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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 12, Number 10 October 2017 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Cookbook Shelf Fiction Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Fishing Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Music CD Shelf
DVD Shelf Sports Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Photography Shelf Music Shelf Travel Shelf
Poetry Shelf Technology Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Business Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf Education Shelf
Psychology Shelf Fashion Shelf American History Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Scooter Lifestyle
Veloce Publishing
www.hubbleandhattie.com
9781845841522, $38.45, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com

It's over sixty years since the first Italian scooters rolled off the production lines but there is still a buzzing and vibrant lifestyle with the humble scooter as its nucleus. The small capacity machines have overtaken the lives of thousands of devoted scooter enthusiasts, often to the detriment of everything else they might hold dear. Careers, relationships and families have been known to suffer because of an overwhelming and expensive addiction to the scooter experience. An addiction to which there is no cure for needing the sickly sweet smell of synthetic two stroke oil and worship at the altar of our chosen gods, Lambretta and Vespa (or occasionally Gilera and Italjet). All too many devoted scooter enthusiasts are permanently ingrained with the oily "tattoos" of a thousand engine rebuilds and with major organs having suffered the long term effects of a scooter oriented and hedonistic lifestyle. Including interviews with well known Scootering personalities, over 150 color photographs of award winning custom scooters, best selling scooter models, rallies and events, "Scooter Lifestyle will have an extraordinary appeal for anyone interested in these fun and all-to-addictive machines! While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Scooter Lifestyle" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).

The Art of My Little Pony the Movie
Hasbro and Rebecca Dart
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
www.viz.com
9781421596488 $39.99 hc / $15.99 Kindle amazon.com

The Art of My Little Pony the Movie is an astonishingly beautiful, full-color showcase of art from the animated movie, which in turn is based on the enormously popular children's television series with an all-ages fanbase. (The show's popularity transcends demographics because it is intelligently written, expressly so that little girls and their parents can enjoy it together). Concept art, storyboards, alternate character interpretations and extensive commentary from the movie's creators enrich this "must-have" for fans of the series! Highly recommended.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Essential Hot Spice Guide
Dave DeWitt
Terra Nova Books
33 Alondra Road, Santa Fe, NM 87508
www.terranovabooks.com
9781938288319, $14.95, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com

People have been spicing up their foods ever since cooking began. And it's a trend that's heating up all across the country. Dave DeWitt is an Associate Professor in Consumer and Environmental Sciences on the adjunct faculty of New Mexico State University, and also serves as chair of the Board of Regents of the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. His interest in chile peppers and spicy foods which has helped make Dave one of the foremost authorities in the world and popular known as the 'Pope of Peppers'. David's research and expertise has led to him writing such classics as: The Whole Chile Pepper Book; The Pepper Garden; The Hot Sauce Bible; The Chile Pepper Encyclopedia; and The Spicy Food Lover's Bible. Now he has applied his impressive body of knowledge to "The Essential Hot Spice Guide" and the result is a spice lover's 'must-have' guide to the tastiest and healthiest combos from the worlds of powerful plants and creative cuisine with recipes ranging from a Ginger Plum Sauce Mustard; to a Tangerine and Carcked Black Pepper Sorbet; to a Thai Red Curry Paste. Deftly organized information into five major sections: Roots (Ginger, Horseradish, Wasabi); Pods (Chile Peppers and Their Condiments; Seeds: Mustard and All kinds of Pepper; Powders (Spice Blends, Rubs, and Curry); Resources. Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "The Essential Hot Spice Guide" will prove to be a welcome and popular addition to personal, professional, family, and community library culinary reference collections. Also very highly recommended from his 'Pepper Pantry' series is Dave DeWitt's companion title "Ancho And Poblano Chiles" (9781938288296, $12.95, PB, 148pp).

Nickel City Chef
Christa Glennie Seychew
Buffalo Heritage Unlimited Press
266 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 407, Buffalo, NY 14222
www.buffaloheritage.com
9780982574584, $24.95, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Nickel City Chef is unique to Buffalo, New York. No other city hosts a culinary challenge featuring local chefs and local ingredients before a live audience. "Nickel City Chef: Buffalo's Finest Chefs and Ingredients" profiles, local ingredient resources and stunning photographs showcase the best of Western New York. Best of all, this unique culinary compendium includes 32 recipes, two from each of the 16 challenges featured, using locally-sourced ingredients from shiitake mushrooms to pasture-raised heritage pork. There is also a companion DVD documentary (Nickel City Chef: Food For Change) that features fascinating interviews with chefs, farmers, foodies and fans and takes you into the challenge kitchens with the chefs as they cook. An informative and entertaining browse for dedicated foodies, "Nickel City Chef: Buffalo's Finest Chefs and Ingredients" is inspiring to plan menus with for truly memorable meals and is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

The Asheville Bee Charmer Cookbook
Carrie Schloss
Surrey Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572842281, $21.95, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

The Asheville Bee Charmer was opened in 2014 by beekeepers Jillian Kelly and Kim Allen, and has become a 'must see' destination for both local foodies and tourists. This honey purveyor is located in one of the most pollinator-friendly parts of the United States and offers a range of bee-related products and more than 50 different artisanal honey varietals -- each with its own unique color, texture, and taste. Inspired by the vast honey selection available behind the Honey Bar, chef Carrie Schloss has created "The Asheville Bee Charmer Cookbook", a culinary collection featuring 130 recipes, 20 honey varietals, and 8 special Bee Charmer blends. With a color, aroma, and tasting guide to honey varietals and dishes like Bee Pollen Nut Brittle, Chipotle Honey - Marinated Skirt Steak, and Milk and Honey Dinner Rolls, this cookbook proves that honey is the best way to season or sweeten your next meal. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Asheville Bee Charmer Cookbook" is a unique and very special collection of thoroughly 'kitchen cook recipes' that is a pleasure to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with. While unreservedly recommended for family, personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "The Asheville Bee Charmer Cookbook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.17).

Gizzi's Season's Eatings
Gizzi Erskine
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784722159, $29.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

No one loves a get-together more than the bestselling, award-winning British chef Gizzi Erskine, so in her latest cookbook, "Gizzi's Seasons Eatings: Feasts & Celebrations from Halloween to Happy New Year", she shows even the most novice of family cooks just how to create delicious, crowd-pleasing fare for every occasion. Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, a New Year's brunch or a frightful feast for Halloween: whatever the occasion, "Gizzi's Season's Eatings" offers something special to share with the loved ones at mealtime. Beautifully illustrated throughout, the recipes showcases in "Gizzi's Season's Eatings" range from Holiday Turkey Mole Enchiladas; Wintry Sausage Casserole; and a Jewish Festive Cheesecake; to Smoke-Roasted Treacle-Cured Salmon with Potato, Cucumber & Buttermilk Salad; Charred Blood Orange Mimosa; and The Infamous Erskine Turkey Curry. Of special note is the recipe for My French Dip Christmas Leftover Sandwich! While an outstanding and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Gizzi's Season's Eatings" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Super Tuscan
Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781501143595, $35.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Good regional Tuscan-Italian cooking is family cooking. From potato gnocchi with a buttery red sauce, to the Tuscan fried chicken marinated in classic Italian flavors to put a whole new spin on a traditional American recipe, "Super Tuscan: Heritage Recipes and Simple Pleasures from Our Kitchen to Your Table" is a culinary showcase of he best of both Tuscan and American food cultures -- and introduces unique recipes that can only come from a multicultural kitchen. Along with more 100 tasty recipes, Tuscan cuisine experts Debi and Gabriele share entertaining anecdotes, useful tips, and day-to-day life in their household, reinforced with over 125 stunning photographs. Fun to browse and usefully practical to plan truly memorable menus with, "Super Tuscan" will inspire even the most novice of kitchen cooks to make cooking a daily experience in family life and live la dolce vita. While very highly recommended for persona, family, professional, and community library ethnic cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Super Tuscan" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Southern Seasons: 12 Months of Tea-licious Recipes & Ideas
Linda J. Hawkins
www.lindajhawkins.com
Heart to Heart Publishing
9781937008536, $29.99, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com

Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Southern Seasons: 12 Months of Tea-licious Recipes & Ideas" showcases the significance, etiquette, elegance, diversity, and celebratory uses of tea in authentic American culture. From traditional tea parties, to fire side sipping on a winter's eve, to weddings and birthday celebrations. The recipes range from Hawaiian Caprese Sliders; Mini Stuffed Tomatoes; Blackberry-Peach Dumpling Soup; and Party Cheese Ball; to Turkey and Ham Roll-Ups; Orange Dreamsicle Fudge; Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake; and Stuffed Strawberries. Organized and presented seasonally, "Southern Seasons: 12 Months of Tea-licious Recipes & Ideas" is replete with interesting information and tips, making it fascinating to browse through and inspiring to plan party events with -- making it unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Arab Cooking on a Prairie Homestead
Habeeb Salloum
University of Regina Press
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S 0A2
www.uofrpress.ca
9780889775183, $29.95, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

In the 1920s, Habeeb Salloum's parents left behind the orchards and vineyards of French-occupied Syria to seek a new life on the windswept, drought-stricken Canadian prairies. With recollections that show the grit and improvisation of early Syrian pioneers, Habeeb Salloum draws upon his own life experiences and family traditions in "Arab Cooking on a Prairie Homestead: Recipes and Recollections from a Syrian Pioneer" to demonstrate his love of traditional Arab cuisine. By growing "exotic" crops brought from their country of origin (such as lentils, chickpeas, and bulgur) the Salloum family survived the Dust Bowl conditions of the 1930s, and helped change the landscape of Canadian farming. Primarily a massive compendium of authentic and 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ranging from a Yogurt and Eggplant Appetizer; Garlic Bread in Olive Oil; Shrimp Salad; and Deep Fried Sweet Balls; to Chicken and Rice Stew; Fig and Honey Dessert; Mushroom and Cottage Cheese Pies; Hot Kishk Open-Faced pies; and Garlic Omelet, "Arab Cooking on a Prairie Homestead" is a delight to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with. Indeed, "Arab Cooking on a Prairie Homestead" will prove to be a unique and enduringly favorite addition to personal, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections.


