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The US Review of Books connects authors with professional book reviewers and places their book reviews in front of subscribers to our free monthly newsletter of fiction book reviews and nonfiction book reviews. Learn why our publication is different than most others, or read author and publisher testimonials about the USR.

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Recent Book Reviews

 

Focus Review

The Last Professional by Ed Davis Artemesia Publishing "You aren’t lookin for a guy, you’re lookin for a scapegoat." Lynden, a computer programmer until he leaves his job abruptly, is looking for The Tramp—the person who abused him on the rails fifteen years ago. The Duke, a professional Knight of the Road (rail rider), is running from Short Arm, whose secret only The Duke knows. And he is the only one who will ever know if Short Arm gets his way. Along the way, Lynden and The Duke meet other hobos, both friends and foes, as well as attractive and available women. Hopping freight, being hungry, getting drunk, fighting, and working a carnival are all worth the trouble when it comes down to finding what it is they’re really seeking. ... (read more)

• 50 Things That Will Guarantee Success in Life, Business and Ministries by Dr. Bonnie Etta
• Admiral’s Steward, The by Howard George
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• All the Burning Rooftops by J.R. Klein
• All Up in Your Bizness by Julianna Newland - RECOMMENDED
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Featured Book Reviews

 

A Better Debate

Highlight Review Creation or Evolution? Origin of Species in Light of Science’s Limitations and Historical Records by Michael Ebifegha URLink Print and Media book review by Barbara Bamberger Scott "Creation presupposes an intelligent creator, and evolution postulates an unintelligent instrumentality guided by chance." Author Ebifegha has constructed a fresh, intelligent look at the long-standing debate between creationists, those who view life and its origins as the result of a God-directed event as described in the Book of Genesis, and evolutionists—those who maintain the proposition that life on earth began cell by cell, species by species, over millions of years. It is a conflict that came into being through the work of Charles Darwin, a researcher whose theories rocked the scientific world and became a creed for biologists, anthropologists, and investigators of cellular progression. Others, grounded in the Holy Bible's account, rejected Darwin’s postulations. Thus began a divergence that continues to this day, although, as Ebifegha points out, Darwinism in its pure form has begun to show glaring weaknesses. One such weakness is the assertion, as yet unproven through scientific methodology, that all life began with a single cell (biogenesis). Moreover, Darwinism also implies that the first cell arose from nonlife (abiogenesis), a proposition that has never been scientifically demonstrated. ... (read more)

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Men & Angels

An inbred rabbi, his disappointment of a son, an eternally beautiful but demonic vampire, and a pickled and preserved head that has witnessed history walk together into the most holy territory known to man. It sounds like a joke, but the fate of the universe and all eternity is at stake, and this unlikely band is all that stands in the way of a more unscrupulous outcome. Rabbi Benjamin belongs to a secretive sect, one of dozens that are awaiting the end of time so that they can follow their holy instructions and reshape the world in their image. As the signs of apocalypse appear, his affable yet beleaguered nature makes him fast friends with Viila, a ravenous beauty in more ways than one who wants little more than to put an end to her immortality. Their unlikely alliance begins a strange and hilarious journey to the end of the world. ... (read more)

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New Series MegaStar

Highlight Review Born Torn: Kiara Noir Mother Nature Series by Suz Eglington book review by Michael Radon "If I fudged this up, then there would be severe consequences. It was absolute power. I was the monopoly." Kiara Noir is turning sixteen-and-a-half years old soon, and her wanderlust is getting the better of her. Kiara and her mother are transplants living on a Native American reservation in Colorado, far away from most other people. Independent and strong-willed, Kiara routinely butts heads with her mother about wanting to see the world and go to college while her mother, Willow, insists that they must stay where they are. Kiara is filled with questions about her father, their life, and her mother’s folksy knowledge of herbs and rituals, adding to Kiara’s frustrations. On the exact day between her previous and next birthday, Kiara is given permission to go out into the wild and take pictures with her new camera lens. Suddenly, her reality comes crashing down around her. ... (read more)

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Dynamic

This seventh installment in the author's mystery series is a dynamic whodunit novel that has the perfect blend of character development and plot engagement. True to form, Foster’s work takes Alice from the comfortable confines of her Texas Hill country ranch to the mystique of Santa Fe, New Mexico, as she works to unravel one mess in a series of dysfunctions that highlights the main character’s ability to thrive even in the most pressure-packed of situations. ... (read more)

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Resilience

Highlight Review Blue By You by Larry B. Gildersleeve BookLocker.com book review by Michael Radon "Daniel had loved two women. One was taken from him; the other left him. One wasn’t his fault; he wasn’t certain about the other." Daniel Collins lives in the small Colorado town of Three Oaks with his dog, Blue. He has withdrawn from society after the tragically young death of his wife and childhood sweetheart, Mallory. One day a female stranger named Paula gets lost on her way to a writers’ seminar and winds up at his doorstep. A mixture of witty repartee, country hospitality, and bubbling chemistry leads the two of them to end up spending an entire week together. For Daniel, Paula represents someone that moves his heart in an honest way that he has shut out since the loss of his wife. For Paula, Daniel is an opportunity to feel a passion that has been missing in her marriage since her current husband decided to join the seminary. Though the two immediately hit it off, Paula and Daniel go their separate ways when the time comes. ... (read more)

