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Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 13, Number 12 December 2014 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Political Science Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Fiction Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Self-Help Shelf LGBT Shelf
Nautical Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Terrorism Studies Shelf
Holocaust Studies Shelf Music Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Memoir Shelf Biography Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Disaster Handbook
Robert Brown Butler
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781497528185, $15.95, 216 pages, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "Disaster Handbook" by Robert Brown Butler is a practical and comprehensive primer that describes how to prepare for a disaster in advance, be safe as it happens, and repair anything afterward. Also covered are such vital topics as how to store and use all the foods, tools, and other "calamity commodities"; how to perform those everyday tasks that keep you alive from cooking, washing the dishes, and clean clothes, to bathing, going to the bathroom, and keeping everything sanitary; how to fashion all kinds of household items in simple and useful ways; how to deal with disasters at home or at work, in a public building or while driving, in a plane crash or train wreck, on a sinking ship or in the vicinity of a shooter; how to deal with disasters without generators, weapons, and wilderness survival skills; and so much more.

Critique: Exceptionally 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "Disaster Handbook" is comprehensive, profusely illustrated, practical, exceptionally well organized and presented, and is enhanced with the inclusion of and Addenda' that covers surviving a plane crash, a train wreck, a sinking ship, and even a shooting. Given the modern world we live and such issues as climate change, terrorism, civil unrest, extreme weather phenomena, and economic uncertainties, "Disaster Handbook" should be a part of every personal, family, and community library reference collection.

Recipes And Road Stories
Hannah Melby & Caroline Melby
Sartoris Literary Group
PO Box 4185, Brandon, MS 39047
www.sartorisliterarygroup.com
9781941644089, $19.95, 230pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: By the time Hannah was in the 11th grade and Caroline was in the 7th grade, the Melby sisters were touring the country in bluegrass bands, with Hannah on fiddle and Caroline on mandolin. Today the sisters are the front persons of a very popular Nashville-based country music touring band named HanaLena. "Recipes and Road Stories: Life on the Road with Sisters Hannah and Caroline Melby blends touching and rollicking road stories with an assortment of tasty recipes, and then tops everything off with plenty of exciting photographs. Also contributing recipes are friends they made on the road, including Rhonda Vincent, a 5-time Grammy nominee who has been called the "Queen of Bluegrass," and Claire Lynch, who is the reigning Female Vocalist of the Year for the International Bluegrass Association.

Critique: Nicely illustrated with occasional period photos, "Recipes and Road Stories" is solid entertainment and a fascinating read from beginning to end. Each of the four chapters comprising "Recipes and Road Stories" begins with specific stories of the girls' adventures and encounters, followed by a roster of recipes provided by themselves and their friends. A joy to simply browse through, "Recipes and Road Stories" will be a mandatory 'must read' for their legions of fans and is an ideal for browsing through repeatedly. Also available in a Kindle edition ($8.95), "Recipes and Road Stories" will prove to be a popular addition to community library collections.

What Was the World of Jesus?
Carl E. Roemer
True Directions / Tarcher Books
iUniverse, Inc.
c/o Author House
1663 Liberty Dr. Suite #300, Bloomington, IN 47403
Bohlsen Group (publicity)
9781491733554 $36.95 www.iuniverse.com

Also available as an ebook, What Was the World of Jesus? A Journey for the Curious Pilgrim draws upon the evidence of history to reconstruct the world that Jesus Christ and other figures of the Gospels once lived in. "The Galileans were often looked upon as a coarse people without history, traditions or prophetic succession... Frequent too was the contempt a Judean would hold them in for their social intercourse with Gentiles. The question of Nathaniel in John's Gospel, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' [John 1:46] reflects the attitude of Judeans toward their cousins in the north." Extensive notes and an index round out this excellent, thought-provoking resource highly recommended especially for those interested Bible study, or simply in learning more about the era, cultures, and peoples that surrounded Jesus during his life.


The Political Science Shelf

Accountability Citizenship
Stephen P. Tryon
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
Smith Publicity
9781479783564, $22.99, 116pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: In "Accountability Citizenship", author Stephen P. Tryon explains how we can restore accountability in government by accepting our personal accountability for some simple tasks we must do as individual citizens living in the age of information. "Accountability Citizenship" is non-partisan. Readers are asked only to agree on the very basics -- that the government of the United States is supposed to represent the people of the United States. "Accountability Citizenship" makes a compelling case that changes in our information distribution technologies and business models discourage effective political participation by citizens. In the early days of our republic, information distribution was based on newspapers which were subscription-based and geographically aligned with the representative structure of Congress. Over the past forty years, deregulation of television and radio along with the information technology revolution have disrupted this alignment. But we can restore accountability through the three steps of accountability citizenship: being appropriately positive, appropriately informed and appropriately engaged.

Critique: Rarely has the case for why and how American citizens must and can (and on a bi-partisan basis) reform and resist the corruptive elements that have degraded our federal government across all three branches. Simply stated, "Accountability Citizenship" should have as wide a public readership as possible and be a part of every academic and community library Contemporary Political Science collection. Exceptionally well written for the benefit of the non-specialist general reader, it should be noted that "Accountability Citizenship" is also available in a paperback edition (9781479783557, $15.99) and a Kindle edition ($3.99).

America's Suicide
Michael H. Davison
Dapa Publishing, LLC
Rebecca Brown
The Cadence Group
9780979243707, $27.00, 264pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: We are murdering industrial America, self-reliant America, entrepreneurial America, confident America, proud America. In its place we erect a welfare state, a nanny state, a parental state, a nation of dependent adults. Call it whatever you like. We stumble along, bitterly divided, not so far behind Western Europe. Is this good? If that is what we really want and freely vote for it. No non controversial moral principle forbids us to follow this course. But are we sufficiently aware of the not only economic price that we must inevitably pay? The salient question is why? Was this historically incomparable nation built on parental government principles? Can such a government guarantee greater freedom? Justice? Fairness? Compassion? Equality? Voters have repeatedly answered yes. To all the above questions this book forcefully answers no. The chapters focus on two overarching themes. One, the world, with emphasis on the United States, is in a potential deadly moral crisis as harmful principles and practices displace traditional ones among which many bring equal harm. Second, the book argues that the political solutions that we commonly apply to satisfy our needs must inevitably fail to achieve their purpose simply because our moral dilemma and political problems are not at root political. They cannot be resolved by electing the "right" political party. "America's Suicide" presents a compelling argument that the tiresome squabbling in Congress will never achieve anything constructive until we adopt a radically different view of ourselves as individuals and begin to move our nation in a much healthier direction

Critique: An articulate, clarion call for action, Michael H. Davison's "America's Suicide" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Ideal for both the political activist seeking cogent arguments for reform, and the non-specialist general reader alarmed by a chronically grid-locked federal government, corporate dominated political financing, and all the other ills that seem to be chipping away at our once great nation, "America's Suicide" should be a part of every academic and community library Contemporary Political Science collection. It should be noted that "America's Suicide" is also available in a hardcover edition (9780979243714, $17.00) and a Kindle edition ($5.60).


