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Wisconsin Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Living with Others: A Survival Guide
David Ruby
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476692760, $25.00, PB, 229pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Others-Survival-David-Ruby/dp/1476692769
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-with-others-david-ruby/1146533775
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/living-with-others
Synopsis: "Living with Others: A Survival Guide" by Dave Ruby is intended reading for anyone thinking of living or who
are already living with friends and family -- and most especially strangers.
Over the years, the major transitions of life such as heading off to college, taking on a new job, or moving to a new
location have been documented extensively, often with accompanying recommendations. Leaving the family home and
finding somewhere to live that presents shared living conditions is one of those life transitions for which no one has ever
been properly trained.
Drawing on 40 years of personal experience, as well as interviews with academics, psychologists and CEOs from around
the world, "Living with Others: A Survival Guide" is a springboard to harmonious shared living.
Living with others involves situations that stump even the best therapists and life coaches, particularly if they've never had
roommates. "Living with Others: A Survival Guide" will empower readers to handle anything that comes their way without
professional help (while saving a great deal of money along the way).
Critique: Original, unique, informative, practical, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Living with
Others: A Survival Guide" by David Ruby is essential reading for anyone finding themselves sharing an apartment, home,
or sheltered living environment with other people they do not initially know. This trade paperback edition of "Living with
Others: A Survival Guide" is an invaluable and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, senior citizen
center, sheltered living facility, college and university library Life Skills collections and supplemental
Communication/Social Skills curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of
"Living with Others: A Survival Guide" from McFarland & Company is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: A veteran of living with others, David Ruby has shared homes in cities around the world including London,
New York and Paris with friends, strangers, and family for almost 40 years.
The Education Shelf
The Complete U
Deborah J. Cohan, PhD
www.deborahjcohan.com
Mango Publishing
https://mangopublishinggroup.com
9781684818525 $24.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Lessons-Success-College-Classroom/dp/1684818524
Synopsis: The Complete U is a supportive, real-world guide to thriving in college - academically, socially, and
emotionally. With warmth, humor, and deep insight, Dr. Deborah J. Cohan delivers over 100 empowering lessons to help
students navigate every aspect of campus life.
The Complete U is your empowering, honest, and compassionate guide to navigating every step of the college experience.
With over 100 lessons from sociologist and beloved professor Dr. Deborah J. Cohan, this transformative book offers the
wisdom, support, and practical strategies every student needs to succeed in and beyond the classroom.
Whether you're a first-year student or preparing to graduate, this book is like a trusted mentor, cheering you on while
offering real talk about everything from picking a major to building mental resilience. From managing course loads and
professors to making friends, coping with anxiety, and defining your purpose, The Complete U helps you grow not only as
a student, but as a person.
Inside, you'll find:
Practical advice for every aspect of college life, from homesickness and time management to healthy relationships and
stress relief.
Supportive lessons for mental, emotional, and academic well-being, especially tailored to modern challenges like social
media burnout, identity, and uncertainty.
Lively reflections and real stories from students and parents, offering encouragement and insight in equal measure.
Your College Compass and Survival Toolkit
Critique: The Complete U: Over 100 Lessons for Success in and out of the College Classroom lives up to its title as a
practical and accessible college survival guide. Chapters address homesickness, mapping one's course schedule, preparing
for academic success, how to effectively communicate with professors, and much more. Of particular importance are the
chapters about mental health, self-care, and the risk of violence or sexual assault while attending college. The Complete U
is a "must-read" for any young adult preparing for college, highly recommended! It should be noted for personal reading
lists that The Complete U is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).
Courageous Conversations in the Classroom
Lauren Aimonette Liang, author
Karen W. Tao, author
Michelle K. Hosp, author
Guilford Publications, Inc.
www.guilford.com
9781462557561, $68.00, HC, 342pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Conversations-Classroom-Childrens-Literature/dp/1462557562
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/courageous-conversations-in-the-classroom-lauren-aimonette-liang-phd/1146850589
Synopsis: With the publication of "Courageous Conversations in the Classroom: Using Children's Literature to Support
Social and Emotional Growth, Positive Identity, and Mental Health" is a complete classroom toolkit for grades 3 - 6 and
co-authored by educators Lauren Aimonette Liang, Karen W. Tao, and Michelle K. Hosp.
"Courageous Conversations in the Classroom" empowers elementary school teachers to leverage high-quality children's
literature to boost emotional well-being, positive self-identities, social awareness, and civic engagement.
The nine thematic instructional units are built around carefully curated book sets comprising "Courageous Conversations
in the Classroom" will guide teachers in sparking meaningful conversations and foster empathy by exploring challenging
themes like friendship, bullying, racism, disability, and mental health, through read-alouds and expert-designed
activities.
Step-by-step lesson plans include ready-to-use scripts, activities, and discussion prompts -- all of which is aligned with
current academic and social and emotional learning standards. The Appendix features 30 reproducible and downloadable
worksheets and handouts; the large-size format facilitates photocopying.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, this large format paperback edition of
"Courageous Conversations in the Classroom: Using Children's Literature to Support Social and Emotional Growth,
Positive Identity, and Mental Health" from The Guildford Press is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended
addition to personal, professional, school district, and college/university library K-12 Teacher Education collections and
supplemental Special Education, Educational Psychology, and Teacher Lesson Planning curriculum studies lists. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of teacher students, academia, K-12 educators, homeschooling parents, school
district teacher in-service training programs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Courageous Conversations in the Classroom: Using Children's Literature to Support Social and Emotional Growth,
Positive Identity, and Mental Health" is also readily available in paperback (9781462557332, $45.00) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $42.75).
Editorial Note #1: Lauren Aimonette Liang, PhD, is Associate Professor in Literacy in the Department of Educational
Psychology and Director of the QUEST Program for first-year student success at the University of Utah. Her research
focuses on the selection and educational use of children's literature, particularly as related to student response and
comprehension. Dr. Liang is the author or coauthor of many articles, chapters, and books, and has held leadership roles in
international literacy and children's literature organizations. She has served as a committee member or chair for several
prestigious children's literature awards.
Editorial Note #2: Karen W. Tao, PhD, is Associate Professor in Counseling Psychology in the Department of Educational
Psychology at the University of Utah. She is a community-engaged scholar who teaches, conducts research, and facilitates
workshops with a commitment to reduce disparities in access, service provision, and quality of mental health and
education for historically marginalized groups. Dr. Tao collaborated with PBS Utah to produce an award-winning digital
series, "Let's Talk." As the host of this seven-episode series, she met with parents to discuss how to talk with kids about
race, racism, and cultural differences.
Editorial Note #3: Michelle K. Hosp, PhD, is Senior Director of Assessment Innovations at Renaissance Learning and
Associate Adjunct Professor of Special Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has over 30 years of
experience working directly with students, educators, families, and researchers as a school psychologist, professor, and
Director of the Iowa Reading Research Center. Dr. Hosp's research focuses on reading, assessments, and data-based
decision making. She has published numerous articles, and book chapters on these topics.
It's More than Flags and Rainbows
Ian Timbrell
Independent Thinking Press
https://www.independentthinkingpress.com
c/o Crown House Publishing
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781781354285, $27.95, PB, 200pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Flags-Rainbows-Getting-Provision-Schools/dp/1781354286
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-than-flags-and-rainbows-ian-timbrell/1147407117
Synopsis: With the publication of "It's More than Flags and Rainbows Getting LGBTQ+ Provision Right in Schools",
author Ian Timbrell has created an inspirational handbook that provides educators with step-by-step guidance for creating
truly inclusive schools where every child feels safe, seen and supported.
Thinking beyond the rainbow. Drawing upon his own lived experience as an LGBTQ+ individual and educator, Ian
Timbrell ably communicates his vision for comprehensively inclusive schools with authenticity, relatability and heart.
"It's More than Flags and Rainbows" will help school teachers, administrators, and staff members to develop the
confidence and the know-how to ensure meaningful, consistent and fully inclusive provision for all. It promotes inclusivity
that goes far beyond symbolic flags and rainbows.
Taking schools on a journey towards improvement, "It's More than Flags and Rainbows" enables schools to plan
strategically and establish an environment where all children and young people can freely express their authentic
selves.
Written with warmth, passion and empathy, "It's More than Flags and Rainbows" is a simply groundbreaking DIY
instruction guide that encourages educators to think 'beyond the rainbow', inviting them to create meaningful and lasting
change for the LGBTQ+ students in their care.
Critique: Original, engaging, informative, thought-provoking, and timely, "It's More than Flags and Rainbows Getting
LGBTQ+ Provision Right in Schools" must be considered essential reading for classroom teachers, school administrators,
board of education policy makers, school counselors, and parents with an interest in promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion,
understanding, and diversity in K-12 schools. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, school district, and college/university library Education/LGBTQ+ collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "It's More than Flags and Rainbows Getting LGBTQ+
Provision Right in Schools" from Independent Thinking Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$26.55).
Editorial Note: Ian Timbrell (https://www.morethanflagsandrainbows.com) is the founder of More Than Flags and
Rainbows, a not-for-profit organisation that supports schools and charities with LGBTQ+ inclusion. He is an Independent
Thinking Associate and has delivered inspiring talks and workshops across the UK that empower educators to tackle
homophobic bullying, embrace equity and foster inclusivity. Drawing on his personal journey and 20 years of teaching
experience, Ian's debut title, It's More Than Flags and Rainbows provides schools with the knowledge and strategies to
create meaningful, lasting change for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The Cookbook Shelf
The White Lotus Official Cookbook
Jarrett Melendez
Insight Editions
www.insighteditions.com
9798886638813, $27.99, HC, 144pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/White-Lotus-Official-Cookbook-Destinations/dp/B0DV4NCDM6
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-lotus-official-cookbook-jarrett-melendez/1147330964
Synopsis: Fans of the biting comedy-drama series, The White Lotus, can bring the fabulous, five-star food dishes that
appear in the various episodes to their own kitchen tables with this, the first official cookbook created in collaboration with
Warner Bros. and HBO.
Showcasing more than 50 memorable dishes, "The White Lotus Official Cookbook: Signature Recipes from Our Resorts'
Most Popular Destination" is a magnificently illustrated and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipe book that truly
captures the iconic cuisine of upscale hotel fare, along with the distinct flavors of each season, with regional dishes from
Hawai'i, Italy, and Thailand.
Critique: Featuring recipes for any and every dining occasion include delicious snacks, appetizers, main courses, desserts,
and celebration drinks, "The White Lotus Official Cookbook: Signature Recipes from Our Resorts' Most Popular
Destination" is a culinary compilation of elegant recipes featuring accessible step-by-step instructions and helpful cooking
tips,
Whether a novice family cook or an experienced professional chef, "The White Lotus Official Cookbook" is a great guide
for menu planning. Of special note is the inspiring, full color, full page photos of finished dishes. While also available for
in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99), this hardcover edition of Jarrett Melendez's "The White Lotus Official
Cookbook: Signature Recipes from Our Resorts' Most Popular Destination" from Insight Editions is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Jarrett Melendez (https://www.jarrettwrites.com/about) is a comic and graphic novel writer, cookbook
author, and food journalist. As a cookbook author and food journalist, Jarrett has written countless articles and developed
hundreds of original recipes that have appeared on Bon Appetit, Epicurious, Saveur and Food52. He's written numerous
cookbooks, including My Pokemon Baking Book, RuneScape: The Official Cookbook, Percy Jackson and the Olympians:
The Official Cookbook, The Official Wednesday Cookbook, The Official Borderlands Cookbook, Persona: The Official
Cookbook.
Pastry Temple
Christina Wood
Sasquatch Books
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632175502, $24.95, HC, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pastry-Temple-Inspired-Cookbook-Croissant/dp/1632175509
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pastry-temple-christina-wood/1146800657
Synopsis: "Pastry Temple: Baking with Inspired Flavors" by Christina Wood is a creative pastry cookbook that will enable
even the most novice of family bakers to master three foundational dough recipes: brioche, puff pastry, and croissant. Then
build confidence with 30+ recipes that bring those bakes to life in all their mouthwatering glory.
Christina is a self-taught home baker turned owner and benevolent leader of Temple Pastries who demystifies those
intimidating, picture-perfect pastries in a professional baker shop that may have felt too challenging to attempt at home.
Ideal for experienced home bakers, there is step by step guidance presented in clear, unambiguous language; detailed
timelines for planning your day of baking; and plenty of how-to process shots to bestow necessary confidence.
"Pastry Temple" includes savory and not-too-sweet flavors such as:
Chinese Five-Spice Kouign Amann
Gochujang Babka
Harissa-Sweet Potato Rosette Tart with Feta
Cheesy Blistered Tomato Croissant
It should be noted that sweet tooths are covered too with:
Poached Quince Tarte Tatin
Creme Brulee Donut
Sumac-Roasted Strawberry Cheesecake Croissant
"Pastry Temple" will take your home based baking skills to a whole new level as you focus on croissants, brioches, and puf
pastries!
