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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

Who’s Controlling You? Encountering the Ultimate Connectedness by Mardi Harjo Christian Faith Publishing book review by Barbara Bamberger Scott "A person cannot be saved without first having realized he is lost." Christian artist and musician Harjo has constructed a thorough, thoughtful treatise focusing on the ideal relationship between human beings and God. She begins with a basic view of that relationship, questioning the reader in clear, rational terms. Do we worship the stars or God who made them? Do we believe that worldly knowledge can save us, or must we look beyond, to an "authoritative Truth that cannot be compromised"? In what do we base our identity? What is our ultimate, utmost purpose? By this means, the author stretches the mind beyond its usual realms of spiritual examination. She is not eclectic but selective in her guidance towards leading a God-centered life. She decries some televangelism as a kind of religious "junk food" and suggests that certain sorts of worship emphasize apparent miracles and wonders rather than their source. She warns that one can be a "nominal" Christian who simply takes in a few spoonsful of religion on a regular basis with the appeal of elaborate rituals, a phenomenon she calls "churchianity." ... (read more)

• 2012: The Weak Economy and How to Deal with It to Empower the Citizens by Joesph Albert Gorski
• 2016: The Rise of a Third Party in the US by Joseph Albert Gorski - RECOMMENDED
• ABC’s of Jug Band Music, The by Morgan Cochneuer
• Ablaze by Peter Rowe - RECOMMENDED
• African Quilt by Harshi Syal Gill and Parvin D. Syal - RECOMMENDED
• Around the World in 12 Years and 12 Square Meters by Steffen P. Russak - RECOMMENDED
• Atlantean Conspiracy by Mark Gibbs
• Blessed by Dr. Sherri A. Young
• Blood Before Dawn by Daniel V. Meier, Jr. - RECOMMENDED
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• Church Hurts and the Healing Process by Dot Kelley
• Coffee with Jesus by Col. Richard Block
• Confessions of a Passionate Seeker by Dr. Pamela Gerali
• Crooked Forest, The by Joni Franks - RECOMMENDED
• Cult That Calls Itself the Church of Christ, The by Ron Craig
• Dancing at the Gate by Carol K. Grosz
• Death Speaks by Carol Joan Campbell
• Dry Heat by Len Joy - RECOMMENDED
• During the Pandemic with Edward Jenner by Dr. Barbara ten Brink
• Eden Lost by Richard Taylor - RECOMMENDED
• Embracing Autism by James E. Strode - RECOMMENDED
• Embracing the Law of Attraction by J.M. Jones - RECOMMENDED
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• Fly Fishing Challenge by Forrest Oldham
• Forgotten, The by Barbara Dorger
• Freedom's Moon by Margaret Mendenhall
• From Exile to Freedom by Lizzie Toomer
• From the Brink of Death & the Gates of Hell by Joseph Hentosz
• Gardening: A Growing Addiction by Jo Ann Wiblin - RECOMMENDED
• General’s Wife, The by Brenda Gantt
• Ghost in the Turret by Donna W. Carson
• God Promised by Mihai Melecciu
• Good Night by Natalia Padilla
• Gramma Shirah Says Words of Wisdom and More Words of Wisdom by Shirah Ranah Penn - RECOMMENDED
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• Have Chignon—Will Travel by Elizabeth Dale Phillips
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• Here and Hereafter by Joy Ibsen
• Houston Has a Problem! by Saint Andrews
• How God Thinks by David Vancelette
• How to Stay Calm in Chaos by Julie M. Gentile - RECOMMENDED
• I am Yours and You are Mine, God's Love by Rev. Kelvin McKisic - RECOMMENDED
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• Jemmy and the Little Spider of Hope by Sergio Diaz - RECOMMENDED
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• Junior Officer Bunkroom, The by J.J. Zerr
• Just Visiting Cat, The by Mary Lou - RECOMMENDED
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• Kittens Crying in the Park by Laura Matsuda - RECOMMENDED
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• Lights, Camera, Incognito by Martin P. Travis - RECOMMENDED
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• Lt. Ripley by Mary Duncan
• Marble, Grass, and Glass by B. Sham Moteelall - RECOMMENDED
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• Matters of the Soul by Ruth Cherry, PhD - RECOMMENDED
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• Mixed Blood by Astrid Berg, PhD - RECOMMENDED
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• Prophecy, The by J.B. Liquorish - RECOMMENDED
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• Red Rose of Romance & War, The by John A. Yates
• Reparations for Slavery by Prophet Anthony Starnes
• Rescue of Officer Moreland, The by Lee David Estes
• Rescue of the Nadia Marie, The by David Estes
• River, A by Bud Beamer, MD
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• Your Devil Self vs. Your Angel Self by Harvi Vilks

Read the US Review of Books Previous Edition

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Featured Book Reviews

 

Epic Journey

In this novel of fantastic proportions, readers follow the mysterious Azrael, also known as the Angel of Death. As Azrael learns about his true identity and reckons with his teacher, Drexus, readers join him in a divided world, where all who possess unique gifts must decide whether or not they use their gifts for good or evil. Azrael makes a life-changing and identity-altering decision: he undergoes a procedure that gives him magic. Soon, he finds that the original group who accepted him, the Hunters and the Watch Guard, are now against him. Readers see Azrael develop into something he never imagined he could be—a being with a conscience. Azrael goes on his journey of the self, where the people he once vowed to kill are now his closest friends. ... (read more)

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Fun & Delightful

Highlight Review Five Mile Charlie: A Special Pony for Carly by Kimberly Adams Mascot Books book review by Gretchen Hansen "As Charlie settled into his new life on Five Mile Farm, he became known for taking care of the other animals in the meadow." On an idyllic country farm lives an adorable little girl named Carly. Her life in this delightful world of animal companions and days spent playing in the sunshine with baby animals are close to perfect. According to her, the only thing missing is a pony. Word gets around to all the creatures in the surrounding area that Carly is pining for a pony. The Queen Bee, Nora, decides to grant the girl's wish. Her best scout bee, Journey, finds a "pony" that is a bit unusual. Once Carly discovers the new creature in her pasture, she falls in love with him instantly. She does not care that Charlie is a llama and not a pony. The two become fast friends and begin the first of many adventures together. The animals also enjoy Charlie's company, and he feels protective of them. ... (read more)

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Liberation From Self

Demonstrating the dichotomy between a life lived in two entirely different worlds, Jones holds nothing back in describing her own journey and providing a pathway for others to achieve the same level of peace. At its core, the narrative is an opportunity to experience authentic introspection and tackle heavy topics like anger and resentment head-on. ... (read more)

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The Genetic Engineering Question

Highlight Review The New Eugenics: Modifying Biological Life in the Twenty-First Century by Conrad B. Quintyn, Ph.D. Archway Publishing book review by Barbara Bamberger Scott "There has been a long-standing belief in human civilization that technology can solve any problem that arises." The term "eugenics" harks back to an earlier era when it was deemed medically and scientifically appropriate to modify or eliminate people—whether adult or embryo—who were considered mentally or physically less-than-perfect specimens. The "new eugenics," controlled by determined scientists whose limitations are few, can have equally powerful if more subtle implications. It involves, Quintyn asserts, "modifying nonhumans to benefit homo sapiens." The chemical engineering of plants and producing genetically altered pigs, monkeys, and other animals are examples of potentially useful areas of study, but all carry dangers, many as yet unknown. Transgenic animals have been developed to be disease resistant or less environmentally harmful, but in the course of evolution, what will their impact be? Should society produce smarter, taller people? Should certain traits, such as homosexuality, be suppressed? The salient question Quintyn raises is: what are, or should be, the limits of such scientific exploration? ... (read more)