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The End of Unbelief
Shane Hayes
www.shanehayes.com
Leafwood Publishers
1626 Campus Court, Abilene, TX 79601
www.leafwoodpublishers.com
9780891124382, $14.99, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: The trend toward agnosticism, atheism, and other forms of unbelief is gathering force, especially among the young. And churches simply don't know how to counter it. "The End of Unbelief: A New Approach to the Question of God" provides the new kind of outreach needed--sophisticated, bold, and intellectually challenging. As a former atheist turned Christian, Shane Hayes offers a unique perspective for skeptics. While standard conversion literature rarely penetrates unbelievers' defenses, this book brings them to God even as their minds are slammed shut to Christ. Hayes found the direct transition from atheism to Christianity to be impossible. Instead, a period of Pure Theism occurred where Hayes took one step out of atheism towards the second step: Christ. Both steps require an acceptance of God as a personal and loving deity. "The End of Unbelief" serves as the response to the New Atheists and to anti-faith arguments in general. Read it and give it to the skeptic in your life.

Critique: As thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is inspired and inspiring, "The End of Unbelief: A New Approach to the Question of God" is exceptionally well written and reasoned, making it very strongly recommended reading, especially for anyone struggling with faith issues of their own. It should be noted that 'The End of Unbelief: A New Approach to the Question of God" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49).


The Fiction Shelf

The Ninth Floor
Liz Schult
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
Breakthrough Promotions
9781490566825, $13.99, 282pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: The ninth floor of St. Michael's Hospital was shut off to the public, staff, and administrators in 1984. The doors were welded and chained shut, the stop was removed from the elevators, and the no one talked about what happened there - ever. Ryan Sterling knew her life was going to change forever the day she found out her aunt needed a transplant, and she agreed to return to a home she never wanted to see again. Spending the vast majority of her time in St. Michael's hospital, she soon notices peculiarities: her aunt's roommate rants about evil, the nurses whisper about hauntings, and no one will tell her why the ninth floor is locked. Ryan thinks all the rumors are ridiculous until two nurses die right after she speaks with them about the floor in question. Noises and disembodied voices begin to haunt her night and day. Strange presents appear on her doorstep with notes that makes her blood run cold. Someone or something is watching Ryan, and she is certain whatever is behind the locked doors of the ninth floor is the key to her and her aunt's survival. Ryan never wanted to go home again, now she may never leave.

Critique: An exceptionally well written and entertaining read from beginning to end, "The Ninth Floor" clearly documents author Liz Schult imaginative literary skills and is especially recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that "The Ninth Floor" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99). For those to whom "The Ninth Floor" is their first introduction to the storytelling talents of Liz Schult, they would be well rewarded to read her earlier novel "Dark Corners" (9781468115123, $3.99 Kindle).

A Life Unbroken
K. M. Hewitt
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
MM Book Publicity
www.maryglenn.com
9781499160819, $12.33, 340pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: As the sole witness to a devastating accident at a secret Biological Weapons Lab, Alex McKay vanishes while on assignment in South America. Six years later... through luck and a twist of fate... she resurfaces in the U.S. with a new name, a new face and a new identity. Alex has a frightening story to tell and she knows it could send shockwaves throughout the nation and world... if she lives long enough to tell it.

Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "A Life Unbroken" introduces 26 year old Alex McKay and is the first volume in the 'Alex McKay' series. "A Life Unbroken" documents the impressive storytelling talents of author K. M. Hewitt and is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Fiction collections. It should be noted that "A Life Unbroken" is also available in a Kindle edition ($1.99).

The Industry
Natasha Rocca Devine
New Generation Publishing
The Old Fire Station, 140 Tabernacle Street
London, England, EC2A 4SD
Smith Publicity
9781910162675, $13.99, 366pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Leaving her beloved family and friends behind in her hometown of Kerry, Alanna heads for London in search of success as a performer at one of the city's most prestigious colleges. As the beautiful young singer ingratiates herself in a world of affluent excess, partying and debauchery, she's quick to realize it's not all as glamorous as it once seemed. Rising through the ranks of London's elite, Alanna finds herself living a double life, stooping to new lows to pay rent and compromising her character in the process. Withholding a dark secret, no one knows her motivation save for the words found in digital journal entries to 'Sally', which reveal the truth behind her relentless tenacity. Now, as the opportunity of a lifetime in Los Angeles gives her the chance to break America, Alanna must decide what truly matters and just how far she'll go in her bid for stardom. The Industry is a gripping journey of survival and self-discovery with a modern young heroine, struggling to achieve her dream and stopping at nothing in the process. But will she weather the storm and prove her detractors wrong by making it in show-business, or will it be too late to fix the mess she's created along the way?

Critique: A superbly crafted novel featuring memorable characters deftly woven into an engaging story that hold's the reader's total attention from beginning to end, "The Industry" is solid entertainment and documents author Natasha Rocca Devine's considerable literary skills. Very highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Fiction collections, it should be noted that "The Industry" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

Cocktails With A Tryst
Cheri Loughlin
The Intoxicologist LLC
http://intoxicologist.net
Concierge Marketing Inc.
9780990568018, $16.95, 182pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: In "Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction", author Cheri Loughlin artfully mixes 12 tantalizing stories with 27 original cocktail recipes that will keep the reader craving more. These sexy short stories are the quickies we all fantasize about. They are the quick fix breath of stimulation that keep you going during the day. Readers will love the way these erotic stories mix deliciously with sexy, sensual cocktails and exquisite photos in each chapter. Whether you are looking for a little inspiration in the bedroom or the bar you'll find it between these pages. Share "Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction" with someone special for a delightful kiss and don't tell kind of evening, or have some fun with the girls for Ladies Night Out. Whatever your pleasure, "Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction" will hit the spot.

