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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 15, Number 9 September 2020 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Business Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
General Fiction Shelf Romantic Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Biography Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Music Shelf Gardening Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Art Shelf Poetry Shelf Education Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Cookbook Shelf American History Shelf
Travel Shelf Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf
DVD Shelf Sports Shelf Automotive Shelf
Parenting Shelf Self-Help Shelf 


Reviewer's Choice

The Power of Positive Aging
David Allan Lereah
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781610353601, $15.95, PB, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-Aging-Successfully-Inconveniences/dp/1610353609
Synopsis: Americans now live longer than ever -- a full 30 years longer than they did in the early 20th century. Our forever-young culture and personal expectations have not yet adapted to that change. These extra years can be a burden or an adventure, depending on your mental attitude. You can't fight the inevitable changes to your aging body, but in "The Power of Positive Aging: Successfully Coping with the Inconveniences of Aging", author David Lereah says these changes are at worst inconveniences that won't prevent living a fulfilling life.

"The Power of Positive Aging" offers a practical training guide to successfully cope with the physical and mental decline that accompanies aging. Based on life lessons learned during Lereah's successful battle against cancer, "The Power of Positive Aging" gives readers an easy-to-follow program of mental and spiritual exercises teaching mindfulness and acceptance, plus strategies for pursuing a balanced life and seeking and accepting social support.

"The Power of Positive Aging" shows how simple lifestyle modifications will transform your everyday life, helping you to live more joyously for the rest of your years. Growing older can be the best part of living when you embrace the power of positive aging.

Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "The Power of Positive Aging: Successfully Coping with the Inconveniences of Aging" offers a wealth of instructional advice, insights, and practical information with respect to the aging process and the coping mechanisms that will enable men and women to enjoy whatever extra years they may experience. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Self-Help/Self- Improvement collections in general, and Aging Issues supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "The Power of Positive Aging: Successfully Coping with the Inconveniences of Aging" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note: David Lereah is an economist, cancer survivor, motivational speaker, and founder of the nonprofit organization United We Age. He previously was the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He is the author of four books, the most recent being "All Real Estate Is Local". Lereah's economic commentary has regularly appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Businessweek, and on CNN, CNBC, and other media.

Easy Card Tricks
Peter Arnold
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600634706, $7.99, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Card-Tricks-Peter-Arnold/dp/0600634701

Synopsis: Now with "Easy Card Tricks" by Peter Arnold, anyone can easily learn more than seventy fun card tricks that are easy to master and will astound both friends and family. The tricks are simple but impressive, and clear explanations make them accessible to every budding magician.

"Easy Card Tricks" includes mathematical dupes, sleights of hand, "mind-reading" stunts, expert tricks and card predictions that will seem impossible to an observer. Some of these tricks need no special skills at all, some need basic equipment, and some need simple conjuring skills to make the false shuffles, double lifts and glides look effortless. But all of the tricks are impressive and, with a little bit of practice, even the most novice beginner will soon be a true master of illusion!

Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly', fun and friendly in organization and presentation, "Easy Card Tricks: Over 70 Tricks That Anyone Can Learn!" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Card Game and DIY Magic Tricks collections.

Editorial Note: Peter Arnold has written over 40 books on football, cricket, boxing, gambling, snooker, darts and cards. He was also the co-author of the successful "Complete Book of Card Games" and General Editor on "The Official Rules of Sports and Games".

Chainsaws: A History
David Lee
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.harbourpublishing.com
9781550179118, $34.95, PB, 216pp

https://www.amazon.com/Chainsaws-History-David-Lee/dp/155017911X

Synopsis: A chainsaw is a portable, mechanical saw which cuts with a set of teeth attached to a rotating chain that runs along a guide bar. It is used in activities such as tree felling, limbing, bucking, pruning, cutting firebreaks in wildland fire suppression and harvesting of firewood. Chainsaws with specially designed bar and chain combinations have been developed as tools for use in chainsaw art and chainsaw mills. These specialized chainsaws are used for cutting concrete during construction developments. Chainsaws are sometimes used for cutting ice, for example, ice sculpture and winter swimming in Finland. Someone who uses a saw is a sawyer. (Wikipedia)

With hundreds of full-colour photographs and fascinating ephemera, combined with an authoritative text listing hundreds of chainsaw models from the 1800s to the present, "Chainsaws: A History" by David Lee (in conjunction with Mike Acres) carefully traces the evolutionary threads of countless pioneer devices -- from six-hundred-pound steam-powered behemoths, to gas chainsaws mounted on wheeled carriages, to diesel chainsaws.

The meticulous and informative text examines Andreas Stihl's Black Forest experiments, Vancouver's booming WWII chainsaw industry and the postwar race to develop one-man saws, the rise and fall of Canada's proud Pioneer brand, and the late entry into the field of the centuries-old arms manufacturer Husqvarna.

Recalling once-familiar brands such as Titan, Timberhog, Bluestreak, Hi-Baller, Hornet, Wasp, IEL, Partner, PM, Poulan, Dolmar, Danarm, Disston, Remington, Canadien, Lombard, Mall, McCulloch, Shade, Solo, Be-Bo and Jo-Bu among others, author David Lee worked together with some of the world's leading chainsaw history experts to create this tribute to one of humanity's most labor-saving inventions.

Lee concludes this new paperback edition of "Chainsaws: A History" with a note on recent advances in chainsaw technology (notably the cordless electric chainsaw, powered by a lithium-ion battery) bringing readers up to date on today's lightweight modern machine.

Critique: An indispensable and comprehensively informative reference source for professionals and non-specialist general readers with an interest in chainsaws or chainsaw technology, "Chainsaws: A History" Is profusely illustrated throughout in full color and certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, community, and academic library collections.

Editorial Note: David Lee's books range from Four-Wheeling on Southern Vancouver Island (Harbour Publishing, 1997), a guide to the island's rugged back roads, to Commander Zero (Tightrope Books, 2012), a novel set on the BC coast. His other books include Stopping Time: Paul Bley and the Transformation of Jazz (Vehicule Press, 1998) and The Battle of the Five Spot: Ornette Coleman and the New York Jazz Field (Wolsak and Wynn, 2014). Lee is originally from Mission, BC, and lived in Pender Harbour, BC, where he gained the hands-on experience that led him to write Chainsaws. He now lives in Hamilton, Ontario, the setting for his award-winning Midnight Games (Wolsak and Wynn, 2015) trilogy.

Seaweed: An Enchanting Miscellany
Mich Zwamborn
Greystone Books
www.greystonebooks.com
9781771645997, $18.95, HC, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Seaweed-Enchanting-Miscellany-Miek-Zwamborn/dp/1771645997

Synopsis: Seaweed is so familiar, and yet we know so little about it. Even its names (pepper dulse, sea lettuce, bladderwrack) are mystifying.

"Seaweed: An Enchanting Miscellany" is exquisitely illustrated portrait in which poet and artist Miek Zwamborn shares her discoveries of seaweed's history, culture, and science.

We encounter its medicinal and gastronomic properties and long history of human use, from the Neolithic people of the Orkney islands to sushi artisans in modern Japan. We find seaweed troubling Columbus on his voyages across the Atlantic and intriguing Humboldt in the Sargasso Sea. We follow its inspiration for artists from Hokusai to Matisse, its collection by Victorians as pressed specimens in books, its adoption into fashion and dance, and its potential for combating climate change, as a sustainable food source and a means of reducing methane emissions in cattle.

And, of course, "Seaweed: An Enchanting Miscellany" shows how to eat seaweed, through a fabulous series of recipes based around these "truffles of the seas".

Critique: Unique, fun, informative, and profusely, beautifully illustrated, "Seaweed: An Enchanting Miscellany" is an extraordinary and inherently fascinating descriptive history, value, artistic and culinary culture of seaweed. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library collections.

Editorial Note: Living and working as a lock keeper for fifteen years on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, Miek Zwamborn is a visual artist, author, and translator who studied fine arts in Amsterdam.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
Christopher Vogler
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615933150, $29.95, PB, 510pp

https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Anniversary-Mythic-Structure/dp/1615933158

Synopsis: Celebrating twenty-five years since it's first edition was published, "The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers" by Christopher Vogler is now released by Michael Wiese Productions in a newly updated and expanded fourth edition.

Originally an influential memo Vogler wrote for Walt Disney Animation executives regarding The Lion King, "The Writer's Journey" details a twelve-stage, myth-inspired method that has galvanized Hollywood's treatment of cinematic storytelling.

A format that once seldom deviated beyond a traditional three-act blueprint, Vogler's comprehensive theory of story structure and character development has met with universal acclaim, and is detailed herein using examples from myths, fairy tales, and classic movies.

As an instructional guide and manual, "The Writer's Journey" has changed the face of screenwriting worldwide over the last 25 years, and continues to do so to this very day.

Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "The Writer's Journey - 25th Anniversary Edition: Mythic Structure for Writers" must be considered essential reading for all aspiring script writers and storytellers. It should be noted for community and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections that "The Writer's Journey - 25th Anniversary Edition: Mythic Structure for Writers" is also available in a library hardcover edition (9781615933235, $39.95).

Your Turn: Ways to Celebrate Life Through Storytelling
Tyra Manning
www.tyramanning.com
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781631524561, $16.95, PB, 168pp

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Turn-Celebrate-Through-Storytelling/dp/1631524569

Synopsis: Creative expression through writing helps us uncover gems of hope and serenity, enabling us to navigate difficult times. Sharing stories with one another fills the space between us, inspires us, helps us forge stronger relationships, and teaches us that we're more alike than different.

In "Your Turn: Ways to Celebrate Life Through Storytelling", writer and educator Tyra Manning offers examples of stories from her own life, followed by an invitation for readers to delve onto their own emotional histories, with plenty of room to explore on the page with writing prompts and tools.

Basically, "Your Turn" is an instructional guidebook and DIY manual for transformation through self-expression, sparking the reader's creative thought and offers a space to document their own self-reflection -- helping them overcome challenges and move forward.

Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "Your Turn: Ways to Celebrate Life Through Storytelling" is an ideal choice for any DIY 'how to' guide for aspiring writers wanting to utilize the power of the written word to analyze themselves or take advantage of the cathartic effects of a personalized memoir or autobiography. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Your Turn: Ways to Celebrate Life Through Storytelling" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note; Dr. Tyra Manning overcame personal struggles with substance abuse and mental illness and went on to become one of America's top educators. As Superintendent of River Forest District 90 in Illinois, she presided for twelve years over high-performing public-school districts, where her students often reached the highest levels of academic achievement. Her debut book, "Where the Water Meets the Sand", was awarded the Independent Book Publisher's (IBPA) 2017 Benjamin Franklin Gold Award for Best Memoir and the Texas Association of Authors Award for Best Autobiography. She blogs twice per week at her website: www.tyramanning.com


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Lifeboat: Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption
Maggie Craddock
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608686841, $17.95, PB, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lifeboat-Navigating-Unexpected-Career-Disruption/dp/1608686841
Synopsis: Exacerbated by today's pandemic driven economic depression, today's hardworking professionals are continuing to have to navigate sudden waves of financial stress, management shakeups, and downsizing.

Using the experiences of Titanic survivors as a powerful metaphor, executive coach Maggie Craddock offers lessons for a transformative approach to our professional lives, one that recognizes that "every man for himself" doesn't work long-term.

"Lifeboat: Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption" is organized as a series of key questions we all need to ask ourselves when facing unexpected career disruption or difficult changes at our existing jobs. These questions help readers clarify their authentic priorities, assess the group energy that guides a particular workplace, and identify the type of job that will help them reach their true potential.

Critique: Exceptionally informative and well written, "Lifeboat: Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption" is impressively organized and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, making it an ideal DIY addition to personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Jobs/Careers instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Lifeboat: Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Maggie Craddock is a veteran executive coach known for her work with Fortune 500 CEOs and senior management. She is also a certified therapist and the author of "The Authentic Career and Power Genes".


The Business Shelf

Profit or Wealth?
Ruth King
Morgan James Publishing
11815 Fountain Way, Suite 300, Newport News, VA 23606-4448
www.morganjamespublishing.com
9781642799392, $14.95, PB, 154pp

https://www.amazon.com/Profit-Wealth-Simple-Sustainable-Business/dp/1642799394

Synopsis: Many business owners just worry about profits and ignore business wealth building, but a business to survive and prosper needs both. Without building wealth, any business can still go bankrupt.

Unlike books which solely focus on building personal wealth, "Profit or Wealth?: Simple Rules for Sustainable Business Growth" by Ruth King gives business owners and entrepreneurs clear and simple rules to build business wealth which can translate to personal wealth.

"Profit or Wealth?" takes a unique perspective on what really matters in financial statements. Percentages don't matter. Dollars do. For example, are those business owners discover why looking at net profit percentages or gross margins can get them in trouble.

Critique: Simply stated, in this present economic crisis that threatens to turn a pandemic created recession into a plague state depression, "Profit or Wealth?: Simple Rules for Sustainable Business Growth" is a timely and important contribution to personal, professional, community, corporate, and collge/university library Business Management and Wealth Management collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of business owners and entrepreneurs that "Profit or Wealth?" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Ruth King holds an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University and bachelor's and master's Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively. She started the Decatur, Georgia branch of the Small Business Development Center in 1982. She also started the Women's Entrepreneurial Center and taught a year-long course for women who wanted to start their own businesses. More recently, Ruth was the instructor for the Inner-City Entrepreneur (ICE) program in conjunction with the Small Business Administration. She has also been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal Radio Network, the Big Biz Show, and many regional and local radio programs. Ruth has appeared on MSNBC's "It's Your Money" program, Fox San Diego, and many other local television stations. Ruth has spoken internationally for Kohler, Carrier Corporation, Safeguard (division of Deluxe), and many other corporations and national/state/local associations.

Courageous Cultures
Karin Hurt & Danny Dye
HarperCollins Leadership
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway, New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781400219537, $24.99, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Cultures-Karin-Hurt/dp/1400219531

Synopsis: Many business leaders and corporate executives are convinced that they have an open environment that encourages their employees to speak up and are shocked when they learn that employees are often holding back. Employees have ideas and want to be heard. Leadership wants to hear them. Too often, however, employees and leaders both feel that no one cares about making things better. The disconnect typically only widens over time, with both sides becoming more firmly entrenched in their viewpoints.

Becoming a courageous culture means building teams of microinnovators, problem solvers, and customer advocates working together. A microinnovator is the employee who consistently seeks out small, but powerful, ways to improve the business. A problem solver is the employee who cares about what's not working and wants to make it better. They uncover and speak openly about what's not working and think critically about how to fix it. A customer advocate is the employee who sees through your customers' eyes and speaks up on their behalf. They actively look for ways to improve customers' experience and minimize customer frustrations.

In our world of rapid change, a courageous culture is your competitive advantage. It ensures that your company is "sticky" for both customers and employees. In this book you'll learn practical tools to uncover, leverage, and scale the best ideas from every level of your organization.

Collaboratively written by the team of Karin Hurt and Danny Dye, "Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates" is the result of their latest research conducted and confirms why organizations struggle when it comes to creating strong cultures where employees are encouraged to contribute their best thinking.