Critique: Extraordinary, exceptional, special, effectively illustrated, and DIY user friendly in both organization and
presentation, "Pastry Temple: Baking with Inspired Flavors" by pastry professional Christina Wood is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook/baking collections. It should be
noted that this hardcover edition of "Pastry Temple" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Christina Wood has more than 15 years of experience working with pastry. After many years as an
accountant, teaching herself how to bake at home ignited a passion for learning pastry techniques, and with it, demystifying
the secretive world of pastry professionals. After landing her first professional pastry job in Seattle in 2015, she then
branched out on her own in 2018, opening the brick and mortar Temple Pastries in October 2020.
The Soy Milk Cookbook
Wu Wen
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804859080, $19.99, HC, 112pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Soy-Milk-Cookbook-Delicious-Non-Dairy/dp/0804859086
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-soy-milk-cookbook-wu-wen/1146779559
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Soy Milk Cookbook: Delicious & Healthy Non-Dairy Asian Recipes", Chinese
cookbook author and teacher Wu Wen shares her great passion for soy milk -- a staple of the kitchens in China where she
grew up. To her, soy milk is more than just a substitute it is a delicious, smooth, and creamy ingredient that also happens to
be environmentally friendly, protein-rich and packed with health benefits.
Wu presents 55 delicious and beautifully illustrated Asian recipes all based around this incredibly nutritious and versatile
ingredient. They include:
Soy Milk Drinks like Matcha Green Tea with Soy Milk and Soy Milk Cocoa
Soy Milk Soups like Sweet Potato & Miso Soup, Tofu Soup and Cauliflower Soup with Shrimp
Delicious Stews like Pork, Clams & Daikon in Soy Milk and Hotpot with Gyoza Dumplings
Noodle & Pasta Dishes like Pork & Soy Ramen and Crab Udon with Soy Milk
Chinese-style Porridge like Soy Milk Porridge with Scallops and Black Rice Soy Milk Porridge
Delicious Desserts like Soy Milk Almond Jelly and Soft Soy Milk Cookies
In addition to the recipes, " The Soy Milk Cookbook" also includes a variety of fascinating and informative essays on the
health benefits of soy milk and how to maintain an active and balanced lifestyle by applying traditional Chinese health
principles.
Critique: Original, inspiring, profusely illustrated, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Soy
Milk Cookbook: Delicious & Healthy Non-Dairy Asian Recipes" is a compendium of authentic Chinese recipes for palate
pleasing, appetite satisfying, health inducing dishes based on Soy Milk and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, and community library Asian/Chinese cookbook collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition
(7.5 x 0.7 x 10 inches, 1.5 pounds) of "The Soy Milk Cookbook" is also readily available from Tuttle Publishing in a
digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Wu Wen was born in Beijing but moved to Japan in 1990. In 1997, she began giving cooking lessons in
Tokyo presenting recipes based on traditional Chinese food wisdom and healthy home cooking. She not only introduces
recipes, but a wide range of information about using and buying traditional Chinese ingredients and how to maintain a
healthy lifestyle. She has been featured in magazines, newspapers and on television and is the author of several cookbooks
published in Japan. This is her first book in English. She can be followed on Instagram @wuwen_cookingsalon
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Mycelial Healer
Katherine Parker & Christopher Parker
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
www.chelseagreen.com
9781645022817, $34.95, PB, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mycelial-Healer-Comprehensive-Cultivation-Traditional/dp/1645022811
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mycelial-healer-katherine-parker/1147509036
Synopsis: Fungi are the Alpha and Omega of this planet. Through their connections to the rock, soil, air, water, plants,
animals, and humans, fungi hold our ecosystems together. Fungi carry a vibration of connection, a way of being in the
world. They also carry medicinal compounds that can be isolated and studied by scientists, and they carry something less
available to scientific study -- something ineffable known by many Indigenous peoples.
Co-authored by Katherine and Christopher Parker, "The Mycelial Healer: A Comprehensive Guide to the Cultivation and
Traditional Uses of Medicinal Mushrooms" is an especially insightful and practical guide for the non-professional general
reader wanting to explore the deep, interwoven web of the mycelial network from the perspective of whole human
health.
Chapter One reveals what mushrooms tell us about how to be in right relationship with the natural world, with other
people, and with the spiritual world. The chapters that follow explore our direct relationship with these mushrooms, with
detailed information on how to grow them in both outdoor and indoor settings. We also learn how to preserve and ingest
mushrooms as food and medicine. In the final chapter, we take a deeper dive into fourteen species of medicinal
mushrooms to learn their stories, their way of living, and what they have revealed to science.
Medicinal Mushroom Profiles include: Cordyceps, Amadou, Birch Polypore, Reishi, Maitake, Lion's Mane, Chaga, Milky
Cap, Shiitake, Medicinal Molds, Oyster, Psychoactive Mushrooms, Split Gill, and Turkey Tail.
"The Mycelial Healer" is especially appropriate for readers who have been failed by the conventional healthcare system
and are turning to medicinal mushrooms for answers, as well as herbalists and mushroom cultivators inspired to take their
understanding of the medicinal benefits of mushrooms to the next level.
Critique: A seminal, groundbreaking, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' exploration of ancestral and Indigenous medicinal
uses of mushrooms and their cultivation, This large format (7 x 0.62 x 9.96 inches, 1.62 pounds) paperback edition of "The
Mycelial Healer: A Comprehensive Guide to the Cultivation and Traditional Uses of Medicinal Mushrooms" by
Christopher and Katherine Parker is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Mushrooms in Biological Sciences, Herbal Remedies, and Indigenous Peoples Studies
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that this trade paperback edition of "The Mycelial Healer: A Comprehensive Guide
to the Cultivation and Traditional Uses of Medicinal Mushrooms" from the Chelsea Green Publishing Company is also
available in a digital book fromat (Kindle, $24.99).
Editorial Note: Christopher Parker is co-founder, along with his wife Katherine, and an instructor at The Forest Farmacy.
He is a self-taught mycologist who started cultivating mushrooms at young age and has continuously expanded his
knowledge of mycology, botany, agriculture, permaculture and ecology, with 30 years of experience in mushroom
cultivation, wild harvesting, and herbal medicine making. Christopher founded Asheville Fungi which provides
mycological supplies (including cultures, spawn, grow kits, and tools) across the country and fresh mushrooms
locally.
Editorial Note #2: Katherine Parker is co-founder, along with her husband Christopher, and an instructor at The Forest
Farmacy. She is a psychologist, a transformational coach, and transpersonal hypnotherapist engaged deeply in the
evolution of human consciousness. Katherine is working to co-create a more beautiful world and be part of our collective
liberation.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Reel Thrilling Events of Bank Robber Henry Starr
Mark Archuleta
University of North Texas Press
www.untpress.unt.edu
https://www.henrystarrbook.com
9781574419788, $32.95, HC, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Thrilling-Events-Robber-Henry-Starr/dp/B0F6BKPGTF
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-reel-thrilling-events-of-bank-robber-henry-starr-mark-archuleta/1147351446
Synopsis: In 1921 headlines across the country announced the death of Henry Starr, a burgeoning silent film star who was
killed while attempting to rob a bank in Harrison, Arkansas. Cynics who knew the real Starr were not surprised. Before
becoming a matinee idol, Starr had been the greatest bank robber of the horseback bandit era.
Born in 1873, Cherokee outlaw Henry Starr had survived shootouts and death sentences and lived long enough to witness
the invention of moving pictures. In 1919, after Starr was released from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, a hotshot movie
producer convinced him he had the looks, charisma, and "wild and woolly" life story to become the next big movie
star.
When filming began in 1920, powerful organizations aligned to censor Starr, attempting to prevent him from exposing
Oklahoma's corrupt legal system and the government's mistreatment of the Cherokee. The Women's Christian Temperance
Union pressured theater owners to ban his film, state and federal lawmakers drafted legislation to stymie theatrical
distribution, and police and district attorneys threatened to send him back to prison.
Starr's only film, the biographical movie A Debtor to the Law, is lost to history, but through surviving memorabilia,
newspaper accounts, and interviews with people who worked with him on set, with the publication of "The Reel Thrilling
Events of Bank Robber Henry Starr: From Gentleman Bandit to Movie Star and Back Again", author Mark Archuleta
traces how the reformed gentleman bandit attempted to use the power of cinema to reframe his life story and redeem
himself in the eyes of the public, his family, and the Cherokee Nation.
But "The Reel Thrilling Events of Bank Robber Henry Starr" is about more than heists and Hollywood glamor. Starr's
journey is also about the American myth of reinvention, recidivism, and the founding of the motion picture industry when
racial tensions were simmering to a boil.
Critique: Original, groundbreaking, meticulously researched, deftly written, informative, and an absolutely fascinating read
from cover to cover, "The Reel Thrilling Events of Bank Robber Henry Starr: From Gentleman Bandit to Movie Star and
Back Again" by Mark Archuleta is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community and
college/university library American Biography collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition "The Reel
Thrilling Events of Bank Robber Henry Starr: From Gentleman Bandit to Movie Star and Back Again" from the University
of North Texas Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.36) for the personal reading lists of anyone
with an interest in the subjects of Native American history, Hollywood/Cinema history, and Criminal
Biographies/Memoirs.
Editorial Note: Mark Archuleta is an Emmy-winning screenwriter, journalist, and performer. A fifth-generation
Coloradoan of Spanish Basque descent, he grew up steeped in the history of the American West and the colorful characters
who inhabited it. Archuleta loves exploring how historical fact is refracted through the prism of film and television.
Momma May Be Mad
Kerry Neville
https://www.kerry-neville.com
Madville Publishing
www.MadvillePublishing.com
9781963695410, $21.95, PB, 268pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Momma-May-Mad-Kerry-Neville/dp/1963695410
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/momma-may-be-mad-kerry-neville/1147760877
Synopsis: With the publication of "Momma May Be Mad: A Memoir", author Kerry Neville presents is an inventive and
striking memoir about motherhood, madness, and the grace of second and third chances.
"Momma May Be Mad" shares Kerry's personal story of how she was caught up in a perfect storm of bipolar disorder,
anorexia, and alcoholism when her children were young and her marriage failing. She also reveals how she found her way
back to joy and hope.
An account of electric shock therapy, hospitalizations, and even an exorcism it is the story of how, even in that dark chaos,
Kerry held fast to an abiding belief in love and how she fought to regain her own life and her life with her children.
Critique: Candidly authentic, intimately personal, informative and inspirational, "Momma May be Mad" by Kerry Neville
is an extraordinary story of repairing what was once broken, of recovering from what was once lost. It is of special interest
to readers with concerns regarding the coping with Bipolar Disorder and recovering from Substance Abuse. An inherently
fascinating, brutally honest, and truly memorable read from start to finish, this paperback edition of "Momma May be
Mad" from Madville Publishing is an extraordinary and highly recommended pick for personal reading lists and
community library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Kerry Neville (https://www.kerry-neville.com/books) is the author of two collections of stories, Necessary
Lies and Remember to Forget Me. Her work has appeared in publications such as The Gettysburg Review, Epoch,
TriQuarterly, Brevity, The Washington Post, The Irish Times, and elsewhere. Her fiction and nonfiction have been named
Notables in Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays. She received her Ph.D. in creative writing and
literature from University of Houston. She was a Fulbright Fellow at University of Limerick in Ireland, where she was
visiting faculty in the M.A. Creative Writing Program. She lives in Georgia, and teaches at Georgia College
and State University.
The General Fiction Shelf
Lone Dog Road
Kent Nerburn
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781608689941, $21.95, PB, 504pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Dog-Road-Kent-Nerburn/dp/1608689948
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lone-dog-road-kent-nerburn/1140986074
Synopsis: During the drought-stricken summer of 1950, two Lakota boys, ages eleven and six, huddle in a boxcar hurtling
through the prairie night as they run from a government agent sent to take the younger boy to an Indian boarding school.
But what begins as a pursuit soon becomes a complex drama of intersecting lives as the boys make their way across the
vast Dakota plains to the pipestone quarries of western Minnesota to replace their great-grandfather's channunpa, or sacred
pipe, that was broken by the agent.
Alive with a rich tapestry of characters the boys meet along their journey, "Lone Dog Road" by author Kent Nerburn is a
simply riveting story that is at once an exploration of the hidden corners of the human heart and a moving study of the way
the land shapes the people who live, love, dream, and die upon it.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, and a truly compelling read from start to finish, "Lone Dog Road"
showcases author Ken Nerburn's genuine gift for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that raises his novel to an
impressive level of literary excellence. An iconic 'on the road' adventure, "Lone Dog Road" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Lone Dog Road" from New World Library is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.54) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing,
9798228492769, $49.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Kent Nerburn (https://kentnerburn.com) has published sixteen books of creative nonfiction, fiction, and
essays focusing on Native American and American culture and spirituality, including the New York Times bestseller Chief
Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce. He won a Minnesota Book Award in 1995 for Neither Wolf nor Dog and another in
2010 for The Wolf at Twilight.
