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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.

Recent Reviews Focus Review Featured Reviews Author Spotlight US Review Blog   Author Spotlight William Overstreet I’ve been a professional writer for my entire career... (read more) Author Spotlight Michael Thomas Perone More than any other professional review publication, The US Review... (read more)

Recent Book Reviews

 

Focus Review

The Assassin, the Traitor, and the Prophecy by Jeff Altabef Evolved Publishing "In the end, we're all motivated by the same things. The same good and bad resides in us all. You can be Wingless and still be a monster." Once ruled by sorcerers, the Kingdom is now controlled by the Wingots—those who use their wings to justify the enslavement of the Wingless. During the Great War, the Wingots conspired with the Shadow Creatures to eradicate magic from the land and subjugate the Wingless. A millennium later, cruel Wingot King Fara executes anyone even suspected of wielding magic. But magic is gradually returning, and resistance to Wingot rule is building. ... (read more)

• Avoiding the Great Filter by Jonathan H. Jiang and Philip E. Rosen - RECOMMENDED
• Birth of the Messiah, The by Steve Laureanti
• Call Me Sergeant Rock by Dan Rodgers - RECOMMENDED
• Came a Gentle Whisper by Rebecca A. Cathey
• Chaos from the Cosmos by Pål A. Hvistendahl
• CO2 Cult of Modern Day Flat Earthers, The by L. Rowand Archer
• Constitution Kids, The by Gary Gabel
• Destiny of a Free Spirit by Stephen Ford
• Do Ask, Do Tell by Bill Boushka
• Edge of Mars, The by Michael Martin
• Farr Cottage by Anita D. Boseman
• Fine Line, A by Eileen Walton
• Ganges Water, The by Abdul Aziz
• Gen1 by Richard Pontefract
• Get off the Cross Someone Else Needs the Wood by Father Ken Deasy - RECOMMENDED
• God's Amazing Creation by Lindy Kerr - RECOMMENDED
• Grabtown by Sarah P. Blanchard - RECOMMENDED
• Horses of Saddlers Ranch, The: Cloud by Alison Bellringer
• Is School Really Out For The Summer? by Jim Sarto
• Is the Swing High or Low? by Wilma Cotten
• Keys to a Sacred Place by J. Solomon Wise - RECOMMENDED
• Last Bohemian by Juliette Antoinette Rosenstein - RECOMMENDED
• Madam President: 2024 by Lem Moyé
• Marianne by Alice McVeigh - RECOMMENDED
• My American Diary by Abdul Az - RECOMMENDED
• Nothing So Broken by Chris Richards - RECOMMENDED
• Odyssey of an Eavesdropper by Martin L. Kaiser III with Robert S. Stokes - RECOMMENDED
• On All Sides of the Bed by Joseph Pepe, MD - RECOMMENDED
• Paris Locked by Jennifer Harris - RECOMMENDED
• People Set Apart, A by Chimezie Anosike
• PO Boy Live by Trice Lott - RECOMMENDED
• Polar Bear In The Closet, The by Tracey Sullivan - RECOMMENDED
• Price of Loyalty, The by Malve Von Hassell - RECOMMENDED
• Progress Through Struggle by Henry R. Leggette
• Psalms and Proverbs, The by Pastor John Rumble with JD Rose
• Qasida for When I Became a Woman by Huma Sheikh
• Quest For Freedom, The by Matthew Devitt
• Rack by Jim Hogue
• Rare Mamas by Nikki McIntosh
• Regarding Views and Regime Changes by Yeshe Tsogyal - RECOMMENDED
• Rise and Fall of Common Sense, The by Vivian Robinson
• Scrolls of Belbou, The by Dmitri Toul
• Snoodles in Space: Escape from Zoodletraz by Steven Joseph - RECOMMENDED
• Soap Maker, The by Terrence Pershall
• Songbird's Surrender by N. Viktoria
• Spiritually Homeless by Kris Girrell - RECOMMENDED
• Stop Letting Your Past Control You by Dr. Bill O'Leary - RECOMMENDED
• Sun and Moon Against Death Avatars by Imios Archangelis
• To Keep Us All Safe by Stephen Ford - RECOMMENDED
• Vietnam 1968: Through My Eyes by William Fields, Jr. - RECOMMENDED
• What Is God? by Joyce Bolton - RECOMMENDED
• Who Made the Lamb by Lanayre Liggera - RECOMMENDED
• Woman in the Cistern, The by Marnie J Ross
• Woman of Gold, A by Robert W. Killick, PhD - RECOMMENDED
• You're on Fire, It's Fine by Katie K. May

Read the US Review of Books Previous Edition

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Featured Book Reviews

 

A Vivid Yield

Highlight Review The Iberian Table: Healthy Cooking Secrets from the Land of Longevity by Robin Keuneke Bay of Roses Books book review by Mihir Shah "For the chefs know the embracing of simple sustenance and the dignity that lies therein, is the soul of Spain's greatest cooking." Keuneke's work transcends the traditional cookbook structure, entering a realm of culture and cuisine that provides a comprehensive experience that will likely be relished by all audiences. A delectable fusion of health and wellness, memoir, and recipes, the work offers an unrivaled sensory experience, complete with timely health advice, origin stories galore, and recipes delivered with such authenticity and simplicity that they create a homely feel throughout. The same awe the author experiences while standing with her mother atop the highest ridge on Salt Island is imbued within the presentation of every recipe and every travel destination. ... (read more)

