The General Fiction Shelf

Waiting 'Round To Die
Chris Grant
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639884513, $17.99

https://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Round-Die-Chris-Grant/dp/1639884513

Waiting 'Round To Die tells of a nameless man who takes to the road in an e= ffort to uncover answers about his past. The story opens with the first-per= son narrator reflecting on this escape: "I had not felt this disconnected f= rom my myriad responsibilities in years. No one, save the person who checke=
d me into the hotel, knew where I was. I kind of wondered if my wife cared.=
I suspected she didn't. She told me to leave. I was just taking her advice= .." He has a vague idea of where he is going, but no real concept of where h=
e will wind up.

At once a middle-age crisis point and a discussion of existential life insp= ection, Waiting 'Round To Die contains a sense of irony because its charact=
er is making the choice to do anything but wait for the end of his story. R= eaders who look for stories of middle-agers in crisis about their lives and=
choices, who embark on a road trip of self-discovery that results in odd a= nswers to questions that drive meetingups with disparate individuals along = the way, will find Waiting 'Round To Die a fine study in opposites.

Chris Grant does an excellent job of juxtaposing social, political, histori= cal, and literary references during the course of this novel. The journey d= etails a road trip of the heart and mind, as much as it covers the physical=
encounters with disparate individuals that each lend a sense of revelation=
to the narrator's world. Astute dialogue often synthesizes this process an=
d its meaning:

"Tell me this then," Morty continued. "What are you doing? Why are you driv= ing around the country with your degenerate uncle?"

"I am trying to find myself."

"You're almost fifty years old. You should have found yourself thirty years=
ago,"

"Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I never knew who I was."

As events unfold, readers will be prompted to consider their own life-chang= ing moments and meanings, and will find the narrator's journey thought-prov= oking and moving on different levels. Blend a travelogue, a disparate set o=
f personalities, and contrasting life visions with philosophical reflection=
to receive a novel that proves enlightening and entertaining on more than = one level: "I did not need to spend another twenty or thirty years just wai= ting around to die. This was not what I'd signed up for. This was, in no wa=
y, what I wanted. No muse, no point, nobody needs me... what the hell was I=
going to do next?"

Libraries seeking novels about middle-age journeys will find Waiting 'Round=
To Die one of the best, while book clubs reviewing this topic will find th=
e story holds plenty of fodder for discussion.

Fearless
Paula Dail
Warren Publishing
www.warrenpublishing.net
9781957723402, $32.00 Hardcover/$19.95 Paper/$4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Paula-Dail/dp/1957723408

Fearless is a novel based on true facts. It comes from a "cradle Catholic" = who spent several years in a Catholic girls' boarding school, and who holds=
a personal, in-depth familiarity with the Catholic Church's schools, conve= nts, and processes.

Viewing with horror the Church's moral failings and persistent subjugation =
of women and other disenfranchised groups, she is no longer Catholic. Never= theless, she highly respects the heroic work of countless nuns who work tir= elessly on the front lines of social justice for women and other marginaliz=
ed groups.

This powers the fictional story of seventeen-year-old Maggie Corrigan, who = has experienced a tough life as the oldest child of seven, growing up mothe= rless (her mother died in childbirth) and impoverished in a Southside Chica=
go Irish-Catholic family. Her choices seem clear: either follow her mother'=
s path into marriage and too many children, or enter the convent to dedicat=
e her life to God and chastity. The option feels like a no-brainer as Maggi=
e chooses the latter, but finds her devotion to God anything but a singular=
, predictable path. These sentiments play a key role in a story in which Ma= ggie comes to represent not just piety, but a special brand of woman whose = purpose seems clear: to both support and rebel against the Church she so lo= ves.

Maggie became tough and devious as she survived her family situation and re= mained true to her spiritual calling. These traits continue to serve her we=
ll as she hones a challenge to the Church that includes a fight for women's=
reproductive rights. Tensions evident in charity work, in clashes between = personalities, and in moral and ethical conundrums evolve in a story replet=
e with many thought-provoking experiences and passages. The result is a pow= erhouse of a story especially recommended for readers steeped in and suppor= tive of Catholic faith, but critical of some of its social interactions. Th=
is audience will find much food for thought in Maggie's struggles to reconc= ile her beliefs with her moral and ethical values.