"Courageous Cultures" shows how proven models and tools that leaders can apply throughout all levels of the organization can successfully re-engage and motivate employees; understand best practices from companies around the world; and learn how to apply these strategies and techniques in their own organizations.

Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates" is an ideal DIY course of instruction that will lay out a successful approach for management to get the most value out of what their employees have to offer to maximize corporate success in a highly competitive and highly stressful business environment. While especially recommended for corporate, community, and college/university library Business Management collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781713527213, $24.91, CD).


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

The Kilroys List: Volume Two
Annah Feinberg, et al.
Theatre Communications Group
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th floor, New York, NY 10018-4156
http://www.tcg.org/publications
9781559369541, $16.95, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Kilroys-List-Vol-Monologues-Playwrights/dp/155936954X

Synopsis: The Kilroys are a gang of playwrights and producers who came together in Los Angeles in 2013 to stop talking about gender parity in theater and start taking action. In 2014, they released their first annual List: a vetted collection of plays written by women, trans, and nonbinary writers, nominated by hundreds of professional artistic directors, literary managers, professors, directors, and dramaturgs.

Now in a second volume, The Kilroys are back with a new collection of 67 monologues and scenes by women and nonbinary playwrights. This collection includes a monologue or scene from each play from the 2016 and 2017 editions of The List.

Critique: All aspiring actors and theatre buffs will appreciated this new anthology that is an ideal as a reference for auditions and acting class practices. While especially recommended for community theatre, school theatrical class curriculums, community and college/university library Theatre collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Kilroys List: Volume Two" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Hoodoo Cleansing and Protection Magic
Miss Aida
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578636976, $16.95, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Cleansing-Protection-Magic-Unpleasant/dp/1578636973

Synopsis: Does your house feel a little wonky? Is someone giving you the evil eye? Are you just having a run of bad luck or have you been cursed? Miss Aida answers all these questions and more in the pages of "Hoodoo Cleansing and Protection Magic: Banish Negative Energy and Ward Off Unpleasant People".

In this unique metaphysical handbook, Miss Aida offers sound, practical advice for all sorts of dicey situations, large and small. "Hoodoo Cleansing and Protection Magic" is filled with rituals, spells, and Miss Aida's own personal magical formulas for removing negative energies, breaking malevolent spells, and banishing harmful people so that you can take control and live your best life.

A seasoned magical practitioner from an eclectic background, Miss Aida shares her own psychic and spiritual experiences in order to help you cleanse and protect your space, aura, and loved ones. Within these pages, you will learn how to: Avoid and protect yourself from negative entities; Understand unpleasant, negative, and predatory people and take action against them; Break a cycle of bad luck; Distinguish reputable ghost hunters from frauds and amateurs; Recognize bewitched or possessed objects and remove their effects.

Critique: A unique and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide, "Hoodoo Cleansing and Protection Magic: Banish Negative Energy and Ward Off Unpleasant People" will prove to be an inherently fascinating and exceptionally informative read for dedicated metaphysical students and practitioners.

Enhanced with an informative Foreword by author, teacher, psychic, spirit worker, and aromatherapist Judika Illes and highly recommended for community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Hoodoo Cleansing and Protection Magic: Banish Negative Energy and Ward Off Unpleasant People" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Miss Aida was born into a family with a long history of spiritual work; most of her family practiced santeria, palo, or brujeria - or a combination of all three. She later learned hoodoo from esteemed teachers. A natural medium and hoodoo practitioner, she is also a US Air Force veteran and a registered nurse.

Holy Ice: Past Lives & Crystal Skulls
Paulinne Delcour-Min
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
www.ozarkmt.com
9781940265766, $20.00, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Ice-Crystal-Skulls-Secrets/dp/1940265762

In the pages of "Holy Ice: Past Lives & Crystal Skulls", author Paulinne Delcour-Min takes us on a breathtaking journey through time, to the heart of the mystery of the crystal skulls. Revered by shamans, held by indigenous peoples, displayed in the museums of the world, the crystal skulls are ancient artifacts that can inspire us to awaken to our power.

Change is coming: global warming, pollution. Today's environmental crisis shows that the old ways aren't working. We can't stop change, but we can choose to work with it and bring in a Golden Age. In "Holy Ice: Past Lives & Crystal Skulls", past life memories researched through regression span from Atlantis to the present day, building a cosmic vision for the future -- underscoring that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

Within the pages of "Holy Ice: Past Lives & Crystal Skulls" are to be found the secrets of time.

Critique: An inherently fascinating, impressive informative, exceptionally well organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Holy Ice: Past Lives & Crystal Skulls" is an especially original and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject that "Holy Ice: Past Lives & Crystal Skulls" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Paulinne Delcour-Min lives with her husband on the northeast coast of England. Paulinne loves the beauty of plants and her garden is an intimate place brimming with flowers. Gardening is her joy and provides a good counterbalance to the heady work of past lives and healing through time. As she says, gardening is a very grounding activity. Her eyes are on the stars and our future, but her hands and her heart are firmly committed to the Earth. She is here to make a difference.

Edgar Allan Poe Tarot
Rose Wright, author
Eugene Smith, illustrator
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738760339, $31.99, Cards, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Edgar-Allan-Tarot-Rose-Wright/dp/0738760331

Synopsis: Blending the divinatory power of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot with the visionary writings of Edgar Allan Poe, "Edgar Allan Poe Tarot" from Llewellyn Publications is a very special and unique tarot deck that provides the practitioner with deep spiritual insights into who they are and what they might become.

The stunning artwork by Eugene Smith is based on Rose Wright's retelling and referencing of Poe's tales of the mysterious and the macabre illuminates the imagination and opens the soul to fantastical realms of spirit.

Critique: The "Edgar Allan Poe Tarot" would grace any personal, professional, community, or college/university library collection and the accompanying instruction guide and manual will prove ideal for the novice and have a great deal of value for even the experienced tarot reader.

Editorial Note: Rose Wright is an author, certified Reiki healer, and lifelong student of tarot and astrology who often engages along the Los Angeles shoreline practicing healing arts and energy work. Her work has been featured in Refinery 29, New Worlds Magazine, and New Leaf Magazine.

Eugene Smith pursued a BFA in painting and drawing from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and his artwork and illustrations have appeared in books, editorials, tarot card decks, and educational graphic novels.


The General Fiction Shelf

The Lions of Fifth Avenue
Fiona Davis
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group USA
https://www.penguin.com
9781524744618, $27.00, HC, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Fifth-Avenue-Novel/dp/1524744611

Synopsis: It's 1913, and on the surface, Laura Lyons couldn't ask for more out of life -- her husband is the superintendent of the New York Public Library, allowing their family to live in an apartment within the grand building, and they are blessed with two children.

But headstrong, passionate Laura wants more, and when she takes a leap of faith and applies to the Columbia Journalism School, her world is cracked wide open. As her studies take her all over the city, she is drawn to Greenwich Village's new bohemia, where she discovers the Heterodoxy Club -- a radical, all-female group in which women are encouraged to loudly share their opinions on suffrage, birth control, and women's rights. Soon, Laura finds herself questioning her traditional role as wife and mother.

But when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and institution she loves, she's forced to confront her shifting priorities head on -- and may just lose everything in the process.

Eighty years later, in 1993, Sadie Donovan struggles with the legacy of her grandmother, the famous essayist Laura Lyons, especially after she's wrangled her dream job as a curator at the New York Public Library. But the job quickly becomes a nightmare when rare manuscripts, notes, and books for the exhibit Sadie's running begin disappearing from the library's famous Berg Collection.

Determined to save both the exhibit and her career, the typically risk-adverse Sadie teams up with a private security expert to uncover the culprit. However, things unexpectedly become personal when the investigation leads Sadie to some unwelcome truths about her own family heritage -- truths that shed new light on the biggest tragedy in the library's history.

Critique: An original, immediately riveting and totally absorbing novel by a gifted author with a genuine flair for reader engaging narrative storytelling, "The Lion's of Fifth Avenue" by Fiona Davis will prove to be an immediate and popular addition to community library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all Fiona Davis fans that "The Lion's of Fifth Avenue" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99). Librarians should also note that there is a large print paperback edition of "The Lion's of Fifth Avenue" (Random House Large Print, 9780593285985, $29.00, 464pp).

Murmurations
Carol Lefevre
Spinifex Press
www.spinifexpress.com.au
9781925950083, $19.95, PB, 112pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murmurations-Carol-Lefevre/dp/1925950085

Synopsis: For the first time since he'd left the island he thought of the starlings massed at dusk in the winter trees behind the children's home. He remembered the rustle of their wings when they twisted in skeins over the fields, or swelled and contracted high above the cliffs, dark wave after dark wave, lifting and falling in a kind of dance. Sister Lucy had said it was a murmuration.

He was still quite young, and he had thought the birds were showing him a sign, that there was something written in their fluid patterns. Lives merge and diverge; they soar and plunge, or come to rest in impenetrable silence.

Critique: Carol Lefevre holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Adelaide, where she is a Visiting Research Fellow. "Murmurations" is an exquisitely crafted novella that showcases Lefevre's genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative storytelling style that engages the readers full and rapt attention throughout. An elegant work of original fiction, "Murmurations" is especially recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Murmurations" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Beyond the Higher Ground
Thomas A. Brigger
Page Publishing Inc.
101 Tyrellan Avenue Suite 100 New York, NY 10309
www.pagepublishing.com
9781645449676, $20.95, PB, 330pp

https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Brigger/dp/164544967X

Synopsis: Tasked with an assignment to manage the construction of a prison on a remote Appalachian mountaintop, Tucker Mason sees an opportunity to restart his life past the death of his wife and the recurring demons of his childhood.

But strange occurrences at the house that he rented on Bright's Mountain and the suspicion of drugs being smuggled through the prison construction site create distractions that lead to violence, intrigue, and his own imperilment.

Struggling under the weight of loss and guilt, Tucker encounters a world that he never knew existed in the shadow of the emerging prison.

Offering a unique perspective on the human condition, "Beyond the Higher Ground" by Thomas Brigger provides a historical glimpse of Southwestern Virginia to a powerful exposition of the drug crisis that has devastated the region and the abject brutality of those who deliver it.

Critique: Showcasing author Thomas A. Brigger's impressive flair for narrative storytelling and keen attention to dramatic detail and unexpected plot twists and turns, "Beyond The Higher Ground" is a compelling, entertaining, and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Beyond The Higher Ground" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Tea by the Sea
Donna Hemans
Red Hen Press
P.O. Box 40820 Pasadena, CA 91114
www.redhen.org
9781597098458, $16.95, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tea-Sea-Donna-Hemans/dp/1597098450

Synopsis: To find the daughter taken from her, Plum Valentine must find the child's father who walked out of a hospital with the day-old baby girl without explanation. Seventeen years later, weary of her unfruitful search, Plum sees an article in a community newspaper with a photo of the man for whom she has spent half her life searching. He has become an Episcopal priest. Her plan: confront him and walk away with the daughter he took from her.

From Brooklyn to the island of Jamaica, "Tea by the Sea" traces Plum's circuitous route to find her daughter and how Plum's and the priest's love came apart.

Donna Hermans novel, "Tea by the Sea" is the story of a seventeen-year-old girl who was taken from her mother at birth; an Episcopal priest with a daughter whose face he cannot bear to see; and a mother weary of searching for her lost child -- the story a family uniting and unraveling.

Critique: A deftly crafted and entertaining work of impressive literary nuance, "Tea by the Sea" by Donna Hemans is an extraordinary, original, and inherently fascinating novel that is especially and unreservedly commended as an addition to both community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. One of those all too rare novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book is finished and set back upon the shelf, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tea by the Sea" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).

Lily Rose
Deborah Robinson
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510764057, $24.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lily-Rose-Novel-Deborah-Robinson/dp/1510764054

Synopsis: Love has set the tone for most of Lily Rose's young life in Cumberland Falls, high in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. But her perfect world falls apart when her beloved adopted parents are tragically killed and she is sent to live at Red Rose Farm, in the Bluegrass. Lily starts high school and meets her first love, who introduces the idea of a much bigger world to Lily. This relationship spurs her to pursue the grit and glamour of the New York fashion world and a marriage that will nearly cause her demise.

"Lily Rose" by Deborah Robinson follows Lily as she grows into a New York fashion icon and battles abuse, power struggles, and infertility. In the shadows, we learn about the young woman who gave Lily up and how they will collide. Lily Rose is about love and marriage, infidelity, infertility, and identity. It also calls into questions the old adages blood is thicker than water and nothing is more important than family. Will Lily Rose ever find what she has been searching for? And most importantly, will she be able to stay true to herself in the process?

Critique: An inherently interesting novel written by an author with a positive flair for originality and narrative storytelling, "Lily Rose" will have a very special appeal and appreciation to readers who like a deftly crafted novel that will engage their total attention from first page to last. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lily Rose" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

The Wild Heavens
Sarah Louis Butler
Douglas & McIntyre
c/o Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
9781771622585, $22.95, PB, 274pp

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Heavens-Sarah-Louise-Butler/dp/177162258X

Synopsis: It all starts with an impossibly large set of tracks, footprints for a creature that could not possibly exist. A hairy, nine-foot creature that would become a lifelong obsession for Aidan Fitzpatrick, and in turn, his granddaughter Sandy Langley.

"The Wild Heavens" spans the course of single winter day, interspersed with memories from Sandy's life -- childhood days spent with her distracted, scholarly grandfather in a remote cabin in British Columbia's interior mountains; later recollections of new motherhood; and then the tragic disappearance that would irrevocably shape the rest of her life, a day when all signs of the mysterious creature would disappear for thirty years.

When the enigmatic tracks finally reappear, Sandy sets out on the trail alone, determined to find out the truth about the mystery that has shaped her life.

Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "The Wild Heavens" is author Sarah Louis Butler's debut as a novelist, this fully entertaining, impressively original, and deftly craft story is thoroughly reader engaging from first page to last thanks to a narrative driven storytelling skill set that ensures this will be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to any and all community library Contemporary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Wild Heavens" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

The Zulus of New York
Zakes Mda
Penguin Random House South Africa
c/o Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781415210154, $17.00, PB, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/Zulus-New-York-Professor-Zakes/dp/1415210152

Synopsis: The Great Farini would stride on to the stage and announce,"Ladies and gentlemen, and now for the highlight of the day, the ferocious Zulus." The impresario Farini introduced Em-Pee and his troupe to his kind of show business, and now they must earn their bread. In 1885, in bustling New York City, they are the performers who know the true Zulu dances, while all around them fraudsters perform silly jigs.

Reports on the Anglo-Zulu War portrayed King Cetshwayo as infamous, and audiences in London and New York flock to see his kin. What the gawking spectators don't know is that Em-Pee once carried nothing but his spear and shield, when he had to flee his king. But amid the city's squalid vaudeville acts appears a vision that leaves Em-Pee breathless: in a cage in Madison Square Park is Acol, a Dinka princess on display.

For Em-Pee, it is love at first sight, though Acol is not free to love anyone back.