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True Sabbath

Author and instructor Ebifegha here arrays a nearly encyclopedic range of corroborations, both historical and biblical, to bring his powerful theme to full light. God ordained the observance of the Sabbath as the seventh day, which is Saturday as taught to and observed by the earliest Israelite peoples, but a gradual shift to a Sunday observance of God’s holy day of rest and remembrance—the work, the author asserts, of Satan—has weakened both the beliefs and the faith of its followers. Ebifegha utilizes his own term for the most sacred day of the week, calling it GCSD (“God’s Creation Sabbath Day”), further emphasizing the biblical truth that after creating the world—its lands, seas, animals, plants, and its human occupants—the Lord designated a day of rest, set aside for contemplation and worship. This designation was underscored powerfully from its position as the cornertone of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses. Therefore, it is as significant and demanding of true obedience as the other nine in what is often called the Decalogue. ... (read more)

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Battle Royale

Highlight Review Sea of Red by James Bultema P.D. Publishing book review by Mihir Shah "With these weapons, Taiwan can protect itself better and allow the US valuable time to respond.... None of this will be lost on President Zhang." Right from the first page, Bultema makes it clear to audiences that this is no ordinary thriller, and these are no ordinary stakes. He pits two formidable adversaries—China and the United States—against each other, delivering a suspenseful chess match between US President Mark Taylor and China’s President Zhang Wei, a man who irrevocably holds the fate of all nations, and thus the world as a whole, in his hands. Reminiscent of dominant, authoritarian tyrants from history, President Zhang’s delusions of reunifying Taiwan with the mainland government become the catalyst for an unimaginable scenario in the South China Sea involving two of the world’s major military superpowers. ... (read more)

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Riveting Journey

In this second book of the author’s trilogy, Savarese showcases an uncanny knack for worldbuilding and character development as she delivers a fantasy adventure revolving around twelve recruits to the heralded StarWriters Club. The author highlights the story of the selected just as they meet their demise. Interestingly, each recruit exhibits unique traits like unconditional selflessness, resolve, and self-sacrifice. As the StarWriters’ essence from the material world dissolves and they become free from suffering, readers are exposed to the full scope of what led to their deaths, such as a traumatic school shooting, a heart-wrenching decision to give one’s heart to her twin at birth, a valiant battle with cancer, and a boating romance gone wrong, among others. What is consistent, however, is that all twelve were young and displayed incredible promise in their earthly forms. ... (read more)

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Unique Message

Highlight Review Margaret Anne: Child of the West Wind by Ronan James Cassidy Xulon Press book review by Nicole Yurcaba "Miss Meara Calhoun now understood why the soulless lords of her witchery had coveted the girl far beyond that of her own wants." In this expansive book, readers follow Margaret Anne, the daughter of a wealthy Carolina businessman and a Haitian woman. Though her parents’ love is forbidden, and the resulting child of their union is ultimately born in secret, the girl proves to be a light to others. Readers follow Margaret Anne as she navigates growing up and existing as a woman in a society in which women have few options. By the summer of 1880, Margaret Anne leaves her Southern colonial roots and establishes herself as a mother in Vermont. There, she stays busy raising her three children and longing for “the days spent with Mr. Virgil O’ Keefe out in their beautiful field of summer cotton.” Meanwhile, readers traverse the decades and a well-to-do family’s lineage through the Civil War and eventually into the early 1920s, where Margaret Anne’s story continues unfolding. ... (read more)

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Shared Loved

Karen and Lash meet as teenagers and begin a friendship that shapes them in countless ways as their lives intertwine through youth and into adulthood. Bonded together over their mutual love of horses, Karen and Lash spend hours together riding and competing. When Lash and her husband buy a farm, they convince Karen to buy the adjoining acreage, and their lives continue to thread together until Lash receives a diagnosis that proves fatal. As they share everything in life, they also share the grief and sorrow that comes with death. This moving memoir is a testament to their shared commitment to each other’s lives and to the rewards that come from friendship. This book spans more than twenty years and takes readers through the whirl of adolescence, the solidity of settling down, and the sadness of losing a best friend. ... (read more)

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Are We Losing

Written to make their previous collaboration, Reality Prism, more accessible, this new offering covers many topics in the media today, with a large part of the focus being on a failing America and the rise of the New World Order. The book argues that the causes stem from people who have lost faith in God and are taking direct actions to manipulate America with an agenda promoting China and a global government. Crime and drug use in America, Covid-19, fake elections, and mind control of the population through social media and pharmaceutical companies are all part of this long-term, global plan of abolishing democracy and liberty and giving power to a few elites. The book also talks about the events on January 6, 2021 and how select branches of the government turned a peaceful protest into a labeled insurrection. The book presents several arguments for its claims, and the authors use some of their own social media research as support. Also, the book gives a brief overview of what a "mind war" is and how it is manipulating the truth and the American people. ... (read more)

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Depth & Intrigue

Can a future AI achieve a level of sentience and morality that exceeds even the capacities of mankind, its creator? Dr. Maynard Little, as a child, held onto this hope like a stubborn child refusing to relinquish his lolly. One fortuitous event, being fired by TLC—and subsequently being hired by essentially another branch of the same company—opens up a pathway for his rebellious spirit to rise to the surface and push the limits of possibility ... (read more)