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Transformation

In this epic novel of historical proportions, readers enter the often brutal world of the Ostrogoths, Visigoths, and Romans. Among these groups are a band of refugees. With their homes decimated, these refugees search across Europe for a new home, and some are even forced to fight in the ranks of the Roman army. Among the refugees is Alaric, a bold and defiant boy who will eventually rise to one of the greatest roles in history—the first king of the Visigoths. Readers also follow the tumultuous histories that ultimately shaped the modern world and are quickly lured into one of the most fascinating periods of history. As the rise of violence and the desire for peace and unification rise, they learn not only the intriguing tale of Alaric's rise to power but also the rarely heard stories from the everyday people who lived behind the scenes of those who ruled. ... (read more)

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Faith

Highlight Review Starlight in the Dawn: The poetic priestess who chose to fight by Naveen Sridhar KDP Amazon book review by Mihir Shah "Fate and faith are like friends who fail. Yet Enheduanna remained faithful to her faith, her only friend." Set on the banks of the Euphrates in 2286 BCE, Sridhar's narrative is driven by compelling worldbuilding and character development. While the novel revolves around Enheduanna, the high priestess of the Temple of Ur, each character has a well-developed backstory that is instrumental to bringing the intricate system of government, politics, and power (and often the abuses of each) to life. Through the narrative, audiences will gain exposure to age-old questions such as the constant clash between church and state. ... (read more)

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Steeped in Realism

A book cover with all the words of the title written in lower case—a hint, perhaps, that some lives are afforded less respect than others. Then a dedication to the working poor—further evidence that what you are about to read has nothing to do with the public’s seeming obsession with wealth, celebrity, and the glitterati. Lastly, the novel itself—far from a screed or polemic, more an homage to humanity with the realization that the effort is the truly important part, regardless of the outcome. ... (read more)

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Timeless

Highlight Review Mr. Dalton's Christmas by Robert A. Valle Amazon book review by Toby Berry "...sometimes our gifts can be used for much more." The author of this unique Christmas tale sets the stage nicely, painting Dalton as a hard-working assistant manager at Macy's with a routine life. Dalton is frozen in time after recovering from an accident that took his wife and ruined his physically demanding stage career almost a decade earlier. Through Valle's artful character development, readers are soon cheering for Dalton to come out of his shell and reinvent himself. He does. But, did he dream this inspiration, did it happen from his own depths of inner strength, or is it all divine intervention? Readers get to decide for themselves as Valle masterfully leaves it open-ended. ... (read more)

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Box Turtle Tale

A bashful and humble turtle overcomes the powerful temptation to retreat into his shell and shares a gift he did not know he was capable of giving in this new book by children's author Bate. Santa Fe Tom, a Desert Box Turtle, wakes up one morning in sunny New Mexico, ready to arise from hibernation. He becomes alert quickly as he hears a summons from other desert dwellers Ray Roadrunner, Quincy Quail, Molly Mockingbird, and Paul Prairie dog. It's time for them to get moving, as they are preparing a big birthday surprise for someone who lives in Critter Town. ... (read more)

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The Unspoken

Highlight Review In the Aftermath: 9/11 Through a Volunteer's Eyes by Beth SK Morris Poetica Publishing book review by Nicole Yurcaba "Subway destroyed, they fled east on foot, heads covered with ash, some wearing masks, some still bleeding from the debris" This cathartic, eye-opening account of the tragedy that 9/11 bestowed upon the United States transports readers to Ground Zero, where ash and debris fall, where loved ones disappear, and where for years to come, the day’s physical, emotional, and psychological scarrings refuse to disappear, let alone fade. In this haunting collection, the poem “By the Numbers, 6000” reduces humanity to “body parts recovered, sorted / into segments small enough / to fit in a test tube.” Readers find themselves face-to-face with a wife who “buries her face in her workbook, lowers her eyes” as she confesses the potential loss of her husband and the consequences his disappearance bestows upon her and her daughter’s future in the poem “The Lesson.” Meanwhile, toxic xenophobia permeates American society and shocks readers to their cores as they experience it for themselves in the poem “The Physics of Ripples.” ... (read more)

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Ancient Beliefs in Modern Times

Using what he has learned in his thirty years of travel in the study of archaeological sites around the world, Kreger offers a comprehensive work that traces the origin of many of our holiday traditions to Neolithic beliefs. The author constructs a "Wheel of Time"—"a complete and concise model of all the special days of the year observed by our ancestors and what they might have meant to them." He discusses ancient sites across the world erected to mark the changing of seasons by following the movements of the sun and moon. Such sites as Stonehenge, Kokino Observatory, and Machu Picchu are discussed, as are places in North America. Many illustrations of the wheel which emphasize and explain his premise are included. Kreger also refers to literature, such as the writings of Julius Caesar, the Venerable Bede, and the various legends of King Arthur to further expound upon his conclusions. ... (read more)

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Initimate Past

This epic-like drama intricately spans fifteen years and eleven TV-like episodes. Readers follow Phillipe Farber, an anthropologist, as he researches the lives of traditional Korean families and individuals. Meanwhile, Phillipe also finds himself immersed in wars that have long-lasting consequences, not only for Korea and the Korean families involved but also for Phillipe. Readers are transported into Korea's majestic and ethereal landscapes where "tongues of fog envelop and caress the hills, like gentle eiderdown quilts lying over the awakening landscape." They also find themselves navigating Korean families' everyday existences and the circumstances that shape, stitch, and tear apart relationships in the most tumultuous of times. ... (read more)

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Evocative Prose

In her second book of collected poetry, the author has organized her musings and insights into six categories. Each chapter follows the themes of home, animals, places, riddles, caffeine and wine, and family respectively. The home chapter is the most explored, following memories of homemaking and raising children with all the energy and chaos they can bring. The chapter on animals considers the impact of family pets and wonders what life would be like in animal form. The chapter on places recalls old residences and other colorful memories of location. When writing on the theme of riddles, the poet considers things that are somewhat contradictory or mysterious about life. Not surprisingly, the chapter on caffeine and wine is a treat for the sense of taste, using language to express flavor. Finally, when exploring the topic of family, Goka revisits the endless tasks of homemaking, as well as considering her dual role as both mother and child. ... (read more)

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Mormon Trials

Gabriel Romain is a young doctor among the Mormons who began relocating to the city of "Far West," Missouri, taking refuge after the church's financial speculations in Kirtland, Ohio, had failed. By 1838 there were more than four thousand Mormons in Far West. This novel joins Gabe and his sister Marie, escaped slave Eb, his friend Nathaniel, and others as they re-orient themselves in this new place. Tension builds again between believers and other Missouri citizens, culminating in Governor Boggs's infamous "exterminating order" after mustering 2,500 militia troops to put down the "Mormon rebellion." Joseph and Hyrum Smith negotiated a surrender by October of 1838, and the body of believers once again forfeited their property and rights to gain safe passage to Illinois. Most of the novel concerns Gabriel's wedding to Bethia, who seems to suffer from depression, and his encounter with the rapidly changing circumstances of life in Nauvoo, Illinois. ... (read more)

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Top of His Game

Good books have advantages over good friends. Like friends, they can provide diversion, comfort, and the sharing of a plethora of emotions; but unlike friends, you don’t need to take their feelings, needs, or desires into account. You can gobble them up in massive chunks or simply nibble at them now and then, returning only when you decide to do so. Good books never feel slighted, nor do they ever take offense. Yes, good books have their advantages, and Scott Archer Jones writes good books. This is one of them. ... (read more)

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Social Scene

Kirchner paints a bleak, highly controversial picture of humanity's future in his debut novel that is reminiscent of other dystopian masterpieces like The Matrix. Kirchner places the reader in the mind of its protagonist, Tommy (or "TeePee" as his raving fan base calls him), to ponder whether privacy and independence are more important than a constant connection with others on a level that is beyond words. Like The Matrix's Neo, Tommy is metaphorically "unplugged" from the technological world he has been rooted in and forced to make a difficult choice: join a band of independent thinkers, known as the Ketchen, who dream of a revolution that will free the minds of all, or re-integrate himself back into the Hive, to be embraced by the love and adoration of eight million people. ... (read more)