Lady of the House
Katie Sanyal
Madville Publishing
www.MadvillePublishing.com
9781963695311, $19.95, PB, 234pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lady-House-Katie-Sanyal/dp/1963695313
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-of-the-house-katie-sanyal/1147015009
Synopsis: After inheriting her late grandmother's property in the deep forests of Georgia, twenty-two-year-old Clara
Graham is forced to return to the beautiful, magical house where she lived briefly during childhood. But as she finds
herself submerged in the dark secrets her grandmother left behind, she must face her own terrifying childhood memories
that have come crawling back into the light, demanding a reckoning.
Critique: Original and cleverly scripted, "Lady of the House" by Katie Sanyal will have a very special appeal to readers
with an interest in novels of psychological deftly crafted suspense and magical realism. Author Katie Sayal's genuine flair
for the kind of narrative driven storytelling skills raises her authentically distinctive and memorably compelling novel,
"Lady of the House" to an impressive level of literary excellence. While especially and unreservedly recommended for
community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition for "Lady of the
House" from Madville Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Katie Sanyal is a debut novelist from Utah with roots in Georgia. She is an English major currently
studying at the University of Utah. When she is not writing, she is reading.
On Earth As It Is In Heaven
Joseph A. Hawke
Vanguard Press
c/o Pegasus Publishers
https://pegasuspublishers.com
9781837949281, $11.99, PB, 110pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Earth-As-Heaven-Joseph-Hawke/dp/183794928X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven-joseph-hawke/1148281790
Synopsis: When Mary, a spirited Irish Catholic, falls for Muhammad, a devoted Pakistani Ph.D. student, their connection
defies boundaries -- but cultural expectations and family loyalties stand firmly in their way. As Mary's unexpected
pregnancy deepens the rift, they face profound decisions that will shape their future and the life of their child in a tale of
enduring love and the struggle between personal dreams and family obligations.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, engaging, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "On Earth as It Is in
Heaven" by Joseph Hawke deals with the complexities of love, duty, family loyalty, sacrifice, identity and belonging in a
rapidly changing and complex world. A literary gem of a novella, this small format (5.5 x 0.26 x 8.25 inches, 4.7 ounces)
paperback edition of "On Earth as It Is in Heaven" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists,
as well as community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Joseph A. Hawke's career has been anything but conventional. From a background in philosophy to a
thriving career in finance and venture capital, he has now emerged as a compelling storyteller. His book, "American
Justice", showcases his ability to weave real-world issues into gripping narratives, solidifying his place as an author to
watch. (https://www.savfaire.com/post/joe-hawke-s-journey-from-finance-to-fiction)
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure
Rhys Bowen
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662527180, $28.99, HC, 399pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Endicotts-Splendid-Adventure-Novel/dp/1662527187
Synopsis: Surrey, England, 1938. After thirty devoted years of marriage, Ellie Endicott is blindsided by her husband's
appeal for divorce. It's Ellie's opportunity for change too. The unfaithful cad can have the house. She's taking the Bentley.
Ellie, her housekeeper Mavis, and her elderly friend Dora (each needing escape) impulsively head for parts unknown in the
South of France.
With the Rh“ne surging beside them, they have nowhere to be and everywhere to go. Until the Bentley breaks down in the
inviting fishing hamlet of Saint Benet. Here, Ellie rents an abandoned villa in the hills, makes wonderful friends among the
villagers, and finds herself drawn to Nico, a handsome and enigmatic fisherman. As for unexpected destinations, the
simple paradis of Saint Benet is perfect. But fates soon change when the threat of war encroaches.
Ellie's second act in life is just beginning -- and becoming an adventure she never expected.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, engaging, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure" by
accomplished novelist Rhy Bowen will hold immense appeal for fans of historical fiction featuring memorable female
characters and set in the era of World War II. The narrative driven storytelling skills of Rhys Bowen raise her novel to an
impressive level of literary eloquence. While an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library
General & Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this trade paperback edition of
"Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure" from Lake Union is also readily available in paperback (9781662527197, $16.99)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Rhys Bowen (www.rhysbowen.com) is the author of more than sixty novels, including The Rose Arbor,
The Paris Assignment, Where the Sky Begins, The Venice Sketchbook, Above the Bay of Angels, The Victory Garden,
The Tuscan Child, and In Farleigh Field, the winner of the Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha
Award for Best Historical Novel. She is also the author of the Royal Spyness mysteries and several other series. Bowen's
work has been translated into many languages and has won sixteen honors to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony,
and Macavity Awards. A transplanted Brit, Bowen divides her time between California and Arizona.
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
We Are the Match
Mary E. Roach
https://www.maryeroach.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662529429, $16.99, PB, 279pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Match-Mary-Roach/dp/1662529422
Synopsis: Paris is a fixer for mob families on the Grecian islands when a powerful crime lord hires her to investigate a
bombing. Insinuating herself into Zarek's circle is the chance for revenge that Paris has been waiting for since she was a
child. Years ago, Zarek wiped out everyone she loved. Now it's Paris's turn. Her target? Zarek's beautiful daughter,
Helen.
Helen wants nothing more than to abandon the violent world in which she was raised -- and worse, an arranged marriage to
a man she barely knows. In Paris, Helen sees the perfect tool to help her escape. And in Helen, Paris sees a desperate
woman who will be the perfect revenge. As the two work together to find the bomber, and their connection becomes
increasingly intimate, Zarek's empire grows more fragile and their own bonds of loyalty and purpose are tested.
When murder sends them fleeing to Troy, danger only brings Paris and Helen closer together - in love, in fury, and in the
will to survive. If Zarek wants a war, Paris and Helen are ready to ignite it.
Critique: Original, exceptional, cleverly constructed, and a fun read from start to finish, "We Are The Match" by Mary E.
Roach is a deftly blended suspense thriller, action/adventure, and LGBTQ romance novel. While a unique and especially
recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense & LGBTQ Romance collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that this trade paperback edition of "We Are The Match" from Montlake is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Mary E. Roach (https://www.maryeroach.com) is a former teacher who now writes thrilling romances and
romantic mysteries. Mary lives in Saint Paul with her wife and their very disagreeable cat, Lulu.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Loneliness & Company
Charlee Dyroff
Bloomsbury Publishing
www.bloomsbury.com
9781639736454, $19.99, PB, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Loneliness-Company-Charlee-Dyroff/dp/163973645X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loneliness-company-charlee-dyroff/1143848233
Synopsis: Lee's future is set-a top student and professor-favorite, she's destined to land a job at a prestigious Big Five
corporation. So when, upon graduating, she's assigned to an unknown company in the dead city of New York instead, her
life is completely upended.
In this new role, Lee's task is to gather enough research to train an AI how to be a friend. She begins online and by
studying the social circle of her clueless, outgoing roommate Veronika. But when the company reveals it's part of a
classified government mission to solve loneliness -- an emotion erased from society's lexicon decades ago -- Lee's
determination to prove herself kicks into overdrive, and she begins chasing bolder and more dangerous experiences to
provide data for the AI.
How far will Lee go to teach the algorithm? As the mysterious affliction spreads, Lee must decide what she's willing to
give up for success and, along the way, learn what it means to be a true friend.
Critique: With its deftly blending of uniquely AI themed, near-futuristic societal dysfunction/dystopia, and an impressively
original story of friendship/relationship, "Loneliness & Company" by novelist Charlee Dyroff is an inherently fascinating
impressively well written, and thought provoking novel about trying to find meaning and connection when human
technology is both a cause and a possible cure for our currently isolation trending human world. While also readily
available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), this trade paperback edition of "Loneliness &
Company" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary
Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Charlee Dyroff (https://www.charleedyroff.com) has an MFA from Columbia University, and her work has
appeared in Slate, Gulf Coast, Lapham's Quarterly, Guernica, Ploughshares, Eater, and The Best American Food Writing
of 2019. She lives in New York.
The Body Builders
Albertine Clarke
Bloomsbury Publishing
www.bloomsbury.com
9781639737130, $26.99, HC, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Body-Builders-Novel-Albertine-Clarke/dp/1639737138
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-body-builders-albertine-clarke/1147281957
Synopsis: Ada lives a solitary life. She spends her days in her London apartment building's swimming pool, occasionally
visiting with her cousin Francesca and meeting her friends, each of them chatting, drinking, posing invitations Ada
ignores. Ada's parents are recently divorced after her father became a bodybuilder: he spends his days at the gym, which is
crowded and bright, warm with human proximity, infrequently calling to express minor concerns around his daughter's
well-being.
When she meets a man named Atticus by the pool, Ada immediately feels an intimate connection between them: they share
a life, in a way she can't explain. Little by little, Ada's estrangement from her familiar surroundings and from reality
widens, as though seeing her reflection through a mirror, pieces of it falling away.
After her mother entreats Ada to join her on a remote Greek holiday, Ada is jolted out of the physical world and into a
new, artificial environment, one that a mysterious and potentially otherworldly force has created and designed for her.
As novelist Albertine Clarke pivots with masterful effect into the surreal and speculative, "The Body Builder" moves
through Ada's experiences of life like spokes on a wheel, profoundly surprised by the enduring mystery of our existence,
and of our relationships with ourselves and others. When a person's life, in the odd space between mind and body, is
inherently one of isolation, are our connections with those around us merely projections of ourselves? And if not, where do
they come from?
Critique: An original, unique, deftly crafted, fully engaging work of speculative fiction by a master of the genre, with the
"The Body Builders", author Albertine Clarke's genuine flair for narrative driven storytelling raises his novel to an
impressive level of literary excellence. While this hardcover edition of "The Body Builder" from Bloomsbury Publishing is
unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that it is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Albertine Clarke (https://english.ufl.edu/albertine-clarke) is from London, England and is currently
completing an MFA in fiction at the University of Florida. She studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh
where she won the Lewis Edwards Memorial prize for creative writing. She currently resides in Florida.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Knights on the Graveyard Watch
T. B. Pasko
Coffeetown Press
c/o Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684923205, $18.95, PB, 284pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Knights-Graveyard-Watch-T-Pasko/dp/1684923204
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knights-on-the-graveyard-watch-t-b-pasko/1147195339
Synopsis: Veteran Officer Danillo Venko, an overweight, white dinosaur knocking on the door of 50 works the graveyard
shift in the beleaguered 7th Precinct under an oppressive commander.
It couldn't get much worse and yet it does with a cold case.
Venko is assigned to train rookie Officer Marcus McGhee, an African American Gen Z member who spends more time
watching his phone than the streets. The pair are assigned a cold case of two missing teens abducted 27 years apart by the
same suspect that vanished after both incidents.
They discover their cold case kidnapper has recently reappeared and snatched another teen only to release him ten minutes
later, unharmed with no memory of the event
A winding chase leads them to a retired one-legged detective, a toxic industrial plant, and a cover up before the shocking
conclusion.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, clever, "Knights on the Graveyard Watch" by T. B. Pasko is a brilliant blend of police
procedure and suspense thriller. An inherently fascinating read by an author with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative
storytelling style that fully engages the reader from start to finish, "Knights on the Graveyard Watch" is an especially and
unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Knights on the Graveyard Watch" from Coffeetown Press is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: T. B. Pasko (https://tbpaskoauthor.com) is a retired police officer with 27 years law enforcement
experience.
One Killer Night
Trilina Pucci
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662531811, $16.99, PB, 365pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/One-Killer-Night-Trilina-Pucci/dp/1662531818
Synopsis: Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love will stab you from behind.
It's Halloween night, and out-of-work writer Goldie Monroe's trip to the drugstore scares up more than the fake blood she's
looking for. It leads to the man of her naughtiest dreams. And in spite of her costume, sparks fly from the moment they
meet.
Noah Adler, aspiring sneaker designer, is impossibly gorgeous -- like a tatted-up version of Goldie's favorite blue-eyed
vampire. He's there for candy, but it's Goldie he can't resist. When she invites him to her sister's F/X company bash, he's all
in without a second thought.
The pair's flirty connection heats up fast, carrying them to electrifying new heights. But after Goldie discovers Noah is
hiding a dark secret, it all starts to crumble. Looking for answers about her own past awakens new dangers, and when
Goldie and Noah land at a slasher camp for adults, a deadly tragedy threatens to repeat itself. If they can survive this one
killer night, they can definitely slay a happily ever after.
Critique: Original, clever, fully engaging and skillfully written from start to finish, "One Killer Night' by author and
storyteller Trilina Pucci is sexy suspense thriller of a novel that is a compulsive page turner of a read from cover to cover.
While a welcome, memorable, and recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "One Killer Night" from Montlake is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Trilina Pucci (https://trilinapucci.com) is a connoisseur of pop culture and Sanpellegrino, but her true
passion lies in crafting tantalizing romantic novels that delve into the depths of desire, emotion, and hearty belly laughs.
You can connect with the author and learn more about her work on Instagram (@authortrilinapucci), on Facebook
(https://facebook.com/trilinapuccibooks), on TikTok (@authortrilinapucci), and on BookBub
(www.bookbub.com/authors/trilina-pucci).