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Tropic Intrigue

In award-winning author Carlson’s third novel to date, readers are thrust into the midst of a powerful, burgeoning drug empire. A collaboration between the Sicilian and Russian mobs and the ruthless Columbian cartel brings a whole new level of danger. Haunted by his Vietnam past, Gunner is the trusted captain of the Destiny, a 300-foot mega yacht owned by his Sicilian mob boss. While Gunner knows his boss has good intentions at heart with his not-so-secret business dealings, he’s less than enthusiastic about the plan to join forces with the Russians and Columbians, making him a part of this criminal underworld. But Gunner is smart and relies on his war training and experience on the waters to get through the most difficult of situations. ... (read more)

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Pschological Thriller

Devil’s Night is a night of mischief occurring on Halloween Eve. Georgie and his group of friends decide to up the ante in their stunts by stealing a scarecrow from a neighbor’s home. They plan to hang it over an expressway to jolt passengers below, but the scarecrow falls, and a motorist and his wife are killed in a violent crash as a result. Georgie and his friends flee and establish alibis, unaware of the consequences of their tomfoolery. Mickey Lesko is the surviving victim of the accident, and his life, along with that of his older sister, Rosemary, has been irrevocably changed. As time goes on, Mickey has suspicions about the kids behind the accident and has his eye on Georgie. Despite the carnage he caused, Georgie becomes obsessed with Mickey and his remaining family. Meanwhile, Aunt Anna finds a late-in-life love affair that is tied to the other key character—a Doberman Pinscher named Lucifer. Lucifer is Georgie's nemesis and determines the end of the story. ... (read more)

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Stark Assessment

In this exciting and necessary book, readers initially unearth the little-known history of Swedish explorers Nils Pallin and Allan Backman. In 1922, Pallin and Backman accompanied Professor Otto Nordenskjold, a famous explorer and geographer, to some of the most remote parts of South America. During their expedition, the explorers would also visit and explore the terrain of Chile’s Patagonia. As the book concludes, readers join the book’s author on subsequent expeditions to the same area first traversed by the Swedes in 1922. They encounter a landscape constantly in flux due to ever-increasing global temperatures and nearly irreversible climate change. This is an exclusive, firsthand account of climate change’s true consequences on priceless environments whose flora and fauna can never be replaced once they are lost. ... (read more)

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The Price is Right

Many SaaS businesses focus their energy on developing a product to meet the needs of consumers but struggle to capture the value of the product through effective pricing. Rivera’s lifelong experience as a pricing consultant and strategist has helped him master the art and science of monetization. In this entertaining and engaging book, he explains how to capture value and land on the best pricing model. Designed as a playlist with chapters as tracks, Rivera connects his expertise to hip-hop music through lyrics and through the lives of the artists creating the music on which he grew up. The result is a bold, decisive guide that will keep readers engaged and highly informed with its clarity, examples, and explanations. ... (read more)

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Many Joys

Divided into sections based around themes of finding joy in loved ones and nature, this poetry collection harkens back to the times of Shakespeare by using the sonnet as its main poetic form. In fact, there are sixty sonnets found throughout the work, each one accompanied by classic paintings (largely from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century) or photographs. The text progresses from pieces celebrating the finding of true love to spending a life marveling at life’s wonders to the wonders that come from raising children. Each sonnet also strives to pay tribute to the historical era in which Shakespeare composed his plays and poems by recreating the same vivid and unique portrayal of the language known from that period. ... (read more)

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Fervent Appreciation

Juhani Murros made an unexpected discovery during his visits to art galleries when he worked for an organization in Ho Chi Minh City in 1990. A small still life in an unobtrusive gallery commanded the Finnish physician’s attention. “It was an unpretentious oil painting, yet its dark, mysterious colors and the emotional tension of its disciplined composition set it apart.” Thus began a long journey of discovering the art and life of Van Den, a frugal and kind Buddhist of mixed Chinese and Vietnamese ancestry who studied in Paris for less than two years during 1950-52, a volatile period during the first French Indochina War. ... (read more)

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Meaning & Morality

Andrew (Andy) Ceraldi is your ordinary citizen, a family man with a cheery disposition, deeply committed to his “Garden Goddess” wife, Peggy, and his thirst for the next story that would blow his literary agent, Chaska, out of the water. Meanwhile, much of Andrew’s family (cousins, sister, etc.) is determined to send his ninety-year-old mother, Henrietta Sage, into assisted living. Holding the power-of-attorney (or at least a copy of it), Ceraldi is pretty much all that separates his mother from assisted living, and this is what sets the stage for the dynamic plot that is about to unfold. ... (read more)

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Life Above

Battle’s new book is an autobiographical look at his life from the time he was a small boy watching crop dusters in North Carolina through his military service and work history. However, it is also an introduction to his brand, The Aerospace Professor. Battle faced racism and mistreatment as he worked his way through school. He then found those racial tensions would follow him into the Air Force. Despite this, Battle performed exceptionally well as part of the flight crew for many of the Air Force’s top fighter planes. Also, although it took Battle a bit longer as he was raising a family, he always believed in the importance of his education and earned a BS and MBA. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force, the author worked technology jobs, mostly for the government. Here, he witnessed the abuse of power and continued racism in America. ... (read more)