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Dark & Sinister

In this dark, psychological collection, readers visit the fringes of terror and the darkest depths of the human psyche. Murdering husbands thrive on revenge regardless of the consequences. An anonymous voice possesses the power to brainwash a nation and forever transform the American landscape. A mysterious woman walks her cat in Paris and reveals a sinister secret to a questioning passerby. Readers also find stories of rogue assassins ready to turn their lives around, only to find that karma has different plans for them, and enter realms in which a person's preference in wines is a measure of their character. By the book's end, readers have traveled to the past, where the laws of the Wild West reign supreme, and independent men are tested not only by the harshness of nature but also the hostility that grows with the slightest provocation between fellow humans. ... (read more)

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Unforgettable Story

Lost and adrift in the foster care system, Eban retreats to the ocean, where he is drawn to a pod of bottlenose dolphins that he discovers swimming near his coastal town. Initially, he connects to the patterns of sounds coming from the dolphins. As he spends more time with the pod, he begins to see these amazing animals as the family that has eluded him all his life. In a lovely twist on the coming-of-age tale, Eban joins the pod of dolphins and escapes into a world he chooses rather than remain to suffer in the human world that leaves him sad and disconnected. Growing up with the dolphins as his family, Eban becomes a beautiful bridge and healing force for animals and humans. With a deep knowledge of the oceans and the needs of dolphins, Eban is able to channel his experience into environmental activism, and his life becomes an inspirational call to action for all young people. ... (read more)

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Mythical Creature

Where, when, or to whom he was born, the Michigan Dogman does not know. He is aware that stories about him have circulated since the nineteenth century. He also knows that he stands eight feet tall, weighs five hundred pounds, has the head of a dog and the body of a man, and is covered with hair. His appearance frightens most people so badly that he never has a chance to demonstrate his humanoid intelligence or his doglike good nature. Intensely shy, he is predominantly nocturnal, but he is also acutely lonely and longs for just one human friend. An equally brilliant and reclusive professor of music finally gives him an opportunity for virtual and live companionship. Through technology, Dogman learns to create wildly popular art he can share worldwide even as he remains unseen. Is this cautious, tender friendship strong enough to withstand frequent separation and ultimate tragedy? ... (read more)

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Action-Packed

In this action-packed, danger-filled adventure, readers meet Paul Chapman—a teenager left on his own after the death of his mother, his father, and his twin sister. An evil group of alien demons takes Paul as their captive, and he soon finds himself on a planet called Hell. Enslaved and awaiting death, Paul finds himself with a new master who makes him an overseer. Meanwhile, Paul meets Elle, another slave who changes his outlook and motivates him to conquer all that Hell delivers. When tragedy strikes, Paul's life is once again altered. The protagonist then embarks on his newest adventure, that of seeking revenge. Paul's pursuit of vengeance returns him to the one place that he thought he would never see again—Earth. ... (read more)

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Sincerity

Just before and immediately after her good friend Ninette passed away at age ninety, author and spiritual seeress Muir began receiving messages from her that became the basis for this fascinating vision of life after death. Ninette, like Muir, had been drawn to study at the Sancta Sophia Seminary and become an ordained minister through that pathway. For nearly a year, Muir heard and transcribed Ninette's sage counsel, described in scrupulous detail from that realm known to some as the Other Side. ... (read more)

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Fast & Furious

Inspired by his lovely wife, Nelson—a dentist with aspirations beyond the examination chair—shares an idea with his sensei at the dojo where he trains. The sensei runs the idea by a CIA colleague, and Operation Loudmouth, in which transmitters are implanted in patients' (suspects') teeth, is born. The book tracks a Saudi terrorist plot the team learns about through the transmissions and America's response to it. ... (read more)

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Haunting Love Story

The world does not go out with a bang or a whimper but a silent flash of red (or, more precisely, death by a neuron beam). In this action-packed story, everyone was supposed to die, paving the way for a superior type of human. But like all things in life, it became complicated and messy. This is the tale of the survivors, who didn't die like they were supposed to and fought to live each new day as if it were their last. ... (read more)

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Far-Reaching

Family, history, culture, and a wide view of the world make up this fascinating work by author Berg. Her father emigrated from Java in the East Indies to the Netherlands, married a European beauty, and moved with his family to the United States when Berg was very young. Her father was strict, her mother sometimes frustrated and angry, and it took many years for her to begin to wonder why and to delve into the reasons. One clue was encapsulated in the term "Indisch," or Indo-European, opening a trail that led back through several generations and across the world. ... (read more)

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True Thought

One of the great aspects of the modern age is that it is now easier than ever for promising authors to share their stories, and some of their tales really need to be shared and discovered. This engaging book is one such offering. It is told by a talented and earnest storyteller who has managed through a tenacious drive to propel himself towards success. Along the way, he formed a compelling recipe for personal achievement and collected anecdotes from a laundry list of famed celebrities. ... (read more)

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His Abiding Love

Minister and author McKisic presents a guide to understanding love in its ultimate sense: that of God for his human creation. His love was evident when, after the disobedience of man in the Garden of Eden, God took the slow but sure steps to create and offer his son to the world, giving us, McKisic says, "an out from the effect of sin." God had already fashioned a beautiful natural world from which food and water and beauty could be gleaned. The author allows the reader to follow the progression of God's chosen people as they were oppressed in Egypt, then led out of that domination and into the land of milk and honey. Moses was selected as the leader of the Israelites, assigned by an appearance of God in a burning bush. Moses felt unworthy and unequal to this huge task. But at every juncture in this journey, Moses would see that God's love provides. God arranged that the chosen people would have sufficient wealth when they left Egypt. They were also guided by a pillar of fire by night, given a rain of manna each day, and the staff of Moses to purify water for their drinking. ... (read more)

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Liberian Intrigue

Pilot Ken "Spike" Verrier returns with his beautiful wife, Samantha, to Monrovia, Liberia, to purchase rough diamonds. The diamonds could help get his airline business up and running again. Ken's initial working man's dilemma collides with CIA operatives who are secretly inspiring a revolution. This is a West African country where tribal rivalries entangle with class conflicts. Mobs demand rice. With Americo-Liberians growing opulent, the Chinese, Russians, and Americans play political chess with a country whose women seek empowerment and poverty-stricken country people barely survive. ... (read more)

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Lost Civilizations

The mythology surrounding Atlantis is varied and provides many story elements to explore. Gibbs grabs hold of that mythology and offers up a modern Atlantis tale with roots in the past. The novel opens with the Atlantean inhabitants and the impending doom their advanced civilization is facing. They have outpaced all their BC counterparts but haven't built up any immunities to common disease or the warmongering of man. Natural, volcanic forces threaten their isolationist existence, and they realize they must leave their advanced, above-ground existence and learn to live alone in the sea. The story moves from that devastating decision to the modern era and follows a researcher who believes the myth of Atlantis is based on fact and hopes to prove it. ... (read more)

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The Change

The calendar may proclaim that Winston Clark III is thirty-five years old, but everyone around him says he never grew up. He flaunts his inherited fortune, drinks hard, and keeps company with a different lady of the evening every night. He loathes every living creature except his prized Arabian stallion, and that dislike is universally mutual. People resent his use of wealth to do and get anything he wants, not least because they know that Clark money built most of their rural Illinois town and that supplying Winston's huge ranch with goods the land cannot produce guarantees their livelihoods. ... (read more)