Critique: A unique, deftly crafted, and fully entertaining novel by a master of the narrative storytelling arts, "The Zulus Of New York" by Zakes Mda is a compelling page turner of a read from beginning to end. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both community and college/university library Literary Fiction collections.

Nancy: A Physician's Tale
Thomas M. Daniel
Fithian Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
www.danielpublishing.com
9781564746238, $14.95, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Physicians-Thomas-M-Daniel/dp/1564746232

Synopsis: Third-year medical student Nancy Vincent is one capable, intelligent, self-confident, take-charge Wonder Woman. Her Sherlockian diagnostic skills made it possible for her to save a patient in serious trouble from tetanus, also called lockjaw. Nancy had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia and wants to be come as good a doctor as her father. She impresses her fellow students, her trainers, and her instructors, especially Dr. Arthur Loring, her mentor who in due time will become much more to her.

Critique: Thomas M. Daniel's "Nancy: A Physician's Tale" is an original, engaging, entertaining, and pleasurable novel by an author with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative storytelling that will make it an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists, as well as community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.

How to Save a Life
Liz Fenton Lisa Steinke
Lake Union Publishing
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781542005098, $14.95, PB, 303pp

https://www.amazon.com/How-Save-Life-Liz-Fenton/dp/1542005094

Synopsis: When Dom bumps into Mia, his ex-fiancee whom he hasn't seen in almost a decade, he believes they've been given a second chance and asks her out. When Mia dies tragically on their date, Dom makes a desperate wish: to be given the chance to save her life. And when he wakes the next morning to the shock that she's alive, he thinks his wish may have been granted. But day after day, no matter what he changes about their time together, she still meets a terrible fate.

Dom frantically searches for answers to save his beloved Mia and rekindle their former love. But the further he digs, the more obsessed he becomes, making him realize that slowing down time may be the only way to see things clearly. As he's forced to confront the truth about himself and those he's closest to, Dom vows that he'll watch Mia die a thousand times if it means he can save her once.

Dom is having a very bad day -- one he literally can't escape from.

Critique: The collaborative efforts of co-authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, "How To Save A Life" is an impressively original, deftly written, and thoroughly entertaining novel from first page to last. An extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "How To Save A Life" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781799767794, $14.99, CD).


The Romantic Fiction Shelf

Life Once Dreamed
Rachel Fordham
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
www.dreamscapeab.com/audiobooks
9780800738662, $20.99, HC, 338pp

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Once-Dreamed-Rachel-Fordham/dp/0800738667

Synopsis: Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in the 1880s frontier community of Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.

When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie's pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves -- but he is the one person who can never know.

In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can't seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?

Critique: Another beautifully crafted historical romance from the consummate storyteller Rachel Fordham, "A Life Once Dreamed" will be an especially appreciated and popular addition to community library Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all romance fiction fans that "A Life Once Dreamed" is readily available in a paperback edition (9780800735395, $15.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781662018121, $19.99, CD).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Readers' Room
Antoine Laurain, author
Emily Boyce, Jane Aitken, Polly Mackintosh, translators
Gallic Books
www.gallicbooks.com
9781910477960, $19.95, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Room-Antoine-Laurain/dp/1910477966

Synopsis: When the manuscript of a debut crime novel arrives at a Parisian publishing house, everyone in the readers' room is convinced that it is something truly special. And the committee for France's highest literary honour, the Prix Goncourt, agrees.

But when the shortlist is announced, there's a problem for editor Violaine Lepage: she has no idea of the author's identity. As the police begin to investigate a series of murders strangely reminiscent of those recounted in the book, Violaine is not the only one looking for answers. And, suffering memory blanks following an aeroplane accident, she's beginning to wonder what role she might play in the story!

Critique: Ably translated into English by the team of Emily Boyce, Jane Aitken, and Polly Mackintosh for an appreciative American readership, "The Reader's Room" by Antoine Laurain, (who is also the author of "The Red Notebook", combines intrigue and charm in a reader dazzling and original novel that deftly blends mystery, love and the power of books. Certain to have immense appeal to mystery buffs and bibliophiles alike, "The Reader's Room" will prove to be a welcome and inherently entertaining addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Reader's Room" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781910477977, $15.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Alibi for a Dead Man
Wilson Toney
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781944520861, $14.95, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Alibi-Dead-Man-Wilson-Toney/dp/1944520864

Synopsis: Why would a dead man need an alibi? Bug and Roche work for the National Detective Agency. They solve mysteries for a living using well established, step-by-step procedures -- as well as plenty of wisecracks, insults and bad office coffee.

When they are sent to check out a suspicious car crash involving an already dead driver, they smell something fishy. They quickly work out that the crash was part a much larger crime -- a multi-million-dollar bank heist. But unravelling the connections isn't easy, especially when more people start dying and the coffee isn't getting any better!

Critique: A deftly crafted homage to the golden age of pulp fiction, "Alibi for a Dead Man" by Wilson Toney" is a fully entertaining and humor laced mystery that is especially recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Alibi for a Dead Man" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

As the Crow Dies
Kenneth Butcher
Pace Press
c/o Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781610353618, $14.95, PB, 366pp

https://www.amazon.com/Crow-Segal-Rudisill-Murder-Mystery/dp/1610353617

Synopsis: When a body is found in the River Arts District of Asheville, North Carolina, the man on the case is police lieutenant Ira Segal, recently returned to semi-active status after being shot in the line of duty. Segal, who carries Elmore Leonard paperbacks as security blankets, isn't sure he's up to investigating a murder, and neither is his partner, military veteran and local roller derby star Sgt. Dinah "Dinosaur" Rudisill.

Segal discovers that the victim worked for the mysterious start-up company Creatures 2.0, which trains animals to acquire uncanny capabilities. Creature 2.0's eccentric founder, Francis Elah, has gone missing, and no one can find him, not even Elah's top client, the Office of Naval Intelligence.

As Segal and Rudisill investigate the murder and Elah's disappearance, they meet the bizarre animals Elah trained, including a raccoon who rolls cigarettes, pigeons who follow a priest to church, and a superintelligent crow who keeps bringing evidence to the detectives' attention. When the trail leads to a shadowy military contractor, more murders, and a threat to national security, Segal and Rudisill don't know who to trust and face a dangerous confrontation!

Critique: A genuine treat for the dedicated mystery buff, "As the Crow Dies" as author and novelist Kenneth Butcher takes his readers on a hectic ride with more entertaining plot twists and turns than a Cony Island roller coaster! A thoroughly entertaining and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "As the Crow Dies" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.19).

The Reflecting Pool
Otho Eskin
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608094110, $26.95, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Reflecting-Pool-Marko-Zorn/dp/1608094111

Synopsis: Marko Zorn, a Washington, D.C. homicide detective with expensive tastes in art, classic cars, and women, must take on extra work (not always strictly legal, often unorthodox and usually dangerous) to supplement his income -- work which requires his special combination of skill and steel nerves. Although he's adept at navigating the corridors of law enforcement and the world of criminal gangs, he'd prefer to stay home and watch old movies, enjoy his art collection, and listen to cool jazz.

When Zorn discovers the body of a Secret Service agent (a supposed drowning victim) it leads him to a domestic terrorist group with tentacles in the White House -- a White House that does not want this death investigated. As the demands of his professional life escalate, Zorn's alternate career heats up, placing him in the middle of competing D.C. crime bosses feuding over a shipment of illegal arms -- making Zorn the hunted and the hunter. He needs to avoid becoming the victim as he navigates the twin forces of evil closing in on him from his legitimate job (facing down political power) and his secret side job.

Critique: Providing the fully entertained reader with a deft blend of intrigue, suspense and mystery, "The Reflecting Pool" has the kind of unexpected plot twists and turns that keeps the reader's riveted attention from beginning to end. While highly and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all suspense thriller buffs that "The Reflecting Pool" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Fire and Vengeance
Robert McCaw
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608093687, $26.95, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Vengeance-Kane-Hawaiian-Mystery/dp/1608093689

Synopsis: Having killed his father's nemesis and gotten away with it, Hilo, Hawai i Chief Detective Koa Kane, is not your ordinary cop. Estranged from his younger brother, who has been convicted of multiple crimes, he is not from a typical law enforcement family. Yet, Koa's secret demons fuel his unwavering drive to pursue justice.

Never has Koa's motivation been greater than when he learns that an elementary school was placed atop a volcanic vent, which has now exploded. The subsequent murders of the school's contractor and architect only add urgency to his search for the truth.

As Koa's investigation heats up, his brother collapses in jail from a previously undiagnosed brain tumor. Using his connections, Koa devises a risky plan to win his brother's freedom. As Koa gradually unravels the obscure connections between multiple suspects, he uncovers a forty-year-old conspiracy. When he is about to apprehend the perpetrators, his investigation suddenly becomes entwined with his brother's future, forcing Koa to choose between justice for the victims and his brother's freedom.

Critique: The second volume in author Robert McCaw's 'A Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery' series, "Fire And Vengeance" is a suspense thriller of a mystery fans delight. With more plot twists and turns than a Disney Land roller coaster, "Fire And Vengeance" is a compulsive page turner of a read and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Fire And Vengeance" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Substantial Justice
Daniel Ben-Horin
Rare Bird Books
453 S. Spring Street, Suite 302, Los Angels, CA 90013
https://rarebirdlit.com
9781644281123, $26.00, HC, 232pp

https://www.amazon.com/Substantial-Justice-Novel-Daniel-Ben-Horin/dp/1644281120

Synopsis: Substantial Justice chronicles the 1985 misadventures of Spider Lacey, a laconic Citroen mechanic, and Siobhan Mollenkopf, a lawyer who has reappeared in Spider's life after a ten-year hiatus. Things start well, then devolve when Spider's best friend, a marijuana grower and controversial talk-show host, is murdered.

Spider and Siobhan spiral into a world of white supremacists, political activists, lumber tycoons, motorcycle gangs, early online geeks, tree-spikers and law enforcement. The terrain is San Francisco, Mendocino County, New York City, and Arizona.

Critique: "Substantial Justice" by Daniel Ben-Horin deftly blends elements of dark humor, romance, with those of a deftly crafted and fully original suspense thriller of a read -- and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Substantial Justice" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Swords of El Cid
Robert E. Waters
Zmok Book
c/o Winged Hussar Publishing
https://www.wingedhussarpublishing.com/store/zmok-books
9781945430138, $14.99, PB, 225pp

https://www.amazon.com/Swords-Cid-City-Old-Gods/dp/1945430133

Synopsis: The year is 1502, and the Eldar Gods are furious! They seek a doorway into this world, but Catherine of Aragon and Fymurip Azat have other plans. On a mission for the Hanseatic League and hot off their adventures in The Cross of Saint Boniface, they enter Spain seeking to steal Tizona, the fabled sword of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, aka El Cid, one of the finest Medieval warriors of Spain.

Their way is fraught with dangers incalculable: spirit bulls, treacherous goblins, relentless wolfmen, and cherub swarms, and when the Spanish Inquisition sniffs out their trail, their mission grows even deadlier. But the most dangerous foe they face may be Catherine's parents, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

They have secured Spain under one banner, but are they true rulers of the Christian God, or are their personal alliances suspect at best? Catherine faces the ultimate decision: honor the mission, or honor her familial obligations. Death and madness may lay in both directions, and on the very borders of Europe, the Mamluks of Egypt and the Ottomans of Turkey, lay in wait for any opportunity to strike.

Catherine and Fymurip must tread boldly but carefully, or the world will fall into darkness and fire.

Critique: An original fantasy novel, "The Swords of El Cid" by Robert E. Waters is set in the alt-historical world of Starybogow that features conspiracies in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Exceptionally well written, impressively entertaining, and showcasing the author's genuine flair for the kind of imaginative and narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader's total attention from start to finish, "The Swords of El Cid" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated fantasy fans that "The Swords of El Cid" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.55).


The Biography Shelf

Can This Marriage Be Saved?: A Memoir
Nancy McCabe
University of Missouri Press
201 S. 7th Street, Columbia, MO 65211
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826222121, $29.95, HC, 284pp

https://www.amazon.com/Can-This-Marriage-Be-Saved/dp/0826222129

Synopsis: "Can This Marriage Be Saved?: A Memoir" by Nancy McCabe (who directs the writing program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and teaches in the low residency MFA program at the Spalding University School of Creative and Professional Writing) is a warm, deeply-personal, and often humorous story in which she re-examines and gains new understanding of her early life and her ill-advised marriage.

Borrowing from Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and Kafka's "Metamorphosis", "Can This Marriage Be Saved?: A Memoir" is comprised of how-to essays, before-and-after weight loss ads, a curriculum guide, Bible study notes, an obsession with Tom Swiftie jokes, and women's magazine columns and quizzes that oversimplified women's lives and choices.

McCabe examines the many influences that led into her youthful marriage -- then out of it, and into finally taking control of her life.

Critique: An inherently fascinating, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking life story, "Can This Marriage Be Saved?: A Memoir" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Can This Marriage Be Saved?: A Memoir" is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.45).

That Wasn't the Plan: A Memoir
Reg Sherren
Douglas & McIntyre
c/o Harbour Publishing
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
9781771622547, $24.95, PB, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/That-Wasnt-Plan-Reg-Sherren/dp/1771622547

Synopsis: Residing in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, Reg Sherren is a popular commentator, writer and freelance producer. A two-time Gemini and Canadian Screen Award nominee, Sherren has also been the recipient of numerous journalism awards from the New York and Columbus international film and video festivals, as well as the Radio-Television News Directors' Association.

Many Canadians will remember Reg Sherren as host of the popular CBC TV program Country Canada, when he crisscrossed the nation sniffing out amazing but little-known stories of life in small towns and rural areas. Others will recall his many years as feature reporter for CBC's flagship news program, The National, collecting stories like that of Montreal inventor Catalin Alexandru Duru magically soaring above the earth on his home-made hoverboard to set a new Guiness World Record. In the course of his eventful career Sherren did everything from guest hosting network radio shows like Cross Country Checkup to reporting from war zones, and his experiences make for an autobiography bristling with memorable characters, unbelievable events and provocative reflection.

Breaking news, politics, crime, economics -- Sherren covered it all, and always with what Peter Mansbridge called "his unique ability to weave fascinating detail into the fabric of the people and places that make our nation so diverse and so interesting." In this memoir, "That Wasn't the Plan", Sherren shares behind-the-scenes stories of his career in television journalism and the many Canadians he met along the way, from the time he rode on the back of a humpback whale, to chronicling a journey down the world's longest ice road in a solar-powered car.

Sherren also provides insight into the changing business of broadcasting, having witnessed up-close how the industry has evolved, and why it is more important now than ever.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "That Wasn't the Plan: A Memoir" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Canadian Biography collections. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99), "That Wasn't the Plan: A Memoir" will have a very special appeal to journalism industry insiders, CBC fans, and Canadian history buffs.

