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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 14, Number 2 February 2019 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Education Shelf
Business Shelf American History Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Art Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf Photography Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Poetry Shelf Woodworking Shelf
Gardening Shelf Political Science Shelf Sports Shelf
Travel Shelf Beer Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice


Boys Of The Brule
Ross Fruen
Cable Publishing
www.cablepublishing.com
9780979949425, $18.95, PB, 231pp, www.amazon.com

"Boys of the Brule: Centuries of Comradery on Wisconsin's River of Presidents" by Ross Fruen is a kind of love story and history about a river and the people who have frequented it ranging from Paleo Indians to the Ojibwe, to European explorers and fur traders, lumbermen, settlers, presidents and sportsmen. Throughout the epochs this river has been a highway, a source of sustenance, a target for those who stripped it of its resources for economic gain and finally, a zealously protected haven for recreation and relaxation. "Boys Of The Brule" aptly chronicles a family's seven-generation home on the revered trout stream and the rituals and activities of a group of friends who have gathered there every year from boyhood to senior citizenship. The Brule River Valley of Wisconsin resonates with history and tradition, cradling the waters as they flow ceaselessly to the great inland sea. A impeccable work of deftly written history that reads as engagingly as any multi-generational novel, "Boys Of The Brule" is impressively informative and intrinsically engaging from beginning to end. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Wisconsin History collections and supplemental studies curriculums, it should be noted the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Boys Of The Brule" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Don't Let Dementia Steal Everything
Kerry Peck & Rick L. Law
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610
https://www.americanbar.org
9781641052030, $24.95, PB, 222pp, www.amazon.com

With the maturing of the Baby Boom generation, experts say that every 65 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia. When someone you love gets that diagnosis, you need answers. The authors of "Don't Let Dementia Steal Everything: Avoid Mistakes, Save Money, and Take Control", Kerry Peck and Rick Law, are two nationally renowned elder law attorneys who can help you make wise decisions in the midst of a post-diagnosis whirlwind of confusion. "Don't Let Dementia Steal Everything" deftly explains how to avoid common missteps such as: Giving away assets to qualify for nursing home benefits; Believing that Medicare will pay for your long-term care; Waiting until the last minute before seeking expert legal advice; Assuming that nursing home Medicaid is a do-it-yourself project; Thinking that a revocable living trust provides asset protection; and a great many more relevant issues. Accessibly written, organized and presented so as to be of immense and practical value for non-specialist general readers and law students, "Don't Let Dementia Steal Everything" is unreservedly recommended for inclusion into community and academic library collections -- and should be considered urgently essential reading for anyone having a responsibility for asset management in behalf of an elder suffering from any form of dementia.

By Time is Everything Revealed
Fiann O Nuallain
Gill Books
www.gillbooks.ie
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9780717170982 $23.00 amazon.com

By Time is Everything Revealed: And Other Irish Proverbs for Mindful Living is a compendium of fifty-two proverbs, offering inspiration and traditional Irish wisdom for every week of the year. Each proverb is presented with full context; author Fiann O Nuallain includes several exercises for putting proverbs into practice, in addition to a reader-friendly description of its meaning. Classic Irish words of wisdom include "There is luck in sharing a thing", "What drags on only grows cold", and "Change is the breath of life". An extensive "How to use this book" section offers a reader-friendly guide to engaging in a more mindful life. By Time is Everything Revealed is highly recommended, whether for casual browsing, as a self-help resource, or as a signpost to molding mindful habits.

Lest We Forget
Velma Maia Thomas
Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9780760363829 $40.00 amazon.com

Lest We Forget: The Passage from Africa into the Twenty-First Century commemorates the Jamestown arrival of Africans in 1619. Three collectible books by historian Velma Maia Thomas are gathered under one cover: "Lest We Forget", "Freedom's Children", and "We Shall Not Be Moved". Multiple pieces of interactive memorabilia (such as a reproduction of a 1658 deposit book that can itself be paged through) intersperse the text and vintage photography. "Lest We Forget" draws upon materials from the nationally acclaimed Black Holocaust Exhibit; "Freedom's Children" presents true stories of freedmen and freed women during the Reconstruction; and "We Shall Not Be Moved" tells of the suffering, struggles, and triumphs of African-Americans up to and during the Civil Rights Movement. Lest We Forget is a sober reminder of the heroism that motivated African-Americans of history to forge a better future for successive generations, and is highly recommended.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Creating A Cookbook
Amy Riolo
Privately Published
http://www.amyriolo.com
9781720009412, $19.95, PB, 84pp, www.amazon.com

In "Creating a Cookbook: How to Write, Publish, and Promote Your Culinary Philosophy", cookbook author Amy Riolo completely demystifies the cookbook creation process for both novice and accomplished authors. Whether wanting to preserve family recipes for personal use or creating a best-selling cookbook for the general culinary public, "Creating a Cookbook" will be a valued and comprehensive guide to every step of the process. Herself an award-winning author of four very popular and successful cookbooks, Amy Riolo reveals all of the tips, strategies, and techniques needed to set up for success as a cookbook author. In addition to writing and compiling recipes, aspiring cookbook authors will learn to find their particular niche in food writing, build an author platform, write and submit a cookbook proposal, the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing, and how to promote a cookbook, as well as expert advice on agents, contracts, and copyrights. It is of special interest to note that "Creating a Cookbook" also includes conversations with: Nancy Baggett, Ale Gambini, Jane Graf, Keith Ogorek, Clare Pelino, and Rossella Rago. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Creating a Cookbook" is unreservedly recommended as an essential and complete guide to successfully writing and marketing a cookbook in today's volatile, evolving and competitive publishing industry. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Creating a Cookbook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life
Diana Raab
Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
www.lovinghealing.com
9781615993246, $34.95 hc, 238pp
9781615993239, $21.95 pbk / $6.95 Kindle www.amazon.com

Diana Raab is a memoirist, poet, blogger, workshop facilitator, thought provoker, and an award-winning author of seven books and over a thousand articles and poems, as well as the editor of two anthologies. In "Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to provide fundamental commentaries about reflection, truth, and freedom. With techniques and prompts for both the seasoned and novice writer, "Writing for Bliss" will help them to tap into their creativity through storytelling and poetry, examine how life-changing experiences can inspire writing, pursue self-examination and self-discovery through the written word, and ultimately understand how published writers have been transformed by the act and consequences of writing. While very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Writing For Bliss" is also available in a paperback edition (9781615993239, $21.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.95). Also of immense value and now available in Diana Raab's "Writing for Bliss: A Companion Journal" (9781615994274, $19.95, PB, 184pp) which was developed for the seasoned storyteller as well as the emerging author as an interactive journal is designed to be used alone as a self-discovery workbook, or in conjunction with "Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life".


The Education Shelf

Play, Learn, and Enjoy!
Elena A. Savina, et al.
Research Press
2612 North Mattis Ave., Champaign, IL 61822
www.researchpress.com
9780878227167, $34.99, PB, 191pp, www.amazon.com

Created specifically for use by classroom teachers, elementary school counselors and K-5 school psychologists, "Play, Learn, and Enjoy! - A Self-Regulation Curriculum for Children" is a social-emotional learning curriculum for elementary school children that bridges self-regulation skills with social-emotional competencies. It covers a broad range of self-regulation and social skills including executive functioning (attention, working memory, and inhibition), strategic skills (time-management and planning), self-awareness, emotional regulation, decision-making, communication, and collaboration with others. The curriculum is designed in a thematic, game-like format where children, together with story characters, go on imaginary trips into the wilderness. For example, they travel to mountains, a desert, a rainforest, and the Arctic. They take a riverboat trip, go ocean sailing and snorkeling. The curriculum consists of self-regulation games, social stories, collaborative problem-solving and planning activities, movement games, and mindfulness. "Play, Learn, and Enjoy!" includes audio tracks and reproducible worksheets. This curriculum can be implemented in group counseling, after-school programs, and summer school sessions. Exceptionally impressive in organization and presentation, "Play, Learn, and Enjoy!" is unreservedly recommended for school district, college, and university library Teacher Education & K-5 Curriculum Supplement collections.

A Walk in Their Kicks
Aaron M. Johnson
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807761052, $34.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

"A Walk in Their Kicks: Literacy, Identity, and the Schooling of Young Black Males" is a compelling new study that provides a deep examination of the experience of African American males in schools. Moving beyond basic notions of culturally relevant instruction, "A Walk in Their Kicks: offers new understandings that will assist educators in developing instruction that respects these young men and fosters their participation and success. "A Walk in Their Kicks" presents: A brief history of schooling in the United States, particularly as it relates to African American children; A powerful framework for engaging African American males in school-based literacy; Recommendations to help teachers plan lessons, build equitable classroom environments, and foster positive relationships with all students; Recommendations to help administrators build school-wide affinity groups, implement and change policy, and plan alongside their teaching staff. While unreservedly recommended for Contemporary Education Policy instructional reference collections for school district, college, and university library Classroom Teaching collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of education students, classroom teachers, and education administrators that "A Walk in Their Kicks" is also available in a digital book format (9780807777336, $27.96, Kindle).