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Immediate Events

This intricate novel is set in a small town occupied by quite a few big-city migrants looking for a calmer life and less troublesome times. They find just the opposite as a number of disturbing fires with mysterious fatalities rock the usually quiet hamlet and send both longtime locals and recent transplants into a search for answers. A house fire turns up only one body when there are supposed to be two. Another conflagration uncovers another corpse. Suddenly, the FBI is swooping down to take charge of things, and the locals are wondering why. The town's priest hears the confession of someone directly associated with the deaths, but his vows demand silence. The arsonist is compelled to not only observe the infernos but also start more of them. Soon a raging wildfire gets hellishly out of control. This time the firefighters themselves pay the ultimate price. ... (read more)

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Saints & Sinners

In this thoroughly researched book, readers learn the story of Timon, who, after growing up in a Greek orphanage, discovers his true identity: he is the last surviving member of the Trojan royal family. Accompanied by his companion, Lukas, Timon travels to republican Rome after a special invitation. As Lukas and Timon befriend their special host's son, Marco, readers follow the trio into the realms of history typically unexplored by common scholars. After returning to Rome, the three young men navigate brutal elections which threaten Marco's father. As Timon struggles for his rightful place among his people, the narrative reveals the political rivalry, jealousy, and the nuances of social class that defined a person's destiny at this point in history. ... (read more)

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Psychic Primer

In her engaging book, psychic Donna Young recounts lessons learned in accepting the life of a medium with positivity and determination. Born in Australia, Young communicated with spirits as early as age four, often unable to distinguish between the living and the dead. Considered a bizarre child, she was medicated to normalize her. Then at age sixteen, cancer and the development of a cerebral thrombosis—a blood clot of the cerebral vein in the brain—during treatment changed everything. Despite the slim chance of survival, Young fully recovered. After her near-death experience, she embraced a life-long, careful dedication to being a medium and helping others. ... (read more)

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Old Rules, New Thoughts

By exploring counsel from great masters, and most especially the words of God and Jesus given in holy scripture, author Jones offers readers the inspiration as well as the structure needed for deeper understanding. Compelling concepts wrapped in the law of attraction, such as self-actualization and synchronicity, provide the basic framework for her thesis. One can become one's best self and reach out to others who will seemingly have been waiting for the messages one has to offer through imaginative focus based on time-honored wisdom. The "I am" revealed as God's name is a strong clue to the need to be an active participant in one's own life. And, the author suggests, it is not possible to love others and change others if one does not love oneself. Therefore, self-examination is a major first step to positive living. Remembering that God loves all his people can give special motivation. Knowing what one really wants and needs is key. Jones reminds readers of the major steps to be taken: Ask—"let the universe know what you want": Believe—that that which is desired is already there; Receive—be open to see and accept abundance. ... (read more)

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Doing It

Though retired Rear Admiral Worthington's narrative takes readers on his personal journey, his ability to also capture a defining era of the U.S. Navy—and the military as a whole—is highly illuminating. In particular, the origins of the Navy SEAL are effectively conveyed. Worthington depicts his experiences with a raw authenticity and credence often left out of the history books. This is not just a book of facts but rather a dive into the mind and story of an individual who repeatedly demonstrates his mettle in the most rigorous and challenging of situations. ... (read more)

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Harrowing Tale

One night in January 2018, author Young awoke to the strong smell of propane, growing more intense second by second. She woke her husband, Adam, and their ten-year-old daughter, Gabi. Outside, Adam discovered that a recently filled propane bottle had come loose, rolled down, and collided with the house. Five minutes later, as they stood outside their lovely two-story country home, it exploded. Almost everything they possessed, including family heirlooms and beloved pets, was consumed in a monstrous blaze. Friends and family stepped in almost immediately, finding them lodging and providing immediate necessities. Traumatic months passed awaiting action from insurance companies. Whatever they found by picking in the hazardous rubble was all they had of their old life. Good advice from friends and helpful strangers, the surprise discovery of a mysterious white box, and a firm religious grounding ultimately brought the family to their new circumstances, grateful for what they survived together. ... (read more)

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Holiday Tales

This collection of Christmas stories is infused with military tributes and dedication to tradition. Most of the stories share the same characters. In one story, Tim is a sullen teenager who prefers Christmas vacation with his friends to a family trip. Then, he becomes a grandfather on the other side of the coin. Dave's Christmas decorations in one story inspire Sam in another tale. Sam is a child during WWII in an early narrative and plays a department store Santa in the 1990s in later tales. Sandy is an American soldier deployed in Gaza in one story, then a Katrina volunteer in another. Each tale of transformation bears a Christmas message of good news recapitulated in an epilogue.

The book itself acts as a fable. Its format conveys that abundant gifts are from the heart and not the pocketbook. The stories create their own lineage and tradition by building on one another, like the family Christmas traditions they celebrate. Although the stories employ biblical references, Jesus is rarely invoked. Rather, a general godliness pervades in scenes of people overcoming barriers and helping one another. For instance, a family enlists men at a homeless shelter to fix up a neighbor's house. American soldiers and a Muslim family join forces to escape a bomb attack. The stories develop into a final climactic tale in which businesses and individuals enact a detailed and rigorous plan to assist Katrina victims. Typos pose a challenge to the book's otherwise effective, streamlined format. However, the Christmas spirit comes across in the characters' consistent efforts that maintain the legacy of Christian ethics. ... (read more)

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High School Drama

This coming-of-age story follows eighteen-year-old high school senior Chente, a basketball and tennis player who is also the school's valedictorian. Chente is one of five children whose father recently died. Besides trying to cope with this loss, Chente's best friend, Jimmy, dies from suicide, and Chente blames himself for his death. The book takes readers on a journey of seeing what life is like in high school with all the teenage angst that goes along with this. ... (read more)

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Impeccable World-Building

While rummaging through the enchanted Crooked Forest for mistletoe, young Willow and her mother, Luna, are separated as Aidan, a human, is chasing them. Alone and uncertain of her mother's fate, Willow's shock is warmly interrupted by the entrance of a mesmerizing fairy dog, Gyzmo, a Pembroke Welsh corgi determined to cure his friend's broken heart. What ensues is a series of adventures that take the duo from their meeting with the delicate water fairy Dewdrop at the headwaters of Sleeping Creek to the dream lodge in the Cave of the Crystals. At every turn, Willow and Gyzmo learn what true strength is, with each plot twist pushing Willow closer to her call to action. ... (read more)

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Action-Packed

In 500 BC, dragons have returned after a long absence to the skies of Scotland. A young man, Warwick, must face his destiny and embark on a dangerous quest to find the hidden meaning behind a mysterious key and a hazy prophecy. As he travels further from home, he begins to understand that his fate is connected to the dragons, and he must rise to the challenges of his time. An arduous journey takes him over mountains, inside caves, and across waterways to learn that the dragons are, in fact, real and not mythical and that they will bring winds and fires of destruction. With the help of Rowan, a seer, he must unravel the mysteries of the dragons and his role in their destruction. Warwick will risk everything to become the dragon slayer he is prophesied to be. ... (read more)

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Survival

This book starts off in the year 1940 when an Englishwoman meets a Polish serviceman. A romance blossoms, and a loving relationship forms. However, happiness ends and tragedy unfolds as the couple's family grows. Readers take an intimate journey with the author through the times and circumstances that were woven together to form a lifetime. From detailing the experiences of having an early morning paper route to working as a part-time delivery boy, the book's author offers an intriguing portrait of his life prior to an RAF career. The narrative then provides the author's depiction of death as an unwanted friend who constantly reminds humans of its presence. Throughout the book, readers find insights about overcoming difficulties and tragedies that threaten to break a person. The book also explores a child's response to witnessing domestic abuse as the author details his mother's experiences at the hands of an alcoholic, abusive husband. ... (read more)