A Murder in Paris
Matthew Blake
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063314191, $30.00, HC, 368pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Paris-Novel-Matthew-Blake/dp/0063314193
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-murder-in-paris-matthew-blake/1146708555
Synopsis: Olivia Finn is a memory expert at Charing Cross Hospital in London. One night, she receives an urgent call from
the police at the Hotel Lutetia on Paris's famous Left Bank. Olivia's French grandmother, Josephine Benoit, has appeared at
the Lutetia in a distressed state claiming she once committed a murder in the hotel at the end of the Second World
War.
Traveling to Paris, Olivia finds her grandmother confused. But Josephine insists it is a recovered memory from the past.
More disturbingly, hotel records show that a woman did die in that room of the Lutetia in 1945. Could her story really be
true?
As people start dying in the present day, Olivia is plunged into a race against time to uncover the truth about Josephine and
what really happened all those years ago. Set among the glamorous streets of Paris, this addictive thriller asks: what if a
memory could get you killed?
Critique: Original, exceptionally well written, clever, engaging, and a fun read for mystery buffs from start to finish, "A
Murder in Paris" by Matthew Blake is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated suspense/thriller fans that this
hardcover edition of "A Murder in Paris" from Harper is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99)
and in a large print edition (Harper Large Print, 9780063433465, $34.00, 608pp).
Editorial Note: Matthew Blake is a novelist and screenwriter. His debut psychological thriller Anna O was a global number
one bestseller and published in over 40 territories. his books are listed online at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6093711.Matthew_Blake
Claws for Concern
Lesley A. Diehl
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684922703, $16.95, PB, 246pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Claws-Concern-Maddie-Sparks-Mystery/dp/1684922704
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/claws-for-concern-lesley-a-diehl/1147882545
Synopsis: Maddie Sparks, senior amateur sleuth, sets aside her writing when her son, a defense attorney, is accused of
murdering one of his clients, a high school friend and the woman the authorities believe murdered her estranged
husband.
Although Maddie knows her son is innocent, she also suspects he is hiding something. Before she can confront him, he
disappears during the first snowstorm of the season. When he reappears, he is shocked to discover his house has been
torched.
He confesses he and the murdered woman had been seeing each other. Did the client kill her husband to be with Maddie's
son? To make sense of the murders and the arson, Maddie takes a close look at her son's friends from high school. Do
people change over time, or do they carry their past grievances into the present?
In getting to know her son's friends, she finds that teenage passion can sometimes lead to murder. It's simply a matter of
Maddie determining which friend is hiding a killer's face.
Critique: Simply stated, as an experienced and talented master of the cozy mystery genre, "Claws for Concern" by Lesley
A. Diehl is an original, clever, deftly crafted, and fun read from cover to cover. The third title in her 'A Maddie Sparks
Mystery' series, "Claws for Concern" is a very highly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should be noted for the legions of Lesley Diehl fans that this paperback edition of "Claws for Concern" from
Camel Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Lesley A. Diehl (https://lesleyadiehl.com) is the author of several cozy mystery series (The Eve Appel
Mysteries, Laura Murphy Mysteries, The Big Lake Murder Mysteries, and Maddie Sparks Mysteries -- featuring a senior
sleuth and her rescue cat). Her cozy mysteries have won several Readers' Favorite Awards and a short story Sleuthfest
Award.
Murder in the Crazy Mountains
K. L. Borges
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684922567, $16.95, PB, 244pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Mountains-Montana-Animal-Mystery/dp/1684922569
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-the-crazy-mountains-k-l-borges/1147834368
Synopsis: Kelly Boyd, long time high school math teacher in Helena, Montana, has hung up her chalkboard and joined
RogerDog Rescue working alongside the gruff founder, Betty Mills and quickly became second in command at the
shelter.
The Rescue is full of frequent surprises, and at first it seems like business as usual when hikers bring in a dog found
wandering in the Crazy Mountains. Normal goes out the window, though, when the dog is discovered to be sporting
suspicious wounds. How was he hurt? Why was he in the Crazies? What does this mean for his missing owner?
Kelly and Betty team up to investigate alongside ex-Army Cici Vargas who sees the dog as a major clue in the
disappearance of her fellow veteran, Brianna Norwood. Not everyone wants them to dig up answers, though. The police
warn them off, while a shadowy character would go to any lengths to keep his secrets buried.
Can the trio stay out of jail and safe from harm long enough to solve the mystery?
Critique: Original, clever, deftly crafted, and a fun read for cozy mystery lovers from cover to cover, "Murder in the Crazy
Mountains" by K.L. Borges is all the more impressive when considering that it is her debut as a novelist. An extraordinary
and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that this paperback edition of "Murder in the Crazy Mountains" from Camel Press is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: K.L. Borges (https://www.klborgesauthor.com) was a math teacher at a private Billings high school for a
decade, following an earlier career as an environmental engineer. Borges is currently an active volunteer in the animal
rescue community of south-central Montana, a member of the Billings Gem and Mineral Society and is a member of
Sisters in Crime.
The Whisper Place
Mindy Mejia
Atlantic Crime
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802165398, $27.00, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Place-Iowa-Mysteries/dp/0802165397
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-whisper-place-mindy-mejia/1147010166
Synopsis: How do you find a woman who doesn't exist?
As a former police officer and a psychic detective, Max Summerlin and Jonah Kendrick may not be the most conventional
business partners. But together, they have years of investigative experience, and opening Celina Investigations feels like a
natural decision.
When a man walks into their office searching for his missing girlfriend without a past or even a name, Max and Jonah
realize their newest client may present their hardest challenge yet. Their first task: find out why he refuses to go to the
police.
Meanwhile, a woman drives across the country with all her belongings packed into a car, desperate to escape a dark past.
The question posed to the fleeing woman is the same one that keeps Max and Jonah awake at night: can you ever really
change your life?
From an 80's-inspired bakery to a horrifying house at the edge of the woods, Max and Jonah unearth the missing woman's
shocking past, and in the process, put themselves directly in the path of the terror she was trying to outrun.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, riveting, and with a special appeal to fans of Private Eye style suspense thrillers, "The
Whisper Place" by Mindy Mejia is an extraordinary and fascinating read from cover to cover. While an especially and
unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that this hardcover edition from Atlantic Crime is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$25.65).
Editorial Note: Mindy Mejia (https://mindymejia.com) is a CPA and a graduate of the Hamline University MFA program.
She lives in the Twin Cities with her family, and is the author of Strike Me Down, Everything You Want Me to Be, Leave
No Trace, To Catch a Storm, and A World of Hurt.
Ghost Bog
Steven Kuehn
Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684922543, $18.95, PB, 300pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Jake-Caine-Archaeology-Mystery/dp/1684922542
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghost-bog-steven-kuehn/1147908665
Synopsis: Professor Jacob Caine and his archaeology team are racing to excavate Ghost Bog, a 7,000-year-old bison kill
site in northern Wisconsin, before winter arrives. Sam Noggle, Jake's old mentor, is assisting, excited to investigate this
amazing site. Locals from the nearby town of Scenic are frequent visitors, eager to see the latest finds. Volunteer digger
Pam Hauser uncovers an ancient human skeleton among the bison remains.
Then another human skeleton is then found, but wearing a modern-day watch emblazoned with the Scenic town logo! It's
the slain body of Matthew Walker, a rival scientist intent on taking control of the site -- and discovered not far from Ghost
Bog.
The local authorities arrest Sam for Walker's murder and attempt to close down the dig. Unsure whom to trust, Jake and
Pam decide to track down the killer themselves. Stymied as all the suspects have apparently solid alibis, Jake turns his
attention to the watch-wearing skeleton found at Ghost Bog.
Could "John Doe" hold the clues he needs to solve both murders?
Critique: Original, deftly written, clever, and the second title in author Steven Kuehn's 'Jake Caine Archaeology Mystery
Series', "Ghost Bog" features everything a good cozy mystery needs -- a puzzling murder, armature sleuths, unexpected
plot twists, and a genuine 'whodunnit' where the author's day job as an archaeologist infused this fiction story with
authentic background details making a fictional archaeologist even more believable to the reader. A fun and compelling
read from start to finish, "Ghost Bog" is a fine and popular pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery fans.
Editorial Note: Steven Kuehn (https://stevenkuehn.com) is a professional archaeologist working in the Midwest and has
over thirty years of field and laboratory experience dealing with the identification, excavation, analysis, and interpretation
of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. He specializes in the analysis of faunal (animal) remains and has examined
bone and shell from sites across North America. After preparing hundreds of technical reports and scholarly articles, the
call of mystery fiction grew irresistible and Steve began chronicling the adventures of Professor Jacob Caine, archaeologist
and reluctant sleuth. One Jake Caine short story, "Talked to Death," was published online in Mysterical-E. Sunken Dreams
was the first novel in the Caine series; Ghost Bog is his second novel.
Mockingbird Court
Juneau Black
Vintage Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780593470558, $18.00, PB, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Mockingbird-Court-Shady-Hollow-Mystery/dp/0593470559
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mockingbird-court-juneau-black/1146895524
Synopsis: It's a crisp, cool autumn in Shady Hollow, and preparations are underway for the annual Harvest Festival.
Creatures have flocked from far and wide to partake in the seasonal festivities, from pumpkin carving to pie tasting to soup
throwing. With all these new faces around town, it's the perfect time for someone to slip in unnoticed.
Unless that someone is Bradley Marvel, the most famous author (and most noticeable personality) in any woodland
warren. It seems the wolf is on the lam. Back in the city, a body was found in his penthouse apartment at Mockingbird
Court, and Marvel skipped town before the questioning could commence.
Marvel claims to be innocent, and it's up to Vera and her friends to piece together what might have happened that fateful
night so many miles away in the beating heart of the big city. But things get complicated when Vera learns that she also
knows the victim... and might even be implicated herself!
Critique: Book 6 of author/storyteller Juneau Black's 'A Shady Hollow Mystery' series, "Mockingbird Court" is an
especially well crafted and fun read from cover to cover. An ideal pick for cozy mystery fans and highly recommended for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of
"Mockingbird Court" from Vintage Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Juneau Black (https://www.juneaublack.com) is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel.
They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses, and good murders (in fictional form only). Though they are two
separate people, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. This is a
little unnerving for any number of reasons.
The Secrets We Keep
Amy Lillard
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892421249, $29.99, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-We-Keep-Amy-Lillard/dp/B0DHWT92BP
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secrets-we-keep-amy-lillard/1147543104
Synopsis: Back to active duty after an administrative leave of absence for the use of deadly force, the last thing Detective
Nathan Fisher wants to do is return to the conservative Amish community he left behind, but when his father passes, he has
no choice. Hoping to clear his head and perhaps mend fences with his family, he returns to his small Mississippi
hometown despite not being welcome.
What was supposed to be a quick visit turns into a prolonged stay when his former love pleads for his help.
Rachel Hostetler's world is turned upside down when she finds her brother's body hanging in her family's barn. Rachel is
sure her brother Albie did not kill himself, but neither her father nor the police are willing to listen. When she spots Nate,
her ex, now a detective in Oklahoma, back in Cedar Creek, she knows he is the answer to her problem and begs him to
intercede.
As Nate and Rachel come to terms with their shared history, despite knowing nothing can come of the longing they have
for each other, the pair must look into Albie's death as suspects stack up. The truth is out there, but can they find it before
Nate has to return to his real life and face the shooting that has him so desperately searching for peace?
Critique: Author Amy Lillard is an accomplished storyteller and her newest mystery novel, "The Secrets We Keep"
continues to demonstrate her mastery of the 'whodunnit' mystery genre. A truly deftly crafted and riveting read from start to
finish, and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it
should be noted for the legions of Amy Lillard fans and readers with an interest in Police Procedurals as well as those set
in an Amish/Mennonite context that this paperback edition of "The Secrets We Keep" from Crooked Lane Press is also
readily available for personal reading lists in paperback (9798892422451, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Amy Lillard is the author of over fifty books and novellas in a variety of genres.
(https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/amy-lillard)
Illusions of Trust
Jeffrey S. Stephens
Post Hill Press
www.posthillpress.com
9798895653364, $28.99, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Illusions-Trust-Jeffrey-S-Stephens/dp/B0F7GJ5197
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/illusions-of-trust-jeffrey-s-stephens/1147383908
Synopsis: Russell Palmer, a young New York City attorney, is well-known for taking on unusual and high-risk cases
alongside his private detective associate, Robbie Whyte. When the wealthy and alluring Christina Franco approaches him
to represent her during divorce proceedings, he finds her story impossible to resist.
As Christina recounts the abuse she has suffered, Palmer's protective instincts kick in. His interest deepens when she
mentions a dangerous associate of her husband -- someone Palmer has clashed with before.
Soon, a series of events begins to unfold that may or may not be related to Christina and her influential family. There is the
apparent suicide of a prominent lawyer. That is followed by a murder for which another of Palmer's clients is charged.