The Business Shelf

How to Write a Business Plan, 14th edition
Mike P. McKeever
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413325454, $34.99, PB, 344pp, www.amazon.com

Every entrepreneur and business manager needs to know how to create a sound business plan to start a business or raise money to expand an existing one. Now in a thoroughly updated and revised 14th edition, "How to Write a Business Plan" by Mike P. McKeever continues to showcase a complete and comprehensive course of 'how to' instruction that contains clear step-by-step instructions and forms to put together a convincing business plan with realistic financial projections, effective marketing strategies, and overall business goals. "How to Write a Business Plan" shows how to: Figure out if your business idea will make money; Determine and forecast cash flow; Create profit and loss forecasts; Prepare marketing and personnel plans; Find potential sources of financing; Present a well-organized plan to lenders and other backers; Learn about best practices for raising money ranging from SBA loans to equity crowdfunding. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "How to Write a Business Plan" should be considered a core addition to all community, corporate, college, and university library Business Management collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "How to Write a Business Plan" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.78).

HBR's 10 Must Reads 2019
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633696426 $24.95 pbk / $14.49 amazon.com

HBR's 10 Must Reads 2019 is an anthology of best insights for business leaders originally presented in the "Harvard Business Review". Writings include "Thriving in the Gig Economy", "The Leader's Guide to Corporate Culture", "Why Do We Undervalue Competent Management?", bonus article "Now What? Managing #MeToo" and much more. HBR's 10 Must Reads 2019 is a seminal repository of cutting-edge, far-thinking insights into the modern business world, highly recommended especially for aspiring and practicing management professionals.

HBR's 10 Must Reads On AI, Analytics, and the New Machine Age
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
$24.95 pbk / $13.99 Kindle amazon.com

Part of the "HBR's 10 Must Reads" series, HBR's 10 Must Reads On AI, Analytics, and the New Machine Age is an anthology of groundbreaking articles from the "Harvard Business Review", about how the latest capabilities of machine learning and data analytics are revolutionizing the business world. Individual writings include "The Truth about Blockchain", "The 3-D Printing Playbook", "Collaborative Intelligence: Humans and AI Are Joining Forces", the bonus article "Why Every Organization Needs an Augmented Reality Strategy" and much more. Crafted especially for business leaders who need to understand how these technologies can be adopted and adapted to improve their operations, On AI, Analytics, and the New Machine Age is a "must- read" for the modern era, highly recommended for both personal and public library business collections.


The American History Shelf

Uncle George & Me
Bill Sizemore
Brandylane Publishers
5 South First Street, Richmond, VA 23219
www.brandylanepublishers.com
9781947860100, $18.95, PB, 158pp, www.amazon.com

Bill Sizemore grew up in segregated small-town Virginia and spent forty-three years as a journalist, with most of that time spent at the Virginian-Pilot, the state's largest newspaper, where he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2007. He wrote about topics as varied as state government and politics, televangelist Pat Robertson, the private military company Blackwater, and Virginia's prison-building boom. He has also written for The Associated Press, Ms. magazine, and Virginia Quarterly Review. Since his retirement in 2014, he has focused on his two highest priorities: playing with his grandchildren and writing books. In the pages of "Uncle George and Me: Two Southern Families Confront a Shared Legacy of Slavery", Bill Sizemore tells the story of his slave-owning Virginia ancestors, their slaves, and those slaves' descendants -- a story that lay buried by a century of denial and historical amnesia. Its threads run through the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Great Migration, the struggle for civil rights, and the crippling legacy of slavery that still plagues the nation today. In microcosm, it is the story of Virginia and the South. In telling it, Sizemore hopes to advance an essential, if painful, national conversation about race. An extraordinary and impressively presented study, "Uncle George & Me" is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library American History collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Uncle George & Me" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Tarot Inspired Life
Jaymi Elford
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738759944, $17.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

Jaymi Elford is a writer, tarot coach, firespinner, and the creator of the Triple Goddess Tarot. She reads for Portlandia Fortune Tellers in Portland, Oregon, and has taught tarot classes at the Bay Area Tarot Symposium (BATS), Northwest Tarot Symposium (NWTS), PantheaCon, and at Readers Studio in New York. Jaymi currently hosts the Tarot Visions podcast and is a frequent guest on other popular tarot podcasts. In "Tarot Inspired Life: Use the Cards to Enhance Your Life" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to help her readers to make tarot the centerpiece of their spirituality a thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide to incorporating tarot cards into daily life. "Tarot Inspired Life" is the ideal workbook to help deepen daily tarot practice, enhance creativity, and find greater purpose each day. "Tarot Inspired Life" explains how to use the cards for creative writing, meditation, and connecting to spirit guides, think outside the norm, follow a metaphysically guided path, and honor personally unique interpretations of tarot. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Metaphysical Studies collections in general, and Tarot Card supplemental reading lists in particular, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tarot Inspired Life" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09).

How to Use a Crystal
Richard Webster
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738756707, $16.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

All metaphysical practitioners requires is a single crystal to deepen their magical practice and reach their goals. In the pages of "How to Use a Crystal: 50 Practical Rituals and Spiritual Activities for Inspiration and Well-Being", author and crystal expert Richard Webster presents an accessible and inspiring guide filled with practical rituals and spiritual activities that can be performed with a single stone. Readers will discover how to choose, cleanse, and energize their particular crystal. Once prepared with a chosen crystal, "How to Use a Crystal shows how to explore specific and effective ways to use it: attract love, control stress, bless a home, enhance creativity, deal with regrets, communicate with spirit guides, recall past lives, make crystal elixirs, find forgiveness, and so much more. An ideal instructional guide to greater health and happiness through crystal work, "How to Use a Crystal" is enthusiastically and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections in general, and Crystal Divination supplemental lists in particular. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "How to Use a Crystal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Old is New
L. R. Sumpter
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
www.ozarkmt.com
9781940265520, $14.00, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com

L. R. Sumpter is a retired teacher who lives in Venice, FL. He is now an author, a full-time student of ancient and modern history and of spiritual subjects. He also studies geology and geography. In the pages of "The Old is New: A New Look at Who and What We Are" Sumpter addresses a diversity of questions and issues from a metaphysical perspective including: What is in store for the geology of North America?; How do we create matter every day?; What is the nature of nature?; How did people live more than a half million years ago?; What was space travel like a half million years ago?; Where is God?; What are our responsibilities as humans?; Is Hitler in heaven?; How can we go to heaven?. An inherently fascinating read that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Old is New" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Old is New" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Fiction Shelf

Healing Hearts
Sarah M. Eden
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629724584, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

"Healing Hearts" is about a forward-thinking doctor on the Wyoming frontier who sends away for a mail-order bride with nursing experience. But when a young woman named Miriam steps off the train she is looking for a job not a husband. Miriam refuses to be wed, and Gideon is unspeakably embarrassed by the misunderstanding. Stranded in Savage Wells, Miriam has nowhere else to go and a secret that she's determined to keep from everyone. She has epilepsy, a condition that other doctors had claimed was symptomatic of madness, a diagnosis which prompted her family to have her committed to an asylum. Miriam is afraid that if Dr. MacNamara finds out the truth, he will send her back to the asylum a place that is little better than a prison. But Gideon is not like the other doctors she has encountered, and he offers Miriam the nursing position anyway. When illness sweeps through the town, Gideon and Miriam work together to care for the growing number of sick people. As they do so, their relationship slowly grows into something deeper. When Miriam's former doctor arrives in town to take her back to the asylum, Gideon and others including Cade, Paisley, and Hawk must rally around Miriam to protect her from a dangerous fate. And for Gideon, it might mean risking his heart one more time for a chance at love. Romance novelist Sarah M. Eden is a true master of the genre and "Healing Hearts" is a skillfully crafted, wonderfully entertaining, highly recommended addition to community library Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Healing Hearts" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.89) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781982576004, $29.95, MP3 CD).

The Things We Do for Love
Kristin Hannah
Ballantine Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780345520807, $17.00, PB, 418pp, www.amazon.com

Years of trying unsuccessfully to conceive a child have broken more than Angie DeSaria's heart. Following a painful divorce, she moves back to her small Pacific Northwest hometown and takes over management of her family's restaurant. In West End, where life rises and falls like the tides, Angie's fortunes will drastically change yet again when she meets and befriends a troubled young woman. Angie hires Lauren Ribido because she sees something special in the seventeen-year-old. They quickly form a deep bond, and when Lauren is abandoned by her mother, Angie offers the girl a place to stay. But nothing could have prepared Angie for the far-reaching repercussions of this act of kindness. Together, these two women (one who longs for a child and the other who longs for a mother's love) will be tested in ways that neither could have imagined. Now available in a trade paperback edition, "The Things We Do for Love" is a deftly crafted and unfailingly entertaining read from beginning to end and highly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Things We Do for Love" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Just Once
Lori Handeland
Severn House
110 East 59th Street, 22th Fl, New York, NY 10022
www.severnhouse.com
9780727888334, $28.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Frankie Sicari is roused from sleep late one night by a key rattling in the front door lock. It's her ex-husband, Charley Blackwell: a man she hasn't seen for nearly a quarter of a century. What's baffling is that Charley seems to think they are still married, and has no recollection of his current wife, Hannah. When medical tests reveal shocking findings, Frankie finds herself reluctantly caring for the man who left her twenty years earlier, while Hannah is relegated to the sidelines. How can Frankie forgive the man who abandoned her when she needed him most? And how can Hannah cope with the impending death of the man she's loved for the past twenty years - especially now she is faced with the shattering truth that he has never stopped loving his first wife, Frankie? A strikingly original and deftly crafted story that showcases author Lori Handeland's genuine talents as a novelist, "Just Once" is a compelling read from first page to last. While unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Just Once" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.33).