The Fiction Shelf

The Mirror Sisters
V. C. Andrews
Pocket Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 13th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.pocketbooks.com
9781476792361, $7.99 PB, $6.99 Kindle, 384pp, www.amazon.com

"The Mirror Sisters" by V. C. Andrews is the first book in a new series featuring identical twin sisters forced to act, look, and feel truly identical by a perfectionist mother. Two sisters who are alike in every single way -- with one dark exception. As identical twins, their mother insists that everything about them be identical: their clothes, their toys, their friends . . . the number of letters in their names, Haylee Blossom Fitzgerald and Kaylee Blossom Fitzgerald. If one gets a hug, the other must too. If one gets punished, the other must be too. Homeschooled at an early age, when the girls attend a real high school they find little ways to highlight the differences between them. But when Haylee runs headfirst into the dating scene, both sisters are thrust into a world their mother never prepared them for - causing one twin to pursue the ultimate independence. The one difference between the two girls may spell the difference between life... and a fate worse than death. A simply spellbinding and original novel about tormented love, "The Mirror Sisters" will prove to be a 'must' for all author V. C. Andrews' fans. Also very highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections is the second volume in this outstanding series, "Broken Glass" (9781476792378, $7.99 PB, $6.99 Kindle, 448pp).

Amanda Wakes Up
Alisyn Camerota
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780399563997, $26.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

When Amanda Gallo, fresh from the backwater of local TV, lands the job of her dreams at FAIR News (the coveted morning anchor slot) she's finally made it: a six-figure salary, wardrobe allowance, plenty of on-air face time, and a chance to realize her dreams, not to mention buy herself lunch. Amanda feels for the first time that she can make her mom and her best friend proud and think about an actual future with her boyfriend, Charlie. But she finds her journalistic ideals shredded as she struggles to keep up with the issues in a ratings-crazed madhouse -- battling for hair and makeup time, coping with her sexist (but scathingly handsome) co-anchor, Rob, mixing up the headlines with pajama modeling on the street, and showing Benji Diggs, her media maestro boss, that she's got what it takes. As the news heats up in a hotly contested election season and a wild-card candidate, former Hollywood actor Victor Fluke, appears on the scene, Amanda's pressure-cooker job gets hotter as her personal life unravels. Walking a knife's edge between ambition and survival, and about to break the biggest story of her career, Amanda must decide what she's willing to give up to get ahead -- and what she needs to hold on to save herself. "Amanda Wakes Up" is an inherently entertaining and engaging read that clearly showcases author Alisyn Camerota's genuine flair for originality in her debut as a novelist. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Amanda Wakes Up" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Island of Point Nemo
Jean-Marie Blas de Robles, author
Hannah Chute, translator
Open Letter Books
c/o University of Rochester
Lattimore Hall 411, Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
www.openletterbooks.org
9781940953625, $17.95, PB, 397pp, www.amazon.com

A stolen diamond and three right feet, wearing shoes of a non-existent brand, that wash ashore in Scotland set into motion the first plot of Island of Point Nemo, a rollicking Jules Verne-like adventure narrative that crosses continents and oceans, involves multilingual codes, a world-famous villain, and three eccentrically loopy detectives. Running parallel is the story of B@bil Books, an e-reader factory in France filled with its own set of colorful characters, including the impotent Dieumercie and his randy wife, who will stop at nothing (including a suspect ritual involving bees) to fix his "problem," and their abusive boss Wang-ilWong, obsessed with carrier pigeons and spying on his employees. An impressively crafted literary puzzle of a novel by a masterfully gifted author, "Island of Point Nemo" is an extraordinarily entertaining read from beginning to end and very highly recommended, especially for community library collections in general, and the personal reading lists of readers who enjoy novelty, originality, and eccentricity in their fiction.

High as the Heavens
Kate Breslin
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764230363, $25.99, HC, 402pp, www.amazon.com

Set in 1917, "High as the Heavens" is the story of British nurse and war widow Evelyn Marche who is trapped in German occupied Brussels. She works at the hospital by day and as a waitress by night. But she also has a secret: She is a spy for the resistance. When a British plane crashes in the park, Evelyn must act quickly to protect the injured soldier who has top-secret orders and a target on his back. Can they make it out of Belgium alive? A simply riveting read from beginning to end, "High as the Heavens" is an extraordinarily entertaining and deftly crafted novel by an impressively gifted author with a genuine flair for originality. While very highly recommended, especially for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "High as the Heavens" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764217814, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Eve / More Deadly Than The Male
James Hadley Chase
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781944520403, $19.95, PB, 380pp, www.amazon.com

James Hadley Chase (24 December 1906 - 6 February 1985) was an English writer. While his birth name was Rene Lodge Brabazon Raymond, he was well known by his various pseudonyms, including James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Raymond Marshall, R. Raymond, and Ambrose Grant. He was one of the best known thriller writers of all time. The canon of Chase, comprising 90 titles, earned him a reputation as the king of thriller writers in Europe. He was also one of the internationally best-selling authors, and, so far, 50 of his books have been made into films. Now Stark House Press has brought back into print two of his 'time lost' gems under one cover with the publication of "Eve / More Deadly Than The Male". In "Eve" we find that Clive Thurston is living a lie. Having claimed a dying playwright's masterwork as his own, he is hailed as a brilliant, new author. Thurston is now living the good life in Hollywood. He has a house in the country, a manservant, a beautiful fiancee....then one night he meets Eve. Eve isn't beautiful at all, but she's got a way about her. Thurston is captivated, and in no time, he becomes obsessed. But as everybody knows, Eve is a prostitute, and his reputation around town begins to suffer. His fiancee has been patient, but she can take no more. Thurston is drinking too much, and making bad decisions. But what he can't figure is why Eve keeps rejecting him. If he can only make Eve love him, maybe his own redemption is at hand. "More Deadly Than The Mile" is the story of George, a man who knew the exact moment when he fell in love with Cora Brant. At one moment Cora was just someone with whom he hoped to alleviate an hour of lonely boredom; at the next she was someone he was physically and mentally aware of in a most overpowering way. He had bought drinks, and he had been startled that she tackled a pint of beer. And when he looked more closely at her, he realized she was not immaculate in the accepted sense of the word. But George was not critical. Any woman was a novelty to him, and a girl like Cora Brant was far more than a novelty - she was an exciting experience. George has been living in a gangster fantasy in which he is always the hero. Now he meets that world head on. George's troubles have only just begun... A highly and unreservedly recommended addition to community library collections, "Eve / More Deadly Than The Male" will send appreciative readers in an energetic search for other works by this genuinely gifted author.

Whispers of Warning
Jessica Estevo
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780425281611, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Free from the clutches of her con artist father, Ruby Proulx is starting to settle in at the Belden, her aunt Honoria's seaside hotel. She loves finally being rooted in one place and also feels a sense of purpose as she helps Honoria keep her business afloat by acting as a psychic medium for the hotel's metaphysically inclined guests. When one of the guests, renowned Spiritualist and outspoken suffragist Sophronia Foster Eldridge, checks into the hotel for a month-long stay, Ruby finds her sense of purpose expands outside the confines of home and family. Sophronia takes Ruby under her wing and mentors her in the mediumistic abilities, encouraging her to fight for women's rights. But not everyone is as happy with Sophronia's appearance in Old Orchard. When a dangerous act of sabotage is carried out and a body is found floating in the pool of a local bathhouse, Ruby takes it upon herself to find answers - and in the process learns that her new friend has been hiding some deadly secrets of her own. Another deftly crafted and consistently entertaining novel by a master of the genre, "Whispers of Warning" by Jessica Estevo will prove to be an enduringly popular and appreciated addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Whispers of Warning" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Battle For Rome
Ian James Ross
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781468311235, $26.95, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com

War is on the horizon for the Roman Empire, and only Maxentius, tyrant of Rome, stands between the emperor Constantine and supreme power in the west. Aurelius Castus is now a tribune in Constantine's army. But this great honor brings new challenges, and Castus is tormented by suspicions that his young wife has been unfaithful. As Constantine becomes increasingly devoted to Christianity, he is forced to ask himself whether he is following the wrong man. The approaching war will decide the fate of the empire, but Castus's own battle will carry him much further, carrying him headlong into the shadowy realms of treachery at the heart of Rome itself. The third volume in the outstanding 'Twilight of Empire" series by author Ian James Ross, "Battle For Rome" continues to showcase his genuine flair for writing a compelling novel that will have enduring appeal to fans of deftly crafted historical fiction. While very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Battle For Rome" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Flood
Melissa Scholars Young
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.centerstreet.com
9781478970781, $26.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Laura Brooks fled her hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, ten years ago after a historic flood and personal heartbreak. Now she's returned unannounced, and her family and friends don't know what to make of it. She says she's just home for a brief visit and her high-school reunion, but she's carrying too much luggage for that: literal and metaphorical. Soon Laura is embroiled in small-town affairs including the contentious divorce of her rowdy best friend Rose; the campaign of her twelve-year-old godson, Bobby, to become the town's official Tom Sawyer; and the renewed interest of the man Laura once thought she'd marry, Sammy McGuire. Leaving town when she was eighteen had been Laura's only option. She feared a stifling existence in a town ruled by its past, its mythological devotion to Mark Twain, and the economic and racial divide that runs as deep as the Mississippi River. She can't forget that fateful Fourth of July when the levees broke or the decisions that still haunt her. Now as the Mississippi rises again, a deep wound threatens to reopen, and Laura must decide if running away once more might be the best way to save herself. The debut novel by author Melissa Scholars Young, "Flood" is a deftly crafted entertainment from beginning to end and clearly showcases her undeniable flair for originality and storytelling talent. While very highly recommended, especially for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Flood" is also available in a paperback edition (9781478970774, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Backed To The Wall
C. M. Wendelboe
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432837327, $25.95, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com