Then, a federal investigation into a major pharmaceutical company is tied to Christina's husband.
As Palmer and Whyte work to solve an increasingly complex puzzle, they follow a trail that leads them from New York's
underground to the rarified world of the ultra-rich -- and even into the halls of Congress. Along the way they encounter a
cast of intriguing individuals, including Christina's parents, an influential politician and his reclusive wife; an attractive
journalist with a personal interest in Palmer; and a number of others populating their client's world.
As they peel back layers of deceit and corruption at every turn, Palmer and Whyte must navigate a treacherous path to
protect their clients (and themselves!) while ensuring that justice, in all its forms, prevails.
Critique: Original, cleverly constructed, extraordinarily well written, and unreservedly recommended as a fun read from
cover to cover for all dedicated mystery buffs, "Illusions of Trust" by Jeffrey S. Stephens will prove a welcome addition to
community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover
edition of "Illusions of Trust" from Post Hill Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Jeffrey S. Stephens (https://jeffreystephens.com) is the author of the Jordan Sandor thrillers, including
Targets of Deception, Targets of Opportunity, Targets of Revenge, and Rogue Mission; the Anthony Walker murder
mystery Crimes and Passion; the Pencraft First Place award - winning novel, Fool's Errand; and the Nicholas Reagan
thrillers, The Handler and its sequel, Enemies Among Us.
Death in a Lighthouse / Murder Money
Edward S. Aarons, author
Stark House Press
www.starkhousepress.com
9798886011456, $17.95, PB, 268pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Lighthouse-Murder-Edward-Aarons/dp/B0F5VVGXMB
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-in-a-lighthouse-murder-money-edward-s-aarons/1147416386
Synopsis: Death in a Lighthouse
Reporter Peter Willard wakes up with a head wound and three years missing from his memories. Gradually he comes to
realize that he has been suffering from amnesia, and has been living the life of a criminal known as the Deuce. But now
that memory has returned, he finds out that he has been working for a gangster named Spinelli and a shadowy character
known as the Cowl - and that both the cops and his former gang members are both after him. It may be too late to make
amends for his life of crime, but Peter makes it his mission to discover just who this mysterious Cowl is who has ruined
his life -- and kill him!
Murder Money
When Leo Storm finds a briefcase full of money stuck in a tree, he has no idea that he's just stumbled upon a wicked plot
involving jewels, gangsters, and a fiercely independent young lady. But first, the briefcase is stolen from him by a man
with a gun. Then that same briefcase turns up again at the scene of a murder. As does the young lady, Valerie Feather.
Someone has put a knife in a local mystic, and it looks like Valerie is involved. Ruthless gambler Wheels Burton has got
his hand in there somewhere, too. In fact, it looks like there is more than one briefcase full of money. Storm chases after all
of them but the closer he gets, the more bodies turn up!
Critique: "Death in a Lighthouse / Murder Money" are two classic private eye murder mysteries by Edward S. Aarons
(writing as Edward Ronns) under one cover as part of the simply outstanding The Stark House Mystery Classics series and
features an informative Introduction by Nicholas Litchfield. A fun read from cover to cover for dedicated fans of iconic
hardcore, action packed suspense thrillers, this paperback edition of "Death in a Lighthouse / Murder Money" is a strongly
recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that it
is also readily available from Stark House Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note #1: Edward Sidney Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1916. He attended Columbia
University, working as a reporter, a salesman and a fisherman, and in 1933 winning a collegiate short story contest. He
continued writing stories for such publications as Detective Story Magazine before publishing his first novel at age 21,
Death in a Lighthouse, under the pseudonym "Edward Ronns," which he would use for most of his career. Aarons is best
known for writing the "Assignment" series featuring CIA agent Sam Durell beginning in 1955. He wrote 42 "Assignment"
books in all, selling more than 23 million copies in 17 different languages. Aarons died of heart ailment in New Milford,
Connecticut on June 16, 1975.
Editorial Note #2: Nicholas Litchfield is the founder of the literary magazine Lowestoft Chronicle and editor of twelve
literary anthologies. His stories, essays, and book reviews appear in BULL, Colorado Review, Daily Press, Sheffield Star,
The MacGuffin, The Virginian-Pilot, Washington Square Review, Yorkshire Evening Post, and elsewhere. He has
authored three novels: Swampjack Virus, When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed, and Hessman's Necklace. He
has also written introductions to numerous books, including twenty-seven Stark House Press reprints of long-forgotten noir
and mystery novels. Formerly a book critic for the Lancashire Post, syndicated to twenty-five newspapers across the U.K.,
he now writes for Publishers Weekly.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Black Power: The Book of Akhet
Dean Baxter
Sculpted Word
9798991497626, $22.00, PB, 434pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Power-Akhet-Dean-Baxter/dp/B0FGB5V7V6
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-power-dean-baxter/1147756218
Synopsis: "Black Power: The Book of Akhet" by Dean Baxter is the story of young Scipio Harelson who discovers he has
mind-reading abilities after a near-death experience.
This discovery is just the beginning. Blessed with extraordinary abilities-regeneration, telepathy, and vector manipulation.
Scipio embarks on a journey that will test his limits and reshape his destiny when joins with the Amanirenan Resistance to
fight the oppressive Sotir Group.
Alongside Saphronia Perse and Adrian Lake and facing nano-machine enhanced Alex Lamb and the Sotir Group's leader,
Robert Cross, Scipio must master his abilities and confront his deepest fears. From the bustling streets of contemporary
America to the mystical realms of ancient Africa, Scipio's story is one of discovery, courage, and transformation.
Critique: Original, exceptional, compelling, clever, and a fun read from cover to cover, with "Black Power: The Book Of
Akhet" novelist Dean Baxter deftly blends action, emotion, and cultural heritage to create a clever and engaging science
fiction story that is not just a another Sci-Fi tale of superhuman feats by a hero but an inherently fascinating and unique
exploration of identity and obligation to be found when embracing our lineal descent and cultural heritage. This paperback
edition of "Black Power: The Book Of Akhet" from Sculpted Word is especially recommended for community library
Science Fiction collections and the personal reading lists for science fiction fans with an interest in action packed futuristic
stories of political intrigue, heroes against the odds.
Editorial Note: Dean Baxter's fascination with superheroes and the extraordinary has been a lifelong passion. From a young
age, he found inspiration in the captivating world of comic books, particularly the iconic tales of Black Panther and
X-Men. These narratives ignited his imagination and fueled his desire to craft stories that transcend the ordinary. Drawing
from the rich tapestry of African mythology, Dean weaves tales that blend the mystique of ancient legends with the allure
of modern storytelling. His unique perspective pays homage to diverse cultures and traditions, creating narratives that
resonate with readers from all walks of life. With each word he pens, Dean invites readers on a journey that transcends the
ordinary and celebrates the extraordinary in all of us.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Trouble! At Coal Creek
Austin Sauerbrei
Haymarket Books
www.haymarketbooks.org
9798888904350, $55.00, HC, 124pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Coal-Creek-Austin-Sauerbrei/dp/B0D9JDBJ9W
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trouble-at-coal-creek-austin-sauerbrei/1146009719
Synopsis: Told through the eyes of a young Welsh immigrant, "Trouble! At Coal Creek" is the epic story of a cross-racial
struggle to abolish the system of convict-leasing in the mines. Austin Sauerbrei's evocative black-and-white illustrations
and masterful storytelling show the personal battles and motivations that led thousands of miners to repeatedly take up
arms against the powerful companies, their militias, and politicians.
Lured by coal companies' promises of good pay, stability, and opportunity, the narrator's father brought their family across
the Atlantic Ocean for work in the mine. The job, however, was deadly, and life grew unbearable as the coal companies
immiserated miners and their families.
Meanwhile, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, racist terror, and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan were still fresh
memories for most. Coal companies relied increasingly on the forced labor of mostly Black prisoners who were loaned out
from the state, an extremely profitable continuation of the old system of racist brutality. As Ida B. Wells noted at the time,
"The Convict Lease System and Lynch Law are twin infamies which flourish hand in hand."
The miners of Coal Creek, however, set fire to the edifice of convict-leasing and inspired similar rebellions throughout the
South. In this captivating graphic novel, Saurbrei brings their overlooked story to life for new generations of
organizers.
Critique: "Trouble! At Coal Creek" by author/illustrator Austin Sauerbrei is an impressive, informative, emotionally
engaging graphic novel tells the historical story of the 1891 Coal Creek War -- one of the most significant yet overlooked
labor and abolitionist uprisings in the history of the United States. Especially relevant and timely given the current efforts
to erase unpleasant and racist initated aspects of the Black experience in American history from being accessed by new and
future generations of students and citizens, "Trouble! At Coal Creek" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal, community, highschool, and college/university library Graphic Novel collections and supplemental Black
History/American History curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Austin Saurbrei is a community organizer and sequential artist based in Tennessee. He currently serves as
the Director of Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM), a 52-year-old, member-led organization
dedicated to empowering Tennesseans in their efforts to have a greater voice in determining their own future. Austin spent
years as a neighborhood and tenant organizer in Nashville, and then as the organizer for both the Chattanooga and
Knoxville-Oak Ridge AFL-CIO Labor Councils. A lifelong comics enthusiast, Austin practices visual storytelling as a
form of popular education.
MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live
MrBallen / John Allen, author
Andrea Mutti, illustrator
Robert Venditti, contributor
Ten Speed Graphic
c/o Ten Speed Press
https://crownpublishing.com/imprint/ten-speed
9780593839652, $25.99, HC, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/MrBallen-Presents-Nightmares-Graphic-Stories/dp/059383965X
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mrballen-presents-mrballen/1147107505
Synopsis: With the publication of "MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live", author John Allen (known popularly as
"MrBallen") is back with another heart-stopping graphic novel collection of strange and mysterious stories exploring
terrors that lie just beyond our comprehension.
From skin-melting encounters in Brazil to a ghost that stalks the English countryside to a bell ringing deep in the Arizona
wilderness, MrBallen's spine-chilling tales (four of which are exclusive to this graphic novel) span multiple centuries and
expose bizarre, terrifying, and utterly unforgettable experiences of the unnatural world.
Compellingly creepy, deeply researched, and based on unsettling real events, "MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live"
proves that sometimes our deepest fears are about the things we cannot see. In collaboration with the talented graphic
novelist Robert Venditti and the popular comic book artist Andrea Mutti, "MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live" is
arguably Allen's most frightening collection yet!
Critique: Original, unique, and a simply riveting read from cover to cover, "MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live"
by author/storyteller John Allen, contributor Robert Venditti, and artist/illustrator Andrea Mutti will have a very special
appeal to readers with an interest in Manga style, horror themed, graphic novel historical fiction. While unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted for the
legions of graphic novel fans that this hardcover edition of "MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live" from Ten Speed
Graphics is also available in paperback (9780593839645, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note #1: Better known as "MrBallen," John B. Allen is a former U. S. Navy Seal, the founder of the
multi-platform content company Ballen Studios, and the creator and host of the popular podcast MrBallen Podcast:
Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories. Allen uses his platform to give back and founded the MrBallen Foundation with the
mission to honor victims and support families of heinous crimes through education, training, and financial support.
Editorial Note #2: Andrea Mutti began his career illustrating DNAction for Xenia Edizioni, Sergio Bonelli Editore, and
Star Comics. He's worked with Marvel, DC, Vertigo, MadCave, Stormking, Dark Horse, IDW, Image, BOOM! Studios,
and more. His titles include Maniac of New York, Bunny Mask, Rebels, Batman Eternal, and The Girl with the Dragon
Tattoo.
Editorial Note #3: Robert Venditti is the author of more than three hundred comic books and graphic novels. Some of his
works include the monthly comic book series Justice League and Superman '78, his own graphic novel Six Days, the
adaptation of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and more. His graphic novel The Surrogates was adapted
into a feature film by Touchstone Pictures. Venditti lives in Georgia.
The Music CD Shelf
Camera Lucida
David Occhipinti
davidocchipinti.com
Elastic Recordings
elasticrecordings.com
$14.00 CAD CD / $38.00 CAD Vinyl / $10.00 CAD digital
Creator's Website
https://davidocchipinti.bandcamp.com/album/camera-lucida-elastic-recordings
Camera Lucida is an instrumental chamber jazz album of original music by guitarist and composer David Occhipinti. The
creative, intricate tracks are performed by David Occhipinti on guitar, Aline Homzy on violin, Michael Davidson on
vibraphone and marimba, Dan Fortin on double bass, and Max Christie on clarinet and bass clarinet, with contributions for
individual tracks from Virginia MacDonald on clarinet, Fraser Jackson on bassoon, and Andy Ballantyne on piccolo.
Resonant, intricate, and captivating, Camera Lucida is a pleasure to experience and also makes an excellent gift for
connoisseurs. Highly recommended! The tracks are Ice Dance; Song of Calypso; Southwark; Canticum Abaci; Promised
Kiss; Playtime; Octavia; and Seurat cha-cha.