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Scams & Victims

George Sistern, a forty-six-year-old pianist, is feeling depressed after being scammed out of money by a Las Vegas con artist known as the Poker Queen. Through an acquaintance named Francine, he begins therapy with Mildred Markowitz. During their sessions, George shares his struggles, including how his mother used to tell him that people could easily see what kind of person he was, which led them to take advantage of him. He recounts various scenarios in which he has been mistreated. Eventually, George manages to recover the money that the Poker Queen had stolen from him, thanks to Mildred's friend Tony. While this recovery significantly improves George's mood, Mildred believes they should continue their work together to focus on enhancing his self-esteem. ... (read more)

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Tales & Potions

Highlight Review Faery Academy of QuillSnap: Night of the Purple Moon by Jacqueline Reinig Archway Publishing book review by Mihir Shah "I can't be spotted by Vivi until I am ready and have complete control of the land of QuillSnap." The author's worldbuilding extravaganza is on full display right from the get-go as she expertly brings the Faery Realm to life from the lens of one Tansy WaterSprite, an aspiring faery (known as a "little") whose meager existence is turned upside down when she gets the opportunity of a lifetime. In the vein of Joseph Campbell and the Hero's Journey, the call-to-action that transports Tansy from the human world to the Faery Academy is a small but resounding one: Lady Beetle, Bertie. ... (read more)

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In Nature

It is 1969, and Chris Polo has taken a job as a counselor at a Christian camp, Camp Clovis, for the summer, working with boys and a few girls. Along with Polo's fellow counselors and other staff members, the book takes us through the daily activities of a camp, such as arts and crafts, ropes course, swimming in the lake, camping, hiking, skits, Camp Olympics, horse riding, and other activities. The book describes the campers and counselors, and the reader gets a nice understanding of the individuals and their relationships to one another and the camp's culture. Of course, ongoing hijinks are part of the camp culture. This is also the time of the Vietnam War, and the novel takes us through the thinking of the time as well as the beliefs and concerns of the young men who are affected by the war. ... (read more)

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Missing Persons

Highlight Review Ghost of Gladio: A Van Gogh Crime Thriller by Dan Aaron OGMA Publishing book review by Philip Zozzaro "All five of them stared at me, open-mouthed, like I'd just walked out of a padded cell." Van Gogh is a former police officer turned private investigator in Zurich, Switzerland. Complications in his life have mostly been limited to frosty interactions with his ex-wife when he has custodial visits with their daughter, Niamh. However, his latest investigation adds a new wrinkle to his life. Van Gogh is approached by a local imam and asked to look into the disappearance of a man named Mujo Hasanovic. Initially, the leads aren't promising as Hasanovic didn't have any friends and was secretive about his work, according to his wife. When Van Gogh approaches Hasanovic's employer, he notices inconsistencies in the portrait of the missing person, and it appears Hasanovic may have been living a double life. Van Gogh's questions become moot when a body is discovered that appears to match Hasanovic's description. ... (read more)

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Immersive

This novel begins in the city of Kraab, where Aleb Krouse has spent the day organizing his few possessions. A strange, unidentifiable object appears in the sky. Little does Aleb know that the mysterious object will eventually change the course of everything. The narrative features a cast of interesting characters, including the Croans who embark on a strange exploration of Groob, a planet larger than Earth. The journey reveals a technology unlike any other. While some think the technology is the key to a new, more communicative future, others fear that the technology will unleash a totalitarian overtake unlike anything the universe has ever seen. Nonetheless, a powerful team has a plan to make sure the technology does not fall into the wrong hands, ensuring the universe's safety and the continuity of their intergalactic adventures. ... (read more)

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Creativity Explored

Highlight Review New Artistic Creations: "It's all a Matter of Focus" by Janetta Stew Art book review by Mark Heisey "Garry ran home crying, and our parents accompanied him back to school to speak with the judges to verify that he drew the picture without assistance." This art book focuses on the colorful, abstract illustrations of Garry Stewart. It features the work he created during the last decade of his life, 1989 through 1999. His sister is the caretaker of his work and has created this full-color book, combining his art with scriptural verses addressing similar topics and themes. This collaboration shows the influence of two important impacts on Stewart as he turned to art for expression: an upbringing grounded in faith and an emphasis on creativity. ... (read more)

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No Ordinary Calm

Not even fifteen years old, young Marie's burgeoning success in the laundry services abruptly comes to a screeching halt when her mother passes away. In Rodley's narrative-based poetry, characters wear their emotions on their sleeves, and Marie's disgust at her father's new lady love, Glenda, is palpable. Far from a maternal figure, Glenda strives to create constraints around Marie while brainwashing Marie's father with her sensuality. The result is a father determined to marry his daughter off as a consequence of her perceived belligerence. This decision becomes the inciting incident to a riveting plot delivered through captivating lyrical poetry. ... (read more)