It's a time when outlaws, fueled by cruelty they became addicted to during the War Between the States, roam and prey upon anyone unfortunate enough to cross their trail. It's a time in the Dakota Territory of the 1870s, when the line between outlaw and lawman is often blurred. Some of those sworn to protect the helpless might exploit them instead. And some of those deemed hard cases might redeem themselves. Another deftly written western novel by C. M. Wendelboe, "Backed to the Wall" plunges both a lawman and an outlaw into a blood battle that only one of them can survive -- that is, if the Indian raiders terrorizing homesteaders and cattlemen don't kill them first! Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Western Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans that "Backed To The Wall" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Birthright
David Hingley
Allison & Busby
c/o Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9780749020323, $19.95, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com

In 1664, some four years after Charles II is restored to the throne, Mercia Blakewood find herself standing to lose everything: her father to the executioner's axe, her freedom to her treacherous uncle, her son to his resentful grandparents. But when her father leaves her a cryptic message in his last speech, she seizes her chance to fight back. With would-be lover Nathan Keyte and unlikely new friend Nicholas Wildmoor, Mercia must unravel her father's mystery to find a great prize long thought lost, striving to recover the King's stolen birthright in the hope of reclaiming her own. From London's bulging metropolis to the forests of Manhattan she will contend with murder, intrigue and lust, fighting for her future and her life as the town of New York is born. "Birthright" is a deftly crafted historical novel that will engage the reader's rapt attention from beginning to end. Showcasing author Davide Hingley's genuine flair for creating memorable characters and an unfailingly entertaining plot of unexpected twists and turns, "Birthright" is very highly recommended, especially for community library Historical fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Birthright" is also available in a paperback edition (9780749020422, $12.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Bounty of Greed: The Lincoln County War
Paul Colt
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432834494, $25.95, HC, 327pp, www.amazon.com

Powerful merchant and political strong man, James Dolan owns Lincoln County, until brash, young English business man John Tunstall hits town to challenge Dolan's empire. War breaks out when Tunstall is murdered. Tunstall partisan William Bonney vows revenge, launching the legendary outlaw career of Billy the Kid. Tunstall and Chisum gunmen, calling themselves Regulators, systematically hunt down and kill those responsible for Tunstall's murder. Deputy U.S. Marshal Ty Ledger is swept up in the tides of war, caught between determined forces swirling toward a bloody confrontation that threatens the woman he loves. The war comes to a fiery climax when the army is called in to battle for Lincoln. "Bounty of Greed: The Lincoln County War" by Paul Colt is a deftly written novel that fully captures the greed, cunning and vengeance that ignited the epic and infamous Lincoln County War. Unreservedly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Western Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated western novel buffs that "Bounty of Greed: The Lincoln County War" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Mona Lisa
Robyn Sheridan
Waldorf Publishing
2140 Hall Johnson Road 102-345, Grapevine, TX 76051
www.waldorfpublishing.com
9781945172731, $16.95, PB, 340pp, www.amazon.com

When Mona Lisa Cicciarelli is left at the altar by Joey and his overbearing mother Alice, Mona Lisa wonders what will be worse -- the pitying stares from her friends and family or her parent's renewed obsession with the age of her ovaries and impending spinsterhood. Her father, Chick, tries to fix her up the day after she is jilted with the handsome, Italian-Catholic Dante Coletti, and it is then that Mona Lisa realizes her sanity is at risk. She needs to make a big change and when she's offered a job opportunity in Atlanta, she consults Noni, her eccentric grandmother and closest confidante who gives her the push she needs. "Mona Lisa" is an extraordinarily entertaining read from cover to cover and reveals author Robyn Sheridan's genuine flair for deftly crafted memorable characters and engagingly original storytelling. While "Mona Lisa" is unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary Romance collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99) and in a complete and unabridged CD audio book edition (Blackstone Audio, 9781441749987, $29.95).

The Scot Beds His Wife
Kerrigan Byrne
St. Martin's Paperbacks
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250122544, $7.99, PB, 416pp, www.amazon.com

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, is a notorious Highlander and an unrelenting Lothario who uses his slightly menacing charm to get what he wants -- including too many women married to other men. But now, Gavin wants to put his shady past behind him...more or less. When a fiery lass who is the heiress to the land he wishes to possess drops into his lap, he sees a perfectly delicious opportunity of a marriage most convenient. Samantha Masters has come back to Scotland, in a pair of trousers, and with a whole world of dangerous secrets from her time spent in the Wild West trailing behind her. Her only hope of protection is to marry -- and to do so quickly. Gavin is only too willing to provide that service for someone he finds so disturbingly irresistible. But even as danger approaches, what begins as a scandalous proposition slowly turns into an all-consuming passion. And Gavin discovers that he will do whatever is necessary to keep the woman he has claimed as his own. A riveting read from cover to cover, "The Scot Beds His Wife" shows that author Kerrigan Byrne is a complete master of the historical romance genre. While very highly recommended for both community library collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated historical romance fans, it should be noted that "The Scot Beds His Wife" is also available from St. Martin's Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Trout
Peter Cunningham
Arcade Publishing
www.arcadepub.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781628727449, $22.99, HC, 296pp, www.amazon.com

Alex Smyth, of Irish birth but living for many years with his wife in rural Canada, receives a trout fly in the mail, with no message and no return address. It stirs a fear that he is being stalked after the publication of his most recent book, and it awakens in him deeply buried, inchoate memories from his childhood in Ireland, before he was old enough to understand the adult world around him. It also evokes the guilt that he may have murdered a man, a feeling so strong it changes him and threatens his marriage. Alex has no choice but to return alone to Ireland and his estranged father, to try and begin to solve the mystery. Another masterfully written novel by award-winning author Peter Cunningham, "The Trout" is an original and multi-layered psychological thriller that will hold the reader's rapt attention from beginning to end. Of special note is how deftly Cunningham has occasionally inserted fishing lore into this narrative story of predators and prey. While very strongly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of suspense thriller fans that "The Trout" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.79).

Wolf's Revenge
Lachlan Smith
Mysterious Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
154 West 14th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10011
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802127075, $25.00, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Leo Maxwell is no ordinary attorney. He spends as much time tracking corrupt politicians and gangland leaders across the Bay area to piece together the facts of a crime as he does crafting courtroom rhetoric. But Leo has never quite recovered from discovering his mother's murdered corpse as a child, or from growing up in the shadow of his brilliant older brother. Now Maxwell seeks an exit strategy from his family's deepening entanglement with a ruthless prison-based gang. Caught between the criminals and the FBI, Leo charts his own hazardous course in defense of a young woman who was manipulated into brazenly murdering an Aryan Brotherhood member. In the process, secrets from his own childhood and fractured family are revealed -- and fair play is the first casualty. "Wolf's Revenge" is the fifth novel in Lachlan Smith's outstanding series featuring attorney-detective Leo Maxwell and unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated suspense fans and thriller buffs that "Wolf's Revenge" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.74). Librarians should be aware of a complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Wolf's Revenge" (Highbridge Audio, 9781681688053, $29.99, CD).

Chez Betty
Kenneth Farmer
Henschel Haus Publishing
2625 South Greeley Street, Suite 201, Milwaukee, WI 53207
http://henschelhausbooks.com
9781595985248, $16.95, PB, 310pp, www.amazon.com

Alan Newberg is a staid title-company lawyer in the middle of a divorce who escapes to the French Riviera in an effort to reinvent himself. But instead, he catches a case of careful what you ask for when his soon-to-be-ex wife freezes his bank accounts. Without access to money, Newberg gets a job working for a crazy American ex-pat from Texas who owns a questionable vehicle-for-hire business that is at war with a local mob-run cab company. The ever-growing predicament leads to Alan being framed for murder and forces him to run the gauntlet of French criminal justice. His knight in shining armor is the five-year-old daughter of his newly found love, who acts as his chief alibi witness. A deftly crafted and unfailingly entertaining novel from cover to cover, "Chez Betty" has everything from dark humor to romantic intrigue in a picturesque setting, all the while guiding the reader through a mysterious and unfamiliar court system. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Chez Betty" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Church Guide for Making Decisions Together
Terence Corking & Julia Kuhn Wallace
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
www.abingdonpress.com
9781501838071, $22.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

While Robert's Rules of Order, or the traditional parliamentary style of decision-making used in many churches, can work for simple decisions that are aggregated and passed by consent, for complex and divisive issues, Christian churches need a decision process that does not result in a combative, winner-take-all approach to church life. A healthy church also tries to involve commitment from a wide range of stakeholders rather than privilege a few well-informed and capable speakers. A vital and healthy congregation yearns for a more collaborative, respectful, encouraging, engaging, and empowering process. "The Church Guide for Making Decisions Together" provides a step-by-step guidance on how to create a new way of working together. Drawing on tried and tested processes, it advocates for a consensus building approach and showing people how it can work in their setting (local church or judicatory meetings). Readers will learn how to design a consensus building business process for their church meeting while still respecting the denominational and legal requirements under which they must operate. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Church Guide for Making Decisions Together" is 'real world practical' as it is inspired and inspiring, making is specifically and unreservedly recommended for leaders, members of church boards and committees, and church members who know that there is something wrong with the present system but don't know what to do about it.