Critique: Author Cheri Loughlin draws upon her years of developing recipes for big-brand liquor companies, artisanal brands, and craft distillers to provide a variety of cocktail recipes that will liven up any and all social occasions. That the stories are as sexy as they are entertaining is a bonus! Highly recommended for an adult readership, "Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction" will prove to be an enduringly popular and practical addition to personal reference collections. It should be noted that "Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.95).

A Guide to Bars and Nightlife in the Sacred City
Benjamin Wachs
Strange Castle Press
ImMedia Inc.
9780979327070, $15.95, 150pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "I was traveling across America, and then Europe, and then Russia, and then the Middle East," author Benjamin Wachs says of these 26 remarkable tales, "waking up each morning not knowing which city I would fall asleep in. Cities became pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, connecting in ways that you could not see on a map, to reveal the secret order of the universe." While these twenty-six short stories had their visible beginnings in a freelance journalist's world travel, they had their inner beginnings in the fertile workings of a remarkable mind. Almost all these tales originated in a San Francisco workshop taught by publisher Cary Tennis.

Critique: Benjamin Wachs reveals a distinctive and highly personal flair for storytelling that will engage the reader's total and rapt attention throughout. As thoughtful and thought-provoking as they are solidly entertaining, the short stories comprising "A Guide to Bars and Nightlife in the Sacred City" are highly recommended and rewarding reading.

Football
Don Skiles
Pelekinesis
112 Harvard Avenue, #65, Claremont, CA 91711
www.pelekinesis.com
9781938349201, $25.00, 520pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "Football" is a powerful, character-driven tale that follows Larry Simmons through several life-changing events as 1957 looms on the horizon. Should he continue his athletic aspirations? Will he be inspired by more poetry? What does high school mean to him? And what is happening with Cameron Mitchell?

Critique: An impressively well written and thoroughly entertaining novel, "Football" documents author Don Skiles as a skilled and talented storyteller. A rewarding read, "Football" is especially recommended for community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted that "Football" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

The Blind Eye
Marcia Fine
www.marciafine.com
L'Image Press, LLC
6701 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 40, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Bel Vista Public Relations
9780982695234, $16.95, 232pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "The Blind Eye: A Sephardic Journey" is comprised of parallel stories set in 15th century Portugal and the 1990's, as two women explore their identities. Set against historical events, "The Blind Eye" creates a sweeping narrative about a family expelled from Spain connecting forward across tine to a modern woman of Cuban descent.

Critique: A unique and compelling novel, "The Blind Eye: A Sephardic Journey" showcasing the impressive writing talents of author Marcia Fine who is able to deftly weave a complex plot populated with memorable characters and unexpected twists and turns. A solid entertainment from beginning to end "The Blind Eye: A Sephardic Journey" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted that "The Blind Eye: A Sephardic Journey" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Petals Around The Rose
Bayode Ojo
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781500587666, $15.00, 218pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "Petals Around The Rose" is the intriguing and compelling love story of Damilohun Olotu, a chaste Christian virgin and Ayobami Agbeja, the Campus Fellowship president who started an affair as undergraduates. Damilohun's Christian upbringing would influence her preference for Ayobami over Tunmise Adegbite. Tunmise Adegbite is the handsome, fun- loving and amiable first male friend she cultivated on Campus. Despite their differences in religious beliefs, she liked Tunmise and kept their friendship. Damilohun and Ayobami's relationship began in her second year, but Ayobami's final year. Ayobami traveled out to the United States of America after his NYSC in pursuit of his academic goals, and for four years they lived apart in two different worlds. When Ayobami returns to the country in exactly three months to their wedding, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. The unfolding drama is riddled with secrets and puzzles that will rock the boat of their seven year old relationship.

Critique: "Petals Around The Rose" clearly documents author Bayode Ojo has a major literary talent who is able to deftly weave memorable characters into a complex story that is a solid entertainment experience for the reader from beginning to end. "Petals Around The Rose" is very highly recommended reading and would be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted that "Petals Around The Rose" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.00).

A Season for Martyrs
Bina Shah
www.binashah.net
Delphinium Books
http://www.delphiniumbooks.com
Meryl L. Moss Media Relations
9781883285616, $14.95, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Ali Sikandar is assigned to cover the arrival of Benazir Bhutto, the opposition leader who has returned home to Karachi after eight years of exile to take part in the presidential race. Already eager to leave for college in the U.S. and marry his forbidden Hindu girlfriend, Ali loses a friend in a horrific explosion and finds himself swept up in events larger than his individual struggle for identity and love when he joins the People's Resistance Movement, a group that opposes President Musharraf. Amidst deadly terrorist attacks and protest marches, this contemporary narrative thread weaves in flashbacks that chronicle the deep and beautiful tales of Pakistani history, of the mythical gods who once protected this land. Bina Shah, a journalist herself and now a NYT op-ed writer, illustrates with extraordinary depth and keen observation into daily life the many contradictions of a country struggling to make peace with itself.

Critique: Riveting and articulate, "A Season for Martyrs" by Pakistani journalist Bina Shah is the author's debut novel for an American readership and clearly denotes her ability to deftly craft and complex storey of suspenseful twists and unexpected turns that holds the reader's total attention from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted that "A Season for Martyrs" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.80).

Amelia
Bernadette Marie
5 Prince Publishing
c/o Author Marketing Experts
9781631120398, $11.95, 250pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Amelia Monroe had felt the sharp pain from the loss of a soldier before--Adam Monroe's death didn't have that same effect. Sam Jackson had one job -- deliver Adam Monroe's revised will. Even he couldn't have anticipated that he'd be entangled in the web of lies his client had woven. Doing what is right had been inbred in Amelia. She'd planned to say her goodbyes and start fresh. Staying in Adam's small town with his other lies, that wasn't part of her plan.