While libraries strong in fiction that represents strong female characters = and interests will want to include Fearless in their holdings, ideally it w= ill reach beyond library shelves to assume a major and interactive role in = book clubs and reading groups interested in representations of women's dile= mmas with the Catholic Church. This audience will find many discussion poin=
ts in Maggie's experiences and changing world, which will fuel debates and = provide opportunities for deeper-level thinking.

A Home for the Stars
Laura Kemp
Ramirez & Clark Publishers LLC
9781955171168, $21.95 Hardcover/$14.99 Paper/$5.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Home-Stars-Lantern-Creek-Book/dp/1955171165

A Home for the Stars is the third, concluding volume in the Lantern Creek t= rilogy, and ideally will be chosen by prior fans, who will find this conclu= ding story of a magical experience picks up where the last book left off. T=
he story opens with a mysterious Ojibwa petroglyph which has carried Justin=
e Cook back in time to the moment her unseen enemy is born, separating her = from what is familiar and introducing her to a world that she's only dreame=
d of. Justine's encounter with magic and danger is countered by her determi= nation to find Dylan, who has apparently left her alone in this strange pla=
ce where a "great wind" has deposited her. Her top mission is to stop Henry=
Younts before he harms those she loves. The only way to save them is to fi=
nd what she came to this world to uncover. The introductory setting marking=
Justine's awakening and sense of purpose leads nicely into the first chapt= er, where Calvert Cook is tending to a girl that was discovered lying in hi=
s field.

Laura Kemp weaves a fine story of the shaman, Butler, and the characters th=
at surrounding Justine, as well as capturing their confusion over Justine's=
strange clothing and ways. As Adam, Henry, Cal, Butler and Odessa find the=
ir lives entwined, the action unfolds on different levels, moving between a=
magical odyssey and a mission to save very different worlds. Kemp creates =
a host of fine characters who each hold special interests in the outcome of=
Justine's efforts. She spices her story with the flavor of magical realism=
, creates action-packed scenes of rescue and confrontation, and reveals "In= jun magic" and forces of religious fervor that don't always follow logical = paths of good and evil's progression. The result is a powerful novel that n= icely completes the prior books in the Lantern Creek trilogy.

While newcomers would find the tale involving, ideally readers of A Home fo=
r the Stars will be prior fans, This audience will gain the most from its c= ontinuing revelations of this world and its people. Libraries seeing popula= rity with the other books in the series will find A Home for the Stars a sa= tisfying conclusion that includes reflections on when a search should end a=
nd peace be accepted.

Banks of the River
Melvin Litton
Gordian Knot Books
c/o Crossroads Press
9781637897812, $17.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Banks-River-Kansas-Murder-Trilogy/dp/1637897812

Banks of the River, the second book adding to the Kansas Murder Trilogy, is=
as much about a small Kansas town in the 1960s as it is about the murder t= hat changes it. In the opening scene, protagonist Jack Marshal is no saint.=
In fact, he's incarcerated in an old jail to cool off for 48 hours. Even t=
he town priest finds Jack a cut above the ordinary: "In the proverbial phra=
se he was "Full of it!" Possessed of a joyous hunger to grasp each pleasure=
offered and take it in. Full of it -- the devil. He simply loved too deepl=
y for faith to cure, loved too deeply the marrow of life."

Invited to confess his sins, Jack imparts a ribald story that involves Jack=
's implication in a murder surrounding his teen daughter's pregnancy by Jac= k's old buddy. His trial immerses the town in many conundrums because more =
is at stake than Jack standing trial. Also on the line and under examinatio=
n are the beliefs, actions, and undercurrents of the town's secrets, which = stand trial alongside him and become exposed one by one. The heart of these=
follies lies in deception, decisions, and perceptions that shake the town =
to its roots, both individually and as a community.

As a host of characters swirl around Jack's mistakes and life, readers rece= ive a powerful story of redemption and town complexities, tempered with a w= ry, ironic underlying stream of humor that keeps readers involved and walki=
ng a fine line between criminals and citizens. Immersed in murky legal and = social waters, the good citizens of this small town find their parties and = lives in
full swing as they cope with the changing tides of legal, political, and so= cial connections.

Powered by exceptional characters with the ability to represent both the ir= onic, zany facets of life and everyday milestones of achievement, Melvin Li= tton creates another winning story (begun in King Harvest) that captures th=
e characters and sentiments of this small Kansas town. Readers of historica=
l fiction who look for a satisfying blend of mystery and a broader sense of=
place and purpose than most murder novels embrace will find that Banks of = the River appeals beyond the murder mystery genre to attract readers intere= sted in communities and the crimes that rock them.

