informative, emotionally engaging, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Ward: Being a Patient During the Pandemic" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as professional, community, and college/university library Health/Medicine collections and supplemental Pandemic/Covid-19 curriculum studies lists.
Critique: Dr. Celia Banting (https://www.stoponesuicide.com) had a troubled childhood and that made her sensitive as an adult to the psychological issues (including suicide ideation) of her patients. The advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic had an enormous impact on the entire medical community -- the doctors, nurses, ward workers, and even down to the janitorial staff. And then their were the patients. This large format hardcover edition of "The Ward: Being a Patient During the Pandemic" from Wighita Press is a life story and a memorial -- and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Health/Medicine collections, and supplemental Covid-19 Pandemic curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "The Ward: Being a Patient During the Pandemic" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.95, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Being a psychologist, Dr. Celia Banting is brutally honest about her motives, fears and dilemmas, and reveals the pathology that was festering in the home upon her arrival but intensified into open hatred and violence as the dynamics in the house changed. She is the author of the children's books for ages 12 and older: "I Only Said I Couldn't Cope", "I Only Said I Had No Choice", I Only Said I Wasn't Hungry", "I Only Said I Didn't Want You Because I Was Terrified", "I Only Said I Could Handle It, But I Was Wrong", "I Only Said Leave Me Out Of It", "I Only Said 'Yes' So That They Would Like Me", "I Only Said It Wouldn't Hurt", and "I Only Said I Wanted To Kill Myself, I Didn't Really Mean It'.
Recovery: A Physician's Unbelievable Story
Daniel Adegoke
Independently Published
9781068325229, $25.12, HC, 78pp
https://www.amazon.com/Recovery-Unbelievable-Daniel-Adewale-Adegoke/dp/1068325224
Synopsis: Dr. Daniel Adegoke was on track for a promising career in emergency medicine when his life took an unexpected turn. A series of devastating events left him jobless, homeless, bankrupt, and battling schizophrenia.
With the publication of "Recovery: A Physician's Unbelievable Story", Dr. Adegoke offers a candid and unflinching look at one man's fight to rebuild his life after hitting rock bottom. With striking honesty, Dr. Adegoke reflects on his struggles and shares how he found a way forward in the face of overwhelming odds.
Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this memoir is a compelling story of resilience, redemption, and what it means to reclaim your life.
Critique: Compelling, candid, intimate, memorable, deftly crafted, and an emotionally engaging read from start to finish, "Recovery: A Physician's Unbelievable Story" by Dr. David Adegoke is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Medical Physician Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for readers with an interest in the subjects of schizophrenia and mental health recovery that this hardcover edition of "Recovery: A Physician's Unbelievable Story" is also readily available in paperback (9781068325212, $12.56) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.49, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Dr. Daniel A. Adegoke (https://danieladewaleadegoke.com) is an accomplished academic emergency physician, mental wellness advocate, and author. He began his medical journey at the prestigious University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he earned his degree in Medicine. Driven by a passion for evidence-based practice, Dr. Adegoke pursued a Master's degree in Evidence-Based Health Care at the renowned University of Oxford, further honing his expertise in critical appraisal and clinical decision-making.
The General Fiction Shelf
Smoke on the Wind
Kelli Estes
www.kelliestes.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662528095, $16.99, PB, 395pp
https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Wind-Novel-Kelli-Estes/dp/1662528094
Synopsis: Struggling with the tragic end of her marriage, Keaka Denney is on a bittersweet adventure in Scotland with her son, Colin. She's joining him on a week-long hike along the West Highland Way before he enters university in Glasgow. Soon into the journey, Keaka's disquieting visions begin - a woman from ages past reaching for Colin, a burning cottage, violence.
Scotland, 1801. After Sorcha Chisholm and her son are wrenched from their home in a brutal eviction, they face an arduous trek toward a new beginning. When Sorcha learns she's wanted for a murder she didn't commit, she and her son run for their lives. Then help arrives from the strangest woman in the most unexpected ways.
Centuries apart, Keaka and Sorcha walk the same path -- devoted mothers in circumstances beyond their control who will do anything to keep their sons safe. Defying logic, they find strength in each other. But what does their connection mean? And how far will it go?
Critique: Set in the magnificent Scottish Highlands, "Smoke on the Wind" by novelist Kelli Estes is a fun, fascinating, and compelling read that will be of immense appeal to readers with an interest in original and emotionally engaging stories laced with mystery, suspense, and time displacing adventure. Exceptionally well crafted with memorable characters and an original theme, "Smoke on the Wind" is one of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99), this paperback edition of "Smoke on the Wind" from Lake Unions is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community library collections.
Editorial Note: Kelli Estes (www.kelliestes.com) is the author of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, which has been translated into eleven languages. She was also the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Nancy Pearl Book Award and the Women's Fiction Writers Association STAR Award, and is currently under option for film/TV; and Today We Go Home, a nationwide Target Book Club pick. Kelli is passionate about stories that show how history is still relevant to our lives today.
Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls
Julie Ann Sipos
https://julieannsipos.net
Dartmouth Park LLC
9798991999403, $29.55, HC, 310pp
https://www.amazon.com/Horrible-Women-Wonderful-Girls-Grayson/dp/B0DYWRWP83
Synopsis: An imaginative and creative kids' entertainment executive, Jaycee Grayson is forced out in a bold face-off with the notorious Hollywood boy's club. Armed with a fresh rehab rap sheet and a knack for making miracles out of mishaps, she seeks the unlikely refuge of Littleburgh, Wisconsin -- Home of the World's Most Wonderful Girls.
Jaycee expects to find like-minded ladies helming this world-famous doll empire-only to confront an army of Prairie Karens weaving a flimsy fiction of secrets and masks. Even the empress of Littleburgh's lucrative legend may never have existed at all.
Fueled by laugh out loud irreverence and wit as sharp as a stiletto skating on thin ice, a twisted plot leads Jaycee and her fellow misfits toward either a joyful rebellion or a public execution in the town square. Heartbreaking news from home forces Jaycee's ironic choice between returning to a shattered dream-and toppling a billion-dollar showcase of female hypocrisy at her own peril.
Critique: Original, ironic, deftly crafted, and of special interest to readers who appreciate an entertaining novel of romance, feminism, revival, regeneration, and laced throughout with dark and delicious humor, "Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls" showcases author Julie Ann Sipos' genuine flair as a novelist for a distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style that will fully engage the reader from start to finish. Memorable characters, compelling plot twists, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls" from Dartmouth Park is also readily available in paperback (9798991999496, $17.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Julie Ann Sipos (https://julieannsipos.net) is a multiple award-winning screenwriter and producer. Horrible Women, Wonderful Girls: A Jaycee Grayson Novel offers up a hilarious indictment of modern feminism wrapped in a raucous celebration of resilience, reinvention and romance across the Great Frontier. Blending wit and whimsy with dark humor and strong female characters, the spirited social satire marks the author's debut into literary fiction.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Scottish Ruin Keeper
Deb Hosey White, author
David Stuart White, editor
Three Tomatoes Publishing
https://www.thethreetomatoespublishing.com
9798991650861, $36.58, HC, 512pp
https://www.amazon.com/Scottish-Ruin-Keeper-Historical-Novel/dp/B0DWZQL9D9
Synopsis: Young Will Clachan, descended from generations of stonecutters, grew up playing in the ruins of Elgin Cathedral. Once the greatest medieval cathedral in all of Scotland, Elgin was burned to ruins in an act of revenge by Alexander Stewart, the notorious Wolf of Badenoch. The ruins languished for centuries. By the early 1800's many of the stones had been repurposed for new buildings in the town of Elgin.
John Shanks, a shoemaker appointed by the town as keeper of the ruin, is on a mission to protect the remains of the once magnificent cathedral. He hires Will Clachan as his assistant to help cart away tons of rubble surrounding what remains of the structure. Will leaves his home and family to live in a hut on the cathedral grounds. He spends his days carting away endless rubble, dumping it into the eerie Witches Pool nearby. But there is history buried in the ruins of Elgin Cathedral. Will and Shanks discover tombstones, relics, and monuments created by Pictish stone cutters of long ago.
Will not only falls in love with the ruins, but with Shank's beautiful granddaughter Alanna. When she leaves to study art in Florence, Will fears he has lost her forever. When her grandfather becomes gravely ill, Alanna returns home. Will is no longer a boy, and Alanna is now a sophisticated young woman of the world.
Readers who love historical fiction will be captivated by this story of dedication, love, and hope.
Critique: "The Scottish Ruin Keeper" by Deb White is an original, deftly crafted, reader engaging love story among the ancient Scottish cathedral ruins that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the novel has been finished and set back upon the shelf. A masterfully written work of historical fiction which the impressive and narrative driven storytelling style of Deb White lifts her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence and is unreservedly recommended as a pick for community and college/university library Historical Romance and Literary Fiction collections. A fascinating and entertaining read from start to finish, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Scottish Ruin Keeper" from Three Tomatoes Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9798991650854, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Deb Hosey White's lifelong love affair with the written word began with a poem about a flying bear. She is an eclectic reader, writer, and a lover of libraries and bookstores. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3008434.Deb_Hosey_White)
Gravity Flow: The Jimmy Whistler Stories
E. M. Schorb
www.emschorb.com
Hill House New York
9798218564704, $25.00, HC, 246pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gravity-Flow-Jimmy-Whistler-Stories/dp/B0DPTNDQNQ
Synopsis: With the publication of "Gravity Flow: The Jimmy Whistler Stories", author E. M. Schorb brings to life the transformation of the United States from the conforming Fifties to the volcanic social eruptions of the "swinging Sixties" -- from the private chaos of Jimmy Whistler's childhood to the public chaos of his youth. The former shaping himself, the latter shaping all Americans. Jimmy is a poet, in touch with the source and the seed of myth. For that reason, and for the passion and intensity of the writing, these stories should be of great interest to Baby-Boomers and Millennials alike.
