• Re: May 2022 MBR The General Fiction Shelf

    From mail...@gmail.com@3:633/280.2 to All on Sat Feb 11 05:41:48 2023
    Le mercredi 1 juin 2022 =C3=A0 14:18:53 UTC, Midwest Book Review a =C3=A9cr= it=C2=A0:
    The General Fiction Shelf=20
    =20
    Writ Reveal=20
    Ethan T. Burroughs=20
    Morgan James Publishing=20
    1225 Franklin Ave, Ste 325, Garden City, New York, 11530=20 https://www.morgan-james-publishing.com=20
    9781631956799, $16.95 Paper/$9.49 ebook=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Writ-Reveal-Clayton-Haley-Novel/dp/1631956795=20
    =20
    Readers who look for sweeping epic scenes in political history novels wil=
    l find Writ Reveal just the ticket for a complex, engaging saga that follow=
    s a cat-and-mouse game played out through the Middle East. Clayton Haley's = adventures are designed not just to entertain (which they do, thoroughly), = but to explore and explain the cultures and beliefs that clash in the Middl=
    e East.=20
    =20
    This attention to detail lends both Writ Reveal and protagonist Haley exc=
    eptional depth as it embraces such diverse topics as the guiding doctrines =
    of Islam, the influence of white guilt, conflicts between factions and peop= les in the Middle East, and suicide bombers and fighters: "When he gets to = paradise, there's a piece of him for each of the seventy-two virgins awaiti=
    ng him. He was the guy who reached for the grenade."=20
    =20
    Readers will likely choose Writ Reveal because of its promise of intrigue=
    and action centered on terrorism and an unusual treasure hunt. What they r= eceive is far more: a study in contrasts that introduces a rollicking adven= ture through Middle East antiquities, beliefs, and politics. The novel's pr= equel, Messianic Reveal, set the stage for all these events, but it's impor= tant to note that no prior familiarity is required in order for newcomers t=
    o pick up the baton and run with it.=20
    =20
    As Haley examines religious chasms in the area and the wellsprings of the=
    ir ongoing angst, readers receive an eye-opening, sweeping epic story that =
    is engrossing, educational, and hard to put down. The conclusion neatly win=
    ds up these events, but leaves the door well open for the next Clayton Hale=
    y adventure.=20
    =20
    Libraries strong in novels of intrigue, Middle East politics and religion=
    , terrorist encounters, and political action will find Writ Reveal a solid = acquisition that promises to attract not only the attention of thriller aud= iences, but holds much food for thought that discussion groups will want to=
    consider.=20
    =20
    One April After the War: Louisville to Cumberland=20
    G.S. Boarman=20
    Independently Published=20
    9780960064939, $22.95=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/ONE-APRIL-AFTER-WAR-BOARMAN/dp/0960064907=20
    =20
    One April After the War: Louisville to Cumberland follows a 725-mile jour=
    ney made in April 1870 by young woman Mary Warner (who harbors numerous ali= ases and secrets) and two Secret Service agents (Argent and Merritt) who co=
    me to realize that their real assignment is not what they'd expected. As a = projected short trip turns into an arduous three-month journey, Mary and he=
    r two companions face mystery, threats, and a spate of bad luck that challe= nges not only their different missions, but their wills to survive.=20
    =20
    Argent and Merritt come to realize that the source of their assignment is=
    difficult to tame or control as their task spirals out of their control: "= What is 'off ' is Miss Warner's skewed since of propriety and her complete = want of judgment. One day she will say the wrong thing to the wrong man, an=
    d it will cost her more than a mere fine or the inconvenience of an arrest.= "=20
    =20
    With its ongoing investigation, clues, and clashes between personalities =
    and propriety, One April After the War becomes a compelling study in not ju=
    st intrigue, but a feisty woman's ability to confront her world and her tra= veling companions.=20
    =20
    Author G.S. Boarman is especially versed at capturing the dichotomy of th=
    is woman as perceived by those around her, who find themselves constantly c= onfronting their perceptions of how to treat and act around women. The resu=
    lt is a study in contrasts and purposes that uses a journey through country=
    and stress to examine 1800s scenarios and a spate of bad luck that changes=