Gear Up!
Kay Kotan
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
www.abingdonpress.com
9781501835513, $14.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Kay Kotan is a credentialed coach, church consultant, speaker and author. She serves on the Healthy Church Initiative Executive Team for the Missouri Annual Conference of the UMC. In "Gear Up!: Nine Essential Processes for the Optimized Church" she draws upon her years of experience, prayer, and expertise to outline nine areas of Christian ministry where congregations must intentionally design a process. It is not enough to decide, "We are going to refocus in this direction." Pastors and Lay Leaders must decide how and what steps they will take. Who will do what, and when? This concise and exceedingly practical new book can help. Exceptionally well written, 'real world practical' while inspired and inspiring, "Gear Up!: Nine Essential Processes for the Optimized Church" is unreservedly recommended for church and seminary Christian Studies collections and supplemental pastoral studies reading lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Gear Up!: Nine Essential Processes for the Optimized Church" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts
Rabbi Michael J. Broyde
Urim Publications
c/o Lambda Publishers
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655242492, $24.95, HC, 180pp, www.amazon.com

While the topic of conversion in Judaism has been extensively covered in many fine studies, no one has yet explored the particular laws related to after conversion. In "A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts", Michael J. Broyde (Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law and a Senior Fellow at Emory University's Center for the Study of Law and Religion. He served for many years as the Yoshev Rosh (chair) and a dayan (judge) in the SouthEast Rabbinical Court for Conversion which was part of the GPS Conversion network) deftly explores many topics and questions that revolve around the life of a Jewish convert. Such topics include the place of a convert in a Jewish community according to Jewish law, the treatment of a convert in respect to acceptance and discrimination, and providing affirmative incentives to converts. Containing a detailed review of every aspect of Jewish law from the convert's perspective and in relation to them, as well as supplemental essays, "A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts" provides knowledge and guidance on life after conversion. Comprehensive, authoritative, exceptionally well organized and presented, "A Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts" is a critically important and unreservedly recommended addition to synagogue and academic library Judaic Studies instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law
Rabbi Ethan Tucker & Rabbi Michael Rosenberg
Urim Publications
c/o KTAV Publishing House
527 Empire Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11225
www.ktav.com
9789655241983, $24.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com

As gender equality has spread throughout modern society, including its religiously observant sectors, traditional Jewish communities turn to their guiding sources to re-examine old questions. This book opens the reader's eyes to the wealth of Jewish legal material surrounding gender and prayer, with a particular focus on who can lead the prayers in a traditional service and who can constitute the communal quorum (or minyan) that they require. With honesty, transparency, and rigor, "Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law" is a powerfully informed and informative resource for grappling with these complex questions. Authored by Rabbi Ethan Tucker (Co-Founder and the Yeshiva Head at Mechon Hadar, where he serves as Chair in Jewish Law) and Rabbi Michael Rosenberg (Assistant Professor of Rabbinics at Hebrew College), "Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law" not only explores this specific issue in depth, but it also provides a model how to mine the Jewish legal tradition for its underlying values, enabling its complex sources to serve as effective guides for contemporary communal decision-making. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, exceptionally well organized and presented, "Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to rabbinic, and academic library Judaic Studies collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Islamic Art and Arabic Literature
Oleg Grabar & Cynthia Robinson, editors
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
www.markuswiener.com
9781558762329, $44.95, HC, 162pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and deftly edited by the team of Islamic art history expert Oleg Grabar (Harvard University and the Institute for Advanced Study), and Cynthia Robinson (University of New Mexico and who specializes in the visual and literary cultures of the medieval Iberian peninsula), "Islamic Art and Arabic Literature: Textuality and Visuality in the Islamic World" breaks new ground in the field of Middle Eastern art history. While illuminated manuscripts from Persia and the Arab world are outstanding masterpieces of art, only recent scholarship in Islamic visual culture includes written sources in its consideration of the relationships between the textual and visual worlds. Likewise, scholars of Arabic and Persian literature have become aware of the comparative and interpretive possibilities contained within visual sources. Nevertheless, separation between the two fields of inquiry remains prevalent. Comprised of six essays (three by art historians and three by specialists in Arabic and Persian literature) "Islamic Art and Arabic Literature" deftly examine specific instances in which texts and images which would seem to have been intended as one cultural product have traditionally been studied separately. Each individual essay reunites visual and written or oral products in order to evaluate the mechanisms through which written (or spoke) texts and the images produced in conjunction with them operate in precise contexts. Beautifully illustrated, exceptionally informative, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presented, "Islamic Art and Arabic Literature" is an extraordinary body of scholarship and will prove to be a valued and appreciated addition to the personal reading lists of both academicians and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, as well as both community and academic library Islamic Culture collections and supplemental studies lists.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Zen Master Raven
Robert Aitken
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
9781614293842 $19.95 hc / $11.99 Kindle www.wisdompubs.org

Zen Master Raven: The Teachings of a Wise Old Bird is inspired by the koans of ancient Zen masters. Filled cover to cover with snippets of conversations between forest animals, Zen Master Raven is true to the tradition of ancient story-dialogues that test one's thoughts and understanding. "Next day, Woodpecker came around when Raven was cleaning up after a windstorm and asked, 'Do you think I could be a teacher?' Raven looked her over. 'What is the dark side?' he asked. Woodpecker hesitated. 'I'm not sure there is one,' she said. Raven turned away, saying, 'Then how can you be a teacher?'" Thoroughly accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds, Zen Master Raven is inspirational, wistful, and highly recommended.


The Fishing Shelf

Wide and Deep
Randy Spencer
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781628736397, $29.95, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Randy Spencer is a Master Maine Guide based out the Maine town of Grand Lake Stream. He draws upon his years of experience and expertise in "Wide and Deep: Tales and Recollections from a Master Maine Fishing Guide" to showcase the remote little town Grand Lake Stream, in eastern Maine, and its surrounding lakes for the benefit of dedicated anglers and hunters like himself. "Wide and Deep" will showcase the remote backwoods and crystal clear lakes at Grank Lake Stream with its most remote, rural Maine landscape in all its breathtaking natural and undisturbed beauty. The relationship between a sport and his guide is an ongoing conversation, one that can last hours, days, and even years. The company you offer is just as valued as the company you keep. Whether they are stories of joy or of pain, there, reading "Wide and Deep" is the next best thing to sitting around a campfire and listening to Randy Spencer in person. "Wide and Deep" perfectly captures the moments on the water that people wait their entire lives for and spend the rest of their lives remembering. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Fishing/Hunting collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Wide and Deep" is now available in a paperback edition (9781510714328, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.62).


The Audiobook Shelf

All Day at the Movies
Fiona Kidman, author
Performed by Edwina Wren
Bolinda Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781489409317 $9.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

All Day at the Movies is an unabridged audiobook on MP3-CD (plays on MP3-CD enabled players or transfers to portable devices) of Fiona Kidman's multi-generational novel. The story begins in 1952 when Irene Sandle, widowed by World War II, seeks a fresh start in Motueka, New Zealand. Yet the reality of her new life is far harsher than the glamor of the silver screen. All Day at the Movies progresses to the story of Irene's children. The evolution of New Zealand itself, as cultural views and opportunities advance with the turn of decades, is also a central theme of this emotional and thought-provoking novel, superbly performed by Edwina Wren. Highly recommended! 1 MP3-CD, 9 hours 10 min.

A Life of Adventure and Delight
Akhil Sharma, author
Read by Neil Shah and Deepti Gupta
HighBridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781681687124 $29.99 https://highbridgeaudio.com

A Life of Adventure and Delight is the unabridged audiobook rendition of Akhil Sharma's anthology of short stories about individuals forced to reexamine their preconceptions about their lives and relationships. A young woman in an arranged marriage suddenly realizes that she does, in fact, love her husband; a retired divorce tries to improve himself for remarriage by browsing women's magazines; and a man's enduring contempt for his cousin is called into question when he witnesses her caring for a sick woman. Superbly performed by Neil Shah and Deepti Gupta, A Life of Adventure and Delight is erudite, thoughtful, and highly recommended. 5 CDs, 5.5 hours.

Secrets of Southern Girls
Haley Harrigan, author
Narrated by Jeanine Bartel and Liv Anderson
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781501947629 $TBA www.recordedbooks.com

Secrets of Southern Girls is the unabridged audiobook of a suspenseful novel about a young woman coming to terms with her troubled past and the death of her best friend. Julie Portland feels as though she killed her friend Reba ten years ago. She was never caught, and buried the memories. Now, struggling to make ends meet, she learns about a missing journal that Reba kept, filled with meticulous details of her life... and her relationship with an African-American boyfriend, against the will of her racist father. Perhaps Julie is not entirely responsible for Reba's death after all... but if that's so, then who is the other culpable party? A keenly written saga of buried character flaws, dark secrets, and the toll of racism even in the late 20th century and beyond, Secrets of Southern Girls is highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10.25 hours.