And the Whole Mountain Burned
Ray McPadden
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.centerstreet.com
9781546081913, $26.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

And the Whole Mountain Burned reveals, in stunning, ruthless detail, the horrors of war, the courage of soldiers, and the fact that no matter how many enemies we vanquish, there is always another just over the next ridge. Sergeant Nick Burch has returned to the crags of tribal Afghanistan seeking vengeance. Burch's platoon has one goal: to capture or kill an elusive insurgent, known as the Egyptian, a leader who is as much myth as he is man, highly revered and guarded by ferocious guerrillas. The soldiers of Burch's platoon look to him for leadership, but as the Egyptian slips farther out of reach, so too does Burch's battle-worn grasp on reality. Private Danny Shane, the youngest soldier in the platoon, is learning how to survive. For Shane, hunting the Egyptian is secondary. First he must adapt to the savage conditions of the battlefield: crippling heat, ravenous sand fleas, winds thick with moondust, and a vast mountain range that holds many secrets. Shane is soon chiseled by combat, shackled by loyalty, and unflinchingly marching toward a battle from which there is no return. A new enemy has emerged, one who has studied the American soldiers and adapted to their tactics. Known as Habibullah, a teenage son of the people, he stands in brazen defiance of the Ameriki who have come to destroy what his ancestors have built. The American soldiers may be tracking the Egyptian, but Habibullah is tracking them, and he knows these lands far better than they do. With guns on full-auto, Shane and Burch trek into the deepest solitudes of the Himalayas. Under soaring peaks, dark instinct is laid bare. To survive, Shane and Burch must defeat not just Habibullah's militia but the beast inside themselves. "And the Whole Mountain Burned" is a compelling page-turner of a read from beginning to end and certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "And the Whole Mountain Burned" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781549176623, $35.00, CD).

The Best of Us
Robyn Carr
Mira Books
195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007
www.mirabooks.com
9780778351306, $26.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Dr. Leigh Culver loves practicing medicine in Timberlake, Colorado. It is a much-needed change of pace from her stressful life in Chicago. The only drawback is she misses her aunt Helen, the woman who raised her. But it's time that Leigh has her independence, and she hopes the beauty of the Colorado wilderness will entice her aunt to visit often. Helen Culver is an independent woman who lovingly raised her sister's orphaned child. Now, with Leigh grown, it's time for her to live life for herself. The retired teacher has become a successful mystery writer who loves to travel and intends to never experience winter again. When Helen visits Leigh, she is surprised to find her niece still needs her, especially when it comes to sorting out her love life. But the biggest surprise comes when Leigh takes Helen out to Sullivan's Crossing and Helen finds herself falling for the place and one special person. Helen and Leigh will each have to decide if they can open themselves up to love neither expected to find and seize the opportunity to live their best lives. The fourth volume in author Robyn Carr's simply outstanding 'Sullivan's Crossing' series, "The Best of Us" once again showcases her flair for originality and her narrative driven storytelling skills. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of Robyn Carr fans that "The Best of Us" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Die by the Gun
William W. Johnstone, author
J. A. Johnstone, author
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496708229, $27.95, HC, 284pp, www.amazon.com

Dewey 'Mac' McKenzie is wanted for a killing he didn't commit. He saved his hide once by signing on as a cattle drive chuckwagon cook and bolting the territories. It turned out that Mac was as good at fixing vittles as he was at dodging bullets! But Mac's enemies are hungry for more, and they've hired a gang of ruthless killers to turn up the heat. Mac's only hope is to join another cattle drive on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, deep in New Mexico Territory. The journey ahead is even deadlier than the hired guns behind him. His trail boss is an ornery cuss. His crew mate is the owner's spoiled son. And the route is overrun with kill-crazy rustlers and bloodthirsty Comanche. Worse, Mac's would-be killers are closing in fast. But when the cattle owner's son is kidnapped, the courageous young cook has no choice but to jump out of the frying pan, and into the fire"! Another deftly crafted western by true masters of the genre, "Die by the Gun" is the collaborative work of William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone. While unreservedly recommended for community library Western Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of William Johnstone fans and librarians that "Die by the Gun" is also available in a large print paperback edition (Wheeler Publishing, 9781432860806, $26.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Enclave
Thomas Locke
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800735470, $29.99, HC, 290pp, www.amazon.com

It's been fifty years after America's collapse, and Caleb has a plan that could help secure his enclave's future. But if his secret is uncovered, he won't live to see another dawn. An original, deftly crafted and compelling written dystopian novel by an author with a genuine flair for dramatic narrative storytelling, "Enclave" is a simply riveting read from beginning to end. While especially recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Enclave" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800727918, $14.99), as well as in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.87).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Dead of Winter
Annelise Ryan
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496706713 $26.00 hc / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Dead of Winter: A Mattie Winston Mystery is a murder mystery in the popular Mattie Winston series. Medicolegal death investigator Mattie Winston has a lot to adjust to - a new marriage, the teenage daughter of her new husband, and life in a new home. But Mattie's work takes a disturbing turn when an unknown man brings a battered girl into the ER. The man disappears, and the girl dies, but not before telling social worker Hildy Schneider that the man also possessed her little sister. Mattie must work with Hildy and homicide detectives to investigate a vicious underworld of human trafficking, before another young girl pays the final price! Riveting to the end, Dead of Winter is highly recommended for public library Mystery/Suspense collections and personal reading lists.

The Second Goodbye
Patricia Smiley
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738752365, $15.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

The bedrock criterion for every homicide investigation Detective Davie Richards undertakes is 'Assume Nothing'. She approaches her latest case the same way, determined to learn as much about the victim as she does about the killer. But there's nothing about thirty-four-year-old Sara Montaine or her death that makes sense. Was Sara a saint caring for her dying husband or a gold-digger with a sketchy background? Did she commit suicide or was she murdered? Before her marriage, Sara lived comfortably without any obvious source of income, unusual for an orphan raised in foster care. As Davie digs deeper, she unearths Sara's troubled past and a viper's nest of villains who are willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden. A compelling page-turner of a read from beginning to end, "The Second Goodbye" showcases novelist Patricia Smiley's complete mastery of the genre. While very highly recommended and certain to be a popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "The Second Goodbye" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.59).

The Night Agent
Matthew Quirk
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062875464, $26.99, HC, 432pp, www.amazon.com

To save America from a catastrophic betrayal, an idealistic young FBI agent must stop a Russian mole in the White House. No one was more surprised than FBI Agent Peter Sutherland when he's tapped to work in the White House Situation Room. From his earliest days as a surveillance specialist, Peter has scrupulously done everything by the book, hoping his record will help him escape the taint of his past. When Peter was a boy, his father, a section chief in FBI counterintelligence, was suspected of selling secrets to the Russians -- a catastrophic breach that had cost him his career, his reputation, and eventually his life. Peter knows intimately how one broken rule can cost lives. Nowhere is he more vigilant than in this room, the sanctum of America's secrets. Staffing the night action desk, his job is monitoring an emergency line for a call that came at 1:05 a.m. when a terrified young woman named Rose tells Peter that her aunt and uncle have just been murdered and that the killer is still in the house with her. Before their deaths, they gave her this phone number with urgent instructions: "Tell them OSPREY was right. It's happening. . . " That call thrusts Peter into the heart of a conspiracy years in the making, involving a Russian mole at the highest levels of the government. To save the nation, Peter must take the rules into his own hands and do the right thing, no matter the cost. He plunges into a desperate hunt for the traitor in a treacherous odyssey that pits him and Rose against some of Russia's most skilled and ruthless operatives and the full force of the FBI itself. Peter knows that the wider a secret is broadcast, the more dangerous it gets for the people at the center. With the fate of the country on the line, he and Rose must evade seasoned assassins and maneuver past jolting betrayals to find the shocking truth and stop the threat from inside before it's too late. A simply riveting suspense thriller with an impressive plausibility given the real-world entanglements of the Trump administration with Vladimir Putin and his Russian oligarches, "The Night Agent" is unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Suspense/Thriller Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Night Agent" is also available in a large print paperback edition (HarperLane, 9780062887382, $26.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Out of the Dark
Gregg Hurwitz
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250120427, $27.99, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com

Taken from a group home at age twelve, Evan Smoak was raised and trained as part of the Orphan Program, an off-the-books operation designed to create deniable intelligence assets for use in assassinations. Evan was Orphan X. He broke with the Program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man, a man who helps the truly desperate when no one else can. But now Evan's past is catching up to him. Someone at the very highest level of government has been trying to eliminate every trace of the Orphan Program by killing all the remaining Orphans and their trainers. After Evan's mentor and the only father he ever knew was killed, he decided to strike back. His target is the man who started the Program and who is now the most heavily guarded person in the world: the President of the United States. But President Bennett knows that Orphan X is after him and, using weapons of his own, he's decided to counter-attack. Bennett activates the one man who has the skills and experience to track down and take out Orphan X -- the first recruit of the Program, Orphan A. With Evan devoting all his skills, resources, and intelligence to find a way through the layers of security that surround the President, suddenly he also has to protect himself against the deadliest of opponents. It's Orphan vs. Orphan with the future of the country (even the world) on the line. A simply riveting thriller of a read, "Out of the Dark" once again showcases author Gregg Hurwitz's genuine flair as a novelist for originality and narrative driven storytelling. While very highly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of suspense thriller fans that "Out of the Dark" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

The Lodge - The Disillusioning
J. R. Canfield
Biographical Publishing Company
95 Sycamore Drive, Prospect, CT 06712-1493
www.biopub.us
9781929882144, $7.45, PB, 106pp, www.amazon.com

It is an acknowledged fact the life span of the average American is increasing. Many elder citizens elect to enjoy their golden years in dedicated retirement communities where "the livin' is easy". Two such examples of gracious senior living are included in "The Lodge - The Disillusioning" by J. R. Canfield. Is it possible that capital crime could infiltrate and interrupt life in these idyllic facilities? These two short stories, "The Lodge" and "The Disillusioning", are driven by different motives, under different financial conditions, at different locations. However, where personal interest exists in sufficient strength to culminate in murder, even "gracious living" promises can be broken! Both of these original short stories are immediately engaging and entertaining reads, making this '2-in-1' volume certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, as well as unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs!