    each of the characters.=20
    =20
    It should be noted that One April After the War is the first book in a se=
    ries, and ends with a cliffhanger. Readers who enjoy the history, mystery, = and women's issues that arise in the journey of One April After the War wil=
    l find Book II, which moves from Cumberland to Washington, a fine promise o=
    f ongoing adventure.=20
    =20
    The Discontent of Mary Wenger=20
    Robert Tucker=20
    http://www.rmtauthor.com=20
    Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLC=20
    https://www.tell-talepublishing.com=20
    9781952020193, $35.00 Hardcover/$4.95 Kindle=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Discontent-Mary-Wenger-Robert-Tucker/dp/1952020190=
    =20
    =20
    The Discontent of Mary Wenger is a work of historical fiction that follow=
    s Mary Wenger's pursuit of happiness in becoming a middle-class housewife a=
    nd mother. Born in 1922 in a Pennsylvania coal-mining town, Mary is living =
    at the cusp of post-war social changes that will affect her status and oppo= rtunities as a female.=20
    =20
    Whether her efforts lie in feminist ideas or traditional women's roles, M=
    ary is constantly thwarted and disappointed in her objectives and their inc= arnation under a shifting social structure. Her discontent, in turn, affect=
    s her family as she strives to reinvent her dreams only to find that her le= gacy of longing passes equal vision and frustration to the next generation.= =20
    =20
    The origins of that restless spirit lie in her childhood, and are present=
    ed in the opening lines of the novel: "Since I was a young girl, I have alw= ays believed that death is stalking me. It lurks and hovers in the dark rec= esses of my mind like a virus waiting to strike and destroy when I least ex= pect it."=20
    =20
    Mary believes she knows what is best, not only for herself, but for those=
    around her. She finds out otherwise as she navigates new territory to find=
    all of her dreams being put to the test of time. The Discontent of Mary We= nger is a work of historical fiction, but it's also a thought-provoking psy= chological profile of a daughter of immigrants who forges her own new paths=
    in life.=20
    =20
    Author Robert Tucker is especially adept at employing the first person to=
    capture Mary's background, perspective, philosophy about life, and the tum= ultuous undercurrents of feminism and tradition that buffet her evolution a=
    nd her family's structure. He also is particularly astute in how he capture=
    s Mary's ideals and reactions to the cultural and social norms of her life:=
    "Other than an occasional hug from my Dad, I had never been held so closel=
    y by a man...The romantic waves of the music washing over us made me wonder=
    if I were falling in love."=20
    =20
    Tucker brings to life the social milieu Mary traverses, blending historic=
    al references with personal observations to bring Mary's entire world to li= fe; not just her emotional forays into it. As she raises her family and "ma= kes every effort to support and be involved," Mary continues to evolve in r= esponse to her childhood lessons, her adult convictions, and the social win=
    ds of change that buffet them all. The result is a fictional memoir based o=
    n facts that brings to life one woman's ongoing evolution as America change= s.=20
    =20
    The Discontent of Mary Wenger's vivid recollections of the past make it a=
    winning choice for not just historical novel readers, but women's fiction = and literature audiences. Groups interested in how women absorb social chan= ges which contrast and sometimes collide with their upbringing and moral co= mpass will find it gives much fodder for discussion and debate.=20
    =20
    A Thing or Two About the Game=20
    Richard Paik=20
    https://richardpaik.com=20
    Atmosphere Press=20
    www.atmospherepress.com=20
    9781639882403, $17.95=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Two-About-Game/dp/1639882405=20
    =20
    A Thing or Two About the Game is a novel about former executive Brad, who=
    is charged with coaching a team of girls in softball. This unexpected ende= avor has been foisted upon him by his ex-wife, who taps him to take her pla= ce. He hadn't expected to do his ex-wife's boyfriend a favor, and even thou=
    gh he was successful at coaching boys' hockey, dealing with a team of girls=