Critique: The first volume of author Bernadette Marie's outstanding "The Three Mrs. Monroes" trilogy. Solidly entertaining from beginning to end, "Amelia" is especially recommended for anyone who appreciates a well crafted romance with all manner of unexpected plot twists and turns encountered by deftly crafted and memorable characters. Also very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections are the other two volumes of this wonderfully entertaining series: "Penelope" (9781631120411, $11.95) and "Vivian" (9781631120435, $11.95).


The Health/Medicine Shelf

College Basic Training
Susan Jensen
Swan Fitness Publishing
178 Peninsula Road, Medicine Lake, MN 55441
www.swanfitcoach.com
9780990578925, $19.95, 136pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "College Basic Training: Strengthen Your Mind and Body to Leap Any College Hurdle" by personal fitness trainer and health coach Susan Jensen is a be-good-to-your-body guide for young women in college or going off to college. The colorfully whimsical and easy-to-read chapters offer life-changing wellness tips in a lighthearted, casual, and humorous narrative. "College Basic Training" gets straight to the point when it comes to exercise, nutrition, body image, media distraction, substance abuse, sex, mental health, safety, and more. Included are eye-opening personal stories of trial and tribulation, illustrating the tools needed to avoid or overcome adversity and pressures that come with college life. "College Basic Training" will guide mothers, daughters, and granddaughters toward a healthy lifestyle and a positive future. It might even save a life!

Critique: Nicely illustrated, "College Basic Training: Strengthen Your Mind and Body to Leap Any College Hurdle" is an informed and informative instruction guide that is thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end. More than just another exercise manual, "College Basic Training" covers such aspects of personal health and well-being as sleep, nutrition, eating disorders, alcohol and drugs, media distraction, and time management. Of special note is the chapter devoted to sexual assault. Enhanced with the inclusion extensive Notes and Additional References, "College Basic Training" is very highly recommended for personal, family, academic, and community library Health & Medicine instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "College Basic Training" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).

Adrenaline Dominance
Michael E. Platt
Clancy Lane Publishing
www.clancylanepublishing.com
Blessingway Authors Services
9780977668311, $19.95, 186pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Adrenaline is a powerful hormone whose effects have been virtually ignored by the medical community. "Adrenaline Dominance: A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness" explains how this hormone might be a major underlying cause of many conditions currently considered incurable. "Adrenaline Dominance: A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness" explains why people produce this "fight-or-flight" hormone even when they are not facing danger. It presents a natural protocol for rapidly reducing excess adrenaline. In most cases, this protocol allows patients to reassess their need for taking prescription medications, which treat symptoms rather than address the root cause of their conditions.

Critique: In "Adrenaline Dominance: A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness", author Michael E. Platt, M.D. draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to write an informed and informative work that is ideal for the non-specialist general reader wanting to better understand the role of hormones in restoring and maintaining good health. Dr. Platt not only covers just how adrenaline works in the human body, but how to reduce excess adrenaline. Very highly recommended for community library Health & Medicine collections, "Adrenaline Dominance: A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness" will prove to be of particular value and interest to anyone dealing with diabetes, depression, IBS, weight problems, headaches, addictions, urinary problems, and so much more.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

We Are The Destroyers
D. K. Lindler
First Life Publishing
1034 E San Juan Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85014
The Cadence Group
9780991509027, $16.95, 428pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Captain Bel'lar can't accept that he's lived all this before. Overconsumption is destroying his home planet, and synthetic foods are turning his people into degenerated mutants under the control of the Brotherhood of Syn. As one of the few remaining but persecuted Organs - those who still live the organic lifestyle - Bel'lar and his small crew must escape from their dying world to the semi-mythical blue-white planet. They are to discover if it is really what the prophecies say it is: a place for humanity to make a new beginning. But the visions of his beautiful companion Ry Sing, a mystic and seer shake Bel'lar. She tells him that eons ago, Bel'lar was also faced with the burden of saving his people from their own greed. Only then he was the Great One, the sacred head of their religion. He had seen no other way to liberate them from their collision course with environmental destruction and spiritual degradation than to purify the planet in a great cataclysm... But could the horrible vision be true? Could he really have done such a thing? And what about the scriptures that predict that a man with a mark like his would be fated to purify a corrupted planet once again and free the souls? As Bel'lar, Ry Sing and the rest of the elite team embark on their mission to save mankind, the truth of the vision begins to reveal itself, and Bel'lar's destiny is set before him. But will he be able to avoid it this time? Or is he fated to live the vision once again?

Critique: "We Are The Destroyers" by D. K. Lindler is a solid science fiction entertainment from beginning to end. A deftly woven and complex story that will linger in the mind long after the novel is finished and set back upon the shelf, "We Are The Destroyers" is very highly recommended reading and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library science fiction collections. It should be noted that "We Are The Destroyers" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99).

Ed Undead: The Chronicles of a Teenage Zombie
Edward Kent
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781470086626, $11.99, 284pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Sixteen year old Ed Kirk never believed that he would have to live through a zombie apocalypse. He had a loving family, a beautiful girlfriend, and a full life ahead of him. Now he finds himself on the run from zombies, being hunted by a dark force that threatens his very existence, all the while trying to escape this zombie infested town and find help. There's just one little detail -- Ed is a zombie too!

Critique: With "Ed Undead: The Chronicles of a Teenage Zombie", author Edward Kent demonstrates impressive skills for original storytelling and taking a classic staple of the fantasy genre and giving it a whole new 'life'. Solid entertainment from beginning to end, "Ed Undead: The Chronicles of a Teenage Zombie" is very highly recommended -- especially to fans of the Zombie fantasy genre and would make an enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted that "Ed Undead: The Chronicles of a Teenage Zombie" is also available in a Kindle edition ($1.99). Also very highly recommended is the sequel "Ed Undead: Dead Like Me" (978-1500935986, $11.99 (PB), $2.99 (Kindle), 252pp).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Dirty Tricks
Judith K. Ivie
Mainly Murder Press, LLC
PO Box 290586, Wethersfield, CT 06109
www.JudithIvie.com
www.MainlyMurderPress.com
9780990510307, $15.95, 236pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Kate Lawrence is an amateur sleuth. She and her realtor partners investigate the sometimes adversarial relationship between authors and publishers and the frightening consequences of thwarted creative egos. When well-known mystery writer Maybelle Farnsworth moves to Wethersfield a few weeks before Halloween, she becomes the target of a neighborhood prankster, or so Kate and her partners believe at first. When the dirty tricks escalate from annoying to terrifying, May's secret sideline as the publisher of a line of sexy romance novels comes into play. Within the context of this cozy mystery, Judith K. Ivie's "Dirty Tricks" shines a light into the seldom acknowledged dark corners of today's ultra-competitive publishing industry, including cynical agents, clashing egos, and unethical ploys used by misguided authors to gain readers' attention, such as fraudulent claims of prize nominations and paid-for reviews.