Rupture
Ragnar Jonasson
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250193346, $28.99, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Young policeman Ari Thor tries to solve a 50-year-old murder when new evidence surfaces. But the case proves difficult in a town where no one wants to know the truth, where secrets are a way of life. He's assisted by IsrUn, a news reporter in Reykjavik who is investigating an increasingly chilling case of her own. Things take a sinister turn when a child goes missing in broad daylight. With a stalker on the loose, and the town in quarantine, the past might just come back to haunt them. Ragnar Jonasson's "Rupture" deftly combines the darkness of Nordic Noir with classic mystery writing by an author with a master of this hauntingly atmospheric and complex genre. A dark mystery that is chillingly stunning with its complexity and fluidity, "Rupture" is an inherently engaging read from first page to last and unreservedly recommended for all community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Rupture" is also available in a paperback edition (9781250193353, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Reckless
David Putnam
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608092888, $26.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Bruno Johnson is a young and inexperienced LA County Deputy Sheriff who is trying to balance his life as the single father of a four-year-old daughter and his responsibilities as a cop in the Violent Crimes Unit. When he and his impetuous partner Ned Kiefer are put on loan to the FBI to help out with a "special problem", Bruno finds himself in a real bind. The FBI hands Bruno and Ned a case that the Bureau prefers not to touch -- a group of teenage criminals that are being run by a nefarious criminal known as the Darkman. Bruno discovers the identity of the Darkman and is stunned to realize that he is the perpetrator from a lingering unsolved case a triple homicide that continues to haunt Bruno. The problem is how to stop the juvenile criminals without killing kids, and at the same time, avoid being killed by the kids (or by the Darkman) and keep his reckless partner Ned under control. Writing still another deftly crafted thriller, David Putnam's "The Reckless" continues to showcase an enormously talented and original novelist. While "The Reckless" is unreservedly recommended for community library Suspense/Thriller collections, it should be noted for all David Putnam fans that his latest effort is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

One Fatal Mistake
Tom Hunt
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780399586439, $25.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

When eighteen-year-old Joshua Mayo takes a man's life in a terrible accident, he leaves the scene without reporting the crime to the police. He hopes to put the awful night behind him and move on with his life. But, of course, he ends up telling his mother, Karen, what happened. Karen has raised Joshua on her own in Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- and she'd thought they'd finally made it. He was doing well in school and was only months away from starting college at his dream school. After hearing his dark confession, she's forced to make a choice no parent should have to make. A choice that draws them both into a web of deceit that will change their lives forever -- if they can make it out alive. A deftly crafted thriller of a read from first page to last, "One Fatal Mistake" showcases author Tom Hunt's impressive storytelling talents. While very highly recommended and certain to be an immediately popular addition to community library Suspense/Thriller collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "One Fatal Mistake" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Dark Streets, Cold Suburbs
Aimee Hix
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738754703, $15.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

People move to the suburbs for a better life that are a combination of nice houses, good schools, safe communities. But there's no place you can go that's completely safe from danger. Willa Pennington knows this all too well after her first PI case almost got her killed. Helping her old mentor review a decades-old cold case seems much safer. Then she reaches out to a teenager in trouble, and suddenly a new case rips into Willa's life in a way she could never have predicted. It seems menace is always lying in wait behind someone's door. Especially on the dark streets of the cold suburbs. An impressively original, deftly crafted and gritty mystery by a master of the genre, Aimee Hix's "Dark Streets, Cold Suburbs" is a thoroughly engaging, page-turner of a read from cover to cover. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Dark Streets, Cold Suburbs" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.89).

Frantic
Noel Calef
Black Gat Books
c/o Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781944520663, $9.99, PB, 158pp, www.amazon.com

Julien Courtois finds himself in a financial bind with murder as the only way out. He's even got the perfect plan. While his secretary believes him to be in his office, he climbs up a rope to an upper floor and stages his victim's suicide. It all works according to plan. But on his way out of the building, he remembers that the rope is still dangling out of the window, leading right down to his office! Rushing back into the building, Julien manages to get stuck in the elevator when the janitor turns off the power for the weekend. At the same time, a young couple steal Julien's car from in front of the building, and his wife, thinking she's watching Julien drive off with another woman, assumes the worst. And so begins a torturous set of circumstances. While Julien remains trapped in the elevator, his life gradually becomes unraveled by a vindictive wife and a couple of teenagers playing at being gangsters. "Frantic" by Noel Calef is French noir mystery/suspense fiction at its very best and is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections, as well as the personal reading lists for a whole new generation of appreciative mystery/suspense fans.

End of the Line
Bert Hitchens & Dolores Hitchens
Black Gat Books
c/o Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781944520571, $9.99, PB, 252pp, www.amazon.com

Farrel and Saunders are two railway cops who couldn't be more different. Farrel, the older bull, remembers the Lobo Tunnel wreck all too well. Saunders, young and inexperienced, figures that there is nothing left to learn about the six-year-old case. But their boss figures otherwise, and sends them out to dig up new evidence. Which is how they find themselves chasing down some of the accident victims who benefitted the most. There's the blind physicist -- did he really lose his sight in the wreck? And the crippled ballerina -- she and her husband built a ranch with their settlement money, but did she really lose the use of her legs? And the former train conductor -- why, after all this time, is he sending his teenage daughter on crazy wild-goose-chases to collect on an old debt? Saunders figures that they're chasing old leads for nothing, but Farrel has always thought that something didn't add up here. And now they're in a small desert town at the end of the line and on an old trail that leads right back to the beginning. A riveting read from the team of Bert and Dolores Hitchens, "End of the Line" is an entertaining and unreservedly recommended addition to the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs brought back into print for the benefit of a new generation of appreciative readers.

Dead as a Door Knocker
Diane Kelly
St. Martin's Paperbacks
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250197429, $7.99, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com

Whitney Whitaker is a hopeless romantic when it comes to real estate. She knows what it takes to find (and flip) the home of one's dreams. A fixer-upper is like catnip to Whitney: she can't resist the challenge of turning an eyesore into a priceless work of art. So when one of her clients decides to liquidate a crumbling property, Whitney seizes the opportunity to purchase it for a song. But soon a curious incident of the cat in the night-time leads to a change in tune. Sawdust is the name of Whitney's cat. Whitney's passion for gut-renovation may be a mystery to him but one thing Sawdust knows for sure is this: Dead bodies don't belong in flower beds. So why is there one in this new, albeit old, house? Now it's up to Whitney, along with the help of hot-and-cold Nashville Police Detective Collin Flynn, to find the truth about what happened before the mortgage property forecloses and Whitney loses her investment -- and maybe her own life! A deftly crafted and original thriller of a mystery novel by a master of the genre, "Dead as a Door Knocker" by Diane Kelly is unabashedly and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Dead as a Door Knocker" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99) and as a complete an unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781721342624, $9.99, MP3 CD).

Seven Deadly Zins
Nancy J. Parra
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683318712, $26.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Set in California's Sonoma wine country, "Seven Deadly Zins" by novelist Nancy Parra is a complex 'whodunit' that even includes recipes! It's the story of Taylor O'Brian, founder of "Off the Beaten Path", who takes small groups on wine country tours of romantic Sonoma County. Friends are everything in the tour business, so Taylor is happy to guide investors to the winery owned by her friend Tim Slade. But vintage turns to vinegar when an FDA inspector is found floating face down in one of Tim's vats of squished grapes. With more deftly plotted twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster, "Seven Deadly Zins" is an inherently compelling page- turner of a read from cover to cover and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be brought to the attention of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Seven Deadly Zins" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.80).

The Lost Traveller
Sheila Connolly
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683318903, $26.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Boston expatriate Maura Donovan came to Ireland to honor her grandmother's last wish, but she never expected to stay in provincial County Cork -- much less to inherit a house and a pub, Sullivan's, in the small village of Leap. After a year-long struggle to stay in the black, Sullivan's is finally thriving, and Maura has even brought back traditional Irish music to the pub. With a crop of new friends and a budding relationship with handsome Mick Nolan, Maura's life seems rosier than ever -- but even in Ireland, you can't always trust your luck. Especially when said luck results in Maura's discovery of a body in the ravine behind the pub. And then, the Irish gardai reveal that the victim's face has been battered beyond recognition. Who is the faceless victim? Who wanted him dead? And why was his body dumped in the backyard of Sullivan's Pub? Even after the dead man is finally given a name, nobody admits to knowing him. In the tight-knit world of Leap, no one is talking -- and now it's up to Maura to uncover the dark secrets that lurk beneath the seemingly quiet town. A deftly crafted addition to author Sheila Connolly's simply outstanding 'County Cork Mystery' series, "The Lost Traveller" is replete with unexpected plot twists and turns, colorfully memorable characters, and a gracefully embedded Irish cultural flavor, making it an ideal and recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all Sheila Connolly fans that "The Lost Traveller" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.80).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Witches of St. Petersburg
Imogen Edwards-Jones
Harper Paperbacks
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062848512, $16.99, PB, 480pp, www.amazon.com