Critique: Beginning with an informative Introduction by Ricardo L. Nirenberg, and deftly organized into three major sections, the seventeen short stories comprising, "Gravity Flow: The Jimmy Whistler Stories" showcase author E. M. Schorb's genuine flair for literary excellence, and distinctively interesting, thoughtful, and superbly narrated storytelling skills. Imaginative and an entertaining read from cover to cover, this hardcover edition of "Gravity Flow: The Jimmy Whistler Stories" from Hill House New York is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library collections.
Editorial Note: E. M. Schorb (https://www.emschorb.com) was a 2007 recipient of an Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing for ""Time and Fevers", and also won the "Writer's Digest" Award for Self-Published Books in Poetry. An earlier collection, "Murderer's Day", was awarded the Verna Emery Poetry Prize and published by Purdue University Press. Other collections include "Reflections in a Doubtful I", "The Ideologues", "The Journey", "Manhattan Spleen: Prose Poems, 50 Poems", and "The Poor Boy and Other Poems". At the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2000, his novel, Paradise Square, was the winner of the Grand Prize for fiction from the International eBook Award Foundation, and later, A Portable Chaos won the Eric Hoffer Award for Fiction. Most recently, his R&R, a Sex Comedy was awarded the Beverly Hills Book Award for Humor. He is a member of the Academy of American Poets, and the Poetry Society of America.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
The Person Who Hated People
Steven Paul Leiva
Magpie Press
9798307053461, $12.99, PB, 265pp
https://www.amazon.com/Person-Who-Hated-People/dp/B0DT9NF2P6
Synopsis: Retired History professor C.D. Beekman is known by the townspeople of Madison, California, as "the nicest man". He's always friendly and has kind words for everyone.
When Professor Beekman prevents a mass murder at the local mall, he becomes famous far beyond Madison -- he becomes a national celebrity. And when he puts forth the simple philosophy that Mass Murder isn't Nice, he is dubbed "Mr. Nice Guy." But is he? Is he truly Mr. Nice Guy? Or is he The Person Who Hated People?
It's up to the reader to decide!
Critique: Original, deftly scripted, thought-provoking, imaginative, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "The Person Who Hated People" showcases author Steven Paul Leiva's genuine flair for creating a memorable and compelling novel written with wit and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader's attention from start to finish. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99), "The Person Who Hated People" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Before publishing critically acclaimed works of fiction, Steven Paul Leiva spent over twenty years as a writer and producer in the entertainment industry. He worked with such talent as Academy Award-winning producer Richard Zanuck, director Ivan Reitman, literary legend and screenwriter Ray Bradbury, Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz, Looney Tunes legend Chuck Jones, and Animation Feature Academy Award-winning director Brad Bird. He even lent his voice to the Academy Award shortlisted (placing in the top ten) animated short, "The Indescribable Nth." (http://emotionalrationalist.blogspot.com)
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
A Dark Death
Alice Fitzpatrick
www.alicefitzpatrick.com
Stonehouse Publishing
https://www.stonehousepublishing.ca
9781988754628, $16.95, PB, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Death-Meredith-Island-Mystery/dp/1988754623
Synopsis: Kate Galway is looking forward to a quiet summer working on her latest novel at her home on Meredith Island. For a place hardly anyone has heard of, her sleepy Welsh island is attracting a lot of visitors, including a conman posing as a psychic and group of archaeology students who believe they've unearthed evidence of a Roman temple.
Part-way through the dig, however, the students make an even more startling discovery: a body ritualistically laid out in their trench. While intrigued by the murder, amateur sleuth Kate decides to leave this investigation to the professionals. However, when she learns that both the island mechanic and her university friend's son are prime suspects, she and hedonistic artist Siobhan Fitzgerald feel they have no choice but to get involved.
Critique: A fascinating and fun read for cozy mystery fans from Canadian novelist Alice Fitzpatrick, "A Dark Death" showcases her genuine mastery of the genre and her undeniable flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that keeps her reader's guessing and entertaining from start to finish. This paperback edition of "A Dark Death" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Alice Fitzpatrick (www.alicefitzpatrick.com) has contributed short stories to literary magazines and anthologies and has retired from teaching in order to devote herself to writing full-time. She is a fearless champion of singing, cats, all things Welsh, and the Oxford comma. Her summers spent with her Welsh family in Pembrokeshire inspired the creation of Meredith Island. The traditional mystery appeals to her keen interest in psychology as she is intrigued by what makes seemingly ordinary people commit murder. Alice lives in Toronto but dreams of a cottage on the Welsh coast.
Home Fires Burn
Anthony Bidulka
https://anthonybidulka.com
Stonehouse Publishing
https://www.stonehousepublishing.ca
9781988754642, $16.95, PB, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Home-Fires-Burn-Merry-Mystery/dp/198875464X
Synopsis: A celebrated philanthropist is found slumped against his car, frozen to death. PI Merry Bell is hired by his son, country music star Evan Whatley, to find out the truth behind what really happened on that desolate stretch of road. As Merry's investigation uncovers old wounds which never healed, her own are revealed as she confronts her pre-transition past and questions the boundaries of family and friendship.