Assassin's Price
L. E. Modesitt Jr., author
William Dufris, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
9781515902478, $54.99, CD, www.amazon.com

Six years have passed since the failed uprising of the High Holders, and the man behind the conspiracy is where the rex and Maitre Alastar can keep an eye on him. Charyn has come of age and desperately wants to learn more so that he can become an effective rex after his father - but he's kept at a distance by the rex. So Charyn sets out to educate himself - circumspectly. When Jarolian privateers disrupt Solidar's shipping, someone attempts to kill Charyn's younger brother as an act of protest. Threatening notes follow in the wake of acts of violence against the rex and his family, demanding action - build more ships or expect someone to die. Superbly narratived by William Dufrist, this Tantor Media complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Assassin's Price" by L. E. Modesitt Jr. is a deftly crafted "theatre of the mind" experience that will truly delight dedicated fantasy action/adventure fans and is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Death Note All-in-One Edition
Story by Tsugumi Ohba
Art by Takeshi Obata
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421597713 $39.99 www.viz.com

Death Note All-in-One Edition collects the complete, twelve-volume manga (Japanese comics) series Death Note into a single omnibus volume, along with an epilogue chapter never before seen in English. The story is a tense thriller with supernatural elements. It begins when a rogue death god, purely out of boredom, decides to leave his "death note" in the human realm - a notebook with the unearthly power to kill any person whose name is written within it. The brilliant student Light Yagami finds the notebook, and starts using it to purge those people he deems wicked or corrupt. But a cult of personality springs up around Light's ruthless actions, creating a "Kira" persona that gradually unhinges his sanity. Meanwhile, the expert detective L tries to track down this unknown vigilante killer who commits murder after murder. The stakes raise ever higher as both men desperately pursue their respective agendas, in this shocking, dramatic series intended for adult or older teen readers due to scenes of violence. Highly recommended, especially for manga and crime-fiction connoisseurs!

Swordquest
Written by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway
Art by George Perez and Dick Giordano
Dynamite
www.dynamite.com
9781524104030 $15.99 pbk / $10.33 Kindle amazon.com

Swordquest is an anthology of the three full-color mini-comics created by beloved storytellers Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, George Perez, and Dick Giordano, and bundled with Atari video game cartridges in the early 80's. The trilogy has been superbly remastered and presented along with a bonus Yars' Revenge comic, and a black-and-white cover gallery of unused cover art by George Perez. The story is a fantasy action-adventure, about a twin brother and sister who quest to avenge their family's death at the hands of a despotic king and his nefarious wizard. Their journey takes them through the hazards and mysteries of the elemental worlds of Earth, Fire, and Water (a fourth comic and video game set in the world of Air were planned, but never realized). Swordquest is a classic part of video game history, as well as an engaging, all-ages adventure in its own right. Notably, Swordquest co-stars a capable heroine, even though the 80's were an era when strong, self-reliant women in video games were few and far between! Highly recommended.

Kirby100
John Morrow, editor
Jack Kirby, illustrator
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490786, $34.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The late Jack Kirby (August 28, 1917 - February 6, 1994) was an influential American comic book artist, writer, and editor, who was widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and certainly one of its most prolific and influential creators. TwoMorrows Publishing and the Jack Kirby Collector magazine celebrate Jack Kirby's 100th birthday in style with the release of "Kirby100", a full-color visual celebration of Jack Kirby's life and work! It features an all-star line-up of 100 comics pros who critique key images from Kirby's 50-year career, admiring his page layouts, dramatics, and storytelling skills, and lovingly reminiscing about their favorite characters and stories. Featured are contributions by Bruce Timm, Alex Ross, Walter Simonson, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, Steve Rude, Adam Hughes, Wendy Pini, John Romita Sr., Dave Gibbons, P. Craig Russell, and dozens more of the top names in comics. Their essays serve to honor Jack's place in comics history, and prove (as if there's any doubt) that Kirby is King! This double-length book is edited by John Morrow and Jon B. Cooke, with a Kirby cover inked by Mike Royer. An absolute 'must' for the legions of Kirby fans, "Kirby100" will prove to be an enduringly popular and prized addition to personal reading lists, as well as both community and academic library 20th Century American Popular Culture collections in general, and Jack Kirby supplemental studies lists in particular.

Deliverance: Barracuda #6
Jean Dufaux, author
Jeremy, artist
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183543, $15.95, PB, 56pp, www.amazon.com

With the publication of "Deliverance", it's time for the final and concluding act in the six part graphic novel pirate series "Barracuda" by author Jean Dufaux and artist Jeremy. In Puerto Blanco, the traders, the freebooters and the slaves are in open revolt, led by Raffy and Ferrango. At sea, Blackdog and the Barracuda have struck an alliance with the Red Hawk. Everywhere the Spanish are retreating, and the island should soon be recaptured. But beyond political and military considerations, there remains the question of the Kashar Diamond's fate. How many lives will be lost in the name of its curse? Who will survive? An absolutely fascinating story brought vividly to life by the superb action/action artwork of Jeremy, "Deliverance" offers a compelling and dramatic conclusion to an inherently riveting tale of piracy, power struggles, and supernaturally induced greed. One of the best graphic novels of the year, "Deliverance: Barracuda #6" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.

Ollie and Nina and... Daft Doggie Doings!
Neil Sullivan
Hubble & Hattie
www.hubbleandhattie.com
9781787110656 $12.99 amazon.com

Ollie and Nina and... Daft Doggie Doings! is a humorous graphic novel that alternates between cartoony, full-color comic strips about a pair of precocious dogs (based on the real-life beloved pets of author Neil Sullivan) and written anecdotes and escapades from their doggie daily lives. "Ollie loves the beach. When we first took him, he was totally blown away by the wide-open spaces. He'd bolt off like a loony in long, sweeping loops, pelting at full throttle with a massive grin on his face." Gentle and heartwarming, Ollie and Nina and... Daft Doggie Doings! is a choice pick for dog lovers, and makes an excellent giftbook any time of year. Highly recommended.


The Music CD Shelf

Dreamers
Lard Dog & The Band of Shy
www.houseoflard.com
Go Records, LLC
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com

Dreamers is the sophomore music album of Lard Dog & The Band of Shy ("Lard" stands for "Life's A Real Dream"!), crafted in their signature style of "nerd rock". Wacky humor, vibrant creativity, and a strong message of tolerance and compassion distinguish the original songs in this all-ages delight. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Dreamers", "I Like", "Don't Let the Boogah Bug You Out!", "Rock in the Rockefeller", "The Kimbaloo", "Take the Road", "The Honey Bunny Song", "Who's Your Favorite Beatle?", "Colander Sun", "Have a Good Day", and "Ode to Flatiron".

A Kingston Story: Come from Far
New Kingston
www.newkingstonmusic.com
Easy Star Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 digital amazon.com

A Kingston Story: Come from Far is a reggae music album by New York-based trio of brothers New Kingston. Their energy and passion shines through these original songs. Uplifting and inspiring, A Kingston Story: Come from Far is enthusiastically recommended to connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are "Come From Far", "Honorable & the Beast", "Starlight (feat. Pressure Busspipe)", "Browne's Interlude", "Agape", "Stereotypes", "Meditation", "Solid as a Rock", "Reggae Music's Playing", and "Kingston Fyah Dub".

Dare to Dream
Unleashed Dreams
www.unleasheddreams.com
L. Walker International Ltd. & Paddisongs Publishing Ltd.
$TBA CD / $12.00 download cdbaby.com

Singer-songwriter duo Unleashed Dreams (Lindsey Gaye Walker and Sean Michael Paddison), present their debut album Dare to Dream, featuring both vocal and instrumental pieces. A fusion of new age, neo classical, world music, and pop, Dare to Dream stirs a sense of exploration and wonder in the listener's psyche. Beautiful and original, Dare to Dream is a one-of-a-kind listening experience, and also makes a excellent gift. The tracks are "Deep", "dare to Dream Again", "Resonance", "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep", "My Sacred Inner Child", "Riding the Winds of Change (instrumental)", "Trust (and Let Go)", "You Give Me Strength", "A New Day", "A Journey Within (instrumental)", "Onward to Glory, and "Moonlight Waltz (instrumental)".

Lullaby Girl
Lisa Loeb
LisaLoeb.com
Privately Published
$12.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Grammy-nominated music artist Lisa Loeb presents Lullaby Girl, a family-friendly, all-ages album featuring dreamlike arrangements of 13 classic songs from a diversity of genres. Lullaby Girl is beautiful, and encourages the listener to slow down, relax, and experience the joy of the moment. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Be My Baby", "Don't Stop", "Close Your Eyes", "Dream a Little Dream", "In My Room", "O-O-H Child", "Rainbow Connection", "All the Pretty Little Horses", "Lullaby Girl", "Inch Worm", "What the World Needs Now is Love", "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes", and "Tomorrow".

Loe Loa: Rural Recordings Under the Mango Tree
Betsayda Machado & Parranda El Clavo
Odelia
$18.99 CD / $7.99 MP3 amazon.com

Loe Loa: Rural Recordings Under the Mango Tree is the debut album of Betsayda Machado and her village's band La Parranda El Clavo. Born of Afro-Latin music and culture, the Spanish- language songs are vibrant and brimming with festivity, sure to enliven any listener's day. Loe Loa is highly recommended, especially for world music collections. The tracks are "Oh, Santa Rosa", "Pueblo de Fiesta", "No La Peles, Papa", "La Situacion", "Borracho", "Gaviota", "Merengada E' Ron", "Alae Alao", "Sentimiento", and "Barlovento Es".

Under a Second Moon
Holland Phillips
www.musicbyholland.com
Ageless Records
$9.99 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

The sixth album by talented music artist Holland Phillips, Under a Second Moon is a beautiful, instrumental New Age album distilling piano and keyboard, guitar, and even saxophone into a dreamlike soundscape. The mellifluous songs reach out to embrace the listener and lift their spirits, in this timeless treasure. The tracks are "Out of the Frying Pan" (4:10), "Taking the Road Not Taken" (4:35), "A Moment in Time" (3:50), "Possibly Maybe" (4:15), "Under a Second Moon" (3:56), "Love Comes Gently" (4:22), "Long Way Home" (4:53), "Deepening Skies" (3:23), "Looking Back" (3:56), "It Comes To This" (3:58), and "Fairytale Nights" (3:36). Also highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre is the acoustic new age album "Serenity" by Michael Kollwitz ($15.00 CD / $10.00 download).