Critique: "Dirty Tricks' is the seventh Kate Lawrence mystery and continues to document author Judith K. Ivie as a skilled and imaginative mystery writer with a flair for weaving memorable characters seamlessly into a complexly woven storyline. It should be noted that "Dirty Tricks" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99). All of her previous Kate Lawrence novels are highly recommended, especially "Dying Wishes" (9780984666645, $14.95).

The Dream Of Saint Ursula
Kenneth Butcher
Black Rose Writing
PO Box 1540, Castroville, TX 78009
www.blackrosewriting.com
9781612964249, $16.95, 264pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Who is smuggling illegal aliens into the U.S. through the Virgin Islands? Lieutenant Esteban finds out but not before dealing with a nagging older sister, a sexy park ranger, a parade of eccentric artists, the Colebrook family, a sleazy media man, various departments of the government and a drug crazed marmoset. Is this what the Dream of Saint Ursula was all about?

Critique: A thoroughly engaging and entertaining read from first page to last, "The Dream Of Saint Ursula" demonstrates author Kenneth Butcher's flair for weaving unexpected twists and turns in a gripping storyline populated with memorably crafted characters. Also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99), "The Dream Of Saint Ursula" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Death at Chinatown
Frances McNamara
Allium Press of Chicago
http://alliumpress.com
The Cadence Group
9780989053556, $15.99 PB, $4.99 Kindle, 226pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: In the summer of 1896, amateur sleuth Emily Cabot meets two young Chinese women who have recently received medical degrees. She is inspired to make an important decision about her own life when she learns about the difficult choices they have made in order to pursue their careers. When one of the women is accused of poisoning a Chinese herbalist, Emily once again finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation. But, before the case can be solved, she must first settle a serious quarrel with her husband, help quell a political uprising, and overcome threats against her family. Timeless issues, such as restrictions on immigration, the conflict between Western and Eastern medicine, and women's struggle to balance family and work, are woven seamlessly throughout this riveting historical mystery. Rich with fascinating details of life in Chicago's original Chinatown, "Death at Chinatown" is the fifth book in the Emily Cabot Mysteries series by Frances McNamara and will continue to delight history buffs and mystery lovers alike.

Critique: As in her previous four novels in this outstanding series, "Death At Chinatown" pays meticulous attention to historical accuracy in an engaging mystery novel that holds the reader's total attention from beginning to end. A solid entertainment, "Death At Chinatown" is very highly recommended as a 'stand-alone' read, but don't be surprised for those to whom this is their first introduction to McNamara's impressive storytelling talents if they find themselves compelled to track down the first four volumes including "Death At The Fair" (9780984067619, $14.99 PB, $4.99 Kindle); "Death At Hull House" (9780984067602, $14.99 PB, $4.99 Kindle); "Death At Pullman" (9780984067695, $14.99 PB, $4.99 Kindle); "Death At Woods Hole" (9780983193838, $14.99 PB, $4.99 Kindle).

Mind Over Murder
Cary Allen Stone
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781495402005, $12.50, 346pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Jake Roberts returns in the thriller "Mind Over Murder" which is the sequel to Cary Allen Stone's superbly crafted debut novel "After The Evil". Lori Powers had fled the U.S. after leaving a trail of dead men behind. She has been returned to the U.S. to stand trial. Once again, Lori escapes, only this time it's to save Detective Jake Roberts' life from a new serial killer in town.

Critique: Cary Allen Stone has an impressive gift for constructing a complex and compelling detective novel, the kind that grips the reader's total and rapt attention from first page to last and just doesn't let go. "Mind Over Murder" continues the adventures of Jake Roberts and is a total entertainment that is to be wholeheartedly commended to the attention of mystery fans and would prove to be a popular addition to community library collections as well. It should be noted that "Mind Over Murder" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).

After the Goode
Cary Allen Stone
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781493682645, $11.99, 324pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Jake Roberts' superiors in Atlanta Homicide gave him a choice--retire, or face criminal prosecution. Jake went beyond the rules to capture serial killer Jared Hamilton. Jake decided to retire and move to Los Angeles with his Hollywood agent girlfriend Caitland where he writes best-selling crime novels. They decide to take a mini-vacation to visit his best friend in Phoenix. Bobby Goode is a superstar comedian. During his opening night in Phoenix, he humiliates a heckler. After the show, the heckler stalks Bobby with a baseball bat. Defending himself, Bobby shoots the man. He panics from the fear that he will lose his fame and fortune if anyone finds out. At the crime scene, Phoenix homicide detectives Wynter Williams and Vince Farina investigate a charred body and torched Cadillac. They invite Jake to consult on the case. Jake later determines that it is Bobby they are looking for. On closing night, inside the comedy club, Jake and Wynter arrive to arrest Bobby....

Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "After the Goode" continues to document Cary Allen Stone has an extraordinarily talented master of the detective crime novel as she deftly weaves memorable characters into a complex plot of surprise twists and unexpected turns. The third volume in Stone's 'Jake Roberts' mystery series, "After the Goode" is very highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "After the Goode" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).


The Self-Help Shelf

Living Balance
H.H. the Dali Lama, Joel Levey, Michelle Levey
Divine Arts
5615 hazel Avenue, Richmond, CA 94805
www.divineartsmedia.com
781611250299, $18.95, 360pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: As our world grows increasingly more complex and stressful, developing our capacity for dynamic balance in our lives, work, and relationships becomes more and more vital. Based on the ancient wisdom traditions, contemporary neuroscience research, and the insights of indigenous cultures throughout our world, "Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for Thriving in a Complex World" shows that, in each moment, we have the capacity to be mindful of whether our thoughts and actions are moving toward harmony and balance or away from it. Through this awareness we can make a conscious choice to continue on the path we are on or to change our attitude and direction. With a foreword by H.H. the Dalai Lama, "Living in Balance" offers a rare synthesis of ancient wisdom traditions with cutting-edge research on peak human performance that points toward mindfulness as being truly the key to living in balance.