Critique: "Home Fires Burn" is the concluding volume of the award-winning Merry Bell trilogy by Anthony Bidulka that began with "Livinsky" and then "From Sweetgrass Bush". Expertly crafted with vividly memorable characters and reader engaging plot twists, "Home Fires Burn" will have a practical and special appeal to fans of cozy mysteries with female sleuths and LGBTQ elements. This paperback edition of "Home Fires Burn" from Stonehouse Publishing will prove a welcome addition to personal reading lists and an enduringly popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Anthony Bidulka (https://anthonybidulka.com) has dedicated his career to writing traditional genre novels in an untraditional way, developing a body of work that often features his Saskatchewan roots and underrepresented, diverse main characters. He tells serious stories in accessible, entertaining, often humorous ways. Bidulka's books have been shortlisted for and won numerous awards including the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Saskatchewan Book Award. 'Going to Beautiful' won the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Crime Novel and the Independent Publisher Book Award as the Canada West Best Fiction Gold Medalist. 'Flight of Aquavit' was awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men's Mystery, making Bidulka the first Canadian to win in that category.
Equation
Hubert-Richard Clarke
Afterlife Publishing
https://www.equationnovel.com
9781068651502, $11.99, PB, 230pp
https://www.amazon.com/Equation-Hubert-Richard-Clarke/dp/1068651504
Synopsis: Caitlyn Colburn is a caring lawyer and mother of two. Isaiah Carpenter is a mild-mannered Catholic doctor. Then there is Harold Mansfield, a well-renowned head scientist working at a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company.
Three complete strangers. Each of them commits the unspeakable, something truly heinous and totally out of character. The connection between these bizarre occurrences is a mathematical formula left at each crime scene.
What is the equation? Is it a cult, psychotic delusions, or something much more sinister?
Detective Jaydon lynch is a man on the edge, a man consumed by pain, rage and loss, a man who needs to find a way out. He needs to solve this puzzle. The further down the rabbit hole Jaydon dwells, the closer he comes to unravelling an earth-shattering discovery. The solution to this enigma might just be himself.
Critique: An original and deftly crafted suspense thriller of a read from cover to cover, "Equation" by author Hubert-Richard Clarke is a compelling page turner of a novel written with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that will hold the reader's full attention throughout. All the more impressive when considering that this is Clarke's debut as a novelist, "Equation" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Equation" from Afterlife Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Hubert-Richard Clarke (https://www.equationnovel.com) is a filmmaker, actor, musician, martial artist, yogi and writer. Hubert-Richard has a Film-Making and Creative Digital Media degree from the University of Worcester, England.
Breakwater Bay
Bob Adamov
www.BobAdamov.com
Independently Published
9798312421897, $22.00, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Breakwater-Bay-Put-Bay-Chincoteague/dp/B0DZC2RKJ2
Synopsis: When investigative reporter Emerson Moore and his friends set off for a laid-back diving trip in Madagascar, they cross paths with a silver-tongued, down-on-his-luck British journalist, and their plans take a wild detour. The charismatic, yet slippery Brit drags Moore and his sidekick "Mad Dog" Adams into a questionable rescue mission in Somalia.
Then, the trio plunges into The Congo, navigating the treacherous Congo River, dodging security forces and ruthless bandits. When the river becomes too dangerous, they trek through the dense jungle, uncovering illegal diamond mines near Kisangani. What they find sparks a high-stakes escape through jungle underbrush and down the river's perilous rapids, testing their wits and survival skills.
In Antwerp, Moore uncovers a shocking connection between black-market diamonds and a shadowy U.S. real estate firm. The twists keep coming as Moore learns that Put-in-Bay and Virginia's Chincoteague Island are under siege by violent intruders. It's a desperate race to unravel the mystery and stop the bloodshed before it's too late.
Critique: Original, clever, deftly crafted and action packed, "Breakwater Bay" by novelist Bob Adamov is a simply riveting read from cover to cover. Danger, intrigue, adventure, memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, "Breakwater Bay" showcases Adamov's genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader's focused attention from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library contemporary fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Breakwater Bay" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Bob Adamov (www.BobAdamov.com) is an Ohio mystery adventure writer whose stories are based in the Lake Erie South Bass Island resort town of Put-in-Bay, the "Key West of the Midwest.". Adamov was the featured author at the 2006 Ernest Hemingway Days' Literary Festival in Key West and named 2010's Writer of the Year by the University of Akron's Wayne College. In 2020, he was named as one of PublishOhio's favorite authors and Best Lake Erie Author by Lake Erie Living magazine in September 2022. His "Memory Layne" won Best Fiction novel in June 2022 in international competition at the Next Generation Indie Awards. His first novel, "Rainbow's End", was a finalist as the top fiction novel for the 2003 Great Lakes Book Award competition that was won by the Pulitzer Prize-winner, Middlesex. All of his novels were rated "5 Stars" by the Midwest Book Review and named as top novels in northeast Ohio by the Akron Beacon Journal. His novels have won awards at the Hollywood Book Festival, London Book Festival, New York Book Festival, Great Midwest Book Festival and the Indie Awards.
He was a guest author at the 2008, 2010, 2015 & 2017 Clive Cussler Collectors Society Convention where he met his hero, Clive Cussler, and toured his car collection. Mr. Cussler endorsed Adamov's fifth book - "The Other Side of Hell is a great read!"