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Repression & Freedom

The Great Catastrophe nearly destroyed the earth. Hundreds of nuclear and biological weapons brought down governments, technology, and order. Those who remained began carving their own areas of what was left of the world. Not far from what was once Washington DC, a small settlement named Paradise has been growing. There is no God there, no marriage, no children born through intercourse, no old people, and no freedom. Men are simply the labor and sperm donors for the settlement. Each citizen is assigned to a role for the betterment of the whole. A group named the council makes all the rules in secrecy. They are also corrupt and scheme against one another. Before her death, councilmember Ellen reveals to a young archeologist, Beth, that it is Ellen’s own frozen egg from which Beth was given life. Ellen knows time is short, so she tells Beth that Beth needs to escape Paradise immediately. Beth oversees a man named John, who was recently unfrozen after being found in the basement of a cryonics center. Although this new world is very confusing to John, he believes Beth when she claims they must escape. Escape, in fact, is on the minds of others. However, the council is not inclined to let its labor force leave freely. ... (read more)

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Poetic Ease

From the creation of the atomic bombs to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, effectively putting an end to World War II, the details have been well documented in the history books. No text, however, has captured the magnitude of this creation-to-execution process in the way that Blair’s compilation has, with its deeply crafted insight combined with an unwavering command of narrative poetry. At every turn, Blair’s ability to connect the different segments of the atomic bomb creation to elements of mythology and the Bible is enthralling. Even within his poetry, he masterfully juxtaposes contradictory ideas in an eerily seamless manner. For example, using the phrase “the flowers of evil return to bloom” in reference to Oppenheimer is intriguing because one would almost exclusively associate blooming and flowers with hope, not evil. Nevertheless, it fits perfectly within the context of Blair’s work. ... (read more)

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Straightforward

Armando Ortiz hates roofing in the scorching Texas heat, but the hope of one day owning a construction company that will afford him the freedom he desires for his family is what compels him. Working hard by day, Armando welcomes the relaxing evenings to bond with his son and daughter, imparting life lessons and encouraging them to achieve success in life. His wife, Rosa, supports and loves him but worries over the toll of his punishing work. While Armando works doubly hard to supply his family with a good life, the thought of his family boosts him with the courage he needs. ... (read more)

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Excellent Drama

Josh Bartlet is on the cusp of positivity in his life, living in the bucolic confines of interior North Carolina. He is a reporter for the local newspaper, where he is working on an interview with a notable resident of the community. He is ready to reach out to a former flame and proclaim his maturity when a blast from the past reappears to disturb his tranquility. Josh is living in a self-imposed exile due to the actions of a dangerous gangster named Zharko. Josh witnessed Zharko’s murderous impulses but thought he was free of his grip. But now Zharko is back and threatening to tear Josh’s life into pieces unless he acquiesces to the thug’s demands. Josh needs to figure out a strategy to banish Zharko from his life permanently, or else. ... (read more)

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Solid Debut

Set in Las Vegas in 1982, this coming-of-age novel tells the story of Brady Wilks, a fourteen-year-old who moves to the city with his blended family, including his psychologically abusive mother. Brady feels like an outcast until he makes friends with Mick, an older neighborhood teenager. The two enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons and partaking of the drugs that are readily available to them. When their friend Brett moves to West Virginia, Mick introduces Alex, a drug dealer, to their small group. When an opportunity to make a great deal of money is brought to the group by Alex, the boys embark on a mission to buy heroin from a Mexican cartel. Though Brady doesn’t trust Alex, he goes along with the plan. The boys’ encounter with the cartel in the desert outside of Las Vegas changes everything for Brady, and he must make some big decisions concerning his direction in life. ... (read more)

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Fast-Paced

Science fiction and fantasy with futuristic characteristics suffused with historical myth and magic illumine this ambitious debut novel. Young Stevienyosen Griffen, Stevie for short, has spent much of his life on his family’s spaceship, which is now in ruins. Ready to be crushed by a compactor as the story opens, the poignant end of the craft is symbolic of Stevie’s launch into a new chapter of his life. On the eve of his nineteenth birthday celebration, he embarks with his mother, Wendy, mentor, Glange, and Glange’s son and friend, Celebus, among others, on a flight to Staffiwoods, a land of tall, shimmering spiral trees and a red wine sky where young necromancers acquire their first scepters. The unusual galactic landscapes of the tale are made vivid through Lockwood’s strong descriptive prose, engaging characters, and lush imagination. ... (read more)

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Evolve or Die

A lawsuit brought against Apple Computer, Inc. leads a lawyer with an AI background to a secret Apple facility where he plans to participate in a deposition with Apple CEO Tim Cook. When he arrives at the research compound, he is invited on a tour that reveals just how far Apple has come in the development of artificial intelligence. As Mark’s stay at the facility lingers through the Easter weekend, he learns that “Apple has developed a proprietary chip that is placed in people, and when implanted, the people become part of a grid, networked.” He also observes androids that pass for humans and begins to see that his presence at the facility is by design. The AI work and research he abandoned years ago have new implications in this evolving world that melds man and machine. With one last revelation, Mark comes face to face with a resurrected Steve Jobs who tries to convince him to network his own mind and continue his research in the ultimate pursuit to “evolve or die.” ... (read more)