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Culture Testament

Highlight Review Zip Code 48209: Where You Start Means A Lot by Robert Erlandson Circle Publications book review by Nicole Yurcaba "Both my grandmothers in Sweden were widows. They had to see me. I had to see them." In these prosaic poems, the author shares stories and recollections of a unique childhood, filled with memories of Swedish immigrant parents and unforgettable childhood journeys to Sweden. These recollections are balanced with insights into the joys and pitfalls of growing up in an America that is so different from today. Nonetheless, this book is not only a poetic journey through the author's life, but also many unique poetic forms. It also includes many family photos and artistic photos. Therefore, it is a visual journey that explores life's intersections where the visual arts and the written word meet. Most of all, this book offers its audience a steady mantra: "soul food / essential ingredients / love, family, friends." ... (read more)

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A Standout

In this remarkable collection, gifted purveyors of poems, song, music, and artwork have created a memory book that takes readers back to the Old West. The Santa Fe Trail was devised and dug out in danger and determination over years by a wide range of diverse, exhausted, and sometimes hostile travelers as a "conduit" between America and Mexico. Business magnates saw profits, religious folk saw freedom to worship as they wished, and misfits and rovers saw a vast terrain to travel, perhaps becoming lost or found in the large and lonely landscape. In 2013, poet Morton inspired Birkelbach with her idea to visit all sixty-three national parks and create words and pictures to remember them. Once the idea had sprung to life, it seemed it was an unavoidable, noble quest. ... (read more)

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New Lands

Elliott is a young sorcerer with psychic powers, and his third-grade teacher, Mr. Moonbeam, helps him learn to control these abilities. Although Elliott has special powers, he and his teacher must keep them a secret because they live in a non-magical world. Their mission is to protect this world from any magical threats. Meanwhile, Sabrina is sent to the non-magical world because she is in danger. Noir, a dark sorcerer from Moonstone, wants to kidnap her and steal the Halloween Crystal. Fortunately, Sabrina is safe in the non-magical world, as Noir cannot physically enter this realm. Additionally, Mr. Moonbeam can provide her with protection. Sabrina is now in the same class as Elliott, but she struggles to adapt to her new environment. Despite Mr. Moonbeam's best efforts to safeguard her, Noir ultimately manages to kidnap Sabrina.... (read more)

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Verbal & Visual

This is an experimental collection filled with poems, proems, and prose narratives molded into poems. It challenges the imagination, as well as one's understanding of the poetic forms and theories. Erotic and sensual, these verses possess a musicality entirely their own. Poems like "VII. Sedimental Journey" fuse wordplay and historical allusions with contemporary motifs. Other poems, such as "Brewkowski," pay tribute to the poetic god of hedonism, Charles Bukowski, due to their tribute to depravity. Some poems even nod toward Ezra Pound and the minimalism and imagism he established, which revolutionized modern poetry. An artwork series accompanies the poems, creating an entirely unique and intimate visual journey as the collection concludes.... (read more)

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Into the Wild

After losing her teenage son to a car accident, Jeanne's grief hangs on her like a heavy woolen blanket. She struggles to maintain a normal, daily routine. Her daughters are reaching the age where they are ready to start living their own lives, and her husband has taken a new position, which means leaving the Northeast and relocating to Florida. Their marriage is strained, and Jeanne's husband suggests she take some time to travel across Canada before heading south to join him in Florida. Although uncertain about going to Alaska, Jeanne does take her pop-up camper and her son's dog, Gulliver, and begins a meandering route across Canada. Her journey brings her into contact with all sorts of people who share their stories on the road, and Jeanne begins to grow more comfortable with her trip and the destination of Alaska. However, her trip takes an unexpected turn when Gulliver gets sick. Jeanne must learn to navigate Gulliver's illness, her newfound freedom since deciding a divorce is a must, and the attention of an outdoorsman. ... (read more)

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Reimagined

Ginny is home after an accidental overdose nearly killed her. Her sons, Rob and Jamie, arrive to help her recover in her small but quaint 200-year-old farmhouse. Ginny vows to never touch alcohol and drugs again as long as she lives. She examines her life honestly, confronting her guilt for leaving her young sons and husband to live with her lover. Now, they are grown men with partners and lives of their own, and they are coming to her rescue. When Jamie needs help with his ailing partner, she travels to Key West to assist in his care. When the mother of Rob's twins leaves him without a word, she travels to his all but defunct commune to help with their care. As Ginny approaches her late sixties and becomes involved with a new man, she questions how much more she can give to her sons. Will she find the happy balance she now seeks in her life? ... (read more)

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Vision Quest

After spending a year caring for her dying mother, North decides to return to the Four Corners Desert to complete a spirit quest. As she lies sleeping, she is suddenly awakened by a small, strange, ancient man. "He was ghastly, yet intriguing; alchemistic and punishing to my eyes—and I was mesmerized." Oliver tells North the desert holds a secret, and Earth Mother has chosen her to discover it and bring the Earth into balance. Oliver tells her she must find Leo Biscolli, an archaeologist excavating in the Four Corners Desert. Biscolli is intrigued by what she tells him. As the two search for this hidden secret, North discovers information concerning the native people who occupied this southwestern desert between 500 and 1300 AD. She comes to believe the Hopi, direct descendants of the Anasazi, hold the key to the secret. In the hope of finding answers, she heads to Third Mesa's Hotevilla, where the tribe's traditionalists still live much as the Anasazi did.... (read more)