The DVD Shelf

Loch Ness, series 1
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$49.99 DVD / $49.99 Blu-ray www.acornonline.com

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Loch Ness, series 1 debuts a new thriller series set in the beautiful Scottish countryside. Detective Annie Redford (played by Laura Fraser, known for her performance in "Breaking Bad") is assigned to her first murder case when a man is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. DCI Lauren Quigley (played by Siobhan Finneran) and forensic psychologist Blake Albrighton (played by Don Gilet) arrive to lead the investigation, but their personalities clash with those of the local police. Then more bodies appear, leading to the theory that a serial killer is targeting people on the shores of Loch Ness! Annie's obsession with the case distances her from her husband and teenaged daughter, as she strives to uncover a hidden monster before the death toll soars higher. A gripping mystery filled with shocking twists and turns, Loch Ness, series 1 is a "must-see" for connoisseurs of the genre. Bonus materials include cast interviews (19 min.), a behind-the-scenes featurette (13 min.), and a photo gallery. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 275 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles, widescreen.

Line of Duty, series 4
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 www.acornonline.com

Line of Duty, series 4 is a DVD of six more episodes from the intense BBC police drama starring Thandie Newton as DCI Roz Huntley. In series 4, Roz and her team track down and charge alleged serial murderer. But could the young man they arrested by innocent? The chief forensic suspects that Roz could be ignoring crucial evidence, and seeks the help of AC-12. Undercover DS Kate Fleming (played by Vicky McClure) on Roz's team, while DS Steve Arnott openly questions Roz's methods. But the truth could be more complex than anyone imagined! A dark, character-driven crime story, Line of Duty is utterly riveting and highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 366 min., SDH subtitles, widescreen.

YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
www.holdenqigong.com

Four DVDs ($29.95 each) from YMAA Publications and expert Qi Gong teacher Lee Holden introduce viewers to the health and psychological benefits of Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese practice of coordinated body postures, movements, breathing, and meditation, used to give the body and mind a workout . "Introduction to Qi Gong" (44 min.) demonstrates basic stretches and Qi Gong movements for improved flexibility, the release of stress, internal energy, and mental calm. "Qi Gong for the Upper Back & Neck" (45 min.) focuses upon a Qi Gong routine specifically tailored to ease tension in the upper back and neck, and is especially recommended as a preventative measure. "Qi Gong for Anxiety" (37 min.) has exercises that help clear and anxiety with gentle stretching and long, flowing movements. "Qi Gong for Energy & Vitality" (52 min.) emphasizes the innate purpose of Qi Gong to promote energy, health, and overall well- being."Qi Gong for the Upper Back & Neck", "Qi Gong for Anxiety", and "Qi Gong for Energy & Vitality" each offer an abbreviated 20 minute "short routine" exercise program that is easier to incorporate into one's daily routine, as an alternative to the full-length exercise program. All four DVDs are thoroughly accessible to viewers of all backgrounds and skill levels, and highly recommended for personal health and well-being.


The Sports Shelf

Stretch to Win, second edition
Ann Frederick & Chris Frederick
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781492515876, $24.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Stretch to Win" by Ann and Chris Frederick is specifically for men and women who are looking for the key to optimal physical performance including increased speed, power, and agility, A thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide and manual, "Stretch to Win" showcases the most effective techniques for preparing to engage in any physical sport or event. Using the new "Stretch to Win" fascia mobility assessment (FMA) protocol, the reader will be able to determine range of motion deficits and identify your performance inhibitors. Then, with the stretching matrix, they will be able to personalize a program developed for any particular sports need or goal. Of special note is the incorporation of the matrix into an existing workout as well as into rest days, when stretching can aid in recovery and bring a body back in balance. Comprehensive, practical, accessible, featuring thematically appropriate illustrations, "Stretch to Win" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to both sports center, community, and academic library Sports & Athletics collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of PE students and teachers, amateur and professional athletes, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Stretch to Win" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.27).

Borchert Field
Bob Buege
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870207884, $26.95, PB, 392pp, www.amazon.com

Nestled between North Seventh and Eighth Streets and West Chambers and Burleigh, Borchert Field was Milwaukee, Wisconsin's major sports venue for 64 years. In this rickety wooden stadium (originally called Athletic Park), Wisconsin residents had a close-up view of sports history in the making, along with rodeos, thrill shows, and even multiple eruptions of Mount Vesuvius. In Borchert Field, baseball historian Bob Buege introduces the famous and fascinating athletes who dazzled audiences in Milwaukee's venerable ballpark. All the legendary baseball figures ranging from the Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, and Ty Cobb, to Joltin' Joe, Jackie Robinson, the Say Hey Kid played there. Olympic heroes Jim Thorpe, Babe Didrikson, and Jesse Owens displayed their amazing talents in Borchert. Knute Rockne's Fighting Irish competed there, and Curly Lambeau's Green Bay Packers took the field 10 times. In the pages of "Borchert Field: Stories from Milwaukee's Legendary Ballpark" Bob Buege (President of the Milwaukee Braves Historical Association, director of the Wisconsin Old Time Ballplayers Association, and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research) tells stories of other monumental moments at Borchert as well, including a presidential visit, women ballplayers, the arrival of television broadcasting, the 1922 national balloon race, and an appearance by scat-singing bandleader Cab Calloway. Borchert Field is long gone, but every page of this unique history will takes readers back to the sights, sounds, and spectacle of its heyday. A simply outstanding work of sports history, "Borchert Field" is a 'must' for the legions of Wisconsins baseball fans and will prove to be an enduringly popular and appreciated addition to both community and academic library American Baseball History collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Borchert Field" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Needlecraft Shelf

Block-Buster Quilts - I Love Star Blocks
Karen M. Burns
That Patchwork Place
c/o Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
9781604688566, $24.99, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com

Assembled by quilting expert Karen Burns, "Block-Buster Quilts - I Love Star Blocks" is comprised of 16 sparkling projects featuring quilters' favorite Star blocks contributed by array of stellar designers. Each individual project comes with clear, 'user friendly' instructions and easy-to-stitch designs, ranging from modern and bright to traditional and scrappy. "an array of stellar designers comes" is the perfect introduction for novice beginners to quilting with Star blocks and will hold enormous and lasting appeal for seasoned and experienced quilt makers. While very highly recommended for community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Block-Buster Quilts - I Love Star Blocks: 16 Quilts from an All-Time Favorite Block" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Gradient Knits
Tanis Gray
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com
9781438010595, $21.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Now even the most novice of needlecrafters can add a whole new dimension to their knitting projects by utilizing gradient colors with help from "Gradient Knits: 10 Lessons and Projects Using Ombre, Stranded Colorwork, Slip-Stitch, and Texture" by Tanis Grey (who was the Yarn Editor of Vogue Knitting). A complete course of beautifully and profusely illustrated instruction under one cover, "Gradient Knits" features eye-catching yarns and 10 unique lessons on topics such as cabling, lace knitting, alternating stripes, thrumming, stranded colorwork, intarsia polka dots, modular knitting, German short rows, and simple knit and purl combinations -- all using gradient yarns. Aspiring needlecrafters can expand their knitting skill set with patterns for garments and accessories drawn from top designers from around the world. The perfect blend of beginners and advanced projects and a comprehensive techniques section give novice and experienced knitters the ability to create stunning gradient knitted accessories including mittens, a cabled hat, polka dot pillow, blanket, lace shawl, tea cozy, and more! Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Gradient Knits" is an wholeheartedly and unreservedly recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.


The Photography Shelf

Rene Magritte: The Revealing Image
Rene Magritte, photographer
Xavier Canonne, author
Ludion
c/o Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
9789491819735, $45.00, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Belgian Surrealist Rene Magritte (1898 - 1967) is best known for his cerebral paintings that explore the distance between object, language and image. Magritte's careful, meticulous handling of form only makes his scenes more dreamlike; he once described painting as "the art of putting colors side by side in such a way that their real aspect is effaced". Magritte built up a large photo and film archive throughout his life, although it was only discovered in the 1970s, more than 10 years after his death. Revealing a lesser-known side of the Surrealist master, these photographs give us access to an informal Magritte, from his childhood to the last years of his life. Compiled with commentary by Xavier Canonne, "Rene Magritte: The Revealing Image", is a comprehensive catalog of Magritte's photography and film. Spontaneous snapshots are complemented by posed scenes, including improvised tableaus with his fellow artists, parodies of famous movies, portraits of Magritte at his easel and staged photographs that served as models for his paintings. Fans of Magritte's iconic paintings will find much to discover here; images where the artist and his friends hide their faces or turn away from the camera particularly resonate with his investigation of the "hidden visible". Profusely illustrated throughout, "Rene Magritte: The Revealing Image " is an extraordinary study of the artist as photographer and very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library History of Photography collections in general, and Rene Magritte supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

A Beautiful Ghetto
Devin Allen
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
www.haymarketbooks.org
9781608467594, $24.95, HC, 124pp, www.amazon.com

Devin Allen, a Baltimore native, is only the third amateur photographer to have their photograph appear on the cover of Time. His work has also been featured in New York Magazine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN, BBC, NBC News, Aperture Magazine, and "Yahoo!." Allen's photographs have been exhibited in the Smithsonian. On April 18, 2015, the city of Baltimore erupted in mass protests in response to the brutal murder of Freddie Gray by police. Devin Allen was there, and his iconic photos of the Baltimore uprising became a viral sensation. "A Beautiful Ghetto" is a collection of stunning b/w photographs in which Allen visually documents the uprising as he strives to capture the life of his city and the people who live there. Each photo reveals the personality, beauty, and spirit of Baltimore and its people, as his camera complicates popular ideas about the "ghetto". Allen's camera finds hope and beauty doing battle against a system that sows desperation and fear, and above all, resistance, to the unrelenting pressures of racism and poverty in a twenty-first-century American city. A unique compendium of truly memorable images, "A Beautiful Ghetto" is unreservedly recommended, especially for community and academic library Contemporary American Photography collections in general, and American Black History supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Music Shelf