    is something quite different. His mission is not to put together a winning=
    team, but to teach them how to work together and how to understand and wor=
    k with the game's aggressive, competitive demands...something young girls m=
    ay not have been taught before.=20
    =20
    As Brad oversees his team and watches them grow, he begins to struggle wi=
    th outside forces and influences, from parents who see winning as being par= amount above ethical behaviors, to coaches who bend the rules and special i= nfluencers who seek to change them. These are the same conundrums he's also=
    faced in the business world. As Brad comes to realize that growing his tea=
    m reflects a microcosm of the greater world's challenges, he too begins to = grow and change along with them, in unexpected ways.=20
    =20
    A Thing or Two About the Game is about much more than softball, coaching,=
    or teaching girls to become proactive winners. It's also about a coach's e= volving teaching strategy as he confronts his different players and the str= uggles they face both on and off the playing field of life. A Thing or Two = About the Game also imparts a thing or two about players, teamwork, individ= ual influence and struggle, and the competing styles of different coaches a=
    ll charged with creating a winning team.=20
    =20
    Its ability to teach and inspire about life's progression and challenges =
    makes for an involving book that will appeal to a wide audience, from those=
    who like stories of softball and coaching to females who seek tales of gro= wth and teamwork. Anyone looking for a read that is ultimately about a ques=
    t for purpose, meaning, and achievement will love A Thing or Two About the = Game.=20
    =20
    Villa Of Second Chances=20
    Jennifer Bohnet=20
    Boldwood Books=20
    c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.=20
    www.ulverscroftusa.com=20
    9781804150597, $TBA, Large Print, PB, 340pp=20
    =20
    https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=3Disbn%3D9781801622745=20
    =20
    Synopsis: Run by sisters Rebecca and Delphine, Villa Sesame is a popular =
    venue for small intimate weddings on the sparkling French Riviera. Beautifu=
    l terraces and a horizon pool all over look the Mediterranean setting the s= cene to make memorable days and dreams come true.=20
    =20
    When recently widowed Delphine unexpectedly announces her desire to retir=
    e and live a different life, Rebecca feels her own life could be slipping i= nto free fall. How can she possibly carry on with the business without her = sister at her side? Could this be the beginning of the end for Villa Sesame=
    and Rebecca's life as she knows it?=20
    =20
    As the guests gather for the June wedding of Freya and Marcus, Freya's tw=
    o childhood friends bring their own problems to the villa and cousin Verity=
    has her own agenda. But it's the arrival of a certain guest who throws Reb= ecca's whole world into turmoil and she finds herself asking the question, = where do I go from here?=20
    =20
    Critique: An inherently absorbing and fun read from beginning to end, thi=
    s large print paperback edition of "Villa of Second Chances" by accomplishe=
    d novelist Jennifer Bohnet will prove to be an especially and unreservedly = appreciated addition to the personal reading lists of sibling fiction fans = and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should b=
    e noted by librarians and Jennifer Bohnet fans that "Villa of Second Chance=
    s" is also available in two different and unabridged audio book formats (CD=
    Audio, 9781801622677, 7 CDs) and (MP3-CD, 9781801622684, 1 Disc).=20
    =20
    The Patron Saint of Second Chances=20
    Christine Simon=20
    Atria Books=20
    c/o Simon & Schuster=20
    1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020=20 www.simonandschuster.com=20
    9781982188771, $27.00, HC, 304pp=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Patron-Saint-Second-Chances-Novel/dp/1982188774=20
    =20
    Synopsis: Vacuum repairman and self-appointed mayor of Prometto, Italy (p=
    opulation 212) Signor Speranza has a problem: unless he can come up with 70= ,000 euros to fix the town's pipes, the water commission will shut off the = water to the village and all its residents will be forced to disperse. So i=
    n a bid to boost tourism (and revenue) he spreads a harmless rumor that mov=