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The Future Today

The United States is in disarray. The government has little control and uses its waning power and influence to fleece any group it can: a true kleptocracy. Latinos have been sorted into a collection of barrios around the United States, where they were going to be sorted for deportation. Instead, they were just left there. However, the barrios set up their own governments and militias. Most goods and commodities are brought and sold through the barrios, and life within them is much better than life on the outside. Martin, a gringo, is a cop in the barrios. His main job is to help lost people, give directions to the public bathrooms, and stay out of the way of the local Latino militia—the Greenhats. However, when Martin's decency gets the best of him, and he saves some Latino girls from violent smugglers, he becomes much more involved. ... (read more)

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Hope Against Darkness

In this final volume of Newhouse's trilogy on the Lodz Ghetto in Poland, the Jewish community's harrowing existence continues to be tested at astronomical levels, systematically breaking down their humanity until emptiness remains. That said, the author's attempt to honor his upbringing and parents that were one of fewer than 5,000 survivors at Lodz by shedding light on the atrocities and persecution there is wildly successful. The phrase, "the truth shall set you free," is tailor-made for this work of historical fiction that is authentic and fearless in simply writing what is. ... (read more)

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Reaching for Peace

Larry Miwa was born in Hawaii in 1931. His family moved to Hiroshima, where he lived from the age of two to fifteen. During the summer of 1945, while about to turn fourteen, Miwa and a group of students relocated to a village approximately twenty-five miles from Hiroshima to contribute to the Japanese war effort by continuing their education and helping the country increase its agricultural production. Miwa was given a student diary, which he kept from July 7 through September 10 of that year. His entries detail the hard work and absolute dedication the students and teachers displayed as they cleared land and planted crops. The country and the emperor were first in the minds of this group. This steadfast loyalty and nationalism bordered on fanaticism, and thoughts of the individual and/or family were looked upon with disappointment. Miwa's entry on August 6 mentions witnessing B-52s flying over. This date was when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Miwa's diary mentions concern for family and a hatred of the enemy. The next day, Miwa writes about reports of his city being “burned to ashes by a bomb.” The diary goes on to cover Miwa returning to Hiroshima and being overwhelmed by the destruction, as well as miraculously finding his family and the aftermath of the bomb. ... (read more)

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Diligent Vision

Author Chavarría has created an epic journey for her central characters—from birth to lives on earth to death and beyond. The central focus is Belinda, whose emergence from the restrictions of the womb to "quiet, cooing voices" forms the first chapter. Raised strictly by her grandmother, intelligent Belinda proves too shy, sometimes too outspoken. She experiences genuine regret and guilt about a rowdy incident in her early college years. Seeking normalcy and structure, she marries a self-seeking entrepreneur and, after a miscarriage, has a daughter, Gloria, whose name belies the child's deep-seated mental and physical disabilities. ... (read more)

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Beyond Hype

Jenkins takes the meaning of “we the people” to the ultimate level by proposing a shift in how society and government operate, leading to collaboration and mitigating greed and bias within the judicial system. The end goal, as he reiterates throughout the work, is the implementation of a better democracy, one that is not susceptible to political gamesmanship and the power of the almighty dollar. At the core of Jenkins' work is a fervent desire to truly execute on the phrase, “represent their constituents,” and spark an evolution of the United States government that does what it set out to do back in 1776: serve the people. ... (read more)

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Magic & Meditation

In this novel, the human and the immortal intertwine. Sun and Moon confront the Death Avatars. Sun and Moon's love and energy center their journey against the dark forces. Together, they must muster the courage to save the living and neutralize the threat from the Abyss. Meanwhile, the landscape begins to heal. Temples are built. Alchemy, too, centers Sun and Moon's existence and their ability to overcome evil and darkness. Other characters, like Young Dragon and Tigress, serve as examples of respect. The lesson that Sun and Moon offer is how to rebuild a life after complete destruction: "They both recollected some fragments of their past life connecting them to its core." They embark on yet another journey, carrying a simple promise from a wise elder: "We will share with you the secrets of higher cultivation, the intricate dance of celestial energies, and the profound mysteries of the universe." ... (read more)

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Face-Paced Stories

Coral, Lexie, and Tilly are excited to spend the week of their school break together on Coral's family farm. Despite their very different personalities, the fifteen-year-old girls are great friends. Each has her own interests and hobbies. However, all three share a love of horses, and that is enough to create a strong bond of friendship. When a new horse named Cloud unexpectedly takes up residence at the farm, the girls are surprised to learn that the gelding has been known to buck its previous owner off for no apparent reason. With their farmhand under the weather, Coral's father asks the girls to complete his chores. Given the task of riding out to check the cattle while Mr. Johnson goes to town, the girls mount their horses only to face an unexpected and dangerous obstacle. Will their week together be ruined before it even begins? ... (read more)