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Something for Everyone

In this book, readers find bold, brash, honest, and confessional personal narratives about social class, race, sexuality, and how the places a person calls "home" can make, break, or shape a person's perceptions of not only oneself but also society. From football practice to boot camp to punk rock band life, readers have an insider's look inside the author's pain and struggles with identity. In other chapters, they travel down the winding road of drug use and partying. Readers also learn about the horrific world of sexual abuse and the toll it takes on victims for years to come. However, the book leaves one with the certainty that when one story ends, another begins, hopefully for the better. ... (read more)

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Dark Shadows Revisited

Since the nineteen-fifties, there have been science fiction conventions where fans and writers can meet and greet, followed by lectures and talks given by the authors. Some television series that have reached a certain level of popularity have also spawned fan conventions. The 1960s television series Dark Shadows is one of those "cult" TV shows created and produced by Dan Curtis that a certain subset of people revere. They are willing to spend substantial amounts of money to travel, stay in hotels, and pay for meals while attending the usual three-day convention. This book is one such fan's recounting of nine such Dark Shadows conventions, beginning in 1993 and extending to 2016. Autographs given by the cast are described, as is the emergence of the actor Jonathan Frid one year after the series' 1966 debut, boosting its ratings with his portrayal of Barnabas Collins. ... (read more)

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Cultural Interpretations

Many people live their lives using Christian scripture as a guideline for how to act, what determines right and wrong, and how others should be treated. Yet scripture has been translated and re-translated hundreds of times, leading to discrepancies and disagreements that can cause entire factions of believers to splinter off. In this personal tale, the author describes his experience as a caregiver father and how those around him used the Bible to justify ostracizing him from his family and getting divorced solely for him being a man and not the primary financial earner in the home. Examining key verses that many use to support these and similarly destructive and exclusionary decisions, the author turns a critical lens on them. He utilizes the knowledge gained from his master’s degree in ministry and theology to interpret the passages from a broader perspective, urging one to have a more open mind and a less rigid way of thinking. ... (read more)

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Excellent Quotations

The United States Marine Corps enjoys a special blend of awe and mystique surrounding it that few other branches of the military can claim. Time and time again, they have been called upon to heroically do the impossible. As a result, they have earned respect in the eyes of their peers the world over. This book tells the history of the Marines one quote at a time, from all kinds of sources both within the military and outside of it. Rather than serving as a comprehensive historical text, this book compiles quotes from politicians, presidents, soldiers, and civilians to put together the storied and fascinating history of the famous military branch. The author sets the stage for each chapter, explaining the times and the conflict the Marines are engaged in. The voices of the past fill in the details from there, creating a rich oral history of this elite fighting force. ... (read more)

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Philosophical & Mystical

When four people check into The Karma Hotel, they embark on a transformative experience through deep introspection prompted by psychic readings, hypnosis, aromatherapy, and massage. The hotel is staffed by women and men committed to exploring the self that requires connecting people to memories and even to past lives with the hope of learning from these encounters. Adriana, Jennifer, Alexander, and Daniel are all changed by the lessons and experiences they have after opening their minds and souls to the probing work of gaining self-knowledge and moving forward in truth and wisdom. Dr. Shaheem's purpose is to raise awareness of readers who stay for a while with these four characters in this unique setting. ... (read more)

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Telling Her Story

Toomer's autobiographical narrative of her grueling early years into adulthood is at times downright harrowing. Yet, it is her ability to push through and keep pushing, particularly when she discovers her faith, that is beautiful. More than anything else, the author's text is a testament to the flawed nature of humanity. However, her journey also brings home the point that unwavering faith in the Lord can decipher even the most complex of life's codes. ... (read more)

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Prophetic Blend

There are two major elements blended in this powerful offering by author Starnes. The first concerns the history of and responsibility for slavery as it was practiced in the United States, reminding readers that black Muslims instigated slavery among their own African people and facilitated its global spread. Therefore, Starnes asserts, economic reparations for those affected by that evil institution should be made by Middle Eastern, Muslim-dominated, oil-rich nations. But this has not happened because of policies of American governance that, for example, allow the acceptance of Jihadist Muslims as U.S. citizens and promulgate generally socialist ideals. The second greatly disturbing element discussed is the possibility of a coming civil war. Starnes advises readers to strengthen their Christian faith and prepare for horrific warfare on every front. ... (read more)

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Intimate Portrait

Ibsen poignantly relates a series of vignettes of individuals ranging from idealists to dogs confronting life-endings, asking why, and forming new perceptions of experiences in other dimensions as they accept, integrate, and journey off onto various new beginnings. She hopes that this stunning and moving compilation "will lead to more enjoyment of here, a new conscious awareness of the hereafter, and new understandings about the connections between them" since she believes that those interconnections make life fascinating. ... (read more)

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Passionate

There are a lot of ABC books from which to choose. This one focuses on using original lyrics from the alphabet song to explore jug band music. Most of the lyrics focus on the instruments used in this genre of music, although there are a few exceptions, including a pirate and a question. Each letter gets its own page, rhyme, and full-color illustration. The book also includes a brief description of what jug band music is and when it came to prominence. Overall, with the bright graphics and simple, recognizable rhyme scheme, the book is upbeat in tone and suited for even the youngest readers. ... (read more)

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Family Journey

Written in a biographical fiction style, this poignant yet triumphant hybrid memoir/biography documents the author's heritage as a descendant of East Indian indentured servants bound to work on British sugar plantations. This system lasted from 1838 until 1917. Some of Moteelall's family members were among the estimated 240,000 souls who emigrated to British Guiana (now Guyana), a "story of servitude contract that resulted in life sentences for many . . . an atrocious system that reinvented and redefined slavery." ... (read more)

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Tech & Theory

In the near future, science has progressed to accomplish so many things that people once believed to be possible but lacked the tools to turn into reality. So many of those technological leaps forward are the result of the brilliance of one man: Norn deSpace. A terrorist plot to destroy a clean power plant known as Fusion Island that provides energy for the world is narrowly foiled by Norn’s clever plans and the actions of his skilled friends. When an asteroid known as 2050HA approaches Earth, Norn is part of the team that determines it contains valuable ore deposits and must extract the minerals in secret. These and other missions at the edge of possibility make up the day-to-day life of Norn and his companions in this look at life just decades away. ... (read more)

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Engaging Aggregation

Experienced gardener and writer Wiblin offers advice born out of her years of practice made up of wondrous successes, some very taxing physical labor, and a number of try-it-again moments. She began her planting hobby—bordering on obsession, she admits—after her children were grown, harking back in memory to her own childhood following her grandparents around their garden, shelling peas, and planting tiger lilies. With her husband, her "chief enabler" in their obviously shared dedication, she constructed a greenhouse and began planning and planting in earnest. ... (read more)

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Sweeping Tale

Abel finishes college in Tuskegee, Alabama, and leaves his sharecropper father's home and its brutal history of racist hate crimes and murder to fulfill his dream of writing in New York. However, a mistake soon sends him fleeing, and he spends nearly two decades exiled in Hollywood in the domestic service and sometimes amorous embrace of a Hollywood writer and his beard of a wife. Over the years, as fortunes and times change, all three face the costs of the cutthroat, fickle, and politicized film industry, leading to tragedy, loss, and new paths. The road leads Abel back to Harlem, where he builds a family and a theater career as a playwright and producer. Still, the times follow him, and he must remain nimble and ambitious as he chooses his future. ... (read more)

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Illumination

Fittingly titled, Romero's compilation encompasses a lifetime of emotions and experiences that span the spectrum of heartwarming to deeply reflective and philosophical. The work is a guide on how to live life (and truly live it), escaping from a never-ending rat race for the next material accolade. Exploring universal themes like love, birth, disappointment, and aging from the context of fleeting time, the poet leaves audiences mystified by the simplicity yet power of her poetry. ... (read more)