    ie star Dante Rinaldi will be filming his next project nearby.=20
    =20
    Unfortunately, the plan works a little too well, and soon everyone in tow=
    n wants to be a part of the fictional film -- the village butcher will thro=
    w in some money if Speranza can find roles for his fifteen enormous sons, S= peranza's wistfully adrift daughter reveals an unexpected interest in stage=
    makeup, and his hapless assistant Smilzo volunteers a screenplay that's no=
    t so secretly based on his undying love for the film's leading lady. To his=
    surprise and considerable consternation, Speranza realizes that the only w=
    ay to keep up the ruse is to make the movie for real.=20
    =20
    As the entire town becomes involved (even the village priest invests!) Si=
    gnor Speranza starts to think he might be able to pull this off. But what h= appens when Dante Rinaldi doesn't show up? Or worse, what if he does?=20
    =20
    Critique: Some authors seem to have a natural flair for comedy and can in=
    fuse their novels with memorable characters and compulsive page turner plot=
    s. It's all the more remarkable that in her debut as a novelist, Christine = Simon's "The Patron Saint of Second Chances" clearly reveals her inherent t= alent for humourous originality and will leave her fully entertained reader=
    s looking forward to her next novel. The stuff of which block-buster movies=
    are made, and also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and=
    as a complete and unabridged audio book (Simon & Schuster Audio, 978179713= 7865, $39.99, CD), "The Patron Saint of Second Chances" is guaranteed to be=
    an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and=
    community library General Fiction collections.=20
    =20
    Shimmer=20
    Alex Pugsley=20
    Biblioasis=20
    www.biblioasis.com=20
    9781771964692, $16.95, PB, 224pp=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Shimmer-Alex-Pugsley/dp/1771964693=20
    =20
    Synopsis: "Shimmer" is a collection comprised of ten short stories by aut=
    hor Alex Pugsley For example, outside a 7-Eleven, teen boys Veeper and Wend= ell try to decide what to do with their night, though the thought of the re=
    st of their lives doesn't seem to have occurred to them.=20
    =20
    While in 'Laurel Canyon', two movie stars try to decide if the affair the=
    y're having might mean they like each other.=20
    =20
    When Byron, trying to figure out the chords of a song he likes, posts a q=
    uestion on a guitar website, he ends up meeting Jessica as well, a woman wi=
    th her own difficult music.=20
    =20
    And when the snide and sharp-tongued Twyla agrees to try therapy, not eve=
    n she would have imagined the results.=20
    =20
    Critique: A deftly crafted, entertaining, and occasionally thought-provok=
    ing series of memorable short stories by an author with a genuine flair for=
    the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling that keeps the rea= der fully engaged, "Shimmer" is especially and unreservedly recommended for=
    personal, community, college, and university library Short Story Anthology=
    collections. It should be noted that "Shimmer" is also available in a digi= tal book format (Kindle, $9.99).=20
    =20
    Editorial Note: Alex Pugsley is a writer and filmmaker originally from No=
    va Scotia. His fiction has appeared in Brick, The Walrus, McSweeney's Inter= net Tendency, and Best Canadian Stories, among other publications. His debu=
    t novel, "Aubrey McKee", was recently published by Biblioasis=20
    =20
    Wingwalkers=20
    Taylor Brown=20
    St. Martin's Press=20
    120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271=20
    https://us.macmillan.com/smp=20
    9781250274595, $27.99, 320pp=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Wingwalkers-Novel-Taylor-Brown/dp/1250274591=20
    =20
    Synopsis: "Wingwalkers" is a deftly scripted blending of adventure and ro=
    mance by novelist Taylor Brown. It follows the adventures of Della and Zeno=
    Marigold, a pair of Great Depression barnstormers who are funding their jo= urney west by performing death-defying aerial stunts from town to town, and=
    braids them with the real-life exploits of author (and thwarted fighter pi= lot) William Faulkner. When their paths cross during a dramatic air show, t= here will be unexpected consequences for all.=20
    =20
    As an accomplished storyteller, Brown has taken a tantalizing tidbit from=