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Carefully

Reid loves to golf. He is excited as his next round is taking place underwater around the island of Hawaii. As he gets ready for the first hole, another golfer, Ollie the Octopus, joins him. Reid loves new friends, so he and Ollie play together. It isn’t too long before their pair becomes four, adding Stella Starfish and Willow the mermaid. As the group is playing the back nine, the course marshal speaks with them. He informs the group that a humpback whale and her new calf are in the area. He requests that the golfers don’t disturb the whales if they see them. ... (read more)

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Unyielding

Infused with the spirit of the time travel classic Back to the Future, this engaging narrative takes readers on an adventure featuring a stubborn but relentlessly brilliant scientist whose insistence on peeling back the veil to see the multitude of worlds and their cataclysmic events jeopardizes the time continuum. What’s worse is the risk of advanced technology from the future falling into the hands of ancient races predisposed to abusing its power. ... (read more)

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Intriguing Work

Ebifegha, a scholar of science and religion, debunks Darwin’s theory of evolution in this thoughtful comparison of creationism and evolutionism. While sometimes a bit repetitive and dogmatic, the articulate narrative leaves no base uncovered in the historical, theological, and scientific exploration of the ongoing debate between proponents of divine creation as outlined in Judeo-Christian scriptures versus the atheistic viewpoint of natural selection as proposed by Charles Darwin. As such, Ebifegha’s arguments are limited to the standard religious–scientific debate. Not addressed in this discussion are other viewpoints regarding the origin of life in the universe, such as Buddhism, a non-theistic, non-atheistic philosophy with no creator God, or the possibility of a divine creation that includes an evolutionary system. ... (read more)

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Candid Insight

After experiencing from a number of friends and colleagues the desire to learn firsthand some of the considerations and thought processes involved in deciding whether to pursue a Ph.D., Evans knew his mission was clear. He would write a book seeking to answer many of the questions regarding the work and extended commitment necessary to earn such a degree. The author realized he could help others by candidly sharing his own experiences getting into and successfully completing his doctoral program. He notes it is his hope that his book will help prospective students become more deeply aware of “important aspects” when considering earning one’s doctorate and that such information can assist in making an “informed decision” as to whether such an academic endeavor is the right move for the reader. ... (read more)

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Precise Prose

In this thorough examination of the Book of Revelation of the Holy Bible, author Heidelberg seeks to array and explicate issues that many, including himself, have pondered. The revelatory work was composed by John, a close disciple of Jesus and a writer of other notable Bible segments, who was exiled by the Romans to the island of Patmos. There, he was given the vision and the specific wording that comprises the Holy Bible’s final portion. These mystical predictions could, Heidelberg asserts, begin to unfold at any time. Understanding them, therefore, is essential, and recognizing their truths should cause anyone, whether of the Christian faith or not, to delve more deeply into their meanings as the author has done. ... (read more)

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New Perspective

Perfectionism often can and is a detriment to progress, yet countless human beings strive for it only to fall short and find themselves in a vicious and unfulfilling cycle. Savage’s guide acknowledges the exhausting nature of self-evaluation and introspection and how it is much easier to just deflect one’s predicament onto circumstances or anyone else but oneself. In this narrative, readers will find a roadmap rooted in psychology and practicality that is primed to spearhead change. ... (read more)

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Deep Analysis

In the most simple yet poignant and profound of ways, the author uses his knowledge of human development along one’s lifespan to eviscerate the modern rendition of the Republican Party. While undoubtedly acknowledging the tremendous value that Republicans have brought to the US legislative landscape since the days of Lincoln, he unflinchingly details reason after reason why, from a psychosocial perspective, the GOP is currently in utter dysfunction. ... (read more)

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Children's Poetry

This children’s book offers an array of entertainment in one small volume. Despite its title, the slim text contains not only poetry but also activities for children. It includes a little over a dozen short poems with smooth, easy rhyme schemes. The poems range in subject, focusing mostly on nature and on children’s lives and dreams, though vehicle enthusiasts will appreciate the multi-page “Cargo Train.” Several poems refer to God and “God’s creation” in a non-denominational manner that can appeal to followers of any religion. ... (read more)

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All the Family

This book is part of a children’s book series that is focused on helping youth embrace diversity. Its narrative is heartwarmingly authentic, and the story comes at a time when society seems to be divided and determined to pick a fight about just about everything. The book provides parents and the adults of tomorrow a guide map on what true inclusion looks like. Above all else, Duggan’s work is a friendly reminder to young and old that family is the strongest pillar, and it comes in many shapes and sizes. In truth, there is no "typical" family. ... (read more)

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Challenging

Elizabeth, Sager, and Mr. Wienie are adventurous dachshunds who come up with a plan to see the backyard. Mr. Wienie fakes an injury to distract Mother (and eat lots of snacks) to buy the others time to explore the backyard. Sager and Elizabeth meet a band of skunks, including warriors and a queen. The queen will allow them to explore the area if they bring back two bags of oats from The Mighty Hooved One. The dogs are unprepared when they learn the Hooved One is protected by a vicious billy goat. Escaping that adventure lands them right in the lap of a group of raccoon bandits led by the one-eyed Robby. Robby enjoys being a bully and robbing others. When he captures the dogs and skunks, he intends to use them for his own amusement. Will the two dachshunds ever return to their family? ... (read more)