Libraries looking for books that operate either as an integral addition to =
a trilogy or on their own as solid examinations of guilt, innocence, and me= rcurial legal waters will find Banks of the River a fine novel. It's recomm= ended for anyone who enjoys tales of small-town residents and their rage, r= edemption, and resolve.

How Far?: A Tale of Determination, DNA, and Drama
Bob Wilber
Outskirts Press, Inc.
www.outskirtspress.com
9781977250391, $29.95, PB, 568pp

https://www.amazon.com/How-Far-Tale-Determination-Drama/dp/1977250394

Synopsis: "How Far?" is the story of two disparate characters as told in th= eir own distinct voices. One is a gifted baseball player from Southern Cali= fornia and the son of artist hippies. The other an undersized hockey player=
from Roseau, Minnesota, a hotbed of high school hockey in a state where ho= ckey is king.

Roseau is a small community just south of the Canadian border and has produ= ced numerous NHL and international hockey stars. Both characters progress t= hrough the challenges they face. Each come from vastly different upbringing=
s. Both reach levels of greatness. And, thanks to one spontaneous moment, t= hey met, became friends, and achieved their individual paths to the pinnacl=
e of their sports.

"How Far? A Tale of Determination, DNA, and Drama" is a work of fiction tha=
t is brought to life by novelist Bob Wilber's storytelling technique and at= tention to detail. There is drama, heartbreak, elation, and more. Life less= ons learned. Moments of brilliant brightness as well as the darkness of per= sonal lows. There are also deep dives into the world of amateur and profess= ional sports, down to the tiniest important details. This is a tale of life=
as told through the lens of two elite athletes playing different games whi=
le they impact each other's lives.

Critique: "How Far? A Tale of Determination, DNA, and Drama" showcases auth=
or Bob Wilber's genuine flair for originality, compelling dialogue, memorab=
le characters, and a narrative driven storytelling style. One of those nove=
ls that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the boo=
k is finished and set back upon the shelf, "How Far? A Tale of Determinatio=
n, DNA, and Drama" is unreservedly recommended for community library collec= tions. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "How Far? A Tale =
of Determination, DNA, and Drama" is also available in a digital book forma=
t (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Bob Wilber (https://bobwilber.net) grew up aspiring to foll=
ow in his father's baseball footsteps, and while he was able to secure a fu=
ll college scholarship and later spend parts of six years in professional b= all, as a player, coach, and scout, his mother's writing, communications, a=
nd public relations skills were what eventually defined his career. His fir=
st published book was his autobiography, "Bats, Balls, & Burnouts".

What We Never Say
Paulette Stout, author
Media Goddess Inc.
https://mediagoddessinc.com
9781736637159, $18.99, PB, 394pp

https://www.amazon.com/What-Never-Say-Bold-Journeys/dp/1736637150

Synopsis: After a lifetime of lacking confidence at work and in life, Rebec=
ca has finally found her voice. Her blog for women is gaining traction, eve=
n getting noticed by the world's top fashion magazine. When they request an=
article, Rebecca is beyond thrilled. So why is her boyfriend Kyle so conce= rned?

Kyle has a blank spot in his past he won't share-not even with Rebecca. But=
his secret is blown when a powerful woman from Kyle's fashion past, become=
s desperate to get his attention. It's attention he never wanted and has be=
en trying to forget for eleven years.

As Kyle takes steps to heal, Rebecca's article becomes a global sensation. = Events force Kyle's past and present to converge, putting Rebecca's future =
at serious risk.

Kyle and Rebecca must now act to reclaim their lives before it's too late.

Critique: Having a special appeal to readers with an interest in family/wom= en's fiction, "What We Never Say" is a deftly crafted, deeply engaging, and=
memorably compulsive page turner of a novel that is part of author Paulett=
e Stout's new series 'Bold Journeys". While also available for personal rea= ding lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99), "What We Never Say" is=
an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library C= ontemporary Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Paulette Stout (www.paulettestout.com) is a author of women=
's fiction who tackles taboo topics too long ignored. She is also the autho=
r of "Love, Only Better". Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of = her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content = for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and desi=
gn teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her=
elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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