As daughters of the impoverished King of Montenegro, Militza and Stana must fulfill their duty to their father and leave their beloved home for St. Petersburg to be married into senior positions in the Romanov court. For their new alliances to the Russian nobility will help secure the future of the sisters' native country. Immediately, Militza and Stana feel like outcasts as the aristocracy shuns them for their provincial ways and for dabbling in the occult. Undeterred, the sisters become resolved to make their mark by falling in with the lonely, depressed Tsarina Alexandra, who - as an Anglo-German - is also an outsider and is not fully accepted by members of the court. After numerous failed attempts to precipitate the birth of a son and heir, the Tsarina is desperate and decides to place her faith in the sisters' expertise with black magic. Promising the Tsarina that they will be able to secure an heir for the Russian dynasty, Militza and Stana hold seances and experiment with rituals and spells. Gurus, clairvoyants, holy fools, and charlatans all try their luck. The closer they become to the Tsarina and the royal family, the more their status - and power - is elevated. But when the sisters invoke a spiritual shaman, who goes by the name of Rasputin, the die is cast. For they have not only irrevocably sealed their own fates - but also that of Russia itself. Inspired by real characters, "The Witches of St. Petersburg" by journalist, novelist, and screenwriter Imogen Edwards-Jones is transporting historical fiction novel that relates a simply fascinating and deftly crafted story of two princesses in the Romanov court who practiced black magic, befriended the Tsarina, and invited Rasputin into their lives, thereby forever changing the course of Russian history. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Witches of St. Petersburg" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Mark of the Raven
Morgan L. Busse
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764232824, $25.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com

Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwoodand to a powerful ability. But it comes with a dark secret. Tasked with assassinating the man who can destroy her family and the only one who can bring peace to the nations she must choose between justice and honor or legacy and power. Is she willing to pay the price for the path she chooses? The first volume of author Morgan Busse's The Ravenwood Saga' series, "Mark of the Raven" is a deftly written, impressively original, page-turner of a fantasy novel from beginning to end. While unreservedly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "Mark of the Raven" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764232220, $15.99) and in an inexpensive digital book format (Kindle, $0.79).

Arkad's World
James L. Cambias
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781481483704, $24.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Young Arkad is the only human on a distant world, on his own among beings from across the Galaxy. His struggle to survive on the lawless streets of an alien city is disrupted by the arrival of three humans: an eccentric historian named Jacob, a superhuman cyborg girl called Baichi, and a mysterious ex-spy known as Ree. They seek a priceless treasure which might free Earth from alien domination. Arkad risks everything to join them on an incredible quest halfway across the planet. With his help they cross the fantastic landscape, battling pirates, mercenaries, bizarre creatures, vicious bandits and the harsh environment. But the deadliest danger comes from treachery and betrayal within the group as dark secrets and hidden loyalties come to light. A superbly crafted and original novel by a master of narrative storytelling, "Arkad's World" by James L. Cambias is unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated science fiction fans that "Arkad's World" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781978659766, $14.99, MP3 CD).


The Christian Studies Shelf

For the Life of the World
Miroslav Volf & Matthew Croasmun
Brazos Press
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9781587434013, $21.99, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

In today's pluralistic, post-secular world, universal values are dismissed as mere matters of private opinion, and the question of what constitutes flourishing life (for ourselves, our neighbors, and the planet as a whole) is neglected in our universities, our churches, and our culture at large. Although we increasingly have technology to do almost anything, we have little sense of what is truly worth accomplishing. "For the Life of the World: Theology That Makes a Difference " by Miroslav Volf (Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology, Yale Divinity School) and Matthew Croasmun (Associate Research Scholar and Director, Life Worth Living Program, Yale Center of Faith and Culture), "For the Life of the World" is a provocative new contribution to public theology providing the intellectual tools needed to rescue us from our present malaise and meet our new cultural challenge are the tools of theology. A renewal of theology is crucial to help us articulate compelling visions of the good life, find our way through the maze of contested questions of value, and answer the fundamental question of what makes life worth living. While very highly recommended for community, seminary, college and university library Contemporary Christian Theology collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for students, seminarians, clergy, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "For the Life of the World" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.19).

Jesus Is Still Passing By
J. Bennett Easterling
MSI Press
1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, CA 950243
http://msipress.com
9781942891963, $18.95, PB, 218pp, www.amazon.com

Jesus Christ has not limited his miracles to people who lived when he was on earth. Today, miracles continue -- and nearly every day someone somewhere reports one. "Jesus Is Still Passing By: With Secrets for a Victorious Life", by Bennett Easterling (a minister's son), shines a welcome new light on the miracles of Jesus. Thirty-six miracles are showcased and supplemented with helpful background information. Real-life applications applying to our lives today are drawn from each miracle, including powerful true stories of God reaching down and touching people today in miraculous ways. One or two questions are given at the end of each story to help readers reflect on their own faith journey. Readers will find "Jesus Is Still Passing By" to be refreshing new contribution to the every growing body of Christian literature and ideal for both individual devotions and group Bible studies for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations.

Into the Deep
Lauren Gaskill
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
www.abingdonpress.com
9781501869747, $16.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Following Jesus doesn't guarantee sunny skies and smooth sailing. In fact, the waters of life are often tumultuous, crashing over us. Sometimes we can feel that we're drowning in a sea of confusion, division, frustration, complacency, or disillusionment. We need more than a shallow faith to survive these deep waters. "Into the Deep: Diving into a Life of Courageous Faith" by author, speaker and the founder of She Found Joy, Lauren Gaskill, is an invitation to dive headfirst into a life of courageous faith. With endearing warmth and authenticity, Lauren shares how she and others have learned to swim with Jesus in the deep waters of life as she faced such challenges as anxiety, depression, and chronic illness -- only to discover a more authentic, enduring faith that cannot be shaken by circumstances. In addition to examining the character of God and the lives of women and men of the Bible who chose to dive deeper with God, Lauren provides practical examples and tools that help us take our faith to the next level by learning to make decisions by faith alone, control our reactions to overwhelming situations, and live a life rooted in love. Inspired and inspiring, "Into the Deep" is especially and unreservedly recommended reading for all dedicated members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations.

Daring to Hope
Katie Davis Majors
Multnomah Books
c/o Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group
12265 Oracle Blvd., Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com
9780735290518, $25.99, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

When Katie Davis Majors moved to Uganda, she accidentally founded a booming organization, and later became the mother of thirteen girls through the miracle of adoption. She determined to weave her life together with the people she desired to serve. But joy often gave way to sorrow as she invested her heart fully in walking alongside people in the grip of poverty, addiction, desperation, and disease. After unexpected tragedy shook her family, for the first time Katie began to wonder, Is God really good? Does He really love us? When she turned to Him with her questions, God spoke truth to her heart and drew her even deeper into relationship with Him. "Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful" is Katie's invitation for her readers to cling to the God of the impossible -- the God who whispers His love to us in the quiet, in the mundane, when our prayers are not answered the way we want or the miracle doesn't come. "Daring to Hope" is about a mother discovering the extraordinary strength it takes to be ordinary. It's about choosing faith no matter the circumstance and about encountering God's goodness in the least expected places. An inherently engaging read from beginning to end, "Daring to Hope" is as inspired as it is inspiring. While very highly recommended for church and community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Daring to Hope" is also available in a paperback edition (9780735290600, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

All That's Good
Hannah Anderson
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
www.moodypublishers.com
9780802418555, $13.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Pain, conflict, and uncertainty dominate the daily headlines and newscasts. Our daily lives are noisy and chaotic -- filled with too much information and too little wisdom. No wonder we often find it easier to retreat into safe spaces, hunker down in like-minded tribes, and just do our best to survive life. But God wants Christians to do more than simply survive. He wants us to thrive in this world while being an active part of its redemption. "All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment" by Hannah Anderson is a kind of instruction manual and guide to all members of the Christian community rediscovering the beauty and goodness God established in the beginning -- even in today's conflicted world. By learning the lost art of discernment, Christians can do more than just simply avoiding bad things; discernment actually frees us to navigate the world with confidence and joy by teaching how to recognize and choose good things. When we learn discernment and develop a taste for all that's good, we will encounter God in remarkable new ways. "All That's Good" will enable the reader to discover the God who not only made all things, but who will also make all things good once again! While very highly recommended, life-enhancing, inspired and inspiring reading for all Christians, of all denominations, and whether lay or clergy, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "All That's Good" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.14).