Critique: Informative, thoughtful, inspiring, "Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for Thriving in a Complex World" is very highly recommended reading and especially commended to anyone seeking personal growth and a more pervasive spirituality for themselves. Instructive, reflective, impressively well written, organized and presented, "Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for Thriving in a Complex World" would make a valued addition to personal, community, and academic library collections. It should be noted that "Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for Thriving in a Complex World" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.49).


The LGBT Shelf

The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision
Kittredge Cherry, author
Douglas Blanchard, illustrator
The Apocryphile Press
1328 Montecito Circle, Los Angles, CA 90031
www.apocryphile.org
9781940671406, $38.95, 150pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision" introduces Jesus as a gay man of today and living in a contemporary city. In stunning new images by Douglas Blanchard, the modern Christ figure is jeered by fundamentalists, tortured by Marine look-alikes, and rises again to enjoy homoerotic moments with God. His surprisingly diverse friends join him on a journey from suffering to freedom. Readers call it "accessible but profound." Some are moved to tears. The 24 paintings in the gay Passion cover Jesus' final days, including his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. A queer Passion is important now because Christianity is being used to justify hate and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Each image is accompanied by insightful commentary, plus a short prayer and scripture. If Jesus came back today, would he be crucified all over again? Would we even recognize him? "The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision" is relevant to such enduring questions.

Critique: Douglas Blanchard's impressive artwork is a perfect compliment to Kittredge Cherry's thoughtful and thought-provoking story. Deftly written and superbly illustrated, "The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision" is a very highly recommended and rewarding read -- especially for members of the LGBT community and enlightened Christians regardless of their denominational affiliation.


The Nautical Shelf

Man & The Sea
Wayne O'Neil
Photo'neil, LLC
PO Box 1004, Long Beach, WA 98631
9780978530525, $29.00, 221pp, www.manandthesea.com

Synopsis: In "Man & The Sea", author Wayne O'Neil tells the dramatic story of shipwrecks, groundings and mishaps at the mouth of the Columbia River and its environs, dating from 1792 through the year 1949. These are individual stories of wooden ships under sail, and brave mariners sailing without accurate charts, facing the shifting sands, monstrous rollers and roaring breakers of the Columbia River bar. The Columbia River, with nearby Long Beach Peninsula and Clatsop Spit, have truly earned their infamous reputation as the 'Graveyard of the Pacific'.

Critique: An informed and informative maritime history, "Man & The Sea" is profusely enhanced with period photos throughout. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this inherently fascinating history of Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon shipwrecks from 1792 to 1949 is a unique and invaluable contribution that should be a part of every academic library's American Maritime History reference collection and supplemental studies reading list.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Clairvoyant Psychotherapy
Susan Feinbloom
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
Bohlsen Group
www.createspace.com
9781492963042, $24.95, 268pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "Clairvoyant Psychotherapy" is a rare new work that succeeds in being groundbreaking in the field of psychotherapy while being both a professional and consumer book. Susan Feinbloom's approach begins by using traditional psychotherapy techniques to aid her client's in probing the roots of their emotional difficulties. This is her foundation. It's what happens next that is groundbreaking. In addition to being trained as a psychotherapist, Susan has spent the last thirty years honing her skills as a clairvoyant. Her psychotherapy goes beyond intuition into the use of clairvoyance - clear seeing - exploring energetic patterns and movements as they apply to and elucidate emotional states. Ancient wisdoms, the energetic anatomy, the chakras - information that has been deeply buried in the subconscious is explored as it reveals prior wounding, programming and imprints. These all form the underlying limits that block the client's access to their brilliance, talents and unique vision of their own lives. "Clairvoyant Psychotherapy" progresses through a description of the meditation patterns, an in depth discussion of the psychological and spiritual aspects of the seven chakras and finally explores how these are woven within the sessions. There are transcripts of different therapy sessions to demonstrate this process. Like shining a beacon in the dark, "Clairvoyant Psychotherapy" serves as an opening to the amazing powers and mysteries of the mind and its ability to change our physical reality. We see how expanding our consciousness leads us to high functioning radiant wholeness and a more encompassing picture of who we truly are - a spirit incarnated in a physical body.

Critique: Impressively written so as to be of immense value to students of psychotherapy and metaphysics, "Clairvoyant Psychotherapy" is ideal for the non-specialist general reader as well, making it highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both community and academic library Psychology/Psychotherapy Studies reference collections.

Dreams and Resurrection: On Immortal Selves, Psychedelics, and Christianity
Jack Call
Christian Alternative
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781782796831, $16.95, 135pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "Dreams and Resurrection: On Immortal Selves, Psychedelics, and Christianity" presents an extended inductive argument based on the time-honored analogies between life and dream, death and sleep. Author Jack Call takes an argument of David Hume's and turns it on its head. That argument forms the core of a view the Call describes as Taoistic, psychedelic Christianity. Taoistic in that God's power is conceived as purely artistic and inspirational, and psychedelic in that the author acknowledges that taking LSD had a profound and benign influence on his life. On this view, the first-person perspective is given in experience. The basic message in "Dreams and Resurrection: On Immortal Selves, Psychedelics, and Christianity" is that kind of person you are is an ever-unfolding story that you must strive to perfect.

Critique: As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Dreams and Resurrection: On Immortal Selves, Psychedelics, and Christianity" is especially recommended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the nature of death, the concept of an afterlife, the human psyche, and metaphysics. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, it should be noted that "Dreams and Resurrection: On Immortal Selves, Psychedelics, and Christianity" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.39).