Who by Water
Greg Rhyno
https://gregrhyno.com
Cormorant Books
https://www.cormorantbooks.com
9781770867871, $24.95, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Who-Water-Dame-Polara-Mysteries/dp/1770867872
Synopsis: After barely surviving her last case (Who by Fire), Dame Polara trades her part-time detective gig for the safer (though no less chaotic) life of a single, working mother, picking up toys instead of picking locks, chasing after her two-year-old instead of chasing crooks.
But when her ex-husband inexplicably drowns, and Dame becomes the prime suspect in his murder investigation, she must work alongside the woman who ruined her marriage to unravel the mystery of the man they both loved.
Dame's sleuthing takes her to dive bars, industrial ports, and eventually, Toronto Island, where her ex spent his final days with a community of secretive and temperamental artists.
As she comes closer to the complicated truth, Dame realizes that in order to clear her name and protect her family, she'll have to re-examine everything she thought she knew about the people she loved and left behind.
Critique: "Who By Water" is an original, deftly written and riveting mystery by Canadian author Greg Rhyno and will hold a very special appeal for readers with an interest in a cozy mystery style murder mystery involving an amateur female sleuth, a 'whodunnit' plot with a roller coaster ride of well plotted twists and turns -- and culminating in a memorable finale. "Who By Water" is a fun read from cover to cover -- making it especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Who By Water" from Cormorant Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Greg Rhyno (https://gregrhyno.com) is the author of "Who By Fire", first of the Dame Polara Mysteries, and "To Me You Seem Giant", which was nominated for a ReLit Award and an Alberta Book Publishing Award. His writing has appeared in a number of journals, including Hobart, Riddle Fence, The Quarantine Review, and PRISM International. He completed an MFA at the University of Guelph and lives with his family in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale
Nelson Aspen
http://nelsonaspen.com
Red Sky Presents
https://redskypresents.com
9781941015933, $16.99, PB, 319pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kindred-Spirits-Titanic-Nelson-Aspen/dp/194101593X
Synopsis: Inspired by the personal experiences of author Nelson Aspen, "Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale" from Red Sky Presents is an historical fantasy that spans time between the night in 1912 when Titanic met her tragic fate and the hedonistic party scene of modern Manhattan.
From rubbing elbows with the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, John Jacob Astor and other iconic figures from the 'Ship of Dreams' to metropolitan globe-trotting in an effort to unravel the mystery of their metaphysical connection, our two heroes are indeed, Kindred Spirits.
Critique: Original, imaginative, deftly crafted, "Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale" is a fun and fascinating read from cover to cover. An historical fantasy that rises to an impressive level of literary excellence due to author Nelson Aspen's genuine flair for the kind of distinctive and narrative driven storytelling skills as a novelist, "Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Nelson Aspen (http://nelsonaspen.com) is a journalist, author and singer, as well as one of pop culture's most charming personalities. He has spent three decades on morning television bringing the latest news to millions of viewers around the world! He is the author of "Your Home is Your Castle: Live Like an A-Lister in a Post Pandemic World" (2023) and the "Dancing Between the Raindrops" series. Additionally, he co-hosts the "Titanic Talk" podcast.
The Poetry Shelf
People Are Puzzles
Alastor George
Golden Antelope Press
https://goldenantelope.com
9781952232961, $24.95, PB, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/People-Are-Puzzles-Alastor-George/dp/1952232961
Synopsis: At seventeen, Alastor George is the youngest author the Golden Antelope Press has ever published. Yet his subtlety and depth of experience are impressive.
The front cover for "People Are Puzzles" was designed by George and illustrates this fondness for complexity: a bonsai brain planted in a old fashioned glass jar surrounded by 18 small hand-written, alliterative "p" words. Each bit of this design is a clue about why or how people are puzzles. How is a human brain like or unlike bonsai? Why is it in a mason jar? Is cursive writing a tribute to past writers, an annoyance to present readers, or both? What's most puzzling for people who are surrounded by passion, politics, poison, progress, paradox, plastic, pathos...? What's alliteration for?
For Golden Antelope Press, a publishing company which does a disproportionate number of books by retired folks, George's 44 poems, 3 essays, and 14 art works comprising "People Are Puzzles" presents both challenges and delights. Some of the challenges involve technologies which we "seasoned seniors" react to the way George's peers, born in the aughts (oughts?) might be expected to react to ... cursive writing, or wooden butter churns. Other generational challenges involve assumptions. We grandparental sorts aren't accustomed to specifying our pronouns; George's agemates joke, half in earnest, about our misgenderings. We remember airports without TSA screenings; today's teens accept metal detectors in schools as normal.
Even if you are a mere quinquagenarian (in your fifties) you may feel vaguely disoriented at times as our author mixes symbols from across centuries and cultures, assumes shared assumptions, or experiments with rhyme. If you're a poet, you may even occasionally say, "This line clunks."
The challenges Al George's work presents to readers are real, but meeting them, considering them, is one of the core delights this book offers. People are puzzles, after all.
Critique: A slender volume graced with occasional color illustrations and photos, "People Are Puzzles" is a compendium original and thought-provoking verse -- and a bit iconoclastic here and there. Entertaining, fascinating, and impressive for a teenage poet (who must have something like an Old Soul), "People Are Puzzles" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Poetry collections.