    Faulkner's real life in the form of an evening's chance encounter with two=
    daredevils in New Orleans, and made it a core element in his latest novel.= =20
    =20
    Critique: Compelling originality combined with a solidly crafted action/a=
    dventure style plot and memorable characters, "Wingwalkers" is an inherentl=
    y entertaining and unreservedly recommended read from first page to last. W= hile especially appropriate acquisition selection for community library fic= tion collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists for World W=
    ar I historical fiction fans that "Wingwalkers" is also available in a digi= tal book format (Kindle, $14.99).=20
    =20
    Editorial Note: Taylor Brown is the recipient of the Montana Prize in Fic=
    tion and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. His novels include Fallen = Land, The River of Kings, Gods of Howl Mountain, and Pride of Eden.=20
    =20
    Home or Away=20
    Kathleen West=20
    Berkley Books=20
    c/o Penguin Group (USA)=20
    www.penguin.com=20
    9780593335505, $27.00, HC, 368pp=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Home-Away-Kathleen-West/dp/0593335503=20
    =20
    Synopsis: Once Leigh and Susy were close friends and teammates bound for =
    Olympic hockey gold, but when Leigh's sure-fire plan to make the final rost=
    er backfired, she left everything behind to start over, including the one p= erson who knew her secret.=20
    =20
    Two decades later, Leigh is a successful investment banker, happily marri=
    ed, and the mom of a hockey prodigy, so when a career opportunity lands the=
    family back in Minnesota, Leigh takes the shot for her kid. Back in the ul= tra-competitive world she left behind, the move puts her in Susy's orbit, a=
    daily reminder of how Leigh watched from the sidelines as her former teamm= ate went on to Olympic glory.=20
    =20
    Despite the coldness between them, Susy can't help but hope that Leigh mi=
    ght lace up her skates and join her in the coaches' box -- after all Leigh = knows better than anyone how hard it is to be a woman in this world. Susy k= nows soon her daughter, Georgie, will be seen as a "girl athlete," relegate=
    d to the B team, with less support and opportunity to advance.=20
    =20
    But Leigh believes keeping Susy at arms' length is the only way to hide h=
    er history with her former coach Jeff Carlson. When he hints of new favors =
    in exchange for her son's ice time, Leigh is caught in the ultimate bind: c= ome clean about what happened when she was an Olympic hopeful and risk her = marriage or play Jeff's game. In a moment of desperation, Leigh realizes th=
    e one person she thought was her biggest competitor (her former teammate) m= ight turn out to be her biggest ally.=20
    =20
    Critique: Some novelists seem to have a natural aptitude for the fine art=
    of narrative driven storytelling and memorable character crafting that is = the hallmark of literary success. Kathleen West is one of those author and = her latest novel, "Home or Away" (a story about overcoming our pasts, confr= onting our futures, and the sustaining bonds of female friendship) is conti= nuing evidence as to her undeniable talent as a writer. While especially an=
    d unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Fiction colle= ctions, it should be noted for the growing legions of Kathleen West fans th=
    at for their personal reading lists, "Home or Away" is also available in a = digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).=20
    =20
    Editorial Note: The three previous novels by Katheen West include: "Art W=
    e There Yet?" (Berkley, 9780593098431, $26.00 HC, $15.99 PB, $11.99 Kindle,=
    352pp), "Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes" (Berkely, 9780593098400, $26.0=
    0 HC, $16.00 PB, $2.99 Kindle, 384pp), and a children's book version of "Ar=
    t We There Yet?" (Demco Media, 9780606347297, Ages 7-9).=20
    =20
    The Healing=20
    Lynda Faye Schmidt=20
    OC Publishing=20
    www.ocpublishing.ca=20
    9781989833063, $18.99, PB, 392pp=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Lynda-Faye-Schmidt/dp/1989833063=20
    =20
    Synopsis: Based on true events, "The Healing" by novelist Lynda Faye Schm=
    idt is the compelling story of Cate Henderson who, after twenty-six years i=
    n an abusive relationship, sets out on a quest to find healing. Cate packs =