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Entertaining & Thoughtful

Three female lawyers give up their comfortable, though stifling, jobs at prestigious firms to start their own law firm in hopes of being recognized and respected as professionals despite prejudices against their various appearances. One lawyer is an achondroplastic dwarf. Another is obese, and the third is so drop-dead gorgeous she is often assumed to be a Barbie... (read more)

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Spiritual Journey

This book is an in-depth exploration of one of the best-known sections of the Bible—the Book of Ecclesiastes, specifically Chapter 3, verses 1-12. Its chapters challenge individuals to consider not only how they interpret this set of scriptures, but also how they apply them. It also asks them to consider how they perceive, utilize, and approach their faith. These chapters also provide insight into how to cope with life's difficult circumstances, particularly the negativity one may encounter from others. Other chapters provide personal narratives about incidents that may test one's faith. The author shares how her faith guided her through both difficult and easy circumstances. Other chapters remind readers that they must take care of their spirits as well as their bodies and minds. ... (read more)

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Antiquity Alive

Spanning three extensive volumes, this unique series provides a historically accurate and expansive overview of the life of Pyrrhus—a name many reference because of the phrase "a Pyrrhic victory" without fully understanding or appreciating the phrase's meaning. In the first volume, audiences are introduced to Pyrrhus and his rise to power after Alexander the Great's empire has been divided among Alexander's generals. However, the divisions between them are more than just land divisions. Envy, rivalry, and greed influence the generals' attitudes towards one another. Amid the turmoil, young King Pyrrhus emerges from a northern region of Greece. Disenthroned by Cassander at age seventeen, Pyrrhus eventually regained his throne, and he began establishing his historical legacy as a great commander. ... (read more)

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To Thrive and Flourish

As a young man, Peter is a bit different from his friends. Not as interested in socializing or the tethers of technology, his interest lies in the Ecology Reservation, a government-isolated area where ancient predators roam, and even people, living simply and primitively, get by without modern comforts. A chance discovery of an underground tunnel that will carry him into the Ecological Area grants Peter a chance at a double life. If he were ever found out, it would be disastrous for him, but he can't deny the pull he feels in each direction: his freedom in one, and his friends, job, and wife-to-be in the other. As the truth about the powers that govern his world begins to take shape, Peter's choice becomes more of an imperative; no matter which side he resides on, he must irrevocably give up a piece of his life. ... (read more)

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Inspired Life

Author Pepe presents a dynamic memoir expansively examining basic tenets of the medical profession, illustrating the myriad of ways that it has changed, progressed, and improved over the more than forty years of his immersion in it. Pepe was the fourth child in a chaotic home scene and near-constant poverty. At age five, hearing his mother praising a certain physician, he resolved to become a doctor. That ambition guided him to overcome numerous obstacles, leading him to college and medical school. ... (read more)

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Going Deeper

Ruby is a singer at The Blackbird Lounge, an entertainment establishment owned by the questionable and deceptive Mr. Daniels. The three dollars the boss pays Ruby for singing in his club for four hours is not enough, but when Daniels offers Ruby a way to earn money “the easy way,” Ruby refuses. Like others in her circle, Ruby knows that she deserves better than the audience and pay The Blackbird offers her. When Ruby learns that The Silver Moon, a swankier Chicago club rumored to be operated by the Italian mafia, is looking to offer a new, fresh singer an exclusive contract, Ruby must make a decision that could lead to a better life not only for her but also for her mother. Of course, other obstacles, such as her recently received eviction notice and a deal that threatens her future, stand in her way, but Ruby is determined to prove herself as a talented singer who lives for the music and only for the music. ... (read more)

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Warm Truth

In this heartbreaking memoir, the author details her struggle in raising a family where her spouse and later her daughter suffered from the effects of bipolar disorder. Holding things together as best she can despite a lack of support, the author outlines what life is like for a person not suffering from the condition, and how to manage expectations and behaviors as someone sharing a house, a family, and a life with those who do. Nothing is held back on topics such as addiction, divorce, strained family relations, and eventually a tragic and horrific event that ends her daughter's life. Unflinching in its honesty while still remaining an emotional and personal story, this intimate reflection pulls no punches even as it discusses challenging and harrowing subjects in order to truly illustrate the range of effects and symptoms of bipolar disorder. ... (read more)

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Experience & Thesis

Author Wise invites readers to grow ever closer to God, the divine spirit within, truly the only reality. God ordained Adam and Eve to possess this spirit openly, yet when they betrayed his trust, God did not abandon them. They retained his eternal, indomitable spirit within. Humans are born with physical bodies and immediate physical needs, but at some point, they will begin to sense God's spirit within and seek to arouse that innate spirituality. Doing so requires nourishment of the spirit just as one nourishes the body, gradually opening the way to strengths and habits that allow for direction and conviction, aided by the guidance from the Holy Spirit.... (read more)

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Secrets & Ethics

Martin Kaiser was the man to see for obtaining certain devices, whether a wire, a wire detector, or possibly a bomb detector. Kaiser had been into the inner workings of electronics since he was a young kid and was obsessed with his ham radio. He was a tech guy well before they became commonplace, and he was proficient at creating devices such as the 1059 preamplifier. By 1965, Kaiser had turned his part-time work and hobby into a full-time business, and he was constructing countermeasure tools and teaching a class on countermeasures. ... (read more)