I'm So Glad You're Here: A Memoir
Pamela Gay
https://pamela-gay.com
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781631528743, $16.95, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Im-So-Glad-Youre-Here/dp/1631528742

Synopsis: "I'm So Glad You're Here: A Memoir" by Pamela Gay is the story of a family disrupted by ramifications of a father's mental illness. The personal memoir opens with a riveting account of Pamela, age eighteen, witnessing her father being bound in a straitjacket and carried out of the house on a stretcher.

The trauma she experiences escalates when, after her father has had electroshock treatments at a state mental hospital, her parents leave her in a college dorm room and move from Massachusetts to Florida without her. She feels abandoned. Both her parents have gone missing.

Decades later, when Gay and her three much-older siblings show up for their father's funeral, she witnesses her sundered family's inability to gather together. Eventually, she is diagnosed with PTSD of abandonment and treated with EMDR therapy -- and finally begins to heal.

Poignant and powerful, "I'm So Glad You're Here: A Memoir" is Pamela Gay's exploration of the idea that while the wounds we carry from growing up in fractured families stay with us, they do not have to control us -- a reflective journey that will inspire readers to think about their own relational lives.

Critique: An inherently interesting and impressively candid personal story, "I'm So Glad You're Here: A Memoir" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography collections and will have an immense appeal to reader's struggling with similar family issues of their own. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "I'm So Glad You're Here: A Memoir" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Pamela Gay is a Professor Emerita at Binghamton University, State University of New York, where she taught courses in flash memoir and flash fiction. Professor Gay is the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) award in creative nonfiction and an Independent eBook Award for her memoir "Homecoming", which combined text, image, and sound. Professor Gay's writing has been published in Brevity, Iowa Review, Paterson Literary Review, Midway Journal, Monkeybicycle, Grey Sparrow, Vestal Review, and other literary journals, as well as two anthologies.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Burano
Kaffe Fassett
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781641551199, $29.95, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Kaffe-Fassetts-Quilts-Burano-Fassett/dp/1641551194

Synopsis: San Francisco-born artist Kaffe Fassett is a name every quilter knows. His work has been commissioned by the British monarchy, American fashion designers, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has written numerous best-sellers including Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Italy, Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Morocco, and Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Cotswold's.

Kaffe Fassett uses the colorful Venetian island of Burano to form the backdrop of another stunning collection of new quilt designs from the Kaffe Fassett Studio.

"Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Burano: Designs Inspired by a Venetian Island" is the latest in his popular series of patchwork and quilting books. The quilts themselves have been photographed on location in Burano, a tiny island in Italy's Venetian archipelago, famous for its lace making but also for its brilliantly painted houses in a myriad jewel colors.

The colorful house walls, sometimes distressed and occasionally decorated with murals, form the backdrop, along with the canals, bridges, and boats of this special Venetian island, to another wonderful selection of Kaffe's new quilt designs.

This collection of 19 quilts features both new fabric designs from the Kaffe Collective and some of his Classics. Bali Brocade makes a fantastic background to Kaffe's sumptuous Shimmer Star quilt with its ripples of pattern in contrasting prints. His two versions of a very simple quilt, comes in two very different colorways. Hot Steps is a riot of color, whereas by contrast its sister quilt, Cool Steps, in dusty blues, greens, and greys has an dreamy quality. Liza Prior Lucy's rich and dark Turkish Coffee quilt, with its hint of Eastern promise, fussy cuts Kaffe's new Turkish Delight fabric to brilliant effect.

Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Burano provides all the instructional text, diagrams, and templates to make the quilts, plus a section on basic patchwork techniques for less experienced quilters.

Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Burano: Designs Inspired by a Venetian Island" is profusely illustrated and with accessible step- by-step instructions that will enable even the most novice of quilters to produce truly excellent results. "Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Burano: Designs Inspired by a Venetian Island" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Needlecraft & Quilting instructional reference collections.

Decorative Macrame: 20 Stylish Projects for Your Home
Shufunotomo Company LTD.
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805316238, $14.99, PB, 64pp

https://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Macrame-Stylish-Projects-Your/dp/4805316233

Synopsis: In "Decorative Macrame", Shufunotomo (a leading Japanese publisher of books and magazines on topics such as cooking, handcrafts, home decor, health and nutrition, fiction, manga and more) deftly walks even the most novice of macrame enthusiasts through even the most through the process of creating their own unique pieces, perfect for any space. Clear step-by-step photographs show how to create the four basic knots and apply simple macrame techniques, while detailed diagrams help with things like measurements -- making the creation process less daunting.

Diagrams, drawings and instructions show you to create 20 projects, each of which are simple enough for beginners, satisfying enough for practiced macrame practitioners. Ranging from small accessories to hanging statement pieces, everyone will be able to find something that catches their eye.

The showcased projects include: Soft wall hangings (perfect for warming up any space); An elegant room divider; A boho chic lampshade; An adorable bunting that can hang year-round; Multiple hanging plant holders; Curtain ties that add a touch of interest to your windows; A keychain so you can carry your crafts with you; and thirteen more!

Beautiful lifestyle images of the finished projects (surrounded by muted tones, natural materials and an abundance of plants) are sure to inspire any space.

Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Decorative Macrame: 20 Stylish Projects for Your Home" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be noted for the personal reading list of all dedicated macrame enthusiasts that "Decorative Macrame: 20 Stylish Projects for Your Home" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Music Shelf

Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs
Philippe Margotin & Jean-Michel Guesdon
Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784726492, $60.00, HC, 672pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Springsteen-Songs-Story-Behind/dp/1784726494

Synopsis: The latest book in the simply outstanding 'All the Songs' series from Octopus Books, "Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" is the most in-depth and comprehensive exploration of Bruce Springsteen's songs ever written.

Spanning nearly 50 years of albums, EPs, B-sides, and more, "Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs" presents the full story behind every single song that The Boss has ever released. Moving chronologically through Springsteen's long career, expert authors Margotin and Guesdon explore everything there is to know about every single song.

No stone is left unturned across 672 pages, ranging from the inspiration behind the lyrics and melody, to the recording process, and even the musicians and producers who worked on each track.

Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout, "Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" is an impressively detailed and informative compendium that will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community, college, and university library American Music History collections in general, and Bruce Springsteen supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular. A must-have for every Springsteen fan, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.99).

Editorial Note: Philippe Margotin has written many books on music, including biographies of U2, Radiohead, and the Rolling Stones. Jean-Michel Guesdon is a producer, musician, sound engineer, and writer. His work as a musician and composer gives him a unique insight into Springsteen's work. Together, they have written in-depth All the Songs books on The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.

While We Were Getting High: Britpop and the '90s
Kevin Cummins
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781788402200, $40.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/While-We-Were-Getting-High/dp/1788402200

Synopsis: Britpop was the seminal UK-based music and culture movement of the 90s. "While We Were Getting High: Britpop and the '90s"is an inherently fascinating volume of photographic images -- many never published before. Also featured are informative interviews with the heroes of Britpop, including Noel Gallagher.

Hundreds of photographs taken by renowned photographer Kevin Cummins, chief photographer at the NME for more than a decade, showcasing Britpop's greatest stars at their most creative and iconic including: Oasis; Blur; Pulp; Kula Shaker; The Verve; Suede; Elastica; Happy Mondays; The Stone Roses; The Bluetones; The Boo Radleys; Dodgy; The Charlatans; Echobelly; Gene; Kenickie; Mansun; The Divine Comedy - Supergrass; Sleeper; Menswear; Marion; The Seahorses; Shampoo. and many more!

Critique: A unique and engagingly absorbing photographic history of Britpop bands and performers, "While We Were Getting High: Britpop and the '90s" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to both community and college/university library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated Britpop fans that "While We Were Getting High: Britpop and the '90s" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.99).

Editorial Note: Manchester-born Kevin Cummins has an international reputation as one of the world's leading photographers and is famed for his iconic portraits of musicians including Joy Division, David Bowie, Nick Cave, Mick Jagger, Patti Smith and Oasis. These photographs have appeared on magazine covers and in art galleries and museums including the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and in cities including New York, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Bologna and many others. Chief photographer at the NME for over ten years, Kevin captured some of the best- known images in modern music history -- his work has decorated bedroom walls the world over.


The Gardening Shelf

Saving Seeds
Dan Jason
Harbour Publishing
www.harbourpublishing.com
9781550179002, $14.95, PB, 96pp

https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Seeds-Gardeners-Preserving-Biodiversity/dp/1550179004

Our agricultural food comes from seeds. But where do those seeds come from? And where are they going? For much of human history, farmers saved their own seed stocks to ensure a good harvest from year to year.

In the mid-twentieth century, governments became involved in seed saving, creating massive seed libraries cataloguing thousands of varieties. This biodiversity has come under attack in recent decades, as corporations have replaced heirloom varieties with genetic engineering and costly trademarks. In such an agricultural climate, saving seeds becomes both a practical act of preservation and powerful act of protest.

Many households grow fruits, herbs, vegetables or flowers for personal use, and each of these home gardens has the potential to preserve vital biodiversity, if only we would let plants go to seed, harvest and preserve them. "Saving Seeds: A Home Gardener's Guide to Preserving Plant Biodiversity" by Dan Jason is a clear and winsome introduction to the essentials of seed saving, from seed selection criteria to harvest and storage tips. It also addresses the role of seed-saving communities: local swaps, seed companies, friends and neighbours and even how the Internet can support this time-honoured practice.

In an era of community gardens, farmers markets and renewed interest in heirloom species, "Saving Seeds" is a timely call to ensure a more secure future for our seeds and ourselves.

Critique: Expertly written, impressively informative, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Saving Seeds: A Home Gardener's Guide to Preserving Plant Biodiversity" should be considered a 'must read' instructional guide by dedicated family gardeners. While unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Gardening collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Saving Seeds: A Home Gardener's Guide to Preserving Plant Biodiversity" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Dan Jason lives on Salt Spring Island, BC, where he founded the mail-order seed company Salt Spring Seeds. He has written many popular books about growing and preparing food sustainably, including "The Power of Pulses" (Douglas & McIntyre, 2016, with Hilary Malone and Alison Malone Eathorne) and "Some Useful Wild Plants" (Harbour Publishing, 2017).


The Christian Studies Shelf

Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century
Melanie Rigney
Franciscan Media
28 West Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
https://info.franciscanmedia.org
9781632533111, $16.99, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Saints-Women-21st-Century/dp/1632533111

Synopsis: Compiled with commentary by Melanie Rigney, "Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century" features twenty-one female saints who walked the earth in the twentieth century and were canonized in the twenty-first. Each individual chapter tells the story of one woman's radical gift and the world in which she lived. "Radical Saints" is comprised of stories of everyday women who are living these gifts in ways large and small today. Some of the women featured include Jacinta Marto, Elizabeth of the Trinity, Teresa of Calcutta, Marianne Cope, Mary Mackillop, Gianna Beretta Molla, Katharine Drexel, Josephine Bakhita, and Maria Faustina Kowalska.

Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century" showcases twenty-one truly extraordinary Christians whose lives impacted those around them and serve as Christian role models for those who came after them. Inherently fascinating and impressively informative, "Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century" is especially recommended for church, seminary, community, and academic library Christian Inspirational and Christian Saints collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note: Melanie Rigney is the author of several books, including Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration. She also writes for Catholic Digest, Living Faith, CatholicMom.com, Women in the New Evangelization, and other sites and publications.

Lord, You Called Me: Discerning Your Path in Life
Ricardo Grzona, FRP
Marketing Department
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
www.loyolapress.com
9780829450057, $12.95, PB, 200pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lord-You-Called-Me-Discerning/dp/082945005X

Synopsis: What do I want to do? Who do I want to be? In other words, how do I discover God's dream for me? Realizing the answers to these questions begins by opening our hearts and listening to the voice deep inside us -- God's voice. Once we learn to do that, we can discern our gifts, purpose, and path in life. We can respond to God's call to action.

In the pages of "Lord, You Called Me: Discerning Your Path in Life" and based on his experience of making the Spiritual Exercises under the direction of Father Jorge Bergoglio, SJ, (who is now known world wide as Pope Francis), Brother Ricardo Grzona, FRP, offers twenty-one lectio divina encounters with God's Word. Through the prayerful reading of the Scriptures, followed by reflection, prayer, and contemplation guided by Grzona's prompts, we can begin to discern our path to God's call.

"Lord, You Called Me: Discerning Your Path in Life" can be used as a daily reader for a self-led, 21-day retreat or as guide for meditative prayer whenever time allows. It will also be useful for fruitful discussion in a prayer group or as a text for youth retreats with a spiritual director.

Critique: Engagingly written, organized and presented, "Lord, You Called Me: Discerning Your Path in Life" is an inspired and inspiring read that is fully recommended to the attention of all members of the Catholic church who aspire to a daily relationship with God. Inspired and inspiring, "Lord, You Called Me: Discerning Your Path in Life" is an ideal and recommended addition to church, seminary, and academic library Christian Personal and Spiritual Growth collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of seminary students, clergy, and lay members of the Catholic community that "Lord, You Called Me: Discerning Your Path in Life" is also reading available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Ricardo Grzona studied at the Pastoral Theological Institute of CELAM (Medellin) at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Salesian Pontifical University (Rome), with an emphasis on evangelization and catechesis. He currently chairs the Fundacion Ramon Pane, which focuses on the formation of parish and diocesan leaders, as well as various church groups.

Sunday's Sermon for Monday's World
Sally A. Brown
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
4035 Park East Court SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
www.eerdmans.com
9780802871121, $19.99, PB, 216pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sundays-Sermon-Mondays-World-Preaching/dp/0802871127

Synopsis: What can preachers do to help congregants navigate everyday life with the courage, imagination, and savvy it takes to testify in action and word to God's mercy and justice?

Christianity's witness depends on credible Christian lives carried out in ordinary settings of everyday life. "Sunday's Sermon for Monday's World: Preaching to Shape Daring Witness" by Sally A. Brown will help preachers design sermons that equip believers to act with improvisational, creative courage in the ordinary settings of their Monday-to-Saturday lives.

How can we who preach inspire the "ordinary prophets" of our time -- those who, in Christ's name, will act in great or small ways as agents of redemptive interruption? In the pages of "Sunday's Sermon for Monday's World: Preaching to Shape Daring Witness", Brown draws upon her extensive experience both in parish ministry and training others for ministry, and shares preaching strategies that equip these ordinary prophets to take daring action.

Brown begins by reconsidering the power and limits of the mission model of Christian witness and argues that Christian witness today must be adaptive, and therefore imaginative and improvisational. She then turns to the connection between the sermons our listeners hear on Sunday and their capacity to timely, inventive action in everyday situations.

"Sunday's Sermon for Monday's World: Preaching to Shape Daring Witness" will inspire both preachers and those who listen to them to move from sanctuary to street, week after week, eager to discern and participate in the ongoing, redemptive work of God already under way amid the ordinary scenes and settings of their Monday-to-Saturday lives.

Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Sunday's Sermon for Monday's World: Preaching to Shape Daring Witness" is an inspired and inspiring approach to developing effective and spiritually relevant sermons -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to church, seminary, and academic library Christian Pastoral Resources, Christian Social Issues, and Christian Preaching collections in general and the personal reading lists of clergy and seminary students in particular.