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Growing Up

The trials and triumphs of childhood are highlighted in Warjri's vivid stories. Her first pup disappears one night during a thunderstorm with no explanation from her parents. A Christmas tree argument between her father and grandfather results in a shooting on their veranda on Christmas Eve. A child learns the loneliness of boarding school after her parents' divorce, while another observes the disgrace of a school friend who becomes pregnant out of wedlock. Classmates of a boy too poor to stay in school contemplate profound truths about the harshness of fate. A ten-year-old finds resourcefulness in caring for five sick siblings. Another self-actualizing child, forbidden to have a hairy pet, befriends a local alley rat. ... (read more)

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Eternal Scar

After September 11, 2001, so much changed in such a short amount of time that it can be dizzying to consider. Recalling how lax security could be in places is almost like a dream. While much attention and remembrance are given to the lives lost and the emergency responders who risked everything, and rightfully so, there is another group curiously ignored in these tributes and memorials. The flight crews and pilots on the four hijacked commercial flights had to make decisions they were not trained for and had never been involved in to try and save themselves, their passengers, and potentially others on numerous other flights. In this series of essays, the author draws on her decades of experience as a flight attendant to examine the circumstances of 9/11 and give those brave airline workers their due honor and respect. ... (read more)

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Intriguing Viewpoints

Stemming from deep introspection, Melecciu's work is predicated upon answering the profound questions that linger in humanity's mind yet never truly get answered. While scripture is certainly integral to the text, it is the cognitive and philosophical journey into the mind that leaves a mark. ... (read more)

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Actionable Content

Revolving around the idea of tapping into one's best self, Vilks' text focuses on reconditioning the mind as a catalyst to escape from the layers upon layers of living out one's "devil self." The author examines the metaphysical elements that unify nature and consciousness to achieve a higher vibrational state. In the process, sensitive topics are tackled with fearless authenticity, including but not limited to depression, sickness, self-love, and detachment. ... (read more)

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Metaphor & Imagery

The fabric of nearly all poetry is one's muse, the entity or experience that acts as a catalyst. Nevertheless, the muse is ever-evolving, as evidenced by Laird's commendable effort to capture the iconic Russian poet Anna Akhmatova's works through direct translation. On the surface, the poetry spans the spectrum of light and dark, featuring early poetry rooted in love and, later, the brutal chaos of Stalin's reign. However, digging deeper, one may surmise that the ultimate muse spearheading Akhmatova's poetry and subsequently Laird is life itself. ... (read more)

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Military Experience

In 1970, U.S. Navy pilot Jon Zachery worries that the Vietnam War will end before he has a chance to fly any combat missions over there. If that happens, the eleven-year veteran will be discharged and forced to do what he dreads—find some mind-numbing civilian job. Jon's also trying, with ever-increasing amounts of booze, to outrun the specter of his deceased son and the possibility that another pregnancy could kill the wife he's always called "Dearest Teresa" in his letters home. But it's a loving letter from Teresa that lifts Jon's despair. He quits drinking and rekindles their romance. Jon's optimism grows when he's sent to Vietnam with his squadron, Warhorse. ... (read more)

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Identity

Suspense and technical jargon abound in this internet-age thriller. A recent transfer to the University of Chicago, Zak Skinner struggles to cope with sudden and painful life changes. Along with his protective and ever-reliable childhood friend Patrick Riley, Zak embarks on an exploration of college life that leads him unexpectedly from drug experimentation to the seedy underworld of the darknet and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Zak stumbles upon an uncannily magical, self-writing notebook after a woefully misguided ayahuasca trip. Through the guidance of others, Zak discovers that this notebook, along with a collection of seemingly innocuous sales receipts, are bread crumbs left for the initiated. Zak follows the path down a rabbit hole leading to System D, a labyrinthine material iteration of the darknet. With his life in danger, Zak is determined to figure out who is behind System D and what their nefarious objectives may be. ... (read more)

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Crime Saga

The importance of upbringing has never been more apparent than in the author's portrayal of Larry Oliver and Jeff Moore. While the former hailed from an abusive family with an alcoholic father, the latter watched his father beat his mother. Both were byproducts of incredibly dysfunctional families that ultimately paved the path for the two to begin their career in crime. What started as petty crimes, from shoplifting to purse snatching, quickly progressed to dealing and ultimately becoming bona fide drug suppliers. Unsurprisingly, the novel's two main characters come together in a prison weight room, hatching a plot for when they get out. ... (read more)

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Inspirational

Many African descendants in America bear the cruel legacy of enslavement. During the years of the slave trade, African men and women were captured and brought here in chains, tortured or killed for the smallest infraction, with no knowledge of the language, no personal possessions, and few familial connections. But Morris believes that added to these factors was an insidious plan to make slaves even weaker and unlikely to rebel. It was detailed in what is known as the Willie Lynch letter. This document was first brought to light in the 1970s and said to be a transcript of a speech given by Lynch, a plantation owner from the British West Indies, to a group of white slave owners in Virginia in 1712. In it, Lynch, whose name became synonymous with the term for murdering blacks, describes the method for managing and controlling African slaves. Mere violent punishment is ineffective in the long run, he stated. What was needed was a psychological restructuring of the slave’s deepest values. ... (read more)

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Cat Love

What seems transient becomes permanent in this colorful, heartwarming tale of a big fluffy cat that finds a welcoming home with a loving family. As family members think the cat is "just visiting," the cat proves them wrong by constantly showing up in the places the family least expect it to and declaring those places as its own. Just when the family thinks the cat is "theirs" enough to sleep in a lovingly bought bed, the cat proves them wrong again. Instead, the cat chooses the top of the outside trashcan. As the kitty chaos continues, what becomes most apparent is that cats, just like any other creature, cannot be owned, and the sooner humans realize that, the better. As the big fluffy cat continues to surprise the family and claim its place within the family, the cat—without the family members knowing it—more and more brings out the best in them. More significantly, as a band of brilliant peacocks wanders into the family's yard and life, the book reveals the magnetic magic that a few acts of kindness can unleash and how that kindness can become the glue and stronghold of a community, no matter how small the community is. ... (read more)

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Ripped from Headlines

When John and Julie Schwartz fly from Seattle to Florida to buy a forty-foot sailboat, their lives are changed forever. The couple sets sail with their eleven-year-old daughter from Florida, headed for Hawaii, and eventually back to Seattle. But along the way, a series of mistakes and mechanical failures force them to abandon the vessel for a life raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with little hope for rescue and a typhoon headed right for them. In a race against time, luck and skill converge. A rescue mission is underway with the U.S. Navy taking full command and the president himself making difficult decisions in the face of a family's certain death. ... (read more)

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Changing World

The world was divided and splintered into warring tribes and cultures. The histories and legends of the past were told by song. Life was hard, and the climate was unforgiving. This is the world that the reader is effortlessly transported into with each of the book's riveting passages. ... (read more)

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Chronicles

Upon retirement, Steffen and Marianne Russak set off on an epic journey around the world in a custom motorhome. This vivid travel memoir chronicles their adventure as they crisscross the globe collecting memories, living life to the fullest, and living deep in the moment every day of the journey. ... (read more)

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Scientology

When an individual is so determined to create change, even if it means having to topple the British monarchy, there will undoubtedly be ripple effects and unanticipated ramifications. Stanley Groom, an American by birth and criminal by action, is exactly such an individual—one who goes through life neutralizing obstacles with surgical precision and simultaneously using the art of persuasion to gain the approval of those in high-standing positions. Though hardly a protagonist, Groom is still the star of Cumiskey's novel and the driver of an electric, action-packed plotline that features backstabbing and murder around every corner. ... (read more)