    up everything she owns and leaves Calgary on an odyssey westward, to Vancou= ver Island, where her ever-present journal and the abundance of nature beco=
    me the foundation of her self-recovery.=20
    =20
    She yearns for something deeper and then, when she isn't looking, she fin=
    ds love with the solid and virtuous Ethan. Cate thinks his stead-fast love =
    is what she is searching for, but soon realizes she needs to do her own wor=
    k, that love for herself is the key.=20
    =20
    Cate gets thrown off-course when Lyme Disease, an earthquake in Nepal, he=
    r daughter's mental health challenges, and her move with Ethan to the Middl=
    e East, cause her to lose her new-found awareness. Her heart calls her to e= ndure the lows and enjoy the highs, to let go of the ties that bind and the=
    fear that controls.=20
    =20
    "The Healing" is a raw and vulnerable exploration of human resilience. At=
    times both painful and uplifting, it is ultimately a story about love, exa= mining motherhood, partnership, grief, expectation and optimism, and the jo= urney inward to self-love.=20
    =20
    Critique: Some writers just seem to have a natural flair for the kind of =
    narrative driven storytelling style that the reader will find compelling, t= hought-provoking, and emotionally involving. The kind of book that will lin= ger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it has been finished an=
    d set back upon the shelf. Lynda Faye Schmidt is just that kind of writer a=
    nd "The Healing" just that kind of book. While especially and unreservedly = recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be=
    noted for personal reading reading lists that "The Healing" is also availa= ble in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.35).=20
    =20
    Editorial Note: Also very highly recommended reading is Lynda Faye Schmid=
    t's novel "The Holding" ($18.99 PB, $0.99 Kindle) which is the prequel to h=
    er novel "The Healing".=20
    =20
    Joe The Salamander=20
    Timothy Gager=20
    http://www.goldenantelope.com=20
    9781952232695, $19.95, PB, 239pp=20
    =20
    http://www.goldenantelope.com/index.php/forthcoming-books/314-joe-the-sal=
    amander-by-timothy-gager-forthcoming=20
    =20
    Synopsis: "Joe The Salamander" by Timothy Gager is the deftly engaging st=
    ory of Joe Gamut, a brilliant boy whose infatuation with Superman helps him=
    through his struggles in the neurotypical world. Divided into seven major = sections, "Joe The Salamander" relates Joe's life growing up with a disabil= ity involving his difficulties in speaking and with hyperfocusing that resu= lts in failed attempts by his parents, hist teachers, his counselors -- and=
    the unexpected positive impact of Shades Creek, a pet store owner that cre= ates a city-wide 'Salamander Festival' that Joe unexpectedly responses to. = Joe's highschool experience is also positively impacted by a popular studen=
    t who intervenes to prevent Joe from being bullied.=20
    =20
    Critique: With its inherent message promoting the value of appreciating d=
    iverse abilities, disabilities, and circumstances, and although "Joe The Sa= lamander" is a work of fiction, author Timothy Gager's novel is solidly and=
    soundly based on real-life conditions as experienced by thousands of child= ren throughout the United States today. Entertaining, thoughtful and though= t-provoking, "Joe The Salamander" is an especially and unreservedly recomme= nded addition to community library Contemporary Diversity Fiction collectio= ns. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Joe The Salamander"=
    is also readily available from Golden Antelope Press in a digital book for= mat (9781952232701, eBook, $8.95).=20
    =20
    Editorial Note: Timothy Gager has published 16 books fo fiction and poetr=
    y (including 17 of which were nominated for Pushcart Prizes). His work has = been nominated for a Massachusetts Book Award, The Best of the Web, and The=
    Best Small Fictions Anthology.=20
    =20
    The Lives of Diamond Bessie=20
    Jody Hadlock=20
    http://www.jodyhadlock.com=20
    SparkPress=20
    9781684631179, $16.95, PB, 328pp=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Lives-Diamond-Bessie-Novel/dp/1684631173=20
    =20
    Synopsis: Pregnant out of wedlock, sixteen-year-old Annie Moore is sent t=