Editorial Note: Sally A. Brown is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.. She teaches preaching, hermeneutics, and homiletical theory at Princeton Seminary, where she also directs the annual Engle Institute of Preaching. She is the 2019 President of the Academy of Homiletics. Her previous books include "Ways of the Word: Learning to Preach for Your Time and Place" (with Luke A. Powery), "Cross Talk: Preaching Redemption Here and Now", and "Lament: Reclaiming Practices in Pulpit, Pew, and Public Square" (co-edited with Patrick Miller).

Belonging: Finding the Way Back to One Another
Sharon A. Hersh
NavPress
www.navpress.com
c/o Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781631469602, $15.99, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Belonging-Finding-Way-Back-Another/dp/1631469606

Synopsis: In the pages of "Belonging: Finding the Way Back to One Another" by Sharon A. Hersh offers members of the Christian community a fresh perspective on common grace, leading us out of self-destructive narcissism and into whole and healthy relationships with God and others.

The reality is, God created us with an innate desire to belong to something more than us. When we integrate our story within God's first story about us, we can bravely face ourselves and discover the truth of belonging and worthiness that God has written. And we start to imagine how to invite others into a greater sense of belonging.

The journey to finding ourselves and one another is not for the faint of heart. It's messy. It's hard work. But it's worth it. We can have a front-row seat to a tectonic shift, not just on the surface of our lives, but in places deep down inside as we recognize common grace in the beautiful and terrible parts of our lives. In other words, every chapter in our stories, every conversation, and every character is part of the way back to belonging.

Readers are invited to the very edge of their seat in anticipation of what could happen when they and others engage with the unexpected grace that passionately declares life is not all about our pain, our accomplishments, our rights, our abuse, our power, or our beliefs. It is about us finding our way. Together. It is about a supernatural interconnectedness to a deeper story that invades every nook and cranny of our lives with light and love -- because we belong to one another.

Critique: Thoughtful and thought-provoking, inspired and inspiring, life-affirming and life- enriching, "Belonging: Finding the Way Back to One Another" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition church, seminary, community, and academic library Christian Self Help, Christian Personal Growth, and Christian Pastoral Counseling collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and lay members of the Christian community that "Belonging: Finding the Way Back to One Another" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.19).

Editorial Note: Sharon Hershis a licensed professional counselor, an adjunct professor in graduate counseling programs, a sought-after speaker, and the author of several books, including "The Last Addiction: Why Self Help Is Not Enough", "Bravehearts: Unlocking the Courage to Love With Abandon", "Mothering Without Guilt".

Becoming Real: And Thriving in Ministry
Sandra T. Montes
Church Publishing Incorporated
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.churchpublishing.org
9781640652484, $16.95, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Real-Thriving-Sandra-Montes/dp/1640652485

Synopsis: If congregations were to look outside their doors, they may find that the people who need the good news don't look like them and that the way to engage them is by having ministries that are genuine in the practice of their faith. A real ministry is one of respectful relationships, excellence, authenticity, and love. In "Becoming Real: And Thriving in Ministry", Sandra Montes provides an easy-to-understand perspective on relationships that can be implemented in any setting with any group and fulfil the mandate of Jesus to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" as build relationships with those whom God has put in our personal neighborhoods.

Written in both English and Spanish, each chapter contains a study guide with Bible verses and reflection questions. "Becoming Real: And Thriving in Ministry" also offers true life anecdotes and examples of what to do and what not to do so that when using the REAL rubric with any group of people, you can emulate Jesus and bring the good news to them. Church leaders wanting to be more inclusive or trying to grow in their changing neighborhood will find this book a welcome resource.

Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Becoming Real: And Thriving in Ministry" is an excellent and practical instruction manual and guide for creating and expanding effective ministries and serving the needs of all members of the Christian community. While highly recommended for church and seminary Christian Ministry instructional reference collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of seminary students, clergy, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Becoming Real: And Thriving in Ministry" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Rivers Wanted
Rivers Teske
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.westbowpress.com
9781973678328, $35.95, HC, 248pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rivers-Wanted-Extraordinary-Visions-Encourage/dp/1973678322

Synopsis: "Rivers Wanted: Does God Still Speak Today? Extraordinary Dreams and Visions from God to Encourage Your Life" is the inspirational story of how God personally intervened in the life of Rivers Teske, a mainline pastor's wife overcoming fears, tragedy and uncertainty through supernatural visions and dreams given by God.

Reader's are invited to step into the author Rivers Teske's inherently fascinating world of Heaven, angels, the martyrs, the writing on the wall in Hollywood, and more as they explore these exciting accounts of extraordinary communications from God that enabled a deep healing of trust and unshakable belief to be born.

How will you know Jesus when he returns? Are you ready for the judgement and finality of the Last Day on earth? "Rivers Wanted" provides invaluable insights to help answer those questions and more!

Critique: An inherently interesting, thoughtful, thought-provoking and inspiring read throughout, "Rivers Wanted: Does God Still Speak Today? Extraordinary Dreams and Visions from God to Encourage Your Life" is exceptional and highly recommended for church and seminary collections -- and also readily available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9781973678311, $19.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: Rivers Teske, is an International Speaker with a healing ministry who gives a powerful message of hope, encouragement and certainty of heaven for those facing crisis and even death. She overcame her own fear of death and dying when taken to Heaven where she met God. Her prayer is that reading "Rivers Wanted" is that it will strengthen the reader's faith and resolve about resurrection hope and eternal life.

Valentin's Diary
Valentin Diaz
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.westbowpress.com
9781973684862, $30.14, PB, 178pp

https://www.amazon.com/Valentin%C2%92s-Diary-Valentin-Diaz/dp/1973684861

Synopsis: How do you recover from a devastating heartbreak, otherwise known as broken heart syndrome? The sufferer experiences heart pain, shortness of breath and even thinks he may be dying. Do you give in to overwhelming grief? Or do you, like Valentin Diaz, have personal dialogues with God searching for insight?

In the beginning there is denial and bargaining: "God, here is my game plan. If it be Your will, let me have Liliana... and I will give her back to you." Then anger and bitterness. "What's wrong with me God? I hate this. Why can't you just snap your fingers and make it happen?

Finally, acceptance. The long six-year journey to recovery is over. In Valentin Diaz personal story his readers will not only learn about God's plan for the author, but will learn something about God's divine purpose in their own lives as well.

Critique: An extraordinarily candid combination of intensely personal memoir and the realities of a Christian faith, as well as insights into our relationship to God, "Valentin's Diary" is especially well written and presented, making it very highly recommended to the attention of all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Valentin's Diary" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781973684855, $13.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded
Phuc Luu
Herald Press
P.O. Box 866, Harrisonburg, VA 22803
www.heraldpress.com
9781513806716, $29.99, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-East-Reclaiming-Gospel-Wounded/dp/1513806718

Synopsis: Much of Western Christianity has enjoined the narrative of Jesus as a Palestinian Jewish healer and liberator who served the sick and oppressed. But the Jesus of the Gospels is also a revolutionary who stands with the sinned against, the wounded, and the marginalized. In "Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded", author Phuc Luu re-narrates the life of Jesus to show how he made it his work to topple systems that privileged the few and disregarded the many, especially the poor and lowest.

"Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded" is provocative study in which Luu offers a counter-narrative to Western Christianity, which for centuries has legitimized colonization and violence to prop up the powerful at the expense of the masses. Pulling from the tradition of the early Eastern church, the present work of theologians of the oppressed, and Luu's own experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant, "Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded " offers a transformative vision of healing for the world.

For those living in the land between pain and hope, Luu's prophetic words will renew our imaginations and draw us closer to the heart of God.

Critique: An extraordinary, eloquent, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded" is an impressive and valued addition to the ever growing library of Christian Studies and is unreservedly recommended reading for seminary students, clergy, theologians, and non-specialist general readers throughout the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781513806723, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note: Phuc Luu immigrated with his family to the United States from Vietnam when he was four. Luu is now a theologian, philosopher, and artist creating work in Houston, Texas, to narrow the divide between ideas and beauty. If theology is speaking about God, Luu seeks to give new language and grammar to what theology has not yet said. He served for seven years on the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). He holds degrees in theology (MDiv, PhD) and philosophy (MA), but has learned the most from the places where people ask difficult questions, where they live in the land between pain and hope, and where these stories are told.

St. Gregory Palamas and Orthodox Spirituality
John Meyendorff
SVS Press
575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707
www.svspress.com
9780913836118, $20.00, PB, 184pp

https://www.amazon.com/St-Gregory-Palamas-Orthodox-Spirituality/dp/0913836117

Synopsis: St Gregory Palamas was a fourteenth-century Byzantine saint and Church Father, who incorporated traditional Eastern monastic spirituality into a comprehensive theological vision.

His understanding of hesychasm (the monastic movement centered on solitude and unceasing prayer) is grounded in an incarnational theology: When spiritual joy comes to the body from the mind, it suffers no diminution by this communion with the body, but rather transfigures the body, spiritualizing it rejecting all evil desires of the flesh, it no longer weighs down the soul but rises up with it, the whole man becoming spirit, as it is written: 'He who is born of the Spirit is spirit' (John 3:6-8). Triads 11, 2.9

"St. Gregory Palamas and Orthodox Spirituality" is a richly documented and B/W illustrated study of Orthodox spirituality traces the development of 'Orthodox mysticism' from the desert fathers through the patristic tradition to Byzantine hesychasm and its heritage in Russian monasticism. It shows how the work of Palamas transcends the limits of one school of spirituality and renews in its deepest essence the life of the Christian Mystery.

Critique: An impressively informed and informative work of seminal scholarship, "St. Gregory Palamas and Orthodox Spirituality" by Professor John Meyendorff is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to college/university library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and lay members of Orthodox Christian communities.

Editorial Note: Fr John Meyendorff (1926-1992) was a Professor of Church History and Patristics at St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and a Professor of History at Fordham University, NY. He was a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities (1976-77), and a Guggenheim Fellow. He held honorary doctorates from the University of Notre Dame and General Theological Seminary, was a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, and a Senior Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks. In 1990 The Diploma of Honorary Member of the Leningrad Theological Academy was bestowed upon him.

Don't Quit in the Dip
Shaun Nepstad
Worthy Publishing
www.worthypublishing.com
9781546015383, $23.00, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Quit-Dip-Focused-Promises/dp/1546015388

Synopsis: From a Christian perspective, if we are truly blessed to be a blessing, then we can take the lessons we learn in hardships and turn them around to help others navigate through their seasons of struggle. Hope and healing are the two words God has given us. Hope for tomorrow and healing from yesterday. The underlying message in "Don't Quit in the Dip: Stay Focused on God's Promises for You" by Shaun Nepstad is that God wants to use our stories to bring hope and healing to others.

When it comes to life, we've all asked, "Is there more?" We want to believe there's more to life than what we're currently experiencing. But the problem is, so much in life promises more but doesn't deliver. There's actually only One who can deliver the "more" we need, and that is Jesus. He delivers more than what we ask for or can even imagine. Consistently. Without fail. No matter what our situation looks like.

Don't Quit in the Dip inspires us to keep fighting. To keep believing. And to keep helping us experience God's full blessing.

Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "Don't Quit in the Dip: Stay Focused on God's Promises for You" is a life changing, spirituality-enhancing read that will prove to be a welcome and appreciated addition to Christian Personal Growth and Self-Help/Self-Improvement reading lists for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations. It should be noted that "Don't Quit in the Dip" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: Shaun Nepstad and his wife, Dianna, founded Fellowship Church in Antioch, California, in 2002. Over the past nine years, the church has grown from 350 to over 5,000 in weekly attendance and expanded to two campuses, and it was recognized by Outreach magazine as #25 on its 2018 list of 100 Fastest Growing Churches.


The Art Shelf

Ceramics Masterclass
Louisa Taylor
Frances Lincoln
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9780711254077, $30.00, Flexibound, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ceramics-Masterclass-Creative-Techniques-Artists/dp/0711254079

Synopsis: The subject of ceramics is steeped in human history and tradition. For thousands of years men and women have exploited the versatile qualities of clay as a material to produce items ranging from humble utilitarian vessels, right through to exquisite works of art.

In "Ceramics Masterclass: Creative Techniques of 100 Great Artists ", Louisa Taylor explores this diverse discipline by showcasing 100 of the most innovative and inspiring artists past and present, analysing the techniques and methods used to create the works, and the concepts which underpin their creative process.

"Ceramics Masterclass" shows aspiring ceramic artists how to recreate intricate still-life dioramas like fifteenth-century artist Bernard Palissy, to explore narrative like Grayson Perry, and to convey sensitivity to material like Phoebe Cummings.

Arranged thematically, Ceramics Masterclass will include chapters on vessels, decorative pieces, function, figurative works, conceptual pieces and installations.

Ideal for students, amateurs and professionals alike, "Ceramics Masterclass" will represent a global perspective of historical and contemporary approaches to clay and be a catalyst for discovery and intrigue.

Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Ceramics Masterclass: Creative Techniques of 100 Great Artists" offers a complete course of study that is impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. Impressively informed and informative, "Ceramics Masterclass: Creative Techniques of 100 Great Artists" will prove to be an exceptionally valued and appreciated addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Pottery and Ceramic Art collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Louisa Taylor graduated from the Royal College of Art, London, in 2006 with a Masters degree in Ceramics & Glass. Since graduating, she has been featured in respected design publications, and her work has also earned design and development awards. Alongside making her own range of tableware, Louisa lectures on ceramics for the BA (Hons) / M Des / MFA Design and Craft degrees at the University of Brighton, and consults as a freelance designer for industry, including concept/form development and colour consultancy.

Carve Your Clay
Hilda Carr
www.hildacarrpottery.com
Rockport Publishers
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9781631598494, $26.99, HC, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Carve-Your-Clay-Techniques-Ceramics/dp/163159849X

Synopsis: In the pages of "Carve Your Clay: Techniques to Bring the Ceramics Surface to Life" ceramic artist Hilda Carr takes the aspiring artist through the creative techniques that produce amazing, dynamic results, including inlay, piercing, sgraffito, etching, relief carving, wire cutting, and more. Aspiring ceramists can gain new skills as they complete 20 projects featuring Carr's signature style, each project laid out with clear step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow instruction to achieve beautiful results.

"Carve Your Clay: Techniques to Bring the Ceramics Surface to Life" is a comprehensive instruction manual that includes an easy guide on how to create basic forms, as well as glazing and firing techniques. Whether new to ceramics or a more experienced potter looking to explore new surface design techniques, "Carve Your Clay" will both educate and inspire.

Critique: Profusely and effective illustrated throughout, "Carve Your Clay: Techniques to Bring the Ceramics Surface to Life " is a complete course of throughly user friendly and artist inspiring instruction making it an ideal DIY manual and one which is unreservedly recommended for community, art center, and academic library Ceramic Arts instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Carve Your Clay: Techniques to Bring the Ceramics Surface to Life" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781782218524, $18.16).