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Young Explorers

Grace Walden and her friends are all on the school swim team. This year, they have a new coach, Coach Sheila. Coach Sheila wants to push the girls and win a championship. She decides the team needs more practice and motivation and convinces the swim team parents to allow her to take the girls to a nearby lake for a swim camp lasting several days. Grace, the twins Silver and Gold, and Lisa Acre are best friends and consider each other as sisters. Grace and her friends are excited about attending camp together and look forward to having some downtime to explore their surroundings. Besides making a new friend—the good-hearted prankster Zeke—the kids also find a mysterious cave and meet interesting and bizarre locals. What these kids do not know is that Coach Sheila has secrets of her own. ... (read more)

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Honest Recall

This searing portrait of a marriage tells the story of a woman forever changed by traumatic experiences in the clutches of her narcissistic husband. Gantt's brave memoir begins with her childhood experiences with an abusive mother and her first marriage, which turns abusive. Gantt works hard to create a new, independent life for herself, working at a bank and raising her children. When she meets Phil, she never sees the warning signs that might have prevented her from beginning a thirty-nine-year marriage that will end in a bitter divorce, immense heartache, and terrible betrayal. Gantt narrates her memories with anger, sadness, and confusion as she struggles to understand her husband's cruelty. The actions of her stepchildren also weigh heavily on her as she recollects their horrible treatment and disrespect toward her for most of the marriage. ... (read more)

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Pandemic Times

Examining the many difficulties and stresses of the Covid-19 restrictions in place in 2020 and beyond, author Smith provides a thoughtful viewpoint along with many pragmatic strategies from his own experience and that of others. He reminds us that this is not the first time Americans have faced lifestyle changes as a result of widespread infectious illness. During the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, Americans were asked to self-isolate and practice high standards of personal hygiene. Now, with a much larger population and much more extensive communication, measures taken can be far more complex, requiring the cooperation of every family member. Children are kept from schools and social gatherings. Parents are forced into a role as teachers, and it is still uncertain when these restrictions will be changed or how those changes will occur. ... (read more)

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A New Age

Readers enter the unstable American economy, circa 2011, when "A deal was made between Congress and the President at the beginning of August 2011 to increase the debt ceiling on government borrowing by over two trillion dollars" in the name of preserving the federal government. Then, as America sat on the verge of the 2012 election, the crisis continued, and readers learn that many state and local departments began protecting themselves from the economic slaughter by cutting the jobs of some of America's most essential workers. Readers also discover that America teeters on the verge of financial collapse because of increased national spending, which then threatens the global economy. In a close examination of the rise of the independent-minded voter, the book reveals an in-depth discussion about the changing landscape of American voting, as well as proposed solutions to the economic crisis facing American workers. ... (read more)

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Intelligent Vision

Looking at the American political system from its earliest conception to the elections of the twentieth century, author Gorski is convinced that only a third party's well-designed inception and serious incursion can change the current template. Our country was founded on innovative principles that gradually improved over time with the elimination of slavery and recognition of the rights of all who are born here. However, about 100 years ago, Gorski states, changes occurred that have had an increasingly damaging effect. Primary among these was the creation of the Federal Reserve Bank, which resulted in the gross devaluation of a currency that, prior to that time, had retained a steady value. Once in place, the Federal Reserve System allowed for the support of foreign wars, "exploding deficits," and rising inflation, with no direct benefits to citizens. And our system of laws, founded on a few strong principles, has become so complex that it is almost impossible for ordinary people to grasp. ... (read more)

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Action-Packed Memoir

Elizabeth was weeks away from graduation, on the precipice of youth and adulthood. Options for women were limited to being a wife and mother or a secretary until married. Her family was already astonished at her courageous move to London immediately after receiving her diploma. She was happy with her newly found independence, and providing for herself gave her self-confidence. Still, she felt as though she was seeking something more. ... (read more)

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Gospel Analysis

With countless scriptures available for the layman to peruse, the reader is bound to get lost amid one expert voice after another and thousands upon thousands of pages. In Thielmann's comprehensively researched and referenced work, the premise is focused on peeling back the curtain behind the arrest of Jesus, the ensuing trial, and ultimately the aftermath in a manner that accounts for numerous variances. These include but are not limited to the time period, the customs of the era, the language spoken, and the discrepancies between expert commentary. At its core, the book convincingly establishes the disparities among the four Gospels and provides an unbiased understanding of perhaps the most pivotal moment in human history from largely unexamined and deemphasized angles. ... (read more)

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Self-Help Memoir

The author's happy childhood—what he calls his first lifetime—ended abruptly with the death of his father, with whom his relationship had become strained, when he was a freshman in college. What he calls his second lifetime began his sophomore year of college, included the start of his engineering career and the births of his son and daughter. It ended when his first marriage broke down. His third lifetime began when he met his second wife, Kathy, in 1997 and ended when she died of pervasive cancer nearly nineteen years later in July of 2016. His fourth lifetime, he asserts, began thirteen months after her death when his grief softened into treasured memories, and he resolved to create a world of unconditional love, including self-love. This fourth lifetime, which features coaching others in the art of unconditional self-love, continues today. ... (read more)

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Heart & Soul

Often, teachers gain just as much valuable insight from their pupils as they impart to them. Cherry's experience is no different as she weaves her own experiences and upbringing with that of her clients to help readers ultimately understand the power of one's inner spirit and the art of listening to that inner voice. At its core, the text presents a duality of how one should be the Controller as well as the inner child who, despite being obedient and doing "what's right," constantly gnaws at one's desire and goals and delivers a feeling as though something is missing. ... (read more)

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Mind & Soul

Clinical psychologist Cherry creates an enthralling look at how people might live more fully by acknowledging their inner selves and the deep reality that lies within them and, indeed, subsumes them in spiritual freedom. But to find and know that reality, one must search for it. Her book provides a guide to that adventure. Everyone has what Cherry refers to as "subpersonalities" that may control a person in ways one has never imagined. These may include a Hurt or Angry Child, Victimizer, Rebel, Controller, or Warrior, to cite some of the many projected selves that Cherry depicts. In showing readers how these subpersonalities proscribe and predict their behaviors, she uses examples of real people dealing with their own search for spiritual connection—a realm in which one no longer has a need for subpersonalities. ... (read more)

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Engaging Saga

Two thousand years ago, a tiny mouse, only eight days old, helps to change the fate of the entire world. Jemmy lives with his mother, Samaria, in the cellar of an old warehouse. His curiosity keeps him quite energetically scurrying about in his limited surroundings, helping his mother pick up grains of wheat stored in their little world. But while whizzing about one day, Jemmy discovers a shining thread hanging from the ceiling. He investigates and finds that at its end is a shimmering silver spider named Hope, who has been sent to alert the world to something special that is about to happen. In a nearby cave, an extraordinary child will soon be born. Hope’s mission is to act as a guide to those seeking to greet that newborn, and he chooses Jemmy to help him. ... (read more)

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Small Lessons

Kingdom of Joy is the home to many magical forests and amazing creatures. In Morning Glory Patch, Joy Babies live peacefully with trees, flowers, and little animals. They have built a harmonious community where every day is a wonderful, playful journey. The adventure begins as the Joy Babies encounter a young tree crying in the forest. He has no name and seems to be lost. As the animals gather around concerned for the sad sapling, the ducks are acting silly to cheer him up. His smile brings so much delight to everyone that they name him "Happy Tree." From that day forward, Happy Tree and the Joy Babies are inseparable. ... (read more)

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A Great Scientist

In this unique book, young readers meet Robert, a boy undergoing a smallpox vaccination. As they follow Robert's journey, they discover the story of Dr. Edward Jenner, who pioneered the concept of vaccination and created a vaccine that changed the world—the smallpox vaccine. Inspired by what he encounters as a boy, Robert grows into a scholarly young man who graduates from the Katharine Lady Berkeley Grammar School and begins an apprenticeship with Dr. Jenner. As Robert navigates his training, he learns the details of Dr. Jenner's career and personal life. He also learns an important lesson that the book's youthful audience can take to heart: while one's career is an important aspect of one's life, it is not all-defining. Being a life-long learner is the key to a fulfilled existence. ... (read more)