The Psychic & Spiritual Awareness Manual: A Guide to DIY Enlightenment
Kevin West
6th Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781782793977, $14.95, 116pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "The Psychic & Spiritual Awareness Manual: A Guide to DIY Enlightenment" was specifically written by author and enlightenment expert Kevin West for people who wish to develop their psychic and spiritual awareness in a very practical way. Although organically linked, each chapter deals with a separate aspect of development and also acts as a diagnostic empowering tool. "The Psychic & Spiritual Awareness Manual: A Guide to DIY Enlightenment" is a companion to the teacher and student of these disciplines alike and is based around the Spiritualist and New Age approach to full realization. It fills the gap left by so many books written by people who are not true, experienced practitioners or adepts in these fields. "The Psychic & Spiritual Awareness Manual: A Guide to DIY Enlightenment" is filled with helpful exercises and hands-on useful techniques designed to empower the reader and awaken within them a sense of who, what, why, where and how they are. The chapters include lessons and writings on healing, meditation, psychic awareness, clairvoyance, psychometry, scrying, psychic and spiritual philosophy, colors, auras and their energies, sitting in circle, and much more. This book is not a narrative - it is a do-it-yourself instruction manual.

Critique: Exceptionally well written so as to be fully accessible to the non-specialist reader and of enduring value to advanced students of metaphysics and spirituality, "The Psychic & Spiritual Awareness Manual: A Guide to DIY Enlightenment" is very highly recommended and thoroughly 'user friendly'. It should be noted that "The Psychic & Spiritual Awareness Manual: A Guide to DIY Enlightenment" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.69).

Life Without Elgar: A Tale of a Journeying Soul
Ann Merivale
6th Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781782795261, $16.95, 158pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: During a regression to find out the reason for the unusual emotional attachment that she'd had since the age of sixteen to Sir Edward Elgar (both his music and the man himself) author Ann Merivale was knocked for six at finding herself in the life of Helen Weaver, his first fiancee. One year on, following a meeting held at Plas Gwyn, in the very room that had been Elgar's study from 1904-11, a series of letters between Edward Elgar and Helen Weaver started writing themselves in her head. Gradually, and on the advice of colleagues, she decided that this 'imaginary correspondence' should form the middle section of a book devoted to her personal experiences. The first part is autobiographical, showing how she came to her present beliefs and the third part (also somewhat autobiographical) draws conclusions re healing. It has the dual aim of introducing spiritual subjects to musical people who are unfamiliar with them, and introducing Elgar to spiritually minded people who know little or nothing about him.

Critique: Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 - 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. He also composed choral works, including The Dream of Gerontius, chamber music and songs. He was appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924. A fascinating, informative and engaging read from beginning to end, "Life Without Elgar: A Tale of a Journeying Soul" is especially recommended to students of metaphysical studies. It should be noted that "Life Without Elgar: A Tale of a Journeying Soul" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).


The Terrorism Studies Shelf

The Hitler Legacy
Peter levenda
Ibis Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
www.ibispress.net
9780892542109, $26.95, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: More than thirty years after his first investigation of the Nazi underground author and researcher Peter Levenda has returned again and again to his quest for the truth about the true character of the Nazi cult and the people and political movements it has influenced in the decades since the end of World War II. The wide sweep of this investigation moves from a Ku Klux Klan headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania to the New York City office of the Palestine Liberation Organization; from the apartment of a notorious neo-Nazi leader to an Islamic boarding school--headquarters of the man who ordered the Bali Bombings. When Levenda uncovered the existence of a Nazi underworld in Asia, the nexus of religion, politics, terrorism and occult beliefs was revealed to be the real domain of the threat to global security. Meticulously researched and drawing from both archival material and declassified intelligence agency files, as well as personal interviews and investigations undertaken in Asia, Europe and Latin America, "The Hitler Legacy" is the astonishing story of how the mistakes of the 20th century have come home to roost in the 21st. "The Hitler Legacy" will challenge the conventional thinking about such subjects as the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist terrorism and even about the alleged death of one of history's most infamous killers -- Adolf Hitler.

Critique: An impressive work of seminal and original scholarship, ""The Hitler Legacy: The Nazi Cult in Diaspora: How it was Organized, How it was Funded, and Why it Remains a Threat to Global Security in the Age of Terrorism" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Exceptionally well written, organized, and presented, "The Hitler Legacy" is enhanced with nine pages of Sources & Bibliography, and features a comprehensive Index. Also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99), "The Hitler Legacy" is strongly recommended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the 20th Century roots of 21st Century terrorist organizations, as well as an important and valued addition to academic library World History and Global Terrorism reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

Bread or Death
Milton Mendel Kleinberg
Fifth Generation Books
www.fifthgenbooks.com
Concierge Marketing Inc.
9780989928434, $16.95, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: World War II brought about scarcities of just about everything...except misery. "Alle raise," (everybody out), the German soldiers screamed as they pounded on our door with the butts of their rifles. And thus began a 4,500-mile journey from Poland through Russia and Siberia and eventually to Uzbekistan in Central Asia, as the author Milton Mendel Kleinberg's family used bribery and darkness of night to flee as the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939. Young Mendel, from age four to fourteen, tells in vivid detail the wretched journey in cramped cattle cars through frigid Russia, the indignities of being forced labor, the shame of begging for bread just to survive, and death of those closest to him. The family's plight includes abandonment, hunger, and separation (and later remarkable twists of fate and reunion) quite unlike other Holocaust stories. "Bread or Death: Memories of My Childhood During and After the Holocaust" is a coming-of-age, Holocaust memoir. A very personal account of how (through great sacrifices by his mother) he managed to survive the worst atrocities in human history and his uncertain days in a Polish Children's Home, scrabbling for fallen fruit, and surviving kidnapping and murder on the Black Road, and return to German Displaced Persons camps at war's end. But to what fate? Originally written as a memoir just for his grandchildren, Milton Kleinberg gives a moving account of his family's hardships and eventual immigration with a lump-in-the-throat passage to America past the Statue of Liberty and into a land of opportunity tinged with bigotry yet with a promise to future generations.

Critique: An extraordinary true story, "Bread or Death: Memories of My Childhood During and After the Holocaust" is especially appropriate for a young adult readership. Enhanced with a glossary, book club study questions, a teacher's guide, a timeline, and a photo gallery, "Bread or Death: Memories of My Childhood During and After the Holocaust" is a strongly recommended acquisition for school and community library collections, and would be a valued contribution to academic library Holocaust Studies reference collections as well. It should be noted that "Bread or Death: Memories of My Childhood During and After the Holocaust" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.95).