Editorial Note: A set designer by trade, UK-based (Surrey, England) Hilda Carr turned her hand to ceramics in 2014 and now sells her work through her website as well as in shops and galleries across the UK. She has built a large following on Instagram where she frequently shares her new works and techniques. She can be found at @hildacarrpottery and maintains a web site a www.hildacarrpottery.com

Lisa Yuskavage: Wilderness
Christopher Bedford, et al.
Gregory R. Miller & Co.
c/o Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
9781941366271, $55.00, HC, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Yuskavage-Wilderness-Christopher-Bedford/dp/1941366279

Synopsis: Lisa Yuskavage (1962) is an American artist who lives and works in New York City. She is known for her figure paintings, in which seemingly ignoble subjects are depicted with classic, historical techniques.

Though she is arguably best known for the voluptuous female nudes that populate her paintings, Lisa Yuskavage's work is just as focused on the ethereal settings in which these subjects appear. Yuskavage creates finely detailed landscapes that blur the line between the fantastical and the familiar, melding abstraction with realism to depict self-contained worlds. These outdoor scenes defy conventions of landscape painting with surreal color palettes of lush greens and delicate pinks, cast in a gauzy light quality that highlights the almost magical nature of her paintings.

Published in conjunction with a joint exhibition between the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado and the Baltimore Museum of Art in Maryland, "Lisa Yuskavage: Wilderness" includes color reproductions of Yuskavage's paintings and watercolors from the early 1990s to the present, as well as an interview between Yuskavage and fellow artist Mary Weatherford.

Critique: Exceptionally informative and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Lisa Yuskavage: Wilderness" is a coffee-table style volume ( 10.2 x 0.8 x 12.2 inches) that fully showcases and celebrates the work of an acclaimed American artist that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Art & Art History collections.

Editorial Note: Lisa Yuskavage received her MFA from the Yale School of Art in 1986. In the years since, her signature style of figure painting has developed something of a cult following for its attention to art historical tradition and a decidedly contemporary, pop culture-based approach to the representation of the female form. Her work has been in solo exhibitions around the world. Yuskavage is represented by David Zwirner.


The Poetry Shelf

Can You Smell the Rain?
Patricia Cleary Miller
BkMk Press
c/o University of Missouri-Kansas City
www.umkc.edu/bkmk
9781943491216, $14.95, PB, 122pp

https://www.amazon.com/Smell-Rain-Patricia-Cleary-Miller/dp/1943491216

Synopsis: The verse by Patricia Cleary Miller that comprise her new collection, "Can You Smell The Rain" poses the old theatrical question of "Who wants what, and why can't they have it?"

Patricia's confused characters take themselves seriously as they yearn for love. With wit and gently biting satire, she presents their struggles. Beware: a snicker at these characters is a snicker at yourself.

Whether the scene is a French-speaking convent school in Kansas City or an Irish-American woman's further coming of age as a Radcliffe student, wife, mother, poet, or world traveler, "Can You Smell The Rain" collectively presented a journey of the mind marked by "a radiant wit and a sensuous appreciation for life itself".

Critique: A body of verse that will linger in the mind, memory and emotions long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "Can You Smell The Rain?" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library Contemporary American Poetry collections.

Editorial Note: Patricia Cleary Miller is Professor Emerita of English at Rockhurst University, where she founded and edited the Rockhurst Review. She is the author of Starting a Swan Dive (Daniel L. Brenner Award) from BkMk Press, as well as the poetry titles Dresden and Crimson Lights, and the nonfiction title Westport: Missouri's Port of Many Returns. Her work has appeared in Stand, Connecticut Review, New Letters, Cottonwood, I-70 Review, and elsewhere. Her secondary school was the French Convent of Notre Dame de Sion. For eight years she was poet laureate of the Harvard Alumni Association and a past president of the Writers Place.

{#289-128}: Poems
Randall Horton
The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
9780813180410, $29.95, HC, 90pp

https://www.amazon.com/289-128-Poems-University-Kentucky-Poetry/dp/0813180414

Synopsis: "Forgive state poet #289-128 / for not scribbling illusions / of trickery as if timeless hell / could be captured by stanzas / alliteration or slant rhyme", remarks the speaker, Maryland Department of Corrections prisoner {#289-128}, early in this haunting collection. Three sections -- {#289-128} Property of the State, {#289-128} Poet-in-Residence (Cell 23), and {#289-128} Poet in New York -- frame the countless ways in which the narrator's body and life are socially and legally rendered by the state even as the act of poetry helps him reclaim an identity during imprisonment.

These poems address the prison industrial complex, the carceral state, the criminal justice system, racism, violence, love, resilience, hope, and despair while exploring the idea of freedom in a cell. In the tradition of Dennis Brutus's Letters to Martha, Wole Soyinka's A Shuttle in the Crypt, and Etheridge Knight's The Essential Etheridge Knight, {#289-128} challenges the language of incarceration -- especially the ways in which it reinforces stigmas and stereotypes.

Though {#289-128} refuses to be defined as a felon, this collection viscerally details the dehumanizing effects of prison, which linger long after release. It also illuminates the ways in which we all are relegated to cells or boundaries, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.

Critique: A unique and inherently fascinating body of work, the verse comprising {#289-128}: Poems is an impressive collection that will be of immense interest to the possibilities of poetry in describing and altering perceptions and conditions that are extraordinary and fundamental to the human condition. A collection of poetry that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, {#289-128}: Poems is especially recommended for community, prison, and college/university library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that {#289-128}: Poems is also readily available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9780813179889, $19.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.95).

Editorial Note: An Associate Professor of English at the University of New Haven, Randall Horton's past honors include the Bea Gonzalez Poetry Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Literature, and most recently a GLCA New Writers Award for Creative Nonfiction for "Hook: A Memoir". The author of numerous books, he is a member of the experimental performance group Heroes Are Gang Leaders, which received the 2018 American Book Award in Oral Literature.


The Education Shelf

From Behaving to Belonging
Julie Causton & Kate Macleod
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416629290, $27.95, PB, 135pp

https://www.amazon.com/Behaving-Belonging-Inclusive-Supporting-Challenge/dp/1416629297

Synopsis: Challenging student behavior is one of the most significant issues educators face. Though it may seem radical to use words like love, compassion, and heart when we talk about behavior and discipline, the compassionate and heartfelt words, actions, and strategies teachers employ in the classroom directly shape who students are -- and who they will become. But how can teaching from the heart translate into effective supports and practices for students who exhibit challenging behavior?

In "From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us" educators Julie Causton and Kate MacLeod detail how teachers can shift from a "behavior management" mindset (that punishes students for "bad" behavior or rewards students for "good" or "compliant" behavior) to an approach that supports all students (even the most challenging ones) with kindness, creativity, acceptance, and love.

Causton and MacLeod's approach as outlined and explained in "From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us": Focuses on students' strengths, gifts, and talents; Ignites students' creativity and sense of self-worth; Ensures that students' social, emotional, and academic needs are met; Prompts teachers to rethink challenging behavior and how they support their students; Helps teachers identify barriers to student success in the cultural, social, and environmental landscape; Inspires teachers to reconnect with their core values and beliefs about students and teaching.

We need to transform our classrooms into places of love. To that end, "From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us" represents a paradigm shift from a punitive mindset to a strengths-based, loving approach and encourages the radical act of creating more inclusive and caring schools.

Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us" will prove to be a practical guide to improving classroom student behavior and performance for grades K-12 -- and have immense value for classroom instructors at the college and university level as well. While very highly recommended for school district, college and university library Teacher Education collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of participants of school district in-service training programs, classroom instructors, student teachers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.13).

Editorial Note: Julie Causton is founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling. She is a former professor in the Inclusive and Special Education Program in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University. She has spent the past 20 years studying and creating best practices for inclusive education, with a specific focus on supporting students whose behavior challenges the educational system.

Kate MacLeod is an assistant professor of special education at the University of Maine at Farmington and founder and consultant at Inclusive Schooling. Her teaching, research, writing, and consulting are guided by a passion for inclusive education and social justice. Kate is a former high school special education teacher in New York City and now works with administrators, educators, and families around the country to create more inclusive practices for all students.

Co-Teaching Do's, Don'ts, and Do Betters
Tody J. Karten & Wendy W. Murawski
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416629184, $30.95, PB, 194pp

https://www.amazon.com/Co-Teaching-Dos-Donts-Do-Betters/dp/1416629181

Synopsis: Co-teaching has been increasingly adopted to support students in the general education K-12 classroom. After 20 years of field testing, we know what works and what doesn't. "Co-Teaching Do's, Don'ts, and Do Betters" is practical instructional guide by co-teaching and inclusion education experts Toby J. Karten and Wendy W. Murawski who detail the best practices for successful co-teaching and ways to troubleshoot common pitfalls.

"Co-Teaching Do's, Don'ts, and Do Betters" directly and effectively addresses the do's, don'ts, and do betters of: The co-teaching relationship and collaborative roles; Co-planning instruction and assessment; Co-teaching in action; Academic and behavioral supports and interventions; Collaborative reflections, improvements, and celebrations.

Classroom teachers will gain valuable insights on what to start doing, what to stop doing, and how to improve their co-teaching practices to better reach all students.

Critique: Expertly written, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Co-Teaching Do's, Don'ts, and Do Betters" is ideal for school district in-service training programs and is very strongly recommended as an addition to both college and university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of classroom teachers, student teachers, school administrators, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Co-Teaching Do's, Don'ts, and Do Betters" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.40).

Editorial Note: Toby J. Karten is a staff developer, instructional coach, educational consultant, author, adjunct professor, and inclusion specialist who has taught populations of learners at levels ranging from preschool to graduate school. Karten has been recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children and the New Jersey Department of Education as an exemplary educator, receiving two Teacher of the Year awards. Karten works with school districts throughout the United States and internationally as a staff developer, inclusion coach, and educational consultant. She maintains a website at: www.inclusionworkshops.com.

Wendy W. Murawski is the executive director and Eisner Endowed Chair for the Center for Teaching and Learning at California State University, Northridge. A former special education and high school German teacher, Murawski is passionate about inclusive education. Her research on co-teaching is widely published and has garnered both research and publication awards. She is the author or co-author of 13 books on education, as well as co-teaching software. Murawski is the past president of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children and the CEO and president of 2 TEACH LLC, an educational consulting company. She is a frequently requested keynote speaker and has presented in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa on topics related to inclusive education.

Student as Producer
Mike Neary
Zero Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781789042382, $27.95, PB, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Student-Producer-Revolutionary-Teachers-Teach/dp/1789042380

Synopsis: "Student as Producer: How do Revolutionary Teachers Teach? " by Mike Neary is set between the student protests and urban riots that erupted in England in 2010-2011 and the 2017 General Election, during which students and young people played a significant role by protesting the politics of austerity and by supporting the politics of Corbynism.

This revolutionary curriculum is framed around unlearning the law of labor and the institutions through which the law of labor is enforced, including the capitalist university which seeks growth and expansion for the sake of growth, neglecting the needs of students in favor of the needs of the capitalist state.

Through thought experiments and reference to the work of the Soviet legal theorist, Evgeny Pashukanis, "Student as Producer" searches for solutions to how cooperatives might be brought about by a sense of common purpose and social defense.

Mike Neary grounds his answers in a version of Marx's social theory known as 'a new reading of Marx', as advanced by authors such as Werner Bonefeld and Moishe Postone. The theory is applied to various aspects of pedagogy, criminology, and political sociology to create a curricula for revolutionary teaching that will aid activists who are seeking ways in which to engage critically with higher education.

Critique: Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Student as Producer: How do Revolutionary Teachers Teach?" is an inherently interesting and occasionally iconoclastic read that will have particular appeal for readers with an interest in higher and continuing education, the philosophy and social aspects of education, Communism & Socialism with respect to the process of education and educational institutions. While also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.99), "Student as Producer: How do Revolutionary Teachers Teach?" is an especially recommended addition to community, college, and university library Teacher Education collections.

Editorial Note: Mike Neary is Professor of Sociology at the University of Lincoln, (Lincoln, England) where between 2017 and 2019 he held the post of Director of Research in the School for Social and Political Sciences. He is the author of The Labour Debate: An Investigation into the Theory and Reality of Capitalist Work and The Future of Higher Education: Policy, Pedagogy and the Student Experience. Neary's research centres on the future of universities and the role of higher education in creating a post-capitalist society.

Zest For Learning
Bill Lucas & Ellen Spencer
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785834011, $22.95, PB, 200pp

https://www.amazon.com/Zest-Learning-Developing-real-world-challenges/dp/1785834010

Synopsis: The collaborative project of Bill Lucas and Ellen Spencer, "Zest For Learning: Developing Curious Learners Who Relish Real-World Challenges" explores the ways in which classroom teachers can fuel their pupils curiosity and help them find their passions, develop independence and challenge themselves to become more expansive learners.

The third book in the Pedagogy for a Changing World series from Crown House Publishing, "Zest for Learning" deftly examines how schools can enrich their pupils learning both within and beyond school. This could be encouraged through, for example, greater engagement with sports and the arts, or by collaborating with external bodies such as the Scouts and Guides, or the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and with libraries, museums, faith groups and environmental associations.

"Zest for Learning" connects the co-curriculum with the formal curriculum, building both theoretical and practical confidence in the kinds of pedagogies which work well. "Zest for Learning" is infused throughout with a range of ideas for getting pupils to love learning so much that they will be able to learn whatever they want to throughout their lives.

Critique: Expertly written, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Zest for Learning" is an ideal textbook for school district in-service teacher training programs and an unreservedly recommended addition to college/university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental curriculum studies reading lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of student teachers, faculty, school administrators, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Zest for Learning" is also readily available in a digital book format (eTextbook, $21.80).

Editorial Note: Professor Bill Lucas is the Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning. With Guy Claxton he created the Expansive Education Network -- an organisation of schools that share a common view of the goals of education. These goals are outlined in their seminal book, 'Educating Ruby'.

Dr Ellen Spencer is a senior researcher at the Centre for Real-World Learning. She has a PhD from the University of Warwick, where her doctoral research focused on the impact of policy on school improvement.


The Woodworking Shelf

The Guide to Woodworking with Kids
Doug Stowe
Blue Hills Press
9781951217235, $19.95, PB, 168pp

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Woodworking-Kids-Projects-Lifelong/dp/1951217233

Synopsis: "The Guide to Woodworking with Kids: Craft Projects to Develop the Lifelong Skills of Young Makers" is a culmination of craftsman Doug Stowe's four-decade career in woodworking and nearly twenty years of working with students K-12 in his Wisdom of the Hands woodworking class at the Clear Spring School in his hometown of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

This comprehensive guide offers step by step instruction for teachers, parents and grandparents to offer safe woodworking opportunities to their students and kiddos as a way of developing a wide range of valuable life-skills.

Based in part on the philosophies of Froebel's Kindergarten and Educational Sloyd, "The Guide to Woodworking with Kids" illustrates the importance of doing real, hands-on activities in school and at home that enable students to: Think things through for themselves; Develop skill, originality and inventiveness; Explore their own self-interests; Plan, organize and execute meaningful work; Prepare to profitably employ leisure time; Be handy and resourceful; Develop both character and intellect; Create useful beauty to benefit family, community and self

"The Guide to Woodworking with Kids" is more than just another woodworking book, it will give parents, grandparents and teachers the confidence, encouragement, and the insight needed to safely engage children in life-enhancing creative arts.