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Possible Healing

A mental health professional for more than three decades, O'Leary positions his book as distinct from most that deal with one's past issues. His stated purpose is to present a practical, step-by-step guide, complete with applicable exercises and tangible skills, meant to empower the reader to take control of their life. Confronting one's past, he argues, is crucial to healing and becoming the "best version" of oneself. Initially, an overview of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is provided, including an analysis of related change-readiness and stages of learning. O'Leary then turns to specific diagnoses of depression, clinical anxiety, OCD, and PTSD, vis-à-vis consideration of treatment with medications and/or psychotherapy. Additional issues explored include positive thinking, the importance of exercise, healthy relationships, "real self" versus "ideal self," substance abuse, and the many forms of abuse writ large, such as child abuse and neglect, physical, emotional, sexual, and verbal abuse, and the scourge of domestic violence. Finally, multiple pages of specific hotline assistance information and additional resources are provided. ... (read more)

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Sphere's of Life

Reflections on his experiences and deeper development of his philosophies comprise the major portion of this, the most recent in a series of Boushka's long-standing declarations concerning life's principles and practices. His saga began in the 1960s, with musical talents arising in early childhood, while his social approaches were scrutinized and criticized as he dealt with the then-stigmatized circumstances of being gay. Expelled from college, surviving and serving in the US Navy, he began gathering and chronicling intellectual and intuitive ideation regarding individual rights. In that endeavor, Boushka details two congressional initiatives that strongly influenced his thinking: the Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy allowing gays into the military if they remained mute about their sexuality, and the second that loosened that restriction, though, as the author notes, these issues still arise in every sphere of life. ... (read more)

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A Commendable Life

Killick has written an impressive biography of his late wife, Judy, chronicling her eighty-four years on this planet. He approaches this project with great seriousness, starting from her birth in 1939 in Australia and continuing through to her final days. Throughout the book, he illustrates how various events and her personality traits shaped Judy into a remarkable woman. Additionally, Killick includes Judy's family tree alongside key historical events, highlighting the significant role her family played in shaping her identity. Judy's family history is an integral part of her story. Those who knew her described her as the "life of the party," but there is much more to her than that. The phrase "a woman of gold" serves as a powerful metaphor throughout her life's journey, reflecting the depth and richness of her experiences. ... (read more)

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Vivid Portrait

McVeigh's sequel to Sense and Sensibility picks up three years after Austen's ending, following Marianne Brandon as a young widow trying to find her place in London society, while her sister Margaret is accused of stealing lace from a shop. The story unfolds through Marianne's journals, Margaret's diary entries, and third-person narration, giving readers multiple viewpoints on the same events. This structure keeps the story dynamic and lets readers see how Marianne's personal struggles ripple through her family and friends. Margaret's voice stands out with a perfect mix of teenage drama and self-awareness as she pens her own Gothic novel from her cell in Spitalfields. ... (read more)

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God's Endless Wisdom

Authors Rumble and Rose offer a religious study guide that furnishes the knowledge, comfort, and outreach inherent in two Old Testament books, Psalms and Proverbs. The Book of Psalms, explored here in a conscientious, lively manner, contains one hundred and fifty segments, comprising the Holy Bible's longest book. Psalm 1 details qualities of godliness, a fitting introduction to this dynamic array. The authors have essays appropriate to each of the psalms, utilizing credible concepts and modern language to attract the reader's attention. ... (read more)

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Man of the Cloth

In today's society, being self-engrossed has become the norm to the utmost degree, where humanity, more often than not, is unable to see the plight of anyone but themselves. In Deasy's authentically refreshing work, he uses the metaphor of living on the cross as a visceral illustration to his readers that even though problems exist, we should serve to help others in need and appreciate the silver linings in our orbit. ... (read more)

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The Peaceful Way

Rusty is a third grader who lives with his mother in a neighborhood with his best friend, Timmy, a dog named Huck, and a variety of other people. The inquisitive boy becomes intrigued by the question, "What is God?" after Timmy says that he will not be able to join Rusty and his mother on a particular day because he and his family attend church on Sundays to learn about God. In response to his question, Rusty's mother admits that she doesn't have an answer to what or who God is and suggests that they ask people whom they know for their definitions of God. The answers are varied and inspiring to Rusty. One man proposes that Rusty himself ask God and prepare to hear the answer in a way that will become apparent to the questioning child. Rusty is comforted and reassured by the suggestion and begins to talk to an entity that he cannot define for himself, but who he starts to believe will answer him. ... (read more)

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To America

It's 1940, and the German war machine has steamrolled through Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Young Anton's father and grandfather disappear for extended periods. Slowly, Anton realizes that they are assisting in the resistance against their Nazi occupiers. Late at night, Anton makes deliveries of soap containing secret messages for fellow saboteurs. ... (read more)