Saints I Know
Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission
MSI Press
1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, CA 950243
http://msipress.com
9781942891451, $19.95, PB, 108pp, www.amazon.com

"Saints I Know" is comprised of descriptions of the lives of 21 saints (in both their imperfection and perfection) which were selected on their relationship to a Franciscan Mission called the Old Mission San Juan Bautista -- as told through the eyes of the Mission's cat. The sections showcased in the pages of "Saints I Know" include saints related to the founding of the mission (St. Francis, St. John the Baptist, and St. Juniper Serra), the Holy parents (Mary and Joseph), saints whose statues are behind the altar in the Mission, patron saints of animals, patron saints of children, and the favorite saints of the parish priest. Each individual saint has his or her icon and DOB-DOD included. Of special note is the inclusion of a final section addresses future saints. While very highly recommended and informatively inspiring, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Saints I Know" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Redeemed: Devotions for the Longing Soul
Will Graham
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9781400210107, $16.99, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Will Graham is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). "Redeemed: Devotions for the Longing Soul" includes stories centering on the life-changing power of a relationship with God, including themes such as prayer, sharing your faith, the willingness to obey God's promptings, and many other important topics. Each individual devotion includes a scripture selection, a personal story, a corresponding quote from Billy Graham, and Will's teaching, a prayer, and a question to ponder. There are Graham family photos and photos of important events in Billy's ministry included throughout the book. "Redeemed" will appeal to all Christians, young or old, who loved and respected Billy Graham and who are looking to continue his legacy of faith. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Redeemed" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781721346967, $16.99, MP3 CD).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Was Yosef on the Spectrum?
Samuel J. Levine
Urim Publications
c/o KTAV Publishing House
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9781602803220 $27.95 amazon.com

Was Yosef on the Spectrum? Understanding Joseph examines the Book of Genesis story of Yosef (also known as Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, and who rose to become the vizier and second most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh). Author Samuel J. Levine (Professor of Law and Director of the Jewish Law Institute at Touro Law Center) clarifies that he is not a psychologist and cannot formally diagnose Yosef, so the idea that Yosef could have been on the autism spectrum is evaluated as a possibility with some supporting evidence, but not as a known quantity. Was Yosef on the Spectrum? is seminal, expertly researched, thoughtfully presented, and highly recommended especially for public and college library Judaic Studies and Biblical Studies Shelves.

Heaven and Earth
Yerucham Reich, M.D.
Gefen Publishing House
11 Edison Place, Springfield, NJ 07081
www.gefenpublishing.com
9789652299321, $50.00, HC, 2 Vols., 708pp, www.amazon.com

From his vantage as a physician, Torah-observant Jew, second-generation Holocaust survivor, first-generation American, and thinking man, Yerucham Reich (Raymond Reich) shares his perspective on our lives as Jews with insights into the weekly Torah portions and the holidays. These straight-talking, commonsensical essays are drawn from life, from history, from the world as it really is, from the world as it ought to be, from the mesorah of our forebears, and from the teachings of our sages. Dr. Reich tackles everything from ancient textual questions to the controversial issues of the day with independent-minded analysis and aplomb. Alternately passionately serious, funny, touching, and at times lyrically transcendent, erudite, and engaging, this two volume boxed set of "Heaven and Earth" offers a wealth of commentary that is as thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is informed and informative, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, synagogue, community, college, and university library Judaic Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Self-Help Shelf

How to Be Better at Almost Everything
Pat Flynn
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781946885418, $22.00, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "How to Be Better at Almost Everything: Learn Anything Quickly, Stack Your Skills, Dominate"", author, fitness expert, entrepreneur, and professional business coach Pat Flynn shares the secrets to learning (almost) every skill, from marketing and music to relationships and martial arts, teaching how to combine interests to achieve greatness in any field. "How to Be Better at Almost Everything" reveals how to: Learn any skill with only an hour of practice a day through repetition and resistance; Package all your passions into a single tool kit for success with skill stacking; Turn those passions into paychecks by transforming yourself into a person of interest. To really get ahead in today's fast-paced, constantly evolving world requires a diverse portfolio of hidden talents that can be presented at a moment's notice. The good news is that with "How to Be Better at Almost Everything" we don't need to be a genius or a prodigy to get there -- we just have to be willing to learn. Very highly recommended for community, college, and university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, "How to Be Better at Almost Everything" will teach anyone how to make their personal and professional goals an immediate reality. It should be noted for personal reading lists of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "How to Be Better at Almost Everything" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.49) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781721364701, $19.99, MP3 CD).


The Art Shelf

The Organic Painter
Carne Griffiths
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781631596087, $24.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

"The Organic Painter" by Carne Griffiths is a unique instructional guide for aspiring artist that showcases painting with tea, coffee, embroidery, flame, and more. A superbly organized, illustrated, and presented 'how to' manual for exploring unusual materials and what Griffiths' presents as playful techniques to expand an artists creative practice, "The Organic Painter" provides all the techniques and ideas needed to boost creativity, learn natural paint-making, and be more resourceful with art materials. Each individual project in this guide book comes with step-by-step instructions on how to make the paint, and also includes experiments and explorations to try. Additionally, a simple painting accompanies each featured material and combines it with other materials or techniques. Simply stated, "The Organic Painter" is a unique and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and art school instructional reference collections.

Stained Glass Projects for Beginners
Lynette Wrigley
IMM Lifestyle Books
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781504801041 $19.99 amazon.com

Featuring full-color photography on every page to illustrate its step-by-step instructions, Stained Glass Projects for Beginners lives up to its title with 31 easy-to-make projects. Offering experience-tested methods for cutting, polishing, tracing patterns, soldering, and more, Stained Glass Projects for Beginners includes projects for light catchers, lanterns, flat-panel windows, and much more. Photo galleries with dozens of design ideas round out this treasury, highly recommended for novice glass crafters!


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Shadow of the Z
Andre Franquin, et al.
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184199, $15.95, PB, 64pp, www.amazon.com

Arriving back at Champignac after their resounding victory over Zorglub and his Zorglmen (poor souls enslaved by a terrible will-negating wave) Spirou, Fantasio and the count discover the entire village paralyzed! Another potential use of the zorglwave, and a sign that Zorglub's remorse and his promise to free all of his men may not have been entirely sincere. Discovering the truth will take time, though, and send our friends on a trip far from home. With the story script ably translated from the original French into English by Jerome Saincantin, "Shadow of the Z" is the newest and fifteenth episode of the adventures of Spirou and Fantasio. Engaging humor, an original storyline, and a wonderfully entertaining read from beginning to end, "Shadow of the Z" is highly recommended, especially for community library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Shadow of the Z" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Wolf's Head
Von Allan
Von Allan Studio
www.vonallan.com
Issue 1: 9780995277229, $9.99, PB
Issue 2: 9780995277236, $9.99, PB

Written and illustrated by talented graphic novelist and artist Von Allen, "Wolf"s Head" is the story of Lauren Greene, a young African-American woman who quits her job as a police officer in Detroit and consequently struggles to pick up the pieces and find her place in society. After her mom, who suffers from a severe rheumatic heart problem, makes an astounding discovery at a research facility, Lauren must fight for their lives against forces that will stop at nothing to stop them. This new and original, full color, deftly scripted, impressively illustrated comic book series is a fully engaging, page-turner of a read and would prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.

Tank Girl All Stars
Alan Martin, author
Brett Parson, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785864803, $29.99, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com

An absolute 'must read' for the legions of Tank Girl fans, ""Tank Gril All Starts" is a colorfully irreverent Tank Gir graphic novel celebratory anthology of thirty astounding years of Tank Girl mocking, derisive, flippant, profane, cheeky, entertaining stories by author Alan Martin and illustrator Brett Parson. ! Tank Girl fans will thrill to a tankload of unmissable, unforgettable, all-new tales, along with contributions by such Tank Girl universe super-stars as Chris Wahl, Jim Mahfood, Greg Staples, Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, Jonathan Edwards and more friends from throughout Tank Girl's controversial 30 year lifetime! While very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted that "Tank Girl All Stars" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Tyler Cross: Angola
Fabien Nury, author
Bruno, illustrator
Hard Case Crime
c/o Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785867316, $24.99, HC, 104pp, www.amazon.com

A man-created hell on earth, "Angola" is the biggest high-security prison in the United States. Surrounded by swamps and crushed by the sweltering Louisiana sunshine, it is actually a brutally efficient profit making enterprise for organized crime! And then just to put the cherry on the cake, the Scarfo clan has put a price on the head of Tyler Cross -- and there are a whole load of Sicilians among Tyler's fellow inmates. If Tyler ever manages to get out of this penitentiary hell, it sure won't be for good conduct. "Tyler Cross: Angola" is a graphic novel for grown-ups and an inherently fascinating, compulsive, page-turner of a read from beginning to end! While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted for the legions of Tyler Cross fans that "Tyler Cross: Angola" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.91).


The Audiobook Shelf

The Wicked King
Holly Black
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781549171314 $25.00 amazon.com

The Wicked King is the unabridged audiobook rendition of the captivating, young adult fantasy sequel to "The Cruel Prince". In The Wicked King, Jude is a mortal who has navigated the constantly shifting realm of Faerie and bound Cardan, the titular Wicked King. But even though he is fascinated by her, he makes every effort to undermine and discredit her attempts to wield power. Jude is caught at a crossroads between her complicated feelings for Cardan, the revelation that an unknown traitor threatens the lives of everyone she loves, and her precarious political position! Enticing and shocking, The Wicked King is a delirious pleasure for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10.5 hours.

The Girls at 17 Swann Street
Yara Zgheib, author
Read by Saskia Maarleveld
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250314192 $29.99 amazon.com

The Girls at 17 Swann Street is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a novel about the harrowing, extreme burdens of anorexia. Anna Roux is a professional dancer who, beset by anorexia and depression, is forced to seek treatment when her rigorous self-starvation reduces her to a mere eighty-eight pounds. In the treatment facility at 17 Swann Street, she meets other women with life-threatening eating disorders: Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; and Julia, who has a never-ending appetite. Battling anxiety, guilt, and inward misery, the girls must learn to support one another on the long, hard road to recovery. The Girls at 17 Swann Street is a poignant, unforgettable story, highly recommended for personal and public library audiobook collections. 6 CDs, 8 hours.