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True Support

In many peoples’ minds, adherence to a moral code or “doing the right thing” is the domain of religion—an indoctrination into a social agreement in order to serve as a foundation of trust. In contrast, this book examines morality not as doctrine but as the product of evolution without ignoring or discrediting the values of parables and religious examples. With a modern, humanist perspective, the author looks at morality as the means by which people cooperate and co-exist in order to ease the burden of all who participate, a flexible adaptation that is ever-changing in the face of new industry, education, and technological shifts like artificial intelligence. Readers in search of a pragmatic view of society that veers well clear of nihilism will find understanding and even justification in the author’s perspective that morality is part of human nature. ... (read more)

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Conquering Diabetes

Dorris Woods was looking forward to visiting family for a holiday break but knew she shouldn’t skip her appointment with Dr. Davis, her endocrinologist. She was not prepared for the news her doctor would give her, and it left her shocked. Davis revealed that Woods was borderline diabetic. As a nurse and educator, Woods initially didn’t want to believe it. The diagnosis put her into a mild depression, but she began watching what she ate over the holiday and lost a couple of pounds. When the holiday was over, Woods met with her dietician. She decided to learn all she could about diabetes, diet, exercise, the medications involved, and the psychology of the disease. Gathering resources from various health professionals, scholars, and medical journals, Woods began building a plan to get herself to a healthy weight while making moderate, routine exercise a habit. Once she had a plan in place, Woods set out to chronicle her journey against diabetes. ... (read more)

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Gripping Suspence

As a child, Dalton Henson always refused to go to dances, a decision that resulted in arguments with his mother, who wanted him to socialize with his classmates. Now as an adult, Dalton feels more and more uneasy. For example, he feels ashamed whenever someone asks him if he has a date. He does not like talking about it because he has never had a girlfriend. He also does not want people to know he has never had sex. On top of that, these types of conversations make him blush, and people make fun of him because of this. In addition, Dalton has begun to realize that he is attracted to prepubescent boys. Throughout this journey, Dalton must refrain from acting on his desires. ... (read more)

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Crossroads

Tragedy can often lead to a major crossroads within the mind and heart. One either spirals in their grief, or the sorrow becomes a catalyst to deeper exploration through healthier channels. The latter, undoubtedly, is true for the poet, who lost her husband of forty-four years in a tragic accident yet found solace in the power of prayer and the emotive nature of the written word. ... (read more)

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End of the World

In a dystopian, apocalyptic world ravaged by Plague-21, audiences are transported into an eerie alternate reality, a world that would no longer seem as far-fetched as it would prior to COVID-19. Conjure a landscape where less than one percent of the universe is left to simultaneously replenish the planet’s population and the infrastructure that keeps the entire globe intimately connected. Barlow is a master of worldbuilding as she depicts the world being brought to its knees, from India and China being a shell of themselves to the combination of rampant crime and scarcity threatening to eliminate the very essence of the human race. ... (read more)

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Adrenaline-Packed

Brig Ellis believes he has left the carnage behind on the unforgiving battlefields. Currently, he is a private investigator where the assignments can be messy but often involve much less danger. The death of a fellow soldier has brought him to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he will pick up the remains of his comrade-in-arms and fulfill his last wish. While having a drink at a hotel bar, he becomes smitten with the bartender. Their banter is interrupted by the bartender’s ex-husband, but Ellis quickly defuses the situation. The unraveling of Ellis’ world begins when the ex-husband is found murdered in a grisly manner, and Ellis is a suspect. Ellis is further shaken as more deaths follow, with a possible connection to his past and little time to spare in finding answers. ... (read more)

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Challenges

As the principal engineer of an aerospace company, fifty-six-year-old Ron Pritchard is a natural problem solver. However, losing his wife, Susan, on the cusp of their twenty-fifth anniversary is too much for even him to handle, though he carries himself with a signature calm that defines his character throughout the novel. More than anything else, Pritchard wants to be left alone as he embarks on a solo vacation to Tahiti, determined to scatter Susan’s ashes on the beach where they once had imagined creating memories together. As fate will have it, Pritchard’s wish for solitude will have to be put on hold. A relatively uneventful flight to Papeete and French Polynesia hardly hints at the chaos to ensue. Pritchard, along with celebrity singer Taylor Smith and her group of five, including her agent and mother, are given the option to wait or take a flight with Cooper’s Charters to Bora Bora. In the moment, the decision is an easy one: A short thirty-minute flight, even if its on an extremely old plane, seems better than waiting for who knows how long. ... (read more)

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Beauty, Bravery & Accomplishment

Despite the brevity of this brilliant book, it effectively covers the immense topic of passive resistance in Nazi Germany. The author captures the importance of a German student uprising against the fascist reign of Adolf Hitler during World War II, reveals the building of the fascist monster, and analyzes the moral imperative of standing up for freedom in the face of death. ... (read more)

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Learning Upward

Kindness and compassion are the bedrock of the blended Wackadoodle family. On the heels of We Are the Wackadoodle’s: Welcome to Our Blended Family, which features the varying personalities and the endless hopes and dreams of the collective family, this text uses the backdrop of a family picnic to provide a teachable moment for their children—and even adults for that matter. Through both the bright hues and tenor of the artwork and the prose itself, Duggan captures the excitement of family outings. ... (read more)