Editorial Note: At 17, Alastor George is currently a senior at New Hanover High in Wilmington, NC, Al grew up in five different states. He's written fan fiction, danced, designed costumes, done cosplay, performed in musicals, participated in political protests, transitioned. He's read widely, mastered online games, dabbled in languages, flooded a (grateful) principal's office with suggestions. "People Are Puzzles" consists of favorite poems written mostly when he was 15 or 16.
The Business Shelf
Sustainable Success
Paul Marushka
https://sustainablesuccess.sphera.com
Rivertowns Books
https://www.rivertownsbooks.com
9781953943583, $34.95, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Success-Businesses-Force-Good/dp/1953943586
Synopsis: Business leaders today face a challenging mandate: to address the needs of People and Planet while optimizing Performance (and profit). And while sustainability is now the subject of greater scrutiny, Paul Marushka, Sphera CEO and founder, strongly believes that, when applied in a balanced way, sustainability can transcend compliance and drive long-term success.
With the publication of "Sustainable Success: How Businesses Win as a Force for Good", Marushka explains why organizations must take a strategic approach that advances sustainability regardless of shifting political winds and changing regulations. As history shows us, policy changes based on shifts in governance are often reversed in due course. Meanwhile, the businesses that embed sustainability within the enterprise and its operations win public favor in the short term and emerge as clear leaders in the long term. They also gain cost-saving innovations and a stronger ability to manage climate-related risks in the process.
With fascinating anecdotes and sage advice, Marushka builds a compelling blueprint for sustainable business success that satisfies the needs of customers, employees, shareholders, and the environment. His examples illustrate why sustainability offers not only a way to combat climate change and preserve our environment, but also a path to innovation, reduced costs, and enhanced customer loyalty.
Critique: Knowledgeably written, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Sustainable Success: How Businesses Win as a Force for Good" must be considered essential reading for business managers and entrepreneurs seeking to create and operate a profitable enterprise -- and use it to leave a memorable and operational legacy that they can be proud of. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Sustainable Success: How Businesses Win as a Force for Good" from Rivertowns Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: As Sphera's founding CEO and president, Paul Marushka is responsible for providing overall strategic leadership for the company in developing, directing and implementing go-to-market, service, product, and operational plans. Prior to the founding of Sphera, Paul served as president of Marsh ClearSight, a business unit of Marsh & McLennan, which is a leading provider of software, services, and analytics for enterprise risk management, safety and compliance management, and claims administration. Paul also has held executive positions at software and data companies such as Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO) and CCC Information Services. He was awarded an EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 Midwest Award for his dedication and leadership. Paul has a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an A.B. from the University of Chicago. (https://sphera.com/company/leadership/paul-marushka)
The Contextual Leader
Torben Norby
https://drnoerby.com
Ductus Press
www.thecontextualleader.com
9788797536223, $42.99, HC, 693pp
https://www.amazon.com/Contextual-Leader-Leadership-Organizational-Performance/dp/8797536202
Synopsis: All leadership is contextual. Many leaders miss out on their teams' full potential because navigating the complex and ever-changing business landscape is becoming more and more challenging. Traditional leadership models often fail to address the intricate interplay of organizational intentions, external factors, and internal dynamics resulting in subpar performance and disengaged teams. As a result, executives find themselves ill equipped to set their organization and leaders up for success in an increasingly complex world.
Drawing upon his decades of experience in corporate leadership training, organizational development, and leadership research, renowned leadership expert Dr. Torben Norby succeeded in operationalizing the two critical challenges all leaders face: how to match their leadership to organizational context and how to set up their organization for maximum performance.
To be truly effective, leaders must deeply understand the factors influencing their organizations and adapt their leadership accordingly to create the conditions for success. With the publication of "The Contextual Leader: Match and Shape Your Leadership Context for Organizational Performance" Dr. Norby offers a groundbreaking framework for understanding and shaping leadership context and provides leaders with a comprehensive tool kit for aligning organizational structures, cultures, and people factors with strategic objectives and the operating model.
"The Contextual Leader" covers:
How you translate your organization's purpose, strategy, and operating model into the structures, cultures, and people composition that yield maximum performance.
How to identify and leverage 12 critical organizational subcultures to drive empowerment and engagement.
Strategies for optimizing leadership approaches and the organizational setup to meet external factors like dynamism, complexity, and risk intensity.
Approaches to leverage the DISC Personality Composition of your teams to optimize work performance.
The PIA Cycle methodology for engaging your people in business transformation, continuous learning, and culture change.
Whether a seasoned executive looking to refine your leadership perspectives or a rising leader seeking effective management techniques, "The Contextual Leader" challenges outdated leadership paradigms and equips you with the knowledge to shape your leadership context and drive sustainable success. Packed from cover to cover with real-world examples, practical advice, and insight from respected thought leaders, "The Contextual Leader" will maximize your impact as a leader and drive significant organizational development.