At the Wolf's Table
Rosella Postorino, author
Read by Polly Stone
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250316929 $39.99 amazon.com

At the Wolf's Table: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a novel based on a disturbing true story. Twenty-five-year-old Rosa Sauer's parents are gone, and her husband is far away fighting on the front lines of World War II. She tries to find refuge with her in-laws in the countryside, but is forcibly conscripted by the SS to serve as one of Adolf Hitler's food tasters. Along with other women, she is compelled to eat Hitler's meals before he does, to ensure his food is not poisoned. Some of the women are loyal to Hitler; others insist that they are not Nazis, although they are forced to place their lives on the line for the Nazi cause. As the war progresses in Germany's disfavor, the risks of a being food taster pale before the peril of an enemy army. Intense to the very end At the Wolf's Table is an unforgettable narrative about the hard choices and lasting cruelties of war, highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10.5 hours.


The Music CD Shelf

Running Away
Timothy Wenzel with Jill Haley, Jeff Haynes, and Josie Quick
Privately Published
$14.95 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Running Away is an instrumental new age album by keyboardist, composer, arranger, and producer Timothy Wenzel. Featuring piano and synthesizer compositions, enriched with contributions from Josie Quick on violin, Jill Haley on English horn and oboe, and Jeff Haynes on percussion, Running Away is a sweeping, magical journey of the mind, and a treasure for connoisseurs of genre. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Dream of Summer", "Dancing in Darkness", "A Bit About You", "Running Away", "Makes You Wonder", "Traveling Light", "Magical Pageant", "A Friend of Mine", "Breaking Free", "Gazelle Dance", "Past Presence", and "Coronal Rain".

Exotico Americano
Frederico7
Privately Published
$TBA www.frederico7.com

Exotico Americano is the debut album of Texas-based musician Frederico7. He sings in three languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese) in the lively songs, which draw upon his life experience in Brazil, Mexico, and the USA. Tracks range in style from LatinX to blues to reggae and more. A marvellous melding of inspirations, three years in the making, Exotico Americano is a treat for connoisseurs of multicultural music connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are "Exotico Americano", "Perola Negra", "La Mirada del Halcon", "Nature of Love", "Vibran los Ancestros", "Samba Revelation", "Azul Transcendental", "Ciclo das Galaxias", "Ela Ama", "Run Free", and "Perola Negra (Adrian Wuesada Remix)".

Lost in Space
Gentleman's Dub Club
www.gentlemansdubclub.com
Easy Star Records
www.easystar.com
$13.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Lost in Space is galaxy-spanning music album drawing influences from dub, reggae, ska, bass culture, jazz, and more. Crafted with a star-searching, futuristic tone, Lost in Space is exciting, adventurous, and just plain fun for all ages to enjoy. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Lost in Space (Intro)", "Light the Fuse", "Stardust", "Ground Shakin'", "Out of This World", "God of War", "Turning Back (Ft. Million Stylez)", "Eye of the Storm", "Intergalactic", "Midnight Healing", and "Walking Away" (Ft. Winston Francis).


The DVD Shelf

Humans 3.0
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 DVD / $39.99 Blu-Ray www.acornonline.com

Available as a 3-disc DVD set or a 2-disc Blu-ray set, Humans 3.0 continues the BAFTA Award- nominated television series set in the near-future, where humanoid servants with artificial intelligence, called "Synthetics", have been created to aid busy families. Humans 3.0 is set one year after synths worldwide achieved consciousness. Synths are widely distrusted by humans, and legal battles for synth rights continue. Human lawyer Laura (played by Katherine Parkinson) fights for synth rights at a government commission; Mia (Gemma Chan) and Max (Ivanno Jeremiah) run a settlement for sentient synths. When a bomb blast at a bar open to synth patrons raises tensions, Niska (Emily Berrington) searches for the perpetrator, but her quest to bring a criminal to justice escalates into a paradigm with long-lasting consequence for both humans and synths. Science fiction allegory at its finest, Humans is utterly riveting and highly recommended. Bonus features include 24 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes. 8 episodes, approx. 391 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles.


The Photography Shelf

Find Momo Across Europe
Andrew Knapp
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
9781683691068, $14.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Now his legions of fans can once again play hide-and-seek with Momo, the bandana-wearing, head-tilting border collie who loves to tuck himself away for the stunning photographs taken by his BFF Andrew Knapp. The pair's first books ("Find Momo"; "Find Momo Coast to Coast"; and the board book "Let's Find Momo!") explored landmarks and little-known places across the US and Canada. This new addition to a novel and outstanding photographic series, "Find Momo Across Europe" features beautiful cities and landscapes throughout Europe. Join Andrew and Momo on their travels to Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, the UK, and more. See if you can spot Momo concealed in picturesque neighborhoods, among ancient ruins, around castles and cathedrals, at legendary attractions, and in off-the-beaten-path locations that only these seasoned travelers could find. It's the grand tour of Europe you've always wanted -- with Momo's cute and happy face waiting for you at every destination. A compulsively entertaining browse from first page to last, this photographic compendium is very highly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary Photography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Find Momo Across Europe" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Abandoned Italy
Robin Brinaert
Jonglez Publishing
www.jonglezpublishing.com
9782361952716 $39.95

Abandoned Italy is an unforgettable, full-color photographic treasury of abandoned buildings and locations in Italy. From decaying mansions to a disused church to a closed former psychiatric asylum, Abandoned Italy is a haunting, vivid, and historic coffee table book. A small amount of descriptive text adds context to these imposing and sometimes tragic locales. Abandoned Italy is a fascinating browse, highly recommended.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Playing with FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early)
Scott Rieckens
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608685806, $16.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

A successful entrepreneur living in Southern California, Scott Rieckens had built his version of what constitutes a "dream life": a happy marriage, a two-year-old daughter, a membership to a boat club, and a BMW in the driveway. But underneath the surface, Scott was creatively stifled, depressed, and overworked trying to help pay for his family's beach-town lifestyle. Then one day, Scott listened to a podcast interview that changed everything. Five months later, he had quit his job, convinced his family to leave their home, and cut their expenses in half. In "Playing with FIRE" readers will follow Scott and his family as they devote everything to FIRE (financial independence retire early), a subculture obsessed with maximizing wealth and happiness. Filled with inspiring case studies and powerful advice, "Playing with FIRE" is one family's journey to acquire the one thing that money can't buy: a simpler and happier life. Exceptionally well written, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Playing with FIRE" is an extraordinary story and will prove to be a popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Playing with FIRE" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.98).


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2018
Lawrence Harbison, editor
Smith & Kraus Publishers
177 Lyme Road, Lyme NH 03755-6610
www.smithandkraus.com
9781575259246, $24.95, PB, 505pp, www.amazon.com

For over thirty years Lawrence Harbison was in charge of new play acquisitions for Samuel French, Inc., where his work on behalf of playwrights resulted in the first publication of such subsequent luminaries as Jane Martin, Tina Howe, and Ken Ludwig. He is now a freelance editor, primarily for Smith and Kraus, Inc., for whom he edits annual anthologies. Now he draws upon his impressive expertise to compile and edited "The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2018", an impressive volume of the very best ten-minute plays that first appeared in 2018. The individual plays are organized into sections for two actors and for 3 & more players. Each play has its own 'info block' that includes where it premiered, who produced and/or directed it, the date of its debut, and who the featured actors were. "The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2018" is very highly recommended for community library, community theatre, college and university library collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

Dining in Paradise
Raquel Fox
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 4T8
www.fitzhenry.ca
9781770503205 $34.95 amazon.com

Showcasing full-color photography of most of its dishes, Dining in Paradise: A Food Lover's Dream of Family Style Dining in the Bahamas is a sumptuous cookbook, perfect for recreating the delicacies of a tropical vacation. Easy-to-follow recipes for Creme de Banana Stuffed-French Toast, Creamy Rock Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese, Eleuthera Pineapple Tart with Pistachio Butter, and more bring tastes from the tropics to home! Dining in Paradise is a treasure for connoisseurs of fine cuisine, highly recommended for personal use or as a giftbook.

Andaluz: A Food Journey through Southern Spain
Fiona Dunlop
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781623719999, $35.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Andaluz: A Food Journey through Southern Spain" takes the reader on an enthralling Andalucian culinary journey from sierra to sea. For nearly eight centuries from 711 to 1492, Moorish rule in Andalucia brought about a revolution in Spanish culture, resulting in architectural splendors like the Alhambra as well as a rich culinary history. "Andaluz" is a quest to illustrate the legacy of the Arabs and Berbers in the kitchens of southern Spain today. Couscous, rice, eggplant, oranges, apricots, marzipan, and a wealth of spices are just a few ever-present ingredients that owe their influence to the Moorish people along with a meticulous attention to the cultivation of olive varieties that Andalucia is renowned for. By digging deep into traditional dishes, scouring markets, and learning from home cooks, local tavern owners, and Michelin-starred restaurant chefs, In the pages of "Andaluz", culinary author Fiona Dunlop offers a vivid gastronomic window on this region. Entries from her personal travel diary accompany sumptuous recipes from Granada in the east to Cordoba at its heart and Seville in the south, bringing a taste of Moorish Spain to kitchens everywhere. With beautiful food and location photography "Andaluz" is a unique and extraordinary cookbooks with recipes ranging from Soupy Seafood Rice; Quail in Pomegranate Sauce; Pickled Mussels and Clams; and Coffee Roasted Medjool Dates with Labneh; to Spareribs Baked in Honey; Marinated Iberian Pork with Raisin Couscous; Summer Vegetables with Goat Cheese; and Skirt Steak Macerated in Orange with Spelt and Pickles. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library regional ethnic cookbook collections, "Andaluz: A Food Journey throughout Southern Spain" is unreserved recommended.