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True Faith

Author Braasch has composed an intense religious memoir encompassing remarkable events in her life and offering counsel and spiritual guidance to her readers. Though she has had many remarkable, strongly Christian experiences, the central theme is carried by an auto accident that occurred in 1989. She was alone, driving a pickup truck recently purchased by her husband, Danny, and about which he had had consistent nightmares, leading to his refusal to let her use it. Anticipating a visit from her parents, the author convinced him to let her go to the store alone. At a four-way stop sign, she waited cautiously, feeling positive about the day ahead. But as she pulled forward, another truck suddenly appeared and crashed into her with sufficient force to destroy her vehicle and tear her body apart. But in the instant of impact, she was transported on high, met by Jesus, and floated with him to a great hall where she met God the Father and began to live in that heavenly abode with God, Jesus, and angels who promised to always remain with her. ... (read more)

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Enlightening Volume

Author Watts shares religious reflections composed during the isolation invoked by the COVID crisis when seclusion stirred her to keep a spiritual journal. The eighteen central issues covered begin by exploring the meaning of scripture, referencing the Holy Bible as a “unified text” for those wishing to strengthen their Christian faith and those discovering God’s “milk” for the first time. Each section is creatively arrayed with biblical quotations and short tales of ordinary people trying to grasp the meaning of God’s truth in daily life. ... (read more)

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Blankenship on the Case

The park ranger was attempting to do his job when the bullets struck him. The assailants were on snowmobiles and appeared to be hunting. CBI consultant CW Blakenship has been called in to help investigate the murder. CW is a former sheriff still recuperating from a previous case where he was shot in pursuit of corrupt federal agents. The unknown subjects he is pursuing may have escaped through the local reservation, so CW needs to be careful in his approach. Besides local law enforcement, CW turns to capable allies in searching the mountains and cabins that populate a local resort. The case becomes more complicated as the assailants exchange gunfire with various officers, and the motives and suspects behind the ranger’s murder are still unclear. CW will need all the help he can get in solving this case. ... (read more)

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Epic Struggle

Told by the skald Lothar, this is the story of the fight between good and evil in the heavens and the realms of man and beasts that include humans, elves, dwarves, dragons, and more. After giving some history and lineage, Lothar begins telling of the barbarian tribes of Midgard, specifically those of the shield maiden Gwynnalyn and her warrior husband, Sigurd, King of the Getic Tribe. After many years of toil under evil rulers, Sigurd and his tribe make plans to fight against the tyrants. They know they need two things specifically: iron weapons and collaboration among the other tribes. As their early attempts are successful, the true nature of the tyrants becomes known. They are led by a powerful wizard named Hister who has enlisted troops of goblins, ogres, gargoyles, and dragons. Hister seeks to create a giant magical weapon, a tower of Babel, and an all-seeing eye to conquer the lands in the name of his god, Loki, also known as Lucifer. As these true threats are revealed, the tribes will need to garner support from dwarves, elves, famed wizards, and even angels. ... (read more)

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Sword & Sorcery

Gustav is a young man of the realm who is determined to earn a spot in the knighthood through his fighting technique and swordplay. Winning the king’s tournament, he is installed as captain of the guards for only a short time before an evil sorceress arrives to harass and threaten the king. Gustav bravely stands up to the sorceress, subduing her long enough to be imprisoned before she breaks out and transforms Gustav into a ferret and his lover, Ariel, into a golden eagle. Now predator and prey must team up, tasked with helping those in need all across the land in hopes that someday the spell that separates them from their friends can be reversed and they can return to human form. ... (read more)

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By the Numbers

Mathematics Professor Emeritus Clement E. Falbo explores the Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) of calculus through questions and answers in this comprehensive textbook. As he explains in the preface, “This process is akin to the Socratic method initiated 2,400 years ago. It worked then, and it works really well today.” This method of teaching math through student-led presentations of problems in class has been aptly demonstrated to teach mathematics more effectively than passive-listening instructor lectures. This method is now known internationally as the Moore method or Texas method, as it was embraced by the author’s mentor, Dr. R.L. Moore, and his colleagues at the University of Texas, Austin, in the 1930s through the 1970s. Falbo studied with Moore in the 1950s, and the text is based on his notes taken as a student. ... (read more)

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A Crowded Life

In this memoir, the author reflects on the wonderful adventures of her eighty-plus years. In “Part One” of the book, she tells the story of her ancestors and their plight to reach America from Germany during Hitler’s reign of terror. In this section, the author examines her early childhood, her parents’ divorce, and her relationship with her mother and stepfather. “Part Two” tells of her first love, Jim, and their adventures sailing around the Caribbean and running a charter fishing business. It also includes Jim’s infidelity, Ruth’s unexpected pregnancy, Jim’s desertion, and the birth of their son, Jerry. “Part Three” continues her life story with tales of her three subsequent marriages. The first to Roger Blohm gave her son, Jerry, a stepfather and a new last name. Her next two marriages brought new, exciting endeavors like opening a gun store and running The Marshall House, a bed and breakfast. ... (read more)