The Music Shelf

The History of Classical Music For Beginners
R. Ryan Endris, author
Joe Lee, illustrator
For Beginners LLC
155 Main Street, Suite 211 Danbury, CT 06810
www.forbeginnersbooks.com
9781939994264, $15.95, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Music history is nearly as old as human civilization itself, and while it has permeated the arts and popular culture for centuries, it still has a mystifying aura surrounding it. But it's not as complicated as it seems, and anyone can learn the origins and history of Western classical music. In addition to learning how better to understand (and enjoy!) classical music, "The History of Classical Music For Beginners" will help the non-specialist general reader learn some of the more interesting and sometimes comical stories behind the music and composers. For example: Did you know that Jean-Baptiste Lully actually died from conducting one of his own compositions? You may have heard of Gregorian chant, but did you know there are many forms of chant, including Ambrosian and Byzantine chant? And did you also know that only a small portion of "classical music" is even technically Classical? All this and more are presented in "The History of Classical Music For Beginners".

Critique: Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music (both liturgical and secular). It encompasses a broad period from roughly the 11th century to the present day. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common practice period. The major time divisions of classical music are the early music period, which includes Medieval (500 - 1400) and Renaissance (1400 - 1600), the Common practice period, which includes the Baroque (1600 - 1750), Classical (1750 - 1830) and Romantic (1804 - 1949) periods, and the modern and contemporary period, which includes 20th century (1900 - 2000) and contemporary (1975 - current). Informed and informative, "The History of Classical Music For Beginners" is a thoroughly 'reader friendly' introduction and ideal for personal reading lists, as well as school and community library Music History collections. It should be noted that "The History of Classical Music For Beginners " is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Economic Studies Shelf

Bridging the Pacific
C. Fred Bergsten, Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Sean Miner
Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
www.piie.com
9780881326918, $21.95, 278pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: The terrain of the world trading system is shifting as countries in Asia, Europe, and North America negotiate new trade agreements. However, none of these talks include both China and the United States, the two biggest economies in the world. "Bridging the Pacific: Toward Free Trade and Investment Between China and the United States" is a pathbreaking study in which C. Fred Bergsten, Gary Clyde Hufbauer, and Sean Miner argue that China and the United States would benefit substantially from a bilateral free trade and investment accord. In the process, they contend, each country would also achieve progress in addressing its internal economic challenges, such as the low saving rate in the United States. Achieving greater trade and investment integration could be accomplished with one comprehensive effort or through step-by-step negotiations over key issues. "Bridging the Pacific: Toward Free Trade and Investment Between China and the United States" calls upon the United States to seek liberalization of China s services sector as vital to securing an agreement, and explains that such contentious matters as cyber espionage and currency manipulation be handled through parallel negotiations rather than in the agreement itself. "Bridging the Pacific: Toward Free Trade and Investment Between China and the United States" is an important study of the benefits and difficulties of a complex matter that could yield dividends to the two economies and help stabilize the security and well-being of the rest of the world.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Bridging the Pacific: Toward Free Trade and Investment Between China and the United States" is a critically important contribution to a national discussion of how the two largest economic systems in the world should work together to protect and expand the economic basis for a stable and increasingly prosperous relationship. A work of impressive scholarship and practicality, enhanced with the inclusion of graphs, charts and an index, "Bridging the Pacific: Toward Free Trade and Investment Between China and the United States" is very highly recommended for academic library Contemporary Economic Studies reference collections. It should be noted that "Bridging the Pacific: Toward Free Trade and Investment Between China and the United States" is also available in an eBook edition.


The Memoir Shelf

Family Medical History
Nancy Kacirek Feldman & Rebecca Crofoot
Becknan Books
Concierge Marketing Inc.
9781936840908, $16.95, 180pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Knowing where you came from often determines who you are. At the age of 45, Nancy Feldman knew how her doctor appointment would go. They would ask her about her family's health history, and she would hear the doctor's familiar sigh after she answered, "I don't know, I'm adopted." Being perfectly happy with the loving family she had, Feldman never took an interest in finding her biological parents until diagnosed with a disease that she passed on to her son. Suddenly, Nancy's lack of family history was affecting someone else. Nancy wrote a letter to the Nebraska Children's Home Society for help, and the adoption agency assigned her case to Rebecca Crofoot. This began a 17-year journey between the two women who were determined to find information about a family that might not know, or want to know, Nancy existed.

Critique: "Family Medical History: Unknown/Adopted" is a deftly told and heart-warming story of personal, medical, genealogical, and emotional discovery about "how a routine inquiry led to unexpected answers for an adopted woman". As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "Family Medical History: Unknown/Adopted" is a wonderfully true story and very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that "Family Medical History: Unknown/Adopted" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.55).


The Biography Shelf

Remembering Inez
Robert P. J. Cooney, Jr.
American Graphic Press
PO Box 362, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
www.AmericanGraphicPress.com
9780977009527, $14.95, 96pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "Remembering Inez: The Last Campaign of Inez Milholland, Suffrage Martyr" includes articles, photographs, and emotional memorials as well as her classic 'Appeal to the Women Voters of the West'. "Remembering Inez: The Last Campaign of Inez Milholland, Suffrage Martyr" concludes with a poem by Carl Sandburg. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution enfranchising women was ratified on August 26, 1920. "Remembering Inez: The Last Campaign of Inez Milholland, Suffrage Martyr" honors both an outstanding American leader and the historic movement of which she was an important part.

Critique: Inez Milholland Boissevain (August 6, 1886 - November 25, 1916) was a suffragist, labor lawyer, World War I correspondent, and public speaker who greatly influenced the women's movement in America. She was active in the National Woman's Party and a key participant in the Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913. Author Robert P. J. Cooney Jr. has done an excellent job in assembling this memorial to a woman whose contribution to the political emancipation of women has been obscured and who now is brought back to the deserved attention of a whole new generation of readers. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Remembering Inez: The Last Campaign of Inez Milholland, Suffrage Martyr" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library collections. It should be noted that "Remembering Inez: The Last Campaign of Inez Milholland, Suffrage Martyr" is also available in an ebook edition.


James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
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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