Music is Life
Joe Bowden
theurbanyoda.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $8.01 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Music-Life-Joe-Bowden-Project/dp/B0FBS45HTC
The sixth album composed by drummer Joe Bowden, Music is Life is an album of original, instrumental fusion jazz
vivaciously performed by Joe Bowden on drums, Warren Wolf on vibraphone, Manuel Valera on piano, Rich Brown on
electric bass, and Mike Downes on acoustic bass. Vibrant, intense, and exciting, Music is Life is a visionary jazz
experience and highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs. The tracks are are Impulse Response; Music is Life;
Way Out; Spacing Out; Sunny Day; The Next Step; The Way; and Wolf Ticket.
Creole Renaissance
Aruan Ortiz
aruan-ortiz.com
Intakt Records
$16.00 CD / $13.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://aruanortiz.bandcamp.com/album/cr-ole-renaissance
Cuban-born, Brooklyn-based pianist and composer Aruan Ortiz presents Creole Renaissance, his first solo piano album in
eight years. Ortiz's original songs and masterful performance reveal his flair for jazz improvisation as well as his talent for
crafting intricate, winding musical journeys. Creole Renaissance is a choice pick for connoisseurs of solo piano that
reaches beyond musical genres, highly recommended. The tracks are L'Etudiant noir; Seven Aprils in Paris (and A
Sophisticated Lady); Legitime Defense; From the Distance of my Freedom; Premiere Miniature (Creole Renaissance); The
Great Camouflage; Deuxieme Miniature (Dancing); We Belong to Those Who Say No to Darkness; The Haberdasher; and
Lo que yo quiero es Chan Chan.
Looms & Legends
Ned Rothenberg
nedrothenberg.com
Pyroclastic Records
pyroclasticrecords.com
$18.00 CD / $12.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://nedrothenberg.bandcamp.com/album/looms-legends
Talented multi-instrumentalist and composer Ned Rothenberg presents Looms & Legends, an album of original songs
composed and recorded entirely solo. Rothenberg layers his performances on a variety of woodwinds - primarily alto
saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, and shakuhachi flute - into an innovative masterpiece. Looms & Legends is a treasure
for connoisseurs of genre-defying instrumental music, highly recommended! The tracks are Dance Above; Denali;
Resistance Anthem; How You Slice It; Plun Jah; Brief Tall Tale; Urgency; Flurry; Bounding Not Binding; Fra Gile; Inner
Briation; Tender Hooks; BellKeyBell; and 'Round Midnight.
Someone to Someone
PlainsPeak
https://www.jonirabagon.com
Irabbagast Records
$15.00 CD / $13.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://jonirabagon.bandcamp.com/album/someone-to-someone
Saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon, trumpeter Russ Johnson, bassist Clarke Sommers, and drummer Dana Hall form
the quartet PlainsPeak. Someone to Someone is their new album of original jazz songs composed by Irabagon. Someone to
Someone is an adventurous musical journey, highly recommended especially to connoisseurs of original, saxophone-rich
jazz. The tracks are Someone to Someone; Buggin' the Bug; Malort is My Shepherd; At What Price Garlic; Tiny Miracles
(at a Funeral for a Friend); and The Pulseman.
Oblivity
Shawn Purcell
https://www.shawnpurcell.com
Origin Records
$15.00 CD / $9.49 MP3
Creator's Website
https://www.shawnpurcell.com/product-page/shawn-purcell-oblivity
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Oblivity-Shawn-Purcell/dp/B0FHWTCZTR
Jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger Shawn Purcell presents Oblivity, a jazz album of Purcell's original compositions.
The intricate, multilayered music is performed by Shawn Purcell on guitar and guitar synth; Walt Weiskopf on tenor
saxophone; Darden Purcell on voice; Ben Patterson on trombone; Chris Ziemba on piano and fender rhodes; Jeff Reed on
acoustic bass; and Steve Fidyk on drums and percussion. Oblivity is immersive, entrancing, and a choice pick for
connoisseurs of original jazz, highly recommended. The tracks are Oblivity; Quiet the Chaos; Verdigris; Primaries and
Spares; Gentle Giant; Lazy Day Reverie; Meu Amor; Sunday Best; Move the Needle; and Flow.
Conceivable Directions
Enrique Haneine
Elegant Walk Music
$TBA CD / $10.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://enriquehaneine.bandcamp.com/album/conceivable-directions
Jazz musician, composer, pianist, and drummer Enrique Haneine presents Conceivable Directions, an instrumental album
of thirteen original compositions and arrangements. Haneine draws upon Latin and Middle Eastern musical influences to
create a worldly, layered jazz soundscape. Superbly performed by Thomas Heberer on trumpet, Kirk Knuffke on cornet,
Christof Knoche on bass clarinet, Jay Anderson on acoustic bass, and Enrique Haneine on drums, cymbals, and
tambourine, Conceivable Directions is highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of avant-garde jazz. The tracks are
Inconceivable Truth; New Notion; Four Ahead; Unique Array of Swirls; Perpetual Insights; Thirteenth Level Indifference;
Sparkles and Dimensions; Irrelevant Own Design; Never Stranded; Tended; Without a Single Word; Very Slick; and
Nuances of Intuition.
The Photography Shelf
The Road
Brian Baker, photographer
Jennifer Sakai, curator
Akashic Books
www.akashicbooks.com
9781636142715, $40.00, HC, 128pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Road-Brian-Baker/dp/1636142710
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-road-brian-baker/1146816781
Synopsis: "The Road" is an illuminating compendium of color photographs spanning and showcasing iconic punk rock
guitarist Brian Baker's many years of global touring with Bad Religion, Dag Nasty, and other bands. The images are
intelligent and arresting, reflecting time spent both inside and outside the bubble of backstages and tour buses.
While touring is easily glamorized, all traveling musicians know that twenty-two hours of every day lack the lights, glitter,
and other rock-and-roll trappings. For Baker, some of that time was spent photographing what interests him most in his
surroundings. As revealed in "The Road", his fascinations range from bizarre highway signage; to unsettling figurines,
mannequins, and statuettes; to religious iconography that carries extra weight when one considers the ethos of a band
called Bad Religion; to steaming cups of espresso and classic diner meals; to guitars, guitars, and more guitars; and so
much more.
"The Road" is designed in collaboration with award-winning photographer and curator Jennifer Sakai. Music lovers across
the globe will revel in a Brian Baker's eye view perspective of the landscapes he inhabits, and gain insight into the
sometimes disquieting and always beautiful imagery that seizes his attention and engages his obsessions.
Critique: A highly recommended and unique pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Contemporary Photography collections, this large format (11.2 x 0.9 x 8.8 inches, 2.07 pounds) hardcover edition of "The
Road" from Akashic Books showcasing the photography and visually documented the career of rock musician Brian Baker
is essential reading for this legions of fans. Comprised of one uncaptioned color photo per page, this compendium of visual
images taken on tours is a fascinating coffee-table style volume for Brian Baker fans to browse through, "The Road" will
also prove of interest to aspiring photographers and performers wanting photographically illustrate similar life events and
careers.
Editorial Note #1: Brian Baker is a punk rock icon who grew up in Washington, DC. Hailed in a 2024 Alternative Press
fan poll as one the five greatest punk guitarists of all time, he has been a pioneer of multiple styles and continues to
influence and inspire new generations of listeners and players. Baker is most widely recognized for his significant
contributions with legendary bands Minor Threat, Bad Religion, and Dag Nasty.
Editorial Note #2: Jennifer Sakai (https://www.jennifersakai.com) is a fine art photographer, museum curator, and MFA
University professor who resides in Washington, D.C. Her large-scale photographs explore the metaphysical and emotional
relationship between the human and natural world.
The Wine/Liquor Shelf
A Taste for Wine
Rose Murray Brown MW
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781840918984, $29.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Wine-tasting-masterclass-lovers/dp/1840918985
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-taste-for-wine-rose-murray-brown/1147101266
Synopsis: With the publication of "A Taste for Wine: A new tasting masterclass for wine lovers", award-winning wine
critic and educator Rose Murray Brown has created a complete guide to the understanding, tasting and appreciation of
wine.
"A Taste for Wine" begins with the very basics of taste, before learning how wine is made and the effect this has on
flavor.
"A Taste for Wine" will familiarize you with every significant grape variety and the wine countries of the world.
"A Taste for Wine" covers into natural, orange and low-alcohol wines, as well as expert food and wine matching, for both
home and restaurant.
"A Taste for Wine" prepare you for the ever changing world of wine, with features on everything from urban wineries to
packaging for the future.
"A Taste for Wine" also includes ten step-by-step tasting practices in which to apply your newfound knowledge,
interspersed throughout the book.
"A Taste for Wine" includes:
Classic Whites
Classic Reds
Full, Rich Whites
Crisp, Delicate Whites
Soft, Juicy Reds
Sparkling Wines
Comparing Sweetness
Fortified Wines
Full Rich Reds
Taste Trends
Critique: This profusely illustrated, large format (7.75 x 0.81 x 9.5 inches, 1.59 pounds), hardcover edition of "A Taste for
Wine: A new tasting masterclass for wine lovers" by wine authority and certified wine educator Rose Murray Brown offers
a complete course of instruction on the appreciation of wine and is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library collections. Exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, it should be noted by aspiring wine enthusiasts that this edition of "A Taste for Wine" from Mitchell Beazley
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Rose Murray Brown is one of only 416 Masters of Wine - and one of only 149 female MWs - in the world.
She is also one of very few 'generalist' MWs covering all regions of the wine world focusing primarily on consumer and
trade education - as well as working as a consumer journalist. Rose Murray Brown is one of only 416 Masters of Wine -
and one of only 149 female MWs - in the world. She is also one of very few 'generalist' MWs covering all regions of the
wine world focusing primarily on consumer and trade education - as well as working as a consumer journalist.
The Japanese Way of Whisky
Dave Broom
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781840919219, $29.95, HC, 258pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Way-Whisky-Japans-Whiskies/dp/1840919213
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-japanese-way-of-whisky-dave-broom/1146814316
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Japanese Way of Whisky: Japan's Whiskies and How To Enjoy Them",
award-winning author and Japanese whisky expert Dave Broom, tells the stories of Japan's whisky distilleries, unveiling
the philosophy that lies behind this fascinating whisky culture, and revealing how it relates to many Japanese
concepts.
Dave looks at the history and output of each distillery, considering the elements that make that particular whisky what it is,
and including tasting notes. "The Japanese Way of Whiskey" also features on aspects of Japanese life and culture that are
crucial to a wider understanding, from the importance of the seasons to the role of craftsmanship, add to the picture.
Interwoven throughout "The Japanese Way of Whiskey" is the fascinating narrative of the journey across Japan which
Dave made with photographer Kohei Take, offering further insight into the country which creates this wonderful drink and
making this a must-have edition for any whisky lover, whisky drinker, whisky collector or Japanophile.
Critique: Original, informative, eloquent, exceptional, and profusely illustrated throughout, "The Japanese Way of Whisky:
Japan's Whiskies and How To Enjoy Them" by Dave Broom is an extraordinary and unique study that will be appreciated
by whiskey connoisseurs and enthusiasts. This large format (7.8 x 1.05 x 10.9 inches, 2.45 pounds) hardcover edition of
"The Japanese Way of Whisky: Japan's Whiskies and how to Enjoy them" from Mitchell Beazley will prove to be an
enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Whiskey/Alcoholic Spirits
collections. It should be noted that "The Japanese Way of Whisky: Japan's Whiskies and how to Enjoy them" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Dave Broom (https://thewhiskymanual.uk) is an internationally celebrated spirits expert. He has won two
Glenfiddich prizes and, in 2013, the IWSC Communicator of the Year Award. In 2015, he won The Spirited Award for
Best Cocktail & Spirits writer. He started www.thewhiskymanual.uk in 2020 and is also the whisky correspondent for
www.jancisrobinson.com. Dave's previous books include The World Atlas of Whisky, Whisky: The Manual, Gin: The
Manual, Rum: The Manual, The Way of Whisky and A Sense of Place.
Classic Cocktail Revival
Jennifer Brian, author
Michelle F. VanderHouwen, illustrator
Jessie Kriech-Higdon, photographer
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781985902923, $29.95, HC, 184pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Cocktail-Revival-Jennifer-Brian/dp/1985902923
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/classic-cocktail-revival-jennifer-brian/1146587271
Synopsis: Creating craft cocktails (flavorful and aesthetically pleasing combinations of spirits, juices, syrups, and
garnishes) is both an art and an experience. Establishing a cocktail ritual can carve out space for connection with friends
and loved ones or allow for a quiet moment to decompress. Even so, preparing a mixed drink can be challenging for the
amateur cocktail enthusiast.
With easy-to-follow recipes and an engaging style, Classic Cocktail Revival by Jennifer Brian demystifies the cocktail
process and provides straightforward instructions for the home mixologist. Drawing on the language of tent revivals to
offer an entertaining and irreverent history of each drink, cocktail evangelist Brian takes her readers on a journey from the
"genesis" of classic cocktails to the "revelation" of mocktails, ending with a "benediction".