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Heartfelt

Amanda Ten Eycke, from New York City, travels to Europe with her Aunt Bea and her cousin Becky, following the death of Amanda's Uncle, Benjamin, who was Bea's husband. To help cope with her mourning, Aunt Bea has decided to take the trip with her daughter, and Amanda joins them to keep Becky company. Their first destination in Europe is Paris at the beginning of the year. They then settle in London, and Becky excitedly encourages Amanda to crash an audition at a theatre there, believing in Amanda's talent. Becky and Amanda attend the audition, where they have the opportunity to meet new people and build new relationships. Unfortunately, World War I breaks out. As time passes, Amanda is faced with the harsh realities of the war. ... (read more)

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Out of This World

In this third episode of the whimsical Snoodles in Space series, Droodle and Schmoodle the poodle are locked in Zoodletraz, the space slammer, for smuggling a pet onto the no-pet planet. The story clearly embraces the twenty-first-century graphic novel trend but has an ambiance reminiscent of the wacky rhymes and unique characters envisioned by the late, great Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), melded with futuristic 1960s cartoon fare such as The Jetsons or the soft, cyberpunk-adjacent Inspector Gadget. The futuristic space travel theme is a popular one, made anew with the amusing launch of the tale's backstory in the city of Noodleham, before readers embark on the main adventure. ... (read more)

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Creation

Kerr's picture book about seeds is whimsical with a subtle religious twist and serves as a good tool for teaching children about how plants grow. It would be a book that Sunday School teachers could easily use. Kerr explains the different kinds of seeds and how they grow with the right amount of water, temperature, and other environmental factors. She applies basic science to explain how plants grow, but emphasizes that it's always God who is behind it all. He's the one who controls the weather and the one who tells the plants how to grow. After all, he is the one who controls the Earth. Not only is the book about the plant world, but it is also about God's teachings. ... (read more)

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Battle for Souls

In this thorough amalgamation of ancient spiritual legacies and early twentieth-century exploration and understanding of Eastern language and cultural lore, a tale is told highlighting the major principles of Buddhist origins and core beliefs. The original text is attributed to a Tibetan female, Yeshe Tsogyal, said to have had a unique and remarkable sense of memory, able to recall accurately anything she had heard from her guru, Padmasambhava. Her book was kept secret for millennia, and here focuses on its fifth chapter, highlighting the Vajrayana faith. ... (read more)

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Experience History

School is out for the summer, and fifteen-year-old friends Alex, Kali, and Roman decide to visit their community's city hall, where they hear a protest is planned. The three are a little surprised at the intensity of the protesters and their claims about constitutional rights. This prompts the three to learn more about the Constitution. The next morning, they begin their search at the public library. While searching through some of the more remote stacks, a book called The Living Constitution falls off a shelf and thumps to the floor. As they begin flipping its pages, a hologram of Ben Franklin materializes before them. He transports them through time to Philadelphia in 1787 as the Constitution is being drafted. ... (read more)

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Multidimensional

Drawing on recent memories of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant shelter-in-place orders, the author brings a fresh twist to these themes in his latest novel. Jim Mollet, an ecologist exiled from Vietnam to London because of a worldwide Chimpapox pandemic, struggles with inner and outer obstacles as he navigates his physical and psychological survival. If the annoyance of having only an hour to exercise outdoors isn't bad enough, Jim must contend with an overly zealous landlady who monitors his every move. Add dodging the volunteer Lockdown Patrols that apply their authority to citizens on the streets for shopping and exercise to his daily annoyances. Jim secures a bit of extra freedom with a caretaker permit to tend a vegetable allotment for his uncle and aunt. To complicate matters, Jim meets Lily, an attractive Bohemian woman, while tending the vegetable plot and forges a friendship with her. But Lily is a Wiccan, and her roommates are radical feminists who are highly distrustful of men and protective of her. ... (read more)

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Life at Stake

The year is 2024. In the midst of a heated presidential election campaign, the elderly Democratic candidate suffers a severe stroke that leaves him incapacitated. Vice President Harris, a woman who has been largely excluded from the president's inner circle, assumes the powers of the office. Sensing an opportunity, Vladimir Putin launches a devastating attack on Ukraine using chemical weapons. As the American president is given last rites, Belarus and Russia send tanks over their borders into Ukraine in the hopes of seizing the capital city. ... (read more)

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Betrayals

Marian and Jason have been married for over twenty years and have two adult children, Olivia and Mark. Marian discovers that Jason cheated on her during a business trip to Sydney, a realization triggered by hearing the laughter of another woman on a phone call. Feeling deeply betrayed, Marian still decides to take a trip with Jason to Paris in the hope of saving their marriage. They have visited the city several times before. While working on their relationship, Marian is confronted with painful memories, including the loss of their unborn child many years ago. During this time in Paris, she is also organizing a vernissage with her art colleague and friend, Stephanie. As Marian navigates her marital issues, she finds herself juggling both personal struggles and professional responsibilities. ... (read more)

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Triumph

In the first decades of the twentieth century, young Cora Lee emerges from Saint Anne's, an orphanage, to live with her Granny Mae in the Ozarks. In school, she makes friends—notably, a girl named Ruby who's widely despised by the other students for being "trash"—and foes. "Bad boy" Lucas McDaniel and his cronies, Robert and Jacob, make a sport of lifting the girls' skirts to see their undergarments. When the boys humiliate Cora Lee by pinning her to the ground, Cora Lee fears that they may have been attempting to kill her. ... (read more)