    o live at a convent for fallen women. When the nuns take her baby, Annie es= capes, determined to find a way to be reunited with her daughter. But few r= ights or opportunities are available to a woman in the 1860s, and after fai= ling to find a respectable job, Annie resorts to prostitution in order to s= urvive.=20
    =20
    As a highly sought-after demi-mondaine, Annie (now calling herself Bessie=
    ) garners many expensive gifts from her admirers, and eventually meets and = marries the son of a wealthy jeweler. With her marriage, she believes her d= ream of returning to proper society has finally come true. She's proven wro=
    ng when she suffers the ultimate betrayal at the hands of the man she thoug=
    ht would be her salvation. But Bessie doesn't let her story end there!=20
    =20
    Critique: "The Lives of Diamond Bessie" by novelist Jody Hadlock is inspi=
    red by a true story and set amid the burgeoning women's rights movement of = the mid-ninth century. An historical novel of betrayal, redemption, "The Li= ves of Diamond Bessie" is an inherently fascinating and fully engaging expl= oration of the question: Is revenge is worth the price that must be payed. = Entertaining and thought-provoking fiction at it's best, and available for = personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.69), "The Lives=
    of Diamond Bessie" is highly recommended for community library General Fic= tion and Historical Fiction collections.=20
    =20
    Lifecast=20
    Marc Opsal=20
    Goldshif Publishing=20
    https://www.goldshif.com=20
    9781735549514, $25.99, HC, 392pp=20
    =20
    https://www.amazon.com/Lifecast-Neurogem-Saga-Marc-Opsal/dp/1735549517=20
    =20
    Synopsis: Extreme urban sprawl has resulted in one massive megalopolis si=
    mply called, "The City." The City's wealthiest families live in the Highlan=
    d, above a freezing layer of indigo mist.=20
    =20
    Noble Valet Bear was born in the lowland, but now lives and works in the =
    Highland as the sole servant of House Telladyne. Bear's best friend, Aleks,=
    was born to House Yukita, but has resisted her Noble grooming since she wa=
    s young.=20
    =20
    Until now, Bear has kept Aleks at a distance for fear his love might put =
    them both in danger. Little does he know that they are about to stumble upo=
    n deeply-hidden secrets of the Idol that will threaten both of their lives.= =20
    =20
    In the fight to save themselves, Bear and Aleks must join forces with dan=
    gerous allies, face off against a foe who wields unimaginable power, and ma=
    ke the impossible choice between desire and survival.=20
    =20
    Critique: Having an immense attraction for readers with an interest in dy=
    stopian themed novels, "Lifecast" by author Marc Opsal is a simply compelli=
    ng page turner of a read from cover to cover. Original, entertaining, popul= ated with memorable characters and more plot twists than a carnival roller = coaster, "Lifecast" is a deftly crafted novel -- the kind from which blockb= uster movies are made! While highly recommended, especially for community l= ibrary collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lif= ecast" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).=20
    =20
    EDITOR'S NOTE:=20
    =20
    The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to pro=
    moting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fu= nds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of the=
    se reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, in= ternet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indi= viduals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.=
    =20
    =20
    The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Cali=
    fornia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookw= atch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are availab=
    le for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookrevi=
    ew (dot) com=20
    =20
    Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:=
    =20
    =20
    James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief=20
    Midwest Book Review=20
    278 Orchard Drive=20
    Oregon, WI 53575-1129=20
    =20
    To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frug=
    almuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publi= sher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN numb= er, and list price).=20
    =20
    James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief=20
    Midwest Book Review

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