Critique: Offering profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'kid friendly' step-by-instructions for each woodworking project, "The Guide to Woodworking with Kids" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to family, personal, school wood shop, and community library Woodworking Crafts instructional reference collections.

The Wood Burn Book
Rachel Strauss
Rockport Publishers
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9781631598920, $24.99, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Burn-Book-Essential-Pyrography/dp/1631598929

Synopsis: Pyrography or pyrogravure is the free handed art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork or wood burning. (Wikipedia)

In "The Wood Burn Book: An Essential Guide to the Art of Pyrography", Rachel Strauss teaches the novice woodburning artist everything necessary to know in order to master the art of pyrography.

"The Wood Burn Book" is essential guide opens with a brief background to the art of wood burning, a list of tools and how to use them, basic techniques that can be used over and over again, and even what to burn and how to be safe doing it. Aspiring wood burners will also find a detailed explanation of the process from start to finish, with patterns, techniques for lettering and adding color, as well as dozens of projects ready for gifting, including picture frames, cutting boards, coasters, cards, wooden spoons, and jewelry.

Above all, Strauss has created the instructional guide and manual she wished she had when she first discovered pyrography: a simple guide that quickly gets the reader successfully burning. With the right tools and a little time, anyone can be able to create meaningful handmade gifts without breaking the bank. Whether it's to create a family name sign as a housewarming gift for newlyweds, or customize baby blocks for a new little one, wood burning is the versatile hobby that can be used time and time again to create memorable gifts for all of life's occasions.

In addition, wood burning is a practice in mindfulness, requiring patience and focus to awaken the senses and calm the mind. Mastering the art of writing with fire begins with the ability to follow a line. If you can trace, you can burn.

Critique: Enhanced with a profusion of color photography illustrations throughout and offering a wealth of step-by-step directions, "The Wood Burn Book: An Essential Guide to the Art of Pyrography" is an ideal and thoroughly user friendly instruction manual that is as fun as it is informative and will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, community, and art center library Woodworking and DIY Crafts collections.

Editorial Note: Rachel Strauss is the founder of the Wood Burn Corner. On Instagram @woodburncorner she hosts challenges to help wood burning artists from around the globe expand their skills, try new things, and connect with their fellow pyrographers. She also started Burn Club, a place for wood burning artists of all skill levels to gather, share, learn, and grow together. Her artwork can be found on the packaging of the Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner. Rachel is a featured teacher on Skillshare for her wood burning classes, and her work has graced the official Instagram feeds of Etsy, Joann, Craftsposure, and many others. Rachel chooses to use wood from sustainable sources and donates to organizations that plant trees around the globe.


The Cookbook Shelf

Recipes from the President's Ranch
Matthew Wendel
The White House Historical Association
1610 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
www.whitehousehistory.org
9781931917933, $45.00, 184pp

https://www.amazon.com/Recipes-Presidents-Ranch-Matthew-Wendel/dp/1931917930

Synopsis: In "Recipes from the President's Ranch" White House Chef Matthew Wendel provides a first-hand account of his years working for President George W. Bush and his family at Camp David and at their Texas home on Prairie Chapel Ranch.

He offers a collection of recipes, photographs, stories, and memories of daily life as senior advance representative in the Office of Presidential Advance and as the personal chef and personal assistant to the president. Included with recipes of the author's signature hot cinnamon rolls and fried chicken are the Bush family's favorite dishes, meals that world leaders were served, and a behind-the-scenes look at how he prepared for head of state visits and shopped for the first family.

Chef Wendel's account reveals a unique window into the hard work, detail, and protocol involved in working for the first family and reveals how the president welcomed world leaders using both his home and the power of sharing a meal in an intimate setting as a bridge-building diplomatic tool. Smoked beef tenderloin, stacked enchiladas, hot rolls, soups, and plenty of fresh salads were staples for the Bushes, but cheeseburgers became a tradition for their luncheons with world leaders at Prairie Chapel Ranch.

Providing wholesome, delicious, comforting food to guests was the Bush's way of saying to anyone sitting down to a meal with them -- "Welcome. We're glad you are here."

Critique: Enhanced with the inclusion of an informative Foreword by Laura Bush, profusely and beautifully illustrated in full color, "Recipes from the President's Ranch" is a coffee-table style volume that is part history and part culinary compendium of delicious, nutritious dishes that, by following the thoroughly kitchen cook friendly recipes, will enable anyone to dine in a kind of presidential eloquence. "Recipes from the President's Ranch" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, and community cook book collections.

The Sourdough School
Vanessa Kimbell
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
http://www.kylebooks.com
9780857839091, $29.99, HC, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sourdough-School-Sweet-Baking-Nourishing/dp/0857839098

Synopsis: Sourdough bread is made by the fermentation of dough using naturally occurring lactobacilli and yeast. It uses biological leavening rather than using cultivated baker's yeast. The lactic acid produced by the lactobacilli gives it a more sour taste and improved keeping qualities. (Wikipedia)

"The Sourdough School: Sweet Baking: Nourishing the Gut & The Mind" by sourdough expert Vanessa Kimbel is an indispensable, step-by-step guide to exploring the techniques and ingredients involved in successful sweet sourdough baking. A companion to the Vanessa's "The Sourdough School", it focuses on sweet recipes that are gut-friendly and rely on natural sweetness where possible.

Classic recipes and new ideas for flavor combinations offer bakers an alternative method of baking cakes, tarts, pancakes, doughnuts, pannetones, pretzels - nothing is off limits. If it rises, it can be made with sourdough. Also featured are recipes for compotes and syrups to accompany your bakes.

Vanessa also explains how sourdough helps to maintain the health and diversity of your gut microbiome, which in turn improves mental health. New studies are unveiling links between the microorganisms in our gut and our mood and behaviour, and Vanessa is at the forefront of this research.

Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout and showcasing an impressive assortment of nutritious, delicious, and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' sourdough recipes, "The Sourdough School: Sweet Baking: Nourishing the Gut & The Mind" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. Ideal for the novice baker as a complete instruction guide and manual, "The Sourdough School: Sweet Baking: Nourishing the Gut & The Mind" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Vanessa Kimbell runs The Sourdough School in Northamptonshire, where she teaches sourdough breadmaking and baking classes to students from around the world. A regular BBC radio journalist in the UK, she is a third generation baker of Italian descent and trained in several French bakeries.

One Tin Bakes
Edd Kimber
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780857838599, $22.99, HC, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/One-Tin-Bakes-simple-traybakes/dp/0857838598

Synopsis: Compiled by Edd Kimber (the first ever winner of the Great British Bake Off), "One Tin Bakes" showcases 70 delicious one-pan, no-fuss baking recipes. for

With chapters that include Cakes, Brownies & Cookies, Pastry, Desserts, No-Bake Bakes and Buns & Breads, there's plenty to choose from to create a beautiful baked pastry ranging from Anzac Caramel Slices for a sweet treat with a salty kick, to Rhubarb Strawberry Cobbler for an easy summer dessert, to Tahini Babka Buns for those weekend pastry cravings.

The recipes comprising "One Tine Bakes" require only minimal kitchen equipment to whip up something fruity, chocolatey, spiced or nutty. "One Tin Bakes" is replete with versatile and achievable recipes that celebrate the flavors of both traditional and modern bakes from around the world -- each with that special Edd Kimber twist!

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color photography, "One Tin Bakes" will enable even the most novice and inexperience of kitchen cooks to produce award winning and incredibly delicious treats with a minimum of fuss. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, community, and professional library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "One Tin Bakes" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).


The American History Shelf

Tales of Forgotten Chicago
Richard C. Lindberg
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809337811, $24.95, PB, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Forgotten-Chicago-Richard-Lindberg/dp/0809337819

Synopsis: "Tales of Forgotten Chicago" is comprised of twenty-one fascinating, little-known stories about a great city and its people that author Richard C. Lindberg has uncovered and which reveal lost historical events and hidden gems from the Windy City's past.

Spanning the Civil War through the 1960s, "Tales of Forgotten Chicago" showcases forgotten crimes, punishments, and consequences including: a poisoned soup that nearly killed three hundred leading citizens, politicians, and business and religious leaders; a woman in showbiz and her street-thug husband whose checkered lives inspired a 1955 James Cagney movie; and the first police woman in Chicago, hired as a result of the senseless killing of a young factory girl in a racially tinged case of the 1880s.

Also included are tales of industry and invention, such as America's first automobile race, the haunting of a wealthy Gilded Age manufacturer's mansion, and the identity of the telephone's rightful inventor. Chapters on the history of early city landmarks spotlight the fight to save Lakefront Park and how "Lucky" Charlie Weeghman's north side baseball park became Wrigley Field. Other chapters explore civic, cultural, and political happenings: the great Railroad Fairs of 1948 and 1949; Richard J. Daley's revival of the St. Patrick's Day parade; political disrupter Lar "America First" Daly; and the founding of the Special Olympics in Chicago by Anne Burke and others. Finally, some are just wonderful tales, such asa touching story about the sinking of Chicago's beloved Christmas tree ship.

Critique: An inherently fascinating read from first page to last, "Tales of Forgotten Chicago" is an extraordinary work of investigative scholarship that could well serve as a template for similar volumes showcasing the colorful history of other major American cities. An absolutely and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community, college, and university library American History collections in general, and Chicago History supplemental studies lists in particular.

Editorial Note: Richard C. Lindberg is an author, journalist, and lecturer who has written nineteen other books about Chicago history, politics, criminal justice, sports, and ethnicity including the 2011 memoir of his Northwest Side boyhood, "Whiskey Breakfast: My Swedish Family, My American Life", which was named nonfiction book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association.


The Travel Shelf

Day Hiking North Cascades
Craig Romano
www.CraigRomano.com
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680512236, $21.95, PB, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/Day-Hiking-North-Cascades-Mountain/dp/1680512234

Synopsis: The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in the U.S. and Canada as the Cascade Mountains. The portion in Canada is known to Americans as the Canadian Cascades, a designation that also includes the mountains above the east bank of the Fraser Canyon as far north as the town of Lytton, at the confluence of the Thompson and Fraser Rivers. (Wikipedia)

"Day Hiking North Cascades" is a travel guide for hiking enthusiasts that covers Mount Baker, the North Cascades Highway (SR 20) corridor, North Cascades National Park, Winthrop and the Methow Valley, the Pasayten Wilderness area, parts of Glacier Peak Wilderness, and the Mountain Loop Highway.

Compact and fresh with a broad range of hiking options, this is the most up-to-date guide for the area, and is organized along highway and other travel corridors with an emphasis on trails that are 12 miles or shorter, round-trip. The new and fully updated second edition features 136 hikes total, with 30 all-new ones and several expanded routes. Many of these hikes are not included in any other guide.

Critique: Compact and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Day Hiking North Cascades" is an essential and invaluable planning guide for anyone contemplating an enjoyable wilderness experience hiking the North Cascades. While very highly recommended for community library Travel Guide collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Day Hiking North Cascades" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.95).

Editorial Note: Craig Romano is the author or co-author of more than twenty books. Romano also writes for numerous publications, tourism websites, and HikeoftheWeek.com. He maintains a web site at www.CraigRomano.com and can be followed on Facebook @craigromanoguidebookauthor

National Trails of America
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781788689380, $30.00, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/National-Trails-America-Lonely-Planet/dp/1788689380

Synopsis: Outdoor enthusiasts and armchair travelers alike can hike across some of America's most impressive and scenic trails with "National Trails of America", an inspiring traveling companion from Lonely Planet. W

With an informative foreword by Cheryl Strayed, the celebrated author of Wild: A Journey From Lost To Found, and profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "National Trails of America" features the US's 30 National Trails ranging from the scenic wonder of the Pacific Crest Trail to the heavy history of the Trail of Tears -- as well as 28 others. Readers will discover the majesty of each route and all the unmissable stops along the way.

With a series of beautifully-shot photos and maps scattered throughout, "National Trails of America" is a comprehensive guide to America's best trails can't help but inspire. From the epic scenery of the mighty Grand Canyon to the steamy rainforests of Puerto Rico, and from the historic battlefields of Eastern Tennessee to the Gateway Arch of St. Louis, no corner of America is left unturned. Plus, with accompanying planning details for each and every hike, including details on where to stay, top tips along the way and how to get there, it's never been easier to hit the road.

Of special note is the mixture of day treks and multi-day thru-hikes, so there is something in the pages of "National Trails of America" that will appeal to all types of hikers.

Critique: A simply pleasure to simply browse through, "National Trails of America" is impressively informative and inherently interesting. Ideal for planning outdoor hiking excursions through the very best that the American landscape has to offer, "National Trails of America" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library American Travel Guide collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "National Trails of America" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.86).


The Audiobook Shelf

Space Station Down
Ben Bova, author
Doug Beason, author
Samantha Desz, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
https://tantor.com
9781705210253, $12.99, CD, (8 CDs, 9 Hours)

https://tantor.com/space-station-down-doug-beason-ben-bova.html

Synopsis: When an ultra-rich space tourist visits the orbiting International Space Station, NASA expects a $100 million win-win: his visit will bring in much needed funding and publicity.

But the tourist venture turns into a scheme of terror. Together with an extremist cosmonaut, the tourist slaughters all the astronauts on board the million-pound ISS-and prepares to crash it into New York City at 17,500 miles an hour, causing more devastation than a hundred atomic bombs. In doing so, they hope to annihilate the world's financial system.

All that stands between them and their deadly goal is the lone survivor aboard the ISS, Kimberly Hasid-Robinson, a newly divorced astronaut who has barricaded herself in a secure area.

Critique: Brought to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience by the expert and dramatic narrative skills of Samantha Desz, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Space Station Down" by the collaborative team of science fiction authors Ben Bova and Doug Beason is an extraordinarily entertaining and unreservedly recommended addition to community library audio book collections and a 'must' for the legions of Ben Bova fans.

Goddess of the North
Georgina Kamsika, author
Zehra Jane Naqvi, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
https://tantor.com
9781705210253, $12.99, CD, (9 CDs, 11.5 Hours)

https://tantor.com/goddess-of-the-north-georgina-kamsika.html

Synopsis: Detective Inspector Sara Nayar is a goddess. Literally. A Hindu goddess who was accidentally brought to England during Queen Victoria's reign. Working now as a police detective, Sara survives on humanity's innate faith in law and order.

Sheffield is a city of many gods, however, and when Sara witnesses a murder, she knows the perpetrator is divine. As a goddess of order, she must solve the crime before the god can kill again, but thousands of years living as a human has left her spiritually weak.

Vulnerable in ways she hasn't felt since leaving India, Sara fights to balance her mortal and immortal lives as the murders around her escalate. And with tensions amongst her fellow divinity on the rise, Sara is running out of time. If she can't restore order and find balance in the chaos, the city itself might pay the price.

Set in a vividly realized Northern city, where gods coexist with a balance of faith, "Goddess of the North is a thrilling urban fantasy steeped in multicultural mythology. A murder mystery at heart, it's an exploration of identity, love, faith, and the transformative powers of self-acceptance.