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Insider's View

The above question was posed to former Secretary of State Madeline Albright in 1995. Albright answered in the affirmative. The draconian sanctions placed on Iraq began in 1990 and ended in 2003. Previous famines in Iraq were due to political struggles and military campaigns, which led to the siege of various cities. The relations between the United States and Iraq had begun to thaw in the early 1980s with the opening of diplomatic channels. Food and support flowed into Iraq on orders from the Reagan Administration. Iraq was receptive to the support as they were engaged in a destructive war with Iran. By 1990, things changed, and Iraq was under further scrutiny. The invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 turned most of the world against Iraq, and its enemies were intent on starving the citizens to force their hand. ... (read more)

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Quantative Research

In this introduction to dyslexia, former educator and associate professor Grogan aims to illustrate the myriad strengths children and adults with dyslexia possess. After interviewing and assessing eighty-eight people with dyslexia, this book uses person-centered case studies to advocate for a strengths-based approach to intervention. Grogan dispels myths about dyslexia, such as the idea that it is a visual learning disorder, and instead makes the convincing case that dyslexia is primarily a deficit of phonological processing. She further cites the National Assessment of Education Program’s (NAEP) 2019 survey, which reveals that less than half of fourth-grade readers were found proficient and that approximately twenty percent of readers have dyslexia. She also documents neurobiological research findings, indicating that for people with dyslexia, linguistic areas of the brain, such as Broca’s area, Wernicke’s region, and areas of the occipital-temporal region, are often under-activated with reading activity. ... (read more)

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Active Participant

Writer Tulloch has experienced many life changes, as she powerfully and poignantly relates in this religiously themed memoir. Born in Jamaica, she has pleasant memories from her early years there. Her father emigrated to the US and later sent for his wife and children. Therefore, in 1981, she found herself in Brooklyn, New York, beginning school and learning American speech. Her school years included a sexual attack forced on her at age ten by an older boy, evoking low self-esteem and anxieties that would continue until married, divorced, and caring for two children, she began to develop a deep relationship with God. When her second child nearly died days after birth, she promised God that she would begin going to church if he would save her baby. Keeping that vow would require finding the right worship group. She explored many possibilities, discovering the reality of open, group praise to the Lord, speaking in tongues, praying for those who sinned against her, and hearing God’s voice, as her destiny as a minister became a reality. ... (read more)

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Happy's Story

In this colorful and inspiring children’s book, young readers meet Happy, a sailboat who lives in Seashell Safe Harbor. Young readers also meet Captain Drew, Happy’s friend, who one day decides to take Happy out to sea. Captain Drew’s adventure doesn’t appeal to Happy. As Captain Drew guides Happy past Lighthouse Lou and into the ocean, children meet Dolphin Rue, who has fun jumping waves. When Happy and Captain Drew’s adventure comes to an end, they return to Seashell Safe Harbor, where children join Happy in celebrating the courage Happy finds in overcoming the things that once scared him. ... (read more)

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Life Stages

Greeny is a third-grade boy who is about to turn nine. Everywhere he looks, it seems like people are talking about growing up. All Greeny wants is to remain a child. As his birthday gets closer and closer, Greeny resolves to ask his parents if they will let him walk home from school on his own. At first, Greeny's parents are nervous about letting their only child walk home, but after Greeny demonstrates maturity and trustworthiness, they agree to let him try. This journey that begins with a simple walk home on his own leads to a series of adventures, questions, and opportunities for growth. Greeny explores his belief in God and receives a personal miracle to affirm God's existence and love for him. Greeny makes mistakes and learns about receiving and giving forgiveness. In the end, Greeny learns that growing up isn't as scary as he thought. ... (read more)

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True Mindfulness

Snap! is a methodology presented through an acronym. It stands for first softly touching oneself for healing, naming the emotion one is feeling, continuing to act by perhaps breathing deeply to induce a relaxation response and disidentifying with the situation, and finally being bold enough to praise and thank oneself for succeeding. The author describes how to apply this method of snapping out of the grip of anger, anxiety, grief, and one’s inner critic. Then, she expands to applying her method of snapping out of uncontrolled feelings that might arise from parenting stress, oversaturation by twenty-four-hour news coverage, political stress, and COVID-19. A list of thirteen “macro” approaches to handling strife and anxiety arising from the external world is followed at the end for internal work with a twenty-five mindful methods toolbox for dealing with out-of-control emotions. ... (read more)

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New Directions

Author Roberts offers practical wisdom to answer the question posed by his book’s title, based on his deeply held Christian convictions. Drawing on a multitude of passages from the Holy Bible, this guide begins with the pronouncement of Jesus that not everyone who claims to know him will be taken into his kingdom. There are many who, though attending church, paying tithes, and even ministering for God, will be cast out. Moses, who felt compelled to climb a mountain and bring God’s word to his people, was still not fully ready for his work until he asked God to “show me your glory.” That is what all must do in order to know themselves as fully faithful. ... (read more)

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A Storehouse

Author Burford has composed a thought-provoking guide for those wishing to understand the afterlife as put forth in the Holy Bible. Because, as he points out, most people simply speak of heaven and hell, further exploration is necessary. Burford’s examination begins in the book of Genesis, when God’s universal creation included several complex realms, such as Sheol (Hades, or hell, including Tartarus), Paradise (or heaven, which would eventually become tripartite), the Lake of Fire, and the Grave. ... (read more)

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