Critique: Complete and comprehensive, "The Contextual Leader: Match and Shape Your Leadership Context for Organizational Performance" is impressively well organized and presented -- making it the next best thing to attending one of Dr. Torben Norby's workshops in person. Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of an Introduction, three Appendices, a four page listing of Acknowledgments, eight pages of End Notes, and a thirteen page Index, "The Contextual Leader" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Business Administration, Business Leadership/Management, Business Decision Making collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "The Contextual Leader" from Ductus Press is also available in paperback (9788797536209, $32.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Torben Norby (https://drnoerby.com) is a globally recognized leadership expert and the CEO of People & Performance. He has helped countless organizations drive success through contextual leadership. Dr. Norby is a sought-after speaker and consultant, developing high-performing executive teams and leadership academies for large organizations.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Wisdom to be Wealthy
Tammy Trenta
www.tammytrenta.com
Institute for Financial Empowerment
9798991433600, $17.95, PB, 267pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Wealthy-Accelerate-Generational-Blueprint/dp/B0DMSSC8L7
Synopsis: For many successful business owners and entrepreneurs, managing their finances can feel fragmented. You, as an entrepreneur, business owner, or employee may have a financial advisor, tax preparer, and lawyer, but no one is connecting the financial dots necessary for increasing your wealth.
The outcome can (and will be) missed opportunities, overpaid taxes, and inefficiencies that slow your progress toward real personal wealth. Even worse, without a clear, coordinated plan, you could be losing wealth rather than growing it.
With the publication of "Wisdom to be Wealthy: Accelerate to the Top 1% and Create Generational Wealth Using the Family Office Blueprint", Tammy Trenta (MBA, CFP, CTP, CExP) explores the family office model (an exclusive, integrated approach traditionally reserved for the ultra-wealthy) that combines tax strategy, investment management, legal guidance, and estate planning for high-net worth financial planning framework that simplifies and accelerates wealth building.
Tammy Trenta leverages her 28 years of expertise to empower high achievers like you with practical strategies to grow, protect, and pass on wealth. With her guidance, you will learn how to optimize your finances, sidestep common pitfalls, and craft a lasting legacy with confidence and clarity.
"Wisdom to be Wealthy" covers:
How the family office model offers a comprehensive, integrated approach to managing your entire financial life.
Proven tax-planning strategies the wealthy use to legally reduce tax liabilities, keeping more money for investment and growth.
The critical difference between fiduciary advisors and commission-based professionals - and how to build a team that truly prioritizes your best interests.
How to create and implement a long-term plan for generational wealth, preserving your legacy
Whether you are blazing your trail to the top 1% or simply ensuring your wealth works as relentlessly as you do, "Wisdom to Be Wealthy" is the game-changing guide you will need to uncover the hidden pathways to wealth that most people never explore and often overlook.
Critique: Exceptionally 'real world practical' and specifically written and presented for the benefit of the non-specialist general reader wanting solid and proven guidance to wealth building for themselves and their posterity, "Wisdom to be Wealthy: Accelerate to the Top 1% and Create Generational Wealth Using the Family Office Blueprint" by financial management expert Tammy Trenta is an ideal, 'user friendly', and unreservedly recommended instructional guide for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Money/Finance collections and Financial Wealth Management curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Wisdom to be Wealth" from the Institute for Financial Empowerment is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Tammy Trenta, (www.tammytrenta.com) is the founder and CEO of Family Financial LLC, specializing in wealth management for high-net worth families and business owners. With nearly 30 years of experience in tax planning, investment strategies, and estate management, she helps clients build and preserve wealth for future generations. A contributor to Nasdaq and Forbes, Tammy holds multiple financial certifications.
Financial Epiphany
Scott Yamamura
Created to Create
https://financialepiphany.com
9798991385701, $19.99, PB, 209pp
https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Epiphany-Discover-Multiply-Reimagine/dp/B0DN8WQDPC
Synopsis: You've likely got money concerns, including how to save it, where to invest it, and how to break free of the constraints of debt. These can be lifelong challenges.
Traditional financial advice is impersonal -- we place our money into the stock market, but then what? The key to success with money is to make it personal. It's about you discovering your potential and ability to multiply it. It's time to activate this financial superpower of yours to grow money, because now is the most powerful opportunity you'll ever have to affect your financial life.
With the publication of "Financial Epiphany: Discover Your Ability to Multiply Money and Reimagine Your Financial Life" money and financial management expert Scott Yamamura walks you through how to experience a mental miracle with your money. If you have a decent income yet find yourself overspending, undersaving, or feeling overwhelmed by debt, then "Financial Epiphany" is instructional guide for you as Scott breaks down six common financial obstacles that hold people back, and flips the script on how to reach financial freedom in a delightfully unconventional yet simple way.
As a certified financial coach and communications professional, Scott uses his expertise in forming creative, effective messaging to cut through all the noise of the financial world to deliver this practical guide to understanding your money.
"Financial Epiphany" will show how to:
Awaken your "money-multiplying superpower," and discover how it can turn even small investments into substantial rewards.
Become empowered through three rules of thumb that tell you how much your money can grow simply based on your age.
Eliminate debt through a novel approach that's easy to follow, freeing you of financial fear, guilt, and regret.
Experience a personal breakthrough with investing basics, and take confident action with your 401(k), Roth IRA, index funds, and more.