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Bad Religion

A pastor explores the stated doctrines of the Church of Christ and explains his strong disagreement with those doctrines and the assumptions on which they are based. One major way in which he feels the Church of Christ deviates from correct Christian teaching is the matter of water baptism. The Church of Christ teaches that redemption is simultaneous with water baptism performed in and by the church. Craig points out that Jesus never stated that. Instead, he emphasized the difference between man's physical "water birth" and the need to be born again in spirit, "from above," which could happen before or even after church baptism. The author offers many biblical incidents and pronouncements to prove this point. Another false teaching he sees of the Church of Christ is that miracles were prevalent in the time of Jesus and performed by Jesus, but that since the completion of the Bible, there have been and will be no miracles again. Yet Jesus indicated many times that miracles would always be a possibility. He said, for example, "He who believes upon Me, the same works that I do, he will do…" (John 14:12). ... (read more)

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Earth & Water

Not since A River Runs Through It have readers encountered a book like this. Dedicated to the fine art of fly fishing for steelhead trout, this poetry collection takes readers on the fishing journey of a lifetime. Opening with colorful artwork depicting natural, calming scenes, the book then segues into detailed observations about landscapes, personal connections to the environment, and the challenges faced on the river. The intertwining of artwork and poetry continues throughout the book as stunning photographs of fishermen navigating pocket waters and fat fall steelhead in their native waters. Other poems and pictures emphasize the importance of passing the fly fishing tradition from generation to generation and how this heritage is paramount to conservation. ... (read more)

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Lasting Love

Andy Boone's character dramatically enters the audience's orbit with his car having just run through a barbed-wire fence and being flipped over onto Dub Grimes' ranch. In typical Bargainer fashion, the narrative takes a simple feeling—the longing of childhood love—and explores it to such depths that readers will inevitably search their memories for the same feeling. When Andy finds himself in the vicinity of his former elementary school, he becomes mesmerized as though a magnetic forcefield is calling him to a playground where he feels he's left something unfinished. While Andy's character largely dominates the narrative, his commitment to finding his childhood crush, Lorrie Dean, sets up readers for a raw and authentic experience. ... (read more)

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Lorrie & Andy Return

This sequel to the author's It Is Morning opens with Lorrie Dean and Andy exchanging wedding vows. Andy had searched for Lorrie Dean and finally found her despite her being in the witness protection program. The two fell in love and decided to make a lifelong commitment to each other. As the bride is about to say, "I do," two men waving guns disrupt the ceremony and drag her away. Although the men declare they are with the FBI, Andy doesn't believe them. He and Kelly Surrat, his best friend, futilely chase the car down the road. Although she has been kidnapped, Lorrie Dean is a very capable woman, and she manages to escape, but not before being raped by one of her captors. As she tries to deal with the guilt she feels over the experience, she pushes Andy away. Andy tries his best to support her but feels like everything he does is the wrong thing. Meanwhile, Kelly has had sudden contact with her mother, who has been gone for over a decade. Her mother wants to meet, but Kelly sees no reason to meet with someone who abandoned her. ... (read more)

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Positive Messages

In this book, young readers meet Meleah, a girl with high goals and vivid dreams. Meleah wakes, excited for her school's Career Day. As she shares her excitement with her father, her father shares his story about how he found his calling. The story then shows Meleah meeting a doctor, a policeman, and even a fire chief. However, every time Meleah imagines herself as one of those people, her classmates spoil Meleah's daydreaming by pointing out her weaknesses. Meleah weeps, " 'I am not good enough to do anything!'" However, her father comes to the rescue, reminding her that if she works hard enough, she can do whatever she wants to in life. ... (read more)

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Freedom

Young Percy walks with his mother each day to pick up his older brother from school. However, one day his mother has a migraine, and Percy can't wake her up, so he decides to walk alone to the school. He gets the leash for his dog, called D.O.G., and they begin walking down the alley. But he finds that being alone is very scary and imagines the worst, including monsters, grizzly bears, and lions. He's also scared of the traffic that they encounter. They manage to get to a local store, where the owner tells him to be careful. Percy and his dog run into a policeman who tells Percy that he'll come back to make sure Percy is safe while waiting for his brother. He continues to be scared with his active imagination. Finally, his brother comes to him. They see their mother at the store, and she's understandably upset. ... (read more)

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Getting Better

Bruno is an energetic, friendly black labrador that lives on a farm with his human family—Ray and Susie and two cats named Trouble and Cattail. Bruno's responsibilities revolve around guarding the property at night, alerting the farmers if anyone drives up, and scaring away predators that might cause trouble. One day, while lying behind a pickup truck, Bruno is accidentally run over and becomes critical. The veterinarian informs Ray and Susie that if Bruno never walks again, he will not survive. With the help of the doctors giving him therapy and the love of his family, Bruno begins to walk again, though he no longer has control of his tail. Back on the farm, Bruno is overjoyed to see his loved ones again and resumes his otherwise idyllic life in the countryside. ... (read more)

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Wishes

In this beautifully illustrated Christmas story, readers find themselves in Tumpton Town, where it is Christmas Eve. Young William sleeps in his bed, awaiting all that Christmas Eve promises. As William dreams, readers find themselves part of a Santa-filled adventure. After snowflakes tickle Rudolph's nose, Santa's sleigh crashes. But the reindeer work together to make sure Santa can keep his promise to the world's children. Readers travel across snowy mountains and through blinding blizzards with Santa and the reindeer, and along the way, young William learns the true meaning of the Christmas season. By the story's end, readers are celebrating Christmas with William and his family, who are thankful for "their kind little boy / Who thought not of himself / But of others' joy." ... (read more)

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Love & Faith

Lt. Ripley, formerly an abused and abandoned blue-eyed dog, tells this children's story about rescue, rehabilitation, and a new life with a good family who help her provide toys and hope to hundreds of children who experience a range of disadvantages. Lt. Ripley and her human mom practice patience and acceptance through their relationship with each other. Ripley has learned to trust her humans and become a symbol of possibilities to people in different communities through time. Her human relies on Ripley's and the other non-human household members to discern whom the family may trust and befriend among humans. ... (read more)

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Experience

Bright colors shimmer over voluminous cascading pages along with stellar quotes from inspirational celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Wayne Dyer, Sid Simon, Terry Cole-Whittaker, Jack Canfield, Louise Hay, Susan Jeffers, Joy Wilt, Nelson Mandela, and Marianne Williamson. To the background of teachable phrases such as "Be your own cheerleader" and "It's O.K. to make mistakes," a plethora of evocative images by Khary Guerra-Olivares attract the eyes of readers. For example, a terrified mom sneaks up on a green-and-black fanged snake behind plants. A rooster lands in the center of an innocent flower. A bespectacled grannie scoots across a page on a skateboard. And a ballerina flies through the twinkling sky, brimming with starlight. ... (read more)

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Organ Matters

Disease, danger, potential medical malfeasance, and even murder intertwine in this engaging novel that explores how far doctors will go to save patients, administrators will go to save hospitals, and families will go to save one another. Before the story ends, some lives are lost, some are saved, and some are changed forever. ... (read more)

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Satire & Drama

In forty-one chapters covering topics such as hate crimes, sexual harassment seminars, confrontations between colleagues and political parties, probation, mental hospitals, elections, police, political turmoil, disabilities, race, caste, projection of fear, stigma, interactions between trade unions and management over petitions, and political leafletting, Reinach has creatively depicted vibrant characters occupying untenable situations to illustrate and comment upon timely political and social issues. This includes issues such as how being "too fat to work" can impact women and how employment offices handle such discrimination. ... (read more)

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