Rock Vegas
Pat Christenson
Huntington Press Publishing
3665 Procyon Street, Las Vegas, NV 89103
www.huntingtonpress.com
9781944877057, $19.95, PB, 300pp, www.amazon.com

As recently as the early '90s, Las Vegas was considered the place where headlining rock and roll bands went to die. Despite its reputation as the "Entertainment Capital of the World," the city was all but devoid of major touring acts, as the paradoxically conservative instincts of the casino bosses and city fathers made it difficult for cutting-edge bands, especially rock 'n' rollers, to gain a foothold. Then later in the '90s things began to change -- big time! Pat Christenson has participated in the evolution of live-music events in Las Vegas--working on more than 500 concerts. From 1983 through 2001, he managed the major arena (Thomas and Mack Center) and stadium (Sam Boyd Stadium) in Las Vegas. Since then, he has been president of Las Vegas Events. In "Rock Vegas: Live Music Explodes in the Neon Desert", Christenson draws upon his some 35 years of experience and expertise to write the history of how Las Vegas became a prestigious, profitable, and critically important venue for live performances as diverse as Van Halen, U2, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, and more. Comprehensive, detailed, impressively informative, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "Rock Vegas" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended addition to both community and academic library American Music History collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Rock Vegas" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Travel Shelf

Take a Paddle: Western New York
Rich Freeman & Sue Freeman
Burford Books, Inc.
101 East State Street, #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
www.burfordbooks.com
9781580801850, $18.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Authors Rich and Sue Freeman are long-time outdoor enthusiasts and authors of many other guides to outdoor activities in the upstate New York. From Rochester to Hornell, west to Chautauqua and north to the Buffalo region, western New York State is home to a wealth of quiet-water paddling locations for canoers and kayakers at all levels. "Take a Paddle: Western New York: : Quiet Water for Canoes and Kayaks" by Rich and Sue Freeman (who are long-time outdoor enthusiasts and authors of many other guides to outdoor activities in the upstate New York) is a detailed guide to 45 specific locations, with 20 ponds and small lakes and over 250 miles of quiet streams and rivers. Detailed and practical, "Take a Paddle: Western New York" includes maps of locations for launch and take-out sites, difficulty level of each waterway, nearby campsites, canoe and kayak rental locations, even web sites for current water conditions, and so much more. Ideal for family paddles or a quiet day on the water, "Take a Paddle: Western New York" will prove to be an indispensable guide for any canoer or kayaker in the region. Also very highly recommended for personal use and community library collections is Rich and Sue Freeman's other deftly crafted guide "Take a Paddle: Finger Lakes: Quiet Water for Canoes and Kayaks in New York's Finger Lakes" (9781580801843, $18.95, PB, 288pp).

The Best of the Black Hills
Alan Leftridge
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560376910, $19.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Profusely illustrated throughout with a combination of up-to-date travel information, color photographs, guides and nine locator maps, "The Best of the Black Hills" of South Dakota is a comprehensive guide to the very best things to see and do ranging from the best day hikes and scenic drives, best campgrounds, the best cultural sites, to the best places to see wildlife, wildflowers, and sunsets. Showcasing the entire region's wealth of national parks and monuments, forests, grasslands, history and culture, and recreational opportunities, "The Best of the Black Hills" is the ideal companion for pre-planning a day trip and as a practical reference guide to better understand an excursion in the Black Hill country. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Best of the Black Hills" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library American Travel Guide collections.


The Poetry Shelf

Late Empire
Lisa Olstein
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.coppercanyonpress.org
9781556595189, $16.00, PB, 104pp, www.amazon.com

Lisa Olstein is the author of four books of poetry and earned an MFA at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She teaches at the Michener Center at the University of Texas and lives in Austin, Texas. "Late Empire", her fourth book and an impressive compendium of poems that are a kind of 'call-to-arms' in the face of our current social and political conditions. Once again Olstein has employed her signature wit, wordplay, candor, and absurdity in poems that are her most personal (and political) to date. Very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections, Olstein's poetry ranges from animated discussions of politics, philosophy, and religion, to intimate considerations of motherhood, friendship, and eros. 'The Canary's Job is to Die': little flame / little match struck / little sunspot / little filament / golden smudge / silent siren / of no more air / of no longer there / suddenly fled we flee / go ahead and try / go ahead and die


The Technology Shelf

The Arduino Inventor's Guide
Brian Huang & Derek Runberg
No Starch Press
245 - 8th Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-3910
www.nostarch.com
9781593276522, $29.95, PB, 360pp, www.amazon.com

With Arduino, anyone can build any hardware project they can imagine. This open-source platform is designed to help total beginners explore electronics, and with its easy-to-learn programming language data can be collected from the world around to make something truly interactive. "The Arduino Inventor's Guide: Learn Electronics by Making 10 Awesome Projects" opens with an electronics primer filled with essential background knowledge for your DIY journey. From there, readers will learn their way around the Arduino through a classic hardware entry point -- blinking LEDs. Over the course of the volume, hands-on projects will teach how to: Build a stop light with LEDs; Display the volume in a room on a warning dial; Design and build a desktop fan; Create a robot that draws with a motor and pens; Create a servo-controlled balance beam; Build a playable mini piano; Make a drag race timer to race toy cars against friends. Each individual project focuses on a new set of skills, including breadboarding circuits; reading digital and analog inputs; reading magnetic, temperature, and other sensors; controlling servos and motors; and talking to a computer and the Web with an Arduino. At the end of every project, there are tips on how to use it and how to modify it with additional hardware or code. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Arduino Inventor's Guide" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Chakra Wisdom Oracle
Tori Hartman
Watkins Publishing
Angel Business Club
www.watkinspublishing.com
9781780289151, $14.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Tori Hartman is a world renowned psychic, author and spiritual teacher. In "Chakra Wisdom Oracle: How To Read The Cards For Yourself and Others" she draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to reveal to aspiring Tarot readers the secrets of professional card reading with techniques never shared in full before. "Chakra Wisdom Oracle" how to: Bypass your logical brain and let your intuition speak; Reprogram your life through buzzwords; Heal wounds from your family of origin; Use brand-new card spreads and create personalized layouts; Read the cards using Tori's profound 7 aspects method. Built around the 49 mystical fables revealed by angels to Tori Hartman, the "Chakra Wisdom Oracle" is a uniquely effective divination system that empowers even the most novice of Tarot readers to seize control of the life-changing tools they already have within them. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Chakra Wisdom Oracle" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections in general, and Tarot Reading supplemental studies instructional reading lists in particular. It should be noted for that "Chakra Wisdom Oracle" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Shamanic Healing
Itzhak Beery
ShamanPortal.org
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620553763, $16.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Itzhak Beery is an internationally recognized shamanic healer and teacher. He was initiated into the Circle of 24 Yachaks by his Quechua teacher in Ecuador and by Amazonian Kanamari Page. The founder of ShamanPortal.org and cofounder of the New York Shamanic Circle, he is on the faculty of New York Open Center and Kripalu. In "Shamanic Healing: Traditional Medicine for the Modern World" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise to create a story-based guide to the techniques of shamanic healing. "Shamanic Healing": Details indigenous medicine tools and soul healing techniques, including diagnosis and energy cleansing with plants, stones, fire, flower essences, and sound; Offers protection and self-defense techniques for confronting negative energies such as spirit attachment and possession; Shares healing stories that each address a specific condition, such as panic attacks, PTSD, depression, cancer, chronic pain, grief, and relationship problems. Exceptional, comprehensive, informative, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Shamanic Healing" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in shamanism that "Shamanic Healing" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Soul Whispering
Linda Star Wolf & Nita Gage
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781591432258, $18.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

In today's secular and 'divorced from nature' world, all too often the human soul is damaged and in critical need of an intimate and personal restoration. In "Soul Whispering: The Art of Awakening Shamanic Consciousness", Linda Star Wolf (Founding Director and President of Venus Rising Association for Transformation, Venus Rising University, and the Shamanic Ministers Global Network) and Nita Gage (Co-Founder of the Neurolmaginal Institute and Direct of Healer Within retreats), was written to help the reader in restore his or her relationship with their soul by breaking through patterns of dysfunction and learning how to hear the intuitive wisdom of their own soul's whisperings. "Soul Whispering" deftly explores shamanic tools, modern psychotherapy techniques, and ancient indigenous practices, such as the Native American medicine wheel; explains how to differentiate between our Inner Critic and the whisperings of our soul; details the Five Cycles of Change that we spiral through on our life's journey of transformation, detailing what to do if and when becoming stuck in one of the cycles. Of special note is the access provided to 5 audio journeys. Unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should also be noted that "Soul Whispering" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).