Chetna's Healthy Indian
Chetna Makan
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784725358, $29.99, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Chetna Makan was born in Jabalpur, India. She reached the semi-final of The Great British Baking Show in 2014, and her first culinary book, "The Cardamom Trail", is a celebration of baking with Indian flavors. She has a very popular YouTube channel 'Food with Chetna' where she shares her creative flair for food. In "Chetna's Healthy Indian: Everyday family meals. Effortlessly good for you" she draws upon her substantial culinary experience and expertise to showcase a compendium of beautifully illustrated and authentic dishes from India that includes salads, vegetables, lentils and grains, fish, check, flatbreads and rice, chutneys and pickles., and sweets. Of special note is the inclusion of a UK/US Glossary. Featuring an informative Introduction and a fourteen specific Menu Plans, "Chetna's Healthy Indian" is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation. While unreservedly recommended for personal, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Chetna's Healthy Indian" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).


The Social Issues Shelf

Black Lives Have Always Mattered
Abiodun Oyewole, editor
2Leaf Press
PO Box 4378, Grand Central Station, NY, NY, 10163-4378
www.2leafpress.org
9781940939612, $24.99, PB, 388pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by poet, teacher, and founding member of the American music and spoken-word group, The Last Poets, Abiodun Oyewole, "Black Lives Have Always Mattered: A Collection of Essays, Poems, and Personal Narratives" extends beyond the Black Lives Matter movement's primary agenda of police brutality to acknowledge that even when affronted with slavery, segregation and Jim Crow, racial injustice and inequality, black lives have always mattered. This anthology of essays, personal narratives, poetry and prose is organized into five sections: "Mourning Black Lives That Mattered," "Black Skin/White Masks," "Black Spaces/Black Places," "Black Lives Remembered/ Reclaimed," and "The Legacy of Black Protest Continues" that addresses a wide range of hot-button issues that disproportionately impact the black community. While written primarily by African American poets, writers, activists and scholars, selections are also from people of the Latino and African diasporas, and white activists. Collectively, these 79 contributors provide a call-to-action that challenges readers to confront long-held values and beliefs about black lives, as well as white privilege and fragility, as it surveys the historical and contemporary ravages of racism and its persistence of structural inequality. "Black Lives Have Always Mattered" also provides a first-hand perspective to a problem known to the African American community long before the Black Lives Matter movement revealed it to the general public that black lives have always mattered. Connecting the past to the present, the contributors of "Black Lives Have Always Mattered" provide an eye-opening and engaging collection that has the potential to reignite a broader push for black liberation and equality for all. Unreservedly recommended as a core addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Social Issues collections in general, and African-American Studies supplemental reading lists in particular, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Black Lives Have Always Mattered" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Poetry Shelf

Critics of Mystery Marvel
Youssef Alaoui
2Leaf Press
PO Box 4378, Grand Central Station, NY, NY, 10163-4378
www.2leafpress.org
9781940939667, $18.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

"Critics of Mystery Marvel: Collected Poems" is Youssef Alaoui's debut full-length poetry collection, which explores human relationships between individuals, cultures, races, and genders. He deftly utilizes archaic tones to formulate an artistic approach to metaphor in verse, creating images that appear wholly in the mind and not on the page. This collective anthology consists of ten sections that explores Alaoui's family and heritage, an endless source of inspiration for his varied, dark, spiritual and carnal writings. Blending surrealism, magical realism, and language alchemy, Alaoui explores the human mythos of love, poverty, politics, racism, and war. A few of the poems are written in French and Spanish, translated to English. Showcasing post-beat verse from the San Francisco Bay area and the Big-Sur, "Critics of Mystery Marvel: Collected Poems" touches the depth of the soul with poetry that is metaphorically luminous. While very highly recommended, especially for community, college, and university library Contemporary Poetry collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Critics of Mystery Marvel: Collected Poems" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).


The Woodworking Shelf

Little Book of Wooden Bowls
Kevin Wallace and Terry Martin
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781565239975 $12.99 amazon.com

Featuring striking, full-color photography on every page, Little Book of Wooden Bowls: Wood- Turned Bows Crafted by Master Artists from Around the World packs the equivalent of a grand tour of multiple museums into the palms of one's hands. Each strikingly beautiful, brilliantly crafted wooden bowl is accompanied by a brief, descriptive caption. Little Book of Wooden Bowls is a joy to browse, and highly recommended as a wondrous repository of ideas and inspiration for woodworkers.


The Gardening Shelf

A Beginner's Guide to Succulent Gardening
Taku Furuya
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804851190 $14.99 amazon.com

In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants that have some parts that are more than normally thickened and fleshy, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. Illustrated with full-color photography and simple drawings to clarify its easy-to- follow instructions, A Beginner's Guide to Succulent Gardening: A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Beautiful & Long-Lasting Succulents is a solid guide to over 100 types of succulent plants, including varieties of flowering cactus. Chapters discuss choosing the right type of succulent for one's purposes, mixing the right soils, watering, fertilizing, providing the correct amount of sunlight, seasonal traits, and much more. Reader-friendly and practical, A Beginner's Guide to Succulent Gardening is highly recommended for anyone interested in cultivating these beautiful and hardy plants.


The Political Science Shelf

Can the Working Class Change the World?
Michael D. Yates
Monthly Review Press
134 W. 29th Street, Suite 706, New York, NY 10001
www.monthlyreview.org
9781583677100 $19.00 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Author Michael D. Yates (Editorial Director of the Monthly Review Press) presents Can the Working Class Change the World?, a manifesto that openly criticizes the rampant harm caused by neoliberal capitalist policies - wage stagnation, environmental pollution and climate change, the erosion of laws designed to protect women and minorities (especially in the workplace), the decay of unions that protect the interests of workers, economic instability verging on outright disasters such as the Great Recession of 2008, and much more. If such pervasive problems are inextricably linked to capitalism, then how can social and economic policy be changed for the better? And can the working class bring a better tomorrow about? Regardless of one's personal view of policies that diverge from neoliberal capitalism (Yates' recommendations include socialization of transportation and child care, among many other daunting transformations of the status quo), Can the Working Class Change the World? undeniably illuminates drastic flaws of the current, capital-driven political climate, and the need for a government that better serves the vast majority of its citizens. Highly recommended.


The Sports Shelf

The Baseball Game I'll Never Forget
Edited by Steve Milton
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228100232 $24.95

The Baseball Game I'll Never Forget: Fifty Major Leaguers Recall Their Finest Moments lives up to its title as a compendium of amazing, true-life tales from the great sport of baseball through the decades. Vintage black-and-white and color photographs of scenes from the sport, as well as classic trading cards, illustrate these vignettes capturing moments of edge-of-seat excitement. The Baseball Game I'll Never Forget is a joy to browse and makes an excellent giftbook for enthusiasts of the sport. Highly recommended!


The Travel Shelf

Soul of Tokyo
Fany and Amandine Pechiodat
Jonglez Publishing
www.jonglezpublishing.com
9782361952907 $14.95 amazon.com

Packed with striking, full-color photography thought, Soul of Tokyo: A Guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences lives up to its title of the most standout, "must-see" destinations when visiting Tokyo. Specially selected from over 1,000 tested candidates, these locations include the "Mori Building Digital Art", a one-of-a-kind digital art museum; "Gen Yamamoto", where one can drink the ultimate cocktail; "The World's Smallest Bookstore", which sells only one book and tailors its entire room to the featured title, including the opportunity to meet the author and view objects associated with the story (a new book is chosen every week); the best of the best onsens and beauty spas; and much more. Soul of Tokyo is sure to delight armchair travelers, and is the perfect tourist's treasure for making memories that will last a lifetime! Highly recommended.

Secret London: Unusual Bars & Restaurants
Hannah Robinson and Rachel Howard
Jonglez Publishing
www.jonglezpublishing.com
9782361952808 $21.95 amazon.com

Featuring with full-color photography throughout, Secret London: Unusual Bars & Restaurants is a guide to more than 140 incredible London culinary venues, from a Korean karaoke club to the open kitchen culinary bookshop "Books for Cooks", and much more. The descriptive text makes Secret London: Unusual Bars & Restaurants a treasure for armchair travelers, as well as an excellent resource for gustatorians visiting London on business or pleasure! Highly recommended.

A Textile Traveler's Guide to Peru & Bolivia
Cynthia LeCount Samake
Thrums Books
ThrumsBooks.com
9781732352858 $24.95 pbk / $15.95 Kindle amazon.com

Showcasing full-color photography on almost every page, A Textile Traveler's Guide to Peru & Bolivia is a descriptive supplementary guide for any textile aficionado visiting the nations of Peru or Bolivia, whether on business or pleasure. Chapters give advice on safe travel, recommend choice places to stay or dine, point the reader toward the best textile markets, make suggestions for ethical shopping, and much more. A Textile Traveler's Guide to Peru & Bolivia is also sure to enthrall armchair travelers, and is a delight simply to page through. Highly recommended.


The Beer Shelf

Beer At My Table
Tonia Wilson
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 4T8
www.fitzhenry.ca
9781770503182 $34.95

Full-color photography enlivens Beer At My Table: Recipes, Beer Styles and Food Pairings, a guide to fully enjoying beer with one's meals by chef and beer sommelier Tonia Wilson. Beer At My Table explores 35 different beer styles, pairing each one with a seasonal recipe and a descriptive summary of why the beer and the dish complement one another. An extensive introductory section offers a reader-friendly olfactory and gustatory analysis of pairing beer with appropriate cuisine, and an index rounds out this treasury for anyone who loves good food and great beer! Highly recommended.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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