Critique: Unique, original, and a compellingly entertaining mix of fantasy and mystery, this complete and unabridged audio book "Goddess of the North" by Georgina Kamsika is deftly narrated by Zehra Jane Naqvi and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections and the personal lists of dedicated ubrban fantasy and mystery/suspense fans.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune
Nghi Vo, author
Cindy Kay, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
https://tantor.com
9781705210253, $12.99, CD, (3 CDs, 2 Hours)

https://tantor.com/the-empress-of-salt-and-fortune-nghi-vo.html

Synopsis: A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully.

Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for.

At once feminist high fantasy and an indictment of monarchy, "The Queen of Salt and Fortune" follows the rise of the empress In-yo, who has few resources and fewer friends. She's a northern daughter in a mage-made summer exile, but she will bend history to her will and bring down her enemies, piece by piece.

Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "The Empress of Salt and Fortune is author Nghi Vo's debut as a novelist, this deftly scripted, original, and thoroughly entertaining blend of elegant fantasy, high royalty, and political intrigue is superbly brought to life by the talented narrative skills of Cindy Kay. The result is a complete and unabridged audio book that is very highly recommended addition to community library collections.

Flame
Donna Grant, author
Antony Ferguson, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
https://tantor.com
9781705210253, $12.99, CD, (9 CDs, 11 Hours)

https://tantor.com/flame-donna-grant.html

Synopsis: Living among the Dragon Kings, Cain has spent lifetimes learning to distrust both mortals and Fae. He is a warrior born -- and every instinct demands that he fight to keep his own kind safe. But when a fringe member of the Dark Fae contacts the Kings with an urgent warning, Cain is torn for the first time. How can he trust this beautiful creature when resisting his primal attraction to her is battle enough?

Noreen is horrified by what her kind and the malevolent Others are planning for the Dragon Kings. Dark Fae or not, there are lines she will not cross-even if it means risking her life. But she never imagined that she would risk her heart until she meets Cain. She wants him with a soul-deep desire that frightens her -- and endangers them both.

Is saying goodbye to everything Noreen has ever known worth a love that will span time and realms? If she believed in destiny, she would believe they were meant for each other. But that fire was put out long ago.

Critique; "Flame" is part of fantasy author Donna Grant's exceptional 'Dark Kings' series and is vividly presented in this complete and unabridged audio book edition from Tantor Audio and brilliantly narrated by the theatrical talents of Antony Ferguson. A thoroughly entertaining and original high fantasy novel from beginning to end, "Flame" is unreservedly and especially recommended for community library audio book collections and the personal lists of all fantasy fans.

Plague of Corruption
Dr. Judy Mikovitz, author
Kent Heckenlively, author
Mariel Hemingway, narrator
Impact Audio
c/o Blackstone Audiobooks
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781645552345, $35.99, CD, (8 CDs)

https://www.urbanaudiobooks.com/plague-of-corruption?sp=379227

Synopsis: Dr. Judy Mikovits is a brilliant researcher who is shaking up the traditional science establishment with her groundbreaking discoveries. And like many women who have trespassed into the world of male dominated medical science, she uncovered decades-old secrets that many of her colleagues would prefer to stay buried.

From her doctoral thesis, which changed the treatment of HIV-AIDS, saving the lives of millions, including basketball great Magic Johnson, to her spectacular discovery of a new family of human retroviruses, and her latest research which points to a new golden age of health, Dr. Mikovits has always been on the leading edge of science.

Dr. Mikovits has seen the best and worst of science. When she was part of the research community that turned HIV-AIDS from a fatal disease into a manageable one, she saw science at its best. But when her investigations questioned whether the use of animal tissue in medical research were unleashing devastating plagues of chronic diseases, such as autism and chronic fatigue syndrome, she saw science at its worst. If her suspicions are correct, we are looking at a complete realignment of scientific practices, including how we study and treat human disease.

With the assistance of Kente Heckenlively in recounting Dr. Mikovits' nearly four decades in science, including her collaboration of more than thirty-five years with Dr. Frank Ruscetti, one of the founders of the field of human retrovirology, "Plague of Corruption: Restoring Faith in the Promise of Science" is a behind the scenes look at the issues and egos which will determine the future health of humanity.

Critique: Ably narrated by the vocal talents of Mariel Hemingway and featuring an informative Foreword by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Plague of Corruption: Restoring Faith in the Promise of Science" is an extraordinary contribution to our understanding of the role and promise of the scientific method in advance our understanding of chronic diseases and is especially timely in this current Covid-19 pandemic where in America, politics has perverted the public's understanding of, and faith in, medical science. Where disinformation, misinformation, and corrupt politics have put millions of American lives in peril. Simply stated, every community and academic library in the country should have a copy of this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Plague of Corruption: Restoring Faith in the Promise of Science" form Impact Audio.


The Music CD Shelf

A Momentary Pause
Holland Phillips
www.musicbyholland.com
Ageless Records
$9.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

A Momentary Pause is the ninth solo album of original songs by award-winning music artist Holland Phillips. An emotional New Age soundscape, A Momentary Pause is immersively beautiful, offering a positive, life-affirming message. Highly recommended, especially for personal and public library collections. The tracks are "Upon Awakening", "Whispers", "Our Sweeter Days", "Stepping Stones", "Dreaming On Ice", "Palindrome", "Study in Patterns", "Casting Shadows", "A Momentary Pause", and "Bedtime Prayers".

Scenes from Dinetah
Connor Chee
www.connorchee.com
Wild Saguaro Records
www.wildsaguarorecords.com
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Scenes from Dinetah is a new age solo piano album of songs inspired by Navajo culture. A brief introductory passage in the Navajo language, accompanied by Native American flute and piano, precedes each song. Scenes from Dinetah is extraordinarily beautiful, strikingly passionate, and highly recommended. The musical tracks (not including the passages preceding each track) are "Sunrise", "Horny Toad", "Pathways", "Hogan", "Sheep", "Horses", "Weaving", "Female Rain", "Fry Bread", "Cedar", "Sunset", and "Stars". 45 min. 48 sec.

The Horticulture vol. 1
Jeff "Horti" Hortillosa
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $4.86 MP3 amazon.com

Multimedia artist Jeff "Horti" Hortillosa presents The Horticulture vol. 1 is a four-song EP album featuring pop-rock, guitar solos, jazz chords, and a bold exploration into prominent political issues, including police brutality, mass shootings, pipelines, environmental problems, and global dissonance. Horticulture, vol. 1 is meant to be paired with a separate, 25-minute short film titled "Jesus Christ - War Monkey" that Hortillosa directed, acted in, and scored music for; however, The Horticulture vol. 1 is a mind-expanding listening experience on its own. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Jesus Christ", "Millionaire", "Us and Them", and "Mayon Volkano".


The DVD Shelf

Dead Still
Acorn TV
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
www.acornonline.com
$39.99 DVD

Dead Still is the DVD debut of an original Irish mystery series set in the Victorian era. Blending elements of suspense and macabre humor, Dead Still is inspired by the 1880s Europe historical trend of "post-mortem photography", commissioned portrayals of the recently deceased. Dublin memorial photographer Brock Blennerhasset (played by British Independent Film Award winner Michael Smiley) and his faithful assistant make their rounds among grieving families to carry out photo assignments, a persistent detective investigates a string of local murders that have troublesome connections to Brock. As cameras become cheaper and the price of photography spirals downward, Brock tries to stay in business with aid from his intelligent niece. Grim, sly, and fascinating, Dead Still is a unique experience for murder mystery connoisseurs, highly recommended. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 296 min. plus 63 min. bonus, SDH subtitles.

Playing for Keeps, season 1
Sundance Now
c/o Acorn
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
www.acornonline.com
$34.99 DVD

Playing for Keeps, season 1 is the DVD debut of an Australian murder mystery-dramady set on the sidelines of professional football (the sport also known as "soccer" in America), from the perspectives of the players' wives. On red carpets, in beauty salons, in designer bedrooms, and more, a web of status is shocked by the unexpected death of a team member. A dark yet alluring saga of wealth, power, intrigue, and ruthlessness, Playing for Keeps is utterly fascinating. 8 episodes on 2 DVDs, 356 min., subtitles in English SDH and French.

Gold Digger
Written and created by Marnie Dickens
Starring Julia Ormond and Ben Barnes
Acorn TV
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
www.acornonline.com
$39.99 DVD

Gold Digger is a darkly suspenseful, six-part romantic drama on DVD, about a woman who meets a much younger man on her sixtieth birthday, and cultivates a relationship. The woman's three adult children question whether their mother's new boyfriend truly loves her, or simply has his sights set on her money. Emmy-award winning actress Julia Ormond and established actor Ben Barnes bring this mesmerizing original saga to life. Highly recommended! Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, approx. 300 min. plus 21 min. bonus, SDH subtitles.


The Sports Shelf

101 Best Rowing Workouts
Sarah Fuhrmann
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578268443, $14.99, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Rowing-Workouts-Sarah-Fuhrmann/dp/1578268443

Synopsis: Rowing is one of the most effective activities that man or woman can do for overall fitness and health. It provides a full-body workout, increases endurance, and boosts aerobic performance while being easy enough on the joints for those looking for low-impact cardio.

"101 Best Rowing Workouts" by Sarah Fuhrmann (one of the leading voices in the rowing community whose company, UCanRow2, brings the power of indoor rowing to exercisers and fitness professionals worldwide) is a compilation of essential exercise programs for everyone wanting to erg their way to health. "101 Best Rowing Workouts" includes additional information on the benefits of rowing, the best way to start rowing, basic techniques, common errors and key workouts for beginners, those focused on weight loss, runners, strength training, postpartum, and more.

Critique: An ideal and profusely illustrated DIY exercise instructional guide and manual using for use with any form of rowing machine, "101 Best Rowing Workouts" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Ab Workouts/Stretching Exercise & Fitness collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "101 Best Rowing Workouts" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Automotive Shelf

Chrysler's Motown Missile
Geoff Stunkard
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613254752, $36.95, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Chryslers-Motown-Missile-Engineering-Program/dp/161325475X

Synopsis: In the pages of "Chrysler's Motown Missle" by Geoff Stunkard, classic car and automotive racing fans will enjoy learning about Mopar's skunkworks racing team and its rise to dominance in this fascinating history!

The drama of 1970s Chrysler Pro Stock drag racing unfolds in this new and detailed history, which focuses on the racing and technological evolution of the legendary Motown Missile and Mopar Missile racing programs from 1970 to 1977. Unequaled by any other drag racing development program, this was a huge undertaking in term of time, money, and effort.

The 1970s saw great change in Detroit and in auto racing, with Pro Stock being a huge draw for fans. Chrysler racing historian and author Geoff Stunkard presents a chronological recollection, drawing from many interviews and summaries of the actual technical efforts that the factory accomplished and includes both rare/unpublished technical and personal images from the team members and some of the most dramatic images taken by the sport's best photographers.

From the earliest days of owner/engine builder Ted Spehar, factory engineer Tom Hoover, and driver Don Carlton, the narrative is a colorful look at the team's inner workings, programs, victories, and even defeats. Set against a backdrop of characters like Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, "Dandy" Dick Landy, and "Dyno" Don Nicholson, Carlton's driving prowess had few equals.

Indeed, called by one period scribe as a "cyborg," the likeable pilot would pay the ultimate price as a drag racing driver. From the Challengers and 'Cuda to the Demons and Colts, "Chrysler's Motown Missle" showcases the cars that made Chrysler so much a part of this racing era, as well as Ted Spehar's never-before-revealed information on the 1970s Pro Stock engine program.

Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout with B/W and Color photography, "Chrysler's Motown Missile: Mopar's Secret Engineering Program at the Dawn of Pro Stock" is a unique, impressive informative, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library American Automotive History & Racing collections.


The Parenting Shelf

Mindfulness for Children
Sarah Rudell Beach
CICO Books
c/o Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
www.rylandpeters.com
9781782496069, $14.95, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Children-activities-children-resilience/dp/1782496068
Synopsis: Helping children to be more mindful is a powerful gift and a fundamental parental responsibility. By being mindful children will learn to recognize and manage their emotions, be more able to calm down when they are upset, become better at focusing on important tasks, and more able to interact with others with empathy and generosity.

These are fundamental skills that children will need throughout their life, but that they often aren't taught explicitly. Think of how often we demand that children "pay attention" or "calm down", without ever having shown them how to do so.

Now with "Mindfulness for Children: Simple activities for parents and children to create greater focus, resilience, and joy", parents can with mindfulness expert Sarah Rudell Beach.

Parents must first learn how to be more mindful themselves before teaching their children basic mindfulness skills. With easy-to-follow activities, chapter by chapter children learn to Soothe, Focus, Feel, Pause, Appreciate, and Connect. Each individual activity includes variations for different age groups, along with "emergency" how-tos for particularly stressful moments.

Critique: Expertly written, accessibly organized, and impressively presented, "Mindfulness for Children: Simple activities for parents and children to create greater focus, resilience, and joy" is a thoroughly user friendly and comprehensive instructional manual and guide that is especially recommended for community and academic library Contemporary Parenting collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mindfulness for Children" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.49).

Editorial Note: Sarah Rudell Beach has had a personal mindfulness practice for many years, holds a master's degree in education, and is a Mindful Schools Certified Instructor. She is the executive director of Brilliant Mindfulness and teaches mindfulness courses to children, teens, and adults. She is also the author of Mindful Moments for Busy Moms, published by CICO Books, and writes about mindfulness and healthy living for the Huffington Post.


The Self-Help Shelf

Living Love
Victoria Price
Ixia Press
c/o Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
https://www.doverpublications.com/ixiapress
9780486840109, $14.95, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Love-Victoria-Price/dp/0486840107

Synopsis: With "Living Love: 12 Heart-Centered Practices to Transform Your Life", Victoria Price, (who is also the author of "Vincent Prince: A Daughter's Biography" and "The Way of Being Lost: A Road Trip to My Truest Self", shows how you can be the person you long to be, how to become someone who overflows with immense joy, experiences deep connection, expresses their creativity, and feels profound peace.

Essentially a spiritual self-help book, "Living Love" demonstrates how to turn aside the fears that stand between you and self-fulfillment and to embrace the healing power of love, permitting it to transform every aspect of your life. From creating a daily routine of joy and gratitude to developing a practice of presence and forgiveness, in the pages of "Living Love", Victoria provides the tools for taking delight in being alive, countering fear, and developing compassion and openness.

Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Living Love: 12 Heart-Centered Practices to Transform Your Life" is a fully engaging, impressively inspiring, and life-changing, life-enhancing, life-embracing read from beginning to end. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Self-Help/Self- Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Living Love" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Victoria Price is a popular inspirational speaker on topics ranging from the daily practice of joy, living your legacy of yes, facing your fears and transforming your life through love-based practices, and making peace with your past stories to expand your creative futures. Victoria has appeared on Good Morning America, and NPR's "Fresh Air" and "Morning Edition," and her work has been featured in USA Today, People, Travel & Leisure, Art & Auction, and The New York Times.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
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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