The Woodworking Shelf

Build Stuff with Wood
Asa Christiana
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631867118, $21.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com

With a background in engineering, woodworking, and journalism, Asa Christiana hit the ground running when he arrived at Fine Woodworking magazine in 2000, rising to become chief editor, a job he held for 8 years. Along the way, he helped launch StartWoodworking.com, a free website for beginning woodworkers. After stepping down in 2013, Asa moved with his family to Portland, Oregon, where he builds furniture and works as a freelance writer, editor, and photographer. In "Build Stuff with Wood: Make Awesome Projects with Basic Tools" Asa draws upon his years of experience and expertise to create a profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' introductory instruction guide and manual for the beginning woodworker operating with a few portable power tools (cordless drill, jigsaw, etc.) to build a fourteen fun projects with that basic kit, -- then adding skills and tools as they go. For example, adding a small router to allowing the novice woodworker to gracefully round edges on tables and shelves; buying a simple doweling jig and learning the woodworking art of joinery. It should be noted that all of these individual projects can be built with just a few woodworking tools and off-the-shelf lumber in a home garage or basic family workshop. Exceptionally well written, illustrated, organized and presented, "Build Stuff With Wood" is very highly recommended for highschool woodshop curriculums, community library woodworking collections, and the personal reference shelf of do-it-yourself woodworking enthusiasts.


The Business Shelf

The Four Dilemmas of the CEO
Tom Biesinger, Ross Wall, Clifford Herbertson
Bloomsbury Business
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781472946843, $30.00, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com

The personal journey of every CEO's of every incorporated business will be unique. However, there exists a very predictable, but previously unknown pattern: the CEO life cycle. "The Four Dilemmas of the CEO: Mastering the make-or-break moments in every executive's career" by the team of Tom Biesinger, Ross Wall and Clifford Herbertson (who are founding partners of Teallach, an exclusive consulting firm that works with mid-large cap CEOs, their boards and executive committees) outlines the common challenges that every CEO will face during their tenure, irrespective of geography or industry. Once understood, action can be taken to break through these glass ceilings that cause CEOs to get stuck in the business, while their mandate for working on the business is continually diverted. Framed within the life cycle of a CEO, the Four Dilemmas are: 1. You're in charge of everything, but cannot completely trust anything; 2. You know that today's executive cannot deliver tomorrow's results; 3. How do you engage the full capability of your executive working on the business when they are at capacity working in the business?; 4. At what point does the price of remaining personally relevant outweigh your other options? "The Four Dilemmas of the CEO" is the first study and instructional guide to focus on these four issues collectively, as the authors collectively draw on their decades of experience and expertise as trusted advisers across a range of industries to show every executive how to recognize and anticipate the individual dilemmas, master them, and accelerate through them. While unreservedly and assiduously recommended for corporate, community, and academic library Business Management collections and supplemental studies reading lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of MBA students, active CEOs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Four Dilemmas of the CEO" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

A Field Guide to Tracking Mammals in the Northeast
Linda J. Spielman
The Countryman Press
500 - 5th Avenue, LBBY 1, New York, NY 10110-0105
www.countrymanpress.com
9781682680643, $19.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Linda Spielman is an environmental educator and leading expert in animal tracking, having studied it for more than 25 years. She coordinates the Ithaca chapter of Keeping Track, Inc. and leads the Ithaca Tracking Club, conducting tracking workshops and outings for trackers of all skill levels. In "A Field Guide to Tracking Mammals in the Northeast" she draws upon her years of experience and impressive expertise to create an instruction manual that provides all the details necessary for following animals large and small, ranging from chipmunks and woodchucks, to bobcats and black bears. Meticulously drawn illustrations and informative discussions provide the even the most novice of aspiring trackers with an array of tools for identification. Impressively informative, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "A Field Guide to Tracking Mammals in the Northeast" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to both community and academic library Wildlife Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Field Guide to Tracking Mammals in the Northeast" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Smart Yoga
David Moore
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781623171414, $21.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com

In the illustrated pages of "Smart Yoga: Apply the Alexander Technique to Enhance Your Practice, Prevent Injury, and Increase Body Awareness", David Moore draws on thirty years of experience and expertise teaching the Alexander Technique to bring fresh and practical insights into how it can materially contribute to a safer and more effective yoga practice. With a profusion of black-and-white photographic images that support the clear, precise explanations, "Smart Yoga" offers comprehensive advice in modifying a yoga practice to take into account the huge variability in individual ranges of movement. "Smart Yoga" includes techniques to accommodate limitations imposed by injuries, structure, body type, strength, and flexibility. "Smart Yoga" offers an explanation of the Alexander Technique's approach to posture and movement, suggestions for altering faulty breathing patterns, and information about how Hatha Yoga, Patanjali, and Buddhist insight practices relate to the Alexander Technique. A complete course of step-by-step instruction, "Smart Yoga" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Yoga instructional reference collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of yoga students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Yoga Smart" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).


The Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf

Whisky
Aeneas MacDonald
Birlinn Ltd
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9781780274218, $14.99, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Whisky is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn (maize), rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak. An enduringly popular alcoholic beverage and now the subject of a published history by the late Aeneas MacDonald, "Whisky" is written from the point of view of the consumer. But more than that, "Whisky" is poetic and polemic in style and has an emphasis on the importance of single malt whisky and its concern to protect and inform the consumer. it remains fresh and relevant to the interests of today's whisky drinker. A remarkably prophetic book, this new edition of "Whisky" is enhanced Ian Buxton's for a new generation of readers with shrewd commentary and analysis that is combined for the first time with period illustrations. An inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "Whisky" is very highly recommended the personal reading lists of all dedicated whisky aficionados, as well as an enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library collections.


The Education Shelf

Hope, Heart, and the Humanities
Jean Cheney & L. Jackson Newell, editors
The University of Utah Press
295 South 1500 East, Suite 5400, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0860
www.uofupress.com
9781607815273, $12.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com

"Hope, Heart, and the Humanities: How a Free College Course is Changing Lives" tells the story of how Venture, a free, interdisciplinary college humanities course inspired by the national Clemente Course, has helped open doors to improve the lives of people with low incomes who face barriers to attending college. For over a decade, this course has given hundreds of adults, some of them immigrants or refugees, the knowledge, confidence, and power to rechart their lives. Readers will go inside Venture classrooms to see what occurs when adults enter serious discussions about literature, critical writing, art history, American history, and philosophy. Apparent also are the difficulties nontraditional students, who range in age from 18 to 60, often encounter in a college classroom and the hard choices they and their teachers make. What readers may remember most are the stories and words from people whose views of the world broaden and whose directions in life changed. Comprised of ten articulate and informative articles by Jean Chney, L. Jackson newell, Hilkmet Sidney Loe, Jeff Metcalf, and Bridget M. Newll, "Hope, Heart, and the Humanities" is an impressively informative and engaging read that includes a four page Bibliography and a listing of the contributors and their credentials. While very highly recommended, especially for college and university Contemporary Education collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Hope, Heart, and the Humanities" is also available in a digital book format (9781607815280, $21.95).


The Psychology Shelf

125 Years of the American Psychological Association
Wade E. Pickren & Alexandra Rutherford
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433827914, $69.95, HC, 464pp, www.amazon.com

"125 Years of the American Psychological Association" is published to coincide with the APA's 125th anniversary. The purpose of its publication is to demonstrates how the APA has evolved over the years in response to intellectual, cultural, political, economic, and other historical developments. Individual chapters describe the personalities and events that transformed the APA from a tiny organization of 26 members to one of the largest professional associations in the world. Key topics include the changing role of women in the APA, and the organization's considerable contributions to social change. From its origins in the late nineteenth century, through the two World Wars and a major reorganization, to the social and cultural turbulence of the 1960s and the economic uncertainties of the 1970s and 1980s, the APA's development has mirrored the growth of psychology as a discipline in the United States. This special 125th anniversary edition describes the unique challenges and triumphs that have marked the APA's early years in the twenty-first century. While very highly recommended, especially for professional and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "125 Years of the American Psychological Association" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $62.36).


The Fashion Shelf

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams
Florence Muller & Fabien Baron, editors
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500021545, $65.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com

Christian Dior's first collection in 1947 heralded the birth of a new fashion silhouette for women. Knowledgeably compiled and collaboratively edited by Florence Muller and Fabien Baron, "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams" is presents seventy of the most memorable looks created by Christian Dior and his successors (Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri) have been specially selected and photographed in intimate detail. This essential volume also features those designs in original sketches, runway shots, and fashion shoots by the world's greatest fashion photographers, including Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, William Klein, Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Mario Testino, Paolo Roversi, and Nick Knight. Exploring the classic elements of Dior in depth, this fully illustrated study covers the concept of line and architecture in fashion; the influence of history and art; the use of color; gardens and landscapes as sources of inspiration; and, of course, the brand's famous muses and clients: the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Princess Grace of Monaco, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, Natalie Portman, and Jennifer Lawrence, among many others. Impressively informed and informative, "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams" is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Fashion History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The American History Shelf

Notre Dame at 175: A Visual History
Charles Lamb & Elizabeth Hogan
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
9780268102456, $45.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The year 2017 marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of the University of Notre Dame. To celebrate this milestone, Charles Lamb (senior archivist for photograph and audio-visual collections at the University of Notre Dame Archives) and Elizabeth Hogan (photograph archivist at the University of Notre Dame Archives) have chosen 175 images that illustrate the evolution of campus culture and its physical environment. Important pieces of Notre Dame's rich history are highlighted, along with depictions of everyday life on the beautiful campus. Each image is accompanied by a caption explaining why it is historically and artistically significant. Lamb and Hogan have taken care to find images that have not been featured in previous pictorial collections; even longtime and diehard Notre Dame fans will find new and unexpected images here. The truly memorable images range from a photo of a baseball game in 1888 on Brownson Field; to one of iconic chemistry professor Emil T. Hofman strolling with his students in 1983; to the photo of the spontaneous mass held on South Quad on September 11, 2001. Of special note is the inclusion of an informative foreword by current University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. A unique and inherently engaging study from beginning to end, "Notre Dame at 175" is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library American History collections in general, and Notre Dame University history supplemental studies reading lists in particular, as well as proving to be of special and enduring interest to the entire Notre Dame family of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fans -- as well as amateur and professional photographers, historians, and art historians.


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