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Special Hero

Lott delves deeply into the recollections of a life that is both stirring and startling. As this enlivening tale unfolds, its central character and the book's narrator, a young man known as PO Boy, is experiencing reasonable security in a rough section of Atlanta, Georgia, in 2014. He has regular employment and the comfortable aspects of sharing an apartment with an energetic female partner. His communication with family and friends is always active, mainly via phone, as well as through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. One day, though, these circumstances will be radically altered. ... (read more)

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Page-Turner

In this memoir, Walton walks the reader through her life-long experience with mania, psychosis, and depression, all parts of her bipolar disorder. With symptoms of her illness first occurring during law school, Walton details the insanity and disruption these episodes can cause, and how continual work with her doctors, a loving support network of family and friends, and awareness of the warning signs have helped her manage each episode just a little better than the last. Walton, an intelligent and capable woman with a successful law career and a solid marriage in which she and her spouse raised a daughter, walks the reader through the thoughts, hallucinations, and fears that accompany her illness. The intimacy with which she shares the details of her episodes helps make a hard-to-understand disorder much more real and comprehensible to those who find it difficult to fully grasp. ... (read more)

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Out of this World

Astrophysics, future studies, history, and philosophy meld in this discussion of "Great Filters"—the obstacles or calamities that prevent civilizations from reaching advanced technological states, and in particular, the "technological progress necessary to make contact across interstellar distances." The authors emphasize that the ethical concerns accompanying technological progress are also crucial to mankind's evolution. ... (read more)

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Eye-Opener

This powerful novel explores the intertwined lives and existences of Muslim and Hindu families. Poncho, the son of a widow, does not know it, but his life is about to determine the destiny of his entire family. The era is one of British colonization, and Bengal is a place rife with strife and agitation. Beneath the political turmoil and India's ongoing struggle for independence, the religious differences between the Muslims, the Christians, and the Hindus continue to divide their communities. Meanwhile, Poncho's life and the lives of his family members change and evolve as they observe, experience, and adapt to the ever-changing socio-political climates in which they must exist, especially as a forbidden romance causes an upheaval none of them anticipated. ... (read more)

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Humorous & Bittersweet

In mid-June 1964, Joey Strat was champing at the bit for his two-month summer vacation to commence. The end of fifth grade was upon him, and the liberation from the doldrums of classes came none too soon. The ensuing months promised long days spent hanging out with his friends, bingeing on junk food, and the occasional barbecue. The beginning of the next school year seemed a lifetime away. Many years later, Joe has become the principal of Avenue Ridge High School, and summer vacation is practically non-existent in his career. The end of the most recent year was marked by a blizzard of trash left by the graduating class and a slew of teacher vacancies due to resignations and retirements. Dr. Joe Strat is worlds apart from the idyllic days of his carefree youth. ... (read more)

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Relationships

It is 1999, and AZ Habib is returning to America after forty-five years, accompanied by his wife, Prova. They are going to visit their two sons—Zaved, their youngest, and Fuad, their eldest—in Chicago. As they embark on this trip, AZ is reminded of his first journey to the United States forty years ago, when he was twenty-three years old and a commissioned officer in the Pakistan Air Force, serving as a pilot officer (second lieutenant). He came to America for a one-year training course at Chanute Air Force Base at Rantoul, Illinois. The memories of his time in the U.S. continue to resonate with him, evoking reflections on the relationships he built—both professional and personal, particularly the exciting sexual and romantic connections he experienced during that period. ... (read more)

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Christ's Birth Explored

As the hectic holiday season approaches each year, many find themselves longing for just a few minutes of quiet contemplation in their activity-packed days. This daily devotional for December offers short scripture readings and commentary, focusing attention on the meaning behind the joyful festivities. The book is divided into three parts: "Eternity Past, Creation, The Witness, and God Incarnate;" "The Prophecy and Mission of John the Baptist;" "The Prophecy and Birth of Jesus." The readings lead up to the Messiah's birth, which is addressed in the December 25 entry. The study concludes on December 31 with the arrival of the Magi at Jesus' manger. ... (read more)

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Lively

Young Scotty has a friend named Poley, a polar bear who lives in the zoo when he is not having adventures with Scotty. The boy's third-grade class and Scotty's mom hear about the adventures in the beautiful world pictures that Scotty creates, and the wonder and beauty that he feels and sees. The young boy's mother is always eager to hear the stories and how her son feels about the situations that he and Poley experience. Scotty's teacher obtains permission from the school's principal for Poley to visit the class. The young students prepare to meet their northern visitor and are delighted with the result. ... (read more)

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Pragmatic Thought

In this in-depth study of the development of common sense, the author traces the origins of common sense, which emerged as the concept of monotheism began to grow. Robinson traces the development of common sense thought and the importance of religious writings by examining the common sense way of life established when Abraham was given the Ten Commandments. The author also delves into the teachings of Muhammad as recorded in the Koran. Robinson explores the great progress of humanity that occurred in these societies when people followed these common-sense practices established in these early scriptures. The author follows the rise of common sense and its fall, which is fully examined in this in-depth look at how modern society has lost much of the common sense way of thinking that led to growth and a better way of life. ... (read more)

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