Align your financial goals with your life's purpose so that every dollar you save and invest has a deeper meaning.
You have the ability to multiply money exponentially. With "Financial Epiphany" you will learn how to unleash it!
Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "Financial Epiphany: Discover Your Ability to Multiply Money and Reimagine Your Financial Life" is a complete DIY course of instruction that will hold immense value for readers with an interest in personal finance and wealth investment management. An ideal introduction and instructional guide for non-specialist general readers on creating and managing personal wealth, "Financial Epiphany" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Money/Financial Management collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of Scott Yamamura's "Financial Epiphany" from Created to Create is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, 9.99).
Editorial Note: Scott Yamamura (https://financialepiphany.com) is an expert in communication and design, with over 25 years of experience, numerous industry awards, and a Fortune 15 background. As a certified financial coach, he uses his expertise in forming creative, effective messaging to cut through the noise of the financial world to deliver a practical understanding of money to individuals through a "Financial Epiphany."
The Christian Studies Shelf
My Story, His Glory
Nathaniel X. Arnold
His Glory Publishing, LLC
9780965100786, $24.99, HC, 456pp
https://www.amazon.com/My-Story-His-Glory-Revelation/dp/0965100782
Synopsis: Are you prepared to live in the time of the end?
Building on the foundation laid in "My Story, His Glory: A Lens on Racism and Religion in America, and God's Final Judgement" (Book 1), with the publication of "My Story, His Glory: Decoding Daniel, Revelation, and America's Destiny" (Book 2), Nathaniel X. Arnold continues his powerful exploration of faith, race, and the cosmic battle between good and evil.
Arnold combines raw personal testimony with deep biblical insights to take his readers on an extraordinary journey through the great controversy and the books of Daniel and Revelation. Decoding their profound messages for today's world, this compelling continuation of his faith-driven narrative examines how prophecy not only reveals God's plan for humanity but also sheds light on America's pivotal role in the great cosmic conflict.
Through the lens of a Black Christian in today's world, Arnold addresses critical eschatology questions like:
What do the prophetic texts from the books of Daniel and Revelation reveal about the state of the world and America's destiny at end times?
How does God's plan provide hope amid societal turmoil, racism, personal loss, and spiritual deception?
What must individuals do to prepare for the climactic end of this spiritual battle?
How does Satan manipulate societal struggles like racism to wage spiritual warfare?
What practical steps can Christians make to strengthen faith, confront personal demons, and prepare for the second coming of Christ?
Complete with reflections and exercises, "My Story, His Glory: Book 2" empowers Christians to heal from trauma, deepen their faith, and stand firm as the final chapters of Earth's story unfold. Informative and uplifting, "My Story, His Glory: Book 2" equips Christians to navigate a troubled world while keeping their eyes fixed on the promise of eternal life.
God's plan includes you. Are you ready for what's next? Join the battle with "My Story, His Glory" (Books 1 and 2) to discover your role in America's prophetic destiny.
Critique: Eloquent, insightful, iconoclastic, thought-provoking, motivational, and unreservedly recommended for clergy, seminary students, and members of the Christian community in general, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of Book 2 of "My Story, His Glory: Decoding Daniel, Revelation, and America's Destiny" from His Glory Publishing is also available in paperback (9780965100755, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Nathaniel X. Arnold is a church elder, author, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of spiritual leadership and nearly 40 years in real estate. Raised in the segregated South, Nathaniel draws on his personal experiences and deep biblical study to explore faith, resilience, and prophecy. A two-time cancer survivor and mentor, he has authored five books, including the My Story, His Glory series. (https://hisglorypublishing.com/blog)
The Self-Help Shelf
The Body of Change
Lisa Cooney
https://www.drlisacooney.com
Independently Published
9781666409499, $26.99, HC, 152pp
https://www.amazon.com/Body-Change-Using-Empower-Yourself/dp/1666409499
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Body of Change: Using Your Body To Heal, Love, and Empower Yourself", Dr. Lisa Cooney explores transformative somatic techniques to break free from limiting beliefs and embrace full potential.
"The Body of Change" examines coping mechanisms like the four Ds (denying, defending, disconnecting, dissociating) and emphasizes trusting body wisdom to overcome fear and create radical aliveness.
Through practices like the Roar(R) Technique, embracing discomforts, and daily gratitude, readers can now unlock healing, release negative energies, and foster a deeper connection with their bodies for profound transformation and empowerment.
Critique: Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the benefit of the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the utilization of meditation and the 'wisdom of the body' for self-improvement both physical, emotional, and spiritual, "The Body of Change: Using Your Body To Heal, Love, and Empower Yourself" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections and supplemental Popular Psychology studies lists. It should also be noted that this hardcover edition of The Body of Change: Using Your Body To Heal, Love, and Empower Yourself" is also available in paperback (9781666409499, $9.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Dr. Lisa Cooney (https://www.drlisacooney.com) is a leading authority on thriving after childhood sexual abuse. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified Access Consciousness Facilitator, and Master Theta Healer, she has supported thousands of people over the past 20 years in living beyond their childhood sexual abuse to create infinite possibilities for themselves.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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