Brian also guides her readers through the basics by sharing the stories behind the recipes, exciting variations on the
classics, and tips to inspire creativity and assure readers that they, too, can craft expert-level beverages for their own
gatherings and meals.
From the pulpit of the cocktail church, "Classic Cocktail Revival" delivers wisdom and savvy suggestions to ensure that
even the novice home bartender can whip up a masterpiece. Enticing seasoned mixologists and new drinkers alike, these
fun and festive recipes promise to make cocktail evangelists of us all.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated with the color photography of Jessie Kriech-Higdon and artist Michelle F.
VanderHouwen, "Classic Cocktail Revival" by cocktail expert Jennifer Brian is an extraordinary, eloquent, inspiring, and
thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly compendium of DIY cocktails and mixed drink recipes that is an especially and
unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library collections. It should be noted that this
magnificent hardcover edition of "Classic Cocktail Revival" from Kyle Books is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $28.95).
Editorial Note: Jennifer Brian (https://makeandmuddle.com) holds an Executive Bourbon Steward certification and is
cofounder and sole owner of the cocktail company Make & Muddle. A self-proclaimed cocktail evangelist, Brian shares
her expertise on the Make & Muddle blog. and is an event planner at Jennifer Brian Events.
(https://jenniferbrianevents.blogspot.com)
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Light of Tabor: Toward a Monistic Christology
David Bentley Hart
University of Notre Dame Press
www.undpress.nd.edu
9780268210410, $27.99, HC, 150pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Light-Tabor-Toward-Monistic-Christology/dp/0268210411
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-light-of-tabor-david-bentley-hart/1147059319
Synopsis: For centuries, Christian theology has rested on a paradox. Beginning with the Council of Chalcedon in the fifth
century, the major Christian traditions have held that Jesus Christ combines two distinct natures: he is fully God and,
somehow, fully human. Yet this tenet has traditionally invited irresolvable metaphysical contradictions.
With the publication of "The Light of Tabor: Toward a Monistic Christology", David Bentley Hart delves deeply into the
seemingly irresoluble tensions, providing the first theological attempt to show how the logic of the earliest churches'
angelomorphic Christology is continuous with later Chalcedonian orthodoxy. Hart draws on theologians from every epoch
of Christian thought, from Origen to Sergei Bulgakov, while making free use of concepts from other spiritual traditions,
such as Vedanta.
"The Light of Tabor" proposes an approach to Christology that is thoroughly monistic, both as regards Being and as
regards nature. Hart argues that the only coherent reading of the figure of Christ is one that fully embraces the essential
unity of all things divine and natural through him, proposing an approach to Christology that affirms classical doctrine
without retaining the dualistic presuppositions that have haunted theology since the age of the great councils.
Critique: An original, seminal, and groundbreaking study, "The Light of Tabor: Toward a Monistic Christology" by David
Bentley Hart is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a four page Introduction, three
Appendices (Did Paul Have a Theology of Nature and Grace? A Note on Romans 11:24; Resurrection and Judgement in
the New Testament; The Spiritual, the 'Psychical' and the Material), eight pages of Notes, and a six page Index. Thoughtful
and thought-provoking, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Light of Tabor: Toward a Monistic
Christology" is an extraordinary work of meticulous scholarship and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, seminary, college, and university library Christian Theology & Philosophy collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for seminary students, clergy, academia, and non-specialist general readers with
an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "The Light of Tabor: Toward a Monistic Christology" from the
University of Notre Dame Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.99).
Editorial Note: David Bentley Hart is a writer, religious studies scholar, philosopher, cultural commentator, and writer of
fiction. He is the author and translator of twenty-three books. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bentley_Hart)
The Way of the Wildflower
Ruth Chou Simons
Thomas Nelson Publishers
www.thomasnelson.com
9781400244416, $29.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Wildflower-Meditations-Unburden-Anxious/dp/1400244412
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-way-of-the-wildflower-ruth-chou-simons/1147137161
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Way of the Wildflower: Gospel Meditations to Unburden Your Anxious Soul",
author and artist Ruth Chou Simons invites you to draw inspiration for your weary soul from the flowers of the field
through thirty gospel focused meditations covering five ways of the wildflower: Dependency, Freedom, Resilience,
Unhurriedness, and Belovedness.
"The Way of the Wildflower" is a simply gorgeous, full-color, and reverent devotional that features Ruth's signature art
and stunning hand-painted botanicals, alongside:
Bible verses to meditate on
Practical applications of God's Word
Key truths to preach to yourself when you feel burdened
Prayers to help you practice the way of the wildflower
Wildflower facts and the lessons we can learn from them
The resonating message throughout the pages comprising "The Way of the Wildflower" is that If you are wrestling with
your past, struggling in your present, or fearful for your future, pause and be still. Consider how the wildflowers grow,
remember that the God who cares for them cares for you, too, and let your anxious soul find rest in Him.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout with the illustrated artwork of Ruth Chou Simons in support of her meditative,
informative, and insightful commentaries, "The Way of the Wildflower: Gospel Meditations to Unburden Your Anxious
Soul" is inspired and inspiring. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Way of the Wildflower"
is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to family, community, church, seminary, and college/university library
Contemporary Christian Studies collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of those with an interest in
Christian devotionals, women's issues from a Christian perspective, and individual spiritual growth as members of the
Christian community that this hardcover edition of "The Way of the Wildflower" from Thomas Nelson Publishing is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Ruth Chou Simons (https://ruthchousimons.com) is the author of several books and Bible studies,
including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, When Strivings Cease, and Now and Not Yet. She is also an artist,
podcaster, speaker, and the founder, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer of GraceLaced, an art and lifestyle brand. Simons
uses each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people's hearts, making deep truths beautifully
accessible with her signature art and relatable communication style.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Eat The Strawberries
Bennett Barouch
Zen-ish Publishing
9798990368019, $24.95, PB, 431pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Strawberries-Challenges-Zen-ish-Confidence/dp/B0DLT285T5
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eat-the-strawberries-bennett-barouch/1146914062
Synopsis: "Eat The Strawberries: Face Your Challenges with Zen-ish Calm & Confidence" by Bennett Barouch deftly
blends secular Buddhism and Western philosophy to brings ideas to life in a conversational way that makes them
accessible, appealing, and useful to the reader. The ideas comprising "Eat The Strawberries" are relevant to personal and
relationship challenges, stress and anxiety management, work and home, loss and grief, personal growth and philosophical
exploration.
Many books on Buddhism for Westerners tend toward either being excessively academic in tone for the average reader, or
offer shallow treatments of deep topics. "Eat The Strawberries" brings Buddhist teachings to light with warmth and depth
that allow readers to put new perspectives to use in their complicated, messy, real lives. By presenting Buddhist thinking
alongside Western thinking, ideas that may feel foreign in other books become readily accessible to readers raised in the
West.
"Eat The Strawberries" offers you new things to think about, and new ways to think, without ever telling you what to think.
This book will help you come to your own conclusions while respecting and depending on your ability to do just that.
Whether you are urgently dealing with a major life challenge or leisurely exploring your personal worldview, this book
will help you clarify who you are in your current circumstances, who you want to be regardless of your circumstances, and
how to narrow the gap.
When we are anxious, stressed, angry, hurt, bewildered, we unwittingly amplify our pain, impeding our search for effective
next steps that will bring peace of mind. Essentially, all too often we have things backward. Rather than searching for steps
to produce peace once already distressed, we must practice peace of mind before we need it, so we can bring it to bear
skillfully.
"Eat The Strawberries" is an exploration of ideas that will challenge your assumptions, enlarge your perspective, reinforce
your highest values and best thinking, and help you handle life's challenges with Zen-ish calm and confidence.
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, thoughtful and thought provoking, life changing and life enhancing, "Eat
The Strawberries: Face Your Challenges with Zen-ish Calm & Confidence" by Bennett Barouch is is an inherently
fascinating read from cover to cover. While this paperback edition of "Eat The Strawberries: Face Your Challenges with
Zen-ish Calm & Confidence" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Contemporary Buddhist Studies collections and supplemental curriculum lists, it should be noted
for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that it is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Bennett Barouch (https://zen-ish.space) brings together a lifetime of personal exploration and professional
experience in psychology, philosophy, and secular spirituality. With a voice that is both warm and intellectually rigorous,
he guides readers through life's hardest questions without dogma or pretense. Drawing from Zen, Stoicism, and modern
science, Bennett offers practical wisdom for real-world challenges - always with compassion, clarity, and a deep respect
for the reader's own journey.
The Self-Help Shelf
Seeking Shama
Kee Kee Buckley
https://www.keekeebuckley.com
Wellness Writers Press
https://wellnesswriterspress.com
9798991204736, $16.99, PB, 286pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Shama-Road-Inner-Peace/dp/B0FPBWQV2V
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seeking-shama-kee-kee-buckley/1148165604
Synopsis: Seeking Shama: Me, My Dog, and the Road to Inner Peace by writer, film maker, and public motivational
speaker Kee Kee Buckley is a heartfelt, candid, and inspiring memoir that explores the raw edges of being human, the
freedom of the open road, and the journey toward spiritual reconnection.
When Kee Kee's career as a Hollywood executive vanishes overnight (just as the love of her life resurfaces with his new
wife and family) she's left with a broken heart, no safety net, and the disorienting ache of a life that didn't go as
planned.
Thank God she had her dog, Yoda.
With nothing left to lose, they hit the road in her Prius, affectionately named Princess Leia, on a five-month journey guided
by a faded, decade-old sticky note taped to the dashboard: "I Welcome Change".
From being adopted by a curandera in Arkansas to falling in and out of love in Texas to living in Iowa's iconic American
Gothic House with Ms. American Pie, Kee Kee's search for shama-Sanskrit for inner peace-unfolds in magical, messy, and
deeply human ways.
Part travelogue, part spiritual journey, "Seeking Shama" is a reminder that sometimes the road to peace begins where the
map ends-and that healing can come in the form of a wagging tail, a soothing hot spring, or the bravery to start again.
Critique: Exceptional, emotionally engaging, deftly written, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Seeking Shama: Me, My Dog, and the Road to Inner Peace" by Kee Kee Buckley is a unique blending of memoir and
self-help story that will linger in the mind long after it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Inspirational,
motivational, and an inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "Seeking Shama" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement and Contemporary American
Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Kee Kee Buckley (https://www.keekeebuckley.com) is a New Jersey-based writer, filmmaker, speaker, and
rock band manager who infuses her life's work with the sacred pursuit and quiet transformation of shama-inner peace.
With a deep reverence for the connection between mind, body, and spirit, she draws on the foundation of her decades of
personal study, spiritual practice, and soul-centered speaker.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Tarot Emblemata: Decoding Magical Symbolism
Nitasia Roland
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578638963, $29.95, Cards/Booklet, 192pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Emblemata-Symbolism-Full-Color-Guidebook/dp/1578638968
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tarot-emblemata-nitasia-roland/1145847351
Synopsis: "Tarot Emblemata: Decoding Magical Symbolism" by Nitasia Roland is a magical and mystical tarot deck based
on the 1551 book of emblems by Claude Paradin. Renaissance emblems are intimate illustrations with accompanying
mottos that allegorically and symbolically express sentiments, concepts, societal concerns, and parables.
These Renaissance emblems are a didactic genre of interpretive art and, within them, tarot creator and expert Nitasia
Roland has discovered that their enigmatic imagery and "mottos" correspond dynamically and align perfectly with the
seventy cards of the Major and Minor Arcana of the tarot.
Among the many ancient and iconic images this deck portrays (plumes, helmets, swords, gemstone rings, coins, wands,
clouds, wreaths, flowers, animals, and trees) Roland sees the evolution of tarot's wands, swords, cups, and coins, as well as
evocative glimmers of the Major Arcana archetypes.
Both secular and religious, Renaissance emblems were meant to crystallize virtue or vice and cover every sphere of early
modern knowledge: ethics, natural philosophy, politics, science, religion, love, war, and everyday life, very much in the
same way that modern tarot imagery provides insight and clarity today.
The "Tarot Emblemata" deck will help tarot practitioners to expand on their path of embodiment, spiritual gnosis, inspired
destiny, and empowerment. The accompanying guidebook presents tarot interpretations and elucidations on the symbolism
of the emblems.
"Tarot Emblemata" also features a ribbon lift and gilded cards. It is an accessible deck for beginners and those familiar
with the Rider-Waite-Smith system, while more experienced readers will enjoy a new and refreshing perspective.
Critique: Comprised of 83 full-color cards and a 192-page DIY guidebook in a sturdy box casing, "Tarot Emblemata:
Decoding Magical Symbolism" is unique, extraordinary, 'user friendly', insightful, informative, and highly recommended
addition to personal and professional Tarot collections, as well as an ideal introduction to the arcane elements of the Tarot
for novice beginners and experienced readers alike.
Editorial Note: Nitasia Roland (https://www.uraniapress.com/our-story) is a writer, poet, digital artist, and independent
researcher and publisher of esoterica. She has an interdisciplinary master's degree in English, poetry, printmaking, and
design as well as an MFA in creative writing. She has an extensive background in handmade textiles, book arts, teaching
Photoshop, and editing and publishing small-press journals. She practices magic/theurgy and divination and is an avid tarot
card reader and astrology enthusiast.
Visionary Woman Tarot
Kristine Gorman
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578638697, $29.95, Cards/Booklet, 160pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Visionary-Woman-Tarot-Full-Color-Guidebook/dp/1578638690
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/visionary-woman-tarot-kristine-gorman/1145847318
Synopsis: "Visionary Woman Tarot" is a deck of 78 cards featuring the magical art of Kristine Gorman and accompanied
by a 160-page guidebook that captures the very essence of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. The guidebook features a foreword
by respected tarot expert and practitioner Benebell Wen.
Gorman's artwork has been displayed in galleries throughout the US and can be found in private collections worldwide.
She is well known for her painting of her mentor, tarot icon Rachel Pollack, portrayed in this deck as The World card.
The "visionary woman" in this tarot is Gorman herself. Her images reflect the spectrum of human experience, tying the
mystical to the everyday. These cards are spiritual wisdom nuggets that fit snugly together, designed to stimulate the
unconscious and psychic parts of oneself in order to nudge epiphanies and obtain practical, real-life answers to personal
and profound questions.
"Visionary Woman Tarot" is also an instrument of self-healing as well as a divinatory tool, providing a more direct route to
an intimate conversation with your higher self to address personal circumstances in the most constructive way. The deck's
seventy-eight images are uniquely suited to all levels of tarot knowledge, as well as lovers of Gorman's art and those
seeking to develop their psychic muscles.
Critique: The 78 full-color tarot cards and the 160-page full-color guidebook comprising Kristine Groman's "Visionary
Woman Tarot" from Weiser Books comes in a sturdy box. Extraordinary, inspiring, and thoroughly 'user friendly', this
impressive edition of "Visionary Woman Tarot" from Weiser Books is especially and unreservedly recommended for the
personal and professional collections of tarot students and practitioners.
Editorial Note: Kristine Gorman is a professional tarot reader, artist, and writer. Having a unique talent for tarot, she
hosted her own FM radio show for over eight years, throwing tarot cards for folks calling in, which you can find on Apple
Podcasts under "The Visionary Woman Tarot Radio Show." Kristine has also presented at many national symposiums and
conferences, such as BATS (San Francisco Bay Area Tarot Symposium), NWTS (Northwest Tarot Symposium), TIDE
(The International Divination Event), and StaarCon. Kristine continues to paint, write, read for her clients, and collaborate
on tarot projects with magical friends. She can be followed on Instagram @visionarywomantarot
Shamans
Max Carocci
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500028681, $35.00, HC, 256pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Shamans-Culture-Journeys-Religious-Spiritual/dp/0500028680
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shamans-max-carocci/1147007294
Synopsis: Around the world, shamanic traditions dating back thousands of years are now being revived, recovered, and
reinvented. Many people are increasingly turning to shamanic practices and rituals for community, connection to nature,
and spiritual direction.
Focusing on an expertly curated selection of ritual artifacts and visionary images, with the publication of "Shamans: The
Visual Culture of Animism, Healing and Journeys to Other Planes", anthropologist Max Carocci skillfully explores the
roles of shamans around the world and throughout history, from the Mesolithic shamans of Germany and the Evenki
shamans of northern and central Asia to the shamans of the Shang dynasty and the booming populations of neo-shamans in
the West.
Beginning with a clear explanation of what we mean by "shaman", Professor Carocci identifies three key elements of
shamanic world views and practices: animistic models of the cosmos; communication between realities; and healing of
body and soul.
Enhanced with the inclusion of some 384 magnificent illustrations, "Shamans" features a compelling narrative text
interspersed with analytical presentations of the key artifacts, artworks, and rituals pertinent to the chapter themes.
"Shamans" also examines a diverse range of visual subjects and decodes their symbolism, including the powerful
adornments of a Siberian shaman's coat, the psychotropic plants that facilitate trance states and interdimensional journeys,
and the carved effigies that reveal the remarkable transformation of shamans into animals.
Professor Carocci makes the manifold meanings encoded in the forms, colors, and purposes of shamanic images and
objects clear, painting a vibrant and in-depth picture of shamanic cultures past and present.
Critique: Seminal, groundbreaking, meticulous, exceptional, "Shamans: The Visual Culture of Animism, Healing and
Journeys to Other Planes" by Professor Max Carocci is an extraordinary, informative, and simply fascinating work of
impressively meticulous scholarship and exhaustively documented research. While this hardcover edition of "Shamans:
The Visual Culture of Animism, Healing and Journeys to Other Planes" from Thames & Hudson is a unique and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical
Studies collections and supplemental Shamanism and Spiritualism curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Max Carocci (https://www.maxcarocci.com) is a cultural and social anthropologist and is currently adjunct
professor in art history and visual cultures at the American University in London. He has curated numerous exhibitions and
collections for institutions, including the British Museum, the Horniman Museum, the Weltkulturen Museum in Frankfurt,
Germany, and the Musee du Nouveau Monde in La Rochelle, France.
Elemental Spells
Julieta Suarez Valente
Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781590035832, $22.95, Card Deck/Guide Book, 56pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Elemental-Spells-Drawing-Full-Color-Guidebook/dp/1590035836
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elemental-spells-julieta-suarez-valente/1146878169
Synopsis: From time immemorial, men and women have sought to harness the diverse energies of the four elements
through evoking spells and rituals.
"Elemental Spells: Drawing on the Magical Energy of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water" by Julieta Suarez Valente is comprised
of forty-four individual spell and colorfully illustrated cards which are divided into the four elements (Fire, Earth, Air, and
Water) and feature planets, gods and goddesses, chakras, animal spirits, crystals, moon energies, and manifestations to aid
you in your daily practice. Each individual card has a grounding color palette and offers guidance and instruction to work
with their energies. A 56 page instructional guidebook accompanies the "Elemental Spells" deck -- further clarifying the
elements' power and potential.
Invoking the magic of "Elemental Spells" will focus your intention to attract new energies for personal growth, help
identify your wishes, gain clarity, and accept personal vulnerability.
Critique: Original, carefully crafted, and inherently fascinating, and unreservedly recommended, "Elemental Spells:
Drawing on the Magical Energy of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water" will be of special and enduring appeal for those who have
an interest in exploring Magic/Metaphysical studies, as well as students and practitioners of Wiccan rituals and
contemporary witchcraft/spell casting activities.
Editorial Note: Julieta Suarez Valente is the founder and director of Multiespacio school where tarot, astrology, Akashic
records, metaphysics, and healing workshops are taught. She is also the author of Astrology of Leadership, Passionate, and
Empowered as well as the Spells Oracle.
Sacred Mysticism of Egypt
Fotoula Foteini Adrimi
O Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803417127, $23.95, PB, 296pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Mysticism-Fotoula-Foteini-Adrimi/dp/1803417129
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sacred-mysticism-of-egypt-fotoula-adrimi/1146729133
Synopsis: Stepping onto Egyptian soil in 2006, Fotoula Adrimi's soul knew that this was home on Earth. The Goddess Isis
lifted the veil of time from her eyes, revealing an ancient world where spiritual awakening is possible and whose
mysticism can be retrieved to help life now.
With the publication of "Sacred Mysticism of Egypt: The Ancient Path of Heka Initiation" readers will learn of the ancient
Egyptian teachings aimed at rediscovering our origin as beings of light who have come to Earth to experience and
awaken.
Egypt is a source of fascination that keeps calling the soul back from one lifetime to the next.
"Sacred Mysticism of Egypt" focuses on: What is the source of power emanating from the temples, the statues of the gods
and goddesses, and the strange images on the walls? What happens when we consciously enter the vortex of etheric energy
placed deliberately by the ancients? We might find that receiving the answers we might never be the same.
"Sacred Mysticism of Egypt" takes offers a journey through time and space, through dimensions and different realities,
through self-acceptance and self-love, to lead us back into our infinite spirit, where the source of magic exists.
Critique: Original, unique, exceptional, informative, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Sacred Mysticism of
Egypt: The Ancient Path of Heka Initiation" is a very special and highly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, and college/university library New Age Mysticism and Egyptian Mythology/Occultism collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Sacred Mysticism of Egypt: The Ancient Path of Heka
Initiation" from O Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Fotoula Adrimi is the director of the ISIS School of Holistic Health, an international school of healing arts,
spiritual development, and inner transformation through vibrational energy work, enlightened teachings, shamanism, and
meditation. She is part of the global network of Shamanic Teachers under Sandra Ingerman. Fotoula lives and works in
Glasgow, Scotland, has taught in Germany and the Netherlands, and has led spiritual pilgrimages to Egypt. Her first book
was "The Golden Book of Wisdom: Ancient Spirituality and Shamanism for Modern Times".
(https://www.theisisschoolofholistichealth.com/fotoula-adrimi)
Brigantia: Warrior Goddess
Pauline Breen
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803418742, $12.95, PB, 112pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Brigantia-Pauline-Breen/dp/1803418745
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pagan-portals-brigantia-pauline-breen/1146729144
Synopsis: With its publication as part of the Moon Books' unique and informative 'Pagan Portals' series, "Brigantia:
Warrior Goddess" by Pauline Breen looks at another face of the Celtic Goddess Brigid.
This succinct and exceptional study considers the possibility that Brigantia existed in Northern Britain as the mother
goddess who also flourished as a warrior goddess during Roman occupation. From Roman Inscriptions of Britain and
linguistic examination, we can uncover a unique personality for both the Celts and the Romans, whom they called
Brigantia.
Critique: A simply fascinating study from start to finish, "Brigantia: Warrior Goddess" is a high value addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Celtic Religion/Mythology collections. It should be noted for
students, academia, and anyone with an interest in pagan mythology that this paperback edition of "Brigantia: Warrior
Goddess" from the Moon Books 'Pagan Portals' series is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Pauline Breen is passionate about showing the various faces of Brigid that are often overlooked. She has
written three books on Brigid: This is Brigid - Goddess & Saint (Self-Published), Maman Brigitte and Brigantia. She lives
in Offaly, Ireland. (https://thepagancollective.com/2025/03/31/author-deep-dive-pauline-breen)
Your Astrological Energy
Carmen Turner-Schott
Llewellyn Publications
www.llewellyn.com
9780738779416, $24.99, PB, 432pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Astrological-Energy-Maximize-Power/dp/0738779415
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/your-astrological-energy-carmen-turner-schott/1146321237
Synopsis: Have you ever wonder why astrology seems so accurate? It's all energy!
"Your Astrological Energy: Maximize the Power of Your Birth Chart" by astrologist Carmen Turner-Schott is
comprehensive, DIY, hands-on instructional guide and manual that will show you how to unlock the energetic forces
within your own birth chart and then use them to heal, transform, and become more resilient.
"Your Astrological Energy: Maximize the Power of Your Birth Chart" fully explores the core energies of all twelve sun
signs, how each planet expresses itself through those signs, and the powerful influence of house placement and planetary
transits.
Ideal for anyone with no previous background in astrology, "Your Astrological Energy: Maximize the Power of Your Birth
Chart" provides simple, practical tools, that will enable even the most novice of aspiring astrologists in learning how to
embody the energy of any sign. This unique manual focuses on how energy is felt through your specific birth chart and
how it can reveal new ways of improving relationships, career, health, and more.
When you understand astrological energies, you can take control of your life instead of feeling like a victim of
circumstance. "Your Astrological Energy: Maximize the Power of Your Birth Chart" is in-depth book that provides
everything needed to tap into your unique energetic blueprint and live with more clarity, confidence, and cosmic
alignment.
Critique: Original, exceptional, comprehensive, informative, instructive, and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in
organization and presentation, "Your Astrological Energy: Maximize the Power of Your Birth Chart" is an especially and
unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Metaphysical/Astrology collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted by astrology students and
practitioners that this trade paperback (6 x 1.05 x 9 inches, 1.28 pounds) edition from Llewellyn Publications is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.43).
Editorial Note: Carmen Turner-Schott (https://carmenturnerschott.com) is the author of eleven astrology books, practicing
clinical social worker, and astrologer with national and international clientele. The founder of Deep Soul Divers Astrology,
she has worked as an astrologer and with survivors of trauma for over twenty-eight years. The author of Sun Signs, Houses
& Healing, Astrology's Magical Nodes of the Moon, Phoenixes & Angels, The Mysteries of the Twelfth Astrological
House: Fallen Angels, and The Mysteries of the Eighth Astrological House: Phoenix Rising, Turner-Schott has presented
astrology workshops for the Association of Research and Enlightenment. She is a faculty member and advisor for the
counseling certificate program for Kepler College of Astrology.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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